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CarolinaBirds for Saturday, April 15, 2006
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Subject: Jordan Reservoir Gamelands Heronry--Update #5
From: "J. M. Lynch" <jmlynch(AT)earthlink.net>
Date: 15 Apr 2006 10:50am
Carolinabirders:
I checked on the Jordan Reservoir gamelands Great Blue Heron colony this morning
and it continues to expand, from 60 active nests last weekend to 72 nests
today! It is interesting that additional herons continue to move in around the
edges even though most of the nests were completed back in March. I estimate
that somewhere between a quarter and a half of the nests have hatched chicks
although it is still very difficult to see them. I base this on the behavior of
the returning adults when one arrives to take over nest duties. The returning
adult is obviously regurgitating food to a chick or chicks in the nest but they
often remain invisible beneath the sticks.
Some of the returning herons bring branches which they present to their mate
when they land on the nest. The re-united pairs also have a bill clapping
greeting and neck bowing ritual often accompanied by some squawking.
As is always the case, there are plenty of other interesting things going on at
the beaverpond in the vicinity of the herons. Today, I was very pleased to see
the return of an adult male (in full breeding regalia) AMERICAN ANHINGA. I
first noticed the anhinga flying and watched it suddenly stoop down and dive
into the water, completely submerging itself. It then surfaced with just the
neck and head above the water, excitedly swimming about pumping its neck and
head in a jabbing motion skyward. I then noticed what was causing this
behavior--an immature bald eagle had flown in directly above the anhinga and was
perched in a dead tree watching it! After awhile, the anhinga pulled up on a
log and stretched its wings out. The eagle made another pass at the anhinga
causing it to again submerge itself, and then flew off.
I had up to 5 anhingas at the beaverpond during June and July 2005 but never saw
any evidence of nesting. I'm hoping that this year things will be different.
Harry or Ricky: are there any NC Piedmont nesting records for Anhinga?
Other birds of note: The pair of OSPREY that I reported building a nest last
weekend are making final touches to the nest. Rather than carrying sticks,
today they were plucking dried cattail leaves to line the inside of the nest.
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER: At least 4 pairs present with a lot of territorial
chasing going on. Breeding neotropicals at or around the pond included:
PROTHONOTARY WARBLER (at least two singing males), LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH, SUMMER
TANAGER (first of the year), YELLOW-THROATED VIREO, GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER,
WOOD THRUSH, OVENBIRD, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, and RED-EYED VIREO (several).
TREE SWALLOWS continue their activity around the woodpecker cavities; I assume
they are either incubating eggs or have hatched young. I also had a nice
migrant ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, the first of the year for me. And in the herp
department, I heard my first BULLFROG of the season.
Thats the report.
Good birding,
J. M. Lynch
Chatham County
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Goose Creek Worm-Eater.
From: "Alan Meijer" <ameijer(AT)beaufortco.com>
Date: 15 Apr 2006 10:58am
Went birding with Curtis Dykstra at Goose Creek State Park in Eastern NC.
Had a good day which included many of the usual suspects, but included a
lifer for me: a WORM-EATING WARBLER. Great look, too. Also great looks at
a pair of male PRAIRIE WARBLERS. Other species included: PROTHONOTARY,
YELLOW-THROATED, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, N.PARULA, OVENBIRD, Y.RUMPED,
LA.WATERTHRUSH, GREAT EGRET, BALD EAGLE, OSPREY, MERGANSERS, R.C.KINGLET,
TURKEYS, ETC...
--------
On Friday morning, I was north of Williamston, on the north shore of the
Roanoke River, when a COMMON LOON scooted overhead.
alan meijer
ameijerATbeaufortco.com
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Subject: Bakers Mountain Park Birds
From: Dwayne Martin <redxbill(AT)charter.net>
Date: 15 Apr 2006 11:18am
John Sutton, the ranger at Bakers Mtn Park (southwestern Catawba Co.), called me
this morning to report the following birds seen or heard in the park this
morning.
Chuck-wills-widow
Ruby-throated Hummingbird- male and female
CERULEAN WARBLER- male
Black-and-white Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
American Redstart
Hooded Warbler
Blue-headed Vireo
Scarlet Tanager
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Dwayne
*************
Dwayne Martin
Taylorsville, NC
redxbill(AT)charter.net
Catwaba County Park Ranger
Riverbend Park - Conover, NC
jdmartin(AT)catawbacountync.gov
http://www.catawbacountync.gov/depts/parks/
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Issaqueena Birding
From: "kaye fenlon" <ktfenlon(AT)hotmail.com>
Date: 15 Apr 2006 12:03pm
_________________________________________________________________
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Subject: Issaqueena Birding, Goldfinches, fewer yard migrants
From: "kaye fenlon" <ktfenlon(AT)hotmail.com>
Date: 15 Apr 2006 12:18pm
Hi Spring Birders
Here is the highlights of an early morning birding trip to Issaqueena Rd.
just north of Clemson.
Yellow-throated Vireo
Philadelphia Vireo
Northern Parula Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Swainson's Warbler
Field Sparrow
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Common Yellow throat
Earlier in the week I also saw:
Several Blue-gray Gnatcatchers
White-eyed Vireo
Of course there were a few others (warblers) I could not positively
identify, but I'm getting better!
Also of note. There has been an increasing number of Goldfinches in my
backyard. A few days ago a huge flock..I'm sure more than a 100 flew into
the tops of the trees near the lake, I've never seen so many. They are
cleaning me out of sunflower hearts! My neighbors said they also can not
keep the feeders filled. Why the sudden invasion? I had a more wintering
over this year too, but not until mid winter?
_________________________________________________________________
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Subject: New warbler on old toll road
From: "Stu" <sgibeau(AT)bellsouth.net>
Date: 15 Apr 2006 12:14pm
Went fo a 10 mile run this moring on the old toll road. Only new bird was lots
of Black & White Warbler.
Yesterday afternoon I found an Orange Crowned Warbler and a Parula near the
beaver pond on Left Fork North Fork Road in Black Mountain, NC
Stu Gibeau
Black Mountain, NC
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: apology
From: "kaye fenlon" <ktfenlon(AT)hotmail.com>
Date: 15 Apr 2006 12:32pm
Hi Carolinabirders,
I just got a new Apple computer and a new account with Hotmail......
unlike my old system ..if I hit return in the subject box it sends the
e-mail. So I apologize for the errors.
Anyway, the Issaqueena, Goldfinches e-mail is from:
Katie Fenlon
Clemson SC
PS I am hearing fewer migrants in our neighborhood and yard so far this
Spring. We did have a wild Turkey walk through the backyard. A first! We
always hear them across the lake in Clemson forest. Also heard our first
Whipporwill there 2 nights ago...and a very welcome loon calling right on
schedule....about the 3rd week of April.
Enjoy a birding weekend.!
_________________________________________________________________
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[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Evergreen Nature Preserve 4/13-15
From: "Larry" <Larry(AT)lbarden.com>
Date: 15 Apr 2006 1:25pm
Birds of note in Evergreen Nature Preserve
4/13
Eastern Kingbird
Redwinged Blackbird
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Barn Swallow
Wood Thrush
4/14
House Wren
Cedar Waxwing
Palm Warbler
Coopers Hawk
Chimney Swift
4/15
Common Yellowthroat
Rough-winged Swallow
Solitary Sandpiper (Sheffield Pond)
Pine Warbler
Red-eyed Vireo
White-eyed Vireo
Northern Parula
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Total of 47 species
Cheers,
Larry and Louise Barden
Charlotte
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Haw River - Chatham Cty, NC
From: "Steven Shultz" <SSHULTZ(AT)nc.rr.com>
Date: 15 Apr 2006 3:17pm
Actually seemed slower this Saturday along the Haw River north of the US64
bridge than it did last week. Nonetheless, a couple of new arrivals since
the last visit, and a decent showing by the local breeders. Numbers are
approximate.
Hooded Warbler 6
Prothonotary Warbler 4
Yellow throated Warbler 10
N Parula 20
Prairie Warbler 3
Palm Warbler 2
Louisiana Waterthrush 1
Ovenbird 8
Summer Tanager 1
Red eyed Vireo 5
Blue headed Vireo 1
White eyed Vireo 6
Wood Thrush 2
Hermit Thrush 1
Blue grey Gnatcatchers scads
Cliff Swallow and Barn Swallow at nests under the 64 bridge
The number of through migrants did double, from 1 Palm Warbler to 2!
Best,
Steve Shultz
Apex NC
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Cypress Gardens , SC Bird Walk 4/15
From: "Dennis Forsythe" <dennis.forsythe(AT)citadel.edu>
Date: 15 Apr 2006 5:23pm
Hi All,
We held our last bird walk for the spring at Cypress gardens, Berkeley Co.,
SC this mourning. While the weather was good, there were few birds singing.
Here is the list:
Wood Stork
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Ring-billed Gull
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Red-bellied woodpecjer
Downy Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Great Crested Flycatcher
Blue Jay
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Carolina Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Eastern Bluebird
Brown Thrasher
No. Parula
Yellow-rumped warbler
Yellow-throated Warbler
Pine warbler
Prothonotary warbler
Northern Cardinal
Common Grackle
Dennis
Dennis M. Forsythe PhD, PA
Emeritus Professor of Biology
The Citadel
171 Moultrie St
Charleston, SC 29409
843-795-3996 Home
843-953-7264 Fax
843-708-1605 Cell
dennis.forsythe(AT)citadel.edu
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: Jordan Reservoir Gamelands Heronry--Update #5
From: Harry LeGrand <harry.legrand(AT)ncmail.net>
Date: 15 Apr 2006 5:37pm
J. M. Lynch wrote:
>Carolinabirders:
>
>I checked on the Jordan Reservoir gamelands Great Blue Heron colony this
morning and it continues to expand, from 60 active nests last weekend to 72
nests today! It is interesting that additional herons continue to move in
around the edges even though most of the nests were completed back in March. I
estimate that somewhere between a quarter and a half of the nests have hatched
chicks although it is still very difficult to see them. I base this on the
behavior of the returning adults when one arrives to take over nest duties. The
returning adult is obviously regurgitating food to a chick or chicks in the
nest but they often remain invisible beneath the sticks.
>
>Some of the returning herons bring branches which they present to their mate
when they land on the nest. The re-united pairs also have a bill clapping
greeting and neck bowing ritual often accompanied by some squawking.
>
>As is always the case, there are plenty of other interesting things going on at
the beaverpond in the vicinity of the herons. Today, I was very pleased to see
the return of an adult male (in full breeding regalia) AMERICAN ANHINGA. I
first noticed the anhinga flying and watched it suddenly stoop down and dive
into the water, completely submerging itself. It then surfaced with just the
neck and head above the water, excitedly swimming about pumping its neck and
head in a jabbing motion skyward. I then noticed what was causing this
behavior--an immature bald eagle had flown in directly above the anhinga and was
perched in a dead tree watching it! After awhile, the anhinga pulled up on a
log and stretched its wings out. The eagle made another pass at the anhinga
causing it to again submerge itself, and then flew off.
>
>I had up to 5 anhingas at the beaverpond during June and July 2005 but never
saw any evidence of nesting. I'm hoping that this year things will be
different. Harry or Ricky: are there any NC Piedmont nesting records for
Anhinga?
>
>Other birds of note: The pair of OSPREY that I reported building a nest last
weekend are making final touches to the nest. Rather than carrying sticks,
today they were plucking dried cattail leaves to line the inside of the nest.
>
>RED-HEADED WOODPECKER: At least 4 pairs present with a lot of territorial
chasing going on. Breeding neotropicals at or around the pond included:
PROTHONOTARY WARBLER (at least two singing males), LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH, SUMMER
TANAGER (first of the year), YELLOW-THROATED VIREO, GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER,
WOOD THRUSH, OVENBIRD, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, and RED-EYED VIREO (several).
>
>TREE SWALLOWS continue their activity around the woodpecker cavities; I assume
they are either incubating eggs or have hatched young. I also had a nice
migrant ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, the first of the year for me. And in the herp
department, I heard my first BULLFROG of the season.
>
>Thats the report.
>
>Good birding,
>
>J. M. Lynch
>Chatham County
>
>
>
I am away from the NC Natural Heritage Program records – we track
nesting locales – but I do not recall any nesting by Anhinga away from
the NC Coastal Plain. They have been found nesting as far inland at Mush
Island near Weldon (Halifax Co.) – Merrill and I had them nesting many
years ago -- and at Jessups Pond in Cumberland County. They apparently
nest at Rhodes Pond in n.e. Cumberland County. Last year, there were
some reported in the breeding season in central Harnett County, probably
in the Coastal Plain; no nests were seen there.
As with Merrill’s recent Chatham County report, and a number of other
sightings in the Piedmont, these birds apparently do not stay to nest.
It hasn’t yet been documented above the Fall Line. But, few of us would
be surprised if it did happen, given the great increase in beaver ponds
in the past 10-20 years.
Harry LeGrand
Raleigh, NC
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: TV nest at Falls Lake
From: "birdranger" <cbockhahn4(AT)earthlink.net>
Date: 15 Apr 2006 7:04pm
I know I read somewhere about Turkey Vultures nesting in old barns, but I
was very suprised when one of my co-workers found and photographed one on
nest in an old barn at Falls Lake, Wake County, north of Raleigh NC. They
had two large eggs laid underneath the rotting floor, the bird must have to
squat and crawl a few feet to get to them for incubation. 10 years here
and I'd never seen it, is this common for the locale?
Brian Bockhahn
Falls Lake State Park Ranger
Falls & Kerr Lake CBC Compiler
cbockhahn4(AT)earthlink.net
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Harris Lake - Wake County NC - Lotsa Whips
From: "Steven Shultz" <SSHULTZ(AT)nc.rr.com>
Date: 15 Apr 2006 9:42pm
Rode up the north end of Harris Lake this evening. Had 2 Great Egrets,
which are listed on the CHBC list as rare for this particular week of the
year, and a Hooded Merganser hen hanging around near the Wood Duck boxes.
Will she stay??
Also noted 2-3 adult Bald Eagles, and quite a few Wilson's Snipe feeding in
the shallow marshy stuff. Surprisingly no shorebirds considering there are
some flats there, and I was seeing yellowlegs yesterday in marginal habitat
out on the main lake.
Probably the most interesting sightings/sounds were Whip-poor-wills on
Holleman Road between the boat ramp and Avent Ferry Road. Heard at least 15
and saw 2. Quite vocal, and neat to hear them synchronize their "songs"
when 2 or more birds are calling from close to one another. We were
expecting to hear/see Chuck-wills-widow, but interestingly heard none,
though the Whips could have been drowning them out :-)
Best,
Steve Shultz
Apex, NC
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: McCormick County, SC 04/13-15
From: "Jason Giovannone" <buteo2808(AT)hotmail.com>
Date: 15 Apr 2006 9:57pm
Spent the last several days near Plum Branch in McCormick County, SC. Ended
up with 70 species over the two days with a good mixture of birds. We birded
Lake Thurmond (mostly the SC side, but we did venture across the river into
Georgia today for about an hour), below the dam, and the town of McCormick.
About 7 am this morning while fishing I heard the mournful cry of a Common
Loon. On a shoal near the Plum Branch Yacht Club there were 2 Bonaparte's
Gulls, 5 Caspian Terns, 15 Forester's Terns, and 10 Ring-billed Gulls. I
thought we would turn up more warblers, but was glad to find a FOTS male
redstart. A handful of Blue-wings flushed as we approached a cove on the GA
side of the lake, and as we were leaving the area found a lone male
Ring-neck motoring around. Good Birding!
Jason Giovannone
Columbia, SC
Full List
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Mallard
Blue-winged Teal - GA only
Ring-necked Duck - GA only
Northern Bobwhite
Common Loon
Pied-billed Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Osprey - GA only
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
American Coot
Killdeer
Bonaparte's Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Caspian Tern
Forster's Tern
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Chuck-will's-widow
Whip-poor-will
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Eastern Phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
White-eyed Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow
Purple Martin
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Barn Swallow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Eastern Bluebird
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Northern Mockingbird
Brown Thrasher
Cedar Waxwing
Northern Parula
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Pine Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
American Redstart
Summer Tanager - GA only
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
House Finch
American Goldfinch
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Subject: Friday at Mason Farm Biological Reserve
From: R Haven Wiley <rhwiley(AT)email.unc.edu>
Date: 15 Apr 2006 10:31pm
Some of my Avian Biology class and I had a grand time on an optional trip
to Mason Farm on Friday morning. It was cool and windless, and a high
thin overcast produced a bright diffuse light, just right for seeing birds
in the trees.
In a few hours, with only a modest amount of mud on our clothes, we
managed to get some fine looks at singing Louisiana Waterthrush,
Prothonotary Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Prairie Warbler, and Blue-headed
Vireo, not to mention the enthusiastic Common Yellowthroats and White-eyed
Vireos everywhere. We heard but did not get a chance to see singing
Northern Parula and Northern Waterthrush deep in the swamps. On the other
hand, several Palm Warblers (including one very Yellow Palm Warbler) let
us see but not hear.
To top things off an Orange-crowned Warbler obliged us for several minutes
while it foraged in plain view in a small tree in a bush-hogged field.
No tail-wagging and not much color but a trim-looking bird, with plain
wings and tail, grayish crown, pale eye-line, faint streaks on the breast,
and just a tinge of yellow on the abdomen and under the tail.
The Northern Waterthrush was probably the earliest I had ever heard one at
Mason Farm (they are surprisingly common in the swamps for several weeks
in May), and the Orange-crowned Warbler was an outright first at Mason
Farm for me.
Another big treat were the male bluebirds. One especially looked
intensely, startlingly blue. I think the light must have been just right,
but also he was perhaps a male of exceptional merit! We also spotted a
single Chimney Swift and a single Barn Swallow. The latter was a male of
elegant tail, and both swift and swallow were of notable prowess, among
the first to return across the Caribbean from Amazonia.
I hope others had a chance to get out yesterday morning too. It was not a
morning to miss!
Haven Wiley
Carrboro
UNC-CH
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Another bird surprise
From: Clyde Sorenson <clyde_sorenson(AT)ncsu.edu>
Date: 15 Apr 2006 11:48pm
All,
I spent yesterday in northern Granville County (about 10 miles N. of
Oxford) in pursuit of Ben Franklin's choice for the national bird. (As
is almost always the case when I go turkey hunting, no turkeys were
harmed in the making of this tale...). I spent about an hour crawling on
my hands and knees, and later on my belly, trying to close the last,
necessary 25 yards or so between me and a flock of the birds foraging
industriously under a copse of ancient oaks that marked an old
farmstead immersed in a 20 year old pine plantation. Of course, I
eventually raised up once too often, the sharp-eyed birds saw my
camouflaged form, and spent little time departing from my presence. I
hopped up and slipped over to where they were to examine the effects of
their hours of industry, and then sat down to wait and and contemplate.
Directly, it began to rain, and I took refuge in an old horse stable in
the farmyard. It was quite dry and comfortable under the tin lean-to
roof, and I stood with my arms resting on the top rail of the stall
fence, watching the rain and hoping against futile hope that the king of
all wild turkeys would walk by the barn in a driving rain storm.
Suddenly, a huge, flapping black form dropped over the edge of the roof,
wing-tips hitting me in the face! I screamed like a little girl and
jumped back, and my "assailant" squawked and fluttered up into the
branches of one of the oaks in the yard- a black vulture as surprised (I
hope) by my presence as I was by it. Peering around the interior of the
dark barn, I noticed abundant whitewash near a hole in the wall of the
feed and tack room, so I hopped up on the feed box and looked in. Sure
enough, there was an egg in a scrape in the debris on the floor of the
tack room. Looking back out at the vulture, I noticed another sitting in
a tree 30 or 40 yards back. They found an excellent "fake cave;" I'll
check on them later in the season and try to get some pictures.
Perhaps as interesting, I heard and then saw a raven over the pine
plantation yesterday morning, too. Also, two different veerys (singing!)
in the same woods on Wednesday.
Take care,
Clyde Sorenson
Clayton and Raleigh, NC
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