First-day Birding
A day of birding on the first day of the new year, January 1, 2022...
© Photographer: William Wise | iNat Observation: 104144665 - American White Pelican; Phinizy Swamp; Richmond County, Georgia. January 1, 2022.
Although a bit later because of the midnight celebration, as is my custom, I rose long before daybreak on New Year’s Day morning. When the sun finally decided to get out of bed and climb the eastern sky, the warm morning prompted me to a bit of backyard birding. A surprise appearance of a seclusive Hermit Thrush was a bit fulfilling, but only whet my appetite for more. I threw a few snacks and water bottles into the car and headed toward Augusta, Georgia.
© Photographer: William Wise | iNat Observation: 104344797 - Ruby-crowned Kinglet; Phinizy Swamp; Richmond County, Georgia. January 1, 2022.
On this first day of the year, I was hoping to increase my Richmond County, Georgia species count a bit by a winter visit to the Phinizy Swamp Nature Park. The oddest sighting of the day was an American White Pelican. When I first spotted the white bird with black on the wings, I thought it was a Wood Stork. But raising the glass I was caught by surprise. I’ve photographed white pelicans before, but not so far inland in Georgia. When I asked another birder around the corner, he stated he had been going to Phinizy for many years and not spotted one before. He was quite excited as well.
Phinizy Swamp Nature Park; Richmond County, Georgia.
- Clouds and sun, high near 81. Southwest wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
- Sunrise 7:32 am; Sunset 5:31 pm
- Daylight Hours: 9 hours, 59 minutes (+31s)
- Moon: 1.8% Waning Crescent
Observations
Photos / Sounds
What
American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)Observer
williamwisephotoDescription
This was a totally unexpected sight at Phinizy Swamp today. ©www.williamwisephoto.com
- Clouds and sun, high near 81. Southwest wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
- Sunrise 7:32 am; Sunset 5:31 pm
- Daylight Hours: 9 hours, 59 minutes (+31s)
- Moon: 1.8% Waning Crescent
Photos / Sounds
What
Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus)Observer
williamwisephotoDescription
Phinizy Swamp Nature Park; Richmond County, Georgia.
- Clouds and sun, high near 81. Southwest wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
- Sunrise 7:32 am; Sunset 5:31 pm
- Daylight Hours: 9 hours, 59 minutes (+31s)
- Moon: 1.8% Waning Crescent
- Journal: http://williamwisephoto.com/photographyblog/first-day-phinizy-birding
Photos / Sounds
What
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)Observer
williamwisephotoDescription
Phinizy Swamp Nature Park; Richmond County, Georgia.
- Clouds and sun, high near 81. Southwest wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
- Sunrise 7:32 am; Sunset 5:31 pm
- Daylight Hours: 9 hours, 59 minutes (+31s)
- Moon: 1.8% Waning Crescent
- Journal: http://williamwisephoto.com/photographyblog/first-day-phinizy-birding
Photos / Sounds
What
Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum)Observer
williamwisephotoDescription
Phinizy Swamp Nature Park; Richmond County, Georgia.
- Clouds and sun, high near 81. Southwest wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
- Sunrise 7:32 am; Sunset 5:31 pm
- Daylight Hours: 9 hours, 59 minutes (+31s)
- Moon: 1.8% Waning Crescent
- Journal: http://williamwisephoto.com/photographyblog/first-day-phinizy-birding
Photos / Sounds
What
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)Observer
williamwisephotoDescription
Phinizy Swamp Nature Park; Richmond County, Georgia.
- Clouds and sun, high near 81. Southwest wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
- Sunrise 7:32 am; Sunset 5:31 pm
- Daylight Hours: 9 hours, 59 minutes (+31s)
- Moon: 1.8% Waning Crescent
- Journal: http://williamwisephoto.com/photographyblog/first-day-phinizy-birding
Photos / Sounds
What
Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa)Observer
williamwisephotoDescription
Phinizy Swamp Nature Park; Richmond County, Georgia.
- Clouds and sun, high near 81. Southwest wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
- Sunrise 7:32 am; Sunset 5:31 pm
- Daylight Hours: 9 hours, 59 minutes (+31s)
- Moon: 1.8% Waning Crescent
- Journal: http://williamwisephoto.com/photographyblog/first-day-phinizy-birding
Photos / Sounds
What
Orange-crowned Warbler (Leiothlypis celata)Observer
williamwisephotoDescription
Phinizy Swamp Nature Park; Richmond County, Georgia.
- Clouds and sun, high near 81. Southwest wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
- Sunrise 7:32 am; Sunset 5:31 pm
- Daylight Hours: 9 hours, 59 minutes (+31s)
- Moon: 1.8% Waning Crescent
- Journal: http://williamwisephoto.com/photographyblog/first-day-phinizy-birding
Photos / Sounds
What
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)Observer
williamwisephotoDescription
Phinizy Swamp Nature Park; Richmond County, Georgia.
- Clouds and sun, high near 81. Southwest wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
- Sunrise 7:32 am; Sunset 5:31 pm
- Daylight Hours: 9 hours, 59 minutes (+31s)
- Moon: 1.8% Waning Crescent
- Journal: http://williamwisephoto.com/photographyblog/first-day-phinizy-birding
Photos / Sounds
What
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)Observer
williamwisephotoDescription
Phinizy Swamp Nature Park; Richmond County, Georgia.
- Clouds and sun, high near 81. Southwest wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
- Sunrise 7:32 am; Sunset 5:31 pm
- Daylight Hours: 9 hours, 59 minutes (+31s)
- Moon: 1.8% Waning Crescent
- Journal: http://williamwisephoto.com/photographyblog/first-day-phinizy-birding
Photos / Sounds
What
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)Observer
williamwisephotoDescription
Phinizy Swamp Nature Park; Richmond County, Georgia. January 1, 2022.
- Clouds and sun, high near 81. Southwest wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
- Sunrise 7:32 am; Sunset 5:31 pm
- Daylight Hours: 9 hours, 59 minutes (+31s)
- Moon: 1.8% Waning Crescent
- Journal: https://williamwisephoto.com/photographyblog/first-day-phinizy-birding
Photos / Sounds
What
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)Observer
williamwisephotoDescription
Phinizy Swamp Nature Park; Richmond County, Georgia. January 1, 2022.
- Clouds and sun, high near 81. Southwest wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
- Sunrise 7:32 am; Sunset 5:31 pm
- Daylight Hours: 9 hours, 59 minutes (+31s)
- Moon: 1.8% Waning Crescent
- Journal: https://williamwisephoto.com/photographyblog/first-day-phinizy-birding
Photos / Sounds
What
Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)Observer
williamwisephotoDescription
Phinizy Swamp Nature Park; Richmond County, Georgia. January 1, 2022
- Clouds and sun, high near 81. Southwest wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
- Sunrise 7:32 am; Sunset 5:31 pm
- Daylight Hours: 9 hours, 59 minutes (+31s)
- Moon: 1.8% Waning Crescent
- Journal: http://williamwisephoto.com/photographyblog/first-day-phinizy-birding
Photos / Sounds
What
Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)Observer
williamwisephotoDescription
Phinizy Swamp Nature Park; Richmond County, Georgia. January 1, 2022
- Clouds and sun, high near 81. Southwest wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
- Sunrise 7:32 am; Sunset 5:31 pm
- Daylight Hours: 9 hours, 59 minutes (+31s)
- Moon: 1.8% Waning Crescent
- Journal: http://williamwisephoto.com/photographyblog/first-day-phinizy-birding
Photos / Sounds
What
Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum)Observer
williamwisephotoDescription
Phinizy Swamp Nature Park; Richmond County, Georgia. January 1, 2022.
- Clouds and sun, high near 81. Southwest wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
- Sunrise 7:32 am; Sunset 5:31 pm
- Daylight Hours: 9 hours, 59 minutes (+31s)
- Moon: 1.8% Waning Crescent
Photos / Sounds
What
Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum)Observer
williamwisephotoDescription
Phinizy Swamp Nature Park; Richmond County, Georgia. January 1, 2022.
- Clouds and sun, high near 81. Southwest wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
- Sunrise 7:32 am; Sunset 5:31 pm
- Daylight Hours: 9 hours, 59 minutes (+31s)
- Moon: 1.8% Waning Crescent
Comments
William do you report your birdwatching hours to the IRS as I do? I just did it for the first time, I can share what little I know so far.
Never even heard of that.
Neither had I. NC Bird Atlas, a chapter of Ebird.org sent me a single link to click to donate my hours to them. Going to figure out how to give them to a project of my choosing next time, since I work in a tax office.
@lenrely Since I have to add my stock photography royalties when I do my taxes (which isn't much, and I donate half of it to the animal shelter), I list photography expenses (new equipment, website fees, etc). But haven't heard of what you're talking about. So message me some details. Thanks!
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