December 2001 Georgia Statewide RBA Transcripts

December 2001 Georgia Statewide RBA Archives
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* Georgia statewide * December 30, 2001 * GAGA0112.30 - Birds Reported Black-legged Kittiwake Broad-billed Hummingbird Lark Sparrow Western Kingbird Red-tailed Hawk (dark western form) Pine Siskin - Transcript hotline: Georgia Rare Bird Alert date: December 30, 2001 number: 770-493-8862 to report: 770-493-8862 or lambertsewell@mindspring.com coverage: Statewide compiled: December 30, 2001 compiler: Jeff Sewell transcriber: Joel Hitt This is the Georgia Rare Bird Alert (RBA) transcription of the Sunday evening report, December 30, 2001. The RBA is a service of the Georgia Ornithological Society. Jeff Sewell is the compiler and voice for the telephone reports (770-493-8862). Jeff Sewell and Carol Lambert saw the BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE at West Point Lake on Sunday December 30. The bird has been seen by many since first reported by Walt Chambers several weeks ago. However Jeff and Carol found the bird at a different location than its usual viewing point at the dam. They found the bird at the Corps of Engineers' Long Cane Park. This park is accessed by going past the turnoff to the dam area along US 29, toward LaGrange another several miles. Look for the turnoff to Long Cane Park on the left. Complete directions to the dam area from Atlanta are as follows: Go south on I-85 to Exit 2, GA 18. Exit right and you will enter West Point. After 1.4 miles and at the second traffic signal turn right onto US 29, proceeding north. About 3.3 miles north on US 29, turn left at the marble monument that indicates the Corps of Engineers project. This is Resource Management Drive. Continue 1.6 miles to the Resource Manager's office and to the dam in another 0.3 miles (cf. Beaton, Birding Georgia, p. 64). Note that vehicular traffic is no longer allowed across the dam, though you may walk across it after checking in at the office to inform them of your plans. The near side of the dam affords good views of the lake, and the boom which is used for a perch by sometimes hundreds of birds. The opposite side of the dam allows access to views below the spillway, and is usually where the Kittiwake has been reported, though it has been seen on the boom as well. You may also drive to the location below the dam by approaching as follows: Stay on GA 18 past the US 29 turnoff and go through West Point until you cross the Chattahoochee River. Bear right at the curve past the river. Cross the railroad track and proceed a block to the stop light. Turn right and go a few miles until you see a sign for Hardley Creek Park. Turn right and proceed to the parking area just below the dam. The BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD continues in the Macon area, seen as recently as Saturday December 29 by Terry Moore and Michael Bell. The history of this bird is well-known, but repeated here. On Saturday December 15, Terry Johnson banded Georgia's first recorded BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD in Macon (Bibb County). The bird is an adult male, and is coming to a feeder at the home of Wesley and Shannon Wilson on the north side of town. Apparently the bird has been coming to this location since November 2-5. The bird has been seen by many visitors most days. However, the bird is absent from the feeder for periods of time, so be patient. The Wilsons are accepting visitors anytime after 8:30 A.M. each day. No prior call to the home is necessary. They live at 4535 Glenwood Drive. Directions are as follows: From downtown Macon proceed north on I-75 to exit 169, Arkwright Road, and turn left. Coming from Atlanta and points north, exit at Arkwright Road and turn right. Follow Arkwright (which changes names to Tom Hill Senior Road at Riverside Drive) to its dead end into Northside Drive in 0.5 mile. Turn right and proceed about 0.8 mile to the first traffic signal, Forest Hill Road. Turn left and in about 0.2-0.3 mile just beyond a shopping area on the right find Glenwood Drive framed by 2 brick monuments. Turn right; 4535 is about 0.3 mile into the subdivision on the right. If you come to a stop sign you have gone too far. Park on the street. Walk up the driveway on the left side of the house to a chain link fence at the back yard. The owners have roped off a viewing area to see the feeder on the back of the house, as well as the Willow Oak in the yard where it often perches. Please stay inside this viewing area. Also sign the guest book in the garage near the back door. Please extend the usual courtesies to the hosts if you see them, for their willingness to have guests come and observe Georgia's first Broad-billed Hummer! Lydia Thompson reported that she and others saw a LARK SPARROW near the South Beach, Jekyll Island, on Friday. The bird was behind the well-known "pink house" along the trail that goes to the right of the house. She also reports that Art and Lisa Hurt saw a WESTERN KINGBIRD on the same day, just south of the Jekyll Club beach pavilion. This is on the north end of the island. If you get to the motel on the north end, you have passed the club. Michael Bell reports a dark western juvenile RED-TAILED HAWK in Sumter County, the 3rd or 4th unusually-plumaged Red-tailed Hawk we've had reported from south Georgia in the last several weeks, including 2 Krider's. This bird was 200 yards south of mile marker 17 on GA 195 (DeLorme 42 H-1). Several persons have reported recent influxes of PINE SISKINS. For examples, Diane Wilkie reported 6 at her feeder in northwest Cobb County in Acworth. Betty Belanger of Suches found 50 at Lake Winfield Scott on Friday December 28, as well as 10 at her home feeder. top * Georgia statewide * December 28, 2001 * GAGA0112.28 - Birds Reported American White Pelican "Krider's" Red-tailed Hawk Yellow-headed Blackbird Evening Grosbeak Common Raven Pine Siskin Broad-billed Hummingbird - Transcript hotline: Georgia Rare Bird Alert date: December 28, 2001 number: 770-493-8862 to report: 770-493-8862 or lambertsewell@mindspring.com coverage: Statewide compiled: December 28, 2001 compiler: Jeff Sewell transcriber: Joel Hitt This is the Georgia Rare Bird Alert (RBA) transcription of the Friday evening report, December 28, 2001. The RBA is a service of the Georgia Ornithological Society. Jeff Sewell is the compiler and voice for the telephone reports (770-493-8862). On Sunday December 23 Gene Keferl reported seeing an AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN at the Paradise Fishing Area on Horseshoe Pond #5 (DeLorme 59 B-8). Proceeding south on I-75, exit east on US 82 in Tifton. Follow the signs as you approach the fishing area on the outskirts of Tifton. Gene also was at the Cobb GA owl fields in east Sumter County, and saw a Krider's Red-tailed Hawk. This is presumably the same bird that Jim Flynn and Earl Horn saw on December 2 at that location. Directions to the fields are as follows (DeLorme 50 C-2): From I-75 in south Georgia between Macon and Tifton, proceed west on US 280 at Cordele. Cross over Lake Blackshear (Flint River) and proceed to the small unincorporated community of Cobb. Turn right on Cobb-Cheek Road and proceed to Tim Tucker Road and a little beyond. The Krider's was seen just north of Tim Tucker Road. Another KRIDER'S RED-TAILED HAWK has been reported by Walt Chambers near Lake Seminole in the vicinity of GA 253 east of GA 374. Also in the area he found a male YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD. This has been the most reliable spot in the state for this species in recent winters. Jim Flynn and Earl Horn on December 24 found 20 EVENING GROSBEAK flyovers in Rabun County. This is the first report of a flock of EVENING GROSBEAKS in the state to come to the RBA's attention this winter. The location was on Warwoman Road 6.4 miles out from Rickman Street in downtown Clayton. Entering Clayton on US 441, turn right on Rickman Street, which quickly runs out into Warwoman Road. Jim also had 3 COMMON RAVENS. 2 were on Forest Service (FS) Road 417 southwest of GA 28 and Warwoman Road. They also had a COMMON RAVEN at the water treatment plant in Dillard. This plant lies east of US 441 in this little town north of Clayton. They also had a few PINE SISKIN in the area. The BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD continues in the Macon area, as far as we are aware. There have been no reports since Gene Keferl's sighting of the bird last Sunday afternoon. If you wish to visit the Macon area from afar, you may call the RBA number and Jeff will call the Wilson's to see if the bird is still appearing. The history of this bird is well-known, but repeated here. On Saturday December 15, Terry Johnson banded Georgia's first recorded BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD in Macon (Bibb County). The bird is an adult male, and is coming to a feeder at the home of Wesley and Shannon Wilson on the north side of town. Apparently the bird has been coming to this location since November 2-5. The bird has been seen by many visitors most days. However, the bird is absent from the feeder for periods of time, so be patient. The Wilsons are accepting visitors anytime after 8:30 A.M. each day. No prior call to the home is necessary. They live at 4535 Glenwood Drive. Directions are as follows: From downtown Macon proceed north on I-75 to exit 169, Arkwright Road, and turn left. Coming from Atlanta and points north, exit at Arkwright Road and turn right. Follow Arkwright (which changes names to Tom Hill Senior Road at Riverside Drive) to its dead end into Northside Drive in 0.5 mile. Turn right and proceed about 0.8 mile to the first traffic signal, Forest Hill Road. Turn left and in about 0.2-0.3 mile just beyond a shopping area on the right find Glenwood Drive framed by 2 brick monuments. Turn right; 4535 is about 0.3 mile into the subdivision on the right. If you come to a stop sign you have gone too far. Park on the street. Walk up the driveway on the left side of the house to a chain link fence at the back yard. The owners have roped off a viewing area to see the feeder on the back of the house, as well as the Willow Oak in the yard where it often perches. Please stay inside this viewing area. Also sign the guest book in the garage near the back door. Please extend the usual courtesies to the hosts if you see them, for their willingness to have guests come and observe Georgia's first Broad-billed Hummer! top * Georgia statewide * December 22, 2001 * GAGA0112.22 - Birds Reported Broad-billed Hummingbird Black-legged Kittiwake Common Goldeneye Northern Pintail American Black Duck Red Crossbill Purple Finch Dark-eyed Junco Lincoln's Sparrow Le Conte's Sparrow Western Kingbird - Transcript hotline: Georgia Rare Bird Alert date: December 22, 2001 number: 770-493-8862 to report: 770-493-8862 or lambertsewell@mindspring.com coverage: Statewide compiled: December 22, 2001 compiler: Jeff Sewell transcriber: Joel Hitt This is the Georgia Rare Bird Alert (RBA) transcription of the Saturday evening report, December 22, 2001. The RBA is a service of the Georgia Ornithological Society. Jeff Sewell is the compiler and voice for the telephone reports (770-493-8862). The BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD continues in the Macon area. On Saturday December 15, Terry Johnson banded Georgia's first recorded BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD in Macon (Bibb County). The bird is an adult male, and is coming to a feeder at the home of Wesley and Shannon Wilson on the north side of town. Apparently the bird has been coming to this location since November 2-5. The bird has been seen by many visitors daily from all over Georgia. However, the bird is absent from the feeder for periods of time, so be patient. This morning (Saturday 12/22) the bird was seen by a steady stream of observers, but some had to wait over an hour before the bird appeared. The Wilsons are accepting visitors anytime after 8:30 A.M. each day. No prior call to the home is necessary. They live at 4535 Glenwood Drive. Directions are as follows: From downtown Macon proceed north on I-75 to exit 169, Arkwright Road, and turn left. Coming from Atlanta and points north, exit at Arkwright Road and turn right. Follow Arkwright (which changes names to Tom Hill Senior Road at Riverside Drive) to its dead end into Northside Drive in 0.5 mile. Turn right and proceed about 0.8 mile to the first traffic signal, Forest Hill Road. Turn left and in about 0.2-0.3 mile just beyond a shopping area on the right find Glenwood Drive framed by 2 brick monuments. Turn right; 4535 is about 0.3 mile into the subdivision on the right. If you come to a stop sign you have gone too far. Park on the street. Walk up the driveway on the left side of the house to a chain link fence at the back yard. The owners have roped off a viewing area to see the feeder on the back of the house, as well as the Willow Oak in the yard where it often perches. Please stay inside this viewing area. Also sign the guest book in the garage near the back door. Please extend the usual courtesies to the hosts if you see them, for their willingness to have guests come and observe Georgia's first Broad-billed Hummer! Jim Flynn reports that he saw the BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE on Wednesday (December 19) at West Point Lake Dam (Troup County). However, Pierre Howard looked for the bird late Thursday afternoon (December 20) without success. Pierre did see a flock of about 18 COMMON GOLDENEYES coming in to roost just above the dam. This is probably the best location in the state to see this species roosting in the winter season. Chris Loudermilk also reports COMMON GOLDENEYES, including 2 males, at Sweetwater Creek State Park (Douglas County) on Friday morning (December 21). There were 5 individuals, several of them male, along with some NORTHERN PINTAILS and 1 AMERICAN BLACK DUCK. James Keener reports from the Augusta Christmas Bird Count held today (December 22) that 1 LINCOLN'S SPARROW and 1 LE CONTE'S SPARROW were reported, each of the bird's from the Phinizy Swamp area. A WESTERN KINGBIRD was seen as well, from either the Lover's Lane or the Columbia Nitrogen Pond areas. Jim Flynn birded the Blue Ridge WMA in western Lumpkin County (DeLorme 14 F-5) and found 1 adult female RED CROSSBILL, 159 DARK-EYED JUNCOS and 8 PURPLE FINCHES. From the point where GA 9 and GA 52 split west of Dahlonega, continue west on GA 52 about 4.7 miles from the split to Nimblewill Church Road. Turn right and go about 2.2 miles to Forest Service (FS) Road 28-1. Turn right and proceed 2.1 miles to FS 77, perhaps also named Winding Star Gap Road. Turn left and go 3.6 miles, passing FS 77-A on the left. At 3.6 miles there is a wildlife opening on the left. The crossbill was in the pines in the back of the field, along with 2 other possible crossbills which flew before Jim could focus on them. top * Georgia statewide * December 19, 2001 * GAGA0112.19 - Birds Reported Broad-billed Hummingbird - Transcript hotline: Georgia Rare Bird Alert date: December 19, 2001 number: 770-493-8862 to report: 770-493-8862 or lambertsewell@mindspring.com coverage: Statewide compiled: December 19, 2001 compiler: Jeff Sewell transcriber: Joel Hitt This is the Georgia Rare Bird Alert (RBA) transcription of the Wednesday morning report, December 19, 2001. The RBA is a service of the Georgia Ornithological Society. Jeff Sewell is the compiler and voice for the telephone reports (770-493-8862). This report is offered to update the continuing sightings of the BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD in the Macon area. On Saturday December 15, Terry Johnson banded Georgia's first recorded BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD in Macon (Bibb County). The bird is an adult male, and is coming to a feeder at the home of Wesley and Shannon Wilson on the north side of town. Apparently the bird has been coming to this location since November 2-5. The bird has been seen by many initial visitors daily from Sunday through Tuesday. However, the bird is absent from the feeder for periods of time, so be patient. The Wilsons are accepting visitors anytime after 8:30 A.M. each day. No prior call to the home is necessary. They live at 4535 Glenwood Drive. Directions are as follows: From downtown Macon proceed north on I-75 to exit 169, Arkwright Road, and turn left. Coming from Atlanta and points north, exit at Arkwright Road and turn right. Follow Arkwright (which changes names to Tom Hill Senior Road at Riverside Drive) to its dead end into Northside Drive in 0.5 mile. Turn right and proceed about 0.8 mile to the first traffic signal, Forest Hill Road. Turn left and in about 0.2-0.3 mile just beyond a shopping area on the right find Glenwood Drive framed by 2 brick monuments. Turn right; 4535 is about 0.3 mile into the subdivision on the right. If you come to a stop sign you have gone too far. Park on the street. Walk up the driveway on the left side of the house to a chain link fence at the back yard. The owners have roped off a viewing area to see the feeder on the back of the house, as well as the Willow Oak in the yard where it often perches. Please stay inside this viewing area. Also sign the guest book in the garage near the back door. Please extend the usual courtesies to the hosts if you see them, for their willingness to have guests come and observe Georgia's first Broad-billed Hummer! top * Georgia statewide * December 17, 2001 * GAGA0112.17 - Birds Reported Broad-billed Hummingbird Purple Sandpiper Reddish Egret Western Kingbird Black-throated Green Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Black-legged Kittiwake Northern Saw-whet Owl - Transcript hotline: Georgia Rare Bird Alert date: December 17, 2001 number: 770-493-8862 to report: 770-493-8862 or lambertsewell@mindspring.com coverage: Statewide compiled: December 17, 2001 compiler: Jeff Sewell transcriber: Joel Hitt This is the Georgia Rare Bird Alert (RBA) transcription of the Monday evening report, December 17, 2001. The RBA is a service of the Georgia Ornithological Society. Jeff Sewell is the compiler and voice for the telephone reports (770-493-8862). Unfortunately, last night's RBA transcription (but not the telephone report) was erroneous in reporting Georgia's first BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD as a Broad-tailed, which would NOT have been a Georgia first. On Saturday December 15, Terry Johnson did indeed band Georgia's first recorded BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD in Macon (Bibb County). The bird is an adult male, and is coming to a feeder at the home of Wesley and Shannon Wilson on the north side of town. Apparently the bird has been coming to this location since November 2-5, and word is just now getting out to the birding community. The bird has been seen by many initial visitors on Sunday and again today, until the mid-afternoon. The Wilsons are accepting visitors after 8:30 A.M. each day. No prior call to the home is necessary. They live at 4535 Glenwood Drive. Directions are as follows: From downtown Macon proceed north on I-75 to exit 169, Arkwright Road and turn left. Coming from Atlanta and points north, exit right at Riverside Drive which runs parallel to I-75. It will intersect Arkwright Road, where you will turn right. Follow Arkwright (which may change names to Tom Hill Senior Road at Riverside) to its dead end into Northside Drive in 0.5 mile. Turn right and proceed about 0.8 mile to the first traffic signal, Forest Hill Road. Turn left and in about 0.2-0.3 mile just beyond a shopping area on the right find Glenwood Drive framed by 2 brick monuments. Turn right; 4535 is about 0.3 mile into the subdivision on the right. Park on the street. Walk up the driveway on the left side of the house to a chain link fence at the back yard. The owners have roped off a viewing area to see the feeder on the back of the house, as well as the Willow Oak in the yard where it often perches. Please stay inside this viewing area. Also sign the guest book in the garage near the back door. Please extend the usual courtesies to the hosts if you see them, for their willingness to have guests come and observe Georgia's first Broad-billed Hummer! Thanks to all those who have called the RBA with information on this exciting bird, e.g. Bill Blakeslee, Bruce Dralle, Jerry Amerson, Bruce Dralle, and Jim Flynn. From the Cumberland Island Christmas Bird Count (CBC) on Saturday, December 15, and additional sightings there on Sunday, come the following sightings: Bob Zaremba reports 4 PURPLE SANDPIPERS and an immature REDDISH EGRET on the south end of the island. Bob Cooper found a WESTERN KINGBIRD on the count day, on the north end of the island. Bob Zaremba also reports a BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER on the count day, a very rare Georgia winter report. Even rarer is a CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER found by Jerry Amerson on the Macon CBC this past weekend, probably a first Georgia record for the winter. The BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE at West Point Lake Dam remains as late as Saturday the 15th, as reported by Ted Reissing (DeLorme 24 F-2). Turn right onto US 29 at a traffic signal and proceed 3.3 miles to Resource Management Drive. There is a large sign for the West Point Lake project here. Turn left and continue 1.6 miles to the Resource Manager's office and to the dam in another 0.3 miles (cf. Beaton, Birding Georgia, p. 64). Walt Chambers reported that early Sunday morning just after midnight he heard 1 NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL at 3.75 miles down Burrell's Ford Road in northeastern Rabun County. Earl Horn had reported a Saw-whet about 0.5 mile down Burrell's Ford Road several days ago. From the Rabun County seat of Clayton, turn right at the second traffic signal coming from the south on US 441, onto Rickman St. Continue on Warwoman Road with which it soon merges, for 14 miles to GA 28 (the last 3 miles will be challenging hair-pin curves, so hold onto your binoculars!). The road deadends into GA 28. Turn right and continue 1.8 miles to Forest Service Road 646, signed as Burrell's Ford Road, to the left. top * Georgia statewide * December 16, 2001 * GAGA0112.16 - Birds Reported Broad-billed Hummingbird Black-legged Kittiwake Horned Grebe Eared Grebe - Transcript hotline: Georgia Rare Bird Alert date: December 16, 2001 number: 770-493-8862 to report: 770-493-8862 or lambertsewell@mindspring.com coverage: Statewide compiled: December 16, 2001 compiler: Jeff Sewell transcriber: Joel Hitt This is the Georgia Rare Bird Alert (RBA) transcription of the Sunday evening report, December 16, 2001. The RBA is a service of the Georgia Ornithological Society. Jeff Sewell is the compiler and voice for the telephone reports (770-493-8862). On Saturday, December 15, Terry Johnson banded Georgia's first record BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD in Macon (Bibb County). The bird is coming to a feeder at the home of Wesley and Shannon Wilson on the north side of town. Apparently the bird has been coming to this location since November 2-5, and word is just now getting out to the birding community. The Wilsons welcome visitors after 9:00 A.M. each day, but request that no one call their home. They live at 4535 Glenwood Drive. Directions are as follows: From downtown Macon proceed north on I-75 to exit 169, Arkwright Road and turn left. Coming Atlanta and points north, turn right at exit 169. Follow Arkwright Road to its dead end into Northside Drive in less than a mile. Turn right and proceed about 1 mile to the first traffic signal, Forest Hill Road. Turn left and in about 0.25 mile and just past a shopping area on the right find Glenwood Drive framed by 2 brick monuments. Turn right; 4535 is about 0.75 mile into the subdivision on the right. Park on the street. Walk up the driveway on the left side of the house to a chain link fence at the back yard. From the corner formed by the fence and a retaining wall, you can have visual access to a hummingbird feeder outside a window on the back of the house. The bird is coming to this feeder, and often perches in a Willow Oak in the back yard. Please extend the usual courtesies to the hosts, Mr. and Ms. Wilson, for their willingness to have strangers come and enjoy this holiday extravaganza--extremely rare sightings of this Mexican species in the contiguous 48 states, and a first for Georgia! The BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE at West Point Lake Dam remains as late as Friday the 14th, as reported by Chris Loudermilk (DeLorme 24 F-2). Turn right onto US 29 at a traffic signal and proceed 3.3 miles to Resource Management Drive. There is a large sign for the West Point Lake project here. Turn left and continue 1.6 miles to the Resource Manager's office and to the dam in another 0.3 miles (cf. Beaton, Birding Georgia, p. 64). Tom Egan birded Lake Acworth in NW Cobb County (DeLorme 19 F-10) and reports several HORNED GREBE and 1 EARED GREBE, as well as many of the common wintering ducks. These birds were first reported by Bob Zaremba. Lake Acworth is located just west of I-75 in north Cobb Co. From Atlanta, head north on I-75 to exit 121 (you may also take exit 120, GA 92, and follow it to the lake). Take a left off of exit 121 and head southwest on Cherokee St. a short distance until you come to GA 92. Turn right on GA 92. This will take you to Lake Acworth. As you are going down the hill, notice the sign for West Lakeshore Dr. which leads to the lake. Or you may continue on GA 92 and just before the lake there will be a pull-off, a kind of overlook park, on your left. This is another viewing point for the birds on Lake Acworth. Continue on GA 92 across Lake Acworth and look for Ragsdale Rd. Turn left on Ragsdale Rd., and proceed for about 1 / 2 mile until you see two red squares blocking off a berm, and blocking off a closed park. This is just before you get to a little cove of Lake Acworth. Park on the side of the road, and go back to the two red squares and walk out to the point. This is a nice vantage point as well, which places you out on a point in the middle of the lake. Tom and Bob both found the best viewing point to be at the beach area. top * Georgia statewide * December 13, 2001 * GAGA0112.13 - Birds Reported Black-legged Kittiwake Surf Scoter Common Loon Red-breasted Merganser Horned Grebe Herring Gull Ruddy Duck Ring-necked Duck Western Kingbird Horned Grebe Eared Grebe (probable) Common Goldeneye Whip-poor-will - Transcript hotline: Georgia Rare Bird Alert date: December 13, 2001 number: 770-493-8862 to report: 770-493-8862 or lambertsewell@mindspring.com coverage: Statewide compiled: December 14, 2001 compiler: Jeff Sewell transcriber: Joel Hitt This is the Georgia Rare Bird Alert (RBA) transcription of the Thursday evening report, December 13, 2001. The RBA is a service of the Georgia Ornithological Society. Jeff Sewell is the compiler and voice for the telephone reports (770-493-8862). The BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE at West Point Lake Dam remains as late as Thursday the 13th, as reported by Walt Chambers (DeLorme 24 F-2). As of 2 days prior, Walt says there may have even been 2 birds at this location. Turn right onto US 29 at a traffic signal and proceed 3.3 miles to Resource Management Drive. There is a large sign for the West Point Lake project here. Turn left and continue 1.6 miles to the Resource Manager's office and to the dam in another 0.3 miles (cf. Beaton, Birding Georgia, p. 64). Chris Loudermilk reports an immature SURF SCOTER at Sweetwater Creek State Park Thursday, along with COMMON LOON, RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, HORNED GREBE, HERRING GULL, RUDDY DUCK, RING-NECKED DUCK, and others. (DeLorme 25 B-10.) This is the 3rd Surf Scoter Chris has reported from this location this year. Craig Hunter reports a WESTERN KINGBIRD from Onslow Island in Chatham County (DeLorme 47 H-10). This is a Corps of Engineers dredge site. The bird was about 0.5 miles into the location. From I-95 north of Savannah, take the last Georgia exit, #109 and proceed south on GA 21/30 toward Savannah 2.7 miles. GA 30 will turn left onto Bonny Bridge Road. Proceed down this road 0.9 mile, then turn left onto GA 25 and follow it to a bridge at 0.8 mile. Just past this bridge is a pullout with a gated entrance on the right. Park here, as you must enter on foot whether the gate is open or closed. (Beaton, Birding Georgia, 173.) Bob Zaremba birded Lake Acworth in NW Cobb County (DeLorme 19 F-10) and reports the following: 25 HORNED GREBE and perhaps 1 EARED GREBE, as well as many of the common wintering ducks. Lake Acworth is located just west of I-75 in north Cobb Co. From Atlanta, head north on I-75 to exit 121 (you may also take exit 120, GA 92, and follow it to the lake). Take a left off of exit 121 and head southwest on Cherokee St. a short distance until you come to GA 92. Turn right on GA 92. This will take you to Lake Acworth. As you are going down the hill, notice the sign for West Lakeshore Dr. which leads to the lake. Or you may continue on GA 92 and just before the lake there will be a pull-off, a kind of overlook park, on your left. This is another viewing point for the birds on Lake Acworth. Continue on GA 92 across Lake Acworth and look for Ragsdale Rd. Turn left on Ragsdale Rd., and proceed for about 1 / 2 mile until you see two red squares blocking off a berm, and blocking off a closed park. This is just before you get to a little cove of Lake Acworth. Park on the side of the road, and go back to the two red squares and walk out to the point. This is a nice vantage point as well, which places you out on a point in the middle of the lake. Bob says the best viewing point for him was back at the beach. Russ Wigh called in to report from Chatham County on Skidaway Island, The Landings (a private development), December 12, 1 COMMON GOLDENEYE (DeLorme 39 C-8). Doris Cohrs found a WHIP-POOR-WILL in Macintosh County near her home, only the 2nd or 3rd time in 12 years she has located this species on the coast in the winter. Brock Hudgins reports on the 13th at Peachtree City Lake (Fayette County)(DeLorme 26 G-1), 13 COMMON LOONS, 2 HORNED GREBES, and a RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. top * Georgia statewide * December 9, 2001 * GAGA0112.09 - Birds Reported Northern Saw-whet Owl Merlin Pine Siskin Redhead Red-breasted Merganser Black-legged Kittiwake - Transcript hotline: Georgia Rare Bird Alert date: December 9, 2001 number: 770-493-8862 to report: 770-493-8862 or lambertsewell@mindspring.com coverage: Statewide compiled: December 9, 2001 compiler: Jeff Sewell transcriber: Joel Hitt This is the Georgia Rare Bird Alert (RBA) transcription of the Sunday evening report, December 9, 2001. The RBA is a service of the Georgia Ornithological Society. Jeff Sewell is the compiler and voice for the telephone reports (770-493-8862). Earl Horn reports that he heard 1 SAW-WHET OWL 0.5 mile onto Burrell's Ford Road in Rabun County (DeLorme 16 B-5). This was at 5:00 A.M. Sunday morning. From the Rabun County seat of Clayton, turn right at the second traffic signal coming from the south on US 441, onto Rickman St. Continue on Warwoman Road with which it soon merges, for 14 miles to GA 28 (the last 3 miles will be challenging hair-pin curves, so hold onto your binoculars!). The road dead-ends into GA 28. Turn right and continue 1.8 miles to Forest Service Road 646, signed as Burrell's Ford Road, to the left. On Saturday Marion Dobbs reported a MERLIN on the Berry College campus in Rome (Floyd County). Malcolm Hodges reported 2 flocks of PINE SISKINS at the Newman Wetlands Center on Freeman Road in Clayton County on the AAS field trip last weekend. From the Sweetwater Creek State Park in Douglas County west of Atlanta, Chris Loudermilk on Saturday saw 20 REDHEAD and 20 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS. The best time to visit this site is early in the morning before the fisherman spook the wild birds. Walt Chambers and Bruce Dralle report that the first year BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE was seen again Friday morning, December 7, just below West Point Lake Dam. From Atlanta take I-85 almost to the Alabama border, and turn right at Exit 2 (GA 18) toward West Point for 1.4 miles. Turn right onto US 29 at a traffic signal and proceed 3.3 miles to Resource Management Drive. There is a large sign for the West Point Lake project here. Turn left and continue 1.6 miles to the Resource Manager's office and to the dam in another 0.3 miles (cf. Beaton, Birding Georgia, p. 64). [Transcriber's note: Walt also reports in a recent message on GABO that the Kittiwake remains at this location as late as Tuesday morning at daybreak, December 11.] top * Georgia statewide * December 7, 2001 * GAGA0112.07 - Birds Reported Black-legged Kittiwake Calliope Hummingbird (no report) Lincoln's Sparrow Fox Sparrow - Transcript hotline: Georgia Rare Bird Alert date: December 7, 2001 number: 770-493-8862 to report: 770-493-8862 or lambertsewell@mindspring.com coverage: Statewide compiled: December 9, 2001 compiler: Jeff Sewell transcriber: Joel Hitt This is the Georgia Rare Bird Alert (RBA) transcription of the Friday evening report, December 7, 2001. The RBA is a service of the Georgia Ornithological Society. Jeff Sewell is the compiler and voice for the telephone reports (770-493-8862). Walt Chambers and Bruce Dralle report that the first year BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE was seen again Friday morning just below West Point Lake Dam. From Atlanta take I-85 almost to the Alabama border, and turn right at Exit 2 (GA 18) toward West Point for 1.4 miles. Turn right onto US 29 at a traffic signal and proceed 3.3 miles to Resource Management Drive. There is a large sign for the West Point Lake project here. Turn left and continue 1.6 miles to the Resource Manager's office and to the dam in another 0.3 miles (cf. Beaton, Birding Georgia, p. 64). There has been no further report of the adult male CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD well-covered on previous editions of this RBA. This bird is at the home of Betsy Ristropf (706/738-4684) in Augusta. She requests you call to make an appointment and get directions prior to coming. If anyone learns any current information on the status of this bird, please pass it along to the RBA. In the Atlanta area, Tom Egan reported on Wednesday December 5, from the Cochran Shoals Unit of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. He and others found a LINCOLN'S SPARROW behind the bathroom building. He also reported 2 FOX SPARROWS. One was along the main trail north of the bathroom, and the other along the so-called "Vireo trail," about 0.25 mile north of the bathroom, a sewer line cut that bears off to the right from the main trail. top * Georgia statewide * December 2, 2001 * GAGA0112.02 - Birds Reported Short-eared Owl Northern Harrier Red-tailed Hawk (Krider's variant) Brewer's Blackbird White-crowned Sparrow Black-legged Kittiwake (not reported) Red-breasted Nuthatch - Transcript hotline: Georgia Rare Bird Alert date: December 2, 2001 number: 770-493-8862 to report: 770-493-8862 or lambertsewell@mindspring.com coverage: Statewide compiled: December 2, 2001 compiler: Jeff Sewell transcriber: Joel Hitt This is the Georgia Rare Bird Alert (RBA) transcription of the Thursday evening report, December 2, 2001. The RBA is a service of the Georgia Ornithological Society. Jeff Sewell is the compiler and voice for the telephone reports (770-493-8862). Jim Flynn and Earl Horn went to the "Cobb Owl Fields" in southeast Sumter County. They found 5 SHORT-EARED OWLS, 26 NORTHERN HARRIERS. But their surprising find was a likely Krider's variant of a RED-TAILED HAWK. Photographs taken of the bird hopefully will be conclusive for the official record, but they report all the needed field marks for this bird. This would be the first Krider's reported in Georgia for decades. Directions to the fields are as follows (DeLorme 50 C-2): The best time to search for the owls is as dusk approaches in the late afternoon. From I-75 in south Georgia between Macon and Tifton, proceed west on US 280 at Cordele. Cross over Lake Blackshear (Flint River) and proceed to the small unincorporated community of Cobb. Turn right on Cobb-Cheek Road and proceed to Tim Tucker Road and a little beyond. Look along the way for fields with mid-calf to a little more than knee-high vegetation. As dusk approaches, look for NORTHERN HARRIERS to appear, hunting low over a field. This is a good signal species for appropriate Short-eared Owl habitat. The Krider's was seen about 0.4 mile north of the Tim Tucker Road intersection on Cobb-Cheek Road. Jim and Earl saw the hawk in both the morning and the afternoon. Also on GA 280 on the north side of the highway just short of the Sumter County line they reported 2 BREWER'S BLACKBIRDS. They had a total of 13-15 WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS. Some of the latter were near the owl fields, but the largest flock was on Milepond Road (DeLorme 50 B-3), north of GA 280 between Cordele and Lake Blackshear. Vicky Deloach called today to say she still has a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH in her yard at her Sweat Mountain location (Cobb County)(770-971-7412). No further reports have been filed of the BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE at West Point Lake given on last Thursday's RBA. top *Return to 2001 Rare Bird Alerts*