Another List to Start Working On

As if it was announcing another start to winter listing, I woke up to the first snow fall of the season. A wet snow mind you, no accumulation but it was still snowing. It is December 1, 31 days left to add species to the year list and I'm all set to start another list. Yes, it's that time of year again. It's time for the Winter List. The winter birding season starts today and runs until February 28, 2011. Once again, Todd Pepper has volunteered to coordinate this year's list and Blake Maybank will be hosting the results on his website.

During the 2009/2010 winter birding season a total of 191 species were observed by Ontario birders, slightly lower than the 197 species in the winter of 2008/2009. Todd has challenged Ontario birders to try and get 200 species this year.

Last winter, Jean and I observed 75 species, up 4 from the species in 2008/2009. So while we try and get a few more for the 2010 Ontario list (results of the Niagara River Gull Watch to be posted soon), Jean and I will also be ticking species for the winter bird list. Let the madness begin.

2010/2011 Winter List

As of February 28: 77 species

Canada Goose

Mute Swan

Trumpeter Swan

Tundra Swan

Gadwall

American Wigeon

American Black Duck

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Green-winged Teal

Canvasback

Redhead

Ring-necked Duck

Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup

White-winged Scoter
Long-tailed Duck

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Hooded Merganser

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Wild Turkey

Common Loon

Pied-billed Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper's Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

Rough-legged Hawk

American Kestrel
Merlin

Peregrine Falcon

American Coot

Bonaparte's Gull

Ring-billed Gull

Herring Gull

Iceland Gull

Glaucous Gull

Great Black-backed Gull

Rock Pigeon

Mourning Dove

Belted Kingfisher

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Blue Jay

American Crow

Horned Lark

Black-capped Chickadee

Tufted Titmouse

Red-breasted Nuthatch

White-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper
Carolina Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Eastern Bluebird

American Robin

Northern Mockingbird

European Starling

Eastern Towhee

American Tree Sparrow

Song Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Snow Bunting

Northern Cardinal

Red-winged Blackbird

House Finch

Common Redpoll

Pine Siskin

American Goldfinch

House Sparrow