![]()
SPRING 1999:
March - May
Originally Compiled and Edited by Michael
Bell
(First published in The Oriole,
Vol. 64, Nos. 3/4, Pp. 58-67)
![]()
| SEASONAL SUMMARY |
| This spring produced little in the way of exceptional rarities in the state. Perhaps the report that generated the most widespread excitement was the sighting of a pair of Red Crossbills in Bartow County. These birds were originally found by Kevin Danchisen and Deb Zaremba and were subsequently reported by a number of observers. This species regularly occurs just across the Georgia state line on a couple of fronts, but it has been a nemesis for many birders here. The Bartow County birds, seen in open pine woods, may well have been an offshoot of the birds in Cleburne County, Alabama, where a breeding population has been present since at least October, 1998.
Again, both Shiny Cowbird and White-winged Dove were reported, and, as expected, Eurasian Collared-Doves continue to show up in new localities, but totally unexpected were the reports of Ross's Geese at two locations during May! A record was set for Kennesaw Mountain on 24 April, when an amazing 30 species of warblers were recorded during the day.
Abbreviations used include: |
| SPECIES ACCOUNTS |
|
Note: Species that appear in bold-faced font represents species 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 - Most unusual were the two seen flying by Kennesaw Mt. on 12 Apr. (Giff
Beaton et al.). COMMON LOON - Chris Loudermilk had an excellent count of 104 at SCSP on 31 Mar. Other notable sightings were 17 flying over Kennesaw Mt. on 24 Mar. (Kevin Danchisen et al.), and 40+ at Carter’s Lake on 17 Apr. (Bill Blakeslee et al.). PIED-BILLED GREBE - Following a strong storm the night before, 81 of this species turned up at Garden Lakes in the Rome area on 14 Apr. (Marion Dobbs). HORNED GREBE - A single bird at Garden Lakes in the Rome area on 4 Mar. was unusual for that location (Marion Dobbs). Eight was a good count at the ELHLAF on 20 to 21 Mar. (fide Jeff Sewell). A late bird, molting into alternate plumage, was seen at SCSP on 2 May (Aubrey Scott). EARED GREBE - One was still at Buford Dam on Lake Lanier on 6 Mar. (Rusty Trump), and a bird in alternate plumage was seen at Carter’s Lake on 17 Apr. (Bill Blakeslee et al.). BLACK-CAPPED PETREL - A Pterodroma petrel, probably of this species, was seen on a pelagic trip out of Savannah on 30 May (Giff Beaton et al.). CORY’S
SHEARWATER - This species was also listed as a probable sighting on the
same pelagic trip on 30 May (Giff Beaton et al.). AUDUBON’S SHEARWATER - Three were tallied, again on the same pelagic trip on 30 May (Giff Beaton et al.).
WILSON’S STORM-PETREL - Observers on the pelagic trip on 30 May had excellent close-up views of several of this species, with 12 being the total recorded (Giff Beaton et al.). LEACH’S STORM-PETREL - The pelagic trip on 30 May turned up four (Giff Beaton et al.). AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN - Seven were still near the mouth of the St. Marys River on 10 Apr., though only one was seen on the Georgia side (Darrell Lee). AMERICAN BITTERN - This species was well reported throughout the period. Single birds were seen along the Ocmulgee River in Monroe Co. on 20 Mar. (Michael Bell, Aubrey Scott), in the Dublin area on 10 Apr. (Tommy Patterson, Jeff Sewell et al.), at Floyd Marsh on 10 Apr. (Marion Dobbs), along the Ocmulgee River in Bibb Co. on 14 Apr. (Larry Ross), at the Arrowhead Public Fishing Area in Floyd Co. on 17 Apr. (Stephen Stewart), in the Okefenokee NWR on 20 Apr. (Cindy Thompson,Sheila Willis), at the ELHLAF on 29 Apr. (Paul Raney), at Harris Neck NWR on 2 May (Giff Beaton, Jon Dunn), and at Richmond Hill WMA in Bryan Co. on 2 May (Giff Beaton, Jon Dunn). LEAST BITTERN - Giff Beaton and Jon Dunn had a good count of eight at Richmond Hill WMA on 2 May. One was seen at the ASWMA on 21 May (Eric Beohm), and another single bird was seen at the Arrowhead Public Fishing Area in Floyd Co. on 20 May (Stephen Stewart), and again on 22 May (Michael Bell, Aubrey Scott). SNOWY EGRET - A single bird at the ELHLAF on 22 May was quite early (Jeff Sewell). LITTLE BLUE HERON - A pair of adults was seen at Lake Buchanan in Haralson Co. on 7 May, with at least one remaining through the end of the period. Another bird was reported in Coweta Co. on 20 Mar. (fide Jeff Sewell), and Susanna Rinard found an adult in Paulding Co. on 27 May. This species is usually only found in the Piedmont as a post-nesting wanderer in summer. CATTLE
EGRET - Single birds were seen near Ellijay on 18 Apr. (Dennie McClure,
Pam McClure), and at the CRNRA on 24 and 25 Apr (fide Jeff Sewell). BLACK-CROWNED
NIGHT-HERON - A first-year bird was a good find at Twin Lakes in Forsyth
Co. on 12 Apr. (Jim Flynn). This
species is rarely reported in the Atlanta area, but one was heard on a
pre-dawn thrush count at Kennesaw Mt. on 24 Apr. (Bob Zaremba et al.). YELLOW-CROWNED
NIGHT-HERON - One was reported from the CRNRA on 10 Apr. (fide Jeff
Sewell), one was seen in Dooly Co. on 18 May (Dan Guynn), Eric Beohm
counted 26 at Youman’s Pond (Liberty Co.) on 21 May, and one adult was
seen in Wilkinson Co. on 29 May (Ken Clark, Ty Ivey, Paul Johnson). GLOSSY IBIS - Two were seen at Little Ocmulgee State Park in Wheeler Co. on 2 May (Jim Flynn, Earl Horn, Rusty Trump). This is quite far inland for this species. WOOD
STORK - A colony containing 200-300 nests was discovered during April in
Emanuel/Jenkins Cos. (Bob Humphries). GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE - One was seen at ELHLAF on 27 Mar. (Carol Lambert), and again at the same location, a very late bird was seen on 1 May (Michael Beohm). A bird that wintered in Laurens Co. was last reported on 10 Apr. (Tommy Patterson et al.). SNOW
GOOSE - Two blue phase birds were seen at ELHLAF on the late date of 1 May
(Michael Beohm). ROSS’S GOOSE - Following a phenomenal winter for this species, several birds were sighted this spring. The two birds first reported during Feb. in Madison Co. remained throughout the period (m.ob.). Jerry and Marie Amerson also reported single birds in Walker Co. and Houston Co. during Mar., and one in Wheeler Co. on 16 May. GADWALL - A good count of 141 was made at the Macon Industrial Area in Bibb Co. on 7 Mar. (Ty Ivey, Paul Johnson). AMERICAN
WIGEON - The two seen at the CRNRA on 9 May were quite late (Eran Tomer). MOTTLED
DUCK - The ASWMA near Darien continues to be a reliable spot for this duck
species. Two were seen there
on 9 Apr. (Darrell Lee), one was seen on 2 May (Jon Dunn, Giff Beaton), 14
were there on 15 May (Chris Loudermilk), and seven were recorded on 21 May
(Eric Beohm). NORTHERN SHOVELER - This duck is not usually seen in large numbers in the Piedmont, so 115 at Garden Lakes in Rome on 14 Apr. was a good count (Marion Dobbs). REDHEAD - An excellent count of 150 was made at Garden Lakes in the Rome area on 3 Mar. (Marion Dobbs). Twelve were seen at SCSP on 7 Mar., and six were still at that location on 21 Mar. (Chris Loudermilk). GREATER SCAUP - Fourteen were reported at the ELHLAF on 14 Mar. (Jerry Amerson, Marie Amerson). LESSER
SCAUP - The high count at the ELHLAF was 125 on 13 Mar. (Jeff Sewell).
One was still at this location on 22 May (Jeff Sewell).
BLACK
SCOTER - Late birds were seen at Tybee Is., with five on 29 May (Carol
Lambert), and one on 31 May (Jeff Sewell).
BUFFLEHEAD
- A female at the Arrowhead Public Fishing Area in Floyd Co. on 8 May was
somewhat late (Stephen Stewart). HOODED
MERGANSER - A female was seen in Johnson Co. on 29 May (Jim Flynn). RED-BREASTED
MERGANSER - Inland reports included two at Garden Lakes in Rome on 3 Mar.
(Marion Dobbs), four at SCSP on 9 Mar. (Chris Loudermilk), 15 at the
ELHLAF on 14 Mar. (Jeff Sewell), four at the DeKalb Reservoir on 27 Mar.
(Jeff Sewell), 15 again at the DeKalb Reservoir on 3 Apr. (Eran Tomer),
four at SCSP on 16 Apr. (Chris Loudermilk), and one at Carter’s Lake 17
Apr. (Bill Blakeslee et al.). A
late bird was seen at Andrew’s Is. causeway (Glynn Co.) on 21 May (Eric
Beohm). SWALLOW-TAILED
KITE - The one seen at Ft. Stewart on 11 Mar. was early (Larry Carlile).
MISSISSIPPI
KITE - An early arrival was seen in the Brunswick area on 18 Apr. (fide
Brad Bergstrom). Eighteen was
an unusually high count for Upson Co. on 18 May (Michael Beohm). BALD
EAGLE - An adult at a nest containing two young was found in Coffee Co. on
15 Mar. (Libbo Belger, Sheila Willis).
An immature bird was seen at Murphy-Candler Lake in DeKalb Co. on
20 Mar. (fide Jeff Sewell), and another immature was present at the ELHLAF
Wetlands Center on 28 Mar. (Michael Bell, Aubrey Scott, Jeff Sewell). Single birds were also reported from Jekyll Is. on 9 Apr.
(Lydia Thompson), Carter’s Lake on 17 Apr. (Bill Blakeslee, Aubrey Scott
et al.), Telfair/Wheeler Cos. on 2 May (Jim Flynn, Earl Horn, Rusty
Trump), the ASWMA on 2 May (Giff Beaton, Jon Dunn), and SCSP on 6 May
(Chris Loudermilk). BROAD-WINGED
HAWK - A bird seen in Emmanuel Co. on 29 May (Jim Flynn) was near the edge
of this species’ summer range in the state. GOLDEN
EAGLE - Two adults were seen near the old hack site in Pigeon Mt. Cove on
20 Mar. (John Kiser), and one adult was seen at the same location on 22
May (Michael Bell, Aubrey Scott). MERLIN
- This species was reported twice during the period at the ELHLAF.
Earl Horn and Jeff Sewell saw one on 20 Mar., and two were seen on
18 Apr. (Brock Hutchins et al. ). Another
inland report came from Greene Co., with one bird seen headed north on 10
Apr. (Paul Sykes). PEREGRINE
FALCON - A pair in downtown Atlanta raised four young which hatched around
6 Apr. (Jim Ozier). RUFFED
GROUSE - A single bird was a good find in Dawson Forest in Dawson Co. on
24 Apr. (Rusty Trump). An
adult with several chicks was seen at Brasstown Bald on 24 May (Paul
Johnson). BLACK
RAIL - Paul Sykes reported the first bird of the year at the Greene Co.
Marsh on 24 Apr. KING
RAIL - One was reported from the Kennesaw Marsh on 27 Mar. (Jeff Sewell).
On both 1 and 8 May, one was found at the Macon Industrial Area in
Bibb Co. (Arlene Clark, Ken Clark, Ty Ivey, Paul Johnson).
Two were heard at Kingfisher Landing in the Okefenokee NWR on 13
May (Robert Jones, Sheila Willis). Two
adults and five young were seen at Eufaula NWR on 18 May (Eric Beohm).
Finally, one was heard in Wilkinson Co. on 29 May (Ken Clark, Ty
Ivey, Paul Johnson). VIRGINIA
RAIL - This species was also found at the Kennesaw Marsh, with counts of
eight on 1 Mar. (Chris Loudermilk), four on 27 Mar. (Jeff Sewell), and two
on 25 Apr. (Giff Beaton, Karen Theodorou).
Paul Sykes reported that numbers of this species were down from
usual at the Greene Co. Marsh, due to a burn during the winter.
He had a high count of three on 20 Mar.
Marion Dobbs had a high count of six for the period at Floyd Marsh
on 10 Apr. SORA
- Single birds were found at the CRNRA on 20 Mar. (fide Jeff Sewell), in
Greene Co. on 20 Mar. (Paul Sykes),and the Kennesaw Marsh on 16 Apr.
(Becky Beaton, Giff Beaton). Five
were counted in Greene Co. on 24 Apr. (Paul Sykes), and one was at the
Kennesaw Marsh on 25 Apr. (Giff Beaton, Karen Theodorou).
Another single bird was found at the Arrowhead Public Fishing Area
in Floyd Co. on 8 May (Stephen Stewart).
PURPLE
GALLINULE - Three were at Lake Silver in Decatur Co. during late April (fide Jeff Sewell), and two were reported at Reed Bingham State Park in
Colquitt Co. on 2 May (Jim Flynn, Earl Horn, Rusty Trump).
Amazingly, for the second successive spring one was reported at the
Arrowhead Public Fishing Area in Floyd Co.
One was seen there on 8 May (Stephen Stewart), and was found again
on 14 May (Bob Zaremba) and 20 May (Stephen Stewart). Could this have been the same bird from a year ago?
On 21 May Eric Beohm found this species at three separate locations
with four at Harris Neck NWR,two at the ASWMA, and one at Youman’s Pond
(Liberty Co.). One was found
at the Ocmulgee WMA in Bleckley Co. on 28 May (Jim Flynn). AMERICAN
COOT - For not the first time, this species was encountered at Kennesaw
Mt. on a spring migration walk. Two
were found quite high up the mountain on 17 Mar., and one was recorded on
25 Mar. (Kevin Danchisen). SANDHILL
CRANE - A number of late birds were reported this spring from various
locations. A flock of ten
were seen at the CRNRA on 3 Apr. (Helen Ogren), two were on Cumberland Is.
on 18 Apr. (Sheila Willis), two were at Sapelo Is. on 15 May (Fred Hay
fide Doris Cohrs), and one was heard in Clinch Co. on 22 May (Sheila
Willis). WILSON’S
PLOVER - Fourteen was a good count on Cumberland Is. on 28 Mar. (Sheila
Willis). SEMIPALMATED
PLOVER - Two were seen at the ELHLAF on 6 May (Jeff Sewell), and four were
at the Arrowhead Public Fishing Area in Floyd Co. on 22 May (Michael Bell,
Aubrey Scott). PIPING
PLOVER - This species is accidental in the interior, and the one found at
the ELHLAF on 15 Apr. produced the first Atlanta area record (Brock
Hutchins). It was still at
the same location on the next day (Eric Beohm, Carol Lambert, Francis
Stiteler). BLACK-NECKED
STILT - The three seen at Darien on 9 Apr. were fairly early (Darrell
Lee). AMERICAN
AVOCET - Seventeen were seen at Jekyll Is. on 13 Mar. (Chris Loudermilk),
and 15 were at Andrews Is. near Brunswick on 9 Apr. (Darrell Lee).
One was reported at SCSP on 9 May for an extremely rare inland
record (Tony Barger). UPLAND
SANDPIPER - Laurens Co. was once again the hotspot for this species, with
29 on 10 Apr. (Earl Horn, Tommy Patterson, Aubrey Scott, Jeff Sewell), and
16 on 14 Apr. (Giff Beaton). One
was seen at Thomas Bros. Grass in Floyd Co. on 17 and 18 Apr. by many
observers attending the spring GOS meeting in Rome. WHIMBREL
- Impressive counts were 1480 at Gould’s Inlet on 14 May, and 2000+ at
St. Catherine’s Is. on 15 May (Brad Winn).
RED
KNOT - On Cumberland Is., 2078 migrants were counted on 28 Mar. (Sheila
Willis). SEMIPALMATED
SANDPIPER - Jeff Sewell had a count of 21 at ELHLAF on 6 May.
WESTERN
SANDPIPER - One was reported from the ELHLAF on 22 Apr. (Paul Raney), and
two were found at the same location on 6 May (Jeff Sewell).
LEAST
SANDPIPER - Fifty was the high count for ELHLAF on 6 May (Jeff Sewell). WHITE-RUMPED
SANDPIPER - One was found at the Suwannee Canal Recreation Area in the
Okefenokee NWR on 20 Apr. (Cindy Thompson, Sheila Willis), five were at
the ASWMA on 2 May (Giff Beaton, Jon Dunn), one remained at the ELHLAF
from 6 through 11 May (Chris Loudermilk, Paul Raney, Jeff Sewell), and
three were seen at Lake Buchanan in Haralson Co. on 7 May (Michael Bell).
Back at the ELHLAF, five were reported on 16 May (Aubrey Scott),
and two were seen there on 26 May (Chris Loudermilk). STILT
SANDPIPER - Six were found at the ASWMA on 2 May (Giff Beaton, Jon Dunn).
Two were a good find at the ELHLAF on 6 May (Jeff Sewell), and one
was seen there on 8 May (Eran Tomer).
SHORT-BILLED
DOWITCHER - Good inland reports were seven at the Macon Brickyard Ponds on
27 Mar. (Ty Ivey, Paul Johnson), four in Laurens Co. on 10 Apr. (Tommy
Patterson et al.), and three, also in Laurens Co., on 14 Apr. (Giff
Beaton). LONG-BILLED
DOWITCHER - An excellent count of 50 was made at the ASWMA on 2 May (Giff
Beaton, Jon Dunn). COMMON
SNIPE - Paul Sykes had a good count of 107 in northern Greene Co. on 20
Mar. WILSON’S
PHALAROPE - One was reported from Jekyll Is. on 21 May (Eric Beohm). LAUGHING
GULL - This species is rarely seen far inland, so one at Lake Buchanan in
Haralson Co. on 7 May was noteworthy (Michael Bell). Another good find was the first summer bird reported at Lake
Sinclair on the Baldwin/Putnam Co. line on 31 May (Jim Flynn).
BONAPARTE’S
GULL - Twelve was a good count for the ELHLAF on 28 Mar. (Jackie Heyda et
al.), while the two seen at SCSP on 8 May were somewhat late (Tony
Barger). RING-BILLED
GULL - A large number of this species wintered at the DeKalb Reservoir,
and Jeff Sewell had counts of 1000 on 6 Mar. and 500 on 27 Mar. CASPIAN
TERN - Two seen at Lake Buchanan in Haralson Co. on 5 Apr. were a rare
inland sighting (Michael Bell). COMMON
TERN - Sheila Willis had an excellent count of 333 on Cumberland Is. on 28
Mar. FORSTER’S
TERN - One was reported from Lake Park in Lowndes Co. on 14 Apr. and again
on 19 Apr. (Kristi Avera, Barbara Passmore).
LEAST TERN - An early arrival was seen at Jekyll Is. on 2 Apr. (Lydia Thompson). On 28 May Larry Carlile found a colony on a white gravel rooftop in the Fort Stewart cantonment area, containing 39 eggs and 27 chicks.
BRIDLED
TERN - Three were found on a pelagic trip out of Savannah on 30 May (Giff
Beaton et al.). SOOTY
TERN - The same pelagic trip on 30 May produced one of this species (Giff
Beaton et al.). EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE - This invading species now appears to be establishing a foothold in the northwest part of the state, as it was reported throughout the period from Carroll and Floyd Cos. (v.ob.). A pair were observed building a nest in Athens (Clarke Co.) on 5 Apr. (Marion Dobbs).
WHITE-WINGED
DOVE - Four were reported from Sapelo Is. on 12 Mar. (Charles Blem), one
was seen in Houston Co. from 26 through 28 Mar. (Jim Flynn, Larry Ross),
and two were found, again at Sapelo Is., during May (fide Jeff Sewell).
COMMON
GROUND-DOVE - Eight were seen at Central City Park in Macon on 24 Apr.,
and 10 were at the same location on 10 May (Eric Beohm). YELLOW-BILLED
CUCKOO - A good count of 15 was made at the Macon Brickyard Ponds (Bibb
Co.) on 8 May (Ty Ivey, Paul Johnson et al.). RUBY-THROATED
HUMMINGBIRD - The earliest report came from Walton Co. on 22 Mar. (Bobby
Cox). RUFOUS
HUMMINGBIRD - A bird that wintered in Tallapoosa in Haralson Co. was last
seen on 4 Apr. (Michael Bell). YELLOW-BILLED
SAPSUCKER - One seen at Kennesaw Mt. on 24 Apr. was quite late (Bob
Zaremba et al.). RED-COCKADED
WOODPECKER - As of 28 May, 157 nests were confirmed at Fort Stewart,
representing a 57% increase over the number of nests found in 1994, the
year that intensive monitoring and management began for this species at
this location (Larry Carlile). LEAST
FLYCATCHER - A bird was seen at the Sky Valley Golf Course in Rabun Co.,
where at least one summered last year, on 20 May (Brock Hutchins).
EASTERN
KINGBIRD - Several were seen in Putnam Co. on the very early date of 18
Mar. (Billy Dunbar). YELLOW-THROATED
VIREO - Early reports were of one at Kennesaw Mt. on 20 Mar. (Kevin
Danchisen et al.), and on the same day one was seen in Butts Co. (Michael
Bell, Aubrey Scott). WARBLING
VIREO - One was seen at SCSP on 7 May (Chris Loudermilk), and again at the
same location on 9 May (Chris Loudermilk, Aubrey Scott). Another single bird was at Kennesaw Mt. on 8 May (Kevin
Danchisen). TREE
SWALLOW - A number of observers reported this species once again nesting
in nest boxes at ELHLAF during the period. BANK
SWALLOW - Twenty were seen at ELHLAF on 2 May during an Atlanta Audubon
Society field trip. CLIFF
SWALLOW - By the end of the period there were several reports of this
species in north Georgia, and it has now been confirmed nesting at a
number of sites in the region. BARN
SWALLOW - The first birds of the year were reported from the ELHLAF on the
early date of 13 Mar. (Carol Lambert). Nesting was confirmed in Clinch and Tattnall Cos. (Sheila
Willis). SEDGE
WREN - The Kennesaw Marsh is a reliable spot for this species in
migration, and five were found there on 27 Mar. (Jeff Sewell), one on 3
Apr. (Giff Beaton), and three on 25 Apr. (Giff Beaton, Karen Theodorou). Two were found in Floyd Co. on 17 Apr. (Earl Horn, Rusty
Trump), one was seen at Central City Park in Macon on both 24 Apr. and 10
May (Eric Beohm), one was found at the Albany Nursery WMA in Dougherty Co.
on 2 May (Jim Flynn), one was in Upson Co. on 7 May (Eric Beohm), and one
was at the CRNRA on 22 May (Gordon McWilliams et al.). MARSH
WREN - One seen in Haralson Co. on 11 May was a good find (Michael Bell). GRAY-CHEEKED
THRUSH - The only reports received were of one at Kennesaw Mt. on 24 Apr.
(Bob Zaremba et al.), one at Fernbank Forest in DeKalb Co. on 24 Apr. (fide Georgann Schmaltz), two at Blackjack Mt. in Cobb Co. on 8 May (Kevin
Danchisen), and one at Kennesaw Mt. on 11 May (Giff Beaton et al.). WOOD
THRUSH - The first one reported was from the ELHLAF Wetlands Center on 30
Mar. (Carol Lambert). AMERICAN
PIPIT - The eight birds seen during an Atlanta Audubon Society field trip
at ELHLAF on 2 May were rather late.
BLUE-WINGED
WARBLER - The high count was five at Kennesaw Mt. on 24 Apr. (v.ob.). TENNESSEE
WARBLER - A very late bird was seen in Thomaston on 24 May (Michael Beohm).
NASHVILLE
WARBLER - Four was a good count at Kennesaw Mt. on 24 Apr. (v.ob.).
CHESTNUT-SIDED
WARBLER - The high count at Kennesaw Mt. was 18 on 2 May (Bruce Dralle et
al.). CAPE
MAY WARBLER - A very early bird was seen at the ELHLAF Wetlands Center on
31 Mar. (Carol Lambert). Good
counts of 50 were made at Fernbank Forest (DeKalb Co.) on both 1 May and 8
May (fide Georgann Schmaltz). BLACK-THROATED
BLUE WARBLER - Ten was a good count at Fernbank Forest in DeKalb Co. on 8
May (fide Georgann Schmaltz). BLACK-THROATED
GREEN WARBLER - A late bird was seen at Hamburg State Park in Washington
Co. on 29 May (Jim Flynn). BLACKBURNIAN
WARBLER - The high count was 14 at Kennesaw Mt. on 8 May (Kevin Danchisen
et al.). PRAIRIE
WARBLER - One seen in Floyd Co. on 13 Mar. was early (Chris Loudermilk). PALM
WARBLER - This warbler is relatively easy to identify as to subspecies,
especially in alternate plumage. Of
the 208 seen at Kennesaw Mt. during spring migration, three were
identified as “Yellow” Palm Warblers.
BAY-BREASTED
WARBLER - The high count from Kennesaw Mt. was 11 on 8 May (Kevin
Danchisen et al.). BLACKPOLL
WARBLER - The high count was 30+ at CRNRA on 22 May (Gordon McWilliams et
al.). CERULEAN
WARBLER - A total of 86 were reported from Kennesaw Mt. during spring
migration. This number is
down from the 110 counted a year ago. PROTHONOTARY
WARBLER - Jeff Sewell found one at Kennesaw Mt. on 17 Apr. for a first
ever record for the mountain. The
bird was seen again the next day by a number of observers. Four to five were counted at the CRNRA on 1 May (Aubrey
Scott). WORM-EATING
WARBLER - Several were heard singing on territory near Allatoona Dam on 30
May (Chris Loudermilk, Aubrey Scott). SWAINSON’S
WARBLER - Eric Beohm found four in the Macon area on 24 Apr., one was
found in Union Co. on 25 Apr. (Michael Bell), one was in Glynn Co. on 2
May (Rebecca Schrapansky), four were in the Big Hammock WMA on 2 May (Giff
Beaton, Jon Dunn), one was heard in Upson Co. on 8 May (Eric Beohm), one
was heard in Butts Co. on 10 May (Eric Beohm), and three were located in
the Savannah area on 31 May (Giff Beaton, Jim Flynn, Earl Horn).
CONNECTICUT
WARBLER - One was found by Jeff Sewell at Kennesaw Mt. on 8 May, and
remained there until 11 May (Kevin Danchisen).
One was seen at Piedmont NWR on 27 May (Eric Beohm).
SCARLET
TANAGER - The high count was 21 at Kennesaw Mt. on 24 Apr. (Bob Zaremba et
al.). BACHMAN’S
SPARROW - Several were reported from the Pinelog WMA in Bartow Co. during
May by a number of observers. A
new location for this species was found in Glascock Co. (Jim Flynn). CHIPPING
SPARROW - This species is absent from the immediate coastal area in
summer, and Doris Cohrs reported seeing her last one in the Darien area on
22 Apr. VESPER
SPARROW - At least 15 were seen in the Rum Creek WMA on 20 Mar. (Michael
Bell, Aubrey Scott). Other
reports during mid-March included seven at CRNRA, and four at Tribble Mill
Park in Gwinnett Co. (fide Jeff Sewell).
Four were found in Upson Co. on 1 Apr. (Eric Beohm). HENSLOW’S
SPARROW - Two were found at the usual location at Paulk’s Pasture WMA on
13 Mar. (Chris Loudermilk). LECONTE’S
SPARROW - One was seen in Greene Co. on 24 Apr. (Paul Sykes).
HARRIS’S
SPARROW - The bird that wintered at the Chattahoochee Nature Center in
Fulton Co. was last reported on 19 Mar. (Eugene Keferl). WHITE-CROWNED
SPARROW - One was seen in the Macon area on 24 Apr. (Eric Beohm). DARK-EYED
JUNCO - The one seen at Kennesaw Mt. on 4 May was late (Kevin Danchisen).
ROSE-BREASTED
GROSBEAK - An excellent count was the 32 reported at Kennesaw Mt. on 24
Apr. (Bob Zaremba et al.). PAINTED
BUNTING - A male was seen at Central City Park in Macon on 10 May (Eric
Beohm). DICKCISSEL
- A singing male was seen in Greene Co. on 24 Apr. (Paul Sykes).
Two were a good find at the ELHLAF on 2 May (Jeff Sewell et al.),
and another singing male was found in Houston Co. during early May (Ashley
Harrison). BOBOLINK - Approximately 100 were seen in Upson Co. on 23 Apr. (Eric Beohm). A count of 114 was made in Greene Co. on 24 Apr. (Paul Sykes). A few were reported from the Etowah Indian Mounds in Bartow Co. on 30 Apr. (John Swiderski), while 100 were found at the ELHLAF on 8 May (Eran Tomer). RUSTY
BLACKBIRD - Fifteen were reported from Floyd College on 6 Mar. (Michael
Bell). One seen at Kennesaw
Mt. on 17 Mar. seemed to be out of place (Kevin Danchisen et al.), and
eight were counted in Haralson Co. on 2 Apr. (Michael Bell).
SHINY
COWBIRD - A male at the ASWMA on 21 May was an excellent find (Eric Beohm). BALTIMORE ORIOLE - The high count was 12 at Kennesaw Mt. on 24 Apr. (Bob Zaremba et al.). PURPLE FINCH - Following a slow winter for finches in the state there were just a few reports of this species. Two were in Haralson Co. on 2 Mar. (Michael Bell), one was in the McDonough area on 5 Mar. (Sally Ramer), one was at Kennesaw Mt. on 2 Apr. (Kevin Danchisen), and one was seen in the Thomaston area on both 2 and 8 Apr. (Eric Beohm). RED
CROSSBILL - A pair was a great find in the Pinelog WMA in Bartow Co. on 12
May (Kevin Danchisen, Deb Zaremba). One
or two birds were subsequently seen by several observers through the end
of the period. PINE
SISKIN - The only reports
were of one in Tucker on 4 Mar. (Karen Theodorou), two at Kennesaw Mt. on
18 Mar. (Kevin Danchisen et al.), and three or four in Sky Valley (Rabun
Co.) on 25 May (Paul Johnson). |
![]()
Created 27 Feb 2001