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CarolinaBirds for Wednesday, April 19, 2006
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Subject: RE: Bird magnet (cough)
From: "Frederick Houk Jr" <woodthrush2263(AT)hotmail.com>
Date: 19 Apr 2006 5:53am
I think that using water appropriately during droughts goes without
saying...and it should also be noted that since birds particularly need the
water, the drought makes the mist even more appealing to the birds of all
varieties...hence the amazing number of birds that are drawn to it, quickly.
Fred Houk
Chatham County
>From: "Diana Davis" <deqdavis(AT)hotmail.com>
>To: woodthrush2263(AT)hotmail.com, lizbirder(AT)cconnect.net,
>carolinabirds(AT)duke.edu
>Subject: RE: Bird magnet (cough)
>Date: Tue, 18 Apr 2006 05:13:19 -0700
>
> While I do appreciate the ability of a mist to draw birds (and
>butterflies to the damp earth below) birders need to remember that some
>areas of the Carolinas are in a pretty severe drought already this year. I
>have been getting some surprising birds coming to my still water bird baths
>this spring - including some warblers that I have only seen in the treetops
>before. If you want to use a mister system the water wise way to do so
>would be to only turn it on when you are watching the birds.
>
>Birder and Conservationist
>Diana Davis
>Durham, NC
>
>_________________________________________________________________
>Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today - it's FREE!
>http://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/
>
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Subject: Middle Island, birds eating lizards....Painted Buntings....
From: Shelley Theye <veery(AT)bellsouth.net>
Date: 19 Apr 2006 9:14am
Tammy and all,
I just returned from a short stay on Middle Island (Bald Head Island).
On Tuesday AM, I watched a Yellow-billed Cuckoo, who I think had just
arrived after a strong front which passed through the night before.
I could see it from a treetop window, though partly obscured by leaves.
It had an Anole in its bill and was working on trying to kill it/swallow
it....
I watched for what seemed like a few minutes, while the bird really wasn't
able to do much with it, then the Cuckoo moved a bit and when I could see
it again it didn't have the anole anymore.
I really don't think that it was able to
swallow it in the short time the view was obscured, I think it must have
dropped it or had given up, or both.....I went outside to look on the
ground,
didn't see anything but there were lots of branches it (anole) could have
been on above me. It doesn't seem like a Cuckoo would even be able
to swallow an adult Anole. Maybe it was just really hungry and grabbed
the first thing it saw!
Reading of the very recent arrival of Painted Buntings in SC
made me feel less depressed about not being able to see any
on Bald Head Is. Maybe it was a bit too early. Although I
think lots of new birds may have arrived after the front and we
were leaving so didn't get a chance to look.
There were too many Yellow-rumped Warblers to count though!
The fox that we saw occassionally all seemed somewhat tame.
Saw a nice group of White Ibis flying towards Battery Island on
the ferry on the way home.
Shelley Theye
veery(AT)bellsouth.net
Sfantony20(AT)aol.com wrote:
>I was watching a male cardinal out the window this morning, he was standing
>on top of my fence eating something that I thought must be a BIG dragonfly.
>I grabbed my binocs for a closer look and the "dragonfly" turned out to have
>LEGS! I watched him give it to his ladyfriend, who seemed perplexed about
>the offering. Of course they took off before I could get the camera. Has
>anyone ever hear of such a thing?? Do Cardinals eat lizards???
>
>Tammy Lester
>Atlantic Beach, NC
>
>
>
>
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Subject: Scarlet Tanager
From: Shelley Theye <veery(AT)bellsouth.net>
Date: 19 Apr 2006 9:31am
Forgot to mention that as I was unpacking the car late
yesterday afternoon, I turned around and saw a male
Scarlet Tanager perched on top of the raccoon baffle that's
on a feeder pole.
He was eating the orange suet cake that hangs from a wire
suet cage at just the right level for him. Must have
arrived in the last few days.
Maybe one of the same birds from previous years that likes
to dine on this suet.
Shelley Theye
veery(AT)bellsouth.net
northern Chatham County
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Subject: Birders Needed for ACE Basin Bird Quest
From: "Phil Dickinson" <pdickins(AT)triad.rr.com>
Date: 19 Apr 2006 9:51am
Jeff, this is a wonderful idea. I hope you get some great participation,
especially from younger generations. Perhaps groups will pick up on it in
other areas. Let us know how it goes.
Phil Dickinson
Winston-Salem
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Subject: Hilton Pond 04/08/06 (Eastern Pondhawk)
From: BILL HILTON JR The Piedmont Naturalist <hilton(AT)hiltonpond.org>
Date: 19 Apr 2006 12:16pm
We've been super-busy getting ready for the upcoming John Bachman
Symposium at Newberry College (see http://www.johnbachman.org), but
we managed two squeeze in an hour this week to watch some Eastern
Pondhawks at Hilton Pond.
These common dragonflies are a delight to watch, although they're not
always easy to photograph--especially in late afternoon. To view our
"This Week at Hilton Pond" photo essay for 8-14 April 2006, please
visit http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek060408.html
As always, there's a tally of birds banded and recaptured, plus
miscellaneous nature notes.
Happy Nature Watching!
BILL
--
BILL HILTON JR., Executive Director
Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History
1432 DeVinney Road, York, South Carolina 29745 USA
hilton(AT)hiltonpond.org, (803) 684-5852, eFax: (503) 218-0845
The mission of Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History is "to
conserve plants, animals, habitats, and other natural components of
the Piedmont Region of the eastern United States through observation,
scientific study, and education for students of all ages." Please
visit our web sites (courtesy of Comporium.net) at
http://www.hiltonpond.org and http://www.rubythroat.org ("Operation
RubyThroat: The Hummingbird Project").
"Never trust a person too lazy to get up for sunrise or too busy to
watch the sunset." BHjr.
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Subject: western NC birds
From: "George & Judy Halleron" <geojudyh(AT)hotmail.com>
Date: 19 Apr 2006 1:23pm
Hi, Have been lurking on the site for some time with nothing
interesting to report. But, purple martins arrived this
week to a neighbors martin house and I have enjoyed watching
them (the martins) taking straw for new nests. And a flock
of cedar waxwings have been hanging around for a couple of
days. Also saw our first hummingbird this morning before
the storm. So we found the box of hummingbird feeders and
got those unpacked and washed. We must get those filled and
hung before the hummers go elsewhere.
All winter (since we moved in January) we watched chipping
sparrows, goldfinch and pine siskins at our feeders. The
siskins left more than a month ago, but today after the
storm passed a lone pine siskin, with dozens of goldfinch,
showed up at the feeders.
While walking early this morning, I saw a white-throated
sparrow in the woods. Our house is at about 1600 ft
elevation, and we walk up a hill with a good view into the
woods.
No Indigo Buntings, tanagers or orioles. Because this will
be our first year here, don't know what to expect or when.
But that's the fun of birding!
George & Judy Halleron
Cherokee County
Marble, NC
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Subject: Eastern Towhee
From: "Randy Dunson" <trdunson(AT)nc.rr.com>
Date: 19 Apr 2006 1:41pm
I've had a male Eastern Towhee hanging around out back the last few days.
I've seen the male but not his partner. The song & call are undeniable.
Regards,
Randy Dunson
Hillsborough, NC
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Subject: Upland Sandpiper at Hooper Lane
From: Jon Smith <jon49(AT)bellsouth.net>
Date: 19 Apr 2006 1:51pm
There was 1 Upland Sandpiper at Hooper Lane this morning. It was in the plowed
section of the 2nd field on the right if coming from Jeffries Rd. Other birds
of interest were Peregrine Falcon and singing Bobwhite.
Good Birding,
Jon Smith
Fletcher, N.C.
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Subject: Mason Inlet Quickie
From: "John Ennis" <swampwolf(AT)thebusinessbirder.com>
Date: 19 Apr 2006 2:53pm
I was running errands near Wrightsville Beach an hour ago and made a quick
stop at the Mason Inlet Shorebird Sanctuary...10 minutes stop...the tide was
high so I did not walk to the point nor even unpack the camera...
It was, however, and interesting 10 minutes...peeps everywhere, Wilson's
Plover, Wimbrel, and a Black-bellied Plover and an American Golden Plover in
close proximity. The two plovers, just yards apart, made a great study of
these birds in non-breeding plumage for close comparison.
John Ennis
Leland, NC
910-371-9729
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Subject: Lake Julian/Buncombe County
From: "Wayne K. Forsythe" <wforsythe(AT)mchsi.com>
Date: 19 Apr 2006 3:24pm
Folks,
About noontime this date I was checking Lake Julian for errant
migrants as heavy t'storms were passing through the area. My purpose for
going to Lake Julian was to hope for Forster's & Caspian Terns. My
experience is that bad weather at this time of year, can often produce both
birds at Lake Julian. Upon my arrival, I immediately saw 5 Forster's and 4
Caspian Terns, all in very nice plumage. Also present were 2 Ring-billed
Gulls and 6 Common Loons. The Caspians and Ring-billed Gulls were both
sitting on the grass at lakes edge directly opposite the picnic pavilion in
Lake Julian Park and 1 Forster's was sitting on the buoy marker and the
others were flying around. As I put the scope on the Caspians, I noticed
10, good sized, gray/brown birds with very long bills that appeared just a
little bit smaller then the Caspian Terns. My first thought was possibly
Willets. I studied them but 800-1000 years in overcast skies and the heat
haze did not allow the best viewing conditions. A few of the birds were
preening and when they stretched their wings, there was NO white anywhere on
the bird and the bills appear to be much too long for Willets. I did notice
that the top of the wing when extended was reddish brown or cinnamon, and
the primaries appeared to be black. On one occasion I thought I could
detect a two-tone bill and did see some rufous or cinnamon in the side of
one bird. My next thought was Dowitcher, but the birds were too large as I
stated, a little smaller then the Caspian Terns they were resting with,
Caspian is about 21" and SB Dowitcher is about 11" according to National
Geographic. The word Godwit entered my mind based on the color, size and
possible 2 toned bill, but I have only seen them in the mountains once,
during the hurricane of 2 years ago and of course know how rare that would
be and wouldn't want you folks to think I lost my mind! Bob & Marilyn
arrived and studied the birds as well. I had to leave for a 1:00 PM doctors
appointment.
At about 1:45 PM, Marilyn called to say her and Bob both feel that the
birds in question were indeed Marbled Godwits. She also observed the
cinnamon wings with black primaries and saw a two-tone bill as well. She
re-emphasized the size of the birds as well when compared to the Caspian
Terns that were present. So-------99%, I (we) say Marbled Godwit as well.
I took several digiscoped pictures as well, but they are usefull for size
comparison with the Caspian's only!
Good birding!
Wayne
Wayne K. Forsythe
Hendersonville, N. C.
828-697-6628
wforsythe AT mchsi dot com
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Subject: Forster's Terns
From: tominbrevard(AT)webtv.net (Tom Joyce)
Date: 19 Apr 2006 6:30pm
Apparently driven down by the intense thunderstorms of this morning, a
dozen Forster's, accompanied by a single Ring-billed Gull, appeared at
a private pond just outside the city limits.
Tom Joyce
Brevard, NC (mtns.)
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Subject: Lake Julian/Buncombe Cty -MARBLED GODWIT UPDATE
From: "Wayne K. Forsythe" <wforsythe(AT)mchsi.com>
Date: 19 Apr 2006 7:05pm
Folks,
I went back up to Lake Julian at about 4:30 PM after speaking to
John Lindfors who called and told me that he was looking at several, Marbled
Godwits. In my zeal for documentation, I went back up to the lake to see if
I could get some good photos. Upon my arrival, there were actually 11
MARBLED GODWITS (100% SURE NOW) that you could see pretty well now in good
light with the scope. Unfortunately, they were too far away to get any
good photos. So, I asked Marilyn if she want to go on a Godwit Cruise. I
rented a pedal boat for $5.00 from the park and we set off in an attempt to
get some good photos. Fifteen minutes later, we were having incredible
views of all 11 birds. I was unable to digiscope due to the lack of a
stable platform, but I did shoot video as well as take several digital
photos without the scope. There is no doubt, they are Marbled Godwits. One
bird had 4 leg bands of which Marilyn recorded the color codes! We returned
back to Lake Julian Park dock by 6:00 PM and the birds were still sitting on
the far side of the lake. No time during the photo session did we disturb
the birds.
If the birds hang around, which is doubtful, they can be viewed from
the picnic shelter in Lake Julian Park. Just look straight out from the
center post and look at the grass along the lakes edge in front of the new,
very thick smoke stack with the double top. They were lined up like ducks
in a row.
This was truly a memorable experience. I hope to have some photos to CBC by
this evening or tomorrow by the latest!
Good birding,
Wayne
Wayne K. Forsythe
Hendersonville, N. C.
828-697-6628
wforsythe AT mchsi dot com
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Subject: TV nests in Alleghany County
From: Patsy Bailey <pbailey_489(AT)yahoo.com>
Date: 19 Apr 2006 10:20pm
Two years ago in late June I came upon the nest of
Turkey Vulture at about 2,800' elevation in Alleghany
County. The nest was located on the top of an outcrop
hidden by rhododendron. The scruffy looking juvenile
and adult were appropriately disturbed and the smell
of rotten meat was strong.
Last weekend I walked over the same rocks and as I
wound down from the highest point I passed a small
cave and two feet deep into the cave were two larger
than hen eggs, and in the poor lighting they looked
pale grey. There seemed to be no nest, just the two
eggs side by side. I'm assuming that I found this
year's nest as a number of black feathers were in the
immediate vicinity. An adult TV had been circling high
above but I hadn't given it much thought.
Other nice sightings included a male Black-throated
Green Warbler, a Blue-Headed Vireo, and a third
Kingfisher nesthole in the bank. The section of the
Little River near the house has 3 pairs of Canada
Geese.
Patsy Bailey
No. Chatham Co.
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