8 replies to this topic

[meghann]

When I saw these in person, the way they were acting, I thought they were the red-eyed vireos that hang out in this tree everyday. Very high up, flitting about and feeding. I snapped some shots just to make sure that's all they were. Lo and behold. . .they're not. They're thrushes of some sort, which had me scratching my head, because the thrushes I'm used to seeing hang out near the ground, and aren't this active.

Sorry the pictures stink, just like the ones from yesterday. My lens stinks and there's nothing I can really do about it. Sigh.

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[illin]

Pretty sure they are Swainson's due to the buffy spectacles.

[meghann]

I'm going to wait for some more people to chime in before I get too excited. While Georgia is in the range maps for migration, on ebird they've NEVER been reported in my area from what I can tell.

[psweet]

Yes, this is a Swainson's. You're running into the main limitation of e-bird, which is that it is dependent upon where people choose to bird, and who chooses to report.

[MarkBird]

We had our first big push of fall Thrushes into Florida this week, so agree that they must be there for you too. For me, the Swainson's were in the trees now too - much more so than in the spring. I did find one Gray-cheeked, and it hung out on the ground and low shrubs.

[Liam]

Why must you find all these awesome thrushes in my area?

[meghann]

Why must you find all these awesome thrushes in my area?

Because I'm just THAT awesome.

Yes, this is a Swainson's. You're running into the main limitation of e-bird, which is that it is dependent upon where people choose to bird, and who chooses to report.

True, although Liam lives here, too, and there's a couple popular birding spots near him, and they've never been reported there, either. Guess I get to be the first! There were at least three of them.

[meghann]

We had our first big push of fall Thrushes into Florida this week, so agree that they must be there for you too. For me, the Swainson's were in the trees now too - much more so than in the spring. I did find one Gray-cheeked, and it hung out on the ground and low shrubs.

Ok, that is what was confusing me the most, that they were in the trees flitting around. I'm used to only seeing hermit thrushes, so this was new!

[BirdingBlues]

Yes, this is a Swainson's. You're running into the main limitation of e-bird, which is that it is dependent upon where people choose to bird, and who chooses to report.

Very very true statement here. I notice that where I am, there hasn't been much reporting since 2006 - be a birding pioneer in your area and report anything you see - it is helpful for everyone!