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Re: Sandhill Cranes reported from Mattamuskeet



Hey Kelly--

How about translating "Phrag" for we, the botanically challenged.

Thanks

Ric Carter
Washington/Garner



> From: "Kelly Davis" <keldavis@beachlink.com>
> Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 20:27:47 -0500
> To: "Steven Shultz" <sshultz@nc.rr.com>, <carolinabirds@duke.edu>
> Subject: Re: Sandhill Cranes reported from Mattamuskeet
> 
> The sandhill cranes were seen in the lakeshore marsh north of Marsh
> Impoundment 8 at
> Mattamuskeet NWR.  To find this spot, park at the Lake Landing parking lot
> (off US 264, 6
> miles east of New Holland).  Walk under the north gate.  Turn right (east) at
> the second
> dike and walk eastward approx 300 yds until you come to a vista of flattened
> Phragmites
> (between long stretches of standing Phrag).  Check the lakeshore from that
> vista and from
> one a little east of there.  The cranes were feeding along that stretch during
> the late
> morning on Saturday.  Warning:  the refuge is trying to catch waterfowl at the
> banding
> site located just east of the first dike you encounter after you walk under
> the gate.
> Please heed any closed area signs that might be posted.
> 
> On another note:  during a recent aerial survey of Pocosin Lakes NWR
> (including the Pungo
> Unit), the biologist counted 47,500 snow geese.  Short-eared owls have also
> been seen
> recently in the area along Allen Road, just east of Pungo Lake and south of
> Keep Rd.
> 
> Kelly Davis
> keldavis@beachlink.com
> Swan Quarter, NC
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Steven Shultz" <sshultz@nc.rr.com>
> To: <carolinabirds@duke.edu>
> Sent: Saturday, January 11, 2003 8:04 PM
> Subject: 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
>> 
>> 
> 
>