VCU Rice Center – Christmas Bird Count

2 Ross's Goose
1 Cackling Goose
185 Bufflehead, HC, (previous,164, in 2008)
Common Merganser - Absent, present most years
3 Horned Grebe, not recorded every year
Northern Bobwhite - Absent since 2007 (This species is present in spring, summer and late fall, but is apparently difficult to find in winter)
4 Osprey, HC, (previous, 3 in 1999)
2 Merlin, HC, (singles, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007)
2 King Rail, HC, (2nd count record, 1, 1976)
2 Virginia, HC , (2nd count record, 1, 2001)
10 American Woodcock, (first double digit count since 2002, 46)
5,354 Herring Gull HC, ) previous, 2,149 in 2008)
1 Barn Owl (absent since 2002)
1 Rufous Hummingbird HY Male - CW
1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, not recorded every year
10 House Wren, HC, (previous, 9 in 1979)
3 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, =HC (3 in 1992, 2008)
4 Orange-crowned Warbler HC (3,1955, 2008)
1 Nashville Warbler, 2nd record (1,1992)
1 Black-throated Blue Warbler, female, new to count
2 Le Conte's Sparrow, new to count
1 Lincoln's sparrow, 4th record (singles 1974, 2005, 2007)
427 Swamp Sparrow HC, 296 @ Rice Center (previous,112 in 2010)
1 Lapland Longspur, (9 in 1987, 2 in 2001, 12 in 2002, 1 in 2006, 1 in2010)
200 Rusty Blackbirds, 2nd HC (HC= 1,054, 2005)
3 Common Grackle, Lowest since 1975, 1