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surprise birds!



Joe and I spent most of the day birding in the Raleigh area with our birding 
friend, Lena. It was kinda like a birdathon! We started the morning at two 
local parks. Some of the birds we saw on the green trail by Kiwanis Park 
were: chickadees, catbirds, a Hairy Woodpecker, gnatcatchers, active Carolina 
Wrens, and a female American Redstart. It's been discussed here before 
whether or not the redstarts are migrating or local. According to Dunn's 
Warbler book, their peak fall migration is late August-mid September. 

The chickadees and titmice were talkative and active at Fallon Park. That's 
where we saw our only Chimney Swift for the day.

Onto the NCSU dairy ponds in search of shorebirds. Only a few Western 
Sandpipers, Killdeer, and 1 Spotted Sandpiper. There were 2 Red-tailed Hawks 
and a few Barn Swallows also.

It was our first time visiting Harris Lake Park, a new park in south Wake 
County. Lots of active bluebirds, a kingfisher, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Pine 
Warbler, meadowlark, and the first surprise bird of the day -- a Ruddy Duck!! 
Such a cute bird with the easy identification of the tail sticking up!

Then it was on to Big Woods Rd. were we saw our target bird, beautiful 
Red-headed Woodpeckers. It was fun to watch a pair of them catching 
dragonflies in the air, then flying to a dead tree to use a hole to eat them. 
We also saw Eastern Kingbirds, a talking Blue Grosbeak, and Common 
Yellowthroat.

Next was the 751 bridge over Jordan Lake to see Great Egrets and Great Blue 
Herons. Feeding in the water close to a flock of yellowlegs was the other 
surprise bird, a beautiful American Avocet!! I haven't seen that bird listed 
online in this area yet this fall.

We ended the day at Lena's house sharing vacation pictures while watching 
hummingbirds at the feeder, making our day total, 50 species.

Happy birding!!!

Karen Bearden
birders@aol.com
Raleigh