The Alabama RBA

February, 1998

Brought to you courtesy of Greg Jackson and Steve McConnell:

Previous RBA Page :  Alabama RBA for January, 1998

Next RBA Page: Alabama RBA for March, 1998

Please send records with appropriate details to: Greg D. Jackson, 2220 Baneberry Drive, Birmingham, AL 35244.

The following may be called for information: on birding in Alabama, Greg Jackson at 205/987-2855; about the Alabama Ornithological Society, Charles Kennedy at 334/382-5737; about the Birmingham Audubon Society, Ann Miller at 205/879-7709; about the Shoals Audubon Society in n.w. Alabama, Bill Rogers at 205/766-5738.

* Alabama  * Statewide  * February 25, 1998

- Transcript
Hotline: Alabama Ornithological Society Rare Bird Alert
Date: February 25, 1998 Number: 205/987-2730

Hello, this is the Alabama Rare Bird Report for Wednesday, February 25, 1998.

HIGHLIGHTS: Eared Grebe, Surf Scoter, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Buff-bellied and Black-chinned hummingbirds, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Henslow's and Le Conte's sparrows, and Evening Grosbeak.

An ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER was seen yesterday and today at Lake Land Farms near Marion. Go south from Marion on AL 5 and turn right in about a mile on Prier Drive at the sign for the Marion Institute (road angles back sharply). Take the next left on Co. 20 at the sign for Lake Land Farms and drive about two miles to the western Lake Land Farms road; this dirt road is about a half-mile west of the large house and barn complex on the left. The bird is along the road in the area between the two small ponds and barn on the left and the "stump" lake on the right; it feeds in the small trees along the road. Many WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS were in this area today. A MERLIN was seen in the central part of the farms to the south.

Two LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS, and adult and a second-year bird, have been in a large concentration of gulls in the Baldwin County landfill just north of Magnolia Springs. The immature was seen 2/13, and the adult 2/21. Go north from Magnolia Springs on Co. 49, and turn sharply left at the southern edge of the landfill. The entrance road is on the right in about a half mile. Most of the gulls are in the fenced pit at the south end of the complex, though some are in a field just to the north on the way to the public dump area. The best way to work the site is to enter the first of two gates, wind east of the southernmost buildings, and park well out of the way near west side of the fenced pit. Cross a small ditch and view the pit from OUTSIDE the fence. It is important not to block or otherwise interfere with the trucks and other heavy equipment moving about this area; be cautious in your approach so access privileges are not endangered. Also, DO NOT USE A CAMERA HERE. Light is best from mid-morning; the landfill is closed Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday.

Up to eight SURF SCOTERS were seen through early February at Gulf Shores in the Gulf near the end of AL 59. HENSLOW'S SPARROW (two sites) and LE CONTE'S SPARROW (eight) also continue near Gulf Shores; for more information, call Greg Jackson at 205/987-2855. Three EARED GREBES have been reliable near Bon Secour. Go west from AL 59 on Co. 4 north of Gulf Shores, and turn left at the T-intersection. Look for the grebes in the area of the nearby bridge.

A BUFF-BELLIED HUMMINGBIRD has been at a feeder in Montrose on Mobile Bay. Call Nancy Moore at 334/928-9950 for viewing information.

Two BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRDS, and two lingering RUBY-THROATEDS, have been at the feeders of Edith McClinton in Mobile. Call 334/432-4898 for information.

EVENING GROSBEAKS continue at feeders in Hollins south of Sylacauga. Call Mary Wilson at 205/839-5155 for information. Grosbeaks also have been seen near Cheaha SP and on Pine Mountain near Remlap.

A LE CONTE'S SPARROW was seen 2/7 in at Key Cave NWR west of Florence. Drive west on Lauderdale Co. 2 from AL 20 and turn left on the unpaved Co. 15. Drive 1.5 miles to an intersection marked with refuge signs; the bird was in a field in the NW corner of the refuge here.
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Joyeux Mardi Gras!!

AL RBA Update 2-24-98 -- full version tomorrow.

An unusual Myiarchus flycatcher was located late this afternoon at Lake Land Farms near Marion by a group of B'ham birders. The bird was not thought to be a Great Crested, which would be unlikely anyway at this time of year. Feathering was similar to an Ash-throated, the most likely contender, but the bird was thought to be large-billed and large bodied.   No calls were heard, and the undertail pattern could not be critically examined. Brown-crested would have to be considered, as would more exotic possibilities. Ash-throated is most likely Myiarchus based on the date (the earliest Great Crested on record, from the coast, is March 3).

Go south from Marion on AL 5 and turn right in about a mile or so on Prier Road (angles back sharply). Take the next left on Co. 20 and drive about two miles to the western Lake Land Farms road; this dirt road is about a half-mile west of the large house and barn complex on the left. The bird was seen just beyond the two small ponds on the left (where the Least Bittern bred last year).

A search is on tomorrow morning. I'll keep you informed of further developments if it can be relocated and specifically identified.

                            Greg
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RBA  * Alabama  * Statewide  * February 10, 1998

- Transcript  Hotline: Alabama Ornithological Society Rare Bird Alert  Date: February 10, 1998  Number: 205/987-2730

Hello, this is the Alabama Rare Bird Report for Tuesday, February 10, 1998.

HIGHLIGHTS: Red-throated and Pacific loons, Eared Grebe, Greater White-fronted and Ross's geese, Surf Scoter, Sandhill Crane, Buff-bellied, Black-chinned, and Calliope hummingbirds, Sage Thrasher, Painted Bunting, Henslow's and Le Conte's sparrows, and Evening Grosbeak; in Georgia: Little Gull.

An adult LITTLE GULL was spotted 2/9 at the West Point Dam near the AL/GA line. It was with other gulls below the dam near the power generation platform. The bird could not be relocated this morning. Alabama listers should note that the dam and the river just below are completely within Georgia territory.

A ROSS'S GOOSE has been found in McCalla near Birmingham at a location where it was seen last year. It is with other geese on the back side of the Bentbrook Golf Course, viewed from Harpers Dairy Loop Road. The bird was seen 2/3 & 2/6.

The SAGE THRASHER was relocated 1/30 at Ft. Morgan. It was seen below the wall south of the fort, about 100 yards east of the easternmost house. This is east of the previous location. Subsequent searches have been unsuccessful for this frustrating bird.

Seven SURF SCOTERS continue to be seen at Gulf Shores in the Gulf near the end of AL 59. HENSLOW'S and LE CONTE'S SPARROWS also continue near Gulf Shores; for more information, call Greg Jackson at 205/987-2855. Two EARED GREBES have been reliable recently near Bon Secour. Go west from AL 59 on Co. 4 north of Gulf Shores, and turn left at the T-intersection. Look for the grebes in the area of the nearby bridge.

A female CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD is at the Callahan residence in south Mobile. Call 334/471-3033 for information.

A BUFF-BELLIED HUMMINGBIRD is at a feeder in Montrose on the Eastern Shore of Mobile Bay. Call Nancy Moore at 334/928-9950 for viewing information.

Two BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRDS, and two lingering RUBY-THROATEDS, are at the feeders of Edith McClinton in Mobile. Call 334/432-4898 for information.

A male PAINTED BUNTING has returned for a fourth winter to the feeders of Judy Thompson in Fairhope. Call 334/928-6913 to visit. Another adult male Painted was spotted 1/19 behind the Hampton Inn in Daphne.

Three ROSS'S GEESE were seen 1/31 and 2/1 at Hope Hull near Montgomery. >From the Hope Hull exit of I-65, go east about two miles to Rudder Road, then another 1.5 miles to East McLean Road. The Ross's were seen with other geese near a pond.

EVENING GROSBEAKS continue at feeders in Hollins south of Sylacauga. Call Mary Wilson at 205/839-5155 for information. Grosbeaks were also seen recently near Cheaha SP and on Pine Mountain near Remlap.

At Walker Pond west of Florence, 14 GR. WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were noted 1/30-31. From the Tenn. River bridge at Florence, go west on AL 20 toward Savannah. Turn left on Co. # 2 in a few miles, and drive about three miles to a large pond area on the right. This is private property, so look from the roadside.

A LE CONTE'S SPARROW was seen 2/7 in a new location at Key Cave NWR west of Florence. Go west on Lauderdale Co. 2 from AL 20 and turn left on the unpaved Co. 15. Drive 1.5 miles to an intersection marked with refuge signs; the bird was in a field in the NW corner of the refuge here.

SANDHILL CRANES continue to be reliable near Limestone Bay in Wheeler NWR, with several observed through 2/7. On 2/1, 92 GR. WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were seen (50 flying overhead, 42 in the bay); no unusual geese were noted 2/7. From I-65 north of the Tennessee River, go east toward Huntsville on I-565. Take the first exit to Mooresville, turn right at the next road, and go about a mile to a dirt road on the left with a boat landing sign. Go another mile to a track on the left with a gate with an orange band. This is the cemetery area, which gives good views of the north part of the bay. A telescope is very helpful here. At the refuge visitors center off AL 67, 23 cranes were noted 2/1 from the observation building.

Five LAPLAND LONGSPURS were seen 1/25 at Beulah Bay in Swan Creek WMA near Decatur. Go north on US 31 from US Alt 72 east of the Tennessee River, and turn left just past the large plant at the WMA sign. The road will make a sharp right and then a sharp left in the first few miles, and then you should turn left on the dirt road just before a small bridge. In one mile take another dirt road to the right and park at the gate at the road end. Walk beyond the gate and in about 100 feet take a right on a small track that leads to the bay. A telescope is recommended.

A RED-THROATED LOON, possibly the same seen most of the winter, was spotted 2/7 at Guntersville in Short Creek on AL 227 just east of town.

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RBA * Alabama * Statewide * February 7, 1998

- Reissue of prior transcript with corrected date in "Subject" line.

- Transcript
Hotline: Alabama Ornithological Society Rare Bird Alert Date: February 7, 1998 Number: 205/987-2730

Hello, this is the Alabama Rare Bird Report for Saturday, February 7, 1998.

HIGHLIGHTS: Red-throated and Pacific loons, Eared Grebe, Greater White-fronted and Ross's geese, Surf Scoter, Sandhill Crane, Buff-bellied, Black-chinned, and Calliope hummingbirds, Sage Thrasher, Painted Bunting, Henslow's and Le Conte's sparrows, and Evening Grosbeak.

A ROSS'S GOOSE has been found in McCalla near Birmingham at a location where it was seen last year. It is with other geese on the back side of the Bentbrook Golf Course, view from Harpers Dairy Loop Road. The bird was seen 2/3 & 2/6.

The SAGE THRASHER was relocated 1/30 at Ft. Morgan. It was seen below the wall south of the fort, about 100 yards east of the easternmost house. This is east of the previous location. Subsequent searches have been unsuccessful for this frustrating bird.

Seven SURF SCOTERS continue to be seen at Gulf Shores in the Gulf near the end of AL 59. HENSLOW'S and LE CONTE'S SPARROWS also continue near Gulf Shores; for more information, call Greg Jackson at 205/987-2855. Two EARED GREBES have been reliable recently near Bon Secour. Go west from AL 59 on Co. 4 north of Gulf Shores, and turn left at the T-intersection. Look for the grebes in the area of the nearby bridge.

A female CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD is at the Callahan residence in south Mobile. Call 334/471-3033 for information.

A BUFF-BELLIED HUMMINGBIRD is at a feeder in Montrose on the Eastern Shore of Mobile Bay. Call Nancy Moore at 334/928-9950 for viewing information.

Two BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRDS, and two lingering RUBY-THROATEDS, are at the feeders of Edith McClinton in Mobile. Call 334/432-4898 for information.

A male PAINTED BUNTING has returned for a fourth winter to the feeders of Judy Thompson in Fairhope. Call 334/928-6913 to visit. Another adult male Painted was spotted 1/19 behind the Hampton Inn in Daphne.

Three ROSS'S GEESE were seen 1/31 and 2/1 at Hope Hull near Montgomery. From the Hope Hull exit of I-65, go east about two miles to Rudder Road, then another 1.5 miles to East McLean Road. The Ross's were seen with other geese near a pond.

EVENING GROSBEAKS continue at feeders in Hollins south of Sylacauga. Call Mary Wilson at 205/839-5155 for information. Grosbeaks were also seen recently near Cheaha SP and on Pine Mountain near Remlap.

The AOS meeting 1/23-25 at Eufaula produced several interesting species on the Alabama side of the river. Two ROSS'S GEESE were at the south end of the Houston Unit of Eufaula NWR in a small flock of SNOW GEESE. Also in the refuge, 11 SANDHILL CRANES were seen near dusk at the Upland Unit tower. A WILLET was a surprise on the grass at the marina.

At Walker Pond west of Florence, 14 GR. WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were noted 1/30-31. From the Tenn. River bridge at Florence, go west on AL 20 toward Savannah. Turn left on Co. # 2 in a few miles, and drive about three miles to a large pond area on the right. This is private property, so look from the roadside.

SANDHILL CRANES continue to be reliable near Limestone Bay in Wheeler NWR, with several observed 2/1. Also present that day were 92 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE (50 flying overhead, 42 in the bay). From I-65 north of the Tennessee River, go east toward Huntsville on I-565. Take the first exit to Mooresville, turn right at the next road, and go about a mile to a dirt road on the left with a boat landing sign. Go another mile to a track on the left with a gate with an orange band. This is the cemetery area, which gives good views of the north part of the bay. A telescope is very helpful here. At the refuge visitors center off AL 67, 23 cranes were noted 2/1 from the observation building.

Five LAPLAND LONGSPURS were seen 1/25 at Beulah Bay in Swan Creek WMA near Decatur. Go north on US 31 from US Alt 72 east of the Tennessee River, and turn left just past the large plant at the WMA sign. The road will make a sharp right and then a sharp left in the first few miles, and then you should turn left on the dirt road just before a small bridge. In one mile take another dirt road to the right and park at the gate at the road end. Walk beyond the gate and in about 100 feet take a right on a small track that leads to the bay. A telescope is recommended.

RED-THROATED and PACIFIC LOONS were noted 1/19 on the south side of the AL 69 Causeway just west of Guntersville. The Red-throated has been present all winter, but the Pacific is a new report; the birds were seen together on 1/19. I have no subsequent reports from this area.

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- RBA  * Alabama * Statewide * February 3, 1998 * ALST982.3
- Transcript
Hotline: Alabama Ornithological Society Rare Bird Alert Date: February 3, 1998 Number: 205/987-2730
Hello, this is the Alabama Rare Bird Report for Tuesday, February 3, 1998.

HIGHLIGHTS: Red-throated and Pacific loons, Eared Grebe, Greater White-fronted and Ross's geese, Surf Scoter, Common Merganser, Sandhill Crane, Buff-bellied, Black-chinned, and Calliope hummingbirds, Sage Thrasher, Painted Bunting, Henslow's and Le Conte's sparrows, and Evening Grosbeak.

The SAGE THRASHER was relocated 1/30 at Ft. Morgan. It was seen below the wall south of the fort, about 100 yards east of the easternmost house.  This is east of the previous location.

Seven SURF SCOTERS continue to be seen (through 2/1) at Gulf Shores in the Gulf near the end of AL 59. HENSLOW'S and LE CONTE'S SPARROWS were seen again near Gulf Shores 1/16 at the locations where they were present on the CBC 1/3; for more information, call Greg Jackson at 205/987-2855. Two EARED GREBES have been reliable recently near Bon Secour. Go west from AL 59 on Co. 6 north of Gulf Shores. Look for the grebes near the bridge over the Bon Secour River.

A female CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD is at the Callahan residence in south Mobile. Call 334/471-3033 for information.

A BUFF-BELLIED HUMMINGBIRD is at a feeder in Montrose on the Eastern Shore of Mobile Bay. Call Nancy Moore at 334/928-9950 for viewing information.

Two BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRDS, and two lingering RUBY-THROATEDS, are at the feeders of Edith McClinton in Mobile. Call 334/432-4898 for information.

A male PAINTED BUNTING has returned for a fourth winter to the feeders of Judy Thompson in Fairhope. Call 334/928-6913 to visit. Another adult male Painted was spotted 1/19 behind the Hampton Inn in Daphne.

Three ROSS'S GEESE were seen 1/31 and 2/1 at Hope Hull near Montgomery.  From the Hope Hull exit of I-65, go east about two miles to Rudder Road, then another 1.5 miles to East McLean Road. The Ross's were seen with other geese near a pond.

EVENING GROSBEAKS continue at feeders in Hollins south of Sylacauga. Call Mary Wilson at 205/839-5155 for information. Grosbeaks were also seen recently near Cheaha SP and on Pine Mountain near Remlap.

The AOS meeting 1/23-25 at Eufaula produced several interesting species on the Alabama side of the river. Two ROSS'S GEESE were at the south end of the Houston Unit of Eufaula NWR in a small flock of SNOW GEESE. Also in the refuge, 11 SANDHILL CRANES were seen near dusk at the Upland Unit tower. A WILLET was a surprise on the grass at the marina.

At Walker Pond west of Florence, 14 GR. WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were noted 1/30. From the Tenn. River bridge at Florence, go west on AL 20 toward Savannah. Turn left on Co. # 2 in a few miles, and drive about three miles to a large pond area on the right. This is private property, so look from the roadside.

Just west of Walker Pond, single GRASSHOPPER and LE CONTE'S SPARROWS were located 1/23. They were in a field on the south side of CR 2 just east of the intersection with CR 220, near the Evergreen Baptist Church. The field starts on the east side of a small pond and continues up a small hill.

A female COMMON MERGANSER was spotted 1/23-24 in a flock of RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS in the Tennessee River a few miles east of Waterloo.

SANDHILL CRANES continue to be reliable near Limestone Bay in Wheeler NWR, with several observed 2/1. Also present that day were 92 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE (50 flying overhead, 42 in the bay). From I-65 north of the Tennessee River, go east toward Huntsville on I-565. Take the first exit to Mooresville, turn right at the next road, and go about a mile to a dirt road on the left with a boat landing sign. Go another mile to a track on the left with a gate with an orange band. This is the cemetery area, which gives good views of the north part of the bay. A telescope is very helpful here. At the refuge visitors center off AL 67, 23 cranes were noted 2/1 from the observation building.

Five LAPLAND LONGSPURS were seen 1/25 on the mudflats of Beulah Bay in Swan Creek WMA near Decatur. Go north on US 31 from US Alt 72 east of the Tennessee River, and turn left just past the large plant at the WMA sign.  The road will make a sharp right and then a sharp left in the first few miles, and then you should turn left on the dirt road just before a small bridge. In one mile take another dirt road to the right and park at the gate at the road end. Walk beyond the gate and in about 100 feet take a right on a small track that leads to the bay. A telescope is recommended.

RED-THROATED and PACIFIC LOONS were observed 1/19 on the south side of the AL 69 Causeway just west of Guntersville. The Red-throated has been present all winter, but the Pacific is a new report; the birds were seen together on 1/19.

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