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Bear Island GMA on Sunday, 9/3/00, and a WARNING!



Dear Carolinabirders,
   Zeb Compton, Margo Digan, and I visited Bear Island Game Management Area
in Colleton County,SC on Sunday. Bear Island is mostly old rice fields managed
for waterfowl. On Sunday the water in Mary's Pond had been drawn down, leaving
shallow water and mud flats full of fish and lots of the little things that 
shorebirds
enjoy. We saw about 400 Snowy Egrets, and many other egrets and herons.
Black Terns were all around, one adult Bald Eagle peeked out of a pine tree
(first spotted by Margo), and a dozen Storks were perched in the trees nearby.
The flats were full of peeps (Westerns, Leasts, and a few Semi-palmated 
Sandpipers) and about 100 Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs. As we walked
around the pond the birds got up and flew around with much grunting, 
squawking, and beating of wing. A veritable Tarzan movie.
   
     WARNING- we were there on Sunday, which the GMA manager politely told us 
was unauthorized. Please do not enter the GMA on Sunday.

   DOUBLE WARNING: There are two 12 foot Alligators that have attacked 
fishermen
just past Mary's Pond. There have been no injuries so far. We saw about 12 
gators,
several of which could have been over 10 feet. Please exercise caution in 
this area.
There animals have been attracted by fishermen carelessly leaving bait on 
shore,
and have lost their fear of people.
Good birding,
Steve Compton
North Charleston,SC
Raven23302@aol.com