Raceday Birding (26Jul2014)

Melissa had a race down on the border of SC and NC today called the Battle on the Border.  It was a 4.24 mile race on a farm called Indigo Farms which sits in both NC and SC.  The race was a competition between a running group that draws members from the Myrtle Beach area and the Wilmington Road Runners of which Melissa is a member.  Basically the top 16 or so finishers in both female and male count towards a running tally of places and the lowest group wins for bragging rights and a cool trophy.
Anyway, my hope was while watching the kids (mine and others) that I would spot a Swallow-tailed kite. That of course did not pan out.  Swallow-tailed Kite continues to be my nemesis bird.  However, there was some other nice birds.

This Wood Stork was using his wing to scare whatever he was eating into the direction of his bill.  Or maybe he was shading the water from the sun glare so he could see?  Whatever the case he kept fanning his wing in front of his while feeding.

This Canada Goose looked to have some Barnacle Goose in him.

What a gorgeous setting, it was really a nice farm.  They sell pies, jams, vegetables and other goodies too.  The kids loved the animals.

This Red-Tailed Hawk was definitely on the NC side of the border, I checked.  Believe it or not I still needed a RT Hawk photograph.

He had some prey item he was standing on.

After the race we headed over to Sunset Beach to get a Sunset Slush.  On the way I stopped at Medcalf and Twin Lakes.

Common Gallinule.

This little fuzzball was very cute.

Alligator at Twin Lakes, he said "looking for a Least Bittern?  I just ate one".

There were scores of Green Herons along the shore of Twin Lakes including mostly young fledglings.  You can see some of the down on top if this guy's head.

After slushes Melissa wanted to look at a community in Southport and I managed to work in a quick stop at Fish Factory Rd.  No Least Bittern but as usual some nice birds like this Little Blue Heron.

Then finally on our way home, Sherry Lane texted me to let me know there was 3 Upland Sandpiper at WIlmington Airport.  I had been over there 3-4 times already in the past week so I was skeptical but sure enough there they were.  Pictures are horrible because they were far and there was a quite a bit of heat distortion but good enough for the tally.

Upland Sandpiper in an uncropped picture to give you an idea of distance.

They were moving slowly much like a dove or chicken bobbing their heads while they walked.  However their necks were much longer and they had the coloring of a sandpiper.

They were slowly moving closer in but Melissa and the boys finally lost patience and I left those funny birds to themselves.

What a nice surprise for a day with the family.

Tomorrow I will go up to bird with John Fussell and friends in Carteret County.