WINTER FIELD REPORT, December 2017 to February 2018

This was not a spectacular fall by most measures, but, as usual, there was much to chew on. Continuing the trend seen in recent falls, lingering has become the norm; this phenomenon is across the board, involving, for example, Baird’s Sandpiper, Greater Yellowlegs, Mourning Dove, American White Pelican, Barn Owl, Lesser Goldfinch, several native sparrow species, Palm and Orange-crowned Warblers, and even rearof- the-order Dickcissel. Apparent range expansion is occurring with Red-shouldered Hawk and Barred Owl, the former northward and the latter westward. A couple of taxonomic notes relate to the subspecies Buteo jamaicensis abieticola of Red-tailed Hawk and subspecies Bubo virginianus arcticus of Great Horned Owl; there is discussion of these in the respective species accounts. Perhaps in this category also is the publishing of a recording of Eastern Meadowlark during Dec; departure timing, and even whether they all depart the state in winter, have been vexing questions, so this extra data point is welcome. The corvids are always interesting, if unpredictable and noteworthy; the accounts for Clark’s Nutcracker, Black-billed Magpie, and Common Raven contain a few nuggets. Among the “winter finches”, Common Redpolls were ubiquitous although not in great numbers, and White-winged Crossbills precipitated a sorting-out of the names of the three Lutheran cemeteries in Norfolk. Notable among species occurring in good numbers were Fox Sparrow and Rusty Blackbird, but these were eclipsed by near-record CBC tallies of American Tree Sparrow and Dark-eyed Junco. Rarities were not in evidence except for a sixth state record Harlequin Duck in Burt Co that entertained its numerous visitors with some odd shenanigans.