Georgia
Rare
Bird
Alert
(A
service
of
The
Georgia
Ornithological
Society).
Number: 770 493-8862
To report: 770 493-8862 or lambertsewell@mindspring.com
Date compiled: Tuesday, July 25, 2006 ( 9:06 p.m.)
Compiler: Jeff Sewell
Transcriber: Michael Beohm
( * is considered a Review List Species by the Records Committee)
Highlights:
LIMPKINS* have been seen again at the Chickasawhatchee Wildlife Management Area in
Dougherty County southwest of Albany, after an absence of several days.
MISSISSIPPI KITES in several places. UPLAND SANDPIPERS have appeared, first of
the fall, at some of the central Georgia sod farms. A mini-invasion of WOOD
STORKS in south Georgia. A report from Henderson Park in Dekalb County. Several
other reports of sightings, but nothing too rare.
Probably the most exciting news was 3 LIMPKINS reported again over the weekend
from the Chickasawhatchee WMA in Dougherty County, southwest of Albany. They have
been there for sometime but apparently are being seen off and on. With the
drought in South Georgia LIMPKINS are moving about trying to find appropriate
feeding spots. This location is on DeLorme, page 57, grid A-7 and A-8. Go
southwest out of Albany on GA 62 to the intersection with Pine Island Road. Turn
left on Pine Island Road into the WMA and check the bridges on Pine Island Road.
Several observers have said that some of these areas have recently gone dry. The
several LIMPKINS that have been reported over the last month or so probably left
Florida because of drought conditions. This may have also led to an increase in
the number of WOOD STORKS that have been reported in south Georgia.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0607&L=gabo-l&O=D&P=13332
Todd Womack of Douglas in Coffee County has seen an increase in WOOD STORKS in
that area of the state over the last several days. WOOD STORKS wander far and
wide so keep your eyes open. A small flock of about 12 birds was located recently
in Twiggs County, southeast of Macon just off of I-16, at a pond which is visible
from the side of the road.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0607&L=gabo-l&O=D&P=14492
MISSISSIPPI KITES are moving out after breeding. Mark Freeman reported six today
south of Watkinsville in Oconee County near Colham Elementary School. They were
over a hay field at the corner of Morrison Street and Colham Ferry Road. Mark
also reported a CEDAR WAXWING in his yard in Watkinsville in Oconee County on
July 25th.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0607&L=gabo-l&O=D&P=15186
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0607&L=gabo-l&O=D&P=14934
Carol Lambert and Jeff Sewell found 2 CEDAR WAXWINGS at the Dawson Forest in
Dawson County on July 23rd.
Ken Blankenship reported the first of the fall UPLAND SANDPIPERS (three of them)
at the Marshallville Sod Farm south of Marshallville in Macon County. He found
another one at the Terry Super Sod Farm along GA Highway 96 just east of I-75.
The Marshallville Sod Farm has been one of the most reliable spots in the state to
see this species. It is located at DeLorme, page 42, grid D-2. Go south on I-75
to Perry. Go west on GA Hwy 224/127 and split off on 127 to Marshallville. Go up
a hill and the sod farms are on both sides of the road. This is a good place for
HORNED LARKS, LEAST SANDPIPERS and ocassionally BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS. Ken also
reported 6 MISSISSIPPI KITES in Macon County at the Flint River Bridge of GA 127.
He found five more at the intersection of GA 127 and County Road 32.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0607&L=gabo-l&O=D&P=15044
Eric Beohm saw 2 HOODED MERGANSERS in Henry County. They are rare nesters in the
Atlanta area and anyone seeing one in the summer should report it to the RBA.
Eric also reported seeing an AMERICAN BLACK DUCK X MALLARD hybrid at E. L. Huie.
(This could be the same bird that Carol Lambert and Jeff Sewell saw two weeks ago.
Jeff said that his bird had no white in the purple speculum of the wings. It did
have a little white in the underside and outside of the tail feathers, indicating
some mixed lineage).
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0607&L=gabo-l&O=D&P=15293
Carol McClelland of Skidaway Island reported a VIRGINIA RAIL on Skidaway Island.
These rails are extremely rare on the coast in summer so that is quite a good
sighting.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0607&L=gabo-l&O=D&P=14274
Patrick Brisse reported a COMMON GROUND-DOVE at the E. L. Huie Land Application
Facility on Sunday. This is at the extreme north end of their range. This is a
little extralimital although this is not the first time they have been seen at
this location.
Jenny Michaels reported a LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH walking along a creek near the
waterfall at Henderson Park in Dekalb Couny on July 23rd. She also found a
SOLITARY SANDPIPER and a GREEN HERON at the lake. This location is a very nice
birding area for an urban park.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0607&L=gabo-l&O=D&P=14171
Gene Wilkinson birded near a small farm pond that was drying up in eastern
Tattnall County on July 23rd. He saw a large congregation of wading birds and
some shorebirds, including many WHITE IBIS, GREAT EGRETS, SNOWY EGRETS, TRICOLORED
HERONS, LITTLE BLUE HERONS, ANHINGA, COMMON MOORHENS, LEAST SANDPIPERS, and 2
WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS. From Reidsville go east on Hwy 144 to Rogers Road. Go
south on Rogers Road for a mile and you will come to the pond.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0607&L=gabo-l&O=D&P=14055
Michael Beohm
Thomaston, Upson County
Rare
Bird
Alert
(A
service
of
The
Georgia
Ornithological
Society).
Number: 770 493-8862
To report: 770 493-8862 or lambertsewell@mindspring.com
Date compiled: Tuesday, July 25, 2006 ( 9:06 p.m.)
Compiler: Jeff Sewell
Transcriber: Michael Beohm
( * is considered a Review List Species by the Records Committee)
Highlights:
LIMPKINS* have been seen again at the Chickasawhatchee Wildlife Management Area in
Dougherty County southwest of Albany, after an absence of several days.
MISSISSIPPI KITES in several places. UPLAND SANDPIPERS have appeared, first of
the fall, at some of the central Georgia sod farms. A mini-invasion of WOOD
STORKS in south Georgia. A report from Henderson Park in Dekalb County. Several
other reports of sightings, but nothing too rare.
Probably the most exciting news was 3 LIMPKINS reported again over the weekend
from the Chickasawhatchee WMA in Dougherty County, southwest of Albany. They have
been there for sometime but apparently are being seen off and on. With the
drought in South Georgia LIMPKINS are moving about trying to find appropriate
feeding spots. This location is on DeLorme, page 57, grid A-7 and A-8. Go
southwest out of Albany on GA 62 to the intersection with Pine Island Road. Turn
left on Pine Island Road into the WMA and check the bridges on Pine Island Road.
Several observers have said that some of these areas have recently gone dry. The
several LIMPKINS that have been reported over the last month or so probably left
Florida because of drought conditions. This may have also led to an increase in
the number of WOOD STORKS that have been reported in south Georgia.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0607&L=gabo-l&O=D&P=13332
Todd Womack of Douglas in Coffee County has seen an increase in WOOD STORKS in
that area of the state over the last several days. WOOD STORKS wander far and
wide so keep your eyes open. A small flock of about 12 birds was located recently
in Twiggs County, southeast of Macon just off of I-16, at a pond which is visible
from the side of the road.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0607&L=gabo-l&O=D&P=14492
MISSISSIPPI KITES are moving out after breeding. Mark Freeman reported six today
south of Watkinsville in Oconee County near Colham Elementary School. They were
over a hay field at the corner of Morrison Street and Colham Ferry Road. Mark
also reported a CEDAR WAXWING in his yard in Watkinsville in Oconee County on
July 25th.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0607&L=gabo-l&O=D&P=15186
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0607&L=gabo-l&O=D&P=14934
Carol Lambert and Jeff Sewell found 2 CEDAR WAXWINGS at the Dawson Forest in
Dawson County on July 23rd.
Ken Blankenship reported the first of the fall UPLAND SANDPIPERS (three of them)
at the Marshallville Sod Farm south of Marshallville in Macon County. He found
another one at the Terry Super Sod Farm along GA Highway 96 just east of I-75.
The Marshallville Sod Farm has been one of the most reliable spots in the state to
see this species. It is located at DeLorme, page 42, grid D-2. Go south on I-75
to Perry. Go west on GA Hwy 224/127 and split off on 127 to Marshallville. Go up
a hill and the sod farms are on both sides of the road. This is a good place for
HORNED LARKS, LEAST SANDPIPERS and ocassionally BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS. Ken also
reported 6 MISSISSIPPI KITES in Macon County at the Flint River Bridge of GA 127.
He found five more at the intersection of GA 127 and County Road 32.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0607&L=gabo-l&O=D&P=15044
Eric Beohm saw 2 HOODED MERGANSERS in Henry County. They are rare nesters in the
Atlanta area and anyone seeing one in the summer should report it to the RBA.
Eric also reported seeing an AMERICAN BLACK DUCK X MALLARD hybrid at E. L. Huie.
(This could be the same bird that Carol Lambert and Jeff Sewell saw two weeks ago.
Jeff said that his bird had no white in the purple speculum of the wings. It did
have a little white in the underside and outside of the tail feathers, indicating
some mixed lineage).
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0607&L=gabo-l&O=D&P=15293
Carol McClelland of Skidaway Island reported a VIRGINIA RAIL on Skidaway Island.
These rails are extremely rare on the coast in summer so that is quite a good
sighting.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0607&L=gabo-l&O=D&P=14274
Patrick Brisse reported a COMMON GROUND-DOVE at the E. L. Huie Land Application
Facility on Sunday. This is at the extreme north end of their range. This is a
little extralimital although this is not the first time they have been seen at
this location.
Jenny Michaels reported a LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH walking along a creek near the
waterfall at Henderson Park in Dekalb Couny on July 23rd. She also found a
SOLITARY SANDPIPER and a GREEN HERON at the lake. This location is a very nice
birding area for an urban park.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0607&L=gabo-l&O=D&P=14171
Gene Wilkinson birded near a small farm pond that was drying up in eastern
Tattnall County on July 23rd. He saw a large congregation of wading birds and
some shorebirds, including many WHITE IBIS, GREAT EGRETS, SNOWY EGRETS, TRICOLORED
HERONS, LITTLE BLUE HERONS, ANHINGA, COMMON MOORHENS, LEAST SANDPIPERS, and 2
WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS. From Reidsville go east on Hwy 144 to Rogers Road. Go
south on Rogers Road for a mile and you will come to the pond.
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0607&L=gabo-l&O=D&P=14055
Michael Beohm
Thomaston, Upson County