BlueJay

I feel like the rufous is a trick from the lighting. The reason I believed it was a Greater Scaup is because one had been reported within half a mile from where I saw it, and pictures of that individual look almost identical to the one I saw. Here are some pictures of the bird I'm describing. In the pictures you can see the sharp line between colors on the neck and that the bird doesn't have as much white on the sides as you'd expect. I observed the bird at a different location than where it was previously reported, but at the end of my observation it flew back to the original place it was found.

What indicators make this a Redhead instead of a Greater Scaup?

Both birds were seen today in central NC. The scaup I believe is Greater but would like confirmation. The falcon I believe is a Merlin as a Peregrine would be larger (It was much smaller than the crow that was chasing it) and a Kestrel would have more color. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Seen from really far away so terrible photo but Franklin's Gull! https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/611277668

Black-legged Kittiwake!!! https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/610781625

Nelson's Sparrow! https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/610728890

Wilson's Snipe! https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/610200673

Blackburnian Warbler https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/609968662

Your Swainson's Warbler on that checklist is I believe actually a Northern Cardinal.

Seen this morning in central NC. I believe it is a Blackburnian Warbler but would like confirmation. Any help would be greatly appreciated. https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/609746783

In the last week and a half or so I've gotten three lifers. Peregrine Falcon https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/609689113 Bay-breasted Warbler https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/609689087 Black-throated Green Warbler https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/609689088

Olive-sided Flycatcher https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/608741326

From yesterday Worm-eating Warbler https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/607473641 https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/607551841

Both birds were seen today in central NC. The first I believe is a Worm-eating Warbler due to the black stripes on the head and sharp thin bill but since it would be a lifer I want to confirm. The second flycatcher I'm not sure. The expected species is Acadian but it looks a little off for that. Any help would be greatly appreciated. https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/607473641 https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/607473571

Pectoral Sandpiper https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/607219701

Saw this bird in the Sierra Nevadas as well on August 22nd. I have a lot of trouble with flycatchers so if anyone could help that would be greatly appreciated. To me it looks like a Hammond's/Dusky. https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/607166241

Here's the final trip report with all of my photos uploaded. https://ebird.org/tripreport/153056 I ended up getting 48 lifers (almost double what I was expecting)! Highlights of the entire trip include Least Storm-Petrel's (no photo), Clark's Nutcrackers and Mountain Bluebirds high in the Sierra Nevadas, Yellow-billed Magpies near Sacramento, and a super cooperative Brant and Ridgeway's Rails on the last day of the trip to wrap things up.

Brant https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/606553361

Both birds were seen today in the Sierra Nevadas. The first I want to confirm Mountain Bluebird and the second photo I want to confirm Hairy Woodpecker. Any help would be greatly appreciated. https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/606106671 https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/606106611

Seen today in the Sierra Nevadas, California. Can this flycatcher be identified or is it best left as Hammond's/Dusky? Any help would be greatly appreciated. https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/605824871 https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/605824881

Both birds were seen 2 days ago (Aug. 19) on the day of my pelagic at Half Moon Bay, California. The first one I believe is a Pelagic Cormorant but would like confirmation. The second one I'm not sure what Jaeger sp. it is. Any help would be greatly appreciated. https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/605824101 https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/605823671

Red-necked Phalarope https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/605460011

Thanks for the info. Yea the pelagic was nuts. I picked up at least 21 lifers, (I need to review a couple more) and we saw a raft of over 1500 Storm-Petrels. There were crazy numbers of Ashy, I saw a couple Leasts, and unfortunately I was seasick when they were spotted but there were also some Black and Wilson’s mixed in. I also saw all three Jaeger species as well as amazing looks at Northern Fulmar and South Polar Skua. I’ll give more details when I’m done with the entire trip.

One question. Do you know if we have to pay/get any fees or park passes beforehand when parking at the Twin Lakes Trailhead Parking Area?

My biggest targets would be the immature Goshawks that have been reported there, Steller's Jay, Clark's Nutcracker, and Black-backed and White-headed Woodpeckers.