Albirders
Since our last report we have banded one more new Saw-whet owl in our
yard.  Last night we recaptured another one that we banded four days  ago.

It was great to have Ben Garmon and Steve McConnell come by to see and
photograph one of the banded Saw-whets on the roost.  Martha Gail and  a herd
of Chickadees found this tiny beast roosting in some dense cover.   It was a
toot to watch two grown (questionable description) men down on their  knees
and back attempting to get better photos of this owl in the dense cover in
our yard.  One of the shots taken by Steve showed only the eye of the  owl.
Just know that Martha and I are not the only crazy people left  in the
world!!!!

No new winter residents in our yard, but yesterday we banded a new
immature male Rufous  at a private home near Highway 119 and tried for  another
that was a no-show.  Life is good.

Bob and Martha Sargent
Clay, Alabama


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

It was a slow day birding at Blakely Island this morning until we got in
the vicinity of pond 4.  In the vegetated area of pond 4, there were
four WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS feeding in the goldenrod seedheads and on
the pond were seven species of ducks including six REDHEADS and five
BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCKS.  I was surprised by NOT finding any
Black-necked Stilts but did find a few along with a large contingent of
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS (at least eight) near the C parking area.

REMEMBER: this is an access-restricted area and an annual, signed, hold
harmless permit is required to be in the possession of State Docks
security personnel prior to making your visit. A pre-visit notification
phone call to security personnel is also required. These rules have been
established in order to maintain access to this productive birding area
and must be followed to the letter. For full details, a map of the area,
and copies of the required permit visit the AOS web site at:
http://www.aosbirds.org/blakeley.php

Chazz Hesselein
Mobile, AL

Here is the list submitted from my visit to the Blakely Mud Lakes this
morning

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck     5
Gadwall     10
Northern Shoveler     6
Green-winged Teal     15
Redhead     6
Ring-necked Duck     11
Bufflehead     2
Hooded Merganser     2
Pied-billed Grebe     2
Double-crested Cormorant     8
Osprey     1
Northern Harrier     1
Red-tailed Hawk     1
Common Moorhen     3
American Coot     200
Killdeer     4
Western Sandpiper     1
Least Sandpiper     1
Dunlin     3
Mourning Dove     2
Downy Woodpecker     1
Eastern Phoebe     2
Tree Swallow     66
House Wren     2
Northern Mockingbird     4
European Starling     30
Eastern Towhee     1
Song Sparrow     1
Swamp Sparrow     1
White-crowned Sparrow     4
Red-winged Blackbird     5
Boat-tailed Grackle     5

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

Joan and I went to Dauphin Island today and gave Eugenia Carey a call She told
us she had just spotted a female purple finch at her feeder. Fortunately we were
just around the corner at the Shell Mound. The bird was most accommodating,
staying in Eugenia's yard long enough for me to get photos which I will post in
a "Purple Finch on DI" folder shortly.

Tom Siegwald

Albirders
Yesterday evening, before bedtime ( 8:00 PM ), Martha and I captured  and
banded two more Northern Saw-whet Owls.  This brings our total for this
"winter" to 11 new owls banded here at Saw-whet Central ( I like the Owl Farm
better).

This morning just before dawn, we netted yet another Saw-whet.   This owl
was wearing someone else's band number!   A brief report to  the automated
Bird Banding Laboratory revealed that this owl was originally  banded on
November 10th, 2007 in Virginia).  No details on the exact  location or the
bander of record was given.  I should know that  information later today if all
goes well.

Been outside this morning?  It is glorious day just to be among the  living!

Bob and Martha Sargent
Clay, Alabama


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Albirders
Martha and I have seen up to three Purple Finches at our seed feeders this
morning.  Could the Red-breasted Nuthatches be far behind.  A Fox  Sparrow
was seen yesterday, throwing leaves and feeding with Eastern  Towhees.

Bob Sargent
Clay, Alabama


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi all,

There appears to have been another influx of winter visitors into Gulf Breeze
overnight. What's it going to be, family and food or birds? I wont answer that.

Bob Duncan in the w. Panhandle

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Morning Albirders
I seem to be hung-up on our place being called an owl farm.  Up north,  two
owls in one night is considered a very slow night.  It is all a matter  of
prospective I suppose.

Last night, NOT LONG AFTER DARK, Martha Gail and I banded our 9th Northern
Saw-whet Owl of this winter season.  This tied our total of the   winter of
2007-2008.  Nice.

In addition to this single new owl, at about 1:00  AM today, we  recaptured
a bird that we originally banded on November 15th,  2009, recaptured again
on November 19th.  This particular little-ill  tempered fuzzball exhibited
the same biting and footing behavior as when we  originally caught her the
first time.  Saw-whets evidently have  individual personality traits.

If the weather forecast calls for dry and cold weather at nights, we have
high hopes of banding even more Saw-whets this winter season.

Happy Thanksgiving guys.  What a wonderful holiday for all us to  express
our gratitude for living in the United States of America, and for  the
wonderful freedoms we so easily take for granted.  God Bless All.
Bob and Martha Sargent
Clay, Alabama


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Went to the coast today.  There was one lone Bufflehead at Lake Shelby.  It has
been there since my Nov 21st posting.  At the end of Hwy 59 there were still
Northern Gannets just right off the beach and I found one Surf Scoter.

Happy Thanksgiving,
Karen Chiasson
Silverhill, AL

The date should be today 11/25/09 instead of 11/24/09.....seems I'm always
running a day late on everything,sorry about that.

Just had a hummingbird show up at one of my feeders about 30 mins ago.  Couldn't
tell what kind it was though.  If I see it again I'll try to get an ID on it. 
I'm 13 miles north of Dauphin Island right off of 193 in the Fowl River area.

I donąt know how far swans generally travel but I know of a pair of mute
swans in Shelby County that have been breeding the last 5 years or so with
their offspring gradually spreading out.  I know one set of their offspring
took up residence in Jefferson County and has raised several broods of their
own.  Could be a couple of that group just went a bit far north?


On 11/24/09 6:02 PM, "Neill Cowles" <neill.cowles@...> wrote:

>
>
>
>
>
> This afternoon around 3:00 I was leaving the Northrop Grumman building on
> Voyager Way (Research Park) when 2 swans flew by heading south.  They were
> flying fairly low over the pond next to the parking lot there.  I checked
> the pond and the wetland area behind the office park south of there, but
> could not relocate them.  Does anyone know of any swans that have been
> brought into the area, or could these be wild ones looking for a place to
> winter?  I'm hoping for the latter.  I plan to go try to find them again
> tomorrow.  I couldn't tell what species they were from the fly-by.
>
> Neill Cowles
> Huntsville
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>
>



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Neill and Albirders
Tundra Swans are rare but regular winter residents on the Wheeler  Wildlife
Refuge.  As a general rule one of more is found on many of our  Christmas
Bird Counts.  The count is scheduled for next month.

Nice birds.
Bob Sargent
Clay, Alabama


In a message dated 11/24/2009 6:05:18 P.M. Central Standard Time,
neill.cowles@... writes:

This  afternoon around 3:00 I was leaving the Northrop Grumman building  on
Voyager Way (Research Park) when 2 swans flew by heading south. They  were
flying fairly low over the pond next to the parking lot there. I  checked
the pond and the wetland area behind the office park south of  there, but
could not relocate them. Does anyone know of any swans that have  been
brought into the area, or could these be wild ones looking for a place  to
winter? I'm hoping for the latter. I plan to go try to find them  again
tomorrow. I couldn't tell what species they were from the  fly-by.

Neill  Cowles
Huntsville



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

This afternoon around 3:00 I was leaving the Northrop Grumman building on
Voyager Way (Research Park) when 2 swans flew by heading south.  They were
flying fairly low over the pond next to the parking lot there.  I checked
the pond and the wetland area behind the office park south of there, but
could not relocate them.  Does anyone know of any swans that have been
brought into the area, or could these be wild ones looking for a place to
winter?  I'm hoping for the latter.  I plan to go try to find them again
tomorrow.  I couldn't tell what species they were from the fly-by.

Neill Cowles
Huntsville


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I had an appt in Pensacola today and decided to drive along Beach Blvd on the
way back.  There was a grand feast happening right off shore.  Dolphins,
Northern Gannets, Gulls, Pelicans, and Terns were definitely enjoying the feast.
The Northern Gannets were so close to shore they were sometimes just gliding
over the water and diving in to catch something to eat instead of rising high
and diving like a torpedo into the water.

I had a dozen Common Loons at Alabama Point.  Also found a Pied-Billed Grebe and
a female Gadwall in a shallow pond on the north side of Beach Blvd.

Driving up north toward home I found a Red-Shouldered Hawk and an American
Kestrel trying to defend their territory and roosting spot on the wires near the
Magnolia Dump.  I then stopped into Fairhope Falls.  Found one lone Bufflehead
in the pond where the Hooded Mergansers were about a month ago.  I didn't bird
very long since I had been gone all day, but there were also the following:

Pied-Billed Grebe
Great Blue Heron
American Kestrel
Sharp-Shinned Hawk
American Robin - around 100
Eastern Meadowlark - around 50
Carolina Wren
House Wren
Marsh Wren
Eastern Phoebe
Loggerhead Shrike
Northern Mockingbird
Bluejay
Red-Winged Blackbird
Eastern Bluebird
Northern Cardinal
Brown-Headed Nuthatch
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Blue-Headed Vireo
Nashville Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Palm Warbler
Pine Warbler
Yellow-Rumped Warbler
Swamp Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Field Sparrow

Karen Chiasson
Silverhill, AL

Hi all,

A ride over on the ferry from Fort Morgan to Dauphin Island today yielded a
first winter FRANKLIN'S GULL observed in flight with numerous Laughing Gulls. 
In addition to the obvious dark half hood and large white eye ring, I was able
to note that the blackish tail band did not reach the outer tail feathers.  The
bird appeared smaller with a more petite bill. The wings were less pointed than
the accompanying laughers.

Birding at Dauphin Island was fairly slow with overcast gray skies.  Sparrows
were common with lots of Field, Song and Savannahs.  Two White-crowned Sparrows
(one at the Bird Sanctuary and another at Fort Gaines) were also a nice treat.

Good Birding,

Howard Horne
Mobile, AL

Hey All-

Well I can honestly say I hadn't considered meeting my fate at the tail end of a
passing comet, as Bob Sargent suggested (but it is something to consider when
looking for a reason to go birding!), I will admit that as I was completing my
animal husbandry duties at the end of a long day in the lab I kept reminding
myself that "12 hours from now I'll be looking at ducks, geese and Sandhill
Cranes at Wheeler."  And so it came to pass.

The annual BAS trip to Wheeler produced all the usual suspects so early into the
winter season, and the threat of rain never did materialize for us.  Our first
stop at the Beaverdam Tower offered some really great looks at Horned Larks,
several of which were performing their dainty aerial ballet before plummeting
head-long back to earth.  What a treat!  Water pipets were also roving about the
fields while harriers coursed above the soybean fields.

Down at Limestone Bay about 30-35 Sandhill Cranes plied the mudflats, and
several Great Blue Herons loafing in the shallows offered the commoners version
of what constitutes a "crane."  Further around the bend we had distant views of
a flock of Snow Geese.  Dwight Cooley mentioned that Ross's Goose had been
reported but we were too distant to discern that level of detail.  In fact, the
4-5 Horned Grebes that were even further in the distance, became Clark's,
Western, Red-necked and Eared, because hey, at this distance whose going to
prove you wrong?  In fact, however, they were Horned Grebes.

Our lunch stop at Arrowhead Landing on the west side of Limestone Bay was a much
better location to view the flock of geese and we did manage to tease two Ross's
Geese from among the Snow Geese, which were cloaked in all manner of plumage
variations.  Here we also had the usual assortment of winter woodland birds,
including a Winter Wren that paid Shirley Farrell a visit.

Working our way west on White Springs dike we had some excellent views of
American White Pelicans as they flew overhead in formation.  An adult Bald Eagle
was spectacular as it swooped in from a low circling flight to snatch a fish
from the water's surface and flew to a nearby tree to dine on its catch.  Stops
along the road at the various impoundments yielded satisfying views of Mallards,
Gadwall, American Wigeon, Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, Green-winged
Teal, American Black Duck, Bufflehead, Hooded Merganser and Ring-necked Ducks. 
We drove out the west gate at 4:00, content with our day of lazy birding on a
delightful winter's day.

Our final stop was Big Bob Gibson's BBQ in Decatur; suffice it to say, no one
went away hungry.

Take care all,  Greg


Gregory J. Harber
Birmingham, AL
gharber@...
"It's never too late to have a happy childhood."
Tom Robbins

A quick run through the Guntersville (Marshall Co) birding stops around mid-day
produced the following in Browns Ck south of the AL 69 causeway:

4 Eared Grebes
3 Franklin's Gulls
1 Lesser Black-backed Gull (adult)


Around 50 loons were about but nothing rarer than Common.  No unusual gulls at
the US 431 pilings and fishing boats tied to the same didn't help any.

Bird well,

Steve McConnell
Hartselle, AL
=


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Morning Guys
Rise and shine it is a fine day to be alive and banding "little owl
thingees".  Our 4:00 AM net run this morning yielded not one but two more
Saw-whets.  What a treat to catch two on the same net run.

No new hummers to report in our area.

Take care and have some fun today.  Remember you could get hit by a
passing comet or some such thing, so consider what you might have missed by 
being
all busy with unimportant stuff.

Bob and Martha Sargent
Clay, Alabama


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

RBA

*Alabama
*Statewide
*INTERNET ONLY
*November 20, 2009
*ALST0911.20

=====================================
--- Species added since last report ---
=====================================

Red-throated Loon
Swainson’ Hawk
Glaucous Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Parasitic Jaeger (Ida bird, gone)
Northern Saw-whet Owl
LESSER NIGHTHAWK (Ida bird, gone)
Western Kingbird (2 locations)
Clay-colored Sparrow
Lincoln’s Sparrow
Yellow-headed Blackbird (3 locations – all gone?)

=====================================
--- Species previously reported ---
=====================================

Bronzed Cowbird (2 new locations)

=====================================
--- Exotic – Origin Unknown ---
=====================================

Nutmeg Mannikin

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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: November 20, 2009
Phone number to leave messages about rare birds:  256/773-8560
Compiler: Steve W. McConnell
Email: swmavocet@...

Alabama Rare Bird Report – Friday, November 20, 2009.

A female YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was found 11/7 in a large cow/blackbird flock
at the intersection of the Foley expressway and Baldwin County 12.  [DeAL 63-H8]

On Dauphin Island a female YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was found 11/6 at feeders on
Cadillac Street just east of Shell Mound Park.  It has not been seen since. 
During the passage of Tropical Storm Ida (11/10), a LESSER NIGHTHAWK was
discovered near Ft. Gaines on the east end. The bird was relocated the morning
of 11/11 but apparently left soon after and has not been seen since.  Photos may
be viewed at:  http://picasaweb.google.com/HowardHorne/LesserNighthawk#
Also seen during Ida was a PARASITIC JAEGER at the island golf course. A
LINCOLN’S SPARROW was seen 11/17-18 south of Ft. Gaines in the bushes and
scrub between the road-end parking lot and the pine-covered sand dune.  A few
WESTERN KINGBIRD reports were received from the island’s east end including
one seen 11/15 on Sea Lab property power lines near Discovery Hall.  A GREAT
BLACK-BACKED GULL was seen 11/12 on Pelican Peninsula just south of the island
pier.  [DeAL 64-B3][BGtA p. 6-12]

A male YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was seen the morning of 11/2 near the ferry
landing at Ft. Morgan. It has not been relocated.  A few reports of WESTERN
KINGBIRDS have also been received from the fort property so far this month.  On
11/7 a light morph SWAINSON’S HAWK was soaring over the fort with a Red-tailed
hawk and at least one CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was seen near the seawall to the
south. A small flock of NUTMEG MANNIKINS were also seen that day on the fort’s
western border near the light tower.  A male BRONZED COWBIRD was seen 11/12 in
the blackbird flock near the museum.  Two BRONZED COWBIRDS were observed 11/3-4
about 1.0 mile east of the fort property boundary in yards and on power lines
south of AL 180 between Bernard CT W and Buchanan CT W.  I’ve seen no recent
reports of these birds.  [DeAL 64-B4][BGtA p. 23][ACBT #15]

The banding of NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS at a private yard in Clay (Jefferson
County) has picked up again evidently where it left off last winter.  So far
this season, six owls have been banded on 11/1, 11/6, 11/12 (x2), and 11/15
(x2).

A GLAUCOUS GULL was seen 11/2 in Guntersville near the US 431 pilings north of
town.  Also a RED-THROATED LOON was found 11/4 in Browns Creek south of the AL
69 causeway following a large movement of waterbirds into the area.  [DeAL
26-A1; 25-A&B10][BGtA p. 258-259][NABT #35]

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@...

Thank you.
-End Transcript


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I've had company the last two weeks and haven't had time to do any extensive
birding.  Have more company coming in tomorrow.  However, some of the birds I've
seen during the last two weeks are:

Common Loon - Seen at least 6
Bufflehead
Greater Scaup
Pied-Billed Grebe
Black Skimmer - Boat Dock at end of Hwy 1
Swainson's Hawk
Broad-Winged Hawk
Red-Shouldered Hawk
Red-Tailed Hawk
Sharp-Shinned Hawk
Merlin
Kestrel
Gray-Cheeked Thrush
Hermit Thrush
Blue-Headed Vireo
Orange-Crowned Warbler
Pine Warbler
Palm Warbler
Yellow-Rumped Warbler
Ruby-Crowned Kinglet
Golden-Crowned Kinglet
Blue-Headed Vireo
Eastern Phoebe
Pileated Woodpecker
Red-Bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Marsh Wren
Sedge Wren

Along with the usual suspects.  Fairhope Falls had some heavy equipment
transporting dirt this past week or so.  Thus, the Hooded Mergansers seen there
had left.  However, they are now finished transporting dirt, so maybe some birds
will return.

Karen Chiasson
Silverhill, AL

Hi all,

There is a good chance of rain for tomorrow (I've seen anywhere between an 80 to
100% chance).  I do not know when the rain will be arriving on Saturday and I do
not know how heavy the rains will be.

As of right now the field trip for tomorrow is STILL ON.  I will be there at the
landfill at 8 AM to meet any folks who may show up. However, it is possible that
you arrive only to find out that we will have to cancel the trip. Please use
your best judgement and personal tolerance for rain in deciding if you want to
drive over and attend the trip in the morning if it is raining.  I will be there
rain or shine with the caveat that the trip could be canceled last minute there
at the landfill due to heavy rains throughout the area.

I apologize ahead of time for any inconvience this may cause.

Cheers,
Howard Horne
Mobile, AL

In case anyone is planning a run to nw Alabama this weekend:  The Tennessee
River Athletic Club is sponsoring a 10K Dam-Bridge Run Saturday morning.  Wilson
Dam will be closed to ALL traffic Saturday morning until 8:30 a.m..  Reservation
Road will also be closed from the Hwy. 133 access road to Wilson Dam.  If you
want to watch gulls around here Saturday, start your day at Wheeler Dam.

Damien Simbeck
Killen, AL


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Birders,

The following article appeared in the Pensacola News Journal today, Friday, Nov.
20. The main points:
     (1) the beachfront  road from Pensacola Beach east to Navarre Beach, passing
through the Seashore area known as Opal Beach, is now open.
     (2) the road from Pensacola Beach west into the Ft. Pickens area:   Sand
removal from Fort Pickens Road is expected to begin within the next week to 10
days and could be completed in four weeks. [We are already seeing work being
done to remove this sand. What is unknown is whether the roadbed beneath the
sand has sustained damage.]

However (groan), there is an extra-tropical low pressure system scheduled to
track out of the western Gulf eastward across the northern Gulf with high tides
which could deposit more sand, create further road damage, and could flood the
roadway inhibiting sand removal already in progress. This system will not be as
strong or as intense as T.S. Ida.

Meanwhile, is the Green-tailed Towhee still there? Nobody knows. And what birds
will the current weather system displace to inaccessible Ft. Pickens....?

Lucy and Bob Duncan
Gulf Breeze, FL

Beach road reopens http://www.pnj.com/article/20091120/NEWS01/911200344

Bowden Way back after 11-day closure

Kimberly Blair
kblair@...

One of the area's most scenic roadways reopens today, 11 days after the storm
surge from Tropical Storm Ida covered it with sand.

J. Earle Bowden Way on Santa Rosa Island, which connects Pensacola Beach and
Navarre Beach, opens at 8 a.m., Gulf Islands National Seashore Superintendent
Jerry Eubanks said.

Seashore work crews and Panhandle Grading and Paving rushed to remove hundreds
of cubic yards of sand from the popular road that hugs the shoreline of the Gulf
of Mexico.

"It seems like as soon as it closed, everyone wanted to use that road," said
Maureen LaMar, executive director of the Pensacola Beach Chamber of Commerce.

The road - which reopened this year after being severely damaged by hurricanes
Ivan in 2004 and Dennis in 2005 - is popular among tourists traveling east.

Eubanks warns visitors to be aware that there is some damage on Bowden Way,
primarily on the north side of the roadway. The damage will be repaired.

Bike lanes and shoulders will remain closed for safety reasons.

Seashore work crews cleared Johnson Beach Road, which also opens at 8 a.m.
today.

Sand removal from Fort Pickens Road is expected to begin within the next week to
10 days and could be completed in four weeks.

Additional Facts
For more details on Gulf Islands National Seashore, call 934-2600.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

ALBirders:

Today (18 Nov) while performing surveys for Henslow's Sparrows on the Forever
Wild Grand Bay Savanna Gidden's Tract (located just southwest of Bayou La
Batre), John Trent and I flushed up a first winter Dickcissel from a dense mat
of Panicum grasses.  It was associating with a small group of Swamp Sparrows. 
Our surveys focused in areas where we recently performed a large-scale
warm-season fire this past June as part of a management perscription for our
ongoing efforts of restoring the area's coastal pine savanna ecosystem.  This
observation was quite unexpected given the time of year and is worth noting. 
For those interested in seeing pictures, I attached two photos of this
individual (entitled HY Dickcissel) in the Photos Section in my folder.

As for the results of our Henslow's Sparrow survey, we only detected them in the
large pitcher plant bog located north of Marine Lab Road.  We tallied 4
individuals within a 25 minute search effort, which was the first time we noted
them in that particular bog in over 2 years...

Good Birding,

Eric Soehren
Shorter, AL

This evening while sitting in my dining room I heard a Great Horned Owl
calling.  I walked outside to hear two owls serenading each other.  I
got my wife and visiting mother-in-law to go outside and told them I
would try to call the owls in with my mp3 player.  Unfortunately, I
didn't have Great Horned Owl on my mp3 player (but I am prepared for the
occasional Great Gray Owl), so I thought I would try to get the owls to
respond to my poor call imitation.  The owls seemed to respond, or at
least they were calling so that all could hear.  What happened next, I
couldn't have predicted, as out of the dark one of the owls swooped in
at me veering about 10 feet from my head and landing in an overhead tree
branch.  That scared the bejesus out of me and I remembered Howard Horne
tell of wearing a helmet while he called Great Horned Owls in for his
Boy Scout troupe- I wasn't wearing a helmet.  Guess my owl call wasn't
so bad after all.  We all got quite a show as the other owl came flying
into the yard.  My daughter then joined us and as I pointed my
flashlight at the birds we got to see them swoop from tree to tree.  I
can still hear them calling as I type this note.  Quite a treat and tale
to tell!

Good night and good birding!

Chazz Hesselein
Mobile, AL

Hi all,

     Our run on western birds continues here in the w. Panhandle. Lucy and I went
to the Ft. Walton Beach Spray Field complex this morning and in about 4 hours
birding  got 80 species including a WESTERN KINGBIRD on the fence going in to
the Wright Compost facility, and five SWAINSON'S HAWKS, a local record for most
seen at one time. On the fence at the City pond was the male VERMILION
FLYCATCHER. This bird has been present for some time.

     This run on western vagrants began in early October with the GROOVE-BILLED
ANI at Ft. Pickens and the run apparently is continuing. The road to Ft. Pickens
is closed, probably for a long time as TS Ida deposited tons of sand which has
to be removed and the Park Service has to get bids for removal, which could take
a long time. Meanwhile, the status of the GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE remains in limbo.
Last seen Nov. 8.

     What next?

Bob & Lucy Duncan
Gulf Breeze, Fl in the w. Panhandle

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Hi again,

It was late last night when I composed my e-mail message and I was trying
to multi-task while typing (something I should learn to stop doing). I
accidently forgot the word "NOT" in my explanation for why we will be
birding the landfill instead of the sod farm areas:

"...Our original plan was to visit sod farm areas in South Baldwin County
for Swainson’s Hawk, Sprague’s Pipit, Longspurs, and Sparrows. Bill
Summerour has investigated sites we have birded in the past and suitable
habitat does "NOT" currently exist for these species in the traditional
areas. Therefore we will change our plans somewhat: Right now the plan is
to bird the landfill for gulls (and maybe a snow bunting or two) and then
head over to the new Graham Creek Preserve near Foley. We may be able to
try for sparrows in the pitcher plant bogs in this new park.

We will still meet at the parking lot entrance to the MAGNOLIA LANDFILL
located
on Baldwin County Road 49 north of Highway 98 (15140 CR49) at 8 AM

I apologize for any confusion this may have caused.

Good Birding,
Howard Horne
Mobile, AL


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Hi all,

Due to an oversight the meeting time and location for the Nov. 21  South
Baldwin County CBA birding trip was
inadvertently omitted from the newsletter and our website.

We will meet at the parking lot entrance to the MAGNOLIA LANDFILL located
on Baldwin County Road 49 north of
Highway 98 (15140 CR49) at 8 AM.

Our original plan was to visit sod farm areas in South Baldwin County for
Swainson’s Hawk, Sprague’s Pipit,
Longspurs, and Sparrows.  Bill Summerour has investigated sites we have
birded in the past and suitable habitat
does currently exist for these species in the traditional areas.  Therefore
we will change our plans somewhat: Right
now the plan is to bird the landfill for gulls (and maybe a snow bunting or
two) and then head over to the new
Graham Creek Preserve near Foley.  We may be able to try for sparrows in
the pitcher plant bogs in this new park.

Please feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions regarding the trip:
hhorne@...

Thanks,
Howard Horne
Mobile, AL



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I have changed the title of the Goatsucker photo in my album to Common
Nighthawk. Alas, so many cautionary tails in my bird book. I guess it wasn't
such an incredible coincidence to have the Common Nighthawk sitting behind the
Fort where the Lesser Nighthawk had been the afternoon before, but it sure
crossed me up.

I guess its time to start mis-identifying Sparrows...

David Dortch
Fairhope AL

AL Birders:

Yesterday morning (14 Nov) I enjoyed one of my favorite activities, stalking
grassland birds.  Continuing my recent trend of birding close to home, I worked
some tall grass fields I had noticed this fall on Tanyard Road near
Harpersville.  Dawn broke foggy and with a nip in the air, but winds were calm
and the sun eventually broke through the gloom.  The grass was dripping, and
standing water was present in many areas -- despite my Wellies I spent the
morning soaked to the skin from hips to toes.

As I expected from the habitat, large numbers of sparrows were present, with
hordes of Savannahs, Songs, and Swamps, and a smattering of other species
including Vesper.  A GRASSHOPPER SPARROW was fun, though was a challenge to
photograph through the fog; Grasshoppers breed in this area, but this bird was
quite late in departing (rare in winter in the Mountain Region).  Also late were
two House Wrens, two Palm Warblers, and three Com. Yellowthroats.

Finding "marsh" wrens in the Mountain Region is always a treat, but I had no
idea I'd find a thundering herd of these birds in Shelby County.  Two MARSH
WRENS were nice, but paled beside a count of FIFTEEN SEDGE WRENS (visual on 14)!
The Sedge tally is by far a maximum for north Alabama, and if I'd had time, and
had been willing to cross a fence into another good field, I likely could have
logged even more.

Best bird of the morning appeared behind me as I was fussing; I turned to find
it sitting quietly at a distance in a tuft of grass.  This LE CONTE'S SPARROW
was unfortunately backlit by the sun, and when I repositioned to get better
light it vanished, not to be found again; I made a few poor "record shots" of
the bird.  Le Conte's is only occasionally seen in the Mountain Region, and this
is the first recorded in November.  I've had three species of Ammodramus
sparrows in Shelby County in the last couple of weeks, a surprise in the
Birmingham area.

A quick run through the sod farms didn't turn up much, but it didn't matter, as
I was in heaven after spending my morning with these lovely grass birds!  I've
posted a few photos starting at http://www.pbase.com/gdjackson/image/119393454 .


Greg


Greg D. Jackson
Birmingham, AL
g_d_jackson@...

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