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Re: Sandhill Cranes reported from Mattamuskeet



Hi Ric and Cbirders,
Sorry, Phrag is Phragmites communis or australis aka common reed.  It is the tall grass
growing along much of the Lake Mattamuskeet shoreline and many of the dikes. Until
recently we thought all Phrag was an exotic Eurasian but now it seems researchers have
discovered some might be native.  Come on down to the lake!
Kelly Davis
keldavis@beachlink.com
Swan Quarter, NC
----- Original Message -----
From: "ric carter" <ricc@mindspring.com>
To: "Kelly Davis" <keldavis@beachlink.com>; "Steven Shultz" <sshultz@nc.rr.com>;
<carolinabirds@duke.edu>
Sent: Sunday, January 12, 2003 12:38 PM
Subject: 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
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
>