Christmas Bird Count

Our participation in the 2019 Brussels Christmas Bird Count occurred during deer hunting and breaking-down the camp.  It was during this time we counted birds.  And on Sunday afternoon Jill and I spied this – a bird previously sighted on February 9, 2015.  

A rough-legged hawk. 

I always figured this bird for quite rare as this is a tundra-dwelling raptor that nests in the Arctic and likely winters near the borders of Canadian boreal forests. 

 

In any event we submitted our report and on the subject of the rough-legged hawk who knew....

 

Hi Tom,     

 

Thanks for doing the count and sending in your report.  Not many people doing feeder counts get to report a rough-legged hawk.  They are not as rare as one would think.  Two years ago on the entire Brussels count we had 31 of them seen in one day. Back in 2003 their numbers reached 39.      

 

They are one of two open country hawks seen here in winter.  The other is the red-tailed and this year appears to be good for both species in the Brussels count.     

 

Once all reports are in I will make a total report and will email one to you.

 

Stay tuned....