Samworth WMA, SC - 12 Mar 2023
Jack and I took off in the Jeep and headed south into Georgetown to check out Samworth WMA. Our goal for the trip was to look for Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Brown-headed Nuthatch, and possibly a Barn Owl that had been seen at the WMA several times during the past several weeks.
A patch of woods just outside the WMA was found to contain a nesting colony of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers, but were quiet this morning. We suspected that it was too late in the morning and that the birds had taken off to forage somewhere else; they'd return toward the end of the day. In the meantime I took a couple pics of marked trees; one painted stripe indicates nesting birds.
We did manage to hear a couple of Brown-headed Nuthatches overhead.
As we drove into the WMA the fence surrounding the corn field held a number of Chipping and Savannah Sparrows. We'd count 120 of the birds on the way out.
The old plantation home next to the parking lot was where a Barn Owl had been spotted recently. We tried but could not find any owls (Barred Owls are also seen here regularly.
Walking the perimeter of the fenced-in corn field (dove hunting is huge here) we saw flocks of dozens of Mourning Doves. An American Kestrel (male) was a nice find. Overhead we heard the first of many Blue-gray Gnatcatchers and Northern Parula. Tufted Titmice were quite vocal, as well.
Three-quarters around the fencing took us to the entrance road of the WMA and we came upon a small flock of gnatcatchers, Song and Savannah Sparrows. I managed to get a few of the Savannah's as they worked through the underbrush.
We returned to the car then drove a short distance to check out the river and take a quick look at the rice fields in the adjacent properties. Northern Cardinals were busy moving through the trees along the river while a couple of Eastern Bluebirds made appearances.
Three small blackbirds flew in and landed at eye-level. Their bright yellow eyes alerted me to possible Brewer's Blackbirds, but their bluish-black bodies were not glossy enough. We'll call them Rusty Blackbirds!
Wisteria and azaleas were in full bloom here in the woods. Gorgeous!
As we drove out we spotted a single White-crowned Sparrow among the flock of Chipping and Savannah Sparrows. Six Brown-headed Nuthatches overhead were also a surprise. I could only manage record image; the birds were too high up.
As the rain started to materialize we headed back toward Georgetown and the Santee Delta walk.
Samworth WMA, Georgetown, South Carolina, US
Mar 12, 2023 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Protocol: Traveling
2.5 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Jack Volker
26 species
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 85 mostly in fenced area and trees bordering
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) 1
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) 2
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) 1
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) 1
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 3
American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) 1 male, inside fenced enclosure
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 2
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 6
Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) 6
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) 12
Brown-headed Nuthatch (Sitta pusilla) 9 3 on Samworth Rd by the Red-cockaded Nesting area, and another 6 in trees next to parking area
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) 26 flocks of gnatcatchers in trees next to fenced enclosure. Most high. Calling. Groups foraging low along edge of river and rice fields
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) 6
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) 2
Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) 2
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) 84 Huge flock of sparrows inside enclosure next to entrance road. Exact count of 122 sparrows were mainly Chipping Sparrows and Savannah Sparrow with Chippers outnumbering Savannah's 2:1.
White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) 1 Single sparrow among large flock was much larger than surrounding Chipping Sparrows and remained after flock flushed from road. Gray with bold black and white stripes on head. No white on throat.
Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) 38 Huge flock of sparrows inside enclosure next to entrance road. Exact count of 122 sparrows were mainly Chipping Sparrows and Savannah Sparrow with Chippers outnumbering Savannah's 2:1.
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 12
Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) X
Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus) 3 Matte blue-black blackbirds with black heads and yellow eyes. Next to small pond near river. Eye height. Looked like Common Grackles with short tails. Did not forage on ground. Photos show some glossy body and black head but not enough to call Brewer's. Did not call.
Boat-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus major) 12
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) 3
Yellow-throated Warbler (Setophaga dominica) 2
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 18
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
Mar 12, 2023 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Protocol: Traveling
2.5 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Jack Volker
26 species
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 85 mostly in fenced area and trees bordering
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) 1
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) 2
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) 1
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) 1
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 3
American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) 1 male, inside fenced enclosure
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 2
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 6
Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) 6
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) 12
Brown-headed Nuthatch (Sitta pusilla) 9 3 on Samworth Rd by the Red-cockaded Nesting area, and another 6 in trees next to parking area
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) 26 flocks of gnatcatchers in trees next to fenced enclosure. Most high. Calling. Groups foraging low along edge of river and rice fields
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) 6
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) 2
Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) 2
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) 84 Huge flock of sparrows inside enclosure next to entrance road. Exact count of 122 sparrows were mainly Chipping Sparrows and Savannah Sparrow with Chippers outnumbering Savannah's 2:1.
White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) 1 Single sparrow among large flock was much larger than surrounding Chipping Sparrows and remained after flock flushed from road. Gray with bold black and white stripes on head. No white on throat.
Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) 38 Huge flock of sparrows inside enclosure next to entrance road. Exact count of 122 sparrows were mainly Chipping Sparrows and Savannah Sparrow with Chippers outnumbering Savannah's 2:1.
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 12
Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) X
Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus) 3 Matte blue-black blackbirds with black heads and yellow eyes. Next to small pond near river. Eye height. Looked like Common Grackles with short tails. Did not forage on ground. Photos show some glossy body and black head but not enough to call Brewer's. Did not call.
Boat-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus major) 12
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) 3
Yellow-throated Warbler (Setophaga dominica) 2
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 18
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
