LEWISTON — The Stanton Bird Club conducted its Christmas Bird Count of the Lewiston and Auburn area on Dec. 18. Twenty-seven people participated and recorded 52 species. The average since 2000 is 47.

There was no snow on the ground, but all water was frozen with the exception of Lake Auburn and the Androscoggin River. Due to recent rains the river was running fast, apparently too high and fast for most waterfowl.

A number of special species were reported, but none new to the count, although the lark sparrow has only been seen once before in 1984. No regularly seen expected species were missed, but waterfowl and irruptive species were low.

There was only one new high count, Bohemian waxwings, 250 compared to the previous high of 152 in 1993. The total count of 4,406 individual birds was nearly identical to last year, but lower than the average of just over 6,000.