by Larry Halverson

Seventy four people counted 3,927 individual birds during the 34th annual Lake Windermere District Christmas Bird Count. The number of birds is up by 47% from last year.

Some of the increase can be attributed to high number Bohemian Waxwings and Common Redpolls. The total of 52 species recorded this year matches the average seen during the last 10 years of the count.

Some of this year’s highlights include a new species for the count. Dean and Bill Nicholson observed two Trumpeter Swans in the open water at Athalmer. They also spotted a lone Hooded Merganser which has only been recorded five times in the history of the count.

Many of the feeder watchers commented on the lack of birds however one hot spot was Ron Speta’s yard. He said “in the 25 years of watching his feeder this has been the best!’ He recorded 16 species.

Troy Rad once again ventured into the high country a found a couple of White-tailed Ptarmigan. Elijha and Haley Bowels were delighted to see eight American Robins in their grandma Luciel Campbell’s yard. Fran Kimpton saw an unusual bird and after some study it turned out to be a partly albino Mountain Chickadee.

There is also another ‘mystery’ bird in Linda Taylor’s  yard. From the description it may be a Northern Hawk Owl but it needs a little further investigation to confirm. Thanks to Greg Wagner a visiting birder from High River whos keen ears found the only Northern Pygmy Owl near Eline Madson School. A couple of birds that were noticeably missing were the Great Blue Heron and Common Merganser.

The complete list of birds counted is as follows.

Tundra Swan 4

Trumpter Swan 2

Canada Goose 138

Mallard 460

Northern Pintail 1

Bufflehead 3

Common Goldeneye 15

Barrow’s Goldeneye 6

Hooded Merganser 1

Duck Sp. 1

Turkey Vulture 1

Bald Eagle 20

Red-tailed Hawk 1

Hawk sp 2

Golden Eagle 2

Merlin 1

White-tailed Ptarmigan 2

Ruffed Grouse 7

Wild Turkey 36

Killdeer 1

Rock Pigeon 5

Mourning Dove 4

Northern Pygmy-Owl 1

Owl Sp. 1

Belted Kingfisher 2

Downy Woodpecker 20

Hairy Woodpecker 14

Northern Flicker 60

Pileated Woodpecker 19

Gray Jay 9

Steller’s Jay 13

Black-billed Magpie 23

American Crow 40

Common Raven 323

Black-capped Chickadee 111

Mountain Chickadee 195

Chickadee Sp. 15

Red-breasted Nuthatch 115

White-breasted Nuthatch 3

American Dipper 1

Townsend’s Solitaire 18

American Robin 15

Bohemian Waxwing 1,245

Cedar Waxwing 2

Northern Shrike 1

Song Sparrow 13

Sparrow Sp. 12

Dark-eyed Junco 50

Gray-crowned Rosy-finch 7

Pine Grosbeak 96

Cassin’s Finch 9

House Finch 287

Crossbill Sp. 12

Common Redpoll 384

Pine Siskin 6

Evening Grossbeak 65

House Sparrow 18

Total Species      52

Total Numbers 3,927

Observers             74

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