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Lake Butner 10/21/01
- To: carolinabirds@duke.edu
- Subject: Lake Butner 10/21/01
- From: stevep@receptor-biol.duke.edu (Stephen J. Perry)
- Date: Mon, 22 Oct 2001 08:48:04 -0400
- Sender: carolinabirds-owner@acpub.duke.edu
Having stumbled upon this place quite by accident a few weeks ago, I
made a return trip yesterday to take in the leaves and check out the
birds. Little was stirring when I arrived, including the wind, so the
leaves looked spectacular reflected on the glassy water in the bright
sunlight. After 30 minutes things started to pick up with regard to
birds. A flock of 32 DC cormorants drifted in, splashed down only to
be chased off by a fisherman in a boat a few minutes later. A single
GB heron also came by and I got great views of a male belted
kingfisher as it flew back and forth between the boat dock and one of
the tree-covered islands, chattering noisily. An absence of ducks was
ameliorated by a pair of pied-billed grebes doing synchronized dives
close to the shore. 6 turkey vultures wheeled overhead, and I think I
glimpsed an osprey through a break in the trees.
Walking through the trees to the left of the store revealed 3
YB sapsuckers playing "kiss chase" with each other: great fun to
watch. There was one very speckled first year bird and two adults.
Winter visitors also included a ruby-crowned kinglet and a
white-throated sparrow. A flicker, a downy WP, several WB
nuthatches, C chickadees, tufted titmice, 2 Carolina wrens, a very
drab female goldfinch, cardinals, mockingbirds and a chipmunk all
were actively foraging.
A flock of at least 10 pine warblers was probably the
highlight of the day, with just about every plumage type easily
viewed as they fed from low branches and came to the ground to feed
on the grassy bank of the lake. They were joined there by 8 E
bluebirds and a blue jay, as well as more WB nuthatches and a
straggling magnolia warbler in the trees.
Best wishes,
--
Steve Perry
Receptor Biology Lab, Duke Uni Med Center, Durham, NC
stevep@receptor-biol.duke.edu