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16 Jan cross-billed nuthatch [Fred Land ] 16 Jan Purple finch [Trey Mccuen ] 16 Jan Weather [Ann Stewart ] 15 Jan Long-tailed Ducks continue at Brickyard Ponds, Augusta [Grant McCreary ] 15 Jan Johnson Ferry South Unit #1 and 2 [Chris Lambrecht ] 14 Jan "Loony" Day on Tybee Island [Brenda Brannen ] 14 Jan Dec 2008 Ware Co. Barn Owl & Barred Owl belated report [Sheila Willis ] 14 Jan Great-crested Flycatcher [Dan Furbish ] 14 Jan Re: Great-crested Flycatcher [Dan Furbish ] 14 Jan Re: Great-crested Flycatcher [Nedra Sekera ] 14 Jan Re: Great-crested Flycatcher [Charlie ] 14 Jan Re: Long-tailed Ducks (6), Augusta, 1/11/08 [James Neves ] 14 Jan Northwest GA Birding - 1/13/09 [Joshua Spence ] 14 Jan Possible Waterfowl Bonanzas !?! #2 [Mark McShane ] 14 Jan Re: Great-crested Flycatcher [Nedra Sekera ] 14 Jan Possible Waterfowl Bonanzas !?! [Mark McShane ] 14 Jan Great-crested Flycatcher [Jackie Heyda ] 13 Jan Pine Siskin and Painted Bunting------Tattnall Co. [Gene Wilkinson ] 13 Jan Ross's and White-Fronted Geese Fanning County-not [Bill G ] 13 Jan Pine Siskins in Oconee County [Sigrid Sanders ] 13 Jan Whooping Cranes -- Class of '08 ["Eugenia R. Thompson" ] 13 Jan Re: Bear Creek Reservoir, Jackson Co., 1-13-09, Canvasback and N. Pintail [James Neves ] 13 Jan Bear Creek Reservoir, Jackson Co., 1-13-09, Canvasback and N. Pintail [James Neves ] 13 Jan Hummers [Beth Roth ] 12 Jan GA RBA 01/12/09 [Ken Blankenship ] 12 Jan Krider's Red-tailed Hawk seen in Sumter County [philliphardy ] 12 Jan CACKLING GEESE return to Crawfish Springs [Joshua Spence ] 12 Jan Weekend birding in North Georgia [Bobzarem Bellsouth net ] 12 Jan Cochran Shoals Report 1-12-09 [Nathan Farnau ] 12 Jan Northeast Georgia Birdng 1/11/09 [Mark McShane ] 11 Jan Long-tailed Ducks (6), Augusta, 1/11/08 [Carol Lambert & Jeff Sewell ] 11 Jan Garden Lakes - Did they ever return? [Marion Dobbs ] 11 Jan Ducks [Patty McLean ] 11 Jan Backyard Birds [Janelle Kovner ] 11 Jan Blue headed vireo and pine warbler [Liz Horsey ] 11 Jan Pine Siskins in Houston County [Jim Gilreath ] 11 Jan backyard birds [Ilene Schroeder ] 11 Jan Pine Siskins and Juncoes in Burke County [Karen Cox ] 10 Jan Northwest GA 1/10/09 [Trey Mccuen ] 10 Jan Pine Siskin in Bulloch County [Brenda Brannen ] 10 Jan Greater White-Fronted, Pintail, Black Duck, Brewer's BB [Patty McLean ] 10 Jan Laughing Gulls in Walker County - 1/10/09 [Joshua Spence ] 10 Jan Pine Siskin High Count on Blue Ridge CBC [Nedra Sekera ] 10 Jan Siskins and eruptions at Sprewell Bluff State Park [Hal Massie ] 10 Jan Bohemian Cedar Waxwings [Ron Sedgley ] 10 Jan Adding to the Siskin Report.. [Shawn Heifert ] 10 Jan Long-tailed Ducks in Augusta [Lois Stacey ] 10 Jan Summer Tanager update [Diane Schellack ] 10 Jan Female Baltimore Oriole, Bald Eagle and Peregrine Falcon sightings in Sumter County [philliphardy ] 10 Jan Siskins in Roswell [Janelle Kovner ] 10 Jan Purple Finch, too! 1/10/09 Cobb Co. [Ken Blankenship ] 10 Jan Suwanee Creek Greenway-McGinnis Ferry to Martin Farm Park 01/09/09 [Karis Jacobstein ] Subject: cross-billed nuthatch From: Fred Land <adliii AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2009 10:31:59 -0800 Had an unusual white-breasted nuthatch at our feeders yesterday. I first
thought it was flying around with some nest material in its bill, but it turns
out to have mis-aligned upper and lower mandibles (dislocation, perhaps?). The
upper and lower halves of its bill have grown to about twice the length of its
fellow nuthatches, and they curve and cross a what is probably the normal end
point.
Seems to be managing to get seeds in by kind of shoveling sideways in the
feeder. If I can get any reasonable pictures, I'll post them.
Also had first Song Sparrow and Hermit Thrush of the year, along with a late
afternoon flock of Red Wing Blackbirds that numbered close to 50.
Fred Land
Decatur (Scott/Clairmont/N. Decatur triangle)
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Subject: Purple finchFrom: Trey Mccuen <barredowl AT COX.NET> Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2009 12:14:16 -0500 I had one male Purple finch at my sunflower feeder this morning, along with
many goldfinches. Hopefully I'll get some siskins or something else.
Trey Mccuen
Macon, GA
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Subject: WeatherFrom: Ann Stewart <ajsophie AT NETZERO.NET> Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2009 03:17:22 GMT Returned last night from a week of 80 degree weather in south Florida to
sub-freezing weather and hungry birds in my backyard. First thing this morning
a RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET landed on the window feeder before I could get the
peanut-butter out. After filling the feeders and rushing back inside I saw my
first of the season FOX SPARROWS (2).. Was also glad to see my PINE SISKINS
were still around. My pond has reached "full pool" (as they say - whoever
"they" is!!) and the Wood Ducks should enjoy this (I think- it has been so long
since it has been full they may not recognize it) whenever they decide to
arrive. I have got to check the duck box tomorrow (if I'm not frozen inside)
and see if they might already have been sneaking in and laying eggs while I
have been gone).
Ann Stewart
Rome,Georgia
Floyd County
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Subject: Long-tailed Ducks continue at Brickyard Ponds, AugustaFrom: Grant McCreary <jedigrant AT EXCITE.COM> Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2009 20:12:42 -0500 On my way down to the coast, I made a detour to Augusta, hoping to find the
Long-tailed Ducks still at the Merry Brothers Brickyard Ponds.
It took a little looking, but I finally found a group of 4 females in the
Expressway pond on the right, immediately before Long Haul Rd crosses under
I-520.
If you look for them, make sure to allow plenty of time. The ducks were NOT
visible from Long Haul Rd while I was there. To see them, I had to drive down a
rough track along the side of the pond. I would only drive this if you have a
high-clearance vehicle, and if it is relatively dry. If not, it wouldn't be too
far to walk. When I had driven as far as I dared, I walked onto the top of the
beam surrounding the pond. After several scans, I finally spotted them. I
scanned the pond from the main road both before and after this. Even when I
knew their approximate location, I could not spot them from Long Haul.
Not helping matters is that the 4 of them stuck very close together, and all
dove and surfaced simultaneously. So it may take several scans before finding
them.
Unfortunately, I did not find the male. All of the previously mentioned ducks,
including the Canvasbacks are also still around.
Looking forward to seeing everyone on the coast this weekend,
Grant McCreary
Cumming, GA (Forsyth County)
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Subject: Johnson Ferry South Unit #1 and 2From: Chris Lambrecht <chrisl AT INTELLMKT.COM> Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2009 14:15:12 -0500 I had an interesting bird walk yesterday. I parked in the lot at #2 South,
walked up to #1 (closed).
Noticed many more Swamp Sparrows, where have they been?
Great views of an immature Red Tail showing no red whatsoever in the tail. A
female, I would guess, by the size.
Heard one fox sparrow near the far end of the parking lot, but could not
coax him out.
Heard a winter wren, my FOTS for some reason.
House Wrens, saw one, heard another.
A few Song Sparrows, dozens of White-Throated Sparrows.
Heard a Barred Owl call one time from across the river.
One Sandhill Crane hiding in the wetlands (injured?). I'll continue to check
on him.
I've thought about playing a rail tape here, but I've resisted so far. This
area looks perfect for wintering Virginia Rails.
Also lots of the usual expected species, including one nice flock of
blackbirds (300+?, mostly Red Winged Males)
Chris Lambrecht
Intelligent Marketing Solutions
Positioning Your Business For More
www.intellmkt.com
(770) 457-3700
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Subject: "Loony" Day on Tybee IslandFrom: Brenda Brannen <Bgbrannen AT AOL.COM> Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 22:58:49 EST Jackie Gay and I enjoyed a wonderful (as in "full of wonder"), cold but
sunny day birding on TYBEE ISLAND today. We started on a nearly high tide
flushing up sparrows and a CLAPPER RAIL at the bridge going over to Fort
Pulaski.
Then on north beach at the Polk Street entrance, we had lots of PURPLE
SANDPIPERS, a GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL, ROYAL TERNS, a large group of AMERICAN
OYSTERCATCHERS, DUNLIN, RUDDY TURNSTONES, WESTERN SANDPIPERS, BLACK-BELLIED
PLOVERS, and others. We observed an immature BALD EAGLE at this sight and then
moved to the beach area in front of the lighthouse. Here we saw BUFFLEHEADS
feeding with the DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS and lots of NORTHERN GANNETS diving.
One gannet rewarded us with a very close view, as did a RED-THROATED LOON.
We had at least 3 red-throated loons and a HORNED GREBE at one time. And, it
was also here that all the BLACK SKIMMERS were hanging out with a bunch of
gulls today. Next, we hit south beach, and from the fishing pier looking
across to Little Tybee, we found a RED-BREASTED MERGANSER fishing and 2 COMMON
LOONS. Then, wonder of wonders, we saw 2 bald eagles light on their huge nest
in a fork of a tall pine on Little Tybee! We stopped at a few other favorite
places around the island and ended our day with 62 species. No oldsquaws
or brants, but, hey, it's not every day you flush a clapper rail by almost
stepping on it!
Brenda Brannen
Statesboro, GA
Bulloch County
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Subject: Dec 2008 Ware Co. Barn Owl & Barred Owl belated reportFrom: Sheila Willis <swillis AT WAYXCABLE.COM> Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 22:01:48 -0500 Hey folks,
Hope you are fine.
Now that I'm close to finishing some work on the CBCs, I have a little time
to get caught up on reporting on some owls in South GA during the end of
2008.
BARN OWL: Background: in late Oct. ("the day before hunt season started"
which would make it on 10/17/08) a family of these owls was found to have
started nesting in a deer stand stored in the backyard of a farmer living
off GA Hwy #122 & McDonald Rd a few miles w. of Waycross, Ware Co. There
were originally 6 young. The farmer's father told me later that they were
"like stairsteps w/ yellowish fuzz & narrow faces".
This nesting account was passed along to Brad Winn of Coastal DNR who had
Gene Keferl check it out on 11/7 at which time he said there were only 5
young present. I went there on 12/10 and was able to briefly observe 2
almost-grown young who had 1 hiding behind them. I was told that one of the
other young had already fledged & was now hunting with the parents. They
didn't know what had happened to the other one.
I was told that the farmer's wife checked on the young each week & took
photographs which she makes into a disc. The farmer's father whom I spoke
with said that the adults would return each evening from the direction of a
cultivated pine tree area to the south and could be heard calling on
arrival. There are bare fields to the north, east, & west.
They would regularly roost all around inside the adjacent former tobacco
shed which was now a storage area for vehicles & equipment. The place was
covered with "white splotches" which the farmers did not like happening.
They were going to try to devise a way to cover most of the openings to keep
the owls out. He also did not want the owls using the deer stand next year
(DNR loaned them another to use this year). The owls had gained access this
time for nesting due to the board covering the window slit on the deer stand
having come off. He said he hoped the owls would use instead the nearby
older shed where he had left openings for them.
We have had very few accounts of Barn Owls in Ware County. However, this
2008 area is somewhat near (? 5 mi.) the most recent area account of one
seen along Corridor Z during the day (10/9/2005 Andrew Theus) as well as the
Industrial Park/Airport which was the last location that the Okefenokee Bird
Club had recorded them there in the distant past on 3/1974 in the airport
hangers. We had tried in the past to find them again in that area but with
no success.
I have also relatively recently been told second-hand that a pair apparently
has used a site in Patterson, Pierce Co. along U.S. Hwy #84 in 2008, but I
haven't had a chance to check it out yet.
A few older records for Charlton Co. include Chesser Island, Okefenokee
Swamp, Charlton Co. (1918 1 killed in live oak); Chesser Island, observed
9/27--11/16/1922 when collected by J. T. Chesser & sent to Cornell U., & 1
on Chesser Island, Okefenokee Swamp, Charlton Co. (Doc Ryder, no date but
pre-1941). Note, Chesser Island had 2 homestead farms prior to the creation
of the refuge in the late 1930's. One house was then occupied until 1958
when it was abandoned but was then restored in the 1970's and opened to the
public.
In 1958 the species was considered a "rare breeding permanent resident on
the Okefinokee edges and in the region as a whole" by Frederick Hebard.
There was a mention of them at the refuge boat house at Kingfisher Landing
as well at some time in the past.
In more recent times for Charlton Co. there was 1 seen at dusk near Chesser
Island w/in Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge (6/15/1997 Joanna Taylor).
In the early 2000's I heard of a few more accounts of Barn Owls in Charlton
Co. during the daytime (ne Folkston & at the start of the refuge entrance
rd). Also, on the 12/27/2004 Okefenokee NWR CBC we got 1 at 5:00 a.m. in the
Spanish Creek Rd countryside near the Dinkin's farm (Earl Horn; it responded
to a tape & flew across) which is west of Folkston.
Records for near the e. Charlton Co. line were the following: Big Field at
Coleraine, w. Camden Co. (1/1938 1 killed); and Big Field at Coleraine, w.
Camden Co. (2/26/1941 1 killed). For these, a local called John Burch said
he had never seen them before the 1941 kill.
On Cumberland Island there are the following accounts:
1/22/? year (pre-1985), Stafford, Richard Bush
4/14/1978 Ice House Dungeness Dock (current Museum), "in loft of building",
Whilley (sp?) & McCrary
5/3/1978 Ice House "Owl & 3 eggs on shelf near ceiling" 6 p.m., Finn
5/26/1978 Ice House "3 young recently hatched out--appeared to be 4-5" in
length, downy" Finn
6/10/1978 Ice House "only 1 young remaining; appeared to be 10" in length,
still fuzzy" Finn
8/21/1978 Dungeness Dock by Rhyne
1/5--1/15/1979 Plum Orchard "perched on outcrops of house near Plum front
door" night; "owl pellets observed during day, owl seen from dusk on. Flys
off when approached & squawks" Baumann
4/9/1983 Dungeness "1 heard" p.m. by Ro Wauer
Incidentally, my first &--until this occasion--only previous sighting of a
Barn Owl was an adult and a set of 4 young that were being raised in a palm
tree at a motel in Homestead, FL on 1/25/1984. Ironic that both times were
in such strange places!!
BARRED OWL: Waycross, Ware Co.; the backyard next door where it nested last
year or in my current backyard: 12/8 (~2 a.m.) 1 called "who ah"; 12/9 (5:15
p.m.) 1 called "who cooks for you, who cooks for you all"; 12/16 (11:30
p.m.) 1 called several times "who ah"; 12/17 (6:30 a.m.) 1 called "who cooks
for you" several times w/ pauses; 12/28 (1:05 a.m.) 1 called a few short
"who cooks for you".
Take care.
Sincerely,
Sheila Willis
Native American-Naturalist Talks & Tours
Waycross, Ware Co., GA
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Subject: Great-crested FlycatcherFrom: Dan Furbish <peterbilt.birder AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:52:40 -0800 I agree , that would be 'my' first thought also, thoooooooooo, myself and 2 excellent birders from Massachusetts once found an unmistakable and well documented Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus)�at Worlds End in Quincy MASSACHUSETTS in�the winter. Later accepted by the Massachusetts Avian Records Committee (MARC). (no photo). It was there the exact days a Tropical Kingbird was found there, and later verified by another excellent birder: Helen Harris-Cross as a Tropical Fly by its call and obvious field marks. Many birders took photos, it was accepted by the MARC. So birds don't read field guides and they do have wings : ) A�HUGE field mark afield of a Great Crested fly�is the straw / bone colored base of�its bill and its call. We studied the bird and noted all the field marks. One of the gents with us was and possibly still is on the Rhode Island rare bird records committee. So you can imagine "how" we looked at it! � Dan Furbish Truckin' thru 5 southern states in a big rig : ) peterbilt.birder AT yahoo.com ________________________________ From: CharlieSubject: Re: Great-crested Flycatcher From: Dan Furbish <peterbilt.birder AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:44:02 -0800 yup, that would be 'my' first thought also, thoooooooooo, myself and 2 excellent birders from Massachusetts once found an unmistakable and well documented Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus)�at Worlds End in Quincy MASSACHUSETTS in�the winter. Later accepted by the Massachusetts Avian Records Committee (MARC). (no photo). It was there the exact days a Tropical Kingbird was found there, and later verified by another excellent birder: Helen Harris-Cross as a Tropical Fly by its call and obvious field marks. Many birders took photos, accepted by the MARC. So birds don't read field guides and they do have wings : ) A�HUGE field mark afield of a Great Crested fly�is the straw / bone colored base of�its bill and its call. We studied the bird and noted all the field marks. One of the gents with us was and possibly still is on the Rhode Island rare bird records committee. So you can imagine "how" we looked at it! � Dan Furbish Truckin' thru 5 southern states in a big rig : ) peterbilt.birder AT yahoo.com � ________________________________ From: CharlieSubject: Re: Great-crested Flycatcher From: Nedra Sekera <njs1500 AT TDS.NET> Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:37:24 -0500 To Charlie and all,
Dot Freeman suggested the Ash-throated Flycatcher to
me also. I'm sure the feeder watcher would not have
noticed the differences between the two myiarchus
species. In truth I hadn't thought about it because I
was thinking about Jackie's "weep" call she heard.
I've seen Ash-throateds previously in Florida but did not expect
them up here in the mountains. But birds do fly.......
I did search the archives and didn't come up with a posting.
Has there been one recently?
Thanks for the heads up.
Nedra Sekera
Epworth Ga
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Subject: Re: Great-crested FlycatcherFrom: Charlie <cmmbirds AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 10:22:51 -0800 Hi folks, If you see a Great-crested-like flycatcher, be very careful.� I believe that is NOT the most likely Myiarchus species seen in the east in the winter.� Sort of like winter hummers - not usually the one that is usually here in the breeding season.� So maybe we all should look up Ash-throated Flycatcher? Charlie Muise dreaming in Lamar County (and not the same Charlie stuck on that train...) --- On Wed, 1/14/09, Nedra SekeraSubject: Re: Long-tailed Ducks (6), Augusta, 1/11/08 From: James Neves <jamesneves AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:11:58 -0500 If anybody checks over the next couple of days at Merry Bros. Brickyard
Ponds in Augusta for the Long-tailed Ducks , I'm guessing that I would not
be alone in appreciating a report to GABO whether they are seen or not. I
know that I'd strongly consider working in a stop there on my way to the GOS
Meeting if the birds are still present.
Thanks in advance!
Happy birding,
James Neves
Athens - Clarke Co., GA
On Sun, Jan 11, 2009 at 8:34 PM, Carol Lambert & Jeff Sewell <
lambertsewell AT att.net> wrote:
> A caller to the RBA reported 6 at the Merry Bros. Brickyard Ponds in
> Augusta today. One was seen on the "eastside Expressway Pond" (of I-520) and
> five were seen on the westside pond of the expressway. Remember to check in
> at the cabin at the entrance before birding the brickyard ponds. These birds
> were first seen yesterday.
>
>
> Jeff Sewell
> Georgia Rare Bird Alert
> Georgia Ornithological Society
> 770-493-8862
>
> Tucker, DeKalb Co., GA
> lambertsewell AT att.net
>
> **********
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>
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>
>
--
James E. Neves, Jr.
Vitamin Derivatives
Product Synthesis Manager
Georgia BioBusiness Center - Riverbend South
220 Riverbend Road
Athens, GA 30602
Ph: (706) 353-0740
Fax: (706) 542-3804
jamesneves AT gmail.com
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Subject: Northwest GA Birding - 1/13/09From: Joshua Spence <spencejoshua AT BELLSOUTH.NET> Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 11:38:06 -0500 I birded a few areas in northwest GA's Ridge and Valley. I didn't have
anything great, but some of these locations haven't had a report in a while.
I did check for the gulls at Queen City Lake in Walker County and didn't
find any gulls at all. I did have three PURPLE FINCHS in the poplar trees
near the boatramp. After this I checked the James "H" Sloppy State Park in
Chattooga County. I didn't have anything on the lake other than Gadwall,
Mallard, and four Pied-billed Grebes.
In Floyd County I made stops at the Rocky Mountain lakes project and
Arrowhead Wildlife Education property. As suspected, I found very little at
Rocky Mountain. This group of lakes look very capable of hosting waterfowl
but I've never seen anything other than common dabblers and grebes. In
fact, I don't recall anyone reporting anything significant from this
location. I wonder if there is little food production in these waters. Best
birds were three RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS. I also had three PINE SISKINS
along Big Texas Rd.
I only spent about an hour at Arrowhead and it was getting windy.
Highlights here were:
Wood Duck - pair
Gadwall - pair
Ring-necked Duck - 52
Hooded Merganser - 3, drake & 2 hens
Black Vulture - 5 roosting
Winter Wren - 3
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT - male
Swamp Sparrow - 20~30
Joshua Spence,
Murray County
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Subject: Possible Waterfowl Bonanzas !?! #2From: Mark McShane <eagleeyed AT BELLSOUTH.NET> Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 11:34:13 -0500 Hi All,
I just remembered that also worth mentioning was that on January 22nd
2008, the day after Brandon found the sea ducks at Ft. Yargo last year,
Max Medley found 9 scoters (all 3 species), and a Greater Scaup, at the
Carter's Reregulation Lake in northwest Georgia! These supposedly also-
frozen out and pushed south birds were relocated by others over the next
days!
Good Birding All!
Mark
Mark McShane
Lawrenceville (Gwinnett County), Georgia
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Subject: Re: Great-crested FlycatcherFrom: Nedra Sekera <njs1500 AT TDS.NET> Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 10:23:22 -0500 Jackie's posting regarding the great-crested flycatcher jogged my
memory. One of the feeder watchers on the Blue Ridge CBC 1/03/09
reported a large flycatcher. She said, "you know, the one that is
always here in my yard in the spring". I was sure she had mistaken
whatever bird she saw for the great-crested flycatcher and did not
include it in my report except in a footnote to the compiler. Too bad
our feeder watcher didn't get a picture. She didn't realize that we
would have been there pdq to check out any flycatcher if it had been
reported to us that day. And to paraphrase Marion Dobbs, " it never
returned................"
Nedra Sekera
Epworth GA
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Subject: Possible Waterfowl Bonanzas !?!From: Mark McShane <eagleeyed AT BELLSOUTH.NET> Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 09:41:09 -0500 Hi All,
I am not completely familiar with the dynamics or any history of waterfowl
being frozen out of lakes and ponds and moving south due to substantial
periods of severe subfreezing temperatures in their normal wintering
areas. With all of this severe arctic weather farther north, and moving
south, we should all keep our eyes open for any possible waterfowl
bonanzas which might come our way over maybe the next week or so!
Last January 21st Brandon Best found a small sea duck raft, at the small
Ft. Yargo State Park reservoir near Winder, containing a Long-tailed Duck,
a Black Scoter, a Surf Scoter, and 4 White-winged Scoters! If I remember
correctly states north of us that week were experiencing some particularly
frigid temps.
If anyone can comment on waterfowl moving around due to lake freeze-outs
and extremely cold weather that would be helpful!
I suppose it might be too much to ask for that some White-winged
Crossbills, Common Redpolls and Evening Grosbeaks be frozen out in our
direction as well, ha! };^)
Good Birding All!
Mark
Mark McShane
Lawrenceville (Gwinnett County), Georgia
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Subject: Great-crested FlycatcherFrom: Jackie Heyda <jhmayl AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 05:18:09 -0800 While I was outside yesterday, late�Wednesday morning, my husband and I heard a
Great-crested Flycatcher.� It was doing the wheeping call.� There was a NOMO in
the garden but we heard the flycatcher call from another direction.� We never
saw the bird.� About a half hour later, we never heard it again.� Wish we had
seen if it was a GCFL or not.� Seems very strange at this time of year.�
Jackie Heyda
Doraville, Georgia
DeKalb County
�
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Subject: Pine Siskin and Painted Bunting------Tattnall Co.From: Gene Wilkinson <glwfishing AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2009 14:41:42 -0800 Hello All,
�
Today, Pete Moore and I observed a Pine Siskin at his backyard Finch feeder in
Glennville.� Hopefully there will be more to come.�Also, another mature male
Painted Bunting arrived at my feeders yesterday to join the male Painted
Bunting that has been at my feeders since Nov. 23, of last year.
�
Gene Wilkinson
Glennville, Ga.
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Subject: Ross's and White-Fronted Geese Fanning County-notFrom: Bill G <billg5 AT TDS.NET> Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2009 16:49:29 -0500 The Ross's Goose and three White-fronted Geese seen this were not at the
Davenport Road location this afternoon. In fact the Mallards and Canada
Geese were also absent. Bill Groce
Bill Groce
Fanning County
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Subject: Pine Siskins in Oconee CountyFrom: Sigrid Sanders <sigridsanders AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2009 16:24:44 -0500 This morning about 9:30, about three dozen Pine Siskins mobbed the two finch
feeders hanging from
our back deck. They are amazingly bold, coming to the feeders even when I was
standing only about
four feet away, and they were really fun to watch, chirping in a raspy way the
whole time, and
fluttering up and all around me, in constant motion between the branches
overhead and the feeders,
several crowding each one at the same time. This is the first time I have seen
them here this season,
and they’ve stayed around all day so far, though they come and go.
Sigrid Sanders
Oconee County
http://www.birdingnotes.com
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Subject: Whooping Cranes -- Class of '08From: "Eugenia R. Thompson" <eroberthom AT BELLSOUTH.NET> Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2009 15:24:03 -0500 They will spend tonight in Decatur County, GA after skipping the Clay County
stop today due to good flying conditions, something that's been scarce in
this year's Operation Migration (actually last year's).
Eugenia Thompson
Athens GA (Clarke Co.) (a long way from Decatur Co.)
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Subject: Re: Bear Creek Reservoir, Jackson Co., 1-13-09,
Canvasback and N. PintailFrom: James Neves <jamesneves AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2009 13:26:30 -0500 Sorry, forgot to add a signature to the post ...
James Neves
Athens - Clarke Co., GA
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Subject: Bear Creek Reservoir, Jackson Co., 1-13-09,
Canvasback and N. PintailFrom: James Neves <jamesneves AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2009 12:31:27 -0500 Good day GA birders,
I guess it was "exotic lady" morning at Bear Creek Reservoir. The loose
raft of ducks containing mainly RING-NECKED DUCK drakes and LESSER SCAUP
drakes also had one CANVASBACK hen, one NORTHERN PINTAIL hen, and one
BUFFLEHEAD hen. The few RNDU and LESC hens didn't seem too disgruntled
though. Also HORNED GREBE (2). The winter resident male AMERICAN KESTREL
kept watch over the situation from the top of one of the light posts on the
central jetty. My eBird report follows.
Location: Bear Creek Reservoir
Observation date: 1/13/09
Notes: Overcast. Winds calm. 35-40°C. Most of the waterfowl were in a
loose raft between the left bank and the island as observed from the dam.
Some birds would have also been visible from the first cove on Savage Road,
but I didn't have time to get a view from over there.
Number of species: 28
Canada Goose 1
Mallard 1
Northern Pintail 1 Hen hanging with the Mallard drake and the
Ring-necked Ducks.
Canvasback 1 Hen hanging with the Lesser Scaup.
Ring-necked Duck 42 Primarily drakes.
Lesser Scaup 19 More drakes than hens.
Bufflehead 1
Pied-billed Grebe 2
Horned Grebe 2
American Kestrel 1
Mourning Dove 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 1
Eastern Phoebe 3
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 5
Carolina Chickadee 2
Carolina Wren 2
Golden-crowned Kinglet 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
Eastern Bluebird 4
Palm Warbler 1
Eastern Towhee 1
Song Sparrow 9
Swamp Sparrow 3
White-throated Sparrow 3
Northern Cardinal 2
American Goldfinch 2
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
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Subject: HummersFrom: Beth Roth <bethheron AT BELLSOUTH.NET> Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2009 10:51:06 -0500 I think that someone posted a request for information about wintering
hummingbirds. (there are a few here that are probably mostly Ruby-throats)
If that is you please contact me.
Beth Roth
Savannah
bethheron AT bellsouth.net
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Subject: GA RBA 01/12/09From: Ken Blankenship <kenhblankenship AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2009 23:31:47 -0500 - RBA
* Georgia
* Georgia statewide
* January 12, 2009
* GAGA01.12.09
- Birds Reported
ROSS'S GOOSE
CACKLING GOOSE
Long-tailed Duck
Pine Siskin
Purple Finch
Red Crossbill
Greater White-fronted Goose
"Krider’s" Red-tailed Hawk
Rusty Blackbird
Spotted Sandpiper
-Transcript
hotline: Georgia Rare Bird Alert
date: January 12, 2009
number: 770-493-8862
to report: 770-493-8862 or lambertsewell AT att.net
coverage: Statewide
compiled: January 12, 2009 (7:43am)
compiler: Jeff Sewell
transcriber: Ken Blankenship
A group of 4 CACKLING GEESE returned to Crawfish Springs Pond in Walker
Co. on 12 January. This same report contained a nice selection of
waterfowl from Fite Bend Rd in Gordon Co., where recent rains have created
a very large shallow pond; highlights included 32 NORTHERN PINTAIL and 2
AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS.
http://www.listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0901&L=gabo-l&P=R6839
http://www.wingsoverga.com/GordonCountyBirdingSites.html#FiteBendRd
http://www.wingsoverga.com/WalkerCountyBirdingSites.html
Six LONG-TAILED DUCKS continue as of 11 January at Merry Bros. Brickyard
Ponds in Augusta, Richmond Co. in the I-520 "Expressway Ponds." This same
report contained a report of 77 NORTHERN PINTAILS and large numbers of
other waterfowl at Lake Hartwell from the Elrod Ferry Day Use Area.
http://www.listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0901&L=gabo-l&P=R6588
http://www.wingsoverga.com/RichmondCoBirdingSites.html#MerryBrothers
http://www.wingsoverga.com/HartCoBirdingSites.html#HartwellLake
PINE SISKINS continue their massive irruption and are being reported in
good numbers across the state, many for the first time at feeders in South
Georgia. A recent high count of 200 birds was made at feeders on Cashes
Valley Rd in Fannin Co. on 11 January. A pair of RED CROSSBILLS flew over
during this observation, and 4 PURPLE FINCHES were at the feeders as well.
http://www.listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0901&L=gabo-l&P=R6780
A ROSS'S GOOSE continues as of 11 January along with the arrival of three
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE on Davenport Farm Rd in Fannin Co.
http://www.listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0901&L=gabo-l&P=R6780
A report on 12 January from Cochran Shoals Unit of the CRNRA included 12
RUSTY BLACKBIRDS and a SPOTTED SANDPIPER, rare for this part of the state
in winter.
http://www.listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0901&L=gabo-l&P=R6740
http://www.wingsoverga.com/CobbCountyBirdingSites.html#CochranShoals
A "KRIDER'S" RED-TAILED HAWK, a form common in the Great Plains which
shows up in Georgia on occasion in winter, was photographed on 9 January
in rural Sumter Co. Over the past 10 years or so, this form has been found
in the SW corner of the state more often than other areas but this may be
a function of better coverage.
http://www.listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0901&L=gabo-l&P=R6888
Ken Blankenship
Marietta, GA (Cobb County)
http://www.wingsoverga.com
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Subject: Krider's Red-tailed Hawk seen in Sumter CountyFrom: philliphardy <philliphardy AT BELLSOUTH.NET> Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2009 21:05:01 -0500 Good evening birders,
Last Friday, January 9, 2009, I received a photograph, via e-mail, of a very
light colored Red-tailed Hawk that a causal bird watcher took here in Sumter
County. I thought it was a Krider's sub-species but sought help from those
more knowledgeable than I. Thanks to the ID assistance and confirmation of
Jim Flynn and Ken Blankenship, the bird in the picture turned out to be a
Krider's. The photographer was Dave Catron. Dave knew enough about birds to
know that he felt he had something special. He photographed the bird in
Sumter County southeast of Americus near Hooks Mill Road and Indian Road
(DeLorme page 49, B10).
Dave gets his primary form of exercise by riding a bicycle and had seen the
bird at this location before. On January 9th he had his camera ready and
the hawk allowed him to get close enough for a pretty good picture.
Although I see the Krider's sub-species of Red-tailed Hawk on a number of
occasions in Sumter County, I have neglected to post the sighting. Now that
I have been gently chastised and forced to eat road-kill, I will post
Krider's sightings in the future.
Phil Hardy
Americus, GA
Sumter County
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Subject: CACKLING GEESE return to Crawfish SpringsFrom: Joshua Spence <spencejoshua AT BELLSOUTH.NET> Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:14:26 -0500 Today, I went to Walker County with intentions of relocating the LAUGHING
GULLS found at Queen City Lake on Saturday. I did not find those. While
there I decided to give the Cacklers one more try so I visited Crawfish
Springs. On the return trip I stopped by Fite Bend Rd in north Gordon
County to check the flooded fields. Highlights:
CACKLING GOOSE - 4 at Crawfish Springs
Gadwall - several at all locations
American Black Duck - Fite Bend
Northern Shoveler - 4 at FB
NORTHERN PINTAIL - 32 at FB
BLUE-WINGED TEAL - 1 at CF, 2 at FB
REDHEAD - Queen City
Ring-necked Duck - few at all locations
GREATER SCAUP - 2 at QC
scaup species - 11 at FB
Bufflehead - 1 at FB
Hooded Merganser - 1 at CS, 4 at FB
Northern Harrier - FB
BONAPARTE'S GULL - 4 at QC
Ring-billed Gull - 5 at QC, ~40 at FB
Vesper Sparrow - FB
Pine Siskin - few at FB
There were about 150 geese at Crawfish Springs. I only found four of the
Cackling Geese. The other two could have been present but some of the pond
is difficult to view. I was there around 1:30PM. I got a few photos that
can be viewed at http://www.flickr.com/photos/11003747 AT N08/
Joshua Spence,
Murray County
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Subject: Weekend birding in North GeorgiaFrom: Bobzarem Bellsouth net <bobzarem AT BELLSOUTH.NET> Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2009 16:10:16 -0500 Yesterday, Deb and I, and Luke and Karen Theodorou spent the day birding
north of Blue Ridge and back over to NW Murray County. We had a great day!
Spurred by the report of siskins and crossbills that Nedra made last week,
we headed to Blue Ridge and worked Caches Valley Road and some of the other
back roads in the area. The highlight was the more than 200 Pine Siskins at
a feeder along Cashes Valley Road, (see Nedra's earlier post). The birds
filled the trees, feeders and at times, the sky! They also made a racket!
We almost missed the two RED CROSSBILLs that flew over! At the feeder,
there were also four PURPLE FINCH and two FOX SPARROWS. We came across
smaller flocks of PINE SISKIN along many of the back roads but the feeder
was the most active by far!
We also stopped along Davenport Farm Road to see if the Ross Goose was still
present. We found the goose as per Tom Striker's excellent directions,
along with three WHITE-FRONTED GEESE and a good number of mallards and
Canada Geese. The field was alive with Killdeer and Meadowlarks as well.
There could easily have been a longspur hiding out with the flocks of birds.
As for the Ross's Goose, to my un-trained eye, it appeared to be a pure
breed species. The bill was very small and appropriately sloped, and I
could not see a grin patch. There is some black at the base of the bill,
but I believe it may be changing from juvenile markings. The size of the
bird was spot on for Ross's Goose. Luke and I took some images through the
scope which I will post so that other more knowledgeable birders may
comment.
The remainder of the day was spent driving west across the Cohutta's, a
simply wonderful ride! The cold weather and fog resulted in a winter
wonderland of ice/frozen fog on all the trees and bushes and the highest
elevations. We stopped at Fort Mountain SP and enjoyed the beautiful
scenery and the freezing cold weather!
We ended the day in Murray county, but with the fading light and blustery
winds, did not turn up to much.
It was a fun day and a great day to be out birding with good friends!
Bob & Deb Zaremba
Marietta, GA
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Subject: Cochran Shoals Report 1-12-09From: Nathan Farnau <natwan AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2009 15:54:02 -0500 A sunny walk this morning at the Cochran Shoals Unit of the CRNRA yielded a few birds worth
noting.
About 100m beyond the large parking area I found a little mob of twelve RUSTY BLACKBIRDS
foraging in the leaf litter between the trail and the river. It was a nice reminder that this property
provides habitat for high conservation priority birds in all seasons. Speaking of high-priority
birds, it seems that last year's crop of RED-HEADED WOODPECKER juveniles are all very close to
adult plumage.
A SPOTTED SANDPIPER lingers on the river's islands. I believe SPSA are more common as
wintering birds further south along the Chattahoochee corridor.
In the river, adjacent to the sparrow field, three HOODED MERGANSER females were actively diving.
Aggressive interaction was common today amongst many (~40) GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS.
On account of their squabbles, these little guys offered better-than-usual looks at the orange in
their crowns.
OPSREY and RED-SHOULDERED HAWK were also observed.
Nathan Farnau
East Atlanta (DeKalb County)
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Subject: Northeast Georgia Birdng 1/11/09From: Mark McShane <eagleeyed AT BELLSOUTH.NET> Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2009 00:19:55 -0500 Hi All,
Spurred on initially by Lois Stacey's really great report yesterday, that
birders on the Saturday Augusta-Aiken Audubon field trip to the Merry
Brothers Brickyard Ponds had discovered 5 Long-tailed Ducks (LTDU), Max
Medley and I birded northeast Georgia today!
We first visited the Hwy 520 ponds at Merry Brothers in search of the
LTDUs, and then Phinizy Swamp NP, J. Strom Thurmond Dam & Lake at Clarks
Hill, Richard B. Russell Dam & Lake, and Hartwell Dam & Lake, and points
between.
Merry Brothers Brickyard Hwy 520 Ponds
--------------------------------------
We arrived at the Hwy 520 ponds at dawn, and as we reported to the RBA
Sunday morning, found 1 male LTDU on the pond southeast of the highway,
and 1 more male, and 4 females, on the pond on the northwest side of Hwy
520!
Both males had the winter pink subterminal band on the bill (references
show that on breeding summer males the band can disappear, though
nonbreeding summer males retain the pink band), they did not yet have long
winter tails (young birds), and they also stayed separate from each other
and from the four females while we were there! The females stayed in a
tight group diving together, and there were a couple of squabblers among
them! Other highlights at Merry Brothers:
Ring-necked Duck 150+
Lesser Scaup 50+
Hooded Merganser 3
Ruddy Duck 100+
Horned Grebe 3+
Anhinga 2
Phinizy Swamp NP
----------------
Next we visited Phinizy, the last time I was at Phinizy, this past
December 6th, I reported how airboats had been used to flatten the rest of
the marsh in the main cells so that birds will not be attracted to the
area. This is all for the purpose of preventing bird strikes on aircraft
using the airport across the road from Phinizy, which should be a worthy
cause.
Wow, this time there were new additions in the arsenal used to wage the
ongoing anti-bird campaign out in the Phinizy cells! Now there are tall
and prominent pneumatic-powered rotating red hunter effigies, with black
caps, seemingly evil grins, and black shotguns, which explode shotgun-like
sounding air bursts periodically and rotate about with each shot! There
are also pneumatic-powered "bomb towers" which also explode a shotgun-like
sounding air burst periodically and drive a little rubber donut thingie
with flappy hanging down sleeves up a pole temporarily causing quite a
stir! We didn't see many birds out in the cells, some but not many, with
all of the air bursts going off every few minutes. It is all really quite
something to see! With the exception of moorhens and coots virtually all
of the birds we had were seen before crossing the bridge to the main area
of cells, some highlights included:
Gadwall 5
Mallard 50+
Blue-winged Teal 75+
Northern Shoveler 60+
Green-winged Teal 10+
Ruddy Duck 3
Anhinga 1
King Rail 1
Sora 2
Common Moorhen 7
American Coot 100+
Wilson's Snipe 7
Pileated Woodpecker 2
Hermit Thrush 1
Orange-crowned Warbler 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 9
Palm Warbler 7
Common Yellowthroat 6
Fox Sparrow 1
Rusty Blackbird 0
J. Strom Thurmond Dam & Lake at Clarks Hill
Richard B. Russell Dam & Lake
-------------------------------------------
At J. Strom Thurmond and Richard B. Russell this afternoon we had pretty
much common winter big water birds such as:
Canada Goose
Canvasback 1
Redhead 2
Lesser Scaup 4
Bufflehead 20
Ruddy Duck 2
Common Loon 11
Pied-billed Grebe
Horned Grebe 1
Bald Eagle (1 adult repeatedly diving on a single coot until the coot was
finally able to make the safety of some boat docks, the eagle meanwhile
rested, panting a bit, in a pine high over the marina)
American Coot 475+
Bonaparte's Gull 25
Elbert County GA Hwy 72 pond at mile marker 22
----------------------------------------------
Lesser Scaup 1
Bufflehead 1
Ruddy Duck 15
Cedar Waxwing 150+
Hartwell Dam & Lake - Elrod Ferry Day Use Rec Area
--------------------------------------------------
At our last stop of the day we were very well rewarded for our day's
effort of attempting to bird three of Georgia's seven biggest reservoirs
(and all of the eastern ones) in one day!
At the end point of the Elrod Ferry Day Use Recreation Area we were amazed
to find 4 rafts of ducks in the same area and all in Georgia waters. We
counted 535+ dabbling ducks! The vast majority of the birds were
Gadwall, Mallards, and Northern Pintails. We actually counted 77+ pintail
drakes!!! In the rafts we also had at least 10+ American Wigeon drakes, 2
American Black Ducks, and 5+ Green-winged Teal drakes!
As evening set in off of this point we also repeatedly estimated a long
raft of eventually 3200+ gulls, mostly Ring-billed, with many Bonaparte's
Gulls, and about 25+ Herring Gulls! Also seen:
Common Loon 9
Horned Grebe 1
A fantastic end to a great winter day of birding northeastern Georgia!
Good Birding All!
Mark
Mark McShane
Lawrenceville (Gwinnett County), Georgia
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Subject: Long-tailed Ducks (6), Augusta, 1/11/08From: Carol Lambert & Jeff Sewell <lambertsewell AT ATT.NET> Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2009 20:34:40 -0500 A caller to the RBA reported 6 at the Merry Bros. Brickyard Ponds in Augusta
today. One was seen on the "eastside Expressway Pond" (of I-520) and five were
seen on the westside pond of the expressway. Remember to check in at the cabin
at the entrance before birding the brickyard ponds. These birds were first seen
yesterday.
Jeff Sewell
Georgia Rare Bird Alert
Georgia Ornithological Society
770-493-8862
Tucker, DeKalb Co., GA
lambertsewell AT att.net
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Subject: Garden Lakes - Did they ever return?From: Marion Dobbs <catbird500 AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2009 18:54:19 -0500 No, they never returned. And their fate is still unlearned.
I reported a few days ago on the disappearance of all the (hundreds of)
dabbling ducks from Garden Lakes, Floyd Co., following the passage of a
storm front. Today I went back to check on the situation, and it remains
largely unchanged. A few have straggled back, but only a few. Between the
two water bodies, there were a mere 17 American Wigeon and five Gadwall. No
Northern Shovelers. As some compensation, there were two Canvasback on the
east pond, including a male in full alternate plumage. Spectacular!
At Victory Lake, Berry College, the lineup was familiar except for the
addition of a pair of AMERICAN BLACK DUCK, and uncommon and welcome visitor
the the county.
Marion Dobbs
Rome (Floyd Co) GA
catbird500 AT comcast.net
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Subject: DucksFrom: Patty McLean <plm108 AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2009 16:47:33 -0500 A few of us headed to Fort Yargo State Park and Bear Creek Reservoir to try
for more ducks today. It was my first time to go to Yargo, and a real
delight for us was a small flock of FOX SPARROWS. What a welcome sight!
This lake and state park are really lovely - altho we didn't see any ducks
there today. We met a young man who said he's concerned about what's
happened to the ducks in the area. Before hunting season he saw numerous
ducks 'filling the sky,' but since the season has opened, there have been
very few around. From what he said, it sounds like the game wardens are
checking out reports of hunters illegally baiting ducks (with corn etc) and
shooting them. Sad.
At Bear Creek Reservoir, we had large numbers of Ring-necked Ducks, one
Greater Scaup, three Ruddy Ducks, one female Bufflehead, and one female
Canvasback. Also a few Horned Grebes, Mallard and American Coots. It was a
cold and blustery day!
Patty McLean
Tucker GA
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Subject: Backyard BirdsFrom: Janelle Kovner <birdsareus AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2009 16:22:00 -0500 Hi Everyone,
Today has been such a nice bird day - I bundled up and sat on the patio for
3 hours drinking hot tea and enjoying the birds. The peanut feeder is a huge
draw; if you've never tried one of these, it is a favorite!
- 8 Pine Siskins
- 4 Pine Warblers
- 5 Yellow-rump Warblers
- 1 White-fronted Nuthatch
- 4 Brown-headed Nuthatches
- 1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
- 2 Red-bellied Woodpeckers (male & female)
- 2 Downey Woodpeckers (male & female)
- 1 Hairy Woodpecker (female)
- 12-15 Cedar Waxwings devouring my Holly berries
- 2 Brown Thrashers
- 1 Northern Mockingbird
- 7 or 8 American Robins
- 10 to 13 American Goldfinches
- 3 American Crows (attempting to eat suet from the hanging cakes!)
- 6 or 7 White-throated Sparrows
- too many Song Sparrows to count
- 6 or 7 Cardinals, mostly females
- 4 Mourning Doves
- 7 to 10 Juncos
- 4 Blue Jays
- 7 or 8 Eastern Bluebirds (the parents have nested & raised babies for the
past 3 years, and remain here all year round; are very tame and eating
mealworms 3 feet from where I sit on the patio)
- Numerous Carolina Wrens, Carolina Chickadees and Tufted Tits...too many
to count
- 1 Red-tailed Hawk sitting on my neighbor's roof
- 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk did a fly through without any dining luck
Thought I'd share!
Janelle Kovner
Roswell, Ga
Fulton County
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Subject: Blue headed vireo and pine warblerFrom: Liz Horsey <erhorsey AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2009 21:03:45 +0000 at my feeders this afternoon within the space of about 20 minutes. Neither is a
regular visitor. In fact, I did not actually see either one partake of the
offerings.
Liz Horsey
erhorsey AT comcast.net
NW Atlanta, Fulton Co.
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Subject: Pine Siskins in Houston CountyFrom: Jim Gilreath <jsgilreath AT COX.NET> Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2009 16:01:40 -0500 Sunday, 12:15 PM, 1/11/09, I looked out a window of my house where I have
always had feeders set up for American Goldfinches, feeding both nyjer and
black-oil sunflower seeds, and noticed three Pine Siskins feeding with the
Goldfinches. In the 24 years that I have lived in this house, these are the
only Pine Siskins that I have seen here. Two of the Siskins were feeding on
the nyjer seed while the other was at a sunflower seed feeder. After reading
the GABO-L posts all week, I was hoping to get Pine Siskins, and finally got
to see some.
Jim Gilreath
Bonaire, GA
Houston County
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Subject: backyard birdsFrom: Ilene Schroeder <drilene AT IX.NETCOM.COM> Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2009 12:12:22 -0500 Hi all,
At 11AM I had the following:
big flock of Robins bathing in my pond
Big flock of Cedar Waxwings doing the same
1 Starling
1 Goldfinch
Carolina Wrens
Whitebreasted Nuthatchs
1 Starling
Downy Woodpeckers
Red Bellied Woodpecker
House Finch
Maybe a Purple finch
Cardinals
The Waxwings always thrill me. They are just so elegant.
Ilene Schroeder
Lake Claire Neighborhood
Atlanta in Dekalb
Ilene Schroeder, Ph.D.
drilene AT ix.netcom.com
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Subject: Pine Siskins and Juncoes in Burke CountyFrom: Karen Cox <coxfam3 AT BELLSOUTH.NET> Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2009 07:40:17 -0500 I've been reading all about the Pine Siskins elsewhere and wondering if
and when they would come to my feeders. Yesterday (1/10) I finally saw
them - about 20 at the feeders along with a lot of American Goldfinches.
Also this winter I've had many Juncoes (around 10-12, which is a lot for
here) come and stay - usually I see a single one "just passing through"
every year or two.
Karen Cox, Burke County
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Subject: Northwest GA 1/10/09From: Trey Mccuen <barredowl AT COX.NET> Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2009 22:46:23 -0500 Max Medley, Jeff Buescher and I birded much of northwest GA today. We hit
Lake Kathy,Ringgold Telephone Co. pond, Crawfish Springs pond, Queen city
lake, Garden lakes, Shookville pond, Bartow county loop, Mashburn road, Pine
chapel and Fite bend roads.
Canvasback- 4 Lake Kathy; 2 Garden lakes
Common goldeneye- 1 hen Ringgold telephone co. pond
Lesser scaup- 1 hen Ringgold telephone co. pond
Blue winged teal- 1 drake Crawfish Springs pond
Redhead- 2 Queen City lake
Greater scaup- 2 hens Queen City lake
LAUGHING GULL- 2 Queen City lake
American wigeon- 5 Garden lakes
Horned grebe- 2 Garden lakes
Ruddy duck- 1 drake Garden lakes
White crowned sparrow- 3 Fite bend road
Bufflehead- 1 drake Fite bend road
........ we missed the Cackling geese. I was very disappointed. Bartow
county loop, Pine chapel and Shookville pond were dead. As well Mashburn
road pond.
Trey Mccuen
Macon, GA
http://2009bigyear.blogspot.com/
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Subject: Pine Siskin in Bulloch CountyFrom: Brenda Brannen <Bgbrannen AT AOL.COM> Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2009 21:50:16 EST I was delighted to see a PINE SISKIN at my thistle feeder with all the
goldfinches today. This is the first time I've recorded one in my yard. Also,
for several weeks now, I have had up to 12 COMMON GROUND DOVES feeding in my
yard, and I've enjoyed seeing a HAIRY WOODPECKER occasionally visit. Hope the
purple finches return soon and more siskins!
BRENDA BRANNEN
STATESBORO, GA
BULLOCH COUNTY
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Subject: Greater White-Fronted, Pintail, Black Duck, Brewer's BBFrom: Patty McLean <plm108 AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2009 21:15:20 -0500 I birded Cobb and Bartow Counties today with Cheryl Kanes and Ruth Marley.
In spite of the weather, it turned out to be a great day for birding and
ducks. At the end of the day, we stopped by Clyde Shepard to try for an
American Woodcock that was heard and seen earlier in the week. No luck with
the AMWO but we did get two Barred Owls. Among the 60 species we saw today
were:
GREATER WHITE FRONTED GOOSE - 10
PINTAIL DUCK - 1
GREEN-WINGED TEAL - 4
AMERICAN BLACK DUCK - 6
HOODED MERGANSER - 3
American Kestrel
EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE - 15+
Fish Crow
Cedar Waxwing - 100++
Palm Warbler - 4
WHITE CROWNED SPARROW - 3
BREWER'S BLACKBIRD - mixed in with 1000s of BBs
If you want specifics, please feel free to email me offline. I don't mean
to offend anyone, but I'm concerned that hunters might monitor this site to
locate ducks and game birds, so I've decided to only share specific
locations with people I know. Hunters were active today in both counties.
Patty McLean
Tucker GA
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Subject: Laughing Gulls in Walker County - 1/10/09From: Joshua Spence <spencejoshua AT BELLSOUTH.NET> Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2009 21:15:06 -0500 Max Medley called to report that he, Trey McCuen, and co. found two
LAUGHING GULLS at the south end of Queen City Lake in Walker County.
They were perched on the concrete structure with two Ring-billed Gulls.
There are a few records from north GA, but I've never heard of a winter
report! Also at this location were two Redheads and two Greater Scaup.
Directions can be found at wingsovergeorgia.com
Joshua Spence,
Murray County
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Subject: Pine Siskin High Count on Blue Ridge CBCFrom: Nedra Sekera <njs1500 AT TDS.NET> Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2009 19:25:51 -0500 Since there was a request for CBC compilers to post
Pine Siskin numbers Robert Kimsey asked me to
report the following:
Two high counts for Jan 3, 2009 Blue Ridge CBC
Pine Siskins - 1242
Cedar Waxwings 1081
Preliminary total of species: 75 plus 3 for count week
(Not counting the Ross's or Ross's/Snow hybrid?)
Total number of individuals: 6750
Thanks to everyone who participated in the second annual BRCBC
and braved the rain, and wet and muddy rural and mountain roads.
Nedra Sekera
Epworth GA
Fannin County
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Subject: Siskins and eruptions at Sprewell Bluff State ParkFrom: Hal Massie <Swallowtailfarms AT AOL.COM> Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2009 19:24:25 EST Greetings,
I enjoyed a delightful day rambling around
Sprewell Bluff State Park with Phil Delestrez.
The rain held off, the temperature stayed reasonable,
and I really didn't want to leave in the end.
We had 32 species of birds. Highlights were
25 pine siskins on Phil's feeders and another 'eruption'
of quail right under our feet.
Canada Goose 2
Northern Bobwhite 25
Turkey Vulture 6
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Barred Owl 1
Red-headed Woodpecker 7
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2
Downy Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker 2
Pileated Woodpecker 3
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 8
Carolina Chickadee 5
Tufted Titmouse 4
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
Brown-headed Nuthatch 3
Carolina Wren 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
Eastern Bluebird 11
American Robin 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 1
Pine Warbler 5
Eastern Towhee 4
Fox Sparrow 5
Dark-eyed Junco 8
Northern Cardinal 2
Pine Siskin 25
American Goldfinch 10
We also found 2 pyramid magnolias in the
park, pretty amazing, but that is another story...
Hal Massie
Musella, Georgia
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Subject: Bohemian Cedar WaxwingsFrom: Ron Sedgley <rsedgley AT BELLSOUTH.NET> Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2009 18:28:24 -0500 60+ (too many to count) Bohemian Cedar Waxwings visited our Cherry Tree in
our front yard this morning to gorge on fruit. There were two waves of
visitors both with approximately the same numbers (likely the same birds
returning). The visit today had many more waxwings than previous annual
visits.
Ron Sedgley
Sweat Mountain
NE Cobb County
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Subject: Adding to the Siskin Report..From: Shawn Heifert <shawnheifert AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2009 16:05:33 -0500 There has been quite a stir here lately about Pine Siskins. How ironic
that I see 2 today at my feeders amidst the flock of over 30+ goldfinches
I have had the pleasure of entertaining the past week or so. No idea on
gender but very healthy looking specimens, clean plumage and nice shape
indeed. Pine warblers are now making their debut and my lone yellow
throated warbler can't resist the sunflower hearts.
Shawn Heifert
Richmond Hill, GA
Bryan County
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Subject: Long-tailed Ducks in AugustaFrom: Lois Stacey <croakie AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2009 14:18:37 -0500 Augusta-Aiken Audubon had a field trip to Merry Brother's Brickyard Ponds
this morning. We had 5 Long-tailed Ducks in the shallow expressway pond.
We also had 18 Canvasbacks in two different ponds (the shallow expressway
pond and the big pond just after you turn onto the haul road) and one
Redhead. There were also 3 Horned Grebes around.
It was a good raptor day as well with several Red-tailed Hawks, Northern
Harrier, Osprey, Bald Eagle and Sharp-shinned Hawks.
Lois Stacey
North Augusta, SC (Aiken Cnty)
www.augustaaikenaudubon.org
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Subject: Summer Tanager updateFrom: Diane Schellack <dianeschellack AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2009 13:45:03 -0500 We continue to see the Summer Tanager at our feeders. The bird has been
here since 12/31.
Darlene Moore posted a link for pictures on GABO digest dated Jan 1-Jan 2.
Diane Schellack
Annette Burdges
Fulton County
Roswell, GA
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Subject: Female Baltimore Oriole,
Bald Eagle and Peregrine Falcon sightings in Sumter CountyFrom: philliphardy <philliphardy AT BELLSOUTH.NET> Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2009 13:18:33 -0500 Birders,
My wife, Myra, and I were pleased to see a female Baltimore Oriole near Lake
Philema just outside of Americus this morning. My sister, Teresa Dabbs, and
I had a male and female BAOR at this same location on Saturday, December 20,
2008. Unfortunately, I did not see the male today.
Myra and I were blessed to see one of the adult Bald Eagles flying towards
the nest tree with breakfast in its talons that looked like something a dog
might like to roll in.
Clive Rainey decided to bird the eastern side of Sumter County out towards
the Cobb owl fields and Lamar Road. He called on his cell phone to say that
there were many hundreds of Sandhill Cranes in the fields along the Lamar
Road. Then something caught his eye perched on the ground about 100 yards
from the road. He stopped his car and got out to look. Clive could clearly
see that he was looking at a Peregrine Falcon. And as a side note, while
doing the Lake Blackshear CBC a couple of weeks ago, our team thought one of
the birds flying away from us might be a falcon but we couldn't get good
field marks on the bird. Today, Clive was able to see field marks and
positively the PEFA.
Phil Hardy
Americus, GA
Sumter County
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Subject: Siskins in RoswellFrom: Janelle Kovner <birdsareus AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2009 11:09:06 -0500 On Thursday I noticed a few Pine Siskins in the yard, but as of yesterday,
they're everywhere! The suet cakes & sunflower feeders are the big draw for
them here. Other new visitors include several YR Warblers, 2 or 3
Golden-crowned Kinglets, & 1 Yellow-shafted Northern Flicker. It's nice
enough to have the regular daily visitors, but the Siskins are always a
welcome sight!
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Subject: Purple Finch, too! 1/10/09 Cobb Co.From: Ken Blankenship <kenhblankenship AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2009 10:47:12 -0500 Sweeeeeet! How many times have I jealously read posts about both "Winter
Finches" at feeders in Georgia while I hosted only residents?
Just now a beautiful male PURPLE FINCH enjoyed a snack on the tray feeder
while 5 PINE SISKINS and lots of AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES chowed down on the
niger tube. Maybe the same guy who briefly stopped by on 12/13/08?
Sometimes you gotta love good 'ole feeder watching :)
Ken Blankenship
Marietta, GA (Cobb County)
http://www.wingsoverga.com
P.S. - I'm also posting again to correct the date in the subject line of
my previous post which should have read 1/10/09.
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Subject: Suwanee Creek Greenway-McGinnis Ferry to Martin Farm
Park 01/09/09From: Karis Jacobstein <kjacobstein AT BELLSOUTH.NET> Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2009 15:09:09 +0000 This morning I birded Suwanee Creek Greenway from the McGinnis Ferry
trailhead to Martin Farm Park and back (3 miles, total). It was cold, but a
really great morning (added 2 birds to my Life List). The birds must have
been as happy to see sun as I was. The best part was right at the beginning
of the trail and right before I got to end. I was at the start for about 25
minutes there was so much activity. There was so much action right before I
got to Martin Farm Park that I had to stop counting because my hands were
getting too cold.
Location: Suwanee Creek Greenway- McGinnis Ferry to Martin Farm Pk
Observation date: 1/9/09
Number of species: 26
Canada Goose 3
Turkey Vulture 1
Northern Harrier 1 (possibly 2, but could have been 1 individual 2x)
Downy Woodpecker 4
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 2
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 1
Carolina Chickadee 6
Tufted Titmouse 10
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Brown-headed Nuthatch 2
Brown Creeper 1
Carolina Wren 2
Golden-crowned Kinglet 6
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2
Eastern Bluebird 14
Hermit Thrush 2
American Robin 5
Northern Mockingbird 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 15
Eastern Towhee 1
Song Sparrow 2
Swamp Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 5
Northern Cardinal 4
Karis Jacobstein
Suwanee, Gwinnett
Sent on the Now Network� from my Sprint® BlackBerry
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