Brown-headed Nuthatch
Pee Dee NWR
May 2016
Pee Dee NWR – May 28, 2016
(Clicking on any photo will enlarge it.)
Today was a gorgeous, sunny morning at Pee Dee NWR. Despite the long drive of one hour and 45 minutes, this is one of my favorite places to birdwatch. I arrived at the Headquarters entrance about 30 minutes after sunrise.
A Brown-headed Nuthatch has made a nest in the bluebird box as you pass the downed trees (on the right side of the road). At the small pond before entering the wildlife drive, a family of Canada Geese was foraging. I wonder if these geese are the same my mother and I saw two weeks ago. If so, there are a missing a few babies.
Wood Duck (portion of the larger group)
Pee Dee NWR
May 2016
Great Crested Flycatcher
Pee Dee NWR
May 2016
Pee Dee NWR is almost a sure bet for Wood Ducks and today I was surprised to find 23 in the pond area, including 8 juveniles with their mother. The males are still in their breeding plumage. They did not spook as I passed by and I was able to snap a few photos of the large group.
The Wildlife Drive presented me with the usual cast of characters. Notable sightings include a Great Crested Flycatcher and several Eastern Kingbirds. The highlight of the day was not one, but TWO Yellow-billed Cuckoos! I have seen one here before, but two years ago. One of them was quite the show-off.
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Pee Dee NWR
May 2016
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Pee Dee NWR
May 2016
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Pee Dee NWR
May 2016
Red-tailed Hawk
Pee Dee NWR
May 2016
After finishing the Wildlife Drive I headed towards Arrowhead Lake via Pinkston River Rd. and making a left on Clark Rd. Along the way I found a very vocal Yellow-breasted Chat and a Red-tailed Hawk.
Two Killdeer are all that I found at Arrowhead Lake. I stopped at the parking area and walked out to Ringneck Pond. This is usually where I find Green Herons, but alas, none today (or any this year come to think of it). Instead there was two Cedar Waxwings, a White-eyed Vireo, a Summer Tanager, Blue Jay, two Ruby-throated Hummingbirds and two Yellow-throated Warblers who appeared to be gathering nesting material. Several other species heard, but not seen.
Yellow-throated Warbler
Pee Dee NWR
May 2016
In the bottomlands (Griffin Rd.) I observed Killdeer using their broken-wing routine but did not observe any chicks. Around the turn to Gaddy Covered Bridge I spotted a black Fox Squirrel, the first I have seen in two years. Another one was later sighted by Pinkston River Rd. This second one was more blackish brown in color. The pine area along Beaver Pond Rd. provided good sightings of Eastern Wood-Pewee, Eastern Towhee, Carolina Wrens and Chipping Sparrows.
Before leaving, I always give the Wildlife Drive a second go-around. The lighting is usually better in the lower areas at this later time whereas the tree tops are better lit (less harsh light) in the early morning on my first go-around. Common Yellowthroats were visible and noisy on the road leading into the wildlife drive area. This second time around all of the Wood Ducks were gone. My “money shot” of the day was of a particularly curious Prothonotary Warbler.
Prothonotary Warbler
Pee Dee NWR
May 2016
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After I got home and processed my photos I found an Anhinga in one of my (bad) Wood Duck flight photos. I am quite upset I didn’t notice it!
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