Check Out Futch Creek's New Blog

In an attempt to find a more user-friendly blogsite, I'm transferring this blog to a new address: http://www.futchcreeknc.wordpress.com/ . I hope you continue to follow the changing tides of Futch creek at my new site, with more ease and an easier way to communicate. The new Wordpress site should function much more fluently with comments, picture uploads, sharing and becoming a follower. Thanks for staying in touch and I look forward to documenting new life this Spring!

Traffic Jam: Come one, come all

This winter I’ve noticed that the woodland birds, of all varieties, travel together in a pack. Some of the species that I can always identify within the group are the common ground doves, blue jays (sometimes up to 6), Cardinals, Eastern Blue Birds, Red Bellied Woodpeckers, Downy Woodpeckers, chickadees and many other smaller types of birds I’m still trying to identify. Whenever they appear, the woods become alive with the sound of music. Singing little chirps, the birds hop within the branches, but always seem to stay within a close proximity to each other. They fly around together, and take turns on the feeders. Some will even wait on the tree trunk next to our feeder for their turn. Perhaps it’s just a matter of evolution—the ones who survive are the ones who stick together through the Wintertime. And maybe I shouldn’t be so surprised, after all birds of a feather do flock together. But I now know that whenever I notice a bird in the backyard, there’s soon a choir of birds fluttering throughout the yard: on the bird feeders, bird baths, and all the surrounding trees and shrubs! Above: RedBellied Woodpecker hiding behind feeder (video of this woodpecker on the feeder below) Hiding above:Red Bellied Woodpecker Above: Downy woodpecker

Above: Female Cardinal sharing the feeder

Video of Red Bellied Woodpecker on bird feeder

New Audubon bird-count of Holly Shelter-Lea island region affirms 101 bird species and counting!

http://ncaudubonblog.org/2011/12/notes-from-the-second-holly-shelter-lea-island-christmas-bird-count/ The annual Audobon bird-count which focuses on a 15 mile radius (consisting of the holly shelter-lea island region, known as NCHL) spotted 101 species and still counting. The "NCHL centers near Hampstead, NC, reaching from the Mason Inlet Waterbird Management Area at the north end of Wrightsville Beach to the south end of Topsail Island, picking up Figure Eight Island and the Lea-Hutaff Island Important Bird Area." While this is a smaller number than revealed from last years count, there were new species identified even though some of the ones recognized last year went unseen in this 2011 count. Specially noted are the red cockaded woodpeckers, a vulernerable and near endangered species native to the Long Leaf Pine forests, as well as the Loggerhead Shrike (a "near-rare" bird not seen in last years count). http://birds.audubon.org/species/logshr "The Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is the world’s longest-running volunteer science effort, with over a century of data for researchers to draw from, and those researchers, with help from our band of birders, now have two years of Holly Shelter-Lea Island’s circle data to include... This is a truly scientific endeavor designed to collect information about what and how many birds are in and around North America, and where they are spending time in early winter; the Great Backyard Bird Count in February offers volunteers another scientific opportunity to participate in a late winter bird census." CBC Audubon blogpost published December 20, 2011.

Audubon releases updated map of Important Bird Areas

http://ncaudubonblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/IBA-Map-for-CD.jpg Audubon recently updated its map of important bird areas, and I'm not surprised to learn that the Wilmington coastsline, especially in this Futch creek region, is designated as an important bird area. The label 'important bird area' recognizes habitats that are essential to birds and their cycles, ranging from breeding, migrations, and wintering areas. There are currently 30 Important Bird Areas (IBA) in North Carolina, and the Lea-Hutaff islands --located directly at the base of Futch Creek, between the intracoastsal waterway and the Atlantic ocean-- are recognized by BirdLife international as globally significant IBAs. “The IBA program is a wonderful tool for highlighting North Carolina’s ecologically significant habitats and locations,” says Curtis Smalling, IBA Coordinator and Mountain Program Manager for Audubon North Carolina. “IBAs provide so much more than just prime bird habitat. These special landscapes also provide clean drinking water, healthy populations of other species, and in many cases, special opportunities for people to connect to nature through recreation, education, and engagement.” Yet another reason to revere our precious and pristine coastal woodland habitats we're lucky to call home. http://nc.audubon.org/

Christmas Rainbow: Futch Creek = Pot of gold!

I've always loved the saying 'no rain, no rainbows.' It's especially true about the Christmas (12.27.11) rainshower that was shortlived, only to reveal (again within a month)a golden sky with a glorious rainbow, this time arching directly over Futch Creek, seeming to end in the oyster shoals directly upcreek.

Red Sky at Night, Sailor's Delight!

Pop goes the weasel!

As I watched the sunset over the creek tonight I encountered the most beautiful surprise: a pair of river otters! I’ve only seen them once before, at low tide, and certainly did not expect to find them swimming around during high tide this evening.

I often use my camera as binoculars when nature watching, which is how I identified the otters tonight. Less than twenty feet from our dock I noticed two small, dark blobs bobbing on top of the water. I immediately zoomed in with my camera to see what it was. It wasn’t until they submerged their heads underwater that I realized they were otters (not trash) floating in the creek.

Below photo shows the head and tail/body of a mature river otter.

Earlier today I’d noticed an indention in the swampy mud that created a stream during low tide from the outer banks of the creek, directly under where these otters were now swimming. At the time I thought perhaps a raccoon had left a trail in the creek while digging for fiddler crabs, but in hindsight there’s a good chance a family of sliding river otters had left the path from their borough at the water ‘s edge.

I am delighted to record sighting these river otters on Futch Creek, as their range and numbers across the country have been drastically reduced as a result of habitat loss and their sensitivity to environmental pollution. The river otters averagely weigh between 10-30 pounds and usually extend 26-42 inches in length (with their tails ranging between 10-24 inches long). “Otters swim by propelling themselves with their powerful tails and flexing their long bodies. They also have webbed feet, water repellent fur to keep them dry and warm, and nostrils and ears that close in the water.”

They prefer to eat fish and use their whiskers to help detect fish in brackish waters. River otters can remain underwater for up to 8 minutes, “swim at speeds approaching 11 km/h, dive to depths nearing 20 meters, and travel up to 400 meters while underwater. Several river otters may even cooperate while fishing.” While fish predominantly compose their diet, their diet may also include “fruits, reptiles and amphibians, birds, aquatic insects, small mammals, and mollusks.”

Out of the water, river otters can walk, run, slide and jump. River otters are also renowned for their playful manner. Although, the otter photographed tonight most certainly seemed to be searching for its dinner. After we spotted each other it primarily spent it’s time swimming under water, only showing its head one or two more times.

Hooded Mergansers: Coolin Off

Group, above, flying off. The two photos directly below show a female (bottom photo) and male (1st photo below) potentially courting each other by flapping their wings stationary as they cool off in the morning high tide.

This photo below shows the difference between the male and female mergansrs, with the female hooded mergansers swimming on the right. Young males also appear brown as the females do.

"The information on territoriality and pair formation in this species is scarce. The timing and duration of pair formation is uncertain. Some birds return to the breeding ground together as mated pairs; others participate in courtship and mating rituals after arriving...Female Hooded Mergansers show strong philopatry, returning to the same breeding area, but not necessarily the same nest site, as in previous years. Nesting begins as early as February and early March in the lower latitudes and milder regions of the merganser’s range."

This is the largest flock of Mergansers I've been able to capture on the creek this season. Hooded Mergansers are the only type of Merganser that breeds and winters entirely in North America. Hooded Mergansers are most commonly from Great Lakes region and eastern Canada, but are also found in the Pacific Northwest. Mergansers migrate south, and seem to enjoy Futch Creek as a resting place during the colder winter months. They prefer calm, clear waters with a sand or pebbled bottom, surrounded by deciduous woods.

The three male Mergansers above lead the line of (male & female) Mergansers meandering through the marsh. It appears that this might be a courtship group of Mergansers, even though they don't breed until early Spring. "Courtship groups consist of one to two females and several males. Males perform courtship rituals and displays, including crest-raising, head-shaking, head-throws, and head-pumping. Although normally silent, males make several vocalizations during some courtship displays. The most common is a rolling, frog-like call that is given immediately after a male performs a head-throw display. Males also may make short display flights. If anything, females perform only head-pumping displays." A few pictures above show the female first making a possible courtship 'dsplay' flight and then the male.

These images are of breeding male mergansers.

A hooded Merganser above takes the dive!

Tight group of breeding male and female Mergansers enjoying the morning high tide.

These pictures were taken of a small flock during high tide rising. I try to remain hidden when I photograph them because they fly away as soon as they see me. Mergansers are a quiet duck that depend on their eyesight to survive. They have spectacular vision, as they hunt fish based on their sight, and then dive after them with their nictitating membrane (third eyelid) protecting their eyes as goggles when they dive.

Hooded Mergansers in flight.

Male Hooded Merganser on left, and female on right.

Sources: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/nestinginfo/bios/sp_accts/home and http://www.allaboutbirds.org/

Rainbow over Futch Creek: 11.29.11

The sky glowed a golden yellow and then this rainbow appeared! Thanks Carol J. for the beautiful pictures.

Lea Island: Unspoiled Beauty

Undeveloped beaches such as this are incredibly rare to find. Aside from Bird Island & Masonboro Island, Lea Island (which now also includes Hutaff island after shoaling in the inlet merged the two islands) is the only other undeveloped barrier island in the state of North Carolina. Lea island "supports one of the largest colonies of nesting terns and skimmers. In addition, federally threatened Piping Plover and Loggerhead turtles nest on the island. Thousands of shore birds stop over during the spring and fall migration." We are truly lucky to have this gem at the base of our neighborhood. Lea island is just south of Topsail Island and less than a 5 minute boat ride from the Porter's Neck Plantation community boatramp. The Audubon Society purchased 35.7 acres of Lea Island for preservation and protection. This Great White Egret was hunting in the Marshes around Lea island and Figure Eight. You can tell it's on the hunt by the way it's neck is stretched out. These next two photos are taken from the sound side of Lea Island. A short beach trail from here leads to the ocean side of Lea Island. “Over half of Lea Island (Hutaff remains in private ownership) has been protected, and both N.C. Coastal Land Trust and Audubon continue working with remaining owners to protect the lots still in private ownership... During the spring and summer, the island is a haven for nesting shorebirds such as Piping Plover, Wilson’s Plover, and American Oystercatcher, and other nesting birds including Black Skimmer and Least Tern. The island represents the southernmost documented breeding site for Piping Plover, a federally threatened bird named for its melodic call. Clapper Rails nest in great numbers in the marshes bordering the island. Nelson’s Sparrow and Seaside Sparrow are abundant during the fall and winter and the island is recognized as a globally significant site for Saltmarsh Sparrow. At other times of year, numerous migrating and wintering shorebirds flock here, numbering a thousand or more during the peak of migration" (Audubon North Carolina).

"The coastal zone of North Carolina that we know today is not permanent. It has evolved hroughout its history. These changes, which can be both imperceptibly gradual or sudden and violent, continue today and will do so into the future."

(NORTH CAROLINA COASTAL GEOLOGY COOPERATIVE RESEARCH, ECU)

Belted Kingfisher

The Kingfishers can be spotted along Futch Creek year round, but this morning they seemed especially abundant, as I could hear them along my whole paddle (their loud call sounds like fast clicks, as if a speedy typist). However, they are such swift birds that I haven't been able to capture their photo until today. From my observations, they spend most of their time flying up and down the creek at a fast pace, and perched along the branches along the creek bank.

There are many classifications of King Fishers, but I often only see blue ones with white bellies along the creek, known as the Belted Kingfisher for its white belt around it's neck (it's hard to see it's blue in the photos above because of the shade). They're a medium sized bird, and also have a small white dot in front of their eyes. Even though they dive head first to get a fish, they return to branches to eat. "Parents drop dead fish into water, teaching the young to dive."