The Middle Peninsula Master Naturalist Chapter sponsored the seventh year of the Middle Peninsula Audubon Christmas Bird Count on Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. Compiler Susan Crockett reported that the Middle Peninsula Count identified 89 species of birds and counted a total of 5,616 birds in the field and on the water. The following were the high counts: Ring-billed Gulls (896), Hooded Mergansers (512), American Crow (425), American Robins (363), White-throated Sparrows (278), and Bufflehead Ducks (273). This year’s species count was higher by three species, but the overall count was down by 2,800 birds from last year. The 15-mile diameter circle of the Middle Peninsula Count includes Gloucester, Middlesex, and King and Queen counties. Forty-eight volunteers enjoyed counting many varieties of birds for up to 10 hours. Thirty-four of the volunteers were Virginia Master Naturalists from four local chapters. Eight volunteers traveled from out of the Middle Peninsula area; one from as far away...