[EMAS] Green River Game Land, Big Hungry Road, 4/18/15

From: Chris Kelly <kellych74@xxxxxxxxx>
To: "emas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Audubon Society" <emas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, carolinabirds@xxxxxxxx
Date: Sat, 18 Apr 2015 14:55:13 -0400

I birded the Big Hungry section of Green River Game Land this morning in
advance of the coming rainy weather. This was one of those birding days
where I could tell my eBird checklist was going to get flagged (hehe)
because there were SO many red-headed woodpeckers! If you want to check
red-headed woodpecker off of your list, you won't be disappointed here.
Also of note: my FOY scarlet tanagers and indigo bunting. Still quite a few
yellow-rumped warblers hanging around and 1 singing hermit thrush, 1
singing white-throated sparrow, and ruby-crowned kinglets. The loop I
describe in the eBird report is a nice hike.
--Chris Kelly, Asheville, NC--

Green River Game Land - Big Hungry Road, Polk, US-NC
Apr 18, 2015 8:10 AM - 11:22 AM
Protocol: Traveling
3.75 mile(s)
Comments: Parked at gravel lot with game land sign. Walked behind gate
to follow Bishop Branch Trail, side trip down a trail in a draw just south
of the knob that sits above the parking spot, then continued on Bishop Br
Trl to Bear Branch Trail, then left onto Long Ridge Trail to its end at
another gate and parking area, then left on Big Hungry Road back to parking
spot.
44 species

Wild Turkey 1
Turkey Vulture 2
Broad-winged Hawk 3
Mourning Dove 1
Chimney Swift 5
Red-headed Woodpecker 11 Found throughout the loop hike off of the
side trail I took from Bishop Branch Trl, off of Bear Branch Trail, off
Long Ridge Trl, and along Big Hungry Road. A lot of this area is being
managed as open oak woodlands and there are many snags. Red-headed
woodpecker #s have been rising, with 3 pairs noted last May appearing to
defend territories. Today's count is a LOT of red-headed woodpeckers, so
any time I heard one, I made sure I got a look at it to confirm and I took
some pictures. Two are here: <a href="
https://www.flickr.com/photos/69701710@N04/17004157959"; title="P1050858 by
skwerlgrl, on Flickr"><img src="
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7690/17004157959_2844234662_c.jpg";
alt="P1050858" /></a> <a href="
https://www.flickr.com/photos/69701710@N04/17003769789"; title="P1050835 by
skwerlgrl, on Flickr"><img src="
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7678/17003769789_ebdf9d4c4d_c.jpg";
alt="P1050835" /></a>
Red-bellied Woodpecker 4
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 Was completely silent.
Downy Woodpecker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 7
Eastern Phoebe 1
Yellow-throated Vireo 1
Blue-headed Vireo 4
Red-eyed Vireo 12
Blue Jay 5
American Crow 15
Carolina Chickadee 11
Tufted Titmouse 14
White-breasted Nuthatch 6
Carolina Wren 14
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 15
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2 singing softly in conifers above creek at edge
of field on Bishop Branch trail.
Eastern Bluebird 1
Hermit Thrush 1 Singing a bit too
Ovenbird 20
Worm-eating Warbler 17
Black-and-white Warbler 17
Kentucky Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 1
Hooded Warbler 13
Northern Parula 4
Pine Warbler 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler 9 Four foraging (and fighting) in a red oak tree
along Bishop Branch Trail. 5 more foraging in part of a burn unit where the
fire burned hot, at intersection of Long Branch and Bear Branch Trails.
Along with a pine warbler. <a href="
https://www.flickr.com/photos/69701710@N04/16982909127"; title="P1050861 by
skwerlgrl, on Flickr"><img src="
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7640/16982909127_1f79c9851a_c.jpg";
alt="P1050861" /></a>
Yellow-throated Warbler 1 Up on a piney hill top (as opposed to their
other habitat association along rivers)
Prairie Warbler 2
Black-throated Green Warbler 12
Eastern Towhee 14
Chipping Sparrow 7 Primarily along Long Branch Trl at edge of harvest
units
White-throated Sparrow 1 In brushy field edge along Bishop Branch
trail, in close proximity to ruby-crowned kinglets. Singing too.
Scarlet Tanager 3
Northern Cardinal 1
Indigo Bunting 1 Seen late in the morning. Was not singing, but did
buzz call and perched overhead.
Brown-headed Cowbird 3
American Goldfinch 11

View this checklist online at
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S22925958

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

[EMAS] Green River Game Land, Big Hungry Road, 4/18/15

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