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Re: Red Crossbills @ Mt. Mitchell State Park
- To: scbirder@email.com
- Subject: Re: Red Crossbills @ Mt. Mitchell State Park
- From: Harry Legrand <harry.legrand@ncmail.net>
- Date: Mon, 25 Jun 2001 13:14:44 -0400
- Cc: carolinabirds@duke.edu
- References: <200106251424.KAA24100@anderson.acpub.duke.edu>
- Sender: carolinabirds-owner@acpub.duke.edu
Prairie Warblers would not be at Mount Mitchell, probably not at any
time. The elevation is too high. What you heard singing was presumably a
Black-throated Blue Warbler. The song often consists of about 4-5
whistled notes -- "hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hee", with each note higher than the
last, and the final note much higher than the others. This is quite a
bit different from the very husky, burry "bzz-bzz-bee" given by
migrants, such as through Columbia. Quite a few folks think they are
hearing Prairie Warblers in the higher mts. of NC, but in reality these
are BT Blues. Prairies occur in clearcuts and other brushy places,
generally below 3000 feet, and mainly below about 2000 feet.
Harry LeGrand
scbirder@email.com wrote:
>
> For anyone interested, the Red Crossbills were pretty easy to find
> yesterday (Sunday, 24 June) at Mt. Mitchell SP. Mark Peoples and I found
> them on the trail between the Visitor's Center and the restaurant, closer
> to the Visitor's Center.
>
> A couple of questions: (1) Would a Prairie Warbler be unusal at Mt.
> Mitchell? I heard one, but didn't see it. For no good reason that I can
> think of, it struck me as unusual. (2) I also heard, but did not see,
> chickadees. As I have heard Black-cappeds only once (in Virginia) and am
> no expert, I am wondering if the chickadees I heard were likely Black-
> capped or Carolina. Any thoughts are welcome.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Bob Ellis
> Columbia, SC
> scbirder@email.com
--
Harry LeGrand
NC Natural Heritage Program
1615 MSC
Raleigh, NC 27699-1615
(919) 715-8687 (work)
FAX: 919-715-3085
e-mail: harry.legrand@ncmail.net