Date: 9/18/18 7:44 pm From: Kyle Kittelberger (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: SABINE'S GULL at Rolling View, Falls Lake
Hey everyone,
Leave it to a SABINE'S GULL to make things interesting and exciting this evening at Falls Lake!! What a stunning, handsome bird in terrific adult plumage. This bird appeared out of nowhere on the water among 3 Laughing Gulls; I had scanned these 3 gulls just minutes prior and the Sabine's was not there. While the bird became airborne as I was typing out my initial email, it thankfully stuck around for everyone that showed up to observe this bird (8 people I believe, a lifer for some) and it put on quite the show in both flight and on the water, appearing in both Durham and Wake counties. Some of us were wondering if this might be the same bird as the one seen at Kerr Lake, as that bird appears not to have been seen since yesterday. Brian Bockhahn told me this was a new bird for Falls Lake State Park and, according to the Birds of North Carolina website, this is the first record of SAGU for both Durham and Wake counties.
For anyone that tries for this bird tomorrow at the now flooded Rolling View swim beach, the Sabine's was present at the lake until we lost visibility at 7:30 pm due to darkness. It was last seen on the water in front of the Sandling Beach swim area, so this general section of the lake is probably the best area to begin scanning. The bird spent much of its time with the 3 LAGU or with the Blue-winged Teal, so if these birds are still present it could be with them. However, as mentioned above, the Sabine's was flying around a fair amount during the hour and a half or so I was watching it and at times was quite high above the treeline. When flying, it tended to focus on the right section of the lake, so your best vantage point if it is flying may be in front of the now flooded dock to the right of the park building. This is where we were all standing this evening.
In terms of other birds of note at the lake, there are still many terns lingering from Hurricane Florence. As Brian Bockhahn reported earlier, most terns were Common, with a handful of Black and Forster's flying around too. All the Royal Terns and the Least Tern I had Sunday afternoon from Rolling View (when there was an actual beach to walk!) have seemingly left the lake; some Caspian Terns are in the back cove, never saw them make it to the main part of the lake. No sign of Brian's Arctic Tern from earlier, but the terns are moving around a lot and not very close to Rolling View and it could have moved further up the lake like last spring's Arctic Tern did. Most of the gulls that Brian reported were still on the lake, with the only addition being a Lesser Black-backed Gull. None of these gulls were present on the lake Sunday.
Date: 9/18/18 3:17 pm From: Kyle Kittelberger (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: SABINE'S GULL at Rolling View, Falls Lake
Currently looking at an adult SABINE'S GULL with 3 Laughing Gull and Blue winged teal from Rolling View, Falls Lake. Compared to LAGU, smaller blackish bill, clean black hood with a slants neck line, slightly smaller size, no white around eye, and white m on wings. Been flying but back on the water.
More details on birds later but wanted to get word out. This bird arrived while scoping, wasnt here 20 min ago.
-Kyle Kittelberger
Date: 9/18/18 12:08 pm From: Simon Thompson (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Fwd: [gagglebirds] Fw: ACTION ALERT - Jekyll Island Capacity Study
Hi everyone
I know that this is not within the Carolinas, but it's important for the
birdlife on our coastline.
I have already signed the petition against allowing more development on
Jekyll Island, GA.
Simon
Please use the Ventures e-mail (<Venturesbirding...>) to contact the
Ventures office - thanks!
-----Forwarded Message-----
From: Initiative to Protect Jekyll Island
Sent: Aug 30, 2018 3:35 PM
To: <gdt13...>
Subject: ACTION ALERT - Jekyll Island Capacity Study
Since the CCIA will likely have a significant impact on Jekyll Island’s
future, IPJI is encouraging its members to take advantage of the public
input opportunity being provided by the consultant (Sand County Studios)
hired by the Jekyll Island Authority (JIA) to conduct this important study.
Whether you respond in brief or at length, the key point is to show that
you care about the direction Jekyll Island may head in the near future.
When submitting your comments, you may want to indicate what you value most
about Jekyll Island, and how much, if any, additional residential and/or
commercial development you believe Jekyll Island can sustain without
diminishing its traditional character and appeal. Please include your
residence and how long you’ve been coming to or lived on Jekyll Island.
To submit your views, email James Sipes (<jamessipes...>)
<jamessipes...>, who is the director of Sand County Studios.
Among the topics addressed by participants in the public input session were
Jekyll Island’s affordability, particularly for people of average income;
public safety, most notably on the island’s bike trails and roundabout;
marketing deficiencies, including promotion of Jekyll’s golf courses and
the island’s appeal as a destination for Nature and wildlife enthusiasts;
public parking, especially in Jekyll’s beach village and at times when
there are special events or large convention groups; infringement of
development on natural areas; and ways to manage the growing visitation to
the island.
Date: 9/18/18 11:05 am From: Brian B (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Falls lake terns, arctic
Still lots of terns around, viewing from sandling which is still closed. Rollingview looks open and may have closer views. Lots of movement, but many perched on a floating tree or buoys. Scope needed.
60 common tern
6 forsters tern
5 black tern
1 arctic (longer tail, slimmer, more graceful flight, translucent primaries in wing, crappy pics)
50 tern sp
seems to show a lot of reverse migration in the Carolinas this evening though the winds are long gone. Post - storm "reset" of birds displaced southward?
Thanks to NPR for putting this resource on my radar, so to speak.
While it is often stated that Brewster's Warblers are first-generation (F1) Blue-winged x Golden-winged hybrids, the blog post makes clear that most backcrosses (hybrid x parental form) and F2s (F1 hybrid x F1 hybrid) will also produce birds with a classic Brewster's phenotype, i.e. a Blue-winged head pattern and largely or entirely white underparts. In fact, the post uses the term Brewster's for every identifiable hybrid that is not a "Lawrence's" (birds with the Golden-winged head pattern and yellow underparts, which only represent 1 in 16 of the F2 hybrids), even for a depicted bird with entirely yellow underparts. Following that post's terminology, Bert's bird is thus clearly a Brewster's.
On Mon, Sep 17, 2018 at 5:57 PM Bert Fisher <carolinabirds...> wrote:
> Observed a funky warbler here at Vireo Lane this afternoon that I assume > is a blue-winged/golden-winged hybrid. The broad yellow wing bars are quite > pronounced. Documentation quality photos have been added to eBird. I'd > welcome other thoughts on identification. > > Happy birding. > > Bert Fisher > Hillsborough, NC >
-- Jelmer Poelstra 311 Biological Sciences Building, Biology Department Duke University Durham, NC Email: <jelmerpoelstra...> / <jelmer.poelstra...> Phone: (+1) 919-260-8253
And to answer this for those of you inquiring- yes, Ruby-throated
Hummingbird numbers are picking up in the yard as fall migration has
started. I just posted on ebird:
Three different adult males, three adult females uniquely identified due to
differences in body molt,two hatch year females seen at same area and
observed the Buffy feather edges to feathers on crown; and 6 different
hatch year males, each with identifying characteristics of feathers. This
is typical numbers for this time of year now that fall migration has
started
On Mon, Sep 17, 2018 at 6:02 PM ann maddock <am.hummingbird.photos...>
wrote:
> Hi everyone
>
> Among the increased activity of hummingbirds here on Hatteras in the past
> week, what appears to be a female rufous is now in the yard. It does not
> have the tail feather shapes or the coloring I have seen on the Allen’s
> Hummingbird, but of course, until either viewed in hand by Susan or another
> bender, or until I can get diagnostic photos, I’ll just consider it
> identified as in the genus Selasphorus.
>
> Hope it stays long enough for me to Photograph
>
> Karen had almost an identical bird in her yard in Rodanthe ( northernmost
> village on Hatteras and about 40 miles north from here) before Hurricane
> Florence.
>
> --
> Ask me about my upcoming book - a photo essay of North American and
> Caribbean Hummingbirds!
>
> Ann Maddock
> <am.hummingbird.photos...>
> Hatteras Island, NC
>
--
Ask me about my upcoming book - a photo essay of North American and
Caribbean Hummingbirds!
Ann Maddock
<am.hummingbird.photos...>
Hatteras Island, NC
Among the increased activity of hummingbirds here on Hatteras in the past
week, what appears to be a female rufous is now in the yard. It does not
have the tail feather shapes or the coloring I have seen on the Allen’s
Hummingbird, but of course, until either viewed in hand by Susan or another
bender, or until I can get diagnostic photos, I’ll just consider it
identified as in the genus Selasphorus.
Hope it stays long enough for me to Photograph
Karen had almost an identical bird in her yard in Rodanthe ( northernmost
village on Hatteras and about 40 miles north from here) before Hurricane
Florence.
--
Ask me about my upcoming book - a photo essay of North American and
Caribbean Hummingbirds!
Ann Maddock
<am.hummingbird.photos...>
Hatteras Island, NC
Observed a funky warbler here at Vireo Lane this afternoon that I assume is a blue-winged/golden-winged hybrid. The broad yellow wing bars are quite pronounced. Documentation quality photos have been added to eBird. I'd welcome other thoughts on identification.
Right now on small pond at Mapleviee Dairy at corner Dairyland and Meadow View in Orange County NC. Very close and great for photography in afternoon sun (finally).
Date: 9/17/18 12:49 pm From: Kevin Metcalf (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: SOOTY TERN, LEAST TERN - Lake Norman
Lake Norman produced a couple good storm birds today. Aside from the ubiquitous Common Terns, I had a LEAST TERN (Imm.) from the nature trail at the McGuire station. Later, several area birders (Taylor Piephoff, Chris Talkintgon, Rob VanEpps, Jeff Lemons, Dennis Kent, Greg Hays) took a boat out and we picked up a striking juvenile SOOTY TERN. The sooty came in over the boat so close at one point it seemed like if we had a butterfly net we could have caught it. The Sooty was working around the lake on the Mecklenburg and Lincoln Co. sides, so scoping the lake from a good vantage point could produce the bird. We were not able to refund the Least Tern by boat. Not sure if it is still around or headed south. Kevin MetcalfHuntersville, NC
Date: 9/17/18 10:53 am From: Clyde Sorenson <sorenson...> Subject: Wake County raven
All- I saw a raven on Auburn Church RD, near the I 40- 70 split in southeastern Wake County, on my way in to work this morning. I am sure they are nesting in the nearby rock quarry.
Date: 9/17/18 7:31 am From: Corey, Ed <ed.corey...> Subject: Edgecombe County birds - 16Sep2018
While traveling east to visit family near Greenville, I stopped by the Chinquapin Road Farm and Pond hotspot, to see if anything interesting might have been blown inland. Besides 100 Canada Geese, there were 3 Caspian Terns and a Snowy Egret (which looks to be new for the county, according to the Birds of NC website). On the way back to Raleigh, I added a lone Forster's Tern to the same site.
Not as exciting as tubenoses and tropical terns, but I'll take what I can get!
Ed Corey
Inventory Biologist, NC Division of Parks and Recreation
NC Dept. of Natural and Cultural Resources
919 841 4037 Office
919 208 7864 Mobile
<Ed.Corey...><mailto:<Ed.Corey...>
12700 Bayleaf Church Road | Raleigh, North Carolina 27614
Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.
Date: 9/16/18 6:31 pm From: Frank Enders (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Truck drivers at quarry feeding "crows"---a new fast food site for ravens?
September 8 I got a load of rock from the Gold Rock quarry (north end of Rocky Mount), about 10 miles from M. Lynch's farm where he had seen 2 ravens a few months ago. I had looked into the quarry one day and had seen no ravens nor nests. I asked the driver of the dump truck if he had ever seen any big crows with big beaks, "prook-prook" calls and wedge-shaped tails at the quarry. Maybe being chased by crows. He said "no".
I was surprised when he described that the dumptruck drivers regularly fed the crows bits of food from their lunches.
Maybe people need to make inquiries at quarries, instead of just checking out fast food places and just watching the ravens fly by!
That is how I found Barn Owls, just asked who had owls in their sheds and barns.
Date: 9/16/18 6:19 pm From: Frank Enders (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: 15 Royal Terns fly downstream over Roanoke Rapids Dam
Sept. 15, 2018, 3:30 PM no rain, cleared up, saw birds just above dam, first thought Ring-billed Gulls, but on second thought these were Royal Terns, and just as quick they were gone, downstream over dam. Returned at 4:30 PM in rain, with nothing seen on lake from dam parking lot.
Date: 9/16/18 6:11 pm From: Kevin Metcalf (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Charlotte area lakes - storm birds so far
Like some other area birders, I spent hours scanning lakes (Norman, Wylie, Mtn. Island) over the weekend, hoping for something rare to fly by. By far the species we are seeing the most of are Common Terns (adult and first-year). Also a few Black Terns. Some folks have reported Forster's. The best bird that I have personally seen was a LEAST TERN on the Lincoln County side of Lake Norman. Given other reports around the state, we haven't seen the diversity of waterbirds here in Charlotte that others are getting. Still hopeful more will turn (tern) up in the days ahead. Interesting today was seeing all the annually expected swallows on Lake Wylie - some getting late in the season (Barn, Tree, Rough-winged, Cliff, Bank, and Purple Martin). Also reported for Lake Wylie toda y were Laughing Gulls, in addition to Taylor Piephoff's shearwater. Kevin MetcalfHuntersville, NC
August 20, 2018 10 AM chased ne by crows; location is south of I-85--the whole area is chockablock with reports. Could they be nesting in trees here, in suburbs like kites?
Date: 9/16/18 3:58 pm From: Simon Thompson (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Sooty Tern and more in Asheville, NC - Florence reports
Folks Several of us braved the rain today and went checking local spots for storm-driven birds. Here are the reports, plus e-bird links. Photos will be posted as soon as we can. Thanks Simon
*Lake Julian, Buncombe County* Common Tern 15+ (some reports put the number over 50 later in the day) Black Tern 1 Herring Gull 1 adult American Golden-Plover 2
*Lake Junaluska, Haywood County* Common Tern 100 Caspian Tern 2 Forster's Tern 1 at least Lesser Black-backed Gull 1 adult (thanks Connie and Stan for finding this great bird for the mountains and Wayne for alerting us!)
Helen, I enjoyed that story, too! I knew about the site but hadn't considered how it could be used to protect birds during migration. Pretty cool implications if people act on it.
Hilda Flamholtz Columbia, SC
On Sun, Sep 16, 2018 at 2:10 PM, Helen Kalevas <carolinabirds...> wrote:
-------- Original message --------
From: David Anderson <carolinabirds...>
Date: 9/16/18 09:30 (GMT-05:00)
To: Jan Hansen <otusasiotours...>
Cc: Marilyn Westphal <mjwestph...>, Harry LeGrand <hlegrandjr...>, carolinabirds listserve <carolinabirds...>
Subject: [External] Re: Buckhorn Reservoir eBird list today
CAUTION: External email. Do not click links or open attachments unless verified. Send all suspicious email as an attachment to Report Spam.<mailto:<report.spam...>
I know Logan Kahle from my years living and birding in San Francisco, and as part of Golden Gate Audubon. He an excellent young birder, very credible and very experienced. As a youngster, he would bicycle far and wide in the Bay Area to see birds. He spent long hours with the best birders there, learned to be quite expert himself. He posts on sfbirds and is quite reliable.
David Anderson
Durham, NC
Sent from my iPhone
On Sep 16, 2018, at 4:20 AM, Jan Hansen (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...><mailto:<carolinabirds...>> wrote:
I know Alec Hopping. He is a student at Cornell and an extremely knowledgeable, well-traveled birder. I ha ve birder with him in Mexico and was very impressed by his skills. He sent me a video of the petrel yesterday almost immediately after they saw it.
On Sep 15, 2018, at 4:12 PM, Marilyn Westphal <mjwestph...><mailto:<mjwestph...>> wrote:
A MoDo fan club! Who knew? Maybe hunters.
Marilyn
Sent from my iPhone
On Sep 15, 2018, at 11:28 AM, Harry LeGrand (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...><mailto:<carolinabirds...>> wrote:
Kent Fiala reminded me that clicking on the highlighted eBird observer name (in blue) reveals an eBird profile. I didn't know that. I do now!
So -- Logan's profile -- I see he is a birder from California.
logan kahle
San Francisco, California, United States
Show less Show more <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__e %20bird.org_profile_MTg4NDI2_US-2DCA-23UserInfo&d=DwMFaQ&c=imBPVzF25OnBgGmVOlcsiEgHoG1i6YHLR0Sj_gZ4adc&r=ymRCw6Q-sBitug_rdeO1Tokz-I_SX2LQN2_Ocvlal9U&m=5US_uY205bF2Rq17ISqtU2EfxziFnBOgXpEh6xmM2U8&s=vTX2_ZTWV-YRaEDss6bmR9HEwiUK47E8qM94iRLr3y8&e=>
Achievements: Top hotspot lister at seneca boreal Zone Professional Mourning Dove tour guide (you want MODOs? I'm your guy) President and founder of the Sutter county fan club
On Sat, Sep 15, 2018 at 11:09 AM, Harry LeGrand <hlegrandjr...><mailto:<hlegrandjr...>> wrote:
Here is a list this morning for Buckhorn Reservoir near Wilson. TRINDADE PETREL? The only tubenose, and it's a mega? It says they have photos, which will need to be seen and posted for confirmation. Also a reported ARCTIC TERN, not to mention Am. Oystercatcher, Red -necked Phalarope.
Does anyone know Logan Kahle and Alec Hopping? Are they on carolinabirds? I haven't run into those names before on c-birds, or eBirds until a day or two ago. So, I can't vouch for the accuracy of these. But, that is the place to have been this morning -- so far.
Date: 9/16/18 6:40 am From: Brian Pendergraft (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Harris Lake Birds
Two sandwich and two royals from lake Crabtree dam side fighting for buoy space.
Brian Pendergraft
Sent from my iPhone
> On Sep 16, 2018, at 9:22 AM, Harry LeGrand (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> wrote:
>
> At the Upper boat ramp now — Royals, Caspian, SANDWICH, Commons, Forsters, and Black Terns. And Laughing Gulls.
>
> Looking for really rare terns and tubenoses. Three folks with me.
>
> Harry LeGrand
>
> Sent from my iPhone
Date: 9/16/18 6:30 am From: David Anderson (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Buckhorn Reservoir eBird list today
I know Logan Kahle from my years living and birding in San Francisco, and as part of Golden Gate Audubon. He an excellent young birder, very credible and very experienced. As a youngster, he would bicycle far and wide in the Bay Area to see birds. He spent long hours with the best birders there, learned to be quite expert himself. He posts on sfbirds and is quite reliable.
David Anderson
Durham, NC
Sent from my iPhone
> On Sep 16, 2018, at 4:20 AM, Jan Hansen (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> wrote:
>
> I know Alec Hopping. He is a student at Cornell and an extremely knowledgeable, well-traveled birder. I have birder with him in Mexico and was very impressed by his skills. He sent me a video of the petrel yesterday almost immediately after they saw it.
>
> Jan Hansen
> Chapel Hill NC
> 919-259-9423
> www.otusasiotours.com
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Sep 15, 2018, at 4:12 PM, Marilyn Westphal <mjwestph...> wrote:
>
> A MoDo fan club! Who knew? Maybe hunters.
> Marilyn
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Sep 15, 2018, at 11:28 AM, Harry LeGrand (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> wrote:
>>
>> Kent Fiala reminded me that clicking on the highlighted eBird observer name (in blue) reveals an eBird profile. I didn't know that. I do now!
>>
>> So -- Logan's profile -- I see he is a birder from California.
>> logan kahle
>>
>> San Francisco, California, United States
>> Show less Show more
>> Regional Reviewer for 2 Regions
>> Contra Costa County, California, US,
>> San Francisco County, California, US,
>> Hotspot Editor for 4 Regions
>> Contra Costa County, California, US,
>> Minnesota, US,
>> North Dakota, US,
>> South Dakota, US,
>> eBirder since 31 May 2009
>> Oldest checklist: 1 Jan 2005
>> Oldest media: 22 Apr 2010
>> Achievements: Top hotspot lister at seneca boreal Zone Professional Mourning Dove tour guide (you want MODOs? I'm your guy) President and founder of the Sutter county fan club
>>
>>
>>> On Sat, Sep 15, 2018 at 11:09 AM, Harry LeGrand <hlegrandjr...> wrote:
>>> Here is a list this morning for Buckhorn Reservoir near Wilson. TRINDADE PETREL? The only tubenose, and it's a mega? It says they have photos, which will need to be seen and posted for confirmation. Also a reported ARCTIC TERN, not to mention Am. Oystercatcher, Red -necked Phalarope.
>>>
>>> Does anyone know Logan Kahle and Alec Hopping? Are they on carolinabirds? I haven't run into those names before on c-birds, or eBirds until a day or two ago. So, I can't vouch for the accuracy of these. But, that is the place to have been this morning -- so far.
>>>
>>> https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__ebird.org_view_checklist-3FsubID-3DS48516810&d=DwIFAg&c=imBPVzF25OnBgGmVOlcsiEgHoG1i6YHLR0Sj_gZ4adc&r=ymRCw6Q-sBitug_rdeO1Tokz-I_SX2LQN2_Ocvlal9U&m=OaAGpkTupZGzQD4mqOk-G9fqxA4yLVHDXc5DXdAlzIs&s=xFvHlIRTzCHBI2PKlJUV0h35OjaXX66d9FE-1-9Ge-I&e= >>>
>>> Harry LeGrand
>>>
>>
Date: 9/16/18 5:18 am From: Ann Brice (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Buckhorn Reservoir Sunday morning
Still some terns here but only Forster’s and Common this morning. Also two laughing gulls.
I left and came back around four yesterday and there was a birder from NJ here who said she had seen an Artic tern which she identified by its long streamers on tail. We had one Lesser Black-back Gull that sat on the dock so was able to confirm it had yellow legs.
Ann Brice
Buckhorn Reservoir
Wilson County, NC
Sent from my iPhone
Date: 9/16/18 3:21 am From: Jan Hansen (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Buckhorn Reservoir eBird list today
I know Alec Hopping. He is a student at Cornell and an extremely knowledgeable, well-traveled birder. I have birder with him in Mexico and was very impressed by his skills. He sent me a video of the petrel yesterday almost immediately after they saw it.
Jan Hansen
Chapel Hill NC
919-259-9423
www.otusasiotours.com
Sent from my iPhone
> On Sep 15, 2018, at 4:12 PM, Marilyn Westphal <mjwestph...> wrote:
>
> A MoDo fan club! Who knew? Maybe hunters.
> Marilyn
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Sep 15, 2018, at 11:28 AM, Harry LeGrand (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> wrote:
>>
>> Kent Fiala reminded me that clicking on the highlighted eBird observer name (in blue) reveals an eBird profile. I didn't know that. I do now!
>>
>> So -- Logan's profile -- I see he is a birder from California.
>> logan kahle
>>
>> San Francisco, California, United States
>> Show less Show more
>> Regional Reviewer for 2 Regions
>> Contra Costa County, California, US,
>> San Francisco County, California, US,
>> Hotspot Editor for 4 Regions
>> Contra Costa County, California, US,
>> Minnesota, US,
>> North Dakota, US,
>> South Dakota, US,
>> eBirder since 31 May 2009
>> Oldest checklist: 1 Jan 2005
>> Oldest media: 22 Apr 2010
>> Achievements: Top hotspot lister at seneca boreal Zone Professional Mourning Dove tour guide (you want MODOs? I'm your guy) President and founder of the Sutter county fan club
>>
>>
>>> On Sat, Sep 15, 2018 at 11:09 AM, Harry LeGrand <hlegrandjr...> wrote:
>>> Here is a list this morning for Buckhorn Reservoir near Wilson. TRINDADE PETREL? The only tubenose, and it's a mega? It says they have photos, which will need to be seen and posted for confirmation. Also a reported ARCTIC TERN, not to mention Am. Oystercatcher, Red-necked Phalarope.
>>>
>>> Does anyone know Logan Kahle and Alec Hopping? Are they on carolinabirds? I haven't run into those names before on c-birds, or eBirds until a day or two ago. So, I can't vouch for the accuracy of these. But, that is the place to have been this morning -- so far.
>>>
>>> https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__ebird.org_view_checklist-3FsubID-3DS48516810&d=DwIFAg&c=imBPVzF25OnBgGmVOlcsiEgHoG1i6YHLR0Sj_gZ4adc&r=ymRCw6Q-sBitug_rdeO1Tokz-I_SX2LQN2_Ocvlal9U&m=iCKVvwsgLNpwGryQqt_7quitquc8lZc-dZN2wPhI2Mg&s=34DxVDQSLjRdznAV07DvIglLc8dRiEkkVW4ulwbpuvo&e= >>>
>>> Harry LeGrand
>>>
>>
Date: 9/15/18 7:21 pm From: James Watson (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Tyrannus sp. Ft Moultrie, Sullivan’s Island , SC
Pam Ford and I relocated the kingbird in the same tree it flew from in front of the SPAWAR Bldg., and it again flew away toward the National Park Visitor Center. After studying take photos, we feel the bird is a Western Kingbird, outer white edges on a dark tail.
On Sat, Sep 15, 2018 at 6:44 PM James Watson <jcraigw1...> wrote:
> Pam Ford and I just found a Tyrannus kingbird type at the SPAWAR Bldg. > near Battery Jasper perched in the tree line, then the tree out front of > the bldg. It then flew toward the office area, dozens of Eastern Kingbirds > are flying around. We are trying to relocate. We have lots of photos, windy > and poor lighting. > > Craig Watson > Mount Pleasant, SC >
Date: 9/15/18 4:18 pm From: Taylor Piephoff (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Sooty Shearwater Mecklenburg NC / York SC
Birders,
Several Mecklenburg County birders set up at strategic locations today in hopes of finding a few true storm birds. Lots of terms were seen, but I’ll let others report their birds.
I was at Lake Wylie viewing from the SC side at the boat launch off Hwy 49 where it crosses the river / lake.
I watched a sooty shearwater at fairly close range for about 30 minutes as it worked a section of water in the center of the lake. It was feeding; I saw it pluck something off the surface twice. Given one report of Trinidade petrel today from NC, I evaluated this bird for that species; but bill length, and underwing pattern led me to the shearwater.
Though I’ve seen hundreds of sooties off shore it was not a slam dunk ID watching this bird in near-tropical storm conditions on an inland lake. Flight behavior was not what I have been used to seeing. Interesting exercise.
Date: 9/15/18 3:44 pm From: James Watson (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Tyrannus sp. Ft Moultrie, Sullivan’s Island , SC
Pam Ford and I just found a Tyrannus kingbird type at the SPAWAR Bldg. near Battery Jasper perched in the tree line, then the tree out front of the bldg. It then flew toward the office area, dozens of Eastern Kingbirds are flying around. We are trying to relocate. We have lots of photos, windy and poor lighting.
Date: 9/15/18 1:13 pm From: Marilyn Westphal <mjwestph...> Subject: Re: Buckhorn Reservoir eBird list today
A MoDo fan club! Who knew? Maybe hunters.
Marilyn
Sent from my iPhone
> On Sep 15, 2018, at 11:28 AM, Harry LeGrand (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> wrote:
>
> Kent Fiala reminded me that clicking on the highlighted eBird observer name (in blue) reveals an eBird profile. I didn't know that. I do now!
>
> So -- Logan's profile -- I see he is a birder from California.
> logan kahle
>
> San Francisco, California, United States
> Show less Show more
> Regional Reviewer for 2 Regions
> Contra Costa County, California, US,
> San Francisco County, California, US,
> Hotspot Editor for 4 Regions
> Contra Costa County, California, US,
> Minnesota, US,
> North Dakota, US,
> South Dakota, US,
> eBirder since 31 May 2009
> Oldest checklist: 1 Jan 2005
> Oldest media: 22 Apr 2010
> Achievements: Top hotspot lister at seneca boreal Zone Professional Mourning Dove tour guide (you want MODOs? I'm your guy) President and founder of the Sutter county fan club
>
>
>> On Sat, Sep 15, 2018 at 11:09 AM, Harry LeGrand <hlegrandjr...> wrote:
>> Here is a list this morning for Buckhorn Reservoir near Wilson. TRINDADE PETREL? The only tubenose, and it's a mega? It says they have photos, which will need to be seen and posted for confirmation. Also a reported ARCTIC TERN, not to mention Am. Oystercatcher, Red-necked Phalarope.
>>
>> Does anyone know Logan Kahle and Alec Hopping? Are they on carolinabirds? I haven't run into those names before on c-birds, or eBirds until a day or two ago. So, I can't vouch for the accuracy of these. But, that is the place to have been this morning -- so far.
>>
>> https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__ebird.org_view_checklist-3FsubID-3DS48516810&d=DwIFAg&c=imBPVzF25OnBgGmVOlcsiEgHoG1i6YHLR0Sj_gZ4adc&r=ymRCw6Q-sBitug_rdeO1Tokz-I_SX2LQN2_Ocvlal9U&m=Ne0d8sX2mEN4EZSYxeakxaF32gM01m-3rSRdGusbMro&s=nUhZpVwse-gfJxZCqmKx2fHdmWArqvnXFt69-65nVdM&e= >>
>> Harry LeGrand
>>
>
I went up to Lake Wateree, north of Camden, SC, to see if any birds had been blown in by Hurricane Florence
I had 8 Forester's Terns, a Caspian Tern and a jaeger species. The jaeger was just too far away and conditions weren't that great to see well enough to identify to species.
All the sightings were from the boat landing parking lot, just above the dam.
Date: 9/15/18 9:19 am From: Ann Brice (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Buckhorn reservoir now. — noon.
After the post by Harry, I drove out to see if anything still here. There is a small flock of terns mostly royals, and the American Oystercatcher sitting on the docks at the boat ramp and probably ten more flying near by. It is raining pretty heavily at the moment. Three ospreys here now.
Achievements: Top hotspot lister at seneca boreal Zone Professional Mourning Dove tour guide (you want MODOs? I'm your guy) President and founder of the Sutter county fan club
On Sat, Sep 15, 2018 at 11:09 AM, Harry LeGrand <hlegrandjr...> wrote:
Date: 9/15/18 8:10 am From: Harry LeGrand (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Buckhorn Reservoir eBird list today
Here is a list this morning for Buckhorn Reservoir near Wilson. TRINDADE PETREL? The only tubenose, and it's a mega? It says they have photos, which will need to be seen and posted for confirmation. Also a reported ARCTIC TERN, not to mention Am. Oystercatcher, Red-necked Phalarope.
Does anyone know Logan Kahle and Alec Hopping? Are they on carolinabirds? I haven't run into those names before on c-birds, or eBirds until a day or two ago. So, I can't vouch for the accuracy of these. But, that is the place to have been this morning -- so far.
Date: 9/15/18 7:54 am From: Daniel Kaplan (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Falls Lake- Ledge Rock boat ramp
The past hour + here numerous Royals, one confident Caspian plus a flock of definitely smaller dark billed terns passed by. Need to study the photos but leaning Sandwich
Date: 9/15/18 7:27 am From: Rob Van Epps (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: [External] Lake Crabtree, Sat morning
Lake Norman report: Jeff Lemons and I have been looking over the lake for about three hours from Torrence Chapel Rd. Hundreds of terns. We estimate 95% or more are Common. A few Forster’s. Three Black Terns. No Royal or others so far.
Rob Van Epps
Davidson, NC
Sent from my iPhone
> On Sep 15, 2018, at 9:40 AM, Daniel Kaplan (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> wrote:
>
> From Hickory Hill boat ramp just 2 distant Royals that looked to be near Cheek Rd causeway, but nothing in sight from the causeway now.
>
> Dan Kaplan
> Durham
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Sep 15, 2018, at 9:24 AM, Corey, Ed <ed.corey...> wrote:
>>
>> Similar situation at Ledge Rock Boat Ramp, at Falls Lake. 25 Royal Terns, one possible Caspian.
>>
>> Ed Corey, Raleigh, NC
>>
>> Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
>>
>>
>> -------- Original message --------
>> From: Harry LeGrand <carolinabirds...>
>> Date: 9/15/18 09:15 (GMT-05:00)
>> To: <carolinabirds...>, <hlegrandjr...>
>> Subject: [External] Lake Crabtree, Sat morning
>>
>> CAUTION: External email. Do not click links or open attachments unless verified. Send all suspicious email as an attachment to Report Spam.<mailto:<report.spam...> >>
>>
>> Eddie Owens, Ed Landi, and I converged at Lake Crabtree west of Raleigh this morning. All we saw were about 16 large terns, by Eddies count. We clearly IDed 5 or more as ROYAL TERNs. From what we could see, none were smaller terns and none seemed to be Caspians.
>>
>> Thus 16 Royal Terns was it for storm birds.
>>
>> Harry LeGrand
>> Raleigh
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
Date: 9/15/18 6:41 am From: Daniel Kaplan (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: [External] Lake Crabtree, Sat morning
From Hickory Hill boat ramp just 2 distant Royals that looked to be near Cheek Rd causeway, but nothing in sight from the causeway now.
Dan Kaplan
Durham
Sent from my iPhone
> On Sep 15, 2018, at 9:24 AM, Corey, Ed <ed.corey...> wrote:
>
> Similar situation at Ledge Rock Boat Ramp, at Falls Lake. 25 Royal Terns, one possible Caspian.
>
> Ed Corey, Raleigh, NC
>
> Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
>
>
> -------- Original message --------
> From: Harry LeGrand <carolinabirds...>
> Date: 9/15/18 09:15 (GMT-05:00)
> To: <carolinabirds...>, <hlegrandjr...>
> Subject: [External] Lake Crabtree, Sat morning
>
> CAUTION: External email. Do not click links or open attachments unless verified. Send all suspicious email as an attachment to Report Spam.<mailto:<report.spam...> >
>
> Eddie Owens, Ed Landi, and I converged at Lake Crabtree west of Raleigh this morning. All we saw were about 16 large terns, by Eddies count. We clearly IDed 5 or more as ROYAL TERNs. From what we could see, none were smaller terns and none seemed to be Caspians.
>
> Thus 16 Royal Terns was it for storm birds.
>
> Harry LeGrand
> Raleigh
>
> Sent from my iPhone
Date: 9/15/18 6:25 am From: Corey, Ed <ed.corey...> Subject: Re: [External] Lake Crabtree, Sat morning
Similar situation at Ledge Rock Boat Ramp, at Falls Lake. 25 Royal Terns, one possible Caspian.
Ed Corey, Raleigh, NC
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
-------- Original message --------
From: Harry LeGrand <carolinabirds...>
Date: 9/15/18 09:15 (GMT-05:00)
To: <carolinabirds...>, <hlegrandjr...>
Subject: [External] Lake Crabtree, Sat morning
CAUTION: External email. Do not click links or open attachments unless verified. Send all suspicious email as an attachment to Report Spam.<mailto:<report.spam...>
Eddie Owens, Ed Landi, and I converged at Lake Crabtree west of Raleigh this morning. All we saw were about 16 large terns, by Eddies count. We clearly IDed 5 or more as ROYAL TERNs. From what we could see, none were smaller terns and none seemed to be Caspians.
Date: 9/15/18 6:15 am From: Harry LeGrand (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Lake Crabtree, Sat morning
Eddie Owens, Ed Landi, and I converged at Lake Crabtree west of Raleigh this morning. All we saw were about 16 large terns, by Eddies count. We clearly IDed 5 or more as ROYAL TERNs. From what we could see, none were smaller terns and none seemed to be Caspians.
Date: 9/14/18 3:29 pm From: william haddad (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: A Hefner update
It was good to meet Jamie and we were joined by Gordan from Marion. I missed the Wilsons and Jamie’s Y.B. Cuckoo. Also, somehow, I did not get one Black and White nor Blackburnian – both of which I generally get at Hefner on even average days this time of year. Did get hordes of birds there today – first class birding. Am posting this because of what I saw at the cabin at between 5 and 5:45 pm today – a large flock with at least five Warbler species – among them three Golden-winged. Never saw more than one Golden-winged at a time during Fall migration here and some years none. Enjoyed the Golden-wingeds hanging upside-down and size ways on vegetation and probably missed some species by staying focused on them as the flock moved through – largely at deck level. Cabin is on Humpback Mt. about 2 miles from Hefner as the crow flies.
I evacuated Wilmington just in time to get a great migration event today at Heffner Gap. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Yesterday was rainy up there and lackluster but today I got to experience first hand what Bill H has been talking about all these years about Heffner. Warblers at eye level all over and in great lighting conditions. I racked up 14 warbler species including a Wilson’s Warbler and a Bay-breasted. Tennesees and Black-throated Greens were most common with 50-75 of each species that I personally laid eyes on but way more flitting around. The action was still good when I left at 10:45am.
It was great to get my mind off the damage my house is probably sustaining now. Stay safe everyone!
Jamie Adams
Banner Elk while away from Wilmington, NC
Date: 9/14/18 6:23 am From: Carol Chelette (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Durham raven (s) some fall count reports
I had a raven fly over my yard yesterday. Carol Chelette Durham, NC
On Thu, Sep 13, 2018 at 10:05 PM Brian B <carolinabirds...> wrote:
> Yesterday around 3pm i saw two ravens circling over i85 near us 70. Good > chance one of them was the bird ryan saw. Had my camera handy so snapped a > 65mph windshield documentation shot! > > Fall migration counts this week were pretty slow with migrants, but some > goodies. Yb flycatcher and Connecticut warbler at mayo river Tuesday. > Black and common terns at kerr today. Yesterday at falls lake was rainy > and quite dull. > > Stay safe all. > > Brian Bockhahn > Durham NC
Date: 9/13/18 7:06 pm From: Brian B (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Durham raven (s) some fall count reports
Yesterday around 3pm i saw two ravens circling over i85 near us 70. Good chance one of them was the bird ryan saw. Had my camera handy so snapped a 65mph windshield documentation shot!
Fall migration counts this week were pretty slow with migrants, but some goodies. Yb flycatcher and Connecticut warbler at mayo river Tuesday. Black and common terns at kerr today. Yesterday at falls lake was rainy and quite dull.
I hesitate to even publish this with what’s happening in our great states.
In the yard this afternoon:
Magnolia Warbler (2)
Chestnut sided Warbler
Northern Parula
American Redstart
Wood Thrush
Swainsons Thrush
Date: 9/13/18 8:01 am From: \J. Merrill Lynch\ (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Mourning Warbler in Watauga County, NC
Birders, had a nice look at an immature Mourning Warbler on my walk this morning on my property in northern Watauga Co. First of the season—I normally see 1-2/year on average, almost always in the fall.
As all eyes are turned to the coast, the weather here in the mountains is unusually warm and muggy and migration has consequently been slow. Need a good strong cold front to get the birds moving.
My complete list follows:
Echo Valley Farm
Sep 13, 2018
9:45 AM
Traveling
0.75 miles
60 Minutes
All birds reported? Yes
Comments: Submitted from eBird for iOS, version 1.7.4 Build 36
8 Ruby-throated Hummingbird
2 Red-bellied Woodpecker
2 Downy Woodpecker
1 Hairy Woodpecker
1 Pileated Woodpecker
1 Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)
1 Eastern Wood-Pewee
1 Acadian Flycatcher
1 Blue-headed Vireo
2 Blue Jay
5 American Crow
6 Carolina Chickadee
4 Tufted Titmouse
4 White-breasted Nuthatch (Eastern)
4 Carolina Wren
1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
2 American Robin
5 Gray Catbird
10 Cedar Waxwing
2 American Goldfinch
2 Field Sparrow
1 Song Sparrow
4 Eastern Towhee (Red-eyed)
1 Worm-eating Warbler
3 Tennessee Warbler
1 Mourning Warbler -- 1 immature was observed with 8x32 bins at approximately 50 feet in good light. Hopped up into small sapling for about 5 secs. Broken eye ring, bright yellow underparts with very faint breastband, greenish above with no wing bars. Also husky chip note quite distinctive from other warblers like Hooded or redstart.
2 Common Yellowthroat
2 Hooded Warbler
2 American Redstart
2 Chestnut-sided Warbler
2 Northern Cardinal
1 Indigo Bunting
Number of Taxa: 32
J. Merrill Lynch
Conservation Biologist
Echo Valley Farm
Watauga County, NC
Sent from my iPhone
________________________________
From: <carolinabirds-request...> <carolinabirds-request...> on behalf of Nate Dias <carolinabirds...>
Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2018 5:22:10 AM
To: CarolinaBirds
Subject: Useful wind map
I think it has been mentioned on Carolinabirds before, but this online surface wind map is a very useful tool, especially during bird migration season (and weather events):
Date: 9/13/18 5:48 am From: John Fussell <jofuss...> Subject: birds headed inland
This morning, while I was paddling around Sugarloaf Island (Morehead City NC waterfront), I noticed large numbers of Laughing Gulls and a few flocks of peep (guessing mostly Westerns) headed NW, inland. Wind NE, quite gusty.
By the way, at the time the water level of the sound was about normal (for the tidal stage).
Date: 9/13/18 2:22 am From: Nate Dias (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Useful wind map
I think it has been mentioned on Carolinabirds before, but this online surface wind map is a very useful tool, especially during bird migration season (and weather events):
Date: 9/12/18 3:54 pm From: Nate Dias (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Hummingbirds and hurricane Florence
Same in Charleston.
Numbers of Ruby-throats doubled versus yesterday at ‘Rancho Dias’ and by
noon they were exhibiting very unusual behavior.
Hovering in groups near feeders, not really fighting but almost like
multiple dance partners alternating between perching + drinking and
hovering while sizing up their fellow refugees. Three times I saw males
making “J” flight motions like breeding displays.
They were attending the flowers as usual but today there was major interest
in feeders suddenly. Lot of camping out on the feeder perches.
One of the birds may be a Black-chinned, but it only seemed to appear in
cloudy conditions - when the sun was out, he was nowhere to be seen.
Nathan Dias - Charleston, SC
On Wednesday, September 12, 2018, ann maddock <carolinabirds...>
wrote:
> Here on Hatteras Island it’s as if they know something is happening... in
> just the past hour, on JUST the corner of the back deck ( which is loaded
> with their favorite plants and three feeders) here’s the list of individual
> RTHUs I identified: 3 different adult males ( seen at same time);
>
> Three different females
>
> And Four HY males
>
>
>
> --
> Ask me about my upcoming book - a photo essay of North American and
> Caribbean Hummingbirds!
>
> Ann Maddock
> <am.hummingbird.photos...>
> Hatteras Island, NC
>
Date: 9/12/18 3:32 pm From: ann maddock (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Hummingbirds and hurricane Florence
Here on Hatteras Island it’s as if they know something is happening... in
just the past hour, on JUST the corner of the back deck ( which is loaded
with their favorite plants and three feeders) here’s the list of individual
RTHUs I identified: 3 different adult males ( seen at same time);
Three different females
And Four HY males
--
Ask me about my upcoming book - a photo essay of North American and
Caribbean Hummingbirds!
Ann Maddock
<am.hummingbird.photos...>
Hatteras Island, NC
Date: 9/12/18 3:28 pm From: Bill Rhodes (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: a question about grouse
I have seen them hanging around barns competing for grains with chicken and rodents when it was COLD.
On Wed, Sep 12, 2018, 5:38 PM Elizabeth Faison <carolinabirds...> wrote:
> Many thanks. This one stumped our naturalist. > > > ------------------------------ > *From:* Russ Oates <rmoates54...> > *Sent:* Wednesday, September 12, 2018 4:45 PM > *To:* Clyde Sorenson > *Cc:* <jconnorsbird...>; <eliza.faison...>; Carolinabirds > Listserve > *Subject:* Re: a question about grouse > > Here in the mountains they also like smooth sumac berries in winter. > > On Wed, Sep 12, 2018 at 4:38 PM Clyde Sorenson <sorenson...> wrote: > > They also eat Christmas fern in the winter- but tree buds are the main > thing. Apple buds another big hit with 'em. > > Clyde Sorenson > Clayton and Raleigh, NC > > On Wed, Sep 12, 2018 at 1:37 PM, John Connors <carolinabirds...> > wrote: > > Hi Elizabeth. Ruffed Grouse will eat fruit, like grapes, catbrier and > others in winter, and some seeds, but their primary food is the buds of > trees and shrubs...birch, alder, willow, etc. Doesn't matter how high the > snow gets although ice storms can present a problem. Best of luck. John > Connors, Raleigh, NC > > On Wed, Sep 12, 2018 at 1:21 PM, Elizabeth Faison <carolinabirds...> > wrote: > > We are trying to put together a program on grouse and we have a quandary. > What do they eat in the wintertime? > > > Elizabeth Faison > > Boone, NC > > > > > > -- > *Conserve wild things, protect wild places.* >
Date: 9/12/18 2:38 pm From: Elizabeth Faison (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: a question about grouse
Many thanks. This one stumped our naturalist.
________________________________ From: Russ Oates <rmoates54...> Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2018 4:45 PM To: Clyde Sorenson Cc: <jconnorsbird...>; <eliza.faison...>; Carolinabirds Listserve Subject: Re: a question about grouse
Here in the mountains they also like smooth sumac berries in winter.
On Wed, Sep 12, 2018 at 4:38 PM Clyde Sorenson <sorenson...><mailto:<sorenson...>> wrote: They also eat Christmas fern in the winter- but tree buds are the main thing. Apple buds another big hit with 'em.
Clyde Sorenson Clayton and Raleigh, NC
On Wed, Sep 12, 2018 at 1:37 PM, John Connors <carolinabirds...><mailto:<carolinabirds...>> wrote: Hi Elizabeth. Ruffed Grouse will eat fruit, like grapes, catbrier and others in winter, and some seeds, but their primary food is the buds of trees and shrubs...birch, alder, willow, etc. Doesn't matter how high the snow gets although ice storms can present a problem. Best of luck. John Connors, Raleigh, NC
Date: 9/12/18 1:38 pm From: Clyde Sorenson <sorenson...> Subject: Re: a question about grouse
They also eat Christmas fern in the winter- but tree buds are the main thing. Apple buds another big hit with 'em.
Clyde Sorenson Clayton and Raleigh, NC
On Wed, Sep 12, 2018 at 1:37 PM, John Connors <carolinabirds...> wrote:
> Hi Elizabeth. Ruffed Grouse will eat fruit, like grapes, catbrier and > others in winter, and some seeds, but their primary food is the buds of > trees and shrubs...birch, alder, willow, etc. Doesn't matter how high the > snow gets although ice storms can present a problem. Best of luck. John > Connors, Raleigh, NC > > On Wed, Sep 12, 2018 at 1:21 PM, Elizabeth Faison <carolinabirds...> > wrote: > >> We are trying to put together a program on grouse and we have a quandary. >> What do they eat in the wintertime? >> >> >> Elizabeth Faison >> >> Boone, NC >> > >
Date: 9/12/18 11:23 am From: John Fussell <jofuss...> Subject: Golden-Plover at Rachel Carson Reserve this morning
This morning I had an American Golden-Plover at the Rachel Carson Reserve (Bird Shoal), while I was conducting an International Shorebird Survey census.
Kind of neat doing a survey when you're under a hurricane warning. Didn't see another person. Not even a single boat in Beaufort Inlet.
Date: 9/12/18 10:37 am From: John Connors (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: a question about grouse
Hi Elizabeth. Ruffed Grouse will eat fruit, like grapes, catbrier and others in winter, and some seeds, but their primary food is the buds of trees and shrubs...birch, alder, willow, etc. Doesn't matter how high the snow gets although ice storms can present a problem. Best of luck. John Connors, Raleigh, NC
On Wed, Sep 12, 2018 at 1:21 PM, Elizabeth Faison <carolinabirds...> wrote:
> We are trying to put together a program on grouse and we have a quandary. > What do they eat in the wintertime? > > > Elizabeth Faison > > Boone, NC >
I was pleased to see a single Raven at the intersection of Old Oxford and Hebron Roads in North Durham at noon today. A couple miles more and it could have been a yard bird!
Date: 9/11/18 4:53 pm From: John Fussell <jofuss...> Subject: Gull-billed Terns at North River Preserve
On Sunday (9 September), several of us birded the North River Preserve (Carteret County). The highlight of the morning was an aggregation of at least 30 Gull-billed Terns (with at least 13 juveniles) hawking for insects. This is a pretty good count for the date.
The new impoundment, which was full of water most of the summer, has been attracting shorebirds the last two to three weeks. On Sunday, the most interesting shorebird observation was a flock of 21 White-rumpeds. This is a good count for our area in the fall migration.
Date: 9/11/18 2:07 pm From: Nate Dias (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Correct ID: Yellow-bellied Flycatcher at Magnolia Gardens
In the Carolinas and Georgia during fall migration, a lot of fall Empids are mistakenly called "Yellow-bellied". But in the case of the recent flycatcher at Magnolia Gardens' Audubon Swamp Garden, I think the photos are clearly Empidonax flaviventris.
I think the bird is provably Yellow-bellied Flycatcher in multiple ways - using the below points, 2+3 or 2+5 for example. With 1 and 4 for supporting evidence. 2 + 3 + 5 is a slam dunk.
1. The bill is spot-on for Yellow-bellied: wide, with slightly convex outer edges, completely orange-yellow coloration with no hint of dark tip.
2. The bird has a dirty yellow color from vent to bill - belly, breast, throat and CHIN. The chin is the important bit, since Acadian Flycatcher can show yellow belly breast and throat.
3. The legs are brownish with perhaps a hint of light gray - perfect for Yellow-bellied and eliminates all but Acadian and "Western" Flycatchers.
4. The bird looks "big-headed" and short-tailed, perfect for Yellow-bellied Flycatcher. It does not show the long-tailed look of a Western Flycatcher.
5. The bird has moderate primary projection, which is what one expects for Yellow-bellied Flycatcher. It is clearly not the long primary projection an Acadian Flycatcher would be expected to show, or the short primary projection of a "Western" (Pacific-slope / Western) Flycatcher.
It is hard to see the eye ring in the photos, but it looks complete but not perfectly round. It seems in line with Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, though in the first photo it has what looks like a pronounced 'tear-drop' effect. Not sure if that is an artifact from angle and feather ruffling, though.
Good find, solid identification, and plenty adequate photos from Marc Regnier, Ray Swagerty, Jane Norrgard, Nicole Pettinelli and Debbie Baczewski.
Date: 9/11/18 1:32 pm From: \gilbert grant\ (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: 9 Red Knots at North Topsail Beach, NC
This morning I conducted an International Shorebird Survey and found 9 Red Knots at New River Inlet/North Topsail Beach, Onslow County, NC. One of the knots was still in breeding plumage (will post a photo to CBC Photo Galley shortly. I was curious as to what the birds might be doing in advance of the storm. Lots of gulls, terns, and shorebirds mostly loafing or feeding. Also saw a Merlin trying to make a meal of one of the shorebirds. My guess is that the roads to Topsail will only be open to residents and trucks with plywood tomorrow.
Date: 9/10/18 7:31 pm From: Jeannie Kraus (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Chimney swifts in Newton NC
I stopped in Newton on Sept 6 on the way to the Audubon Summit in Asheville. During an evening walk we happened upon a chimney roost near the courthouse. We estimated at least 400 or more circling around. The chimney is located at Haupt Office Building, 118 N. College Avenue, Newton, NC in case anyone nearby wishes to make a more accurate count.
Yesterday, I had a Selaphorus hummingbird in my yard and was able to get photos. You can go to my eBird report to see the bird. It is a young female so it is difficult to tell whether it is a Rufous or an Allen's. Who knows what will happen to it with the hurricane coming!
Date: 9/9/18 6:57 pm From: <badgerboy...> Subject: Chimney Swift Roost at Wilkesboro and question
During HCAS Swift Night Out tonight there were an estimated 5 to 10 thousand Chimney Swifts which swarmed around and entered the large unused chimney at Wilkesboro Elementary School. Quit a spectacle and it got some of us wondering whether these post-breeding roosting accumulations are of birds that spent the summer in the local area or could they be migrants from long distances away. If it was known that the birds were congregating from only local areas and we could locate roosting sites we might make an estimate of population which would be nice to have.
Any thoughts or references on their migration patterns and whether it could be determined if they are local breeders or not?
Date: 9/9/18 3:21 pm From: Mac Williams (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Irruptive year for titmice?
All,
This week, I'm seeing and hearing tufted titmice everywhere I go in Darlington county, and in double-digit tallies. Is this coincidence or is anyone else seeing something similar? I've only been noticing the increase in the last two weeks.
Date: 9/9/18 6:01 am From: Gilbert Grant (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Common nighthawks over Wilmington NC
On Friday night 7 September we saw 4-5 Common Nighthawks feeding around 7:45PM over the Greenfield Lake amphitheater during the David Dixon/Phillip Phillips concert. Both were cool!
Gilbert S. Grant
Sneads Ferry, NC
Sent from my iPhone
I had nine flying low, generally southwards, over Holly Springs in SW Wake County around 7:30 this evening. Gorgeous birds.
Josh Southern Holly Springs, NC
On Sat, Sep 8, 2018, 8:39 PM Patrick Coin <carolinabirds...> wrote:
> Out for a walk in the early evening near Parkwood Lake in southern Durham > NC on 9/8/18, I had a sudden burst of four nighthawks flying just above the > treetops heading due east. They might have been heading south then detoured > around the lake, I suppose. This is not a bird I normally see in the > area--much too wooded. Always odd to see them fly by silent. > > -- > Patrick Coin > Durham, NC > <patrickcoin1...> >
Out for a walk in the early evening near Parkwood Lake in southern Durham NC on 9/8/18, I had a sudden burst of four nighthawks flying just above the treetops heading due east. They might have been heading south then detoured around the lake, I suppose. This is not a bird I normally see in the area--much too wooded. Always odd to see them fly by silent.
Was surprised to see a Canada Warbler in the mix at Vireo Lane this afternoon. A small mixed flock spent a couple hours on and off around the serviceberry, the Carolina buckthorn, a small ironwood tree, and a small water feature. Photos (documentation quality) of the Canada are posted on eBird. Not a Connecticut (two counties over)... but a new yard bird none-the-less.
Other warbler species seen today included one Blue-winged, one Magnolia, one Parula, and several Chestnut-sided.
I was thrilled to pish up a Connecticut Warbler at Prairie Ridge shortly after 7:00 this morning. It was along the trail below the big pond; there is a small vernal pool on the left side of this trail, with a pine and a willow tree growing along the edge. The bird first appeared in the low branches of the willow, posed for several seconds, and then dove into the undergrowth along the creek that runs along the trail. I saw the bird shortly after 7:00.
If anyone wants more detailed directions, feel free to contact me. Prairie Ridge is open to the public from 9-5 today and tomorrow.
Date: 9/6/18 3:31 pm From: Brian Pendergraft (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: THANK YOU
Wow. Lots of wonderful replies to me relative to my FRED email. I can’t thank everyone enough.
At lunch yesterday I had a guy tell me that during my 25 years of coaching high school basketball at Cary High School that the kids must have benefited and learned a lot from me as their coach and mentor. I replied that no....I benefited and learned a lot from the kids.
I feel the same way about my birding peeps. I benefit from you a whole bunch more than I give to you. Birding introduces me to a wonderful piece of nature and gets me away from the hectic day to day stuff. And I have a lot of you on this listserv to thank for that.
Thank you!
By the way.....Fred the Redstart was back again tonight in my birth bath.
Date: 9/6/18 10:10 am From: Judi Durr (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: The Bird Named FRED
There are Many who will second that!!
Judi Durr
Sent from my iPhone
> On Sep 6, 2018, at 10:30 AM, Lewis Burke (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> wrote:
>
> Brian: you are too modest. Your ability to both hear and see birds is beyond remarkable. But your enthusiasm for birding and willingness to help other birders is unmatched. Thanks for all you bring to our great hobby.
>
> LewisBurke, Saluda county,sc
>
>> On Wednesday, September 5, 2018, Brian Pendergraft <carolinabirds...> wrote:
>>
>> If you're expecting a rare sighting please delete now. And by the way...send me a cold front?
>>
>> Steve Shultz and I have been birding together for several years, mostly sober, and many times asked or volunteering to lead a group. Steve being the birding expert, and me being....well I'm not sure what my role is. We've been many places together, and we have a distinct rule in birding. Help identify as many birds as we can to the birders we lead, and have a good time! He does a great job of identifying all the species, and I just hang out.
>>
>> We also came up with naming a bird that hangs around for a while, that typically is not a sure bet in it's season, or habitat. Steve knows the sex of the bird, but I have no clue.
>>
>> FRED is the name that we give it. Examples for us/me are the American Bittern at Prairie Ridge in Wake County that we saw for 3 years in a row in the winter. The Prairie Falcon I saw at Estes Park, CO on the power lines for three years. The Lark Sparrow that Jeff Lewis had in Manteo for FOREVER. The Common Nighthawk we saw at Croatan for at least three years. And now.....
>>
>> The Acadian Flycatcher for two straight years in my backyard. Yes, I see and hear this species closer to the the lake, but I don't have the habitat for this cutie. (The large Momosa in the backyard bring a bunch of insects, so there's plenty of food.) The female Redstart that has been in my backyard birdbath for 8 straight days. These two birds qualify for a name (FRED) because of their repetitive great looks and obvious comfortable stay. It can be a couple of years. or several days in a row. I.E. I don't have Redstarts on an everyday basis, so naturally...FRED.
>>
>> How many Fred's do you have our there that are repetitive, or just a little out of the ordinary? We simply add a little more fun to birding, and we're always look for the next FRED.
>>
>> Brian Pendergraft
>> Falls Lake NC
>>
>> Whether it for a couple of years
>>
>> You see...if you hang around long enough, your name is FRED.
J. Merrill Lynch
Conservation Biologist
Echo Valley Farm
Watauga County, NC
Sent from my iPhone
Begin forwarded message:
> From: "J. Merrill Lynch" <jmerrilllynch...>
> Date: September 6, 2018 at 11:36:28 AM EDT
> To: <carolinabirds...>
> Subject: Black-billed Cuckoo in Watauga Co, NC
>
>> Birders, this morning I had great looks at a calling Black-billed Cuckoo at my property in northern Watauga Co. The most notable aspect of this record was the bird’s unusual call—not the typical cu-cu “song” but a low frog-like rattle, repeated every few seconds for at least 5 minutes as I watched it. I’ve never heard this vocalization before.
>
> I made a recording of the call but the listserve won’t let me include it as an attachment.
>
> Good birding.
>
> J. Merrill Lynch
> Conservation Biologist
> Echo Valley Farm
> Watauga County, NC
> Sent from my iPhone
Date: 9/6/18 8:40 am From: Kent Fiala (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Black-billed Cuckoo in Watauga Co, NC
You can attach recordings to eBird checklists.
Kent Fiala
On 9/6/2018 11:36 AM, "J. Merrill Lynch" (via carolinabirds Mailing List) wrote:
>> Birders, this morning I had great looks at a calling Black-billed Cuckoo at my property in northern Watauga Co. The most notable aspect of this record was the bird’s unusual call—not the typical cu-cu “song” but a low frog-like rattle, repeated every few seconds for at least 5 minutes as I watched it. I’ve never heard this vocalization before.
>
> I made a recording of the call but the listserve won’t let me include it as an attachment.
>
> Good birding.
>
> J. Merrill Lynch
> Conservation Biologist
> Echo Valley Farm
> Watauga County, NC
> Sent from my iPhone
Date: 9/6/18 8:37 am From: \J. Merrill Lynch\ (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Black-billed Cuckoo in Watauga Co, NC
> Birders, this morning I had great looks at a calling Black-billed Cuckoo at my property in northern Watauga Co. The most notable aspect of this record was the bird’s unusual call—not the typical cu-cu “song” but a low frog-like rattle, repeated every few seconds for at least 5 minutes as I watched it. I’ve never heard this vocalization before.
I made a recording of the call but the listserve won’t let me include it as an attachment.
Good birding.
J. Merrill Lynch
Conservation Biologist
Echo Valley Farm
Watauga County, NC
Sent from my iPhone
Date: 9/6/18 7:31 am From: Lewis Burke (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: The Bird Named FRED
Brian: you are too modest. Your ability to both hear and see birds is beyond remarkable. But your enthusiasm for birding and willingness to help other birders is unmatched. Thanks for all you bring to our great hobby.
LewisBurke, Saluda county,sc
On Wednesday, September 5, 2018, Brian Pendergraft <carolinabirds...> wrote:
> > If you're expecting a rare sighting please delete now. And by the > way...send me a cold front? > > Steve Shultz and I have been birding together for several years, mostly > sober, and many times asked or volunteering to lead a group. Steve being > the birding expert, and me being....well I'm not sure what my role is. > We've been many places together, and we have a distinct rule in birding. > Help identify as many birds as we can to the birders we lead, and have a > good time! He does a great job of identifying all the species, and I just > hang out. > > We also came up with naming a bird that hangs around for a while, that > typically is not a sure bet in it's season, or habitat. Steve knows the > sex of the bird, but I have no clue. > > FRED is the name that we give it. Examples for us/me are the American > Bittern at Prairie Ridge in Wake County that we saw for 3 years in a row in > the winter. The Prairie Falcon I saw at Estes Park, CO on the power lines > for three years. The Lark Sparrow that Jeff Lewis had in Manteo for > FOREVER. The Common Nighthawk we saw at Croatan for at least three years. > And now..... > > The Acadian Flycatcher for two straight years in my backyard. Yes, I see > and hear this species closer to the the lake, but I don't have the habitat > for this cutie. (The large Momosa in the backyard bring a bunch of > insects, so there's plenty of food.) The female Redstart that has been in > my backyard birdbath for 8 straight days. These two birds qualify for a > name (FRED) because of their repetitive great looks and obvious comfortable > stay. It can be a couple of years. or several days in a row. I.E. I don't > have Redstarts on an everyday basis, so naturally...FRED. > > How many Fred's do you have our there that are repetitive, or just a > little out of the ordinary? We simply add a little more fun to birding, > and we're always look for the next FRED. > > Brian Pendergraft > Falls Lake NC > > Whether it for a couple of years > > You see...if you hang around long enough, your name is FRED. >
Date: 9/5/18 4:41 pm From: Brian Pendergraft (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: The Bird Named FRED
If you're expecting a rare sighting please delete now. And by the way...send me a cold front?
Steve Shultz and I have been birding together for several years, mostly sober, and many times asked or volunteering to lead a group. Steve being the birding expert, and me being....well I'm not sure what my role is. We've been many places together, and we have a distinct rule in birding. Help identify as many birds as we can to the birders we lead, and have a good time! He does a great job of identifying all the species, and I just hang out.
We also came up with naming a bird that hangs around for a while, that typically is not a sure bet in it's season, or habitat. Steve knows the sex of the bird, but I have no clue.
FRED is the name that we give it. Examples for us/me are the American Bittern at Prairie Ridge in Wake County that we saw for 3 years in a row in the winter. The Prairie Falcon I saw at Estes Park, CO on the power lines for three years. The Lark Sparrow that Jeff Lewis had in Manteo for FOREVER. The Common Nighthawk we saw at Croatan for at least three years. And now.....
The Acadian Flycatcher for two straight years in my backyard. Yes, I see and hear this species closer to the the lake, but I don't have the habitat for this cutie. (The large Momosa in the backyard bring a bunch of insects, so there's plenty of food.) The female Redstart that has been in my backyard birdbath for 8 straight days. These two birds qualify for a name (FRED) because of their repetitive great looks and obvious comfortable stay. It can be a couple of years. or several days in a row. I.E. I don't have Redstarts on an everyday basis, so naturally...FRED.
How many Fred's do you have our there that are repetitive, or just a little out of the ordinary? We simply add a little more fun to birding, and we're always look for the next FRED.
Brian Pendergraft Falls Lake NC
Whether it for a couple of years
You see...if you hang around long enough, your name is FRED.
Hello Carolina birders- I will be in Wilmington, NC from the 24-26 of Sept. and am writing to find out if there are any pelagic opportunities close by. I know in some areas, folks will put together their own trips with a local fishing guide. Anyway, just thought I would put out a feeler. Thanks for any information.
Date: 9/4/18 2:01 pm From: Mac Williams (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Dargan's Pond is still closed
All,
Dargan's Pond has a rear access via Clemson's Pee Dee Research facility. It's possible that someone has access via that side. I've never attempted to go through the gate at the Clemson spot even though it has been open. If anyone has a contact there, I'd love to get an introduction. Other than the occasional stopover by someone, I'm the only active eBirder in Darlington County, and Dargan's Pond access would be appreciated. The Darlington County list is mostly 4 hotspots and my backyard. I pursue any new quality locations I can.
Thank you,
Mac
On Mon, Sep 3, 2018 at 8:45 PM, Steve Patterson <carolinabirds...> wrote:
> After reading an eBird report full of good migrants at Dargan's Pond in > Darlington County, SC, I decided to go by and revisit the area myself. I > was encouraged to see that birding was happening there after many months of > closure "due to Hurricane Matthew" (according to the DNR notice at the > locked gate). The last three or four times I attempted to bird there, the > lake was closed "until further notice." > > It turns out the lake is still closed. Those birding there recently > apparently have special permission to enter the property. Good for them, > but a note on the eBird report detailing such dispensation would be helpful > to others who might want to bird there...or who prefer to spend their time > NOT driving to an advertised location where they are not actually welcome. > > In the meantime, Debra and I relocated to Whipple Landing and had an > exciting short visit with migrating tanagers (both kinds), Baltimore > Orioles, Worm-eating Warbler...a total of 30 species. Fun! > > > > Steve Patterson > Anderson, SC >
-- Mac Williams, PhD Associate Professor of Spanish Coker College 300 E. College Ave Hartsville, SC 29550 843-383-8117 (office) 843-991-3879 (cell) <jwilliams...>
Date: 9/3/18 5:45 pm From: Steve Patterson (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Dargan's Pond is still closed
After reading an eBird report full of good migrants at Dargan's Pond in Darlington County, SC, I decided to go by and revisit the area myself. I was encouraged to see that birding was happening there after many months of closure "due to Hurricane Matthew" (according to the DNR notice at the locked gate). The last three or four times I attempted to bird there, the lake was closed "until further notice."
It turns out the lake is still closed. Those birding there recently apparently have special permission to enter the property. Good for them, but a note on the eBird report detailing such dispensation would be helpful to others who might want to bird there...or who prefer to spend their time NOT driving to an advertised location where they are not actually welcome.
In the meantime, Debra and I relocated to Whipple Landing and had an exciting short visit with migrating tanagers (both kinds), Baltimore Orioles, Worm-eating Warbler...a total of 30 species. Fun!
Mike and Becky Jordan and I had a nice little flock of Warblers at the
Bluff Unit of Santee NWR this morning. Highlights were a Kentucky Warbler
and a more showy Blue-winged Warbler. They were foraging together in the
same vine tangle with a Worm-eating Warbler, some Parulas, Blue-gray
Gnatcatchers, etc. We had Summer Tanagers just about everywhere we went
and multiple cooperative Yellow-billed Cuckoos. But it was fairly slow
overall. We did have a nice close flyby Bald Eagle later over near Potato
Creek.
I also had some good birding later in the morning at my family’s place near
Hardeeville (Blue Springs Plantation). As I got out of my truck, there was
a Yellow-throated Vireo singing. Then I heard and saw a juvenile
Mississippi Kite sitting in a bare part of a large oak tree behind the
barn. It was shrieking to be fed, which the parents were doing at regular
intervals. Big cicadas were a common food item. The ongoing kite feeding
was a crowd pleaser for the family get-together. Other birds included
Painted Buntings, Scarlet Tanager, and common Warblers like Yellow,
American Redstart, N. Parula, etc.
What we need now is a proper cool front!
Nathan Dias - Charleston, SC
PS I was sorry to hear from my grand-uncle English Pearcy that beavers have
flooded an area where Swainson’s Warblers once bred, and have changed the
habitat enough to evict the Swainson’s.
Date: 9/3/18 12:55 pm From: william haddad (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Good birds at cabin yesterday evening
From the cabin deck from 6-6:30 pm saw five Warbler species at close range – a Blackburnian male in good color, several Black-throated Greens, several male and female Black-throated Blues, a Chestnut-sided and two Tennessees. Among the other birds I saw from the deck were two Broad-winged Hawks, a Blue-headed Vireo and a Yellow-throated Vireo.
This time of year when the feeder birds are most active sooner or later it brings some insect eating migrants close-by. Both Vireos came particularly close and were feasting on fat cut worms from Yellow Poplar leaves at deck level – thus the seed feeders serve a dual purpose. On a side note, the squirrels have been really bad at the feeders this year – particularly the platform feeders which some of the seed-eaters prefer. I have to sit on the porch when I put seed in the platform feeders or they will be emptied quickly by squirrels and chipmonks before the Cardinals, Towhees, Juncos, etc can get any feed. Several owners of cabins on this mountain have given up on bird feeders.
With the good birds at the cabin late yesterday, I had high hopes for Hefner Gap (only a few miles away} this morning but it was very slow as I birded it from 7:30 to 8:15am – only got 2 Warbler species and very few other species. Went on to the Orchard road but it was not any better there. Plenty of Waxwings there though.
Date: 9/3/18 8:21 am From: Christine Stoughton-Root (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Pamlico County
Hi Everyone
A nice surprise yesterday at the Hobucken Waterfowl impoundment at least 55 Blue-winged Teal-Photo on ebird.
Amongst the count was 2-Little Blue Heron, 3-Snowy Egret, American Black Ducks, 2-Tricolored Heron, 2-Glossy Ibis etc.
Date: 9/2/18 5:17 am From: <hilton...> <hilton...> Subject: Hilton Pond 07/16/18 (Treefrogs, Dr. Johnston, and 6,000+ Hummers)
Although we knew Gray Treefrogs used camouflage to avoid potential predators, little did we know this little amphibian could actually blend in with an aluminum stepladder. Such was the discovery we made when our two granddaughters visited Hilton Pond Center this summer, as described in installment #676 of "This Week at Hilton Pond" for 16-31 Jul 2018. Included is our tribute to the late Dr. David W. Johnston, the ornithologist who started us along a natural history lifestyle that includes ornithology and bird banding.
DR. BILL HILTON JR., Executive Director
Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History
1432 DeVinney Road, York, South Carolina 29745 USA
office & cell (803) 684-5852
The mission of Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History is "to conserve plants, animals, habitats, and other natural components of the Piedmont Region of the eastern United States through observation, scientific study, and education for students of all ages.
"Never trust a person too lazy to get up for sunrise or too busy to watch the sunset." BHjr.
Date: 9/1/18 10:11 pm From: Jacob Hall (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Nighthawks...wow
Saturday night, on my way back to Winston-Salem after a day of hiking at Shining Rock, I saw nearly 400 nighthawks along I-40 between Swannanoa and the downhill to Old Fort, just before sunset. The birds were spread out across several miles of interstate in three main groups...which made it marginally easier to count them. The birds were swarming and swooping down to ground level (directly in front of traffic), with others a couple hundred feet up. The higher birds were consistently flying to the east. Once I reached the downhill at Black Mountain, no more birds were seen.
It was astonishing. Never seen anything like it.
-Jake Hall Washington, DC -- Sent from Gmail Mobile
Date: 9/1/18 12:13 pm From: M Howell (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Hatteras Salt Pond
I haven't been there yet but that is on my to do list. I'm told that you park near the ramp and walk the beach to the right. It is a little more than a mile to the point but the salt pond is in the first half or qurter mile. I believe the ramp number is 44. It's the one past Cape Point Campground and had dumpsters in the parking area last I was there. Mae Howell
Powered by Cricket Wireless
------ Original message------
From: David Schroder
Date: Sat, Sep 1, 2018 2:03 PM
To: BC Bird Forum Forum;
Cc:
Subject:Hatteras Salt Pond
My wife and I are in Hatteras for the first time. We were going to stop by the Salt Pond but couldnt figure out the best way to get there without an offroad vehicle. Any suggestions?
Date: 9/1/18 11:03 am From: David Schroder (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Hatteras Salt Pond
My wife and I are in Hatteras for the first time. We were going to stop by
the Salt Pond but couldn’t figure out the best way to get there without an
offroad vehicle. Any suggestions?
Date: 9/1/18 6:18 am From: Brian Bockhahn (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Falls, Kerr and Mayo river fall bird migration counts Sep 11-13
Volunteers always needed for these counts, you can join existing groups and plenty of good areas still need coverage. I recently got a rooftop recorder for nocturnal flight calls and looking forward to trying it out!
Sep 11 - 6th annual Mayo River count in Rockingham Sep 12 - 13th annual Falls Lake count in Wake/Durham Sep 13 - 13th annual Kerr Lake count in Vance and VA
Date: 8/31/18 1:55 pm From: Jim G (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Early Migrants- Outer Banks, NC
So, my yard in Southern Shores, Dare County, NC, has been attracting some unusual migrants over the last week. I have about .75 acres and have done my best to plant native plants and leave many of the Muscadine Grapevines hanging from the large deciduous trees. I have a few bird feeders and and three bird baths that are fed by a drip coming from my rain barrel. Whatever I'm doing... seems to work.
("Rarer") Birds seen over the past week:
Canada Warbler Kentucky Warbler Blue-Winged Warbler Worm-eating Warbler White-breasted Nuthatch Black-and-White Warbler American Redstart (female AND male) Baltimore Orioles
While the Canada and Kentucky stayed for a few days, and were seen by the flock of local birders, others have been passing through and only seen for short periods of time.
If you'd like to come by, just send me an email, and I'm close to Duck Boardwalk in Dare County, NC, which tends to be great for Fall migrants.
We've had an olive-sided flycatcher feeding for the past two hours from a dead snag at the top of Hickory tree in our yard in Hillsborough. New yard bird!
A visiting friend and I just had a Cerulean Warbler at Hillsborough Riverside Walk (Hillsborough, Orange Co., NC). It was a female/imm. with no breast band; we got good views and some reasonable record shots. We saw the bird just west of the large stickwork art piece along a side trail; currently the flock it was in (with also a Chestnut-sided Warbler and two Redstarts) is right behind the stickwork, at the creek.
Date: 8/30/18 5:46 pm From: <badgerboy...> Subject: HCAS Brookshire Park walk Saturday
September has snuck up on us and Saturday is the 1st, so High Country Audubon's Brookshire Park bird walk will be held as usual at 8AM. Come help us find some migrating warblers in this free walk, open to the public, in the new river floodplain about 2 miles east of Boone just north of highway 421.
Date: 8/30/18 2:26 pm From: David Weesner (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: North end of Topsail Island ( New River In.)
8 female Blue-w. Teal, 4 Piping Plover, 60 Forester's Terns, Royal Terns, and 1 Black Tern. Also had both Yellowlegs, Spotted, Least, Semipalmated Sandpiper,S.B. Dowitcher and Semipamated & Wilson's Plover.No Black -n. Stilts maybe they have headed south already. Dave WeesnerWilmington, NC
The first four trips are scheduled for Saturday with a weather date on Sunday, and the last two trips take place during the week of the Wings Over Water festival.
Late summer and fall is a good time to see a variety of birds offshore here. The September trips are more likely to see most of the summer visitors, but all of the trips are a good introduction to seabirds here with the ever present chance to see something unexpected. The globally rare, but sometimes locally common Black=capped Petrel is a featured attraction of all of the trips. The Black-caps should be done with their wing molt, so it’s prime time to photograph them and we have good chum for bringing them close.
This is also a nice time to visit the Outer Banks for fall migration. We don’t always do this many fall trips, so take advantage of the opportunity if you can.
Date: 8/29/18 3:28 am From: Kevin Kubach (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Notes from Santee, SC
Good Morning. I just (6:15 AM) heard what I’m fairly certain were the nocturnal flight “peeps” of a Swainson’s Thrush passing overhead at Lake Marion, SC.
Anyone else hearing them yet?
Also, yesterday evening at least four Caspian Terns were fishing on the lake.
Date: 8/28/18 4:36 pm From: Eric Harrold (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Common Nighthawk movement?
Very cool!
On Tue, Aug 28, 2018 at 10:32 AM Bill Rhodes <ashevillein...> wrote:
> They just made an appearance in Candler, NC, just below Mt. Pisgah.... > 200 or so last night. > > On Tue, Aug 28, 2018 at 8:30 AM <brbirders...> wrote: > >> As early as the 21st we had 40 nighthawks, but on the 26th 164, with 140 >> swarming directly over our house at sunset, and 80 more low ones were >> passing the house going mostly towards the east on the 27th here in >> Alleghany County all just below Milepost 235 (Mahogany Rock Overlook) on >> the Blue Ridge Parkway along Bullhead Road. >> >> Jim Keighton >> Bullhead Road near Sparta, Alleghany County and in close sight of Blue >> Ridge Parkway Milepost 235 >> >> *From:* Eric Harrold >> *Sent:* Monday, August 27, 2018 5:06 PM >> *To:* carolinabirds listserve >> *Subject:* Common Nighthawk movement? >> >> Has anyone experienced significant CONI migration movement anywhere? I >> went up on the Blue Ridge Parkway at Doughton Park's picnic area and had a >> couple groups of 8-10 birds just prior to dusk and nearly nothing the next >> day (Saturday). Just curious as to whether anyone else has had anything >> more noteworthy? >> >> Eric Harrold >> Hays, NC >> >
Date: 8/28/18 7:33 am From: Bill Rhodes (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Common Nighthawk movement?
They just made an appearance in Candler, NC, just below Mt. Pisgah.... 200 or so last night.
On Tue, Aug 28, 2018 at 8:30 AM <brbirders...> wrote:
> As early as the 21st we had 40 nighthawks, but on the 26th 164, with 140 > swarming directly over our house at sunset, and 80 more low ones were > passing the house going mostly towards the east on the 27th here in > Alleghany County all just below Milepost 235 (Mahogany Rock Overlook) on > the Blue Ridge Parkway along Bullhead Road. > > Jim Keighton > Bullhead Road near Sparta, Alleghany County and in close sight of Blue > Ridge Parkway Milepost 235 > > *From:* Eric Harrold > *Sent:* Monday, August 27, 2018 5:06 PM > *To:* carolinabirds listserve > *Subject:* Common Nighthawk movement? > > Has anyone experienced significant CONI migration movement anywhere? I > went up on the Blue Ridge Parkway at Doughton Park's picnic area and had a > couple groups of 8-10 birds just prior to dusk and nearly nothing the next > day (Saturday). Just curious as to whether anyone else has had anything > more noteworthy? > > Eric Harrold > Hays, NC >
Date: 8/28/18 5:30 am From: <brbirders...> Subject: Re: Common Nighthawk movement?
As early as the 21st we had 40 nighthawks, but on the 26th 164, with 140 swarming directly over our house at sunset, and 80 more low ones were passing the house going mostly towards the east on the 27th here in Alleghany County all just below Milepost 235 (Mahogany Rock Overlook) on the Blue Ridge Parkway along Bullhead Road.
Jim Keighton Bullhead Road near Sparta, Alleghany County and in close sight of Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 235
From: Eric Harrold Sent: Monday, August 27, 2018 5:06 PM To: carolinabirds listserve Subject: Common Nighthawk movement?
Has anyone experienced significant CONI migration movement anywhere? I went up on the Blue Ridge Parkway at Doughton Park's picnic area and had a couple groups of 8-10 birds just prior to dusk and nearly nothing the next day (Saturday). Just curious as to whether anyone else has had anything more noteworthy?
Date: 8/27/18 2:09 pm From: Eric Harrold (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Common Nighthawk movement?
Has anyone experienced significant CONI migration movement anywhere? I went up on the Blue Ridge Parkway at Doughton Park's picnic area and had a couple groups of 8-10 birds just prior to dusk and nearly nothing the next day (Saturday). Just curious as to whether anyone else has had anything more noteworthy?
Our goals for this effort will be: 1) to increase our knowledge and understanding of flora and fauna at the park; 2) to update existing species records, and 3) to continue to refine the model for future bio-blitzes within our division. We are trying to pull experts from many different taxonomic groups, ranging from moths, to mammals, to myxomycota!
To add to the enticement, our division will offer a 24-hour exemption from our usual research requirement (known as a Research Activity Permit). If a researcher participates in the bio-blitz, we will waive the need for a Research Activity Permit, as long as ALL species identified are reported to the park by December 31st; final disposition will be up to the researcher.
The superintendent has coordinated with the Friends of Lake Norman SP to provide meals throughout the day, but in order to do so, he'll need an accurate head count. Therefore, at this time, please take a look at your calendars, and let me know if: A) you're interested and available to participate; and B) if you know of someone not currently on our list of experts who should be contacted. We may also have limited housing available, on a first come basis.
Thanks for your time! Please email me if you have any questions.
Ed
Ed Corey
Inventory Biologist, NC Division of Parks and Recreation
NC Dept. of Natural and Cultural Resources
919 841 4037 Office
919 208 7864 Mobile
<Ed.Corey...><mailto:<Ed.Corey...>
12700 Bayleaf Church Road | Raleigh, North Carolina 27614
Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.
Date: 8/26/18 6:23 pm From: David Weesner (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Black Terns at Topsail Beach
At the south end of Topsail Beach about 6:00pm I had 40 Black Terns and 40 Sandwich Terns feeding over a big school of minnows.I went to the north end to look for Piping Plovers. No luck.Dave WeesnerWilmington,NC
Date: 8/26/18 7:05 am From: Thomas Austin <TBAUSTI...> Subject: YBFL false ID at Roxbury, also Scarlet Tanager
The bird was back in the same spot this morning but I recorded the call and got better looks with the sun at my back. Wing bars definitely Eastern Wood-Pewee. (I knew it was too good to be true.) The bird is a little odd though. Small for species, never raised crest, and its call was short and well enunciated. Making it sound more like a YBFL than EWPE but comparing recordings it's a bit slower and lower.
I stumbled upon a mixed flock of migrants this morning and picked out a molting male Scarlet Tanager and at least one female/immature Redstart. Photos to be processed for other warbler IDs.
Date: 8/25/18 9:17 am From: Jim G (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Kentucky Warbler - Outer Banks, S. Shores, NC
Good Afternoon,
I'm currently enjoying a celebratory IPA from Saranac brewing in honor of finding my Lifer KENTUCKY WARBLER, in my own backyard! This is my version of "Lifer Pie," as created by NC birder (now Australian border), R. BRUCE RICHARDSON.
Even managed to snap aa photo for proof. WOW! Just amazing.
Along with the Kentucky, was a Canada Warbler (probably same from yesterday), Worm-eating Warbler and American Redstart.
Date: 8/25/18 8:34 am From: Thomas Austin <TBAUSTI...> Subject: Yellow-bellied Flycatcher at Roxbury Park
I had an Empidonax this morning (8:05am) that sounded a lot like a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher. A great start to the day here on the coast. However, I have practically no experience with passage migrant Empidonax so I'm not certain of the ID.
It was perched on snags in the Northeast corner of the hayfield. Distinctive Pewee-like "chur-wee" call heard multiple times. I got good looks, photos, and video but didn't manage to record a call. The bird was small but rather pale on the breast and grayish on the mantle with no yellow/green coloring that I could discern. I don't know if that's a trait of immature plumage or if it being overcast and backlit through off the colors. It flew out of sight beyond our windrow so I have no idea if it's sticking around for the day.
Tom Austin Caretaker of Roxbury Park Meggett, Charleston Co., SC
Date: 8/25/18 8:02 am From: Harry LeGrand (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Lark Sparrow near Raleigh
This morning, around 10:10, I saw an immature LARK SPARROW along Mid-Pines Road, south of Raleigh. I saw it for about 5 minutes with a group of Eastern Bluebirds. I'll put full details in the eBird report.
It did feed in the road briefly, near the pecan grove. That was the last time I saw it, as the bluebirds scattered in many directions. It will certainly be in the area today, but as Mid-Pines is lined by fences, you must stay to the road. And, that might limit your options; check the dirt road heading to the red-roofed buildings, as well. Check all of the birds on the fences and telephone lines -- lots of bluebirds, cowbirds, Bleu Grosbeaks, a few Chipping Sparrows, etc., are all in the area.
I think this is my first Lark Sparrow in the Piedmont.
Date: 8/24/18 1:53 pm From: Jim G (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: CANADA WARBLER - Outer Banks, NC
Just had an American Redstart and a CANADA WARBLER, in my backyard in Southern Shores, NC (Outer Banks). The Canada Warbler is very rarely seen on the Outer Banks. Photos will be posted on various outlets.
Date: 8/24/18 10:32 am From: Irvin Pitts <pittsjam...> Subject: Songbird Migration in the SC Midlands
Hello, Today, I ran into Gary Sowell at Congaree Creek Heritage Preserve in Lexington County, SC and we enjoyed a nice morning of migration activity. Our wood warbler highlights included a Blue-winged Warbler, an early arriving Chestnut-sided Warbler and two Worm-eating Warblers, along with multiple American Redstarts, Prothonotary Warblers, Northern Parulas, Hooded Warblers and a Black-and-white Warbler. We also encountered lots of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers and saw a Yellow-breasted Chat.
Morning (again)!
Passing along this RFI from a person not on C-birds. Please respond directly to Jack at the address listed below if you have suggestions.
Date: 8/24/18 7:51 am From: scbirder (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: RE: Update on the Olive-sided Flycatcher at Conestee, Greenville County, SC
To all who may be looking for updates about the Olive-sided Flycatcher, Debra and I went to the site and the Heron Spur location this morning. We did not find the bird.
Steve PattersonAnderson, SC
Sent from my Verizon 4G LTE smartphone
-------- Original message --------
From: Paul Serridge <carolinabirds...>
Date: 8/24/18 7:35 AM (GMT-05:00)
To: Carolina Birds <carolinabirds...>
Subject: Update on the Olive-sided Flycatcher at Conestee, Greenville County, SC
All,The OSFL was seen by multiple birders from 8 a.m. on Saturday until 5 p.m. on Tuesday perched on the top of a bare tree in a clearing about 0.9 miles from the Spanco trail-head along the paved Swamp Rabbit Trail. The clearing is on the left hand side of the trail just past the second boardwalk on the paved trail. The closest trail-head to that location is behind the Belmont FD on Fork Shoals Rd.Click on this link to view a map of LCNP: https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__lakeconesteenaturepark.com_wp-2Dcontent_uploads_2009_10_trailmap.pdfThe&d=DwIGaQ&c=imBPVzF25OnBgGmVOlcsiEgHoG1i6YHLR0Sj_gZ4adc&r=ymRCw6Q-sBitug_rdeO1Tokz-I_SX2LQN2_Ocvlal9U&m=TVGUCckFbXxXbCzlS1E9dawXKLDcKZpc7KSrZ-T_Nug&s=WPypn3oiKCF8t0jDTIk5vV8MTTDo0_oHFq06xxjRLT0&e= second boardwalk is shown on this map just above the box marked "Park Entrances".
It was also seen on a different perch in that same area but on the other side of the trail about 50 yards out. On Tuesday morning Irvin Pitts, Lewis Burke and I saw the bird on both those perches. Irvin posted photos on an ebird report. It was later seen again in that same spot the same day.Since then several efforts to find the bird in that location on both Wednesday and Thursday have been unsuccessful.
On Wednesday Matthew Campbell reported it on ebird as a continuing bird and gave a brief description. But his ebird report did not give a location. Later that evening he posted on Carolina Birds that the bird had been seen from the "Heron Spur platform". I presume that was the West Bay observation deck. From that platform there is a view over the entire West Bay. I have asked Mr Campbell for details of the precise location of the bird in order to help birders find it again. It is entirely possible that, after remaining in one area for at least 4 days, the bird changed location.
2 efforts to find the bird from the Heron Spur yesterday were unsuccessful.
Paul SerridgeGreenville, SC
Date: 8/24/18 6:11 am From: \Shultz, Steven\ (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Ft. Fisher NC - banded oystercatchers
Susan Campbell and I birded along the ORV section of Ft. Fisher SRA (New Hanover Cty, NC) the weekend of August 11th. The goal was to pad my distressingly short state list for '18. While I'm currently sitting on my highest annual list to date in terms of numbers, my NC list is the lowest in 18 years. That's probably illegal. Hence the effort to increase.
Saturday was the typical summer day on the beach. Lots of 4WDs, lots of kids, lots of sunburned people drinking "water" from red solo cups (no alcohol on the beach, so no way it was really beer). Very few birds. Even the normally birdy marsh side was slow, quite possibly due to the guy trying to see if you really can throw 40 inch chrome spinners on a truck and still take it on the sand (you can apparently), or possibly the folks tossing nets for bait.
Sunday was a completely different picture. Heavy thunderstorms rolled through overnight, lingering through the early morning hours. Seems that folks don't enjoy the beach so much when it's grey, wet, and threatening. But that's just perfect for birders, and it turns out, birds. Hundreds and hundreds of shorebirds stood around shallow puddles or along the edges of the flooding salt marsh at high tide. Most of these were Semipalmated Plover, Western Sandpiper, and Semipalmated Sandpiper. Best birds included Red Knot (sad when these have become uncommon enough to get BB status), lots of Whimbrel, and a HY Piping Plover. Terns included 3 Black.
We arrived at the biggest shorebird roost just about the time another heavy storm rolled in. As we crept toward the birds, I noticed another ORV heading in the same direction. Afraid they would spook all the birds, I made an aggressive move (at least as much as can be accomplished at 8 mph) and moved to get between them and the birds. Turns out this was Jamie Adams, who confided that he was trying to do the same thing, thinking that we might be yahoos looking to try out our new 40s on the sand. We had a good laugh and watched the birds.
Once the storm ended, and we knew it was about so since birds generally face into the wind, and all the birds (hundreds) simultaneously turned from pointing south to pointing north (indicating the wind shift), an impressive sight resulted. Just about the entire flock perked up, lifted their wings, shook off the rainwater, and all left. Apparently the birds were kept down by the storms, and as soon as the weather cleared, off they went. Quite a sight.
Among the birds were numbers of American Oystercatchers, quite a few sporting fashionable numbered leg bands. While band numbers can be submitted to the Bird Banding Lab (BBL) in Maryland, there is a special website on which you may report AMOY bands, and the response is quite speedy. We entered our information and in just a short time received confirmations detailing the original date of banding and all subsequent re-sightings. Almost all of the birds were NC birds (with green bands) but we also encountered birds banded in New York and New Jersey (various orange bands) that were already back on their wintering grounds. It was fascinating to see the movements of the birds, as evidenced in the re-sighting data. I assumed that the NC wintering birds stayed pretty much in the same spot, but the AMOYs seem to wander around a bit at least, moving, for example, from Ft. Fisher to Masonboro Island and back over short periods of time.
Date: 8/24/18 4:36 am From: Paul Serridge (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Update on the Olive-sided Flycatcher at Conestee, Greenville County, SC
It was also seen on a different perch in that same area but on the other side of the trail about 50 yards out. On Tuesday morning Irvin Pitts, Lewis Burke and I saw the bird on both those perches. Irvin posted photos on an ebird report. It was later seen again in that same spot the same day. Since then several efforts to find the bird in that location on both Wednesday and Thursday have been unsuccessful.
On Wednesday Matthew Campbell reported it on ebird as a continuing bird and gave a brief description. But his ebird report did not give a location. Later that evening he posted on Carolina Birds that the bird had been seen from the "Heron Spur platform". I presume that was the West Bay observation deck. From that platform there is a view over the entire West Bay. I have asked Mr Campbell for details of the precise location of the bird in order to help birders find it again. It is entirely possible that, after remaining in one area for at least 4 days, the bird changed location.
2 efforts to find the bird from the Heron Spur yesterday were unsuccessful.
We had a nice look at a Cerulean Warbler this morning feeding low with Black-throated Green warblers and a couple American Redstarts. We are at 2000' elevation near the S.W. corner of McDowell County, North Carolina.
Tom PericakBonnie SimmonsOld Fort, N.C.
Chestnut sided now. I hope folks are outside looking around!
Brian P.
Sent from my iPhone
> On Aug 23, 2018, at 6:05 PM, Brian Pendergraft <bkpendergraft...> wrote:
>
> Pretty much as scheduled. Feeding with a Parula. Backyard in sunlit hardwoods.
>
> Brian Pendergraft
> Falls Lake NC
>
> Sent from my iPhone
Date: 8/23/18 11:31 am From: Carl Miller (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Audubon inspired artist exhibition at the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art in Charleston
This is random, but decidedly bird related...
I was birding at the Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve (north end of Folly Beach, SC) last night and happened to meet a pleasant Italian fellow birder and his parents. He never identified himself (apart from his first name), but did urge me to check out the birding exhibit at the Halsey Institute. When I got home and investigated said exhibit, I realized that I had met the exhibition artist, Hitnes, and his mom and dad (also birders) who are visiting from Rome. The link below will give you a preview of the show. There is also an opening reception on Friday, August 24, at 6:30 PM and an "artist's talk" on Saturday, August 25, at 2:00 PM. According to the article in the Post & Courier (August 11, link below), both of these events are free. Cathy and I will definitely be going.
Date: 8/23/18 8:31 am From: Steve Patterson (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Lake Junaluska geese
Among the Canada Geese and barnyard fowl at Lake Junaluska, the GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE is again or still at the boat landing area.
While standing in front of the Terrace Inn, an EGYPTIAN GOOSE flew by, heading toward the boat landing area. I know some folks seem to be following this species in western NC.
I checked the site again where the BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON was found on Tuesday, but it was not there Wednesday or Thursday.
Date: 8/22/18 7:10 pm From: M Campbell (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Olive-sided Flycatcher at Conestee, Greenville County, SC
Hello,
I went to Lake Conestee today to look for flycatchers. I saw no flycatchers from 2:10 until 5:10, and then I saw 2 flycatchers from about 5:10 until I left at 6:50. One was an Eastern Phoebe with yellow on the sides, and the other was larger, darker, with a short tail and a dark vest consistent with Olive-sided Flycatcher. The two flycatchers were observed from the Heron Spur boardwalk platform; in the same general are as previously reported.
I was joined in the field by Lynn Burns and Candace Burns.
I will submit an ebird report, and will post a photo to ebird if any of mine are good enough.
Matthew Campbell
On Mon, Aug 20, 2018 at 6:54 AM Kevin Kubach <carolinabirds...> wrote:
> The bird continues this morning in the same location described below. > > Kevin Kubach > Greenville, SC > > On Aug 19, 2018, at 5:19 PM, Paul Serridge (via carolinabirds Mailing > List) <carolinabirds...> wrote: > > An Olive-sided Flycatcher was seen on Saturday Aug 18 by a group of 11 > birders during a GCBC 3rd Saturday outing at Lake Conestee Nature Park. It > was foraging from the top of a bare tree. It repeatedly flew from the perch > to catch a passing insect and returned to exactly the same perch. The bird > did not vocalize. > > The sighting was along the paved trail. Taking Spanco as a starting point > the perch was on the left side of the trail after the long boardwalk from > which there are good views of the heron nests. Immediately past this > boardwalk there is a small clearing on the left just before the tra il > starts to climb a little. The perch was at the very top of a bare tree in > or close to that clearing. > > The bird was relocated this afternoon (Aug 19) in the same location by > Simon Harvey who reported that it gave its characteristic call once. > > Paul Serridge > Greenville, SC > > >
A large bird flew into one of our windows yesterday (yes, they have decals) and fell to the deck, stunned. I was surprised to see it was a Yellow-billed cuckoo. I haven't seen or heard one in our yard for at least 10 yrs.
I protected the bird from our dogs, and within ~ 15', it flew up into a nearby tree and later flew away. Hope it survived.
*Holly Powell* *Hummingbird Hideaway* *On Adams Creek, Intracoastal Waterway* *15 miles north of Beaufort, NC*
Date: 8/22/18 6:16 am From: Brian Pendergraft (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Cool Front - Piedmont of NC
Folks,
Many of you know I keep pretty thorough records of the monthly activities in my yard in northern Wake County. The weather forecasters are predicting a pretty nice cool front for the central piedmont, with much lower dew points, and a significant wind change. My records show a very similar event for 4 out of the last 5 years counting this year. The dates of the weather fronts are from August 24th-27th. The temperature Friday morning is supposed to go to 58 at the RDU airport, which will mean 55 or 56 where I live, so I'll be going into work a bit late that morning! And I'll be looking around tomorrow night as well. Not all the movement will be due to the wind change, as some birds are just simply early migrants, but I've typically had my first little wave of activity in my yard. I've listed some of the warblers that have been seen during a very similar event over the last five years. My message is....GET OUT AND ENJOY!
BLUE-WINGED WARBLER AMERICAN REDSTART MAGNOLIA WARBLER BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER (a bit early for my yard in 2017) CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER WORM-EATING WARBLER HOODED WARBLER (seldom seen in my yard specifically) NORTHERN PARULA (nest closer to the lake, uncommon in the yard) BALTIMORE ORIOLE
If you want, write me off list and let's compare notes.
Date: 8/22/18 6:04 am From: \alhooks13 .\ (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Bodie Island (NC) Hunting Blind / VIewing Platform Comment Period
The Cape Hatteras National Seashore unit of the National Park Service is taking comments on its proposal to to construct a new accessible waterfowl hunting blind and wildlife viewing platform on Bodie Island. Local NPS leadership feel it is their duty under federal law to have a handicapped-accessible hunting area, which can also be used for wildlife viewing/photography and educational purposes.
Last night, Audrey Whitlock and I, among others, attended a public hearing about this proposal. Approximately 1500 acres of Bodie Island between Whalebone and the Bodie Island Lighthouse are designated as waterfowl only hunting areas. The NPS is considering three sites west of Highway 12 to construct this platform. The local NPS leadership is confident of finding funding for this project through a combination of federal, state and philanthropic sources. For obvious safety reasons, only hunters will have access during the hunting season. Waterfowl hunting is not allowed on Sundays during the season.
For those of you familiar with the area, one of the sites is the former platform site that was destroyed in a hurricane some years ago. NPS is proposing a boardwalk from a designated parking area to the platform. NPS is soliciting comments regarding this project. We local OBX birders are excited about having a new accessible marsh and pond area to bird.
Since many of you visit the OBX regularly, we kindly request your comments to the NPS. To make this project as birder friendly as possible, we suggest the following comments be made:
- Provide open public access to the platform on Sundays during hunting season. - Locate the platform as far as possible from Hwy 12 to cut down on highway noise. - Design the platform as open as possible, minimizing visual obstacles, such as walls.
Date: 8/22/18 5:38 am From: Nate Dias (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Fall birding & butterfly walks at Santee NWR - September 15 + 29, October 20, November 3
Once again this year, Dennis Forsythe and I will again be leading fall migration birding walks at Santee NWR - free of charge. These walks visit the Bluff Unit and/or Pine Island Unit - both of which are well-known "migrant traps" on the north shore of Lake Marion. A few of the rarities turned up on the walks in recent years include Yellow Rail, Gray Kingbird, LeConte's Sparrow, Black-billed Cuckoo, Golden-winged Warbler, other rare Warblers and Yellow-bellied Flycatchers which seem to be annual in recent years.
We will meet at the Santee NWR Visitor's Center at 7:30am each Saturday. In the event that the chance of rain is greater than 50% on a Saturday, the walk will be held the next day (Sunday). If the chance of rain is also >50% that Sunday, the walk will be canceled.
We are having walks on the following Saturdays: September 15, September 29, October 20, and November 3. The November 3 walk is after the seasonal closure of most of the Bluff and Pine Island units, but management has graciously allowed us access. That should make a difference for finding neat sparrows, rare icterids and late fall rarities like the Vermilion Flycatcher of a few years ago.
* Note to birders about Santee NWR access: hunts will be taking place on the following dates and during those hunts, most of the given unit will be closed to public access:
Bluff Unit: October 6-7, October 20-21
Pine Island Unit: September 22 - October 7, October 12-14, and October 26-28
Cuddo Unit: September 22 - October 7, October 12-14, October 26-28
Date: 8/21/18 4:32 pm From: william haddad (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Cerulean Warbler at Cabin Today
Despite intermediate rain had some migrants at my cabin – a flurry at noon and some more at 4pm ( including the Cerulean which is only the second one that I have seen at the cabin). Also, saw Amer. Redstarts, Black-throated Blues, Black-throated Greens, Black and Whites and a Worm-eating Warbler and Red-eyed and Blue-headed Vireos among other birds there. These birds
came close to the seed eating birds at the feeders. In fact, a female Redstart and later a female Black-throated Blue briefly landed on the horizontal feeder!
I had tried Hefner Gap this morning at 8am but it was very foggy and cloudy with a brief drizzle and only yielded three Warbler species and seven other bird species. However, one of those other species was a Blue Grosbeak which I seldom see in Fall migration.
Speaking of Hefner Gap, it has been active in August – on one outing I saw 12 Warbler species – averaged about 7. The edge of the BRP north of the parking lot and north of the two Hefner signs has been particularly fruitful. As of today the Parkway staff has not mowed most of the edge north of the parking lot and the weeds are high. Also be aware that even on the better days the action pretty well stops there at 9am. Action usually starts around 7:30 am.
Date: 8/21/18 10:35 am From: Tim Lewis (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Aggressive hummer
We have a particularly aggressive female rubythroat chasing much larger birds. A seed feeder is 8 feet from a fringe tree where tits, goldfinches and Carolina wrens take sunflower seeds to open and eat. The hummer chases them away, in and around the foliage, regardless of how many are there. The only bird to chase back is a cardinal.
Maybe this is one the reasons there are only 2 or 3 hummers left at the feeder - there were 6 or 8 a month ago.
Date: 8/21/18 10:15 am From: Linda Ward (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Strange owl report, near Elizabeth City, NC
Hi All,
This is one of the strangest reports I've ever heard, and I hesitated to share it, but....first, the person who told me about it is a backyard birder, and not prone to practical jokes.
He was sitting on his dock, with a swamp nearby. A large owl (he thinks great horned) with, what he thinks he saw, another small bird on its back, about the size of a house finch. The owl landed on a nearby limb, and the smaller bird hopped off of its back and perched on the limb beside the owl. They startled, and both flew to another limb, but he says he could still see both. They were fairly close and he was sure that this is what he saw. An owlet would not have been that small, I think....I asked if he was familiar with mobbing behavior, and he said he was and that this is not what he witnessed.
His wife thinks he's nuts...I'm not sure what to think, except I do think he thinks he really saw this.
Date: 8/20/18 7:44 am From: Derb Carter <derbc...> Subject: spoonbills Bald Head Island
Disclaimer: The information contained in this communication from the sender is confidential. It is intended solely for use by the recipient and others authorized to receive it. If you are not the recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking action in relation of the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful.
Date: 8/20/18 3:54 am From: Kevin Kubach (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Olive-sided Flycatcher at Conestee, Greenville County, SC
The bird continues this morning in the same location described below.
Kevin Kubach
Greenville, SC
> On Aug 19, 2018, at 5:19 PM, Paul Serridge (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> wrote:
>
> An Olive-sided Flycatcher was seen on Saturday Aug 18 by a group of 11 birders during a GCBC 3rd Saturday outing at Lake Conestee Nature Park. It was foraging from the top of a bare tree. It repeatedly flew from the perch to catch a passing insect and returned to exactly the same perch. The bird did not vocalize.
>
> The sighting was along the paved trail. Taking Spanco as a starting point the perch was on the left side of the trail after the long boardwalk from which there are good views of the heron nests. Immediately past this boardwalk there is a small clearing on the left just before the trail starts to climb a little. The perch was at the very top of a bare tree in or close to that clearing.
>
> The bird was relocated this afternoon (Aug 19) in the same location by Simon Harvey who reported that it gave its characteristic call once.
>
> Paul Serridge
> Greenville, SC
>
>
Duck was still there at 7 pm Sunday. Go onto Heathwood Hall Road past the truck stop with the McDonalds. It was in the large pond by the DANGEROUS curve. If you look for it, be careful. And don't park or stop on the curve. There can be a lot of traffic at times.
Caroline Eastman Columbia, SC ________________________________ From: <carolinabirds-request...> [<carolinabirds-request...>] on behalf of Ron [<waxwing...>] Sent: Sunday, August 19, 2018 5:22 PM To: <Carolinabirds...> Subject: Columbia, SC area Whistling-Duck
Members of Mecklenburg Audubon found a Black-bellied Whistling-Duck this afternoon, in the wetlands on the secondary road off Bluff Road, Exit 5, I-77.
An Olive-sided Flycatcher found by and photographed by Greenville County Bird Club members on their walk yesterday was relocated today by myself and Chip Gilbert at 4:27pm. The bird was perched and flycatching from both side of the Spanco paved trail within 30 yards of where the boardwalk ends in the direction of the Fire Station. Typical behavior of flycatching from the highest branches of dead trees and returning to the original perch. The dark vest, large head, large bill and short tail were observed and photographed. A great bird for Upstate South Carolina.
Date: 8/19/18 2:22 pm From: Ron <waxwing...> Subject: Columbia, SC area Whistling-Duck
Members of Mecklenburg Audubon found a Black-bellied Whistling-Duck this afternoon, in the wetlands on the secondary road off Bluff Road, Exit 5, I-77.
Date: 8/19/18 2:19 pm From: Paul Serridge (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Olive-sided Flycatcher at Conestee, Greenville County, SC
An Olive-sided Flycatcher was seen on Saturday Aug 18 by a group of 11 birders during a GCBC 3rd Saturday outing at Lake Conestee Nature Park. It was foraging from the top of a bare tree. It repeatedly flew from the perch to catch a passing insect and returned to exactly the same perch. The bird did not vocalize.
The sighting was along the paved trail. Taking Spanco as a starting point the perch was on the left side of the trail after the long boardwalk from which there are good views of the heron nests. Immediately past this boardwalk there is a small clearing on the left just before the trail starts to climb a little. The perch was at the very top of a bare tree in or close to that clearing.
The bird was relocated this afternoon (Aug 19) in the same location by Simon Harvey who reported that it gave its characteristic call once.
Date: 8/19/18 10:15 am From: Scott Baron (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Dare County, Aug. 17 - 19
Hello, birders.
Birding highlights from my 3 day trip to the Outer Banks and Alligator River NWR.
3 Roseate Spoonbills continue at the Salt Pond at Cape Hatteras, Aug. 18. They appear to be second cycle birds.
1 early Wilson's Snipe in the lawn near other shorebirds at the Wright Brothers National Memorial, Aug. 19.
1 Lark Sparrow in Avon, Aug. 19. At 8am I saw a songbird fly across Rte. 12 in front of my car and noted the tail pattern. I pulled over and refound the bird on the sidewalk and confirmed it as this species! It flew off after several seconds. This was in front of the law office on the west side of Rte. 12 and 42198 Askins Creek Dr.
Hundreds of terns of 7 species at Cape Point, Cape Hatteras, Aug. 18.
Many Eastern Kingbirds at Alligator River NWR. They were in groups of 2-5 and were mostly silent so I presume that they were migrants. Also a Black Bear in a tree.
Date: 8/19/18 8:49 am From: Monroe (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Wilson’s Phalarope
This bird seen this morning at the marsh at east end of lake at Cane Creek Park Union Co. NC. Ran into Dennis Kent and his wife on the paddle out from the Day Use Area. They had the bird hanging out with Killdeer. I was scanning Killdeer from about 30 yards out. No bird. Durn thing was alone not 10 yards in front of me.
Tip. If you rent a canoe don’t do it solo. Too much work. Good 30 minute paddle out. But nice cool morning.
Also the Anhinga Tri Colored Heron Wood Stork.
Thanks Martina for finding this bird.
Monroe Pannell
Conover
Catawba County NC
Sent from my iPhone
