Summary of the 67^th Annual Bombay Hook Christmas Count

23 December 2007 

Weather plays a vital role in any outdoor activity. This year’s count had beautiful weather before count day; sunny, warm, more like autumn then winter. Count Day had an approaching cold front with a rising warm front producing fog and drizzle along the coast. The fog along Delaware Bay was so thick that you couldn’t even see waterfowl flying offshore, let alone identify them.

 Temperatures were mild (36 to 53^o F) and the rain held off until sunset. Wind was E-SE at 5-15 MPH. There was a two hour window in the morning, when the fog lifted inland allowing good birding conditions. Tides play an important role in finding birds on the Bombay Hook count. Changing tides area best for catching waterfowl and shorebirds as they start feeding. Careful consultation of tide charts determine where and when to scope the “Big Water”. This year, we didn’t have a low tide per say. The Southeast wind pushed water into Delaware Bay, producing only high and higher tides. No count is complete without some harrowing adventure. One van was temporarily trapped at the boat ramp along the Port Mahon Road as water rose to the hubcaps.

Below is a historical perspective of the count. The first official record of the count is 1939, although I’ve been told that it started unofficially two years earlier. The count has one of the highest total species average for any count not actually touching the ocean. Highest number of species was 143 in 1982. The ten year average is 126 species.

CW – count week
Form – “Ipswich” Savannah Sparrow

The count circle is divided into eight areas for coverage. The center of the count circle is on Rt 9 just above Leipsic. The circle covers from Woodland Beach to Kitts Hummock, including Bombay Hook, Little Creek, Dover AFB, Pickering Beach, and the metropolis of Cowgills Corner.

 Bombay Hook Count Circle:

 This year’s results included four rarely seen species. These pictures were not taken count day but are from my personal files.

 A Common Moorhen was reported by Bert Filemyr, Bill Murphy, and Jane Henderson at Finis Pool in Bombay Hook NWR. The bird whinnied once at 5:00 am. This was only the fourth count record.

A Green Heron was found flying past Port Mahon by Sally O’Byrne for only the third count record and first in ten years. 

Snowy Egret was seen by Ken Liehr’s son Paul, visiting from California. Ken is a retired biologist for the F&WS at the refuge, lives in Smyrna and finds many of the rarities reported at Bombay Hook. The egret was found at Shearness Pool.

Ten Semipalmated Plovers were in the boat ramp parking lot at Port Mahon. Not only is it only the 9^th count record but also the second highest count total.

There were record high counts for Bald Eagles (16 adults and 9 Juvenals), Short-billed Dowitcher (26), Rock Pigeon (170), Carolina Wren (172) and Eastern Towhee (72). Conversely, low counts were recorded for American Kestrel, whose decline is startling.

What has befallen the Kestrel?

Missed species included loons, cormorants, several species of waterfowl, Bobwhite, Long-eared Owl, Lapland Longspur, and Pine Siskin. The problem was the thick fog on the Delaware Bay. Johnny Miller said that you couldn’t identify the shadows. This was the first year the count has missed Canvasback in 50 years. The fog had a remarkable effect, no owls were calling at night Numbers were low despite an excellent effort. The count recorded only one Hermit Thrush. The week earlier Hermit Thrush, Longspur and Siskin were all reported.

 Some excellent finds included:

DVOC had a strong influence on the success of the count. Andy Fayer, Herb Cutler, Keith Russell, Bert Filemyr, and John Miller all lead groups. Finally, here’s a portrait from the gang covering the refuge, including octogenarian Herb Cutler with his driver, Betty and 11 year old Sam Watson.

Thanks to all those that participated. Special thanks to Kim Steininger for the excellent Short-eared Owl photograph. That bird was found two weeks after the count at Raymond Pool. If you’d like a printout of the count results drop me a line at [email protected].

Andy Ednie

Count Compiler