We saw quite a few things last week for our last walk including both Cooper's and Sharp-shinned Hawks, plenty of Yellow-rumped and Palm Warblers, and a few sparrows including Swamp, Song, and Chipping. The last bird of the walk year was good one as we flushed a few Rusty Blackbirds out of the hedge row.

A few folks have Purple Finches at their feeders right now, mostly females, which is typical for this time of year. Be on the lookout as the females can be passed over as House Finches but are pretty different once you know the things to look for. Female Purple Finches have an eye stripe that is very pronounced on the face. House Finch females do not, and the Purple Finch is usually much browner, darker looking than the grayish brown House Finch. The clincher is the area under the tail, which is usually easy to see when they are perched on a feeder. House Finches have a streaked undertail (or crissom as its called) and the Purple Finch is pure white. This is true of the males as well.

Waterfowl are still coming through with Pied-billed Grebes, Mallards, and Canada Geese still the most common, but Green-winged or Blue-winged Teal, Ruddy Duck, American Coots, Ringed-necked Duck, and Lesser Scaup have all already been seen in the High Country. You might find a straggling Wood Duck around as well.

Speaking of waterfowl, I will be leading a trip around the Beech Mountain area to look for waterfowl this Friday. We will meet at the rec center at 8:30 and check Beaver Lake, Lake Coffey, and then if folks can join us, head over to Wilbur Lake and Watauga Lake to see what might be there. The Beech Mountain portion will be about two hours, and if you can join us for the TN portion we should be back about lunchtime.

Also the Wilkes Chamber has set up several trips to area stops on the birding trail with a walk coming up this Saturday as well at Whip-poor-will Academy. Anyone who is interested to e-mail Jodi Frichner at tourism@wilkesboronorthcarolina.com for a confirmed spot & directions to the meeting point.

For more information on birds in the High Country call the Watauga Birding Hotline at 828-265-0198. Also visit www.ncaudubon.org, www.carolinabirdclub.org, and the new High Country Chapter website at http://www.highcountryaudubon.org/.

Rusty Blackbirds were at Valle Crucis last week.


Still plenty of Palm Warblers around. Photo by Steven Bullock


We have also had a few American Kestrels around. Photo by Don Mullaney