Woodpeckers, Bobwhites, Bears and Goatsuckers

Yesterday was extraordinary. We have wonderful friends, Lee and Nicki visiting us here between the sandbar and the swamp and they are birders (imagine that). One of the more sought after birds in our area is the Red-cockaded Woodpecker. It is a lovely, endangered and poorly named bird. Many people think that it should be called the “white-cheeked woodpecker.” But instead it is named for a tiny red spot near its ‘ear’ that you never see. And “cockade” is a word no one has used much since the 19th century.

Cockade: a decoration that is worn on a hat especially as part of a uniform to show a person's status, rank, etc.

So we were all up early and by 6am we were headed to the Palmetto Peartree Preserve (or P3 as it is called by the cool kids. I call it Palmetto Peartree Preserve) about a half hour inland. We arrived in the same area where I had seen one last August and we began to look and listen. Nicki wandered a bit further down the road and we headed down to check that area. When we got to her, she said that she thought she was hearing them and that she was seeing a lot of bird activity. Moments later a woodpecker flew across the road and Lynn said, “That’s it!” And I said, “That’s your bird!” Red-cockaded Woodpecker, yes!

Red-cockaded right over there!

Over the next half hour or so we watched perhaps a dozen or more RCWO’s frolicking about the branches of the trees just off the road beside us. It was amazing. I am so grateful. We saw some immature males that still had the red dot on their crown. At first I thought I was seeing the cockade, but on further research, I learned about the immature male’s red dot.

Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Picoides borealis

Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Picoides borealis

Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Picoides borealis 

Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Picoides borealis 

Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Picoides borealis

Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Picoides borealis

Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Picoides borealis

Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Picoides borealis 

Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Picoides borealis

Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Picoides borealis

After a nice “country” brekkie in Columbia, the next thing on our agenda were Bears. We drove back to the Alligator River NWR and soon found some momma bears with cubs. Then Lee mentioned that she did not have Northern Bobwhite and although it was getting on toward noon, we had hopes of finding her another lifer and we did! 

Where there are Northern Bobwhites, Alligator River NWR.

In the evening I drove us down to the Bodie Island Lighthouse. We had a lovely time looking and seeing lots of birds as dusk approached. We had Virginia and Clapper Rails, Glossy and White Ibis. It occurred to me that Chuck-will’s-widows (which would be a life bird for me) were sometimes heard along the lighthouse road. So as we left, I drove slowly and listened. Before we had gone a hundred meters, we heard that distinct call. It was close and loud. We all got out to peer into the foliage and evidently it decided it needed to cross the road because it flew right over us (and right between Lee and me). I had bare-eye looks at this gorgeous goatsucker! Yes, the first Life Bird for me since CONW in Ohio. I was and am, incredibly grateful. There will be pie in my future.

Birds. Peace. Love. Earth. Laughter. Music.