A big year for Durham?

After the crazy streak of rare shorebirds on upper Falls Lake this fall I realized I had a pretty decent Durham County list going for the year.  And with Nate Swick of the Drinking Bird doing his Triangle Big Year, John Vanderpoel on the brink of setting an ABA record, and with that awesome, star-studded, money-losing movie coming out, I figured why not jump on this band wagon?

I’m proud to report that my Durham County big year total of 181 species sets a new record!!* Yet I have to admit, improvement is more than possible.  An area as small as Durham County can be covered with relative ease,  and according to ebird 217 species were reported for 2011. I missed a lot of birds simply because I hadn’t really begun making any special effort until the year had mostly passed.

*Only because nobody has ever been silly enough to keep such records.  And in the event that somebody has been so silly, I have no idea whether or not this is a record beyond what ebird tells me. 

The most glaring misses are: a few breeding warblers—Hooded, Kentucky and Yellow-breasted Chat (I was in Europe for most of May); several ducks—Am. Black Duck, Pintail, Red-breasted Merganser, Redhead, Canvasback, Greater Scaup (I just didn’t bird Falls Lake until August this year); and some birds that I would try to see in the waning days of 2011 if I weren’t so busy criss-crossing the southeast seeing relatives and helping with coastal Christmas counts—Snipe, Woodcock, Fox Sparow.

But these silly misses are counteracted by 26 shorebird species including some gems: Red-necked Phalarope, American Oystercatcher (first county record?), Piping Plover, Red Knot, American Golden-Plover, Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Long-billed Dowitcher (first county record?).  The two shorebirds that eluded me were Ruddy Turnstone, which I somehow missed multiple times at Falls, and Wilson’s Phalarope, of which I saw two, but both were on the Granville County side of Falls Lake. 

Shorebird mayhem at Falls Lake

I also had some dumb luck that brought me a Tundra Swan at Falls Lake, a Common Raven at a shopping center, a Mississippi Kite flyover at my parents’ house, and a Nashville Warbler that turned up outside my classroom…all birds that I could never expect to find in Durham that somehow found me instead. 

Then there were the Wood Storks, the Parasitic Jaeger, the Anhinga, and the Greater White-fronted Goose (another Durham county first?).  A real big year effort beginning on January 1 might have had these oddities push me over the 200 mark, but I guess that will have to wait for another year (and probably another birder!)

Happy 2012!

#	Species	Location	Date
1	Canada Goose	Duke University Wetland Center 'SWAMP'	6-Jan-11
2	Mallard	Duke University Wetland Center 'SWAMP'	6-Jan-11
3	Great Blue Heron	Duke University Wetland Center 'SWAMP'	6-Jan-11
4	Red-shouldered Hawk	Duke University Wetland Center 'SWAMP'	6-Jan-11
5	Belted Kingfisher	Duke University Wetland Center 'SWAMP'	6-Jan-11
6	Red-bellied Woodpecker	Duke University Wetland Center 'SWAMP'	6-Jan-11
7	Yellow-bellied Sapsucker	Duke University Wetland Center 'SWAMP'	6-Jan-11
8	Downy Woodpecker	Duke University Wetland Center 'SWAMP'	6-Jan-11
9	Northern Flicker	Duke University Wetland Center 'SWAMP'	6-Jan-11
10	Blue Jay	Duke University Wetland Center 'SWAMP'	6-Jan-11
11	American Crow	Duke University Wetland Center 'SWAMP'	6-Jan-11
12	Carolina Chickadee	Duke University Wetland Center 'SWAMP'	6-Jan-11
13	Tufted Titmouse	Duke University Wetland Center 'SWAMP'	6-Jan-11
14	White-breasted Nuthatch	Duke University Wetland Center 'SWAMP'	6-Jan-11
15	Carolina Wren	Duke University Wetland Center 'SWAMP'	6-Jan-11
16	Ruby-crowned Kinglet	Duke University Wetland Center 'SWAMP'	6-Jan-11
17	Eastern Bluebird	Duke University Wetland Center 'SWAMP'	6-Jan-11
18	Hermit Thrush	Duke University Wetland Center 'SWAMP'	6-Jan-11
19	American Robin	Duke University Wetland Center 'SWAMP'	6-Jan-11
20	Brown Thrasher	Duke University Wetland Center 'SWAMP'	6-Jan-11
21	Eastern Towhee	Duke University Wetland Center 'SWAMP'	6-Jan-11
22	White-throated Sparrow	Duke University Wetland Center 'SWAMP'	6-Jan-11
23	Northern Cardinal	Duke University Wetland Center 'SWAMP'	6-Jan-11
24	Purple Finch	Duke University Wetland Center 'SWAMP'	6-Jan-11
25	American Goldfinch	Duke University Wetland Center 'SWAMP'	6-Jan-11
26	Red-tailed Hawk	Maplewood House	12-Jan-11
27	Cedar Waxwing	Maplewood House	12-Jan-11
28	Cooper's Hawk	Maplewood House	14-Jan-11
29	Yellow-rumped Warbler	Maplewood House	15-Jan-11
30	Dark-eyed Junco	Maplewood House	18-Jan-11
31	Mourning Dove	Maplewood House	22-Jan-11
32	Northern Mockingbird	Maplewood House	22-Jan-11
33	Pine Warbler	Maplewood House	22-Jan-11
34	House Sparrow	Maplewood House	22-Jan-11
35	Hairy Woodpecker	Mud Creek	24-Jan-11
36	Red-breasted Nuthatch	Mud Creek	24-Jan-11
37	Brown-headed Nuthatch	Mud Creek	24-Jan-11
38	Brown Creeper	Mud Creek	24-Jan-11
39	Chipping Sparrow	Duke University Wetland Center 'SWAMP'	24-Jan-11
40	Field Sparrow	Duke University Wetland Center 'SWAMP'	24-Jan-11
41	Song Sparrow	Duke University Wetland Center 'SWAMP'	24-Jan-11
42	Swamp Sparrow	Duke University Wetland Center 'SWAMP'	24-Jan-11
43	House Finch	Duke University Wetland Center 'SWAMP'	24-Jan-11
44	Pine Siskin	Duke University Wetland Center 'SWAMP'	24-Jan-11
45	Turkey Vulture	Duke University Wetland Center 'SWAMP'	31-Jan-11
46	Winter Wren	Mud Creek	31-Jan-11
47	Eastern Phoebe	Duke University Wetland Center 'SWAMP'	9-Feb-11
48	Golden-crowned Kinglet	Duke University Wetland Center 'SWAMP'	9-Feb-11
49	Red-winged Blackbird	Duke University Wetland Center 'SWAMP'	9-Feb-11
50	European Starling	Maplewood House	9-Feb-11
51	Fish Crow	Maplewood House	21-Feb-11
52	Savannah Sparrow	Maplewood House	2-Mar-11
53	Common Grackle	Maplewood House	21-Mar-11
54	Common Raven	New Hope Commons	6-Apr-11
55	Northern Rough-winged Swallow	New Hope Commons	6-Apr-11
56	Chimney Swift	Maplewood House	12-Apr-11
57	Great Crested Flycatcher	Maplewood House	12-Apr-11
58	House Wren	Maplewood House	15-Apr-11
59	Red-eyed Vireo	Duke University Wetland Center 'SWAMP'	15-Apr-11
60	Blue-gray Gnatcatcher	Duke University Wetland Center 'SWAMP'	15-Apr-11
61	Northern Parula	Duke University Wetland Center 'SWAMP'	15-Apr-11
62	Prairie Warbler	Duke University Wetland Center 'SWAMP'	15-Apr-11
63	Wood Duck	Brickhouse Rd. (Butner Gamelands)	17-Apr-11
64	Wild Turkey	Brickhouse Rd. (Butner Gamelands)	17-Apr-11
65	Double-crested Cormorant	Brickhouse Rd. (Butner Gamelands)	17-Apr-11
66	Black Vulture	Brickhouse Rd. (Butner Gamelands)	17-Apr-11
67	Barred Owl	Brickhouse Rd. (Butner Gamelands)	17-Apr-11
68	Ruby-throated Hummingbird	Brickhouse Rd. (Butner Gamelands)	17-Apr-11
69	Red-headed Woodpecker	Brickhouse Rd. (Butner Gamelands)	17-Apr-11
70	Pileated Woodpecker	Brickhouse Rd. (Butner Gamelands)	17-Apr-11
71	White-eyed Vireo	Brickhouse Rd. (Butner Gamelands)	17-Apr-11
72	Tree Swallow	Brickhouse Rd. (Butner Gamelands)	17-Apr-11
73	Barn Swallow	Brickhouse Rd. (Butner Gamelands)	17-Apr-11
74	Ovenbird	Brickhouse Rd. (Butner Gamelands)	17-Apr-11
75	Northern Waterthrush	Brickhouse Rd. (Butner Gamelands)	17-Apr-11
76	Prothonotary Warbler	Brickhouse Rd. (Butner Gamelands)	17-Apr-11
77	Common Yellowthroat	Brickhouse Rd. (Butner Gamelands)	17-Apr-11
78	Yellow-throated Warbler	Brickhouse Rd. (Butner Gamelands)	17-Apr-11
79	Summer Tanager	Brickhouse Rd. (Butner Gamelands)	17-Apr-11
80	Brown-headed Cowbird	Brickhouse Rd. (Butner Gamelands)	17-Apr-11
81	Green Heron	Flat River Waterfowl Impoundment	17-Apr-11
82	Sharp-shinned Hawk	Flat River Waterfowl Impoundment	17-Apr-11
83	Palm Warbler	Flat River Waterfowl Impoundment	17-Apr-11
84	Eastern Kingbird	Duke University Wetland Center 'SWAMP'	21-Apr-11
85	Scarlet Tanager	Duke University Wetland Center 'SWAMP'	21-Apr-11
86	Indigo Bunting	Duke University Wetland Center 'SWAMP'	21-Apr-11
87	Black-and-white Warbler	Maplewood House	25-Apr-11
88	Gray Catbird	Maplewood House	25-Apr-11
89	American Redstart	Maplewood House	26-Apr-11
90	Solitary Sandpiper	Duke University Wetland Center 'SWAMP'	26-Apr-11
91	Blue Grosbeak	Duke University Wetland Center 'SWAMP'	27-Apr-11
92	Yellow Warbler	Maplewood House	30-Apr-11
	Mute Swan (not countable)	Quail Roost	1-May-11
93	Bald Eagle	Quail Roost	1-May-11
94	American Kestrel	Quail Roost	1-May-11
95	Killdeer	Quail Roost	1-May-11
96	Rock Pigeon	Quail Roost	1-May-11
97	Acadian Flycatcher	Quail Roost	1-May-11
98	Blue-headed Vireo	Quail Roost	1-May-11
99	Purple Martin	Quail Roost	1-May-11
100	Cliff Swallow	Quail Roost	1-May-11
101	Grasshopper Sparrow	Quail Roost	1-May-11
102	White-crowned Sparrow	Quail Roost	1-May-11
103	Eastern Meadowlark	Quail Roost	1-May-11
104	Orchard Oriole	Quail Roost	1-May-11
105	Louisiana Waterthrush	West Point of the Eno Park	1-May-11
106	Rose-breasted Grosbeak	West Point of the Eno Park	1-May-11
107	Swainson's Thrush	134 Pinecrest	5-May-11
108	Blackpoll Warbler	Maplewood House	8-May-11
109	Wood Thrush	134 Pinecrest	16-Jun-11
110	Mississippi Kite	134 Pinecrest	19-Jun-11
111	Eastern Wood-Pewee	Duke University Wetland Center 'SWAMP'	20-Jun-11
112	Yellow-throated Vireo	Duke University Wetland Center 'SWAMP'	27-Jun-11
113	Great Egret	Falls Lake -- Ellerbe Creek RR grade	3-Aug-11
114	Semipalmated Plover	Falls Lake -- Ellerbe Creek RR grade	3-Aug-11
115	Lesser Yellowlegs	Falls Lake -- Ellerbe Creek RR grade	3-Aug-11
116	Semipalmated Sandpiper	Falls Lake -- Ellerbe Creek RR grade	3-Aug-11
117	Pectoral Sandpiper	Falls Lake -- Ellerbe Creek RR grade	3-Aug-11
118	Snowy Egret	Falls Lake -- Ellerbe Creek RR grade	4-Aug-11
119	Black-crowned Night-Heron	Falls Lake -- Ellerbe Creek RR grade	4-Aug-11
120	Osprey	Falls Lake -- Ellerbe Creek RR grade	4-Aug-11
121	Spotted Sandpiper	Falls Lake -- Ellerbe Creek RR grade	4-Aug-11
122	Western Sandpiper	Falls Lake -- Ellerbe Creek RR grade	4-Aug-11
123	Least Sandpiper	Falls Lake -- Ellerbe Creek RR grade	4-Aug-11
124	Greater Yellowlegs	Falls Lake -- Ellerbe Creek RR grade	22-Aug-11
125	Short-billed Dowitcher	Falls Lake -- Ellerbe Creek RR grade	22-Aug-11
126	Caspian Tern	Falls Lake -- Ellerbe Creek RR grade	22-Aug-11
127	Pied-billed Grebe	Falls Lake--Railroad Grade (Durham County side)	22-Aug-11
128	Little Blue Heron	Falls Lake--Railroad Grade (Durham County side)	22-Aug-11
129	Sanderling	Falls Lake--Railroad Grade (Durham County side)	22-Aug-11
130	Stilt Sandpiper	Falls Lake--Railroad Grade (Durham County side)	22-Aug-11
131	Red-necked Phalarope	Falls Lake--Railroad Grade (Durham County side)	22-Aug-11
132	Black Tern	Falls Lake--Railroad Grade (Durham County side)	22-Aug-11
133	Willet	Falls Lake--Hickory Hills Boat Ramp	22-Aug-11
134	Common Nighthawk	Durham	23-Aug-11
135	American Golden-Plover	Falls Lake--Will Suitt mudflats	28-Aug-11
136	Piping Plover	Falls Lake--Will Suitt mudflats	28-Aug-11
137	Red Knot	Falls Lake--Will Suitt mudflats	28-Aug-11
138	Baird's Sandpiper	Falls Lake--Will Suitt mudflats	28-Aug-11
139	Ring-billed Gull	Falls Lake--Will Suitt mudflats	28-Aug-11
140	Chestnut-sided Warbler	Falls Lake--Will Suitt mudflats	28-Aug-11
141	Blue-winged Teal	Falls Lake--Railroad Grade (Durham County side)	28-Aug-11
142	Wood Stork	Falls Lake--Railroad Grade (Durham County side)	28-Aug-11
143	White-rumped Sandpiper	Falls Lake--Railroad Grade (Durham County side)	28-Aug-11
144	Buff-breasted Sandpiper	Falls Lake--Will Suitt mudflats	4-Sep-11
145	Forster's Tern	Falls Lake -- Ellerbe Creek RR grade	4-Sep-11
146	Yellow-billed Cuckoo	Falls Lake -- Ellerbe Creek RR grade	4-Sep-11
147	Northern Harrier	Falls Lake -- Ellerbe Creek RR grade	11-Sep-11
148	American Avocet	Falls Lake -- Ellerbe Creek RR grade	11-Sep-11
149	Parasitic Jaeger	Falls Lake--Hickory Hills Boat Ramp	11-Sep-11
150	American Oystercatcher	Falls Lake--Hickory Hills Boat Ramp	18-Sep-11
151	Bank Swallow	Falls Lake -- Ellerbe Creek RR grade	18-Sep-11
152	Magnolia Warbler	134 Pinecrest	24-Sep-11
153	Blackburnian Warbler	Brickhouse Rd. (Butner Gamelands)	25-Sep-11
154	Gray-cheeked Thrush	134 Pinecrest	1-Oct-11
155	Eastern Screech-Owl	Duke Forest--Shepherd Nature Trail	2-Oct-11
156	Black-throated Blue Warbler	Duke Forest--Shepherd Nature Trail	2-Oct-11
157	Cape May Warbler	Falls Lake--Hickory Hills Boat Ramp	20-Oct-11
158	Long-billed Dowitcher	Falls Lake -- Ellerbe Creek RR grade	23-Oct-11
159	Northern Shoveler	Falls Lake -- Ellerbe Creek RR grade	30-Oct-11
160	Green-winged Teal	Falls Lake -- Ellerbe Creek RR grade	30-Oct-11
161	Black-bellied Plover	Falls Lake -- Ellerbe Creek RR grade	30-Oct-11
162	American Pipit	Falls Lake -- Ellerbe Creek RR grade	30-Oct-11
163	Vesper Sparrow	Falls Lake -- Ellerbe Creek RR grade	30-Oct-11
164	Ruddy Duck	Falls Lake--Hickory Hills Boat Ramp	30-Oct-11
165	Horned Grebe	Falls Lake--Hickory Hills Boat Ramp	30-Oct-11
166	American Coot	Falls Lake--Hickory Hills Boat Ramp	30-Oct-11
167	Bonaparte's Gull	Falls Lake--Hickory Hills Boat Ramp	30-Oct-11
168	Herring Gull	Falls Lake--Hickory Hills Boat Ramp	30-Oct-11
169	Nashville Warbler	Duke University - Levine Science Research Center	1-Nov-11
170	Tundra Swan	Falls Lake--Hickory Hills Boat Ramp	5-Nov-11
171	Ring-necked Duck	Falls Lake--Hickory Hills Boat Ramp	5-Nov-11
172	Dunlin	Falls Lake -- Ellerbe Creek RR grade	5-Nov-11
173	American Wigeon	Falls Lake--Railroad Grade (Durham County side)	5-Nov-11
174	Lesser Scaup	Falls Lake--Hickory Hills Boat Ramp	5-Nov-11
175	Rusty Blackbird	Falls Lake -- Ellerbe Creek RR grade	6-Nov-11
176	Gadwall	Falls Lake--Cheek Road Causeway	6-Nov-11
177	Common Loon	Falls Lake--Rolling View	6-Nov-11
178	Hooded Merganser	Falls Lake--Hickory Hills Boat Ramp	2-Dec-11
179	Bufflehead	Falls Lake--Hickory Hills Boat Ramp	11-Dec-11
180	Anhinga	Quail Roost	18-Dec-11
181	Greater White-fronted Goose	Magic CBC goose ponds	18-Dec-11