The 2025 Bradenton Circle Christmas Bird Count brought together 76 dedicated participants, including 19 first‑time volunteers, for a full day of birding across Manatee County’s diverse habitats. Together, they recorded 151 species, closely matching last year’s total of 154 species (+1 CW). In all, 32,463 individual birds were counted—slightly below the 33,551 tallied in 2024, but still reflecting strong numbers across many key species groups.

New Discoveries & Notable Changes

This year’s count produced 10 exciting new species not recorded in 2024: American Wigeon, Magnificent Frigatebird, Short‑tailed Hawk, Black‑necked Stilt, Stilt Sandpiper, Long‑billed Dowitcher, Crested Caracara (cw), Carolina Chickadee (cw), Orange‑crowned Warbler, and the much‑celebrated Groove‑billed Ani.

At the same time, eight species seen in 2024 were not detected this year, including Gadwall, Greater Scaup, American Bittern, Virginia Rail, Red Knot, Great Black‑backed Gull, Great Crested Flycatcher, and Northern Parula.

Two species required official Rare Bird Reports: the Short‑tailed Hawk (Central, Braden River East) and the heavily photographed Groove‑billed Ani (Northwest Bradenton).

Sector Highlights

Two sectors surpassed the impressive 100‑species mark:

• Terra Ceia – 110 species

• Ellenton East – 101 species

Seven sectors showed increased species counts compared to last year, with Central (+21) and Palma Sola South (+15) leading the gains. Unique single‑sector sightings added excitement throughout the day, including Magnificent Frigatebird and Hermit Thrush in Terra Ceia, Marsh Wren in Braden River East, Brown Thrasher in Ellenton West, and Cedar Waxwing and Groove‑billed Ani in Northwest Bradenton.

Several species were found only in one sector, such as Green‑winged Teal (Terra Ceia), Black‑necked Stilt and Black Skimmer (Bayshore), Piping Plover (Robinson), and Long‑billed Dowitcher (Ellenton East).

Impressive Flock Counts

Large concentrations of birds were a highlight again this year. Notable totals included:

• Hooded Merganser – 380 (Tidy Island)

• White Ibis – 458 (Eastside)

• Turkey Vulture – 739 (Eastside)

• Laughing Gull – 1,318 (Bayshore)

• Fish Crow – 1,183 (Terra Ceia)

• American Robin – 758 (Ellenton East)

• Common Grackle – 709 (Ellenton East)

• Tree Swallow – 622 combined (Ellenton East & Eastside)

These large flocks demonstrate the continued importance of Manatee County’s habitats for wintering and migratory species.

Species Seen Across All Sectors

Fifteen species were recorded in every sector, showcasing their strong presence throughout the region. These included familiar favorites such as Anhinga, Brown Pelican, Great Egret, White Ibis, Red‑shouldered Hawk, Blue Jay, Northern Mockingbird, Northern Cardinal, and Common Grackle.