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Ridge & Valley / Appalachian Plateau
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Bartow Dade Murray
Catoosa Floyd Walker
Chattooga Gordon Whitfield
The Ridge and Valley Province occupies most of northwestern portion of Georgia. It includes the Chickamauga Valley, Armuchee Ridges, and the Great Valley and extends through Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Floyd, Gordon, Murray, Walker and Whitfield Counties. It is characterized by a series of parallel valleys separated by ridges in the northwest corner of the state. Lowland areas are about 210 - 240 m (700 - 800 ft) above sea level, but the higher ridges may be above 480 m (1,600 ft). Plant species vary from area to area, based on local soil type, elevation, moisture, and disturbances. The mountainous Appalachian Plateau Provinceis found in extreme northwestern Georgia, primarily in Dade County and extending a little into Walker County. Its most prominent features are Lookout Mountain, Sand Mountain, Cloudland Canyon, and Pigeon Mountain. A variety of vegetation types occur in this area, depending on elevation, but Appalachian Oak Forests cover most of the Province. For example, forests on north-facing ravines between 800 and 1,200 m (2,640 - 3,960 ft). include Basswood, Sugar Maple, Tulip Poplar, Beech, Birch, and Hemlock trees. More northern species of evergreens and shrubs appear in the forests above 1,200 m (3,960 ft). The understory may include rhododendrons, native azaleas, and Mountain Laurel.
The northwest corner of Georgia is very unique on many levels, including both geologically and ornithologically. The terrain features long, narrow valleys separated by sharply rising ridges and plateaus, sandy limestone soils and rocks, along with a touch of high elevation mountains to the east and sprawling open farmland to the south. The "Great Valley" separates the very small section of true plateau country in the extreme NW corner of the state from the peaks of the Cohutta Wilderness Area and Fort Mountain State Park to the east. Over the years, this natural corridor has effectively funnelled moving birds through the area, resulting in several records of species that are not normally associated with the northern tier of the state. Traditionally productive areas include the Bartow County Loop, Carter's Lake and Re-regulation Lake Area, Pine Chapel Rd / Moss Rd, and many more.
COPYRIGHT NOTICE: All photos and other content on this website are the exclusive property of Ken Blankenship (KB) and Rachel Cass (RC), unless otherwise credited. Unauthorized use and reproduction is strictly prohibited; you can usually obtain friendly permission to use images by sending me an email.
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Legend
Su = summer
F = fall
W = winter
Sp = spring
YR = year-round
[July 2005] = Most recently checked by KB
[N/A] = Not yet checked by KB
 = 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 a quick birding fix. This is also helpful for birders planning a "Big Day," where staying close to a major interstate corridor is essential for covering the greatest diversity of habitats in 24 hours.
 = 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 incredible, productive birding virtually year-round (Jekyll Island), while the best birding of the year may be more seasonal at others (Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park).
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. Fall migration is more spread out; fall wood warblers can be notoriously difficult to identify (or even 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.
Bartow
1) The Bartow County Loop [Nov 2008]  
YR
[DeLorme pg. 19, E-7,8]
Read about Birding Georgia's Sod Farms
Migrating shorebirds, open habitat migrants and breeding birds, wintering waterfowl, swallows. Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Baird's Sandpiper, American Golden Plover, Stilt Sandpiper, Greater White-fronted Goose, Snow Goose, Gadwall, Green-winged Teal, Northern Pintail, American Wigeon, Bank Swallow, White-rumped Sandpiper, Dickcissel, Bobolink, Brewer's Blackbird, Black-necked Stilt, Merlin, Bald Eagle, Horned Lark, and Black Tern are all interesting spp. seen along the route since 2007. Begin at Exit 283 on I-75. Go WEST for 0.9 miles coming from points south, 0.7 miles from points north and turn left onto Old Alabama Rd (you'll first continue under the overpass of Hwy 41, and the first LEFT after going under the overpass is Old Alabama Rd.; a large brown sign for Indian Mounds points to this road, and there is a "No Thru Trucks" sign on the street sign). Continue 4.1 miles, and turn RIGHT at a light onto Douthit Ferry Rd. [DeLorme: p. 19, grid E-8,9] In 0.5 miles, park at the soccer park on the left; Horned Lark, Eastern Meadowlark, and American Pipit are often found on the edges of this parking lot in colder months. You can walk the trail to the river for interesting passerines during migration. During shorebird migration, bird the sod farm from the paved trail or the road shoulder, but don't even go near the sod! You should also drive or walk about 30 yds further down the road heading north, and turn right onto Indian Mounds Rd. Scan the sod to your right out your window as you drive slowly (PHOTO 5), then on your left after you pass the maintenance buildings (PHOTO 6). You may stop very briefly on the shoulder in a gravel area to scope the sod and a sometimes muddy, marshy area on the left (PHOTO 7) if you notice that birds are present while cruising through. Do ALL birding along this road from inside your car if you do not walk the shoulder from the soccer fields – look for shorebirds like Buff-breasted Sandpiper, American Golden Plover, Pectoral Sandpiper, Yellowlegs, Solitary Sandpiper, etc. Do not block traffic or pull off on a blind curve or on a soft shoulder, no matter what bird you thought you caught a glimpse of! Be aware that the farm owners here are NOT birder-friendly and be ready to leave if any farm vehicle approaches you. Do not even try to discuss the matter with farm employees and be polite if they engage you, even if rudely. Return to Old Alabama Rd. the way you came (using Douthit Ferry Rd) and turn RIGHT to continue west for 1.8 miles, where it dead-ends into GA Hwy 61. Turn RIGHT onto Hwy 61, continue 1.1 miles, and turn LEFT at a stop sign onto GA Hwy 113. Continue through a wide open pasture area on your left, and when you note Old Alabama Rd pass by on your left, count 1.8 miles from that road and turn LEFT onto Brandon Farm Rd. [DeLorme: p. 19, grid E-8] Drive slow with windows down, listening for Blue Grosbeak, Field Sparrows, Eastern Meadowlarks, etc. Bobolinks and Orchard Orioles are often found in the area of the power lines in migration. Blue Grosbeak, Red-winged Blackbird, Grasshopper Sparrow, and (in some years) Dickcissel breed in this same area in late spring and summer. You will come to a cattle watering hole on the left and an ephemeral muddy area on the right just down the road. Park safely on the shoulder here, and look for shorebirds from your car at first in case they are spooky. Then, get out and walk around a little, scoping any shorebirds carefully while also listening and looking for Dickcissel, Blue Grosbeak, Eastern Meadowlark, Grasshopper Sparrow, Eastern Kingbird, American Kestrel, swallows, and other open habitat birds. When the road dead-ends into Taff Rd (1.1 miles from Hwy 113), turn RIGHT and park in the gravel area on the left (PHOTO 1) in front of the Gaines Cattle buildings. Make sure you do not block access to the cattle farm buildings. The owners have never said anything to me, and I always wave and smile and they seem fine with birders being present. Scope the muddy pond across the road (PHOTO 2) for shorebirds like Stilt Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper, Solitary Sandpiper, yellowlegs, etc. in spring, and especially in fall. An American Golden Plover was found April 2006, Buff-breasted and Baird's Sandpipers were seen late August 2006, both Red-necked Phalarope and Wilson's Phalarope have been found, and even a Black-necked Stilt made an appearance in August 2008 - so these two cattle watering holes are always worth checking in any season! Continue down Taff Rd, briefly scanning a second lake on the right (PHOTO 3). Sometimes waterfowl like Gadwall, Green or Blue-winged Teal, American Wigeon, or waders will be here, and if the water is down you may find a few shorebirds on the edges. Swallows congregate all along Taff Rd in this area, and Bank Swallow is somewhat reliable from mid-August to September so pay attention. In winter, this is a good area to look for Brewer's Blackbirds and always has Savannah Sparrows in good numbers. Turn around and continue down Taff Rd (passing Brandon Farm Rd). In 0.8 miles after passing Brandon Farm Rd, there is a field on the right that is good for Bobolink in migration, and Blue Grosbeak in spring-summer. In 1.1 miles after Brandon Farm Rd, turn right onto Floyd Creek Church Rd. Follow the road for 1.0 mile and continue listening for open habitat birds. Scan groups of swallows for Bank Swallow in migration. At a Stop Sign, turn right onto Hills Creek Rd and continue 1.3 miles, pass through some pine-dominated areas and over a narrow bridge, to a very large pasture on the RIGHT. Somehow the road here is actually again called Floyd Creek Church Rd. Anyway, stop on the shoulder and scope the marshy pond – it’s best in winter for ducks, geese, and Sandhill Cranes and unfortunately is really far from the road (PHOTO 4). Be careful and polite here with local traffic; because there is a deep ditch on both sides of the road you will be blocking part of a lane with your car so smile and wave at anyone who comes by and make sure to step off the road with your scope. Two Greater White-fronted Geese wintered here in 2006 and 2007 and an impressive count of nine of this species was seen on 2/19/07; you may also have Snow Goose, Gadwall, Green-winged Teal, Northern Pintail, etc. and flocks of blackbirds which may contain Brewer's, but they are usually so far off the road that positive ID may not be possible. From mid-January thru February there may be good numbers of Sandhill Cranes on the ground - an amazing sight and sound! As of late summer 2007, the cattle company has done some major excavation work to improve the cattle watering hole, but this virtually destroyed the marshy habitat so time will tell how it affects the birds. When done, continue down the road 0.3 miles through a tight S-curve and you will come back to Hwy 113 and a BP gas station. Turn left onto Hwy 113 from Floyd Creek Church Rd and continue 2.1 miles to a sign reading "S.R. 113 Conn North" and turn right onto this road, which is actually the Old Hwy 113 roadbed. At 1.2 miles from this turn, turn right onto Main St at a tiny Pure gas station. Go around a sharp left curve, and at the next stop sign (0.6 miles from your last turn) in the center of the "town," turn right. You will then go through another stop sign after only 0.2 miles, taking a slight right and putting you onto Euharlee Rd. You will see a sod farm open up on the right at 0.2 miles. Turn right at a small circular sign reading "Sod Atlanta" onto a gravel sod farm access road. Park off to the side just off the paved road, and you scope the farm from here, which is actually the highest vantage point anyway. This is private property so use your best judgement. Watch out for traffic and do not walk the roads going into the farm. As you return to Old Hwy 113, continue straight at the sharp curve instead of following it to the Pure gas station, which is Bartow St and will take you 0.8 miles through some open cattle grazing fields which may have Blue Grosbeak, Grasshopper Sparrow or other open habitat birds in spring and summer. When you deadend into Old Hwy 113, turn left. When you hit the new Hwy 113, turn left to head back east and backtrack all the way back, passing where you turned onto the road earlier (on your right). You'll join Hwy 61 at a Chevron gas station not far from where you originally turned onto Hwy 113. Continue on Hwy 113/61 for 0.5 miles past the gas station and you will see a sod farm on the left. At the next road, turn left at a sign that reads "Cartersville West Industrial Park" - be wary that as of Fall 2008 the sign has been torn down due to widening of Hwy 113/61. [DeLorme: p. 19, grid E-8] You can scope a good bit of sod from the shoulder of this road, and this area may have Buff-breasted Sandpiper or American Golden-Plover along with Pectoral Sandpiper, Horned Lark, and other good birds in September. It is a good idea to bird the edges of the low scrubby area with pine saplings across the road from the main sod area in spring and early summer for species like Yellow-breasted Chat and Prairie Warbler. Continuing on the road will bring you by a couple smaller sod fields on the left. When finished, turn right back onto Hwy113/61, then left back at the intersection with Hwy 61 (just past Chevron). Pass the airport on your left, then turn left onto Old Alabama Rd and return to I-75 the way you came. Some of the cross-streets of Hwy 113 in the area of Brandon Rarm Rd are also worth exploring (like Beazely Rd, across from Brandon Farm Rd, which has a nice field for Bobolink in migration). NOTE: Do not attempt to bird the area along Stiles Rd. shown in Beaton's book - there is a dispute with the landowners about public vs. private access and it's better to just stay away.
      
PHOTO 1 PHOTO 2 PHOTO 3 PHOTO 4 PHOTO 5 PHOTO 6 PHOTO 7
Photos and text by KB.
2) Pine Log WMA [Nov 2008] 
PM, late Sp-Su for breeding birds
See Beaton's Birding Georgia.
[DeLorme: p. 19, grid C-10; Birding Georgia: p. 38]
This is one of my personal favorites in early spring to early summer, for neotropical migrants, breeding birds, and nocturnal species like Whip-poor-will, Chuck-will's-widow, and owls. April and May are also awesome because it is the only time the access road gates are open to vehicles because of turkey hunts. Stamp Creek hosts breeding pairs of Louisiana Waterthrush, though they can be tricky to hear or see on every visit and should not be expected. In recent years a resident population of Red Crossbills was observed on a few occasions; despite many searches in various seasons they have not been seen since February 2004. They were seen off-and-on that year, and if you come here for a winter walk to check for them, you may also enjoy the treat of a large number of Fox Sparrows. In winter 2006-07 a group of up to 20 birds was reliably seen along the road within the first 200 yards of the gate at the parking lot near the bridge over Stamp Creek. Just east of this access point is another road into the property, near Stamp Creek Church; however, there is not as much room to park - only 2-3 vehicles, and make sure not to block the gate. A personal favorite spot both for birding and just beauty is a wildlife plot that is a couple miles down the road from the main parking lot. After passing a large planted wildlife field on the left that is immediately adjacent to the road, continue down over a creek (listen for Kentucky Warblers in this area) and head up the next hill until you see another large clearing on your left with a few large trees in it. Park here and bird the field thoroughly - Indigo Buntings, White-eyed Vireos, Prairie Warblers, and Yellow-breasted Chats are likely in spring-summer. Bluebirds often nest in a cavity in one of the trees in the middle of the field so keep your distance and look out for them. Directly across the field from the turn-in, there is a very rough but walkable "road" for tractors to access and mow a separate wildlife plot way up on the hill. As you walk up this road, you should hear Black-and-white Warblers, Prairie Warblers, Yellow-breasted Chat, and Field Sparrows singing. In areas of pine (there are plenty in here), you may also spot uncommon Pine Elfin butterflies along with good numbers of Sleepy Oranges, Red-banded Hairstreaks, and other butterflies. Finally, you will come into a gorgeous mountain-top wildlife clearing, with 360-degree views of the surrounding countryside (PHOTO 1). If you don't mind the hike in (gate closed), this also makes an awesome "hawk watch" vantage point in fall. Note that PHOTOS 2-5 were taken in winter so the views will be quite different in the prime spring season at this location.
    
PHOTO 1 PHOTO 2 PHOTO 3 PHOTO 4 PHOTO 5
Text and photo by KB
3) Reynold's Bend Rd [Jan 2008]
W for pipits, larks, etc.
[DeLorme pg. 19, grid D-7 or Lat 34 13' 07' N; Long 84 59' 14' W]
This area has great potential for open-habitat winter species like American Pipit, American Kestrel, or (speculatively) Lapland Longspur. The habitat is very similar to that at Fite Bend Rd (Gordon County) with vast fields of corn stubble, but the problem is that the vast majority of the property, along a bend in the Etowah River, is private and not accessible to birders. I hope to do some scouting to see if I can determine the owners and talk to them about allowing birders to briefly visit, but until access is granted the area that is viewable from public roads represents only about 20% of what is there. Still, a quick visit in early Feb 2007 yielded a nice flock of American Pipit (30-40 birds), with many more possible in the largest fields just to the north of where the road becomes private. Coming west on US Hwy 411 from Cartersville, turn right (north) onto Reynold's Bend Rd. Almost immediately on your left is a small pull-out affording a view of a nice field of corn stubble on the west side of the road. Continue down the road, passing through a few more small patches of corn stubble. The edges of these fields may host sparrows like Field, White-throated, Savannah, and Song along with Hermit Thrush and Dark-eyed Juncos. You will eventually reach a gate with a stop sign on it. Park in a gravel area on the left just before this gate. From here, you can scan a fairly large area of corn stubble, where a nice number of American Pipit were found in Feb 2007. You can see silos ahead in the distance - just beyond them lay much larger fields (as seen on Google Earth) but as stated above, this is private property and cannot be viewed.
Catoosa
1) Chickamauga National Battlefield Park [Dec 2008]
PM, late Sp-Su for breeding birds
[See Walker County]
[DeLorme: p. 12, grid B-4]
2) Shookville Pond W for waterfowl [Dec 2008] 
[DeLorme pg.13, B-6]
There is a pond in this community just east of Ringgold on US Hwy 41. It is not a major destination by any means, but is very close to I-75 so if you are passing through in winter it may be worth a quick check for waterfowl. Canvasback has been seen here before, along with good numbers of Ring-necked Duck. From Exit 345 on I-75, head north on US Hwy 41 for just 1.6 miles and you will reach a cluster of buildings comprising the community of Shookville; turn right (north) here onto Cherokee Valley Rd. Almost immediately, turn right onto Rogers Dr and you will drive alongside the pond where you can scan from your vehicle or briefly park on the shoulder to have a look around. Interestingly, this rural area has been thoroughly treated by Google and you can get street-level interactive views of the entire pond.
Text and photo by KB.
Chattooga
Birding sites needed!
Dade
1) Cloudland Canyon State Park [July 2008]
PM, late Sp-Su for breeding birds
[DeLorme: p. 12, grid C-2]
This is a great place for people of all ages to enjoy the outdoor wonders that Georgia's northwest corner has to offer, as well as some great birding during migration. There can be plenty of action in daylight and after dark (if you are camping in the park). A great diversity of passerines can be seen moving through in spring and fall, and nocturnal birds like owls, Whip-poor-wills and Chuck Will's Widow may be heard. In fall this is a great place to "Hawkwatch" in the daytime for species like Broad-winged Hawk, accipiters, or if you're lucky a Peregrine Falcon or Merlin. Also in fall, it can be a great spot to record "Thrush Counts" in the hours leading up to dawn, listening for the particular flight calls of species like Swainson's, Gray-Cheeked, Veery, and Wood Thrush.
  
P HOTO 1 PHOTO 2 PHOTO 3
Photos 1 & 2 by KB; Photo 3 by Steve Barlow
2) Cloverdale Rd-Mason Rd, Sulphur Springs Gap Rd [N/A]
PM, late Sp-Su for breeding birds
[DeLorme pg. 12, E-1]
This is a nice area in the Ridge and Valley region for migrants and breeding birds. At night, it is a good place for both Chuck Will's Widow, Whip-poor-wills, and owls in April-May. From I-59 in Alabama, get off at Exit 239 and head southeast on County Rd 889 a very short distance until you deadend into Hwy 11. Turn left, and look carefully for Sulphur Springs Rd on your right (should be the first road on the right). Turn here and continue until you cross into Georgia and get to an intersection with Cloverdale Rd. (along the way, you may pass CR 735 and Dogwood Ln on your left - stay on Sulphur Springs Rd) Turn left onto Cloverdale Rd, and make a note of the first available right (Sulphur Springs Gap Rd.) Bird along Cloverdale Rd, looking and listening for birds like Yellow-breasted Chat, Grasshopper Sparrow, Prairie Warbler, Palm Warbler, Loggerhead Shrike, Orchard Oriole, etc. Re-trace our path and turn left onto Sulphur Springs Gap Rd. this road will ascend Lookout Mountain along a series of switchbacks. Listen and look for birds, stopping along the way. Species to look for include Acadian Flycatcher, Red and White-eyed Vireo, wood warblers (Blue-winged, Nashville, Chestnut-sided, Black-throated Green, Black-and-white, Worm-eating, Ovenbird), Summer and Scarlet Tanagers, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, etc. The road will eventually deadend into Old SR 157. This can be used to access other areas like Cloudland Canyon State Park or Crockford-Pigeon Mountain WMA.
Floyd
1) Arrowhead Wildlife Education Center [Nov 2005]
PM, late Sp-early Su for breeding birds
See Beaton's Birding Georgia.
[DeLorme: pg. 18, A-5]
Text by Dan Roper
Directions: Arrowhead Environmental Education Center is located on Floyd Springs Road in Armuchee (north of Rome), about two miles north of the intersection of GA Hwy 156 and Floyd Spring Road. Visit the area WEBSITE.
Arrowhead Environmental Education Center north of the city of Rome offers birders 337 acres of mixed habitat that is open around the clock. Arrowhead is a Georgia Department of Natural Resources facility that includes DNR offices and an education center used by area schools. While the education building is not open to the public, the grounds are open 24/7/365, so birders may come and go as they please. The DNR staff permits access within reason to the grounds near the buildings, and the trail system is always open. Be aware of special events like managed deer hunting or school groups on field trips. Parking is available in a gravel lot on the south side of the property (do not park at the DNR offices).
Arrowhead has a variety of terrain including pine flat woods, hardwoods, fields, ponds, and lakes. As of this writing (March 2008), the large lakes have been dry for at least five years. DNR is currently repairing the dams and restoring the lakes, and when the job is complete this will be good habitat for waterfowl.
There are some 13 smaller ponds, any or all of which may be dry at any particular time. Usually, at least three ponds have water. DNR also uses prescribed burning to manage the woodlands, and recently cleared a thicket from a wildlife opening. All of these terrain changes affect the numbers and types of birds that frequent Arrowhead, so if you haven’t visited in a while, come on back because you’re sure to find changes.
The bird population varies greatly depending on the season. Year-round residents include Great Blue Heron, Barred Owl, American Goldfinch, Northern Cardinal, Northern Mockingbird, Eastern Bluebird, Eastern Phoebe, Belted Kingfisher, Wood Duck, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Red-headed Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Brown-headed Nuthatch, White-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Pine Warbler, American Crow, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Wild Turkey, Northern Bobwhite, Field Sparrow, Song Sparrow, and Killdeer.
Winter species include Brown Creeper, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Swamp Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Winter Wren, and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.
Summer species include Indigo Bunting, Summer Tanager, Orchard Oriole, Red-eyed Vireo, Yellow-throated Vireo, White-eyed Vireo, Eastern Wood Pewee, Great-crested Flycatcher, Yellow-throated Warbler,
Kentucky Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-breasted Chat, Black-and-white Warbler, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Barn Swallow, Tree Swallow, and Purple Martin.
Common migrants in spring and fall include Wilson’s Snipe, Solitary Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Baltimore Oriole, American Redstart, Tennessee Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak.
Occasional visitors include Bald Eagle, Osprey, American Kestrel, Ring-necked Duck, American Coot, Hooded Merganser, Gadwall, Mallard, Pied-billed Grebe, American Bittern, Least Sandpiper, Semi-palmated Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper, Sandhill Crane, Great Horned Owl, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, and White-crowned Sparrow.
2) Garden Lakes [Nov 2008]
IBA, W for waterfowl
See Beaton's Birding Georgia.
[DeLorme: pg. 18, C-4]
3) Rocky Mountain PFA [Feb 2007]
W for waterfowl, PM
[DeLorme pg. 18, B-3, 4]
This area is best accessed from US Hwy 27 north of Rome. You can get here from I-75 by getting off at Exit 306 (Hwy 140) and heading west for 15.5 miles until you deadend into US Hwy 27. Turn right, and in 2.8 miles turn left onto Sike Story Rd. After 0.3 miles, turn left onto Big Texas Valley Rd. In approximately 6.0 miles you'll see brown signs for the area. There are several roads that access the three major lakes of this area, all on the south side of Big Texas Valley Rd. The area offers opportunities for camping, hiking, and fishing as well as birding. It is quite under-birded, but a few recent (Feb 2007) stops to the area were unproductive for waterfowl other than a few Pied-billed Grebes, Gadwall, and some Ring-billed Gulls. Regardless, it is worth a quick stop in winter for waterfowl and would also make a nice walk during migration for passerines, with mixed deciduous and pine forests surrounding the lakes and very nice mountain views. PHOTO 1 shows Heath Lake (western-most of the lakes), and PHOTOS 2 & 3 show different views of Antioch Lake, the middle of the three.
  
Text and photos by KB.
4) Bass Ferry Rd Sod Farm [Feb 2007]
SBM
[DeLorme pg. 19, grid D-6 or Lat 34 13' 01' N; Long 85 03' 26' W]
This sod farm is reportedly owned by the Bouckaert family, which owns another facility in Murray County. Coming west on US Hwy 411, turn right (north) on Biddy Rd, and take an almost immediate left onto Bass Ferry Rd. This road will take you through some pretty open habitat and pastures. The brushy edges and fence lines may host Blue Grosbeak, Grasshopper Sparrow, swallows, and possibly Dickcissel in spring-summer (if the fields are not kept too low) and there are plenty of Savannah Sparrows in winter. Be on the lookout for raptors in any season. You will see a horseriding ring on your left; park in this vicinity well off the road so you do not block local traffic or sod trucks. Walk the remaining 50 yds or so to where a gate marks the road beyond as private. From a knoll on the left (west) side of the road, you can scope a great deal of sod for migrating shorebirds; there are certainly large tracts that you cannot view from this vantage point but they are on private property so do not walk beyond the gate. As with all sod farms, practice good birding ethics. If anyone asks you what you're doing, politely explain yourself. If they tell you that it is private property or that for any reason you are not welcome, apologize and leave the area. Do not argue with locals over private or public roads or anything at all... chances are they know much better than we do what areas folks are welcome to wander around or not!
Text and photo by KB.
5) Cliff Swallow nests on the Rome By-Pass (Veterans Memorial Highway) [N/A]
late Sp, early Su
[DeLorme pg. 18, C-5; extreme lower right corner]
From Cartersville take Hwy 411 to Rome. Turn right on the Rome By-Pass (Connector). Cross over the Etowah River and at the next turn go right and then another sharp right at the YMCA Soccer Fields. Follow the soccer road to the end. Both colonies can be reached on this road.
Gordon
1) Fite Bend Road [Nov 2008]
mid F-mid Sp
[DeLorme: p. 13, grid G-7,8]
From Atlanta go north on I-75 and turn right (east) at the top of Exit 320 toward the town of Resaca. Turn left when you deadend into Highway 41 and then right very soon onto GA Hwy 136. Cross a RR tracks immediately, and continue on for approx. 1/2 mile. The second road on the right will be Fite Bend Road. Go past the residential area and scan the vast fields with either corn stubble or sunflowers when you start to see them on your left. When you see the silos coming up on the left, you'll also see an abandoned house on the right and a couple large oak trees on the left; pull off on a dirt/gravel area underneath an oak. Get out (take your scope, too) and bird this area - checking all the fields for American Pipit or Horned Lark. In winter, you should see a shallow pond or wet ditches down in the corn stubble beyond the silos (PHOTO 2). Look here for any waterfowl; Northern Pintail, American Wigeon, Snow Goose, Cackling Goose (mixed with Canda Geese) and more have been seen. Waders or shorebirds may be here during migration. Next, you can continue on foot or drive to the middle of the silo/maintenance structures. This area is reliable for White-crowned Sparrow in winter (PHOTO 3 & 4). The White-crowned Sparrows are usually found in some piles of brush and trash in the immediate area of the silos and/or in the scrubby habitat near the abandoned farm buildings across from where you parked. Be wary of workers and stay out of the way. Also in this area you may see American Kestrel, Eurasian Collared Dove (most were removed by the owners), Palm Warblers, Savannah Sparrows, Rock Pigeons, raptors, and even a "Krider's" Red-tailed Hawk was found in December 2005. A pair of Common Ground Doves was seen in Nov 2008, a very rare record for the Mountains. Another good spot to check for sparrows is a small rusty hopper/grain silo on the right with a thick hedgerow across from it; this is after you pass all the farm-related silos and processing buildings and then pass through another expansive area of fields. When you reach the end of the road, do not drive past where the pavement ends (park here on the shoulder, PHOTO 5), and be aware that while many birders have walked the dirt road beyond the pavement to scope a wet area on the left (for waterfowl) and get a better view of the fields with no problems, others have been run off and told that past the pavement is private property. Use your best judgement. All along the corn/sunflower stubble on Fite Bend Rd in winter, be aware of flocks of American Pipit... very rare Lapland Longspurs, and not-so-rare Horned Lark, can be found by looking and listening for large flocks of Pipits flying around and foraging in the fields. You may want to study the unique flight call of Lapland Longspur before you get into the field. Scoping all these Pipits for other birds while they are scooting along in and out of the furrows is truly a birding challenge - or should I say nightmare? But if you find a longspur, it's most certainly more than worth it. Another special treat at Fite Bend Rd are Sandhill Cranes, sometimes hundreds of them, flying around and strolling through the corn stubble all along the road; they may not be present in years when sunflowers are grown. It is a sight - and a sound - that you must experience; mid-January thru February is best.
    
PHOTO 1 PHOTO 2 PHOTO 3 PHOTO 4 PHOTO 5
Text and photos by KB.
2) Salacoa Creek Park [N/A]
(See notes)
[DeLorme: p. 13, grid G-9]
From Atlanta: Take I-75 north to Exit 315, from here take Hwy 156 east approximately 10-12 miles until you reach a marked entrance on the right side of the road. Turn here and this road ends in the park picnic area. If coming from Hwy 411(the east) the entrance is approx. three miles from the junction of 411 & 156. The lake here has many nooks with little access, unless you have a boat! Winter is the best time to bird this area. Birding can be slow at this location but it is worth checking if you’re in the area and looking for some public land to bird. Winter: Check for waterfowl on the lake. This location has hosted Red-breasted Nuthatch and Fox Sparrow in the past. Check the winter woodland flocks carefully. Migration: Passerine migrants. Summer: Prothonotary Warblers seem to be nesting on the backside of the lake but this area can only be accessed by boat. Text by Joshua Spence.
3) Pine Chapel Rd / Moss Rd [Nov 2008] 
YR
[DeLorme: p. 13, grid G-8]
From Atlanta: Take I-75 north to Exit 315, from here take Red Bud Rd east approximately three miles to the Crane Eater community. Take a left onto Pine Chapel Rd. and continue north approx. 1.2 miles or until you see extensive fields bordering the road (PHOTO 1). This is some of the best open habitat birding in Georgia, and can be productive in all seasons - including some unique breeding birds and wintering species. Not long after you pass a pond (PHOTO 2) that is adjacent to the road on your left (west), you will pass an abandoned brick church on the left and finally come to a large dilapidated barn on your left directly across from an intersection with Moss Rd. Turn left here and park out of the way on the side of this wide gravel area, but not far from Pine Chapel Rd. Get out and bird this area thoroughly, particularly in late fall and winter. Walk up past the old barn and take your time to sort through all the wonderful sparrows that should be buzzing around the weedy fence rows here, including Field Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, and Song Sparrow. As you pass a small row of trees on your right with the remains of a burned out building and related debris beyond, keep an eye (and ear) out for White-crowned Sparrows and Vesper Sparrows, while White-throated Sparrows may pop out of thicker brushy areas - all in late fall and winter. Also be aware that either pond now coming into view on your left and right (PHOTO 8) may hold waterfowl in winter so again, remain quiet and take your time. Birds seen here include Green-winged and Blue-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck, Ruddy Duck, Gadwall, Canada Goose, Snow Goose, Ross's Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose, and Cackling Goose (latter three rare). Shorebirds such as yellowlegs, Solitary or Spotted Sandpiper, and Wilson's Snipe may be found around the edges. A Baird's Sandpiper was seen in Aug 2006. It is very important that you not walk any farther than the dam forming the lake on your left, where a pair of white posts on either side of the road are a good landmark to stop. This is all private property that is being leased to a cattle company; the owner has given permission for birders to have limited access but if the cattle folks ever see us doing anything intrusive they have the right to ask us to leave so please be polite and ethical and do not walk beyond this point or out into the fields. Walk back to Pine Chapel Rd, and cross over to take a nice long walk along beautiful Moss Rd (PHOTOS 3, 4, 5). Be extremely careful with traffic! In spring and summer, Grasshopper Sparrows, Blue Grosbeak, Orchard Oriole, Yellow-breasted Chat, and Dickcissel may be heard singing in the fields and brushy areas. In fall and winter, hordes of sparrows can be found here (see species mentioned earlier); a few Grasshopper Sparrows may even stay for the winter. Always keep an eye out for raptors here, such as Northern Harrier, American Kestrel, and Merlin (winter), Red-tailed Hawk and Red-shouldered Hawk (year-round), Mississippi Kite (late summer), or migrants overhead such as Broad-winged Hawk and vultures. An extremely rare Rough-legged Hawk was spotted in late Oct 2008! This is a great place to search for certain passerine migrants such as Barn Swallows, Tree Swallows, Northern Rough-winged Swallows, and (rarely) Bank Swallows, Northern or Louisiana Waterthrush, Yellow Warbler, blackbirds, and Bobolink. Breeding species present include Northern Bobwhite, Grasshopper Sparrow, Blue Grosbeak, Orchard Oriole, Yellow-breasted Chat, Field Sparrow, and Dickcissel. In fact, this area may be the best in the state for Dickcissel in good years; up to 14 pairs were observed in 2006! How the land owners manage the fields has a great impact on this species, as Dickcissel needs unmowed weedy fields to breed. Loggerhead Shrikes have been permanent residents here for several years; look along the barbed wire fences for impaled insects or small reptiles that make up their larders (PHOTOS 6, 7).
       
PHOTO 1 PHOTO 2 PHOTO 3 PHOTO 4 PHOTO 5 PHOTO 6 PHOTO 7 PHOTO 8
Text by Joshua Spence and KB; photos by KB & RC.
4) White Graves Rd Marsh [Nov 2008]
Late fall, W for waterfowl
[DeLorme pg. 13, F-9]
This is a quick roadside stop that should always be checked from fall through winter when you are in the area of Carter's Lake. It may have nothing more than a couple Pied-billed Grebes and some Swamp Sparrows, but it is good wetland habitat with rushes, reeds, and shallow areas good for dabbling ducks. Blue-winged Teal, Green-winged Teal, and Northern Pintail have been found, and a very rare Cinnamon Teal was reported in fall 2007. From the intersection of GA Hwy 411 and GA Hwy 136, head west exactly 3.5 miles and turn right (north) onto White Graves Rd. You will pass a church on the right, and exactly 1.2 miles from Hwy 136 the marsh/pond will open up on your right. Park carefully on the shoulder and scope from the shoulder; be careful with local traffic!
Text and photo by KB.
Murray
1) Coosawattee WMA [May 2007]
PM, late Sp-Su for breeding birds
[DeLorme: p. 13, grid F-9]
Good for various woodland migrants and interesting breeding spp. Of particular note is a fairly large breeding population of Blue-winged Warbler documented in 2006 by Joshua Spence. He did tours of eight separate locations on the WMA, and found at least 16 males singing on territory! Though they were not seen on the same day, it is quite notable that this is twice the recorded high count in the latest Annotated Checklist of Georgia Birds. Of course, one may surmise that many of these birds represent a breeding pair, not just individuals. Here are directions to two particulary good areas, followed by Josh's description of the WMA in general. From I-75, get off at Exit 317 (GA Hwy 225) and head NE. Reset your odometer at the stop sign with GA Hwy 136; there are a couple small gas stations here and the sporadically-open "Corner Café" will be diagonal to your right. In 5.5 miles from this intersection (after crossing into Murray County), turn right onto Maple Grove Church Rd. In just 0.2 miles, split off onto Cagle Rd on the left. 1.2 miles down this road, look for a dirt pullout on the right side of the road (PHOTO 1), with a gate off the road about 20 yards. Start looking for this when you notice a huge recent clear cut on the left side of the road (May 2007). Walk around the gate and down this dirt road through a brief area of older pines (PHOTO 2) and into a 5-8 year-old clear cut with sapling pines, scattered broad-leaf saplings, and an extensive scrubby understory made up of mostly wild blackberry. You will hear many Prairie Warblers singing in this habitat (PHOTOS 3-4); start listening for Blue-winged Warblers singing as well. The dirt road will curve down to the left and cross a small creek in an area where several mature pines were left ( PHOTO 5). Kentucky Warbler, Pine Warbler, Hooded Warbler, and Yellow-breasted Chat may be heard or seen in this and other areas. White-eyed Vireo, Field Sparrow, and Great-crested Flycatcher can also be expected. When finished here, backtrack 0.4 miles on Cagle Rd until you see Mashburn Rd on your left; turn hear and continue 0.5 miles to the end of this road and a gate (PHOTO 6) and park on the shoulder. Explore this area as well for similar species in similar habitat (PHOTO 7). Throughout the entire WMA there are different stages of succession taking place due to the rotation of "management" [clear-cutting] that is being conducted. The area where the BWWAs were present is a large area that was probably logged within the last 5-8 years. Thankfully it wasn't replanted in pine. Still pines are the predominant tree in this area, they're not as tight as they would be in a plantation-type arrangement. The trees are more spread out and this has allowed some open brushy areas to succeed. There are a variety of broadleaf trees present also, which makes it more suitable for BWWAs. The upper canopy is open, ranging from 8-15' tall. The understory is made up of briar thickets, vine tangles and clumps of saplings. The ground cover consists of grasses and other low-growing herbaceous plants, which are suitable for this species due to the fact that it usually builds its nest on or near the ground. Some spots throughout this area do favour neglected pastures and fields. The habitat looks right to me, but the elevation seems a little lower than what I expected a BWWA to nest at. It probably ranges between 700-800' in this location. The habitat will not stay suitable [for BWWA nesting] for long. Most clearcuts quickly revert back to forest structure and cease to be suitable for these birds. Though, in this situation there are several areas [of the WMA] at different stages of early succession and the population could move throughout the WMA property over the next several breeding seasons.
      
PHOTO 1 PHOTO 2 PHOTO 3 PHOTO 4 PHOTO 5 PHOTO 6 PHOTO 7
Text by Joshua Spence and KB; photos by KB & RC.
2) Carter's Lake & Re-Regulation Lake (also Gilmer County) [Nov 2008] 
IBA, YR
See Beaton's Birding Georgia.
[DeLorme: p. 13, F-10 and G-10]
It's amazing how many rarities have shown up in this very productive birding area over the years. Worth birding in any season, it receives great coverage by experienced NW Georgia birders Max Medley and Joshua Spence. In spring 2006 a Mourning Warbler was located on Powerhouse Rd, in October 2006 a Black-throated Gray Warbler was discovered, in winter 2005 a Common Merganser spent some time on the Re-reg Lake, in winter 2007 a Red-necked Grebe showed up, and in June 2007 an astonishing bird - a South Polar Skua - was found on Carter's Lake by Josh Spence! (PHOTO 6). But in addition to rarities, the area is very productive in general, especially during migration, for passerines, waterfowl, shorebirds, and more. You can access the area from I-75 by getting off at Exit 320 and heading east on GA Hwy 136. When you come to the intersection of US Hwy 411 (Ralston's Corner BP gas station here), go straight across the highway, pass over a RR crossing, and 0.4 miles from the intersection you should turn left onto Old Hwy 411 (there is a brown sigh here marking Coosawattee WMA). For passerines, there are two primary areas which should be birded thoroughly. The first is the Songbird Trail (Hidden Pond Trail), which is at the first recreation area at the dam forming the Re-regulation Lake just down Old Hwy 411 on your right. The other is Power House Rd, which is at the base of the larger dam forming Carter's Lake itself. Along the Hidden Pond Trail (PHOTO 15) at the Re-regulation Dam Recreation Area, a Warbling Vireo was found in spring 2006; a Yellow-bellied Flycatcer was seen regularly in fall 2006; and an amazing high count of 13+ Philadelphia Vireos was seen in September 2006 (one higher than the currently published state record in the ACOGB) - in fall this is perhaps the most reliable location in the state for the species. You can cover this area very well by parking at the recreation area at the bottom of the Re-reg dam, where the trailhead is (PHOTO 14). It is notable that you can also access the area by parking in a large paved area on the shoulder of Old Hwy 411 soon after turning off Hwy 136 (with a red/white chain between two posts). The habitat is mixed, with hardwoods, pines, and a wet, swampy area with lots of alders and willows. There is a small footbridge at a creek crossing where many Philadelphia Vireos were seen in fall 2006 (PHOTOS 3 & 4); note in the upper left corner of Photo 4 a tree that is reddish; this is actually virginia creeper berry vines, which can be "covered up" with Red-eyed Vireos, Philadelphia Vireos, and thrushes in the fall. Be sure to walk to the top of the Re-reg dam to scan for waterfowl or gulls, especially from fall through spring (PHOTO 13). When you're done birding in the Re-reg dam area, turn right onto Old Hwy 411 and continue over a one-lane bridge over the Coosawattee River, then pass the brown signs for the recreation area on the other side of the river. When you come into a large open area with fields on your right, turn right onto Powerhouse Rd (1.6 miles from the road to the Re-reg dam and Hidden Pond trailhead). There is a great sparrow field for "tromping" in winter. As you pass the transformers coming in from Old Hwy 411, pass two gravel driveways, and then take the first available gravel road on the right. You will curve around and soon see a short road split off to the right between some gravel piles to some maintenance buildings. Park along the side of the road anywhere in this area. Notice that another road splits off just down the road, and there is an "island" of scrub where the roads fork; this is known as the "spur road" (to the right) and it ends at the maintenance buildings fence. This area offers great migratory birding - look for warblers, vireos, thrushes, anything. This is the area where both Black-throated Gray and Mourning Warbler were found. In late spring and summer Orchard Orioles and Yellow-breasted Chats (along with other birds) breed here. Where you parked on your left is the expansive sparrow field - see PHOTOS 1 & 2 below, noting just what a pretty place it is overall, aside from the birding! A good strategy is to get several birders in a line and walk across the field, flushing anything of interest. Many species of sparrows may be found, along with Sedge Wren or Marsh Wren in migration; in October 2006 Lincoln's Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, and Vesper Sparrow were found. Also on Powerhouse Rd in winter 2005-2006, Red Crossbills were observed; this species has also been heard flying over Hwy 136 between Old Hwy 411 and the bridge over Talking Rock Creek, so familiarize yourself with its flight call. In addition to the famous rarities, the entire area is just great birding at any time of year - Black Scoters, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Common Loon, Purple Finch, Pine Siskin, Black-throated Green Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler, Brown-headed Nuthatch, woodpeckers, and a rainbow of neotropical migrants like warblers, vireos, thrushes, and tanagers have turned up every year in migration. Now it's time to bird Carter's Lake itself. Generally you can make a quick tour of the best vantage point not too far from PowerHouse Rd, a camping area on a peninsula. If you need more views, you can backtrack to the intersection of Old Hwy 411 and Hwy 136 and follow the directions below. First, turn right out of Powerhouse Rd and go exactly 3.9 miles and turn right onto US Hwy 76 / GA Hwy 282. Continue for 3.6 miles and turn right at the brown sign for the Woodring Branch campground. The main campground is open mid-April through the end of October, but the caretakers live there year-round and keep bird feeders filled behind their RV (PHOTO 5). In winter there may be very impressive numbers of American Goldfinches, Pine Siskins, and Purple Finches; Red Crossbills have been known to frequent the feeders sporadically. If the campground is open, you can ask for a 20-minute pass to drive down and get several more nice views of the lake. Just past the entrance to the campground, a gate to a boat ramp is not always open, but when it is you can continue all the way down to a narrow spit of land next to the boat ramp offering good views of the main body of the lake (PHOTO 7). In winter you may find waterfowl, Common Loons, Ring-billed Gull, or Bonaparte's Gull. A rare Red-necked Grebe was seen here in Jan-Feb 2007, and a Franklin's Gull and South Polar Skua were first seen here in June 2007. You can end your tour here, but if you'd like more views of Carter's Lake (especially if there's a rarity out there and you haven't seen it yet), head all the way back to the intersection of Old Hwy 411 and GA Hwy 136 and turn left to head east on 136. In 1.0 miles, you can park in a gravel area on the left side of the road to get a view of a cove on the Re-reg Lake (PHOTO 8). After 1.8 miles, you'll cross a bridge over Talking Rock Creek. Depending on the level of the lake, you can either get another view of open water or some nice mud flats for shorebirds in migration (PHOTO 9); along with regular birds like Western, Least, Semipalmated, and Solitary Sandpiper, you may see more uncommon species such as Sanderling, Solitary Sandpiper, White-rumped Sandpiper, or even Baird's Sandpiper. After a total of 2.1 miles from Old Hwy 411, turn left onto Carter's Dam Rd. In 1.4 miles, you turn right and go through a gate to the marina, where you can get a nice view of the lake (PHOTO 10) and some cold drinks. When finished here, you should head back to Carter's Dam Rd and turn right; you will have to pay a day-use fee of $4.00. Drive down and across the dam to a large parking lot. Walking back on the dam with your scope offers a great view of Carter's Lake (PHOTO 11) and a picturesque view of the Re-reg Lake below (PHOTO 12). Take a look at the he Army Corps of Engineers MAP for more vantage points on the lake, such as Harris Branch, Doll Mountain, or Ridgeway Recreation Areas.
       
PHOTO 1 PHOTO 2 PHOTO 14 PHOTO 15 PHOTO 3 PHOTO 4 PHOTO 5 PHOTO 6
      
PHOTO 7 PHOTO 8 PHOTO 9 PHOTO 10 PHOTO 11 PHOTO 12 PHOTO 13
Text and photos by KB.
3) County Line Rd / Fagala Rd [May 2007]
(See notes)
[DeLorme: p. 13, grid E-8]
From Atlanta - take I-75 North to Exit 317 and turn right off of the ramp onto Hwy 225. Stay on this road for approx 4-5 miles. Notice a four-way stop were Hwy 136 and 225 intersect. This is a community called Nickelsville; there are two gas stations and the sporadically open "Corner Café" at this intersection. Continue north (straight) on Hwy 225 for approximately 1.0 miles, or until you see a road on the left named County Line Rd. Turn here and drive less than a mile to a creek crossing (PHOTO 1). Stop here and listen; you may have Louisiana Waterthrush along the creek. Continue over the one-lane bridge and drive along the road, noting that the creek continues on your left while open fields begin on your right. When you come to a side road on your right, this is Fagala Rd (PHOTO 2). Park in this area on the shoulder (not much room, but the road is traveled very little). This is a very pretty open area with some great grassland habitat. The south side of CountyLine Rd is Gordon County while the north side is Murray County. On the northeast corner of Fagala Rd & Countyline Rd is a field that has hosted Dickcissels from 2004-2006 (PHOTO 3). Feel free to walk on roadside for better viewing. Migration birding can be good with a chance to find raptors, swallows, Sedge & Marsh Wrens, Bobolink, Orchard Oriole, and other grassland species. Summer highlights are Grasshopper Sparrow and Dickcissel. Night stakeouts have produced Barn Owl flyovers.
  
PHOTO 1 PHOTO 2 PHOTO 3
Text by Joshua Spence and KB; photos by KB.
4) Fox Bridge Rd Marsh [Nov 2007]
(See Notes)
[DeLorme: p. 13, grid E-8]
From Atlanta: Take I-75 north to Exit 317. From here take Hwy 225 northeast for approx. 12 miles to an area called Holley on the map. Right before you reach this area where the highway crosses Holly Creek you’ll see a road on the left called Fox Bridge Rd. Turn here and continue about 1.5 miles. By this time you will have noticed the wetland on the left side of the road. Park at the first open area (PHOTO 1), as far off the road as possible but be careful because the shoulder is soft and steep. This swamp/marsh runs along the road for at least a mile or more, and after you have checked for rails and other birds at the first stop, continue on for a ways and the road will curve sharply to the right, with a large area on the left side of the road to park near the other main open part of the marsh. You can make a u-turn later and come back to park on that side (PHOTO 2). There is little open water in the area, most of it is dense cattail. The entire area is gated so all birding has to be done from the road. Find a safe place to pull off - see notes above - and walk along the fence (see views in PHOTOS 3 &4). There is also a forest on right side of the road that can be good for passerine species. This area has the potential to host a variety of marsh birds any time of year, so look carefully for rarities. Winter: Some waterfowl. Virginia Rail and Sora have been found here over the last few winters (most recently Nov 2007). Woodpeckers, sparrows, blackbirds also present in good numbers. Migration: Marsh & Sedge Wrens, Northern Waterthrush and other passerine migrants. Summer: Waders, Acadian Flycatcher, & Prothonotary Warbler - the latter species may be more likely in the first part of the wetlands as you come into the area on Fox Bridge Rd (PHOTO 5); however, do not play recordings as this may disturb the territories of the few nesting pairs that are present.
    
PHOTO 1 PHOTO 2 PHOTO 3 PHOTO 4 PHOTO 5
Text by Joshua Spence and KB; Photos by KB.
5) Bouckaerts Sod Farm [2005]
SBM
[DeLorme: p. 13, grid E-9]
Read about Birding Georgia's Sod Farms
From I-75 take Exit 317. From here take Hwy 225 northeast for approx. 15 miles to a Four-way Stop. Turn right here and continue a mile or so and turn right onto Berry Bennett Rd. Continue on this road for another mile. As soon as you cross the bridge the road will go through the sod farm. You can carefully pull off on the shoulder of the road and scan the fields. Birding here can be slow. It is better in migration and best after a heavy rain, windstorm, etc. Key birds: Shorebirds. Can be good for waders, raptors, terns, and swallows. Text by Joshua Spence.
Walker
1) Chickamauga National Battlefield Park (Walker and Catoosa Counties) [July 2008]
PM, Su for breeding birds
[DeLorme: p. 12, grid B-4]
Chickamauga National Battlefield Park can be very good for woodland migrants including warblers, vireos, tanagers, thrushes, and orioles. It is a massive property, but see tips below for focusing your birding efforts. In July-August 2004 a rare Bewick's Wren was reported, but was not seen by all searchers. The Snodgrass Hill area of the park has been particularly productive. From I-75 (north of Atlanta) get off at Exit 350 (Hwy 2) and head west; there is signage on the interstate for the park. When you come into the town of Fort Oglethorpe, you will come to a major intersection with US Hwy 27, turn left to head south. This will go straight into the park, and the Visitor's Center will be on the right soon after you enter. See exhibits on this bloody Civil War battle and get maps here. A historic tour is available. Snodgrass Hill is in the NW part of the park. There are miles of driving and hiking trails throughout the park to choose from, most of which are paved and some of which allow biking as well. One strategy for birding the park is to focus on creek crossing and/or trails that follow creeks (there is a nice meadow behind the visitor's center with a creek running through it with some remnant riparian habitat, which enters a woods with a nice scrubby understory where a casual walk all along the edge may produce good migrants and/or breeding birds. You may also find success and more birds by working similar wooded edges of the large open battlefield areas, again focusing on those with a nearby water source and thick understory. Birding deep in the woods may not be as productive, and views of birds are much more difficult than working the edges. View a PARK MAP.
2) Queen City Lake (a.k.a. Lake Howard) [N/A]
W for waterfowl
[DeLorme: p. 12, grid E-4]
Located north of the town of Fayetteville on US 27. Use your DeLorme to help guide you to the lake, and once in the area you will want to explore smaller roads to gain views of the lake and bird the immediate area for non-waterfowl species like sparrows or blackbirds. Be respectful of any private property in the area, and be careful on road shoulders while scoping the lake. Species seen since 2001 include Snow Goose, Green-winged Teal, Northern Pintail, American Wigeon, Gadwall, Fox Sparrow, Brewer's Blackbird, Osprey, Bonaparte's Gull, Ring-billed Gull.
3) Edwards Sod Farm [Dec 2006]
SBM
[DeLorme pg. 12, grid E-5 and pg. 13, grid E-6 (On the seam of the atlas, at a community labeled "Villanow")]
Read about Birding Georgia's Sod Farms
Located at 11825 hwy 136 Lafayette, Georgia 30728. From the town of LaFayette, head east on GA Hwy 136 until you reach a T-intersection with Hwy 151; turn left to continue following Hwy 136. In 1-2 miles, watch carefully for Hwy 136 signs, and turn right to stay on it. In 4-5 miles, you'll see the sod farm open up on the left (north) side of the road. This is in the vicinity of mile marker 29. Just after crossing over a small creek, look on the left (north) side of the road for a dirt road/pull-out accessing part of the farm. You can park here, but make sure you are not blocking the farm access road. Scope the east sod field from this vantage point. You can then walk the shoulder of the road (be very careful here!) to get another vantage point on the west fields. The creek crossing has lots of cover and trees, so listen and look for passerines here as well while you walk over the bridge to scope the farm. The only good observation points for this sod farm are from the shoulder of Hwy 136, which has fast-moving traffic, so be alert, stay well off the road and use good judgement.
Aerial photo from an online advertisement (property was apparently for sale on 12/15/06)
4) Crockford-Pigeon Mountain WMA Area [Dec 2008] 
IBA, PM, W for raptors
[DeLorme pg. 12, E 2-3, F 2-3]
DNR Line Map
DNR Topo Map
DNR Infrared Map
This is a very interesting area in the extreme NW corner of Georgia, where the Cumberland Plateau just enters the state. It features long, elevated parallel ridges divided by flat, open valleys. The geology is also very unique, with sandstone and limestone sculpted by erosion over the eons to produce interesting features such as dramatic cliffs or "brows," rock towers, monoliths, and caves. The area is great for birding and for butterfly and dragonfly enthusiasts as well. Wide open valley ranches provide extensive pastures and grasslands for open habitat birds, while scrubby meadows, several ponds, and upland woods round out a very diverse area of habitat in a unique area of the state. A good point of reference is the small town of LaFayette, with gas stations, fast food, and other provisions. From the town, find W Main St / GA Hwy 193 and head west approx. 2.8 miles and look closely for Chamberlain Rd on your left (a small gas station is on the right here). Before heading up onto the mountain, a very nice area for passerine birding during migration is Blue Hole, which is further west on Hwy 193. Exactly 0.8 miles past Chamberlain Rd, turn left at a sign onto Blue Hole Rd (gravel). Make an immediate left to follow the road onto public property, where you will find some maintenance buildings in a nice mixture of open grasslands, large mature trees, and scrubby thickets along the road. This area may produce Prairie Warbler, Indigo Bunting, Common Yellowthroat, Northern Parula, White-eyed Vireo, Magnolia Warbler, American Redstart, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Yellow-breasted Chat, and much more, along with scads of butterflies in spring and summer. Bird your way through this area, stopping to walk the road wherever you find flocks and at a productive creek crossing a little less than a mile down the road. The road will eventually enter the woods at the eastern edge of Pigeon Mountain and dead-end at Blue Hole Spring, a very pretty area with a unique spring that lives up to its name and some unique plant communities as well. After enjoying the spring and any woodland birds in the area (such as thrushes, vireos, and tanagers), return to Hwy 193, head back to Chamberlain Rd and turn right. In exactly 3.4 miles, turn right at a small brown WMA sign onto Rocky Lane. In just 0.3 miles you will find a game check station, where you may be able to pick up maps if they are available. You'll pass through a public campground, and then you'll begin making your way up the steep side of the plateau via a series of tight, steep switch-backs. This road was once inaccessible to passenger vehicles but in fairly recent years they have paved it which is a huge advantage and provides access to the top for everyone. You cannot stop along the switchbacks for any reason, as visibility is low; proceed with caution and you'll be fine. At the very top (3.5 miles from Chamberlain Rd), the road will revert to gravel and you'll notice a road fork off the left; you can head over here for an amazing view over a dramatic cliff and/or to work the edges of a meadow for migrants. Back at the fork, continue to follow the main road and notice at 1.2 miles from the fork you'll see a road on your left which should be signed as Rocktown Rd. At the end is a parking area and a 2 mile round-trip trail to an amazing area of rock formations known as "Rocktown" which is very popular with climbers and cavers; it is not to be missed and you may find some good birds along the way. Back at the main road, turn left and in about a quarter mile you'll see McCutchens Spring Rd on your right, turn here. You will want to park about 0.25 miles down this road when you see a small pond on your right. Working the scrubby habitat around the edges of this pond (where there is also an open meadow and another camping area) can be productive. Turn around and head back to the main road and turn right to continue transecting the property; you are now heading SW. The birding will be pretty much the same through this area, so there is no need to stop at any particular spots - just listen for flocks or just pass on through. The road is rough in places so be careful. There is one unique area at exactly 2.9 miles from McCutchens Spring Rd, where the road jogs to the right and you can park on the left in front of a gate that enters private property (do not go in!). However, directly across the street is a high berm and if you climb up the side, you'll see that there is a small lilly-pad choked pond with some snags and scrubby habitat. Look and listen for Eastern Wood-Pewee, Red-headed Woodpecker, Common Yellowthroat, Indigo Bunting, Yellow-breasted Chat, Scarlet Tanager, Yellow-throated and Red-eyed Vireos, and lots of other species during migration. The pond itself is great for dragonflies. Continuing on Rocky Lane, you will eventually leave the WMA and enter private property and a huge cattle grazing pasture will open up on your left. Keep your windows down and eyes open in this area for grassland species such as Eastern Meadowlark, Eastern Kingbird, along with sparrows including Grasshopper Sparrow in spring and summer and in winter Savannah Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Song Sparrow, and more. In colder months you may also find waterfowl on several cattle watering ponds in the area. Also in winter, be vigilant in this area as you may spot a very rare raptor such as Rough-legged Hawk or Golden Eagle out in the pastures or soaring overhead. More common raptor species found in winter may include American Kestrel, Northern Harrier, Turkey and Black Vultures, or Red-tailed Hawk. Merlin is rare but possible. A program to re-introduce Golden Eagles in a nearby area in Tennessee 10-20 years ago led to some breeding success and birds are found here from time to time. You will finally deadend into Dougherty Gap Rd. During migration, turn left and carefully park on the shoulder to look for interesting migrants working a line of large deciduous trees which have been planted on both sides of the road. Not far down the road you will dead-end into GA Hwy 157 where there is a small pond and wetlands worth checking for swallows (or for ducks in winter). In winter, turn right when you deadend into Dougherty Gap Rd, and you will descend into a long, narrow valley known as McLemore Cove via another set of tight switch-backs; be careful. You may not want to bother with birding the top of the mountain in winter and simply access this valley from the north end (see mileage later). Dougherty Gap Rd will pass through more unique, beautiful higher-elevation cattle ranches (see Photos below). Now is the time to cross your fingers during winter months and look very carefully for rare raptors. More common species such as Red-tailed Hawk or Red-shouldered Hawk (year-round) or Broad-winged Hawk (spring-summer) will be found while Northern Harrier (uncommon) and American Kestrel should be present as well (winter). Merlin is rare but possible in winter and migration. But the crown jewel would be to spot a Rough-legged Hawk or Golden Eagle in this area; keep an eye on the birding ListServs of northerly states to see if an irruption ("invasion") of this hawk is occuring that year, when chances are higher of finding one - they have been located here in the past. At 3.4 miles from Rocky Lane, note Hogjowl Rd forking off to the right. This road can be followed along the west side of the mountain through a few more pastures for winter raptors and during migration to reach a very beautiful and uniqe area called "The Pocket Trail" on your right - look carefully for Pocket Rd approx. 7.4 miles from the fork. After passing through some open meadows, the road will turn to gravel and end at the trailhead parking area. You can follow this semi-strenuous trail as long as you like and return the way you came or do a 9-mile loop for a real workout. It climbs to the ridge for great views, and meanders through an area of waterfalls (wet seasons) and very unique plant communities in this NW-facing cove eroded out of the side of the mountain. Some of the plants and small vertebrates found here are found almost nowhere else in the state! Back at the fork with Hogjowl Rd in winter, stay left where the road will change to names to Cove Rd, and you will come into more extensive grassland habitat - keep looking out for those raptors! The same grasslands host good numbers of Grasshopper Sparrows in spring-summer. Areas of corn stubble in colder months may host American Pipit, Horned Lark, or (speculatively) longspurs. At 9.7 miles from the fork, you will reach GA Hwy 193. By turning right, you will complete a large loop by reaching Chamberlain Rd in 6.9 miles. Obviously, to focus on the winter raptor search you may wish to skip the mountain entirely and head straight to Cove Rd, Dougherty Gap Rd, and Hogjowl Rd pasture areas from LaFayette. Or, in primetime spring migration you might want to take a shorter route to head straight to to "The Pocket Trail." Coming west on GA Hwy 193 from Chamberlain Rd, Hogjowl Rd will be approx. 4.5 miles on your left, and Pocket Rd will appear on your left in approx. 2.7 miles. A good map of the area can be viewed HERE. In addition to those already mentioned, species seen across the area during migration include Ovenbird, Kentucky Warbler, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Black-throated Green Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, Swainson's Thrush, Wood Thrush; Bobolink, Orchard Oriole, and Blue Grosbeak (open areas); Cedar Waxwing, Summer Tanager, Great-crested Flycatcher, Red-winged Blackbird, Purple Martin, Barn Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Acadian Flycatcher and Louisiana Waterthrush (creeks), Whip-poor-will and Chuck-will's-Widow (at night, migration), and much, much more!
 
Text and photos by KB.
5) Crawfish Springs Pond [Dec 2008]
W for waterfowl
[DeLorme pg. 12, C-4]
This is a quick stop at a small pond just outside the historic downtown area of the town of Chickamauga. It is worth a quick stop in winter to check for ducks and geese; a group of six rare Cackling Geese spent some time here among 100s of Canada Geese in December 2008. Between the public library and police station which you will find on your left heading SW from the historic town center on GA Hwy 341 (McLemore Cove Rd), turn left to head east on Lee-Clarkston Rd. The pond, behind a chain-link fence, will appear on your left in only 0.25 miles; park at the second gravel area on your left at a gate in the fence and scope through the fence - be careful with local traffic! Along with 100s of Canada Geese (and possibly the similar but rare and tiny Cackling Goose), you may find Gadwall, American Wigeon, Mallard, Pied-billed Grebe, Hooded Merganser, Wilson's Snipe, and more. At 0.4 miles from GA Hwy 341, turn left onto Krystal Dr where you should be able to scope a private pond on your left in about 0.3 miles; do all birding here from the road shoulder, try to stay briefly, and watch out for traffic!
Text and photo by KB.
Whitfield
1) Dug Gap / Rocky Face Ridge [N/A]
PM, May-June for breeding birds
[DeLorme pg. 13, D-7]
Text by Adam Smith
Dug Gap actually refers to a gap on Rocky Face Ridge where a road crosses (and where a significant Civil War battle ocurred). Many people call it Dug Gap Mountain. There is a small "park" at the gap where the road crosses, with historical signs and a small, gated parking area. This is also an access point to the Pinhoti trail, which runs from the Benton Mckaye Trail on down into Alabama - it cuts through the John's Mountain / Pocket area. To get to Dug Gap, get off I-75 at Exit 333, Walnut Ave., in Dalton. At traffic light at the end of the exit head west on Walnut (taking you back over the interstate if you're coming from points south). You will immediately begin ascending the ridge. After a climb of about 1.5 miles, you will reach the top at Dug Gap. There are a few parallel parking spots along the right side of the road. However, you may want to continue just past the gap to the dirt pull-off on the left side of the road, where the second gated gravel road turns off (not the one in the middle of the powerline cut); be very careful on the blind hill/curve. Once you have parked, walk up the gravel road past the gate, you may encounter migrating birds at any point once you get out of the car. The road goes uphill for a few hundred yards, passing an overlook of Mill Creek on the right. You can see Taylor's Ridge, Lookout Mountain, etc. from here. Just past the overlook, you will pass a radio tower on the left and the road levels out for a few hundred more yards. This level stretch is the best place for the birding. It is along the very top of the ridge, parallel to a very small utility line cleared strip, which allows some good eye level viewing. The road then turns up again and winds for a few hundred more yards to the top at the other radio/cell towers which you can see. From there, the Pinhoti trail continues on down the top of the ridge in timber. All along is nice birding, particularly during migration. Birds you may find include Black-throated Green Warbler, Pine Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, Palm Warbler, Cape May Warbler, American Redstart, Cerulean Warbler, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, White-eyed, Red-eyed, and Blue-headed Vireo, Scarlet and Summer Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, thrushes, flycatchers, etc. There is a network of trails and old road beds (mostly for mountain biking) from this top area down to a somewhat different habitat at the bottom of the ridge, which includes criss-crossing major powerlines and a small stream. At least some (maybe most) of the land and trails are on National Forest property, and some is apparently on TVA easement. There are private sections, especially at the bottom. However, it all looks the same (mostly mixed woods), and the well-used bike trails provide excellent access to good birding The best trail is the one which begins at the first gated gravel road on the left, right in the bottom of the Dug Gap dip, and in the middle of the powerline. Walk down the side of the main road from the above parking spot, and then on down the gravel which turns into the old roadbed for the original Dug Gap Road, which winds all the way down to the bottom. You can also drive to the bottom: turn right (to head east) off the I-75 Exit 333 ramp onto Walnut Ave. Go through a few traffic lights (about 0.5 miles), past the main "strip" of commercial buildings, to the intersection of Dug Gap/Tibb's Road. Turn right onto Dug Gap Road. Go about a mile through a residential area to the 2nd light (with a convenience store on the corner). Turn right onto East Dug Gap Mountain Road. Go about 0.25 miles over the interstate bridge (no exits) and turn immediately onto Harris Road on the right, which is a small, barely paved road. From here, you will drive along under one of the powerlines for another 0.25 miles to an area where you can park, which is under another powerline, where the TVA sign is. You will be in the middle of habitat and very close to to where a possible Mourning Warbler was detected in spring 2007. This scrubby area may host other birds not found at the top of the ridge, including Blue-winged or Prairie Warbler and Common Yellowthroat.
2) Lake Kathy [Dec 2008] 
W for waterfowl
[DeLorme: pg. 13, grid B-7]
From I-75, take Exit 341(Tunnel Hill). From here take GA Hwy 201 / Tunnel Hill Varnell Rd east. As you notice a small cluster of white mobile homes coming up on the right at 1.5 miles, slow down and here you should see a road on the left marked Lake Kathy Rd (even if the sign is not marked properly, turn left here). After 1.3 miles, turn left onto Peggy Lane. In just 0.25 miles, a convenient gravel parking spot with a single concrete picnic table provides a nice vantage point of the whole lake. It is not a large reservoir, but good numbers of birds, a nice diversity of waterfowl, and interesting rarities turn up here every winter including Canvasback, Redhead, Common Goldeneye, Ring-necked Duck, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Hooded Merganser, and more.
Text by Joshua Spence and KB. Photo by KB. |
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Copyright 2009 Ken Blankenship. All rights reserved.
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