We began the second day of our mini-vacation across the border in South Carolina at the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge. (Jeannette’s 49th state!). Waterfowl, and lots and lots of waterfowl, are the draw here. Thousands upon thousands of Green-winged Teal, Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shovelers, Ring-necked Ducks, and American Coots were present – a really spectacular show. This was by far the most Blue-winged Teal and shovelers that I have ever seen!

Smaller numbers of other ducks were around as well. A highlight for us was the good number (probably over 50) of White Ibises that were feeding around the marsh.

After finding a great roadside BBQ place for lunch, we head south a bit to check a few locations mentioned in the birder’s guide for wading birds – specifically Jeannette’s life Wood Stork. At our second stop, I spotted a white lump behind a cluster of brush that seemed far too heavy for a Great Egret. We adjusted our angle, and when the bird picked up its neck, it revealed the naked grayish head and massive yellow-gray bill of a Wood Stork!

As we headed east towards Tybee Island, we added Jeannette’s third lifer of the trip when I spotted a couple of Eurasian Collared-Doves in a Savannah yard. Pulling into a church parking lot, we jumped out and got good views of a pair of this increasingly common alien species. (Many more were to be seen on Tybee, but this provided a clean sweep, 3 for 3, for Jeannette’s targeted lifers).

Winds had picked up considerably by the time we arrived at Fort Pulaski National Monument, but the rain had stayed away, and I was still out in shorts and a t-shirt, so I was not complaining! A few more birds were added to our triplist, including a Red-throated Loon, which is at its southernmost limits around here. But, the wind prevented us from searching for salt sparrows (Nelson's and Sharp-tailed Saltmarsh and Seaside), our main reason for stopping here.

We arrived at Tybee Island, and were very excited to find bicycles available to be borrowed from our inn, so we immediately took them out for a spin (it felt good to work off SOME of the BBQ!) There were plenty more Eurasian Collared-Doves to be seen, and a smattering of terns and shorebirds – most new for this trip – were seen, as we scouted the best seawatching locales for the next morning.

Our only less-than-perfect weather of our trip was to be had on Wednesday morning, our final day. Gale-force northeast winds (but still no rain other than a few sprinkles) and colder temps (only in the 40’s, 20-30 degrees lower than the last two days) greeted us as we stepped out the door for a dawn seawatch. We soon had to retreat from the end of the pier at the island’s south end due to scope shake (our light-weight travel tripod was no match for gale force winds), but even in the shelter of some buildings scope shake and bad heat shimmer made seawatching difficult.

Lots of Northern Gannets were offshore though, some rather close. An adult Lesser Black-backed Gull fed in the surf, while our one-hour seawatch totaled 15 Red-throated Loons, a good count this far south I believe. The highlight for us, however, had to be the flock of 150 or so Black Skimmers that passed by – which we later found roosting on the beach at the southern end of the island.

A walk around the neighborhood of Tybee’s southern end allowed us a last chance to visit with some of the common winter residents of the area – such as lots, and lots, of Yellow-rumped Warblers. A visit to Tybee’s north end added a few species to our trip, and my Georgia list, with the “best” birds being some Purple Sandpipers.

While common here in Maine in winter, they become very rare this far south, and apparently this is “the” spot to see them in Georgia. While I’m not such a ravenous state lister that I need to twitch Purple Sandpipers for my Georgia list, I was interested in taking a look for them on the rock jetties. For one, we were there anyway, and two, I find bird distribution fascinating, and here, this species has apparently extended its usually wintering range by making use of rock jetties.

While I was from ready to head home (except to see the dog, of course), it was soon time, but we had one last stop to make. No not another BBQ place. Actually, that’s not true, our last stop was actually a BBQ place that was recommended to us. But, before my last helping of chicken, ribs, buttered corn, cucumber salad, and sweet tea (yeah, I went all out on this stop), we had one last BIRDING stop – at a Savannah backyard. In a quiet neighborhood on the south side of town, a Calliope Hummingbird has been visiting a feeder for over a month.

Breeding in the intermountain west, where I have spent virtually no time, the smallest bird in North America winters in the tropics. But, a few show up – with seemingly increasing regularity – in the East, mostly in fall and winter. A chance at a life bird – and a spiffy one to boot, as this was an adult male - was too good to pass up, especially considering we had to pass through Savannah on the way to the airport (and BBQ place!) anyway. Besides, we were on a roll this trip!

Our inexperience on the roads in the area made finding it a touch challenging – even if we were given perfect directions (it was our ability to follow them that was the challenge!). But, we found the house, and the feeder it was frequenting, and we began to wait.

We did not have information on how often the bird comes to visit, etc so we blindly waited. And waited. We only had about an hour before we would need to head out (and a full hour would have put our BBQ stop at risk), and the cold(er) temperatures and wind was worrying us. Was the bird going to lay low during these conditions, feeding rarely, and sleeping mostly?

But, only after about 20 minutes (some staked-out vagrant hummers could require hours of waiting), we were rewarded when Jeannette spotted the Calliope zip from a bush and land on a fence near the feeder. For the next half hour, we gleefully watched it as it perched and preened on the fence, made a few trips to the feeder, and buzzed a few short flights – presumably after minute insects. This was by far, the most cooperative hummer I have ever seen! I spent half a memory-card snapping photos through my scope (although the thick cloud cover limited the success of this, I still think – for a bird that usually moves so fast, I think I did quite well!

So, with a belly more than full of BBQ, we boarded the plane and headed north. The blast of 5-degree air when we exited the plane when we arrived in Portland reminded us that we weren’t in the south anymore – but it was great to see that winter has finally arrived (even though I have spent the last two mornings snow-blowing the driveway!)

A Photo essay will be along this weekend, so stay tuned . . .