You can also e-mail Taylor at PiephoffT@aol.com.
COMMON REDPOLLS
BLACK-HEADED GULL
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK
YELLOW RAILS
COMMON EIDER
GOLDEN EAGLES
SHORT-EARED OWL
SNOW BUNTING
LAPLAND LONGSPURS
SANDHILL CRANES
COMMON REDPOLLS have been seen in 2 NC locations in the last week. Currently 1-2 birds are being seen in Frisco, NC. For details e-mail Brian Patteson at <patteson1@mindspring.com>. On 12-5 a COMMON REDPOLL was at Baker's Mt. Park just south of Hickory, NC. That bird has not been seen since that date. This species is extremely rare in NC so the reporting of 3 birds within a week would suggest there are many more in the State right now. Some birds will almost certainly reach some areas of SC if this is indeed an invasion year.
An adult BLACK-HEADED GULL has been seen at Lake Mattamuskeet in NC. Look around the northern-most culvert on the causeway. (Hwy 94). This may be the same bird that has been seen for the past three winters at the same culvert.
At Alligator River NWR look for a light-phase adult ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK over the fields along Long Curve Rd.
Two YELLOW RAILS were flushed from the North River Marsh east of Beaufort, NC on 11-29. Three SANDHILL CRANES have been seen in the same area also. An imm. male COMMON EIDER was seen 12-11 at Fort Macon SP. For more information on these birds contact John Fussell at <jfuss@clis.com>.
In SC, a GOLDEN EAGLE and a SHORT -EARED OWL were seen 12-6 at Santee Coastal Reserve north of McClellanville, SC. Other birds of interest included 24 WHITE PELICANS, 3 AM. BITTERNS and 8-10 VESPER SPARROWS.
A SNOW BUNTING was at the base of the jetty at Huntington Beach SP on 12-10. That site should always be checked by birders for this species.
Flocks of LAPLAND LONGSPURS with individuals numbering in the dozens have been seen by several observers at Hooper Lane in Henderson County, NC. Patience and a scope will be necessary to see these birds as they hunker down in the plowed fields. On 12-5 a SANDHILL CRANE was present at dusk in the same area.
Thanks this week to John Fussell, Nathan Dias, Steve Thomas for their calls and reports. Some of this information was gleaned from Carolinabirds.