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Carolina RBA November 23 Update



hotline: Carolina Rare Bird Alert
date: November 23, 1999
number: 704-332-2473
to report: 704-332-2473 or 704-532-6336 or PiephoffT@aol.com
coverage: North and South Carolina
compiler: Taylor Piephoff, Carolina Bird Club

Hello, this is a November 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 include:

COMMON REDPOLL
N. SAW-WHET OWL
WHITE-WINGED DOVE
EURASIAN WIGEON
SNOW BUNTINGS
CAVE SWALLOWS
LAPLAND LONGSPURS
SHORT-EARED OWL
PURPLE SANDPIPERS
AMERICAN BITTERN

A COMMON REDPOLL was seen at Alligator River NWR in NC on 11-14. This bird 
was not relocated later but Carolinas birders should be aware that this 
species has been seen at several locations in SE Virginia; making 
reoccurrence in NC probable this winter.

A N. SAW-WHET OWL was discovered in Columbia, SC (Harbison State Forest) on 
11-15. Although this owl was not relocated the next day; birders should 
investigate agitated flocks of small passerines in hopes of finding this 
rarely seen (in the Carolinas) owl. Robin Carter discovered this saw- whet 
owl in just this way.

A WHITE-WINGED DOVE was present in a yard in Morehead City, NC 11-19 and 20. 
Contact John Fussell for updates on this bird at <jfuss@bmd.clis.com>.

Interesting birds on the Outer Banks include 3 PURPLE SANDPIPERS on the rock 
jetty at the south side of Oregon Inlet; male EURASIAN WIGEON at Pea Is. NWR 
(North Pond); and 4 SNOW BUNTINGS at Cape Hatteras Point. Several AM. 
BITTERNS can be seen around the salt pond at Cape Point.

A SNOW BUNTING was seen at the west end of Sunset Beach, NC on 11-11.

5-6 CAVE SWALLOWS were reported from the west end of Sunset Beach on 11-12. 
This report follows reports of this species from the NE US and Canada. This 
species has been seen in winter in NC in the past so it may be worth one's 
time to scrutinize those tree swallows this fall and winter.

SHORT-EARED OWLS have been reported from eastern and central NC this fall. 
Now a report from the west has come in. A Short-Eared was seen at Hooper Lane 
in Henderson County on 11-18; illustrating how widespread this species can be.

At Huntington Beach S.P. in SC 2 LAPLAND LONGSPURS were seen at the base of 
the jetty in the dunes on 11-8. This is a good area to look for this species 
in SC. Also at that park,  a REDDISH EGRET is being seen at the salt pond at 
the base of the jetty.

The Carolina Bird Club is sponsoring a birding trip to the Outer Banks in 
conjunction with the NC Museum of Natural Sciences January 14-16, 2000. Space 
is still available on this trip. Call John or Paula Wright at 252-756-5139 
for details.

Thanks this week to John Wright , John Fussell, Dick Burk, Wayne Forsythe, 
Caroline Eastman, Eric Dean, Burton Moore, and Mark Oberle for their calls 
and reports.

Taylor Piephoff
PiephoffT@aol.com
Charlotte, NC