This past winter was the latest in a series of mild ones for Georgia and much of the rest of the country.  Undoubtedly, El Nino, La Nina and any other Ninos waiting to cause trouble may affect bird populations and distribution on a global scale, but I was unable to see how the weather had any effect on this report.  Certainly there were a few reports of birds lingering into winter, though no more than one might expect in a normal winter.  It would appear that the vast majority of birds pay no attention to long-term weather forecasts, but migrate when they get the physiological urge to do so, given suitable flight conditions.  Of course, if present weather patterns persist for several decades, we will undoubtedly see profound changes in the state’s avifauna in the future.  In the short-term factors, such as urban sprawl, pesticides, large-scale mono-crop agriculture and the local drought, if it continues, will have an increasingly more dramatic effect on bird populations in Georgia.

It was a good year for winter irruptives.  Major movements of these species are apparently triggered by population levels and the availability of food sources in more northerly latitudes.  Though there were few reports from feeders, Red-breasted Nuthatches were found at several North Georgia locations.  Both Purple Finches and Pine Siskins were seen in good numbers, though Evening Grosbeaks were hard to find, the only fairly reliable location to see this species being at Ann Stewart’s feeder in Floyd Co.  The big news on the finch front was the discovery of a large flock of Red Crossbills in Pine Log WMA in Bartow Co., where two birds had been found last May.  Good numbers were also seen along Burrell’s Ford Rd. in Rabun Co.  Two distinct types may well be involved here, as each group was found in very different habitats.  Northern Saw-whet Owls also staged quite an invasion this year, with this normally very elusive species being found by most who searched for it along Burrell’s Ford Rd., after the initial report in early January.

It was an outstanding season for rare gulls.  An Iceland Gull was originally found at West Point Dam by Doug Robinson but was later seen at a landfill near LaGrange.  Several Georgia birders in search of this bird were introduced to the pleasures of birding at a garbage dump.  The West Point Dam area also hosted both Lesser Black-backed and Great Black-backed Gulls during late January.  Not to be outdone, the coast also produced an Iceland Gull, along with two Glaucous Gulls and a Franklin’s Gull.  The most unusual report of all, however, was of a Black-legged Kittiwake in the Augusta area on 28 Jan.  Hopefully, details will be published in The Oriole.

Abbreviations used include:
CBC - Christmas Bird Count
ELHLAF -  E.L. Huie Land Application Facility in Clayton Co.
ENWR - the Bradley Unit of the Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge in Stewart Co.
MBBP - Merry Bros. Brickyard Ponds in Augusta
PNWR/RCWMA - Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge/Rum Creek Wildlife Management Area
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 - Two were seen in the vicinity of West Point Dam in Troup Co. on 3 Feb. for a rare inland report (Paul Raney).

HORNED GREBE - Good numbers wintered at West Point Lake, with the high count being 94 on 3 Feb. (Paul Raney).  Plant Wansley in Carroll/Heard Cos. also hosted good numbers, with 70+ being counted on 23 Dec. (Michael Bell, Chris Loudermilk, Aubrey Scott).

RED-NECKED GREBE - Two of this very rare species were found at West Point Dam on 7 Jan. (Pierre Howard), and one to two were subsequently reported from there by a number of observers, with the last report being of one on 5 Feb. (Johnny Parks).

EARED GREBE - A few wintered on Lake Lanier, with the high count being five on 12 Dec. (Giff Beaton, Adam Byrne, Tom Egan, Earl Horn).  The last report was of two there on 9 Feb. (Tom Egan, Earl Horn, Rusty Trump).

AMERICAN WHITE-PELICAN - Two were seen at St. Marys on both 27 Dec. (Bob Zaremba) and 21 Feb. (Earl Horn, Rusty Trump).  One was also recorded on the Sapelo Island CBC on 30 Dec. (fide Anne Waters).

DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT - Five hundred was a good count at the Macon brickyard ponds on 5 Dec. (Arlene Clark, Ken Clark, Ty Ivey, Paul Johnson).

ANHINGA - Five was a good count at the Oxbow Meadows Environmental Learning Center near Columbus on 9 Dec. (Walt Chambers).

AMERICAN BITTERN - Singles were seen at the Macon brickyard ponds on 4 Dec. (Jerry Amerson, Ty Ivey, Paul Johnson), and in the Richmond Hill area in Bryan Co. on both 27 Dec. (Mary Elfner, Bob Zaremba, Deb Zaremba) and 1 Jan. (Ogeechee Audubon Society).

GREAT BLUE HERON - Six nests were found in the Blanton Creek WMA in Harris Co. on 15 Feb. (Walt Chambers).

GREAT EGRET - Excellent counts were 107 at the Macon brickyard ponds on 5 Dec. (Arlene Clark, Ken Clark, Ty Ivey, Paul Johnson), 50+  at the Oxbow Meadows Environmental Learning Center near Columbus on 9 Dec. (Walt Chambers), and 78 in the Augusta area on 15 Jan (Anne Waters).

CATTLE EGRET - Two seen on the Macon CBC on 18 Dec. were an unusual find for winter (Ty Ivey et al.).  Four were also seen at MBBP on 27 Dec. (fide Anne Waters).

GREEN HERON - One seen in Bibb Co. on 18 Dec. was a rare winter find (Ken Clark et al.), as was the one found at MBBP on 27 Dec. (fide Anne Waters).

BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON -  One was a good find at Lake Varner near Covington on 12 Dec. (Jack Johnson).  A high count of 177 was made on the Harris Neck CBC on 17 Dec. (fide Steve Calver).

WHITE IBIS - Evidently, Grand Bay WMA in Lowndes/Lanier Cos. is a good wintering site for this species, as at least 1000 were found there on 17 Feb. (Brad Bergstrom et al.).

GLOSSY IBIS - Rare for winter was a single bird seen at Onslow Island on both 23 Jan. (Earl Horn, Rusty Trump) and 13 Feb. (Bob Zaremba).

WOOD STORK - One was seen in Macon on 19 Dec. for a rare winter record (Cindy Adrien, Dan Adrien fide Paul Johnson).

GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE - The most reliable spot in the state for this species is ENWR, and 11 were seen there on 30 Dec. (Walt Chambers, Bob Zaremba), and six were reported on 6 Feb. (Jeff Sewell).  More unusual were the three seen at St. Catherines Island on 23 and 24 Jan. (Paul Sykes).

SNOW GOOSE - The high count for the period was 16 at ENWR on both 30 Dec. (Walt Chambers, Bob Zaremba) and 11 Jan. (Walt Chambers).  Other reports included five in the Columbus area on 9 Dec. (Walt Chambers), and eight in Putnam Co. on both 21 Dec. (Billy Dunbar) and 23 Dec. (Jim Flynn).

TUNDRA SWAN - This species was well reported, with one at the Macon brickyard ponds on both 4 and 5 Dec. (Ty Ivey et al.) and again on 19 and 25 Feb. (Marie Amerson, Arlene Clark, Ken Clark, Ty Ivey), one in Laurens Co. on 11 Dec. (Giff Beaton, Tommy Paterson), one on the Albany CBC on 18 Dec. (fide Alan Ashley), and one in the Evans area in Columbia Co. for much of February (Gene Howard).

GADWALL - Impressive numbers wintered on a small pond in Coweta Co., peaking at 400+ on both 29 Dec. and 18 Jan. (Michael Bell, Chris Loudermilk, Aubrey Scott).

AMERICAN WIGEON - Good counts were 150 on the Macon CBC on 18 Dec. (Ty Ivey et al.) and 100 at Garden Lakes in the Rome area on 9 Feb. (Ann Stewart).

AMERICAN BLACK DUCK - Sixteen seen in Forsyth Co. on 4 Dec. was a good count (Jim Flynn).  Seven were recorded on the Marietta CBC on 19 Dec. (fide Bill Blakeslee), and nine were seen at West Point Dam in Troup Co. on 28 Dec. (Jim Flynn).

MOTTLED DUCK - Four were seen at Youman’s Pond in Liberty Co. on 13 Feb. (Bob Zaremba).

NORTHERN PINTAIL - Seven were reported in Forsyth Co. on 4 Dec. (Jim Flynn), 18 were recorded on the Macon CBC on 18 Dec. (Ty Ivey et al.), and six were seen in MBBP on 27 Dec. (fide Anne Waters).  Jeff Sewell had an outstanding count of 125 at ENWR on 6 Feb.

GREEN-WINGED TEAL - An excellent count of 700 was made at the Macon brickyard ponds on 4 Dec. (Ty Ivey et al.).

CANVASBACK - Lake Seminole is the best location in the state for this duck, and 150 were reported from there on 14 Dec. (Kevin Danchisen, Tom Egan, Bob Zaremba, Deb Zaremba).  Other reports were of two at the Macon brickyard ponds on both 4 Dec. (Jerry Amerson) and 18 Dec. (Ty Ivey et al.), three on the PNWR/RCWMA on 20 Dec. (fide Terry Johnson), two at MBBP on 27 Dec. (fide Anne Waters), one on the Callaway Gardens CBC on 2 Jan. (fide LuAnn Craighton), four at Walter F. George Dam on 5 Feb. (Giff Beaton et al.), three at the DeKalb Reservoir on 8 Feb. (Earl Horn), one at Youman’s Pond in Liberty Co. on 20 Feb. (Earl Horn, Rusty Trump), and one at Cooper Creek Park in the Columbus area on 27 Feb (Earl Horn, Rusty Trump).

REDHEAD - The Marietta CBC had an excellent count of 26 on 19 Dec. (fide Bill Blakeslee).  Other reports included six at DeKalb Reservoir on 12 Dec. (Patrick Brisse), 10 at West Point Dam on 12 Dec. (Walt Chambers), three at Peachtree City Lake on 19 Dec. (David Cree), and two at MBBP on 15 Jan. (Anne Waters).

GREATER SCAUP - Two were reported from the ELHLAF on 13 Dec. (Tom Egan), three were recorded on the PNWR/RCWMA CBC on 20 Dec. (fide Terry Johnson), one was spotted at West Point Dam in Troup Co. on 28 Dec. (Jim Flynn), and two were seen at Cooper Creek Park in the Columbus area on 11 Feb. (Walt Chambers).

SURF SCOTER - Two immatures were spotted at Lake Lanier on 11 Dec. (Earl Horn), and two were seen at Lake Wildwood in Bibb Co. on 21 Jan. (Paul Johnson) for rare inland reports.  The high count from the coast was nine at Jekyll Island on 2 Feb. (Giff Beaton).

WHITE-WINGED SCOTER - Fifteen was a good count on the Cumberland Island CBC on 18 Dec. (fide Sheila Willis).

OLDSQUAW - Two were seen off the north end of Jekyll Island on 7 Jan. (Gene Keferl).

BUFFLEHEAD - Rusty Trump had a good count of 100+ at West Point Dam on 10 Jan.

COMMON GOLDENEYE - The West Point Dam area hosted good numbers of this duck throughout the winter, with the best counts being 31 on 22 Dec. (Michael Beohm, Richard Beohm), 26 on 10 Jan. (Rusty Trump), and 25 on 31 Jan. (Bob Zaremba).  As many as three were reported from Lake Acworth during December (Chuck Saleeby), two were seen at Walter F. George Dam on 14 Dec. (Bob Zaremba, Deb Zaremba, Kevin Danchisen, Tom Egan), and three were found at Goat Rock Dam near Columbus on 17 Dec. (Michael Bell).

RED-BREASTED MERGANSER - Inland reports included four at Garden Lakes in the Rome area on 8 Dec. (Stephen Stewart), 10 at Clayton College on 12 Dec. (Eric Beohm, Jessica Beohm), eight at Peachtree City Lake on 19 Dec. (David Cree), 55 at West Point Lake on 20 Dec. (Walt Chambers), 64 on the PNWR/RCWMA CBC on 20 Dec. (fide Terry Johnson), three at Lake Varner in Newton/Walton Cos. on 27 Dec. (Jack Johnson), and one at Lake Blalock on 12 Jan. (Carol Lambert).

RUDDY DUCK - Two good counts were 160 at Lake Blalock on 4 Dec. (Eric Beohm), and 318 at Lake Varner in Walton/Newton Cos. on 12 Dec. (Jack Johnson).

OSPREY - The PNWR/RCWMA CBC recorded its first one in 29 years of counts on 20 Dec. (fide Paul Johnson).  One was seen at West Point Dam on 13 Jan. (Walt Chambers) for another rare winter sighting in the Piedmont.

BALD EAGLE - The St. Catherines Island CBC had a good count of eight on 18 Dec. (fide Emil Urban).  West Point Lake is one of the best inland locations for this species, and six to eight were seen there on 20 Jan. (Walt Chambers).

NORTHERN HARRIER - The owl fields along Cobb Cheek Road in Sumter Co. are of course a good area for this species, as evidenced by the 23 counted there on 4 Feb. (Giff Beaton).

GOLDEN EAGLE - An adult was seen near the old hack site in Walker Co. on 12 Dec. (Michael Bell, Chris Loudermilk, Aubrey Scott).

RUFFED GROUSE - This rarely reported species was found twice during the period in Towns Co.  One was seen there on 24 Dec. (Diane Powell), and one was found in the Swallow Creek WMA on 15 Jan. (Earl Horn, Rusty Trump).

KING RAIL - Paul Sykes had three at the Greene Co. marsh on 5 Dec., and one there on 8 Jan.  Six were recorded in the Phinizy Swamp in Richmond Co. during the Augusta CBC on 27 Dec. (fide Anne Waters).

VIRGINIA RAIL - At the Greene Co. marsh Paul Sykes had counts of 12 on 5 Dec., and 15 on 8 Jan.  Five was a good count on the Marietta CBC on 19 Dec. (Jim Flynn, Chris Loudermilk, Karen Theodorou).  Singles were also noted at the Macon brickyard ponds on 4 Dec. (Jerry Amerson), in the Phinizy Swamp in Richmond Co. on 27 Dec. (fide Anne Waters), and at Floyd College in Floyd Co. on 25 Dec. (Marion Dobbs).

SORA - Totals at the Greene Co. marsh were seven on 5 Dec. and three on 8 Jan. (Paul Sykes).  Ten were found in the Phinizy Swamp in Richmond Co. on the Augusta CBC on 27 Dec. (fide Anne Waters).

SANDHILL CRANE - Following the major movement of cranes at the end of November, several flocks were observed headed south, with the best counts being 150 in Henry Co. on 16 Dec. (Paul Raney), 100 over Senoia on 22 Dec. (fide Joel Hitt), and 100 over Cobb Co. on 25 Dec. (Chris Berkely).  The 81 seen at ENWR on 18 Jan. may have been wintering locally (fide Walt Chambers).  Several northbound flocks were observed beginning on 14 Feb., with a major push noted on 19 and 20 Feb. over the Atlanta area.  Several observers reported seeing as many as 1000 cranes during this two-day period, and in Houston Co. Larry Ross estimated several flocks totaling about 5000 birds on 18 Feb.  “Thousands” were still in the Valdosta area on 26 Feb. (Brad Bergstrom).

WILSON’S PLOVER - Once again this species was well reported during the winter months.  Eight were tallied on the St. Catherines Island CBC on 18 Dec. (fide Brad Bergstrom), as many as seven were at Jekyll Island on 22 Jan. (Pierre Howard, Jeff Sewell), one was seen on Sapelo Island on 24 Jan. (Doris Cohrs), a total of 16 were seen along the coast on 3 Feb. (Giff Beaton), and 13 were counted at Little Tybee Island on 15 Feb. (Rene Heidt, Brad Winn).

KILLDEER - Pierre Howard and Jeff Sewell had a good count of 800 at Thomas Bros. sod farm in Floyd Co. on 19 Feb.

AMERICAN AVOCET - Good counts were 52 at Ossabaw Island on 4 Dec. (Deb Barriero, Rene Heidt), and 49 at Andrews Island on 4 Feb. (Giff Beaton).

SPOTTED SANDPIPER - A single bird was reported at West Point Dam through the end of January by several observers.  Two were also seen on the PNWR/RCWMA CBC on 20 Dec. (fide Terry Johnson).

LONG-BILLED CURLEW - Two were recorded on the St. Catherines Island CBC on 18 Dec. (fide Emil Urban), and one was seen on Ossabaw Island on 24 Jan. (Earl Horn, Rusty Trump).

MARBLED GODWIT - The 98 tallied on the St. Catherines Island CBC on 18 Dec. was a good count (fide Emil Urban).

LEAST SANDPIPER - Good counts for winter were 15 in Putnam Co. on 23 Dec. (Jim Flynn), and seven seen at the ELHLAF on 17 Jan. (Jeff Sewell).

PURPLE SANDPIPER - Several reports were received from the usual reliable spot on Tybee Island throughout the winter, with the high count being seven on 3 Feb. (Mary Elfner, Rene Heidt).

DUNLIN - Three were reported at the ELHLAF on 2 Dec. (Eric Beohm), and two remained there through the end of January (Carol Lambert).  Good counts from the coast included 1924 on the Harris Neck CBC on 17 Dec. (fide Steve Calver), 3010 on the St. Catherines Island CBC on 18 Dec. (fide Emil Urban), and 1220 at Little Tybee Island on 15 Feb. (Rene Heidt, Brad Winn).

STILT SANDPIPER - This species again wintered at Onslow Island, though only small numbers were reported this year, beginning with three on 19 Dec. (Giff Beaton, Tommy Patterson), four on 6 Feb. (Chuck Prine, Elizabeth Prine), one on 13 Feb. (Bob Zaremba), and finally three on 20 Feb. (Earl Horn, Rusty Trump).

LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER - Eight birds were seen and heard for an unusual find on the Macon CBC on 18 Dec. (Michael Bell, Nancy Gobris, Aubrey Scott).  The best count from the coastal region was 35 on Onslow Island on 23 Jan. (Earl Horn, Rusty Trump).

WILSON’S PHALAROPE - One was a very rare find on the Cumberland Island CBC on 18 Dec. (fide Sheila Willis).

POMARINE JAEGER - One was seen off St. Catherines Island on 17 Dec. (fide Brad Bergstrom).

PARASITIC JAEGER - Six to seven were seen off St. Catherines Island on 17 Dec. (fide Brad Bergstrom), and two were recorded there the following day on the CBC.  At Jekyll Island one was seen on 23 Dec. (Bob Zaremba), and one or two were seen on 25 Jan. (Jim Flynn et al.).  Singles were also seen off Tybee Island on 24 Dec. (Bob Zaremba) and 22 Jan. (Paul Sykes).

FRANKLIN’S GULL - One seen at Jekyll Island on 3 Dec. was a nice find (Lydia Thompson).

Iceland Gull - LaGrange Landfill - 1 Feb 2000

ICELAND GULL - This winter there were two reports, from opposite sides of the state, of this accidental winter visitor.  Lydia Thompson found a first-year bird at Jekyll Island on 21 Jan. that was seen off and on until last being reported on 28 Jan. (Larry Carlile).  Another first-year bird was seen at West Point Dam on 30 Jan. (Doug Robinson) for a first inland record for the state.  The bird was found the next day, among hundreds of other gulls, by several observers at a landfill near LaGrange.  The last report received of this bird was from West Point Dam on 2 Feb. (fide Joel Hitt).

LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL - For the second winter in a row one was seen at West Point Dam.  Doug Robinson found one there on 30 Jan.

GLAUCOUS GULL - A second winter bird was seen at Sapelo Island on 24 Jan. (Walt Borden, Paul Johnson).  Another single was found at Jekyll Island on the same day (Anna Collins, Steve Holzman, Lydian Thompson), where it remained though 28 Jan. (Larry Carlile).

GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL - A first winter bird was seen at West Point Dam on 22 Jan. (Doug Robinson) for a very rare inland report.  It was last seen in the area on 31 Jan. (Walt Chambers, Earl Horn, Rusty Trump).  On the coast Giff Beaton had a good count of 14 at St. Simons Island on 2 Feb.

BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE - This offshore winter visitor was reported from the Augusta area on 28 Jan. (Paul Raney).

FORSTER’S TERN - Good numbers of this species wintered at West Point Lake, with the high count being 150 on 3 Feb. (Paul Raney).

BARN OWL - The Marietta CBC had its first ever record when Earl Horn found one on 19 Dec.  Several birders were able to observe this hard to find owl in downtown Savannah, after two were reported there on 7 Jan. by Mary Elfner.

SHORT-EARED OWL - The only report received for the period from Cobb Cheek Road in Sumter Co., the only reliable site for this species in recent years, was of two birds on 4 Feb. (Giff Beaton).

NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL - Two to three were found along Burrell’s Ford Rd. on 8 Jan. (Giff Beaton et al.).  Several observers made successful trips to the area in search of the owls through the end of the period, with the high count being four found on 16 Jan. (Earl Horn, Rusty Trump).

WHIP-POOR-WILL - One was reported from the Darien area on 20 Jan. (Doris Cohrs).  This species is apparently a rare winter resident in the coastal plain, though it is rarely reported.

Rufous Hummingbird - Forsyth Co., GA - 2 Jan 2000

RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD - Rusty Trump reported that two spent the winter at his yard in Suwanee, one wintered at another yard in Powder Springs, and two birds were banded in Buford at the end of February.  A single was reported from Tybee Island on both 25 Dec. and 17 Jan. (Deb Barriero).  Buddy Rowe reported that a total of nine were banded in the the state during the winter, with about 25 other hummingbirds being reported but not banded.

VERMILLION FLYCATCHER - A female was found at Carter’s Pond in Lanier Co. around 12 Feb. (fide Brad Bergstrom) and was subsequently seen by several observers before the last report on 27 Feb. (Giff Beaton, Bob Zaremba).

WESTERN KINGBIRD - One was reported on the Okefenokee CBC on 30 Dec.  Another single was found at a wastewater treatment plant in the Richmond Hill area on a field trip by the Ogeechee Audubon Society on 1 Jan.

COMMON RAVEN - One was seen at Brasstown Bald, one of the two or three fairly reliable spots for this species, on 20 Dec. (Giff Beaton, Tom Egan, Bob Zaremba).  More unusual was one seen in Rabun Co. at a relatively low elevation of 2075 feet on 8 Jan. (Giff Beaton et al.).

HORNED LARK - Sixty was an excellent count at Thomas Bros. sod farm on Floyd Co. on 12 Dec. (Michael Bell, Chris Loudermilk, Aubrey Scott).

TREE SWALLOW - Most unusual were two reports from the Piedmont.  Thirty were noted in Fayette Co. on 16 Jan. (Bill Birkhead, Walt Chambers, Carson Strongfellow), and one was seen at the ELHLAF on 17 Feb. (Russ Wigh).

RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH - It was a fairly good winter for this irruptive species, with small numbers reported from several areas north of the fall line.  The best counts included three at Brasstown Bald on 20 Dec. (Giff Beaton, Tom Egan, Bob Zaremba), six at Tally Mt. in Haralson Co. on 5 Jan. (Michael Bell), six in Rabun Co. on 8 Jan. (Giff Beaton et al.), and three at Sweat Mt. in Cobb Co. on 18 Feb. (Harry DeLoach, Vickie DeLoach).  One was also seen at the coast on the St. Catherines Island CBC on 18 Dec. (Giff Beaton).

MARSH WREN - Nine was a good count from the Phinizy Swamp in Richmond Co. during the Augusta CBC on 27 Dec. (fide Anne Waters).

GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET - Several observers noted higher than usual numbers of this species throughout the state.  Of particular note was the 71 recorded on the St. Catherines Island CBC on 18 Dec. (fide Brad Bergstrom).

BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER - One seen in Heard Co. on 23 Dec. was unusual (Michael Bell, Chris Loudermilk, Aubrey Scott).  Another single seen at MBBP on 12 Feb. was also a good find (Anne Waters).

AMERICAN PIPIT - Good counts were about 150 at Oxbow Meadows Environmental Learning Center near Columbus on 9 Dec. (Walt Chambers), and about 100 at a sod farm in Carroll Co. on 18 Jan. (Michael Bell).

NORTHERN PARULA - Two were recorded on the St. Catherines Island CBC on 18 Dec. for a very rare winter report (fide Brad Bergstrom).

PRAIRIE WARBLER - Not quite so rare, but still a good find, was one seen at St. Marys on 22 Jan. (Earl Horn, Rusty Trump), and another, perhaps the same bird, was reported from there on both 13 Feb. (Bob Zaremba) and 21 Feb. (Earl Horn).  Another good find was one in Floyd Co. on 9 Feb. (Marion Dobbs).

OVENBIRD - Deb Barriero found one in Effingham Co. on 11 Dec. for a very rare winter sighting, and the same observer reported one on Tybee Island on 17 Jan.  One was also seen on Sapelo Island on 29 Dec. (Chris Copeland, Anne Waters, Vernon Waters).

WILSON’S WARBLER - Another good find was one seen at the Warm Springs Fish Hatchery on both 24 and 26 Dec. (Michael Beohm).

LARK SPARROW - One was recorded on the St. Catherines Island CBC on 18 Dec.

HENSLOW’S SPARROW - A team of sparrow researchers from Ohio State University, assisted by Giff Beaton, toured South Georgia from 17 to 19 Jan., looking specifically for this species.  Impressive counts were 17 at Paulk’s Pasture in Glynn Co., and 11 along a powerline in McIntosh Co.  Other reports included one on the St. Catherines Island CBC on 18 Dec., two on Sapelo Island on 30 Dec. (Anne Waters), and one at the Horse Creek WMA in Telfair Co. on 9 Feb. (Nathan Klaus).

LE CONTE’S SPARROW - Two were found at the Macon brickyard ponds on 11 Dec. (Giff Beaton et al.), and five were counted at the same location on the Macon CBC on 18 Dec. (Ty Ivey et al.).  At Paulk’s Pasture in Glynn Co., two were seen on 18 Jan. (Giff Beaton et al.), two again were found on 22 Jan. (Earl Horn, Rusty Trump), and one was seen on 16 Feb. (Gene Keferl et al.).  Other reports included one in Chatham Co. on 17 Jan. (Giff Beaton et al.) and “many” at ENWR on 18 Jan. (fide Walt Chambers).

LINCOLN’S SPARROW - One was recorded on the Albany CBC on 18 Dec. (fide Alan Ashley).

WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW - Six were recorded on the Athens CBC on 18 Dec. (fide Eugenia Thompson), one was seen on the Marietta CBC on 19 Dec. (fide Bill Blakeslee), 22 was the count on the Bainbridge/Lake Seminole CBC on 27 Dec. (fide Oscar Dewberry), one was found in Jasper Co. on 23 Dec. (Jim Flynn), another single was seen on the Dalton CBC on 1 Jan. (fide Harriet DiGioia), one was found at MBBP on both 6 Jan. and 8 Feb. (Clarence Belger, Anne Waters), 20 was a good count in Murray Co. on 5 Feb. (Earl Horn), and three were found in Wilcox Co. on 21 Feb. (Earl Horn, Rusty Trump).  A report of “hundreds” in White Co. during February (Davis Bullock) is to the best of my knowledge unprecedented in Georgia.

RUSTY BLACKBIRD - Decent counts were made of 40 at Callaway Gardens on 26 Dec. (Eric Beohm) and 30 in the Columbus area on 6 Jan. (Walt Chambers).  Several observers reported a large flock in the vicinity of Carter’s Pond in Lanier Co. during February, with the high count being 400 on 20 Feb. (Brad Bergstrom).  About 100 were seen just south of Lake Park in Lowndes Co. on 26 Feb. (Kristi Avera).

BREWER’S BLACKBIRD - This species was well reported, with counts of 40 at Jackson’s Pasture in Laurens Co. on 11 Dec. (Giff Beaton et al.), 20 at Callaway Gardens on 26 Dec. (Eric Beohm), 20 in the Columbus area on 6 Jan. (Walt Chambers), 45 on a trip through South Georgia on 17 Jan. (Bill Birkhead, Walt Chambers), 20+ at Carter’s Pond in Lanier Co. on 20 Feb. (Brad Bergstrom), and about 30 at the Oxbow Meadows Environmental Learning Center in the Columbus area on 28 Feb. (Walt Chambers).

BOAT-TAILED  GRACKLE - A bird of the Gulf Coast subspecies was found near Moultrie in Colquitt Co. on 19 Jan. (Giff Beaton et al.).

BALTIMORE ORIOLE - Reports included one at the Macon brickyard ponds on 4 Dec. (Jerry Amerson), two seen in the same area on the Macon CBC on 18 Dec. (Ty Ivey et al.), one on the St. Catherines Island CBC on 18 Dec., one on the Marietta CBC on 19 Dec. (Jim Flynn, Karen Theodorou), two at MBBP on 27 Dec. (fide Anne Waters), one at the Altamaha Waterfowl Management Area in McIntosh Co. on 9 Jan. (Michael Beohm), and one in Walton Co. on 21 Jan. (B.B. Sams).

Purple Finch - Forsyth Co., GA - 7 Jan 2000

PURPLE FINCH - There were many reports of this species across North Georgia, with the best counts being 50 in Upson Co. on 12 Jan. (Michael Beohm), and about 30 at Sweetwater Creek State Park in Douglas Co. on 13 Feb. (Gordon McWilliams).

Red Crossbill (in fog) - Pine Log Mt. WMA - 15 Dec 1999

RED CROSSBILL - Two birds were discovered in the Pine Log WMA in Bartow Co. last spring, but on 12 Dec. Giff Beaton et al. found a flock there consisting of an astounding 64 birds.  Several observers reported smaller numbers at this site during the following two weeks, with the last report for the period being of two birds on 1 Jan. (fide Joel Hitt).  Another excellent count of 35-40 birds was made along Burrell’s Ford Rd. in Rabun Co., at the Georgia-South Carolina State line, on 8 Jan. (Giff Beaton et al.).  On the same day, Pierre Howard found a single bird along Warwoman Dell Rd., also in Rabun Co.  A single bird was also reported on the Chattahoochee National Forest CBC on 19 Dec. (fide Harriet DiGioia).

Pine Siskin - Burrell's Ford, Rabun Co. - 8 Jan 2000

PINE SISKIN - It was also an excellent winter for this species, with some of the best counts being about 40 at the Pine Log WMA in Bartow Co. on 17 Dec. (Bruce Hallet, Pierre Howard), 63 in Dawson Forest on 31 Dec. (Jim Flynn), 50 in Rabun Co. on 8 Jan. (Giff Beaton et al.), and 56 in Suwanee on 12 Feb. (Rusty Trump).

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