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Carolina RBA February 23 Update



hotline: Carolina Rare Bird Alert
date: February 23, 2001
number: 704-332-2473
to report: 704-332-2473 or 704-532-6336 or PiephoffT@aol.com
compiler: Taylor Piephoff for the Carolina Bird Club

Hello, this is a February 23 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 are:

WHITE-FACED IBIS
CINNAMON TEAL
THAYER'S GULLS
GLAUCOUS GULL
ICELAND GULL
LITTLE GULL
ATLANTIC PUFFIN
GREAT SKUA
HARLEQUIN DUCK
WESTERN GREBE
GREATER SCAUP
COMMON MERGANSER
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD

The WHITE -FACED IBIS and  male CINNAMON TEAL  at Savannah NWR in SC were 
seen Feb. 17 at the previously reported location at impoundment 16.However, 
these birds were not seen 2-18.

Stormy weather often creates conditions on the Outer Banks where thousands of 
gulls congregate at Cape Point. Saturday Feb. 17 was one such day. Birders 
were able to find up to 4 adult THAYER'S GULLS , 2 adult (Kumlien's) ICELAND 
GULLS, 2 GLAUCOUS GULLS, dozens of LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS, and an 
assortment of hybrids. The number of gulls at the point can vary greatly from 
day to day, but unsettled weather usually ensures the greatest number.

Other interesting birds on the Outer Banks include a female HARLEQUIN DUCK at 
the Avon pier (present for a few weeks) and a WESTERN GREBE seen 2-19 at the 
Avon pier.

A WESTERN GREBE was reported from Hunting Island S.P. in SC on 2-10. No other 
details were received regarding this bird; and no other reports have been 
received since.

An offshore birding trip originating from Hatteras NC  on Feb. 18 found 24 
ATLANTIC PUFFINS, 4 GREAT SKUAS, 831 RAZORBILLS, 1 BLACK-CAPPED PETREL, 3 
NORTHERN FULMAR, 1 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE, 62 RED PHALAROPES AND 4 LITTLE 
GULLS. Another  organized offshore trip to search for these birds again is 
scheduled for March 3. Call Brian Patteson at 252-986-1363  for details.

3 adult LITTLE GULLS were at Atlantic Beach (NC) near the Triple Ess pier on 
2-22. As usual, these gulls were in a large concentration of Bonapartes gulls 
over the surf.

GREATER SCAUP are very rare away from the coast in both Carolinas. On 2-15 up 
to 5 GREATER SCAUP were in a large flock of Lesser scaup at Lake Julian 
(Buncombe County, NC) in the mountains.

Up to 3 female COMMON MERGANSERS were seen at Lake Townsend north of 
Greensboro, NC on 2-17. For details contact Dennis Burnette at 
Burnetted@aol.com.

A female RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD is coming to a feeder in Casar, NC. Contact Bill 
Hilton at 803-684-5852 for details.

Thanks this week to John Fussell, Mike Tove, Scott Baron, Bill Hilton, Glenn 
Smith, Dennis Burnette, Wayne Forsythe, Brian Patteson and Bart Marcy for 
their calls and reports.

Taylor Piephoff
Charlotte, NC
PiephoffT@aol.com