The 51st Wiarton Christmas Bird Count was held on Sunday, December 15, 2023 (it was actually the 54th anniversary of the count, but three years were missed). Temperatures hovered between +1.3°C and +2.2°C under overcast skies all day, with light rain beginning in the latter part of the afternoon, and with light to moderate (5-15 kph) southeasterly breezes. Waters of Georgian Bay and outer Lake Huron and rivers and creeks were open, but shallow bays and inland water bodies were recently frozen. Snow depth ranged from about 10 to 15 cm. Twenty-one participants and four feeder watchers tallied 59 species, significantly above the long-term and 10-year averages of 49.6 and 55 species, respectively. No new species were added, so the overall species count for the Wiarton CBC remained at 132 (plus 6 count-week) species. The total of 6,602 individual birds was the second highest ever, but nowhere near the record of 8,828 set in 2023. The 2024 total was nonetheless much higher than the long-term (3,618) and 10-year (4,705) averages. Record high totals were recorded for Trumpeter Swan (28, previously 17), Wild Turkey (422, previously 327, set in 2023), Bald Eagle (29, previously 25) and Cooper’s Hawk (7, previously 3). American Black Duck (28) and Mallard (321) also approached record highs. Other good finds included a Redhead (8th count), a Bonaparte’s Gull (11th count), a Golden Eagle (6th count), an American Goshawk (16th count), a Merlin (5th count), White-winged Crossbill (7th count, 18 individuals), a Common Grackle (15th count) and a Peregrine Falcon (only the second count) – perhaps the same individual seen the previous day on the Neyaashiinigmiing (Cape Croker) CBC. No particularly low counts were noted. Winter finches were present in small numbers: White-winged Crossbill (18), Pine Siskin (5), Evening Grosbeak (15, a species that in the 1980s and early 1990s was usually present in the hundreds) and Purple Finch (1). American Goldfinches (351) were present in average numbers and the small House Finch population persists in Wiarton, with 4 individuals counted. Another fine day of birding. Thanks to all the volunteers for their efforts! Happy Holidays! Jarmo Jalava