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.

Stewart County
 1) Eufaula NWR (Bradley Unit)        [Oct 2008]               
IBA, YR
See Beaton's Birding Georgia.
[DeLorme pg. 48, B-1]
"The Bradley" is an incredible birding destination, located right on the Chattahoochee River (a major migrant flyway), and featuring a great variety of habitats including flooded areas, marshes, overgrown fields, areas of pines, and bottomland forest. In migration it produces an array of neotropical migrants, in summer interesting breeding birds like Least Bittern, Black-necked Stilt, and Purple Gallinule may be found, and in winter it is one of the best places to find waterfowl and sparrows anywhere in the state. Rarities show up almost annually, such as Greater White-fronted Goose, Vermilion Flycatcher, American White Pelican, and an amazing report of a Eurasian Wigeon in February 2005. An alternate route (if you don't mind driving through Alabama instead of through Georgia - and it saves some time)... From I-85 (west of Atlanta), take 185 south towards Columbus. At Exit 10, get off and head SW on US 80 towards Phenix City, AL. This highway will deadend into US 431/280. Exit and head SE on this highway (turn left at the bottom of the exit). You will pass through a developed area with shopping, restaurants, and fast-food; make note that you really won't have this convenience once you're beyond this point so a pit stop isn't a bad idea. At the southern edge of Phenix City, pay attention and exit right to follow US 431 south. In 2-3 miles, look closely for AL Hwy 165 on the left and turn here to continue south. After a while (+/- 20 miles), look for an intersection with AL Hwy 208 heading off to the left; this can be easy to miss - look for a small Pure gas station (Kite's Grocery) on the right, which is the closest spot to the Bradley Unit for cold drinks, gas, etc. (PHOTO 3). Turn left here, and soon you will cross the Chattahoochee River back into Georgia, where the road becomes GA Hwy 39 Spur. The large over-grown field down the road embankment on the right just after the last span of the bridge has had Short-eared Owl patroling at dusk in some winters, but it has been a few years. If you ever stop here to scan for them and Northern Harriers (more commonly seen), pull well off the road and be extremely careful as traffic can be fast with large trucks. While you're waiting on the road shoulder to see Short-eared Owls over the fields, you may be treated to both Great Horned and Barred Owls calling from the woods as it gets dark. About a mile further down the road, look out for GA Hwy 39 on your right, and turn here. Be sure to stop to quickly scan the river at Florence Park Marina on the right on your way (PHOTOS 4 & 5); look for waterfowl, waders, or divers; Bald Eagle and Osprey are seen regularly, and it's worth a stop because rarities have shown up (Red-necked Grebe). The Bradley Unit is several miles down the road on the right, with an obvious brown forest service sign. You may flush several sparrows along the road as you drive in. When you park, you'll see the game station (PHOTO 1). The route described here starts just inside the gate by turning to the right and walking down the gravel-covered dike (PHOTO 2). Prothonotary Warblers, Common Yellowthroat, and Green Heron may be seen and heard in spring and summer along the first few hundred yards of this road in the swampy area on the right (PHOTO 6), in migration the same area is good for Yellow Warbler, and American Bittern and Swamp Sparrow may be seen here in winter. Continue next to a good field for Sedge Wrens and sparrows in fall and winter on the left (PHOTO 7), and then you'll continue along a nice scrubby hedgerow that is good for migrants; Yellow-breasted Chat breeds in open areas like this in summer, but is more often heard than seen. Next, you'll come to the first "major" gravel road intersection at a sharp left (PHOTO 8). By turning down this road, you'll see two silos in the distance (PHOTO 9). Bird along the road, along the tree lines for passerines in migration and especially for sparrows in winter. The whole property is awesome for sparrows in fall and winter, and in addition to its specialty Le Conte's Sparrows you may find Swamp, Song, Savannah, White-crowned, Vesper, and Dark-eyed Junco. In fall and winter you'll find plenty of Sedge Wrens, some Marsh Wrens, an occasional Winter Wren, and there are good numbers of Carolina and House Wrens, so here's a great chance to practice your wren ID skills. At the next road you come to on the right, turn and you'll come to a perennial spot for Le Conte's Sparrow in winter, the huge field all along the left side of this road (PHOTO 10). This is an opportunity to practice your sparrow tromping skills. The best method is to get a line of birders and walk along spaced a few yards apart, with binoculars in hand (go ahead and pre-focus them on a weed stalk about 20 yards away). As soon as a bird is flushed, stop and try to pinpoint the spot where it lands and search for it in binos. If the bird cannot be seen, rush quickly to the spot, forming a semi-circle as you approach, in an attempt to encourage the bird to climb a high weed stalk for better views. When you're finished chasing sparrows, head back to the main dike and head towards the silos. Listen for King Rail or Sora in the marshy areas on both sides, and keep a sharp eye out for American Bittern (winter) or Least Bittern (summer). When the water is low and mud is exposed, this is a great area for shorebirds including Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Wilson's Snipe, Solitary Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, etc. In the immediate area around the silos, a female Vermilion Flycatcher wintered in '05-06 and '06-07 and was re-located in October 2008; the bird was not seen on 10/19/08, however. Hopefully she will spend another winter here in Georgia; look for her flycatching from high, obvious perches on nearby trees, along with Eastern Phoebes.  All the flooded impoundments you are now approaching will hold interesting waterfowl in fall and winter, so approach with care and quietly set up your scope as soon as you can see a raft of ducks because they may take off at any moment. Typical birds you may see include Ring-necked Duck, Gadwall, Mallard, American Wigeon, Pied-billed Grebe, Blue-winged and Green-winged Teal, Northern Pintail, and more. When the road dead-ends, turn left. This stretch along the Chattahoochee River can be awesome for passerine migrants and breeding birds; look for Chestnut-sided Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Kentucky Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Northern Parula, American Redstart, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Red-eyed and White-eyed Vireo, and both Northern and Louisiana Waterthrush in wet areas. American Goldfinches can often be heard and seen cruising overhead and perching near the tops of trees; in irruptive years the area can also be good for Purple Finch or Pine Siskin. The road will eventually curve to the left, passing through an area where you can view a wide shallow expanse of the river to your right. In winter look for Canada Geese, Snow Goose, or Greater White-fronted Goose (latter two are rare, but possible). You may see Least Bittern, Wood Stork, moorhens, or rails here along with more waterfowl depending on the water level. This road eventually enters a wooded, swampy area where noisy mixed flocks of Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, and Rusty Blackbird roam in winter. Your loop is complete as you see the game station and parking area ahead. It is notable that you can explore this property a great deal more than the route described above if you're up for more hiking, and bikes are allowed - see the map below. If you're looking for a good lunch in the area (and don't mind a little drive)... turn right out of the Bradley Unit onto Hwy 39. When it deadends into Hwy 27, turn right to go to Georgetown. You will deadend into US 82, turn right. Continue on across the lake into Alabama. You may notice gulls, terns, or waterfowl at the lake in winter, but you can't stop to look at them! Stay on US 82 into downtown Eufaula, AL. When you see a statue of a man, get in the left turn lane just before you pass him and turn left onto this cross-street. Just a couple blocks down on the right you will find Phil's BBQ in a red building - great sandwiches with several varieties of pork, ribs, chicken, great sides, and homemade sauces for your personal BBQ taste. View the NFWS map of the area here.

PHOTO 1     PHOTO 2     PHOTO 3       PHOTO 4       PHOTO 5      PHOTO 6      PHOTO 7       PHOTO 8       PHOTO 9   PHOTO 10
Text and photos by KB & RC

2)  Lake Walter F. George (Dam and deep lake area)       [Jan 2007]
IBA, YR
See Beaton's Birding Georgia.
[See Clay County]