Time for a classic rare bird chase in NC

I took off on a classic rare bird chase last weekend. The formula is almost always the same: leave early, drive a lot, find staked out bird, come home.

There were two targets this time, both additions to my state list, making the chase more appealing.

And both birds had been staked out for a few weeks, making the chances of success high. I have seen over 400 bird species in North Carolina, so it’s not too often the opportunity presents itself to add a state bird, let alone two.

I left Matthews at 5:30 a.m. and by 10 a.m. I was at the Voice of America site north of Greenville. A Say’s phoebe has been there for a few weeks, a real North Carolina rarity. I arrived, left the vehicle and saw a phoebe with its back to me perched in some low trees. I was sure I had my bird but I needed a clinching look.

As if to oblige, the bird hopped on its perch and faced me directly, giving me a look at the orange underbelly that is characteristic of the species.

Eastern phoebes are common in North Carolina and the Say’s phoebe is the same shape and behaves very similarly. The Say’s is brownish-gray with the orange underneath. It’s a common species throughout its normal range of the western United States. Checked it off the list.

I then headed for Southern Shores, on the Outer Banks above Kitty Hawk.

A female broad-billed hummingbird was patronizing a feeder and the host was allowing birders to just show up to look. I parked in the driveway, found the feeder in the side yard, waited about 20 minutes, and got the bird as it came in to leisurely feed with me only a few yards away.

A beautifully plumaged bird. The broad-billed is primarily a Mexican species, reaching the United States only in southeastern Arizona as it’s breeding range. They are prone to wandering though, much to the delight of birders who keep state lists.

I headed back to Matthews the next morning, and when I arrived I was greeted by another rarity. That’s next week’s column.

This story was originally published November 17, 2017 at 4:32 PM with the headline "Time for a classic rare bird chase in NC."