This has been a great year for rarities so far. A Trumpeter Swan up at Hanging Rock State Park was good enough to motivate me for a chase. But first some local birds....
Lesser Scaup swimming at the end of Johnnie Mercer Pier.
I have been trying to get my yearly Pacific Loon, but so far I haven't had much luck with the loon flock staying pretty far out. There was one day where a massive Gannet and Pelican feeding frenzy was coming closer to the pier so I waited for them to get closer.
Brown Pelican getting ready for a dive.
Brown Pelicans are goofy looking on land, but they really are graceful when flying.
Northern Gannet
Common Loon
Meanwhile during my survey on the south end of Figure Eight Island I was combing through a large gull flock and found this Iceland Gull!
Iceland Gull
There are normally large flocks here to look through.
Iceland Gull
I have had a couple days were I had over 50 Lesser Black-backed Gulls. A number of years ago they were considered a rarity down in New Hanover.
Laughing Gull hormones are starting to fire up.
The two Piping Plovers continue. It's amazing how you can get to know a couple birds when you bird the same spot over and over.
Black-and-white Warbler at Airlie Gardens
Black-crowned Night-heron
Eastern Phoebe
Blue-headed Vireo
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Sunday I did my survey at Figure 8 and then pulled the trigger on the drive up to Hanging Rock. My buddy Steve B texted me and said he also was thinking of chasing the Trumpeter so I met him in Chapel Hill and we made the drive together. It was super nice to catch up with him and his travels. He works for Lindblad as an on-board naturalist and has been all over the globe. I also found out he works for a small bird tour company that is owned by Ivan Phillipsen the host of a podcast I listen to all the time called The Science of Birds. The podcast is chock full of corny jokes but overall it is a really well edited podcast with good information about avian natural history and general biology. I have to admit I am jealous of my friends that can work for tour companies. It would be a dream job for me, but realistically I just don't know if I could ever be a good guide because of my hearing loss. Moral of the story - kids wear ear protection when you go to concerts!
This chase couldn't have been easier. The Trumpeter is the only bird on the lake and sticks out like a sore thumb.
Trumpeter Swan - some people did get some sound recordings for confirmation but it ticks all the visual field marks too.
One of the field marks for Trumpeter is that the forehead forms a V whereas a Tundra has more of a U, but it is a subtle field mark.
Totally worth the drive! I got City BBQ twice too, once on the way up and once on the way down. Melissa thinks I am overdoing it but I just can't say no to some good brisket.
Back home during a work day, I was chatting on a teleconference when a Brown Creeper landed on my oak in my front yard.
Brown Creeper as seen through my office window!
Three Long-tailed Ducks have been hanging out on the south of end WB.
I haven't had a White-winged Scoter yet, but plenty of Blacks are around.
Next installment has a good rarity, so stay tuned.
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