Hello, this is a Nov. 15 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:

SMITH'S LONGSPUR
SWIFT SP.
WHITE-WINGED DOVE
SHINY COWBIRD
COMMON EIDER
WILSON'S WARBLER
LINCOLN'S SPARROW
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW
VESPER SPARROWS
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD
SANDHILL CRANES
LONG-BILLED CURLEW
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL

An imm. male SMITH'S LONGSPUR was seen Nov. 7 through Nov. 11 at Folly Beach, SC. The bird was feeding on a lawn at 1611 of the beach road on Folly Beach. The house is a pink rental property. Look in a small depression in the front yard. The last positive report about this bird was from Nov.11.

Other interesting birds to look for around Folly Beach, SC include a PARASITIC JAEGER, COMMON GROUND-DOVE, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, PIPING PLOVER and MARBLED GODWITS.

The Wings Over Water festival on North Carolina's Outer Banks Nov. 2-7 produced several notable rarities. On 11-6, an as yet unidentified SWIFT was seen at dusk at the north end of Oregon Inlet. The bird was moving south, crossing the inlet. The few observers agree that it appeared dark with a white patch towards the rear of the body. A search the next morning unfortunately did not yield another sighting.

Other birds on the Outer Banks Nov.2-7 include a WHITE -WINGED DOVE at Bodie Island on 11-5, a male SHINY COWBIRD at the Pea Island NWR visitor's center, PURPLE SANDPIPERS at end of the rocks at the south end of Oregon Inlet, and a NORTHERN GOSHAWK at South Pond.

A COMMON EIDER has been present at Fort Fisher, Kure Beach, NC. Look from the gazebo overlooking the ocean just south of The Riggings condominiums.

Two SANDHILL CRANES are being seen in the Raven's Run subdivision in Mt. Pleasant, SC. The cranes hang out around the lake in that neighborhood.

Patriot's Point in Mt. Pleasant, SC is a great place to look for late fall migrants. Recent sightings include CLAY-COLORED SPARROW, LINCOLN'S SPARROW, VESPER SPARROWS, and a WILSON'S WARBLER.

An adult male YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was at the Cherry Hospital grounds in Goldsboro, NC on 11-13. Check blackbird flocks along Steven's Mill Rd. and vicinity.

Ten TUNDRA SWANS were present at a wastewater plant pond in Hendersonville, NC on 11-13. The facility is located on Rte 91 and Schoolhouse Rd. in Henderson County. Swans are rarely reported from the mountains.

Two LONG-BILLED CURLEWS continue at Cape Lookout on the north side of the Shackleford Banks. Birds were reported as recently as 11-14. A female KING EIDER put in a brief appearance in the surf before moving on.

Thanks this week to John Fussell, Nathan Dias, Dorice Bernard, Eric Dean, Wayne Forsythe, and Jeff Pippen for their calls and reports.

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