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9 May Dickcissel near Columbia, SC (Richland Co.) ["Robin Carter" ] 9 May Kerr Lake spring count big day ["birdranger" ] 9 May Scissor-tailed flycatcher [Blayne and Anne Olsen ] 08 May Wayne Forsythe sees a "slow" migration for Jackson Park ["John Lindfors Sr." ] 8 May Cliff Swallows at Fingerville,SC (Spartanburg County) [] 8 May No Subject ["Anne Woods or Charles Strehl" ] 8 May Out of state info - WOOD SANDPIPER in Delaware [Nate Dias ] 8 May Beaver Lake Asheville lunchtime sitings [Terry Seyden] 8 May Lotsa migrants, plus a new Eliz Gardens species [jeff lewis ] 07 May Howell Woods Weekend - Carolina Bird Club [Lena Gallitano ] 7 May Office warblers [John and Rhonda Grego ] 07 May Extracting Warblers from Jackson Park ["John Lindfors Sr." ] 6 May Ft Fisher Great Horned Owl update ["Harry D Sell" ] 6 May Chuck-will's-widow in N. "Moooo"sville ["Tomm Lorenzin" ] 6 May Re: Downtown Charlotte Magnolia Warbler ["Rubberhead" ] 6 May Downtown Charlotte Magnolia Warbler ["Rubberhead" ] 6 May Marion Co, SC [Charles Mc Rae ] 6 May Re: Fall CBC Meeting [] 6 May Fall CBC Meeting [] 06 May Wildathon Big Day [] 6 May RE: Huntington Beach SP Roseate Spoonbill?þ [Donna Slyce ] 5 May RE: Huntington Beach SP Roseate Spoonbill? [] 5 May Jackson Park ["Ernie Hollingsworth" ] 05 May Big Day in the mountains [Marilyn Westphal ] 5 May Spring CBC Meeting ["Dwayne Martin" ] 5 May RE: Huntington Beach SP Roseate Spoonbill? [Doug Allen ] 5 May Huntington Beach SP Roseate Spoonbill? [Chris Hill ] 5 May Lake Jordan Outing ["John Little" ] 5 May Leucistic Junco Still hanging out [Jesse Pope ] 5 May black-throated blue in Raleigh ["Julie Keefer" ] 04 May Beaver Lake/Blue Ridge Parkway [Aaron Steed ] 4 May RFI - Greenville, NC area [] 4 May Black Rail, Barn Owl, C. Ground-Dove, Shorebirds - Santee Coastal Reserve [Nate Dias ] 4 May Recent Greenville,SC sightings [] 4 May Jackson Park ["Ernie Hollingsworth" ] 4 May Purple Finch in Wilmington ["dmcooper2 AT juno.com" ] 4 May more arrivals / sightings [Kevin Caldwell ] 4 May mountain birding from Balsam ["Blair Ogburn" ] 4 May Binocular pouch ["Blayne Olsen" ] 4 May Mississippi Kites ["Mary Bridges" ] 4 May Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. ["Blayne Olsen" ] 4 May Lawrence's Warbler at Max Patch ["Jon Smith" ] 4 May Short-billd Dowitchers and Sora Rail in Winston-Salem ["David and Susan Disher" ] 4 May Recent birding west Texas, SC coast, and home [Doug Allen ] 4 May summer tanagers in H.Springs, etc. [Kevin Caldwell ] 4 May Re: Leucistic Red-winged Blackbird at Pea Island (again) ["Lee Adams" ] 3 May Mississippi Kites ["wolfpackdeans" ] 3 May recent sightings, 05-03-2008 [Gary Phillips ] 04 May Chape Hill Spring Bird Count [] 3 May Re: Indigo Bunting ["Rhonda Barrett" ] 3 May Indigo Bunting [Russell Roberson ] 2 May Common Ravens in Pickens Co., SC ["Dennis Forsythe" ] Subject: Dickcissel near Columbia, SC (Richland Co.) From: "Robin Carter" <rcarter AT sc.rr.com> Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 11:46:15 -0400 I just got a call from Caroline Eastman. She did a quick loop around the White House road loop (just south of Columbia) at lunchtime and found a singing Dickcissel at the old house site in the fields near the end of White House Road. Migrating DIckcissels have been seen in this very spot two or three times before in the last 20 years. I plan to go check this out in a few minutes and will report on what I find. Robin Carter Columbia, SC USA mailto:rcarter AT sc.rr.com Subject: Kerr Lake spring count big day From: "birdranger" <cbockhahn4 AT earthlink.net> Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 10:36:51 -0400 Late, but on 4/30 I hoped to break the VA big day record for April (94) in my spring count area at Kerr Lake. I ended up with 105 while quitting at 5pm. If only I had time to run to the coast. Long list of goodies: White-winged Scoter at Palmer Point, same bird from the CBC!?! Blackburnian Warbler at Liberty Hill (one of 18 warbler sp) Anhinga circling near the dam Red-breasted Nuthatch at Liberty Hill trail Northern Harrier flying across lake American Kestrel around Palmer Springs farms Forsters Tern Red-breasted Mergansers below dam Only a few other folks have bragged on some great birds, the full results will be out soon. Brian Bockhahn Falls Lake State Park Ranger Falls & Kerr Lake CBC Compiler cbockhahn4 AT earthlink.net Subject: Scissor-tailed flycatcher From: Blayne and Anne Olsen <bolsen187 AT earthlink.net> Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 10:23:00 -0400 (GMT-04:00) Monroe, NC The Scissor-Tails have been very sporadic. Blayne saw one Monday, early AM. But neither of us saw any until yesterday around noon. Although we come and go a lot, we do not always have the time to hang around waiting to see if they show up. I checked my records which go back to 2001. Typically they do not begin nesting until late May. Once they begin nesting they are more regular and can be seen with just a bit of waiting. I have also had several reports of STs in other Union Co. locations from the man that reads my electric meter. He is very familiar with STs since he spent time in Oklahoma. I suspect there are other pairs nesting here. I wish we had more eyes to keep a lookout. We will keep everyone posted but be patient and keep your fingers crossed that they will nest where we can all enjoy them again. Anne Wolf Pond Rd (Hwy 207, 5 miles south of Monroe, NC) Subject: Wayne Forsythe sees a "slow" migration for Jackson Park From: "John Lindfors Sr." <jwl127 AT mchsi.com> Date: Thu, 08 May 2008 22:51:41 -0400 Carolinabirders, Wayne Forsythe and Ron Selvey were birding the Warbler Trail at Hendersonville, NC's Jackson Park this morning (TH 5/8) and having gotten there first, I was pleased to tell them of the female Cape May Warbler that I had found on the briary path that extends beyond the Warbler Trail, and the Prairie Warbler that popped up out of the bushes on the east side of the Warbler Trail just north of the large dark privet bushes on the last 1/3 of the Warbler Trail. Well, Wayne refound and confirmed the female CMWA and pointed out the chip of a Northern Waterthrush and then found a male Black-throated Blue Warbler. I was planning to plant myself on the last 1/3 of the Warbler Trail hoping to add to my warbler list, but decided to go to the Bottomland Trail with them. There they found a pair of Yellow-billed Cuckoo and up on the hill west of the headquarters building called the "Lieben's Loop" Wayne spotted 3 Swainson's Thrush. The cuckoos and the thrushes were additions to his mountain yearlist. Wayne thought that the birds have been coming in a rather tardy manner. He has earlier dates for the cukoos and thrushes (I believe). He hopes that the rest of the month of May will pay off for the patient birder who comes here to "extract" birds from the park. I found on the "Small Ponds Trail" (this is the mowed path from the SE corner of the nature trail that winds past three little ponds and ends up where the old board walk used to be) a mother Wood Duck and her seven ducklings. I wish Todd Arcos had been there with his digital "bazooka" to record the scene. John Lindfors Hendersonville, NC Here's the list: Location: Jackson Park Observation date: 5/8/08 Notes: After finding the female Cape May Warbler and the Prairie Warbler; Wayne Forsythe and Ron Selvey came down the warbler trail. Wayne found the beautiful male Black-throated Blue Warbler. They found two Yellow-billed Cuckoos (I didn't see) and 3 Swainson's Thrush (I saw.) Number of species: 28 Wood Duck 8 Turkey Vulture 1 Mourning Dove 2 Chimney Swift 4 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Red-eyed Vireo 1 Blue Jay 2 American Crow 1 Carolina Chickadee 5 Tufted Titmouse 1 Carolina Wren 4 Swainson's Thrush 3 American Robin 10 Gray Catbird 2 Brown Thrasher 2 European Starling 5 Cape May Warbler 1 Black-throated Blue Warbler 1 Prairie Warbler 1 American Redstart 7 Northern Waterthrush 1 Common Yellowthroat 2 Eastern Towhee 12 Song Sparrow 1 Northern Cardinal 12 Indigo Bunting 3 Common Grackle 2 Brown-headed Cowbird 2 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) Subject: Cliff Swallows at Fingerville,SC (Spartanburg County) From: <scompton1251 AT charter.net> Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 18:21:09 -0700 Birders, Observed about 6 Cliff Swallows from the Highway 11 (Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway) bridge over the Pacolet River today. This is in "downtown" Fingerville. Also checked a few fields for Grasshooper Sparrow, but none were singing in the sunny and warm afternoon. Steve Compton Greenville,SC Subject: No Subject From: "Anne Woods or Charles Strehl" <woodstrehl AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 20:00:54 -0400 Kentucky Warbler Locations in Cherokee Area? We are looking for this species. Old reports indicate nesting near Sugarlands Visitor Center in GSMNP on Tennessee side. Does anyone have a location or locations west of Asheville? Subject: Out of state info - WOOD SANDPIPER in Delaware From: Nate Dias <offshorebirder AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 13:55:37 -0700 (PDT) A WOOD SANDPIPER was discovered in Delaware yesterday at Prime Hook NWR. It was still being seen as of 3:15 today. http://www.birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/DEBD.html#1210200366 http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/DEBD.html Nathan Dias - Charleston, SC ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ Subject: Beaver Lake Asheville lunchtime sitings From: Terry Seyden<terryseyden AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 15:48:14 -0400 (EDT) Went for a quick "attitude adjustment" lunchtime walk at Beaver Lake sanctuary in North Asheville today and was rewarded with a good variety of birds including a couple of FOTY for me. The green heron continues to sit on its nest on the island in the small upper pond. A male and female redstart also seem to have taken up residence around the upper pond. Lots and lots of yellow warblers were in evidence along with blue grey gnatcatchers and catbirds. The lake is rapidly filling now and the shore birds are being forced closer and closer to the northern end observation deck. Spotted and solitary sandpipers were in abundance and the mallard ducklings are growing fast. What was really a treat was to see an indigo bunting and scarlet tanager both FOTY. happy birding Terry Seyden Fairview, NC Subject: Lotsa migrants, plus a new Eliz Gardens species From: jeff lewis <jlewis_obx AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 05:40:17 -0700 (PDT) Hi friends, Been having lots of migrants in the Elizabethan Gardens on Roanoke Island. YTWarbler, BTGreen, BTBlue, NoParula, Worm-eating, Prothonotary, Black-and-white, Ovenbird, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Summer Tanager, Indigo Bunting, Blue Grosbeak. A couple of days ago I sprinkled a handfull of white millet on the ground and the next day had a White-crowned Sparrow. Have had a couple of Wood Thrushes for over a week now, am beginning to wonder if they are going to try breeding here again this year. Yesterday had a new species for the gardens, two Black Vultures. I had only seen this species once before on Roanoke Island. Jeff Lewis Manteo, NC ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ Subject: Howell Woods Weekend - Carolina Bird Club From: Lena Gallitano <lena_gallitano AT ncsu.edu> Date: Wed, 07 May 2008 21:45:02 -0400 Hello all, The Howell Woods weekend that is being sponsored by the Carolina Bird Club is fast approaching and still has room for others to join the group. We have a great opportunity to spend two nights at the site and to bird with some great leaders - Jamie Sasser and Chris Moorman. This is the last call so if you're interested, please let me know by return email. - if you don't go, we'll post the weekend bird list to make every one jealous.!! Good accommodations, low cost, great leaders and great birds - what else could you ask for? More information is below with final details to be sent to those who register. Lena Gallitano Field Trip Organizer Raleigh, NC *May 16-18 – *Bring your adventurous spirit and enthusiasm for birding on the 2,800 acres of the *Howell Woods Learning Center*, Four Oaks, NC, a site on the NC Birding Trail – Coastal Plain. Trip is limited to *16* participants who are willing to share 2 cabins on site - one for men and one for women. The two cabins are nestled in pine trees overlooking a longleaf pine savannah restoration site and are a short walk to the Learning Center building. The cabins are a recent addition to Howell Woods and consist of 2 rooms/cabin, 4 people/room, each room with a private bath. Each cabin has a shared kitchen complete with all dining and cooking appliances and utensils plus an outdoor grill and picnic tables. Guests will need to bring the food they would like to cook. They provide organic shade grown coffee and organic spices! There is a country grill nearby, and numerous restaurants are available in Smithfield about 20 minutes away for those who prefer not to cook. Jamie Sasser, Director of Howell Woods, and Chris Moorman, Wildlife Biologist, NC State University will provide expert leadership to locate the following expected birds: Mississippi kites, Kentucky, Swainson's, hooded, prothonotary warblers, American redstarts, yellow-breasted chat, ovenbird, northern parula, black-and-white warbler and possible black-throated blue (early date) summer tanagers, brown-headed nuthatch, yellow-throated vireo, field sparrow, blue grosbeak and indigo bunting, orchard oriole, red-headed woodpecker, both night herons, red-tailed and red-shouldered hawks. Trip cost is $40/person for lodging only. Linens are available for an extra fee. Each person will be responsible for their own food. Email Lena Gallitano at lena_gallitano AT ncsu.edu or call at (919) 571-0388 for details. To learn more about Howell Woods, go to www.johnstoncc.edu/howellwoods . Subject: Office warblers From: John and Rhonda Grego <jrgrego AT pop.mindspring.com> Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 21:28:13 -0400 I haven't had a real fall-out this spring, either at home or the office, but today in the trees outside my office window at USC, I did have 3 Black-throated Blue Warblers (1 singing male, 2 females), 2 American Redstart, 1 Northern Parula, and one Ovenbird (which was unexpected). John Grego Columbia, SC Subject: Extracting Warblers from Jackson Park From: "John Lindfors Sr." <jwl127 AT mchsi.com> Date: Wed, 07 May 2008 18:07:57 -0400 Wayne Forsythe's Mourning Warbler of a few days has apparently quit singing. The Blue-Winged Warbler that Ernie Hollingsworth found around the long, center pond of the Nature Trail area has flapped away, and only the promise of a little rain at the end of the week holds promise of getting more warblers in. (I know, I know the Blue Ridge Parkway is crammed with warblers so they have all by-passed the park this year--humbug!) Ben Ringer and his wife Carol did a good job of finding warblers that they shared with me on the warbler trail (Black-Throated Blue Warbler and a Northern Parula). Ron Selvey found a male Summer Tanager, and so after seeing what after sober reflection must have been a female cardinal I entertained the notion of announcing a female Summer Tanager, but I wouldn't get away with it cause Wayne Forsythe reads these posts occasionally. John Lindfors Hendersonville, NC Enough rambling, here's my list: Subject: Ft Fisher Great Horned Owl update From: "Harry D Sell" <sellbirding AT ec.rr.com> Date: Tue, 6 May 2008 21:33:05 -0400 Hi All This will be the last Ft Fisher Owl update. I am still not quite sure I understand the circumstances or reasons for the following as I had left my phone number with both crews on the opposite shift and asked them to call me if there were any changes like walking around on the pilings etc. Anyway, one of the other shift Captains ( who knows nothing of birds) called a local wildlife rehabilitator and said he had not seen the adult birds for over a week. The rehabilitator came Saturday and moved the chicks to a nearby group of cedar trees even though there were Gull carcasses in the nest. She said she guessed they weighted 3 and 5 pounds and were about a week from flying. At least there is relief for those of us concerned for them falling in the water. I am positive the adults were still nearby watching and continuing to feed the chicks. I am also sure they will continue to care for them and teach them to become successful adults. I was able to locate one of the chicks about 50 ft from the release site and took some photos, so these are the last pictures of the Ft. Fisher Owls.. At least for this year. The chick seemed in good health. Short recap: First egg 31 Jan; second 4 Feb; first hatched 10 Mar; second hatched 14 Feb; moved to trees 3 May. One of my crew members said I looked like I was suffering from empty nest syndrome. I confess both satisfaction that they seem to be OK and sadness that this short, inspiring association is over. Has been a great ride and I have really enjoyed the opportunity to observe and photograph this wild family up close and to be able to share these events with fellow birders. Hope you have enjoyed the past photos and these last ones which are the first six in the gallery. The first is of the empty nest. www.pbase.com/sellbirding Harry D Sell Boiling Spring Lakes, NC Brunswick County www.pbase.com/sellbirding Subject: Chuck-will's-widow in N. "Moooo"sville From: "Tomm Lorenzin" <tomm AT 1000plus.com> Date: Tue, 6 May 2008 20:47:40 -0400 Lovely sound a few minutes ago. (Dusk) FOY. Also: Had a Common Raven in Davidson yesterday harassed in flight by three AmCrows over one of the campus parking lots. An unusual sight in these parts. 7;^) Tomm "fatso" Lorenzin Mooresville, NC ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We all get heavier as we get older because there's a lot more information to absorb. So I'm not really fat; I'm just really intelligent and my head couldn't hold any more so it started filling up the rest of me! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Visit me at: http://www.1000plus.com/ Subject: Re: Downtown Charlotte Magnolia Warbler From: "Rubberhead" <rubberhead AT comporium.net> Date: Tue, 6 May 2008 18:28:56 -0400 Sorry - I broke a rule and forgot to sign my name and city... Stephen Thomas (the other Stephen Thomas) Fort Mill, SC. Photo taken in Charlotte... ----- Original Message ----- From: "Rubberhead" To: "Carolina Birds" Sent: Tuesday, May 06, 2008 6:25 PM Subject: Downtown Charlotte Magnolia Warbler > Over the years I have found many "good" birds exhausted in downtown > Charlotte. There's one half-block region near what is known as "The > Green" where I have found most of these birds. > > This morning I found a fine male Magnolia Warbler that was sleeping on a > waist-high concrete ledge under an overhang. I keep a Sony P200 for just > such events. I took a few pictures and moved him to a nearby bush to > recover. > > Here are the before and after shots: > > > http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3068/2472023858_259492e6d3.jpg > > http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2066/2470013745_f0c41380ce.jpg > > > Here's a link to some of the better sidewalk birds I've found: > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/birdshot/sets/72157600194233566/detail/ Subject: Downtown Charlotte Magnolia Warbler From: "Rubberhead" <rubberhead AT comporium.net> Date: Tue, 6 May 2008 18:25:20 -0400 Over the years I have found many "good" birds exhausted in downtown Charlotte. There's one half-block region near what is known as "The Green" where I have found most of these birds. This morning I found a fine male Magnolia Warbler that was sleeping on a waist-high concrete ledge under an overhang. I keep a Sony P200 for just such events. I took a few pictures and moved him to a nearby bush to recover. Here are the before and after shots: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3068/2472023858_259492e6d3.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2066/2470013745_f0c41380ce.jpg Here's a link to some of the better sidewalk birds I've found: http://www.flickr.com/photos/birdshot/sets/72157600194233566/detail/ Subject: Marion Co, SC From: Charles Mc Rae <mcmarion2003 AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 6 May 2008 07:36:20 -0700 (PDT) Watching a resident Ovenbird sing in woods of southern MArion Co,SC when a small group of migratory birds moved through( male Black throated Blue Warbler, Black and White Wrb ,and a female Prairie Warbler all feeding in midrange of Oak trees).I just do not see many spring neotropical migrants here(compared to Gulf coast and Lake Erie area). Also surprised a Solitary Sandpiper feeding in standing water on unimproved road in marshy area. Chas. Mc Rae www.chasmcraephotography.com ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ Subject: Re: Fall CBC Meeting From: <mclark66 AT sc.rr.com> Date: Tue, 6 May 2008 10:23:42 -0400 Hi, Bob & Judy! Missed you at Southern Pines, and you missed a good meeting. We will be in Wilmington 2-5 October, with headquarters being Holiday Inn AT 5032 Market Street (1-800-833-4721). Group rate there is $79 + 13.75% tax/night. Plan to be on the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area this weekend prior to going to my supply pastor job this year at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church/Anderson. Cheers! +Marion W. Clark ---- bobmax1 AT charter.net wrote: > We are at the beach, so, would someone please send me the dates of the fall meeting at Wilmington? Thanks !!! > Also, yesterday we got good looks at a Worm Eating Warbler near Anor, SC. > Bob and Judy Maxwell bobmax1 AT charter.net Subject: Fall CBC Meeting From: <bobmax1 AT charter.net> Date: Tue, 6 May 2008 7:12:10 -0700 We are at the beach, so, would someone please send me the dates of the fall meeting at Wilmington? Thanks !!! Also, yesterday we got good looks at a Worm Eating Warbler near Anor, SC. Bob and Judy Maxwell bobmax1 AT charter.net Subject: Wildathon Big Day From: btdriscoll AT bellsouth.net Date: Tue, 06 May 2008 12:22:37 +0000 C'birders: Marsha Stephens, David Curtin, and i did our Wildathon big day on Sunday to raise money for the New Hope Audubon Society. We're still looking for sponsors! We saw 104 species (plus one gull species we didn't id). Unexpected finds were: Red-breasted Merganser on the Haw River by the Bynum bridge Loggerhead Shrike at the NCSU farms Lesser Yellowlegs at Lake Wheeler Ruddy Ducks at Shearon Harris and NCSU farm ponds A. Coots at Shearon Harris - thanks Will! Great Egret at Lake Crabtree Unexpected misses: waterthrushes migrating warblers Acadian Flycatcher Hairy Woodpecker Bobolinks - we couldn't find them at Anilorac Farms Wait 'til next year. tom driscoll chapel hill, nc Subject: RE: Huntington Beach SP Roseate Spoonbill?þ From: Donna Slyce <pine.siskin AT hotmail.com> Date: Tue, 6 May 2008 04:28:03 -0400 Let me second Steve Compton's observations. As Steve said, Roseate Spoonbill is pretty much an annual occurrence is South Carolina, usually in late summer, part of their post-breeding (I prefer the old term for that - post-nuptial) wandering, I guess. They've been seen various places from the Fall Line (I think there was one in Richland county a few years back) to the sea (Jasper and Beaufort counties get a few almost regularly). They also show up semi-regularly in Aiken county at various locales. Still, it is a cool and unexpected bird in SC and one that is absent from my personal state list. I might have to go seek one out this summer! Donna Slyce in the community of Longtown near Ridgeway, SC _________________________________________________________________ Get Free (PRODUCT) RED™ Emoticons, Winks and Display Pics. http://joinred.spaces.live.com?ocid=TXT_HMTG_prodredemoticons_052008 Subject: RE: Huntington Beach SP Roseate Spoonbill? From: <scompton1251 AT charter.net> Date: Mon, 5 May 2008 23:28:48 -0700 Doug and birders, Roseate Spoonbill used to be rare in SC but has become regular on the coast in recent years. I expect to see one late summer every year, and have, at Bear Island GMA in Colleton county, Bulls Island in Charleston county, and especially at the Savannah River Spoil area, where the largest numbers have been reported by Steve Calver. It has been reported in Beaufort county and probably other locations. The Huntington Beach bird is a bit early. Steve Compton Greenville,SC ---- Doug Allen wrote: > > The spoonbill was seen by a number of birders last Thursday afternoon from the causeway on the fresh water side. It apreared to be a first year bird without a lot of pink. I got a decent picture of it. The naturalist there who led Friday's birdwalk said the spoonbill is seen about once every two years in the park. How rare is the spoonbill in SC? Guess I was lucky! Did not see it on Friday. > > Doug K4LY > > > > > > > > Doug's post is the second online mention I've seen of the spoonbill at > > HBSP. For what it's worth, I looked Saturday and did NOT see it. Was > > it a one day wonder last thursday, or has anyone else seen it since? > > > > Chris > > > > On May 4, 2008, at 9:30 AM, Doug Allen wrote: > > > > ************************************************************************ > > Christopher E. Hill > > Biology Department > > Coastal Carolina University > > Conway, SC 29528-1954 > > chill AT coastal.edu > > http://ww2.coastal.edu/chill/chill.htm > > > > "Society is a wave. The wave moves forward, but the water of which it > > is composed does not..." > > R.W. Emerson > > > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > Stay in touch when you're away with Windows Live Messenger. > http://www.windowslive.com/messenger/overview.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_Refresh_messenger_052008 Subject: Jackson Park From: "Ernie Hollingsworth" <hollingsworth_e AT bellsouth.net> Date: Mon, 5 May 2008 22:08:00 -0400 Carolina Birders- Was a good day at Jackson Park...slow but some good finds for me. Here's some of the birds: Lesser Yellowlegs (In stream running beside Warbler Trail. About 200 feet from start of trail) Wood Thrush Northern Parula Yellow Warbler Palm Warbler American Redstart Northern Waterthrush Common Yellowthroat And lots of the usual. Ernie Hollingsworth Hendersonville NC 828.290.7595 etsu AT bellsouth.net Subject: Big Day in the mountains From: Marilyn Westphal <mjwestph AT unca.edu> Date: Mon, 05 May 2008 19:09:48 -0400 Bob Olthoff, Peggy Franklin, Andrew Laughlin and I did a Big Day count on Sunday,12 hours in Buncombe and Henderson Counties, and we ended up with 118 species. It was a beautiful day and the birds were singing all morning. Most of the breeding birds are in, but there were also migrants going through and some winter lingerers. We had 23 species of warbler including N Parula, Yellow, Chestnut-sided, Cape May, BT Blue, Yellow-rumped, BT Green, Blackburnian, Yellow-throated, Pine, Palm, Prairie, Blackpoll, Cerulean, Black-and-white, Am. Redstart, Worm-eating, Ovenbird, N. Waterthrush, La Waterthrush, C. Yellowthroat, Hooded, Canada, and YB Chat. Vireos included White-eyed, Red-eyed, Blue-headed, Yellow-throated, and Warbling. Sparrows included Chipping, Field, Grasshopper, Song, Swamp, Savannah, White-throated, and White-crowned, and, of course, E Towhee and DE Junco. We also found a large flock of Bobolink, a couple of Sedge Wrens, and a Sora in Henderson County, and a nice variety of shorebirds at Beaver Lake in Asheville including Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Solitary, Spotted, Least, and Semipalmated Sandpipers, and a couple of Semipalmated Plovers. The 118 total was actually pretty good considering that we couldn't get up to the spruce/fir zone for some of the higher elevation species we usually get because the parkway is closed beyond Craggy picnic area, so we couldn't complete our normal route. Other than some of those misses like Raven, Brown Creeper, and a couple of others, the most notable first time misses were Wood Duck, Northern Flicker, and Black Vulture. Just one of those things that happen sometimes. Great day, great team, and great fun. Marilyn Marilyn Westphal Environmental Quality Institute University of North Carolina-Asheville One University Heights Asheville, North Carolina 28804 phone: 828/251-6823 email: mjwestph AT unca.edu Subject: Spring CBC Meeting From: "Dwayne Martin" <redxbill AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 5 May 2008 17:05:27 -0400 Dear All, We had a great weekend in Southern Pines for teh spring meeting of the Carolina Bird Club. Thanks go out to all of the volunteers who made it possible. Well over 100 members participated in 28 trips around the Sandhills of North Carolina. The weather was fabulous and folks seemed to have a great time. We recorded approximately 121 species over the four days of the meeting. Kent Fiala has posted the list at the CBC web site. The variety included winter hold overs like common loon (Woodlake), red-breasted nuthatch (All American Trail)and both white-throated and swamp sparrow. We also had a good variety of migrants such as merlin (Woodlake), bobolink (Raft Swamp Farms, Hobby Field), rose-breasted grosbeak, black-throated blue warbler, and worm-eating warbler (Weymouth Woods). There were local specialties including Mississippi kite (Howell Woods, Raft Swamp Farms), horned lark (Camp Mackall), Kentucky warbler (Howell Woods), Swainson's warbler (Howell Woods, Diggs Tract), grasshopper sparrow (Hobby Field) , lark sparrow (Camp Mackall) and Bachman's Sparrow (Sandhills Game Land). Red-cockaded woodpeckers put on quite a show at several sites, too, of course. There were some unusual views of familiar birds such as the female pileated woodpecker in the mist net at Weymouth Woods and the Eastern screech-owl in a cavity at Reservoir Park. One of the few disappointments of the weekend was the lack of scissor-tailed flycatchers at Hobby Field for the meeting. But we remain hopeful they will (re)appear soon. Look for a full report on the weekend at the CBC website in the very near future. Anyone with some good photos from the meeting is invited to send them to Kent for posting. It was great to see old friends here in town--as well as a number of new faces. Looking forward to Wilmington in October! Susan Campbell Whispering Pines, NC -- 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/ Subject: RE: Huntington Beach SP Roseate Spoonbill? From: Doug Allen <dougw0ah AT msn.com> Date: Mon, 5 May 2008 13:58:43 -0600 The spoonbill was seen by a number of birders last Thursday afternoon from the causeway on the fresh water side. It apreared to be a first year bird without a lot of pink. I got a decent picture of it. The naturalist there who led Friday's birdwalk said the spoonbill is seen about once every two years in the park. How rare is the spoonbill in SC? Guess I was lucky! Did not see it on Friday. Doug K4LY > > > Doug's post is the second online mention I've seen of the spoonbill at > HBSP. For what it's worth, I looked Saturday and did NOT see it. Was > it a one day wonder last thursday, or has anyone else seen it since? > > Chris > > On May 4, 2008, at 9:30 AM, Doug Allen wrote: > > ************************************************************************ > Christopher E. Hill > Biology Department > Coastal Carolina University > Conway, SC 29528-1954 > chill AT coastal.edu > http://ww2.coastal.edu/chill/chill.htm > > "Society is a wave. The wave moves forward, but the water of which it > is composed does not..." > R.W. Emerson > > _________________________________________________________________ Stay in touch when you're away with Windows Live Messenger. http://www.windowslive.com/messenger/overview.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_Refresh_messenger_052008 Subject: Huntington Beach SP Roseate Spoonbill? From: Chris Hill <chill AT coastal.edu> Date: Mon, 5 May 2008 11:50:57 -0400 Doug's post is the second online mention I've seen of the spoonbill at HBSP. For what it's worth, I looked Saturday and did NOT see it. Was it a one day wonder last thursday, or has anyone else seen it since? Chris On May 4, 2008, at 9:30 AM, Doug Allen wrote: ************************************************************************ Christopher E. Hill Biology Department Coastal Carolina University Conway, SC 29528-1954 chill AT coastal.edu http://ww2.coastal.edu/chill/chill.htm "Society is a wave. The wave moves forward, but the water of which it is composed does not..." R.W. Emerson Subject: Lake Jordan Outing From: "John Little" <jlittle17 AT nc.rr.com> Date: Mon, 5 May 2008 10:32:05 -0400 On Saturday, I paddled my kayak from Farrington Point to the mouth of New Hope Creek on Lake Jordan scouting for eagles. In four hours on the water I positively identified 10 eagles, a new high at that place for me. Also saw hundreds of double crested cormorants, twenty to thirty great blue herons, a lot of ring-billed gulls, and several ospreys. I heard two pileated woodpeckers, but did not get a sighting. The kayak's low profile enabled me to get close enough to the gulls on the water to make binoculars unnecessary. The highlight of the outing, however, occurred near the mouth of the creek when a prothonotary warbler, Wake Audubon's Bird of the Year, landed on a bush no more than ten feet from me. John Little Raleigh Subject: Leucistic Junco Still hanging out From: Jesse Pope <highcountrybirder AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 5 May 2008 06:14:28 -0700 (PDT) Hey everyone, The Leucistic Junco that we saw on Grandfather last winter is still hanging around. It has been seen almost every day by staff for the past month near our maintenance shed, and also by one of the High Country Audubon members, Monty Combs, by the half-moon overlook near the entrance to the park. It really is a neat bird, but I still can't believe he hasn't been nailed by a predator yet. It will be neat to see if it finds a mate, and reproduces. I don't necessarily expect the young to look like it, but it will just amaze me if any other bird is daring enough to go that route! It really is a loner bird, and I don't know if by choice or by solitary confinement by the other birds. Jesse Pope Grandfather Mountain Park Naturalist P.O Box 129 Linville, NC 28646 828-733-4326 www.grandfather.com ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ Subject: black-throated blue in Raleigh From: "Julie Keefer" <jkeefer AT nc.rr.com> Date: Mon, 5 May 2008 08:28:58 -0400 Figures, a week before we move out of this house to head to CT, I add 2 new yard birds (I think this makes 86 total). There were several singing Black-throated Blue warblers in the woods along with N. Parulas. I also saw a Barn Swallow fly overhead. There has also been a Red-headed Woodpecker hanging around singing (if you can call that a song...). He's quite vocal and starts rather early in the morning. I saw a second one yesterday, so maybe they are finally nesting around here! There were also Indigo Buntings, a Great Crested Fly Catcher, a beautiful male Summer Tanager along with the regular cardinals, chippies, pine warblers, brown-headed nuthatches, and male bluebird guarding his nest box. I will miss this place! Julie Keefer Raleigh, NC near Falls Lake Subject: Beaver Lake/Blue Ridge Parkway From: Aaron Steed <amsteed AT unca.edu> Date: Sun, 04 May 2008 23:28:44 -0400 Birded Beaver Lake this late this morning and was delighted to see not only Yellow Warblers and American Redstarts, but a whole host of shorebirds including the usuals Spotteds and Solitarys, some peeps (I couldn't tell I had no scope), Lesser Yellowlegs and Semipalmated Plovers.  Early this afternoon I went up on the parkway and stopped at Bull Gap.  Warblers were in abundance here as I picked up FOTY Blackburnian, Worm-Eating, Black-and-White warblers, Ovenbird, and Scarlet Tanager.  Later in the evening I came back with a friend, where we were surprised to see a Mother Black Bear and her two cubs wandering through the woods.  All around a great day. Subject: RFI - Greenville, NC area From: Waltyungen AT aol.com Date: Sun, 4 May 2008 23:03:58 EDT Hi, I will be visiting in the Greenville, NC area May 15th thru 18th and would like to get info on local places to find a good variety of birds. Please reply off-line. Thank-you for your help. Walt Yungen, _waltyungen AT AOL.com_ (mailto:waltyungen AT AOL.com) Salem, Oregon (503)559-0641 **************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family favorites at AOL Food. (http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001) Subject: Black Rail, Barn Owl, C. Ground-Dove, Shorebirds - Santee Coastal Reserve From: Nate Dias <offshorebirder AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 4 May 2008 19:19:42 -0700 (PDT) For the second day in a row today, I donated a lot of blood to the mosquitoes of the Santee River Delta region. Both days I was doing shorebird counts for the International Shorebird Survey. This morning I was fortunate enough to see a Black Rail take flight. I had been standing stock-still and photographing a Spotted Sandpiper at close range. While the sandpiper walked behind some grass, I was waiting for a clear shot to develop again. Much to my surprise, a small all-dark rail flew out in an arc from the grass along the dike ahead of me, around the gap beside me and back into the grass along the dike behind me. The bird was within about 10 feet - I could clearly see the dark body, dark bill, little white spots and red eye. I thought "that's a Black Rail" but the skeptic in me kept trying to make the bird into a Sora. But it was much too dark, with no light barring on the flanks and no yellow bill. Definitely a Black Rail. I marked the GPS location if anyone is interested, but it is too early to get the birds responding or cavorting yet. I keep mentioning the following point, but it is important: if you want to see skulking birds, I highly recommend wearing camouflage matched to the habitat and being still and quiet as much as possible. I did see a Sora later and I heard several of them, plus a couple of King Rails as well. I also saw a Barn Owl in a nest box in the "Big Well" section of the Santee Coastal Reserve. To reach this part of SCR, go in the gate by the big entance field (closed on weekends - can only drive in on weekdays). Follow the main road across the entrance field and then bear left like you are going to the office. Then instead of turning left again to go to the office, bear right and follow the dike to the boat landing and dock. At the dock, go left onto the dike that borders the South Santee River. The Barn Owl Nest Box is between the second and third impoundments. PLEASE do not approach the nest box closely! Scope it from the dike along the river. I put a photo of the Owl in the box and one of the surrounding area here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/offshorebirder/ I also flushed a pair of Common Ground-Doves out on the Cape Unit. Shorebird numbers took a jump from last week, as the water levels are getting to be good at SCR in some of the impoundments like Blake-2 and Blake-3. There were several hundred Dowitchers (Short-billed were all I could see/hear) and numerous Spotted and several Solitary Sandpipers in addition to all 3 "peeps", Dunlin, Lesser Yellowlegs and more usual suspects. Rarest shorebird was White-rumped Sandpiper. Black-necked Stilts were numerous, including many birds on the nest. Nathan Dias - Charleston, SC PS Latest insect report from Santee Coastal Reserve: Mosquitos are a tad heavy in a few places, but if you pick a breezy day and wear "bug netting" they will not be too bad. A few Deer Flies will greet you at the gate by the entrance field, but they are not a problem yet out on the ricefield dikes. Birding should be good at SCR until the next rain - which could blow the lid off the bug situation. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ Subject: Recent Greenville,SC sightings From: <scompton1251 AT charter.net> Date: Sun, 4 May 2008 18:20:34 -0700 Birders, I've been back in Greenville,SC for about a year, so I have a fresh yard list. My house is on the east side of town near Cleveland Park, through which runs the Reedy River. My house is at about 1000 foot elevation, typical for this foothills town. Today I added two new yard birds: a singing Cape May Warbler and an Indigo Bunting at the feeder. On May 1 I had a male Baltimore Oriole singing high in the oaks in the yard. In addition to these migrants, the Catbirds, House Wren, Towhees, and the usual suspects are all busy singing and building. Nearby the Wood Thrush has returned to his creek bottom, and the Rough-winged Swallows patrol the Reedy in the park. It's that anything-can-show-up time of year. I added some white proso millet to my black oil sunflower in the feeder a few weeks ago, following Nathan Dias's advice, and I noticed more Towhees under the feeder right away. This may also account for the Indigo today. No Painted Buntings yet, though. I think I'm probably 100 miles northeast of their range. But you never know. Steve Compton Eastern Greenville,SC Subject: Jackson Park From: "Ernie Hollingsworth" <hollingsworth_e AT bellsouth.net> Date: Sun, 4 May 2008 21:06:39 -0400 Carolina Birders- Some of what I saw today at Jackson Park: Veery (Bottomlands Trail), Northern Parula, Magnolia Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, American Redstart, Northern Waterthrush, Common Yellowthroat, Scarlet Tanager, Indigo Bunting. I missed the Great Crested Flycatcher (again) and the Baltimore Oriole. At the Pisgah Fish Hatchery (Pisgah Forest) I added Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Black-throated Green Warbler, Louisana Waterthrush. Ernie Hollingsworth Hendersonville NC Subject: Purple Finch in Wilmington From: "dmcooper2 AT juno.com" <dmcooper2@juno.com> Date: Sun, 4 May 2008 23:19:21 GMT I had a tardy female purple finch show up and spend most of yesterday at my feeder in Wilmington. I saw her again briefly this morning, but not since. Sam Cooper Wilmington, NC _____________________________________________________________ Plan ahead with a quick and convenient rental car. Click now. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2121/fc/Ioyw6i3nMUob5JBP7FQ6mHA2R2aPUuaLYzfTZmQ1bd1Pu6RMTyVk04/?count=1234567890 Subject: more arrivals / sightings From: Kevin Caldwell <mtssea AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 4 May 2008 13:33:50 -0700 (PDT) A short float down the lower Ivy River to the French Broad and out AT the Marshall dam (in town) showed literally 100's of spotted sandpipers...more than I've ever seen, even on the Potomac up north. Also several green herons, common grackles (on the alluvial fan at the base of Hayes Run creek), roughwing swallows RE Vireos, YT vireos, YT warblers, indigo's, towhees, parulas, and a typical list of resident birds. BTW - its about a 1 hr float (not counting load up, shuttling, repacking) from the Ivy Bridge down to Marshall - and nothting too major in terms of rapids, not more than class II's...a very nice,but fast float. If any one has floated from Marshal to Barnard / Walnut - send me an email. I've never seen that section and it seems no one floats it. Not seen at our tract but my neighbor reports CS warbs, WE warbs, and B. Oriole (female) today. Also our first RT hummer in 7 to 10 days. With all the redbud, dogwood, mulberry, buckeye, silverbell and others blooming hard now, I'm surprised its been this long - they were spotted at the neighbors on teh 16th, though they have much more open / shrub / edge than we do and probably just a greater bird variety. Kevin Caldwell Marshall NC (Madison Co) Subject: mountain birding from Balsam From: "Blair Ogburn" <bogburn AT bmtrust.org> Date: Sun, 4 May 2008 14:50:17 -0400 Wow! The weather has been perfect this weekend for birding. Today I birded with Doug Oxford from TX on the Balsam Mountain Preserve grounds and had the following bird species: Warbler species: Ovenbird, blackburnian, northern parulas, black & white, chestnut-sided, American redstarts, hooded, black-throated green, and magnolia Other bird species: indigo buntings, juncos, pileated woodpeckers, blue headed & red-eyed vireos, scarlet tanagers, song sparrows, gray catbird, mourning doves, rough-winged swallows (a pair building a nest in a rock wall), E. peewee and E. phoebe, bluebirds, robins, crows, towhees, A. goldfinch, tufted titmouse, ruby-throated hummers, blue jays, blue gray gnatcatchers (2 foraging together), red-tailed hawk, cardinals and 2 brown-headed cowbirds (actually 2 males, with 2 females nearby) We have a junco nesting under the carport of the nature center, and a hummingbird was plucking away at a cinnamon fern to build her nest (from our native plant garden) Blair Ogburn/Senior Naturalist Balsam Mountain Trust 52 Sugarloaf Road/Sylva, NC 28779 828/631/1061 bogburn AT bmtrust.org Subject: Binocular pouch From: "Blayne Olsen" <bolsen187 AT earthlink.net> Date: Sun, 4 May 2008 14:50:53 -0400 http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=109619 To the many people who asked about my pouch, this link will get you to a download of a pdf file of the brochure from Mondell. Husband and wife team. Cash only. No problems. They do what they say they will do. Blayne & Anne Olsen bolsen187 AT earthlink.net Monroe, N Subject: Mississippi Kites From: "Mary Bridges" <MaryHuOT AT nc.rr.com> Date: Sun, 4 May 2008 14:48:41 -0400 Going along with Eric's earlier post, the first one I've seen this year in Goldsboro was soaring over my house yesterday afternoon/evening and again this morning. Mary Bridges Goldsboro Subject: Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. From: "Blayne Olsen" <bolsen187 AT earthlink.net> Date: Sun, 4 May 2008 14:23:02 -0400 It doesn't get any better at Friendly Ridge Farm just south of Monroe. Anne and I spotted the female at 9:00AM and the male at 12:45PM. She was hawking insect along NC200 and then flew to the same high tension tower that they nested in last year. He was on the phone wires just to the south of the tower. A quick scan of the tower didn't reveal any nest but since we have been both watching I suspect they just arrived. We will continue to post as we learn more. Blayne & Anne Olsen bolsen187 AT earthlink.net Monroe, N Subject: Lawrence's Warbler at Max Patch From: "Jon Smith" <jon49 AT bellsouth.net> Date: Sun, 4 May 2008 13:42:59 -0400 My wife Glenda and I had excellent looks at a male "Lawrence's Warbler" at Max Patch this morning. The bird is an intermediate form having the facial pattern of a Golden Wing but showing distinct yellow underneath the black chin down to the belly. The area where the warbler was seen is off Max Patch Road 1.7 miles from where the pavement ends if you are driving to Max Patch Road via I-40 Exit 24 (NC-209 north about 9 miles then going straight where NC-209 veers sharply right on Fines Creek Rd. for a short distance before turning right onto Max Patch Road. Follow Max Patch Road until the pavement ends and in 1.7 miles you will note a rusted open fence gate on your left alongside a small creek. This is the area the bird was frequenting this morning. He was seen and heard on both sides of the road as he moved around quite a bit. He sang a 5 note call more often than not but most of the Golden Wings seem to enjoy variant calls. Good Birding, Jon Smith Fletcher, N.C. Subject: Short-billd Dowitchers and Sora Rail in Winston-Salem From: "David and Susan Disher" <thedishers AT bellsouth.net> Date: Sun, 4 May 2008 09:48:03 -0400 During the Forsyth County Spring Bird Count our group (Hop Hopkins, Paul Powers, David and Susan Disher) located two species that are rarely documented in Forsyth County. At Archie Elledge Sewage Treatment Plant in Winston-Salem (Open Mon-Sat) we observed 3 Short-billed Dowitchers. This is a very rare species for our area. Also seen at Archie Elledge were 57 Solitary Sandpipers, 15 Spotted Sandpipers, 1 Lesser Yellowlegs, and 2 Least Sandpipers. We also played a Sora Rail tape at the Tanglewood County Park wetlands and had a Sora answer off and on for about 20 minutes. We never saw the bird. There have been a good number of dead Sora Rails found during migration over the last year but only one previous sighting. There may be many more around than are found due to their secretive nature. David Disher Winston-Salem, NC Subject: Recent birding west Texas, SC coast, and home From: Doug Allen <dougw0ah AT msn.com> Date: Sun, 4 May 2008 07:30:35 -0600 Lots of birding last 2 1/2 weeks, first with friend Dan Leach from Indiana, in the Fort Davis/ Big bend Texas area for a week. Yes, I did miss the Montezuma Quail AGAIN! However, the Colima warbler was a new one (plus 152 other species) and worth the 8 1/2 hour hike. Very dry there with few migrants. After 12 hours back home, my wife and I headed to the SC coast where we birded Huntington Beach State Park (what a great birding area) and Green Brook Gardens part of each day for a week. Again, VERY few migrants. High lights were Roseate Spoonbill, Bald Eagle, Gannets, Wilson's Plover, Pipping Plover, and 80 other species. Fantastic views of shorebirds/egrets, etc. Painted Buntings seen both in west Texas and Huntington Beach SP. WOW! Back home yesterday, I found 3 male Bobolink last evening and a couple of Grasshopper sparrows this morning, both within a couple miles from the house. Indigo Buntings are coming to the feeder. When will I ever find a wave of warblers here? Maybe they've already gone through? Doug upstate Inman SC _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live SkyDrive lets you share files with faraway friends. http://www.windowslive.com/skydrive/overview.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_Refresh_skydrive_052008 Subject: summer tanagers in H.Springs, etc. From: Kevin Caldwell <mtssea AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 4 May 2008 05:54:31 -0700 (PDT) May 3 at Lover's Leap in H. Springs had me working with vols for rare plant monitoring on the App Trail however, once you can bird by ear, you just can't focus on only platnts...an easy form of multi-tasking for me. Surprise of the day was summer tanagers, which I suspected were in H. Springs - they are throughout the oak/pine 'woodland' / dry rocky slopes above the river and I'd guess - all over those extensive south-facing slopes in the region. At first we thought they were Indigos (also there) or maybe a scarlet tanager variation, but yes...summer tanagers - my 2nd mountain sighting to date, but probably because of not listening closely vs. their being here. We also saw about 12 NC listed rare plants...plus a few new ones not known from the site yet including Heuchara pubescens - my first sighting of it ever in fact - not only a very rare plant, but very few of them onsite to boot. May 2 in Cedar Mountain (near Brevard, 2900-3500' elevation) brought a female bufflehead alone at least from 7am to 2pm on a small pond (2 ac.) Deeper in the woods new arrivals there were worm-eating warbler, many an ovenbird, hodeds, catbird, BTB / BTG, & canada warbler (which I thought was a bit low but there they were - possibly not breeders here though we'll see in 3-4 weeks on returning). Also singing juncos which are at the lower end of their general elevation range and I suspect, will breed on this tract. . Worm eating's sang from 7am to 2pm...all day and nearly throughout the forest interior. This a.m. at the house (Ivy River / Marshall) fleets of blue-gray gnatcatchers which don't tend much toward the ridgelines were in full force there with they typical SC tanager, BHVI / REVI and YTVI's on the river, numerous no. parula and again fleets of Y-rumps. All audible from a hammock above the outcrops...good times. LA waterthrush is probably breeding now, 2 pairs on teh small stream feeding the Ivy. I'm guessing too that my previous great-crested report in mid-Apr may have been faulty...or just a early one that didn't hang out as I've heard none since but had what I'll now call the 'first' today. Very few BTG warbs also since the first 'wave'... Kevin Caldwell Conservation Biologist Mountains-to-Sea Ecological, Inc. 828-551-8225 / MtsSea AT yahoo.com 87 Ivy Bluffs Rd / Marshall, NC 28753 www.MTSecological.com Subject: Re: Leucistic Red-winged Blackbird at Pea Island (again) From: "Lee Adams" <ladams42 AT cox.net> Date: Sun, 4 May 2008 08:29:09 -0400 Your note reminds me that after I'd seen (been shown) the White-winged Tern at Ted Harvey Wildlife Area in Delaware this week I saw a completely white Red-winged Blackbird in with a flock at Bombay Hook NWR. Bruce Mack, from South Carolina, put me on the tern. Thanks Bruce. Carolinabirds, your birders roam far and wide. Take care. Lee Lee Loudenslager Adams Fredericksburg, VA ladams42 AT cox.net Subject: Mississippi Kites From: "wolfpackdeans" <wolfpackdeans AT earthlink.net> Date: Sat, 3 May 2008 22:48:02 -0400 Hi all, Mississippi Kites are back on Richardson Bridge Rd in Johnston Co (NC), a regular spot for them just north of the Neuse River. I mention this only because last year 3 Swallow-tailed Kites showed up with them for about a week or so in early May before moving on. Now's the time if you're in this area. Eric Eric & Celia Dean 112 Armstrong Dr Goldsboro NC 27530 919-736-7264 (home) 919-920-1542 (cell) wolfpackdeans AT earthlink.net "....I realized that if I had to choose, I would rather have birds than airplanes." Charles Lindbergh Subject: recent sightings, 05-03-2008 From: Gary Phillips <carolinensis AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 3 May 2008 18:58:53 -0700 (PDT) hi y'all, a juv. male Painted Bunting made it into the confines here 05-01-2008 for a quick bath and a bit of see ya later song. Gray Catbirds hanging in there with their nest attempt. Mr. C keeps vigil while Missus sits. he's pretty aggressive toward grackles, cowbirds, robins...and mockingbirds, sorta keeps a contemptuous eye on everybody else. cpl of White-throateds and a Chippie still hanging around. a flock of 500+/- White Ibis headed north over the Great Pee Dee River at dawn this a.m. woohoo! ;-) observed a N. Parula building a nest in a clump of Spanish Moss, Ovenbird and Yellow-throated Vireo on customary territories, Wood Thrush, pair of Black-necked Stilt in a former breeding area, several Gr. and Lesser Yellowlegs (couldn't make a Reeve/Ruff out of any of them,) Indigo Bunting, Blue Grosbeak, E. Wood-Peewee, GC Flycatcher, BG Gnatcatcher galore, RCWs, steady stream of Tree Swallow, Wild Turkey displaying, House Finch in North Inlet marsh (what the...?) numerous Palamedes Swallowtails on Blue Flag iris, Little Wood-satyr, and a nice Black Rat Snake moseying along at Hobcaw Barony today. a friend at Murrells Inlet has had 15+/- Monarch cats on milkweed since the first of the week. she has 13+/- now, as it was determined 2 cats and 2 plants truly wanted to move to Conway. i just happened to be headed that way, so i gave 'em a lift... cheers, Gary Phillips Conway, SC "A dog might as well speculate on the mind of Newton." (Darwin) ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ Subject: Chape Hill Spring Bird Count From: btdriscoll AT bellsouth.net Date: Sun, 04 May 2008 01:04:43 +0000 Carolinabirders: Bo Howes and i (a personal best for this area) saw 70 species today in our areas. We saw/heard 15 species of warblers including Cape May and Yellow. We also saw a Great Egret. Notable misses included Blue-headed Vireo, Song Sparrow, and Great Blue Heron. tom driscoll chapel hill, nc Subject: Re: Indigo Bunting From: "Rhonda Barrett" <RBarrett8 AT carolina.rr.com> Date: Sat, 3 May 2008 19:03:41 -0500 I saw an Indigo Bunting and a Scarlet Tanager today next to my pond in Casar, N.C. Rhonda Barrett ----- Original Message ----- From: "Russell Roberson" To: "Carolina Birds" Sent: Saturday, May 03, 2008 3:57 PM Subject: Indigo Bunting >A few minutes ago, I had a male and female Indigo Bunting at Sandy Creek >off Pickett Road in Durham. They were in the dead tree on the dam next >to the red clay ditch across the dam. The male was singing his heart out >while I watched. This is first one I have had at this location in over >five years. Nice. > > When I left the male was still singing in the pine trees at the east side > of the park near the green tanks. > > Russell Roberson > russell-roberson AT nc.rr.com > Professor Emeritus Duke Univ > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.519 / Virus Database: 269.23.5/1401 - Release > Date: 4/28/2008 7:18 AM > > Subject: Indigo Bunting From: Russell Roberson <russell-roberson AT nc.rr.com> Date: Sat, 3 May 2008 16:57:35 -0400 A few minutes ago, I had a male and female Indigo Bunting at Sandy Creek off Pickett Road in Durham. They were in the dead tree on the dam next to the red clay ditch across the dam. The male was singing his heart out while I watched. This is first one I have had at this location in over five years. Nice. When I left the male was still singing in the pine trees at the east side of the park near the green tanks. Russell Roberson russell-roberson AT nc.rr.com Professor Emeritus Duke Univ Subject: Common Ravens in Pickens Co., SC From: "Dennis Forsythe" <dennis.forsythe AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 2 May 2008 19:51:03 -0400 Hi All, Today I have 2 Common Ravens at the Peach Orchard angles access to the Estatoee River On R Jones St just off Hy 11 in Pickens Co., SC. I though these were at a lower altitude then usual. Dennis -- Dennis M. Forsythe PhD Charleston, SC 29412 843.795.3996-home 843.953.7264-fax 843.708.1605-cell dennis.forsythe AT gmail.com