Yesterday morning I did the second grassland survey at Piney Tract (Mt Zion/SGL 330) and had a great morning even with a light fog. There is still plenty of bird activity to enjoy, and I had more Henslow's than in the first survey and present at more of the 12 point counts. Twenty-six total in the counts and a good number more that I heard in passing. There does seem to be some increase in field use with the removal of some of the pine stands. I flushed what I think was a Henslow's as I walked out of one point but it startled me and flew off before I could be sure. I searched carefully for a nest but couldn't find anything and took a wide berth getting out to be careful. About a mile back in the main gameland road there is a nice section of scrub and yellow-breasted chats were still singing and quite vocal as they were here a month ago. Willow flycatchers and prairie warblers were still very active.
Last evening we returned again to the area and checked all along Wyman Rd where I had been meaning to listen for whip-poor-wills for some time. There are large areas of really thick growth with clearing of some areas on the game lands and surrounding private lands. We did indeed find the whips, five of them ! We had two calling back and forth at two different areas and then one singing just about at the bottom of Stockdill Rd, which I listened to as the orange full moon rose over the trees and the fireflies were just everywhere, floating up out of the grass and brush and trees. It was a wonderful end to a great day on this fantastic game lands.
