C>U U7I ■4 .'Tt. . v E WINTER SEASON • WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI f\. t North American Birds A QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGICAL RECORD PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN BIRDING ASSOCIATION VOLUME 59: NO. 2, 2005 • DECEMBER 2004 THROUGH FEBRUARY 2005 AmericanBirding A S S' O C I A I I O N SWAKOVSKI Adelson Library Laboratory of Ornithology Cornel! University Ithaca, New York 14850 Fly with Swarovski You’ll see more in nature. New 32 MM E L Compact Binoculars: • The Ultimate Class of premium binoculars in a smaller, lightweight (21.5 oz & 5.4" tall) package in 8X32 and 10X32 power configurations with close focus from 7 ft. • Brilliant, Swarobright", optical performance, shockproof, waterproof submersible, widest fields of view and perfect under a birding coat or in a jacket pocket. Also accepts 2X Doubler. • Comfortable, Double Bridge, ergonomic design, with rugged, armored, magnesium housing. Comes with our legendary Limited Lifetime Warranty.* See for yourself at a dealer near you. Contact 800-426-3089 or www.swarovskioptik.com. EL 10X32 DIALOG WITH NATURE Swarovski Optik North America, Ltd. • 2 Slater Road • Cranston, Rl 02920 'Original USA warranty card must be postmarked within 30 days of purchase from an authorized Swarovski dealer in good standing. The registered warranty holder must return entire product with warranty claim. Note: The “Limited Lifetime USA Warranty” is only available with genuine Swarovski Optik products purchased from an authorized Dealer in good standing. i£ r The Winter Season: December 2004 through February 2005 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS • AMERICAN BIRDING ASSOCIATION • VOLUME 59 • NUMBER 2 • 200 5 SPECIAL SECTION 198 An overview of Ivory-billed Woodpecker ( Campephilus principalis) sightings in eastern Arkansas in 2004-2005 Kenneth V. Rosenberg, Ronald W. Rohrbaugh, and Martjan Lammertink 210 Searches for Ivory-billed Woodpecker ( Campephilus principalis) in the Apalachicola River basin of Florida in 2003 Timothy Spahr 216 Forest management for Ivory-billed Woodpeckers ( Campephilus principalis): A case study in managing an uncertainty David T. Shoch 230 234 236 241 246 250 The Regional Reports Atlantic Provinces & St. Pierre et Miquelon Brian Dalzell 300 302 Quebec Pierre Bannon, Samuel Denault, Yves Aubry, and Normand David New England Pam Hunt Hudson-Delaware Joseph C. Burgiel, Robert 0. Paxton, Mike Powers, and Richard R. Veit Middle Atlantic Todd M. Day 305 308 311 313 318 Great Basin Rick Fridell New Mexico Sartor 0. Williams III Arizona Mark M. Stevenson and Gary H. Rosenberg Alaska Thede Tobish British Columbia Donald G. Cecile Oregon & Washington Steven Mlodinow, David Irons, and Bill Tweit Northern California Luke W. Cole, Scott B. Terrill, Michael M. Rogers, and Steven A. Glover Southern Atlantic Ricky Davis Southern California Guy Mccaskie and Kimball L. Garrett The Changing Seasons: Seeing the Forest for the Trees Ted Floyd 228 348 Editors’ Notebook First Harlan’s Hawk (Buteo jamaicen- sis harlani) for Baja California Sur Steven Mlodinow, Roberto Carmona, Luis Sauma, and Georgina Brabata First record of Black-headed Nightingale-Thrush ( Catharus mexicanus) for the United States Mark W. Lockwood and Robert Bates Recent nesting and current status of Aplomado Falcon (Falco femoralis) in New Mexico Raymond A. Meyer and Sartor 0. Williams III 255 258 260 266 270 273 276 Florida Bruce H. Anderson Ontario Hugh G. Currie Eastern Highlands & Upper Ohio Valley Victor W. Fazio, III and Nick Pulcinella Illinois & Indiana Kenneth J. Brock Western Great Lakes Jim Granlund Iowa & Missouri Robert Cecil Tennessee & Kentucky Chris Sloan and Brainard Palmer-Ball, Jr. Baja California Peninsula Richard A. Erickson, Marshall J. Iliff, Eduardo Palacios, and Roberto Carmona 331 337 341 Mexico Hector Gomez de Silva Central America H. Lee Jones West Indies & Bermuda Anthony White, Robert L. Norton, and Andrew Dobson 345 370 Hawaiian Islands Robert L. Pyle and Peter Donaldson Pictorial Highlights ON THE COVER: Between February 2004 and February 2005, a half-dozen or more sight reports of Ivory-billed Woodpecker have come from Bayou de View, within the Cache River National Wildlife Refuge just outside of Brinkley, Arkansas. In all of these sightings, the woodpecker has managed to elude cameras and has been seen mostly in flight. Though the bird also refused to sit for a painting, artist Evan Barbour visited the Bayou de View in April 2005 and rendered this watercolor portrait of a male Ivory-billed. Painting by © [van Barbour. 358 Baja California Sur’s first record of Yellow-bellied Sapsucker ( Sphyrapicus varius) Steven G. Mlodinow and Bill Tweit 279 282 Central Southern C. Dwight Cooley Northern Canada Cameron D. Eckert 360 364 368 Probable Yellow-bellied Sapsucker ( Sphyrapicus varius) x Red-breasted Sapsucker (S. ruber) hybrid from east¬ ern Kansas, with comments on the field identification of adult sapsuckers Mark B. Robbins, David E. Seibel, and Carla Cicero Photo Salon I: The Northern Owl Invasion Photo Salon II: Mexico Comes To Texas 283 285 287 291 296 Texas Mark W. Lockwood, Randy Pinkston, and Willie Sekula Colorado & Wyoming Christopher L. Wood, Tony Leukering, and Bill Schmoker Prairie Provinces Rudolf F. Koes and Peter Taylor Northern Great Plains Ron Martin Southern Great Plains W. Ross Silcock and Joseph A. Grzybowski AmericanBirding® ASSOCIATION CHAIR Richard H. Payne VICE-CHAIR Bettie R. Harriman BOARD OF DIRECTORS David M. Bird Paul Bristow Donald Dann John C. Kricher Dennis H. Lacoss Michael Ord Father Tom Pincelli Debra Shearwater Ann Stone William R. Stott, Jr. Harry Tow Bob Warneke Anthony W. White PRESIDENTS CEO Steve R. Runnels VICE PRESIDENTS DIRECTOR OF ABA SALES Terry O’Nele DEVELOPMENT Steve R. Runnels MEMBERSHIP Rich Downing CONVENTIONS AND CONFERENCES Nanci Hawley and Bill Maynard CONSERVATION Betty Petersen EDUCATION Lori Fujimoto TREASURERS CFO Lesli Rhodes SECRETARY OF ABA Carol Wallace GENERAL COUNSEL Daniel T. Williams, Jr. PAST PRESIDENTS Allan R. Keith (1997-1999) Daniel T. Williams, Jr. (1993-1997) Allan R. Keith (1989-1993) Lawrence G. Balch (1983-1989) Joseph W. Taylor (1979-1983) Arnold Small (1976-1979) G. Stuart Keith (1973-1976) G. Stuart Keith (1970 pro tem) PAST JOURNAL EDITORS John W. Aldrich (1947-1951) ChandlerS. Robbins (1951-1954) Editorial Board, including Robbins, Ludlow Griscom, Allan Cruickshank (1954-1967) Richard L. Plunkett (1967-1970) Robert S. Arbib, Jr. (1970-1983) John Farrand, Jr. (1984-1985) Susan Roney Drennan (1985-1996) Kenn Kaufman (1997-1998) Michael A. Patten (1999-2000) North American Birds is published by the American Birding Association. The mission of the journal is to provide a complete overview of the changing panorama of our continent’s birdlife, including outstanding records, range extensions and contractions, population dynamics, and changes in migration patterns or seasonal occurrence. We welcome submission of papers in these areas; papers and other communication should be sent to North American Birds, 9 Randolph Avenue, Cape Charles, VA 23310. For correspondence on photographic material, contact the Photo Editor at the email address below. PUBLISHER DIRECTOR OF PUBLICATIONS PUBLICATIONS CHAIR American Birding Association Bryan Patrick John C. Kricher EDITOR Edward S. Brinkley (ensifera@aol.com) COPY EDITOR Virginia Maynard ASSOCIATE EDITORS Louis R. Bevier P A. Buckley Stephen J. Dinsmore Alvaro Jaramillo Paul E. Lehman PHOTO EDITOR Matthew E Sharp (sharp@acnatsci.org) REGIONAL EDITORS Bruce H. Anderson, Yves Aubry, Margaret J. C. Bain, Pierre Bannon, Joseph C. Burgiel, Roberto Carmona, Eric Carpenter, Robert 1. Cecil, Donald G. Cecile, Luke W. Cole, C. Dwight Cooley, Hugh G. Currie, Brian Dalzell, Normand David, Ricky Davis, Todd M. Day, Samuel Denault, James J. Dinsmore, Andrew Dobson, Peter Donaldson, Robert A. Duncan, Lucy R. Duncan, Cameron D. Eckert, Bill Eddleman, David H. Elder, Walter G. Ellison, Richard A. Erickson, Victor W. Fazio Ill, Rick Fridell, Kimball L. Garrett, Steven A. Glover, Hector Gomez de Silva, Jim Granlund, Joseph A. Grzybowski, Robert A. Hamilton, James Hengeveld, Pam Hunt, Marshall J. Iliff, David Irons, H. Lee Jones, Rudolf E Koes, J. Harry Krueger, Tony Leukering, Mark Lockwood, Bruce Mactavish, Nancy L. Martin, Ron E. Martin, Blake Maybank, Guy McCaskie, Keith A. McMullen, Steven G. Mlodinow, Robert L. Norton, Eduardo Palacios, Brainard Palmer-Ball, Jr., Robert 0. Paxton, Simon Perkins, Wayne R. Petersen, David J. Powell, Michael E. Powers, Bill Pranty, Robert D. Purrington, Robert L. Pyle, Michael M. Rogers, Gary H. Rosenberg, Bill Schmoker, W. Ross Silcock, Chris Sloan, Mark M. Stevenson, Peder Svingen, Peter Taylor, Scott B. Terrill, Thede Tobish, David Trochlell, Bill Tweit, Richard R. Veit, Phillip A. Wallace, Ron Weeks, Anthony W. White, Sartor O. Williams III, Geoffrey A. Williamson, Rick Wiltraut, Christopher L. Wood CIRCULATION Brenda Gibb ADVERTISING Ken Barron GRAPHIC DESIGN Ed Rother Jim Harris TECHNICAL REVIEWERS Bill Pranty Steve Mlodinow Marshall J. Iliff North American Birds (ISSN 1525-3708) (USPS 872-200) is published quarterly by the American Birding Associa¬ tion, Inc. Periodicals postage paid at Colorado Springs, Colorado, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: return postage guaranteed; send address changes and POD forms 3579 to North American Birds, PO Box 6599, Col¬ orado Springs, Colorado, 80934-6599; (800) 850-2473. Subscription prices: $30/year (US) and US$35/year (Canada). Copyright © 2004 by the American Birding Association, Inc., all rights reserved. Printed by Publishers Printing, Shepherdsville, Kentucky. The views and opinions expressed in this magazine are those of each con¬ tributing writer and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of the American Birding Association or its management. ABA is not responsible for the quality of products or services advertised in North American Birds, unless the products or services are being offered directly by the Association. GST Registration No. R135943454. 194 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS Remote. Wild. Unbelievable •Home to 1,000,000 Fur Seals •Spectacular Seabird Colonies •Arctic Fox and Reindeer •Brilliant Showcase of Wildflowers •Historic Russian Church •Native Aleut Culture ST. PAUL ISLAND Alaska's Rribilofs 1-877-424-5637 www.alaskabirdinp.com Looking for a Birding Adventure P Go offshore with Seabirding For more information contact Brian Patteson Seabirding P.0. Box 772 Hatteras NC 27943 (252) 986-1363 http://www.seabirding.com Pelagic trips since 1986 Departures from Virginia Beach, VA Oregon Inlet, NC Hatteras, NC aboard the best & fastest boats available Friendly knowledgeable leaders with extensive offshore experience Chum for bringing the birds close Winter trips for Great Skua and alcids Spring & summer trips for Gulf Stream specialties including rar e Pterodromas andtropicbirds Late summer trips for White-faced Storm-Petrel This book sets a new standard for raptor field guides. "The understanding of what hawkwatchers actually face in the field comes through on every page. " — David Allen Sibley, from the foreword 339 color photos. 32 b/w photos. 7 1/2x9 1/2. Paper $19.95 Cloth $55.00 Lavishly illustrated and beautifully presented, Parrots of the World is the most comprehensive hand¬ book for identifying some 350 species of parrots found throughout the world. 400 pages. 121 color plates. 378 maps. 8 1/2 x 12. Cloth $65.00 February Parrots of the World AN IDENTIFICATION GUIDE Joseph M. Forshaw "This guide is a magnificent achievement, regionally without peer, and clearly visitors to the region." — World Birdwatch 304 pages. 142 color plates. 5 3/4x8 1/4. Princeton Field Guides Series Paper $29.95 Here is an accessible, informative, and highly illustrated book that offers a fresh view of butterflies in the East Coast states, from the Atlantic seaboard to the Appalachians. • 336 pages. 950 color photos. I 275 maps. 8x11. Cloth $49.50 Princeton University Press 800-777-4726 * www.birds.princeton.edu All books available from ABA Sales • (800) 634-7736 • Email: abasales@abasales.com • www.americanbirding.org VOLUME 59 (2005) • NUMBER 2 s 95 i®SS!Hs An overview of Ivory billed Woodpecker ( Campephilus principalis ) sightings in eastern Arkansas in 2004-2005 . Large Woodpeckers. Paintings by David A. Sibley Searches for Ivory-billed Woodpecker ( Campephilus principalis ) in the >-S V - * * MM\ A case study in managing an uncertainty J O O J : 0/ * 7 \iU i I/ - Emr a v JrVA UFf v \ mmmmm Wraiwifinaisi mammm nw8aww88n -'.1 a > :' 4 Kenneth V. Rosenberg Ronald W. Rohrbaugh Martjan Lammertink Cornell Lab of Ornithology 159 Sapsucker Woods Road Ithaca, New York 14850 ABSTRACT This paper presents the field notes of ob¬ servers who reported encounters with an Ivory-billed Woodpecker (Campephilus prin¬ cipalis ) in the Bayou de View area of Monroe County, Arkansas in February 2004 through February 2005. These notes augment other publications on the subject by presenting sight reports and several audio contacts in greater depth. INTRODUCTION A series of events that unfolded in late win¬ ter and early spring of 2004 suggested that at least one Ivory-billed Woodpecker ( Campephilus principalis), a species not pos¬ itively documented since 1948 and feared extinct, was alive in the vast bottomland hardwood forests of the White River drainage of eastern Arkansas. Initial sight records, followed by a brief video recording in April 2004, touched off an extensive search effort in the region during the subse¬ quent twelve months, which yielded several additional contacts with the species. A sum- mar}' of the evidence supporting the pres¬ ence and identification of the single Ivory¬ billed Woodpecker has been published (Fitzpatrick et al. 2005), and a book that treats several aspects of the search and sight¬ ings is also available (Gallagher 2005). In this article, we provide additional details on the sight reports of this species, including the initial encounters and additional sight¬ ings that took place during the subsequent organized search. We also briefly describe the search techniques employed during 2004 and 2005 in our attempt to locate ad¬ ditional individuals, to secure satisfactory documentation, and to determine the extent of potential habitat and feeding areas. Final¬ ly, we discuss the implications of these events for birders, including opportunities available to look for Ivory-billed Woodpeck¬ ers in eastern Arkansas and elsewhere, as well as guidelines and cautions for would-be searchers. Because these reports are likely to result in greatly increased visitation to the region by birders, with very real potential to disturb this highly endangered species, we urge all visitors to follow the highest stan¬ dards of birding ethics. First field encounters: February 2004 On 11 February 2004, at about 1400 CST, Gene Sparling of Hot Springs, Arkansas ob¬ served a large woodpecker while kayaking along the Bayou de View within the Cache River National Wildlife Refuge in Monroe County, about 8 km west of Brinkley, - Arkansas (Figure 1). The bird landed on a tree about 20 m in front of his kayak. Though he lacked binoculars, he noticed that it looked different from Pileated Wood¬ pecker ( Diyocopus pileatus) and posted a de¬ scription of the bird — which was observed perched on the side of a tree — to a website for kayak and canoe enthusiasts. His de¬ scription included unusually large size, ex¬ tensive white on the folded wing (with an “odd yellowish” color to the white at its edges), a light-colored bill, and a crest show¬ ing some red. He described the bird’s move¬ ments as jerky and animated, with a car- toonish quality. Shortly after the posting of this sighting, Mary Scott, who had been searching for Ivory-billed Woodpecker in the White River National Wildlife Refuge in southeastern Arkansas (and had privately re¬ ported a personal 10 March 2003 sighting of the species there to the Cornell Lab of Or¬ nithology), passed word of Sparlings sight¬ ing to Tim Gallagher, editor of Living Bird magazine and a long-time student of the lit¬ erature on Ivory-billed Woodpecker who had been searching for the species in the Southeast for several years. Gallagher and colleague Bobby Harrison, an associate pro¬ fessor of art and photography at Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama, agreed to participate in a follow-up of Sparlings re¬ port, as they had followed up on Scott’s ear¬ lier sight report in the White River area. Two weeks later, on 27 February 2004, the second day of their reconnaissance, Gal¬ lagher and Harrison observed a bird they identified as an Ivory-billed Woodpecker as it flew across the main channel of the Bayou 198 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS VOLUME 59 (2005) • NUMBER 2 199 Figure 2. Over 1 50 km2 of forest in Bayou de View and White River N.W.R. was searched systematically for roost or nest cavities of Ivory¬ billed Woodpecker in 2004-2005. This cavity in a Sugarberry {Celtis laevigata) in the southern part of White River N.W.R. has features fit¬ ting the description of an Ivory-billed Woodpecker cavity: the entrance has an irregular, roughly oval shape and is over 9 cm wide, which is larger than the entrance of most Pileated Woodpecker cavi¬ ties. All photographs courtesy of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. the increasing number of people aware of the Arkansas sight reports. With the announcement of the findings, we aim to stimulate conservation and search efforts for the species in Arkansas and elsewhere. The full description of the scientific aspects of the search for Ivory-billed Woodpecker in eastern Arkansas in 2004-2005, including detailed methodology and descriptions of the habitats searched, will be published elsewhere. In short, the methods used to search for the Ivory-billed Wood¬ pecker were quite varied and flexible. Searchers in chest waders walked through the bayou’s forests of Water Tupelo ( Nyssa aquatica ) and Baldcy- press ( Taxodium distichum ) or navigat¬ ed channels through it in canoes or other small boats. They also sat quiet¬ ly — in canoes, on tree platforms, in blinds, and on small areas of dry land — watching and listening for Ivory-billed and other woodpeckers. Searchers used camouflaged equip¬ ment and clothing at all times. The de¬ ployment of individuals and teams of observers was coordinated by separate crew leaders in Bayou de View and White River National Wildlife Refuge. Search efforts focused on the most promising habitat, prioritized from in¬ fra-red aerial photos of the study area, and searchers were frequently mobi¬ lized to follow up on potential sight¬ ings. Some observers worked along prede¬ fined transects, others conducted point counts, others searched for and monitored cavities consistent with former roosting and nest cavities of Ivory-billeds (cf. Figures 2, 3), while others conducted stationary watches along strategic open areas such as lakes and power-line cuts, in an effort to cap¬ ture an Ivory-billed on video. All searchers used GPS units to keep track of their efforts, and a complete record of searches was main¬ tained. All searchers were provisioned with video cameras, which were kept running continuously while mounted to tripods in the canoes (Figure 4). Other efforts included the use of decoys and audio lures (Figures 5, 6), suet stations, and playback experiments, all of which were limited in extent and care¬ fully monitored. Field activities typically started at dawn and extended until dark in an effort to monitor potential roosting cavi¬ ties. In addition, Harrison and the crew used lifelike Ivory-billed Woodpecker models (Gallagher 2005), and David Luneau used video camera “traps” with motion-sensitive triggers. In addition to over 22,000 hours of hu¬ man searches, between 10 and 18 Au¬ tonomous Recording Units (ARUs) were de¬ ployed at any given time in an effort to record vocalizations or display drums of Ivory-billed Woodpecker at sites in the study area with promising habitat features and to keep around the clock vigilance at sites where Ivory-billed Woodpeckers were seen or presumably heard. Although analysis of over 18,000 hours of audio recordings is ongoing, a few potentially interesting sounds have been detected so far that give some hope that our hypothesis of a small population of Ivory-billed Woodpeckers in the region might be correct. Overview of sightings and other evidence The extensive surveys of potential Ivory¬ billed habitat in the White River National Wildlife Refuge (counties of Monroe, Arkansas, Desha, Phillips) did not produce a sighting of the species, though several areas of what appeared to be prime habitat were located. Searches in the Bayou de View and adjacent forested areas (counties of Woodruff, Monroe, and Prairie) did not meet with success in the month immediate¬ ly following the sight reports of Sparling, Gallagher, and Harrison. However, in April 2004, there were as many as four sight re¬ ports 3-4 km south of the original sightings (Figure 1), and David Luneau secured video¬ tape footage 25 April 2004 of a large black- and-white woodpecker in flight — at a place very near the original sight reports (Figure 1). Although the videotape does not show the bird’s head — or the eponymous bill (which has not yet been clearly observed by anyone reporting the species in Arkansas in 2004-2005) — we maintain that the patterns of black and white on the back, upperwing, and underwing are fully consistent with Ivory-billed and not with Pileated. This video currently serves as the only potential photographic evidence for the existence of at least one living Ivory-billed Woodpecker, as presented in Fitzpatrick et al. (2005). A brief summary of the six sight records considered most unequivocal is also presented in Fitz¬ patrick et al. (2005). Below we give a more complete account of possible detections of Ivory-billed Woodpecker in the region dur¬ ing 2004-2005, including some sightings too fleeting to be conclusively documented yet nonetheless intriguing. For each event, detailed written field notes were submitted and videotaped “depositions” of each ob¬ server were taken and archived at Cornell Lab of Ornithology. On 5 April 2004, Jim Fitzpatrick, director of the Carpenter Nature Center in Hastings, Minnesota, was sitting in a canoe on the eastern side of Pawpaw Lake (Figure 1) when he noticed a large black-and-white woodpecker flying toward him from the north, about 10 m above the tree canopy. It veered westward and passed about 100 m from his position. He could clearly see white in the trailing edge of the wing both on downstroke and upstroke of the wing, and the bird’s flight appeared direct and powerful, not like the undulating flight of Pileated. His field notes are as follows: At 10:25 am [CDST], my attention was drawn to a woodpecker flying above the tree line straight at me from the north. It appeared dark and quite large, and I thought to myself “That’s a really big Pileated.” and kept watching. At the outset, [the bird] was approxi¬ mately 200 meters away and coming straight down the lake comfortably above the canopy level right along the west shoreline. At approximately 3 sec¬ onds into the viewing, it banked slight¬ ly to get back of the tree line and go be¬ hind a very large cypress (behind and above). This was now putting it on a SW heading, [which] showed me a pro¬ file of the bird. My next thought was “the white is wrong” [for Pileated], be¬ cause the bird showed much white on both downstroke and upstroke of the wing. The large white patch [above ex¬ tended to] the body, much like the NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS 200 speculum of a merganser or goldeneye. It gave the appearance of a bird more white than black, and I saw barely a hint of red at the end of its tucked in crest. As it came out from behind the large but open cypress, it began to dawn on me that this might not be a Pileated, and I realized the bird had not bounced like a woodpecker during the entire flight I had witnessed. The bird’s beak did not stand out as an identifier except perhaps [in the overall] impres¬ sion of a bird more white than black. I grabbed my [ . . . ] binoculars but finding them out of focus I just let them go, re¬ alizing then that in the next 2 seconds the bird would be out of sight. 1 fol¬ lowed the bird past the tree line, watch¬ ing its shape disappear, hoping it would alight somewhere. The bird was an incredibly strong fli¬ er. It did not flap any more often than a Pileated, perhaps maybe fewer times than would a Pileated. It never lost alti¬ tude on any flap. Its wings did not flap tings • SPECIAL StCTicf - . (r . . -i ,lj\r i tv wildly; in fact, I would call its flap somewhat reserved, 5” up above the body, 4-5” below, much like a loon. Those flaps gave it more speed than any Pileated. I got no feeling for wing shape or body shape other than that of an ob¬ vious woodpecker, except for the fact this was too big for a Pileated, perhaps by as much as 15 or 20%. [I watched two other Pileateds fly the reverse route later that day and am still struck with the size difference; having banded Pileated Woodpeckers (and pho¬ tographed several that day), I am very aware of their size.] This bird was too big, too white, and flew completely dif¬ ferently than a Pileated. I watched the bird in the open for just under 10 seconds, and it flew a dis¬ tance of approximately 250 meters from when I first saw it until it passed beyond the tree canopy. I watched it for a few more seconds through the trees, but any detail was lost at that point. At its closest, it was above the trees across the pond. I estimated that in its closest point on the flight path it was 100 me¬ ters from me, approximately 15 meters above and back from the tree canopy. It did not seem to flush because of me but followed the same flight path and tra¬ jectory as many herons and egrets were taking that day on their way in and out of their rookery some few miles to my SW. 1 am sure of the characteristics of what I described, and I know they don’t fit anything I know about Pileated Woodpecker. Having never seen a Campephilus woodpecker, 1 can’t say, “yup that’s like the last one I saw.” But I can say that it was no Pileated. The following day, at the same site, Ron Rohrbaugh, Field Coordinator of the Inven¬ tory Project, and David Brown, also of Cor¬ nell Lab, were concealed on the eastern side of Pawpaw Lake, near the location of Fitz¬ patrick’s sighting. They had a brief look at a very good candidate for Ivory-billed Wood- Figures 3a, 3b. Various rather large cavities, presumably made by large woodpeckers, were found just 1 00 m north of the Route 1 7 bridge across the Bayou de View (left) and about 1 .5 km south of the bridge, not far from the February 2004 sight records. Some of these cavities showed signs of relatively recent work in early spring of 2005, but no woodpecker or other bird or animal was observed in association with them. Woodpecker cavities with entrances of 9 cm or greater in width are very scarce in the area. 0LUME 59 (2005) • NUMBER 2 201 _ _ — _ Figure 4. Searchers working with the Inventory Project used digital video cameras mounted to tripods in canoes; these cameras were kept in recording mode at all times. Shown is Pawpaw Lake, an area that produced three sight reports of Ivory-billed Woodpecker. pecker at 1203 CDST, a bird flying through the trees on the western side of the lake, about 3 m above the ground and 100 m away, which landed on a snag and moved immediately around to the back side of it. Rohrbaugh saw the dorsal surface well with¬ out binoculars, noting the extensively white remiges, reminiscent of the wing pattern of the smaller Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus). The bird could not be relocated by Rohrbaugh and Brown or by subsequent searcher that day, and Rohrbaugh and Brown did not consider their study of the bird adequate to enter it into the Project database as a positive identi¬ fication of an Ivory-billed Woodpecker. Four days later, on 10 April, Mindy LaBranche, then project leader for Urban Bird Studies at Cornell Lab who had previ¬ ously studied Red-cockaded Woodpeckers ( Picoides borealis ), was sitting in a canoe along the eastern side of Pawpaw Lake when at 1224 CDST she saw what she identified as an Ivory-billed Woodpecker flying eastward above the southern end of the lake and pass¬ ing into a side channel that flows to the east out of that lake. Her field notes, written min¬ utes after the encounter, read; ‘large wood¬ pecker, larger than Pileated; black and red on head; white on trailing edge of upper wing and under wing; crossed Pawpaw [Lake] about 100 m to my south, moving east; no undulation, powerful wingbeat but not fast flight; crown black on top with red crescent behind, held flat against head and back of neck; wings less rounded and with less dark than Pileated; wings seen mostly from top, during downstroke; observed with Swarovski 10 x 42 binoculars for about 7 seconds; conditions overcast with light rain having just ended.” She recorded her level of confidence in the sighting at 99% and pro¬ vided a compelling sketch of the bird in flight. The next day, at 1026 CDST, Melanie Driscoll, project leader for Cornell Lab’s House Finch Disease Survey, saw a bird she identified as an Ivory-billed. It flew south¬ ward across the central portion of a power- line cut north of Pawpaw Lake, in the direc¬ tion of the lake (Figure 1). Her field notes are as follows: Saw large black-and-white bird fly out of trees from north of powerline. Flew south across powerline. My first impression was of a very large, black- and-white bird, with much of body dark and most of the white being on the wings. 1 saw approximately three downstrokes of the wings. On each up¬ stroke, 1 saw a flash of white on the trailing edge; on each downstroke, 1 also saw a large white patch on the trailing edge of the near wing. I also saw a flash of red on the crest but did not see enough detail to detect shape or to see how much of the crest was red. The bird flew straight across, with powerful wingbeats, between 100 and 150 meters to my east. The wingbeats did not seem very deep or very shallow. They were deep enough for me to clear¬ ly see both the upper and the lower surface on each wing beat. The bird seemed a little higher than my line of sight, but because of the distance did not appear at all ‘overhead’. It flew be¬ low the [level of the] canopy, at about one-half the average height of the tupe- lo trees along the powerline edge. It was probably 4-5 m above the water. From where 1 was seated, it was just be¬ yond the second telephone pole east of me. 1 did not see the bill or the tail. My immediate thought, during the first wingbeat 1 saw as the bird emerged from the trees, was Ivory-billed. It was larger than a Pileated and seemed to move in a more stately way. When I got binoculars [10 x 40 Swarovski] to my eyes, I was certain that the wing pattern looked like that of Red-headed Wood¬ pecker, but the bird was much larger. There was also a distinct trace of white along the body [above]. [Shortly there¬ after, Driscoll continued and clarified this last sentence: “the white along the body ran in a narrow stripe down the neck of the bird, along the side, to near¬ ly merge with the white on the wings. The white extended much further than the white on the neck of Pileated Woodpecker.”] There were no sightings through the mid¬ dle of April 2004, but on 25 April, at about 1530 CDST, David Luneau of the University of Arkansas, a professor of electrical engi¬ neering and participant in the Zeiss-spon¬ sored searches for Ivory-billed Woodpecker in Louisiana of 2002, captured a large black- and-white woodpecker on video as it flushed from a tupelo along the Bayou de View, in an area north of the earlier April sightings (Fig¬ ure 1). Although Luneau did not see the bird for more than a few seconds, the video clear¬ ly shows a large woodpecker with the wing pattern typical of Ivory-billed Woodpecker and has been used as the primary evidence in support of the existence of the species in this area (Fitzpatrick et al. 2005, Gallagher 2005). A second observer in Luneau’s boat (Robert Henderson) commented on red on the bird’s head as it flushed, but this color is not evident in the video. The most recent adequately documented encounter occurred on 14 February 2005, when searcher Casey Taylor was stationed at the same powerline cut as mentioned under the 11 April 2004 sighting. Between 1557 and 1610 CST, she heard as many as nine distinctive double-rap sounds, which to her ear matched the territorial rap of Powerful Woodpecker ( Campephilus pollens ), emanat¬ ing from the north side of the east end of the powerline cut. As she advanced on the area of from which the sounds appeared to have come, reviewing the audio portion of the video footage to see if the camera had picked “ 202 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS — Figures 5, 6. During playback experiments and certain other experiments, models of Ivory-billed Woodpecker, both male and female, were placed on trees in an attempt to attract a real one. Because such an experiment has the possibility of disrupting the regular behavior of an Ivory-billed (as is known to be the case with the large Black Woodpecker [Dryocopus martius] of Europe), these experiments were carried out as carefully as possible. These models were carved by Eugene Sparling, Sr. up the sounds, she observed a large black- and-white woodpecker, being pursued by two American Crows (Corvus brachyrhyn- chos), flying across the cut. Her notes are as follows: I could see a distinct, large wood¬ pecker body form and shape, a long, straight bill [color not observed, owing to angle and lighting], and black-and- white plumage. Since the camera was in playback mode, I knew I would not be able to get a good shot in time, so I reached for my binoculars instead. I got them up in time to have a good 2-4- second, clear look at the bird before it got into the trees. My first view was a lateral one, so I could see the head shape, white lines leading down the neck, as well as the smaller, rounder white patches under the wings on the leading edges; and larger blocks of nearly continuous white trailing edges above the wings. The bird, on closer view, appeared to be about the same size as the pursuing crows. As it flew into the trees, it turned enough to give me a perfect dorsal view through my binoculars. I saw a dark body with long, slender wings, which were entire¬ ly black on the leading edge and bright¬ ly white over almost the entire trailing edge of the wings. The bird was in the trees before I could get a clear look at the tail. The crows followed the bird, which by then I was now pretty much confident was an Ivory-billed Wood¬ pecker, into the forest. I kept track of the bird and was able to get another good look through binoculars, which for me [dispelled] any lingering doubt. I was able to see both the leading white edge underneath [and] the white trail¬ ing edge above and below very clearly. As the bird and the crows moved around in the trees, 1 got the camera recording but lost track of the bird. Very soon thereafter (1730), Taylor stud¬ ied a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers in this immediate area, at similar distances, which confirmed her impression that the bird pur¬ sued by crows was not a Pileated. “They were noticeably smaller than [the bird seen earlier] and clearly did not have nearly as much white in the plumage. I could see small white patches in the upper wings [pri¬ mary bases] but the rest of the body was dark, though not as deeply black” as the ear¬ lier bird. Most other sightings of potential Ivory- billeds after April 2004 have been more ten¬ tative in nature, but several observers have had brief views of birds that may well have been an Ivory-billed, and for the sake of completeness, those potential sightings are indicated by dated asterisks in Figure 1. Original field notes and videotaped inter¬ views describing all possible sightings are archived at Cornell Lab of Ornithology; many of these add much to the field notes and will be deposited with state and nation¬ al bird records committee, along with these notes and other evidence. On 4 September 2004, Bobby Harrison deployed a carved decoy of a male Ivory¬ billed Woodpecker on a tupelo trunk and set a video camera “trap” at the site. At approx¬ imately 1254 CDST, he flushed a large woodpecker off the back of a tupelo, and the bird flew in the direction of the decoy and video camera. Checking the videotape, he found that the camera had an image of a large black-and-white bird flying rapidly be¬ hind the decoy. Although this segment of videotape is even shorter and more difficult to analyze than the Luneau videotape, the bird shows mostly white remiges and is cer¬ tainly intriguing. Independently, on the morning of 4 September 2004, Joan Luneau had a sighting of a good candidate for an Ivory-billed flying across the Route 17 bridge across Bayou de View, but the sight¬ ing was again brief. Audio evidence and contacts Few recordings exist of the vocalizations and VOLUME 59 (2005) • NUMBER 2 203 — _ Figure 7. Although very old-growth habitat is patchy in its distribution in the Bayou de View, some areas have a good mix of older second growth, large cull trees, and dead and dying trees. Over 90% of the habitat in Bayou de View is difficult of access. This photograph shows typical habitat in the Bayou, mostly Water Tupelo and Baldcypress. other sounds of Ivory-billed Woodpecker; searchers’ knowledge of the species’ vocal¬ izations were limited to the recordings made by Tanner and Allen in the 1930s (Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds catalogue #6784), and to the written descriptions of early or¬ nithologists. These descriptions include fre¬ quent mention of a double-knock or double¬ rap contact/territorial sound, similar to sounds made by other Campcphilus. On 9 November 2004, over a twelve- minute period (1635-1648 CST), MarshallJ. Iliff, a guide for Victor Emanuel Nature Tours, stationed in an area called “Blue Hole” (Figure 1), heard about 20 “double¬ rap” sounds consistent with the typical terri¬ torial rap of Campcphilus woodpeckers, from locations approximately 150-300 m east and southeast of his position. No woodpecker was observed, and attempts to make sound recordings were unsuccessful because the microphone was switched off. His field notes are as follows: While sitting at “Two Holes”, 1 heard a fairly distant (0.25-0.5 mi away) dou¬ ble-knock, not very crisp. 1 waited, then knocked back, rapped on the side of my plastic kayak, which was very resonant and very closely approximat¬ ed the sound. Within 20 sec, I heard a distinct “bam-bam.” I knocked back again and started to take out the tape deck, the bird knocked two more times before 1 turned on the tape, then once, close, with two distinct rapid raps after I turned on the tape. 1 responded and got another response. In total, 1 heard about 20 raps; one sounded tripled, and one or two sounded like single raps. The bird may have been moving. The first set of double-raps 1 heard came from a point straight out to the east of my position; but then, 30-60 sec later, 3-4 more raps, more distant, came from a point to the southeast. A final series came from the area to my east again. If the same bird was involved in making these raps, then the bird would have had to have moved some 0.25-0.5 mi, minimally, between sites, which is possible, but it is also possible that more than one bird was involved. Dur¬ ing the encounter, I heard various sin¬ gle knocks in the swamp, more distant, and these distracted me on several oc¬ casions, but when the real double¬ knock came, 1 recognized it instantly. I have heard Campcphilus in Mexico and Central America, including Pale¬ billed [C. guatcmalcnsis ], Crimson- crested [C. mclanoleucus], and Crim¬ son-bellied [C. hacmatogastcr] . These sounds [I heard at Blue Hole] remind¬ ed me very much of Pale-billed or Crimson-crested knocks (the Crimson- bellieds I heard gave consistently tripled knocks) — two, very rapid, reso¬ nant knocks that are very closely spaced together. In trying to imitate it, I cannot quite rap fast enough with one hand to simulate the spacing: while knocking back to the bird, 1 used two hands to try to more closely approxi¬ mate the correct spacing. Compared to Pale-billed and Crimson-crested, these knocks were, if any different, even louder. When the sound was at its clos¬ est, it was very sharp and loud. I have not had the same impression of force when hearing other Campephilus species. Other woodpeckers were drumming all around the site. Pileated was most commonly heard, all giving their typi¬ cal, rolling, rapid-fire drum. Other drums sounded like Hairy [ Picoides vil- losus], Downy [P pubesccns ], and Red- bellied [Mclanerpes carolinensis]\ earli¬ er in the day, a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker [ Sphyrapicus varius] had drummed. It was a good day for drum¬ ming woodpeckers, significantly warmer than 8 Nov. I considered the possibility that the sounds might be gunshots, but in no instance did I feel that at gun could be a possible source of the sounds. I had heard gunshots in the distance occa¬ sionally during the day, and these sounded like they hung in the air longer, perhaps echoed more, and were not as crisp as the sharp, resonant dou¬ ble-raps. The double-raps gave the dis¬ tinct impression of being on wood, and thus the sound ended abruptly, where¬ as the gunshots seemed to reverberate more. Furthermore, I would not expect gunshots to be so consistently doubled. Iliff later noted that in later exploration of the area, he identified the area from which most of the sounds emanated as being “at or slightly west of a secondary channel that runs east of the woods [east of the north end of Blue Hole], On our 10 November search, we found several snags that could serve as drumming sites. In locating an edge of open field where hunting occurs, I judged the sounds to have been half again closer than the closest point of that field [to Blue Hole].” The area of the encounter is 4 km northeast of the Route 17 bridge, and older-growth tu- pelo-cypress habitat in this area is very sim¬ ilar to that in the area of the February 2004 sightings (Figure 7). As a part of the search effort that began shortly after Iliff’s encounter, the Cornell Lab mounted Autonomous Recording Units (ARUs) in up to 18 locations, including Blue Hole. Although analyses of recorded sounds are still ongoing, acoustic signatures of sounds that closely match Campephilus dou¬ ble-rap have been detected from the Blue Hole area on the evening of 24 and 26 De¬ cember and morning of 25 December 2004, a time when searchers had taken holiday. All of these detections are of isolated, single double-raps, which is not impossible if the drum signals were given by established paired birds, but a series of double-raps would more readily exclude the possibility of a mechanical source of the sound. The Christmas double raps were recorded during 204 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS a spell of cold weather with little bird activi¬ ty, and one was recorded earlier in the pre¬ dawn than seems likely for a large wood¬ pecker to have been active. On 7 September 2004, Tim Barksdale con¬ ducted playback experiments in an area very near the February 2004 sightings. Barksdale reported two double-raps in response to the Ivory-billed recordings, given from high in the canopy at a distance of approximately 120-150 m. Due to the heavy vegetation, the bird was not clearly observed, but Barksdale believed that the sounds were produced by Ivory-billed Woodpecker. In addition, three double-raps were heard just west of Robe Bayou (Figure 1) by Casey Taylor and Matthew Sarver between 1710 and 1735 CST on 7 March 2005, and Barksdale again reported a double-rap response at Blue Hole at 1610 CST on 17 March 2005, again with no visual contact with the bird. An ARU there did not pick up this double-rap, but it did record three bird calls at Blue Hole the same evening, spectrographic analysis of which shows patterns consistent with the typical kent call of Ivory-billed Woodpecker. Few other observers have heard such calls in Bayou de View. Following up on Casey Tay¬ lor’s 14 February sighting, however, David Luneau and Timothy Spahr, an astrophysi¬ cist at Harvard University, heard and record¬ ed several kent-like calls at the east end of the powerline cut on 15 February 2005 at 0730 CST, and Sarver and Elliott Swarthout, Project Leader for the Bayou de View area, heard a kent- like call about 500 m away from this site at 0918 CST that day. Other ob¬ servers have reported single double-rap sounds in the Bayou de View, but in some cases, these sounds have been traced to trees knocking together, to Red-bellied Wood¬ peckers or to Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers. The sources of some such sounds, however, have not been determined. The results of the ARU studies, once completed, will be published elsewhere. DISCUSSION Our analysis of all available evidence con¬ vinces us that at minimum one Ivory-billed Woodpecker was present in Bayou de View within the Cache River National Wildlife Refuge between February 2004 and Febru¬ ary 2005. The provenance and ecological re¬ quirements of this bird remain unknown, despite over 22,000 hours of varied and in¬ tensive search efforts in the Cache River and White River National Wildlife Refuges. Based on the ecological requirements of this species outlined by past authors, it is possi¬ ble that the individual observed in Bayou de View was a transient, perhaps reaching the area from more extensive bottomland forests to the south. It is equally possible that the VOLUME 59 (2005) • NUMBER tings • {SPECIAL SECTIO —MFicraiiiV 4 ss area of Bayou de View in which sightings have been reported is one section of a vast but stable home range, a section that was more frequently visited in 2004 than 2005. It seems likely that the patchy distribution of older-growth forests in the Bayou de View area might provide an occasional food source for the species, allowing the bird(s) to forage for a time in the area before mov¬ ing on. That this species apparently exploit¬ ed ephemeral resources perhaps explains the relatively tight cluster of sight records in the first half of 2004. Tanner (1942) postulates that Ivory¬ billed Woodpeckers breed for just a few years in one area before moving on, wan¬ dering as individuals or pairs in search of resources adequate for foraging and breed¬ ing. In the Singer Tract of Louisiana, Tanner (1942) remarked upon Ivory-billed’s ten¬ dency to forage in areas of wooded swamp usually referred to the upper part or back¬ waters of the “first bottom.” The lower part of the first bottom are covered with water year-round and generally comprised of cy- press-tupelo forest, whereas the backwater areas, which are covered with water only part of the year, are dominated by Sweet Gum ( Liquidambar styraciflua ) and various oaks, especially Nuttalls Oak ( Quercus nut- tallii) over much of the lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley. Tanner (1942) also re¬ marked that the species appeared to spend some time foraging in the “second bot¬ toms” (dominated by oak-hickory forest) bordering the first bottoms and relatively little time in the lowest part of the first bot¬ toms. Thus it is entirely possible, perhaps even likely, that the bird observed in Bayou de View spends most of its time elsewhere, such as in oak-gum habitats, or that it wan¬ ders widely. The largest historical popula¬ tions of Ivory-billeds, which were docu¬ mented in Florida, were in fact found in cypress bottoms (Tanner 1942). If any as¬ pect of the species’ natural history provides hope for Ivory-billed Woodpecker’s contin¬ ued presence in the bottomland forests of the southeastern United States, it is it mo¬ bility and its apparent flexibility in habitat usage. Historically, Ivory-billed Woodpecker was an inhabitant of old-growth bottomland forests and wooded swamps in eastern Arkansas (James and Neal 1986), in the Mis¬ sissippi Alluvial Plain in the two ecoregions defined as Northern Backswamps and Northern Holocene Meander Belts (Bailey et al. 1994). James and Neal (1986) note records as follows: 5 together, about one mile south of the mouth of the Arkansas Riv¬ er mouth, Chico County, 14 December 1820; 2 singles (male, female), near Marked Tree, Poinsett County, 1888-1889; and one or more around Osceola, Mississippi Coun¬ ty, in 1887 and Helena, Phillips County, as late as 1910. A column called “Yell” in Field & Stream magazine (1885) also reports that the species could be found in the nineteenth century around Newport in Jackson County. Tanner (1942) lists older, less specific re¬ ports of the species along the Canadian Riv¬ er in 1820, the Arkansas River in 1850, and in northeastern Arkansas in 1888. Of the five extant specimens with Arkansas labels, none has clear data on locality or date (Jack- son 2002). Tanner (1942) visited the White River bottomlands briefly in June and Au¬ gust 1938 but could find no evidence of the species and little habitat for it; thus, the last historical report of Ivory-billed Woodpecker in Arkansas in the twentieth century comes from about 1910. In more recent times, there have been sight reports of the species in Arkansas. Harold Hagar, a hunter and naturalist living in Tuckerman, Arkansas (north of Newport) reported seeing two Ivory-billeds near Diaz, in the Village Creek floodplain in October 1985 (J. Neal, in litt.). This location is be¬ tween the White and the Cache River drainages and is comprised of bottomland hardwood swamp with scattered Baldcy- press. It was searched by Joe Neal, Nigel Ball, and their families on 27 December 1986, but no Ivory-billeds were found (J. Neal, in litt.). There are also reports from neighboring Louisiana from 22 May 1971, 11 November 1974, and 1 April 1999, the latter a close observation of a perched pair (Jackson 2002). Arkansas birders conduct¬ ed unsuccessful follow-up searches in 1986-1987, and Jackson (2002) searched southeastern Arkansas in 1986 and 1988, also without finding evidence of the species there. In January and March 2003, David Luneau, Guy Luneau, Bob Russell, Mary Scott, and others (pers. comm.) independ¬ ently searched the White River National Wildlife Refuge, one year after the formal search of the Pearl River Wildlife Manage¬ ment Area north of Slidell, Louisiana (Knight et al. 2002, Fitzpatrick 2002) had ended, and although bark scaling and cavi¬ ties indicated the presence of large wood¬ peckers in the area, only Pileated Wood¬ peckers were documented with certainty, though Scott privately described seeing a fe¬ male Ivory-billed on 10 March 2003 (Gal¬ lagher 2005; T. Gallagher, pers. comm.). There is still a tremendous amount to learn about Ivory-billed Woodpecker, and both skill and luck will be needed to ob¬ serve this apparently wary species. Quietly paddling a canoe through the Bayou de View, one quickly realizes the enormity and complexity of the tupelo-cypress swamps and the difficulty of surveying their avifau- 2 205 na. Pileated Woodpeckers are common, easily heard and seen, often showing them¬ selves as semaphore-like glimpses of black and white flying off into the forest. Stem density is extraordinarily high in some ar¬ eas, and birding the area is difficult, espe¬ cially away from main channels in the bay¬ ou. Thus the habitat and retiring habits of the birds combine to provide fleeting and distant views in many cases, even of com¬ moner species. The Ivory-billed Wood¬ peckers) apparently present in this loca¬ tion managed to elude a team of 20+ researchers conducting field work from dusk until dawn. Single birds were ob¬ served only briefly in flight, suggesting that the species is difficult to detect while feed¬ ing, perhaps being best looked for at dawn and dusk when it likely moves some dis¬ tance across open areas (e.g., along water channels, or over tree tops) to reach feed¬ ing areas and roost cavities. Somewhat sur¬ prising was that most reports of Ivory¬ billed that were recorded during the search fell between 1100 and 1400 hrs, a time when little activity would be expected. Per¬ haps the species occasionally makes longer flights at midday after a mornings feeding in one area. Tim Spahr, an Ivory-billed searcher and Harvard astrophysicist who specializes in asteroid movements and the calculation of rare events, created an algo¬ rithm based both on James Tanners de¬ scription of the daily movements of the species in the Singer Tract and on the habi¬ tat in Bayou de View. By his calculations, a single Ivory-billed occupying that area could manage to avoid detection by 20 ob¬ servers indefinitely1. The Future With the announcement of Arkansas’s Ivory¬ billed Woodpecker to the public, we enter a new phase of inventory and research in which birders will play a crucial role. As the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service puts together the endangered species recovery team that will chart the future for conservation efforts on behalf of this great bird, the federal and state agencies are also intent on providing real viewing opportunities for birders who care to visit the Big Woods region. While ac¬ cess to the main Bayou de View channel on Cache River N.W.R. is temporarily restricted (including all areas noted in Figure 1; see ), ac¬ cess points have been created on adjacent Dagmar Wildlife Management Area, and the nearby White River N.W.R. remains open to visitors. Birders should check web sites of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for up¬ dates on access and other possible restric¬ tions. Birders should also be aware that these areas are usually open for hunting and should check agency web sites for hunting dates and locations and plan their trips ac¬ cordingly. National Wildlife Refuge staff is developing plans for towers, boardwalks, and other safe viewing opportunities for birders, and hopefully these will be in place by winter 2005-2006. Birders searching for the species should be prepared to present documentation for all sightings, and carrying a video camera is highly recommended, even crucial. The Ivory-billed Woodpecker apparently fre¬ quenting Bayou de View represents perhaps the most endangered species on earth, and, as with any rare bird, compelling evidence will be needed to confirm any report. Docu¬ mentation in the form of “sight records” of this species has of course not been consid¬ ered acceptable by records committees or or¬ nithologists for many decades, and even still photographs have been discounted as evi¬ dence. Although sight reports are of interest, confirmation by photograph — especially videotape — is considered the sine qua non of Ivory-billed reports. There are many areas that still hold promise for the continued existence of this species, especially given its recent discovery in a relatively unknown and small tract of previously cutover bottomland forest in Arkansas. Nesting Ivory-billeds have been noted to move long distances in order to lo¬ cate foraging resources in their home range; however, the extent of a single bird’s move¬ ments during the non-breeding season is a matter of speculation. It is likely that a species such as the Ivory-billed, which spe¬ cializes on the ephemeral resources of new¬ ly dead or dying trees, could move long dis¬ tances in its search for food, thus allowing it to disperse widely into what little suitable habitat remains. With this in mind, birders can help by searching for the species in ar¬ eas that still hold promise. Rather than con¬ centrating solely on the Bayou de View, where a large amount of disturbance will al¬ most certainly do more hard than good (and where teams of researchers will already be present), birders might focus on other areas of interest that require extensive search ef¬ forts, including Apalachicola, Florida (see article this issue) and the older-growth bot¬ tomlands of South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, and Louisiana. A preliminary list of such places can be found in Jerome Jack¬ son’s In Search of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker (Smithsonian Books, 2002). Areas worthy of search include the Big Cypress and Faka- hatchee Strand, the Gulf Hammock/Wacas- sassa/Suwannee River areas, and the Apalachicola River basin, all in Florida; the Pearl River basin and the Homochitto Na¬ tional Forest/Three Rivers area (Mississippi and Louisiana); the Delta National Forest (Mississippi); the Atchafalaya River basin (Louisiana); and the Congaree Swamp and vicinity (South Carolina). The search for the Ivory-billed Wood¬ pecker is not over. Plans are being assembled for a second season of intensive fieldwork in the Bayou de View and in White River N.W.R. from November 2005 through April 2006. This effort will involve a crew of full¬ time searchers and biologists, as well as ro¬ tating crews of volunteer searchers. In addi¬ tion, Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Audubon Arkansas will be coordinating the efforts of other visiting birders, and we will be creating an eBird-like web site where birders can report where they looked, what they saw, and upload any supporting notes or photographs of possible Ivory-billeds. We hope that in the coming years, more and more birders will have the opportunity to look for and, with luck, find an Ivory-billed Woodpecker, and that the sum of this newly focused attention will contribute measura¬ bly to our knowledge of this noble bird and ultimately to its recovery. Literature cited Bailey, R. G., P E. Avers, T. King, and W. H. McNab (eds.). 1994. Ecoregions and sub- regions of the United States (map; scale 1:7,500,000). Washington, D.C., U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agri¬ culture. Fitzpatrick, J. 2002. Ivory-bill absent from sounds of the bayous. Bird Scope 16.3: 1. Fitzpatrick, J.W., M. Lammertink, M. D. Luneau, Jr., T. W. Gallagher, B. R. Harri¬ son, G. M. Sparling, K. V. Rosenberg, R. W. Rohrbaugh, E. C. H. Swarthout, P. H. Wrege, S. B. Swarthout, M. S. Dantzker, R. A. Charif, T. R. Barksdale, J. V Remsen, Jr., S. D. Simon, and D. Zollner. 2005. Ivory-billed Woodpecker ( Campephilus principalis ) persists in continental North America. Science 308: 1460-1462. Jackson, J. A. 2002. In Search of the Ivory¬ billed Woodpecker. Smithsonian Books, Washington, D. C. James, D. A., andj. C. Neal. 1886. Arkansas Birds: Their Distribution and Abundance. University of Arkansas Press, Fayetteville. Knight, R. L., J. M. Lammertink, M. D. Luneau, Jr., P. McBride, A. R. Styring, and A. Wormington. 2002. Report for the Zeiss Search for the Ivory-billed Wood¬ pecker in 2002. Published online at: . Tanner, J. T. 1942. The Ivory-billed Wood¬ pecker: Research Report No. 1 of the Na¬ tional Audubon Society. New York, Na¬ tional Audubon Society. “Yell.” 1885. The big woodpecker. Forest & Stream 24: 407. 206 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS ■ . Ethical Considerations for Seekers of Ivory-billed Woodpecker: Specific Applications and Amplifications of the ABA Code of Ethics Birders reading the account of the Arkansas Ivory-billed Woodpecker will undoubtedly ponder the possibility of conducting small- scale searches of their own for the species. While the desire to travel straight to Bayou de View in hopes of glimpsing the bird might be strong, it is important to note the extreme sensitivity of the conservation ef¬ fort in this location. The fragility of the sit¬ uation cannot be overstated, as we know es¬ sentially nothing about the conservation of this species — even whether it still persists in eastern Arkansas. Birders must exercise the very highest degree of ethical behavior when visiting the area and understand the serious potential consequences of inappro¬ priate and unethical behavior. The area in which this bird was reported has been little disturbed by human activity in recent decades, and large numbers of people visit¬ ing this area could seriously threaten its foothold in Bayou de View. A deluge of vis¬ itors could drive the bird away from the habitat where it appears to visit at least oc¬ casionally and could damage relations with local refuge managers, fishermen, hunters, and others. We are obliged in this situation to observe the very highest ethical stan¬ dards and use clear-headed common sense, whether in the field or in contact with local people. The First Article of the American Birding Association’s “Code of Birding Ethics” reads “Promote the welfare of birds and their en¬ vironment,” and under this general head¬ ing, Article lb reads “never use such meth¬ ods [audio lures, playback, tape recordings] for attracting any species that is Threatened, Endangered, or of Special Concern.” This cannot be stated any more clearly, but in the Bayou de View area, one could also add: “Do not make vocal or mechanical imita¬ tions of the calls or raps of Ivorv-billed Woodpeckers: do not knock on trees in im¬ itation of the species. Do not place any item in the habitat that serves as a lure, such as a decoy or model, food item, or other attrac- tant.” Article lc, which treats the matter of publicizing rare birds, reads: “Before adver¬ tising the presence of a rare bird, evaluate the potential for disturbance to the bird, its surroundings, and other people in the area, and proceed only if access can be con¬ trolled, disturbance minimized, and permis¬ sion has been obtained from private land- owners. The sites of rare nesting birds should be divulged only to the proper con¬ servation authorities.” It is this clear, simple ethical principle that guided the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and The Nature Conser¬ vancy to keep confidential its findings for almost 15 months — the time needed to re¬ search the habitat and presence of the woodpecker, formulate plans for conserving the area, and inform federal authorities of their findings and recommendations. Gen¬ uine concern for habitat disturbance (Arti¬ cle Id) also undergirded the decision to maintain confidentiality regarding the find¬ ings. Anyone so fortunate as to find the bird, especially in a roost site, should in¬ form only designated authorities — not fel¬ low birders. For those who do visit Arkansas, Article 2 of the Code of Ethics reads: “Respect the law and the rights of others.” This means not just property rights and the regulations in various refuges and wildlife management areas (Articles 2a, 2b) but also the stipula¬ tions of the Endangered Species Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Even the slight¬ est action interpretable as harassment could have serious legal consequences, including jail time and fines. Article 2c emphasizes “common courtesy in contacts with other people. Your exemplary behavior will gen¬ erate goodwill with birders and non-birders alike.” In an area where ecotourists and birders are rarities, the local citizens have a right to expect dignified, considerate behav¬ ior on the part of visitors to their favorite fishing holes and restaurants alike. We must, as birders, consider every action we take and exercise an extreme of “common sense”: parking cars in a way that mini¬ mizes inconvenience for others; keeping voices down in areas where others are watching or fishing; perhaps even wearing clothes that blend in to the environment, so as not to startle the woodpecker if we come across it. There is so much at stake here. Viola¬ tions of the ethical guidelines laid out above could result in the disorientation or demise of the woodpecker; in the closure to the public of certain areas; and in legal ac¬ tions against violators or even against agen¬ cies involved in protection of the habitat and the woodpecker. We may have but one reprieve, one last chance to learn more about a species on the verge of extinction, and we cannot, as a birding community and as a species, fail this bird again. There is simply no room for misbehavior in this case. If visiting in groups, birders should make absolutely certain that each member of the group understands the ethical imper¬ atives involved and agrees to help others in the group abide by them. In the event, however, that someone witnesses a viola¬ tion of the Code of Ethics or of federal law, that person has an ethical obligation to ad¬ dress the situation immediately. Article 4b of the Code reads: If you witness unethical birding behavior, assess the situation, and intervene if you think it prudent. When interceding, inform the person(s) of the in¬ appropriate action, and attempt, within reason, to have it stopped. If the behavior continues, docu¬ ment it, and notify appropriate individuals or or¬ ganizations. On the positive side of this fragile equa¬ tion, birders can dearly be of immense help in documenting Ivory-billed Woodpeckers in the United States, as the number or eyes and ears searching for the species will doubtlessly increase the likelihood of its de¬ tection and documentation. How can we as birders best contribute our resources to the search effort? How can we harness the fire that burns for this species within the collec¬ tive hearts of birders and scientists to help rediscover a species at once so magnificent that it inspired every person who beheld it and yet was so thoughtlessly erased from our avifauna? The skill and determination of the birding community can surely be of great value in preserving the species and its habitat: after all, there have been no obser¬ vations, despite thousands of hours of field work in the area, of a foraging Ivory-billed Woodpecker, not even so much as a clear photograph that would tell us the sex of the bird or birds. 0 In winter and spring 2005-2006, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, along with its partners in the Big Woods Conservation Partnership, will again be con¬ ducting systematic searches for the Ivory-billed Woodpecker in the Cache River and White River for¬ est systems of Arkansas. We will be staffing our re¬ search team with trained field biologists and volun¬ teer birders. If you are interested in applying for a paid position or for a volunteer spot, please see for details. Birding tours of the area may soon be offered — see . For those cu¬ rious to read more about the species' history, and hopefully its future, see , which also has film footage of the woodpecker and researchers from the 1935 Cornell expedition to the Singer Tract in Louisiana. VOLUME 59 (2005) • NUMBER 2 207 Once again, now in the twenty-first century, an Ivory-billed Woodpecker has been reported in North America, this time in Arkansas. The last verified photograph of the species comes from 1948, in Cuba, and we are hopeful that the most recent reports will spur birders to seek out and document this species with photographs in the southern United States. Nearly all reports of Ivory-billeds pertain to its smaller relative, Pileated Woodpecker. To help ob¬ servers distinguish the two, David Sibley has painted these new images (July 2005) from specimens, film footage, and still photographs. Many of the familiar field marks from the old field guides are here, but note the striking difference in the shapes of these species, both in flight and perched. The “jizz” of Ivory-billeds in direct flight has been compared to Northern Pintails, even Common Loons — so long are their bodies and wings. Male Ivory-billed Woodpecker Dorsal view Female Ivory-billed Woodpecker Male Pileated Woodpecker Dorsal view Female Pileated Woodpecker Male Ivory-billed Woodpecker Dorsal view Male Pileated Woodpecker Dorsal view Male Ivory-billed Woodpecker Ventral view Male Pileated Woodpecker Ventral view VOLUME 59 (2005) • NUMBER 2 209 3 Wildlife Management Area. Twenty-five person-days were spent in late winter 2003 in forested habitats that were identified as having potential for this species, chiefly in hammock or bottomland areas, although five days were spent in pinewoods. No cer¬ tain evidence of Ivory-billed Woodpeckers was obtained, but the habitat appeared to hold potential, with an abundance of large trees, dead and dying trees, and Pileated Woodpeckers (Dryocopu s pileatus). Background and effort From 13 January through 3 March 2003, 25 full person-days were spent by myself, sometimes accompanied by Greg Spahr or Jim Fitzpatrick, in forested habitats that were identified as having potential for Ivory-billed Woodpecker ( Campephilus principalis ), chiefly in hammock or bot¬ tomland areas but also in pinewoods in the Apalachicola drainage and vicinity in the Florida panhandle. Search activity gener¬ ally consisted of arriving at specific areas in the morning to listen for woodpecker activity for the first hour or so after sun¬ rise. After this, we walked transects, look¬ ing and listening for evidence of large woodpeckers, specifically large roost holes and scaled trees, and counting Pileated Woodpeckers ( Dryocopus pileatus). While most of the time was spent in the bottom¬ land habitats, parts of five days were spent investigating the more upland pine forests. Two days were spent canoeing the Apalachicola River and Chipola River, eval¬ uating habitat and looking and listening for large woodpeckers. The areas visited were selected primarily for historical reasons. Ivory-billed Wood¬ peckers continued to be reported from the Apalachicola River basin well after the species had ceased to be reported from other parts of the species’ range. Sight reports of the species that we feel simply cannot be discounted (but for which we know of no Timothy Spahr Harvard— Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics 60 Garden Street Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138 (email: tspahr@cfa.harvard.edu) ABSTRACT This paper summarizes searches for evi¬ dence of Ivory-billed Woodpecker (Campephilus principalis ) in the western Florida counties of Gulf, Liberty, Wakulla, Franklin, and Calhoun, particularly in larger tracts of older-growth bottomland forest within the Apalachicola National Forest, Apalachicola River Wildlife and Environmental Area, and Apalachicola Ivory-billed Woodpeckers, male (right) and female; specimens in the collections of the United States National Museum. Photograph by Greg Spahr. 210 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS Figure 1. Areas searched on foot, by car, and by canoe in the Apalachicola River basin and adjacent areas of western Florida in 2003. The shaded areas were explored piecemeal, as road and river access per¬ mitted. Single arrow on the Brothers River and double arrows west of Red Hill indicate approximate locations of Ivory-billed Woodpeckers reported by local people in recent years. Map by Virginia Maynard. corroborative photographs, recordings, or other physical evidence) were made at mul¬ tiple locations in the 1930s through the early 1950s, including: at least two birds reported by George Van Hyning somewhere in the “Wakulla Resettlement Project” in 1936-1937, a vast area that is now largely designated Apalachicola National Forest (Tanner 1942); a nesting pair found by a local guide known as Kelso and reported by Whitney Eastman and others at Scotts Ferry, Calhoun County, along the Chipola River from March 1949 through at least early 1951 (Finlay 1950, Crompton 1950, East¬ man 1958, Stevenson and Anderson 1994); one reported by Alexander Sprunt, Jr. in early March 1952 in the same general area (Cokinos 2000); and one seen in flight across Route 363 between St. Marks and Wakulla [Station], Wakulla County by Sam Grimes and Roy Hallman on 10 July 1952 (Stevenson and Anderson 1994, Jackson 2002). Between 1953 and 2002, there have been eight brief searches in this area for Ivory-billeds of which I am aware: one in 1967 (Sykes 1967, in Jackson 2004); four between 1970 and 1975 by Lucy and Bob Duncan; and three in 1987-1988 (Jackson 2004). None of these searches produced a report of the species. Four post-1952 reports of Ivory-billed Woodpecker in Florida come from widely separated areas: Jefferson County (1959; one bird 2.6 km west of the Aucilla River, reported by William Rhein; Jackson 2002); Citrus County (9 April 1955; a pair 12.8 km south of Homosassa Springs reported by John K. Terres; Jackson 2002); west of Sebring, Highlands County (11 different dates 1967-1969; two birds on a private ranch, reported by H. Norton Agey, George Heinzmann, and party; Agey and Heinz- mann 1971a, 1971b; Dennis 1979; Steven¬ son and Anderson 1994); and Martin County (30 April 1985; one male at Jonathan Dickinson State Park, watched for 15 minutes at very close range; reported by Dennis G. Garratt; Jackson 2004). A sight report in Okaloosa County (28 August 1966; a pair reportedly observed scaling dead pine trees for 16 minutes near the margins of Eglin Air Force Base, reported by Bedford R Brown, Jr., and Jef¬ frey R. Sanders; Dennis 1979) remains unsupported. Specific data that include date and location are not available for sev¬ eral other word-of-mouth Florida sightings (apparently in the counties of Collier and Polk) mentioned in Jackson (2004). Spe¬ cific data on a pair said to be on a private ranch in central Florida in 1974 have never been published; the late Hal Scott and the late Henry M. Stevenson, who knew the location, did not discuss it openly. As is the case elsewhere, all sight reports of the species from Florida have been regarded with appropriate skepticism by the ornithological community. In addition to the obvious criterion of a prospective search site’s proximity to past sight reports, we considered the size, type, and age of forest parcels; if evidence of extensive recent tree mortality was found, whether owing to insect infestations, wind throw, or fires, we privileged such areas in VOLUME 59 (2005) • NUMBER 2 211 . - , . . . . . . . . . . ■ . . . . . ■ _ particular. Public, protected lands were chosen largely for the ease of obtaining permission to them; however, in many southern states, over half the forested land¬ scape is in private ownership. (For the pur¬ poses of this paper, a “protected area” is defined here as simply as land owned by the state or federal government, to include entities designated as National Forest, National Wildlife Refuge, State Forest, and Wildlife Management Area; “protected” is not meant to imply that consumptive activ¬ ities such as logging do not take place on these lands, just that they are not privately owned.) We used several web-based resources to narrow our search further: •Terraserver () • Earth Explorer () • Map of National Forests and Grasslands () • Forested Land Distribution Data (now no longer available) • The U.S. Forest Service’s Timber Products Mapmaker () We identified Apalachicola National Forest as having all the desired attributes: reports of the species from the mid-twenti¬ eth century; extensive forested land (228,639 ha), including both extensive areas of bottomland hardwoods and pinewoods, some stands being over 60 years old, with several large, recently burned areas (especially around the Brad- well Bay Wilderness, burned as recently as 1998) and wind throws (apparently from Hurricane Kate in 1985); and relative accessibility. There are two major geologic regions — the Woodville Karst Plain and the Apalachicola Coastal Lowlands (or “Flat Woods”) — that break the National Forest into eastern and western sections, respec¬ tively, the former characterized by a thick layer of surface sand above a layer of lime¬ stone, the latter having a thick layer of sandy clay and peat between the sandy soil and underlying limestone (Mitchell et al., in ms.). The high water table keeps surface areas mostly wet, and travel on foot is moderately to very difficult in bottomland hardwood swamps, and there are areas of soft substrate that can give way quickly underfoot. Most of the hardwood forests are associated with the Apalachicola River, in the Karst Plain; the Ochlockonee River and Sopchoppy River are also large enough to have associated floodplains with hard¬ wood corridors up to 2 km wide. The Apalachicola floodplain is 5-10 km wide and 50-100 km long in the areas of pro¬ tected habitat, and perhaps more is avail¬ able in the upper part and extreme lower areas (also protected) where several rivers eventually discharge into bays of the Gulf of Mexico. Pockets of hardwoods are spo¬ radic but widespread in the low-lying areas within the pine forests. Riparian areas are relatively easy to access by landings and launches, but only a small portion (far less than 1%) of potential habitat in the National Forest can be surveyed comfort¬ ably by watercraft. Travel in pairs or in small parties is essential for safety reasons. After defining our search areas (Figure 1), we privileged searches in hardwood areas near rivers, as most of the sightings in this area were made in such habitats. In the bot¬ tomland areas, Water Tupelos (Nyssa aquat- ica ) and various oaks ( Quercus spp.) are most common, followed closely by Baldcy- press ( Taxodium distichum). Sweet Gums ( Liquidambar styraciflua), maples ( Acer spp.), bayberry ( Myrica ), and Magnolia trees are also common in areas that are not per¬ manently inundated. American Elm (Ubnus americana ) is present in several locations. Hackberry (Celt is spp.) is apparently rare. The largest trees are large, hollow Baldcy- presses, likely cull trees from historic har¬ vests. Other than these, Laurel Oak (Quercus laurifolia ) and Water Oak (Q. palustris ) are the most common large trees, averaging about 0.8 m dbh (diameter at breast height), and often found clustered on higher ground. These oak groves usually appear deep in the bottomlands but in slightly drier areas called second bottoms. The eastern shore of Forbes Island (see Figure 1) has a conspicuous grove of large Nuttall’s Oaks (Q. nuttallii). The western shore of the Brother’s River has a grove of large Swamp White Oak (Q. bicolor ). (In both cases, “large” means approximately 0.75 m dbh.) River Birch (Betula nigra ) was present along a few of the rivers, and these trees were noted to be dying extensively in several areas. Most of the trees in the bottomlands appeared to average perhaps 0.4-0. 5 m dbh, but this quantification simply repre¬ sents our best effort to estimate dbh of trees (few of which were actually meas¬ ured) while searching for woodpeckers. There are numerous trees in the 0.2 m dbh range, and these were noted to be closely spaced and dying at a fairly high rate. Occasional trees >0.8 m dbh were noted, most of them oaks. A few pockets of larger trees, mostly tupelos, oaks, and cypresses were found along the western shore of the Brother’s River. These trees averaged roughly 0.6-0. 8 m dbh. A few stands of old-looking mixed forest and hammock were found within 2 km of the Sopchoppy River. Pines >1 m dbh were mixed with large cypress trees, and very large water oaks and laurel oaks of >2 m dbh were also recorded. However, little of this area around the Sopchoppy River was searched. Some virgin forest may remain in small areas, but this is probably unlikely. It is notoriously difficult, as Tanner (1942) noted, to get accurate information on log¬ ging history on small scales and thus to arrive at estimates of stand age without core-sampling the trees. A reasonable aver¬ age for hardwood stands, however, is prob¬ ably about 60 years, with very small pock¬ ets of forest perhaps 80-100 years old. Pine forests cover about three-fourths of the National Forest, largely Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris ) and Slash Pine (P. elliottii), and many stands can be credited to refor¬ estation projects undertaken by the U.S. Forest Service. The pines average 0.3-0. 5 m dbh, with much variation. Some trees are planted in rows, evidence of the timber industry that was active in the area. Also, there are natural stands in a few places of trees averaging 0.6 m dbh or greater. Pines are dying at what seemed to us to be a tremendous rate in several areas (we did not attempt to quantify this rate). The prac¬ tice of prescribed burning of the entire area every 5-6 years has been practiced on behalf of wildlife and forest heath, and researchers, especially those studying Red- cockaded Woodpeckers (Picoides borealis ) in pinewoods, have carefully studied the relations between the species and fires (e.g., James et al. 2001). In areas where trees were planted close together, fires appear to have made weaker trees more susceptible to damage by beetles and fungi. In the pine forests, >40 years is probably a good value for stand age, with some areas probably exceeding 100 years old. If Ivory-billeds are present in the National Forest, it seems likely that they would forage in pines, espe¬ cially when stands are dying. There are sev¬ eral reports of Ivory-billeds in Florida scal¬ ing pine trees (Jackson 2002, 2004), and the species frequented pine forests in Cuba (Garrido and Kirkconnell 2000). Some sources (e.g., Tanner [1942]) are quite vague as to sighting locations, and it was necessary to research the history of the area and some locality names that do not exist on modern maps. The area that is now Apalachicola National Forest was deeded to John Forbes & Co. by the Semi¬ nole Indians in 1803-1804 and remained in private hands in the nineteenth through the early twentieth century. Between 1913 and 1927, the Graves Brothers Lumber Company clear-cut much of this area, but enough trees were retained to regenerate the second forest that occurs there today (Mitchell et al., in ms.). In 1930, after 212 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS &2UJL4iiag lus V/iiiiii A very rare resident of old-growth hardwood forest (especially oak-sweet gum forest) and long-leaf pine savanna, where it feeds mainly on beetle larvae obtained by peeling sheets of bark from recently dead trees. Usually in pairs year-round. Ivory-billed Woodpecker Campephilus principalis L 19 " WS 33" WT 18 Oz (520g) Larger and more slender than Pileated, with thinner wings, longer and more pointed tail, and longer neck. All white secondaries and pale bill distinctive. * Flight similar to Pileated hut more direct, stead) with rowing winghcats and no undulation swooping up to land; slender shape may recall ducks such as Northern Pintail. adult (J) all w hite secondaries and inner primaries adult 0" extensive red crest adult Q broad white hand on trailing edge of upperwing # Extensive bark-peeling is characteristic Ivory-bill foraging sign. Also, less often, excavates insects in wood of dead trees. Nest hole nearly round, like Pileated hut slightly larger. * Juveniles similar to adult female, hut with dark iris, shorter crest, and white tips on all primaries. Gradually develops adult characteristics, and male gradually develops red crest, within a few months. adult Q * Active und energetic, with "spirited" movements. When ulort leans hack with neck extended und swings whole body abruptly from side to side, privoting on long tail and flicking the wings with each swing. Mows nimbly up and down trees with spring)' movements. curved and pointed black crest, two white stripes converge on lower buck, entirely white secondaries obvious at rest, white stripe on neck does not reach bill, pale ivory-white bill, whitish eye, gloss)’ black body Voice: Common call a hursh, nasal kent reminiscent of the call of the Red-breasted Nuthatch but much stronger; may be single or doubled und given repeatedly kent, kent-kent, kent . Another common call is a more drawn-out, upslurred kwecent-kvveent- kvveent given in series; with same nasal quality us kent call. All calks not very loud but far-carrying. The shorter kent calls often giv en along with strong single or double raps on resonant tree. Never gives rapid drumming like other woodpeckers. Winghcats very noisy, producing a loud, wooden, fluttering sound. Although no living bird artist has seen a live Ivory-billed Woodpecker, several have made intensive studies of specimen material and photographs with the intention of providing accurate, field-reliable characters for identification. In 2003, The Nature Conservancy published this plate by David Sibley. The elegant, elongate quality of the bird — in head, bill, tail, and wings — is more evident here than in many more stylized renderings. This plate can be downloaded free on David Sibley's website, . extensive tracts had been commercially logged, the federal government purchased and managed the land under the Resettle¬ ment Administration, and National Forest designation came on 31 May 1936. It was at this time that biologist George Van Hyn- ing reported several Ivory-billeds in the area, but apparently no specific informa¬ tion survives on their precise location (Tanner 1942). Local forest managers now credit ornithologist Herbert L. Stoddard, Sr. and his co-worker Leon Neel — who worked as forestry consultants in this area and were successful advocates of long rota¬ tion cycles and other pro-wildlife prac¬ tices — for preserving many of western Florida’s forests (Mitchell et al., in ms.). Stoddard, who spent a tremendous amount of time in Ivory-billed habitat over his life¬ time and who had seen perhaps dozen or more as a youngster in Florida between 1896 and 1900, reportedly saw three Ivory- billeds between 1954 and 1969 (Stoddard 1969); at least two of those sightings were believed to have been in central Georgia (Jackson 2002). RESULTS Woodpecker detection In our limited search areas, woodpecker densities appeared to be high, although no standardized point counts or transects were conducted that would provide base¬ line data to compare with other sites. Nonetheless, daily counts were kept to determine overall abundance, and a GPS unit was used to track location and effort. Red-bellied Woodpecker was by far the most numerous species detected, followed, in order of declining abundance, by Pileated Woodpecker ( Dryocopus pileatus). Yellow-bellied Sapsucker ( Sphyrapicus Mar¬ ius ), Northern Flicker ( Colaptes auratus ), Downy Woodpecker ( Picoides pubescens), Red-cockaded Woodpecker, and Red¬ headed Woodpecker ( Melanerpes eiythro- cephalus). Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers and Pileated Woodpeckers were very close in abundance, whereas flickers and Downy Woodpeckers were well below those levels. Seven Red-cockaded Woodpeckers were observed in four locations, and just one Red-headed Woodpecker was seen. Woodpeckers were especially common in the pine forests with high tree mortality from prescribed and other burns. One small burn area had 8 Pileated Woodpeck¬ ers in a 200 m by 200 m section. Pileateds were seen to scale large pines, one bark flake at a time, by prying loose the bark. Especially in the pine forests, woodpeckers were seen making rather long flights over more or less open areas. Single Pileateds and flickers were seen in Bradwell Bay in Wakulla County (ca. 30° 10.25’ N, 84° 35.17’ W), the largest burned area, travel¬ ing on single flights of more than one km at a stretch. One pair of Pileateds was seen on a flight from one open pine area to another, traveling at least 5 km in total. Smaller woodpecker species, including Red-cockaded, were also seen flying above the pine canopy on fairly long flights. We present five examples of searches below, along with the number ol Pileateds counted in each: 1 • A 4-krn walk with Greg Spahr on the west side of the Brother’s River, down to the river’s edge, through a deeply flooded swampwood 2 February 2003 beginning at 29.86065° N, 85.057583° W and ending at 29.86900° N, 85.05490° W, on which 20 Pileateds were detected in 6 hours; 2 • A 1.6-km walk on Forbes Island 31 Jan¬ uary 2003 beginning at 29.86413° N, - VOLUME 59 (2005) • NUMBER 2 213 85.01492° W and ending at 29.86337° N. 85.01863° W, on which 12 Pileateds were detected in 3.5 hours; 3 ® A stationary morning count at Van Horne Landing (ca. 29.900° N, 85.017° W) 14 February 2003 on the bank of the Apalachicola River, on which 5 Pileateds were detected in 35 minutes; 4 • A stationary morning count at Bloody Bluff Landing 22 January 2003 (ca. 29.873° N, 85.011° W), along the Apalachicola River east of Forbes Island, on which 4 Pileateds were detected in 45 minutes; and 5 • A two-day, 58-km canoe trip with Jim Fitzpatrick 3 and 4 March 2003, on which 60 Pileateds were detected. The transit began at Owl Creek (ca. 29.983° N, 85.025° W) and continued past Gra¬ ham Creek, ending at the FL 65 bridge (ca. 29.85° N, 84.97° W); the following day, the transit began near Larkin Fish Camp (ca. 30.15° N, 85.09° W), passed Acorn Lake and Bill’s Arm, to the Apalachicola River briefly before taking the Chipola Cutoff to the Chipola River at the southern end of the Dead Lake area, around Cutoff Island, back to Owl Creek (start point of first day). In none of the above searches was it triv¬ ial for us to estimate the density of Pileated Figure 2. One example of a tree actively and heavily scaled and pitted during the search in March 2003; the bird (or birds) that scaled this tree was not observed. Photograph by Timothy Spahr. Woodpecker, an index discussed in Tanner (1942) and one often mentioned by later writers in the context of looking for suitable Ivory-billed habitat. It was particularly diffi¬ cult in riparian habitats, where the water¬ ways’ sinuous curves make even counting individual birds problematic. We were con¬ servative in counting and tried not to dou¬ ble-count individual birds; we also did not assume that territorial drumming indicated a territory occupied by a pair, although that may well have been the case in most instances. If one assumes that Pileateds drumming can be detected out to 400 m, then one might extrapolate that a forested area of about 40 km2 was involved in the two-day canoe search (see above), for instance. Sixty detections of Pileated Wood¬ pecker along that transect would give a moderate density, about 1.5 individuals/km2 (about 4/mi2). Tanner (1942) noted a den¬ sity of about six pairs/mi2 in the Singer Tract (and the same for “northern Florida” and the Big Cypress swamp, Florida), but he does not clearly describe his method for arriving at those estimates. If one attempts to estimate the density of Pileated Wood¬ peckers in our other examples above, using the detection radius of 400 m, then the den¬ sities appear to be higher than on the canoe trip (8/mi2 in the first example, 12/mi2 in the second, 13/mi2 in the third, 10/mi2 in the fourth). It is almost certain that detec¬ tion of this species by ear is possible at dis¬ tances greater than 400 m; thus we offer these estimates tentatively here. Overall, the highest woodpecker densi¬ ties we noted seemed to be in the bottom¬ land habitat, and several locations had what appeared to us to be especially high densities of Pileated Woodpeckers, places in which one could detect several Pileated territories from a single spot. At one site along the west shore of the Brother’s River (the location noted in the first example above), for instance, six different drumming birds could be heard from a single loca¬ tion. In a more southerly spot (near 29° 55’ N, 85° OF W), we walked about one km in the morning, stopping every 100 m or so, and it was common to hear three Pileateds per stop (with likely duplica¬ tion of individuals, of course). Whatever the actual average density of the species at these loca¬ tions, it seemed to us to be higher than at any other have visited, in any state, and close to what Tanner (1942) sites we probably describes for several Florida locations and for the Singer Tract. Woodpeckers were seen feeding in the tops of dead pines, as well as feeding on the dead lowest limbs of large pine trees in sev¬ eral places. Almost all dead trees showed evidence of woodpecker work including small, conical feeding pits and the larger rectangular excavation pits of Pileateds. Sapwells were also observed, mostly in hammock and bottomland areas. Several trees had thousands of sapwells, from ground up to 10 m or more above the ground. Dead pines were routinely stripped of bark by weather, although Pileateds had clearly contributed to some of this in some cases. In prising the bark from a few dead pines, one could see an abundance of termites and centipedes. In the hammock and bottomland areas, there seemed to be much more woodpecker work all the way down to the base of dead trees. Several Pileateds were seen within a meter of the ground, hammering away on large trunks. Most dead trees showed a diversity of woodpecker work. We observed a few dozen thoroughly scaled trees along the Sopchoppy River, along the Apalachicola River in one spot, and in another spot along the Brother’s River some 5 km away. Most of these trees were 10-30 cm dbh, but all showed long, deeply chis¬ eled, horizontal grooves, the only evidence of whatever bird did the scaling. Most of the scaled trees had scaled patches 1-3 m long, usually 2-10 m above the ground. One par¬ ticular tree was observed to be newly scaled on three different occasions, though we never observed the bird that did the scaling; by the time of our last observation, the trunk was a mass of huge bark and wood flakes 10+ cm long, many still hanging from the trunk (Figure 2). This tree was full of termites and borers. Another scaled tree on Forbes Island had a 5-cm long grub of some kind exposed by the scaling. I generally ignored scaled pines, as this can be done by weather, but two scaled dying pines (and one scaled dead oak) were seen in a small area (<100 m2) near the Sopchoppy River. These were large (60-cm dbh) trees, with bark impossible to pry off with even two hands. Piled at the base of these trees were large bark chips about 5 cm wide and 30 cm long, almost all chips the same size. Several trees that lacked bark also lacked markings associated with large woodpecker work, but the boring galleries of wood-boring insects were nonetheless visible in the exposed wood; it would be incorrect to call these “scaled” trees, perhaps, though it is con¬ ceivable that evidence of woodpecker work was not apparent on trees that were in fact scaled by woodpeckers. No woodpecker was observed in the act of scaling in the bottomland or hammock areas. All woodpeckers were seen to feed on snags, or dead limbs of larger trees, and usually this feeding was on trees long dead. One pair of Pileateds was observed to feed early in the morning on almost all types of trees, but invariably this work involved NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS 214 StottfflEB iu-r 'K digging deep foraging pits in the tree. Woodpeckers were heard calling and drumming with increasing frequency toward the end of the trip, as nesting sea¬ son drew near. All of the woodpecker activity detected was easily attributed to the aforementioned species, with a few exceptions: • 14 January 2003 • Near 29° 49.025’ N, 84° 59.190’, along the East River near Gardener’s Landing. I heard repeated loud raps of a large woodpecker with a rhythm unlike any other tapping or rap¬ ping sounds heard during the trip, being a repeated series of double raps. The blows were usually pretty close together, and always the second blow exceeded the first blow in volume, unlike in typi¬ cal Campephilus double raps. This was in good bottomland habitat. • 31 January 2003 • Near 29° 51.790’ N, 85° 01.358’ on Forbes Island. Greg Spahr and 1 heard high-pitched calls, probably belonging to a bird, for a two- or three-minute period, repeated at 10-15 seconds intervals. The sound closely resembled the single, isolated high-pitched kent calls heard on the Tan¬ ner/Allen recordings of Ivory-billed Woodpeckers from 1935. We were prob¬ ably within 100 m of the source of this sound, but the sound came from across a creek too deep to ford. At other times on the same day, we heard conspicuous sin¬ gle and double raps, probably of a wood¬ pecker. These sounds were confined to the area near the high-pitched calls and seemed to move whenever we were within what appeared to be a few hun¬ dred m of the sound’s source — almost as though we were being led around in cir¬ cles. We were not able to locate the source of the sounds. • 1 February 2003 • In an effort to arrive on the west side of the creek where we heard the high-pitched calls and rapping the day before, we walked north and crossed this creek at a narrow spot, and then proceeded southward. Before we made it to the area where the calls and sounds were heard the day before, we heard numerous distant single raps and at least one double rap near 29° 52.253’, 85° 01.262’. One double rap was heard while listening quietly and sounded to be 200-400 m distant. We cannot ascribe any of the sounds we heard to a woodpecker, or even strictly speaking to a bird, as we did not locate their source(s). Nevertheless, they stood out as different from other bird sounds and anthropogenic sounds (i.e., gunshots) we heard in the area. Interviews with local people Twenty local people were interviewed and asked about woodpeckers, much as Tanner (1942) had done in this area 14-17 March and 30 May-7 June 1939. Three people indi¬ cated that they had seen something resem¬ bling Ivory-billed Woodpeckers in this area. One man in his fifties remembered seeing them as a boy and knew it by the name “Lord God Bird.” One hunter said he knew “the large woodpecker with the black back, and the larger one with white on the back.” A very observant bass fisherman indicated he knew both types of large woodpeckers and that had seen 2 Ivory-billed Woodpeckers in the past three years. He described a very large black- and-white woodpecker, with the white patch low down on the back, perched on a dead Baldcypress tree on the Apalachicola River “about 10 miles downriver from Estiffanulga [Liberty County].” By my reckoning, Estiffanulga is at Mile 63 on the Apalachicola River; 10 miles downstream would be ca. Mile 53, or that point in the river due west of Red Hill (Figure 1; county uncertain, either Calhoun or Liberty, depending on the side of the river the bird was on). This area is 8 km southeast of Scotts Ferry, Calhoun County, the location of the pair reported in 1950-1951 (see above). This fisherman’s other reported sighting — from the same area as the sight report of the previously men¬ tioned hunter — was along Brother’s River near its confluence with the Apalachicola River (ca. 29.845° N, 85.033° W). These lat¬ ter sightings are within 5 km of above- described site where the high-pitched calls and double raps were heard 31 January and 1 February 2003. Conclusion A very small portion of this fine area for woodpeckers was examined. The area is vast, and because for most of the time in the area I was alone, I was not able to venture far into some of the targeted areas. The large burned areas of pinewoods in particular need much more coverage. In retrospect, aerial photogra¬ phy or aerial reconnaissance would improve the search by narrowing the search areas to the most promising. Because some older-look- ing forest tracts were found interlarded among larger areas of younger trees, it is likely that a systematic examination would reveal additional tracts of older forests. Ideally, both low-level aerial photography and infrared photography could be combined to identify and to prioritize such sites for future searches. Acknowledgments My brother Greg Spahr aided me on several days of the search, and Jim Fitzpatrick’s help was likewise essential. Both have good ears and strong outdoor skills. Jim also brought experience from the Pearl River search of 2002 and was able to compare the areas in terms of apparent habitat quality. My thanks to both of them. We wish to thank the Smithsonian Institution for permitting Greg Spahr to photograph specimens in their col¬ lection, whose photographs appear in this issue and as frontispiece to this article. Finally, 1 thank Jerome Jackson, Bill Pranty, and David Shoch for helpful comments on earlier drafts of this article. Literature cited Agey, H. N., and G. M. Heinzmann. 1971a. The Ivory-billed Woodpecker found in central Florida. Florida Field Naturalist 44.3: 46-47, 64. - . 1971b. Ivory-billed Woodpeckers in Florida. Birding 3: 43. Crompton, D. IT. 1950. My search for the Ivory-billed Woodpecker in Florida. Massachusetts Audubon Society Bulletin 34.6: 235-237. Eastman, W. 1958. Ten-year search for the Ivory-billed Woodpecker. Atlantic Natu¬ ralist 13: 216-228. Finlay, W. 1950. The rarest bird of all. Florida Wildlife 4.6: 17, 34. Garrido, O. H., and A. Kirkconnell. 2000. Field Guide to the Birds of Cuba. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York. Jackson, J. A. 2004. In Search of the Ivory¬ billed Woodpecker. Smithsonian Books, Washington, D. C. - . 2002. Ivory-billed Woodpecker (Campephilus principalis ). In: The Birds of North America, No. 711. A. Poole and F Gill, eds. The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. James, F C., C. A. Hess, B. C. Kicklighter, and R. A. Thum. 2001. Ecosystem man¬ agement and the niche gestalt of the red-cockaded woodpecker in longleaf pine forests. Ecological Applications 11:854-870. Mitchell, R. J.,J. F Franklin, B.J. Palik, L. K. Kirkman, L. L. Smith, R. T. Engstrom, and M. L. Hunter, Jr. 2001. Natural Dis¬ turbance-Based Silviculture for Restora¬ tion and Maintenance of Biological Diversity. Unpublished ms., 120 pp. Stevenson, H. M., and B. H. Anderson. 1994. The Birdlife of Florida. University of Florida Press, Gainesville, Florida. Stoddard, H. L. 1969. Memoirs of a Natu¬ ralist. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, Oklahoma. Sykes, P. W. 1967. Report to the Director, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, November 27, 1967. Tanner, J. T. 1942. The Ivory-billed Wood¬ pecker: Research Report No. 1 of the National Audubon Society. National Audubon Society, New York. © VOLUME 59 (2005) • NUMBER 2 215 David T. Shoch Winrock International 1621 North Kent Street, Suite 1200 Arlington, Virginia 22209 (email: dshoch@winrock.org) ABSTRACT The near extinction of Ivory-billed Wood¬ pecker ( Campephilus principalis ) has been attributed to the elimination of old-growth forests in the Southeast. Notwithstanding, forest management regimes could be adapted to approximate the natural distur¬ bances with which this species is apparently associated. Uneven-aged management could ensure enough post-harvest structure to support Ivory-billeds and allow stands to generate standing dead wood throughout a cutting cycle. Management regimes would require minimum rotation lengths and vari¬ able retention practices sufficient to generate and retain large (>60-cm dbh) stems. A model is advanced to set appropriate stand¬ ing dead wood stock guidelines, accounting for dead wood stem density, stem dimen¬ sions, and stand area. Prescriptions for achieving stock objectives via artificial inputs to standing dead wood, either through selective girdling or prescribed fire, are calculated as a function of existing stocks, observed natural mortality, and decay rate of dead wood. Although focused on a species nearly extinct, these guidelines offer an approach to deriving practical man¬ agement applications from incomplete infor¬ mation, a situation with which land man¬ agers continue to be confronted. Background Ivory-billed Woodpecker ( Campephilus prin¬ cipalis) has apparently been on the verge of extinction for over a century. Not since 1944, the last year in which an individual was reported from the Singer Tract in Louisiana, had this species been docu¬ mented in any area of its former North American range — until 2004 (Fitzpatrick et al. 2005). Understandably, relatively few efforts have been made to formulate conser¬ vation practices from the existing, albeit lim¬ ited, literature on the species. Most research efforts have been focused on searching for surviving individuals, with the implicit understanding that no concerted manage¬ ment actions would be taken without defin¬ itive proof of the species’ existence. The limited nature of existing knowledge, from which prescriptions might have been developed, has further stymied the impetus to carry out pro-active management on behalf of this species. The conservation of a potentially wide-ranging species such as this one calls for considerations beyond pro¬ tected areas. Adaptive silviculture is required, such that forest management can be made to contribute to, or at least not to hinder, broader conservation plans, similar to what has been advanced for the manage¬ ment of Red-cockaded Woodpecker ( Picoides borealis ) (e.g. , Seagle et al. 1987, Hedrick et al. 1998). One fundamental dif¬ ference between management of Red-cock- adeds and Ivory-billeds is that numerous extant populations of Red-cockaded Wood¬ peckers have been accessible for repeated and detailed studies, whereas information on Ivory-billeds must be gleaned from a sin¬ gle quantitative study (Tanner 1942) and scattered natural history narratives. This paper was originally written as a hypothetical case study in managing forest dead wood stocks with uncertain objec¬ tives — uncertain, that is, until the announcement of the species’ recent redis¬ covery in eastern Arkansas (Fitzpatrick et al. 2005). Although recovery of Ivory-billed Woodpecker is still far from certain, this paper offers one approach to deriving practi¬ cal management applications from incom¬ plete information, a situation with which land managers continue to be confronted in the case of many species. Despite the fact that explicit causal relationships between the birds and their habitat may not be estab¬ lished, circumstantial evidence can be used to guide initial characterizations of their habitat “preferences.” Taking action need not wait until the presence of Ivory-billeds can be confirmed beyond reasonable doubt. Informed management interventions could in fact serve to facilitate their discovery — by drawing individuals to areas where they are likely to be detected, as well as potentially benefiting other species at the same time. Ivory-billeds and Timber Harvest The disappearance of Ivory-billed Wood¬ pecker signaled a fundamental change in NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS 216 forest structure, dynamics, or composition at some scale over the period of its decline. In North America, the disappearance of the Ivory-billed coincided with the advance of harvests of old-growth forests in the South¬ east. Tanner (1942) reported the disappear¬ ance of the Ivory-billed over the period 1885 to 1915, which correlates closely with the peak period of activity of the southern log¬ ging industry, between 1890 and 1930 (Williams 1992). Logging, with its associ¬ ated infrastructure, may have further facili¬ tated access by collectors, and indeed the bulk of Ivory-billed skins were collected during this same time period (Jackson 2004). Even so, in areas where the forest was not converted to agriculture and the species was not subject to collecting pressure, some post-logging conditions may have been ade¬ quate for Ivory-billeds. For example, Her¬ bert Stoddard noted a pair of Ivory-billeds collected in Florida in 1924 in a stand “heav¬ ily cut over” 20 years before (Dennis 1979). Observations from Cuba offer insight into the use of young regenerating forests by the species as well. Ivory-billeds occupied the Sierra de Moa region more or less continu¬ ously from the 1940s through the 1980s, fol¬ lowing and during extensive logging. In the Moa area, some 40,000 hectares were logged between 1938 and 1946 (Lamb 1957), and extensive logging took place again between 1956 and 1959 (Short 1985). Ivory-billeds were encountered where habitat was described as young, small-diameter stands of Cuban Pine ( Pinus cubens is). Dennis (1948) and Short (1985) referred to seven- and 20- year-old stands. Dennis even described a pair occupying a site only two years after logging had taken place. Mean tree diameter at breast height (dbh) in these areas was esti¬ mated at around 13-15 cm (Dennis 1948, Lamb 1957). Still, given the apparent low productivity of these ultramafic sites (Smith 1954; ultramafic = soils known for inducing physiological stress in plants and conse¬ quent low productivity), size could be a mis¬ leading indicator of age. In fact, trees of this size cored by Smith in this same area in 1952 revealed ages of around 60 years. A key com¬ ponent of the structure of these documented stands was the scattered larger dead and cull trees remaining following logging (Dennis 1948, Short and Horne 1986). These stems provided critical opportunities for the exca¬ vation of nest and roost cavities, which were often in short supply following logging. Although these second-growth pine forests may have been sub-optimal habitat (home range sizes in the Sierra de Moa were esti¬ mated at three to four times those in the Singer Tract in Louisiana [Lamb 1957]), the Ivory-billeds tenacity in this area demon¬ strates its resilience to large scale distur¬ bances such as logging and its ability to nest and feed in sub-old growth conditions, though this conclusion should be qualified with the understanding that Ivory-billeds in Cuba were likely more versatile in their habitat use than their North American coun¬ terparts due to the lack of interspecific com¬ petition with other large woodpeckers (i.e. Pileated Woodpecker ( Dryocopus pileatus)). The persistence of scattered large cull trees in regenerating stands could presumably offer some of the same foraging and roosting opportunities as did old growth. In the Singer Tract, an old-growth, mixed-age hard¬ wood stand, Ivory-billeds, while foraging over a wide range of tree size classes, favored large trees relative to their abundance in the forest (Tanner 1942). Tanner found that 38% of feeding took place on trees greater than 61 cm dbh, which made up only 7% of total stems. These trees were, on average, 60 years old and older, based on study of radial incre¬ ment of Delta bottomland hardwoods (Fig¬ ure 1). The threshold for nesting and roost¬ ing trees was similar. Allen and Kellogg (1937) measured breast high circumferences of 7.5 and 10 feet for two cavity trees in the Singer Tract, corresponding to equivalent diameters at breast height of 73 cm and 97 cm. Estimated diameter at breast height of three cavity trees — calculated from data on diameter at cavity height in Tanner (1942) Relict cull tree from mixed age bottomland hardwood stand, Delta National Forest, Mississippi. October 2001 . Photograph by David Shoch. VOLUME 59 (2005) • NUMBER 2 217 . . and assuming 1.1 cm taper heights per meter height — ranged from 51 to 56 cm (n=3). A larger dataset of cavity heights summarized by Tanner ranged from closely 7.6 to 21.3 meters (n=17), averaging around 15 m, inci¬ dentally comparing closely with the range of 9.1-18.3 m reported by Lamb (1957) for cav¬ ity heights in old growth Cuban Pines. Applying a dbh:total height relationship derived from measurements of Delta bottom¬ land hardwoods (Figure 2), these were trees averaging approximately 54 centimeters dbh, assuming cavities were located at approxi¬ mately one-half of total tree height. Ivory-biileds and Forest Disturbance Discrete patches of dead trees, created by disturbance events, are a defining element in the distribution of dead wood across a land¬ scape. In the absence of sufficient endemic rates of dead wood generation, large-scale disturbances would be criti¬ cal in providing feeding opportunities for Ivory- billeds, and Ivory-billeds were presumably uniquely adapted to seek them out. Although Ivory-billeds were noted for their specialized means of feeding, knocking chunks of bark off recently killed trees to expose wood¬ boring insects, this same reliance on newly dead trees may have dictated a transitory and opportunis¬ tic lifestyle over the life of an individual. Tanner (1942) notes: “...the Ivory¬ billed is well adapted to traveling long distances. It is a strong flier with a fast flight for a woodpecker ... they usually travel in pairs ... which would be impor¬ tant for wandering birds of few numbers in order that mates may keep together.” The abundance of shade- intolerant species such as Sweet Gum ( Liquidambar styraciflua ) in Singer Tract is an indication that the for¬ est there initially regener¬ ated in response to exten¬ sive disturbance. Even within the Singer Tract, which Ivory-billeds occu¬ pied continuously from at least 1934 to 1944, Ivory¬ billed ranges shifted in response to localized tree death events. For instance, Ivory-billeds colonized area through which cyclone that killed many trees had passed two years previously, and then moved out two years later (Tanner 1942). Tanner believed that Ivory-billed territories within the Singer Tract were steadily becoming less suitable as mortality rates decreased after the loss of weakened stems from the previous disturbance, a fire 14 years earlier. Annual rates of tree mortality in the Singer Tract sites at the time of Tanner’s research, expressed as percent of existing stems, ranged from 1.5% to 2.4% (calculated from Tanner, 1942), which are typical of low “background” mor¬ tality rates in southeastern bottomland hard¬ wood forests, rather than those resulting from disturbance events such as extended flooding and wind throw, which may result in annual mortality rates, again as percent of pre-existing stems, of up to 16%, and to over 50%, respectively (Conner et al. 2002). Ivory-billeds foraged in a wide range of Figure 1 . Relationship between age and diameter at breast height for bottomland hardwoods sampled from uneven-aged stands in the Mississippi alluvial valley in Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi (Environmental Synergy, Inc., unpublished). Modeled DBH (cm) = 76 * (1- e 0.035 K A6E\1.67 an Figure 2. Relationship between diameter at breast height and total height for bottomland hardwoods sampled from uneven-aged stands in the Mississippi alluvial valley in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana (Environmen¬ tal Synergy, Inc., unpublished). Modeled Height (m) = 0.9093 * (LN DBH (cm)2 5271). forest types. Tanner’s (1942) chapter on habi¬ tats frequented by the Ivory-billed reads like a nearly comprehensive description of south¬ eastern forest types, not only including bot¬ tomland hardwoods, but also cypress swamps, hammocks, bays, and pine flat- woods. Although by the time of Tanner’s study, Ivory-billeds used pines to a lesser degree than hardwoods, the use of pines, which were logged before hardwoods in the Southeast, may have been historically more prevalent (Jackson 2002, 2004). Likewise, Cuban Ivory-billeds, which most recent observations link closely with pine forests, formerly occupied both tropical hardwood and pine forests (Lamb 1957). More than any particular forest type, then, Ivory-billeds seemed to be dependent instead on the con¬ ditions and events that generated an abun¬ dance of dead trees. While other species of woodpeckers continued to mine snags throughout the process of wood decay, Ivory-billeds moved on to maintain them¬ selves at the vanguard of for¬ est turnover. The Ivory¬ billed was thus a unique indicator species, occupying a niche position in the process of forest decline, a species whose abundance was more dependent on rates of tree death than on accumulating stocks of standing dead wood. A variety of disturbances were attractive to Ivory- billeds, including beetle outbreaks, wind throw, and even logging. Outbreaks of Southern Pine Beetle (Den- droctonus frontalis) are often initiated in response to large-scale disturbance events such as fire or wind throw, and during epi¬ demics spread their attacks to healthy trees, creating discrete “spots” of infesta¬ tion. Herbert Stoddard observed two female Ivory- billeds feeding in beetle- killed pines in southern Georgia in the 1950s (Leon Neel, pers. comm., Green¬ wood Plantation, Novem¬ ber 2002). Ivory-billeds were recorded feeding for extended periods in storm- produced blowdowns in the Singer Tract and at Wakulla Beach, Florida, and among post-harvest logging slash in the Singer Tract (Tanner 1942). Periodic extended DS NORTH AMERICAN BIRD 218 flooding events may have been another source of trees kills from which Ivory-billeds profited. Perhaps the disturbance with which Ivory-billeds were most commonly associ¬ ated was fire. Historically, fire was a domi¬ nant force in shaping the structure and com¬ position of the forests of the southeastern United States. For the Ivory-billed, fire pro¬ vided not only an abundance of newly-killed trees but left a legacy of weakened trees and delayed mortality that would steadily supply foraging sites over subsequent years. Wayne (1893) remarked on Ivory-billeds feeding on fire-killed trees in the Suwanee River region. Allen and Kellogg (1937) described Ivory- billeds feeding in “small and medium-sized pines that had been killed by fire” in Florida. Herbert Stoddard (1969, p. 39) described areas attracting Ivory-billeds in central Florida around the turn of the century: “...isolated stands of pines on ‘islands’ sur¬ rounded by wet swamp or on high ground between the forks of creeks ... [that] might escape burning for many years ... when at length . . . were burned out, the pines became infested with beetles and died ... it was also there that Ivory-billeds, which love the sawyers, could also be seen in late summer and fall.” Tanner (1942) includes a report of Ivory-billeds from Highlands Hammock, Florida, occupying an area of recently fire- killed Baldcypress ( Taxodium distichum ) for several months, and then leaving the area after the cypress snags had “dried out.” In Louisiana, fires burned over the Singer Tract in 1917 and 1924, at which time, presumably in response to the fires, Ivory-billeds were reported as more numerous according to Tanner’s inform¬ ants (Tanner 1942). Dennis (1948) remarked on the fre¬ quent fires in the forests of the Sierra de Moa in Cuba, where Ivory-billeds were seen: “a view of the mountains always revealed columns of smoke ris¬ ing from a dozen or more points.” Although it is not clear that fire-killed trees were what drew Ivory-billeds to the area, Dennis did postulate on the benefits of fire in produc¬ ing quantities of recently killed trees for foraging Ivory-billeds. Where the frequency and intensity of these disturbances is diminished (e.g., through fire suppression or flood con¬ trol), regenerating shade-toler- ant cohorts begin to become established in the understory and midslory. The progressive recruitment over time of volunteer stems will increase competition for resources and may reduce the growth rate of the dominant tree cohort, as well as substantially alter the character of the habi¬ tat. Open-forest structure, associated with recurrent disturbance, may well have facili¬ tated movements of this large species (Jack- son 2002, 2004) and is evident in photo¬ graphs (Allen and Kellogg 1937) and descriptions of occupied Ivory-billed habi¬ tat, for example the telling account of J. J. Kuhn driving his car through the Singer Tract forest (Gallagher 2005). Wider spac- ings also favor development of large branches and tend to increase the complex¬ ity of the canopy architecture. Though the correlation between Ivory-billeds and natu¬ ral disturbance is clear, the exact nature of the relationship and detailed characteriza¬ tion of the disturbance regimes that favored Ivory-billeds — information that would serve to prescribe management — is lacking. Forest Management for Ivory-billeds Harvest regimes on managed forests could potentially serve to mimic the disturbances with which Ivory-billeds were associated. Forest management practices can be divided into even-age and uneven-age management systems, each of which generates distinctive stand structures. Even-aged management, and the stand-replacing disturbances which they simulate, often result in bell-shaped age distributions suggesting a single domi¬ nant cohort regenerating from disturbance. Uneven-aged management (e.g., single tree or group selection), with long-term applica¬ tion, results in a negative exponential age distribution, made up of multiple cohorts regenerating from disturbances of limited areal extent (i.e. , death or removal of single trees or clusters of trees) recurring at rela¬ tively uniform rates. Although even-aged management may best replicate the scale of the natural disturbance detailed above, clearcutting essentially eliminates a stand for use by Ivory-billeds and would require decades to replace. Over time and across a landscape, an even-aged harvest regime, even staggered across annual cutting blocks, would result in significant areas of unsuit¬ able habitat. A single tree or group selection harvest regime could presumably retain enough structure post-harvest to continue to sup¬ port Ivory-billeds, and most importantly, stands would retain potential to generate standing dead wood throughout the period of the cutting cycle. Uneven-aged manage¬ ment potentially yields a further benefit in producing more uniform stand conditions across the landscape that could potentially reduce risk of predation asso¬ ciated with transit across open, non-forested tracts. In fact, forest harvest practices in the region have changed sig¬ nificantly since the initial log¬ ging of old growth and con¬ temporaneous disappearance of the Ivory-billed. At that time, clearcuts were the domi¬ nant practice, and “left a land surface completely bare of . . . mature trees” (Williams 1992), likely precluding the use of newly regenerating stands by Ivory-billeds. Con¬ ditions in residual stands improved with the widespread replacement of clearcutting with selective cutting prac¬ tices after 1930 (Williams 1992), and consequent accu¬ mulation of non-merchantable “wolf,” or cull, trees in succes¬ sive stands, which made up over 40% of existing stocks on some 1.1 million acres of Mis¬ sissippi delta forests by 1984 (Rudis and Birdsey 1986). Regardless of management regime employed, election of appropriate rotation age is Figure 3. Relationship of standing dead wood stem density, standing dead wood stem dimensions, and Ivory-billed pair home range size. Stem volume calculated using Smalian's formula. Dead wood dimen¬ sions use 2/3 total height (Height (m) = 0.9093 * (LN DBH (cm) 2 S271), derived previously) and taper (assuming 1.1 cm/m length). 2.54 cm bark thickness was discounted from end diameters. VOLUME 59 (2005) • NUMBER 2 219 essential to ensure the continued presence of trees of suitable dimensions, here proposed as 60 centimeters mean dbh minimum for Ivory-billeds, reflecting the size of stems used for cavity construction and preferred for foraging. A minimum rotation of 60 years is required to maintain 60-cm dbh stems. Given the different growth rates asso¬ ciated with the distinct stand structures and light environments produced by even-aged versus uneven-aged management, rotation age required to generate 60-cm dbh stems would potentially differ with management regime (i.e., slightly less for even-aged man¬ agement). With uneven-aged management, habitat could be further improved by length¬ ening cutting cycles within the rotation to increase the abundance and residency of stems exceeding 60 cm dbh. With the long-term application of fixed rotations, however, large trees (i.e., exceed¬ ing the maximum dbh permitted by the rota¬ tion) will be progressively phased out of the forests as the existing stock of large cull trees steadily deteriorates and succeeding cohorts are not permitted to reach comparable ages and dimensions. Retention of some mature live stems following harvest, or variable retention ( sensu Franklin et al. 1996), offers the potential to ensure the growth of stems beyond the size classes permitted by the rotation for the eventual generation of large- dimension snags and dead limbs on live stems within the stand. Selection of stems for retention should take place at the end of a rotation, at which point vigorous individu¬ als with the greatest likelihood to succeed into larger size classes and resist wind throw can be identified. Adequate stocks of dead wood for foraging and cavity construction must be ensured within an occupied home range. Tanner’s (1942) survey of dead wood volumes in two recently logged acres of the Singer Tract resulted in an estimate of 208 ft3 per acre, or 14.39 m3/ha, which is used here as a surro¬ gate for standing dead wood requirements for Ivory-billeds. The surface area of dead wood under bark, which is of particular interest in quantifying foraging sites for Ivory-billeds, is assumed to be proportional to volume. Total dead wood volume thus serves as a more eas¬ ily quantifiable index for surface area under bark. Using a pair’s range in the Singer Tract in the breeding season of 4 mi2, or 1036 hectares, and assuming uniform distribution of standing dead wood across this area equiv¬ alent to the nearby harvested site surveyed by Tanner, this yields a requirement of 14,908 m3 of standing dead wood per pair for ade¬ quate foraging. Figure 3 illustrates a proposed relationship between standing dead wood stem density, standing dead wood stem dimensions, and Ivory-billed home range size, and serves to generate tentative predic¬ tions of mean stocks of standing dead wood required across a landscape and maintained over time. For example, a pair of Ivory-billeds would require 31,058 30-cm dbh (0.48 m3 volume equivalent) stems of dead wood. Across 1036 ha (home range in the Singer Tract), 13 40-cm mean dbh (1.15 m3 volume equivalent) or 30 30-cm mean dbh stems per hectare are required. The latter value agrees with the mean reported by Tanner of 31 dead stems per hectare, though Tanner did not record mean dead wood stem volume or dbh on the Singer Tract. Although it is unlikely that small-dimension snags alone could sup¬ port this species, as suggested by the upper line in Figure 3, density of foraging substrates and home ranges of individual woodpeckers have been shown to be inversely correlated (Renken and Wiggers 1989, Fitzpatrick et al. 2005), and it is likely that Ivory-billeds com¬ pensate for scarcity by expanding their home ranges. Where management objectives seek to concentrate presently wide-ranging birds in a specific area (e.g., where they could be bet¬ ter monitored), and ultimately to increase population size and density, dead wood vol¬ ume per unit area objectives could be set appropriately. For example, the Big Woods in Arkansas where an Ivory-billed was recently reported comprises a large area of some 220,000 ha (Fitzpatrick et al. 2005), a size that presents severe logistical challenges where the management of a few roaming individuals is concerned. If the objective were to provide sufficient dead wood stocks for two pairs of Ivory-billeds within a smaller area of intensive management, of say 2000 ha, roughly corresponding with home ranges reported by Tanner in the Singer Tract, objectives for dead wood stock (29,816 m3 = 2 x 14,908 m3 or 14.9 m3/ha over 2000 ha) could be achieved by manag¬ ing for standing dead wood densities of 31 30-cm mean dbh (0.48 m3 volume equiva¬ lent) or 13 40-cm mean dbh (1.15 m3 vol¬ ume equivalent) stems per hectare. Inputs to dead wood are generated via tree mortality. Tree death is by nature a highly variable event both in space and time. Nat¬ ural mortality rates, as percent of existing stems, are neither constant nor uniform, depending on stand age, stem size and den¬ sity, and stochastic disturbances. Where nat¬ ural mortality is insufficient to maintain desired stocks of standing dead wood, killing additional stems is necessary. In place of traditional thinning operations, selective girdling or prescribed fire, which would leave dead stems standing, could be used. Targeted interventions such as this would be of particular importance both in young forests (regenerating from past stand-level disturbance such as logging) and also in intensively managed forests, where less vig¬ orous stems are systematically thinned from stands, conditions in which old weakened individuals are absent and incidence of tree mortality is low (Lorimer 1989). Live trees may house a considerable frac¬ tion of dead wood in hardwood forests (Welsh and Capen 1992), and total dead wood requirements of Ivory-billeds were only partly satisfied by dead stems. Aside from labor-intensive interventions such as girdling large limbs, these stand characteris¬ tics can only be managed for by extending rotation ages and/or designating some stems for post-harvest retention to allow natural senescence and gradual crown die-back of large stems to take place. The role of forest management in Ivory¬ billed conservation would be to maintain desired stocks and inputs of standing dead wood over time across a landscape. For steady state desired stock, annual inputs = desired stock * decay rate. The annual decay rate of dead wood, expressed as fractional mass loss (k), calcu¬ lated for southeastern U.S. forests, is -0.08 (Mattson et al. 1987, Onega and Eickmeier 1991), which translates to a mean residence time (1/fc) of 12.5 years. Although specific gravity of dead wood decreases over the decomposition process, mass per solid vol¬ ume can be considered as a constant and the mass loss rate applied to decay volume stocks in the above equation. Assuming that dead wood provides no useful foraging opportu¬ nities to Ivory-billeds beyond 25% mass loss, given the species’ preference for recently killed stems, the lifetime of dead wood uti¬ lization by Ivory-billeds is 3.6 years (t=ln 0.75/-0.08). Thus, a new decay rate of 0.28 was calculated based on a mean residence time of utilization of 3.6 years, annual inputs = desired stock x 0.28. Desired stock, whether in units of volume per hectare or stems of a specific size per hectare, can be determined as in Figure 3, based on inferred dead wood requirements of Ivory-billed pairs. For example, if a tract of 14,183 hectares — for instance, the area of the Pearl River Wildlife Management Area near Slidell, Louisiana, where a pair of Ivory- billeds was reported in 1999 — were man¬ aged to provide adequate foraging sites for ten pairs of Ivory-billeds (1418 ha per pair), desired stocks must equal 22 30-cm dbh stems per hectare equivalent. Annual dead wood inputs must equal 2.9 m3 per hectare (= ((14,908 m3 x 10 pairs) x 0.28) / 14,183 hectares) or 6 30-cm dbh (0.48 m3) stems equivalent per hectare. Desired annual inputs can be alternatively quantified by subtracting existing stock from desired stock. Existing dead wood stock and/or annual natural mortality can be estimated through periodic forest invento¬ ries, which should be designed to estimate . 11 ' 1 ■ ■ 1 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS 220 jtyjLaai iur dead wood volumes associated both with snags and live stems. The balance of the total required, whether as stock or input, can be met by killing stems within the managed landscape and leaving them standing. These interventions need not be additional to an established regiment of management activi¬ ties but could rather be scheduled as part of programmed thinning operations. The availability of dead wood for cavity excavation and as a foraging substrate should be a critical management concern; however, other, as yet unidentified, factors may be influential in limiting woodpecker abun¬ dance (Welsh and Capen 1992), particularly where snag density is, apparently, no longer limiting (Morrison et al. 1987, Bunnell et al. 2002). While invertebrates associated with dead wood were clearly the most important food source, Ivory-billeds further supple¬ mented their diet with seasonal fruits (Tan¬ ner 1942). Guidelines for minimum dead wood stocks and rotation ages should be only one component of a more comprehen¬ sive management program, which can evolve and be developed progressively with modem data on Ivory-billed Woodpecker ecology. Clearly, more information is required to design reliable and effective management protocols. Further refinement of forest management prescriptions would require detailed site-specific information on the stand structures required by Ivory-billeds and the disturbance regimes which main¬ tain them, especially at a landscape scale, given the characteristic heterogeneity of dead wood in forests. Where future research opportunities become possible, priority should be given to deriving guide¬ lines for management. Outstanding consid¬ erations include comparative benefits of aggregated versus dispersed foraging to optimize the spacing of management-gen¬ erated dead wood, quantitative recommen¬ dations for post-harvest retention of large- dimension live trees sufficient to maintain desired levels of natural mortality, and how to mesh Ivory-billed recovery and conser¬ vation with other forest management goals. However, given the anticipated unlikeli¬ hood of acquiring new and comprehensive information in a timely manner, the limited management-relevant existing knowledge can serve to develop and implement tenta¬ tive prescriptions for adaptive manage¬ ment. Acknowledgments The author thanks Environmental Synergy, Inc. for permission to publish results from a 2001 research mission carried out by Winrock International in the Mississippi alluvial valley. For offering very helpftd comments on the manuscript, I thank Louis R. Bevier; J. Van Remsen of Louisiana State University; Kenny Ribbeck of Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Wildlife Division/Forestry Sec¬ tion; Art Blundell, U.S. Agency for Interna¬ tional Development Bureau for Economic Growth, Agriculture and Trade, Environment Forestry Team; Martjan Lammertink, Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology; and Elizabeth Sklad, The Nature Conservancy. Literature cited Allen, A. A., and R R Kellogg. 1937. Recent observations on the ivory-billed wood¬ pecker. Auk 54: 164-184. Bunnell, F L., M. Boyland, and E. Wind. 2002. How should we spatially distribute dying and dead wood? USDA For. Serv. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-181. Conner, W. H., I. Mihalia, and J. Wolfe. 2002. Tree community structure and changes from 1987 to 1999 in three Louisiana and three South Carolina forested wetlands. Wetlands 22: 58-70. Dennis, J. V. 1948. A last remnant of ivory¬ billed woodpeckers in Cuba. Auk 65: 497-507. - . 1979. The Ivory-billed Woodpecker ( Campephilus principalis). Avicultura l Magazine 85: 75-84. Fitzpatrick, J.W., M. Lammertink, M. D. Luneau, Jr., T. W. Gallagher, B. R. Harri¬ son, G. M. Sparling, K. V. Rosenberg, R. W. Rohrbaugh, E. C. H. Swarthout, R H. Wrege, S. B. Swarthout, M. S. Dantzker, R. A. Charif, T. R. Barksdale, J. V Remsen, Jr., S. D. Simon, and D. Zollner. 2005. Ivory-billed Woodpecker ( Campephilus principalis ) persists in continental North America. Science 308: 1460-1462. Franklin, J. F, D. R. Berg, D. A. Thornburgh, and J. C. Tappeiner. 1996. Alternative sil¬ vicultural approaches to timber harvesting: variable retention harvest systems. Pp. 111-139 in: Kohm, K., andj. F Franklin, eds. Creating a forestry for the 21st century. Island Press, Washington, D.C. Gallagher, T. 2005. The Grail Bird. Houghton Mifflin, Boston. Hedrick, L. D., R. G. Hooper, D. L. Krusac, and J. M. Dabney. 1998. Silvicultural sys¬ tems and red-cockaded woodpecker man¬ agement: another perspective. Wildlife Society Bulletin 26 (1): 138-147. Jackson, J. A. 2004. In Search of the Ivory- billed Woodpecker. Smithsonian Institu¬ tion Press, Washington, D.C. - . 2002. Ivory-billed Woodpecker (Campephilus principalis). In: The Birds of North America, No. 711. A. Poole and F Gill, eds. The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Lamb, G. R. 1957. The Ivory-billed Wood¬ pecker in Cuba. Pan-American Section International Committee for Bird Preser¬ vation Research Report No. 1. Lorimer, C. G. 1989. Relative effects of small and large disturbances on temperate hard¬ wood forest structure. Ecology 70: 565-567. Mattson, K. G., Swank, W. T., and J. B. Waide. 1987. Decomposition of woody debris in a regenerating clear-cut forest in the southern Appalachians. Canadian Journal of Forestry Research 17: 712-721. Morrison, D. W., I. C. Timossi, and A. Kim¬ berly. 1987. Development and testing of linear regression models predicting bird- habitat relationships. Journal of Wildlife Management 51: 247-253. Onega, T.I., and W. G. Eickmeier. 1991. Woody detritus inputs and decomposi¬ tion kinetics in a southern temperate deciduous forest. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 118:52-57. Renken, R. B., and E. R Wiggers. 1989. For¬ est characteristics related to Pileated Woodpecker territory size in Missouri. Condor 91: 642-652. Rudis, VA., and R. A. Birdsey. 1986. Forest resource trends and current conditions in the lower Mississippi Valley. Resource Bulletin SO-116. USDA Forest Service, Southern Forest Experiment Station, New Orleans. Seagle, S. W., R. A. Lancia, D. A. Adams, M. R. Lennartz, and H. A. Devine. 1987. Inte¬ grating timber and Red-cockaded Wood¬ pecker habitat management. Pp. 41-52 in: Transactions of the North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Confer¬ ence 52: Sharing Resource Challenges: Opportunities and Responsibilities. Wildlife Management Institute, Washing¬ ton, D.C. Short, L. L. 1985. Last chance for the Ivory¬ billed. Natural History 94: 66-68. Short, L. L., and J. F M. Horne. 1986. The Ivory-billed still lives. Natural History 7: 26-27. Smith, E. E. 1954. The Forests of Cuba. Maria Moors Cabot Foundation Publication 2: 1-98. Stoddard, H. L. 1969. Memoirs of a Natural¬ ist. University of Oklahoma Press, Nor¬ man, Oklahoma. Tanner, J. T. 1942. The Ivory -billed Wood¬ pecker. Research Report No. 1, National Audubon Society. New York, New York. Wayne, A. T. 1893. Additional notes on the birds of the Suwanee River. Auk 10: 338. Welsh, C. J. E. and D. E. Capen. 1992. Avail¬ ability of nesting sites as a limit to wood¬ pecker populations. Forest Ecology and Management 48: 31-41. Williams, M. 1992. Americans and their Forests: A Historical Geography. Cam¬ bridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom. © VOLUME 59 (2005) NUMBER 2 221 The Changing Seasons Seeing the Forest for the Trees Ted Floyd American Birding Association P.O.Box 7974 Boulder, Colorado 80306-7974 tedfloyd@aba.org An Ornithological Parlor Game What do the following records — let’s refer to them as “Category L” records — have in com¬ mon? • 1 Manx Shearwater off Los Angeles, Cali¬ fornia • 1000+ Turkey Vultures on Ohio Christmas Bird Counts • 395 Bald Eagles along the Rappahanock River in Virginia • 106 Sandhill Cranes on the Long Point, Ontario Christmas Bird Count • 28 Eurasian Collared-Doves at Ballantine, Montana Next, what do the following — we ll call them “Category S” records — have in common? • 3 Roadside Hawks in the lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas • 42 Northern Hawk Owls on the Sax-Zim, Minnesota, Christmas Bird Count • 46 Red-headed Woodpeckers in New Jer¬ sey’s Great Swamp • 7 Townsend’s Solitaires in New Brunswick • 700+ Cedar Waxwings in and around San Salvador, El Salvador Finally, what is the unifying theme for the fol¬ lowing “Category Z” records? • 1 Great Black-Hawk in Florida • 1 Chuck-will’s-widow in Ohio • 1 White-striped Woodcreeper along the San Pedro River in far-northern Chihuahua • 21 Northern Rough-winged Swallows in January in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania • 1 American Dipper in Dallas, Texas Collecting Stamps Ernest Rutherford, discoverer of the atomic nucleus and purveyor of many a memorable one-liner, said, “All science is either physics or stamp collecting.” And ever since Ruther¬ ford, biologists have been fighting that charge. The basic argument of the geneticists, evolu¬ tionists, taxonomists, and others is that we too look for patterns and process, that we too seek theoretical unification, that we too can see the big picture. What about birders and ornithologists? Can we make sense out of all of the avian com¬ plexity, diversity, and beauty that surrounds us? Can we discern the context, the common¬ alities, in big-picture phenomena such as sta¬ tus and distribution, range expansions and contractions, population increases and de¬ creases, and the like? Or are we guilty of stamp collecting? Of focusing narrowly and mean- inglessly on isolated phenomena, viz., rarities? What’s the fun of birding, one might ask, without that one-in-a-million rarity? Well, there’s a flip side to the question. What’s the fun of an enterprise in which 999,999 out of a million observations are merely mundane, mere filler? Besides, it is the “ordinary” birds that are, in aggregate, doing the most exciting, the most intriguing things. It is the ordinary birds that make field ornithology truly thrilling. And even the “rarities,” it turns out, have their place, their context. To be sure, the analysis that follows is a far cry from the physicist’s dream of total unification. But we birders and ornithologists oughtn’t lose heart. There are thousands of us, amassing millions of observations every year. Together, we can begin to discern the big picture. Together, we can discover beauty, across large spatial and temporal scales. Category L Perhaps the biggest myth of all is that, over the long haul, populations ought to be stable. That myth was “officially” debunked as early as Malthus and Darwin, but it persists. All populations have an inherent tendency to¬ ward natural increase. What goes up must come down, of course, and most populations of organisms exhibit sustained periods of de¬ cline as well. Sometimes, they even go extinct. In any event, long-term population stability is rare. That is a result borne out over and over again, both empirically and theoretically. Our expectation should be that most populations of North American birds are unstable and dy¬ namic, increasing or decreasing. How many records refer to Category L (for “Long-term”) phenomena? A sampling fol¬ lows. At the top of the A.O.U. Check-list , Black- bellied Whistling-Ducks are increasing in the southern United States, evidenced this past winter by single-location counts of 28 in South Carolina, 255 in Florida, and 1000+ in a crawdad-and-rice complex in Louisiana. Range shifts are typically reported as single¬ species phenomena, but there is no ecological principle that constrains such phenomena to the species level. Consider the case of the North American Anseriformes (waterfowl). Most species of Anserinae (geese and swans) are undergoing dramatic range expansions and population increases, whereas other anseriform subfamilies are not. To be sure, proliferating populations of Anserinae were widely noted throughout the continent during the winter of 2004-2005. Pink-footed Geese are increasing in the Palearctic, and three were noted this winter in Nova Scotia. Good counts of Greater White-fronted Goose included 2665 at Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge, Illinois and 3500 at Reelfoot Lake on the Ken- tucky-Tennessee border. Farther west, small¬ er — but still higher-than-average — numbers were noted in Colorado, and a good-sized flock of 133 passed over Palo Alto, California. Rapidly growing populations of Snow Goose are of increasing concern to wildlife biologists in North America. This winter, there were records from Ontario and North Dakota, well to the north of the traditional wintering range of the species. Farther south, single-location tallies included 200,000 in Illinois, 250,000 in Missouri, 100,000 along the Tennessee-Ken- tucky border, and exactly 1,161,608 in Ne¬ braska. Wintering Ross’s Geese are on the in¬ crease, with notable counts this past winter of 147 along the Kentucky-Tennessee border and 3000 in Humphreys County, Mississippi. Far to the west, the species had another good winter in Oregon and Washington. Barnacle Geese, many of which may be of wild — that is to say, Palearctic — provenance have been noted with increasing frequency in the mid-Atlantic region. This winter, there were reports from New Jersey, Maryland, Vir¬ ginia, and Pennsylvania. On the other side of the continent, a Barnacle Goose in California triggered the usual question of “origin.” Are populations of the Cackling Goose, recently elevated to full-species status, on the increase? It is gratifying that field ornithologists are tackling Cackling Goose identification head- 222 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS In addition to northern owls and feeder finches, boreal forest and montane frugivores made southward and eastward movements that were extraordinary — if not quite "without precedent." In the Great Plains — but less so in the Great Lakes or Northeast — Pine Grosbeaks (top, at Guymon, Texas County, Oklahoma 2 January 2005) and Bohemian Waxwings (above, below Fort Peck dam, Valley County, Montana 6 February 2005) launched irruptions that startled even veteran observers. The grosbeak was thought to be of the subspecies leucura rather than the closer Rocky Mountain montana, perhaps a clue to the origin of this flight in Canada's boreal forests (a stray in the California desert in November 2004 may also have been leucura). Varied Thrushes (upper left, at at New Glascow, Prince Edward Island 30 January 2005) and Townsend's Solitaires (left, at Schooner Pond, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia 7 February 2005), by contrast, were scattered from the Midwest through the East Coast and quite far south. All this wandering suggests perhaps a failure of fruit and seeds in these species' core ranges, a very productive breeding season, or, perhaps, both. Photographs by Steve Metz (top), Stephen J. Dinsmore (above), Beth Hoar (upper left), and Allan and Cathy Murrant (left). on; in time, we should have a good picture of population dynamics in this species. The dis¬ tinctive leucopareia (Aleutian) race of the Cackling Goose has, in fact, been monitored for quite some time now, and the 5000 in Humboldt County, California, reflects recent gains for the population. A mid-winter waterfowl invento¬ ry in Ontario netted an alarming 790 Mute Swans, and there were re¬ ports of 201 individuals distributed widely across Ohio; smaller num¬ bers were noted south to Kentucky and Tennessee. Trumpeter Swans, continuing to increase, included 70 near St. Louis, Missouri, 58 across scattered locations in Nebraska, and 1515 near Clear Lake, Washington. Tundra Swans are wintering farther inland than in the past, evidenced by the 2139 on the Long Point, On¬ tario C.B.C. More than 1800 lin¬ gered into December in Ohio, 856 were counted along the Mississippi River in Illinois, and 857 made the Clinton, Iowa C.B.C. Smaller flocks wintered west to Kansas and Okla¬ homa, and the species was widely reported in small numbers in Ari¬ zona and New Mexico. Continuing a recent trend, Harlequin Ducks were in good numbers in eastern coastal Canada. Farther south along the coast, numbers in New York and New Jersey were rated as excellent. Erie County, Pennsyl¬ vania, had two, and there were reports from multiple locations in each of the western Great Lakes states of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Wild Turkey is spreading into new (or pre¬ viously occupied) haunts throughout North America. This winter, there was evidence of movement northward in Ontario and west- V0LUME 59 (2005) • NUMBER 2 223 CHANGING SEASONS ward in British Columbia. Farther south, the species is expanding into Santa Cruz County, California. There, as elsewhere in North America, Wild Turkey is being reported from heavily developed districts. There were yet more West Coast records of Manx Shearwater this winter. Two off West- port, Washington, were the first winter sight¬ ings for the state. Singles in California were noted off Monterey and Los Angeles. Wintering American White Pelicans are be¬ ing reported from many locations in which the species was formerly scarce or absent. This winter, multiple individuals were noted in Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, and North Carolina. South Carolina’s best single¬ location count was 477. Inland in the East, there were records from Ohio, Arkansas, and elsewhere. The mountain states got in on the action, too, with seven in Wyoming and sever¬ al in southeastern Colorado. In the far West, there were multiple sightings from British Co¬ lumbia, where the species had been unrecord¬ ed in winter. Finally, good numbers in El Sal¬ vador and Guatemala reflect recent wintertime increases in northern Central America. Wintering vultures continue to push north¬ ward in increasing numbers. Black Vultures were reported in good numbers in Rhode Is¬ land and Massachusetts, and 100 were noted in Johnson County, Illinois. Wintering Turkey Vultures, too, are on the upswing: the top sin¬ gle-location count in Nova Scotia was 14, and two tarried in Quebec. More than 1000 were tallied on Ohio Christmas Bird Counts. In New Mexico, where the species had not win¬ tered in the past, at least 20 were reported from three locations. There was good news, especially in eastern North America, on the Bald Eagle front. Se¬ lected highlights include about 500 from New York and New Jersey; 395 along the Rappa- hanock River in Virginia; and high counts of 1694 and 187 in Illinois and Indiana, respec¬ tively. Southward-spreading Golden Eagles were widely in evidence, with rebounding numbers in New York and New Jersey and en¬ couraging numbers again reported from Maryland and Virginia. Numbers were consid¬ ered good, too, in the western Great Lakes. There were reports, mainly of singles, from as far south as North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Farther north, though, in New England, the number of reports was lower than usual. Two falcon species are trending in opposite directions in eastern North America. Dismally low Ameri¬ can Kestrel counts came from New Jersey and Ontario; several recent studies have pointed to sharp declines in eastern North American populations of the species. On the flip side, increasing Merlins included 45 in New York and New Jersey. At least five birds were in Pennsylvania, at least 28 were seen in Ohio, and there were reports of singles from 1 1 Ken- tucky-Tennessee counties. Sandhill Crane is undergoing a rapid ex¬ pansion of its eastern wintering range. No¬ table were reports from Maine, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maryland — far from the core wintering area. Impressive counts farther west included 106 on the Long Point, Ontario C.B.C.; double digits from various localities in Pennsylvania and Ohio; and 350 at Des Plaines, Illinois. In the core range, the Hi- wassee, Tennessee C.B.C. turned in a fine count of 14,610. The ongoing Lesser Black-backed Gull in¬ vasion of North America was evidenced by such high counts as 500+ in Broward County, Florida and 272 on three Bucks County, Penn¬ sylvania C.B.C.s. At least 25 were noted on the Yucatan Peninsula, apparently a significant stronghold for the species in North America. Small numbers were very widely noted throughout the lower Mississippi River valley and into the southern Great Plains, and more than 20 were recorded in Colorado, where the species is now expected in small numbers. Farther west, two strayed to Utah and one each to British Columbia, Washington, and Sonora. Doves, like geese, are faring well in North America. Band-tailed Pigeons are increasingly noted during the winter months in Colorado, with double-digit flocks recorded at two lo¬ cales in the state this past season. Invading Eurasian Collared-Doves were noted as far north as Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Montana, and Oregon. Impressive counts in¬ cluded 18 in St. Genevieve County, Missouri, and 28 at Ballantine, Montana. Meanwhile, triple-digit counts were reported from various towns in southeastern Colorado and in New Mexico, as well as in and around Ejido San Pedro, Chihuahua. Two well-birded counties in California got their firsts, and there were records from the Yucatan Peninsula and from Costa Rica. An exception to the general rule of columbid good fortunes in North America is the Spotted Dove, which remains in drastic decline in southern California. White-winged Dove numbers are exploding in the core range of the species in the southwestern United States, and strays are increasingly noted. This winter, singles wandered to New Brunswick, Massachusetts, Maryland, Georgia, and Ne¬ braska. South Carolina and North Carolina each posted two, and eight made their way to Florida. The species is increasing sharply in Colorado, with close to 100 documented there this winter. Mourning Doves are in¬ creasing in Hawaii, and the estimated 300 at Kealia were the highest ever by far for the state. Up to 4 Inca Doves were reported from Thibodaux, Louisiana, where the species is increasingly noted, and 10 made it to John¬ ston County, Oklahoma. There were multiple records from Colorado, too, where the species is establishing a toehold. There was generally good news this winter for Common Ground- Dove. Singles wandered northward to Ken¬ tucky, Wisconsin, and Utah, and two were at Red Slough Wildlife Management Area, Okla¬ homa. A goodly 20 were noted at the Savan¬ nah Spoil Site, South Carolina, and news of a previously undetected population in Kern County, California, was welcome. In the Rud¬ dy Ground-Dove department, Mississippi got its first, and two remained at Cottonwood Campground, Texas. At least eight were noted at two New Mexico locales, and numbers were higher than usual in Arizona. Up to 15 were observed near Calipatria, California, and two others were noted elsewhere in southern California. Black Phoebes are wintering farther north than ever, with reports this past winter from Oklahoma, Colorado, and Washington. Mean¬ while, the species continues to expand its range northward in Oregon, with two reports from northerly locations in that state. The versatile and superb Common Raven is slowly but surely filling in the holes in its North American range. This season, there were reports from the eastern Piedmont of Virginia, plus word that the species is spread¬ ing south in both Ontario and Texas. Mean¬ while, the species is faring well in the “ex¬ treme” environments with which it is typically associated; for example, a robust 1860 were counted in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories in early January. In recent winters, Barn Swallows have been widespread in the Pacific Northwest. This past winter, interior British Columbia pro¬ duced 12 at seven locations, and there were 118 along the British Columbia coast. Wash¬ ington produced three interior records, and Oregon four. Meanwhile, triple digits were noted along the Washington coast. Farther south, 92 were detected moving northward along the northern California coast in De¬ cember. It is still shocking to think of the Cave Swallow — considered a “mega” until about 10 years ago — as regular along the East Coast in early winter. There were 3 or 4 in New Jersey, double digits in coastal Virginia, and several inland in Maryland. Farther south, Cave Swallows were widespread in North Carolina and South Carolina. Finally, Tufted Titmice continue to spread northward in southern Canada. Several were reported from western New Brunswick, and five made it to the Quebec City region. Mean¬ while, the species continues to invade On¬ tario. Category S Peppered atop long-term population trends (often decreasing or increasing, sometimes holding steady) are short-term blips, burps, hiccups. Some are simply statistical “noise,” arising from intrinsic random variation, inad- 224 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS equate sampling, or both. Others are biologi¬ cally real phenomena, given rise to by weath¬ er events, food shortages, etc. They can last from weeks to years. What is the distinction between a short-term fluctuation of long du¬ ration versus a long-term trend of short dura¬ tion? The breakpoint is essentially demo¬ graphic: short-term fluctuations typically happen within a generation, whereas long¬ term trends usually span multiple genera¬ tions. But there are many exceptions to the rule. For our purposes, Category S (for “Short¬ term”) phenomena can be viewed as playing out within a season or two. And there was no shortage of interesting Category S phenomena during the winter of 2004-2005. Barrow’s Goldeneyes made waves in the hot desert states. From New Mexico, eight indi¬ viduals were present at four locations. At Glen Canyon Dam, Arizona, there were 59. And two in Baja California were the first confirmed record for Mexico. Roadside Flawks were reported from three Texas counties. Intrinsic random variation? Or was there a link to some external factor? Unquestionably the latter, with the hawks be¬ ing accompanied by a staggering number of individuals of other Mexican species that wander to Texas only occasionally. See the Texas regional report and the Photo Salon for details on the 2004-2005 Super Flight. Northern Lapwings were widely scattered in eastern coastal North America, with sin¬ gles noted in Newfoundland, Maine (uncon¬ firmed), New York (unconfirmed), Mary¬ land, Virginia (unconfirmed), and North Carolina. Alcids penetrated far to the south along the East Coast. Common Murres were in better- than-usual numbers: 43 were noted at Rock- port, Massachusetts and farther south, 7 were seen off Delaware, with singles to Virginia and even to South Carolina. The Thick-billed Murre invasion was even more impressive. Good numbers came in from Maine, Massa¬ chusetts, and Rhode Island. Scattered smaller numbers were recorded south to New York, New Jersey, and Delaware, and there were re¬ ports south all the way to North Carolina and South Carolina. Smaller numbers of Razorbills and Atlantic Puffins were noted well to the south of usual, too, with singles of both species as far south as Florida. Northern owls staged a massive invasion southward, with the scene at Sax-Zim Bog near Duluth, Minnesota, attracting national media attention. Excellent numbers of owls were also noted across southern Canada and into central Alaska, and scattered smaller numbers were recorded from New York to Iowa. The Sax-Zim, Minnesota C.B.C. pro¬ duced 42 Northern Hawk Owls, and 87 were banded in central Saskatchewan. Farther afield, 25 were reported from Quebec — im- V0LUME 59 (2005) • NUMBE pressive, but not on par with the approxi¬ mately 200 there during the winter of 2000-2001. Much farther north, the species was scarce in the Yukon and Northwest Terri¬ tories. One made it all the way to Oregon, the state’s third. Great Gray Owls were likewise on the move. In Minnesota, several parties ran up single-day tallies of 200+. Approximately 600 were reported from Quebec, and some 250 were noted in Simcoe County, Ontario alone. To the west, 74 were banded in central Saskatchewan, and two in North Dakota were that state’s first since 1966. Farther east, though, only one was recorded in Canada’s At¬ lantic provinces. Southward, three made it to Iowa. Some 150 dead Boreal Owls were noted in and around northeastern Minnesota. Else¬ where, 15 were noted south of the breeding range in Quebec, several were reported from Ontario and southern Manitoba, five ranged south all the way to New York, and one in Iowa was a first for the state. Red-headed Woodpeckers invaded the East Coast, with about 10 each in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia and about five in Prince Ed¬ ward Island. Smaller but still above-average numbers were noted in the New England states. In New Jersey, the 46 in New Jersey’s Great Swamp were remarkable. Good num¬ bers were noted farther west, too; for example, 163 were tallied in Jackson County, Illinois. The farthest west of all was a stray to Utah, the second for the state. But numbers were much reduced in Kentucky and Tennessee, due per¬ haps to a regional hard mast failure. And was the mast failure, in turn, connected to the dis¬ persal of birds elsewhere? Red-bellied Wood¬ pecker, a species whose range has been slow¬ ly expanding for decades, surged northward this winter. At least 150 were noted in the At¬ lantic provinces, 39 in Quebec, and at least 246 in Maine. Record-high counts were recorded on various Ontario Christmas Bird Counts, and birds were noted north of their usual haunts in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Downy Woodpeckers dispersed into the western lowlands. A leucurus (“Mountain”) Downy Woodpecker was pho¬ tographed on the Colorado plains, 14 were counted at low-elevation Farmington, New Mexico, and singles were noted at four low¬ land locales in Arizona. Time out! It is not the case that tidy trends can be associated with every bird population. Case in point: Northern Shrikes this past win¬ ter. The flight into New England was “mixed,” whereas numbers in New York and Virginia were considered good. Numbers were excep¬ tional in Indiana and Illinois, normal in Iowa, and below average in Utah and Nevada. In the fall of 2004, Blue Jays irrupted into the far west. Numbers dwindled in the ensu¬ ing months, but holdovers were nonetheless i widely noted. The tally for the winter season was three in Utah, two in Nevada, 37 in Wash¬ 2 ington, 17 in Oregon, and one in California. Townsend’s Solitaires disperse eastward in small numbers every’ winter, and this past winter’s flight was especially heavy. The major concentration, as expected, was in southeast¬ ern Canada, the northeastern United States, and the Great Lakes region. The final tally, which shows roughly diminishing numbers with increasing distance from the core range, was as follows: North Dakota 60, Minnesota 15, Iowa 10, Wisconsin 8, New Brunswick 7, Quebec 7, Michigan 4, Nova Scotia 2, Ontario 2, and singles in Prince Edward Island, New¬ foundland, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Any time you have three Redwings in one season in North America, you’re looking at an “invasion.” This year, there were records from Newfoundland (the eighth for the province), from Pennsylva¬ nia (the state’s first), and from Washington (also a first). And what do Alaska, the Ba¬ hamas, and the Yucatan Peninsula have in common? All of these places saw notable numbers of American Robins during the win¬ ter of 2004-2005. Double- and even triple¬ digit flocks were scattered across southern coastal Alaska, and at least five wintered in¬ land all the way to Fairbanks. In the Bahamas and on the Yucatan Peninsula, single-digit flocks were widely noted. Varied Thrushes in¬ vaded much of the North American continent. Records piled up in the East and in Great Lakes regions, but there were strays all over. The numbers, greatest to the east of the core range and smaller farther away (and in the Southwest), tell the story: 26 in Minnesota, 8 in Wisconsin, 7 in both Ontario and North Dakota, 6 in Arizona, 4 in both Michigan and Massachusetts, 3 in Colorado, 2 in both Penn¬ sylvania and Kansas, and singles in New¬ foundland, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, South Carolina, Ohio, Iowa, South Dakota, and Wyoming. What are we to make of Bohemian Waxwing movements in the winter of 2004-2005? In some of their traditional win¬ tertime hotspots — e.g, Newfoundland, up¬ state New York, and parts of New England — the flight was light. But numbers were good in northern Maine. And elsewhere, they were de¬ lightfully abundant. In the North, Bohemians were common and widely distributed in On¬ tario, and they were in good numbers in the prairie provinces. Working southward, up to 1200 were found in Duluth, Minnesota, some 5000 were registered in Pennington County, South Dakota, and more than 10,000 were re¬ ported in Colorado. Small numbers invaded the southern Great Plains, and a few strayed all the way to Texas and New Mexico, where there are few previous records. The Cedar Waxwing story calls to mind the Red-headed Woodpecker situation. Numbers were decidedly low in central U.S. states such as Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, and Tennessee. 225 CHANGING SEASONS But observers elsewhere saw many. From New Mexico to Quebec and northern Brunswick, numbers were higher than usual. And the real news was from outside the United States. There were 1 1 in two flocks in the Bahamas, and Central America had its largest invasion ever. More than 700 swept into the San Sal¬ vador, El Salvador area, and birds were widely noted in our region as far southeast as Panama. One wonders how far into the moun¬ tains of South America the species actually penetrated. One of the more-hardy parulids, Pine War¬ bler was widely noted in northerly climes this winter. The flight into the Atlantic provinces was rated as excellent, highlighted by a clus¬ ter of four at Blacks Pond, Prince Edward Is¬ land. They were all over New England, too, where 30 were tallied. Elsewhere, seven stayed on in Ohio, five lingered in Illinois, three found their way to Kansas and two to Oklahoma, and one made it to New Mexico. Harris’s Sparrows enjoyed a banner season in the far West. Higher-than-usual numbers were reported from Washington and Alaska, and the 15 in California were above average. In the Great Basin states of Utah and Nevada, the flight was rated as exceptional. Scattered reports elsewhere included two in New Brunswick, one in Quebec, two in New York, one in Florida, four in Ontario, and three in Michigan. But for the first time in five years, the species was not recorded in Illinois or In¬ diana, closer to the main wintering range of the species. In much of North America, observers had their hands full with one or more species of irrupting finches. In a mini-dis¬ persal of Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches, sin¬ gles were reported from Quebec, Ontario, Michigan, Minnesota, and South Dakota. The Pine Grosbeak flight called to mind that of the Bohemian Waxwing, with nor¬ mal or below-normal numbers in the tradi¬ tional northeastern hotspots but with im¬ pressive numbers elsewhere. For example, the flight was light in much of maritime Canada, northern New England, and New York. But numbers were good in the Dako¬ tas, and small flocks wandered to the south¬ ern Great Plains, from which region the species had been essentially absent for 35 years. A slight incursion was detected in Colorado, and the flight in Arizona was the largest in memory. In the Pacific Northwest, birds wandered widely in British Columbia and Oregon. An extensive Purple Finch in¬ vasion surprised observers throughout much of North America. The flight in the Atlantic provinces was considered to be “perhaps unprecedented,” and the incur¬ sion into Texas was the largest in 20 years. A strong presence was detected in Ohio, and excellent numbers were chalked up in Nebraska and Kansas. The flight in Col¬ orado was exceptional, and one individual strayed to New Mexico. Category Z In the Southern Great Plains regional report regional report, mention is twice made of “zooties.” What, pray tell, is a zootie? Well, a Google search returns unedifying results. But the meaning is clear enough, in context: a zootie is a freak, a rarity, a marvelous addition to the stamp collection. (By the way, the Southern Great Plains report in this issue is notable for its depth of analysis, and the re¬ port is to be commended to all readers.) Sure¬ ly certain sightings are of zooties, of “Catego¬ ry Z” birds. They’re just plain weird. It doesn’t make sense to force them into a big-picture mosaic of long-term range shifts and popula¬ tion changes, of short-term irruptions, spikes, and crashes. Right? Maybe, maybe not. Con¬ sider the examples of the following five zooties. A Great Black-Hawk in Miami-Dade Coun¬ ty Florida, prompts the obvious question: wild (zootie) or Exotic (er, zooey)? But it’s not that easy. There have been sightings of the species in the area since the 1970s, and the status of the species in the state is unclear. South Florida — well populated, well birded, and supposedly well known — is surely the proving ground for the serious field ornithol¬ ogist of the twenty-first century. Its vast avi¬ fauna of non-checklist entries is virtually un¬ described, and this past winter’s Great Black-Hawk is more cynosure than zootie. What on earth are we to make of a Decem¬ ber record of Chuck-will’s-widow in Ohio? In the view of the regional editors Vic Fazio and Nick Pulcinella, the bird may have been a re¬ verse migrant. Now, in the case of this particu¬ lar confused caprimulgid, we’ll probably never know. But a general knowledge of the reasons for vagrancy — reverse migration, mirror-image orientation, post-breeding Wanderlust, etc. — is of tremendous usefulness in the matter of un¬ derstanding and interpreting dispersal. Please read Hector Gomez de Silva’s Mexi¬ co regional report; the addition of this region is one of North American Birds’ most exciting developments in recent years. In particular, please give thought to the record of a White- striped Woodcreeper, a Mexican endemic well out of range and out of habitat, in a riparian woodland in northern Chihuahua. If the bird had flown just 42 miles farther north along the San Pedro River, it would have made it to the United States, where it would have estab¬ lished itself as perhaps the most unexpected U. S. vagrant of all time. Imagine! A dendro- colaptid — just about as exotic, as tropical, as you can get — right here in the United States. And a Category Z zootie? Not necessarily. Was this woodcreeper’s wandering part of a bigger picture? Was it connected somehow to the event in the Lower Rio Grande Valley? To the Tufted Flycatchers in Arizona? To the Rufous- backed Robin in Utah? To the Great Kiskadee in New Mexico? To the hordes of Maroon- fronted Parrots drifting about in northern and central Mexico? What was the context for the 21 Northern Rough-winged Swallows in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in early January? The species is a very early “spring” migrant, of course, fre¬ quently returning to the southern United States by early January. But 21 in Philadelphia in January are “without precedent” — that two-word cop-out that birders and ornitholo¬ gists employ all too often. (To the credit of the regional editors, those two little words do not appear in their discussion of the swallows. It is safe to say, though, that someone, some¬ where, in discussing this record, used that ex¬ pression.) Indeed, there is considerable prece¬ dent for this sighting. For more than a decade, North American swallows have been doing all sorts of curious things in winter. Consider the examples of Barn Swallows in the Pacific Northwest and Cave Swallows in the mid-At- lantic states. And more generally, scores of bird species are wintering farther north than ever. The Philadelphia Rough-wingeds have plenty of broad context, if not necessarily within their species. And what about the American Dipper that strayed to Dallas, Texas? Well, we know that montane and boreal forest birds wandered widely all over North America this past win¬ ter. Think of all the Townsend’s Solitaires and Varied Thrushes, of all the Bohemian Waxwings and Pine Grosbeaks. There were more-local wanderings, too, for example, of Clark’s Nutcrackers and Bushtits in the south¬ ern Great Plains, of Downy Woodpeckers and Red-breasted Nuthatches in the desert South¬ west. Was the Dallas dipper truly a zootie, or was it part of a larger-scale dispersal involving many taxa? And how many other dippers went undetected? It is fair to say that few of us hunt for vagrant dippers (though not for fear of dipping...). Coda The preceding analysis — touching on every¬ thing from burgeoning goose and dove popu¬ lations to invading thrushes and finches to a very cool vagrant in northern Mexico — is all over the place. There is none of the unifica¬ tion that physicists claim and that biologists aspire to. But we birders and field ornitholo¬ gists, these past several decades, have devel¬ oped the pedagogical outlook for making sense out of the avian complexity around us. We have learned to connect the dots, to dis¬ cern patterns of and reasons for population change. We have learned to ask the simplest, but most profound, of questions: Increasing or decreasing? Expanding or contracting? Short-term or long-term? Conceptual unifica¬ tion is sure to follow. — 226 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS American Birding* ASSOCIATION ABA-Endorsed Tours Enjoy Very Special Bird i n g 2005 Short Trips for Target Species North Dakota Prairie Birds Le Conte's, Baird's, and Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrows, Sprague's Pipit, six species of grebes, and woodland songbirds such as Mourning War¬ bler and grosbeaks; Ferruginous and Swainson's Hawks, and much more. Schedule your personalized tour now. Contact: Buffalo Com¬ mons Birding Safaris, 2704 10th Avenue NW, Mandan, ND 58554; (701) 228-5271 or (701) 663-4980; tgibson@ndak.net; barnhart@btinet.net. Abaco, Bahamas Bahama Parrot, Bahama Woodstar, Western Spindalis, Bahama Swal¬ low, Bahama Yellow-throat, Black-faced Grassquit, Greater-Antillean Bullfinch, Bahama Mockingbird; breeding tropicbird, Sooty Tern, Brown Noddy. 22 Bahamian specialties in all. Led by Ron Pagliaro. One-, two-, and three-day packages available year-round. Contact: Abaco Outback, 5530 NW 21st Terrace, Fort Lauderdale, FI. 33309; (242) 367-5358; info@abacooutback.com. Hawk-Owl & Gyrfalcon Tour These and several other difficult northern specialties including Great Gray Owl and Spruce Grouse. From Duluth, MN. Mike Hendrickson leads. December 28, 2005 to January 1, 2006. Contact: Bob Odear at OBServ Tours, Inc., 3901 Trimble Road, Nashville, TN 37215; (615) 292-2739; observtours@belisoutlt.net; www.observtours.com. Boreal Owl and Spruce Grouse Extreme northeast corner of Washington is the site. Once the Boreals stan vocalizing the timing is dictated by the best moon phase prior to the heavy snows making leaving the highway too difficult. From Spokane. Mark Houston leads. October 7-11, 2005. Contact: Bob Odear at OBServ Tours, Inc., 3901 Trimble Road, Nashville, TN 37215; (615) 292-2739; observtours@bellsouth.net; www.observtours.com. Sharp-tailed Sandpiper and Eurasian Sky Lark Southwestern British Columbia and Northwestern Washington are shorebird bonanzas with annual visits by Asian vagrants. Also visit islands for the resident Sky Larks. Howard Armstrong leads. Oct 2-6, 2005. Contact: Bob Contact: Bob Odear at OBServ Tours, Inc., 3901 Trimble Road, Nashville, TN 37215; (615) 292-2739; observtours@bellsouth.net; www.observtours.com. Caribbean Natural Wonders of the U.S. & British Virgin Islands Embark on the yachtlike, Nantucket Clipper in St. Thomas into some of the world's most beautiful waters with stops at Great Tobago, Tor¬ tola, the bird-laden cliffs of tiny Cooper Island and the Greater Flamin¬ goes of Anegada. Snorkeling opportunities abound. 7-16 fanuary, 2006. Contact: Clipper Cruise Line, (800) 814-9393 x 6813 or (800) 456-0020; csperry@intrav.com or groupres@intrav.com. Cuba-Zapata Peninsula, and The Mountains and Forests of Western Cuba Western, central, and southern endemic habitats, and visit the southern (Caribbean) coast, offering excellent opportunities to see most of Cuba's endemics and an excellent variety of other species. Led by Brett Walker and Arturo Kirkconnell. 5-14 fanuary 2006 and 17-28 fanuary 2006. Contact: Gary Markowski; (860) 350-6752; Cubirds@aol.com; CBSP, P.O. Box 355, New Milford, GT 06776. Mexico Baja & Sea of Cortez - Bird & Whale Watching Expedition loin Mexican ornithologist Juan Martinez to the famous Gray Whale calving grounds aboard the yachtlike Yorktown Clipper where whale¬ watching and snorkeling will be combined with birding for Baja special¬ ties. While looking for whales will be the emphasis with chances for humpback, finback, and blue whales likely, birds too will be studied. 25 February - 4 March, 2006. Contact: Clipper Cruise Line, (800) 814-9393 x 6813 or (800) 456-0020; csperry@intrav.com or groupres@intrav.com. Northeast Mexico: Veracruz "River of Raptors Witness the world's greatest raptor migration, where single day counts have exceeded 700,000 birds! More than 325 species possible, includ¬ ing 30 raptors, 20 hummingbirds, and 35 warblers. Led by Bob Straub and Adrian Binns. 24 Scptember-6 October 2005. Contact: Jaeger Tours, (215) 364-4407; binns@jaegertours.net; www. jaegertours. n et. Mazatlan and the Durango Road After explorations near Mazatlan for coastal species we'll move to the high, arid plain east of the Sierra Madre Occidental. These mountains offer a marked change in flora, and hence, in the birds. The prize endemic of the trip is Tufted lay among the 35+ endemics. Led By PD Hulce. November 6-13, 2005. Contact: Bob Odear at OBServ Tours, Inc., 3901 Trimble Road, Nashville, TN 37215; (615) 292-2739; observtours@bellsouth.net; www.observtours.com . Central and South America Cruising in the Chilean Fjords: NOW with exciting post-cruise to Antarctica Cruise the remote, icy waters off southern Chile. The Chilean Inside Passage offers a chance to see Chilean seabirds. Stop at Torres del Paine National Park and voyage into the Beagle Channel. Clipper naturalist will lead walks. Post-trip to Antarctica at greatly reduced price if com¬ bined with Chilean Fjords. 29 October-12 November 2005. Dates for post-cruise Antarctica please CALL. Contact: (flipper Cruise Line, (800) 814-9393 x6813 or (800) 456-0020; csperry@intrav.com or groupres@intrav.com. Costa Rica and Panama Cruise on the Yorktown Clipper from Costa Rica to Panama, including this region's great engineering spectacle, the Panama Canal. This is an excellent introduction to tropical birding with multiple daily stops in both countries for birding along rich lowland rainforest trails. Expert onboard naturalists. Very birdy pre- and post-cruise extensions available. 16-24 November 2005 and 10-18 February 2006. Contact: Clipper Cruise Line, (800) 814-9393 x6813 or (800) 456-0020; csperry@intrav.com or groupres@intrav.com. Europe Scottish Isles to Iceland Embark Edinburgh Scotland for and expedition on board the Clipper Adventurer. The legendary Orkney Islands of Scotland will be explored on the way to Fair Isle and Mousa of the Shetland Islands, Denmark's Faroe Islands, and finally to Westmann and Flatey Islands in Iceland. Exceptionally good for seabirds. 21 June - 4 July, 2006. Contact: Clipper Cruise Line, (800) 814-9393 x 6813 or (800) 456-0020; csperry@intrav.com or groupres@intrav.com. West Cornwall and Isles Of Scilly Uncommon migrants include Yellow-browed Warbler, Red-backed Shrike, Richard's Pipit, Lapland Bunting Wryneck, Ring Ouzel, Black Redstart, and Wood Lark. In recent times, rarities found in this region: Pechora Pipit; Lanceolated, Spectacled, Radde's, Dusky, Pal¬ las's, Arctic, Booted, and Paddyfield Warblers; Penduline Tit, Little Bustard, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, American Robin, Common Yel- lowthroat; Gray-cheeked, Siberian and White's (Scaly) Thrushes; Short-toed and Booted Eagles. Resident species include Red-billed Chough, Cetti's Warbler, and Little Egret. Led by Neil Donaghy and lohn Swann. 20 October-2 November 2005. Contact: Neil Donaghy, Celtic Bird Tours, 84 Coity Road, Bridgend CF31 1LT, Wales, UR; telephone (+44) 016.56 645709; cell (+44) 07.971 98.3227; Birds@celtictours.org.uk; www.celticbirdtours.com. Eurasia Islands of the Russian Far East loin )ohn Sylvester on board the Clipper Odyssey cruising from Tokyo, Japan to Petropavlosk on the Russian Kamchatka Peninsula. With stops in the Kuril Islands many Asian species the "might" get to the ll.S. outer islands may be encountered. White-tailed and Steller's Sea- Eagles, Blakiston's Fish Owl, Spectacled Guillemot, Vega Gull, and lots of cliffs with nesting seabirds. 11-23 June, 2006. Contact: Clipper Cruise Line, (800) 814-9393 x 6813 or (800) 456-0020; csperry@intrav.com or groupres@intrav.com. Spring Birding in Japan loin Englishman Chris Cook on a spring tour the includes the islands of Honshu, Kyushu, Tobishima, Hachijo, Kagoshima on Kyushu and the famous Lake Mi-ike. The endemic Izu Islands Thrush, Ijima's Leaf Warier, and the Fairy Pitta are some of the target species. 20-30 May, 2006. Contact: Siemer & Hand Travel, 750 Battery St. Suite .300, San Francisco, CA 94111 (800) 451-4321; (415) 788-4000; fax (415) 788-4133; travel@siemerhand.com. Pacific Ocean Hawaii Kauai, Maui, and the Big Island— each markedly different. We visit rainforests and deserts and explore a variety of habitats at elevations ranging from sea level to more than 12,000 feet, seeing a vast num¬ ber of bird species, both endemic and introduced. Rob Pacheco and other professional birders will lead this group. 8-18 March 2006. Contact: Siemer & Hand Travel, 750 Battery’ St. Suite 300, San Francisco, CA 9411! (800) 451-4321; (415) 788-4000; fax (415) 788-4133; travel@siernerhand.com. Eastern Australia More endemic bird species (238) than any other country, and nearly all of Australia's remaining 500. We start in Caims, the tropical and highland rainforests, and the savanna grasslands of northern Australia, then to the cloud forests of Lamington NP. Continuing on to New South Wales, to the Eucalypt forests at Sydney, coastal heathlands, and the Mallee Bushlands farther west. We finish the trip Tasmania. 1-19 November 2005. Contact: Tropical Birding, 17 Toucan Tropics, 26 Willow Road, Blouberg Rise 7441, South Africa; tel/fax +27-21-556-4124; cell: +27-83-296-0147; info@tropicalbirding.com; www.tropicalbirding.com. Africa Birding in Tanzania Visit Arusha and Tarangire National Parks, the Ngorongoro Crater, the Serengeti Plains, and Lake Victoria for spectacular Tanzanian birds and wildlife with Marc Baker. 23 October-5 November 2005. Contact: Siemer & Hand Travel, 750 Battery St. Suite 300, San Francisco, CA 9411! (800) 451-4321; (415) 788-4000; fax (415) 788-4133; travel@siemerhand.com. South Africa "Fairest Cape to Kmger." The southwest contains two habitats: the heath¬ like fynbos and the semi-desert Karoo. Both systems hold a host of endemic species (58 endemic and near-endemic birds). Sensational birds, such as endemic bustards and at least 30 species of endemic larks and chats. In its northeast, experience bush and savanna vegetation simi¬ lar to that in East Africa, and species diversity increases dramatically. Expect at least 400 species, and 450 or more are possible. 12-25 November 2005. Contact: Tropical Birding, Africa and Asia Division, +27 (0) 82-400-3400; fax +27-21-556 4124; www.tropicalbirding.com; tropicalbirding@telkomsa.net Exploring the Rivers of West Africa Explore the birds and wildlife of the Casamance, Kian West National Park, and Abuko Nature Reserve aboard the 34-guest luxury yacht Cal- listo. View Carmine Bee-eaters, Yellow-billed Storks, and Paradise Fly¬ catchers alongside baboons, warthogs, marsh mongoose, and roan antelopes. Cruise will also include stops at Mopti and a flight to Tim¬ buktu and exploration of the Dogon region. December 29 - January 13, 2006 and February 3 - 18, 2006. Contact: Travel Dynamics International, 132 East 70th St. New York, NY 10021; (800) 257-5767; www.traveldynamicsinternational.com; saIes@traveldynamicsinternational.com. Antarctica Antarctica and the Falkland Islands loin the crew of the Clipper Adventurer on the icy waters of the spectacu¬ lar Antarctic Peninsula. Scenery and abundant wildlife, including pen¬ guins, seabirds, and marine mammals, along with some endemic birds of the Falkland Islands, will be the highlights. 20 November-5 December 2005 and February 2006. Contact: Clipper Cruise Line, (800) 814-9393 x6813 or (800) 456-0020; csperry@intrav.com orgroupres@intrav.com. For more tours go to www.americanbirding.org/tours ' i f , < mm .... Editors’ Notebook The theme of the current issue — “West of the Mississippi” — is a broad one, but it’s intended almost as a burr under the sad¬ dle: the majority of our readership lives in cities east of the Mississippi River, and most of our articles come from our readership. We very much want to publish more arti¬ cles on birds from that great expanse of the continent that lies west of the river — but in truth we still get few submissions from the West, especially the sparsely populated in¬ terior. But when it rains, it pours. We set the theme of this issue two years ago, but in winter 2004, as we assembled our final ros¬ ter of articles, we learned that there had been reports of an Ivory-billed Woodpeck¬ er in eastern Arkansas — barely west of the Mississippi, but over an hour’s drive west of Memphis and so a contender for this issue, at least if the researchers laboring to docu¬ ment this bird were to be so kind as to send us an article. They have. We present here not quite what anyone had hoped for — that tear-wor- thy, frame-filling photograph of a proud Campephilus principalis principalis at its nest cavity — but a nonetheless candid com¬ pendium and chronology of sight reports of Ivory-billed Woodpecker, reports that are not covered in such depth elsewhere. The Arkansas experience has been one in ex¬ treme frustration, surely: compelling re¬ ports by competent observers but as of our press time, no picture-perfect photographic evidence for the birders and naturalists of the world to revel and bask in. Moreover, this skittish bird (or these birds: no more than a single has been seen at a time) has been difficult even to get a long look at, as the field notes of the fortunate few indicate. Do we overstep our mission in present¬ ing such field notes — on a species whose very existence has been in real doubt for two generations? We have asked ourselves this question more than once. We have also asked ourselves the question in the nega¬ tive: should the journal decline to publish sight records of rare, possibly extinct birds? In the present instance, because reliable, re¬ sponsible people have advanced the case for the persistence of this species into the twenty-first century, we have elected to provide them with space for publication of this extraordinary claim, partly in hopes that their reports will inspire birders to search for the species in places where it has been reported into the modern era — not just in eastern Arkansas, but in Mississippi, Texas, Louisiana, Florida, and South Car¬ olina, too. Happily, in the aftermath of the 28 April 2005 press conference announcing the Arkansas Ivory-billed, fears of several kinds have not been borne out. The scenario in which thousands of birders, among them rogues and rule-breakers, would descend on rural Arkansas, possibly frightening the bird(s), simply hasn’t come to pass. The few birders who have made the pilgrimage to the Bayou de View have shown the ut¬ most respect for the area and its inhabi¬ tants. Nor has the town of Brinkley, Arkansas become the circus-and-casino spectacle prognosticated by cartoonists and media pundits. Life goes on there much as before, though one can now get a “wood¬ pecker haircut” and a special commemora¬ tive cheeseburger. A few government-approved tours are slated for the cooler months, for those curious to see this part of the world after the leaves and temperatures are down and the mosquitoes and cottonmouths have re¬ tired for the season. De¬ spite some anxieties on all sides, then, it is safe to say that the birding communi¬ ty has conducted itself ad¬ mirably thus far: no stam¬ pede, no outlaw birding. Just to be safe, the Cornell team offers a set of guide¬ lines for ethical comport¬ ment at the end of that ar¬ ticle. For the present, as we wait for a breakthrough, some glimmer of insight into the secret life of this species, we must marvel at our own limitations: if in¬ deed an Ivory-billed or two still hang on in the great bottomland swamps of the Mississippi Delta or elsewhere, we seem almost powerless to learn more " ' ' 1 ' ' 1 1 " 1 . . NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS 228 — — EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK about its natural history, even to document one bird flawlessly. We will surely never find a needle in a haystack with only a handful of people looking for it: the threshold of de¬ tectability of a shy, possibly solitary bird seems vanishingly low. An army of eyes, trained eyes, would be needed to cover areas of promising-looking habitat thoroughly. And so... we all might consider taking a trip to the southern swamps, just for a look around. If we ask ourselves honestly, as a birding community, “Have we done every¬ thing we could to follow up reports of this species, or to search tracts of optimal habitat that exist for it?” — we must surely answer that we have not. Perhaps because such habitats harbor few “specialty” species, al¬ most no one birds in places that might har¬ bor an Ivory-billed. And very, very few bird¬ ers look specifically for the species. Their preferred habitats, though rich and beauti¬ ful, are admittedly difficult to bird, for a dozen reasons. But with modern technolo¬ gy — satellite photography, cell phones, GPS units, digital videocameras — it’s far easier now to get into these habitats and to docu¬ ment sightings than it was a generation ago. As with any difficult search, whether for a missing person, a Mountain Lion in Ap¬ palachia, or a sunken pirate ship, there will be far fewer fresh trails than false leads. Will there be a heap of misidentified Pileated Woodpeckers reported as Ivory-billeds in years to come? There have been and will be. But our usual response to sight reports of truly rare birds — a shrug and a “show me a photo” — might need some modification at this point in history. We might need to take some sight records more seriously and fol¬ low up on them; what, after all, are the ethi¬ cal implications of not taking any sight re¬ ports seriously? Despite the stigma attached to searching for extinct species, at least in some circles, a few stalwart souls have continued to search for Ivory-billeds. Some were re-energized by the 2002 Zeiss-sponsored search of the Pearl River basin of Louisiana, following the re¬ port of two adults there on 1 April 1999. Two of the Arkansas search team, brothers Tim Spahr and Greg Spahr, who were also involved in the Pearl River acoustics study, were kind enough to send us notes on their (thus far fruitless but very interesting) searches for Ivory-billeds in western Florida, and we present these in the Special Section on the species, along with an intriguing short paper by David Shoch on the possibil¬ ity of managing older forests for Ivory- billeds, no doubt to be a subject of much dis¬ cussion at the federal and state levels in months to come. While the journal will not be in a habit of pursuing phantom birds wherever they appear, we are moved to pres¬ ent this material— which will seem Quixotic to some, heroic to others — in the faint but palpable hope that one of our readers will take heart and go out and get that crisp pho¬ tograph or videotape that causes our jaws to drop and our eyes to well up. The other woodpeckers featured in this issue, the sapsuckers, are fortunately less camera-shy, but their identification is often anything but straightforward. The article by Robbins, Seibel, and Cicero treats a bird that was first identified as a male Red-naped Sap- sucker on a Christmas Bird Count, then con¬ sidered, after genetic analysis, to be a female Yellow-bellied. But correspondence with Canadian researchers working on hybrid zones in sapsuckers convinced the authors that the male parent of the bird must have been a Red-breasted Sapsucker — a hybrid combination rare anywhere, much less on the plains of Kansas! Mlodinow and Tweit’s article on Baja California Sur’s first Yellow- bellied Sapsucker furthers the conversation, making important points regarding sapsuck¬ er identification based on molt timing. We are always happy to get articles on difficult subjects such as this one, and on “stealth” vagrants generally, such as the Harlan’s Hawk in Baja California Sur, also a first state record in a fairly well-birded region. The balance of our articles in this issue treats not boreal breeders on the wintering grounds but northward movements of Aplo- mado Falcon and Black-headed Nightingale- Thrush. Meyer and Williams carefully docu¬ ment both the historical and the current status of the falcon in New Mexico, a species (at least in our youth!) thought to be so rare in the United States as to be nearly mythical. In the 1970s, birders considered the task of finding an Aplomado Falcon in the wilds of West Texas or New Mexico to border on the impossible, requiring many thousands of hours of searching in extreme heat, mostly in remote areas. Even if one could be found, people wondered, would it stay around to be seen? Then, beginning in the early 1990s, a steady increase in sight records led to photo¬ graphic documentation and, ultimately, the discovery of several nests in the twenty-first century — a reoccupation of their U.S. range, at long last! It’s clear that intense searching was required, but a team of hardworking folks pulled it off. We’re very pleased to pres¬ ent their summary here. For fans of Texas birding, Lockwood and Bates deliver the de¬ tails on that state’s (and the United States’) first Black-headed Nightingale-Thrush, a long-staying, singing male that appeared to need only a female to arrange a range ex¬ pansion in that species! And we thank our many contributors of photographs for the Photo Salon: Mexico Comes To Texas, as well as the Salon on the invasion of northern owls in the winter season. Enjoy! — Edward S. Brinkley — Matthew F. Sharp STANDARD ABBREVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS USED IN THE REGIONAL REPORTS * specimen collected + bird(s) seen through end of period t written details on file A.F.B. Air Force Base acc. accepted by records committee A.R.C. Avian Records Committee b. banded B.B.S. Breeding Bird Survey B.O. Bird Observatory B.R.C. Bird Records Committee C.A. Conservation Area C.B.C. Christmas Bird Count C.P. County Park cm centimeter(s) Cr. Creek Ft. Fort G.C. Golf Course G.P Game Preserve Hwy. Highway 1. (Is.) Island(s), lsle(s) imm. (imms.) immature(s) Jet. Junction juv. (juvs.) juvenal [plumage]; juvenile(s) km kilometer(s) L. Lake mm millimeter(s) m.ob. many (or multiple) observers Mt. (Mts.) Mount/Mountain (Mountains) N.A. Nature Area, Natural Area N.F. National Forest N.M. National Monument N.P. National Park N.S. National Seashore N.W.R. National Wildlife Refuge p.a. pending acceptance P.P. Provincial Park Pen. Peninsula ph. photographed (by + initials) Pt. Point (not Port) R. River R.A. Recreation (al) Area R.B.A. Rare Bird Alert R.P. Regional Park R.S. Regional Shoreline Res. Reservoir Rte. Route S.B. State Beach S.F. State Forest S.G.A. State Game Area S.P. State Park S.R.A. State Recreation Area S.R. State Reserve S.W.A. State Wildlife Area S.T.P. Sewage Treatment Plant/Pond subad. (subads.) subadult(s) Iwp. Township v.r. voice recording (by +- initials) vt. videotape (by + initials) W.A. Wildlife Area W.M.A. Wildlife Management Area W.T.P. (Waste)water Treatment Plant/Pond VOLUME 59 (2005) • NUMBER 2 229 . . . - . — Atlantic Provinces & St. Pierre et Miquelon LABRADOR SEA gKillinek I. _ Jorngat Mtns. N. P ' 'Vv \ ^Hebron ^ Nain *■ v Hopedale V Cartwright LABRADOR Cape Harrison Schefferville (PQ) Labrador City ^ Wabush I. 'ea/jK 4 Mtns. ■ N.P Red Goose Bay Bay Gannet Island Ecological Reserve QUEBEC Chai ^ ;t0 Bathurst Jt X*” Gulf of \nticosti I. St. Lawrence Port-aux- Basques Charlotte- Cabot Strait 'Strait of Belle Isle LAnse-aux-Meadows St. Anthony Gander NEWFOUNDLAND ^ i • 1 • Bonavista Terrsrj Nova \ .St.Johns /BRUNSWICK “n Fredericton# Jol Grand Manan I. — . * * ®Yari MAINE f^r Bnerl- Seal I. Saint-Pierre et Miquelon f \ Avalon f k \ Peninsula *\*\Cape O \ 1 1 Cape Breton Highlands N.P. *#^Sydney Race Cape St. Mary’s ‘ape Breton I. Canso NOVA SCOTIA alifax-Dartmouth unenberg Sable I. Cape Sable I. Lettered Nova Scotia Sites: A Pictou B Amherst C Truro D Wolfville E Digby Brian Dalzell Fundy Bird Observatory 62 Bancroft Point Road Grand Manan, New Brunswick, E5G 3C9 (dalzell@nbnet.nb.ca) Except for the traditional snowbelt ar¬ eas of Newfoundland, Labrador, and northern New Brunswick, most of the Region experienced a somewhat tepid win¬ ter. Despite sporadic snowfalls that left up to a meter of snow over the southern part of the Region, near-drought conditions prevailed, and the (melted) total of precipitation for the period was generally less than 10 cm. Tem¬ peratures were normal or slightly above until late January, when a 10-day period of normal cold set in. February felt more like March, with very few storm events. — 230 With the creation of the Prince Edward Is¬ land Birders listerv in 2004, Internet cover¬ age of the four Atlantic provinces is now complete. Tallies were kept in each province, showing that approximately 40% of the birds on each cumulative list can be expect¬ ed in any particular winter. Nova Scotia re¬ ported 192 species (BMy), New Brunswick 172 (SIT), Newfoundland 145 (Todd Boland), and Prince Edward Island 123 (DS). Abbreviations: A.P. (Avalon Pen., NF), C.B.I. (Cape Breton I., NS), C.S.I. (Cape Sable I., NS), C.W.S. (Canadian Wildlife Ser¬ vice), G.M.I. (Grand Manan I., NB), H.R.M. (Halifax Regional Municipality), NF (insular Newfoundland), PEI (Prince Edward I.), SPM (St. Pierre et Miquelon, France). LOONS THROUGH WATERFOWL A Pacific Loon at St. Brides, NF 18 Dec rep¬ resented only the 2nd record for the province (Paul Linegar, Jytte Selno). Five single Pied-billed Grebes were reported on salt water in Nova Scotia between 1 Dec and 5 Jan. Horned Grebes seem to have arrived en masse in Nova Scotia in early Dec, with 200 at The Hawk, C.S.I. 1 Dec (MN) and 300 along the w. side of the Aspatogan Pen., H.R.M. 3 Dec (Don MacNeil). The highest counts of Red-necked Grebe were 124 at C.S.I. 18 Dec (C.B.C.), 145 on the G.M.I., NB C.B.C. 4 Jan, and 68 off Cape Miquelon, SPM 2 Feb (RE). Where else but Nova Sco¬ tia could Northern Gannet become road kill? A close examination of 13 bird carcass¬ es found on the Canso Causeway, Guysbor- ough/Inverness, NS turned up at least 3 on 7 Dec (Peter Hope). The only American Bittern reported was found on the Sackville, NB C.B.C. 18 Dec. An exhausted Great Blue Heron was cap¬ tured in St. Pierre, SPM 24 Dec, fed for a few days, and released (Patrick Boez). Single Great Egrets were found at G.M.I. 3 Dec (Jackie Foote), Eel Brook, Yarmouth, NS 5 Dec (MN), and C.S.I. 18 Dec (MN), and 2 were at Eel Brook 1 1 Dec, with one still there 28 Dec (Paul Gould). A Snowy Egret at Belvedere Pond, Charlottetown, PEI 4-16 Dec was most unusual and provided a first winter record for the province (DO, DS). An ad. Little Blue Heron was present at the Port Clyde Golf Course, Shelburne, NS 4-12 Dec (Sandy Hiltz, MN). Three Pink-footed Geese in Pictou Har¬ bour, NS 13 Feb-i- (Ken McKenna et al.) were the first documented for the province and drew birders from as far afield as On¬ tario and New York. The same three birds were present 9-28 Jan at nearby Cumber¬ land, Queens, PEI but misidentified as Greater White-fronted Geese until re-exam¬ ination of photographs taken during their stay (DO). Spring migrant Brant built up quickly late in the period at C.S.I., with an estimated 3000 on 28 Feb (MN). Gadwall inexplicably favor Prince Edward Island in winter over other parts of the Region, with a high of about 30 at Mayfield, Queens (Beth Hoar). Up to 40 Northern Pintails were present at Hardings Creek, near Clinton, Queens , PEI in Feb (LH). The main landfalls for Eurasian Wigeon in the Region appear to be St. John’s, NF and Glace Bay, C.B.I., with a high of 8 reported wintering in the former (BMt) and 1 1 at Beacon St. Dam in the latter 5 Dec (CM, AM), where there were also 76 American Wigeons. Another good count of American Wigeon was 75 at Pier 9, Halifax harbor 6 Dec (Darrell Adams) .The only Canvasback to come to light was a drake at Courtney Bay, Saint John, NB on 6 Feb+ (GB). Ring-necked Ducks are quite rare in winter in New Brunswick, but there were 3 at Saint John 18 Feb (Tracey Dean). Seven male and 2 fe¬ male Tufted Ducks wintered in St. Johns (BMt), while single Tufted Duck x Greater NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS ATLANTIC PROVINCES & ST. PIERRE ET MIQUELON Scaup hybrids were found at New Harbour, Guysborough, NS 2 Jan (Fulton Lavender, Clarence Stevens) and at West River, Pictou , NS 15 Feb (1AM, EMi, BMy). The high count of Greater Scaup came, as usual, from Pictou Harbour, NS, with 4744 on the C.B.C. 1 Jan. Reports from apparent¬ ly new wintering areas include 72 in a salt pond at Miquelon, SPM in only their 3rd winter there (RE) and 42 on the Dalhousie, NB C.B.C. 2 Jan. The high count of Lesser Scaup was 48 around a sewer outfall in Dart¬ mouth harbor, NS 16 Jan (EMi). King Eider is rarely found off the e. coast of New Brunswick in winter, so a drake at Cape Tormentine 9 Jan-2 Feb was no¬ table (Norman Belliveau). A King Ei¬ der x Common Eider hybrid off St. An¬ drews, NB 29 Jan (GB) was apparently returning for its 3rd winter. Common Eiders numbered about 4000 sw. of St. Pierre, SPM in Jan and Feb, the largest count reported (RE). Harlequin Duck fortunes continue to improve in the Region. Surveys for the species by the C.W.S. found 115 around Digby Neck, NS 9 Feb and 100 in Shad Bay, H.R.M. 18 Feb. Another really good concentra¬ tion of 179 was found on the Cape St. Marys, NF C.B.C. 18 Dec. White¬ winged Scoter is not known to winter in large numbers in the Region, so 600 off the Isthmus of Miquelon, SPM 2 Feb (Frederic Disnard) was a notable tally. Numbers of Long-tailed Duck seemed to be generally depressed, perhaps because of terribly backward weather in the High Arctic in summer 2004. A total of 416 Buf- flehead on the St. Andrews, NB C.B.C. 18 Dec was by far the largest Regional gather¬ ing. A drake Common Goldeneye x Barrow’s Goldeneye hybrid was a good find at Cardi¬ gan Bridge, PEI 12 Jan (DO). The highest to¬ tal reported of Hooded Mergansers was 122 on the Lunenburg, NS C.B.C. 2 Jan; Com¬ mon Mergansers were most common in Pic¬ tou Harbour, NS, with 1337 tallied on the C.B.C. there 1 Jan. Good concentrations of Red-breasted Merganser — 325 and 811 — were found on the G.M.I., NB C.B.C. 4 Jan and at Pictou Harbour on the C.B.C. 1 Jan, respectively. VULTURES THROUGH TERNS A Black Vulture was present at an undis¬ closed location in the H.R.M. 6-9 Dec (fide BMy), while another was in the vicinity of Canning, Kings, NS 28 Jan-26 Feb (Richard Stern et al.). High counts of Turkey Vulture in Nova Scotia were 14 on the Brier Island C.B.C. 14 Dec and 8 at Chebogue, Yarmouth 10 Jan (MN), the latter attracted by a home- owner who puts seal carcasses out every winter especially for them. Eight were still at Brier 1. 13 Jan (June Swift). Coopers Hawk can no longer be considered unusual in win¬ ter in New Brunswick, owing to its increas¬ ing numbers. One at St. Leonard, Madawas- ka (RLP) was back for its 3rd winter, with other singles found during C.B.C.s in mid- to late Dec at St. Stephen, Kouchibouguac N.P., Fredericton, and Edmundston. Other singles were at Campbell ton 12 Feb (Mar¬ garet Doyle) and Memramcook 26 Feb (Jules Cormier). An imm. dark-morph Gyrfalcon wintered in St.John’s, NF (as did one last winter), and there were sightings of 3 others on the A.P (BMt). A gray morph on the Isthmus of Miquelon, SPM 22 Feb was a first for long¬ time resident Etcheberry and only the 4th record for the islands. Two were reported by reliable observers during the Saint John, NB C.B.C. 28 Dec. Single dark morphs were at Brier I., NS 13-19 Dec (EMi) and Bayview, Queens, PEI 15 Jan (DS, DO). Eight reports of Peregrine Falcon came from Nova Scotia, four from St. Pierre (RE), and a like number from New Brunswick. A Sora walking on a lawn at Renews, NF 5-7 Jan provided the only Regional report of the species this sea¬ son (BMt et al.). A Northern Lapwing found freshly dead on the side of the road 11 Dec near Ship Cove, Great Northern Pen., NF was pre¬ served (fide BMt). A carefully identified Semipalmated Plover was present at Crystal Crescent Beach, H.R.M. 1-15 Jan (HT, 1AM). A Killdeer was in St. Pierre, SPM 22 Dec-11 Jan (TV et al.). A late Lesser Yellowlegs was at The Guzzle, C.S.I. 8-17 Dec (MN), and a Ruddy Turnstone on the Miscou 1., NB C.B.C. 18 Dec was also tardy — but 5 at Tra- cadie Bay, Queens, PEI 16 Jan were even more so. The sheltered bay was still un¬ frozen, as was a narrow verge along the shore where they were feeding. Twenty Red Knots on the Miquelon C.B.C. 18 Dec pro¬ vided the Regional high count. A Western Sandpiper was reported at C.S.I. 31 Dec, along with 3 White-rumped Sandpipers 20 Dec-30 Jan (MN). A Purple Sandpiper in mostly ice-bound Charlottetown harbor, PEI 29 Dec (DO) was quite a novelty there. An imm. Long-billed Dowitcher at Conrad’s Beach, H.R.M. 2-9 Jan (Joan Czapaly et al.) was carefully identified. Black-headed Gulls were in good num¬ bers, with the highest counts being 108 on the St. John’s, NF C.B.C. 26 Dec, 148 on the Halifax-Dartmouth, NS C.B.C. 18 Dec, and 85 at nearby Three Fathom Harbour 9 Jan (IAM). A total of 30 found on the Eastport, Maine/Campobello I., NB C.B.C. 26 Dec frequented both sides of the international border and fur¬ nished a record number for New Brunswick at any season. A tally of 1014 Bonaparte’s Gull on the same C.B.C. was typical of recent Dec counts in the Passamaquoddy Bay area. Another good early winter count was 1000+ at Ogden’s Pond, Antigo- nish, NS 2 Dec (RLA). As birders be¬ come better informed, reports of Mew (Common) Gull have increased. Five were recorded in Newfoundland, four in Nova Scotia, one at St. Pierre, SPM 2-23 Jan (Pascal Asselin), one at Bathurst, NB 17 Dec (RG), and one at Charlottetown, PEI 31 Dec (DO). An ad. or near-ad. Glaucous-winged Gull in St. John’s, NF 24 Feb-6 Mar (BMt et al.) provided a first record (or even re¬ port) for the Atlantic coast of North Amer¬ ica; however, there are apparently single records from both Morocco and the Canary Islands. Iceland Gull was especially com¬ mon in the lower Bay of Fundy during the winter, with a record 827 on the Blacks Harbour, NB C.B.C. 19 Dec. Thayer’s Gull sightings are also on the rise. Documented reports included an imm. at Brier I., NS 14 Dec (EMi) and single ads. on the Hali¬ fax-Dartmouth C.B.C. 18 Dec; at Glace Bay, C.B.I. 14-15 Feb (CM, AM); at Lunen¬ burg, NS 18 Feb (BF); and at Charlotte¬ town, PEI 29 Dec+ (DO). An ad. Yellow¬ legged Gull returned to St. John’s, NF for its 3rd consecutive winter 1 Jan-28 Feb (BMt). An imm. Ivory Gull was at St. Thomas, Kent, NB 22-28 Dec (LEC). Nova Scotia had 3, all imms.: a long-staying bird at Dartmouth 5 Jan-11 Feb (Bernard Burke et al.), another at Chebucto Head, H.R.M. 16 Jan (A. & H. Hunter), and the last at Chebogue Point, Yarmouth 6 Feb (Phil Tay¬ lor). None were reported from NF This species bears watching in future, as breed¬ ing success in the High Arctic in recent years is said to have been unusually poor. The only tern reported during the period was an ad. Forster’s Tern 4 Feb at Locke- port, Shelburne, NS (Donna Crosby). Harlequin Ducks are rare but annual in Prince Edward Island in winter, where they frequent fast-flowing water (usually under bridges) at the mouths of rivers and streams. This approachable drake was present throughout the period at Cardigan Bridge (here 29 January 2005). Photograph by Dwaine Oakley. VOLUME 59 (2005) • NUMBER 2 231 - - - - _ _ _ — SA Not all owl invasions are pleasant. A Great Horned Owl at Labrador City, Labrador tried to carry off a tiny dog being t walked at dusk on a leash 21 Dec (fide Gordon Parsons), but the owner was able to rescue the dog. Another attack, around 5-6 Feb, is best described by GP: "This past weekend in Goose Bay (Labrador), Barry Compton was attacked by a Great Horned Owl. He was at a cabin at night and went out to take a leak, when something hit him hard on the head and knocked him off balance; recovering, he saw it was an owl. He reached up and felt blood, so he knew he had been cut. He got up and went back inside where he told his brother. They came out and Barry went to the tree to show where he had been attacked — when he got hit in the face again, with the owl this time digging the talons in quite deeply. Barry hit the ground and got the owl under his shoulder and dispatched it. At the hospital, he received seven stitches for three deep talon cuts in his ear, jawline, and head." The victim was apparently a conservation officer — and likely wearing a fur hat (but this could not be confirmed). DOVES THROUGH FLYCATCHERS A White-winged Dove at Pointe-Verte, Gloucester, NB 4-30 Dec (RG) gradually weakened and died on the last date; another was at nearby Lameque, NB 23 Dec-9 Jan (Jude Larocque). It was said to be a “poorish” year for Snowy Owl in Newfoundland (BMt) but not so bad in the Maritime provinces otherwise. Multiple sightings included 3 at Cape Light, C.S.I. 16 Dec (JN); 5 on the Miscou 1., NB C.B.C. 18 Dec; 3 at St. Pierre, SPM 9 Jan (TV); and 4 at C.S.I. in late Feb (MN). One picked up dead at Ebenezer, PEI 10 Dec had starved ( fide EMa). All reports of Northern Hawk Owl came from New Brunswick, mostly in the north (about 10); the south¬ ernmost was reported at Lower Jemseg, Queens 24 Feb (Pierre Champigny). One Long-eared Owl was found roosting by day in the middle of Saint John, NB in early Jan (fide JGW), while 2 were present at Lower Canard, Kings, NS 21 Feb (BF). Good con¬ centrations of Short-eared Owl were 3 at Cape Light, C.S.I. 18 Dec (MN); 4 at Grand Pre, Kings, NS 2 Jan (BF); 2 at Mahoneys Beach, Antigonish, NS 10 Jan (fide RLA); and a roost of 11 at Grand Pre 13 Feb (BF). Bo¬ real Owls began to call on territory at Lameque, NB 22 Feb (Rose-Aline Chiasson). Despite an immense invasion in Quebec, only one Great Gray Owl turned up: at Point la Nim, near Dalhousie, NB 31 Jan-3 Mar (Mike Lushington). Red-bellied Woodpeckers invaded the Re¬ gion in unprecedented numbers beginning mid-Oct and appeared to be still arriving in Dec. The minimum number of individuals reported reliably in each province is as fol¬ lows: 61 in Nova Scotia (fide 1AM), 69 in New Brunswick (fide JGW), 15 in Prince Ed¬ ward Island (fide DS), and 2 in Newfound¬ land (fide BMt), the latter only the province’s 3rd and 4th records (at Corner Brook and Clarenville). Most were concentrated in mainland Nova Scotia and the s. half of New Brunswick, with lesser but significant num¬ bers in C.B.I. and n. New Brunswick. Red¬ headed Woodpecker also had a good flight, but it paled in comparison to the Red-bel- lieds, with ca. 10 each in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia and 5 on Prince Edward Is¬ land. Single Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers were at Masons Beach, Lunenberg, NS 4 Jan (JH) and at Hantsport, NS 23-28 Feb (Marion Fulton). An Eastern Phoebe was found at Starrs Point, Kings, NS 18 Dec on the Wolfville C.B.C., while a Say’s Phoebe was present on the Mactaquac, York, NB C.B.C. 1 Jan (Bev Schneider). SWALLOWS THROUGH SPARROWS A Tree Swallow at Machias Seal L, NB 13-14 Dec (Ralph Eldridge) was reported to be in good condition. Tufted Titmouse now oc¬ curs annually in w. New Brunswick, and breeding is anticipated soon. One was at Bear I., York, near Nackawick in early Dec (fide Don Gibson); one was at St. Andrews 14-26 Dec (Nancy Perry); and another was at Grand Bay, Kings 8 Jan+ (Jim & Betty Evans). Red-breasted Nuthatch occurred in above-average numbers in New Brunswick (DSC), while 10 on the Miquelon C.B.C. 18 Dec was described as a record high for the count. White-breasted Nuthatch was well reported in both New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Single Carolina Wrens popped up 3 Dec at St. Leonard, NB (Marcelle Godbout) and Sackville, NB 17 Dec-28 Feb (Kathy Poprna). The only Marsh Wrens were singles found at Wolfville, NS 4-18 Dec (AMc) and on the Amherst, NS C.B.C. 20 Dec. Five Ruby-crowned Kinglets on the Brier L, NS C.B.C. 14 Dec was an unusually high num¬ ber for one location, while one on the Petit- Rocher, Gloucester, NB C.B.C. 2 Jan was par¬ ticularly far north. The only Blue-gray Gnatcatcher reported was at Broad Cove, Lunenberg, NS until 7 Dec (Sylvia Fullerton). An Eastern Bluebird was a local novelty at Douglastown, Northumberland, NB 2 Dec (Nan Johnson). Seven reports of Townsend’s Solitaire from New Brunswick was without precedent: Pe¬ tite Lameque, Gloucester 16 Dec (Jacques Guignard); Caissie Cape, Kent 23 Dec (Roger LeBlanc); Scotchtown, Queens 30 Dec (Margie Pacey); Saint-Joseph-de- Madawaska 5 Feb (Eileen Pike, J. Denys Bourque); Lameque, Gloucester 6 Feb (Gerard Benoit); Cocagne, Kent 11-12 Feb (LEC); and Bertrand, Gloucester 25 Feb-5 Mar (fide Rosita Lanteigne). Elsewhere in the Region, singles were found at Basin Head, PEI 18 Dec (VL); Sand Fake, C.B.I. 8-14 Feb (CM, AM); Baddeck Inlet, C.B.I. Jan-7 Mar (Jack & Eileen MacKillop); while one at St. John’s, NF 2 Feb-Mar was the province’s 5th (fide BMt). A Veery pho¬ tographed near Liverpool, Queens, NS 28 Jan (Christopher Clark) was a first post-Dec record for the province. A Redwing at Kelli- grews, NF 6 Jan (Dave Brown et al.) was probably the same one seen 5 km away 3-5 Feb at Topsail (Kim Whitfield) and the 8th for Newfoundland. A Var¬ ied Thrush at New Glas- cow, PEI 30 Jan (BH) was a provincial first; the only other report came from Long Pond, Conception Bay, NF 30Jan+ (Graham Peddle), the 3rd for New¬ foundland. Bohemian Waxwing deviated from its pattern of previous winters by showing up first in n. New Brunswick, e.g., 950 at St. Leonard 25 Nov (RLP), 700 at Caraquet 17 Dec (SIT), and ca. 1000 at Buctouche 21 Jan (Stella LeBlanc). By the end of the period, flocks of under 200 were being found in Prince Ed¬ ward Island and se. New Brunswick, while Nova Scotia’s flocks were usually 50 or fewer, excepting 150+ at Canso, NS 3 Jan (Ethan Hunter). In Newfoundland, where the species has usually shown up first in large numbers in recent winters, it was considered a “very light” flight (BMt). Cedar Waxwing was found in above-average numbers in n. New Brunswick during C.B.C.s (DSC), e.g., 98 at Lameque 26 Dec, and outnumbered Bohemi¬ ans in mainland Nova Scotia throughout the season, with a peak of 100+ at Wolfville 21-22 Feb (Judy Tufts). Two Nashville Warblers were at Tallahas¬ see School, H.R.M. 5 Dec (AMc), one was at Rothesay, Saint John, NB 10 Dec (Paul Man- sz), and one was at C.S.I. 17 Dec (JN)- A Present at the same location as the Harlequin Duck on the previous page was this drake Barrow's Goldeneye x Common Goldeneye hybrid (here 29 January 2005, right), a first record of this combination for the province returning here for its third winter. Photograph by Dwaine Oakley. NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS 232 Northern Parula was at Bisset Lake, H.R.M. 18 Dec (Terry Paquet); another came to a feeder at Hampton, NB early Dec-5 Jan (Mar¬ garet Churchill). A Magnolia Warbler was found 10 Dec at Port Williams, Kings , NS (BF, AM). An Audubon’s Warbler was discovered at Bear River, Digby , NS 31 Jan (Bob Buck- land-Nicks). At isolated and enchanted Sable I., NS 40 Yellow-rumped Warblers were found wintering 20-23 Dec (Zoe Lucas). A Black-throated Green Warbler was at White Point Beach, Lunenberg, NS 18 Dec (JH). Three Yellow-throated Warblers came to light in Nova Scotia: an albilom at Point Pleasant Park, H.R.M. 7 Dec (Andy Horn); one not identified to subspecies at Liverpool 10-14 Dec (/idcJH); and a dominica 19 Dec at North Sydney, C.B.I. (Lynn MacLean). The only other report was of one coming to a feeder at Re¬ news, NF 11-24 Jan ( fide BMt). Pine Warbler had an excellent fall flight into the Region, such that 4 could be found away from feeders at Black Pond, Kings, PEI 17 Dec (VL). A Blackpoll Warbler was reported at C.S.l. on the C.B.C. 18 Dec. Eastern Towhee also had a good fall flight into the Region, with at least 10 found at feeders in both New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, and perhaps 5 in Prince Edward Island. In New¬ foundland, an “amazing" 4 sin¬ gles at feeders on the ne. A.P was unusual; one per winter is the average (BMt). A Vesper Sparrow was at C.S.L 9 Dec (MN), and an¬ other was at a Hebron, Yannouth, NS feeder 12 Feb (June Graves). The only Lark Spar¬ row reported was at Canso 3 Dec (Tom Ka- vanaugh). Away from the s. shore of Nova Scotia, Ipswich Sparrows were found inland at Port Williams, Kings, NS 22 Jan (George Forsythe) and, most surprisingly, at Frederic¬ ton, NB 19 Dec on the C.B.C. A Seaside Spar¬ row was reported at C.S.L 9 Dec (MN). Two separate Harris’s Sparrows were reported at feeders within a few miles of each other in far ne. New Brunswick: an imm. at Caraquet 12 Dec-21 Jan (Rejean Laforge) and an ad. at Shippagan 31 Jan-3 Apr (Lucille Degrace). An ad. Golden-crowned Sparrow at St. George, NB 26 Dec-Apr was only the provinces 2nd (Ralph Eldridge). Single Ore¬ gon Juncos were carefully identified males at Fredericton, NB 12 Dec+ (Ron Wilson) and Oyster Pond, H.R.M. 22 Jan-i- (Lucas Berrig- an). The largest flocks of Lapland Longspur in the Region are traditionally found in Prince Edward Island, such as 100+ at Sher¬ brooke, Prince 30 Jan (LH). GROSBEAKS THROUGH FINCHES Imm. male Rose-breasted Grosbeaks faithful¬ ly attended feeders at Lower Prince William, York, NB 13 Dec+ (Wayne Williams); at Sus¬ sex, NB Dec-22 Jan+ (David Hughes); and at Wolfville, NS 16 Dec+ (Bill Thexton). North¬ ern Cardinal is consolidating its range well in parts of s. New Brunswick, such that 28 could be found on the Hammond River-Hampton C.B.C. 2 Jan. The only Indigo Bunting that came to light was an imm. male at Albert Bridge, C.B.I. 1-2 Jan (Susann Myers). In contrast to recent winters, some large flocks of Red-winged Blackbirds (mostly imms.) were found in Nova Scotia: 70 at Italy Cross, Lunenberg 30 Dec (JH); 40 at Centreville, Kings 18 Jan ( fide Sherman Williams); and 100+ at Branch LaHave near Bridgewater 22 Jan (fide JH). Eastern Meadowlark was in short supply, with only one found in the Re¬ gion, at a Mount Hebert, PEI feeder 20 Jan+ (Lloyd Evans). New Brunswick’s 6th Western Meadowlark was a long-staying bird at a feeder near Neguac, Northumberland from early Dec into Apr (Alphonse Thibodeau, David MacLeod). The only Yellow-headed Blackbird was an imm. male 13 Jan near Cornwall, PEI (Charlene Felker). Pine Grosbeak was found in above-aver¬ age numbers on New Brunswick C.B.C.s in the n. of the province (DSC), such as 297 at Ste-Anne-de-Madawaska 16 Dec. Numbers increased in s. New Brunswick and n. Nova Scotia late in the period, with flocks of gen¬ erally fewer than 10 birds reported. Num¬ bers in Newfoundland were reported as “normal" (BMt), while Prince Edward Island had flocks of up to 50 birds. Purple Finch occurred throughout the Region in truly as¬ tonishing and perhaps unprecedented num¬ bers, being described as “abundant” every¬ where. It seems that most of them did not even bother to leave after the breeding sea¬ son, due to excellent cone crops on both White Spruce and Red Spruce. To be sure, many came to feeders (100+ reported at some), but many more obviously did not. At the present e. edge of their breeding range in the Region, 18 House Finches were recorded on the Buctouche, NB C.B.C. 28 Dec. Red Crossbill was described as above av¬ erage only in n. New Brunswick, with 22 on the Caraquet C.B.C. 19 Dec. White-winged Crossbill was “very abundant” in New¬ foundland and started singing in late Feb, indicating nesting was imminent (BMt). Elsewhere they were simply very common to abundant, examples being 330 on the St. Paul, Kent , NB C.B.C. 2Jan and 500+ at Dol¬ lar Lake PR, H.R.M. 15 Dec (HT). Common Redpoll was common only in the n. reaches of New Brunswick and throughout New¬ foundland, with a maximum of 577 found on the Edmundston, NB C.B.C. 18 Dec. It was late in the period before small numbers present there all winter began to increase in se. New Brunswick and main¬ land Nova Scotia. Only a single Hoary Redpoll surfaced, on the aforementioned C.B.C. Pine Siskin was “abundant” in New¬ foundland, in average numbers in n. New Brunswick, but be¬ low average in the south. Best total for Nova Scotia was 200+ at Dollar Lake PR 15 Dec (HT), but that was the exception, with generally only a few pres¬ ent at feeders. American Goldfinch was very common throughout the Region, even in Newfoundland, where they are relatively recent additions to the regular avifauna. Evening Grosbeak, whose fortunes have been falter¬ ing of late, was described as “fairly com¬ mon” in Newfoundland. In Nova Scotia, it was most common on C.B.I., where about 125 were found at North River Bridge 14-15 Jan (Bethsheila Kent). Three C.B.C.s in New Brunswick recorded in excess of 300, but numbers were still described as below aver¬ age in the south and only average in the north (DSC). Corrigendum: All references to Fish Crow in Nova Scotia in the previous winter season report should be deleted, due to insufficient sighting details. Contributors (subregional editors in bold¬ face): Gilles Belliveau, David Christie, Louis-Emile Cormier, Roger Etcheberry, Bernard Forsythe, Roger Guitard, James Hirtle, Beth Hoar, Les Homans, Roy La¬ pointe (RLP), Randy Lauff (RLA), Vernon Laux, Lance Laviolette, Blake Maybank (BMy), Angus MacLean, Ian A. McLaren, Eric Marcum (EMa), Bruce Mactavish (BMt), Eric Mills (EMi), Cathy Murrant, Alan Murrant, Murray Newell, Johnny Nickerson, Dwaine Oakley, David Seeler, Stuart Tingley, Hans Toom, Thierry Vogen- stahl, James G. Wilson. © Only the second Golden-crowned Sparrow ever reported in New Brunswick, this obliging adult was first discovered coming to feeders in St. George on 26 December 2004 (here 8 January 2005), where it stayed through 4 May. Photograph by Alain Clavette. VOLUME 59 (2005) • NUMBER 2 ” 1 233 - j - ; - ! — - - - - — — - _ Quebec Ungava Peninsula 4 • Inukjuak t M Ungava Bar ' i Hudson Ba\ Kuujjuaq James Ba\ Radisson 1 Eastmain • Matagami Caniapiscau • V Fermont* Chibou- *gamau Baie- Comeau Rouyn ►Amos L. Saint- JeanU Tadoussae Cap-Tourmente Marie* Mont-, Quebec City., Laurier Berthierville. Montreal, 0 ,Victoriaville Gatineau* t •Sherbrooke L. Chaise TVBaie'du-Febvre m Blanc- Sablon lle-d' Anticosti Gaspe °f Lawrence lles-de-la Madeleine Pierre Bannon 1517 Leprohon Montreal, Quebec H4E1P1 (pbannon@videotron.ca) Samuel Denault 75 Beauchemin Saint-Basile-le-Grand, Quebec J3N 1J6 (samuel.denault@videotron.ca) Yves Aubry Canadian Wildlife Service P.0 Box 10100 Sainte-Foy, Quebec G1V4H5 (yves.aubry@ec.gc.ca) Normand David 347 Donegani Pointe-Claire, Quebec H9R 5M4 (ndavid@netrover.com) Most of Quebec experienced a cold- er-than-normal winter except for the densely populated regions of the south, where the temperature was nor¬ mal and precipitation levels were generally 20% lower than normal. It was a season highlighted by spectacular irruptions not only of northern owls but also of Red-bellied Woodpecker and Townsend’s Solitaire, species not usually known for their irruptive behavior in the province. LOONS THROUGH OWLS Single Common Loons at Perce (AC, YC) and Forillon N.E (M. Cote, MC. Rancourt), both on 13 Feb, were either overlooked wintering birds or very early migrants. Late Turkey Vul¬ tures involved singles at La Martre, Gaspesie 19 Dec (C. Desjardins, B. Charlebois) and Saint-Armand 17 Jan (L. Messier). A Mute Swan was present at Lacolle 16 Feb+ (P. Savoie, m.ob.). A Cackling Goose lingered at Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu until 9 Dec (M. Gauthier, G. Ethier). A Wood Duck, the first in winter for Abitibi, was found at Rouyn-Noranda 31 Dec (R. Gauvin), while a male overwintered at Becancour (R. Bar- beau). A female King Eider was killed by a hunter in the Beauharnois canal, near Saint- Louis-de-Gonzague, in mid-Dec (fide S. Bougie). Bald Eagles continued their success story, with many overwintering in the Lau- rentians, along the St. Lawrence R., and around the Gaspe Peninsula. Single North¬ ern Harriers at LAscension-de-Patapedia, Gaspesie 18 Dec (L. Martin, fide C. Pitre) and at Lac Joannes, Abitibi 15 Jan (L. Jourdin) were notably late so far n. in the province. Single Coopers Hawks at Bic 7 Dec (GG) and Matapedia 26 Jan-28 Feb+ (ph., J. & L. Michaud) were n. of their normal winter range. For the 2nd consecutive winter, an ad. Red-tailed Hawk of the calurus race turned up at Gatineau 15 Dec-29 Jan (A. Cloutier, E Leduc et al.). Over 20 Gyrfalcons were re¬ ported, a good year for this species ( fide PB). One of the most intriguing records of the winter involved a Sora present in the Philips- burg sanctuary 1-21 Feb (JG. Papineau, ph., m.ob.). This bird, presumably present since last fall, was feeding in a small stream empty¬ ing into a frozen marsh. For the 6th consecu¬ tive winter, a Wilson’s Snipe overwintered at Val d’Or, Abitibi (C. Siano). A Black-headed Gull at Fatima, Magdalen Is. 19 Feb was a good find for the season (DGG). An ad. Less¬ er Black-backed Gull seen at different loca¬ tions along Riviere des Mille-Iles 19 Dec (E Rousseu et al.), 16 Jan (GL, E. Presseau), and 19 Feb (R Franche, A. Gosselin) had most likely overwintered locally. The only large concentration of Dovekies was counted at Perce, where 4000 were noted 1 Jan (AC, YC). A Black Guillemot was found dead at the airport near LG-3 hydro-dam, James Bay 5 Feb (EP, fide JR). This bird most probably originated from the small population that overwinters in Hudson Bay. An Eastern Screech-Owl’s nest already contained an egg 23 Feb, most probably a record-early date for the Region (G. Burelle). A total of over 25 Northern Hawk Owls re¬ ported since last fall represented a high Table 1. Recent Great Gray Owl irruptions in Quebec. Winter Season 1978-1979 1983-1984 1987-1988 1991-1992 1996-1997 2000-2001 2004-2005 Great Gray Owls Counted co. 60 350 26 co. 60 60+ 103 ca. 600 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS 234 This Great Gray Owl at Hudson, Quebec 24 February 2005 was very effective at keeping traffic under 40 km/hr. Unfortunately, in their pursuit of prey along cleared road¬ sides, many Great Grays are struck and killed by vehicles. Photograph by Pierre Bannon. count (although still far below the record 200 of winter 2000-200 1 , fide SB). With ap¬ proximately 600 Great Gray Owls recorded by the end of Feb ( fide SB, PB), the winter’s invasion represented the largest ever recorded in the Region (see Table 1). In contrast to the dis¬ tribution of birds observed in the T983-1984 invasion, now the next highest on record, few birds crossed the St. Lawrence R., at least in the Montreal area, suggesting that voles were plen¬ tiful n. of the river. Few birds showed any signs of moving back n. in Mar. A least 5 of these rare visitors reached the Gaspe Peninsula in Mar (fide PP). An astounding concentration of Great Grays occurred on lie aux Coudres, Charlevoix, a small area (ca. 60 km2), where 67 birds were counted 5 Feb, with at least 51 still remaining there 20 Mar (JP Ouellet, M. Lafleur). Short-eared Owls were represented by 4 at Saint-Basile for most of the winter (fide PB), 3 at Saint-Alexandre 18 Dec (F Saint-Denis et al.), and 3 at Carignan 11 Jan-i- (PB). At least 15 Boreal Owls were noted s. of the species’ breeding range (fide PB). KINGFISHER THROUGH FINCHES Single overwintering Belted Kingfishers were located at Magog and Rock Forest 4 Feb (B. Turgeon) and Stoke 8 Feb (]. Turgeon). The season’s final count of Red-bellied Wood¬ pecker in the Region was an amazing 39 birds, including 27 males, 1 1 females, and one of undetermined sex (fide PB). Some birds dispersed far e. and n., as shown by 1 1 in the Gaspe Peninsula (fide PP) and one in Abitibi (fide LI). Large numbers were also re¬ ported in the adjacent areas of the Maritimes and in n. New England. The reasons for this widespread irruption remain unclear at this moment. Normally, only 4-5 birds visit the Region in an entire calendar year. The Region is now overdue for a first nesting record. The Ash-throated Flycatcher at Bois-de- Liesse Nature Park, Montreal last fall contin¬ ued through 3 Dec (m.ob.). Tufted Titmice continued to be seen in impressive numbers, most of them e. of the Richelieu R., with 5 reaching the Quebec City area (fide JL). At least 20 Carolina Wrens were located mostly in s. Quebec, including pairs at Baie d’Urfee and Philipsburg (fide PB). A Winter Wren successfully wintered at the Montreal Botan¬ ical Gardens (S. Robert, E. Samson), while another showed up at Beaconsfield 8 Jan (S. Mathieu). In addition to the 3 birds reported last fall, 7 more Townsends Solitaires were discov¬ ered during the winter, resulting in the largest irruption ever for the Region. Single birds appeared at Amqui 10 Dec (R. Lang), Sept-Iles 2 Jan through at least 12 Feb (N. Chouinard, B. Poulin), Price 4Jan (D. Ruest, GG), Alma 8 Jan-28 Feb-i- (M. Bourgeois, G. Scullion et al., ph.), Saint-Simon from early Jan through at least 17 Feb (fide F Bourret, m.ob., ph.), Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive 26 Jan (J. Bernier), and Beauport 12-28 Feb-i- (JM. Giroux, m.ob., ph.). A Varied Thrush bright¬ ened Laval 9 Jan-17 Mar (D. Bellemare, GL, m.ob., ph.). Single Gray Catbirds lingered at Boucherville 13-19 Dec (A. Messier, m.ob.) and at Sainte-Catherine 18 Dec (P. Mitchell et al.). A Brown Thrasher successfully win¬ tered at Cantley (MC. Vanier). Cedar Waxwings turned up in unusual numbers this winter, e.g., 1800 at Perce 13 Feb (J. Wiseman, D. Cahill). A late Black- throated Blue Warbler delighted many at the Montreal Botanical Gardens 30 Nov-20 Dec (S. Guimond, m.ob.). A late Yellow-rumped Warbler at Beaconsfield 21 Jan was worthy of mention (R Tarassof). The Yellow-throat¬ ed Warbler previously reported at Asbestos was last seen 5 Dec (G. Lacroix). The Yel¬ low-breasted Chat at Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive survived until at least 5 Dec, a new Regional record-late date (G. Desgagnes). At least 6 Eastern Towhees were known to have wintered throughout the Region (fide PB). A Chipping Sparrow overwintered at Saint-Eusebe, Lower St. Lawrence (M. Beaulieu). A late Field Sparrow stopped at Longueuil 19 Dec (D. Granger, JF Nothin), and a late Savannah Sparrow was most un¬ usual at Dorion 2 Jan (M. Gabauer et al.). A Harris’s Sparrow overwintered at Pointe-du- Lac, a rare occurrence for the Region (R. Landry, m.ob., ph.). A White-crowned Spar¬ row at LaSarre 19 Dec represented a first win¬ ter record for Abitibi (J- Aube), while singles overwintered at Saint-Hubert (R. Belhumeur) and Sainte-Foy (P. Otis). A Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, the 3rd for the Region, was well described at Guyenne, Abitibi 23-25 Dec (M. & B. Rivest, fide S. Gagnon). Departing from the expected pattern, Common Redpolls ir¬ rupted for a 2nd consecutive year. Addenda: A Wilson’s Storm-Pe¬ trel at Bergeronnes 2 Nov 2004 was record late for the North Shore (YA). An American White Pelican was killed by a hunter in a flock of 6 birds s. of LG-3 hy¬ dro-dam, James Bay in late May 2004 (ph. EP, /ide JR). A Turkey Vulture was photographed at Wemindji, James Bay 24 Jul 2004 (fide JR). Three imm. King Eiders (2 male, one female) were killed by hunters in Oct 2004 near Montreal, more precisely 2 on Lac des Deux-Montagnes and one at Chateauguay (fide P. Brousseau). The song of an Aca¬ dian Flycatcher was taped at an automatic recording station in La Mauricie N.P. 18 Jun 2004 (fide G. Falardeau). Contributors (subregional editors in bold¬ face): P Bannon (Montreal), S. Belleau, A. Couture, Y. Cyr, R. Fortin (Lower-St. Lawrence), DG. Gaudet (Magdalen Is.), G. Gendron, B. Hamel (Brome-Missisquoi), L. Imbeau (Abitibi), G. Lachaine,J. Lachance (Quebec City), E. Pachano, P. Poulin (Gaspesie), J. Rodrigue, C. Roy (Bois- Francs), R. Saint-Laurent (Lower-St. Lawrence), G. Savard (Saguenay-Lac-Saint- Jean), D. Toussaint (Outaouais). This Sora present in the Philipsburg sanctuary, near the Vermont border, 1-21 (here 2) February 2005 was without doubt the most unexpected bird of the season in Quebec, presumably a bird present since autumn here. Its feeding territory was limited to a small stream emptying into a frozen marsh. Photograph by Marcel Gauthier. VOLUME 59 (2005) • NUMBER 2 New England mmmmsmKmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmamm Grand Isle Addison County Berkshire County Litchfield I County' ATLANTIC OCEAN Chatham Monomoy/South Beach Nantucket I. Vineyard Lighthouse Pt. Sachuest Pt. Jamestown /vwf? Pam Hunt 26 Whitewater Drive Penacook, New Hampshire 03303 (biodiva@fcgnetworks.net) By all available meteorological sum¬ maries, the winter of 2004-2005 in New England was relatively unevent¬ ful. January was a tad cooler than the 100- year average, but slightly warmer tempera¬ tures in December and February made the season as a whole right about average. The story for precipitation was much the same, and although the Region was blessed with its usual share of nor’easters, these generally failed to result in any significant seabird con¬ centrations. The trends of the season were perhaps ex¬ emplified by two groups of birds moving in opposite directions, with both converging on the n. three states, particularly New Hampshire and Maine. From the north came an influx of Bohemian Waxwings, Pine Grosbeaks, and Common Redpolls that was far larger than any off-year invasion in recent memory. From the south came Red-bellied Woodpeckers (and lesser numbers of Caroli¬ na Wrens) that started moving in the fall and settled in at feeders as the winter set in. The woodpeckers made it at least as far as the Canadian border in e. Maine and also north of New Hampshire’s White Mountains for only the second time in history. Across the Region as a whole, counts of wintering Bald Eagles were up, murres showed up in coastal areas in numbers high¬ er than usual, and more Pine Warblers were reported than in an average winter. Several noteworthy birds lingered from the fall, in¬ cluding a Ruby-throated Hummingbird in Rhode Island and an Ash-throated Flycatch¬ er in Massachusetts. Among the annual as¬ sortment of western strays were two Townsends Solitaires, five Varied Thrushes, a Townsends Warbler, two Western Tan- agers, and three Lark Sparrows. Of course, there were a few outstanding birds this sea¬ son. Topping the list has to be American White Pelican. Starting with a flock of five on Cape Cod in early December, pelicans ap¬ peared up and down the coast and inland, with single birds reaching Maine, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. The pelican in the latter state survived well into January but unfortunately succumbed (apparently to starvation) sometime before early February. Vying for second place were a Northern Wheatear in Vermont, a California Gull and a Chestnut-collared Longspur in Massachu¬ setts, a Northern Lapwing in Maine, and a very cooperative Yellow-throated Warbler at a New Hampshire feeder. Abbreviations: Gloucester (Essex, MA), Lit¬ tle Compton ( Newport , Rl), M.V (Martha’s Vineyard L, Dukes, MA), Nantucket (Nan¬ tucket I., MA), Ogunquit (York, ME), P’town (Provincetown, Barnstable, MA), Rockport (Essex, MA). LOONS THROUGH VULTURES Maine seemed to corner the market on Pacif¬ ic Loons, with three reports from the length of the coast throughout the period (Bar Har¬ bor, Biddeford, Ogunquit). Unfortunately, most of these sightings were not accompa¬ nied by descriptions, and those that were, did not eliminate the admittedtly unlikely Arctic Loon (/ideJD). The only record away from the Pine Tree State came from P’town 15 Jan and 19 Feb (GE, m.ob.). Meanwhile, in ne. Massachusetts, Gloucester’s Eared Grebe returned for a 10th year. After last winter’s unidentified storm-petrel off Cape Cod, it would almost appear as if the bird returned to allow for a better look. In the aftermath of a Christmas nor’easter, a Leach’s Storm-Pe¬ trel was seen by several observers at First En¬ counter Beach, Barnstable, MA 27 Dec (BN et al.). Substantially farther offshore, a dead right whale 120 km off Nantucket was well attended by Northern Fulmars, many of which appeared to be of the darker morphs, which are scarce in the North Atlantic and al¬ ways outnumbered by lighter individuals. A Least Bittern in Boston 25 Feb (D. Swenson) provided just the 2nd winter record for the state and one of only a hand¬ ful of such records for the Region. There seemed to be more lingering Great Egrets this winter, with seven reports from the three s. New England states. The latest were from Warren, Bristol, Rl 10 Jan (m.ob.) and Nantucket 19 Jan. An imm. Little Blue Heron at Eastham 1-19 Dec provided one of the latest records for Massachusetts, but when it was relocated 14 Jan at Orleans, it 236 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS — tional winter for the species: at least 10 ad¬ ditional birds were in Massachusetts, and a flock of 6 was reported in Rhode Island. An escaped male Mandarin Duck entertained birders at Ogunquit, ME throughout the winter. While Canvasbacks occur with some regularity in fall and spring in New Hamp¬ shire, mid-winter records are scarce, espe¬ cially away from Great Bay. A male at the Ex¬ eter W.T.R, Rockingham 17-20 Jan was thus unusual in both respects. Some 10,700 Greater Scaup in upper Narragansett Bay 22 Jan was the highest total for Rhode Island since 1992 (R. Farrell). Barrow’s Goldeneyes seemed more common than usual this win¬ ter in some parts of the Region. At least 7 were reported from New Hampshire, where the usual winter total is under 4, and there were at least 13 in Massachusetts in Dec. In Maine, there was an influx of the species in early Jan, with a high count of 23 in South Freeport (fide DL). Totals of 4 for Rhode Is¬ land and 2 for Connecticut were more typi¬ cal. A borealis Common Eider in South Freeport, Cumberland , ME 14 Feb (fide DL) was rare: this subspecies normally winters only as far s. as the Gulf of St. Lawrence. A female King Eider was at Hammonasset Beach S.P., New Haven , CT for its 4th winter. A total of 12 King Eiders in Maine was above that state’s winter maximum of 8 (fide JD). RAPTORS THROUGH ALCIDS Lingering Ospreys in s. New England were not reported after 18 Dec. Numbers from the mid-winter Bald Eagle count set records in many parts of the Region, including 20 in Vermont, 55 in New Hampshire, and at least WATERFOWL As usual, Greater White-fronted Geese appeared in the s. part of the Region, although this winter they were all in the Connecticut River val¬ ley. Northernmost was one in Amherst and nearby Hadley, MA 19 Dec, while Connecticut hosted 7 (fide GH). In the wake of the recent split, a Cackling Goose at Vinal- haven 1., Knox, ME 30 Dec-20 Jan (ph. Kirk Gentalen) may represent the first winter record for the Region. Tundra Swans were also in the s. states. Least expected was a bird at Egremont, Berkshire, MA that lin¬ gered from the fall through 4 Feb (m.ob.). Coventry, Washington, RI again hosted 4 of this species in Jan and Feb, while another wintered This dead Right Whale was discovered off Nantucket in December 2004 (here 10 January 2005). During the time it was under observation by various parties, it was well attended by scavenging Northern Fulmars, including a good number of dark morphs, a plumage that is rela¬ tively uncommon in U.S. North Atlantic waters, unlike in the North Pacific. Photograph by Peter Duley/NOM's National Marine Fisheries Service. Unlike in recent years, there were no Brown Pelicans in New England this winter, but if any had appeared, they would have been upstaged by their counterparts from the continent's interior. The American White Pelican saga appar¬ ently began with a flock of 5 at P'town 5 Dec (ph. S. landry et al.). A few days later, on 9 Dec, single birds were reported in Woburn and Belmont (both Middlesex ; MR, B. Ramsey et al.). Even though the locations are only 10 km apart, observers dif¬ fered in their descriptions of bill color, and these differences were consistent with variation described in the birds pho¬ tographed at P'town. Another pelican was observed flying s. along the Merrimack R. in Manchester, Hillsborough, NH 18 Dec (R. Tulloh). Presumably the same individual was reported later that same day with a flock of Canada Geese on the Nashua R. in Hollis, Hillsborough, NH (C. Beaudry), where it remained through 20 Dec. The New Hampshire sightings are roughly 60 km as the pelican flies from the 9 Dec locales, so it is tempting to speculate that at least one of the birds from Greater Boston wandered n. of the border. Meanwhile, on the coast, unsubstantiated reports of another (or the same) white pelican came from Rye, Rockingham, NH around 22 Dec and Biddeford Pool, York, ME 23 Dec. In the absence of details on plumage, bill color, or other distinguish¬ ing markings, we are unlikely to know how many birds wandered n. into New Hampshire and Maine. At least one bird went s. from P'town and was seen in Eastham, Barnstable, MA 12 Dec (C. Goodrich). The same or another appeared on Prudence I., Newport, R1 13-19 Dec (M. Rehor). It then moved to Westerly, Washington, RI, where it remained 29 Dec-20 Jan (m.ob.). This bird was found dead 1 3 Feb, having not quite added Connecticut to the list of New England states hosting the species this winter. Outside of the Region, 4 American White Pelicans appeared in n. New Jersey 11-12 Dec, with one in Cape May, NJ 8-9 Jan. Given that we know at least 2 were still in New England in mid-Dec, one is left wondering just how many peli¬ cans really were involved in this winter's sightings. became just the 2nd mid-winter record for the state. Similarly rare in winter was a Green Heron that stayed from the fall through 19 Dec in Amherst, Hampshire, MA (m.ob.). Another of this species was report¬ ed without details from Hollis, NH 2 Jan. A Yellow-crowned Night-Heron was unusual in E. Providence, Providence, RI 20 Dec. Black Vultures continue to increase in the sw. portion of the Region, both in Rhode Is¬ land and w. Massachusetts. Seventeen on the Napatree C.B.C. 19 Dec ties the Ocean State’s record high count, and 14 were still present at a roost in Ashaway, Washington 12 Feb. The high count for the season in Massachusetts was 10 in Sheffield, Berkshire 19 Feb (M. Lynch). Anoth¬ er was reported without details from the Nashua landfill, Hillsborough, NH 10 Feb (M. Medeiros). along the lower Connecticut R. in Connecti¬ cut. A Whooper Swan of presumed captive provenance spent a few days on the ocean off Rye, NH in mid-Jan. Dabbling duck counts were unremark¬ able, with a few exceptions. A count of 13 Gadwalls on Great Bay, NH 18 Dec was one of the highest totals for the state in winter, while 14 Northern Shovelers off Cape Eliza¬ beth, Cumberland, ME 3 Dec (fide DL) were even more remarkable for the Pine Tree State. A report of 1 1 shovelers at Newbury- port, MA 4 Dec (S. Mirick) was nearly as un¬ usual and perhaps indicative of an excep¬ VOLUME 59 (2005) • NUMBER 2 237 While the Pilgrim's Monument in Provincetown is a famil¬ iar sight to birders at the tip of Cape Cod, a flock of Ameri¬ can White Pelicans in front of it is not. These three were part of a flock of five photographed on 5 December 2004. The group subseguently dispersed, with birds visiting other locations in Massachusetts, as well as New Hamp¬ shire, Maine, and Rhode Island. Photograph by Scott Landry. 69 in Massachusetts. During surveys in the latter state, a new nesting location was dis¬ covered. Eagles at Rhode Island's only known nest site were apparently getting ready for the breeding season by the end of Feb. Golden Eagle reports, on the other hand, were fewer than usual: the only report was of a single at Pelham, Hampshire , MA 5 Dec (M. Lynch). The Re¬ gion’s only Gyrfalcon was an imm. gray morph in Burlington, Chittendon, VT 23 Feb (ph. R. Re- naud, A. Boccio). Participants on the Na- patree C.B.C. (Washing¬ ton, RI) had the unusual luck to tally three species of rails (Clapper, Virginia, and Sora) on 19 Dec. Far¬ ther n., 2 Virginia Rails at Kittery, York, ME 26 Dec (DL) were the first winter record since at least 1987. A Common Moorhen was on Nantucket 14 Dec (N. Slavitz); the species has been recorded on the is¬ land fairly regularly in re¬ cent winters. Sandhill Cranes showed up in three states. A bird in Auburn, Androscoggin, ME through 14 Jan had been present since at least Nov (m.ob.), while another made a one-day appearance in Norridgewock, Somerset, ME sometime in the first week of Dec (fide JD). These are the first winter records for Maine since at least 1987. Farther s., a long-staying crane was in Exeter, Washington, Rl 2-27 Feb (m.ob.), while one was briefly at S. Windsor, Hart¬ ford, CT 18 Dec (C. Ekroth). From mid-coast Maine came an intriguing report of a Northern Lapwing at Deer Isle, Hancock 8 Dec (T. Nichols); this bird would represent only the 2nd record for the state. Lingering shorebirds included an unusual combination — a Semipalmated Sandpiper and a Marbled Godwit at Chatham, Barnsta¬ ble, MA 19 Dec (BN). Other highlights were a Western Sandpiper in Seabrook, Rockingham, NH 18 Dec (R. Aaronian et al.) and a West¬ ern Willet at Scarborough, Cumberland, ME through 9 Jan (M. Brush, m.ob.). Two Long-billed Dowitchers lin¬ gered until at least 5 Jan at Milford, New Haven, CT (m.ob.). Jaeger numbers were down from recent years in Massachusetts’ waters. High counts of 7 Pomarine and 5 unidentified jaegers came from Rockport (RH) and Eastham (BN), 7 and 27 Dec, respectively. The latest Pomarine was at Rockport 12 Jan (RH). A Laughing Gull on M.V. 5 Jan (T. M. Day) was one of only a few post-Dec records for the Bay State. Almost all records of Mew Gull from Massachusetts are from the immediate coast, so a bird at Haverhill (Essex) 29 Jan (RH) was noteworthy. The gull of the season was the first-winter Cali¬ fornia Gull on Nantucket 3-20 Jan (ph., R Dugan, m.ob.), marking only the 2nd time this w. species has been recorded in Massa¬ chusetts. Iceland Gulls seemed more com¬ mon than usual, with peak counts of 161 on Nantucket (ER), 43 at Gloucester (RH), and 15 at Rochester, Strafford, NH (J. Smith), with state totals of 20 in Connecticut and 9 in Rhode Island. The latter is the highest to¬ tal for the Ocean State since 1988 (fide RF). The only terns in the Region were a remark¬ able 6 Forster’s at Wellfleet, Barnstable, MA 12 Dec (BN) and a late Forster’s al Freetown, Bristol, MA 2 Jan (JB). Impressive numbers of Common Murres were tallied at Rockport, with a high count of 43 on 7 Dec and 27 on 4 Feb (RH). Thick¬ billed Murres staged something of a minor invasion beginning in late Jan. The seasonal total for Maine was 25, almost twice any oth¬ er total since at least the early 1990s, and the six reports from Rhode Island represent the 5th highest ever for the state (fide RF). In the traditionally alcid-rich waters of Massachu¬ setts, numbers peaked at 110 off Rockport 4 Feb (RH), with regular counts of 10 or more at P’town. Razorbill numbers from tradition¬ al locations in the Gulf of Maine were not unusual, but the species continues to in¬ crease in Long Island Sound, where the high count was 29 off Mystic, New London, CT 1 Jan (B. Dewire). DOVES THROUGH VIRE0S The White-winged Dove that appeared on Nantucket in late Nov was last seen 19 Jan (m.ob.), providing the Region with its first winter record and also the longest-staying individual to date. Snowy Owls made a bet¬ ter showing this year, with at least 9 in Maine, 6 in New Hampshire, and 15 in Massachusetts. None made it to the south¬ ernmost states of Connecticut and Rhode Is¬ land. To the w. of the Region, one of the ma¬ jor events of the season was an invasion of Great Gray Owls. Despite several individuals This extremely dark Kumlien's Iceland Gull photographed at Rochester Wastewater Treatment Plant in Rochester, New Hampshire 9 December 2004 is presumably distin¬ guished from Thayer's gull by its very small bill, round head, petite jizz, and uniformity of plumage color; one assumes that hybridization cannot be ruled out in this case, but the Thayer's/Iceland complex is still very much a puzzle, taxonomically and otherwise. Photograph by James P. Smith. First found in November, this White-winged Dove lingered on Nantucket through 17 January 2005 (here 31 December 2004), providing the New England region with its first winter record of this increasing vagrant. Photograph by Stephen Mirick. 238 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS This female Ruby-throated Hummingbird visited a feeder in Tiverton, Rhode Island from November through 25 (here 4) December 2004, a first winter record for the New England region. Photograph by Geoff Dennis. as close as Montreal, only one made it to New England, at Gray, Cumberland , ME 16 Jan (ph.,/ide DL). In Rhode Island, a Ruby-throated Hum¬ mingbird remained at a Tiverton, Newport feeder until 25 Dec (ph. m.ob.), a first winter record for the Region, while nearby at Little Compton, 2 Rufous Hummingbirds visited the same house (but consistently used differ¬ ent feeders) through 21 Dec and 18 Jan, re¬ spectively (ph., m.ob.). Both birds, an imm. female and an imm. male, appear to have per¬ ished during windy nights with temperatures at or near 0° F ( fide RF). Another Rufous, an imm. male, was at Ashfield, Franklin, MA 1-15 Dec (m.ob.). After a good fall flight, it was not surprising to have above-average numbers of Red-headed Woodpeckers in the Region: Massachusetts hosted 4, Connecticut 3, Maine 2, and New Hampshire one. Red- bellied Woodpeckers also surged northward during the fall, and as winter progressed, it appeared that the species had probably made new gains in n. New England. Maine report¬ ed at least 246 individuals, surely only the tip of the iceberg (fide WT), and 4 made it at least as far “down east” as Mt. Desert I., Wash¬ ington 3 Jan. In New Hampshire, at least 2 were recorded n. of the White Mts. to Lan¬ caster and Randolph, both Coos. Red-bellieds even made news in Rhode Island, as evi¬ denced by a record total of 29 on the New- port-Westport C.B.C. 18 Dec. An interesting mix of flycatchers graced the Region this season. There were the re¬ quisite Eastern Phoebes, the latest of which was at Little Compton, RI 15 Jan (GD). Lin¬ gering from Nov was Rockport’s Ash-throat¬ ed Flycatcher, last reported 19 Dec. Also at Rockport was one of Massachusetts’s 2 West¬ ern Kingbirds 21-22 Dec (S. Hunt); the oth¬ er was at a less-expected locale, inland at Northhampton, Flampshire 17 Dec (L. Ther- rian). Northern Shrikes had something of a mixed flight, with good numbers early in the season as far s. as Massachusetts, but few af¬ ter early Feb and only 5 in all of Connecticut and Rhode Island. This season’s Blue-headed Vireos were at Wayland, Middlesex, MA 7 Dec (H. Norwood) and on the New Haven C.B.C. in Connecticut 18 Dec. SWALLOWS THROUGH WARBLERS Tree Swallows remained until at least mid-Jan at both Napatree and Nan¬ tucket, with 9 and 10 on 9 and 16 Jan, respectively. Carolina Wrens, like Red-bellied Woodpeckers, seemed to have a good fall: the total of 15 reported from Maine is the highest this editor has seen in nine years of writing this summary and is likely a new winter high for the state. In the far nw. corner of the Re¬ gion, observers on the Grande Isle C.B.C. found a Northern Wheatear at Georgia, Franklin, VT 19 Dec (P Mallet, L. Rainville). If accepted by the Vermont Bird Records Commit¬ tee, this would be the first winter record for the Region and one of only a few for North America. A Townsend’s Solitaire appeared at Stacyville, Penobscot, ME 1 Feb and was last seen just before the close of the season on 26 Feb (ph., BS, m.ob.); another made a one-day showing at Gloucester 19 Dec (S. Hechnan). Even more notable, if ver¬ ified, would be the Swainson’s Thrush reported at a feeder on Deer Isle, Hancock, ME “since Christmas” (fide WT). The more expected thrushes, par¬ ticularly American Robins and Eastern Blue¬ birds, continued their recent trends of re¬ maining in numbers throughout the Region all winter. Four of the 5 Varied Thrushes this season were in Massachusetts, the longest- staying bird frequenting a Newburyport feeder 21 Dec-25 Feb, while others were at Con¬ cord ( Middlesex ) 29 Dec-4 Jan and M.V. 19-23 Jan, and Sheffield 2 Jan (the last bird a cat-kill). A 5th was at Contoocook, Mer¬ rimack, NH 15 Jan. In light of last winter’s major influx, birders in the Region were not ex¬ pecting the return of Bo¬ hemian Waxwings this season. In n. Maine, an ex¬ cellent fruit crop made for numbers just as impres¬ sive as last winter’s, in¬ cluding a maximum of 2500 in Presque Isle, Aroostook, in late Jan (/ideJD). Most flocks in Maine, and the relatively few large groups in Vermont and New Hampshire, came in at un¬ der 300 birds. The only Bohemian in the s. portion of the Region was one on Nantucket 6 Feb (E. Ray). There was some indication that Yellow-rumped Warblers were less com¬ mon than usual in s. New England this win¬ ter. However, Pine Warblers lingered in num- This Yellow-throated Warbler of the albilora subspecies spent the entire winter at a feeder in Dover, New Hampshire, eating mealworms (here 1 1 January 2005). Photograph by Tom Murray. VOLUME 59 (2005) • NUMBER 2 239 With very few Regional winter records, Black-throated Green Warbler is only marginally more likely to be found on a New England Christmas Bird Count than its northwestern counterpart Townsend's Warbler. This bird found on the Cape Cod C.B.C. 19 December 2004 furnished a first record of the species for that long-running count. Photograph by Jeremiah Trimble. bers for the record books, especially in Con¬ necticut (fide GH), where at least 15 were re- Dec-23Jan (R. Saunders, m.ob.). Lark Spar¬ rows put in a fine showing. The first showed ported throughout the season — up on M.V. 2-3 Dec, the next in Walpole, Massachusetts hosted 14, Rhode Is¬ land 5, Maine 4, and Vermont and New Hampshire one each. Among the less-expected warblers were 2 Black-throated Blues: one at a feed¬ er in E. Brunswick, Cumberland, ME through 18 Dec (G. Sergeant; a first winter record for the state), and another at Brewster, Barnstable, MA 12 Jan, almost exactly a year later than an individual of the same species at nearby Chatham! More noteworthy was a Townsend’s War¬ bler at Rockport 19 Dec (M. Goetschkes). One of the more co¬ operative warblers of the season was a male albilora Yellow-throated Warbler at a feeder in Dover, Straf¬ ford, NH throughout the season, a bird that subsisted largely on meal¬ worms (ph., D. Carr, m.ob.). Two very late Blackpoll Warblers were at Arlington, Middlesex, MA 19 Dec and South Kingston, Washington, RI 22-25 Dec, the latter the latest ever recorded in the Ocean State. Single Ovenbirds were at Boston 11-16 Dec and far to the n. in Lancaster, Coos, NH 17-24 Dec, and a Hood¬ ed Warbler at Cambridge, Middle¬ sex, MA was last reported 5 Dec. TANAGERS THROUGH FINCHES A female Western Tanager fre¬ quented a feeder at Georgetown, Sagadahoc, ME 17 Dec-7 Jan (ph., m.ob.); another, also female, was at Westwood, Norfolk, MA 31 -T3H -- This Chestnut-collared Longspur was a one-day wonder on Plum Island IS December 2004. It furnished only the fifth record for Massachusetts and the second winter record for the Region. Photograph by David Weaver. Cheshire, NH 18 Dec (T. Johansen), and the last at Scarborough, Cumber¬ land, ME 5 Feb-Mar (ph., m.ob.). A Chestnut-collared Longspur at Plum L, MA 15 Dec (ph., B. Gette, D. Weaver) furnished just the 5th record for Massachusetts and 2nd winter record for the Region. Rusty Black¬ birds were observed in above-average numbers in the Region. In Lincoln, Providence, RI, up to 68 were present 11 Jan-24 Feb (D. Finzia et al.), and multiples were reported in inland New Hampshire locations, including 2 far to the n. at Errol, Coos 16 Dec. Massachusetts counts, however, were unremarkable. Up to 12 Boat-tailed Grackles wintered in se. Connecticut at the traditional location of Strat¬ ford/Bridgeport, Fairfield. A total of 5 Baltimore Orioles in Maine was well above the usual few and in fact was higher than the 4 reported from Mass¬ achusetts this season. Pine Grosbeaks staged a small off-year in¬ vasion limited to the n. portions of the n. three states. Most were in Maine, with flocks of 30 in the n. and 5-10 in the cen. portion of the state. The Regional maximum was 219 on the Pittsburg C.B.C., Coos, NH 15 Dec. Common Redpolls were also back in reasonable numbers for the 2nd year in a row. As with the previous species, most were in n. Maine, where three flocks of over 100 birds were reported from Aroostook in late Feb (BS). Num¬ bers dwindled rapidly to the s., where flocks tended to contain fewer than 10 birds. Common Redpolls did make it to Massachu¬ setts, where most birds were found in the e. half of the state, and Rhode Island, where there were 2 at Providence 3 Jan (RF et al.). Given the reappearance of large redpoll flocks in n. Maine, it was perhaps not surprising that 2 Hoary Redpolls were also reported from Presque Isle, Aroostook from mid-Jan through mid-Feb (fide JD). Subregional editors (boldface), contributors (italics), and ob¬ servers: Jim Berry, David Deifik (NH), Jody Despres (ME), Rachel Farrell (RI), Greg Hanisek (CT), Rick Heil, David Hoag, Seth Kel¬ logg (MA), Derek Lovitch, Julie Nicholson (VT), Blair Nikula, Edie Ray, Marjorie Rines (MA), Bill Sheehan, William Townsend (ME).© 240 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS December weather was moderate ex¬ cept for bitter cold from the 19th to the 21st, with warmer weather re¬ turning by the 23rd. The first two weeks of January were relatively warm, but intense cold set in on the 21st, and a major storm on 22-23 January blanketed most of the Region with heavy snow. Temperatures for the re¬ mainder of the month were well below nor¬ mal. February mirrored January to the ex¬ tent that the first half was moderate and the second half cold. Highlights of the season included Pacific Loons, Western Grebe, Sabine’s Gulls, an in¬ flux of Thick-billed Murres, Black Guille¬ mots, Boreal Owls, an incursion of Red-head¬ ed Woodpeckers, Townsends Solitaires, and Black-throated Gray Warbler. Also notewor¬ thy were Tufted Duck, Varied Thrush, Gyr- falcons, California Gulls, Ash-throated Fly¬ catchers, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Painted Buntings, and numerous American White Pelicans. On the negative side was an oil spill in the lower Delaware R. off Paulsboro, New Jersey on 28 November. About 300 birds were taken to a rehabilitation center, and the effects were still evident at C.B.C. time. Abbreviations: Avalon (sea watch at Avalon, Cape May, NJ); Bombay Hook (Bombay Hook N.W.R., Kent , DE); Central Park (New York City); Hamlin Beach (Hamlin Beach S.P, Monroe, NY); l.R.l. (Indian River Inlet, Sussex, DE); Montauk Pt. (Montauk Point S.P, Suffolk, NY); Sandy Hook (Sandy Hook Unit, Gateway National Recreation Area, Monmouth, NJ). LOONS THROUGH VULTURES For the 5th consecutive winter, Pacific Loons have been reported, this year at Aval¬ on 6 Dec (CV, BF) and from Montauk Pt. 16 Dec (BPf et al.). New Jersey has 14 accepted prior records and New York a similar num¬ ber. Though more common in recent years than in the past, this species is still consid¬ ered very rare, remains tricky to identify, and requires careful documentation. Five Eared Grebes were reported: 2 at Lakes Bay, At¬ lantic, NJ 4-24 Dec (TB, Al Driscol et al.) and singles at Aurora, Cayuga, NY 16 Jan (Bob Guthrie, Leona Lauster), Cupsogue County Park, Suffolk, NY 29 Jan (ABa), and the Ponquogue Bridge over Shinnecock Bay, Suffolk, NY 9 Feb (Carl Starace). Now virtu¬ ally annual, Eared Grebes have visited New Jersey over 40 times and New York over 100. Continuing the string of rare waterbirds, the Western Grebe at S. Amboy, NJ continued through 24 Dec (MBr et al.). Another or pos¬ sibly the same individual was reported at Is¬ land Beach S.P, Ocean, NJ 1-2 Jan (G. Cantrell). The former report constitutes New Jersey’s 2nd accepted record (14 others are listed as Western/Clark’s Grebe). A good count of 118 Northern Fulmars was record- ■“l Hudson-Delaware Lake Champlain see Long Island detail map at left DELAWARE SITES: D = Kitts Hummock A = White Clay Creek SP E= Prime Hook NWR B = Delaware City F = Cape Henlopen C = Bombay Hook NWR, G = Indian River Inlet Little Creek WMA, Port Mahon H = Redden SF To Hudson Canyon (1 00 mi E of Barnegat Inlet) ATLANTIC OCEAN Joseph C. Burgiel Mike Powers 331 Alpine Court Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology Stanhope, New Jersey 07874 159 Sapsucker Woods Road (burgiel@alum.mit.edu) Robert 0. Paxton Ithaca, New York 14850 (mep42@cornell.edu) 460 Riverside Drive, Apt. 72 Richard R. Veit New York, New York 10027 Department of Biology (rop1@columbia.edu) College of Staten Island 2800 Victory Boulevard Staten Island, New York 10314 (veitrr2003@yahoo.com) VOLUME 59 (2005) • NUMBER 2 — 241 Providing a first photographic record for the state and a memorable sight for only a few of its would-be admirers, this gray-morph Gyrfalcon at least stopped long enough to be captured on film 15 February 2005 at the east end of Port Mahon Road, Kent County, Delaware. There appear to be two prior reports of the species in the state. Photograph by Robert Lego. ed in Delaware waters on a pelagic trip from Lewes, DE 26 Feb (PG et al.), one of the highest Regional totals since the establish¬ ment of the offshore Exclusive Economic Zone that limits foreign fishing fleets to wa¬ ters more than 200 nautical miles from shore. Manx Shearwater reports were 6 on a pelagic trip out of Lewes 1 1 Dec (PG et al.), one out of Belmar, Mon¬ mouth, NJ 31 Dec (PG et al.), and one 10-15 km off Surf City, Ocean, NJ 31 Dec (Doug Gill). For the 3rd time in the past five win¬ ters, American White Pelicans were present. There are no more than about five previous Regional winter records. In New York, a group of 4 was report¬ edly seen in the Bronx 8 Dec (NJ Birds listserv). In New Jersey, single birds passed through Hereford Inlet, Cape May 5 Dec (A. & M. Smith); Heislerville, Cumberland 8 Dec (JD, CS); Corbin City/Tuckahoe W.M.A., At¬ lantic/Cape May 8-9 Jan (Karen John¬ son); Shark R. Estuary, Monmouth 11 Jan (Bob Henschel); and Bombay Hook 24 Dec. A group of 3 visited Jakes Land¬ ing and Goshen, Cape May 30 Dec (CV, Jeff Stratford) and 31 Dec (Harvey Tom¬ linson). And a group of 4, possibly the same group reported in the Bronx, was observed at Cranbury, Middlesex 10-12 Dec (Warren Barnes, Roger Dreyling). The years last Brown Pelican passed Avalon 3 Dec (BF, CV). Despite the cold Feb weath¬ er, a Glossy Ibis at Southaven County Park, Suffolk, NY 26 Feb (John McNeil) was perhaps record early. Birds of this species do not normally arrive before late Mar. WATERFOWL Unprecedented was a group of 12 Greater White-fronted Geese on the Princeton University soccer field 19 Dec on the Princeton C.B.C. (fide LL). About a dozen more scattered over the Region was a normal number. Nine Ross’s Geese this year was also fairly nor¬ mal. Nearly 40 Cackling Geese were found, with a surprising 12 also on the Princeton C.B.C., on a corporate lawn not far from the Greater White-fronted Geese ( fide LL). Black Brant were excellent finds at S. Amboy, NJ, where this race has appeared previously, 21 Dec (TPEL, TRC) and 2 Feb (TSB), and a continuing bird from the fall was at I.R.l. through 30 Jan (Mary Gustafson, Bruce Peterjohn, Matt Hafner et al.). After two years with multiple reports, and last year with just a single report, the only Barnacle Goose was in Wantage Twp., Sussex, NJ (tJB, Jim Zamos, ph. Cheryl Boyd et al.). The provenance of this individual, which was not banded, is unknown but probably wild. Ten to 11 Eurasian Wigeons in New Jersey was high for that state, while numbers were closer to normal in New York and Delaware. Two Northern Shovelers at Dunkirk Harbor, Erie, NY 1 Jan-13 Feb (tWW) were out of place in midwinter. Three Common (Eurasian Green-winged) Teal was a good count: one at the Corbin City W.M.A. and Tuckahoe W.M.A., Cape May/Atlantic, NJ found 7 Jan and still present on 16 Feb (CS, JD); one at Tuckahoe and Yonkers, Westch¬ ester, NY 10 Feb+ (Andrew Block, MB, KJ, Sandra Marraffino); and one at L. Takanassee, Monmouth, NJ (Al Pochek, ph. Mike Fahay). This race has averaged a bit over one per year over the past decade, al¬ though most years with none, but two years with 3 and one year with 4. In the Finger Lakes, 6600 Redheads at Keuka L., Yates/Steuben, NY 29 Jan (BO) was well below last year’s 19,000 on Cayuga L. but still impressive. The high count away from the Finger Lakes was an outstanding 5374 at Conesus L. 2 Jan on the Cone- sus-Hemlock-Honeoye Lakes C.B.C. Far¬ ther south, where even a few are of interest, an excellent total was 24 on Barnegat Bay, off Brick Twp., NJ 12 Feb (Richard Heddy). A duck at Weehawken, Hudson, NJ 24-26 Dec (Glenn Mahler) caused a stir when reported as a possible Common Pochard; it was thought to be a hybrid. The only report of Tufted Duck was of one undocumented at Rye, Westchester, NY 20 Jan (Pat Pollock, Chuck McAlexander, KJ). This area has been a hot spot for the species in recent years. High counts of Greater Scaup were 20,000 in Raritan Bay off Monmouth, NJ 2 Feb (SB) and 8000 in the Niagara R., Erie, NY 10-18 Jan. An exploratory inshore boat trip along the northern New Jersey coast 29 January 2005 turned up a record four Thick-billed Murres within 400 meters of shore. This individual sat for its portrait about 100 meters from the shore at Long Branch, Monmouth County, New Jersey. Photograph by Chip Krilowicz. 242 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS While trying out a new camera lens to photograph chickadees from her upstairs window at Niagara Falls, New York on 1 7 December 2004, the photographer (who claims not to be a birder) saw an unfamiliar bird. After looking through a field guide, she decided it was a Black-throated Gray Warbler. Luckily, she had this photograph to confirm its identification; the bird was last seen the next day. Photograph by Joan Hilts. But a greater number may have been present in a raft of about 70,000 ducks, mostly Greater Scaup and Canvasback, in the Nia¬ gara R. near Grand I. in early Feb ( fide MM). With over 30 reported. King Eider had one of its best recent years. Peak counts in¬ cluded 4 at Montauk Pt. 24 Dec (Seth Ausubel, Isaac Grant, Kevin O’Leary) and 3 at Barnegat Inlet, NJ 7 Feb (LM), with small¬ er numbers spread along the coast from Cape May to Montauk Pt. At the opposite end of the Region, Morgante commented that reports were more numerous in New York’s Niagara Frontier than in any recent winter. Common Eiders also enjoyed a good year, with high counts of 1550 on the Mon¬ tauk C.B.C. 18 Dec and 500 at Montauk Pt. 30 Jan (ABa et al.). Away from Montauk, the peak was 13 at Barnegat Inlet 7 Feb (LM), with counts of one to 5 scattered from there to Cape May. Harlequin Ducks were also present in excellent numbers, with the typi¬ cal maximum of 34+ at Barnegat Inlet 17 Feb (Nikolas Haass) and about 25 more scat¬ tered from Montauk to I.R.I. Farther afield, a female was at Niagara Falls 4-5 Dec (WD). A fantastic 1 12,000 scoters were recorded on the Sagaponac, NY C.B.C. 19 Dec; 64,400 Surf, 782 White-winged, 34,300 Black, and 13,400 unidentified scoters. The adjacent Montauk C.B.C. partially made up for the low count of White-winged Scoters, with 8900 on the previous day. This species ap¬ pears to be in decline. Eleven Barrow’s Gold¬ eneye was a somewhat below-normal tally. Six of them were in New York’s northern¬ most corner: single males were at Platts¬ burgh, Clinton 8-13 Dec (Bill Krueger, Charles Mitchell, Jr.) and Essex, Essex 12 Dec (Matt Medler), and 4 more were added on the New York State Waterfowl Count 15-16 Dec. Elsewhere, 3 males were farther w. in New York, one on Long I. and 2 fe¬ males in New Jersey. RAPTORS THROUGH CRANES With about 500 reported. Bald Eagles con¬ tinued their strong recovery. The highest to¬ tal of Northern Harriers was 105 on the Bombay Hook C.B.C. 26 Dec. An impressive 42 were found along the lower Mullica R., Atlantic/Burlington, NJ 25 Jan (JD, CS), pushed there by the heavy snowfall two days earlier. The Central Park Broad-winged Hawk continued from last season until 31 Dec (TF, m.ob.). One group of the many ob¬ servers reported that it had an injured right wing. Another Broad-winged was observed at Sandy Hook 5-9 Dec (SB); that observer did not note any injury. Barring unusual cir¬ cumstances, a healthy Broad-winged Hawk should be long gone by this date. With over 100 reported, Rough-legged Hawks were well represented. The high count was 21 along the lower Mullica R. 25 Jan (CS, JD). This year’s total of 22 Golden Eagles was substantially better than last year’s, consider¬ ing that we did not get a report from the Franklin Mt. Hawkwatch in Delaware, NY. The high count of 3 was on the Walnut Val¬ ley, NJ C.B.C. 18 Dec. A sampling of C.B.C. totals had American Kestrel numbers similar to last year’s — dismally low. This species is showing no sign of recovery. However, about 45 Merlins was a good number, with 6 at the roost on the SUNY campus in Buffalo through the season. A gray-morph Gyrfal- con at Mannington Marsh, Salem, NJ 11-12 Dec (vt. Dave Magpiong) and probably the same individual at Port Mahon, Kent, DE 15-18 Feb (Bob Lego et al.) was outstand¬ ing. Another visited Aurora, Cayuga, NY 28 Feb (Matt Victoria). And finally, a gray- morph Gyrfalcon was reported 12 Feb at Plattsburgh, Clinton, NY (Donna Fletcher), where they occur more frequently. New Jer¬ sey has only 17 accepted previous records and Delaware just one or two, while New York has well over 100. SH0REBIRDS THROUGH ALCIDS Tantalizing was a report by non-birders of an apparent Northern Lapwing at Southold, Suffolk, NY 16-19 Dec, reasonably described but not photographed. Sadly, it was gone be¬ fore word got out. Two Semipalmated Plovers made for an outstanding find along the Manasquan R. on the Lakehurst, NJ C.B.C. 18 Dec (AT), with one remaining through 8 Jan (Nick Taylor). One to 2 were present off Ocean Drive, Cape May, NJ 30 Dec-1 Jan (RC), with one near Jones Beach S.P, Nassau, NY on about 9 Jan (Bill Reeves, Scott Ogeri). In most years, a few individu¬ als have lingered along the coast into Dec, but by Jan they are quite rare. The high count of American Oystercatcher was 508 on the Cape May C.B.C. 19 Dec, obliterating the prior count record of 352. Ninety five of these remained near Nummy 1. 1 Feb (PEL). Twenty-eight Willets was typical of the past three years’ counts on the Oceanville, NJ C.B.C. Six were present at Nummy I., Cape May, NJ 7 Jan (MO) and 3 there 1 Feb (PEL). Of 2 at Point Lookout, across the in¬ let from Jones Beach S.P. in early Jan (m.ob.), one remained through season’s end. Willets in winter in this Region are normally inoma- tus. A report of a very late Spotted Sandpiper came from Whitesbog, Cumberland, NJ 1 Feb (Augie Sexauer); there are no previous Feb reports for the state. Typical of recent years, 20 Marbled Godwits were observed on the Oceanville C.B.C. 18 Dec, in the usu¬ al location at Absecon Inlet, Atlantic. The same C.B.C. recorded 11,000 Dunlin for only the 2nd time in its 50-year history. Single Parasitic Jaegers at Avalon 10 &r 13 Dec (BF) provided the only jaeger re¬ ports. Some 12,000+ Ring-billed Gulls at a roost at Round Valley Res. on the North¬ west Hunterdon, NJ C.B.C. 19 Dec (Pete Kwiatek) was a high count there. Expected were 2 ad. California Gulls at the Niagara Power Project on the Niagara R., Niagara, NY until 27 Dec (tWD, tWW); a Herring Gull x Glaucous Gull hybrid was also there 12 Dec and later. Two Sabine’s Gulls, one ad. and one imm., at Dunkirk Harbor, Chautauqua, NY 28 Dec-1 Jan (Dick Miga, Peter Yoerg, Ben Coulter) were one of the season’s real highlights. Even in the Niagara Frontier, Sabine’s Gulls are exceptionally VOLUME 59 (2005) • NUMBER 2 243 A very rare bird for inland New York, and even more rarely found wintering, this Lark Sparrow was discovered and identified by Vicki Rothman at her feeding station in the town of Porter, Niagara County 15 (here 25) December 2004 and stayed at least through 19 February 2005. Photograph by Willie D'Anna. rare in winter. A late Black Skimmer at the Cape May Coast Guard Station 17 Dec (Coast Guard personnel) was missed on the C.B.C. two days later. For the 3rd winter in a row, alcids were recorded in some numbers coastally. A pelagic trip out of Lewes, DE produced 33 Dovekies 26 Feb in Delaware waters (PG et al.), and pelagic trips out of Belmar, NJ 4 & 31 Dec produced 7 and 9, respectively (PG et al.). Seven Common Murres were also found on the 26 Feb trip from Lewes, and another was at Jones Inlet, Nassau , NY 2 Jan (Ken & Sue Feustel). About 220 Razorbills were observed on pelagic trips from Belmar on 4 & 31 Dec and 29 Jan and from Lewes on 11 Dec and 26-27 Feb (PG et al.); the Montauk C.B.C. had 258 on 18 Dec. Razor¬ bills were observed daily at Avalon, with a maximum of 19 on 17 Dec (BF); roughly 50 more were scattered along the coast. Three Black Guillemots, perhaps the Region’s rarest alcid, were also reported: one ad. at Avalon 16 Dec (Cameron Cox); one at Mon¬ tauk Pt. 22-24 Dec (Vicki Bustamante); and one at l.R.l. 29 Jan-9 Feb (m.ob., finder un¬ known), Delaware’s 2nd. Seven Atlantic Puffins were observed on the pelagic trip from Belmar 4 Dec (PG et al.), while a total of 3 was observed on the trips from Lewes on 1 1 Dec and 26 Feb (PG et al.) DOVES THROUGH WOODPECKERS Snowy Owls totaled 12 in New York, 4 in Newjersey, and one at Port Mahon, Kent, DE 26 Dec-7 Jan (Jim White). Selasphotvs hum¬ mingbirds continued at Central Park until 13 Dec (m.ob.) and at Orient, Suffolk, NY until 5 Dec (HM et al.). The Allens Hum¬ mingbird at Villas, Cape May, NJ continued until 19 Dec (JD, Doyle Dowdell). A high¬ light of the season was an influx of Red¬ headed Woodpeckers. Forty-six were recorded in the Great Swamp, Morris, NJ 18 Dec on the C.B.C. (Bill Boyle, Tom Fritz et al.). Other counts of 7 at Batsto, Burlington 30 Jan and 13 Feb (TB), 5 at Wharton S.F, Atlantic/Burlington 20 Feb (TB), and 4 sin¬ gles elsewhere gave New Jersey one of its highest winter totals ever. Eight at Barcelona Neck near Sag Harbor, Suffolk NY 19 Dec (BK) and 9 more statewide gave New York a After two decades in which Thick-billed Murres have been exceptionally scarce, this season produced an invasion, be¬ ginning with a report on 27 Jan in Maine and extending to South Carolina. This Region's first reports came on 28 Jan, with 2 each at Barnegat Inlet (Blake Mathys) and at Shinnecock Inlet (PSc). With peaks of 5 individuals reported in New Jer¬ sey on 29 Jan and 7 on Long 1. 30 Jan, and with the southernmost at Cape Henlopen 2 Feb (Meta Little, Colin Campbell), re¬ ports came almost daily from Montauk Pt. to Cape May until about 1 1 Feb. The last reports were of one at Westhampton, Suf¬ folk, NY 1 3 Feb (Andy Murphy) and one at Shinnecock Inlet 20 Feb (Karen & Barbara Rubinstein). This is the first winter ever in which all six Atlantic alcid species were recorded in Delaware. very high count as well. Another bird at Newark, DE 12 Dec-1 Jan (Ginny Schiavelli) made the Re¬ gion’s total 78, possibly a record. A single American Three-toed Woodpecker at Ferd’s Bog, Hamilton, NY in Dec (Gary Lee) was the only report; a total of 12 Black-backed Woodpeckers was reported from the usual locations in the Adirondack area. FLYCATCHERS THROUGH WAXWINGS The Ash-throated Flycatcher from last season at Cape May re¬ mained until 19 Dec (ph. MO, Louise Zemaitis), and one at Prospect Park, Brooklyn was joined by another 5 Dec (Rob Jett et al.); the latter 2 remained until the C.B.C. 18 Dec. Another Ash- throated at Hamlin Beach 3-7 Dec (DT, tDS, tRS, ph. B. Carl¬ son, m.ob.) furnished the first record for New York’s Genessee Region. Extremely rare before the early nineties, this species has become almost expected in small numbers in late fall. Three C.B.C.s in New Jersey recorded one Western Kingbird apiece: the Lakehurst C.B.C. 18 Dec (AT), the Cape May C.B.C. 19 Dec (T. Reed et al.), and the Cumberland C.B.C. 2 Jan. Even more interesting was a Scissor-tailed Flyctacher at Assunpink W.M.A., Monmouth, NJ 5 Dec (tjohn Maret, Pat Brundage) and 19-20 Dec (TTB et al.) — the state’s first Dec record, the previous late date being 6 Nov, and possibly the first Dec record for the Region. With about 100 reported, Northern Shrikes were well represented, nearly all in New York, with 5 in Newjersey, and one in Delaware at Prime Hook N.W.R., Sussex for the entire season. A White-eyed Vireo at Hamlin Beach 2 Dec (Kenny Frisch, DT, TDS) was record late in New York’s Genessee Region; another was found at Green Creek on the Cape May C.B.C. 19 Dec (PEL). A Blue-headed Vireo on the Hudson Falls, NY C.B.C. 19 Dec was a Dec first for Washington. The peak count of Gray Jays was 19 on the Saranac L., NY C.B.C., with a few other reports from Essex and Franklin, NY. Three to 4 Cave Swallows, all in New Jersey, remained from Nov, with the last reports on 12 Dec at Cape May (PEL) and at Cedar Run, Ocean (TMBr, Bill Elrick). Unrecorded prior to 1990, this species has recently been annual. Two Black- capped Chickadees were s. of their normal range at Rancocas, Burlington, NJ 12-26 Dec (TB, Sandra Keller). Single Blue-gray Gnat- catchers lingered at Baiting Hollow, Suffolk, NY 2-8 Dec (ABa) and the Montauk area 18 Dec (Willy Becker). 244 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS The Nov Townsends Solitaire at Cedar Run, Ocean , NJ was last seen 18 Dec (Chip Krilowicz, JG); another turned up at Maid¬ stone Park, Suffolk, NY 19 Dec-18 Jan (BPf, m.ob.). New Jersey has five previous records and New York not many more. Two excep¬ tionally late Wood Thrushes were reported, one at Central Park 2-27 Dec (TF, m.ob.; a late date for the state) and one at Garret Mt. Park, Passaic, NJ 19 Dec (Ivan Kossak; only a few prior winter reports). No details were received on either bird, but the reporters are experienced observers. The Varied Thrush from last season at River Vale, Bergen, NJ re¬ mained until 9 Jan (ph. Leona Krauth, Judy Cinquina). Brown Thrashers were unusually well represented, especially in s. parts of the Region, but one at Hamlin, Monroe, NY 31 Jan (DT) was well out of place. Last years in¬ cursion of Bohemian Waxwings did not re¬ peat itself; the peak of 150 was recorded at Keene, Essex, NY 21 Feb (Robert McGrath), with 75 elsewhere in Keene and 60 farther n. in Peru, Clinton, NY. WARBLERS THROUGH FINCHES Very rarely remaining later than Oct, a Blue¬ winged Warbler at Hamlin Beach 29 Jan (DT) was record late at that location and for the entire Region as well. A photographed Yellow Warbler on the Brooklyn C.B.C. 18 Dec was also very late; this species has been reported on C.B.C.s in the s. half of the Re¬ gion on several previous occasions. But a Black-throated Gray Warbler at Niagara Falls, NY 17-19 Dec (Joan Hilts, tWD et al.) was the warbler of the season. This vagrant species has provided about a dozen previous records for New York, mainly in fall. Finally, a well-described Canada Warbler at Sayville, Suffolk, on the Captree (NY) C.B.C. 19 Dec was record late, by about a month. The Smithtown, NY C.B.C. produced a Western Tanager at Setauket, Suffolk 27 Dec (BK, PSc, HM); a bright male was at Absecon, Atlantic, NJ 28 Jan+ (Kris Arcuri). Three Chipping Sparrows at Wilson, Nia¬ gara, NY 10 Dec+ (Betsy Potter, WD) was a record high winter count for the state’s Nia¬ gara Frontier. A Clay-colored Sparrow was at the Clinton, Hunterdon, NJ S.T.P. (John De- Marrais); 3 were recorded on the Cumber¬ land C.B.C. in the same state 2 Jan. Vesper Sparrows, once not uncommon in New Jer¬ sey, were reported as singles only at Colum¬ bia, Warren 5 Dec (Brian Hardiman) and on the Cumberland C.B.C. 2 Jan. A Lark Spar¬ row at Porter, Niagara, NY 15 Dec+ (Vicki Rothman, tWD, m.ob.) provided a first win¬ ter record for the Niagara Frontier and the 5th overall. Others were at W. Cape May, NJ 16-17 Dec (Karl Lukens, PEL) and at Cro- ton-on-Hudson, Westchester, NY 18-19 Dec (Charlie Roberto). Excellent finds were Har¬ ris’s Sparrows at Baldwin Harbor, Nassau, NY 2-3 Jan (SM, Pat Lindsay) and at Hamlin, Monroe, NY 8 Jan (DT, Mike Davids). Three Gambel’s White-crowned Sparrows, one in New York and 2 in New Jersey, was about av¬ erage. An Oregon Junco at Wilson, Niagara, NY 22 Jan (WD, WW) was the season’s only report. An Indigo Bunting, very scarce in winter, visited W. Cape May 13-19 Dec (CV et al.). New Jersey hosted 3 Painted Buntings: an ad. male at Erma, Cape May 14 Nov+ (E MacDonald, tm.ob.) and single green birds at Woodbridge, Middlesex 2 Jan (tGeorge Roussey) and Eatontown, Mon¬ mouth 23-30 Jan (ph. Larry Jones et al.). Six Dickcissels in New Jersey was above aver¬ age, while another was farther n. at Five Rivers, Albany, NY 19 Dec-2 Jan (Denise Hackert-Stoner, Tina Markopoulos, Patti Packer, Scott Stoner). Eastern Meadowlarks made a strong showing relative to recent years, with totals of 60 on the Montauk C.B.C. 18 Dec and of 20+ on two other C.B.C.s, along with many reports of smaller numbers. Yellow-headed Blackbird reports consisted of a female at Noyack, Suffolk, NY 4 Dec (Bob McGrath) and an ad. male n. of Wilmington, DE 7 Feb (Frank Rohrbacher). The blackbird roost at Great Meadows, Warren, NJ produced 280,000 Common Grackles on the Walnut Valley C.B.C. 18 Dec (BT et al). Boat-tailed Grackles did well too, with a surprising 1075 at Amassas Landing, Burlington, NJ 25 Jan (CS, JD). The blackbird roost at Great Meadows also held 10,000 Brown-headed Cowbirds 18 Dec (BT et al.). Baltimore Ori¬ oles were well represented in s. parts of the Region; one at Flood Gates near Repaupo Station, Gloucester, NJ 28 Feb (JG) was ex¬ ceptionally late. Winter finches were again scarce. Even Purple Finches and Pine Siskins, though widespread, were not unusually numerous. The only reports of Pine Grosbeaks were of 5 on the Saranac Lake C.B.C. 2 Jan and singles at five other Clinton, Essex, and Hamilton, NY locations. A paltry 33 Red Crossbills — with a maximum of 20 on the Rome, NY C.B.C. 19 Dec — were all that were reported. A total of 34 White-winged Crossbills included 20 near Vermontville, Franklin, NY 12 Feb (Matthew t Up to 5 Boreal Owls, all in New York, constituted an invasion by modern standards. The first was discovered at Wil- 3 n son-Tuscarora S.P., Niagara 18 Dec (Bret Ewald, tWW), and possibly the same individual visited some remote prop¬ erty at nearby Wilson 23 Jan+ (Marg Partridge, tWD). On the lower Hudson C.B.C., one was in Central Park 19 Dec-14 Jan (Jim Demes, Peter Post, m.ob.). Another was at Manitou Beach, Monroe 30 Dec-1 Jan (DT, m.ob.); possibly the same indi¬ vidual appeared at Hilton, Monroe 22 Jan (Mary leary). — Young) and 13 on the Saranac Lake C.B.C. 2 Jan. The Common Redpoll maximum was 266 on the Saranac Lake C.B.C. 2 Jan, but ex¬ cept for 60 at Pompey, Onondaga, NY 23 Feb ( jide BP), most were confined to the Adiron- dacks and surrounding areas. The high count of Evening Grosbeaks was 130 at Ver¬ montville 1 2 Feb, with 89 on the Ferrisburgh C.B.C. 18 Dec (partly in New York, partly Vermont) and 87 on Saranac Lake C.B.C. 2 Jan. A handful of other reports of smaller numbers, nearly all in ne. New York, round¬ ed out the total. Contributors (subregional compilers in boldface): Deborah Allen (Central Park, New York City), Tom Bailey, Andy Baldelli (ABa), Scott Barnes (North Coast Region, NJ: Sandy Hook Bird Observatory, PO. Box 553, Ft. Hancock, NJ 07732), Michael Bochnik (Hudson-Delaware, NY; 86 Empire St., Yonkers, NY 10704), Alan Boyd (ABo; Sussex County, NJ), Mike Britt (MBr), Joe Burgiel, Thomas W. Burke (TWB) (New York Rare Bird Alert), Richard Crossley, Willie D’Anna, Jim Dowdell, Paul Driver (Lower Delaware Valley, NJ: 915 Melrose Ave., Elkins Park, PA 19027), A. P Ednie (New Castle and Kent, DE: 59 Lawson Ave., Claymont, DE 19703), Vince Elia (South Coast and Delaware Bay Region, NJ: CMBO R&E Center, 600 Rt. 47 North, Cape May Courthouse, NJ 08120), Tom Fiore, Bob Fogg, Kevin Griffith (Genesee Region, NY: 61 Grandview Ln., Rochester, NY 14612), Paul Guris, Jean Gutsmuth, Kelli Jewell, Bri¬ an Kane, Laurie Larson (New Jersey Birds list-serve), Paul Lehman (PEL) (New Jersey Birds list-serve), Linda Mack, Hugh McGuinness (Eastern Long Island, NY: 12 Round Pond Ln., Sag Harbor, NY 11963), S. S. Mitra (Long Island, NY: Biology Depart¬ ment, College of Statten Island, 2800 Victo¬ ry Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10314), Mike Morgante (Niagara Frontier Region, NY: 59 Briar Hill Rd., Orchard Park, NY 14127), Michael O’Brien, Bill Ostrander (Finger Lakes Region, NY: 80 Westmont Ave., Elmira, NY 14904), John M. C. Peter¬ son (Adirondack-Champlain Region, NY: 477 County Route 8, Elizabethtown, NY 12932), Brian Pfeifer (BPf), Bill Purcell (Oneida Lake Basin, NY: 281 Baum Rd., Hastings, NY 13076), Rick Radis (Piedmont Region, NJ: 69 Ogden Ave., Rockaway, NJ 07866), Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club, Peter Scully (PSc), Frank Sencher (Northwestern Region, NJ: 43 Church Road, Milford NJ 08848), Dominic Sherony, Robert Spahn (Genesee Ornithological Society), Clay Sut¬ ton, Pat Sutton (Cape May Bird Observato¬ ry), Bob, Templin, Dave Tetlow, Alex Tongas, Chris Vogel, William Watson, Will Yandik (Hudson-Mohawk Region, NY: 269 Schnei¬ der Rd., Hudson, NY 12534). O VOLUME 59 (2005) • NUMBER 2 245 ■ -.r • - - - - — - - Middle Adantic L Blackwater NWR Deall. WMA Saxis Marsh Cape Charles Kiptopeke sp . Xo Salisbury Ocean Assa- league Island Chinco- teague NWR DETAIL MAP Northampton / Co. ( yE. Shore of Virginia NWR — Fisherman I. Chesapeake Bay 'Bridge-Tunnel •fa = Washington. D.C. A= Huntley Meadows County Park B= Hunting Creek C= Patuxent R. Naval Air Station D= Pt. Lookout SP noc^aafSP MARVUWI) gSg.S'S’ ‘ Deep Creek L. Tnadelphic/Res Snickets Gap •Loudoun'? /V r\ Fauquier Co. /V S. Holston L Roanoke •■■'Augusta *„• Co. M '■—■■'Rockfish Gap Richmond VIRGINIA turkey Pt. lyPt.SP Eastern Neck NWR in Worcester Co. Ocean ,City Kerr Res.. J/irginia Beach Back Bay NWR Todd M. Day 5118 Beaver Dam Road Jeffersonton, Virginia 22724 (blkvulture@aol.com) The Region’s weather was rather a roller-coaster between December and February, but it ended up aver¬ aging warmer and drier than average in both states. The first real storm of the season ar¬ rived 19 December, with brutal cold and high winds. A week later, 26 December, southeastern Virginia was hit by heavy snow squalls that spared much of the rest of the state (). January, as usual, was generally quite cold over most of the Region, while February had several breaks (up to 70° F days in some spots) that broke local records. The National Weather Service has recently (December 2004) posted a summa¬ ry of Virginia winters on the web () that may be of interest. Birding was brisk in both states, with a potential first state record in both (Northern Lapwing). The tail end of the Cave Swallow invasion came to a close, and the southern¬ most Northern Shrikes in that species’ strong flight were found. But finches and owls belonged to other regions this winter, and state birders barely detected the great in¬ vasion of murres that observers noted in New Jersey, Delaware, and the Carolinas, possibly for lack of seawatching activity. Thanks to past editor Marshall J. lliff for composing the S.A. box on the lapwing. Abbreviations: Assat. (Assateague I., Worces¬ ter, MD); Bay (Chesapeake Bay); Black. (Blackwater N.W.R., Dorchester, MD); Black FTills (Black FTills Regional Park/Little Seneca Res., Montgomery, MD); C.B.B.T. (Chesa¬ peake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, s. of Northampton, VA); D.C. (District of Columbia); O.C. Inlet (Ocean City Inlet, Worcester, MD). LOONS THROUGH WATERFOWL A Pacific Loon was seen at Dameron Marsh, Northumberland, VA 27 Jan (p.a., tFA). In¬ land Red-throated Loons included 2 on the Potomac R. near Lowes L, Montgomery, MD 5 Dec (KG, Linda Millington, Kim Peacock) and singles at Beaverdam Res., Loudoun, VA 20Jan (John Drummond), Black Hills 28Jan (DCz), and Kerr Res., Mecklenburg, VA 12 Feb (AD). The Cape Charles C.B.C. on 30 Dec tallied 4231 Red-throated Loons, the 2nd highest in count history (HTA et al.). A Clark’s Grebe was again found off Virginia Beach at Fort Story, with the only sighting this year 1 Jan (vt. RLAn, Thuy Tran et al.); it or another has appeared in this area in four previous winters: Feb 2000, Dec 2001, Dec 2002-Jan 2003, and Dec 2003-Jan 2004. Another Aechmophorus grebe, thought to be a Western Grebe, was seen 15-16 Jan at L. _ - - Anna, Louisa, VA (Chris Elliot, fide MRB, BTe). An Eared Grebe was discovered at Black Hills 26 Nov, where it was later joined by another 1 Jan; the 2 were last reported 28 Jan (DCz, HH, m.ob.). Nine reports of Red¬ necked Grebes spanned 1 Jan-28 Feb, five of these from more expected coastal locations, with the C.B.B.T. hosting 3 birds. Less rou¬ tine sightings were singles at L. Anna, Louisa 16 Jan (G. & R. Harris, BTe); Little Hunting Creek, Fairfax, VA 21 Jan (Stephen Williams); Fort McHenry, Baltimore ca. 27 Jan (JP); and Germantown Res., Fauquier, VA 16 Feb (TMD). A pelagic trip out of Lewes, Delaware into Worcester waters 26 Feb produced 30 North¬ ern Fulmars (PG et al.). An American White Pelican was at Jug Bay, Anne Arundel/Prince George’s, MD 17-18 Dec (p.a., Jeff Shenot, MH); another was in s. Northampton 30 Dec (GLA, ph. BTa, SWS, Will Russell). Twelve Brown Pelicans were out of place 2 Jan sit¬ ting on pound nets off South Point Cove, Calvert, MD; rarely are they that far n. in the Bay in such numbers in winter (Arlene Rip¬ ley). A Tricolored Heron at Deal I., Somerset, MD 6 Feb was a good find (JB); 2 were seen there 13 Feb and one 16 Feb (D&CB). The Cape Charles C.B.C. 30 Dec had 66 White Ibis, a high winter count (HTA et al.) typical of recent years. There were four reports of Ross’s Geese totaling 7 individuals 30 Dec-21 Jan, all e. of the Bay and all but one in Maryland. Greater White-fronted Geese (subspecies unknown) were widely reported, all single- tons at 10 locations 6 Dec-23 Feb, many of them holdovers from fall. A Barnacle Goose wearing a metal band on its left leg was at Pickering Creek Audubon Center, Talbot, MD 12 Jan; the band was never read, thus provenance remains uncertain. Anoth¬ er wintered at Laymans Pond, Botetourt, VA, originally found 19 Dec (Barry Kinzie, Katrina Knight). Since the recent split, Cackling Geese reports have poured in, overwhelmingly from Maryland. There were no fewer than 26 reports from 21 lo¬ cations in 13 counties 21 Nov-28 Feb in Maryland, all apparently of the expected nominate form. Virginia reports numbered four, from 15 Dec-3 Feb in four counties, also of Richardsons. The largest count was of 9 birds in flight at dusk among thou¬ sands of Canada Geese at Black Hills 10 Dec (DCz). While many of the reports are cer¬ tainly credible, it does provoke wonder as to whether the identification of this sub¬ species is considered carefully enough; note that a flock of 8 minima was documented just s. of Virginia in North Carolina. It was a good winter for Eurasian Wigeon, with eight total reports. Five in Virginia were initially spotted 23 Dec-11 Jan, with at least 3 staying through and past the end of the re¬ porting period; only one was found away 246 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS £ j Well documented has been the recovery of Bald Eagle through much of its former range. A count conducted along .J l\ the Rappahannock R. between Virginia's Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula in Feb 2005 (Sandy Specner, Bill Port- lock, Jeff Cooper) found 395 (219 ads., 168 imm, and 8 not aged). The previous high count for this survey was 278 in 2001, with 257 in 2002. The ten-year average is 1 78, though this was the first year the count was conducted in Feb. A run of fish into the river could be responsible for the increased count. Another impressive count was 1 31 found at Black, coming to three evening roosts 11 Jan (Levin Wiley). Surprisingly, the Fort Belvoir C.B.C. has reported triple digits of the species since 1995, and this year noted only 79 during the count, held 2 Jan (KG). from the Coastal Plain, the bird at Airlie, Fauquier returning for its 11th winter 23 Dec (TMD, ICT). In Maryland, 3 were reported beginning 11 Dec, with the last discovered 21 Feb, all on the Coastal Plain, and 2 stay¬ ing through the end of winter. A Blue¬ winged Teal was at Greenspring Mill Pond, Frederick , VA 1 Jan (Jon & B. J. Little). The Route 3 ponds in King George, VA produced a count of 3560 Ring-necked Ducks 2 Dec, with 12% noted as females (FA). One King and 6 Common Eiders were reported on the Cape Charles C.B.C. 30 Dec. Both O.C. Inlet and the C.B.B.T. had eiders and Ffarlequin Ducks this winter, though no Kings were re¬ ported at the C.B.B.T. The high count of Common Eiders was 15 on 20 Feb at O.C. Inlet (RFR). The Harlequin Duck from fall at Wades Point Inn, Talbot, MD was last seen 6 Dec (LR, vt. RFR, m.ob.). Inland Long-tailed Duck reports in Virginia were 21 Dec at L. Braddock, Faiifax (Stephen Eccles); 9 Jan at Claytor L., Pulaski (Mark Prosser, fide CK); and 16 Feb at Saltville, Smyth ( fide Allen Boynton). Maryland had three such reports: 2 on the Potomac R. at Fort Washington, Prince George’s 2 Dec (DM); 2 on Triadelphia Res., Montgomery 12-13 Dec (with an ad. White-winged Scoter) (KS, BO); and one at Little Seneca L., Montgomery 30 Dec (Dave Powell et al.). Two Black Scoters were with several Surf Scoters at Cobb I., Charles, MD 16 Dec (GMJ, MH). A good count of 1000+ Common Mergansers was at Centennial L., Howard, MD 29 Dec (KS); 1200-1300 were there 23 Feb (JS). RAPTORS THROUGH ALCIDS An imm. male Northern Goshawk was seen 1 Jan at Kiptopeke, Northampton (ESB, HFD, SAH et al.), the only one reported in the state after Dec. Single Rough-legged Hawks were reported from seven Maryland loca¬ tions 13 Dec-13 Feb, all on the Eastern Shore except one at Patuxent R. Naval Air Station 13 Dec and one 27 Dec along Camp Brown Rd., Scotland, both Saint Maty’s (both KR). The only report of multiple birds was 5 hunting the edge of a marsh fire 1 1 Feb at the Lower Nanticoke R. at Sandy Hill and Savannah L., Wicomico (SHD). Virginia had eight reports from 19 Dec-26 Feb, with only two Piedmont reports, the balance coming from the Mountains and Valleys. There seemed to be more Golden Eagles wintering in the Region than in recent years; the species was reported from seven Virginia and five Maryland locations. The Virginia reports were all in the Mountains and Valleys, aside from one at Dick Cross W.M.A., Mecklenburg 4 Jan (Will Cook, fide Gene Sattler); the Maryland reports were all from the Eastern Shore, except an ad. over a yard in David- sonville, Anne Arundel 2 Jan (PD et al.). King Rails have at least two reliable loca¬ tions where reported year-round in Virginia: Back Bay N.W.R./False Cape S.P. in Virginia Beach and Occoquan Bay N.W.R., Prince William, VA; 3 were found at the latter 3 Jan, along with one Virginia Rail (JK, KG, BL). Elsewhere, the Brooke C.B.C., Stafford, VA noted its first since 1973 on H Dec (fide TK), and 5 were heard calling at dusk 26 Feb at Drake’s Marsh, Westmoreland, VA (FA). We should continue to track this scarce nester and migrant in our Region. A Virginia Rail was heard at Lilypons, Frederick, MD 1 Jan (GM, BC). A Black Rail was seen in flight 16 Jan along Elliott 1. Rd., Dorchester, MD (Bob Abrams, Joan Boudreau). A Common Moorhen was found on the Cape Charles C.B.C. 30 Dec at the Riverview Farm, Northampton, a traditional spot for the species and one that has been newly ac¬ quired by The Nature Conservancy (ESB). The Sandhill Crane found in fall near Poolesville, Montgomery, MD was seen regu¬ larly through 26 Dec (m.ob.); however, a re¬ port of one at a farm in the general area 1 1 & 13 Feb suggests the bird never strayed far (Sheila Cochran). An American Avocet was at Craney 1 1 Dec (EE), and 2 were at Black. 21 Feb, rare there in winter and the first report for Feb (Paul Noell, RFR). A Spotted Sandpiper was found on the Cape Charles C.B.C. 30 Dec ( fide HTA). A Willet was at Eagles Nest Camp¬ ground, Worcester 16 Jan (SA, BH). Fourteen Red Knots were noted on the Cape Charles C.B.C. (HTA); one was reported 1 Jan from O.C. Inlet (DCz, MAT); 21 were at the Thoms Cr. Flats at the se. end of Mockhorn I., Northampton 20 Feb (HTA). A Pectoral Sandpiper was late at Huntley Meadows, Fairfax 5 Dec (Andy Rabin, Phil Kenny). A Dunlin was unexpected in Rockingham, VA 16 Dec at the Rte. 768 pond (AL, PL). Good counts of Purple Sandpipers were at Poplar I., Talbot, MD: 23 and 64 on 8 & 30 Dec, re¬ spectively (JR, fide LR). Six Red Phalaropes were seen on a pelagic trip into Maryland wa¬ ters off Worcester 26 Feb (PG et al.). A Pomarine Jaeger was seen from the C.B.B.T. during the Chesapeake Bay C.B.C. 26 Dec (ESB et al.); an unidentified jaeger was on the Cape Charles C.B.C. 30 Dec (Jim Beard, David O. Matson, fide HTA). A Laughing Gull was late at Little Seneca L., Montgomery 10 Dec (DCz). An ad. Black¬ headed Gull was at Schoolhouse Pond, Prince George’s, MD 12-18 Dec (HH, ph. BH, JLS, m.ob.); another was at Lynnhaven Inlet, Virginia Beach, VA 25 Feb (Robert Ferrell et al.). A Little Gull was at O.C. Inlet 12 & 14 Dec (HH, ZB). A Mew Gull of the North American race, brachyrhynchus, was found at Schoolhouse Pond 24 Dec (p.a., tSS); An ad. Northern Lapwing at Creagerstown, Frederick, M0 12-16 Feb and again 2-6 Mar (Lyn & Skip Nelson, ph. GMJ, ph. DCz, m.ob.) was widely enjoyed for a state and Regional first. Potentially Virginia's first, one sketched and described by two observers along the entrance to Dameron Marsh Rd., near Kilmarnock, Northumberland 24 Dec (the day after North Caroli¬ na's second at Mackay Island, appeared, then vanished) has been submitted to the state committee for review (tRichard R. Hinch, tPhillip H. H. Hinch). It was observed at a distance of 6 m or so for 10 minutes. Like the Mackay Island bird, it was in a recently harvested soybean field with 5-6 Killdeer. The eventual appearance of this species in the Region was anticipated, given 18 records from other eastern states, including Florida, Ohio, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Maine (as well as records from Atlantic Cana¬ da). Though primarily a winter visitor, a lapwing was seen in Delaware 6-7 Jul 1996. A landmark invasion to the New World occurred in Dec 1927, which Bagg (1967. Factors affecting the occurrence of the Northern Lapwing in eastern North America. Living Bird 6: 87-122) argued was due to a low-pressure system in the North Atlantic that displaced migrant flocks westward as they departed Scandinavia (much as European Golden-Plovers have been displaced to Newfoundland in Apr); apparently, no such event on this scale has occurred since that time. A first for the Middle Atlantic region, this Northern Lapwing at Creagerstown, Frederick County, Maryland (here 14 February 2005) may have been the same individual seen in North Carolina 23 December and in Virginia 24 December. Photograph by Mark L. Hoffman. VOLUME 59 (2005) • NUMBER 2 — 247 Maryland’s one accepted record is of a first- winter canus at Conowingo Dam in Jan 1994, but Virginia has photographed records of both taxa from C.B.B.T. An ad. California Gull and an ad. Thayers Gull were found at the landfill in Fauquier, VA 26 Feb (TMD, ph. EMH, BF, ph. SAH). A first-winter Thayers was seen 2 Jan from the Occoquan R. bridge at Rte. 123, the line be¬ tween Fail fax and Prince William , during the Ft. Belvoir C.B.C. (JK, George Ledec). Mary¬ land had first-winter birds 16-17 Dec at Benedict, Charles (MH, GMJ), 15 Jan at the Cecil landfill (ph. JBC), 22 Jan+ at North East Town Park, Cecil (SM), and 2 & 5 Feb at the Frederick landfill (F1H, JLS). Two oth¬ ers described as Thayer s/Iceland Gulls were seen 27 Dec at Schoolhouse Pond (GM, BC) and 15 Jan at the Beulah landfill, Dorchester, MD (Clive Harris). Virginia had four coastal reports of Iceland Gulls 4 Dec-20 Feb from the C.B.B.T., Suffolk, Virginia Beach, and Northampton. Maryland birders reported Ice- lands from seven locations 14 Dec- 18 Feb, the two most notable report here being 3 at Fittle Seneca F., Montgomery (DCz): singles on 29 Dec (described as a dark Kumlien’s/pale Thayers type), 1 Feb, and 12 Feb. Some 65 Fesser Black-backed Gulls were counted 7 Dec during a survey of Back Bay N.W.R., Virginia Beach (DS et al.). Three Glaucous Gulls were reported from Virginia 2-29 Jan, while reports from 1 1 Maryland locations represented at least 15 birds, 11 Dec+. The Sandgates, MD Kelp Gull was re¬ ported throughout winter (Jane Kostenko). A Common Murre was reported twice from the C.B.B.T. 15-16 Jan (Charles Ziegenfus) and 2 Feb (DCl). Neither report was accompanied by details; Virginia has only one photographic record of the species. Razorbills were seen several times this win¬ ter from the C.B.B.T. 29 Dec-21 Jan (SAH, BF, DCl, RFAk, m.ob.); one to 2 were seen 1 Jan-20 Feb from O.C. Inlet (DCz, MAT, RFR, Danny Poet, m.ob.); another was seen 17 Feb off Back Bay N.W.R., Virginia Beach (RFAk, DS); and one was seen 20 Feb from Kiptopeke S.P., Northampton ( fide RFAk). Two Atlantic Puffins, 576 Dovekies, and 82 Razorbills were seen 26 Feb on a Maryland pelagic trip (PG et al.). DOVES THROUGH FINCHES A White-winged Dove, only Maryland's 4th, was seen along Golf Course Rd. at Ocean City, Worcester 4 Dec (tShelly & Glen Fovelace). Eurasian Collared-Doves are still rare throughout most of the Region. Six were along Fongview and Woodland Dr., Isle of Wight 7 Feb, first discovered here in Aug (AD); more surprising was a popu¬ lation discovered in Pulaski, VA. Birds were found at three locations 6 Feb: one at Fair- lawn, 4 at Belspring, and 6 about 2 km from Belspring (CK, AK); Pulaski has one previ¬ ous record, and there are two records in nearby Montgomery. Barn Owls are known to nest at virtually any time of year; however, 2 ads. with 3 small young found 2 Jan in a feed storage hopper at DeBusk Mill during the Glade Spring C.B.C., Washington (Chris O’Bryan, Andy Jones, J. Wallace Coffey) was anything but expected, shattering the earliest nesting record for Virginia. Two Snowy Owls were reported in Virginia during winter: 29-30 Dec at Chine. (TK et al.) and 30-31 Dec at Ship Shoal I., Northampton ( fide HTA). There was a spectacular concentration of Short¬ eared Owls wintering in n. Fauquier near Rectortown, a recently discovered wintering area. The first bird was reported 15 Jan (RW); T. Day made frequent visits over the following two months, regularly seeing 12-18 birds interacting with up to 10 North¬ ern Harriers, topping off with 30 seen 25 Feb (TMD, KBW, MD). Other sites with de¬ cent numbers included Zion Crossroads, Louisa 10 Feb+, with 3-6 seen regularly, and Dulles Airport, Loudoun, VA, where 7 were noted 21 Feb ( fide TMD). Maryland’s first Calliope Hummingbird reported in fall was seen at Bowie, Prince Georges through 18 Dec (Mary Gustafson); another bird thought to be a Calliope was seen in a yard along the Nansemond R. at Suffolk, though photographs were perhaps inconclusive (CFW). Virginia’s 2nd Black- chinned Hummingbird, found 28 Nov at Cape Charles, Northampton, was seen through 19 Dec, when a strong storm hit the area (ESB, m.ob.). A Ruby-throated Hum¬ mingbird was found at the same Cape Charles feeder 30 Dec-19 Jan (Henry Floyd, ESB); 2 others were at a feeder in Virginia Beach 21 Jan (Claude Bell). A Rufous Hum¬ mingbird was at the Mary Ripley Garden, D C. 18 Dec-7 Feb (Steve Pretl, m.ob.); this urban location hosted vagrant humming¬ birds the previous winter. Again this year, multiple unidentified hummingbirds haunt¬ ed Virginia Beach feeders. A Western Kingbird was found 19 Dec on the Saint Michael’s C.B.C. at Smith Point Farm, Talbot ( fide FR); details have not yet been seen. Common Ravens are increasingly reported from the e. Piedmont in Virginia; 2 were heard at Great Falls, Faiifax 2 Jan (RW), 2 were at Meadowood West, Faiifax 2 Jan (Ron Staley, Chris Kessler, Fucy Uncu), and one was seen on 1-95 in Caroline 12 Feb (SAH). Three Brown-headed Nuthatches were found 8 Jan in Pulaski', these birds are part of a disjunct population, the western¬ most of its kind in Virginia, present since 1994 (CK, Ryan Mays, AK, Fen Diloia). The unprecedented influx of Cave Swallows into the Middle Atlantic in Nov continued well into Dec, with Maryland observers finding birds in locations across the state, while Virginia's were confined to the coast. Thought to arrive on the winds of fast-moving storms from Texas and vicinity, this year's event had birds lingering in the area longer than previ¬ ously experienced here. The bulk of these birds continued in s. Northampton, with several reports of 25 or more from fields along Rte. 600 at Latimer's Siding Road. Following a late Nov sighting, inland Frederick, MD had another bird at Lilypons along the Monocacy R. 1 Dec, lingering through 2 Dec (PEL). This species has so quickly gone from being unknown in the Re¬ gion to being a "regular" in Nov on the coast (lately outnumbering Tree Swallow in some areas!) that few details were pro¬ vided for these sightings, despite careful study by dozens of observers. The species is on the Review List in both states, and observers are urged to send photographs and field notes to the respective state committees. Table 1. Cave Swallows observed in Virginia and Maryland, December 2004. Date Number Location Observer(s) 1-2 Dec 1 Lilypons, Frederick, MD PEL 2-4 Dec 1 Wades Point Inn, Talbot, MD ZB, LR 2-5 Dec 25+ Capeville, Northampton, VA KK, RLAn, BTe 3 Dec 6 Winslow Bunker, Northampton, \IN RLAn 3 Dec 1 Potomac R., Loudoun, VA DCz 3 Dec 3 Tilghman 1., Talbot, MD HH 3 Dec 2 Assateague 1., Worcester, MD D&CB 3-5 Dec 1* Chincoteague, Accomack, VA GK, Mike Braun etal. 5 Dec 1 Piscataway Park, Prince George's DM et al. 11 Dec 2** Craney Is., Portsmouth, VA EE 11 Dec i Hart-Miller 1., Baltimore, MD EJS 11-12 Dec y*** Coastal Worcester, MD MH, JLS, GS etal. 12 Dec 12 Capeville, Northampton, VA DCretal. 17 Dec 2 Eagles Landing G.C., Worcester SHD *0ne bird found roosting 5 Dec (GK); it was the only bird observed roosting. *0f 7 Petrochelidon swallows observed, only 2 were positively identified as Cave. ***Several Worcester locations, including the Eagle's Nest Campground, the Verrazano Bridge, S. Point boat ramp, Assat., and O.C. Inlet. Great care was taken to determine the precise number of birds present by time, location, and flight direction. . . . . . It was a good winter for shrikes. A North¬ ern Shrike was found 30 Dec at Fisherman I., Northampton on the Cape Charles C.B.C. (Matt Sharp); it was relocated 5 Mar-2 Apr (ESB, RLAk, J. Getgood, F Smith, m.ob.). in Baltimore hosted a Yellow-breasted Chat 13 Dec-5 Apr (Bryce Butler). A female Western Tanager at Castleton, Virginia Beach throughout the reporting pe¬ riod was enjoyed by many (ph. Nylia & Northern Shrike made a good showing in the Middle Atlantic region this season. In addition to a long-staying subadult on Fisherman Island N.W.R., Northampton County, Virginia, this bird was found at the end of February 2005 (here 7 March) at Pickering Creek, Talbot County, Maryland. Photograph by George M. Jett. Another Northern was found at Pickering Cr. Audubon Center, Talbot 17 Feb, perhaps also seen two weeks prior; it stayed well into Mar (Terry Allen, fide LR, HH, m.ob.). A Loggerhead Shrike was found 27 Dec near Downsville, Washington , MD (p.a., Hugh Mahanes, Barbara Gearheart, m.ob.) and was seen throughout winter (with a 2nd bird dis¬ covered there in Mar). Virginia Loggerhead reports came from Foxbridge, Montgomery 1 1 Dec (John Kell), Burke’s Garden, Tazewell 26 Dec (Jim and Judy Phillips), along Mon- tressor Rd., Loudoun 15 Jan-6 Feb (Glenn Koppel, Mary Alice Koeneke, m.ob.), Blandy Experimental Farm, Clarke 29 Jan (SAH), and s. of Rural Retreat L., Smyth 15 Feb (Glen Eller). Two were seen about a km apart at Swoope, Augusta 3 Feb (AL, PL). A Nashville Warbler was in a Norfolk, VA yard 25 Dec-9 Jan (DC1). A Black-throated Green Warbler was found 18 Dec rooting through gutters on a building at Sugarloaf Mt., Frederick , MD (ph. DCz); another was on the Nansemond River C.B.C., Suffolk 2 Jan (RLAk). A Prairie Warbler was at Fort McHenry, Baltimore 3 Dec-18 Jan, along with 2 Palm Warblers (Jim Peters, fide Keith Eric Costley). A Black-and-white Warbler was dis¬ covered on the Newport News C.B.C. 18 Dec (fide Joyce Williams); another (a female) was in a Norfolk yard 15 Jan (RLAk). Two Wil¬ son’s Warblers were present, one at Patuxent R. Naval Air Station 27-31 Dec (Sigrid Stiles) and one at a Cape Charles, Northampton gar¬ den 31 Dec-21 Feb (ESB, m.ob.). Bolton Hill Steve Proescher) and may have been one of 3 in that city, but we do not have details on the others (fide Karen Beatty, Mary Reid Bar- row). An ad. male Painted Bunting at a feed¬ er in the Deep Creek area of Chesapeake, VA 5 Feb+ (Susan Hubbard, m.ob.) was banded by Paul W. Sykes. A Dickcissel was found 18 Dec at Jones Point, Alexandria (KG, Marc Ribaudo, ph. Larry Meade). A Le Contes Sparrow was at the Wilna Tract of the Rap¬ pahannock River N.W.R., Richmond , VA 18 Dec-12 Jan (Sandy Spencer, ph. JF), for one of few Jan state records away from Virginia Beach; a Clay-colored Sparrow was found at the same refuge 9-12 Jan (Allen Bryan, ph. JF). Other Clay-coloreds included one n. of Tyaskin, Wicomico, MD 8 Jan (JLS) and one 26 Feb at Jones Cr. Rd., near Newland, Rich¬ mond (FA). A Lark Sparrow appeared at a Chesapeake, VA feeder during the storm 26 Dec and was seen through 29 Dec and again 29 Jan (KK). Good counts of Snow Buntings were found at Poplar I., Talbot, with 110 there 8 Dec and 135 on 30 Dec (JR ,fide LR). The Cape Charles C.B.C. 30 Dec boasted an amazing 1.5 million Common Grackles and 800,000 Red-winged Blackbirds, crush¬ ing the previous highs for both species (HTA et al.). There were four reports of Yellow¬ headed Blackbird, all singles: 1 Jan near Kip- topeke Elementary School, Northampton, picked out of the same flock of ca. 2 million blackbirds (ESB); 23 Jan near Sandy Point, Anne Amndel (fide Al Haury); 20 Feb along Rte. 20, Orange, VA with a flock of 5000 icterids that also included an unspecified number of Brewers Blackbirds (G&RH); and 25 Feb at a feeder during snow at Tunis Mills, Talbot (LR). An imm. male. Brewers Black¬ bird was at Dry Valley, Montgomery, VA 4 Dec (CK, RC); one was with a flock of Brown¬ headed Cowbirds along Rte. 16, Caroline, MD (John Hubbell); the regular flock in Nokesville, Prince William was first noted 17 Jan with 17 birds present, and was seen regu¬ larly during winter (SAH, m.ob.); and one was in a flock of European Starlings at Crea- gerstown, Frederick, MD 19 Feb (SS). At least 8 Baltimore Orioles were detected at seven lo¬ cations 3 Dec-20 Jan, all but one in Virginia. Reports of wintering finches were scant. Six Red Crossbills were found on the Cape Charles C.B.C. 30 Dec (GLA); 6 were seen 31 Dec at Shenandoah Mt., Augusta (Mark & Betty Gatewood); and 12 were at Gatewood Park, Pulaski 2 Jan (Rachel Muheim). Five reports of Common Redpolls were noted, all singles: 7 Dec at C.B.B.T. (DCR et al.); 18 Dec along Horseshoe Rd., Caroline (JLS, HH, JB); at a feeder in Elkton, Cecil 20 Dec (ph. SM); and during the count week of the Rock¬ ingham C.B.C. (fide TK). The only report of Evening Grosbeaks was 19 Dec on the Low¬ er Kent C.B.C., Kent, MD, a flock of 24 birds (fide WGE). Contributors (subregional/county compilers in boldface): Robert L. Ake (RLAk; coastal Virginia), Robert L. Anderson (RLAn), George L. Arnristead, Henry T. Armistead, Stan Arnold, Fred Atwood (e. Virginia), Zach Baer, Michael R. Boatwright (cen. Vir¬ ginia), Jim Brighton, Edward S. Brinkley, Ray Callahan, J. B. Churchill, David Clark (DC1), Barry Cooper, Dan Cristol (DCr), Dave Czaplak (DCz), David Davis, Phil Davis, H. Fenton Day III, Mike Day, Todd M. Day, Lynn Davidson, Adam D’Onofrio (se. Virginia), Samuel H. Dyke,Walter G. Ellison, Elisa En- ders, Bart Frazier, John Fox, Kurt Gaskill (n. Virginia), Paul Guris, Matt Hafner, Susan A. Heath, Hans Holbrook, Eric M. Hynes, George M. Jett, Teta Kain, Karen Kearney, Jay Keller, Alan Kessler, Clyde Kessler, Gretchen Knapp, Allen Lamer, Patricia Larner, YuLee Larner (Augusta, VA), Bev Leeuwenburg, Paul E. Lehman, Roger & Linda Mayhorn (sw. Virginia), Gail Mackiernan, Sean Mc- Candless, Dave Mozurkewich. Bonnie Ott, Elizabeth Pitney, Jim Peters, Kyle Rambo, Jan Reese, Robert E Ringler, Les Roslund, Fran Saunders, Norm Saunders, Eugene J. Scarpula, Kurt Schwarz, Gary Smyle, Jo Solem (Howard, MD),John Spahr (JSp) (w. Virginia), James L. Stasz, Samuel W. Stewart, C. Michael Stinson (s.-cen. Virginia), Dana Stolley, Sherman Suter, Brian Taber (BTa), Brenda Tekin (BTe), Mary Ann Todd, Ian C. Topolsky, Ralph Wall, Kathryn B. Warnran- Day, Hal L. Wieringa, C. Les Willis. VOLUME 59 (2005) • NUMBER 2 249 Southern Atlantic Roan Mtn. Caesar’s. Head SP Great Smoky Mtns. NP^ . . — ' Den¬ nis & Donna Forsythe, Wayne Forsythe, Tommy Fulcher, Billy Fuller, John Fussell, Christine Gibson, Rob Gluck, Jerry Griggs, Phil Hardy, Andy Harrison, Don Hendershot, Herb Hendrickson, Bob Holmes, Earl Horn, Terry Johnson, Noah Kahn, Tim Kalbach, Alan Kneidel, Carol Lambert, Gail Lankford, Harry LeGrandJr., Jeff Lewis, Tim Lewis, Ritch Lilly, Merrill Lynch, Dwayne Martin, Greg Massey, Jonathan Mays, Janet Mehmel (JEe), Mary McDavit, Pat Moore, Terry Moore, Elizabeth Morey, Skip & Linda Mor¬ gan (S&LM), Judy Murray (JMu), Randy Newman, Ann Newsome, Brandon Noel, Perry Nugent, Bob Olthoff, Johnny Parks (JPk),Jim Parnell (JPa), Brian Patteson, Jack Peachey, Taylor Piephoff, Parrie Pinyan, Jeff Pippen (JPi), Will Post, Clive Rainey, Carroll Richard, Bob Russell, Georgann Schmalz, Mike Schultz (MSc), Ron Selvey, Steve & Liz Semanchuk (S&LSe), Steve Shultz, Norma Siebenheller, Andy Siegler, Mike Skakuj, Donna Slyce (DS1), Dan Small, Bruce Smith- son, Ramona Snavely (RSn), Joshua Spence (JSp), Tom Striker, Paul Sykes, Lydia Thomp¬ son, Simon Thompson, Mike Tove, Rusty Trump, Phil & Sharon Turner (P&STu), Emi¬ ly Tyler, Brian Van Druten (BVD), Peter Vankevich, Judy Walker, Jim Ward (JWa), Craig Watson (CWa), Russ Wigh, Dan Williams, Lisa Williams, Chris Wilson, John Wright (JWr), Bob Zaremba. £ 254 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS The season was mild, with tempera¬ tures dipping to the freezing point at Orlando only twice. Rain levels were near normal. Red-breasted Nuthatches, Pur¬ ple Finches, and Pine Siskins irrupted in small numbers south to the central peninsu¬ la. More notable were the hundreds to thou¬ sands of American Robins, Cedar Waxwings, and American Goldfinches that appeared early in the fall and remained in numbers throughout the season. Several species of hawks, shorebirds, vireos, warblers, and tan- agers were in record or near-record num¬ bers. It is likely that this was due to a pro¬ tracted fall migration rather than to an increase of wintering birds, as most of these individuals were recorded in December and not throughout the season. Abbreviations/definitions: L.A.N.S.R.A. (Lake Apopka North Shore Restoration Area, Orange)-, report (any observation); record (only those reports verifiable from photograph, videotape, or specimen evi¬ dence); UF (Florida State Museum). LOONS THROUGH FALCONS One Red-throated Loon ranged s. to Mel¬ bourne, Brevard (m.ob.), with another at St. Marks N.W.R. 11 Dec (TC). At nearby Alli¬ gator Pt. , Franklin, a Pacific Loon was seen 15 Jan (PBi et al.). Pacifies are casual along the Region’s Atlantic coast; one at Titusville, Brevard remained through 4 Feb (RP, BHA, KR et al.), and 3 were at Jupiter Inlet Colony, Palm Beach 22 Dec (JaH). Eared Grebes were at L.A.N.S.R.A. 1 Dec (HR), Hamilton mines 18 Dec (JK, SC), and Polk mines 11 Dec-10 Feb (PT, PF). Four Manx Shearwaters seen off Flagler 5 Dec (JoH, BW) were rare. Single Brown Boobies were at Siesta Key, Sarasota 13Jan (fide JeD) and Canaveral N.S., Brevard 18 Jan (DF), while a flock of 35 was seen 23 Dec at Dry Tortugas N.P, Monroe (RD). In¬ land, Brown Pelicans were at Leon, Alachua, Orange, Highlands, and Polk, where there were 10 at Saddle Creek Park 17 Jan (B&LC). Nearly annual in the Region, a White-faced Ibis, Alachua’s first, visited Kanapaha Prairie 19-21 Dec (RR, JoH et al.). At Snake Bight, Everglades N.P, the Greater Flamingo flock totaled about 40 (LM). Black-bellied Whistling-Duck numbers continue to increase: 255, mostly imms., were at L.A.N.S.R.A. 22 Dec (BHA), 140 were at Emeralda Marsh Conservation Area, Lake 17 Dec (C.B.C. data), and 73 were in Alachua 19 Dec ( fide JoH). Greater White- fronted Geese were in Leon (GM et al.), Bre¬ vard (C.B.C. data), and Alachua, with 14 at Kanapaha 7-11 Jan (MS). Small numbers of Snow Geese were found in Hamilton (SC, JK), Alachua (RR et al.), Hernando (MG), Lake (PMa), Orange (HR), and Brevard (TR). At Merritt L, 3 Canada Geese were flying southward 16 Dec (DF). An amazing 200 ' ' — " Florida Gadwalls, rare in the peninsula, were at Polk mines 10 Feb (PF et al.). Eurasian Wigeons graced Duval (BR), Alachua (PBu et al.), Bre¬ vard (m.ob.), and Collier (m.ob.). More Mal¬ lard x Mottled Duck hybrids were noted on C.B.C.s in Hernando (94!), Pasco (13), and Martin (3). St. Marks hosted at least one Cinnamon Teal 21 Dec-14 Jan (JaD et al.). Single drake Common (Eurasian Green¬ winged) Teal were photographed at Ding Darling N.W.R., Lee in early Feb ( fide CE) and at Gainesville 15 Feb+ (PBu et al., ph. SC). One Surf Scoter was s. to Brevard 20 Jan (MB). The only White-winged Scoters were 5 at Canaveral N.S. 3 Dec (TR) and 50 at Ft. Clinch S.P., Nassau 19 Feb (BB). Black Scot¬ ers appeared in fair numbers along the At¬ lantic coast south to Brevard , where 149 were counted at Canaveral N.S. 16 Dec (DF). The only Long-tailed Duck reported remained in Brevard through 2 Jan (AV et al.). A Bufflehead was far s. in Charlotte 10 Dec (JBo). Common Goldeneyes penetrated the peninsula s. to three Brevard locations (DF, BAh et al.) and to Lakeland, Polk (B&FH et al.) Bruce H. Anderson 2917 Scarlet Road Winter Park, Florida 32792 (scizortail@aol.com) The earliest Swallow-tailed Kite was at Sarasota 12 Feb (ML). Rare White-tailed Kites were found at Polk mines 11 Dec-29 Jan (PT, PF et al.), Avon Park A.FR. 15 Dec (C.B.C. data), and Kissimmee Prairie Pre¬ serve S.P, Okeechobee 2 Feb (PMi). A pair of White-taileds at Everglades N.P 26 Feb ap¬ peared to be building a nest (DSi). A Missis¬ sippi Kite at Gainesville 27 Feb (LH) may have wintered. A Great Black-Hawk of un¬ known provenance was seen 18 Dec on Vir¬ ginia Key, Miami-Dade (RD), where the species has a history since the 1970s. About 7 Broad-winged Hawks wintered n. to Hills¬ borough, Pinellas, Polk, Seminole, and Bre¬ vard. A Short-tailed Hawk at New Port Richey, Pasco 1 Dec (KT) was late. One — VOLUME 59 (2005) • NUMBER 2 255 _ Short-tailed at Saddle Creek, Polk 15 Dec ( fide PF) might have been one of 2 there 17 Jan (B&LC). Of only casual occurrence, a Golden Eagle was reported at Avon Park A. HR. 15 Dec (GW). RAILS THROUGH LARIDS A Yellow Rail was flushed at Weekiwachee Preserve, Hernando 13 Dec (MG). Becoming reliable in winter locally in Pasco, Black Rails were found 31 Dec (RS) and 2 Jan (KT), with one in Hernando 31 Dec (BP). At least one Purple Gallinule remained n. at St. Marks 27 Dec-17 Jan (fide GM). An Ameri¬ can Coot 21 Dec (RD) was one of only a few ever found at Dry Tortugas. This fall 13 Whooping Cranes followed an ultralight aircraft from Necedah N.W.R. in Wisconsin to Chassahowitzka N.W.R. , Citrus, where they arrived 12 Dec. Since 2001, 53 cranes have made this trip to new wintering grounds; 45 are still alive. Some of these birds are stopping off early, to winter in the Carolinas (). Casual on Florida’s Atlantic coast, a Snowy Plover graced Huguenot Memorial Park, Duval 26 Dec (PP). This seasons high count of 42 Piping Plovers wintered far s. at Crandon Beach, Miami-Dade (RD). Three American Oystercatchers in Palm Beach 2 Jan (BH) were s. of their usual range. Black¬ necked Stilts lingered into Dec in Duval (BR), Alachua (C.B.C. data), and Brevard (C.B.C. data). Two stilts at Polk mines 11 Dec had increased to 44 by 27 Feb (PT, CG). Up to 3 were n. to St. Marks 1 Jan-5 Feb (EW et al.). Surprising were 270 American Avocets n. to Quarantine 1., Duval 26 Dec (BR) and one at Alligator Pt. 1 Jan (JM). Small numbers of Solitary Sandpipers lin¬ gered, several until 2 Jan (RR et al., C.B.C. data); presumably wintering were singles found later in the season at L.A.N.S.R.A. (HR), in Pinellas (fide JF), Brevard (DF), and Palm Beach (DSi). Rare inland was a Willet at Gainesville to 19 Dec (SC et al.). Whim- brels were late, with flocks up to 10 seen along both coasts through 30 Dec (C.B.C. data). Two Fong-billed Curlews visited Cedar Key 6 Dec (JoH), with another at Mar¬ co 1., Collier 16 Feb (TR). Fone Fong-billeds wintered at Bunche Beach, Lee and Ft. De Soto. A Purple Sandpiper at Ft. De Soto 7 Dec-28 Jan (ph. FA) was the first verified there. Along the e. coast, Purples followed jetties s. to Martin (C.B.C. data). A Ruff was a one-day wonder at West Palm Beach 26 Feb (BH). Rare anytime, 2 Red Phalaropes were viewed from a boat off Flagler 5 Dec (JoH, BW). First-winter Iceland Gulls were at Amelia 1., Nassau 30 Jan (BW), Huguenot Park 14 Feb (BR), and at Ft. Lauderdale 26 Feb (KR). Also in Broward, where the greatest numbers of Lesser Black-backed Gulls have been reported in Florida, K. Rosenberg esti¬ mated more than 500 on 26 Feb. A high Re¬ gional total of 6 first-winter Glaucous Gull reports came from Nassau (PL), Duval (RCL), Flagler (BW), Volusia (BW, BHA, KR et al.), Brevard (DSi, RoS), and Miami-Dade (MB). Seven Great Black-backed Gulls were far s. at Miami-Dade 18 Dec (RD). On the Gulf coast, a total of about 8 Great Black- backeds wintered in Lee (C.B.C. data) and Pinellas (RoS). Single Black-legged Kitti- wakes were at Canaveral N.S. 16 Dec &r 18 Jan (DF) and Ft. Clinch 19 Feb (BB). A kit- tiwake was found wrecked at Satellite Beach, Brevard 30 Dec ( fide TW, *UF 44403). Gull-billed Terns are at their n. lim¬ it in Hernando, where 6 were counted 31 Dec (BP et al.). Rare inland in winter, 2 Gull-billeds were at Polk mines 1 1 Dec (PT), and one was found on the Econlock- hatchee C.B.C. 26 Dec. Two Royal Terns were inland at Polk mines 13 Feb (PT, CG). Three Sandwich Terns and 5 Sooty Terns were seen at Dry Tortugas 22 Dec (RD); a Sooty beached at Sanibel 1. 26 Dec (fide TW, *UF 44391). Only 2 alcids were reported: a Razorbill was swimming in Boynton Inlet, Palm Beach 18 Jan (BH, PC), and Florida’s 2nd Atlantic Puffin was found alive at St. Augustine Beach 23 Dec (died 25 Dec, fide TW, *UF 44359). DOVES THROUGH WOODPECKERS Likely w. migrants, up to 7 White-winged Doves wintered at Cedar Key (DH), while one paused at Bald Pt., Franklin 6 Dec (JaD, JM, RCr). A Smooth-billed Ani was found in West Palm Beach 2 Jan (C.B.C. data), with 2 others resident at Ft. Lauderdale airport. At the latter location, a Groove-billed Ani ac¬ companied the Smooth-billeds 8 Feb+ (LM). Another Groove-billed was at Boca Raton, Palm Beach 30 Jan (BH). Up to 6 Groove - billeds loafed at L.A.N.S.R.A. 27 Dec-6 Feb (HR, rn.ob.). A Barn Owl at Dry Tortugas N.P 22 Dec (RD) was unexpected. Up to 7 Short-eared Owls wintered at L.A.N.S.R.A. (HR), while others were reported in Brevard (C.B.C. data) and Sarasota (JP et al.). Likely mi¬ grants, 3 Lesser Nighthawks were at Bald Pt. 12 Dec and at nearby Alligator Pt. 18 Dec (JaD et al.), while one was at L.A.N.S.R.A. 5 Dec (HR). On 7 Dec, Manfredi estimated up to 100 Lessers at Frog Pond W.M.A., Mia¬ mi-Dade, just outside Everglades N.P, where the species regularly winters. Inside the park, Lessers were seen at Long Pine Key (RD) and Eco Pond (rn.ob.). This winter, the tireless Fred Bassett banded 63 hummingbirds of five species s. to the cen. peninsula. Surprising was that 16 of the 30 Ruby-throateds banded were in Tallahassee. Fifteen Black-chinneds were banded: at Tallahassee (8), Gainesville (2), Valrico (3), Brooksville (one), and Lake¬ land (one). Of the 22 Rufous captured, 5 in Tallahassee and one in Valrico had been banded in previous years. Banded for the first time were 11 Rufous in Tallahassee, one at Alligator Pt., and 4 in Gainesville. Rare in the Region, a Buff-bellied was cap¬ tured in Tallahassee 13 Jan. A Buff-bellied banded in Gainesville in the fall continued through the winter (HB et al.). At Tallahas¬ see 18 Dec, Bassett banded one of only a few Allen’s Hummingbirds ever verified in the Region. FLYCATCHERS THROUGH WAXWINGS Up to 8 Least Flycatchers wintered at L.A.N.S.R.A. (HR). Other Leasts in Hamil¬ ton 18 Dec (JK, SC) and Suwannee 27 Dec (RR) were likely late. Vermilion Flycatchers were in Columbia (JK et al.), Wakulla (6; TC, SM et al.), Taylor (JCa ), Alachua (RR), Pas¬ co (KT), Volusia (MW), Polk (fide CG), and Miami-Dade (2; JHB et al.). Up to 4 Ash- throated Flycatchers wintered at L.A.N.S.R.A. (HR). Other Ash-throateds were in Alachua (2; PBu, AK), on the Volu- si a/Brevard border (DSi, AB, vt.), in Brevard (2; TR), and in Pinellas (JF, IH). One or more Brown-crested Flycatchers were iden¬ tified at Everglades N.P, Miami-Dade 12 Dec-7 Feb (RD et al.), up to 2 were at L.A.N.S.R.A. 16 Dec-23 Feb (HR, BHA et al.), and one was at Key Largo 16 Feb-i- (BM, PBi). Two Cassin’s Kingbirds wintered at L.A.N.S.R.A. for a 2nd season (HR, tn.ob.). Another Cassin’s was seen near Sunnyland Station, Collier 18 Dec (TH et al.). Western Kingbirds and Scissor-tailed Flycatchers were widely distributed in cen. and s. Flori¬ da. The established kingbird roost near L.A.N.S.R.A. reached a maximum of 61 Westerns on 22 Dec and also included 5 Scissor-tailed Flycatchers (C.B.C. data). A Scissor-tailed at Merritt 1. 20 Dec (TR, ph. AV) was unusual. A very early Eastern King¬ bird appeared at Polk mines 27 Feb (PT, CG). Rare at any season, a Bell’s Vireo high¬ lighted L.A.N.S.R.A. 16 Feb (HR). Yellow- throated Vireos appeared in unprecedented numbers, with 8 on six C.B.C.s n. to Gainesville and Stuart. An excellent descrip¬ tion accompanied a Warbling Vireo pho¬ tographed at Merritt 1. 28 Dec (tAV et al.). The earliest Purple Martin was reported in Brevard 9 Jan (JDr). Two Cave Swallows at St. Marks 3-7 Feb (BR, JaD et al.) and 5 at Pembroke Pines, Broward 22 Feb (DSi) were believed to be of the w. race pelodoma. Four Caves were in Palm Beach 19 Dec (BH). Barn Swallows were late, with singles in Alachua 19 Dec (RR et al.) and Duval 26 Dec (BR). Early Barns were in Brevard 25 Jan (DF) and Pinellas 30Jan (ph. LA). Two Tuft- 256 — . . . NORTH AMERICAN BIR ed Titmice were reported in M iami-Dade, where the species is casual (EL, m.ob.). Sin¬ gle Red-breasted Nuthatches in Pinellas 19 Dec (MK) and Wakulla 12 Dec-26 Jan (m.ob.) provided the only Regional reports. There were slightly more reports than usual of Brown Creepers, Winter Wrens, and Golden-crowned Kinglets. One creeper was s. to Alachua 12-28 Dec (JBR, PBu et al.). A Golden-crowned Kinglet was far s. to Polk 11 Jan (JiD). A Wood Thrush on the Econ- lockhatchee C.B.C. 22 Dec (C.B.C. data) was unexpected. A Hermit Thrush at Sandy Key, Monroe 22 Dec (BM) was far s., as were up to 4 American Robins at Dry Tortugas 22-23 Dec (RD). Robins and waxwings invaded the Region in great numbers, as was illustrated by a report of thousands of robins and hun¬ dreds of waxwings at Cape Coral, Lee 7-14 Feb (CE). WARBLERS THROUGH FINCHES Twenty-six species of warblers were reported this season. Two Blue-winged Warblers in Alachua 19 Dec ( fide RR) were late, and one remained in Broward 1 1 Dec-8 Feb (ph. MB et al.). An unprecedented nine reports of Nashville Warbler from seven counties (Alachua to M iami-Dade) were received. Yel¬ low Warblers ranged n. to Alachua (AK), Pasco (KT), and Volusia 4 Jan (MM). Four Cuban Golden Warblers were on mangrove islets off Arsenicker Keys, Miami-Dade 17 Dec (RD). Rare were Chestnut-sided War¬ blers at Loxahatchee N.W.R., Palm Beach 5 Jan (BH), and Key West 8 Feb (DF). A Chestnut-sided in Miami-Dade 18 Dec (C.B.C. data) was probably late. A Magnolia Warbler in Pinellas 6-26 Jan (JF) was rare. A Cape May Warbler was n. in Brevard 18 Dec (C.B.C. data). While a few Black-throated Blue Warblers regularly winter in s. Florida, the species was reported far n. of usual in the Gainesville area 19 Dec-5 Feb (RR); another was at Merritt I. 20 Dec (DSi, AB). A Black- throated Gray Warbler remained at Seacoast Scrub Nature Center, Palm Beach 13 Jan-14 Feb (BH et.al.). Black-throated Green War¬ blers ranged n. to Seminole (AV), Brevard (C.B.C. data), and Pinellas (BAh). Two Bay-breasted Warblers on the Cocoa C.B.C. 18 Dec (DF) were probably late mi¬ grants. At least 2 American Redstarts win¬ tered in Orange (AV). Worm-eating Warblers were widespread at the s. tip of the Region, with one n. to Palm Beach 2 Jan (BH). North¬ ern Waterthrushes ranged n. to Duval (RCL), with 13 at L.A.N.S.R.A. 30 Jan (HR). Louisiana Waterthrushes were at two sites in Miami-Dade (JHB, RD) and two sites in Or¬ ange (AV, HR); a Louisiana in Wakulla 12 Feb (JM) was a likely migrant. A MacGillivray’s Warbler was a one-day wonder at West Boynton Cypress Area, Palm Beach 2 Jan (BH et al.). A Hooded Warbler wintered at Key Largo (BM). Wilson’s Warblers were wide¬ spread, with eight reports from Alachua ( fide RR) to Collier (TD, KOD) and Miami-Dade (TR) . There were nine reports of Yellow¬ breasted Chats from Duval (JCo) to Monroe (BM). A Bananaquit at Ft. Lauderdale 14-21 Jan (BM) was seen by many. Summer Tanagers were found in unprecedented numbers, with about 22 reports from at least 13 counties. A Western Tanager again spent the season in Tallahassee, Leon, where it was joined by an¬ other 8 Jan (FR et al.). The green-backed Western Spindalis found at Key West in the fall remained to winter, as did a female spin¬ dalis at Long Key (JBo et al.). A Clay-colored Sparrow stopped in Duval 3 Dec (RCL), and small numbers wintered from Orange (up to 7; HR) to Key Largo 16 Feb+ (BM, PBi). A Field Sparrow was s. to Palm Beach 9 Jan (BH, PC). Far s. were 3 Vesper Sparrows in two areas of Everglades N.P (RoS, RP). Lark Sparrows were in Alachua (RR et al.), Orange (HR), Hillsborough (BAh), Polk (4; PF et al.), and Miami-Dade (3; JHB et al.). Eleven Sa¬ vannah Sparrows were at Dry Tortugas 22 Dec (RD). Le Contes Sparrows were identi¬ fied at L.A.N.S.R.A. 22 (C.B.C. data) & 25 Jan (TR) and at Inglis, Levy 29 Dec (MG). Three Fox Sparrows were at O’Leno S.P., Co¬ lumbia 10 Dec-8 Jan (PBu, JBR et al.), with another at Bald Pt. 14 Dec (JaD). A Song Sparrow was s. at Hendry 27 Feb (ph. MB). Also found in record numbers were Lincolns Sparrows, with 12 reports in nine counties from Duval (RCL, RR) to a remarkable oc¬ currence at Dry Tortugas (C.B.C. data; no details). Far s. was a White-throated Spar¬ row at Cape Florida 24 Dec (RD). A Golden- crowned Sparrow at L.A.N.S.R.A. 6 Feb (TS) could not be relocated. Dark-eyed Jun- cos were more common than usual. Only one junco was found s. of Gainesville, at Ti¬ tusville 4 Feb (DF). A Lapland Longspur was seen near Mahogany Hammock, Ever¬ glades N.P 4 Dec (ph. JHB). Casual in winter, 4 Rose-breasted Gros¬ beaks at L.A.N.S.R.A. 1 Dec were migrants, although one wintered (HR). Others were at St. Marks N.W.R. 18 Dec (C.B.C. data), Long Key 28 Dec (JBo et al.), the Lake Placid C.B.C. 29 Dec, Alva, Lee in latejan (L&LW), and Frog Pond 26 Feb (RD). Up to 6 Blue Grosbeaks wintered at L.A.N.S.R.A. (HR), and singles were on the Lake Placid C.B.C. and in n. Brevard 6 Jan (DSi). Painted Buntings were widely distributed in the cen. and s. peninsula, but rare so far n. were birds at Tallahassee 20 Feb (JDo) and in Alachua 28 Dec+ (DW). Lone Dickcissels were in Palm Beach (two locations; JaH, BH) and Mi¬ ami-Dade (JHB et al.). Up to 3 Yellow-headed Blackbirds were at Naples, Collier 6 Feb+ (AM et al.), and one was found at Cedar Key 23 Feb (TR). The - - - only Rusty Blackbirds reported were 3 found on the Jacksonville C.B.C. 26 Dec, 3 at St. Marks 8 Jan (JoH), and 10 at Lake City, Co¬ lumbia 17-19 Jan (JK). Rare in the Region, 20 Brewer’s Blackbirds were in Madison 7 Jan (GM). The only report of Bronzed Cowbird was up to 28 at Naples 18 Dec+ (DSu et al.). One Orchard Oriole was at L.A.N.S.R.A. 16 & 25 Jan (BR, TR). Small numbers of Purple Finches (44) and Pine Siskins (about 20) made it into the cen. peninsula. Except for up to 28 Purple Finches reported in the Gainesville area (MD, RR et al.), most were in flocks of 5 or less. The southernmost Pur¬ ple Finches were 2 that wintered at Spring Hill, Hernando (ph. LA et al.), 2 near Brooksville 12 Jan (MG), 2 at Altamonte Springs, Seminole 27 Dec (ph. PH), and one at Clermont, Lake 1 Jan (SB). Eleven reports of Pine Siskins extended s. to Merritt 1. (one; DF), Spring Hill (one; A&BH), and near Brooksville (2; MG). The largest numbers of siskins were 6 at Lake City 29 Jan-3 Feb (JA, SC) and 4 in the Gainesville area 18 Dec+ (RR et al.). Cited contributors and members of the Florida Ornithological Society Field Ob¬ servations Committee: Brian Ahern (BAh), John Ault, Bruce H. Anderson (BHA), Lyn Atherton, Andy Bankert, Fred Bassett, H. Bellot, Sam Benedetto, Brad Bergstrom, Mark Berney, Paul Bithorn (PBi), Jeff Bou¬ ton (JBo), John H. Boyd (JHB), Judy Bryan (JBr), Pat Burns (PBu), Jim Cavanagh (JCa), Roger Clark (RC1), Julie Cocke (JCo), Pinya Cohen, Steve Collins, Buck & Linda Coop¬ er, Robert Crawford (RCr), Tom Curtis, Robin Diaz,J. Downing (JDo), Terry Doyle, Jack Dozier (JaD), Michael Drummond, Judy Dryja (JDr), Jeanne Dubi (JeD), Jim DuBois (JiD), Charlie Ewell, Paul Fellers, Judy Fisher, David Freeland, Murray Gardler, Chuck Geanangel, Jack Hailman (JaH), Al & Bev Hansen, Dale Henderson, Bert & Fran Henry, Linda Hensley, Irene Hernandez, Tom Hince, John Hintermister (JoH), Brian Hope, Paul Hueber, Marianne Korosy, Andy Kratter, Jerry Krummrich, Doris & Patrick Leary, M. Leggett, E. Lent, Larry Manfredi, Peter May (PMa), Gail Menk, Sean McCool, Michael Meisenburg, Paul Miller (PMi), Brennan Mulrooney, John Murphy, Alan Murray, Kathy O’Reilly- Doyle, Jeff Palmer, Robert Paxton, David Powell, Peggy Powell. Bill Pranty, Kurt Radamaker, Bob Richter, Harry Robinson, Tom Rodriguez, Ken Rosenberg, Rex Rowan, Fran Rutkovsky, David Simpson (DSi), Ray Smart, Marilyn Spaulding, Ted Stevens, Doug Suitor (DSu), Pete Timmer, Ken Tracey, Alex Vinokur. Bob Wallace, Tom Webber, D. Werner, Lois & Leon White, Meret Wilson, Ed Woodruff, Glen Woolfenden. C - - - - - VOLUME 59 (2005) • NUMBER 2 257 Ontario Kenora 0 Rainy River Atikokan Thunder • Ba L. Michigan Marathon •Wawa i Aig0nqUin pp Cornwall North \ / n»aiu„ ' Bay# ' ' 0ttawa Sudbury r y # ^an"M/n / ' • ParrY Sound l. • y : . uron / Peterborough ■ Toronto# Presqu'ite PP ■ Kettle pt- - - ^Hamilton* Sarniap / Sa/nt Clair l/l 4A* L. Erie ' 'iagara Falls Pt. Bird Observatory Hugh G. Currie 385 Delaware Avenue Toronto, Ontario M6H 2T7 (hugh.currie@rogers.com) The weather remained fairly benign un¬ til about 19 December, when it turned extremely cold and windy, even in southern Ontario. There was plenty of snow by Christmastime, and it remained on the ground until 28 February. By the time of the Lake Ontario Mid-Winter Waterfowl Invento¬ ry on 9 January, there was considerable ice close to the shore of Lake Ontario. From ear¬ ly January to the end of the period, both the eastern portion of Lake Ontario and most of Lake Erie were frozen. Snowfall amounts var¬ ied by location but were generally above av¬ erage. Winter finches were generally scarce except for redpolls, but northern owls staged a major irruption toward the south. Abbreviations: RE. Pt. (Prince Edward Pt.), P.RB.A. (Point Pelee Birding Area), P.P.N.P (Point Pelee N.R), K.EN. (Kingston Field Naturalists), L.O.M.W.W.I. (Lake Ontario Mid-Winter Waterfowl Inventory), S.L. (Sewage Lagoons), ROMZ (Royal Ontario Museum of Zoology). LOONS THROUGH FALCONS Red-throated Loons outnumbered Common Loon sightings over the winter: there were 2 at Darlington PR on the Oshawa C.B.C. 19 Dec and singles at RE. Pt. 5 Dec and 9 Jan (JHE, RDW), Erieau 2 Dec (AW), and Port Hope 1-3 Jan. Truly remarkable, however, was the count of 62 at Niagara-on-the-Lake 4 Dec (AW, KO et al.). Noteworthy so far n. were the 2 Common Loons on the Minden C.B.C. 19 Dec. The count of 70 Red-necked Grebes 28 Dec in Hamilton Harbour (KMcL) was high. An Eared Grebe (JF) at Humber Bay East, Toronto 10 Dec was a good find. The flock of up to 53 Double-crested Cor¬ morants in Hamilton Harbour 18 Jan (PS) was an indication of this species’ increasing presence year-round. An American Bittern discovered 13 Jan in the Point Pelee Marsh was a rarity for the date (TA, CA). A Great Egret was noted on the Pt. Colborne C.B.C. 2 Jan, and another at the Valley Inn Marsh, Burlington 1-15 Dec (m.ob.) became a new winter tick for many listers . A Greater White-fronted Goose 4 Dec at Komoka Pits (PF) was a good find, as were 3 in Whitby Harbour 10 Dec. Snow Geese are no longer a rare sight in winter. There were 6 in Whitby Harbour on the Oshawa C.B.C. 19 Dec, and the count of 3 on the Kitchener C.B.C. was locally a record high. At Thedford 10 Dec, there were 6 Snow Geese, of which 4 were blue morphs. A pair of Ross’s Geese at Jack Miner’s in Kingsville 22 Feb were the only ones reported (DW). Mute Swans have reached alarming num¬ bers, as evidenced by the record high total of 790 on the L.O.M.W.W.I. Tundra Swans have become increasingly common in early winter, but the counts of 354 on 9 Jan (KFN) and 2139 on the Long Point C.B.C. 18 Dec were especially high. Newly arriving spring migrants included 23 at Lake Pond, RRN.P. 10 Feb (AW), only 32 days later. A male Eurasian Wigeon 23 Feb at Hillman Marsh, P.P.B.A. (DW) was rare and record early, and there was a pair (although not to¬ gether) at Erieau 2-3 Dec (m.ob.). Also very early was the pair of American Wigeon at Lake Pond RP.N.P 15 Feb (AW). A pair of American Black Ducks 27 Feb at the Pog Lake Dam in Algonquin PR (B&CW) were early so far north; the peak of 2650 tallied on 9 Jan (L.O.M.W.W.I.) was heartening, because this species is declining overall. A Northern Pintail, recorded on the Peterbor¬ ough C.B.C. 19 Dec, was the first for the count there since 1956. A male Common (Eurasian Green- winged) Teal at Niagara 5 Dec (originally discovered 29 Nov) was a good find (BL, DG). Counts of 7500 Redhead along the St. Clair R. and 9272 on L.O.M.W.W.I. were record highs. A Tufted Duck x Greater Scaup hybrid was at Burlington 9 Dec (RD, BC, CE). The count of 8000 Common Goldeneye 7 Feb at RRN.P. (AW) was exceptionally high. Barrow’s Goldeneye was represented by 2 males on the Ottawa River (m.ob.) and another male off Stoney Creek 8 Dec (LS et al.). There were 241 Ruddy Ducks on the L.O.M.W.W.I. at Hamilton Harbour, where they have congre¬ gated in recent winters, but the count of 25 at Humber Bay East on 14 Dec (BY) was high for Toronto. Another 71 were found on the Long Point C.B.C. 18 Dec. Wild Turkeys are flour¬ ishing and spreading northward. The count of 66 on the 18 Dec Minden C.B.C. was record high, as was the total of 8 observed on the Gravenhurst-Bracebridge C.B.C. the next day. Bald Eagle numbers are on the increase at all seasons, but the count of 17 on the ice at P.PN.P. (AW) 7 Feb was a record single-day high count for the park. On 23 Jan, 46 Rough-legged Hawks, deemed southbound migrants, were observed flying westward at Sturgeon Creek during an all-day hawk- watch. Another 7 were at Pelee Marsh on the same day. The recent apparent decline of American Kestrels was brought into focus by the record low of 5 on the West Elgin C.B.C. 27 Dec, just 6 on the Woodhouse C.B.C. 19 Dec, and the same number on the Toronto C.B.C. — the lowest since 1959. The usual smattering of Gyrfalcons included singles s. to Kingston 5 Dec (BRp, JRp) and 12 Feb (RB), and to Cobourg 8 Dec (CG). At Thun¬ der Bay, where they are more usual, 2 were 258 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS Great Gray Owls staged a major invasion. They passed through Canadian Shield country mostly in Dec and early Jan J n but stopped at plentiful vole areas n. of Lake Ontario. These locations were different from previous irruptions. High counts or estimates were 250 for Simcoe, 40 for Durham, about 100 for Peterborough, 93 from the Kingston region, and 28 elsewhere in e. Ontario; at least 1 1 1 were within 50 km of Ottawa. These are observed counts, not estimates, so the actual numbers of birds involved would obviously be much greater. The owls were most easily found in early Jan, when they hunt¬ ed both day and night due to their starved condition. Many were found as road-kills: 61 injured birds had been taken to the Owl Research Foundation in Vineland as at time of writing. Of the 26 specimens recovered (*R0MZ), 20 were female, and all were adults. Hundreds were killed in the bordering United States, mostly in Minnesota. seen along the waterfront (BM, NE), and there were 2 on the North Bay C.B.C. RAILS THROUGH OWLS A Virginia Rail was at Whitby Harbour 19 Dec on the Oshawa C.B.C. , and another was found on the Pt. Colborne C.B.C. 2 Jan at the Taquonyah C.A. One Sandhill Crane lingered on the Whitby waterfront until well into Feb (m.ob.); the count of 106 on the Long Point C.B.C. 18 Dec was record high. A Killdeer at Kingsville 6 Feb was a remarkably early spring migrant (DW). The hardy Black¬ necked Stilt at the Ridgetown S.L. remained until 10 Dec (m.ob.). Two White-rumped Sandpipers at the Harrow S.L. became record late for all of Ontario when they remained until 5 Dec (RPH, RAH). There were more Purple Sandpiper reports than usual: 13 on Sebastopol I., Presqu'ile on 3 Dec (2 remained until the Presqu’ile C.B.C. 19 Dec), plus sin¬ gles at Cobourg Harbour (MB), at Niagara Falls 4 & 22 Dec (WD’A), on the boardwalk of Wards I. on the Toronto C.B.C. 19 Dec, and at Darlington PR the same day on the Os¬ hawa C.B.C. A Wilson’s Snipe returned to Ot¬ tawa at the usual location near Montreal and Blair Roads 1-20 Dec (BCe, LS); another was found on the Peterborough C.B.C. 19 Dec. The California Gull at Adam Beck, Nia¬ gara R. remained until at least 12 Dec (WD’A). Lesser Black-backed Gulls reached a peak count of 11 on 5 Dec along the Nia¬ gara River (WD’A). A Sarnia Slaty-backed Gull 6-28 Feb (AR) awaits O.B.R.C. deci¬ sion. An ad. Ivory Gull was found on the Presqu’ile C.B.C. 19 Dec. Remarkably, this species also appeared on that C.B.C. in 1967; even more remarkably, a different Ivory Gull was seen nearby 21 Dec (PH). A Barn Owl was found dead near Mt. For¬ est 6 Dec, and another was “count week” for the Fisherville C.B.C. of 23 Dec. Snowy Owls were somewhat scarce overall, al¬ though 6 were recorded on the 4 Jan Cassel- man C.B.C. Northern Hawk Owls were found in at least 10 locations s. of their reg¬ ular haunts. Of these, 3 long-staying birds were close to the biggest human population centers. These were at Bolton 3 Dec+, Port Hope 24 Dec+, and Bracebridge 21 Feb+. Single Boreal Owls were reported at Omemee, Simcoe, Amherst L, and from Leslie Spit in Toronto, and there were 3 in the Ottawa area. Discoveries of roosting Bo- reals are routinely suppressed due to a per¬ ceived danger from overzealous photogra¬ phers. HUMMINGBIRDS THROUGH WAXWINGS The female Rufous Hummingbird at Niagara Falls was banded by A. Chartier 2 Dec and was later found dead, on 18 Dec. A pair of Red-headed Woodpeckers wintered at Con¬ stance Bay near their breeding site (m.ob.); a single was at Tobermory 15 Dec, and yet an¬ other was found on the Dunrobin C.B.C. 18 Dec. Single Red-bellied Woodpeckers were unusual at Atikokan and Kingston, but record-high C.B.C. counts at more expected locations included Kitchener (9), Strathroy (57), West Elgin (55), Ingersoll (21), Nia¬ gara Falls (33), and St. Catharines (27). A Fork-tailed Flycatcher discovered at Hillman marsh near P.RN.P. 5 Dec (MS, DS) was found dead the next day (*ROMZ); it was determined by Mark Peck to be of the nominate subspecies, a long-distance South American migrant. A White-eyed Vireo was discovered 1 Dec (BY) at High Park in Toron¬ to, where it remained until 19 Dec. At P.RN.P, a Red-eyed Vireo was record late 1 Dec. The Blue Jay count was extremely low on the Toronto C.B.C. 19 Dec, with only 18 (fewest since 1949), but other counts had record highs, such as Huntsville 14 Dec with 340. American Crow counts displayed a sim- This Sandhill Crane was seen for several weeks at Lynde Shores Conservation Area, Whitby, Ontario (here 1 January 2005). It disappeared sometime in January, but there was second-hand report of it at the end of February. It would be quite remarkable if this bird survived the winter here; it may have departed for a more hospitable location for a short while. Photograph by Willie D'Anna. ■ " 1 VOLUME 59 (2005) • NUMBER 2 ilar pattern, with only 26 in Toronto (fewest since 1959) and 72 on the Oakville C.B.C. 18 Dec making for the 3rd lowest count ever; however, the count of 13,681 on the Inger¬ soll C.B.C. 28 Dec tripled their previous high. The mosquito responsible for West Nile Virus, an urban dweller, is surely to blame for the low counts in urban areas. Common Raven is spreading southward: the Huntsville C.B.C. 14 Dec tallied a record 134, and there were even 2 in the south at Hamilton 26 Dec (JM). Tufted Titmouse is another species on the increase, although, strangely, none at all were recorded on the Canadian side of the Niagara C.B.C. One spent the winter attend¬ ing a feeder in Kingston (RS), another win¬ tered at Almonte (RG), and there were high counts of 5 on the London C.B.C. 18 Dec and 19 on the St. Catharines C.B.C. the next day. The lone Blue-gray Gnatcatcher report¬ ed to us was found on the Long Point C.B.C. 18 Dec. A Townsend’s Solitaire was found 28 Feb near Pete Chapman’s home in Middlesex; and another was at Ottawa 2-24 Feb (JP). There were seven Varied Thrush reports, many more than usual: Hamilton 17 Dec (DP), P.RN.P. in the White Pine Picnic area through 12 Dec (AP), Moscow 22 Dec-14 Feb (K.FN.), Rodney 27 Dec-early Jan, a window-kill at Nepean, Ottawa 21 Dec (AB, TB), near Orillia (GB), and at Thunder Bay (G&RC). The latter 2 remained throughout the period. European Starlings C.B.C. num¬ bers have declined over the past seven years for the two biggest counts at Hamilton and Toronto. Hamilton’s total was down to 8525 in 2004. At Toronto, the numbers have de¬ clined from over 25,000 in 1998 to 9603 on the 19 Dec C.B.C.; however, most of the de¬ cline occurred when the e. portion of the Gardiner Expressway was demolished in 1999, thus eliminating a key roosting area. A Bohemian Waxwing was unusually far s. at RP.N.R 1 Dec-20 Dec (AR). Otherwise, Bo¬ hemians were widely distributed and com¬ mon in Canadian Shield country, e.g., 76 on the Petroglyphs C.B.C. 28 Dec and 723 on the Sudbury C.B.C. 27 Dec. WARBLERS THROUGH FINCHES An Audubon’s Warbler (AA) was found on Toronto 1. 22 Dec and refound in early Jan. Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warblers were gen¬ erally scarce, even at the usual wintering places like Pelee. A remarkable discovery' was a Black-throated Gray Warbler at High Park 6-16 Dec (SF), a 2nd Toronto winter record (the other was last seen 19 Dec 1952; HC). Pine Warblers were at Mississauga 21 Dec on the Oakville C.B.C., at Lambton woods, Toronto 16 Dec-13 Jan, at Shell Park in Bronte 26 Dec+, and at Kingston 18 Jan (RS). An Ovenbird was found on the Kitchener C.B.C. 18 Dec. The third member of the 259 amazing High Park trio was the Wilsons Warbler 1-18 Dec (SF), after which it must | have succumbed to the -30° C wind chill. The Summer Tanager at Woodstock was found dead 6 Dec (ph. MM). An Eastern Towhee was counted at Carleton Place on the C.B.C. 27 Dec, and a female came to a feeder in Middlesex 1 Dec+. The only Spotted Towhee was in the north, where it attended a feeder at Ignace (ph. DPe). A Field Sparrow, also quite far n. of usual, frequented a feeder at Deep River — count week for the C.B.C. and still present 10 Jan. At RP.N.P, there were very few White-throated Sparrows this winter. An imm. Golden-crowned Sparrow continued to be seen along Hall’s Road in Whitby until about 10 Dec. Notable reports of White-crowned Sparrow included a single on the Wiarton C.B.C. 19 Dec, 8 on the Os- hawa C.B.C. 19 Dec, 15 on the Woodhouse C.B.C. 19 Dec, 50 on the St. Clair C.B.C. 1 Jan, and 70 in the RP.B.A. 20 Dec. Harris’s Sparrow reports included one at Atikokan 20 Dec-15 Jan (DHE), one at Welcome 18 Dec-17 Jan, one found dead 28 Jan at Staples (MR), and one at Orillia 19 Jan+ (MSc). A total of 5 Northern Cardinals spent the winter at North Bay, and there were 2 found far n. on the Thunder Bay C.B.C. 26 Dec. Po¬ tentially a first for Canada, a female Pyrrhu- loxia found on the West Elgin C.B.C. 27 Dec (ph. BC) was later seen by many until 1 Jan. While its identity is not questioned, the O.B.R.C. will no doubt have discussions about its provenance; there was a minor ir¬ ruption of this species out of range in late fall and winter. The only Rose-breasted Grosbeak was reported 19 Dec on the Woodhouse C.B.C. Three Brewers Blackbirds, all males, were at Erieau 2 Dec (AW), and a single was at Long Point 18 Dec for the C.B.C. A major highlight this winter for Ontario birders was the Gray- crowned Rosy-Finch (interior race) at the feeder of John Somerset near Chelmsford, Sudbury. It arrived 19 Dec and remained un¬ til 25 Feb. (ph. CEs). Red Crossbills were ex¬ ceptionally scarce, although a few were seen 16 Dec along the Barron R. road in Algonquin Park (MRu). Common Redpolls came south¬ ward in good numbers, along with a few Hoary Redpolls: one at Darlington PP. 13 Feb (TH), 2 at Moscow 25 Jan (OW), one at Cam¬ den East 28 Feb (PJG), 2 at the Siberian Bed & Breakfast w. of Orillia, and one on the On¬ tario side of the Ottawa C.B.C. 19 Dec. At North Bay, the count of Evening Grosbeaks was just 79 on the 19 Dec C.B.C., while on the Ottawa C.B.C., none were noted. Corrigendum: The 4 Greater White-fronted Geese at Sturgeon Creek (N.A.B. 57: 340) were seen 23 Mar, not 23 May. Cited observers (subregional contributors in boldface): Alfred Adamo, Willie D’Anna Robert Andrle, Cathy Ayles, Tom Ayles, Al- fons Bach, Margaret J. C. Bain (MB), Tony Beck, R. Bell, Gloria Braithwaite, G. & R. Carl¬ son, Bob Cermak (BCe), Barb Charlton, Barry Cherriere (BC), Hugh Currie, Rob Dobos, Beatrice Dumas, Cheryl Edgecombe, David H. Elder, Joel Ellis (JHE), Chris Escott (CEs), Nick Escott, Jim Fairchild, Steve Favier, Pat Fowler, Denys Gardiner, Rob Goodwin, Clive Goodwin, Peter Hogenbirk, Randy P. Horvath, Robert A. Horvath, Tyler Hoar, Bill Lamond, Chris Lewis, Mike Malhiot, Kevin McLaugh¬ lin, John Miles, Brian Moore, Karl Overman, Dave Penny, Justin Peter, Adam Pinch, Rein¬ hold Pokrava, Dane Powell, Pete Read, Mari¬ anne Reid, Alf Rider, Maureen Riggs (MRi), B. Ripley, J. Ripley, Mike Runtz (MRu), R. Sachs, Debra Savino, Michael Savino, Ian Shanahan, Langis Siros, Paul Smith, Roy Smith (RSm), Martha Sova, Larry Staniforth, Ron Tozer, Dean Ware, W. Watson, O. Weir, Ron D. Weir, Barb & Chris Woodfield, Alan Wormington, Bob Yukich. © — Eastern Highlands Upper Ohio River Valley LAKE ERIE Toledo Presque Isle SPa Conneaut, Oak "-irW Openings Ottawa Lorain H NWR I *. V Warren* mAlleglieny Res. Cleveland" * ■ Erie NWR -• . "'• Pymatuning Res. m Cook Forest SP Mosquito L l Youngstown OHIO Buck Creek SPm •Dayton f jrCincinnati 1 Ohio • Columbus Hocking Hills L. Wallen paupack ■ Wilkes- •Shenango Res. • Barre m Bald Eagle SP* E. Stroudsburg L. Arthur B Yellow Creek SP Wheeling j* / _ Morgantown U Cranesville J Parkersburg State College Hawk Mtn. L. Ontelauneel Pittsburgh Harrisburg* • Powdermill — — 7- lie Bog j S'' Conejohela a 'Canaan J ! Alleahenv Ya//ey York* ■•Lancaster Flats Miami-Whitewater Wetland Cheat Hunting- •Charleston Mtns , ton > • Beckley v ., Pipestem ‘ State Resort 'Spruce legheny Front i ijF^Sprt Knob WEST VIRGINIA Victor W. Fazio, 18722 Newell Street, Floor 2 Shaker Heights, Ohio 44122 (dromaius@bright.net) Nick Pulcinella 613 Howard Road Westchester, Pennsylvania 19380 (nickpulcinella@comcast.net) The winter period is by far the most dynamic for avian activity in the Re¬ gion. Between late fall migration and early spring migration, winter incursions of cyclical irruptives and facultative migrants were punctuated by real surprises, such as this season’s Chuck-will’s-widow near Cincinnati, perhaps a reversed migrant, along with three new species for Pennsylva¬ nia. As in surrounding areas, the warm late fall caused waterfowl to delay their depar¬ ture until severe Arctic blasts began in mid- December. An early January thaw offered a brief respite, perhaps inducing vulture and cranes to remain when normally they are 260 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS Though annual in Pennsylvania, this Greater White-fronted Goose at Neville Island, Allegheny County 20 February 2005 was the first for the county in over 100 years. Photograph by Geoff Malosh. long gone. Wintry weather in the west, among the snowiest and coldest in Ohio’s history, contrasted with a milder season east of the Allegheny Front, where there was light to moderate snowfall and no deep¬ freeze; most lakes were open in time for the start of waterfowl migration near the end of the period. After a dramatic shift in both ice and waterfowl concentrations on Lake Erie 20 January, the gull concentrations at warm- water outlets were remarkable. A pulse of near-record warmth in mid-February, reach¬ ing into the southern portions of the Region, brought a brief taste of spring and a few overly enthusiastic migrants (e.g., Lesser Yellowlegs) before giving way again to a win¬ ter pattern. Abbreviations: Hoover (Hoover Res., Franklin/Delaware, OH); K.I. (Kelleys I., Erie , OH); K.PW.A. (Killdeer Plains W.A., Wyandot/Marion , OH); L. Ontelaunee (Berks, PA); N.S.R (Nockamixon S.P, Bucks, PA); O.D.N.R. (Ohio Department of Natural Resources); PO.R.C. (Pennsylvania Ornitho¬ logical Records Committee); PI. S.P. (Presque Isle S.P., Erie, PA); P.V.P. (Peace Valley Park, Bucks, PA); S.G.L. (State Game Lands). LOONS THROUGH VULTURES In Ohio, single Common Loons wintered in Elamilton (RF et al.), Delaware (RT), and Lu¬ cas (fide G. Links). Late-fall Red-throated Loons were found at L. Perez, Huntingdon, PA 2 Dec (A. Fuller), N.S.R 19 Dec (BE), and in Ohio 1-11 Dec from Summit (GB), Erie (VF), and Lake (JP). Single Red-necked Grebes appeared at PI. S.P 1 Jan (JM), on the Maumee R., OH 2 Jan, in Holmes, OH 22 Jan (L. Jordan), and 29 Jan in Lake, OH (JP). A late Eared Grebe was at PI. S.P 18 Dec (JM, BC). The Western Grebe in Ohio from the fall period remained through 8 Dec (S. Lan¬ des). The only mid-winter Horned Grebes on L. Erie appeared in Lorain Harbor 11-15 Jan (CC, P. Lozano). The first American White Pelicans to winter in the L. Erie Basin involved perhaps 2 birds: one that roamed between Vermilion, Erie and Lorain, Lorain, OH 2-27 Jan (]. Vormelker, CC, m.ob.), and it, or another, at Rossford, Wood on the Maumee R. 19-21 Feb (J. McKinney, m.ob.). Great Cormorants continue to spread in¬ land, with 3 present at N.S.P. 25 Dec (BE). An American Bittern near Mt. Orab, Brown, OH 30 Jan (B. Stevens) was excep¬ tional. Late Great Egrets were widespread Regionally; in Bucks, PA 18 Dec (BM); Berks, PA 30 Dec (B. Smith); Philadelphia, PA 8 Jan (D. McGovern et al.); 19 Dec in Summers, WV (J&JP); and through 27 Jan in Putnam, WV (KKz, C. Ellis, m.ob.). Inexplicably, wintering Great Blue Heron numbers in the Western Basin were depressed, with only 79 found 1 Jan around the Sandusky Bay (VF et ah). The 47 birds in Parkersburg, WV 31 Dec were representa¬ tive of winter numbers on the Ohio R. (C.B.C. data). The season total of 85 Black-crowned Night-Herons detected along L. Erie was led by 55 at Sandusky, Erie 1 Jan (S. Young et al.). Not since 1972-1973 have more been found wintering in Ohio. Away from L. Erie, one in Holmes, OH 6 Jan (ES, W. Sarno) and 4 along the Olentangy R., in Columbus 12 Jan (P. McSweeney) were rare. Over 1000 Turkey Vultures on Ohio C.B.C.s demon¬ strated the tolerance the species has devel¬ oped for more northerly latitudes. No longer restricted to the Ohio R. counties, as many as 285 were found n. to Holmes/Tuscarawas, with 130 remaining in e. Holmes 9 Jan (ES). Numerous reports through the winter n. to the L. Erie shore rendered it impossible to distinguish spring migrants. WATERFOWL THROUGH CRANES Fall Greater White-fronted Geese were one at RV.R 26-29 Dec (I. Baldock, AM), 2 at Bluestone L., Summers, WV (J&JP), with 11 in mid-Dec throughout Ohio. These were followed by rare winter records of 2 birds in Wyandot, OH 14-17 Jan (RC, RR), one at L. Ontelaunee 9-18 Jan (RK, KL, B. Uhrich), and one in Putnam, WV 26 Jan (KKz). Coin- There are very few well-documented winter records of Broad-winged Hawk in the northeastern United States. This immature was near Beltzville, Carbon County, Pennsylvania 10 (here) through 12 January 2005 . Photograph by Richard Rehrig. cidentally, 11 total spring migrants 6-21 Feb in Ohio were reported from Clark (JH), Darke (RS), and Ottawa (JP), while 4 total in Pennsylvania 5-27 Feb were at RV.P. (AM, PEL, NP), Allegheny, (MV, m.ob.), and N.S.P. (BE). Peak counts of Snow Geese at L. Onte¬ launee 9-15 Jan ranged from 20,000 to 40,000 (RK). In Ohio, more than 130 Snow Geese lingered through Dec, with 30 winter¬ ing in the Western Basin (EP et al.). The ap¬ pearance of 14 at Hoover 1 Jan (CB) likely indicated late fall migrants. The spring flight began 15 Feb, with passage of 18 birds led by 6 at K.PW.A. 24 Feb (RE et al.). Barnacle Goose, a species now annual in Pennsylva¬ nia, made solo appearances at Churchville Res., Bucks 30 Jan (N. Zahn, DF) and RV.R 28 Feb (KR). Unexpected in midwinter were 4 Brant at RV.P 17-18 Jan (AM) and singles on Cheat L., Monongalia, WV 11-15 Dec (MO, ph. G. Felton) and in Ohio, WV 15 Jan (P. McKay). Although the West Virginia records are only the 11th and 12th for the state (fide MO), the species has been annual there since 2002. Attention to “small Cana¬ da Geese” has brought about an increase in reports of Cackling Goose. Not all of these reports were accompanied by details that are conclusive, and the status of this species in the Region remains to be clarified. In Ohio, sufficient details on 27 birds suggest that Cackling Goose is an uncommon fall mi¬ grant, with up to 5 present in Knox as late as 21 Dec (JO- Three Jan reports, led by 5 in Wyandot 16-17 Jan (JL et al.), indicate the species may occasionally winter. A lone bird 12 Feb in Ottawa (JP) was the only spring migrant. Another 15 potential Cackling Geese were reported without details. In Pennsylvania, 5 in Delaware 18 Dec were likely fall migrants, while one at L. Onte¬ launee 23 & 27 Feb (RK, DF) was a spring bird. Four detected in West Virginia 19-21 Dec (WA, J. Tharp II) added to the fall mi¬ grant tally. A winged-tagged Trumpeter Swan VOLUME 59 (2005) • NUMBER 2 261 EASTERN HIGHLANDS & UPPER OHIO RIVER VALLEY This Black-headed Gull — the seventeenth species of gull reported locally — was discovered in late November on the Delaware River at Franklin's Cove, adja¬ cent the Tullytown Landfill, Bucks County, Pennsylvania and remained in the area through 8 December 2004. It spent some time at the Falls Township Park, a five-minute flight from the landfill, where it was photographed here 2 December. Photograph by Bill Etter. hatched in 2002 at Georgian Bay, L. Ontario was observed at Peters Creek, Berks, PA 2 Jan (KL). Another Trumpeter Swan was found at Jamestown S.P, Crawford, PA 12Jan (RFL). A nock of 22 at K.P.W.A. 8 Feb (N. Howell et al.) is indicative of Ohio numbers 10 years into its introduction there. More than 1800 Tundra Swans remained in Ohio in mid-Dec, with 700 in the Western Basin into early Jan, although no more than 186 wintered at O.N.W.R. (EP). In West Virginia, 38 were at Morgantown 20 Dec (C.B.C. data). The 105 birds in Wyandot, OH 14 Jan (RC) were likely southward bound, and spring migration saw a little more than 200 enter the ne. part of the state 22 Feb-i- (D. & J. Hochadel, J. McCormac et al.). A record 201 Mute Swans across 30 Ohio counties in¬ cluded 64 within the Western Basin and 54 in the ne. part of the state, a doubling of the winter population over the last 10 years. Wood Ducks lingered, with 43 reported on Ohio C.B.C.s, and a flock 13 at N.S.P 15 Dec (BE). Few remain to winter, so 2 on Summit L., Summit, OH 13 Jan (GB) and one through 7 Feb at Edinboro, Erie (D. Snyder) were exceptional. Early spring mi¬ grants numbered 18 at Spring Valley W.A., Warren, OH 19 Feb (L. Gaynor). The winter flock of American Black Ducks in Ohio has steadily declined for decades, so 800 at Blendon Woods Metropark., Franklin 29 Jan was encouraging (B. Simpson). Two Blue-winged Teal on the Allegheny R. near Pittsburgh 20 Feb were early migrants (D. Yagusic, C. Knoll). The aerial survey of 670 Northern Shovelers, 375 Northern Pintails, and 4835 Gadwalls in the Western Basin 8 Dec were indicative of the mild start to the season (O.D.N.R.). Spring Northern Pin¬ tails numbered 175 in Wayne, OH 26-27 Feb (BW et al., S. Snyder). An 18 Dec C.B.C. tally of 54 Green-winged Teal on the Scioto R. bottoms, Scioto, OH was exceptional. Greater Scaup appeared in small numbers, with 164 de¬ tected 23 Jan at K.I. (TB); in contrast, Lesser Scaup contin¬ ued mid-winter gains, with 600 in Lorain 20 Jan (VF). An as¬ tounding 1400 Ring-necked Ducks were reported on Ohio C.B.C.s, with a record 130 win¬ tering on the Scioto R. in cen. Ohio 24 Jan (RR, RT). Late-fall Surf Scoters numbered 30 in Ohio, with 3-4 wintering on L. Erie. One at Caesar Creek S.P., Warren, OH 6-23 Feb (R. Asamoto, LG) was unexpected. Up to 3 Black Scoters wintered on L. Erie in Ohio (J. Glover, N. Anderson). Two White-winged Scoters wintered on L. Erie, while ad. males inland — at Hoover 31 Dec-21 Jan (B. McNulty, CB) and at Milton This adult Sabine's Gull confirmed a second winter record of the species on Lake Erie at Presque Isle State Park, Erie County, Pennsylvania 21 (here) through 22 December 2004. Photograph by Nate Zalik. W.T.P, Cabell, WV 20 Jan (WA) — were un¬ expected. Two Harlequin Ducks were at Pl.S.P 27 Dec (JM, ph. BC et al.). Ten Long-tailed Ducks in Ohio were led by 4 in Summit 9 Jan (GB) and singles inland to Warren 20 Feb (NS) and Clermont 28 Jan-12 Feb (M. Miller, J. Brown, m.ob.); one visited Cheat L., Monongalia, WV 12 Dec-1 Jan (J. Boback). Twenty Common Goldeneyes on the Juniata R. at Mattawan- na, Mifflin, PA was a good count (G. Grove). L. Erie flocks were disappointing, with no more than 509 around K.I. 27 Feb (TB). Concentra¬ tions of 3600 Common Mer¬ gansers in Cuyahoga, OH 20 Jan (VF), 2670 in Lake, OH 25 Jan (VF, JP et al.), and 3200 in Lorain, OH 2 Feb (BW) were part of an estimated 10,800 total wintering in the Central Basin of L. Erie. Good counts were also had in se. Penn¬ sylvania: 1000 at the Penn-Warner Tract, Buck s 9 Jan (GD), up to 2000 at Core Creek Park, Bucks, (GD), and up to 700 at Silver L. Park, Bucks (D. Filler). Red-breasted Mer¬ gansers held off fall migration later than usual: 19,800 were in the Central Basin (C.B.C. data) and 23,000 were in the West¬ ern Basin (O.D.N.R.) through mid-Dec, and as many as 1200+ remained through 20 Jan off Cleveland (VF). The late fall peak for Hooded Merganser came 9 Dec, with 465 at Hoover (RT). Two Hooded Merganser x Common Goldeneye hybrids, rare but re¬ ported regularly in Ohio, were seen: at Hoover 9 Dec (RT) and at Port Clinton, Ot¬ tawa, OH 13 Feb (ph. JP). Late-fall Ruddy Ducks included a count of 515 at L. Arthur, Butler 18 Dec (CBC) and 1150 on Welling¬ ton Res., Lorain 2 Dec (VF). With only one previously documented winter record for Ohio, to have 2 Ospreys photographed in the state this season was unexpected. One appeared 11-12 Dec in Darke (ph. K. Schlietz & RS et al.), and the other was noted 15 Dec at Buck Creek. S.P, Clark (ph. B. Menker). In Ohio, 366 Bald Eagles (247 ad., 119 imm.) included con¬ centrations in Sandusky (56), Ottawa (49), Erie (35), Wyandot (27), and Trumbull (19) (O.D.N.R.). An above-average flight of Northern Goshawks had 6 birds detected throughout Ohio s. to Muskingum 1 Jan (JB). Two Golden Eagles wintered at The Wilds, Muskingum, OH (A. Parker, m.ob.). Several dark-morph Western Red-tailed Hawks in Ohio included singles 9 Dec on K.I. (VF), 10 Dec at Hoover (R. Richards), and 26 Dec in Mercer (JBo). The 42 Red¬ tailed Hawks at The Wilds, Muskingum 1 Jan afforded a good count (JB). Providing one of few well-documented winter records for ne. United States was an imm. Broad- First noticed by a local birder at the Shamrock Tree Farm in Pomeroy, Chester, Pennsylvania, this Gray Kingbird was reported to Larry Lewis, who quickly identi¬ fied it 12 (here 18) December 2004. It was not seen after 20 December. Photograph by Geoff Malosh. 262 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS _ r Over 1800 Sandhill Cranes were detected in a record-breaking southward migration through the w. corridor, rough- 3 n ly centered on Cincinnati, where observers noted 1000 on 14 Dec (B. Wharton). The peak exodus came on the heels of the first Arctic blast of season, when temperatures dipped into the teens. Coupled with Nov records, the fall 2004 flight through Ohio numbered at least 2300 birds. By comparison, the record autumn flight of 1997 numbered just 1100. Not sur¬ prisingly, a record 30 Sandhill Cranes attempted to winter, led by 20-26 in Medina (J. Wert, m.ob.) through 13 Jan and 4 birds through 22 Jan in Montgomery (DD). In Lawrence, PA, up to 19 wintered (m.ob.). winged Hawk near Pohopoco Creek, Car¬ bon, PA 10-12 Jan (ph. R. & B. Rehrig). Merlins are now rare but regular winter throughout the Region. Pennsylvania ob¬ servers recorded singles from urban Pitts¬ burgh and 4 in Berks (KK, KL, MW). In Ohio, at least 28 birds were accounted for across 15 counties. In a season with a strong One of many frugivores on the march in winter 2004-2005, this Townsend's Solitaire was discovered at State Game Lands 30 in McKean County, Pennsylvania 15 (here 21) January; it remained into March. Photograph by Geoff Malosh. prairie influence, Ohio’s first Richardson’s Merlin at K.P.W.A. 19 Feb (ph. A. Boone, J. Kuenzli) did not seem so out of place. A to¬ tal of 5-6 Peregrine Falcons was noted throughout the period at RI.S.R (JM, BC). Ohio had not one but 2 Prairie Falcons this winter. In addition to the wintering bird (in its 2nd year) at The Wilds, Muskingum through 29 Jan (B. Crow, m.ob.), an imm. male was found moribund near Amanda, Fairfield ( fide O.D.N.R.). A late Common Moorhen was flushed 18 Dec in Tinicum Twp., Delaware — one of the few areas in Pennsylvania where this species can be found, albeit irregularly, in Dec (R. Miller). A security guard for Parkersburg Steel in Wood, WV returned to his truck af¬ ter completing his rounds to discover a Pur¬ ple Gallinule standing on the tailgate 4 Jan. The distressed bird was turned into wildlife rehabilitators but died 2 days later ( fide RE). A large wintering flock of American Coots at Camp Dennison, Hamilton, OH 26 Dec-23 Jan numbered 810 on the first date, 400 on the latter (JS, FR, m.ob.). SHOREBIRDS THROUGH GULLS Some 41 Killdeer were still at L. Cowan, Clinton 4 Dec (LG), and 15 were at Mercer W.A., Mercer 7 Dec (JBo), while a straggler at L. Erie was detected 26 Dec in Lake (JP). The 155 at Huntington, WV 2 Jan provided some indication of how many may winter along the Ohio R. (WA). Spring returnees to L. Erie included birds in Medina 9 Feb and Lorain 10 Feb (R. Harlan). A Lesser Yel- lowlegs at Gilmore Ponds, Butler, OH 20-27 Feb was record early for the state (ph. MB, B. Lacker). Lingering Dunlin in Ohio num¬ bered 17 at O.N.W.R. 5 Dec (EP et al.), 8 in Lake 19 Dec (JP), and one in Knox 20 Dec (JL). A Purple Sandpiper remained at H.B.S.P. 6 Dec (D. Best). A Wilson’s Snipe was n. to Warren, OH 16 Jan (J. Lehman). American Woodcocks re¬ turned 8 Feb to Vinton, OH ( fide L. An¬ drews) and Blue Marsh L., Berks, PA (J. Silagy). Among the largest concentration for the species anywhere, 64,000 Bona¬ parte’s Gulls took shelter in Lorain Har¬ bor, Lorain 3 Dec (VF). Modest numbers into winter on L. Erie included 1000 at Fairport Harbor 17 Jan (K. Metcalf), where several hundred were seen to cir¬ cle to great height before turning south¬ ward; the species was recorded only as singles thereafter on L. Erie. Rare inland in midwinter, a flock of 25 in Perry, OH 24Jan (J- Faulkner) was odd. Only 2 Lit¬ tle Gulls were reported: an ad. 23 Dec in Lake, OH and a second-year bird 1 Jan in Ashtabula, OH (JP). Late single Laugh¬ ing Gulls were found on 18 Dec at the Tullytown Landfill, Bucks (CR) and on the Delaware R. near Chester, Delaware (JF). Outstanding was a Black-headed Gull discovered in late Nov-8 Dec at Tullytown, Bucks, PA (CR, ph. BE). Dec concentrations of Ring-billed Gulls on L. Erie numbered only 51,000 in Lorain (VF), 45,000 in Lake (JP), and 22,000 in Erie (VF). Inland how¬ ever, was a different story: 7000 in Hancock, OH 20 Dec (K. Noblet et al.) and 3700 in Hamilton, OH 24 Jan (RF) gathered after se¬ vere cold snaps, the latter coincident with a general exodus from L. Erie that left fewer than 6000 the remainder of the season. The 9 Ohio Thayer’s Gulls were in Lucas (1), Erie (1), Cuyahoga (4), and Lake (3). A report of a California Gull at P.l.S.P 14 Dec (JM). po¬ tentially a 3rd Pennsylvania record, is under review. An ad. 8 Jan in Cleveland (LR, ph. m.ob.) was about the 25th for Ohio in the last 25 years. Nineteen Iceland Gulls on three Bucks, PA C.B.C.s in mid-Dec was a good count; 26 on L. Erie were mainly not¬ ed across the Eastern (15) and Central (10) Basins, with one w. to Lucas, OH. A total of 272 Lesser Black-backed Gulls was tallied on the three Bucks C.B.C.s. An above-average 21 Lesser Black-backed Gulls made up the L. Erie flock; 6 of those were at Oberlin Res., Lorain, OH 10 Jan (C. Priebe), while one was inland to Tuscarawas, OH 11 Feb (T. Sponseller). One of the larger incursions of white-winged gulls into L. Erie brought at least 45 Glaucous Gulls (20 ad., 13 subad., 12 unknown) into the Eastern (12), Central (30) and Western (3) Basins. Local concen¬ trations were topped by 14 at Avon L., Lo¬ rain, OH 30 Jan (VF) and 12 at Lake View Landfill, Erie, PA (BC, JM). An ad. Herring Gull x Glaucous Gull was present Jan-Feb in Cleveland (ph. JP, m.ob.). The 30-minute passage of 440 Great Black-backed Gulls 19 Dec (JP) along the shore in Lake, OH hinted at thousands entering the Central Basin. This was supported by the count of 1960 ads. 20 Jan from just Cuyahoga and Lorain, OH (VF). Despite the prevalence of the species, only one bird was seen inland to In¬ dependence Dam, Defiance 27 Jan (J. Yochum). One, possibly 2, Great Black- backed Gull x Herring Gull hybrids were well studied in Cleveland 8 Jan+ (ph. JP, ph. VF, SZ, m.ob.). Furnishing the 2nd winter record on L. Erie was an ad. Sabine’s Gull at RI.S.P. 21-22 Dec (ph. N. Zalik, C. Kern). One of two in Pennsylvania this winter, this Varied Thrush was present at Middle Creek W.M.A., Lancaster County 31 January-27 (here 2) February 2005. Photograph by Tom Amico. VOLUME 59 (2005) • NUMBER 2 263 EASTERN HIGHLANDS & UPPER OHIO RIVER VALLEY Table 1 , Rufous Hummingbirds in Pennsylvania and Ohio, fall and winter 2004-2005. location Aqe/sex Date(s) Observers/sources Indiana, PA ad. 8 Dec fide M. Higbee Franklin, PA ad. female Oct-2 Dec fide S.Weidensaul Knox, OH ad. male 3 Oct-4 Dec b. AC Erie, PA ad. through 14 Dec A. Parmeter Ross, OH ad. female 23 Oct-18 Dec b. AC Bucks, PA ad. female early Nov-19 Dec E. Schwartz, ph. NP, 1. Rowan et al. Hamilton, OH ad. female early 0ct-15 Jan b. AC Fayette, PA ad. female 28 Nov-17 Jan b. MV, A. Leppold et al. Muskingum, OH ad. male 1 0ct-17 Jan b. AC b. = banded DOVES THROUGH FINCHES A Eurasian Collared-Dove was seen sporadi¬ cally in Franklin , PA throughout the winter (D. Gearhart). This species has attempted to nest here in previous years. Without prece¬ dent in the Region, a Chuck-will’s-widow was discovered alive 9 Dec in Milford, Cler¬ mont, OH (GF). It was subsequently rehabil¬ itated and released in Florida. Recent popu¬ lation gains by Barn Owl in Ohio are now reflected during the winter, as 22 birds were found on C.B.C.s. Away from known strong¬ holds, the species was detected at K.RW.A. through Dec (VF, L. Gardella), Pickerel Creek W.A., Sandusky 5-6 Feb (D. Vanek, N. Bixler), and at Higginsport, Brown 12 Feb (S. Clingman). In the wake of West Nile virus, owl populations in nw. Ohio were devastat¬ ed in 2002. However, signs of a recovery can be seen in the results of owling efforts on the Grand Rapids, Lucas C.B.C. 2 Jan, on which 193 Eastern Screech-Owls and 37 Great Horned Owls were detected. The hoped-for invasion by Snowy Owls did not pan out, as Ohio had just 3 birds at Bayshore, Lucas 19 Dec (M. Anderson et al.). In Pennsylvania, a few cooperative birds included one at a truck stop near Shippensburg, Cumberland, 12 Dec-15 Jan (m.ob.), in Lycoming 13 Dec (S. Pinkerton), and a 2nd for Lycoming in Williamsport 13-29 Dec, which was found dead on the last date. One at Rl.S.P was pres¬ ent from the fall to 15 Jan (m.ob.). In Find¬ lay Twp., Allegheny, PA, 30+ Short-eared Owls were found throughout the season (MV et al.), and near Gettysburg, Adams, birders were treated to 30-40 birds (m.ob.). After one of the heaviest fall flights of North¬ ern Saw-whet Owls into Ohio in which more than 50 were banded in Nov (TB, K. Sieg), it was surprising that only 3 singles from as many counties were detected through the winter. Rufous Hummingbirds were long an¬ ticipated as regular fall migrants through the Region, but their hardiness continues to as¬ tound (Table 1). The Muskingum, OH bird returned to the same feeder at which it had been banded the year before as a hatch-year male, and the Hamilton, OH bird was origi¬ nally banded as an after-hatch-year female in Jan 2003 in Sumter, GA (fide AC). Twelve late Eastern Phoebes in Ohio, led by 4 in Adams 18 Dec. (CBC), included one n. to Portage 30 Dec (E. Faber). One at Spring Valley W.A., Warren 4 Feb (JH) may have wintered. Pennsylvania’s first Gray On 5 Feb, beginning birder Jessica Huff was eager to find Fox Sparrows, a species she had never seen before, at P.V.P. Together with veteran birder August Mirabella, she hiked toward a feeder frequented by the species. Amidst a small flock of American Robins, Jessica spotted a robin with streaked underparts. After field guide study and consulting with other birders by mobile phone, she and August came to the conclusion the "strange robin" was a Redwing, a thrush far from its Eu¬ ropean home. About 50 lucky birders were able to see the bird before dusk, securing clear photographs to con¬ firm the identification. Kingbird frequented the Shamrock Christ¬ mas Tree Farm, Pomeroy, Chester 17-20 Dec (J. Meloney, L. Lewis m. ob.). Single Logger- head Shrike reports came from Hardy 29 Jan (C.B.C. data) and Berkely 13Jan (MO), both in West Virginia and the only Regional re¬ ports. There were 20 reports of Northern Shrikes throughout Pennsylvania, while 14 birds across 10 Ohio counties made for an average season. An out-of-range Common Raven was in LcBoeuf Twp., Erie, PA 19 Feb (C. Gehringer), and 2 were over Nock- amixon Twp., Bucks, PA 26 Feb (H. McGar- rity). There are a half-dozen American Crow roosts of 10,000 or more birds in Ohio. While the 20,000 noted in Clark (D. Over¬ acker) indicates some roosts have returned to capacity, the 20,000 within the Cincinnati roost is still far below the 70,000 birds doc¬ umented before the coming of West Nile virus (FR, m.ob.). An extraordinary 21 Northern Rough¬ winged Swallows were found at the North¬ east Water Pollution Control Plant, Philadelphia, PA 8 Jan during the annual Philadelphia Mid-Winter Census (R. Hor- witz, P. Kurtz, M. Sharp). A Sedge Wren was present at Martins Creek, Northamp¬ ton, PA 26 Dec-20 Jan, providing the state’s first record of a wintering bird. It frequent¬ ed a small patch of sedge where it seemed to feed on midge larvae ( Chironomus sp.), spiders, and other invertebrates (ph. RW). A late Blue-gray Gnatcatcher was found at the Penn-Warner Tract, Bucks, PA 18 Dec (DF). Single Varied Thrushes were at Cale¬ donia S.P, Franklin, PA 11 Dec+, Middle Creek W.M.A., Lancaster, PA 31 Jan-27 Feb (B. & P Hunsberger, ph. T. Amico, m.ob.), and 16 Dec-28 Feb at a Carroll, OH feeder (C. Ickes, D. Sanders, m.ob.). A Townsend’s Solitaire was discovered at S.G.L. 30, McKean, PA 15 Jan+ (L. Groshek, J. Fedak, m.ob.). An above-average 14 Gray Catbirds from Ohio included 5 mid- to late Dec birds n. to L. Erie in Lucas (2), Erie (1), and Lorain (2). Four were detected into Jan from Hamilton (D. Russell), Hocking and Pickaway (C.B.C. data), and to 28Jan at Oxford, Butler (ph. B. Wilson). Eleven Brown Thrashers on Ohio C.B.C.s was average, while the only mid¬ winter record came from Clermont 16 Jan Table 2. Late warblers and vireos in Pennsylvania and Ohio, winter 2004-2005. Species Date(s) Location Observers/sources White-eyed Vireo 19 Dec Portage, OH LR, W. Stover White-eyed Vireo 19 Dec Lucas, OH J. Komorowskii et al. Orange-crowned Warbler 21 Dec-9 Jan Allegheny, PA T. Bledsoe Yellow Warbler 18 Dec Montgomery, PA C.B.C. data Cape May Warbler 18 Dec Stark, OH C.B.C. data Black-throated Blue Warbler 29 Dec Dauphin, PA R. Koury, D. Williams American Redstart until 2 Dec Snyder, PA M. Brown Ovenbird until14 Jan Chester, PA J. Carpenter, ph T. Fernandes Ovenbird 8 Jan Philadelphia, PA D. Wiedener Ovenbird 3-14 Dec Lake, OH ph. D. Seaman Wilson's Warbler 18 Dec Butler, OH MB, L. Peyton Wilson's Warbler 18 Dec Lehigh, PA C.B.C. data Wilson's Warbler 19 Dec Lancaster, PA C.B.C. data 264 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS This Sedge Wren was present in a tussock sedge marsh near Martin's Creek, Northampton County, Pennsylvania 26 December 2004 (here)— 20 January 2005; it established a first winter record for Pennsylvania. Photograph from videotape by Rick Wiltraut. (GF). The largest mid-winter flock of Amer¬ ican Pipits numbered 6 in Dayton, Mont¬ gomery, OH 23 Jan (NS). Of 300,000 Euro¬ pean Starlings on Ohio C.B.C.s, 81,000 were migrants observed streaming from Canada past K.l. toward the mainland on 19 Dec (TB et al.). Late warblers and vireos were legion this season (Table 2). Pine Warblers visited feed¬ ers across the Region: 7 were reported in Ohio n. to Lucas 30 Jan (M. Anderson), Cuyahoga 16 Jan (ph. J. Andes), and anoth¬ er in Cuyahoga 11 Jan (SZ). Late Palm War¬ blers in Ohio included singles in Stark 18 Dec (C.B.C. data) and in Brown 24 Dec (DM). Another Pennsylvania first, a MacGillivray’s Warbler was found in Max- atawny Twp., Berks 18-20 Dec (A. Jennings, B. Morris, K. Sieminski, T. Watkins, m.ob.). Mid-winter Common Yellowthroats were lo¬ cated in Wayne, OH 4 Jan (JL et al.) and Clermont, OH 8 Jan (RF). Nearly annual in Pennsylvania in winter, a Clay-colored Sparrow was with a flock of 20 American Tree Sparrows in Oley Twp., Berks 16 Jan (RK). Ohio’s only wintering Chipping Sparrow was reported from Hamil¬ ton (K. Westerndorf). Unexpected were sin¬ gle Grasshopper Sparrows at Neshaminy S.P, Bucks, PA 18 Dec-1 Jan (M. Jeitner, L. Rowan) and in Butler, OH 31 Dec (MB). The Western Basin continues to collect records of Oregon Junco, with 2 present on K.l. 23 Jan (TB et al.). Singles were also reported from Lucas (CBC) and Knox, OH 19 Dec (VF). A high count of 145 White-crowned Sparrows was noted at Buffalo Creek, Washington, PA 26 Dec (L. Helgerman). An imm. Harris’s Sparrow was found at Stone Church, Northampton, PA 18Jan+ (RW), the same lo¬ cation where an ad. spent the previous win¬ ter. The Amish farm country of Holmes/ Stark/Tuscarawas, OH is a magnet for spar¬ rows in winter. Three C.B.C.s cover this area and together repre¬ sent 18% of the par¬ ty-hour effort in Ohio. This effort de¬ tected 4300 (38%) of the state’s American Tree Sparrows, 1911 (65%) of the White- crowned Sparrows, and 40 (66%) of the Savannah Sparrows. The latter, normally confined to the Low¬ er Ohio R. Valley in winter, persists here late as well, as indi¬ cated by 14 in e. Holme s 29 Jan (ES). White-throated Spar¬ row reaches its great¬ est population densi¬ ty in the Region along the Ohio R., with 33% of the Ohio C.B.C. totals coming from just Hamilton/Butler, OH in the sw. part of the state. This season’s Lincoln’s Sparrow ap¬ peared 19 Dec at Maumee Bay S.P, Lucas, OH (B. Zweibel). Snow Buntings outnum¬ bered Lapland Longspurs 4:1 on Ohio C.B.C.s. The 500 Snow Buntings vs. 200 La¬ pland Longspurs 12 Jan in Wyandot, OH (RC) is further indication of the atypical ra¬ tio this season. A male Painted Bunting visited a feeder in Northampton Twp., Bucks, PA 6 Feb+ (B. llenda et al.), about the state’s 23rd since 1883. Single Dickcissels were found near New Hope, Bucks, PA 26 Dec-20 Jan (DF, KR) and at Buckingham Twp., Bucks, PA 3-25 Feb (V. & R. Smith). The 200 Rusty Blackbirds in Butler, OH 12 Jan provided a good mid-winter count (FR). Exclusive of two Ohio C.B.C. reports of 11 birds, one to 3 Brewer’s Blackbirds were reported from Clermont, OH 8 Jan (RF) and Lucas, OH 13 Feb (JP). The 39,000+ Red-winged Black¬ birds on Ohio C.B.C.s were led by 15,000 in Hocking 2 Jan and 12,000 at Pickerel Creek W.A., Sandusky 1 Jan (VF). Of the 222,000 Common Crackles on Ohio C.B.C.s, 181,000 were delected in the Pickaway/Fair¬ field/Hocking region of cen. Ohio 1-2 Jan. Up to 27 Eastern Meadowlarks were at The Wilds, Muskingum 17 Jan (JS et al.), with one n. to Geauga 18 Jan (A. Fondrk). Lin¬ gering Baltimore Orioles were found in Bucks, PA 18 Dec (PEL, G. L. Armistead) and Manchester Twp., York, PA 13-16 Jan (S. Godack). Common Redpolls, mostly singles, were scattered through Pennsylvania and Ohio, with 12 along the Pymatuning Cause¬ way, Crawford, PA 13 Feb (RFL). A strong incursion into Ohio by Purple Finches was led by 50 in Hamilton 11 Dec ( fide R Whar¬ ton). A White-winged Crossbill 31 Jan-28 Feb at a Vandalia, Montgomery, OH feeder (B. Landis, DD) was the Region’s only report. West Virginia had modest Red Crossbill re¬ ports this season, with up to 16 at Pipestem, Summers 24 Dec (J&JP). A high count of 50 Pine Siskins was reported from New Rich¬ mond, Clermont, OH (DM), but most reports were of 3-7 birds (N. Troyer et al.). Evening Grosbeaks made sporadic appearances in w. Pennsylvania, with 10 at Conneaut Marsh, Crawford 5 Feb (RFL). Initialed observers (subre¬ gional editors in bold): Ohio: Tom Bartlett, Gregory Bennett, Charlie Bombaci, Jill Bowers (JBo), Jenny Brumfield (JB), Mike Busam, Craig Caldwell, Allen Chartier, Rick Counts, David Dister, Ginny Fantet- ti, Victor Fazio III, Robert Foppe, John Habig, Ned Keller, Denis Kline, Jason Larson, Greg Links, Kevin Metcalf, Donald Morse, Jr., Ed Pierce, J. Pogacnik, Frank Renfrow, Larry Rosche, Robert Royse, Ed Schlabach, Regina Schlietz, Nick Smith, Jay Stenger, Rob Thorn, Bill Whan, Sean Zadar. Pennsylva¬ nia: Ben Coulter, Gerry Dewaghe, Bill Etter, Devich Farbotnik, John Freiberg, Paul Hess, Rudy Keller, Katrina Knight (KK), Robert C. Leberman, Ronald F. Leberman, Ken Lebo, Paul E. Lehman, Bob Mercer, Jerry McWilliams, August Mirabella, Nick Pul- cinella, Ken Reiker, Cameron Rutt, Mark Vass, Rick Wiltraut. West Virginia: Wendell Argabrite, Richard Esker, Kim Kazmierski (KKz), Matt Orsie, Jim & Judy Phillips. <© This first-winter Harris's Sparrow was "chummed" in with millet 18 January (here)— 20 March 2005 at Stone Church, Northampton County, Pennsylvania — the same location where an adult was present about nine months earlier. Photograph by Rick Wiltraut. VOLUME 59 (2005) • NUMBER 2 265 — Illinois & Indiana Illinois Rockford# BeachSPi%\ m Fermilabm o;rose\ Lowden- Jackson Parktu^ cd Lake Calumet INDIANA LAKEFRONT: A = Hammond Lakefront Sanctuary B = Miller Beach C = Dunes SP & Beverly Shores D = Mich. City Harbor Rice Lake Chautauqua NWR\ Miller SF Goose Lake Prairie ■ ■ Midewin Natl. J Tallgrass Prairie . Willow Slough WMA ■ Sand Ridge SF ClintonM Lake Lake Springfield Forest Glen ■ Preserve Horseshoe Lake ■ Lake Shelbyville Olney ■ Pigeon Kingsbury WMA r, WMA m Grand Kankakee Marsh c g FOX IS- ■ ^ Jasper-Pulaski WMA ■ Park \ ■ Salamor ie TNC Kankakee Sands Res Pine Creek WMA Eagle m Creek Lake Park 1 Wave land Geist I Res. I Sunn Lake vt Brookville Res. I Lake Lemon Carlyle Lake Rend L. I ILLINOI^ Union Co. WMA Crab Orchard NWR INDIANA e Mermet Kenneth J. Brock 1265 Red Bud Drive Chesterton, Indiana 46304 (kebrock@iun.edu or kj.brock@attbi.com) Overall, the winter of 2004-2005 was mild and wet, the seventh wettest on record in Illinois. Ac¬ cording to the Chicago Tribune, the winter averaged 3.4° F above normal across Illinois and 2.4° F above in the Chicago area. The coldest period (compared to seasonal norms) occurred during the third week of December, when temperatures plunged 10° F below normal. Mid-January also experi¬ enced a significant cold snap. February tem¬ peratures were quite mild. This winter was similar to last year’s, with fine bird diversity, lots of lingering migrants, and several rarities. It was a good winter for gulls, with excellent numbers of the regular species, plus a Mew Gull and multiple Black¬ legged Kittiwakes. Present in unusually high numbers this winter were Tundra Swans, Northern Saw-whet Owls, Northern Shrikes, and Varied Thrushes. Noteworthy among the lingering migrants were American Bit¬ tern, Fish Crow, Lincoln’s Sparrows, and Dickcissels. In addition, it proved to be an above-average season for the fickle winter finches. Abbreviations: Carl. L. (Carlyle L. in Clin¬ ton, Fayette, and Bond, IL); I.B.S.P. (Illinois Beach S.R, on the lakefront 16 km s. of the Wisconsin border); Jax. P. (Jackson Park on the Chicago lakefront); L. Cal. (Lake Calumet on Chicago’s s. side), Chau. (Chau¬ tauqua N.W.R., IL); L. Gibs. (L. Gibson, sw. Indiana). LOONS THROUGH WATERFOWL Except for 2 on Carl. L. 11 Dec (DMK) and single imms. at Summit L., IN 8-15 Jan (Ron Kolde, DGo, SAP) and at L. Lemon, IN 21 Jan (DGo), Red-throated Loons were re¬ stricted to the Indiana lakefront, where 6 were counted. Two Pacific Loons were re¬ ported without details at Carl. L. 12 Dec (JU, JE) and at Morse Res., IN 22-23 Dec (JCo et al.). Following last fall’s dearth of Common Loons on L. Michigan, a record winter flight was noted at Dunes S.P., IN 13 Dec, when 529 southbound migrants were noted (DGo, KJB). The Region’s only Red-necked Grebe was reported at Summit L., IN 15 Jan (SAP). Single Western Grebes were observed on the Indiana lakefront at West Beach 5 Dec (JJM) and at Dunes S.P. 18 Dec (tAA). Along the Mississippi R., American White Pelicans peaked at 200 in Monroe, IL 12 Jan (JPZ). Most unexpected was the discovery of an American Bittern at Carl. L. 14 & 26 Dec (DMK, RSR); only a handful of winter records exist for the Region. A tardy Great Egret lingered in Will, IL until 11 Dec (EWW) to provide an Illinois winter record for the 2nd consecutive year. An injured Green Heron was discovered in the Palos area of Cook, IL 19 Dec and was found dead 21 Dec (WSS, tWJM). Although wintering Black-crowned Night-Herons are regular in the Chicago area, an ad. that attempted to winter in Fort Wayne, IN, was unexpected; it was last seen 17 Jan (Haw, ph. EP). Black Vultures were widespread and appeared in good numbers; the peak tally consisted of 100 in Johnson, IL 2 Jan (KAM, CL). In general, geese rebounded from last winter’s depressed numbers. Peak counts in¬ cluded 2665 Greater White-fronteds at Chau. 11 Feb (RGB, SBj) and 200,000 Snows at Carl. L. 9 Jan (DMK). In Indiana, however, Snow Geese remained scarce. Ross’s Geese were also relatively plentiful, with 28 in Illinois and 4 in Indiana. Winter¬ ing Mute Swans peaked on Wolf L., IL with 116 on 31 Jan (CAM). The most impressive swan report consisted of a whopping 856 Tundras on the Mississippi R., Whiteside and Carroll, IL 16 Dec (KJM, KR, m.ob.). This total is surely one of the largest ever record¬ ed in the Region. Dabblers appeared in typical numbers; the most unusual records consisted of early Blue-winged Teal reports — 12 at Mermet L., IL 26 Feb (KAM) and 2 at Carl. L. on the same day (DMK). Winner of the odd-duck award was an ad. male “Brewer’s Duck,” (Gadwall x Mallard hybrid) at L. Cal. 19 & 26 Feb (tWJM). Bay ducks were slightly above normal; peak tallies included 4000 Canvasbacks in Hancock, IL 26 Feb (AD), 6000 Ring-necked Ducks in Calhoun, IL 18 Dec (WCR), and 1540 Greater Scaup at I.B.S.P 8 Jan (DFS). It was an above-average winter for sea ducks. Female or imm. Harle¬ quin Ducks were reported at one Indiana and two Chicago lakefront locations, and an ad. male was reportedly photographed at Jax. R 15 Jan (GAW). Scoter reports were clearly up this winter, with peak tallies of 16 Surfs at I.B.S.P. 4 Dec (AFS), 18 White- wingeds (all males) at I.B.S.P 1 Jan (GAW), Winter-period Purple Sandpipers are casual on Lake Michigan, so these two at Waukegan 10 December 2004 were quite a find. Photograph by Geoffrey A. Williamson. and 6 Blacks at I.B.S.R 4 Dec (AFS). One to 3 of each scoter species were also reported at inland sites. A count of 655 Long-tailed Ducks at Winthrop Harbor 19 Feb (EES) constitutes one of the Region’s better counts in recent years. The male Hooded Merganser x goldeneye hybrid returned to the Ham¬ mond, IN marina for the 4th consecutive year (ph. JKC et al.). Ruddy Duck numbers were up somewhat this winter, peaking at 700 at Chau. 19 Feb (RJk). HAWKS THROUGH SH0REBIRDS High Bald Eagle concentrations on the Mis¬ sissippi R. yielded counts of 1694 in White- side and Rock Island, 1L 7-8 Jan and 1458 in Hancock, Henderson, and Mercer, IL 9-10 Jan (KJM). The Indiana Department of Natural Resources mid-winter survey produced 187 Bald Eagles 6-7 Jan, well above average (JSC). It was a good winter for harriers, with peak counts of 58 in sw. Indiana 4 Dec (LWS) and 52 in the Arklands Reclamation Area, Perry, IL 12 Feb (TAM). Northern Goshawks were frightfully scarce this win¬ ter: only 2 were reported in the Region. Red¬ tailed Hawks were reported in typical num¬ bers, but a wintering Harlan’s Hawk appeared at Horseshoe L., Madison, IL (FHo), and 2 were in Hamson, IN (Skip Stocksdale). A total of 12 Golden Eagles across the Region was above normal. Fifteen Merlins were reported (about average) Re¬ gionwide, with the highlight an ad. male richardsonii in Randolph, IL 5 Feb (JE). Im¬ pressive counts of gallinaceous species in¬ cluded 106 Greater Prairie-Chickens at Prairie Ridge State Natural Area, IL 21 Dec (JW m.ob.) and 226 Wild Turkeys near Rockford, IL 18 Dec (DTW, m.ob.). An exceptional tally of 350 Sandhill Cranes logged in Des Plaines, IL 21 Dec (AA) attests to the winter abundance of this species n. of the Jasper-Pulaski, IN staging area. The Region’s only Virginia Rail reports came from Beverly Shores, IN, where one was reported 4 Jan (DGo) and 2 were de¬ tected 5 Feb (JJM). A straggling Sanderling, recorded at Waukegan 1 1 Dec (AFS), was unexpected. Now a rare but reg¬ ular winter species in the Region, Least Sandpiper was reported at six locations; the peak count consisted of 28 in Jasper, IL 17 Dec (BS). Two Purple Sandpipers at Waukegan, IL 10 Dec (ph., tGAW) were exception¬ al, and 3 very late Dunlin were seen in Jasper, IL 17 Dec (BS). JAEGERS THROUGH OWLS An apparent Parasitic Jaeger worked the outer breakwall at the Port of In¬ diana throughout the day on 1 1 Dec (BJG, JKC, JJM, MT, KJB etal.). Like¬ ly the same bird, also identified as a juv. Parasitic, was at Miller Beach (7 km far¬ ther w.) 13 Dec (JJM)- This constitutes the first winter record of a Parasitic Jaeger on the Indiana lakefront in more than 60 years. Ca¬ sual throughout the Region in winter, a Laughing Gull at Salamonie Res., IN 16 Dec (tHaw) provided a first winter record for ne. Indiana. Peak tallies of the more common gulls included 8000 Bonaparte’s at Carl. L. 11 Dec (DMK), 50,000 Ring-billeds at Carl. L. 14 Dec (DMK), and 6900 Herrings at l.B.S.P. 8 Jan (DFS). The season’s rarest gull was an ad. Mew Gull at Carl. L. 16 Jan (DMK, ph. TAM, CT, JE, CMl et al.). Also noteworthy was a second-winter California Gull at Carl. L. 12 Dec (ph. DMK). An or¬ ganized “Gull Frolic” at Winthrop Harbor, Chicago on 19 Feb yielded impressive counts of several of the less-common species: 12 Thayer’s, 5 Icelands, and 6 Less¬ er Black-backeds (GAW et al.). Interestingly, one first-year Iceland observed during the “Frolic” had a bicolored bill (ph. RHu), a character sometimes associated with — but apparently not diagnostic of — the nominate form. It was also an exceptional winter for Glaucous Gull, with a state record 13 count¬ ed along the Lake, IN lakefront 15 Jan (JKC, SRB, JJM, RJP, DD). A record count of Great Black-backed Gull was also logged along the Hammond-Whiting, IN lakefront 23 Jan, when 25 were recorded (JKC, JJM). Remark¬ ably, some 8 juv. Black-legged Kittiwakes were reported in Dec along the Indiana lake- front, including 3 on 11 Dec (JJM). Two birds lingered at the Port of Indiana through 1 Jan (RLH, LAC, TH) to provide the state’s first multiple-bird total for Jan; one lingered at that site through 9 Jan (JJM, BJG). An ad. Black-legged Kittiwake visited Eagle Creek Park, IN 26 Feb (tDOC, tKWy). Without details, another ad. was reported at Lock & Dam 14, Rock Island, IL 29 Dec (SF). The Carbondale, IL Inca Dove reported in the fall summary remained through 13 Dec (JL). Some of the 82 Monk Parakeets report¬ ed in Burnham, Cook , IL 7 Feb (DFS) have apparently spilled over into nearby Ham¬ mond, IN, where 10 birds, along with 2 nests, were reported in mid-Jan (CAM). Some 6 Snowy Owls, 3 in each state, were re¬ ported this winter. Interestingly, only half of these appeared on the L. Michigan lakefront, Casual anywhere in the Region, and especially rare away from Lake Michigan, this adult Mew Gull at Carlyle Lake, Illinois 16 January 2005 was the Region's rarest gull of the winter. Photograph by Travis A. Mahan. VOLUME 59 (2005) • NUMBER 2 267 Only a half-dozen Snowy Owls appeared in the Illinois & Indiana Region this winter. This dark individual, photographed 5 December 5 2004 at Rotary Park in Sangamon County, was one of the more southerly of these wanderers. Photograph by Travis A. Mahan. which has been the traditional location for this species. The southernmost birds includ¬ ed an imm. female at Springfield, Sangamon, IT 5 Dec (ph. TAM, CS, RJk) and another in Huntington , IN 31 Dec-22 Feb (Joyce Gottschalk, Haw, m.ob.). The “eared” owls were reported in typical numbers, with max¬ imum counts of 8 Long-eareds at Summit L., IN 4 Dec (SAP) and 14 Short-eareds in Hunt¬ ington, IN 2 Feb (Joe Steinmetz, m.ob.) and 14 also at Prairie Ridge State Natural Area, 1L 19 Jan (JW, TE). Northern Saw-whet Owls were unusually plentiful and vocal. Peak tallies included 9 at Carl. L. 20 Feb (DMK, BS), 7 at Willow Slough W.M.A. 1 Jan (EMH), plus 6 more in a another section of Willow Slough 1 Jan (JJM). WOODPECKERS THROUGH WAXWINGS An exceptional winter count of 163 Red¬ headed Woodpeckers was logged in Jackson, IL 1 Jan (KJM, SJ). The seasons only Rufous Hummingbirds were reported in Indiana, where 4 were banded (fide DGo). Once again, Eastern Phoebes dallied in the Region. Mid-winter birds included 2 in Monroe, IN 30 Dec (LWS), one in Massac, IL 31 Dec (KAM, DMK), and another in Marion, IN 8 Jan-5 Feb (JCo). Additionally, 5 overzealous migrants were recorded in s. Indiana during the last half of Feb. A maximum count of 7 Loggerhead Shrikes was recorded at Prairie Ridge State Natural Area, IL 19 Jan (JW, TE). Indiana Loggerheads have been quite scarce in recent years; consequently, the singles re¬ ported in Orange 19 Dec (JSC) and in Jack- son 27 Feb (DL) are noteworthy. It was an exceptional winter for Northern Shrike, with some 21 reported in the Region. The highest count consisted of 3 at Kingsbury W.M.A., IN 29 Jan (JJM), and the southernmost birds reached Sullivan, IN 1 Jan (ph. LWS) and Shelby, IL 31 Dec (DFS). A mid-winter Fish Crow in Rock Island, IL 2 Jan (KJM, JSa) was unexpected. Early re¬ turning Tree Swallows appeared at Horse¬ shoe L., Madison, IL 19 Feb (FHo) and at Carl. L. 26 Feb (DMK). Red-breasted Nuthatches were more abundant than normal across n. portions of the Region. Winter Marsh Wrens were report¬ ed at Eagle Creek Park, IN 26 Dec (BL, RFB, LPv, ph. JSu), in Kanka¬ kee, IL 2 Jan (DFS), and in McHenry, IL 15 Jan (DFS). K. J. McKay commented that Hermit Thrushes were “noticeably less abundant” in Illinois. Nine were reported at Rend L., IL 18 Dec (KAM, CL) and 3 at Kingsbury W.M.A. 29 Jan (JJM). It proved to be a fine winter for Varied Thrushes: a female was at Calumet Park, IL 22-26 Dec (CAM, WJM, DFS, m.ob.), a male was at Ea¬ gle Creek Park, IN 12 Jan (Dawn VanDe- mcn, Frank Rouse, Angela Ngigi, fide DGo), and another male was at Kingsbury W.M.A. 28 Jan-12 Feb (ph. BHu, JJM, JKC, SRB, m.ob.). Also attesting to the mild winter were reports of 7 Gray Catbirds in Dec (3 in Illinois, 4 in Indiana). Brown Thrasher, nor¬ mally a casual species in the n. reaches of the Region, was in Cook, IL all season (JA), with others in Allen, IN 7 Jan (Casey Ryan, fide Haw) and at Ogden Dunes, IN 9 Jan (JJM). American Pipit numbers were up this winter, with peak counts of 88 at Urbana, IL (GL), 64 at Rend L., IL (KAM, CL), and 40 in Lawrence, IN (LWS), all on 18 Dec. Note¬ worthy among several Jan reports of pipits was a single bird on Whihala Beach, Lake, IN 8 Jan (JKC. SRB, JJM et al.), which pro¬ vided a first winter record for the Indiana lakefront. Cedar Waxwing concentrations were decidedly scarce this winter; only three reports exceeded 100 birds. The largest of these consisted of 125 waxwings on the Pur¬ due North Central campus 1 Dec (SRB). WARBLERS THROUGH FINCHES By recent standards, the selection of warblers that appeared in the Region this winter was modest. Tardy Orange-crowned Warblers were reported in Cook, IL 8 Dec (JA) and at Rend L., IL 18 Dec (DMK). Perhaps the sea¬ sons most remarkable warbler was a Cape May Warbler that spent the last half of win¬ ter at a feeder outside the School of Public and Environmental Affairs building at Indi¬ ana University/Bloomington; it was discov¬ ered by Vicky Meretsky about 15 Jan and was still present 22 Mar (RBr, ph. JH). Some 50 Yellow-rumped Warblers were logged in Du Page, IL 3 Jan (UG), which constitutes an excellent winter count for ne. Illinois. Other warbler reports included 4 Pines at Rend L., IL 18 Dec (DMK), a Pine at Carl. L. 14 Dec (TAM), and an ad. female Common Yellowthroat in Chicago 9 & 19 Dec (tAA). The season’s only Spotted Towhee, a female, was found at the Green Wing Environ¬ mental Lab, Lee, IL 17 Dec (SBH). Peak tallies of the ex¬ pected Spizellas included 545 American Trees in Stephenson, IL 29 Jan (DFS) and 149 Fields in Massac, IL 31 Dec (KAM, DMK). Once again, it proved to be a fine winter for Chipping Sparrows, with 5 in Illinois and 4 in Indiana. Al¬ ways scarce in winter, single Vesper Sparrows were report¬ ed in Perry, IL 25 Dec (KJM) and at Mermet L., IL 31 Dec (KJM). Le Contes Sparrows were restricted to s. Illinois, where singles were reported in Jasper 16 Dec (BS) and at Rend L. 24 Jan (KAM). Quite rare in winter, single Lincolns Sparrows appeared in Carroll, IL 16 Dec (KJM, KR), in Allen, IN 18 Dec (tBW et al.), and in Alexander, IL 29 Dec (KJM). For the first time in five years, Harris’s Sparrow went unreported in the Region. Lapland Longspur numbers were typical, with a peak count of 800 at Carl. L. 9 Jan (DMK) and seven other Always rare in winter, Loggerhead Shrikes were slightly more numerous in south¬ ern Illinois numbers this winter. This bird was photographed 12 February 2005 at Pyramid State Park, Perry County, Illinois. Photograph by Travis A. Mahan. 268 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS . - " — ' - . ‘ '' ' ' " " Wildly out of character for a Marsh Wren, this bird at Eagle Creek Park, Indiana 26 December 2004 was photographed as it captured and dined on minnows. Photograph by John Summner. triple-digit reports. Compared to last win¬ ters massive incursion into s. reaches of the Region, this years Snow Bunting flight was considerably smaller; the peak tally consist¬ ed of “a flock of hundreds” in Allen, IN 28 Dec (CP, EP). An imm. female Dickcissel re¬ mained in Union, 1L 30 Dec (DFS), and an¬ other female was in Jersey, 1L 22Jan (WCR). Red-winged Blackbirds numbered about 44,400 at Rend L., 1L 18 Dec (KAM, CL) and about 40,000 at Carl. L. 5-6 Feb (DMK). Meadowlark maxima of 64 Easterns in Per¬ ry, 1L 25 Dec (KJM) and 10 Westerns at Carl. L. 6 Feb (DMK) were above average. Twenty-five Brewer’s Blackbird in Perry, IL 27 Feb (JE) and 20 at Carl. L. 29 Feb (DMK) were likely migrating. A Great-tailed Grack- le was identified in Perry, IL 25 Dec (KJM, documentation sent to the state committee), one of a few that have recently slipped across the Mississippi R. into Illinois. Following last fall’s unexpected winter finch incursion, above-normal winter num¬ bers were recorded across the Region. Peak tallies included a female or imm. male Pine Grosbeak in Hammond, IN 16 Dec (Joy Bower); 40 Purple Finches that wintered in Sand Ridge S.F, IL (RGB, SBj), plus 45 Red Crossbills there 9 Jan (RJ) and 5 White¬ winged Crossbills there 14 Dec (EES); 13 Common Redpolls in the Indiana Dunes 1 1 Jan (SRB) and 13 in the Chicago Botanical Gardens 30 Jan (MM); 81 Pine Siskins in Winnebago, IL 2 Jan (DTW); and an Evening Grosbeak in Lowden-Miller S.F. 12 Feb (DFS) — the latter being Regions first report in seven years. Eurasian Tree Sparrow num¬ bers decreased this winter, especially in cen. Illinois ( fide KMJ). Cited contributors (subregional editors in boldface): Alan Anderson, Jill Anderson, Su¬ san R. Bagby, Frank Bennett, John Bivins, Richard G. Bjorklund, Sigurd Bjorklund (SBj), Ross Brittain, Kenneth J. Brock (Indiana), Robert F Buskirk, Lee A. Casebere, John K. Cassady, John S. Castrale, David O. Clark, James Cole (JCo), A1 Dierkes, David Dugas, Joe Eades, Terry Esker, Steve Freed, Urs Geis- er, Don Gorney (DGo), Brendan J. Grube, Steve B. Hager, Jim Haw (Haw), Roger L. Hedge, Jim Hengeveld, Frank Holmes (FHo), Edward M. Hopkins, Tom Hulvershorn, Bob Huguenard (BHu), Robert Hughes (RHu), Rhettajack (RJk), Stevejuhlin, Dan M. Kasse- baurn, Greg Lambeth, Dan Leach, Joe Lill, Craig Litteken, Becky Lomax, Mike Madsen, Travis A. Mahan, Charlene Malone (CMl), Walter J. Marcisz, Carolyn A. Marsh, Jeffrey J. McCoy, Kelly J. McKay (KJM) (Illinois), Kei¬ th A. McMullen (KAM), Steven A. Pancol, Larry Peavler (LPv), Cynthia Powers, Ed Powers, Ronda S. Rothrock, Karen Rotschafer, William C. Rowe, James Salsbury (JSa), Eric E. Seeker, Wesley S. Serafin, Bob Shelby, Lee W. Sterrenburg, Alan F Stokie, Douglas F Stotz, John Summer (JSu), Chris Swisegood, Craig Taylor, Michael Topp, Joshua Uffman, Jeff Walk, Eric W. Walters, Bob Walton, Dan T Williams Jr., Geoff A. Williamson, Kevin Wycoff, James P. Ziebol. Many other individu¬ als who could not be personally acknowl¬ edged also submitted notes to the state re¬ ports; all have my thanks. © Jjhv'j) 1)3 AUA 1)11 d itlii iiln i&VJ AiiA VJ^f 00001) American Birding" 'ASSOC I A I I O N APPLYT0DAYF0RTHE AMERICAN BIRDING ASSOCIATION VISA® PLATINUM CARD * No Annual Fee * Low Introductory Rate * No balance transfer fee for six months It's the only card that ensures a percentage of every purchase you make will go toward the American Birding Association, to help support a variety of activities and programs designed to inspire all people to enjoy and protect wild birds. Choose from two distinct designs: Red-billed Tropicbird or Rufous Hummingbird. To apply call 1-800-853-5576 ext. 8396 or apply online today www.americanbirding.org The creditor and issuer of the American Birding Association VISA Platinum Card is U.S. Bank National Association ND. VOLUME 59 (2005) • NUMBER 2 269 Western Great Lakes \ Beltrami . Island S.F.1 Gunflint Trail Felton Prairie Blue Mounds S.P. 45; X7spaul Minneapolis 1 yj uogu. Hewn / Whitewater W.M.A. BN 1 Beaver Creek ■ v 1 Valiev S.P ■ Murphy- Hanrehan Park Preserve i Agassiz N.W.R. \ Chippewa SuperjfL 100 were routine in Dec and Jan, and several parties found 225 in a single day. Great Grays were reported as far s. as Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington in the Twin Cities area, Ben¬ ton, Kandiyohi, Meeker, Sherburne, and Stearns in cen. Minnesota, and Winona in the far se. corner of the state. Several Great Grays showed partial albinism, and a ghostly leucistic (dilute- plumaged) bird and a melanistic individual were also noted, the latter in Sf. Louis (MCA, ph. JWL). VOLUME 59 (2005) • NUMBER 2 271 W E S T E | N GREAT L A K E S winter in Wisconsin were several Yellow-bel¬ lied Sapsuckers, the latest being one 4-15 Jan in Marquette (DC). Constituting only a 2nd state record for Wisconsin, an Ash- throated Flycatcher was present 11-13 Dec in Racine (p.a., RH, in.ob.). Carolina Wrens were reported in good numbers in both Michigan and Wisconsin, while in Minneso¬ ta, where the species is rarer, it was seen at four locations. There were 8 Townsend’s Solitaires reported in Wisconsin and 15 in Minnesota, while in Michigan, where the species is still very rare, there were reports 1 Jan in Copper Harbor, Keweenaw (AB, BM), 6 Feb at Eagle Harbor, Keweenaw, and 2 in early Jan+ in Marquette, Marquette (SH, SS). Varied Thrush is more common in Minneso¬ ta and Wisconsin, with 26 and 8 reported this season, respectively, while in Michigan, there were reports 5 Jan+ at Deerton, Alger (AB, m.ob.), 19 Dec at Jacobsville, Houghton (SH), 30 Jan in Manistee (BA), and 9-12Jan at Prudentville, Roscommon (MP). Gray Catbirds lingered in the Region this season. In Wisconsin, they were found on three C.B.C.s in the se. quadrant of the state. Minnesota reported individuals through 14 Dec at Mounds Springs Park, Hennepin (SC) and on 18 Dec during the Duluth C.B.C. ( fide JWL). Michigan had singles at Grand Mere S.P, Berrien 2-9 Jan (JW, m.ob.), at Grosse Isle, Wayne 15 Jan (WP), at Chippewa Na¬ ture Center, Midland throughout the period (fide JSo), and on the Manistique C.B.C., well n. of normal, 18 Dec (RAn). Northern Mock¬ ingbird reports were about normal in Michi¬ gan, while in Wisconsin individuals were re¬ ported in Columbia 1 & 26 Jan (CM, RD), in Saywer through 23 Dec (FV), and in Dane 3-28 Feb (EHo, WR et al.). There were five reports of Brown Thrasher in Wisconsin and three in Michigan. Two well-documented re¬ ports of American Pipit in Michigan were 27 Dec at the Galien Sewage Ponds (JW, DV) and 6-10 Jan at the Andrews University Sewage Lagoons (JW, WB, DV), both in Berrien. Bohemian Waxwings were found in good numbers throughout the Region, more commonly in the w. portions, with the largest total reported of 910-1200 in Duluth, St. Louis, MN (JN, FN). An Orange-crowned Warbler 14 Dec in Dodge (BD) was only the 10th winter record for Wisconsin. Also in that state, a Yellow-rumped Warbler win¬ tered at a feeder in Sauk (AH). Michigan re¬ ported Pine Warblers in Dec in the Brighton S.R.A., Livingston (fide JTW) and on 20 Dec at Lincoln Brick Park, Clinton (JBa). T0WHEE THROUGH FINCHES The Spotted Towhee that wintered in Wis¬ consin at Waukesha was seen through the period (DG); singles were also documented in Winnebago 15 Dec-1 Feb (DK, JSm, KS) and Iowa 12 Jan-17 Feb (KK, JR). North of normal in Michigan was an Eastern Towhee 5 Jan at Munising, Alger (SHi), a Chipping Sparrow 23 Dec on the Houghton C.B.C., Houghton (JK), and a Field Sparrow 4-5 Dec at Ahmeek, Keweenaw. A Lark Sparrow 19 Jan-i- in Waupaca (p.a., PM, DM) would pro¬ vide the only mid- to late winter record in Wisconsin if accepted. Also unusual in that state were Savannah Sparrow records from 11-13 Jan in Ozaukee (TU) and 3 Jan and 4 Feb in Dane (ST). Swamp Sparrow, uncom¬ mon in Minnesota in winter, was recorded at Bloomington, Hennepin (SC). Winter Har¬ ris’s Sparrow records in Michigan, where the species is uncommon, included individuals through 25 Jan at Oscoda, Iosco (SMa), 30 Dec-5 Jan at Clarkston, Oakland (AB, in.ob.), and through 9 Jan in Osceola (SS). Wisconsin reported Rose-breasted Gros¬ beaks on two C.B.C.s, both in the s. portion of the state, while an Indigo Bunting was very late 5 Dec in Racine (CMa). Also in that state, a Yellow-headed Blackbird was found 1 Feb in Dane (KB). Unusual in winter and n. of normal in Michigan was a Brewer’s Black¬ bird 11 Dec near Seney, Alger (SHi). Most unexpected was a Hooded Oriole from 15-19 Dec in LaCrosse (p.a., ph. TC); if ac¬ cepted, it would provide a first record for Wisconsin and the Region. Baltimore Ori¬ oles were reported 10 Dec at Prairieville Twp., Barry (RS) in Michigan and in Chippe¬ wa during the C.B.C.s in Wisconsin. An in¬ jured Baltimore Oriole remained in Min¬ nesota into Jan at St. Paul, Ramsey (NS). Single Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches were present near Paradise, Chippewa, MI 13-17 Feb (AB, m.ob.) and near Hinckley, Pine, MN 30 Dec+ (LEr et al.). Winter finches were present in average numbers in the Re¬ gion with exception of crossbills, which were decidedly rare in Michigan. All three states reported Hoary Redpolls this year, with Minnesotans commenting that the numbers, at least 38 individuals, were above average for the 2nd consecutive season. Observers: Brian Allen, Mark Alt, Abigail Anderson, Renner Anderson, Ron Annelin (RAn), Jeff Bahls, John Baumgaryner (JBa), Chris Benson, Aaron Brees, Walter Booth, David Brasser, Margaret Brasser, Joe Breaden (JBR), Paul Budde, Kay Burcar, Adam Byrne (ABy), Steve Carlson (SC), Allen Chartier, Daryl Christensen, Phil Chu, Seth Cutright (SCu), Carl DeBoard, Raymond Dischler, Bob Domagalski, Kim Eckert, Laura Erick¬ son, Lowell Ericson (LEr), Dan Floren, Den¬ nis Gustafson, Skye Haas, Ether Hale, Robert Hambley, Scott Hickman (SHi), Aaron Holschback, Eric Howe (EHo), Scott Jenex, Brian Johnson, Robbye Johnson, Joe Kaplan, Fred Lesher, Joe Kaplan, Douglas Kieser DKi), Tom Klubertanz, David Kuecherer, James Lind, Steve Lubahn, Sue Malski (SMa), Cathy Mann (CMa), William Maren¬ go, Chester Martin, James Mattsson, Steven Millard, Kip Miller, Andres Monncrieff, Brad Murphy (Michigan), Jeff Newman , Frank Nicolletti, Walter Pawloski, Jesse Petersen, Ursula Petersen, Michael Petruchia, Wayne Rohde (Wisconsin), John Romano, Steve Santner, Russ Schipper, Roger Schroeder (RSc), Thomas Schultz, Julian Sellers (JSe), Brian Smith, Jerry Smith, Karen Smith, Dou¬ glas Smith (DSm),Joe Soehenl (JSo), Linda Sparling, Aaron Stutz, Peder Svingen (Min¬ nesota), Daryl Tessen, Steve Thiessen, Pat Underwood (PU), Tom Uttech, Frank Venecek, Dave Vinnedge, Tim Walsh (TWa), Thomas Wheeker (TWe), Thomas Wood, Jon Weupper, Quentin Yoerger. O The Friends of North American Birds Since its inception, the fund has allowed for many improvements such as: Mailing in a protective wrapper to insure its delivery in one piece. Increase in page count, allowing the addition of articles and special sections. More color pages, allowing the addition of Photo Salons. All of this has been made possible with your generous contributions. There are more plans in the works for future issues but the fund does need your continued support. Donations to the "Friends of NAB" fund can be mailed to: The Friends of NAB, PO Box 6599, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80934-6599. — ■ — . - . . - . . . - . — . . . . I 272 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS _ Iowa & Missouri Yellow R. Forest IOWA "avenport 'one Marsh Lacey-Keosauqua SP State Forest Pool 19 Squaw Creek NWR Weston Bend SP Smithville Res. Riverlands Environ. Demonstration Area MISSOURI Montrose CA ■ Four Rivers CAU MScheil-Osage CA Prairie SP Table Rock L. y Roaring River SPM;. | Mincy'CA Mark Twain NF (8 units shown in dashed lines) Ten Mile Pond CA Despite the heavy snows in some parts of Missouri, birders there were rewarded by a number of lingering passerines, perhaps enticed to stay by the warmer-than-usual temperatures. Iowa, too, had a warm December but without the ex¬ citement — even the waterfowl were gone on schedule. January weather was typical. In Iowa, the month ushered in an “invasion” of northern owls, while in Missouri, January’s cold weather sent the waterfowl packing in many areas but concentrated gulls and ducks at the Riverlands Environmental Demonstra¬ tion Area near St. Louis. February was well warmer than usual, with several heavy snow¬ falls in Missouri. The warmer temperatures kick-started migration of waterfowl, gulls, and icterids, which arrived in southern Mis¬ souri during the first week and had saturated the Region by the end of the month. Most of the usual winter visitants appeared in normal numbers. Always of interest, winter finches presented a good diversity of species but only small numbers of most; curiously, there were more Purple Finches and Red Crossbills recorded in Missouri than in Iowa. After years of exemplary service to The Bluebird, Brad Jacobs has stepped down as its winter field reports editor, just one of his many contributions to Missouri’s ornitholo¬ gy. His insight and expertise will be sorely missed by myself and many others. The void, however, will be admirably filled by Tommie Rogers of Mound City. In just three years in the state, she has developed an enviable grasp of the state’s birdlife and brought with her the skill to produce an excellent season¬ al report. Welcome on board, Tommie. Abbreviations: PS.P. (Prairie S.P., Barton, MO); R.E.D.A. (Riverlands Environmental Demonstration Area, St. Charles, MO); S.C.N.W.R. (Squaw Creek N.W.R., Holt, MO); S.L.N.W.R. (Swan Lake N.W.R., Chari¬ ton, MO). GREBES THROUGH FALCONS A Homed Grebe on 28 Feb at R.E.D.A. was early (CM). A remarkable heron season in Iowa included an American Bittern 2 Jan in Clay (LS), a Great Egret on the Saylorville Res. C.B.C. (a first record), and a wintering Black-crowned Night-Heron at Cedar Rapids for the 7th consecutive year (BS). There were 100 Black Vultures at Table Rock L. dam 13 Feb (SK) and 58 through Jan in St. Genevieve MO (JE). About 20 reports of 1-330 Cackling Geese were submitted in the Region, but few reports included details (one in Jan in the St. Louis area was well documented; tBR). Un¬ til both observers and editors become more comfortable with the separation of this species from small Canada Geese, details would be helpful. Snow Goose numbers peaked on 28 Dec at S.L.N.W.R. at 250,000 (SK, LL); similar numbers had returned to S.C.N.W.R. by 20 Feb (TR). Mute Swans were reported in small numbers from five lo¬ cations, while Trumpeter Swans continued to increase, with peaks of 70 at R.E.D.A. (KMc) and 13 on 19 Feb in Warren, IA (JG). A Tundra Swan was seen in Dec and Feb at R. E.D.A.; in Iowa, there were 857 on the Mississippi R. for the Clinton, Iowa C.B.C. Despite the milder winter, there were few re¬ ports of wintering dabblers, with most out of the Region by 1 Jan. Migrants returned to both states during the last two weeks of Feb, e.g., 9000 Northern Pintail on 21 Feb at S. C.N.W.R. (TR). Divers made the season slightly more interesting. Canvasbacks peaked at 1000 at R.E.D.A. 16 Jan and 40,000 in late Feb at their usual Pool 19 staging area in Iowa (RCu, CE). Greater Scaup had a good showing, with 140 on 9 Dec at L. Jacomo , Jackson, MO (KM), 50 on 13 Feb at R.E.D.A., where Bill Rowe noted that they outnumbered Lessers, and 49 on 5 Dec at Spirit L., Dickinson, IA (ET). Surf Scoter reports were all from Iowa, with 2 on 7 Dec in Scott (JF) and one on the Keokuk C.B.C. Black Scoters were all from Dec: 2 at R.E.D.A. (MA, CM, m.ob.), one in Scott, IA Robert Cecil 1315 41st Street Des Moines, Iowa 50311 (wewarb@aol.com) QF), one at West Okoboji L., Dickinson, IA (LS), and 2 on the Keokuk, Iowa C.B.C. Af¬ ter missing the species last winter, Missouri had 2 Long-tailed Ducks on 16 Dec-30 Jan at R.E.D.A. (DR, JU, m.ob.). Gray Partridge was reported only from five contiguous counties in n.-cen. Iowa, where there were six reports of 3-16 birds. Missouri Greater Prairie-Chickens included 30 on 29 Dec at PS.P and 25 on 27 Feb in Harrison (SK). An Osprey was documented 25 Jan in Knox, MO (tAD). Exceptional were 35 Northern Harriers 21 Dec at PS.P (MR). Unusual among three Iowa reports of Northern Goshawks were 3 (1 ad. and 2 imms.) together 30 Jan in Winneshiek (DK, DC); in Missouri, one was observed 1 1 Dec in St. Charles (BR). There was a strong showing of Rough-legged Hawks in n. and VOLUME 59 (2005) • NUMBER 2 273 IOWA & MISSOURI This Black-chinned Hummingbird was in Farmington, Francois County, Missouri 9-19 (here 18) December 2004. Banded by the photographer, it was enjoyed by many during its stay. Photograph by Lanny Chambers. cen. Iowa, but few made it to Missouri — the most southerly of six reports was one 1 5 Feb at PS P (DW). Golden Eagles were reported from Henry, Mississippi, Harrison, Shelby, and Lincoln, MO and Marshall, Clayton, Winneshiek, and Allamakee, IA. At Glendale Cemetery in Des Moines, Jay Gilliam con¬ cluded that, based upon photos, 9 Merlins were present at one time or another during the season — up to 6 were seen at one time (RC, m.ob.). There were 22 other reports from the Region, mostly from Iowa — over¬ all, an excellent season. Unprecedented was a report of 4 Prairie Falcons — 3 in view at once — on 14 Jan in Buchanan, MO (LL). Other Missouri reports were of singles: 5 Dec in Lafayette (KM), 12 Dec in Clinton (CV), 31 Dec at PS.P (CB), and 15 Feb in Jasper (DW); Iowa reports included singles 26 Feb in Woodbury (BH) and on the West- field and Des Moines C.B.C.s. RAILS THROUGH OWLS A Virginia Rail was heard 18 Dec at the Co¬ lumbia S.T.P., MO (tPM). Unusual were mid-winter reports of single Sandhill Cranes on 7 Jan at Saylorville Res. (AB) and 1 Feb at Grand Pass C.A. Saline, MO (DW); migrants appeared on 17 Feb in Cass, MO (LR) and reached n. Iowa by late Feb (FL, JG). There were several very late or wintering Missouri shorebirds, such as 2 Greater Yellowlegs on 18 Dec at Four Rivers C.A., Vernon (tMR) and a Spotted Sandpiper on 18 Dec-30 Jan on the Mississippi R., Lincoln (tSS, ph. JU). Missouri Least Sandpipers lingered in un¬ usual numbers, such as 21 on 17-18 Dec and 6 on 27-30 Jan at Wallace S.P., Clinton (tSS), 3 on 18 Dec at Four Rivers C.A., Ver¬ non (tMR, t KM), and 6 on 27-30 Jan in Lincoln (CM, JU). Finally, there were 4 Dun- lin on 7 Dec in Linn, MO (LL, SK). American Woodcocks returned early to s. Iowa, with one noted 26 Feb in Jefferson (DP). The largest concentrations of Ring-billed Gulls were in Iowa: 7000 at Saylorville Res. A female Lark Bunting photographed 4 December 2004 at Weldon Spring Conservation Area, St. Charles County, Missouri was perhaps second in winter for Missouri in winter. Photograph by Josh Uffman. 26 Feb (SJD) and 10,000 in Scott 27 Feb (CC). A California Gull at R.E.D.A 2-18 Dec (tJM, tCM, m.ob.) furnished about the 15th Missouri record; an Iowa report was referred to the records committee. Missouri Thayer’s — Gulls were all from the St. Louis area and peaked at 3 first-winter birds 28 Dec at R.E.D.A. (MA, CM. JM); Iowa reports peaked at 6 during the season in the Davenport area (SF, CC, m.ob.) and 13 during early Jan at Des Moines (AB, m.ob.). At least one Lesser Black-backed Gull was present from 3 Dec through Jan at R.E.D.A.; overall, 2 first-win¬ ter, one second-winter, one third-winter, and 2 ads. were identified here (JE, CM, JM, KM, DR, MT, DW). Iowa birds peaked at 4 in Scott (SF), with singles at Saylorville Res. 1 1-20 Dec (JG, WO, SSP) and Iowa City 17- 18 Jan (RD, CC, m.ob). Two Glaucous Gulls made it to R.E.D.A. (MT, JU); among four Iowa reports, the most were up to 5 from late Dec through Jan at Des Moines (RC, AB, m.ob.) and up to 4 in Jan and Feb in Scott (SF). Great Black-backed Gulls made two ap¬ pearances: an ad. 29 Dec at Pool 15 Scott, IA (SF) and a first-winter bird at R.E.D.A. 16 & 24 Jan (MT, DW). An unusual cen. Missouri Black-legged Kittiwake lingered from the fall season until 2 Dec at Bagnell Dam, Miller (tKM, MA); unusual for Iowa were three re¬ ports: one ad. on the Keokuk C.B.C., one first-winter bird at Red Rock Res. 26-27 Dec (TEW, ph. RS), and another first-winter 30 Dec in Scott (TCE). The largest of the four Eurasian Collared- Dove reports from Missouri was of 18 birds 29 Dec in St. Genevieve (JE); Iowa had 1-8 birds reported from 10 locations. Bam Owls made a good showing in Missouri, with sin¬ gles 18 Dec in Nodaway (DE), carrying food to a nest box on 15 Feb in Vernon (DW), and 22 Feb in Greene (DR). Snowy Owls made four Iowa appearances, all in Dec. Long¬ eared Owls appeared in average numbers, while Short-eareds were down in Iowa but up in Missouri. HUMMINGBIRDS THROUGH WAXWINGS Remarkable was Missouri’s first Black- chinned Hummingbird, an imm. or female in St. Francois 9-19 Dec (TLC, ph. JE, m.ob.), and almost as remarkable were 3 Ru¬ fous Hummingbirds: a female in Jasper mid- Nov-14 Jan (TLH) and 2 females in Cape Gi¬ rardeau 11 Dec (TLC, TBE, LC), one of which remained through 13 Jan (BE). Only one Red-headed Woodpecker was reported r A Iowa's "invasion" of northern owls was less dramatic than Minnesota's but still produced nearly as much excitement J A among local birders. The biggest news was also the biggest disappointment — a belated report of a Boreal Owl, Iowa's first, photographed 14 Nov in George Wyth S.P., Blackhawk. It was found by Scott Garrett who, with a little help from his friends, identified it from his photographs. It was not relocated. Tipped off by the Minnesota invasion, Iowa birders searched for other owls and were rewarded with Iowa's 2nd Northern Hawk Owl 14 Feb in the surprised little town of Man¬ ly in Worth (ph., TPH, tRGo, TCF, m.ob.). Perhaps the most southerly of the continent's hawk owls this season, this one re¬ mained through the end of Feb. Not unexpected but also successful in getting birders moving were three reports of single Great Gray Owls: in Boone 16-18 Jan (ph., TJG, ph., TAJ), in Buchanan 14-15 Feb (ph., TSC), and in Dickinson 16-19 Feb (ph., TJ&LK). Northern Saw-whet Owls, however, appeared in just normal numbers in Iowa; the most southerly were in Mis¬ souri: 2 on 7 Dec-30 Jan in Knox (KM) and one on 3 Feb in Holt (DW). 274 NORTH AMERICAN BIRD IOWA & MISSOURI in Iowa after the C.B.C. period. Northern (Red-shafted) Flickers were found in Clay and Barton, MO and Polk and Johnson, 1A. At the edge of its range was a Pileated Wood¬ pecker in Platte, MO 22 Dec (DW). Eastern Phoebes are rare away from se. Missouri; un¬ usual were up to 3 during the season in Greene (BB, DB, DTh) and a single If Jan in Jasper (DW). A Northern Shrike made it to Harrison, MO (DW, SK); Iowa had a normal season, with about 20 reports. A Blue-head¬ ed Vireo 17 Dec in Mississippi in extreme se. Missouri was quite late (BE). Red-breasted Nuthatches were widespread throughout the Region all season. A Bewicks Wren in Buchanan, MO 3 Dec was a bit out of range (LL). Seventeen Sedge Wrens at P.S.P. 21 Dec (MR) and a Marsh Wren on the Keokuk, IA C.B.C. were noteworthy. An ex¬ cellent find was a Mountain Bluebird in Mis¬ sissippi, MO 17 Dec (ph., tBE). Presently ca¬ sual in Iowa, there were about 10 Townsend’s Solitaires there this season. The only Varied Thrush in either state was in Iowa City 30 Dec-4 Jan (CC, DPe). Missouri hosted 2 Gray Catbirds: 23-26 Dec at St. Louis (tKM, IMG) and 4 Jan in Andrew (tLG). A North¬ ern Mockingbird in Winneshiek, IA 1 Feb (DC) was well n. of its expected range. An American Pipit on the Cedar Rapids C.B.C. furnished one of a handful of Iowa winter records; among four Missouri reports, excep¬ tional were 25 on the C.B.C. in Bates (tKM) and 9 on 26 Dec in Clay (tDW). Casual in Iowa, single Bohemian Waxwings were note¬ worthy in Dickmson 6 Dec (tDPe) and in Sto¬ ry 13 Feb (tSP, tKP). WARBLERS THROUGH FINCHES Missouri’s balmy Dec was credited with keeping warblers around: in addition to the expected Yellow-rumped, there were single Orange-crowneds on 18 Dec in Wayne (tSD) and 13-28 Jan in Stone (ph., tKL); a Pine in St. Charles 27 Feb (CM); 2 Palms in Mississippi 17 Dec (tBE); a Black-and-white in St. Genevieve 9 Dec (tDW); and a Com¬ mon Yellowthroat in Clay 1 Feb (DW). One Spotted Towhee was found in Iowa and 4 in Missouri. Wintering or extraordinarily early was a Chipping Sparrow on 27 Feb in Win¬ nebago, IA (tSP, tKP); a Missouri bird in Columbia was late 12-17 Dec (ph., tEW). A Lark Bunting brought out the troops to Weldon Springs C.A., St. Charles 4 Dec (tBR, m.ob.). Overall, lingering sparrows were scarce in Iowa this season but about normal for Missouri; the best was a Le Con¬ te’s 8 Dec in Polk (tJB), Iowa’s first winter report in several years. Only 2 Oregon Jun- cos were reported, both in Iowa. Smith’s Longspur reports were from Missouri: 5 on 1 1 Dec in Jasper (KM) and one on 21 Dec at RS.P. (MR). A male Rose-breasted Grosbeak brightened Thompson R. Wetland, Liv¬ ingston, MO 29 Dec (tSK), while an ad. male Black-headed Grosbeak made a one- day appearance 29-30 Jan in Clayton, IA (ph., tDA, tCC) The status of Eastern Meadowlarks in Iowa is unclear, but one was identified by call in Poweshiek 29 Jan (DK). A Yellow¬ headed Blackbird was at RS.P 11 Jan (ph., tDW). Iowa’s only Brewer’s Blackbird after the first week of Jan was a single 9 Jan in Warren, IA (JS): Missouri had two reports exceeding 100 birds: in Stoddard 18 Dec (tSD) in Pike 30 Dec (tBR, tSS). Small num¬ bers of Great-tailed Grackles are wintering in cen. Iowa, e.g., 7 in Tama 10 Jan (PM) and 17 in Warren 29 Jan (RA, PA). Purple Finches made a modest showing overall, two exceptions being 300 in Colum¬ bia, MO 24 Jan (PM) and 50 in Greene, MO 1 Feb (CB). Missouri yielded more Red Crossbill reports than Iowa; the high counts among eight total reports received were 18 in St. Charles, MO 1 Dec (CM), 10 in Clay, MO 5 Dec (KM), and 14 in Poweshiek, IA on 3 Feb (DK). White -winged Crossbill reports were limited to Iowa, with 4 in O’Brien 15 Jan (LS) and one in Floyd 12 Feb (PH, RG). The most southerly Common Redpolls were in Iowa, in Polk (DT) and Dallas (RA, PA); eight other reports totaling 13 birds were re¬ ceived. It was a pretty good year for Pine Siskins, with up to 3 making it to Greene in sw. Missouri (DB); high counts were 47 in Clayton, IA 13 Feb (DA) and 30 in Buchanan, MO 29 Dec (LL). Corrigendum: A Feb 2004 Common Raven was not accepted by the Iowa Bird Records Committee. Cited contributors: Danny Akers, Reid Allen, Pam Allen, Matt Andrews, David Blevins, Joe Boyles, Aaron Brees, Bo Brown, Charley Bur- wick, Sondra Cabel, Dennis Carter, Chris Caster, Robert Cecil (RC), Lanny Chambers, Ray Cummings (RCu), Bob Dick (RD), Stephen Dilks (SD), Stephen Dinsmore (SJD), Ann Downing, Joe Eades, David Easterla, Bill Eddleman, Chris Edwards, Carolyn Fischer, Steve Freed, Jim Fuller, Leo Galloway, Jay Gilliam, Rita Goranson, Lawrence Hays, Paul Hertzel, Bill Huser, Ann Johnson, Steve Kinder, Darwin Koenig, Jim & Lisa Kraninger, Larry Lade, Kathy Lee, Fred Lesh- er, Charlene Malone, Jim Malone, Kristie Mayo (KM), Paul McKenzie, Keith McMullen (KMc), Wolf Oesterreich, Shane Patterson, Katy Patterson, Diane Pesek (DPe), Diane Porter (DP), Mark Proescholdt, Mark Rob¬ bins, Tommie Rogers, David Rogles, Bill Rowe, Bill Scheible, Lee Schoenewe, Scott Schuette, Jim Sinclair, Russ Stilwell, Ed The- len, Mike Thelen, Dennis Thompson (DT), Dorothy Thurman (DTh), Josh Uffman, Chris Valentine, Edge Wade, Doug Willis. GET DOWN AND DIRTY FOR AMERICA. And when you get you hands dirty in programs like National Public Lands Day, you help spruce up your beautiful lands. Last year, on this day nearly 80,000 volunteers built trails, bridges, planted native trees and removed trash. To find out how you can help, go to www.npld.com or call 800-VOL-TEER (800-865-8337). HELPING HANDS FOR AMERICA’S LANDS DAI © 2004 Muench Photography, Inc. VOLUME 59 (2005) • NUMBER 2 275 Tennessee & Kentucky A = Kentucky Dam B = Barkley Dam C = Kentucky Lake D = Barkley Lake E = Jonathan Creek Embayment F = Land Between the Lakes G = Blood River Embayment Long Point Unit, Reeltoot NWR KENTUCKY Sauerheber Unit, Sloughs WMA \ Boone Clifts State Nature Preserve >■ ■ < Markland Dam Falls of the OhiomJ s, : • Louisville V ■ .« W Henderson g L. Peewee ■ Peabody WMA Frankfort a Daniel Bernheim Forest Boone ? Mammoth NatiC'/ Cave NP ■ Barren Forest ■■ ■ River L. 1 Me Elroy L./ Chanev L ( > Minor Clark Fish m X Hatchery/(Jpve Run L. *,Red River Gorge f" Geological Area y,A Paris i sf7 Landing SP ; Reelfoot Tennessee NWR u,kej Big Sandy Unit ■Meeman-Shelby Forest SP Cross Creeks NWR Big South Fork NRA Shelby Bottoms Radnor Lake State Natural Area Tennessee NWR Duck River Unit m ■ Shelby Farms Ensley Bottoms Pickwick Landing SP Sharps Ridge ■ Kingston Steam Plant Hiwassee WR m SoddyMtn.maBrajnerd Nickajack Lake p\ne ''"'J'B lack Mtn. Zand Gap NHP S. Holston Lake Rankin Bottoms Craven s House Shady Valley Great Smoky Mtns. NP TENNESSEE Chris Sloan 224 Hicks Road Nashville, Tennessee 37221 (chris.sloan@comcast.net) Brainard Palmer-Ball, Jr. Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission 801 Schenkel Lane Frankfort, Kentucky 40601 (brainard.palmer-ball@ky.gov) The winter season of 2004-2005 was characterized by variable tempera¬ tures, with several abnormally warm periods interspersed with short bouts of be- low-average readings. The season’s most se¬ vere outbreak of cold weather occurred dur¬ ing the last week of December. The minimum reading at Louisville for the winter was 2° F on Christmas morning, while 13° F was the season’s minimum at Nashville, recorded both 25 December and 18 January. Overall, precip¬ itation was near normal, but significant snow¬ storms were conspicuous by their absence. A brief period of above-average precipitation oc¬ curred in early January but did not last long enough to increase waterfowl habitat appre¬ ciably. Rarity highlights of the season included a state-first Bullock’s Oriole, a state-second Common Ground-Dove, and a likely return¬ ing Spotted Towhee in Kentucky, and a con¬ tinuing Vermilion Flycatcher and two North¬ ern Goshawks in Tennessee. The season’s most notable concentration of gulls occurred off the Mississippi River in northwestern Ten¬ nessee and included no fewer than six species, including two California Gulls and up to five Iceland Gulls. A remarkable scarcity of hard and soft mast crops in some portions of the Region resulted in much-reduced numbers of some species during the winter. LOONS THROUGH SWANS The only rare loons reported were a juv. Pacif¬ ic on L. Barkley, Lyon, KY 18 Dec (tBL), a Pa¬ cific and a Red-throated in Henry, TN 13 Feb (MT), and 2 Red-throateds in Henry, TN 26 Feb (MT). Counts of 125 Horned Grebes on L. Barkley, Lyon KY and 200+ on Kentucky L., Marshall, KY, both 10 Jan (DR), were relative¬ ly impressive mid-winter totals. Eight of the annual wintering Eared Grebes at S. Holston L., Sullivan, TN remained through the period. A few American White Pelicans lingered through the season, but numbers began build¬ ing again by mid-Feb, with 292 on Kentucky L., Calloway, KY 22 Feb (HC). An injured Snowy Egret at Ensley Bottoms, sw. Shelby, TN 1 Dec (JRW) lingered through at least 22 Dec (JRW). Great Egrets are un¬ common to rare in the Region in winter, so re¬ ports of 5 individuals in five Tennessee coun¬ ties, including four in ne. Tennessee, represented an exceptional number. Again this year, a few Black-crowned Night-Herons, rare in Kentucky in winter, wintered in Jeffer¬ son (BWo). Winter goose populations in the vicinity of Reelfoot L., TN/KY were again high, with maximum counts of 3500 Greater White- fronteds and 100,000 Snows 22 Jan (M.T.O.S.). Scattered reports of small num¬ bers of Ross’s Geese in middle and e. Ten¬ nessee have become the norm; this winter, one to 7 were reported at six locations. In the w. part of the Region, reports of Ross’s Geese have become so routine as to merit little attention; however, three flocks total¬ ing 147 birds in Lake, TN /Fulton, KY 6 Feb (JRW) represented an exceptional count. Blue-morph Ross’s Geese are very rare, so a small blue-morph goose in Lake, TN 22 Jan (JRW) (the possibility of a Ross’s Goose x Lesser Snow Goose hybrid could not be ruled out) was noteworthy as well. Also of note were a number of reports of Cackling Geese, recently split from Canada Goose. Because our knowledge of field identifica¬ tion and distribution of Cackling Geese is still developing, observers are requested to document carefully, and ideally to photo¬ graph, any possible Cackling Geese in the Region. In Kentucky, one to 35+ were re¬ ported from Ballard (SR), Daviess (DA), Trigg (BL), and Warren (ph. DR et al.) in the state’s w. half, as well as in Bullitt (MMn, BP), Jefferson (vt. BY), and Oldham (MS, TBP) in n.-cen. Kentucky. In Tennessee, one was on the S. Holston R., Sullivan, TN 26-27 Dec (tRK, TM, WC), 2-4 in Wash¬ ington, TN 8-23 Jan (LM, tRK et al.), one at Britton Ford 15 Jan (ph. MT), 2 at Laud¬ erdale W.M.A., Lauderdale, TN 22 Jan (JRW), one at Bristol, Sullivan, TN 3-4 Feb (KE), 4 at Lauderdale W.M.A., Lauderdale, TN 5 Feb (JRW), and 2 in Dyer, TN 19-23 Feb (MT, tJRW, TW). For the 2nd consecu¬ tive year, there were a significant number of Mute Swan reports, with one to 21 birds re¬ ported at 1 1 locales in Kentucky and one to 8 reported in three w. Tennessee counties during the period. The Tundra Swan flock at Sauerheber Unit Sloughs W.M.A., Hender¬ son, KY numbered up to 27 birds in early Jan (MMr); also reported were 2 imm. Tun¬ dras in Wayne, KY 27 Dec (ph. RDn et al.) and an imm. Tundra at London, Laurel, KY . . . 276 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS Kentucky birders paid particular attention to small Canada Geese this winter, the first since the A.O.U. Check list Com¬ mittee elevated the smaller races to full species status. At Bowling Green, one to 9 Cackling Geese were seen off and on from mid-December (here 20 December) 2004 through 24 January 2005. Photograph by David Roemer 24-26 Jan (GC, ph. RDn). Similarly, 24 dis¬ tant swans at Britton Ford, Big Sandy Unit, Tennessee N.W.R. 26 Dec. (JRW, MT) and one there 31 Dec (JRW) were likely Tundra, but Trumpeter could not be ruled out. DUCKS THROUGH CRANES Quite unusual were two mid-winter reports of Blue-winged Teal: a female that apparently wintered in s. Warren , KY (DR) and a pair at Long Point Unit, Reelfoot N.W.R. , Fulton, KY 18 Dec (MG, ph. JRW). A male at Cane Creek Park, Cookeville, Putnam, TN 16 Feb (SJS, NL, BD) was an unusually early spring tran¬ sient. Redheads put in a decent mid-winter showing, perhap in part as a response to the late Dec cold snap. A drake duck thought to be a Redhead x Ring-necked Duck hybrid was present 2-23 Jan at S. Holston L. (tRK, m.ob.). Surf Scoters were scattered around the Re¬ gion: one to 2 at Ensley Bottoms 9 Dec+ (JRW); an ad. male on L. Cumberland, Pulas¬ ki, KY 12 Dec (RDn); 8 at S. Holston L. 12 Dec (RK et al.); one at Cane Creek Park, Put¬ nam, TN 12 Dec (SJS); and a female or imm. on the Ohio R. at Louisville 5 Feb (MS, BY). The only reported White-winged Scoters were singles on S. Holston L. 22 Jan (TM) and in Henry, TN 13 Feb (MT). Single Black Scoters were reported from four locations: the Ohio R. at Louisville 19 Dec (BP et al.); Ens¬ ley Bottoms 9-12 Dec (ph. JRW); Robco L., Shelby, TN 1 1 Dec (JRW, MT); and Henry, TN 26 Feb (MT). The only Long-tailed Duck re¬ ported was an ad. male on L. Barkley, Lyon, KY 6 Jan (DR). The cold snap in late Dec brought with it a flurry of Common Mer¬ ganser reports across the Region, with one to 7 reported from five Kentucky locales 31 Dec-3 Feb and one to 4 reported from five Tennessee sites 26 Dec-9 Jan. Ospreys are rare in the Region in winter, so reports of single birds from five different e. Tennessee counties represent an unusually high number. Northern Goshawks are excep¬ tionally rare in the Region at any time of year, so reports of imms. in Lake, TN 20 Feb (tJRW, NM) and at Brainerd Levee, Hamilton, TN 26 Feb (DJ) were remarkable. There were at least a dozen reports of calurus Red-tailed Hawks in the Region, representing a fairly typical show¬ ing. Rough-legged Hawks were not numerous at Peabody W.M.A., Ohio/Muhlenberg, KY this winter, with peak counts of only 4 individuals on two occasions. One was in Gibson, TN 14-28 Feb (MG), and another was in Greene, TN 18 Feb (DMi). It was a very good year for Golden Eagles, with singles reported at Bern- heim Forest, Bullitt/Nelson, KY 2 (BP) & 28 Dec (BP, MMn); Land Between the Lakes Na¬ tional Recreation Area, Lyon, KY 18 Dec (BL); Reelfoot L., Lake/Obion, TN 18 Dec+ (CGD, tCS, ph. JRW et al.); near Swifton, Wayne, KY An incredible collection of vagrant gulls was present in Lake County, Tennessee between Reelfoot Lake and the Mississippi River from 1 6 January through the end of the winter period. Among the star attractions were at least five different Iceland Gulls (top image; 13 February 2005), an adult and a first-winter California Gull 19 February, three first-winter (here 13 February) and one second-win- ter Thayer's Gulls, and three first-winter Lesser Black- backed Gulls. Photographs by Jeff R. Wilson. 27 Dec (SJS); Johnson, TN 30 Jan (JS); and Jackson, TN 4 Feb (NL). Wintering Peregrine Falcons and Merlins were again prevalent, with 9 Peregrines reported from eight coun¬ ties in the Region and 1 1 Merlins reported in nine counties in the Region. Three Virginia Rails were heard at two lo¬ cations in Muhlenberg, KY 2 Jan, suggesting wintering (BP, AC, RDn, HC). One at Shady Valley, Johnson, TN 19 Feb (LM, DH et al.) was also likely wintering. As many as 8 were present through the period at Standifer Gap Marsh, Hamilton, TN, where they are year- round residents (DPt). In what is now an an¬ nual occurrence, the Hiwassee C.B.C. once again established a new high count for Sand¬ hill Cranes with 14,610 individuals 1 Jan (fide KC). SH0REBIRDS THROUGH WOODPECKERS Several shorebird species that are rare in the Region in winter were reported in Tennessee. Most notable among them were 3-15 Sander- lings and 2-3 Western Sandpipers at Ensley Bottoms 1 Dec-1 Jan (JRW). Also reported were a Greater Yellowlegs in Knox 1 1 Dec (HH et al.) and 3 Spotted Sandpipers — one at the Shelby Farms, Shelby 19 Dec (CB) and 2 at Nickajack L., Marion 8 Jan (JH, DJ, JCh). Sin¬ gle Long-billed Dowitchers in Lake and at Lauderdale W.M.A., Lauderdale 19 Feb (JRW) may have been early spring transients. A second-year Laughing Gull likely contin¬ ued from late fall at Kentucky Dam 15 Dec (HC, MR) and 10 Jan (DR, RDv, HC). The only unusual mid-winter concentration of Bonaparte’s Gulls was 3500-4000 on L. Barkley, Lyon, KY 15 Feb (DR). An incredible collection of rare gulls was observed in Lake, TN 16 Jan+, including as many as 3 first-win¬ ter Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 3 first-winter and one second-winter Thayer’s Gulls, a first- winter (16 Jan) and an ad. (19 Feb) Califor¬ nia Gull, and as many as 5 first-winter Ice¬ land Gulls (ph. JRW, m.ob.). Also reported in Tennessee were an ad. Lesser Black-backed Gull and a first-winter Great Black-backed Gull in Henry, TN 26 Dec (JRW, MT). In Ken¬ tucky, one first-winter and up to 2 ad. Thay¬ er’s Gulls were detected off and on during the season at Kentucky and Barkley Dams. Single ad. and first-winter Lesser Black-backed Gulls were also reported off and on during the sea¬ son on Kentucky L. and L. Barkley; a first- winter bird just e. of the Long Point Unit, Reelfoot N.W.R. 21 Feb (ph. MT) provided a first record for Fulton, KY. Finally, a first-win¬ ter Great Black-backed Gull was present at Kentucky Dam 6-10 Jan (ph. DR, HC). As usual, a few Forster’s Terns lingered well into winter and likely wintered on Kentucky L. in both states and in Shelby, TN. A Common Ground-Dove feeding in a yard in e. Jessamine late Dec+ (EB, GB, ph. MMn) will provide Kentucky with its 2nd record af¬ ter B.R.C. approval. Single Barn Owls were re¬ ported in three Kentucky counties: Jefferson (DPa), Calloway (HC), and Trigg (BL, PL). Short-eared Owl numbers were down this winter, with a peak count of only 4 at Peabody W.M.A., Ohio/Muhlenberg, KY. In Tennessee, single Short-eared Owls at Ft. Campbell, Montgomery 8 Dec (DMo), in Gibson 24 Dec (MG), and at Kingsport 13 Feb (JMo) were noteworthy. In Lake, TN and on the Obion/Dyer, TN line, up to 5 were reported regularly through the season. A Northern Saw-whet Owl was banded in Blount, TN 24 Jan (JG), and another responded to taped calls in Morgan, TN 5 Feb (BS). As has become the norm, 4 Common Nighthawks lingered through at least 7 Dec at Vanderbilt Universi¬ ty’s intramural fields, Nashville, TN (KO). For wintering hummingbirds, the winter VOLUME 59 (2005) • NUMBER 2 277 It was a winter of much-reduced numbers for most species dependent on both hard and soft mast crops. With rela¬ tively wet conditions during the season, there was much debate about the reasons for the scarcity of acorns, hickory nuts, berries, and similar natural and ornamental foods. Perhaps the most plausible explanation involved a combination of natural low points in cyclic fruit production combined with an abundance of severe spring and early summer windstorms that may have stripped many trees of pollen, flowers, and young fruits. The results included much reduced numbers of berry- eaters such as Cedar Waxwings and Yellow-rumped Warblers, as well as (at least in Kentucky) hard-mast consumers such as Red-headed Woodpeckers and Blue Jays. 2004-2005 season was slightly down relative to last year, with at least 33 different birds re¬ ported. Of the 29 that were identified to some degree, there were 17 Rufous, 1 Allens, 7 Sc- lasphorus, and 3 Rufous/Allens. The highlight was Tennessee’s (and the Region’s) 5th Allen’s Hummingbird, an ad. female banded in Williamson 5 Dec (BH, ph. CS). Red-headed Woodpeckers were scarce throughout most of the Region this winter, with only 33 individu¬ als reported on 12 Kentucky C.B.C.s. FLYCATCHERS THROUGH FINCHES The ad. male Vermilion Flycatcher at Hatchie N.W.R. (ph. JRW) remained through at least 14 Dec (MR). An unlucky Blue-headed Vireo struck a window and died in Madison, KY 6 Dec (CO); others were at Memphis 19 Dec (DPr) and at Tigrett W.M.A., Dyer, TN 26 Jan (CB, VR, BWi). Away from the Mississippi R. floodplain in w. Tennessee, Loggerhead Shrikes have steadily declined, so one in Williamson 18 Dec (JMa, RE, JL) was note¬ worthy. Two Tree Swallows at Old Hickory' L., Sumner, TN 15 Dec (JHi) were unusual early- winter lingerers; scattered reports of the species 11-26 Feb likely represented early spring migrants. Red-breasted Nuthatches ended up staging a small to moderate move¬ ment into the Region this winter. The season again yielded a significant num¬ ber of reports of passerines that are rare in the Region in winter. Twelve House Wrens report¬ ed in eight counties across Tennessee repre¬ sented an exceptional total. Sedge Wrens, too, were widely reported, with 7 individuals re¬ ported from five Tennessee counties. Marsh Wrens are even rarer in winter (but seeming¬ ly on the increase in the Region), so singles in White, TN 8 (WB) & 21 Dec (DD, SJS, CM) and on the Reelfoot L. C.B.C. 18 Dec (fide MG), as well as 2 in Fayette, TN 2 Jan (SM, MW), were noteworthy. Two Blue-gray Gnat- catchers — one in Knox, TN 15 Dec-9 Jan (SH) and one at Shelby Bottoms, Davidson, TN 18 Dec (BH) — and a single Gray Catbird at Stones R. National Battlefield, Rutherford, TN 8 Dec (BS) were also reported. Although Palm Warblers were not as nu¬ merous as during the previous winter, they were still fairly widely reported. Most reports were of single birds, although 6 were in Flardin, TN 3 Jan (MT et al.). Orange-crowned Warblers were reported in above-average numbers, with 12 reported from five counties across Tennessee. One of only a few lingering summer residents reported in Kentucky dur¬ ing the season was a female Common Yel- lowthroat in Ballard 21 Dec (tBP). In Ten¬ nessee, single Common Yellowthroats were reported from Cookeville, Putnam 18 Dec (GE, MH), Fayette 2 Jan (DPr), and Greene 31 Jan and 26 Feb (DMi). For the 2nd consecu¬ tive winter, a female Summer Tanager visited a yard in Munford, Tipton, TN 8 Dec+ (DPr). Presumably the same male Spotted Towhee that was found in w. McCracken, KY last win¬ ter was present at the same location 21 Dec (tBP, SR). In Tennessee, American Tree Spar- This Common Ground-Dove (here 1 March 2005) was pres¬ ent in a Jessamine County, Kentucky yard from late Decem¬ ber 2004 through the end of the period. It represents just the second record for Kentucky. Photograph by Mark Monroe. rows are rare outside of a few locations in the w. part of the state, so reports of 7 individuals in four middle Tennessee counties indicated a modest invasion. Chipping Sparrows contin¬ ue to increase as winter residents in Ken¬ tucky; one to 40 were reported on 15 C.B.C.s, and small flocks lingered at several locales. Lincoln’s Sparrows are rare in the Region in winter, so reports of single birds in fackson, TN 25 Dec (BS, SJS), in Blount, TN 9 Jan (CM), and in Rutherford, TN 28 Jan (BS) were noteworthy. A Lark Sparrow in Sullivan, TN 22 Jan (tTM, m.ob.) furnished the first con¬ firmed record for ne. Tennessee. Lapland Longspurs were relatively widespread and were reported from no fewer than 11 Ken¬ tucky and seven Tennessee locales, including 2 in Washington 3 Dec (RK), a rarity for ne. Tennessee. The cold spell in late Dec brought a few Snow Buntings into n.-cen. Kentucky, where one to 9 were reported on three occa¬ sions 23-29 Dec (BP, KCm, JCm); one was also reported in Greenville, Greene, TN 27 Dec (IRK). A tardy male Rose-breasted Gros¬ beak lingered at a yard in Nelson, KY through 1 Dec (ph. GH); a female in Hamilton, TN 7 Jan (JSL) appears to represent only the 2nd winter record for that county. Also quite tardy in departing was an Indigo Bunting in w. Ful¬ ton, KY 4 Dec (HC, ME). A Western Meadowlark in s. Warren, KY 14 Feb (ph. DR) provided the only Kentucky re¬ port; one in Crockett, TN 14 Feb (MG) was the only report in Tennessee away from tradi¬ tional locations in nw. Tennessee. Brewer’s Blackbirds are rare away from the w. part of the Region, so the following reports from e. and middle Tennessee were noteworthy: 10 in White 5 Dec (SJS, WW); one in Cheatham 18 Dec (FF, JF); up to 30 in Greene Jan+ (DMi, DH); and a male in Blount 9 Jan (CM). Ken¬ tucky’s star rarity was an ad. male Bullock’s Oriole that was present in a yard outside of Lawrenceburg, Anderson in early Jan+ (ph. A&BR et al.). Small numbers of Pine Siskins lingered throughout the season; 2-6 were re¬ ported on only four Kentucky C.B.C.s, and the peak count was for 40+ in e. Calloway, KY in early-mid-Jan (KCo). Purple Finches also lingered through winter in small but not sur¬ prising numbers; one to 16 were reported on 19 Kentucky C.B.C.s, with the peak count consisting of ca. 25 in se. Jefferson in mid-late Feb (E&JHu). Cited contributors (subregional editors in boldface): David Ayer, Earl Boggs, Gary Bog¬ gs, Wally Brines, Carolyn Bullock, Kevin Calhoon (se. Tennessee), Joe Caminiti (JCm), Kathy Caminiti (KCm), Phillip Cas¬ teel (middle Tennessee), Janice Chadwell (JCh), Hap Chambers, Katherine Cohen (KCo), Wallace Coffey, Amy Covert, Granville Cox, Roseanna Denton (RDn), Robert Dever (RDv), Douglas Downs, Bettie Doyle, C. Gerald Drewry, Melissa Easley, Kevin Elam, Ginger Ensor, Frank Fekel, John Froeschauer, Jim Giocomo, Mark Greene, Gail Hart, Michael Hawkins, John Henderson, Jim Hiett (JHi), Don Holt, Bob Hood, Susan Hoyle, Harold Howell, Eddie & Jennifer Huber (E&JHu), Daniel Jacob¬ son, Rick Knight (e. Tennessee), Rob Lane, Nancy Layzer, Bill Lisowsky, Paula Lisowsky, Judy Luna, Jonnie Sue Lyons, John Mann (JMa), Larry McDaniel, Tom McNeil, Susan McWhirter, Memphis Chap¬ ter of Tennessee Ornithological Society (M.T.O.S.), Don Miller (DMi), Mark Mon¬ roe (MMn), Nancy Moore, Mike Morton (MMr), Daniel Moss (DMo), John Moyle (JMo), Charlie Muise, Ken Oeser, Chelsey Olson, Brainard Palmer-Ball, Jr., Don Parker (DPa), David Patterson (DPt), Dick Preston (DPr), W. Robert Peeples (w. Tennessee), Scott Record, Mike Resch, Virginia Reynolds, Annette & Bobby Riddle, David Roemer, Chris Sloan, John Shumate, Bar¬ bara Stedman, Stephen J. Steelman, Matt Stickel, Michael Todd, Winston Walden, Martha Waldron, Barbara Wilson (BWi), Jeff R. Wilson, Terry Witt, Barbara Woerner (BWo), Ben Yandell, Linda Zempel. t£r 278 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS Winter could be characterized as warm and dry. December was cool with rain early, while Janu¬ ary and February seemed almost balmy. Temperatures reached near or above 70° F on several dates, while going below freezing on only a few dates. LOONS THROUGH RAPTORS Red-throated and Pacific Loons, once difficult to find in the Region, are now almost com¬ monplace. Single Red-throated Loons were reported from Guntersville, Marshall, AL 29 Dec (SWM, m.ob.), Choctawhatchee Bay, Okaloosa, FL 16 Dec (DWa), Grenada L., Grenada, MS 4 Dec (SJD), Bay Springs L., Tishimongo, MS 5 Dec-28 Feb+ (SJD, WP, PP), and Bayou Caddy, Hancock, MS 2 Jan (NB). Two Pacific Loons were at Guntersville, AL 23 Dec-13 Feb (SWM, m.ob.). Rare in Arkansas, 2 Pacifies were in the Caddo Bend area of DeGray L., Clark 23 Jan-20 Feb (GG, j EG, DH, HR, LY, JM). Singles were seen at Gulf Breeze, Santa Rosa, FL 9-30 Jan (RAD, LRD) and Gulf Islands N.S., Santa Rosa, FL 22 Jan (JB, PM, RM). Up to 3 were on Bay Springs L„ MS 5-28 Dec (SJD, WP, PP). Single Red-necked Grebes were at Gun¬ tersville, AL 12 Dec-2 Jan (RAR, LBR, m.ob.) and in Tunica, MS 16 Jan (GK, SK, JRW), where the species is accidental. Eared Grebes put in a fair showing, with 5 on the Pine Bluff C.B.C., Jefferson, AR 29 Dec; 2 at the Fort Walton Beach Spray Fields, Okaloosa, FL 4 Dec-10 Feb (RAD, LRD, m.ob.); and up to 5 on Ross Barnett Res., Madison, MS 26-29 Dec (GK, SK, SJD). An accommodating Western Grebe, Alabama’s 4th, was at Spring Cr., Lawrence 19 Jan-5 Feb (DJS, m.ob.). A Masked Booby at Perdido Pass, Baldwin, AL 2 Jan (SWM) was most unexpected. As in recent years in the Region, American White Pelicans wintered far inland. In Al¬ abama, 10 were at Spring Cr. 25 Dec (SWM); up to 34 were on Limestone Bay, Wheeler N.W.R., Limestone 9 Jan-4 Feb (SWM, GDJ, DGJ, CDC); 22 were at Bear Cr., Colbert 24-26 Jan (PDK); and 50 were near Birm¬ ingham, Jefferson 5 Feb (GJH). In Arkansas, 23 were found on the Conway C.B.C., Faulkner 18 Dec, and 77 were recorded on the Pine Bluff C.B.C. 29 Dec. Single Anhin- gas were near Gulf Shores, Baldwin, AL 4 Feb (CB) and at Noxubee N.W.R., Noxubee, MS 1 Dec-20 Jan, representing the 6th area winter record. Single Cattle Egrets, rare in Arkansas in winter, were seen near Claren¬ don 1 1 Dec and along Hwy. 165 between De- Witt and Stuttgart 23 Dec (JP). Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks have been noted in modest numbers in Louisiana over the past few years. However, the report of “several thousand” (DBo, fide JHu) through¬ out the period in the rice field-crayfish com¬ plex between Gueydan and L. Arthur VOLUME 59 (2005) • NUMBE . . . .. . . . . . . . . . Central Southern ■ Craig Fish Hatchery „ . , *Harrison • Fayetteville Jonesboro. Ft. Smith !• Holla Bald a a Bend NWR a Knob NWB L. Dardanelle _ , ML. Conway Hulsey State Joe Hogan State *-, . Fish hfatchery ■ Lin|e *nnk ■ Fish Ratchery DeGray L. ■ 1 6 9'“/ ■Rock - White Rivera NWR ^ Oakwood NWR 'ig Lake NWR 'apanocca NWR Waterloo Florence Wheeler Dam \ 1 I Sardis L. £ a Grenada L. Columbusj Oktibbeha County j i Cross | L ArkadelphiaOxi a dation Ponds Millwood L. L. Chicot Overflow NWR* 'Grand L Noxubee , NWR • » Huntsville [Muscle t*WheelerNWR Shoals Decatur Bankhead NF Guntersville feiss L. Shreveport \ Monroe LOUISIANA Red River Toledo V, NWR Catahoula Bender L. ■ Res. X Alexandria. Cheneyville* Tuscaloosa . Birmingham • Harpersville * Jackson MISSISSIPPI Lake Rice Charles Country . ■ . Cameron - . -a — : Lafayette Parish St. Tammany Parish • Baton Rouge New-'-., Orleans ■ * Miss. Sandhill Crane NWR Ai ARAM A nLnDnl’ln • Marion Woerner a Turf Farm • Jackson Mobile/Tensaw Delta l it** Gull Is. Natl. Seashore (MS) Chandeleur- Breton Islands (LA) Lacassine Reserve-Bonnet Carre Spillway South Pass GULF OF MEXICO ALABAMA/FLORIDA GULF COAST SITES: A = St. Vincent NWR E = Ft. Pickens B = Destin F = Gulf Shores C = Ft. Walton Beach G = Ft. Morgan Spray Fields H = Dauphin 1. D = Gulf Breeze 1 = Bayou La Batre (Cameron/Jefferson) is phenomenal but should be verified carefully. Ross’s Geese were found in 1 1 locations, with a maximum of 3000 in Humphreys, MS 16 Jan (SJD, PB). With the elevation of Cackling Goose to full specific status, a flood of records came in. In Alabama, up to 4 were present 20 Nov-30 Jan on Limestone Bay, Wheeler N.W.R. (m.ob.); 2 were near Lillian, Baldwin 30 Dec (RAD, LRD, HEH, LC, m.ob); and 19 were at Fairhope, Baldwin 25 Jan (DPI, ALM). Two reports from Louisiana included 5 at E. Jetty, Cameron 18 Dec (DPM, PAW) and an amaz¬ ing 1500-2000 near L. Arthur, Cameron/Jef¬ ferson (DPM, PAW, RDP, PC, JB). In Missis¬ sippi, up to 4 were at Browning Creek L., Oktibbeha 15 Dec-24 Feb (TLS, RW, LW); 1-3 were in Leflore 4 Dec-1 Jan (SJD); 2 were at Sardis State Refuge, Lafayette 18 Dec (GK, VT); 14 were in Humphreys 31 Dec (SJD); up to 9 were in Tunica 1 Jan-19 Feb (GK, SK, SJD, m.ob.); and 2 were in Quitman 15 Jan (SJD). Trumpeter Swans were reported from three locations in Arkansas. Two, including a neck-collared female released in Iowa in 2001, were at Mammoth Springs S.P., Fulton 24 Dec (GP); 2, with red neck-collars indi¬ cating release in Iowa, were found at Siloam Springs, Benton 2 Feb (AD); and an amazing 88 were at Magness L., Cleburne through 18 2 C. Dwight Cooley U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge Complex 2700 Refuge Headquarters Road Decatur, Alabama 35603 (sabrewing@earthlink.net) Feb (JOG, SJG, KR). One on Ross Barnett Res., MS 25 Dec (SJD) was presumably the same bird that has been present there for more than a year. Up to 4 Tundra Swans were present in Lauderdale, AL 3-29 Dec (DJS, m.ob.). Alabama’s 11th Eurasian Wigeon was a male at Eufaula N.W.R., Barbour 12 Feb (GEH, TH). The 5105 Ring-necked Ducks reported on the C.B.C. at Wheeler N.W.R. 18 Dec was an Alabama maximum. A female- type Surf Scoter was at Guntersville, AL 29 Dec (LWe, SWM); 2 imms. were reported from fish farms in Prairie, AR 8 Dec (KN, LDN); and a juv. was on L. Caroline, Madi¬ son, MS 26 Dec (SJD). In Louisiana, up to 7 were recorded from L. Pontchartrain, Or- 279 - - - - - — CENTRAL SOUTHERN A juvenile light-morph Ferruginous Hawk photographed 4 January 2005 in Tunica County, Mississippi represents the first confirmed state record and about the seventh state report overall. This cooperative bird was present for several weeks and seen by many. Photograph by Stephen J. Dinsmore. leans 26 Jan-21 Feb (BMM, RDP, DPM, PAW). Single White-winged Scoters were on Browning Cr. L., MS 18 Nov- 10 Dec (TLS, m.ob.) and L. Caroline, MS 26 Dec (SJD). A female Black Scoter wras on Wheeler N.W.R., AL 7-8 Jan (JH, SS, PDK, m.ob.), while an imm. was on L. Dardanelle, Yell, AR 2 Jan (KN, LDN, DB, SDV). A female Long-tailed Duck was a good find near Leighton, Col¬ bert , AL 23 Feb+ (DJS), as were a male and female on L. Pontchartrain, LA 11-24 Dec (PAW, DPM, BMM). The only Common Merganser reported was a female on Grena¬ da L„ MS 24 Dec (SJD). The 1300 Ruddy Ducks on Guntersville L., AL 20 Jan (GDJ, DGJ) was a good number. The only White-tailed Kites reported were a pair near Lacassine N.W.R. Pool, Jefferson Davis, LA 30 Dec-7 Jan (LH, LD, THy, NH). Alabama’s 5th Northern Goshawk was an imm. photographed and seen well in Birm¬ ingham 24-31 Jan (SWi, m.ob.). A Broad¬ winged Hawk near Tensaw L., Baldwin, AL 9 Jan (CK, KK) was unexpected. Singles were in Louisiana at Ft. Jackson, Plaquemines 2 Jan-28 Feb+ (CR, DPM, PAW) and near Gal¬ liano, Lafourche 27 Feb (PAW, DPM, RDP). Swainson’s Hawks wintered at three loca¬ tions in Louisiana, with an ad. at Bayou Sauvage N.W.R. , Orleans 11-21 Dec (PAW, DPM), one at E. Jetty 18 Dec (DPM, PAW), and an imm. near Venice, Plaquemines 2-30 Jan (DPM, CE, MT, PAW). Mississippi’s 2nd Ferruginous Hawk was a juv. near Robin- sonville, Tunica 28 Dec-6 Jan (JRW, m.ob.). An ad. Rough-legged Hawk was in Tunica, MS 15 Jan-19 Feb (GK, SK, JRW, RB); an ad. female was carefully studied along Hwy. 1 between St. Charles and DeWitt, Arkansas 23 Dec QP)- The only Crested Caracara re¬ port was of 2 at Goose I., Cameron, LA 7 Jan (LH, LD). CRANES THROUGH HUMMINGBIRDS Sandhill Cranes were widely reported, with a maximum of 600 wintering at Wheeler N.W.R., AL 14 Nov-23 Feb (CDC, SWM, m.ob.). Five Piping Plovers, the only ones reported, were at E. Jetty Beach, LA 18 Dec (PAW, DPM). Two Black-necked Stilts were in Escambia, FL 31 Jan (CB), furnishing the first local Jan record. Rare in winter, Spotted Sandpiper was seen in Alabama, where one was at Guntersville 20 Jan (GDJ). In Arkansas, singles were at L. Pine Bluff, Jef¬ ferson, 26 Dec (RD) and in the White River N.W.R., Arkansas 12 Jan and 24 Feb QP). while 2 were at Boyd Point Sewage Treat- This juvenile female Broad-tailed Hummingbird at Port Gibson, Claiborne, Mississippi (here 29 December 2004) was confirmed by banders; the species is a casual winter visitor to Mississippi. Photograph by Stephen J. Dinsmore. ment Ponds, Jefferson 29 Dec (RD, WS). The largest concentration of Dunlin reported was 2500 on Grand L, Jefferson, LA 27 Feb (PAW, DPM, RDP). Seventeen Stilt Sandpipers were recorded on the Mobile-Tensaw C.B.C., Mo¬ bile, AL 19 Dec (HEH). Over 3000 Short¬ billed Dowitchers were on Grand I., LA 27 Feb (PAW, DPM, RDP), while 1500 Long¬ billed Dowitchers were near Skene, Bolivar, MS 16 Dec (GK, SK). The 3 Whooping Cranes found near Belle Mina, Limestone on the Wheeler N.W.R. C.B.C. 18 Dec (RRS, MBS, m.ob.) were \ the first seen in Alabama since 1899. These Operation Migration Project birds (tag numbers 203, 215, and 216, from the 2002 cohort) frequented a flooded cornfield and were seen by hundred of birders over the next few days. Unfortunately, on 23 Dec, one of the three became separated from the group, and its transmitter's mortality signal was detected by Operation Mi¬ gration personnel. On 1 0 Jan, after an exhaustive search, the scavenged body of the crane was found and forwarded for necrop¬ sy. In the mean time, the 2 remaining Whooping Cranes departed the area on 26 Dec and arrived at Chassahowitzka N.W.R. in Florida two days later, thus completing their fall migration. Results are still pending on the cause of death of the flockmate. Laughing Gulls continue to winter inland: single ads. were at Guntersville, AL 29 Dec (SWM) and L. Dardanelle Dam, AR 1 Dec-28 Feb-i- (m.ob.). An ad. Franklin’s Gull was at Wilson Dam, Colbert, AL 30 Nov-5 Dec (DJS, SWM). Little Gulls were in Ver¬ milion, LA 19 Feb (SWC, DLD), on Enid L., MS 1 1 Dec (SJD), and Ross Barnett Res., MS 25 Dec (SJD, GK), all first-winter birds. Al¬ abama’s 7th California Gull was also a first- winter bird, at Guntersville 2 Feb (RAR); a second-winter California was at the Tunica Landfill, MS 30 Jan (GK, SK). Single Thay¬ er’s Gulls, all juv./first-winter, were reported from the Magnolia Springs Landfill, Baldwin, AL 30 Dec-13 Jan (RAD, LRD, m.ob.), Speigner, Elmore, AL 19-26 Feb (LFG, BCG), L. Dardanelle Dam, AR 28 Nov-20 Jan (KN, LDN), at the landfill near Abbeville, Vermilion, LA 19 Feb (SWC, DLD), and at the Tunica landfill, MS 15-16 Jan (GK, SK, JRW, RB). Alabama’s 4th and 5th Iceland Gulls were first-winter birds at Wheeler Dam/Trinity, Lawrence/Morgan 15-30 Jan (GDJ, JRW, m.ob) and Magnolia Springs Landfill 15 Feb (BS, LC); another in Escambia, FL 20 Feb (LC) provided just the 3rd record for the nw. portion of the state. A reported Thayer’s x Iceland Gull was at Gun¬ tersville, AL 2-4 Feb (RAR, LBR, m.ob.). Single first-winter Glaucous Gulls in Alaba¬ ma were at the Magnolia Springs Landfill through 30 Dec (LC, LRD, RAD, m.ob.), along the Tennessee R. ranging widely in Colbert/Lauderdale/Lawrence/Morgan 16 Jan-28 Feb-i- (LFG, m.ob.), and at Speigner 12-28 Feb+ (TRP, m.ob.). Lesser Black- backed Gulls put in an impressive showing. In Alabama, a first-winter Lesser was at Wil¬ son Dam 30 Nov (DJS), an ad. was at Wheel¬ er Dam 25 Dec-19 Jan (SWM, m.ob.), and 4 were at the Magnolia Springs Landfill 29 Dec-28 Feb+ (LC, RAD, m.ob.). Another was found on Millwood L., Little River, AR, 19 Dec (CM). Northwest Florida’s 5th and 6th records were in Escambia: 2 ads. 30-31 Jan (LC, RAD, CB) and one imm. 20 Feb (LC). In Louisiana, 2 were near Abbeville 15 Jan-19 Feb (SWC, DLD, PC, m.ob.), and an ad. was at L. Pontchartrain 12 Feb (DPM). In Mississippi, 2 were at the Tunica Landfill 15-30 Jan (GK, SK, JRW, RB). Up to 4 Inca Doves were near Thibodaux, LA 2 Jan (m.ob.), where they are becoming increasingly regular. Mississippi’s first Ruddy Ground-Dove was a male near Skene 14-20 Dec (CS, DR, JM, m.ob.). A Yellow-billed Cuckoo in Columbus, Lowndes, MS 10 Dec (DP) was the latest area departure date by 42 days. A Lesser Nighthawk was found at E. Jetty, LA 18 Dec (PAW, DPM), while single nighthawks on the Gulf Shores C.B.C. in Al¬ abama 2 Jan (RRR, EGR) and on St. George L, Franklin, FL 1 Dec (TEL) may have been Lessers. Two Vaux’s Swifts in Baton Rouge, F. 280 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS Baton Rouge, LA 3 Feb (ELJ) continued the recent trend of winter sightings at this loca¬ tion. The sheer number of hummingbirds wintering in the Region has been well chron¬ icled in these pages over the past decade. Pre¬ liminary reports indicate a surfeit of hum¬ mers in the Region this season: Broad-billed (2); Buff-bellied (54); Ruby-throated (64); Black-chinned (106); Anna’s (2); Calliope (20); Broad-tailed (6); and Rufous/Selaspho- rus sp. (244); and Allen’s (8). FLYCATCHERS THROUGH FINCHES In Venice, LA, a Least Flycatcher was seen 30 Jan-28 Feb+, an unidentified Empidonax was present 30 Jan (both DPM, PAW), and a Pacific-slope/Cordilleran Flycatcher was documented 2 Jan (PAW, CR, JF, JS). A Brown-crested Flycatcher, rarely reported in the Region, was found in Orleans, LA 26 Dec-28 Feb+ (PAW, DPM). A Bell’s Vireo was seen at the W. Jetty, LA 18 Dec (BMM, RDP). The Regional decline of Bewick’s Wren has been well documented. The only reports re¬ ceived were of single birds on the Conway C.B.C., AR 18 Dec and near L. Claiborne, Claiborne, LA 8 Feb (BMM, PAW, m.ob.). Two Sprague’s Pipits were reported without details from Eglin A.EB., FL 5 Dec (LF). Sin¬ gle Blue-gray Gnatcatchers were found in the White River N.W.R., AR 13 Jan (JP) and 24 Jan (JP, CJ). Wintering vireos in that refuge included a White-eyed 26 Jan (CJ, JP) and single Blue-headeds 17 Dec (JP) and 25 Jan (JP, CJ), and a Wood Thrush was video¬ taped there 24 Jan (JP, CJ), potentially a first state record in midwinter. Northwest Florida’s 2nd Dec Tennessee Warbler was in Pensacola 4 Dec (JL, FB). Single Nashville Warblers were at Ft. Walton Beach, FL 20 Dec (JK, VS) and in Cameron, LA 18 Dec (MW). A Yellow Warbler was present at Fort Walton Beach Spray Fields 10-20 Dec (DWa, RAD, JK, VS). A female Black-throated Gray Warbler was in Venice, LA 30 Jan (PAW, DPM). Single Black-throat¬ ed Green Warblers were reported in Louisiana at Avery L, Iberville 2 Jan (DPa, PC), Venice 30 Jan (DPM, PAW), and Grand Isle 27 Feb (PAW, DPM). In Louisiana, indi¬ vidual Ovenbirds were at Triumph, Plaque¬ mines (LE, RDP) and Avery I., (DPa, PC), both 2 Jan. Northern Waterthrushes were present at Venice 2-30 Jan (PAW, DPM, CR) and Grand Isle 27 Feb, both in Louisiana. A Yellow-breasted Chat was in E. Jetty Woods, Cameron, LA 18 Dec (PAW, DPM) and in Ver¬ milion, LA 16 Jan (PAW, DPM, RDP, PC). Casual in winter, ad. male Summer Tan- agers were at Trinity, AL 25 Dec (KM) and Fayetteville, Pulaski, AR throughout the re¬ porting period (SC, BC), while a female was at Pensacola, FL 10-24 Dec (BT, NN, DN). The only Scarlet Tanager reported was one near Point a la Heche, Plaquemines, LA 20 Dec (JHu). A female Western Tanager was report¬ ed from Gulfport, MS, late Jan-25 Feb (JAT). Single Lark Sparrows, rare in winter, were reported on the Fort Morgan C.B.C., Bald¬ win, AL 30 Dec; in E. Baton Rouge, LA 2 Jan (CW, SaW); at Raceland, LA 2 Jan (LAR, DS); and at the Mississippi State University South Farm, Oktibbeha, MS 30 Jan (RW, LW). Two Le Conte’s Sparrows were near Waveland, Hancock, MS throughout the re¬ porting period (NB), while 16 found at Sardis State Refuge, MS 18 Dec (GK, VT) was a good number. Harris’s Sparrows are rather sporadic in the Region. Seven were in Maysville, Benton, AR 29 Jan (JN, MM); one was in Oak Grove, W Carroll, LA 15 Dec-28 Feb+ (RO); and one was reported near Kosciusko, Attala, MS 3 Dec-28 Feb+ (FH, m.ob.). A Smith’s Longspur was in nw. Arkansas in Washington 11 Dec (MM), where the species has not seen in more than 10 years, and 2 were in Tunica, MS 6 Jan (WRP, VR). An ad. male Rose-breasted Grosbeak was recorded at a feeder at Reserve, St. John, LA 26 Dec-4 Jan (TR, PR). Single Blue Gros¬ beaks were near Gulf Breeze, FL 22 Feb (RAD), where an ad. male provided nw. Florida’s 2nd Feb record; near St. Martinville, St. Martin, LA 10 Dec (JHu); and near St. Gabriel, LA 27 Dec-2 Jan (SWC, DLD). The only Painted Bunting reported was an ad. male on the Gulf Shores C.B.C. in Foley, Baldwin, AL 2 Jan (HEH, TS). Dickcissels probably occur in the Region much more of¬ ten than reported. An ad. male was found at Thibodaux, LA 30 Dec (SM, BM). A young male was near Port Gibson 29 Dec (SJD), and an ad. female was recorded near Sidon, Leflo¬ re 1 Jan (SJD, PB, KB), both in Mississippi. Western Meadowlark is an enigmatic species, underreported because of the diffi¬ culty in separating it from Eastern. Three were on the White River C.B.C., Arkansas, AR 28 Dec (JRW), while singles were report¬ ed from Mississippi at the Indianola Airport, Sunflower 30 Dec (SJD, PB, DM) and in Tuni¬ ca 1 Jan (GK, SK). Alabama’s 10th Bronzed Cowbird was an ad. male on the e. end of Dauphin 1. 29 Jan-9 Feb (HEH, m.ob.). Some 3-5 Bullock’s Orioles were in one yard at New Orleans, LA 24 Feb. Baltimore Orioles con¬ tinue to be widely reported, with 17 individ¬ uals from 1 1 locations recorded. A Common Redpoll was present 13-18 Jan near Danville, Yell, AR (GH, m.ob). Mississippi’s 2nd Lesser Goldfinch was a female at Vicksburg, Warren 24 Dec-22 Feb (SW, DW, SSo, m.ob.). Contributors (subregional editors in bold¬ face): Katherine Barbour, Philip Barbour, Fred Bassett, Dick Baxter, James Beck, David Boudreaux (DBo), Ned Boyajian, Robert Briscoe, Cecil Brown, C. Dwight Cooley, Steven W. Cardiff, Laura Catterton, Bob Caulk, Sarah Caulk, Paul Conover, Lee Daniel, Amy Davis, Sarah DeViney, Stephen J. Dinsmore, Donna L. Dittman, Robert Doster, Lucy R. Duncan, Robert A. Duncan (nw. Florida), C. Ellis, Lee Ellis, Lenny Fenimore, Joelle Finley, Lawrence E Gardella, Ben C. Garmon, J.O. Gibson, Sally Jo Gibson, Louise Hanchey, Greg J. Harber, Jim Haw, Gene Hayes, Frances Henne, Tyler Hicks, Geoff E. Hill, Howard E. Horne, Jay Huner (JHu), Nick Hylton, Tony Hylton (THy), Debra G. Jackson, Greg D. Jackson (Alabama), Erik L. Johnson, Clark Jones, Paul D. Kittle, Joe Kleiman (Louisiana), Gene Knight, Shannon Knight, Jim Kowalski (JKo), Claire Krusko, Ken Krusko, Thomas E. Lewis, Jan Lloyd, Beth Maniscalco, Sam Maniscalco, Steve W. Mc¬ Connell, Powers McLeod, Ann L. Miller, Charles Mills, Mike Mlodi- now, Karen Morgan, Jim Morris, B. Mac Myers, Joe Neal, Kenny Nichols, La Donna Nichols, Dinny Ninimo, Neil Nimmo, Roselie Overby, Helen Parker, Max Parker (Arkansas), Dianne Patterson, Pat Patterson, Wayne Patterson, Dave Patton (DPa), W. Robert Peeples, David Plumb (DPI), Tommy R. Pratt, Glynda Pryor, Robert D. Purrington, John Puschock, Elber- ta G. Reid, Robert R. Reid, Linda B. Reynolds, Richard A. Reynolds, Virginia Reynolds, Christie Riehl, Lisa A. Robichaux, Don Roby, Patsy Roussel, Terry Roussel, Karen Rowe, Diana Sanders, Martha B. Sar¬ gent, Robert R. Sargent, Sandy Schacht, Ter¬ ence L. Schiefer (Mississippi), William Shep¬ herd, Tom Siegwald, Damien J. Simbeck, Carl Smith, Scott Sommershoe (SSo), Virginia Spisak, Jean Stimmel, Bill Summerour, Betsy Tetlow, Vic Theobold, M. Tifft, Judith A. Toups, David Wallace, Stephanie Wallace, Don Ware (DWa), Louise Watson, Ray Wat¬ son, Melvin Weber, Lorna West (LWe), Steve Willis (SWi), Jeff R. Wilson, Chris Witt, Satya Witt (SaW). C A species casual in Mississippi, this hatch-year male Spotted Towhee in Bolivar County (here 24 December 2004) showed no obvious signs of hybridization with Eastern Towhee; note especially the thin white stripes on the mantle and the lack of a distinct white patch at the base of the outer primaries. Photograph by Stephen J. Dinsmore. VOLUME 59 (2005) • NUMBER 2 281 . - ---■ --- ■■ - — - - - - - — Northern Canada Cameron D. Eckert 1402 Elm Street Whitehorse, Yukon, Y1A4B6 (cdeckert@yknet.yk.ca) Northern Canada experienced typi¬ cal weather conditions through the season — which meant bone-chill¬ ing cold spells for most areas. In the Yukon, record snow falls were recorded in the Whitehorse and Watson Lake areas, and Mayo reported the most severe cold condi¬ tions in the Region, with prolonged temper¬ atures of -50° C. Weather in the Northwest Territories was not remarkably cold but stayed fairly constant throughout the winter season, with few if any significant thaws. Snowfall was generally below average for early winter, but January and February made up for that deficit, and deep late -winter ac¬ cumulations were reported over much of the territory. WATERFOWL THROUGH RAPTORS A pair of Green-winged Teal at McIntyre Cr. wetland in Whitehorse 26 Dec (CE) provided the Yukon’s first winter record in 70 years. Eight male Mallards, a female Long-tailed Duck, 25 Common Goldeneyes, and 5 Com¬ mon Mergansers were at L. Laberge, s. Yukon 2 Dec (BD, CE). Two female Barrow’s Gold- eneyes were present on the Yukon R. at Whitehorse through the winter (BD, CE, HG, PS). Willow Ptarmigan were present in low numbers in the Ft. Simpson area, but the population appears to be on the increase there (DT) as well as at Norman Wells (RP); good numbers were reported on the C.B.C. at Yellowknife, NWT, with 158 on 2 Jan ( fide RB); the Yukon’s highest count was 27 at Haines Junction 28 Dec ( fide DH). Four Sharp-tailed Grouse on the C.B.C. at Norman Wells, NWT 27 Dec (fide RP) provided the Region’s only winter report. A Bald Eagle was seen on the C.B.C. at Marsh L., s. Yukon 19 Dec (fide HG), and 2 were noted at McIntyre Cr. on the Whitehorse count 26 Dec (CE). SHRIKES THROUGH HOUSE SPARROW A few Northern Shrikes were noted in s. Yukon, including an ad. at Porter Creek in Whitehorse 26 Dec (CE, PS), one at Haines Junction 15 Jan (MH), and one (likely an ear¬ ly spring arrival) at Haines Junction 26-27 Feb (LF). A pair of Great Horned Owls was reported 2 km e. of Mush L., Kluane N. R, sw. Yukon 27 Feb (JED, and a Great Gray Owl was seen near Haines Junction 20 Feb (JB). In the Northwest Territories, single Great Gray Owls were reported from Norman Wells 4 (DF) & 22 Jan (DW) and from Ptarmigan Mine near Yellowknife in late Feb (TH). Northern Hawk Owls seemed scarce this winter; singles were reported at Haines Junc¬ tion, sw. Yukon during C.B.C. count week (fide DH) and on the Norman Wells, NWT 27 Dec count (GS). A Northern Pygmy-Owl hunting at a feeder near Carcross in mid-Jan (ph. AB) established the Yukon’s 2nd docu¬ mented record for the species. Five American Three-toed Woodpeckers on 4 Jan provided a new high count for that species on the Ft. Simpson C.B.C. (DT). A dead female Black- backed Woodpecker (cause of death not known) was found at Haines Junction, sw. Yukon 3 Dec (JB). The Nunavut winter is a harsh season for both birds and birders; Common Raven was the only species reported on the territory’s two C.B.C.s: 17 at Rankin Inlet 29 Dec (BZ) and 17 at Arviat 1 Jan (MS). One observer from Iqaluit, Nunavut summarized the sea¬ son’s birdlife as “ravens, ravens, and more ravens” (MM)! Yellowknife, NWT remains the Common Raven capital of the world, with 1860 recorded on the 2 Jan count (fide RB) — just 92 short of setting a new record. A single Black-billed Magpie wintered in Nor¬ man Wells for the 4th consecutive year (RP), while Yellowknife’s C.B.C. reported a new high of 26 magpies on 2 Jan (fide RB). The big fall movement of Red-breasted Nuthatch¬ es through s. Yukon likely accounted for a high count of 9 on the Haines Junction C.B.C. 28 Dec (fide DH). A tardy American Robin was at L. Laberge, s. Yukon 2 Dec (BD, CE). A Horned Lark, casual in winter, lin¬ gered at the Whitehorse dump at least through 26 Dec (ph. CE) to establish the Yukon’s first Christmas Bird Count record. Flocks of Bohemian Wawings were seen in the Whitehorse area through early winter; a large flock was noted at Haines Junction, sw. Yukon 15 Jan (CD), and 19 were recorded on the Yellowknife, NWT 2 Jan count (fide RB). The White-throated Sparrow first seen in late Nov at Whitehorse survived through 22 Jan to provide the Yukon’s first winter record but subsequently disappeared (RE). Small numbers of Dark-eyed Juncos usually winter in s. Yukon and sw. Northwest Territories; 2 wintering at a Norman Wells feeder were a highlight of the 27 Dec C.B.C. (RP), and 2 seen on the Mayo, Yukon C.B.C. 29 Dec at temperatures of -50° C (fide MOD) were certainly testing the limits of survival. Four Snow Buntings were unusually late at Ft. Simpson 2 Jan (DT); despite much search¬ ing, observers could not relocate them for the local C.B.C. two days later. In sw. Yukon, flocks of Snow Buntings were reported in mid-Jan from Haines Junction (CD) and De¬ struction Bay (MF); one was noted at the Takhini Hotsprings Rd. near Whitehorse 22 Feb (DVW). The ad. male Brewer’s Blackbird that spent much of the fall feeding on the com¬ post pile at the Whitehorse dump was last seen 23 Dec (ph. CE), just narrowly missing Christmas count day. Small numbers of Red Crossbills were seen at Whitehorse feeders through the winter; an observation of an ad. 282 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS female feeding a fledged juv. at a Granger feeder 15 Feb (TMK) left little doubt as to the species’ hardiness. Four White winged Crossbills at Yellowknife 2 Jan ( fide RB) rep¬ resented the only Northwest Territories C.B.C. record this year. In the Yukon, Pine Grosbeaks’ health raised concerns in Haines Junction and Whitehorse, where reports came in of sickly-looking birds and low num¬ bers later in winter; Christmas counts found normal numbers; e.g., 119 at Teslin 16 Dec (fide CA), 200 at Marsh L. 19 Dec (fide HG), 163 at Haines Junction 28 Dec (fide DH), and 68 at Mayo 29 Dec (fide MOD). Both Pine and Evening Grosbeaks were present at Ft. Simpson, NWT in typical numbers this sea¬ son (DT), while the one Evening Grosbeak on the 2 Jan Yellowknife C.B.C. furnished only the 2nd record for that count (fide RB). Redpoll (mostly Common, some Hoary) numbers were fairly typical in the Yukon, with low numbers seen in Dec, increasing through Jan, with good-sized flocks present at most feeders by late Feb. Redpolls were noted in slightly above-average numbers at both Norman Wells (RP) and Ft. Simpson (DT). While House Sparrows have yet to gain any kind of foothold in the Yukon or Nunavut, small populations persist in North¬ west Territories, as evidenced by counts of 38 at Ft. Simpson 2 Jan (fide DT) and 368 at Yel¬ lowknife the same day (fide RB). Contributors (subregional editors in bold¬ face): Carolyn Allen, Julie Bauer, Andreas Bode, Robert Bromley, Boris Dobrowolsky, Claude Dulac, Cameron Eckert, Robb Ell- wood, Marsha Flumerfelt, Dave Fowler, Lloyd Freese, Helmut Grunberg, Millie Hall, David Henry, Tracy Hillis, Mark Mallory, Ted Murphy-Kelly, Mark O’Donoghue, Richard Popko, Michael Setterington, Pamela Sin¬ clair, Gordie Stewart, Douglas Tate (NWT), Debbie van de Wetering, Dave Wilderspin, Brian Zawadski. © — A bitterly cold January was flanked by milder weather in December and February; Alberta in particular en¬ joyed spring-like conditions late in the sea¬ son, resulting in the arrival of some very ear¬ ly migrants. Manitoba and parts of eastern and central Saskatchewan endured heavy snows in late December, which interfered with a number of Christmas Bird Counts. Elsewhere accumulations were generally light, and much of the snow cover in south¬ ern Alberta and Saskatchewan had disap¬ peared by the end of the period. A Region¬ wide influx of northern owls provided the major highlight of the season. LOONS THROUGH FALCONS Single Yellow-billed Loons lingered at Waba- mun L., AB 3 Dec (FW, m.ob.) and near In- nisfail, AB 7 Dec-7 Jan (RK1, FW, m.ob.). Notable late waterfowl in Alberta included a Wood Duck at Medicine Hat 15+ Dec (BV), and several groups of late American Wigeon: 46 at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, Calgary 2 Dec (RW), 10 at Little Bow River Dam 6 Dec, and 4 at Pine Coulee 12 Dec (both TK). Manitoba’s first winter Blue-winged Teal was at Oak Hammock Marsh 1 Dec (RK), and 4 Northern Shovelers lingered at Frank L., AB 12 Dec (BW). Two imm. Trumpeter Swans wintered at Wyndham-Carseland P.P., AB (RW, m.ob.). Extremely early at Taber, AB were 3 Snow Geese 26 Feb and 11 Tundra Swans 28 Feb (LB), a Northern Shoveler 28 Feb (LB), and 6 Redheads 26 Feb (LB). A Eurasian Wigeon at Frank L. 25 Feb (JMM, BE, JP) was the only one reported and was also early. Between 17 Dec and 1 Mar there were an unprecedented 10 reports of Sharp-shinned Hawks in s. Manitoba (m.ob.), plus one at Swift Current, SK 5 Jan (fide TH), while a Cooper’s Hawk was noted at Kleefeld, MB 29 Jan (DF). A Ferruginous Hawk at Maple Creek, SK 24 Feb may have been an early migrant (AH). Alberta reported fair num¬ bers of Gyrfalcons, whereas only 3 were not- Prairie Provinces Rudolf F. Koes 135 Rossmere Crescent Winnipeg, Manitoba R2K0G1 (rkoes@merlin.mb.ca) Peter Taylor P.O.Box 597 Pinawa, Manitoba ROE 1L0 (taylorp@granite.mb.ca) ed in Saskatchewan and 2 in Manitoba. Saskatchewan had 8 Prairie Falcons; the lone bird in Manitoba was near Pipestone 21 Dec (1M). CRANES THROUGH WOODPECKERS A Sandhill Crane near Powerview 15 Dec was Manitoba’s latest ever (RTa, JA). Also notably tardy were a Killdeer at Swift Cur¬ rent, SK 7 Dec (RDu), a Wilson’s Snipe on the Ft. Walsh, SK C.B.C. 18 Dec (GW et al.), a Mew Gull at Cold L. 2 Dec (RKl), and a Ring-billed Gull at Winnipeg, MB 20 Dec (DN). Six California Gulls arrived at Ingle¬ wood Bird Sanctuary, Calgary, AB on the ear¬ ly date of 28 Feb (RS). A Glaucous Gull at Wabamun L. 26 Feb had apparently win¬ tered locally (RKn, RK, RT). Eurasian Col- lared-Dove reports came from Pierson, MB; from Delisle, Maple Creek, Swift Current (14 on 21 Feb), and Weyburn, SK; and from Nanton (up to 11) and Grassy Lake, AB (m.ob.). Snowy Owls were common around Ed- V0LUME 59 (2005) • NUMBER 2 283 mw J-n rat | V JH friends let more from birding! Keep them abreast of what's going on in the birding world— from ID skill-building, to checklist changes, to travel opportunities, to conservation issues. BUILD A BETTER BIRDING COMMUNITY! SEND A GIFT OF ABA MEMBERSHIP TODAY. Your friends will receive from you all the benefits of ABA membership, including: • Birding— our full color bi-monthly members' magazine • Winging ft— our monthly members' newsletter • Supplemental publications— including A Birder's Resource Guide and the Big Day and List Report • Involvement— conventions, conferences, workshops, birding trips, volunteer opportunities, and more • Discounts— on AVIS car rentals American Birding6 ASSOCIATION TO SIGN UP A NEW MEMBER, CALL: (800) 850-2473 V 7 OR GO TO: www.americanbirding.org/memgen.html The American Birding Association aims to inspire all people to enjoy and protect wild birds. PRAIRIE PROVINCES Sharp-shinned Hawks are increasingly spending the winter in the Prairie Provinces. In Mani¬ toba alone, there were ten reports of the species December-February. This bird terrorized a Winnipeg feeder through the season (here 1 February 2005). Photograph by Brian Huebert. monton, AB and Winnipeg and were report¬ ed as “numerous” in Saskatchewan, where 22+ were tallied near Eston 14 Dec (DZ). Similarly, Northern Hawk Owls were wide¬ spread throughout the Region: 87 were banded in Feb alone in a band across cen. Saskatchewan from Leoville to Hudson Bay (BT, MB), and one bird popularly known as the St. Vital Bandit spent the entire winter in that area of Winnipeg. Several Northern Pygmy-Owls moved eastward out of the mountains in cen. and n. Alberta (m.ob.). Like hawk owls, Great Gray Owls were pres¬ ent in large numbers at the edge of the bore¬ al forest in all three provinces. Seventy-four were banded in cen. Saskatchewan in Feb (BT, MB). A Long-eared Owl at Kleefeld 10 Dec was a winter rarity (CP, DF). Up to 11 Short-eared Owls were tallied e. of Calgary late Dec-late Jan (KJ, TK), while an amazing 39 were at Eston, SK 3 Jan (DZ). Boreal Owls staged a minor incursion into s. Manitoba, with about half a dozen one-day wonders re¬ ported (m.ob.). A Belted Kingfisher at La Barriere Park near Winnipeg survived until at least 17 Dec (AA, FB, AC, m.ob.). The only Red-bellied Woodpecker report came from the Pilot Mound, MB area 9 Jan (DNn). An American Three-toed Woodpecker (JC, m.ob.) and 2 Black-backed Woodpeckers (m.ob.) win¬ tered in Wascana Park, Regina, SK, well s. of their usual range. PASSERINES A Loggerhead Shrike on the Ft. Walsh C.B.C. 18 Dec provided a rare winter record for this species (R&CG et al.). Lone Ameri¬ can Dippers at Eastend, SK 4 Jan (HJ) and at IOkotoks, AB 12 Jan (TK) were e. of normal range. A Hermit Thrush at Delisle 15 Dec was tardy (TL). Rare at any time in Alberta, a Northern Mockingbird lingered at Fish Creek PR until late Jan (m.ob.). A Brown Thrasher was at Este- van, SK 13 Dec (BD), while another present through the season at Calgary was believed to have been the city’s first successful winterer (FD, m.ob.). Bohemian Waxwings were plentiful at Mt. Lorette (PS) and in good numbers else¬ where in the Region (GK, m.ob.). An Or¬ ange-crowned Warbler at Biggar, SK 1 Dec was very late (GW). The only other warbler was the previously reported Hooded Warbler at Calgary, Alberta’s 3rd, last seen 7 Dec (m.ob.). A Spotted Towhee seen intermit¬ tently at Winnipeg 17 Dec-13 Feb and pos¬ sibly later was the province’s first ever in winter (SB, RI, PH et al.). Another was at Cayley AB 6 Dec-9 Jan (JS, m.ob.), and one at Ft. McMurray, AB lasted through the win¬ ter (LE, m.ob.). Other noteworthy lingerers included single Chipping Sparrows at Win¬ nipeg 18 Dec-9 Jan (M, B, & AHu) and 2 Jan (CA, AW et al.), a Clay-colored Sparrow on the Brandon C.B.C. 24 Dec (CC), a Ves¬ per Sparrow on the Yorkton, SK C.B.C. 18 Dec (B&rJA), a Song Sparrow through the winter at Eden, MB (RD), and an exception¬ ally late McCown’s Longspur on the Coro¬ nach, SK C.B.C. 2 Jan (GW). Winter finch¬ es were generally scarce, particularly in the west. Crossbills were almost absent. Com¬ mon Redpolls were present in fair numbers in s. Manitoba, but very few Hoary Redpolls were reported anywhere. Feeders in s. Man¬ itoba hosted small flocks of American Goldfinches, e.g., up to 14 birds until 11 Jan at Grosse Isle (KG). Observers (subregional editors in boldface): B. & J. Anaka, J. Anderson, C. Artuso, A. Aug, S. Beaulieu, L. Bennett, M. Blom, F Boileau, J. Clarke, A. Courcelles, C. Cuth- bert, R. Demey, E Dersch, B. Dies, R.Du- dragne (RDu), L. Eddy, B. Elder, D. Fast, K. Gardner, R. & C. Gardner, M. Harrison, A. Hartley R Hayden, M. Herriot, T. Herriot, M., B., & A. Huebert, R. Iverson, H. John¬ son, K. Jones, R. Klauke (RKl), R. Knapton (RKn), R. Koes, T. Korolyk, G. Kratzig, T. Lawton, J. & M. Macdonald, I. Milliken, D. Nelson (DNn), D. Neufeld, C. Penner,J. Pil- ney, R Sherrington, J. Shier, R. Storms, R. Taylor (RTa), B. Terry, R. Thomas, B. Velner, A. Walleyn, G. Wapple, R. Wershler, F. Whiley, B. Wilson, D. Zazelenchuk. (© 284 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS Great Plains Upper Souris NWR v Lake Alice NWR Havre • Bowdoin NWR /,• ■ ~W_ C. M. Russell NWR . Medicine L. NWRm Lostwood ■ NWR HINWR. k)/~Fort Peck L. Missouri R. / Lewistown Billings > Miles City, < .►/ EASTERN MONTANA -/ NORTH DAKOTA 1 • Hettinger SOUTH DAKOTA Rapid ,, Black City /Weyen Hills • Turtle Mtns. ■ i Minot* Salyer NWR m Grand^ L. Sukakuwea Devils L. Forks , : arrison Dam jArrowwood ^ s Bismarck NWR . Fargo* Badlands NPm Long Lake NWR Aberdeen* L. Oahe Pierre LaCreek ■ NWR TewaukonK i NWR Waubay NWR U Sioux to Falls • c Yanktom VermillionM Even in a land where weather ex¬ tremes are the norm, this winter sea¬ son was notable for its weather ex¬ tremes. Temperatures across the Region were well above average most of the season; however, late December and the first half of January saw temperatures well below aver¬ age. During this three-week stretch, many days had high temperatures below zero. Most of the Region recorded snowfall totals well below average, and migration was evi¬ dent by late February. Open water well into December produced numbers of lingering and wintering waterfowl. Several species of shorebirds made record late appearances in South Dakota. Notable movements of Townsends Solitaires, Varied Thrushes, and Pine Grosbeaks were recorded. Owls made the biggest splash of all the irruptives, with Great Gray Owls and Boreal Owls making memorable appearances. GEESE THROUGH DOVES A single Greater White-fronted Goose and 2 Snow Geese spent the season with a large flock of Canada Geese in Morton, ND. These represent the first wintering records for each species in the state (CDE). Unusual in mid¬ winter, a Trumpeter Swan was at Ft. Peck, MT 23 Jan (CC). Two Eurasian Wigeons had returned to Freezeout L., MT by 27 Feb (MS). Casual in winter in South Dakota, a Surf Scoter was in Lyman 11 Dec (JSP). Two Surf Scoters 14 Jan at Great Falls provided the first mid-winter record for e. Montana (GS). Very rare in winter in Montana, a sin¬ gle White-winged Scoter was at Yellowtail Afterbay 8 Feb (SD). Bald Eagles were numerous across the Re¬ gion this winter, and a pair was nesting in Minnehaha, SD by 26 Feb (MZ). A Sora be¬ low Garrison Dam, McLean, ND 10 Dec fur¬ nished the first winter season record for the state (p. a., REM). Two American Coots 16 Dec at Nelson L., Oliver provided the latest record for North Dakota (HCT). A single American Coot at Freezeout L., MT 27 Feb furnished the earliest spring arrival date for the refuge (MS). Wintering Virginia Rails were found again this year on the edge of the Black Hills, SD. Birds were located at two Fall River marshes 28 Feb (JLB). A Wilson’s Snipe remained at Garrison Dam, ND through 26 Dec (DNS). Providing the first winter season records for South Dakota were a single Lesser Yellowlegs in Day 20 Dec (LH), 2 Dunlin 11 Dec in Buffalo (JSP), and an American Woodcock 6 Dec in Clay (JC). An ad. Little Gull was at Big Bend Dam, Lyman 11 Dec, the same location where the 7th South Dakota record was found in Oct (p. a., JSP). About the 18th report for North Dakota, an Iceland Gull was at Garrison Ron Martin 16900 125th Street SE Sawyer, North Dakota 58781-9284 (jrmartin@ndak.net) Dam 26 Dec-2Jan (p. a., DNS, REM). Black¬ legged Kittiwakes were at Garrison Dam, ND 11-16 Dec (p. a., REM, CDE) and at Pierre, SD 18-19 Dec (p. a., RDO, KM). Eurasian Collared-Doves continued their ex¬ pansion across the Region, and a new high for Montana was recorded 5 Jan, when 28 were noted at Ballantine (HC, BHa). Casual in North Dakota, this unfortunate road-killed Boreal Owl was Providing the fifth C.B.C. record for North Dakota, this Northern Mockingbird was photo- found in Fargo 5 (here 9) December 2004. Photograph by Paul Ode. graphed on the Mayville— Portland count on 1 9 December 2004. Photograph by Dave Lambeth. VOLUME 59 (2005) • NUMBER 2 — 1 285 > One of seven reported this winter in North Dakota, this Varied Thrush was photographed in Minot 2 January 2005. Photograph by Ron Martin. OWLS THROUGH WAXWINGS Rare in North Dakota, a red-morph Eastern Screech-Owl was at Jamestown 19 Jan (MS). On the heels of a sighting in the fall season, another Northern Hawk Owl was in North Dakota 19 Dec in Grand Forks (RC). Barred Owls were noted w. of their usual ranges in the Dakotas, with a single 17 Feb at Jamestown, ND (TS, JS) and one 16 Dec in Day, SD (LH). In Montana, a Barred Owl was seen at Ballantine 1-3 Jan (p. a., HC, BH, GM). This provided only the 2nd report of this species in the e. half of the state. Great Gray Owl was certainly the bird of the winter in North Dakota. An individual was photographed and seen by many 22-29 Dec in Grand Forks (p. a., TD, DOL), and anoth¬ er was documented 12 Feb in Steele (p. a., DLK). There were also two un¬ documented reports. Prior to these sightings, there were only eight previous reports for North Dakota, the most re¬ cent in 1966. Two Boreal Owls were recorded: a road kill at Fargo, ND 5 Dec (p. a., PO) and a live bird 14Jan n. of Ft. Peck, MT (p. a., NP). There are no pre¬ vious records of this retiring species for the e. half of Montana. Fifty-one North¬ ern Saw-whet Owls were found during the season in the Pierre, SD area (KM). In North Dakota, seven Feb reports was well above average for winter. A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was late in Lake, SD 4 Dec (p. a., JSP), and a Red- naped Sapsucker was in the Little Rock¬ ies, MT 14 Dec (p. a., DP). There are no accepted winter records for this species in e. Mon¬ tana. The Clark’s Nutcracker reported in the fall in Pembina, ND remained through the season (fide DOF). A Brown Creeper win¬ tered at a Ft. Peck feed¬ er, the first wintering record for the species in ne. Montana (CC). Mi¬ grant Mountain Blue¬ birds were noted in all three states by late Feb. Townsend’s Solitaires made a strong showing, with 40 on seven C.B.C.s in North Dakota and an additional 20 individuals reported. In South Dakota, the species was reported in 11 counties away from the Black Hills. Var¬ ied Thrushes made an above-average showing in North Dakota, with seven reports. One South Dakota report came from Brookings 15 Jan (BH). A Northern Mocking¬ bird was photographed 18 Dec on the May- ville-Portland C.B.C., ND (p. a., DOL), a 5th C.B.C. record for the state. Bohemian Wax- wings peaked at 5000 in Pennington, SD 5 Jan (TJ) and at Ft. Peck, MT 6 Feb (SD). T0WHEES THROUGH EVENING GROSBEAK Accidental in winter in North Dakota, an East¬ ern Towhee spent the season at Fargo (p. a., fide DPW). A Chipping Sparrow was noted on the Mayville-Portland, ND C.BC. 18 Dec (p. a., DOL). This was the 4th year in the last five that the species has been reported in the winter season. A Savannah Sparrow in Grand Forks, ND 6 Dec provided the 2nd Dec report for the state (p. a., EEF). Accidental in cen. South Dakota, a Gray- crowned Rosy-Finch was in Stanley 4 Dec (p. a., KM). Pine Grosbeaks made their strongest showing in years, with reports from six South Dakota counties. In North Dakota, the species was noted at eight loca¬ tions in six counties, and a single 1 Dec ne. of Malta, MT was unexpected (DP). Com¬ mon Redpolls were unusually numerous for an “off’ year, with single flock reports in the hundreds in the Dakotas. As usual, a few Hoary Redpolls were also noted. Pine Siskin numbers were the strongest in some years, with peaks of 300 at Pierre, SD 30 Jan (DB) and 1164 on the Minot, ND C.B.C. 19 Dec. Now very rare in winter away from the Black Hills, 4 Evening Grosbeaks wintered at New Town, ND (RS). Contributors (state editors in boldface): MONTANA: Charles Carlson, Helen Carl¬ son, Steve Dinsmore, Brad Hall, Billie Hicks, George Mowat, Nadine Pickthorn, Dwayne Prellwitz, Mike Schwitters, Gorham Swan- berg. NORTH DAKOTA: Rich Crawford, Tim Driscoll, Corey D. Ellingson, Eve E. Freeberg, Don L. Kubischta, Dave O. Lam¬ beth, Ron E. Martin, Paul Ode, Rita Sater- mo, Jill Shaffer, Terry Shaffer, Dan N. Svin- gen, H. Clark Talkington, Dennis P. Wiesenborn. SOUTH DAKOTA: Doug Backlund, Jocelyn L. Baker, Jay Carlisle, Laura Hubers, Bill Huser, Todd Jensen, Ken¬ ny Miller, Ricky D. Olson, Jeffery S. Palmer, Mick Zerr. One of two documented in North Dakota this winter, this Great Gray Owl was near Grand Forks 22-29 (here 25) December 2004. The last report for North Dakota previous to these sightings was in 1966. Photograph by Dean Riemer. Casual in North Dakota, this Clark's Nutcracker passed the season in Pembina County (here 18 December 2004). Photograph by Dean Riemer. ■ NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS 286 1 Perhaps the most notable pattern of this winter season was the increasing number of half-hardies and what ap¬ pear to be northward range extensions of many species. Whether Winter Wrens and Gray Catbirds, Least Sandpipers and Vesper Sparrows, or Sandhill Cranes and Soras — in¬ dividuals of these species are clearly winter¬ ing farther north in recent years. With this winter came a few irruptions — unexceptional except for their infrequency: the early 1970s saw the last winter with mul¬ tiple records of Pine Grosbeak, while Bo¬ hemian Waxwings had not been seen in num¬ bers since the early 1960s. Purple Finches were widespread, and local appearances of Clarks Nutcracker and Pygmy Nuthatch rep¬ resented micro-irruptions, perhaps. Abbreviations: Hackberry (Hackberry Flats W.M.A., Tillman , OK); Harlan (Harlan Res., Harlan, NE); McConaughy (L. Mc- Conaughy, Keith , NE); Quivira (Quivira N.W.R., Stafford , KS); Rainwater Basin (playa wetlands of s.-cen. Nebraska); Red Slough (Red Slough W.M.A., McCurtain , OK); Tenkiller (L. Tenkiller, Sequoyah, OK). LOONS THROUGH FALCONS Quite rare away from ne. Oklahoma, single Pacific Loons in Murray and Carter 14 Jan (DT) were unexpected; the 2-5 at Tenkiller through the period (JWA, m.ob.) were mere¬ ly rare. About as rare as Pacifies in Okla¬ homa, a Red-throated Loon was at Tenkiller 21 Jan (CC) through 5 Feb (JWA, m.ob.), with another in Tulsa, OK 4 Jan-6 Feb (CC, m.ob.). The rarest of the loons in the Region, a Yellow-billed at Tenkiller 21 & 26 Jan (JWA, m.ob.) continued a string of annual appearances there. With few state records, a Brown Pelican in Wagoner and Cherokee, OK 1-26 Dec (JWA, m.ob.) was cause for excite¬ ment. Lingering Oklahoma ardeids were an American Bittern in Woods 1 1 Dec (RG), sin¬ gle Great Egrets in Washington 18 Dec (DW, SB) and at Red Slough 6-13 Dec (DA), and single Cattle Egrets in Tillman 2 Dec (PW) and at Red Slough 4 Jan (DA); also lingering were 3 White-faced Ibis in Johnston, OK 19 Dec (CB). Incredible numbers of Snow Geese ap¬ peared in Feb in cen. Nebraska, including a Corps of Engineers count of 1,161,608 at Harlan ( fide G&WH), and estimates from the cen. Platte Valley and Rainwater Basin of 500,000-1,000,000 (LB, RE, LRB, PAJ). Brant, quite rare in Oklahoma, were found in Texas 2-28 Dec (BH, SW) and Caddo 11 Dec (TD), the latter taken by a hunter. The provenance of Mute Swans in the Re¬ gion is conjectural, and some individuals may be from the Great Lakes populations; one was in Alfalfa, OK 11 Jan-13 Feb (AW, BH). Trumpeter Swans continue to appear in good numbers in Nebraska, where 58 were Southern Great Plains reported; marked birds among them were mostly from Iowa and Minnesota. Rare southward, 5 Trumpeters were in Kansas during the period ( fide LM), and 3-6 were in Alfalfa, OK 26 Dec-13 Feb (AW, PV). Tundra Swans, also a rare fall migrant in the Region, made a better-than-average showing, with 14 reported from Kansas and Oklahoma 3 Dec-8 Jan, including 5 on a Kansas farm pond in Douglas 8 Jan (RBe). Unexpected during winter were the 7 Wood Ducks in Scotts Bluff 1-17 Jan (KD). Regional rarities were an American Black Duck in Mitchell, KS 15 Dec (MR, SS, MT, RP) and a Mottled Duck at Red Slough 17 Jan-1 Feb (DA). Two Blue-winged Teal at Red Slough 1 1 Jan (DA, BS) may have wintered. The 100 or so Greater Scaup reported in the Region included 40 in Douglas, KS 23 Dec (DG) and 36 at McConaughy 12 Feb (JGJ). There were 3 Surf Scoters reported, an imm. female 31 Dec in Johnson, KS (MM), one in Creek , OK 9 Jan (BC), and an ad. male in Johnson, KS 17 Feb (ML). Rather late were W. Ross Silcock P.O. Box 57 Tabor, Iowa 51653 (silcock@rosssilcock.com) Joseph A. Grzybowski 715 Elmwood Drive Norman, Oklahoma 73072 (jgrzybowski@ucok.edu) VOLUME 59 (2005) • NUMBER 2 287 SOUTHERN GREAT PLAINS One of two Harris' Hawks wintering near Optima Reservoir, Texas County Oklahoma, this bird was photographed there 2 December 2004. Both birds were considerably beyond normal zones for winter dispersal. Photograph by Berlin Heck. 3 White-winged Scoters at McConaughy 19 Dec (fide SJD), one of which stayed through 31 Dec (B&JS), and another in Cedar , NE 3-8 Jan (MB, DH, JJ). Some 15-20 Long¬ tailed Ducks were reported, 11 in Kansas and the others in Oklahoma. A male hybrid Common Goldeneye x Hooded Merganser at McConaughy 12 (HA) & 31 Dec (B&JS) has wintered there for a few years now. Another was in Scotts Bluff, NE 17 Jan and 18 Feb (KD). Regular but rare in winter in Nebras¬ ka’s North Platte Valley, 4 Barrow’s Gold¬ eneyes were reported: up to 3 in Scotts Bluff 11 Dec-18 Feb (KD) and one at Mc¬ Conaughy 19 Dec (fide SJD). The only other was a Kansas “zootie” in Riley 28 Feb (LJ). Impressive were the 16,000 Common Mer¬ gansers at L. Waconda, Mitchell, KS 15 Dec (MR, SS, MT, RP). Osprey reports included moribund bird 18 Dec in Hall, NE (fide EV) and singles in Oklahoma 8 Jan (JW) and Alfalfa 17 Feb (GK). Bald Eagles had started nesting in Thomas, NE 15 Feb (RGr) and in Nemaha, NE 25 Feb (CCa). Of the 8 Northern Goshawks reported, 3 were in Nebraska and 5 in Kansas, the most southerly in Barber, KS 2 Jan (PJ). Harris’s Hawk occasionally winters far n. of its usual range; this winter, 2 were in Texas, OK 2 Dec-12 Feb (BH, JM, m.ob.), the first for the Oklahoma Panhan- _ die. Golden Eagles were reported through¬ out the Region, indeed to its se. corner at Red Slough 16 Dec and 17 Feb (DA, BH, KM). Although fall migration for Peregrine Falcons normally ends by mid-Nov in Ne¬ braska and spring migration starts in late Mar, nesting by residents in Omaha began early, with 3 eggs present 28 Feb (fide CNK). Similarly, 3 birds were noted around the State Capitol in Lincoln, NE 18 Feb (JCm). This, along with previous winter sightings in Omaha and Lincoln, suggests that breeding birds are resident in the vicinity. GROUSE THROUGH WOODPECKERS Good numbers of Greater Prairie-Chickens were noted in n.-cen. and se. Nebraska, in¬ cluding 100 at an irrigated corn-stubble field in sw. Custer 23 Jan (TJW) and 51 in Johnson 9 Dec (TEL). Yellow Rails, thought to be only migrants in the Region, were located at Red Slough, where an unprecedented 22 were flushed as late as 20 Dec, with one lin¬ gering until 28 Dec (DA). Rare was a very late King Rail there 7 Dec (DA). Virginia Rails may winter throughout the Region, as 4 birds were found at seeps in the Niobrara River Valley in Cherry in Dec and Feb (JED). Soras also seem to be extending their winter range northward, with one in Blaine, OK 28 Jan (DT) and 2 at Red Slough 7 Feb (TS). Again at Red Slough (do they heat the wa¬ ter?) were as many as 6 Common Moorhens 6 Feb, with one there the next day (DA). Adding to the list of lingering or winter¬ ing species, a Sandhill Crane was found in Osage, OK 18 Dec (SH, RPo, MP), with 2 at Red Slough 27 Dec (DA, MW, BH) and an amazing 2015 in Barber, KS 2 Jan (PJ). A Black-bellied Plover at Hackberry 4 Dec (LT) was late, but a pair of Killdeer with 2 downy young 15 Dec in McCurtain, OK (BHk) was tempting fate. Adding to the win¬ ter records of American Avocets for Okla¬ homa were one at Red Slough 6-7 Dec (DA, TS) and 1-3 at Hackberry 13-27 Feb (KM, LT, MTr). As many as 29 Greater Yellowlegs were still at Quivira 14 Dec (MR). The 50+ Greater Yellowlegs wintering at Hackberry 13- 27 Feb (LT, MTr, JAG) were accompa¬ nied by 1-3 Lesser Yellowlegs 12-21 Feb, 14- 15 Dunlin 12-21 Feb, and 17-29 Long¬ billed Dowitchers 12-27 Feb (JAG, DE, LT, MTr). An excellent count of late fall migrant Long-billed Dowitchers was the 140 at Hackberry 4 Dec (LT). A surprising 8 Spot¬ ted Sandpipers were found in Oklahoma 2-29 Dec (fide JWA); normally, few are re¬ ported after Oct. Rare anywhere in the Region, a Laughing Gull was in Sequoyah, OK 21-23 Dec (SBe, DT). Also rare in winter away from Mc¬ Conaughy, single California Gulls were in Douglas, NE 4 Dec (JGJ), Hitchcock, NE 20 Dec (TJW), Johnson, KS 30 Dec (ML), Dou¬ glas, KS 16 Jan (DS, GP, MM, RA), and Wag¬ oner, OK 27 Feb (J\VA). Southernmost Thayer’s Gulls were in Oklahoma, where the species is only casual; 1-2 were in Oklahoma 12-23 Feb (PV, JWA), with one in Sequoyah 4 Feb (BH). Somewhat rare in Kansas, 6 Thayer’s were identified 15 Dec-16 Jan (fide LM). A gull in Oklahoma 22 Jan-12 Feb was carefully scrutinized and reported as a Thay- er’s/Kumlien’s intergrade (JL, BH, PV, m.ob.), while a bird identified as a second-winter Iceland Gull was at McConaughy 12 Dec-2 Jan (HA, m.ob.), apparently the same bird that was there last year. Now regular, but still rare in the Region, no fewer than 8 Less¬ er Black-backed Gulls were reported, includ¬ ing 4 in Oklahoma 13 Feb (J\VA). Regional¬ ly, 12 Glaucous were reported, with singles south to Tulsa, OK 18-26 Dec (DHo, TM) and Mayes, OK 1 Jan (JD). The only Great Black-backed Gull reported was the contin¬ uing imm. at McConaughy 19 Dec (fide SJD). Nebraska’s first mid-winter record of White-winged Dove was one in Scotts Bluff 9 Feb (ECT). Ten Inca Doves made a high count in Johnston, OK 19 Dec (CB), where it is still a rare species. Most unexpected were the 2 Common Ground-Doves wintering at Red Slough through 17 Feb (DA, MW, BH, m.ob.); this species is still only of casual oc- 288 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS currence in the Region. Another species creeping northward is Greater Roadrunner: one apparently wintering in Cowley, KS was exceptional (MT, fide LM). Of few Snowy Owls reported, 3 were in Kansas: one found dead 13 Dec in Hodgeman had apparently hit a tower support-wire (fide BSa); one was in Sumner 8-25 Jan (DS, m.ob.); and one was in Coffey 28 Feb (LF, RM). The only North¬ ern Saw-whet Owl reported was in Chase, NE 20 Dec (SJD). Unprecedented was a very late Common Nighthawk in Tulsa, OK 5 Dec (JC). Of 3 Rufous Fiummingbirds braving Dec weath¬ er, one continued its stay in Johnson, KS from 27 Nov until 29 Dec (fide MM); the others were in more friendly climes in Tulsa, OK 4 Dec (P&JE, MK) and Oklahoma, OK 3-12 Dec (BHn). Lewis’s Woodpeckers sometimes appear in winter far to the e. of their usual range; one such bird was in Cleveland, OK 27 Dec-17 Jan (PF, m.ob.). Far more than the usual number of Yellow- bellied Sapsuckers, about 21, were in se. Ne¬ braska, n. to Dixon 8 Jan (BFH); one in Cimarron, OK 15 Dec (JAG) was a rare oc¬ currence so far to the west. FLYCATCHERS THROUGH WAXWINGS A Regional “zootie” at any time, a Black Phoebe wintered at Red Slough 29 Dec-22 Feb (JS, BH, DA, m.ob.). Phoebes hanging north were an Eastern in Sedgwick, KS 18 Dec (PJ) and 2 Say’s in Cimarron, OK 15 Dec (JAG). Clark’s Nutcracker, noted several times out of range in fall 2004, appeared in nw. Nebraska in invasion numbers, with 40-50 in the Sowbelly Canyon area of Sioux 5 Feb (KD) and other counts in that area of up to 30 birds 21 Dec-25 Jan (EB, B&DW, HKH). The last such irruption was in 1996-1997. Normally early in spring, 3 Pur¬ ple Martins in Cleveland, OK 21 Feb (SH) were pushing the envelope, but not as much as the 3 Tree Swallows in Washington, OK 27 Feb (DR, JL, BG). Black-capped Chickadees continue to be very scarce in s.-cen. Nebraska e. to Lancast¬ er (LE, JG). The only reports of Mountain Chickadee were of two widely-separated sin¬ gles in Scotts Bluff, NE through the period (fide AK, P&DD). Bush tits staged a minor incursion into sw. Kansas and w. Oklahoma, with 5 as far n. as Wichita, KS 4-15 Dec (SS, DB, HA), as many as 34 in Morton, KS 1 Jan (SP, m.ob.) and 10-15 in Stevens, KS 5 Dec (HA); 3 were on the plains in Cimarron, OK 15 Dec (JAG). Good numbers of Red-breast¬ ed Nuthatches, significantly more than usu¬ al, were reported in Nebraska and Kansas, with best being the C.B.C. count of an amaz¬ ing 105 at Wichita 18 Dec (PJ). Three White-breasted Nuthatches in Sowbelly Canyon, Sioux , NE 21 Dec were of the ex¬ pected resident subspecies nelsoni, but one Described to science in 1883, kumlieni Iceland Gull has been a taxonomic puzzle almost ever since. This bird (photographed 12 February 2005 at Lake Hefner, Oklahoma City) has a rather flattened head and squared nape (more typical of Thayer's Gull), though the mostly unmarked pale tertials and overall paleness suggest Kumlien's. Photograph by Pat Velte. in nearby Harrison was of the e. subspecies cookei (EB); the latter occurs during winter in areas of the state where the species does not breed. The extent of movement of nel¬ soni in winter in Nebraska is not well known. Pygmy Nuthatch numbers in the canyons of Sioux, NE were exceptional, de¬ scribed as “amazing” on 28 Dec (B&DW), and 75 were estimated in Monroe and Sow¬ belly Canyons 21 Dec (EB). Winter Wrens apparently wintered n. to Cherry, NE, where 3 were found along the Niobrara River 15-18 Dec and another 19 Feb (JED). Winter Wrens also put on a sur¬ prising show at the w. edge of the winter range in nw. Oklahoma; one to 2 were found on various dates between 16 Dec and 24 Jan in Woods, Grant, Woodward, Ellis, and Dewey (DT). Unprecedented for the location and date were 2 Sedge Wrens at Quivira 8 Dec (SS). Another wren making an appearance outside its usual winter range was Marsh Wren, 4-5 of which were rather far n. along the Niobrara River in Cherry, NE 15-18 Dec and 18-19 Feb (JED). Rare as far nw. as w. Nebraska in Dec, a Ruby-crowned Kinglet in Scotts Bluff 18 Dec (fide AK), one at Mc- Conaughy 19 Dec (fide SJD), and another in Dundy 29 Dec (TJW) were unexpected. Also very late were 2 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers in Johnston, OK 19 Dec (CB). Townsend’s Solitaires were widely report¬ ed e. to Lancaster, NE (fide JG), Geary, KS (RA, GP), Sedgwick, KS (PJ), and Cleveland, OK QAG, CBy, B&SD). Another quite northerly half-hardy was a Hermit Thrush in Cherry, NE 15 Dec (JED). Remarkable num¬ bers of American Robins occur in the exten¬ sive cedar areas of cen. Nebraska in late fall: 10,216 were tallied on the Calamus C.B.C. 1 Jan (fide DH) and “thousands” were in se. Lincoln cedar canyons 25 Jan (TJW). The only Varied Thrushes reported were in Kansas: singles in Sedgwick 18 Dec-18 Jan (PJ, m.ob.) and Pottawatomie 18-29 Jan (GR, m.ob.). Five Gray Catbirds lingered into winter; northernmost were singles in Nebraska at McConaughy 2 Jan (HA) and in Fumas 22 Jan (LO). A late Sage Thrasher was in Kiowa, OK 21 Dec (JAG), and Brown Thrashers tarried far to the n. in Lincoln, NE 10 Jan (fide TJW) and Morrill, NE 1 Feb (fide AK). A Sprague’s Pipit was late in Kiowa, OK 21 Dec QAG). WARBLERS THROUGH FINCHES Lingering warblers included an Orange- crowned in Riley, KS 14 Jan (DM), a Prairie r For the first time in many years, Bohemian Waxwings staged an invasion into the Region, although sightings were J \ limited to the w. portions of the Region. The largest numbers were in Nebraska, where best C.B.C. totals were 237 at McConaughy 19 Dec (fide SJD) and 225 at Crawford 20 Dec (B&DW). Kansas reported a total of 10-15, with one e. to Sum¬ ner 18 Dec (TH). Some 4-5 Bohemians made it to Oklahoma, where extremely rare: 2-3 in Texas 1 Dec (DA, BH, KM, JS) and 2e. as far as Carter 25 Dec (BF). ' - VOLUME 59 (2005) • NUMBER 2 289 (DGi). However, the only Cassin’s Finches re¬ ported were 2 at McConaughy 19 Dec (fide SJD) and one in Mortem, KS 1 Jan (SP). Good numbers of Red Crossbills were also reported throughout the Region, with the exception of s. Oklahoma. The only reports of White¬ winged Crossbill were of singles in Platte, NE 30 Jan (LR, RH) and Rooks, KS 31 Jan (MZ, MS). Common Redpolls were reported 4 Dec-7 Feb in low numbers, about 40 in all, s. to Grant (SS, DB, HA) and Sedgwick (TH) in Kansas. Pine Siskins were present in very good numbers, particularly westward. Cited observers (area editors in boldface): NEBRASKA: Henry Armknecht, Laurel Badura, Elliott Bedows, Mark Brogie, Linda R. Brown, Jay Carmer (JCm), Carol Carpen¬ ter (CCa), Kathy DeLara, Stephen J. Dins- more, Phyllis & Dean Drawbaugh (P&DD), James E. Ducey, Rick Eades, Larry Eine- mann, Ruth Green (RGr), Joe Gubanyi, Robin Harding, Dave Heidt, Glen & Wanda Hoge, Helen K. Hughson, Bill E Huser, Paul A. Johnsgard, Jan Johnson, Joel G. Jor¬ gensen, Alice Kenitz, Clem N. Klaphake, Thomas E. Labedz, Linda Ollinger, Lanny Randolph, Bill & Jim Schmoker (B&JS), Edna Claire Thomas, Jerry Toll, Eric Volden, Bruce & Donna Walgren (B&DW), T.J. Walker. KANSAS: Robert Antonio, Henry Armknecht, Richard Bean (RBe), Roy Becke- meyer, Dave Bryan, Lloyd Fox, Gregg Friesen, Dan Gish, Paul Griffin, Kellye Hart, Tyler Hicks, Chris Hobbs, Lowell Johnson, Pete Janzen, Mark Land, Ron Marteney, Mick McHugh, Lloyd Moore, Dan Mulhern, Chuck Otte, Sebastian Patti, Rob Penner, Galen Pittman, Mike Rader, Gary Radke, Brett Sandercock (BSa), David Seibel, Scott Seltman, Mark Shaw, Jerry Sigler (JSi), Max Thompson, Michael Zajic. OKLAHOMA: David Arbour, James W. Arterburn, Steve. Belanger, Sandy Berger (SBe), E. Boyd (EBo), Charles Brown, Chet Bynum (CBy), Bill Car- rell, Cameron Cox, Jeff Cox, Jim Deming, Bill & Sandy Dengler, Barb. Downard, Todd Dunaway, Paul &Jean Eads (P&JE), David Elmendorf, Phil Floyd, Brush Freeman, Max Fuller, Bonnie Gall, David Gill (DGi), Joseph A. Grzybowski, Stephen Grzybowski, Richard Gunn, Susan Harris, Berlin Heck, Berlin Heck III (BHk), Neland Hill, Bill Horn (BHn), Donna Horton (DHo), Mark Howery, George Kamp, Marty Kamp, Jo Loyd, Jeri McMahon, Kurt Meisenzahl, Steve Metz, Terry Mitchell, Mark Peterson, Randy Porter (RPo), Mike Rader, Dan Reinking, John Shackford (JSh), Bill Shepherd, John Ster¬ ling, Terry Stuart, Max Thompson, Doug Tozer, Lou Truex, Mary Truex (MTr), Pat Velte, Nancy & Jim Vicars (N&JV), Mar¬ guerite Wadroop (MWa), Matt White, Anne Wilbur, Paul Wilson, Don Wolfe, Jimmy Woodard, Shane Woolbright. £ Furnishing a second Regional record in the Southern Great Plains was this Black Phoebe (here 31 December 2004) at Beaver's Bend State Park, McCurtain County, Oklahoma, where it apparently spent the winter. Photograph by Matt White. Warbler in Sedgwick, KS 30 Oct-15 Dec (PG, m.ob.), and an American Redstart through 14 Dec in Oklahoma, OK (JSh). Also unexpected, despite their relative hardiness, were 3 Pine Warblers in Kansas in Jan: sin¬ gles in Sedgwick 23 Dec-1 8 Jan (RB), Harvey 5-15 Jan (GF), and Geary 30 Jan (RA, GP); somewhat westerly were 2 in Oklahoma/Lin¬ coln, OK 19 Dec (MH) and one in Comanche, OK 29 Dec (JAG, SG). A Summer Tanager present through the period in Cherokee, OK (BD, MWa) attended a feeding station. Green-tailed Towhees occasionally winter e. of the usual range; one was in Kingfisher, OK 9-16 Jan (N&JV, PV, m.ob.), and a Canyon Towhee was a bit farther e. than ex¬ pected in Morton, KS 1 Jan (SP). Nebraska’s 4th documented winter Savannah Sparrow was in Washington 10 Jan (JT), and a Chip¬ ping Sparrow was a rare winter find in Barber, KS 2 Jan (PJ). Furnishing one of only about a dozen Regional records was a Golden- crowned Sparrow at a Douglas, KS feeder 18 Dec (GP). Southernmost Snow Buntings were one at Quivira 14 Dec (MR) and 9 in Mitchell, KS 15 Dec (MR, SS, MT, RP). Rusty Black¬ birds and Brown-headed Cowbirds were more in evidence in midwinter than usual in se. Nebraska, and cowbirds arrived earlier than usual, with one in Richardson 15 Feb (CCa). Other fringillids were not to be outdone in the Region this winter. Counts of Purple Finch were excellent this year, with many found into the cen. and w. stretches of the Re¬ gion, including about 129 in Scotts Bluff, NE Among the array of half-hardies braving potential catastrophe this season was a Green-tailed Towhee in Kingfisher County, Oklahoma, here photographed 5 January 2005. This represents one of few state records of this rather secretive species away from the Oklahoma Panhandle. Photograph by Pat Velte. ( fide AK), 62 in Geary, KS 19 Dec (CO, m.ob.), and 3 as far w. as Rogers Mills 11 Jan Perhaps the biggest event of the season was a limited influx of Pine Grosbeaks onto the w. Great Plains. This species has •J I been essentially unrecorded from the Region for about 35 years. About 18 birds appeared in the Region this winter, most in Kansas, where one was in Sedgwick 6 Nov (RB), another was in Morton 1 3 Nov (SP, CH, MR, JSi), up to 6 were in Grant 4 Dec-i- (SS, KH, m.ob.), 2 were in Wichita 4-1 1 Dec (SS, DB, HA), and 3 were in Russell 19 Dec (MR). Previously only hypothet¬ ical in Oklahoma, singles were found in Cimarron 11-12 Dec (JW, NH, MF, EBo) and 5 Jan (MT, MR) and in Texas 31 Dec-25 Jan (JW, NH, SM, BH). Singles were also in Perkins, NE 20 Dec (SJD) and far to the e. in Lancaster, NE 19 Dec (LE). The latter record and the Sedgwick, KS report may suggest that these birds were not all derived from the Rocky Mountain populations. 290 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS — wmmmmmmmmmmmmmm The winter produced events that un¬ der more normal circumstances would be headliners in this column. Examples include the largest incursion of Purple Finches into the state in 20 years, outstanding grassland bird diversity in the Trans-Pecos (including numerous Baird’s Sparrows), and outstanding numbers of Mountains Plovers found in many locations. However, these very noteworthy events went almost unremarked, as all eyes focused on the Lower Rio Grande Valley, where the in¬ vasion of vagrants from northeastern Mexico was unprecedented in our experience. Like kids in a candy store, birders were treated to 3 Roadside Hawks, an Elegant Trogon, a So¬ cial Flycatcher, 9 Rose-throated Becards, 7 White-throated Robins, 3 Golden-crowned Warblers, at least 15 Crimson-collared Gros¬ beaks, and 8 Blue Buntings. For some of the species, the numbers of individuals present this winter exceeded the number of sight¬ ings previously documented in the United States! Spectacular rarities were also found in many other areas of the state, including a state first Streak-backed Oriole on the upper coast, an American Dipper at Dallas, and an apparent male Lawrence’s Goldfinch at Rockport, to name .a few. This winter’s wave of rarities brought with it a large influx of birders from around the country and elsewhere. It is hard to quantify the number of people visiting the Lower Rio Grande Valley, but we can look at one very popular stop on the tour: the Frontera Audubon Sanctuary in Weslaco. The previ¬ ous winter, the visitation during the winter (December through February) was about 600 people — a sharp contrast to the 6782 visitors during the same period this season. The economic impact of birding in this area is truly impressive, particularly when Mexi¬ can vagrants are present. Abbreviations: L.R.G.V. (Lower Rio Grande Valley); T.B.R.C. (Texas B.R.C.); U.T.C. (Up¬ per Texas Coast). The following are short¬ ened names for the respective local, county, state, or national parks, and wildlife refuges, etc.: Anahuac, Bentsen, Big Bend, Big Bend Ranch, Buescher, Buffalo Lake, Caprock Canyons, San Bernard, Santa Ana, Sea Rim, and Trinity River. LOONS THROUGH STORKS Single Red-throated and Pacific Loons were found in Calhoun 19 Dec (BFr, PHo). Addi¬ tional Pacific Loons included 3 each in Rock¬ wall 16 Dec (BG et al.) and Llano 8-15 Jan (SAs, tTFe) and a single in Comal 28 Dec (BD). Rare for the Panhandle were 2-3 Com¬ mon Loons in Hutchinson 4-19 Dec (fide BPi) and one in Donley 2 Jan (10). Least Grebe was much in evidence on the U.T.C. after another wet year. A pair remained through 16 Jan in Freestone, where they Texas nested the previous summer (PBa). As was much in evidence this season, Aechmophorus grebes can breed through the winter, with many pairs with dependent young present at Balmorhea L., Reeve s. Two Western Grebes at L. Tyler, Smith 19 Dec (A&CB) were very rare for the Pineywoods. Up to 18 Western Grebes were present on L. Buchanan, Llano 27 Feb (RBa). An estimated 2000+ American White Pel¬ icans on L. Livingston, Polk 28 Dec was im¬ pressive (TFe). A subad. Brown Booby locat¬ ed in Port Aransas, Nueces 26 Feb-4 Mar (JSi, CTa, tm.ob., ph.) furnished just the 4th winter record for the state. A very early Masked Booby was in Nueces 28 Feb (BFr, PHo). A Neotropic Cormorant in Lubbock 6-21 Feb (AH) represented the first Feb record for the High Plains. An American Bit¬ tern at Rio Grande Village 16 Dec-7 Feb (JHi, MF) represented a first winter record for Big Bend; others of note were 2 in Reeves 19 Dec (ML) and one in Lubbock 18 Dec-13 Feb (AH et al.). Two Least Bitterns were Mark W. Lockwood 402 East Harriet Avenue Alpine, Texas 79830 (mark.lockwood@tpwd.state.tx.us) Randy Pinkston 913 Hillcrest Drive Salado, Texas 76571 (pinkston@vvm.com) Willie Sekula 7063 County Road 228 Falls City, Texas 781 13 (wsekula@ev1.net) VOLUME 59 (2005) • NUMBER 2 291 This second-winter gull found at Corpus Christi, Nueces County, Texas 8 (here) through 22 February 2005 appears to have characteristics of Yellow-legged Gull. If the identification can be confirmed, it would mark a second consecutive winter for the species in Texas. Photograph by Martin Reid. found in Brazoria 19 Dec (JWi, EH et al)- A Great Egret lingered in Lubbock throughout the season (AH), while single Snowy Egrets lingered in Dallas through 18 Dec (KC) and Tarrant until 28Jan (SJe, DPo). Cattle Egrets lingered at scattered inland locales, most no¬ tably about 100 in Smith 15 Jan (/ideJPu). Green Herons were unexpected in Collin 4 Dec (PA), Wilson 16 Dec (WS), and Bexar 8 Jan (RHi, GS). Single White Ibis at Nacog¬ doches and at Longview, both 18 Dec, were C.B.C. firsts there. Seven Wood Storks in Cameron 8 Dec (BMc) and 3 in Chambers 8 Jan (ph. AWo) provided unexpected winter records. WATERFOWL THROUGH FALCONS As noted by Wolf, the season appeared to be an “off’ winter for most waterfowl. Three Ross’s Geese lingered in Bell through 6 Jan (RPi). The distribution of Cackling Goose is of great interest due to the recent split. No¬ table counts of Cackling Goose included 23 in Bell 13 Dec (RPi), 100 (compared to 200 Canadas) from Carson 4 Dec (BPi), 6202 (compared to 11,895 Canadas and 19,339 unidentified) in Lubbock 18 Dec (fide AH), and 28 (compared to 3499 Canadas) in Hemphill 29 Dec (fide SP). A Cackling Goose was also documented at Tomillo Res. 1 Dec (BZ), the 2nd El Paso record. A Eurasian Wigeon found in Starr 22 Feb represented a rare s. Texas record (tD&BF). Greater Scaup made a good showing in cen. Texas, with multiple sightings 30 Dec-19 Feb in Bell mmm wmmm (RKo, RPi) and Williamson (TFe, ByS). More than 100 Greater Scaup on L. Bob Sandlin, Camp was noteworthy for the Pineywoods (DBr). A Surf Scoter in Bexar lingered until 8 Dec (SCo, MRe); a White-winged Scoter in Kleberg 5 Jan was rare there (TL). Long¬ tailed Ducks were scattered statewide, with reports from Bexar through early Dec (MRe), Aransas 9 Dec (MM), McLennan 28 Nov-2 Dec (FB), Travis late Nov-21 Jan and possibly later (EC, m.ob.), Rains 11-21 Feb (RoB et al.), Galveston 28 Feb (CR), and Hudspeth 28 Dec-27 Jan (DaB, BPe). Single Masked Ducks were found in Matagorda 20-24 Dec (L&RS, ph. HS) and San Patricio 20-30 Dec (GB, tMRe). Extralimital White-tailed Kites appeared near the Presidio/Jeff Davis line 2 Dec (ph. CMi) and in Hardeman 7 Jan (BBo et al.), Brewster 30 Jan (DEI), and Kent 26 Feb (AH et al.). Intriguing was an ad. Northern Goshawk from Hardeman 30 Dec-12 Jan (tSW, m.ob). Common Black-Hawks were reported from Bastrop 24 Dec (JC) and at El Canelo, Kenedy 14 Feb (KE, ph. RT). The Harris’s Hawk at Hermann Park, Harris con¬ tinued through the winter period. Roadside Hawks made an unprecedented incursion into the state. Single individuals were at San Ygnacio, Zapata 30 Jan-1 Mar (tDEn, tRT, m.ob.), near Cannon Road, Cameron 5-16 Feb (tJA et al.), and Santa Ana, Hidalgo 9 Feb+ (TBFi, tPiH, m.ob.). A Red-shouldered Hawk in Big Bend 20-27 Feb (BBe, AH, RKo, ML) provided possibly the first winter record for the park. Another Red-shouldered in Crosby 1 Jan (PK) was notable. Rare in winter, Broad-winged Hawks were reported from Galveston 15 Dec (TC), Brazoria 17 Dec (BLi, ph. WSt), and Starr 5 Feb (BMc). There were sporadic reports of other Broad- wingeds in conservation lands in the L.R.G.V. Lingering or wintering Swainson’s Hawks were noted in Galveston 11 Dec (SLe), Chambers 13 Dec (ph. JSt), Jefferson 25 Dec (ph. EC), Bexar 5 Jan and 21 Feb (SH, MRe, SCo), Jefferson 15-16 Jan (GD, SM), and Frio 21 Feb (WS). A juv. Swain¬ son’s Hawk spent Dec-Jan terrorizing gulls at Elliott Landfill, Nueces (MRe, WS). A Rough-legged Hawk was found in Medina 22 Jan (MHe). A Golden Eagle was a great find for the Pineywoods and a new species for the Longview C.B.C. 18 Dec (ERa). Crested Caracara was a significant find in Gregg 1 1 Feb (DBr). A Prairie Falcon in Williamson 31 Jan (ph. TFe) was rare for the Blackland Prairies. RAILS THROUGH TERNS A Black Rail surprised Corpus Christi (West) C.B.C. participants in Nueces 20 Dec (JSi). Two King Rails at Balmorhea L., Reeves 19 Dec (JGe) represented a first area winter report. A King Rail in Gregg 18 Dec (PHa, DMe) was also regionally quite rare. A Whooping Crane near Plainview, Hale 2 Dec (KMo) was unexpected but well described by an experienced wildlife biologist. It was a banner year for wintering Moun¬ tain Plovers in the state. The mother lode was apparently located sw. of San Antonio, with a seasonal total of nearly 900 birds: 100 in Bexar 4 Dec (BD), 152 near Uvalde 1 1 Jan (BH), 315 in Dimmit 30 Jan (BH), and 219 near Pearsall, Frio (MRe). Holliday reported 325 birds wintering near Dell City and near¬ by salt flats, Hudspeth and three groups to¬ taling 162 birds in Reeves, Midland , and Up¬ ton 18 Feb. In addition, 90 were found n. of Balmorhea, Reeves 1 Jan (DaB, BPe). Fennell remarked that Mountain Plovers were gener¬ ally hard to find in Williamson, with a high count of 34 birds 22 Jan. A Snowy Plover in Denton 27 Dec was notable (BG). Five Black¬ necked Stilts were in El Paso 16 Dec (BZ), and one was in Big Bend 18 Jan (SLi), the latter thought to afford a first winter record for the park. Three American Avocets at Mc- Nary Res., Hudspeth 19 Dec (BZ) were unex¬ pected; one in Williamson 30 Jan, and pre¬ sumably the same bird in Bell 27 Feb (TFe), provided even rarer winter records. Two Lesser Yellowlegs in Donley 5 Dec (BPi) and 4 in Crosby 29 Jan (BBe et al.) were consid¬ ered late, but the latter could have been ear¬ ly “spring” migrants. A Solitary Sandpiper in Denton 27 Dec was notable (BG, PBi). An Upland Sandpiper was well described from Fort Bend on the extremely late date of 26 292 — NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS Dec (tSLe). Holliday reported 2 Whimbrels with Mountain Plovers in Zavala 30 Jan and 8 Feb. Seven Least Sandpipers in Donley 1 1 Dec (BPi) and 4 in Randall 18 Dec ( fide LSa) were notable for the Panhandle. Two Pec¬ toral Sandpipers in Nueces 5 Dec were very late (LJo). A Pectoral Sandpiper seen in Bra¬ zoria 19 Dec (BLy, VE) provided one of very few winter records for the U.T.C. A Pectoral Sandpiper in Waller 27 Feb was early (TE). Long-billed Dowitchers were unexpected in Titus/Camp 12 Dec (MWh) and 23 Jan (DBr), as was one in Rains 4 Feb (RKi). A breeding-plumaged Franklins Gull at Hornsby Bend, Travis 2 Jan was a real shock for Carpenter. Three first-winter Little Gulls showed up in the state this season: Quintana Jetty, Brazoria 6-18Jan (ph. , TRW et al.), the spillway of L. Livingston, Polk 21-27 Dec (CMe, m.ob.), and L. Tawakoni, Rains 4 Dec (tMWh). In addition, a second-winter bird was found on L. Ray Hubbard, Dallas 16 Dec (tDH, tBG). An ad. Black-headed Gull on South Padre L, Cameron 12 Dec (tG&SC, ph. BMc) provided a new record for the L.R.G.V A I Heermann’s Gull at Crys¬ tal Beach, Galveston 25 Feb (tDT) would be the 3rd for the state, if accept¬ ed. Up to 8 California Gulls were scattered throughout the state this season. A first-winter gull thought to be a California Gull x Ring-billed Gull hybrid spent the season at Elliott Landfill, Corpus Chrisd, Nueces (ph. MRe, WS). A Herring Gull with plumage characteristics of the Asian subspecies veg- ae was present along Bryan Beach, Brazoria 13 Jan-25 Feb (ph. RW). A second-winter gull identi¬ fied as a Yellow-legged Gull was at Corpus Christi’s Elliott Landfill 8-22 Feb (ph. MRe, WS); European experts concurred with the identification after reviewing photographs. Seven Thayer’s Gulls were in the state this winter. Up to 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls were seen in n.-cen. Texas in Dec. A first- winter Great Black-backed Gull was found in Aransas 28 Dec (ph., tJJ), while another first-winter bird was present near the Boca Chica jetty, Cameron 25 Jan+ (RT, tBMc et al.). An apparent ad. Kelp Gull x Herring Gull hybrid or backcross was studied at the Brownsville Dump, Cameron on 18 Feb (MJ1). Two first-winter Black-legged Kitti- wakes were found along the coast; one at Boca Chica jetty, Cameron 30-31 Dec (GCh; ph. BMc) and another at Quintana Jetty, Bra¬ zoria 1 Jan (JO). PIGEONS THROUGH WOODPECKERS The pair of Ruddy Ground-Doves present from the fall continued at Cottonwood Campground, Big Bend through the season (m.ob.). Groove-billed Anis made a good showing on five of the C.B.C.s on the U.T.C. , with Freeport tallying a high of 12 individu¬ als. A Burrowing Owl at Cement Creek L., Tarrant on 21 Feb was a good find (DPo). A Long-eared Owl was flushed near the Rio Grande in Laredo, Webb 16 Jan (WS, SCo, DMu). Short-eared Owls made a good show¬ ing in South Texas, where up to 9 were pres¬ ent on a ranch near Kenedy, Kames (WS) and up to 6 were found near Granjeno, Hidalgo 25 Jan+ (BMc, m.ob.). Two Chaetura swifts observed in Houston 21 Feb (JMu) were thought to be early Chimney Swifts, but the date is more in line with Vaux’s Swift, which has still not been documented in the state. A male Green-breasted Mango present since fall remained faithful to its favored feeder at McAllen, Hidalgo until 25 Jan; it was reportedly briefly joined by another male in early Dec (fide JA). The male Broad¬ billed Hummingbird at Houston present since fall remained through the season. A fe¬ male Broad-billed Hummingbird was band¬ ed at another Houston location 15 Feb (SP); it had apparently been present since mid- Nov. The 2 Broad-billeds present in the Davis Mts., Jeff Davis remained until 19 Oct (M&ME). An amazing record for the Piney- woods was a Buff-bellied Hummingbird that has been present sporadically at Ratcliff, Houston since May 2003 (ph. BBa). Zimmer did a careful count of the birds in his El Paso yard in early Dec and tallied up to 3 Anna’s, one Calliope, 4 Rufous/Allen’s, and 3 Broad¬ tailed. By the end of the period, only one Broad-tailed remained, with most birds de¬ parting in Jan and/or Feb. An imin. male Annas Hummingbird frequented feeders at Ft. Worth, Tarrant 11 Jan-8 Feb (LB), and another visited a Brazos feeder 1 Dec-22 Jan (KA). A male Broad-tailed Hummingbird was at Lubbock 18 Nov-18 Dec (BW et al.). Seven Allen’s Hummingbirds were docu¬ mented along the coastal prairies, but more unexpected was a first-winter female at Austin 28 Feb (SP). Lingering Allen’s Hum¬ mingbirds included the male present in the fall in Hays through 11 Dec (SP) and the male in the Davis Mts. remaining until 10 Dec (M&ME). An imm. male Elegant Trogon appeared at Weslaco, Hidalgo 14 Jan (STh, tm.ob.). The bird wowed hundreds of birders as it stayed through the season in Frontera Audubon’s sanctuary. A Red-headed Woodpecker in a Muleshoe yard, Bailey 23 Dec (MD) and a Red- bellied Woodpecker at Rita Blanca National Grassland, Dallam 15 Jan (BFr, PS) were well w. of their respective normal ranges. A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker at El Paso 27 Dec (DBr, BPe) was a little farther w. than expected. Two Red-naped Sapsuck- ers were found on the Bal- cones Canyonland C.B.C. 20 Dec (CS et al.), while a male was found near Pearsall, Frio 12 Dec (SCo, WS, MRe). A Lad¬ der-backed Woodpecker was seen along Beard Road, Fort Bend 18 Dec (TK), adding to the mounting records of this species on the w. U.T.C. A female Downy Woodpecker in w. El Paso 1 Jan (ph. MS, JZ) was a local rarity. A Hairy Woodpecker at the mouth of the San Bernard R., Brazoria 18 Dec (SAl, GCa et al.) was noteworthy. A westerly Pileated Wood¬ pecker was reported near Katy L., Montague 4 Feb (JHo et al.). FLYCATCHERS THROUGH JAYS Up to 3 Hammond’s Flycatchers were pres¬ ent through the period near Pearsall, Frio (ph. MRe, WS). One to 3 Gray Flycatchers were at Cottonwood Campground, Big Bend, where they are more expected, but one at the Chihuahuan Desert Research In¬ stitute near Ft. Davis Jeff Davis 28 Dec (JGe, This adult Black-headed Gull discovered on 12 December 2004 (here) at South Padre Island, Cameron County, Texas was the southernmost ever found in the state and the United States (except for Puerto Rico, a commonwealth dependency!). Photograph by Brad McKinney. • NUMBER 2 VOLUME 59 (2005) 293 MHa) provided a very good record for the cen. Davis Mts. A calling and tape-respon¬ sive Dusky Flycatcher at Ft. Bliss 28 Dec (BZ) was a winter first for El Paso. A Cordilleran Flycatcher spent the season along the Frio R. near Pearsall, Frio (MRe et al.). The Frontera Audubon Sanctuary host¬ ed a Dusky-capped Flycatcher (subspecies lawrenceii ) 18 Dec-1 Jan (tBMc, tDJ, in.ob.), while another was along Cannon Road, Cameron 22 Jan+ (tTFu, m.ob.). Arvin heard a calling Social Flycatcher just outside Bentsen, Hidalgo 7 Jan. The bird subsequently took up residence within the state park through 14 Jan, where it was doc¬ umented with voice recordings and photo¬ graphs, provided the first fully documented record for the state and the United States. There is a documented sight record from nearby Anzalduas County Park from 1990. An excellent find on the Dallas C.B.C. was a Tropical/Couch’s Kingbird 18 Dec (ph. J&MK). The Thick-billed Kingbird returned for the 3rd consecutive winter to Selkirk I., Matagorda 20-31 Dec (tMAu et al.). A very late migrant Western Kingbird was seen in Panna Maria, Karnes 1 1 Dec (WS). Rose-throated Becards staged an invasion into the state, with a total of 9 individuals seen at various L.R.G.V locations. Up to 8 Northern Shrikes were seen at seven Pan¬ handle locations this winter. Two White¬ eyed Vireos at L. Ray Hubbard, Dallas 19 (ph. BG, GCo, BoS) provided a first winter record for n.-cen. Texas. A Yellow-throated Vireo was found on the Guadalupe Delta C.B.C. , Calhoun 15 Dec (BFr, PHo). The sta¬ tus of the various “Solitary” Vireo taxa is still being worked out in the state. Single Plumbeous Vireos were at Rosehill Cemetery in Corpus Christi, Nueces 11 Dec (MCo), Oyster Creek, Brazoria (NB, HT et al.), McAllen, Hidalgo 12 Feb (tRHo), and Davis Mts. S.P 10 Jan (BS). Notable Cassins Vireos were singles at Big Bend Ranch 7 Dec (ML) and Rosehill Cemetery, Corpus Christi 23 Dec (ph. MRe et al.), plus a wintering indi¬ vidual along the Frio R. near Pearsall, Frio (MRe; SCo, WS). Essentially accidental in winter in the South Plains, a Blue-headed Vireo was seen and heard on the White Riv¬ er Lake C.B.C., Crosby 1 Jan (TM, RKo). A Chihuahuan Raven was reported from Wim- berley, Hays 5 Dec (SY). Common Ravens are increasingly being sighted below the Caprock Escarpment. This winter, up to 21 birds were reported from four different South Plain locations (AH et al.). SWALLOWS THROUGH WARBLERS Lingering Northern Rough-winged Swal¬ lows were in Denton on 1 Dec (GG) and at Greenbelt Res., Donley 5 Dec (BPi). Cave Swallows wintered in large numbers in the Central Brazos Valley, with 80 at College Sta¬ tion, Brazos (ElR) and 89 in Grimes (DVo). Farther n., 6 Cave Swallows were discovered in Clay 8 Jan+ (BG, RR), providing a first winter record for n.-cen. Texas. A White¬ breasted Nuthatch wandered westward to Henrietta, Clay 3 Dec (DMc). Out-of-place wrens included a Rock Wren near Olney, Young 3 Dec (JHo) and Canyon Wrens at Dickens Springs, Dickens 29 Jan (AH) and San Ygnacio, Zapata 16Jan+ (DMu, Ml). A Sedge Wren was found near Buffalo Springs L., Fubbock 1 Dec-28 Jan (AH); a single in¬ dividual wintered at the same location last year. A well-described American Dipper was at Prairie Creek Park, Dallas 23 Dec (tSAs). A pair of Black-tailed Gnatcatchers was e. of the known range near Choke Canyon, Live Oak 1 Jan (WS, MRe, SCo). Five Western Bluebirds in Hemphill 29 Dec (SP) and one near White River L., Crosby 31 Dec (BBe, RKo et al.) were noteworthy. Mountain Bluebirds wandered eastward to Bastrop, where one was seen 21 Dec (PR) and 7 on 18 Jan (BFr). A first for the Trans-Pecos was a Clay-colored Robin at Big Bend’s Sam Nail Ranch 27 Dec+ (CKe, KMc, ph. CLy). Other out-of-range Clay-colored Robins in¬ cluded singles on the King Ranch, Kleberg 15 Dec (TL), at Victoria, Victoria 18 Dec (DMu), and at Uvalde, Uvalde 4 Feb (ph. MHe). Sin¬ gle White-throated Robins were near Bentsen, Hidalgo 30 Dec (tJA), Weslaco 2 Jan+ (tFB, JoM, m.ob.), Inn at Chachalaca Bend, Cameron 24 Jan (TMRo), Cannon Road, Cameron 28 Jan-4 Feb (tDEn, tTFu et al.), Santa Ana 28 Jan-19 Feb (tm.ob.), Sabal Palm, Cameron 28-31 Jan (tJiP, et al.), and Bentsen, Hidalgo 10 Feb (JG°- tMP). There were only three previous records for the United States. The Blue Mockingbird present in Pharr, Hidalgo continued to appear spo¬ radically. Four Bohemian Waxwings were found at Humble, Harris 11 Feb (tJWa), and although there were rumors of other sight¬ ings from around the state, no documenta¬ tion was provided from other sites. Lingering Blue-winged Warblers were at Galveston 10 Dec (BE) and Freeport, Brazo¬ ria 19 Dec (MAu). An outstanding record was furnished by a Tennessee Warbler at Austin, Travis mid-Jan-7 Mar (ph. KF). A Nashville Warbler at Cottonwood Camp¬ ground, Brewster 12 Dec (ML) provided a first winter record for Big Bend. Two North¬ ern Parulas wintered along the Frio R. near Pearsall, Frio (MRe, WS, SCo). Tropical Parula sightings of interest included singles at Utopia, Uvalde 29 Jan (MHe) and Green Lake, Calhoun 15 Dec (ph. WS, DMu). Two lingering Yellow Warblers were at Choke Canyon Res., McMullen 1 Jan (ph. WS, MRe, SCo). A Magnolia Warbler was at Sabine Woods, Jefferson through at least 5 Feb (EC, SM). Black-throated Gray Warblers wintered at Big Bend, with singles at Cottonwood Campground, Rio Grande Village, and Campground Canyon (m.ob.). Providing first area winter records were single Black- throated Green Warblers in n.-cen. Texas at L. Tawakoni 2 Jan+ (RKi, m.ob.) and in the Hill Country at Utopia, Uvalde 7 Jan (MHe). A Yellow-throated Warbler at Nacogdoches, Nacogdoches 6-8 Jan (CMo) provided a rare winter record for the Pineywoods. Two Black-and-white Warblers lingered through the season at White Rock L., Dallas (m.ob.). A Worm-eating Warbler at High I., Galveston 27 Dec (tL&BF) furnished the first winter record for the U.T.C. A Northern Wa- terthrush at Brazos Bend, Fort Bend 13 Feb (CTL) was a nice find; a Louisiana Wa- terthrush banded at Humble, Harris 8 Jan+ (LO, ph. DVo et al.) provided a first winter record for the U.T.C. The male Gray- crowned Yellowthroat present during much of 2004 at Sabal Palm, Cameron returned 8 Dec (tBMc, m.ob). Lingering Wilsons War¬ blers in the Trans-Pecos included singles at McNary, Hudspeth 19 Dec (BZ) and Bal- morhea S.P, Reeves 22-27 Dec (TJ). Single Golden-crowned Warblers were document¬ ed at three Cameron locations: the Los Ebanos Preserve 9 Jan-1 Feb (tTFu, m.ob), Brownsville 18Jan-4 Mar (tPW, m.ob.), and the Inn at Chachalaca Bend 23 Jan-17 Feb (tKHa). The male Rufous-capped Warbler reported in the fall from Frio remained through the season (MRe, m.ob.) Yellow¬ breasted Chats were noted near Damon, Bra¬ zoria 31 Dec+ (RW, C&OB) and Fort Travis, Galveston 7 Jan (CTL). TANAGERS THROUGH FINCHES Summer Tanagers at separate Harrison loca¬ tions 12 Dec (ERa) and 17 Dec (GLu) pro¬ vided rare winter records for the Piney¬ woods. Similarly unexpected was a Summer Tanager in Grayson 28 Dec (BG, BoS). A Scarlet Tanager near Cibolo, Guadalupe 10 Dec (ph. SS) was very unexpected. A first- winter male Flame-colored Tanager at Pharr, Hidalgo 28 Feb (tMCa, ph. ScJ) rep¬ resents the 6th record for the state. Two Ru¬ fous-crowned Sparrows made a surprising appearance at L. Worth, Tarrant 25 Jan (DPo et al.). Far s. of where they are expected, sin- The Colleys' continuing investigations of mangrove stands surrounding South Bay of the Laguna Madre, Cameron have j / \ uncovered what appears to be a sizeable population of Mangrove Warblers. Up to 4, including 2 males, were found 2 Jan+. Subsequent searches revealed at least 8 individuals in the area. By the end of the season, males appeared to be on territory. This strongly suggests a resident population, and there are many miles of additional habitat extending from South Padre I. to Boca Chica that has not been surveyed. 294 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS gle American Tree Sparrows were found at North Padre I., Nueces 19 Dec (ph. MCo), Bastrop 2-10 Feb (BFr), and Falls 5 Feb (JR). Brewer’s Sparrows at Whitsett, Atascosa 5 Dec (WS) and White River L., Crosby 31 Dec (DDC, DL) were notable. A Black- throated Sparrow was near Post, Garza 26 Feb (AH). It appears that Baird’s Sparrows are regular winterers on the Marfa Plateau: up to 5 were near Marfa, Presidio until 6 Jan (tm.ob.), and 3 were in w. Jeff Davis 12 Dec-23 Jan (tMAu, tML et al.). A Golden- crowned Sparrow was at Lubbock, Lubbock 18 Dec (tRL, TM). Wandering Harris’s Spar¬ rows included one at Laguna Atascosa, Cameron 19 Dec (MaH), 2 at Seminole Canyon, Val Verde 22 Dec-6 Jan (BS), and one on w. Galveston 1. 16 Feb (JSt). A Slate- colored Fox Sparrow was well described at Sam Nail Ranch, Big Bend, Brewster 19 Feb (tRKo, BBe, AH); this form has not been ful¬ ly documented in the state to date. A Gray¬ headed Junco near Kerrville, Kerr 26 Dec (TSc) provided a rare Hill Country record. A Smith’s Longspur at Galveston Island S.P, Galveston 5 Dec (TDPe et al.) provided a first for the U.T.C. An extraordinarily large flock of 750-1000 Smith’s Longspurs was noted near L. Tawakoni, Rains 16 Jan (MWh, DA). Continuing the trend noted in the fall, Crimson-collared Grosbeaks showed up in unprecedented numbers in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, with least 4 during the season at Weslaco (m.ob.), up to 3 at Pharr, Hidalgo through the period (AWi, tm.ob.), a win¬ dow-kill at Brownsville, Cameron 10 Dec (tPBu, IJiP), at least 3 at Sabal Palm, Cameron 16 Dec+ (tBMc, m.ob.), one at the Inn at Chachalaca Bend, Cameron 30 Dec-23 Jan (tABr et al.), and one at Laredo, Webb 16 Jan (tSCo). A male Northern Cardinal pro¬ vided a rare El Paso record; it stayed through the period (BZ). Also of particular interest was a nesting record for Northern Cardinal from Santa Fe, Galveston (fide JSt), where the young fledged on the incredibly early date of 16 Feb. Blue Buntings were found in five lo¬ cations, with 2 at Laredo, Webb 2-29 Jan (WP, tm.ob.), a female at Pharr, Hidalgo 6 Jan (AWi, tDBe), a male at Zapata, Zapata 16-20 Jan (tMRe et al.), 2 at Santa Ana 17 Jan+ (tm.ob.), and one at Bentsen, Hidalgo 28-29 Jan (RPe, tMP). Two female- plumaged Painted Buntings at Big Bend’s Cottonwood Campground, Brewster 12 Dec (ML) provided a first winter record for the park. Lingering Dickcissels included singles in Bexar 3 Dec (HR) and San Bernard, Bra¬ zoria 11 Dec (JSt). A Rusty Blackbird wandered westward to El Paso 2 Jan (ph. JPa). A Common Grackle in Ft. Hancock 7 Jan (BZ) was an overdue Hudspeth first. An Orchard Oriole at Rio Grande Village, Brewster 22 Feb (MF) and a Hooded at the same location 28 Jan (DPa) furnished first winter records for Big Bend. The same was true for a male Hooded Oriole at Port O’Connor, Calhoun 30 Jan-23 Feb (BFr, PHo). Providing a state first, a Streak- backed Oriole was at Brazos Bend, Fort Bend 12 Dec+ (BGo, ph. BA, ph. tGLa, m.ob.). A Bullock’s Oriole at Midland 12 Jan-3 Feb (D&rJM) was unexpected. A lingering Balti¬ more Oriole was at L. Ray Hubbard, Dallas 19 Dec (DH, BG). Following an appearance in the same yard two winters ago, a male Scott’s Oriole was in s. Tarrant 28 Jan (ph. EW). The invasion of Purple Finches into the state this winter was the largest in 20 years. The species showed up as far w. as Lubbock and Dalhart, Dallam and as far s. as Corpus Christi, Nueces. Apparent male Cassin’s Finches were reported from near Canyon L., Comal 22 Jan (DPu, ph. CH) and L. Worth 20 Feb (DPo). Red Crossbills were reported in small numbers in the Trans- Pecos and High Plains, but a few wandered farther into the state to n.-cen. Texas and se. to Bastrop 1-25 Dec (MG, PR). An imm. male White-winged Crossbill was near Ut¬ ley, Bastrop 1 Dec (tBFr), providing only the 8th record for the state. One of the most as¬ tounding finds of the season was a Lawrence’s Goldfinch at Rockport, Aransas 21-22 Feb (ph., tD&REd). Single Evening Grosbeaks were noted at Camp Wood, Real 11 Dec (ph. MHe), Lubbock 28 Jan (STo), and Timbercreek, Randall 17 Feb (KHo). Cited observers (subregional editors in boldface): Skip Almoney (SAl), Bud Alprin, Kitty Anding, David Arbour, John Arvin, Shawn Asbaugh (SAs), Peter Assmann, Mike Austin (MAu), Becky Baker (BBa), Ron Baltzegar (RoB), Lynn Barber, Peter Barnes (PBa), Robert Bates (RBa), Dedrick Benz (DBe), Brandon Best (BBe), Peter Billingham (PBi), Gene Blacklock, Nick Block, Bryan Box (BBo), David Bradford (DBr), Allison Briden (ABr), David Brotherton (DBr), Charles & Olivia Brower, Frank Bumgardner, Pat Burchfield (PBu), Alan & Chris Byboth, Gardner Campbell (GCa), Michael Carlson (MCa), Eric Carpenter, Jeff Chaney, Gary Chapin (GCh), Sheridan Coffey (SCo), George & Scarlet Colley, Tom Collins, Greg Cook (GCo), Mel Cooksey (MCo) (South Texas: 16 Townhouse Lane, Corpus Christi, TX 78412. email: ssi@stx.rr.com), Kelly Cot- ten (North-central Texas: 8626 Angora Street, Dallas, TX 75218. email: Schmot- ten@aol.com), D.D. Currie, Manuel DeLeon, Bob Doe, Gerald Duhon, Marc and Maryann Eastman, Kim Eckert, Dolores and Robert Edwards (D&REd), Bill Eley, David Elkowitz (DEI), Victor Emanuel, Dodge Engleman (DEn), Ted Eubanks, Ben and Linda Feltner, Tim Fennell (TFe), Brian Fitch (BFi), Mark Flippo, Dana & Bob Fox, Brush Freeman (BFr), Bert Frenz (BeF) (East Texas: 221 Rainbow Dr., #12190, Livingston, TX 77399- 2021. email: bert2@bafrenz.com), Terry Fuller (TFu), Kathy Funk, John Gee (JGe), Brian Gibbons, Bill Godley, James Goltz (JGo), Mark Gray, Georgette Guernsey, Mar¬ tin Hagne (MaH), Martha Hansen (MHa), Kay Hanson (KHa), Peggy Harding (PHa), Curt Harwerth, Steve Hawkins, Mitch Hein- del, Anthony Hewetson (Northwest Texas: 4407 36th St., Lubbock TX 79414. email: ter- rverts@yahoo.com), Derek Hill, Ron Hill- strom (RHi),Jim Hines (JHi), Petra Hockey (PHo), Bill Holliday, Karen Holman (Kho), Jimmy Hoover (JHo), Pierre Howard (PiH), Rich Hoyer (RHo), Ed Hunter, Marshall J. Iliff, Jimmy Jackson, Simone Jenion (SJe), Scott Jennex (ScJ), Tom Johnson, Dan Jones, Larry Jordan, John and Molly Kaye, Chris Kellerman, Tracy Keltonic, Richard Kinney (RKi), Phillip Kite, Rich Kostecke (RKo), Tom Langscheid, Greg Lavaty (GLa), Cin-Ty Lee (CTL), Rob Lee, Sue Levy (SLe), Susan Lily (SLi), Brad Lirette (BLi), Dell Little, Mark Lockwood, Guy Luneau (GLu), Barry Lyon (BLy), Charlie Lyon (CLy), Mike Mad¬ sen, Steve Mayes, Toby McBride, Kathy Mc¬ Cormick (KMc), Debra McKee (DMc), Brad McKinney (BMc), Chris Merkord (CMe), Don and Joann Merritt, Dorothy Metzler (DMe), Clay Miller (CMi), Carroll Moore (CMo), Keith More (KMo), John Muldrow (JoM), Jeff MundyQMu), Derek Muschalek (DMu), Irene Oatman, John O’Brien, Lacey Ogburn, Brent Ortego, Daniel Paez (DPa), Jim Paton (JPa) (Trans-Pecos: 4325 Boy Scout Lane, El Paso, TX 79922. email: paton- jn@netzero.net), Michael Patrikeev, Jimmy Paz (JiP), Dick Peake (DPe), Brandon Perci- val (BPe), Rose Peterson, Barrett Pierce (BPi), Randy Pinkston (RPi), David Powell (DPo), Sumita Prasad, Warren Preuss, David Pueppke (DPu), Jane Purtle (JPu), Ross Ras¬ mussen, Ellen Ratoosh (ElR), Eddie Ray (ERa), Martin Reid (MRe), Helen Rejzek, James Restivo, Mike Rodegerdts (MRo), Phil Rostron, Chris Runk, Laura Sare (LSa), Su¬ san Schaezler, Tom Schulenberg (TSc), Georgina Schwartz, Marcy Scott, Bert See- holzer, Willie Sekula (Central Texas: 7063 Co. Rd. 228, Falls City, TX 78113-2627. email: wsekula@evl.net), Heather Serrill, Linda and Richard Serrill, Chuck Sexton (CS), Joel Simon, Wayne Stallberg, Jim Stevenson (JSt), Bob Stone (BoS), Byron Stone (ByS), Paul Sunby, Clay Taylor, Sandra Tholen (STh), Rob Tizard, Susan Tomlinson (STo), Darren Touched, Heidi Trudell, Dar¬ rell Vollert (DVo), Pat Wade, Jerry Walls (JWa), Elaine Webb, Ron Weeks (UTC: 110 Indian Warrior, Lake Jackson, TX 77566. email: empidonax@sbcglobal.net), Steve Welborn, Bill Wenthe, Allen Williams (AWi), Jennifer Wilson (JWi), David Wolf, Adam Wood (AWo), Scott Young, Jimmy Zabriskie, Barry Zimmer. <& VOLUME 59 (2005) • NUMBER 2 1 295 . . — Colorado & Wyoming Grand Junction Gunnison Durango San Luis ValleY M0nte \/jSta N.W.R. La Junta* ■ John Martin Two Buttes Res. m Baca County Christopher L. Wood Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology 159 Sapsucker Woods Road Ithaca, New York 14850 (clw37@cornell.edu) Tony Leukering Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory 14500 Lark Bunting Lane Brighton, Colorado 80603 (tony.leukering@rmbo.org) Bill Schmoker 3381 Larkspur Drive Longmont, Colorado 80503 (bill@schmoker.org) Although bitterly cold the first week of December, the rest of the season was marked by above-average tempera¬ tures. One correspondent from Wyoming even commented on the “lack of winter” this year, as the state remained nearly 4-5° F above its 110-year average. Precipitation in both states was near normal throughout the period, with the exception of a wet January in Colorado, continuing our hiatus from the multi-year drought fresh in everyone’s mem¬ ories. Pleasant surprises on regional Christ¬ mas Bird Counts included Gyrfalcon, Ameri¬ can Woodcock, Anna’s and Costa’s Hummingbirds, and Sedge Wren; the Pueblo Reservoir count set a new Colorado record with 129 species. The highlight of our winter gull scene was a cooperative Iceland Gull that lingered in the Denver area for at least a week. The occupation force of Bohemian Waxwings remained strong, and unusual sparrows (e.g. Green-tailed Towhee, Chip¬ ping, Lincoln’s, Swamp, Sage, and Golden- crowned Sparrows) rewarded diligent searchers. Rosy-finches made good showings at several locations, despite the loss of one of the most reliable feeders for these high-ele¬ vation specialists, while Pine Grosbeaks, Pine Siskins, and Evening Grosbeaks made their way down to lower elevations in unex¬ pected numbers. Especially unusual were the record numbers of Purple Finches that found their way into our Region. Abbreviations: Canon (Canon City, Fre¬ mont ); Chat field (Chat field S.P. , Jefferson/Douglas')-, C.V.C.G. (Crow Valley Campground, Pawnee National Grasslands, Weld); E.K.W. (Edness Kimball Wilkins S.P, Natrona, WY); J.M.R. (John Martin Res., Bent)’, Union (Union Res./Calkin’s L., Weld); Valmont (Valmont Res. complex, Boulder ). “West Slope” denotes locations west of the Rockies. Due to reporting biases, all loca¬ tions can be assumed to be in Colorado ex¬ cept that each Wyoming location is noted as such the first time it appears in the text. LOONS THROUGH DUCKS The juv. Red-throated and Pacific Loons present at Pueblo Res., Pueblo from the fall continued throughout the winter season (BKP, m.ob.), though the Red-throated was something of a will-o’-the-wisp. As many as 9 Common Loons also wintered at Pueblo Res. (m.ob.). Two Red-necked Grebes put in one-day appearances in Colorado this win¬ ter, one at Lathrop S.P, Huerfano 8 Dec (R. Miller) and the other at Pueblo Res. 15 Jan (BKP, K. Lewantowicz et ah). Though West¬ ern Grebes typically winter at Pueblo Res., one on the w. side of Colorado at Fruitgrow¬ ers Res., Delta throughout the season (D. Galinat, m.ob.) was not typical. Quite rare in Wyoming were 7 American White Pelicans that wintered in Natrona ( fide DF). The species also lingered into mid-Dec at three Arkansas River valley locations on the Col¬ orado plains. Double-crested Cormorants wintered at the typical Valmont location (m.ob.) and at Pueblo Res., with up to 4 at the latter site (BKP, m.ob.). American Bitterns are almost unheard of in winter in the Region, so individuals in e. Colorado in Boulder 6 Dec (D. Williams) and Bent 29 Jan (DN) are noteworthy, but the 2 in a marsh in Delta 18-22 Dec provid¬ ed the first West Slope winter record. The Green Heron found by Nelson below John Martin 12 Dec was quite late. Black-crowned Night-Herons were found this winter at six Front Range sites and at one site in Mesa; this is a typical winter pattern in Colorado. The ad. Turkey Vulture at Ft. Carson Army Base, El Paso 3 Jan (RB) provided the first Regional winter record; the 2nd was provid¬ ed by a juv. at John Martin 13-15 Jan (DN). We also received two undocumented Feb re¬ ports from Colorado. After a good fall for Greater White-front- 296 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS In four-year gulls, third-year ("third-cycle") plumages are the rarest, so, though the species is not a rarity in Colorado, this Thayer's Gull provided a rare opportunity to document this uncommonly seen plumage. Photograph by Tony Leukering. ed Geese, the numbers wintering in Col¬ orado this year were higher than usual, with the highest count of individuals known to have wintered being the returning flock at Canon numbering 13 (m.ob.). The 26 and 14 at Jumbo Res., Logan/Sedgwick and Hax- tun, Phillips, respectively, on 25 Feb were probably early spring migrants (JK, R. Ol¬ son, GW). Counts of wintering Chen in the Arkansas River valley seemed lower than usual, though spring migrants were noted early, with 5000 passing northward over Yuma 5 Feb (G. Goodrich) and 1900 Snow Geese and 100 Ross’s Geese at Haxtun 20 Feb (TL). The large fall flight of (and ob¬ servers’ intense attention to) Cackling Geese this fall carried over into winter, as the species was found widely on Christmas Bird Counts in Colorado, with many birds stay¬ ing throughout the winter. The goose high¬ light of the winter was a first-winter Black Brant found at Inverness on the Arapahoe/Douglas line 18 Feb; it stayed into the the spring period (B. Torbert, m.ob.) and provided possibly the southernmost record in the Region. What were probably 4 of the previ¬ ous winter’s 5 Trum¬ peter Swans returning for their 2nd winter at Loveland, Larimer were present until at least 18 Feb (m.ob.). Other Colorado winter reports came from Ara¬ pahoe, Boulder, and Jef¬ ferson. Among six Re¬ gional reports of Tundra Swans were a wintering ad. in Na¬ trona ( fide DF), one at Bull L., Fremont, WY 25 Jan (SP), 2 ads. and a juv. near Pawnee 12-13 Dec (E. Albright), and returning birds (2 ads., 1 juv.) at the CF&I Lakes s. of Pueblo, Pueblo 1 Jan-19 Feb (P. Sandstrom- Smith, m.ob.); perhaps the latter two records refer to the same family. A male Wood Duck at Tot¬ ten Res., Montezuma 20 Jan (JBt, S. Allerton) was locally unseasonable. A male Eurasian Wigeon posed for birders and photographers at Pueblo 19 Feb-i- (BKP, m.ob.). Almost missing their typical Feb arrival schedule, the spring’s first Cinnamon Teal were found in Fremont 26 Feb (MP et ah). Odd for a moun¬ tain location, one to 2 Greater Scaup wintered at Sands L., Salida, Chaffee after being found 2 Dec (TL et al.); an additional 22 Colorado sites hosted the species at some point during the sea¬ son, all but one on the e. side. Two imm. White¬ winged Scoters loafed at Sands L. 2-6 Dec (TL, R. Levad, S. York). A female Black Scoter at Valeo Ponds, Pueblo 2 Dec (JBt, P. Derven) provided the only seasonal record. Rare on the West Slope was a fe¬ male Long-tailed Duck at the Clifton sewage ponds, Mesa 1 Jan-21 Feb (FL, m.ob.); another was at Gray Reef Res., Natrona, WY 25 Jan (B. Rickman). Six female-type Ruddy Ducks at Totten Res. 20 Jan (JBt) were either quite late, quite early, or wintering. Ruddy Ducks that definitely wintered were a male at Cherry Creek Res., Arapahoe (GW, m.ob.) and up to 4 at Big Johnson (MP). HAWKS THROUGH GULLS Northern Goshawks on the plains, where rare, were ads. in Pueblo 18 Dec-10 Jan (CLW, MP) and Bent (MP, LE) 31 Dec and juvs. in Phillips 12-20 Feb (MP, ph. TL et al.) and Adams 22 Feb (DE). A bird described as a white-morph Gyrfalcon sw. of Casper, Na¬ trona, WY 9-19 Dec (CM) was of uncertain origin; that morph is quite rare in the conti¬ nent’s interior. A juv. gray-morph Gyrfalcon was found on the Pueblo Res. C.B.C. 18 Dec and seen by three parties (R Hurtado, CLW et al.). Michelson reported another Gyrfal¬ con, an unaged gray bird, at Alcova Res., Na¬ trona, WY 10 Feb, and a juv. gray was found in sw. Weld 30 Jan (B. & 1. Prather); what may have been the same bird was on the Adams/Denver line 28 Feb (DE). In recent years, Sora has been found an¬ nually in winter in the Arkansas River valley on the Colorado plains. Three were detected in the Ft. Lyon, Bent marshes 15 Dec (BKP et al.), and one was at Lamar, Prowers 14 Jan (JT). Though Sandhill Cranes winter regu¬ larly on the West Slope in Delta, cranes else¬ where at this season are unexpected. Thus, 4 at John Martin 13 Jan (DN), 14 at Zink’s Pond, La Plata 24 Jan (JBt), and one in Boul¬ der, Boulder 1 Feb (D. Pratt) were of interest. Two Spotted Sandpipers along the Arkansas River in Pueblo 2 Jan+ (GW, m.ob.) provid¬ ed one of few Regional winter records. If cor¬ rectly identified, a Western Sandpiper at Wilson, Teton, WY 17 Jan (R. Sievers) would be Regionally unprecedented for the season. The Least Sandpiper at Highline Res., Mesa 25 Feb (L. Arnold) was unique this season. A Dunlin wintered (28 Dec-10 Feb) near the Delighting Denver-area larophiles, this second-winter Iceland Gull found by Glenn Walbek on 11 (here 12) February 2005 at Cherry Creek Reservoir lingered for about a week, providing Colorado's fourth record. Photograph by Bill Schmoker. Great Black-backed Gulls made a record ten appearances this winter in Colorado, including this second-winter bird at Cherry Creek Reservoir 12 February 2005. Photograph by Glenn Walbek. VOLUME 59 (2005) • NUMBER 2 297 A dynamic duo of hummingbirds anytime in Colorado, these adult female Anna's (upper) and Costa's (lower) Hummingbirds enchanted viewers near Grand Junction from early December 2004 well into the winter season. Both were banded on 4 December (here). Photographs by Deb and Steve Bouricius. Spotted Sandpipers in Pueblo (DS, m.ob.). The shorebird prize of the winter was an American Woodcock in s. Adams 31 Dec-18 Jan (R. Lentz et al.). Though the numbers of gulls this winter in Colorado were not spectacular, various rare species made spectacular to unprece¬ dented showings, particularly Mew, Glau¬ cous, and Great Black-backed. As many as 10 Mew Gulls were reported, all on the Front Range edge and the plains. The most observed was an obliging ad. at Crown Hill L., Jefferson, present 3 Feb+ (P. Plage, ph. BS, m.ob.). California Gulls seemed scarce in Colorado this winter, with the 2 ads. at Bon¬ ny Res., Yuma 20 Jan (TL) being the most noteworthy. An ad. darker-mantled Herring Gull at Valmont 21-29 Jan (TF, BS, TL) was quite interesting but could not be precisely identified. At least 17 Thayer’s Gulls were found this winter (m.ob.), the vast majority along the foothill edge in e. Colorado, as is typical. Walbek found Colorado’s 4th Ice¬ land Gull, a second-cycle bird, at Cherry Creek 11 Feb. This year’s bird was the longest staying, with many birders catching up with the species until at least 18 Feb. Af¬ ter this date, all reports of Iceland Gull from Cherry Creek probably pertained either to a leucistic ad. Ring-billed Gull with entirely white plumage or to the small first-winter Glaucous Gull also present. Ten years ago, who would have thought that the 20+ Less¬ er Black-backed Gulls found this winter in Colorado would be considered “average”? This was the best winter in recent memory for Glaucous Gull in Colorado, with at least 15 reported. Included among these were up to 5 at Cherry Creek (m.ob.), with single ads. at Cherry Creek, Pueblo Res., and Bon¬ ny Res., and 2 ads. at L. Loveland, Larimer 13 Jan-18 Feb (R. Halpin, m.ob.). The 10 Great Black-backed Gulls reported, includ¬ ing a good number of imm. birds, made for the best-ever showing in Colorado. An ad. Black-legged Kittiwake at Chatfield, Douglas 1 Dec (JK) and a juv. at Cherry Creek 5 Dec (GW) were late-fall migrants. DOVES THROUGH WOODPECKERS Recent years have seen numerous reports of wintering Band-tailed Pigeons, and the 12 in Green Mountain Falls, El Paso through¬ out the period (RB) and the 40 in Trinidad, Las Animas 4 Feb (MR BKP) continued this new tradition. Triple-digit winter counts of Eurasian Collared-Doves are now expected in many e. Colorado towns. White-winged Doves continue to consolidate their range expansion into Colorado by wintering, or attempting to, at numerous e. plains loca¬ tions. High counts were of 66 at Pueblo 18 Dec (MP) and 21 at Rocky Ford, Otero 16 Dec (SO). Other reports of note included the northernmost reports: singles at Boulder 19 Dec (R. Linfield) and 6 Feb (L. Griffin, S. Riffe) and the easternmost report (and first Kit Carson record) at Burlington 20 Feb (ph. TL). Though Inca Doves have wintered pre¬ viously at Rocky Ford and Lamar, and did so again this year, more noteworthy were the single at Florence 19 Dec (ph. MP) that provided a first Fremont record and the indi¬ vidual that wintered in Fowler, Otero (M. Favior. Adams scored the lion’s share of wintering Barn Owls, with 7 and 6 on the Barr Lake (TL et al.) and Denver (Urban) C.B.C.s (fide HK), respectively. Winter records of Burrow¬ ing Owl in the Region are not particularly numerous, so the single bird in Baca 28 Dec (J. Jones) was of interest. An incredible 42 Long-eared Owls were counted on the Rocky Mountain Arsenal N.W.R., Adams on the Denver (Urban) C.B.C. (fide HK), mak¬ ing the record-high count of 15 on the Bon¬ ny Res. C.B.C. seen minor in comparison. Seven Short-eared Owls at five locations was a bit better than average for a Colorado win¬ ter. An ad. female Anna’s Hummingbird first reported on 1 Dec and captured and banded on 4 Dec (D&SB) remained in Orchard Mesa, Mesa until 1 Mar and provided the first record of a successfully wintering hum¬ mingbird in Colorado. Interestingly, not far away in Clifton, Mesa, an ad. female Costa’s Hummingbird reported first in early Dec and banded on 4 Dec (D&SB) was present until 19Jan and provided only the 4th or 5th Colorado record. The small colony of Acorn Woodpeckers in Durango, La Plata continues. In recent years, extensive efforts by some, particularly Moss and Peterson, in Fremont, Pueblo, and Huerfano have turned up numerous winter¬ ing Williamson’s and Yellow-bellied Sap- suckers. This winter, Fremont hogged all the Williamson’s with 4 at three sites (all found by SM). Yellow-bellieds were more wide¬ spread, with individuals noted in four coun¬ ties, with Pueblo hosting 7 of the 1 1 report¬ ed. In a continuation of the fall phenomenon, a mountain-race Downy Woodpecker ( leucurus ) was photographed on the plains at Barr L., Adams 12 Feb (TL). An apparently pure Yellow-shafted Flicker This male Pine Warbler provided welcome winter color at a feeder in Golden, Colorado 7 January-19 (here 12) February 2005. Photograph by Bill Schmoker. NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS 298 _ was in The Redlands, Mesa 9 Jan (ph, TL, MP) for a rare West Slope record. FLYCATCHERS THROUGH FINCHES The Regions 2nd winter Black Phoebe was found at Canon 24 Jan (SM) — the same lo¬ cation where the first winter record of this species was established in 1995. Say’s Phoebe made a strong showing, with at least 9 in se. Colorado. The species is very rare in midwinter away from the West Slope and se. Colorado; this winter one was at Hygiene, Boulder 25 Jan (S. Roederer). Equally unsea¬ sonable was a Loggerhead Shrike at White Rocks, Boulder 24 Jan (TF). Seven Northern Shrikes on the John Martin C.B.C. 15 Dec was a rather high count for the southeast. Little mention was made of corvids this sea¬ son, perhaps surprising after last fall’s eclec¬ tic mix. Exceptions were single Clark’s Nut¬ crackers in the Denver Metro area at Lakewood 4 Feb (M. Chavez) and Broom¬ field 18 Jan (LS), the latter likely establishing a first for that small sprawling suburban county. The only unexpected West Slope Blue Jay reported was a bird at Craig, Moffat 24 Dec (FL). A Sedge Wren at Fort Lyon 2 Dec (DN) may have been the passerine of the season were it not for an even more unexpected Sedge Wren found on the Grand Junction C.B.C. 19 Dec (RL). This bird remained all winter and furnished not only a first for Mesa but a first for the West Slope and a first wintering record for the Region. A wintering Carolina Wren visited feeders at Clark, Routt through at least 21 Jan (S. Berry, T. Litteral, FL), when the homeowners retreated to sun¬ ny Florida; the only previous West Slope Record was from Grand Junction (May 2000). The Carolina Wren found last fall at Lamar remained all winter, while another briefly lingered at John Martin 7-13 Jan (DN). House Wrens are overreported in win¬ ter and rarely documented. An exception was one at John Martin 15 Dec (DN, BKP, MP, SO et al.). Current data suggest that e. Winter Wrens are much more expected in the Region during winter and migration than are w. Winter Wrens. Of the 10 report¬ ed this season, it is quite surprising that 2 were w. taxa: one along Boulder Creek 29 Dec-8 Jan (TF m.ob.) and the other at Two Buttes 31 Dec-21 Jan (CLW, ph. TL, m.ob.). Photographs of the latter may be the first taken in the state of an individual of this subspecies group. The situation for Hermit Thrush sub¬ species groups is apparently the reverse of that for Winter Wren, with most records re¬ ferring to w. taxa and only one record (a specimen) of the e. subspecies group (C. g. faxoni ) of Hermit Thrush. Eight Hermit Thrushes this season continued the trend of increasing numbers in the winter, with one - " " VOLUME 59 (2005) • NUMBER of the e. subspecies group along Boulder Creek 29 Dec-12 Jan (TF; ph. CLW). Small numbers of Eastern Bluebirds are now ex¬ pected on the w. side of Grand Junction, but the species is very rare elsewhere on the West Slope. Three Eastern Bluebirds in the nw. corner of Colorado at Craig 2-15 Jan (FL) established the first record for Moffat. At least 4 Varied Thrushes were found in the Region, including a female in Cheyenne, WY earlyJan-2 Mar. One at Broomfield 3 Dec (E. Zorawowicz, ph. L. Kilpatrick) established a first for that county. On the heels of a terrific fall, Bohemian Waxwings remained in most of the Region this winter. Reports stretched as far s. as Du¬ rango and Walsenberg. In all, over 10,000 were found in Colorado; the paucity of cov¬ erage in Wyoming makes it difficult to de¬ termine their abundance in that state. Sever¬ al unusual warblers were recorded this winter, highlighted by the first winter record of Black-throated Green Warbler at Rock Canyon/Valeo Ponds, Pueblo 11 Nov-18 Dec (BKP). Up to 2 male Pine Warblers were in Pueblo 11-18 Dec (L. Lilly), and another was in Golden, Jefferson 7 Jan-19 Feb (K. Schofield). Very rare in Dec, an Ovenbird was in Denver 1-14 Dec (B. Santangelo, DF). Somewhat tardy was a Common Yel- lowthroat eating suet at a Denver feeder 4-6 Dec (J. & M. A. Roller). Continuing recent winter trends, several sparrows wintered in rather high numbers. Three Greeen-tailed Towhees were in Col¬ orado, and one was at Jackson, WY 12 Jan (B. Raynes). Most winter Chipping Sparrow reports in the Region are erroneous, so the total of at least 7 this winter was quite high, with birds photographed at Lamar and Pueblo Res. Six Lincoln’s and 27 Swamp Sparrows were found this winter in Col¬ orado, totals on par with recent winters. Completely unexpected was a Sage Sparrow at Red Rocks Trading Post 7-8 Jan (BS, W. Finch). A returning Golden-crowned Spar¬ row wintered near Fruitgrower’s Res. (D. Galinat). We received notice of several high counts of rosy-finches this winter, including 280 Brown-capped Crystal Park, El Paso (B. Steger) and 250 Black Rosy-Finches wintering in Teller (MP). Rather depressing was the decision by the Arapaho N.F to bar the ski patrol from filling bird feeders at the Loveland Basin Ski Area (located on the Arapaho N.F.). Many birders from throughout the world had enjoyed studying all three species of rosy-finches at this location, which had become the most ac¬ cessible and reliable location along the Front Range to observe these species. The initiative to preserve natural conditions would be laudable, if not entirely hypocritical: Love¬ land Ski Area has nine lifts and over 70 runs with thousands of skiers visiting each winter. Pine Grosbeaks were noted in several loca¬ tions in the pinon-juniper zone in sw. Col¬ orado, including up to 11 at Ft. Lewis Col¬ lege 18 Dec-6 Jan. Other lowland Pine Grosbeaks were 3 s. of Lamar 1-2 Jan (DAL) and up to 5 near Ft. Collins 21-22 Dec (NK, B. Miller, K. Keirn). Three Common Red¬ polls were found, one at Jackson 22 Jan (J. Lucas), one at Allenspark, Boulder 31 Dec-1 Feb (RS), and one e. of Colorado City, Pueblo 25 Jan-5 Feb (B. B. Hahn). Cited observers (subregional editors in boldface): Jim Beatty (sw. Colorado), Susan Berry, Deb & Steve Bouricius (D&SB), Richard Bunn, Coen Dexter (w.-cen. Col¬ orado), David Ely, Doug Faulkner, Ted Floyd, Hugh Kingery, Nick Komar, Jim & Gloria Lawrence (J&GL) (statewide RBA, Wyoming), David A. Leatherman, Tony Leukering, Forrest Luke (nw. Colorado), Terry McEneaney (Yellowstone), Chris Michelson (Casper, WY), SeEtta Moss, Du¬ ane Nelson, Stan Oswald, Susan Patla (Jack- son, WY), Brandon K. Percival (se. Col¬ orado), Mark Peterson (cen. Colorado), Bert Raynes (Jackson, WY), Scott Roederer, Bill Schmoker; Larry Semo (ne. Colorado), Janeal Thompson, Glenn Walbek (n.-cen. Colorado), Christopher L. Wood. Many oth¬ er individual observers contributed informa¬ tion to this report but could not be person¬ ally acknowledged here; they all have our thanks and appreciation. 0 An unprecedented invasion of Purple Finches was detected in Colorado, with at least 18 individuals reported. Most birds were reported along the Arkansas Riv¬ er Valley, particularly from Lamar and Las Animas. Even Wyoming had one, on the Crowhart C.B.C. 1 Jan (A. Moscinski). However, the most interesting facet of the flight was the brown-plumaged individual apparently of the w. race californiais found at Lamar (in easternmost Col¬ orado) 7 Dec (ph. IL, MP). There are no previous Regional records of this taxon. In fact, we know of no records of the subspecies e. of Utah. The bird freguented a feeder that up to 4 nominate Purple Finches (ph. JT) visited sporadically Nov-Jan. Photographs have been circulated to California experts, who concur with the identification. This Purple Finch at Lamar, Colorado 7 December 2004 was one of a record-high 18 reported in the Colorado & Wyoming region in winter 2004-2005. Photograph by Tony Leukering. — 2 299 - ■ - , 1 ' " - - Great Basin Rick Fridell Utah Division of Wildlife Resources 344 East Sunland Drive, Suite 8 St. George, Utah 84790 (richardfridell@utah.gov) The winter season finally brought some welcome relief to several con¬ secutive years of drought in the Great Basin. Winter storms brought signifi¬ cant precipitation throughout most of the Region, and snowpack levels were well above normal. These conditions will provide much-needed flow to streams and rivers, in¬ crease depleted water levels in lakes and rest voirs, and replenish water tables. The winter season also brought some significant bird sightings as well. Highlights include a Common Ground-Dove and a Red-headed Woodpecker near Hurricane and Utah’s first Rufous-backed Robin near Springdale. We note with great sadness the death of Jack Walters, a fixture of Nevada birding. Jack’s passion for pursuing, promoting, and conserving Nevada’s birdlife was contagious, and his warm smile and companionship are irreplaceable and will be deeply missed. Abbreviations: Antelope 1. (Antelope 1. S.R and Causeway, Davis, UT); Bear River (Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder, UT); Corn Cr. (Corn Creek Unit, Desert N.W.R., Clark, NV); H.B.VP. (Henderson Bird View¬ ing Preserve, Clark, NV); Lake Mead (Lake Mead N.R.A., Clark, NV); Lytle (Lytle Ranch Preserve, Washington, UT); Miller’s R.A. (Miller’s Rest Area, Esmeralda, NV); Ouray (Ouray N.W.R., Uintah, UT); Pyramid L. (Washoe, NV); Red Hills (Red Hills G.C., St. George, Washington, UT); Sand Hollow (Sand Hollow S.P, Washington, UT); Zion (Zion N.P, Washington, UT). LOONS THROUGH TERNS American White Pelicans are seldom found during the winter in the Region, so an indi¬ vidual observed 3 Jan on the Walker Lake C.B.C., Mineral, NV was unexpected (DS et al.). Two California Condors observed 28 Feb flying along 1-15 near Hurricane, Wash¬ ington, UT made a pleasant surprise (DR). A Greater White-fronted Goose graced the Spring’s Pond in St. George, Washington, UT this winter. The goose was first reported 27 Sep (KC, RF) and was still present 25 Apr (KW). A Common (Eurasian Green-winged) Teal was observed at Lemmon Valley, Washoe, NV 2-11 Feb (MM, GS et al.); a drake was at the same location in Feb 2003. A Eurasian Wigeon was also at Lemmon Val¬ ley 1 1 Nov-12 Dec (SAM, MM et al.). Addi¬ tional Eurasian Wigeons reported this win¬ ter included drakes at Lakeridge G.C., Washoe, NV 12 Dec (GS) and Utah Lake, Utah, UT 26 Feb (DSh). A few Long-tailed Ducks are usually found wintering at Ante¬ lope L, so 2 observed 2 Dec-28 Feb+ (KPu et al.) were expected. More surprising were Long-tailed Ducks reported from Mountain Dell Res., Salt Lake, UT 1 Dec (PF), H.B.V.P. 3-19 Dec (JAB et al.), and Pyramid L. 5 Jan . ■ ■- ■- - (CNi). The only scoters reported during the season were 2 imm. White-wingeds winter¬ ing at Sand Hollow 1 1 Nov-15 Jan (RF, SS et al.). Red-shouldered Hawks were reported from six locations in three Nevada counties (Clark, Mineral, and Washoe ); however, the only report from Utah was of an imm. 21 Jan-5 Feb at Virgin, Washington (PL, KW, GB, ph. RF). Snowy Plovers are a rare sight in winter in the Region, so one observed at Antelope 1. 2 Dec (KPu) and 5 at Walker L. 3 Jan (GS et al.) were notable. A Spotted Sandpiper, also observed 3 Jan at Walker L., was equally unexpected (GS et al.). A Sanderling seen 5 Dec at Antelope 1. was late (J&KB). Rounding out the winter shorebirds were Dunlin observed at Ante¬ lope I. 5 Dec (J&KB) and at H.B.VP. 12 Dec-14 Feb (JAB et al.). A first-winter Franklin’s Gull was very late at Virginia L., Washoe, NV 30 Nov-21 Dec (FP et al.). An ad. Mew Gull was a great find at Lemmon Valley, Washoe, NV 12-19 Dec (FP, GP, DM). Thayer’s Gulls were observed at two Davis, UT locations: Farmington Bay W.M.A. 7 Jan (TA) and the Bountiful Land¬ fill 23 Jan-5 Feb Q&KB, CW). The Bounti¬ ful Landfill is one of the premier locations for rare wintering gulls in the Region, and this winter was no exception, with several exciting finds there. Lesser Black-backed Gulls were well represented at the landfill: a third-winter Lesser was documented 21 Dec (p.a., CN), and a first-winter bird was there 3-14 Jan (tTA, KB). An ad. Glaucous¬ winged Gull was also observed at the Boun¬ tiful Landfill 3 Jan (TA, KB). Up to 3 Glau¬ cous-winged Gulls were at Pyramid L. 6 Dec-13 Feb (JW et al.), and a first-winter bird was photographed at Las Vegas Bay, Lake Mead 23 Jan (LT). Two Glaucous Gulls were reported from the Bountiful Landfill 23 Jan-5 Feb (J&KB, CW), and another was observed 24 Jan at Farmington Bay W.M.A. (JB, BHu). DOVES THROUGH WARBLERS One of the biggest surprises of the season was Utah’s 2nd Common Ground-Dove, found 30 Dec at a pecan orchard near Hur¬ ricane, Washington, UT (tDW, LW). The bird remained through 6 Jan and was ob¬ served and photographed by numerous birders. It was discovered by birders chasing another major Utah rarity wintering in the same pecan orchard — Utah’s 2nd confirmed Red-headed Woodpecker, first found 27 Dec (tMW et al.) during the Silver Reef C.B.C. and remaining through 3 Feb (ph. TA, RF, CR). A Red-breasted Sapsucker re¬ ported near Virgin, Washington 31 Dec (KS, MTh) would also be one of only a few Utah records, if accepted. Rare wintering Williamson’s Sapsuckers were observed at Alum Canyon, Washoe, NV 5 Dec-20 Feb . . . . ■ . 1 . ■ NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS 300 Utah's second confirmed Red-headed Woodpecker was one of many exceptional vagrants found this winter in Washington County. This bird was located in a pecan orchard near Hurricane, Washington County, during the Silver Reef C.B.C. on 27 December 2004 and remained through at least 3 February 2005 (here 15 January). Photograph by Cameron Rognan. (RB) and at Virgin, Washington , UT 6-15 Jan (LG, DSh, MW et al.). An Anna’s Hum¬ mingbird observed 18 Dec in Reno, Washoe, NV (GS) was out of season and n. of ex¬ pected range. A Cassm’s Kingbird was an early arrival at the H.B.V.P. (21 Jan-6 Mar; JAB) for the 2nd straight year. Far fewer than typical numbers of Northern Shrikes wintered in the Region, with only two reports; an ad. at Echo Res., Summit, UT 5 Dec (J&KB) and an imm. at Swan L., Washoe, NV 2-5 Feb (JE, JT, DT). After an exceptional fall for Blue Jays in the Great Basin, a few individuals lingered through the winter, including singles in Nevada: 27 Nov-25 Dec at Lovelock, Persh¬ ing (SM, D&RP) and 19-30Jan at Ely, White Pine (DM, BH et al.). Up to 3 Blue Jays spent the winter visiting feeders at Clarkston, Cache, UT 20 Oct-22 Feb (TG, SP et al.). The highlight of the season was certainly Utah's first Rufous-backed Robin, found in an apple orchard in Springdale, Washington on 18 Dec during the Zion C.B.C. (MT, ST, TK&DH) and fortunately remaining through 31 Dec to be enjoyed by several observers (ph. RF, tTA). The only Varied Thrush re¬ ported during the season was from Fernley, Lyon, NV 7 Dec (DT). A Brown Thrasher was an unexpected visitor at Lytle (26 Dec; PF), and a Crissal Thrasher at New Harmo¬ ny, Washington, UT was n. of expected range (6 Dec; JJ). It was strong winter for Bohemi¬ an Waxwings in Utah, with Hocks of up to 100 individuals reported from several n. coun¬ ties (Cache, Daggett, Summit, and Utah); however, the only report from Nevada was a flock of approximately 70 in Ely, White Pine 12 Dec (JW). SPARROWS THROUGH FINCHES Chipping Sparrows are sel¬ dom observed in the Region during winter, so a flock of over 20 near Hurricane, Wash¬ ington, UT 1 Jan-19 Feb was very unusual (SS et al.). There were several Utah reports of wintering White-throated Sparrows, including 2 in Washington 22 Jan (JJ) and 5 Feb (LT, RF) and single indi¬ viduals in Francis, Summit 22 Jan (TR et al.) and Provo, Utah 25 Jan (DSh). It was an exceptional winter for Harris's Sparrows in the Great Basin, with 3 individuals reported from two Nevada counties ( Lyon and Washoe) and 8 re¬ ported from five Utah coun¬ ties ( Box Elder, Davis, Salt Lake, Washington, and Weber). A Golden- crowned Sparrow found at the Provo Airport Dike, Utah 16 Feb (RS) was rare in n. Utah in winter. Another surprising winter visitor was a female Bullocks Oriole observed 22 Dec-3 Jan in Springdale, Washington, UT (RF, LT, J&KB). Contributors and cited observers: Tim Av- ery, Glenn Barlow, Ken Behrens, Joel & Kathy Beyers, Jack Binch, Je Anne Branca, Richard Brune, Kristen Cornelia, Jim Eidel, Rick Fridell, Pomera Fronce, Lu Giddings, Tom Gordon, Bill Hart, Ken & Don Hinton, Eric Huish, Bob Huntington (BHu), Judy Jordan, Pam Larson, Sue Ann Marshall, Stan McCart, Martin Meyers, Don Molde, Colby Neuman, Chris Nicolai (CNi), Deedee O’Brien, Leila Ogden, Scott Page, Kathy Paulson, Fred Petersen, Gail Petersen, Stephen Petersen (SPe), Debbie & Randy Pontius, Scott & Cynthia Potter, Kristin Pur¬ dy (KPu), Laurie Rasmussen, Dave Rintoul, Cameron Rognan, Tuula Rose, Rick Saval, Kristi Scholly, Greg Scyphers, Dennis Serde- hely, Dennis Shirley (DSh), Steve & Cindy Sommerfield, Reed Stone (RSt), Steve Sum¬ mers, Jane Thompson, Mark Thompson (MTh), Marshall Topham, Seth Topham, Larry Tripp, Dennis Trousdale, Alton Thygerson, Jack Walters, Merrill Webb, Cliff Weisse, David Wheeler, Kevin Wheeler, Larene Wyss. O A Birder s Guide to Southeastern Arizona Richard Cachor Taylor; revised 2005; 384 pages; paper (lay-flat) Great year-round birding, grand scenery, and a birdlist that includes some of the most sought-after and beau¬ tiful birds in all of North America — these were the inspirations for Jim Lane when he wrote the first Lane Guide in 1965. Three decades later, Richard Cachor Taylor, a near-lifetime resident of Southeastern Arizona, bird- tour guide, and author, completed a totally revised edition of that first guide in the Lane series. And now, Rick has authored a second edition of his essential guide to Southeastern Arizona.* Expanded bar graphs now include 514 species, with records included through 2004 • Updated specialties list of over 240 species • New and expanded site descriptions and maps for Patagonia Lake State Park, Chino and Montosa Canyons, the Red Rock area, and more Item #102 ABA Sales Price: $22.95 A Birder s Guide to Michigan Allen Chartier and Jerry Ziarno; published 2004; 672 pages; paper(lay-flat) This guide covers more than 200 of Michigan's best birding sites and provides information on how to find boreal specialties, such as Kirtland's Warbler, Gyrfalcon, Snowy Owl, Black-backed Woodpecker, and White¬ winged Crossbill. Item #288 ABA Sales Price: $26.95 808/634-7736 American Birding" ASSOCIATION VOLUME 59 (2005) NUMBER 2 301 mi New Mexico Sartor 0. Williams III Southwest Natural History Institute 1819Meadowview Drive NW Albuquerque, New Mexico 87104-251 1 (sunbittern@earthlink.net) Widespread and abundant rain and snow made winter 2004-2005 the wettest on record for New Mexico; following plentiful summer-fall rains, this re¬ sulted in excellent cover, especially for grass¬ land species in the south. As in previous win¬ ters, the theme of this birding season continued to be species lingering late, winter¬ ing north of expected, and/or returning early, and with early onset of breeding activity by many species. Abbreviations: B.L.N.W.R. (Bitter Lake N.W.R.); Bosque (Bosque del Apache N.W.R.); C.C.N.R (Carlsbad Caverns N.P); E.B.L. (Elephant Butte L.); L.VN.W.R. (Las Vegas N.W.R.); Maxwell (Maxwell N.W.R. and vicinity); RO. Canyon (Post Office Canyon, Peloncillo Mts.); R.G.N.C. (Rio Grande Nature Center, Albuquerque); R.G.V (Rio Grande Valley). GREBES THROUGH DUCKS A Red-necked Grebe at Conchas L. 2 Jan-1 Feb (WW, m.ob., ph. JO) provided the 5th photographically documented New Mexico record. The few Homed Grebe reports were restricted to large ne. lakes; high count was 8 at Conchas L. 15 Jan (JO, JP). Noteworthy for the far nw. were 120 Aechmophorus grebes at Morgan L. 10 Jan (MW); early were 6 West¬ erns and 2 Clark’s at Cochiti L. 30 Jan (WH). A Western Grebe pair was courting at L. Aval¬ on on the auspicious and early date of 14 Feb (SW). The imm. Brown Pelican present at E.B.L. since Aug continued in evidence through Jan (m.ob., ph. JO) and was actively fishing 21 Feb (WW). A Neotropic Cor¬ morant was n. to Albuquerque 26 Feb (CR). An American Bittern provided a local first at Luis Lopez 15 Dec (JO); one at B.L.N.W.R. 1 & 29 Dec and 6 Jan (GW) furnished the only additional report. Far n. were single Great Egrets at Pena Blanca 26 Dec (WH) and near Cochiti 16 Feb (MW); Greats again win¬ tered in the lower R.G.V and the Pecos Valley, including 4 at B.L.N.W.R. 12 Jan (GW) and 9 at L. Avalon 30 Jan (SW). Apparently increas¬ ing in winter in the lower R.G.V., 12 Cattle Egrets were at Las Cruces 18 Dec (S. & W. Hill, fide GE), one was at Mesilla 11 Jan (J. Douglas), and 3 were at Las Cruces 11 Feb (GE). Traditionally unexpected in winter, a White-faced Ibis was at Belen’s Taco Bell marsh 15 Jan-27 Feb (CR, RB, JO, BN, MB) and up to 2 were at Bosque 7 Dec-21 Jan (PB, SC, JP). Turkey Vulture is a species historical¬ ly unknown in winter in New Mexico, but this season, several were reported (but not detailed) in the lower Pecos Valley, including 2 at Roswell 18 Dec (fide SB), 8 s. of Roswell 15 Jan (JB), about 10 at Roswell 17 Jan (T. Be- mis, fide SW), plus one at Carlsbad 30 Jan (SW); earliest elsewhere were one at E.B.L. Dam 21 Feb (WW) and 2 at Mangas Springs 24 Feb (LM). A Black Brant at Cherry Valley L. 4-5 Dec (JP, MB, CB) furnished a M ora first and the 7th overall for New Mexico. Both enthusiasm and confusion were evident as birders at¬ tempted to distinguish Cackling Geese from Canada Geese; available evidence suggests Cackling Geese are relatively numerous in the ne. and in the middle R. G. V. Four ad. Trum¬ peter Swans put in a brief appearance, with 5 Tundras at Stubblefield L. 2 Dec (ph. DC), while 2 ad. Trumpeters at Clabber Hill Ranch below Conchas Dam were present 2 Jan-1 Feb (WW, m.ob., ph. JO). Tundra Swans were much in evidence, including 4 at Maxwell 2 Dec-7 Jan (m.ob.), 2 at Ute L. 3 Jan (JB), 5 at B.L.N.W.R. 29 Dec-23 Feb (GW), 3 at L. Aval¬ on 10 Dec-18 Feb (SW, m.ob., ph. JO), and singles at Farmington 18 Dec (AN) and E.B.L. 8 & 12 Dec (MW, J&MH). A male Eurasian Wigeon at Albuquerque split its time between R.G.N.C. and Mariposa Park 4 Dec-6 Feb (m.ob., ph. DK, ph. GF). An aerial survey es¬ timated 15,675 Green-winged Teal at E.B.L. 6 Jan (MW), a remarkable concentration for New Mexico. Lingering from Nov was a White-winged Scoter at Clayton L. 15 Dec-29 Jan (DK, CB, JP, JB, ph. JO), while 2 were at Holloman L. 6 Jan (GE). Single Long¬ tailed Ducks were at Santa Rosa L. 19 Dec (J. Black) and L.V.N.W.R. 9-17 Jan (m.ob., ph. JO). An unprecedented “invasion” of Barrow’s Goldeneyes found up to 4 on the Chama R. below El Vado Dam 8-15 Feb (WW, JB), a male and female in the Maxwell-Stubblefield area 3 Dec-28 Feb (m.ob., ph. WH, ph. JO, ph. DC), and singles on the Rio Grande near Orilla Verde 13 Feb (CR, BN) and at Conchas L. 9 Jan (CR, BN, RB). RAPTORS THROUGH NIGHTJARS Noteworthy for winter was an Osprey in the E.B.L. area 14 Jan-12 Feb (JP et al.). An aeri- al survey of the E.B.L.-Caballo L. area 25 Jan found only 15 Bald Eagles, down from 94 on a similar survey there Jan 2001 (RD, D. Ahlers). Merlins were noted nearly statewide Dec-Feb, including 2 at Chaco Canyon 20 Dec (BS) and 3 at Bosque 18 Dec (SC). Lesser Prairie-Chickens were “booming” near Pep as early as 6 Feb (CR). At least 7 Virginia Rails were vocal in upper E.B.L. 26 Jan (RD). Note¬ worthy for the sw. was a Common Moorhen near Cliff 7 Feb (D. Beatty); high count was 5 at Mesilla 12 Feb (JP)- Two ad. Whooping 302 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS Cranes were among some 40,000 Sandhills at Grulla N.W.R. near Portales 1 Dec (]. Smith) but could not be relocated; although no pho¬ tographs were obtained, U.S.E&W.S. consid¬ ered this a “confirmed” record. A bright, fully white albino Sandhill Crane was pho¬ tographed near Hermanas 21 Jan (ph. JO), demonstrating the value of photographically documenting all “white cranes.” Unexpected in winter, up to 5 Black-bellied Plovers lingered at B.L.N.W.R. until 18 Dec, and one persisted through Jan until 16 Feb (GW). Very late was a Mountain Plover at B.L.N.W.R. 20 Dec (CB). Surprising for mid¬ winter were 13 Black-necked Stilts at Sunland Park 1 Jan (MS, JZ); earliest spring migrants were 3 at Belen 24 Feb (JO)- Late was an American Avocet at E.B.L. 12 Dec (J&MH); earliest returnees were 2 at B.L.N.W.R. 26 Jan (GW) and one at Lordsburg Playa 30 Jan (JO). North for the season was a Spotted Sandpiper at Espanola 2 Jan (BF). Late were 73 Long¬ billed Curlews at Loving 19 Dec (fide CC); unusual was one near Hermanas 21 Jan (JO); notably early were 20 near Loving 18 Feb (JP). Late for the n. were 8 Bonaparte’s Gulls at Springer L. 1 Dec (ph. DC), with 4 linger¬ ing there 5 Dec (MB); high count was 30 at L. Avalon 11 Dec (SW). A Mew Gull visited Brantley L. 17-21 Jan (ph. JO, SW). Nicely documented were single first-winter Thayer’s Gulls at Cochiti L. 26-27 Dec (ph. WH, MB) and E.B.L. 18 & 21 Jan (ph. JO, JP). Late was a Forster’s Tern at L. Avalon 14 Dec (JO). Ever-increasing numbers of Eurasian Col- lared-Doves were found statewide, including on 23 C.B.C.s, and with highs of 469 at Roswell 18 Dec (SB) and 203 at Clayton 15 Dec (CR); it was judged the most common and conspicuous bird species in the village of Elida 14 Feb, where only 2 Mourning Doves were noted (WH). White-winged Doves win¬ tered as far n. as Farmington, where up to 2 were noted Dec-Feb (AN); others in the n. in¬ cluded one at Cochiti 5 Dec (WH), 18 at San¬ ta Fe 26 Dec (DE), and several at Madrid 23 Jan (C. Perez); at Albuquerque, where now resident, White-wingeds were singing by 20-22 Jan (SOW, PS). Inca Doves were copu¬ lating at Radium Springs 15 Dec (MS, JZ), and the species continued in evidence n. in the R.G.V to Albuquerque. Common Ground- Dove reports were restricted to Hidalgo , with one in the middle Animas Valley 2 Jan (CR, MB, RB) and up to 2 at Rodeo 1 Jan-23 Feb (AM, m.ob., ph. JO). Another strong showing by Ruddy Ground-Doves found 6 at Rodeo 1 Jan (AM), where 2-7 were seen almost daily through mid-Feb (m.ob., ph. JO, ph. PH, ph. RS) and vocal birds were noted 23 Feb (NM- C); elsewhere, a single Ruddy was at Radium Springs 15 Dec-7 Jan (MS, JZ, MB). Late for the n. was a Barn Owl at Maxwell 28 Dec (P Hoban). A Barn Owl nest with 2 small nestlings and 4 eggs was discovered at — '■ B.L.N.W.R. 23 Feb (GW); such early nesting is unprecedented in New Mexico. The Eastern Screech-Owl found at Portales in Nov 2003 was still present 3 Jan (ph. JB) and was vocal 19 Feb (JO). Noteworthy were up to 4 Short¬ eared Owls in the Salt Creek area of B.L.N.W.R. 16 Dec (GW) and 3 s. of Whites City 18 Dec and 1 Jan (SW); undetailed was one below Conchas Dam 2 Jan (fide WW). Very late was a Common Poorwill seen in Walnut Canyon, C.C.N.P. 18 Dec (SW). HUMMINGBIRDS THROUGH WRENS On the hummingbird front, a male Magnifi¬ cent banded at L. Roberts 2 Dec remained there until 31 Jan (JD-M), and a female Anna’s was n. to Albuquerque 24 Dec-1 1 Jan (S. Nor¬ ris). Early-blooming manzanita shrubs in the Peloncillo Mts. may have assisted some hum¬ mers, notably single male Broad-taileds in PO. Canyon 15 Feb (CL) and the Animas Valley 21 Feb (NM-C). A late male Rufous Hum¬ mingbird was banded at Las Cruces 8 Dec (JD-M), while the last Rufous at P.O. Canyon was seen (at a frozen feeder) 12 Dec (CL); un¬ detailed was one in the Avalon-Brantley area 26 Dec (fide TH). A male Red-bellied Wood¬ pecker was at Conchas Dam 2-15 Jan (m.ob., ph. JO), where one had been seen in Nov; an¬ other Red-bellied was in the Atarque Cr. area s. of Mosquero, e. San Miguel 3 Dec (M. Mac- Roberts). Yellow-bellied Sapsucker reports with useful details were single imms. at Daw¬ son, Colfax 16 Dec (WH), Conchas L. 2-9 Jan (m.ob.), and Villanueva 22 Jan (JO), plus an ad. male at Percha 9 Jan (BZ) and 2 Feb (JB) and an imm. there 30 Jan (BZ). A Red-naped Sapsucker was e. to Lovington 22 Jan (CR). Unusually high numbers of Downy Wood¬ peckers were reported at low elevations in San Juan, including a record 14 at Farmington 18 Dec (AN). An American Three-toed Wood¬ pecker was in the Sandia Mts. 30 Jan (J. Joseph), where the species has been scarce or absent in recent years; one was drumming at Bandelier N.M. 27 Feb (JO). An apparent Cordilleran Flycatcher lin¬ gered at Rattlesnake Springs 18 Dec (ph. CC); single Empidonax were at Silver City 18 Dec and near Cliff 1 Jan (both fide R. Shook). Un¬ usually late were 2 Black Phoebes n. to Zuni 18 Dec (JO). Far w. was an Eastern Phoebe in the Animas Valley 2 Jan (CR, RB). Say’s Phoebes pushing the envelope were 3 at Farmington 18 Dec (AN) and singles at Santa Fe 26 Dec (DE) and Maxwell 6 Jan (DC). A Great Kiskadee at Las Cruces, first reported 14 Feb (M. Rivera) and well documented through 28 Feb (m.ob., ph. JZ), reportedly had been present since late Nov; it provided New Mexico’s 6th credible report and the first for Dona Ana. Single Northern Shrikes were at seven n. sites during the period, including a vocal one at L.V.N.W.R. 17 Jan (RB); s. was an ad. at Bosque 12 Feb (M. Ristow). A late Cassin’s Vireo was on the Ladder Ranch w. of Caballo L. 7 Dec (WW), where there was also a Plumbeous the same day (WW); another Plumbeous was at Mesilla 12 Feb OP)- Note¬ worthy was a Hutton’s Vireo at Mesilla 18 Jan QZ) and 12 Feb OP); Hutton’s returned to P.O. Canyon 28 Jan and were much in evidence there by 7 Feb (CL). Mexican Jays were carrying nest material in P.O. Canyon by 17 Feb (CL). Western Scrub- Jays were notably scarce in the middle and lower R.G.V. and were absent from some reg¬ ularly occupied areas, such as near Socorro (PB). A Steller’s Jay strayed to Farmington 10 Dec OP)- American Crow numbers continued unusually low in several areas, including at Albuquerque (WH, HS) and Socorro (PB). Late was a Tree Swallow at Bosque 5 Dec (D. Pellegrini); Trees may have wintered at L. Avalon, where there were 20 on 5 Jan (fide SW), 4 on 17 Jan 0O), and 40 on 23 Jan (SW). An early Barn Swallow was with 200 Trees at L. Avalon 18 Feb 0?)- ln die Pelon¬ cillo Mts., Bushtit pairs began segregating from winter flocks by 10 Jan (CL). Red¬ breasted Nuthatches staged a noticeable low¬ land invasion, including e. to Clayton, near Mosquero, and Roswell and s. to Deming, Mesilla, and Carlsbad. Two Pygmy Nuthatch¬ es were in the middle R.G.V. near Los Lunas 1 Dec (DH). Ten Cactus Wrens and numerous old nest structures were seen on San Juan Mesa n. of Elida, Roosevelt 14 Feb (WH). Nicely described was a Carolina Wren at Cedar Crest 26 Dec (AR), which represented the 3rd record there; there have been multiple New Mexico reports each year since 1998. Late was a mid-Dec House Wren at Zuni (JT). A good season for Winter Wrens produced singles at Farmington 18 Dec (AN), Santa Fe 26 Dec (fide DE), Pecos R. near San Jose 11 Jan (WW), Clayton L. 15 Dec (DK), Albu¬ querque 26 Feb (CR), and Rattlesnake Springs 15 & 29 Jan (JIT MB, SW). High counts for wintering Marsh Wrens were 38 at Conchas L. 2 Jan (WW) and 22 in upper E.B.L. 26 Jan (RD). KINGLETS THROUGH WARBLERS Two Golden-crowned Kinglets strayed to the Florida Mts. 28 Jan (JO). Nicely described were 2 late Blue-gray Gnatcatchers near San Acacia 14 Dec (DH); undetailed C.B.C. re¬ ports were 3 at Bosque 18 Dec (fide SC) and singles at C.C.N.P 18 Dec (fide SW) and Lov¬ ing 19 Dec (fide CC), all areas where Black¬ tailed is likely. Black-tailed Gnatcatcher re¬ ports increased n. in the R.G.V, including one at Bosque 11 Dec and 2 at a different locale there 18 Dec (JP), plus one there 7 Jan (CB), one at the Ladder Ranch 7 Dec (WW), anoth¬ er at Truth or Consequences 12 Feb (JP), and 2 w. of Caballo L. 14 Jan (JP). Seven Black- taileds on the Peloncillo Mts. C.B.C. included 4 in the middle Animas Valley 2 Jan (CR, MB, VOLUME 59 (2005) • NUMBER 2 303 — I; W MEXICO RB), while one was n. to Carlisle Canyon, Grant 24 Jan (RS). Eastern Bluebirds were well represented, with reports from 29 locales (and including 13 C.B.C.s) from the R.G.V. eastward, including a high 171 at Santa Rosa 19 Dec (WW); w. was a male in RO. Canyon 7 Dec (CL). American Robins were singing at Albuquerque by 22 Jan (PS). Surprising were single Gray Catbirds n. to Abiquiu 12 Feb (CR) and Clayton 15 Dec (RB). Northern Mockingbirds lingered at Clayton 15 Dec (DK) and Maxwell 16 Dec (DK); noteworthy for the season were 4 at Conchas L. 2 Jan (WW) and one there 9 Jan (RB). Sage Thrashers wintering n. of usual in¬ cluded 12 at Espanola 2 Jan (BF), 5 at Santa Fe 26 Dec (DE), one near Bernal, San Miguel 15 Jan (JP), and up to 2 at Conchas L. 2 & 17 Jan (WW, RB). Brown Thrashers w. of usual were singles at Zuni’s Blackrock Dam 18 Dec (JO) and P.O. Canyon 10 Jan (CL). Crissal Thrashers were singing in the Sandia Mts. foothills by 9 Jan (JP)- Spragues Pipits are ir¬ regular in winter, with Jan records particular¬ ly scarce; this season, 6 were found near Hope, Eddy 15 Dec, but only singles were not¬ ed there 26 & 27 Dec and 20 Jan (RM); on Otero Mesa, 5 were found 2 Feb and 10 on 6 Feb (RM); farther w., 8 were s. of Deming 11 Dec (RM), and one was in the s. Animas Val¬ ley 8 Feb (EL). Cedar Waxwings were unusu¬ ally numerous and widespread Dec-Feb, in¬ cluding reports on 21 C.B.C.s statewide. Among some 400 Cedar Waxwings at Farm¬ ington was a Bohemian Waxwing 7 & 10 Dec (C. Black, JP), and 2 Bohemians were among Cedars near Abiquiu 8-9 Feb (WW, ph. S. Brayshaw); these provided the first Bohemian records in four years. Unusual for the eleva¬ tion and date was a Phainopepla near Cloud- croft 21 Feb (SW). Late for the n. were single Orange-crowned Warblers at Albuquerque 12 & 19 Dec (RB), Santa Rosa 19 Dec (WW), and Bosque 18 Dec (SC); several lingering Orange-crowneds were found in the lower R.G.V. and the lower Pecos Valley, but there were no Jan reports; presum ably early were singles at Mesilla 12 Feb (JP) and Deming 16 Feb (LM). Unexpected in winter, a Black-throated Gray Warbler first reported at Mesilla in mid-Dec was still there 18 Jan (BZ), 29 Jan (BZ), 6 Feb (JO), and 12 Feb (JP), a wintering first for Dona Ana. Also surprising for winter were single well-docu¬ mented Townsend’s Warblers at Albuquerque 12 & 19 Dec (RB) and Owl Canyon, Peloncil- lo Mts. 2 Jan (D. Danforth); undetailed was another at Mesilla 9 & 12 Dec ( fide PS). Yet another winter surprise was a Pine Warbler at Kirtland A.FB. 14 Jan-16 Feb (Gp JP). An American Redstart lingered at Radium Springs 11-22 Dec (MS, JZ). SPARROWS THROUGH FINCHES Cassin’s Sparrows, typically scarce or absent in winter, included 18 in the middle Animas Valley 2 Jan (CR, MB, RB), one near Her- manas 5 Feb (JO), small numbers on Otero Mesa all winter (RM), 3 in s. Lea 22 Jan (CR), and one n. to Sevilleta N.W.R. 23 Dec (AR); early singing by Cassin’s was noted at B. L.N.W.R. 19 Feb (GW), Hope 21 Feb (SW), Brantley L. 25 Feb (RD), and Carlsbad 28 Feb (SW). South of expected were single American Tree Sparrows at Zuni 18 Dec (JT) and Dripping Springs, Dona Ana 18 Dec (GE); noteworthy for an elevation of 2520 m were 7 at Eagle Nest 13 Dec (ph. DC). Chip¬ ping Sparrows n. for the season included 2 at Corrales 19 Dec (DK), 2 at Albuquerque 6 Jan (BN), and a remarkable 99 in the Con¬ chas L. area 2 Jan (WW). Noteworthy were 2 Field Sparrows w. to Conchas Dam 2 & 4 Jan (WW, JO, MB). Late for the n. were 13 Sage Sparrows at Chaco Canyon 20 Dec (BS); sur¬ prising were 2 singing near Taos 26 Feb (JP). The 22 Grasshopper Sparrows in the middle Animas Valley 2 Jan (CR, MB, RB) represent¬ ed a very high winter count. Grassland spar¬ row surveys found Bairds Sparrows, includ¬ ing some apparently wintering, in Eddy , Otero , and Luna, including 10 near Hope 15 Dec (RM), 3 on Otero Mesa 18Jan (RM), and a high 16 there 6 Feb (RM). Very rare in New Mexico, single Le Conte’s Sparrows were n. of B.L.N.W.R. 15 Jan (ph. JB) and on the Mc¬ Gregor Range portion of Otero Mesa 8 Feb (RM). A good season for Fox Sparrows found one to 3 at Maxwell (ph. DC), in the Con¬ chas L. area (WW, JO), at Zuni (JT), at Lad¬ der Ranch (WW), in the Peloncillo Mts. (RW), in the Organ Mts. (MS, JZ), at C. C.N.P (m.ob.), and at Maddox L. (CR) Dec-Jan. In the rare-but-regular category were an ad. Golden-crowned Sparrow at Al¬ buquerque 13 Dec-14 Jan (DM, m.ob.) and Harris’s Sparrows near Cimarron 24 & 26 Feb (2 birds, ph. DC), at Farmington 18 Dec (AN), at Albuquerque 13 Dec-14 Jan (DM, m.ob.), at Belen 20-21 Jan (RB,JP), and near Cliff 16 Dec and 1 Jan (C. Fugagli). Reports of White-winged Junco included 2 each at Clayton L. 4 Dec (BN) and Dawson 16 Dec (WH) and one at Valmora 14 Dec (DK). Of the three longspur species in New Mexico, Lapland is the rarest, but this season produced multiple reports from eight ne. lo¬ cales in Colfax, Union , Mora, and San Miguel Dec-Feb, including highs of 30 at Stubble¬ field L. 29 Jan (JP) and 45 there 19 Feb (DC), 27 at Clayton 15 Dec (CR), 36 at L.VN.W.R. 9 Jan (CR), and 15 at Conchas L. 1 Feb (WW); one was s. to Sevilleta N.W.R. 23 Dec (DK). High count for McCown’s Longspur was 400 at a prairie dog town on Otero Mesa 18 Feb (RM); high for Chestnut-collared was 1015 in the s. Animas Valley 21 Feb (AC, NM-C). Northern Cardinals are now regular along the Canadian R. below Conchas Dam, where there were 2 on 2 Jan (WW) and sin¬ gles 3 Jan (JO) and 1 Feb (WW); on the Pecos R., 2 were n. to Santa Rosa 19 Dec (WW). Eastern Meadowlarks were singing on Al¬ buquerque’s West Mesa by 28 Jan (JP). Note¬ worthy Common Grackles were singles at Maxwell 4-26 Dec (ph. DC), near R.G.N.C. 25 Dec (SOW, P. Mehlhop), and Sandia Heights 5 Feb (F&RS), plus 3 at Virden 5 Feb (ph. JO) and up to 3 at Rodeo 1 Jan-4 Feb (m.ob.). Up to 6 Bronzed Cowbirds wintered at New Mexico State University stock pens 18 Dec (T. Lawton) through 20 Feb (m.ob.). Banding studies of wintering rosy-finches at Sandia Crest provided interesting insights, including recaptures of 4 Blacks banded there last winter; this season, from a flock of over 100, 89 were banded — 48 Brown-cappeds, 28 Blacks, and 13 Gray-crowneds (NC, SC et ah). Elsewhere, a three-species rosy-finch flock of some 60 (primarily Brown-cappeds) was at Eagle Nest Dec-Feb (DC), a three- species flock of up to 100 (primarily Brown- cappeds) was at the Taos ski area 25-26 Feb (JO, JP), and about 60 were at Red River 25 Feb (JO). Noteworthy for the Sandia Mts. was a Pine Grosbeak at Sandia Crest 16 Jan (NC), with 11 there 5 Feb (RB, NC). Well de¬ scribed was a female Purple Finch at Santa Fe 2 Dec (MH). Moderate numbers of Cassin’s Finches were widespread in the n. and sw. and were reported on 17 C.B.C.s. Red Crossbills were less numerous and largely confined to the n., but a few ventured into the s. and se., including 1 1 at Radium Springs 20 Dec (MS, JZ), 3 in the Avalon-Brantley area 26 Dec ( fide TH), and 14 at Clovis 9 Feb (JO). A possible White-winged Crossbill was at Farmington 22 Feb (F Bowman, fide AN). A Lawrence’s Goldfinch near Rodeo 4 Dec (PH) and 3 there 6 Jan (RW) provided the only reports. Evening Grosbeaks were con¬ spicuous in the n. half of the state, including up to 400 in Russian Olive trees at Abiquiu 12 Feb (JB et ah). Initialed observers: Pat Basham, Jonathan Batkin, Matt Baumann, Ryan Beaulieu, Sherry Bixler, Celestyn Brozek, David Cleary, Nancy Cox, Steve Cox, Alan Craig, Craig Cranston, Joan Day-Martin, Robert Doster, Deanna Einspahr, Gordon Ewing, Bernard Foy, Gary Froehlich, David Hawksworth, Tom Hines, John & Marty Hirth, William Howe, P. D. Hulce, David Krueper, Eugene Lewis, Carroll Littlefield, Larry Malone, David Mehlman, Ray Meyer, Narca Moore-Craig, Arnold Moor- house, Alan Nelson, Bruce Neville, Jerry Old- enettel, John Parmeter, Andrew Rominger, Christopher Rustay, Hart Schwarz, Marcy Scott, Robert Shantz, Brad Shattuck, Frank & Rita Slowen, Patricia Snider, John Trochet, Gordon Warrick, Mark Watson, Richard Web¬ ster, Steve West, William West, S. O. Williams, James Zabriskie, Barry Zimmer. (© 304 NORTH AMERICAN BIRD The season was marked by two state firsts. Ruby-throated Hummingbird and Tufted Flycatcher, along with a state-second Le Conte’s Sparrow. Ample rainfall in most areas raised reservoir levels and moderated the effects of prolonged drought. Abbreviations: A.B.C. (Arizona Bird Com¬ mittee); A.V.S.T.P. (Avra Valley S.T.P); B.T.A. (Boyce Thompson Arboretum); H.R.P. (Has- sayampa River Preserve); L.C.R.V. (lower Colorado River Valley); PA.P (Pinal Airpark Pecan grove); P.L.S.P. (Patagonia Lake S.R); S.C.L. (San Carlos L.); S.RR. (San Pedro R.); Sweetwater (Sweetwater Wetlands, Tucson); Whitewater (Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area). LOONS THROUGH CARACARA Rare in Arizona, one to 2 Pacific Loons were on L. Havasu 8 Dec-27 Feb (RP, TC). Rare away from the L.C.R.V., single Common Loons were reported at Sedona S.T.P 5 Dec (T. Fry), Pena Blanca L. 8 Dec (R. Brookner), and Phoenix 17 Dec ( fide TC). At Sweetwa¬ ter, the Least Grebe vanished again after 11 Jan (m.ob.). Casual in winter, 3 Brown Peli¬ cans were seen at scattered locations in s. Arizona following the summer invasion (J. Truan,/ide TC, R. Magill). Far more unusu¬ al was one n. to Prescott 14 Feb ( fide CST). In residential Chandler, the Neotropic Cor¬ morant rookery found last winter had active nests 5 Feb. Several hundred Neotropics seen nearby the same day were far beyond any ex¬ pectations of just a few years ago (both TC). At their old stronghold of PL. S.R, numbers rose from one on 1 Dec to 21 by 26 Feb (SH, m.ob.). Hundreds of Double-crested Cor¬ morants were also in Chandler 5 Feb (TC). The White Ibis in Palo Verde was seen through 11 Jan (ph. HD). The identity of a small Branta goose at A.V.S.T.P 16 Dec-5 Apr (PK, ph. MMS et al.) was avidly debated but eventually consid¬ ered likely to be a small parvipes Canada Goose. Following the recent split of Canada and Cackling Geese, the A.B.C. would like to review documentation for all suspected Cackling Geese in Arizona. Tundra Swans were more widely reported than usual: 3 at Fool Hollow L. 18 Dec-19 Jan (J. Videle), one in Chino Valley 19 Dec-6 Jan (CST), one at Willow L. 20 Dec (CST), one at Sulli¬ van L. 30 Dec-21 Jan (J. Saar et al.), and 12 wintering at Havasu N.W.R. (K. Blair). Most Arizona records of Eurasian Wigeon pertain to males, making a female n. of Mittry L. 18 Dec-8 Feb an exceptional find (A. Borgardt, tj. Coker, ph. HD). Up to 3 males wintered in Scottsdale (J. Allen, ph. M. Weber; RB; ph. J. Woodley), and another was at Page 3 Jan (J. Spence). A Surf Scoter at Willcox 11 Dec (ph. R. Fray) was a late migrant. A White¬ winged Scoter at Parker Dam 4 Dec (C. Bab- Arizona bitt) may have lingered from the fall. Single Long-tailed Ducks appeared at P.L.S.P 4-5 Dec (R Walsh, ph. SH) and the Parker Strip 20-28 Dec (D. Pearson); the species is casu¬ al in Arizona. At Glen Canyon Dam, 59 Bar- rows Goldeneyes 3 Jan (fide J. Spence) was a high count. The only others reported were 4 at Parker Dam (m.ob.). Casual along the up¬ per S.PR., 2 Hooded Mergansers were near Hereford 2 Dec+ (M. Marsden); 2 at Pinetop 19 Jan were also notable (J. Videle). Two Red-breasted Mergansers in Palo Verde 8 Dec (RP) and one in Tucson 29 Dec-7 Jan (MMS) were casual. White-tailed Kites were more widely re¬ ported, with 2 near Buckeye 12-28 Dec (J. McCabe) and singles near Tres Rios 17 Dec (fide TC), at Yuma 26 Dec-7 Feb (HD), along the upper S.P.R. 27 Dec (EW), in the San Rafael Valley 18 Feb (M. Kehl), at Rob¬ bins Butte 19 Feb (T. Hildebrandt), at PA.P 27 Feb+ 0 Scheibe), and at Red Rock 5 Feb (MMS, MP). A report of a Common Black- Hawk at Page Springs 13 Feb (R. Radd) elicited an undocumented report that it had Mark M. Stevenson (Non-Passerines) 4201 East Monte Vista Drive #J207 Tucson, Arizona 85712-5554 (drbrdr@att.net) Gary H, Rosenberg (Passerines) P.0. Box 91856 Tucson, Arizona 85752-1856 (ghrosenberg@comcast.net) VOLUME 59 (2005) • NUMBER 2 305 This female Archilochus hummingbird — first detected 20 December 2004 and studied carefully 1 January 2005, then later netted, measured, and identified as a female Ruby-throated — was present at a Tucson feeder all winter, providing a first Arizona record. Photograph by Rich Royer. wintered (D. Greer). This species is all but unknown during the winter in Arizona. More regular in recent years, but still very rare, Red-shouldered Hawks were reported as follows: one continuing along Granite Cr., Prescott through 13 Dec (tCST), 2 continu¬ ing at H.R.P 18 Dec (fide V. Montgomery), and one in Patagonia 18 Dec-17 Feb (EW, TP & D. Nagle). In Tucson, one or more Zone-tailed Hawks wintered again (PK, MP, DS). Harlan’s Hawk is a sparse winter visitor; reports came from Marana 5 Dec (GHR), Santa Cruz Flats 5-15 Dec (GHR), and Phoenix 17 Dec (TC). Crested Caracaras are wont to wander in winter, and singles showed up s. of Tucson 10 Dec (RP) and w. of Red Rock 28Jan+ (DJ). CRANES THROUGH WOODPECKERS Near Cottonwood, 2 Sandhill Cranes on 19 Dec (JP) were a rare sight, as they are not ex¬ pected to winter in the Verde Valley. There was a single report of Snowy Plover at S.C.L. 26 Dec (KK). The rising reservoir level there has substantially decreased shorebird habi¬ tat. There are very few winter reports of Semipalmated Plover in Arizona; one in Scottsdale 19 Feb (C. Ross) follows two pre¬ vious Maricopa records. Mountain Plovers were sparse early in the winter, but numbers eventually peaked at 30+ near McNeal 20 Jan (SH) and 175 in the Santa Cruz Flats on 5 Feb (MMS, MP). In Yuma, one was report¬ ed 22 Jan (HD). A Greater Yellowlegs in Chi¬ no Valley 19 Dec-16 Jan (CST) was far n. for winter. At Palo Verde, up to 6 Dunlin were present 4 Dec-21 Jan (PD, R. Widner et al.), while one was at Green Valley S.T.P. 12 Dec-16 Jan (G. Crandall). Wilson’s Phalarope is casual in Arizona in winter; sin¬ gles were near Tres Rios 17 Dec (tW. Thurber) and at A.VS.T.P. 18 Feb (PK). Like¬ wise, single Red Phalaropes were at S.C.L. 26 Dec (IKK) and Willcox 6 Jan (ph. D. Fenn). The only Bonaparte’s Gulls reported were singles at PL.S.P. 4 Dec (P. Walsh) and Somer- ton 25 Feb (HD). A few White-winged Doves were reported in n. Arizona: one in Kayenta all winter (Chaz LaRue), 2 near Willow L. all winter (CST), and one to 2 at three separate Flagstaff feeders (E. Morral, R. Baida, J. Lo¬ gan). Ruddy Ground-Doves continued at Red Rock, with up to 5 reported (m.ob., ph. MMS), with a mention of breeding behavior on 26 Feb (M. Kehl). Elsewhere, 2 were along the S.PR. at San Pedro House 22 Nov-26 Dec (SH, ph. C. Bradshaw), 6 were just inside Ari¬ zona on the Portal C.B.C. 1 Jan (DJa), 2 were in Hereford 6-27 Jan (ph. RB), 2 were at Tac- na 13 Jan (PEL), and one was at Willcox 16 Jan (B. Grossi) — an above-average total (18) for the season. Only a 2nd local record, a Greater Roadrunner was at Cow Springs L. 10 Dec (CL). Common Poorwills are casual in winter; 4 were seen in Portal late Dec-early Jan (DJa, RW), and one was in Bisbee 10 Jan (J. Whetstone). At the n. edge ol the species’ range, a Broad-billed Hummingbird again wintered at B.T.A. (R. Wright). There were scattered reports of Violet-crowned Hummingbirds in se. up to mid-Dec (m.ob.); additionally, one wintered in lower Ramsey Canyon (J. Hirth) and 2 wintered in Portal (RW). Spring ar¬ rivals showed at Patagonia 25 Jan+ (R. Bax¬ ter) and the Mule Mts. 26 Jan+ (S. Williamson). Overshooting birds were seen in Green Valley (fide MMS) and Marana, both 26 Feb (fide R. Grohman). On 1 Jan, Rich Hoyer heard and photographed a fe¬ male Archilochus hummingbird in active pri¬ mary molt at his Tucson feeder. Careful study by Hoyer and others suggested that it was a Ruby-throated. On 11 Jan, it was cap¬ tured, measured, and confirmed as an ASY female Ruby-throated Hummingbird (ph. R. Hoyer, ph., tS. Williamson), an Arizona first and the 18th hummingbird species for the state. It remained through 14 Apr. Reflecting mild weather, Elegant Trogons were more numerous than usual, with one at PL.S.P. (m.ob.), up to 2 in Madera Canyon (R Johnson, L. Calvo), and one in Huachuca Canyon (EW) all winter, plus one at Tubac 8 Jan (ph. E. DeKoker). A lone Green Kingfish¬ er was reported along the upper S.PR. through 30 Dec (m.ob.). The species remains at a population ebb in Arizona. Single Yellow- bellied Sapsuckers were at B.T.A. 20 Jan+ (tPEL) and Mittry L. 18 Dec (tj. Coker). Ap¬ parent hybrid Red-breasted x Red-naped Sap- suckers were at B.T.A. 20-29 Jan (PEL, ph. M. Vandewater) and the Santa Catalina Mts. 20 Jan (MMS). A relatively clear-cut Red¬ breasted Sapsucker was at Pena Blanca L. 20-27 Jan (C. Morely, ph., tC. Lundblad). Two likely Red-breasted Sapsuckers at Mittry L. 14 Nov+ (ph. HD) and a “possible” from PL.S.P 1-5 Dec (D. Touret, ph. MMS) will also be reviewed by the A.B.C. A small move¬ ment of Downy Woodpeckers was seen, with singles in Overgaard 5 Dec (K. Penland), Granite Dells 12-19 Dec (G. Burford, CST), near Flagstaff 26 Dec (JC), and Cow Springs L. 20-27 Dec (CL). Rare winter visitors. Yel¬ low-shafted Flickers were reported at Phoenix 17 Dec (TC), near Flagstaff 26 Dec (JC), at San Bernardino N.W.R. 6 Jan (RW), and in Scottsdale 7 Jan+ (J. Bartley). FLYCATCHERS THROUGH THRASHERS Without question, one of the more amazing discoveries from Arizona in recent years was a Tufted Flycatcher found by out-of-state birders along the Colorado R. on L. Mohave at White Rock Canyon near Willow Springs 24 Feb (ph., TJ. & S. Servantez); excellent photographs confirm the presence of one in¬ dividual (2 were reported), which will repre¬ sent a first state (and 3rd U.S.) record of this species. A Greater Pewee found late in the fall along the S.PR. near Kingfisher Pond re¬ mained until at least 6 Dec (P. Sockness, M. Pretti), while another was found singing along the Santa Cruz R. near Tubac 6-23 Dec (GHR et al.); this species is casual in ri¬ parian areas in s. Arizona during winter. A Gray Flycatcher along Granite Cr. near Prescott 27 Nov-20 Feb (CST) was well n. of normal wintering areas and represented one of only a few local winter reports. A calling Pacific-slope Flycatcher, also casual in win¬ ter, remained at Sweetwater 11 Nov-4 Dec (MMS). A report of a Buff-breasted Flycatch¬ er at Walker Canyon w. of Nogales 12 Jan (D. Touret) would represent an Arizona win¬ ter first, but it went undocumented. Five Eastern Phoebes were found in s. Arizona between 24 Nov and 1 Jan, about average for a winter season. A late Dusky-capped Fly¬ catcher was at PL.S.P. 8 Dec (SH). A Thick¬ billed Kingbird returned to Yuma for the 3rd consecutive winter 30 Jan+ (FID). The only Northern Shrikes reported were from the usual (irregular) winter areas in n. Arizona, with one on Black Mesa 10 Feb (CL) and another at Twin Arrows, 32 km e. of Flagstaff, 25 Feb (CL). A Hutton’s Vireo at Bill Williams N.W.R. 27 Dec (M. J. lliff) rep¬ resented one of fewer than 10 winter reports ever from the L.C.R.V A very late Warbling Vireo was in Gilbert 11 Dec (PD). It is al¬ ways odd when corvids only semi-invade s. Arizona, and this winter this seemed to be the case for several species: Pinyon Jay: a single flock of nearly 50 near Oracle 29 Dec (DJ) — but no further reports; Clark’s Nut¬ cracker: 3 were s. to the Santa Catalina Mts., with reports from scattered sites there 12 Dec+ (S. Birky et al.) — but no further re¬ ports; and American Crow: present in a cou¬ ple of odd localities, with 2 seen at Jeddito, w. of Kearns Canyon 4 Leb (CL) and 20 re¬ ported from Roper Lake S.P. 9 Leb (P. Walsh) — but again, no sign of a more wide¬ spread movement. A late Violet-green Swallow was at A.V.S.T.R 5 Dec (J. Higgins), whereas singles there 21 Jan (PK) and at B.T.A. 5 Leb (PM, CD) were likely early northbound migrants. Barn Swallows, rare in the state during win¬ ter, were scattered around s. Arizona in late Dec and earlyjan, but more unusual were 20 at Yuma 13 Jan (PEL). A count of 15 Moun¬ tain Chickadees on the Glen Canyon C.B.C. (fide J. Spence) was higher than usual for ar¬ eas away from breeding sites. There was a small push of Red-breasted Nuthatches into lowland areas during late Dec and early Jan, with at least five separate reports across s. Arizona but few after that. Always nice in s. Arizona, an American Dipper was found in upper Ramsey Canyon 10 Jan (J. Hirth). Black-capped Gnatcatchers continued all winter at P.L.S.P, but the exact number pres¬ ent remains uncertain; there appear to have been at least two different pairs (with reports of as many as three more pairs up Sonoita Cr.), which would not be surprising given recent breeding success in the area (SH, M. Brown, m.ob.). Away from PL.S.P, one male was reported from Montosa Canyon, Santa Rita Mts. 22 Feb (RH), while one to 2 were seen in Rock Corral Canyon, Tumacacori Mts. 27 Nov and 22 Jan (R. Klotz, M. Kehl), both locations of prior sightings during the past few years. It was an excellent winter for Varied Thrush in Arizona, with 2 at Oak Flat Campground, Gila 19 Nov-24 Dec (E. Strong et al.) and singles at Granite Basin 21-24 Dec (E. Moore, CST et al.), Portal 1 Jan (T. & L. Gates), Paulden, Yavapai 8 Jan Q. Saar), and Huachuca Canyon 24 Feb-8 Mar (A. Miller). This species is normally a casual fall and winter visitor to s. Arizona. The Brown Thrasher found at B.T.A. during the fall was seen through mid-Jan (CD). An¬ other was at Buenos Aires N.W.R. 17 Dec (RP), and another was reported from the Vil¬ lage of Oak Creek in mid-Jan ( fide R. Radd); this species remains a rare but regular winter visitor in the state. A Curve-billed Thrasher at Prescott 8-31 Dec (ph. J. Morgan et al.) was away from known breeding areas and represented a first local record. WARBLERS THROUGH GOLDFINCHES An Olive Warbler was present at B.T.A. for the 2nd straight winter 5 Dec-7 Jan (PM, CD); this species is casual in winter n. of the Santa Catalina Mts. The only Northern Paru- la of the season was found on the Gila River C.B.C. 27 Dec ( fide TC). Similarly, the only Yellow Warbler of the winter was on the Phoenix-Tres Rios C.B.C. 17 Dec (TC). A Pine Warbler at Tolleson 19 Dec (ph. BG) provided only a 4th Maricopa record. Five Black-and-white Warblers and 2 American Redstarts were reported, about average for a winter. The Louisiana Waterthrush found along Sonoita Cr. above PL.S.P during Oct was reported through Mar (m.ob.); another was found near Hwy 90 along the S.P.R. 9 Dec-7 Jan (GHR et al.). More unusual in winter was a male Hooded Warbler in a Scottsdale yard 15 Nov-21 Dec (J- Bartley), representing a 4th winter Maricopa record. Scarce in winter, a Wilson’s Warbler was re¬ ported from Sweetwater 30 Nov+ (L. Liese); one at Chandler 22 Feb (L. Long) was likely a northbound migrant. Hepatic Tanagers were more prevalent than usual during Dec and earlyjan at sever¬ al se. canyon locations, with at least 7 re¬ ported. The only Clay-colored Sparrow of the season was in Tucson 16-17 Feb (MMS), an indication of the generally poor winter spar¬ row numbers in s. Arizona. Ironically, one of the best birds of the year was a well-docu¬ mented Le Conte’s Sparrow found along the Santa Cruz R. in Marana 19 Dec-9 Feb (P. Sa¬ lomon, t, ph. KK; ph. CDB, GB, GHR, DS), providing only a 2nd Arizona record. There was the usual scattering of 4-5 Slate-colored Fox Sparrows, while a Fox Sparrow at Madera Canyon 13-17 Feb (S. Finnegan) was identified as a Red, likely zaboria from the w. Arctic. Whereas grassland sparrows were down in numbers this winter, several rarer species were found in higher-than-nor- mal numbers. No fewer than 15 White- throated and 7 Golden-crowned Sparrows were reported statewide, both above normal. Harris’s Sparrows also were reported in greater numbers, with singles reported dur¬ ing the fall at Oak Flat Campground remain¬ ing until at least 12 Dec (E. Strong et al.), in a Portal yard 1 Dec+ (RW), at Marana 19 Dec (S. Olmstead), at Continental 10 Dec+ (ph. SH), and in the Avra Valley 23 Feb (R. Wright, ph. RH). Still surprisingly scarce anywhere in Arizona, 3 Lapland Longspurs were located in a flock of McCown’s in the Sulphur Springs Valley 9 Jan (tJLD). A Common Grackle, casual anywhere in ; the state, was reported from P.L.S.P. 7 Jan (tP. Walsh). The male Orchard Oriole that re¬ turned to a Tucson yard for the 2nd straight winter, first reported 13 Nov, remained into Mar (J. Ogden, tMMS). This winter was per¬ haps the largest flight year in memory for Pine Grosbeaks in Arizona. After several were found in the White Mts. and the Grand Canyon region during the fall, large groups were detected in the mountains n. and w. of Flagstaff beginning with 14 at Slate Mt., 48 km nw. of Flagstaff, 22 Dec (S. & E. Clark), then possibly as many as 40-50 there 28 Dec (JC, CL). Beginning 1 Jan, small groups of up to 15 were found at various points along the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, with reports through 15 Jan (B. Gatlin, R. Rogers, ph. JC, ph. MMS). Historically, Pine Grosbeak has been an irregular breeding species in the White Mts. of e. Arizona, with other scattered reports from Black Mesa, but never have so many been found in the state in one year. Both Cassin’s Pinches and Red Crossbills were found in lowland areas in s. Arizona during the winter, but numbers of both were relative¬ ly low and did not signify a major flight year. It was a moderate invasion year for Lawrence’s Goldfinch in s. Arizona this winter, with the largest concentration of 60+ found along the Santa Cruz R. in Tucson throughout the sea¬ son (m.ob.). One n. to Overgaard 24-25 Leb (ph. K. Penland) was unexpected. Observers: Robert Behrstock, Chris D. Be¬ nesh, Gavin Bieber, John Coons, Troy Cor- man, Henry Detwiler, Pierre Deviche, Cynthia Donald, Jon L. Dunn, Bill Grossi, Stuart Healy, Rich Hoyer, Dave Jasper (Portal), Doug Je- ness, Keith Kamper (Tucson RBA), Philip Kline, Chuck LaRue, Paul E. Lehman, Pete Moulton, Richard Palmer, Molly Pollock, John Prather, Gary H. Rosenberg, Will Rus¬ sell, Dave Stejskal, Mark M. Stevenson, Carl S. Tomoff (Prescott), Richard Webster, Erika Wilson, Janet Witzeman (Maricopa). O VOLUME 59 (2005) • NUMBER 2 307 Alaska CHUKCHI SEA . Barrow BEAUFORT SEA Prudhoe Bay Thede Tobish 2510 Foraker Drive Anchorage, Alaska 99517 (tgt@alaska.net) Given the relatively mild and pro¬ tracted fall season, freeze-up was irregular south of the Alaska Range and fairly late across the North Gulf. Winter 2004-2005 was otherwise punctuated with discrete freeze-thaw ses¬ sions, which included at least four strong southerly-flow anticyclones. These period¬ ically warmed much of the Region and di¬ minished what would have otherwise been a heavy snowpack. This season produced optimal condi¬ tions to showcase a wealth of semi-hardy forms that have come to be known as ir¬ regular winter visitors. Most of these irreg¬ ular species were found in the winter “hot zone” bounded by Kodiak, the Anchorage Bowl, across the southern and eastern Ke- nai Peninsula, and around the coastal fringe through Prince William Sound to Ketchikan. Ephemeral open water, stocked feeders, fruiting exotic plantings, and lim¬ ited deep-freeze periods provided classic conditions for noteworthy birds all season long. Most C.B.C. tallies were at or above long-term averages, while lingering species created an exciting early-season Hurry into . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . December. Excellent coverage in the Fair¬ banks area exemplified this trend, and even mid-season highlights there were impres¬ sive. Coverage in other coastal areas and in the Aleutians, where winter potentials re¬ main poorly known and/or documented, was typically sparse to none. It’s these ar¬ eas — including the Bering Sea ice edges, the Pribilofs, the south side of the Seward Peninsula, and the riparian sections along the Mainland Southeast watersheds — where the Region’s remaining winter pio¬ neering needs to happen. If you have read this column over the past twenty-odd years, you will recognize the amazing strides that Alaskans have made with status and distribution of winter bird species in that timeframe. This season’s report reads like a summary of that new information. Abbreviation: North Gulf (n. Gulf of Alas¬ ka). Referenced details (t), specimens (*), photographs (ph .), and videotape (vt.) are on file at the University of Alaska Museum. Italics indicate unusual locations or dates. LOONS THROUGH WATERFOWL Few loon highlights came in, but a feeding aggregation of 45 Red-throated Loons near Gustavus was a highlight, if not an unex¬ pected behavior for the species. Only a sin¬ gle Pied-billed Grebe wintered, at Juneau 13 Jan+ (GW, MM). Ketchikan produced the seasons peak Western Grebe numbers, with a maximum 310 in Clover Passage 24 Dec (AWP). Northernmost this winter was a single at Juneau 15 Jan (GW). As usual, Great Blue Herons were concentrated at the w. edge of their North Gulf winter range, with the season’s peak of about 12+ birds from two sections of Kodiak in Jan (EW, RAM, RB). A flyover near Girdwood 30 Jan (RLS, TT) was the latest ever in winter in Upper Cook Inlet, where they are sporadic in fall, with few reports beyond Nov. Several hardy Cackling Geese lingered in South-Coastal areas into Dec, notably singles in Kodiak with Emperor Geese through 18 Dec (RAM) and near Palmer with parvipes Canada Geese through 19 Dec or later (ph. BW, fide RLS). Any Canadas away from the immediate North Gulf interface after mid-Nov are signifi¬ cant. Getting late for the Mainland and n. of usual areas was a single Greater White- fronted Goose in Gustavus through at least 1 Dec (ND). Predictable in a mildish win¬ ter are good numbers of dabblers and less common Aythya , and this year provided notables of each. Eurasian Wigeons ap¬ peared at several coastal sites, highlighted by 9 at Kodiak 30 Jan+ (RAM). At least 4 Northern Shovelers were scattered around Kodiak, a single 18 Dec and 3 there 16—28 Feb (RAM), and 2 were in Juneau through 29 Dec (MS, PS). Green-winged Teal were equally tardy, with 151 still staging 17 Dec at Juneau (PS), where at least 20 wintered, while a single remained on fresh water at Sitka through at least 5 Jan (MET, MLW). A few Redheads were noted in Dec but more unusual were: 2 near Petersburg 12-29 Feb (RL) and one in Gustavus 12 Jan (ND). Four Ring-necked Ducks win¬ tered 18 Dec+ at Kodiak (RAM), where they are nearly annual in similar numbers. Curiously, few Lesser Scaup were noted, and only a group of 13 wintered, in Juneau (GW, PS). Attesting to an unprecedented late southward pack-ice advance in the Bering Sea (where new ice was only barely forming and moving southward by the end of Dec), counts of 76 Common Eiders and 302 Long-tailed Ducks at Gambell 18 Dec were both late and high (BT); both species are known in winter from the pack ice edges and polynyas. EAGLES THROUGH SH0REBIRDS An ad. Bald Eagle braved Fairbanks condi¬ tions and hunted through 21 Jan along the Chena R. (LD), where there are very few mid-season reports. Bald Eagles were oth¬ erwise widespread and more common at the edges of winter range, with dozens around Upper Cook Inlet all season (m.ob.). Surprisingly, the season’s only Northern Harrier observations came from the Kodiak grasslands, where up to 3 were studied 16 Dec-12 Feb (BP, RAM, JBA). With good numbers of carduelines con¬ centrating along the North Gulf spruce/ hemlock fringe, winter Sharp-shinned — 308 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS masm _ Hawk observations were correspondingly plentiful, especially in Juneau, where the species was “widespread” ( fide GW); else¬ where were 2 at the boreal periphery in Dillingham 3 Jan and 26 Feb ( fide RM), 4 around Ketchikan, and 2 in Sitka, all win¬ tering (SCH). Extremely late for the Re¬ gion was a single Sandhill Crane that lin¬ gered through 1 Dec near Ketchikan (PD). This seasons shorebirds of note included above-average numbers of most of the standard semi-hardy forms, several ex¬ tremely late lingerers, and excellent calidrid numbers from the North Gulf coast. A peak of 12 Killdeer in Juneau through 15 Feb (MB) and another 6 farther n. at Gustavus through 14 Dec (ND, PV) were slightly above the mid- winter norms. Casual after early Dec, one or 2 Greater Yellowlegs wintered in Gustavus; singles were seen at separate sites 1 Dec-31 Jan and 15 Feb (ND, BP). Significant Sander- ling observations included 3 near Kodiak 2 Feb (IB), only the 2nd ever there in winter, and a peak of 35+ from the Gustavus-Glac- ier Bay shores 9 Dec-Feb (ND, BP). This years surveys of nominate Rock Sandpiper flocks wintering in Cook Inlet were “book- ended” by totals of just over 14,000 birds in late Nov and early Mar, but perhaps milder conditions allowed more than the usual dispersal through mid-season, as the next highest aerial survey tallies produced fewer than 10,000 in both late Dec and late Feb (REG). For only the 2nd time in win¬ ter, numbers were noted on the Inlets e. side, off Anchorage, in Dec (fide RES, REG). Most of the Regions wintering Dun¬ lin were concentrated in the Gustavus-Glacier Bay area, with the win¬ ters high count of 1515 noted there 18 Dec (ND). Some 1100 were still in the area through most of Feb (ND). Gulls made an above-average showing, especially given the season’s mild condi¬ tions. Light ice conditions in Cook Inlet no doubt allowed gulls to linger farther n. than usual, with several Glaucous-winged Gulls reported from Anchorage through 18 Dec (fide RES). Unheard of in Upper Cook Inlet for midseason was a concentration of near¬ ly 100 gulls of five species at the Soldotna dump 20 Jan, which included a Thayer’s, a kumlieni Iceland, a Slaty-backed, and 3 Glaucous Gulls (DWS, TE). Another Kum- lien’s Iceland was nicely documented in Ko¬ diak 16-25 Jan (ph. RAM). We have per¬ haps 10 Alaska records of variously detailed and photographically documented Iceland Gulls, mostly from late fall from the North Gulf, including Anchorage, Kodiak, and sites in the Southeast. Other Slaty-backed reports away from the Bering Sea included 2 in Homer 15 Feb (ED, NH) and one in Kodiak 14 Jan and later (RAM). OWLS THROUGH SWALLOWS Aside from a few mid-season reports of lo¬ cal residents in the Southeast, owls made major news in the Interior, at least around Fairbanks, where a new winter road al¬ lowed access s. onto the Tanana flats. Peak Feb tallies included what seemed like un¬ usually high numbers of most resident forms, highlighted by 29 Great Horned Owls, 16 Boreal Owls, 20 Northern Hawk Owls per day, and 15 Great Gray Owls per day ( fide LD). Systematic owl surveys are rare from the Interior, but these provide a window into what may be regular counts from ideal habitats. Elsewhere, a single Western Screech-Owl spent Dec vocalizing near downtown Sitka (MLW, MET), and another was located near Gustavus 3-8 Feb (ND). Only one Short-eared Owl re¬ port came in, submitted from Kodiak from 25 Dec (LW). Hummingbirds made big news, no doubt sur¬ viving at feeders in the mild conditions. A male Anna’s Hummingbird spent the entire season at a Ketchikan feeder (DC, AWP, SCH), while a male Costa’s Hum¬ mingbird tried to do likewise in Cordova, confirmed at least from 16 Dec-6 Jan (HJ, ph. PM), a 2nd local record. An imm. Rufous Hum¬ mingbird hung on at a Sitka feeder into “mid- Dec” (ph. MEW, MET, fide RES, DWS). For whatever reason, wood¬ peckers made a coastal push into parts of the Southeast in early Jan, and small numbers of rarer, mostly Interior forms were located into Feb. While a few Red¬ breasted Sapsuckers are known in winter at most Southeast locales within its range, this year’s numbers and distribution were atypical. Birds were noted at their winter periphery, including singles from Kodiak until at least 11 Dec (TH) and farther around the North Gulf coast at Gustavus on 20 Jan (ND). Elsewhere, they seemed to amass in Jan in unprecedented numbers in the Ketchikan area, where 14 were noted on the immediate coast 9 Jan and numbers grew to at least 30 individuals by 15 Jan (AWP, SCH). Two Hairy Woodpeckers were rare in Ketchikan 9 Jan and 19 Feb (AWP, SCH), while American Three-toed Wood¬ peckers were equally unusual along the coasts in the Southeast, with 5 around Gus¬ tavus 2Jan (ND) and 3 near Juneau 20 Feb (PS). Northern Flickers, including Red- shafted/Yellow-shafted intergrades, were This photograph, taken in early March 2005, shows nearly the entire known population of nominate-race Rock Sandpipers, which winter each year in the intertidal habitats of Upper Cook Inlet, Alaska. Typically these birds feed in freshly exposed tideflats with receding tides and in grooves gouged by icebergs moved about with extreme tidal actions. Photograph by Bob Cill. VOLUME 59 (2005) • NUMBER 2 309 A, LA.S.K A noted in Juneau 30 Dec-18 Jan (one bird; PS), Ketchikan 9 Jan-19 Feb (8; AWP, SCH), and Gustavus 18 Dec-16 Jan (2; ND). The only noteworthy Northern Shrike sighting was one s. to Ketchikan 15 Jan-11 Feb (TLG). NUTHATCHES THROUGH WAXWINGS Following a fall coastal irruption, Red¬ breasted Nuthatches continued to make news at sites where they are traditionally uncommon. Peak summaries included 45 on the Gustavus C.B.C. 18 Dec ( fide BP, ND), where the previous high had been 5, and up to 4 on 2 Jan in Fairbanks (LD), where the species is casual. It was a banner thrush season, with probably the winters highest ever species total and with large numbers noted well into Jan. Mountain Bluebird highlights included one in Se¬ ward 18-31 Dec (ph. CG,fide RLS), which was probably a first there, and up to 3 in the Gustavus area 18 Dec-18 Jan (ND, PV). At least 3 Townsend’s Solitaires sur¬ vived on exotic berry bushes in Anchorage all season (TT, SS et al.), while one in Homer 18 Jan (DWS), which was accom¬ panied by 4 others by 5 Feb (LD, NH), rep¬ resented one of few mid-winter North Gulf coast reports. Anchorage remains the only regular locality for solitaires in winter, probably only because of the abundance of exotic fruit-bearing plantings. Only a decade ago, Hermit Thrush was consid¬ ered a winter accidental, when an occa¬ sional bird lingered to an early-date C.B.C. This year, multiples remained well into the season, including singles in Juneau 7 & 25 Dec (PS), Seward 31 Dec-17 Jan (RLS, DWS), and Ketchikan 9 Jan (AWP, SCH), only the 2nd in winter there. Weather con¬ ditions certainly benefited American Robins, which can be hard to locate in most winters after the first few C.B.C.s. Representative high counts included 25+ wandering around Anchorage all season (RLS, SS, TT), another peak count of 33 in Juneau 6 Jan (GW), and an amazing group of 120 feeding on fruiting bushes in Homer 19 Jan (DWS), which has to be the Region’s all-time winter maximum. At least 5 managed to hang on in Fairbanks through 16 Feb (LD), where they are dis¬ tinctly rare by mid-Nov. European Starlings wandered offshore to Kodiak 30 Jan (SS, RAM), where occa¬ sional in winter; numbers in Anchorage continue to increase slowly. Several scat¬ tered groups of up to 15 at a time were lo¬ cated through the season (SS, TT). Ameri¬ can Pipits made their best winter showing ever, with quite a few noted at most coastal sites checked by birders. Like Hermit Thrush, historic winter records are few and concentrated in Dec. Multiple ac¬ counts were received from Seward, Kodi¬ ak, Gustavus, and s. to Ketchikan. Signifi¬ cant sightings included one in Seward through 1 Jan (CG, RLS), a peak of 40 on 31 Dec, dwindling to 2 on 12 Feb (SS, RAM, JM, JBA) at Kodiak, at least one in Juneau through 15 Jan (MB), a high count of 14 in Gustavus 3 Feb (BP), and 3 around Ketchikan 5 Jan+ (AWP, SCH). These numbers and mid-season dates gen¬ uinely dwarf all previous winter reports. Rare in winter on the North Gulf coast, where most records come from late fall, Cedar Waxwing was again reported from the w. edge of known occurrences, with a single lingering at Kodiak through 14 Dec (JD) and a tally of 20 in Homer 20 Jan (DWS), which represented a South- Coastal record count. WARBLERS THROUGH HOUSE SPARROW It was an above-average warbler winter, with three species reported, including an Orange-crowned hanging on at an Anchor¬ age feeder through at least 18 Dec (fide DFD), 2 Yellow-rumped Warblers in Juneau 26 Dec and 10 Jan (GW, NM), and a hardy Townsend’s Warbler, also at an An¬ chorage suet feeder, 1-19 Dec (fide DFD). The Anchorage warblers were Upper Cook Inlet’s latest for each species. Although the Region often holds a few scattered war¬ blers into early Nov, individual reports past that time remain rare. Winter sparrows, especially Zonotrichia, were widely represented, and a few pock¬ ets of unusually large numbers were noted at a few coastal sites. Uncommon and ir¬ regular in winter, American Tree Sparrows were at several coastal sites, with atypical- ly large peaks of 18 in Juneau 7-8 Jan (GW, PS, LE) and 40+ in Gustavus 3-15 Jan (BP), which may be the Region’s high¬ est winter one-day tally. Rare for winter was a Chipping Sparrow in Ketchikan all season (JFK), a first local winter record. A Savannah Sparrow, present from 14 Nov-Mar at a Ketchikan feeder (SCH, AWP), also became that locale’s first and one of few winter records in the Region. Red Fox Sparrows (probably zaboria or in¬ tergrades) were widely represented and documented from across the coastal “hot zone,” with at least 4 in Kodiak all season (ph. RAM) and singles in the Southeast near Petersburg through 18 Dec (ph. BP, fide RLS) and Gustavus 1 Dec-8 Feb (ND). For a mild season, it was surprising that only one Lincoln’s Sparrow was reported, from Homer 18 Jan (DWS). A single White-throated Sparrow, probably a late migrant, was detected offshore at Sitka 8 Dec (MLW, MET). Other Zonotrichia num¬ bers were above average from all coastal sites. Single Harris’s Sparrows were in Juneau 13 Dec and 5-6 Feb (RJG, MS, DM), the source of all historic fall/winter reports, and others in Gustavus 21 Dec (ND) and Petersburg through 7 Jan (ph. BP, fide RLS) were notable. A record one- day winter total of 35 White-crowned Sparrows in one flock at Homer 18-20 Jan (DWS) and a brave single in the Interior at Fairbanks through 16 Jan (LD) were note¬ worthy. A Golden-crowned Sparrow was seen 8-20 Dec (SG) at Unalaska I. in the Aleutians, where casual. Typically sporadic or even occasionally missing from coastal sites in most winters, Lapland Longspurs and Snow Buntings were also distributed across the breadth of most coastal sites through the season (m.ob.). Twenty Snow Buntings hung around the University of Alaska/Fairbanks campus, where they are casual in midsea¬ son, through 13 Jan (LD). Two Brambling reports were submitted, singles each at Homer 18 Jan-6 Feb (DWS, LD, NH) and in Eagle River n. of Anchorage, the latter arrivingwith redpolls at a feeder in “late Feb” (fide RLS). Female-plumaged Purple Finches again appeared at Southeast feed¬ ers, including a single at Petersburg mid- Dec through year’s end (ph. BP, fide RLS) and 2 in Ketchikan 2 Jan-10 Feb (ph. AWP, SCH), where most winter records occur. Contributors and observers (subregional compilers in boldface): Alaska Bird Obser¬ vatory (N. DeWitt et al.), B. Alger, J. B. Allen, R. Armstrong, A. M. Benson, R. Berns, A. Berry, M. Brooks, E. Clark, D. Coates, D. & K. Cornelius, P Davis, J. Dear¬ born, L. DeCicco (Interior), D. F Delap, J. Dearbon, B. Dinneford, J. & S. Doyle, M. Druckery, N. Drumheller, L. Edfelt, T. Eske- lin, T. Evans, R. M. Fowler, R. Fritz, C. Fultz, D. D. Gibson, R. E. Gill, S. Golodoff, R. J. Gordon, T. L. Goucher, H. Griese, C. Griswold, R. Hadley, N. Hajdukovich, C. Harwood, S. C. Heinl, J. Helmericks, T. Heyerdahl, O. Holm, P Hunt, B. Hunter, T. Hurley, H. Jensen, R. Knight, J. F Koerner, W. Lamb, A. Lang, J. Levison, T. & R. Lohse, R. MacDonald, M. & R. A. Macin¬ tosh, D. MacPhail, J. Maley, P D. Martin, J. Mason, J. McCabe, M. McCafferty, J. Met- zler, R. Meyers, E. Myers, N. Mollett, R. Neterer, L. J. Oakley, B. Paige, A. Palmer, W. Pawuk, A. W. Piston, P Pourchot, B. Pyle, B. Quaccia, B. Rehmer, D. Rudis, K. Russell, J. Sauer, S. Savage, R. L. Scher, M. A. Schultz, W. Schuster, M. Schwan, L. M. Sheffield, S. Senner, D. Shaw, G. Smith, D. W. Son- neborn, S. Studebaker, P. Suchanek, A. Swingley, M. E. Tedin, T. Tobish, B. Trotter, R. Uhl, G. Van Vliet, P. Vanselow, M. L. Ward, B. Wincker, M. A. Wood, S. Zimmer¬ man. <© 310 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS British Columbia Yet another mild winter passed, with the only icy winter interlude worth mentioning coming in the first two weeks of January. As in the past few winters, the transition to mild conditions was sud¬ den; indeed, coastal regions received a record hosing for a week or so. Snowfall was light everywhere, and many valley bottom locations were snow-free by the end of the period, even in the far northeastern corner, where they experienced their warmest Feb¬ ruary in nearly 40 years! LOONS THROUGH SHOREBIRDS Casual in winter, an imm. American White Pelican was in White Rock 2 & 5 Jan (ph. VO et al.); an astounding flock of 15 was seen flying low over nearshore waters into a strong headwind at the Iona Jetty 17 Jan (CCo, SA, tJT); and yet another group of 3 was seen along the Vancouver Waterfront 3 Feb (tEW). Following an impressive au¬ tumn invasion, a few Cattle Egrets lingered into winter, with 2 at Castlegar 5 Dec (GL) and a single at Creston 24 Dec (LVD). The latter location had a flock of 22 that had dwindled down, with several reported dead ( fide GSD). Tundra Swans showed early signs of movement, with 10 appearing on the lake in front of Vernon Creek 28 Jan (DGC). Open water attracted 2 imm. Trum¬ peter Swans well n. to Dawson Creek 2 &14 Feb (MP), and a few Mallards man¬ aged to remain n., with a male in Dawson Creek 2 Jan (MP) and a female 2 & 14 Feb on Swan L. (MP). Red-breasted Mergansers were early, with .3 at the mouth of Vernon Creek 6 Feb (CS). A single Ruddy Duck furnished a first winter record for the Williams Fake area 19 Dec (PR). Remarkably early were 6 Turkey Vul¬ tures feeding on after-birth of newborn calves in Salmon Arm 10 Feb (TH). A ju¬ venile/first-winter eagle of undetermined species was found in the Goldstream estu¬ ary near Victoria 8 Dec (vt. DCo) and seen irregularly through at least 21 Dec (m.ob.). Numerous worldwide raptor experts who have viewed the videotape suggest that this may be a Steller’s Sea-Eagle x Bald Ea¬ gle hybrid. Enough features of the bird are not right for either species, but its large size and bright yellow bill were striking and also perplexing. It is hoped that the bird may return in subsequent years for further study. Some have speculated that this bird may be the offspring of an Alaskan Steller’s Sea-Eagle that has taken up with local Bald Eagles. Small numbers of Gyrfalcons were reported from scattered locations around the province, with the most noteworthy a dark-morph bird found dead near Tofino, for a 4th local record, 13 Dec ( fide AD). Wild Turkey is expanding in range and in¬ creasing in number. Well established in the East Kootenays, in Creston, and up the e. side of Kootenay L., birds are now moving farther westward, with reports from Pend Oreille Valley near Trail; the Slocan and Ar¬ row Lakes valleys ( fide GSD); Kaslo, with 6 on their C.B.C.; and the West Kootenay win¬ ter bird count, which recorded 78. Casual in nMnnww Donald G. Cecile 7995 Wilson— Jackson Road Vernon, British Columbia VI B 3N5 (dcecile@telus.net) winter along the s. coast, a Marbled Godwit was discovered during the Victoria C.B.C. 18 Dec (m.ob.) GULLS THROUGH FINCHES Rare in the province, an ad. Little Gull was seen from the tip of the Iona Island South Jetty 23 Dec (tRTo). A first- winter Heer- mann’s Gull continued along the Victoria waterfront for the entire winter count peri¬ od yet was strangely absent during the record-breaking Victoria C.B.C. 18 Dec. Iceland Gulls were found in the s. interior and from the Vancouver area, with singles in Delta 2 Jan & 6 Feb (tMT); Brunswick Point 10 Feb (tBS et al.); Iona 13-19 Feb (ph. TP); Vernon 3 Feb (DGC); and Shan¬ non Lake, Westbank 7 Feb (MF). The ad. Lesser Black-backed Gull present in Ver¬ non during Nov made an appearance at Shannon Lake, Westbank 10 Dec (tMF). An annual winter visitor to the Vancouver area, an ad. Slaty- backed Gull was in Delta 8 Jan (tRTo, Cl). Great Gray Owls and Northern Hawk Owls were reported from widely scattered locations around the province, suggesting a widespread move¬ ment, although they were not present in large numbers. Northern Pygmy-Owls, on the other hand, were relatively scarce this winter. Boreal Owls made unprecedented movements into lowland locations, with This Plegadis ibis, which appears to be an immature and is likely a White-faced Ibis, marks the first record of the genus for the Queen Charlotte Islands 13 (here)— 14 October 2004. Photograph by Brian Charman. 311 VOLUME 59 (2005) • NUMBER 2 ' ^ ,; v; . EW. _ singles at Reifel 1 Dec (ph. JI et. al.), at Johnsons Landing 17 Jan (GS), and at a Vernon tree farm 5 Dec (TF, RM, ph. DGC et al.). An ad. Sky Lark (subspecies unknown) was discovered near the mouth of the Ser¬ pentine R., Surrey 10-13 Jan (ph. BS et al.) for a 2nd Vancouver record since 1975. Horned Larks were found in areas where they are very scarce in winter: a single was in Lardeau 21-26 Jan (MJ), and 4 were at Dawson Creek 2 Jan (MP). As has been the case in recent years, there was a late-winter influx of Barn Swallows. The vast majority are found along the s. coast, with very few finding their way into the s. interior. Very late were 2 birds in Kamloops 19 Dec (RH); other noteworthy interior records included 2 at Gellatly Bay, Westbank 20 Jan (BC et al.); a single at 100 Mile House 28 Jan (TG); 2 near Oliver 5 Feb (ED et al.); 2 in Penticton 17 Feb (FW); and 2 at Vaseux L. 26 Feb (TF, RM). By far this is the most widespread invasion the interior has ever seen during winter. Coastal areas furnished 118 records from late Jan into early Mar, with a high count of 18 on Sea I. 2 Feb (PC, MT). Rarely found in winter, a Rock Wren was near Vernon 9 Jan (TF). A holdover from the fall, a single Cape May Warbler re¬ mained at Williams Lake through 11 Dec (ph. AR) for a first provincial winter record. Lingering Yellow-rumped Warblers included singles in Nelson 8 Jan (JA) and Creston 27 Dec (m.ob.). Casual in winter, a Wilson’s Warbler and a Western Tanager remained in the Fernwood area of Victoria f Dec-1 Jan (CSh); this represents the 5th winter record of Western Tanager for the province. An ad. male McKay’s Bunting was periodically found along the Iona Is¬ land South Jetty 4-8 & 14-29 Dec (tKL et al.), furnishing a 2nd record for the province and the first Canadian C.B.C. record. This male was traveling with a small flock of Snow Buntings, one of them thought by many to be a female McKay’s Bunting — which naturally produced much controversy and careful study. Rose-breast¬ ed Grosbeaks are rare at anytime of year away from the Peace R. area; amazingly, 2 were found along the s. coast this winter: an ad. male in Coquitlam 20 Dec-1 Jan (SV et al.), for a first Vancouver winter record, and a second-year male in Tofino at a feed¬ er 8 Feb (ph. LS, PL). There is only one previous winter record for the island. Pine Grosbeaks were more prevalent this winter at lower elevations, and nowhere was this more evident than in Victoria, where a flock of 30 were on Jocelyn Hill 16 Dec (MMG). Very rare in winter, a Chipping Sparrow was a first for Kelowna’s C.B.C. 18-22 Dec (tDGC et al.). A Golden- crowned Sparrow furnished a first winter record for the West Kootenays in Castlegar 16 Feb (PMc). Casual in winter, 3 Yellow¬ headed Blackbirds were just n. of Vernon 2 Jan (JQ et al.). Contributors (subregional editors in boldface): Steve Abbott, David Allinson (Victoria), Janice Arndt, Jack Bowling (Prince George; weather summary), Peter Candido, Richard J. Cannings (s. Okana¬ gan), Chris Charlesworth (Kelowna), Chris Conrad, Darren Copley, Bill Cut- field, Gary S. Davidson (Kootenays), Adrian Dorst (Tofino-Ucluelet), Eva Du¬ rance, Michael P. Force, Trevor Forder, Tom Godin, Peter Hamel (Q.C.I.), Ted Hillary, Rick Howie, Corina Isaac, Marlene Johnson, John Kalman (Vancouver), Gary Lelliot, Paul Levesque, Mike McGrenere, Peter Mclver, Richard Mooney, Mark Phinney (Peace R.), Tom Plath, John Quirk, Sandy Proulx, Anna Roberts, Phil Ranson (Cariboo), Laurie Savard, Brian Scott, Chris Shepard, Chris Siddle, Gail Spitler, Bob Sundstrom, Mike Tabak, John Trochet, Linda Van Damme, Steve Vida, Fred Waite, Elsie Wollastan. O ^ _ VSSmJLs". This first-winter eagle at Goldstream estuary near Victoria, British Columbia 8 December 2004 was large enough and showed such a large bill that observers were led to suspect a hybrid, possibly a Steller's Sea-Eagle x Bald Eagle. Photographs from videotape by Darren Copiey. — Give the Gift of North American Birds - ’ ’•:* - ‘ ■ ;•/•••• -A- " Subscriptions to North American Birds are available for $32 for US or $37 for Canandian. ABA members receive a discounted subscription rate of $30 for US or $35 for Canadian. If you have any queries about your subscription, please contact us by: phone (800) 850-2473, fax (71 9) 578-1 480, email member@aba.org, or mail NAB Subscriptions, PO Box 6599, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80934-6599. . ... NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS 312 Headlines were dominated by water- fowl and larids, with a strong Siber¬ ian flavor. A scattering of vagrant warblers, bunches of beached Horned Puffins, and lingering montane invaders were also recorded. The continued increase in semi-hardy and even non-hardy species, an ongoing theme in recent winter seasons, has become so routine as to escape attention, or nearly so. An entire suite of shorebirds, for¬ merly very rare on the eastside, has become annual winterers. Species such as Sora, Less¬ er Yellowlegs, and Western Tanager, once ac¬ cidental, are now regular winter visitors to Washington, and Barn Swallow “spring” mi¬ gration begins in late January. Red-shoul¬ dered Hawks, Anna’s Hummingbirds, Eurasian Collared-Doves, Black Phoebes, and Western Scrub-Jays continue their expansion northward and eastward. As Mlodinow’s wife quipped: “We won’t have to retire to Califor¬ nia, California will retire to us.” Indeed, this winter’s weather was almost California-like. December averaged about 5° F above normal. January and February both had “average” temperatures, but this is de¬ ceiving, because the lack of cloud cover led to remarkable daytime highs as witnessed by 64° F in Olympia on 18 January and 68° F in Astoria on 23 February. December and Janu¬ ary’s precipitation was about 75% of normal, and February’s was only about 30% of nor¬ mal. Abbreviations: F.R.R. (Fern Ridge Res., Lane, OR); N.S.C.B. (N. Spit Coos Bay, Coos, OR); O.S. (Ocean Shores, Grays Harbor, WA); Ridgefield (Ridgefield N.W.R., Clark, WA); W.W.R.D. (Walla Walla R. delta, Walla Walla, WA). “Eastside” and “westside” indi¬ cate locations east and west of the Cascade crest, respectively. LOONS THROUGH RAILS Yellow-billed Loons again were present in good numbers, with 5 in Washington and 3 in Oregon. Most unusual, 13 Pacific Loons lingered on the eastside into early Jan, and one at Brewster, Douglas 15 Feb provided a very rare late-winter eastside record (R. Kop- pendrayer). A tally of 122 Eared Grebes at Birch Bay, Whatcom 5 Feb was w. Washing¬ ton’s 2nd highest ever (SM, JB, CCx). Clark’s Grebe numbers were above average, with 6 each in w. Washington and w. Oregon. There were two pelagic trips, 2 Jan off Newport and 19 Feb off Westport, both yielding low numbers of usual winter tubenoses: there were no albatrosses and only 64 Northern Fulmars in total (BT, GG). A Pink-footed Shearwater, extremely rare during winter, was at Cape Meares, Tillamook 18 Dec (PP). A Sooty/Short-tailed Shearwater passed Ana- cortes, Skagit 2 Jan (H. Armstrong); both species are rare in the Puget Trough, espe¬ cially at such a late date. Manx Shearwaters Oregon & Washington ■Pt. No Point * V / (f Seattle Wenatchee 'o "Tacoma $ Olympia i? Vantage ^ Priest Rapid; •Yakim; Ocean; Shores* ~,j3ray’s Westporf' ^bor ^ | V. *3 John Day Umatilf Seasidl^stwiaN , . . „ . ,>Ridgefield 1 Sauvie . .•Tillamook ’Portland The D“a||, Boiler) f Bay k • Salem Newport i Corvalks Def"/f | >* ( Fiats g Walla Walla ’i“ K River Delta V Spokane Pullman. Snflketiv^V » Walla Walla Florence! - *Eu9ene # 1 Fern \ ^ $ f Ridge y S3- Res. » Bend . Prineville OREGON Coos Bay / t^Cape Bianco f .-.V ' • Brookings * Medford \ Summer Lake Klamath Falls -4U .Burns Malheur N.W.R. • Fields 67 km and 30 km off Westport 19 Feb pro¬ vided the Region’s first winter records (D. Ward, B. Shelmerdine, tSM). A Leach’s Storm-Petrel, very rare in winter, visited O.S. 4 Dec (PtS, RS). Per usual, several American White Peli¬ cans were found on the westside, with sin¬ gles at Bellingham 17 Dec (G. Bletsch, B. Kuntz) and Kirkland, King 10 Jan (C. Park, MFM). There were 5 Brown Pelicans this winter, including an extremely rare late-win¬ ter bird near Florence, Lane 20 Feb (S. Wright). A count of 1000 Double-crested Cormorants at FR.R. 12Jan far exceeded any prior Willamette Valley winter tally (S. Mc¬ Donald). For the 6th consecutive winter, Great Egrets visited e. Washington, with 11 along Hanford Reach, Benton 3 Feb (H. Newsome) and one near Union Gap, Yakima 28 Jan (M. Roper). Another was in e. Oregon at Wickiup Res., Deschutes 17 Dec (C&MM); e. Washington had its first winter record merely 16 years ago. Equally incon¬ ceivable a decade ago would have been the 145 Greats at Ridgefield 6 Dec (JF). Thirteen Cattle Egrets were scattered among four Washington and two Oregon locations into early Jan, the best winter tally in more than Steven Mlodinow 4819 Gardner Avenue Everett, Washington 98203 (SGMIod@aol.com) David irons 2690 Adams Street Eugene, Oregon 97405 (ilsdirons@msn.com) BillTweit P.O. Box 1271 Olympia, Washington 98507 (Sebnabgill@aol.com) . S HINGT O N This Giant Canada Goose (subspecies maxima) was Washington's first record of a non-introduced individual; it was photographed in Yakima 4 December 2004. Another was seen in Walla Walla County later during the winter, and there is evidence that this subspecies may be a regular-but- rare migrant in the state's eastern half. Photograph by Denny Granstrand. a decade. Turkey Vultures, very rare in Washington before mid-Feb, flew over Poulsbo, Kitsap 15 Dec (BSW) and Longview, Cowlitz 8 Jan (Mark Miller). The season’s sole Emperor Goose win¬ tered at Creswell, Lane (DDW). A Blue Goose at Fir I., Skagit 2 Feb (BS) and 2 oth¬ ers in Skagit/Snohomish 5-27 Feb (E. Casey, SM, DP) added to about 20 prior Washing¬ ton records. A Snow Goose x Ross’s Goose hybrid visited the Kent Ponds, King late Dec-early Jan (G. Toffic, DD, KA). Ross’s Geese had another good winter, with 14 in Oregon and 3 in Washington, including a gaggle of 10 at Sauvie I. 25 Feb (DMa, IT). Three interior westside Brant, all from the Willamette Valley, was fairly typical. A con¬ gregation of 1515 Trumpeter Swans near Clear L., Skagit 15 Feb eclipsed previous Re¬ gional tallies (SM, JB, J. Starfire); just 30 years ago, only 100 wintered in all of w. Washington ( A.B . 29: 731). Echoing this in¬ crease, the Airlie, Polk Trumpeter Swan flock grew to an Oregon record 54 birds (J- Geier). Washington’s 2nd Bewick’s Swan returned to Fir I., Skagit 13-16 Jan (tSM), and what appeared to be a different individual was near Allen, Skagit 5 Feb (CCx, vt. SM, ph. JB). The Whooper Swan that wintered the past two years on the California side of Stateline Rd., Klamath/Siskiyou made a rare Oregon appearance 27 Feb (C. Kisling). A Falcated Duck at Coburg, Lane 2 Jan+ may have been the bird seen last winter at FR.R., which was Oregon’s first (D. Stone). Another Falcated appeared at the Samish Flats, Skagit 27 Feb, exactly where Washington’s 3rd had been found three years ago (tDP). A Gadwall x Mallard hybrid was also present 18 Dec-18 Jan at the Kent Ponds (vt. SM, ph. KB). Eleven eastside Eurasian Wigeons was better than av¬ erage. A swarm of 90,000 Mallards near Edison, Skag¬ it 15 Feb was exceptional for the westside (SM, JB, J. Starfire) and highlighted a shift of dabblers from eastside to west over the last few years (BF). A Mallard x Northern Pin¬ tail, nearly annual in the Region, visited Crockett L., Island 12 Dec (DD, SM), and an¬ other wintered at Wenatchee/E. Wenatchee (D. Beaudette). Wintering Cinnamon Teal are increasing, as evidenced by an Oregon seasonal record 70 wintering at Svenson 1., Clatsop (MP, D. Bailey). The star of the Kent Pond waterfowl extravaganza was a Baikal Teal 12 Dec-1 Feb (vt. CW, ph. KB). Wash¬ ington had two previous reports of this species, one likely valid (Dungeness, Jan 1920) and one likely not (Anacortes, Jun 1979). Importantly, Alaska has enjoyed a surge of Baikal Teal, with 7 in the Aleutians over the last three falls/winters (D. Gibson), paralleling a dramatic rebound in this species’ world population (Delaney and Scott 2002, Waterbird Population Estimates). An exceptional 16 Common (Eurasian Green-winged) Teal were detected, includ¬ ing a rare eastside bird at Moses L., Grant 10-21 Jan (ph. DSc). Equally impressive were 10 Common Teal x American Green¬ winged Teal hybrids, including one on at Moses L. 10 Jan (DSc). A Washington record 3900 Greater Scaup rested on the Columbia R. at Priest Rapids Pool, Grant/Kittitas 4 Dec (SM, BF, ST), and 6790 scaup were counted there via aerial survey 13 Dec (RH, J. Tabor); assuming a similar proportion of Greaters, that flock contained over 6000. The total number of Greater Scaup wintering along the Columbia R. likely exceeds 12,000, or about 2.5% of the North American population. This is even more amazing when one considers that as recently as 1984-1985, an eastside tally of 150 Greater Scaup was noteworthy (A.B. 39; 189). The Tufted Duck x scaup hybrid re¬ turned to the Columbia R. near near Mary- hill, Klickitat 1-5 Jan (AS, ES, SJ). Three Tufted Ducks this winter included eastside singles at Potholes Res., Grant 13 Feb (ph. DSc) and Vantage, Kittitas 20 Feb+ (ph. DG); there are nine previous e. Washington records. Harlequin Ducks, very rare e. of the Cascades, were near Vantage, Kittitas 20-25 Feb (DG) and McNary Dam 18-21 Feb (CC, JC). Surf and White-winged Scoters are very rare in winter on the eastside. A White¬ winged was at Vantage 5 Dec (SS, MF), and a Surf was at Pelton Dam, Jefferson 28 Dec (M. Roening). A Surf Scoter, rare in the Willamette Valley, visited Corvallis 10 Jan (J. Simmons). Long-tailed Ducks again showed well on the eastside, with 7 detected; much more surprising was one high in the Cas¬ cades at Trail Creek Res., Linn 11 Dec (C&MM). A Bufflehead x goldeneye hybrid returned for its 4th consecutive winter to Wenatchee, Chelan (EH), while an equally unusual Barrow’s Goldeneye x Common Goldeneye hybrid graced Kingston, Kitsap 15 Jan (M. Hobbs, B. Bell). A single Barrow’s Goldeneye spent its 4th consecutive winter at Willamina, Yamhill, where quite rare (Q. Nice). A stunning 10,000 California Quail were tallied in Burns 26 Dec (fide HN). Three Osprey, very rare during winter in Washington, were found on the westside in Feb. Red-shouldered Hawks are becoming regular during winter in e. Oregon, where singles visited Powell Butte, Crook 22-26 Jan (CG) and Terrebonne, Deschutes 26 Feb (KO); 3 in sw. Washington was typical of re¬ cent years. Washington’s 3rd winter Swain- son’s Hawk was near Eltopia, Franklin 18 The recent split of Canada and Cackling Goose dramatically increased interest in "white-cheeked geese." Observers went beyond identification to species and often reported subspecies of both Canada and Cackling Geese. This has already caused much confusion, but in the long term, such careful attention promises to shed much light. Single maxima Canada Geese near Yakima 4 Dec (ph. DG) and Ice Harbor Dam, Walla Walla 15 Jan (tDG) provided Washington's first records since a failed introduction program in the early 1970s. Though kept in captivity, this species has potential as a genuine vagrant. Indeed, an observant hunter harvested 11 very large Canada Geese in the Columbia Basin between 1985 and 2001, mostly from family groups numbering up to 6 birds (DSc). Details noted on these birds strongly suggest they were maxima, and this race may well be a somewhat regular vagrant to e. Washington. A collection of 215+ occidentalis Canada Geese at Brady, Grays Harbor 19 Feb was quite unusual n. ofWillapa Bay and were probably migrants (SM). Seven fulva Canada Geese, rarely reported in Washington, over¬ wintered again at Warm Beach, Snohomish (SM). Surprising were 2 apparent nominate-race Cackling Geese, which would be the Region's first, at Brady 19 Feb (vt. SM); the identification was supported by several outside sources (P. Bannon, B. Deuel, CCx). Finally, the Cackling Goose race minima has been variously labeled "rare" and "uncommon" on the eastside. This winter, 1 7 were recorded in Grant and Yakima, with a maximum of 8 at Selah, Yakima 15 Dec (DSc, DG). 314 NORTH AMERICAN BIRD — Feb (BF); the 2nd was last year in nearby Benton. Two Ferruginous Hawks near Ewan, Whitman 12 Feb were about three weeks ear¬ ly (G. Sheridan), while one found dead at Baskett Slough, Polk 27 Feb yielded a very rare westside record (RG, B. Tice). Ten Washington and 2 Oregon Gyrfalcons was about average, but one wintering as far s. as N.S.C.B. was rather unusual (TR), and one at Owyhee Res. 12 Jan was Malheur’s first (C. Weisse). W. Washington had but one Prairie Falcon, and numbers were subpar in w. Ore¬ gon as well. For the 4th consecutive winter, Soras were detected in w. Washington, with singles at Kirkland, King 27 Jan (MFM) and Belfair, Pierce 19 Feb (K. & S. Graham); much rarer was one in e. Washington at Top- penish N.W.R., Yakima 19 Dec (D. Brown). SHOREBIRDS THROUGH WOODPECKERS Pacific Golden-Plovers, not annual during winter, visited ER.R. 2 Jan (DI, NS), Tillam¬ ook Bay 21 Feb (E. Scattaregia), and, for the 4th consecutive year, wintered at Tangent, Linn (RG). Fifty Snowy Plovers were count¬ ed on Midway Beach, Pacific 31 Jan, tying the Washington record set last winter at the same location (CW); also notable were 38 at Silt- coos Beach, Lane 1 Feb (D. Lauten, K. Castelein). A Washington winter record 100 Semipalmated Plovers gathered at O.S. 3 Feb (DD). Washington’s 4th Mountain Plover visited Oysterville, Pacific 24-27 Feb (ph. K. Brennan, tj. Buchanan); most Regional records have been Nov-Feb from the outer coast. Washington’s 2nd winter American Avocet was at Blaine, Whatcom 5 Jan (J. A. & H. MacKenzie). A Lesser Yellowlegs visited Stanwood, Snohomish 8 Jan (SM), making it five consecutive winters for Washington, which had only one record during the 1990s; in Oregon, where more regular, 2 overwin¬ tered at FR.R. (LM, DI). Marbled Godwits are increasing Regionwide. An Oregon win¬ ter-record 64 were at Coos Bay 19 Dec (TR). Rare away from the outer coast during win¬ ter, 4 Marbled Godwits wintered at Port Su¬ san Bay, Snohomish (SM, TA), while 2 others visited Port Townsend 16 Dec (R. Sikes). A Spotted Sandpiper inhabited Bennington L., Walla Walla 2-12 Dec (M&MLD) and Bin¬ gen, Klickitat 4 Jan (SJ); formerly considered casual during winter on the eastside, they have been recorded there four of the last five winters. Least Sandpipers are also increasing as eastside winterers; this year, 18+ were found, with a maximum of 7 at W.W.R.D. 31 Dec (SM, BF, CB); on the westside, 300 at Westport 31 Jan set a Washington winter record (CW), and nearly as unusual were 300 at FR.R. 5 Jan (LM). Dunlin now also winter annually on the eastside, but this win¬ ter’s maximum of 30 at Moses L., Grant 2 Jan was poor by recent standards (DSc). Two Long-billed Dowitchers, a species still not annual e. of the Cascades, MIC tL ’ were at Moses L. 10 Dec-2 Jan (DSc). Seven Pomarine Jaegers off Westport 19 Feb provid- A ed a high count for mid- 7 ..is * winter (BT). Washington’s 9th winter Franklin’s Gull appeared near Carnation, King 6 Jan (EH). A tally of 18 Mew Gulls at Hood R. 9 Jan likely set an eastside record (SJ). Exceptional eastside winter concentra¬ tions of California Gulls in¬ cluded 620 at Lower Mon¬ umental Dam 22 Jan (M&MLD) and 525 at Mc- Nary Dam 31 Dec (SM, BF, CB). There were four Ice¬ land Gulls this winter in Washington, bringing that Washington's fourth Mountain Plover was found 24 (hear 26) February 2005 near Oysterville by Kirsten Brennan while she was surveying shorebirds on Willapa Bay. Surprisingly, most of the Region's records are from November through February on the outer coast. Photograph by Aaron Martin. state’s total to 13! Singles visited Renton, King 8 Dec (vt. S. Pink, TDD, J. Flynn), Tacoma 23 Dec (tSM, DD), W.W.R.D. 31 Dec (vt. SM, BF, CB), and the Elwha R. mouth, Clallam 8 Feb (TBS, B. Mulrooney); the Clallam bird looked like a classic ad. of the nominate race — can Kumlien’s ever be such an exact match? The W.W.R.D. Lesser Black-backed Gull returned for its 5th consecutive winter 6 Feb (M&MLD). Single Slaty-backed Gulls at Renton 11 Dec (vt. SM, ph. JB, TKA) and Port Gardner Bay, Snohomish 18 Dec (TDD) added to six prior Washington records, all but one of which was 30 Dec-11 Mar. The Western Gull at Moses L., Grant lingered through 4 Dec (DSc). Glaucous Gull numbers continue to rebound, with 22 in Washington and 12 in Oregon. The count of 221 Black-legged Kitti- wakes off Westport 19 Feb was above normal (BT), but only 4 were off Newport 2 Jan (GG). Washington’s 6th Red-legged Kitti- wake flew past Ft. Canby S.P., Pacific 10 Jan (TT. Guy). The assemblage of 128,000 Common Murres at Cape Meares, Tillamook 18 Dec was among the largest ever during winter (PP). Washington’s 12th Thick-billed Murre flew past Port Townsend 23 Dec (TS. Mills); after a 12-year hiatus, Washington has had 4 Thick-billeds in the past three years. A stun¬ ning 2460 Ancient Murrelets were counted between Protection I. and Dungeness Spit, Clallam 20 Dec (CW, BLB). Perhaps related to the Horned Puffin influx, a Parakeet Auk- let was inshore at Tillamook Bay 21 Feb (TM. Scattargia, C. & A. Hinkle); there are only about 20 records from Oregon during the past 30 years, mostly of beached dead birds. From early Jan onward, dozens of dead and dying Horned Puffins appeared on Oregon beaches. Apparently healthy birds were at Fogarty Creek S.R, Lincoln 12 Jan (R. Bjerre) and near Florence, Lane 25 Jan (P Sherrell) and 20 Feb (DI, J. Brown); oddly, only one appeared in Washington, a dead bird near Surfside, Pacific 24 Jan (L. Bierma, S. Clark). The cause of this influx remains mysterious, and excess mortality was not noted in other alcids. The Eurasian Collared-Dove takeover of Oregon continued, with 2 wintering at Pilot Rock, Umatilla (CC) and singles at Tigard, Washington 13 Feb (J. Wrinn) and Merrill, Klamath 24 Feb Q. Van Moorhem). Ten Snowy Owls was fairly typical for a non-in¬ vasion year, with a peak of 5 near Moses L., Grant 27 Dec (DSc). Oregon’s 3rd Northern Hawk Owl, and first in 22 years, was near 4 The Puget Sound region is infamous for its hybrid gulls; nonetheless, they have received little scrutiny. Glaucous- H winged Gulls are the dominant large gull there. Herring and Western Gulls are typically scarce. Indeed "pure" Glau- cous-wingeds outnumber"pure"Westerns by about 500:1. On 8 Feb, a careful examination of 1500-2000 large gulls in Ren¬ ton, King revealed that apparent hybrids or backcrosses constituted 25% of the flock, including 10% Glaucous-winged Gull x Herring Gull, 10% Glaucous-winged Gull x Western Gull, and another 5% that defied labeling (CCx). A similar survey in Tacoma 21 Feb consisted of approximately 20% apparent hybrids, but Glaucous-winged Gull x Western Gull hybrids clearly predominated (CCx, JB, SM, DD). To what degree these proportions apply elsewhere in the Puget Trough is unknown. Other¬ wise, a few Glaucous-winged Gull x Glaucous Gull hybrids were detected in w. Washington, and a rare Glaucous Gull x Her¬ ring Gull hybrid visited Renton 8 Feb (CCx). Elsewhere, the eastside's first Glaucous-winged Gull x Herring Gull hybrid was near Cold Springs, Umatilla 31 Dec (SM, BF, CB); the lack of earlier records was most likely due to lack of observer attention to large gulls there. VOLUME 59 (2005) • NUMBER 2 315 OR EG ON & WASH IN G TON Bend 3 Feb+ (C. Vaughn). Single Burrowing Owls near Othello, Adams 7 Jan (BF) and W. Rich¬ land, Benton 23 Jan (T. Clarke) were the only ones detected in e. Washington, while 5 in w. Oregon was better than average. Rare in e. Washington away from Klickitat, an Anna’s Hummingbird wintered in Cowiche Canyon, Yakima (DG). Five Costas Hummingbirds visited Oregon; of Oregon’s approximate¬ ly 20 winter records, nine were during the last two years. A Ru¬ fous/Allen’s Hummingbird visited Seattle 11 Dec (D. Harville), and 4 more were noted in w. Oregon during Dec/Jan; mid-winter Sclas- phorus are casual in Washington and very rare in Oregon. Single Rufous Hummingbirds at Dunge- ness, Clallam 30 Jan (K. Wiersma) and Ocean Park, Pacific 31 Jan were six weeks early ( fide MP) and were followed by 6 more scattered through w. Washington in mid- Feb (fide MP). Williamson’s Sap- suckers, very rare during winter, were at Walla Walla mid-Nov-19 Jan (M&MLD), Kennewick, Ben¬ ton 28 Jan-1 Feb (DR), and Kla¬ math Falls 8 Jan+ (J. Van Moorhem). A Yellow-bellied Sap- sucker, now virtually annual in Oregon, was at John Day, Grant 4 Nov-4 Jan (ph. C. & M. O’Leary). Rare w. of the Cascades, a Red-naped Sap- sucker visited Silverton, Marion 6 Jan (J. Reid). Three Red-breasted Sapsuckers were found e. of the Cascades, where barely an¬ nual, including one far e. in N. Richland, Benton 24 Feb (M. Lilga). FLYCATCHERS THROUGH FINCHES Washington’s first winter Empidonax was a Least Flycatcher at Kent, King 5 Jan (tKA); the Region’s previous winter record was from Tillamook in Dec 1992. Washington’s 7th Black Phoebe was at Vancouver L., Clark 12-21 Feb (K. Perrilo, ph. E. Bjork- man); most of Washington’s records have been from the sw. during winter. This species continues to expand its range in w. Oregon, where singles wintered as far n. as Yamhill and Polk. More than 10 Say’s Phoebes lingered into Dec and Jan on the eastside, at least double the norm, while one at Kent 6 Dec-i- furnished only the 4th true winter record for w. Washington (CW); in w. Oregon, 4 Say’s was fairly typical. A Tropical Kingbird lingered in Astoria through 17 Dec (MP); there are only seven prior winter records, five of which came from the preced¬ ing four years. A Hutton’s Vireo near Walla Walla 18-22 Dec furnished Washington’s xJ y\ Oregon's third Northern Hawk Owl, a most cooperative bird, spent much of the winter near Bend, Deschutes County, delighting throngs of Oregonians (and a few folks from Washington and California as well). This image was taken on 23 February 2005. The last Oregon record was in 1983. Photograph by Steve Berliner. easternmost record (ph. M&MLD). Logger- head Shrikes were unusually prevalent in e. Washington, with at least 8 detected, more than twice the norm; the only westside bird was near Lebanon, Linn 29 Dec (RG). After their strong showing this fall. Blue Jays re¬ mained numerous, with 37 in Washington and 17 in Oregon, including maxima of 7 at Cheney, Whitman 29 Dec (M. Moskwik) and 5 at Pullman, Whitman 28 Feb (D&TW); surprisingly, only 3 were detected on the westside. In Washington, flocks of 30 Clark’s Nutcrackers at Kettle Falls, Ferry 13 Dec (L. Dubbels) and 60 at Rose Cr., Whitman 29 Jan (D&TW) were away from their normal haunts. In w. Oregon, wayward nutcrackers were at Brownsmead, Clatsop 5 Dec (MP) and St. Helens, Columbia 6 Dec (I. Larson). A long-staying Black-billed Magpie, very rare on the westside, wintered at Mon¬ mouth, Polk (RG). Two Tree Swallows near Tenino, Thurston 1 Jan provided a very rare mid-winter Wash¬ ington record (BS); even rarer were up to 30 at FR.R. 22 Dec-2 Jan (D. Arendt, LM). Pri¬ or to 2001, Barn Swallows were rare winter visitors, mainly in Dec. During the ensuing three years, there were early to mid-Jan in¬ cursions involving dozens of birds. This winter, Barn Swallows were pres¬ ent throughout the season, with Washington totals of 66 in Dec, 58 in Jan, and 148 in Feb; maxima in¬ cluded 50 at Vancouver L., Clark 21 Feb (J. Gatchet) and 45 at Ten¬ nant L., Whatcom 5 Feb (H. Flo¬ res). On the eastside, 3 were in Washington and 4 were in Ore¬ gon; e. Washington had only two winter records prior to 2003. Two Black-capped Chickadees made a most unusual mid-Columbia Basin appearance at Potholes S.P., Grant 1 Jan+ (SM, RH, DSc, BE BSc). The Mountain Chickadee ir¬ ruption quickly subsided in Dec, though a few remained in the low¬ lands through the season, with a maximum of 20 at Potholes 6 Feb (G. Sheridan). Two Chestnut- backeds there 1 Jan+ were a first for Grant (RH, BSc, BF, DSc, SM), while 2 Chestnut-backeds at Bridgeport 12-13 Feb were the 3rd and 4th for Douglas (PtS, RS). At least 4 White-breasted Nuthatches lingered in the Tri-Cities/Walla Walla area, where they are normal¬ ly very rare, and the 2 on Vashon I. remained until mid-Feb (E. Swan). Three Rock Wrens, rare on the outer coast, were at Port Or- ford, Curry 22 Dec, with at least one wintering (L. Miller). As has become the case with other semi-hardy eastside birds, an unusual number of Western Bluebirds lingered into Jan, including 15 near Lyle, Klickitat 9 Jan (AS, ES) and a Washington winter-record 24, near Dixie, Walla Walla 25 Dec (M&MLD). Western North America’s first Redwing graced Olympia 21 Dec+ (G. Revelas); Red¬ wings breed into e. Siberia and have a strong westerly component to their fall migration, making them a prime candidate for vagrancy to w. North America via 180° misorientation. The Region’s 3rd winter Gray Catbird visited Lost Creek Res., Jackson 4-6 Dec (N. Barrett, J. Houle); catbirds are extremely rare on the westside at any season. The Sage Thrasher at Lummi Flats, Whatcom lingered until 13 Dec, providing Washington’s 3rd winter record (j- Duemmel). Remarkably, a North¬ ern Mockingbird at Edmonds, Snohomish 28-29 Dec yielded the season’s sole sighting (A. Winskie). As American Pipits are rare during winter in e. Washington, a tally of 30 near Walla Walla 12 Dec was noteworthy (M&MLD), but even more so was a Wash¬ ington winter record 250 near Wishram, Klickitat 9 Jan (AS, ES). No longer annual on the westside, 4 Bohemian Waxwings visited Seattle 26 Dec (EH). Now virtually annual during winter, a 316 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS — Nashville Warbler visited Eugene 14 Dec (NS). Washington’s 2nd Cape May Warbler graced a Spokane feeder early Jan+ (tC. Mc¬ Cormack, ph. T. Munson, ph. G. MacDon¬ ald), 30 years after the first was recorded in Bellingham. The Black-throated Blue War¬ bler near Bonneville Dam, Multnomah lin¬ gered until at least 27 Dec (SJ), and another attended a Portland feeder 8 Jan+ (S. Sterne), furnishing Oregon’s 3rd and 4th winter records. Not annual during winter, single Black-throated Gray Warblers visited Vancouver, Clark 28 Dec (S. Hagen) and Tillamook 18 Dec ( fide O. Schmidt). A Yel¬ low-throated Warbler at Seaside, Clatsop 29 Jan+ (S. Warner) was the Region’s 2nd to winter and Oregon’s 6th overall. Rare away from the outer coast, a Palm Warbler lin¬ gered through 22 Jan at Edmonds, Sno¬ homish (DD), and another visited Skagit W.M.A. 2 Feb (TA); 22 on the Port Orford C.B.C. 26 Dec set an Oregon C.B.C. record (fide J. Rogers). Very rare during winter, a Black-and-white Warbler appeared in Rich¬ land, Benton 1 Jan (tR. Johnson); there are approximately 45 Washington records. Washington’s 2nd winter MacGillivray’s Warbler appeared near Bayview, Skagit 2 Jan (TK. Kemper). Common Yellowthroats, not annual after Dec in Washington, were at Sk¬ agit W.M.A. (SS, MF) and Seattle, both 16 Jan (J. Bragg); only 3 were reported this win¬ ter from Oregon. Single Wilsons Warblers at Lyon’s Ferry, Franklin 4 Dec (M&MLD) and Bridgeport, Douglas 11 Dec (M. Spencer) yielded e. Washingtons first winter records. Westside Wilson’s included individ¬ uals near Edison, Skagit 2 Jan (P DeBruyn, G. Walker) and N. Portland 11 Dec-2 Jan (J. Rakestraw); of Washington’s 19 winter records, 12 were from the last seven years. A Western Tanager at Richland, Benton 9 Dec furnished e. Washington’s 2nd winter record (BW, NL), while in w. Oregon, singles visit¬ ed McMinnville, Yamhill 9-25 Dec (F. Schrock), Salem 16 Feb (P Swenson), and Milwaukie, Clackamas throughout the win¬ ter (D. Hopp); Oregon had but six prior win¬ ter records and Washington 10. An American Tree Sparrow, rare in w. Ore¬ gon, stopped at Baskett Slough, Polk 13 Dec (RG). Four Chipping Sparrows, rare during winter in Oregon, were at Baskett Slough 2 Jan (RG). Single Clay-colored Sparrows at Finley N.W.R., Benton 23 Jan (R. Robb) and near Snohomish 31 Jan-8 Feb (CCx) were the only ones detected. Fifteen Savannah Sparrows at Columbia N.W.R., Grant 4 Feb highlighted an excellent winter for this species on the eastside (RH). A Red Fox Sparrow at Nisqually, Thurston 4 Feb added to about 17 prior Washington records (TB. Shelmerdine); almost as rare was one at Cor¬ vallis 31 Jan (HH). Three Slate-colored Fox Sparrows in w. Washington added to the ev¬ idence that they winter annually in the Re¬ gion. Utterly unexpected was a Thick-billed Fox Sparrow of one of the larger-billed races (i.e., not fulva ) near Snohomish 26-28 Feb (tSM, DD); as this subspecies group mi¬ grates early, this bird may have been a “spring overshoot” rather than a winterer. Sixteen Swamp Sparrows was better than av¬ erage for Washington and included 2 in e. Washington, where now annual. Harris’s Sparrow numbers were up a lad, with 8 on the westside and 13 on the east. Slate-col¬ ored Juncos were unusually prevalent, with record tallies of 7 (plus 2 cismontanus ) at Wahluke Slope, Franklin 4 Dec (SM, BF, ST) and 6 on the Lummi Flats, Whatcom 14 Jan (CW). Oregon’s 8th record of McCown’s Longspur was provided by one at Lower Klamath N.W.R. 1 Jan-15 Feb (J. Fairchild, C&MM); all but two of Oregon’s records are from Klamath. Single Rose-breasted Gros¬ beaks lingered at Newport, Lincoln through 12 Dec (L. Osis) and Coos Bay through 19 Dec (L. Topits), while a another visited Cape Meares, Tillamook 28 Dec (M. Tweelinckx); there were approximately seven previous Oregon winter records. Equally rare during winter, a Black-headed Grosbeak graced Roseburg, Douglas 2 Feb (D. Worsley). The feedlots at Othello, Adams provided record tallies of 15,000 Red-winged and 3000 Yellow-headed Blackbirds 8 Jan (RH) and 800 Brown-headed Cowbirds 20 Feb (BF), plus a near-record 69 Tricolored Black¬ birds 21 Feb (BF); these were not just winter records, but top counts for any time of year, demonstrating the importance of feedlots and dairies to wintering blackbirds through¬ out the Region. A Tricolored near Sundale 11 Feb was Klickitat’s 2nd (tSJ, TD. Gadway, C. Flick). Per usual, single Rusty Blackbirds were near Conway, Skagit 1-29 Jan (R. Mer¬ rill) and in Kittitas 28Jan (S. Downes). A tal¬ ly of 375 Brown-headed Cowbirds near Syl- vana, Snohomish 27 Feb furnished a w. Washington winter record (SM); this species’ winter numbers are rapidly increas¬ ing. This winter’s Bullock’s Oriole lingered through 21 Dec at Astoria, Clatsop (MP). A swarm of 3000 Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches was near Heppner, Morrow 8 Jan (CC, JC). Not annual w. of the Cascades, a Gray- crowned remained at Marrowstone Pt. , Jef¬ ferson throgh 4 Dec (BN), and one visited the Lummi Flats, Whatcom 1 Dec (W. We¬ ber). More Purple Finches than normal wan¬ dered into the Columbia Basin, with a max¬ imum of 7 at Selah, Yakima 18 Dec (D. Brown). Pine Grosbeaks pushed far s. and w. of their usual Oregon haunts. Flocks of 15+ at Santiam Pass in the Cascades 1 Jan (D. Tracy) and near Paulina, Deschutes 4 Feb (M. Feiger) were at locations where this species is quite rare, and 6 at Hart Mt., Lake 19 Dec were at a spot where the species is not de¬ tected annually (C&MM). Common Redpoll numbers were up, with 915 in n.-cen. Okanogan in late Dec (K. Kemper) and 65 at Newhalem, Skagit 17 Dec (G. Bletsch, B. Kuntz), providing eastside and westside maxima, respectively; the most southerly was one at Burns, Harney 24 Dec (J- Carl¬ son). A Washington record 150 Lesser Goldfinches were along Cherry Orchard Trail, Klickitat 9 Jan (AS, ES). Addenda & corrigenda: Washington’s first Blue Goose was found at University of Washington’s Burke Museum, having been collected in Bothell, King 9 Sep 1936; it also furnishes the earliest fall record. The hybrid goose that appeared in N.A.B. 58: 423 was erroneously identified as a Greater White- fronted Goose x Canada Goose. More de¬ tailed evaluations by authorities led to three suggestions: Emperor x Cackling/Canada, Snow x Cackling/Canada, and Snow x Greater White-fronted (B. Deuel, H. Lehto, M. O’Brien, M. Ogilvie, D. Sibley). The or¬ ange legs and pink-and-black mottled bill made Emperor Goose x Cackling/Canada Goose the leading candidate, and Emperor x B. h. minima is a hybrid known to have oc¬ curred in the wild. A male Costa’s Hum¬ mingbird x Anna’s Hummingbird hybrid appeared in Bend, Deschutes 12 May 2004 (T. Janzen, DMa, J. Withgott). Outside re¬ view of the Red Fox Sparrow reported near Monroe 14 Feb-4 Mar 2004 revealed that it was erroneously identified, and the bird was most likely an integrade between Red Fox Sparrow and Sooty Fox Sparrow, a cross that is not rare in parts of s. Alaska (T. Tobish). Initialed observers (subregional editors in boldface): Kevin Aanerud, Tom Aversa (Washington), Jessie Barry, Casey Beachell, Keith Brady, Wilson Cady, Craig Corder, Judy Corder, Cameron Cox (CCx), Mike & Merry Lynn Denny, Don DeWitt (DDW), Dennis Duffy, Joe Engler (Clark), Bob Flores, Chuck Gates (Crook), Greg Gillson, Denny Granstrand (Yakima), Hendrik Herlyn, Randy Hill, Eugene Hunn, Stuart Johnston, Bruce LaBar (BLB), Bill LaFramboise (lower Columbia Basin), Nancy LaFramboise, David Mandell (DMa), Mary Francis Mathis (MFM), Larry McQueen, Tom Mickel (Lane), Craig & Marilyn Miller, Harry Nehls (Oregon), Bob Norton (Olympic Pen.), Kimdel Owen, Michael Patterson (Clatsop), Dennis Paulson, Phil Pickering, Dennis Rockwell, Tim Rodenkirk (Coos), Steven Schlick, Barbara Schonewald (BSc), Doug Schonewald (DSc), Andy & Ellen Stepniews- ki, Noah Strycker, Patrick Sullivan (PtS), Ruth Sullivan, Bob Sundstrom, Sam Terry, Iain Tomlinson, Dennis Vroman (Josephine), Brad Wagonner (BSW), Diane & Tom Weber, Bob Woodley, Charlie Wright. © Northern California Pt.St. r George Yreka ' ^ * Klamath Basin Refuges 4- > Areata Eureka • Redding ■P ur. <&> p Fort Bragg Point Arena \ i i i Lake Almanor Honey ti Lake •Chico Clear \Lake • Sacramento \ Valley Refuges Bodega Bayf^ -Santa Rosa -Sacramento • Stockton \ 'tb TAHOE Pt. Reyes?. — Cordell Bankm XffBerkeley San Franciscoft ^Oakland S.E. Farallon Ism , ' • ) San Jose V. % Santa Cruz**y Monterey Bay . Mono