THIS WEEK at HILTON POND
15-21 December 2005

Installment #297---
Visitor #

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Join us for another
Winter Hummingbird Expedition to Costa Rica
in February 2006


15th ANNUAL YORK/ROCK HILL SC
CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT (2005)

Immature Red-headed Woodpecker on snag at Winthrop College Wetlands Restoration Site, Rock Hill SC

All text, tables & photos © Hilton Pond Center

One good thing about the 2005 York-Rock Hill SC Christmas Bird Count: Even at 28 degrees at sunup it wasn't NEARLY as cold as last year's, when gusty winds and frigid temps in the 'teens made it difficult to stay warm--much less watch birds. This year's count, our 15th annual, was held on Monday, 19 December--an unavoidable shift from our usual date of the last Saturday before Christmas (except when it's Christmas Eve). With 19 December as a work and school day in parts of the 15-mile-diameter count circle, we recruited just four intrepid birders who could participate, but their efficiency and eagerness still provided for a productive day in the field.

The morning started VERY slowly because of a dense layer of ground fog that made it virtually impossible to see tree-top birds or waterfowl on various lakes and ponds. When the fog finally lifted at about 10:30 a.m. it brightened our spirits, but by then many birds had become less active than they would have been at dawn when counting began.

One of the best sightings of the day was a flock of 30 Rusty Blackbirds foraging in the driveway of a house just a few doors away from Hilton Pond Center. This is only the third time this species has been seen in on count day, and more than doubled the previous high of 12 seen in 1995. Rustys are a native blackbird species whose numbers seem to be dropping rapidly nationwide.

We were fortunate to add our 107th species for the count when a House Wren was heard and seen north of Rock Hill. Last year we added the long-awaited Northern Bobwhite that--along with it distant relative, the Wild Turkey--managed to elude us in 2005.

Record highs were set for two other species: Blue-headed or Solitary Vireo (3, surpassing the old mark of one, set in 1999 and 2004); and Golden-crowned Kinglet (17, exceeding the old mark of 12 from 1999). Obviously the vireo is a tough bird to get in winter, while the kinglet has been seen on 10 of our 15 York-Rock Hill counts.

For two species we tied old record highs: Song Sparrow (47, set in 2002), and Rufous Hummingbird (1). A rufous was first seen in 2001 in Rock Hill near the Winthrop University Farm; a different female rufous--the now-famous Perdita (above right, photographed in 2003)--has appeared at the Jim and Lenore Berry residence in Rock Hill for each of our past three Christmas Bird Counts.

It's worth noting that 36 of 106 species seen since the York-Rock Hill CBC began in 1991 have been observed on all 15 counts (see table below). Conversely, 13 species have been encountered in only ONE year. Another 19 species that might reasonably be expected in the Carolina Piedmont have not been seen at all.

The York-Rock Hill CBC circle is divided into 11 sectors of various sizes and containing diverse habitats; most are delineated from adjoining areas by roadways. One of our favorite sectors includes the York County Landfill--a not-very-picturesque-and-quite-often-stinky-but-nontheless-productive place to look for birds. The numbers of Black Vultures and Turkey Vultures continue to decline at the site now that there's no longer open dumping of food wastes, and this year we were likewise disappointed at seeing only three Ring-billed Gulls when in past years we could count on at least several hundred and sometimes a couple of thousand. It appears gull numbers also have declined with a reduction in food scraps to pick through.

There WERE two American Kestrels hanging around at the landfill, however, and an obviously healthy female (above) put on quite a show. Time and again she hovered and perched and swooped to the ground, at least twice coming up with what appeared to be small rodents--prey items that understandably would be quite numerous at that particular locale.

We saw some interesting birds in late afternoon when we stopped by the Winthrop University Farm in Rock Hill. Once a semi-rural spot where chickens and cows produced fresh foodstuffs for Winthrop students, the expansive landscape is now dotted with athletic fields and a coliseum. Thus far the university has withstood pressure to pave over the entire site for parking and dorms, so there are still some good natural areas remaining. One of these is a Wetlands Restoration site, created in the past few years at the west end of Winthrop Lake. We had hoped to find Swamp Sparrows and Winter Wrens in this new habitat, but there were none--perhaps because a crew with chain saws was removing overgrown shrubs from a fence line right next to the wetlands. Despite this ear-splitting noise, we were able to tick off a raft of Canada Geese and a somewhat skittish Great Blue Heron that posed in setting sunlight just long enough for us to get a couple of photos (above left).

Our personal favorite bird of the day, however, was another species that is getting harder and harder to find. As we walked the boardwalk around the Winthrop wetland, we noted the powers-that-be were wise enough to leave a dead tree standing on its margin; the inviting snag contained what appeared to be a woodpecker nest cavity. Perched right above the hole was a Red-headed Woodpecker (top photo), which we knew had to be a first-year bird because its head was mainly brown with just a few crimson feathers beginning to appear. As mature forests and dead trees have become more scarce across the eastern and central U.S., so have numbers of Red-headed Woodpeckers declined precipitously; thus, we're glad to know that there's at least a small colony surviving around the Winthrop University Farm.

Participating in the 2005 York-Rock Hill Christmas Bird Count were two-year veterans Chris Dewey and Steve Patterson, Susan Holland (9 years), and count founder and compiler Bill Hilton Jr. (all 15 years). Together they located 72 bird species--which tied the second-highest total for the count. We also had that many back in 1994, while the best year ever was 2000 when 80 species were found by eight folks in the field. This year's participants counted a total of 2,454 individual birds--the second-lowest total in the count's 15-year history and well below the average of 6,556. Low numbers were in part a function of having only four counters to cover the 15-mile-diameter circle; the lingering morning fog didn't help at all, nor did the relative absence of flocking birds such as gulls, blackbirds, and American Robins.

There's also little doubt there is A Dearth of Birds across the Carolina Piedmont. We knew this was the case from our banding results and feeder observations at Hilton Pond Center, even though some folks have suggested a good mast crop and abundance of natural foods were keeping birds away from our sunflower seeds. However, with the vast majority of species well under the 15-year average on our just-completed York-Rock Hill Christmas Bird Count, we still contend that there really AREN'T as many birds present in Upstate South Carolina during late fall and early winter 2005.

All text, tables & photos © Hilton Pond Center

NOTE: Background information and summaries of all counts from 2000 to present are linked from the main page for the York-Rock Hill Christmas Bird Count. Next year's count is planned for 23 December 2006.


2005 YORK/ROCK HILL SC
CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT TOTALS
Common Name
2005
Count
15-year
Avg.
15-year
High
Number
of
Counts
Blackbird, Brewer's
.
--
--
--
Blackbird, Red-winged
10
73
503
13
Blackbird, Rusty
30
3
30
3
Blackbird sp.
.
293
2,156
(9)
Bluebird, Eastern
32
97
216
15
Bobwhite, Northern
.
1
13
1
Bufflehead
.
3
11
6
Bunting, Snow
.
<1
1
1
Buteo sp.
.
<1
1
(1)
Canvasback
.
1
8
1
Cardinal, Northern
35
66
140
15
Catbird, Gray
.
<1
1
1
Chickadee, Carolina
44
32
66
15
Coot, American
5
20
79
13
Cormorant, Double-crested
17
25
150
10
Cowbird, Brown-headed
5
44
245
8
Creeper, Brown
1
1
2
6
Crow, American
73
98
191
15
Crow, Fish
.
1
10
2
Dove, Mourning
40
102
266
15
Dove, Rock
32
54
185
14
Duck, American Black
.
1
4
5
Duck, Ring-necked
4
3
19
6
Duck, Ruddy
15
4
19
6
Duck, Wood
2
2
10
7
Dunlin
.
--
--
--
Eagle, S. Bald
.
<1
2
5
Egret, Great
.
--
--
--
Falcon, Peregrine
.
--
--
--
Finch, House
32
47
193
15
Finch, Purple
2
4
30
5
Flicker, Northern
6
8
27
15
Gadwall
.
<1
3
3
Gnatcatcher, Blue Gray
.
--
--
--
Goldeneye, Common
.
<1
1
1
Goldfinch, American
35
25
68
14
Goose, Canada
78
143
296
15
Goose, Snow
.
--
--
--
Grackle, Common
210
749
3,901
12
Grebe, Horned
6
2
11
7
Grebe, Pied-billed
2
9
24
15
Grosbeak, Evening
.
--
--
--
Gull, Bonaparte's
83
110
380
15
Gull, Herring
.
1
7
4
Gull, Laughing
.
<1
1
1
Gull, Ring-billed
12
1,288
3,708
15
Harrier, Northern
2
2
6
13
Hawk, Cooper's
CW
1
2
7
Hawk, Red-shouldered
6
5
10
15
Hawk, Red-tailed
12
15
23
15
Hawk, Sharp-shinned
.
1
4
11
Heron, Great Blue
12
21
39
15
Heron, Green
.
<1
1
1
Hummingbird, Rufous
1
<1
1
4
Jay, Blue
37
67
247
15
Junco, Dark-eyed
34
101
404
15
Kestrel, American
3
4
10
15
Killdeer
14
37
119
15
Kingfisher, Belted
3
6
14
15
Kinglet, Golden-crowned
17
5
17
10
Kinglet, Ruby-crowned
33
17
48
15
Lark, Prairie Horned
.
<1
3
2
Loon, Common
.
2
5
8
Mallard
6
54
141
14
Meadowlark, Eastern
31
43
114
15
Merganser, Common
.
--
--
--
Merganser, Hooded
14
9
38
11
Merganser, Red-breasted
.
1
5
3
Merlin
.
--
--
--
Mockingbird, Northern
16
42
99
15
Nuthatch, Brown-headed
7
4
18
14
Nuthatch, Red-breasted
.
<1
1
3
Nuthatch, White-breasted
1
<1
2
4
Oriole, Northern
.
--
--
--
Osprey
.
<1
3
2
Owl, Barred
.
<1
3
2
Owl, E. Screech
.
<1
1
2
Owl, Great Horned
.
<1
3
4
Owl, Northern Saw-whet
.
--
--
--
Phoebe, Eastern
5
6
10
15
Pintail, Northern
.
--
--
--
Pipit, Water
25
39
403
8
Redhead
.
--
--
--
Robin, American
669
818
7,705
15
Sapsucker, Yellow-bellied
8
6
12
15
Scaup, Greater
.
<1
4
1
Scaup, Lesser
.
6
70
5
Shoveler, Northern
.
--
--
--
Shrike, Loggerhead
.
2
5
10
Siskin, Pine
.
--
--
--
Snipe, Common
.
<1
1
3
Sparrow sp.
.
15
112
(7)
Sparrow, Chipping
13
29
103
11
Sparrow, Field
5
14
58
14
Sparrow, Fox
.
<1
2
1
Sparrow, House
.
5
13
11
Sparrow, Lincoln's
.
--
--
--
Sparrow, Savannah
1
4
27
6
Sparrow, Song
47
28
47
15
Sparrow, Swamp
2
2
15
11
Sparrow, Vesper
.
2
34
2
Sparrow, White-crowned
.
<1
7
1
Sparrow, White-throated
44
45
98
15
Starling, European
281
921
3,063
15
Teal, Green-winged
.
2
15
3
Teal, Blue-winged
.
--
--
--
Tern, Forster's
.
--
--
--
Thrasher, Brown
7
3
8
13
Thrush, Hermit
2
3
15
13
Titmouse, Tufted
32
20
40
15
Towhee, Eastern
27
18
41
15
Turkey, Wild
.
8
53
3
Vireo, Blue-headed (Solitary)
3
<1
3
3
Vulture, Black
31
30
94
15
Vulture, Turkey
36
90
264
15
Warbler, Palm (Yellow)
.
<1
3
1
Warbler, Pine
2
4
13
12
Warbler, Yellow-rumped
30
42
196
15
Waxwing, Cedar
74
168
1,322
14
Wigeon, American
.
--
--
--
Woodcock, American
.
<1
2
2
Woodpecker, Downy
8
6
17
15
Woodpecker, Hairy
1
1
3
8
Woodpecker, Pileated
1
<1
3
4
Woodpecker, Red-bellied
14
13
22
15
Woodpecker, Red-headed
1
1
5
10
Wren, Carolina
23
19
42
15
Wren, House (new species)
1
<1
1
1
Wren, Winter
1
1
3
7
Yellowthroat, Common
.
<1
1
1

Total individuals

2,454

6,556
91,778

Total species

72

65.93
107
RED = New record high
GREEN= Ties record high
Italicized species are possible/probable for the area but have not yet been observed on an official York/Rock Hill CBC

CW = Species was seen during count week but not on count day

All text, tables & photos © Hilton Pond Center


Comments or questions about this week's installment?
Please send an E-mail message to INFO.

Be sure to scroll down for an account of all birds banded or recaptured during the week, plus other nature notes of interest.


"This Week at Hilton Pond" is written & photographed
by Bill Hilton Jr., executive director of
Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History.

You may wish to consult our Index of all nature topics covered since February 2000. You can also use the on-line Search Engine at the bottom of this page.

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Oct 15 to Mar 15:
Please report
your sightings of
Vagrant & Winter
Hummingbirds


BIRDS BANDED THIS WEEK
at HILTON POND CENTER

15-21 December 2005

SPECIES BANDED THIS WEEK:
White-throated Sparrow--1

* = New species for 2005


WEEKLY BANDING TOTAL
1 species
1 individuals


YEARLY BANDING TOTAL (2005)
59 species
1,270 individuals


BANDING GRAND TOTAL
(since 28 June 1982)
124 species
46,577 individuals


NOTABLE RECAPTURES THIS WEEK
(with original banding date, sex, and current age)
NONE THIS WEEK


This Week at Hilton Pond
is part of the

OTHER SIGHTINGS OF INTEREST
--Freezing rain that began early on the morning of 15 Dec continued throughout the day at Hilton Pond Center, but fortunately caused only small, dead branches to fall from from our hardwoods. We did lose one 30-foot-tall Loblolly Pine that became top-heavy from ice and snapped off near the end of the driveway to the Center's old farmhouse.

--The morning of 16 Dec broke clear and a quartet of Hooded Mergansers--a male and three females--was skimming across Hilton Pond. Recent rains and the ice storm were good to the pond itself, raising water levels from a late-summer four-foot deficit -to within 8" of the brim.


VAGRANT HUMMINGBIRDS
NONE THIS WEEK

All text, tables & photos © Hilton Pond Center


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Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History is a non-profit research & education organization in York, South Carolina USA; phone (803) 684-5852. Directed by Bill Hilton Jr., aka The Piedmont Naturalist, it is the parent organization for Operation RubyThroat. Contents of this Web site--including articles and photos--may NOT be duplicated, modified, or used in any way except with the express written permission of Hilton Pond Center. All rights reserved worldwide. To obtain permission for use or for further assistance on accessing this Web site, contact the Webmaster.