RBA
*Alabama
*Statewide
*INTERNET ONLY
*February 16, 2009
*ALST0902.16
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--- Species added since last report ---
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Long-tailed Duck (gone?)
Pacific Loon
Golden Eagle
Red-cockaded Woodpecker
Red Crossbill
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--- Species previously reported ---
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White-winged Scoter (new location)
Great Cormorant (AL-GA line)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (new location)
BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD
HOODED ORIOLE (1-2 birds)(1st and 2nd state records, p.a.)
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--- Farther afield ---
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Snowy Owl, Spring Hill, Tennessee
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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@
Fax: 205/987-5167
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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: February 16, 2009
Phone number to leave messages about rare birds: 256/773-8560
Compiler: Steve W. McConnell
Email: swmavocet@aol.
Alabama Rare Bird Report – Monday, February 16, 2009.
The adult male HOODED ORIOLE continued through 2/15 at the Hicks home east of
Barnwell (Baldwin County) near Week's Bay Preserve. The arrangements are to
first call Kathy Hicks at 251-751-9195
AL
181 turns/curves left (east) here and then in a short distance right (south)
again.
The street straight ahead will be Sherwood, but continue south on AL 181.
Just past this second turn you want to stop at the 3rd house on the left (13906
County 27, Fairhope, AL 36532). The house is dark brown brick with a chain
link fenced yard.
If you reach Pecan Drive, you passed it. Park out-of-the-
Parking on very busy County 27 would be a bad idea. Enter the front yard through
the open gate and walk left and then right following the fence toward the
backyard.
In the neighbor's backyard you will see several satsuma (orange) bushes where
the oriole feeds. It also has visited the kumquat bushes on the south side of
the Hicks’ house.
It sometimes perches in the trees in the Hicks' backyard before flying in to
feed. There have also been Baltimore Orioles in the yard. PLEASE be on your
best birding behavior as this is a residential neighborhood. There is no need
to disturb those inside the house during your visit.
Also, PLEASE do not push this bird by approaching too close. [DeAL 63-G6]
I’ve seen no recent reports on the probable immature male HOODED ORIOLE at the
Dickerson home feeders in Lillian. If you would like to see this bird for
yourself, the Dickerson home is located at 10537 County 99, Lillian (Baldwin
County). The location is 2.6 miles south of US 98 at the northwest corner of
County 99 and Carrie
r Drive. Please call before visiting: 251-961-3000. [DeAL 63-H10]
The last report of the male BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD was from 2/5 but the bird
may still be present. It has been a regular treat for a couple weeks now at the
Friend home in Montrose (call 251-928-4437 for latest information and
directions) [DeAL 62-E5]
The adult GREAT CORMORANT discovered last November at the W.F. George Dam in
Henry County continued to be seen through 2/13. The bird successfully fishes in
the river below the dam just across the stateline in Georgia but also may at
times fly north over the dam into Alabama territory. To reach the best vantage
point below the dam from the Alabama bank, turn at the first access road east of
the Henry County 46 & 97 intersection and travel east along the dam to a right
turn downhill to the fishing parking area. An aerial view of this location (and
the AL-GA boundary situation) may be seen at:
http://www.mapquest
Since this cormorant spends much of its time in Georgia, updates on it there may
also be found at:
http://www.birdingo
[DeAL 54-G5][BGtA p. 95]
Several RED CROSSBILLS were seen again 2/7 at Talladega NF northeast of Anniston
where the species has been a regular treat for about 10 years now. Two
RED-COCKADED WOODPECKERS were also found. To reach the site take the Heflin
exit (AL 9) from I-20 and travel north 1.5 miles to US 78. Turn right and
follow
US 78 east for 8.5 miles to Co. 61. Turn left and follow Co. 61 for 7.5 miles to
FS500 (the road becomes FS553 at the forest boundary). Turn right and follow
FS500 and signs for Lake Coleman to a fenced parking area on the right in 1.5
miles. Search the surrounding area and the nearby Pinhoti Trail. On 2/7 the
crossbills were found about 0.25 mile west of the parking lot near FS500 while
the woodpeckers were even farther west near the FS500/532 intersection. [DeAL
33-A8][BGtA p. 184]
At Guntersville, a hen LONG-TAILED DUCK was seen 2/7-8 just north of the AL 227
bridge at Spring Creek. The duck was not relocated on 2/15. The long-staying
adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED Gull continues to be seen regularly on the pilings
south of the US 431 bridge which is north of town. Possibly the same bird was
also seen 2/15 south of the AL 227 bridge in the Spring Creek embayment with
1,000’s of Ring-billed Gulls. A PACIFIC LOON continued 2/6 in Browns Creek south
of the AL 69 causeway. [DeAL 26-A1; 25-A&B10][BGtA p. 258-259][NABT #35]
A Tennessee River boat trip 2/6 discovered a soaring adult GOLDEN EAGLE and 17
WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS in extreme western Lauderdale County. The eagle was
located between Wates Cemetary and Panther Creek while the scoter raft was seen
near the mouth of Bear Creek around the river bend and west of Waterloo. [DeAL
16-A&B2, B3]
Farther afield the SNOWY OWL found last month at Spring Hill, Tennessee, co
ntinues to be seen. For the latest information and directions check:
http://www.birdingo
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.
-End Transcript