[Ontbirds]KETTLE POINT. CBC.

[The RIDERS]

Hello Birders.
                             There was some nervousness expressed 
from some of the participants as to just when the big snowstorm would 
hit us.  Although some left for home before our 'Count Down' in the 
Pinery Park VC. we had a good turn out.

We managed to find 69 species for the day, missing both PINE and 
EVENING GROSBEAKS and also BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS, all of which are around 
the area still.

Highlights were--
                                  RED-THROATED LOON, 2 TUNDRA SWANS, 
5 GADWALL, 6 BALD EAGLES, 1 GOLDEN EAGLE, and a MERLIN.

16 WILD TURKEYS seem low, but no RUFFED GROUSE or their trails were 
found.  Maybe the local GOSHAWKS are having an effect on them?
  The OWLS were represented by E. SCREECH OWL, Gt. HORNED, 
SHORT-EARED, LONG-EARED,  and  SAW-WHETS.

RING-BILLED GULLS have started to over-winter in this area  since the 
first count in 1968 and 20 is a good number for the current ice 
conditions up in Lake Huron.
The 3 KINGFISHERS were good birds.  We had Count week PILEATED, but 
did well and had a single N. FLICKER and 2 RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS 
among this group.
60 HORNED LARKS were low, as were 20 TUFTED TITMICE.  A single 
CAROLINA WREN was exploring an old Fall Webworm 'nest' in our yard.
The 2 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, 5 E. BLUEBIRDS and a flock of 31 Am. 
ROBINS took a lot of finding.
Careful searching in the Ausable Valley produced 1 SONG , 1 
WHITE-THROATED, 1 WHITE CROWNED SPARROWS.
Other highlights were 3 PURPLE FINCH, 243 COMMON REDPOLL and a dark 
GREENLAND sub-species,  3 HOARIES and a lone PINE SISKIN.

The single OREGON JUNCO  was the second sub-species of this years count.

We all agreed that we all had a very enjoyable day and my special 
'Thank You'  to Alistair MacKenzie for making the PINERY PARKS 
Visitor Center available for an hour after normal 'Closing time'and 
to  Jessica Brownlee Executive Director of 'The Friends Of Pinery 
Park' along with John for the delicious Chili meal that we all 
enjoyed very much.

The deteriorating weather and road conditions did not dampen the 
enthusiasm at 'Count Down' but did shorten the proceedings.

Thanks to Everyone.
Good Birding.
Alf Rider.
CBC. Compiler.