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:
ACOGB
- Annotated Checklist of Georgia Birds, 1986, Haney, J.C. et al., GOS Occ. Publ. No. 10;
ASWMA - Altamaha State Waterfowl Management Area in McIntosh Co.;
CRNRA - Cochran Shoals Unit of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area in Cobb Co.;
ELHLAF - E.L. Huie Land Application Facility in Clayton Co.;
Kennesaw Mt. - Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park in Cobb Co.;
m.ob. - many observers;
NWR - National Wildlife Refuge;
SCSP - Sweetwater Creek State Park in Douglas Co.;
v.ob. - various observers;
WMA
- Wildlife Management Area. 

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 - Georgia Pelagic Trip - 30 May 1999

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 - Georgia Pelagic - 30 May 1999

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 - Elko, Houston Co., GA - 28 May 1999

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).

EVENING GROSBEAK - A rare find this spring was one at the CRNRA on 23 Apr. (Earl Horn), and again at the same location on 25 Apr. (fide Jeff Sewell).

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Created 27 Feb 2001