Bird Ramble January 10, 2008

What a difference a week makes. Last week we were bundle up and freezing. This week we were shedding clothes. I was out to do a plover sweep as well see Avocets and Oystercatcher because the tide was high. Well we walked from the 4-h boardwalk to the point and back. We did see the avocets, one Piping Plover, one Black-bellied Plover and two Wilson’s Plover but no Snowy Plover. Darlene had traveled all the way from Atlanta to Jekyll that morning to join our ramble group. She came to see the Snowy Plover. So where was the Snowy Plover? We tried St. Andrews Picnic Area. The tide was just too high to go south. We settled for very good looks at a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Still on the quest for oystercatcher, we went on to the north end and Clam Creek. Again, the tide was very high so the area where the oystercatchers hang out was flooded. We did see Buffleheads bouncing out in the river. By this time it was getting close to noon so we finished the morning at Amphitheater. This is a wonderful area to find both night-herons and the Anhingas. The Wood Storks were hanging out in their traditional trees. For several weeks there have been Roseate Spoonbills hanging around the pond. There was one there.



Darlene and Becky keep right on birding while the rest of us went and had a nice lunch. I enjoy my mornings with the winter people who come to Jekyll. They give me such insights into what is going on around the country. There is nothing like good birds and good company. After lunch, I took off to the St. Andrews Picnic Area. I really enjoy looking at shorebirds. This Snowy Plover is an interesting bird. Why is it here? Consequently, I took off south on the beach, about half way down the beach I found Becky and Darlene looking at the Snowy Plover. It was about in the same spot as last week. Although the banded Piping Plover was near by the Snowy Plover chased it. It seemed to own its a wet sand patch with a field of tube worms. Darlene was in photo heaven. She had positioned herself to try to capture that perfect image. Going for the perfect image is something as an artist I can understand. I like to say I am an image junky.

Glynn County Christmas Bird Count St. Simons Island

Saturday was our Glynn County Christmas Bird Count. Carole Lyons & I were assigned the area from Gould’s Inlet around through the St. Simons Village to the west side up through Epworth Areas. It also included my home neighborhood.

We arrived at Gould’s Inlet just passed high tide.

It was wonderful. There were lots of shorebirds, gulls and terns were gathered up right in the inlet. There were 32 American Oystercatchers, over 400 Dunlins and one banded Piping Plover. The Piping Plover followed us down the beach.

It was a nice warm day which made up for the cold one on Thursday. Slowly we made our way around the outer edges of St. Simons.

The day was capped off when an Ovenbird popped up on a log giving me a brief look right at the end of our birding. We had sixty-nine species. I found out that St. Simons Island really does have a few great areas to find birds.

Cold plover

It was cold very very cold. It didn’t help to read the forecast for the day. It said something like 32 degrees feels like 21 degrees. What made it worst for me was just a couple of days before it had been 80 degrees. But it was Thursday Morning so I piled the clothes on and headed for Jekyll. My little group showed up so we were off.

We got to the southend of Jekyll with the tide going out. Ordinarily that would be a bad thing but today we were lucky there were something that kept the birds feeding in the surf.

We headed out the path at the pink house as soon as we got to the beach we turned left. Heading east to where I had seen the plover on Monday. It was ok there were lots of gulls and a few terns around. No plovers though well there were a few Black-bellied Plovers but they weren’t Piping Plovers so we turned around. There was one group of gulls that were very actively feeding. The Herring Gulls were walking around scooping up tiny fish and the Ring-billed & Laughing Gulls were fluttering around and dipping into the surf. One of the reasons this area is so good is very often lunch or bunch is right at the birds’ feet.

Well we rounded the bend and headed north on the riverside. If we were going to suffer this miserable cold at least we could see a Piping Plover. I had seen the banded Piping Plover along this stretch of beach over the last month. Sure enough the banded Piping Plover was there so we headed north. Scanning a couple of times I happened to see a guy striding down the beach and what did I see scurrying along just in front of him? Was it a Sanderling? No there was something odd. So I set my scope up and low and behold it was the Snowy Plover making a bee line right for us. We stopping and waited. The little birds shifted a little to the right and the man kept going. This left the little plover right in front of us. My three companions were thrilled to see this bird which was a life bird for them all. We watched as the Piping Plovers did their little patter pick feeding move. I don’t have a whole lot of experience with Snowy Plovers so I was pleasantly surprised to watch the Snowy doing the same move. We enjoyed them for a while and then headed off to continue our ramble for birds.
We moved up the river side of Jekyll through the historic district looking at shorebirds feeding in the mud of low tide. At the airport we had Eastern Bluebirds, Pine Warblers and Yellow-rumped Warbler feeding under a live oak trees. We finished the morning at the Amphitheater. Of course there were lots of night-herons, Anhingas and there was one Roseate Spoonbill. There have been up to six spoonbills resting in this area all last month. The morning had been cold but the birds made it worth the experience.

Snowy Plover search on Jekyll

On New Years Eve I worked at Wild Bird Unlimited Nature Shop on Jekyll Island. Before I went to open up the shop I did a too quick search for the Snowy Plover. I didn’t find it. It is amazing the riot of emotions that you go through when you look for rare birds. I went the path hopeful and I came back the path out bummed. I missed it. Gary and Janie Smith are great folks. They own this shop. Back in the summer we agreed that I would help with the shop. I became their Chief Naturist and Artist in Resident. It has been interesting seeing what kind of folks visit the shop as a sample of those who visit Jekyll.

When I told them my sad tale of missing the bird, Gary jump right in and relieved me so I could run down and see the bird. This time I was lucky. The bird was there! Elation & excitement Yea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Then panic for as soon as I found the bird of course there was a dog off leash running right into the plover group. No No No! It couldn’t be. Were the birds gone? Then I saw the bird in the dunes. Yea!!!!!!!!!!!! In my joy of moment, I signaled at a group of people coming toward me. They had binoculars. “Come see this bird.” They must have thought I had gone mad for they were a little unsure whether not to approach this idiot with the big grin. They reluctantly came closer. “There a Snowy Plover! I got it in my scope. Come see.”

They were relieved to find I was sane.

Perfect! It makes it even better when you can share the rare bird moment with someone. I then told them about the large flock of skimmers and the 15 American Avocets. They seemed pleased and

I floated back to the shop. There, I shared the picture I took of the birds. . Thanks Gary for letting me sneak away and to Walt Chambers for finding and reporting this bird.

This bird puts a good ending to a whirl wind year.

December Zoomed by

Well I can see that I am way behind on this blog so here is a December summary.
There were two surveys of the little pocket marsh on the north end of Jekyll. Sedge Wrens were the stars of those surveys along with some great woodpeckers. Sorry but those Sedge Wrens were to fast to get an image but please enjoy these.

There were three Christmas Bird Counts Harris Neck, Cumberland (mainland) and Okefenokee that were exciting and time consuming.

There was work at Wild Birds Unlimited Nature Shop on Jekyll Island. This gave me a chance to gage the understanding of the nature of Jekyll.
The rambles were fun. Roseate Spoonbills are still here.

The month was filled with birds, people and last & always there was the work that I do for the Georiga's Colonial Coast Birding and Nature Festival.

Good Birding!

Tybee Island Birding

Last Saturday I took the day off and went birding with my friends John & Marge. We went up to Tybee Island. This is the island that is east of Savannah. It is an eclectic mix of new large up scaled homes, old art& craft cottages, 1950 style hotels, quant boutiques and great birds A Lark Sparrow had been found so we went looking for it. We were also going to go look at the Purple Sandpipers that hang out on the beach. The Lark sparrow was a no show but it was nice running into other Georgia birders while we waited. The sandpipers were just where they were supposed to be hanging out with Sanderlings and Ruddy Turnstones. Great day great birds and great seeing old friends, it does not get any better.

Waiting for the sparrow with friends

from left to right John, Tim, Diana and me

November in review

It has been a very busy November. Working mostly on festival summary 2007 and a major commission, I though it would be best if I just showed you some of the events in pictures. Enjoy! .

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron November 15

Wild Birds Unlimited Nature Shop of Jekyll and Coastal Georgia Audubon teamed up to put a partridge in a pear tree or better yet a pine cone birdfeeder in the backyard. The children and young at heart that came to the Lighting of the tree on Jekyll November 24 had fun with this activity.

More birds, art, and Jekyll coming in December.