A day on Little St. Simons Island

Last Thursday I had the privilege of spending the day on Little St. Simons Island. Scot Coleman and Abby Sterling were doing a survey of Black-necked Stilts and I joined them. It was fascinating to watch the family units of stilts. Chicks were close to each other with parents nearby and watchful. We counted over 60 stilts. Then we went to the north beach area called Sancho Panza. Now this was at noon low tide and HOT, the shorebirds were way off. We did see a few. In the afternoon because I had never seen the north end of the island, I joined Abby for some history. The area is a shell midden. While standing listening to Abby tell us about middens I heard a Tufted Titmouse. Now I love Tufted Titmice so I quietly called to the bird who flew right over our head. What a day! Thanks guys for having me over.

Location: Little St. Simons Island
Observation date: 7/22/10
Notes: The morning was a Black-neck Stilt survey. Also not able to record was at least one Long-billed Curlew and one Marbled Godwit at north end of Little St. Simons Island.
Number of species: 43

Mottled Duck 10
Brown Pelican 10
Anhinga 1
Least Bittern 1
Great Egret 3
Snowy Egret 15
Tricolored Heron 6
Reddish Egret 1
Black-crowned Night-Heron 2
White Ibis 10
Glossy Ibis 15
Roseate Spoonbill 27
Wood Stork 6
Black Vulture x
Turkey Vulture x
Osprey 2
Common Moorhen 7
Black-necked Stilt 64
Willet 10
Marbled Godwit
Long-billed Curlew
Least Sandpiper 10
Laughing Gull 25
Gull-billed Tern 2
Royal Tern 7
Black Skimmer 3
Mourning Dove 5
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 4
Great Crested Flycatcher 2
White-eyed Vireo 4
Fish Crow 5
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 1
Purple Martin 4
Barn Swallow 20
Carolina Chickadee 2
Tufted Titmouse 1
Carolina Wren 2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
Seaside Sparrow 2
Painted Bunting 6
Red-winged Blackbird 10
Common Grackle 4
Boat-tailed Grackle 2
House Finch 4

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

Stopped birders on the causeway

Today when I was driving over the Jekyll Island Causeway to go to work at Wild Birds, I saw a group of birders. They were pulled off the road looking at a flock of White Ibis. This flock has been there in that same spot for a week. It was heart warming to see the group of maybe six people some huddled around the scope others looking through binoculars. Since coming off the road all those many years ago I miss seeing clusters of birders. For the last decade I have been trying to encourage birders to come see this little corner of the world. If you are birding in the Golden Isles please stop by and say hello. If I am not there just leave me a note tell me what birds you are seeing. Good birding.

Birdy Friday Report

Oh it just not as much fun with out photos but today was a wonderful bird day on Jekyll. Yes, it is very hot and humid out there. First, I was sitting on bench in the shade looking up thinking I sure would like to see a Yellow-throated Warbler and a Yellow-throated Warbler flew in. It didn't stay long but what a pretty bird. I did have the pleasure of the company JR and his dad for a short Amble. JR and his group won his division of the Youth birding team competition last April. It is a pleasure to be in the company of a young talent. His Raven 8x32 Binoculars were perfect for his hands. He got a life bird. There was a Gull-billed Tern working the river. At the campground where we saw Painted Buntings, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, and North Parula.

They left and I have been in the Wild Birds Unlimited Store. All day a female hummingbird has been looking for food all around the shops gardens. It would be feeding on tiny flower and people would walk right by.

Gene Keferl just stopped by and reported that the Wilson's Plovers are doing ok at the south end. He saw two chicks and three adults. He also reported lots of Royal Terns, Laughing Gulls and skimmers. There were also a few Least Terns.

It is just a birdy Friday