[obol] [COBOL] Bend CBC

[Tom Crabtree]

Frigid temperatures for the Bend CBC held on 12/16 did not prevent a 
dedicated group of participants from recording the second highest number of 
species tallied in the 39 years of operation.  The 94 species recorded was 
second only to the 98 seen in 2001.  A number of count rarities and some 
amazing numbers of certain species made this a truly memorable count.

Totally unprecedented was a female Costa's Hummingbird, thoroughly 
documented by Dave Tracy's excellent video.  I suspect this is a first for 
any Oregon Christmas count.  Although no other count firsts were recorded, a 
number of species made only their second appearance included Snow Goose, 
Ferruginous Hawk, Bewick's Wren, and Purple Finch,  Other unusual sightings 
included 2 Cackling Geese, an Anna's Hummingbird, and a White-throated 
Sparrow.

All time high numbers were counted for a number of species:  Cackling 
Goose - 4; Bufflehead - 190; Cooper's Hawk - 9; Red-tailed Hawk - 74; 
American Kestrel - 30; Mourning Dove - 826 (!); Northern Flicker - 225; 
Western Scrub Jay - 120 [as recently as 2000 only 10 were recorded]; Varied 
Thrush - 71 (including 8 males in one yard) and 24 Lesser Goldfinch.

In general, warmer weather species prevailed (2 Hummingbirds, Bewick's Wren, 
Varied Thrush, Lesser Goldfinch.  Irruptive winter finches were scarce. 
There were only 2 Pine Siskins, 82 Red Crossbills and 25 Evening Grosbeaks. 
Only 120 Cedar Waxwings were counted this year, compared to 1387 last year.

Thanks to all intrepid counters and feeder watchers for contributing.