The DC Christmas Bird Count held on December 16, 2017 tallied 106 species.
We had a nice diversity of waterfowl with 21 species observed on count day,
including Long-tailed Duck and Common Goldeneye. Hooded Mergansers were in
high numbers for the second straight year with 210 birds seen, breaking a
new count record for 2017. In addition, Canvasback and Cackling Goose were
reported during count week.
Both Pied-billed and Horned Grebes were around in good numbers, with over
three dozen Pied-billed and two dozen Horned Grebes recorded.
Double-crested Cormorants continue to maintain a robust presence in the
count circle during December, with 307 reported in 2017, extremely close to
a count record just set in 2015.
Although American Kestrels continue to show anemic numbers in the DC area (3
reported in 2017), Merlins and Peregrine Falcons find the urban environment
quite agreeable. Count volunteers reported 9 Merlins and 11 Peregrine
Falcons in the circle. Peregrine Falcons are not just here for the winter
it appears. Peregrine pairs were reported from several prominent locations,
including the Woodrow Wilson Bridge and the Shrine of the Immaculate
Conception at Catholic University in the District. Of course, they have
bred on the Wilson Bridge. I received over 65 reports of Bald Eagles.
After eliminating possible multiple reports of likely the same individuals,
I cam up with 53 birds, tying a count record set in 2012. Red-shouldered,
Red-tailed, and Cooper's Hawks seem to be doing well too.
Small woodland passerines (chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, Carolina Wrens)
are maintaining good numbers while their field and grassland counterparts
are increasingly harder to find. Indeed, a total of 23 Field Sparrows seen
on count day is quite good by today's standards.
Orange-crowned Warblers are now reported yearly, with 5 recorded on count
day.
The highlight vagrant of the 2017 DC CBC was the count's first ever Lark
Sparrow initially reported from the National Arboretum on Oct 5 and present
on count day. The George Washington Memorial Parkway from Dyke Marsh north
to Hunting Creek also hosted a number of notable birds, including the
previously mentioned Long-tailed Ducks, a Baltimore Oriole, a Blue-gray
Gnatcatcher, and a lone Dunlin on the Hunting Creek mudflat. Common Raven
has been recorded on the count now for four consecutive years. Two birds
were reported from the Little Falls Trail near the DC/Montgomery County line
in the western half of the count circle while an additional two made an
appearance near the Stone Bridge at Hunting Creek. The Kenilworth Aquatic
Gardens hosted an American Bittern and Wilson Snipe for count week and
Bonaparte's Gulls were present in the Washington Channel for count week.
Larry Cartwright, Compiler
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