Hello Ontbirders, The 80th Toronto Christmas Bird Count was held Sunday December 19 under cold (-19 to -13) and windy (26 - 46 km/h, gusting to 58; wind chill -25 or worse) conditions. Despite the unpleasant weather, our 80+ participants recorded a total of 88 species (4th highest), though the 48,220 individuals were the fewest since 1995. Preliminary results are reported below; final numbers will be on the Toronto Ornithological Club's website by late December, at www.torontobirding.ca/outings#cbc.html. The highlight of today's count was our first ever White-eyed Vireo, seen by Bob Yukich and company in High Park where it has been previously reported. The other most recent High Park rarities (Black-throated Gray Warbler and Wilson's Warbler) have been recorded for count week, and are also new additions to the all-time list. Also of special note, our count's third ever Purple Sandpiper (east end of Toronto Island), third Pine Warbler (Lambton Woods), fourth King Eider (Leslie Spit), sixth Wilson's Snipe (East Don Valley), and sixth Bonaparte's Gull (Humber Bay East). RECORD HIGHS: Double-crested Cormorant - 10 (previously 3 in 1994) American Wigeon - 68 (previously 58 in 2003 ... 44 in 2002 ... 36 in 2001!) Ruddy Duck - 24 (previously 2 in 1972, 1996, and 2003) Bald Eagle - 3 (previously 1 in nine different years) Merlin - 2 (ties seven other years) Hermit Thrush - 7 (ties record set in 1997) White-throated Sparrow - 53 (previous high 52 in 1980) UNUSUAL LOWS: American Black Duck - 58 (fewest since 1946) Herring Gull - 237 (fewest since 1977) Great Black-backed Gull - 32 (fewest since 1985) American Kestrel - 6 (fewest since 1959) Belted Kingfisher - 1 (fewest since 1973) Blue Jay - 18 (fewest since 1949) American Crow - 26 (fewest since 1959) Song Sparrow - 14 (fewest since 1947) ** of note, all of these species except American Kestrel, Belted Kingfisher, and Song Sparrow were reported in this category last year; Blue Jay and American Crow in 2002 also SINGLE BIRDS: (not including those already mentioned) Wood Duck (Leslie Spit), White-winged Scoter (Leslie Spit), Harlequin Duck (mouth of Humber River), Northern Harrier (base of Leslie Spit), Short-eared Owl (Downsview), Fox Sparrow (Weston), Red-winged Blackbird (base of Leslie Spit), Brown-headed Cowbird (Toronto Island) MISSED SPECIES / COUNT WEEK CANDIDATES?: Common Loon (5 times in the past decade) Red-necked Grebe (7 times in the past decade) Northern Shoveler (7 times in the past decade) Green-winged Teal (7 times in the past decade) Canvasback (seen annually over the past 7 counts) Ring-necked Pheasant (4 times in the past decade) Rough-legged Hawk (4 times in the past decade) Thayer's Gull (seen annually over the past 6 counts) Northern Saw-whet Owl (6 times in the past decade) Common Grackle (5 times in the past decade) Count week reports of any of the above species (or any other rarities) between Dec 16 and 22 (inclusive) are most welcome - please e-mail me privately (marcel.gahbauer@utoronto.ca) if you have any such sightings. Thanks to all who participated for making it a great count. Happy holidays and good birding to all! Marcel Gahbauer Montreal / Toronto marcel.gahbauer@utoronto.ca