NEW JERSEY/PENNSYLVANIA
William J. Boyle, Jr.

In contrast to the three previous years, an unusually cold late fall and early winter preceded the counts, and many experienced poor to miserable weather on count day. Nevertheless, there were many records of lingering migrants and an extraordinary list of rarities, including the region's first Allen's Hummingbird. Only a few counts see new high species totals, but the interesting variety made up for the unexceptional totals.
There were again 27 counts submitted from New Jersey, and again no pelagic count. An above-average total of 201 species were identified, but the average per count of 93 species was well below recent means, with only Trenton Marsh reaching a new high. Cape May's leading total of 152 species was their lowest since 1993, while Oceanville's second place 124 was more typcial of previous history. Barnegat and Cumberland suffered abominable weather on New Year’s Eve and tallied 113 and 112, respectively. Belleplain also managed 113 on a cold and windy day.

Only a single Red-necked Grebe at Long Branch was a bit surprising given the early winter chill. Most herons and egrets cleared out early, with only Cape May getting a good list of eight species, including Yellow-crowned Night-Heron. Waterfowl numbers were average, but some of the less common species were in short supply. A Greater White-fronted Goose was at Princeton, but only three Eurasian Wigeon were located, and a pair of Blue-winged Teal at Cape May. One each of King and Common eider were at Long Branch and Cape May, respectively, and Barnegat's 17 Harlequin Ducks were the only ones found.

Osprey has become an annual highlight in recent years and this season there were two, one each in Cumberland and Lakehurst. The totals of 89 Bald Eagles and 24 Rough-legged Hawks do not reflect the much higher numbers present later in the winter. On an interesting conservation note, the explosion in the population of Wild Turkey in the past 20 years is contrasted with the decline of the Ruffed Grouse. In 1980, 13 of the 23 counts tallied a total of 56 Ruffed Grouse (always a tough bird to find), while only Walnut Valley had a flock of 44 Wild Turkeys. This year, Sussex County and Walnut Valley each had a single Ruffed Grouse, but 17 counts produced a total of 1104 Wild Turkeys.

One Sandhill Crane discovered on the Trenton Marsh CBC lingered for several months, but a pair located on the Elmer CBC are a part of a group of about seven, including recent offspring, that appear to have taken up residence in northwestern Cumberland County. Nineteen species of shorebirds were represented, but included nothing unusual. Sandy Hook had both Laughing Gull and Little Gull, while Cape May had another five Laughing Gulls. Trenton Marsh recorded the state's first CBC Thayer's Gull, in addition to a record 92 Lesser Black-backed Gulls at Florence. Sandy Hook had a Dovekie and Oceanville a Common Murre.
Although an unidentified Selasphorus hummingbird has been on a previous CBC, a positive Rufous Hummingbird, the first for a New Jersey CBC, was a regular visitor to a feeder in the Moorestown circle, and New Jersey's first ever Allen's Hummingbird in Cape May was also--obviously a CBC first. Seven Eastern Phoebe's was well above average, and a lingering Ash-throated Flycatcher at Cape May also made it past count day. Following last year's influx, a mere three Northern Shrikes were located, and the Loggerhead Shrike that returned to Cumberland departed well before the count.

Cape May produced Blue-headed Vireo for the second year in a row, this time two birds, while a single Tree Swallow at Belleplain was the only one of the season. Among the eight species of warblers were a Nashville Warbler and a Cape May Warbler at Sussex County, and four Yellow-breasted Chats. Years ago I railed about the poorly documented numbers of Chipping Sparrows or regional CBC's, especially in the northern counties. Although there are probably still a number of misidentifications, the tally of 406 Chippies on 15 counts clearly indicates an increase in wintering birds.

Seven Vesper Sparrows was more than usual, and both Cape May and Lakehurst had single Lark Sparrows. Cumberland had a Grasshopper Sparrow and Great Swamp produced its first Le Conte's Sparrow. Lincoln's Sparrow is always a rarity at CBC time, so the presence of individuals on three different counts was unprecedented, but was echoed in Pennsylvania, as well. Likewise, any bunting is an extreme rarity, but an Indigo Bunting at Cape May was outclassed by a female-plumaged Painted Bunting at Oceanville. Winter finches were essentially nonexistent, with a single Common Redpoll at Belleplain and a total of five Pine Siskins on four counts.

Sixty-six counts were submitted from Pennsylvania, one less than last year, and both the total number of species (157) and the average number of species per count (64) were well down from last year. Also in contrast to last year, when 24 counts reached all-time highs, this year there were no new records and only two counts exceeded last year's totals.

Southern Lancaster County led for the fourth year in a row, but failed to break 100 for the first time since 1989. Glenolden (95), Lower Bucks (91), and Elverson (90) were the only other counts in the 90's. Most of the counts were held on the first or last weekend of the period and encountered generally poor weather conditions.

Erie had the only Red-throated Loon, but neither of the rarer grebes was found. Lehigh Valley had a Green Heron, while Lower Bucks county had both a Brant and a Barnacle Goose, the latter of dubious origin. A pair of Trumpeter Swans in Bernville was likely from the Ontario introduction program, and a Long-tailed Duck at Culp was the only other waterfowl highlight. An unprecedented total of five Ospreys was recorded, including two at Scranton. Other raptors of note were an impressive 62 Rough-legged Hawks and two Golden Eagles.
Two Laughing Gulls at Reading were surprising, considering how rare the species is even on the coast in winter. One of the highlights of the season was a Little Gull at Erie. Southern Bucks, which shares many of the same birds with the Trenton Marsh, NJ, count, tallied a record 132 Lesser Black-backed Gulls. The only Snowy Owl of the season was at Linesville, and both Short-eared Owl and N. Saw-whet Owl were well down from last year.

An Ash-throated Flycatcher at Lancaster was the bird of the season in Pennsylvania, and only three Northern Shrikes were found. Blue-gray Gnatcatchers were at Glenolden and Lancaster (2). Only five species of warbler were located, half of last year's total, with a Black-and-White Warbler at Ryerson the only really unusual one. A Le Conte's Sparrow at Lititz was new for that count, and four Lincoln's Sparrows on three counts, Erie, Hamburg (2), and Lehigh Valley, was an exceptional tally.

A Rose-breasted Grosbeak lingered for some time at Warren, but winter finches, as in New Jersey, were almost non-existent. One Pine Grosbeak was reported from DuBois and a single Red Crossbill from Dallas. Emporium (3) and Indiana (2) had the only Evening Grosbeaks, a species whose decline in the East has been dramatic in recent years. On the 84th CBC in 1983-84, the first year that I edited these counts, the 52 Pennsylvania CBC's produced at total of 6683 birds, with only three counts missing the species. Although this is clearly an irruptive species, the recent trend is steadily downward.