Yes, That's Really Its Name

Last week, right after Hurricane Sally, a brown booby was spotted several times at Lake Strom Thurmond, near McCormick.  Okay, reader, we’re not making this up.  This is a real bird that really did come to the lake.  I have no idea how it got its name, but that’s what it is.  And now that we have taken care of that small detail, we can continue.

 

According to the range maps, the brown booby is not supposed to be found north of Miami.  This is a large seabird, living its life in tropical ocean waters worldwide.  It nests on Caribbean or other sea islands, or sometimes on sea debris large enough to support a nest.   Its back and upper parts are brown, with white underparts, and it has a large bluish bill.  

 

Occasionally a stray finds itself further north, usually because of a hurricane or other strong weather system.  Four years ago, another brown booby stayed at the Lake Strom Thurmond dam for two weeks.  This caused quite a stir among the local birding community, and many Carolina birders were able to go to the overlooks at the dam to view this unusual bird.

 

One Friday afternoon, I talked Mike into going to try to see it.  The drive was a haul, going through tiny towns on two-lane roads for a couple of hours.  However, the observation was not to be.  The winds were horrendous.  I could barely hang onto my binoculars, or even myself, on the rocks at the edge of the lake.  We scanned the shore and the bridge for a long time, and drove around to other places with views of the lake, but never did see it.  We did come home through Abbeville and got a nice meal, so the trip was not all in vain.  

 

In 2018, another brown booby was found in the upstate - this one in Greenville, near the bell tower on the lake at Furman.  This bird hung out for most of the month of May, apparently completely blown off course and not sure what to do or where to go.  It was not shy and even seemed like it was posing for pictures. It’s very unusual looking with its large bluish bill, and we enjoyed the treat of seeing a seabird so far out of its range.  We got several good photographs, as did many other local people who came to see it, before it finally disappeared to who knows where. 

 

So there you have it - the brown booby, seen occasionally in the upstate.  The story behind the snicker.  You may now return to your regularly scheduled serious reading.