Vesper Sparrow at Fort Macon State Park. Sunday was spent up in Carteret County with the North River Gang. We started with some sea watching at Atlantic Beach and then Marty and I checked the Fort Macon bathhouse for the ongoing Vesper and I finally got it after my third attempt.
Blue-headed Vireo at Pine Knoll Shores.
Shortly after noon we boarded a boat to explore the waters around Cape Lookout. The idea was to motor out to Shark Island and look for rare gulls and alcids but the shoals were difficult to navigate due to the wind and tide so ended up sticking around Shackleford.
The mighty bellow of a Great Cormorant is enough to knock a sailor overboard.
I have never seen a Great Cormorant in such stunning breeding plumage as these ones. I didn't even know they could get white feathers on the nape like that.
First of the year Red Knots!
Worst picture ever but notable as it is not common to witness birds coming in from migration over the sea. This Green Heron was seen flying in straight towards us from the ocean and was undoubtedly a migrant coming in from wintering grounds in the Caribbean.
We saw some of the largest flocks of Red-breasted Mergansers, Horned Grebes and Scoters I have ever seen in the waters south and east of Shack. I spotted three Long-tailed Ducks which was a county bird for some of us.
Also notable were two Common Eiders north of Shack.
Yesterday evening before it started to pour, I saw this Gray Ghost (male Harrier) at Wrightsville Beach.
This pic is a female or immature Northern Harrier from this morning at Fort Fisher.
And FINALLY........
The long awaited 100%er - Clapper Rail at Fort Fisher.
This Blue-winged Teal at the Airfare Recreation Pier was a county year bird.
Next week - COLORADO! Can't wait to watch the famous Greater Sage Grouse do the funky chicken dance.
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