RBA
*Alabama
*Statewide
*INTERNET ONLY
*January 4, 2009
*ALST0901.04
============
--- Species added since last report ---
============
Black Scoter
Red-throated Loon
Yellow Rail (heard only)
Glaucous Gull (2 locations)
SNOW BUNTING (gone?)
============
--- Species previously reported ---
============
Pacific Loon (new location)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (new location)
------------
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@
Fax: 205/987-5167
------------
Alabama Ornithological Society website:
http://www.bham.
Alabama RBA archives:
http://www.tvas.
DeAL = DeLorme Alabama Atlas
BGtA = Birder’s Guide to Alabama (John F. Porter editor, University of Alabama
Press, 2001)
NABT = North Alabama Birding Trail (http://www.northala
ACBT = Alabama Coastal Birding Trail (http://www.alabamac
- Transcript
Hotline: Alabama Ornithological Society Rare Bird Alert
Date: January 4, 2009
Phone number to leave messages about rare birds: 256/773-8560
Compiler: Steve W. McConnell
Email: swmavocet@aol.
Alabama Rare Bird Report – Sunday, January 4, 2009.
A male SNOW BUNTING was an amazing find 1/2 at the Magnolia Springs landfill in
Baldwin County! One set of photos is at:
http://www.pbase.
The bunting was found around 12 noon and observed continuously all afternoon
until the gates closed. It was located in the lighter dirt with scattered grass
between the birder parking area and the observation platform. It didn’t seem to
be bothered much by passing trucks or gull flyovers but it would hunker down at
times and then it would have been difficult to notice if its presence had not
been known. The bunting flew a short distance over the road to the edge of the
slope to the south at least once but faithfully returned later to the small
section of ground between the parking area and the platform bounded on the main
road to the south and the darker soil to the north. Unfortunately, searchers
on 1/3 failed to relocate th
is bird. Pending acceptance, this would be Alabama’s 2nd Snow Bunting record
but the 1st with photo documentation. The landfill hours have been changed
recently so check at the office for latest information. The current hours are
believed to be 7 am – 3 pm, Mon-Fri and 7 am-12:00 Sat. To bird inside the
landfill, park near the Coastal Birding Trail sign on the right side of the
scale house (not on the scale!) and go inside to ask permission to bird and
receive latest directions. The basic directions this season are to drive
straight ahead past the scale and continue straight at the T-intersection up the
hill to the viewing area on top of the berm. Pull your vehicle well out of the
way of the truck road to the left on the graveled parking area. The observation
platform is a short distance to the east across a gravel path. Confine your
birding to this location – do not explore. DO NOT approach the workers or
equipment and if heavy equipment approaches you, move and DO NOT block the way.
Also seen at the landfill 1/2-3 were 1-2 GLAUCOUS GULLS and at least five LESSER
BLACK-BACKED GULLS of various ages. [DeAL 63-G7][BGtA p. 37][ACBT #19]
The Gulf Shores CBC was conducted 1/3 with around 144 species reported at
compilation and added so far during count week. Species of note were:
RED-THROATED LOON, Bon Secour Bay;
PACIFIC LOON, just offshore from Island House Hotel;
BLACK SCOTER, Bon Secour Bay;
GLAUCO
US GULL, 1st winter on sand spit north of the Perdido Pass bridge, [DeAL 64-E4][BGtA
p. 31][ACBT #1];
YELLOW RAIL, heard in wet area at rock-lined culvert just north of the St.
Lucia/Harbour Road intersection in Orange Beach [DeAL 64-E4]. An attempt 1/4 to
elicit a call response at this same location was unsuccessful.
The following may be called for information:
Alabama Ornithological Society: Linda Reynolds (256/582-2970)
Alabama Wildlife Rehabilitation Center hotline: (205/621-3333)
Sighting information, and requests for regular email transcripts, can be
submitted by email to:
swmavocet@aol.
Thank you.