![]()
WINTER 2000-2001:
December - February
Originally Compiled and Edited by Michael
Bell
(First published in The Oriole,
Vol. 66, Nos. 1/2, Pp. 32-41)
![]()
| SEASONAL SUMMARY |
|
Two of the species that were on many
birders wish lists made appearances in the state this winter. Lapland Longspur, though a regular winter visitor to Alabama, had not been recorded in Georgia in recent years. In early December, however, this species was found at no fewer than three locations, with several birders getting the chance to observe them at Andrews Island and the ELHLAF. The female Common Merganser that was found at Lake Acworth by Tom Egan and Bob Zaremba was seen by many over the following three-week period. This species, listed as rare in the interior, rare to uncommon transient and winter resident on the coast in the ACOGB, has also been absent most winters of late.
It was an unprecedented year for hummingbirds, with a total of 95 birds and six species reported for the winter. Fifteen people hosted multiple hummingbirds at their feeders, according to Rusty Trump, who did an excellent job in compiling reports from around the state. Gwinnett Co., with 19 individuals reported, led the way among the 35 counties reporting hummingbirds. Ash-throated Flycatcher was reported twice, with one of the birds being well photographed by Jim Flynn and Earl Horn. Hopefully this will be another overdue species that will be added to the Regular Species List of Georgia birds.
Abbreviations used include: |
| SPECIES ACCOUNTS |
|
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 - One was a good find inland at Lake Allatoona on both 31 Dec. and 1 Jan. (Jim Flynn, Earl Horn). Counts from the coast included 11 at Jekyll Island on 12 Jan. (Lydia Thompson), 16 off Tybee Island on 28 Jan. (Giff Beaton et al.), 20 at St. Catherines Island on 29 Jan. (Giff Beaton et al.), 42 at Little St. Simons Island on 29 Jan. (Jim Flynn, Lex Glover), and an excellent count of 119 off Ossabaw Island also 29 Jan. (Tom Egan, Paul Sykes). COMMON LOON - Eighteen were noted at SCSP on 10 Dec. (Chris Loudermilk). Other notable counts were 40 at West Point Lake on 5 Jan. (Doug Robinson), 107 at Lake Hartwell in Hart Co. on 10 Feb. (Joan Sykes, Paul Sykes) and 34 on Lake Russell in Elbert Co. on 17 Feb. (Cam Kepler, Paul Sykes). HORNED GREBE - Good counts were 100 at West Point Dam on both 5 Jan. (Doug Robinson) and 23 Jan. (Tom Egan), 170 at the Richard B. Russell Dam in Elbert Co. on 14 Jan. (Marion Dobbs), 60 at Plant Wansley in Carroll/Heard Cos. on 2 Feb. (Marion Dobbs), and 164 at Lake Hartwell in Hart Co. on 10 Feb. (Joan Sykes, Paul Sykes). RED-NECKED GREBE - One was a rare find at Little St. Simons Island on 29 Jan. (Jim Flynn). EARED GREBE - One was seen at West Point Lake on 19 Dec. (Walt Chambers). DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT - A total of 890 were tallied on the Augusta CBC on 26 Dec. (fide Anne Waters). GREAT CORMORANT - A late report was received of one at Marshwood Golf Club on Skidaway Island on 7 Feb. (Joseph Wahl). The bird was described as having a white belly, indicative of juvenile plumage, and white flanks, a feature of an adult in breeding plumage. There are only four records for this species listed in the ACOGB, with the last sighting being in 1983. ANHINGA - Forty-two were counted on the Augusta CBC on 26 Dec. (fide Anne Waters). One as an unusual find at Lake Lanier on 24 Feb. (Ruth Clark). AMERICAN BITTERN - One was seen through the winter in the Phinizy Swamp in Richmond Co., and two were seen there on 26 Dec. (Anne Waters et al.). One was found on the Macon CBC on 16 Dec. (fide Marie Amerson), and one was seen at Birdsong Nature Center in Grady Co. on 15 Feb. (Kathleen Brady). GREAT EGRET - A good count of 214 was made on the Augusta CBC on 16 Dec. (fide Anne Waters). REDDISH EGRET - One was a good find for winter on Cumberland Island on 29 Jan. (Jenny Bjork, Ray Chandler, Mark Kanyok). CATTLE EGRET - Singles were seen in Decatur Co. on 29 Dec. (Oscar Dewberry) and in Seminole Co. on 7 Jan. (Earl Horn, Rusty Trump). GREEN HERON - Good finds were singles on the Harris Neck CBC on 14 Dec. (fide Steve Calver), on the St. Catherines Island CBC on 16 Dec. (fide Emil Urban), on the Atlanta CBC on 17 Dec. (fide Bill Blakeslee) and on the Callaway Gardens CBC on 30 Dec. (fide LuAnn Craighton). BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON - Twenty were seen at the Merry Bros. Brickyard Ponds in Augusta on 20 Jan. (Anne Waters). YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON - One was an unusual winter find on the Piedmont NWR/Rum Creek WMA CBC on 18 Dec. (fide Terry Johnson). GLOSSY IBIS - Continuing a trend of winter sightings of this species in recent years were reports of one at the AWMA on 5 Jan. (E.J. Williams), and in the Savannah area three were seen on 27 Jan. (Earl Horn) and two were found on 28 Jan. (Giff Beaton et al.). WOOD STORK - Two were seen in the Valdosta area on 21 Feb. (Kristi Avera). GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE - Earl Horn had a good count of 24 at ENWR on 26 Dec. SNOW GOOSE - Small numbers were reported from around the state, with the best count being 16 at ENWR on 16 Dec. (Tom Egan, Bob Zaremba). ROSS'S GOOSE - The bird that took up residence in Madison Co. two years ago continued through the winter (v.ob.). One to two were seen at the ELHLAF from 4 Dec. (Paul Raney) through 20 Dec. (Jim Flynn), one wintered in the Augusta area (Anne Waters et al.), and one was found in Wilkes Co. on 20 Feb. (Jim Ozier). TUNDRA SWAN - One was seen in the Evans area in Columbia Co., where one also wintered last year, from mid-December (Gene Howard) through 6 Jan. (Jim Flynn). GADWALL - Ninety was a good count from Floyd Co. on 23 Dec. (Marion Dobbs). Seventy-five was the high count from the ELHLAF on 1 Jan. (Jim Flynn, Earl Horn). AMERICAN WIGEON - At least 100 were observed at Lake Seminole in Decatur Co. on 3 Dec. (Michael Bell). Seventy were reported from Floyd Co. on 23 Dec. (Marion Dobbs). AMERICAN BLACK DUCK - Jim Flynn tallied 31 in Forsyth Co. on 1 Jan. Good numbers were reported at West Point Dam, with the high count being 45 on 22 Jan. (Walt Chambers), and 22 were seen in Towns Co. on 25 Jan. (Tom Egan, Earl Horn). BLUE-WINGED TEAL - Unusual winter reports were of one at the ELHLAF on both 8 Dec. (Giff Beaton, Tom Egan, Rusty Trump) and 29 Dec. (Carol Lambert). NORTHERN PINTAIL - Twenty-six was a good count at ENWR on 26 Dec. (Earl Horn). Other interesting sightings were of three in the Phinizy Swamp in Richmond Co. on 9 Dec. (fide Anne Waters), 17 on the Augusta CBC on 26 Dec. (fide Anne Waters), one at the ELHLAF during most of January (m.ob.), eight in Walker Co. on 6 Jan. (Marion Dobbs), one in Floyd Co. on 6 Jan. (Chris Loudermilk, Stephen Stewart) and three at Chicopee Woods Lake in the Gainesville area on 13 Jan. (Karen Theodorou). CANVASBACK - There were several reports from around the state this winter, with some of the best counts being 16 on the Macon CBC on 16 Dec. (fide Marie Amerson), 18 at West Point Dam on 23 Dec. (Eric Beohm), 16 at ENWR on 26 Dec. (Walt Chambers), 10 at the DeKalb Reservoir on 30 Dec. (Chuck Saleeby), 11 at Commerce Waterworks on 31 Dec. (Eugenia Thompson), 14 in Clarke Co. on 6 Jan. (Jim Flynn), and several hundred at Sealy Point on Lake Seminole in Seminole Co. on 11 Feb. (Bard Bergstrom). REDHEAD - This duck was also well reported across the state. The best counts were 26 in Emanuel Co. on 3 Dec. (Jerry Amerson, Marie Amerson), 35 at SCSP on 11 Dec. (Tom Egan, Chris Loudermilk, Bob Zaremba), 50+ at Tybee Island on 27 Dec. (Deb Barreiro), 10 at Chicopee Woods Lake in the Gainesville area during early January, and 16 at Lake Hartwell in Hart Co. on 10 Feb. (Joan Sykes, Paul Sykes). GREATER SCAUP - There were several inland reports of small numbers of this duck from around the state with the best count being 10+ at West Point Dam on 6 Dec. (Walt Chambers). Good counts from the coast were 335 at Little St. Simons Island on 29 Jan. (Jim Flynn, Lex Glover), and 100 in McIntosh Co. also on 29 Jan. (Jim Flynn). LESSER SCAUP - Paul Sykes estimated about 25,000 in one flock off the north end of Ossabaw Island on 29 Jan. SURF SCOTER - The best count from the coast was 12 on the St. Catherines Island CBC on 16 Dec. (fide Emil Urban). A female was a good find on a small pond near Lake Blackshear on 2 Feb. (Giff Beaton, Tom Egan, Lex Glover). WHITE-WINGED SCOTER - Singles were reported inland from Lake Walter F. George on 23 Dec. (Eric Beohm), West Point Dam on 28 Dec. (Earl Horn), and Lake Acworth in Cobb Co. from 30 Dec. (Jim Flynn) through at least 14 Jan. (Brad Bergstrom). Two were seen at Plant Wansley in Carroll Co. on 7 Jan. (Eric Beohm). LONG-TAILED DUCK - One was seen on the St. Catherines Island CBC on 16 Dec. (fide Anne Waters). One was also seen at West Point Dam on 25 Dec. (Doug Robinson). Unfortunately this bird was found dead the next day, apparently the victim of a collision with a power line (Lorna West, fide Walt Chambers). Another bird, however, was seen at the same location from 28 Dec. (Earl Horn) through 24 Feb. (Giff Beaton et al.). Another single was also seen on the Glynn Co. CBC on 30 Dec. (fide Mike Chapman). COMMON GOLDENEYE - One was seen at Garden Lakes in Floyd Co. on 27 Dec. (Marion Dobbs), and one to two birds were seen at Lake Acworth in Cobb Co. from 30 Dec. (Jim Flynn) through 1 Jan. (Jim Flynn, Earl Horn). The best count from West Point Dam was 26 on 5 Jan. (Doug Robinson). HOODED MERGANSER - Three hundred was a good count at Lake Acworth in Cobb Co. on 30 Dec. (Jim Flynn). COMMON MERGANSER - A female was a great find at Lake Acworth in Cobb Co. on 24 Dec. (Tom Egan, Bob Zaremba). This bird was subsequently seen by many, with the last report being on 14 Jan. (Brad Bergstrom). OSPREY - One was an unusual mid-winter find in Oconee Co. on 22 Jan. (Paul Sykes). BALD EAGLE - This species continues to be widely reported, with the best count by far being 11 seen near Lake Seminole in Decatur Co. on 28 Dec. (Jean Allen). RED-TAILED HAWK - A dark-morph bird was seen in Baker Co. on 13 Jan. (Bruce Dralle, Jeff Sewell, Robert Smith). ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK - One was recorded at ENWR during the Eufaula CBC on 15 Dec. (Nathan Klaus et al.). Paul and Joan Sykes found another bird near Colbert in Madison Co., in the same vicinity where one was seen during February 1992, on 10 Feb. This bird was seen by several observers during the following week, with the last report being of two birds on 18 Feb. (Jim Pappas, Melissa Pappas). MERLIN - One was recorded on both the Dalton CBC on 16 Dec. (fide Harriett DiGioia) and the Augusta CBC on 26 Dec. (fide Anne Waters), and one was seen in Crisp Co. on 30 Dec. (Bill Elrick, Earl Horn, Rusty Trump). KING RAIL - Counts from the Phinizy Swamp in Richmond Co. were 10 on 9 Dec. and 7 on 26 Dec. (Anne Waters). VIRGINIA RAIL - Singles were reported from Lake Varner on 8 Jan. (Giff Beaton, Tom Egan) and near Buford Fish Hatchery on 11 Jan. (Pat Sully et al.). Paul Sykes reported that numbers were low all winter at the Greene Co. marsh with only up to three individuals being observed. Anne Waters reported that a few wintered in the Phinizy Swamp in Richmond Co., and five were reported from that location on 6 Jan. (Earl Horn). SORA - The best count for the period was 30 at the Phinizy Swamp in Richmond Co. on 9 Dec. (Anne Waters). SANDHILL CRANE - There were several reports of large flocks moving south, particularly over the Atlanta area, between 4 and 19 Dec. A sample of some of the best counts were 1600 at Sweat Mt. in Cobb Co. on 5 Dec. (Harry DeLoach, Vickie DeLoach), 700 over Canton on 7 Dec. (Kathleen Pinyan, Parrie Pinyan), 700+ over Acworth on 11 Dec. (Helen Ogren) and 500 over Canton on 12 Dec. (Kathleen Pinyan, Parrie Pinyan). The first birds reported heading north were a flock of 30 near Peachtree City on 29 Jan. (Luci Donaldson), with several flocks reported on a regular basis through 23 Feb. (fide Terry Moore). WILSON'S PLOVER - Three seen at Jekyll Island on 12 Jan. were rare for winter (Lydia Thompson), as were the three counted on Ossabaw Island on 29 Jan. (Tom Egan, Paul Sykes). AMERICAN AVOCET - Good numbers for winter were 50 at Andrews Island on 3 Dec. (Jim Flynn, Earl Horn), 33 at Jekyll Island on 12 Jan. (Lydia Thompson) and 40 also on Jekyll Island on 18 Feb. (Lou Brackett). LESSER YELLOWLEGS - One seen at the ELHLAF on 11 Feb. was very early (Jim Wilson). LONG-BILLED CURLEW - At St. Catherines Island one was seen on 15 Dec. (Becky Beaton, Giff Beaton) and two were there on 29 Jan. (Giff Beaton et al.). One was seen on Ossabaw Island on 29 Jan. (Jim Ozier, Rusty Trump). MARBLED GODWIT - Eighty-one were counted on the St. Cathrerines Island CBC on 16 Dec. (fide Anne Waters), and 89 was a nice count on Little St. Simons Island on 29 Jan. (Jim Flynn, Lex Glover). RED KNOT - Two thousand was a good winter count on Ossabaw Island on 29 Jan. (Tom Egan, Paul Sykes). LEAST SANDPIPER - Ten was a good count at the ELHLAF on the late date of 8 Dec. (Giff Beaton, Tom Egan, Carol Lambert). At least one bird remained there through the winter period (Carol Lambert). PURPLE SANDPIPER - Small numbers wintered at the usual spot on Tybee Island (m.ob.) and one was reported on the Glynn Co. CBC on 30 Dec. (fide Mike Chapman). DUNLIN - One to two wintered at the ELHLAF (m.ob.). Six thousand were tallied on Ossabaw Island on 29 Jan. (Tom Egan, Paul Sykes). LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER - Nine were a nice find on the Macon CBC on 16 Dec. (fide Marie Amerson). COMMON SNIPE - A good count of 121 was made at the East Georgia Turf Farm in Bulloch Co. on 21 Dec. (Ray Chandler). RED PHALAROPE - A count of 334 was made on a pelagic trip out of Savannah on 2 Dec. (Giff Beaton et al.). POMARINE JAEGER - One was reported from Tybee Island on 13 Jan. (David Chaffin et al.). PARASITIC JAEGER - Singles were seen at Tybee Island on both 1 Dec. (Jim Flynn, Earl Horn), 13 Jan. (David Chaffin et al.) and 24 Jan. (Marion Dobbs). One was also seen on the pelagic trip out of Savannah on 2 Dec. (Giff Beaton et al.). Two were reported on the St. Catherines Island CBC on 16 Dec. (fide Anne Waters). LAUGHING GULL - Inland reports were of one at Lake Walter F. George on 23 Dec. (Eric Beohm) and one at Galt's Ferry on Lake Allatoona on 1 Jan. (JIm Flynn, Earl Horn). BONAPARTE'S GULL - A high inland count of 220 was made at Lake Russell in Elbert Co. on 17 Feb. (Cam Kelper, Paul Sykes). LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL - An adult was a good find at Buford Dam on Lake Lanier on 21 Jan. (Bill Elrick, Jim Flynn, Earl Horn, Rusty Trump). GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL - This species was reported from West Point Dam for the second successive winter. One was seen there on 5 Jan. (Doug Robinson). WHITE-WINGED DOVE - One was reported on the St. Catherines Island CBC on 16 Dec. (Ray Chandler, Scott Somershoe et al.). A bird found by Robert Smith at his feeder on Baker Co. on 7 Jan. remained in the area through at least 18 Feb. (m.ob.). Another bird was seen on Tybee Island from 13 through at least 20 Jan. (Deb Barriero). SHORT-EARED OWL - The best count from the usual wintering site near Cobb in Sumter Co. was eight on 4 Feb. (Bob Zaremba). A single bird was also found in Pike Co. on 8 Feb. (Giff Beaton, Tom Egan, Jim Flynn, Earl Horn). WHIP-POOR-WILL - Twelve was an excellent winter count on the Cumberland Island CBC on 16 Dec. HUMMINGBIRDS - What an exceptional winter it was for hummingbirds. Rusty Trump provided the following totals of birds reported for the season: BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD - A male continued at a feeder in the Savannah area through January (Steve Calver). An immature, present at a feeder in Valdosta since 16 Dec., was banded on 2 Jan. (John Swiderski et al.). Another bird was reported from the Ringold area on 29 Dec. (fide Joel Hitt). ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD - A female that showed up at a feeder in Snellville during November was banded on 13 Dec. and remained through at least 3 Jan. (fide Rusty Trump). This is the third record for the state. CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD - There were an amazing five records for winter. A female banded in Alpharetta on 12 Dec. provided a third state record (fide Karen Theodorou). This bird first appeared on about 9 Dec. and was last reported on 6 Jan. Another bird showed up at a feeder in the Eastman area on 17 Dec. but unfortunately was found dead on about 12 Jan. (Donny Screws). A hatch-year male was in Augusta from 5 Jan. through 7 Feb. (fide Anne Waters), a hatch-year female was at a feeder in Carrollton in Carroll Co. on 14 Jan. (Rusty Trump), and one was found at a feeder in the Lilburn area on 14 Jan. and was banded on 21 Jan. (Rusty Trump). BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD - One banded in the Acworth area provided a third state record (fide Karen Theodorou). This bird, a hatch-year male, was believed to have been present at this location from October through mid-December. RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD - There were many reports from across the state, with the best count being three at a feeder in Baker Co. for much of the winter (Robert Smith). NORTHERN FLICKER - A "Red-shafted" Northern Flicker was a very rare find at Birdsong Nature Center in Grady Co. on 6 Jan. (Michael Bell). The bird was seen sporadically at this location through the end of the period (Michael Bell, Kathleen Brady, Matt Morris). I am unaware of any previous records of this form in the state. VERMILION FLYCATCHER - A female was seen at Carter's Pond in Lanier Co. from 28 Jan. (Brad Bergstrom, Margaret Harper) through 19 Feb. (Debbie Grimes, Diane Kelsey). ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER - One was reported on the St. Catherines CBC on 16 Dec. (Gene Keferl). One was seen at the residence of Debbie Grimes in Brooks Co. from 8 Jan. (Debbie Kelsey, Duane Kelsey) through 20 Jan. (Debbie Grimes, Earl Horn). This bird was well photographed by Jim Flynn and Earl Horn. WESTERN KINGBIRD - Singles were seen on the St. Catherines CBC on 16 Dec. (Becky Beaton, Giff Beaton), the Cumberland Island CBC also on 16 Dec. (Andrew Madison) and in Thomas Co. on 18 Jan. (Jim Flynn, Rusty Trump). Two were found in Sumter Co. on 25 Feb. (Jerry Amerson, Marie Amerson). YELLOW-THROATED VIREO - One seen on the St. Catherines Island CBC on 26 Dec. was a very rare winter sighting (Cam Kelper fide Anne Waters). There are only two winter records for this species listed in the ACOGB. BLUE-HEADED VIREO - Twenty-four was a good count on the St. Catherines Island CBC on 26 Dec. (Giff Beaton). COMMON RAVEN - One was found in Towns Co. at the fairly low elevation of 2050 feet on 18 Feb. (Jim Flynn). PURPLE MARTIN - The first reports for the year came from Brooks Co. on 26 Jan. (Debbie Grimes) and Grady Co. on 27 Jan. (Kate Bell). NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW - One seen at the ELHLAF on 21 Feb. was early (Paul Raney). RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH - Reports from Rabun Co. included three on 14 Jan. (Julie Ballenger, Walt Chambers) and four on 25 Jan. (Tom Egan, Earl Horn). MARSH WREN - Three were found at Arrowhead Wildlife Education Center in Floyd Co. on 13 Jan. (Ann Stewart, Stephen Stewart). GRAY CATBIRD - Three was a good count on the Augusta CBC on 26 Dec. (fide Anne Waters). Singles were seen in Polk Co. on 9 Dec. (Marion Dobbs) and in Greene Co. on 6 Jan. (Paul Sykes). AMERICAN PIPIT - The two best counts for the period were 160 in Laurens Co. on 1 Dec. (Jim Flynn, Earl Horn) and 150 at Thomas Brothers sod farm in Floyd Co. on 19 Dec. (Marion Dobbs et al.). NORTHERN PARULA - Rare finds were one on the St. Catherines Island CBC on 16 Dec. (Becky Beaton, Giff Beaton) and in Baker Co. on 7 Feb. (Michael Bell). YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER - Singles were found in Early Co. on 13 Jan. (Earl Horn, Jim Flynn) and in Seminole Co. also on 13 Jan. (Michael Bell, Oscar Dewberry). PRAIRIE WARBLER - One was an unusual find at ENWR on 15 Dec. (Nathan Klaus et al.). BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER - Singles were reported from Soap Creek WMA in Lincoln Co. on 9 Dec. (Steve Wagner) and on the Dalton CBC on 16 Dec. (fide Harriett DiGioia). AMERICAN REDSTART - One reported on the Harris Neck CBC on 14 Dec. (fide Steve Calver) is certainly worth documenting as there are no winter reords listed in the ACOGB. OVENBIRD - One wintered at Birdsong Nature Center in Grady Co. (Michael Bell et al.). Another single was seen regularly from 20 Jan. to 18 Feb. in Decatur in DeKalb Co. (Kate McQueen). WILSON'S WARBLER - It was an exceptional winter for this species with reports of singles at the Macon brickyard ponds on both 2 Dec. (Ty Ivey) and 16 Dec. (Marie Amerson), Lawrenceville on 4 Dec. (Karen Theodorou), near West Point Dam on 9 Dec. (Barry Fleming), Buford Fish Hatchery on 11 Dec. (Giff Beaton), along the Sumter/Lee Co. line on 19 Feb. (Giff Beaton, Tom Egan) and in the Candler area on 20 Feb. (Ann Mahoney). YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT - One was found at the AWMA on 5 Jan. (E.J. Williams). SUMMER TANAGER - One was a very rare winter find on St. Catherines Island from 19 Dec. through 1 Jan. (Ray Chandler, Jeff Spratt). There is only one winter record for this species listed in the ACOGB. WESTERN TANAGER - Singles were found on the St. Catherines Island CBC on 16 Dec. (Anne Waters) and on the Augusta CBC on 26 Dec. (George Reeves et al.). Evidently a bird wintered in Bellville in Evans Co., where one was reported during the winter of 1998/99. Unfortunately this bird was killed by a cat on 18 Feb. (fide Carol Lambert). CLAY-COLORED SPARROW - There were an amazing number of reports, all from Baker Co., for the period. At Elmodel WMA two were seen on 27 Dec. (Earl Horn) and singles were reported on 7 Jan. (Earl Horn, Rusty Trump), 13 Jan. (Earl Horn), 4 Feb. (Tom Egan) and 9 Feb. (Walt Chambers). One was seen off of Cooktown Rd. on 25 Jan. At Ichauway Plantation Michael Bell saw singles on 30 Jan. and 7 Feb. Another single visited Robert Smith's feeder near Crestview on 9 Feb. VESPER SPARROW - A good count of 40 was made at Elmodel WMA in Baker Co. on 10 Jan. (Walt Chambers, Jim Flynn, Rusty Trump). LARK SPARROW - One was reported on the Albany CBC on 30 Dec. (fide Alan Ashley). LARK BUNTING - One was reported from Crisp Co. on 27 Dec. (Terry Johnson). GRASSHOPPER SPARROW - This sparrow was well reported, with multiple sightings of four at Birdsong Nature Center in Grady Co. on 2 Dec., three at Elmodel WMA in Baker Co. on 13 Jan. (Jim Flynn, Earl Horn), and three in Brooks Co. on both 18 Jan. (Jim Flynn, Rusty Trump) and 20 Jan. (Earl Horn). HENSLOW'S SPARROW - Sightings included three on the Callaway Gardens CBC on 30 Dec. (LuAnn Craighton), two on the Sapelo Island CBC on 30 Dec. (fide Anne Waters), one on the Bainbridge CBC on 30 Dec. (fide Oscar Dewberry), one at AWMA on 5 Jan. (E.J. Williams), one in Glynn Co. on 28 Jan. (Earl Horn), and two in Lee Co. on 19 Feb. (Giff Beaton, Tom Egan). LE CONTE'S SPARROW - Three was a good count on the Peachtree City CBC on 16 Dec. (fide Brock Hutchins), one was found on the Macon CBC also on 16 Dec. (fide Marie Amerson), two were seen at Elmodel WMA on 7 Jan. (Earl Horn, Rusty Trump), 9 Jan. (Walt Chambers, Jim Flynn, Rusty Trump) and 9 Feb. (Walt Chambers), one was at Laura Walker State Park on 11 Jan. (Andy Madison, Sheila Willis), and two were seen in Brooks Co. on 21 Jan. (Paul Sykes et al.) and 28 Jan. (Giff Beaton et al.). NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROW - Two were a great inland find in the Phinizy Swamp in Richmond Co. on 9 Dec. (Anne Waters et al.). Fifty-three was an excellent count on the Harris Neck CBC on 14 Dec. (fide Steve Calver). LINCOLN'S SPARROW - One was seen at Birdsong Nature Center in Grady Co. on 27 Jan. (Michael Bell). WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW - The best counts were 16 on the Athens CBC on 16 Dec. (fide Eugenia Thompson), 36 on the Macon CBC also 16 Dec. (fide Marie Amerson), 25 at Elmodel WMA on both 29 Dec. (Bill Elrick, Rusty Trump) and 4 Feb. (Bob Zaremba), 11 on the Albany CBC on 30 Dec. (fide Alan Ashley), and 18 in Greene Co. on 27 Jan. (Paul Sykes). LAPLAND LONGSPUR - This species, which has not been reported in Georgia in recent years, showed up in three locations. Three were seen at Andrews Island from 3 Dec. (Jim Flynn, Earl Horn, Brad Winn) through 5 Dec. (Paul Sykes). At least two were found at the Elbert Co. Airport on 5 Dec. (Billy Dunbar). Two were also found at the ELHLAF on 10 Dec. (Eric Beohm, Jessica Beohm) and remained there through 12 Dec. (Aubrey Scott). GROSBEAK SP. - A female Rose-breasted or Black-headed Grosbeak was seen briefly at the Newman's Wetland Center in Clayton Co. on 2 Feb. (Carol Lambert). INDIGO BUNTING - One was recorded on the Macon CBC on 16 Dec. (fide Marie Amerson). YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD - This species continued through the winter in Seminole Co., with the best count being three males seen on 11 Feb. (Michael Bell, Chris Loudermilk, Aubrey Scott). Two were also reported from Baker Co. on 18 Feb. (Billy Dunbar, Brenda Dunbar). RUSTY BLACKBIRD - The best counts were 300 in Emanuel Co. on 1 Dec. (Jim Flynn, Earl Horn) and 50 at ENWR on 2 Dec. (Chris Loudermilk, Aubrey Scott). BREWER'S BLACKBIRD - Good counts were 11 at Jackson's Pasture in Laurens Co. on 1 Dec. (Jim Flynn, Earl Horn), 30 on the Augusta CBC on 26 Dec. (Ann Waters), 150 in Baker Co. on 13 Jan. (Bruce Dralle, Jim Flynn, Earl Horn, Jeff Sewell), and 18 in Polk Co. on 4 Feb. (Marion Dobbs). BALTIMORE ORIOLE - This species was well reported. One was seen on the Macon CBC on 16 Dec. (fide Marie Amerson), two were counted on the Augusta CBC on 26 Dec. (Calvin Zippler), one was seen near Roswell on 3 and 4 Dec. (Chuck Saleeby), as many as nine were seen in Valdosta from 30 Dec. through 2 Jan. (John Swiderski), one was found in Gwinett Co. on 5 Jan. (Jim Flynn, Earl Horn), four were seen in Brooks Co. on 20 Jan. (Earl Horn), and one was found in Glynn Co. on 21 Jan. (Gene Keferl). PURPLE FINCH - There were only a handful of reports for winter, but singles did make it as far south as Seminole Co. on 13 Jan. (Jim Flynn, Earl Horn) and Glynn Co. on 21 Jan. (Gene Keferl). PINE SISKIN - This species was also seen in small numbers in north Georgia this winter. Two wintered at Birdsong Nature Center in Grady Co. (Michael Bell et al.), and two were seen in Brunswick in Glynn Co. on 4 Feb. (Mike Chapman). |
![]()
Created 7 Feb 2002