Birding in 2010

2010 ended up being a pretty good year for adding birds to my list. In January I added the Song Sparrow and Red-bellied Woodpecker.

A February trip to the Alabama coast found me spotting a Cedar Waxwing and a Royal Tern at Dauphin Island and Fort Morgan, respectively. In Spanish Fort, AL a Boat-tailed Grackle was seen perching on the reeds next to Ed's Seafood on the Battleship Parkway. I really expected to add more species during this trip, but forgetfulness got the best of me. During a day trip from Mobile to Dauphin Island, across Mobile Bay on the ferry, and a drive through the Bon Secour Wildlife Area, I discovered that I left my binoculars and bird book where I was staying in Mobile. I will make a return trip to this area and it's wonderful Alabama Coastal Birding Trail stops.

In between the Alabama trip and a May visit to Washington, D.C. (where a Ring-billed Gull was seen at the U.S. Capitol reflection pool), I spotted a Yellow-rumped Warbler at the Augusta Canal, and made acquaintance with a Great Horned Owl that I have been hearing for months in the woods near my home. Also spotted here in North GA was a Northern Flicker (yellow shafted variety), a Brown-headed Cowbird and a House Finch.

My greatest haul occurred during an August trip to Hunting Island and Pinckney Island Wildlife Refuge in coastal SC. At Hunting Island I spotted a Black Skimmer, Willet, Tri-colored Heron, Sandwich Tern, and  Ruddy Turnstone. Pinckney Island sightings included a White Ibis (or hundred), Common Moorhen, Wood Duck, Pied-billed Grebe, Wood Stork, Black-crowned Night Heron and American Bittern.  Pinckney Island is a fantastic place to bird watch, but it was damn hot! I strongly recommend taking a bicycle, an ample supply of water, and sunscreen.

After that trip, almost four months of nothing new until a snow storm in December brought a Pine Siskin and a Purple Finch to my deck to munch on some sunflower seeds. My final sighting for 2010 goes to a Northern Harrier spotted near Washington, GA, swooping and gliding along a pine forest near Hwy 17. The white patch above its tail gave it away.   

All of that made for a total of 26 birds for 2010.

I already have 2011 kicked off by sighting a Red-tailed Hawk munching on some varmint by the side of Hwy 180 near Vogel State Park (GA). I can't believe it has taken me a year and a half to finally spot one. This brings my list total to 66 birds since May 2009.

Mobile, AL Mardi Gras and A Few Birds.

After my Cheaha Mountain trek, I headed south through small town Alabama, including Shinbone, Lineville, Equality, and Wetumpka, before hitting Montgomery and hopping on I-65. From there is was 177 miles of some pretty flat and swampy terrain before hitting the city limits of Mobile.

Most people think of New Orleans when the subject of Mardi Gras comes up. Mobile actually has the oldest Mardi Gras celebration in America, beginning in 1703. New Orleans wasn't even founded until 1718.

During my week long stay I attended 15 Mardi Gras Parades, and was pelted with various items slung from the floats including frisbees, stuffed animals, bags of roasted peanuts, Mary Janes, Super Bubble, plastic doubloons, Moon Pies, and of course, beads. Lots of beads. Considering the volume of items flung in my direction, it's surprising that I only got smacked in the face once. A set of beads found their mark on the bridge of my nose. By Fat Tuesday, I was paraded out.

As a break from the parades, on Sunday Jennifer and I headed south to Dauphin Island to ride the ferry across Mobile Bay from Fort Gaines on Dauphin Island to Fort Morgan and Gulf Shores. During this outing, I spotted two new birds to add to my list, a Cedar Waxwing (seen at the Alabama Coastal Birding Trail #42) and a Royal Tern (seen at the ferry landing on Dauphin Island). I would have added more, but I forgot my binoculars like a dope. Later that week I also spotted a Boat Tailed Grackle in some reeds after I dined on some fine fried shrimp at Ed's Seafood on the Mobile Causeway. So, three birds when I hoped for ten. I'll take that.

I enjoyed my first visit to this area and look forward to a return trip....without forgetting the binoculars.

Mobile Bay from Dauphin Island (Including natural gas rigs in the distance, they are everywhere, as far as the eye can see!)