Hi everyone, The 56th Minden CBC was held on Saturday, Dec. 17th. Conditions were relatively good with mild temperatures (-3C to 0C), low winds (5-15 kph), overcast skies with occasional flurries/snow. Here are the preliminary results, as data is still trickling in from feeder watchers. Field Observers: 28 Feeder Watchers: 18 Species Found: 49 (above 20 yr average of 45.6 sp) Total Numbers: 3497 (significantly lower than the 20 yr average of 4287) Highlights: Overall, a very quiet day as there is little natural food in the woods. However, the day was punctuated with several good finds: Peregrine Falcon - (1) new for count. Adult hunting pigeons in downtown Minden. Boreal Chickadee - (1) first since 2001 and only the second since 1986. Overwintering with a flock of BCCH near Furnace Falls. Winter Wren - (1) 3rd record and first since 1996. Found at the end of Jopling Rd., along the Irondale River. Red-necked Grebe - (1) 5th record. In open water on Gull Lake Greater Scaup - (2) 2nd record and the first since 2003. A pair of birds at Sandy Bay on Gull Lake. Red-winged Blackbird - (1) 7th record. Near Moore Falls. Winter Finches: Evening Grosbeak - (596) - highest number since 2005. Pine Grosbeak - (25) Red Crossbill - (1) Pine Siskin - (1) Common Redpoll - (5) American Goldfinch - (168) Other notables: Bohemian Waxwing - (52) Red-bellied Woodpecker - (4) Count high Bufflehead - (18) Notable misses: Northern Shrike Thanks to all the participants. Cheers, Ed Poropat