by Betty Learmouth
Across Canada and the United States, birders sought out our wintering birds in over 2,000 count circles (over 360 in Canada) from December 14, 2005 to January 5, 2006. Within Essex County on December 17, 2005, participants in the 21st annual Cedar Creek Christmas Bird Count counted birds within a fifteen mile radius of Cedar Creek which includes the natural heritage on Bill and Jack Balkwill's property.
Three CBCers, Marg Calder, Cherise Charron and Betty Learmouth, arrived at the Balkwill farm in the early afternoon of the Cedar Creek CBC. As the CBCers approached the Balkwill farm along the concession road, bird activity was noted in a weedy field south of the Balkwill farm. Upon looking over the foraging birds, the tally was a mixed flock of thirty Dark-eyed Juncos and Northern Tree Sparrows. We wondered if these birds were some that Bill had observed foraging in the Prairie Grass restoration on the Ballkwill property.
As the CBCers stepped from their vehicle, the weather was cold but sunny with a light westerly wind. Bill and Jack Balkwill joined the CBCers and the group set off across the agricultural lands towards the Prairie Grass. A recent snowfall made the walking quite strenuous but upon stepping into the lee of the woodlot next to the Prairie Grass, the area proved to be sheltered and we could actually feel the sun's warmth.
Bill called our attention to movement along the woodlot edge. We looked to find a flock of thirty-seven American Tree Sparrows, which flew back and forth between the Prairie Grass and the woodland edge. As we left the Prairie Grass site, Jack Balkwill pointed to tracks in the snow where White-tailed Deer had scrapped the snow in order to drink from the partially frozen pond.
Bill suggested we might like to walk several of the woodland lanes, so we choose Lane 5 which is the extension of the Old Logging Road. We were fortunate to find a male Red-bellied Woodpecker foraging on a hickory. Nearing the north end of the lane, a large raptor flew off the west. The CBCers were hoping that it might be a Great Horned Owl, but Bill thought it was a Red-tailed Hawk.
We walked across Lane 9, then south along Lane 7 or Hickory Lane, pausing to look at a bluebird nesting box which was the winter home of White-footed Mice, one of which looked at us as we opened the box. Back in the Balkwill driveway, we noted Dark-eyed Junco, and a variety of other birds attracted to the feed which Jack was providing.
The following is a summary of birds seen throughout the day as well as the Count Week on the Balkwill property.
| Species | Nos. |
|---|---|
| Turkey Vulture | Count Week |
| Cooper's Hawk | 1 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 1 |
| Mourning Dove | 9 |
| Red-bellied Woodpecker | 1 |
| Blue Jay | 5 |
| White-breasted Nuthatch | 2 |
| European Starling | 4 |
| American Tree Sparrow | 37 |
| Song Sparrow | 2 |
| Dark-eyed Junco | 15 |
| Brown-headed Cowbird | 2 |
| House Sparrow | 1 |