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Trumpeter Swans, GTTowhee,and other birds:
- To: Carolina Bird Club <carolinabirds@duke.edu>
- Subject: Trumpeter Swans, GTTowhee,and other birds:
- From: William McDavit <osprey1@atmc.net>
- Date: Sun, 03 Feb 2002 20:54:01 -0500
- Sender: carolinabirds-owner@acpub.duke.edu
Dear C'Birders:
Yes, Some farms have Trumpeter Swans. In fact, I saw one once at a farm out
west and studied it, especially the bill, and if one can get a GOOD look at
the bill it's pretty easy to separate it from Tundra. At least that has
been my experience, mostly in Pacific Northwest where one can be wintering
one place and nearby the other.
Said Hello to the Green-tailed Towhee again today, around 8 AM in Southport.
I spent a good long time trying to turn those Marbled Godwits into
Hudsonians at the boat launch next to the jetty south of Ft. Fisher.
Couldn't do it.
After walking a mile, I found the Eurasian Widgeon at Greenfield Lake in
Wilmington. If you find, on Lake Shore Drive, the memorial rock with plaque
and tall flagpole with US flag, just beyond the 1 mile marker from the main
parking lot, and look about 50 yards to the left in the lake. . . that is
where it was today around noon.
Last Tuesday, the 29, I visited with the Calliope Hummingbird in
Winston-Salem. It amazed me that it fed on this lovely 70 degree day at
high noon at each feeder within 15 minutes after sitting for 15 minutes in
the tree in front of garage, just like others have mentioned. Most hummers
are off eating bugs at this time of day.
And speaking of hummers' choice of yards for wintering, I think it was
Joshua Rose who said it doesn't seem to matter whether you have flowers or
not. Which is so true. Because of the mild winter our camellias haven't
taken as many hits from frost and many of the azaleas are coming out at
least one month early. And this is the first of 4 winters when we haven't
had any hummingbirds.
Also saw that delightful couple, the Monk Parakeets last Tuesday at Mr.
Davenport's barn in Nashville, near Rocky Mount.
And then I made my third try for the Ash-throated Flycatcher, which has
metamorphisized into a Western Kingbird. I give up. I have had to do my
birding between bouts of sinus infections-nothing new there, and company and
visits to family.
We have had the usual ducks here on Lake Medcalf, although for awhile the
Lesser Scaups were about 4 to one over Ring-neckeds, but that has reversed
itself. We have had Green-winged teal, Gadwalls, and Am. Widgeons all
along, and our resident Wood ducks have stayed at 20. Three Shovelers
showed up a week ago.
There are in addition to these, Greater Scaup and Redheads on East Lake of
the Twin Lakes.
Our Goldfinch count is a paltry 14, no siskins, or other good finches.
Our Immature Xmas Barred Owl hasn't been seen in over a week. It was fun
seeing whose yard it would end up at next for a few weeks.
After the Woodcock hit our house the museum was tickled pink to get the skin
at Ocean Isle. I didn't realize for awhile that we had several others in
the yard, as well as a covey of bobwhite.
Yesterday a frustrated Sharpshin Hawk spent a lot of futile time flying
inches off the ground pursuing all the Towhees and White-throateds under the
bushes.
Good Birding to All,
Mary McDavit, Sunset Beach, NC.
osprey1@atmc.net