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Sandhill Cranes reported from Mattamuskeet



Brian Pendergraft asked me to post a sighting of 2 Sandhill Cranes at Lake
Matamuskeet today.  His message did not specify where the birds were found,
but observers in the area might want to keep an eye out for them.

I spent the day in the Pleasure Island section of New Hanover County.  The
Cave Swallow was NOT at the municipal lake in Carolina Beach, but the
weather was nice and I got to tick some birds off for my year list.  The
Kure Beach pier remains open through the winter and makes a good spot for
ocean watching.  Red-throated Loons greatly outnumbered Common, both were
joined by numerous gannets heading south in long lines, and some Black
Scoters.  A Black Scoter hen and Surf Scoter imm. were hanging out near the
northernmost gazebo along the rocks at Ft. Fisher.  LeGrand's Green Heron
was at the boat ramp at Federal Point, and a fair sized flock of shorebirds
loafed on the breakwater rocks at high tide.  Nothing unusual (other than
the placement of the heron) but a pleasant day nonetheless.

Normally I post updates of the local waterfowl situation every week or so in
the winter, but this year we have very few birds on the local lakes and
ponds (including West Lake, 1010 pond, and NCSU Dairy).  DU predicted a
worse than average duck year due to weather patterns in the northern plains
and Canada, and that prediction may be holding true.
I'll swing by tomorrow and post if anything shows up.

Best,
Steve Shultz
Apex, NC