Yesterday’s Christmas Bird Count with Kitsap Audubon was one of those classic, memorable winter field days that manages to be equal parts exhausting, soggy, educational, and deeply rewarding; from first light to the final stop near dusk, the Port Orchard team — led by Ken and joined by Justin, Laura, Hanna, Wes, Cat, and Catherine — committed to a full sun-up-to-sun-down effort, braving cold temperatures, steady rain, and occasional merciful breaks of calmer weather that briefly reminded us why we love being out in the field even when conditions are far from comfortable.

Despite the challenging weather, the team logged an impressive 62 species, with several standout highlights that made the long day feel especially worthwhile; among them were a beautiful Townsend’s Warbler, multiple Black Turnstones, Fox Sparrows in the same spot as last year, a surprise Spotted Sandpiper, and a perfectly timed final stop that delivered a striking Harlequin Duck just as the day was coming to an end. One of the most memorable moments of the day came thanks to a generous local resident who welcomed us into his backyard, where an exceptional feeder setup allowed for close, lingering looks at the Townsend’s Warbler, up-close encounters with bold Scrub Jays, and a constant flurry of Anna’s Hummingbirds zipping past faces and perching just long enough to admire; it was one of those rare feeder stops where every minute produced something new and engaging. A special thank-you is also owed to Ken Brown, whose decades of experience added immense value throughout the day, not only through bird identification and behavioral insights, but through the steady stream of local history and contextual knowledge about Port Orchard that enriched the entire count and reminded us that events like the Christmas Bird Count are as much about community and shared learning as they are about tallying species.

All in all, it was a long, wet, and thoroughly successful day in the field, and one that perfectly captured the spirit of the Christmas Bird Count — dedicated volunteers, shared expertise, perseverance through tough conditions, and the collective joy of discovering birds together from dawn to dusk.

Christmas Bird Count: Port Orchard

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