Hello, this is a July 15 update of the Carolina Rare Bird Alert featuring birding news from North and South Carolina sponsored by the Carolina Bird Club. Highlights on this report include:

ROSEATE SPOONBILL
BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCKS
WHITE PELICANS
REDDISH EGRETS

The best birds from recent trips to Bear Island WMA and Donnelly WMA in South Carolina include a ROSEATE SPOONBILL at Bear Island; and 4 BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCKS and 8 WHITE PELICANS at Donnelly. To look for the spoonbill, from behind the Headquarters go down the road to the end of the state property. Park and go through the gate on the right. Take the second dike system to the right. The spoonbill has been seen in a stand of trees halfway along the canal.

REDDISH EGRETS have been seen near Hatteras Village in NC (dark adult on 7-9) and at Huntington Beach SP in SC (dark immature) recently. Huntington Beach SP is a rather dependable location for this species in summer.

Birders around Fort Macon SP in NC should keep a watch out for MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRDS. The location seems to attract frigatebirds more than any other one spot in the Carolinas during summer. There have been a couple of reports already this year, the most recent being June 23.

Hooper Lane in Hendersonville, NC is a good spot to check for migrating shorebirds, especially after heavy rains. Some very unusual shorebirds (for the mountains) have been seen over the years. On July 14 a WILLET was present along with dozens of more expected species.

Thanks this week to Nathan Dias and Randy Newman for their calls and reports. Some of this information was gleaned from Carolinabirds.

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