I spent a couple hours at the Game Lands this morning along Old Marshal Highway
primarily checking on the Kestrel nest boxes. I think some females have laid
eggs as one can observe mated pairs taking turns entering and exiting some nest
boxes, presumably taking turns sitting on eggs. I also wanted to see if I
could find the Yellow-breasted Chat that have been reported in the Game Lands
recently in a couple of locations. I was very happy to observe two along the
Old Marshal Highway just past Turkey Creek, by walking west a 1/4 mile beyond
the Turkey Creek bridge along the road through the curves. There were two
Chats below the road in the blackberry patch, they flew into a tree beside the
road, then across the road into pine trees, one singing near the top of pine
tree. Needless to say the Chat is a very atypical warbler and I was able to
get good looks at them. There is a place to park on the left past the bridge;
the curves are blind so be carful if you walk along the road. While viewing
the Chats a Kestrel flew overhead to check what I was doing. I want to thank
Luke Cannon who pinpointed this location for me, they were right where he said
they would likely be. Four photos are attached.
Alan LenkAsheville
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