Sheila Willis took a winter trip and a spring trip along the Woodpecker Trail in 2005. She wrote these letters about what she saw. She also gathered the information about birds on the trail.
Charles Seabrook has also been on the Woodpecker Trail. He writes articles in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Bird List 2008
Hey folks,
Hope you are fine. Here is the Bird List for the Woodpecker Trail. As I
mentioned before, it has 306 species recorded to date for the all counties
along the route of GA Hwy #121. Note that not all of the birds on the list
are found in all of the counties.
These are the birds that people are coming to see. Posting all of these
species' names here will assure that when people do a search for a bird or
group of birds, the Woodpecker Trail will come up as a place to find them.
In these Bird List posts birds will be grouped by Family categories for
easier reading. I will list species from the Georgia Ornithological Society
using "The Annotated Checklist of Georgia Birds", 2003 edition. This
classifies them as Regular (has a specimen, photograph, or 4+ accepted sight
records) which are most of the birds for Georgia; Provisional (fewer than 4
accepted sight records); and Hypothetical (no accepted sight records;
inadequate documentation or questionable wild status).
The Hypothetical species are often suspected cage or zoo bird escapees or
ones that would not be likely to be found in this part of the country. Only
one Hypothetical species (Tropical Parula) was reported for a Woodpecker
Trail county (Richmond) but this record was not accepted by the G.O.S. Two
other Hypotheticals (Scarlet Ibis, Brewer's Sparrow) are listed for & near
the Okefenokee NWR but are not identified further as to the exact county and
thus might be in Ware, Clinch, or others. Thus, all the birds I am listing
for the Woodpecker Trail are from the Regular list as defined by the G.O.S.
publication.
This list contains living, extinct, or possibly extinct species that have
been recorded for the trail counties. It also includes both expected, rare,
and accidental species.
BITTERNS, HERONS, & ALLIES: American Bittern; Least Bittern; Great Blue
Heron; Great Egret; Snowy Egret; Little Blue Heron; Tricolored Heron;
Reddish Egret; Cattle Egret; Green Heron; Black-crowned Night-Heron;
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
IBISES & SPOONBILLS: White Ibis; Glossy Ibis; Roseate Spoonbill
FINCHES: Purple Finch; House Finch; Pine Siskin; American Goldfinch
OLD WORLD SPARROWS: House Sparrow
Hope you get a chance to see some of these incredible creatures!! Take care.
Sincerely,
Sheila Willis
Native American-Naturalist Talks & Tours
Waycross, Ware Co., GA
Winter 2005
Hi folks,
Hope you are having a great week. Spring is just around the corner!
I wanted to send along a description of a trip I recently took along the
Woodpecker Trail with a fellow member of the Okefenokee Bird Club, June
LaRoque. Our goal was to look for the Tundra Swans that are spending the
winter at Merry Brothers (Boral) Brickyard Ponds in eastern Augusta as
well as see how the Woodpecker Trail is looking these days along its
upper sections. We traveled from Waycross to Blackshear & then picked up
the trail to points north. I hope you enjoy this "virtual" adventure as
much as we did in fact.
Of particular interest to WTA members is how the trip began. That
morning I was in the Waycross Wal-Mart parking lot putting oil in my car
prior to departing. A young man stopped by to see if we needed help, but
I told him "no, we're just getting ready to go on a day-trip to Augusta".
He said, "On the Woodpecker Trail?" You can imagine how surprised we
were at having that come right-out-of-the-blue!
We saw that as a good omen and talked about it all day. I also asked the
older gentleman who manages the entrance to the brickyard ponds if he
knew about the Woodpecker Trail, and he said he did remember the name.
So people still recall the "catchy" name of the route!! What a great
thing that soon it will be more prominent in traveling circles as it is
publicized more through this association & its website.
When I reported my findings of the day to a birding listserve I belong
to, I made a point to recommend that folks from South Georgia traveling
north to see the swans take the route as a great birding & driving
highway. I mentioned that it will soon have the attractive Red-headed
Woodpecker logo signs along it. I know that people will want to stop &
take pictures of these. As time will allow, I will make future trips in
connection with my upcoming magazine article on the trail, and I will
continue to keep the name "Woodpecker Trail" in the forefront of any
reports I do to these groups.
I will list below the observations made for each county as they relate
to the Woodpecker Trail or an immediately adjacent area. Each county had
something special that we noted in our trip log, and the drive certainly
made us want to come back and explore the area more.
Naturally, since Richmond County (Augusta) was the location for most of
our explorations, it headed the list with most birds seen there. It was
followed by Appling and Tattnall Counties in ranking. We were very happy
to see that people along the route often provided homes & feeders for
birds to use. On our journey, time and again we saw Turkey Vultures
soaring gracefully in the blue skies, American Kestrel (Sparrow or Tilly
Hawks) perching patiently on power lines, crows sitting quietly in the
new-plowed fields, and Eastern Bluebirds shining brightly in the sun.
Now & again a Red-shouldered Hawk, Killdeer, or Loggerhead Shrike would
be spotted too.
The Native American heritage of this region was evident in the names of
rivers and creeks we drove over such as Alabaha, Altamaha, Ogeechee, and
Canoochee, while farm names like Crosswinds (Jenkins), Saddle Creek
(Burke), & Windy Hill (Burke) were intriguing as well. Small churches
and their cemeteries held the promise of interesting artwork or
testimonials. Some places we drove past like Big Hammock Wildlife
Management Area (Tattnall) and Magnolia Springs State Park (Jenkins)
would be worth a day's visit all to themselves.
PIERCE COUNTY--North of Blackshear the highway was criss-crossed by many
wooded waterways such as the Alabaha River and Tan Trough Creek. A
graceful white Great Egret stood out against the ebony waters of a
stream. Bright red Northern Cardinals often darted across the road. Near
Bristol the Boatright Farms & Country Store invited travelers to see
what local produce & other items were available and thus provided a
unique experience you couldn't get by using an interstate.
APPLING COUNTY--Many cattle ranches are located here and they are
commonly known to provide stop-over sites for migrating shorebirds;
however, at this time the most memorable and unexpected sight for us was
that of a small herd of Longhorn Cattle ambling slowly across a pasture.
The area around Surrency continued the pastoral effect with its many
green grazing areas being fed by the waters of cypress-lined creeks. The
north side of that small town held an architectural treasure of a
uniquely-designed white wooden church with a tall slim steeple. Red
Maple trees were starting to bloom, and always-beautiful Sycamore trees
were found at a farm or two. Unfortunately, the remains of a Red Fox and
a Striped Skunk were also seen in this county as road-kill, but their
presence signifies that a varied wildlife population can be found here.
TATTNALL COUNTY--It's the county where you begin to enter the "gently
rolling hills" area of the upper Coastal Plain. The great Altamaha River
forms the boundary between Tattnall & Appling Counties. Draining into it
are a myriad of wooded creeks that cut across cotton fields still dotted
with specks of downy white fibers---South Georgia's poor imitation of
snow. A few miles north of Five Points, the roadsides were a
photographer's dreamland with cluster after cluster of old farm
buildings complete with red barns. The communities of Reidsville,
Collins, and Cobbtown had wonderful mid-20th Century homes, deep-red
brick buildings, or a decorative mural that would also look good thru a
camera lens. The latter two towns had gazebos or small parks
conveniently placed right along the road that looked inviting for a
short break. Big Live Oaks or rows of Red Cedar trees caught your eye,
as did the Keepsake Store in Collins that made our junkin' hearts skip a
beat. North of Collins a beaver lodge could be easily seen from the
roadside in one of the county's many large ponds.
CANDLER COUNTY--This is the section of the trail where Chinaberry trees
began to line the fields and dangle their yellow fruit. Knowing that
they have lavender-colored flowers in spring, I can't wait to return for
the scene. With the presence of the Guido Gardens in Metter, it was only
natural to take notice of the wide variety of habitats found in the
countryside from woodlands of oak, pine, and maple for the songbirds to
ponds for the herons and egrets. Now & again the damper areas were
indicated by graceful willow trees or a needlerush sink. Providing a
perfect setting for a "Country Journal" photo-op were the big green
pastures filled with black-and-white cows, while other fields had
circular hay bales dotting the landscape. Homes for Purple Martins were
noticeable on many farms. The drive through Metter was made even more
pleasant by getting to see the many attractively-decorated and
landscaped old-style houses and yards.
EMANUEL COUNTY--While only a small section of the county borders the
Woodpecker Trail, it still contains a number of different habitats that
appeal to wildlife such as swampy areas along creeks, woody ponds, and
oak ridges. Its cornfields in winter draw-in traveling groups of Eastern
Bluebirds, Pine Warblers, Palm Warblers, and all sorts of sparrows. Near
its southern boundary the wide stretch of trees that contained clump
after clump of dark green Mistletoe must be a magnet for Cedar Waxwings
whose folk name is the Mistletoe Bird because they love to eat its white
waxy berries.
JENKINS COUNTY--Many of the common farmland habitats of the trail
reached their peak in this section. Again & again we noted cotton
fields, pastures, and pecan orchards. Considering the latter, this
section thus had many convenient spots for woodpecker-watching, because
if you are looking for woodpeckers---especially the Red-headed---you go
find a pecan tree. Although at times they will eat the nut, these birds
do an excellent job of eating the many insects that come to feed on the
wide leaves or hide under the plated bark. Other scenic areas in Jenkins
that you could enjoy from your car were the wide bottomlands of the
Ogeechee River watershed, and the acres upon acres of grass that made up
the hayfields, the Bo Ginn Fish Hatchery landscape, and the Millen
airstrip. These are home to many types of birds that specialize in using
those features. At the southern edge of Millen a unique old water tower
made us turn our heads and think of those whose hobby is photographing
these structures.
BURKE COUNTY--Rusty-orange broomsedge fields greeted us as we entered
this next county, and we were glad to be able to find other "textured"
areas such as reedy wetlands and old goldenrod meadows. A wide grassy
marsh near Idlewood was inviting too, and the pastures with ponds of all
sizes could certainly attract a rare migrating shorebird or two.
Entering Waynesboro, we quickly noticed its distinctive water tower
painted with a large brown dog as befits the "Bird Dog Capitol". Here
too were 1940's & 50's style homes, gazebos, and the historic old
courthouse which greeted us with the ringing of the High Noon bell.
North of town the hills that flanked the creeks began to be steeper as
we neared the Fall Line.
RICHMOND COUNTY--In the McBean Creek area of the county a series of high
hills gave us a pleasant roller-coaster ride, and the exposed
embankments showed their deep red clay origins which is more
characteristic of the Piedmont region of our state. Hephzibah's Richmond
Factory Lake with its spillway was a dramatic feature here.
In Augusta we left the Woodpecker Trail at Spur 56 (Doug Barnard
Parkway) but just barely. GA #121 would continue to parallel the area of
the Brickyard Ponds we came to visit but without giving access to it,
and so to enter the site we had to take the short unmarked road to the
east just below the parkway junction. Clay is mined here to make bricks,
and the older ponds--now filled with water--have become a favorite
fishing and birding area of many. However, note that in wetter weather
the clay surface can be quite treacherous to travel and my four-wheel
drive did come in handy later. We checked-in at the Fish Shack, admired
the photos of past year's catches as an old yellow tabbycat slept in
"its" chair, and along with other goodies bought the obligatory Moon
Pie.
While at the Merry Land Ponds we saw Double-crested Cormorants and
Anhinga spreading their wings out to dry, Ring-billed Gulls clustering
in noisy flocks, Belted Kingfishers perching on small trees while
looking for fish, three types of sparrows popping out from weedy
patches, and a Greater Yellowlegs picking among the floating plants at
pond's edge. Diving birds such as Pied-billed Grebe, American Coot, and
ducks such as Canvasback, Bufflehead, and Ruddy were found enjoying the
deep waters. Canada Geese were everywhere. At one spot over 150
Yellow-bellied Turtles basked in the sun or poked their heads up from
the water!!
Of course, the icing-on-the-cake was the sight of the two Tundra Swans
that slowly drifted out from behind the shrubs growing on a sandbar in
one of the ponds. Their heads rested peacefully on their backs, but soon
they awoke and began to fluff their feathers. It wasn't long before one
decided it was hungry. It would tip over into the water, then spring
back up with a beak-full of vegetation and gobble it down. Eventually
the pair swam onto the sandbar and did a little more "fixing-up". What a
treat! Normally, this species winters only as far south as North
Carolina, but occasionally some strays do turn up in Georgia. Amazingly,
I-520 runs along the edge of this pond on an overpass, but the swans
were unconcerned as busy commuters dashed by, not knowing of the beauty
that lay just a few yards below.
We returned to the Parkway, and before we finally aimed the car towards
Ware County, we made some quick side stops at nearby Phinizy Swamp which
was only a few miles south of the Brickyard Ponds. At the Wildlife
Management Area parking spot, we were just in time to hear a lonely
Barred Owl hoot. Next, we dashed to the Nature Park but it had just
closed. However, a walk over the boardwalk that straddles Butler Creek
let us watch a Great Egret catch minnow after minnow with ease. Then, as
we were getting into our car, not one but two pairs of Barred Owls began
their courtship calls from opposite sides of lot. One member of the
closest couple apparently thought the others needed investigating and it
flew silently through the trees to check them out. A family with young
children came up the walk just afterwards, and they were as excited as
we were to get to see and hear these special birds.
After a few more miles on the Parkway, and a jog to the west on Tobacco
Road, we came back to a junction with the Woodpecker Trail which we took
for our travels home. The sun began to set in glorious golds and orange
and that was the signal for hundreds of blackbirds to stream across the
sky in row after row as they flew towards their nighttime roost. The
remainder of the trip was done in darkness, but because we were often
driving through the countryside that had large pastures and fields on
either side of the road there was a clear view of the starry sky and all
its constellations. A perfect end to a most wonderful day spent
traveling the Woodpecker Trail. Can't wait to ride it again!!
Take care.
Sincerely,
Sheila Willis
Native American-Naturalist Talks & Tours
Waycross, GA
Spring 2005
Hi folks,
Hope you are having a great week. Nature is putting on such a wonderful
display!
I wanted to send along a description of a trip I that took along the
Woodpecker Trail on April 11 which involved driving from Blackshear
(Pierce Co.) to the state line (Charlton Co.). If you recall, I had
previously posted the details of a winter excursion that started in
Blackshear (Pierce Co.) and ended in Augusta (Richmond Co.). These trips
are in preparation for an article I am planning to write about GA
Highway #121.
I will list below the observations I made for each county as they relate
to the Woodpecker Trail or an immediately adjacent area. As on the
previous trip, each county had something special that I noted in my trip
log.
PIERCE COUNTY--- The starting point for a tour of the southernmost
sections of the Woodpecker Trail was downtown Blackshear near the
imposing courthouse with its massive cream-colored columns. The streets
of this agriculturally-oriented city were lined with specialty stores,
pleasant garden cafes, and former tobacco warehouses that had been
converted into antique-centers visited by locals and tourists alike. The
road soon wound past always-attractive Victorian-style homes which were
decorated with hanging baskets of lush ferns, and then turned southward
to enter the prominent sandhill areas of the county that were now
"greening-up" with the fresh spring leaves of the oaks. Masses of
Blue-eyed Grass filled the wet ditches with a swath of color that
matched the sky, and a nod to the Native American heritage of the region
was represented by patches of the distinctive white wildflower called
Osceola's Plume. Many farms were found in the countryside, and their
pastures, ponds, and pecan groves were visited by mockingbirds,
cardinals, and other birds who sang their courtship songs from
convenient perches. The effects of recent multiple spring rains could be
seen when arriving at what is many-a boaters' favorite waterway--the
Satilla River. Its tea-colored waters overflowed into surrounding
lowlands in a swirl of white foam.
BRANTLEY COUNTY--- After changing Coastal Plain counties here via
multiple bridges, a traveler along the Woodpecker Trail encounters
gradual inclines coming out of the "valley" of the Satilla River. As the
outskirts of Hoboken were approached, it was seen that taking this
particular scenic route gives one easy access to other interesting sites
nearby. For example, a sign pointed the way to Blueberry Hill
Restaurant, a local weekend dining spot that draws-in many repeat
visitors because of its "down-by-the-creek" location, rustic atmosphere
and unique cuisine. Inside the city limits, a scan of the streets
revealed an amazing variety of antique and second-hand stores that could
easily keep the bargain-hunter busy for hours. Also within this
crossroads to the coast, one of the area's largest lumber yards stands
as a testimony to the productivity of the pinelands. Another eye-catcher
in the lower part of this county is the Humpty Dumpty Hotel, an immense
poultry farm lined with white picket fences and dotted with the dainty
forms of small Eastern Bluebirds. In addition to small ponds, thick
stands of Black Needlerush, Blue-eyed Grass, pink Wild Azalea, and early
yellow Spring Heleniums formed natural borders to the roadsides. Then,
once more a handy sign gave directions, this time to a highly-popular
gathering spot known as Twin Oaks where the sounds of fiddles and banjos
would echo throughout the countryside during the many bluegrass music
festivals held there.
CHARLTON COUNTY--- The parts of the Woodpecker Trail that belong to the
northern sections of this swampland county have a special place in
Georgia's history. It is here near the ancient Live Oaks of Racepond
that both geological and cultural timelines collide. Two large ancient
sandbars of former coastlines---the east-west Waycross Ridge and
north-south Trail Ridge---meet here and provide a white sand foundation
for the growth of an assortment of oaks, Saw Palmetto, Gallberry, a few
rare blooming Gopher Bushes, and the ever-present pines. It was at this
junction too that in the 1800's a military outpost (complete with
racetrack!) was created to protect the stagecoach lines and pioneer
homes from attacks by local Seminole and Creek Indians who sought to
preserve their own way of life amongst the neighboring rivers and
swamps.
A few miles past this historic hub the roadsides dip back thru the
lowlands as the Little Okefenokee Swamp, Macks Island Creek, and Spanish
Creek bring Pond Cypress, Water Lilies, and Great Egrets within camera
range. Meanwhile, a spur road allows a traveler to enter the Okefenokee
Swamp via the old site of Kings Canal where a major Sphagnum
Moss-harvesting industry was located, and a short distance down on the
main highway the former bustling sawmill community of Mattox rests
silently along the railroad tracks. Next, city limit signs proclaim
"Homeland" and "Folkston" in quick succession, and the entrances to both
locales are marked by plantings of either tropical palm trees or
multi-colored wildflowers. Easy-to-spot are the impressive stone arches
and massive cedar trees of Homeland Cemetery and the giant gator on the
Folkston water tower. A brief bird's-eye-view of a Black Gum swamp,
rooftops of historic homes, and railroads popular with train-watchers is
provided from the top of the Highway #121 overpass as the Woodpecker
Trail makes a detour in order to begin its last "leg" that ultimately
leads one into the "tail" of Georgia.
A portion of the highway in Charlton County has been named the
Okefenokee Parkway, and here beautiful Spanish Creek crosses the trail
once more at the base of two large, sloping hills from which an
impressive view of one of the major wildflower corridors of the state
can be seen. Its waters help nourish a picturesque freshwater marsh that
is home to wading birds, Wood Ducks, and perching birds of prey, and
surrounding the stream, native flowers of all colors can be found
year-round just a step off the path. The impressive displays of
mid-spring and fall here are a magnet for botanists, butterfly-lovers,
and photographers. Again and again one passes side roads that would take
you to a treasure-trove of sites that mark a county rich in history,
culture, and natural-beauty. Worth a detour is Sardis Church with its
plain Primitive Baptist-planking, while Prospect Church with its
snow-white & forest-green steeple sits conveniently astride an adjacent
hilltop. Additional pages would be needed to fully-describe the features
and background of Trader's Hill Recreation Area (St. Marys River banks,
sunken relicts of sailing ships, ghosts & grand Live Oaks) and
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge (the silence of the vast wilderness,
rare wildlife and plants, Indian burial mounds, pioneer lifeways). A
camping & lodging center called Okefenokee Pastimes offers moonlight
canoe rides on the river, has a unique art gallery that features the
work of Southern artists, and serves as the clearinghouse for all
swamp-related UFO reports.
Once past the entrance road to "The Land of the Trembling Earth", the
highway began a series of rises & falls around the local creeks such as
Cornhouse, Harris, and Boone on its way to the border with Florida.
Color filled the landscape with pinks, lavenders, purples, whites,
yellows, oranges, and blues coming from flowers such as Wild Azalea,
Fringe-tree, Moss Verbena, Easter Lily, Orange Candyroot, Cherokee Rose,
Yellow Butterwort, and many, many more. Thickets of white-blossomed
Blackberries promised juicy summertime treats. A lone long-distance
bicyclist peddled steadily along this route that is popular with those
seeking an "off the beaten path" experience.
The small town of St. George was entered underneath a canopy of
magnolia, camphor, and oak trees. "Home-style-cooking" diners, a
"snack-by-the-track" shack boasting the best ice cream around, a country
store, and a trading-post were clustered around the main junction in
order to provide services to the traveler. Here they could turn to
access the St. Marys River or start towards the western Okefenokee Swamp
region. The next few miles were a mix of scattered pastures, pine
plantations in various stages of harvest, small pocosin ponds echoing
with the sounds of Cricket Frogs, burnt-orange broomsedge fields, and
mixed-bay tree wetlands fragrant with the sweet perfume of Hurrah Bush.
Now and again some higher sites appeared with Turkey Oaks, Pineland Wild
Indigo, and Gopher Bush standing out, and a hunting preserve or two
signified places that held the promise of a deer, bear, or turkey.
Before too many more miles, the last community in the state was
reached--that of the Georgia Bend--its homes landscaped with a variety
of native spring-blooming shrubs and large fish ponds. Then five minutes
more and the St. Marys River loomed ahead to signal a crossing into the
sister state of Florida. The bridge overlooking that significant stream
provided views of a snaggly dead tree draped with a flock of resting
Black Vultures while a contented fisherman perched in his boat,
patiently waiting for a nibble while the ebony waters swirled by on
their way to the sea.
As you can see, there are so many wonderful experiences to be had by
traveling the Woodpecker Trail. It is truly a route that deserves
promotion!
Take care. See you soon.
Sincerely,
Sheila Willis
Native American-Naturalist Talks & Tours
Waycross, GA
Summer 2005
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has a description of Charles Seabrook's trip along the Woodpecker Trail.
Winter 2008
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has a description of Charles Seabrook's weekend at the Okefenokee on the Woodpecker Trail.
