Region 7 is a very high count. A flock of 32 Canada Geese would not be 
worth mentioning, except for one thing - these were the small hutchinsii 
subspecies, carefully documented in Region 1, and a state record count by 
far! Region 7 reported at least two more of this small form. 
OTHER WATERBIRDS 
Red-necked Grebe, an uncommon to rare species in much of the state, 
was considered up in Regions 2, 3, 5, 6, & 7. Jaegers had a fine season on 
Lake Ontario with 170 individuals in Region 2,24 in Region 5, and other 
sightings in Regions 1 & 6. Some gull highlights included Franklin's in 
Regions 2,3, 9, & 10, Sabine's in Regions 1 & 5, a Black-headed in Region 
2, and a Laughing in Region 3. The Niagara River in Region 1 had an off 
year but still produced 2-3 California Gulls, an annual visitor there since 
1992. Although no scintillating shorebirds were found, several rare and 
uncommon species showed up in multiple Regions. Hudsonian Godwits 
were in four Regions, Marbled Godwits in two. Western Sandpipers in 
five. Purple Sandpipers in four. Buff-breasted Sandpipers in three. Long¬ 
billed Dowitchers in four. Red-necked Phalaropes in six, and Red 
Phalaropes in four. 
NORTHERN INVADERS 
It was nearly unanimous among the Regional Editors - Northern 
Shrikes staged a very strong movement. It will be interesting to see if 
CBC totals for this year rival the record shattering 1995-96 irruption. 
Bohemian Waxwings came early and were relatively widespread. They 
were found in Regions 1, 2, 7, 8, & way down south in Region 10, where 
they are listed as casual in Bull's Birds of New York State (1998). Red¬ 
breasted Nuthatches were widespread and numerous and they also came 
early. And, like two years ago, they presaged an invasion of what bird¬ 
ers really long for - winter finches. Although numbers were generally 
modest and some species were already in decline by season's end, any 
finch invasion nowadays makes birders happy. In Region 10, they must 
have been ecstatic as numbers of both crossbills. Pine Siskins, and 
American Goldfinches were very impressive there. Resident Black- 
capped Chickadee numbers are sometimes augmented by migrants from 
more northerly regions, as was the case this year. Regions 2, 3, 4, 8, and 
9 noticed the movement. A Boreal Chickadee tagged along in Region 9. 
The Kingbird 2000 March; 50(1) 
40 
