The 2014 Hopewell Christmas Bird Count was held on December 14. You never
know what you will see on count day. Well, that's not quite true. There are
species that will have been seen in the previous week or month, but as they
say birds have wings and they use 'em! So until count day you really don't
know what's going to show.
To be brief this years Hopewell CBC was a great year. 47, 696 individual
birds (54, 152 in 1998 is the high count for individuals). 117 species is
the 2nd highest total (120 in 2011 is the species high count). There was
potential for a record year, but you can't get them all sometimes. However
there were some tremendous high counts for species.
Greater White-fronted Goose well surpassed the previous high counts of 1 in
1998, 1 in 2000 and a Count Week bird in 2007, with 9 birds in 2014.
Cackling Geese were also ‘plentiful’ with 6, equaling the previous high
count in 2007 and 2008. Mute Swan is recorded most years; this year 2 were
found which is equal to the high count in 2010 and 2011. Gadwall achieved a
new high count total with 365 birds. The previous high was 341 in 2013.
Blue-winged teal made a welcome return to the count with 4 birds (previous
occurrence was 2 in 2000). Ring-necked Duck were very well represented with
3,077 birds; a new high count. The previous high count was 852 in 1994.
Lesser Scaup were somewhat scarce with only 4 birds present. A total of 25
species of waterfowl were recorded.
Double-crested Cormorant reached peak numbers with 3,605 birds a new high
count. The previous was 2,716 in 1998.
9 species of hawk (not including vultures) were recorded on the count. 4
Osprey equalled the high count from 2011. 54 Bald Eagles were about
average. These are always difficult to estimate with certain overlap
between sector counts. American Kestrel continues a downward trend with
only 5 counted; 15 in 2010, 10 in 2011, 9 in 2012 and 8 in 2013. A far cry
from 35 birds in 1990.
King Rail was found for the 4th consecutive year.
Shorebirds were scarce with only Killdeer, Wilson's Snipe and American
Woodcock found.
Gulls while always present in numbers are not always easy to sort through
in the count circle. No unusual species were seen on count day.
All expected woodpeckers were recorded. Remarkably 46 Red-headed
Woodpeckers were counted in 2014 (only 3 off the high count of 49 in 1982).
This is remarkable as only 1 was found in 2013. Hairy and Pileated
Woodpeckers made a good showing with 16 (high count 19) and 41 (high count
44).
Not annual, a single Red-breasted Nuthatch was a good find.
4 species of wren were welcome. 7 House Wrens were a good number (high
count is 10). Marsh Wren was the recorded for the 6th time for the count.
Previously; 1 in 1954, 2 in 1963, 1 in 1999, 1in 2004, and 1 in 2012.
48 Hermit Thrush were good to see (high count is 56). It was good to have 2
Gray Catbird which were absent last year. Brown Thrasher numbered 18 (high
count is 25).
6 species of warbler was a good; 1 Orange-crowned, 118 Yellow-rumped, 1
Pine, 2 Palm, 3 Black-and-white (a new high count), and 2 Common
Yellowthroat.
Black-and-white Warbler has now been recorded on 7 counts. 1 in 1966, 2 in
1978, 1 in 1979, 1 in 1981, 1 in 1984, and 1 in 2007. 1 was in area 2013
but not located during count period.
There were 9 species of sparrow (not including Towhee and Junco). Song
Sparrow was close the high count of 745 (743 recorded in 2014). A Lincoln's
Sparrow was the 5th for the count (previously 1 in 1974, 1 in 2005, 1 in
2007, and 1 in 2011). Swamp Sparrow made a new high count with 473
(previous 335 in 2013). 405 were counted a the Rice Center.
After being AWOL for the past couple of years on count day, Baltimore
Oriole put in a strong showing with 5 birds.
2 Purple Finch, 15 House Finch and 216 American Goldfinch were the
representatives of the finch family.
Thanks to all the observers who contributed to the above summary. As always
Richmond Audubon is grateful to the property owners who grant permission
each year to access their land during the count. We also appreciate Cyrus
Brame of the USFWS for assisting with access to Presquile NWR, Mark Batista
of Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation for assisting with Dutch Gap,
and Mike Wilson of the Center for Conservation Biology for coordinating
observers at the Rice Center.
Arun Bose
Hopewell CBC compiler
