Stephens County
Birding Locations |
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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.
Stephens County
1) Prather Bridge Rd marsh / Yonah Dam Rd [May 2008]
PM, May-June for breeding birds
[DeLorme pg. 16, F-4]
The highlights of this area are Willow Flycatcher, Swainson's Warbler, and nesting Cliff Swallows, along with lots of interesting breeding birds along Yonah Dam Rd and North Panther Creek Rd in this small, rugged county straddling the Blue Ridge mountains and the rolling hills of the Piedmont. Assuming you come into the small town of Toccoa coming east on GA Hwy ALT 17 from US 441/23, look for signs indicating that GA Hwy 184 is joining the road and turn left to head east on GA Hwy 17 / 184 (East Tugalo St). Just outside of the downtown area at 0.7 miles from your last turn, GA Hwy 184 splits off on your left to head north, and is called Prather Bridge Rd - turn left here. Follow the road for 5.3 miles from the last turn, and you will note that you must make a right turn if you wish to follow GA Hwy 184. Turn here, and in 0.4 miles you'll see the bridge over the Tugalo River, heading into South Carolina. Just before the bridge, you'll pass through a very nice wetland and marshy area. Park at a paved pull-off on the right just in front of the bridge, which used to go to an older span. You will notice Cliff Swallows cruising around and nesting in their cool "clay pots" under the edge of the bridge, along with Barn Swallows. Take your time birding in the scrubby riparian habitat via a few rough fishermen's trails and walking the road shoulder (watch for traffic!) in the area of the marsh. You may encounter Yellow-breasted Chat, Indigo Bunting, Eastern Kingbird, Prothonotary Warbler, White-eyed Vireo, or waterthrushes in migration. Most notably for the marsh, Willow Flycatchers have been observed - a very rare Georgia breeder. You may also see waterfowl or waders. Head back to the stop sign and turn right, which is Yonah Dam Rd and winds along the Tugalo River up to the dam forming Yonah Lake. At 1.4 miles, carefully park on the shoulder in the middle of a nice beaver swamp with lots of willows and alders and check the edges for lowland and scrub-relating species. At 4.4 miles, you will cross a bridge and then come to a sign for the Yonah Hydro Plant on your right; turn right at this fork and park on the side of the road. It is worth a little walking around this wide open area with fields, edge habitat, and some nice thickets for species such as Orchard Oriole, Red-winged Blackbird, American Goldfinch, White-eyed Vireo, Common Yellowthroat, Indigo Bunting, Yellow-breasted Chat, and swallows on the river or Osprey overhead. You can also get a neat view of the dam itself and the old power station. When you're done here, turn right back at the fork and you'll notice that you are now on Panther Creek Rd. At exactly 0.6 miles from the fork, turn left onto a gravel road signed as N. Panther Creek Rd. This road will take you along Panther Creek in some nice woodland habitat that suddenly reminds you that you are on the edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains! You may hear Scarlet Tanagers or Northern Parula singing above, while Acadian Flycatchers and Louisiana Waterthrush may be heard along the creek itself. This area is also popular for primitive camping and trout fishing so be respectful and allow other folks their space if you stop to bird along the road. At 1.6 miles from pavement you will reach the end of the road at a little foot bridge over the creek with lots of room to park. It is interesting to note that this is the other end (eastern trailhead) of the Panther Creek Trail described in the Habersham County section. Before you cross the foot bridge for a little hike-in birding, instead head upstream past the bridge on your side of the creek along a well-worn fishermen's trail. This is a prime area for breeding Swainson's Warblers, which may be heard singing in the dense undergrowth from late April through early June; good views are hard to come by. Cross the bridge and head UP the trail to the right. As you gain elevation on this fairly strenuous trail, a nice slice of the mountain spectrum of breeding birds should be well-represented included Black-throated Green Warbler, American Redstart, Yellow-throated Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, or (uncommonly) Kentucky Warbler in areas with a dense understory.
Text by KB.
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Copyright 2008 Ken Blankenship. All rights reserved.
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