April 2009 Georgia Statewide RBA Transcripts

april 2009 georgia statewide rba summaries. . .
Apr 4	Apr 11	Apr 17	Apr 26

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.

* Georgia statewide
* April 26, 2009
* GAGA0904.26

- Birds Reported

Mourning Warbler
PACIFIC LOON
SNAIL KITE
White-winged Dove
Black-billed Cuckoo
American Bittern
Purple Gallinule
Dickcissel
Common Ground-dove
Black-crowned Night-heron
American Bittern
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Least Bittern
Sedge Wren
Swallow-tailed Kite

hotline: Georgia Rare Bird Alert
date: April 26, 2009, 8:55 pm
number: 770-493-8862
to report: 770-493-8862 or lambertsewell AT mindspring.com
coverage: Statewide
compiled: April 26, 2009
compiler: Jeff Sewell
transcriber: Larry Russell

The following is a summary of the Georgia Rare Bird Alert (RBA) Sunday evening telephone report, April 26, 2009. The RBA is a service of the Georgia Ornithological Society. Jeff Sewell is the voice of the RBA.

[Transcriber's note: Most, if not all of the sites mentioned in this report can be found in two excellent resources for birders, Giff Beaton's book "Birding Georgia", and Ken Blankenship's web site "Wings Over Georgia", http://www.wingsoverga.com.]

[Transcriber's note: This report may contain items not included in the voice-recorded RBA, as noted by the * symbol. This was approved by the RBA administrator.]

MISSISSIPPI KITES were seen in several locations in Georgia this week, including Macon, Richmond Hill in Bryan Co., and Oxbow Meadows in Muscogee.
Co. near Columbus.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0904&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=49043
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0904&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=48690
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0904&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=45141

The SNAIL KITE found near Bainbridge in Decatur Co. on April 23rd has not been seen again.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0904&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=44557

A WHITE-WINGED DOVE was spotted on the west side of the Altamaha WMA near Darien in McIntosh Co. this weekend. This area is on the west side of US17, behind the white buildings on the north end of Butler Island.

A BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO was seen at the Tidelands Nature Center on Jekyll Island in Glynn Co. on April 25th.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0904&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=50017

A BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was seen at the Cochran Shoals Unit of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area in Cobb Co. on April 25th.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0904&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=48449
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0904&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=50337

Another BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was seen in Murray Co. on April 24th.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0904&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=47573

A PURPLE GALLINULE was seen at Oxbow Meadows near Columbus in Muscogee Co.
on April 20th, and was seen again on April 22nd.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0904&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=37900
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0904&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=42167

Two COMMON GROUND-DOVES were seen at the Bostwick Sod Farm in Morgan Co. on April 24th A DICKCISSEL was seen there on April 25th.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0904&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=47981
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0904&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=47008

The two AMERICAN BITTERNS continue at the Mercer Wetlands in the Koger Office Park in Dekalb Co.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0904&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=32952

Some other interesting reports from the past week:

*A YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO was seen in Decatur in Dekalb Co. on April 26th.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0904&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=49453

*A late-season SEDGE WREN was spotted at the State Botanical Gardens in Athens in Clarke Co. on April 22nd.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0904&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=40903

*A LEAST BITTERN and a BALD EAGLE were seen at the Altamaha WMA on April 22nd.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0904&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=43687

*A SWALLOW-TAILED KITE and two MISSISSIPPI KITES were seen in Brantley Co.
on April 20th.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0904&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=36335

*Another SWALLOW-TAILED KITE was spotted in Walton Co. on April 26th.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0904&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=50909

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* Georgia statewide
* April 17, 2009
* GAGA0904.17

- Birds Reported

Cuban Black-Hawk
Swallow-tailed Kite
Greater White-fronted Goose
Snow Goose
Eared Grebe
Horned Grebe
American Bittern
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
Hooded Merganser

hotline: Georgia Rare Bird Alert
date: April 17, 2009, 8:32 pm
number: 770-493-8862
to report: 770-493-8862 or lambertsewell AT mindspring.com
coverage: Statewide
compiled: April 17, 2009
compiler: Jeff Sewell
transcriber: Larry Russell

The following is a summary of the Georgia Rare Bird Alert (RBA) Friday evening telephone report, April 17, 2009. The RBA is a service of the Georgia Ornithological Society. Jeff Sewell is the voice of the RBA.

[Transcriber's note: Most, if not all of the sites mentioned in this report can be found in two excellent resources for birders, Giff Beaton's book "Birding Georgia", and Ken Blankenship's web site "Wings Over Georgia", http://www.wingsoverga.com.]

A COMMON BLACK-HAWK spotted last week at Callaway Gardens in Harris Co. is now thought to have been a CUBAN BLACK-HAWK. It has not been seen since.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0904&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=28247
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0904&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=23740
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0904&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=25802
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0904&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=30439
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0904&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=24784
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0904&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=25075
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0904&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=25265

A SWALLOW-TAILED KITE also spotted last week at Callaway Gardens was a first record for Harris Co.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0904&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=19298

A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was seen in Gordon Co. off of Owens Chapel Rd.
This location can be found at DeLorme 13-H8.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0904&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=19523

Three MISSISSIPPI KITES were seen in northwest Lee Co. on April 6th.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0904&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=31994

An EARED GREBE and a HORNED GREBE in breeding plumage were seen on Lake Oliver in Columbus on April 14th.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0904&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=23033

A SNOW GOOSE was seen at Coopers Creek Park in Columbus on April 14th.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0904&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=23033

Thirteen species of warblers were seen at the State Botanical Gardens in Athens on April 15th.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0904&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=25658

Fourteen species of warblers were seen at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park in Cobb Co. on April 17th.

Two AMERICAN BITTERNS have been seen at the Mercer Wetlands in the Kroger Office Park in Dekalb Co. Also seen there were a YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON and a female HOODED MERGANSER.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0904&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=26946
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0904&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=23619
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0904&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=24658

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* Georgia statewide
* April 11, 2009
* GAGA0904.11

- Birds Reported

Common Black-Hawk
Common Merganser
Swallow-tailed Kite
White-winged Dove
Swainson's Warbler
Kentucky Warbler
American White Pelican
American Avocet
American Bittern
Least Bittern
Glossy Ibis
Black-legged Stilt
Purple Gallinule
Merlin
Whimbrel
Mississippi Kite

hotline: Georgia Rare Bird Alert
date: April 11, 2009, 8:51 pm
number: 770-493-8862
to report: 770-493-8862 or lambertsewell AT mindspring.com
coverage: Statewide
compiled: April 11, 2009
compiler: Jeff Sewell
transcriber: Larry Russell

The following is a summary of the Georgia Rare Bird Alert (RBA) Saturday evening telephone report, April 11, 2009. The RBA is a service of the Georgia Ornithological Society. Jeff Sewell is the voice of the RBA.

[Transcriber's note: Most, if not all of the sites mentioned in this report can be found in two excellent resources for birders, Giff Beaton's book "Birding Georgia", and Ken Blankenship's web site "Wings Over Georgia", http://www.wingsoverga.com.]

A COMMON BLACK-HAWK was spotted at Callaway Gardens in Harris Co. on April 10th. This is an extremely rare bird for Georgia.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0904&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=17561
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0904&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=17696
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0904&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=18879
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0904&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=20800
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0904&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=19422
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0904&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=19759

A SWALLOW-TAILED KITE was also spotted at Callaway Gardens while searching for the aforementioned Common Black-Hawk on April 11th.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0904&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=19298

A COMMON MERGANSER was reported from the Bear Creek Reservoir in Oconee Co.
on April 9th, but has not been seen since.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0904&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=17809

A WHITE-WINGED DOVE has been seen at a residence in Savannah that has hosted this species in the past. If you would like to take a shot at seeing this bird, call the GA RBA and leave your name and telephone number and Jeff will call you back.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0904&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=18394

Another WHITE-WINGED DOVE has been seen at a residence on Jekyll Island in Glynn Co.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0904&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=7680

Neotropical migrants are passing through Georgia now. To wit:

Fourteen species of warblers were seen on April at Standing Boy Creek Tract in Muscogee Co., including SWAINSON'S WARBLER and KENTUCKY WARBLER.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0904&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=18493

Eleven species of warblers, including SWAINSON'S WARBLER and KENTUCKY WARBLER, were seen on a field trip to Robins AFB in Macon Ga.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0904&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=18256

Twenty AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS were reported from the Andrews Island Causeway in Brunswick in Glynn Co.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0904&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=21913

Two SWALLOW-TAILED KITES, a MERLIN, and 12 AMERICAN AVOCETS were seen from the Jekyll Island Causeway on April 11th.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0904&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=21913

A GRAY KINGBIRD has been reported again from the Jekyll Island Convention Center in Glynn Co.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0904&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=21913

From the Altamaha WMA in McIntosh Co. on April 11th come reports of an AMERICAN BITTERN, 3 LEAST BITTERNS, GLOSSY IBIS, BLACK-LEGGED STILTS, and a PURPLE GALLINULE.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0904&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=21913

Gould's Inlet on St. Simons Island in Glynn Co. produced 90 WHIMBREL on April 11th.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0904&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=21913

A MISSISSIPPI KITE was spotted in the Bond Swamp WMA along the Ocmulgee River in Bibb and Twiggs counties April 11th.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0904&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=21913

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* Georgia statewide
* April 4, 2009
* GAGA0904.04

- Birds Reported

Tundra Swan (not seen)
Greater White-fronted Goose
Common Loon
Red-throated Loon
Bald Eagle

hotline: Georgia Rare Bird Alert
date: April 4, 2009, 9:53 pm
number: 770-493-8862
to report: 770-493-8862 or lambertsewell AT mindspring.com
coverage: Statewide
compiled: April 4, 2009
compiler: Jeff Sewell
transcriber: Larry Russell

The following is a summary of the Georgia Rare Bird Alert (RBA) Saturday evening telephone report, April 4, 2009. The RBA is a service of the Georgia Ornithological Society. Jeff Sewell is the voice of the RBA.

[Transcriber's note: Most, if not all of the sites mentioned in this report can be found in two excellent resources for birders, Giff Beaton's book "Birding Georgia", and Ken Blankenship's web site "Wings Over Georgia", http://www.wingsoverga.com.]

A YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was spotted near Perry, GA in Houston Co.
Unfortunately, this bird was roadkill.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0903&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=33199

The two immature TUNDRA SWANs found about two weeks ago in Walker Co. have not been seen in the last few days.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0903&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=26460
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0903&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=28716
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0903&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=30289
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0903&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=31603
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0903&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=34241
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0904&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=3345

Five BALD EAGLES were seen at the Harris Neck NWR in McIntosh Co. on March 29th. A BALD EAGLE chick has also been seen there.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0904&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=705

A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was seen at Crawfish Springs in Walker Co. on March 29th.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0903&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=34968

Large flocks of migrating SWALLOWs have been seen in several locations across the state.

Thirteen COMMON LOONs in breending plumage were seen on Lake Spivey in Henry Co. on March 31st.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0903&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=38916

A RED-THROATED LOON was seen on Bear Creek Reservoir in Oconee Co. on March 27th. . ..
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0903&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=31464

. . . and another RED-THROATED LOON was seen on Lake Varner in Newton Co. on March 30th.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0903&L=gabo-l&F=&S=&P=36431

Georgia Birders Online (GABO) is a great resource for timely reports on state-wide sightings. Some reports on GABO are not included in the periodic RBAs. This site can be found at
http://listserv.uga.edu/archives/gabo-l.html.

If you're reading this, chances are you already know about it! Please contribute your sightings to one of our state's best birding resources.

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