The changing of the guard is almost complete at my home in Hampton as more winter birds have arrived.

 

I saw my first Hermit Thrush of the autumn season on Nov. 7. A couple of woodland thrushes -- Wood Thrush and Veery -- spend only the summer months in northeast Tennessee, departing each fall to spend the winter in the tropics. Other thrushes -- Swainson's Thrush and Gray-cheeked Thrush -- only pass through the region during migration each spring and fall. The Hermit Thrush is a fall and winter resident in the region. In addition, a few Hermit Thrushes spend the summer months on such local peaks as Roan Mountain, where there is evidence that they are breeding and raising young.

 

The first Dark-eyed Junco put in an appearance at my home on Nov. 10 on a rainy, dreary morning. So far, I have not seen any White-throated Sparrows, which usually arrive prior to the Dark-eyed Juncos.

 

These observations are good indicators that fall migration is slowing. The summer birds have flown south as the winter visitors have taken up residence for the bleaker months on the calendar.

 

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In late October, I spent six days in coastal South Carolina. During my stay, I found 75 species of birds, which included wading birds, shorebirds, songbirds and raptors. I birded most of the time in Beaufort County in the company of David Thometz. Some of our best observations included Wood Stork, Piping Plover, Savannah Sparrow, Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow, Anhinga, American Oystercatcher and Ruddy Turnstone.

 

We saw hundreds of Black Skimmers, which gathered in large flocks on the beaches and sandbars on Fripp Island. These resting flocks also included Royal Terns, Sandwich Terns, Laughing Gulls and Ring-billed Gulls.

 

On overcast days, tens of thousands of Tree Swallows overwhelmed the beach and dunes. I've never before seen such incredible numbers of this swallow.

 

I saw several raptors, including Bald Eagle, Osprey, Northern Harrier, American Kestrel, Red-tailed Hawk, Black Vulture and Turkey Vulture.

 

I didn't see many songbirds, but I did observe some interesting ones, including American Redstart, White-eyed Vireo, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Common Yellowthroat, Nashville Warbler and Gray Catbird.

 

As always, coastal South Carolina yielded numerous sightings of long-legged wading birds, including Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Tri-colored Heron, Cattle Egret, Wood Stork and White Ibis.

 

In addition, I saw several shorebirds, including Willet, Black-bellied Plover, Least Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, Sanderling and Dunlin. The most common shorebirds included Western Sandpiper and Semipalmated Plover. Hundreds of each of these shorebirds would settled onto sandy dunes each evening to rest.

 

I even observed some waterfowl, including American Black Duck, Blue-winged Teal, Green-winged Teal and Pied-billed Grebe.

 

The trip also had one sad encounter when I found a Northern Gannet on the beach seated on the sand at the surf's edge. As I approached closer and the large seabird did not move, I knew that something was wrong.

 

When I got a little too close, the bird attempted to raise its wings. One of the wings dragged, which indicated an injury.

 

A couple walking on the beach also arrived on the scene. The wife had her cell phone and called the security gate at Fripp Island, which sent out the resort's naturalist, Collins Strickland.

 

He used a towel to cover and lift the ungainly bird into a cardboard box. The Northern Gannet seized a corner of the towel in its sizable bill and refused to let go.

 

Although Strickland said he would contact wildlife authorities about the bird's plight, he also informed us that Northern Gannets only come to shore to die.

 

Research I conducted after returning home indicated that is basically true. These large seabirds also land on terra firma during the nesting season. Away from their breeding grounds, however, it is true that only a sick or dying bird will ever come to land.

 

This bird was very weak. A few times when it managed to raise itself out of the surf, its head would begin listing to one side. I am not sure if anyone was able to help the bird. Most likely, this Northern Gannet was euthanized. I would still rather know that the bird's end was quick and painless rather than the slow agony it might have faced if it had been left on the beach. With an advancing tide, such a weak bird might also have drowned if it had been left on its own.

 

This particular bird didn't show any wounds. The only apparent injury was to the drooping wing. The cause of the bird's poor health wasn't immediately obvious. On reflection, the bird may simply have been quite advanced in age.

 

In the prime of health, Northern Gannets are amazing birds. They have a body length of almost three feet, and their wingspans stretch out to almost six feet wide. In general, they are long-lived birds that do not reach breeding age until they are four to five years old.

 

The birds breed in the North Atlantic on island cliffs off Quebec in Canada. More than half of the world's population of Northern Gannets also nests in large colonies along the coasts of Great Britain.

 

During the winter season, they leave the colder waters of the North Atlantic for the Southern Atlantic and Gulf Coasts in the United States. I have observed Northern Gannets in winter in both South Carolina and Florida.

 

They are impressive as they forage for fish. They will sometimes soar at a great height before they fold their wings and plunge like a three-foot missile into the surf in pursuit of a fish. A large school of fish can attract sizable flocks of Northern Gannets, which constantly dive into the sea for their finned prey.

 

Adult Northern Gannets are white birds with a black edge on their outer wings. Their heads usually show a yellowish wash, which brightens during the breeding season. They have long blue-gray bills, which they use to snatch fish from the surf.

 

I enjoyed such a close observation of one of these birds, but I wish it had taken place under better circumstances.

 

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To share a sighting, ask a question or make a comment, reach me at 297-9077 or 542-4151. My e-mail addresses are ahoodedwarbler@aol.com or bstevens@starhq.com.