Date: Thu, 24 Nov 2005 13:22:52 -0500
Reply-To: Marie La Salle <mlasalle@MINDSPRING.COM>
Sender: Georgia Birders Online <GABO-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From: Marie La Salle <mlasalle@MINDSPRING.COM>
Subject: RBA GEORGIA 23 November 2005
- RBA
* Georgia
* Georgia statewide
* November 23, 2005
* GAGA05.11.23
The following is the transcription of the Georgia Rare Bird Alert (RBA)
Wednesday evening telephone report, November 23, 2005. The RBA is a service
of the Georgia Ornithological Society. Jeff Sewell is the voice of the RBA.
Birds Reported:
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER
Franklin's Gull
Red-throated Loon
Purple Sandpiper
White Pelicans
Lark Sparrow
Much of this report deals with arriving ducks especially in the Atlanta area
many of whom will winter in the vicinity.
John Cole reports that the female VERMILION FLYCATCHER that was seen by the
Atlanta Audubon Society Fieldtrip Group on 20 November by Ken Blankenship
and Dan Vickers at the Eufaula Wildlife Refuge Bradley Unit. The bird was
viewed
again at 3:30 P.M. on 23 November. The spectacular bird continues to be
located on the dike road just to the left of the two silos. The bird is
easily seen because it stays close to the road.
Eufaula Wildlife Refuge, Bradley Unit, is in Stewart County south of
Columbus. GA 39 runs south off US 27 past Columbus. Continue south; when you
pass the Florence Marina State Park just before you leave Stewart County and
enter Quitman County, there is a sign
for the park. Go half a mile past the duck check-in station. Walk through
the woods; when you clear
the woods, cross the dike. On the left you will see the silos. The
VERMILION FLYCATCHER was seen in the vicinity of the silos. This bird is a
rare western visitor to Georgia. In the fields to the right LE CONTE'S
SPARROWS were seen. You need a few birders to spot them so you can herd them
to where they can be seen.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0511&L=gabo-l&D=1&O=D&P=15315
On Tuesday, November 22, Walt Chambers reported tough birding in the wind at
West Point Dam. There was an immature female WHITE-WINGED
SCOTER which was not there the preceding Sunday. The following arriving
ducks were seen: GADWALL- 2; LESSER SCAUP- 80 (may have GREATERS in there);
REDHEAD-
15; CANVASBACK- 2, fots; RUDDY DUCK- 1; RED-BREASTED MERGANSER - 2; COMMON
LOONS-20( only 5 there Sunday); HORNED GREBE -10 ( none seen last Sunday);
RING-BILLED GULLS- 150 (Sunday there were only 5-6). There has been quite a
bit of movement there in the last few
days.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0511&L=gabo-l&D=1&O=D&F=&S=&P=14661
Earl Horne and Jim Flynn reported a late adult male migrating MAGNOLIA
WARBLER on 21
November at Crawford Creek at Crawford Creek Rd., Meriwether County for a
nice late season Piedmont record. At West Point Dam and in southwest
Meriwether County, they report:
from West Point Dam GREATER SCAUP-3; LESSER SCAUP-5; BUFFLEHEAD- 3; COMMON
LOON-5; OSPREY-1. Also, a HOODED MERGANSER was spotted at Champion Lake in
Troup County.
At Crawford Creek on Crawford Creek Road in Meriwether County: WILD
TURKEY-8;
At Flat Creek at Mountainville Hogansville Road in Troup County, (DeLorme
p.32-33, grid E-5,6)
AMERICAN WOODCOCK -1;
OSPREY at the Lake Meriwether Recreation Park, in Meriwether County;
and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS-2; additionally spotted in Meriwether County
were plenty of the
winter residents: Winter Wrens, Blue-headed Vireos, Golden-crowned
Kinglets, Hermit Thrushes, Palm Warblers; plus a few House Wrens, Dark-eyed
Juncos, and American Goldfinches.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0511&L=gabo-l&D=1&O=D&F=&S=&P=14130
Michael and Eric Boehm birded the GA coast 20 November. On Tybee Island
they saw a FRANKLIN'S GULL, a rare Western gull that sometimes turns up in
Georgia;11 RED THROATED LOONS; 5 PUPLE SANDPIPERS (this is the best place in
GA for PURPLE SANDPIPERS); 5 SANDWICH TERNS; 11 SURF SCOTERS in the rock
jetty on the north end of Tybee Island out from the lighthouse; 500 BLACK
SCOTER; 100+ NORTHERN GANNET, 42 OYSTERCATCHERS; 3 GREATER and 10+ LESSER
BLACK-BACKED GULLS. This is one of the best places in Georgia for those
three species.
On the south end of Jeckyll Island they saw a REDDISH EGRET and a CASPIAN
TERN.
They made a quick check of Andrew's Island Causeway near Brunswick and were
surprised to find: 50+ AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS, part of a flock that moves
around that area, 3 ROSEATE SPOONBILLS, 2 MOTTLED or AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS,
(It is difficult to distinguish between these two species without a scope),
and11 AMERICAN AVOCET.
Their photos are at:
http://eaglecreek4.tripod.com/georgiabirdingandnature/
http://www.listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0511&L=gabo-l&D=1&O=D&F=&S=&P=13908
Ken Bradshaw reported that the LINCOLN'S SPARROW at Cochran Shoals Unit of
the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, seen last Saturday was
still present. Take Interstate North Parkway which runs between New
Northside Dr. and Power's Ferry. Drive about a mile until you cross the
river and turn right into the parking lot. Head toward the river from the
Powers Ferry parking lot, north upriver toward the bathrooms. The path
crosses over to the backside of the big loop trail. You can turn left
through swampy area and the bird was about half way down between the
intersect area where you clear the swampy area.
Tom Striker, on Tuesday, 22 Nov 2005 reports from Lake Blue Ridge Marina,
Fannin County a BALD EAGLE about 4 years old from the few dark feathers in
the tail ) 35+ COMMON LOONS, 17 BONAPARTE'S GULLS, 50-60 MALLARDS, 75+
AMERICAN COOTS.
http://www.listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0511&L=gabo-l&D=1&O=D&F=&S=&P=14809
Ken Blankenship reports the following, from several reservoirs mostly ducks:
E. L. Huie: many of the winter GADWALL 3, NORTHERN SHOVELER at NORTHERN
PINTAIL 1, GREEN-WINGED TEAL LESSER SCAUP, REDHEAD, RING-NECKED DUCK,
BUFFLEHEAD, RUDDY DUCK, PIED-BILLED GREBE, AMERICAN PIPIT, PALM WARBLER,
SAVANNAH SPARROW, RING-NECKED DUCK
At Rum Creek WMA: HOODED MERGANSER, RING-BILLED GULL 2, PIED-BILLED GREBE
13, HORNED GREBE 5, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, SWAMP
SPARROW.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0511&L=gabo-l&D=1&O=D&P=14912
On Tuesday, 22 Nov 2005, David Hedeen reports an immature BALD EAGLE soared
southward over the Fulton County Airport around noon. Also moving to the
south at mid-day, on the strong northwest winds, were eleven SANDHILL
CRANES, three RED-TAILED HAWKS, one RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, and more than a
hundred TURKEY VULTURES. All appeared
to be migrating on strong SW winds.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0511&L=gabo-l&D=1&O=D&F=&S=&P=14548
Hotline: Georgia Rare Bird Alert
Date: November 23, 2005
Number to report: 770-493-8862 OR lambertsewell AT mindspring.com
Coverage: Statewide
Compiled: November 23, 2005, 7:46 p.m.
Compiler: Jeff Sewell
Transcriber: Marie La Salle
This concludes the current edition of the Georgia Rare Bird Alert. For
information about the Georgia Ornithological Society see www.gos.org or
email us at information AT gos.org To join GOS send check for $20 to GOS,
P.O. Box 181, High Shoals. GA 30645.
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