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more western vagrants, white bird, and big day addendum



Hi Carolinabirders,

Vagrant report: Calliope Hummingbird in Suffolk, VA (apparently not 
hanging around though). Western Grebe in Salisbury, MA. Harris' Sparrow 
in Putney, VT. Ridiculously, THREE Calliope Hummers in GA: Alpharetta, 
Eastman, and Carrolton, with another possible in Lilburn. The Alpharetta 
bird hasn't been seen in a week, and the Eastman individual was found 
dead, but the other two were seen, and one banded, on Sunday. In Florida, 
in the same general area as the Scarlet Ibis (Fort Myers), a Western 
Tanager and Tropical/Couch's Kingbird; also a Brown-crested Flycatcher in 
the Everglades. I really hope I get to pay this much attention next year, 
to see how much of this western invasion is real and how much is just 
more birders paying closer attention... And, for another escaped vs. 
vagrant dispute, a Whooper Swan in Maryland.

I didn't have any classes today, so I took a double-wide lunch hour in 
Hillsborough at Randy's friend's house. I brought lunch and some reading 
materials, as well as binoculars and a camera, and used my car as a 
blind. Unfortunately, although I recorded eight bird species at the 
feeder and at least five more in the yard, I saw no white birds. For that 
matter, I saw not even one Dark-eyed Junco, the species with which the 
white bird was reportedly associating. The flock must have spent that 
particular two hours elsewhere. Hopefully they'll come back at some 
point...

One interesting observation that I accidentally left out of yesterday's 
account: As Frank and I were leaving the Goldeneye-less Seaforth SRA, I 
spotted a flock of birds by the roadside. They were bathing in a tiny 
stream that ran under the road. They turned out to be Pine Warblers; as 
many as 20 were on the ground at once, with others in the trees. It was a 
wonderful sight, one of those moments that reminds you that the list 
isn't everything. Other folks visiting Seaforth or Jordan Lake in general 
may want to visit this spot, especially if the weather gets dry or 
freezing, to see if another flock of birds is taking advantage.

Good birding,

Josh



Joshua S. Rose
Duke University
Department of Biology (Zoology, R.I.P.)

jsr6@acpub.duke.edu
http://www.duke.edu/~jsr6/