Scissor-tailed Flycatchers were sighted last week on Hwy 411 and East Valley Road by one of our own. "Chub" left me a comment on a previous blog post about the sighting. I suggested he call the Georgia Rare Bird Alert line and report them. As a result many birds are visiting Bartow County to see these very cool birds that rarely venture this far from their common range of Texas and Oklahoma.

Twice I have gone to see them. The first trip I was thrilled to see one flying in loop-de-loops catching insects. I tried to get a photo but he/she was to far away for my camera's zoom power. On the second trip they decided to hide from me. But I am very thrilled to add them to my Bird Life List!

Since Chub's call his sighting was posted on Georgia Birding. Click the link and scoll down to find the post. http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/GABO.html

Dan Vickers, who has more experience and a better camera than myself got some great captures of the pair and the nest! See them here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dfvickers/7391289858/

So if you are pasting East Valley Road and see folks with scopes,cameras,and binoculars...you now know what they are looking at and/or waiting for. I certainly will be going back in hopes to see them again....and get a photo. So...stop and try to get a look of these beautiful birds before they head back to the Southwest.

Click this link to learn more facts and hear their songs and calls: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Scissor-tailed_Flycatcher/id

Oh...I wish to thank Chub for sharing the sighting and calling the GRBA line. Hey,Chub...call them back...they didn't get your name. They would like to thank-you also. 

Jean is a host on Birds & Blooms Magazine’s Community Forums and is the lone, bird crazy author of the blog The Joy of Bird Watching and Living a Simple Life.