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CarolinaBirds for Sunday, May 14, 2006
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Subject: Lee County, SC on 13 May 2006
From: "Robin Carter" <rcarter(AT)sc.rr.com>
Date: 14 May 2006 8:54am
Hi C-Birders,
Yesterday I birded Lee County for the North American Migration Count. I had
a good day in the field. The most unual species was a Least Tern, which was
at a borrow pit just south of the Lee County Landfill (Take Rembert Lane,
which is east off of US 15 between I-20 and the Bishopville County Club. The
borrow pit is visible from the public road.)
I birded Lynchburg Savanna Heritage Preserve, Longleaf Pine Heritage
Preserve, Lake Ashwood nature trail, and Lee State Natural Area, as well as
roadsides throughout the county. The best place for migrant warblers was the
nature trail at Lake Ashwood (on US 15 about five miles south of I-20).
Longleaf Pine Heritage Preserve had the pinewood species, including all of
the woodpeckers except Pileated.
WIth a wide variety of habitats on public land and wonderful roadside
birding in agricultural land Lee County had some of the best birding in
central South Carolina. Get off of I-20 or I-95 and see for yourself.
Here is my day list. (Bob Ellis -- I will submit a proper report for this
count soon).
Wood Duck
Mallard
Wild Turkey
Northern Bobwhite
Double-crested Cormorant
Anhinga
Great Blue Heron
Cattle Egret
Green Heron
Turkey Vulture
Mississippi Kite
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Killdeer
Solitary Sandpiper
Spotted Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Least Tern
Ring-billed Gull
Rock Pigeon
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Mourning Dove
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Eastern Screech-Owl
Great Horned Owl
Barred Owl
Chuck-will's-widow
Whip-poor-will
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Red-headed Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Red-cockaded Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Acadian Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Loggerhead Shrike
White-eyed Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow
Horned Lark
Purple Martin
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Barn Swallow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Eastern Bluebird
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Brown Thrasher
European Starling
Northern Parula
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-throated Warbler
Pine Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
American Redstart
Prothonotary Warbler
Swainson's Warbler
Ovenbird
Northern Waterthrush
Kentucky Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Hooded Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
Summer Tanager
Eastern Towhee
Bachman's Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Blue Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Painted Bunting
Bobolink
Red-winged Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Orchard Oriole
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow
100 species!
Robin Carter
Columbia, SC USA
mailto:rcarter(AT)sc.rr.com
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: Marion Co migration day 5/13/06
From: "Dennis Forsythe" <dennis.forsythe(AT)citadel.edu>
Date: 14 May 2006 9:25am
Bob,
Here are the results on my Marion Co, SC migration day count 13 May2006.
Observer: Dennis Forsythe
Time: 0700-1430 hrs. DST
133 mi by car, 1/2 mi on foot; 8hr by car, 1/2 hr on foot,
Areas covered: Britton's Neck-roads to Mullins and Marion and towns.
Species:
Canada Goose 25
Wood Duck-1
Mallard-2
Wild Turkey-3
Great Blue Heron-7
Swallow-tailed Kite-4
Mississippi Kite-34
Red-shouldered Hawk-4
Red-tailed Hwark-2
Killdeer-2
Lesser Yellowlegs-1
Solitary Sandpiper
Spotted Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper-8
Mourning Dove-44
Yellow-billed Cuckoo-27
Barred Owl-2
Chimney Swift-19
Red-headed Woodpecker-3
Red-bellied Woodpecker-
Downy Woodpecker-5
Pileated Woodpecker-5
Eastern Wood-Pewee-3
Acadian Flycatcher-13
Geat Crested Flycatcher-45
Eastern Kingbird-10
Loggerhead Shrike-10
White-eyed Vireo-34
Yellow-throated Vireo-3
Red-eyed Vireo-40
Purple Martin-22
Barn Swallow-32
Carolina Wren-34
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher-5
Eastern Bluebird-6
Wood Thrush-2
American Robin-15
Northern Mockingbird-35
Brown Thrasher-5
European Starling-20
Northern Parula-10
Black-throated Blue Warbler-3
Pine Warbler-28
Prairie Warbler-15
Prothonotary Warbler-29
Worm-eating Warbler-1
Swainson's warbler-13
Northern Waterthrush-1
Kentucky Warbler-15
Common Yellowthroat-22
Hooded warbler-8
Yellow-breasted Chat-20
Eastern Towhee-20
Northern Cardinal-55
Blue Grosbeak-35
Indigo Bunting-35
Re-wined Blackbird-12
EAstern Meadowlark-9
Common Grackle-65
Brown-headed Cowbird-10
Orchard Oriole-45
House Sparrow-25
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: 2006 Catawba County, NC IMBD Spring Count
From: Dwayne Martin <redxbill(AT)charter.net>
Date: 14 May 2006 11:06am
Several of us participated in the Catawba County IMBD spring count yesterday.
There is still a report or two to come in, but so far we have 101 species. Best
bird of the day that I know of, is an Anhinga that John Sutton had to fly over
Bakers Mountain Park. Here is the list that I have so far:
Canada Goose - 54
Wood Duck - 2
Mallard - 18
Double-crested Cormorant - 6
Anhinga - 1 Fly over at Bakers Mountain Park Seen by John Sutton New for the
count
Great Blue Heron - 13
Green Heron - 1
Black Vulture - 17
Turkey Vulture - 39
Osprey - 2
Bald Eagle - 1
Broad-winged Hawk - 3
Red-tailed Hawk - 5
American Kestrel - 1
Killdeer - 10
Spotted Sandpiper - 1
Ring-billed Gull - 4
Herring Gull - 2 New for the count
Caspian Tern - 2
Forster's Tern - 2
Rock Pigeon - 2
Eurasian Collared-Dove - 3
Mourning Dove - 86
Yellow-billed Cuckoo - 1
Chuck-will's-widow - 2
Chimney Swift - 37
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 4
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 13
Downy Woodpecker - 5
Hairy Woodpecker - 4
Northern Flicker - 3
Pileated Woodpecker - 5
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 5
Acadian Flycatcher - 1
Eastern Phoebe - 8
Great Crested Flycatcher - 14
Eastern Kingbird - 15
Loggerhead Shrike - 1
White-eyed Vireo - 2
Blue-headed Vireo - 3
Red-eyed Vireo - 22
Blue Jay - 42
American Crow - 25
Fish Crow - 4
Purple Martin - 10
Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 23
Cliff Swallow - 40
Barn Swallow - 59
Carolina Chickadee - 24
Tufted Titmouse - 21
White-breasted Nuthatch - 10
Brown-headed Nuthatch - 2
Carolina Wren - 35
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 14
Eastern Bluebird - 60
Swainson's Thrush - 2
Wood Thrush - 5
American Robin - 69
Gray Catbird - 8
Northern Mockingbird - 73
Brown Thrasher - 21
European Starling - 91
Cedar Waxwing - 81
Northern Parula - 8
Yellow Warbler - 4
Cape May Warbler - 3
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 7
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 3
Black-throated Green Warbler - 8
Yellow-throated Warbler - 2
Pine Warbler - 1
Prairie Warbler - 3
Blackpoll Warbler - 7
Black-and-white Warbler - 2
Prothonotary Warbler - 1
Worm-eating Warbler - 3
Ovenbird - 2
Common Yellowthroat - 10
Hooded Warbler - 3
Yellow-breasted Chat - 5
Summer Tanager - 4
Scarlet Tanager - 8
Eastern Towhee - 18
Chipping Sparrow - 4
Field Sparrow - 14
Grasshopper Sparrow - 5
Song Sparrow - 2
Northern Cardinal - 72
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 2
Blue Grosbeak - 4
Indigo Bunting - 28
Bobolink - 295
Red-winged Blackbird - 2
Eastern Meadowlark - 27
Common Grackle - 81
Brown-headed Cowbird - 31
Orchard Oriole - 5
Baltimore Oriole - 3
House Finch - 15
American Goldfinch - 25
House Sparrow - 7
Number of Species: 101
Dwayne
*************
Dwayne Martin
Hickory, NC
redxbill(AT)charter.net
Catwaba County Park Ranger
Riverbend Park - Conover, NC
jdmartin(AT)catawbacountync.gov
http://www.catawbacountync.gov/depts/parks/
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Hilton Pond 05/01/06 (Ragwort)
From: BILL HILTON JR The Piedmont Naturalist <hilton(AT)hiltonpond.org>
Date: 14 May 2006 12:51pm
Small's Ragwort is one of those composite wildflowers that can
actually be identified with some confidence--mostly because it's one
of the few DYCs blooming in spring at Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont
Natural History.
For a photo essay about this eye-pleasing yellow blossom--and its
surprising pollinator--please visit the 1-7 May 2006 installment of
"This Week at Hilton Pond" at
http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek060501.html
As always we include a list of birds banded and recaptured, along
with some general phenology 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.
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Duke forest birds
From: "Jacob Socolar" <jsocolar(AT)mail.com>
Date: 14 May 2006 12:57pm
Hi carolinabirders,
Among the highlights of a mid-morning walk in Duke Forest's Korstian Division
today (Orange County, NC) were Canada, Chestnut-sided, Kentucky, Black-throated
Blue, and Black-and-white Warblers and a point-blank Scarlet Tanager. Also seen
was a Yellow-rumped Warbler, which seems a little late perhaps.
Good Birding
Jacob Socolar
--
___________________________________________________
Play 100s of games for FREE! http://games.mail.com/
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Mississippi Kite New Bern NC
From: Alan Gamache <al(AT)iensemble.com>
Date: 14 May 2006 1:39pm
Leaving Books-a-Million with two Mother's Day cards in my lap, and
heading over to Two River's Healthcare Nursing Home (next to Craven
Regional Medical Center) to pick up my mom for a Mother's Day
luncheon, I saw a MISSISSIPPI KITE flying along HWY 17, right by
Grover Fields' Middle School. Hmm, this might even suggest the
possibility of nosing around for a local nest
site.
Al Gamache
New Bern, NC
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Banded Snow Goose from CBC Virginia Beach meeting
From: "Steven Shultz" <SSHULTZ(AT)nc.rr.com>
Date: 14 May 2006 1:45pm
Participants in the Mackay Island NWR field trip during the recent winter
CBC meeting in Virginia Beach spotted a Snow Goose with a yellow neck
collar. I mentioned to the group that when I received the information card
on the bird from the bird banding lab, I would share the information.
Here it is...
The Greater Snow Goose band number 1707-30997 was banded 8/14/05 near Mount
Thule, Nunavut, Canada. The female was an adult, and hatched in 2004 or
earlier. The bird was banded by a researcher from Quebec.
Best,
Steve Shultz
Apex, NC
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Visiting Birder RFI
From: "Jimmy Woodard" <Jimmy.Woodard(AT)univarusa.com>
Date: 14 May 2006 2:59pm
i am a birder from Oklahoma who will be visiting North Carolina the week of
Memorial Day. i will be arriving at Hatteras
on Sunday the 28th to take a Brian Patteson pelagic on Monday the 29th. i will
be spending Sunday and Monday night in Hatteras.
i will then have the rest of the week to bird. i need to be back in Elon, NC on
Friday, June 2nd to pick up my mother and return to
Oklahoma.
i have the book on Birds of NC. is it worth taking the two ferries off the
south end of Hatteras and checking the southern coast
near SC? i don't have any spots chosen to bird yet, although i was thinking of
spending a day or so in the Appalachians
along the Blue Ridge Parkway for breeding birds, especially warblers.
i would welcome any suggestions or if anyone may be interested in showing an
out of state birder around their area. i have
been in contact with Pat Moore out of Buxton but she will be unavailable during
the time i'm there. i actually met her at the Arkansas
OS meeting last fall at Brinkley. no luck on Ivory-bills but it is a nice place
to visit and bird.
any help would be greatly appreciated. i am willing to share info about birds
in Oklahoma or surrounding states and would
be able to take people out if you should visit my area. i am listed in the ABA
Directory. we have lots of good stuff like both prairie
chickens, all four longspurs, all the loons(except Arctic), Yellow Rail,
Swainson's Warbler, Black-capped Vireo, Scissortail, and much
more. we sit on the central flyway and also are the divider between eastern
and western birds. we get lots of migrants of most every
variety. we have western birds like Steller's, Scrub and Pinyon Jay, Bushtit,
Juniper Titmouse, Vermilion Flycatcher, Poorwill, both
Ravens, Say's Phoebe, Sage and Curve-billed Thrasher, Black-billed Magpie and a
lot more at the west end of the panhandle.
thanks in advance for your help.
jimmy woodard
yukon, ok
405-324-1462(H)...after 5pm CST.
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Horry County kite fest, 05-13-2006
From: Gary Phillips <carolinensis(AT)yahoo.com>
Date: 14 May 2006 3:13pm
hi y'all,
yesterday afternoon around 1 p.m., i was privileged
once again to observe a spring aggregation of kites in
SW Horry County where approx. 24 kites were foraging
over a small field alongside Hwy 701 just north of
Bucksport. there were at least 6 of the Swallow-tailed
variety, the remainder being of the Mississippi
persuasion. pretty cool, with it being International
Migratory Bird Day...
hummingbirds are truly the masters of flight, but
kites are the masters of the wind.
it was especially moving to observe these creatures in
light of the fact that SCDOT et al, has renewed their
push to build a bridge and highway across the Waccamaw
floodplain from the eco-hell referred to as the Grand
Strand, along a route that may ultimately cross US
701, US 378 and terminate at US 501 (probably close to
the terminus of the proposed I-73.) economic growth
and all that, you know...after all, SC is the new
Florida.
the windmasters might be allowed to retain rights to
airspace above the carnage, though...
cheers,
Gary Phillips
Conway, SC
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Mate feeding?
From: Andi Stephens <Andi.Stephens(AT)noaa.gov>
Date: 14 May 2006 4:23pm
Royal terns were mate-feeding, the (presumed) male
calling and flying to the (presumed) female with a
gift of still-wriggling fish. Anthropomorphising, this
seems very romantic and explains why I especially like
to be treated to sushi.
But it led me to wonder:
Given the variety of mating and rearing strategies birds
exhibit, there must be a lot of variety in mate-feeding
as well.
If your species is monogamous (at least for the season),
and the female is the primary caregiver for the young,
then if you are a male it makes lots of sense to fatten
up the mama, so she can have more/healthier eggs, and be
in better shape to care for your offspring.
But if your species is polyamorous, or if care is evenly
shared by parents, or is shared with sisters or the colony
or is non-existent as with brood-parasitism, then
mate-feeding is a waste of the male's resources.
And in some species, it is the male that cares for the eggs
and young. Does the female bring gifts of food to her mate
in these species?
Cheers,
--Andi
-------------
Andi Stephens
Beaufort, NC
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Mississippi Kites--Goldsboro
From: MaryHuOT(AT)aol.com
Date: 14 May 2006 4:39pm
Just saw a pair of Mississippi Kites soaring over my house here in Goldsboro.
First I have seen this season.
Mary Bridges
902 E. Mulberry St.
Goldsboro, NC
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: New Yard Bird
From: "Richard Carter" <rico(AT)nc.rr.com>
Date: 14 May 2006 5:48pm
Hello,
Having moved into a new house in March I have been working on another yard
list. Since we live in a much more wooded area there is a greater variety of
birds here. Today there has been a VEERY hanging out in our yard all day.
Nice FOTY bird and new yard bird.
Richard Carter
Cary, NC
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: American Anhingas in Chatham County
From: "J. M. Lynch" <jmlynch(AT)earthlink.net>
Date: 14 May 2006 7:12pm
Carolinabirders:
This morning while birding off NC 751 at White Oak Creek in eastern Chatham
County, I saw a pair of AMERICAN ANHINGAS perched in dead trees in the more open
portion of a large beaverpond. I believe these birds can be seen from the edge
of NC 751 with the aid of a spotting scope (look east from the south end of the
bridge). This is probably the same male that I have been seeing on and off
since April 15.
I'm hoping that perhaps they may hang around to nest.
J. M. Lynch
Chatham County
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Outer Banks Birds & Photos 5/7-11/06, Springer's Point
From: "Dorothy Pugh" <DorothyPugh(AT)aol.com>
Date: 14 May 2006 7:08pm
Karl Gottschalk and I visited several places on the Outer Banks, mainly
Ocracoke, this past week and saw a variety of birds. I got photos of a
Dunlin, a White Ibis, several Royal Terns, a Tricolored Heron, a Willet,
a Cattle Egret, an American Oystercatcher, and a Spotted Sandpiper,
among others.
There's a great new birding and butterflying spot in the town of
Ocracoke: Springer's Point Nature Preserve. It has American
Oystercatchers and Spotted Sandpipers and lively Ghost Crabs. Most of
the butterflies are Little Wood Satyrs and Pearl Crescents.
To see these photos, go to www.dpughphoto.com/may_2006.htm. To see
photos of other animals, go to www.dpughphoto.com/latest_photos.htm.
Dorothy Pugh
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: More Odd Birding Moments
From: mjwestphal <mjwestphal(AT)unca.edu>
Date: 14 May 2006 9:49pm
While Andrew Laughlin, Doug Johnston and I were doing our section of the
Buncombe County migration count today (more on the count results later when I
get it compiled) we met Tom Driscoll, who was visiting the mountains for the
weekend from Chapel Hill, driving down the road that goes to the Craggy
Gardens picnic area from the Blue Ridge Parkway (elevation about 5000 feet).
Tom stopped me to announce that he and his wife Barbara had found a rail
perched in a rhododendron near the little roundabout before you turn off to
the picnic area. I had always considered Tom a relatively sane individual and
it wasn't April Fools Day, so I took him for his word and we followed him down
to take a look. Sure enough, there was a Virginia Rail sitting about four
feet off the ground in a rhododendron thicket near the road. It must have
been very tired from its travels because it just gave us a few glances and
went back to sleep. That certainly is the strangest place that I have ever
seen a rail.
But that's not the end of the story. While we were looking at the rail Tom
went off walking down Stony Fork Rd to take a leak and came back a few minutes
later to announce that he had heard a Black-billed Cuckoo calling down the
hill.
So we all took off down the road, and sure enough a few minutes later a
Black-billed Cuckoo called again. Our Chapel Hill visitors left and Andrew,
Doug, and I went up on the rocks to eat our lunches, and the cuckoo called a
few more times, but never long enough for us to find it.
So our best birds of the day were found by someone who wasn't even doing the
count! Many thanks to the sharp eyes and ears of our Chapel Hill visitors.
Marilyn
Marilyn Westphal
Environmental Quality Institute
University of North Carolina-Asheville
One University Heights
Asheville, NC 28804
828/251-6823
mjwestphal(AT)unca.edu
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: learning bird songs
From: "George & Judy Halleron" <geojudyh(AT)hotmail.com>
Date: 14 May 2006 10:07pm
Hi, We are enjoying the change of birds from where we lived
for 12 years on the SC coast to where we now live in the NC
mountains. However, it is a challenge to learn the
different bird songs. For several weeks I have heard a new
song in the high trees but could never find the bird. I
would try to remember the song and try to match it with my
Thayers software. I narrowed the song to either a Yellow
Warbler or Yellow-throated Warbler, but was frustrated that
I did not know for sure. Yesterday, I took an old laptop
with an old Thayers CD on the back porch and was trying to
match the elusive song. When I heard the bird singing, I
tried the Yellow Warbler but it wasn't quite right. Then I
tried the Yellow-throated Warbler and thought the bird
answered. As I was playing the song the second time, a rush
of wings went by my face and the little Yellow-throated
Warbler landed on the roof eaves and looked at me as if to
say "Whatever is going on?" Needless to say I didn't play
the song again and now I know for sure what I have been
hearing. Now if I could identify all those other songs...
Happy birding,
Judy
George & Judy Halleron
Marble, NC
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: RE: ultra-tame Sandhill Crane nabbed in New Bern, NC
From: Jim Seaman <cb(AT)jbs-blog.com>
Date: 14 May 2006 10:30pm
> Because of its obvious non-wild nature, a wildlife rehabber, with the
> assistance of some very reluctant sheriff's deputies, captured it.
> The wildlife rehabber has the bird now, and is wondering what to do
> about it. She assumes the bird came from some sort of captive
> situation.
I've only seen about a dozen Sandhills - one here in NC and the rest in
Florida. I only approached 2 in Florida and the one here in NC. None of
them were concerned about my presence or the presence of others. The 2 in
Florida did their little dance for a large crowd of people in front of the
community center in a trailer park. Many on this list will recall the
Sandhill crane that entertained lots of birders as well as locals at the NC
Guiliford-Alamance county line back in 2004-2005. The lack of the fear of
humans is no reason to assume a bird is an escapee. I would think that
unless banded it is almost certainly not an escapee.
Jim Seaman - Raleigh, NC
http://www.jbs-blog.com/
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Scissor tail Flycatcher
From: Scott Hartley <picoides(AT)alltel.net>
Date: 14 May 2006 10:34pm
Hi - A scissor tail flycatcher found by Wayne Irvin last Sunday May 7 on
the Southern Pines spring count is still in the same location as of
today at 7pm. Contact me for directions if your interested in coming to
look for it.
Scott Hartley
Weymouth Woods - SNP
Southern Pines, NC
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: More (probably boring) observations
From: Alex Netherton <danetherton(AT)charter.net>
Date: 14 May 2006 11:23pm
Hi folks;
I have been unable to get much field time due to family illness, so have
been constrained to birding from the environs of my house.
I hear a Great Crested Flycatcher in the big Spanish Oak across from my
house every day. While visiting my mom on Mother's day today, we were
chatting on mom and dad's deck, and I noticed some Flycatchers hawking
bugs in the Walnut tree. Thinking they were Great Cresteds, I put the
binos on them to discover a white breast (no yellow wash) and caught a
hint of a white tail band. Looked like Kingbirds to me. Larger than
Phoebe or Peewee. Guess it had to be, but in the suburbs of Asheville?
Have been hearing a Swainson's Thrush in the Hemlocks on the edge of
their yard every morning when Piglet and I go for our morning visits.
Today I heard it get closer, all the way over in the Box Elder tree. It
sang there for a few minutes and hopped out into a little Buckeye I
planted years ago. Mom was falling over herself to get her binos on it,
and it popped down to the yard to get a bug, and then into her Blueberry
bush. Thinking it was gone, I still watched the bush, and sure enough it
popped out into the yard in the same spot as before, where she got the
glasses on it (finally!). When on the ground the first time, I noticed
the definite eye ring. The song is curious, like a Veery song played
backward.
They have been seeing a Rose Breasted Grosbeak almost every day. Doubt
he will stay around long; I don't know of them nesting below 4000 feet.
Warblers in the trees, but I am so grumped off at Warblers, I don't even
look for them. Well, at least most of the time. Well, some of the time
anyway. Dern Warblers...
Enjoy, and good birding
--
Alex Netherton, an Appalachian Naturalist
http://alexnetherton.com
danetherton charter dot net
Asheville, NC
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