The numbers are way down this year thanks to the lousy weather.
Held on a snowy and rain drenched Sunday, Dec. 27, the preliminary numbers for annual Ladner Christmas Bird Count had the local count of bird species spotted here at 133.
Last year, held a week prior on a sunny and clear day, the Ladner count had a final number of 143 different bird species, tops in Canada.
Noting the weather and this year’s count being held on a Christmas weekend also kept volunteer numbers down, coordinator Jude Grass said it was a difficult day for birders as birds hid and were hunkered down.
“Normally we’d be in the 140s,” the coordinator explained.
The Ladner count, which also includes Tsawwassen, Point Roberts and southern Richmond, is part of a regional Christmas Bird Count that is a component of a much larger count across the continent.
A couple of species spotted here that are usually not seen around at this time of year included a Pectoral Sandpiper and a Whimbrel, which is a long-legged shorebird.
A good number of shorebirds were spotted as the high tide forced many to park themselves on land.
This year’s count did have a good number of feeder watchers who observed their bird feeders at home, noted Grass.
The Ladner count in 2014 edged out the Victoria count, but this year the Victoria count’s preliminary number is several species ahead, which means Victoria will more than likely finish ahead. Two years ago, thanks in part to bad weather here, Victoria edged out Ladner.
“It’s like a tennis match between us and Victoria. We agree with Victoria that as long as someone from B.C. wins, we’re fine,” said Grass.
