I have been seriously neglecting my North Carolina year list lately, favoring staying home and working in the garden not to mention my actual job. It's kind of nice to bird casually and not feel the urge to chase any rarities. That being said, I do get out for some quick local walks.
The Mallard is under appreciated by some, but I still enjoy one in a nice setting. This one has made Wade Park his home.
American Oystercatcher. In March I got my fill of Wrightsville Beach knowing that the pay parking would make future visits costly. They charge over $5 an hour now and they want the full $10 even if you are only there slightly over an hour which is what a walk on the north end usually takes. So the south end is a good way to spend under an hour.
Horned Grebes always increase in number in March.
I took one last visit to the sparrow fields at Blue Clay and found another Grasshopper Sparrow in a hedgerow.
Razorbills have been hard to come by this year so I contented myself with this fly-by off the Johnnie Mercer Pier.
One weekend Steve B came down to get Rocky the Mountain Bluebird and I joined him for some beach birding.
Wilson's Plovers are back.
A Northern Pintail fly-by was my only for New Hanover County this year.
The Black-headed Gull on the north end was starting to develop a hood.
Rocky the Mountain Bluebird! Some kind soul was putting out meal worms for Rocky and he was gorging himself when we pulled up.
That was the last time I saw him but I think he was there until the end of March.
Unfortunately we were unable to pick up a Pacific Loon for Steve and of course one showed up a couple days later on the south end of WB.
Pacific Loon
One way to tell a Pacific from a Common is the head is almost thinner than the neck.
Bonaparte's come in thick in March but unfortunately no Little Gulls locally this year.
Pacific Loon
Pacific with a Common Loon showing the profile differences. Common Loons are the Cro-Magnons of the loons and have a much heavier bill.
Horned Grebe
Laughing Gull
Common Loon almost in breeding condition.
A Scoter fly-by off the pier had some White-winged mixed in.
In Wilmington you can truly say its Spring when the Parulas are back at Airlie singing their buzzy song.
At the south end of Wrightsville Beach there is a large flock of Common Grackles that like to buck the theory that if its a grackle at the beach, its a Boat-tailed. Interestingly Merlin called this an Antillean Grackle, but it's clearly not.
The local text chain for birders in Wilmington pinged with an American Bittern at the Walmart retention ponds. I would have never gone there for birds but it was quite birdy.
At one point he/she flew behind a lone stick thinking he/she was blending in.
I have been trying to get a close-up pic of some Lesser Scaup but this far away shot at the Fort Fisher Rocks will have to do.
Barn and Northern Rough-winged Swallows at Fort Fisher.
Blue-headed Vireo
Prothonotary Warblers show up early and Holly Shelter Rd at the north end of New Hanover county is a good place to welcome them.
Ovenbirds too.
White-eyed Vireo
Prairie Warbler
Blue-gray Gnatty with a snack
It was about this time I was escorted off the gamelands I was in by some hunters claiming it was privately leased hunting land. These guys were really not friendly and I probably will not try going back, so they win. Its always a bit dicey getting into a disagreement with armed idiots with trigger fingers so I kept my mouth shut and split.
Yellow-throated Warbler at CB State Park - where I can peep at birds and not worry about getting shot.
Ruby-crowned Kinglets start practicing their amazing robust song in late march.
A female Painted Bunting was an early arrival. Typically I get the males singing before I see a female or young bird.
This Great Horned Owl chick has since fledged from the Marina area at CB State Park.
Great Times!
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