Tina Trice and I met Grace McCrowell down at Kerr Reservoir in Mecklenburg
County today. There were a few good birds around. Highlights were an AMERICAN
BITTERN "thunderpumping" from the marsh on route 1 south first thing in the
morning. The marsh is on the right side of the road before crossing the bridge
over Lake Gaston. Unfortunately, we could not locate the bird visually in the
dense, extensive marsh. Later in the day, a second check below the dam
revealed 15 CASPIAN TERNS loafing on exposed rocks. Also there were 3 female
RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS. A single FORSTER'S TERN and a perched MERLIN with an
unlucky victim were the best birds around the lake above the dam. A few COMMON
LOONS, several breeding plumaged BONAPARTE'S GULLS and a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER
were also enjoyed. Dick Cross WMA was fun. Clyde's pond still held
BLUE-WINGED TEAL and several vocalizing PIED-BILLED GREBES. Also there were
AMERICAN COOTS, RING-NECKED DUCKS and HOODED MERGANSERS. We flushed a WILSON'S
SNIPE on our walk around while enjoying a fine TREE SWALLOW show. First of
spring birds for us included BARN SWALLOW, CHIMNEY SWIFT, WOOD THRUSH,
RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, BLUE-HEADED VIREO, YELLOW-THROATED VIREO, NORTHERN
PARULA, OVENBIRD, LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH and
PROTHONOTARY WARBLER. A group of GREEN-WINGED TEAL were at the wetlands behind
the dog kennels. Several BALD EAGLES, RED-TAILED and RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS
rounded out a fine spring day. Good birding.
Adam D'Onofrio
Dinwiddie Co.
