Hasty Point and Bachman's Sparrow in SC - 06 Mar 2026

 

This morning Jack, Janet and I were driving to Wacamaw NWR and the Hasty Point Plantation to look for Red-cockaded Woodpecker, American Bittern, and King Rail. Located across the Pee Dee River just a few miles to the west of our location we needed to still drive to Georgetown and over the two bridges to reach the location (45 min. later). 

Today would be a warm day and the humidity at 7 am would testify to it. We arrived shortly after 8 am at the entrance to the plantation and scanned the trees for Red-cockaded Woodpecker. The pine woods on either side of the drive were marked (white bands) where nests have been found. 

Though we scanned the trees and listened no Red-cockaded Woodpeckers would show. Eastern Towhees, Northern Cardinals and Pine Warblers were the only birds heard (not seen).

We continued into the parking lot and headed out onto the dike next to the river. 

The Volkers new Jeep. We call it Kermit. I love the color!

The grounds.

With the river on the left and the marsh on the right we began to listen for American Bitterns and King Rails. Despite playing call backs we got nothing. We instead focused on the Song Sparrows, Swamp Sparrows, Northern Cardinals, Rusty Blackbirds and Red-winged Blackbirds. A couple of Yellow-throated Warblers were singing and were probably some of the first spring arrivals.

Across the river the far shore was blanketed in a morning fog in a moorish kind of way...

We finally saw a little action when a Red-tailed Hawk flew across the marsh. I managed to get an open-wing shot that shows the patagials on a brown hawk flying against brown trees,

The still-cool morning and humidity made the spider webs stand out.

We took the Woodpecker Trail back to the main part of the plantation and picked up Brown-headed Nuthatches, Song Sparrows, White-throated Sparrows, White-breasted Nuthatch and Tufted Titmouse. A pair of Red-headed Woodpeckers popped into view momentarily and provided very high views.

We came across a small flock of about 20 Chipping Sparrows but had the hardest time verifying ID. Many of the birds were too far away to see through binoculars, or obscured in backlit trees. When we did see them many were still in their winter / juvenile plumage.

I finally got a pic of a red-capped adult Chipping Sparrow.

We walked the opposite side of the Wacamaw NWR to see if any woodpeckers might present themselves. We saw quite a few Northern Flickers, Red-bellied Woodpecker and Pileated Woodpecker but dipped on the Red-cockaded Woodpecker. Eastern Bluebirds were calling and being seen everywhere.

Though only a stray Magnolia Tree was starting to bloom it was still too early for most flowering vegetation. We did, however, come across a few Flowering Jasmine bushes/vines.

We also ran into a patch of woods that hosted at least four White-throated Vireos that were calling from all directions. They were reluctant to come in close enough for photos. We'd return to the car after a good 3 mile walk just as the heat was arriving.

Waccamaw NWR--Hasty Point, Georgetown, South Carolina, US
Mar 6, 2026 7:53 AM - 10:16 AM
Protocol: Traveling
3.104 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Clear to cloudy, 68F, calm winds. Jack and Janet Volker
37 species

Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors)  4
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  3
Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)  1
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)  1
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)  1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)  1
Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus)  2
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)  6
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)  1
Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)  1
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)  6
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)  3
White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus)  4
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  3
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)  3
Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis)  6
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)  10
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula)  1
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)  4
Brown-headed Nuthatch (Sitta pusilla)  6
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  3
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)  2
Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)  6
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)  10
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)  1
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)  7
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  4
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)  4
Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus)  6
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  8
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)  1

Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus)  2

Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)  3
Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus)  4
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)  8
Yellow-throated Warbler (Setophaga dominica)  2
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  8

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S306454133

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

We then drove down the road a short distance to Arundel Avenue to look for Red-cockaded Woodpecker.

We drove slowly with the window down and Merlin on our phones. The mostly pine woods were active with Eastern Towhee, Brown-headed Nuthatch and Eastern Bluebirds. One bluebird was perched on a burnt stump and provided the visible bird of the moment.

Thinking we were hearing Northern Cardinals singing Merlin picked up Bachman's Sparrow (Peucaea aestivalis); first on Janet's phone, then on mine. I played a recording and after a few moments heard the distinct, high-pitched whistle, followed by the long stoccato "tweet-tweet-tweet..., slur, and repeat tweets". Wanting to let Ken know that we were hearing the bird I took a quick pick of the road as a marker and got our coordinates to send to him.

After several minutes of hearing the Bachman's Sparrow calling one flew in and landed in the only green bushes about 30' in from the road near us. I was able to spot it tucked in the vegetation and directed Jack and Janet to it. 

We slowly exited the Jeep and quietly photographed it from the road making sure not to spook it before everyone had good looks. The sparrow sat motionless for a good 10 minutes before it started quietly singing from its perch.

I walked up the road a short distance hoping to get a better view of it through the understory but branches and stems did a nice job of obscuring clear views. Still, I was quite happy with the photos from the 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens on the Sony a1.

The tan throat, buffy chest, white belly and black malar stripe helped ID it right away. The chestnut crown stripe, buffy cheek patch and thin black line through the eye were also diagnostic. Back feathers were a mix of chestnut, gray and black feathers. Quite plain from a distance but quite handsome up close!

This was a lifer for me, and a thrill for Jack and Janet as they have been coming to this spot for years hoping to relocate one (they've seen and photographed other birds but always outside of Georgetown Co.).

Cornell's Birds of the World has a nice writeup on the Bachman's Sparrow. Its range is localized to the southeast US and was first discovered by JJ Audubon in the pine forests near Charleston, SC!

"Bachman's Sparrow was originally described in 1834 by John James Audubon who collected a series of this species near Charleston, South Carolina. Audubon named the species after John Bachman, a Charleston clergyman with whom he stayed while collecting southern birds. John Bachman had previously discovered the species when he collected the first specimens at Parker's Ferry, a town about 55 kilometers (35 miles) west of Charleston (1).

Historically most common in mature, open pine forests, for many years this species was called the Pine-woods Sparrow. Most such mature forest has now been logged, however, so over much of its range this sparrow often occurs in open habitats such as clearcuts and utility rights-of-way, where the grassy conditions that it prefers still exist. The Bachman's Sparrow has fluctuated greatly in range and population size during the last century, and the species is currently rare in many areas where it was formerly common. It is considered a species of management concern by the government agencies charged with overseeing the vast areas of southern pine land. The Bachman's Sparrow occupies restored pine lands managed for the endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker (Dryobates borealis) and therefore provides land managers with added benefit from their management activities—conservation of two declining species is achieved for the price of one."

Though we'd once-again miss the Red-cockaded Woodpeckers this Bachman's Sparrow more than made up for any disappointment. We didn't stick around as we needed to get back to Debordieu.

700–716 Arundel Ave, Georgetown US-SC 33.48515, -79.19085, Georgetown, South Carolina, US
Mar 6, 2026 10:33 AM - 11:11 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.783 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Clear 68F, Jack and Janet Volker
15 species

Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)  1
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)  1
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)  1
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)  1
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)  1
Brown-headed Nuthatch (Sitta pusilla)  2
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  1
Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)  1
Bachman's Sparrow (Peucaea aestivalis)  2     Heard, seen, pics. Plain brown w buffy chest, light throat, white belly, chestnut cap and back feathers, and thin black malar stripe. Merlin heard by both Janet and me. Flew in to bush 30ft from road. Sat for 10 min while we observed. Beautiful song - long whistle followed by rapid "tweet-tweet-tweet...", slur, repeat.
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)  1
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  1
Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus)  2
Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus)  2
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S306473820

A quick stop was made at Samworth WMA to look for Field Sparrow but the place was quiet. We did hear another Yellow-throated Warbler singing in the trees. We continued on for home.

Samworth WMA, Georgetown, South Carolina, US
Mar 6, 2026 11:12 AM - 11:16 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.351 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Clear 68F; Jack and Janet Volker
5 species

Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)  2
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  2
Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus)  1
Yellow-throated Warbler (Setophaga dominica)  1
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S306475593

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

We got back to the house and picked up Robin and drove back to Georgetown for lunch at the Brew Awakenings Cafe in town. Parking was a challenge but it gave us a chance to see a flock of American Robins and Cedar Waxwings.

401 Church St, Georgetown US-SC 33.36758, -79.27459, Georgetown, South Carolina, US
Mar 6, 2026 12:54 PM - 1:51 PM
Protocol: Traveling
0.178 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Clear 75F
5 species

Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  1
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)  1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  12
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)  12
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)  2

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S306519205

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

After lunch we took a quick drive through East Bay Park to look for the Loggerhead Shrike. It was in the same tree as two days ago!

East Bay Park, Georgetown, South Carolina, US
Mar 6, 2026 1:56 PM
Protocol: Incidental
Checklist Comments:     Clear 75F
2 species

Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus)  1
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)  2

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S306520203

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

Arriving back in Debordieu Janet dropped Jack and me off near the golf course so that we could look for the Roseate Spoonbill. It was about a quarter-mile walk back to the house so we grabbed our bins and camera and took a walk along the golf cart path. Along the way we saw the resident Tricolored, Great and Snowy Egrets, Anhinga, Double-crested Cormorants, Common Gallinule and American Coot, and Black-crowned Night Herons.

Brown Pelican.

Black-crowned Night Heron juvenile. 

Great Blue Heron nest.

As (my) luck would have it the spoonbill was nowhere to be seen. It was not in its usual corner by the bridge and Jack would not find it for the next several days so perhaps it moved on...

I finally got a pic of a Yellow-rumped Warbler. These guys are everywhere but soon to be moving north.

One last gator.

DeBordieu Complex, SC, Georgetown, South Carolina, US
Mar 6, 2026 2:17 PM - 2:45 PM
Protocol: Traveling
0.693 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Sunny 75F
11 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  1
Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)  4
Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea)  3
Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor)  1
Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)  1
Great Egret (Ardea alba)  1
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)  2
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)  1
Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)  1
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)  2

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S306530355

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

Dinner tonight was pizza at The Pit. One of the dive-iest dives near Pawley's Island it is a favorite hangout for many (as you can attest to by the one-dollar bills stapled to every surface in the place.

Time to head back to the house and pack to leave for hone tomorrow. Ken had reported the first Purple Martins of the season near his house so we drove by the little pond that has a couple of Purple Martin platforms. It was almost dark so we didn't see any activity. I played the martin song on my phone and after a few minutes 5 Purple Martins flooded into the housing unit in front of us! Woo-hoo! This gave me 120 species for the trip and put me at 14 on the Top 100 birders for Georgetown Co. for 2026.

Saturday, 07 March 2026

We'd drive to West Virginia and stay the night at the Hawk's Nest State Park Lodge.

By the way, after driving for 6 hours on Saturday Waze took us to the State Park fishing site. If you look closely along the shoreline of the river in the valley you'll see a tiny dirt logging road (1-lane) that takes you about 5 miles into the canyon. We drove that trying to find the lodge. Scary as shit! We were all set to drive another couple of hours to look for a hotel when we drove right past the Lodge after getting back on US-60. Whew...

We'd get home by Sunday afternoon and nap after the 2 days of driving. Great Trip!

Thanks to Jack and Janet Volker for being such wonderful hosts. Also to Ken Davis for assisting as guide for the couple of days. I'm planning to return in late April to look for Swainson's Warbler and Mississippi Kite. Stay tuned...