Lightning Strikes Twice with Another Rare Wader at McAlpine Creek Park, NC, July 18, 2020

On June 25th I went to McAlpine Creek Park in the suburbs of Charlotte, NC to see a long-staying Reddish Egret – the first inland record for NC.  Amazingly, this bird spent 11 days in a beaver pond at the park, and I was lucky enough to not only be there on its last day, but to be in the group of birders who were the last to see it there. 

Then just 3 weeks later came reports of a Roseate Spoonbill not only in the same Park, but in the same beaver pond!  Amazing that yet another rare wader would show up in that same small pond.  Unfortunately, I didn’t notice the first posts from July 16, and only read about the sightings on the evening of the 17th.  Since I almost waited too long to see the Reddish Egret, I didn’t want to wait any longer to try for the Spoonbill.  In fact, I worried about whether overlooking the posts for a couple days had already doomed me to fail in my search for another rare inland wader.  However, always the optimist, I planned to head back to the park the next morning to give it a try.  On the bright side, given my recent trip to the park, I knew exactly where the pond was, so I didn’t need to do much research to prep for the trip.

I was out of the house by 6 AM on the 18th and started making my 2-hour trip to the Park.  I was about 30 miles away when I got a text from my local birding friend Bill Hooker that he heard that the Spoonbill was still there.  I was cautiously optimistic.  Luckily it was a Saturday so there was no rush hour traffic to deal with, and 30 minutes later I arrived in the parking lot.  Then after a brisk walk past the fishing pond I made it to the beaver pond and quickly scanned the lake.  Unfortunately, I didn’t see any waders, though lighting was challenging looking towards the morning sun so I tried not to be too worried.  I changed my angle a bit and sure enough there was the Spoonbill standing among the vegetation toward the east.  I moved to the other side of the lake and got even better and closer views.  Here are two phonescoped pictures of this most attractive bird.

 

And a picture without magnification showing the Spoonbill in the distance. 

As I watched the Spoonbill feeding it slowly made its way to almost the exact same spot where I saw the Reddish Egret a few weeks earlier.  Same part, of the same pond, at the same park, for two rare coastal waders.  Looks like lightning can strike twice.

It turns out that the Spoonbill was last seen at dawn on the 19^th.  So if I had waited another day to make the trip I would have missed the bird.  I guess it’s good to be lucky…

Roseate Spoonbill was #303 for my NC statelist.  In my statebird map below, I’ve seen this species in 3 states in its regular range (the blue shaded states), as well as three states as a rarity (tan shaded states) – SC, CT, and now NC.  Though I still need it in the 4 cross-hatched states in its regular range.

 

8 Statebirds in South Carolina Low Country, September 2019

While researching birding opportunities near my new home in the North Carolina mountains I found the website for the Carolina Bird Club (CBC).  It seemed like a good organization to join to obtain information on the local birding community and birding sites.  And then I noticed that they have multi-day birding meetings in various sites in the Carolinas.  The next one was in the South Carolina Low Country, centered in Charleston.  The meeting would include multiple birding trips to hotspots in the vicinity, and was scheduled for the end of September to coincide with fall migration.  I had birded that region before, but it was during my college days nearly 40 years ago (yikes!).  Needless to say I could use some birding updates to the region, and could hopefully make some connections with the local birders as well. 

And then there was the possibility of adding some new SC statebirds.  With a bit of research on eBird I realized there would be many statebird possibilities, particularly given that migration should be in full swing at the time.  I had a number of marsh and shorebird targets as well as passerine migrants to hope for.  But I actually have better chances at the passerines in western SC not too far from home, and the marsh and shorebirds are realistically only possible near the coast.  So where I had the option I signed up for walks that especially targeted waterbird opportunities.  Though I’ll take the landbirds too if I can get them.  I hoped for perhaps 5 to 10 new additions to my SC list - which would be my first new birds in SC since 2003.

As the weekend neared, I started to watch the weather.  Unfortunately the region was experiencing a heat wave, with temperatures running up to 20 degrees above normal and very dry conditions.  And that weather would continue throughout the weekend.  Not only did that mean hot and humid weather while birding, but it also meant that passerine migration would be limited, at best.  Though I wasn’t too worried since I was especially hoping for the waterbirds.

The first organized walk was on Friday morning, 9/27, so I needed to get to my hotel by Thursday night.  So why not make a couple birding stops on Thursday along the way to my hotel?  My route would take me right by the Orangeburg Sod Farms.  So although I had signed up for a walk at this “grasspiper” hotspot on Saturday, I decided to stop here along the way on Thursday as well, thinking that there could be different birds moving through on those two days.  I need all the grasspipers for SC so I was hopeful.  When I arrived at the spot mid-afternoon the car thermometer said it was 100 degrees, though the dewpoint wasn’t too bad.  As I scanned the sod I quickly found a few Killdeer here and there, and then spotted a lone Snipe oddly in a dry grassy area.  Later I found a lone Least Sandpiper with some Killdeer, and a flock of about 15 local Horned Larks.  But nothing else of interest.  I didn’t think it would be possible to find 3 species of shorebirds at the sod farm without finding a statebird.  Notably it was so hot that many of the Killdeer were lined up in the shade of the center pivot irrigation devices.

Next I thought I’d head to the coast at Folly Island, hoping for birds along the beach, as well as some passerine migrants.  Even though I was going to be on the Folly Island walk on Saturday, the birds could be very different on Thursday.  And after my Thursday visit I especially hoped that would be true - the only birds on the beach at the east end of the island at the Lighthouse Inlet were a small group of Laughing Gulls, and the only migrants were a pair of Prairie Warblers.  I then went to the western end of the island at the County Park and only had a few Pelicans.  At least a quick look at a couple perched birds on a dock revealed a Willet of the western race.  One to bank for a potential future split.  And then on my drive inland to my hotel I passed by some nice wetlands along the James Island causeway and spotted a Roseate Spoonbill passing overhead (new SC statebird #1).  Good thing they are easy to identify overhead even when driving.  Spoonbills have expanded up the east coast since my last trips to SC, and are now regular year-round in the state.  SC was my 5th state for this species (see my statebird map below) – it’s time to try to add them to the other southeast coastal states.

Friday was the first day for the official walks, and my morning trip was to Kiawah Island.  A bird-banding station at the western end of the island had only had a few migrants.  But the beach on the eastern end had regular reports of 2 targets - Reddish Egret and Lesser Black-backed Gull.  We ran into huge traffic delays getting to the island, so we missed out on time for landbirding near the banding station.  So we headed right out to Kiawah East Beach for the waterbirds.  The vast majority of this island is private with no access, but we were allowed on the island since we were part of the CBC group.  Access was through the very fancy Ocean Golf Course, where I was told one round of golf would cost you $500!  After a short walk we were on the beach and had good sized flocks of terns and gulls.  And with a quick scan I spotted a larger dark-backed gull, though it was just an adult Great Black-backed Gull.  But not to worry, with a bit more scanning I found another dark-backed gull – this one was an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull (statebird #2).  SC was my 31st state for this expanding species.

A bit later we found several Piping Plovers on the beach, including one that had a leg tag as well as a transmitter and an antenna sticking out behind the bird.  Interesting to imagine this little bird carrying that transmitter all the way to its wintering grounds (and back?).  Unfortunately I missed the Peregrine as it buzzed the beach scattering the terns and gulls.

A short distance inland from the beach was a large freshwater pond where the Reddish Egret had been frequenting.  But our initial searches came up negative – just a Great Blue Heron, two Great Egrets, and a Snowy Egret, though 9 species of shorebirds were nice.  A bit farther along the beach one of the birders took a side trip to get a different view of the pond.  And seconds later he was waving us over – he had the Reddish Egret.  We all got great views of the bird as it fed in the pond (statebird #3). 

As with the Spoonbill, now that I’m in the southeast, I can search for the Egret in a number of my new “local” states.

As we headed back to the parking lot, I realized that the Egret was now in view from the driving range.  It was an odd juxtaposition of birding and a very different lifestyle.

The afternoon walk was inland at the Pine Island Unit of the Santee National Wildlife Refuge.  As we arrived at the parking lot to meet the leaders they said we had just missed a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher.  And then as we started down the trail a birder in front of our group flushed what he identified as a Whip-poor-will – unfortunately I was farther back with our group.  Two statebird targets missed in just a couple minutes.  I spent a few minutes trying for the Whip without success, but did find a nice Woodcock – a species not often found in fall.

We continued down the trail and flushed 4 Sedge Wrens along wet trailside ditches.  And later we flushed a Sora from the edge of the trail.  As we neared the wetlands along the edge of Lake Marion a small flock of Dowitchers flew low overhead which turned out to be nice foreshadowing of what lied ahead.  When we got to the wetlands there was a small exposed mudflat and I picked out several less-than-cooperative Snipe.  And then I heard calling shorebirds overhead – Pectorals I thought.  A couple seconds later they dropped in and they were indeed Pectorals (statebird #4).  I was able to put both species in the scope for life views for several birders.  Nice to get the Pectorals here at the mudflat since I missed them at the sod farm.  That fills a big gap in my statebird map – just a couple more states to go for this widespread species.

The trail then took us back in the woods where we quickly found a small flock of passerines.  Most were difficult to view with backlit conditions and thick vegetation.  But I was finally able to get passable views of a Tennessee Warbler (statebird #5) – certainly not a rarity but a nice addition to my SC list, and one of my last states for this species. 

Perhaps I can eventually add it to my VA list too now that I’m in the southeast.

Later along the trail we came to another passerine flock though they were mostly local breeders.  But then someone spotted an Empidonax nearby.  I was finally able to get on the bird and it had no appreciable eye-ring, making it either a Willow or Alder.  I need both species for SC – both would be rare for the area though Willow would be more likely.  So without a firm ID I added it as a “Traill’s” Flycatcher (statebird #6). 

Later a group of birders that went ahead of us ran into a large migrant flock.  Unfortunately the flock had mostly dispersed by the time we got there.  Ugh…  Although it was a fun afternoon, it was a frustrating one where I missed a number of birds that others reported. 

The morning walk on Saturday, 9/28, was back to Folly Island once again in hopes of birds on the beach and passerine migrants.  Just after the trip started I spotted a Merlin passing down the beach (statebird #7), and was able to get most of the birders on the bird.  I still need this species in a couple of the nearby southeast states.

The walk started off well enough.  But the hot conditions were continuing, with persistent southern winds limiting migration.  As a result, little did we know the Merlin was the sole highlight of the walk.  There were next to no birds on the beach, and few migrants in the woods.  The “lowlight” was a group of hunters in a boat in the marsh nearby apparently hunting Clapper Rails.  Is that legal?

With so few birds on the walk, the leader suggested we next head to Fort Lamar Heritage Preserve to try for passerine migrants.  That turned out to be an excellent idea with quite a number of migrant flocks in the woods at this site.  I ended up with 9 warbler species, though nothing new.  And late in the walk I spotted a thrush which eventually revealed itself to be a Swainson’s (statebird #8).  I just need this species in AZ and NV to fill out my statebird map.

Later we came upon a commotion where a number of small passerines were mobbing a small area of leaves in a tree.  We counted no less than 8 Yellow Warblers involved in the melee.  And then on close inspection we also spotted a Tennessee.  Although we suspected they were mobbing a Screech Owl, we never saw it, or any other reason, for all their activity.

Saturday afternoon’s trip was back to the Orangeburg sod farm hoping for better results than on Thursday.  When we arrived we met the leader who had already scoped out the farm and alas found no grasspipers except for Killdeer.  A most cooperative Ground Dove was nice, as was a singing Painted Bunting and a large family of Blue Grosbeaks.  But once again it was intolerably hot and sticky, and with the lack of good birds, not a very pleasant trip.

There was only one trip scheduled for Sunday morning (9/29) – which was to chase rarities seen the previous 2 days.  But Saturday evening it was announced that the trip was cancelled because no chaseable rarities had been found.  So since I was free I joined a group of birders out of the Durham area to bird the Bluff Unit of Santee NWR which had been good Saturday afternoon for passerines.  Plus it was roughly on the way home making for a shorter drive when the day was over.  Unfortunately we only had a few migrants Sunday morning.  And I was looking in the wrong direction when the Cape May Warbler was seen by a couple other birders. 

It was nearly noon when I was getting ready to leave, and I decided to check the Carolinas listserve to see if there was anything to chase.  I found this message posted at 9 AM, just a couple hours earlier –

“One of the two Limpkins present most of the summer in Hanahan, South Carolina, was observed at 10 AM this morning at 44 N. Basilica Dr. by the homeowner. Birders are welcome.” [Note that likely meant the bird was seen on Saturday, the day before the post]

Limpkin would be a great bird for SC – any chance Hanahan was nearby?  With a quick search I realized Hanahan was a suburb of Charleston just over an hour to the south.  Definitely chaseable, but it was the opposite direction from home, and even a short visit there would delay my return home by at least 3 hours.  And I was already hot and feely icky.  In any case, I decided to call it quits and head home.  If the post had come out the day before I would have tried for it instead of heading to Santee. 

I ended the trip with about 120 species, 8 of which were new for my SC statelist, which now stands at 240.  Plus I can add the Western Willet if (when?) it is split in the future.  Pretty nice for my first meeting with the Carolina Bird Club.  Plus I made some connections with a few local birders and other local bird clubs.  The next CBC meeting is on the upper SC coast in January 2020 – chances are I’ll probably attend.

Roseate Spoonbill, First State Record, Milford, CT, September 2018

Just 3 weeks after the Wood Stork and Neotropic Cormorant showed up in NH, and the Great Black Hawk appeared in Maine, a Roseate Spoonbill was spotted way up in Sebec, ME.  This first state record was apparently very reliably seen starting on August 27 on a small farm pond far from the coast.  Although I would have loved to go after the Spoonbill, Sebec would be a nearly 5-hour one-way drive for me.  So despite my temptations, I never went to chase after it.

While reviewing posts on the ME listserve one day I noticed a report that the Spoonbill was no longer being found at its usual location.  It was last seen on September 9 after 14 days of daily sightings.  I always wonder if these long-lost species find their way back home, or whether they continue to head even further in the wrong direction.  For instance the Great Black Hawk was spotted leaving its southern ME home-away-from-home flying northeast out to sea – perhaps its next stop was even farther afield in Nova Scotia or Newfoundland.

But back to the Spoonbill…  Then amazingly 8 days later on September 17 came a report of a Roseate Spoonbill on the CT coast – yet another first state record!  Was it the ME bird or yet another Spoonbill visiting New England?  Unlike the ME bird, this one wasn’t very sedentary.  It was first reported on the Stratford side of the Housatonic River at Raven Pond, then it would not be found at all for a time, despite numerous birders searching from land and by boat.  Then the Spoonbill seemed to prefer Wheeler Marsh visible from the Audubon Coastal Center at Milford Point, though it would also return to Raven Pond especially to join a nighttime Egret roost there, and would be seen elsewhere in Stratford as well.  It was still covering a pretty large area. 

Unlike the ME bird, this one was within my chasing distance, “only” 2 ½ hours from home.  So I definitely wanted to give it a try.  Unfortunately I was too busy to head out, so I needed it to stick around a few days until I could finally break free early on Saturday morning the 22nd.  Luckily its wanderings had become more predictable by now.  It would typically show up at Wheeler Marsh soon after sunrise, and then be seen sporadically at the marsh during the day.  A complication was that it would often be seen flying into the marsh only to drop in and disappear out of view for hours.  So you had to keep a close eye out for it.  Friday morning the bird appeared at 7:40 AM, so I planned to arrive at the Milford Audubon Center no later than 7 AM the next day to give it a try.  That meant a 4:30 AM departure – anything for a rarity!

Luckily there was next to no traffic as I made my way to the CT coast early on Saturday morning.  As I arrived at the Audubon Center a few minutes before 7 I could see about 10 birders already on site.  There had been no sightings yet that morning, though one birder had the Spoonbill there in the marsh the night before all the way up until nearly total darkness.  Maybe our target never left the marsh the night before and was right out in front of us hidden by the marsh vegetation. 

By 7:40, the time it arrived the day before, there were at least 20 birders on site scoping the marsh, but to no avail.  You wouldn’t think a large pink wading bird would be so difficult to find.  As 7:40 came and went I mentioned to everyone that the yesterday’s 7:40 tide would be duplicated today at about 8:30 – so maybe that would be the more likely time for it to return.  We all had to stay optimistic, right?  At least while we were waiting I spotted at least 1 “Western” Willet – perhaps soon to be a separate species.

And then at 8:28 one of the birders yelled – “I have the Spoonbill!”  There it was flying over the marsh at a considerable distance coming in from the west.  At first it was quite high, then it slowly got lower to the marsh, circled a couple times, then dropped in out of site.  Although it was quite distant the whole time, and total viewing time was maybe only 30 seconds, everyone was able to see all the fieldmarks including of course the pink color and the large spatulate bill.  Good enough for a state “tick” – though if it had been a lifebird I would have wanted a better view.  Here is a picture of the marsh where it dropped in, perhaps nearly a mile away.

Roseate Spoonbill was #332 for me in CT, and the 440th species I’ve seen anywhere in the 6 New England states.  CT was only my 4th state for this species typically only found in the deep south.

 

It turns out that comparison of photos of the ME and CT birds revealed that they were the same individual.  Amazingly, 8 days after leaving Sebec, ME it was re-found in Stratford and Milford, CT, some 345 miles away “as the Spoonbill flies”.  Wonder if it took a direct route and passed over NH and MA on the way.  In fact, if it flew on a straight line it would have passed nearly directly over my house here in Pepperell, MA.  I guess I didn’t look up at the right time. 

“But wait there’s more…”  There were also reports of Spoonbills all across the Midwest and Northeast this year, including IN, OH, WV, PA, MD, NJ, NY and DE.  And it turns out that the ME and CT bird was also the one spotted at the Walkill River NWR along the NJ / NY line from July 22 to August 5.  And then there was a Spoonbill spotted in southeastern Quebec on August 7.  Was this also the same bird?  Unfortunately the photos weren’t of sufficient quality to tell.  This was only 85 miles northwest of its Sebec, ME location where it was first spotted 20 days later – certainly a feasible trip.  But the Quebec spot is 375 miles northeast of its NJ/NY location – could it have traveled that far is just 2 days?  I guess we’ll never know for sure. 

It has truly been an amazing year for vagrant Roseate Spoonbills!