No. 1 Qu l'H 'GfSX Vol. 75 The Chat WINTER 2011 The Quarterly Bulletin of the Carolina Bird Club, Inc. E The Ornithological Society of the Carolinas THE CHAT ISSN No. 0009-1987 Vol. 75 WINTER 2011 No. 1 Editor General Field Notes Editors Kent Fiala, 1714 Borland Road Hillsborough, NC 27278 chat@carolinabirdclub.org North Carolina Christina Harvey South Carolina William Post Briefs for the Files Josh Southern Associate Editor Ginger Travis THE CHAT is published quarterly by the Carolina Bird Club, Inc., 353 Montabello, Bloomingdale, IL 60108-1037. Subscription price $20 per year. Periodicals postage paid at Bloomingdale, IL and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THE CHAT, Carolina Bird Club, Inc., 1809 Lakepark Drive, Raleigh NC 27612. Copyright © 201 1 by Carolina Bird Club, Inc. Except for purposes of review, material contained herein may not be reproduced without written permission of the Carolina Bird Club, Inc. Reports 2010 Annual Report of the North Carolina Bird Records Committee Harry E. LeGrand, Jr. , Chair 1 2010 Spring Migration Counts in North Carolina Marilyn Westphal 6 2010 Fall Bird Counts in South Carolina Lois Stacey 31 \Briefs for the Files Fall 2010 Josh Southern 36 \Fifty Years Ago in The Chat March 1961..... 55 Reviews Birds of Europe, Second Edition 56 Cover: Bachman ’s Sparrow, 1 Jan 2011, Allendale Co, SC. Photo by Steve Kilpatrick. 2010 Annual Report of the North Carolina Bird Records Committee Harry E. LeGrand, Jr.1, Chair, Keith E. Camburn, Samuel Cooper, Richard J. Davis, Eric V. Dean, Wayne K. Forsythe, Jeffrey S. Pippen, Michael H. Tove, Russell L. Tyndall ]N.C. Natural Heritage Program, 1601 MSC, Raleigh, NC 27699-1601 This report enumerates the decisions of the Carolina Bird Club’s North Carolina Bird Records Committee during 2010. There were no changes to the membership of the committee during the year. Committee voting information is referenced in parentheses (i.e., year report received, reference number). Accepted as Valid The reported identification is judged to be accurate, and the bird is judged to be of wild origin. Photographs and/or written descriptions of all accepted records have been deposited in the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences. Black-bellied Storm-Petrel (. Fregetta tropica) (10-16). One was seen by many birders on a pelagic trip out of Hatteras, Dare County, on 14 August 2010. The Committee accepted a photo taken by Kate Sutherland. Remarkably, this is the fourth accepted state record from this area of the Gulf Stream. As all four records have been documented by photos, the species is already on the Official List. Long-billed Curlew ( Numenius americanus) (10-14). One was seen and photographed in the Mills River portion of Henderson County on 29-30 August 2010. It was originally seen by Shelby Birch and Donald Coody; the Committee accepted written descriptions by Birch and Wayne Forsythe, plus photos taken by Forsythe and Simon Thompson. This is the first record away from the tidewater zone of the state; surprisingly, there are as yet no piedmont or inner coastal plain records. Sharp-tailed Sandpiper ( Calidris acuminata ) (10-21). A juvenile was seen by Greg Massey, Amy Williamson, Mark Jones, and Harry Sell at Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, New Hanover County, on 15 October 2010. The Committee accepted photos taken by Sell. This is the first accepted record for the state, and as photographs were accepted, the species is placed directly onto the Official List. Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (09-12). A juvenile was seen at a sod farm in Craven County on 3 1 August 2009 by Bob Holmes. The first vote, in 2009, yielded a “Send for Outside Review” verdict. Upon a second vote, the record was accepted (by a 5-4 vote). Whether this is the first state record (first 1 2 2010 Annual Report of the North Carolina Bird Records Committee chronologically) or second (by vote acceptance) is perhaps immaterial. There are now two state records, with the other being Record 10-21 above. Wilson’s Phalarope ( Phalaropus tricolor) (10-12). One was observed at Fort Fisher, New Hanover County, on the surprisingly late date of 3 January 2010, by Bruce Smithson and John Voigt. Each observer provided a description, and this becomes the first accepted state winter record. There are two older December reports that have not been reviewed by the Committee. Say’s Phoebe ( Sayornis saya) (10-15). One was photographed on the beach at Bald Head Island, Brunswick County, on 3 September 2010, by Maureen Dewire. The species is already on the Official List, and this is the sixth accepted state record and the earliest in fall migration. Vermilion Flycatcher (. Pyrocephalus rubinus ) (10-13). A breeding- plumaged male was seen by Chris Decker at Ocean Isle Beach, Brunswick County, on 20 July 2010. The species is already on the Official List, and this is the fifth state record but the first for the summer season. Bell’s Vireo ( Vireo bellii) (10-02). One was seen and photographed along the causeway at Lake Mattamuskeet, Hyde County, on 27 December 2010, by Allen Bryan. This is the fifth accepted state record, but the first for the winter season. Surprisingly, for such a secretive bird, all but one of the records have been documented by photos. Varied Thrush (. Ixoreus naevius) (10-01). One, apparently an adult male, was photographed near Chalybeate Springs, Harnett County, on 2 January 2010, by William and Angie DeLozier. A dead Varied Thrush, found a week later near Angier, about five miles to the east, was likely the same bird; it is now a specimen at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences. The Committee accepted both photos and a written description, and acceptance of photos moves the species from the Provisional List to the Official List. This is the second accepted record for the state. Varied Thrush (10-06). One, apparently an adult male, was photographed in Fletcher, Henderson County, 1 February 2010, by Charles and Lorene Gudger. The Committee accepted both photos and a written description, making this the third accepted for the state, but the first for the mountains. Varied Thrush (10-08). One, an immature or female, was seen and photographed in Mebane, Alamance County, on 13-14 February 2010. The bird was originally found by Steve Wedge and was subsequently seen by at least ten other birders. The Committee accepted photos taken by Derb Carter and a written description from Harry LeGrand. This was the third record for the winter 2009-2010, and the fourth accepted state record. Kirtland’s Warbler (Dendroica kirtlandii ) (10-17). One was seen and photographed at Cowan’s Ford Wildlife Refuge in Mecklenburg County on 27 September 2010, by Kevin Metcalf. The photographs are believed to be the first tangible documentation for the species in the state. The species is already on the Official List, as there are four other accepted sight records; a minimum of three such records is required for placement onto this list. The Chat, Vol. 75, No. 1, Winter 2011 3 Harris’s Sparrow ( Zonotrichia querula ) (10-11). One in breeding plumage was photographed by Jeff Lewis at a feeder in Kill Devil Hills, Dare County, on 22 April 2010. This is the eighth accepted state record, and the third from the coast. Summer Tanager ( Piranga rubra) (10-09). A female was present at Doug Johnston4 s feeders in Leicester, Buncombe County, from 22 January to 20 February 2010. The Committee accepted a photo and description provided by Johnston. This is the first winter record for the mountain region. There are numerous winter reports from downstate; these have not yet been reviewed by the Committee. Unresolved Further action by the Committee is needed. MacGillivray’s Warbler ( Oporornis tolmiei ) (10-20). An Oporornis warbler, reported as a MacGillivray’s, was photographed in Mecklenburg County on 5 September 2010. Six of the nine Committee members accepted the report. However, as at least 75% of votes (at least seven) must be “Accept as Valid” to accept a record on a first vote, the voting verdict is “Send for Outside Review”. There are two previous records, one a specimen and the other documented by photos. Unaccepted Sighting The bird is judged to be a species other than that reported, or it is insufficiently documented for identification. Garganey {Anas querquedula) (10-10). A male was reported from a coastal area in February 2010. Because no description was provided, the Committee did not accept the report. The species is on the Provisional List, with one accepted sight record, considered wild, from Cape Hatteras in 1957. Arctic Loon ( Gavia arctica) (10-04). One reported from along the Outer Banks in late fall 2009 was not accepted. The details did not thoroughly rule out other loon species, especially the similar Pacific Loon (G. pacified). There are no accepted records for Arctic Loon for North Carolina and few if any from other Atlantic Coast states. Clark’s Grebe/Western Grebe {Aechmophorus clarkii/A. occidentalis) (10-03). Two grebes were seen on Lake Brandt, Guilford County, between 6 and 21 December 2009, and on 22 December on nearby Lake Townsend. One of the birds, not voted on, was clearly a Western Grebe; there are numerous records of this species for the state, including several from inland lakes. The second bird was somewhat confusing in plumage and soft colors and was reported by some as a Clark’s Grebe and others as a Western Grebe. A majority of the Committee felt that the mystery bird was not identifiable to either species and basically felt that it was “intermediate” between the two, or at least shared field marks of each. Thus, each species received a “not accepted” vote. Clark’s Grebe remains on the Provisional List, with one 4 2010 Annual Report of the North Carolina Bird Records Committee sight record — still photos from a video were deemed not clear enough to document the record — from Cape Hatteras point in 2003. White-tailed Kite ( Elanus leucurus ) (10-07). One reported in winter 2010, from a central piedmont county, was not accepted. The Committee felt that the bird was likely an adult male Northern Harrier ( Circus cyaneus). The species is already on the Official List, with four accepted records (one with photos). Kirtland’s Warbler (10-22). One was reported at Cowan’s Ford Refuge in Mecklenburg County about two weeks prior to one seen above (10-17). However, this bird (10-22) was considered as a mystery bird and was left unidentified by the observer, with Kirtland’s Warbler not being considered; it was not identified as a Kirtland’s until after the later bird (10-17) was reported over the carolinabirds listserve. Thus, Report 10-22 was influenced by Report 10-17, especially as both sightings occurred in the same general area. The majority of the members felt that the description was not detailed enough to conclusively document the extremely rare Kirtland’s Warbler, as well as the identification being after the fact. Lark Bunting ( Calamospiza melanocorys) (10-19). A male in breeding plumage was reported from a yard in the piedmont in fall 2010. The Committee was unanimous that the bird was not a Lark Bunting. There are six previous records, with the last one for the state in 1991. The species is already on the Official List. Unaccepted Origin The reported identification is judged to be accurate, but the origin of the bird is uncertain (and thus might not be of natural origin). Barnacle Goose ( Branta leucopsis) (10-05). One was photographed at a cemetery pond in Guilford County on 23 January 2010, by Mark Matte. Though the Committee unanimously accepted the identification, it also unanimously gave a “questionable origin” verdict, believing that the bird was not wild at such a suburban, piedmont site. The species is already on the Official List, based on photos of one record accepted as wild, at Lake Mattamuskeet in December 2004. White-cheeked Pintail {Anas bahamensis) (10-18). One was photographed by Jeff Lewis at Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, Dare County, during October 2010, and it was seen later in the month by other people. Later it was reported that the bird was originally seen at the refuge in July 2010. As with a bird photographed in the lower Cape Fear River in 2008 (LeGrand et al. 2009), the Committee felt that the duck was likely an escape, as it appeared somewhat tame, stayed away from other waterfowl, and apparently resided at the refuge for several months. The species is not yet on the Accepted List for the state as a wild species. The Chat, Vol. 75, No. 1, Winter 2011 5 Discussion The review of reports by the North Carolina Bird Records Committee for 2010 resulted in adding two species to the state’s Official List. Sharp-tailed Sandpiper is added directly to the Official List, whereas Varied Thrush is elevated from the Provisional List (which decreases by one species). The current Official List is now 458 species, and the Provisional List is 12 species, for a total of 470 species on the state’s Accepted List. Further Committee action is expected on the report of MacGillivray’s Warbler (10- 20). Acknowledgments In addition to the many people named above who provided written material and photographs for the Committee to review, we thank Kent Fiala — webmaster of the Carolina Bird Club — for placing a number of the photographs on the club’s website for Committee review and sending electronic submission of Rare Bird Report forms to the Committee chair. Literature Cited LeGrand, H. E., Jr., K. E. Camburn, S. Cooper, R. J. Davis, E. V. Dean,W. K. Forsythe, J. S. Pippen, M. H. Tove, and R. L. Tyndall. 2010. 2009 Annual Report of the North Carolina Bird Records Committee. Chat 74:1-5. 2010 Spring Migration Counts in North Carolina Marilyn Westphal 230 Park Lane, Hendersonville, NC 28791 mjwestph@ret. unca. edu Twenty North Carolina count areas submitted data for the 2010 spring migration count, five from the mountains, fourteen from the piedmont/upper coastal plain, and one from the coast. Alamance County joined the count this year and Mecklenburg County rejoined the count after a long absence. The number of count areas in North Carolina has increased from 1 3 to 20 in the past decade. Additional count areas ensure that the entire state is well represented. The inclusion of several count areas that have consistently reported over several decades also provides important information on changing bird populations. Although counts with few years of data may not be able to use their data for finding trends for many years yet, future generations will be grateful for all the effort put into these counts now. The 2010 count period extended from 24 April through 23 May with the later counts taking place in the higher-elevation areas of the mountains where spring arrives much later. A total of 421 participants counted 82,143 individual birds and 223 species in 1,278.64 party-hours, with a total of 64.24 birds per party-hour. Parties usually consist of one to five participants. This was the largest number of count areas participating in North Carolina as well as the largest number of participants in the past decade, but the total number of species found (223) was lower than the average of 228 for the years since counts from all sections of the state were included. It was also the lowest number of birds per party-hour in the past decade. Many count compilers also noted a lower-than-average number of species found this year. Some compilers attributed this to lower participation for their counts as well as lower-than-average numbers of spring migrants, particularly those heading farther north. Some good finds for the count included two Anhingas on the Raven Rock count, one American Bittern on the Greensboro count and one on the Durham count, three Merlins on the Onslow count, one Peregrine Falcon on the Transylvania count and one on the Onslow count, six King Rails on the Jordan Lake count, one Snowy Plover on the Onslow count, one White- rumped Sandpiper on the Alamance count, two Great Black-backed Gulls on the Onslow count, one Black-billed Cuckoo each on the Balsam Mountains, Black Mountains, and Forsyth counts, two Northern Saw-whet Owls each on the Balsam Mountains and Black Mountains counts, an unusually high count of 36 Alder Flycatchers on the Balsam Mountains count, three Blue-winged Warblers on the Wake count and one on the Chapel Hill count, one Nashville Warbler on the Kerr Lake count, one Saltmarsh Sparrow on the Onslow count, and 10 lingering Rusty Blackbirds on the Chapel Hill count. 6 The Chat, Vol. 75, No. 1, Winter 2011 7 Details of individual counts including names of compilers and participants as well as count highlights follow. Count Area Details Mountains Transylvania County - count date 1 May, 115 species, 3,636 individuals, 36 participants, 68.00 party-hours. Weather: Temperature 60-75° F, partly cloudy, occasional light showers in some areas, elevation range from 2100 to 5600 ft. Compiler: Norma Siebenheller (sieb@citcom.net) Participants: Dennis Allen, Kathryn Allen, Marvin and Michele Barg, Dorothy Bauer, Joan Beard, Pat Blaine, Dick Blee, Sylvia Blee, Pat Bohan, Elizabeth Galloway, Jerry Griggs, Jeanne Grimmenga, Richard Jackson, Louise Kempe, Rebecca Kindred, Joe Kotowski, Eleanor Kuss, Jim Kuss, Deynise Lau, Joan MacDonald, Jim McIntosh, Gary Miller, Carolyn Mills, Janie Owens, Carolyn Powell, Mary Sauerteig, Norma and Bill Seibenheller, Bill and Shirl Thomas, Charlie and Linda Threatte, Noel Thumer, Sam Woodruff, and Camille Ziegler Exclusives: none Compiler’s notes: We were quite pleased with our results this year, given the cold, late spring and the count’s very early date of May 1. At 115 species, we are in the mid-range of our possibilities, far better than the disappointing 109 we tallied last year. Most of the high-elevation specialties were present, and some hard-to-get warblers such as Swainson’s and Kentucky were found at lower elevations. On the minus side, we located no Cerulean Warblers this year, and both Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s Hawks were absent. Shorebirds, with the exception of the common Solitary and Spotted Sandpipers, were not present at all. However, with the help of many phone calls and some cooperative home observers, we were able to find all three of our common owls, and several Whip-poor-wills as well, so our nocturnal birds were well represented. Norma Siebenheller Great Balsam and Plott Balsam Mountains IBA - count date 15 May, 82 species, 3,288 individuals, 24 participants in 8 parties, 65.50 party- hours. Weather: Mostly sunny and warm with strong, but short-lasting thunderstorms developing mid-day in the eastern portion of the count. Elevation range from 3500 to 6100 feet. Compiler: Marilyn Westphal (mjwestph@ret.unca.edu) Participants: Jamie Cameron, Sue Cameron, Tim Carstens, Nancy Casey, Bill Fisk, Tom Flagg, Sheila Gregor, Doug Johnston, Chris Kelly, Gail and Herman Lankford, Bob Olthoff, Esther and Len Pardue, Catherine Reid, Ray Sharpton, Mark Simpson, Tom Tribble, Lou Weber, Kendrick Weeks, Marilyn Westphal, Troy Wilson, Connie and Stan Wulkowicz 8 2010 Spring Migration Counts in North Carolina Exclusives: Alder Flycatcher, Least Flycatcher Compiler’s notes: The fifth annual Balsam Mountains IBA Spring Bird Count was held Saturday, 15 May with 24 participants in 8 groups. The count area covers the Blue Ridge Parkway from just northeast of the Pisgah Inn to the Great Smoky Mountains and also includes the Shining Rock and Middle Prong Wilderness areas. It was a perfectly gorgeous morning, sunny and calm, but in the afternoon turned partly cloudy to cloudy at the western and middle sections of the count area with thunderstorms and hail at the easternmost end of the count. Most interesting finds were a Black-billed Cuckoo at the western end on Heintooga spur by Bob Olthoff and Doug Johnston (third year of five for finding Black-billed Cuckoo in that section), a record 36 Alder Flycatchers found by the teams in the Black Balsam and Shining Rock Wilderness sections, a record 24 Least Flycatchers found at several locations (five of the eight sections reported Least Flycatchers), a record 10 Hermit Thrushes, most along the highest section of the parkway between Devil’s Courthouse and Richland Balsam, but also some in the Black Balsam/Shining Rock area, and four Ruby-crowned Kinglets, which is rather late for this species and always arouses suspicions about whether they might be sticking around for the summer. As has been the case in recent years the Black-capped Chickadee song dominated in all of the areas above 5,000 feet from Graveyard Fields west. What the DNA shows remains to be seen. Golden- crowned Kinglet numbers continue to decline. The first three years of this count they were always in the top six species in abundance on the count, but they fell to 1 1th last year and 12th this year. Also missing in action were the Peregrine Falcons who apparently have abandoned their nesting location at Devil’s Courthouse this year. Most abundant species on the count were: Dark-eyed Junco (354), Chestnut-sided Warbler (351), Eastern Towhee (303), Blue-headed Vireo (156), American Robin (148), Veery (141), Canada Warbler (138), Black- throated Green Warbler (136), Black-throated Blue Warbler (124), and Ovenbird (92). Following a countdown dinner at the Pisgah Inn, Mark Simpson and I went off to look for Northern Saw- whet Owls to add to the count. We located two before the storms started rolling in again complete with lightning and thunder. Thanks to the participants for another great count. This is a count that several participants have told me is one they always look forward to and is one of their favorite birding days of the year. Marilyn Westphal Henderson County - count date 8 May, 106 species, 2,240 individuals, 10 participants, 32.50 party-hours. Compiler: Jim Neal (jlbjneal@gmail.com) Participants: Nancy Cowal, Bill Fisk, Nora Murdock, Jim Neal, Frances Ogasawara, Janie Owens, Ed Peachey, Mark Simpson, Simon Thompson, and Marilyn Westphal The Chat, Vol. 75, No. 1, Winter 2011 9 Exclusives: Willow Flycatcher Notes: Saturday, May 8, 2010 was Spring Migration Count day in Henderson County, NC. Ten (10) people worked 8 areas in the county and found 106 species and 2,240 total birds. The count of 106 species ties 2005 for the second lowest of our 13 years collecting spring migration data, with the lowest being 103 species in 2001 and highest being 120 species in 2006. The 2,240 total birds are the third lowest ever. The lowest total of birds was 2,015 in 1999 when we had 14 people covering 8 areas and the highest was 3,705 in 2002 when we had 18 people covering 10 areas. The total of 10 participants ties last year for the smallest number in our 13 years and may have contributed to fewer species and birds. The 10 people formed four groups with each group covering an area in the morning and an area in the afternoon when birds are not as active. In the past when areas that were worked in the afternoon had been worked in the morning, more birds were found, both species and quantity. We had a first for our spring migration counts — a Common Loon! We found the Great Egret, Least Sandpiper, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Common Nighthawk, Swainson’s Thrush, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Blue Grosbeak and Bobolink, which are among those difficult to find and not found every year. This year there were only five species with more than 1 00 birds seen. The American Crow was tops at 162, then the Cedar Waxwing and Song Sparrow (122), followed closely by the Northern Cardinal (121), with the European Starling being last in the group (105). These were followed by four species in the 80s: Eastern Towhee (89), American Robin (88), Barn Swallow (86), and Mourning Dove (84). Nineteen species of warblers were seen, with the Common Yellowthroat, Ovenbird, Northern Parula, Black- throated Green, Hooded and Yellow-breasted Chat being the most plentiful. We missed a few birds that had been found on one or more previous counts, but overall it was a job well done! I want to thank all those who participated. Jim Neal Buncombe County - count date 9 May, 111 species, 4,693 individuals, 23 participants in 7 parties, 70.00 party-hours. Weather: Cold and very windy in the morning, especially at the higher elevations, warmer and sunnier in the afternoon. Temperature 40-60° F, winds 10-25mph in the morning and 5-10mph in the afternoon. Compiler: Marilyn Westphal (mjwestph@ret.unca.edu) Participants: Nancy Casey, Jackson Evans, Peggy Franklin, Charlotte Goedsche, Jamie Harrelson, Gail and Herman Lankford, Alex Levine, Nora Livingston, Naomi Ottemess, Janie Owens, Len and Esther Pardue, Kitti Reynolds, Steve Ritt, Steve Semanchuk, Mark Simpson, Liz Skiles, Jennifer Stanley, Aaron Steed, Simon Thompson, Tom Tribble, Lou Weber, Marilyn Westphal Exclusives: Cerulean Warbler Notes: The cold, windy early morning got things off to a slow start, but it cleared up and birding picked up later in the morning. Nevertheless, this was the lowest species count in this decade. Total birds and birds per party-hour 10 2010 Spring Migration Counts in North Carolina were about average for the decade. Warbler numbers were lower than average, probably as a result of the weather. Only three non-breeding warbler species were found, Magnolia, Cape May, and Blackpoll Warbler. Canada Goose numbers continue to increase and Turkey Vulture, Bam Swallow, Carolina Wren, and Hooded Warbler numbers were the highest in this decade. Unusually low numbers of Northern Pamla, American Redstart, and Yellow, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Black-and-white, and Canada Warblers were found as well as low numbers of House and Winter Wren and Eastern Meadowlark. No particularly unusual species were found on the count this year. Many thanks to those who participated in the count this year and we hope to see you again next year. Marilyn Westphal Black Mountains IBA - count date 23 May, 63 species, 1,438 individuals, 14 participants in 5 parties, 40.00 party-hours. Weather: Mostly clear, temperature in the 50s and 60s, wind 5-10mph. Compiler: Marilyn Westphal (mjwestph@ret.unca.edu) Participants: Nancy Casey, Ron Clark, Robert Emmett, Bill Fisk, Bill Grow, Jamie Harrelson, Doug Johnston, Gail and Herman Lankford, Nora Murdock, Mark Simpson, Aaron Steed, Tom Tribble, and Marilyn Westphal Exclusives: none Notes: The weather was good for the fourth Black Mountains spring count, total species number was higher than average, and total birds were about average. This high-elevation area (almost entirely above 4500 feet) that includes Mount Mitchell State Park is limited in the number of species that can typically be found. High-elevation species predominate and the lack of ponds or lakes in the area largely eliminates the potential for waterfowl or other water-associated birds. The most common species found on this count are consistently Dark-eyed Junco and Golden-crowned Kinglet followed by Black-throated Green Warbler and Blue-headed Vireo, and that was the case this year as well. This year the number of Golden-crowned Kinglets continued to decline. The loss of hemlock trees from disease may be a significant factor, but continued monitoring is necessary. Once again two Swainson’s Thrushes were found in the area where breeding is suspected. Dawn, dusk, and evening birding produced a Woodcock at Stepp’s Gap, a Barred Owl at Balsam Gap, and one Northern Saw- whet Owl each along NC 128 and along the Blue Ridge Parkway. A Black-billed Cuckoo was also heard calling downslope in the state park and one very late-departing White-throated Sparrow was seen. Thanks again to the participants in this count who play an important part in surveying birds in this Important Bird Area. Marilyn Westphal The Chat, Vol. 75, No. 1, Winter 2011 11 Piedmont Iredell County - count date 25 April, 87 species, 2,434 individuals, 10 participants, 29.00 party-hours. Weather: Temperature 55 - 72° F. Heavy rain early then fair. Compiler: Ron Underwood (rongto@earthlink.net) Participants: Debbie Birnley, Sam Cathey, Cynthia Dickerson, Bill English, Jack Greene, Lee Holifield, Larry Marlin, Garnet Underwood, Marie Underwood, and Ron Underwood Exclusives: White-crowned Sparrow Notes: Our day started with torrential rain accompanied by thunder and lightning. Thankfully the bad weather did not last long and the day progressed to a delightful outing. Morning temperature was approximately 55 degrees and the high of the day was 72 degrees. After the thunderstorm passed there was no measurable wind to interfere with the almost fully grown tree leaves. Our count location is centered on the South Yadkin River bridge crossing at Chipley Ford Road in Northern Iredell County North Carolina. GPS coordinates N 35.89663 W 80.8997 Ron Underwood Hanging Rock State Park IBA - count date 6 May, 50 species, 285 individuals, 6 participants in 3 parties, 9.00 party-hours. Compiler: Phil Dickinson (pdickins@triad.rr.com) Participants: Jean Chamberlain, Phil Dickinson, John Mercier, Ron Morris, Laura Phail, and Liz Schmid Exclusives: none Notes: Six of us conducted a spring count at Hanging Rock State Park. Much thanks to Ron Morris, Laura Phail, Jean Chamberlain, Liz Schmid and John Mercier for taking part. Ron and Laura took the Indian Creek Trail; Jean and Liz did Hanging Rock and Wolf Rock Trails, and John and I birded along Hall Rd. and at the Tory’s Den area. With beautiful weather compared to last year’s clouds, we bested last year’s 44 species with a total count of 51, including 13 warbler species. Missing in action, however, was Wood Thrush. Last year’s Philadelphia Vireo did not repeat, but we did have a Yellow-throated Vireo. Several Wild Turkeys were found including one at CC Camp Rd. near the park residences. We also presented Park Ranger Jason Anthony with an NC Birding Trail sign donated by our chapter. Look for it the next time you visit this beautiful park. Phil Dickinson Mecklenburg County - count date 24 April, 112 species, 4,963 individuals, 25 participants in 10 parties, 71 party-hours. Weather: no data Compiler: Jeff Lemons (birdsalot@gmail.com) Participants: Larry and Louise Barden, Robert Bustle, Ron Clark, Susan Ellerman, Jan and Phil Fowler and daughter, Sharon Freedman, Steve Hayes, 12 2010 Spring Migration Counts in North Carolina Carol Horton, Alan Kneidel, Ken Kneidel, Jeff Lemons, Jill Fowler, Taylor Piephoff, Tom and Tammy Sanders, Dean and Vivian Sprehe, Steve Tracy, Judy Walker, Harriett Whitsett, David and Marcia Wright Exclusives: Green- winged Teal Notes: none Forsyth County - count date 8 May, 119 species, 4,956 individuals, 46 participants, 88.00 party-hours. Weather: 60-79° F, winds W 10-15 mph with gusts to 25mph, cloudy changing to clear. Compiler: John Haire (johnhaire@starpower.net) Participants: Gene Berger, Stuart Boots, Kim Brand, Peg Cochrane, Nita Colvin, Phil Crisp, Carol Cunningham, Doug Demarest, Phil Dickinson, David Disher, Susan Disher, Cynthia Donaldson, Brent Gearhart, Carol Gearhart, Gardner Gidley, Margaret Gidley, Bill Gifford, John Haire, Sven Hailing, Bill Hammond, Susan Hammond, John Hammond, Tom Haubert, Hop Hopkins, Royce Hough, Bill Jackson, Ann Listokin, Craig McCleary, Tom McKay, Terri Maness, Jim Martin, Linda Moore, Ron Morris, Ann Newsome, Laura Phail, Paul Powers, Lloyd Ramsey, Jeremy Reiskind, Shelley Rutkin, Gene Schepker, Lois Schneider, David Shuford, Bill Sugg, Chuck Thompson, Cindy Thompson, Katherine Thorington. Exclusives: none Notes: Compared to the averages from 1992-2009 (the years that count records are readily available in electronic archives of The Chat), the number of participants (46 vs. average of 47) and individual bird count (5,605; 5,648) were close to average, while party hours (97, 102) and species count (119, 126) were a little below average. The most unusual species found this year included the second records (since 1992) of Ring-necked Duck and Caspian Tern, the fourth records of Great Egret and Black-billed Cuckoo, and the fifth record of Pectoral Sandpiper. Nine species registered their highest individual counts since 1992 including Wild Turkey (9 vs. 18-year average of 0.3), Black Vulture (19, 6), Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Kingbird, White-breasted Nuthatch, Common Yellowthroat, Eastern Towhee and Blue Grosbeak (28, 9). Unusually high counts also were recorded for Lesser Yellowlegs (20, 5) and Blackpoll Warbler (28, 10). Three species were missed for the first time since 1992: Black-throated Green Warbler (average 6), Black-and-white Warbler (11) and White- throated Sparrow (50). Other unusual misses included Eastern Screech-Owl, Great Homed Owl, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, American Kestrel, Prothonotary, Worm-eating, Palm and Blackburnian Warblers. Seven species registered their lowest individual counts since 1992 including the first three species mentioned in the preceding paragraph, and Northern Parula (6, 25), Yellow-rumped Warbler (2, 116), Scarlet Tanager (6, 28) and Rose-breasted Grosbeak (3, 19). Other low individual counts The Chat, Vol. 75, No. 1, Winter 2011 13 included Solitary Sandpiper (12, 41), Ring-billed Gull (1, 55) and Cape May Warbler (1, 12). Several factors may account for some of the misses and low counts. Most winter birds had departed before count day, the influx of migrants seemed slower than normal here this year, and it was very windy on count day. Thirteen additional species were found during Count Week, bringing the species count for the period to 132, which is about average. John Haire Greensboro - count date 1 May, 110 species, 5,688 individuals, 22 participants, 81.70 party-hours. Weather: Partly cloudy all day. Temperature 60-84°F, winds variable, 5— 20 mph. Compiler: Herb Hendrickson (hhendrickson@triad.rr.com) Participants: Carolyn Allen, Joyce Bartlett, Jane Blackburn, Diana Bowman, Louise Brown, Sue Cole, Scott DePue, Judi Durr, Jim Eldrett, Lisa Hayes, Herb Hendrickson, Elizabeth Link, Henry Link, Lynn McCoy, Gregg Morris, Jean Murdick, Lou Skrabec, Emily Talbert, John Thielen, Emily Tyler, Ann Walter-Fromson, and Melissa Whitmire Exclusives: none Notes: Fewer participants and fewer parties compared to previous years seem to correlate with fewer species and fewer individual birds seen. Herb Hendrickson Alamance County - count date 24 April, 69 species, 1,285 individuals, 5 participants in 3 teams, 20.25 party-hours. Weather: Partly cloudy, dry, temperature 60-74° F, winds 0-15 mph Compiler: Harry Shoffner (hshoffiner@triad.rr.com) Participants: Bobby and Elizabeth Mize, Harry and Sandra Shoffner, Charles Tysinger Exclusives: White-rumped Sandpiper Notes: The first Alamance County Spring Bird Count was held on Saturday, April 24, 2010 under clear to partly cloudy skies and moderate temperatures. A total of five field participants in three parties recorded 69 species and 1,285 individual birds. Two unusual species were counted: a flock of Bobolinks and a White-rumped Sandpiper. Harry Shoffner Southern Pines - count date 25 April, 123 species, 5,969 individuals, 26 participants in 11 parties, 83.33 party-hours. Compiler: Susan Campbell (susan@ncaves.com) Participants: Rex Badgett, Jeff Beane, Carol Bowman, Susan Campbell, Jay Carter III, Nancy Esposito, John Finnegan, Scott Hartley, Stephanie Horton, Tom Howard, Alicia Jackson, Charlie Jones, Linda Jones, Matthew King, Marjorie Ludwig, David McCloy, Michael McCloy, Carolyn McDermott, Dan Pieroni, Todd Pusser, Bruce Sorrie, Lowell and Susan Strine, Rosalyn Walk, Leslie Watschke, Cassie Willis 14 2010 Spring Migration Counts in North Carolina Exclusives: Mute Swan Notes: None Chapel Hill - count date 1 May, 121 species, 8,227 individuals, 37 field and 9 feeder participants, 114.75 party-hours. Weather: low 61°F, high 89°F; wind SW 10-15 mph; mostly cloudy. Compiler: Will Cook (cwcook@duke.edu) Participants: Sam Baron, Kenneth Blanton, Brian Bockhahn, Chuck Byrd, Chris Canfield, Will Cook, Anson R. Cooke, Dwayne Cooke, Tom Driscoll, Colyer Durovich, Kate Finlayson, Steve Foster, Lucy Gifford, Maurice Graves, Steven Graves, Susan Greenberg, Perry Haaland, Larry Haaland, Nancy Hinrichs, Loren Hintz, Bo Howes, Betty King, Mark Kosiewski, Laurie Kucharik, Robert Meehan, David Murdock, Judy Murray, Rienk Nieuwland, Lynn Ogden, Jane Oliver, Kevin Powell, Toni Rexrode, Bev Scalise, Mike Schultz, Doug Shadwick, Shelley Theye, Ginger Travis, Amalie Tuffin and Feeder Watchers: Bobbie Hahn, Lew Miles, Margaret Miles, Caroline Pederson, Harry Pederson, Joan Redman, Barbara Roth, Jerrold Walecka, and Joan Walecka. Exclusives: Rusty Blackbird Notes: The Chapel Hill spring count on May 1 was a fairly uneventful one, with 121 species (10-year average 124 species). Observer effort was the lowest in 14 years at 1 14.75 party-hours (average 158.1), and so the number of individual birds counted was a low 8227 (average 1 1,296), but the number of birds per party-hour was about as normal as you can get (71.7, average 71.5). Birders across the region noted a slow migration this spring, and our results fall right into line with those reports. We didn’t find any outstanding rarities this year, but there were a few noteworthy birds, topped by 10 Rusty Blackbirds that Chuck Byrd saw in a swampy area off NC 54, the first in 12 years. Other goodies included one Hooded Merganser at Jordan Lake (Brian Bockhahn), six Yellow-crowned Night-Herons (Chuck Byrd found a new heronry of five near a lake in a suburban neighborhood off Garrett Road in Durham, Betty King’s party found one at the NC 54 impoundments), Semipalmated Sandpiper at the Farrington Road wastewater plant (Bockhahn), Bank Swallow (Bockhahn), Blue-winged Warbler at Mason Farm (Will Cook’s party), and two Cape May Warblers (Loren Hintz and Amalie Tuffin). In previous decades this would be a low count, but we were quite pleased to have a total of one Northern Bobwhite this year — the first in the last five counts! Because of the low number of counters this year, we didn’t set any record highs. We had good counts for Bald Eagle (37, second only to last year’s 54), Purple Martin (97 is the highest since 1988), Veery (10, highest since 1979), and Worm-eating Warbler (nine, average 2). Low counts were numerous. No big misses, but we set one record low, continuing a long trend: Field Sparrow (four, previous low 10 last year) and tied a low for Belted Kingfisher (one ties 1952 and 1966). Other unusually scare species were Blue Jay (lowest since 1996), Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (1999), Wood Thrush (1996), American Robin (1987), Cedar Waxwing (2000), Common Yellowthroat (1971), Yellow-breasted Chat (1974), Indigo Bunting The Chat, Vol. 75, No. 1, Winter 2011 15 (1984), Common Grackle (1974), House Finch (1998), American Goldfinch (1985), and House Sparrow (1973). Common Grackle is especially noteworthy in its decline: numbers have been slowly but steadily declining since their peak in the early 1980s and now are a quarter what they were then and a third what they were a decade ago. What’s going on with the grackles? Team honors: This year Brian Bockhahn, covering some of the game lands near Jordan Lake, got the highest species count, with 89, followed by Will Cook’s party of five at Mason Farm with 85. Tom Driscoll’s group of six counted the most individual birds, 1556, far ahead of the runner-up, Will Cook’s party, with 816. Weather in brief: low 61° F, high 89° F; wind SW 10-15 mph; mostly cloudy with no rain. Thanks to all of our 37 field counters and 9 feeder watchers! Charles W. “Will” Cook Jordan Lake - count date 2 May, 114 species, 6,767 individuals, 37 participants in 21 parties, 118.41 party-hours. Weather: Low 72, high 92°F; wind light and variable, 10 mph, overcast early, partly cloudy in the afternoon, no precipitation. Compiler: Norm Budnitz (nbudnitz@gmail.com) Participants: David Anderson, Barbara Beaman, Elisabeth Bishop, Todd Bishop, Brian Bockhahn, Norm Budnitz, Chuck Byrd, Chris Canfield, Barbara Coffman, Patrick Coin, Will Cook, Anson Cooke, Dwayne Cooke, Tom Driscoll, Kate Finlayson, Martha Girolami, Mary Harbison, Charlotte Harbison, Susan Harbison, Russell Herman, Loren Hintz, Laurie Kucharik, Marty McClelland, Melinda Meade, Robin Moran, Judy Murray, Rick Payne, Lois Schultz, Mike Schultz, Brian Strong, Ginger Travis, Andy. Upshaw, David Van Ness, Millicent Van Ness, Phil Warren, Carol Williamson, Rouse Wilson Exclusives: King Rail Notes: May 2, 2010, proved to be a warm spring day, with temperatures ranging from 72°F in the morning to 92 °F in the afternoon. The skies were overcast early and partly cloudy in the afternoon with no precipitation. Winds were light and variable to 10 mph. Thirty-seven observers (much lower than our 10-year average of 49) in 21 parties (10-year average: 23) tallied 6,767 individual birds (avg. 8,397), 1 14 species (avg. 124), during 1 1 8 party hours in the field (avg. 143). Fewer observers in fewer parties and less cumulative time in the field probably resulted in the lower number of species and individual birds. However, other area compilers and observers have noted anecdotally that there seemed to be fewer non-resident migrants (birds that pass through our area but do not breed locally) this year. Is this ominous or just a result of the variability of natural occurrences? Perhaps time will tell. Ginger Travis and Marty McClelland, birding by kayak, heard several rails (perhaps 6) calling from a swampy area in the upper reaches of the White Oak Creek arm of the lake. They were fairly certain they were hearing 16 2010 Spring Migration Counts in North Carolina King Rails. On June 16th, Ginger and I went out and stood on the Route 751 bridge that crosses White Oak Creek at about 5:30 AM. Just before the major commuting traffic picked up, we heard, very clearly, at least two King Rails calling to each other. We did not see the birds, but the calls were a series of single kik kik kik notes, delivered at a steady pace. (They were not the kidik kidik kidik notes of Virginia Rails. Nor did they change cadence like Clappers, which would not be this far inland.) Since these birds have been reported several times in proper habitat in recent years, and since they were still calling in mid-June, it seems quite possible that they are breeding here. Beavers have created quite a bit of the appropriate freshwater swampy habitat in the upper reaches of our local lakes. So if you find yourself in or near such places before dawn or at dusk, give a listen. Another notable species this year was a Laughing Gull reported by Lois and Mike Schultz at Ebenezer Point. It was sitting on one of the pilings in the beach area near a couple of Ring-billed Gulls. Perhaps as a result of fewer observers, we did not generate as many new high species counts as we sometimes do: Black Vultures, 146 (previous high was 85 in 2008); Red-headed Woodpeckers, 32 (30 in 2009); Fish Crows, 57 (40 in 2003); and Chipping Sparrows, 222 (218 in 2002). Misses this year included Great Horned Owl for the fourth year in a row. I suspect this is more a result of limited nocturnal birding effort rather than a reflection of the actual owl population. Will Cook, with 78 species, had the highest species count, with Tom Driscoll and Laurie Kucharik (76) and Phil Warren (74) hard on his heels. From time to time I feel the need to stress that these counts are not a competition. Observers covering larger areas with more diversity of habitats are more likely to find more species. I continue to be impressed by so many of our stalwart, reliable observers who get out into the field, year in and year out, good weather and bad. To you all, I say, thanks for counting. Norm Budnitz Durham - count date 25 April, 118 species, 5,270 individuals, 23 participants in 15 parties, 75.20 party-hours. Compiler: Mike Schultz (ross.gull@verizon.net) Participants: Brian Bockhahn, Norm Budnitz, Will Cook, Tom Driscoll, Steve Foster, Bo Howes, Robert Howes, Dan Kaplan, Laurie Kuchavik, Robert Meehan, Judy Murray, Bill Reddy, Isabell Ready, Carl Rothfels, Michael Schultz, David Smith, Judy Smith, Matt Snider, Deck Stapleton, Lesley Starke, Amalie Tuffin, Edith Tatum, Johnny Wilson Exclusives: none Notes: none Mike Schultz Wake County - count date 8 May, 106 species, 3,725 individuals, 29 participants in 11 parties, 58.00 party-hours. Weather: Temperature 65-88° F, mostly sunny, winds gusting to 20mph. Compiler: John Connors (John.Connors@ncmail.net) The Chat, Vol. 75, No. 1, Winter 2011 17 Participants: Jared Barnes, Joe Bearden, Karen Bearden, Erla Beegle, Pat Bost, Jerome Brewster, Halbert Carmichael, John Connors, Mary Lou Eyke, Jacob Folmer, Sue Harvey, Lily Ivanov, Mark Johns, Betsy Kane, Will Kimler, Dave Lenat, Adrienne Little, John Little, Gerry Luginbuhl, Jim Luginbuhl, Jim Mulholland, Michael Nediwek, Monica Nees, Clyde Smith, Julie Angerman- Stewart, Jeri Smart, Nathan Tarr, Erik Thomas, Mary Waller Exclusives: none Notes: Species numbers may be the lowest ever for a Spring Bird Count. Some interesting observations include: Pied-billed Grebe (1) at Richlands Pond near Schenck Forest; Great Egret (1) was found at Mid-Pine; Red- breasted Merganser (1) at Lake Benson; Ruddy Duck (2) at Yates Mill Pond and Richlands Pond; Caspian Tern (3) were seen at Lake Wheeler; Common Nighthawk (1) over downtown Raleigh; six Loggerhead Shrikes were recorded though some were nestlings; Warbling Vireo (1) heard at Yates Mill Pond; Tree Swallow (1) along Buckeye Trail; Veery (2); only 15 species of warbler were found including: Yellow Warbler (1), Magnolia Warbler (2), Black-throated Blue (14), Black-and-white (1), American Redstart (5), and Northern Waterthrush (1). The unharvested sections of wheat and alfalfa at Mid-Pines held some birds this spring. Twenty-two Bobolinks were seen as well as Grasshopper Sparrow (4), but Field Sparrow (2) remains rare across the area. Significant misses include: Hooded Mergansers were not found at Yates Mill Pond; Ring-billed Gull was not found; Bob white were not found; Nightjars continue to be difficult to find; migrant warblers were scarce not just on count day, but for the season. Significant misses include: Prairie Warbler, Kentucky Warbler, and Yellow-breasted Chat. Falls Lake was not able to be counted again this year, which reduced our records of species and numbers from recent years. Cliff Swallows continue nesting in northern Wake County along Neuse River bridges, and now appear to have colonized bridges adjacent to Anderson Point. Great Blue Heron colonies seem to be thriving, though no active colonies are easily visible along count routes. The Purple Martin colony at University Club is near capacity; the Prairie Ridge colony has increased; the colony at the NC Museum of Art was empty. The Anderson Point colony has not re-established. The meadow habitat at Prairie Ridge and Anderson Point continues to progress; Field Sparrows have begun using both sites, and Eastern Meadowlarks are well established at Prairie Ridge. Wake Audubon placed a number of Prothonotary Warbler boxes in habitat last spring at count sites. There are no definitive records yet, but they appear to be breeding at Anderson Point. John Connors 18 2010 Spring Migration Counts in North Carolina Falls Lake - count date 27 April, 107 species, 2,856 individuals, 9 participants in 8 parties, 49.75 party-hours. Weather: Cloudy and cool, 56-65° F, windy with a trace of rain in the afternoon. Compiler: Brian Bockhahn (cbockhahn4@earthlink.net) Participants: Herb Amyx, Karen Berry, Brian Bockhahn, Deborah Robertson, Jeri Smart, Josh Southern, Deck Stapleton, Brian Strong, Patty Tice Exclusives: none Notes: The seventh Falls Lake Spring Bird Count was held on April 27, 2010 under cloudy skies and cool temperatures, 56-65° F. The wind blew all day and there was a trace of rain in the afternoon. Nine observers in eight parties tallied 107 species including one count week bird and 2856 total birds. The weather no doubt accounted for being well below our average numbers of 109 species and 3882 birds. First records: Common Nighthawk from Sandling Beach, and an amazing three parties reporting Blue-winged Warbler from Durant Nature Park, Rollingview and Sandling Beach. Third count records: Herring Gull from Woodpecker Ridge and two parties reporting Green Heron from Beaverdam Lake and Woodpecker Ridge. Misses: Our A list misses were both Eastern Whip-poor-will and Chuck- will’s-widow; B list: Yellow-billed Cuckoo and Great Homed Owl. Many thanks to everyone who volunteered to count! Brian Bockhahn Kerr Lake - count date 28 April, 118 species, 3,863 individuals, 15 participants in 9 parties, 69.25 party-hours. Weather: mostly sunny and cool, low 50, high 64° F. Compiler: Brian Bockhahn (cbockhahn4@earthlink.net) Participants: Brian Bockhahn, Adam D’Onofrio, Bryce and Lori Fleming, Joe Foster, Paul Glass, Fred Lobdell, Carol Mauzey, Grace McCrowell, Paul Scharf, Peter Scharf, Harry and Sandra Shoffner, Clyde Smith, and Deck Stapleton Exclusives: Nashville Warbler Notes: The seventh Kerr Lake Spring Bird Count was held on April 28, 2010 under mostly sunny skies and cool temperatures, 50-64° F. We tied our record high with 1 5 participants finding a slightly-below-average 1 1 8 species and 3863 individuals. New to spring checklist: Common Raven and Nashville Warbler, both seen well at Henderson Point. Second records: two parties reporting Ring-necked Ducks, three at Dick Cross WMA and one at Eagle Point; Marsh Wren at Dick Cross; and two Purple Finches at a feeder in area 8. Yeah, feeder watchers! Third records: a single Veery below the dam and two parties reporting Bobolink in area 9 and at Dick Cross. Misses: A list of misses includes Yellow-billed Cuckoo and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Many thanks to everyone who volunteered to count! Brian Bockhahn The Chat, Vol. 75, No. 1, Winter 2011 19 Raven Rock State Park - count date 24 April, 112 species, 4,429 individuals, 15 participants in 10 parties, 64.50 party-hours. Weather: Temperature 60-77° F, wind south 0-10mph, morning partly cloudy, afternoon cloudy, water open. Count circle center at junction of NC 210 and SR 1434. Compiler: Erik R. Thomas (ethomas@social.chass.ncsu.edu) Participants: David Brown, Stephen Buczynski, David DuMond, Paul Hart, Scott Hartley, Tom Howard, Bobby Lutfy, Tim McGreal, Larry Rose, Karin Reese, Kevin Reese, Mitch Reese, Erik Thomas, Amber Williams, Ann Wilson. Exclusives: Anhinga Notes: The total of 1 12 species was lower than that of recent years. The early date of the count was a factor, as many transient species hadn’t arrived yet. Good finds included single Anhingas by Stephen Buczynski and Scott Hartley. Coast Onslow County - count date 24 April, 164 species, 6,131 individuals, 24 participants in 12 parties, 63.75 party-hours. Weather: Temperature 57-73° F, mostly cloudy, isolated showers late in the day, wind was southeast at 3-7 mph. Compiler: Andy Webb (jwebb3@ec.rr.com) Participants: Rich Boyd, Susan Boyd, Susan Cohen, Kerri Dikun, Megan English, Wade Fuller, John Fussell, A1 Gamache, Chad Garber, Buddy Garrett, Barb Gould, Gil Grant, Martin Korenek, Jim O’Donnell, Laura O’Donnell, Steve Shaffer, Mark Shields, Bruce Smithson, Kelly Tingle, Tim Trott, Andy Webb, Kelly Zivicki, Elizabeth Zivicki, Sandra Zivicki Exclusives: American Wigeon, Northern Shoveler, Merlin, Northern Gannet, Brown Pelican, Snowy Egret, Tri-colored Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, White Ibis, Glossy Ibis, Clapper Rail, American Coot, Black- bellied Plover, Snowy Plover, Wilson’s Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, Willet, Whimbrel, Ruddy Turnstone, Red Knot, Sanderling, Western Sandpiper, Dunlin, Short-billed Dowitcher, Great Black-backed Gull, Royal Tern, Sandwich Tern, Common Tern, Forster’s Tern, Least Tern, Black Skimmer, Saltmarsh Sparrow, Seaside Sparrow, Painted Bunting, Boat-tailed Grackle Notes: The 16th annual Onslow County Spring Bird Count was held Saturday April 24, 2010. It was a very pleasant spring day, with great weather for birding. The temperatures ranged from a low of 57° F to a high of 73, which are the average temperatures for this date; the skies were mostly cloudy or partly sunny (depending on whether you see the cup half full or half empty) with some isolated light rain showers late in the day. The wind was from the southeast at 3 to 7 mph. There were 24 observers in 12 parties who tallied 6,124 individual birds (10 year avg. 7,086), and a record 164 species, breaking the old record of 20 2010 Spring Migration Counts in North Carolina 160 set back in 1998 (10 year avg. 152), during 63.75 party hours in the field. There were five species that were firsts for this count. The party of John Fussell, Barbara Gould, and Tim Trott had three of the species new to the count: a Snowy Plover found at Bear Island, one of the three Merlins, and the Saltmarsh Sparrow. I am guessing that the Saltmarsh Sparrow just hasn’t had a positive ID prior to this count, as they are not a rarity in coastal Onslow County. Gil Grant and Mark Shields had six write-in birds including two Merlins, Loggerhead Shrike, and Swamp Sparrow, which were all new to the count this year, as well as a Wilson’s Snipe, Baltimore Oriole, and American Wigeon. Most abundant species on the count were: Laughing Gull (457), Mourning Dove (273), and Dunlin (255), which were no surprise. It was a good year for ibises with 158 White and 30 Glossy which were count highs for these species. Jim O’Donnell had a high count of Ruddy Ducks with 92 still present at the water treatment plant. Some notable misses were Little Blue Heron, Common Moorhen, Common Nighthawk, Acadian Flycatcher, Blue-headed Vireo, and Kentucky Warbler. There have been a number of participants that have been very faithful to this count including Rich & Susan Boyd who have not missed a year, Jim & Laura O’Donnell (Jim was the former compiler for this count), Buddy Garret, Gill Grant, Barbara Gould, John Fussell, Clancy Ballenger. All have tallied many a bird for this count. Chad Garber, wildlife biologist at Camp Lejeune, along with his staff provided much-needed coverage on the base, which encompasses a significant portion of the county. We could not have covered nearly as much ground if it were not for the support of friends and neighbors. Tim Trott has provided much-needed boat support, for which we are grateful, and Dr. Smith has provided access to private property that was formerly used as a wildlife impoundment. Thank you all for your support. 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Summary of party hours and miles Party hours canoe/ on by kayak/ feeder total foot by car bicycle boat night watch Transylvania 68.00 25.00 43.00 58.00 Balsam 65.50 33.50 15.00 1.50 Henderson 32.50 14.75 17.75 Buncombe 70.00 32.00 42.25 0.25 Black Mts 40.00 30.50 9.50 1.00 Iredell 29.00 9.50 19.50 3.00 11.00 Hanging Rock 3.75 3.50 0.25 Mecklenburg 83.00 71.00 12.00 1.50 Forsyth 88.00 72.25 15.75 4.00 Greensboro 81.70 66.20 15.50 Alamance 20.25 12.75 7.50 Southern Pines 83.33 38.25 45.08 5.00 6.00 Chapel Hill 114.75 82.75 21.00 5.00 6.00 2.00 15.00 Jordan Lake 118.41 87.66 25.75 5.00 1.75 Durham 75.20 69.50 5.70 Wake County 58.00 50.00 6.00 2.00 2.00 Falls Lake 49.75 41.25 8.50 1.50 Kerr Lake 69.25 55.00 14.25 1.25 2.00 Raven Rock 64.50 31.00 33.50 1.50 Onslow 63.75 28.50 34.25 5.25 total 1278.64 854.86 392.03 7.00 11.00 31.50 92.00 Party miles total Transylvania 266.00 Balsam 141.00 Henderson 136.55 Buncombe 296.60 Black Mts 59.00 Iredell 177.00 Hanging Rock 16.00 Mecklenburg 260.70 Forsyth 188.75 Greensboro 302.10 Alamance 68.80 Southern Pines 483.80 Chapel Hill 192.00 Jordan Lake 291.50 Durham 99.65 Wake County 152.00 Falls Lake 130.50 Kerr Lake 198.25 Raven Rock 417.15 Onslow 387.00 total 4264.35 on by foot by car bicycle 22.00 244.00 31.00 111.50 9.25 127.30 20.50 279.60 29.00 30.00 10.00 167.00 8.00 8.00 57.00 203.70 44.25 134.50 10.00 41.60 260.50 11.00 73.00 26.60 457.20 56.00 121.00 9.00 74.90 212.60 54.45 45.20 43.50 105.50 3.00 35.75 94.75 38.25 160.00 22.75 394.40 25.00 352.00 660.80 3581.75 canoe/ kayak/ boat night 5.00 6.00 3.00 0.25 0.50 6.00 1.25 4.00 9.00 1.00 0.50 10.00 10.00 40.00 20.00 76.50 22.00 2010 Fall Bird Counts in South Carolina Lois Stacey 418 Deepwood PL, North Augusta, SC, 29841 croakie@comcast. net Six counts were held for the Fall 2010 Bird Count in September: Aiken, Spartanburg, Greenville, Cherokee, and Lexington Counties, and Congaree National Park. Ninety- two birders spent a beautiful day out and about trying to find all the birds they could. A good total of 146 species of birds was recorded including an early-arriving Rufous Hummingbird! Compilers reported eleven species of raptors, including all three falcons, many of them at a stationary count in Greenville. Only one Eastern Whip-poor-will was recorded for all counts, but seven species of woodpeckers and 29 species of warblers were found. A bird identified as a Traill’s Flycatcher was seen in Lexington but could not be identified to species. Only one compiler, for Spartanburg County, provided a count summary. Spartanburg County Compiler: Lyle Campbell Spartanburg had an excellent fall count with 1 5 warbler species, an adult Bald Eagle, an early Rufous Hummingbird and a Nashville Warbler. A week earlier the Cottonwood wetland had a White Ibis, only the second time that species has been reported in the county. Table 1 . Fall 2010 bird counts in South Carolina Aiken Spart Cherok Lexing Congar Greenv Total Canada Goose 12 63 21 2 0 164 262 Wood Duck 11 3 0 10 8 19 51 Gadwall 0 6 0 0 0 0 6 Mallard 1 86 0 0 0 175 262 Northern Bobwhite 9 1 0 0 0 11 21 Wild Turkey 10 8 23 0 5 24 70 Wood Stork 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 Double-crested Cormorant 0 0 0 5 0 0 5 Anhinga 7 0 0 0 0 0 7 Great Blue Heron 2 14 0 7 2 7 32 Great Egret 15 10 0 3 1 0 29 Snowy Egret 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 Little Blue Heron 18 1 0 0 1 0 20 Cattle Egret 21 0 0 1 0 0 22 Green Heron 2 5 0 0 0 1 8 Black Vulture 66 10 3 45 18 18 160 Turkey Vulture 38 9 ( 5 42 10 31 135 Osprey 0 2 1 0 2 6 11 Mississippi Kite 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 Bald Eagle 1 1 0 0 0 1 3 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 3 0 0 0 3 6 Cooper’s Hawk 0 5 0 2 0 7 14 31 32 2010 Fall Bird Counts in South Carolina Red-shouldered Hawk Aiken 19 Broad-winged Hawk 0 Red-tailed Hawk 12 American Kestrel 8 Merlin 1 Peregrine Falcon 0 Killdeer 98 Spotted Sandpiper 0 Solitary Sandpiper 7 Lesser Yellowlegs 1 Least Sandpiper 41 Pectoral Sandpiper 8 Wilson’s Snipe 0 Rock Pigeon 21 Eurasian Collared-Dove 4 Mourning Dove 236 Yellow-billed Cuckoo 3 Eastern Screech-Owl 2 Great Homed Owl 0 Barred Owl 3 Common Nighthawk 0 Eastern Whip-poor-will 0 Chimney Swift 22 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 13 Rufous Hummingbird 0 Belted Kingfisher 2 Red-headed Woodpecker 70 Red-bellied Woodpecker 68 Downy Woodpecker 45 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Red-cockaded Woodpecker 3 Northern Flicker 8 Pileated Woodpecker 31 Eastern Wood-Pewee 20 Yellow-bellied Flycatcher 0 Acadian Flycatcher 3 Willow Flycatcher 0 “Traill’s Flycatcher” 0 Empidonax, sp 0 Eastern Phoebe 4 Great Crested Flycatcher 6 Eastern Kingbird 3 Loggerhead Shrike 0 White-eyed Vireo 98 Yellow-throated Vireo 4 Blue-headed Vireo 1 Philadelphia Vireo 0 Red-eyed Vireo 18 Blue Jay 89 American Crow 214 Fish Crow 8 Common Raven 0 Purple Martin 6 Tree Swallow 0 Northern Rough-winged Swallow 170 Bam Swallow 28 Cherok Lexing Congar Greenv Total 1 7 11 7 51 1 0 1 177 179 1 6 1 6 34 0 6 0 3 18 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 4 8 0 15 148 0 2 0 0 14 0 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 41 0 0 0 0 8 0 1 0 0 1 2 28 0 302 462 0 0 0 0 9 17 72 10 236 728 0 0 13 6 22 1 0 0 3 6 0 1 2 2 8 1 0 27 0 34 0 0 0 2 3 0 0 1 0 1 46 10 13 93 743 7 15 0 218 307 0 0 0 2 3 0 7 0 5 30 0 4 22 3 117 0 21 29 45 176 0 18 17 34 128 0 0 0 5 8 0 0 0 0 3 2 4 1 5 27 2 2 38 21 106 0 5 11 25 68 2 0 0 0 2 0 4 43 3 53 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 1 3 0 4 1 30 84 2 2 5 1 16 0 0 0 0 4 0 3 0 0 3 0 9 89 6 203 0 1 18 0 24 0 1 5 7 14 0 0 3 1 4 0 13 10 5 48 1 53 8 197 406 6 90 17 284 710 0 5 0 2 15 0 0 0 3 3 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 4 0 4 0 0 0 1 171 0 0 0 0 30 Spart 6 0 8 1 0 0 23 12 0 0 0 0 0 109 5 157 0 0 3 3 1 0 559 54 1 16 18 13 14 2 0 7 12 7 0 0 0 0 0 45 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 2 58 99 0 0 0 0 0 2 The Chat, Vol. 75, No. 1, Winter 2011 33 Aiken Carolina Chickadee 102 Tufted Titmouse 104 White-breasted Nuthatch 18 Brown-headed Nuthatch 38 Carolina Wren 117 House Wren 0 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 7 Golden-crowned Kinglet 0 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 0 Eastern Bluebird 21 Veery 0 Gray-cheeked Thrush 0 Swain son’s Thrush 0 Wood Thrush 5 American Robin 35 Gray Catbird 8 Northern Mockingbird 55 Brown Thrasher 25 European Starling 80 Cedar Waxwing 0 Blue- winged Warbler 0 Golden-winged Warbler 2 Tennessee Warbler 0 Orange-crowned Warbler 0 Nashville Warbler 0 Northern Parula 27 Yellow Warbler 2 Chestnut-sided Warbler 7 Magnolia Warbler 6 Yellow-rumped Warbler Black-throated Green 0 Warbler 0 Blackburnian Warbler 1 Yellow-throated Warbler 2 Pine Warbler 106 Prairie Warbler 1 Palm Warbler 38 Bay-breasted Warbler 0 Black-and-white Warbler 10 American Redstart 13 Prothonotary Warbler 0 Worm-eating Warbler 0 Ovenbird 0 Northern Waterthrush 5 Louisiana Waterthrush 1 Kentucky Warbler 0 Common Yellowthroat 6 Hooded Warbler 5 Canada Warbler 0 Yellow-breasted Chat 0 Eastern Towhee 38 Chipping Sparrow 23 Field Sparrow 0 Song Sparrow 0 Swamp Sparrow 0 Dark-eyed Junco 0 Summer Tanager 32 Cherok Lexing Congar Greenv Total 0 58 46 123 380 12 62 47 137 408 0 11 31 17 96 0 29 5 22 105 1 58 49 101 366 0 0 0 3 6 0 1 4 0 13 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 3 14 4 44 3 135 363 0 0 14 1 15 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 3 4 0 0 1 3 9 6 1 15 149 245 0 7 1 25 44 2 62 1 54 239 0 12 0 25 69 14 15 0 37 503 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 5 0 0 0 17 17 0 0 1 1 3 0 3 51 3 84 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 15 23 0 5 4 8 25 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 3 0 1 0 0 4 0 23 32 11 197 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 1 6 48 0 0 1 2 3 0 4 4 13 31 0 21 29 17 82 0 2 2 0 4 0 0 3 1 5 0 1 0 5 11 0 0 0 1 8 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 9 1 5 23 0 2 6 6 20 0 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 1 2 0 6 6 11 77 4 0 0 34 82 0 0 0 11 15 0 0 0 5 20 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 2 0 5 16 1 56 Spart 51 46 19 11 40 3 1 0 11 156 0 0 0 0 39 3 65 7 357 0 0 0 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 10 1 1 1 25 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 5 2 0 0 2 1 0 1 16 21 4 15 1 0 2 34 2010 Fall Bird Counts in South Carolina Aiken Scarlet Tanager 2 Northern Cardinal 138 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 0 Blue Grosbeak 7 Indigo Bunting 10 Painted Bunting 1 Red- winged Blackbird 156 Eastern Meadowlark 0 Common Grackle 81 Brown-headed Cowbird 758 Purple Finch 0 House Finch 13 American Goldfinch 21 House Sparrow 55 Species 100 Individuals 3797 Regular Count Hours foot 28.75 Hours car Hours boat Hours bike 27.25 Miles foot 21 Miles car Miles boat Miles bike 225 # Regular parties 8 # Regular observers 13 #Species 100 #Individuals 3763 Feeder Watch Hours Feeder Watch 3 #Feeder Watchers 4 #Feeder Stations 16 #Species 22 #Individuals Stationary Hours Stationary #Parties Stationary #Observers Stationary #Species #Individuals 59 Nocturnal Hours Nocturnal Miles Nocturnal 0.5 #parties nocturnal 1 #observers nocturnal #Species #Individuals 1 Time start 515 Time stop 1930 Cherok Lexing Congar Greenv Total 0 0 0 17 23 10 88 36 122 468 0 0 0 11 11 0 11 3 5 26 0 6 7 21 54 0 0 0 0 1 0 10 0 1 167 0 0 0 8 13 4 18 250 3 399 0 75 0 30 969 0 0 0 0 2 8 12 0 48 131 1 5 1 304 424 2 0 0 75 142 33 75 69 103 146 217 1193 1124 3889 13011 0.5 7 19.25 31.6 0.75 5 0.5 13.75 0.5 12 14.2 18 14 86 8.2 104 1 2 6 2 9 12 17 22 75 92 112 1177 3522 11 1 4 2 3 3 12 6 103 16 7.5 2 2 43 362 0.5 2 3 0.5 6 2 1 2 2 3 2 2 2 2 5 800 700 6:00 000 1900 19:30 Spart 4 74 0 0 10 0 0 5 43 106 2 50 92 10 92 2791 16 10.5 2.5 3 10.75 211.5 6 10 9 10 87 1837 33 26 14 42 498 1 10 3 5 3 456 700 2000 The Chat, Vol. 75, No. 1, Winter 2011 35 Aiken Spart Cherok Lexing Congar Greenv Temperature: pre-dawn 65 71 75 71 70 dawn 65 69 71 65 69.1 AM 75 69 75 72 noon 88 70 84 85 80.1 PM 93 71 87 91 84.9 sunset 88 66 80 82.9 night 80 67 72 75.9 wind: pre-dawn E 3-6 calm nne 9 nne 6.9 dawn E 3-6 nne 7 nel2 nne 9.2 AM E 5-10 ne 8 nel6 ne 13.8 nne noon E 5-10 ne 7 e 11.5 11.5 PM E 5-10 ene 6 ene 5 var 3.5 sunset E 8-10 nne 5 ene 6 ene 4.6 night E 8-10 calm nne 6 ene 4.6 %clouds: pre-dawn 30 80 0 0 dawn 30 80 0 0 AM 50 100 0 80 0 noon 50 100 0 35 0 PM 80 100 0 35 0 sunset 80 100 0 20 0 night 80 80 0 0 precipitation: pre-dawn 0 0 0 0 dawn 0 light 0 0 0 AM 0 rain 0 0 0 noon 0 light 0 0 0 PM 0 rain 0 0 0 sunset 0 0 0 0 night 0 0 0 0 BRIEFS FOR THE FILES Josh Southern 4 1 00-A Reavis Rd Raleigh, NC 27606 joshsouthem79@gmail.com (All dates Fall 2010, unless otherwise noted) Briefs for the Files is a seasonal collection of uncommon-to-rare or unusual North and South Carolina bird sightings and events which do not necessarily require a more detailed Field Note or article. Reports of your sightings are due the 20th of the month after the end of the previous season. Reports may be submitted in any format, but I prefer that you use email, list multiple sightings in taxonomic order (rather than by date or location), and type your report directly into the body of the email. If your sightings are in a file, please copy-and-paste the text into the body of the email, rather than sending an attachment. Suitable reports for the Briefs include any sightings you feel are unusual, rare, noteworthy, or just plain interesting to you in any way! It is my responsibility to decide which reports merit inclusion in the Briefs. Please be sure to include details of any rare or hard-to-identify birds. I rely in part on sightings reported in Carolinabirds. Please don’t, however, rely on me to pick up your sightings from Carolinabirds. Instead, please also send your sightings directly to me as described above. If I feel that your sighting warrants a Field Note, I will contact either you or the appropriate state Field Notes editor. You may, of course, submit your Field Note directly to the editor without going through me. Black-bellied Whistling-Duck: The fall high count at the Savannah Spoil Site (S.S.S.) in Jasper County (Co), SC, 15 on 5 Aug (Steve Calver), was low compared to past years. Please note that this site is maintained by the federal government and is off-limits to non-authorized personnel. Snow Goose: One was somewhat early, in a flock of Canada Geese at Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), NC, 16 Oct (Brian Bockhahn, Matt Daw, Ali Iyoob). One at the Rachel Carson Reserve in Beaufort, NC, 24 Nov (John Fussell) was locally unusual. Two blue-morph Winter December 1-February 28 Spring March 1-May 31 Summer June 1-July 31 Fall August 1-November 30 due March 20 due June 20 due August 20 due December 20 36 The Chat, Vol. 75, No. 1, Winter 2011 37 birds at Airlie Gardens in Wilmington, NC, 23 Nov (Daniel Hueholt) were locally unusual. One was seen at Van Wingerden pond, just N of the Water Treatment Plant (WTP) in Henderson Co, NC, 27 Nov (Ernie Hollingsworth). Ross’s Goose, 27 Nov 2010, Pawleys Island, SC. Photo by Jerry Kerschner. Ross’s Goose: A juvenile was found near the NC Aquarium at Fort (Ft) Fisher, NC, 8 Nov (Bruce Smithson) and remained in the area until 26 Nov (m. obs.). Two were photographed at a golf course in Pawley’s Island, SC, 27 Nov (Jerry Kerschner). Brant: Four were seen on Pelican Island, Oregon Inlet, NC, and one was seen off Wanchese, during the Wings Over Water Festival (W.O.W.), 13 Nov (Brian Bockhahn). Barnacle Goose: One was seen on the lake at Hester Park in Greensboro, NC, 1 Nov (Dennis Burnette). Burnette notes that “Barnacle Geese have been spotted off and on in the southern part of Greensboro for many years” and presumes the birds “escaped from a waterfowl collection.” Mute Swan: Two were seen at South Pond, Pea Island NWR, NC, 8-9 Oct (Sharon & Rob Smart). Unfortunately, this species may now be a permanent resident at this site. Eurasian Wigeon: Drakes were found on South Pond, Pea Island NWR, NC, 9 Nov (John & Paula Wright) and on the Bodie Island Lighthouse Pond, NC, 13 Nov (Ricky Davis) and 21 Nov (Haven Wiley, et al.). American Black Duck: Five seen on a pond off Davis Mountain (Mtn) Rd in Henderson Co, NC, 16 Nov (Wayne Forsythe) were locally unusual. Mottled Duck: At Bear Island Wildlife Management Area (WMA), Dorchester Co, SC, 25 were counted 5 Sep (David Abbott, Becky Shehane). 38 Briefs for the Files — Fall 2010 Two were seen in the dredge spoil area near the ferry landing at Ft Fisher, NC, 9 Sep (Greg Massey) and up to four were seen there until 22 Sep (Daniel Hueholt, Amy Williamson, m. obs.). Northern Shoveler: Somewhat early was one at Airlie Gardens in Wilmington, NC, 30 Aug (Daniel Hueholt); five in flight over a cove of Lake Murray, Lexington Co, SC, 9 Sep (Irvin Pitts); one at Huntington Beach State Park (SP), SC, 1 1 Sep (Ritch Lilly); and one at Falls Lake, NC, 1 1 Sep (John Finnegan). White-cheeked Pintail: One was seen at New Field, Pea Island NWR, NC, 10 Oct (Jeff Lewis), where, according to the refuge’s bird sightings clipboard, it was also seen 4 Oct. According to multiple observers, the bird appeared in good health and wore no bands or tags. As is often the case with this species, it’s hard to know for certain whether this bird was a legitimate wild stray from the Bahamas or simply an escaped domestic bird. Also, this bird may be the same individual seen at Chincoteague NWR, VA, in September. The pintail was last reported 18 Oct ( fide Lewis). Northern Pintail: Over 2000 arrived at Pea Island NWR, NC, 26 Sep (Audrey Whitlock). A lone female at Lake Conestee Nature Park in Greenville, SC, 9 Nov (Paul Serridge, Jane Kramer) was a first for that park. Redhead: Locally unusual were 16 at Cowan’s Ford Wildlife Refuge (WR), Mecklenburg Co, NC, 15 Oct (Kevin Metcalf); and 53 on Roanoke Rapids Lake, NC, 27 Nov (Ricky Davis). Greater Scaup: A female at the WTP on NC-191 in Henderson Co, NC, 16 Nov (Wayne Forsythe, Ron Selvey) was probably migrating through on the way to the coast. Common Eider, 1 Aug 2010, Oregon Inlet, NC. Photo by Jeff Lewis. Common Eider: A male, in eclipse plumage, photographed at Oregon Inlet, NC, 1 Aug (Jeff Lewis) was possibly the same individual seen in the area during the summer. Two were seen in the same area, 4 Aug (Audrey Whitlock). One to two were seen in the surf off Cape Point, Buxton, NC, 3 1 The Chat, Vol 75, No. 1, Winter 2011 39 Aug (Jeff Culler, Whitlock), and in early Sept {fide Lewis). Traditionally, in our region, this species is very hard to find at this time of year. Surf Scoter: One was seen on Lake Crabtree in Morrisville, NC, 6 Nov (Thierry Besan9on). White-winged Scoter: A female and a juvenile were photographed at the ferry harbor in Southport, NC, 2-3 Nov (Harry Sell). Black Scoter: Four seen flying S over the ocean at Ft Fisher, NC, 10 Sep (Greg Massey, Mark Jones), were somewhat early; while about 1000 seen flying S at the same location, 13 Oct (Massey, Harry Sell), provided an excellent count. About 600 were seen flying S off Sullivan’s Island, Charleston, SC, 26 Nov (David Abbott). Inland, five were seen at the WTP in Goldsboro, NC, 6 Nov (Eric Dean, Gene Howe); and a lone female was seen on Jordan Lake, NC, 28-30 Nov (Eddie Owens, Phil Warren). Northern Bobwhite: Six visited a feeder in Manteo, Roanoke Island, NC, 4 Oct, with one there again 18 Oct (Jeff Lewis). Ring-necked Pheasant: Five or more were seen on the Core Banks near Cape Lookout, NC, 5 Nov (Sterling Southern). Red-throated Loon: One seen on the SC side of Richard B Russell Lake, N of the dam, 20 Nov (Mark Freeman) was the only inland sighting reported this fall. Arctic/Pacific Loon: An adult, in non-breeding plumage, was seen about 100 yards off the coast of Nags Head, NC, 20 Nov (Haven Wiley, et al.). A report was submitted to the NC Bird Records Committee (BRC). Common Loon: Inland sightings included one on Lake Hickory, just NE of Hickory, NC, 3 Sep (Monroe Parnell, fide Dwayne Martin) and 14 on Roanoke Rapids Lake, near Vultare, NC, 27 Nov (Ricky Davis). Horned Grebe: Eighteen seen on Lake Julian in Skyland, NC, 30 Nov (Wayne Forsythe) provided a good count for the mountain region. Red-necked Grebe: Three were reported this fall — one (same bird at this site in past years?) on Lake Crabtree in Morrisville, NC, 31 Oct (Thierry Besangon); an adult in basic plumage, about 100 yards off the coast of Nags Head, NC, 20 Nov (Haven Wiley, et al.); and one on Roanoke Rapids Lake in Halifax Co, NC, 27 Nov (Ricky Davis). Eared Grebe: One was seen at the WTP in Goldsboro, NC, 6 Nov (Eric Dean, Gene Howe) and 21 Nov (Matt Daw). Two were first seen at the S.S.S. in Jasper Co, SC, on 7 Oct (Steve Calver). This species is an annual winter visitor at both sites. Herald (Trinidade) Petrel: Individuals were seen on pelagic trips out of Hatteras, NC, 1 and 8 Aug (Brian Patteson, Kevin Metcalf, et al.). Black-bellied Storm-Petrel: One was seen and well-photographed during a pelagic trip out of Hatteras, NC, 14 Aug (Brian Patteson, et al.), providing a fourth state record. Wood Stork: High counts were 130 at Twin Lakes, Sunset Beach, NC, 15 Aug (Thierry Besan^on); and 200 at Huntington Beach SP, SC, 5 Sep (Michael McCloy). Twenty-six were seen where US-601 crosses the 40 Briefs for the Files — Fall 2010 Congaree River, S of Columbia, SC, 18 Sep (John Grego). One was seen at Pee Dee NWR, NC, 4 Sep (Will Stuart). Magnificent Frigatebird: An adult male was photographed flying over the beach between Kure Beach and Ft Fisher, NC, 10 Oct (Mark Jones, Greg Massey, Harry Sell, et ah). Anhinga: West of the species’ typical range were individuals at Riverbend Park in Conover, NC, 21 Aug (Monroe Panned, Dwayne Martin); and at the Riverfront Park Diversion Dam in Columbia, SC, 1 1 Sep-3 Oct (Sparkle Clark). Two seen at the WTP in Goldsboro, NC, 21 Nov (Matt Daw) were somewhat late for that inland location. A high count of 250 was made at Bear Island WMA, SC, 5 Sep (David Abbott). American White Pelican: Nine were seen at Pea Island NWR, NC, 12 Oct (Ricky Davis), and 25-30 were seen at the same location, 25 Nov (Bruce Smithson). The high count at the S.S.S. in Jasper Co, SC, 55 on 5 Aug (Steve Calver), was low compared to past years. Least Bittern: Three seen along the entrance drive at Mattamuskeet NWR, NC, 16 Aug (Audrey Whitlock, Peggy Eubanks, fide Jeff Lewis), provided a good count for an inland site. Great Egret: The post-breeding dispersal high count at Falls Lake, NC, was 356 on 23 Sept (Brian Bockhahn). Little Blue Heron: Five juveniles were seen in the wetlands off US-64 between Morganton and Lenoir, NC, in July through mid- August (Walt Kent, Sonny Hines). Reddish Egret (dark-morph unless otherwise noted): Four were seen from the causeway at Huntington Beach SP, SC, in early August (Jerry Kerschner), and one remained there 15 Sep (Paul Serridge, et al.). Lone juveniles were seen at the N end of Wrightsville Beach, NC, 14 Oct (Gilbert Grant); and at the W end of Oak Island, NC, 30 Oct (Sharon Smart, fide John Ennis). One was on Twin Lakes, Sunset Beach, NC, 30 Nov (Greg Massey). Cattle Egret: A high count of 248 was made at the Super-Sod farm in Orangeburg, SC, 14 Aug (John Grego). Locally unusual were 14 at the NC- 50 boat ramp on Falls Lake, NC, 12 Oct (Brian Bockhahn). Black-crowned Night-Heron: One heard calling during pre-dawn in Rocky Mount, NC, 9 Sep (Ricky Davis) was locally unusual. White Ibis: A juvenile seen during a Greenville (SC) Bird Club outing on the Cottonwood Trail in Spartanburg, SC, 28 Aug (Lyle Campbell, Paul Serridge, et al.) was unusual for a site so far away from the coast. A juvenile was seen in the wetlands off US-64 between Morganton and Lenoir, NC, during the summer (Walt Kent). Roseate Spoonbill: Spoonbills put on quite a poor showing compared to last year’s remarkably widespread post-breeding dispersal. At Huntington Beach SP, SC, four were seen from the causeway in early August {fide Jerry Kerschner), and three were seen there, flying over Mullet Pond, during a Carolina Bird Club (CBC) field trip, 1 1 Sep (Paul Serridge, et al.). A high count of 92 was made at the S.S.S. in Jasper Co, SC, on 29 Sep, with eight remaining until 28 Oct (Steve Calver). The Chat , Vol. 75, No. 1, Winter 2011 41 Roseate Spoonbill, 1 1 Sept 2010, Huntington Beach SP, SC. Photo by Jon Rouse. Osprey: One seen on Arrowhead Lake at Pee Dee NWR, NC, 21 Nov (Ron Clark, et al.) was probably the same bird that has wintered there for several years now. Swallow-tailed Kite: One was reported from Cane Creek Park in Union Co, NC, 9 Aug (George Andrews). Mississippi Kite: Outside of the species’ traditional range were individuals just N of Fuquay Varina, NC, 24 Aug (Steve Shultz); and near Sandling Beach, Falls Lake, NC, 2 and 1 1 Sep (Brian Bockhahn). Bald Eagle: An adult seen in the upper reaches of Lake Blalock, during the Fall Bird Count (FBC) in Spartanburg Co, SC, 1 1 Sep (Dan Codispoti, Lyle Campbell) was “the first in at least a decade of fall counts.” An individual seen in flight over Jackson Park, Hendersonville, NC, 18 Sep (Ron Clark) and 28 Sep (Simon Thompson) was locally unusual. A good summer count of 66 was made at the Vernon James Research Center in Roper, NC, 1 Aug (Peggy Eubank). Northern Harrier: Somewhat early were individuals at Cedar Island NWR, NC, in late August (Phil Dickinson); at Bear Island WMA, SC, 5 Sep (David Abbott); at the N end of Roanoke Island, NC, 5 Sep (Jeff Lewis, Audrey Whitlock); and one over Shackleford Banks, NC, during a Cape Fear Audubon field trip, 1 1 Sept (John Fussell, et al.). Broad-winged Hawk: High counts at hawk watches included 869 at Pilot Mountain, NC, 17 Sep (Phil Dickinson); 1 1 14 at Caesars Head, SC, 20 Sep (Jeff Catlin, et al.); and 1498 at Mt Pisgah, NC, 24 Sep (Yusuf Gantt). Swainson’s Hawk: A light-phase sub-adult was seen in Mt Pleasant, SC, 3 Oct (David Abbott). If accepted by the SCBRC, this sighting would 42 Briefs for the Files — Fall 2010 provide the state with its fifth record. A juvenile seen at Alligator River NWR, NC, 10 Nov (Greg Massey, Harry Sell) may have been the same bird seen here later in the winter. Rough-legged Hawk: One found on Hooper Lane in Henderson Co, NC, 25 Nov (Steve Ritt) is thought to be the same bird seen by many along nearby N Rugby Rd throughout the winter {fide Wayne Forsythe). Golden Eagle: A sub-adult was seen along the Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP) near Asheville, NC, 23 Sep (Joseph Gantt). An adult was seen over Conover, NC, 28 Oct (Lori Owenby). A juvenile was seen over Roan Mountain, NC, 12 Nov (Rick Knight). Merlin: Outside of the coastal plain, individuals were found at Sandling Beach, Falls Lake, NC, 16 Sept (Brian Bockhahn); at the dam on Kerr Lake, NC, 17 Sept (Bockhahn); over Norfleet Pond in E Halifax Co, NC, 18 Sep (Ricky Davis); and W of N Rugby Rd in Henderson Co, NC, 26 Nov (Steve Ritt). Peregrine Falcon: A juvenile seen over NC Catfish Farms in Roper, NC, 2 1 Aug (Ricky Davis) was quite early. One returned to downtown Charlotte, NC, for a fifth straight winter, 1 1 Oct (Ron & Anne Clark). Black Rail: One was heard in the marshes on Roanoke Island, NC, for about half an hour around 5:00 a.m., 12 Aug (Elisa Enders, Nick Flanders). King Rail: A good count of nine was made at Bear Island WMA, SC, 5 Sep (David Abbott). One was noted along the Wildlife Drive at Mattamuskeet NWR, NC, 16 Oct (Brian Bockhahn, Matt Daw, Ali Iyoob). Virginia Rail: One was heard at Tanglewood Park in Winston-Salem, NC, 12-19 Nov (John Haire, Royce Hough). Also heard at this site last March, this Virginia Rail was possibly the same bird, returning somewhat early to spend the winter, rather than being a late-passing migrant. Purple Gallinule: One was heard at Pea Island NWR, NC, but not seen, 4-6 Oct (Jeff Lewis). Common Moorhen: Local high counts included 289 at Bear Island WMA, SC, 5 Sep (David Abbott); and 19 around Twin Lakes in Sunset Beach, NC, 8 Oct (Greg Massey). Two seen at the WTP in Goldsboro, NC, 2 1 Nov (Matt Daw), were quite late for a site away from the coast. Sandhill Crane: One was seen on private property W of Morehead City, NC, for at least three weeks in late August and early September {fide John Fussell). American Golden-Plover: Thirty, a good concentration for our region, were “well-seen, flying low at about 20 ft.” on N Folly Island, Charleston, Rough-legged Hawk, 27 Nov 2010, Henderson Co, NC. Photo by Jon Smith. The Chat, Vol. 75, No. 1, Winter 2011 43 SC, 2 Sep (David Abbott). As many as five birds were counted at Falls Lake, NC, 1 1-22 Sep (Brian Bockhahn, m. obs.). Three were seen W of the jetty at Huntington Beach SP, SC, 1 1 Sep (Paul Serridge, et al.). In the mountains, three were seen at the WTP off NC-191 in Henderson Co, NC, 23 Oct, with one remaining until 16 Nov (Wayne Forsythe). Snowy Plover: One was discovered on the easternmost beach of Kiawah Island, SC, 10 Aug (Aaron Given) and was present until at least 4 Sep (m. obs.). Semipalmated Plover: Inland, three were seen on the mudflats at the upper end of Falls Lake, NC, 8 Sep (Dave Lenat). Black-necked Stilt: The fall high count at the S.S.S. in Jasper Co, SC, 578 on 6 Aug (Steve Calver) was low in comparison to high counts of past years. American Avocet: 550 at Pea Island NWR, NC, 10 Nov (Greg Massey); and 969 at the S.S.S. in Jasper Co, SC, 23 Nov (Steve Calver), were both excellent counts. Upland Sandpiper: Fifteen were counted at the Super-Sod Farm in Orangeburg, SC, 14 Aug (John Grego, et al.). Up to two were seen at ILM Airport in Wilmington, NC, 12-17 Aug (Bruce Smithson, Daniel Hueholt, et al.). Seven were seen at Atlantic Turf sod farm near Plymouth, NC, 16 Aug (Audrey Whitlock, Peggy Eubanks, fide Jeff Lewis). Two were seen at the American Turf Farms, along US-64, just W of Creswell, NC, 28 Aug (Mark Kosiewski). One was seen at Winslow Sod Farm in E Halifax Co, NC, 29 Aug (Ricky Davis). Up to nine were seen at Bucksport Sod Farm in Horry Co, SC, 8-9 Aug (Stephen Thomas, Jack Peachey). Whimbrel: One on Big Bald Mountain, NC/TN border, 16-21 Sep (Rad Mayfield, et al ..fide Rick Knight) was quite interesting. Knight notes that “these high elevation grassy balds are strikingly similar to tundra breeding areas of this species.” A good count of 33 was had on Bird Shoals, Beaufort, NC, 4 Sep (Rich Boyd, Ken Wilkins). Long-billed Curlew: One was discovered in the grassy fields off Hooper Lane in Henderson Co, NC, 29 Aug (Shelby & Donnie Coody, Paul Serridge), where it was seen and photographed through 2 Sep (m. obs.). Two were seen “flying over and up the Wandoo River toward the DI bridge” from the S end of Daniel’s Island, SC, 8 Nov (David Abbott). Abbott notes the “large, reddish under-wings with superbly long bills were clear and obvious.” Hudsonian Godwit: Individuals were found on the often-flooded grassy area in front of the Oregon Inlet, NC, Fishing Center, 12 Aug (Audrey Whitlock); at the same site 1 Oct (Whitlock); at a catfish farm near Aurora, NC, 8 Oct (Al Gamache, Steve Shaffer); and at North Pond, Pea Island NWR, NC, 6 Nov (Haven Wiley) and 10 Nov (Greg Massey). 44 Briefs for the Files — Fall 2010 Marbled Godwit: Over 300 were seen on Shackleford Banks near Beaufort, NC, during a Cape Fear Audubon field trip, 1 1 Sep (John Fussell, Amy Williamson, et al.). Ruddy Turnstone: A pair was seen on the Ellerbe Creek mudflats of Falls Lake, NC, 20-23 Oct (Robert Meehan, Nathan Swick). Sanderling: As many as five were seen at Falls Lake, NC, 4-25 Sept (Brian Bockhahn, Robert Meehan, m. obs.). Six were seen in the fields off Hooper Lane in Henderson Co, NC, 27 Sep (Wayne Forsythe). Least Sandpiper: A large flock of at least 60 was seen on the Ellerbe mudflats at Falls Lake, NC, 6 Nov (Robert Meehan); quite an impressive number for an inland site. White-rumped Sandpiper: As many as seven were seen at Falls Lake, NC, 30 Aug through 22 Sept (Brian Bockhahn, m. obs.), with one remaining 1 1 Oct (Jacob Socolar). Baird’s Sandpiper: One was photographed on a grassy bald at the Nature Conservancy’s Big Yellow Mountain Preserve in Avery Co, NC, 13 Aug (John McAlister, Worth McAlister, Stewart Flora, Terry Ward, Mike Horak, fide Merrill Lynch). Two juveniles were seen on the Ellerbe Creek mudflats, at the N end of Falls Lake, NC, 5 Sept (Ricky Davis), with one continuing through 14 Sept (Brian Bockhahn, Dave Lenat, Ali Iyoob, et al.). One was seen in the dredge spoil area near the ferry landing at Ft Fisher, NC, 9-16 Sep (Greg Massey, Daniel Hueholt, et al.). Pectoral Sandpiper: One seen at Norfleet Pond in E Halifax Co, NC, 27 Nov (Ricky Davis) was quite late. Sharp-tailed Sandpiper: One was photographed on the beach next to the spit at Ft Fisher, NC, 15 Oct (Greg Massey, Amy Williamson, Mark Jones, Harry Sell). This sighting provides the first photographic evidence of this species in NC. Dunlin: Inland, six were seen in the fields off Hooper Lane in Henderson Co, NC, 15 Nov (Wayne Forsythe); and up to nine were seen on the Ellerbe Creek mudflats on Falls Lake, NC, 6-28 Nov (Robert Meehan, Dave Lenat, et al.). Stilt Sandpiper: Individuals on Ledge Creek, Falls Lake, NC, 16 Sep ( fide Brian Bockhahn); and on Norfleet Pond in E Halifax Co, NC, 18 Sep Long-billed Curlew, 29 Aug 2010, Henderson Co, NC. Photo by Simon Thompson. The Chat, Vol 75, No. 1, Winter 2011 45 (Ricky Davis), were locally unusual. Up to nine were seen on the Ellerbe Creek mudflats on Falls Lake, NC, 12-25 Sep (Robert Meehan, Thierry Besan9on, et ah). Seven were seen E of Aurora, NC, 8 Oct (A1 Gamache). Buff-breasted Sandpiper, 14 Sept 2010, Falls Lake, NC. Photo by Ah lyoob. Buff-breasted Sandpiper: Three were seen at the American Sod Farm, along US-64, just W of Creswell, NC, 21 Aug (Ricky Davis). One was seen at Winslow Sod Farm in E Halifax Co, NC, 29 Aug (Davis). As many as three birds were seen at Falls Lake, NC, 4-25 Sept (Brian Bockhahn, Robert Meehan, m. obs.). Five were seen in the Mullet Pond area of Huntington Beach SP, SC, 1 1 Sep (Paul Serridge, Jon Rouse, et al.), with one continuing 14 Sep (Serridge). Two were seen at (Steve Calver). Seven were seen in the Wilson’s Phalarope, 10 Sept 2010, Huntington Beach SP, SC. Photo by Phil Turner the S.S.S. in Jasper Co, SC, 2 Sep fields off Hooper Lane in Henderson Co, NC, 30 Aug (Wayne Forsythe, John Haire). Long-billed Dowitcher: A high count of 793 at the S.S.S. in Jasper Co, SC, 21 Oct (Steve Calver) was a record for that site in fall. Wilson’s Phalarope: One was seen on the Ellerbe Creek mudflats, at the N end of Falls Lake, NC, 5 Sep (Ricky Davis). Four were seen at the S.S.S. in Jasper Co, SC, 5 Aug, with two there 2 1 Oct, and one remaining 28 Oct (Steve Calver). Lone juveniles were found at Ft 46 Briefs for the Files — Fall 2010 Fisher, NC, 17 Aug (Bruce Smithson); and at Huntington Beach SP, SC, 9- 10 Sep (Jerry Kerschner, Paul Serridge, Phil Turner). Red-necked Phalarope, 6 Oct 2010, Ft Fisher, NC. Photo by John Ennis. Red-necked Phalarope: Individuals were seen on the E end of Kiawah Island, SC, 2 Oct (Aaron Given); at Ft Fisher, NC, 5-7 Oct (Maureen Dewire, John Ennis, Harry Sell); and at the S.S.S. in Jasper Co, SC, 16 Oct (Steve Calver). Black-legged Kittiwake: A juvenile (“Tarrock”) was seen flying around the lighthouse pond on Bodie Island, NC, during a W.O.W. field trip, 13 Nov (Kent Fiala, et al.). Franklin’s Gull: A first- winter bird was found amongst the Laughing Gulls on the beach S of the inlet at Edisto Beach, SC, 12 Oct (David Abbott). Lesser Black-backed Gull : Inland, an adult was found at Ellerbe Creek on Falls Lake, NC, 23 Nov (Robert Meehan, Scott Winton). Glaucous Gull: A first-winter bird was found amongst other gulls behind a shrimp trawler, just off Shackleford Banks, near Beaufort, NC, 9 Nov (John Fussell, Ned Brinkley, Chris Voss, John Voigt). Sooty Tern: A moribund individual was found in Newport, Carteret Co, NC, after the passage of Tropical Storm Nicole, 30 Sep (Claire Aubel). Common Tern: Far away from the coast, two were found on Lake Julian in Skyland, NC, 27 Sep (Wayne Forsythe). Forster’s Tern: Almost as far from the coast was a Forster’s Tern seen sitting on a buoy on Lake Hickory, N Catawba Co, NC, 3 Sep (Dwayne Martin). Parasitic Jaeger: One was seen at Oregon Inlet, NC, in late November (Brian Murphy, et al.). The Chat, Vol. 75, No. 1, Winter 2011 47 Jaeger sp.: A small jaeger, most likely a Parasitic, was seen at the WTP in Goldsboro, NC, 6 Nov (Eric Dean, Gene Howe). Eurasian Collared-Dove: A high count of 28 was made in Nags Head, NC, 23 Nov (Jeff Lewis). White-winged Dove: One was seen in a yard in Beaufort, NC, 25 Oct (Susan Boyd). Two were seen in Nags Head, NC, 17 Nov (Audrey Whitlock); and one was seen two miles south of the former location, 23 Nov (Jeff Lewis). Common Ground-Dove: The fall high count at the S.S.S. in Jasper Co, SC, eight on 21 Oct (Steve Calver), was low compared to previous years. Black-billed Cuckoo: Individuals were seen in Jackson Park in Henderson, NC, 24 Aug (Wayne Forsythe); at Pea Island NWR, NC, 1 1 Sep (Jeff Lewis); at Bond Park in Cary, NC, 1 Oct (Eddie Owens); in Conway, SC, 2 Oct (Stephen Thomas); at Huntington Beach SP, SC, 10 Oct (Jack Peachey); and at Alligator River NWR, NC, 30 Oct (Rich & Susan Boyd). Barn Owl: Individuals were seen in Roxboro, NC, 20 Oct (Sherri Carpenter); and in Morehead City, NC, 22 Oct (John Fussell). Short-eared Owl: Individuals were seen at Bear Island WMA, SC, on the early date of 5 Sep (David Abbott); on North Topsail Island, NC, 8 Nov (Doug Johnston); and on Pelican Island at Oregon Inlet, NC, during W.O.W., 12 Nov (Brian Bockhahn, et al.). Northern Saw-whet Owl: One was first noted along the Lighthouse Drive at Bodie Island, NC, on 9 Nov (Greg Massey). Rufous Hummingbird: Individuals were seen at feeders in N Raleigh, NC, returning for a fifth straight winter, 9 Aug {fide Susan Campbell); in Flat Rock, NC, 3-6 Nov (Reece Mitchell, Wayne Forsythe); at St Stephens Park in NE Hickory, NC, in early November (Dwayne Martin); in Westminster, SC, 17 Nov (Bill Peay); and near Beaufort, NC, in late November (John Fussell, John Voigt). Olive-sided Flycatcher: One seen at Jackson Park in Hendersonville, NC, 1 Sep (John Scavetto) was the only one reported this fall. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher: Two were seen in Jackson Park in Hendersonville, NC, 29 Sep (Wayne Forsythe, Ron Selvey), with at least one seen in the park 30 Aug through 5 Oct (John Lindfors, m. obs.). Individuals were also found at St Stephens Park in NE Hickory, NC, 6 Sep (Dwayne Martin); and at N Folly Beach, Charleston, SC, 30 Sep (David Abbott). Alder Flycatcher: One was seen and heard as it perched on a branch at close range on N Folly Island, Charleston, SC, 30 Sep (David Abbott). If accepted by the Records Committee, this would be only the second SC record. Willow Flycatcher: Two seen and heard calling at the S.S.S. in Jasper Co, SC, 16 Sep (Steve Calver) were locally very unusual. Say’s Phoebe: One was photographed on the SE comer of Bald Head Island, NC, 3 Sep (Maureen Dewire). This sighting is about the fifth for the state, and far earlier in the fall/winter season than the other sightings. 48 Briefs for the Files — Fall 2010 Ash-throated Flycatcher: One was seen at Archie Elledge WTP in Winston-Salem, NC, 26 Nov (Ron Morris). Subsequent attempts by area birders to relocate the bird were unsuccessful. Western Kingbird: Individuals were seen at the ferry landing at Ft Fisher, 17 Sep (Bruce Smithson), and photographed the next day, 18 Sep (John Ennis); in a yard in Rodanthe, NC, 21 Sep (Henry & Elizabeth Link); on the E end of Kiawah Island, SC, 2 Oct (Aaron Given); at Alligator River NWR, NC, 8-13 Nov (Peggy Eubank, m. obs.); and at Edisto Beach, SC, 14 Oct (David Abbott). Eastern Kingbird: Quite late was one seen in an altercation with a Mockingbird at Isle of Palms, SC, 23 Nov (David Dobson). Loggerhead Shrike: One seen perched on a wire over a large cow pasture in Alleghany Co, NC, 2550 ft, 21 Aug (Eric Dean) was locally unusual. Three were seen near the intersection of NC-171 and US- 17, just N of Washington, NC, 14 Nov (John Fussell). White-eyed Vireo: Two seen in Airlie Gardens, Wilmington, NC, 27 Nov (Daniel Hueholt) were a good find. Bell’s Vireo: Individuals were reported on N Folly Island, Charleston, SC, 18 Sep (Jesse Fagan, fide Chris Snook); and at Sandling Beach, Falls Lake, NC, 12 Oct (Brian Bockhahn). If accepted by the NCBRC, the latter sighting would be NC’s farthest away from the coast. Yellow-throated Vireo: One on Roanoke Island, NC, 26 Aug (Jeff Lewis) was locally unusual. Warbling Vireo: One near the Old Coast Guard Station, Pea Island NWR, NC, 11 Sep (Jeff Lewis) was a great find for the Outer Banks. One photographed near the dam on Falls Lake, NC, 13 Sep (Ali Iyoob, Matt Daw) was also noteworthy. Philadelphia Vireo: Five different individuals were seen near the dam on Falls Lake, NC, between 16 Sep and 1 Oct (Ali Iyoob, Matt Daw); while a one-day count of five was made at Jackson Park in Hendersonville, NC, 28 Sep (Wayne Forsythe, Ron Selvey). Two were seen at 17 Acre Woods in Durham, NC, 1 Oct (Robert Meehan). Along the NC Warbling Vireo, 11 Sept 2010, Pea Is coast, individuals were found in NWR, NC. Photo by Jeff Lewis. Corolla, 29 Aug (Jeff Lewis); in Duck, 2 Sep (Lewis); at Ft Fisher, 12-16 Sep (Greg Massey, Daniel The Chat, Vol. 75, No. 1, Winter 201 1 49 Hueholt); and at Pea Island NWR, NC, 6 Oct (Lewis). Common Raven: Two were seen near the quarry just E of Gamer, NC, 16 Aug (Clyde Sorenson), an area where individuals have been “seen ... several times over the last several years” (Sorenson). Three were heard and seen at Gold Park in Hillsborough, NC, 3 Oct (Greg Dodge); and two, possibly the same birds, were seen in flight over 1-40, S of Hillsborough, NC, 22 Nov (Ricky Davis). Ravens have become quite widespread around Raleigh, NC, in the past few years, being observed in increasing numbers and at an increasing number of sites. Some birders hypothesize that ravens are attracted to the several local stone quarries as potential nest sites. Horned Lark: Locally unusual were three “flying just above the treetops” in residential Rocky Mount, NC, 16 Sep (Ricky Davis); two seen at the base of the jetty at Oregon Inlet, NC, 11 Nov (Davis, W.O.W. participants), through 20 Nov (Haven Wiley, et al.); and four on the Muddy Creek Greenway in Winston-Salem, NC, 21 Nov (John Haire). Seen at more expected locations were 15 at the American Turf Co, near Creswell, NC, 21- 25 Aug (Jeff Lemons, Peggy Eubank); and 68 at the Super-Sod Farm in Orangeburg, SC, 1 Sep (David Abbott). Tree Swallow: High counts included over 1,000,000, an inconceivable number of these birds, at Bear Island WMA, 5 Sep (David Abbott); 25,700, low compared to past years’ high counts, at the S.S.S. in Jasper Co, SC, 7 Oct (Steve Calver); and 20,000, seen from the spit at Ft Fisher, NC, 16 Oct (Greg Massey). Cave Swallow: Reports of this species were few and far between this year. One was seen amongst Tree Swallows above the visitor center at Pea Island NWR, NC, 20 Nov (Haven Wiley, et al.). Three were seen in flight over Oak Island, NC, 27 Nov (Mike Tove). Barn Swallow: Twelve seen at Alligator River NWR, NC, 10-14 Nov (Ricky Davis) provided a good count for such a late date. Red-breasted Nuthatch: Starting in early October, this species staged a fairly impressive irruption into the Carolinas, being seen at feeders and heard “enk-enk-enk’ing” in pine trees at multiple sites throughout our region. Some of the higher counts were over four at Riverbend Park, Conover, NC, in mid-October (Dwayne Martin); and seven in longleaf pine habitat near Fayetteville, NC, 19 Oct (Harry LeGrand). Brown Creeper: One was heard singing its full song for over 30 minutes, near Leggett, NC, 19 Oct (Ricky Davis), which Davis noted as “unusual behavior away from its breeding ground.” Sedge Wren: One at Jackson Park in Hendersonville, NC, 21 Sep (Wayne Forsythe, Ron Selvey) was a good find for that site. Two were photographed at Cowan’s Ford WR, Mecklenburg Co, NC, 31 Oct (Jeff Lemons, Steve Tracy). Blue-gray Gnatcatcher: Late to depart our region were individuals at the S.S.S. in Jasper Co, SC, throughout the fall (Steve Calver); and along the Audubon Swamp Trail at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC, 25 Nov (Elisa Enders). 50 Briefs for the Files — Fall 2010 Gray-cheeked Thrush: Eleven were counted on Roanoke Island, NC, 12 Oct, nine of which were seen in the Elizabethan Gardens (Jeff Lewis). Thirty-five were recognized by their nocturnal flight calls near the dam on Falls Lake, NC, 6 Oct (Ali Iyoob). Cedar Waxwing: Three were seen in a family group, two adults and a recently- fledged juvenile, in the Vultare area on the N shore of Roanoke Rapids Lake, NC, 29 Aug (Ricky Davis). Breeding in the piedmont and coastal plain, though sporadic, has been previously documented. Lapland Longspur: Individuals were found on Coquina Beach, NC, where one, after being flushed, was seen at close range and heard giving its distinctive “rattle” flight call, 1 1 Nov (Ricky Davis); and near the Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, NC, where one was photographed, 28-29 Nov (Jeff Lemons, Ron Clark). Snow Bunting: Sightings included two at Pea Island NWR, NC, 1 1 Nov (Ricky Davis), “one flying N along the sound side dike at North Pond” and the other “flying N along the ocean dunes (adjacent to) South Pond”; two, possibly the same birds, around the base of the jetty at nearby Oregon Inlet, NC, 13-14 Nov (Davis, W.O.W. participants); one at the Rachel Carson Reserve near Beaufort, NC, 24 Nov (John Fussell); one amongst a flock of Red-winged Blackbirds, SE of Engelhard, NC, 25 Nov (Brian Murphy); and one on the beach W of the jetty at Huntington Beach SP, SC, 25 Nov (James Petranka, et al.). Golden-winged Warbler: Sightings outside of the mountains included an adult male in Pittsboro, NC, 13 Sep (Rouse Wilson); an adult male in a mixed flock at Hickory Hills Boat Ramp on Falls Lake, NC, 15 Sep (Robert Meehan); and a female at Bethabara Park in Winston-Salem, NC, 19 Sep (John Haire). “Lawrence’s Warbler”: A female was seen at Jackson Park, Hendersonville, NC, 23 Aug (Wayne Forsythe, Ron Selvey). An adult male was well-seen in a yard in Westminster, SC, 10 Sep (Michael & Karen Helms). Tennessee Warbler: Impressive one-day counts included 31 at Hickory City Park, NC, 9 Sep (Dwayne Martin); and over 75 at Jackson Park in Hendersonville, NC, 6 Oct (Wayne Forsythe, Ron Selvey). Individuals seen near the dam on Falls Lake, NC, 29 Sep (Ali Iyoob, Matt Daw); and in a yard in Beaufort, NC, 2 Oct (Rich & Susan Boyd), were good finds for sites away from the mountains. Nashville Warbler: In the eastern half of our region, where this species is harder to find during migration, individuals were found at Ocean Isle Beach, NC, 30 Aug (Taylor Piephoff) and 10 Sep (Ron Clark); at the S.S.S. in Jasper Co, SC, 16 Sep and 7 Oct (Steve Calver); in the Elizabethan Gardens, Manteo, NC, 21 Sep and 4 Oct (Jeff Lewis); on N Folly Island, Charleston, SC, 30 Sep (David Abbott); at Pea Island NWR, NC, 6 Oct (Lewis); and at Bond Park in Cary, NC, 16 Oct (Eddie Owens). Two were seen at Ft Macon SP, Atlantic Beach, NC 8 Oct (Rich Boyd). The Chat, Vol. 75, No. 1, Winter 2011 51 Chestnut-sided Warbler: Along the coast, where rare, individuals were seen at Pea Island NWR, NC, 5 Sep (Jeff Lewis); at Huntington Beach SP, SC, 11 Sep (Ritch Lilly, Paul Serridge, et ah); on Roanoke Island, NC, 13 Sep (Lewis); in Mt Pleasant, SC, 29 Sep (David Abbott); and at the S.S.S. in Jasper Co, SC, 29 Sep (Steve Calver). Cape May Warbler: Fifteen were observed over the course of several weeks in our southern coastal region, primarily Charleston Co, SC, 29 Sep through 22 Oct (David Abbott); while a one-day high count of 15 at Jackson Park in Hendersonville, NC, 29 Sep (Wayne Forsythe, Ron Selvey) was also impressive. Yellow-rumped Warbler: Somewhat early were individuals at Mt Mitchell, NC, 6 Sep (Marilyn Westphal, Mark Simpson); and at Riverbend Park in Conover, NC, 24 Sep (Dwayne Martin). Kirtland’s Warbler: One was photographed at Cowan’s Ford WR, Mecklenburg Co, NC, 27 Sep (Kevin Metcalf). This sighting provides NC with its fifth documented record. Prairie Warbler: A good count of 35 was made in the low scrub on N Folly Island, SC, 2 Sep (David Abbott). Individuals in New Bern, NC, 8 Nov (A1 Gamache) and Hilton Head, SC, 28 Nov (Simon Harvey) were somewhat late. Palm Warbler: High one-day counts included 202 at the S.S.S. in Jasper Co, SC, 29 Sep (Steve Calver); 120 at Ft Fisher, NC, 2 Oct (Daniel Hueholt); and over 275 at Edisto Beach, SC, 14 Oct (David Abbott). Bay-breasted Warbler: Five seen near the dam on Falls Lake, NC, between 14 Sep and 6 Oct (Ali Iyoob), provided a good tally for a site away from the mountains; while a one-day count of over 40 made at Devil’s Courthouse, NC, 2 Oct (Marilyn Westphal, Mark Simpson) was impressive regardless of location. Cerulean Warbler: One seen at Durant Nature Park in Raleigh, NC, 9 Sep (John Connors) was a good find. Black-and-white Warbler: One at Bond Park in Cary, NC, 20-24 Nov (Eddie Owens) was somewhat late. American Redstart: An impressive one-day count of 44 was tallied at the S.S.S. in Jasper Co, SC, 29 Sep (Steve Calver). Worm-eating Warbler: Away from the mountains, sightings included individuals on N Folly Island, SC, 2 Sep (David Abbott); at the S.S.S. in Jasper Co, SC, 10 Aug (Steve Calver); at Huntington Beach SP, SC, 1 1 Sep (Paul Serridge, et al.); and at Schenck Forest in Raleigh, NC, 13 Sep (Josh Southern). Swainson’s Warbler: Individuals were found at Airlie Gardens in Wilmington, NC, 30 Aug (Daniel Hueholt); and on the S side of Lake Waccamaw, NC, 21 Sep (John Carpenter, et ah). Northern Waterthrush: A very impressive one-day count of 57 was made at the S.S.S. in Jasper Co, SC, 16 Sep (Steve Calver) Kentucky Warbler: One seen on N Folly Island, Charleston, SC, 2 Sep (David Abbott) was a great find. 52 Briefs for the Files — Fall 2010 Connecticut Warbler: “One-day Wonders” were found at Reynolda Gardens in Winston-Salem, 5 Sep (John Haire, m. obs.); at Jackson Park in Hendersonville, NC, 18 Sep (Ron Selvey); and on N Folly Island, Charleston, SC, 30 Sep (David Abbott). However, a rather dull-plumaged individual, found at Ellerbe Creek on the N end of Falls Lake, NC, 8 Oct (Robert Meehan), actually stuck around for awhile (which is atypical of most CONW sightings in our region), allowing birders great looks until 20 Oct (m. obs.). Connecticut Warbler, 10 Oct 2010, Falls Lake, NC. Photo by Ali Iyoob. Mourning Warbler: Two were reported this fall — an adult male, photographed in a yard in Hendersonville, NC, 26 Aug (Tim Williams); and a first-fall bird, well-studied along a dike near the entrance to Bear Island WMA, SC, 5 Sep (David Abbott). The latter bird’s “completely yellow under-parts” were noted, as it was compared to Common Yellowthroats. Wilson’s Warbler: Individuals were found at Saluda Shoals Park in Irmo, SC, 9 Sep (Irvin Pitts); at Riverbend Park in Conover, NC, 10 Sep (Dwayne Martin); in Reynolda Gardens in Winston-Salem, 11 Sep (John Haire); and on N Folly Island, SC, 30 Sep (David Abbott). Canada Warbler: Away from the mountains, sightings included individuals at Mason Farm in Chapel Hill, NC, 20 Aug (Robert Meehan); in a yard in Raleigh, NC, 21 Aug (Kyle Kittelberger); at Falls Lake, NC, 5 Sep (Ricky Davis); in Reynolda Gardens, Winston-Salem, NC, 1 1 Sep (John Haire); and in a yard on James Island, SC, 27 Sep (Dennis Forsythe). The Chat, Vol. 75, No. 1, Winter 2011 53 Clay-colored Sparrow, 15 Oct 2010, Ft Fisher, NC. Photo by John Ennis. Clay-colored Sparrow: Sightings included one at Latta Plantation near Charlotte, NC, 21 Sep (Kevin Metcalf); two in a yard in Rodanthe, NC, 22-25 Sep (Ffenry & Elizabeth Link); one in Conway, SC, 26 Sep (Stephen Thomas); one along the Trent River, near Tryon Palace in New Bern, NC, 4 Oct (John Fussell); three at Pea Island NWR, NC, 5 Oct (Jeff Lewis), and one at Ft Fisher, NC, 15 Oct (John Ennis). Vesper Sparrow: Sightings included one in Wanchese, NC, during W.O.W., 13 Nov (Brian Bockhahn); one at Pea Island NWR, NC, 16 Oct (Bockhahn, Matt Daw, Ali Iyoob); one on Daniel Island, SC, 12-13 Nov (Elisa Enders); and three in Townville, SC, 13 Nov (Simon Harvey). Lark Sparrow: Sightings included two at Huntington Beach SP, SC, 1 1 Sep (Ritch Lilly, Paul Serridge, et al.); two at Pea Island NWR, NC, 1 1 Sep (Jeff Lewis); one at Pea Island NWR, NC, 20 Sep (Audrey Whitlock, Peggy Eubank); two in a yard in Rodanthe, NC, 21-25 Sep (Henry & Elizabeth Link); one on N Folly Island, Charleston, SC, 30 Sep (David Abbott); at least one at Ft Fisher, NC, 12 Sep through 17 Oct (Sam Cooper, Bruce Smithson, John Ennis, m. obs.); one at Sandling Beach, Falls Lake, NC, 1 1 Oct (Brian Bockhahn); one at Edisto Beach, SC, 14 Oct (Abbott); and one at Ft Macon, NC, 12 Nov (Ross McGregor). Lark Sparrow, 11 Sept 2010, Pea Is NWR, Grasshopper Sparrow: Hard NC. Photo by Jeff Lewis. to find during fall migration, one Grasshopper Sparrow was seen in a field N of Fishing Creek, S Halifax Co, NC, 2 Oct (Ricky Davis); and four were seen at the S.S.S in Jasper Co, SC, 21 Oct (Steve Calver). Henslow’s Sparrow: Only one was reported this fall — one at Mattamuskeet NWR, NC, near the N end of the causeway, 16 Oct, (Brian Bockhahn, Matt Daw, Ali Iyoob). Lincoln’s Sparrow: Sightings included one at Pea Island NWR, NC, 20 Sep (Audrey Whitlock, Peggy Eubank); six(!) in the Meat Camp 54 Briefs for the Files — Fall 2010 Environmental Studies Area in Watauga Co, NC, 7 Oct (Curtis Smalling); at least four in French Broad River Valley of Henderson Co, NC, 9 Oct (Wayne Forsythe); and one at Reynolda Gardens in Winston-Salem, 18 Oct (John Haire). White-crowned Sparrow: Twelve seen in Townville, SC, 13 Nov (Simon Harvey) provided an excellent count of this uncommon sparrow. Scarlet Tanager: A good one-day count of 12 was had at Jackson Park in Hendersonville, NC, 21 Sep (Wayne Forsythe, Ron Selvey). One at Lake Osceola, NC, 30 Oct (Selvey) was somewhat late; Western Tanager: Only one was reported — a female that visited a feeder on the N side of Myrtle Beach, SC, late October through 1 Dec ( fide Gary Phillips). Rose-breasted Grosbeak: A good one-day count of over 25 was made at Jackson Park in Hendersonville, NC, 6 Oct (Wayne Forsythe, Ron Selvey). Dickcissel: Sightings included one on Roanoke Island, NC, somewhat early, 26 Aug (Jeff Lewis); one at Bear Island WMA, SC, 5 Sep (David Abbott); one in the Flat River Waterfowl Impoundments at Falls Lake, NC, 13 Sept (Brian Bockhahn); a pair at a feeder in Manteo, NC, 4 Oct, with the male remaining until 9 Oct (Jeff Lewis); three at Ft Fisher, NC, 1 1 Oct (Daniel Hueholt); and individuals at Pea Island NWR, NC, 10 and 17 Oct (Lewis). Dickcissel, 4 Oct 2010, Manteo, NC. Photo by Jeff Lewis. Bobolink: One at Mattamuskeet NWR, NC, 21 Aug (Jeff Lewis) was somewhat early. High counts included 750 at Alligator River NWR, NC, 1 1 Sep (Audrey Whitlock, Jeanette Flanagan); and 226 at the S.S.S. in Jasper Co, SC, 29 Sep (Steve Calver), a record high one-day count for the S.S.S. in fall. The Chat, Vol. 75, No. 1, Winter 2011 55 Brewer’s Blackbird: An adult male visited the feeder at Pea Island NWR, NC, Visitor Center, 1 1 Nov (Ricky Davis, W.O.W. participants). Purple Finch: A female seen in a yard in Rodanthe, NC, 25 Sep (Henry & Elizabeth Link) was quite early. A noticeable irruption began in late October, with sightings made at feeders across our region (m. obs.). Interestingly, over five were seen in flight around Oregon Inlet, NC, 11-14 Nov (Ricky Davis, W.O.W. participants). Pine Siskin: Also interesting were the 5-25 seen each morning in flight around Oregon Inlet, NC, 11-14 Nov (Ricky Davis, W.O.W. participants). Fifty Years Ago in The Chat — March 1961 The March 1961 issue of The Chat was the first edited by David W. Johnston. The report of the 1 960 Christmas Count noted that although the previous year’s count of 800,000 blackbirds at Greensboro had been regarded as enormous, it was modest in comparison to 1960's count of over a million blackbirds at Greensboro and 4.2 million at Clemson (the latter including 300,000 Rusty Blackbirds). The Clemson count also included eight Tree Sparrows. In General Field Notes, a Glossy Ibis was reported in Greensboro in July 1960. It was thought to be the first piedmont record. Quite a number of Fulvous Whistling-Ducks (then called Fulvous Tree Ducks) were reported in 1960: three at Orton Plantation near Wilmington beginning in January 1960 and remaining for some months, eight in October on Currituck Sound, a flock of about 30 in November at Orton Plantation, nine in December at Lake Mattamuskeet, four or more in December near Lake Phelps, Washington Co., NC, 15 at Manteo in December, three at Hatteras Light- house in December, and one at the Savannah River Refuge in November and December. There had also been as many as 32 at the Savannah Refuge in late December 1959. North Carolina's first Black-whiskered Vireo was picked up dead on the causeway to Wrightsville Beach, NC on 1 April 1960. It was noted that there had been strong winds blowing from the West Indies and Florida toward Georgia and the Carolinas in the preceding days. — Kent Fiala, editor (who became a birder 50 years ago this season) Book Review Birds of Europe, Second Edition. — Lars Svensson, illustrations and captions by Killian Mullamey and Dan Zetterstrom, with a significant contribution by Peter J. Grant, translated (from Swedish) by David Christie and Lars Svensson. 2009. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ. 448 pages. ISBN 978-0-691-14392-7. Paper, $29.95. Why would a Carolina birder want to own this guide to the birds of Europe? Perhaps to prepare for an upcoming trip to Europe. Perhaps to be ready in case a Fieldfare shows up in your yard. But most of all, in order to see what a truly excellent field guide looks like. Out of the profusion of field guides now available for North America, none provides the same quantity and quality of information in as little space. At a page size of 5-1/4 x 7-5/8" and 448 pages, it is roughly the size of the National Geographic guide, far smaller than Sibley. But the pages, with text on the left and artwork on the right, are densely packed. There is none of the wasted white space that characterizes Sibley. Discussions of field guides often argue the relative merits of paintings vs photographs — this guide has excellent paintings — but there is another medium that routinely gets short shrift in field guides, and that is text. This guide is especially noteworthy for its text descriptions. And because the book covers a significant number of North American species, either because they have Holarctic distribution, or they occur in Europe as vagrants, I learned from the text some new field marks for American species that I am going to be trying out in the field. In Lesser Yellowlegs “secondaries and primaries are uniformly dark (secondaries and inner primaries at least finely spotted light on Greater)”. Horned Grebes in flight have “small white shoulder patch and white speculum confined to secondaries” while on Eared Grebes “white on speculum extends to inner primaries, and lacks white shoulder patch”. North American guides rarely find space to address such esoteric field marks. — Kent Fiala 56 CAROLINA BIRD CLUB www.carolinabirdclub.org The Carolina Bird Club is a non-profit organization which represents and supports the birding community in the Carolinas through its official website, publications, meetings, workshops, trips, and partnerships, whose mission is • To promote the observation, enjoyment, and study of birds. • To provide opportunities for birders to become acquainted, and to share information and experience. • To maintain well-documented records of birds in the Carolinas. • To support the protection and conservation of birds and their habitats and foster an appreciation and respect of natural resources. • To promote educational opportunities in bird and nature study. • To support research on birds of the Carolinas and their habitats. Membership is open to all persons interested in the conservation, natural history, and study of wildlife with particular emphasis on birds. Dues, contributions, and bequests to the Club may be deductible from state and federal income and estate taxes. Make checks payable to Carolina Bird Club, Inc. Send checks or correspondence regarding membership or change of address to the Headquarters Secretary. Dues include $6 for a subscription to the CBC Newsletter and $7 for a subscription to The Chat. Associate members do not receive a separate subscription to publications. ANNUAL DUES Individual or non-profit $25.00 Associate (in same household as individual member) $5.00 Student .........$15.00 Sustaining and businesses $30.00 Patron $50.00 Life Membership (payable in four consecutive $100 installments) $400.00 Associate Life Membership (in same household as life member) $100.00 ELECTED OFFICERS President Taylor Piephoff, Charlotte, NC PiephoffT@aol.com NC Vice-Presidents David McCloy, Pinehurst, NC david.mccloy@ncmail.net Dwayne Martin, Hickory, NC redxbill@gmail.com SC Vice-President Paul Serridge, Greenville, SC paulserridge@gmail.com Secretary Lucy Quintilliano, Charlotte, NC lucyq@carolina.rr.com Treasurer Carol Bowman, Pinehurst, NC cbowman6@nc.rr.com NC Members-at-Large Skip Morgan, Manteo, NC tlmorgan@inteliport.com Katherine Higgins, Mouth of Wilson, VA kathwrens@gmail.com Ron Clark, Kings Mountain, NC waxwing@bellsouth.net SC Members-at-Large Don Faulkner, Easley, SC donrfaulkner@aol.com Marion Clark, Lexington, SC mclark66@sc.rr.com EX-OFFICIO EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS Chat Editor Kent Fiala, Hillsborough, NC chat@carolinabirdclub.org Newsletter Editor Steve Shultz, Apex, NC newsletter@carolinabirdclub.org Web site Editor Kent Fiala, Hillsborough, NC webeditor@carolinabirdclub.org Immediate Past President Steve Patterson, Lancaster, SC SCBirder@aol.com HEADQUARTERS SECRETARY Dana Harris CBC, 1809 Lakepark Drive, Raleigh NC 27612 hq@carolinabirdclub.org SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION LIBRARIES ~o c "D TO 's oo 2 CL O £ ® O o U> CD ^ TO , O) TO (/) — £ • TO c j2 "D _ TO O) to o c - .2 § o ° Q. CD c o Jm ■D TO TO iS) Od DQ lo hv. r\l U Q < D “* £ O ^ |o< 0 0 i± 1 01 ^ ^ — •— ^ m O o un