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lunch hour birdin



Hello all,
Spent my lunch hour at the Little Creek Inpoundment on Highway 54 in
Chapel Hill. Except for the dreadful racket from Meadowmount and nearby
highway construction, it was beautiful - clear, bright, and refreshing.
Some of the water was still frozen over, but the majority was thawed.

Was pleased to see several red-headed woodpeckers. Other species
included downy woodpecker, chickadee, titmouse, cardinal, goldfinch,
phoebe, yellow-rumped warblers, turkey vulture, crow, and several
red-tailed hawks circling overhead. I had gone there hoping for ducks,
but saw none. Two elegant great blue herons were stealthily stalking
their lunch.

On the way there and back (along I-40), I saw at least half a dozen
red-tailed hawks perched in trees, as well as a lone black vulture.
Every spring, a pair of black vultures settles in on the roof of this
building, a 2-story office building in RTP. Sure enough, yesterday there
they were, perched close to the edge of the roof, peering over at us
humans. One poor bird last year repeatedly pecked at his reflection in
the glass walls beside the front entrance, scaring some employees and
leaving a permanent calling card in the damaged glass.

Ah, a beautiful weekend ahead. Good birding, everyone!
Carol Williamson
Durham, NC
carolw@sandler-recht.com