Ebenezer Park, D Day + 8, January 9, 2019—Today we explored the Boiken Springs  searching for one of our target birds, Bachman’s Sparrow.  We traveled by car and foot for about one and half hours but were unable to locate one.  Then we began our search for another target bird, Red-cockaded Woodpecker and this time we were successful.  So we added another to the list.  In addition, we found Brown-headed Nuthatch and Pine Warbler in the same area.

Red-cockaded Woodpecker

Pine Warbler

Brown-headed Nuthatch

 This was our morning run.  In the afternoon we checked out Lake Sam Rayburn and were very disappointed that there were only a handful of Double-crested Cormorants and a single gull visible.  We then made a run to the Parker Fish Hatchery where we encountered another addition, Greater Roadrunner.

Greater Roadrunner

 Then we headed down a county road.  When we found some good habitat we played the Eastern Screech Owl recording and boy did the birds respond.  While in this one spot we had American Robins, Tufted Titmouse, White-throated Sparrow, Eastern Phoebe, and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.  Tomorrow its once again time to search for the elusive Bachman’s Sparrow, a sparrow that would be a lifer for both Deb and I.