Date: 12/21/25 3:23 pm From: Corey Finger <10000birdsblogger...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Results of the 2025 Queens County Christmas Bird Count
The Queens County Christmas Bird Count was held a week ago today, on Sunday, December 14. The weather was not wonderful, with steady snowfall late on the night of the 13th through late morning on the 14th, followed by strong and cold winds. Despite the weather, over 70 participants spread out through our territories and counted 32,095 individuals of 125 species, well above the historical number of species and right in line with recent years. (We also had an additional 8 count week birds.)
*Selected Highlights* *first occurrence* of Ross's Goose on Queens CBC! narrowly missed 2nd occurrence of Greater White-fronted Goose with a count week bird high count of Cackling Goose, with 2 high count of Canada Goose, with 7,552, over 500 more than previous high count high count of 51 Wood Duck, obliterating old high of 30, set just last year high count of 3,400 Northern Gannet wiped out our old high by over 1,000 (we had a massive feeding flock in late afternoon off the Rockaways) high count of Ruddy Turnstone with 35, breaking a record of 33 from 34 years ago narrowly missed adding Least Sandpiper as a count first with 2 birds during count week Long-billed Dowitcher had a high count of 10 on only its 6th occurrence on the count Wilson's Snipe more than doubled our all-time high count with 15 (we had 7 two years ago) high count of 12 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, breaking last year's 9 for only the fourth time on the count, a Yellow-breasted Chat for only the third time on the count, Indigo Bunting
*Selected Lowlights* just 1 Surf Scoter just 2 White-winged Scoters just 1 Boat-tailed Grackle (they must have been hiding west of Cross Bay Boulevard)
*Notable Saves* Gray Catbird - Forest Park Sector Ruby-crowned Kinglet - Douglaston Sector Fish Crow - Douglaston Sector
*Notable Misses* Great Cormorant Ring-necked Pheasant (safe to say they are extirpated in Queens) American Woodcock Great Horned Owl (but we got it for count week) Cedar Waxwing
Next year's count will be held on Sunday, December 20, 2026. Let me know early if you want to participate!
Good (Christmas Bird Count) Birding, Corey Finger
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