I always start the year by spending as much time as possible on Johnnie Mercer's Pier in Wrightsville Beach. The cold keeps the crowds away and sometimes the birds can be outstanding.
Ruddy Turnstones love the pier because they can pick up fisherman leftovers.
Savannah Sparrows at Fort Fisher are confiding.
A Cooper's Hawk surveys his killing grounds from a snag at FF.
Another Savannah.
Northern Mockingbirds for the win.
Yellow-rumped Warblers are still appreciated in January but soon they will be old hat.
Ashley HS Pond is a great place to get your Little Blue Heron fix.
Gadwalls never get old. Mainly because they die young.
White Ibises always look surprised.
Northern Shovelers look goofy but fun.
The Lark Sparrow is still around at Fort Fisher by the eagle monument.
Snowy Egrets spend alot of time starting into water, waiting for an unsuspecting fish or tadpole.
Tricolored Herons are a little more impatient but they to like to gaze past their gorgeous reflections.
They are widely known to be the most handsome of the herons.
Rock Pigeons are under appreciated until you stop and really look closely at them.
Willets are agreeable this time of year. In the spring they become insufferable, following you around and yelling at you for hours on end.
Dovekie! Dovekies have been seen in large numbers further north but on the 3rd, I picked up the first for this year in New Hanover County. Since then the numbers have been growing steadily. Next post I will describe a Dovekie Invasion. On the 3rd, I had 2 on the water and one on the beach.
Lesser Black-backed Gull
I contemplated bringing this cutie to SkyWatch bird rescue but I have heard they don't do well in captivity and to be honest, I generally think nature needs to run its course. This little ball of fat will make a Great Black-backed or Herring Gull very happy. I just hope he was swallowed whole and not poked and prodded.
Some Black Skimmers are hanging on at the North end of Wrightsville Beach.
I am picking up so many birds, so hang on for the next installment in a couple of days.
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