Evergreen Nature Preserve

["Larry Barden" <Larry@lbarden.com>]

Louise and I watched the phoebe pair that spent the winter behind
Winterfield School feeding some very young phoebe chicks today.  We're
wondering what will happen to this resident family when construction starts
on the stormwater catchment basin at the pond. Another pair of phoebes
appears to be nesting under the new bridge in the Sheffield Park wetland.
Build a bridge and they will come.

We also had a curious immature Coopers Hawk fly over us in the large
clearing, change directions when she saw us, and land in a pine not more
than 30 feet over our heads.  We continued sitting quietly as the hawk eyed
us closely, then it flew to its favorite perch in full view on the far side
of the clearing.  It seemed totally unconcerned about our presence.  How odd
that we didn't see another bird in the clearing, which is usually our best
spot.

Other memorable sightings (and hearings) were bunches of blackpoll warblers
in the trees along the sewer line and a stunning magnolia warbler in the
same area, where Louise heard lots of other magnolias singing.

We capped off the short birding trip by stopping at the pond on the way
home, only to find a Northern Waterthrush bobbing along the far shore.

Not bad for downtown Charlotte.


Larry Barden, Larry@LBarden.com,
1525-F Lansdale Drive, Charlotte, NC, 28205, 704-535-6385