Alabama (Statewide) RBA
January 26, 2010
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 2010 23:42:22 -0500
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Subject: RBA Alabama Statewide: January 26, 2010
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RBA
*Alabama
*Statewide
*INTERNET ONLY
*January 26, 2010
*ALST1001.26
=====================================
--- Species added since last report ---
=====================================
MUTE SWAN (origin unknown, gone?)
Tundra Swan
CACKLING GOOSE (2 locations)
Surf Scoter
Common Merganser
Brown Booby
THAYER’S GULL (just over line in GA)
IVORY GULL (just over line in GA!!!)
ANNA’S HUMMINGBIRD
=====================================
--- Species previously reported ---
=====================================
Glaucous Gull
Great Black-backed Gull (2 new locations)
BURROWING OWL
Western Kingbird (new location)
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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@bellsouth.net
Fax: 205/987-5167
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama Ornithological Society website:
http://www.aosbirds.org/
Alabama RBA archives:
http://www.tvas.org/rba.htm
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.northalabamabirdingtrail.com/)
ACBT = Alabama Coastal Birding Trail
(http://www.alabamacoastalbirdingtrail.com/)
- Transcript
Hotline: Alabama Ornithological Society Rare Bird Alert
Date: January 26, 2010
Phone number to leave messages about rare birds: 256/773-8560
Compiler: Steve W. McConnell
Email: swmavocet@aol.com
Alabama Rare Bird Report – Tuesday, January 26, 2010.
Let the rarity roll call commence!
In case you haven’t heard there’s an adult IVORY GULL at West Point Dam and
lake just over the stateline in Georgia!!! Yes, you heard right - an IVORY GULL
has been found for the 2nd time in 14 years in the Deep South!
On a personal note, after savoring the 1996 immature Ivory at Pickwick Dam in
Tennessee, I really never thought I’d ever have a chance at seeing another
within a few hours drive of home. Folks, if gulls don’t interest you that
much, you should try and see this bird. If you don’t like cold weather, throw
on some more clothes and get out anyway. If you don’t make a habit of
chasing rarities, force yourself to chase this one. I don’t think you’ll be
disappointed if you get to see it! I think this will end up being the lowest
southern latitude the species has ever been observed! My estimates show West
Point Dam is about 35 miles farther south than Dana Point, California, where
their 1996 immature Ivory was found just a few weeks before the TN bird to the
north.
Now back to the facts. This Ivory was found late in the morning of 1/25 and
then disappeared for several hours before being seen again late in the
afternoon. Today (1/26) the gull was seen at first light on the lake above the
dam and then flew to the north and disappeared until around 11:30 when it
appeared on the lake again above the dam. In a bit it flew over the head of
those assembled to the south over the dam and to the tailwater area. From what
I’ve heard it stayed in the general area of the dam most of the rest of the
afternoon. Last report I’ve heard was from 4:20 pm. Sounds like this bird is
a loner just like the 1996 TN bird, in fact, other gulls avoid it. I heard a
local worker (birder?) who counts eagles reported today he has seen this bird in
the area for 1-2 weeks prior to yesterday.
For the state listers out there, since the bird is being seen within only a few
hundred (dozen?) yards of the Alabama stateline, there is some chance it could
land in or fly over our state. Please report any observations of the bird in
Alabama. Here are two maps that help show the AL/GA border situation for those
interested in such details: http://www.pbase.com/swmavocet/wp_dam
Another map is at: http://westpt.sam.usace.army.mil/WP/images/WPL.gif
The following note from Greg Jackson will also help:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/albirds/message/10128
Any updates on your search for this ultra-rare gull would be much appreciated as
MANY people will likely travel for this one, especially during the upcoming
weekend. Updates from the Georgia side can be viewed at:
http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/GABO.html
Also reported today just over the line in GA was a 1st cycle THAYER’S GULL.
This bird might also wander into AL as one a few years ago was observed doing.
[DeAL 40-E/D3][BGtA p. 113]
Two immature TUNDRA SWANS were seen 1/11 on east Mobile Bay from the D’Olive
Creek overlook between Daphne and I-10 in Baldwin County. The overlook is
behind the Shell station on the west side of US 98. [DeAL 62-D5][ACBT #25]
The BURROWING OWL discovered 12/12 on Dauphin Island near the golf course club
house complex continued to be seen through at least 1/22. One area the owl
seems to be found in repeatedly is 100-200 yards southwest of the building in
the general vicinity of a USGS marker, a washed-up telephone phone (rusty
attachments), pieces of dock or decking, and a small pine tree with a nearby bug
trap. Updates on results of searches is desired. Also on the island 1/22 day
were a WESTERN KINGBIRD (Ft. Gaines parking area) and a probable immature GREAT
BLACK-BACKED GULL (flyby at the public pier). An adult GREAT BLACK-BACKED was
seen on Pelican Peninsula (south of the pier) on 1/17. [DeAL 64-B3][BGtA p.
6-12]
A trip out to the shore at Mobile Point (south of Ft. Morgan) 1/17 produced
sightings of a GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL and a brief view of what appeared to be a
BROWN BOOBY flying with gannets into the stiff wind present that day. . [DeAL
64-B4][BGtA p. 23][ACBT #15]
A GLAUCOUS GULL was seen again 1/7 at the Magnolia Springs landfill in Baldwin
County. The landfill hours are currently 7 am – 4 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. Another (sometimes better) view may be obtained from
the south border road by turning right at the T-intersection after leaving the
scale house and then left at the corner. Around mid way down this road section
is where the active dumping is taking place and a good view of the bathing pond
is found. Park on the shoulder out-of-the-way of traffic but be sure not to get
stuck in wet mud which can be present. [DeAL 63-G7][BGtA p. 37][ACBT #19]
A male ANNA’S HUMMINGBIRD was banded 1/26 in Madison at the Kirkindall home
(105 Cambridge Trail). Birders are welcome to come and try for this rare
hummingbird (5th AL record, p.a.). It is not necessary to call before visiting
but if you wish to, the number is (256) 837-2386. Call only between 8:00 am –
8:30 pm. There is one feeder in the back yard near the deck and it can be
viewed from the end of the driveway. The bird may be skiddish so silence and
stillness will likely produce the best results – take a chair? Park only in
the street (take care of the steep road) and DO NOT block the driveway. Please
be on your best birder behavior here! The bird was apparently first seen last
week “wearing a red helmet” but has not been seen at times for several days
so its appearance here may be quite hit-and-miss. [DeAL 19-D6]
Five CACKLING GEESE were found 1/13 on the observation building pond at the
Wheeler NWR visitor center near Decatur. [DeAL 18-G4][BGtA p. 240][NABT #16]
At nearby Limestone Bay that same day, a SURF SCOTER was seen. [DeAL
18-F5&G4][BGtA p. 240-244][NABT #23&24]
At least one CACKLING GOOSE was seen 1/15 on the UAH pond in west Huntsville.
From I-565 take exit 15 and turn north on Sparkman Drive. In a short distance
you will see the UAH campus on the right and a large pond where feral (and
wild?) duck/geese hang out. I’m not sure of the current UAH parking
regulations. Unless you have an up-to-date permit, I advise sticking with your
vehicle if you go birding on UAH property. An early morning visit 1/25 failed
to relocate the Cackling again but a MUTE SWAN was seen on the pond where one
had not been previously noted. A return visit later that morning revealed the
swan had departed. Hmmmm… [DeAL 19-D7]
A pair of COMMON MERGANSERS were found 1/9 in Guntersville on Browns Creek
offshore from Sunset Drive (south of AL 69) near the water treatment plant.
[DeAL 26-A1; 25-A&B10][BGtA p. 258-259][NABT #35]
The following may be called for information:
Alabama Ornithological Society: Eric Soehren (334/353-7996) or
eric.soehren@dcnr.alabama.gov
Alabama Wildlife Rehabilitation Center hotline: (205/621-3333)
Sighting information, and requests for regular email transcripts, can be
submitted by email to:
swmavocet@aol.com
Thank you.
-End Transcript