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The weather was iffy on March 24 as an ad hoc group of Lumberton birders headed for the shore. But rain held off until almost 2 PM, giving plenty of time to walk out the jetty and explore nearby marinas and coves.
The date was late for wintering birds, but early for spring arrivals. The most numerous ducks were Long-tails, with plenty of Common Eiders as well. Flocks of migrating Northern Gannets were offshore. Other winter birds such as Harlequins were not in evidence and presumably had left for their northern homes.
American Oystercatchers had returned to nest; several pairs of these were seen, and a bit of courtship display as well. Boat-tailed and Common Grackles were both obvious; so were both the crows, American and Fish Crow.
Special birds: a very cooperative Savannah “Ipswich” Sparrow, paler and larger than the more common subspecies; and a pair of Peregrine Falcons, dining together on a pigeon on the railings of the Old Barney lighthouse.
Participants: Dino Fiabane, Peggy Fiabane, Holly Hoffman, Robert Koch, Laurie Larson, Miriam Swartz.
Text, LL; Photos, RK
Bird List:
40 Species
Brant
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Mallard
American Black Duck
Common Eider
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Red-breasted Merganser
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
American Oystercatcher
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Red-throated Loon
Common Loon
Northern Gannet
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Peregrine Falcon
American Crow
Fish Crow
Carolina Wren
American Robin
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
House Sparrow
House Finch
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Boat-tailed Grackle
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Northern Cardinal
