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Raleigh CBC, plus Lake Murray
- To: carolinabirds@duke.edu
- Subject: Raleigh CBC, plus Lake Murray
- From: Joshua Stuart Rose <jsr6@duke.edu>
- Date: Mon, 18 Dec 2000 13:54:22 -0500 (EST)
- Sender: carolinabirds-owner@acpub.duke.edu
Hi C-birders,
I can't answer for the rest of the counters, my little corner was very
nice. John Gerwin sent me to a corner of Umstead State Park just off
Ebenezer Church ROad. Jason Sircely and Norm Douglas came along to keep
me company. The birds were what you'd expect: a few flocks of mixed
insectivores, and a few of mixed sparrows. Best bird was probably a
Red-headed Woodpecker that posed on a snag over Sycamore Creek for us.
Also had beautiful, close-up looks at Winter Wren, and a few nice Wood
Ducks in the creek. However, the birds were almost overshadowed
(literally as well as other ways) by the trees; I'm not sure if I've seen
such a variety of species of big, impressive deciduous species in the
Triangle. The biggest were probably the Sycamores, but also some very
large oaks of various kinds, a couple of big Hollies, and others.
Now I'm down in Ballentine, SC visiting my girlfriend's mother again.
Lake Murray has its usual interesting array of waterbirds, including two
Common Loons, a Horned Grebe, and several Bufflehead and Pied-billed
Grebes, all visible from inside the house. My girlfriend's uncle saw what
sounds like an adult Bald Eagle while he was walking the dogs, but I
haven't spotted that one yet. I'm just sorry I missed not only the DUrham
CBC due to our sudden travel change, but the Columbia and Congaree CBCs
as well. Maybe I can find one or two others down here within driving
distance...
As for favorite lifers, I have a feeling the Mango might win in a
landslide; for me it was the only lifer I've seen in the Carolinas this
year. Then again, I still have a week left!
Good birding,
Josh
Joshua S. Rose
Duke University
Department of Biology (Zoology, R.I.P.)
jsr6@acpub.duke.edu
http://www.duke.edu/~jsr6/