Day 2 started at 7am, as Matt Daw, Mike McCloy, and myself met up with Matt Gould to bird a private location in Craven County. It was well worth it. In addition to a number of common species that we missed yesterday, I managed to get two rarities, CAVE SWALLOW and RED-NECKED GREBE. Though we tried, we failed to find a LeConte's Sparrow. After a successful morning, we went down to Carteret County with Yellow Rails on our mind, but after a few hours of searching coupled with higher than ideal water conditions, we were forced to give up. The search did produce the first of the year Nelson's Sparrow, Lesser Yellowlegs, a few rails, and other random marsh birds. The day ended at the Ceder Island Ferry Terminal, picking up a rare Carteret County Loggerhead Shrike, and looking in vain for the elusive Black Rail that breeds in these same marshes in the summer.
Total: 138
Ali: In high water at the N River Marshes, I have had success in the marshes just north of the causeway. There is a long low island with some scraggly bushes and a few junipers just a tad north of hwy 70. The vegetation prevents a rope drag. Instead, with four or more people, just form up and walk the island, and keep an eagle eye on your feet. It seems that the rails pile in on that island at high tide with the water so high.
ReplyDelete