CharltonCoBirdingSites

A Guide to Birding in Georgia

Charlton County
Birding Locations

Legend
Su = summer
F = fall
W = winter
Sp = spring
YR = year-round

[Sept 2009] = Most recently checked by Ken Blankenship (webmaster)
[N/A] = Not yet checked by Ken Blankenship

= Location is within +/- 10 miles of the indicated interstate highway. This is especially helpful for out-of-town birders who may be passing through Georgia while travelling and would like to get out in the field.

  = Location is a "Georgia Birding Hotspot." Though this designation is subjective, it generally means that the area should be given high priority when planning a birding trip to a region. Some Hotspots offer productive birding virtually year-round (Jekyll Island, Phinizy Swamp Nature Park), while the best birding of the year may be seasonal at others (Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park).

= Habitat and/or access at location is subject to change according to mixed land use or changes in ownership, such as cattle operations, agricultural fields, pine plantations (logging), and so on. Always adhere to good birding ethics concerning private property, and if the habitat at a location has experienced major changes or is no longer accessible, please email the webmaster.

SBM = Shorebird Migration; this very generally refers to mid-March thru May in spring and mid-July thru mid-October in fall. Fall is the prime shorebird season. Baird's and Buff-breasted Sandpipers likely only in fall. Peak passage of specific species is quite variable.

PM = Passerine Migration; this very generally refers to April and May in spring and August thru mid-October in fall. This includes all songbirds - wood warblers, vireos, tanagers, thrushes, flycatchers, etc. Peak passage of specific species is quite variable. Spring migration is much more concentrated and birds are often in colorful breeding plumage and singing. Fall migration is more spread out; fall wood warblers can be notoriously difficult to identify (or impossible to determine sex), with numerous juveniles which do not exhibit the same obvious field marks as adults.

IBA = Important Bird Area; the aim of the IBA Program is to identify and conserve key breeding and feeding sites for birds. An Important Bird Area is a place that provides essential habitat for one or more species of bird, whether in breeding season, winter, or during migration. These sites are considered to be exceptionally important for bird conservation; see Georgia's IBA Webpage.

Charlton County
'width' is a duplicate attribute name. Line 1, position 37.1) Spanish Creek Rd / Prospect Rd         [N/A]
PM, late Sp-Su for breeding birds
[DeLorme pg. 70, 1-A, B, C]
This is a great area that should always be visited in combination with a trip to the Okefenokee Swamp. If you are headed to the east part of the swamp from Waycross (and other points north), you can use it as an alternate or "short cut," connecting US 1 to GA Hwy 23/121 just north of the east access point of the swamp. It passes through farmlands, creeklands, old pecan orchards, pinewoods, etc. and has several cross roads for exploring. It features a mix of habitat for anything from passerine migrants like warblers (in particular near its intersection with Grace Chapel Rd), to waders, to raptors, and possible Bachman's Sparrow in open pine areas. There is a great section on birding in and around the Okefenokee Swamp in Beaton's Birding Georgia.

'width' is a duplicate attribute name. Line 1, position 37.2) Cypress Swamp        [N/A]
mid F-mid Sp
[DeLorme pg. 70, A-1]
Located just a few miles north of the town of Folkston on US 1, at the junction with Macks Island Creek bridge (formerly one of the Spanish Creek bridges), is a small cypress "swamp" that is on the NE side of the road. Just north of Mattox Junction, DeLorme. It's quite an open area and has been clear-cut all around. This is often a good spot for Wood Ducks, Anhinga, Wood Storks, Great Egret, Little Blue Heron, Great Blue Heron, White Ibis, etc.

'width' is a duplicate attribute name. Line 1, position 37.3) Okefenokee Swamp NWR       [N/A]
IBA, mid F-mid Sp
See Beaton's Birding Georgia for more details on birding the refuge itself and more surrounding sites. A massive forest fire moved through the area in spring 2007, and it remains to be seen how this will affect the birds and other wildlife. Fire has played a historic natural role in this swamp habitat so in the long run it could be beneficial. If you have visited Okefenokee since the fires, please send an update to the online ListServ GABO-L or email me with updates.

PHOTO 1 PHOTO 2 PHOTO 3 PHOTO 4 PHOTO 5
Photos by Steve Barlow.