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Re: more western vagrants, white bird, and big day addendum



Hello all,
A large flock of robins (@50) landed in my yard and stayed there for a while
on Saturday afternoon. It was quite a treat to see 10 drinking from my
birdbath at the same time, not once, but several times, completely
surrounding the rim. One time, 1 robin took a vigorous bath, showering the
others, who kept right on drinking. In the bright sunshine, the red breasts,
the sparkling sprays of water, quite a sight!
Ordinary birds - lovely nature moment.
Carol Williamson
Durham, NC
carolw@sandler-recht.com


Joshua Stuart Rose wrote:

> 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/