Note: Giff Beaton’s book Birding Georgia and Ken Blankenship’s web site Wings Over Georgia contain directions to some of these sites and many other great birding locations in Georgia.

Hotline: Georgia Rare Bird Alert
Number: 770-493-8862
To Report: 770-493-8862 or lambertsewell@att.net
Coverage: Statewide
Compiled: 3/28/09(8:22pm)
Compiler: Jeff Sewell
Transcriber: Lois Stacey

Birds reported:

BEWICK'S WREN
Tundra Swan
Red-throated Loon
Common Loon
American Bittern

A Bewick's Wren was reported from downtown Dalton. This is a very rare bird in Georgia. The bird was seen at an apartment complex.

Directions are: Take I-75 toward Dalton and get off at exit 333, Walnut St. and go east 1 or 2 miles. Turn left on Thornton Rd and go 1/2 mile or so and turn left onto Hawthorn St. A short way down the road you will see the Whitfield Commons Apartments and the bird was seen at the back of the building. The bird was looked for after the report and was not relocated.
http://www.listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0903&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=32657

Tundra Swans were seen in Walker County.
http://www.listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0903&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=26460
http://www.listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0903&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=28716
http://www.listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0903&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=30289

170 Common Loons and 1 Red-throated Loon were seen at the Bear Creek Reservoir.
http://www.listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0903&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=31851
http://www.listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0903&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=33044
http://wingsoverga.com/JacksonCoBirdingSites.html#BearCreekReservoir

An American Bittern was reported from Mercer Wetlands on 3/22.
http://www.listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0903&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=24326

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Hotline: Georgia Rare Bird Alert
Number: 770-493-8862
To Report: 770-493-8862 or lambertsewell@att.net
Coverage: Statewide
Compiled: 3/20/09(9:09pm)
Compiler: Jeff Sewell
Transcriber: Lois Stacey

Birds reported:

Ross's Goose
Horned Grebe
Purple Finch
Red-breasted Nuthatch

A Ross's Goose was reported from Cooper Creek Park in Columbus.

8 Common Loons were reported from private property in Sumter County on 3/13.
http://www.listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0903&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=15349

40 Purple Finches were reported at a feeder in Whitfield County.
http://www.listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0903&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=15775

On 3/15 7 Redhead and 10 Red-breasted Mergansers were reported at E. L. Huie Land Application Facility.
http://www.listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0903&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=16302

On 3/17 the Mergansers were gone but Black Ducks were found at Shamrock.
http://www.listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0903&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=18716
http://wingsoverga.com/ClaytonCoBirdingSites.html#ELHuie

Common Goldeneye and Horned Grebe continue at the Carter's Lake on 3/15.
http://www.listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0903&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=17228
http://wingsoverga.com/MurrayCountyBirdingSites.html#CartersLake

Red-breasted Nuthatches were seen in the Cohutta Mountains. These birds may breed in that area.
http://www.listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0903&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=17228

A Merlin was reported from the Pine Chapel Rd. area on 3/16.
http://www.listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0903&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=18135
http://wingsoverga.com/GordonCountyBirdingSites.html#PineChapelRd

It was reported that the Rufous Hummingbird in the Buckhead area has left.

Ducks still remain at the Bear Creek Reservoir.
http://www.listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0903&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=17769
http://wingsoverga.com/JacksonCoBirdingSites.html#BearCreekReservoir

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Hotline: Georgia Rare Bird Alert
Number: 770-493-8862
To Report: 770-493-8862 or lambertsewell@att.net
Coverage: Statewide
Compiled: 3/13/09(9:29pm)
Compiler: Jeff Sewell
Transcriber: Lois Stacey

Birds reported:

Harlan's Red-tailed Hawk
Swallow-tailed Kite
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Horned Grebe
Eared Grebe
Common Goldeneye

A Harlan's Red-tailed Hawk was seen at the Clayton County Water Authority.
The area the bird was in is not accessible to the public but the bird might be visible from Lake Shamrock which is open to the public.
http://www.listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0903&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=13641

Two Swallow-tailed Kites were seen at the Okefenokee Swamp Visitor's Center boardwalk. A White-winged Dove was also seen on S. Permieter Road.
http://www.listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0903&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=13213

A Ruby-throated Hummingbird was seen at a feeder in Americus.
http://www.listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0903&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=12460

From Bear Creek Reservoir on 3/11 21 American Wigeon, a Redhead and 15 Horned Grebes, some in breeding plumage.
http://www.listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0903&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=11343
http://wingsoverga.com/JacksonCoBirdingSites.html#BearCreekReservoir

One Eared Grebe continues at Lake Varner as of 3/9.
http://www.listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0903&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=9725
http://wingsoverga.com/NewtonCoBirdingSites.html#LakeVarner

Two female Common Goldeneyes continue at the Arrowhead Environmental Ed.
Center in Floyd Springs.
http://www.listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0903&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=9614
http://wingsoverga.com/FloydCountyBirdingSites.html#Arrowhead

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Hotline: Georgia Rare Bird Alert
Number: 770-493-8862
To Report: 770-493-8862 or lambertsewell@att.net
Coverage: Statewide
Compiled: 3/7/09(9:15pm)
Compiler: Jeff Sewell
Transcriber: Lois Stacey

Birds reported:

Cinnamon Teal (not seen)
Great Cormorant
White-winged Scoter
Common Goldeneye
Rusty Blackbird
Bald Eagle
Horned Grebe
Sandhill Crane
Eared Grebe
Canvasback
Redhead
American Woodcock

The Cinnamon Teal reported from the Altamaha WMA have not been relocated.
on 3/6 American Bittern, Canvasbak and Black-bellied Whistling Duck were seen there.
http://www.listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0903&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=6722
http://wingsoverga.com/McIntoshCoBirdingSites.html#AltamahaWMA

As of 3/5 the Great Cormorant at Lake Walter F. George is still there and is in almost full breeding plumage.
http://www.listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0903&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=7712
http://wingsoverga.com/ClayCoBirdingSites.html#LakeWalterFGeorge

A possible Red-necked Phalarope was reported on 2/28 near Warrenton.
http://www.listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0902&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=38756

A Lincoln's Sparrow was coming to a feeder near Darien.
http://www.listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0902&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=38653

A Summer Tanager apparently over wintered and was coming to a feeder in Roswell.
http://www.listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0903&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=645

Hummingbirds are being seen at more feeders. These could be early arrivals but they may also be western species moving through. If you have a hummingbird at you feeders contact the rare bird alert or GABO to try and get an identification.

On 3/7 at Arrowhead a female Common Goldeneye was seen.
http://www.listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0903&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=7277
http://wingsoverga.com/FloydCountyBirdingSites.html#Arrowhead

At the state Botanical garden in Athens 24 Rusty Blackbirds and a Bald Eagle were seen.
http://www.listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0903&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=7035
http://wingsoverga.com/ClarkeCoBirdingSites.html#StateBotGardens

Anhingas are showing up in the Atlanta area.
http://www.listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0903&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=3849

Sandhill Cranes are still moving through the Atlanta area.
http://www.listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0903&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=6319

From Lake Varner on 3/6 the Eared Grebe was seen. Also seen were Canvasback and Redhead.
http://www.listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0903&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=6167
http://wingsoverga.com/NewtonCoBirdingSites.html#LakeVarner

A Short-eared Owl was seen in Stewart County on Ga Hwy 39 spur. From Columbus take GA 39 - when it takes a turn to the south continue straight to get on the spur. There is a large field on the left.
http://www.listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0903&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=5282

A White-winged Scoter was seen at Cooper Creek Park. It was seen early and not seen later.
http://www.listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0903&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=4460

Woodcocks are displaying in several areas. They are seen at the Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center Trailhaed parking lot.
http://wingsoverga.com/JasperCoBirdingSites.html#CharlieElliot

And the Johnson's Ferry Unit.
http://www.listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0903&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=3622
http://wingsoverga.com/CobbCountyBirdingSites.html#JohnsonFerryNorth

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