Date: Sat, 5 May 2007 21:10:18 -0400
Reply-To: Lois <croakie@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Georgia Birders Online <GABO-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From: Lois <croakie@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Augusta Women Birders
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We were unable to participate in the AWBB last week so we did an unofficial
count today. We birded Phinizy Swamp NP, Merry Brickyard Ponds and Lover's
Lane in Augusta and had 103 species including two unshared. Highlights:
Early this morning we had 2 Forster's Terns at Phinizy. Later in the day we
had one beautiful Black Tern in full breeding plumage, one Bonaparte's Gull
not in breeding plumage and with the markings of a first winter bird (and
seemingly very late) and one unidentified tern at Merry.
On the airport fence we had Savannah and Grasshopper Sparrows and one other
that I wasn't able to positively identify but was not one of the regular
species here.
The biggest surprise of the day was shorebirds. I wasn't really expecting
any and we ended up with lots of bird in 4 species. There were 2 Lesser
Yellowlegs, 3 Least Sandpipers and lots of Solitary and Spotted Sandpipers,
more Spotteds than I've ever seen in one place before, in cell 7 at Phinizy.
We had all 6 Swallow species, in fact at one point near the Equalization
pond in a spindly little tree at eye level we had Tree, Rough-wing, Barn and
Bank Swallows all sitting together.
We had both Night-Herons and it seems that the Yellow-crowned may be nesting
at both Phinizy and on the Levee but we haven't found the nests yet.
Several winter residents remain including a Marsh Wren, 3 Blue-winged Teal
and the American Bittern who played hard to get right till the end, he was
the last bird we saw when we took one more turn across the boardwalk before
collecting our cars.
We didn't have a whole lot of migrants but we did manage 13 species of
warbler.
Both Buntings are in and making themselves conspicuous.
All in all we had a wonderful day!
Lois Stacey
North Augusta, SC (Aiken Cnty)
croakie@comcast.net
www.augustaaikenaudubon.org
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