OconeeCoBirdingSites

A Guide to Birding in Georgia

Oconee 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.

Oconee County
1) UGA Plant Sciences Farm [July 2007]
PM, May and June for breeding birds, W for Pipits
GPS via Google Maps
33.87629, -83.53811
[DeLorme, pg. 22 H-1, pg. 28 A-1]
Open habitat species; Horned Lark, Dickcissel, Grasshopper Sparrow, Eastern Meadowlark, Blue Grosbeak, raptors, Wilson's Snipe, waterfowl (ponds in the area). From I-85 (north of Atlanta), take Hwy 316 east towards Athens. Just outside Athens, get off at the exit for Hwy 78 and turn right. Pass a gas station on the right, and look carefully for Clotfelter Rd on the left. Turn here and follow the road until you come to a bigger road and a stop sign - this is GA Hwy 53 (Hog Mountain Rd). Cross the highway, and the road you are on changes to Cole Springs Rd. Roll down windows and start listening for singing birds like Grasshopper Sparrow, Eastern Meadowlark, Eastern Kingbird, or Blue Grosbeak. Stop along the shoulder to bird carefully along the road if you hear something interesting; there used to be a small pond on your right but in July 2007 it had been completely drained; still, after a good rain it looks like it could have some good mud for shorebirds in migration. At the next stop sign, you will see a large field diagonally to your left (PHOTO 1) - it is stubble in winter and is good for American Pipit, Horned Lark, Eastern Meadowlark. You can turn left on Snows Mill Rd, and/or an immediate right onto Aycock Rd to scan it from different vantage points. Back at the stop sign, if your turn right onto Snows Mill Rd, you will pass two pairs of chicken houses on the right, and after the last one turn right onto a dirt road. You can drive a little ways and park where you can scope the fields and a small pond (PHOTO 2). Listen and look for Dickcissel and Grasshopper Sparrow here, and the pond edges may have Spotted Sandpiper, Solitary Sandpiper, or other shorebirds in migration. Don't wander near the chicken houses - they are not part of UGA property, as far as I know. If you are asked to leave, as always politely do so.

PHOTO 1   PHOTO 2
Text and photos by KB.

2) Kite Survey areas             [Aug 2006]
late July-August (see next site for more details)
GPS via Google Maps
33.81363, -83.41028
[DeLorme pg. 28, 3-A, B]
From late July through August 2006, a large number of Mississippi Kites gathered at freshly-mown fields to feed - as many as 30-40 in some areas. Several Swallow-tailed Kites were regularly seen mixed in with the flocks. Kite flocks have been seen in the area on an annual basis during the same mowing period. Head south on US Hwy 441/GA Hwy 24 from the town of Watkinsville. Just as you come to the end of the town of Bishop, slow down and look for Astondale Rd on the left and turn on it. In a little over a mile, look for a powerline cut on the left side of the road, and one field will soon appear on your left. If you hit Old Farmington Rd, you just passed it. There is also a small pasture "puddle" on the other side of the road that is worth checking out in shorebird migration or winter (waterfowl) if you are in the area (see Area #3 below). By turning either way on Old Farmington Rd, you may find other hay fields where the kites will be foraging. If you continue on Astondale Rd east past Old Farmington Rd, turn on right at Colham Ferry Rd and continue scanning the sky and looking for fields. Look for Coventry Rd on the right. The fields in this area also produced large flocks of kites, including Swallow-tailed Kites.

3) Colham Ferry Rd, Old Farmington Rd, Astondale Rd        [July 2007]
YR (See notes)
GPS via Google Maps
33.85438, -83.40895
[Delorme pg. 28 A-3 & B-2]
Text by Mark Freeman
Open country species: Loggerhead Shrike, Blue Grosbeak, Grasshopper Sparrow, Bobolink, Northern Bobwhite, Mississippi and Swallow-tailed Kites, American Kestrel, and sparrows. Shorebirds at Astondale Rd pond. Mostly open habitat roadside birding with a few small lakes/ponds and some woodland habitat and hedgerows. From the traffic light at the south end of downtown Watkinsville, go south on US 441 (business route) about a half mile and turn left over the railroad tracks onto Colham Ferry Rd. Set your trip meter to zero. The first 2-3 miles can be good for Loggerhead Shrikes, especially the area near Bell Lake at 0.8 mile. Some species that have appeared at the lake include Snow Goose, Redhead, Ring-necked Duck, Hooded Merganser, and Double-crested Cormorant. American Kestrel is fairly reliable in winter all along this road. A Merlin was seen just south of Bell Lake in December 2002 and also further south at Astondale Rd in December 2004. The section between Green Ferry Rd and Rose Creek Dr can be good for foraging kites in late July through August, especially over recently mowed hay fields. At mile 2.5 turn right onto Old Farmington Rd and continue across Astondale Rd. From this point on, Old Farmington Rd is a gravel road. During the first week of May, look for Bobolinks in the field on the left and in the small trees along the edge. A flock of 100-200 birds has used this field as a stopover during spring migration over the past several years. If not found here, there is another site further down this road where they may be seen. The brushy areas near this corner are also good for Orchard Oriole, Blue Grosbeak, and Eastern Kingbird. The pasture on the right is excellent for Grasshopper Sparrows in late spring and early summer; they can often be seen singing from atop a large hay bale or on the wire fence. Just 100 feet or so from the corner as you continue down Old Farmington, there is a shallow depression in the right pasture (close to the road) that may have water if it has recently rained. Check for shorebirds during migration. In less than a half mile there is a small hay field with a pond on the left. Ring-necked Ducks and Redheads are somewhat regular at the pond in winter. A single Canvasback was seen here in February 2004. Please observe the pond from the road only, a scope is useful here. The next half mile is mostly forested on both sides. At mile 3.7 there is an organic farm on the left and a horse farm with arena on the right. The farm on the left is the other site where Bobolinks sometimes show up for a few days in early May. They seem to prefer the corner near the road and the line of trees to the south. They are usually visible from the road and are easy to hear if they are present. Again, please respect the private property here and bird only from the road. This is also another great spot for Grasshopper Sparrow and Loggerhead Shrike, and occasionally White-crowned and Vesper Sparrow in winter. Continue downhill and across Greenbriar Creek. The hardwood forest in this area is good for Indigo Bunting, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Summer Tanager, and other neotropical species. The last stretch of this route is mostly large pastures with some farrow fields, starting at about mile 4.5 at the crest of a hill. Listen for Northern Bobwhite where the road curves sharply to the right. At mile 5.0 there is a short cut-thru road that will take you to US 441. Turn right to return to the Watkinsville area, or turn left to head towards Heritage Park (another birding site) and eventually Madison and I-20 (approx 20 miles). The Astondale Rd cattle pond (see view below) is just west of the intersection of Astondale Rd and Old Farmington Rd, near two red chicken houses. This little pond is always worth checking during shorebird migration. Lesser Yellowlegs, Solitary Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, Pectoral Sandpiper, Western and Least Sandpiper, and Wilson Snipe have all been seen at this pond.

View Larger Map

4) Heritage Park               [N/A]
PM, late Sp-early Su for breeding birds
GPS via Google Maps
33.75860, -83.43495
[Delorme pg. 28, B-2]
Text by Mark Freeman
Located on US 441 approx 10 miles south of Watkinsville. Open fields and many trails in hardwood forest with access to the Apalachee River. Passerine migrants and breeding species (Kentucky Warbler, Hooded Warbler, American Redstart, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Summer Tanager, Acadian Flycatcher, etc). Take the trail from the back side of the large arena and stable area, stay left along the property line, eventually you will drop into the forested floodplain of the Apalachee River. There is a rudimentary map at the parking area that will give you a rough idea of the layout of this site. There may be mountain bikers on the trails, but it is rarely a problem, and there are many trails. This site is easily reached from the end point of the Colham Ferry Rd/Old Farmington Rd route by taking US 441 south about 2-3 miles.