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Broad River WMA, 2/27/2000




I went to Broad River today in search of the LeConte's Sparrow.  I found
lots of interesting birds but only scored a maybe on the LeConte's.  I was
surprised to find the fields still flooded and ducks still present.  I
didn't bring the scope so I didn't even go to look at the "mudflats" down
near the river which require a scope to be seen well and which is where the
most interesting ducks hang out.  Still, the landbirds were not bad for a
rain-shortened trip.  Birds of interest below:

Ring-necked Duck - not as many as two weeks ago but still lots
Green-winged Teal - more than last time, at least thirty birds in one flock
Mallards - not many seen but more were heard
American Coot - many

Lesser Yellowlegs

Ring-billed Gull - not newsworthy elsewhere, but a bit newsworthy in the
lower Piedmont (especially away from dumps)

Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk - a large bird, female?
Red-tailed Hawk 
Red-shouldered Hawk - heard repeatedly

Wild Turkey - 14 altogether - two seen in the sparrow fields, followed by an
observation of a mixed sex flock of 12 hens and "jakes", also feeding in the
field 

Pine Warblers - singing
Orange-crowned Warbler - V. c. celata - never such a good look at a member
of the celata subspecies - very gray wash to head and throat


Savannah Sparrow - lots
Field Sparrow - lots, some beginning to sing just a bit
Song Sparrow - lots
White-throated Sparrow - many
LeConte's Sparrow - I can give myself only a maybe on this one - I saw
several "buffy" birds flush with the Savannahs, some of which proved to be
Field Sparrows - in the same area where the LeConte's was found last week, I
had a brief look at a pale, clean-breasted bird with the "patented"
Ammodramus orange on his face and a thin incomplete white eye-ring
(illustrated in all the field guides but uncommented upon) but I didn't have
sufficient time to study the little fellow before he was back down in the grass

I also think I found the mystery "Ammodramus sp." Tim reported in his
posting.  I concur with "Ammodramus sp."  I had a dark, flat-headed,
short-tailed, sharp-tailed, large-billed sparrow who crept mouse-like
through the grass after I nearly stepped on him, finally flushing but flying
very low.  I was unable to relocate the bird where it had landed.  Have they
discovered the secret of teleportation?

Then the rain came and I had to give up sparrow chasing for another day.  
 
Donna Bailey
Winnsboro, SC
e-mail: dsbailey@conterra.com
URL: http://www.conterra.com/dsbailey
     "Where are the Birds?  Migration across South Carolina"
URL: http://www.conterra.com/dsbailey/audubon	
    "Columbia Audubon Society"