Munster-Richmond-Manotick (ONRI) CBC Dec 19th, 2020 - 5th count year The 2020 "Richmond Count" was a defining one in many ways, setting a benchmark against which future counts here will be measured. Though the circle has been surveyed since 2016, this was the 1st since the count circle was shifted slightly to the SE, the first with a substantial contribution by feeder watchers, and the first with such a large number of participants (63). The result: *19,258 birds of 61 species* (+ 2 count week species), both large increases over previous highs (7,432 birds in 2019, 47 species in 2018 & 2019). In fact, 48 species had record high counts this year, and another 3 tied previous marks! An easy day for participants, with moderate temperatures, -3.6 to -13.3 C, light winds, and almost no precipitation, though the sky clouded over in mid-morning. Perhaps more important from a bird perspective, water was mostly ice-covered aside from fast-moving sections of the main rivers, and there was very little snow on the ground. Canada Geese were the main beneficiaries of the lack of snow, with 6,555 birds counted, shattering the previous high of just 8 birds in 2018, and none last year! On the flip side, counts were low this year for “snow” birds – Snow Buntings, Snowy Owls – and no Lapland Longspurs or Horned Larks were found. The lack of snow did allow for some birding by bicycle. The finches did not disappoint, with 10 species recorded, 9 in record numbers. Common redpolls were indeed common birds (1,789), while 3 finch species were added to the circle list: Pine Siskin (25), Hoary Redpoll (13), and White-winged Crossbill (2). The impact of the shift is apparent in the count – Common Goldeneye and Common Mergansers were recorded for the 1st time, with Wood Duck and Northern Pintail also found in the Manotick sector. 19 feeder watchers took part this year and made an immediate impact, discovering the only Boreal Chickadee, contributing the majority of Pine Siskins, and responsible for at least a quarter of the count for several other species: House Finch, Evening Grosbeak, Mourning Dove, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Northern Cardinal, American Goldfinch, Downy Woodpecker, and Cooper’s Hawk. In total, feeder watchers reported 669 birds of 25 species on count day. *Rare Species:* 8 species recorded on the 2020 count would be flagged as “rare” if submitted to eBird in this region on this date. *Boreal Chickadee, White-crowned Sparrow* and *Cackling Goose* have each only been reported in 1 year of the past 10 in the Ottawa region at this time of year. *Looking Forward:* We hope everyone had fun in 2020, and that participation can be at least as good in 2021! There is still room to find more Feeder Watchers for the count. And there are still a few birds out there that have not yet been seen in the circle on count day, such as Hooded Merganser, Peregrine Falcon, Carolina Wren, Red-bellied Woodpecker ... Count organizers Nina Stavlund & Peter Blancher wish to thank Bill Mountan and Sue Jenkins for establishing this count and building it up in the previous 4 years, Derek Dunnett, Tobi Kiesewalter, Erik Pohanka, Tony Beck and Jeff Skevington for their leadership in ONRI sectors, and all participants for their help in 2020! Happy New Year! Nina Stavlund & Peter Blancher.