Mississippi Statewide RBA
January 11, 2004
Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2004 18:08:05 -0600
Reply-To: Alan Morris <eaglesi@BELLSOUTH.NET>
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From: Alan Morris <eaglesi@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Subject: Mississippi Coast Birding News and Hotline for January 11, 2004
Comments: To: Sylvia Bogart <BOGARTRS@cs.com>,
barbara Bowen <bbwilletslp@surfbest.net>,
jerry bird <bird_dj@worldnet.att.net>,
Judy Toups <bushwhacker@digiscape.com>,
Charlie Delmas <delmas@ametro.net>,
Sandy &Randy Reed <foxsparrow@juno.com>,
Gerry Morgan <GerrySMorg@aol.com>, jan dubuisson <jand@cableone.net>,
Nancy Madden <ncmwren@aol.com>, Ned Boyajian <nedrb@theriver.com>,
SJPeterson@aol.com, tish galbraith <tiska@juno.com>,
Joree Peace <wpjrp@att.net>, JoRee Pease <wpjrp@worldnet.att.net>,
Allison Henry <bamohenry@pol.net>,
Debbie Zeitfuss <dzeitfuss@msn.com>,
Jake Pettigrew <PETIGRU@aol.com>, Irene Peirce <peirce@datasync.com>
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Mississippi Coast Birding News and Hotline for January 11, 2004
Coverage: The Mississippi Coast Birding News and Hotline covers the six
southern counties of Mississippi, including: Hancock, Pearl River, Harrison,
Stone, Jackson and George County.
Compiler: J. Morris eaglesi@bellsouth.net
Transciber: J. Morris
Birds Mentioned:
Northern Gannet
Peregrine Falcon
King Rail
Virginia Rail
American Oystercatcher
Long-billed Curlew
Marbled Godwit
Henslow Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Blue Grosbeak
Dickcissel
Brewer's Blackbird
Transcript: Welcome to the January 11, 2004 edition of the Mississippi Coast
Birding News and Hotline.
On January 8, Don McKee reported seeing a King Rail and Virginia Rail at the
Seaman Rd. Lagoons located in Jackson County. Much of this location is off
limits to the public but birders are allowed to circle the dikes as well as scan
the skies for waterfowl, raptors and other species. Don has also reported
seeing Brewers Blackbird, Blue Grosbeak and a Dickcissel. The Blue Grosbeak and
Dickcissel were found in the yard of a lady in Pascagoula who feeds birds
regularly. A trip to Horn Island also produced a Marbled Godwit and a
Long-billed Curlew for Don. Don McKee has risen to the challenge of doing a
"Big Year". His goal is to see 300 birds or more in the state of Mississippi
before Dec. 31, 2004. Anyone seeing birds that they deem signifigant are asked
to e-mail him at dmckee@datasync.com.
On January 10, Jerry Bird reported seeing Henslow Sparrows in southern Hancock
County while birding on property owned by the Nature Conservancy. This area is
currently not open to the public. After leaving the Nature Conservancy property
Jerry and Stefan Woltman headed farther south to Clairmont Harbor where they
picked up American Oystercatcher and a Northern Gannet. Jerry Bird has the
honed ability to spot a Northern Gannet offshore when it only appears as a dot
on the horizon to many birders. Kim Wheeler also reported the American
Oystercatcher near Clairmont Harbor.
Also on January 10, a hotine contact from Wiggins by the name of Savannah has
reported seeing a Peregine Falcon near the Wal-mart on Hwy 49. She wanted to
know if Peregrine Falcons were common here in winter. I let her know that some
spent their winters here along the coast but to find one right next to a
Wal-mart in Wiggins was quite a find. I guess Wal-mart really does have
everything!
On January 11, Ebby Laird reports that she still has a Fox Sparrow coming to her
feeders in North Hancock County. The bird is not seen as frequently as it was
a couple of weeks ago so if birders want a look, call her at 228-832-0416.
Once again, if you see any rare or elusive birds, please contact this hotline as
soon as possible. Thank you for your participation.
Special thanks to Bill Butler for his continued support of this hotline (no new
bins this year Bill) and Good Luck to Don McKee!
That's it for this edition of the Mississippi Coast Birding News and Hotline.
Until next time.
Good Birding!
J. Morris
eaglesi@bellsouth.net