- RBA

* Georgia * Georgia statewide * February 2, 2001 * GAGA0102.02

- Birds Reported

Vermilion Flycatcher Surf Scoter White-winged Dove Rufous Hummingbird Baltimore Oriole Long-billed Curlew Sandhill Cranes

- Transcript

hotline: Georgia Rare Bird Alert date: February 2, 2001 number: 770-493-8862 to report: 770-493-8862 or lambertsewell@mindspring.com coverage: Statewide compiled: February 2, 2001 compiler: Jeff Sewell transcriber: Joel Hitt

This is the Georgia Rare Bird Alert (RBA) transcription of the Friday evening report, February 2, 2001. The RBA is a service of the Georgia Ornithological Society. Jeff Sewell is the compiler and voice for the telephone reports (770-493-8862).

The female VERMILION FLYCATCHER south of Lakeland GA continues to be present. The bird was first reported by Brad Bergstrom (with much of the following lifted from that GABO-L report). We are presuming this to be the same bird that presented to this location for a couple of weeks at this time last winter. Brad and Margaret Harper found her late Sunday afternoon, 01/28/01, actively flycatching from atop small cypress trees near the western shore of Carters Pond (cf. Beaton, "Birding Georgia," p. 148), which is owned by birder-friendly Mary McRee.

Directions to Carter's Pond, located between Lakeland and Valdosta on GA 135, are as follows. Proceeding south out of Lakeland, the pond is on the left immediately after you pass Johnson Rd. on your right. Johnson Road is marked in DeLorme as CR 147 (DeLorme, 60 H-1) but is not signed as such. The lake is clearly seen on the map, but is unlabeled. The Vermilion can be seen from the highway, but you can get a closer look by walking about 200 meters down the dyke along the SW side of the pond. Walk around a gate and through the tall grass and blackberries on the dike, which we have permission from the owner to do.

Giff Beaton reported that he, Lex Glover and Tom Egan saw the bird today (Friday). It was in a large group of cypress trees out in the pond along the dike as you walk in from GA 135.

Giff also reported a SURF SCOTER near Lake Blackshear (DeLorme 50, D-2) in a small pond less than an acre in size, near the dam.

Robert Smith has reported that the WHITE-WINGED DOVE is still present at his feeder in Baker County in Crestview, along with 4 RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS. Call him at 229-725-4043 for an appointment and directions.

Bill Grady in Athens reports a first fall BALTIMORE ORIOLE at his feeder on January 30.

Rusty Trump reports a LONG-BILLED CURLEW at Ossabaw Island on January 29.

We've had several reports now of SANDHILL CRANES moving through middle Georgia and the Atlanta area in the last few days.

This concludes the current edition of the Georgia Rare Bird Alert. For information about the Georgia Ornithological Society visit our website at http://www.gos.org, or email us at gos@hom.net. To join GOS, send a check for $16 to GOS, P.O. Box 5825, Valdosta GA 31603-5825.

-End transcript