Late Summer Waders, Kites & Shorebirds
Mills River, Henderson Co., NC
August 29, 2024
Register by clicking the ‘book now’ button above, or by contacting the Ventures office. We accept credit cards for an additional fee (2.9% for MC, Visa, Discover; 3.9% for AmEx), but you may also pay by bank transfer, cash, check, or money order. This Venture is limited to 8 participants.
Meeting Point: The Ingles Supermarket at the intersection of Route 191 and N Mills River Road in Mills River, NC. Carpooling is recommended. Bring water, a snack, and sun tan lotion. Time: 8:00 AM Price: $60
Late summer can be a great time in western NC for post-breeding waders and kites, and for early migrant shorebirds. Under the right conditions, possible waders include Great Egrets, rarer White Ibis, and even the occasional Wood Stork and Roseate Spoonbill. And last year we can’t forget our long-staying Limpkin. Both Mississippi and Swallow-tailed Kites are possible, often in good numbers. “Fall” migration of shorebirds starts as early as July and by August we can often find species like American Golden Plover, and Baird’s and Buff-breasted Sandpipers passing through the area.
During the morning we will visit those wetlands with recent reports of post-breeding waders, and also those spots with the best track record of reports over the years. Historically the best spot for Kites has been the King’s Bridge Conservation Area, though our stops will especially focus on locations of the most recent reports. And of course, stops in the Hooper Lane sod farm will maximize our shorebird potential.