RBA
*Alabama
*Statewide
*December 20, 2005
*ALST0512.20
====================================--- Species added since last report ---
====================================
LITTLE GULL
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
====================================--- Species previously reported ---
Ross’s Goose (new location)
RED-NECKED GREBE
Pomarine Jaeger (new location)
Vermilion Flycatcher
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please note: Species CAPITALIZED above are on the Alabama Bird Records
Committee review list.
Check the AOS website (address below - look in Alabama Bird Record Committee
section) for forms and suggestions on how to submit your sightings of these
species to the state database. Please send observations with appropriate details
to:
Greg D. Jackson
2220 Baneberry Drive, Birmingham, AL 35244
g_d_jackson@bellsouth.net
Fax: 205/987-5167
Alabama Ornithological Society website:
http://www.bham.net/aos/
Alabama RBA archives:
http://www.tvas.org/rba.htm
NABT = North Alabama Birding Trail (http://www.northalabamabirdingtrail.com/)
ACBT = Alabama Coastal Birding Trail
(http://www.alabamacoastalbirdingtrail.com/)
- Transcript
Hotline: Alabama Ornithological Society Rare Bird Alert
Date: December 20, 2005
Number: 256/751-4788
Compiler: Steve W. McConnell
Email: swmavocet@aol.com
NOTE: Where possible, DeLorme Alabama Atlas coordinates [DeAL xx-xx]are
provided following each site description. Page references to the AOS Birder's
Guide to Alabama [BGtA p. xx] will also be included for birding locations sites
described therein.
Alabama Rare Bird Report – Tuesday, December 20, 2005.
A first winter LITTLE GULL was discovered 12/16 with Bonaparte’s Gulls on a
sewage treatment pond in front of Draper Prison in Elmore County. The location
is adjacent to AL 143 southeast of Speigner. A search 12/17 did not relocate
the gull, however, the Bonies had returned so the Little may still be in the
area. Nearby Speigner and Bouldin Dam Lakes might be worth a check. NOTE:
This is a sensitive area and you may be approached by prison guards if you act
suspiciously or point your optics toward the prison. Bottomline: Please be
on your best birding behavior so we don’t lose access to this interesting
area. View the ponds from the roadside ONLY! [DeAL 45-B7]
A dark POMARINE JAEGER was seen the afternoon of 12/16 and early in the
morning on 12/17 on Limestone Bay at Wheeler NWR. Searches for this rarity since
have been unsuccessful. However, the RED-NECKED GREBE continued through at
least 12/18 on the bay. To reach a good viewing location follow the gravel
Arrowhead Landing road to the boat ramp and scan the bay. This is NABT stop #23.
Also look over the very south end of the bay from the shore near a metal
refuge gate where the road makes a sharp right turn. On 12/16 the jaeger was
feeding on dead fish on the opposite shore near a rip-rap dike. Also the grebe
seems to return to this corner to roost and sleep during the day. Six ROSS’S
GEESE were counted in the large Snow Goose flock on the bay 12/17. [DeAL
18-F5][BGtA p. 244]
A male VERMILION FLYCATCHER continues to be seen on White Springs Dike road
at Wheeler NWR. The location has been in the general area of an osprey
platform about 1.0-1.5 mile southeast of the gate on US Alt 72 just past its split
from US 31. The entrance gate is signed North Alabama Birding Trail stop #20.
On 12/20 the flycatcher was around 100 yards north of the dike road feeding
from a dead swamp mallow. This bird has evidently become more sporadic as it
was not seen during the recent Wheeler CBC. [DeAL 18-F4][BGtA p. 244]
A SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER continues to be seen on a regular basis on power
wires adjacent to Breman Road in Baldwin County. The location was south of US
98 a mile or so east of Elberta. Breman is the next paved road east of
County 87. [DeAL 63-G9]
The following may be called for information:
Birding in Alabama: Greg Jackson (205/987-2855)
Alabama Ornithological Society: Stan Hamilton (205/951-5630)
Alabama Breeding Bird Atlas project: Rick West (800/707-4382 or 334/324-6477)
Alabama Wildlife Rehabilitation Center hotline: (205-621-3333)
Please leave messages about new birds and feedback on reported species after
the tone. Sighting information, and requests for regular email transcripts,
can be submitted by email to:
swmavocet@aol.com
Thank you.
-End Transcript
*Alabama
*Statewide
*December 20, 2005
*ALST0512.20
====================================--- Species added since last report ---
====================================
LITTLE GULL
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
====================================--- Species previously reported ---
Ross’s Goose (new location)
RED-NECKED GREBE
Pomarine Jaeger (new location)
Vermilion Flycatcher
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please note: Species CAPITALIZED above are on the Alabama Bird Records
Committee review list.
Check the AOS website (address below - look in Alabama Bird Record Committee
section) for forms and suggestions on how to submit your sightings of these
species to the state database. Please send observations with appropriate details
to:
Greg D. Jackson
2220 Baneberry Drive, Birmingham, AL 35244
g_d_jackson@bellsouth.net
Fax: 205/987-5167
Alabama Ornithological Society website:
http://www.bham.net/aos/
Alabama RBA archives:
http://www.tvas.org/rba.htm
NABT = North Alabama Birding Trail (http://www.northalabamabirdingtrail.com/)
ACBT = Alabama Coastal Birding Trail
(http://www.alabamacoastalbirdingtrail.com/)
- Transcript
Hotline: Alabama Ornithological Society Rare Bird Alert
Date: December 20, 2005
Number: 256/751-4788
Compiler: Steve W. McConnell
Email: swmavocet@aol.com
NOTE: Where possible, DeLorme Alabama Atlas coordinates [DeAL xx-xx]are
provided following each site description. Page references to the AOS Birder's
Guide to Alabama [BGtA p. xx] will also be included for birding locations sites
described therein.
Alabama Rare Bird Report – Tuesday, December 20, 2005.
A first winter LITTLE GULL was discovered 12/16 with Bonaparte’s Gulls on a
sewage treatment pond in front of Draper Prison in Elmore County. The location
is adjacent to AL 143 southeast of Speigner. A search 12/17 did not relocate
the gull, however, the Bonies had returned so the Little may still be in the
area. Nearby Speigner and Bouldin Dam Lakes might be worth a check. NOTE:
This is a sensitive area and you may be approached by prison guards if you act
suspiciously or point your optics toward the prison. Bottomline: Please be
on your best birding behavior so we don’t lose access to this interesting
area. View the ponds from the roadside ONLY! [DeAL 45-B7]
A dark POMARINE JAEGER was seen the afternoon of 12/16 and early in the
morning on 12/17 on Limestone Bay at Wheeler NWR. Searches for this rarity since
have been unsuccessful. However, the RED-NECKED GREBE continued through at
least 12/18 on the bay. To reach a good viewing location follow the gravel
Arrowhead Landing road to the boat ramp and scan the bay. This is NABT stop #23.
Also look over the very south end of the bay from the shore near a metal
refuge gate where the road makes a sharp right turn. On 12/16 the jaeger was
feeding on dead fish on the opposite shore near a rip-rap dike. Also the grebe
seems to return to this corner to roost and sleep during the day. Six ROSS’S
GEESE were counted in the large Snow Goose flock on the bay 12/17. [DeAL
18-F5][BGtA p. 244]
A male VERMILION FLYCATCHER continues to be seen on White Springs Dike road
at Wheeler NWR. The location has been in the general area of an osprey
platform about 1.0-1.5 mile southeast of the gate on US Alt 72 just past its split
from US 31. The entrance gate is signed North Alabama Birding Trail stop #20.
On 12/20 the flycatcher was around 100 yards north of the dike road feeding
from a dead swamp mallow. This bird has evidently become more sporadic as it
was not seen during the recent Wheeler CBC. [DeAL 18-F4][BGtA p. 244]
A SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER continues to be seen on a regular basis on power
wires adjacent to Breman Road in Baldwin County. The location was south of US
98 a mile or so east of Elberta. Breman is the next paved road east of
County 87. [DeAL 63-G9]
The following may be called for information:
Birding in Alabama: Greg Jackson (205/987-2855)
Alabama Ornithological Society: Stan Hamilton (205/951-5630)
Alabama Breeding Bird Atlas project: Rick West (800/707-4382 or 334/324-6477)
Alabama Wildlife Rehabilitation Center hotline: (205-621-3333)
Please leave messages about new birds and feedback on reported species after
the tone. Sighting information, and requests for regular email transcripts,
can be submitted by email to:
swmavocet@aol.com
Thank you.
-End Transcript