Unfortunately, Sheryl only responded to me about this being a "small
ship". That was unfortunate, as on a small ship, which I have birded on
often, a scope is about un-usable. Too unstable.
Thus, folks -- it DOES matter the size of a cruise ship whether you should
take a scope or not.
Harry LeGrand
On Sat, Jul 19, 2025 at 4:53 PM Steve <sshultz...> wrote:
> I would definitely take a scope. The distances are rather long, birds will
> often be a mile or more away. Even a bird as “close” as the other end of
> the ship is a fifth of a mile distant, and birds “right off the ship” are
> at a minimum hundreds of feet away.
>
> Just having bins restricts you to the nearest of birds while the scope
> extends your reach.
>
>
> Steve Shultz
> Apex NC
>
> On Jul 19, 2025, at 3:58 PM, Simon Thompson <carolinabirds...>
> wrote:
>
>
> Hi Sheryl
> I have just got back from several cruises to Alaska on the royal Caribbean
> cruise- Anthem of the seas. I used my scope all the time as the ship is so
> stable. I could even zoom in on storm petrels with some practice.
> What ship are you going one?
> Your binocs are perfect for sea watching
> Simon
>
> Simon RB Thompson
> Asheville, NC and Saxmundham, Suffolk UK
>
> Ventures Birding Tours
> http://www.birdventures.com/ <http://www.birdventures.com/> >
> Please use the Ventures e-Mail (<Venturesbirding...>) to contact the
> Ventures office - thanks!
>
>
>
> On Sat, 19 Jul 2025 at 13:11, sheryl mcnair <carolinabirds...>
> wrote:
>
>> All,
>> We have a cruise to Antarctica & I’m trying to decide—do I want to bring
>> my scope? And do I want any different binos than my 10X30 Swarovskis? Any
>> thoughts? It’s not a travel scope, btw.
>> FMTY,
>> Sheryl
>>
>
Hi Sheryl
I have just got back from several cruises to Alaska on the royal Caribbean
cruise- Anthem of the seas. I used my scope all the time as the ship is so
stable. I could even zoom in on storm petrels with some practice.
What ship are you going one?
Your binocs are perfect for sea watching
Simon
Simon RB Thompson
Asheville, NC and Saxmundham, Suffolk UK
Please use the Ventures e-Mail (<Venturesbirding...>) to contact the
Ventures office - thanks!
On Sat, 19 Jul 2025 at 13:11, sheryl mcnair <carolinabirds...> wrote:
> All,
> We have a cruise to Antarctica & I’m trying to decide—do I want to bring
> my scope? And do I want any different binos than my 10X30 Swarovskis? Any
> thoughts? It’s not a travel scope, btw.
> FMTY,
> Sheryl
>
Date: 7/19/25 8:24 am From: Harry LeGrand (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Sea glasses
To all,
Use of a scope on a cruise ship depends on the size of the ship. So,
Sheryl, you will want to let us know about the capacity. I have been on
several naturalist cruise ships, with a passenger capacity of about 70-150
people. These ships rock too much for a scope; so -- No to that.
However, the large cruise ships -- 1000 to many thousands of passengers --
are obviously much larger and thus are stable enough for scope use. I have
not yet done a cruise yet on such a ship but will next spring. The birders
on these DO bring scopes and thus scopes are recommended.
Harry LeGrand
Raleigh
On Sat, Jul 19, 2025 at 8:11 AM sheryl mcnair <carolinabirds...>
wrote:
> All,
> We have a cruise to Antarctica & I’m trying to decide—do I want to bring
> my scope? And do I want any different binos than my 10X30 Swarovskis? Any
> thoughts? It’s not a travel scope, btw.
> FMTY,
> Sheryl
>
All,
We have a cruise to Antarctica & I’m trying to decide—do I want to bring my scope? And do I want any different binos than my 10X30 Swarovskis? Any thoughts? It’s not a travel scope, btw.
FMTY,
Sheryl
We had a pair of adults that spent a few days taking turns at seemingly trying to enlarge a bird house opening that had a metal opening guard. One would peck for about 15' and then they would switch off and the other one would work on it. They were relentless, and seemed to be pecking at the wood behind the edges of the guard.
I thought about taking the guard off, but was hoping they would move to a box with a larger opening on the other side of our yard. No such luck. After a few days, they gave up. I would have loved it if they nested in our yard!
Date: 7/17/25 7:13 am From: Betsy Kane (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: "Hawks" with a taste for figs
I heard a Cooper's Hawk calling in my yard, as I often do.
It sounded very close this time, so I walked around to try to see it. I detected thebird right overhead, in the top of my fig tree. (The figs have just begun to ripen, and soon every fruit-eating bird will be all over it.)
The calling Cooper's Hawk sounded surprisingly close overhead, but I couldn't get a good look at it. The bird continued to call with the Cooper's Hawk signature call, frequently and clearly.
... A little too clearly.
Maneuvering myself around under the fig tree, I got a better look at the bird. It was a Blue Jay, with a blue jay friend.
It continued to sit and call from the top of my fig tree full of newly ripe figs. "Obviously," these birds were "hoping" to keep other birds out of "their" fig tree for a day or two by imitating a Cooper's Hawk. (Anthropomorphism intentionally applied)
As long as I'm drawing inappropriate human parallels in blue jay behavior, it's cartoonishly funny to see a blue jay carrying a whole fig in its beak by the stem, flying away with it resembling nothing so much as a cartoon bank robber making off with a bag of cash.
In years past I had a blue jay that would sit in a secluded spot in the side yard, quietly practicing Bald Eagle calls over and over, day after day. It would "whisper" the calls as if it were trying to get away with something.
I just hate it when people anthropomorphize other creatures, but with blue jays I admit it is practically irresistible.
Date: 7/17/25 4:43 am From: Norman Budnitz (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Red-headed Woodpecker behavior, questions
Here are two paragraphs from Birds of the World, an online subscription
resource says:
Cooperative Breeding
There is only one known record of cooperative breeding in Red-headed
Woodpeckers, reported for a small, densely populated site in Illinois
(Atterberry-Jones
and Peer 2010
<https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/rehwoo/cur/references#REF64512>).
In two consecutive years, a single nest was attended and defended by 3
Red-headed Woodpecker individuals; during one year all three individuals
were observed incubating the eggs or brooding the young.
On Thu, Jul 17, 2025 at 7:08 AM Steve Thomas <stype...> wrote:
> We’ve had the pleasure of hosting Red-headed Woodpeckers nesting in our
> yard for several seasons now. Last year and this year they’ve nested in a
> dead tree where we have been able to watch them regularly.
>
> Last year there were three adults in the yard around the tree. It seemed
> that the third red-head arrived after the nest was established, and that it
> possibly was taking food to the nest along with the parents. Of course, we
> couldn’t actually distinguish the different individuals, but that was our
> impression - three adults tending the nest. So are Red-headed Woodworkers
> known to exhibit any colonial nesting tendencies, perhaps resembling
> Red-cockededs in this respect? The nest was apparently successful with two
> juveniles appearing elsewhere in the yard.
>
> This spring three Red-headed Woodpeckers arrived in our yard, two adults
> and one in late juvenile plumage - it’s head was mottled red and brown, and
> it had black interrupting the white in the wings. After a few days of
> lively interaction, only a pair remained in the yard. The interesting
> detail occurring this year, is that the juvenile was apparently one the
> parents. After what we saw last year, we at first thought the juvenile was
> a nest helper, but there was no third red-head in the yard. So the question
> here is: Do Red-headed Woodpeckers often mate with juveniles, perhaps
> resembling Orchard Orioles in this respect?
> Maybe the juvenile was the only male or female of the trio and no other
> option was available. Or I suppose the two birds in adult plumage could
> have mated, one left and the juvenile then assumed its duties? Anyway,
> we’ve seen a true, fresh juvenile here this season along with the parents,
> and everything looks good.
>
> Stephen Thomas
> Aynor, SC
>
Date: 7/17/25 4:08 am From: Steve Thomas <stype...> Subject: Red-headed Woodpecker behavior, questions
We’ve had the pleasure of hosting Red-headed Woodpeckers nesting in our yard for several seasons now. Last year and this year they’ve nested in a dead tree where we have been able to watch them regularly.
Last year there were three adults in the yard around the tree. It seemed that the third red-head arrived after the nest was established, and that it possibly was taking food to the nest along with the parents. Of course, we couldn’t actually distinguish the different individuals, but that was our impression - three adults tending the nest. So are Red-headed Woodworkers known to exhibit any colonial nesting tendencies, perhaps resembling Red-cockededs in this respect? The nest was apparently successful with two juveniles appearing elsewhere in the yard.
This spring three Red-headed Woodpeckers arrived in our yard, two adults and one in late juvenile plumage - it’s head was mottled red and brown, and it had black interrupting the white in the wings. After a few days of lively interaction, only a pair remained in the yard. The interesting detail occurring this year, is that the juvenile was apparently one the parents. After what we saw last year, we at first thought the juvenile was a nest helper, but there was no third red-head in the yard. So the question here is: Do Red-headed Woodpeckers often mate with juveniles, perhaps resembling Orchard Orioles in this respect?
Maybe the juvenile was the only male or female of the trio and no other option was available. Or I suppose the two birds in adult plumage could have mated, one left and the juvenile then assumed its duties? Anyway, we’ve seen a true, fresh juvenile here this season along with the parents, and everything looks good.
Date: 7/16/25 1:23 pm From: Nate Dias (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Shorebirds and wading birds at Huntington Beach State Park
My friend Ed Boyd was down from Maryland visiting Myrtle Beach, so I showed him around a muggy Huntington Beach State Park today. We spent a good bit of time working Mullet Pond and saw a steady trickle of small flocks of shorebirds flying over low and some circled around and fed and rested along the shallow/muddy margins of the impoundment.
The overwhelming majority of shorebirds were Short-billed Dowitchers and we also had a couple of small flocks of Whimbrel, a total of 3 Stilt Sandpipers, a couple of Pectoral Sandpipers, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, a lone Killdeer, Semipalmated Sandpipers, Least Sandpipers, and Semipalmated Plovers. There were also a few Roseate Spoonbills feeding on the tidal marsh side of the causeway, numbers of Wood Storks, dozens of Tricolored Herons, 20+ Little Blue Herons, 30+ Great Egrets, and smaller numbers of Green Herons, Snowy Egrets and White Ibis.
Least Terns were feeding in Mullet Pond and out in the ocean as well. Nice to see so many around.
Out at the beach we had a couple of small flocks of Sanderling, as well as a handful of Willet. We did not walk to the jetty or overwash area - too hot and lots of humans.
Passerine activity was slow in the woods, as expected but Painted Buntings were usually within earshot or sight and we had a family of Red-headed Woodpeckers at the nature center.
"These days I prefer to hunt with a camera. A good photograph demands more skill from the hunter, better nerves and more patience than the rifle shot." -- Bror Blixen
I don't have problem, but my binoculars will occasionally have issues.
The great thing is, I have a pair of Vortex 10x42 Diamondback have a
lifetime warranty. I just contact them, send them in, and they come back
working beautifully.
I have sent them in almost annually with no problems.
I highly recommend them.
*In the Grip of God's Grace,*
*Kimberly Miskiewicz **♥ *
*"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory,
glory as of the only son of the Father, full of grace and truth." John
1:14*
'Wherever you are, be all there! Live to the hilt every situation you
believe to be the will of God.' ~~Jim Elliot
On Fri, Jul 11, 2025, 10:12 AM jim.capel <carolinabirds...> wrote:
> I have a pair of Zeiss Conquest binoculars purchased three years ago.
> Lately, I have to adjust the diopter every time out to sync the vision of
> my two eyes. Then, when I look at something that's at a significantly
> different distance from the distance I used for adjusting, after focusing,
> I find that my vision is out of sync for my two eyes. It's as if the
> focusing knob isn't functioning properly to keep the two eyes in sync.
>
> I'm just wondering if others have had this problem with binoculars in the
> past, and also, what experience people may have had with Zeiss doing
> repairs.
>
> Thanks,
> Jim Capel
>
"I received a text from Capt. Charles Foreman of the Country Girl that a
Red-footed Booby rode a friend's fishing boat back towards Oregon Inlet in
North Carolina today. His [sic] wrote:
“He said it rode in with him from the 70 degree tower to the 65 degree
tower. Doing 21 knots and he just sat on the bow.”
---------------
Harry LeGrand
On Fri, Jul 11, 2025 at 5:51 PM Derb Carter <dcarter...> wrote:
> According to the link it is the Stolat charter boat out of Wanchese.
>
> Get Outlook for iOS <https://aka.ms/o0ukef> > ------------------------------
> *From:* <carolinabirds-request...> <carolinabirds-request...>
> on behalf of Harry LeGrand <carolinabirds...>
> *Sent:* Friday, July 11, 2025 5:34:12 PM
> *To:* carolinabirds listserve <carolinabirds...>; Harry LeGrand <
> <hlegrandjr...>
> *Subject:* Red-footed Booby photo from today on the CBC Photo Gallery
>
> I just now perused the Carolina Bird Club Photo Gallery, and I see this
> bird:
>
> https://www.carolinabirdclub.org/gallery/Lesiewicz/rfbo.html >
> So, yes, it appears to be a dark/buffy phase Red-footed Booby, and yes, it
> is in an appropriate habitat -- on a railing of a boat offshore. The
> locale simply says "Atlantic Ocean, NC" -- so this would be a third NC
> record. And the date is 11 July 2025 -- today. However, we all hope to
> see an eBird report or some other report on the bird, especially how far
> offshore, off what part of the state, etc., the bird was seen and
> photographed.
>
> If anyone sees another post somewhere, such as on a Facebook group,
> iNaturalist, etc., let us know. It does not show yet on the CBC Sightings
> page.
>
> Harry LeGrand
> Birds of North Carolina website editor
>
So, yes, it appears to be a dark/buffy phase Red-footed Booby, and yes, it is in an appropriate habitat -- on a railing of a boat offshore. The locale simply says "Atlantic Ocean, NC" -- so this would be a third NC record. And the date is 11 July 2025 -- today. However, we all hope to see an eBird report or some other report on the bird, especially how far offshore, off what part of the state, etc., the bird was seen and photographed.
If anyone sees another post somewhere, such as on a Facebook group, iNaturalist, etc., let us know. It does not show yet on the CBC Sightings page.
Harry LeGrand Birds of North Carolina website editor
Date: 7/11/25 10:55 am From: Valerie Shrader <valerievshrader...> Subject: Re: Binocular Problem
Interesting; I also have Zeiss Conquest binoculars. While I haven’t had the diopter issue, I have had to replace an eyecup, and the replacement eyecup has not performed as it’s supposed to; it will not extend to the farthest position without the whole eyecup unscrewing. If you do a search, you’ll see that is a common issue, and I wasn’t terribly impressed with the customer service I got, so I hope you will have better luck. (I did drop the binoculars so I screwed up the original eyecup myself.)
In case anyone is considering these binoculars, I’ll add some more information. While the optics are phenomenal, the lens cap is awful…it fits very poorly and is "held on" by a flimsy cord. Customer service sent me a second cap which fit no better than the first one, so I just bought a pair of generic caps.
Last thing: I wanted a pair of compact binoculars (8 x 32) and got the Nikon Monarch M7. These are superb! I first bought the cheaper Celestron Trailseeker and sent them back the next day—super stiff focusing wheel.
Happy birding,
Valerie
> On Jul 11, 2025, at 11:51 AM, Harold Donnelly (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> wrote:
>
> Thank you I am having the same problem
>
> Get BlueMail for Desktop
>
> C A" (via carolinabirds Mailing List) wrote:
>
>
>> I have a pair of Conquest as well. I’ve had mine for a similar amount of time and haven’t had that issue. On the other hand I can say when I had issues with the eyecups, I called Zeiss and their customer support was great. The gentlemen tried to talk me through a self repair over the phone and when that didn’t work he mailed me new eyecups for free. No receipt or anything else was asked for. He took my address and I got them about a week later. Mailing them in for repair is obviously more involved but after my experience I would feel confident about them doing right by their customers one way or another. Definitely give them a call. Hope you get your issue resolved.
>>
>> - Chad
>>
>>
>>
>>> On Jul 11, 2025, at 10:12 AM, jim.capel <carolinabirds...> wrote:
>>> I have a pair of Zeiss Conquest binoculars purchased three years ago. Lately, I have to adjust the diopter every time out to sync the vision of my two eyes. Then, when I look at something that's at a significantly different distance from the distance I used for adjusting, after focusing, I find that my vision is out of sync for my two eyes. It's as if the focusing knob isn't functioning properly to keep the two eyes in sync.
>>> I'm just wondering if others have had this problem with binoculars in the past, and also, what experience people may have had with Zeiss doing repairs.
>>> Thanks,
>>>
>> Jim Capel
>
Date: 7/11/25 8:52 am From: Harold Donnelly (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Binocular Problem
Thank you I am having the same problem
Get BlueMail <https://bluemail.me/> for Desktop
C A" (via carolinabirds Mailing List) wrote:
I have a pair of Conquest as well. I’ve had mine for a similar amount of time and haven’t had that issue. On the other hand I can say when I had issues with the eyecups, I called Zeiss and their customer support was great. The gentlemen tried to talk me through a self repair over the phone and when that didn’t work he mailed me new eyecups for free. No receipt or anything else was asked for. He took my address and I got them about a week later. Mailing them in for repair is obviously more involved but after my experience I would feel confident about them doing right by their customers one way or another. Definitely give them a call. Hope you get your issue resolved.
- Chad
On Jul 11, 2025, at 10:12 AM, jim.capel <carolinabirds...> wrote:
I have a pair of Zeiss Conquest binoculars purchased three years ago. Lately, I have to adjust the diopter every time out to sync the vision of my two eyes. Then, when I look at something that's at a significantly different distance from the distance I used for adjusting, after focusing, I find that my vision is out of sync for my two eyes. It's as if the focusing knob isn't functioning properly to keep the two eyes in sync.
I'm just wondering if others have had this problem with binoculars in the past, and also, what experience people may have had with Zeiss doing repairs.
Thanks,
Jim Capel
Date: 7/11/25 7:32 am From: C A (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Binocular Problem
I have a pair of Conquest as well. I’ve had mine for a similar amount of time and haven’t had that issue. On the other hand I can say when I had issues with the eyecups, I called Zeiss and their customer support was great. The gentlemen tried to talk me through a self repair over the phone and when that didn’t work he mailed me new eyecups for free. No receipt or anything else was asked for. He took my address and I got them about a week later. Mailing them in for repair is obviously more involved but after my experience I would feel confident about them doing right by their customers one way or another. Definitely give them a call. Hope you get your issue resolved.
- Chad
> On Jul 11, 2025, at 10:12 AM, jim.capel <carolinabirds...> wrote:
>
> I have a pair of Zeiss Conquest binoculars purchased three years ago. Lately, I have to adjust the diopter every time out to sync the vision of my two eyes. Then, when I look at something that's at a significantly different distance from the distance I used for adjusting, after focusing, I find that my vision is out of sync for my two eyes. It's as if the focusing knob isn't functioning properly to keep the two eyes in sync.
>
> I'm just wondering if others have had this problem with binoculars in the past, and also, what experience people may have had with Zeiss doing repairs.
>
> Thanks,
> Jim Capel
Date: 7/11/25 7:12 am From: jim.capel (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Binocular Problem
I have a pair of Zeiss Conquest binoculars purchased three years ago. Lately, I have to adjust the diopter every time out to sync the vision of my two eyes. Then, when I look at something that's at a significantly different distance from the distance I used for adjusting, after focusing, I find that my vision is out of sync for my two eyes. It's as if the focusing knob isn't functioning properly to keep the two eyes in sync.
I'm just wondering if others have had this problem with binoculars in the past, and also, what experience people may have had with Zeiss doing repairs.
Date: 7/8/25 6:16 am From: Dwayne Martin (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Sad passing of Edith Tatum
I met Edith back in the late 90's when I first started attending Carolina
Bird Club meetings. She was always so nice and helpful. On what was likely
her last Carolina Bird Club meeting, I drove her around during one of the
field trips that I was leading. Her health was fading then, but she still
had the drive to get out there and look for birds. I will miss seeing her
at the meetings.
Dwayne
*************
J. Dwayne Martin
Hickory, NC
<redxbill...>
On Tue, Jul 8, 2025 at 8:59 AM Scott Hartley <carolinabirds...> wrote:
> Isabel,
>
> Sad news indeed.
>
> I met Edith in 1989 when I worked at Eno River State Park.
> Edith was the first person I met at the first bird walk I led there. She
> was an enthusiastic and observant birder. I am a fast walker and early in
> my birding years not very patient. Edith on many occasions would find or
> hear a bird as I was already moving on. Edith taught me to slow down! She
> introduced me to other birders and got me involved in the Durham Bird
> counts. I enjoyed many counts and walks with her and though I moved on I
> would keep up with her and her birding travels thru social media.
>
> I am grateful to have known her.
>
> Scott Hartley
>
> On Mon, Jul 7, 2025, 11:51 AM Isabel Reddy <isabel...>
> wrote:
>
>> Dear fellow birders,
>>
>>
>>
>> Sadly, our beloved friend and devoted birder, Edith Tatum, Durham, NC,
>> passed early this morning, July 7, 2025
>>
>>
>>
>> Edith was one of the sunniest people I’ve ever known, and she left big
>> shoes to fill in the birding world, not only because of her wealth of
>> knowledge, which was extensive and valuable, but because of her willingness
>> to share this knowledge with inexperienced birders.
>>
>>
>>
>> For over 20 years, she volunteered at the Eno River State Park, leading
>> her Birding 101 Saturday morning walks. She always had extra binoculars,
>> and in the winter, hand warmers for the participants. I am one, as is Peggy
>> Maslow, who credit Edith for introducing us to the world of birding. She
>> began these walks by saying, “I am the rarest bird in the park, because I’m
>> an Orange County native.”
>>
>>
>>
>> Edith served on the Board of the Chapel Hill Bird Club, and every year
>> participated in the Christmas and Spring Bird Counts. In addition, she
>> traveled the world on birding trips, making numerous trips to places like
>> Alaska, and Panama, and all over the U.S.
>>
>>
>>
>> Although I am sad to lose this dear friend, I am lucky to have known her.
>>
>>
>>
>> Sincerely,
>>
>>
>>
>> Isabel Reddy
>>
>> Chapel Hill, NC
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> *From: *<carolinabirds-request...> <carolinabirds-request...>
>> on behalf of KEN LIPSHY <carolinabirds...>
>> *Date: *Sunday, July 6, 2025 at 11:25 AM
>> *To: *<carolinabirds...> <carolinabirds...>
>> *Cc: *KEN LIPSHY <wuzupdoc12...>
>> *Subject: *Meadowlark behavior
>>
>> I witnessed a new behavior from our next door meadowlark. Wondered if
>> this is usual.
>>
>> He was flying overhead in circles in Killdeer fashion for over 15
>> minutes.
>>
>> Then land in a tree and then started circling overhead again. Definitely
>> i have never witnessed this before!
>>
>> (Also yesterday our neighborhood turkey pair came out w their 8 chicks)
>>
>>
>>
>> https://ebird.org/atlasnc/checklist/S257440727 >>
>> https://ebird.org/atlasnc/checklist/S257089695 >>
>
Date: 7/8/25 5:59 am From: Scott Hartley (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Sad passing of Edith Tatum
Isabel,
Sad news indeed.
I met Edith in 1989 when I worked at Eno River State Park.
Edith was the first person I met at the first bird walk I led there. She
was an enthusiastic and observant birder. I am a fast walker and early in
my birding years not very patient. Edith on many occasions would find or
hear a bird as I was already moving on. Edith taught me to slow down! She
introduced me to other birders and got me involved in the Durham Bird
counts. I enjoyed many counts and walks with her and though I moved on I
would keep up with her and her birding travels thru social media.
I am grateful to have known her.
Scott Hartley
On Mon, Jul 7, 2025, 11:51 AM Isabel Reddy <isabel...> wrote:
> Dear fellow birders,
>
>
>
> Sadly, our beloved friend and devoted birder, Edith Tatum, Durham, NC,
> passed early this morning, July 7, 2025
>
>
>
> Edith was one of the sunniest people I’ve ever known, and she left big
> shoes to fill in the birding world, not only because of her wealth of
> knowledge, which was extensive and valuable, but because of her willingness
> to share this knowledge with inexperienced birders.
>
>
>
> For over 20 years, she volunteered at the Eno River State Park, leading
> her Birding 101 Saturday morning walks. She always had extra binoculars,
> and in the winter, hand warmers for the participants. I am one, as is Peggy
> Maslow, who credit Edith for introducing us to the world of birding. She
> began these walks by saying, “I am the rarest bird in the park, because I’m
> an Orange County native.”
>
>
>
> Edith served on the Board of the Chapel Hill Bird Club, and every year
> participated in the Christmas and Spring Bird Counts. In addition, she
> traveled the world on birding trips, making numerous trips to places like
> Alaska, and Panama, and all over the U.S.
>
>
>
> Although I am sad to lose this dear friend, I am lucky to have known her.
>
>
>
> Sincerely,
>
>
>
> Isabel Reddy
>
> Chapel Hill, NC
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *From: *<carolinabirds-request...> <carolinabirds-request...>
> on behalf of KEN LIPSHY <carolinabirds...>
> *Date: *Sunday, July 6, 2025 at 11:25 AM
> *To: *<carolinabirds...> <carolinabirds...>
> *Cc: *KEN LIPSHY <wuzupdoc12...>
> *Subject: *Meadowlark behavior
>
> I witnessed a new behavior from our next door meadowlark. Wondered if this
> is usual.
>
> He was flying overhead in circles in Killdeer fashion for over 15 minutes.
>
> Then land in a tree and then started circling overhead again. Definitely i
> have never witnessed this before!
>
> (Also yesterday our neighborhood turkey pair came out w their 8 chicks)
>
>
>
> https://ebird.org/atlasnc/checklist/S257440727 >
> https://ebird.org/atlasnc/checklist/S257089695 >
Date: 7/7/25 7:26 pm From: JOHN FREDERICK (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Sad passing of Edith Tatum
She was a wonderful person! I was fortunate to bird at the Eno many times with her. I was a beginner and she introduced me to many common birds and as I got a little better I spotted and heard a Blackburnian and Blue-winged Warbler that she was able to officially identify for the group. She was so excited to see on a low hanging branch a Yellow-billed Cuckoo that all my group could easily
I D. Most of my first warblers seen and heard was because of Edith.
What a blessing she was!
John Frederick
Sent from my iPhone
> On Jul 7, 2025, at 7:21 PM, Isabel Reddy <isabel...> wrote:
>
>
> Dear fellow birders,
>
> Sadly, our beloved friend and devoted birder, Edith Tatum, Durham, NC, passed early this morning, July 7, 2025
>
> Edith was one of the sunniest people I’ve ever known, and she left big shoes to fill in the birding world, not only because of her wealth of knowledge, which was extensive and valuable, but because of her willingness to share this knowledge with inexperienced birders.
>
> For over 20 years, she volunteered at the Eno River State Park, leading her Birding 101 Saturday morning walks. She always had extra binoculars, and in the winter, hand warmers for the participants. I am one, as is Peggy Maslow, who credit Edith for introducing us to the world of birding. She began these walks by saying, “I am the rarest bird in the park, because I’m an Orange County native.”
>
> Edith served on the Board of the Chapel Hill Bird Club, and every year participated in the Christmas and Spring Bird Counts. In addition, she traveled the world on birding trips, making numerous trips to places like Alaska, and Panama, and all over the U.S.
>
> Although I am sad to lose this dear friend, I am lucky to have known her.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Isabel Reddy
> Chapel Hill, NC
>
>
>
>
>
>
> From: <carolinabirds-request...> <carolinabirds-request...> on behalf of KEN LIPSHY <carolinabirds...>
> Date: Sunday, July 6, 2025 at 11:25 AM
> To: <carolinabirds...> <carolinabirds...>
> Cc: KEN LIPSHY <wuzupdoc12...>
> Subject: Meadowlark behavior
>
> I witnessed a new behavior from our next door meadowlark. Wondered if this is usual.
> He was flying overhead in circles in Killdeer fashion for over 15 minutes.
> Then land in a tree and then started circling overhead again. Definitely i have never witnessed this before!
> (Also yesterday our neighborhood turkey pair came out w their 8 chicks)
>
> https://ebird.org/atlasnc/checklist/S257440727 > https://ebird.org/atlasnc/checklist/S257089695
Date: 7/7/25 8:51 am From: Isabel Reddy <isabel...> Subject: Re: Sad passing of Edith Tatum
Dear fellow birders,
Sadly, our beloved friend and devoted birder, Edith Tatum, Durham, NC, passed early this morning, July 7, 2025
Edith was one of the sunniest people I’ve ever known, and she left big shoes to fill in the birding world, not only because of her wealth of knowledge, which was extensive and valuable, but because of her willingness to share this knowledge with inexperienced birders.
For over 20 years, she volunteered at the Eno River State Park, leading her Birding 101 Saturday morning walks. She always had extra binoculars, and in the winter, hand warmers for the participants. I am one, as is Peggy Maslow, who credit Edith for introducing us to the world of birding. She began these walks by saying, “I am the rarest bird in the park, because I’m an Orange County native.”
Edith served on the Board of the Chapel Hill Bird Club, and every year participated in the Christmas and Spring Bird Counts. In addition, she traveled the world on birding trips, making numerous trips to places like Alaska, and Panama, and all over the U.S.
Although I am sad to lose this dear friend, I am lucky to have known her.
Sincerely,
Isabel Reddy
Chapel Hill, NC
From: <carolinabirds-request...> <carolinabirds-request...> on behalf of KEN LIPSHY <carolinabirds...>
Date: Sunday, July 6, 2025 at 11:25 AM
To: <carolinabirds...> <carolinabirds...>
Cc: KEN LIPSHY <wuzupdoc12...>
Subject: Meadowlark behavior
I witnessed a new behavior from our next door meadowlark. Wondered if this is usual.
He was flying overhead in circles in Killdeer fashion for over 15 minutes.
Then land in a tree and then started circling overhead again. Definitely i have never witnessed this before!
(Also yesterday our neighborhood turkey pair came out w their 8 chicks)
Date: 7/6/25 8:25 am From: KEN LIPSHY (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Meadowlark behavior
I witnessed a new behavior from our next door meadowlark. Wondered if this is usual.
He was flying overhead in circles in Killdeer fashion for over 15 minutes.
Then land in a tree and then started circling overhead again. Definitely i have never witnessed this before!
(Also yesterday our neighborhood turkey pair came out w their 8 chicks)
Date: 7/4/25 11:40 am From: Wayne Hoffman (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Kite concentration
This morning, about 9:45 I found a feeding concentration of kites along Rte 210 at the intersection of Brinson Rd. in NW Pender County. This is about 2 miles SE of Moores Creek National Battlefield.
At the peak I had about 15 Swallow-tailed Kites and 8 Mississippi Kites overhead together. They were catching small, compact flying insects - small enough that I could not see them when clutched in the kites' feet. (when kites eat dragonflies, for example, they are easy to see in the feet).
"These days I prefer to hunt with a camera. A good photograph demands more
skill from the hunter, better nerves and more patience than the rifle
shot." -- Bror Blixen
On Sun, Jun 29, 2025 at 8:40 AM KEN LIPSHY <carolinabirds...> wrote:
> While birding Lee Hutaff Island this weekend
> I watched a pair of skimmers flying over the Breeding enclosure in what
> appeared to be a straffing maneuver looking for chicks to pick off. The
> first two times i thought it was a fluke but after several times it
> appeared purposefully.
> I also watched a teen chasing a pair of Piping plovers away from their
> chicks. At first that looked to be a fluke as well but after a while that
> two seemed to be purposeful.
> Was all this just a coincidence?
> Pic on the EBird link
> https://ebird.org/atlasnc/checklist/S254664949 >
>
________________________________
From: KEN LIPSHY <wuzupdoc12...>
Sent: Sunday, June 29, 2025 3:51:42 PM
To: <carolinabirds...> <carolinabirds...>
Subject: Re: Lea Hutaff Island birding ? Tern and Skimmer presentation of Piping plovers?
I made it back today. One of the chicks was gone! I was surprised to see there are only 245 Ebird piping plover audio files according to the EBird sitr and only 36000 photos!
I have more photos and a couple of audio files.
________________________________
From: KEN LIPSHY <wuzupdoc12...>
Sent: Sunday, June 29, 2025 8:39:43 AM
To: <carolinabirds...> <carolinabirds...>
Cc: KEN LIPSHY <wuzupdoc12...>
Subject: Lea Hutaff Island birding ? Tern and Skimmer presentation of Piping plovers?
While birding Lee Hutaff Island this weekend
I watched a pair of skimmers flying over the Breeding enclosure in what appeared to be a straffing maneuver looking for chicks to pick off. The first two times i thought it was a fluke but after several times it appeared purposefully.
I also watched a teen chasing a pair of Piping plovers away from their chicks. At first that looked to be a fluke as well but after a while that two seemed to be purposeful.
Was all this just a coincidence?
Pic on the EBird link
https://ebird.org/atlasnc/checklist/S254664949
I saw this and thought it might be of interest. My few attempts at seeing these beauties while at the coast have failed and hope something can be done to stabilize and increase their population.
Date: 6/29/25 12:52 pm From: KEN LIPSHY (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Lea Hutaff Island birding ? Tern and Skimmer presentation of Piping plovers?
I made it back today. One of the chicks was gone! I was surprised to see there are only 245 Ebird piping plover audio files according to the EBird sitr and only 36000 photos!
I have more photos and a couple of audio files.
________________________________
From: KEN LIPSHY <wuzupdoc12...>
Sent: Sunday, June 29, 2025 8:39:43 AM
To: <carolinabirds...> <carolinabirds...>
Cc: KEN LIPSHY <wuzupdoc12...>
Subject: Lea Hutaff Island birding ? Tern and Skimmer presentation of Piping plovers?
While birding Lee Hutaff Island this weekend
I watched a pair of skimmers flying over the Breeding enclosure in what appeared to be a straffing maneuver looking for chicks to pick off. The first two times i thought it was a fluke but after several times it appeared purposefully.
I also watched a teen chasing a pair of Piping plovers away from their chicks. At first that looked to be a fluke as well but after a while that two seemed to be purposeful.
Was all this just a coincidence?
Pic on the EBird link
https://ebird.org/atlasnc/checklist/S254664949
Date: 6/29/25 5:40 am From: KEN LIPSHY (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Lea Hutaff Island birding ? Tern and Skimmer presentation of Piping plovers?
While birding Lee Hutaff Island this weekend
I watched a pair of skimmers flying over the Breeding enclosure in what appeared to be a straffing maneuver looking for chicks to pick off. The first two times i thought it was a fluke but after several times it appeared purposefully.
I also watched a teen chasing a pair of Piping plovers away from their chicks. At first that looked to be a fluke as well but after a while that two seemed to be purposeful.
Was all this just a coincidence?
Pic on the EBird link
https://ebird.org/atlasnc/checklist/S254664949
Date: 6/26/25 10:22 am From: <sshultz...> Subject: Heat, hummingbirds, and "fall migration"
How many times has someone mentioned how hot it is outside over the last few days? If you are like me, many. And yes, it is the Carolinas in late June. It is supposed to be hot… and it is! But that first heat wave of the year still feels icky.
Birds probably don’t feel the heat the same way that we do, but it does make their lives a bit more challenging. Food is pretty abundant, and a lot of folks who feed birds stop in the summer, but water can get scarce. So if you feed birds/don’t feed birds/feed them only in the winter, at this time of year consider putting out a source of fresh water for the feathered folk. This morning has been a constant parade of bathers and drinkers at the simple water features we have outside. A shallow pan of fresh water is all you need. Just be sure to clean it out regularly.
You can spend as much or as little as you want to go beyond “the pan”. Some folks landscape beautiful water features specifically for birds. But you may not have the space, or money, to go fancy. An expensive, but effective, way to supply water is to get one of the several “cat waterers” from that big A company or your preferred vendor for such things. These plug in and provide not only a shallow source of water, but feature small fountains that tend to attract birds beyond what a still pan will do. They are inexpensive, fairly durable, and plug in to regular receptacles. They are also shallow enough to prevent most issues, while also making the gurgly sound that birds like. Be sure to use a waterproof connection if you plug into an extension cord.
Here is an example (it says indoor but works fine outside if you note the above): Amazon.com : Cat Water Fountain: Cat Fountain - Water Fountains for Cats Indoor - 67oz/2L Cat Fountains for Drinking - Pet Water Fountain - Ultra Silent - Cat Drinking Fountain for Small Dogs - AONBOY : Pet Supplies
Enough about the heat 😊
One thing we hear often at this time of year is “where are all the hummingbirds?” or “I only seem to have one, and not all that regularly”. Well folks, things are about to change. It is completely normal to have little to light feeder visitation in early to mid-June. Birds are nesting, focused on protein, and not as obvious on the landscape. But by the end of June, little ones are out of the nest and on the landscape. Mom and baby daddy might be trying again with another clutch, but we start to see a significant uptick in hummer activity about right now. And in fact, we have seen a pretty good increase in feeder visits just over the past couple of days. This will happen again toward the first of August when the 2nd brood is out and about, and we are getting increased numbers of northerly birds heading south.
And wait… migrant hummers at the beginning of August? Yep. In fact, fall migration has already started! Shorebirds are again on the wing. Generally considered failed breeders or successful early breeders, adults of some species can already be found heading back south (sometimes the earliest southbound birds “pass” the latest northbound birds!) So even though it might not feel like fall, and probably won’t for a while, migration has begun!!
Date: 6/25/25 9:24 am From: Will Cook <cwcook...> Subject: Tom Krakauer obituary
Tom Krakauer, long time birder, butterflier, and member of the Carolinabirds and Carolinaleps communities, passed away last week. He came to Durham in 1985 to lead the Museum of Life and Science; I'll remember him whenever I take my kids there, especially when strolling through the butterfly house.
Date: 6/23/25 6:02 am From: Peter Stangel (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: New Protection for SC's 2nd Largest Least Tern Colony
Thanks to great work by the staff at the Coastal Birds Project of the SC Department of Natural Resources, the state's second largest Least Tern Colony has received protection. The colony is at the southern tip of South Litchfield, just across the inlet from the north end of Pawleys Island, and about five miles south of the tern colony at Huntington Beach State Park. This spring, DNR, with an assist from S.C.U.T.E. Sea Turtle Volunteers and Huntington Beach State Park interns, installed symbolic fencing and education signage. Volunteers from the Audubon South Carolina Shorebird Stewards program are helping monitor the site, which is heavily used by beach- and dog-walkers. Recent surveys revealed about 113 Least Tern nests and 3 Wilson's Plovers (no nest detected).
Noteworthy: A local birder alerted DNR staff to the presence of this colony. DNR responded quickly, and now, for the first time, the terns here have protection. Birders, working with public conservation agencies and private conservation groups, can make a big difference for our birds and their habitats.
I vacationed at Litchfield last week and visited the colony twice a day. Recently fledged Least Terns were everywhere. I noted many beach walkers reading the signs and did not see anyone go past the fencing. As education work continues here the results for the terns and plovers should get better and better. Thanks to DNR and Audubon South Carolina for this outstanding achievement.
Date: 6/20/25 3:19 pm From: Nate Dias (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Least Terns, Wilson’s Plover Huntington Beach State Park, SC
Wow Brad - that is great news about the Least Tern colony. Kudos to park
staff and management for prioritizing the tern colony restoration and
protection (including electric fencing).
"These days I prefer to hunt with a camera. A good photograph demands more
skill from the hunter, better nerves and more patience than the rifle
shot." -- Bror Blixen
On Wed, Jun 18, 2025 at 6:37 AM Bradley Dalton <carolinabirds...>
wrote:
> Yesterday at Huntington Beach State Park I was impressed to see what was
> likely well over one hundred Least Terns on the front beach at the jetty
> and back along the breeding grounds.
>
> In addition, there was a pair of immature Wilson’s Plovers on the beach
> near the shell tree that has broken in half.
>
> There was also a late Horned Grebe in the inlet, to my surprise.
>
> Good birding,
>
> Brad Dalton
> Williamston, SC
