The NYDE, Upper Delaware Christmas Count was conducted on New Year’s Eve.  We had mild weather, open ponds, rushing streams, and snow only at the higher elevations.   16 participants found over 4,000 birds and 51 unique species.   The large number of Ring-billed gulls found in Hamden and Downsville contributed to the increase in total birds.  

Some nice finds were Great Blue Heron, American Kestrel, Eastern Bluebird, Belted Kingfisher, Red-winged Blackbird, Winter Wren (a first, seen in 2 sectors), Field Sparrow and a lone Orange-crowned Warbler (also a first).    

Thanks to all who participated!

-Pam Peters

NYDE (Upper Delaware) December 31, 2023

4162 TOTAL BIRDS

51 TOTAL UNIQUE SPECIES

(Bold indicates high)

1 Great Blue Heron only seen CW once

161 Canada Goose

16 American Black Duck

48 Mallard

58 Common Merganser

4 Hooded Merganser

1 Common Goldeneye

18 Bald Eagle

1 Sharp-shinned Hawk

1 Cooper’s Hawk

21 Red-tailed Hawk

1 American Kestrel

1 Ruffed Grouse

86 Wild Turkey

1025 Ring-billed Gull

3 Herring Gull

374 Rock Pigeon

190 Mourning Dove

1 Eastern Screech-Owl

1 Barred Owl

1 Northern Saw-whet Owl

5 Belted Kingfisher

8 Red-bellied Woodpecker

23 Downy Woodpecker

14 Hairy Woodpecker

1 Pileated Woodpecker

160 Blue Jay

586 American Crow

7 Common Raven

445 Black-capped Chickadee

29 Tufted Titmouse

3 Red-breasted Nuthatch

46 White-breasted Nuthatch

6 Brown Creeper

7 Carolina Wren

14 Golden-crowned Kinglet

26 Eastern Bluebird

1 American Robin

489 European Starling

24 Northern Cardinal

12 American Tree Sparrow

2 Song Sparrow

12 White-throated Sparrow

157 Dark-eyed Junco

2 Red-winged Blackbird seen once in 2016 trial run of count

8 House Finch

44 American Goldfinch

9 House Sparrow

2 Winter wren First for NYDE

6 Field Sparrow 1 seen in 20211 Orange-crowned Warbler First for NYDE