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Lesser Black-backed Gull/FALLS LAKE CBC



CAROLINABIRDERS,

Did some scouting for my CBC today, from Falls of the Neuse Road at the
Raleigh Water Treatment road gate I saw a Lesser Black-backed Gull on a
grassy hill west of the road.  The darker mantle and size immediately caught
my eye without binox, and could easily be seperated from the septillion
Ring-billeds and 30 or so Herrings.

These gulls are part of a flock of 10,000++ birds that spend the days
feeding at the nearby Durant Road Landfill and hanging around the water
treatment plant.  They spend their nights in the widest section of Falls
Lake in between Rollingview and Sandling Beach.  Every morning at first
light these gulls migrate to the landfill area.  It takes about three hours
for all of them to arrive.  This morning procession can be seen from many
roads in between these sites.  They can be seen in "V" formation and in
large kettles sometimes as many as 1000 birds.  In the evening the flock
returns via the same route and can be seen heading back to Falls Lake.  If
you watch closely you can pick out the larger darker Herring Gulls from the
more common Ring-billeds.  The ration is usually 1 Herring Gull to 50-100
Ring-billeds.  Pretty cool huh?

Also susan banded an immature female RUFOUS hummingbird at a north Raliegh
feeder located in my count circle!!!

I am however still in need of volunteers on this third Falls Lake CBC.  Year
1 had 18 volunteers and 90 species, Year 2 had only 13 volunteers and
tallied 86 species.  The Falls Lake circle is comparable to the Jordan
count, and with more volunteers I'm sure it would produce similar numbers. 
The birds ARE out there!  

If anyone is interested in volunteering the Falls Lake CBC is on Saturday
December 30, 2000, PLEASE let me know, there are many good areas not covered
and new ones needing exploring.

THANX,

Brian Bockhahn
Falls Lake State Park Ranger
Falls Lake CBC Compiler
13304 Creedmoor Road
Wake Forest, NC 27587
919-676-1027
birdranger@excite.com





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