Nature Done Wright

Yesterday's Birdy 30 brought more than 20 entrants from several NJ counties, two from Massachusetts and one from New Hampshire.

The clear-cut winner was Grant Price of Somerset County, who counted 20 species and eBirded his sightings. 

I found only one aspect of Grant's count annoying. He did it in 28 minutes because he had to go to work. Ouch!

I am posting Grant's sightings at the end, so I can announce the two second-place winners:

Andrea Robbins of Pittsfield, New Hampshire, and Karenne Snow of Port Republic in Atlantic County both had 17.

Three contestants had 16, two had 15, four had 14, and so forth.

Congrats to all who participated. You are all winners in my book.

Some of the cool birds recorded were: Brown Creeper,  Fox Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Pine Siskin, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Common Raven, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Pileated Woodpecker and Eastern Bluebird.

Raptor of the day was Cooper's Hawk, reported by a few.

Best mammal award goes to Dave Kaplan, who saw a live mink.

Here's Grant Price's winning "Birding 28" list.

10 Mourning Dove
1 Red-tailed Hawk — Vocal.
1 Red-bellied Woodpecker
2 Downy Woodpecker
1 Hairy Woodpecker
1 Pileated Woodpecker
1 Blue Jay
6 Black-capped Chickadee
10 Tufted Titmouse
1 Red-breasted Nuthatch
5 White-breasted Nuthatch
2 Carolina Wren
1 American Robin
13 House Finch
6 Pine Siskin
6 American Goldfinch
30 Dark-eyed Junco
18 White-throated Sparrow
2 Song Sparrow
6 Northern Cardinal

Under comments, Grant wrote: "Only regular missed was the local Coop."