Spotted Thrushes

["Sharon Turner" <philshar@earthlink.net>]

Hi All,

Today while driving back the road to Hampton Plantation State
Park,Sharon and I saw a flurry of activity along the entrance lane about
halfway back to the mansion. We were able to drive up to within several
yards of at least 5 Thrushes. The first bird we were able to ID was a
Gray-cheeked Thrush, the second a Wood Thrush. The other birds were not
as co-operative . We birded a short while in the park with nothing
unusual. On the way out at about the same location we saw another
thrush,we both had great looks and decided it had to be a Bicknell's.
Neither the G.C. or the Bick. had a distinct eye-ring. The G.C. was a
very pale gray bird. The Bick. had more of a gray-brown appearance with
a reddish cast to its tail. The birds were busy feeding so there was no
vocalizing.

When we got to the delta headed north on 17 we saw a Swallow-tailed Kite
swooping down hitting the water. We actually stopped on the bridge to
watch the bird do this several times. Just up the road at the Poleyard
parking lot we stopped to watch two more Swallow-tailed Kites put on a
flying demo. Great day!

Phil,
Phil and Sharon Turner
Myrtle Beach, S C
philshar@earthlink.net