the Hamlin Beach Lakewatch, directed by Brett Ewald, and we had an 
incredible stretch of records. 
When you add October's 198 species and November's 150 to the 
record September total, we ended the season with a year-to-date total of 
296 species. The 10-year average is 282.2. This very good total was 
accompanied by both some positive and some negative trends and only 
represented species tallies, not a real picture of the migration. On the 
plus side were: an impressive Red-necked Grebe showing during 
September; 10,000 Brant past the Hamlin Beach Lakewatch during a three 
day period in October; a Greater White-fronted Goose in Lima, providing 
the first documented record for Livingston County; a record 639 
Buffleheads at Hamlin on 4 November; and high Ruddy Duck counts in 
Wyoming County. Many observers commented that the shorebird habi¬ 
tat was pretty good and that shorebird variety was decent for the most 
part, even though total numbers were not impressive. Baird's Sandpiper 
was recorded in Livingston County for the 3rd, 4th and 5th times. The 
season ended with over 170 jaeger sightings at the lakewatch, the second 
best season's total ever. Reports of both Thayer's Gull and Lesser Black- 
backed Gull continued. An Arctic Tern at Hamlin in October was a good 
find, as was a new record high of five Caspian Terns in Livingston 
County in September. Long-eared Owl in October was also unusual. 
There was a very good flight of Blue Jays in September, and some 
observers commented on the Red-breasted Nuthatch invasion during 
that month. The banding stations ringed record numbers of Gray¬ 
cheeked Thrushes. Observers found good numbers of Northern Shrikes 
and American Pipits. Winter finches put in an appearance at the end of 
the season, but overall numbers of individuals were limited. 
The down side included a very average season for loons and the early 
Homed Grebe flight. Spotted Sandpipers seemed to leave the Region 
early. Ruddy Turnstones and Red Knots were also scarce. It was a rela¬ 
tively poor season for Black-legged Kittiwake. The dwindling of reports 
and numbers of Common Nighthawks continued. 
Observers made little mention of trends one way or the other for 
either passerines or for the migration generally. The banding stations 
added a considerable volume of data to the mix, but the total field bird- 
ing picture revealed little, if anything, relative to trends. 
The list of rare species was quite extensive. September records includ¬ 
ed Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Black Vulture, Franklin's Gull, 
White-eyed Vireo, Dickcissel and Yellow-headed Blackbird. The October 
total featured Great Cormorant, Snowy Egret,. Franklin's Gull, Black¬ 
headed Gull and Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow. November added 
The Kingbird 2000 March; 50(1) 
51 
