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Birds that live on or near the water
Also see
Backyard Birds,
the Bird Blog,
Zoo Birds and the
Audubon Swamp Garden page.
See
Masonboro Island stamps with my photos on them, put out by the Wilmington Philatelic Society.
NOTE: All below classifications
have been checked for validity against the
Integrated Taxonomic
Information System. See North
American Breeding Bird Survey Results and Analysis 1966-2003 North Carolina
BBS Summer Distribution Maps 1994-2003. Results for individual
species are broken down below.
To produce a search box, enter CTRL-F. To see larger photos, click on the thumbnails below.
Ducks, Geese and Swans (Anatinae
subfamily, Anatidae family, Anseriformes order)
With a very few obscure exceptions, the Anatinae family comprises almost all of the species in the Anseriformes order.
Ducks
Blue-winged Teals (Anas discors)
Blue-winged Teal BBS Summer Distribution Map, 1994-2003
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| Male
Blue-winged Teal, after preening but before feathers settled
back in place, Turnbull Birding Center, Port Aransas, Nueces County, TX, 2/24/14 |
Male Blue-winged Teal
(Anas discors), Audubon Swamp
Garden, Charleston
County, SC, 3/28/06. |
Female and male Blue-winged Teals, Audubon Swamp
Garden |
Green-winged Teals (Anas carolinensis)
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| Male Green-winged Teal, Turnbull Birding Center, Port
Aransas, TX, 2/20/14 |
Green-winged Teals (male in the foreground), Turnbull Birding Center, Port
Aransas, TX, 2/21/14 |
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Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)
Northern Pintail BBS Summer Distribution Map, 1994, 2003
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| Northern
Pintail Duck with Barnacle Goose and a Common Shelduck in the background, Duke Gardens, Durham, NC, 4/27/15 |
Northern Pintail,
with another duck looking on, Duke Gardens, Durham, NC, 2/14/11 |
Northern Pintails,
Lake Mattamuskeet,
Hyde County, NC, 1/2/06 |
Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos)
Mallards BBS Summer Distribution Map, 1994-2003
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| Mallard couple, Duke Gardens, 3/9/06. |
Mallard pair, Durham, 2/15/17 |
Male Mallard, Durham, NC, 2/29/16 |
Same male Mallard |
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| Mallard family among Water Primroses, Durham, NC, 7/2/16 |
Mallard family, Durham, NC, 4/12/16 |
Mallard family, Duke Gardens, 5/29/03. |
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| Male Mallard, Durham, NC, 3/6/16 |
Male Mallard, Larkspur, Marin County, CA, 5/5/16 |
These Mallards seemed to be protecting the American Coots in the background, marching
in and quacking authoritatively. Lake Park, Carolina Beach, New
Hanover County, 3/11/11 |
Mallard bathing in a large
puddle left by a big storm. Ocracoke, NC, 5/23/12 |
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| Mallard ducklings, Ocracoke, Hyde County, NC, 10/26/16 |
Mallard ducklings, with one sticking its feet out, Duke Gardens, Durham, NC, 4/27/15 |
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Mallard duckling without a family, Ocracoke, Hyde County, NC, 4/20/16 |
Sixteen Mallard ducklings, Ocracoke, Hyde County, NC, 4/15/15 |
Twelve Mallard ducklings, North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh, NC, 4/8/12 |
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) and
American Black Duck (Anas rubripes) hybrids
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| Probably a male
Mallard/American Black Duck hybrid, Duke Gardens, Durham, NC, 2/14/11 (wild, not part of regular exhibit) |
Mallard-American Black Duck hybrid male with Mallard female, Ocracoke, Hyde County, NC, 10/23/16 |
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American Black Duck (Anas rubripes)
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| American Black Duck, Durham, NC, 9/17/17 |
American Black Ducks, Carolina Lake, Carolina Beach, New Hanover County, NC, 8/5/18 |
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Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata)
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| Male Northern Shoveler,
Leonabelle Turnbull Center, Port Aransas, TX, 2/7/13 |
Northern
Shoveler couple, Turnbull Center, 2/7/13 |
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King Eider Ducks (Somateria spectabilis)
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| King Eider ducks, offshore of Slettnes Nature Reserve, Finnmark County, Norway,
date unknown. The photo was taken in the very northern
part of Norway by Danish photographer John Larsen. |
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Ruddy Ducks (Oxyura jamacensis)
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| Nonbreeding male Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis), Duke Gardens, Durham, NC, 4/6/09 |
Breeding male Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis), Lake Park, Carolina Beach, NC, 3/10/10 |
Female Ruddy Duck, Turnbull Center, Port Aransas, TX, 2/22/14 |
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Buffleheads (Bucephala albeola)
Bufflehead BBS Distribution Map, 1994-2003
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| Female Red-breasted Merganser and male Bufflehead, Carolina Lake, Carolina Beach, New Hanover County, NC, 12/23/18 |
Male Bufflehead, Carolina Lake, Carolina Beach, New Hanover County, NC, 12/22/18 |
Female Bufflehead, Carolina Lake, Carolina Beach, New Hanover County, NC, 12/22/18 |
Female
Bufflehead, Pea Island NWR, Dare County, NC,
1/3/06 |
Buffleheads, Carolina Beach, New Hanover
County, NC, 12/21/06. The one in the front
is clearly female and the one directly behind her male; at least two
others are male. |
Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa)
Wood Duck BBS Distribution Map, 1994-2003
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| Male Wood Duck in apparently transitional-to-breeding plumage, Duke Gardens, Durham, NC, 3/17/16. Wings have apparently been cut. |
Male Wood
Duck in breeding plumage, Carolina Beach, New Hanover County, NC, 11/11/13 |
Non-breeding male Wood Duck,
Ft. Fisher Aquarium, New Hanover County, NC, 6/26/08 |
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| Female Wood
Duck with duckling, Moses Cone Memorial Park, Watauga County, NC, 7/18/13 |
Same female Wood Duck, showing colorful feathers |
Young Wood Ducks, Moses Cone Memorial Park, Watauga County, NC, 7/18/13 |
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| Wood Duck, seen at Bass Lake in Moses Cone Memorial
Park, Watauga County, NC, 8/8/06. Curtis Smallwood wrote:
"The young males look like this from about day 100-130 which would be
about right for this time of year." |
Muscovy Ducks (Cairina moschata)
There is great variety in appearance among members of this
formerly domestically bred species.
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| Muscovy Duck, Duke Gardens, Durham, NC, 2/14/11 |
Mellow Muscovy
Duck being challenged by a Common Shelduck at Duke Gardens, Durham, NC, 3/16/10. The
showdown ended with the Muscovy Duck quietly getting in the water and
swimming away. |
Muscovy Duck, Lake Lynn, Raleigh,
NC, 8/29/02. |
Muscovy Duck, Audubon Park, New Orleans, LA, 11/4/18 |
Muscovy Duck,
same time and place as duck on left.
This white duck has yellow and black-and-white ducklings. Lake
Lynn had dried up quite a bit after a drought. 8/29/02, Raleigh, Wake County, NC |
This is one of the Muscovy ducklings pictured on the left. |
Diving Ducks: Aythya genus
Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis)
Lesser Scaup BBS Summer Distribution Map 1994-2003
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| Female Lesser Scaup, Carolina Lake, Carolina Beach, New Hanover County, NC, 12/19/17 |
Lesser Scaup, Duke Gardens, Durham, NC, 3/17/16 |
Breeding male
Lesser
Scaup,
Lake Park, Carolina Beach, New Hanover County, NC, 12/22/09 |
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Redhead (Aythya americana)
Redhead BBS Summer Distribution Map, 1994-2003
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Redhead
(Aythya americana), male in breeding plumage,
Lake Park, Carolina Beach, New Hanover County, NC, 1/5/08 |
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Canvasback (Aythya valisineria)
Canvasback BBS Summer Distribution, 1994-2003
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| Canvasback, Duke Gardens, Durham, NC, 6/12/09 |
Black-bellied Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis)
Black-bellied Whistling Duck BBS Summer Distribution Maps, 1994-2003
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| Black-bellied
Whistling Duck, Brackenridge Park, San Antonio,
Bexar County, TX, 5/28/10 |
Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Audubon Park, New Orleans, Orleans Parish, LA, 11/5/16 |
Black-bellied Whistling Ducks, New Orleans, Orleans Parish, LA, 11/5/16 |
Black-bellied Whistling Ducks, New Orleans, Orleans Parish, LA, 11/5/16 |
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Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus)
Hooded Merganser BBS Summer Distribution Map, 1994-2003
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| Hooded Mergansers, Sarasota, FL, 12/4/14 |
Hooded Mergansers, in a marsh
in a residential Sarasota, FL, neighborhood on 12/2/14 |
Male Hooded Merganser, Sarasota, FL, 1/24/17 |
Hooded Merganser pair, Duke Gardens, Durham, NC, 3/17/16 |
Male Hooded Mergansers (only one clearly visible), North Carolina Museum of Art grounds, Raleigh, Wake County, NC, 11/13/16 |
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Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)
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| Breeding male Red-breasted Merganser, Mustang Island State Park, Port Aransas, TX, 2/7/13 |
Female Red-breasted Merganser and male Bufflehead, Carolina Lake, Carolina Beach State Park, New Hanover County, NC, 12/23/18 |
First-year Red-breasted Merganser, North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh, Wake County, NC, 3/26/16 |
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Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis)
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Male Longtailed Duck (Clangula
hyemalis), Carolina Lake, Carolina Beach, NC, 11/11/12
Male Long-tailed Duck, Carolina Lake, Carolina Beach, New Hanover County, NC, 11/11/12 |
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Ducks: Domestic
These ducks originated in Sweden and China, respectively, and can't be pinned down to a species.
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| Swedish Blue,
Carolina Lake, Carolina Beach, New Hanover County, NC, 3/8/09 |
(Crested) American Pekin Ducks, Carolina Lake, Carolina Beach, New Hanover County, NC, 3/7/17 |
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Geese
Snow Geese (Chen caerulescens)
Seen on Pea Island NWR, Dare County, NC, on 1/3/06.
These geese summer in northern Canada during their breeding season;
adults and juveniles fly to the mid-Atlantic coast (among other places) in
winter.
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| The goose on the left is apparently a
juvenile, while the other is an adult. |
In flight. |
The geese with the black bodies and white
heads are dark-form adult Snow Geese. |
Canada
Geese (Branta Canadensis)
Canada Goose BBS Summer Distribution Map, 1994-2003
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| Canada Goose landing, Washington, Beaufort, NC, |
Canada Goose,
flying to catch its balance after slipping on lake ice. Parkwood Lake, Durham, NC, 1/7/10 |
Canada Goose, River Park North, Greenville, Pitt County, NC, 1/31/16 |
Canada Geese, Durham, NC, 8/21/16 |
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| Canada Goose goslings, Larkspur, Marin County, CA, 4/27/18 |
Canada Goose goslings, Wannamaker
County Park, Charleston County, SC, 3/28/06. |
Half-grown Canada
Goose gosling, Wilmington, New Hanover County, NC, 6/23/07. Seen near a
drainage pond. |
Canada Goose family, Moses Cone Memorial Park, Watauga County, NC, 6/6/17 |
Canada Goose and Greylag Goose pair
Interspecies mating is suggested by some of these scenes. I first
saw this interspecies couple in 2003 and last saw what may have been them in
2005, when they mostly sat around.
In May 2006, I saw no Greylag Geese and
all of the Canada Geese were youthful and energetic. They and the
apparent hybrids pictured below, perhaps the offspring of the original couple,
stayed together in a group, but no coupling was apparent. There were four
apparent hybrids in all, and about the same number of Canada Geese.
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| Goose family, town of Ocracoke, NC, 5/12/03. Definitely not a
typical Canada Goose (Branta Canadensis) family here! The other
adult is a Greylag Goose. I counted 8
goslings, one of
which seems to be facing toward me. (Purebred Canada Goose goslings are
tawny.) |
A little over two years later (town of
Ocracoke, 5/18/05), I
spotted what appears to be this odd couple again. They stayed on
land this time, mostly sitting or eating grass, and I saw them on several different days
in the same general area. I didn't see them in May 2006. |
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| Apparent
Canada Goose/Greylag Goose
hybrid, maybe the offspring of the couple on the left, Ocracoke, Hyde
County, NC, 5/18/05. This goose and its Canada Goose companion
hung around with the goose couple in the picture on the left in the
evenings. |
The goose on the right (also pictured at
left) hung around with this Canada Goose, doing some swimming and some
flying. The last time I saw them, they had spotted something
interesting in Silver Lake and were flying toward it, honking wildly.
Note the contrast between the Canada Goose on the left and the
apparent hybrid on the right. Even though goslings had appeared in Ocracoke in
mid-May of 2003, none of any species showed up this time anywhere on Ocracoke Island. |
Apparently an hybrid
Canada Goose. Ocracoke, Hyde County, NC, 5/10/06 |
Canada Goose, Ocracoke, Hyde County,
NC, 5/10/06 |
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| Canada
Goose territorial battle. There was a lot of honking
leading up to the chasing of two geese onto the far shore.
Southpoint Swamp, Durham, NC, 3/16/11 |
Canada Goose,
flying to catch its balance after slipping on lake ice. Parkwood
Lake, Durham, NC, 1/7/10 |
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Feral (wild domestic breed) Geese
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| Chinese Goose (Anser cygnoides)
Bay St. Louis, Hancock County, MS, 10/15/10 |
Grey Saddleback Pomeranian Goose,
a variety of Greylag Goose (Anser anser) and Embden Goose.
North River Park, Greenville, Pitt County, 2/15/06. IDs thanks
to Jennifer Gordon of the Carolina Wildlife Rescue, Indian Trail, NC. |
Chinese Goose, domesticated
descendant of the East Asian Swan
Goose (Anser cygnoides), the lake
at Carolina Beach, New Hanover County, NC. |
Same Chinese Goose with some white
Embden Geese, a Blue Swede duck and another
unidentifiable duck, at Lake Park, Carolina
Beach, New Hanover County, NC, 6/26/08. |
Embden Geese, Chinese Geese, and a pale variant of the
Pomeranian Goose breed, Elizabeth City, Pasquotank
County, NC, 12/20/08. |
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Pomeranian Geese, a breed of Greylag Geese (Anser anser),downtown Elizabeth City,
Pasquotank County, NC, 12/20/08. |
Egyptian Goose,
Durham, NC, 3/29/09 |
Greylag (Barnyard) Geese, Black Mountain, NC,
7/14/02, according to Will Cook of Duke University. This is a
domestic species imported from Europe. |
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Swans (Anatidae family, Anseriformes order)
Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus)
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Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus), Duke Gardens, Durham, NC, 4/6/09. This an exotic species, captive with clipped wings. |
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)
Mute Swan BBS Summer Distribution Map, 1994-2003
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| Mute Swan, Airlie Gardens,
Wilmington, NC, 8/28/03, about to begin the preening process. This
is probably a captive animal. |
Mute Swan,
Pea Island NWR, Dare County, NC, 1/3/06. |
Mute Swan,
same time and place (Pea Island, 1/3/06) |
Tundra Swans (Cygnus columbianus)
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| Tundra Swans, Lake
Mattamuskeet, Hyde County, NC, 1/2/06 |
Cranes (Gruidae family, Gruiformes order)
Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis)
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| Sandhill Crane with prey, Myakka River State Park, Sarasota, FL, 1/25/17 |
Same Sandhill Crane |
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Whooping Cranes (Grus americana)
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| Whooping Cranes, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Rockport, TX, 2/6/13 |
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Rails and Coots (Rallidae family, Gruiformes order)
They look like ducks, but only because you
can't see their unwebbed feet.
American birds formerly called Common Moorhens have
been split into a new species, the Common Gallinule.
Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata)
Common Moorhen BBS Summer Distribution Map, 1994-2003
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| Common Gallinule, Sarasota, FL, 1/24/17 |
Common
Gallinule, Turnbull Birding Center, Port Aransas, Nueces County,
TX, 2/7/13 |
Common
Gallinule, Ringling Museum of Art grounds, Sarasota,
FL, 3/30/12 |
Young
Common Gallinule, part of a group at Audubon Swamp Garden,
10/11/07. ID confirmed by Simon Thompson. |
American Coot (Fulica americana)
American Coot BBS Summer Distribution Map, 1994-2003
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| American
Coot, with distinctive foot showing, Washington, Beaufort
County, NC, 11/12/11 |
American Coot,
Carolina Lake, Carolina Beach, New Hanover County, NC, 1/18/11 |
American Coot,
Ocracoke Island, Hyde County, NC, 5/19/05. |
These Mallards seemed to be protecting the American Coots in the background, marching
in and quacking authoritatively. |
American Coot,
Lake Park,
Carolina Beach, NC, New Hanover County, NC, 3/9/09 |
American Coots, showing feet.
Lake Park,
Carolina Beach, NC, New Hanover County, NC, 3/11/11 |
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| About 75 American Coots,
Carolina Lake, Carolina Beach, New Hanover County, NC, 3/12/11 |
Part of the
underside of an American Coot foot. Though it isn't webbed, three
curved pads stick out on each side of each talon, and you see an extra
spiky "claw" on top. Lake Park, New Hanover County, NC,
3/12/11 |
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| American Coots,
Lake Mattamuskeet,
NC, 1/2/06. |
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Limpkins (Aramidae family, Gruiformes)
Limpkin (Aramus guarana)
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| Limpkin with snail prey, Myakka River State Park, Sarasota, FL, 1/25/17 |
Three Limpkins in the open and another mostly hidden, Myakka River State Park, Sarasota, FL, 1/25/17 |
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Loons (Gaviidae family, Gaviiformes order)
We never get to hear the famous loon cry because they
only do it during breeding season up in Canada and the northernmost
parts of the U.S.
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| Common Loon (Gavia immer), Manteo, Dare County, NC, 2/17/11 |
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Grebes (Podicipedidae family, Podicipediformes order)
These are small birds that can stay under water for a very
long time. As is the case with all rails, their feet aren't webbed.
Look for these birds when the weather is cold.
Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus
podiceps)
Pied-billed Grebe BBS Summer Distribution Map, 1994-2003
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| Pied-billed Grebe, Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center, Port Aransas,
Nueces County, TX, 2/7/13 |
Pied-billed Grebe, in
non-breeding plumage, Southpoint Swamp, Durham, NC, 11/26/12 |
Pied-billed Grebe, Ringling Museum of Art, Sarasota, FL, 3/30/12 |
Pied-billed Grebe in breeding plumage, Lake Park, Carolina
Beach, NC, 3/8/09 |
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Horned Grebes (Podiceps auritus)
Horned Grebe BBS Summer Distribution Map, 1994-2003
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| Horned Grebes, Bay St. Louis, Hancock County, MS, 1/9/09 |
Nonbreeding Horned Grebe, Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, New Hanover County, NC, 12/28/15 |
Horned Grebe family, Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, New Hanover County, NC, 12/28/15 |
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Eared Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis)
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| Breeding Eared Grebe, Larkspur, Marin County, CA, 4/28/17 |
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Western Grebes (Aechmophorus occidentalis)
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| Western Grebe, Larkspur, Marin County, CA, 4/25/18 |
Western Grebes, Larkspur, Marin County, CA, 4/25/18 |
Western Grebe,
at the ferry station in Tiburon, Marin County, CA, 10/4/12 |
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Herons, Egrets and Bitterns (Ardeidae family, Pelicaniformes order)
Green Heron BBS Summer Distribution Map, 994, 2003
Little Blue Heron BBS Summer Distribution Map, 1994, 2003
No (North Carolina) distribution map for the Reddish Egret is available.
Green Herons (Butorides virescens)
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| Green Heron, Huntington Beach State Park, Georgetown County, SC, 6/25/12 |
Green Heron, Carolina Lake, Carolina Beach, New Hanover County, NC, 12/20/17 |
Green Heron
(Butorides virescens),
Durham, NC, 6/26/05. This bird came to a small swamp near where I
live. |
Green Heron (Butorides virescens), Durham, NC, 7/17/11 |
Reddish Egrets (Egretta rufescens)
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| Reddish Egret,
South Lido Park, Sarasota County,
FL, 12/2/14 |
Reddish Egret at Port Aransas Wildlife Nature Preserve, Nueces County, TX,
2/5/13 |
Same
Reddish Egret doing what I understand to be its famous dance.
Port Aransas Wildlife Nature Preserve, Nueces County, TX, 2/5/13 |
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Tricolored Herons (Egretta tricolor)
Tricolored Heron BBS Summer Distribution Map, 1994-2003
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| Tricolored Heron with "catch," Carolina Beach, New Hanover County, NC, 8/5/18 |
Tricolored Heron,
a marsh in a residential area in Sarasota, FL, 12/1/14 |
Tricolored Heron,
Turnbull Birding Center, Port Aransas, TX, 2/7/13 |
Tricolored Heron (probably
just a visitor), Sarasota Jungle Gardens, Sarasota, FL, 3/30/12 |
Tricolored Heron,
Ft. Fisher State Recreational Area, New Hanover County, NC, 12/3/07 |
Tricolored Heron and Snowy Egret pursuing fish prey, Myakka River State Park, Sarasota County, Florida, 1/25/17 |
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Little Blue Herons (Egretta caerulea)
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| Little Blue Heron,
Sarasota, by Sarasota Bay, Florida, 12/2/14 |
Juvie Little Blue Heron. Carolina Lake, Carolina Beach, NC, 12/20/17 |
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Juvie Little Blue Heron, Sarasota, FL, 1/24/17 |
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Great Blue Herons (Ardea herodias)
Great Blue Heron BBS Summer Distribution Map, 1994-2003
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| Great
Blue Heron, South Lido Park, Sarasota County, FL, 12/2/14 |
Great Blue Heron, Duke Gardens, Durham, NC, 3/16/10 |
Great Blue Heron,
Durham, NC, 12/23/05. |
Great Blue Heron,
Lake Lynn,
Wake County, NC. |
Great
Blue Heron, Gulfport, Harrison County, MS, 1/9/09 |
Great Blue Heron,
Duke Gardens,
7/24/05. |
Great Egrets (Ardea alba)
Great Egret BBS Summer Distribution Map, 1994-2003
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| Great Egret, with single large feather showing, Myakka River State Park, Sarasota County, 1/25/17 |
Great Egret,
South Lido Park, Sarasota County, FL, 12/2/14 |
Great Egret, Ocracoke, Hyde County,
NC, 5/15/05. |
Great Egrets,
Audubon Swamp Garden,
Charleston County, SC, 3/28/06. |
Great Egret, Ft. Fisher Recreation Area (Battery Buchanan Tour Stop), New
Hanover County, NC, 5/23/11 |
Great Egret, Cedar Point, Bay St. Louis, Hancock County, MS, 10/16/17 |
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Snowy Egrets (Egretta thula)
Snowy Egret BBS Summer Distribution Map, 1994-2003
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| Snowy Egret, Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, New Hanover County, NC, 8/13/18 |
Snowy Egret,
South Lido Park, Sarasota County, FL, 12/2/14 |
Snowy Egret,
Leona Turnbull Birding Center, Port Aransas, TX 2/7/13 |
Snowy Egret,
St. Augustine, St. Johns County, FL, 3/12/13 |
Snowy Egret,
Ocracoke, Hyde County, NC, 5/18/05. Note orange feet, in contrast
with Great Egret's black feet. |
Snowy Egret,
Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, Dare County, NC, 5/7/06 |
Snowy Egret, Ocracoke, Hyde County, NC, 5/14/07 |
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| Snowy Egret flushing out at least four and maybe six fish, Gulfport, Harrison County, MS, 10/12/17 |
Same Snowy Egret flushing out three fish. After doing this dance, the egret flew a little distance away and then slowly walked back to where it flushed the fish. Sometimes it stayed where it had flown, perhaps after being disappointed. I saw a Tricolored Heron do this a couple of days later in the same general area. |
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Cattle Egrets (Bubulcus ibis)
Cattle Egret BBS Summer Distribution Map, 1994-2003
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| Cattle Egret in
flight, from Brackenridge Park, San Antonio, Bexar County, TX, 5/28/10 |
Cattle Egret, also
in flight, from Brackenridge Park, San Antonio, Bexar County, TX,
5/28/10 |
Cattle Egret
returning to nest with twig, Brackenridge Park, Bexar County, San
Antonio, TX, 5/28/10 |
Cattle Egret by
San Antonio River, Bexar County, TX, 5/28/10 |
Cattle Egret
(Bubulcus ibis), Ocracoke Island, Hyde
County, NC, 5/10/06 |
Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Black-crowned Night Heron BBS Summer Distribution Map, 1994-2003
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| Black-crowned Night Heron, Larkspur, Marin County, CA, 4/27/18 |
Maybe the same Black-crowned Night Heron, over marsh |
Black-crowned Night Heron, Larkspur ferry terminal, Marin
County, CA, 9/11/14 |
Young Black-crowned Night Heron, Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Sanibel, Lee County, FL, 12/3/15 |
Another young Black-crowned Night Heron, Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Sanibel, Lee County, FL, 12/3/15 |
Young Black-crowned Night Heron, Larkspur, Marin County, CA, 4/29/18 |
Black-crowned Night-Heron, town of Ocracoke, 5/19/05. This was probably the first of this species that I ever saw. |
Juvenile Black-crowned
Night Heron, Roanoke Island Marsh Game Land, 2/17/11. Grass in the foreground created the bokeh. |
|
Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea)
Yellow-crowned Night Heron BBS Summer Distribution, Map 1994-2003
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| Yellow-crowned
Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea), San Antonio, Bexar County, TX,
5/27/10 |
Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea), Wilmington,
New Hanover County, NC, 6/23/07 |
Juvenile
Yellow-crowned Night Heron. Ft. Fisher Basin Trail, New Hanover County,
NC, 8/11/11 |
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American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus)
American Bittern BBS Summer Distribution Map, 1994-2003
 |
| American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus), Ft. Fisher State
Recreational Area, New Hanover County, NC, 12/19/06. ID thanks to Ritch Lilly.
Its
NatureServe
rank is G4, i.e., "uncommon but not rare" and its
corresponding state rank is S1B ("critically imperiled"
breeding population, S3N ("vulnerable" due to restricted range, 80 or
fewer population or other similar factors).
BBS Distribution Map: 1994-2003 |
Ibises and Spoonbills (Threskiornithidae family, Pelicaniformes order)
White Ibises (Eudocimus albus)
White Ibis BBS Summer Distribution Map, 1994-2003
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| Adult
White Ibises, Ft.
Fisher Recreation Area, New Hanover County, NC, 8/29/12 |
Subadult White Ibises, Ft. Fisher Recreation Area, New Hanover
County, NC, 8/29/12 |
White Ibis,
South Lido Park, Sarasota, FL, 4/1/12 |
White Ibises,
New Hanover County, NC, 11/19/04. |
White Ibis, Carolina Lake,
Carolina Beach, New Hanover County, 10/20/14 |
White Ibis,
Audubon Swamp Garden,
Charleston County, SC, 3/28/06. |
Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellis)
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| Glossy Ibis and Limpkin, Myakka River State Park, Sarasota County, FL, 1/25/17 |
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Roseate Spoonbills (Platalea ajaja)
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| Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja), catching prey at a marsh in a residential
Sarasota, FL, neighborhood, 12/1/14 |
Roseate Spoonbill, Myakka River State Park, Sarasota County, FL, 1/25/17 |
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Wood Storks
(Ciconiidae Family,
Ciconiiformes order)
Wood Stork BBS Summer Distribution Map, 1994-2003
Wood Stork (Mycteria americana)
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| Wood Stork,
Lake Morton, Lakeland, FL, 8/13/10. Copyright © Noela T. Martell Segura 2010 |
Wood Storks, St. Augustine, FL, 3/13/13 |
Wood Stork, Anastasia State Park, St. Augustine, FL, 3/28/15 |
Wood Stork standing among water hyacinths, Myakka River State Park,
Sarasota County, FL, 12/3/14 |
Wood Storks, Huntington Beach State Park, Georgetown County, NC, 6/25/12 |
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Gulls (Laridae family,
Charadriiformes order)
Ring-billed Gulls
(Larus delawarensis)
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| Ring-billed Gull,
with berry? Downtown Manteo, Dare County, NC, 2/17/11 |
Ring-billed Gull
at
Carolina Lake, Carolina Beach, New Hanover County, NC, 3/11/11 |
Ring-billed Gulls
Ft. Fisher State Recreation Area, New Hanover County, NC,
12/2/12 |
Ring-billed Gull,
North Beach, Carolina Beach, NC, 12/14/04. You won't find this
gull in NC in the summer: this species goes up to southern Canada
and the very northern continental US then. |
Ring-billed Gull,
Harkers Island,
3/22/05 |
Ring-billed Gull, Harker's Island, 3/22/05 |
Herring Gulls (Larus argentatus)
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| Second-year juvie Herring Gull , Ocracoke,
5/9/04. |
First-year juvie Herring Gulls, over Pamlico Sound, Hyde County, NC, 4/12/15 |
Almost-adult Herring Gull, over Pamlico Sound, Hyde County, NC, 4/17/16 |
Adult Herring Gull, over Pamlico Sound, Hyde County, NC, 4/17/16 |
Breeding adult Herring Gull, over Pamlico Sound, Hyde County, NC, 4/12/15 |
|
Laughing Gulls (Leucophaeus atricilla)
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| Laughing Gulls' courtship. Ocracoke, Hyde County, NC, 5/22/17 |
Juvenile
Laughing Gull, Kure
Beach, New Hanover County, NC, 12/14/04. |
Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus)
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| Great Black-backed Gull,
Ocracoke, Hyde County, NC, 5/15/07 |
Great Black-backed Gull, Ocracoke, Hyde County, NC, 10/24/16 |
Flock of Great Black-backed Gulls, same day |
Four Great Black-backed Gulls, same day |
|
Bonaparte's Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia)
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| Bonaparte's Gull, Myrtle Beach, SC, 3/17/08 |
Bonaparte's Gull, Carolina Lake, Carolina Beach, New Hanover County, NC, 1/19/12 |
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Terns (Sternidae family, Charadriiformes order)
Royal Tern (Sterna maxima)
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| Royal Tern (Sterna maxima), non-breeding plumage.
Battery Buchanan (Federal Point), Ft. Fisher Recreation Area, New
Hanover County, NC, 3/13/11 |
Royal Tern (Sterna maxima),
breeding plumage. Battery Buchanan
(Federal Point), Ft. Fisher Recreation Area, New Hanover County, NC,
3/13/11 |
Royal Tern (Sterna maxima) preparing to
dive, Pamlico Sound near Ocracoke, Hyde County, NC, 5/22/12 |
Forster's Tern (Sterna forsteri)
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| Forster's Tern, Gulfport, Harrison County, MS,
1/10/09. |
Forster's Tern, Sarasota, FL, 12/2/14 |
Forster's Tern about to dive, Sarasota, FL, 2/25/18 |
Forster's Tern, Sarasota, FL, 2/25/18 |
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Least Tern
(Sterna antillarum)
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| Least Tern, Cedar Island, Hyde County, NC, 5/8/13 |
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Black Skimmers (Rynchops
niger, Rynchopidae family, Charadriiformes order)
Black Skimmer BBS Summer Distribution Map, 1994-2003
 |
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| Black Skimmer
(Rynchops niger) in
flight, with unequal upper and lower bill sizes clearly visible,
Gulfport, Harrison County, MS, 10/17/10 |
Black Skimmer
doing "skimming," i.e., scooping prey from the water with its lower beak,
Gulfport, Harrison County, MS, 10/15/10 |
Group of Black Skimmers flying,
Gulfport, Harrison County, MS, 10/14/10 |
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| Black Skimmers and gulls in the process of moving to a new spot on the beach, Gulfport, Harrison County, MS, 10/12/17 |
Black Skimmer,
Carolina Lake, Carolina Beach, new Hanover County, NC, 5/23/11 in the
evening |
Black Skimmers, same place |
Plovers, Killdeers and Oystercatchers (Charadriidae family, Charadriiformes order)
Piping Plovers (Charadrius melodus)
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| First-year Piping Plover, which eventually flew past me after walking toward me. Ocracoke Island (north end), Hyde County, NC, 10/27/16 |
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Semipalmated Plovers (Charadrius
semipalmatus)
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| Nonbreeding Semi-palmated Plover, Gulfport, Harrison County, MS, 10/16/17 |
Nonbreeding Semipalmated Plover, Ocracoke, Hyde County, NC, 5/26/18 |
Breeding Semi-palmated Plover, Cedar Island, Hyde County, NC, 5/8/13 |
Another breeding Semipalmated Plover, Ocracoke Island, Hyde County, NC, 5/12/09 |
Juvie Semipalmated Plover at Ft. Fisher State Recreation Area,
10/21/14. I question this ID, not just because it doesn't fit
Sibley's pictures but because those who gave this ID were under
the impression that the black eyepatch is only there in breeding
birds. |
Another juvie Semipalmated Plover,
same date, place and issue as the one on the left. |
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Killdeers (Charadrius vociferus)
Killdeers will show up wherever there are large puddles, although they are also found in estuaries.
Killdeer BBS Distribution Map, 1994-2003
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| Killdeer, Gulfport, Harrison County, MS, 10/16/17 |
Killdeer,
Cedar Island, Hyde County, NC, 5/8/13 |
Killdeer, Durham, NC, 1/12/16. This was at a developing local pond; the orange temporary fence kept the lawn mowers away from the site during its first year. |
Killdeer pair, Durham, NC, 1/12/16 |
Killdeer,
Washington, Beaufort County, NC, 11/12/11 |
Killdeer in a
muddy area on the waterfront, downtown Morehead City, Carteret County,
NC, 10/17/11 |
Killdeer in flight,
Lake Park, Carolina Beach, New Hanover County, NC, 1/18/11 |
Killdeer
in flight, Bay St. Louis, Hancock County, MS, 1/11/09 |
|
Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)
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| Black-bellied Plover, Ocracoke Island, Hyde County, NC, 5/23/18 |
Black-bellied Plover,
Ocracoke Island, Hyde County, NC 5/24/12 |
Black-bellied Plover,
Ocracoke Island, Hyde County, NC 5/24/12 |
Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola),
Ocracoke Island, 5/16/05 (breeding plumage). |
Non-breeding Black-bellied Plover, South Lido Park, Sarasota
County, FL, 12/4/14 |
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American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus, Charadriidae family, Charadriiformes order)
American Oystercatcher BBS Summer Distribution Map, 1994-2003
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| American Oystercatcher by the Cape Fear River, Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, New Hanover County, NC, 12/21/17 |
Same American Oystercatcher with prey |
American Oystercatchers, Battery Buchanan jetty, Ft.
Fisher Recreational Area, New Hanover County, NC, 12/27/15 |
American Oystercatchers, Battery Buchanan jetty, Ft.
Fisher Recreational Area, New Hanover County, NC, 12/22/09 |
American
Oystercatcher, standing relatively near the boat ramp. Battery
Buchanan (Federal Point), Ft. Fisher Recreation Area, New Hanover
County, NC, 3/13/11 |
Two American
Oystercatchers, flying toward the jetty from the ferry area.
Battery Buchanan (Federal Point), Ft. Fisher Recreation Area, New
Hanover County, NC, 3/13/11 |
|
Sandpipers, Sanderlings, Ruddy Turnstones,
Yellowlegs (Scolopacidae family, Charadriiformes order)
Sanderlings (Calidris alba)
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| Sanderling in breeding plumage, Ocracoke, Hyde County, NC, 5/27/17 |
Nonbreeding Sanderling, Carolina Beach, New
Hanover County, NC, 12/3/12 |
Sanderling in breeding plumage, Ocracoke Island,
Hyde County, NC, 5/24/12 |
Transitional Sanderling
(Calidris alba), Ocracoke, 5/9/04. A kind of
sandpiper. |
JuvieSanderling,
Carolina Beach, 10/20/05 |
A flock of Sanderlings at Carolina
Beach, New Hanover County, NC, 9/27/10 |
|
Dunlin (Calidris alpina)
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| Juvenile Dunlin on jetty,
Battery Buchanan
(Federal Point), Ft. Fisher Recreation Area, New
Hanover County, NC, 3/13/11 |
Dunlin
(Calidris alpina), Ocracoke, Hyde County,
NC, 5/10/06. Breeding plumage. |
Western Sandpiper (Calidris mauri)
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| Western Sandpipers, at the ferry area in Larkspur, Marin County, NC, 4/29/18 |
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Red Knot (Calidris canutus, subspecies rufa)
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| Red Knots, two in breeding plumage, Ocracoke Island, Hyde County, NC, 5/26/18 |
Red Knots seeking mollusks, one in breeding plumage, Ocracoke Island, Hyde County, NC, 5/26/18 |
Most of a large group of Red Knots, Ocracoke Island, Hyde County, NC, 5/26/18 |
Red Knot flying,
Ocracoke Island, Hyde County, NC, 5/24/12 |
Red Knot,
Fort Macon State Park, Carteret County, NC, 5/21/12. Note
the red band. |
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Ruddy Turnstones (Atenaria
interpres)
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| Ruddy Turnstone, Carolina Beach, New Hanover County, NC, 12/23/18 |
Ruddy Turnstone, Gulfport, Harrison County, MS, 10/15/17. Probably a juvenile. |
Non-breeding Ruddy Turnstone, Ft. Fisher State Recreation Area,
New Hanover County, NC, 10/21/14. Probably a juvenile. |
Non-breeding Ruddy Turnstone, Carolina Beach, New Hanover
County, NC, 12/3/12 |
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| Breeding Ruddy Turnstone, Ocracoke Island, Hyde County, NC, 5/23/18 |
Transitional breeding Ruddy Turnstone, Port Aransas,
Nueces County, TX, 2/6/13 |
Ruddy Turnstone in
breeding plumage, Atlantic Beach, Carteret County, NC, 5/21/12 |
Same Ruddy Turnstone,
Atlantic Beach, Carteret County, NC, 5/21/12 |
Ruddy Turnstones (Atenaria interpres)
in breeding plumage, Ocracoke
Island, 5/16/05. These migratory birds summer in northern Canada. |
Ruddy
Turnstone in breeding plumage, Ocracoke Island,
5/16/05. |
|
Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa)
 |
 |
_small.JPG) |
| Non-breeding Marbled Godwit in the Gulf of Mexico, Gulfport, Harrison County, MS, 10/16/17 |
Non-breeding Marbled Godwits and other birds, maybe Willets, in a puddle near the Gulf of Mexico shore, created by Hurricane Nate a few days earlier. Gulfport, Harrison County, MS, 10/15/17 |
Non-breeding Marbled Godwit and
Sanderling, north end of Ocracoke Island, Hyde County, NC,
5/23/12 |
Short-billed Dowitchers (Limnodromus griseus)
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| Short-billed Dowitchers
(Limnodromus griseus), on the jetty at Ft. Fisher State
Recreation Area, New Hanover County, NC, 10/21/14 |
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Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus)
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| Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus), Mustang Island, Nueces County, TX, 2/5/13 |
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Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)
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| Whimbrel, Larkspur, Marin County, CA, 4/28/17 |
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Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularia)
Spotted Sandpiper BBS Summer Distribution Map, 1994-2003
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| Spotted Sandpiper at Lake
Susan, Montreat, Buncombe County, NC, 5/2/12. |
Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularia), Ocracoke,
Hyde County, NC, 5/10/06 |
|
Willet (Catoptrophorus semipalmatus)
Willet BBS Summer Distribution Map, 1994-2003
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| Willet, South Lido Park, Sarasota County, FL, 12/2/14 |
Willet, Pine Knoll Shores, Carteret County, NC, 8/22/16 |
Breeding Willet, Ocracoke, Hyde County, NC, 4/23/16 |
Willet, Gulfport, Harrison County, MS, 10/18/15 |
Willet, Fort Fisher Recreational Area, New
Hanover County, NC, 6/21/07 |
Willet, Carolina
Beach, NC, New Hanover County, NC, 9/18/07 |
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| Willet, Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, 8/27/12 |
Willet, Carolina Beach, New Hanover County, NC, 11/11/13 |
Willet, Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, 12/3/15 |
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Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa genus)
Greater Yellowlegs BBS Distribution Map, 1994-2003
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| Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes), Myakka River State Park, Sarasota County, FL, 1/25/17 |
Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes), Port Aransas Nature Preserve at Charlie's
Pasture, Nueces County, TX 2/23/14 |
Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes), Port Aransas Nature Preserve at Charlie's
Pasture, Nueces County, TX 2/24/14 |
Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca), Ocracoke, Hyde County, NC,
5/10/06 |
Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes), Durham, 5/2/05. This sandpiper appeared in a small swamp in my neighborhood. |
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Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata)
|
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| Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata), Port Aransas, Nueces County, TX, 2/22/14 |
|
American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana)
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| Avocet, Corte Madera Ecological Reserve, Marin County, CA, 4/27/18 |
Same Avocet |
|
Pelicans (Pelecanidae family, Pelicaniformes order)
Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)
Brown Pelican BBS Summer Distribution Maps, 1994-2003
 |
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 |
 |
| Brown Pelican (Pelecanus
occidentalis), South Lido Park, near Sarasota, FL, 2/10/03. This
little park has the tamest wildlife of any place I've ever seen.
People come here to fish on a regular basis and big birds such as this
pelican waited for handouts. This pelican was a wallflower, chased
away by a fisherman who favored a great blue heron. |
Brown Pelicans, Kure Beach,
New Hanover County, NC, 4/29/05, in breeding plumage as is the pelican
on the left. |
Brown Pelican, Morehead City,
Carteret County, NC, 3/22/05, in winter plumage. |
Brown Pelican, Kure Beach, NC,
4/29/05. In breeding plumage. |
Juvenile
Brown Pelican,
Kure Beach,
NC, 12/12/05. |
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Brown Pelican demonstrating bone structure of wings,
Carolina Beach, New Hanover County, NC, 3/9/09 |
Flying Brown Pelican, Carolina Beach, New Hanover County, NC,
3/9/09 |
Diving Brown Pelican, Carolina Beach, New Hanover County, NC,
3/9/09 |
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American White Pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)
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| American White Pelicans, Myakka River State Park, Sarasota County, FL, 1/25/17 |
American White Pelicans (three with breeding horns), Sarasota, FL, 2/27/18 |
American White Pelicans, which never returned after this evening, Gulfport, Harrison County, MS, 10/11/17 |
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| American White Pelicans (and a few Double-crested Cormorants), Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Sanibel Island, Lee County, FL, 12/5/15 |
American White Pelican (with breeding horn), Sarasota, FL, 2/27/18 |
American White Pelican, New Orleans, LA, 11/11/18. Just visiting the zoo! |
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Boobies and Gannets (Sulidae family, Suliformes order)
|
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| First-year Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster), St. Augustine Beach, FL, 3/25/15 |
Same
first-year Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster) with protective
Brown Pelicans, St. Augustine Beach, FL, 3/25/15 |
Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus), downtown St. Augustine, FL, 3/12/13 |
|
Anhingas (Anhingidae family, Suliformes order)
Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga)
Anhinga BBS Summer Distribution, 1994-2003
 |
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| Female Anhinga calling (croaking sound), Ding Darling National Wildlife Nature Preserve, Sanibel Island, Lee County, FL, 12/4/15 |
Female Anhinga, Ringling Art Museum grounds, Sarasota, FL, 1/26/17 |
Female Anhinga,
Ringling Art Museum grounds, Sarasota, FL, 12/4/14 |
Possibly immature male Anhinga,
St. Augustine, St. Johns County, FL, 3/13/13 |
Male Anhinga,
Ringling Museum of Art, Sarasota, FL, 3/30/12 |
Nonbreeding male Anhinga, Sarasota Bay, Sarasota, FL, 12/2/14 |
|
Cormorants
(Phalacrocoracidae family, Suliformes order)
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)
Double-crested Cormorant BBS Summer Distribution Map, 1994-2003
 |
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| Nonbreeding adult Double-crested Cormorant, River Park North, Greenville, Pitt County, NC, 1/6/19 |
First-year Double-crested Cormorant, Boone, Watauga County, NC, 10/15/18 |
First-year Double-crested Cormorant, Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, New Hanover County, NC, 12/26/15 |
First-year Double-crested Cormorant, Ocracoke, Hyde County, NC, 10/23/16 |
First-year Double-crested Cormorant, Turner Beach, Captiva Island, Lee County, FL, 12/4/15 |
First-year Double-crested Cormorant
(Phalacrocorax auritus), juvenile, Carolina
Beach, NC, 8/8/02. Cormorants don't have the oils necessary to
keep their feathers waterproof, so they let them dry in this fashion.
Until you understand this, though, this process can be an alarming
sight! |
Adult (background)
and first-year Double-crested Cormorants,
Huntington Beach State Park, Georgetown County, SC, 3/18/08 |
Double-crested Cormorant,
Huntington Beach State Park, Georgetown County, SC, 3/18/08 |
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| Double-crested Cormorants and gulls, Big Foot Island Island (near Ocracoke Island), Hyde County, NC, 10/22/16 |
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| Some of hundreds, maybe thousands of
(Double-crested?) Cormorants flying west, viewed from the Battle Acre
parking lot. Later on, far down the public beach (near the
Cape Fear River), they took a right turn, toward the north. There
are a few birds in the water, which I'd guess to be Pied-bill Grebes.
Ft. Fisher State Recreation Area, New Hanover County, NC, 3/13/11. |
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|
Copyright © 2005-2019 by Dorothy E. Pugh (unless
otherwise specified). All rights reserved.
.JPG)
