Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge - Christmas Bird Count 2016

It was that season again…not the holidays, but the Christmas Bird Count season. Joined by Tom Forwood and Bob Danley at the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge. We explored the back areas of the Refuge that are typically closed to the public, and we turned up 56 species through a long day. the highlights included a Count-first Pacific Wren along the banks of the Bitterroot River and the first Townsend’s Solitaire of the entire year for the Refuge. We also sighted both Trumpeter and Tundra Swans, and a lone Northern Shrike. Buteo (that’s “hawk” in Plains) numbers were high with good representation by both Rough-legged and Red-tailed Hawks.

Birds Observed

240	Canada Goose
9	Trumpeter Swan
6	Tundra Swan
4	Gadwall
1	American Wigeon Age & Sex
186	Mallard
1	Northern Shoveler
29	Northern Pintail
27	Green-winged Teal
90	Ring-necked Duck Large flock of about 50 flushed with 28 counted by ones in another flock. Smaller flock of 12.
4	Lesser Scaup
7	Bufflehead
18	Common Goldeneye
16	Hooded Merganser
5	Common Merganser
30	California Quail
75	Ring-necked Pheasant Several large groups
18	Wild Turkey
1	Pied-billed Grebe
5	Great Blue Heron
1	Northern Harrier
4	Bald Eagle
23	Red-tailed Hawk
1	Red-tailed Hawk (Harlan’s)
8	Rough-legged Hawk
4	Virginia Rail 2 calling at one point, one flew across some open water. 4th was edging some cattails near open water.
9	American Coot
3	Killdeer
1	Wilson’s Snipe
11	Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)
10	Eurasian Collared-Dove
3	Mourning Dove
3	Belted Kingfisher
9	Downy Woodpecker
3	Hairy Woodpecker
6	Northern Flicker
1	American Kestrel
1	Northern Shrike
44	Black-billed Magpie
10	Common Raven
29	Black-capped Chickadee
5	Red-breasted Nuthatch
10	White-breasted Nuthatch
4	Pygmy Nuthatch
2	Pacific Wren
1	Marsh Wren
1	American Dipper
2	Townsend’s Solitaire
49	European Starling
5	American Tree Sparrow
9	Dark-eyed Junco Mostly Oregon types with one or two Slate-colored as well.
18	Song Sparrow
210	Red-winged Blackbird
9	House Finch
18	Red Crossbill
8	American Goldfinch
16	House Sparrow