Hey all, I assisted Elisa Enders with her "Jackson" Nightjar Survey Network
route in Northampton Co., NC in the early morning hours today, 6/11/12.
Afterwards we birded Steel Bridge Rd. near the Fountains Creek bridge crossing
in Greensville Co., VA. Highlights here included an adult Yellow-crowned
Night-Heron, 1 Whip-poor-will, and 1 adult Mississippi Kite. The Kite flew in
and perched for a few minutes out in the open in the top of a tupelo just north
of the wet clear-cut area NW of the bridge crossing before flying back out
headed east. It was very cooperative, allowing a close approach while perched,
and provided my personal best views of this species to date. The
Whip-poor-will was calling around 5:10am just south of the bridge crossing.
The Yellow-crowned Night-Heron flew in to the aforementioned clear-cut area and
perched in the top of a tupelo sapling; this would have been even more
surprising if Elisa and I had not observed 2 adults of the species flying over
at the exact same site on May 22, 2011; perhaps they are nesting in the
vicinity. We also had a probable Swainson's Warbler singing in the vicinity of
this regenerating clear-cut, but it only sang 1x and the song was obscured by
crunching gravel underfoot; a bit frustrating as we also had 1 of this species
here on 5/22/11. No Kentucky Warblers heard this morning, though 1 was present
5/22/11. Also of note were 2-3 American Redstarts singing on the Southampton
Co. side of the SR 730 bridge over the Meherrin R. All the best, Nick
FlandersRaleigh, NC
