Christmas Bird Count 2025

Sometimes you have to struggle to get back to a place you love.

2-6-26

I'm finally sharing notes from the Christmas Bird Count here. I've been able to read old blog posts, but could not access the blog to post anything new for months. Obviously I know just enough about technology to mess things up.

Anyway, today is my mother's birthday - 99 if anyone is counting. I wonder if finding the patience to figure out how to renew access to the blog is a gift from her to me. Anyway, I am playing catch-up. I have so many posts long delayed. This is the first of many to come and I will be back dating them (or else it will be nuts to create any kind of order).

I had no less than 4 places I was supposed to be on December 20, 2025. I sent my regrets for everything except the CBC. Unless I'm out-of-the-country, I plan to be here. It is one normal thing I can do in a country gone mad.

Things changed this year. My dedicated duck identifier retired and moved back to his home state. I gained a few extra miles of road to crawl down that included a small wood (for now anyway. The weather has been weird, but while the fog of last year's count stayed away, the wind was strong and so many on the count noted our numbers were somewhat "shorter" than last year. We did, however, count more American White Pelicans and Black-bellied Whistling Ducks than we would normally see in this area.

All in all, nothing was lost, save a couple of birds that should have been there, but were not observed (Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Belted Kingfisher, and Vermilion Flycatcher all had been at the ponds during the weeks around the count, but were not present on the "day of".)

So, here are some of my favorite photos from the week of the count and the links to eBird lists at the end. These are NOT necessarily "good" photos, but will include explanations where necessary and, hopefully, give you a feel for the day and (week) of the count.

Photos are in reverse order. A few at the beginning are from the two days after the count. The last few photos are of 3 days before the count. The great bulk of photos are from the day of the count, but I have edited out most multiples and the worst of the shots.

There are "official" reasons for checking the area before and after having to do with rare birds that we might have regularly, but that just don't happen to show up on THE DAY. My motive to go in advance is to be more familiar with what is hanging out at the ponds and where to expect things (especially if I have not been out there as much as I would like). I go back for a few days to see what might show up - what I might have missed - personally missed (like that darned kingfisher). I don't spend a lot of time doing that, maybe an hour each day.

On the day of the count I am at the ponds from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. And I am joined by a couple of friends to help me see, identify, and count, especially when massive flocks are flying over (Red-winged blackbirds, starlings, ducks, gulls, pelicans, doves....).

Happy birding, friends.

I once wondered why the Peterson bird books showed silhouettes. What would you say this is?*

The day after the count the kingfisher showed up. Of course.

I did have to pay attention, but I knew where to find it. I suppose the wind was too much. Gusts to 30 mph perhaps.

A beautiful line-up of Black-bellied Whistling Ducks.

The only really unusual bird I saw - a White-faced Ibis. It was so far away I barely got this photo.

I love getting more than one bird in a shot. And so many photos are taken through fencing. God bless my camera.

We hardly counted the ducks as most were in someone else's area. Love a good Northern Shoveler.

Pintails are so stately. I love them.

Least Sandpipers showed up better in the light.

Yeah, yeah, yeah...I know it is a bad photo, but it is one of the Bald Eagles with a snake heading back to the nest. I suppose it is one of the reasons to add all the before and afters - gotta put them somewhere.

Scribbled lists. It's madness, I say. It does work, however. And I have my co-counters review and approve the final lists (typed into eBird and official). It is so much better than a Big Day count when I record audio as I drive. That is the most boring thing in the world to transcribe and report.

Silhouette. The birds do not fly up and say, "don't forget me" and identify themselves.

Taking photos have always helped me on the count and they allow me to enter my observations in another, more demanding database. iNaturalist requires a photo and/or recording for proof of an observation.

Last year I waited until 5 p.m. for the Pileated Woodpecker.

This year I was sitting in my car when one of the other birders drove up and asked me what I was doing. "Aren't you through?" he asked. I explained that the entire Bald Eagle family and the Pileated showed up at the last minute in 2024 so I was waiting for them. We only got two of the eagles this year, but the Pileated showed up right on time - just after 5 pm and before dark.

Northern Flicker. No, they don't have a red breast, but this bird is facing into the setting sun and that sunset is reflecting off the bird's breast feathers. Go figure.

Hello! See that big bird atop the tree?

Bald Eagle. It was making its silly high-pitched call. You have to hear it to believe it.

Red-bellied Woodpecker.

Great Egret

Easter Phoebe

A Great Blue Heron is in the foreground and a Wilson's Snipe in the background.

Pine Warbler - might I just mention I had to fight for this shot as these little birds are constantly moving.

One of the most popular trees in this small wooded area. You see a Red-bellied Woodpecker looking out of the lower hole and one just to the right either bringing food or trying to get inside.

And here you see a Eastern Bluebird trying flying over to the stump.

Here is a bluebird perched at the top of the stump and you see there are two holes. I supposed there is some competition for good nesting spots.

Downy Woodpecker in the small woods we added to our area this year.

My two partners on this count. It was great to have their efforts and expertise.

Expand this photo and you will see these are American White Pelicans flying over. I am always tickled when I see something in flight and recognize it right away...it takes lots of practice.

I'd say it's a murder.

I guess I was excited to see the turtles. If you know me, you know I'm a fan of amphibians and reptiles and monitor same. I've rescued a number of turtles in this area.

Wilson's Snipe and Least Sandpipers. I will probably post a few photos of these small birds. They are lovely and have been present at this location for a good while. I love cooperation!

This is day of and look at those Black-bellied Whistling Ducks (my favorite).

I think there were 47 American White Pelicans - that was a ridiculous number for this location. I think they were sheltering from the wind.

Crested Caracara and I think an Eurasian Collard Dove

Look at this Red-tailed Hawk puffed up a bit and steadying itself against the wind. We saw one Red-shouldered Hawk near the largest pond, but I didn't get a photo of it.

Northern Mocking Bird. Thanks, Peterson (and Mom and Dad and DH - his best bird).

This was the sun coming up on the 20th. The overcast sky made for some dim shots.

Is there anything more adorable than sleeping Pied-billed Grebes? I think not.

Carolina Wren.

It earned 2 entries as it showed up while I was taking photos of the grebes and began to sing and sing and sing. It perched on that tree and let me take photo after photo. I am a big fan of wrens.

American Kestrel

See how dim the light first thing? the later shot of these babies was much brighter. But one takes the shots when they can in case there isn't another opportunity.

In the same way I snagged a photo of the pelicans in case they flew. During one count I saw over 400 ducks (entirely too far for identifiable photos) and they flew before the "duck people" showed up with better equipment and knowledge than me. I definitely undercounted the ducks that year.

Eastern Bluebird shining in the sun.

Canada Geese in the background/Pied-billed Grebe in the foreground.

American Kestrel

The butcher-bird, Loggerhead Shrike. I do love them so. Feisty little things.

Cormorant. Yeah. There were quite a few. I find it hard to care as I am not much of a fan. I do love Anhinga, but none this year.

Northern Mockingbird.

White-winged Dove

American Kestrel

Look at that beak!
"A wonderful bird is the pelican. His bill can hold more than his belican."

I don't always get good photos of the Canadas and they are a nuisance, but sometimes lovely.

I learn more about vultures every year. Early birds, the Turkey Vultures.

Mallards, likely domestic as the owner of the largest pond has imported different birds

Waiting for their closeup.

Taken before the CBC, I suppose the kingfisher was mocking me.

On this day before the CBC the BBWD were waiting for me.

They are wonderfully awkward.

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Mourning Doves

Meadowlark - turned out to be my first bird for 2026.

Northern Mockingbird

Yellow-rumped Warbler made its identity clear.

I stared at this for almost a minute before I realized why it is here. In the tallest tree are two birds on a limb. I knew they were hawks, but did not know if I'd be able to identify them. I knew they were Buteos.**