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A neck-banded ROSS'S GOOSE continues as of 26 January at the E.L. Huie Land
Application Facility in Clayton Co.
Two female COMMON GOLDENEYE and 19 CANVASBACK were seen at Southwire Lake in
Carroll Co. on 26 Jaunary. Also seen at Walker's Lake nearby was a MERLIN.
A report from Cumberland Island on 24 and 25 January included 2 PARASITIC
JAEGER, 1 BLACK SCOTER, 4 RED KNOTS, and other birds.
An EARED GREBE was reported from Rum Creek WMA on 25 January.
A single COMMON GOLDENEYE and several CANVASBACK were reported on 23 and 24
A female RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD was photographed at a feeder on Skidaway Island
A RED-THROATED LOON was seen as recently as 23 January at the Carter's Lake
- Birds Reported
Long-tailed Duck -Transcript
hotline: Georgia Rare Bird Alert
A subadult GOLDEN EAGLE was observed on 17 January in Charlton Co. at the
landfill, a known semi-annual wintering site for that species. Also seen were
four BALD EAGLES and 1000s of gulls, mostly RING-BILLED GULLS and HERRING GULLS.
On 17 January a BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE was observed and photographed during a
pelagic birding trip off the coast of Tybee Island. The trip was sponsored by
the Georgia Ornithological Society as part of the GOS Winter Meeting. If you are
not a member of this great organization, join today at www.gos.org .
At least four LONG-TAILED DUCKS (all female) continue as of 15 January at Merry
Bros. Brickyard Ponds in Augusta, Richmond Co. in the I-520 "Expressway Ponds."
One or two males may also be present but were not observed on that day. On Friday, 16 January the Midwinter Waterbird Survey was conducted along the Georgia coast. This annual survey is overseen by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the US Fish and Wildlife Service; many birders contribute citizen science by volunteering their time and shorebird identification skills for the effort. One highlight of this year's survey was a nice group of 1000-1250 RED KNOTS counted on Cumberland Island; this and other species of special concern were noted at various survey sites, including PIPING PLOVER, WILSON'S PLOVER, and AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER.
On 15 January at Harris Neck NWR, McIntosh Co., one female COMMON GOLDENEYE, a
PERGRINE FALCON, and a few RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were observed at Woody Pond. This
same report included a good selection of shorebirds and other species observed
at Jekyll Island south beach including 42 AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS, 1 WHIMBREL, 3
MARBLED GODWITS, 1 AMERICAN AVOCET, 1 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, and 1 GREAT
BLACK-BACKED GULL.
In the waterfowl department, two local sites worth visiting in winter have
produced a good selection of birds recently. Birds observed at Lake Acworth in
Cobb Co. on 18 January included 10 AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS, 10 NORTHERN PINTAIL,
HOODED MERGANSER, GADWALL, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, and more.
At Southwire Lake / Richard's Lake in Carroll Co. on 17 January at least 580
ducks were observed, mostly RING-NECKED DUCK and LESSER SCAUP. Also observed
were 2 female COMMON GOLDENEYES, 9 CANVASBACK, AMERICAN WIGEON, GADWALL,
BUFFLEHEAD, HOODED MERGANSER, BLUE-WINGED TEAL, and more.
- Birds Reported
ROSS'S GOOSE -Transcript
hotline: Georgia Rare Bird Alert
A group of 4 CACKLING GEESE returned to Crawfish Springs Pond in Walker Co. on
12 January. This same report contained a nice selection of waterfowl from Fite
Bend Rd in Gordon Co., where recent rains have created a very large shallow
pond; highlights included 32 NORTHERN PINTAIL and 2 AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS.
Six LONG-TAILED DUCKS continue as of 11 January at Merry Bros. Brickyard Ponds
in Augusta, Richmond Co. in the I-520 "Expressway Ponds." This same report
contained a report of 77 NORTHERN PINTAILS and large numbers of other waterfowl
at Lake Hartwell from the Elrod Ferry Day Use Area.
PINE SISKINS continue their massive irruption and are being reported in good
numbers across the state, many for the first time at feeders in South Georgia. A
recent high count of 200 birds was made at feeders on Cashes Valley Rd in Fannin
Co. on 11 January. A pair of RED CROSSBILLS flew over during this observation,
and 4 PURPLE FINCHES were at the feeders as well.
A ROSS'S GOOSE continues as of 11 January along with the arrival of three
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE on Davenport Farm Rd in Fannin Co.
A report on 12 January from Cochran Shoals Unit of the CRNRA included 12 RUSTY
BLACKBIRDS and a SPOTTED SANDPIPER, rare for this part of the state in winter.
A "KRIDER'S" RED-TAILED HAWK, an uncommon of the Great Plains which shows up
in Georgia on occasion in winter, was photographed on 9 January in rural Sumter
Co. Over the past 10 years or so, this form has been found in the SW corner of
the state more often than other areas but this may be a function of better
coverage.
Another very rare wintering species, particularly for the Piedmont, a
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT continues as of 1 January at the State Botanical Gardens
near Athens.
A group of six CACKLING GEESE continues as of 1 January at Crawfish Springs Pond
outside the town of Chickamauga in Walker Co. The birds were also seen on 2
January by one group of observers but not by another.
On 1 January a group of five GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were relocated on Cobb
Cheek Rd in Sumter Co. SANDHILL CRANES were seen on the ground in good numbers.
A Short-eared Owl was also reported, but was not seen (heard only). Notably, the
Greater White-fronted Geese were NOT seen on 2 January. However, on the same day
3-4 SHORT-EARED OWLS were seen and heard by several observers.
On Pine Chapel Rd in Gordon Co., a male NORTHERN PINTAIL and four CANVASBACKS
were seen on 1 January. On the same day, seven SNOW GEESE were reported from a
pond just east of Nickelsville on GA Hwy 136. Notably, the gravel road on Pine
Chapel Rd directly across from Moss Rd which provides access to the "back pond"
is now being leased by a new tenant (as of 31 December). You may still park on
this gravel road just off of Pine Chapel Rd, but do not walk the road; simply
bird this area from the shoulder of Pine Chapel Rd and Moss Rd until the new
owners are contacted by local representatives of the Birding Community. Be
extremely careful on the shoulder of these busy roads if you bird this area.
Stay tuned to GABO-L for access details.
A RED-NECKED GREBE which was observed for most of the day on 30 December at
Andrews Island Causeway outside Brunswick was not seen on 31 December. However,
the last birder who searched extensively for the bird on 31 December and missed
it finished his Georgia Big Year 2008 with 314 Species!
Some interesting Ammodramus sparrows have been found recently in Gordon Co.,
including LE CONTE'S SPARROW and HENSLOW'S SPARROW.
On 29 December a nice report from Tybee Island included RED KNOT, GREAT
BLACK-BACKED GULL, PURPLE SANDPIPER (only reliable wintering spot for this
species in the state), RED-THROATED LOON, and more. |
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1/2009