The 118th CBC in North Carolina

The 118^th CBC in North Carolina consisted of 51 counts. There were no new counts this year and two were not conducted: Henderson County (for want of a Compiler) and Portsmouth (weathered out). When compared to last year, temperatures were much closer to average across the state with only four counts having highs 60 and above. Over half the counts had morning lows below freezing, and over a dozen had temps in the teens or lower! Snow was on the ground on four counts with Roanoke Rapids experiencing an unusual 4”-6” snow cover. Heavy rain was a problem on only two counts (Cape Hatteras and Pettigrew). High winds always make counting difficult, thus problematic wind conditions were at Bodie-Pea (20-35 all day), Chapel Hill (8-20), Mt. Jefferson (5-35), Roanoke Rapids (15-25), Wayne County (0-25), and Wilmington (0-26). During this year’s count 1,008,551 individuals of 224 species, one form (Ipswich Sparrow), and three count-week birds (Whimbrel, Snowy Owl, Warbling Vireo) were reported. Top coastal species totals included Morehead City and Wilmington tying with 164, Southport’s 156, Holly Shelter’s 140, and Kitty Hawk’s 122. Tidewater counts were led by Lake Mattamuskeet’s 128, Pamlico County’s 117, New Bern’s 114, and Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge’s (ARNWR) 103. Coastal Plain counts were led by Greenville with 104, Rocky Mount with 96, Cumberland County with 85, and Wayne County with 83. Leading Piedmont counts had totals of 99 at Raleigh, 97 at Greensboro, 96 at Southern Pines and S. Lake Norman, and 95 at Durham and Charlotte. Mountains counts were led by Balsam’s 70, Brevard’s 69, Franklin’s 64, and Buncombe County’s 62.

Greater White-fronted Geese made another good showing with excellent totals of 12 at Lake Mattamuskeet and 14 at Pettigrew. One at Brevard in the mountains was also noteworthy. Numbers of Snow Geese were down from last year and the best Ross’s Goose total was only seven at Pettigrew. Three Cackling Geese (one at Morehead City and two at Winston-Salem) were surprising finds away from the usual Coastal Plain locations. Numbers of Tundra Swans were up from last year, as this species continues to do well as a wintering bird in NC. Puddle duck numbers were up from last year with record totals being recorded for Wood Duck, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Northern Shoveler, and Northern Pintail – all due to the impoundments at Lake Mattamuskeet holding most of the waterfowl at that Refuge. The lake has basically lost all its aquatic vegetation that the birds have historically depended on. Once again, a Eurasian Wigeon was at Lake Mattamuskeet, for the only one noted. Diving duck numbers were similar to last year with the notable exception of scaup and mergansers which were substantially better reported. Northern Bobwhites showed a moderate increase with a total of 61 being reported from all the counts.  Loons decreased slightly from last year. Two Pacific Loons were noted again, with singles off Wrightsville Beach on the Wilmington count and on the nearby Holly Shelter count. It is very possible that the same individual was counted on both counts, as the Common Loon flock with which it associates definitely moves back and forth in that general area. Grebe numbers were stable with the best being four Red-necked with singles at Cape Hatteras, Catawba Valley, Greensboro, and Pamlico County, and one Eared on the Wilmington count. American White Pelicans were back up to respectable numbers with a total of 137 being found. Long-legged wader numbers were mostly average, compared to previous seasons. Bird of prey totals of note included a record 61 Ospreys and a record 410 Bald Eagles. A Golden Eagle at Pee Dee was certainly exciting, especially for a Piedmont location. A Swainson’s Hawk (5^th NC CBC) was back on the ARNWR count, after several years of absence! The only Sandhill Cranes reported were the two returning birds in the Beaufort area on the Morehead City count. Shorebird numbers were down again, compared to the previous couple of years. Twenty-seven Piping Plovers were found on three counts (12 at Holly Shelter, 1 at Camp Lejeune, and 14 at Morehead City), and 65 Red Knots on four counts was only slightly different than last year. Jaegers once again were detected off the beaches with 11 Parasitics (Morehead City 6, Kitty Hawk 2, Southport 2, Wilmington 1). The only Razorbills (7) noted were at Cape Hatteras. This species often arrives in our waters in numbers just after the CBC season. Gull numbers were similar to last season, and one Iceland at Cape Hatteras was the only white-winged gull reported. Lesser Black-backed Gull numbers were almost identical to last year’s.

Eurasian Collared-Dove numbers decreased slightly, and the best dove found was the White-winged Dove at Greenville providing the 9^th NC CBC record. No Short-eared or Northern Saw-whet owls were reported this season, however a Snowy Owl provided a Count Week record at Greensboro. By the way, this individual was taken to a rehabber, and was successfully released later in the Spring farther north. Another Whip-poor-will (for the second year in a row) was a good find on the Wilmington count. Also, a nightjar sp. was reported from the Pettigrew count. Wintering Ruby-throated Hummingbird numbers were about the same as last year, and there were only two Rufous (Falls Lake and Greensboro) noted. The rare hummers this season included a Calliope at Charlotte (6^th NC CBC) and a female Broad-billed (2^nd NC CBC) at Southern Shores on the Kitty Hawk count. An Ash-throated Flycatcher was noted on the Pettigrew Count, for the third year in a row. This bird provided the 12^th NC CBC record, all since 2002! Another flycatcher of note was the Western Kingbird at Southport. One of the rarest birds found during this year’s count season was the Warbling Vireo at Kitty Hawk Count Week. This is only the third ever found in a NC Count period. As is often the case, Red-breasted Nuthatches were in very short supply following last year’s influx. Only 27 from 11 counts were recorded. Wren and kinglet numbers decreased from last year, and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers totaled 22, about average for the counts. Eastern Bluebirds were down slightly, while Hermit Thrush numbers increased substantially from last year. Cedar Waxwing numbers were up somewhat from last season, but the number of roaming flocks seemed about the same. No Lapland Longspurs or Snow Buntings were noted this season. Warbler highlights this count season included a waterthrush sp. at Raven Rock (most likely a Northern), a Nashville Warbler Southport (15^th NC CBC), an American Redstart at Gastonia (7^th NC CBC), a Northern Parula at Kitty Hawk, a Black-throated Blue Warbler at Chapel Hill (10^th NC CBC), single Wilson’s Warblers at Kitty Hawk and Alamance County (13^th and 14^th NC CBC), and Yellow-breasted Chats at Kitty Hawk and Charlotte! Sparrow highlights included a Clay-colored Sparrow at Morehead City, two Lark Sparrows at Winston-Salem, single Vesper Sparrows at Raven Rock and Southport, and single Lincoln’s Sparrows at Gastonia, Raleigh, Greenville, New Bern, and Morehead City. The Wilmington Summer Tanager returned for its 9^th winter. Wintering Painted Bunting numbers rose from last year with 12 on seven counts, all coastal except one amazingly far inland at Durham! Red-winged Blackbird numbers were down, while grackle numbers were way up, compared to last year. Rusty Blackbird totals also were way down when compared to last year. The best totals reported were 110 at Cumberland County and 100 at Lake Mattamuskeet. Eleven Brewer’s Blackbirds included six returning birds on the Lake Mattamuskeet count, and singles at Buncombe County and Greenville Wintering Baltimore Oriole numbers dropped drastically with a total of 66 on 16 counts. Purple Finch numbers were also way down - 21 on 10 counts, and Pine Siskins were down - 133 on 17 counts. No Red Crossbills were reported, and Evening Grosbeaks were once again absent.