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

Carolina RBA October 30 Update



hotline: Carolina Rare Bird Alert
date: October 30,2002
number: 704-332-2473
to report: 704-532-6336 or 704-332-2473 or PiephoffT@aol.com
coverage: North and South Carolina statewide
compiler: Taylor Piephoff for the Carolina Bird Club

Hello, this is an October 30 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:

WHITE WAGTAIL
CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD
WESTERN KINGBIRD
COMMON EIDER
AMERICAN BITTERN
LINCOLN'S SPARROWS

There was much excitement 10-22 when an imm. WHITE WAGTAIL was discovered at 
Sandling Beach Rec. Area at Falls Lake (NC). Many lucky area birders got to 
see this bird as it actively chased insects at the water's edge of the 
swimming area. Birders arrived early the next morning at the site but a 
day-long wait for the bird to reappear was fruitless.

An imm. CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD is coming to a feeder in Castalia, NC about 15 
miles north of Rocky Mount, NC. For information call Sharon Funderburk at 
919-853-2716 or at <coney @mindspring.com>.

A WESTERN KINGBIRD was seen at Battery Buchanen just south of the Fort Fisher 
ferry terminal on 10-27. The bird was not seen 10-28. This is a good area to 
look for this species in the fall.

Visitors to the Alligator River NWR in eastern NC should look for LINCOLN'S 
SPARROWS in the shrubs and grasses along the refuge roads. This refuge is 
also an excellent place to observe raptors. NORTHERN HARRIERS are common; and 
SHORT-EARED OWLS, BARN OWLS, BALD EAGLES, and ROUGH -LEGGED HAWKS are 
possibilities.

Birders with a 4-WD vehicle can look for a COMMON EIDER on the sound side of 
the Hatteras spit. From the ferry terminal at Hatteras take the sand road 
towards the inlet. Take the sound access roads to the right and scan the 
water. This bird could also be seen from the Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry.

Birders near Charlotte, NC can see AM. BITTERN, LINCOLN'S SPARROW, VESPER 
SPARROWS, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS, SEDGE WREN and LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE at the 
McDowell Park Prairie restoration area south of Charlotte. From Hwy. 49 
south, take a right at Shopton Rd. West and go a couple of miles to the 
prairie on the left. Park at the cable across the dirt road and walk in. Look 
around the pond and the brushpiles and grasses to the back of the prairie.

Thanks this week to Jeff Pippen, Jill Froning, Sharon Funderburk, Jeff Lewis, 
Karen Bearden, Bruce Smithson for their calls and reports.


Taylor Piephoff
PiephoffT@aol.com
Charlotte, NC