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Carolina RBA January 7 Update.



hotline: Carolina Rare Bird Alert
date: January 7, 2000
number: 704-332-2473
to report: 704-332-2473 or 704-532-6336 or PiephoffT@aol.com
coverage: North and South Carolina
compiler: Taylor Piephoff, Carolina Bird Club

Hello, this is a January 7 update of the Carolina Rare Bird Alert featuring 
birding news from North and South Carolina sponsored by the Carolina Bird 
Club. Highlights on this report include:

MURRELET sp.
PURPLE SANDPIPERS
SHORT- EARED OWLS
LAPLAND LONGSPURS
ROUGH- LEGGED HAWK
ICELAND GULL

The MURRELET sp. near Great Falls, SC reported on the last update was 
searched for and missed by many birders the following week. However a bird 
that was probably the murrelet was seen from the Fishing Creek boat launch on 
Hwy. 21 today Jan. 7. There are two launches above the Fishing Creek Dam ; 
the bird was seen from the one that is paved with ample parking for boat 
trailers etc. There is a small, steep launch located just above the dam that 
should be checked as well. The Catawba River is very wide at this area so 
looks may be very distant. 

Up to 2 SHORT- EARED OWLS are being seen at Hooper Lane near Hendersonville, 
NC. Up to 5 LAPLAND LONGSPURS have been seen at this same location recently. 
For details on how to best see these birds call Wayne Forsythe at 
828-697-6628.

A ROUGH- LEGGED HAWK has been present at Alligator River NWR in eastern NC 
for over a month. Look in the fields lining Milltail Rd. south of the 
intersection with US 64.

A 1st winter ICELAND GULL was seen Dec. 27 at the north end of Ocracoke 
Island on the spit near the ferry terminal.

Up to 8 PURPLE SANDPIPERS can be seen at a jetty at Fort Macon State Park 
near Morehead City, NC. Look at the small jetty near the bath house about 1 
mile west of the fort. This location is perhaps the best spot in NC to get 
close -up looks at purple sandpipers. Low tide is probably the best time to 
view them, but they may be present at other times as well.

Birders in the Charlotte, NC area should check Cowan's Ford Refuge  for 2 
male EURASIAN WIGEON reported 1-5. Efforts to relocate these birds have been 
unsuccessful, but movement of waterfowl to and from the viewing area occurs 
throughout the day. 

Coddle Creek Reservoir on Hwy. 73 between Concord, NC and Davidson, NC is 
hosting several thousand ducks now. Excellent views of many species of 
waterfowl can be had there. Park in the chain-link fence viewing area on the 
Hwy. 73 causeway over the lake. A dark phase ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK has been seen 
twice from the end of Macedonia Church Rd. which is just off Hwy. 73 (turn at 
a blinking caution light).



Thanks this week to Phil Turner, Susan Campbell, John Fussell, Robin Carter, 
Danny Swicegood and Wayne Forsythe for their calls and reports.

Taylor Piephoff
Charlotte, NC
PiephoffT@aol.com