The twenty-third annual Cedar Creek Christmas Bird Count (CBC) was held on December 16, 2007. The Cedar Creek CBC is an area within a fifteen mile radius of Cedar Creek including the Town of Essex in which American Crows have traditionally had a winter roost. Area 2 of the CBC extends from County Road 34 (Talbot Trail) south to Lake Erie. The northern section includes the section of County Road 34 to North Ridge then south to the Greenway, bordered by the McCain Side Road to the east and the Arner Townline (County Road 23) to the west. Northern Area 2 includes residential neighborhoods along County Road 34, expanses of agricultural lands, a pine plantation and several woodlands within the northeast tributary of the Cedar Creek watershed.
The team in the upper portion of Area 2 visited the Balkwill Lands in the early afternoon of December 16, 2007. Bill Balkwill guided the team to 12 Dark-eyed Juncos on agricultural lands above which a Roughlegged Hawk was circling. Bill reported a Great Horned Owl that the team was lucky enough to hear. Three Red-bellied Woodpeckers were seen along with two Tree Sparrows, a Mourning Dove, six House Sparrows, and two Blue Jays.
Bill Balkwill reported that in the late afternoon of December 16, 2007, good numbers of Dark-eyed Juncos and House Finches along with Tree Sparrows were visiting the area around the Balkwill residence. This visitation has continued through December during the early morning and evening.
Some Tree Sparrows were noted feeding late one afternoon at 5:00 p.m. This late feeding reminded Bill of an incident a few years ago when a Dark-eyed Junco was observed feeding one moonlit night on the patio. As well, four Eastern Bluebirds are showing up.