Date: 3/16/25 6:31 am From: 'Kurk Dorsey' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] Ides of Durham birding
Birders
For the Ides of March, I threw caution to the wind and birded around the dangerous parts of Durham. My goals were to find 50 species and steer clear of Brutus (not that I have a Caesar complex, but I did enjoy visiting Gaul). A few highlights:
--the morning dog walk on the Woodridge playing fields produced some excellent games of fetch at the tennis courts, but none of the local rarities that had been hanging out
--Adams Point was very busy with clammers and ducks, although I was generally able to tell them apart; tide was low and water was calm. Most unusual bird was a pair of Ruddy Ducks hanging out to the southeast, fairly close in. Also had 3 Red-throated Loons closer to the causeway, four Green-winged Teal, and a White-winged Scoter at scope distance.
--at TNC's Lamprey River Preserve on Packers Falls Road I heard a noise that sounded like a squirrel being strangled (don't ask how I know, but I did grow up in southern Ohio). It turned out to be half of a pair of Red-shouldered Hawks yelling "et tu?" at a pair of Red-tailed Hawks. Quite an interesting aerial battle.
--Thompson Forest on Wednesday Hill Road had a pair of circling bald eagles and a Hairy Woodpecker, which struck me as an interesting juxtaposition
--Moore Fields had a Harrier cruising over Tecce's fields
--as I was coming home at one point, I ran into Ted Bradshaw, and we compared notes about the day. I expressed dismay that I hadn't found a Fox Sparrow, and he gave me some suggestions on where he had had them recently. As I pulled into my driveway, there were two Fox Sparrows kicking up leaves (this morning a third joined them). Later in the evening I had my first woodcock peenting in the yard as well. I conclude that I should start asking Ted about any species I would like to see, since it will then turn up in my yard.
Ended with 55 species and no betrayals on my way to faculty senate, so a good day. Tomorrow I will be looking only for green birds or those that eat snakes.
