Hello, this is an October 1 update of the Carolina Rare Bird Alert featuring birding news from North and South Carolina sponsored by the Carolina Bird Club. Highlights on this report include:

SHINY COWBIRD
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW
AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS
BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS
BLACK-NECKED STILT
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL
BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE
LEAST BITTERN

Patriot's Point in Mt. Pleasant , SC is one of the best places to look for rare fall migrants in coastal South Carolina. On 9-26 a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was at the large brushpile at the Patriot's Point Golf Club's driving range. Other local rarities there recently include WILLOW FLYCATCHER and DICKCISSEL on 9-19. BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO and CERULEAN WARBLER were at that site on 9-13.

A male SHINY COWBIRD was at a feeder in Folly Beach, SC on 9-26. Coming in to Folly Beach from James Island, take a left at the stoplight. Go for a few miles. When the trees end at the area lined with rocks pull over to the right as soon as possible. Look over at the house with the feeder beside the driveway.

On 9-26 four AM. GOLDEN-PLOVERS and four BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS were at the SuperSod farms at Orangeburg, SC.

Hooper Lane in Hendersonville, NC continues to produce local and state rarities in the farm and sod fields there. On 9-25 a BLACK-NECKED STILT was present for perhaps the 1st record of the species from the mountains. STILT SANDPIPERS were present that day also.

A juvenile BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE was reported from Avon, NC on 9-23 as it fed in the surf for a couple of hours.

LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS are scarce south of the Outer Banks in the Carolinas. On 9-28 three birds were in the Atlantic Beach, NC area. Two were in the inlet at Fort Macon and 1 was at the Triple Ess pier.

In the truly bizarre category, a LEAST BITTERN showed up on a parking deck railing in Durham, NC on 9-27.

Thanks this week to Nathan Dias, John Fussell, Wayne Forsythe, Amy Taracido and Jeff Pippen for their calls and reports.

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