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MOSTLY WOODPECKERS AT GOOSE CREEK STATE PARK, NC.

1/29/2017

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This past Tuesday was a beautiful, sunny day with the kind of deep clear blue sky we get sometime in winter. I visited  Goose Creek State Park in eastern NC . This park is a mixed forest of large pines and oak and other hardwood stretching along the north shore of the Pamlico Sound. Birding is good here year round. On this trip, it seemed that the woodpeckers were having a homecoming celebration! They were everywhere!! I got pictures of most varieties we see in this area, including the Hairy, Red-bellied, Flicker, Yellow-breasted Sapsucker, Red-headed, as well as the largest( Crow sized)  and most striking Pileated. The Pileated Woodpecker is fairly common in this park, but because of their shy behavior, they are not frequently seen. they are more likely to be heard with their loud drumming or their piercing territorial declaration. On most trips here, I may or may not see one, but seldom two. On Tuesday, I saw a record four (record for one day) of these regal birds, the prototype of the cartoon character Woody Woodpecker. The pileated is the only remaining large and striking species left of the original three large woodpeckers in North America. It survives the beautiful Imperial Woodpecker of Mexico’s Sierra Madre mountains, and the Ivory-billed Woodpecker of the U.S., both of which are now extinct.

The Pileated finds food by stripping bark from trees or by probing in holes and rotten areas for beetles, grubs, ants, and other insects. It uses its long, sticky tongue to probe small spaces. The ants, etc, actually stick to the  tongue as the bird withdraws it into its mouth. The pictures below show many shots of the Pileated as they hunt in the large pines at Goose Creek. There are also other Woodpecker species as well as a few other birds.  Enjoy the pics!

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BALD EAGLES AND CEDAR WAXWINGS AT RIVER PARK NORTH.

1/22/2017

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This past Thursday was a rare sunny day with a warm 60 degrees in a string of gray and cloudy/rainy days in eastern North Carolina. I decided to spend the morning at our local River Park North here in Greenville, NC. I had not visited the park in around five months. In mid-winter, all the green is gone and the mostly hardwood forest is a mass of gray . The birds are mostly our usual local resident population. Walking around the back side of the front lake, I noticed a large number of small birds flying erratically out over the lake, appearing to be catching insects and then flying back to the bare tree limbs along the shore, where they would perch for a minute, then fly out again. They reminded me of tree swallows, or flycatchers by their behavior, but not by appearance. As I moved closer, I realized they were Cedar Waxwings. I have never seen this feeding behavior in Waxwings. I usually encounter them in flocks attacking whatever fruit, berries, etc that is available. This time of year, that food is, of course, hard to find, so it is no surprise they are grabbing whatever they can find. I tried to catch a pic of them in flight, but their twists and turns were so erratic, i was able to get only a couple of “fair” shots. It was easier to capture them when they perched for a minute. 

While watching the Waxwings, a couple of adult Bald Eagles appeared over the lake, fishing for some unsuspecting fish swimming near the top. They were around for about ten minutes and I was able to catch a few good pics. In addition to the Eagles and Waxwings, I found a few Cormorants, Mallards, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret. Bluebird, White-throated Sparrow, Ring-billed Gulls, and a single Golden crowned Kinglet. It was a good outing on a pleasant day. Anytime you can see Bald Eagles in our area, it is a good day!! Enjoy the pics below.


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MIDWINTER SURPRISE AT FORT MACON

1/16/2017

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Readers of this Journal know that Fort Macon State Park is one of my favorite places for bird photography because of the many and varied species that pass through in migration, as well as the local population of residents. This includes wading birds, shorebirds, as well as woods birds. I spent a couple of hours on the trails there this past Saturday and was pleased to see and photograph a good variety of species. Ever-present this time of year are the Yellow-rumped Warblers, Robins, Cardinals, and Mockingbirds in the brush, as well as the White Ibis in the freshwater pond. The new trail through the marsh produced a Great Egret, an Oystercatcher, and a Tri-colored Heron . The surprise came when i returned to the Visitors Center and found that the staff are already offering seed in the feeders, something that is not usually started until May or later. But the real surprise was to see a female Painted Bunting feeding on the White Millet being offered. These birds who migrate to Florida and Mexico for the winter, are seldom seen back in our area until late April or May. A mid-winter presence is unusual . There have been recordings of their presence here in January, but rarely. So this sighting was a pleasant surprise!! There was also a Carolina Chickadee on the feeder. The pictures below are the evidence of a successful mid-January birding effort. Check out the Fort Macon trails if you are in the Morehead City/Atlantic Beach area. See pics below.

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RARE SIGHTING--WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE IN PITT COUNTY

1/11/2017

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It is always exciting to see a bird you have not seen before. These "Lifer" experiences are a part of what makes wildlife observation fun! I had that opportunity yesterday when probably the most knowledgeble birder in eastern North Carolina, Howard Vainright called asking me to come out to an area location to see and photograph a rare presence in our area of a White-fronted Goose. Howard is the retired Director of River Park North here in Greenville, a position he held for 25 years. He is also the current President of the River Park North Bird Club. When Howard calls, I always get excited because I know he will have something  interesting spotted to share. He had identified by call a White-fronted Goose that has been traveling with a local flock of Canada Geese near our local Bradford Creek Golf Club. He had been looking for several days to actually see the bird and he had finally spotted it feeding with the Canada Geese in a field near the Club. 

I grabbed my camera and took off. The field was near the road and the geese were feeding peacefully when I arrived. Howard pointed out the White-fronted. This goose is a little over half the size of the Canada, and while their colorations are similar, the White-front, as its name implies, has a distinct white face,orange beak and legs, and a distinct white stripe along its side with a speckled belly. The orange beak and legs distinguish it from the Canada.

This sighting represents a very rare presence of this species in North Carolina. It nests in the Tundra, and migrates along our middle and western flyways. We are very fortunate to have this visitor. If you live in the area, take a side trip out to the Bradford creek area and check the ponds and fields--you may get a peek!! Enjoy the pictures below taken yesterday---


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Backyard Birds

1/9/2017

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I feed the birds in my backyard feeders all year long. Winter is more fun because I like the colorful winter species we see in this area, and because I think the birds appreciate the food more this time of year. The past three days have been stormy with sleet and 12 degree temps, very unusual for the southeast. I tried to keep the feeders full and the birds ate every bite. I usually provide a mixture of food including sunflower, safflower, white millet, cracked corn, peanuts, and pepper suet in nugget and cake form, as well as grape jam for the Baltimore Orieoles. Ths mix covers the seed eaters and insect lovers as well as those with a "sweet tooth".

There is a public small lake behind my house and a small mixed pine/hardwood area that is about 100 yards square, located in a surburban neighborhood. I have a small concrete patio in back and my feeders are located by the patio fence. My back door opens directly onto the patio and the feeders are about 15 feet away. This makes it almost impossible to photograph directly from outside. So the photos here are taken through a back window, which robs them of sharpness and proper color shading in some cases. I do not prefer taking pictures around feeders and would much rather photograph any wildlife in their natural environment, but many of you have asked about my home feeding, so here it is! The birds are very hungry now and come readily to the feeders. I spent about 2 hours getting the shots you will see below. There are more species than shown here, some of which appeared and I missed the shot, and a few who just did not show up! If you feed the birds at your home, now is their most needy time---so good luck and keep it up. Enjoy the photos below.

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NEW YEARS EVE AT ATLANTIC BEACH

1/1/2017

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Happy New Year!! Glyn and I spent the New Years weekend at Atlantic Beach, NC, watching Bowl Games, birdwatching, and eating good seafood. New Years Eve morning I spent a couple of hours on the trails at Fort Macon looking for the winter population of birds that frequent the area. This is a favorite spot, not only because of its consistent presence of birds, but because you never know what you will see!. In the freshwater pond area there was the usual abundance of Yellow-rumped Warblers and Robins, but also several juvenile Black-crowned Night Herons, and a Coopers Hawk. Along the shore there was a Northern Harrier hunting the dunes. Along the trail and in the marsh were Savannah and Tree Sparrows, a Bafflehead, a Hooded merganzer, a Belted Kingfisher and a Great Blue heron. It was a sunny day and the photos were pretty good. See below.

Then it was off to the room to watch my LSU Tigers whump up on that overated Louisville bunch!! Geaux Tigers!! Later we had dinner at Amos Mosquitos. If you are in the area, be sure to try this great  seafood spot!! On New Years morning, we had breakfast at the Banks Grill in Morehead City. ( Best grits on the coast!). then it was home to start the new year. Be well in this coming year and good birding!

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