Total ABA Species Recorded During 2010 - 731



Thursday, April 22, 2010

We checked a map of South Carolina and picked out Colleton State Park as a place to stop for a little birding on our way south.  When we drove into the park, a Red-eyed Vireo greeted us followed by Summer Tanagers and a Wood Thrush in addition to several other birds that were not new for the year.  We spent about an hour there and headed further south to Savannah River NWR where we took the auto tour.  There were some nice water birds including dozens of Common Moorhens, but nothing new for the year.  After crossing the Savannah River and entering Georgia, I saw the sign for Harris Neck NWR, a place I had visited a few years ago.  So I suggested we give it a try.  Besides there is a local restaurant, the Old School Diner, on the road to the refuge where we could eat.  However, the restaurant was closed.  It has weird hours, but someday I'll be there when it's open.
The refuge was dyamite.  The colonial bird nesting area had hundreds of Wood Storks, Great and Snowy Egrets, and smaller numbers of Tri-colored Herons, Black-crowned and Yellow-crowned Night-Herons, and some immature White Ibis.  The woods areas of the wildlife drive had several warblers including Hooded, Yellow-throated, Pine, but no Ovenbirds.  In the open areas we had Eastern Kingbird, Blue Grosbeak, Prairie Warbler, and Painted Bunting, while back in the woods we observed a pair of Yellow-billed Cuckoos and an Eastern Wood-Pewee.
Back on the road we spotted a hawk flying along with the car that turned out to be a Mississippi Kite (web photo).  About then we crossed the state line into Florida and we concentrated on getting to Gainesville where we will be overnighting with John's friend Tom.  When we arrived, we got a tour of the garden that Tom has carefully nurtured over the years.  Tom also keeps a bug light on and collects specimens which he mounts and stores in a special bug house he built in the backyard.
With the new birds we saw today the cumulatve year list total is now 470.

1 comment:

  1. Ooooo, we LOVE Harris Neck NWR. It's one of our favorites. The Old School Diner is an interesting place to eat, but you gotta like fried seafood. And be sure to share your dinner . . . it's entirely too big a portion. Have fun in FL. Renee

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