[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Cave Swallows, HBSP, Sat. 12-7-02



Huntington Beach State Park, SC. December 7, 2002.

Beginning cold, but warming into a beautiful sunny day.

At least five Cave Swallows were observed for about 30 minutes over the north
end of the jetty pool, around 7;30-8 AM.  All markings were seen in good
light, and one bird perched briefly in the grass for scope views.  In the cold
early morning temps, the birds gave an impression of being short and plump,
body feathers fluffed up for insulation.

A Short-eared Owl flushed from the marsh side of the jetty pond and landed on
the ocean side where it was dive-bombed by a N. Harrier, providing an
interesting size comparison of the two raptors.    An adult Peregrine Falcon
perched on the #10 channel marker in the inlet. Three Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed
Sparrows flitted along the jetty rocks. A female plumaged Black Scoter and an
adult male Surf Scoter (white iris!) allowed close up scope views just north
of the jetty, along with a scattering of Common Loons.  Horned Grebes occurred
in twos and threes.  Gannets could be seen far out.  Small numbers of Am.
Oystercatchers and Gr. Black-backed Gulls were seen in the inlet behind the
jetty.

Shorebirds included Piping Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Black-bellied Plover,
Sanderling, Short-billed Dowitcher, Willet, Dunlin, Western Sandpiper, Least
Sandpiper, Purple Sandpiper, Ruddy Turnstone.

Other ducks on Mullet Pond included Ruddy, Ring-necked, Lesser Scaup, Hooded
Merganser, Gadwall, Mallard, Green-winged Teal, Redhead.

Also: Blue-headed Vireo,Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Palm Warbler, Seaside Sparrow,
Savannah Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Song Sparrow, E. Meadowlark, Clapper
Rail, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Tricolored Heron, Little Blue Heron, Great
Egret, Great Blue Herons in unusually high numbers, Bald Eagle, Forster's
Tern, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Boat-tailed Grackle, Red-winged
Blackbird.

A female Long-tailed Duck at Myrtle Beach State Park pier, along with good
numbers of Red-throated Loons, was a nice end to an excellent birding day.



Tim Kalbach with Gary Sowell
West Columbia, SC
grebe@mindspring.com