Wednesday, May 30

Piranga rubra - Summer Tanager
Passerina cyanea - Indigo Bunting

The fog was thick as pea soup this morning, with the moisture was condensing on the leaves and the pine needles. The birds were enjoying the cool morning and bathing in the dew.

And this Red Wing Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) was really showing his epaulets.

Monday, May 28

Bubo virginianus - Great Horned Owl

And we didn't have the camera! :(

"AGH! a snake! a snake! Ohhhh... It's a snake!"

Why Sarah hasn't been taking as many pictures or spenting as much time at the Beaver Pond:

Monday, May 21

We were having dinner last night with Mrs. Christine Brown. While we were at the dining table, we were treated to a show on the railing of the deck:

Passerculus sandwichensis - Savannah Sparrow


sandwichensis ??? Where did they come up with that one?

"Doc, it's only a scratch"

This little guy was Sarah's companion this morning at the Beaver Pond.

Thus far

1. Lophodytes cucullatus - Hooded Merganser
2. Anhiga anhiga- Anhiga
3. Polioptila caerulea - Blue-Grey Gnatcatcher
4. Boaurus lentigingus - America Bittern
5. Phalacrocorax auritus - Double Crested Cormorant
6. Callipepla squamam - Northern Bobwhite
7. Bubulcus ibis - Cattle Egret
8. Euphagus carolinus - Rusty Blackbird
9. Passer domesticus - House Sparrow
10. Carpodacus purpureus - Purple Finch
11. Aix sponsa - Wood Duck
12. Beaolophus (Parus) bicolor - Tuffted Titmouse
13. Plegadis ajaja - White Ibis
14. Egretta caerulea - Little Blue Heron
15. Ardea herodias - Great Blue Heron
16. Streptopelia decaocto - Eurasian Collared-dove
17. Melanerpes erythrocephalus - Red-headed Woodpecker
18. Pipilo erythrophthalmus - Eastern (Rufous-sided) Towhee
19. Empidonax flaviventris - Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
20. Anas platyrhynchos - Mallard Duck
21. Mimus polyglottos - Northern Mockingbird
22. Toxostoma rufum - Brown Thrasher
23. Picoides Pubescens - Downy Woodpecker
24. Cathartes aura - Turkey Vulture
25. Coragyps atratus - Black Vulture
26. Agelaius phoeniceus - Red-winged Blackbird
27. Meleagris gallopavo -Eastern Wild Turkey
28. Dryocopus pileatus - Pileated Woodpecker
29. Molothrus ater - Brown-headed Cowbird
30. Cyanocitta cristata - Blue Jay
31. Zenaida macroura - Mourning Dove
32. Tyrannus tyrannus - Eastern Kingbird
33. Corvus brachyrhynchos - American Crow
34. Archilochus colubris - Ruby-throated Hummingbird
35. Cardinalis cardinalis - Northern Cardinal
36. Branta canadensis - Canada Goose
37. Charadrius vociferus - Killdeer
38. Progne subis - Purple Martin

Monday, May 14

• Lophodytes cucullatus - Hooded Merganser

And I got to see the reason for the beaver pond. (S)He was swimming about 20 yards away from our observation post, headed back toward the dam... Photos were taken, but they are never as good as being there LIVE!

Saturday, May 12

Birds only heard early this morning:

• Strix varia - Barred Owl
• Caprimulgus vociferus - Chuck-Will's-Widow
• Caprimulgus carolinenis - Whip-poor-will
• Callipepla squamam - Nothern Bobwhite

Birds at the Beaver Pond:

• Anhiga anhiga- Anhiga
• Polioptila caerulea - Blue-Grey Gnatcatcher
• Boaurus lentigingus - America Bittern
  
  

On the farm pond:

• Phalacrocorax auritus - Double Crested Cormorant

And... late this afternoon, we finally got to not only hear but also see:

• Callipepla squamam - Nothern Bobwhite
  

This morning we were able to watch two deer across the smoky Beaver Pond

(a distance of around 200 yards)!

Wednesday, May 9 - Trip to Savannah

• Bubulcus ibis - Cattle Egret
• Euphagus carolinus - Rusty Blackbird

We would have love to seen more - we were limited in time and there is an subtropical storm causing rain in and around Savannah.

What began as a mid-latitude or extratropical low pressure system has transitioned to a subtropical storm named Andrea. A tropical storm watch is posted from Altamaha Sound, Georgia southward to Flagler Beach, Florida. Andrea has maximum sustained winds of 45 mph and little change of strength is forecast. The storm is located about 110 miles southeast of Savannah, Georgia and is moving slowly towards the west at 3 mph. The center of Andrea is forecast to remain offshore through at least Thursday morning and possibly for the remainder of its lifespan.

The greatest impacts from this storm have likely peaked on Monday and Tuesday (before it was even given a name) but an isolated tropical storm-force wind gust or two is still possible especially along the South Carolina and Georgia coast.

Wave heights will continue to be on the decline during the remainder of the week however breakers of 9 to 12 feet will still crash along the beaches of South Carolina during much of tomorrow. Minor to moderate beach erosion is still possible and the risk of rip currents will remain high through at least Thursday and possibly longer.

Coastal showers will move onshore from time to time tonight and Thursday especially along the South Carolina, Georgia, and northeastern Florida coast. Unfortunately for the arid Southeast, any bit of rain is beneficial but it will likely not be a soaking rainfall. The rain that does fall will likely not be enough to help firefighters battle the fires over southeast Georgia and northern Florida.

The sign on Highway 121 in Collins

Monday, May 7

• Carpodacus purpureus - Purple Finch
• Aix sponsa - Wood Duck
• Beaolophus (Parus) bicolor - Tuffted Titmouse
• Plegadis ajaja - White Ibis
• Egretta caerulea - Little Blue Heron
• Ardea herodias - Great Blue Heron

So Far

Streptopelia decaocto - Eurasian Collared-dove
Melanerpes erythrocephalus - Red-headed Woodpecker
Pipilo erythrophthalmus - Eastern (Rufous-sided) Towhee
Empidonax flaviventris - Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Anas platyrhynchos - Mallard Duck
Mimus polyglottos - Northern Mockingbird
Toxostoma rufum - Brown Thrasher
Picoides Pubescens - Downy Woodpecker
Cathartes aura - Turkey Vulture
Coragyps atratus - Black Vulture
Agelaius phoeniceus - Red-winged Blackbird
Meleagris gallopavo -Eastern Wild Turkey
Dryocopus pileatus - Pileated Woodpecker
Molothrus ater - Brown-headed Cowbird
Cyanocitta cristata - Blue Jay
Zenaida macroura - Mourning Dove
Tyrannus tyrannus - Eastern Kingbird
Corvus brachyrhynchos - American Crow
Archilochus colubris - Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Cardinalis cardinalis - Northern Cardinal
Branta canadensis - Canada Goose
Charadrius vociferus - Killdeer
Progne subis - Purple Martin

Sunday, May 6

• Melanerpes erythrocephalus - Red headed Woodpecker
• Streptopelia decaocto - Eurasian Collared-dove
• Melanerpes erythrocephalus - Towhee
• Empidonax flaviventris - Yellow-bellied Flycatcher

Saturday, May 5

We were beginning to think our morning walk would be without a new bird to add to our life list. We again walked to the Beaver Pond, where we were very disappointed with the lack of birds. Nothing, Nadda, Nil. Were we too early, was the cloud cover and wind the reason? Or both?

We made our way back to the pond, and sat in the swing. Shortly, we were treated to our new bird of the day:

• Anas platyrhynchos - Mallard Duck

They almost landed on the pond.

And away they flew!!!

The many "tamed" duck are fun to watch and feed on a daily basis. But seeing wild ducks on the pond is a special treat!

Friday, May 4

Sarah's morning walk:

• Mimus polyglottos - Northern Mockingbird


• Toxostoma rufum - Brown Thrasher


• Picoides Pubescens - Downy Woodpecker


• Cathartes aura - Turkey Vulture


• Coragyps atratus - Black Vulture


• Agelaius phoeniceus - Red-winged Blackbird

We rode into the woods and to the Beaver Pond after lunch today:

• Meleagris gallopavo -Eastern Wild Turkey


• Dryocopus pileatus - Pileated Woodpecker


• Molothrus ater - Brown-headed Cowbird


• Cyanocitta cristata - Blue Jay

Building a new Platform Bird Feeder

New Platform Feeder installed.

Thursday, May 3

• Zenaida macroura - Mourning Dove
• Tyrannus tyrannus - Eastern Kingbird
• Corvus brachyrhynchos - American Crow

Wednesday, May 2

• Carduelis tristis - American Goldfinch

Tuesday, May 1

• Archilochus colubris - Ruby-throated Hummingbird
• Cardinalis cardinalis - Northern Cardinal
• Branta canadensis - Canada Goose
• Charadrius vociferus - Killdeer
• Progne subis - Purple Martin