Hello, this is a February 22 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:

HARLEQUIN DUCK
COMMON MERGANSERS
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE
RED-NECKED GREBE
SAY'S PHOEBE
WESTERN TANAGER
EURASIAN WIGEON
LARK SPARROW
SANDHILL CRANES
AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN
GOLDEN EAGLE
CACKLING GOOSE
ROSS'S GEESE

A male HARLEQUIN DUCK is being seen at Lake Brandt north of Greensboro, NC. Look for this extraordinary bird from the marina area at the lake. Also present in the same location are up to nine COMMON MERGANSERS. Two GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE are being seen at Lake Townsend, also in Greensboro. Look in the cove west of the Doggett Road causeway.

A RED-NECKED GREBE was seen Feb. 18 at Kiawah Island, SC. The bird was in the lagoon that separates the east end of the Ocean Course from the ocean.

Other interesting birds in South Carolina recently include a continuing WESTERN KINGBIRD at Folly Beach, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL at East Kiawah Island, RED-NECKED GREBE and LONG-TAILED DUCK in St. Helena Sound, and REDDISH EGRET at the southern tip of St. Helena Island.

A GOLDEN EAGLE has been seen several times recently around Pungo in eastern NC. Also in the same area look for two ROSS'S GEESE, and a CACKLING GOOSE.

A BLACK-HEADED GULL continues to be seen occasionally at the north end of the causeway at Lake Mattamuskeet in NC.

A SAY'S PHOEBE is still being seen in Goldsboro, NC. The daily window of opportunity to see this bird is very brief, from 5:00 PM to 5:30 PM. Contact Eric Dean at for best strategy to see this bird.

A WESTERN TANAGER is visiting a feeder in Wilmington, NC, along with up to seven BALTIMORE ORIOLES and two hummingbirds. Contact Patrick Shaffner for details at .

A EURASIAN WIGEON was seen Feb. 18 at Cape Point on North Carolina's Outer banks.

A LARK SPARROW continues to be seen in Bayview Cemetery in Morehead city, NC. Look in the flock of chipping sparrows present at the cemetery.

Four SANDHILL CRANES are present in Swansboro, NC; at 438 Swansboro Loop Road.

Three AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS were at the hatchery at Lake Moultrie, SC on February 11.

Thanks this week to Patrick Shaffner, Scott Baron, Nathan Dias, John Fussell, Archie Thompson, and John Haire for their calls and reports.

Taylor Piephoff
Charlotte, NC
PiephoffT@aol.com

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