CHSt eiKD Vol. 78 The Chat SUMMER 2014 No. The Quarterly Bulletin of the Carolina Bird Club, Inc. The Ornithological Society of the Carolinas THE CHAT ISSN No. 0009-1987 Vol. 78 SUMMER 2014 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 Associate Editor Judy Walker THE CHAT is published quarterly by the Carolina Bird Club, Inc., 1809 Lakepark Drive, Raleigh NC 27612. Individual subscription price $25 per year. Periodicals postage paid at Pinehurst, NC 28374 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THE CHAT, Carolina Bird Club, Inc., 9 Quincy Place, Pinehurst, NC 28374. Copyright © 2014 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 South Carolina Bird List South Carolina Bird Records Committee 81 General Field Notes First Record of MacGillivray’s Warbler for South Carolina Aaron Given 88 Fifty Years Ago in The Chat September 1964 93 {Brief s for the Files Spring 2014 Josh Southern 94 -g^VTHSON^ NOV 2 0 2014 UBRAR'£§. Cover: Ruby-throated Hummingbird and coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens). Original water color by Leigh Anne Carter. LACarter.com South Carolina Bird List South Carolina Bird Records Committee chill@coastal. edu Received 12 October 2014 As a service to the scientific and birding communities, The Chat periodically publishes the official lists of the birds of North Carolina and of South Carolina. Current state lists, including the scientific names of each species, are also maintained on-line at: http://www.carolinabirdclub.org/brc/ Below is the South Carolina Bird Records Committee’s list of South Carolina birds, as of October 2014. This version includes revisions that have been voted on but not yet published, all of which will be detailed in the 2014 annual report. The main list consists of 428 species (up from 419 in 2003 and 393 in 1993; South Carolina Bird Records Committee 1994, 2004). The main list includes species on the Definitive list (415 species; documented by specimen, photograph or other physical evidence) and those on the Provisional I list (13 species; accepted based on detailed written documentation but not yet supported by physical evidence). In the main list, brackets enclose the names of Provisional I species, and those species for which the committee desires documentation of further occurrences are marked with a double asterisk (**). Species needing documentation only of inland sightings are marked with a single asterisk (*). Sightings may be reported through a form at the URL given in the paragraph above. Five extinct species are marked by a dagger symbol (|). The committee also maintains lists of two other categories, printed after the main list. Provisional II species are judged to have occurred in the state due to escape from captivity or introduction by man, but are not established in the state. Some of these species are not recognized as having occurred naturally anywhere in North America (American Ornithologists' Union 1998). Hypothetical species are those whose occurrence is suggested by previous publication or other “reasonably responsible mention,” (Post and Gauthreaux 1989) but for which supporting details are not available. Species on the Provisional II and Hypothetical lists do not contribute to the 429 species total given above. 81 82 South Carolina Bird List Main Species List Black-bellied Whistling-Duck* Fulvous Whistling-Duck** Greater White-fronted Goose Snow Goose Ross's Goose Brant** Cackling Goose** Canada Goose Mute Swan Tundra Swan Wood Duck Gadwall Eurasian Wigeon** American Wigeon American Black Duck Mallard Mottled Duck* Blue-winged Teal Cinnamon Teal* Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Green- winged Teal Canvasback Redhead Ring-necked Duck Greater Scaup Lesser Scaup King Eider** Common Eider* Harlequin Duck** Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter* Black Scoter* Long-tailed Duck Bufflehead Common Goldeneye Hooded Merganser Common Merganser** Red-breasted Merganser Ruddy Duck Northern Bobwhite Ruffed Grouse Wild Turkey Red-throated Loon Pacific Loon** Common Loon Pied-billed Grebe Homed Grebe Red-necked Grebe** Eared Grebe Western Grebe** Northern Fulmar** Black-capped Petrel* Cory's Shearwater* Great Shearwater* Sooty Shearwater** Manx Shearwater** Audubon's Shearwater* Wilson's Storm-Petrel* Leach's Storm-Petrel** Band-rumped Storm-Petrel** White-tailed Tropicbird** Red-billed Tropicbird** Wood Stork Magnificent Frigatebird* Masked Booby** Brown Booby** Red-footed Booby** Northern Gannet* Double-crested Cormorant Great Cormorant* Anhinga American White Pelican* Brown Pelican* American Bittern Least Bittern Great Blue Heron Great Egret Snowy Egret Little Blue Heron Tricolored Heron Reddish Egret* Cattle Egret Green Heron The Chat, Vol. 78, No. 3, Summer 2014 83 Black-crowned Night-Heron Yellow-crowned Night-Heron White Ibis Glossy Ibis Roseate Spoonbill* Black Vulture Turkey Vulture Osprey Swallow-tailed Kite White-tailed Kite** Snail Kite** Mississippi Kite Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Sharp-shinned Hawk Cooper's Hawk Northern Goshawk** Red-shouldered Hawk Broad-winged Hawk [Swainson's Hawk]** Red-tailed Hawk [Rough-legged Hawk]** Golden Eagle Yellow Rail** Black Rail* Clapper Rail King Rail Virginia Rail Sora Purple Gallinule Common Gallinule American Coot Limpkin** Sandhill Crane Whooping Crane** Black-necked Stilt American Avocet American Oystercatcher [Northern Lapwing]** Black-bellied Plover American Golden-Plover Snowy Plover** Wilson's Plover* Semipalmated Plover Piping Plover Killdeer Mountain Plover** Spotted Sandpiper Solitary Sandpiper Greater Yellowlegs Willet Lesser Yellowlegs Upland Sandpiper [Eskimo Curlew] | Whimbrel Long-billed Curlew Hudsonian Godwit** Marbled Godwit Ruddy Turnstone Red Knot Ruff** [Sharp-tailed Sandpiper]** Stilt Sandpiper Curlew Sandpiper** [Red-necked Stint]** Sanderling Dunlin Purple Sandpiper* Baird's Sandpiper** Least Sandpiper White-rumped Sandpiper Buff-breasted Sandpiper Pectoral Sandpiper Semipalmated Sandpiper Western Sandpiper Short-billed Dowitcher Long-billed Dowitcher Wilson's Snipe American Woodcock Wilson's Phalarope Red-necked Phalarope Red Phalarope* Skua, sp.** Pomarine Jaeger* Parasitic Jaeger* Long-tailed Jaeger** Dovekie** Common Murre** Thick-billed Murre** Razorbill* Black Guillemot** Long-billed Murrelet** 84 South Carolina Bird List Black-legged Kittiwake* Sabine's Gull** Bonaparte's Gull Black-headed Gull** Little Gull** Laughing Gull Franklin's Gull** Ring-billed Gull California Gull Herring Gull Iceland Gull** Lesser Black-backed Gull Glaucous Gull* Great Black-backed Gull Brown Noddy** Sooty Tern* Bridled Tern* Least Tern Gull-billed Tern Caspian Tern Black Tern White-winged Tern** [Roseate Tern]** Common Tern* Arctic Tern** Forster's Tern Royal Tern* Sandwich Tern* Black Skimmer Rock Pigeon Band-tailed Pigeon** Eurasian Collared-Dove Passenger Pigeon! Common Ground-Dove White-winged Dove Mourning Dove Yellow-billed Cuckoo Black-billed Cuckoo [Smooth-billed Ani]** Groove-billed Ani** Bam Owl Eastern Screech-Owl Great Horned Owl Snowy Owl** Burrowing Owl** Barred Owl Long-eared Owl** Short-eared Owl Northern Saw- whet Owl** Common Nighthawk Chuck-will's-widow Eastern Whip-poor-will Chimney Swift [Blue-throated Hummingbird]** Ruby-throated Hummingbird Black-chinned Hummingbird** Anna's Hummingbird** Rufous Hummingbird Allen's Hummingbird** Calliope Hummingbird** Broad-billed Hummingbird** Buff-bellied Hummingbird** Belted Kingfisher Red-headed Woodpecker Red-bellied Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Red-cockaded Woodpecker Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Ivory-billed Woodpecker! American Kestrel Merlin Peregrine Falcon Carolina Parakeet! Olive-sided Flycatcher Eastern Wood-Pewee Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Acadian Flycatcher Alder Flycatcher** Willow Flycatcher Least Flycatcher Eastern Phoebe [Say's Phoebe]** Vermilion Flycatcher** Ash-throated Flycatcher** Great Crested Flycatcher Western Kingbird Eastern Kingbird Gray Kingbird* Scissor-tailed Flycatcher The Chat, Vol. 78, No. 3, Summer 2014 85 Fork-tailed Flycatcher** Loggerhead Shrike White-eyed Vireo Bell's Vireo** Yellow-throated Vireo Blue-headed Vireo Warbling Vireo Philadelphia Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Blue Jay American Crow Fish Crow Common Raven Homed Lark Purple Martin Tree Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Bank Swallow Cliff Swallow Cave Swallow** Bam Swallow Carolina Chickadee Tufted Titmouse Red-breasted Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch Brown-headed Nuthatch Brown Creeper House Wren Winter Wren Sedge Wren Marsh Wren Carolina Wren Bewick's Wren** Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet Eastern Bluebird [Townsend's Solitaire]** Veery Gray-cheeked Thmsh Bicknell's Thmsh** Swainson's Thmsh Hermit Thmsh Wood Thmsh American Robin Varied Thrush** Gray Catbird Brown Thrasher Northern Mockingbird European Starling White Wagtail** American Pipit Sprague's Pipit** Cedar Waxwing Lapland Longspur Smith's Longspur** Snow Bunting Ovenbird Worm-eating Warbler Louisiana Waterthmsh Northern Waterthmsh Bachman's Warblerf Golden- winged Warbler Blue-winged Warbler Black-and-white Warbler Prothonotary Warbler Swainson's Warbler Tennessee Warbler Orange-crowned Warbler Nashville Warbler Connecticut Warbler MacGillivray's Warbler** Mourning Warbler** Kentucky Warbler Common Yellowthroat Hooded Warbler American Redstart Kirtland's Warbler** Cape May Warbler Cemlean Warbler Northern Parula Magnolia Warbler Bay-breasted Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Yellow Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Palm Warbler Pine Warbler Yellow-mmped Warbler Yellow-throated Warbler 86 South Carolina Bird List Prairie Warbler Scarlet Tanager Black-throated Gray Warbler** Western Tanager** Black-throated Green Warbler Northern Cardinal Canada Warbler Rose-breasted Grosbeak Wilson's Warbler Black-headed Grosbeak** Yellow-breasted Chat Blue Grosbeak Green-tailed Towhee** Lazuli Bunting** Spotted Towhee** Indigo Bunting Eastern Towhee Painted Bunting Bachman's Sparrow Dickcissel American Tree Sparrow** Bobolink Chipping Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Clay-colored Sparrow Eastern Meadowlark Field Sparrow Western Meadowlark** Vesper Sparrow Yellow-headed Blackbird Lark Sparrow Rusty Blackbird Lark Bunting** Brewer's Blackbird Savannah Sparrow Common Grackle Grasshopper Sparrow Boat-tailed Grackle* Henslow's Sparrow Shiny Cowbird** Le Conte's Sparrow Brown-headed Cowbird Nelson's Sparrow* Orchard Oriole Saltmarsh Sparrow* Bullock's Oriole** Seaside Sparrow Baltimore Oriole Fox Sparrow [Pine Grosbeak]** Song Sparrow House Finch Lincoln's Sparrow Purple Finch Swamp Sparrow Red Crossbill White-throated Sparrow White-winged Crossbill** Harris's Sparrow** Common Redpoll** White-crowned Sparrow Pine Siskin [Golden-crowned Sparrow]** American Goldfinch Dark-eyed Junco Evening Grosbeak Summer Tanager House Sparrow Provisional II Species Barnacle Goose** Budgerigar** Trumpeter Swan** Monk Parakeet** Ring-necked Pheasant** Green Parakeet** Chilean Flamingo** House Crow** Scarlet Ibis** Red-crested Cardinal** African Collared-Dove** Troupial** Crested Caracara** European Goldfinch** Prairie Falcon** Village Weaver** The Chat, Vol. 78, No. 3, Summer 2014 87 Hypothetical Species American Flamingo** Short-tailed Hawk** Caribbean Coot** Spotted Redshank** Black-tailed Godwit** South Polar Skua** Cuban Emerald** Tropical/Couch’s Kingbird** Black-billed Magpie** Black-capped Chickadee** Bushtit** Northern Wheatear** The South Carolina Bird Records Committee Chris Hill, Chair Giff Beaton Jeff Click Aaron Given Lex Glover Keith McCullough Irvin Pitts William Post Steve Wagner Literature Cited American Ornithologists' Union. 1998. Checklist of North American Birds 7th Ed. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, DC. Post, W., and S. Gauthreaux. 1989. Status and distribution of South Carolina birds. Charleston Museum, Charleston, SC. South Carolina Bird Records Committee. 1994. South Carolina Bird List. Chat 58:114-118. South Carolina Bird Records Committee. 2004. South Carolina Bird List. Chat 68:9-18. 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 Record of MacGillivray’s Warbler for South Carolina Aaron Given Town ofKiawah Island, 21 Beachwalker Drive, Kiawah Island, SC 29455 agiven@kiawahisland. org Received 01 May 2014, accepted 06 June 2014 On 18 October 2013, I captured and banded a MacGillivray’s Warbler (' Geothlypis tolmiei) on Kiawah Island, South Carolina. The bird was captured in a mist net as part of an ongoing study monitoring songbird migration during fall at the Kiawah Island Banding Station. Fall migration banding has occurred on Kiawah Island since 2009. Twenty permanent 12-m mist nets are operated daily from 15 August through 30 November. The nets are placed in maritime scrub-shrub and maritime grassland on the west end of Kiawah Island - commonly referred to as Captain Sam’s Spit. Nets are opened approximately 30 min before sunrise and remain open for 5-6 hours, weather permitting. The MacGillivray’s Warbler was captured at approximately 0850 EST in net #3, which is located on an old dune ridge. Vegetation surrounding the net consists primarily of wax myrtles {Morelia cerifera) from 7- 15ft in height. In addition, a dense thicket of Smilax spp. is found at one end of the net. The bird was placed in a cloth bag and brought back to the banding table at around 0900 EST. Description of the Bird When I took the bird out of the bag, my initial thought was Mourning Warbler ( G . Philadelphia) but after examining the bird more carefully it became apparent that it was a MacGillivray’s Warbler (Fig. 1). The coloration of the back, wings, and tail were olive green. There were no wing bars present. The bird had a distinct grayish-brown hood that extended down to the upper breast. The throat was dingy white and contrasted with the rest of the hood. 88 The Chat, Vol. 78, No. 3, Summer 2014 89 Figure 1. MacGillivray’s Warbler captured and banded on Kiawah Island, SC on 18 October 2013. The lower breast, belly, and undertail coverts were yellow. There were broad white eye arcs above and below the eye. The arcs extended behind the eye but did not connect. The arcs did not extend in front of the eye. The upper mandible was dark gray from tip to nares. The lower mandible was gray at the tip and almost pinkish at the base. The legs were pinkish. The bird had a molt limit within the alula feathers (A1 had been replaced, with A2 and A3 not having been replaced) and the skull was not completely ossified, which indicated a hatch-year bird. The sex is most likely a female based on the lack of black feathers in the throat and upper breast. However, some hatch-year males can lack black in those areas and caution is advised in sexing individuals based using that criterion alone (Pyle 1997). A small amount of subcutaneous fat was recorded in the furcular region (fat score = 1). Morphological measurements were: wing chord, 57.0 mm; flattened wing, 59.0 mm; tail length, 48.0 mm; mass, 10.5 g. Identification Presence of eye arcs. This individual exhibited very distinctive white eye arcs (Fig. 2). The arc above the eye was wider than the arc below and abruptly stopped before wrapping around the front of the eye. A close-up of the eye arcs show that the eye arc below the eye does extend behind the eye a small 90 First Record of MacGillivray ’s Warbler for South Carolina Figure 2. Close-up of the head showing the bold white eye arcs. amount before fading into the coloration of the hood. Both Mourning Warblers and Connecticut Warblers ( Oporornis agilis) can exhibit white eye arcs but neither will be as bold or abruptly broken as this bird, especially for a hatch- year bird (Pyle 1997, Dunn and Garrett 1997). Presence of whitish throat and complete grayish hood. Most hatch-year Mourning Warblers exhibit a yellow or yellow-buff throat (Dunn and Garrett 1997). This individual exhibited a dingy white to grayish throat as described in Pyle (1997) for MacGillivray’ s Warbler. Additionally, hatch-year Mourning Warblers usually have an interrupted (or broken) breast band with yellow extending up from the breast and into the throat region (Pyle 1997, Dunn and Garrett 1997). This individual had a complete grayish breast band which is more consistent with MacGillivray ’s Warbler (Fig. 3). Undertail coverts cover roughly half of the tail. MacGillivray’ s Warblers typically have a longer tail extension beyond the undertail coverts than Mourning and Connecticut Warblers (Dunn and Garrett 1997). The tail extension averages 22 mm in MacGillivray’ s Warbler and 15mm in Mourning Warblers (Dunn and Garrett 1997). Although I did not measure this character at the time of banding, Figure 4 shows that the undertail coverts cover roughly half of the tail. Mourning and Connecticut Warblers have much shorter tail extensions in which the undertail coverts would typically cover at least 2/3 of the tail. The Chat, Vol. 78, No. 3, Summer 2014 91 Figure 3. Dingy white throat and complete grayish hood of a MacGillivray’s Warbler. Figure 4. Long tail extension. Undertail coverts roughly 14 the length of the tail. 92 First Record of MacGillivray ’s Warbler for South Carolina Conclusion The photos and descriptions noted above describe South Carolina’s first MacGillivray’ s Warbler well. Of the two similar species, Connecticut Warbler can be ruled out based on size alone. The mean wing chord measurement from 247 immature Connecticut Warblers banded at Powdermill Nature Reserve was 68.8 mm with a range of 65.0 - 72.5mm (Mulvihill et al. 2004). The MacGillivray’s Warbler had a wing chord measurement of 57.0 mm which is substantially smaller. MacGillivray’s and Mourning Warblers are similar in size, thus making it more difficult to separate based on measurements. However, the bold eye arcs, lack of yellow in the throat, and relatively long tail extension should eliminate Mourning Warbler. Based on the above diagnostic photos and description, the South Carolina Bird Records Committee accepted this record as the first MacGillivray’s Warbler in South Carolina (Hill et al. 2014). There have been several MacGillivray’s Warblers documented in the southeast over the past 20 years. Georgia has at least three records including a bird banded at Jekyll Island in 1987 (Leake 1994). North Carolina also has three records with the first occurring in 1998 (Davis and Fussell 2001) and the latest occurring during the fall of 2010. Several documented MacGillivray’s Warblers have also been reported from Maine, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Alabama. Acknowledgements I would like to thank the Town of Kiawah Island and the Kiawah Island Conservancy for providing financial support for the Kiawah Island Banding Station. I would also like to thank Kiawah Development Partners for allowing access to their property to band birds. I thank Mattie VandenBoom, Claire Stuyck, Josh Lefever, and Vicki Morgan for all their hard work for very little pay. I thank Chris Hill for improving an earlier draft of this manuscript. Literature cited Davis, K. and J. Fussell. 2001. First record of MacGillivray’s Warbler for North Carolina. Chat 65:108-1 12. Dunn, J. L. and K. L. Garrett. 1997. A Field Guide to Warblers of North America. Houghton Mifflin, Boston, Massachusetts. Hill, C., G. Beaton, J. Click, A. Given, L. Glover, K. McCullough, I. Pitts, W. Post, and S. Wagner. 2014. 2013 Annual report of the South Carolina Birds Records Committee. Chat. 78:5. Leake, H. D. 1994. Atlantic Flyway Review: Region V - fall 1993. North American Bird Bander 19:109-112. Mulvihill, R. S., R. C. Leberman, and A. J. Leppold. 2004. Relationships among body mass, fat, wing length, age, and sex for 170 species of birds The Chat, Vol. 78, No. 3, Summer 2014 93 banded at Powdermill Nature Reserve. Eastern Bird Banding Association Monograph 1. Pyle, P. 1997. Identification Guide to North American Birds, Part 1. Slate Creek Press, Bolinas, California. Fifty Years Ago in The Chat - September 1964 The September 1964 issue of The Chat featured the first full-color photograph and cover in the history of the publication. The photograph was of an adult White Ibis in flight, set against a sky blue background. Jack Potter photographed the bird in June 1963 at Battery Island, the first documented nesting site in the state. The publication of this “expensive process color cover” was made possible by Theo. B. Davis Sons printing company and was printed using a four-color offset printer on special paper donated by the Snyder Paper Company. Eloise Potter provided a six page account of a bird species new to North Carolina: the House Finch. She gave a brief historical summary of the illegal sale of these western birds in eastern pet stores, where they were sold as “Hollywood Finches”, and she described their release, establishment and range expansion along the east coast. Ms. Potter provided an illustrated explanation of the identification of the House Finch and how to distinguish it from a Purple Finch. She also summarized the first confirmed sighting and collection of a House Finch in the state, from her own yard in Zebulon, during the winter of 1962-1963. This specimen is preserved in the collection at the North Carolina State Museum. Rhett Chamberlain provided two articles for this issue. The first was a summary of the “invasion” of Evening Grosbeaks in the Carolinas during the winter of 1963-1964. Thirty observers submitted reports from both Carolinas documenting an incursion of “moderate proportions” which included some band recovery data as well. A Grosbeak found in Washington, NC had been banded in Ohio, one found in Springfield SC had been banded in Vermont, and one found in Whiteville, NC had been banded in Wisconsin. Each banded bird was five years old. Chamberlain’s second article summarized the wintering finches of 1963-1964. It included details on Pine Siskins, Red and White-winged Crossbills, Purple Finches as well as a sight report from South Carolina of a Pine Grosbeak and a sight report of a Common Redpoll in Charlotte. A special note on Paul Sykes was included in this issue. Sykes had been a regular contributor to The Chat , had just finished a three-year tour in the US Navy, and was newly enrolled in graduate school at NC State where he planned to study landbird migration along the Outer Banks. Sykes, who is well known to many birders in Virginia and the Carolinas, went on to complete a distinguished career with the US Fish & Wildlife Service and to become the first person ever to participate in over 400 Christmas Bird Counts. BRIEFS FOR THE FILES Josh Southern 203 Hyannis Drive Holly Springs, NC 27540 joshsouthem79@gmail.com (All dates Spring 2014, 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-identijy 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. Greater White-fronted Goose: Spring sightings included six on a pond at the Silver Creek Plantation Country Club in Morganton, Burke County (Co), North Carolina (NC), where photographed, 7 March (Mar) (Dwayne Martin) through 10 Mar (Joyce Lanier Strachan); two on Lake Junaluska, Haywood Co, NC, 7 Mar (Bob Olthoff, Connie & Stan Wulkowicz); and one with Canada Geese along New Cut Road (Rd ) in Spartanburg Co, South Carolina (SC), where photographed, 15 April (Apr) (Jeff Lemons). 94 The Chat, Vol. 78, No. 3, Summer 2014 95 Snow Goose: Three, two blue-phase birds and one white-phase bird, found on the lawn of the Water Treatment Plant (WTP) along NC-191 in Henderson Co, NC, 15 Mar (Wayne Forsythe) were a good find for the mountain region. Several hundred in a field on the mainland of Currituck Co, NC, 30 Mar (Jeff Lewis) were somewhat late. Ross’s Goose: Individuals were found on a farm pond near Thurmond, Surry Co, NC, with Canada Geese, in mid-March (Royce Hough); on a lawn at the Coastal Grand Mall in Myrtle Beach, Horry Co, SC, after a night of heavy rain, 29 Mar (Dick & Dorothy Rosche); and on a small pond near the Meat Camp Environmental Studies Area in Watauga Co, NC, where photographed, 30 Apr (Guy McGrane) through 10 May (Richard Gray). Brant: One amongst Canada Geese on North Pond, Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), Dare Co, NC, 30 May (Mike & Peggy Eubank), remaining until 1 1 June (Audrey Whitlock), was quite late. Tundra Swan: Individuals on Mullet Pond at Huntington Beach State Park (SP), Georgetown Co, SC, 31 Mar (Paul Serridge, Steve Thomas); at Mattamuskeet NWR, Hyde Co, NC, 6 Apr (Jamie Adams); and on Mary’s House Pond at Bear Island Wildlife Management Area (WMA), Colleton Co, SC, 14 Apr (Steve Compton) were somewhat late. Eurasian Wigeon: A drake at Santee Coastal Reserve WMA, Charleston Co, SC, 1 Mar (Terry Redmile, fide Jeff Click) was joined by a second drake, 2 Mar (Keith McCullough, Craig Watson). One lingered at the Savannah Spoil Site (restricted access), Jasper Co, SC, until the late date of 25 Apr (Steve Calver). Redhead: Locally good counts were 40+ on Lake Julian, Buncombe Co, NC, 3 Mar (Wayne Forsythe) and 180 on two ponds along US-64 in Edgecombe Co, NC, 9 Mar (Ricky Davis). A drake at Lake Conestee Nature Park in Greenville Co, SC, 25 Feb through 17 Apr (Paul Serridge, multiple observers (m. obs.)) was a first for that park. Four on Lake Julian, Buncombe Co, NC, 29 Apr (Steve Ritt) were somewhat late. Ring-necked Duck: A healthy-looking hen on a forested pond in Macon Co, NC, 3 1 May (Mark Simpson, Marilyn Westphal) was late to depart. Lesser Scaup: Somewhat late were eight on Kerr Lake in Vance Co, NC, during its Spring Bird Count (SBC), 24 Apr (fide Brian Bockhahn); five on Lake Crabtree, Wake Co, NC, 27 Apr (Mike Turner); two on Lake Julian in Buncombe Co, NC, 29 Apr (Steve Ritt); four on Jordan Lake in Chatham Co, NC, during its SBC, 4 May (Lucas Bobay); and one at the Savannah Spoil Site (restricted access), Jasper Co, SC, 30 May (Steve Calver). 96 Briefs for the Files — Spring 201 4 Common Eider: An immature drake lingered around the pier at Myrtle Beach SP, Horry Co, SC, 22 Mar (Scott Hartley) through 2 Apr (Chris Hill, John Hutchens, Barbara & Paul Serridge). Harlequin Duck: A sub-adult drake was seen off of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier in Wrightsville Beach, New Hanover Co, NC, 8 Mar (Sam Cooper). Of the six ducks seen under the south end of Bonner Bridge at Oregon Inlet, Dare Co, NC, during February, all six were seen 10 Mar (Linda Ward), five remained 12 Mar (Jeff Lewis), and one was last seen 15 Mar (Lewis). Harlequin Duck, 02 March 2014, Dare County, NC. Photo by Jeff Lewis. Surf Scoter: Three, two drakes and one hen, seen on Lake Hickory from the Lovelady Access Area in Caldwell Co, NC, 3 Apr (Dwayne Martin, Barbara Miller) were good finds for an inland lake. White-winged Scoter: Unusually high counts along the coast and sightings on inland lakes continued from late winter into the spring. 130 at Little River Inlet, Horry Co, SC, 3 Mar (Chris Hill, et al.) was our region’s highest count. Sightings on inland lakes included five on Lake Julian, Buncombe Co, NC, 7 Mar (Wayne Forsythe); one at Cane Creek County Park in Union Co, NC, where photographed, 5 Apr (George Andrews); nine on Lookout Shoals Lake, Catawba Co, NC, until 19 Apr (Dwayne Martin); four on Falls Lake in Wake Co, NC, during its SBC, 22 Apr (Brian Bockhahn); and one on Jordan Lake, Chatham Co, NC, during its SBC, 4 May (Lucas Bobay). Lingering into late spring were individuals at Oregon Inlet, Dare Co, NC, 26 May (Audrey The Chat, Vol. 78, No. 3, Summer 2014 97 Whitlock) and off Johnnie Mercer’s Pier in Wrightsville Beach, New Hanover Co, NC, 3 1 May (Sam Cooper). Black Scoter: Lingering into late spring were 12 near the rock outcrop at Fort (Ft) Fisher, New Hanover Co, NC, 18 May (Ricky Davis); 33 off Sullivan’s Island, Charleston Co, SC, 28 May (Hal Currey); and five at Ft Fisher, 3 1 May (Sam Cooper). Long-tailed Duck: Inland sightings included four on a borrow pit pond alongside NC-97 in Edgecombe Co, NC, 2 Mar (Ricky Davis); a drake on Buckhom Reservoir, Wilson Co, NC, 5 Mar (Davis); four on Spring Valley Lake in Moore Co, NC, 9 Mar (Susan Campbell); a drake on Belews Lake in Rockingham Co, NC, 10 Mar (Martin Wall); and at least seven continuing from winter at YMCA Camp Harrison in Wilkes Co, NC, 2 Apr (Eric Harrold). Sightings from the southern half of our coast included three drakes off North Topsail Beach, Onslow Co, NC, 5 Mar (Gilbert Grant); two off of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier in Wrightsville Beach, New Hanover Co, NC, 8 Mar (Sam Cooper); one off Shell Point on Harkers Island, Carteret Co, NC, 9 Mar (Chandra Biggerstaff, et al.); 14 off of Huntington Beach SP, Georgetown Co, SC, 15 Mar (Peter Stangel); and one northbound bird off Fort Macon, Carteret Co, NC, 6 Apr (John Fussell, et al.). Common Goldeneye: Of the dozens seen in our region during the late winter, only a few remained into early spring — one hen at the catfish ponds along US- 64 in Creswell, Washington Co, NC, 9 Mar (Ricky Davis); two at YMCA Camp Harrison in Wilkes Co, NC, 19 Mar (Guy McGrane); and two at Pinckney Island NWR, Beaufort Co, SC, 5 Apr (Jack Fry). Hooded Merganser: Evidence of breeding in our region was found when a hen was seen with five chicks at the crawfish ponds south of Rimini, Clarendon Co, SC, 12 Apr (Steve Patterson) and a hen was seen with nine chicks at Sandy Creek Park in Durham Co, NC, 1 1 May (Marty McClelland) through 26 May (David Anderson, Mary Sonis). Common Merganser: Counts included 29 on the Upper Beaverdam portion of Falls Lake, Wake Co, NC, 9 Mar (John Finnegan, Stephanie Horton); 75 on Lake Phelps, Washington Co, NC, 9 Mar (Ricky Davis); nine on a pond alongside US-64 in Tyrrell Co, NC, 9 Mar (Davis); and 1 1 at YMCA Camp Harrison in Wilkes Co, NC, 12 Mar (Dwayne Martin). Individuals were found on a pond at the intersection of US-64 and NC-42 in Edgecombe Co, NC, 9 Mar (Davis); on Lake Waccamaw, Columbus Co, NC, 1 0 Mar (Greg Massey); and on Grogan Lake, Rockingham Co, NC, 13 Mar (Martin Wall). Two hens were seen on the Green River near Lake Adger in Polk Co, NC, where the species has bred for several years now, 23 Apr (Marilyn Westphal, et al.). 98 Briefs for the Files — Spring 2014 Red-breasted Merganser: Counts from inland lakes included 24 on Lake Robinson, Greenville Co, SC, 7 Mar (Simon Harvey); 25 on Jordan Lake, Chatham Co, NC, 8 Mar (Derb Carter, Harry LeGrand); 200 on Lake Phelps, Washington Co, NC, 9 Mar (Ricky Davis); 150 on ponds alongside US-64 in Washington Co and Tyrrell Co, NC, 9 Mar (Davis); 55 on Lake Norman, NC, 9 Mar (Jeff Lemons, David Wright, et al.); 149 on Lake Townsend, Guilford Co, NC, 10 Mar (Henry Link); and 22 on Lake Crabtree, Wake Co, NC, 29 Mar (Mike Turner). One photographed at Cane Creek County Park in Union Co, NC, 1 1 Mar (George Andrews) may have been a first for that county. 12 off Wrightsville Beach, New Hanover Co, 17 May (Sam Cooper) were somewhat late. Red-throated Loon: Nine on Lake Norman, NC, 9 Mar (Jeff Lemons, David Wright, et al.) was a fantastic count, possibly our region’s highest ever for an inland lake. Also notable were individuals on Falls Lake, Rollingview Beach, Durham Co, NC, 8 Mar (Jeff Pippen) and near the marina on Salem Lake, Forsyth Co, NC, 29 Mar (Phil Dickinson, Nathan Gatto, Marbry Hopkins, Shelley Rutkin.). Common Loon: Some of the better counts on inland lakes were 28+ on Lake Norman, NC, 9 Mar (Jeff Lemons, David Wright); 30 on Lake Julian, Buncombe Co, NC, 22 Mar (Wayne Forsythe); 50+ on Lake Hickory, border of Alexander Co and Catawba Co, NC, 30 Mar (Dwayne Martin, Lori Owenby); 13 on Salem Lake, Forsyth Co, NC, 30 Mar (Phil Dickinson et al.); 20+ on W. Kerr Scott Reservoir, Wilkes Co, NC, 30 Mar (Issac Kerns); 42 on Falls Lake in Wake Co, NC, 22 Apr (Brian Bockhahn); and 25 on Lake Lure, Rutherford Co, NC, 2 May (Steve Ritt). Horned Grebe: 175+ on Jordan Lake, Chatham Co, NC, 8 Mar (Derb Carter, Harry LeGrand) and 1 86 on Lake Norman, NC, 9 Mar (Jeff Lemons, David Wright, et al.) were good counts for those inland lakes. One lingered at the south end of Oregon Inlet, Dare Co, NC, through the end of the period (Jeff Lewis). Red-necked Grebe: This species made an unprecedented irruption into our region, especially into western NC, in early March. Sightings, often of multiple birds, were made on dozens of inland lakes. Many birders theorized that the mass movement was due to the fact that the Great Lakes were mostly frozen over at that time, which was an unusual occurrence. Please note that due to the sheer number of sightings, many reports which would normally be in this report are not. Peak counts from the western half of NC, where sightings were most numerous, were 37 on Lake Julian, Buncombe Co, 4 Mar (Wayne Forsythe); 42 on Lake Hickory, Catawba Co, 5 Mar (Dwayne Martin); a total of 38 on three lakes just north of Greensboro, Guilford Co, 5 Mar (Henry Link); 18 on Belews Lake, Rockingham Co, 5 Mar (Martin Wall); 16 on Lookout Shoals Lake, Catawba Co, 5 Mar (Martin); 44 on Jordan Lake, The Chat, Vol. 78, No. 3, Summer 2014 99 Chatham Co, 8 Mar (Derb Carter, Harry LeGrand); nine at YMCA Camp Harrison, Wilkes Co, 12 Mar (Martin); up to seven on Salem Lake, Forsyth Co, throughout March (Phil Dickinson, et al.); seven on Randleman Lake, Randolph Co, 15 Mar (Wall); and 15 on Hyco Lake, Person Co, 16 Mar (Wall). Sightings from the eastern half of NC included one on Silver Lake, Ocracoke, Hyde Co, 1 Mar (Jeff Lewis); six at Buckhom Reservoir, Wilson Co, 5 May (Ricky Davis); one on a pond in Cumberland Co, 5 Mar (Alex Hughes); one Lake McArthur, Hoke Co, 5 Mar (Clyde Sorenson); one on the Tar River Reservoir, Nash Co, 6 May (Davis); four on Roanoke Rapids Lake, border of Halifax Co and Northampton Co, 7 Mar (Elisa Enders); six on Lake Phelps, Washington Co, 9 Mar (Davis); one on a pond in Tyrrell Co, 9 Mar (Davis); one on a pond in Edgecombe Co, 9 Mar (Davis); and one on a pond on Roanoke Island, Dare Co, 2 Apr (Lewis). Fewer sightings were made in SC — one on Lake- Robinson, Greenville Co, 5 Mar (Derek Aldrich); three on Lake Bowen, Spartanburg Co, 8 Mar (Simon Harvey); three on Lake Jocassee, border of Oconee Co and Pickens Co, 9 Mar (Jeff Click, et al.); and one at Morgan Park, Georgetown Co, 22 Mar (Joy Walker). Individuals lingered into late spring on Salem Lake, 20 Apr (Dickinson); on Falls Lake, 22 Apr (Brian Bockhahn); on Lake Julian, 29 Apr (Steve Ritt); and on Belews Lake, 1 May (Wall). Red-necked Grebes, 09 March 2014, Lake Norman, Mecklenburg County, NC. Photo by Jeff Lemons. Eared Grebe: Individuals were found on Lake Julian, Buncombe Co, NC, amongst Red-necked Grebes, 4 Mar (Wayne Forsythe); on Jordan Lake, Chatham Co, NC, amongst Homed Grebes, 8 Mar (Derb Carter) and 15 Mar (Lucas Bobay); on the ocean off of Onslow Beach, Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base, Onslow Co, NC, 14 Mar (Gilbert Grant) and 5 Apr (Sherry Lane, Bruce Smithson, et al.); and at Murrells Inlet, Georgetown Co, SC, 19 Mar (Frank Lawkins). Northern Fulmar: Two seen during a pelagic trip out of Hatteras, Dare Co, NC, 28 Apr (Brian Patteson, et al.) were unusual for mid-spring. 100 Briefs for the Files — Spring 2014 Herald (Trindade) Petrel: Over the course of eleven consecutive pelagic trips out of Hatteras, NC, 21-31 May, Trindade Petrels were seen on five of those trips- — one light-morph bird, 21 May; two light-morph birds, 23 May; two dark-morph birds and one light-morph bird, 24 May; one dark-morph bird, 25 May; and one dark-morph bird, 3 1 May (Brian Patteson, et al.). Bermuda Petrel: One was well-seen and photographed on a pelagic trip out of Hatteras, Dare Co, NC, 21 May (Brian Patteson, et al.), only our region’s second sighting in the past five years. Fea’s Petrel: Individuals were seen on pelagic trips out of Hatteras, Dare Co, NC, 21 May, 22 May, and 27 May (Brian Patteson, et al.). Sooty Shearwater: One seen during a pelagic trip out of Hatteras, Dare Co, NC, 2 Mar (Brian Patteson, et al.) was unusual for late winter / early spring. Multiple sightings were made from shore around Memorial Day — four off of Hatteras National Seashore (NS), between Frisco and Hatteras, Dare Co, NC, 25 May (Jeff Lemons); one over the ocean and one moribund bird on the beach at Ft Macon, Carteret Co, NC, 25 May (John Fussell); seven at North Edisto Inlet, Charleston Co, SC, 26 May (David Gardner); and eight at Lookout Bight, Cape Lookout NS, Carteret Co, NC, 26 May (Wade Fuller). Interestingly, Fuller observed fishermen hand-feeding the eight shearwaters at Lookout Bight, leading him to believe those birds must have been quite hungry to act so tamely. European Storm-Petrel: One was seen and photographed during a pelagic trip out of Hatteras, Dare Co, NC, 21 May (Brian Patteson, et al.). Kate Sutherland notes that the bird stayed with the boat for almost two hours! White-tailed Tropicbird: An adult was well-seen and photographed as it flew close alongside the boat during a pelagic trip out of Hatteras, Dare Co, NC, 29 May (Brian Patteson, et al.). Red-billed Tropicbird: A sub-adult was seen during a pelagic trip out of Hatteras, Dare Co, NC, 24 May (Brian Patteson, et al.). A tropicbird was spotted again in the afternoon (Jason Estep), but was too distant to determine if it was a different individual than the one seen in the morning. Wood Stork: Two soaring over Sunset Beach, Brunswick Co, NC, 14 Mar (Dorothy & Richard Rosche) were a little early for that site. Masked Booby: A sub-adult was well-seen flying around a stationary research vessel 160 nautical miles off of Cape Fear, Brunswick Co, NC, the early morning of 3 1 May (Bob Evans, Chris Heke) and again 7 June, when photographed (Josh Kun). The Chat, Vol. 78, No. 3, Summer 2014 101 Brown Booby: One was seen flying north off of Carolina Beach, New Hanover Co, NC, 25 May (Thierry Besan£on). Great Cormorant: Individuals were seen perched on a piling cluster near the southern end of the Bonner Bridge at Oregon Inlet, Dare Co, NC, 2 Apr (Jeff Lewis) and on a rock groin at Ft Moultrie, Charleston Co, SC, 7 Apr (Cherrie & Dan Sneed) and 8 Apr (Kevin DeBoer). The species was seen around North Topsail Beach and New River Inlet, Onslow Co, NC, throughout the period, with a high count of four on March 14th (Gilbert Grant) and one remaining into summer (Grant). American White Pelican: Nine seen feeding with cormorants, gannets, and Brown Pelicans inside Oregon Inlet, Dare Co, NC, just east of Bonner Bridge, 9 Mar (Jeff Lewis), were unusual for that location, though the species is regular on the ponds at adjacent Pea Island NWR. Eight on Jordan Lake, Chatham Co, NC, 23 Mar (Elisa Enders) were notable for the Piedmont region. 44 in a waterfowl impoundment along Pecan Trees Rd at Bear Island WMA, Colleton Co, SC, 21 May (Jane Chew, Jim Edwards, et al.) and 245 on Tomkins Island, Jasper Co, SC, 29 May (Steve Calver) were good counts. Brown Pelican: Nine seen in flight over Falls Lake in Durham Co, NC, 16 May (Brian Bockhahn) were unusual for an inland site. American Bittern: A couple of the better counts were five in the North River area of Carteret Co, NC, 9 Mar (John Fussell, et al.) and six in a waterfowl impoundment in the Holly Shelter Game Land, Pender Co, NC, 3 May (Sam Cooper). At inland sites, individuals were noted along Brickhouse Rd in Durham Co, 6 Apr (Brad Wood) and 27 Apr (Norm Budnitz, Scott Winton, et al.); in the wetland at Bethabara Park, Forsyth Co, NC, 14 Apr (Phil Dickinson); and at Lake Conestee Nature Park, Greenville Co, SC, through 7 May (Paul Serridge, m. obs.). Least Bittern: Six in a waterfowl impoundment in the Holly Shelter Game Land, Pender Co, NC, 3 May (Sam Cooper) was a good count for North Carolina. Great Egret: Three pairs were reported nesting in a Great Blue Heron heronry along Ellerbe Creek, near Glennstone Nature Preserve, Durham Co, NC, 13 May (Dan Kaplan). One in full breeding plumage was photographed on a nest, holding nesting material in its bill. Two weeks later, during an organized “Heronry Hike”, 26 May, only one pair was seen on a nest (Kaplan, et al.). Breeding was never confirmed, however, as juveniles were never seen. Snowy Egret: Unusual for inland sites were individuals at the Clemson Aquaculture Facility, Pickens Co, SC, 21 Apr (Scott Davis, Hunter Kome); at Shelley Lake, Wake Co, NC, 26 Apr (Sandra Wilbur); and at Roanoke Rapids 102 Briefs for the Files — Spring 2014 Lake, from the boat ramp just south of Vultare, Northampton Co, NC, 4 May (Ricky Davis). Snowy Egret, Pickens County, SC, 21 April 2014. Photo by Hunter Kome. Reddish Egret: Individuals were found on Harbor Island, Beaufort Co, SC, a white-morph bird, 9 May (Sidney Gauthreaux, et al.); at Ft Fisher, New Hanover Co, NC, a dark-morph bird, 10 May (Sherry Lane, Bruce Smithson); and at Sunset Beach, Brunswick Co, NC, a dark-morph bird, 17 May (Ricky Davis). Yellow-crowned Night-Heron: One returned to a traditional nesting site in Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co, NC, by 10 Mar (Tom Sanders). Two were seen in a yard in Winston-Salem, Forsyth Co, NC, only two miles from the traditional nesting site at Miller Park, 31 Mar (Ron Morris). Two were seen in flight at Beaverdam Creek Waterfowl Area, near Townville, Anderson Co, SC, 27 Apr (Jeff Click). Glossy Ibis: A count of 300+ along Wildlife Drive (Dr) and in the Lake Landing area of Mattamuskeet NWR, Hyde Co, NC, 13 Apr (Ricky Davis) was impressive. One photographed at Jackson Park in Henderson Co, NC, 24 Apr (Wayne Forsythe, Marty & Tina Thomas) was a good find for the mountain region and a first for that park. The Chat, Vol. 78, No. 3, Summer 2014 103 White-faced Ibis: For a second year in a row, birders found multiple White- faced Ibises amongst flocks of Glossy Ibises at Mattamuskeet NWR, Hyde Co, NC, during the early spring. Up to four were found in the partially-drained impoundments along Wildlife Dr and E Main Rd, 3 Apr (Susan Campbell) through 23 Apr (Scott Winton). Campbell theorizes that the birds may have been present at the refuge the entire winter but weren’t detected until the impoundments along the main road in the refuge were drained, creating suitable habitat. Swallow-tailed Kite: Individual migrants overshot their breeding grounds at Carolina Beach SP, New Hanover Co, NC, 8 Mar (Kip Futch); over Ft Macon, Carteret Co, NC, 13 Mar (Randy Newman); near Havelock, Craven Co, NC, 2 Apr (Gene Huntsman); and along NC-58 in Greene Co, NC, 1 1 May (Terri Kirby-Hathaway). Two seen over Buxton, Dare Co, NC, 22 Mar (Ann Maddock) was the only report from the Outer Banks. Mississippi Kite: A nesting pair in Morehead City, Carteret Co, NC, in May (Bud Cross, John Fussell, et al.) was notable for their close proximity, less than a mile, from the coast. Also, another pair was suspected of nesting in the nearby Brandywine Bay neighborhood, also in May (Andy Haines). Three were back at a traditional nesting site at Hamilton Lakes Park in Greensboro, Guilford Co, NC, 4 May (David Howell). An adult in flight over Watauga Co, NC, 9 May (Merrill Lynch) was unusual for the high mountains and a possible first for that county. Purple Gallinule: Rare in North Carolina, Purple Gallinules were found at three different sites along the NC coast this spring — in a grassy marsh along the Buxton Woods Trail, Buxton, Dare Co, 14 Apr (Jason Gardner) through 6 May (Vernon Janke); at a small pond in Pine Knoll Shores, Carteret Co, 7-20 May (Ron Johnson, John Fussell, et al.); and at the large pond next to the aquarium at Ft Fisher, New Hanover Co, 22 May (Dave Weesner) through 3 1 May (John Reichart). Sandhill Crane: The two birds that wintered around Beaufort, Carteret Co, NC, were last seen on 14 March (Jamie Adams). Individual migrants were found in a field near New London, Stanly Co, NC, 25 Mar (fide Kent Fiala); in Rock Hill, York Co, SC, where photographed, 6 May (Janis Vincent); and on a church lawn just outside of Robbinsville, Graham Co, NC, where photographed, 27 May (Simon Thompson, et al.). Black-necked Stilt: One photographed at a small pond in Mebane, Alamance Co, NC, 6 May (Mark Anthony) was a great find for a site so far inland. Locally unusual were two at the waterfowl impoundment in Davis, Carteret Co, NC, 30 Mar (John Fussell, et al.); one at Mattamuskeet NWR, Hyde Co, NC, 24 Apr (Scott Winton); and one in the wetland restoration area at North River Farms (restricted access), Carteret Co, NC, 18 May (Fussell, et al.). 104 Briefs for the Files — Spring 2014 American Avocet: Two photographed copulating at North Pond, Pea Island NWR, Dare Co, NC, 7 May (Jeff Lewis) was an interesting sighting because the species is not known to breed in our region. Black-bellied Plover: 585 on Pine Island and the Otter Island, Colleton Co, SC, 21 Mar (Sidney Gauthreaux) and 200+ at North River Farms (restricted access), Carteret Co, NC, 18 May (John Fussell, et al.) were good counts. American Golden-Plover: Migrants were seen at two sites in the NC mountains— one along Hooper Lane in Henderson Co, 13-15 Mar (Wayne Forsythe) and two at Lake Junaluska in Haywood Co, where photographed, during the first week of April (Bob Olthoff, Connie & Stan Wulkowicz). Semipalmated Plover: Ten along Hooper Lane in Henderson Co, NC, after heavy rain, 29 Apr (Marilyn Westphal) was a good count for the mountain region. Piping Plover: Counts from the Rachel Carson Reserve in Carteret Co, NC, included 15 on March 9th (Paula Gillikin); 33 on March 20th (John Fussell); and up to 40 on March 22nd (Jeff Lewis). Gillikin notes that one of the birds she saw on March 9th had a leg band that indicated that the bird was from the Great Lakes population. Whimbrel: A few of the better counts were 112 at the Rachel Carson Reserve in Carteret Co, NC, 1 7 Apr (John Fussell, et al.); 125 at the east end of Ocean Isle Beach, Brunswick Co, NC, 5 May (Ron Clark); 53 at Wrightsville Beach, New Hanover Co, NC, 17 May (Sam Cooper); 224 flying eastward off of Sunset Beach, Brunswick Co, NC, during the course of one hour, 17 May (Ricky Davis); and 50 in flight off of Seabrook Island, Charleston Co, SC, 22 May (Jane Chew, Jim Edwards). Very rare inland, a Whimbrel was seen and photographed at Cane Creek Reservoir in Orange Co, NC, 23 May (Lucretia Kinney) and 24 May (Mark Anthony, et al.). Whimbrel, Orange County, NC, 24 May 2014. Photo by Mark Anthony. The Chat, Vol. 78, No. 3, Summer 2014 105 Marbled Godwit: 72 near Cedar Island Ferry Terminal in Carteret Co, NC, 1 1 Apr (Chandra Biggerstaff) was a notable count for that site. Ruff: Apparently two different Ruffs were found in the Hog Island impoundment at Bear Island WMA, Colleton Co, SC, this spring — a female (Reeve) that was photographed 22 Mar (Brian & Jacquie Penney) and a male Ruff seen 12 Apr (Elisa Enders) through 14 Apr (Steve Compton, et al.). Stilt Sandpiper: 653 at the Savannah Spoil Site (restricted access), Jasper Co, SC, 10 May (Steve Calver) was a notable count. Purple Sandpiper: Two at Masonboro Inlet, Wrightsville Beach, New Hanover Co, NC, 24 May (Sam Cooper) were late. White-rumped Sandpiper: Inland sightings included one along Hooper Lane in Henderson Co, NC, 29-30 Apr (Steve Ritt); four at Jackson Park, Henderson Co, NC, 5 May (John Lindfors); two at Lake Conestee Nature Park, Greenville Co, SC, 14 May (Paul Serridge); two at the Clemson Aquaculture Facility in Pickens Co, SC, 18 May (Brad Dalton); and two at the Archie Elledge WTP in Forsyth Co, NC, where photographed, 23 May (Marbry Hopkins, Shelley Rutkin, et al). Wilson’s Phalarope: An adult male in breeding plumage was seen and photographed in the upper Hog Island impoundment of Bear Island WMA, Colleton Co, SC, 17 May (Andy Harrison, James Watson) and was seen again by other birders later that day (Caroline Eastman, Pam Ford, et al.). Red Phalarope: 600 on a pelagic trip out of Hatteras, Dare Co, NC, 2 Mar (Brian Patteson, et al.) was an impressive count. Red-necked Phalarope: Three at the Savannah Spoil Site (restricted access), Jasper Co, SC, 30 May (Steve Calver) were notable for being away from the ocean. South Polar Skua: Individuals were seen on three of eleven consecutive pelagic trips out of Hatteras, Dare Co, NC, in late May — on 22 May, 27 May, and 28 May (Brian Patteson, et al.). White-mmped Sandpiper, Forsyth County, NC, 23 May 2014. Photo by Shelley Rutkin. 106 Briefs for the Files — Spring 2014 Parasitic Jaeger: From-shore sightings included one flying north off Atlantic Beach, Carteret Co, NC, 6 Apr (John Fussell, et ah); one harassing terns off Ft Fisher, New Hanover Co, NC, 19 Apr (Bruce Young, et ah); and three flying north off North Topsail Beach, Onslow Co, NC, 25 Apr (Fussell). Little Gull: A moribund adult was found on the beach of North Topsail Beach, Onslow Co, NC, 3 1 Mar (Gilbert Grant). The specimen, obtained by the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, was the museum’s first obtained from inside the state. A first- winter bird was photographed at Cape Point, Dare Co, NC, 21 Apr (Sarah Clark, Nathan Gatto). Laughing Gull: Sightings of migrants at inland sites included one at W. Kerr Scott Reservoir, Wilkes Co, NC, 30 Apr (Issac Kerns); three in flight over Ballinger Rd in Guilford Co, NC, 14 May (Henry Link, Martin Wall); and one in flight over Belews Lake in Rockingham Co, NC, 15 May (Wall). California Gull: An adult was seen and photographed during a pelagic trip out of Hatteras, Dare Co, NC, 2 Mar (Brian Patteson, et al.). California Gull, 02 March, Dare County, NC. Photo by Jeff Lemons. Thayer’s Gull: An adult was seen and photographed during a pelagic trip out of Hatteras, Dare Co, NC, 2 Mar (Brian Patteson, et al.). Iceland Gull: An immature bird photographed on Lake Norman, border of Iredell Co and Mecklenburg Co, NC, 9 Mar (Jeff Lemons, David Wright, et al.) was a first for either county. One was seen at Cape Point, Dare Co, NC, 12-13 Apr (Elizabeth Wilkins). A second-year bird well-seen on Harkers Island, Carteret Co, NC, 26 May (Wade Fuller) was quite late. The Chat, Vol. 78, No. 3, Summer 2014 107 Lesser Black-backed Gull: A few of the better inland counts were six at Buckhom Reservoir, Wilson Co, NC, 5 Mar (Ricky Davis); 1 1 on Jordan Lake, Chatham Co, NC, 8 Mar (Derb Carter, Harry LeGrand); and four at Lake Crabtree, Wake Co, NC, 22 Mar (Mike Tove). Glaucous Gull: One remained from winter at Cape Point, Dare Co, NC, into the spring (m. obs.), and two were seen at that site 24 Apr (Jason Gardner). Great Black-backed Gull: Three at Buckhom Reservoir, Wilson Co, NC, 5 Mar (Ricky Davis) and one on Falls Lake in Wake Co, NC, during its SBC, 22 Apr (Brian Bockhahn) were good sightings for those inland locations. Caspian Tern: Two at Salem Lake, Forsyth Co, NC, 29 Mar (Phil Dickinson, et al.) were a little early — inland spring migrants don’t typically start passing through our region until mid-April. One photographed at Cane Creek County Park in Union Co, NC, 5 May (George Andrews) may have been a first for that county. Arctic Tern: Individuals were seen on pelagic trips out of Hatteras, Dare Co, NC, 17 May and 22 May (Brian Patteson, et al.). Sandwich Tern: One at the Rachel Carson Reserve in Carteret Co, NC, 21 Mar (Joan Kutulas, Jeff Lewis) was somewhat early. Band-tailed Pigeon: The bird that visited a feeder in Manteo, Dare Co, NC, throughout the late winter, was last seen 17 Apr (Hank Griffin). The Griffins allowed hundreds of birders to visit their yard during this period — their warm hospitality was greatly appreciated by the Carolina birding community. White-winged Dove: One visited a feeder in Carolina Beach, New Hanover Co, NC, 7 May (fide Bmce Smithson) through 13 May (Jamie Adams). Black-billed Cuckoo: Sightings included one in the Steele Creek area of Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co, NC, 27 Apr (Doug Pratt); one on Paris Mountain in Greenville Co, SC, 28 Apr (Jim Edwards); one heard calling along the French Broad River in Henderson Co, NC, 10 May (Nora Murdock, Mark Simpson, Marilyn Westphal); and one at Bulls Gap along the Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP) in Buncombe Co, NC, 25 May (Steve Ritt). Multiple cuckoos were found along Catfish Lake Road in the Croatan National Forest (NF) in Craven Co, NC, again this spring. The peak counts were four, apparently two pairs, 13 May (John Fussell) and three heard 23 May (Ed Dombrofski, Louis Teer). Fussell notes that sightings dropped off towards the end of May. Snowy Owl: Of the two seen on Ocracoke Island, Hyde Co, NC, during the late winter, one remained until March 8th (Peter Vankevich). A moribund 108 Briefs for the Files — Spring 2014 immature owl was photographed in Person Co, NC, 21 Mar (David Pennebaker). Short-eared Owl: One in the wetland restoration area of North River Farms (restricted access) in Carteret Co, NC, 30 Mar (Jamie Adams, et al.) was, surprisingly, a first for that property. Northern Saw-whet Owl: Individuals were heard calling at nine different sites along the BRP in the Great Balsam Mountains and on the Pisgah Ridge, Haywood Co, NC, 31 Mar through 17 May (Mark Simpson, Marilyn Westphal). Individuals were also heard calling at two different sites in the Black Mountains, Yancey Co, NC, 20 May (Simpson, Westphal). Eastern Whip-poor-will: Four heard calling near Atlantic, Carteret Co, NC, the morning of May 14th, was “a notable breeding-season count for the eastern portion of the county” (John Fussell). Olive-sided Flycatcher: One was seen at Reynolda Gardens, Forsyth Co, NC, 2 May (Sarah Clark, Nathan Gatto) through 7 May (m. obs.). Alder Flycatcher: One seen and heard calling at the Clemson Aquaculture Facility in Pickens Co, SC, 17 May (Linda Montgomery) through 20 May (Irvin Pitts) was a great find for South Carolina. Ten were counted along Black Balsam Rd and adjacent trails in the Balsam Mountains, Haywood Co, NC, 30 May (Mark Simpson, Marilyn Westphal). Willow Flycatcher: At the eastern edge of the species’ traditional breeding range, individuals returned to nesting sites at Civitan Park in Forsyth Co, NC, 14 May (Mike Conway, et al.) and in the Alder Flycatcher, wetland along Ballinger Rd in Guilford Co, NC, 22 County, SC, 17 May 2014. May (Henry Link). Photo by Linda Montgomery. Ash-throated Flycatcher: One was seen along the Tupelo Trail at Savannah NWR, Jasper Co, SC, 9 Mar (Carl Engstrom) through 29 Mar (Steve Compton, Richard Hayes). Gray Kingbird: Individuals were seen on Bald Head Island, Brunswick Co, NC, 28 Apr (Brian O’Shea, Jaymie Reneker, et al.) through 1 May (fide O’Shea); at Folly Beach County Park, Charleston Co, SC, 4 May (Chris Snook); and at Ft Fisher, New Hanover Co, NC, 23 May (Sherry Lane). Scissor-tailed Flycatcher: A pair returned to its traditional nesting site atop a utility pole along Gunter Rd in Greenville Co, SC, this spring, with the male The Chat, Vol. 78, No. 3, Summer 2014 JO 9 first noted 20 Apr (Barry Phillips), the female first noted 26 Apr (Rob Hunnings), and nest-building observed 24 May (Pam Ford, et ah). Individuals migrants were seen in Corolla, Currituck Co, NC, 4 May (Joan Kutulas, Jeff Lewis); in Duck, Dare Co, NC, 12 May (James Gould); and at Ft Fisher, New Hanover Co, NC, an adult male, 13 May (Jamie Adams). Warbling Vireo: Near the eastern limit of the species’ traditional breeding range were individuals at Civitan Park, Forsyth Co, NC, 22 Apr (Phil Dickinson, et al.); at Tanglewood County Park, Forsyth Co, NC, 16 May (David & Susan Disher, Marbry Hopkins, et al.); and at the Marriott pond at Piedmont Triad International Airport, Guilford Co, NC, 31 May (Ryan Justice). One seen and heard singing at Lawson Creek Park, along the Trent River in New Bern, Craven Co, NC, 29 May (Al Gamache) must have been a late migrant and was also very unusual for the coastal plain in spring. Philadelphia Vireo: Rarely found during spring migration, a Philadelphia Vireo was seen at Evergreen Nature Preserve in Mecklenburg Co, NC, 28 Apr (Tom Sanders). Black-billed Magpie: Of unknown origin was one seen and photographed on Harbor Island (restricted access), Beaufort Co, SC, 13-14 Mar (Brian & Jacquie Penney). According to the observers, the magpie was very shy, would not allow close approach, showed no bands or feather wear, and did not vocalize. The sighting is pending review by the SCBRC, and if accepted, would become the first record of the species in the Carolinas. Horned Lark: Breeding apparently took place at North River Farms (restricted access), Carteret Co, NC, again this year, as at least four adults were present and heard singing throughout the period (John Fussell, et al.). Three found in a large field in central Gates Co, NC, during a Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) route, 21 May (Merrill Lynch) were notable. Northern Rough-winged Swallow: A melanistic bird at the Cedar Island Ferry Terminal, Carteret Co, NC, 27 Apr (John Fussell, et al.) was almost certainly the same bird observed at that site last year. Cliff Swallow: One seen and photographed at the Clemson Aquaculture Facility, Pickens Co, SC, 19 Mar (Scott Davis, Linda Montgomery) was Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Currituck County, NC, 4 May 2014. Photo by Jeff Lewis. 110 Briefs for the Files — Spring 2014 somewhat early. At least three nests under a bridge over the Tar River at Battle Park, Nash Co, NC, 10 May (Ricky Davis) provided the first nesting evidence for that county. Red-breasted Nuthatch: One lingered at 17 Acre Wood Nature Preserve along Ellerbe Creek in Durham Co, NC, throughout the period into summer (Dan Kaplan). Marsh Wren: One seen and heard calling along the French Broad River in Henderson Co, NC, 10 May (Nora Murdock, Marilyn Westphal) was locally unusual. Swainson’s Thrush: One lingered in a yard in Mecklenburg Co, NC, where it fed on mulberries, until 28 May (Tammy & Tom Sanders). Hermit Thrush: Individuals at Latta Park in Mecklenburg Co, NC, 3 May (Kevin Metcalf) and in New Bern, Craven Co, NC, 9 May (Olwen Jarvis) were late. One heard singing along the Summit Trail at Elk Knob SP, Watauga Co, NC, 13 May (Guy McGrane) may have been attempting to breed in that area. Cedar Waxwing: A few of the later sightings were two near Catfish Lake in the Croatan NF, Craven Co, NC, 20 May (John Fussell); ten on a BBS route in Gates Co, NC, 21 May (Merrill Lynch); 15 on a BBS route on the mainland of Currituck Co, NC, 28 May (Jeff Lewis); and two at Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area, Orange Co, NC, 31 May (Mike Turner). Lapland Longspur: Up to six were seen along Hooper Lane in Henderson Co, NC, 4 Mar (Kelly Hughes) through 13 Mar (Wayne Forsythe). Four were seen in a grassy area near the parking area at Max Patch, Madison Co, NC, 22 Mar (Steve Ritt). Ovenbird: Over-wintering individuals departed from a yard in Manteo, Dare Co, NC, 3 Mar (Jeff Lewis) and from Riverbend Park, Catawba Co, NC, 30 Mar (Dwayne Martin, Lori Owenby). One in a yard in downtown Morehead City, Carteret Co, NC, 29 May (John Fussell) was locally unusual. Northern Waterthrush: Eight at Jackson Park, Henderson Co, NC, 4 May (Kent Fiala) was a notable concentration of migrants. Individuals at the Bog Garden in Greensboro, Guilford Co, NC, 22 May (Henry Link) and near Ringwood, Halifax Co, NC, 26 May (Merrill Lynch) were somewhat late. Golden-winged Warbler: An adult male was seen singing as if on territory along the BRP at mile marker 365, Buncombe Co, NC, 12 May through the end of the period (Mark Simpson, Marilyn Westphal). Westphal reports that the bird never found a mate despite his efforts. Rare along the coast, a The Chat, Vol. 78, No. 3, Summer 2014 111 migrating Golden-winged Warbler was seen and heard singing in the Elizabethan Gardens on Roanoke Island, Dare Co, NC, 26 Apr (Jeff Lewis). Prothonotary Warbler: One at Beaver Lake in Asheville, Buncombe Co, NC, 28 Apr (Steve Ritt) was unusual for the mountain region. Orange-crowned Warbler: Sightings of migrants in the western half of NC included one at Hamilton Lakes Park, Guilford Co, 16-20 April (Henry Link, et al.); one at Hominy Creek Park, Buncombe Co, 21-22 Apr (Bill Rhodes, Steve Ritt); two at Haw River SP, Rockingham Co, 30 Apr (Nate Swick); and one, a singing male, near where Ellerbe Creek empties into Falls Lake, Durham Co, 3 May (Andrew Thornton). Nashville Warbler: In the eastern half of our region where the species is rare during spring migration, individual migrants were reported from Patriot’s Point, Charleston Co, SC, heard but not seen, 24 Apr (Craig Watson) and at the boat ramp where NC-48 crosses over the Roanoke River in Northampton Co, an adult male seen and heard singing, 4 May (Ricky Davis). Connecticut Warbler: One on the campus of the University of South Carolina, Richland Co, SC, 2 May (John Grego) was the only one reported this spring. Mourning Warbler: A second-year male was mist-netted, banded, photographed, and then released at the Prairie Ridge Ecostation in Wake Co, NC, 23 May (John Gerwin, Keith Jensen, et al.). American Redstart: One at Botany Bay Plantation WMA, Charleston Co, SC, 14 Mar (Tyler L. Hoar) was quite early. Cape May Warbler: Two adult males at Saluda Shoals Park, Lexington Co, SC, 12 Apr (Irvin Pitts, et al.) were a little early. Cerulean Warbler: Sightings outside of the mountains included a singing male at Saluda Shoals Park, Lexington Co, SC, 12 Apr (Irvin Pitts, et al.); a singing male at Cowan’s Ford Wildlife Refuge (WR), Mecklenburg Co, NC, 20 Apr (Kevin Metcalf, Barry Rowan); a singing male in the Elizabethan Gardens on Roanoke Island, Dare Co, NC, 24 Apr (Jeff Lewis); one at Ashmore Heritage Preserve, Greenville Co, SC, 26 Apr (Jeff Click, Brad Dalton); one at the 17 Acre Wood Nature Preserve, Durham Co, NC, 30 Apr (Dan Kaplan); one at Hamilton Lakes Park, Guilford Co, NC, 5 May (Henry Link, et al.); and at Reynolda Gardens, Forsyth Co, NC, 10 May (Nathan Gatto). Magnolia Warbler: A singing male near Atlantic, Carteret Co, NC, 23 May (John Fussell) was a good find for the coastal plain in spring. Fussell notes 112 Briefs for the Files — Spring 2014 that “most of the more unusual spring migrant warbler records for the county are in late May.” Chestnut-sided Warbler: A singing adult male on Seabrook Island, Charleston Co, SC, 28 Apr (David Gardner) was a good find for the coast during spring migration. Yellow-rumped Warbler: Suggestive of breeding in our region were singing males at Mt Mitchell SP, Yancey Co, NC, 24 May into June (Mark Simpson, Marilyn Westphal); and along Black Balsam Rd in Haywood Co, NC, 30 May into June (Simpson, Westphal). “Audubon’s Warbler”: A male individual of the western race of Yellow- rumped Warbler was photographed at the I’On Rookery in Mt Pleasant, Charleston Co, SC, 30 Mar (Jack Rogers). Wilson’s Warbler: Sightings included two males at the Winston-Salem City Landfill Forsyth Co, NC, 2 May (Cynthia Donaldson, Marbry Hopkins, et al.); a male at Sandy Creek Park in Durham Co, NC, 2 May (Bess Kull) through 6 May (Mark Kosiewski); a male photographed at the 17 Acre Nature Preserve, Durham Co, NC, 7 May (Brad Wood); a singing male just outside Hamilton Lakes Park, Guilford Co, NC, 13 May (Henry Link); and a male in the Bog Garden in Guilford Co, NC, 22 May (Amy Hanson, Link). Bachman’s Sparrow: A few of the better counts were 15 at Webb WMA, Hampton Co, SC, 1 1 Mar (Tim Griffith); five along Pringle Rd in the Croatan NF in Carteret Co, NC, 20 Mar (Joan Kutulas, Jeff Lewis); and 12 in the Sandhills Game Land, border of Richmond Co and Scotland Co, NC, 3 Apr (Cody Porter). One found along Little Rd in the Croatan NF in Craven Co, NC, 12 May (John Fussell) was noteworthy because the species is only occasional in that portion of the forest. Clay-colored Sparrow: A few were present in the wetland restoration area of North River Farms (restricted access) from winter until at least 13 Apr, with a peak count of five birds 30 Mar (John Fussell, et al.). Two were seen at Savannah NWR, Jasper Co, SC, 1 5 Mar (Elisa Enders) and one remained there until 5 Apr (Craig Watson). One photographed beside an apartment complex near downtown Boone, Watauga Co, NC, 3 May (Jeri Smart) was extremely unusual for the northern mountains and a possible first for that county. The Chat, Vol. 78, No. 3, Summer 2014 113 Clay-colored Sparrow, Watauga County, NC, 3 May 2014. Photo by Jeri Smart. Vesper Sparrow: Sightings included six in a field in Meggett, Charleston Co, SC, 16 Mar (Cherrie Sneed); two along the Muddy Creek Greenway in Forsyth Co, NC, 16 Mar (Sarah Clark, Nathan Gatto, et al.); four at Warren Wilson College, Buncombe Co, NC, 24 Mar (Steve Ritt); two along Mayo River Rd in Rockingham Co, NC, where photographed, 3-10 Apr (Marty Wall); one on the eastern edge of Schenck Forest, Wake Co, NC, 21 Apr (Nick Flanders, et al.); and one with Savannah Sparrows along NC-12 at Cedar Island NWR, Carteret Co, NC, 1 May (John Fussell, John Voigt). A singing male along Meat Camp Rd in Watauga Co, NC, 26 Apr (Steve Shultz) and four singing males on the southwest side of Pond Mountain, Ashe Co, NC, 28 May (Harry LeGrand, Merrill Lynch) were probably on their breeding territory. Lark Sparrow: One was seen and heard singing at Carolina Sandhills NWR, Chesterfield Co, SC, 13 May (Irvin Pitts) and 14 May (Caroline Eastman). Lark Sparrows bred at this site in 2009 and in 2010. Grasshopper Sparrow: The individual seen in the wetland restoration area at North River Farms (restricted access), Carteret Co, NC, during the winter, was last seen 30 Mar (Jamie Adams, John Fussell, et al.). 114 Briefs for the Files — Spring 2014 Henslow’s Sparrow: One seen at Warren Wilson College in Buncombe Co, NC, 24 Mar (Steve Ritt) was very possibly the same bird photographed at that site October 30th 2013, which means it might have over-wintered there! Lincoln’s Sparrow: Individual migrants were noted at Tangle wood County Park in Forsyth Co, NC, where photographed, 1 Apr (David & Susan Disher, Marbry Hopkins); at the Savannah Spoil Site (restricted access), Jasper Co, SC, 11 Apr (Steve Calver); at the Prairie Ridge Ecostation, Wake Co, NC, 2 May (Brian O’Shea); at Morse Park on Lake Lure, Rutherford Co, NC, 2 May (Steve Ritt); at Price Park in Guilford Co, Lincoln’s Sparrow, Guilford County, NC, 4 NC, where photographed, 4 May May 2014. Photo by Martin Wall. (Martin Wall); and at Reynolda Gardens in Forsyth Co, NC, 7 May (John Haire). Western Tanager: Departure dates for birds visiting feeders during the late winter were March 19th for the female in Pine Knoll Shores, Carteret Co, NC (Yvette Bannen); April 1st for the two birds in Manteo, Dare Co, NC (Jason Gardner); and April 6th for the male in Hanahan, Berkeley Co, SC (Jack & Pat Eckstine). Individuals were photographed at feeders in northwest Mecklenburg Co, NC, a female or first-year male, 13 Mar (Jeff Lemons, Lee Weber); at Fort Macon SP, Carteret Co, NC, a female, 1 8 Mar (fide Ed Corey); on Kiawah Island, Charleston Co, SC, 28 Mar (Liz King); and in Arrowhead Beach, Chowan Co, NC, 25 Apr (Ellen Colodney). Rose-breasted Grosbeak: Along the coast where this species is uncommon- to-rare, reports included two males photographed at a feeder in Wilmington, New Hanover Co, NC, 21 Apr (Bruce Smithson); a male photographed at a feeder along Adams Creek, Carteret Co, NC, 28 Apr (Nancy Smith); and a female photographed at a different feeder along Adams Creek, 29 Apr (Holly Powell). The Chat, Vol. 78, No. 3, Summer 2014 115 Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Carteret County, NC, 29 April 2014. Photo by Holly Powell. Painted Bunting: Visiting feeders inland and/or north of the species’ typical range was an adult male in Randolph Co, NC, in late February and early March, photographed March 4th (Floyd Austin); an adult male in Greenville, Pitt Co, NC, 4-5 Mar (Ken Harrell); an adult male in Nash Co, NC, where photographed, 24 Mar (Diana Coffey); a female in Pasquotank Co, NC, until at least 4 Apr (Shirley Remaley); an adult female in Lexington Co, SC, 30 April and 1 May (Edith & Marion Clark); and two in Manteo, Dare Co, NC, from winter until 16 May (Jeff Lewis). Dickcissel: After a male was photographed with Bobolinks in a field along Research Parkway in Forsyth Co, NC, 5 May (Melissa Whitmire), a female was found in the same area, 7 May (Nathan Gatto, Ron Morris, et al.). At North River Farms (restricted access), Carteret Co, NC, the first Dickcissel of spring was seen 4 May (Jack Fennell, John Fussell) and 22 singing males had arrived there by 18 May (Fussell, et al.). 116 Briefs for the Files — Spring 2014 Bobolink: A few of the better counts were 70 on the university farmland adjacent to Schenck Forest, Wake Co, NC, 26-28 Apr (John Finnegan); 20 at Lake Conestee Nature Park, Greenville Co, SC, 28 Apr (Steve Cox); up to 50 at various sites in Mecklenburg Co, NC, 1-3 May (Tammy & Tom Sanders, Rob Van Epps); 300 along Dairy land Rd in Orange Co, NC, 2 May (Derb Carter, Mark Kosiewski); 216 in flight over Huntersville, Mecklenburg Co, NC, 4 May (Kevin Metcalf); 30 along Research Parkway in Forsyth Co, NC, 4 May (Gene Schepker); 32 along Mid-Pines Rd in Wake Co, NC, 9 May (Sue Greenberg); 120 at Savannah NWR, Jasper Co, SC, 9 May (Dave Spangenburg); and 40+ along Warlick Rd in Henderson Co, NC, 10 May (Wayne Forsythe). Red Crossbill: Sightings, all from the NC mountains, included 21 near Clingman’s Dome, Swain Co, 21 Apr (Harriet Stratton); four along the Bald Knob Ridge trail in the Black Mountains, Yancey Co, 1 1 May (Mark Simpson, Marilyn Westphal); two at the Walker Knob overlook along the BRP in Buncombe Co, 12 May (Simpson, Westphal); two along the BRP near milepost 356, border of Buncombe Co and Yancey Co, 25 May (Simpson, Westphal); and a flock of up to 15 crossbills along the BRP at milepost 408, near the intersection of four counties in the Pisgah NF, 30 May (Todd Arcos) and 31 May (Simpson, Westphal). 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 Katherine Higgins, Wilmington, NC kathwrens@gmail.com Ron Clark, Kings Mountain, NC waxwing@bellsouth.net Scott Winton, Durham, NC scott.winton@gmail.com Jeff Click, Easley, SC jeffreyclick@yahoo.com Doris Ratchford, Todd, NC dpratchford@me.com Samir Gabriel, Huntersville, NC Samir.Gabirel@itg-global.com Christine Stoughton-Root, Merritt, NC cssjar@aol.com Jeri Smart, Rolesville, NC jsmart001@nc.rr.com Jesse Pope, Linville, NC highcountrybirder@yahoo.com Karyl Gabriel, Huntersville, NC kmcclusky@yahoo.com Lewis Burke, Columbia, SC lewisburkej@yahoo.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 President NC Vice-Presidents SC Vice-President Secretary Treasurer NC Members-at-Large SC Members-at-Large Carol Bowman HEADQUARTERS SECRETARY 9 Quincy Place Pinehurst, NC 28374 hq@carolinabirdclub.org "O ■Oc w 2S! §>s ° re £ O) +J ^ r o« = n Z oj - P C/5 ^ C -£ — 8 5 £ ■o ■§ .2 2 c « re £ ? 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