Southport Field Trip Schedule and Descriptions

Click ==> Map of meeting and field trip locations

Planning Notes for the Southport Meeting!

• Unless otherwise noted, all field trips leave from the host hotel. We encourage carpooling to reduce the number of vehicles on the road, and this also helps in parking at the birding sites. If you are willing to drive and take some old or new birding friends along, please let your trip leader know when you meet.
• On trips that involve ocean-watching or shorebirds, a spotting scope may be helpful. If you don't have one, don't worry, there should be plenty to go around, but having your own may enhance your viewing opportunities.
• Dress for the weather! Field trips generally run rain or shine, so make sure raingear is part of your packing plans.

Winter Meeting Field Trip Descriptions

Trips 1, 16: Ft. Fisher/Federal Point/Kure Beach/NC Aquarium (Restrooms available)

These well-known hot-spots offer some of the best winter birding on the North Carolina coast. The ocean here is attractive to many birds because of the biologically-rich hard-bottomed areas just off shore. This trip also offers the chance to see winter passerines around the fort area. At Federal Point we'll look for grebes, shorebirds, terns, gulls, and raptors. Kure Beach will have you looking out in the ocean for gannets, loons (2+ species) and all 3 North American scoter species. The ocean here has seen rarities including grebes (other than Horned), alcids, rare sea ducks, and possibly a Purple Sandpiper. Trips will leave the hotel at 6:30 a.m. and then take the 7 a.m. Southport/Ft. Fisher ferry. There is a $5 fee per car each way for the ferry.

Trips 2, 17: Bald Head Island (Restrooms available)

Bald Head Island offers a fun day with more than just birds to look at. You've got the 20-minute ferry ride, the wonderful homes on the island, and both the Cape Fear River and ocean to take in. The birding in winter can be very interesting. Northern Gannets are seen over the ocean, and we will look for scoters and the occasional jaeger. In the wooded areas you can hope for an Orange-crowned Warbler or Blue-headed Vireo. Bald Head Island is a bit unlike any other place in NC. Cabbage palmettos are common—this is their northern limit. It's more like being in SC than NC. The island also features a lighthouse, Old Baldy, the oldest lighthouse in NC. Unfortunately going to Bald Head Island is going to cost you. Signing up for this field trip has you agreeing to all the costs associated with going to Bald Head Island. The current round trip ferry cost is $23 per person. Parking at the ferry terminal is $8 per car (maybe $2 a person if you carpool). Golf carts will be rented as it's a 3 mile walk/drive to places we'll visit. Current golf cart rates for 4 are $60.50 (budget something over $15). Your Southport CBC planning team will attempt to lower the cost of golf cart rentals but can't promise anything at this time.

Trip 3: Ocean Isle Beach/Sunset Beach (Restroom availability between stops) Trip cancelled

We leave the hotel at 6:45 a.m. and meet at the Ocean Isle Beach pier at 8:00 a.m. for ocean-watching. We will then travel to the east end of the island to a public parking area and take a short walk to Shallotte Inlet to look for sea ducks, shorebirds (possibly Piping Plover), gulls, and terns. We will check out a newly constructed boardwalk through the scrub and salt marsh to look for Orange-crowned Warbler, maritime sparrows, raptors, and rails. Depending on tides, we may be able to scan the extensive flats and exposed oyster bars along the tidal creeks at the west end of the island. Other stops will include the Ocean Isle Beach Wastewater Treatment Plant for ducks and gulls, and Twin Lakes at Sunset Beach for ducks, Anhingas, and night-herons. Time permitting there will be other quick stops at local birding sites.

Trips 4, 19: Growing-season Burns/Sparrows & Other Species (Wet trip; Strenuous) (Limited restroom availability except at lunchtime) Trip 19 cancelled

This trip will visit areas burned during the past nine months. It may include areas where wildfire burns occurred (such as the Holly Ridge area), and may also visit areas where prescribed burns were conducted. Locations will be selected based on scouting observations prior to the meeting. Travel time to the first stop may be slightly over an hour. Be prepared for strenuous walking in wet, forested areas. Boots for walking in wet areas are appropriate. We will hope to see/hear Red-cockaded Woodpeckers, maybe a Bachman's Sparrow (tough in the winter because they don't sing), and dream of a Henslow's Sparrow. Time permitting a bit of ocean watching at Topsail Island may be included.

Trips 5, 20: Wrightsville Beach & Piers (Restrooms available)

From Mason Inlet on the north end to Masonboro Inlet on the south end, this trip features ocean and jetty scanning for rarities. Targeted areas, observed from the beach or end of Johnny Mercer's Pier, include the legendary loon flock off the island's north end that extends to pier. There are no guarantees, but this flock has consistently produced write-ins on the Christmas Count plus many rare winter bird sightings with birds such as Pacific Loon, Thick-billed Murre, Common Eider, Harlequin Duck, etc. Shorebirds and waterbirds observed at the inlets and jetties may include Purple Sandpiper, Piping Plover, and Great Cormorant.

Trip 18: Sunset Beach/Bird Island/Little River Inlet & Jetties (Strenuous) (Limited restroom availability during beach walk)

Leaving the hotel at 6:45 a.m., meet the leader at the Sunset Beach Pier parking lot at 8:15 a.m. We will then drive to a small public parking area at the west end of the island. From here we will walk to the Little River Inlet and jetties, ocean watching along the way, about 4.5 miles round trip. Target birds will be all three North American scoters, eiders, Purple Sandpipers, loons, alcids, grebes, and shorebirds. After the beach hike we will visit the famous Twin Lakes and Lake Medcalf to check the diverse waterfowl flocks. Waterfowl, Anhinga, night-herons, and other waders should be easy to see. As time permits there will be quick stops at other local birding spots. Bring weather-appropriate gear, water, and snacks for this trip. Other than the long beach hike itself there will be restrooms, restaurants, and convenience stores available. This trip is for those who enjoy an extended winter walk on the beach.

Trip 21: "Target Birds" Grand Tour (Restroom availability between stops)

Have you ever attended a CBC meeting and found out some bird species you'd really like to see were seen the 1st day of the field trips (and wish you could hit those spots the 2nd day)? Here's your chance! Signing up for this trip means going to hot spots where there's some chance to see rarities found the day before. There's no itinerary for this trip and it could include considerable time driving between stops. This field trip will target the rarest birds seen the 1st day. (Hope you see a couple of life birds!)

Trips 6, 22: Ft. Caswell/Oak Island/Fish Factory Road (Restrooms available) Trips 6 and 22 are full

From the beachfront of Caswell Beach to the lawns of Ft. Caswell and on to the salt marshes and woods of Fish Factory Road, participants will be treated to broad mixture of seabirds, shorebirds, raptors, sparrows, winter songbirds, ducks, waders, terns, and gulls. This route, borrowed from the Southport Christmas count, is very productive and usually yields a few surprises! Time permitting and if accessible, a quick stop at the Yaupon Beach Pier may be included. Individuals will be charged $3 for a grounds pass at the fort.

Trips 7, 23: Brunswick Town/Brunswick Nature Park/Funston Farms (Restrooms available)Trips 7 and 23 are full

This route may offer Brunswick County's widest variety of winter birds. Winter specialties at Brunswick Town include Rusty Blackbirds, woodpeckers, owls, and many species of overwintering songbirds. Up to seven species of woodpeckers plus American Woodcocks and Winter and House Wrens are possible. Bald Eagles, Anhinga, and several varieties of ducks and scoters are likely on the Cape Fear River or nearby Orton Pond. After the Brunswick Town stop, we will drive through the Funston Farms area searching for Eastern Meadowlark, Wilson's Snipe, American Pipit, and sparrows. This trip will end at Brunswick Nature Park on Town Creek where species observed may include Golden-crowned Kinglet, Blue-headed Vireo, and Fox Sparrow.

Trips 8, 24: Airlie Gardens (Restrooms available)

Established in 1901, Airlie Gardens is a valuable cultural and ecological component of New Hanover County and North Carolina history. You'll have the opportunity to view 10 acres of freshwater lakes and the grandeur of the 462 year-old Airlie Oak. Waterbirds such as ducks, egrets, herons, kingfishers, cormorants, and Ospreys are common. Watch for winter passerines as you walk around the well-kept grounds. On any given day it is easy to spot more than 30 species of birds while traversing the gardens. Individuals will be charged a $3 for a grounds pass (the usual fee is $5).

Trips 9, 14, 25, 30: Greenfield Lake & Wilmington Winter Hotspots (Restrooms available)

Wilmington has many great winter hotspots! Following routes that will include many sites on the Christmas Bird Count, we will visit places such as Greenfield Lake and Oakdale Cemetery. Each of the four trips may follow a different route depending heavily on what's being seen the week of the Southport meeting, morning versus afternoon, and rare bird sightings. Some of the best birds regularly seen include Anhinga, Sora, Winter Wren, Rusty Blackbird, and maybe a rare winter sparrow. Expect extended walks, mostly on paved trails.

Trips 10, 13, 26, 29: Wilmington Spoil Island/Impoundments (Very limited restroom availability) Trip 13 is full. Trip 10 is cancelled

This normally closed, restricted site will allow us special access to their impoundments for the CBC meeting. The impoundments are excellent for waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors, owls, sparrows and pipits. The trip is limited to 15 participants and 4 vehicles. Because we will use unpaved roads atop dikes, please indicate on the registration form if you will volunteer to drive your high-clearance vehicle.

Trips 11, 27: Carolina Beach SP, City Lake, Pier (Restrooms available)

Carolina Beach State Park and other nearby sites offer varied habitats that are fairly close to each other (the island is slightly more than a mile wide here). The state park's unique setting will have you scanning the marina area to check out the Cape Fear River and the Intracoastal Waterway. There are shrubby spots to look for winter passerines. Waterfowl will be viewed at freshwater pond sites. You'll also have the opportunity for some ocean watching from the pier. With sites close together, you'll spend a lot of your time birding and less time driving between stops.

Trips 12, 28: Oak Island West End (Restrooms available)

Expect waterbirds in large mixed flocks at the western tip of Oak Island and the Lockwood Folly inlet. Birds may include several tern species, ducks, and Black Skimmers. Surrounding marshes and mudflats should yield several species of shorebirds plus raptors such as Peregrine Falcon and Northern Harrier. Time permitting, a quick stop at a pier or one of several small nature centers may be included on the way back to the hotel.

Trips 15, 31: Boiling Spring Lakes/Southport (Restrooms available) Trips 15 and 31 are full

The first stop will be The Nature Conservancy's Boiling Spring Lakes Preserve, known for overwintering songbirds, sparrows, and waterfowl. Red-cockaded Woodpeckers and the other seven species of NC woodpeckers are possible. Afterwards, we will return to Southport and bird as many hotspots as time permits, including the waterfront/marina area, Smithville Burying Grounds, community ponds, and Shepard Road area fields. These sites host overwintering and resident raptors, sparrows, shorebirds, terns, and waterfowl. The exact stops on this portion of the trip will be dictated by Southport Christmas Count results.