Compiled and Edited by Ken Blankenship
CBC Highlights provided by Giff Beaton
(First published in The Oriole, Vol. 74, Nos. 1-4, Pp 44-54)

Another ornithologically interesting year came to an end, with a total of 350 species recorded around the state of Georgia in 2008. Warmer and slightly wetter than average weather in December and early January continued to shrink the pocket of persistent drought in the northeastern corner of the state. Arctic air masses plunged deep into the Southeast once in January and twice in February, producing record low temperatures in many areas and a few snow events. Interestingly, a wave of record-breaking warm weather dominated the period between the 2 February cold snaps. February also ushered in a return to exceptionally dry conditions, with less than 50% of normal precipitation falling across much of the state. Several notable rarities were uncovered in Georgia this winter, some found on Christmas Bird Counts. These included a Harlequin Duck and a Yellow Rail on the coast, and 2 inland Nelson’s Sparrows - possibly the first well-documented winter records of the species from the North American interior; it was a noteworthy season for several other Ammodramus sparrows as well. The wealth of data from field birders and feeder watchers, along with Christmas Bird Count data, suggest that this season’s irruption of Pine Siskins was one of the largest on record in the Southeast.
   

The appearance of observations in this section does not suggest verification of acceptance of a record. Records need to be documented and submitted to the Checklist and Records Committee for consideration.

BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK - A flock of 62 was the maximum at AWMA on 27 December (Karen and Luke Theodorou), among several reports of high numbers at the same location.

GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE - Among several reports, the high count was 17 in Murray Co. on 8 January (Max Medley).

SNOW GOOSE - Among 19 reports was a high count of 21 on Mashburn Rd, Gordon Co., on 4 January (Max Medley).

ROSS’S GOOSE - One with neck and leg bands was at ELHLAF from 20-31 January (Carol Lambert, m. ob.; pending, GCRC 2010-10), and 2 were reported in Savannah from 23-28 January (Steve Fox; pending, GCRC 2010-08). Possible Snow X Ross’s hybrids were reported at West Point dam on 3 December (Walt Chambers); in Seminole Co. on 6 December (Jim Flynn, Earl Horn); and in Richmond Hill on 16 December (Steve Fox).

Ross’s Goose, Clayton Co., 22 Jan 2009

CACKLING GOOSE - Six were picked out of a line-up of hundreds of Canada Geese at Crawfish Springs Pond, Walker Co., 6 December - 12 January (Dan Jacobson et al., m. ob.; pending, GCRC 2009-19; photo NAB Vol. 63, p. 242).

Cackling Goose, Walker Co., 14 Dec 2008

MOTTLED DUCK - A new CBC state high count of 97 was established this season.

CINNAMON TEAL - Two males made a brief appearance at AWMA on 24 February (Vernon Laux, Jeff Sewell; pending, GCRC 2010-04).

RING-NECKED DUCK - This species was present in very high numbers: 12,612 set a record state-wide CBC total.

HARLEQUIN DUCK - One found in the Barbour Island River, McIntosh Co., on 19 December provided the state’s fifth record and was a CBC first (Warren Harrington; accepted, GCRC 2008-41; photo NAB Vol. 63, p. 242).

Harlequin Duck, McIntosh Co., 19 Dec 2008

WHITE-WINGED SCOTER - One or 2 were inland at MBBP 30 January - 15 February (Mark Freeman, Carole Ludwig, m. ob.).

LONG-TAILED DUCK - Especially notable inland, up to 6 were present in the Augusta area 10 January - 15 February (Lois Stacey et al., m. ob.).

Long-tailed Duck, Richmond Co., 15 Feb 2009

COMMON GOLDENEYE - Remarkably, a male returned for the eighth consecutive year to a tiny lagoon on Skidaway Island on 6 December (Beth Roth).

RED-THROATED LOON - Inland birds included one at Clarks Hill Lake on 3 December (Eric Beohm) and one at CLRL from 22-23 January (Johnny Parks, Steve Mammoser, m. ob.); an excellent count of 16 was reported at Gould’s Inlet, SSI, on 2 February (Nathan Farnau).

RED-NECKED GREBE - One was a rare find in Brunswick on 30 December (Gene Keferl).

MANX SHEARWATER - One was photographed by biologists monitoring Right Whales 4 miles off Cumberland Island on 10 January (Clay George; pending, GCRC 2010-06), and 2 were spotted off Tybee Island on 19 January (Gene Keferl et al.).

Manx Shearwater, pelagic waters off Cumberland Island, 10 Jan 2009

AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN - A rare inland find was a bird on Lake Blalock, Clayton Co., from 3-7 December (Paul Kerr, fide Carol Lambert).

DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT - A deceased bird found on Lake Seminole on 15 February (Charlie Muise) had been banded in Ontario, Canada, on 25 June 2001.

GREAT CORMORANT - A bird that appeared at LWFG in the fall was present throughout the period (m. ob.; accepted, GCRC 2008-33A/B).

SNOWY EGRET - An impressive 2196 established a new state CBC high count.

YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON - A juvenile seen in Cobb Co. on 19 January was a very unusual inland winter find (Chris Lambrecht).

ROSEATE SPOONBILL - A species that is still rarely seen in winter but might be increasing, one was observed at Jekyll Island from 18 December - 29 January (Lydia Thompson).

BALD EAGLE - Continuing an increasing trend, 95 represented a new CBC high count.

RED-TAILED HAWK - A rare winter visitor, an individual resembling the pale “Krider’s” form was photographed in Sumter Co. on 9 January (Dave Catron).

GOLDEN EAGLE - A subadult was seen at the semi-annual wintering site at the Charlton Co. landfill on 17 January (Jim Flynn, Earl Horn).

YELLOW RAIL - One was flushed on the SCI CBC on 14 December (Brad Winn et al.; pending, GCRC 2010-13), furnishing the state’s first CBC record.

WILSON’S PLOVER - Formerly considered rare in winter north of Florida, numbers on the MWS increased for the fourth year in a row, with 70 recorded this year. Notably, biologists indicate that while the species is more numerous in some winters than in others, the data do not indicate a trend at this time (Brad Winn, pers. comm.).

PIPING PLOVER - The highest count was 42 on CINS during the MWS.

SPOTTED SANDPIPER - At least one wintered at CSU 12 January - 23 February (Nathan Farnau, m. ob.).

MARBLED GODWIT - Biologists outfitted 6 birds with satellite transmitters on LSSI from 20 November to 3 December, allowing them to track migratory movements and establish connectivity between breeding grounds in the northern reaches of the continent, and wintering sites on the southeastern Atlantic coast (Brad Winn et al.).

RED KNOT - Outstanding were 1449 tallied at CINS during the MWS, which included a new overall high count of 1748 for the coast; perhaps this partially explains lower than average CBC numbers elsewhere in the Region?

DUNLIN - An impressive 21,557 easily established a new CBC state high count.

RED PHALAROPE - A count of 33 off SCI on 14 December (Bill Lotz, Clay George) represented only the second CBC record - a likely reflection of little or no offshore coverage, rather than actual scarcity.

BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE - An adult observed off Tybee Island on 16 January (Malcolm Hodges et al.) was a welcome sight for birders participating in a rough pelagic field trip.

Black-legged Kittiwake, pelagic waters off Tybee Island, 16 Jan 2009

ICELAND GULL - One that appeared sporadically at Lake Lanier 25 January - 1 February (Karen and Luke Theodorou, m. ob.; pending, GCRC 2009-07; photo NAB Vol. 63, p. 243) represented the second well-documented inland record for the state and only the ninth overall.

Iceland Gull, Lake Lanier, Forsyth Co., 25 Jan 2009

RAZORBILL - Biologists monitoring whales spotted scattered groups of up to 10, including 2 off Jekyll Island on 9 February (Clay George; pending, GCRC 2010-07). Once considered accidental in the state, this species is likely a rare annual but erratic visitor to Georgia offshore waters. This assertion is supported by at least 10+ independent reports of the species since 2002 (many including photographs). Sightings nearly always occur between mid-January and the end of February, with the highest counts occurring in mid-February.

Razorbills, pelagic waters off Jekyll Island, 9 Feb 2009

WHITE-WINGED DOVE - Two were recorded on the SCI CBC on 14 December (fide Dan Vickers) for the sixth state CBC record.

SHORT-EARED OWL - A regular but very local wintering species, a high count of 3 or 4 was reported from the annual site in Sumter Co. on 2 January (Patty McLean et al.).

NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL - One was banded in Lamar Co. on 3 December (Charlie Muise; accepted, GCRC 2008-39), exactly one year and one day after a capture at the same site. Despite no indication of a widespread irruption this winter, these 2 records, coupled with considerable capture success at a banding station in Alabama, continue to suggest a more regular winter presence in the South than previously suspected (Scott Weidensaul, pers. comm.). In fall 2009, 200 southbound Northern Saw-whet Owls captured in Pennsylvania were outfitted with geolocator devices in an effort to gain a better understanding of the species’ movements and distribution (Weidensaul, pers. comm.).

Northern Saw-Whet Owl, Lamar Co., 3 Dec 2008

WINTER HUMMINGBIRDS 2008-2009

Master bander and hummingbird expert Rusty Trump created the map below showing the distribution of hummers in Georgia during winter 2008-2009, and also provided data for some species accounts below.

RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD - The distribution of this species wintering in the Southeast is not fully understood, and some very interesting data were provided by banders and birders. A total of 131 were confirmed in the Region this winter, while an additional 60 probable Ruby-throateds were reported. The vast majority winter on the coast or in the Coastal Plain, with only 5 reported in Georgia (compared to 77 in North Carolina and 49 in South Carolina). Likely influences on this pattern range from public awareness about winter hummingbirds to possible variability in the quality of micro-climates to differences in the availability of insects and nectar-producing plants.

BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD - One visited a feeder on Skidaway Island from 16-18 December (Russ Wigh).

Black-chinned Hummingbird, Chatham Co., 16 Dec 2008

RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD - As expected, this species was well represented, with 15 confirmed, several of which were returns. Remarkably, a female captured in Good Hope on 15 December (Karen Theodorou) had been banded in Tallahassee, FL, in December 2008; this individual was later recaptured in the same Tallahassee yard on 29 January 2009 (Fred Bassett)!

WESTERN KINGBIRD - A single bird was reported at AWMA on 18 December (Bill Schmid).

WHITE-EYED VIREO - Rare for the Piedmont in winter, one was detected on the Peachtree City CBC on 20 December (Patrick Brisse et al.).

NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW – A rare mid-winter sighting and a particularly early arrival were represented by one seen at MBBP on 3 December (Eric Beohm), and 2 seen at OM on 24 February (Walt Chambers).

CAVE SWALLOW - One bird was spotted mixed in with Tree Swallows at MBBP on 3 December (Eric Beohm). As regular readers of this column know, some lingering birds from the late fall flight (a phenomenon which has only developed in recent years) are known to winter successfully in eastern North America.

BARN SWALLOW - Though a few December loiterers and mid-February early arrivals were typical for Barn Swallows, one at Ft. Pulaski on 18 January (Grant McCreary) was quite unusual.

RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH - Illustrating how drastically the counts of irruptive species can fluctuate, the CBC total was down 83% in Georgia (from 115 to only 19), and down 88% in the Region (from 626 to only 76 individuals) after last season’s unprecedented invasion. Significantly, the majority of this season’s birds were found in the Appalachian Mountains, where they are permanent residents.

BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER - These feisty little birds were out in force, with 133 representing the second highest state CBC total.

AMERICAN PIPIT - A new state CBC high count of 1703 was recorded.

CEDAR WAXWING - A new state CBC high count of 9742 was recorded.

TENNESSEE WARBLER - Representing only the third CBC record for the state, one was found on SCI on 14 December (fide Emil Urban).

NORTHERN PARULA - One was found in Charlton Co. on 17 January (Jim Flynn).

YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER - An impressive total of 48 were recorded on Georgia CBCs.

PALM WARBLER - An impressive total of 842 were recorded state-wide on CBCs.

YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT - One was at the Botanical Gardens in Athens from 12 December - 1 January (Joel McNeal et al.), and one was found dead in Lowndes Co. on 4 January (Brad Bergstrom).

Yellow-breasted Chat, Clarke Co., 13 Dec 2008

SUMMER TANAGER - Historically much rarer than its western counterpart in winter, this species surprised birders by appearing at their feeders: one in Fulton Co. from 31 December - 30 January (Diane Schellack), and another in Fulton Co. on 22 February (fide Grant McCreary).

WESTERN TANAGER - A male frequented a suet feeder in Forsyth Co. from 3 February through the end of the period (Rusty Trump; pending, GCRC 2009-22).

CLAY-COLORED SPARROW - One was spotted at Piedmont NWR on 15 December (Paul Sykes) for the state’s fifth CBC record.

GRASSHOPPER SPARROW - Tricky to find in winter, one was notable on PCR on 28 December (Joshua Spence).

HENSLOW’S SPARROW - A high count of 10-12 was recorded during a survey and banding effort at the regular wintering site at Paulk’s Pasture WMA on 15 January (Tim Keyes); speculation was that as many as 30 may be using the area. A fascinating discovery was that the species is able to maneuver in flight through fine-gauge mist nets, which normally capture even smaller birds consistently!

LE CONTE’S SPARROW - By far the most interesting sighting was one on PCR in the Ridge and Valley region on 30 December (Joshua Spence, m. ob.). One was also seen at the annual wintering site at BUENWR on 14 February (Walt Chambers et al.).

Le Conte’s Sparrow, Gordon Co., 30 Dec 2008

NELSON’S SPARROW - Georgia hosted what may be the first 2 well-documented inland winter occurrences of this species in North America, one on PCR on 30 December (Joshua Spence et al.), and one at BUENWR on 2 February (Chris McClure, Austin Mercadante; photo NAB Vol. 63, p. 245).

Nelson’s Sparrow, Stewart Co., 2 Feb 2009

SEASIDE SPARROW - A new state CBC high count of 1027 was established.

LINCOLN’S SPARROW - A species which continues to increase in the Region, several were noted in the state this winter: one in Colquitt Co. on 17 December (Tim Keyes et al.), one banded at Panola Mountain State Park on 7 February (Charlie Muise et al.), and one at feeders in McIntosh Co. on 28 February (Doris Cohrs).

ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK - An immature male made a fleeting appearance at feeders on Skidaway Island on 23 December for a very rare winter record (Russ Wigh).

INDIGO BUNTING - One frequented feeders in Glennville, Tattnall Co., from 22 January - 22 February (Gene Wilkinson).

PAINTED BUNTING - Two males visited feeders in Tattnall Co. throughout the season at a residence where the species has wintered for 7 consecutive years (Gene Wilkinson).

DICKCISSEL - Likely a lingering bird from fall, one was photographed at CSU on 5 December (David Hodgson).

YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD - One was found and photographed in Loganville from 1-2 February (Thad Weed).

RUSTY BLACKBIRD - Thanks to birders participating in the “Rusty Blackbird Blitz” research project (Smithsonian Institute), there were many reports of this beleaguered species. A total of 1414 established the second highest state CBC total, and 806 on the Piedmont NWR-Rum Creek CBC on 15 December (fide Terry Johnson) made the fourth highest total in any North American CBC circle this winter.

BALTIMORE ORIOLE - There were a total of 8 reports of this locally wintering species in the Coastal Plain and Piedmont, most at feeders, but a few from the field.

PURPLE FINCH - There was no indication of a major irruption, though an incursion into the state did occur on some scale. High counts included 41 on the Carters Lake CBC on 27 December (fide Joshua Spence), 50 at feeders in Washington Co. on 17 January (Lynn Schlup), and 33 at Sandy Creek Nature Center, Clarke Co. on 25 January (Joel McNeal et al.).

RED CROSSBILL - Among a few sightings were counts of 15 on the Chattahoochee National Forest CBC on 14 December (fide Johnny Parks) and 21 in Rabun Co. on 31 January (Ken Blankenship); a flock again appeared sporadically at feeders in White Co. (John McClatchey), where they were first noted in spring 2008.

PINE SISKIN - One of the 2 largest irruptions of this species on record continued throughout the period (the other being the pre-internet winter of 1987-88), with reports from every corner of the Region, including large numbers at feeders all the way to the southern Coastal Plain of Georgia. Flocks of 30-50 birds descending upon and dominating feeding stations were virtually commonplace: a boisterous crowd of 400+ in Washington Co. on 17 January (Lynn Schlup) was exemplary among many reports of 100+ siskins at single sites. Previous high counts were smashed on Christmas counts throughout the Region; record state CBC totals of 2326 in Georgia and a whopping 3038 in North Carolina attest to the magnitude of this invasion.

Pine Siskins (2 of 43), Tattnall Co., Jan 2009, by Gene Wilkinson

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