The winter season certainly produced a number of exciting finds, and several of these birds were very cooperative by sticking around for a considerable period of time, allowing many seasoned birders to record state firsts. Perhaps star billing goes to a beautiful male Eurasian Wigeon found on the Augusta CBC, the first in the state since 1975. This bird was seen by many during the following three-week period. Scores of birders also made special trips to see a Harris's Sparrow in Fulton Co., and the little town of Bellville in Evans Co. gained notoriety from a two-month visit by a Western Tanager. I was fortunate to see all three of these birds, but perhaps the most memorable sighting for me was witnessing a Shiny Cowbird being impaled by an Accipiter and the resulting chase of the hawk, with cowbird in tow, by a number of specimen seeking birders.

Presumably, the mild weather was responsible for several species found out of season. Quite a few lingering birds were recorded on Christmas Bird Counts. Winter finches were hard to find this year, and following last year's good showing, Red-breasted Nuthatches were absent from most of the state. However, both kinglet species were reported in greater than normal numbers.

It is quite an honor to be chosen to succeed Jeff Sewell as editor of "From The Field." Jeff will be a tough act to follow, and on behalf of all GOS members, I would like to thank him for a job well done. I would also like to thank Terry Moore for providing a summary of the many reports he receives as the Field Notes editor for the Atlanta Audubon Society. His work certainly makes my job more manageable. Also, of course, thanks to the many people who take the time to send in details of their notable sightings.

Abbreviations used include:
ACOGB - Annotated Checklist of Georgia Birds, 1986, Haney, J.C. et al., GOS Occ. Publ. No. 10;
CBC - Christmas Bird Count
CNC - Chattahoochee Nature Center in Fulton Co.
ELHLAF - E.L. Huie Land Application Facility in Clayton Co.
Eufaula NWR - the Bradley Unit of Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge in Stewart Co.
Kennesaw Mt. - Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park in Cobb Co.
MBBP - Merry Bros. Brickyard Ponds in Augusta
m.ob. - many observers
NWR - National Wildlife Refuge
SCSP - Sweetwater Creek State Park in Douglas Co.
WMA - Wildlife Management Area

Note:  Species that appear in a bold-faced font represents those that were considered "review" species by the GOS Checklist and Records Committee during the year of the sighting.  This list changes from year to year.  The current review list may be view at the following link:

http://www.gos.org/checklists/reportables.html

Changes and updated information from the original published compilation are noted in a red font.

RED-THROATED LOON - The high count was the 85 recorded on the St. Catherines CBC in Liberty Co. on 19 Dec.  The only inland reports were of one at Lake Juliette in Monroe Co. on both 6 Dec. (Michael Beohm) and 21 Dec. (fide Terry Johnson), and another single bird at West Point Dam in Troup Co. on 14 Dec. (Giff Beaton, Kevin Danchisen).         

COMMON LOON - Giff Beaton and Kevin Danchisen saw 73 at Walter F. George Lake on 10 Dec.  The same two observers had 45 at West Point Dam on the same day.

Horned Grebes - West Point Dam - 12 Dec 1998

HORNED GREBE - This species was well reported at West Point Lake, with 70+ on 24 Jan. (Michael Bell, Aubrey Scott), 50 on 6 Feb. (Jim Flynn), and 65 on 9 Feb. (Earl Horn).  The Rum Creek WMA/Piedmont NWR CBC on 21 Dec. had a count of 40.

EARED GREBE - Four were seen at Rum Creek WMA on 1 Dec. (Terry Johnson).  Nine was a good count at Lake Lanier on 5 Dec. (Rusty Trump), with the only other reports being of  single birds at Eufaula NWR on 10 Dec. (Giff Beaton, Kevin Danchisen), and at Lake Juliette on 3 Jan (Michael Beohm).

STORM-PETREL - A pelagic trip from Savannah on 21 Feb. produced one Storm-Petrel, probably a Leach’s (Giff Beaton et al.).

NORTHERN GANNET - The St. Catherines CBC tallied 426 on 19 Dec.

AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN - This species again wintered at the mouth of the St. Marys River, and 67 were seen from the Cumberland Is. ferry on 3 Dec. (Giff Beaton, Brad Winn, Bob Zaremba).  A much rarer sighting was the one spotted at Lake Walter F. George on 24 Jan. (Michael Beohm). Another single bird was seen at Doboy Sound in McIntosh Co. on 26 Jan. (Jim Greenway fide Doris Cohrs).

DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT - This species now winters regularly in the Macon area in large numbers, as evidenced by the 329 seen on the Macon CBC on 19 Dec.

ANHINGA - The Macon CBC produced 23 on 19 Dec. 

GREAT EGRET - Two birds were still at Blalock Lake in Henry Co. on 28 Dec. (Carol Lambert).

TRICOLORED HERON - The 456 counted on the St. Catherines CBC on 19 Dec. was an impressive number.

REDDISH EGRET - The two seen on the Glynn Co. CBC on 2 Jan. are further evidence that this species now winters regularly in small numbers on the coast.

CATTLE EGRET - The Augusta CBC had 20 on 26 Dec., which is a good number for winter.

GREEN HERON - A rare find was the one recorded on the Marietta CBC on 20 Dec. (fide Bill Blakeslee).

WHITE IBIS - High counts were  438 on the St. Catherines CBC on 19 Dec., and 353 on the Albany CBC on 26 Dec.  The two seen on the Augusta CBC on 26 Dec. were unusual for that area.

Glossy Ibis - Savannah Airport - 21 Jan 1999

GLOSSY IBIS - Winter sightings of this species are becoming more numerous.  Three were seen in the Savannah area on 1 Dec. (Giff Beaton, Jim Flynn), one was reported on the St. Catherines CBC on 19 Dec., six were at the Savannah Airport on 21 Jan. (Giff Beaton, Jim Flynn), and four were seen in McIntosh Co. on 26 Feb. (Carol Lambert, Jeff Sewell).

ROSEATE SPOONBILL - A rare winter sighting was a lingering bird at Skidaway Is. on 28 Dec. (Paulette Cliff).

WOOD STORK - One was recorded on the Albany CBC on 26 Dec.

GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE - There were several reports from Eufaula NWR throughout the winter, with 23 being the high count on 26 Feb (Chris Loudermilk) .  One also wintered in Laurens Co. (m.ob.).  Four were reported on 26 Dec. on the Albany CBC.  The bird that showed up at the ELHLAF on 18 Feb. provided a rare sighting for the Atlanta area (Brock Hutchins, Carol Lambert).  

SNOW GOOSE - After the major influx of this species in November, it is not surprising that there were many reports from around the state, including a high count of 28 at Eufaula NWR on 26 Dec. (Michael Beohm).

ROSS’S GOOSE - One bird was seen at Eufaula NWR on 26 Dec. (Michael Beohm) and again on 30 Dec. (Giff Beaton, Jim Flynn, Earl Horn) for just the fifth Georgia record.  Two more were seen in Madison Co. on 17 Feb. (Earl Horn) and stayed through the period.  Like the Snow Goose, this species’ presence in the state in abnormally high numbers may have been more weather-related than due to its increasing population.  In November, many birds were displaced eastwards during migration by a major storm in the heart of the country.      

TUNDRA SWAN - This species rarely makes it as far south as Georgia, so the one that visited Gwinnett Co. was a first for many Atlanta area birders.  It was first reported on a lake at Briscoe Park on 13 Jan. (Bill Cherapy), but it was later learned that it had been visiting another lake on a nearby golf course since around the first of the year.  The bird, which was an immature, was last reported on 14 Feb. (Chris Loudermilk).  

EURASIAN WIGEON - A truly great discovery was the male found by Vernon Waters at the MBBP  during the Augusta CBC on 26 Dec.  It associated with a flock of American Wigeon and was seen by many birders through 16 Jan.  This is only the seventh record for Georgia and the first since 1975.

AMERICAN WIGEON - Those looking for the aforementioned Eurasian Wigeon had to search through the 200+ of this species that wintered at the MBBP  (m.ob.).  The Rum Creek WMA/Piedmont NWR CBC had a count of 145 on 21 Dec.

AMERICAN BLACK DUCK - This species is becoming harder to find than in years past, especially inland, so the 13 at the Blanton Creek WMA in Harris Co. on 6 Feb. (Jim Flynn) and two seen in Union Co. on 18 Jan. (Dot Freeman) are noteworthy.

MOTTLED DUCK - Five were seen at Onslow Is. in Chatham Co. on 21 Jan. (Giff Beaton, Les Davenport, Jim Flynn), two were found in McIntosh Co. on 13 Feb. (Carol Lambert, Jeff Sewell), and eight were located in Richmond Hill WMA in Bryan Co. on 20 Feb. (Giff Beaton et al.).

NORTHERN PINTAIL - Five were seen at the Rum Creek WMA on 20 Dec. (Earl Horn).  The Glynn Co. CBC had an excellent count of 53 on 2 Jan.  Eric Beohm counted ten at Eufaula NWR on 11 Jan.  Two were at the ELHLAF on 19 Jan. (Earl Horn), and possibly two different birds were seen there from 14 Feb. (Chris Loudermilk) through 23 Feb. (Carol Lambert).  Also 12 were seen in Richmond Hill in Bryan Co. on 20 Feb. (Giff Beaton et al.).

GREEN-WINGED TEAL - A large flock wintered at Onslow Is., with 400 being the count on 21 Jan. (Giff Beaton, Les Davenport, Jim Flynn) and 300 tallied on 20 Feb. (Giff Beaton et al.).

CANVASBACK - An excellent count was the 153 seen at Lake Seminole on 29 Dec. (Giff Beaton, Earl Horn, Jim Flynn).  Eight were found on the Macon CBC on 19 Dec., and the ELHLAF also hosted this species, with one being found on 4 Jan. (Carol Lambert), four on 7 Jan. (Carol Lambert), and four again on 10 Jan. (Michael Bell). 

REDHEAD - The high count for the period was 39 at West Point Dam on 14 Dec. (Giff Beaton, Kevin Danchisen).  On 28 Feb. Michael Bell found 18 on the ponds at the ELHLAF and another 15 nearby at Lake Shamrock.

GREATER SCAUP - This species was reported from seven inland locations.  One was recorded on the Macon CBC on 19 Dec., one was seen at the ELHLAF on 2 Jan. (Giff Beaton), two were in the Garden Lakes area near Rome on 10 Jan. (Carol Lambert, Jeff Sewell), three were at Clark Hill on 21 Jan. (Giff Beaton, Jim Flynn), one was at SCSP on 22 Jan. (Chris Loudermilk), two were at the DeKalb Reservoir on 6 Feb. (Jeff Sewell), three were at Eufala NWR on 11 Feb. (Eric Beohm), and one was seen again at SCSP on 12 Feb. (Michael Bell, Aubrey Scott).  On the coast, Darrell Lee had good counts of 50 at Andrews Is. on 7 Feb. and 70+ at Jekyll Is. on the same day.   

KING EIDER - A female was reported off the north end of Jekyll Is. on 11 Dec. (Lydia Thompson).  This is the second year in a row that this species has been sighted along the Georgia coast.     

SURF SCOTER - The large flock of scoters wintering off Jekyll Is. contained a number of this species.  On 1 Dec. Giff Beaton and Jim Flynn counted 18, and at least five were still there on 14 Feb. (Carol Lambert, Jeff Sewell).  More unusual was the one found inland near Columbus.  This unlucky bird was shot on 10 Jan. (Ted Roever).

WHITE-WINGED SCOTER - A smaller number of this species also wintered at Jekyll Is., with five being the high count on 1 Dec. (Giff Beaton, Jim Flynn).

BLACK SCOTER - The high count at Jekyll Is. was 1000+ on 1 Dec. (Giff Beaton, Jim Flynn).  A female was found at the ELHLAF among a flock of Redheads on 28 Feb. for a very rare inland sighting (Michael Bell). 

OLDSQUAW - Steve Wagner found a male and a female at MBBP on 9 Jan.  They remained in the area at least through 13 Feb. (Ann Waters).  The one at Jekyll Is. on 13 Dec. may have been one of the two birds reported there in November (Giff Beaton, Kevin Danchisen, Bruce Hallett). 

COMMON GOLDENEYE - This species was well reported, with four at the ELHLAF on 14 Dec. (Brock Hutchins), one at Lake Shamrock from 15 through 21 Dec. (Carol Lambert), two at Lake Lanier on 16 Dec. (Earl Horn), eight at SCSP on 25 Dec. (Chris Loudermilk), five at Garden Lakes in Rome on 26 Dec. (Marion Dobbs), one at Eufala NWR on 26 Dec. (Michael Beohm), three at Lake Peachtree on 30 Dec. (David Cree), and one in Douglas Co. on 10 Jan (Chris Loudermilk).

HOODED MERGANSER - The Rum Creek WMA/Piedmont NWR CBC on 21 Dec. had a count of 190.  Another good count was 125 at Lake Allatoona on 16 Jan. (Chris Loudermilk). 

COMMON MERGANSER - This very rare winter visitor was reported as a flyover at Eufaula NWR on 26 Dec. (Michael Beohm). 

RED-BREASTED MERGANSER - The only inland reports received were from SCSP.  Chris Loudermilk had a good count of 22 on 25 Dec., and five were still there on 2 Jan. (Michael Bell).

RUDDY DUCK - A good count of 130 was made at SCSP on 6 Feb. (Aubrey Scott).  

OSPREY - The one seen at Lake Blalock on 15 Dec. was probably a late migrant (Carol Lambert).  One was seen at West Point Lake on 24 Jan. (Michael Bell), further evidence that this species is continuing to become more widespread as a winter resident in the state. 

BALD EAGLE - The six seen on the St. Catherines CBC on 19 Dec. was the high count among the many reports received from across the state.  

RED-TAILED HAWK - A Western dark-morph adult was seen in Crawford Co. on 3 Feb. (Giff Beaton).  Western Red-tails are rarely seen in the East, with dark-morph birds constituting only a small percentage of the total population, so this was an exceptionally rare sighting.     

GOLDEN EAGLE - This species continues to be found in the vicinity of the old hack site on Pigeon Mt.  An adult was seen there on 9 Dec. (Giff Beaton). An immature was seen at Lake Juliette on 1 and 3 Jan. (Michael Beohm), and another immature was reported from the Okefenokee Swamp on 7 Jan. (fide Sheila Willis).

MERLIN - Ty Ivey reported one at the Macon Brickyards on 5 Dec.

PEREGRINE FALCON - One was found at Onslow Is. on 19 and 20 Feb. (Earl Horn, Jeff Sewell).

KING RAIL - Good counts were six at Eufaula NWR on 11 Feb. (Eric Beohm), and 12 at Onslow Is. on 20 Feb. (Giff Beaton et al.).

VIRGINIA RAIL - Three were found at a marsh in Floyd Co. on 11 Feb. (Marion Dobbs). 

SORA - Giff Beaton et al. had a good count of 25 at Richmond Hill WMA (Bryan Co.) on 20 Feb.

SANDHILL CRANE - Flocks were sighted headed south throughout the entire month of December by many observers.  Possibly the last of the southbound birds were 120 seen over Atlanta on 3 Jan. (Trina Jackson) and about 100 seen on the Callaway Gardens CBC on the same day.  The 28 seen near Lake Walter F. George on 14 Jan. may have been wintering birds (Eric Beohm).  On 28 Jan. a flock of  43 were seen in Peach Co. at 1.30 p.m. (Larry Ross), and at 5.00 p.m. on the same day 40-50, possibly the same flock headed north, were reported in Floyd Co. (Stephen Stewart).  Other northbound flocks were sighted throughout the entire month of February, with a high count of 300 headed northwest over the ELHLAF on 14 Feb (Aubrey Scott).   

WILSON’S PLOVER - Although listed in the ACOGB as accidental in winter, it has now been reported every winter for the last seven or eight years.  This year 12 were seen on Jekyll Is. on 13 Dec. (Giff Beaton, Kevin Danchisen, Bruce Hallett), 11 were tallied on the St. Catherines CBC on 19 Dec., nine were seen on Cumberland Is. on 28 Dec. (Becky Beaton, Giff Beaton, Earl Horn), 14 were counted on Ossabaw Is. on 22 Jan. (Mary Elfner, Jim Flynn), a single bird was seen on Jekyll Is. on 29 Jan. (Michael Bell, Aubrey Scott) and, again on Jekyll Is., two were seen on 14 Feb.(Carol Lambert, Jeff Sewell).   

PIPING PLOVER - Encouraging was a count of 30 in the Altamaha Estuary on 2 Dec. (Giff Beaton, Brad Winn, Bob Zaremba).  The St. Catherines CBC had 16 on 19 Dec. and on the same day the Cumberland Island CBC had 11.

AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER - Good counts were 169 in the Altamaha Estuary on 2 Dec. (Giff Beaton, Brad Winn, Bob Zaremba), 91 on the Cumberland Island CBC on 19 Dec., and 67 at Jekyll Is. on 5 Feb. (Lorraine Dusenbury, Lydia Thompson).

American Avocet - Onslow I. - 21 Jan 1999

AMERICAN AVOCET - This species was also reported in good numbers.  Again, at the Altamaha Estuary on 2 Dec., 29 were seen (Giff Beaton, Brad Winn, Bob Zaremba), and 51 were counted on the Glynn Co. CBC on 2 Jan.  On Jekyll Is. there were counts of 50 on 5 Feb.  (Lorraine Dusenbury and Lydia Thompson) and 38 on 16 Feb. (Carol Lambert, Jeff Sewell).  

GREATER YELLOWLEGS - A few wintered at the Augusta water treatment plant this year, with the high count being 15 on 9 Jan. (Steve Wagner).  At the MBBP Anne Waters found 19 on 13 Feb.

LESSER YELLOWLEGS - One in the Rome area on 10 Jan. was unusual for the time of year (Bruce Dralle, Jeff Sewell).

SPOTTED SANDPIPER - One was seen at Blalock Lake on 11 Jan. for a very rare winter sighting in the Atlanta area (Patrick Brisse).  Other inland reports were of one on the Rum Creek WMA/Piedmont NWR CBC on 21 Dec., one in Thomas Co.on 7 Feb. (Jerry Amerson, Marie Amerson), and the Ocmulgee Audubon Society reported another single bird at the Macon Industrial Area on 13 Feb.

WHIMBREL - This species is rare in winter, so noteworthy were three on the Cumberland Island CBC on 19 Dec. and seven on the Glynn Co. CBC on 2 Jan.  The 11 seen on Cumberland Is. on 20 Feb. may have been early migrants (Shiela Willis). 

LONG-BILLED CURLEW - Any sightings of this species are noteworthy.  Five were found on the St. Catherines CBC on 19 Dec.,and three were seen on Ossabaw Is. on 22 Jan. (Mary Elfner, Jim Flynn). 

MARBLED GODWIT - The St. Catherines CBC had a good count of 98 on 19 Dec.

SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER - One reported along the Jekyll Is. Causeway on 6 Dec. was extremely late (Darrell Lee).

LEAST SANDPIPER - One may have wintered at the ELHLAF, as one was seen on 28-29 Dec. (Carol Lambert) and a single bird was seen there again on 3 Jan. (Michael Bell).

PECTORAL SANDPIPER - One on the Cumberland Island CBC on 19 Dec. was very late.

PURPLE SANDPIPER - This species again wintered at the usual spot on Tybee Is., and ten were seen on 1 Dec. (Giff Beaton, Jim Flynn).  Again at Tybee Is., Earl Horn and Jeff Sewell had 12 on 20 Feb.  They are rarely seen elsewhere, so the one on the Glynn Co. CBC on 2 Jan. was a good find. 

DUNLIN - One was at the ELHLAF from 1-11 Dec. (Carol Lambert).  One was also seen there on 2 Jan. (Giff Beaton et al.) and on 3 Jan. (Michael Bell).

Stilt Sandpiper - Onslow I. - 21 Jan 1999

STILT SANDPIPER - This species has been found wintering in recent years at the Savannah Spoil Site in South Carolina, and on 21 Jan. Giff Beaton, Les Davenport and Jim Flynn found 39 at Onslow Is.  Earl Horn and Jeff Sewell had six there on 19 Feb. and five the next day.

SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER - A rare inland winter sighting was the seven on the Macon CBC on 19 Dec. (Giff Beaton et al.).

LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER - One was reported on the Cumberland Island CBC on 19 Dec., four were seen and heard on Ossabaw Is. on 22 Jan. (Mary Elfner, Jim Flynn), and two were at Onslow Is. on 19 and 20 Feb. (Earl Horn and Jeff Sewell).  

POMARINE JAEGER - One bird was reported from Jekyll Is. on 22 Jan. (Steve Holzman, Paul Sykes).

PARASITIC JAEGER - One was seen at Tybee Is. on 1 Dec. (Giff Beaton, Jim Flynn), and four was an excellent count on the St. Catherines CBC on 19 Dec.

LITTLE GULL - Very rare was the one seen at the Altamaha Estuary on 2 Dec. (Giff Beaton, Brad Winn, Bob Zaremba).

BONAPARTE’S GULL - A good number wintered at Lake Lanier.  Chris Loudermilk had 75 on 19 Dec., and Frank McCamey reported 50 on 11 Feb.  Fifty were also counted at West Point Lake on 24 Jan. (Michael Bell, Aubrey Scott).  

RING-BILLED GULL - A good count of 1500 was made at Dekalb Reservoir on 6 Feb. (Jeff Sewell). 

THAYER’S GULL - A first-winter bird was reported from among a large flock of gulls at South Beach on Jekyll Is. on 22 Jan.  (Steve Holzman, Paul Sykes).  A different first-winter bird, according to the description given, was reported from the same location on 28 Jan. (Giff Beaton), and finally Michael Bell and Aubrey Scott reported what they felt was a possible second-winter bird in the same flock on 29 Jan.  Hopefully, all sightings will be written up and submitted to the Checklist and Records Committee for review. 

LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL - The high count was six seen at Ossabaw Is. on 22 Jan. (Giff Beaton, E.J. Williams).  The species was seen in small numbers all along the coast, but the most unusual sighting was the one seen at West Point Dam on 30 Dec. (Giff Beaton, Jim Flynn, Earl Horn). 

GLAUCOUS GULL - There were two reports from West Point Lake.  Doug Robinson saw one on 16 Jan. and Jim Flynn saw one by the dam on 6 Feb.  More usual, but still a good find was the one seen at Cumberland Is. on 19 Dec. (Shiela Willis).  

GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL - High counts were nine in the Altamaha Estuary on 2 Dec. (Giff Beaton, Brad Winn, Bob Zaremba), and 11 on the Glynn Co. CBC on 2 Jan. 

CASPIAN TERN - A very rare sighting, especially for the time of year, was the one seen at Lake Walter F. George on 24 Jan. (Michael Beohm). 

SANDWICH TERN -  Seven were seen on Tybee Is. on 1 Dec. (Giff Beaton, Jim Flynn), two were at Jekyll Is. on 6 Dec. (Darrell Lee), and one was found on the St. Catherines CBC on 19 Dec.  Also Shiela Willis reported one on Cumberland Is. on both 13 and 19 Dec. No reports were received for later in the winter, so perhaps these were lingering birds rather than true winter residents.

FORSTER’S TERN - Twelve were found at West Point Dam on 6 Feb. (Jim Flynn). 

EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE - This species is now well established in Glynn Co., as evidenced by the 213 counted on the CBC there on 2 Jan. 

WHITE-WINGED DOVE - Don Ulaszewski found one on the St. Catherines CBC on 19 Dec. for a fourth record for the island!  The next day two were seen (Carol Lambert, Jeff Sewell ), and they remained on the island until at least  22 Dec. (Becky Beaton, Giff Beaton, Pierre Howard).

COMMON GROUND-DOVE - Eight were seen in Glynn Co. on 29 Jan. (Aubrey Scott).

SHORT-EARED OWL - Four were seen at their usual wintering grounds in Sumter Co. on 6 Feb. (Earl Horn, Rusty Trump).  

RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD - The immature male near Monticello (Jasper Co.) on 27 Dec. was a very rare find in winter (Terry Johnson, Buddy Rowe).

Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Cumming, GA - 28 Jan 1999

ARCHILOCUS HUMMINGBIRD - A female of this genus was seen on 28 Jan. at the home of Susan Richards in Cumming (Jim Flynn).

Selesphorus hummingbird sp. - Dunwoody, GA - 6 Jan 1999

RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD - There were at least five in the Atlanta area in early January, including three at one residence in Alpharetta.  One of the Alpharetta birds was banded at the same feeder the previous winter.  Other reports include a female in Newton Co. on 27 Dec. (Terry Johnson, Buddy Rowe), an adult female in the Colquitt area on on 20 Feb. (Terry Johnson), and one all winter in Tallapoosa in Haralson Co. (Michael Bell). A Selaphorus type hummingbird was in Rabun Co. on 15 Dec. (Giff Beaton), and another one of this genus spent much of the winter in Hahira (Betty Scruggs fide Barbara Passmore).  

VERMILION FLYCATCHER - A male was found along the Cedar Hammock trail in the Okefenokee Swamp on 12 Feb. (Brian Bookhahn).  Another male, or possibly the same one, was seen four or five miles away at the entrance to the Suwanee Creek Recreation Area on 18 Feb. (Gail Salama) and again on 23 Feb. (Mike D’Amico). 

WESTERN KINGBIRD - The only one reported was a bird at Fort Pulaski on 1 Dec. (Michael Beohm).

EASTERN KINGBIRD - Very unusual were not one, but two on the St. Catherines CBC on 19 Dec.  One was also recorded on the Rum Creek WMA/Piedmont CBC on 21 Dec., and one was recorded during the week of the Sapelo Island CBC. 

WHITE-EYED VIREO - Two were a good find, that far north, on the Peachtree City CBC on 20 Dec. (fide Brock Hutchins). 

YELLOW-THROATED VIREO - Even more unusual were two of this species found on the Glynn Co. CBC on 2 Jan.  Winter sightings of this species should be documented.  

HORNED LARK - The Atlanta International Speedway is still a reliable spot for this species and at least 20 were found there on 3 Jan. (Michael Bell, Aubrey Scott), and two were seen on 3 Feb. (Paul Raney).  On 2 Feb. 14 were present at the ELHLAF (Carol Lambert) 

PURPLE MARTIN - An very early arrival was spotted in Eastman in Dodge Co. on 23 Jan. (Donny Screws). 

RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH - Giff Beaton found three in Rabun Co. on 15 Dec. in an area where they have been located in the summer, so they may be part of a resident population.  The only other reports were of single birds, with one on the Chattahoochee National Forest CBC on 20 Dec., and one on the Callaway Gardens CBC on 3 Jan.   

SEDGE WREN - Good counts were made at Eufaula NWR, with six on 10 Dec. (Giff Beaton, Kevin Danchisen) and nine on 11 Feb. (Eric Beohm).  At the Macon brickyards Ty Ivey had eight to 12 on 12 Dec.

MARSH WREN - Eric Beohm had the only inland report, with one at Eufaula NWR on 11 Feb.

BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER - One was found on the Athens CBC on 19 Dec., and on the same day the Macon CBC had five.  The Augusta CBC reported two on 26 Dec.

GRAY CATBIRD - Three was a good count on the Peachtree City CBC on 10 Dec. (fide Brock Hutchins).

AMERICAN PIPIT - The 200 seen in a plowed field in the Macon area on 12 Dec. was a good count (Arlene Clark, Ken Clark).

BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER - One on the Glynn Co. CBC on 2 Jan. was very unusual and certainly worth documenting.

PRAIRIE WARBLER - Also rare were one on the Macon CBC on 19 Dec., and one on the Glynn Co. CBC on 2 Jan.

BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER - Not quite as unexpected, but still a good count, were three on the Macon CBC on 19 Dec.

OVENBIRD - One in Grady Co. in early January was a good find (Gail Menk).

WESTERN TANAGER - A female was found in Bellville in Evans Co. on 2 Dec. by Maria-Jose Blocker.  News of the bird got out in early January, and it was subsequently seen by many observers until its last sighting on 2 Feb. (Maria-Jose Blocker).

CLAY-COLORED SPARROW - An individual was found on Cumberland Is. on 13 Dec. (Sheila Willis).

VESPER SPARROW - This species is rarely reported from the piedmont in winter, so two found in Carroll Co. on 3 Feb. (Chris Loudermilk) are noteworthy. 

HENSLOW’S SPARROW - Five were counted on the St. Catherines CBC on 19 Dec., and six were found at Paulk’s Pasture WMA on 7 Feb. (Earl Horn, Rusty Trump).

Le Conte's Sparrow - Eufaula NWR, Bradley Unit - 30 Dec 1998

LE CONTE’S SPARROW - An amazing count of 15 at Eufaula NWR on 18 Dec. must be a record high count for Georgia (Giff Beaton, Michael Bell, Bruce Hallett, Pierre Howard, Aubrey Scott).  The species was recorded at the same location, though in smaller numbers, through the remainder of the period.  

FOX SPARROW - Nine found on 14 Dec. was an excellent count for one location in Douglas Co. (Chris Loudermilk). 

LINCOLN’S SPARROW - It is hard to find one of these elusive sparrows, but Jerry and Marie Amerson managed to locate two in Colquitt Co. on 7 Feb.  One was also reported on the Glynn Co. CBC on 2 Jan.

HARRIS’S SPARROW - A report was made of one at the CNC on 20 Dec. by a visiting British birder, but it was not found again during follow-up searches.  The same bird, presumably, was reported from the same location on 6 Feb. (Mike Winkler), and again on 11 Feb. (Pat Sully).  It was subsequently seen coming to feeders at the CNC through the end of the month (m.ob.).  This is the twelfth record for Georgia, and the first since 1977.  

WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW -  The only reports were two on the Chattahoochee National Forest CBC on 20 Dec. (Aubrey Scott), five on the Albany CBC on 26 Dec., one in Bulloch/Chandler Cos. on 2 Feb. (Brian Ahern), two near the Cordele Fish Hatchery in Crisp Co. on 3 Feb. (Giff Beaton), and one near Carter’s Lake in Murray Co. on 13 Feb (Jim Flynn). 

BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK - A well documented report of this very rare visitor was turned in by Andy Kinsey.  The bird was seen briefly in Bulloch Co. on 22 Feb.  This sighting has been accepted by the Records Committee.

INDIGO BUNTING - One seen in McIntosh Co. on 25 Feb. was probably a wintering bird (Jermal LeCounte fide Doris Cohrs).

RUSTY BLACKBIRD - A flock of 55 was found near West Point Dam on 13 Dec. (Michael Bell, Aubrey Scott).  Good counts were 166 on the Macon CBC on 19 Dec., and 63 on the Augusta CBC on 26 Dec.  Sixty were counted in Alpharetta on 2 Jan. (Michael Bell, Aubrey Scott).   

BREWER’S BLACKBIRD - One was found on the Macon CBC on 19 Dec., and 13 were counted on the Peachtree City CBC the next day.  Other reports were three seen in Baker Co. on 29 Dec. (Giff Beaton, Jim Flynn, Earl Horn), three in Alpharetta on 2 Jan. (Michael Bell, Aubrey Scott), and six in Tallapoosa in Haralson Co. on 8 Feb. (Michael Bell).  

SHINY COWBIRD -  A male was discovered by Gene Kerferl coming to his feeder in Glynn Co. on 24 Jan.  It was last seen on 29 Jan. being eradicated by an accipiter as five birders looked on in disbelief.

BALTIMORE ORIOLE - As many as five were reported by birders looking for the Western Tanager in Bellville during the month of January.  One was also seen on the Callaway Gardens CBC on 3 Jan.

  
Female and male Purple Finches - Forsyth Co., GA - 30 Jan 1999

PURPLE FINCH - Winter finches were hard to find this year, and there were only a few reports of this species.  One did make it as far south as Valdosta, however, during the last week of February (fide Barbara Passmore).

RED CROSSBILL - Three were found in the Cohutta Wilderness Area on the Chattahoochee National Forest CBC on 20 Dec. (fide Aubrey Scott).

PINE SISKIN - One was seen by Andy Kinsey coming to a feeder at his residence in Bulloch Co. from 30 Dec. to 5 Jan.   The only other report was of one on the Callaway Gardens CBC on 3 Jan.

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