Compiled and Edited by Bob Zaremba
(First published in The Oriole, Vol. 70/71, Nos. 1-4, Pp 60-67)

This summer’s sightings were certainly influenced by the early hurricane activity in the Gulf of Mexico. On 10 July, a category three hurricane made landfall on the Florida Panhandle. Hurricane Dennis moved quickly across Florida and skirted the western part of Georgia, producing high winds and rain. As is sometimes the case with fast moving storms, several species from the sea were pushed inland to the larger lakes prior to and following the passage of Hurricane Dennis. Along with the unusual occurrence of pelagic species inland that resulted from the hurricane, our knowledge of offshore pelagic species was expanded by boat trips several birders undertook. Typically, we have very few rarities reported during the breeding season, but a Curlew Sandpiper on Little St. Simons Island in July was a very good find. This species breeds in Europe and wanders widely in the summer. Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks were reported in two locations this summer, no doubt post-breeding dispersal from the Florida population. The number of reports of this duck species in Georgia has been increasing over the past few years, perhaps due to range expansion. The observations of breeding species were very good this season, especially in northern Georgia. Typically a slow period, this summer turned out to be pretty interesting.
   

BLACK-BELLIED WHISLING-DUCK - On the coast, David Bridge observed two birds at the Savannah Airport ponds on 4 June.  Hill Harper and Susan Aaron found two birds just south of Quitman on 27 July. 

SNOW GOOSE - Phil Hardy found a bird in Sumter Co. on 16 June, for a very rare summer sighting.

BLUE-WINGED TEAL - Two late migrating birds were observed at ELHLAF on 4 June (Carol Lambert, et al.).

RING-NECKED DUCK - A male bird spent the summer at ELHLAF (fide Carol Lambert).  Another bird was present at Plant Scherer on 20 June (fide Terry Johnson).

HOODED MERGANSER - This species is an uncommon breeder in our state.  So, the report of a female with three young at Big Creek Greenway in Alpharetta on June 9 was a good find (fide Terry Moore).  A female bird spent the summer at ELHLAF (fide Carol Lambert).

RED-BREASTED MERGANSER - Lydia Thompson reported a bird from JI on 2 June.  Rene Heidt observed a bird lingering off Little Tybee Island on 3 June. 

PLAIN CHACHALACA - Ken Blankenship reported finding five birds at the dump on Sapelo Island on 16 June.

RUFFED GROUSE - Grant McCreary reported hearing one bird drumming at Brasstown Bald on 4 July.

COMMON LOON - Tom Striker reported a very rare sighting of a bird at Lake Blue Ridge on 19 July.

PIED-BILLED GREBE - Several reports of breeding birds were received.  Marion Dobbs noted two birds present at Berry College in Rome, which could be an indication of breeding, on 10 July.  Juvenile birds were observed on 24 July at the AWMA, and on 30 July in Brooks Co., south of Quitman (Deb and Bob Zaremba).

HORNED GREBE - Michael Beohm observed a breeding plumaged bird at Lake Juliette on 12 July.

BLACK-CAPPED PETREL - Nathan Diaz had a good count of three birds on a pelagic trip about 145 km east of Tybee Island on 10 June.

CORY'S SHEARWATER - The 10 June pelagic trip tallied 14 birds (Nathan Diaz).  Russ Wigh reported 12 birds on a trip out to Gray’s Reef on 30 June, and four more on a similar trip on 23 July (Russ Wigh, et al.).

GREATER SHEARWATER - Nathan Diaz reported a very good count of 25 birds on the 10 June pelagic trip.  Russ Wigh reported 12 birds on a trip out to Gray’s Reef on 30 June, and a single bird in the same area on the 23 July pelagic trip (Russ Wigh, et al.).

AUDUBON’S SHEARWATER - The 10 June pelagic trip reported three birds (Nathan Diaz), and the 23 July pelagic trip found four birds (Russ Wigh, et al.).

WILSON'S STORM-PETREL - Nathan Diaz had a good count of more than 30 birds on the 10 June pelagic trip.  Russ Wigh reported one bird on a trip out to Gray’s Reef on 30 June.

AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN - A large group of birds was present at Andrew’s Island, Glynn Co., in July.  The highest count reported was more than 95 birds on 23 July (Deb and Bob Zaremba).

BROWN PELICAN - Sandy Pangle reported a bird on 12 July at Lake Allatoona, probably blown inland by Hurricane Dennis, which came through the area at that time.

ANHINGA - Earl Horn and Jim Flynn reported a high count of 74 birds at the AWMA on 16 July.

MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD - There were many reports of this species, probably due to the hurricane activity in the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean.  Hurricane Dennis ushered in five birds seen near Colquitt on 9 July by David Varnado (fide Michael Bell).  Michael and Eric Beohm observed six birds on Lake Seminole on 11 July.  Also on 11 July, Michael and Eric observed two birds at Walter F. George Dam.  One bird was still present at Lake Seminole on 12 July (Michael Bell).  Birders on the 23 July pelagic trip to Gray’s Reef observed a bird offshore (Russ Wigh, et al.).

GREAT EGRET - Mike Ivie reported a high count of 39 birds in Spalding Co. on 23 July.

SNOWY EGRET - Dan Roper reported finding a bird at Arrowhead in Floyd Co. on 11 June, for an unusual sighting in the northern part of the state.

LITTLE BLUE HERON - Carol Lambert had monthly high counts of 19 birds on 30 June, and 31 birds on 21 July at ELHLAF.

TRICOLORED HERON - Michael Bell reported finding a bird in Seminole Co. on 26 June, which is unusual for that area.

REDDISH EGRET - Brandon Noel reported a high count of 10 birds at LSSI on 14 July.

WHITE IBIS - This species was present in good numbers at ELHLAF, with 16 birds on 29 June and 15 on 28 July (fide Carol Lambert).

ROSEATE SPOONBILL - Several birders reported high counts of this species in the summer.  Four birds reported from Harris Neck WMA in McIntosh Co. on 8 June by Pete Pattavina were a good find (fide Steve Holzman).  Gene Keferl reported 26 birds at Andrews Island on 2 July, and Brandon Noel had a high count of 35 birds at LSSI on 27 July.

WOOD STORK - This species is rare in the Piedmont Region, so a bird seen in Henry Co. by Joe Schlemmer on 12 July was a good find.  Also on 12 July, Paul Sykes and Bill Blakeslee observed two birds in Washington Co.  Mike Ivie reported seven birds in Spalding Co. on 23 July for another good sighting. 

SWALLOW-TAILED KITE - The highest count reported was from Screven Co., where more than 20 birds were reported in early June (fide Ken Blankenship).  Gene Wilkinson had a high count of 13 at Big Hammock WMA on 9 July. 

MISSISSIPPI KITE - Paul Sykes observed a bird flying over Watkinsville in Oconee Co. on 7 July, and observed another bird in northern Greene Co. on 17 July, which was very unusual for that location.  Paul Sykes and Bill Blakeslee reported a high count of 13 birds over a pasture north of Sandersville in Washington Co. on 22 July.

BLACK RAIL - Two birds were heard calling in a northern Greene Co. marsh on 17 July (Paul Sykes).

KING RAIL - Two birds were seen at ELHLAF on 4 June, which is a rare occurrence for that site (Carol Lambert).

VIRGINIA RAIL - Bill Lotz and Dan Vickers reported finding a bird in the marsh near Floyd College on 29 June.

COMMON MOORHEN - Carol Lambert had a high count of five birds at ELHLAF on 4 June, which was unusual for that location.

SANDHILL CRANE - Amazingly, the bird that was present this past spring in a DeKalb Co. neighborhood was still present through the end of July (fide Jeff Sewell).

WILSON’S PLOVER - Brandon Noel had a very high count of 70 birds at LSSI on 27 July.

SEMIPALMATED PLOVER - Brandon Noel reported a high count of more than 500 birds on LSSI on 27 July.

PIPING PLOVER - Once again, LSSI was the location with the highest number of birds this summer.  This species is endangered, so a count of 31 birds on LSSI on 27 July was excellent (Brandon Noel).

AMERICAN AVOCET - A report of a bird in Lamar Co. on 16 July provided by Jim Ozier was very good, as this species is rarely discovered inland during the summer.

WILLET - Lorna West reported a bird at West Point Dam on 10 July, for an unusual report from that location.

UPLAND SANDPIPER - Two birds were seen at the sod farm in Macon Co. on 30 July (Bob Zaremba).  Three birds were present at the same location the next day, 31 July (Dan Vickers).

WHIMBREL - Russ Wigh reported a bird from Skidaway Island on 17 July.

LONG-BILLED CURLEW - Brandon Noel reported that three birds had returned to LSSI on 14 July.

MARBLED GODWIT - From LSSI, a high count of 75 birds was reported by Brandon Noel on 27 July.

RED KNOT - An excellent count of 1,000 birds was reported by Brandon Noel on LSSI on 27 July.

SANDERLING - Brandon Noel had a high count of more than 500 birds on LSSI on 27 July.

WESTERN SANDPIPER - Brandon Noel had a very good count of more than 500 birds on LSSI on 27 July.

LEAST SANDPIPER - Brandon Noel had a very good count of more than 500 birds on LSSI on 27 July.

WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER - Carol Lambert had a high count of 12 birds at ELHLAF on 4 June.

PECTORAL SANDPIPER - Bob Zaremba had a high count of 42 birds at a sod farm in Dougherty Co. following an intense rainstorm on 30 July.

CURLEW SANDPIPER - Brad Winn discovered a bird on LSSI on 12 July.  This sighting was accepted by the CRC, making it only the fifth verified report of this species in the state (CRC record 2006-12).

SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER - Brandon Noel had a very good count of more than 1,000 birds on LSSI on 27 July.

PARASITIC JAEGER - Michael and Eric Boehm had a very good inland sighting of a single bird at Lake Seminole on 11 July, following the passage of Hurricane Dennis.

GULL-BILLED TERN - Brandon Noel reported that three pairs of birds were confirmed nesting on LSSI this summer.  This is exciting news, since this species is not a common breeding species in Georgia.

CASPIAN TERN - Chris Loudermilk had a good count of five birds at SCSP on 1 June.

ROYAL TERN - Eric and Michael Beohm reported finding four birds at Lake Seminole and one at Walter F. George Dam on 11 July, following the passage of Hurricane Dennis.

LEAST TERN - Terry and Peggy Moore had a good record of a single bird at ELHLAF on 19 June.  The highest count of the summer was from LSSI, where Brandon Noel reported finding 500 birds on 14 and 27 July.

BRIDLED TERN - Nathan Diaz reported finding four birds on a pelagic trip 145 km off Little Tybee Island on 10 June.

SOOTY TERN - Inland birds were reported widely around the state following the passage of Hurricane Dennis. Barry Fleming reported 10 birds at West Point Dam (fide Lorna West) on 11 July.  On the same day, Eric and Michael Beohm reported an amazing count of 26 birds on Lake Seminole and 17 at Walter F. George Dam.  Michael Bell reported finding four birds still present at Lake Seminole on 12 July.  The same day, Earl Horn reported finding 12 birds still present at West Point Dam.  Walt Chambers found three birds at Oliver Dam in the Columbus area on 13 July. 

BLACK TERN - Brandon Noel reported a high count of more than 100 birds on LSSI on 12 July.

BLACK SKIMMER - Brandon Noel reported more than 35 nests on LSSI during the summer.

WILLOW FLYCATCHER - Several observers reported the continued presence of a pair of birds in Blairsville at the Ingles Shopping Center through the summer.

LEAST FLYCATCHER - The birds present in Suches earlier in the spring were last seen on 5 June by Ken Blankenship.

GRAY KINGBIRD - Steve Wagner had a good report of two birds in Savannah on 6 July, which remained in the area for the remainder of the month (v.ob.).  Paul Raney had an interesting report of an inland bird from Mitchell Co. on 7 July.

SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER - The McDonough pair that has nested in the same pasture for the past four seasons was reported many times during June actively tending a nest (v.ob.).  Another pair of birds nested in Madison Co., as Michael Freeman found two birds tending a nest on 29 June.

LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE - This species has become very difficult to find around the Atlanta vicinity, so a bird seen in Henry Co. by Peggy and Terry Moore on 19 June was very interesting.

BLUE-HEADED VIREO - Three birds were a good find at Mistletoe State Park in Columbia Co. on 23 July, away from the known breeding area for this bird (Gene Zielinski).

WARBLING VIREO - Pierre Howard had a very interesting sighting of a bird in Fannin Co. on 10 June.  A subsequent search of the area failed to find any birds, but it is possible this species could be nesting in the area.

HORNED LARK - Bob Zaremba had a high count of 25 birds in Macon Co. on 30 July.

CLIFF SWALLOW - This species is definitely expanding its range in the state.  New nesting colonies were discovered in the Coastal Plain and along the coast this summer.  Michael Bell and Mal Hodges reported finding a nesting colony with at least two nests at Lake Seminole on 26 June.  From the coast, a nest was discovered in June under the US 17 bridge at Richmond Hill (fide Terry Moore).  Paul Sykes reported a good high count of 385 birds migrating in northern Greene Co. on 17 July.

BARN SWALLOW - Paul Sykes reported a good high count of 425 birds migrating in northern Greene Co. on 17 July.

RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH - Earl Horn and Jim Flynn had a good count of four birds in Rabun Co. on 11 June.

WINTER WREN - Grant McCreary reported one bird from Brasstown Bald on 4 July.

VEERY - Several observers reported birds from Brasstown Bald during the summer.

CEDAR WAXWING - This species is a rare nester in the state, so two widely separated reports were interesting this summer.  Sandy Pangle observed adults with young still in the nest in Whitfield Co. on 7 June.  Deb and Bob Zaremba observed an adult carrying nesting material on 19 June in Rabun Co.  Patrick Brisse reported finding two birds in Dawson Forest on 23 July, for another good summer report.

BLUE-WINGED WARBLER - Grant McCreary reported two birds at the beginning of Ivy Log Gap Road on 4 July.

GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER - The breeding status of this species in Georgia is not clearly understood, so a report of breeding adults in Fannin Co. on 10 June was excellent news (Pierre Howard).  Later in the month, Deb and Bob Zaremba observed four adult birds with five young in the same location.

CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER - Bob and Deb Zaremba had a high count of 22 birds at Ivy Log Gap Road on 19 June.

BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER - Bob and Deb Zaremba had a high count of 38 birds at Ivy Log Gap Road on 19 June.

BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER - Deb and Bob Zaremba reported a high count of nine birds in Rabun Co. on 19 June. 

CERULEAN WARBLER - This species migrates early in the fall, so Earl Horn’s report of a bird in north Fulton County on the very early date of 4 July was unusual.  Later in the month, Leslie Curran reported finding a bird in the Roswell area on 25 July.  The 11 birds reported at KMT on 31 July was an excellent count (fide Deb Zaremba).  BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER - Deb Zaremba reported a high count of nine birds on 31 July at KMT.

AMERICAN REDSTART - Deb Zaremba reported a high count of seven birds at KMT on 31 July for a very good late summer report.  These birds were likely post-breeding dispersers from the population that breeds in the northern part of the state.

WORM-EATING WARBLER - Earl Horn and Jim Flynn reported a high count of 16 birds in Rabun Co. on 11 June.

SWAINSON'S WARBLER - Bob Zaremba reported a high count of five birds at Bond Swamp, near Macon, on 18 June.

OVENBIRD - This species seems to be expanding its range in the state.  Eugene Zielinski found three birds in Columbia Co. on 18 June, and Deb and Bob Zaremba had a high count of 31 birds at Ivy Log Gap Road on 19 June.

CANADA WARBLER - Several observers reported finding birds at Brasstown Bald during the summer.

SCARLET TANAGER - Deb and Bob Zaremba had a high count of 21 birds at Ivy Log Gap Road on 19 June.

A single bird observed in Columbia Co. on 26 June by Eugene Zielinski was unusual for that location.  BACHMAN’S SPARROW - Bob Zaremba reported finding three males singing in Quitman, Brooks Co., on 30 July.

GRASSHOPPER SPARROW - David Brown reported many singing birds in Chattooga Co. in June.

PAINTED BUNTING - Earl Horn and Jim Flynn had a very good high count of 22 birds in Screven Co. on 19 June.

DICKCISSEL - There were scattered reports from around the state.  Pierre Howard reported finding two birds in Bartow Co. on 2 June.  Jim Flynn and Earl Horn found one bird in Carroll Co. on 4 June, and Mark Freeman found two birds in Clarke Co. on 5 June.  Dale Hardy found six birds in two locations in Henry Co. on 6 June.  Michael Beohm found two birds in Monroe Co. on 24 June, and Nita Wynn reported a bird in Newton Co. on 4 July.  Eric Beohm reported a bird in Spalding Co. on 14 July.  Finally, Paul Sykes reported finding two birds, a male and a female, in northern Greene Co. on 17 July.

RED CROSSBILL - Earl Horn and Jim Flynn reported finding one bird in Rabun Co. on 11 June.  Betty Belanger reported a feeder in Suches that was hosting as many as eight birds through 11 July.

PINE SISKIN - Tom Striker reported that at least one bird continued at his Fannin Co. feeder through June.  A single bird was present in Suches on 6 July, coming to the same feeder that hosted the Red Crossbills (fide Bob Zaremba).

AMERICAN GOLDFINCH - Jaynne Reichert reported finding a bird on 5 June at Richmond Hill, which was unusual on the coast in the summer.

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