Posting for Roger Frost, CBC compiler. Margaret Bain The Port Hope-Cobourg Christmas Bird Count was held on Saturday, December 14. Observers battled a steady wind-driven rain all day. This rain turned to wet snow in the afternoon, making the roads very slick. The 12,800 birds of 62 species were both well below our count averages of recent years. There were no all -time high counts. However, the 57 White-throated Sparrows nearly tied the previous record. Many species were found in near record low numbers. Highlights included: Harlequin Duck – one adult male in Port Hope Northern Shoveler – 3 birds in Cobourg and Baltimore Ruddy Duck – one female in Cobourg Rough-legged Hawk – one west of Cobourg Peregrine Falcon – two birds count week in Port Hope Eastern Towhee – one bird east of Cobourg Chipping Sparrow – a flock of 3 at a Cobourg feeder Fox Sparrow – one bird at the same feeder with the Chipping Sparrows Winter finches were non-existent. The only finches found were American Goldfinch and House Finch. Despite a bumper crop of wild fruit, robins, bluebirds and Cedar Waxwings were only observed in average numbers. Roger Frost Compiler