Hi GA birders,

Bill O'Grady, Karla O'Grady, and I had a great morning at the State Botanical Garden in Athens, with the highlights being a LEAST FLYCATCHER among 6 flycatcher species, 13 warbler species (including all 3 Seiurus species), and 2 first-of-the-fall Baltimore Orioles. The Least Flycatcher was seen at close range about 9 ft off the ground along the orange trail border with the beaverpond wetland about 30 ft away from where the orange trail meets the Middle Oconee River. As far as silent Empid IDs go, this bird was a pretty easy call after staring at Acadians all summer. Field marks noted while the bird was in view were: relatively large head (although overall the bird looked too small for an Acadian), much grayer-than-Acadian plumage above, no yellowish ventral coloration at all, VERY short primary projections, and a bold white eye-ring that would almost make a Ruby-crowned Kinglet blush.

A very late LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH continues to sing sporadically from across the river along the orange trail, and at one small area along the riparian section of the white trail we had a nice warbler wave that included 9 species affording great views as they foraged at close range. Highlights excerpted from today's ebird list are below:

Great Egret 1 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 15 Yellow-throated Vireo 1 Summer Tanager 1 Baltimore Oriole 2

Flycatchers: Eastern Wood-Pewee 2 Acadian Flycatcher 5 LEAST FLYCATCHER 1 Eastern Phoebe 7 Great Crested Flycatcher 1 Eastern Kingbird 4

Warblers: Northern Parula 2 Chestnut-sided Warbler 5 Pine Warbler 3 Black-and-white Warbler 1 American Redstart 3 Worm-eating Warbler 2 Ovenbird 1 (first-of-the-fall) Northern Waterthrush 2 LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH 1 Kentucky Warbler 3 Common Yellowthroat 3 Hooded Warbler 6 Canada Warbler 1

Yesterday at the lower parking lot near the powerline, we had 2 first-of-the-fall VEERIES feeding on fox grapes alongside a Wood Thrush and a continuing immature White Ibis in the river.

Good birding,

Joel McNeal Winterville (Athens-Clarke Co.), GA

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