The Alabama RBA

October 2006

Brought to you courtesy of Greg Jackson and Steve McConnell:

Previous RBA Page :  Alabama RBA for September, 2006

Next RBA Page: Alabama RBA for November, 2006

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

*October 31, 2006

*ALST0610.31

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--- Species added since last report ---

=====================================

Sooty Shearwater

AUDUBON’S SHEARWATER

Wilson Storm-Petrel

BAND-RUMPED STORM-PETREL

Plegadis ibis sp.

Swainson’s Hawk (2 locations)

Franklin’s Gull

White-winged Dove

Black-billed Cuckoo

Rufous Hummingbird

Allen’s Hummingbird

WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE (possible)

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

Black-throated Blue Warbler

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--- Species previously reported ---

Great Black-backed Gull (new location)

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Please note: Species CAPITALIZED above are on the Alabama Bird Records Committee review list. Check the AOS website (address below - look in ABRC section) for forms and suggestions on how to submit your sightings of these species to the state database.

Written details, photos, recordings, etc. are highly desired for ABRC Review List species and should be sent to:

Greg D. Jackson

2220 Baneberry Drive, Birmingham, AL 35244

g_d_jackson@bellsouth.net

Fax: 205/987-5167

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Alabama Ornithological Society website:

http://www.bham.net/aos/

Alabama RBA archives:

http://www.tvas.org/rba.htm

NABT = North Alabama Birding Trail (http://www.northalabamabirdingtrail.com/)

ACBT = Alabama Coastal Birding Trail (http://www.alabamacoastalbirdingtrail.com/)

- Transcript

Hotline: Alabama Ornithological Society Rare Bird Alert

Date: October 31, 2006

Number: 256/751-4788

Compiler: Steve W. McConnell

Email: swmavocet@aol.com

NOTE: Where possible, DeLorme Alabama Atlas coordinates [DeAL xx-xx] are provided following each site description. Page references to the AOS Birder's Guide to Alabama [BGtA p. xx] will also be included for birding locations sites described therein.

Alabama Rare Bird Report – Tuesday, October 31, 2006.

A possible WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE was studied (but not heard) 10/21 at the Shell Mounds on Dauphin Island. Any further information available on this potential 1st state record is highly desired. Three SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHERS were also seen at the airport that day and a juvenile SWAINSON’S HAWK was found soaring over Bienville Blvd. just west of the water tower. A WHITE-WINGED DOVE was at the campground feeders. Both RUFOUS and ALLEN’S HUMMINGBIRDS were recently banded in the Dortch yard. You may contact David by e-mail (downbythebay@bellsouth.net) if you would like to try for these visitors. Around 176 species were reported at the AOS fall meeting compilation two weeks ago. Unusual finds included GREAT BLACK-BACKED and FRANKLIN’S GULLS (Pelican Island just south of the fishing pier), BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO (Goat Tree and Shell Mounds), and 28 warbler species including BLACK-THROATED BLUE. [DeAL 64-B3&4][BGtA p. 6-12]

The Hummer/Bird Study Group fall banding session ended successfully the weekend of 10/20 with over 2,200 individual birds ringed from around 70 species. Unusual finds and observations made during their two-week stay were: SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER (10/12, powerline near museum), AUDUBON’S and SOOTY SHEARWATER (10/17, gulf surf during passage of strong low pressure system), BAND-RUMPED and WILSON’S STORM-PETREL (also 10/17). . [DeAL 64-B4][BGtA p. 23]

A PLEGADIS (dark) IBIS was seen 10/21 adjacent to US Alt 90 just south of the Cochran Bridge. The ibis was with many other waders in a large pond along the edge of the highway. [DeAL 62-C4][BGtA p. 41-45]

Two immature SWAINSON’S HAWKS have been seen in recent days in Baldwin County west of Foley. The birds was seen in the large sod field northwest of the intersection of County 12 and County 49. Bay West Road off County 49 north of the intersection accesses this area well to the west. Please note: this area is private property and walking or driving onto the sod fields themselves should NOT be done under any circumstances. Access this area from the public roads only! [DeAL 63-H7].

The following may be called for information:

Alabama Ornithological Society: Stan Hamilton (205/951-5630)

Alabama Wildlife Rehabilitation Center hotline: (205/621-3333)

Please leave messages about new birds and feedback on reported species after the tone. Sighting information, and requests for regular email transcripts, can be submitted by email to:

swmavocet@aol.com

Thank you.

-End Transcript

RBA

*Alabama

*Statewide

*October 8, 2006

*ALST0610.08

=====================================

--- Species added since last report ---

=====================================

American Bittern

Golden Eagle

Marbled Godwit

Great Black-backed Gull (2 locations)

Bell’s Vireo

Henslow’s Sparrow

Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrow

=====================================

--- Species previously reported ---

none

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please note: Species CAPITALIZED above are on the Alabama Bird Records Committee review list. Check the AOS website (address below - look in ABRC section) for forms and suggestions on how to submit your sightings of these species to the state database.

Written details, photos, recordings, etc. are highly desired for ABRC Review List species and should be sent to:

Greg D. Jackson

2220 Baneberry Drive, Birmingham, AL 35244

g_d_jackson@bellsouth.net

Fax: 205/987-5167

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alabama Ornithological Society website:

http://www.bham.net/aos/

Alabama RBA archives:

http://www.tvas.org/rba.htm

NABT = North Alabama Birding Trail (http://www.northalabamabirdingtrail.com/)

ACBT = Alabama Coastal Birding Trail (http://www.alabamacoastalbirdingtrail.com/)

- Transcript

Hotline: Alabama Ornithological Society Rare Bird Alert

Date: October 8, 2006

Number: 256/751-4788

Compiler: Steve W. McConnell

Email: swmavocet@aol.com

NOTE: Where possible, DeLorme Alabama Atlas coordinates [DeAL xx-xx] are provided following each site description. Page references to the AOS Birder's Guide to Alabama [BGtA p. xx] will also be included for birding locations sites described therein.

Alabama Rare Bird Report – Sunday, October 8, 2006.

An adult GOLDEN EAGLE was discovered 10/7 soaring over a large cattle pasture near Macon County 19 southwest of Tuskegee. [DeAL 46-E2]

A first winter GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL was seen 10/7 on the pilings at the south end of the US 431 bridge just north of downtown Guntersville. [DeAL 26-A1][BGtA p. 258]

A MARBLED GODWIT is being seen on the rock jetties west of Ft. Gaines on Dauphin Island. Two adult GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS were seen from the fishing pier last week on Pelican Island. [DeAL 64-B3&4][BGtA p. 6-12]

A BELL’S VIREO was found 10/1 at Ft. Morgan. The bird was located at the far east end of the “runway” in a smilax/lantana bramble between the main road and the first battery. [DeAL 64-B4][BGtA p. 23]

Both NELSON’S SHARP-TAILED and HENSLOW’S SPARROWS were discovered 9/30 at Limestone (a.k.a. Saginaw) Park in Shelby County. From Birmingham follow I-65 south to the Alabaster/Saginaw exit (#238). Turn left (south) onto US 31 and go around 4.2 miles to a gravel road just past the Saginaw Pipe plant. Turn right and proceed past trees and a small pond to the swamp. The sparrows were located at the cattail edge. Please note: make sure and park to walk around the model airplane grass runway to get to the swamp. Do not drive or walk on the grass itself. The HENSLOW’S and an AMERICAN BITTERN were seen 10/1. [DeAL 37-A8]

The world-famous Hummer/Bird Study Group is banding at Ft. Morgan through October 20. Visitors are welcome! Please note: this banding operation takes place on fort property so expect to pay the standard fort entrance fee. In the interest of maintaining a positive birder image with those administrating the fort, PLEASE be sure you pay your way!!! Migrant activity has been good their first weekend with around 330 birds banded 10/7.

The next meeting of the Alabama Ornithological Society will be held on Dauphin Island October 13-15.

The following may be called for information:

Alabama Ornithological Society: Stan Hamilton (205/951-5630)

Alabama Wildlife Rehabilitation Center hotline: (205/621-3333)

Please leave messages about new birds and feedback on reported species after the tone. Sighting information, and requests for regular email transcripts, can be submitted by email to:

swmavocet@aol.com

Thank you.

-End Transcript

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