[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Few's Ford on the Eno; a few questions



Hi C-birders,

While I've been too busy for any sustained trips, I did manage to spare 
an hour yesterday morning for a walk by the Eno River. The area is 
decidedly more springlike than it was two weeks earlier, when 
Yellow-throated and Pine Warblers were the only migrants in evidence. 
This time, I heard Prairie Warbler not long after leaving the car, and 
Black-throated Green a short ways down the trail. Northern Parula joined 
the chorus on the other side of the river near the wilderness cabin, as 
did a Hermit Thrush; surprised me, I don't often hear them sing in such 
southerly climes! A Tanager - could not determine which flavor - sang, 
then flew over the group camping area. Blue-gray Gnatcatchers were 
everywhere.

The highlight, as happens so often around here, was not a bird. We 
followed a trail upriver, on the near side, from the suspension bridge. 
The trail disappeared beneath the very high water, forcing us to cut up a 
hillside back to a drier trail. My two companions ducked under a branch; 
as I prepared to do the same, I noticed that some of the greenery on the 
branch was not at all leafy! It was a Keeled Green Snake, Opheodrys 
aestivus. We enjoyed its bright green scales and pale orange tongue for a 
while before returning it to its branch. Wildflowers are well ahead of 
Dwayne and Lori's mountain abode here: Toothworts, incredibly dense two 
weeks ago, are completely gone. Botanical highlight was a patch of small, 
leafless, parasitic flowers (I forget the exact name) growing from the 
roots of a small maple tree. No leps or odes, but some bright yellow- 
legged millipedes...

Back at home, Ovenbirds and Red-eyed Vireos have joined the Duke Forest 
chorus, with House Wrens countering from the suburban side of the house. 
A White-eyed Vireo was singing nearby yesterday afternoon, but was not 
around this morning. White-throated Sparrows are still around, looking 
sharper by the day as they molt into more contrasting head stripes and 
yellower lores.

So question 1: the spring count dates for Durham, Chapel Hill, Jordan 
Lake, and Wake County are all out there. Is there going to be a Falls 
Lake spring count? If so, when?

Question 2: Anyone gone looking for the Jordan Lake Oystercatcher since 
it was reported on Saturday? I might just take a quick trip down there if 
it hasn't disappeared yet...

Gotta run. Good birding,

Josh



Joshua S. Rose
Duke University
Department of Zoology

jsr6@acpub.duke.edu
http://www.duke.edu/~jsr6/