No. 3 ,<3SX 6 1 HD Vol. 77 The Chat SUMMER 2013 THE CHAT ISSN No. 0009-1987 Vol. 77 SUMMER 2013 No. 3 Editor General Field Notes Editors Don Seriff, 7324 Linda Lake Drive Charlotte, NC 28215 chat@carolinabirdclub.org North Carolina Christina Harvey South Carolina William Post Briefs for the Files Josh Southern THE CHAT is published quarterly by the Carolina Bird Club, Inc., 1809 Lakepark Drive, Raleigh, NC 27612. Subscription price $30 per year. Periodicals postage paid at Pinehurst, NC and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THE CHAT, Carolina Bird Club, Inc., 9 Quincy Place, Pinehurst, NC 28374. Copyright © 201 3 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. {Articles Eastern Phoebes ( Sayornis phoebe ) Breed at Land-based Anthropogenic Sites in the North Carolina Sandhills Douglas B. McNair and Susan Campbell 69 General Field Notes First Nest Record of Swallow-tailed Kite (. Elanoides forficatus) in North Carolina John P. Carpenter and David H. Allen 74 Fifty Years Ago in The Chat September 1963 79 \Briefs for the Files Spring 2013 Josh Southern 80 e^VTHSO NUV 1 4 2013 U BRAR^ Cover: Sora in tree. May 7, 2013, Wilkes County, NC. Photo by Jeff Beane. Eastern Phoebes ( Sayornis phoebe) Breed at Land- based Anthropogenic Sites in the North Carolina Sandhills Douglas B. McNair1 and Susan Campbell2 1 35 Rowell Road, Wellfleet, MA 02667 dbmcnair@gmail. com 2 144 Pine Ridge Drive, Whispering Pines, NC 28327 susan@ncaves. com Introduction Eastern Phoebes (< Sayornis phoebe ) are behaviorally plastic and adapted very early to use of anthropogenic nest sites, such as bridges and buildings in the vicinity of water in forested habitats (Weeks 1979, 2011). Nest placement of Eastern Phoebes directly over water at water-based anthropogenic sites (bridges, box culverts) has been documented in many areas of central and eastern North America (Coffey 1963, Klaas 1970, Coffey 1976, Jackson and Weeks 1976, Weeks 1979, Faanes 1980, Weeks 2011), including south-central North Carolina in 1981 (McNair 1984). The availability of water-based anthropogenic sites in the Coastal Plain where natural nest sites are scarce or absent has allowed Eastern Phoebes to slowly but steadily expand the southerly edge of their breeding range in southeastern North America (Coffey 1976, Jackson and Weeks 1976, Ware and Duncan 1989, Weeks 2011), including North Carolina and South Carolina (McNair 1984, 1990). In the southerly portion of the North Carolina Sandhills, breeding Eastern Phoebes were “uncommon” in 1981 and they only nested at water-based sites (McNair 1984). Further south in the Inner Coastal Plain of South Carolina (and one outlier record in the Lower Coastal Plain; LeGrand 1993), where nesting was otherwise generally scarce below the Fall Line (Post and Gauthreaux 1989, McNair 1990, McNair and Post 1993), three land-based anthropogenic nest sites have been documented (1988 to 1992), which were located near water bodies (McNair 1990, LeGrand 1993, Carter 2005). Nonetheless, Eastern Phoebes have still not been documented to nest directly over land at land- based anthropogenic sites in any portion of the North Carolina Sandhills. Dry, upland areas of the North Carolina Sandhills with porous, sandy soils are unlikely to provide mud and moss that are required for Eastern Phoebes to build their nests (Weeks 1979, 2011). Thus, we expected any Eastern Phoebe nests at land-based anthropogenic sites to be near water bodies where such nesting material (mud, moss) was available. In this article we document land- based anthropogenic nest sites within a portion of the North Carolina Sandhills, in Moore and Richmond Counties. 69 70 Eastern Phoebes Breed in the North Carolina Sandhills Figure 1. Eastern Phoebe nest that contained three large nestlings was located on a ledge inside a carport at the Myers residence, Vass, NC on 23 July 2012. Methods We obtained information about Eastern Phoebe nests at land-based anthropogenic sites in Moore and Richmond counties, North Carolina. Using Google Earth 2012 (version 6.2.2), we measured the straight-line distance (in m) of nests from each confirmed land-based anthropogenic site to the nearest 1) water body (i.e., lake, pond, river, creek, drainage ditch), and 2) water-based anthropogenic structure (small or medium-sized bridge in each case except for one box culvert) where phoebes did or could potentially breed. Results All confirmed Eastern Phoebe breeding records at land-based anthropogenic sites in the North Carolina Sandhills were statant nests built on platforms of commercial and residential buildings (porches=3; decks=2; window sill=l; car port=l; kiln=l; light fixture on shed=l; electrical box=l; water holding tank=l; fish observation platform=l) from April through June, with one nest active in July (Figure 1), at a total of eleven locations (Table 1). Most pairs nested twice each year at each location. Seven locations were in Moore County (since 2007), with four locations in Richmond County (since 2011). Of the eight locations used in 2012 that were available in 2013, Eastern Phoebes nested at three (38%) of them. The median (mean; range) straight- line distance from confirmed land-based anthropogenic nest site locations to The Chat, Vol. 77, No. 3, Summer 2013 71 the nearest water bodies was 95 m (132.6 m ± 120.6 SD, 2-380 m; n = 1 1), closer than the median straight-line distance (710 m, U= 12, P < 0.05; Mann- Whitney U- test) to the nearest water-based anthropogenic structures where phoebes nested at four of these ten (40%) bridges and at one box culvert (928.6 m ± 869.5 SD, 30-2,960 m; n = 1 1 ; Table 1 ). Discussion Eastern Phoebes in the North Carolina Sandhills have nested on ledges of porches of dwellings or other buildings, land-based anthropogenic sites they typically select from throughout their geographic range (Weeks 2011). Their timing of breeding, except for one late July nest, is similar to water-based anthropogenic nest sites in the North Carolina Sandhills, suggesting that any movements within forests to water or land dominated areas has not influenced nest site selection. Unlike Cliff Swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) at one extralimital site in southeastern North America where delayed breeding occurred (northwest Florida; Lewis and McNair 1998), Eastern Phoebes nesting at land-based anthropogenic sites in the North Carolina Sandhills apparently were not limited by soil materials that were not sufficiently adhesive. As expected, the presence of nearby water bodies has apparently influenced choice of these land-based nest sites by providing sufficient mud and moss for Eastern Phoebe nests in Moore and Richmond counties. However, this issue remains to be tested. We first documented Eastern Phoebes breeding at land-based anthropogenic sites in a portion of the North Carolina Sandhills in 2007, ten years after Susan Campbell moved to Whispering Pines (1997). It is possible, considering Richmond County nest location No. 8 in particular where phoebes nested on a building immediately adjacent to water that we could have overlooked previous nesting on land-based anthropogenic sites in the Sandhills. Otherwise, we are confident that Eastern Phoebes did not breed at land-based sites in our portion of the North Carolina Sandhills until around 2007, long after water-based anthropogenic nest sites were occupied in this region (McNair 1984). Furthermore, six of the eleven (55%) confirmed breeding locations did not occur until 2012, which included the first records for Whispering Pines, indicating an ongoing process of occupation of land- based anthropogenic sites in the North Carolina Sandhills even though the number of land-based sites used in 2012 was more than in 2013. The delay in occupancy of land-based anthropogenic nest sites in the North Carolina Sandhills is expected, even though land-based structures are more readily available. Water-based anthropogenic nest sites in forested habitats at the southern periphery of their breeding range in the Coastal Plain were occupied first since phoebes prefer breeding over water; nesting at water- based anthropogenic sites may provide greater protection from predators and higher nest survivorship compared to terrestrial sites (Weeks 1979, 2011). 72 Eastern Phoebes Breed in the North Carolina Sandhills Table 1. Confirmed breeding records (statant nests) of Eastern Phoebes at land-based anthropogenic sites in a portion of the North Carolina Sandhills. No County Town Year Nest(s) distance (m) to nearest water body Nest(s) distance (m) to nearest water- based anthropo- genic site Nesting at nearest water- based anthropo- genic site 1 Moore West End 2007- 2013 95; unnamed pond 1,600; Little River No 2 Moore West End 2009- 2010 145; Little River 520; Little River No 3 Moore Jackson Springs 2011- 2012 380; unnamed creek 2,960; Drowning Creek No 4 Moore Carthage 2012 345; unnamed pond 710; unnamed creek Yes 5 Moore Whispering Pines 2012 57; Thagard’s Lake 30; Thagard’s Lake No 6 Moore Whispering Pines 201 21 125; unnamed pond 1,300; Thagard’s Lake No 7 Moore Vass 2012- 2013 35; Lake Surf 135; Lake Surf Yes 8 Richmond Hoffman 2011- 2013 2; unnamed pond 760; unnamed creek Yes 9 Richmond Ledbetter 2012 100; drainage ditch 1,500; Ledbetter Lake No 10 Richmond Beaverdam area 2012 85; unnamed pond 640; unnamed creek Yes 11 Richmond Hoffman 2013 90; McKinney Lake 60; McKinney Lake Yes 1 Site demolished before the 2013 breeding season. However, the superiority of water-based anthropogenic nest sites has not been demonstrated in southeastern North America even though a modest range expansion dependent upon water-based sites has occurred here (McNair 1984, 1990; McNair, unpublished data). Compared to many other areas of the central and eastern United States such as New England (Weeks 2011), breeding phoebes are still relatively uncommon in the North Carolina Sandhills where some water-based anthropogenic sites are not occupied as documented in this study, despite a modest recent expansion to land-based anthropogenic sites. The Chat, Vol. 77, No. 3, Summer 2013 73 Acknowledgements We thank J. Dalton, D. Hinshaw, S. L. Miller, and T. L. Myers for sharing data and H. Weeks and two anonymous individuals for their reviews of the manuscript. Literature Cited Carter, R. M. 2005. An annotated checklist of the birds of Congaree National Park. Chat 69:1-28. Coffey, B. B., Jr. 1976. The Eastern Phoebe as a summer resident in Mississippi. Mississippi Kite 6:38-41. Coffey, J. W. 1963. A nesting study of the Eastern Phoebe. Migrant 34:41-49. Faanes, C. A. 1980. Breeding biology of Eastern Phoebes in northern Wisconsin. Wilson Bulletin 92:107-110. Jackson, J. A., and R. E. Weeks. 1976. Nesting of the Eastern Phoebe and Bam Swallow in western Alabama. Alabama Birdlife 24:7-9. Klaas, E. E. 1970. A population study of the Eastern Phoebe and its social relationships with the Brown-headed Cowbird. PhD thesis, University of Kansas, Lawrence. LeGrand, H. E., Jr. 1993. Briefs for the files: spring 1992. Chat 57:54-63. Lewis, T. E., and D. B. McNair. 1998. Second breeding locality of Cliff Swallows in Florida. Florida Field Naturalist 26:1 17-121. McNair, D. B. 1984. Nest placement of the Eastern Phoebe under bridges in south-central North Carolina. Oriole 49:1-6. McNair, D. B. 1990. Eastern Phoebe breeds in the northeast upper coastal plain of South Carolina. Chat 54:59-61. McNair, D. B., and W. Post. 1993. Supplement to status and distribution of South Carolina birds. Charleston Museum Ornithological Contribution No. 8. Post, W., and S. A. Gauthreaux, Jr. 1989. Birds of South Carolina. Charleston Museum, SC. Ware, D. M., and R. A. Duncan. 1989. First record of the Eastern Phoebe nesting in Florida. Florida Field Naturalist 17:22. Weeks, H. P., Jr. 1979. Nesting ecology of the Eastern Phoebe in southern Indiana. Wilson Bulletin 91:441-454. Weeks, H. P., Jr. 2011. Eastern Phoebe ( Sayornis phoebe). No. 94 in The Birds of North America online. Revised 26 April 2011. Accessed at: http://bna.birds.comell.edu/bna/species/094/biblio. General Field Notes General Field Notes briefly report such items as rare sightings, unusual behaviors, significant nesting records, or summaries of such items. First, second, or third sightings of species in either state must be submitted to the appropriate Bird Records Committee prior to publication in The Chat. First Nest Record of Swallow-tailed Kite ( Elanoides forficatus) in North Carolina John P. Carpenter and David H. Allen North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, 1751 Varsity Drive, Raleigh, NC 27606 Since 2003, Swallow-tailed Kites (. Elanoides forficatus ), a priority species in the NC Wildlife Action Plan (NCWRC 2005), have been seen regularly during the breeding season near the Cape Fear River in Bladen and Pender Counties (LeGrand et al. 2011). Despite the proximity of these sightings to long-established breeding populations as far north as the Great Pee Dee River in the lower Coastal Plain of South Carolina (SCDNR in prep.), the species has never been confirmed to breed in North Carolina. The most reliable evidence of possible Swallow-tailed Kite (STKI) breeding in NC was the sighting from a fixed-wing aircraft of a pair defending its territory on June 25, 2008, along the Cape Fear River west of Hwy. 1 1 in Bladen County (D.H. Allen and M. Whitehead, pers. obs.). Due to the Swallow-tailed Kites continued display of site fidelity in southeastern NC and its use of remote wetland forested habitat, our objective was to perform aerial surveys of forested river systems, principally along the Cape Fear River, to provide definitive proof of its breeding status in NC. Methods We surveyed for Swallow-tailed Kites by fixed-wing aircraft at an average 140 m above ground along the Cape Fear River on May 7, 2013 and along the Waccamaw, Cape Fear, and Black Rivers on May 10, 2013 (Figure 1). We covered roughly 308 and 344 km on May 7 and May 10, respectively, and estimate that along these routes a minimum of 50 m was adequately surveyed on either side of the aircraft for a total of 5477 ha. 74 The Chat, Vol. 77, No. 3, Summer 2013 75 Flight paths — Rivers — - Interstates Nest ★ Agriculture/Bare/Developed H| Clearcut HI Forested Hi River Cape Fear River Figure 1. River systems surveyed on May 7 and 10, 2013 using fixed- wing aircraft. Inset map of habitats within 1 km of STKI nest. The habitats of these three river systems are classified as Atlantic Coastal Plain Small Blackwater and/or Brownwater River Floodplain Forest, which are generally characterized by a mosaic of cypress and gum swamps with varying amounts of bottomland hardwoods (NatureServe 2013). The Cape Fear and Black Rivers belong to the largest water basin in the state, which is composed of 56% forest land, 24% agricultural lands, 9% urban areas, and 11% of other land covers (e.g., rural transport, small water areas, lakes, and 76 First Nest Record of Swallow-tailed Kite in North Carolina estuaries) (NCDWQ 2000). The Waccamaw River is located in the Lumber River Basin and includes 60% forest land, 25% agricultural/cultivated cropland, 7.1% urban, and 8% other (NCDWQ 2003). We used ArcGIS 10.1 (ESRI 2012) with National Agricultural Imagery Program aerial imagery (USDA 2012) and 2001 NC Floodplain Mapping Program Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data (Newcomb and Mitasova 2009) to delineate habitats and calculate mean canopy height within 1 km of any STKI encounter. Results A Swallow-tailed Kite was seen at approximately 12:30 pm on May 7, 2013 in flight moving upstream along the Cape Fear River northeast of Hwy 87 in Bladen County. This bird was observed a second time, shortly thereafter, at its nest with an attending bird. This individual remained on the nest while we circled several times to photograph it, but we did not encounter the initial bird again. We did not find any other STKI during surveys along the Cape Fear, Waccamaw, and Black Rivers. The nest was located in the top of a bald cypress ( Taxodium distichum), which gave the impression of a younger (< 100 yr.) tree based on its more conical shape (Figure 2). Habitat within 1 km of the nest was predominately forested (224 ha) with a 187 ha patch of contiguous forest cover surrounding the nest. We classified the remaining habitats as clearcut (53 ha), agricultural/bare/developed (21 ha), and river (16 ha). Mean and maximum canopy heights of the forested area within the same vicinity were 22 m (±8 SD) and 72 m, respectively. Figure 2. Adult Swallow-tailed Kite on nest (a = tail/primary feathers, b = rump, c = head, d = shoulder, e = nest) in Bladen Co., NC, May 7, 2013. Photo by D.H. Allen. The Chat, Vol. 77, No. 3, Summer 2013 77 Discussion In South Carolina and Florida, Swallow-tailed Kites preferentially select hardwood and cypress swamps for nesting. Within these habitats, they seek out pines ( Pinus spp.) as nest trees, which produce significantly more young than nests built in cypress (Meyer 1995). Despite our nest’s substrate, its proximity to open areas is a typical choice of nest placement. Agriculture and timber harvesting was more prevalent near our nest than nearby areas downstream, which may provide feeding opportunities, especially during the post-fledging period when adults and young often forage on flying insects prior to southbound migration (K. Meyer, Avian Research and Conservation Institute, pers. comm.). According to Meyer (2004), 68% of STKI nests found in northern Florida from 1997-1998 were on industrial forests and located in close proximity to areas actively managed for timber production. Our nest was situated over standing water within a large river swamp site on non- industrial private ownership, which is likely managed for timber and could be logged during dry periods. Our overall impression of the Waccamaw River, with the exception of the heavily forested areas immediately south of the lake, was that suitable STKI habitat was more limited there as compared to the Cape Fear and Black Rivers. We recommend surveys of these river systems continue, with a focus on the Cape Fear and Black Rivers. Although we did not encounter any other STKI during our searches, three were observed in flight on May 14, 2013 near Roan Island along the Black River (C. Robinson, pers. obs.). Furthermore, on June 6, 2013 during an unrelated study along the Cape Fear River, two STKI were encountered roughly 4.6 km NW of the discovered nest (J.P. Carpenter pers. obs.) and within the reported range (3.7-26.5 km) of foraging adults in Florida (Meyer and Collopy 1995). Acknowledgements Funding was provided by North Carolina State Wildlife Grants (SWG) from the US Fish and Wildlife Service. We thank Chris Smith (NCWRC) for piloting the aircraft and an anonymous reviewer for providing comments that greatly improved the quality of this manuscript. Literature Cited Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI). 2012. ArcGIS. Version 10.1. Redlands, California, USA. LeGrand, H., J. Haire, A. Iyoob, and T. Howard. 2011. Birds of North Carolina. Available online at: http://www.carolinabirdclub.org/ncbirds/view.php?sort_order=1030. Accessed August 12, 2013. Meyer, Kenneth D. 1995. Swallow-tailed Kite ( Elanoides forficatus ). In The Birds of North America, no. 138 (A. Poole and F. Gill, Eds.). Academy of 78 First Nest Record of Swallow-tailed Kite in North Carolina Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, and American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, DC. Meyer, K. D. 2004. Conservation and management of the Swallow-tailed Kite {Elanoides forficatus). Final report. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Tallahassee, Florida, USA. Meyer, K.D., and M.W. Collopy. 1995. Status, distribution, and habitat requirements of the American swallow-tailed kite ( Elanoides forficatus) in Florida. Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission Project Report. Tallahassee, FL. NatureServe. 2013. NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [web application]. Version 7.1. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available online at: http://www.natureserve.org/explorer. Accessed June 7,2013. Newcomb, D.J, and H. Mitasova. 2009. Processing large LiDAR data sets for forest canopy/landscape metrics using 64-bit GRASS GIS. Oral Presentation, American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA, December 14-18,2009. N.C. Division of Water Quality. 2000. Cape Fear River basinwide water quality plan. N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Water Quality, Raleigh, NC. N.C. Division of Water Quality. 2003. Lumber River basinwide water quality plan. N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Water Quality, Raleigh, NC. N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. 2005. North Carolina Wildlife Action Plan. Raleigh, NC. S.C. Department of Natural Resources. In prep. South Carolina’s State Wildlife Action Plan 2010-2015. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Aerial Photography Field Office. 2012. National Agriculture Imagery Program. Geospatial data gateway. Available online at: http://datagateway.nrcs.usda.gov [web application]. Accessed June 7, 2013. Fifty Years Ago in The Chat — September 1963 Charles T. Downer published a report on the breeding success of the Eastern Bluebird in North Carolina. The article was written in support of a national effort spearheaded by the Massachusetts Audubon Society to learn more about possible causes of the bluebird’s widespread population decline. Downer presented data collected on bluebirds nesting in nest boxes in Polk County in 1961 and 1962. Up to 15 nest boxes were placed in multiple locations from fence posts to the side of a house. In 1962, 14 stations produced 80 fledglings from 103 eggs. Black rat snakes and “indiscriminate insect spraying” were considered primary reasons for nest failure. The presence of Starlings, House Sparrows, and Mockingbirds, as well as children playing near active nest boxes, reduced nesting success. A single clutch of nine eggs was documented. Lee Jones provided a comprehensive report on Red-cockaded Woodpecker breeding at the Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. Joe Norwood provided assistance with the project as well as photos of active nest cavities. This species was not noted on the refuge breeding bird list as of 1958 and Chesterfield County had not been included as a breeding location in the Birds of South Carolina. Jones collected data from November 1962 through June 1963. He provided observations of winter feeding groups and spring nesting information of 1 1 nest cavities. Most of the nests he examined were well below the published average of 1 8 feet high with one being documented at only seven and a half feet off the ground. Over 40 individuals were seen and Jones hypothesized that the colony had been there at least 5 years and may have been overlooked. Eloise Potter summarized the 1963 Spring Count. There were 16 total counts, up one from 1962. A new count was started in Iredell County by a group of young birders “under the leadership of Mark Simpson, Jr.” and it was noted that “cooperative parents provided the necessary transportation”. Common Gallinule was a new county record on the New London Count in Stanly County on April 27 and another was “unexpected” on the Charlotte count on the 4th of May. Cattle Egrets continued their upward trend in the Carolinas. A Purple Gallinule nest on River Bend Ranch Pond in Moore County, NC was highlighted in the General Field Notes section with a detailed report provided by Mary Keller. Ms. Keller noted she brought along Jay Carter, “a lad of thirteen” and stated “although short on experience, Jay has shown an amazing ability to find and identify birds”. A half century later, the contributions of both Mark Simpson, Jr. and Jay Carter to the field of ornithology in the Carolinas has been truly remarkable. 79 BRIEFS FOR THE FILES Josh Southern 203 Hyannis Drive Holly Springs, NC 27540 joshsouthera79@gmail.com (All dates Spring 2013, 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. 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 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: Coastal South Carolina counts included 30 at Donnelley Wildlife Management Area (WMA), Colleton County (Co), 24 Apr (Aija Konrad, Cherrie Sneed) and ~20 on Mullet Pond at Huntington Beach State Park (SP), Georgetown Co, 25 May (Bob Maxwell). One found at a retention pond in the NE comer of New Hanover Co, NC, 26 May (Gilbert Grant) remained in that area through 6 June (Grant, m. obs.). 80 The Chat, Vol. 77, No. 3, Summer 2013 81 Snow Goose: Three blue-phase geese were seen at Dobbins Farm near Townville, Anderson Co, SC, 15 Mar (Cherrie Sneed) through 1 Apr (Steve Compton, Katie Fenlon, m. obs.). A white-morph individual in the wetland restoration area of North River Farms, Carteret Co, NC, 3 1 Mar (John Fussell, Jack Fennell) was both locally unusual and somewhat late. Ross’s Goose: One was photographed with a flock of Canada Geese in Durham Co, NC, 2 Mar {fide Nate Swick). The Ross’s Goose seen at the Milliken ponds in Spartanburg Co, SC, during the winter, remained until 7 May (Jeff Lemons). Eurasian Wigeon: Drakes remained at Santee Coastal Reserve, Charleston Co, SC, until at least 16 Mar (David McLean) and on Stumpy Point Bay, Dare Co, NC, until at least 29 Mar {fide Jeff Lewis). Northern Shoveler: One remained at Bear Island WMA, Colleton Co, SC, until at least 25 May (Kevin Metcalf). Ring-necked Duck: Individuals lingered at W. Kerr Scott Reservoir, Wilkes Co, NC, a female, 30 Apr (Guy McCrane); on a pond in Concord, Cabarrus Co, NC, a male, 12 May (Phil Fowler); and on a small pond near Long Beach, Brunswick Co, NC, a female, possibly injured, 27 May (Ricky Davis, David Howell). Canvasback diving. Original illustration by Leigh Anne Carter. Briefs for the Files — Spring 2013 82 Lesser Scaup: 275 on Lake Crabtree, Wake Co, NC, 17 Mar (Mike Turner) was a notable count for that site. A female remained on South Pond, Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), Dare Co, NC, until 19 May (Jeff Lewis, Audrey Whitlock). Common Eider: A first-winter male, possibly the same individual seen at Ocean Isle Beach in January, was seen at Shallotte Inlet, Brunswick Co, NC, 13 Apr (Taylor Piephoff). A first-winter individual was seen amongst a northbound flock of scoters off Atlantic Beach, Carteret Co, NC, 21 Apr (John Fussell, et al.). Harlequin Duck: The first-winter bird first noted in late February (Al Gamache) remained near the jetty at Fort Macon, Carteret Co, NC, until at least 17 March (Dick Barmore, et al.). White-winged Scoter: The first-winter male on Lake Crabtree, Wake Co, NC, first seen in late February, remained through 23 Mar (Mike Turner, m. obs.). A female photographed on Lake Julian, Buncombe Co, NC, 17 Apr (Wayne Forsythe) was a good find for the mountain region. Four in a northbound flock of scoters off Atlantic Beach, Carteret Co, NC, 16 Apr (John Fussell) were a little late. White-winged Scoter, 2 Mar 2013. Wake County, NC. Photo by Phil Fowler. The Chat, Vol. 77, No. 3, Summer 2013 83 Black Scoter: Six seen on the Spring Bird Count (SBC) in Charleston Co, SC, 5 May (Aaron Given, Chris Snook, Carl Miller) were somewhat late. Long-tailed Duck: A female off Edisto Beach, Charleston Co, SC, 19 Mar (John Cox) was south of the species’ typical range. Bufflehead: Two males on South Pond, Pea Island NWR, Dare Co, NC, 19 May (Jeff Lewis, Audrey Whitlock) were late. Common Goldeneye: A female was photographed on Lake Junaluska, Haywood Co, NC, 28 Mar (Connie Wulkowicz). Hooded Merganser: An adult with four chicks was seen on University Lake, Orange Co, NC, during the Chapel Hill SBC, 1 1 May (Ginger Travis, Marty McClelland), and a female with one chick was seen in Guilford Co, NC, in mid-May (Beth Garver). Common Merganser: One was photographed in a salt marsh at Huntington Beach SP, Georgetown Co, SC, 12 Mar (Greg Hudson). Two adult males were seen in flight over Mt. Pleasant, Charleston Co, SC, 17 Apr (John Cox). Three were photographed off Holly Point at Falls Lake, Wake Co, NC, during the SBC, 25 Apr (Brian Bockhahn). A male in flight over Mayo Mountain SP, during the SBC in Rockingham Co, NC, 13 May (fide Bockhahn) was very unusual. Red-breasted Merganser: 54 were counted on the Paddy’s Creek arm of Lake James, Burke Co, NC, 12 Mar (Jamie Cameron). Of the 14 counted on Lake Crabtree, Wake Co, NC, 23 Mar (Mike Turner), two remained until 1 May (Turner). Ruddy Duck: Somewhat late were seven on Harris Lake, Wake Co, NC, 12 May (Mike Turner); one on Shelley Lake, Wake Co, NC, 22 May (Nick Flanders); and one on North Pond, Pea Island NWR, Dare Co, NC, 24 May (Audrey Whitlock). Red-throated Loon: Late were two at Oregon Inlet, Dare Co, NC, 19 May (Jeff Lewis) and one at Beaufort Inlet, Carteret Co, NC, 28 May (John Fussell, Paula Gillikin). Pacific Loon: The individual seen around Masonboro Inlet, New Hanover Co, NC during the winter, remained until at least 1 8 Mar (Jamie Adams, m. obs.). Common Loon: 28 at Lake Crabtree, Wake Co, NC, 6 May (Mike Turner) was a good count for that site. Adults in breeding plumage were found on several small bodies of water in the NC Piedmont in May — on a small, shallow 84 Briefs for the Files — Spring 2013 pond at Sandy Creek Park, Durham Co, 11-19 May (Kent Fiala, m. obs.); at Hanging Rock SP, Stokes Co, 18 May (David Hartman); and at Hank Anderson Park in Orange Co, 3 1 May (Mary Sonis). Horned Grebe: Late were individuals on Lake Crabtree, Wake Co, NC, 19 May (Mike Turner) and on W. Kerr Scott Reservoir, Wilkes Co, NC, 23 May (Guy McCrane). Red-necked Grebe: One was well-seen in a tidal creek at Hobcaw Barony, Georgetown Co, SC, 16 Mar (Jerry Walls, Andy Harrison, et al.). Herald (Trindade) Petrel: On pelagic trips out of Hatteras, Dare Co, NC, a dark-morph individual was seen 18 May, and light-morph individuals were seen 26 May, 29 May, and 30 May (Brian Patteson, et al.). Fea’s Petrel: Counts of two were made on pelagic trips out of Hatteras, Dare Co, NC, 18 May and 25 May (Brian Patteson, et al.). Manx Shearwater: “A few” were seen off Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, New Hanover Co, NC, 12 Mar (Ali Iyoob). One was seen feeding with a raft of Razorbills off Fort Macon, Carteret Co, NC, 24 Mar (John Fussell, Jack Fennell). White-tailed Tropicbird: A second-cycle bird was seen on a pelagic trip out of Hatteras, Dare Co, NC, 28 May (Brian Patteson, et al.). Red-billed Tropicbird: One was seen on the Salt Pond at Cape Point, Dare Co, NC, 15 May (Seth Spencer). Interestingly, this species was previously found at the Cape Point Salt Pond during the Spring of both 2009 and 2011. Two immature birds were seen on a single pelagic trip out of Hatteras, NC, 22 May (Brian Patteson, et al.). Wood Stork: NC sightings made outside of Brunswick County included 18 adults in flight over the Brown Marsh Swamp near Clarkton, Bladen Co, 5 May (Nathan Howell, Allie Stewart); one near Lock and Dam No. 1 in SE Bladen Co, 13 May (Nick Flanders, Ed Corey, Mike Graziano); and four on the Black River, border of Bladen Co and Pender Co, 3 1 May (Gilbert Grant, Nikki Reiber), near where a nesting site was first discovered two years ago. Magnificent Frigatebird: An immature frigatebird flew over the Bodie Island Lighthouse pond, Dare Co, NC, 29 May (Jeff Lewis). Brown Booby: An injured individual photographed on the beach at Shallotte Inlet, Brunswick Co, NC, 13 Apr (Taylor Piephoff) was healthy enough to fly away over the ocean later that afternoon (Ali Iyoob). The Chat, Vol. 77, No. 3, Summer 2013 85 Northern Gannet: 100 in Jarrett Bay, Carteret Co, NC, 9 Mar (Mark Hooper) was a noteworthy count for an estuarine site. Farther inland, an adult gannet was seen over the Neuse River at Minnesott Beach, Pamlico Co, NC, 4 May (Dennis Chadwick). American White Pelican: Though only four were seen at Mattamuskeet NWR, Hyde Co, NC, during the early spring (Jeff Lewis, Nick Flanders, m. obs.), 3 1 were counted at the refuge on 28 May (Allie Stewart). Other sightings were four at Bear Island WMA, Colleton Co, SC, 17 Mar (Patricia Voelker); two over Charleston Harbor, Charleston Co, SC, 9 Apr (Clint Ball); and four over Lake James SP, Burke Co, NC, 1 1 May (Jamie Cameron). Two on South Pond, Pea Island NWR, Dare Co, NC, 19 May (Jeff Lewis, Audrey Whitlock) were somewhat late. Brown Pelican: A first-year individual was seen at several sites in the western half of our region in late May — at the Clemson Aquaculture Facility in Pickens Co, SC, where photographed, 22 May (Scott Davis, Matt Johnson, Tori Luke, Stephen Schutt); on W. Kerr Scott Reservoir, Wilkes Co, NC, 23 May (Guy McCrane); at Lake James SP, Burke Co, NC, 26 May (Jamie Cameron); and near the dam on Lake Murray, Lexington Co, SC, 30 May (David Dobson). American Bittern: Inland sightings included three in the Beaverdam Creek arm of Falls Lake, Granville Co, NC, 14 Apr (Brian Murphy, et al.); one or two at Reynolda Gardens, Forsyth Co, NC, 21 Apr (Susan Jones) through 9 May {fide Phil Dickinson); one in Chester Co, SC, 4 May (Bill Hilton, et al.); one in a small beaver swamp in the Pisgah National Forest (NF), Madison Co, NC, 5 May (Jamie Cameron); one over the Mayo River in Rockingham Co, NC, 6 May (Marty Wall); and one at Jackson Park, Henderson Co, NC, 12 May (Ron Selvey). Great Blue Heron: In the westernmost part of the state, two active nests were observed along the Nottely River in Cherokee Co, NC, 28 May (Charles Lawson). Great Egret: One at Lake Osceola in Henderson Co, NC, 21 Mar (Wayne Forsythe) was early for a site in the mountains. Snowy Egret: Far from the NC coast, individuals were found at Bond Park, Wake Co, 22 May (Eddie Owens) and at Pee Dee NWR, Anson Co, 31 May (Doug Hochmuth). Reddish Egret: In SC, two were seen at Santee Coastal Reserve, Charleston Co, 2 Mar (Pam Ford, Perry Nugent) through 16 Mar (David McLean) and one was seen at Botany Bay Plantation, Charleston Co, 14 Apr (Matt Johnson). 86 Briefs for the Files — Spring 2013 Cattle Egret: One seen on the Nags Head causeway, Dare Co, NC, 26 Mar (Jeff Lewis) was early. Locally unusual was one near Beaver Lake Sanctuary, Buncombe Co, NC, 1 Apr (Vin Stanton, et al.); four in a field near Red Hill, Edgecombe Co, NC, 19 Apr (Ricky Davis); and one at Lake Crabtree., Wake Co, NC, 30 Apr (Thierry Besan9on, Nick Flanders, Mike Turner). Black-crowned Night-Heron: Inland sightings included one at Dobbins Farm in Anderson Co, SC, 22 Mar (Matt Johnson, Tori Luke); a juvenile in the Bog Garden at Benjamin Park, Guilford Co, NC, where photographed, 30 Apr (Jim Dollar); and one at Lake Wheeler, Wake Co, NC, 17 May (Mike Turner). Yellow-crowned Night-Heron: Four had returned to the nesting site at Miller Park, Forsyth Co, NC, by 19 Mar (Phil Dickinson). Glossy Ibis: One at the Clemson Aquaculture Facility in Pickens Co, SC, 2 May (Scott Davis, Matt Johnson) was a great find for a location so far from the coast. White-faced Ibis: After an individual was first identified at Mattamuskeet NWR, Hyde Co, NC, 25 Feb (Scott Winton), four birds were picked out of a flock of Glossy Ibises, 12 Mar (Susan Campbell), five were seen there, 13 Mar (Campbell), and four remained until at least 8 Apr (Ricky Davis). Roseate Spoonbill: Slightly early was one seen at Donnelly WMA, Colleton Co, SC, 1 May (Jim Edwards, et al.) and two on Dewees Island, Charleston Co, SC, during the SBC, 5 May (fide Cathy Miller, Andy Harrison). By late May, 26 were counted at Bear Island WMA, Colleton Co, SC, 27 May (Kevin Metcalf). Swallow-tailed Kite: Three in flight over a controlled bum on the W side of Dorchester Co, SC, 5 Mar (Dennis Forsythe, Tom Burst, Ryan Wenzel) were very early. One had returned to the suspected breeding site along the Cape Fear River, near Lock and Dam No. 1, SE comer of Bladen Co, NC, by 3 1 Mar (Carson Wood). Elsewhere in NC, individuals were seen in Bmnswick Co, NC, 1 Apr (Mike Tove) and again 1 1 Apr (Jamie Adams); over Frisco, Dare Co, 1 1 Apr (Brian Patteson); at Pee Dee NWR, Anson Co, 1 1 May (Doug Hochmuth); over the Holly Shelter Gamelands, Pender Co, 16 May (Andy Fairbanks, et al.); and in flight over fields in Gamewell, Caldwell Co, 23 May (Sharon Green). Nesting in NC was finally confirmed when a nest was spotted atop a cypress tree along the Cape Fear River in SE Bladen Co, NC, during an aerial survey, 7 May (David Allen, John Carpenter, Chris Smith). Mississippi Kite: One seen in flight over Conway, Horry Co, SC, 10 Mar (Ali Iyoob) was extremely early. Nine were counted in a residential area of Greensboro, Guilford Co, NC, 23 May (Scott DePue, Henry Link) where the The Chat, Vol. 77, No. 3, Summer 2013 87 species has nested for the past nine years. Locally unusual were two in flight over St. Stephens Park, Catawba Co, NC, 20 May (Dwayne Martin) and three photographed in a residential area of Pinehurst, Moore Co, NC, 17-22 May (David Kilpatrick). Northern Harrier: A female seen along Beckham Swamp Road (Rd) in Richland Co, SC, 7 May (John Grego) was a little late. Broad-winged Hawk: One was seen in flight with nesting material over Little Road in the Croatan NF, Craven Co, NC, 24 May (John Fussell, Charlie Thomas). Black Rail: One was well-seen at Bear Island WMA, Colleton Co, SC, 1 8 May (Pam Ford, Perry Nugent). Individuals were seen at Mackay Island NWR, Currituck Co, NC, in late April, and 1 May (Robert Gundy). King Rail: Refuge staff discovered an active King Rail nest at Mackay Island NWR, Currituck Co, NC, 14 Apr (Robert Gundy). Up to 25 birds were seen and/or heard at the refuge on 26 Apr (Gundy). Sora: Migrating individuals were noted at Cowan’s Ford Nature Preserve, Mecklenburg Co, NC, 5-6 May (Kevin Metcalf, Ron Clark) and at two different sites in Wilkes Co, NC, 7 May and 9 May (Jeff Beane). Sandhill Crane: The pair of cranes observed around Beaufort, Carteret Co, NC, during the winter, were last seen 10 Mar (John Fussell, et ah). Black-necked Stilt: One at Savannah NWR, Jasper Co, SC, 10 Mar (Randy Tate) was early. One seen on a mudflat at the mouth of Crabtree Creek at Lake Crabtree, Wake Co, NC, 15 May (Mike Turner, m. obs.) provided a rare inland sighting. Northern Lapwing: The bird first discovered amongst Killdeer in a field in Person Co, NC, 24 Feb (Martin Wall, m. obs.) was last seen 8 Mar (Daniel Hueholt, m. obs.). Black-bellied Plover: Inland sightings included one at Lake Crabtree, Wake Co, NC, 18 May (Mike Turner) and four at the Super Sod farm along Hooper Lane, Henderson Co, NC, 6 May (Wayne Forsythe). American Golden-Plover: Sightings included one at the Super Sod farm along Hooper Lane in Henderson Co, NC, 23 Mar (Wayne Forsythe); two photographed at Dobbins Farm near Townville, Anderson Co, SC, 28 Mar (Rob Hunnings); one remaining there through 2 Apr (Katie Fenlon); one photographed at the Savannah Spoil Site, Jasper Co, SC, 10 Apr (Elbe Covington); three along Hooper Lane, 12 Apr (Forsythe); one amongst Black- 88 Briefs for the Files — Spring 2013 bellied Plovers on the beach near Shallotte Inlet, Brunswick Co, NC, 13 Apr (Taylor Piephoff); and one along Hooper Lane 7 May (Forsythe). Snowy Plover: The individual found on Bear Island, Hammocks Beach SP, Onslow Co, NC, 18 Feb (Ed Corey) remained until at least 6 Apr (Corey, Mark Kosiewski, Natalia Ocampo, Scott Winton). Semipalmated Plover: Impressive inland counts included three in a wet field near the Mayo River in Rockingham Co, NC, 6 May (Martin Wall); “up to six” at Lake Conestee Nature Park in Greenville Co, SC, 15-18 May (Paul Serridge); ten at Lake Crabtree, Wake Co, NC, 15 May (Nick Flanders, Mark Kosiewski); and 40 at the Super Sod farm along Hooper Lane, Henderson Co, NC, 23 May (Wayne Forsythe). Piping Plover: Decent counts included 14 at the Rachel Carson Reserve, Carteret Co, NC, 26 Mar (John Fussell); seven at the S end of Waites Island, Horry Co, SC, 27 Mar (Chris Hill, et al.); 13 at the N end of Folly Island, Charleston Co, SC, 27 Mar (Chris Snook); and six at Murrells Inlet, Georgetown Co, SC, 28 Mar (Paul Serridge). Willet: Nine at Lake James SP, Burke Co, NC, 13 May (Jamie Cameron) was a remarkable count for a site so far from the coast. One at Lake Crabtree, Wake Co, NC, 6 May (Thierry Besan£on) was also noteworthy. Upland Sandpiper: Seen more often during fall migration, an Upland Sandpiper at Dobbins Farm near Townville, Anderson Co, SC, 30 Mar (Brad Dalton) was this spring’s only report. Whimbrel: Impressive counts were made on Bird Shoal (Rachel Carson Reserve), Beaufort, Carteret Co, NC — 98 on 27 Apr and 104 on 13 May (John Fussell, et al.). Ruddy Turnstone: Three at Lake Crabtree, Wake Co, NC, 5 May (Mike Turner) were a good find for that inland location. Stilt Sandpiper: 75 at Bear Island WMA, Colleton Co, SC, 15 May (Keith McCullough) was a great count for spring migration. Other sightings included three at the Super Sod farm along Hooper Lane, Henderson Co, NC, 6 May (Wayne Forsythe); four along the barrier strand just SE of the Cedar Island Ferry Terminal, Carteret Co, NC, 19 May (John Fussell, Jack Fennell, Chandra Biggerstaff); and 1 1 at the Bodie Island Lighthouse pond, Dare Co, NC, 20 May (Linda & Skip Ward). Dunlin: 50+ at the Super Sod farm along Hooper Lane, Henderson Co, NC, 5 May (Wayne Forsythe, Simon Thompson) was a fantastic count for the mountain region. Individuals were found at two sites in the NC Piedmont — at The Chat, Vol. 77, No. 3, Summer 2013 89 Lake Crabtree, Wake Co, 6 May (Thierry Besan9on) and at Lake Wheeler, Wake Co, 17 May (Mike Turner). Purple Sandpiper: 52 on the beach of Sullivan’s Island, Charleston Co, SC, 12 Mar (Hal Currey) was a good count. Two remained on the rock groin at Oregon Inlet, Dare Co, NC, until at least 8 Apr (Jeff Lewis). White-rumped Sandpiper: High counts along the coast included 34 at Bear Island WMA, Colleton Co, SC, 15 May (Keith McCullough) and 21 along the barrier strand just SE of the Cedar Island Ferry Terminal, Carteret Co, NC, 19 May (John Fussell, Jack Fennell, Chandra Biggerstaff). Inland sightings included one at Lake James SP, Burke Co, NC, 10 May (Jamie Cameron); one at Lake Conestee Nature Park, Greenville Co, SC, 15-16 May (Simon Harvey, m. obs.); two at Lake Wheeler, Wake Co, NC, 17 May (Mike Turner); and two at the Super Sod farm along Hooper Lane, Henderson Co, NC, 26 May (Wayne Forsythe). Pectoral Sandpiper: One at the Super Sod farm along Hooper Lane in Henderson Co, NC, 8 Mar (Wayne Forsythe) was a little early. Short-billed Dowitcher: One at the Super Sod farm along Hooper Lane, Henderson Co, NC, 7 May (Wayne Forsythe) was the only inland sighting mentioned. Wilson’s Snipe: 65 at the Van Wingerden pond along NC-191 in Henderson Co, NC, 11 Mar (Wayne Forsythe) was a good count for the mountain region. One in Forsyth Co, NC, 4 May (Phil Crisp, Phil Dickinson) was a little late. Wilson’s Phalarope: One male was seen near the Cedar Island Ferry Terminal, Carteret Co, NC, 19 May (John Fussell, Jack Fennell, Chandra Biggerstaff), and one female was observed at the Bodie Island Lighthouse pond, Dare Co, NC, 19-22 May (Jeff Lewis, Audrey Whitlock). Red-necked Phalarope: Heavy storms forced migrants down to multiple sites in early May. Individuals were found at the Super Sod farm along Hooper Lane, Henderson Co, NC, 5 May (Wayne Forsythe, Simon Thompson); at Lake Crabtree, Wake Co, NC, 6 May (Thierry Besangon); at Lake Conestee Nature Park in Greenville Co, SC, where photographed, 6 May (Jane Kramer, Donnie Coody, Shelby Birch); and in a lagoon pond at Archie Elledge Water Treatment Plant (WTP), Forsyth Co, NC, 8 May (Nathan Gatto, Phil Dickinson, m. obs.). Three phalaropes were seen actively foraging on Lake Townsend, Guilford Co, NC, 7 May (Henry Link, Jim Strickland). A male was photographed at the Simpson Experiment Station in Anderson Co, SC, 28 May 90 Briefs for the Files — Spring 2013 (Linda Montgomery). 29 on a pelagic trip out of Hatteras, Dare Co, NC, 18 May (Brian Patteson, et al.) was a good count. Red-necked Phalarope, 28 May 2013, Pendleton, SC. Photo by Lindsey Montgomery. Parasitic Jaeger: This species was a reliable sight over the ocean from Atlantic Beach, Carteret Co, NC, in March and April, with peak counts of three birds on 14 Apr, 21 Apr, and 5 May (John Fussell). At least two, both dark and light phases, were seen near Murrells Inlet, Georgetown Co, SC, 30 Mar (Chris Talkington). Two were seen off Seaview Pier in North Topsail Beach, Onslow Co, NC, during the SBC, 26 Apr (Fussell). Dovekie: Sightings became more numerous in March after “cold water pushed down past Diamond Shoals” in late February (Brian Patteson). Highly unusual was the high number, at least 24, of moribund Dovekies found on the beaches around Atlantic Beach, Carteret Co, NC, 19-21 Apr, after brisk southerly winds on the 1 9th may have pushed weak birds onto the Bogue Banks (John Fussell, Ryan Bakelaar). Three live, though emaciated, individuals found 19-20 Apr (John Fussell) were taken to a local wildlife shelter but later died. One seen on the ocean 10 miles SE of the Cape Lookout Lighthouse, Carteret Co, NC, 8 May (Nate Bacheler) was quite late. Razorbill: 100 were seen feeding close to shore at Cape Point, Dare Co, NC, 2 Mar (Jeff Lewis). Eight were seen at Masonboro Inlet, New Hanover Co, NC, 8 Mar (Derb Carter, Katherine Higgins). Along the Bogue Banks, The Chat, Vol. 77, No. 3, Summer 2013 91 numbers increased in March, with counts including 100+ at Cape Lookout Bight, 10 Mar (Keith Rittmaster); 161 off Fort Macon, 18 Mar (John Fussell); and 300 off Fort Macon, 24 Mar (Fussell, Jack Fennell, Chandra Biggerstaff). 20 were seen inside Beaufort Inlet, 17 Mar (Fussell, et al). Two in flight off Atlantic Beach, 8 Apr (Fussell) were somewhat late. A moribund individual found on Coquina Beach, Dare Co, NC, 3 May (Bob Anderson) was quite late. Black-headed Gull: First-winter individuals were seen on the beach in Nags Head, Dare Co, NC, 26 Mar (Jeff Lewis) and over Kitty Hawk Bay, Dare Co, NC, 7 Apr (Lewis). Little Gull: An adult was seen amongst the Bonaparte’s Gulls at Masonboro Inlet, New Hanover Co, NC, 9 Mar (Derb Carter, Katherine Higgins). A first-winter bird was observed in northbound migration with Bonaparte’s Gulls off Atlantic Beach, Carteret Co, NC, 31 Mar (John Fussell, Jack Fennell). Laughing Gull: Sightings of migrants at inland sites included two on Lake Julian, Buncombe Co, NC, 27 Apr (Wayne Forsythe, Ron Selvey); 21 at Lake Crabtree, Wake Co, NC, 6 May (Mike Turner); two adults on Lake Hickory, border of Alexander Co and Catawba Co, NC, 6 May (Dwayne Martin, Lori Owenby); two along Hooper Lane, Henderson Co, NC, 6 May (Wayne Forsythe); eight near the dam on Lake Murray, Lexington Co, SC, 30 May (David Dobson); and three on Lake Hickory, 31 May (Martin, Owenby). Glaucous Gull: A third-winter bird was found on the beach near New River Inlet, Onslow Co, NC, 9 May (Gilbert Grant). Sooty Tern: An adult was seen in flight over James Island, Charleston Co, SC, 26 May (Dennis Forsythe). Two were seen in flight over Kiawah Island, Charleston Co, SC, 30 May (Aaron Given). Roseate Tern: One was seen on the beach near New River Inlet, Onslow Co, NC, during a shorebird survey, 1 May (James Abbott, et al.). Three, one of which was leg-banded, were photographed amongst a flock of Common Terns on Bird Shoal (Rachel Carson Reserve), Carteret Co, NC, 28 May (John Fussell, Paula Gillikin, Forrest Kraus). Arctic Tern: One was seen at two sites around Beaufort Inlet, Carteret Co, NC, in late May — at Fort Macon SP, 25 May (Ali Iyoob) and amongst a flock of Common Terns on Bird Shoal (Rachel Carson Reserve), where photographed, 28 May (John Fussell). On pelagic trips out of Hatteras, Dare Co, NC, singles were spotted 24 May and 3 1 May, and two were seen 30 May (Brian Patteson, et al.). 92 Briefs for the Files — Spring 2013 Common Tern, 26 April 2013, Masonboro Inlet, NC. Photo by John Ennis. Sandwich Tern: One on the beach in Atlantic Beach, Carteret Co, NC, 21 Mar (John Fussell) was somewhat early. Black-billed Cuckoo: Reports included one heard at the N end of the Beaverdam section of Falls Lake, Granville Co, NC, 25 Apr (Brian Bockhahn); one photographed along Hooper Lane, Henderson Co, NC, 8 May (Todd Arcos, Wayne Forsythe); two heard calling back and forth along Max Patch Rd, Madison Co, NC, 14 May (Greg Massey); one heard calling along Milltail Rd at Alligator River NWR, Dare Co, NC, 20 May (Audrey Whitlock); and two heard calling along Millis Rd in the Croatan NF, Carteret Co, NC, 27 May (John Fussell). Great Horned Owl: An active nest was discovered on the cliff face of Shortoff Mountain, Linville Gorge, Burke Co, NC, only 200 feet below a Peregrine Falcon nest, after a fledgling owl was seen jumping from rock to rock on 26 Apr (Chris Kelly). The falcons, seen incubating 22 Mar, experienced nest failure, and it is possible, though not certain, that predation by the owls was the cause. Northern Saw-whet Owl: At least three were heard at Devil’s Courthouse along the Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP) in Transylvania Co, NC, 26 Apr (Jon Smith). The Chat, Vol. 77, No. 3, Summer 2013 93 Great Homed Owl, 10 March 2013, Charlotte, NC. Photo by Phil Fowler. Eastern Whip-poor-will: One heard at the U.S. Forest Service’s Beech Creek Seed Orchard in Cherokee Co, NC, 17 Mar (Lori Williams) was a little early. Calliope Hummingbird: The bird that visited a feeder in Monroe, Union Co, NC, during the winter, remained until at least 13 Mar (Jamie Adams, Bob Lewis). Peregrine Falcon: A female bird that had been banded as a hatchling in New Hampshire and had unsuccessfully nested in Atlanta, showed up on a nest on a building in downtown Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co, NC. The bird and its mate successfully fledged two young during the spring (Ron Clark, m. obs.). Alder Flycatcher: One heard calling in the prairie area of McDowell Nature Preserve, Mecklenburg Co, NC, 1 4 May (Kevin Metcalf) was a good find for the Piedmont. Willow Flycatcher: One returned to Civitan Park in Winston-Salem, Forsyth Co, NC, 1 1 May, for the sixth consecutive year (Mike Conway). Gray Kingbird: One was seen at Tibwin Plantation in Charleston Co, SC, 13 May (Fred Alsop, et al.). After one was first seen perched on a power line 94 Briefs for the Files — Spring 2013 outside the Golden Sands Hotel in Carolina Beach, New Hanover Co, NC, 27 May (Mark Kosiewski), two were seen at the same location, 28 May (Jamie Adams, Greg Massey, m. obs.). Scissor-tailed Flycatcher: A pair returned to a traditional nesting site along Gutner Rd near Piedmont, Greenville Co, SC, this spring, with the male returning 18 Apr (Cherrie Sneed) and the female returning 10 May (Ann Shahid). One returned to the Simpson Experimental Station in Anderson Co, SC, 7 May (Matt Johnson). Blue-headed Vireo: One in N Asheville, Buncombe Co, NC, 7 Mar (Simon Thompson) was probably an early spring arrival, while one at Cliffs of the Neuse SP, Wayne Co, NC, 10 Mar (Nick Flanders, Elisa Enders) was probably over-wintering in the area. Warbling Vireo: This species was well-reported this spring. Sightings made in North Carolina included one at Ev-Henwood Nature Preserve, Brunswick Co, 10 Apr (Greg Massey, David Howell); one along Deshazo Rd in Rockingham Co, 15 Apr (Martin Wall); two returning to the W side of Lookout Shoals Lake, Catawba Co, 27 Apr (Monroe Panned); one at a pond near Bethabara Park in Forsyth Co, 4 May (Phil Crisp, Phil Dickinson); one returning to Shelley Lake, Wake Co, 10 May (Karen Bearden); one returning to Civitan Park in Winston-Salem, Forsyth Co, for the sixth consecutive year, 1 1 May (Mike Conway); and one seen and heard singing in Halifax Co, 17 May (Frank Enders). In South Carolina, individuals were found at the Clemson Experimental Forest on Lake Issaqueena, Pickens Co, 15 May (Matt Johnson) and along the Edisto Nature Trail, Colleton Co, SC, 25 May (Andy Harrison, Perry Nugent, Ann Truesdale). Horned Lark: As many as four were seen throughout the period at North River Farms in Carteret Co, NC (John Fussell) and were possibly nesting in the area. Tree Swallow: 450 over Fads Lake, Wake Co, 3 Mar (Mike Turner) was a good count for that are of the Piedmont. A pair nested in a bluebird box in Halifax Co, NC, again this year, in late May (Frank Enders). Northern Rough-winged Swallow: Interestingly, melanistic Rough- winged Swallows were seen at two different ferry terminals along the NC coast — at Cedar Island, Carteret Co, 28 Apr and 19 May (John Fussed, Jack Fennell, Chandra Biggerstaff) and in Southport, Brunswick Co, NC, 13 May (Nick Flanders, Ed Corey, Mike Graziano). Bank Swallow: Locally unusual were two in Corolla, Dare Co, NC, 13 May (Jeff Lewis) and four at Fort Fisher, New Hanover Co, NC, 1 3 May (Nick Flanders, Ed Corey, Mike Graziano). The Chat, Vol. 77, No. 3, Summer 2013 95 Barn Swallow: One at the Clemson Aquaculture Facility in Pickens Co, SC, 2 Mar (Scott Davis, Matt Johnson) was quite early. Black-capped Chickadee: A chickadee was heard using typical Black- capped vocalizations, both the “fee-bee” song and harsher “chickadee-dee- dee” call, near Yellow Mountain Gap in the Roaring Creek Valley, Avery Co, NC, 10 May (Chris Kelly) in an area where Black-capped Chickadees are thought to be extirpated. Red-breasted Nuthatch: Lingering from the winter’s influx was one at Lake Conestee Nature Park in Greenville Co, SC, 20 Apr (Jeff Click, et al.); and three along the entrance road to the Bodie Island Lighthouse, Dare Co, NC, 19 May (Jeff Lewis, Audrey Whitlock). White-breasted Nuthatch: One in the Elizabethan Gardens on Roanoke Island, Dare Co, NC, 16 May (Jeff Lewis) was locally unusual. Golden-crowned Kinglet: Two found on Dewees Island, Charleston Co, SC, during the SBC, 5 May (Francie Cashman, Judy Fairchild) were quite late. Ruby-crowned Kinglet: One seen at Flanging Rock SP, Stokes Co, NC, during the SBC, 4 May (Nathan Gatto, Sarah Clark, Jean Chamberlain) was somewhat late. Cedar Waxwing: Lingering into late spring were four in Columbia, Richland Co, SC, 27 May (John Grego); a pair on a Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) route S of Jamesville, Martin Co, NC, 26 May (Ricky Davis); and three at Mitchell Mill Natural Area, Wake Co, NC, 30 May (Mike Turner). Louisiana Waterthrush: Individuals at Caw Caw Interpretive Center, Charleston Co, SC, 13 Mar (Keith McCullough) and at Eno River SP, Orange Co, NC, 22 Mar (Josh Southern) were a little early. Territorial males at Walkers Millpond near Newport, Carteret Co, NC, 26 May (John Fussell, Jack Fennell) and along a BBS route S of Supply, Brunswick Co, NC, 27 May (Ricky Davis) were good finds for sites along the coast. Golden-winged Warbler: A male was observed singing a slight variation of the Northern Panda’ s standard song, instead of any typical Golden-winged song, near Davis Bald in the Nantahala NF, Macon Co, NC, 8 May (Chris Kelly, Charles Lawson). “Lawrence’s Warbler”: A hybrid male was seen and heard singing the Blue-winged Warbler’s standard “beee-BZZZ” song at Hamilton Lakes Park in Guilford Co, NC, 23 Apr (Henry Link). 96 Briefs for the Files — Spring 2013 Prothonotary Warbler: Individuals at Beaver Lake, Buncombe Co, NC, 16 Apr (Vin Stanton) and at Jackson Park, Henderson Co, NC, 17 Apr (Wayne Forsythe) were good finds for the mountain region. Swainson’s Warbler: Sightings included one seen and heard singing in the Katawba Valley Land Trust, Chester Co, SC, 20 Apr (Lewis Burke, Irvin Pitts, Roger Smith, et ah); five at Howell Woods in Johnston Co, NC, 20 Apr (Nick Flanders, Nathan Howell); one recorded singing at Jordan Lake, Chatham Co, NC, during the SBC, 5 May (Mark Kosiewski, Sasha Konkel); two along the Indian Creek Trail at Hanging Rock SP, Stokes Co, NC, 12 May (Ron Morris, Phil Crisp, Bill Gifford); and 15 along a stretch of the Roanoke River in Northampton Co and Halifax Co, NC, 26 May (Nick Flanders, Ed Corey, Elisa Enders). Tennessee Warbler: Northbound migrants were found at Lynches Wood Park, Newberry Co, SC, 27 Apr (Roger Smith); in the Elizabethan Gardens on Roanoke Island, Dare Co, NC, 30 Apr (Jeff Lewis); along Town Mountain Rd in Buncombe Co, NC, where singing, during the SBC, 11 May (Jackson Evans, Jamie Harrelson); and in a yard in Raleigh, Wake Co, NC, 13 May (John Connors). Orange-crowned Warbler: A migrant seen and heard singing in a yard in Rocky Mount, Nash Co, NC, 9-10 May (Ricky Davis) was noteworthy. Nashville Warbler: An adult male photographed at Bond Park in Cary, Wake Co, NC, 10 Apr (Eddie Owens) was very early. One in the Elizabethan Gardens on Roanoke Island, Dare Co, NC, 10 May (Jeff Lewis) was a good find for a coastal site during spring migration. Connecticut Warbler: A female at Jackson Park, Henderson Co, NC, 17 May (Ron Selvey) was the only one reported this spring. Kentucky Warbler: One in the Elizabethan Gardens on Roanoke Island, Dare Co, NC, 30 Apr (Jeff Lewis) was noteworthy for a site so near the coast. Cape May Warbler: The bird that wintered in a yard in Forsyth Co, NC, for a third year in a row, remained until 4 Apr (John Schultz). Cerulean Warbler: Individuals were found at Lake Conestee Nature Park in Greenville Co, SC, on three days this spring, 20 Apr (Jeff Click, et al.), 5 May (Brad Dalton), and 8 May (Jane Kramer). Four singing males were found along the BRP near the Tanbark Ridge Tunnel, Bumcombe Co, NC, 18 Apr (Mark Simpson, Marilyn Westphal) and a nest was discovered in that area 22 May (Wayne Forsythe). Four were counted along a stretch of the Roanoke River in Northampton Co and Halifax Co, NC, 26 May (Nick Flanders, Ed Corey, Elisa Enders) where a small breeding population traditionally exists. The Chat, Vol. 77, No. 3, Summer 2013 97 Chestnut-sided Warbler: One in the Elizabethan Gardens on Roanoke Island, Dare Co, NC, 9 May (Jeff Lewis) was unusual for the coastal area in spring. Yellow-rumped Warbler: “Several” were seen around Clingman’s Dome, Swain Co, NC, in late May (Mike Nelson, Ron Hoff, Dollyann Myers) suggesting breeding there. Wilson’s Warbler: A singing male at Cowan’s Ford Nature Preserve, Mecklenburg Co, NC, 12 May (Kevin Metcalf) was a good find. Bachman’s Sparrow: Individuals were seen at two sites in the Croatan NF where thought to be wintering — along Little Rd, Craven Co, until at least 24 May (John Fussell, Charlie Thomas); and along Holston Creek Rd, Jones Co, 30 Mar (Martha & Mike Mayo, Matthew King) and later in April (Fussell). American Tree Sparrow: Pending review by the SC Bird Records Committee was the report of an American Tree Sparrow on Dewees Island, Charleston Co, SC, during the SBC, 5 May (Aaron Given). Clay-colored Sparrow: Ten were counted in the “sparrow fields” across from the Cypress Point access on the W side of Lake Phelps, Washington Co, NC, 1 1 Mar (Ryan Bakelaar). Good counts continued to be made at North River Farms, Carteret Co, NC, throughout March and April, until just three remained 5 May (John Fussell, et al.). Lark Sparrow: One, presumably the same bird that visited in late February, returned to a yard in Mecklenburg Co, NC, 18 Mar (Lee Weber) where it remained for several days and was seen by multiple birders. Lark Sparrow, 18 Mar 2013, Mecklenburg County, NC. Photo by Lee Weber. 98 Briefs for the Files — Spring 2013 Savannah Sparrow: One near Oregon Inlet, Dare Co, NC, 19 May (Jeff Lewis, Audrey Whitlock) was somewhat late. Nelson’s Sparrow: One on the Western Carolina University campus in Jackson Co, NC, 19 May (Jeremy Hyman) was a good find for the mountain region. Lincoln’s Sparrow: Three in the “sparrow fields” across from the Cypress Point access on the W side of Lake Phelps, Washington Co, NC, 1 1 Mar (Ryan Bakelaar) provided the high count of over-wintering birds at that site. Individual migrants were found at Jackson Park, Henderson Co, NC, 22 Apr (Wayne Forsythe) and at the Clemson Aquaculture Facility in Pickens Co, SC, 26 Apr (Matt Johnson). White-throated Sparrow: Somewhat late were individuals on Roanoke Island, Dare Co, NC, 9 May (Jeff Lewis) and in Durham Co, NC, 22 May (Tom Krakauer, Caroline Gilmore). Dark-eyed Junco: Late individuals were seen in Halifax Co, NC, 7 May (Frank Enders); on Roanoke Island, Dare Co, NC, 9 May (Jeff Lewis); and at Hanging Rock SP, Stokes Co, NC, 12 May {fide Phil Dickinson). Lazuli Bunting: One was photographed on a platform feeder in Jamestown, Guilford Co, NC, 2 Apr (Maryann Mayer), providing NC with its second record of this western species. Painted Bunting: A male photographed at a feeder in Durham Co, NC, 9 Apr (Emma Bogerd, fide Shelley Theye) was noteworthy for the Piedmont region. Painted Bunting, 9 Apr 2013, Durham, NC. Photo by Emma Bogerd. The Chat, Vol. 77, No. 3, Summer 2013 99 Dickcissel: 28, of which 25 were singing males and three were females, was the spring high count at North River Farms, Carteret Co, NC, 19 May (John Fussell, et ah)- A singing male was found along Mid-Pines Rd in Wake Co, NC, 3 May (Ali Iyoob). In a rural area near Townville, Anderson Co, SC, one male was found along Fork School Rd, 29 May (Caroline Eastman) and two were seen at Prater Farm, 3 1 May (Matt Johnson). Another singing male was found along Whitehouse Rd in Richland Co, SC, 3 1 May (John Grego). Bobolink: 100+ along Hooper Lane near Jeffress Rd, Henderson Co, NC, 20 Apr (Wayne Forsythe) was a noteworthy count for the mountain region. Yellow-headed Blackbird: A first-year male was picked out of a large flock of blackbirds at the Perdue grain silo near the intersection of Newland Rd and Shore Drive in Washington Co, NC, 2 Mar (Mike McCloy, et al.). A female was found amongst a flock of Red-winged Blackbirds at Bunched Arrowhead Heritage Preserve, Greenville Co, SC, 2 Apr (Derek Aldrich). Brewer’s Blackbird: 25 were counted at Dobbins Farm, Anderson Co, SC, 30 Mar (Brad Dalton). A female was photographed along Hooper Lane, Henderson Co, NC, 1 1 Apr (Wayne Forsythe). Bullock’s Oriole: The adult male that visited a yard in Mecklenburg Co, NC, during the winter, remained until at least 13 Mar (Bob Lewis). Purple Finch: Late to depart were individuals in Southern Shores, Dare Co, NC, a female, 5 May (Jeff Lewis) and at Hanging Rock SP, Stokes Co, a male, 12 May (Jeremy Reiskind, Tommie Castleman, Heather Moir). Red Crossbill: At least four were seen at Lake Junaluska, Haywood Co, NC, 8 Apr (Connie Wulkowicz). A flock of 20 crossbills was well-observed in the Thurmond Chatham Gameland of Wilkes Co, NC, 23 Apr (Eric Harrold, Ron Morris). Common Redpoll: A female visited a feeder in Forsyth Co, NC, 8-10 Mar (Marbry Hopkins, Phil Dickinson, m. obs.) where it was photographed and seen by many. One seen and heard giving flight calls at Mayo Mountain SP, Rockingham Co, NC, during the early morning of 14 May (Brian Bockhahn) Common Redpoll, 8 Mar 2013, Forsyth County, was very an<^ Quite NC. Photo by Mabry Hopkins. unexpected. 100 Briefs for the Files — Spring 2013 Pine Siskin: Many siskins lingered in the Carolinas into the late spring. Some of the later sightings included one in Lexington Co, SC, 17 May (Marion & Edith Clark); two at Lake Crabtree, Wake Co, NC, 19 May (Mike Turner); one on Bodie Island, Dare Co, NC, 22 May (Jeff Lewis); one in Durham Co, NC, 22 May (Tom Krakauer, Caroline Gilmore); two in Wayne Co, NC, 25 May (Mary Bridges); and one in Gaston Co, NC, 29 May (Steven Tracy). After a female was first observed constructing a nest on 23 May (Marci Spencer), nesting was confirmed in a Red Spruce at Clingman’s Dome, Swain Co, NC, at an elevation of 6392 feet, in late May (Mike Nelson, Ron Hoff, Dollyann Myers). By 30 May, “the female was incubating and the male delivered food to her at the nest” (Chris Kelly). Evening Grosbeak: Up to nine visited a feeder in Bryson City, Swain Co, NC, where photographed, for two weeks in mid-April (Andy Zivinsky, m. obs.). Evening Grosbeak, 4 Apr 2013, Bryson City, NC. Photo by Phil Fowler. 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, or use this web address: http://www.carolinabirdclub.org/about.html. Dues include $6 for a subscription to the CBC Newsletter and $7 for a subscription to The Chat. ANNUAL DUES Individual or non-profit $25.00 Family or business $30.00 Patron $50.00 Student $15.00 Life Membership (payable in four consecutive $125 installments) $500.00 Associate Life Membership (in same household as life member) $100.00 ELECTED OFFICERS President Katherine Higgins, Wilmington, NC kathwrens@gmail.com NC Vice-Presidents Ron Clark, Kings Mountain, NC waxwing@bellsouth.net SC Vice-President Secretary Treasurer NC Members-at-Large SC Members-at-Large Scott Winton, Durham, NC scott.winton@gmail.com Jeff Click, Easley, SC jeffreyclick@yahoo.com Phil Fowler, Concord, NC janmfowler@gmail.com Samir Gabriel, Huntersville, NC Samir.Gabriel@itg-global.com Christine Stoughton-Root, Merritt, NC cssjar@aol.com John Voigt, Emerald Isle, NC jvoigt@coastalnet.com Jesse Pope, Linville, NC highcountrybirder@yahoo.com Karyl Gabriel, Huntersville, NC kmcclusky@yahoo.com Don Faulkner, Easley, SC donrfaulkner@aol.com Irvin Pitts, Lexington, SC pittsjam@windstream.net EX-OFFICIO EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS Chat Editor Don Seriff, Charlotte, 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 Marion Clark, Lexington, SC mclark66@sc.rr.com HEADQUARTERS SECRETARY 9 Quincy Place Pinehurst, NC 28374 hq@carolinabirdclub.org Carol Bowman SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION LIBRARIES % (uSi ft i "D ■o C <£ '5 w g 5,»o CU S O) ’*-* 01 r- Q_ -Z (0 « *." 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