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Shepherd Trail May 11; and 3 queries



Hi all,

this morning on the Shepherd Trail (Durham, NC):

- Black-throated Green (1) and Black-throated Blue Warbler (1-2) (the 
latter is hard to miss here)
- other stuff: Yellowthroat, Redstart, Black/white W., Pine W., Parula, 
Red-eyed Vireo

Three questions to y'all out there:

1.) Shantanu and I would like to go to the mountains (NC) this weekend. The 
closer to the triangle the better, preferably somewhere along the Blue 
Ridge. We have five target species that I would have to see before leaving 
this wonderful state on May 24: GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER, SWAINSON'S WARBLER, 
ALDER AND WILLOW FLYCATCHER, BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO. We're probably going to 
have only one full day to see all five of these. Does anyone have 
directions to places where we would be likely to see these species? Are we 
too early for some of them, or are they all back by now? Is Mourning 
Warbler a breeding species in NC? (Probably just wishful thinking on my 
part...) What would be the best route?

2.) Two days ago, I was surprised to find out that the Carolinas have a 
bird whose breeding range is almost restricted to them, but hardly anyone 
knows about it: Wayne's Warbler (the coastal subspecies of Black-throated 
Green Warbler). From what I heard, it is diagnosable in the field, as it 
has a considerably shorter bill. I was disappointed to see that none of the 
current field guides, not even Sibley, has any info on it. What other field 
marks are there? Are there vocal differences to the nominate subspecies? 
Where can I find more info on the net?

3.) Is there anyone from the Triangle or west of it who is going on the 
pelagic out of  Hatteras on May 19 and who plans on doing some more coastal 
birding on the 20th??? There is a guy from Australia, Phil Hansbro, who 
goes on the same pelagic and whom I promised to take around the coast to 
see a few specialties on the 20th. However, he will have to fly out of 
Raleigh on the night of the 20th, and I would like to stay on the coast to 
take part in the pelagic out of Manteo on the 21st. So if anyone  would 
want to join us on the 20th for a full day of birding around the coast and 
give Phil a ride back to Raleigh on their way home...

Thanks for you guys's help,

Frank



Frank E. Rheindt
Department of Biology
Duke University
Durham, NC 27708