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Newberry county 26 May




Although a bit tardy with my report, I thought it might be worthwhile to
post it anyway.

On Sunday, 26 May, I worked the Little Mountain Breeding Bird Survey route
through southern Newberry county, ending in extreme northern Lexington
county.  As always, I had a lot of fun.  Each year, it's the same route of
course, but each year is different.  This year, two species whose numbers
have been declining in recent years were recorded in above average numbers,
Bobwhite and Wood Thrush.  I had Bobwhites at three or four stops,
recording at least two birds at each of those stops.  I had Wood Thrush
much more than last year, including stops where I didn't expect to find
them.  Unfortunately, the habitat the thrushes were in appeared less than
optimal.  The "edge of the range" warbler for this year was Ovenbird,
instead of the Worm-eating Warbler of the previous two years.   I was also
fortunate enough this year to find the Grasshopper Sparrows that sometimes
inhabit a field of native grasses on the route.  As I stood eagerly
scanning every piece of Queen Anne's Lace in the field, I heard a
insect-like noise and thought to myself, "That's a strange-sounding
grasshopper...grass...doh!...Grasshopper!...Grasshopper Sparrow, you
bonehead!" 

I am eagerly awaiting next year already!


Donna Slyce Bailey		
Winnsboro, SC

e-mail: dsbailey@conterra.com

URL:  http://www.conterra.com/dsbailey
	Where are the Birds?  Migration across South Carolina