Date:         Sat, 13 Dec 2008 14:20:38 -0500
Reply-To:     Vanessa Lane <sales@GECKOLAIR.COM>
Sender:       Georgia Birders Online <GABO-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         Vanessa Lane <sales@GECKOLAIR.COM>
Subject:      Sandy Creek Nature Center, Athens/Clarke Co. 12/13/08,
              Fox Sparrows, Rusty Blackbirds!
In-Reply-To:  <200812130502.mBCJ04UJ013284@malibu.cc.uga.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

I had a fantastic birding day at the Sandy Creek Nature Center this
morning!  The river is flooded which seems to be pushing all the birds
(notably sparrows) up right along the unflooded trails.  I had 44
species today.

I had visuals on 3 FOX SPARROWS, although there were probably 8
additional ones based on call notes.  One Fox Sparrow decided to
serenade me with a splendid, if half-hearted, song in the power cut.  I
also spotted 2 PINE SISKINS traveling with goldfinches.

Of special note, there was a medium sized flock of RUSTY BLACKBIRDS (35)
down along the river by the claypit pond.  This is the same area Joel
McNeal and the O'Grady's photographed the Rusty's last year.  I sat for
45 minutes trying to photograph them and got a few terrible but
identifiable pictures in case anyone is iffy on my ID.  You can see the
photos here:
http://snowgyre.myphotoalbum.com/view_photo.php?set_albumName=album02&id=RUBL1
.  I spotted another flock of 5 birds east of the parking lot by the
ENSAT building.

There was also a single male HOODED MERGANSER in the claypit pond and
four WOOD DUCKS hiding in the flooded plain behind the ENSAT building.

Happy birding!
~Vanessa Lane
Athens, Athens/Clarke Co., GA

                            **********
To search GABO-L archives or manage your subscription, go to
http://www.listserv.uga.edu/archives/gabo-l.html

To contact a listowner, send message to
GABO-L-request@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU

To view GABO-L information/guidelines, go to
http://www.gos.org/gabo.html