MARCH 2010

DUCKS – CL had a nice count of 250 GADWALLS at the E.L. Huie Land Application Facility (ELHLAF) in Clayton Co. on 4 March. Two CANVASBACKS were seen at Lake Varner in Newton Co. on 1 March (MMcS). JFly counted 142 REDHEADS at Lake Lanier on 1 March for an excellent count. SM had 46 REDHEADS at Peachtree City Lake on 4 March. Five WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, first reported on 19 Feb. at Lake Varner, were seen as late as 13 March by JN.

GREBES THROUGH OSPREY – An EARED GREBE was a good spot at Lake Varner on 13 March (JN). An early CATTLE EGRET was found at the ELHLAF on 24 March (CL). Single YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS were seen at the Mercer Wetlands on 24 March (BB), at the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (CRNRA) also on 24 March (CB) and at the Big Creek Greenway on 27 March (GB). A
pair of nest building OSPREYS was taking advantage of a cell phone tower in eastern Cobb Co. on 15 March (TC).

SANDHILL CRANES – There were a total of ten reports of SANDHILL CRANES totaling about 5200 birds. The peak count came from Bartow Co. with approximately 4000 birds. Most of the flocks were seen between 1 March and 9 March with the latest report coming from North Fulton Co. on 22 March (PP).

PLOVERS THROUGH ORIOLES – A BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER was a rare find at the ELHLAF on 22 March (JH). AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS were found in excellent numbers in Bartow Co. with 35 on 21 March (KB), 50 on 22 March (HG) and 34 on 23 March (PMcL). KO was the fortunate observer of an adult and three young AMERICAN WOODCOCKS on 7 March along the CRNRA. A CLIFF SWALLOW was early in Rockdale Co. on 14 March (NF, KB). KB found 50+ BREWER’S BLACKBIRDS in Bartow Co. on 21 March. A BALTIMORE ORIOLE was seen in the Morningside area on 26 March (EB). It was first seen in that area on 24 Dec.
 

GEESE THROUGH GROUSE – A ROSS’S GOOSE was found in the Milledgeville area on 6 March (J&MA). The TUNDRA SWAN previously reported from Floyd Co. was seen there at least until 7 March (RC). Two COMMON EIDERS previously reported from Sea Island were still there as of 22 March (LH, BF). The last date for a female WHITE-WINGED SCOTER at Piedmont NWR was 26 March (JSe, HG). MM and JSp had good numbers of RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS at Carter’s Lake with a peak count of 37 on 18 March. Also in the Carter’s Lake area on 18 March were a RUFFED GROUSE (JSp) and an EARED GREBE (MM).

PELICANS THROUGH CRANES – TK had 22 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS in the Brunswick area on 1 March. Interesting birds at the Walter F. George Dam were a BROWN PELICAN on 6 March (JFly) and a GREAT CORMORANT at least until 15 March (RoB). There were four reports of SANDHILL CRANES totaling about 400 birds. The last report was of 82 at Carter’s Lake on 23 March (JSp). JSp also had two WHOOPING CRANES in Gordon Co. on 23 March. The location of the birds was kept secret and as far as we know the birds left safely.

PLOVERS THROUGH GULLS – There were a number of reports of AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS from the Albany area, Dougherty Co. and Gordon Co. The peak count was 47 in Dougherty Co. on 26 March (DMo). There were a good number of AMERICAN AVOCETS reported from the Jekyll Island and Brunswick areas with the peak count of 150 coming from Jekyll Island on 24 March (TK). A STILT SANDPIPER was a good find at the Altamaha WMA near Darien on 14 March (CL, JSe). BS obtained photos of a young ICELAND GULL on Jekyll Island on 5 March for a very rare sighting.

DOVES THROUGH WARBLERS – A WHITE-WINGED DOVE was reported from the Darien area on 6 March (DV). Three SHORT-EARED OWLS were seen at the Cobb Owl Fields on 7 March (JSp). The last report of the RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD in Valdosta was 25 March (J&KSw). A GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER was rather early at Darien on 24 March (DC). RaB reported several RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES in Fannin Co. on 1 March. The previously reported NASHVILLE WARBLER at Augusta was again seen on 6 March (LS et al.). The last date for the Valdosta VIRGINIA’S WARBLER was 24 March (J&KSw). Interesting warbler sightings included an OVENBIRD at Reed Bingham State Park on 21 March (WS) and a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT on Jekyll Island on 17 March (LT).

SPARROWS – WS had an outstanding count of 23 BACHMAN’S SPARROWS at the Chickasawhatchee WMA on 20 March. In the Albany area the previously reported HENSLOW’S and LE CONTE’S SPARROW were last seen on or about 22 March (AA). JFle reported a very nice count of 30 WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS in Laurens Co. on 13 March.

TANAGERS THROUGH ORIOLES – An early SCARLET TANAGER was reported from Gilmer Co. on 21 March (NS, MG). A WESTERN TANAGER was seen in the Athens area on 20 and 27 March (AM, MN). An INDIGO BUNTING joined a male PAINTED BUNTING at a Glennville feeder on 15 March (GW). A male PAINTED BUNTING which was first seen in the Savannah area in Dec. was joined by a female on 22 March (SB). A YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was seen in the Brunswick area on 13 March (BLa). The best counts of BREWER’S BLACKBIRDS were 60 in Laurens Co. on 13 March (JFle) and 22 in Jefferson Co. on 27 March (JFly). Three BALTIMORE ORIOLES were seen in the Savannah Area on 20 March (SB).