FIELD TRIP REPORTS FROM 2002

Atlantic Puffin
August, 2007
Machias Seal Island, NB, Canada
photo © 2007 by Ron Morris

                          The first day of the New Year should begin with an auspicious event. For the last three years Sharon Gallimore and her husband Brant have successfully created this good beginning. They hosted a very gracious and delicious brunch, followed by a bird walk in the country. The prime target of the outing was to find the infrequently seen White-crowned Sparrows, which winter in this area.

The habitat we explored was out in the country, open fields and hedgerows.  We fortunately saw several White-crowned Sparrows, about four adults and a couple of immatures.  At first some of us thought we were hearing White-throated Sparrows being strangled mid-song, but were informed by more experienced birders that this was in fact the song of the White-crowned Sparrow.  If the mnemonic phrase used to describe the White-throat’s song can be applied, “Pure, Sweet, Peabody Peabody Peabody,” the White-crown says “Pure, Sweet, Peabzzzzzzt.”

In the open fields we saw several Meadowlarks, Red-winged Black Birds, Red-tailed Hawk, Bluebirds and Killdeer.  The hedgerows gave shelter to Golden and Ruby-crowned Kinglets.  Some of the latter were quite excited, possibly wrangling over territory, for they were displaying their red topknots, chattering and carrying on.

A few members spotted a Loggerhead Shrike, now only rarely seen in Guilford County.    We were quite satisfied to have seen a total of 29 species, a good number for such a small range, a half-mile stretch of Banning Road.

                Dennis Burnett led us south to the Pee Dee Wildlife Refuge, where we had traveled as a club for the first time last year. 

The refuge is maintained to attract numbers of wintering waterfowl and other wildlife, and is home to a few of the endangered Red-cockaded Woodpeckers. This woodpecker is the only one to nest in cavities made in live trees, the Long-leaf Pine.   As man has intruded on nature, the stands of mature Long-leaf pines have dwindled considerably, severely shrinking the habitat for this particular bird. Trees they have been working on can be spotted by seeing the sap that has dripped from holes. Supposedly this sap deters predators.  Unfortunately, we did not get a good look at any of these creatures, although there were stands of trees where they had obviously been working.  We did glimpse a woodpecker flying into the pines but even after tramping through briers, we were unable to see it again.  “Coulda been…!”

While we were looking for the rare bird, we were treated by the melodious songs of many Pine Warblers, as well as frequent glimpses of their yellow breasts.  There were a number of Brown-headed Nuthatches in the trees as well, adding their delightful “squeaky toy” vocals into the mix.  Yellow-rumped Warblers, Chickadees, Titmice and Kinglets were also active in the branches above.  We saw over 40 species.  Woodpeckers seen were Red-bellied, Downy, Flicker, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers and several Red-headeds, who were chattering and with each other around Gaddy’s Pond. The open fields of the refuge were habitat for a number of Northern Harriers, Kestrels, Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawks.    We did not see as many waterfowl as we had hoped to, but at Gaddy’s Pond there were a number of wood ducks, Green-winged Teal and Mallards. 

Before we got to the refuge, we stopped at a bridge from which we could see a dam on Badin Lake.  From this terrific vantage point, just downstream from the dam, we saw a huge assembly of Great Blue Herons- at least 95!  There were also a number of Ring-billed Gulls, and nearby perched in a tree was a Bald Eagle.  Phil Kellam, who had suggested stopping at the bridge, says he has seen a pair there every time he has stopped.                        -Louise Brown
 

	Wood Duck images of stamps by Louise Brown
Pee Dee NWR Rt. 1, Box 92 Wadesboro, NC  28170  704-694-4424	Susan Hennessy Yadkin-Pee Dee Lakes Project Phone: (704) 422-3215 Fax: (704) 422-5860 E-mail: shennessy@ctc.net	Website: http://www.peedeefriends.org

On February 16^th, a beautiful, crisp morning, we spent a few hours at the Greensboro lakes. Although the waterfowl were not as plentiful as were be expected, we saw 41 species.

Most notable were several male Red-breasted Mergansers in their spectacular breeding plumage. We also saw Gadwall, Buffleheads, Black Ducks, Northern Shovelers, Ruddy Ducks, Ring-necked Ducks and Hooded Mergansers. Land birds included nuthatches, kinglets, finches, a Pine Warbler and four woodpecker species. Raptors included several Red-tailed hawks, a Kestrel and Turkey Vultures.
                      -Emily Tyler

Outer Banks CBC Trip  Report
by Dennis Burnette

Eight Piedmont Bird Club members joined about 155 other birders on the NC Outer Banks for the winter meeting of the two-state Carolina Bird Club over the weekend of January 25-27. All of us got to see great birds that we rarely see in the Piedmont, and several in our group added a new species to their life lists.

It was cloudy, very windy, and cold on Friday, but the weather improved considerably on Saturday and Sunday. Ducks seemed unusually scarce, possibly because the winter has been milder than normal further north and hasn't pushed waterfowl as far south this year. Despite that, there were plenty of birds to see. The preliminary total of all the field trips combined was 172 species by the end of the weekend.

                Various of our members visited Lake Mattamuskeet before, during, and after the weekend event. The lucky ones had good looks at a Little Gull early in the weekend, while others of us missed it later. Otherwise, the lake was uncharacteristically devoid of most waterfowl except Tundra Swans, and even these seemed to be in smaller numbers.

Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge was good, as always, but the rarest birds were all at Alligator River NWR on the Dare Co. mainland. While the reported Ash-throated Flycatcher proved elusive for all of us, several of our group got to see both Western Kingbird and Rough-legged Hawk. Other highlights included several Peregrine Falcons and Merlins, and Emily Tyler reported seeing both at about the same time!

MASON FARM Field trip
4/6/02 

Dennis and Lynn Burnette led a lovely trip to the Mason Farm near Chapel Hill. This is a beautiful piece of land, once a working farm, that has been donated to UNCCH, and is used for research as well as for recreational purposes.  Patches of woods, old fields and swamp make an interesting variety of habitats for birding and nature observation.

We admired some beautiful plants and flowers at the Botanical Gardens, and looked for spring migrants in the Nature Preserve.  We saw only the earliest of the spring migrants.  There were several White-eyed Vireos who called and teased us from the dense shrubbery.  Blue-gray Gnatcatchers wheezed from the trees, and a few Common Yellowthroats peeked from the hedgerows.

We saw or heard 33 species of birds there in all, including several raptors (Red-shouldered, Red-tailed and Sharp-shinned Hawks), Wood Ducks, Bluebirds, a number of Woodpeckers including a Red-headed. One Swamp Sparrow was spotted in the lower swampy area of the preserve.

There were a few species of butterflies enjoying the spring flowers, some of the subtle Skippers that are hard to identify, including a Juvenal’s Dusky Wing (a small, brown butterfly with tiny orange and white spots) and a Pearl Crescent.

Many wildflowers were also admired, including jack-in-the-pulpits.   Fortunately some of our club members know a lot about wildflowers.

After our very pleasant walk through the Nature Preserve, we returned to Greensboro via Gibsonville, where we saw the Broad-tailed Hummingbird, which still frequents a residential backyard since the fall.  This stray visitor from the west coast was a life bird for me.                                          -Louise Brown

A & T Farm  Field Trip 3/10/02 

Emily Tyler led another successful expedition to A & T Farm to look for the Common Snipe.  The weather was overcast and misty but mild and did not deter the group of us who went to see what avian species were gathering there.  This is great habitat for many species of the open fields, and those who revel in the fecund droppings of the cattle herd.  Brown-headed Cowbirds, Red-winged Blackbirds, American Crows, Starlings, Robins and others treat this as one delightful all-you-can-eat buffet.  The Snipe, however, prefer insects they find in boggy ground, habitat offered by the low-lying areas of A & T Farm in the vicinity of an old cattle pond. 

                We saw four or five individuals of our target species, the Common Snipe. This was a fairly cooperative bunch, flushing easily, several times, and flying in a great circle around the farm before they landed again.  The success of this species lies partly in their ability to blend in with their environment.  Although they live in very open land, their coloring, a stripy pattern of browns and cream colors, blends in perfectly with the winter grasses of the fields of the Piedmont. They can stand perfectly still amongst tall grasses and reeds and remain virtuously invisible while in plain sight.

  We also spotted 36 other species of birds that day, including Kestrel, Sharp-shinned Hawk and Meadow Larks.  In the woodsy creek area were Carolina Wrens, several species of Woodpeckers, Finches, Sparrows, Chickadees and Golden-crowned Kinglets.                                          -Louise Brown

     It was a fine day for a trip to the near mountains.  Herb Hendrickson led his annual trip in search of the elusive Empidonax flycatchers, which he can usually locate in the riparian (riverbank) habitat that surrounds the New River.   These little gray birds are very similar in appearance, all with a light eye-ring and two white wing bars, difficult to distinguish even for the experts, except for their distinctive calls, which are only expressed in the spring and early summer.  Willow, Acadian and Least flycatchers are all three frequently found by Herb on this trip.  This year no Acadian (“pit-see!”) or Least (“che-BEK”) flycatchers were seen, but the Willow (“fitz-bew”) made up for them in abundance.  We saw many in the willow trees along the New River and several tributary creeks. 
   We saw or heard other flycatchers, the Eastern Wood Pewee, Phoebe, Great-crested Flycatcher, and Kingbird.  Other birds spotted along the River were Tree and Barn Swallows, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Cedar Waxwings, Yellow Warblers, Red-winged Blackbirds, Orchard and Baltimore Orioles.  Meadowlarks and Field Sparrows were heard in neighboring fields.  One Yellow-billed Cuckoo was heard. 
     After lunch we went to Mount Jefferson State Park, where we were able to check out the denizens of a different habitat at a much higher elevation.  We saw Juncos, including a nest with four eggs right beside the trail, a Blue-headed Vireo, a Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Scarlet Tanager, and heard Canada Warblers, Black and White Warblers, and a Veery, not giving us its ethereal song but its call:  “Veeer, veeer.”
     In all we saw or heard 53 species of birds, and had a great time!

  -Louise Brown

Spring Warbler Walk in Starmount Forest  4/20/02

   Henry Link graciously led us on a walk through his favorite local area for spring Warbler watching, Starmount Forest, a park in the Hamilton Lakes area of Greensboro.  We got a small but satisfying sampling of some of those species, the Northern Parula, Black-throated Blue, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-rumped, Pine and Black-and-white Warblers.  Other spring migrants or summer birds spotted include the Red-eyed and Blue-headed Vireos, Wood Thrush, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Great-crested Flycatcher, and Chimney Swifts.
   We saw a respectable complement of woodpeckers: Hairy, Red-headed, Red-bellied and a Flicker.  Other exciting finds were a pair of Red-shouldered Hawks attending their nest up in a tree, and a Titmouse who appeared to be attacking a raccoon.  Upon closer inspection, the raccoon was taking a nap in the crotch of a tree about 75 feet up. The Titmouse fluttered around it, trying to pluck some fur to line its nest.  When the raccoon would lift its head and look around, the Titmouse would move off, and then when the mammal tried to resume its nap the persistent little bird would return and again try to pluck some fur.  We watched this little show for about fifteen minutes before we moved on in search of warblers.  We saw 33 species of birds that day.

-Louise Brown

DROUGHT & SHOREBIRDS 

The drought conditions have been greatly affecting the food supplies of wildlife as well as our watering habits.  Various members, including myself, have noticed species eating unusual foods and showing up at feeders where they normally have not before.
     While the drying up of the local lakes is devastating for our water supply, it has attracted a large variety of interesting birds, and club members have had a lot of fun spotting different species.  I include excerpts from items in my E-mailbox:

On 8/10, from Elizabeth Link:
     The drought has created extensive mudflats in Lake Townsend. In addition to Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets and Killdeer, there are lots of Least, Pectoral, Solitary and Spotted Sandpipers, Semi-palmated Plovers, along with a few Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, a couple of Semi-palmated Sandpipers, and a White-rumped Sandpiper. The White-rumped Sandpiper has been seen 3 times this week.  We have been going to the place where Church Street crosses Lake Townsend above Air Harbor Road and below Plainfield Road. 
On 8/13, from Carolyn Allen:
     We arrived there late this afternoon. We immediately saw two black winged white birds which proved to be American avocets, still showing some color of breeding plumage. I'm not sure how often avocets show up here, but we enjoyed them immensely.  The other birds remain: pectoral and least sandpipers, semipalm plovers, killdeer, one lesser yellowlegs, great blues, egrets and Canada geese in abundance.
On 8/15, Emily Tyler reported:
     The following new species were seen on the Lake Townsend mudflats near Church Street on the evening of 8/14, by Henry and Elizabeth Link, Judie Underkoffler and me: one each of Stilt Sandpiper, Sanderling, Short-billed Dowitcher.
     Thanks to Henry's new scope we did see the White-rumped Sandpiper.
Dennis Burnette reported:
     Late this afternoon, 8/16/02, Ian Dunn and I spotted what may be a Black-headed Ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus) at Lake Townsend. The bird was approximately the size of the Canada Geese, with a black decurved bill, black head and neck, white body, and black "rump." It was clearly not a Wood Stork. If it is a Black-headed Ibis, it is native to Asia so is likely to have escaped from captivity nearby. Even though it is an exotic species, however, it is quite a spectacular bird to see flying freely in the Piedmont of North Carolina.
On 8/18 Dennis reported:
   The exotic ibis that I reported two days ago is still being found at Lake Townsend. Herb Hendrickson has seen it well and determined that it is a Sacred Ibis from Africa, one of three closely related species that include the Black-headed of Asia and an Australian ibis.
On 8/20/2002 Ken Reininger of the NC Zoo sent this information:
There are 30 accredited zoos that have Sacred Ibis in their collections and report their inventories to the national database. However none of these zoos with Sacred Ibis are anywhere near Greensboro. The closest ones are in Pennsylvania, Ohio or Alabama.It doesn't seem real likely it came from captivity - at least not a zoo.           .
                                             -Louise Brown

Spicebush Swallowtail

Butterfly Walk and Count 8/27/02

Look at the pictures!

   The bird club teamed up with the Butterfly Club to participate in a Butterfly count at Hagan-Stone Park and surrounding areas.  This count produced low numbers of butterflies, despite the good weather and availability of nectar sources. However, the effects of the severe drought in this area on the butterfly population were not quite as bad as anticipated, possibly due to a few recent rains over a two week period in some parts of Guilford county prior to count day. Our 2002 total of 26 species was 87% of the average total of 30 species, while the 2002 total of 165 individual butterflies represented 79% of an average total of 212 individuals.

   We were pleased to see a good number of Eastern Tiger Swallowtails, a normally common species that has been scarce in the county until the last few days. There was a remarkable number of fresh butterflies, suggesting that a large number were newly-emerged. Nearly all of the Fiery Skippers were very orange, and the single American Lady was very bright. On the other hand, sulphurs of all species were few or completely missing from the count. We recorded a single Monarch laying an egg on common milkweed. Except for two Red-spotted Purples, woodland species were nonexistent on this count.

   We saw a number of birds as well. Indigo Buntings love the same open fields as the butterflies.

-Dennis Burnette, Louise Brown

TRIAD PARK
By Dennis Burnette
     Nineteen birders converged on the area's newest park, Triad Park, on the Guilford/Forsyth County line near Kernersville, on Saturday, October 12. This was a joint field trip with the Forsyth Audubon Society. Five members of the Piedmont Bird Club participated. This was the first organized field trip to Triad Park for both the clubs.
     Although rain during the night had made the grass damp, it was a beautiful morning to be out birding. We discovered that the park, most of which is located in Guilford County, has good potential for future bird walks for our groups. There is a good variety of habitats including woodland trails, open fields, and a wetland. Our date this year caused us to miss most of the migrant species, but it could be quite good in spring and earlier in the fall.
      Thirty species of birds spotted included:  Sharp-shinned Hawk, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker,   Pileated Woodpecker,  Eastern Wood Pewee,  Eastern Phoebe,  Golden-crowned Kinglet, Bluebird, Parula,  Pine Warbler, Redstart,  Common  Yellowthroat, Chipping Sparrow and  White-throated Sparrow.
      Butterflies seen in the park and along the road were:  E. Tiger Swallowtail, Clouded Sulphur, Eastern-tailed Blue, Cabbage White, Pearl Crescent, Red Admiral, Monarch and Clouded Skipper. 

HAWK WATCHING 2002     Part I:   Mahogany Rock
By Carolyn Allen

     We arrived at Mahogany Rock, milepost 235 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, at 10:30 a.m. Sat., Sept. 21st. Initially, looking toward Sparta, visibility was good. But soon the fog began pouring up from the east and south. By 11:30 a.m. both sides of the Parkway were opaque. Before the fog closed in, small birds were busy on the west side of the mountain. Dogwood fruit was a favorite food. Several unidentified warblers along with a Scarlet Tanager or two, Goldfinch, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Towhees, and Carolina Chickadees were there in some numbers.
       Thanks to the hospitality of Jim and Alice Keighton, who live nearby and are the keepers of the hawk watch records, we gathered to watch hawks on their porch, out of the rain. The Jezoreks of Greensboro, who have a summer cottage there, asked us to stop by in the afternoon. A walk down their road produced Turkey Vultures, Amercan Crows, Catbirds, Carolina Wrens, Towhees, Titmice. Several butterfly species included Eastern-tailed Blues, Cabbage, fritillaries, Tiger swallowtails and perhaps a little wood satyr.
     Sunday morning, the sun was shining and the air was clear. The prospects for a good hawk-sighting day seemed bright. But by the time we reached the Parkway and neared Mahogany Rock, it was evident that the fog was getting there before us. A pair of Ravens flying low overhead seemed to be just under the cloud cover. Soon we drove south, but visibility at Doughton Park was just as poor. 
     As of Sat., Sept. 21, 2002, only 282 hawks had been seen at Mahogany Rock, of which about 220 were Broad-winged. By comparison, on the same date in 2001, more than 2000 had been seen. Warm weather and adverse winds held up the flights. At another site in the Blue Ridge. ten days later, more than 10,000 hawks were seen. It's "location, location, location" and "luck, luck, luck." But it's always worth trying!       

Part II:  Pilot Mountain           
   The weather was much kinder to hawk watchers on the weekend of  9/28.  The temperature was very pleasant, blue skies with puffy clouds.  Phillip Kellam was the first of the PBC to arrive, and kept a tally of the migrating raptors.  By noon he and others spotted 2 Cooper’s Hawks, 2 Osprey, 1 Northern Harrier, 2 Peregrine Falcons, 7 Sharp-shinned Hawks, 4 Kestrel, and a grand total of 271 Broad-winged Hawks.  Also seen were 1 Cormorant, a number of Ravens, Turkey Vultures, Black Vultures, and Chimney Swifts.  We had a good representation of our club with 12 members, led by Dennis Burnette. 
-Louise Brown

WINTER BIRD ARRIVALS 2002
By Dennis Burnette

     It is time again to report your sightings of winter resident bird species as they arrive. This is a continuation of the project we began last fall to create a database of arrival dates. As in the past, we will record the first several reports of each species until the reports become common for the season. Since we have members who live (and bird) in three counties, we will keep separate lists for Alamance, Guilford, and Randolph Counties. (We have no reports from Alamance as yet.) To make a report, call or e-mail Dennis Burnette at 299-4342, burnetted@aol.com.
     The date in ( ) is the 1^st date seen in 2001.
Guilford:
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: (10/8/2001) 10/12/02 By a person from the Forsyth Audubon group at Triad Park in Guilford Co. during our joint field trip; 10/13 By Judi Durr at the Guilford Co. Coop. Extension Service office in Greensboro.
Golden-crowned Kinglet: (10/29/2001) 9/30/02 By Henry Link in Starmount Forest.
Winter Wren: (10/28/2001) 10/16/02 Herb Hendrickson saw the first of the season at his home in G’sboro.
Yellow-rumped Warbler:  (10/28/2001) 10/12/02 One seen poorly by people at Triad Park in Guilf. Co. during a PBC field trip.
Chipping Sparrow:  (10/31/2001) 10/12/02 A flock of about six seen by several people at Triad Park in Guilford Co. during a PBC field trip.
White-throated Sparrow: (10/2/2001) 10/6/02 By Henry Link in Starmount Forest.
Dark-eyed Junco: (10/28/2001) 10/1/02 A male spotted by Julien McCarthy & Judith Pate at Lake Townsend in the woods .
Randolph:
Yellow-bellied  Sapsucker:  (11/08/2001) 9/2902 Jane Lewis saw one at her home.
Golden-crowned Kinglet: (11/07/2001) 10/1302 Jane Lewis saw two at her home.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet: (11/07/2001) 10/13/02 Jane Lewis saw one at her home.

Blue Ridge Parkway
 Oct 26, 2002

   We enjoyed a nice mountain drive on October 26 when Dennis Burnette led a trip to the Blue Ridge Parkway.  We didn’t see a large number of birds, only 24 species, but it was an enjoyable adventure regardless.  There were a number of Turkey Vultures, a Kestrel, a Sharp-shinned Hawk, other Accipiters, Sapsuckers, Brown-headed Nuthatches, Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Field Sparrows spotted. 

BOG GARDEN
NOV. 20 2002
   The scheduled Bog Garden trip on Nov. 16 was rained out, but we had an impromptu trip the following Wednesday, which a fair number of people were able to attend.
   We saw 28 species.  I had seen several Shovelers the day before, and they were not visible from the west end of the pond.  When we went to the other side of the pond, the Shovelers showed up near the end of the boardwalk.  The three males and a female must have been waiting till we left to come out. 
   There was a group of over a dozen Ring-necked Ducks on the pond, which have been appearing regularly in the wintertime.  Other winter birds present were White-throated Sparrows, a Swamp Sparrow, Yellow-rumped Warblers and Ruby-crowned Kinglets.  I was hoping to see a Winter Wren but we did not, although I spotted one there in January.   Other birds included the ever-present Goldfinches, Carolina Wrens, Towhees, Nuthatches, Flickers and Chickadees.

Huntington Beach State Park
Nov. 27-Dec. 1, 2002
   Dennis Burnette did a great job organizing this very exciting and productive trip. Our composite list numbered 123 species, seen and/or heard by various club members during the course of Thanksgiving weekend at Huntington Beach State Park (HBSP), SC and the surrounding area. 
   There were several good candidates for "best bird of the trip."  One was the Red-cockaded Woodpecker, a life bird for a number of folks, including myself.  We were guided to a great spot where we saw several delightful individuals working the long-leafed pines. Another thrilling sighting was of huge flocks of Black Skimmers on Pawley’s Island.  They came wheeling down the shoreline in waves, landing on the beach just south of us.  A modest estimate of their numbers was 1500!!  A third "best bird" candidate might also be an immature male Long-tailed Duck (Oldsquaw) that hung out at HBSP one day, allowing us to observe him extensively.  It was a close race, but the Red-cockaded edged out as the official best bird, being the rarest and most personable.
   Dennis had a thrilling experience witnessing a struggle between a Bald Eagle and an Osprey over a fish, the more exciting since he was able to share it with his young grandson.
   On a walk to the jetty at HBSP on a brisk Thanksgiving morning, we were rewarded with many sightings: Sanderlings skittering along the waves, lines of Brown Pelicans in the surf, Ruddy Turnstones and a large number of Purple Sandpipers on the jetty.  Several Common Loons populated the inlet.  Far off we could see many Gannets, shimmering in the sun, diving for food.  Herb Hendrickson spotted a Great Cormorant perched on the channel marker just off the end of the jetty. 
   We saw quite an assortment of sea and shore birds, including Piping Plovers and Greater Black-backed Gulls. One member reported a Sharp-tailed Sparrow, another a Seaside Sparrow, and a Red-throated Loon was spotted off Pauley’s Island, bobbing in the waves, pointing its head skyward. We paused on a little boardwalk behind some restaurants at Murrells Inlet and were delighted to see a few Eurasian Collared Doves active in some large live oaks there.

-Louise Brown