Sedge Wren (1), Marsh Wren (1), Baltimore Oriole (2), Vesper Sparrow (1 getting late)

Warblers, 24 species:

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I had the following yard birds on Thursday, April 20, here in Spalding County:

Lesser Yellowlegs (1 flew over.  This is yard bird # 205.)

Marsh Wren (1)

Cattle Egret (5 flew over)

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April 22

Snow Goose (1 found while driving home with Paul Sanders on Teaman Road in northeast Spalding County.)

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Yard Birds 5/24/06

Highlights:

I spent a few hours birding my yard today and had some pretty neat birds.  Most birds were around the creek that goes through my yard.  I immediately realized that today would be a good day.  There was a lot of activity when I stepped out this morning.  I managed to take some photos of the Lincoln's Sparrow.LINCOLN’S SPARROW.  It stayed low in  

Lincoln's Sparrow (1, photographed)

Wilson’s Warbler (1, finally, this is the first record for the yard.  Yard bird #206)

Baltimore Oriole (2)

22 Species of Warblers:

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04/30/06

Horse Park in Conyers

Lincoln's Sparrow (1)

Baltimore Oriole (3)

Veery (2)

Yellow-billed Cuckoo (7)

Blue-headed Vireo (2)

Ring-billed Gull (1)

Indigo Bunting (by the googles)

23 Species of Warblers

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05/01/06

After work today, I stopped by the Ocmulgee River Trail on the Jasper/Monroe County Line, DeLorme 34 B3.  Highlights:

Gray-cheeked Thrush (2)

Veery (4)

Swainson’s Thrush (2)

Wood Thrush (30+)

Acadian Flycatcher (30+)

Scarlet Tanager (30+)

Blue-headed Vireo (2)

Yellow-billed Cuckoo (3)

Osprey (1)

18 Species of Warbler

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05/04/06 

I did a ten minute check of E. L. Huie yesterday (Thursday).  There were a lot of shorebirds but nothing that hasn’t already been reported except a female NORTHERN PINTAIL. 

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05/03/06

After work Wednesday, I stopped by Indian Springs State Park in Butts County (piedmont) for a couple hours.  I walked the short trail by the creek on the east side of the park.  The trail is narrow with lots of poison ivy and ticks and runs just over a quarter of a mile before looping back.  It’s a small area but pound per pound one of the best migrant spots in Georgia that I’ve found.  Highlights: 19 species of warblers

Swainson’s Warbler (7)

Canada Warbler (1)

Northern Parula (8)

Black-and-white Warbler (2)

Blackburnian Warbler (1)

Chestnut-sided Warbler (2)

Cape May Warbler (2)

Magnolia Warbler (1)

Yellow-rumped Warbler (3)

Prairie Warbler (1)

Bay-breasted Warbler (1)

Blackpoll Warbler (3)

Pine Warbler (2)

Kentucky Warbler (5)

Hooded Warbler (8)

Louisiana Waterthrush (2)

Common Yellowthroat (2)

Yellow-breasted Chat (3)

American Redstart (2)

Veery (1)

Yellow-billed Cuckoo (2)

Acadian Flycatcher (5)

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (5)

Scarlet Tanager (3)

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05/06/06

I had a good day walking the trail at the Horse Park. 

Highlights:

Bell’s Vireo (1 seen and heard and photographed and videotaped.)

Wilson’s Warbler (1 male seen and heard and videotaped.)

Sedge Wren (1)

Gray-cheeked Thrush (1)

Veery (2)

Bell’s Vireo (1)

23 Species of Warbler including Swainson’s Warbler (2).

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05/06/06 

I forgot to mention that I had a female HOODED MERGANSER fly by in Henry County on the way home yesterday.

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05/08/06

Yes, once again I managed to stop by the Horse Park in Conyers.  Yes, once again it was another great day, though I was unable to relocate the Bell’s Vireo.

Highlights:

Willow Flycatcher (1 seen, heard)

Sedge Wren (2)

Virginia Rail (1 heard)

Baltimore Oriole (1)

Veery (2)

26 species of warbler:

Swainson’s Warbler (6, great looks at one)

Canada Warbler (1)

Yellow Warbler (3)

Magnola Warbler (2)

Chestnut-sided Warbler (10+)

Bay-breasted Warbler (6)

Cape May Warbler (2)

Blackburnian Warbler (2)

Yellow-rumped Warbler (10+)

Prairie Warbler (1)

Palm Warbler (7)

Pine Warbler (5)

Blackpoll Warbler (10+)

Yellow-throated Warbler (1)

Black-and-white Warbler (1)

Prothonotary Warbler (5)

American Redstart (2)

Northern Parula (6)

Ovenbird (1)

Worm-eating Warbler (1)

Louisiana Waterthrush (3)

Northern Waterthrush (2)

Kentucky Warbler (9)

Hooded Warbler (10+)

Common Yellowthroat (10+)

Yellow-breasted Chat (5)

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05/10/06

I was able to squeeze in some birding at the GIHP in Conyers today before the bottom fell out of the sky. The birding was fairly slow due to the overcast and at times windy conditions.

Highlights:

Alder Flycatcher (1 heard) 

Gray-cheeked Thrush (2)

Veery (2)

Hermit Thrush (1, getting late)

Swainson’s Thrush (1+)

Wood Thrush (8)

Sedge Wren (1)

Marsh Wren (1)

Little Blue Heron (2)

Great Egret (1)

I heard the song of an ALDER FLYCATCHER a few times in the distance but could not see the bird due to a swamp being in my way.  I found 20 SPECIES OF WARBLER including PROTHONOTARY (15+) and SWAINSON’S (3).  

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I also noticed three BANK SWALLOWS beside my house yesterday. They’ve seemed scarce this spring.

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05/13/06

Today was a strange birding day at the horse park.  I walked for a good five hours during which time there seemed to be almost no bird activity.  However, for about five minutes around mid-morning there was a nice wave of migrants all of sudden singing and flitting around.  At that time I was well off the trail standing in about a foot of water beside the Yellow River there in the horse park.  The best birds were two ALDER FLYCATCHERS singing/calling.  I was able to see them also at close range, though only briefly.  Also, during that five minutes I had warblers, vireos, flycatchers, and such buzzing around me.  I also heard a WARBLING VIREO singing.  After a few minutes everything seemed to pass northward.  All the activity stopped, and I was still standing in the mud.

Highlights:

Alder Flycatcher (2, I got video/audio of at least one singing)

Warbling Vireo (1)

Sedge Wren (1)

Bank Swallow (1)

18 species of warbler:

Yellow Warbler (1)

Magnolia Warbler (1)

Chestnut-sided Warbler (1)

Yellow-rumped Warbler (3)

Palm Warbler (4)

Pine Warbler (8)

Blackpoll Warbler (3)

Prothonotary Warbler (6)

American Redstart (1 or 2)

Northern Parula (4)

Louisiana Waterthrush (2)

Northern Waterthrush (2)

Swainson’s Warbler (3)

Kentucky Warbler (4)

Hooded Warbler (7)

Canada Warbler (2)

Common Yellowthroat (5)

Yellow-breasted Chat (4)

Also:

Cedar Waxwing (several small groups of 10 or so)

House Wren (1)

Yellow-billed Cuckoo (great spot for these)

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I noticed some swallows near my house here in Spalding County today, 5/15/06.

Bank Swallow (10)

Cliff Swallow (4)

Tree Swallow (3)

Rough-winged Swallow

Barn Swallow

Purple Martin

I’m seeing Banks now in several locations, so be on the look-out.

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05/15/06

Also, I had a NORTHERN HARRIER today here.  They are generally considered quite rare after April in the Piedmont.  Kind of neat!

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05/15/06

I saw an INCA DOVE today around 5 pm perched on a power line on the side of the road. I was driving and immediately stopped the car when I saw it, however the cars behind me didn’t seem to understand the importance of the moment. I looked the bird over the best I could and knew it could only be an Inca Dove. I quickly drove to the next available turn around spot and came back, and of course, you guessed it, the bird was gone. Fortunately though, I had seen the bird well enough to make the id.

Description:

Dove that is noticeably smaller than a Mourning Dove (which I had for comparison). Slender body.

Pale gray body with noticeable scaling effect to the body plumage.

Pale light face.

No markings or pattern on face or on wings.

Long tail. White underneath tail. Square tail.

I had great light to see the bird, thankfully. The area is a large grass field (barbed wire, private property). I didn’t see any easy way to park or get out and search for the bird.

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05/15/06

I checked the GIHP today.  I had some pretty cool birds.  I ran into a couple nice (and somewhat muddy) birders whom I was able to share most of the birds with.

Highlights:

Willow Flycatcher (1 seen and heard)