The 124th Christmas Bird Count in New Jersey and Pennsylvania

The 124^th CBC was run with most counts experiencing favorable weather following a mild fall and early winter. Participation for ,many counts was again up from pre-pandemic participation. Species numbers were average to above average and although some compilers mentioned the scarcity of some of the usually more common birds, other species were found in record high numbers, especially in Pennsylvania. It was yet again a poor winter finch year, but an excellent variety of rarities and late-lingerers was encountered.

Twenty-nine CBCs were carried out in New Jersey, but the data for the Oceanville count is sadly missing due to the compiler’s serious illness. Hopefully, we will be able to add the results at a later date. The total of 208 species was six more than last year’s tally and well above average. It did not include any species new to the New Jersey state CBC list, but did produce a Black-chinned Hummingbird on the New York City portion of the Lower Hudson CBC, a first for that count. Despite some windy, but otherwise mild weather, Cape May improved by 5 species to reach 158, the state high total. Barnegat was second with 127 species, followed by Long Branch (122) and Cumberland County (121). Lower Hudson, which includes parts of New York City and northeast New Jersey had an impressive 331 participants. Two counts, Great Swamp (104) and Raritan Estuary (115) surpassed their previous high totals by an impressive 8 and 5 species, respectively. Ten species were recorded in record high numbers.

The 34 species of waterfowl detected included individual Ross’s Geese at Lower Hudson and Moorestown and 6 Blue-winged Teal. Tundra Swans (136) returned in more typical numbers, but the 20 Canvasback was the lowest total in more than 70 years. Forty-nine Harlequin Ducks was a new high total, beating the previous peak of 38; as usual, most of them were at Barnegat, but Raritan Estuary produced a surprising half-dozen, while Cape May, Lakehurst, and Long Branch each had one. The 5,789 Common Mergansers was the lowest number since 2004, but this species’ abundance is highly dependent on the frozen or open status of reservoirs to the north.

Once again, for the seventh time in nine years, there were no reports of Ruffed Grouse. Wild Turkey numbers decreased again and the 453 birds tallied was the fewest since 1994, when the population was still growing from the reintroduction in the previous decades. Four Red-necked Grebes, 2 at Barnegat and one each at Long Branch and Raritan Estuary, was a better than average showing for recent years and the 2,353 Red-throated Loons was second only to the 2,948 tallied in 2014. A Brown Pelican was a highlight of the Cape May CBC, a record 2,377 Double-crested Cormorants were recorded, but the number of Great Cormorants dropped to 28, the lowest total since 1977.

Cape May had the only two American Bitterns, Barnegat had two Little Blue Herons and three of the four Snowy Egrets (Lower Hudson had the other), but the star of the family was the Cattle Egret photographed on the Northwestern Hunterdon County count, the first on a New Jersey CBC since 1986. Cape May had 9 White Ibis, just the second state record after last year’s single, but one to be expected in the future as the nesting population has exploded in the past two years.

Lakehurst had three Osprey and Tuckerton one, the best showing since 2008 for a species occasionally missed. For the first time in nine years, there were no reports of American Goshawk. Bald Eagle numbers (780) were down slightly from last year and a single Rough-legged Hawk was a good find on the Trenton Marshes CBC. Clapper Rails (98) were again plentiful, as were a record 85 Virginia Rails, 55 of them at Cape May. Cape May had the only Sora, while Salem had the first Common Gallinule recorded since 2015. Sandhill Crane numbers set a new record. The 18 species of shorebirds reported included three Semipalmated Plovers, but no Western Willets for the first time in 34 years. Cape May recorded two Least Sandpipers and a well-documented Semipalmated Sandpiper, two species not found every year. Cape May had the only two Short-billed Dowitchers, while Belleplain (24) and Tuckerton (5) produced all of the Long-billed Dowitchers.

Barnegat produced the only Dovekie of the season, while five coastal counts tallied a total of 824 Razorbills. Two unidentified jaegers at Sandy Hook, probably Parasitic, were the first of that family since 2003. A Black-legged Kittiwake was a highlight of the Cape May CBC and only the second in the past eight years; during the 1970s and 1980s, this species usually numbered in the hundreds on New Jersey CBCs. The Trenton Marshes count yielded the only Black-headed Gull of the season and Sandy Hook added the only Little Gull. A total of 10 Laughing Gulls on five different counts was a bit above average, but Sandy Hook had the only Glaucous Gull. Cape May (135), Belleplain (63), and Barnegat (1) combined for a record 199 Forster’s Terns, far surpassing last year’s 134 and the two Black Skimmers at Long Branch were the first on a state CBC in 22 years.

The Barn Owl total of 6, 4 in Cumberland County, 1 at Belleplain and 1 at Lower Hudson, was the best tally in 9 years. Most of the other owls were in typical numbers, but there were no Snowy Owls again this year and just two Northern Saw-whet Owls. As noted above, the Black-chinned Hummingbird wintering in lower Manhattan was a first for the Lower Hudson CBC and for this region. Three Ruby-throated Hummingbirds at Cape May included a pair of young males that successfully overwintered at one feeder and another that survived at a different location.

Woodpeckers were abundant and included a near-record 479 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers and a record high 213 Pileated Woodpeckers. Numbers of American Kestrels (103) and Merlins (60) held steady, but 92 Peregrine Falcons was a new record, surpassing the previous high of 85. Belleplain and Cape May each had an Ash-throated Flycatcher, while Elmer and Marmora countered with single Western Kingbirds. A Northern Shrike at Sandy Hook was the first on a New Jersey CBC since 2015. A Blue-headed Vireo was a highlight of the Cumberland County CBC as was a White-eyed Vireo at Cape May.        

The rapidly increasing population of Common Ravens continues to spread throughout the state, setting another new record of 437 birds (last year’s record was 269) with representation in 27 of the 28 CBCs, including an amazing 75 at Ramsey. A single Northern Rough-winged Swallow at Trenton Marshes was presumably part of the flock that winters downstream near Philadelphia.

Not unexpectedly, Red-breasted Nuthatches were in short supply after last year’s major incursion and only 17 were found in the region. House Wren (6) and Sedge Wren (6) numbers were about average but the record Winter Wren tally of 487 exceeded the previous (2021) maximum by 138 birds. Two Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, another species not seen every year, were a highlight of the Sandy Hook CBC. A record total of 895 Hermit Thrushes easily surpassed the previous high of 822 set in 2011, but a well-documented Wood Thrush, present for some time in Manhattan, was a major find for the Lower Hudson count and the first on a regional CBC in 17 years. Gray Catbirds were plentiful, the total of 321 being the highest since 2005, and Brown Thrashers (124) also put on a good showing.

An amazing eleven species of wood warblers were found on the regional CBC, including three Ovenbirds in Manhattan again (down from 6 last year. Black-and-white Warblers on the Great Swamp and Lower Hudson counts were the first in six years and the 38 Orange-crowned Warblers beat out last year’s record tally by a single bird. The four Nashville Warblers were found at Long Branch (1) and the New York City side of the Lower Hudson count (3). The Lower Hudson CBC struck again with two Yellow Warblers, one on each side of the Hudson River, only the third and fourth regional CBC records and the first since 1987. A Townsend’s Warbler wintering at a water treatment facility on the Trenton Marshes count was just the second state CBC record, the first being found at Cape May in 2012. Individual Prairie Warblers at Lower Hudson and Marmora were just the third and fourth records in the past 14 years.

The decline of American Tree Sparrow as a wintering species in our region continued, the total of 297 birds being the lowest since 1907, when there were only 9 New Jersey CBCs and about a dozen total participants. All three “salt” sparrows were present in good numbers, with 12 Nelson’s, 24 Saltmarsh, and 28 Seaside. Just 52 White-crowned Sparrows were tallied, the fewest since 1978. Cumberland County had the only Vesper Sparrow and five of the record 11 Lincoln’s Sparrows; the remaining Lincoln’s were found on six different counts. Only 149 Swamp Sparrows were detected, the fewest since 1966; the average for the previous ten years is 922. A first-winter male Summer Tanager was photographed on the Northwestern Gloucester County CBC, just the third New Jersey CBC record and the first since 1985.

A Passerina bunting discovered on the Long Branch CBC was thought to be either an Indigo or Lazuli Bunting, but no positive identification could be made. The new record total of 36 Baltimore Orioles was led by Cape May with 24 birds, including 18 in one tree at the same time. Although it wasn’t a good year for winter finches in general, a count of 309 Purple Finches was the highest total since 2007. Long Branch had the only three Red Crossbills and 77 Pine Siskins on 16 counts was not a bad showing for an off year. White-winged Crossbill, Common Redpoll and Evening Grosbeak were among the missing.

Eighty-seven counts were submitted from Pennsylvania, with a new CBC at Mon Valley; counts at Butler County, Grove City, and a new one at Northeast Butler County were apparently conducted, but failed to submit data. Most of the counts enjoyed mild weather conditions, with temperatures averaging 6 to 8 degrees higher than the previous year. except those held during the second weekend of the period when snow and freezing temperatures hindered birding. Southern Bucks again led the list with 107, followed by Lititz with a count record 105 species and Southern Lancaster County which also managed 105 species despite dense morning fog and heavy afternoon rain. The state-wide total of 169 species was eight above the ten-year average and the highest total since 2012. It included one species new to Pennsylvania CBC’s: Gray Flycatcher. Ten counts achieved record high species totals and 19 species were found in record high numbers, a result partially attributable to the increasing number of participants.

The 33 species of waterfowl recorded this year included a pair of Ross’s Geese at Bethlehem – Easton, but Snow Geese numbers were down to 43,014, the lowest in eight years. A single Blue-winged Teal was at Curtin, but other dabbling ducks were present in average numbers. Some of the diving ducks, on the other hand, were found in record high numbers, including 1,842 Ring-necked Ducks, 3 Harlequin Ducks (2 at Erie and 1 at Southern Bucks), 27 Surf Scoters at Erie, 406 White-winged Scoters at Erie, and 1,558 Bufflehead.

Twenty-seven Ruffed Grouse was a slight improvement over last year’s, but still far below the numbers from the 20^th century. Erie once again had the only Red-throated Loon and 23 of the 47 Common Loons; Linesville had 8 of the latter. Southern Bucks County had 7 Great Cormorants and Pennypack Valley one, the total tying for the second lowest in recent years. Fourteen Great Egrets was the second highest ever and included 10 in Delaware County, 1 at Erie, and a surprising 3 at Bald Eagle State Park. For the first time in eight years, there were no reports of Osprey and just a single American Goshawk at Benezette. Bald Eagles (999) were down 105 from last year’s record count, while the 399 Red-shouldered Hawks was second only to last year’s 441.

A Common Gallinule at Delaware County was just the second on a  Pennsylvania CBC in the past 17 years. Sandhill Crane numbers (164) were down sharply from last year’s near record 364, but still an impressive total considering the state high count was two as recently as 2007. Shorebirds were in short supply, with only the expected Killdeer (126), Wilson’s Snipe (21) and American Woodcock (4) being encountered. Gulls, on the other hand, were plentiful. A Black-legged Kittiwake photographed at Elverson was only the third record for the species on a Pennsylvania CBC and the first since 1999. Southern Bucks County had a Laughing Gull for the second year in a row, the only Glaucous Gull and seven of the ten Iceland Gulls. That count once again had the country’s highest total of Herring Gulls at 41,680, more than seven times the second highest count. Lesser Black-backed Gull numbers were down to 610, less than half of last year’s tally; Upper Bucks County with 390 had the second highest count for the country.

For the second year in a row, a new state record high of Eurasian Collared-Doves was tallied, with 11 at Bernville and a single at Newville. There were no Snowy Owls this year, but the other owl species were well represented with the exception of Long-eared Owls, the total of 4 individuals on three counts being the lowest in many decades. Northern Saw-whet Owls, on the other hand, set a new record of 62 birds and 94 Barred Owls was the second highest total after 101 in 2006. Woodpeckers were plentiful and set new records for Red-headed Woodpecker (196), Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (1,021), Hairy (1.837) and Pileated (1,272) woodpeckers and Northern Flicker (2,828). American Kestrels (747) were down slightly from last year, but 82 Merlins tied last year’s record high total.

A Gray Flycatcher, present for some time, was the highlight of the Belleville CBC and first record ever for Pennsylvania. A near-record total of 41 Eastern Phoebes was second only to the 50 tallied in 1995. For the second year in a row, Lancaster hosted a long-staying Say’s Phoebe, perhaps the same individual as last winter. Single Western Kingbirds at Bethlehem - Easton and West Chester rounded out a good showing of flycatchers for the season.  A well-documented Loggerhead Shrike was present at Buchanan Trail, the first on a Pennsylvania CBC since 2007. Nine Northern Shrikes at scattered locations around the state was the best showing since 2007.

Blue Jays appear to be recovering from the low numbers resulting from West Nile Virus, with 17,480 the highest tally since 2005. Likewise, American Crows (89,188) reached their highest total in a decade. For the fifth year in a row, Common Raven hit a record high, with 1,023 birds reported from 77 of the 87 CBCs. The 40 Northern Rough-winged Swallows at Pennypack Valley was 40 fewer than last year, but still the second highest count for any CBC north of Mexico.

A total of five House Wrens was a good tally for a species not seen every year, but both Winter Wren (706) and Carolina Wren (7,644) set new record highs. Delaware County had the only Marsh Wren. A record 1,096 Hermit Thrushes were reported, far exceeding the previous high of 726 set in 2021. Lingering frugivores rebounded strongly from last year’s lows, with 60,377 American Robins, a record tying 104 Gray Catbirds, and 7, 534 Cedar Waxwings. Again this season, an impressive 10 species of wood warblers were detected. A Nashville Warbler at Delaware County was the 12th for a Pennsylvania CBC, two Black-and-white Warblers were at Pennypack Valley, a well-documented Cape May Warbler,  the state’s tenth, was found at Bernville, a Northern Parula was a highlight of the Southern Bucks County CBC, a total of 19 Pine Warblers on 11 different counts was a new state record high, and a Wilson’s Warbler at Western Schuykill was just the 14th for a state CBC.

The total of 1,345 American Tree Sparrows was the lowest total in many decades as this species continues to winter farther west. Six Clay-colored Sparrows, on the other hand, was a new record high, easily surpassing the previous record of 2 seen in 2015; the species has now been seen in four of the past five seasons. Another new high count was the nine Lincoln’s Sparrows, four above the previous record, for a species that has been increasingly found wintering in the northeastern states. A well-documented Summer Tanager was the highlight of the Pittsburgh-South Hills count and only the second ever for a Pennsylvania CBC.  An encouraging tally of 110 Eastern Meadowlarks was the highest count since 1999. Baltimore Orioles were at Beaver, Southern Lancaster County, and Upper Bucks County, but it was a very poor year for winter finches. Eighteen Red Crossbills were reported and just a single White-winged Crossbill at Central Bucks County. Only 4 Common Redpolls were detected and not a single Evening Grosbeak.