Birdingonthe.Net

Recent Postings from
The Carolinas Birding List

Updated on Tuesday, October 16 at 08:59 PM ET
The most recently received Mail is at the top.

Today I drove down to Cypress Gardens, near Moncks Corner, Berkeley Co., SC
to try to find the Shiny Cowbird reported there last Saturday. No luck. I
only found Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles. After exploring the
gardens a bit I went over to the Bonneau Ferry area, visiting Childsbury
Towne Heritage Preserve and Bonneau Ferry WMA for the first time.
Interesting habitat, but not many birds. I did find a Red-cockaded
Woodpecker, one of my favorites, so the visit was a success.

After having dinner in Moncks Corner I headed west on SC 6, bound for home.
I stopped by the boat ramp at Hatchery WMA on the south shore of Lake
Moultrie, about 8 miles northwest of Moncks Corner. I walked north from the
parking lot on a service road to the shore of the lake, and I was amazed by
the extensive mudflats. Lake Moultrie, a shallow lake even when full, has
just about dried up. I estimate that the current surface area is less than
80 per cent of normal, maybe a lot less. There are mud and sand flats going
anywhere from 200 yards to 500 yards out into the lake bed from the entire
south side of the lake. The remaining water is very low. I found lots of
shorebirds. I was there just after sunset, and so could not see much, but I
identified some of them by call -- Killdeer, Wilson's Snipe, and
Semipalmated Sandpiper.

The flats at Lake Moultrie are by far the most extensive that I have ever
seen at any lake in South Carolina. I urge Charleston area birders to check
them out for interesting shorebirds. I have a meeting in Santee tomorrow
morning and hope to get down to Lake Moultrie in the afternoon with a
telescope. Who knows what's out there?

Robin Carter
Columbia, SC USA
mailto:rcarter AT sc.rr.com

Because I am not as confident as most of you in identifying birds, I did not 
send in my report Sunday. But I too thought I saw a loggerhead shrike in my 
backyard in Loris, SC near Myrtle Beach. Maybe I was right after all! 

Day started  AT  Carver's Gap / Roan Mtn with a bang but not much afterward - a 
kestrel straifing us east of the Gap. Just below the wind-line we saw 
ruby-crowned/GC kinglets, br. creeper, and red-breasted nuthatch in the woods & 
edge. Later there were white throated sparrow, towhee, and more jays & crows 
than I expected at the road x-ing over the gap. Also robin's moving back 
through. Of course we were hoping for pipits and the like... 


Of note for me in Marshall later is the first red-breasted n-hatch and hermit 
thrush so far this fall, possibly in the day before or so with the gc kinglets, 
br. creeper, and yb supsucker but not seen til today. the red-breasted was 
today with ruby & gc kinglets, creeper, hermit thrush and yb sapsucker, posibly 
all in a foraging flock or at least, all showing up within the same 5-10 
minutes. 


totally unrelated but the southern flying squirrels are gangbusters here. I put 
up two old kestrel boxes just 

before dark and they're already getting investigated...amazing how fast they 
set in. 


Kevin Caldwell
Marshall, NC (Mts)

This afternoon (1430) there was a Loggerhead Shrike perched variously in
several trees along the E bank S of the Hwy 3 bridge. It's been quite a
while (mid-July, 2001) since I've seen one anywhere near the places I
frequent. (Late May, 2003, in SC) Also seen in the same vicinity was a male
Northern Harrier. These in addition to the usual coots, geese, herons, and
dux (N. Shovelers, Ring-nkd, Mallards).  Water looks to be ~2m down, with
LOTS of mud flats exposed, along which several dozen Killdeer foraged.  Also
spied two Pectoral Sandpipers along the W bank, S of the bridge.  

Cheers!
Tomm "bad boy" Lorenzin
Mooresville, NC
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


"My mother had a great deal of trouble with me...
    but I think she enjoyed it."

                                        ~ Mark Twain

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
visit me  AT  www.1000plus.com

and it would appear that my last female Ruby-throated Hummer left sometime 
today or last evening as she was feeding up a storm all day yesterday and into 
the early evening. No sign of her today at all. Gonna miss the little devils :( 


KC

KC Foggin
Socastee
Myrtle Beach SC
www.birdforum.net
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Randy Dunson" 
To: 
Sent: Tuesday, October 16, 2007 7:59 PM
Subject: RE: Last RTH - 2007


I got back from vacation still thinking that I'd seen my last RTH for the
year. Well, the pineapple sage is now blooming and this evening I caught
sight of one feeding from the flowers. It was there only briefly and I
couldn't get a good enough look to confirm that it was a female. It didn't
hit the feeders and moved on. Needless to say I'll be on the lookout
tomorrow as the feeders & vines are right outside my study windows.


-----Original Message-----
From: Randy Dunson [mailto:trdunson AT nc.rr.com] 
Sent: Saturday, September 29, 2007 11:43 AM
To: carolinabirds AT duke.edu
Subject: Last RTH - 2007

Well, unless a juvie shows up while I'm away the next 2 weeks, the last RTH
seen at my house this year was the earliest ever, September 27.

Regards,

Randy Dunson
Hillsborough, NC (west of...)



-- 
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition. 
Version: 7.5.488 / Virus Database: /1069 - Release Date: 10/13/2007 
7:26 PM 

I got back from vacation still thinking that I'd seen my last RTH for the
year. Well, the pineapple sage is now blooming and this evening I caught
sight of one feeding from the flowers. It was there only briefly and I
couldn't get a good enough look to confirm that it was a female. It didn't
hit the feeders and moved on. Needless to say I'll be on the lookout
tomorrow as the feeders & vines are right outside my study windows.


-----Original Message-----
From: Randy Dunson [mailto:trdunson AT nc.rr.com] 
Sent: Saturday, September 29, 2007 11:43 AM
To: carolinabirds AT duke.edu
Subject: Last RTH - 2007

Well, unless a juvie shows up while I'm away the next 2 weeks, the last RTH
seen at my house this year was the earliest ever, September 27.

Regards,
�
Randy Dunson
Hillsborough, NC (west of...)

Caesars Head Hawk Watch
Caesars Head, South Carolina, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 16, 2007
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                
Turkey Vulture               
Osprey                       
Bald Eagle                   
Northern Harrier             
Sharp-shinned Hawk           
Cooper's Hawk                
Northern Goshawk             
Red-shouldered Hawk          
Broad-winged Hawk            
Red-tailed Hawk              
Rough-legged Hawk            
Golden Eagle                 
American Kestrel             
Merlin                       
Peregrine Falcon             
Unknown                                    

Total:                      
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 11:30:00 
Observation end   time: 16:00:00 
Total observation time: 4.5 hours

Official Counter: Jeff Catlin

Observers:        Tom Joyce

Weather:
Overcast all day with intermittent low hanging clouds and a cool southerly
breeze.

Raptor Observations:
7TVs after 1 pm.

Non-raptor Observations:
Black-throated Green, Tennessee, Blue-headed, Golden-crowned and
Bed-breasted Nutches.

========================================================================
Report submitted by Jeff Catlin (shieffcat AT bellsouth.net)

Birders,

Last Saturday Dave Russell, a birder and bird-bander from Ohio, was 
scanning the birds at the sand spit/tern area near the base of the 
jetty at Huntington Beach State Park.

Yesterday he sent me a digiscoped image (not-very-good quality) of a 
bird he identified as a Little Gull.  When I asked if it could 
possibly be a Bonapartes' Gull he responded via e-mail:

_________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Please forward the Little Gull picture on to others--I am very 
familiar with Bonapart's we get hundreds staging in spring and fall. 
Once every 5 years or so a Little Gull slips in and I'm used to 
scanning for them. I wish I had time for more pictures [particularly 
one that was in focus!!!} but while sorting through the hundreds of 
skimmers, terns, pelicans etc out on the sand spit a boat, followed 
closely by a pontoon boat of overzealous picnickers pulled up and the 
morons set-up camp right where the birds were!!! There was a half of 
mile of open beach and they chose the 50 feet where all the birds 
were lounging!!! At any rate, just as they were approaching shore 
this gull walked out from among the throng [I had missed it scanning] 
and it was all I could do to get a picture before the whole mass 
spooked. Then the people set up camp and everything left--I never was 
able to find it among the swirl of departing birds.
Despite the bad picture, the black cap with dark ear patch; black 
primaries; smallish bill; all appear good for Little. It looks like a 
first-year bird molting its dark back into a white first prebasic 
back.
Please send it out and see what others think (hopefully someone will 
relocate it, particularly if they know to keep an eye open!)

__________________________________________________________________________________________ 


If you'd like to see the image, please send me your e-mail address.

Regards,
Steve
-- 
Stephen Thomas
Aynor, SC

Yesterday, I glimpsed a warbler working through the branches of the 
cedar tree.  From my initial views, I assumed it was a Blackpoll.  But 
then it came out in the open and I realized it was something 
better....a Pine Warbler!  I'm fairly certain this is a new yard bird, 
although perhaps I've had one or two in some past cold winters.

Have also had an Ovenbird in the yard the last few days.

By the way, the adult male Rufous Hummingbird is still in Carol 
Reigle's yard.

John Fussell
Morehead City, NC
jfuss AT clis.com

Carolina Birders:

Location:     Jackson Park
Observation date:     10/16/07
Notes: Visiting Birders: Bob & Cathy Maleski from Connecticut (Described 
perfectly an OVENBIRD!)Local Birders: Todd Arcos and Wayne Forsythe BOTH and 
independently described a "pale" Wilson's Warbler male. Wayne also found an 
Orange-crowned Warbler and a very late Chestnut-sided Warbler. (See Wayne's 
post for today.) Ernie Hollingsworth found a Red-shouldered Hawk, Eastern 
Phoebe, and Red-bellied Woodpecker. I managed to miss all of these, otherwise 
they would have been on the "official" list above. Eight warblers is fine for 
me. Although Wayne had 5 more than my eight going ninety-miles-an-hour, and 
making skid marks in the turns!!

Ernie and I were impressed (jealous 
might also fit) of Wayne's ability to whistle like a Screech Owl. It impressed 
a lot of warblers and vireos at the south end of the Cut-Through (south end of 
the Nature Tail). 


Regards, John Lindfors
Hendersonville, NC

Here's the list:

Number of species:     33

Wood Duck     5
Mallard     2
Mourning Dove     4
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker     1
Downy Woodpecker     7
Pileated Woodpecker     1
Eastern Wood-Pewee     1
White-eyed Vireo     2
Blue-headed Vireo     5
Blue Jay     14
American Crow     5
Carolina Chickadee     5
Tufted Titmouse     4
Carolina Wren     2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet     7
Gray Catbird     1
Brown Thrasher     1
Cedar Waxwing     5
Tennessee Warbler     6
Northern Parula     2
Magnolia Warbler     8
Black-throated Blue Warbler     3
Yellow-rumped Warbler     12
Black-throated Green Warbler     6
Blackburnian Warbler     9
Bay-breasted Warbler     20
Eastern Towhee     3
Song Sparrow     1
White-throated Sparrow     4
Northern Cardinal     4
Rose-breasted Grosbeak     1
Red-winged Blackbird     12
American Goldfinch     1

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

Hello again,
I put in some time on the Morgan Creek mudflats this morning (across the 
peninsula from New Hope Creek, where I birded yesterday). The birds were few 
and far between, but included some nice stuff. Best birds were a trio of 
plovers out on the flats near the current mouth of Morgan Creek. I settled in 
to study these birds for over an hour, finally satisfying myself that at least 
two out of the three were probably juvenile Black-bellied. Right on cue, one of 
the birds threw up its wings revealing clean gray axillaries and a relatively 
uniform black upperside to the wing. Feeling a little sheepish, I nevertheless 
celebrated a lifer! (Even a juvenile black-bellied should show a wing-stripe 
and black axillaries, right?). Other shorebirds included only Killdeer (in huge 
numbers) and both Yellowlegs spp. 

I put up a flock of about 20-30 pipits on the grass/dirt flats behind the mud; 
these birds circled for several minutes before landing right next to me. 

A sizeable flock of Blue-winged Teal was hanging out in the creek mouth; Wood 
Duck and Mallard rounded out the waterfowl. Some really interesting marsh 
habitat, formed where Morgan creek overflows a large portion of the upper flat 
at a depth of about 1 inch yielded little except for palm warblers and a single 
savanna sparrow. 

The birds, both waterfowl, shorebirds, and passerines, were predictably 
concentrated near the creek's channel, which follows the farthest (easternmost) 
portion of the flat. 

A single Junco brought my 2-day sparrow total to 8 spp (Towhee, Junco, Vesper, 
Grasshopper, Song, Swamp, Savanna, Field). 


Cheers
Jacob Socolar
Chapel Hill, NC

-- 
Want an e-mail address like mine?
Get a free e-mail account today at www.mail.com!

Folks,
        I birded Jackson Park this AM from 9:00 AM until 12 Noon.  I was 
pleasantly surprised to have 13 species of warblers with the best birds 
being Nashville, Wilson's,  Orange-crowned, and Bay-breasted.  A good number 
of Blue-headed Vireos, RC Kinglets and White-throated Sparrows were present 
as well.
        While on the back of the Nature Trail I ran into John Lindfors, self 
anointed cub reporter for Jackson Park and e-bird!  I am sure he will give 
you his take on the bird situation later in the day!
Best regards,
Wayne
Wayne K. Forsythe
Hendersonville, N. C.
wforsythe AT mchsi dot com

I teased out 2 or 3 Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrows for the Big Sit group at Pea 
Island NWR the other day. The group was sitting in the observation tower and I 
went out in the high marsh between there and Pamlico Sound. 


I walked around the back side of a tiny little island with a dead Wax Myrtle 
and a couple of Baccharis bushes. 


Some pishing made the Nelson's ST Sparrows pop up in the dead bush, on the side 
of the island where the tower group could see them. I got a couple of partially 
obsecured looks. There were also one or two Seaside Sparrows present in the 
area. 


I would imagine Nelson's ST Sparrows would be obtainable at nice salt marshes 
along the coast most anywhere in NC from now until next spring. Places like 
Fort Fisher (that funnel birds) and Sunset Beach might be extra good places to 
check during the rest of fall migration. 


For specific info, check out John Fussell's 'Birding Guide to Coastal NC' from 
your favorite library. 


Nathan Dias - Charleston, SC

----- Original Message ----
From: "trlewis AT indylink.org" 
To: carolinabirds AT duke.edu
Sent: Monday, October 15, 2007 11:25:47 PM
Subject: Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow Question


I am curious about the status of this sparrow in the Carolinas. In
particular I would like to know where they are most likely to be found
 and
which specific habitat is most likely.

Thanks,

Tim Lewis
Jackson County, NC

(in Wilmington today)






       

____________________________________________________________________________________ 

Pinpoint customers who are looking for what you sell. 
http://searchmarketing.yahoo.com/

C-birders

This is the first morning that I have seen no Hummers (yet). We had an immature male Rubie for the past 4-5 days , then another female came Sun. morning  after the other 2 left   mid- week last week. Both were tanking up yesterday on the Pineapple sage and the feeders. Keeping the feeders up of course.
Heard and saw the first White-Throated Sparrow in the front yard yesterday morning!  What a way to start the day.
There is still a wood thrush coming to the front bird bath  and eating red fruit of a huge magnolia in my front yard. I can not get a good picture of it.  I do not see any rusty coloration and it does have a definitive eye ring...it is so skittish  and usually in strong backlighting. Makes it hard to see even with the binnos! It's all over appearance is gray.
A Bluebird pair are hanging out on  a backyard bluebird house and defending it with a vengeance. The male is constantly warbling and the female fought off another female quite convincingly yesterday. Very strange. Are they just defending a winter roost or claiming it early for nesting?? I have had nesting Bluebirds for several years now , but have never seen this behavior in the Fall.
First ever Scarlet Tanager female in the backyard birdbath...very yellow with black wings.
I still have at least 2 Red-Breasted Nuthatches. One is an immature  and one adult...maybe more. They are constantly feeding on the sunflower hearts.
Other birds of interest:

Singing  Great -Crested Flycatcher
Pair of Catbirds
Yellow-rumped warblers
Pileated Woodpecker
Lots of Goldfinches
Immature Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Female Blackburnian Warbler
Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker on peanut butter suet
Pair of  Eastern Towhees

Wish I could hang out watching my front birdbath all day..I fell like I am missing a lot!

Katie Fenlon
Clemson SC

Caesars Head Hawk Watch
Caesars Head, South Carolina, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 15, 2007
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                
Turkey Vulture              
Osprey                       
Bald Eagle                   
Northern Harrier             
Sharp-shinned Hawk           
Cooper's Hawk                
Northern Goshawk             
Red-shouldered Hawk          
Broad-winged Hawk            
Red-tailed Hawk              
Rough-legged Hawk            
Golden Eagle                 
American Kestrel             
Merlin                       
Peregrine Falcon             
Unknown                                    

Total:                      
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Observation start time: 10:30:00 
Observation end   time: 16:00:00 
Total observation time: 5.5 hours

Official Counter: Ed Moorer

Observers:        Reece Mitchell
Weather:
Clear blue skies again today.

Raptor Observations:


Non-raptor Observations:
Monarchs still coming.
========================================================================
Report submitted by Ed Moorer (moorer03 AT bellsouth.net)


For daily and monthly summaries visit:
http://hawkcount.org/month_summary.php?rsite=551&go=Go+to+site

Jeff Catlin
Marietta, SC 

I had some time tonight while I was waiting on some apps to run so I 
thought I'd give the mystery sound a try.

I believe it is a juvie Great Horned Owl.  Macaulay Library has a clip 
that sounds very close.  If you take the two sounds and put them in 
Ravenlite you get a visualization that is nearly identical.  The sound 
clip is available in the Macaulay Library as clip #8380.

Here is a link to the clip.  I took a segment at about 3:30 in for 
comparison.

http://www.animalbehaviorarchive.org/assetSelect.do?assetId=797643§ion=summary 

or if the above wraps:
http://tinyurl.com/2qet28



mike johnson
burlington, nc



jspippen AT duke.edu wrote, On 10/14/2007 8:31 PM:
> Birders,
>
> A few have asked for a follow-up email to the mystery night sound query,
> wondering what the verdict was and what my thought was.  Well, the jury is
> still out.  My thought was an young owl, either Barred or Great Horned.  I
> received maybe 8 replies to the query, and they were pretty much split
> down the middle between "perhaps a young Barred/Great Horned Owl" and
> "what about a fox"?
>
> Does anyone feel confident they know what it is?
>
> Thanks to everyone who responded!
>
> Cheers,
> Jeff
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> Jeffrey S. Pippen
> Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences
> Rm A-241 LSRC Bldg, Box 90328
> Duke University, Durham, NC  27708
> PH:
> http://www.duke.edu/~jspippen/nature.htm
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
> On Sat, 6 Oct 2007 jspippen AT duke.edu wrote:
>
>   
>> Birders,
>>
>> Dave Owen, a naturalist who lives along the Eno River in Durham has been
>> hearing a mystery sound at night off and on since June.  He's described it
>> as a "pong" or a drawn out "pong".  He recently got a digital recording of
>> it and I've posted it at:
>>
>> http://www.duke.edu/~jspippen/birds/night-sound.htm
>>
>> I have an idea of what it is, but I don't want to influence
>> opinions, so I'll wait until others chime in.  Give a listen and let me
>> know what you think!  The file is a .mov file and is about 1.5 minutes
>> long.  The mystery sound is hard to hear at first, but becomes quite
>> audible later in the recording and is repeated several times.
>>
>> Good Birding,
>> Jeff
>>
>> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>> Jeffrey S. Pippen
>> Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences
>> Rm A-241 LSRC Bldg, Box 90328
>> Duke University, Durham, NC  27708
>> PH:
>> http://www.duke.edu/~jspippen/nature.htm
>> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>>     
>
>   

I am curious about the status of this sparrow in the Carolinas. In
particular I would like to know where they are most likely to be found and
which specific habitat is most likely.

Thanks,

Tim Lewis
Jackson County, NC

(in Wilmington today)

Golden-crowned kinglets pulled in yesterday (10/14) and today, joy of joys, 
brown creepers, and yellow-bellied sapsuckers for the first time that I could 
hear or see this fall. Last night was the coldest yet of any so maybe that 
drove them all down - I see on the list they're showing up around the foothills 
and even lower pd and coast now too. They winter here though I've no clue if 
these guys came down from Mitchell / Blacks. These will winter here, but does 
anyone know if birds also tend to winter in the exact same places year after 
year as well as with trying to breed? 

 
Also moving around are black-throated greens, overnbird (less now), 
yellow-rumps, ruby-crowns, pine warblers (which also winter here) today and 
still hanging about are blue headed vireos- still singing daily. I'm sure there 
are others but I'm not seeing or hearing more than sisps, getting the . Wood 
Thrush is still here but haven't heard in the past day. My neighbor reports 
clay-colored sparrow with a group of field sparrows and the first 
white-throated sparrows of the fall but I did not see them...he has more open / 
shrubby / forest edge habitat than us. 

 
Habitat VA pine ridges and Cove hardwoods with mixed hemlocks on steeps & 
outcrops transition  AT  2000 elevation, 400' above the French Broad & Ivy Rivers 
near Marshall. 


 
Kevin Caldwell
Marshall, NC (Mts)

Message sent out without location by accident.

Charles Mc Rae
Marion, SC 29571

Chas. Mc 
Rae

www.chasmcraephotography.com
 



       

____________________________________________________________________________________ 

Pinpoint customers who are looking for what you sell. 
http://searchmarketing.yahoo.com/

Well today was a beautiful day and I got what I wished
for with the arrival of a Red Breasted Nuthatch at the
feeder and bird bath. It shared the bath with the #2
Rose Breasted Grosbeaks.

Also 1st fall sighting of a Yellow Rump Warbler and
Yellow bellied Sapsucker in the yard.

One bird flew by like a goldfinch and landed in a bush
and a glimpse suggested a Siskin however it made no
noise . Because I did not see it well, I was not going
to mention it until a saw the other sightings.Will
have to keep a better eye out.

Charles Mc Rae

Chas. Mc 
Rae

www.chasmcraephotography.com
 



       

____________________________________________________________________________________ 

Looking for a deal? Find great prices on flights and hotels with Yahoo! 
FareChase. 

http://farechase.yahoo.com/

Thanks so much for that site.

I was trying to describe that to my wife the other day. The sound  
("fox-at-night.wav") attracted me the other evening, thinking the cat  
was injured. Looked out back and saw a fox.

I could not describe the sound. This worked!

Ric Carter
Garner & Little Washington

On Oct 15, 2007, at 7:47 PM, Julie Keefer wrote:

> It could be a fox.  Go to http://www.vulpes.org/foxden/sounds/ 
> index.htm
> and click on "fox-at-night.wav" and it sounds very similar.  I found
> this site on Saturday night when we had a very bizarre sound in the
> woods behind the house (which is why I had no idea what it was when  
> you
> first posted).  I had seen a critter run into the woods outside the
> fence when my dog barked, so I at least had a clue what might be  
> making
> the noise and sure enough, it was a fox.  It sounded just like the
> "typical-fox-yell" that is on that same website.  I do know we have  
> fox
> around our house.
>
> Julie Keefer
> Raleigh, NC

It could be a fox.  Go to http://www.vulpes.org/foxden/sounds/index.htm
and click on "fox-at-night.wav" and it sounds very similar.  I found
this site on Saturday night when we had a very bizarre sound in the
woods behind the house (which is why I had no idea what it was when you
first posted).  I had seen a critter run into the woods outside the
fence when my dog barked, so I at least had a clue what might be making
the noise and sure enough, it was a fox.  It sounded just like the
"typical-fox-yell" that is on that same website.  I do know we have fox
around our house.

Julie Keefer
Raleigh, NC

-----Original Message-----
From: jspippen AT duke.edu [mailto:jspippen AT duke.edu] 
Sent: Sunday, October 14, 2007 8:32 PM
To: carolinabirds AT duke.edu
Cc: Dave Owen
Subject: Re: mystery night sound

Birders,

A few have asked for a follow-up email to the mystery night sound query,
wondering what the verdict was and what my thought was.  Well, the jury
is
still out.  My thought was an young owl, either Barred or Great Horned.
I
received maybe 8 replies to the query, and they were pretty much split
down the middle between "perhaps a young Barred/Great Horned Owl" and
"what about a fox"?

Does anyone feel confident they know what it is?

Thanks to everyone who responded!

Cheers,
Jeff
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Jeffrey S. Pippen
Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences
Rm A-241 LSRC Bldg, Box 90328
Duke University, Durham, NC  27708
PH:
http://www.duke.edu/~jspippen/nature.htm
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

On Sat, 6 Oct 2007 jspippen AT duke.edu wrote:

> Birders,
>
> Dave Owen, a naturalist who lives along the Eno River in Durham has
been
> hearing a mystery sound at night off and on since June.  He's
described it
> as a "pong" or a drawn out "pong".  He recently got a digital
recording of
> it and I've posted it at:
>
> http://www.duke.edu/~jspippen/birds/night-sound.htm
>
> I have an idea of what it is, but I don't want to influence
> opinions, so I'll wait until others chime in.  Give a listen and let
me
> know what you think!  The file is a .mov file and is about 1.5 minutes
> long.  The mystery sound is hard to hear at first, but becomes quite
> audible later in the recording and is repeated several times.
>
> Good Birding,
> Jeff
>
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> Jeffrey S. Pippen
> Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences
> Rm A-241 LSRC Bldg, Box 90328
> Duke University, Durham, NC  27708
> PH:
> http://www.duke.edu/~jspippen/nature.htm
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Carolina Birders,

Since everyone knows that the Carolina Panthers are superior to the 
Tennessee Titans.  And since we have had multiple sightings of Nashville 
Warblers for the last few days, I am seeking Wayne Forsythe's permission 
to have all mountain birders (especially those in Henderson County who 
birds are owned by Mr. Forsythe) call the aforementioned warbler 
"ASHE-ville Warbler."

I would not have gone off on this tangeant if I hadn't been extremely 
lucky today and FINALLY  seen a Nashville with our group today heading 
back up the Warbler Trail to our cars.  So that you don't hear this from 
Tom Joyce first, I confess that I screamed "NASHVILLE" which Tom had 
just correctly identified as a Northern Parula, an hour before the final 
Nashville sighting.

Its amazing, but I finally got an eleven warbler day today

Regards,
John Lindfors
Hendersonville, NC

Here's the list:

Location:     Jackson Park
Observation date:     10/15/07
Notes: Visiting birders: Daryl & Claire Slotton from California; Regulars: 
Peggy Franklin; Ernie Hollingsworth Dana, NC, Tom Joyce from Brevard, NC; Ben & 
Carol Ringer from Fletcher, NC area, and Todd Arcos who had to leave early. 
Todd found our first Nashville Warbler (2 or 3); Carol found a Brown Creeper; 
Ben heard a Red-shouldered Hawk; and Tom Joyce all reminded us that winter is 
acomin with sights of White-crowned Sparrows, Field Sparrows, multiple 
Nashville Warblers and a late Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher! 

Number of species:     37

Wood Duck     1
Great Blue Heron     1
Cooper's Hawk     1
Mourning Dove     1
Yellow-billed Cuckoo     1
Red-bellied Woodpecker     2
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker     5
Downy Woodpecker     7
Northern Flicker     1
Eastern Wood-Pewee     1
Eastern Phoebe     1
Blue-headed Vireo     2
Philadelphia Vireo     1
Blue Jay     7
American Crow     5
Carolina Chickadee     9
Tufted Titmouse     2
Carolina Wren     3
House Wren     1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet     7
Tennessee Warbler     4
NASHVILLE WARBLER     2
Northern Parula     3
Magnolia Warbler     2
Black-throated Blue Warbler     4
Yellow-rumped Warbler     7
Black-throated Green Warbler     4
Blackburnian Warbler     1
Bay-breasted Warbler     3
OVENBIRD   1
Common Yellowthroat     1
Eastern Towhee     1
Song Sparrow     4
LINCOLN'S SPARROW     1
Northern Cardinal     12
Rose-breasted Grosbeak     11
American Goldfinch     6

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

Birders -

Taylor Piephoff, Marcia and I did a fairly extensive tour by boat of the
southern end of Lake Norman within Mecklenburg County from 4 to 7 PM today.
Despite great viewing conditions (good sun and flat water), we saw few
birds, generally the norm at his time of year. We did have a FOS Common
Loon, a juvenile Pied-billed Grebe and a solo sub-adult Ring-billed Gull.

David Wright
mydoginca2 AT bellsouth.net
( 

Folks:
    I received a Rare Bird Report form, quite detailed, of a sight 
report of a male Mottled Duck on October 10 from the eastern of the two 
Twin Lakes in Sunset Beach, Brunswick County, NC. The observer is 
someone whose name I don't recognize, and he might not be a subscriber 
to carolinabirds.

If you are in the area, you might want to scrutinize the ducks there. He 
stated that he carefully compared it with a pair of Mallards, with which 
it was associating.

For the record, there is a previously accepted photograph record, but a 
sight report that was quite detailed wasn't accepted, as the species is 
very tricky to identify. The species does occur in coastal SC 
(introduced population), so it is feasible in NC -- but, it would be 
good to have photos or other confirmation.

Harry LeGrand
Raleigh

Looks like that fly over Pine Siskin liked what he saw.  As I type, it
or another one, is sitting on the thistle feeder munching away.  This
is the first one we've had on our feeders here at the park in three
years.

Dwayne
*************
Dwayne Martin
Hickory, NC
redxbill AT gmail.com
http://www.naturalsciences.org/nchummers/

Catawba County Park Ranger
Riverbend Park - Conover, NC
jdmartin AT catawbacountync.gov
http://www.catawbacountync.gov/depts/parks/

Hey guys,
Back in town on fall break, I spent 4-5 hours on the New Hope Creek Mudflats of 
Jordan Lake today (see Will Cook's website tbg.carolinanature.com for site 
details/directions). Despite a late start, the birds trickled in and included 
some real goodies. I hiked in from Old Hope Valley Farm Road--worse light, but 
it meant that I got to bird the extensive grassy flats that have opened up on 
the north end of the lake (I was hoping for grasspipers, raptors, and 
sparrows). 

The bird of the day was a gorgeous AMERICAN AVOCET that glided in off of the 
lake onto the main area of mudflats (currently a mile or two south of the 
powerlines) and landed within 40 yards of where I was standing. A welcome 
change from the super long range, super drab sandpipers that I was trying to 
sort out. The other stars of the show were the SPARROWS, which included 1-2 
VESPER and 1-2 GRASSHOPPER among the numerous SAVANNAs on the flats. (Note that 
the savannas were not very abundant; they were numerous only because I covered 
a lot of ground). 

Other birds of note included a flock of 25 NORTHERN SHOVELER in the creek 
channel, a group of TREE SWALLOWS near the powerlines, hundreds of PALM 
WARBLERS of both the eastern and western forms, mostly north of the Powerlines, 
and a single OVENBIRD on the old railroad grade. 

Other sandpipers on the flats included a small flock of DUNLIN, and some far 
off jobs that might have been peeps. Both species of YELLOWLEGS were fairly 
common, but more so in the creek's channel north of the main flats than on the 
flats themselves. One WILSON'S SNIPE, along with the obligatory killdeer, 
rounded out the shorebirds--the snipe flushed from along the side of the creek 
channel. Pipits were disappointingly absent, as were raptors, which included 
only SHARP-SHINNED HAWK and BALD EAGLE. 


I want to put in a quick plug for this birding spot, because it represents 
something that almost never happens in the triangle--extensive mud and grass 
flats in October. I had the feeling that anything could turn up out there; it 
looks like a huge shortgrass prairie! Furthermore, the ground is hard enough in 
most places that there is almost none of the slogging that we typically 
associate with those mudflats until you've almost reached the current 
lakeshore. The area could effectively be covered on bicycle. If these 
conditions hold, I have visions of pipits, longspurs, raptors, stray 
flycatchers, and just about anything else showing up at Jordan Lake this fall. 


Good Birding
Jacob Socolar
Chapel Hill, NC

-- 
Want an e-mail address like mine?
Get a free e-mail account today at www.mail.com!

I had a Pine Siskin fly over here at Riverbend Park (northern Catawba
Co.)  around noon today.

Dwayne
*************
Dwayne Martin
Hickory, NC
redxbill AT gmail.com
http://www.naturalsciences.org/nchummers/

Catawba County Park Ranger
Riverbend Park - Conover, NC
jdmartin AT catawbacountync.gov
http://www.catawbacountync.gov/depts/parks/

Hi Everyone,

Here is an email of interest.  Please respond directly to James Riley if
you can help him out.  Thanks.

Dana Harris
Headquarters Secretary
Carolina Bird Club, Inc.
srharris AT mindspring.com



> [Original Message]
> From: Riley, James C. 
> To: 
> Date: 10/15/2007 11:13:01 AM
> Subject: McAtee essay
>
>
> In his edition of John Lawson's A New Voyage to Carolina, Hugh Lefler
cites (p.140n86) Waldo Lee McAtee, The Birds in Lawson's New Voyage to
Carolina, 1709 (Raleigh, North Carolina Bird Club, 1955-56).
> Can you help me locate a copy of this paper?
>
> Also, would it be possible to get in touch with a birder from the New
Bern area so that I might ask that person some questions?  Perhaps you
would be willing to pass my email address along to someone to see if they
would be willing to answer some questions.  I want to know more a bout bird
that were common or present in Lawson's day, but are rare today, and birds
not mentioned by Lawson that are found today.  Of course I know about the
famous cases of extinctions.
>
> Thank you.
>
> Jim Riley
> Professor of History Emeritus
> Indiana University

Birders,
A Mecklenburg Audubon trip to Sherman Branch Park in eastern 
Mecklenburg county (NC) on Saturday Oct. 13 had flyover PINE SISKINS.

Taylor Piephoff
PiephoffT AT aol.com
Charlotte, NC


-----Original Message-----
From: John Connors 
To: CarolinaBirds 
Sent: Mon, 15 Oct 2007 11:11 am
Subject: Pine Siskins in Durham


Hi folks. I'm posting this siting for a friend, Ryan Bakelaar, who 
lives in Durham. He saw these on Saturday, October 13. Maybe we will 
have an influx of winter finches this year. John Connors 
 
"This afternoon, I went into my backyard and was surprised to hear the 
calls of PINE SISKINS.? I saw at least 2 and heard several more.? They 
were at my neighbor's feeders in with several dozen goldfinches in 
Northwest Durham, near Eno River State Park.? Hopefully Evening 
Grosbeaks are not that far behind!!!!!!!" 
  Ryan Bakelaar in Durham, NC 


________________________________________________________________________
Email and AIM finally together. You've gotta check out free AOL Mail! - 
http://mail.aol.com

Recently I sent a message to Carolinabirds asking for help on birding in the 
Seattle area for an upcoming trip. 

I was amazed with the help and knowledge from birders in the Carolinas and from 
the Washington area. 

Many of you suggested Brain Bell for a birding trip, but he was unavailable 
because of being out of town and out of the country.? He was very helpful 
suggested some areas and an individual who could help me with my trip. 

This individual toured me around and my hat is definately off to him, as he did 
it for no charge. 

We were able to pick up 60 species, and for others I would suggest the places 
we visited. One is Marymoor Park in Redmond????? www.marymoor.org/birdlist.htm? 
and then we went to Discovery Park (it is on most maps), where the activity was 
slow.? We also went up to a stream to pick up a dipper. 

I appreciate the help I received from all.
One of the great things of the birding community is the desire to help other 
birders?in whatever way we can. 

Kent Bedenbaugh
Columbia SC
rkbbirder AT aol.com



________________________________________________________________________
Email and AIM finally together. You've gotta check out free AOL Mail! - 
http://mail.aol.com 

Hi folks. I'm posting this siting for a friend, Ryan Bakelaar, who lives 
in Durham. He saw these on Saturday, October 13. Maybe we will have an 
influx of winter finches this year. John Connors

"This afternoon, I went into my backyard and was surprised to hear the 
calls of PINE SISKINS.? I saw at least 2 and heard several more.? They 
were at my neighbor's feeders in with several dozen goldfinches in 
Northwest Durham, near Eno River State Park.? Hopefully Evening 
Grosbeaks are not that far behind!!!!!!!"
				Ryan Bakelaar in Durham, NC

Hi friends,
The Big Sit Sunday at Pea Island was loads of fun; we
had good numbers of birds and the weather was
fantastic!

We started at 6 am and lasted until 4 pm, ending up
with 90 species, plus an additional 6 that were just
out of range. They included a Clay-colored Sparrow, a
White-crowned Sparrow, a Black-throated Blue and and
Black-throated Green Warbler. 

Highlights of what we did count included one American
White Pelican, Peregrine Falcon, Bald Eagle, American
Bittern, Glossy Ibis, 32 Snow Geese, hundreds of
Avocets and Marbled Godwits, hundreds of Black
Skimmers, Bobolink, Blue Grosbeak, Seaside Sparrow and
Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow (great scope looks). We
had lots of warblers but only 6 species. We looked
through thousands of waterfowl but missed Eurasian
Wigeon.

Thanks to the Fish and Wildlife folks for their
support and especially to those people that joined in
the fun: Dave Lenat, Norm Budnitz, Nancy Bond, Holton
Bond, Joan Kutulas, Neal Moore, Skip Morgan, Nate
Dias, Marcia Lyons, Bernie Gould and Audrey Whitlock.
See you next year!

Jeff Lewis
Manteo, NC


       

____________________________________________________________________________________ 

Yahoo! oneSearch: Finally, mobile search 
that gives answers, not web links. 
http://mobile.yahoo.com/mobileweb/onesearch?refer=1ONXIC

Yesterday the Columbia Audubon Society conducted a Bit Sit at the
observation deck at Congaree Bluffs HP, near Fort Motte, SC. We observed 52
species between 6:40 AM and 3 PM, a good count. About nine people helped
out, a good turnout. The weather was great, and it was a joy to enjoy the
view over Congaree National Park even when we were not finding any new birds
for the count. Counters found two other species -- Yellow-billed Cuckoo and
Cape May Warbler -- at the preserve, but we never saw these from the
observation deck.

Noteable species included a Broad-winged Hawk (late), a Willow or Alder
Flycatcher (rare), 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches (part of this fall's invasion),
12 Rose-breasted Grosbeak (high number).

Here is our list:


Observation Report
Location
	Location name: 	Congaree Bluffs Heritage Preserve
Date, Effort, & Habitat

Observation type: 	Stationary Count
Observation date: 	10/14/07 	  	Distance covered: 	N/A
Start time: 	6:40 AM 	  	Area covered: 	N/A
Duration: 	8 hour(s) 20 minute(s) 	  	Elevation: 	N/A
Number of people in party: 	9
Comments: 	Columbia Audubon Society Big Sit; all species observed in Calhoun
County except (Richland Co. only) -- Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle,
Red-winged Blackbird.
Both Calhoun and Richland -- Wood Duck, White Ibis, Black Vulture, Turkey
Vulture, Osprey, Cooper's Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk,
Red-tailed Hawk, Barred Owl, Belted Kingfisher, Red-headed Woodpecker,
Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Swainson's
Thrush.
Species


Are you submitting a complete checklist of the birds you saw/heard? Yes

8 	Wood Duck
1 	Great Blue Heron
12 	White Ibis
8 	Black Vulture
20 	Turkey Vulture
3 	Osprey
1 	Bald Eagle
7 	Sharp-shinned Hawk
8 	Cooper's Hawk
8 	Red-shouldered Hawk
1 	Broad-winged Hawk
4 	Red-tailed Hawk
2 	Great Horned Owl
10 	Barred Owl
1 	Belted Kingfisher
1 	Red-headed Woodpecker
6 	Red-bellied Woodpecker
5 	Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
3 	Downy Woodpecker
2 	Hairy Woodpecker
20 	Northern Flicker
6 	Pileated Woodpecker
1 	Eastern Wood-Pewee
1 	Willow/Alder Flycatcher
6 	Eastern Phoebe
3 	White-eyed Vireo
25 	Blue Jay
40 	American Crow
8 	Carolina Chickadee
4 	Tufted Titmouse
2 	Red-breasted Nuthatch
8 	Carolina Wren
1 	House Wren
3 	Ruby-crowned Kinglet
3 	Eastern Bluebird
2 	Veery
2 	Gray-cheeked Thrush
18 	Swainson's Thrush
4 	Wood Thrush
8 	Gray Catbird
2 	Northern Mockingbird
10 	Brown Thrasher
1 	Tennessee Warbler
5 	Yellow-rumped Warbler
5 	Pine Warbler
2 	Scarlet Tanager
3 	Eastern Towhee
20 	Northern Cardinal
12 	Rose-breasted Grosbeak
6 	Red-winged Blackbird
4 	Common Grackle
2 	House Finch



Total species reported: 52

Robin Carter
Columbia, SC USA
mailto:rcarter AT sc.rr.com

 
Sometimes they succeed... 

http://www.rlephoto.com/birds/hummer01.htm

Toni

------------------------------------------------------------------
Toni S. McFarland
Durham, NC
tonirexx AT earthlink.net  
 
"There are two ways to live your life.   One is though nothing is a miracle.
The other is though everything is a miracle."  ....   Albert Einstein

-----Original Message-----
From: Susan Campbell [mailto:susan AT ncaves.com] 
Sent: Saturday, October 13, 2007 4:05 PM
To: Rob G.
Cc: carolinabirds AT duke.edu
Subject: Re: hummer/mantis encounter

Rob and All,

Umm, I can pretty much assure you that is not a praying mantis 'fending off
the hummingbird'.  Its intent surely was to nail any prey items that were
attracted to the feeder-- including hummingbirds.  The mantis looks to me to
be Chinese Mantis and not our native Carolina Mantis--which would be about
half that big.

I have seen several photos of Chinese Mantids dining on hummingbirds that
they caught at feeders.  They are large enough (and stealthy
enough) insects to catch Ruby-throateds.  Here in the Sandhilsl, I have
found Carolina Mantids on or near my sugar water feeders.  But they are too
small to catch a hummer but could grab a bee or wasp looking for a drink of
sugar water.

Knowing the N&O, there's no telling when this shot was taken.  I had one
Ruby-throated Hummingbird buzzing around the flowers here yesterday but that
may well have been my last of the season.

Golden-crowned Kinglets in addition to Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Yellow-bellied
Sapsuckers and White-throated Sparrows are now back in the Sandhills.
Several of us have seen and heard Red-breasted Nuthatches in the area as
well.  Sure seems like winter is on the way!

Susan Campbell
Whispering Pines, NC

Simon of _simont AT charter.net_ (mailto:simont AT charter.net)  and  Steven 
Schultz tell me those birds were Common Moorhens. Thanks to both of you for 
your 

help!
 
Dorothy E.  Pugh
_www.dpughphoto.com_ (http://www.dpughphoto.com/)  



************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com

Karl Gottschalk and I saw some black vultures at Santee State Park in SC on  
10/10/07, near the park office at the lake.  You can see photos of them at  
_www.dpughphoto.com/latest_photos_ (http://www.dpughphoto.com/latest_photos) .
 
This place was fascinating for a North Carolinian (who once lived in  
Florida) to see: the lake shore was full of tiny fishing spiders, there were a 

couple of very large jellyfish in the water (the first time I'd seen any in 
fresh 

water) and near the pier we could see a lot of what we used to call in  
Florida "sea beans" on the ground. I also saw what looked a lot like a tropical 

checkered skipper in the lantanas, IDed according to the new Cech  book.
 
Also saw some birds at the Audubon Swamp Garden that I was unable to  
identify and got a photo of one. I thought they might be young Common Moorhens, 
but 

wasn't sure.  Can anyone help?
 
Dorothy Pugh 
Durham, NC



************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com

Oops.  Forgot to include location in last post's signature.
I'm in northern Chatham County, NC, about 5 miles south of Chapel Hill.

Shelley Theye
veery AT bellsouth.net
Chatham County, NC




On Oct 15, 2007, at 12:19 AM, Shelley Theye wrote:

> A few days ago, I heard at least 3, probably 4, Red-breasted  
> Nuthatches
> calling at the same time!  They were in different parts of the  
> yard.  Sometimes
> the calls became more jumbled and chatty.
>
> While cat-sitting at a neighbor's today heard yet another R-b.  
> Nuthatch, and
> then later received a call from neighbors with one in their yard,  
> too!  We all live
> far enough apart that I think these must be different birds.
>
> Still have a few Rose-breasted Grosbeaks around, as of this  
> morning, and also
> Thrushes, heard Wood today, and saw Swainson's.
>
> Heard Barred Owls calling close by late this afternoon.
> Last night, while driving up our road, my headlights caught a  
> hunting Barred
> Owl in a ditch pouncing on something, then saw it fly in front of  
> my car with prey
> in its talons, but couldn't tell what it was.
>
> On Friday, was sitting in the kitchen with the screened porch door  
> open and
> heard a White-throated Sparrow sing a phrase of its song,  
> announcing its return.
> Also saw Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers that same day.
>
>
> Shelley
>
>
> Shelley Theye
> veery AT bellsouth.net
>
>
>

Bruce Krucke from Yonges Island, SC reports seeing 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches 
and 2 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks during her BIG SIT on Oct. 14.  She has good 
photos of each bird.

The two RB Nuthatches were distinctively different in color with one having 
much more red than the other.

If you are interested in seeing her photos contact Bruce at 
b.krucke AT hughes.net

Has anyone else seen Red-breasted Nuthatches in Charleston County?

Cherrie

Dan and Cherrie Sneed
5634 Church Flats Rd.
Meggett, SC

St. Paul's Parish
Southern Charleston County

sneedwd AT earthlink.net 

A few days ago, I heard at least 3, probably 4, Red-breasted Nuthatches
calling at the same time!  They were in different parts of the yard.   
Sometimes
the calls became more jumbled and chatty.

While cat-sitting at a neighbor's today heard yet another R-b.  
Nuthatch, and
then later received a call from neighbors with one in their yard,  
too!  We all live
far enough apart that I think these must be different birds.

Still have a few Rose-breasted Grosbeaks around, as of this morning,  
and also
Thrushes, heard Wood today, and saw Swainson's.

Heard Barred Owls calling close by late this afternoon.
Last night, while driving up our road, my headlights caught a hunting  
Barred
Owl in a ditch pouncing on something, then saw it fly in front of my  
car with prey
in its talons, but couldn't tell what it was.

On Friday, was sitting in the kitchen with the screened porch door  
open and
heard a White-throated Sparrow sing a phrase of its song, announcing  
its return.
Also saw Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers that same day.


Shelley


Shelley Theye
veery AT bellsouth.net

Slow!!

4 Saturday and 15 Sunday.

For daily and monthly summaries visit:
http://hawkcount.org/month_summary.php?rsite=551&go=Go+to+site

Jeff Catlin
Marietta, SC 

We are still enjoying  the daily treats of black-throated blue warblers 
coming to the hummingbird nectar. The first 2 weeks we saw only males and 
this past week, (including two feeding together this morning) most have 
been females/juveniles. Now; I am eagerly awaiting our first white-throated 
sparrow!

Happy birding!

Evelyn Dabbs
Wenee Woods
Sumter Co. SC

Priuses (Priusi?) do make outstanding birding vehicles on a couple 
scores- quiet, big windows, and really good gas mileage. And they are 
Toyotas...

Clyde Sorenson
Clayton and Raleigh, NC

I had a good time helping with the Pea Island Big Sit on Sunday; results 
of this event will be reported separately by Jeff Lewis.  I had 109 
species over two days, with only a few surprises. Early Redhead and 
Rusty Blackbird were seen at Bodie Island pond and a Brown Creeper was 
seen on the dike at Pea Island (unfortunately outside of the Big Sit area).

Driving down from Raleigh on Saturday morning produced almost no ducks 
at any ponds along the way and the American Turf farm was completely 
empty of grasspipers.  Even the Bodie Island pond had relatively small 
numbers of ducks.  Pea Island ponds, however were filled with various 
ducks and shorebirds.  I had a good time trying to turn Dunlins into 
Curlew sandpipers and other bird adventures.  My thanks to Jeff for 
organizing Sunday's activities.

We have lost the results of the last Pea Island Big Sit.  If anyone 
still has these results, please email me or Jeff Lewis.

Dave Lenat, Raleigh

Hi.
   
 I saw what I identified by internet and my books as a shiny cowbird about a 
week ago at my bird bath. I got a very good look at him, and I am positive that 
is what it was. Very beautiful. I am new at this and usually just read the 
e-mails, but thought I would share on this one. 

   
 I also saw a brown-headed cowbird at least a month ago in the same spot. I 
don't have my journal handy as to the exact date. It was a one-time sighting 
for me, as was the shiny cowbird. 

   
  Connie Hodges
  Southern Pines, NC



  Connie Hodges
    



       
---------------------------------
Looking for a deal? Find great prices on flights and hotels with Yahoo! 
FareChase. 

I birded my closest park yesterday AM.  I was dismayed to see how deep  the 
mowing has been done in the "wetlands" part of the park where I'd seen  
numerous Catbirds and Brown Thrashers the week before and several Sparrow 
species 

earlier this year. The mowing is to make room for a lighted holiday display. 

I spoke with two Rangers who described how that area is  to be converted into 
a wetlands boardwalk.  Since I'd seen numerous  sparrows, Eastern Bluebirds, 
Brown Thrashers, and a first of the season Eastern Towhee in there just before 

meeting the Rangers, I asked how that's going to  impact the bird population.
 
Of course they're hoping, it won't be detrimental.  
 
Patricia Voelker
Lexington, SC
 
Location:     Saluda Shoals Park
Observation  date:     10/13/07
Notes:     Pair of  juvenile Eastern Bluebirds stayed close to Bluebird box # 
31 although the box  looked damaged and unused this season.
I was unable to identify one small  flock of Sparrows near the dog park.
Number of  species:     22

Turkey  Vulture     X
Red-shouldered Hawk      X
Mourning Dove     X
Belted  Kingfisher     X
Red-bellied  Woodpecker     X
Eastern  Wood-Pewee     X
Blue Jay      X
American Crow     X
Carolina  Chickadee     X
Tufted Titmouse      X
Carolina Wren     X
Eastern  Bluebird     X
Hermit Thrush      X
Northern Mockingbird     X
Brown  Thrasher     X
Orange-crowned  Warbler     X
Palm Warbler      X
Eastern Towhee     X
Chipping  Sparrow     X
Northern Cardinal      X
Brown-headed Cowbird     X
House  Finch     X

This report was generated automatically  by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
 



************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com

I conducted my fourth Big Sit at Sandling Beach, Falls Lake north of Raleigh on 
October 14, 2007. It was a fine day for birding and resulted in my best ever 
“sit” count of 53 species! Having four extra sets of eyes, low water 
resulting in low boat traffic and the park being closed so playgrounds 
weren’t overrun with children made the day a success. 


I started at 615am hearing several Great Horned Owls hooting and screeching 
around the lake scaring up Great Blue Herons. A flyover group of American 
Wigeon were a pre-dawn surprise. A few folks from the NC Natural Heritage 
Program stopped by while Cardinals, chipping sparrows and wrens began to call. 
A few ducks flew by lead by a male mallard and the list quickly grew. 


Scanning the lake added Cormorants, Pied-billed Grebe and very distant Great 
Egret and Bonaparte’s Gull. If only we could make out some of those 
shorebirds. 


The land birds were in good form with a large flock of Pine Warblers that flew 
back and forth throughout the day, with a few Palm, Yellow-rumped and a 
Black-throated Blue warbler. The list eventually held all area woodpeckers both 
Ruby and Golden-crowned Kinglets and all three Nuthatches! 


The low water didn’t send any shorebirds other than Killdeer my way, but it 
did keep boat traffic to a minimum, resulting in many active eagles and other 
water birds. 


In the odd category, at 830 a.m. a lone American Coot swam to the swim beach 
and entered a trash can submerged in the water, and remained there the rest of 
the day. 


After a lunch and work break, I stopped back later in the afternoon and added 
Red-headed Woodpecker, Red-tailed Hawk and a surprise fly in American Pipit! 


Much later in the evening I added two Ring-billed Gulls, a Black-throated Green 
Warbler and a late crepuscular flock of Red-winged Blackbirds for a final total 
of 53 birds! Eastern Red Bats and Little Brown Bats took over the skies as the 
Great Horned Owls began calling. I ended at 715 p.m. 


Misses include Chimney Swift, Fish Crow and any swallow species.

1.	Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps 
2.	Double-crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus 
3.	Great Egret Ardea alba 
4.	Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias 
5.	Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura 
6.	Canada Goose Branta canadensis 
7.	Mallard Anas platyrhynchos 
8.	American Wigeon Anas americana 
9.	Osprey Pandion haliaetus 
10.	Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus 
11.	Cooper's Hawk Accipiter cooperii 
12.	Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis 
13.	Wild Turkey Meleagris gallopavo 
14.	American Coot Fulica americana 
15.	Killdeer Charadrius vociferus 
16.	Bonaparte's Gull Larus philadelphia 
17.	Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis 
18.	Herring Gull Larus argentatus 
19.	Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura 
20.	Eastern Screech-Owl Otus asio 
21.	Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus 
22.	Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris 
23.	Belted Kingfisher Ceryle alcyon 
24.	Red-headed Woodpecker Melanerpes erythrocephalus 
25.	Red-bellied Woodpecker Melanerpes carolinus 
26.	Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens 
27.	Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus 
28.	Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus 
29.	Pileated Woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus 
30.	Eastern Phoebe Sayornis phoebe 
31.	Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata 
32.	American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos 
33.	Carolina Chickadee Poecile carolinensis 
34.	Tufted Titmouse Baeolophus bicolor 
35.	Red-breasted Nuthatch Sitta canadensis 
36.	Brown-headed Nuthatch Sitta pusilla 
37.	White-breasted Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis 
38.	Carolina Wren Thryothorus ludovicianus 
39.	Golden-crowned Kinglet Regulus satrapa 
40.	Ruby-crowned Kinglet Regulus calendula 
41.	Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis 
42.	American Pipit Anthus rubescens 
43.	Black-throated Blue Warbler Dendroica caerulescens 
44.	Yellow-rumped Warbler Dendroica coronata 
45.	Black-throated Green Warbler Dendroica virens 
46.	Pine Warbler Dendroica pinus 
47.	Palm Warbler Dendroica palmarum 
48.	Eastern Towhee Pipilo erythrophthalmus 
49.	Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina 
50.	Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis 
51.	Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus 
52.	Eastern Meadowlark Sturnella magna 
53.	American Goldfinch Carduelis tristi

This morning, while sipping coffee and observing the woods wake up on a 
pleasantly cool morning, I again heard the Red-breasted Nuthatches, as I 
have about three afternoons last week and yesterday.  This morning the "yank 
yank yank" was close enough to walk out and look for.  I got there just as a 
small nuthatch-sized and -shaped bird launched himself from the top of the 
tall pine.  The first bird bird was followed by another bird that looked 
just like the first.  As they flew directly overhead about twenty-five feet 
above me, their reddish tan undersides were plainly visible.  It seems I 
have Red-breasted Nuthatches who have made themselves to home in the big 
pines around the yard here.  Like Robin Carter, I can only hope they will 
hang around for the Lake Wateree CBC.

This morning also found the first of the season White-throated Sparrows, 
"zeeet"ing in the brush, and the second for the season Ruby-crowned Kinglet. 
  I first heard a Ruby-crowned Kinglet last weekend.  The Yellow-bellied 
Supsuckers haven't shown up yet (although I am pretty sure they will come 
back to the giant Pecan trees in the yard, as they certainly favored them 
last year) but the Northern Flickers showed up last week.  Two could plainly 
be heard this morning, "wikka wikka wikka wikka" in the big trees down the 
hill a bit from the yard proper.  Also heard this morning was the first of 
the winter American Robins, a little earlier than their usual arrival date 
of Halloween week.  We don't have breeding Robins here in spring but we do 
have the feeding flocks of Robins in winter.

Donna Slyce
in the community of Longtown near
Ridgeway, SC

_________________________________________________________________
Spiderman 3 Spin to Win! Your chance to win $50,000 & many other great 
prizes! Play now! http://spiderman3.msn.com

Birders,

A few have asked for a follow-up email to the mystery night sound query,
wondering what the verdict was and what my thought was.  Well, the jury is
still out.  My thought was an young owl, either Barred or Great Horned.  I
received maybe 8 replies to the query, and they were pretty much split
down the middle between "perhaps a young Barred/Great Horned Owl" and
"what about a fox"?

Does anyone feel confident they know what it is?

Thanks to everyone who responded!

Cheers,
Jeff
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Jeffrey S. Pippen
Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences
Rm A-241 LSRC Bldg, Box 90328
Duke University, Durham, NC  27708
PH:
http://www.duke.edu/~jspippen/nature.htm
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

On Sat, 6 Oct 2007 jspippen AT duke.edu wrote:

> Birders,
>
> Dave Owen, a naturalist who lives along the Eno River in Durham has been
> hearing a mystery sound at night off and on since June.  He's described it
> as a "pong" or a drawn out "pong".  He recently got a digital recording of
> it and I've posted it at:
>
> http://www.duke.edu/~jspippen/birds/night-sound.htm
>
> I have an idea of what it is, but I don't want to influence
> opinions, so I'll wait until others chime in.  Give a listen and let me
> know what you think!  The file is a .mov file and is about 1.5 minutes
> long.  The mystery sound is hard to hear at first, but becomes quite
> audible later in the recording and is repeated several times.
>
> Good Birding,
> Jeff
>
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> Jeffrey S. Pippen
> Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences
> Rm A-241 LSRC Bldg, Box 90328
> Duke University, Durham, NC  27708
> PH:
> http://www.duke.edu/~jspippen/nature.htm
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Birders,

Yesterday (10/13/2007) John Dole, Freddie-Jeanne Richard, and I poked
around the Ft. Fisher area near Wilmington, NC.  Lots of shorebirds were
across "the basin" and were too far to ID except for the various
oystercatchers and several Marbled Godwits.

We saw a handful of neotrop migrants including Black-and-white Warblers,
Black-throated Blue Warbler, Northern Parulas, American Redstarts and an
early Brown Creeper.

Several Savanna Sparrows were around the Battery Buchanon, and we flushed
unidentified sharp-tailed sparrows from the salt marsh behind the
aquarium.  None, however, perched in view to be identified!

In addition to the birds, there were lots of migrating Monarchs, and many
other northbound migrant butterflies including lots of Gulf Fritillaries,
Long-tailed Skippers, and Ocola Skippers.

http://www.duke.edu/~jspippen/butterflies/longtailedskipper.htm

To top it off, Freddie-Jeanne spotted a Brunner's Mantis that was a lifer:

http://www.duke.edu/~jspippen/naturephotos/mantids.htm

Good Birding (and bugging!),
Jeff

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Jeffrey S. Pippen
Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences
Rm A-241 LSRC Bldg, Box 90328
Duke University, Durham, NC  27708
PH:
http://www.duke.edu/~jspippen/nature.htm
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

hi y'all,

first White-throated Sparrow of the season showed up
this afternoon 'round the confines here.

still have a Ruby-throated or two hanging out.


Gary Phillips
Conway, SC

"My Muse may be excused if she is silent henceforth.
How can you expect the birds to sing when their groves
are cut down?" - Thoreau


 
____________________________________________________________________________________ 

Shape Yahoo! in your own image. Join our Network Research Panel today! 
http://surveylink.yahoo.com/gmrs/yahoo_panel_invite.asp?a=7 

AMREs this morning at LKN S.P. (Fems only), and - same as last weekend - a
bunch of noisy RBNUs (not commonly seen here), this time along with a gaggle
of Nuthaches of the White-breasted kind.

Also, several - at least six - individual Eastern Screech Owls (EASO) were
heard calling. The only other wood wblrs were REVI and MYWA (Yellow-rumped
or "Myrtle" - a.k.a. "Butter-butt").

7;^)
Cheers!
Tomm "665" Lorenzin
Mooresville, NC
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Almost - 
  - not quite -
        bad enough
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Visit me at: http://www.1000plus.com/Cataract/