The Willet (Tringa semipalmata) is one of numerous shorebirds you’re likely to encounter at Gould’s Inlet. It’s a great place to look for fall migrants.
Willet, Gould’s Inlet
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Tag Archives: Georgia Birds
Eastern Wood-Pewee, Sapelo Island
A small tyrant flycatcher, this Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens) was busy catching bugs, which are in great abundance on the island, near the Farmers Alliance Hall in Hog Hammock during my last visit. I was glad to get a shot of him at work.
Black-bellied Whistling Ducks, Tolomato Island
Stragglers from their native Central and South America, Black-bellied Whistling Ducks (Dendrocygna autumnalis) have been expanding their range in recent years.
There is a small but healthy flock in the pond beside the Tolomato Island causeway.
They’re fascinating to watch and are generally not very wary of human presence.
Wild Turkey, Ben Hill County
Once threatened with extinction, the Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) has made a huge comeback and is a common sight on dirt roads and in back woods all over South Georgia. It sustained our ancestors as a game bird and remains an integral symbol of the Southern forest.
Wood Stork Rookery, Harris Neck
Wood Storks (Mycteria americana) were once a symbol of the diminishing wetland habitat necessary for their survival in the swamps of the Southeast. For a time one of the most endangered species in America, recent years have seen gains in their population, enough so that the Fish & Wildlife Service is considering removing them from the endangered list. They would still have a threatened status. A friend of mine recently suggested I not place them on a “vanishing” site; in honor of her positive outlook, I offer them as an evocation of how far we’ve come in protecting Georgia’s wetlands but a reminder in how much we still need to fight to protect them. Anyone who has been around Coastal Georgia in the past few years knows that population and development race forward, nearly unfettered.
Visiting Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge in late winter and early spring when the Wood Storks, along with myriad other waterfowl and waders are abundant, is a must-do when in McIntosh County.
Gourd Tree, Irwin County
These are generally put up to attract Purple Martins (Progne subis), which are thought to be a mosquito deterrent. Many companies now sell plastic martin gourds, but I prefer the natural versions.
Howard Gilman Memorial Park, St. Marys
The riverfront park in St. Marys, named for the late timber and paper magnate and one of America’s greatest art patrons, Howard Gilman, is a wonderful public space, rivaling any in Coastal Georgia.
I could have spent hours just watching and photographing the birds in the ornamental fountain. Pictured below: Boat-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus major).
Big Hammock Natural Area, Tattnall County
Big Hammock Natural Area & WMA provide public access to some of the most pristine land on the north side of the Altamaha River, featuring vast hardwood bottomlands, sand ridges, and numerous oxbow lakes and sloughs.
Part of the property was designated a National Natural Landmark by the National Park Service in 1976, and is home to a large population of the rare Georgia Plume (Elliottia racemosa), as well as numerous other plant and animal species.
Taylor Lake is a large oxbow near the access point.
The cavity of this ancient Blackgum, or Tupelo, (Nyssa sylvatica) was at least fifteen feet in height.
From the smallest skippers to alligators, wildlife abounds throughout Big Hammock.
The road varies from open to canopy. The canopied sections are the coolest, but beware the mosquitoes.
You’ll need a four-wheel-drive vehicle on most days if you’re driving to the river. These road signs probably won’t be much help, either.
Old Field Lake is a small slough surrounded by Tupelo trees which can be a clue as to past high water marks.
There were quite a few American White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) in this area.
There are many natural pools and bays to explore, most ephemeral in nature.
If you make it all the way to the river, you’ll be afforded a view like this one, at J. E. Stanfield Landing. The river is characteristically wide here.