Hello, this is an August 2 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:

UPLAND SANDPIPERS
REDDISH EGRETS
SNOWY PLOVER
SWALLOW-TAILED KITE
WHITE IBIS (inland)
RED CROSSBILLS
BLACK RAILS
BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCKS

A SNOWY PLOVER was present at Hunting Island State Park in South Carolina on July 27. Park in the general parking area at the north end and walk about 1/2 mile to the north end of the island. High tide may be best time to search for this bird since the flats are extensive at low tide.

Up to four UPLAND SANDPIPERS were present at the sod farms in Orangeburg, SC on July 31.

A SWALLOW-TAILED KITE was seen over the north Cape Fear River adjacent to the Holly Shelter Game Lands on July 24.

WHITE IBIS have been seen at several locations inland in North Carolina in the last week. On July 22 up to five birds were at the Archie Elledge Treatment Plant in Forsyth County. A WHITE IBIS has been seen at the north end of Coddle Creek Reservoir in Concord, NC, and a bird was present July 31 at Lake Twitty in Monroe, NC. A bird has also been present sporadically at Beaver Lake in Asheville, NC for a few weeks.

Up to six RED CROSSBILLS are coming to the feeders at the Grandfather Mountain nature museum in western North Carolina. About twenty PINE SISKINS can be seen there as well.

Three REDDISH EGRETS were seen at Boneyard Beach at Cape Romain NWR in South Carolina on July 31. In North Carolina, one bird has also been present at the cove at Lea Island off of Topsail Inlet, the cove at Rich Inlet, and Mason Inlet. Another bird has been seen irregularly at the west end of Ocean Isle Beach/east end of Sunset Beach in North Carolina.

BLACK RAILS and BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCKS were found at a publicly-viewable marsh near Donnelly WMA in South Carolina on July 14. From US-17 near Green Pond, SC turn right on SC 119. There is a sign pointing right that says" White Hall". Go three miles and turn left on SC 66 (Combahee Road). Go past Combahee Plantation and arrive at a freshwater marsh. The road passes through the marsh on a raised causeway. Rails were heard on the right side of the road, and the ducks were seen flying over. After checking the marsh, continue up Combahee Road, pass Bluff Plantation, then arrive at the barns and stables of Cherokee Plantation. Park on the road shoulder and scope the extensive pastures for UPLAND SANDPIPERS. One bird was present on July 14.

Thanks this week to Nathan Dias, Phil Dickinson, Robin Wood, Blais Brancheau, Sam Cooper, and Jeff Jones for their calls and reports. Some of this information was gleaned from Carolinabirds.

Taylor Piephoff
Charlotte, NC
PiephoffT@aol.com

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