The Alabama RBA

February, 2000

Brought to you courtesy of Greg Jackson and Steve McConnell:

Previous RBA Page :  Alabama RBA for January, 2000

Next RBA Page: Alabama RBA for March, 2000

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 334/382-2680; about the Birmingham Audubon Society, Ann Miller at 205/879-7709; about the Shoals Audubon Society in n.w. Alabama, Bill Rogers at 256/766-5738; about the Tennessee Valley Audubon Society in Huntsville, Ruby Norman at 256/773-4369; about the Coastal Birding Association, Venetia Friend at 334/928-4437.

RBA
* Alabama
* Statewide
* February 18, 2000
* ALST002.18

- Birds mentioned

Pacific Loon
RED-NECKED GREBE (possible)
Eared Grebe
Greater White-fronted Goose
Ross's Goose
EURASIAN WIGEON
Greater Scaup
Surf Scoter
Black Scoter
Sandhill Crane
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Glaucous Gull
Short-eared Owl
Rufous Hummingbird
Vermilion Flycatcher
Henslow's Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
Lapland Longspur

Note: Species capitalized above are on the Alabama Bird Records Committee Review List.  

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

Alabama Ornithological Society website: http://www.bham.net/aos/

- Transcript

Hotline: Alabama Ornithological Society Rare Bird Alert
Date: February 18, 2000
Number: 205/987-2730
Compiler: Greg D. Jackson
Email: greg-debi.jackson@prodigy.net

Hello, this is the Alabama Rare Bird Report for Friday, February 18, 2000.

HIGHLIGHTS:  Pacific Loon, Red-necked and Eared grebes, Ross's Goose, Eurasian Wigeon, Lesser Black-backed Gull, and Vermilion Flycatcher.

NOTE:  When possible, blocks from the DeLorme Alabama Atlas will be given after the site description, with the page number followed by the block.

A PACIFIC LOON was seen at the mouth of Town Creek 2/9, as were many GREATER SCAUP.   A possible RED-NECKED GREBE was seen 2/11 below Wheeler Dam.  [DeLorme 17-C10]

The EURASIAN WIGEON continued through 2/12 at the Wheeler NWR observation building.   [DeLorme 18-G4]

Nearby at Limestone Bay in the refuge, recent observations include 11 GR. WHITE-FRONTED and two ROSS'S GEESE and 45 SANDHILL CRANES. [DeLorme 18-F5]

At Calhoun College, 90 LAPLAND LONGSPURS were noted 2/13.  From US Alt 72 east of Decatur, go north on US 31.  At the first light turn right and drive about a half mile to the golf practice field on the left. [DeLorme 18-E4]

A banded female RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD can be viewed in Florence at the home of Nancy Moore (256/766-4528).

A GLAUCOUS GULL was at Guntersville 2/13 in Spring Creek west of the US 431 causeway south of town.  [DeLorme 25-B10]

A ROSS'S GOOSE continued this week in Shelby County on a small pond about a mile southwest of US 280 on Co. 51 near Westover.  [DeLorme 31-G8]

Three SHORT-EARED OWLS continued 2/16 in Autauga County at dusk.  The birds are on Autauga Co. 21 just east of Autaugaville.  Go south on Co. 21 for about three miles where a model airplane field is on the left.  The owls have been seen just south of the field and fly across the road and along a tree line west of the road.  [DeLorme 44-D4]

At Eufaula NWR, the male VERMILION FLYCATCHER continued through 2/6 at the Julian Dusi overlook platform.  Birders are asked to not go beyond the platform but to look from the platform itself.  [DeLorme 54-B5]

Six HENSLOW'S SPARROWS and a GRASSHOPPER SPARROW were seen 2/6 near Hines Lake in Conecuh National Forest.

Eleven BLACK and 18 SURF SCOTERS continued 2/9 at Mullet Point Park south of Fairhope, just south of where Scenic US 98 turns north at the bay shore.  [DeLorme 62-G5]

The flock of 22 EARED GREBES was seen 1/31 at Pelican Point at the mouth of Week's Bay south of Fairhope and Mullet Point.  [DeLorme 63-H6]

GREATER WHITE-FRONTED and ROSS'S GEESE were seen through 1/31 southwest of Foley, west of Baldwin Co. 49, just south of Co. 16. [DeLorme 64-E2]

In late January, an adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was at the Baldwin County landfill north of Magnolia Springs on Co. 49. Please ask permission to bird at the office, and stay clear of machinery; do NOT enter the fenced pit where the garbage is dumped. [DeLorme 63-G7]

The following may be called for information:

Birding in Alabama: Greg Jackson, 205/987-2855
Alabama Ornithological Society: Larry Gardella, 334/613-0690;
Birmingham Audubon Society: Ann Miller, 205/879-7709;
Shoals Audubon Society (n.w. Alabama): Bill Rogers, 256/766-5738;
Tennessee Valley Audubon Society (Huntsville): Ruby Norman, 256/773-4369;
Coastal Birding Association: Venetia Friend, 334/928-4437;
Raptors: Joe Shelnutt, 334/844-6025.

Sighting information, and requests for regular email transcripts, can be transmitted by e-mail to greg-debi.jackson@prodigy.net.   Thank you.

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RBA

* Alabama
* Statewide
* February 6, 2000
* ALST002.6

- Birds mentioned

Pacific Loon
RED-NECKED GREBE (GA)
Eared Grebe
Greater White-fronted Goose
Ross's Goose
TRUMPETER SWAN (origin questionable)
EURASIAN WIGEON
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Sandhill Crane
ICELAND GULL (GA)
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Great Black-backed Gull (GA)
Short-eared Owl
Vermilion Flycatcher
Lapland Longspur

Note: Species capitalized above are on the Alabama Bird Records Committee Review List.  

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

Alabama Ornithological Society website: http://www.bham.net/aos/

- Transcript

Hotline: Alabama Ornithological Society Rare Bird Alert
Date: February 6, 2000
Number: 205/987-2730
Compiler: Greg D. Jackson
Email: greg-debi.jackson@prodigy.net

Hello, this is the Alabama Rare Bird Report for Sunday, February 6, 2000.

HIGHLIGHTS:  Pacific Loon, Red-necked and Eared grebes, Ross's Goose, Eurasian Wigeon, Iceland, Lesser Black-backed, and Great Black-backed gulls, and Vermilion Flycatcher.

NOTE:  When possible, blocks from the DeLorme Alabama Atlas will be given after the site description, with the page number followed by the block.

The ICELAND and GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS continued through 2/2 at West Point Dam and the nearby LaGrange, GA, landfill.  The birds were not seen 2/3 or 2/4.  A RED-NECKED GREBE has been seen erratically at the lake in the last couple of weeks.   Alabama listers should note that only a tiny part of the lower lake is in Alabama.   To determine the state line, drive west from the dam to the paved parking lot in the woods, and walk to the small point on the shore.  This point is the old roadbed of "State Line Road," and the line itself is just west of this and extends to the tip of the next visible point (also with a small parking area/overlook).  Only birds entering or flying over the small bay on the west are in Alabama, so odds of seeing any of these rarities in the state are very low.  [DeLorme 40-E4]

A WHITE-WINGED SCOTER was at Colbert Ferry Park on the Natchez Trace Parkway 1/23.   [DeLorme 16-C4]

Several LAPLAND LONGSPURS were seen again 1/22 in the fields near Key Cave NWR west of Florence.  Go west from town on AL 20 towards Savannah and turn left on Co.  2 (Gunwaleford Rd.). In 4.0 miles turn left on Co. 223 and go 1.5 miles south to Co. 204.   [DeLorme 17-D6]

The EURASIAN WIGEON was seen again at the Wheeler NWR observation building 2/5.   [DeLorme 18-G4]

At Swan Creek WMA, 25 LAPLAND LONGSPURS were noted again 2/5 on Beulah Bay.  [DeLorme 18-E4]

A ROSS'S GOOSE is in Shelby County on a small pond about a mile southwest of US 280 on Co. 51 near Westover.  [DeLorme 31-G8]

A TRUMPETER SWAN continues at the pond near the nursery on Valleydale Road in north Shelby County, west of US 280.  This bird has appeared previously, and may be from the reintroduction programs in the Upper Midwest or from a local collection.  [DeLorme 31-G6]

At least two SHORT-EARED OWLS continued 1/22 in Autauga County at dusk.  The birds are on Autauga Co. 21 just east of Autaugaville.  Go south on Co. 21 for about three miles where a model airplane field is on the left.  The owls have been seen
just south of the field,  and fly across the road and along a tree line west of the road.  [DeLorme 44-D4]

At Eufaula NWR, 27 SANDHILL CRANES and the male VERMILION FLYCATCHER continued through 1/21
at the Julian Dusi overlook platform.  Birders are asked to not go beyond the platform but to look from the platform itself. 
[DeLorme 54-B5]

A PACIFIC LOON was spotted at the beach in west Gulf Shores 1/26. [DeLorme 64-F2]

A flock of 22 EARED GREBES was seen 1/31 at the east end of Dauphin I. [DeLorme 64-B4]

GREATER WHITE-FRONTED and ROSS'S GEESE were seen through 1/31 southwest of Foley, west of Baldwin Co. 49, just south of Co. 16.  [DeLorme 64-E2]

BLACK and SURF SCOTERS were seen several times through 1/31 at Mullet Point Park south of Fairhope, just south of where Scenic US 98 turns north at the bay shore.  [DeLorme 62-G5]

An adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was discovered last week at the Baldwin County landfill north of Magnolia Springs on Co. 49.  Please ask permission to bird at the office, and stay clear of machinery; do NOT enter the fenced pit where the garbage is dumped. [DeLorme 63-G7]

The following may be called for information:

Birding in Alabama: Greg Jackson, 205/987-2855
Alabama Ornithological Society: Larry Gardella, 334/613-0690;
Birmingham Audubon Society: Ann Miller, 205/879-7709;
Shoals Audubon Society (n.w. Alabama): Bill Rogers, 256/766-5738;
Tennessee Valley Audubon Society (Huntsville): Ruby Norman, 256/773-4369;
Coastal Birding Association: Venetia Friend, 334/928-4437;
Raptors: Joe Shelnutt, 334/844-6025.

Sighting information, and requests for regular email transcripts, can be transmitted by e-mail to greg-debi.jackson@prodigy.net.   Thank you.

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RBA -- Internet update only -- see full report of January 31

* Alabama
* Statewide
* February 1, 2000
* ALST002.1

- Birds mentioned

ICELAND GULL

Note: Species capitalized above are on the Alabama Bird Records Committee Review List.  

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

Alabama Ornithological Society website: http://www.bham.net/aos/

- Transcript

Hotline: Alabama Ornithological Society Rare Bird Alert Internet Update
Date: February 1, 2000
Number: 205/987-2730
Compiler: Greg D. Jackson
Email: greg-debi.jackson@prodigy.net

The ICELAND GULL was seen again today at both the LaGrange, GA, landfill and, later in the day, at West Point Dam near the AL/GA line.  Afternoon is probably best for finding the bird at the latter site. [DeLorme 40-E4]

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