Date: 12/28/25 12:26 pm From: Steve M. Chorvas <schorvas...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Mohonk Lake/Ashokan Reservoir CBC Results
The 76thannual Ulster County based MohonkLake/Ashokan Reservoir (NYML) Audubon Christmas Bird Count (CBC)was conducted on December 20, 2025. Atotal of 61 participants in 20 field parties (52 field observers and 9 feederwatchers) tallied 11,907 individual birds representing 76species, plus one additional count-week species (Chipping Sparrow). For historical context, this year’s count was three species less than lastyear’s 79 species/14,631 individuals. Ourall-time record high count for this circle was 88 species/ 25,850 individuals in2023, and our lowest count over the last ten years was 72 species in 2022. Our ten-year average is 81 species/15,856individuals/year. No new species wereencountered this year, maintaining our cumulative historic total at 151 species.
Highlightsinclude two Short-eared Owls that were apparently part of a group ofthree individuals overwintering on the Hudson Valley Farm Hub. First observed on 18 November, the owls wereactive early on count day, representing our third count record following one in2019 and a count week record from 1985. Alsofrom the Farm Hub, at least one Lapland Longspur was photographedassociating with a small flock of Horned Larks. This sighting was only our fourth historical record, last recorded onthis count in 2016. The aforementionedcount week Chipping Sparrow was also a noteworthy find for our area inDecember.
Despite ageneral perception of relatively low abundance, most species totals were remarkablyclose to their recent ten-year average. Green-wingedTeal (4), Ruby-crowned Kinglet (6), and Field Sparrow (13) allequaled their previous high counts. DownyWoodpecker (175/previously 170) and White-breasted Nuthatch (321/306)established slightly higher counts, and White-crowned Sparrow (15/8) andEastern Bluebird (344/240) significantly exceeded their historical highcounts. The White-crowned Sparrow numberwas clearly attributed to the presence of 13 individuals at one site (DominoFarm), but the increase of more than 100 Eastern Bluebirds distributed throughout thecount circle is an inexplicableoutlier on an otherwise average day.
There were nonew record low counts, and no species stands out as a particularly bad miss,but there were a few noteworthy species absent from this year’s count. Great Blue Heron was not encountered forthe first time in 22 years. AmericanHerring Gull was missed for only the second time in the last 25 years,present on 65 previous counts. PurpleFinch did not make this year’s count (62 previous years), and the followingspecies, though not reliable from year-to-year, are disappointing misses for thiscount circle: Red-headed Woodpecker, Gray Catbird, Yellow-rumpedWarbler, Common Grackle. We alsomissed several species of diving aquatics (Bufflehead, Common Loon,and Horned Grebe) that are sporadically found in some years with openwater on very limited areas of Ashokan Reservoir.
Environmentalconditions were seasonably cold (24 – 38° F) with mostly snow-free terrain andabundant open water with some standing bodies of frozen water. Morning skies were clear, giving way topartly cloudy conditions later in the day with light 2-8 mph winds. Conditions leading up to count day were similar,following a significant snow storm and extremely cold air temperatures duringthe first week of December that appeared to have pushed some lingering birdsout of the area.
A completereport with a list of participants and effort information will be published inthe John Burroughs Natural History Society newsletter and website at a laterdate. Thanks to all of the fieldparticipants and feeder watchers for another great job providing excellentcoverage, to the sector leaders for recruiting and organizing their fieldparties and submitting their data, and to Mark and Kyla DeDea and everyone thathelped with refreshments and arrangements at our post-count compilation in theHasbrouck Park stone building. Next year's Mohonk Lake/AshokanReservoir CBC is scheduled for the traditional first Saturday of the countperiod, December 19, 2026.
Steve M. Chorvas–MohonkLake/Ashokan Reservoir CBC Compiler
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