6

Seen in downtown Cobleskill during that count

Six Christmas Bird Counts this season and what a nice set of adventures they were. 

First was the count at Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge. I wrote about that one here. I am really honored to participate in such an illustrious event, even if my personal failings slow me down a bit.

Red-breasted Nuthatch, Oneida County

Next was Schenectady County, much easier physically, as it is mostly done from the car. There are some incredibly beautiful places on that count, as well as a plethora of semi-urban birds, such as Northern Mockingbirds, which never fail to delight me, even when we are down south where they are everywhere.

Red-tailed Hawk, Montgomery County

Fulton County, up until this year my very favorite. Mom and Dad did this one almost from the start, and it is the county where I was born and raised. All sorts of northern birds are possible and this year we were rewarded with an Evening Grosbeak, a Northern Shrike and a Merlin.

Montezuma NWR

Montgomery County...home, although the territory covered by my BBB (best birding buddy,) Kris Harshman, and I is not part of our usual haunts, being farther west than our daily chases. It was a great count for raptors, including a Rough Legged Hawk, Kestrel, and Great Horned Owl. The weather that day was some of the best we have had in this challenging, cold, snowy season and much appreciated.

Trumpeter Swans, Montezuma

Then came Oneida County. This one is always interesting, as it is not an area Ralph and I have ever birded, so it is all new and different scenery and habitat. It is a good thing George can navigate so well.... The weather was harsh and windy (go figure...that has been the case almost every day since the second week in November) and it was work to find small birds, but fun, as always.

Northern Mockingbird, Schenectady CBC

Next was my new favorite, the brand new Cobleskill (Schoharie County) CBC. The boss and I bird extensively in three adjacent counties, Montgomery where we live, Fulton where I was born and raised, and Schoharie, conveniently located just to the south of us. To get to do CBCs in all three was the best treat of the winter so far. We had a long day with a mix of a few minutes of warm, sweet, elusive sunshine, bracketed by endless rounds of lake effect (my new cuss words for this winter) snow squalls and mini-white outs. 

Cobleskill

Oh, but the territory, the habitat, the miles upon miles of winding roads through a mix of grasslands, wetlands, farmland, woodland, scrub brush areas, and urban neighborhoods. We found 32 species finishing the day with a Great Horned Owl George called up on a woodland road south of Cobleskill. I really hope the Good Lord lets me do this one again next year.

Anyhow, thanks to George Steele for leading all but Montgomery County, and to my BBB, Kris Harshman for that one. There is a good chance I am the world's worst navigator, having the potential to get lost in my own closet. My two good friends cover that nicely, as well as being able to actually see the birds...

Over the course of the season, I got to meet and bird with three new people, all of whom I liked a lot, and every single one of whom has sharper eyes than I do. (I am forever grateful to be able to hear reasonably well.)

Winter is a heckin' lot shorter when the foul weather and dark days are punctuated by the challenges and fun of all these Christmas Bird Counts.

10 out of 10 (if all 10 are lunatic birders, such as myself) would recommend.

Cobleskill