04/15/06

I took a non-birding trip to Jekyll Island on Saturday and Sunday. However, I did spend an hour and a half leading a nature walk consisting of about twenty people on the south end of Jekyll on Saturday. Not too much to report bird-wise:

American White Pelican (20 or so seen flying)

Surf Scoter (1)

Black Scoters

Red-breasted Merganser (1)

Greater Scaup (2)

Caspian Tern (4)

Marbled Godwit (1)

Black-necked Stilt (2)

Merlin (2)

Plus other stuff like: Red Knots, Bald Eagle, Summer Tanager, Orchard Oriole, warblers, ducks.

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April 22

Conyers Horse Park

Birding with Paul Sanders

Highlights:

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)

Yellow-crowned Night-heron (1 or 2)

Sedge Wren (1)

Gray-cheeked Thrush (2)

Veery (1)

Swainson’s Thrush (2)

Wood Thrush

Bobolink (1)

Spotted Sandpiper (1)

Solitary Sandpiper (1)

20 species of warbler

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05/17/06

Yard Bird Highlights:

Black-billed Cuckoo (1)

Sedge Wren (1)

Northern Waterthrush (2)

Bay-breasted Warbler (1+)

American Redstart (1)

Magnolia Warbler (1)

Louisiana Water thrush (2)

Kentucky Warbler (1)

Hooded Warbler (1)

Northern Parula (1)

Common Yellowthroat (1)

Yellow-breasted Chat (1)

Pine Warbler (2)

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05/18/06

On my way home from work, I did a quick, ten-minute check of E. L. Huie amid fierce winds and darkening skies.

Northern Pintail (1 female, probably same one I found there a two or three weeks ago).

American Black Duck x Mallard hybrid (at least one)

Blue-winged Teal (1)

Plus other usual stuff

For what it’s worth the ACOGB 2003 lists the late date for Northern Pintail as May 11 for the state, April 12 for the piedmont and accidental for summer. I’ve reported them from here in summer a number of times in years past though.

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I forgot to mention that on my way home from work today, 5/18/06, I was driving south on Old Atlanta Road in northern Spalding County and passed a field on my right. I thought I saw a DICKCISSEL about 50 yards out. I stopped the car and sure enough I was treated to two DICKCISSELS perched and singing. Always fun to see!

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On way home from work, I noticed some good swallow activity over a field near my house today, 5/19/06. The usual ones plus:

Bank Swallow (about 20)

Cliff Swallow (about 20)

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I only had time to quickly check my yard this morning, 5/20/06. Really too windy to see much. Highlights:

Gray-cheeked Thrush (2 singing and one seen)

Swainson’s Warbler (1)

Eurasian Collared-dove (2)

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05/24/06

After work I stopped by the GIHP in Conyers (Rockdale County, Piedmont region of GA) just for a quick walk. Highlights:

Yellow-crowned Night-heron (4)

Gray-cheeked Thrush (1)

Gray-cheeked Thrush (2 singing away, ties the state extreme late date)

Wilson’s Warbler (1)

Cedar Waxwings (10)

17 Species of Warbler:

Swainson’s Warbler (7)

Palm Warbler (1 late bird)

Canada Warbler (1)

Bay-breasted Warbler (1)

Black-throated Blue Warbler (1)

Chestnut-sided Warbler (1)

Prairie Warbler (4)

Pine Warbler (8)

Black-and-white Warbler (3)

American Redstart (1)

Northern Parula (8)

Louisiana Waterthrush (4)

Kentucky Warbler (4)

Hooded Warbler (5)

Wilson’s Warbler (1)

Common Yellowthroat (3)

Yellow-breasted Chat (4)

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After work today, 05/26/06, I stopped by Sweetwater Creek State Park (Douglas County, Piedmont region of GA, DeLorme 25A10). The lake is somewhat drained, so there are some exposed mudflats.

Highlights:

Baird’s Sandpiper (1)

White-rumped Sandpiper (11)

Semi-palmated Plover (8)

Semi-palmated Sandpiper (40+)

Western Sandpiper (3)

Least Sandpiper (10+)

Pectoral Sandpiper (1)

Black Swan (2, escaped or released)

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June 3

Hooded Merganser at Mt Zion Rd in Clayton County

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June 7

I and some friends stopped by the Ocmulgee National Monument (Macon in Bibb County on the Fall line).

Highlights:

Baltimore Oriole (2)

Painted Bunting (2)

King Rail (6)

Swainson's Warbler (1+)

Prothonotary Warbler (4+)

Anhinga (2+)

Mississppi Kite (2+)

Cooper's Hawk (1)

Possible Sora

On the way home at Lake Tobesofkee:

Cliff Swallow (100)

Bald Eagle (1)

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June 9

At E. L. Huie LAF in Clayton Co

White-rumped Sandpiper (2)

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June 13

I made a quick check of E. L. Huie LAF after work.

Highlights:

White-rumped Sandpipers (3)

Northern Pintail (1 female)

American Black Duck x Mallard Hybrid (at least one)

American Coot (1)

Pied-billed Grebe (2)

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June 14

Lake Seminole, GA

I found some really interesting things. Here are the highlights in chronological order:

GLOSSY IBIS (4, first seen flying in the morning, then feeding in a couple somewhat distant spots. Glossys are regarded as rare inland in GA.)

SWALLOW-TAILED KITE (1 seen flying beside the lake heading east near Booster Club Road. Always fun to see especially away from the known areas near the GA coast.)

RUDDY DUCK (2 with young. Wow! They were out on the water a little ways. The ACOGB (2003) says that there are at least 15 reports of Ruddys in summer, but doesn’t mention whether breeding has ever been recorded.)

LAUGHING GULL (1, this may have been a remnant from the storm. Also, one Ring-billed Gull and a Herring Gull.)

GADWALL (1 female. The bird was on the water in the distance, and I suspected Gadwall, but had to be sure, so I waited a good thirty minutes for it to come a little closer and flap its wings, etc. Listed as Accidental in summer with only four records.)

KING RAIL (2 heard at a marshy spot by the lake.)

AMERICAN KESTREL (1, always fun to see in summer when it is considered rare.)

GREEN VIOLET-EAR (1 seen. This tropical hummingbird was definitely the bird of the day! The bird was just inside GA, into FL. I saw it as it flew near me and almost into me as it seemingly searched for flowers. It paused long enough for me to see it well.

Also, had more common birds like: Common Ground-dove, Snowy Egret, & Osprey (about 30). Notable for their absence were Bald Eagles and Mississippi Kites.

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June 16

Constitution Lakes, Dekalb Co. with Darlene Moore and Cheryl Kanes

Yellow-crowned Night-heron (at least 2)

King Rail (1 heard)

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June 20

I made a quick check of Lake Horton, Fayette County

Highlights:

Black Swan (1, escaped or released)

Mute Swan (2)

White Ibis (2)

Osprey (1)

On my way home from work this afternoon, 6/22/06, I made a brief stop at E. L. Huie LAF in Clayton County and found:

American Black Duck (1)

American Black Duck x Mallard Hybrid (at least 2, probably more)

Near my house in Spalding County this afternoon, I stopped at a swampy area and found:

Common Moorhen (1, seemed a bit odd)

White Ibis (1 immature)

Little Blue Heron (1)

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Highlights from West Spalding County with Mike Ivie:

Anhinga (2 adults with chicks)

Yellow Warbler (1)

Little Blue Heron (3)

Highlights from other spots in Spalding County:

Common Moorhen (1)

Snowy Egret (1)

Little Blue Heron (1)

Mississippi Kite (1 always nice this far north)

Cooper's Hawk (2)

Double-crested Cormorant (1)

Eurasian Collared-dove (8)

Grasshopper Sparrow (10+)

Highlights from Lake Horton:

American Coot (2)

Snowy Egret (1)

Little Blue Heron (3)

Spotted Sandpiper (1 seemed a bit odd)

Osprey (1)

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I noticed a few birds after work near my house here in Griffin (Spalding Co, Piedmont Region of GA) on Wednesday 07/12/06.

Bank Swallow (1)

American Black Duck x Mallard hybrid (1)

White Ibis (1 imm fly over my yard)

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I was up near Blairsville (GA mountains) part of today, 07/16/06. I wasn't there to bird or look for wildlife, but I did notice a few birds:

Cerulean Warbler (1), Chestnut-sided Warbler and other warblers

Cedar Waxwings

American Black Duck x Mallard hybrids (8)

Wood Ducks and Mallards

Bank Swallow (1)

Sharp-shinned Hawk (1)

Broad-winged Hawk (many)

Possibe Common Raven

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I checked the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers (just north of I-20, Rockdale County, Piedmont Region of GA) today, 07/19/06.

Highlights:

Anhinga (1)

Common Moorhen (at least one)

Little Blue Heron (2)

Scarlet Tanager (1)

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I noticed a few things today while driving around where I live here in Spalding County (Piedmont Region of GA).

White Ibis (6, flying by my house)

Little Blue Heron (7, six of which were right by my house)

Bank Swallow (2)

Cliff Swallow (a few migrating)

Broad-winged Hawk (1)

Cooper's Hawk (1)

Whip-por-will (1 flying; seemed a bit strange)

Solitary Sandpiper (1)

Snow Goose (the one I found in northern Spalding County in the Spring is apparently still there.)

Grasshopper Sparrow (many)

Eurasian Collared-dove (6)

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Driving home from work I briefly stopped by E. L. Huie LAF in Clayton County. Not much to report except for two Snowy Egrets. The Pied-billed Grebes are back. I didn't see the American Black Duck, but I did see the hybrid.

Snow Egret (2)

Little Blue Heron (1)

Great Egrets, Great Blue Heron, Green Heron

American Black Duck x Mallard Hybrid

Pied-billed Grebe (2)

Spotted Sandpiper (1)

Solitary Sandpiper (1)

Cooper's Hawk

Driving through Henry County today by I-75, I saw two HOODED MERGANSERS flying, which is nice to see this time of year.

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July 27

After work I made a brief check of Lake Horton in Fayette County. The best bird was a TRICOLORED HERON which is rare in the Piedmont. (I know it's rare because I don't have it on my yard list. Yes, that does bother me slightly.)

I took some photos and I threw a slightly blurry one onto my website under Recent Sightings:

Highlights:

Tricolored Heron (1)

White Ibis (30 or so, counted 33 yesterday)

Snowy Egret (4)

Little Blue Heron (5 or more)

American Coot (2)

Bald Eagle (1)

Solitary Sandpiper (6)

Least Sandpiper (2)

Spotted Sandpiper (2)

Pectoral Sandpiper (6)

Mute Swan (2)

Possibe Black Terns

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07/29/2006

Michael Beohm and I hit a few places along the Chattahoochee corridor (GA side) on Saturday, 07/29/06. We had some good stuff at each spot.

Bradley Unit of Eufaula NWR in Stewart County, Highlights:

Glossy Ibis (3)

Yellow-crowned Night-heron (1)

Wood Stork (1)

Common Ground-doves (4)

American Goldfinch (4)

Barn Owl (1)

Lake Walter F. George area:

Laughing Gull (1)

Purple Gallinule (9)

Forster's or Common Tern (2 in distance)

Wood Stork (about 20)

Yellow Warbler (1)

American Goldfinch (7)

Broad-winged Hawk (1)

Cooper's Hawk (1)

Mississippi Kite (2)

Double-crested Cormorant (21)

Ospreys

Bald Eagle

Lesser Yellowlegs (1)

Greater Yellowlegs (2)

Pectoral Sandpiper (1)

Least Sandpiper (7)

Lake Seminole GA in Decatur and Seminole County:

Long-billed Dowitcher (1, beats the early fall date in the ACOGB)

Forster's Tern (6 and two other unidentified terns)

Black Tern (30)

Mute Swan (1)

Purple Gallinule (1)

American Coot (6, listed as rare in summer)

Tricolored Heron (3)

Mississippi Kite (about 30)

Cliff Swallow (4)

Bachman's Sparrow (about 10 near there)

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07/30/2006

Michael Beohm and I went to Marshallville in Macon County to check the sod farms Sunday, 07/30/06.

There are several sod farms in this area which are close to each other. Here were the highlights:

Upland Sandpiper (24)

Upland or Pectoral flying in the distance (28)

Pectoral (21)

Least (1)

Greater Yellowlegs (2)

Solitary Sandpiper (6)

Spotted Sandpiper (1)

Mississippi Kites (5)

White Ibis (2)

Common Ground-dove (8)

Bank Swallow (1)

On the way home, I noticed the following from eastern Upson County:

Cattle Egret (800, good for the Piedmont)

Common Ground-dove (2)

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08/08/2006

I didn't get a chance to bird over the last week, so today coming back from work I was glad to squeeze in a five minute check of a marshy spot by my house here in Spalding County (Piedmont). Lots of stuff.

Black-crowned Night-heron (2)

Snowy Egret (1)

White Ibis (2)

Semipalmated Plover (1)

Pectoral Sandpiper (2)

Least Sandpiper (1)

Solitary Sandpiper (2)

Spotted Sandpiper (1)

Little Blue Heron (8)

Great Egret (7)

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08/10/2006

I'm heading out the door, but I wanted to mention that I had a CAVE SWALLOW (Mexican) beside my house this afternoon around 6:30pm. Also, had Bank Swallows and Cliff Swallows and a huge swarm of the other usual swallows. Some of the large nearby fields were being cut before the rain.

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08/14/2006

This afternoon here by my house in Spalding County (Piedmont), I was treated to a few goodies:

Wood Storks (9, riding the thermals)

Mississippi Kites (12)

Snowy Egret (1)

I stopped by Lake Horton in Fayette County (Piedmont) this afternoon after work, 08/14/06. Good stuff there:

Tricolored Heron (2)

White Ibis (40+)

Snowy Egret (2)

Yellow-crowned Night-heron (1 imm)

Blue-winged Teal (1)

Pectoral Sandpiper (30)

Least Sandpiper (1)

Lesser Yellowlegs (1)

American Coot (2)

Mute Swan (2)

Osprey (1)

Cool beans - so much in such a small area.

I had to do a show this weekend, so no birding, but I thought I would list all the stuff I had Thursday, 08/10/06, after work here in Spalding County near my house. It was a really a good day. Even had some kites, but nothing like the kite-fest extravaganza Steve Holzman and others reported.

Cave Swallow (1, maybe 2)

Cliff Swallow (10+)

Bank Swallow (10+)

Other swallows (500+)

Black-crowned Night-heron (1)

Snowy Egret (1)

White Ibis (1)

Mississippi Kite (10)

American Kestrel (1)

Grasshopper Sparrow (30+)

Eurasian Collared-dove (20+, the most I've had beside my house)

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