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CBC Newsletter

Lvnne Mattocks Lucas

for members of the Carolina Bird Club, Inc., ornithological society of the Carolinas

Volume 50

December 2004

Number 6

CBC in Atlantic Beach, January 28-30

By Judy Murray

Let’s go to Atlantic Beach in January to see good winter birds! Our winter meeting will be held January
28-30, 2005 in Atlantic Beach, NC. We’ll search for shorebirds, gulls, terns, loons, gannets, sparrows,
waterfowl, and others on a variety of field trips. We’ve seen up to 150 species on past CBC meetings in
Carteret County, including rarities such as Long-billed Curlew, Red Phalarope, and Thayer’s and
Glaucous Gulls.

Headquarters for the meeting will be the Sheraton Atlantic Beach Oceanfront Hotel (2717 W. Fort
Macon Road, Atlantic Beach, NC 28512, 252-240-1 155 or 1-800-624-8875). From US 70 in Morehead
City take the causeway to Atlantic Beach, turning right on SR 58. The Sheraton is 2.3 miles on the left.
Room rates are $65 per night single or double occupancy, plus a 12% room tax. All reservations must be
guaranteed by credit card or advanced payment of a first night’s room, including tax. Be sure to mention
you are with CBC. All rooms have a hair dryer, coffeemaker, and refrigerator. The rate does not include
a continental breakfast, however, there is a restaurant in the hotel where you can purchase breakfast.
Reservation deadline is December 27, 2004. Room rates cannot be guaranteed after that date.

Dana Harris will have the registration table set up beginning on Thursday, January 28, at 7 pm. There
will be a social hour Friday and Saturday nights from 7-8 pm, followed by the general meeting at 8 pm
both nights in the meeting room of the hotel. John Fussell is our featured speaker Friday night, presenting
his program "Birding and Bird Habitats in Carteret County,” giving us a peak at the birds we can expect
to see over the weekend. Saturday night Mike Tove’s program will be “Gull Identification: Their Molts
and How to Age Them.”

John Fussell has a great line up of field trips with exciting birds to see on each trip. The descriptions of
the trips and pre-registration form are in this newsletter. Be sure to include your trip preferences when
you register for the meeting. Mark your calendars and register now for this wonderful birding experience.
Hope to see all of you there!

ucpcowtemg CBC Meetings

'Blowing J^oek, NC - April 1, ZOOA

charleston <sc - September 30-Dctober 2, 200A
Virginia Beaeh - winter 200c

Remember to keep your
hummingbird feeders up
this winter. You might
be treated with a
surprise winter guest!!

On Coming to Raleigh, in 1938

By Thomas Quay, Professor Emeritus Zoology , NCSU

The first person I met on coming to North Carolina
State to begin graduate studies on September 1,

1938, was Dr. Carey Bostian, Professor of Genetics.
He said, “Now that you are here, you’re going to
teach ornithology, not me.” I said, “fine by me,” and
they put me on a teaching assistantship. (Dr. Bostian
later became the Chancellor of North Carolina State
University.)

The next person I met was Dr. Z. P. Metcalf, head
of the Department of Zoology, Entomology, and
Genetics, who had just created the new curriculum
of Wildlife Conservation and Management. The
third person I met was the nationally famous Dr.

B. W. Wells, a pioneer plant ecologist, who wrote
The Natural Gardens (Communities) of North
Carolina.

Then I went downtown to the State Museum of
Natural History to meet the “Brimley Boys,” H. H.
and C. S. Brimley, who had come over from
England in the 1880s. They made their living at first
by collecting scientific specimens of plants and
animals, mainly from the Walnut Creek lowgrounds
of southeast Raleigh, and shipping them to great
museums all over the world! H. H. became the
Director of the State Museum at an early age and
soon became an exceptional figure in his innovative
exhibits. He was also very social about town, with
top hat and cane. The great Gene Odum of Chapel
Hill wrote an autobiography of H. H., for the Chapel
Hill Press.

C. S. Brimley became the State Entomologist and
published The Insects of North Carolina. He could
tell you from memory the scientific names of all the
thousands of species included. C. S. Brimley was a
true genius, who never went to college. He would
make up poems and stories for children, on the spot
without preparation. Being entirely blind in one eye
and color blind in the other, he perfected the art of
field identification of birds by size, shape,
movement, song, chip notes, and by light and dark
markings before Roger Troy Peterson’s great book
of the 1930s burst upon the world. Dr. Z. P. Metcalf
arranged for an Honorary Doctorate for C. S. from
the University of North Carolina.

Dr. John Grey was minister of the West Raleigh
Presbyterian Church when, in 1937, he became the
motivating force behind the creation of the North
Carolina Bird Club, and the first editor of The Chat.
Dr. Grey was also the prime force behind getting T.
Gilbert Pearson and the Brimleys to publish the
second edition of The Birds of North Carolina
(1942).

It was a great pleasure to meet and talk with Pearson
in 1938-40, on his frequent trips from New York
and the National Audubon Society. Pearson’s book,
Adventures in Bird Protection (1936), is a classic
joy, detailing the major national efforts at bird
protection and wildlife conservation of the teens,
twenties, and thirties, when ecology and
environmental management were first becoming of
public concern.

The last, but not the least, of the great ornithologists
I found living and working in Raleigh was Roxie
Collie. Roxie was bom in eastern North Carolina in
1912, graduated from Meredith College, and joined
the State Museum in the thirties as a preparator,
where she did fantastic mounts. She was famous
there, among other things, for “Roxie ’s Boys” —
teaching, voluntarily, groups of young people about
watching birds. Roxie was soon taken up to the
Smithsonian in Washington D.C., where she became
one of the foremost ornithologists of all time. She
perfected the technique of identifying all 9,000+
species of birds in the world by the microscopic
structure of the feathers. She was the first to identify
the species of birds that got into airplane motors and
brought them to earth. She starred in forensic cases
and was eagerly sought after by the airlines. Roxie
died this year, age 92, but not before she had trained
many experts in her techniques and methodologies.

Tom was Associate Editor of The Chat, 1940-42 and
Editor of The Chat, 1950-52.

Editor’s note: I’d love to hear more stories like this
one that shares a part of the ornithological history
of the Caro Unas. If you have a story (or photo) to
share, send it to my address or email on the back of
this newsletter. Thanks! KB

" When one tugs at a single thing in
nature, he finds it attached to the rest
of the world" - John Muir

CBC Bonus Trips

CBC Field Trip to Burke's Garden, Virginia - January 22

Join us as we travel to Burke’s Garden in the southwestern mountains of Virginia. Burke’s Garden is a
high elevation “bowl”, in which cold air is trapped, therefore making it very attractive to bird species that
normally winter further north. Species that we might expect to see include Rough-legged Hawk (both
morphs), Golden Eagle, other various raptors, Black-capped Chickadee, woodpeckers, and wintering
waterfowl. We will meet at the Holiday Inn Express in Elkin, NC at 8 am and carpool from there.

If you need overnight lodging, hotels in the Elkin area include Holiday Inn Express, 336-835-6000; Days
Inn, 800-695-8284; and Hampton Inn, 336-835-1994. Cost is $10 and limited to 15 birders. The inclement
weather date is February 5th. Be sure to dress warmly as it can be very cold at Burke’s Garden. We will
stop at the country store to have lunch and warm ourselves by the pot-bellied stove. Contact leaders Lori
Martin (828-638-1 193 or loriannkayaker@charter.net) or Dwayne Martin (828-312-1064) before mailing
your registration money.

CBC in Northern Minnesota
Winter Weekend February 17 - 21, 2005

Yes, it is cold — VERY COLD. But the rewards can be high for visiting birders in search of some of those
hard to find lifers, while experiencing bogs and huge coniferous forest in the middle of winter. Snowy
Owl, Ruffed Grouse, Thayer’s and Glaucous Gulls, Boreal Chickadee, Bohemian Waxwing, Northern
Shrike, Evening and Pine Grosbeaks, Snow Bunting, and Common Redpoll can go on the expected list.
Decent chance for Harlequin Duck, Sharp-tailed and Spruce Grouse, Northern Goshawk, Northern Hawk
and Great Gray Owls, Three-toed and Black-backed Woodpeckers, White-winged and Red Crossbills, and
Hoary Redpoll. Long shots would be Gyrfalcon and Boreal Owl. Total trip species list probably around 30
- 40 species, but what a list!

Most birding will take place along roadsides, in or near the warmth of the vehicles. Expectations at this
point would be to use Duluth as a base of operations. Field trip leaders are Stephen Harris and Simon
Thompson. Price $495 from Duluth includes lodging, group van, and guide service. Single supplement
$170. Limit 20 people. If you are interested in the trip and registration information please contact Stephen
Harris at srharris@mindspring.com or 910-791-9034 to reserve your spot. An information and registration
packet will be mailed to you, so please be sure to include complete name(s) and mailing address.

Augusta Recap

CBC members Lois Stacey, Anne Waters, and
Caroline Wyatt (pictured at right) are birding at the
“gorgeous” Phinizy Swamp during the Augusta
meeting in September. Birders counted 134 species
of birds, including Wood Stork, Virginia Rail, Bam
Owl, Red-cockaded Woodpecker, 12 species of
shorebirds, and 19 species of warblers. Special
thanks go to Paul Koehler, coordinator of the
meeting, and to members of Augusta-Aiken
Audubon, for planning and hosting the fun, well-
organized weekend!

Photo by Dan Chambers

2004-2005 Christmas Bird Counts

Take part in National Audubon’s 105th Christmas Bird Count this season. Counts run from December 14, 2004 through
January 5, 2005. Counts with a TBA after the count name had not been announced by the time the newsletter went to press.
You can also find the list of counts on the Carolina Bird Club website. This could be a good year for Red-breasted Nuthatches
since many have been reported in the Carolinas in October. Look through the list of counts below and have fun birding!

Tuesday, December 14,

2004

Pamlico Co., NC

Liz Lathrop

252-249-2646

harbinger@cconnect.net

Thursday, December 16, 2004

Highlands Plateau, NC

Edwin Poole

828-526-2775

kaywick@principia.net

Winyah Bay, SC

Lex Glover

803-438-9855

bglvr@clemson.edu

Saturday, December 18, 2004

Augusta, GA

Anne Waters

706-793-2788

birdannelady@earthlink.net

Columbia, SC

Robin Carter

803-782-8820

rcarter@sc.rr.com

Guilford Co., NC

Herb Hendrickson

336-288-0271

HHendrickson@triad.rr.com

Hilton Head, SC

Barry Lowes/Nan Lloyd

843-671-3537

nan@nanhiltonhead.com

Kitty Hawk, NC

Jeff Lewis

252-473-1086

jlewis_obx@yahoo.com

Raleigh, NC

John Connors

919-755-0253

John.Connors@ncmail.net

Raven Rock, NC

Paul Hart

910-893-4888

Paul.Hart@ncmail.net

Rocky Mount, NC

Marshall Brooks

252-985-5245

mbrooks@cwc.edu

Tryon, NC

Simon Thompson

828-253-4247

Travel@birdventures.com

Wayne Co., NC

Eric Dean

919-736-7264

wolfpackdeans@earthlink.net

York/Rock Hill, SC

Bill Hilton, Jr.

803-684-5852

hilton@hiltonpond.org

Sunday, December 19,

2004

Congaree Swamp, SC

Robin Carter

803-782-8820

rcarter@sc.rr.com

Durham, NC

Josh Rose

919-451-0803

jsr6@duke.edu

McClellanville, SC

Nathan Dias

diasn@yahoo.com

Moorehead City, NC

John Fussell

252-240-1046

jfuss@clis.com

Southern Lake Norman, NC

Taylor Piephoff

704-532-6336

PiephoffT @aol .com

Southern Pines, NC

Susan Campbell

910-949-3207

susan@ncaves.com

Monday, December 20,

2004

New Bern, NC

Bob Holmes

252-633-3003

Friday, December 24, 2004

Aiken, SC

Calvin Zippier

803-642-2264

zipplerc@bellsouth.net

Sunday, December 26,

2004

Chapel Hill, NC

Will Cook

919-382-9134

cwcook@duke.edu

Henderson Co., NC

Wayne Forsythe

828-697-6628

wforsythe@earthlink.net

Monday, December 27,

2004

Cape Hatteras, NC

Patricia Moore

252-995-4777

topatneal@aol.com

Tuesday, December 28,

2004

Bodie-Pea Island, NC

Paul Sykes

706-769-9436

paul_sykes@usgs.gov

Wednesday, December 29, 2004

Mattamuskeet, NC

Allen Bryan

804-740-8953

nshrike@mail.com

Thursday, December, 30, 2004

Litchfield-Pawleys Island, SC Jack Peachy

843-347-5810

ppaw@sccoast.net (contact Jack by Dec. 15)

Spartanburg, SC

Lyle Campbell

864-585-1228

LCAMPBELL@uscupstate.edu

Ocracoke Island, NC

Peter Vankevich

202-468-2871

pmva@loc.gov (252-928-2539 after Dec. 26)

Pettigrew SP, NC

Sid Shearin

252-797-4156

Sid.Shearin@ncmail.net

Friday, December 31, 2004

Cleveland Co., NC

Jo Ann Martin

828-453-7400

j amloon@bellsouth.net

Portsmouth, NC

Peter Vankevich

202-468-2871

pmva@loc.gov (252-928-2539 after Dec. 26)

Saturday, January 1, 2005

Balsam, NC

Bob Olthoff

828-627-2546

robcar@asap-com.com

Santee NWR, SC

Lex Glover

803-438-9855

bglvr@clemson.edu

Wilmington, NC

Sam Cooper

910-799-3825

samwilm@aol.com

Winston-Salem, NC

Linda G. Davis

336-924-1751

davisl@mindspring.com

Sunday, January 2, 2005

Alligator River NWR, NC

Jeff Lewis

252-473-1086

jlewis obx@yahoo.com

Buncombe Co., NC

Marilyn Westphal

828-891-9896

mjwestphal@unca.edu

Greenville, NC

Dr. Veronica Pantelidis

252-758-7828

pantelidisv@mail.ecu.edu

John Wright

252-756-5139

johnswrighthsd@earthlink.net

Jordan Lake, NC

Carol Williamson

919-383-2364

cncbrdr@yahoo.com

Southport, NC

Greg Massey

910-383-3639

gregmassey@bellsouth.net

Monday, January 3, 2005

Falls Lake, NC

Brain Bockhahn

919-676-1027

cbockhahn4@earthlink.net

Lake Wateree, SC

Donna Slyce

803-951-7122

dslyce@earthlink.net

Tuesday, January 4, 2005

Kerr Lake, NC

Brian Bockhahn

919-676-1027

cbockhahn4@earthlink.net

Gaston County, NC (TBA)

Steve Tracy

704-853-0654

StevePath 1 @aol.com

Greenville Co., SC (TBA)

J.B. Hines

jb.hines@kosa.com

Mt. Jefferson, NC (TBA)

Peter Zwadyk

336-982-8062

pzwadyk@fastransit.net

Just Outside the Window By Donna Slyce

Gone Country Although familiar to most as a confiding and
calm member of the usual host of birds found in suburban
backyards, where it can be seen leaning eagerly over
manicured lawns, apparently listening for the movements of
it’s favored summer prey of earthworms, the American Robin
leads something of a double life. Spring and summer will find
many American Robins in backyards, nesting in trees and
shrubs on suburban lawns, and feeding their spot-breasted
young, while plainly visible to anyone nearby.

As breeding season winds down, robins undergo a change in
habits. As high summer gives way to late summer and the
earliest of the migrants begin to move, American Robins lose
their confiding ways. They disappear one by one from summer
lawns and can be found in wilder places, consuming berries of
various sorts, not allowing close approach, and acting much
more like other members of their family, the reclusive
thrushes. They begin to accumulate in large groups composed
of adult males and the young fledged in the early summer,
even as the adult females raise second broods of young. Later
in the summer, the adult females and the second brood of
young join the group.

The most notable feature of this accumulation in large groups
is the number of American Robins who roost in communal
roosts at night. At points north of North and South Carolina,
the literature discusses this phenomenon as “peaking” in late

summer. Here in the South, where the number of robins
increases during the winter months with winter resident birds,
it has been mine and others’ personal experience that this
behavior “peaks” in mid-winter, at least in the number of birds
that can be found utilizing a single nocturnal roost. While
living in Fairfield County (South Carolina), a neighbor told me
about the large number of American Robins using their non-
working pastures at night for roosting in late January. The
habitat was much as Arthur C. Bent describes as the type of
habitat used by robins for nocturnal roosts — dense growths of
largely deciduous trees in a swampy or wet area surrounded by
open fields or retired pastures. It was with some pleasure that I
began to note a large number of robins over flying the house
within a few days of hearing about the roost, which was
located near me. Amazed at the number of birds, I began
block-counting the passing robins each evening. The first
evening I counted 3,350 robins; the next evening I counted
3,950 robins. Most interesting was the count I got the very
next night. I counted 50 birds on the third night. Such is the
nature of roosts, apparently. The location of the roost is
mobile, dependent in part on proximity to food sources. As
food sources are exhausted, the roost moves. My numbers
were amazing to me, but Bent mentions a winter roost in
Florida that contained 50,000 birds. Summer roosts in the
North have contained an estimated 2,000 birds.

So the robin that comes bob-bob-bobbing along beside the
sidewalk in spring and summer has a secret — he lives a double
life of urbane suburbanite and backwoods hermit.

MOUNTAIN, HURRICANE BIRDINS

By Wayne K. Forysthe

The summer and fall shorebird migration was proceeding at an
agonizingly slow pace in the mountains of western North
Carolina. My traditional hot spots, Hooper Lane, Jeffress
Road, and the Mills River area of Henderson County were
very quiet. Traditionally, you can expect shorebirds anytime
after July 4th, assuming we get some good thunderstorms, and
Super Sod is beginning to harvest sod. Often, after an
afternoon thunderstorm, I head out to Hooper Lane and go
through the shorebirds that drop out of the sky and are feeding
in the new puddles. This fall, I have gone out to Hooper Lane
countless times after a heavy rain, and there were very few or
no birds at all. This was beginning to get very frustrating,
indeed.

Suddenly, in the beginning of September, things began to
change. Hurricane Francis was being forecast to hit the
mountains of western North Carolina. This storm was forecast
to be very serious with very heavy rains and flooding predicted
for Henderson County. On September 7th, I was heading back
from Durham and drove through heavy rains for four hours.

As soon as 1 got home, I headed out to Hooper Lane, in search
of a fallout. Of course, isn’t that what is suppose to happen
when a hurricane hits? Much to my dismay, due to heavy
flooding, Hooper Lane and Jeffress Road were under water
and impassable. I headed back home feeling rather dejected.

Finally, at about 3 pm on September 8th, I again headed out to
the Hooper Lane, Jeffress Road area of Henderson County.
Prior to heading out, I checked my rain gage and found that I
had 8.2 1 " of precipitation from the storm. Other areas of the
county had up to 12" of precipitation from this storm. Flooding
in Henderson County was very severe. Hooper Lane and
Jeffress Road were still impassible, but I was able to get on
Jeffress Road via Butler Bridge Road off of Route 280. The
flooding in the area was by far the worst I have seen in my 1 8
years in Henderson County. The river had covered about 90%
of Super Sod and was up to the base of Jeffress Road. Some
areas of the sod farm were under six feet of water. Prior to the
storm, most of the fields along Jeffress Road were recently
tilled and ready for new seed. Only a very small area of these
fields were still above water.

As I pulled off the road, I began to scan with my bins and was
truly amazed at what 1 saw. Conservatively, I would estimate
at least 1000-1500 shorebirds littering the edges of the fields. I
immediately called Ron Selvey and told him he needed to
come right away. I felt that this was an historical event in the
making. I also called Marilyn Westphal as well. As I hung up
on Ron, l told him jokingly, “I’m going to look for some
Phalaropes.” As I scanned the edges, there were unprecedented
numbers of peeps including Least, Semipalmated, and Western
Sandpipers. There was a flock of 30+ Dunlin, at least 30 Stilt
Sandpipers, 2 Buff-breasted Sandpipers, and a few Baird’s
Sandpipers as well. As we continued to scan, we saw a few
Sanderling, both Black-bellied and American Golden Plover,
as well as at least 30+ Semipalmated Plovers. There were good

numbers of Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, many Short-billed
Dowitchers, and Pectoral Sandpipers as well. Interestingly, I
only saw one Spotted Sandpiper and NO Solitary Sandpipers.
Approximately 30 terns were flying overhead, Forster’s, Black
and Common Terns.

As we continued to scan the edges, I saw three, large, very
gray birds with prominent, white, supercillium eye lines and
long upturned bills. After some discussion and a quick look at
the field guide we settled on probable Hudsonian Godwits. I
was able to get a few digi-scoped pictures. As we continued to
scan, there were four Wilson’s Phalaropes feeding along the
waters edge. Overhead, a Peregrine Falcon began to shop for
an easy meal.

As Ron, Marilyn, and I continued to scan, two large cinnamon
colored birds dropped in. They too had long, upturned bills
that were very pink at the base with black tips and their backs
were heavily mottled with black. Surely these were not the
same Godwits we saw earlier. Could the heavy overcast and
poor lighting be playing tricks on us? No, we were actually
seeing two species of godwit, Hudsonian and Marbled, in the
mountains of western North Carolina. Again I took some
digital shots to document these wonderful rarities. As light
began to fail, we grudgingly had to leave. While I feel that we
saw most of the rarities that were present, I can’t help but feel
we probably missed some other good birds, it was
overwhelming for us mountain birders. I can’t help but wonder
what Simon Thompson or some of the other big guns down the
mountain could have found if they were present and had time
to go through all the birds present.

The next morning,
several of us went out to
the Hooper Lane,
Jeffress Road area again.
We could only get
limited access to Hooper
Lane since most of it
was under water.

Several of us walked
Red-necked Phalorope, Wayne Forsythe the waters edge out into

the sod field. Danny

Swicegood arrived and asked if the Wilson’s Phalaropes had
been seen today as they would be lifers for him. I relied, “ no,
not today,” and within moments we found 2 Red-necked
Phalaropes swimming and feeding in the tall grass at the
waters edge, another new county bird and a lifer for Danny! A
few Black Terns were overhead as well as the Peregrine
Falcon. We headed back to Jeffress Road and again saw many
of the birds present the day before, plus a Willet.

The following week. Hurricane Ivan hit the mountains of
western North Carolina. This time, we had severe winds, but
not as much rain. I recorded 5.57 inches of precipitation at my
home. Henderson County was hit hard, with many trees and
power lines down and 50,000 folks with no power for up to a
week.

Again, we had many good birds come in with the hurricane.

Continued on next page

Mountain, Hurricane Birding continued

On Rt. 191/280 the fields were flooded. Some of the birds seen
were American Golden, Black-bellied, and Semipalmated
Plovers. Again, 2 Red-necked Phalaropes showed up, 1 Ruddy
Turnstone, Stilt Sandpipers, both yellowlegs, Pectorals and
several peeps. We headed out to Hooper Lane, which was still
flooded, and sitting out on a little spit of grass were 5
Laughing Gulls, another Henderson County first. I took a few
pictures and Jon Smith asked me what the tem flying over
head was. Due to very heavy overcast, I told Jon that it was
probably a Forster’s Tem. Jon and Glenda both told me they
felt it was a Gull-billed Tem. After viewing the tem for a
while, I could not see an ear patch which a Forster’s should
show at this time of year and the bird had a very large, thick,
black bill and dark legs. Overall the bird was white/light gray
and the primaries were a darker shade of gray. I told Jon and
Glenda 1 felt they were right, another new mountain bird,
assuming the Records Committee accepts the sighting as valid.

A week later. Hurricane Jeanne arrived. Boy, this weather was
beginning to get very old, but the birding was sensational! We
only received a few inches of rain and almost no birds. On
Saturday morning, September 25th I was birding the Hooper
Lane area. As an after thought, I walked all the way out to the
back of Super Sod and set up my scope to scan some far out
puddles. What I found was tmly amazing — a Black-necked
Stilt! I took a few photos for documentation and got on the

phone. Within an hour, at least 15 other birders were treated to
this wonderful rarity. Also present were both yellowlegs,
Pectorals, a few peeps, several Stilt Sandpipers, and a
Peregrine Falcon.

This three week period of very unusual weather was tmly
historical for the birding community of western North
Carolina. I cherished every moment and every bird I saw
during this period. I daresay, it will be a very long time before
we have a similar event.

Membership Comer

New Members

Tim Allison-Lancaster, SC; Melissa E. Barth-Blowing Rock,
NC; Dr. & Mrs. Sanjukta Ghosh & Arunabha Sengupta-
Durham, NC; Kathleen Hart-Moncks Corner, SC; Imtiaz &
Mary Hoque-Clemson, SC; Pan! R. Jones- Anderson, SC;
Ruth Mead-Augusta, GA; Elizabeth & Douglas Ward-Cary,
NC; Kathy & John Steele-N. Augusta, SC; Jacki Tylka-
Garner, NC; Kathy Watkins-Charlotte, NC; Jean M.
Yarsawich-Martinez, GA; Charles & Patricia Youngblood-
Bear Creek, NC; and Eugene Zielinski-Augusta, GA.

Deceased Member

Peter Manigault-Charleston, SC

Life Member

Judith A. Fortney-Durham, NC

Atlantic Beach Field Trip Schedule

Please note the meeting locations, directions, and times in
the field trip descriptions on the following two pages. Many
trips have the option of leaving from the Sheraton, or meeting
at the site, shopping center closer to the site, or ferry. Also
note all trips have a limit (10-15) of how many can attend.
Carpool when possible. You may want to bring drinks and
snacks for half-day trips and will need to bring lunch for all-
day trips. Field trip descriptions by John Fussell.

Friday, January 28

No All-day trips
Half-day morning

Trip #1 Bird Shoal/Rachel Carson — 7:15 am at Sheraton or 8
am at ferry

Trip #2 Ft. xMacon/Piers/Sparrows — 7:30 am at Sheraton
Trip #3 Open Ground Farm — 8 am at Beaufort Square

Half-day afternoon

Trip #4 Bird Shoal/Rachel Carson — 12:30 pm at Sheraton or
1:15 pm at ferry

Trip #5 North River Farms — 1 pm at Beaufort Square
Trip #6 Calico Creek/Morehead — 1 pm at Sheraton

Saturday, January 29

All-day trips

Trip #7 Onslow Co. — 8 am at Jim O’Donnell’s house

Trip #8 Down East — 7 am at Sheraton

Trip #9 Cape Lookout — 7:30 am at Sheraton or 8:30 am at

Local Yokel Ferry

Trip #10 Clancy’s Farm — 7:15 am at Sheraton
Trip #1 1 Croatan NF & New Bern — 7:15 at Sheraton

Half-day morning

Trip #12 E. Shackleford Banks — 7 am at Sheraton or 8 am at
Local Yokel Ferry

Trip #13 Kayak to Carrot Island — 8 am Beaufort boat ramp
Trip #14 Bird Shoal/Rachel Carson — 7:1 5 am at Sheraton or 8
am at ferry

Trip #15 Ft. Macon/Piers/Sparrows — 7:30 am at Sheraton
Trip #16 North River Farms — 8 am at Beaufort Square

Half-day afternoon

Trip #17 Bird Shoal/Rachel Carson — 12:30 pm at Sheraton or
1:15 at ferry

Trip #18 North River Farms — 1 pm at Beaufort Square
Trip #19 Calico Creek/Morehead — 1 pm at Sheraton

Sunday, January 30

Half-day morning

Trip #20 E. Shackleford Banks — 7 am at Sheraton or 8 am at
Local Yokel Ferry

Trip #21 Bird Shoal/Rachel Carson — 7:15 am at Sheraton or 8
am at ferry

Trip #22 Ft. Macon/Piers/Sparrows — 7:30 am at Sheraton
Trip #23 North River Farms — 8 am at Beaufort Square

Atlantic Beach Field Trip Descriptions

Trip 1. Bird Shoal/Rachel Carson Estuarine Reserve.

Good variety of shorebirds. Possibility of Long-billed Curlew.
Leave from Sheraton at 7:15 am (or be at Outer Banks Ferry —
directly across from N.C. Maritime Museum — on the Beaufort
waterfront at 8 am; this is about 30 minutes from the
Sheraton). Limit: 15. Cost $8, payable at ferry. Be prepared
to wade through ankle-deep water.

Trip 2. Fort Macon SP/Ocean Piers/Marsh Sparrows. Will

check Fort Macon jetties, do some birding from ocean piers,
and check the active spoiling site for gulls. At high tide, we’ll
bird the Morehead-Beaufort causeway marshes for marsh
sparrows. Limit: 15. Leave from Sheraton at 7:30 am. Boots
are desirable for last site.

Trip 3. Open Ground Farm. Will hope to see Brewer’s
Blackbird and look for other open country birds. Limit: 15.
Meet at Beaufort Square Shopping Center on US 70 East in
Beaufort. Park next to the Dairy Queen. (This is about 0.4 mile
past where NC 101 branches off from US 70.) Meet at 8 am.
(Site is about 30 minutes from Sheraton.)

Trip 4. Bird Shoal/Rachel Carson Estuarine Reserve.

(See description, cost, etc. under Trip 1 write-up. Leave from
Sheraton at 12:30 pm or be at Outer Banks Ferry at 1:15 pm.)

Trip 5. North River Farms. Site is typically quite birdy. Will
look for raptors and other open country birds, a variety of
sparrows, and maybe a few marsh birds. Limit: 15. Meet at
Beaufort Square Shopping Center on US 70 East in Beaufort.
Park next to the Dairy Queen. (This is about 0.4 mile past
where NC 101 branches off from US 70.) Meet at 1 pm. (Site
is about 30 minutes from Sheraton.)

Trip 6. Calico Creek/Morehead City area. Bird Calico
Creek tidal bay at various sites, which is a good place for good
looks at Clapper Rail. Will hope for something interesting at
Morehead sewage treatment plant. Limit: 15. Leave from the
Sheraton at 1 pm.

Trip 7. Onslow County — Jacksonville Sewage Treatment
Plant, New River Inlet-North Topsail Island, Permuda
Island Estuarine Reserve. At the treatment plant, will look
through ducks and gulls, and hope for specialties like Black-
headed and Lesser Black-backed Gulls and Eared Grebe. The
ocean off North Topsail is typically very birdy, with large
numbers of gannets and loons. Limit: 12. Leader: Jim
O’Donnell. This trip will begin at Jim O’Donnell’s house,
which is about one hour from the Sheraton. Be at Jim’s
house at 8 am. To get to Jim’s house, take NC 58 North
(west) down the island and on to the mainland (at Cape
Carteret). Turn left on NC 24 and continue through
Jacksonville. Continue on NC 24/US 258 and turn left on NC
1 1 1 (following signs to Jacksonville airport). Go 2.8 miles
down NC 111, and turn left on to Fire Tower Road at
Catherine’s Lake community. At 2.6 miles down Fire Tower
Road, look for brick house on right.

Trip 8. The Real Down East. An easy tour of various habitats
in the scenic Down East area of Carteret County, ending up at
the Cedar Island ferry terminal. We’ll see a variety of species,
including some waterfowl. Limit: 15. Leave from the Sheraton
at 7 am.

Trip 9. Cape Lookout. Trip will be to the cape point. There
will be gulls, and we’ll hope for a rarity. The cape is
wonderfully desolate in winter. Limit: 15. Leave from the
Sheraton at 7:30 am (or meet at Local Yokel Ferry Service on
Harkers Island by 8:30 am). To get to Local Yokel, take US 70
East. In Beaufort, note fork with NC 101 , and continue on US
70. About 9.3 miles past NC 101 fork, look for Harkers Island
Road. Take road on to Harkers Island, and look for Local
Yokel sign on right. Allow almost an hour to get from the
Sheraton. Cost $12, payable at ferry. Be prepared to get feet
wet when getting off boat at the cape. Will have to walk a
couple of miles through sand. Be prepared for spray and
low wind chill values.

Trip 10. Clancy Ballenger’s Farm. A tour of CBC member’s
farm, which is being managed for ducks, sparrows, and other
birds. Clancy will show how he is managing his farm for
birdlife. Limit: 15. Leave from Sheraton at 7:15 am.

Trip 11. Croatan National Forest/New Bern area. In the

Croatan National Forest, will look for Red-cockaded
Woodpeckers (and Henslow’s Sparrows if any have been
staked out). Then will check various sites — lakes and ponds, a
treatment plant, and the Neuse River estuary — for a variety of
waterfowl. Limit: 15. Leave from the Sheraton at 7:15 am.

Trip 12. East Shackleford Banks. Area is good for
shorebirds; may see Long-billed Curlews. Wonderfully
desolate in winter; shelling often good on ocean beach.

Limit: 15. Leave from the Sheraton at 7 am (or meet at Local
Yokel Ferry Service on Harkers Island by 8 am). To get to
Local Yokel, take US 70 East. In Beaufort, note fork with NC
101, and continue on US 70. About 9.3 miles past NC 101
fork, look for Harkers Island Road. Take road on to Harkers
Island, and look for Local Yokel sign on right. Allow almost
an hour to get from the Sheraton. Cost $10, payable at ferry.
Be prepared for some wading in sticky mud and for spray
and low wind chill values.

Trip 13. Kayak trip to Carrot Island-Horse Island/Rachel
Carson Reserve. Kayak trip through protected waters to
oyster rocks where large numbers of shorebirds roost. Limit:

1 0. Leader: Dennis Chadwick. Meet 8 am at public boat ramp
at east end of Front Street on Beaufort waterfront. To get to
site, take US 70 into Beaufort, and turn right at first stoplight
(onto Turner Street). Continue to end of street and turn left on
Front Street. Continue to end of Front Street (about 2 miles)
and look for boat ramp. Cost $20, payable at the boat ramp.
Kayaks provided. Be prepared for low wind chill values.

Trip 14. Bird Shoal/Rachel Carson Estuarine Reserve.

(See description, cost, etc. under Trip 1 write-up.)

Trip 15. Fort Macon SP/Ocean Piers/Marsh Sparrows.

(See description under Trip 2 write-up.)

Trip 16. North River Farms. (See birding and meeting place
under Trip 5 write-up. Meet in Beaufort at 8 am.)

Trip 17. Bird Shoal/Rachel Carson Estuarine Reserve.

(See description, cost, etc. under Trip 1 write-up. Leave from
Sheraton at 12:30 pm or be at Outer Banks Ferry at 1:15 pm.)

Trip 18. North River Farms. (See description under Trip 5
write-up.)

Trip 19. Calico Creek/Morehead City area. (See description
under Trip 6 write-up.)

Trip 20. East Shackleford Banks. (See description, cost, etc,
under Trip 12 write-up.)

Trip 21. Bird Shoal/Rachel Carson Estuarine Reserve.

(See description, cost, etc. under Trip 1 write-up.)

Trip 22. Fort Macon SP/Ocean Piers/Marsh Sparrows.

(See description under Trip 2 write-up.)

Trip 23. North River Farms. (See description under Trip 5
write-up. Meet in Beaufort at 8 am.)

Birding on Own. See Birding on Own hand-out with
registration.

[Note that the Outer Banks ferry is also available to take
persons to the west end of Shackleford Banks (no organized
trip is going to this site)].

Executive Committee Update

Meeting Registration Increase

Registration for CBC meetings will increase beginning with
the winter meeting in Atlantic Beach. For members the pre-
registration cost will be $15; non-members, $20; and $25 for
everyone who pays at the meeting. The Executive Committee
voted on this change at the August retreat due to an increase in
operation costs. The new fees are included in the registration
form below.

List of Committee Members

Grants: Bob Ellis (chair), Shelly Theye, and Bob Holland.

Finance: Stephen Harris (chair), Ben Smith, Edith Tatum,
Lucy Quintilliano, and Bob Wood.

Bird Records Committees: NC - Harry LeGrand, (chair),
Keith Camburn, Sam Cooper, Ricky Davis, Eric Dean, Wayne
Forsythe, and Russ Tyndall. SC - Donna Slyce (chair), Giff
Beaton, Lex Glover, Tim Kalbach, Taylor Piephoff, Will Post,
and Steve Wagner.

Nominating: Steve Patterson (chair), Lori Martin, and Dana
Harris.

Have fun participating in Cornell's annual Project FeederWatch, which begins November 13, 2004. Sign
up by contacting Cornell at 1-800-843-2473 or http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw.

Carolina Bird Club Registration Form

Atlantic Beach January 28-30, 2005 and Bonus Field Trip

Name(s)

Address City State Zip

Day Phone Evening phone Email

Enclosed is my check for $ for member ($15) registration(s) and/or nonmember ($20) registration(s). Registration

at the door costs $25 for everyone.

Friday field trip choices # / Saturday field trip choices # / Sunday field trip choices #

AM PM AM PM AM

Registration for bonus field trip costs $ 1 0/pp paid in advance.

Enclosed is my check for $ for member(s) to join the Burke’s Garden, VA - January 22 trip.

Make check payable to Carolina Bird Club and send to: CBC, 11 West Jones Street, Raleigh, NC 22601-1029.

Carolina Bird Club, Inc.

11 West Jones Street
Raleigh, NC 27601-1029

SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION LIBRARIES

3 9088 01117 4224

Nonprofit Organization
U.S. Post Office
Raleigh, NC
Permit No. 1654

Upcoming CBC Bonus Trips

November 13-14, Lake Mattamuskeet
January 22, Burke’s Garden, VA
February 17-21, Northern Minnesota

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NHB 25-MRC 154

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WASH I NGTON DC 200 1 3-70 1 2

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CBC Board Members

President, Bob Wood, Camden, SC

803-475-5660

wood29020@comporium.net

Vice-Presidents

John Cely, Columbia, SC

Ricky Davis, Rocky Mount, NC

Simon Thompson, Asheville, NC

Secretary

Sail Lankford, Asheville, NC

Treasurer

Stephen Harris, Wilmington, NC
NC Members -at -Large
Susan Campbell, Whispering Pines
Charlotte Goedsche, Weaverville
Lori Martin, Maiden
Judy Murray, Chapel Hill
SC Members -at -Large
Marcia Watkins, Columbia
Steve Patterson, Pickens

Immediate Past President, Van Atkins, Charleston, SC
Editor of The Chat, Kent Fiala, Hillsborough, NC
Website Editor, Kent Fiala, Hillsborough, NC
Editor of CBC Newsletter, Karen Bearden
1809 Lakepark Drive, Raleigh, NC 27612
919-844-9050, chickadeebirders@earthlink.net
Submission deadlines are due the 1st of January, March, May,
July, September, and November.

Headquarters Secretary, Tullie Johnson, Raleigh, NC
919-733-7450, Ext. 605, tullie.johnson@ncmail.net

Rare Bird Alert: 704-332-BIRD
CBC Website: www.carolinabirdclub.org

The CBC Newsletters published bimonthly by Carolina Bird Club, Inc.
Founded in 1937 the membership is open to anyone interested in birds,
natural history, and conservation. Current dues are: Individual &
non-profit, $20; Associate (in household with individual), $5; Student,
$15; Patron, $50 and up; Life, $400; Sustaining A businesses, $25.
Cost for CBC bird checklists, including postage: 10@$1.75, 25@$5,
50@$9.50, 75@$12.75, and 100@$16. Submit application for
membership, change of address, and payment for checklists to: CBC
Headquarters Secretary, 11 West Jones Street, Raleigh, NC 27601-
1029. Copyright © 2004. Printed on 100% recycled paper.