The highlight of the season must surely have been the Spotted Towhee found in Atlanta, though the discovery of a Bell’s Vireo in the Columbus area, just a week or so later, disrupted almost as many lives, as a throng of birders grabbed their binoculars and headed to Muscogee County.

The Spotted Towhee, found by Richard and Nancy Cole at their home, provided a first state record.  Fortunately, the bird remained in the area for several days and was seen by a large number of observers.  Excellent photographs should make it an easy decision to add this species to the regular state checklist.  The Spotted Towhee was, of course, until recently lumped together with the Eastern Towhee into a single species, the Rufous-sided Towhee.  One wonders if full species status had not been restored how much excitement this find, though no less significant, would have generated.  Many thanks are due to the Coles for allowing birders unrestricted access to the grounds around their home while the bird remained in the area.

Bell’s Vireo is listed in the hypothetical species list in the ACOGB, with just two records noted.  This species has eluded Georgia birders for many years, so when Walt Chambers found one in Muscogee County word spread quickly.  This bird also remained in the area for a few days, though it usually took some perseverance and luck to find it.  Photographs were also obtained, so hopefully this species will also make it to the regular list.  Interestingly, the two previous records in the ACOGB were from the same area of the state.  One was recorded in Columbus and the other in neighboring Harris County, both sightings being in 1975.

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.;
ENWR - the Bradley Unit of the Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge in Stewart 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.
WMA - Wildlife Management Area.

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.

COMMON LOON - The best counts reported were 15 at Plant Wansley in Carroll/Heard Cos. on 18 Mar. (Michael Bell, Chris Loudermilk, Aubrey Scott), and 27 at Rum Creek WMA on 20 Mar. (Eric Beohm).  Five were seen at Nottely Dam on 13 May (Jim Flynn), and one bird was still at Lake Juliette in Monroe Co. on 23 May (Nathan Klaus).

HORNED GREBE - At least 100 were counted at Plant Wansley in Carroll/Heard Cos. on 18 Mar. (Michael Bell, Chris Loudermilk, Aubrey Scott), and about 50 were still there on 5 Apr. (Michael Bell).

AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN - One was seen along Jekyll Island Causeway on 14 Mar. (Eric Haley), and five were seen near the mouth of the Satilla River on 15 Mar. (Brad Winn).

Double-crested Cormorant - Richmond Hill FH - 12 May 2000

DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT - Sixty-eight were counted flying by Kennesaw Mt. on 17 Apr. (Giff Beaton et al.).

AMERICAN BITTERN - Grand Bay WMA may be the best spot in the state for this species in winter, as evidenced by the 10 to 13 counted there during early March (Darrell Watson fide Brad Bergstrom).  Other reports included one, and sometimes two, seen at the South Peachtree Nature Preserve in DeKalb Co. from 15 Apr. (fide Jerry Brunner) through 23 Apr. (Steve Ehly), a single bird at the CRNRA on 29 Apr. (Bill Blakeslee et al.), and two seen at the Arrowhead Wildlife Education Center in Floyd Co., also on 29 Apr. (Earl Horn, Ann Stewart).

LEAST BITTERN - Paul Sykes found the first one for the spring at a breeding site in Greene Co. on 6 May.  One was a good find at the Arrowhead Wildlife Education Center in Floyd Co. on 14 May (Marion Dobbs).  Another single was seen at the ENWR on 16 May (Walt Chambers).

GREAT EGRET - One seen at Peachtree City Lake in Fayette Co. on 4 Mar. was unusual for the time of year (Eric Beohm).  Other early sightings in the Piedmont included a flyover at the Newman Wetlands Center in Clayton Co. on 22 Apr. (Jeff Sewell), and 11 in Heard Co. on 18 May (Michael Bell).

SNOWY EGRET - Four were noted in the Augusta area on 16 May (Anne Waters).

LITTLE BLUE HERON - This species was again found in the Piedmont in early spring.  Singles were reported from Fernbank Forest in DeKalb Co. on 25 Mar. (Georgann Schmalz), at the Kennesaw Mt. marsh on 1 Apr. (Giff Beaton, Bob Zaremba), in Carroll Co. on 5 Apr. (Michael Bell), and in Conyers in Rockdale Co. on 13 Apr (Francis Michael).

REDDISH EGRET - One was reported at Little St. Simons Island on 18 May (Steve Hawk).

GLOSSY IBIS - A good count of 44 was made at the AWMA on 22 Apr. (Bob Zaremba et al.).

ROSEATE SPOONBILL - An early sighting, of a single bird, was made in the Brunswick area in Glynn Co. on 25 Mar. (fide Steve Holzman).  Other reports included singles at Tolomato Pond near Darien on 11 May (Doris Cohrs) and near Harris Neck on 13 May (Larry Carlile).

Wood Stork - Tolomato Pond - 12 May 2000

WOOD STORK - Good counts were 80 at Tolomato Pond near Darien on 4 May (Doris Cohrs) and 53 at Skidaway Island on 13 May (Beth Roth).  “Hundreds” were noted nesting at Harris Neck WMA on 14 May (Steve Livingstone).

ROSS’S GOOSE - A bird that apparently arrived in Madison Co. more than a year ago was still there on 24 Apr. (Giff Beaton, Jim Flynn, Paul Sykes).

TUNDRA SWAN - Two birds were reported in the Albany area during early March (Don Cook).

GADWALL - At least 200 of the flock that wintered on a small pond in Coweta Co. were still there on 7 Mar. (Michael Bell).

NORTHERN PINTAIL - Two were seen at Lake Hartwell in Stephens Co. on 12 Mar. (Jim Flynn, Earl Horn).

CANVASBACK - A male was seen at Lake Horton in Fayette Co. on 4 Mar. (Eric Beohm).

REDHEAD - On 4 Mar. Eric Beohm had sightings at three locations, with six at Peachtree City Lake in Fayette Co., 15 at Lake Horton in Fayette Co., and 50 at Griffin Reservoir in Spalding Co.  On the same day 60 were seen at the Macon brickyard ponds (Ty Ivey et al.).  Twenty-two were counted at SCSP on 11 Mar. (Giff Beaton, Tom Egan, Chris Loudermilk).

GREATER SCAUP - Two were found at Peachtree City Lake in Fayette Co. on 4 Mar. (Eric Beohm), and seven were seen at the Macon brickyard ponds on the same day (Ty Ivey).  Another inland report was that of a single bird at Cooper Creek in Muscogee Co. on 16 Mar. (Walt Chambers).

LESSER SCAUP - A good count of 300+ was made at Plant Wansley in Carroll/Heard Cos. on 18 Mar. (Michael Bell, Chris Loudermilk, Aubrey Scott).

SURF SCOTER - Three were seen at SCSP on 11 Mar. for a rare inland report (Giff Beaton, Tom Egan, Chris Loudermilk).  Good counts from Jekyll Island were 16 on 26 Mar. (Bob Zaremba) and 11 on 2 Apr. (Eric Beohm, Jessica Beohm).

WHITE-WINGED SCOTER - One was seen at Jekyll Island on both 17 Mar. (Lydia Thompson) and 26 Mar. (Bob Zaremba).

COMMON GOLDENEYE - One was seen at Lake Horton in Fayette Co. on 5 Mar. (Eric Beohm, Michael Beohm).

Hooded Merganser - Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center - 30 Apr 2000

HOODED MERGANSER - Breeding was confirmed at the Charlie Elliot Wildlife Center when Jim Flynn observed a family group there on 30 Apr.  Another rare nesting of this species was confirmed by the sighting of a female with two young at Ozierfield in Irwin Co. on 9 May (Milton Hopkins).

RED-BREASTED MERGANSER - The only inland reports received were of four at Commerce Waterworks Lake in Jackson Co. on 19 Mar. (Eugenia Thompson) and eight at Plant Wansley in Carroll Co. on 5 Apr. (Michael Bell).  Two were still at Skidaway Island on 13 May (Beth Roth).

Ruddy Duck - ELHLAF - 6 May 2000

RUDDY DUCK - A nice count of 93 was made at Lake Horton in Fayette Co. on 4 Mar. (Eric Beohm).  One seen at the ELHLAF on 6 May was a little late (Giff Beaton, Randy Crooks, Richard Crooks).

Osprey - Altamaha SWMA - 12 May 2000

OSPREY - A pair were observed building a nest at Lake Shamrock in Clayton Co. during April (Carol Lambert).  This species has nested in the area before.

SWALLOW-TAILED KITE - The first birds reported were one at Riceboro on 22 Mar. (Gail Whalen) and one at Fort Stewart on the same day (Larry Carlile).  E.J. Williams reported that 20 were found along the Altamaha River during surveys for this species from 4 through 6 Apr.

MISSISSIPPI KITE - One seen near Douglas in Coffee Co. on 25 Mar. was very early (Helena Wood).  Ten was a good count at Oxbow Meadows in the Columbus area on 29 Apr. (Michael Bell, Carol Lambert, Jeff Sewell), and about 30 were seen in Crawford/Taylor Cos. on 6 May (Kitty Esco, Nathan Klaus, Phil Spivey).  One was a good find in the Athens area on 27 May (Kitty Reynolds).

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK - One was reported in Houston Co. on 21 May (Dan Guynn).

RED-TAILED HAWK - A rare dark morph bird was reported from Liberty Co. on 4 Apr. (Howard Weinberg).

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK - One seen in the Rum Creek WMA in Monroe Co. on 1 May was the first one reported in the state in more than three years (Georgann Schmalz, E.J. Williams).

PEREGRINE FALCON - Singles were seen in the Okefenokee NWR in Charlton Co. on 22 Mar. (Sheila Willis), in the Cumming area on 7 May (Theresa Hartz) and at Brasstown Bald on 29 May (Chris Loudermilk, Aubrey Scott).

BLACK RAIL - This species was late in returning to the marsh in northern Greene Co. this spring, according to Paul Sykes, with the first bird being found on 6 May.

KING RAIL - Two were reported at the CRNRA on 29 Apr. (Giff Beaton, Bill Blakeslee et al.), and two were found at the ENWR on 16 May (Julie Ballenger, Walt Chambers).  This species was present all spring at the Phinizy Swamp Nature Park in Richmond Co. (Anne Waters).

VIRGINIA RAIL - Three were found in the ELHLAF area on 16 Apr. (Carol Lambert, Jeff Sewell).  The high count for the marsh in Greene Co. was seven on 22 Apr. (Paul Sykes).

SORA - Reports from the Atlanta area included one at Kennesaw Marsh on 18 Mar. (Giff Beaton, Tom Egan, Bob Zaremba), a roadkill near the ELHLAF on 25 Apr. (Carol Lambert), one at the CRNRA on 29 Apr. (Giff Beaton et al.), and one at the South Peachtree Creek Nature Center on both 30 Apr. (Jerry Brunner) and 2 May (Jeff Sewell).

SANDHILL CRANE - Small flocks were still seen migrating north during early March, with the last report for the month being of four in Gwinnett Co. on 12 Mar. (Jim Flynn).  A single bird seen flying north over Wassaw Island on 20 May was quite unexpected (Steve Calver).

AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER - One was seen at the Super Sod Farm in Peach Co. on both 8 Apr. (Walt Chambers) and 9 Apr. (Rusty Trump, Bob Zaremba, Deb Zaremba).

WILSON’S PLOVER - Twenty-four was a good count at St. Simons Island on 8 Apr. (B. Hilton).

BLACK-NECKED STILT - Two seen at Onslow Island on 26 Mar. were quite early (Bob Zaremba).

UPLAND SANDPIPER - One was seen at the Super Sod Farm in Peach Co. on 9 Apr. (Bob Zaremba, Deb Zaremba), and two were spotted at the East Georgia Turf Farm in Bulloch Co. on 22 Apr. (Tom Egan, Earl Horn, Bob Zaremba).  The best counts, however, came from a sod farm in Macon Co., with 16 on 22 Apr. (Eran Tomer), 16-18 on 24 Apr. (Walt Chambers) and nine on 29 Apr. (Carol Lambert, Jeff Sewell).  A bird was heard calling in Greene Co. on 6 May (Bill Blakeslee, Paul Sykes).

WHIMBREL - Good counts were 150 in the Darien area on 22 April (Bob Zaremba et al.), 100+ at Ossabaw Island on 6 May (Michael Bell, Mary Elfner, Chris Loudermilk, Aubrey Scott), 650 at Gould’s Inlet on 6 May (Lydia Thompson), and 230 at Little St. Simons Island on 18 May (Steve Holzman).

LONG-BILLED CURLEW - Singles were reported from Ossabaw Island on 5 Mar. (Mary Elfner, Geoff Wilson) and St. Catherines Island on 7 Apr. (Nathan Klaus).  Two were seen at Wassaw NWR on 16 Apr. (Steve Calver).

RED KNOT - High counts were 500 at Tybee Island on 16 May (Diana Churchill, Jesse Fagan) and 450 at Little St. Simons Island on 18 May (Steve Hawk).

WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER - One was seen at the brickyard ponds in Macon on 29 Apr. (Ty Ivey, Carl Perry, Paul Sykes), and two were spotted at the same location on 6 May (Ty Ivey).  Singles were seen in northern Greene Co. on 6 May (Bill Blakeslee, Paul Sykes) and at the ELHLAF on 7 May (Carol Lambert, Jeff  Sewell).

PURPLE SANDPIPER - The last one reported from Tybee Island was seen on 13 Mar. (Eric Haley, Rachel Haley).

STILT SANDPIPER - Twenty were seen at Onslow Island on 26 Mar. (Bob Zaremba).

SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER - One was seen in the Phinizy Swamp in Richmond Co. from about 21 through 28 Apr. (Michele Barry, Anne Waters).

LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER - Nine that wintered at the Macon brickyard ponds were still there on 8 Apr. (Ty Ivey et al.).

POMARINE JAEGER - One was seen at St. Andrew Sound on 31 Mar. (Brad Winn).  At least one was seen off Sapelo Island during strong northeasterly winds during March (Brad Bergstrom).

PARASITIC JAEGER - About 10 were seen, also off Sapelo Island, on the same day (Brad Bergstrom).

LAUGHING GULL - One was found inland at Walter F. George Dam on 23 May (Walt Chambers).

BONAPARTE’S GULL - Nine were spotted at various sites along Strom Thurmond Lake on 6 Mar. (Jim Flynn).  Seventeen were counted at SCSP on 11 Mar. (Giff Beaton, Tom Egan), and twenty-eight was a good count for the ELHLAF on 22 Mar. (Eric Beohm).  Five were seen flying by Kennesaw Mt. on 17 Apr., providing a first record for that location (Giff Beaton et al.).

RING-BILLED GULL - A large count of 1250 was made at the DeKalb Reservoir on 5 Mar. (Jeff Sewell).

LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL - Two were still at Gould’s Inlet on 6 May (Lydia Thompson).

GLAUCOUS GULL - A first-year bird seen at Jekyll Island on 24 Apr. was an excellent find (Giff Beaton, Jim Flynn, Paul Sykes).

GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL - Lydia Thompson noted two at Gould’s Inlet on 6 May.

GULL-BILLED TERN - Three were seen at Jekyll Island on 5 May (Lydia Thompson), and four were found on Ossabaw Island on 6 May (Michael Bell, Chris Loudermilk, Aubrey Scott).

BLACK TERN - A single bird seen at Carter’s Lake on about 27 May was a good find (Ted Reissing).

EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE - This species continues to show up in new locations, with the most interesting report being of several seen in Murray Co. during March (Rusty Trump).

WHITE-WINGED DOVE - Two were an excellent find in Dooly Co. on 2 May (Dan Guynn).

SHORT-EARED OWL - Two reports were received from unusual locations.  One was seen at Little Egg Island on 3 Mar. (Brad Winn), and one to three were found in Pike Co. on 17 Mar. (Earl Horn).

NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL - The last report from along Burrell’s Ford Rd. in Rabun Co., where as many as four were found during the winter, was of one on 4 Mar. (Sylvia Chandler, Stan Chapman, Mark Oberle).  A report was also received of one calling at Brasstown Bald on 15 May (Dominic Roche).  The same observer also stated that he heard one at this location during May 1999.

WHIP-POOR-WILL - One heard on Cumberland Island on 2 Mar. may have been a wintering bird (Malcolm Hodges).

RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD - The first report of one came from Darien on 9 Mar. (Doris Cohrs).

CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD - Terry Johnson banded one in Fayette Co. on 9 Mar. that had apparently been coming to a feeder throughout the winter.  This is the second record of this species in Georgia.

RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD - A male and a female spent the winter at a feeder in Rusty Trump’s yard in Suwanee, with the last sighting of the male being on 8 Mar. and the female on 27 Mar.

EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE - One seen in Grady Co. on 26 Mar. was early (Aubrey Scott, Jeff Sewell).

WILLOW FLYCATCHER - One was seen at the brickyard ponds in Macon on 29 Apr. (Ty Ivey, Carl Perry, Paul Johnson).  Four were found in Blairsville, where the species has nested the previous two years, on 13 May (Jim Flynn).  Three were also reported from the same area on 27 May (Chris Loudermilk, Aubrey Scott).

LEAST FLYCATCHER - Dave Galewski found three birds in the Suches area on 16 May, and as many as four were reported in the area through the end of the month by a number of observers.

Gray Kingbird - Jekyll I. - 12 May 2000

GRAY KINGBIRD - One was already back at Jekyll Island on 22 Apr. (Howard Weinberg, Beth Willis).

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher - Henry Co.- 5 May 2000

SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER - One made a brief visit to the Arrowhead Wildlife Education Center in Floyd Co. on 11 Apr. (Kim Kilgore).  Another bird was discovered near McDonough in Henry Co. on 4 May by Ted Seckinger.  Several observers looking for this bird found not one, but a pair at this site, and by the end of the month the birds were seen carrying nesting material to a metal power pole.  To round off a great spring for this species, a single bird was reported from Emanuel Co. on about 29 May (Mike Simpson).

BELL’S VIREO - Walt Chambers made a truly great discovery when he found one at Oxbow Meadows in the Columbus area on 26 Apr.  The bird was later seen and heard by many observers through 29 Apr.  This is the first well-documented report of this species in Georgia, though the ACOGB mentions two previous sightings from the same part of the state.

BLUE-HEADED VIREO - Two were found at Tally Mt. in Haralson Co., where this species nested last year, on 29 May (Michael Bell).

PHILADELPHIA VIREO - The only report received for the period was of one at the Kennesaw Marsh on 6 May (Giff Beaton, Randy Crooks, Richard Crooks).

RED-EYED VIREO - One seen at Callaway Gardens in Harris Co. on 15 Mar. was early (Walt Chambers).

Tree Swallow - ELHLAF - 5 May 2000

TREE SWALLOW - Three early birds were seen checking out nestboxes at Carter’s Lake, where the species has nested in recent years, on 3 Mar. (Giff Beaton, Earl Horn).  A pair were noted exhibiting nesting behavior at Folly Lake in Thomson in McDuffie Co. on 23 Apr. (Richard Lux).  Jim Flynn made an interesting observation at the Charlie Elliot Wildlife Center on 30 Apr. when he saw eight birds, including three males guarding possible nest entrances and a female carrying nesting material.  Stephen Stewart noted a pair entering a Wood Duck nestbox at the Arrowhead Wildlife Education Center in Floyd Co. on 13 May.

Cliff Swallow - Bartow Co. - 8 May 2000

CLIFF SWALLOW - Eight seen in the Columbus area on 29 Mar. were early (Walt Chambers).  On 11 May Dan Guynn found this species present at sites in Dooly and Sumter Cos., where nests were found in 1998 and 1999, respectively.  Ninety nests were counted this spring under the Veteran’s Memorial Highway bridge over the Oostanaula River in Rome (Stephen Stewart).

BARN SWALLOW - The first report of this species for the year came from SCSP on 12 Mar. (fide Joel Hitt).

RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH - Four were found in the Sheffield WMA on 4 Mar. (Michael Bell, Chris Loudermilk, Aubrey Scott) and one was also seen there on 22 Apr. (Liz Horsey, Jim Wilson).  One was reported from Banks Co. on 12 Mar. (Jim Flynn, Earl Horn).  One seen on Wassaw Island on 16 Apr. provided a rare sighting for the coast (Steve Calver).  The last report from Kennesaw Mt. was of a single bird on 1 May (fide Susanna Rinard).

WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH - One was seen at the Savannah-Ogeechee Canal in Chatham Co. on both 21 Mar. (Sheila Willis) and 6 May (Michael Bell, Chris Loudermilk, Aubrey Scott).

BROWN CREEPER - A singing bird was found at Blackrock Mt. in Rabun Co. on 31 May (Walt Chambers).  This species’ usual breeding range extends south along the Appalachian Mountains not far to the north of Georgia.

HOUSE WREN - Anne Waters reported that a pair successfully fledged two young in downtown Augusta during May.

SEDGE WREN - Good counts were six at the CRNRA on 22 Apr. (Eric Beohm) and also six at Callaway Gardens on 30 Apr. (Walt Chambers).

MARSH WREN - Singles were seen at the ELHLAF on 16 Apr. (Carol Lambert, Jeff Sewell) and at the CRNRA on both 22 Apr. (Eric Beohm) and 29 Apr. (Giff Beaton et al.).

VEERY - A male was banded at Fernbank Forest in DeKalb Co. on the late date of 25 May (Georgann Schmalz).

SWAINSON’S THRUSH - A late migrant was seen and heard singing at Blackrock Mt. in Rabun Co. on 31 May (Walt Chambers).

HERMIT THRUSH - One was still in the Darien area on 29 Apr. (Doris Cohrs).

BLUE-WINGED WARBLER - This species is rare on the coast, especially in spring, so the following sightings are particularly noteworthy.  One was seen on Wassaw Island on 16 Apr. (Steve Calver), and in the Savannah area Howard Weinberg reported one on 16 Apr., Steve Calver saw one on both 24 and 26 Apr., and Mary Elfner saw one on 27 Apr.  One seen in Haralson Co. on 16 May may have been a rare local breeder (Michael Bell).

TENNESSEE WARBLER - Fourteen at Kennesaw Mt. on 5 May was a good count for spring (Giff Beaton et al.).

NASHVILLE WARBLER - One seen in Baker Co. on 31 Mar. was very early (Rusty Trump).  This species was very well reported at Kennesaw Mt., with a total of 28 birds recorded for the period, including excellent counts of five on 27 Apr. (Susanna Rinard et al.) and seven on 30 Apr. (Jeff Sewell et al.).

YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER - A late bird was seen at Lake Wildwood in Bibb Co. on 19 May (Paul Johnson).

Black-throated Green Warbler - Ivy Log Gap Rd. - 7 May 2000

BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER - A very early bird was seen in the Macon area on 10 Mar. (Paul Johnson).  Not so early, but still noteworthy, was one seen in the Rome area on 22 Mar. (Marion Dobbs).  A good count of 35 was made at Kennesaw Mt. on 30 Apr. (Jeff Sewell).  Very interesting was the report of six in the Pine Log WMA in Bartow Co., with at least one bird seen carrying food, on 13 May (Giff Beaton).

YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER - One seen along the McDuffie/Wilkes Co. line on 6 Mar. was a little far north so early in the year (Jim Flynn).

BLACKPOLL WARBLER - Late birds were singles in the Darien area on 22 May (Doris Cohrs) and at Jekyll Island on 29 May (Lydia Thompson).

CERULEAN WARBLER - High counts at Kennesaw Mt. were 13 on 26 Apr. (Giff Beaton et al.) and 12 on 30 Apr. (Jeff Sewell et al.).

PROTHONOTARY WARBLER - Eighteen was an excellent count on Wassaw Island on 16 Apr. (Steve Calver).  Eleven were also noted at ENWR on 16 May (Walt Chambers).

WORM-EATING WARBLER - Walt Chambers had good counts with 15 at Callaway Gardens in Harris Co. on 16 Apr. and seven, also in Harris Co., on 25 Apr.

SWAINSON’S WARBLER - Nathan Klaus had good counts at the Bond Swamp in the Macon area, with seven on 23 Apr. and nine on 25 Apr.  Dan Guynn also reported good numbers in the upper coastal plain, with as many as 14 singing individuals found at various sites in Bleckly, Dooly, Houston, Pulaski, Twiggs and Wilkinson Cos. during the month of May.  Anne Waters, however, noted that none was found in the usually reliable sites for this species in the Augusta area.

LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH - One seen in Paulding Co. on 5 Mar. was early (Susanna Rinard).

WILSON’S WARBLER - A male was seen at Kennesaw Mt. on 19 Apr. (Susanna Rinard et al.).

Summer Tanager - Wilson Shoals WMA - 1 May 2000

SUMMER TANAGER - One seen in Grady Co. on 26 Mar. was fairly early (Aubrey Scott, Jeff Sewell).

SCARLET TANAGER - Thirty-seven, including one group of about 30 birds near the top of the mountain, were counted at Kennesaw Mt. on 17 Apr. (Giff Beaton et al.).

WESTERN TANAGER - A male made a one-day visit to a feeder in Athens on 8 Apr. (Eugenia Thompson).

SPOTTED TOWHEE - Richard and Nancy Cole discovered one coming to their feeder in Cobb Co. on 18 Apr.  The bird was subsequently seen by many observers through 22 Apr.  This is a first record for the state, and fortunately the bird was well photographed.

BACHMAN’S SPARROW - This species was once again well reported at the Pine Log WMA in Bartow Co. throughout the period (m.ob.).

CLAY-COLORED SPARROW - This rare sparrow was found at the Charlie Elliot Wildlife Center on 30 Apr. (Jim Flynn, Earl Horn).

Grasshopper Sparrow - Walker Co. - 8 May 2000

GRASSHOPPER SPARROW - One near Watkinsville on 1 Mar. was a good find that early in the year (Billy Dunbar).  Jim Flynn had a decent count of 13 in Walker Co. on 8 May.

HENSLOW’S SPARROW - Singles were reported from Fort Stewart on 22 Mar. (Larry Carlile) and Hannahatchee WMA in Stewart Co. on 3 Apr. (Nathan Klaus).

LE CONTE’S SPARROW - Two were still at the Macon brickyard ponds on 8 Apr. (Ty Ivey et al.).

NELSON’S SHARP-TAILED SPARROW - A late migrant was seen at St. Catherines Island on 19 May (Malcolm Hodges).

LINCOLN’S SPARROW - One in Mitchell Co. on 31 Mar. was a good find (Rusty Trump).  Other singles were found in northern Greene Co. on 22 Apr. (Paul Sykes) and at the brickyard ponds in Macon on 29 Apr. (Ty Ivey, Carl Perry, Paul Sykes).

WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW - Twenty was a good count in White Co. on 5 Mar. (Ted Reissing).  Five were recorded at the Merry Bros. Brickyard Ponds in Augusta on 15 Apr. (Anne Waters), and six were found at the Charlie Elliot Wildlife Center on 30 Apr. (Jim Flynn).  There were several other reports, all of single birds, from throughout the Piedmont.

INDIGO BUNTING - A male seen at Lake Horton in Fayette Co. on 4 Mar. was very early (Eric Beohm).  Also early were one at Skidaway Island on 29 Mar. (Beth Roth) and one at Wassaw Island on 31 Mar. (Steve Calver).

DICKCISSEL - Several observers reported as many as four during the month of May at the field in Henry Co. that has been fairly reliable for this species in recent years.  Unfortunately, it looks as though this site may soon be lost to development.  At least four were found in Carroll Co. on 14 May through the end of the month (Michael Bell), at least 12 were counted in a field in Houston Co. on 16 May (Dan Guynn), and four were seen near the Thomaston airport in Upson Co. on 20 May (Walt Chambers).

RUSTY BLACKBIRD - Eight were seen at the ELHLAF on 1 Mar. (Eric Beohm).

BREWER’S BLACKBIRD - Three were seen at the ELHLAF on 1 Mar. (Eric Beohm), and one was seen in Douglas Co. on 2 Mar. (Giff Beaton, Earl Horn).

Shiny Cowbird - Jekyll I. - 12 May 2000

SHINY COWBIRD - One to two of this unwelcome invader were found on Jekyll Island beginning on 5 May (Lydia Thompson) through 19 May (Brad Bergstrom).  One was found on Wassaw Island on 6 May (Steve Calver), and two were seen on St. Simons Island on 8 May (Gene Keferl).

ORCHARD ORIOLE - Fifteen was a good count at ENWR on 16 May (Walt Chambers).

PURPLE FINCH - This species was still being well reported during March, with the best counts being 22 at Kennesaw Mt. on 20 Mar. (Kenny Peloquin) and 30-35 at Fernbank Forest in DeKalb Co. on 25 Mar. (Georgann Schmaltz).

HOUSE FINCH - Two were noted in the Darien area on 13 May (Doris Cohrs).

RED CROSSBILL - Four were found at the Pine Log WMA in Bartow Co. on 24 Apr. (Giff Beaton, Jim Flynn, Paul Sykes).  Two were reported coming to a feeder in the Big Canoe area in Pickens Co. during April (Barbara Richards fide Pat Sully).

PINE SISKIN - Following an excellent winter, this species was widely reported, with the best count being 54 at Kennesaw Mt. on 3 Apr. (Giff Beaton).  Ten were still coming to a feeder in Monroe Co. on 3 May (Paul Johnson), and one was still in Oconee Co. on 7 May (Paul Sykes).

EVENING GROSBEAK - One was reported at Kennesaw Mt. on 14 Mar. (Kenny Peloquin).

Correction

The Short-eared Owl present at Kennesaw Mt. on 9 Oct. 1998 (The Oriole 64:22) was seen by Bruce Dralle, and not by Giff Beaton and Kevin Danchisen.

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