Sargasso Shearwater (Puffinus Iherminieri) - 21May2017 & 18May2019 & 12Aug2017

Shearwaters are truly amazing birds, rarely coming to land except to breed.  It seems they can even shut down part of their brain when flying allowing them to sleep all the while using the thermals above the waves to glide forever.  However, they do feed from the ocean, and as can see in below pics, Sargasso Shearwaters tend to hang out near sargassum.  

In the below photo this Sargasso Shearwater was flipping sargassum in the air probably trying to dislodge crabs and other morsels.  Or dare I say it.... maybe he/she was playing.

Here are a couple from a pelagic in 2019 which nicely show the white spot above the eye.

Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides borealis) - 25May2017 & 28Jan2017

Hairy Woodpeckers are fairly easy to confuse with Downy Woodpeckers but there are a few field marks that that distinguish them even when not considering overall size which can be misleading.  I have had better photos than the one below, but I like this one as it nicely shows the marks.  Note the spread tail feathers show no spots in the outer white area.  Also, the bill is nicely framed here and is obviously larger in proportion to the head compared with a Downy.  This particular female and its mate has stuck around for the summer and most likely has a nest.  Carolina Beach State Park.

And another from Carolina Beach State Park in January of the same year, this time the male.

American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus) - 10Jun2017

This is another bird taken for granted in southeast North Carolina simply because they are ubiquitous.  However, if I was a birder from Mars and saw this bird on a Earth vacation, it would be one of my instant favorites.  The color scheme, the fleshy cankles, red eye-ring and the crazy calls all make this a real crowd pleaser.  Below parent with chick photographed on Wrightsville Beach, NC.  

Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) - 18Jun2017

From the Cornell Website: "Busy flocks of Cliff Swallows often swarm around bridges and overpasses in summer, offering passers-by a chance to admire avian architecture and family life at once. Clusters of their intricate mud nests cling to vertical walls, and when a Cliff Swallow is home you can see its bright forehead glowing from the dim entrance. These common, sociable swallows are nearly always found in large groups, whether they’re chasing insects high above the ground, preening on perches, or dipping into a river for a bath."

This one was photographed in Bermuda Run, NC during my son's soccer tournament.

Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa) - 24Jun2017

As Jello Biafra once said : "Any Godwit is a good Godwit".  Luckily we have loads of Marbled Godwits, sometimes confused with Garbled Modwits here in Southeastern North Carolina.

This one was photographed on the east end of Sunset Beach, NC.

Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) - 24Jun2017

Per wiki: The common gallinule (Gallinula galeata) is a bird in the family Rallidae. It was split from the common moorhen by the American Ornithologists' Union in July 2011. It lives around well-vegetated marshes, ponds, canals, and other wetlands in the Americas. The species is not found in the polar regions or many tropical rainforests. Elsewhere, the common gallinule is likely the most commonly seen rail species in much of North America, excepting the American coot in some regions.

This is great as I am headed to Europe in a couple weeks and will be able to tick Common Moorhen too.

Mourning Warbler (Geothlypis philadelphia) - 27May2017

The Mourning Warbler is not easy to find in NC because usually it is only migrating through and rarely singing.



However, ever once in a while one posts up and decides to try it's luck in finding a mate in NC and sings.  Usually they are one day wonders but this last one at Yonahlossee Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway has been present for over a month and singing like mad every day.