I love a new year! The possibilities are endless. I usually start the new year with a renewed vigor in many things, but birding certainly. Although I think big years are a thing of the past for me, its fun to see what the first couple months in the year can bring in terms of numbers and also it feels like each bird is a lifer all over again. So what better way to start the new year than chase the MacGillivray's Warbler found by David S shortly after Xmas at Old Waynesborough Park in Wayne County. It is only the 4th record for NC and the second bird that has stuck around for more than a week. It is still there as of writing this post.
I arrived at the park at about 8am along with some other birders. Some were hearing the chips but it took some time before I locked onto the bird.
Look at those bubble-gum pink legs!
Although I did stop at the now infamous Goldsboro Wastewater Treatment Plant with some other birders (good to see Bob C!), the light was horrendous and the gate was closed so I proposed we try the fields where the Lapland Longspurs were hanging out the previous year in La Grange, NC. Unfortunately we did not find any longspurs but some other nice field loving birds were accommodating.
Horned Larks everywhere!
It was about high noon, so the light was challenging but I always love seeing American Pipits.
Sated with some good birds under my belt, I decided to head home in time for some late lunch and a game of Wingspan with the family.
In the evening we decided to take Louie our new whippet rescue for a walk on the north end of Wrightsville Beach (Mason Inlet). He hates the car and we are trying to get him used to it so we can bring him on trips.
Most Royal Terns move south for the winter but a few hardy ones stay behind.
Bonaparte Gulls are more sparse in January but start coming back in big numbers by the end of the month into February.
Plenty of shorebirds but I didn't get close enough to call out anything specific. I have a whole year to do that.
The moon was full so I spent some time trying to capture birds flying past it.
I played with camera settings trying to get both the moon and the birds in focus but its not easy.
Melissa, Luke and Louie waiting for the old man to catch up.
