Bluish Gray backside, light underside, dark stripes around eyes. Slightly larger than a crow. I couldn't believe it. A peregrine falcon, first I have seen in a long time, landed on a branch just 20 feet outside my windows. I was able to observe it for about one minute before it flew off. No picture. I will keep my eye out for it and get a picture if I see it again. 9:30 am.

Single Bird observed by both of us through binoculars in flight circling for several minutes directly below Tuckertown dam. 100% sure of identification.

On Rocky Mount Christmas count. The farm had three ponds. One large pond backed up to a swampy woods area. There were two teal. I don't have field notes on the sighting since I didn't consider it rare but it is a species with which I am familiar.

Orange eyebrow/supercilium and malar. Prominent eye line behind eye. Fine streaks on flanks over orange/yellowish wash. Breast was white and unstreaked. Small necklace. Dark cap or streaks with narrow white streak in center on head. Saw for two or three minutes while perched in bush next to farm pond.

Large shorebird with long downturned bill and striped head. Bird was walking around in grassy field next to road. Seen by several people including Ricky Davis who was there with me. Alex Fuller checklist has pictures: https://ebird.org/atlasnc/checklist/S148813897

This Rofous hummer showed up first seen at my house on 8/29/23 and has been here since. The photo uploaded is from December 1st 2023 I feel so blessed to have this enchanted experience!

https://ebird.org/checklist/S107969468 Woodlake has become a great Fall-Winter location for king rail. Likely to end with the filling of the lake in the next year or two but I think we have had at least 3-5 individuals at any one time in multiple observations since 2022.

I have Stan Tekiela’s Birds of the Carolinas guide — thought it was an Eastern Phoebe perhaps, but its call wasn’t right (the Phoebe having a very distinct raspy call). I used Merlin Bird ID app on my phone — the call was a perfect match to the Wood-Pewee!

https://ebird.org/checklist/S93594510?_gl=1*1ubbzzo*_ga*MzY1Nzc1OTMwLjE2ODA1NzQzMjE.*_ga_QR4NVXZ8BM*MTY4ODAwMDY1Mi4zNDUuMS4xNjg4MDAwNjcyLjQwLjAuMA..&_ga=2.220410074.391332599.1688000652-365775930.1680574321

Swainson's Warbler has been singing at Great Bend Park along Haw River for a few weeks since Apr 29, 2023. I heard 2 singing individuals on May 4, 2023.

Found outside building, an apparent window strike casualty. Stevens found the bird and Hart identified. The specimen is in Hart's freezer. Ventral photo shows the narrow tail spots.

Before 2021, the only record of a Mississippi Lite in the county was an X on a checklist for the "Reidsville Area." No details were given. A friend called me to tell me about seeing two. After some looking we located their territory. They have been observed two years now, including recently fledged birds.

Although I have heard them before dawn at Belews lake several times, this time I got a photograph. I think they like the lighted docks, much as they do along the Beaufort waterfront.https://ebird.org/checklist/S74566158 & https://ebird.org/checklist/S74566185

Low water levels at Grogan Lake attract shorebirds and waders. This bird showed up in 2020 and was present for over a week. https://ebird.org/checklist/S71802005

I received a photo by text asking if this bird was a pelican. It had apparently been seen for a few days before I could go and see it. It appeared to me to be an immature bird with a band on one leg. It was seen by many observers into July. https://ebird.org/checklist/S57645945

I have seen them twice at Belews Lake. I also have had reliable reports with photos sent to me of them at Lake Reidsville and a smaller lake in Rockingham County. This observation was a group of 49. https://ebird.org/checklist/S22735410

If you are willing to make the drive and put in the hours, you have a decent chance of seeing something interesting at Belews Lake. It has always been popular with Common Loons, but I was happy to see two Red-throated Loons in 2019. https://ebird.org/checklist/S52688498

Annual at Belews Lake, and probably at Lake Reidsville as well. I have seen from one to seven birds on eight occasions here. https://ebird.org/checklist/S24597525. Photo is from 2019 0bservation.

While watching for storm birds during a May low pressure event, I saw approximately ten flying down the lake towards me. It was dark and rainy, but I managed a few photos as the passed. I never saw them again as they apparently continued on to another location.

I have been fortunate to be allowed into the landfill for a number of years now. It always has gulls in winter. Starting in 2020, Lesser Black-backed Gulls started showing sporadically from January to March.

A late May low pressure system caused flooding and brought the shorebirds. I was out checking spots and found a single bird. It was seen by several other birders that day and the next. A second bird was seen and photographed at a flooded golf course on Mebane Bridge Road the next day.

I had been trying this spot for wetland birds for some time, using playback of various species. This time I got a response. Recordings were made, but the bird wasn't seen. I returned the next day and obtained a photo.

Three females seen resting near the dam. I could see they were larger than the nearby scaup, eliminating Ruddy Duck. I watched for a while until one finally lifted its head for confirmation. Dark ducks with tail up, black caps and paler cheeks.

Bird appeared during a big freeze. Seen clearly on a small pond near Madison. eBird checklist:. https://ebird.org/checklist/S27514869 Photo attached is from another sighting in the county due to ease of finding image. Photo: (attached)