Words On Birds 01-02-26

Newburyport Christmas Bird Count Results
January 02, 2026
By Steve Grinley

     The 2025 Newburyport Christmas Bird Count was held the Sunday before Christmas on December 21. Seven teams scoured a 15-mile radius circle, some starting at 4:30 am searching for owls and all ended at 4:40 pm, more than 12 hours later. The weather was partly sunny with winds 15-25 miles per hour putting the wind chill near freezing.

     Compiler Tom Young commented that the “numbers of birds were generally down, and no species were present in record numbers (although a few were close).” There were two species, Ross’s goose and western kingbird that were first records for the Count, and a vesper sparrow was found for only the 3rd time in the Count’s history.

     The 2 Ross’s geese were on the Hellcat dike on Plum Island, where they had been present for more than two weeks. The western kingbird was found by Jay Fronteiro at the Spencer-Pierce Little Farm in Newbury, likely the same bird that was seen and photographed with the scissor-tailed flycatcher by Dave Larson more than a week before. Unfortunately the scissor-tailed flycatcher wasn’t found on the Count.

     The only other geese found on the Count were 2703 Canada geese. Eighteen swans were in the harbor and 1328 common eiders on the ocean, leading the duck numbers on the count. Eight hundred black ducks and 431 common goldeneye were counted and there was enough open water to for pintail, shovelers, and hooded mergansers to be found.

     Wild turkey numbers seemed low at 68 and mourning doves outnumbered rock pigeons at 178 and 138 respectively. The 55 common loons were almost 4 times more plentiful than the 14 red-throated loons found. A Wilson’s snipe was seen on Plum Islands during Count week.

     Herring gulls were everywhere with 7141counted, along with 422 ring-billed gulls and 51 great black-backed gulls. Only 1 each of Bonaparte’s and Iceland gulls were found and only 1 black-legged kittiwake and 5 gannets were spotted offshore. Four great blue herons were still braving the winter weather as were 8 turkey vultures. Only 2 double-crested cormorants remained north to be counted and only 9 great cormorants have arrived so far this winter.

     Red-tailed hawks led the hawk numbers with 78 counted. Eighteen bald eagles were seen on Count day and that number should climb as more water freezes up north. Twenty-three harriers were counted, 16 Cooper’s hawks, 3 sharp-shinned hawks, 1 red-shouldered hawk, and 1 rough-legged hawk were found.

     Owls were well represented with 7 screech, 4 barred, 3 great-horned, 3 short-eared and 1 saw-whet owl found on Count day. One snowy owl was added during count week.

     Downy woodpeckers topped the woodpecker numbers at 170 with relative newcomer red-bellied woodpecker numbering 66. Forty-one northern flickers were found, along with nineteen hairy and 4 pileated woodpeckers. Seven yellow-bellied sapsuckers were also found.

     American crows totaled 748, fish crows 26 and ravens 22. Blue jays numbered 228 to round out the corvids.

     European starling topped the passerine numbers at 3,327 and their also-introduced counterparts house sparrow numbered 787 and house finches totaled 468.

     Black-capped chickadees led the native parade of “feeder birds” (though not always seen at feeders) at 556, followed by 494 juncos, 371 goldfinch, 369 robins, 316 tufted titmice, 273 cardinals, 238 white-throated sparrows, 179 white-breasted nuthatch, 176 song sparrow, 131 eastern bluebirds, 114 tree sparrows, and 105 Carolina wrens.

     Only a few “winter finches” were discovered with 10 pine siskins, 3 purple finches and 1 red crossbill being recorded. More are, hopefully, on our doorstep this winter.

     In total, 111 species were found on this year’s Newburyport Christmas Count and 3 additional count week species. Individual birds totaled 24,611. It was a great effort from all who participated on that cold winter day, and thank you to all who reported their feeder birds from the warmth of their homes.

     Wishing everyone a Happy New Year filled with cool birds and wondrous bird experiences!