Birding at the Weekend

From Dot.
Please join me and Ogeechee Audubon this Saturday for a birding trip to Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge.

The Great Egrets are nesting and GORGEOUS with long, billowy white plumes and emerald green "eye shadow" to advertise their peak breeding condition to potential mates. They've already laid their bright turquoise-blue eggs and are busy incubating same.

The Wood Storks and Anhingas have been a little late in getting started this year, but there are already about 200 storks gathered for what will eventually become the largest Wood Stork rookery in Georgia. Not as elegant perhaps as an egret, but Wood Storks have their own special charm...

Beyond the wading bird rookery, we hope to find some early spring migrants like Yellow-throated Warbler, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, and White-eyed Vireo.

We'll meet at 7:15 a.m. at the Ride Share lot on the northwest corner of Hwy 204 and I-95 and carpool from there. Or you can meet us at the refuge entrance at 8:00 a.m. We'll drive from place to place within the refuge, with short walks at each stop. The plan is to end the trip by 11:00 or 11:30 a.m. The trip will go in light rain showers but cancel in a downpour (which isn't expected).

Bring binoculars, sun and insect protection (sand gnats are likely), water and lunch/snacks. Closed-toe shoes and long sleeves/pants are recommended.

The trip is free and open to the public.