Today is the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count in Forsyth County. Counters are likely to see 75 to 85 species. But throughout the year, area birders regularly report more than 200 species. And, over the years, more than 280 species have been documented. Obsessive birders like me are always looking for that rare visitor. Keeping with another year-end tradition, here is our Best of 2010 for Forsyth County.
January: Two common goldeneyes were among the many ducks at Salem Lake. Despite the name, these birds are infrequent visitors here. With the lake almost completely frozen for the first time in 10 years, the ducks were easy to find in a small area of open water.
February: A greater white-fronted goose joined a group of Canada geese at Archie Elledge Water Treatment Plant. This was our third documented sighting of this species. Also, a common merganser landed at Salem Lake for the first time in several years.
March: A Virginia rail hid out in a marshy area at Tanglewood. Usually heard rather than seen, this chicken-like species showed up at the same spot in November.
April: Winds brought a Forster's tern inland to Salem Lake. Only twice before has this beach dweller been observed in the county. An American Bittern at Civitan Park and an Audubon's Warbler in Kernersville were also unusual.
May: A wading bird called a black-necked stilt made its first appearance in Forsyth County at Archie Elledge. Usually found in coastal areas, four stayed for several days. Several migrating red-necked phalaropes also visited the treatment-plant ponds.
June: The night calls of whip-poor-wills and chuck-wills-widows have become rare treats in Forsyth County because of loss of forest habitat. But both were heard at C.G. Hill Park in Pfafftown.
July: Tree swallows are common spring and fall migrants, but successful raising of young at the Bethabara wetland on Reynolda Road was an unusual occurrence.
August: Merlins are rare visitors to our area, and it usually is fall or winter when one of these falcons shows up. To see one fly in front of me on Aug. 31, near Tanglewood's concert shell, was a surprise.
September: Connecticut warblers have been reported in Forsyth County only three previous times. When John Haire discovered one at Reynolda, only a few of us were quick enough to see it. By the next day, the bird had flown. Yellow-bellied flycatchers are difficult to identify and generally migrate to our west, but they were observed at two separate locations.
October: Each fall, there are probably more Lincoln's sparrows than we realize, but these birds skulk about quietly in moist grassy areas. John found one at Lake Katharine, and Shelley Rutkin spied another at Muddy Creek Greenway.
November: Another first for the county was an ash-throated flycatcher observed by Ron Morris at Archie Elledge. A cousin of our summer resident, the great-crested flycatcher, this southwestern bird is rarely seen in North Carolina.
December: Was it a rufous hummingbird or an Allen's hummingbird? Only with an expert's in-hand examination might we be certain. In Pfafftown, someone left out their nectar feeder and a female came for Thanksgiving and stayed into December.
Not sure what these uncommon birds look like? Go to www.allabout
birds.org or consult any of several excellent field guides. On Feb. 5, we'll report on the Christmas Bird Count results.
On Jan. 8, Audubon's Second Saturday Birdwalk will be at the Muddy Creek Greenway. Meet at 9 a.m. at the parking area off Meadowlark Drive. For information, e-mail Rob Rogers at rrogers10@triad.rr.com.
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