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3 Jul Black Belt birding, July 3, 2009. ["Gregory J. Harber" ] 3 Jul Re: Dauphin Island Shorebirding, July 3, 2009. ["Gregory J. Harber" ] 3 Jul Howard's posting ["Lucy and Bob Duncan" ] 03 Jul Dauphin Island Shorebirding, July 3, 2009. ["Howard Horne" ] 01 Jul Yellow-Crowned Night-Heron in Homewood ["gm72125" ] 01 Jul Which Binoculars do you use? ["tstew12127" ] 30 Jun Re: looking for Swainson's and Cerulean warblers [Bert Harris ] 01 Jul June 30, 2009 Update For Anniston ["numberonebirder" ] 30 Jun Re-Posting Birds West of Grant ["Eve" ] 30 Jun Re: Sand Hill Cranes [Chazz Hesselein ] 30 Jun Birds east of Grant on the Mountain ["Eve" ] 30 Jun Sand Hill Cranes ["especiallyforcarrie" ] 29 Jun Re: Purple Martins gathering ["Jon and Dawn Yoder" ] 30 Jun Just wanted to tell some one what I saw yesterday at my pond. ["numberonebirder" ] 29 Jun PUMA Gathering ["John Porter" ] 29 Jun RE: Osprey on Guntersville Lake ["marklaroux AT yahoo.com" ] 29 Jun Osprey on Guntersville Lake ["Jerry Green" ] 28 Jun New Hummers In Clay, Alabama [] 27 Jun looking for Swainson's and Cerulean warblers ["littekenc" ] 26 Jun Anniston Update For June 25, 2009 ["numberonebirder" ] 25 Jun Trip Report: Alabama deepwater pelagic, June 20, 2009 [] 23 Jun Talladega National Forest (Coleman Lake area) 6/23/09 ["Ken" ] 23 Jun I have added you to my friends network today! ["matcheimxfriends" ] 22 Jun Still winter in Canada, and the ducks aren't doing well ["Lucy and Bob Duncan" ] 22 Jun Anniston Update June 21, 2009 ["numberonebirder" ] 21 Jun Dauphin Island Copperhead ["especiallyforcarrie" ] 20 Jun Escambia County: Orphaned Bird [Elise Edwards ] 20 Jun White Hall: Tree Swallows and Anhinga ["Larry Gardella" ] 17 Jun black belt birds ["Barry Fleming" ] 16 Jun Mississippi Kites ["David and Carrie" ] 16 Jun Mississippi kites in Tuscaloosa ["Dr. David Campbell" ] 16 Jun RFI: Talladega National Forest RED CROSSBILLS ["Ken" ] 15 Jun Straggling White-rumped ["Greg D. Jackson" ] 16 Jun Afternoon birding in east central Alabama ["tstew12127" ] 15 Jun Black-neck Stilts [] 15 Jun Re: Bankhead NF on Saturday ["Howard Horne" ] 15 Jun Bankhead NF on Saturday [Harold Peterson ] 14 Jun Coast trip report, Sat June 13 [] 13 Jun First Young Ruby-throated [] 13 Jun Re: Another Report on Rabbit Road [] 13 Jun Another Report on Rabbit Road ["Larry Gardella" ] 13 Jun scissor tail [Milton Harris ] 10 Jun Cat Birds ["edieheine" ] 10 Jun Odenville BBS [] 10 Jun Clever poem [Chazz Hesselein ] 9 Jun Leighton shorebirds and dickcissels [] 09 Jun Black-necked Stilt update [] 09 Jun Alabama Birding Trails ["j.ninesling" ] 8 Jun Re: Hit ABC Show Casting Birding Enthusiast Families For Prime Time [David And Carrie Dortch ] 08 Jun Vina BBS results, Marion/Franklin Counties (NW Alabama), June 7 [] 08 Jun Hit ABC Show Casting Birding Enthusiast Families For Prime Time ["Danielle" ] 8 Jun Re: Painted Bunting, Autauga County ["Gregory J. Harber" ] 8 Jun Re: Painted Bunting, Autauga County [] 8 Jun Re: Monk Parrots [] 7 Jun Companies need your input in order to be successful. [] 7 Jun Re: Painted Bunting, Autauga County ["Gregory J. Harber" ] 07 Jun Painted Bunting, Autauga County ["john_trent00" ] 7 Jun Monk Parrots ["John Porter" ] 7 Jun Common Ground-Dove at Rabbit Road ["Larry Gardella" ] 6 Jun Re: Monk Parrot ["Gregory J. Harber" ] 07 Jun Paint Rock Valley Warblers [] 07 Jun Paint Rock Valley Warblers [] 06 Jun Monk Parrot ["shookdonna" ] 06 Jun wood storks ["pemburung" ] 06 Jun Re: SURF SCOTERS: Dauphin Island (6/6/09) ["pemburung" ] 06 Jun SURF SCOTERS: Dauphin Island (6/6/09) ["Howard Horne" ] 6 Jun Download Top Ringtones For Your Mobile Do you want the latest Ringtone for your mobile? Download your ringtones, poly tones, mono tones, wallpapers, themes, java games and more. Download Now >>> [] 6 Jun Hummingbirds [] 02 Jun Wood Storks [Chazz Hesselein ] 2 Jun Late Peregrine Falcon ["Ken and Claire Krusko" ] 2 Jun RE: Pine siskin ["Ken and Claire Krusko" ] 2 Jun Re: Kites Galore ["Gregory J. Harber" ] 02 Jun UPDATE: Marthaler Pond Stilts [] 02 Jun Kites Galore ["Charles Kennedy" ] 2 Jun Pine siskin ["Reed, Robert" ] 01 Jun birding survey ["pemburung" ] Subject: Black Belt birding, July 3, 2009. From: "Gregory J. Harber" <gharber AT mindspring.com> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 23:00:26 -0400 (EDT) Hey All- Like Howard and the Seigwalds, Stan and Dana Hamilton and I went birding on a rare day off from work. We opted for a visit to the Black Belt in search of Wood Storks at the catfish farms south of Greensboro. We found some storks but the real treat was in finding birds we hadn't anticipated seeing. We scanned the ponds along AL Hwy 25 without finding anything other than lots of Great Egrets and Great Blue Herons. We turned west on Hale CR 16 and struck out along this road as well before turning south on CR 9. We stopped at the first set of ponds we encountered on this road and struck up a conversation with a farm worker named Matt, who informed us that he had seen many storks in the past few weeks but none in the past week or so. I had seen what I thought was a flock of storks in flight but the birds were so distant it was hard to follow them. Our last stop on CR 9 was about a 1/4 mile north of the intersection with CR 10. There are two ponds on the west side of the road where I have encountered many storks in the past but not today. Instead we found what I had at first thought was a Yellow-billed Cuckoo in flight, with its long tail dragging behind it. Nope, it was an adult Scissor-tailed Flycatcher! The bird perched briefly on the wires before flying east, nearly overhead, and disappearing into the far tree line in the field east of CR 9. (DeLorme Atlas, page 42, B4). After a brief and fruitless search for this bird along stretches of CR 10 between Sledge and AL Hwy 69, we headed south on Hwy 69 to US Hwy 80. We drove east on 80 toward Faunsdale and then turned north on AL Hwy 25. We finally found about 50-60 Wood Storks at a catfish farm on the west side of the road about 3 miles north of Hwy 80. The 300 or so Great Egrets loafing on the edges of the ponds caught our gaze initially, and only then did we realize that the Wood Storks were here in decent numbers too. A little further north on AL Hwy 25 we stopped at a series of three bridges, the northernmost of which spanned a small creek. Dana and Stan have had success here in the past looking for kites flying over the fields on the east side of the road. Today was no different. Almost immediately Dana located a Mississippi Kite headed south, and two seconds later, an adult Swallow-tailed Kite flying north! Thankfully the Swallow-tailed Kite circled high overhead for several minutes before drifting eastward. Ah, such satisfaction! Shortly, another Mississippi Kite came flying past at a much lower altitude so we could see it catching insects in flight and feeding on the wing. We continued north on AL Hwy 25 even further, eventually reaching the aforementioned CR 10 at the crossroads labeled as "Sledge" in the DeLorme Atlas. We drove west on CR 10 about 50 yards before Stan spotted a duck in the pond on the south side of the road. Soon Dana pulled another winner out of her hat when she spotted an adult Bald Eagle flying over the ponds on the north side of the road! We pulled into the first catfish pond access road on the right (a couple hundred yards west of AL Hwy 25) to try for better looks at both birds. Turns out we were distracted by yet another Scissor-tailed Flycatcher perched on the wires adjacent to the first pond. This was an immature bird that was joined in short order by another immature flycatcher and one adult bird! Eventually, another adult joined in the mix for a total of 4 birds at this site. The eagle came back for a more satisfying view and the ducks we determined were merely the farm pond variety of Mallards. Good thing they were there though, otherwise we might never have stopped to investigate! From here we worked our way east toward AL Hwy 183 and the Johnson Feed ponds north of Uniontown, where we have encountered Scissor-tailed Flycatchers in the past. No luck there today, so we headed to Faunsdale in search of a late lunch. The Faunsdale Bar & Grill was closed (turns out they're only open Friday nights and Saturday for lunch and dinner - drats!) so we opted for the only other game in this tiny little community - the Faunsdale Cafe. Their version of Southern-style home cooking was equally tasty but not quite with the same atmosphere. We resumed our quest by heading back to Uniontown and driving north on AL Hwy 183 in one last effort for the flycatchers. Turns out they're a little further north than they nested last year. At about mile marker 7, the exceedingly long tail of a bird perched on the wire on the east side of the road caught my eye once again and all conversation came to an immediate halt! Stan doubled back and we enjoyed great views of this adult flycatcher before we realized that there was another adult sitting on a nest lodged in the lower crossbar of a power pole situated between two ponds about 50 yards off the road (east of AL Hwy 183; DeLorme page 43, middle of square B6). This brought our Scissor-tailed Flycatcher total to 7 birds, with one lone adult, a family of four, and a nesting pair. As Dana said several times during our jaunt today, this sure beats work! We closed out the day by introducing Stan and Dana to Donovan Lakes on CR 38 south of Marion, and to Jim's Little Store at its intersection with CR 45. When the Birmingham Audubon Society visited this store back in March the Venus deMilo statue minding the gas pumps was decked out in green in honor of St. Patrick's Day. Today was she adorned in red, white and blue. I had no idea she was such a patriotic American! For a photograph of the young flycatcher observed in Sledge, and of Venus the Patriot, visit my Flickr account page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/24926009 AT N02/sets/72157620783911487/ Eagles, kites, storks and flycatchers - these sure beat work any day! Good birding to all and a Happy 4th of July to you and yours. Take care, Greg Gregory J. Harber Birmingham, AL gharber AT mindspring.com "It's never too late to have a happy childhood." Tom Robbins Subject: Re: Dauphin Island Shorebirding, July 3, 2009. From: "Gregory J. Harber" <gharber AT mindspring.com> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 20:41:59 -0500 (GMT-05:00) Interesting shots of the clams, Howard. I noticed you had your hand spread over them in one shot. Were you trying to heal them? Aren't they long dead? -----Original Message----- From: Howard Horne Sent: Jul 3, 2009 2:24 PM To: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [ALBIRDS] Dauphin Island Shorebirding, July 3, 2009. Hi all, "Fall" shorebirding has officially begun starting off in mid-summer on this hot third day of July. The Siegwalds and I took advantage of a day off from work to run down to Dauphin Island for some early morning shorebirding, before the weather and the traffic got too hot to handle. We took the new Dauphin Island Shuttle Service (consisting of two nicely air-conditioned shuttle buses –the "Crabby Cabbie" and the "Island Hopper") from the town hall to the west end where we hiked out on the sound side to the far tip of the island. I highly recommend this new service for avoiding the parking situation on the west end –the D.I. police are back to ticketing parking violators. There is a $1 fee to ride the bus (plus another dollar for the return trip). With 2 shuttles, they run approximately 30 minutes apart. I only saw one official stop labeled with a sign for the shuttle –located directly across from the Town Hall on the north side of Bienville (the main east-west street). However, if you see one of the shuttles and wave them down, they'll stop to pick you up anywhere along their route. Same for dropping off –wherever you want to go on the island they can get you there and back. Starting off we counted 47 Black Terns at the mudflats (now one big sand flat) directly east of the new West End Public Beach. We proceeded along the water's edge on the sound side of the island and immediately encountered 7 SNOWY PLOVERS (plus possibly another 2 individuals later on?) beyond the public beach. Six birds were hunkered down on the sand and appeared to be on nests (?), but we later saw several of the birds up and moving around, so they may have been possibly loafing instead. A short distance later we counted 6 WILSON'S PLOVER. A single Semipalmated Plover was here as well. Farther out toward the tip we had a large flock of Sanderlings (~50 birds) plus Short-billed Dowitchers and several Black-bellied Plovers. Mixed in with the flock was one Ruddy Turnstone. A single WESTERN SANDPIPER was also a good find. More Black Terns (~30) in all plumages were present. Also of interest was a very large relict bed of quahog clams (Mercenaria sp.) on the westernmost tip of the island. This bed was initially uncovered back in January and was recovered by sand. It is now exposed again. Photographs of these large clam shells can be seen here: http://picasaweb.google.com/HowardHorne/Mercenaria# Good Birding, Howard Horne Mobile, AL Subject: Howard's posting From: "Lucy and Bob Duncan" <town_point AT bellsouth.net> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 15:16:26 -0500 Glad to hear somebody's doing some birding. The shuttle sounds like a winner, wonder if it will run weekdays off season.? Marbled Godwit over here yesterday seen by Patrick James. We monitor the "new" mudflats (Ivan 2004), our very own mudflats. No longer are we dependent on AL for shorebirding!! Located at Opal Bch, sound side from there to about one mile east. Our first breeding Wilson's Plovers in decades. Tons of breeding Least Terns and Snowy Plovers. Ft. Pickens road is now open, in that sector they counted 243 Least Tern chicks with birds still on nests, plus gobs of Snowy Plovers, adults and chicks running around, plus three pair of nesting Gull-bills. In a couple of weeks it's really going to be fun shorebirding. Can't wait. Pin-tailed Whydah reports are starting to turn up at opposite ends of Pensacola, what with Nutmeg Mannikins well established, what next? Good birding, Bob Duncan [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Dauphin Island Shorebirding, July 3, 2009. From: "Howard Horne" <hhorne AT earthlink.net> Date: Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:24:58 -0000 Hi all, "Fall" shorebirding has officially begun� starting off in mid-summer on this hot third day of July. The Siegwalds and I took advantage of a day off from work to run down to Dauphin Island for some early morning shorebirding, before the weather and the traffic got too hot to handle. We took the new Dauphin Island Shuttle Service (consisting of two nicely air-conditioned shuttle buses �the "Crabby Cabbie" and the "Island Hopper") from the town hall to the west end where we hiked out on the sound side to the far tip of the island. I highly recommend this new service for avoiding the parking situation on the west end �the D.I. police are back to ticketing parking violators. There is a $1 fee to ride the bus (plus another dollar for the return trip). With 2 shuttles, they run approximately 30 minutes apart. I only saw one official stop labeled with a sign for the shuttle �located directly across from the Town Hall on the north side of Bienville (the main east-west street). However, if you see one of the shuttles and wave them down, they'll stop to pick you up anywhere along their route. Same for dropping off �wherever you want to go on the island they can get you there and back. Starting off we counted 47 Black Terns at the mudflats (now one big sand flat) directly east of the new West End Public Beach. We proceeded along the water's edge on the sound side of the island and immediately encountered 7 SNOWY PLOVERS (plus possibly another 2 individuals later on?) beyond the public beach. Six birds were hunkered down on the sand and appeared to be on nests (?), but we later saw several of the birds up and moving around, so they may have been possibly loafing instead. A short distance later we counted 6 WILSON'S PLOVER. A single Semipalmated Plover was here as well. Farther out toward the tip we had a large flock of Sanderlings (~50 birds) plus Short-billed Dowitchers and several Black-bellied Plovers. Mixed in with the flock was one Ruddy Turnstone. A single WESTERN SANDPIPER was also a good find. More Black Terns (~30) in all plumages were present. Also of interest was a very large relict bed of quahog clams (Mercenaria sp.) on the westernmost tip of the island. This bed was initially uncovered back in January and was recovered by sand. It is now exposed again. Photographs of these large clam shells can be seen here: http://picasaweb.google.com/HowardHorne/Mercenaria# Good Birding, Howard Horne Mobile, AL Subject: Yellow-Crowned Night-Heron in Homewood From: "gm72125" <gm72125 AT bellsouth.net> Date: Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:16:20 -0000 Hello, Birders, this morning there was a Yellow-Crowned Night-Heron in Griffith Creek in Homewood just south of Roseland Drive looking down into the creek from West Glenwood. This is the first time I have ever seen this species actually in the creek, and it has been around 2 or 3 years since my only other sighting of this species in the neighborhood (perched in a tall pine tree). More regular are the Green Herons, which I suspect are nesting in the neighborhood and which I see regularly from this same spot. Great Blue Heron is veyr uncommon, but I have seen one in the creek nearby a few times. Belted Kingfishers have disappeared from this stretch of the creek, and sadly have now been absent for almost 2 years.... In recent years, the health of Griffith Creek seems to have improved somewhat, with diminished litter and nice schools of large minnows apparent from all of the road crossings. The City of Homewood has put stenciled notices on the storm sewer covers adjacent to the creek cautioning against putting anything but rain water into the creek. This has not stopped numerous residents from dumping lawn clippings into the creek, which is not only unsightly but adds organic matter to the water during the dry months when oxygenation is sometimes poor. Additionally I have notice lately that one neighbor has apparently decided to help himself to the "free" water by putting a siphon pump in the creek, sometimes plainly visible from the north side of the 1500 block of Roseland Drive. One can imagine what would become of Griffith Creek if everyone did the same. ... Just now, I had a pair of Northern Flickers in the front yard attracted to the sprinkler; this is the first time I've seen them actually in the yard in over a year. Good birding. -Ken Archambault, Homewood Subject: Which Binoculars do you use? From: "tstew12127" <trentstewart AT aol.com> Date: Wed, 01 Jul 2009 06:19:00 -0000 I was looking at some binocs recently as I have grown tired of borrowing. I would be very curious as to the binocs many of you use birding. I am just wondering is there really that much difference in a Vortex Viper 8x42 which seems to be a very nice binoc to me and one I am considering to purchase, and say one of the higher ones like Swarovski 8.5x42 to have such a variance in $$$. So before I take the plunge and buy a pair I was hoping perhaps some of you would share what you have, your experience with them, possibly regrets, or possibly wish you had got them sooner...I will be using mine primarily birding, and for ballgames. Thanks in advance for any info... Subject: Re: looking for Swainson's and Cerulean warblers From: Bert Harris <helmitherosharris AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:31:43 -0700 (PDT) Hi Craig and AL birders, We (Bill McAllister, John Ehinger, my Dad and I) found two Cerulean Warblers last Saturday along the upper Sinks Trail in Monte Sano State Park, Huntsville. The spot, near cabins 4 and 5, is best accessed by parking at the biker's parking lot. On Friday we heard a singing Black-throated Green Warbler in much the same area. Both of these species will be interesting breeding records if confirmed. Greg Jackson tells me that Cerulean has not been reported breeding on Monte Sano since 1960 and there are no records of breeding Black-throated Green in Madison County. So any follow-up would be great! PLEASE DO NOT USE TAPES though as this could potentially jeopardize breeding success of this Vulnerable species. Cheers, Bert ________________________________ From: littekenc To: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Sunday, June 28, 2009 6:34:27 AM Subject: [ALBIRDS] looking for Swainson's and Cerulean warblers Hello Albirds - I'll be returning from a family vacation up north next weekend and will have an opportunity to do some birding on my way back south through AL. With that in mind, I was wondering if anyone could point me to some reliable locations for Swainson's and Cerulean warblers. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your help! Craig Litteken Daphne, AL __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: June 30, 2009 Update For Anniston From: "numberonebirder" <DMCKEN9341 AT AOL.COM> Date: Wed, 01 Jul 2009 02:14:56 -0000 Hello AlBirders, Today I saw 3 Northern Flickers. Two were definitely adults and the other one looked like the juvenile male that I saw the other day at the pond. They looked as if they were playing but I think the parents were wanting junior to leave. A couple of months ago I did see the adult Northern Flickers mating on an Oak tree branch in my yard. I am not sure if they nested here or not and I already have Red-bellied Woodpeckers that always nest here. Too much competition my yard as I also have two to three Downy Woodpecker pairs nesting here too. A pair of Pileated nested in a tree in my neighbor yard a couple of times too. I hope to stay outside longer tomorrow and this time I think I will set up my camcorder. I have more reach with the camcorder than with my camera. If I am lucky I might get the Flickers on video! I also saw a Wood Thrush at our pond. My husband started tossing wax worm toward it and it ate at least 15! I thought it was never going to get full. It finally had enough and took a bath and flew away. The other bird I saw today was the Great Crested Flycatcher. Debbie (BirdLady) Subject: Re-Posting Birds West of Grant From: "Eve" <esweat1 AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:59:50 -0000 Being new to the south I am trying to determine the more common birds compared to the more notable, so I thought I'd drop a line and see what the experts say. Up north in NY state I was "famous" for the Clay-colored Sparrows that were breeding on my property for the last 7 years I was there. So here is a list of birds that I am excited about but they could just be "old hat" you all of you. I heard a Bobwhite on June 8 and again on the 9th. I was very excited to see a male and female Blue Grosbeak on June 9. Since I arrived in April I've been thrilled to hear the Chuck-Will's Widow in my woods every night, but the last two nights the Katydid's are so loud I think they scared them off! Regularly I hear and or see Yellow-billed Cuckoos, Summer Tanager, (I saw one Scarlet Tanager on June1) Wood Pewee, Red-headed Woodpecker, Red-bellied WP, Pileated WP, RT hummingbirds, Great-crested Flycatcher. And all the usual Titmouse, Mourning Dove, C. Chickadee and C. Wren (which replace my Black-capped Chickadee and House Wren from up north), Goldfinch etc. I live in the middle of the woods about 900 feet from the road. The road has about a two acre field where I heard the Bobwhite. Also down there I hear or see, Bluebirds, Towhee, Indigo Buntings, Mockingbirds, Chipping Sparrows and more. There are still a number of birds in the woods I hear and don't know. That's the hardest part, but fun. I knew every bird on my old property (up to 70 species), so it's like starting all over again. If anyone thinks there is something I should be looking for that would be exciting drop me a line. I will listen to the Peterson CD to get familiar with it and see if I can find it. I'm enjoying this group and am learning a lot from all of you already. Thanks! Eve Subject: Re: Sand Hill Cranes From: Chazz Hesselein <chazz AT hesselein.com> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 07:45:11 -0500 David, The Mississippi coast population of Sand Hill Cranes is a distinct, endangered, population of San Hill Cranes that are year-round residents. See: http://www.fws.gov/mississippisandhillcrane/mssandhillcranes.html for more information. I've seen them once flying over Hwy 10 on a drive to New Orleans. Quite a sight! Definitely a, "Keep your eyes on the road," birding moment. Chazz Hesselein Mobile, AL especiallyforcarrie wrote: > > > About 5 miles into Mississippi this morning I saw two Sand Hill Cranes > walking alongside the interstate. These are the first I have seen > since living in southwest Florida. I know there is a Sand Hill Crane > refuge in that area, but I thought it was a winter residence? Whats > the story? > > David Dortch > Fairhope AL > Subject: Birds east of Grant on the Mountain From: "Eve" <esweat1 AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 10:51:29 -0000 Being new to the south I am trying to determine the more common birds compared to the more notable, so I thought I'd drop a line and see what the experts say. Up north in NY state I was "famous" for the Clay-colored Sparrows that were breeding on my property for the last 7 years I was there. So here is a list of birds that I am excited about but they could just be "old hat" you all of you. I heard a Bobwhite on June 8 and again on the 9th. I was very excited to see a male and female Blue Grosbeak on June 9. Since I arrived in April I've been thrilled to hear the Chuck-Will's Widow in my woods every night, but the last two nights the Katydid's are so loud I think they scared them off! Regularly I hear and or see Yellow-billed Cuckoos, Summer Tanager, (I saw one Scarlet Tanager on June1) Wood Pewee, Red-headed Woodpecker, Red-bellied WP, Pileated WP, RT hummingbirds, Great-crested Flycatcher. And all the usual Titmouse, Mourning Dove, C. Chickadee and C. Wren (which replace my Black-capped Chickadee and House Wren from up north), Goldfinch etc. I live in the middle of the woods about 900 feet from the road. The road has about a two acre field where I heard the Bobwhite. Also down there I hear or see, Bluebirds, Towhee, Indigo Buntings, Mockingbirds, Chipping Sparrows and more. There are still a number of birds in the woods I hear and don't know. That's the hardest part, but fun. I knew every bird on my old property (up to 70 species), so it's like starting all over again. If anyone thinks there is something I should be looking for that would be exciting drop me a line. I will listen to the Peterson CD to get familiar with it and see if I can find it. I'm enjoying this group and am learning a lot from all of you already. Thanks! Subject: Sand Hill Cranes From: "especiallyforcarrie" <especiallyforcarrie AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 02:52:59 -0000 About 5 miles into Mississippi this morning I saw two Sand Hill Cranes walking alongside the interstate. These are the first I have seen since living in southwest Florida. I know there is a Sand Hill Crane refuge in that area, but I thought it was a winter residence? Whats the story? David Dortch Fairhope AL Subject: Re: Purple Martins gathering From: "Jon and Dawn Yoder" <jeyoder AT frontiernet.net> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:44:09 -0500 So now I know where my purple martin birds are--most of them have fledged, and it is mighty lonesome with only a few birds around at night. I have heard in the past of a purple martin roost over at the Jefferson-Smurfit plant in Brewton, but I don't know if has been there the past couple of years. Maybe someone from the Brewton area can comment on that Jon and Dawn Yoder Atmore, AL 36502 Escambia County [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Just wanted to tell some one what I saw yesterday at my pond. From: "numberonebirder" <DMCKEN9341 AT AOL.COM> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:09:03 -0000 Hello AlBirders, Yesterday I sat at our pond to see what might show up. I heard a Pileated and a Red-bellied Woodpecker. I thought maybe one of them might come down to the pond. Wishful thinking on my part. Just after a minute or two of thinking that one might show up, a woodpecker came to the pond. Now. guess which one? Did you guess yet? Well, it was a juvenile male Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted form). It had a brief conflict with a Brown Thrasher and after taking several drinks it took a bath. This makes the second time I saw a Northern Flicker at our pond. Debbie (BirdLady) Subject: PUMA Gathering From: "John Porter" <dibirder AT centurytel.net> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:18:08 -0500 Yesterday at dusk there was a great gathering of PUMA along the road to the DI airport... the wire was full and seemingly thousands feeding on the wing... seems a little early! John F. Porter Jr. Executive Director Dauphin Island Bird Sanctuaries, Inc. PO Box 1295 Dauphin Island, AL 36528 We did not inherit the earth from our ancestors, We hold it in trust for future generations ---------- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.339 / Virus Database: 270.12.90/2198 - Release Date: 06/23/09 17:54:00 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: RE: Osprey on Guntersville Lake From: "marklaroux AT yahoo.com" <marklaroux@yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 09:58:53 -0700 (PDT) Jerry, are you counting the one above Henryville cemetary on the cell tower? Intersection of 431 and 79. one young flying and one close. I have a pic on birdforum.net. Mark LaRoux Jerry Green wrote: > I have been to Guntersville Lake three times in the last week to fish and photograph the Osprey. We have seen four active nests between Mink Creek and Preston Island. One has two juveniles about ready to fly, one has a juvenile that is flying and two appear to still be setting on eggs. Including the juveniles we saw seventeen Osprey in that area. Upstream from the Guntersville bridge on the red chanel marker there are three juveniles, one was flying. We saw seven Osprey in that area. I have posted photos in my "Osprey" gallery AT http://gofish. smugmug.com/ > I have been fishing and photographing in this area for a long time and have never seen so many Osprey. > Jerry Green > Subject: Osprey on Guntersville Lake From: "Jerry Green" <gofish80 AT comcast.net> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:26:02 -0000 I have been to Guntersville Lake three times in the last week to fish and photograph the Osprey. We have seen four active nests between Mink Creek and Preston Island. One has two juveniles about ready to fly, one has a juvenile that is flying and two appear to still be setting on eggs. Including the juveniles we saw seventeen Osprey in that area. Upstream from the Guntersville bridge on the red chanel marker there are three juveniles, one was flying. We saw seven Osprey in that area. I have posted photos in my "Osprey" gallery AT http://gofish.smugmug.com/ I have been fishing and photographing in this area for a long time and have never seen so many Osprey. Jerry Green Subject: New Hummers In Clay, Alabama From: RubyThroat AT aol.com Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 06:32:11 EDT Good Morning Guys For those in our midst that love hummers, THE BABIES ARE OUT OF THE NESTS! Yesterday Martha and I noticed two young birds among our breeding population of banded and color-marked adults. We decided to try to capture and band them. To our very pleasant surprise we were successful in banding 13 recently fledged Ruby-throated and three unbanded adults. Two of the three adults were heavily molting, indicating (in my opinion) that these birds had completed the breeding season and were already migrating southward or dispersing after breeding. In addition to these new birds banded we recaptured a dozen or so banded and color-marked adults. This technique gives us the opportunity to document how long individual birds stay at this location during the breeding season. It is my belief that despite the late cold snap in April of this year, this is going to be another great crop of young hummers in our immediate area. This many young birds documented is a perhaps a week or so earlier than we have grown to expect. May I suggest that you be on the lookout for slender-looking hummers with pristine white tips on some of their tail feathers and buffy feather edgings on their nape and back of the crown. These are immature birds that recently fledged. Finally, while picking blackberries on our place, we had two adult female Ruby-throated hummingbirds gleaning insects in the jungle of fruit-filled black-berry vines. These two color-marked local birds were great company as we tried to beat the heat just after daylight. Blackberry Pie.....Yummy! Have much fun today guys. Bob and Martha Sargent Clay, Jefferson County, Alabama **************An Excellent Credit Score is 750. See Yours in Just 2 Easy Steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1221323006x1201367222/aol?redir=http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072&hmpgID=62&bcd=Jun eExcfooterNO62) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: looking for Swainson's and Cerulean warblers From: "littekenc" <littekenc AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 21:04:27 -0000 Hello Albirds - I'll be returning from a family vacation up north next weekend and will have an opportunity to do some birding on my way back south through AL. With that in mind, I was wondering if anyone could point me to some reliable locations for Swainson's and Cerulean warblers. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your help! Craig Litteken Daphne, AL Subject: Anniston Update For June 25, 2009 From: "numberonebirder" <DMCKEN9341 AT AOL.COM> Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 03:22:37 -0000 Hello AlBirders, I double check my record and the date I first saw a Wood Thrush was June 7, of this year. There are two in my yard as of today. A couple of days ago I observed one picking up a wet leave at the pond and fly off with it and the other W. Thrush followed right behind it. They may be nesting close to my yard. Today my husband saw what he think was an Orchard Oriole. Today we saw one of the E. Bluebirds babies from the second brood. Debbie (BirdLady) Subject: Trip Report: Alabama deepwater pelagic, June 20, 2009 From: Swmavocet AT aol.com Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:57:32 -0400 Dawn last Saturday rose to find 15 intrepid pelagic birders heading south at 17+ knots out of Orange Beach (Alabama) targeting the deepwater area off our state's?continental shelf.? Despite oppressive temperatures and a poor forecast for encountering blue-water, cooperative seas (1-2 ft) and a fast boat allowed us to reach the locations we wanted to and have an enjoyable trip. By around 9:00 we had passed the 100 fathom (600 ft) curve and at 10:11 found our first, true pelagic species in 700 fathom (4,200 ft) waters:? one BAND-RUMPED STORM-PETREL and one STORM-PETREL "SPECIES."??? After slowing the boat to almost a stop and laying out a thicker fish oil slick and other chewables, we managed to attract five more storm-petrels close to the boat for definitive looks and photos:? 4 BAND-RUMPED and 1 WILSON'S.? Continuing on we turned northwest to the large Petronius production platform to check the outrigger bouys for resting seabirds.? Surprisingly, the bouys were gone - I later found out they had been removed four years ago.? Oh well.? This sidetrip was not in vain, however, as the mate soon spotted one (or more!) feeding tuna schools.? Several dolphins (the mammal) were also observed in the surface action and a single STORM-PETREL "SPECIES" was seen to be feeding in the distance as well.? Two MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRDS floated effortlessly in the wind over and near the platform.? Later we ran over to some soaring white birds only to find 4 SANDWICH TERNS (location ~62 nautical miles from shore!). Our maximum offshore distance was around 73 nm (900 fathom waters). I found the trip noteworthy in many respects not the least of which was the relative lack of Black Terns and the total absence of pelagic terns. I will gladly share the full trip list and Google Earth path plot with anyone who requests them. Steve McConnell Hartselle, AL swmavocet AT aol.com p.s.? A similar trip sometime between mid-August and early-September is being considered.? If you are interested please drop me a line to my personal email address above. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Talladega National Forest (Coleman Lake area) 6/23/09 From: "Ken" <kenhblankenship AT comcast.net> Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 22:43:53 -0000 No luck on the Red Crossbill search today - maybe next time. If anyone birds this location regularly, and you are able to get a digital recording of the birds calling ("kipping" "jipping" whatever you like) I would be much appreciative if you'd email it to me. I have been in touch with Dr. Bill Summerour (several months back) about the important work he did on this resident population. However, he no longer has copies of the recordings he made of the birds (oddly, they were "lost" to a researcher). Another researcher from Cornell (Matt Young) is co-authoring a short piece with me about the species in the Southeast (primarily in GA), and we are trying to acquire as many recordings of birds as possible in various locations in Alabama and Georgia to help determine "Type." The Talladega population is most likely "Type 2" per earlier studies, but it's not a bad idea to check in on this flock to get more recent evidence. But it is not easy - 1) You have to find those elusive little guys and 2) Trying to get a quality sound recording in the field vs. trapping them is no easy task! Anyway - if you'll indulge my cheesy sense of humor... my crossbill quest today was fruitless but my blueberry picking was quite fruitful ;) Location: Talladega National Forest Shoal Creek District Observation date: 6/23/09 Notes: Birds observed feeding young or carrying food: Pine Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Chipping Sparrow, White-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Chickadee. Was hoping to find and record vocalizations of Red Crossbills today, but no luck - not surprising for such an enigmatic species, even though there is a resident population here! Very impressive habitat management here, reminds me a lot of Piedmont N.W.R. in Jones Co., GA. Northern Bobwhites very vocal, and there seems to be a lot of them. Great work, forest service! Number of species: 46 Northern Bobwhite 8 Turkey Vulture 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Mourning Dove 12 Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1 Red-headed Woodpecker 7 Red-bellied Woodpecker 2 Downy Woodpecker 1 Red-cockaded Woodpecker 2 Northern Flicker 4 Pileated Woodpecker 3 Eastern Wood-Pewee 3 Eastern Phoebe 2 Great Crested Flycatcher 4 White-eyed Vireo 3 Yellow-throated Vireo 5 Blue-headed Vireo 2 Red-eyed Vireo 2 Blue Jay 4 American Crow 12 Carolina Chickadee 8 Tufted Titmouse 3 White-breasted Nuthatch 2 Brown-headed Nuthatch 16 Carolina Wren 4 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 3 Eastern Bluebird 8 American Robin 5 Brown Thrasher 2 Northern Parula 3 Black-throated Green Warbler 1 Yellow-throated Warbler 9 Pine Warbler 7 Prairie Warbler 16 Kentucky Warbler 1 Common Yellowthroat 6 Yellow-breasted Chat 18 Summer Tanager 5 Scarlet Tanager 2 Eastern Towhee 13 Bachman's Sparrow 5 Chipping Sparrow 8 Northern Cardinal 6 Indigo Bunting 22 American Goldfinch 3 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) Ken Blankenship Marietta, GA (Cobb County) http://www.wingsoverga.com Subject: I have added you to my friends network today! From: "matcheimxfriends" <matcheimxfriends AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 07:16:29 -0000 I created this cool friends network and added you to my friends network. Hit-up now: http://ladirae.zoomshare.com/files/girlfriend.htm Subject: Still winter in Canada, and the ducks aren't doing well From: "Lucy and Bob Duncan" <town_point AT bellsouth.net> Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:34:53 -0500 Re-posted from FloridaBirds: Big chill in Churchill Winter grips 90 per cent of north, migratory birds can't breed By: Robert Alison 13/06/2009 1:00 AM | It is the winter that refuses to go away in northern Manitoba and most of the eastern Arctic. Prolonged cold snowy conditions in the Hudson Bay area are expected to obliterate the breeding season for migratory birds and most other species of wildlife this year. According to Environment Canada, the spring of 2009 is record-late in the eastern Arctic with virtually 100 per cent snow cover from James Bay north as of June 11. May temperatures in northern Manitoba were almost four degrees C below the long-term average of -0.7, and in early June, temperatures averaged three degrees below normal. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration images confirm snow and ice blanket all of northern Manitoba, part of northern Ontario and almost all of the eastern Arctic as of June 12. U.S. arieal flight surveys confirm the eastern Arctic has no sign of spring so far. "I have lived in Churchill since the 1950s, and this the latest spring I have ever seen here," said local resident Pat Penwarden. "The spring of 1962 was almost this bad." Six-foot snowdrifts blocked Churchill-area roads. A thick blanket of snow, in places three- and four-feet deep, coated 90 per cent of the local taiga in northern Manitoba. Ecotourists, who normally flock to northern Manitoba every June to see birds and other wildlife, cancelled their plans this June "in droves," according to local ecotourist specialists. Snowy conditions are largely to blame. "It is like a winter landscape," said Ruth Baker, a Michigan tourist who spent June 9 to 12 at Churchill. "I couldn't believe the snowdrifts, like mountains of snow". Researchers confirm that the lateness of the spring of 2009 dooms local birds to a virtually complete reproductive failure. According to Robert Jefferies, professor emeritus of botany at the University of Toronto, the last time there was a late spring in northern Manitoba, in 1983, there was a total reproductive "bust" in lesser snow geese. Most species of birds did not nest at all. Aerial inventories of fall migrant geese from the eastern Arctic that year confirmed 0.005 per cent of the fall population comprised juvenile birds, compared to the normal figure of over 50 per cent. According to Cornell University researchers, currently at Churchill, shorebird nesting is already three-weeks late, and has yet to start. The first Canada goose nests were initiated on June 7, more than one month later than normal, and probably not early enough to allow goslings to mature before the fall migration flight. Canada geese are the first birds to nest in northern Manitoba. Many northern birds require more than 100 days to nest, incubate young and rear offspring to a condition suitable for fall migration. According to Robert Rockwell of The City University of New York, who studies geese in northern Manitoba, if the geese have not begun incubating clutches of eggs before June 11, there is almost no chance that their offspring will be strong enough to endure the long southbound fall flight. In 1983, that was the case, and 1983 was not nearly as late as 2009. Research by Hugh Boyd, scientist emeritus at the Canadian Wildlife Service, states late Arctic springs reduce northern waterfowl production by up to 90 per cent, with very late springs having a devastating impact. According to Vern Thomas, a University of Guelph researcher, record-late springs produce "reproductive failures" in northern geese. "These late springs generate reproductive busts," confirmed Joe Jehl, who has studied birds in northern Manitoba since the late 1960s and recently retired from the Smithsonian Institution. Studies at Churchill show that in late springs, female birds delay nesting, and rather than starve for lack of food, they re-absorb already-formed eggs to benefit from their nutritional content. Nesting often does not occur under those conditions. In 2004, a late spring caused many northern Manitoba migratory birds to abandon nesting efforts and head back south in late June, more than two months early. Recent late springs in the Hudson Bay area have been more frequent than normal: 2004, 2002, 2000 and 1997. According to NOAA scientists, although the Arctic is warming, more frequent annual oscillations in temperature are likely to occur, often resulting in late springs. "Such major oscillations are part of a bumpy ride toward global warming," said Thomas Karl of the National Climate Center. "For awhile at least this will be the shape of things to come." Vegetation is also impacted upon by late Arctic springs, with green-up about three weeks late this year. Consequently, herbivorous animals have delayed breeding "People often confuse climate with weather, and this spring is a weather phenomenon," said an Environment Canada spokesperson. Robert Alison is a Victoria-based wildlife biologist and writer with a PhD in zoology. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Anniston Update June 21, 2009 From: "numberonebirder" <DMCKEN9341 AT AOL.COM> Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 04:08:05 -0000 Hello Birders, About 4 weeks ago we noticed a Raccoon in a hole in one of our Oak tree. I took a few pictures and watched as she carefully climbed out of the hole in went further up the tree. I did a little researched on the Internet and came to the conclusion that it was a female. Well, Wednesday we watched as she climbed out of the hole with 3 little ones following closely. On Thursday we again saw her and her three babies. What a site to see in my backyard. This was the first time that I have seen a Raccoon other than at a zoo. On June 4, I saw a male Indigo Bunting that looked like it was still molting. It was blue but had a lot of gray on it as well. It appeared to be an adult male. It could be a late migrant but I am not sure. About a week after seeing the Indigo Bunting, I seen a Wood Thrush at our pond. I am not sure if a pair nested in my yard or not as I am not familiar with this species. Well, Saturday and today I seen two Wood Thrush. One is apparently an adult as it was sightly bigger and had a longer tail. The other one seems a little smaller with a shorter tail. I also had what looked like a female Indigo Bunting at the pond. She took three short bath and flew to a branch to dry off. I know it was an Indigo Bunting by the way it moved and looked. It was brown all over except for blue-tinged feathers on it wing. The upper bill was a brown to blackish color with the lower mandible being pale. It also had faint buff wingbars. I could easily see it as I was looking at it through my binocular. Why the two Indigo Buntings were in my yard I may never know as this had never happen in the month of June. Subject: Dauphin Island Copperhead From: "especiallyforcarrie" <especiallyforcarrie AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 15:13:51 -0000 Yesterday at our home on Dauphin Island, I walked from the carport around the side of the house to the water spigot. A distance of less than 15 feet. I turned around, took two steps, and saw a Copperhead Snake, right in front of me, crossing lazily from the house to the empty lot next door. Carrie was on the porch, and when she looked down and saw the snake she commented that I must have stepped right over it when I had just walked through there. That gave me pause, and I realized that I really need to cut the grass. In spite of seeing perhaps 2 dozen Cottonmouth snakes since moving here 8 years ago, this was only the second Copperhead I have seen. An amazingly beautiful snake. In addition there was an 18 inch Glass Snake (Glass Lizard if it suits you), only about three feet from the Copperheads tail. I wondered if the Copperhead might have been hunting the Glass Snake before I disturbed him. Carrie and I then ran the Bluebird Trail at the Golf Course and were very pleased to find that in spite of a noticeable drop in nesting activity, we still had 2 nests with new eggs, and 3 nests with multiple fledglings. It is also worth noting that we have not yet seen a single Brownheaded Cowbird egg this season. We were amazed to see that there are already hundreds of Purple Martins gathering in the maritime pines at the Golf Course. We have been seeing scores of Martins around our gourds in the evening, but nothing like the numbers at the golf course. During a chat with the Islands mayor, who is also the pro at the golf course, we were told that there is a pair of Red Foxes that has denned at the golf course and raised 4 young this summer. Undoubtedly one of the parents is the individual reported previously behind Ft. Gaines. Hopefully these beauties will not be "harvested" by the island neanderthals over the winter! David Dortch Fairhope AL Subject: Escambia County: Orphaned Bird From: Elise Edwards <elise12 AT bellsouth.net> Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 21:59:56 -0700 (PDT) http://www.northescambia.com/?p=8878 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: White Hall: Tree Swallows and Anhinga From: "Larry Gardella" <tapaculo AT knology.net> Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 12:54:21 -0500 For the second straight week, I did not see the adult male Tree Swallow, but saw the adult female and a juvenile-plumaged bird. Last week, one of them went to the nest briefly. This week, the female was perched for awhile on a wire and flew off when the young bird flew past. So, I see no sign of more than one Tree Swallow fledging from the nest in the snag at White Hall. In front of that snag today there was one male American Anhinga perched on a smaller snag. Larry Gardella Montgomery, AL [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: black belt birds From: "Barry Fleming" <warbler AT charter.net> Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 09:14:01 -0600 Friends, Doing a Summer Bird Count last Saturday, 12 June, just north of Gees Bend, it started to rain hard about 9:30. It was a good morning up till then; 60 species, 9 individual owls, kites and anhingas. My choices then included visiting some old quilter friends, which would have included a lot of hugging and story-telling. I enjoy both. But, I decided to ramble through stork country. I bought eight dollars of spicy hot mud bugs under the drive through of a defunct gas station in Uniontown and started to roam. I saw 6 stork 10 miles south of Orrville in Dallas County, 48 at the junction of CR 21 and HY 5 in Dallas County and 265 between Faunsdale and Sledge in Hale County. On the way home, with about four dollars of mud buds left, I saw 2 stork off interstate 85 in Macon County. A week before, in the good company of Lorna West, Katie Lamar Jackson and Dr. Kevin Jackson, we had 5 birds 2 miles south of Little Texas and 2 birds 1 miles south of Society Hill, both in Macon County. So, these birds move through the east coastal plain as well, just not nearly as many. A nice male Scissor-tailed Flycatcher was at the junction of CR 21 and HY 5 about 6 miles north of Safford. Dickcissels were there too. Our own Eric Soehren did a great job of describing the Breeding Bird Surveys recently on Troy's Public Radio station. Maybe you can go there and twitter it up and hear it for yourself. Way to go Eric. I made it home with three dollars of bugs left and made a nice bug and scallop gumbo and then slept like a baby. PS. Garden and Gun magazine just did a very cool story on HY 25, David Dortch's 'short cut'. But, I could have shown David a short cut to Auburn. HY 51 is real nice. But, I hear that other university is acceptable as well. Sideways smiley face. Barry Fleming Opelika, Alabama [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Mississippi Kites From: "David and Carrie" <downbythebay AT bellsouth.net> Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:53:11 -0000 I took my youngest and his best friend to Tuscaloosa on Monday to register for the fall term at UA. It was my first visit. On the way home today, his friend showed me a "short cut" through a part of the "black belt" that runs directly south from Tuscaloosa all the way to Creola, just north of Mobile. The area had many many very large catfish ponds. I saw many Wood Storks on the way south along these ponds. The first I had ever seen in Alabama. A little further south there were two Swallow-tailed Kites soaring over the road. I bet this area is great during migration? David Dortch Fairhope AL Subject: Mississippi kites in Tuscaloosa From: "Dr. David Campbell" <amblema AT bama.ua.edu> Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:44:42 -0500 I saw a Mississippi Kite late Sunday afternoon at the Breckenridge apartment complex (across University Blvd and the train tracks from the arboretum) and one this morning on the UA campus near Marrs Spring. There also seems to be likely nest activity by Coopers Hawks in both areas. -- Dr. David Campbell 425 Scientific Collections Building Department of Biological Sciences Biodiversity and Systematics University of Alabama, Box 870345 Tuscaloosa AL 35487-0345 USA Subject: RFI: Talladega National Forest RED CROSSBILLS From: "Ken" <kenhblankenship AT comcast.net> Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:11:39 -0000 Hello, Alabama birders. I am working with Cornell University researcher Matt Young on an investigation into RED CROSSBILLS in their southern-most known populations in eastern North America - namely, in Georgia and Alabama. I am trying to acquire audio recordings of as many birds as possible for the express purpose of determining call "Type" in these populations to see if any patterns turn up. I have read Bill Summerour's paper in Alabama Birdlife in 2000 about the resident flock in the Talladega National Forest. I have also seen many posts related to this flock in subsequent years. I am planning to visit this area in the near future to try to locate as many Red Crossbills as I can, and (hopefully) get some audio recordings of the birds. I will NOT be using playback or any other method of detection that might upset the birds, I will simply be hiking around hoping to encounter them and trying to record their flight calls using a small digital device. If anyone can provide me with as much up-to-date information as possible on these birds, and email me off-list, I would greatly appreciate it. Sure, I can use information available in previous posts but I am hoping someone has more recent, specific information about where the birds may be easiest to find, if they are nesting at this time, etc. Thank you in advance, Ken Blankenship kenhblankenship AT comcast.net (note the "H" in my email!) Subject: Straggling White-rumped From: "Greg D. Jackson" <g_d_jackson AT bellsouth.net> Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 22:25:42 -0600 AL Birders: After being thwarted on my first scouting run by engine problems, Debi and I were able to get out this morning and finish scouting an area for the St. Clair County SBC. It's a pretty beat-up quad, and access was tough -- haven't seen that many locked gates and "Posted" signs in a while. Doing the count will definitely be a challenge! After scouting, we ran by the "mudhole" near Pell City. Lots of large waders were around, including many Little Blue Herons. Other than Killdeer, the only shorebird was a lone White-rumped Sandpiper, always a pleasure to see. This is a late season migrant, but this individual was the latest ever for the Mountain Region. We're basically at the lowest point of bird movement of the year, so seeing any migrant is a treat. Greg Greg D. Jackson Birmingham, AL g_d_jackson AT bellsouth.net [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Afternoon birding in east central Alabama From: "tstew12127" <trentstewart AT aol.com> Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 01:30:15 -0000 This is actually my first posting on here. I have been reading for a while, everyone seems extremely friendly. So a big Hello to everyone! I am an experienced herper in fact I just started "birding" recently when I was on a work trip to Corpus Christi, TX for three weeks. While I was there I wanted to herp the area but the birding was just fabulous. I did find and photographed a life snake when I found a Texas Indigo. Anyways, the trip certainly turned me onto birds, having been a closet birder for some years. My best friend another avid herper decided to ride up through the Lincoln, Riverside, Pell City area this afternoon. While in Riverside got to see a Double-Crested Cormorant, Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, 34 Canadian Geese. Onto Pell City Park, was able to see another Great Blue Heron. It was packed with people so we headed back. On the way back through we saw another 10 Canadian Geese in Riverside, and a Cooper's Hawk on a line near the Honda Plant in Lincoln. Subject: Black-neck Stilts From: TNbarredowl AT aol.com Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:45:47 -0400 The pair of stilts on the east side of Marthaler Pond were still attending the nest today.? The female was incubating, the male was feeding nearby.? I did not find the second pair on the west side.? Water levels are still dropping.? West side levels are almost to the point that no mud exists...everything is vegetated.? Several Mallard and a pair of Blue-winged Teal were also present on the east side. At The Sinks, water levels are holding.? No shorebirds (except Killdeer) but 60 Great Egrets were a nice number this early in the summer. Damien Simbeck Killen, AL [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Bankhead NF on Saturday From: "Howard Horne" <hhorne AT earthlink.net> Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:48:24 -0000 Harold, Sounds like you had a great trip to Bankhead NF this weekend. The Sipsey Wilderness area has always been one of my favorite spots in Alabama to visit. Unfortunately, I don't get up to the Northern portions of the state enough. Seeing limestone rocks is always a treat for a lowland coastal birder like myself. The Alabama Breeding Bird Atlas is tremendous resource for learning the distributions of breeding species in the state. It is available online at: http://www.una.edu/faculty/thaggerty/BBA%20website/Index.htm Checking the species map for Black-throated Green Warbler it shows widespread occurrences from the Northern Ecoregions (EPA Level III) of the state comprising the Southwestern Appalachians, Piedmont (northern portions), and Ridge and Valley. Bankhead National Forest falls within the Southwestern Appalachian Ecoregion. You may even be able to locate your visit on the map to see if the species has been specifically recorded in the sampling blocks at that location. Check out the atlas webpage. It is a great resource and took many long and hard hours of field work by many volunteers to produce. Good Birding, Howard Horne Mobile, AL --- In albirds AT yahoogroups.com, Harold Peterson wrote: > > > Hello, this is Harold. Made a first ever visit to Bankhead on Saturday, stopping by the Sipsey Creek Trailhead (trail 200). I was surprised to find Black-throated Green Warblers this far south & away from the Appalachians, but there they were. Also some more typical birds: Cerulean and Hooded Warbler, Ovenbird, Acadian Flycatcher. Reminds me of Baxter's Hollow in southern Wisconsin. Neat area. > > -Harold Peterson > Huntsville, AL > Subject: Bankhead NF on Saturday From: Harold Peterson <pinkfloyd137 AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 08:21:20 -0700 (PDT) Hello, this is Harold. Made a first ever visit to Bankhead on Saturday, stopping by the Sipsey Creek Trailhead (trail 200). I was surprised to find Black-throated Green Warblers this far south & away from the Appalachians, but there they were. Also some more typical birds: Cerulean and Hooded Warbler, Ovenbird, Acadian Flycatcher. Reminds me of Baxter's Hollow in southern Wisconsin. Neat area. -Harold Peterson Huntsville, AL Subject: Coast trip report, Sat June 13 From: Swmavocet AT aol.com Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 08:10:47 -0400 A quick trip to the coast yesterday resulted in these sightings: *male WILSON'S PLOVER (posing for photo), DI airport * 2 BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCKS, Blakeley Island pond 4 (bills VERY pink, could some breeding be going on?) * a GLOSSY IBIS in the large ditch just south of pond 4 (also Blakeley) * male PAINTED BUNTING (Blakeley) * around 50 WOOD STORKS in Dallas County on AL 5,? 3.5 miles south of US 80 (catfish farm across road from small church) Steve McConnell Hartselle, AL [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: First Young Ruby-throated From: RubyThroat AT aol.com Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2009 11:41:44 EDT Albirders This morning between storms, we spotted our first immature Ruby-throated Hummingbird of this spring season. This is about one week earlier than the first one we notice. This individual was a young female. If you are wondering how to separate a young female from an adult female, here are a couple of tips that allow you to do so in the field or at your feeders. 1. All young birds will have buffy feather edgings on all the feathers on the back of the crown and on the feathers of the nape. It is very noticeable when viewing with binoculars, or with the naked eye at close range. 2. The underparts will be mostly pristine white. The outside tail feathers of young females have fresh and UNWORN white tips. Adult females this time of year will almost always have badly stained and worn (sometimes broken) tips on these outside three rectrices on both sides. The wings feathers on immature males and females will lack any brown shafts on the primaries and secondaries. Note...immature male Ruby-throated are much larger than they will be as adults. As immature birds the wings are quite a bit longer and the bill will appear and measure much longer than that of an adult male. The softer wing sounds of immature hummers is noticeable with practice. Also, young males will almost always have some very noticeable stippling (stripes on the neck). Soon after hatching, young males will usually have one or more "red dots" in the throat, usually in the lower-central part of the throat. This concludes this session of Hummers 101. More at the next meeting of those addicted to hummingbirds. Bob Sargent Clay, Alabama **************Download the AOL Classifieds Toolbar for local deals at your fingertips. (http://toolbar.aol.com/aolclassifieds/download.html?ncid=emlcntusdown00000004) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Another Report on Rabbit Road From: RubyThroat AT aol.com Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2009 11:23:15 EDT Morning Guys Larry, for what it is worth Martha and I have found several Lark Sparrow nests over the years (in Texas). All were located on the ground at the base of small shrubs or sometimes cactus plants. The nest were all very well made and very difficult recognize as nests. If you are searching for the nest, watch for any visits to the base of shrubs or bushes. In Texas the nests are found in places where Western Diamondbacks are often found when they must find some shade. Nice report. Bob Sargent Clay, Alabama In a message dated 6/13/2009 10:05:25 A.M. Central Daylight Time, tapaculo AT knology.net writes: This morning, I was able to re-find the pair of Lark Sparrows at Rabbit Road and watch one carrying a large dark insect and then later a large green insect. The second time, the bird flew up next to the one without food. It flew out into the field and returned with the same green insect. Shortly afterwards, both of the birds flew across the field at a right angle from the original path and landed not far from the ground near a telephone pole between the bend in Rabbit Road and Well Road. In addition, I saw four immature White Ibis fly over the field. Larry Gardella Montgomery, AL **************Download the AOL Classifieds Toolbar for local deals at your fingertips. (http://toolbar.aol.com/aolclassifieds/download.html?ncid=emlcntusdown00000004) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Another Report on Rabbit Road From: "Larry Gardella" <tapaculo AT knology.net> Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2009 10:04:49 -0500 This morning, I was able to re-find the pair of Lark Sparrows at Rabbit Road and watch one carrying a large dark insect and then later a large green insect. The second time, the bird flew up next to the one without food. It flew out into the field and returned with the same green insect. Shortly afterwards, both of the birds flew across the field at a right angle from the original path and landed not far from the ground near a telephone pole between the bend in Rabbit Road and Well Road. In addition, I saw four immature White Ibis fly over the field. Larry Gardella Montgomery, AL [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: scissor tail From: Milton Harris <miltonmzee AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2009 06:58:46 -0700 (PDT) Friday morning I saw a beautiful scissor-tailed flycatcher on the fence at the Madison County Executive Airport in Meridianville (north of Huntsville).�� This is a few miles from the A&M farm so�I expect this bird is part of a separate breeding pair. � Milton � [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Cat Birds From: "edieheine" <edieheine AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:35:26 -0000 The Cat Birds are all over Tuscaloosa. I've never seen and heard so many. Subject: Odenville BBS From: RubyThroat AT aol.com Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:12:31 EDT Albirders Martha Sargent and ran our BBS route Sunday morning. It was a Sunday filled with good birds and a few very pleasant surprises. The best bird (I should say birds) were Wood Thrushes. From the first 5:05 AM stop we were literally snowed under with these sometime hard to find singers. At our very first stop we found ourselves parked in the middle of a chorus of many very near the Sportsman Lake location. Also at that same three-minute location we had Chucks and one Whip on the ground barely a arms length away on the ground. Later on the Washington Valley road we had two (almost certainly a mated pair) Loggerhead Shrikes. This area produced many in past years, but almost never anymore. Pleasantly surprising were two tree swallows flying and foraging in formation at the bridge over Canoe Creek. At that same stop we also had a lovely Black-throated Green Warbler. This beauty is uncommon for us anywhere except in migration. I think this bird is a breeding bird, but no proof was noted. Don't you just love birding is summer? We ended the day on the mountain near Horse Pens Forty with two singing Scarlet Tanagers. Life is fine. Have fun today guys. Bob and Martha Sargent Clay, Alabama **************Download the AOL Classifieds Toolbar for local deals at your fingertips. (http://toolbar.aol.com/aolclassifieds/download.html?ncid=emlcntusdown00000004) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Clever poem From: Chazz Hesselein <chazz AT hesselein.com> Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2009 11:11:12 -0500 Dear All, A native Californian, I try to keep up with some of the goings-on in the "Golden State" through friends, relatives, news reports and birding listserves. Through the Calbirds listserv this week I learned of the death of a well-known (though not by me) CA birder, Luke Cole. Luke Cole sounded like a genuine mensch birder with many outstanding talents and a great sense of humor. Among the memorials was a link to a poem that Luke had posted to the Calbirds listserv in 2000. Those who have ever unsuccessfully chased a rare bird will find this poem particularly meaningful (humorous): http://www.lukecole.com/Birds/Smew.htm Good Birding All! Chazz Hesselein Mobile, AL Subject: Leighton shorebirds and dickcissels From: miltonmzee AT yahoo.com Date: Tue, 9 Jun 2009 17:14:52 -0700 (PDT) My son Bert and I visited the Marthaler sinks today (Tuesday) and as Damien has noted the stilts are still in residence.� At the Sinks on 6th we saw 5 white-rumped and one Baird's sandpiper.� Also noteworthy in our minds is the large number of dickcissels this� year.� They are all around Leighton and the Brown's Ferry nuclear plant (e.g., Friends Road).� I know they had disappeared from the nuclear plant area for a few years but are now common.� We also saw Tree Swallows nesting in martin houses at Poplar Creek. � Milton � � [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Black-necked Stilt update From: TNbarredowl AT aol.com Date: Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:25:35 -0400 Floyd Sherrod and I visited Marthaler Pond and The Sinks Sunday afternoon (06/07).? At Marthaler, the Black-necked Stilt nest on the east side of the road was still active and incubating.? Mother was tending the nest when we arrived, but father flew in and we got to watch the "changing of the guards".? Water levels are dropping fast, but I believe the east side should stay wet enough to feed babies once they hatch.? The west side nest may be abandoned.? The entire southern end of the pond is now dry, including the nest site.? A pair of stilts were found on the west side, but they were on the western most edge, about 200 meters north of the nest site.? We saw no nesting behaviors in that area.? A large peep, probably a White-rumped Sandpiper, was also present (distance and haze prevented an identifiable view).? At The Sinks, water levels are also receding, but I still think there will be some mud for fall migration.? Spring migration has not completely ended, as 4 White-rumped Sandpipers were found along the western edge of the northern pond (along Sixth Street). Damien Simbeck Killen, AL [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Alabama Birding Trails From: "j.ninesling" <j.ninesling AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 09 Jun 2009 19:18:00 -0000 I am in Tallapoosa County Alabama. We are part of the network helping to form one of the six new birding trails for the State of Alabama. I would like to talk to any of you who have knowledge of birding 'hot-spots' in any of the following counties: Autauga, Chambers, Chilton, Clay, Coosa, Elmore, Lee, Randolph and Tallapoosa. This information will be used to help us select the best sites to include on our portion of the statewide trail. Thanks for the help. Subject: Re: Hit ABC Show Casting Birding Enthusiast Families For Prime Time From: David And Carrie Dortch <downbythebay AT bellsouth.net> Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 13:08:46 -0700 (PDT) Okay, I nominate Chazz and his family for this but Howard has to be included as someones favorite uncle! David Sent from my iPhone On Jun 8, 2009, at 11:51 AM, "Danielle" wrote: ABC’s WIFE SWAP IS CASTING BIRDING ENTHUSIAST FAMILIES FOR PRIMETIME! ABC’s prime time series “Wife Swap” is currently casting its fifth season and looking for unique families with plenty of personality to take part in the show. Specifically, we're looking for families who are passionate about birding! If yours is a unique, out-going family who loves studying, calling and/or watching birds together as a family, we want to hear from you! Families who participate in this documentary-style program are given a unique opportunity to share their beliefs and lifestyles with another family. It is truly a once in a lifetime experience that can be life-changing for everyone. Please feel free to pass this posting along to any families who are interested in learning more! Each week on Wife Swap, the mothers from two families with different values and belief systems will exchange lives. It’s an amazing family experience and opportunity to learn how others lead their lives. Half of the week, mom lives the life of the family she is staying with. After making her observations, she introduces several "rule changes," where she implements rules and activities that are important to her family. It's a positive experience for people to not only learn but teach about other families and other ways of life. Wife Swap airs on Disney owned ABC television on Fridays at 8 pm- the family hour! If you are a two-parent family with at least one child over the age of 5 living at home, and you think your family would make terrific TV, contact us to be a part of this groundbreaking show! To apply or get information about the show Please contact: Danielle Gervais (Casting Producer) Call: 646-747-7956 Email: Casting.DanielleGervais AT gmail.com or Danielle.Gervais AT castingrdf.com SERIOUS INQUIRIES ONLY PLEASE [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Vina BBS results, Marion/Franklin Counties (NW Alabama), June 7 From: Swmavocet AT aol.com Date: Mon, 08 Jun 2009 15:39:04 -0400 Al-Birders, What terrific weather Sunday to run a breeding bird survey (BBS)!? It seems more times than not in recent years I've found myself eyeing the clouds and rain trying to fit the count in-between. During the pre-dawn trip west, I crossed paths with a BARN OWL flying over?AL 157 about two miles north of the AL 36 intersection (Lawrence County).? The BBS results: *71 total species (about normal) *2 new count species (GREAT EGRET and TREE SWALLOW) *Nice-to-find species:? SWAINSON'S WARBLER (only 2nd time in 14 years); singing from a thicket near Little Bear Creek just west of the AL 247 & 23 intersection (Franklin Co) *Notable 1-year "trends":?? highest NOR. BOBWHITE count in six yrs (please continue!);? unusual lows for both vultures (vegetation growth has obscured view of their roost sites);? highest RED-EYED VIREO, MOURNING DOVE, NOR. PARULA,?and NOR. MOCKINGBIRD totals ever;? lowest WHITE-EYED VIREO count in 11 yrs;?? and lowest EAST. BLUEBIRD total ever. Only time will tell if these trends mean anything. After completing the route I zig-zagged over to Cedar Creek reservoir to make a scan.? Only a hunting OSPREY was unusual. Bird well, Steve McConnell Hartselle, AL [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Hit ABC Show Casting Birding Enthusiast Families For Prime Time From: "Danielle" <casting.daniellegervais AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:51:51 -0000 ABC’s WIFE SWAP IS CASTING BIRDING ENTHUSIAST FAMILIES FOR PRIMETIME! ABC’s prime time series “Wife Swap” is currently casting its fifth season and looking for unique families with plenty of personality to take part in the show. Specifically, we're looking for families who are passionate about birding! If yours is a unique, out-going family who loves studying, calling and/or watching birds together as a family, we want to hear from you! Families who participate in this documentary-style program are given a unique opportunity to share their beliefs and lifestyles with another family. It is truly a once in a lifetime experience that can be life-changing for everyone. Please feel free to pass this posting along to any families who are interested in learning more! Each week on Wife Swap, the mothers from two families with different values and belief systems will exchange lives. It’s an amazing family experience and opportunity to learn how others lead their lives. Half of the week, mom lives the life of the family she is staying with. After making her observations, she introduces several "rule changes," where she implements rules and activities that are important to her family. It's a positive experience for people to not only learn but teach about other families and other ways of life. Wife Swap airs on Disney owned ABC television on Fridays at 8 pm- the family hour! If you are a two-parent family with at least one child over the age of 5 living at home, and you think your family would make terrific TV, contact us to be a part of this groundbreaking show! To apply or get information about the show Please contact: Danielle Gervais (Casting Producer) Call: 646-747-7956 Email: Casting.DanielleGervais AT gmail.com or Danielle.Gervais AT castingrdf.com SERIOUS INQUIRIES ONLY PLEASE Subject: Re: Painted Bunting, Autauga County From: "Gregory J. Harber" <gharber AT mindspring.com> Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 08:12:37 -0400 (EDT) Hey Bob et al- Thanks for the advice about sexing Painted Buntings; I know they can be a challenge. When we first saw the bunting, and were debating its identity among ourselves, I remember thinking to myself "if it was just a little more greenish I'd have no trouble calling this a female painted bunting." We ultimately decided that it was greenish enough to call it a painted bunting but didn't try to attach a gender label to the bird. I also remember thinking that it just had the "look" of a young bird. It was feeding on seeds and we'd watch it as it hopped to the top of a plant stalk where the seeds were clustered and then use its weight to bend the stalk to the ground and start feeding once it had pinned the plant to the ground. Take care all, Greg -----Original Message----- >From: RubyThroat AT aol.com >Sent: Jun 8, 2009 6:37 AM >To: gharber AT mindspring.com, albirds AT yahoogroups.com >Subject: Re: [ALBIRDS] Painted Bunting, Autauga County > >Greg and Albirders >A reminder that second year male Painted Buntings are green and unless one >is very familiar with them, they are often mistaken for females. These >green-colored second year males will often sing as do the more showy >after-second-year males. I am not sure if these SY males successfully attract a >mate. In the field, they are nearly impossible to separate from adult >females. > >Our banding crew, especially at our sites in Texas, continue to find sexing > these beauties a time consuming challenge. We net and band many dozens >in south Texas in spring and summer. One of the best locations in the >world to see the full range of these Painted Buntings in all their plumages, >side by side by side, is at the Hummer House near Christoval, Texas just >south of San Angelo. > >Do an Internet Search under Hummer House. The owners, ranchers Dan and >Cathy Brown, have an air conditioned viewing room where one can observe these >and dozens of other species of birds as the feed and bathe in his >cascading water feature. As a bonus, you will also see hundreds (thousands ?) of >Black-chinned Hummingbirds as they feed at hummer feeders and bathe only a >few feet away from your face. Put this outing on your "Bucket List". >By the way, most of the Painted Buntings that we band in spring at our Fort > Morgan site are adult males. > >It is very rare for us to capture and band a Painted Bunting as they >migrate southward in fall. Alas, we continue to learn how little we know about >birds. > >I miss my mentor Dr. Tom Imhof. > >Bob Sargent and Crew >Clay, Alabama > > >In a message dated 6/7/2009 2:31:13 P.M. Central Daylight Time, >gharber AT mindspring.com writes: > > > > > >Hey John et al- > >Two years ago we found an immature bird (newly fledged, likely) along this >road in late July. We had been to see the kites in the morning and were >returning for an afternoon session when we stopped and found it hunkered down >in the grass along the roadside. > > > > > >**************Download the AOL Classifieds Toolbar for local deals at your >fingertips. >(http://toolbar.aol.com/aolclassifieds/download.html?ncid=emlcntusdown00000004) > > >[Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > Gregory J. Harber Birmingham, AL gharber AT mindspring.com "It's never too late to have a happy childhood." Tom Robbins Subject: Re: Painted Bunting, Autauga County From: RubyThroat AT aol.com Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 06:37:21 EDT Greg and Albirders A reminder that second year male Painted Buntings are green and unless one is very familiar with them, they are often mistaken for females. These green-colored second year males will often sing as do the more showy after-second-year males. I am not sure if these SY males successfully attract a mate. In the field, they are nearly impossible to separate from adult females. Our banding crew, especially at our sites in Texas, continue to find sexing these beauties a time consuming challenge. We net and band many dozens in south Texas in spring and summer. One of the best locations in the world to see the full range of these Painted Buntings in all their plumages, side by side by side, is at the Hummer House near Christoval, Texas just south of San Angelo. Do an Internet Search under Hummer House. The owners, ranchers Dan and Cathy Brown, have an air conditioned viewing room where one can observe these and dozens of other species of birds as the feed and bathe in his cascading water feature. As a bonus, you will also see hundreds (thousands ?) of Black-chinned Hummingbirds as they feed at hummer feeders and bathe only a few feet away from your face. Put this outing on your "Bucket List". By the way, most of the Painted Buntings that we band in spring at our Fort Morgan site are adult males. It is very rare for us to capture and band a Painted Bunting as they migrate southward in fall. Alas, we continue to learn how little we know about birds. I miss my mentor Dr. Tom Imhof. Bob Sargent and Crew Clay, Alabama In a message dated 6/7/2009 2:31:13 P.M. Central Daylight Time, gharber AT mindspring.com writes: Hey John et al- Two years ago we found an immature bird (newly fledged, likely) along this road in late July. We had been to see the kites in the morning and were returning for an afternoon session when we stopped and found it hunkered down in the grass along the roadside. **************Download the AOL Classifieds Toolbar for local deals at your fingertips. (http://toolbar.aol.com/aolclassifieds/download.html?ncid=emlcntusdown00000004) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Monk Parrots From: RubyThroat AT aol.com Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 06:16:19 EDT John and Albirding Friends. Dr. Bill Summerour and Martha Sargent investigated this colony back in the early 90's as I recall. In fact we photographed them at the nest on top of a large, pole mounted electrical transformer. I believe Dr. Summerour wrote an article in Alabama Birdlife back then, complete with a photo. The public utility there considered them a major nuisance and a fire hazard. It is my recollection that the supervisors of the utility instructed their employees (linemen) to destroy the VERY large and bulky stick nests. The nests were quite large, perhaps the size of a 35 gallon oil drum or larger. As far as I know the birds are not found nesting there anymore. Take care guys. Bob Sargent Clay, Alabama In a message dated 6/7/2009 1:20:14 P.M. Central Daylight Time, dibirder AT centurytel.net writes: 10-15 years ago there was a flock of Monk Parakeets in Huntsville..10-15 year recall they flocked along the power lines up to Monte Sino... I don't have any written records though... John F. Porter Jr. Executive Director Dauphin Island Bird Sanctuaries, Inc. PO Box 1295 Dauphin Island, AL 36528 **************Download the AOL Classifieds Toolbar for local deals at your fingertips. (http://toolbar.aol.com/aolclassifieds/download.html?ncid=emlcntusdown00000004) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Companies need your input in order to be successful. From: <nmj_mnj AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 7 Jun 2009 23:31:23 +0300 Companies need your input in order to be successful. They need to know what everyday people want in their products, what they prefer, and what will prompt them to buy the products and services the company offers. This is called market research. By providing companies with this information, you are providing them with a valuable service. It gives them an edge on the competition and aids them in the success of their products and services. And You Get Paid for helping Them to Succeed! Click here : http://microsoft-office-live.blogspot.com/2009/05/working-at-home.html Subject: Re: Painted Bunting, Autauga County From: "Gregory J. Harber" <gharber AT mindspring.com> Date: Sun, 7 Jun 2009 15:30:45 -0400 (EDT) Hey John et al- Two years ago we found an immature bird (newly fledged, likely) along this road in late July. We had been to see the kites in the morning and were returning for an afternoon session when we stopped and found it hunkered down in the grass along the roadside. -----Original Message----- >From: john_trent00 >Sent: Jun 7, 2009 2:41 PM >To: albirds AT yahoogroups.com >Subject: [ALBIRDS] Painted Bunting, Autauga County > >This morning I located an adult male Painted Bunting in Autauga County off CR 135 south of Hwy 14 (same general area where the kites usually congregate in the summer). He was singing rather consistently the hour and a half I was there. I didn't see any sign of nesting but more observation is needed. > >coordinates: N 32.420917 W-86.588882 > >John Trent >Montgomery, AL > Gregory J. Harber Birmingham, AL gharber AT mindspring.com "It's never too late to have a happy childhood." Tom Robbins Subject: Painted Bunting, Autauga County From: "john_trent00" <john.a.trent AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 07 Jun 2009 18:41:37 -0000 This morning I located an adult male Painted Bunting in Autauga County off CR 135 south of Hwy 14 (same general area where the kites usually congregate in the summer). He was singing rather consistently the hour and a half I was there. I didn't see any sign of nesting but more observation is needed. coordinates: N 32.420917 W-86.588882 John Trent Montgomery, AL Subject: Monk Parrots From: "John Porter" <dibirder AT centurytel.net> Date: Sun, 7 Jun 2009 13:19:25 -0500 10-15 years ago there was a flock of Monk Parakeets in Huntsville... as I recall they flocked along the power lines up to Monte Sino... I don't have any written records though... John F. Porter Jr. Executive Director Dauphin Island Bird Sanctuaries, Inc. PO Box 1295 Dauphin Island, AL 36528 We did not inherit the earth from our ancestors, We hold it in trust for future generations ---------- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.339 / Virus Database: 270.12.54/2158 - Release Date: 06/06/09 05:53:00 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Common Ground-Dove at Rabbit Road From: "Larry Gardella" <tapaculo AT knology.net> Date: Sun, 7 Jun 2009 10:42:32 -0500 This morning, I went out to Rabbit Road to see if the Lark Sparrows were still around. I was unable to find them, but did find another interesting bird I had never before seen at Rabbit Road: a pair of Common Ground-Doves. I posted a distant shot in Larry's photos. Cotton is starting to grow in the field at Rabbit Road. If you walk out into the field, be sure not to damage any of the young plants. Even if you do not see the Painted Buntings, the Lark Sparrows or the Common Ground-Doves, you can see singing Orchard Orioles (young and full-grown) and Blue Grosbeaks (young and full-grown) and listen to the differences of the singing by the young birds. Larry Gardella Montgomery, AL [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Monk Parrot From: "Gregory J. Harber" <gharber AT mindspring.com> Date: Sat, 6 Jun 2009 21:59:17 -0400 (EDT) Hey Donna- Just back from the BAS outing to Cheaha State Park and Chinnabee Lake. These must surely be escaped pets or the Benedictines in Cullman are establishing a new monastery in Roebuck. The outing today proved to be exciting enough with Scarlet Tanagers aplenty at Cheaha along with Ovenbirds along the Bald Rock Boardwalk. We went to Chinnabee Lake Campground in the Talladega National Forest after lunch. What we thought would be an easy stroll around the lake turned out to be a bit more strenuous trail with several steep inclines and several creek crossings. Our reward was seeing and/or hearing Louisiana waterthrush, black-and-white, black-throated green, yellow-throated, pine and hooded warblers along with summer tanagers, red-eyed vireos and aacadian flycatchers. All in all a satisfying but tiring day. -----Original Message----- >From: shookdonna >Sent: Jun 6, 2009 4:27 PM >To: albirds AT yahoogroups.com >Subject: [ALBIRDS] Monk Parrot > >I just received photos, which I am going to try to post, of a Monk Parrot in the Roebuck area. Are there any reports of "wild" Monks in Alabama or is this a probable pet that has escaped? > >Any input would be appreciated! > >Donna Shook > Gregory J. Harber Birmingham, AL gharber AT mindspring.com "It's never too late to have a happy childhood." Tom Robbins Subject: Paint Rock Valley Warblers From: cut10dr AT activ8.net.au Date: Sun, 07 Jun 2009 10:31:54 +1000 With a nice cool morning we decided to check out the upper Paint Rock Valley area for possible breeding warblers, in particular CEWA. It was a little foggy at first but that cleared up around 0745 to make a beautiful morning. We were rewarded with 6 sightings and 1 HO. 3 species were at one site located on route 65 about 5 mi south of the TN line that included 3 Ceruleans which more than fulfilled our main objective. The 2 males were very actively singing and chasing which allowed for some good viewing. Warbler summary: 2M, 1F Cerulean 1pr Redstart 1 Blue-winged 1M Prairie 2M No. Parula 2M Prothonotary 1 Worm-eating (HO) Other notable species seen: Yellow-throated Vireo Orchard Oriole (pr carrying food to a nest) Scarlet Tanager Wild Turkey (female on the side of the road) In all 48 species were seen in the morning. Dean Cutten Huntsville, AL Subject: Paint Rock Valley Warblers From: cut10dr AT activ8.net.au Date: Sun, 07 Jun 2009 10:31:43 +1000 With a nice cool morning we decided to check out the upper Paint Rock Valley area for possible breeding warblers, in particular CEWA. It was a little foggy at first but that cleared up around 0745 to make a beautiful morning. We were rewarded with 6 sightings and 1 HO. 3 species were at one site located on route 65 about 5 mi south of the TN line that included 3 Ceruleans which more than fulfilled our main objective. The 2 males were very actively singing and chasing which allowed for some good viewing. Warbler summary: 2M, 1F Cerulean 1pr Redstart 1 Blue-winged 1M Prairie 2M No. Parula 2M Prothonotary 1 Worm-eating (HO) Other notable species seen: Yellow-throated Vireo Orchard Oriole (pr carrying food to a nest) Scarlet Tanager Wild Turkey (female on the side of the road) In all 48 species were seen in the morning. Dean Cutten Huntsville, AL Subject: Monk Parrot From: "shookdonna" <dshook AT bellsouth.net> Date: Sat, 06 Jun 2009 20:27:03 -0000 I just received photos, which I am going to try to post, of a Monk Parrot in the Roebuck area. Are there any reports of "wild" Monks in Alabama or is this a probable pet that has escaped? Any input would be appreciated! Donna Shook Subject: wood storks From: "pemburung" <pemburung AT naturetravelspecialists.com> Date: Sat, 06 Jun 2009 19:08:30 -0000 While running the Epes BBS this morning I saw two wood storks, or one that moved about 6 miles, north of Gainesville on CR85. Cheers, Andrew Subject: Re: SURF SCOTERS: Dauphin Island (6/6/09) From: "pemburung" <pemburung AT naturetravelspecialists.com> Date: Sat, 06 Jun 2009 19:04:19 -0000 Howard, and anyone else interested, Mac Braid and I saw the fox on the Sunday of the AOS meeting in April. It seems he's a resident in that area, not just passing through. --- In albirds AT yahoogroups.com, "Howard Horne" wrote: > > > Also of interest was a RED FOX observed on the dunes behind Fort Gaines on the east end of the island. This was my first live red fox -all others have been seen D.O.R. (dead on road). > > Good Birding, > > Howard Horne > Mobile, AL > Subject: SURF SCOTERS: Dauphin Island (6/6/09) From: "Howard Horne" <hhorne AT earthlink.net> Date: Sat, 06 Jun 2009 18:22:13 -0000 Hi all, Tom and Joan Siegwald and I found two (a male and female) SURF SCOTERS just offshore of the public pier on Dauphin Island this morning. Last year a pair was observed in the same general location around June 8th. Late May and early June seems to be a good time to look for this species down here on the Gulf Coast. Also of interest was a RED FOX observed on the dunes behind Fort Gaines on the east end of the island. This was my first live red fox -all others have been seen D.O.R. (dead on road). Good Birding, Howard Horne Mobile, AL Subject: Download Top Ringtones For Your Mobile Do you want the latest Ringtone for your mobile? Download your ringtones, poly tones, mono tones, wallpapers, themes, java games and more. Download Now >>> From: <nmj_mnj AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 6 Jun 2009 20:24:00 +0300 Download Top Ringtones For Your Mobile Do you want the latest Ringtone for your mobile? Download your ringtones, poly tones, mono tones, wallpapers, themes, java games and more. Download Now >>> http://mobilefunsterringtone.blogspot.com/ Subject: Hummingbirds From: RubyThroat AT aol.com Date: Sat, 6 Jun 2009 06:45:10 EDT Good Morning Albirders It is with much pleasure that I report the presence in our yard of record numbers of breeding male and female Ruby-throated. These tiny feathered beasts are consuming about 3/4 gallon of sugar water daily from our Dr. JB's feeders. Among the 100 plus hummers that Martha and I have captured, banded and color-marked this spring has been over 20 gravid females. These lovelies have shown a large white egg through the nearly transparent skin of the abdomen. The girls are fooling around as usual in May and June. Present this season, for the third year in a row, is a one footed female that is among the breeding ladies in the mix. Hummers are as tough as a pine knot!! With some 20 or so feeders hanging, it makes for some great viewing as these quarrelsome exhibit the aggressive behavior that makes them so successful. It is a pure joy to be alive on a cool morning like today. Have much fun guys. Bob Sargent Clay, Alabama **************We found the real ‘Hotel California’ and the ‘Seinfeld’ diner. What will you find? Explore WhereItsAt.com. (http://www.whereitsat.com/#/music/all-spots/355/47.796964/-66.374711/2/Youve-Found-Where-Its-At?ncid=eml cntnew00000007) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Wood Storks From: Chazz Hesselein <chazz AT hesselein.com> Date: Tue, 02 Jun 2009 22:33:46 -0500 Had a nice drive through the Blackbelt on my way to a meeting today. Stopped by the Rural Studio's birding tower late in the afternoon. What a neat place! On my way from Perry Lakes Park to Demopolis I saw 26 Wood Storks around several catfish ponds about 2.5 miles north of town on 183. I know Wood Storks are pretty common in this area in the late summer-fall but I don't remember seeing any reports this early in the year. I'm leading a birding/nature tour on Wednesday afternoon in the Demopolis area. We'll probably be in the Bigbee Bottom Trail near Foscue Park. Anyone in the area who would like to help/join me is welcome. My cell phone number is 251-581-0073. Chazz Hesselein Mobile, AL Subject: Late Peregrine Falcon From: "Ken and Claire Krusko" <bncjsc AT gulftel.com> Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 21:08:28 -0500 Hi Albirders! Was I ever surprised on May 30 while working the Elberta Breeding Bird Survey, to have a gorgeous adult Peregrine Falcon fly across the road within 30 feet of me! Every field mark was obvious to the naked eye. It took my breath away! The location was about � mile north of the town of Elberta, on County Road 83. It brought back joyful memories of working the AL B.B.Atlas in the Center East Block of the Elberta Quad in 2004. An adult Peregrine Falcon loitered in the Low Gap area of that block until late April. Sigh, I enjoy the Breeding Bird Surveys, but surely do miss the Atlasing. Great birding to all, Claire Krusko Loxley, AL [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: RE: Pine siskin From: "Ken and Claire Krusko" <bncjsc AT gulftel.com> Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 20:41:13 -0500 Hi Robert, Down here in Central Baldwin County I had Siskins at my feeders until May 17. I enjoyed a huge flock of them through March (about 500 at the peak of their winter visit). Throughout April the flock slowly down-sized, until, in May, only about 25 remained. On May 11 I counted only 12, and after May 17, none. They were a joy, and I miss them! Happy birding all, Claire Krusko From: albirds AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:albirds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Reed, Robert Sent: Tuesday, June 02, 2009 8:47 AM To: ALbirds AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [ALBIRDS] Pine siskin Good Morning all, We have had a Pine Siskin at our feeder for the last 10 days of May. It did not appear yesterday, nor did I see it before I left for work today. I read the interesting post about an immature in Madison County earlier. Has anyone else had Pine Siskins this late, particularly this year? I'm interested in whether this is more than merely unusual. I've never seen a Pine Siskin in Elmore County, Alabama, after March before. Any comments are welcome. P.S. The siskin, if it's gone, was replaced by a pair of American Goldfinches in fine breeding plumage this morning. Not a bad trade. Bob Robert E. (Bob) Reed Colonel, Field Artillery, Retired Past President Editor, The Yellowhammer Alabama Ornithological Society 88838 Tallassee Highway Tallassee, Alabama 36078 334-283-5886 Home 334-242-2698 Work 334-242-0717 Fax robert.reed AT psc.alabama.gov > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Kites Galore From: "Gregory J. Harber" <gharber AT mindspring.com> Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 18:09:08 -0500 (GMT-05:00) Hi Charlie- I have been at work since the wee hours of the morning crunching numbers till my eyes are crossed... and you have just made my day! Thanks for the posting! -----Original Message----- >From: Charles Kennedy >Sent: Jun 2, 2009 11:53 AM >To: albirds AT yahoogroups.com >Subject: [ALBIRDS] Kites Galore > >Good Morning Albirders, > >Today at app. 8 AM I received a call from a resident >of Forest Home, AL, a small community in Butler County >about 15 miles west of Greenville. > >The caller was standing in a field looking at a large >flock of flying birds which he thought might be kites. >As he described the birds I agreed that he was correct. >"Some of the birds have long forked tails" was what he said. >As he continued it was obvious that he was watching a >mixed flock of Swallow-tailed and Mississippi Kites. > >I asked him how many there were and he said "probably >about 100". I wasn't so sure I believed that so I told him >to wait there for me. > >The birds were feeding over a field that has been prepared >for planting soybeans. It is all bare plowed ground with >a layer of chicken house litter spread over it. The smell >is awful. The litter had attracted a swarm of flies and other >insects upon which the kites were feeding. They were foraging >about 30 or 40 feet above the surface of the field. > >My friend was wrong about the number of birds. The number was >closer to 150. Most of them were Mississippi Kites. There >were about 15 Swallow-tailed. > >I don't recall ever seeing a flock of this size before the >pre-migratory assemblies in late July and August. > >The field will be plowed again before it is planted which >will cover the litter and probably end the show. > >Cheers to all. > >Charles Kennedy >Greenville, Alabama > Gregory J. Harber Birmingham, AL gharber AT mindspring.com "It's never too late to have a happy childhood." Tom Robbins Subject: UPDATE: Marthaler Pond Stilts From: TNbarredowl AT aol.com Date: Tue, 02 Jun 2009 17:39:27 -0400 I went by Marthaler Pond today at lunch to check on the Black-necked Stilt nest.? There are now two nests.? One found by Steve McConnell this weekend on the east side of the road, and another on the west side.? I could not see the contents of the second nest, but did watch the female "turn some eggs", then continue incubation.? Interestingly enough, I saw no male stilts.? In addition to the two female stilts, I also found 30 Killdeer, 12 White-rumped Sandpipers and a Greater Yellowlegs.? Waterfowl included 3 male Shovelers, 6 male Blue-winged Teal, 1 male and 2 female Mallards and 30+ Canada Geese.? I also went to The Sinks.? Most of the White-rumped Sandpipers have moved out.? I found 19 White-rumped,?2 Semipalmated Plover and 50+ Killdeer.? Also present were 26 Great Egret, 8 Great Blue Heron and 3 Cattle Egret.? Steve's odd Herring Gull was still present.? I will agree with him...it looks weird, but it just about has to be a Herring Gull. Damien Simbeck Killen, AL [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Kites Galore From: "Charles Kennedy" <ckennedy AT alaweb.com> Date: Tue, 02 Jun 2009 16:53:40 -0000 Good Morning Albirders, Today at app. 8 AM I received a call from a resident of Forest Home, AL, a small community in Butler County about 15 miles west of Greenville. The caller was standing in a field looking at a large flock of flying birds which he thought might be kites. As he described the birds I agreed that he was correct. "Some of the birds have long forked tails" was what he said. As he continued it was obvious that he was watching a mixed flock of Swallow-tailed and Mississippi Kites. I asked him how many there were and he said "probably about 100". I wasn't so sure I believed that so I told him to wait there for me. The birds were feeding over a field that has been prepared for planting soybeans. It is all bare plowed ground with a layer of chicken house litter spread over it. The smell is awful. The litter had attracted a swarm of flies and other insects upon which the kites were feeding. They were foraging about 30 or 40 feet above the surface of the field. My friend was wrong about the number of birds. The number was closer to 150. Most of them were Mississippi Kites. There were about 15 Swallow-tailed. I don't recall ever seeing a flock of this size before the pre-migratory assemblies in late July and August. The field will be plowed again before it is planted which will cover the litter and probably end the show. Cheers to all. Charles Kennedy Greenville, Alabama Subject: Pine siskin From: "Reed, Robert" <robert.reed AT psc.alabama.gov> Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 08:46:59 -0500 Good Morning all, We have had a Pine Siskin at our feeder for the last 10 days of May. It did not appear yesterday, nor did I see it before I left for work today. I read the interesting post about an immature in Madison County earlier. Has anyone else had Pine Siskins this late, particularly this year? I'm interested in whether this is more than merely unusual. I've never seen a Pine Siskin in Elmore County, Alabama, after March before. Any comments are welcome. P.S. The siskin, if it's gone, was replaced by a pair of American Goldfinches in fine breeding plumage this morning. Not a bad trade. Bob Robert E. (Bob) Reed Colonel, Field Artillery, Retired Past President Editor, The Yellowhammer Alabama Ornithological Society 88838 Tallassee Highway Tallassee, Alabama 36078 334-283-5886 Home 334-242-2698 Work 334-242-0717 Fax robert.reed AT psc.alabama.gov [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: birding survey From: "pemburung" <pemburung AT naturetravelspecialists.com> Date: Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:14:18 -0000 Denise Goodfellow, our birding and wildlife guide in the Northern Territory of Australia asked me if I could publicize this survey, so here goes. Andrew Haffenden Hi Andrew I'm doing a PhD on American birdwatching couples who travel internationally. Could you give this any publicity? http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=h3NCqTwur3H_2bPlbFtk_2bSpw_3d_3d No research has been carried out on this topic, and yet couples appear to dominate such tourism. Professor David Scott of A & M University, an authority on avitourism, has offered to be a reviewer, to my great delight. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]