Date:         Mon, 28 May 2007 10:31:33 -0400
Reply-To:     Joshua Spence <spencejoshua@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Sender:       Georgia Birders Online <GABO-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         Joshua Spence <spencejoshua@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Subject:      Blue-winged Warbler/American Kestrel - Murray County

I took a little time this morning to check a location in the Coosawattee
WMA where I had a Blue-winged Warbler on territory last year. This is off
of Henry Gallman Rd. I found one singing male around 9AM. I followed it for
about twenty minutes and got several great looks at the bird. The habitat
here is a little more open than the area off of Cagle Rd. This enabled me
to walk through the regenerating clearcut without getting too many
scratches from the briars. I also checked other parts of this clearcut with
no Blue-wings found. There is a clearcut north of this one that I checked
but it didn't look tall enough for Blue-wings, maybe in the next few years
it might be suitable. There were four Northern Flickers atop a dead snag
that put on a great show. All perched within inches of each other and
swayed back and forth with there bill pointing straight up. This is
probably courtship behavior. At first I thought these might be some
offspring but all were adults and it seems a little early for young-of-the-
year birds to be at that stage plumage-wise. It didn't seem to be a
territorial dispute.

I also drove down Fagala Rd to check for the Dickcissels and there were
none. I think the mowing that took place last year and the grazing cattle
has discouraged their return.

I did see a female American Kestrel perched on a wire. This is the second
time I've observed one at this location over the last week. Other than this
the only other highlight was a singing House Wren by the roadside.

Joshua Spence,
Murray County

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