The Winter Season December 1, 1978- February 28, 1979

Home , February 1979, Ice storm, Indiana Blizzard

CONTINENTAL SURVEY

NORTHEASTERN MARITIME Jan. 2 and SakonnetRiver Feb. 28 qide CW). In Massachusetts. an Eared Grebe was seen at REGION December records qide MLI. New England Magnolia Jan. 27 - Feb. 4 {fide RPE). Two Barrow's Goldeneyes were more numerous /Peter D. Viekery Western Grebes wintered off Reid S.P.. Me.. than in recent years: at least 64 individuals for the second consecutiveyear and were pos- were noted. Harlequin Ducks. too. seemed Generally mild weather prevailed in the siblythe individualspresent the previouswin- more numerous: at least 71 individuals southernpart of the Regionin Decemberand ter {fide PDV). The Western Grebe seen occurredin New England. Approximately 32 January. In February. a two-week period of throughoutthe fall in New Haven.Conn.. was King Eiderswere reported from New England. bitter, unremittingnorthwest winds and sub- notedin lateDecember and mayhave wintered. Apparently Hooded Mergansershave recently zero temperatureswas one of the most severe started wintering on open water in inland New and longest"deep freezes" in recent years. TUBENOSES -- A single N. Fulmar was unusual on the Isle of Shoals. N.H. CBC. Hampshire;nine were found at Laconia Jan. Frozen bays and iced mudflats causeda pre- 10 and two were seen in Meredith Feb. 21 while 1000_+ fulmars were noted off the N.E. dictable,although not especiallysevere, winter (SAG. fide DJA). A flock of 8000_+Red- Peak. George'sBank Feb. 26 (M.B.O. staff. kill of bay ducksas far southas CapeCod and breasted Mergansers at Nantucket Harbor Martha's Vineyard. fide RSH). In Massachusettssingle Sooty Shearwaters off Cultivator Shoals Dec. 12 Dec. 30 was one of the largest winter concen- This winter'sincursion of Great Gray Owls, trations ever recorded in Massachusetts with at least 92 reported. was certainly the {fide RSH) and at Nauset Beach Dec. 17 (RSH). seasoh'smost extraordinary event. At least six (WRP, fide BN) were both startlingly late of these remarkable birds were known to fre- occurrences.The White Pelicansreported this VULTURES. HAWKS. EAGLES -- Four- past fall werelast seenat NewportNeck. R.L, quent a singlefield near Skowhegan,Maine. teen Turkey Vultures near Salem.Conn.. Feb. Dec. 6 {fide CW) and on Cape Cod at Hawk and Borealowls also appeared in above- 4 {fide HCB) may have been remarkably early Chatham Dec. 7 (BN). Gannets were observed averagenumbers. migrantswhich found themselvesfacing two on many CBCs: I 1.845 weeksof bitter New England weather.A single on the Cape Cod CBC. Black Vulture was noted near Chatham. was notablyhigh while in New Brunswick two Mass.. Dec. 19; the speciesalmosl seemsa regularvisitor to CapeCod {fide BN). Cooper's on the Cape Tormen- Hawks wintered in impressivenumbers in s. tine CBC. Dec. 16. New England: severalwere noted in n.w. Con- constituted a very late Provincial record. A necticut,as many as 14 werereported from e. Massachusetts•ide RSH) and a female was singlead. Gannet was seen in the Gulf of observed near Hampton. N.H.. Jan. '29 (DWF). Remarkable was a Cooper's Hawk, Maine from the apparentlyan ad. female,at St. John's,Nfld., ..... Marine Evangeline Jan. 28 (LMT. fide MMP). This was appar- Jan. 28 was an unex- ently only a second island record and was pected dead-of-winter extraordinary for the date. An ad. Red- record (DWF.PDV). shouldered Hawk in Lincoln. Me.. Jan. 1S-16 was well n. of the species'usual wintering HERONS. WATER- range (PDV). A Broad-winged Hawk was _. ' FOWL -- Unusually reported on the Stratford-Milford. Conn. late herons farther n. CBC. Dec. 30. Another Broad-wingedHawk than expected were: a was carefully studied near Jonesport. Me.. Green on the Tucker- Dec. 27 (SGr). ß :•,•,,•, • nuck I., Mass. CBC, a The season'sGolden Eagleswere singles at remarkable Louisiana Brier I., N.S., Dec. 21 (ELM), Quabbin. on the New Haven. Mass.. Jan. 19 {fide SK) and on CapeCod at S. Conn. CBC, and an Am. Bittern on the New Orleans Feb. 7 (CAG et aL, fide BN). A Two flightsof Purple Gallinules.one each Hampshirecoast Jan. 16 {/?deDJA). minimum of three Bald Eagles wintering on in December and January. involved at least After an impressivefall flight, Whistling Cape Cod was unusual (BN). In Maine sevenindividuals and wereunquestionably the Swansremained in the Region until cold tem- researcherscounted 109 eagleswintering (cf.. wintcr'smost puzzling occurrences. Although peraturesand ice forcedthem S. SevenWhis- 109 in '78. 116 in '77) {/?deML). Two Marsh notoriouswanderers. Purple Gallinules are tling Swansat Brunswick,Me.. werelast seen Hawks seennear Cutler. Me.. throughoutthe virtuallyunknown in the Regionat this time of Dec. 25 {/?deCL) while the Ipswich,Mass.. winter suggestthat the speciesmight be more year. Seven birds at any season would be individual was last observed Jan. 10. In Rhode regular than previouslysupposed along the unprecedented.In winterit's mind-boggling. Island. six WhistlingSwans were seen at Nini- upper New England coast (NF). An Osprey gret Jan. 23 and singleswere noted at Paw- photographedalong the HousatonicR., Shel- LOONS, GREBES -- Both Corn. and Red- tuckel Dec. 21 - Jan. 27 and E. Providence ton, Conn., Dec. 24 was remarkably late {/?de throated loons were especiallynumerous on Feb. 22-28 (v.o..fide CW). A singleEur. Wig- CSW). New England's two Gyrfalconswere a the Nantucket I. Christmas Bird Count (here- eon occurred at Watchemoket Cove, R.I.. gray-phasebird in Biddeford, Me., Dec. 27 after. CBC). with 3SS and 37S respectively Dec. 30 {fide CW) while a pair wasseen at New (MF) and a white-phaseimmature near Plvm- observed. Single Arctic Loons appeared at Waterford. N.S.. Feb. 10 {/?dePRD). In the outh, N.H.. Dec. 24 (SAG et al../?de DJA). In Tiverton. N.S.. Dec. 28 (ELM et al. )and in the sameProvince a single9 Wood Duck wasan n. Newfoundland, Bruce MacTavish noted Galilee-Quonochontaug.R.I. area Jan. 7-27 unusual winterer in Dartmouth (IAMcL et >17 Gyrs near L'Anse-aux-Meadows Jan. 21- (RACet aL. fide CW). Three Eared Grebesin al. ). In Maine a singleRing-necked Duck on 25. Winter Peregrine Falcons are scarce s. New England were well above average:in the PenobscotR.. in EddingtonDec. 17 and indeed, so four individuals in e. Massachusetts RhodeIsland. singleswere found at Tiverton five on the AugustaCBC. providedunusual were quite remarkable. Singleswere seen on

Volume 33, Number 3 263 the Ne,xburyportCBC. •n BostonJan 17 - critically observed m Dartmouth Dec 31 SIT) A single bird occurredIn Terra Nova Feb 24, at severallocahhes on Cape Cod m (IAMcL,ELM) In the same Province a sec- N P, Nfld, Jan 14 (f•de MMP) In Maine Januaryand February,and at Plum 1., Feb. 19 ond. obviouslypaler individual was noted in nb•e Hawk Owls seen Nov. 30 - Mar. 22 con- (v o.,fide RSH. BN). Sambro }larbor Feb. 8-10 (ELM). None of the stitutedthe largestinflux in many years(f•de above birds was photographedor collected ML,PDV). CRANES, GALLINULES, S}lOREBIRDS and as yet the specieslacks specimencon- -- A Sandhill Crane wintering in Danvers - firmation Regionally. Black-headed Gull Beverly,Mass,, was unique this season(fide numbersimproved over recent years: at least RS}l). 39 individuals were noted in New England Without question the winter's most while 30-40 birds were resident in }lalifax extraordinaryevent surroundedthe incur- $.A. (ELM). A singleFrank!in's Gull wasunique at sionof Great Gray Owls throughoutNew Monomoy Dec. 7 (RClem, fide BN). New England and New Brunswick. At least 92 Certainly one of this winter's most extra individualswere observed, making this the ordinary eventssurrounded the sevenPur- England Little Gulls numbered only seven individuals.Ivory Gulls wereapparently thick largest influx on record. But limited ple Ga!!inulesfound in the Region. The in n. Newfoundland as hundreds of birds were evidencesuggests that the undocumented first flight, Dec. 27, involvedfour individ- 1890-91flight may havebeen on the same uals; two immatures on Deer I., Me., seenJan. 21 - Feb. 5. During this periodMac- Tavish observed 800-1000 Ivory Gulls and level of magnitude. Maine recorded67 includingone specimen(MH) and in New estimated at least several thousand individuals individualsDec. 30 - March (fide PDV), Brunswicksingle adults near St. John and werepart of this movement.Band recordsand New Hampshire,seven owls from late Jan- Alma OCideSIT). Nearly a month later. on direct observation indicate that not all white uary - late February; Massachusetts,15 Jan. 22, single imm. Purple Gallinules birds are necessarilyadults. By winter some individualsJan. 28 - Mar. 11 (fideRAF). A weredecidedly out of seasonwalking along first year birds appear all white, MacTavish singleGreat Gray Owl in Coventry,R I, snow-coveredroads near Millinocket. Me., Feb. 19 wasapparently a third staterecord and Sebec L., near Dover-Foxcroft, Me., notesthat black eye-ringcolor might possibly be a clue to ageing.Adults possessred eye- (RAC, fide CW) while two were noted m •'de PDV). A single adult captured at rings and someof this winter's white Ivorys Connecticut(fide NSP). Surprisinglyonly Chatham.Mass.. Jan. 25, apparentlypres- had black eye-rings.Two Ivory Gulls in Sam- one Great Gray Owl was reported from ent for severaldays, was no doubt part of bro Harbor, N.S., Feb. 7-9 (IAMcL,ELM,SIT New Brunswick, at Fundy N.P. in Feb- the Jan. 22 movementOCide BN). More or et al.) may possiblyhave been straysfrom the ruary (fide CJ, SIT). In Maine Great Gray less regular as spring, summer and fall Newfoundland influx. Notable this winter Owls occurredas far e. as Eastportand vagrants. Purple Gallinules are almost were the 48,000 kittiwakespassing out the Bay PresqueIsle. Great Gray Owls werefound unknown in winter. The only recent rec- of Funday on the Brier I., N.S., CBC. near Skowhegan,Me., where as many as ords come from Chatham, Mass., Feb. 8, A Forster's Tern was sadly displaced at six identifiably different individualsfre- 1970 tAB 24:483) and Pubnico, N.S., Jan. quenteda singlefield. in Hatfield, Mass, 15, 1978 tAB 32:322). Robie Tufts (Birds Menemsha Pond, Martha's Vineyard Jan. 21 (VL). wheretwo owlswere seen together and •n of Nova Scotia) cites three 19th century S.Penobscot, Me., whereanother pair was January records all from Halithx County ALCIDS -- The only alcid flight of any size observedtogether. and each substantiatedwith a specimen; It seems that when they first arrived Jan. 30, 1870, taken near Halifax; an ad. occurredoff Rockport. Mass., Feb. 25 when 200 Razorbills, 300 Thick-billed Murres and many Great Gray Owls may have been female on Devil's I., Halifax Harbor ca. 25 Dovekieswere observed (fide RS}l). Other- underweight.Two specimenswere ema- Jan. 16, 1896; another found dead ca. Jan. ciated.One specimen,a femalefrom Mt 16, 1896 at Chezzetcook. Ralph Palmer wise, alcidswere generallyscarce. Excluding the above, 147 additional Razorbills were Vernon, Me., weighedonly 1 lb. 7 oz. At •aine Birds) mentions a Dec. 17, 1906 least one other was an obviouslyunder- Maine record. noted alongcoastal New England; southern- mostwas one at Pt. Judith,R.I., Dec. 21 (fide weightowl and found in a weakenedstate CW). New England Corn. Murres were few; but was vetted back to health. The owls Unusual winter shorebirds included an Am. onlyfive occurredin e. Massachusettsand just sustainedthemselves on populationsof small rodents in Maine and Massachu- Woodcockwintering in Nashua. N.}l. (fide six were observed from the Yarmouth. N.S. - DJA) and a Com. Snipe at }lead of St. Portland, Me. ferry, Jan. 28 (DWF,PDV). setts.Although it is impossibleto prove, Margaret's Bay, N.S., Feb. 17 (ELM). Two CommonMurres were slightlymore numerous one suspectsthat mortality was not great Long-billedDowitchers on the Newburyport in the Bay of Fundy; 38 were seenon the St. It will, of course,be interestingto learn CBC, marked the secondconsecutive year for John,N.B. - Digby, N.S. ferry crossingJan. 27 what effect,if any,this incursionmay have that species.The Coastal New }lampshire (DWF.PDV). In e. Massachusetts, 186_+Dove- had on the species'breeding range. As of CBC, also recordeda dowitchersp.. probably kies were seenNov. 23 - Feb. 25 •ide RSH) this writing the most recent Great Gray a Long-billed(DJA). Six Red Phalaropeswere while only 13 were seen from the Yarmouth - Owl was seenon Mt. Desert 1., Me., Apr 11-15. notable on the Nantucket CBC, Dec. 31. while Portland ferry Jan. 28 (DWF,PDV). Notable 28 were observed off Cultivator Shoals, were 29 Dovekies off Pt. Judith, R.I., Dec. 4 George'sBanks Dec. 12 (M.B.O. staff, fide (fide CW). The Com. Puffin found inland at RS}l). Hebron, Me., Jan. 20 was quite likely a first Long-earedOwls, too, appeared in good inland staterecord (fide ML). AlthoughDove- numbers.Reports of 37 came from the three s JAEGERS, GULLS, TERNS -- A storm kies are regular enoughinland, puffins are vir- New Englandstates. A singleLong-eared Owl system on Cape Cod Dec. 10 carried >10 tually unknownaway from saltwater. on Grand Manan, N.B., in late December was Pomarine and one Parasitic jaegers and one a notable rarity for the Province{fide DSC) skua sp. closeto First EncounterBeach (WB. CUCKOOS. OWLS -- A Black-billed Short-eared Owls were common; 60_+ were CAG,BN). The Parasiticwas particularly late. Cuckoo was remarkably late in Nantucket reportedin s. New Englandand 49 in e. Mass- Four additional skua sp. were noted from Dec. 24 (fide RS}t). achusetts.The most surprising Short-eared coastal Massachusetts. Dec. 17 - Feb. 21 while It was a remarkable winter for owls. Not roost location was near Cutler, Me., where two Great Skuaswere reported from the Gulf only did the rare northern owlsappear in very >20 owlswintered in a single area (NF, CF) of Maine Dec. 6 (M.B.O. staff,fide RS}l). large numbers but our regular, generally This wasby a widemargin the largestconcen- The season's six Lesser Black-backed Gulls scarcewinter residentswere alsomore numer- tration ever discoveredin the state. Finally includedtwo winteringon Nantucket,one at ous. For the third consecutiveyear SnowyOwl fiveBoreal Owls were found in New England, Gloucester. Mass., Feb. 25 (fide RPE), one numbers were not especially impressive. In Massachusettsa single bird appeared at w•nteringat GreenwichPt., Conn.,the famous Approximately 16-20 birds were reported SalisburyDec. 31 (FAet mud al., ph.) whilein Digby, N.S. bird (tenth winter) and a second from e. Massachusettsand Maine respec- New Hampshireanother Boreal Owl waspres- Nova Scotia bird at Dartmouth Jan. 21 (ELM tively. Hawk Owls appeared in the largest ent for one day only in Monroe Jan. 16 (fMe et al.). An ad. Thayer's Gull found wintering numbers in recent years, no fewer than 12 DJA). Three Boreal Owls were seen in Maine, on Nantucket I., was meticulouslyand unam- were reported. In New Brunswick, a Hawk one each near Boothbay Harbor Feb. 11-16 biguously described (SAP.RRV et aLL In Owl wintered at Cape Tormentine while (J}l, BT et al., ph.), Franklin Feb. 13 and Nova Scotia a first year Thayer's Gull was another was seen near Frederickton 05'deCJ, Orono in late February,the last apparentb

264 AmericanBirds, May 1979 Massachusetts Varied Thrushes included sin- SUBREGIONAL EDITORS (boldface ital- gles at Norwell and Chelmsford•6'de RSH) ic), Contributors (boldface), Observers and while in Maine two wintered in Limestone other abbreviations -- Dennis J. Abbott. Nov. 28 - February and a singlebird remained Edith F. Andrews, Fred Atwood, Wallace in N. Brooklin from early January - March Bailey, Helen C. Bates, Tom Burke, Joe J. •de ML). In New Hampshire.a singleVaried Cadbury, David S. Christie, Robert Clem. Thrush was seen in New London Dec. 12-26 Robert A. Conway, Kenneth Cox, Robert I. {/?deKC). The previously-mentioned(see Fall Craig, Peter A. Cross,Phyllis R. Dobson, Season) Townsend•s Solitaire in Warren. R.I.. Ruth P. Emery, Norm Famous. Mark Fan- wasseen through mid-February •de CW). In ning, Craig Ferris. Davis W. Finch, Richard Nova Scotia a Townsend's Solltalre in Halifax A. Forster, Susan A. Gonzales, Carl A. Good- Jan. 2 through February representedonly a rich. Stan Grierson, Jim Hand. Richard S. second provincial record (fide ELM. oh.). Hell, Bartlett Hendrleks, Margaret Hundley, Exceptinga few in Massachusetts.Bohemian CecilJohnston, Mark Kasprzyk.Seth Kellogg, Waxwingswere typically restrictedto Maine DouglasL. Kraus, Vernon Laux, Chris Live- and New Brunswick.A single flock of 160+_ say.MichaelLucey, Brnee MacTavish, lan A. Bohemiansin BangorFeb. 13 wasquite likely McLaren. Eric L. Mills, Blair Nikula• Michael the largestsingle concentration ever recorded M. Parmenter, Simon A. Perkins. Wayne R. in the state (PDV). Petersen, Elisabeth W. Phinney, Noble S. Proctor, Mike Root, Bob Thomson. Stuart L LATE VIREOS AND WARBLERS -- Late Tingley, William C. Townsend,Les M. Tuck. vireos included a Solitary on the Nantucket Richard R. Velt, Peter D. Vickery. Charles CBC, Dee. 30. Wilson's Warblers were found Wood, ChristopherS. Wood, M.B.O. - Mano- Boreal Owl, Dec. 31, 1978, Salisbury,Mass. on the Woodbury-Roxbury.Conn. CBC. and met Bird Observatory.U.M.O. - Universityof Photo/Peter Trull. in Chatham. Mass.. Dec. 31 (RClem.fide BN). Maine at Orono,ph. - photographed.* - spec- An Am. Redstart was notably late at Barn- imen,' v.o. - various observers, -- PETER D. collectedby a hungry cat (*U.M.O.. fide stable,Mass.. Dec. 7 (fide BN). VICKERY, Box 14, Lincoln Center, ME PDV). 04458. ICTERIDS. TANAGERS -- A c• Brewer's WOODPECKERS. KINGBIRDS. SWAL- Blackbird wintered at Katama. Martha's LOWS -- In Massachusetts Red-bel!led Vineyard.Mass. (VL). In Nova Scotiaan imm. Woodpeckers were seen in Swansea Dec. 31 (5 "Bullock's" Oriole was seen at a Halifax QU!•BECREGION (fide RSH) and SouthwickJan. 12-31 (HCB). feeder from mid-December to late January /Michel Gosselin and Red-headedWoodpeckers n. of Massacho- (IAMcL et aL,fide ELM). Previouslyunreported Normand David scttsoccurred on the CoastalNew Hampshire was a (5 Western Tansget in Lyme. N.H.. Oct. CBC. the Thomaston-Rockland. Me.. CBC. 7 (fide DJA). In Massachusetts.Westerns were and on the Sackville. N.B. CBC. Black-backed seen in Taunton in late December and on The winter seasonfollowed a familiar pat- Three-toedWoodpeckers seenled to be flour- NantucketJan. 13-18•ffde EFA). tern: snow in December and January, sunny ishing: 15-20 were noted in Maine. >21 from and cold in February. However, the cold New Brunswickinchiding I ! on the Fundy FRINGILLIDS -- A single Rose-breasted period was extreme, lasting 20 consecutive N.P. CBC {fide DSO. at least four werefound Grosbeakwas impressivein Lubec. Me.. Dec. dayswith temperaturesbelow -15øC. Except in Nova Scotia. The soothernmost Black- 27 (WCT) but five December Rose-breasteds for Evening Grosbeaks,winter fincheswere hacked Three-toed was a female in Lynn. in Nova Scotiawere extraordinary(fide PRD). mostly absent; the few flocks of Pine Gros- Mass.. Dec. 29 (fide RSH). Reportsof the A Black-headed Grosbeak at a S. Portland. beaks and Common Redpollsreported were muchscarcer N. Three-toedWoodpecker were Me., feeder from late September- February mainly from northern areas. also aboveaverage: three in New Hampshire was photographed.for a third state record includingtwo males together on the Pittsburg •ffde PDV). A (5 Diekcisselwas a rare vagrant WATERFOWL THROUGH GROUSE -- CBC: threein Maine. onewintering as far s. as in St. John's,Nfld.. Dec. 16 (fide MMP). In Unusually late ducks included a Green- Falmonth: two in New Brunswick: two in N.H., a Green-tailed Towbee in N. Haverhill wingedTeal at Lasalle Dec. 23 (PBn) and a Nova Scotia at Amherst Pt.. to mid-December Dec. 6-20 marked a first stateoccurrence •de LesserScaup at Aylmer Jan. 7 (JC). A Ring- (see Fall Season). DJA, ph.). A SeasideSparrow was notableon neckedDuck at Rapides-des-JoachimsJan. 7 Notably late W. Kingbirds were seen at the Halifax West. N.S. CBC, as was a Lark (JB, BW) was the latest ever. At least two Troro, Mass.. Dec. 3 (CAG. BN et aL ) and on Sparrow photographedin Little Compton. Redheads successfullywintered at Lasalle the Buzzard's Bay. Mass. CBC. Two Tree R.I., Jan. 20 •de CW). Single Harris' Spar- (PBn); there was only one similar record for Swallows far inland at Plaster Rock. N.B.. in rows were found in Acoaxet, Mass., December the Region previously. Three Barrow's !ate Decemberwere probably carried N by the - Februaryand at Peabody,Mass. •de RRV). Goldeneyesspent the seasonin the Hull area same system responsiblefor the December Winter fincheswere generally unimpressive. (BD, m. oh.). A Red-tailed Hawk was at Low PurpleGa!!inules. Amazingly 3 ft of snowlay Pine Grosbeaksappeared in fair numbersin Jan. 6 (BD), anotherat Qu615ecCity Jan. 27 on the groundat the time •ffde DSC). w. Massachusetts and n.w. Connecticut. and & Feb. 18 (JpB) was noteworthyas we know farther n. Redpolls were virtually absent and of very few true winter records.Along with JAYS,TITMICE -- Aftera heavyfall flight siskinsappeared only in January. Crossbills past sundry records,the seasoh'sreports of BlueJays were scarce throughout s. NewEng- werenotable by their absence. Bald Eaglessuggested that the Upper Ottawa land, althoughthey were present in normalor valley is regularly frequentedin winter; one above-averagenumbers from e. Maine north. ADDENDUM -- Pleasenote that the pic- bird wasat AylmerDec. 15 (I J, PJ, SG), two In n. New England. Tufted Titmice remained tures of the "presumed" Am. Redstart X at L. 31 Milles, Jan. 24 (MB), Rapides-des- in unprecedentednumbers: 47 on the Coastal Bay-breastedWarbler hybrid 0lB 32: I 139-40) Joachims Jan. 7 (JB, BW), and in Boisclerc N.H. CBC, and 11 on the Biddeford-Kenne- were taken by Tom Skating at Coleman TownshipFeb. 2 (fide JC). As usual,Gyrfal- bunkport, Me. CBC, were respectivelycount Farms,a bandingsite partiallyowned by Bow- conswere few and scattered:at QuebecCity highs. doin College.Careful study of the originals Dec. 12 (PL), at Aylmer Dec. 16 (SG et aLL and comparisonof them with skins at the at lie desSoeurs Dec. 31, seenswooping on a THRUSHES, SOLITAIRES. WAXWINGS A.M.N.H. by PeterCannell and others.sug- Great Gray Owl (PC), and near Arvida in -- No doubtsevere E windswere responsible gestsa more probabletheory; that the warbler February (fide NB). Single PeregrineFalcons for the 757 Am. Robins on the Moose I. might have been a reelartisticindividual. were at Perc• Feb. 15 (RBi), near Rigaud in Jonesport,Me. CBC, Dec. 17, thesequite cer- Althoughthis seems a far morelikely explana- late December(GH), and Huntingdon Jan. 6 tainly !ate migrants from Nova Scotia.Inter- tion questionssurrounding bill shapeand ric- (PBn). The S movement of Willow Ptar- estingly,1000+_ robins were seen at Wellfleet. tal bristles can not now be resolved as this migansbrought birds to Matagami, Chibou- Mass., three weeks later Jan. 7 {CAG, BN). individual was not collected. gamau and L. Onatchiway by late January.

Volume33, Number 3 265 5-6 Hawk and 2-3 Bor- ICTERIDS, FRINGILLIDS -- Also note- eal owls for the Prov- worthy was a Com. Grackle a! Rimouski, last ince. This winter, Hawk reported Feb. 18 but possibly present after Owls were seen in that (JL), and a Rusty Blackbird apparently Arvida, Shipshaw(YB), wintering at Kenogami (fide NB). Despile low Quebec City (BH), figures of winter finches, Cardinals, seem- Sherbrooke (AC), Mort- ingly unconcerned by the cold weather, were trial (M J), and 230 mi still abundant: a record three birds was tallied on the Montreal CBC, Dec. 16, and six I n.ofMatagami (MG),were at Hudson Dec. 30 (FHi, JW). Five lames visited a Lachine gar- birds apparently overwintered in Hull {fide den feeder every even- BD) and single birds were present at oo•,•whileing Feb.a Boreal2-6 (ST.Owl Neufchfitel, Quebec City until Jan. 22 (MP), m.ob.). and L•vis up to Jan. 15 (PBr). A Swamp Sparrow at Gatineau Jan. 12 (BD) was WOODPECKERS unprecedentedly late; also unusual were a THROUGH KING- White-throated and a Song sparrow near LETS -- The imm. Rimouski Jan. 7 (ML.a). Red-headed Wood- pecker, previously Five Rock Ptarmigans were found 250 min. reported, made it through the cold season of Matagami Jan. 20 (MG, JC, MLe). Three (thanks to the suet provided by Gift); it Sharp-tailed Grouse were again spotted near molted into ad. plumage and disappeared Matagami Jan. 19, where they were seen last when warm weather came at the end of Feb- winter (MG). ruary. This establishes a first wintering record by the species, although a bird was SHOREBIRDS THROUGH OWLS -- A reportedin Aylmer Feb. 25, 1971. Three-toed Dunlin at Cbte Ste-Catherine Dec. 10 (PS) Woodpeckers were well distributed. Two provided a record late departure date. Horned Larks in Rimouski Jan. 25 were con- Approximately 35 Glaucous and 15 Great sidered unusual (JRP). Gray Jays staged a Black-backed gulls near Gatineau in Decem- minor invasion. and Boreal Chickadees were ber were considered a good find locally, at not altogether rare in their habitat. A Tufled least one bird of each specieswas seeninter- Titmouse found Dec. 16 at a N. Harley feeder mittently during the winter (BD, m. oh.). The (TB) provided only a second Qu6bec occur- Gatineau Iesser Black-backed Gull was last rence, the first being at MI. St. Hilaire in seenDec. 5 (fide I J, P J), and the Beauharnois November and December 1961; the species Black-headed Gull Dec. 3 (BB, MM). Ivory was extremely abundant in New England this Gulls were again sighted in the upper St. winter. A Brown Thrasher survived in Ayl- Lawrence R. valley: three at Beauharnois met until at least Jan. 27 (RBe), this species Jan. 6-13 (BB, MM, m.ob.) and, surprisingly, has never successfullywintered in Qu6bec; its one at Rapides-de•-Joachims Jan. 7 (JB, relative the Mockingbird enjoys a better fate, BW). one or two over-wintered in Montr6al (fide BB, PBn) and one was seen at Ste-Anne des Monts Feb. 7 (DH). Another in Ste-Foy dis- Michel Gossdin birding at the Belie Isle appeared during the cold snap of February Straits,July 7, 1975. Photo/? The ornithological event of the season (JPB). A Varied Thrush was intermittently was of course the invasion of Great Gray presentin a Sawyervilleorchard during the CONTRIBUTORS (boldface) AND Owls; at least 60 birds were reported, •period Dec. 23-27 (RD et aLL Golden- OBSERVERS -- P. Bannon (PBn), B. Barn- mostly n. of the St. Lawrence R., e. to the crowned Kinglets were widely distributed, hurst. J.P. Barry, M. B•langer, R. Bergeron Saguenay R. Only seven birds were seen especiallyin the Qu/•becCity area, notewor- (RBe), R. Bisson (RBi), Y. Blackburn, J. before Christmas: the invasion was in full thy was one near Rimouski Feb. 10 (JL). Bouvier, N. Breton, P. Brousseau(PBr), T. force Dec. 25 - Jan. 20. At least two birds Brown, R. Cayouette, J. Chabot, P. Chag- were reportedto feed on rats and another non, A. Cyr, B. Dilabio, R. Dostie, S. Gawn, caught a gray squirrel. Most sightings D. Hamel, F. Hamel (FHa), F. Hilton (FH0, involved only singlebirds, exceptat Cap- B. Houde, G. Huot, L Jones. P. Jones. M. Tourmente where six were spotted Jan. 7 Julien, P. Lane, J. Lariv•e, M. Larriv•e (FHa). After that periqd, birdswere often (MLa), M. Letentire (NILe), Y. Mailhot, M. found dead; in Qu6bec City severalweak Mcintosh. M. Parrot, J. R. Pelletier, M. oneswere easily captured and brought to Savard, P. Smith, S. Taylor, B. Walker, J. the Zoological Garden (fide RC). On the Wright. -- MICHEL GOSSELIN, 707-370 other hand some birds found productive Metcalfe. Ottawa. Onlario. and NORMAND hunting grounds as the four on lie fi DAVID, Centre de RecherchesEcologiques l'Aigle Feb. 15 (YM) and nine near Dun- de Montrial. 5858 Cfite des Neige•s#400. dee Feb. 28 - Mar. 9 (DH, PC, PBn). This Monlrgal. Qui•bec. invasionis apparently the largeston record since 1889-90. Other invasions in the first half of this century were poorly documented and it is impossible today to evaluate their real magnitude. . }

Nothing concreteindicates that numbersof Hawk and Boreal owls could be related to the Great Gray Owl invasions. The two former Tufted Titmouse, Dec. 17, 1978, North speciesare reported every winter, averaging Haticy, Qudbec.Photo/Andre Cyr.

266 AmericanBirds, May 1979 HUDSON-DELAWARE REGION comparedto someother /P. William Smith, Robert O. years including last. Paxton, and David A. Cufier There have been more severedrops than this year over last in the Sometime around the end of January. a past. however.such as reporter for an area newspaper.sensing a from 1963 to 1964. If canary-in-the-coalminestory. soughtout this the past is any indi- editor (PWS). "People tell me they have lots ication, this winter's fewer birds at their feeders this winter. What's fairly mild season.as it wrong?" he wanted to know. Taken by sur- was except in Feb- prise. I sputteredsomething about hard win- ruary. should be ters and a goodwild food crop. and took a reflected in improved fearful peekout the windowto seeif my chickadeeswere still there. RelievedlyI noted the ever-growingbrace of over-fedHouse Finches, There is much to be alongwith the otherregulars. "No storyhere," gleaned from Table 1, I thought. but often one needs Later, while awaitingdata for this report more information than from apostatecontributors, and nudged by the raw data provide. commentsfrom the early ones,l recalled that o• "No Blue Jays this reporter's question. Idle fingers started • year." was the cry over thumbingthrough 15 yearsof ChristmasBird Counts(hereafter, CBC) on my shelves.Before •oe the northernRegion, butpart theyof I cameto, I had alsoobtained this year'sdata just movedto the south and had compiledTable 1. seekingfood; in abso- Table 1 reportsthe total number of individ- it; bird countingis questionablyefficient, and lute terms. 1968and 1969were worse. "Huge uals countedfor 20 specieson those16 CBCs the law of diminishingreturns is probablyin irruption of Tufted Titmice." was also heard whichhave been held continuouslyin New Jer- effect. Nevertheless,dividing by party hours but only in the north; they just seemingly seyfor the past 16 years.New Jerseyseems like must give a better indicator of bird popula- redistributed themselves a little. as numbers a good surrogatefor the Region: it is latitu- tions than the unnormalized numbers. overallwere the poorestin years.These data dinally centeredand includescoastal. subur- especiallyon a year-by-yearcomparison. provide almost endless opportunities for ban. and woodedmontane areas. The 20 spe- Another problem with using CBC data to insight.which I would encouragethose with cies chosengenerally represent the typical reflec• bird populationsis that weather on the time and trainingto seek. gardenbirds in winter in this area excluding count day may distort results.The drops in Butwhat aboutthe moreominous question? thoseso irruptive or colonialthat CBC data numbersin 1964 and 1972may reflect only the Are our garden birds really down, i.e.. in a maymisrepresent most people's perception of fact that most countsin thoseyears were held seculardowntrend? Despite a fear of becom- bird populations. in bad weather. ing ammunitionfor a future edition of Huff's A problemwith the raw numbersis that they Nevertheless,my "PerceptionIndex" (total encyclopaedicHob, to Lie with Statistics. I do not reflect the significantincrease in CBC individualsdivided by total partyhours) ought constructedTable 2, whichgives a population participation which has occurred since the to givesome indication of people'scognizance index in individualsper hundredparty hours 1960s. The total party hours (adjustedfor of birds at their feedersor in their neighbor- for each speciesin four-yearsegments. The obvious errors and inconsistencies)shows that hoodover time. Sureenough, at 31.2 the index implicationsof this table are disturbing.Only coverageof these2827 square miles has nearly wasthe lowestthis year than it has been over three of 20 speciesare up in the most recent doubledin 16 years. Shouldtotals then have the measurement period. Moreover, there four yearsover the previousfour: Red-bellied doubledif populationswere constant? I doubt were almost no northern finches this year. Woodpecker(a marginal speciesexpanding

Table 1. Total individualsreported on 16 continuousNew JerseyChristmas Bird Counts,1963-78 Species 196_? 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 197I 1972 197_? 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 MourningDove 5785 3607 5046 4196 5228 5289 6849 9540 9083 9888 10545 15920 12905 12926 9892 10308 CommonFlicker 199 269 149 102 2-13 173 217 241 323 227 244 467 411 255 218 296 Red-bel. Woodpecker 23 29 36 24 33 49 46 90 63 68 73 91 116 93 113 87 Hairy Woodpecker 300 227 228 224 218 256 222 312 219 225 229 256 241 174 214 192 DownyWoodpecker 1185 863 1106 1015 990 1135 1131 1412 1223 983 1153 1389 1221 1158 1125 1074 Bluejay 5291 4868 4122 5357 5737 2571 2540 6714 6341 3233 4355 5396 5388 5476 5055 3424 chickadee.sp. 3865 2928 3449 2265 2377 3376 3367 3431 3340 2596 3481 3990 5439 3105 4108 3491 Tufted Titmouse 2183 1400 1427 1689 1681 1775 1575 2299 1913 1561 2097 2113 2059 1798 2001 1730 White-br. Nuthatch 1163 481 929 634 674 799 583 913 764 631 780 934 1000 600 1005 645 Mockingbird 644 623 955 1234 934 1107 1033 1369 1288 902 1204 1715 1618 1978 1567 1175 HouseSparrow 13255 11682 15052 17355 12045 12856 10808 14203 13538 9389 9814 10232 7886 8084 7502 7003 Cardinal 2299 1656 1798 2378 2122 2374 2080 2865 1918 2014 2311 2392 2766 3151 2425 2273 Purple Finch 283 206 165 131 157 551 268 103 265 862 218 567 383 353 1094 266 House Finch 315 372 578 938 991 1155 1260 1774 1557 1615 1827 3020 2834 3281 4548 4966 Am. Goldfinch 4718 2623 2690 1660 2393 3398 4066 1246 3015 2478 2556 2317 3079 2903 4396 2943 Dark-eyedJunco 11218 5143 5532 6970 11540 7464 7897 9428 7646 6154 7984 8057 11002 8676 9248 6666 Tree Sparrow 4719 3348 3432 4739 5525 7575 6630 3795 3492 2361 5530 4590 4308 2807 3858 2225 Field Sparrow 666 394 541 567 808 827 1095 958 783 602 857 712 819 1305 794 633 White-th. Sparrow 4272 2534 2296 2210 5098 3989 4485 5566 5110 3814 4198 6796 8723 8720 7922 6467 SongSparrow 3628 2375 2089 2801 3623 3887 3493 4210 3483 2015 2960 4471 3671 4246 2859 3430 TOTAL 66020 45632 51620 56489 62387 60606 59645 70469 65364 51618 62416 75425 75909 71089 69984 59294 PartyHours 1049 1160 1236 1091 1289 1304 1299 1517 1329 1344 1402 1539 1800 1847 1682 1898 "PerceptionIndex" 62.9 39.3 41.8 51.8 48.4 46.5 45.9 46.5 49.2 38.4 44.5 49.0 42.2 38.5 41.6 31.2

Volume33, Number 3 267 northward), House Finch (an mtroduction fill- Table 2. "PopulationIndex" for 16 continuousNew JerseyChristmas Bird Counts,1963-78 ing a niche), and White-throatedSparrow Most locally nesting "permanentresidents" Spectes 1963-66 1967- 70 1971- 74 1975- 78 suchas Hairy and Downy woodpeckers,Blue MourningDove 410.8 497.4 809.3 636.9 Jay, chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White- Common Flicker 15.9 15.6 22.5 16.3 breasted Nuthatch, Cardinal, American Gold- Red-belliedWoodpecker 2.5 4.0 5.3 5.7 finch, and Song Sparrow,seem to be on a Hairy Woodpecker 21.8 18.6 16.5 11.4 long-term downtrend. So do winter visitors DownyWoodpecker 91.9 86.3 84.6 63.3 Dark-eyed Junco and Tree Sparrow after Blue Jay 432.9 324.7 344.2 267.6 mcreasingin the 60s. Even Mourning Doves chickadee,sp. 275.7 232.0 238.8 223.8 and Mockingbirds,which were increasing, Tufted Titmouse 147.8 135.5 136.9 105.0 appear to have turned the corner, as have White-breasted Nuthatch 70.7 54.9 55.8 45.5 half-hardiesCommon Flicker and Field Spar- Mockingbird 76.2 82.1 91.0 87.7 row(more likely owing to weather).About the HouseSparrow 1264.2 922.8 765.5 421.7 only"good" news here is that our mostendan- Cardin al 179.3 174.5 153.8 146.9 geredgarden species appears to be the House PurpleFinch 17.3 19.9 34.1 29.0 Sparrow! House Finch 48.6 95.8 142.8 216.3 American Goldfinch 257.7 205.3 184.6 184.3 GREBES THROUGH IBISES -- It was a better-than-usual winter for• Red-necked Dark-eyedJunco 636.3 671.6 531.5 493.0 Tree Sparrow 358.0 434.9 284.5 182.6 Grebesin the Region,with reportsfrom eighx different coastal locations s. to Avalon, N.J., Field Sparrow 47.8 68.2 52.6 49.1 where an oiled individual was found beached White-throated Sparrow 249.4 353.8 354.8 440.5 Feb. 16 (PD). Inland, where unusual in winter, SongSparrow 240.1 281.3 230.3 196.6 Red-neckedGrebes were seen along the upper "PopulationIndex" • Total individualsper hundred party hours (over 4-year periods) Delaware R., at Riegelsville,N.J., Dec. 30 (GH) and at Phillipsburg,N.J., Feb. 17-18 (GH). Well documentedsingle-day observations of Eared Grebes were made at Belmar, A mid-Februarycold spellfroze up mostof RAPTORS -- Perhapsit was owingto the N J., Dec. 30 (FrankFrazier et al.), at Long- the freshwater and coastalbays in the Region, mild winter, but Turkey Vultures seemedto port, N.J., Jan. 11 (RM), and at Townsend's causinga massiveS movementof waterfowlto be overwinteringfarther n. in the Regionthan Inlet, N.J., Jan. 15 (DW, PD). Possiblythe be detected ca., Feb. 11 at places like Cape formerly. A roost of up to 50+_was in the same individual was involved in all these May, N.J. (PD,DW). This wasfollowed by an Oldwick, Hunterdon Co., N.J. area (Otto sightings,despite 80 mi of separation. equallymassive influx the last two or three Wurzburg et aiD, up to 18 in the Great There were two Manx Shearwaters in the daysof the month,when mild weatheropened Swamp,N.J. area, during Januaryand Feb- HudsonCanyon area Dec. 2 (PWS, m.ob.), up many areas in s. New Jersey.The latter mary•de IB), and singlesin DutchessCounty, now knownto be regularthere. The White movementinvolved large numbersof Snow N.Y., during December and January Pelicanwhich had beenpresent at Brigantine Geese, Black Ducks, Gadwall, and Pintail. (R.T.W.B.C.). The Oldwick roost also had two Nat'l Wildlife Refuge, N.J. (hereafter, Snow Geese were reported to be making Black Vultures, and there were two at Salem, B N.W.R.), earlier in the fall conveniently increased use of inland lakes, such as five at L. N.J., Feb. 14 (Will Middleton). In e. Penn- returned for the CBC, Dec. 16, was photo- Galena, Pa., Dec. 10 (AM). sylvaniathere wereobservations of Black Vul- graphedDec. 22 (P.M. Stubblebine),and was "Common"Teal are still being reported, tures on many CBCs, with as many as 70 on presentuntil at leastDec. 27 (CS).It wasan one at Tinicum Wildlife Preserve (hereafter, the S. Lancaster County CBC. Like several excellent fall for Gannets, with counts of T.W.P.), Pa., Dec. 16 (Jim Carroll), and one at other southernspecies whose n. range limit )1200 passingMontauk Pt., L.I., Dec. 16(fide HempsteadL., L.I., duringJanuary {fide TD). has traditionally been in the area of the TD) not beingatypical, but they droppedoff Therewere at leastsix Eur. Wigeonsreported Mason-DixonLine, the Black Vultureis clearly rapidlythereafter. More than the usualnum- from e. Long Island during Decemberand expandingN. ber of Double-crested Cormorants were seen January(GR,AR,HR), but not elsewhere;this There werewidespread reports of Goshawks m Decemberincluding one on a CBC at Glen- specieshas lost its regularstatus over most of throughoutthe Region, and Sharp-shinned olden, Pa., Dec. 16; at least three wintered at the Regionin recentyears. Hawks seemedincreasingly enjoying the live Longport,N.J. (JD). Diving ducksare increasinglybeing found foodaround feeding stations, and overwinter- The mild earlywinter allowed unusual num- winteringinland below the spillwaysof dams, ing. Red-tailed and Red-shoulderedhawk bers of herons,egrets, and ibisesto be found including several Redheads, Ring-necked numbers were up on most CBCs, and many on coastal CBCs, and to linger even to late Ducks, and Canvasbacks which could bo observerscommented on their seemingcom- January.Cattle Egretswere reported from two found all winter below the Spruce Run Res. monnessthis year. In n.w. New Jerseytwo dif- different Delaware CBCs for the first time, outlet, Hunterdon Co., N.J. (GH et aiD. A ferent leucistic Red-taileds were reported and LouisianaHerons were reportednorth to Corn. Goldeneye X Hooded Merganser was (GH, ScottAngus), one of whichwas probably Long Island, where one was still presentat found at Yards Creek Res., Warren Co., N.J., the same individual which, in a past year, JonesBeach as late as Dec. 30 .(fideTD). Dec. 23 andwas subsequently seen a fewmiles causeda flurry on the grapevinewhen it was There wereas many asfive Louisianasat Mid- awayalong the DelawareR., near Manunka reportedas a light-phaseGyrfalcon! The 26 dletown,Del., Dec. 23 (Paul Beach)and a few Chunk (FW, JS). Rough-leggedHawks on the StatenI., N Y m the Stone Harbor-Swainton, N.J. area, as The hoary Barrow's Goldeneyereturned to CBC, probablysay more aboutthe numberof late as Jan. 30 (PB, PD, RM). There were still the Shark R. estuary, N.J., for at least the rodents around the garbagelandfills there sevenGlossy Ibises at JamaicaBay Wildlife tenth consecutivewinter, where it was widely than the number of Rough-leggedsin the Refuge,L.I., (hereafter,J.B.W.R.) Dec. 16 (W. seenfrom Dec. 12+ (TK et al.). The Region's Region,which was not notableelsewhere. Reilly),and twoDec. 19 (WW); they,too, were only other was a male at L. Montauk, L.I., There were ten Golden and 18 Bald eagles noted on two Delaware CBCs. Jan. 10-27 (GR et al.). There were about 17 reported from variouslocations, both inland HarlequinDucks reported from sevencoastal and coastal,in New Jersey,Pennsylvania, and WATERFOWL -- There were 28 Mute locationson Long Island and in New Jersey, Delaware.There was no report, however,of Swansfound inland on an Orange County, about normal; but remarkable was a 9 Har- the number of eagleswintering in their Sulh- N Y. CBC,Dec. 16, a newhigh there (fide JT). lequincarefully documented by an experienced van County,N.Y., stronghold.An eaglepass- WhistlingSwans attempted to winter in the observercanoeing on the Delaware R., near ing down RaccoonRidge, Warren Co., Dec Hook Pond area of e. Long Island (GR,AR, theDelaware Water Gap Dec.23 (FredTilly). 23 was thought to be an imm. (Spanish) HR), and at B.N.W.R., where114 were pres- While not unprecedented,this is one of the Imperial Eagle(Peter Both), a specieswhich ent Feb.4 (DW), but the Februaryfreeze forced veryfew inlandrecords for the Region.There has alsobeen noted passingHawk Mt., Pa, them out. Inland, two Whistling Swans at were four Common and three King eiders andwhich if correctlyidentified is temptingto Areawalk Res., N.Y., Dec. 16 (R. Odell) were reported from Barnegat Inlet to Cape May assumehad escapedfrom somefalconer. But locallyunusual. duringthe period, fewer than normal. an immature?

268 AmericanBirds, May 1979 AlthoughOspreys are normallylong gone by There were eight Pomanne Jaegersat Hudson scarce It wasa better year for Saw-whetOwls December, the mild fall caused several to CanyonDec 2 (PWS et al ), and lingering than the last few wintershave been, 17 were hnger, including one near BIalrstown, N J, ParasiticJaegers were noted at Townsend's bandedby Mannersat Bridgeport,Gloucester Dec. 11 .(fideFW), oneat Chambersburg,Pa., Inlet, N.J., Dec. 5 (DW), and to Dec. 16 at Co., N.J., over the winter. Dec. 16 (K. Gabler et al.), one or two on the Montauk Pt. (TD et al.). There were at least Again probablyowing to the mild fall, at Rockland County, N.Y. CBC, Dec. 17 (fide twodefinitely Great Skuasat HudsonCanyon leastseven W. Kingbirdslingered in s. New RD), and two on the Mullica R., near New Dec. 2 (PWS, S. Keith et mult. al.); these Jerseyto late December,but most amazing Gretna, N.J., Dec. 30 (Joe Delasautro et al.). massive,blotchy, cinnamony individuals look wasthe onewhich was thought to havedisap- American Kestrelswere up in numberson quite different from the South Polar Skua, pearedfrom J.B.W.R., after Dec. 24, only to CBCs, again probably owing to the mild which seems to be the usual form here in be foundagain exactly a monthlater (WW et weather, but in several areas they were spring. al.). reportedto havedisappeared after Fe•bruary White-winged Gulls were not widely There has neverto this editor'sknowledge snowstorms(M. Broun, D. Hartmann et al.), reported,but a GlaucousGull at SafeHarbor beena Mylarthusflycatcher reported from hopefullymoving Sratl•er than perishing. Dam, Pa., on the SusquehannaR., Dec. 30 (E. New Jerseyafter early November.Moreover, Witmer et al.) was notable inland. In contrast all previousconfirmed Myiarchus in the n e TURKEYS TO RUFFS -- The population with white-winged,Lesser Black-backed Gulls in Decemberapparently have been Ash- of wild-rearedTurkeys in SussexCounty, N.J., were almost a trash bird this winter, being throateds. This December, no fewer than wasestimated at 200 by the N.J. Div. of Fish reportedfrom at leastseven locations, many of three different Mylarthus were seenin New and Game, but most of the birders who went them inland such as at Rockland L., N.Y., Jan. Jersey,one at OceanCity Dec. 5-16 (RM), one lookingfor them couldn'tprove it. In Dutch- 14-20(E. Treacy,L. Holland),L. Parsippany, at Middletown, Monmouth Co., Dec. 23 (L&P essCounty 20 Turkeyswere seen in December N.J., Dec. 23+ (Glenn Mahler, m.ob.), as well Warwick),and one near Rio Grande,Cape (Mary Yegella). as at the E. Brunswickand N. Arlington, N.J., May Co., Dec. 24 (K. Seager).Only the first Again owing to the mild fall, at least 25 dumps.Ring-billed Gulls were reported as the wasobserved at leisure,and it wasthought to speciesof shorebirdswere reportedfrom the most abundant gull in both the Hudson and be Great Crested,notwithstanding apparent Regionduring the period,mainly in Decem- SusquehannaR. valleys,and five at Middle- precedents. ber Among the highlightswere numerous town, N.Y., Jan. 29 were locally unusual(JT). Am Oystercatcherson several New Jersey and Black-headedGulls wereon severalregional SWALLOWS THROUGH THRUSHES -- DelawareCBCs, includinga fantastic42 on CBCs, and a few remained in the Caven Pt., With the mild weather, there were still 12 Tree the Oceanville, N.J. CBC, Dec. 16 (JM et aLL Hudson Co., N.J. area, from mid-December+ Swallowslingering at CapeMay Jan.30 (PD) While four werestill presentnear StoneHar- (DR, m.ob.). Again owing to the mild fall, Therewere two Boreal Chickadee reports, one bor,N.J., Jan. 4 (DW), theyapparently did not LaughingGulls were reported on manycoas- at a feeder at Yards Cr., Warren Co., Dec. 30 winter,although returnees were being noted in tal CBCs including an amazing 85 at Mon- (P. Both), and one at NockamixonS.P., Pa, late February,as usual.A PipingPlover may tauk, Dec. 16. Mid-winter Laughing Gulls Feb. 3-28 (JP). Although Tufted Titmice were havemade it throughthe winter at StoneHar- includedone at Manasquan,N.J., Feb. 4 (AB down in New Jersey(cf., introduction),at 45 bor,where it wasstill beingseen as late asJan. et al.), and one at Ocean City, N.J., Feb. 28 they were twice the previoushigh on the 28 (PD, PB et al.); six at Broadkill Beach, (RM). Unusualinland were 30 Bonaparte's QueensCounty CBC, Dec. 15, and were at a Del, Dec. 31 (M. Barnhill, J. Lehman) was a Gulls at L. Galena, Pa., Jan. 3 (FM) and one at record 125 on the Dutchess County CBC good December count. A Whimbrel at Jones Allentown, Pa., Jan. 12 (BM). There were four While Winter and Carolina wrens were widely Beach,L.I., Dec. 30 (A. Dignan,C. Ward) was Little Gulls reportedfrom New Jerseyand reported down, Long-billed Marsh Wrens verylate. Long Island coastal locations.Like Gannets, wereon almostevery CBC, it seemed;one was good numbers of Black-legged Kittiwakes evenstill at StoneHarbor, N.J., Jan. 30 (DW) were reported from many Long Island and Varied Thrushes wintered at a Mastic S.A. New Jerseylocations in December, and 400 Beach, L.I., feeder Jan. 3+ (GR, m.ob.), and were at Hudson CanyonDec. 2. Three imm. anotherwas seen at Plandome,L.I., Dec. 8 (O A SpottedSandpiper near Bethlehem, kittiwakesreported from Reed'sBeach along Pa., Dec. 30 (B. Kita et al.) was one of Dunning),Swainson's Thrushes were reported the DelawareBay in Cape May Co., Jan. 14 on the Chambersburg and Reading, Pa severalwhich have been reported in recent (CS)were thoroughly unusual for the area. CBCs,and onewas carefully studied and pho- yearsat inlandlocations in the Regiondur- A Black Skimmer at J.B.W.R., Dec. 5 (WW) tographedat J.B.W.R., Dec. 29 - Jan. 1 (JA, ing December.One might rather wistfully wasvery late. The onlyalcid reports at all were TD et al.). Perhapsowing to the ambitious hope that all were identified in consulta- of two Razorbills, one Thick-billed Murre, local nestboxprogram, E. Bluebirds were tion with paperssuch as in British Birds and two Dovekies, all from the last half of found this winter in higher numbers than 70 346-348 (1977), which showshow to dis- December. usual in DutchessCounty. A Wheatear was tmguiõhthe perhaps not unlikely Common reportedfrom Great Kills, Staten I., Dec. 30 Sandpiperof Europefrom the similar OWLS, FLYCATCHERS -- It was a good (H. Athas,fide TD). SpottedSandpiper in winter. owl year in the Region,although Long-cared and Short-earedowls were definitely less widely GNATCATCHERS THROUGH WAR- reported than in most recent winters. There BLERS -- Several observers and CBC com- were some surprises.One was a Burtowing pilerswere amazedto recordBlue-gray Gnat- There were two different White-rumped Owl whichroosted in a stormsewer pipe at J. catchersin mid-December.Among them were Sandpipersreported in meticulousdetail on F. KennedyAirport, L.I., Dec. 3 - Feb. I (S. one at T.W.P. to Dec. 16 (N. Pulcinella et al ), the Oceanville, N.J. CBC, Dec. 16 (PD,JD). A Chevalieret al.: ph.WW). Thereal news event one at Allentown, Pa., Dec. 16 (JP et al.), one Dunlin inland in OrangeCounty, N.Y., Dec. locallywas a GreatGray Owl at LloydHarbor, at Millburn, N.J., Dec. 17 (H. Grobert), and 16 wasa real surprise(fide JT). A Short-billed L.I., Jan.8- Feb. 28+ (DaveMcNicholas, m.ob.), one at Upper Nyack, N.Y., Dec. 17 (E Dowitcheridentified by call at JonesBeach seenand photographedby hundreds.This was Brown). Dec 8 (P. Buckley)was unexpected, since late apparentlythe southernmoststraggler of the NorthernShrikes staged their largestinva- fall and winter dowitchers,including the 11 greatn.e. incursionof thisspecies this year. It sionin 29 years.There wereover 20 on Long this year from five differentlocations, two as wasnot the only one on Long Island, but fur- Islandand at leastten in n.w. New Jersey,and lateas Jan. 12 at HempsteadL., L.I. (m.ob.), therdetails will awaitthe springreport. individualswere recordedfrom all around the are almost invariably Long-billeds.A Ruff A ScreechOwl, rare on the coastalstrip, was Region,s. to Cape May County,N.J., where lingeredon someexposed mud flats at Hemp- found dead at Robert Moses S.P., L.I., Dec. one was seen near Dennisville Feb. 4 (PD) steadL., to the surprisingdate of Jan, 28 (E. 16 (D. Ford). There were close to 20 Snowy Surprisingly,the only RegionalPennsylvania Levine, TD, m.ob.). Owls reported from the Region during the report was from Ridley Cr. S.P. in mid- period,more than usual.They weremostly on December (F. Haas et al.), but there must PHALAROPES TO ALCIDS -- About 800 LongIsland, but onewas in DutchessCounty, havebeen others. There werealso Loggerhead Red Phalaropeswell offshorein the Hudson Dec. 23 (R.T.W.B.C.), and two were in e. Shrikesreported from fivedifferent New York Canyon area Dec. 2 (PWS et al.) were not Pennsylvania(fide DAC). There were several and New Jerseylocations, one hopescarefully especiallysurprising, but one at L. Galena, Barred Owls reportedin s.c. New York and in a year suchas this one. BucksCo., Pa., Dec, 6-9 (FM), was accidental. n.w. New Jersey,where this bird is normally The mild fall brought about a flurry of

Volume33, Number 3 269 Decemberwarbler reports, but no morethan StatenI. (CF), and at Quogue,L.I. A Black- areas,seemed plentiful inland as in Dutchess mightbe expected.Among them were Black- headedGrosbeak visited a feeder near Tarry- County, where 1000_+ were reported in and-whites at Sands Point, L.I., Dec. 8 (B. town, N.Y., in late December and January February (R.T.W.B.C.), and at Bethlehem, Spencer),Constitution I., Putnam Co., N.Y., (BW,TB). Extraordinarywas a meticulously Pa.,where 500 were present Jan. 28 (BM). Dec.30 (MG, PP),and Dividing Cr., Cumber- described,first winter 9 Indigo Bunting at land Co., N.J., Dec. 27 (JH). There were also a Millburn, N.J., Dec. 16 (WB. TH). Only five OBSERVERS (Subregionalcompilers in surprisingfour Orange-crownedWarblers at Dickcisselswere reported from the Regionthis boldface) -- James Ash, C. Atkinson, Peter ConstitutionI., Dec. 16 - Jan. 7 (MG, PP). A winter, including two at different feeders in Bacinski,Irving Black (n. N.J.: 2 Beaumont Yellow-rumpedWarbler of "Audubon's"race the Reading,Pa. area, and one at a feederat Place, Newark, N.J. 07104). RaymondBIich- was reported at B.N.W.R., Dec. 27 (E. Hast- Chadds Ford, Pa. (S. Keller). This speciesis arz (w.c.N.J.: 827 PennsylvaniaAve., Tren- ings).A Black-throatedGreen Warbler wasin nowfar lessregular at feedersthan it was5-20 ton, N.J. 08638), William Boyle,Alan Brady, Brooklyn,Dec. 10 (J. Lamoureaux).Ovenbirds years ago. Thomas Burke (Westchester Co., N.Y.: 235 wereat PelhamBay P., BronxCo., Dec. 18(H. Northern finches were generally poor in Highland Rd., Rye, N.Y. 10580), David A, Martin) and at a Swarthmore, Pa., feeder until numbers,although a few EveningGrosbeaks Cutler (s.c. Pa., Del.: address below), John at least Dec. 23 (L. Mitchell et al.). A N. passed through the Region in December, Danzenbaker, Thomas Davis (N.Y.C., L.I.: Waterthrush was found near Newton, Sussex mostly moving on. While they were not 94-46 85th Rd., Woodhaven, N.Y. 11421), Co., N.J., Dec. 17 0. Zamos). reportedfarther s., there were as many as 100 Robert Deed (Rockland Co., N.Y.: 50 Clinton Pine Grosbeaksin DutchessCounty in Feb- Ave., Nyack, N.Y. 10960), Peter Dunne, BLACKBIRDS THROUGH BUNTINGS ruary (R.T.W.B.C.), and four wereat Middle- Charles Fallon, M. Gochfeld, Jerry Haig, -- An amazingBobolink was carefully heard town,N.Y., Feb.20 (M. Borko).Since redpolls Thomas Halliwell, Greg Hanisek (n.w.N.J.: and studiednear Rio Grande,Cape May Co., and siskinswere very scarce,three Corn. Red- 363 JamesSt., Phillipsburg,N.J. 08865),Cliff on the Dec. 23 CBC (E. Reimann et al.). polls at SharpIcy,Del., Jan. 6 (D. Palmer) Jones, Richard Kane, Timothy Koebel, Eastern Meadowlarks continue to decrease, at were unexpected. Donald Kunkle, AnthonyLau•ro, Robert least in winter; a mid-December count in the A GrasshopperSparrow at Lloyd Harbor, Maurer, Fred Mears, ]ames Meritt (s.w.N.J.: Goshen,N.Y., area customarilyfinds 30, but N.Y., Jan.9 (BW et al.) probablyreflected the 809 Saratoga Terrace, Turnersville, N.J. this year produced only one 0T). Yellow- mild fall. Both Sharp-tailedand Seasidespar- 08012), AugustMirabella, Bernie Morris, Joe headedBlackbirds were reported from feeders rows were found in good numbersalong the Pearson,Peter Post, Gilbert Raynor, William at Staten I., Jan. 7 (CF), Stone Harbor, in coastof New Jerseyin Decemberand January, Reid (n.e. Pa.: 556 Charles Ave., Kingston, mid-January(PD), at Fort Lee, N.J., Feb. 3 (D. with 17 Sharp-tailedand 47 Seasidesat Hol- Pa. 18704), Art Richard, Hanna Richard, Engleke).There were 18 Boat-tailedGrackles gate, N.J., Dec. 31 (RK et al.) seeming David Roche, P. William Smith (coastal N.J.: at BarnegatLight, N.J., Dec. 3 (S. Lafrance), remarkable. Late Lark Sparrows were at addressbelow), Robert Speiser,John Steed, and somewere still presentfor the CBC, Dec. Great Kills. Staten I., Dec. 3-4 (W. Flamm et Clay Sutton,John Tramontario(Orange Co., 31. This has been the northern limit in recent al.), at Caven Pt., N.J., Dec. 10 (PB) and at E. N.Y.: BiologyDept., OrangeCo. Community years, but three in the J.B.W.R. area Dec. 6-9 Moriches,L.I., Dec. 26. Tree Sparrowswere College, Middletown, N.Y. 10940), Wade (WW et al.) seemed to herald the next move widely reported to be low, as confirmed by Wander, David Ward. Ralph T. Waterman for thisexpanding species. CBC tallies. Bird Club (Dutchess Co., N.Y.: c/o Mrs. Aline A Western Tanager visited a feeder at While Lapland Longspurswere reported Romero, Cedar View Rd., Pleasant Valley, Elwood,Atlantic City, N.J., Dec. 26 - Jan. 28 absentin manyareas such as OrangeCounty, N.Y. 12569), Berna Weissman, Rick.Wiltraut, (OIga Dembickset al., ph. E. Breden).While N.Y., where they often winter, there were Floyd Wolfarth, Richard ZainEldeen -- P. there have been >12 previousreports from about ten on each of two manurespreads in WILLIAM SMITH, 24 Heyward Hills Dr,, New Jersey,few were documented as well as n.w. NewJersey during the winter(]. Ebneret Holmdel, NJ. 07733, ROBERT O. PAXTON, this one. aLL On the samemanure spreads were good 560 RiversideDr. Apt. 12K, New York, N.Y. Rose-breastedGrosbeaks were reported numbersof Snow Buntings. Snow Buntings, 10027, and DAVID A. CUTLER, 1110 Rock from feeders near Blairstown, N.L (FW et al.), which were nearly absent in many coastal CreekDr., Wyncote,Pa. 19095.

MIDDLE ATLANTIC COAST The mild early part of the seasonbrought fowl on upper ChesapeakeBay sufferedlosses REGION the predictable rash of lingering fall tran- due to starvation, poison-treated corn, sients, many dutifully chronicled below. As disease.and lead poisoning,according to /F. R. Scott usual, most of these appearedon Christmas Reese,and in eastern Maryland "hundreds" Bird Counts(hereafter, CBC). but few appar- of small land birds werekilled by automobiles Thosewho were hoping for a return to the ently survived to late January, much less as theyfed on clearedhighways during the big warm winters of the early 70s got no satisfac- through the critical Februarycold and snow. snows.Vaughn, in fact, estimated more than tion this time around. Things started propi- The fact that the worst weather of the winter 100 dead CommonGrackles per mile on sev- tiously enough. following a generally warm occurred at the end of the season made it dif- eraldays along U.S. Route13 near Princess Anne. fall, with a delightfulDecember which averaged ficult to assess its from 1.9øF abovenormal at Lynchburgto effects on normal win- - ..... 5.7øFabove average at Washington.Matters tedng bird populations. turned progressivelyworse, however.and the Nevertheless, a few bottom was hit in February, which at Rich- observe• did make this mond averaged 10.8øF below normal. As highly appreciated ef- usual,however, averages never tell the whole fort. Bazuin ran sev- story, and at Richmond the temperature hit eral sets of "before and -8øF on February 10. Along with the cold after" bird counts in came excessiveprecipitation, much in the the central Piedmont of form of snow.Although Decemberhad none Virginia at Green and January only token amounts, February Springs and recorded more than made up for this with from 12.7 decreases in 19 out of inches in Norfolk to 33.1 inches in Baltimore. 23 seedeaters between Most areas except for extreme southeastern mid-and-late-February. • Virginia had a snowcover from Februat'y7 - Numerous mortalities • 22-24, and the only reasonit did not remain were found, mostly longerwas due to a thaw beginningFebruary apparentlyraptor-killed, 21 and torrential rains February 23-25. The but there were also last few daysof the periodsaw most rivers and road-kills as well as streamsin the Regionat or approachingflood birds that apparently stage. starved or froze. Water-

270 AmericanBirds, May 1979 GREBES THROUGH CORMORANTS -- by extensiveIce floes These were estimated at PurpleSandpipers at OceanCity Dec 29 (fide Etghteen Red-necked Grebes at Ocean City, 10,000Surfs, 7000 White-wmgeds,and 3000 CSR) Md , Dec. 29 {fide CSR) seemto be a record Blacks. HoodedMergansers were again in At least seven Great Skuas were recorded off count for this CBC. A N. Fulmar off Ocean excellent numbers locally; 36 at Blackwater OceanCity Dec. 30 and one off Chincoteague City Dec. 30 (RAR et al.) was the only winter Ref., Dec. 26 (fide CSR) wasunusual, whereas Feb. 3 (RAR et al.). Happily, severalof these reportof this species,and a Manx Shearwater 468 at Virginia Beach Dec. 31 (PWS et al.) werewell photographed.Curiously, in marked was reportedin the samearea the sameday appearsto be a record Virginia count. Some contrastto recentwinters, there was only one (FC et al.). A White Pelicanappeared at Back 2000 Red-breastedMergansers were seen report of Iceland Gull, but GlaucousGulls Bay N.W.R., Va., Dec. 10 and remained into alongthe C.B.B.T.,Jan. 27 (TRW). were found in four localities and Lesser March (RLA), only the fourth recent state Black-backedsin eight. Three Black-headed record. Gannets became abundant in the s. in VULTURES THROUGH RAILS -- Vul- Gulls werereported, an adult at SandyPoint late December, and some of the CBC totals ture concentrations were excellent on some of S.P., Md. (hereafter, S.P.S.P.) Jan. 6 (HLW), were 1300at CapeCharles, Va., Dec. 27 (fide the earlyCBCs. Among these, all on Dec. 17, an immature at Baltimore Jan. 5-9 (EATB, HTA), 1053 at Little Creek, Va., Dec. 31 were 403 Turkeys and 41 Blacks in Lower RFR), and an adult at Baltimore Jan. 8-27 (PWS et al.), and 3400 at Back Bay Ref., Dec. Kent County, Md. (FLP et al.), 501 Turkeys (RFR). The only Little Gull reportedwas at 29 (PWS et al.). A countof 332 off OceanCity and 48 Blacks at St. Michaels, Md. (JR et al.), Ocean City from mid-December to mid- Dec 30 (RAR et al.) wasalso considered good. and 987 Turkeys and 376 Blacks at Char- January(RAR et al.), and the pelagictrips off A few Great Cormorants remained near the lottesville. Va. (CES et al.). There was a OceanCity recorded227 Black-leggedKittl- coast all winter, and one of the previously minimum of 280 Turkey Vultures at George- wakes Dec. 30 and 88 Feb. 3 (RARet al. ). reported birds inland at Alexandria, Va., town Res., D.C., Jan. 1 feedingon dead eels Among late terns were two Forster's at remainedthrough Dec. 16 (JMA et al.). (JMA). An ad. Goshawknear Fredericksburg, Bellevue,Md., Dec. 17 (AJ, LC), singleCom Va., Jan. 9 (JMA) wasthe only report of this Terns at Back Bay Dec. 29 (TRW,SA) and HERONS THROUGH MERGANSERS -- species,and singleBroad-winged Hawks were Virginia Beach Dec. 31 (RLA,JRA), and a Winteringherons and egretswere in moderate reliablyreported at Dyke marsh,Fairfax Co., CaspianTern at Virginia BeachDec. 31 (SA et to fairly low numbers in the usual areas of Va., Dec. 30 (JMA) and at GloucesterPt., Va., al.). Alcidsshowed up verywell on the pelagic concentration, and Am. Bitterns were down- Jan. 4 - Feb. 23 (MLW et al.). Rough-legged trips off OceanCity, with two RazorbillsDec right rare. SingleGreen Heronswere noted at Hawks were generallyin low numbersand 30 and six Feb. 3 (RARet al.). But it was the Fort Belvoir, Va., Dec. 23 (JB, JS) and Back quite local this winter, none being found on Dovekiesthat really dazzled the observers.On Bay Ref., Dec. 29 (JML), and a Great Egret either the Chincoteagueor Ocean City CBCs, the glassysmooth seas off Ocean City some wasfound inland near Hopewell,Va., Dec. 16 but II in s. DorchesterCounty, Md., Dec. 26 759 were counted Dec. 30, whereas 68 were (WCF et al.). A few CattleEgrets were present (CSR et al. ) was an excellent count. noted, along with one Common Puffin, off in early winter with a peak of nine near GoldenEagles were found in four localities ChincoteagueFeb. 3 (RAR et al.). Mathews, Va., Dec. 31 (JWD et al.), and four in e. Maryland, and in a winter Bald Eagle Snowy Egrets were seen in Talbot County, surveyin Virginia Jan. 19-27,some 114 birds OWLS THROUGH VIREOS -- A Snowy Md, Dec. 15 (JE). Vaughn found the only were totaled, 73 adults, 40 immatures, and Owl was presentat Fairlee, Md., Dec. 16-27 mid-winterGlossy Ibis at WallopsI., Va., Jan. oneof unknownage (MAB et al.). Many of the (HS, DM), a Long-earedOwl appearedat 23, and the previouslyreported American adults were near known nest sites. Late S.P.S.P., Dec. 31 (HLW), and two Long- Flamingoat ChincoteagueN.W.R., Va., was Ospreysincluded one at CharlottesvilleDec. eareds were noted at Rockville, Md., in late last reportedDec. 28 (JMA, PWS, FRS et al.). 17 (BMK, SW) and another near Cape January(HLW). Populationsof Short-eared The Lower Kent County, Md. CBC, totaled Charles,Va., Dec. 27 (NCM), and Peregrine Owls were rather high near the coast with 154 Mute Swans Dec. 17 (FLP et al,), and Falcons wintered in downtown Norfolk and at maximum CBC totals of 12 in s. Dorchester single White-fronted Geesewere noted near nearbyCraney I., Va. The peak countof Am. County, Md., Dec. 26 •de CSR) and 16 at Chestertown, Md., Dec. 17 (DH,PK) and at Coots at L. Anna, Louisa Co., Va., was 1263 Cape CharlesDec. 27 (MAB et al.). Three or BlackwaterN.W.R., Md., Dec.26 {fide CSR). on Dec. 8 (BWK). more wintered on the Piedmont at Green The latterbird wasaccompanied by sixappar- Springs(JBB). An Ash-throatedFlycatcher ent Canada X White-fronted hybrids. Snow wasseen by manyobservers and photographed Geese were in excellent numbers on the Del- at Cheriton, Va., Dec. 27-30 (JMA, RLA, LT The find of the winter was an injured marva Pen., during the CBC period. Black- et al.), pf'ovidedthe first confirmed record for Paint-billed Crake (Neocrex etythrops), water Ref., had 4000, mostly"Blues," Dec. 26 the state, and an unidentified Myiarchus pickedup in w. HenricoCounty, Va., Dec. (fide CSR), Chincoteague.Ref., reported 15 and turned over to C. R. Blem. The flycatcherwas seen at Virginia BeachDec. 31 19,500white-phase plus nirie"Blues" Dec. 28 (JC, GMW). An unidentifiedEmpidonax was specimenis now in the National Museum (FRS et al.), and there were 14,545 white- reportedat ChincoteagueDec. 28 (TA,SD), (Natural History). Further details of this phaseplus 16 "Blues"at OceanCity Dec. 29 and a calling Black-cappedChickadee near (CSR et al.). The concentration of "Blue" ' remarkablerecord will be published shortly. Ocean City Dec. 29 (CP)was somewhats. of its Geeseat BlackwaterRef., is unique in this usual range. The Charlottesville,Va. CBC, Region. Far inland at Green Springs,Va., Dec. 17 produceda Long-billedMarsh Wren threewhite-phase birds and one"Blue" Goose SHOREBIRDS THROUGH PUFFINS -- (CES) and a Gray-cheekedThrush (KL), appeared Jan. 4 (BWK). The white birds Shorebirdswere in moderatenumbers during whereas a Swainson's Thrush was observed at remained until Feb. 21, but the "Blue" Goose the winter,but survivalthrough the February Back Bay Dec. 29 (FCB eta/.). There were wasjoined by two additional "Blues" Feb. 18 freezewas unknownfor most species.Peak four reportsof Blue-grayGnatcatchers, three and all remained at least to Feb. 27 (JBB et mid-winternumbers of Am. Avocetsat Craney near HopewellDec. 16 (DLH'et al.), one at al ) I., were 300 in mid- and late-January(TRW), CapeCharles Dec. 27 (PGD), two at Back Bay There were few outstandingduck reports, and the best Marbled Godwit counts were 45 Dec, 29 {fide PWS), and one in Anne Arundcl and inland and upper ChesapeakeBay pop- at CapeCharles Dec. 27 (fide HTA) and 23 at County, Md., Jan. 9 (EATB,RFR). Cedar ulationsof divingducks were severely affected ChincoteagueDec. 28 (PP et al.). A Long- Waxwings wintered in excellent numbers on by freezing,many birds perishingor dispers- billed Curlew near ChincoteagueDec. 2 the Virginia Piedmont,and a countof 858 at Ing to open water. A dead l•ulvousWhistling (SHD) was the feature shorebird of the season CharlottesvilleDec. 17(CES et aL) wasexcep- Duck was found on Fisherman I., Va., Dec. 27 and representsonly the third winterrecord for tional. There wcrc a few White-eyed Vireo (MAB et aL), and the N. Shovelerpopulation the state. Unusuallyhigh winter countsfor reports from s.e. Virginia in late December, at CraneyI., Portsmouth,Va., was estimated CheapeakeBay included45 Greater Yellow- and elsewhereone was sccn at Gunpowder at 1000Jan. 16 (TRW). A HarlequinDuck was legsand 1065 Dunlinsin s. DorchesterCounty, S.P., Md., Dec. 11-12 (EATB,RFR) and at Ocean City Dec. 29 - mid-January(fide Md., Dec. 26 •de CSR), and nine Red another in Amherst County, Va., Dec.. 17 RAR), but for the first winter since 1%6-67, Phalaropeswere recordedoff Chincoteague (R&SC).The onlySolitary Vireo report was of none was reported along the C.B.B.T. An Feb. 3 (RARet al.). The ChincoteagueCBC, one at Back Bay Dec. 29 (TRW). exceptionalconcentration of 20,000 scoters reported81 dowitchersDec. 28 (CRV et al.), of wasfound along the C.B.B.T., Feb. 28 (RAR), which15 werespecifically identified as Short- WARBLERS THROUGH BLACKBIRDS probablypushed out of lowerChesapeake Bay billedsand 23 asLong-billeds. There were 230 -- More lingeringwarblers were notedon the

Volume33, Number3 271 CBCs than in any recent winter, but as usual near Baltimore Jan. 13 (HK). and one at Washington. D.C.. Dec. 16 (HB et al.). there were few reports after early January. Green SpringsFeb. 16-17 (JBBeta].). North- S.P.S.P.. Dec. 2 & 24 (HLW). and Green Black-and-white Warblers were found in four ern fincheswere generallyin low numbers. SpringsFeb. 8-10 (JBB.BWK et al.), localities, and one was still present near althoughEvening Grosbeaks were locallyfairly HopewellJan. 22 (GMW). Someof the other common.becoming more so late in February. CONTRIBUTORS -- J. M. Abbott. J. R. more notable records were single Nashville There were almost no crossbills or Pine Sis- Ake. R. L. Anderson, Shearin Anderson, Tom Warblersat Cape CharlesDec. 27 (PP) and kins and absolutelynone of the rarer species. Andres, H. T. Armistead. J. B. Bazuin, Jr., Joe Back Bay Dec. 29 (TRW), a Northern Parula House Finches continued their irregular Bean, Henry Bielstein, C. R. Blem. E. A. T. nearHopewell Dec. 16 (DLH,GMW), a Mag- increasewith notable peak countsof 570 at Biota, Mrs. F. C. Burford, M. A. Byrd, Jay noliaat CapeCharles Dec. 27 (GMW). and a Warren. Va.. Dec. 31 .(fide CES) and 2.50 at Calhoun. Ray and Sandra Chandler (R&SC). Black-throated Green at Ocean City Dec. 2{I Green SpringsFeb. 9-10 (JBB),the former a Lester Cobel, Frank Conley, J. V. Dennis, (EMM), the last a first winter record for Mary- record count for the state. The Ocean City J. W. Dillard. Sam Droege, P. G. DuMont. land. Also of interest were a Blackpoll War- CBC. totaled 14 "Ipswich" Sparrows .(fide S. H. Dyke, Jeff Effinger, W. C. Foster.R. S. bler at Accokeek. Md.. Dec. 21 (ETM), three CSR), and Bazuin found winteringSavannah Freer. C. F. Hills. David Holmes, D. L PrairieWarblers at BackBay Dec. 29 (HL.PWS) Sparrowsgreatly reduced at Green Springsby Hughes, Alice Jones,Hank Kaestner, B. W. and one at Virginia BeachDec. 31 (GMW). the February snow and cold. Two or three Keelan, Richard Kleen. Peter Knight, and an Ovenbird at ChincoteagueRef.. Dec. GrasshopperSparrows wintered at Virginia Kenneth Lawless, Harry LeGrand, Jr., J. M. 28 (DKR). Two Yellow-headed Blackbirds Beach(ph.. RLA et al.), and one wasnoted at Lynch. E. M. Martin. E. T. McKnight, werereported. one at McLean. Va., Jan. 26 - GreenSprings Feb. 8-10(JBB et al.). Startling Dorothy Mendinhall, N. C. Middleton, F. L. Feb. 3 (JT et al.) and another at Columbia, numbers of Chipping Sparrowswere found Parks. Mrs. E. D. Peacock,Carl Perry, Peter Md.. Jan. 28- Feb. 7 (DH et al.). locally on the Coastal Plain. Some of the Pyle, Jan Reese,R. F. Ringler, C. S. Robbins, counts included 23 al Bozman, Md., Dec. 17 D. K. Roszell, R. A. Rowlett, Herman Spen- FRINGILLIDS -- A belated report was of (RK et al.). 119 at CapeCharles Dec. 27 .(fide cer. JoeStephens, C. E. Stevens,P. W. Sykes, two Black-headed Grosbeaks in Amherst HTA), 102 near Mathews. Va.. Dec. 31 (JWD Jr., Leonard Teuber, John Trott, C. R. County,Sept. l0 (SC), the eighth recordfor et al.), and 42 at Gloucester. Va., Feb. 19 Vaughn. Start Wallens. M. L. Wass, H. L. Virginia. A Dickcisselwintered in Campbell (EDP). The high count of Lapland Longspurs Wierenga, G. M. Williamson, T. R. Wolfe. County. Va. (fide RSF), and others included at CraneyI., Va., was35 Feb. 13 (TRW), and III. -- F. R. SCOTT, 115 Kennondale Lane, one near ChincoteagueDec. 28 (JVD), one farther inland single birds were noted in Richmond, Va. 23226.

was an excellent find SOUTHERN ATLANTIC COAST Feb. 2 at Hatteras REGION Inlet, N.C. (RFS,EP) /Harry E. LeGrand, Jr. and a pelagic trip out of Jekyll I., Ga., Feb. 11 turned up approx- For the third consecutiveyear, tem- imately300 Gannets,a peratureswere considerablybelow normal in noteworthy count for Januaryand February,although this winter that state (TM et al.). was not quite as cold as the past two. The The two Great Cor- seasonwas characterizedby a successionof morants noted at cold fronts, with one passingeach midweek Wrightsville Beach, and one each weekend;all seemedto carry N.C., during the fall precipitation. The quick frontal passages remained at least to oftenmeant gustywinds and two major snow- Dec. 16 to be counted falls occurred in February. Fortunately, the on the Wilmington fronts passedso swiftlythat no stronghigh Christmas Bird Count, pressurecenter was able to lodge over the (hereafter, CBC). easternhalf of the countryand bring severely Another"coastal" spe- cold weather. As a result, no major body of ciesthat probablywin- water froze solid. reit Thrush were in below-normal numbers. ters on South Carolina's larger reservoirsis It was a rather poor seasonfrom the bird- and most of the warbler specieshave also the Double-crested Cormorant: Lewis found ers' point of view. Nearly everyweekend had shown little improvement. Yellow-rnmped two on L Greenwood Jan. 6 and nine on L rain, the winter finches stayed north, and Warbler no longerseems to be a commonwin- Marion Jan. 26. Others seen inland were someof the small passerineshard hit by the ter residentin many inlandlocalities. especially singlesat L. Surf, near Vass, N.C., Dec. 10 pasttwo winterswere presentin low numbers in the l•edmont. Rail and American Bittern (BLa) and Eufaula N.W.R., Ga., Feb. 10 (BO). and difficult to find. On the plusside, three populationsstill appearto be lowerthan nor- A Cattle Egret Feb. 23 near Lowland,N.C. productivepelagic trips weretaken, two off mal, after three severe winters, but their (PJC,MEW), was somewhatn. of the species' North Carolina in December and one off secretive habits make it difficult to draw winter range. The n. limit seemsto be the Georgia in February. However, the major meaningfulconclusions. Certainly. the above MoreheadCity, N.C. area, whereseveral win- highlightwas coverage of someof the larger species need a few consecutivesuccessful ter recordsthis year were considerednormal inland lakes in Georgia and South Carolina, breedingseasons and a few normal or mild (J•. The ReddishEgret first noted at Eufaula yieldingrecords for somewaterbirds (especially wintersto completelyrecoup their losses. in Novemberlingered until Feb. 10, thereby shorebirds)that were previouslybelieved to establishingthe secondwinter record for the winter only coastally. LOONS THROUGH WADERS --Two Region(BO). Two ad. White Ibiseswere at L. Red-throated Loons ou L. Moulttie, S.C., Jan. Moultrie Jan. 26 (BL), and an adult and an THE HARD HIT SPECIES -- The two 26 (BL) were unusual inland; this lake is so immature were there Jan. 28 (BL). An Am. speciesthat have been hardest hit in this huge that the speciesmight winter regularly Flamingospent the entire winter at Pea I., Region during the past three winters are there. On the same date Lewis had counts of N.C. (m.ob.). Winter Wren and Golden-crownedKinglet. 1000_+ Horned Grebes at L. Moultrie and 580 The kinglet was in noticeablyincreased num- fartherupstate at L. Murray, indicatingthat WATERFOWL -- An out-of-rangeWhis- bers this winter, althoughstill far from com- South Carolina containssome of the largest fling Swanwas seen near Raleigh,N.C., Dec. mon in most places. Ruby-crownedKinglet inlandwinter populations in the country.The 30 (JM), another was at Eufaula throughout appeared to be faring well, but it was still first winter records for the Manx Shearwater Januaryand February(BO,RL, DC), and seven much less abundant than in 1976. Winter in the Regionwere obtained by DaveLee off- spentthe winterat Augusta,Ga. (ARW et al.). Wren, however, was still difficult to find, and shorefrom Oregon Inlet, N.C.: one was seen The seasonalpeak of White-frontedGeese at concern for this specieswas expressedby Dee. 5 and four were collected from a flock of Eufaulawas 14 on Feb. 10 (BO,DC). A group numerous observers. Eastern Phoebe and Her- five on Dec. 30 (*N.C.S.M.). A White Pelican of six near Raleigh Feb. 16 - Mar. S wasquite

272 AmericanBirds, May 1979 unusual (mob ), as were four near Dublin, near Beaufort Dec 13 & 17, at Wanchese Dec few recordsfor that state Bonaparte'sGulls Ga., Feb 17 (TKP), and onem ColletonCounty, 30-31, and two at Cedar I, Jan 16 He normally are uncommon m winter at roland S C, Jan. 21 (JHD). Inland Snow Geese were believesthat many, if not most,of his winter sites, but excellent numbers were noted this reportedfrom Clemmons(MG,JS) and L. Surf records involve non-migratory individuals season on the larger lakes: e.g., 230 at (TH) in North Carolinaand Augusta(ARW) maintainingthe sameyear-'round territories. Eufaula, Jan. 28 (BO, DC), 160 on L. Green- and Dublin (TKP) in Georgia.The Cinnamon Another Black Rail was flushedat Magnolia wood Jan. 6 (BL), 130 on L. Wateree, S.C, Teal at Augustawas noted Jan. 28 (ARW), the Gardens near Charleston Feb. 24 (TR,JR, PN). Jan. 7 (BL), and 120 on L. Moultrie Jan. 26 third consecutive winter it has been there. Six A Wilson'sPlover was a late stragglernear (BL). Flocksof 30 or more were noted during Greater Seaupsat Pendleton, S.C., Jan. 17 Beaufort,N.C., Dec. 20 (JF). Inland yellowlegs the seasonat Raleigh and L. Surf, N.C.; and (HL) was a good inland count, as were 35 are rather rare in winter; reports of Greaters FishingCreek Res., L. Marion, Clemson,and Com Goldeneyeson L. James, N.C., Feb. 17 came from Eufaula and Fayetteville, N.C., Townville, all S.C. Still another "coastal" (THa) and nine near RaleighFeb. 23-26 (JM). whereasreports of Lesserswere from Eufaula, speciesthat may winter inland is Forster's Three Oldsquaws,rare inland, were at L. Augusta,and L. Moultrie. At the latter site,a Tern. One to two were seen at Eufaula Jan. 14 Wheelernear RaleighDec. 27 (CS).The first surprising16 werenoted Jan. 28 (BL), and200 - Feb. 18 (BO,DC,JO), eight at L. Marion Jan inland King Eider for,the Regionwas an ad. Purple Sandpipers was an outstanding 26, 20 at L. Moultrie Jan. 26, and 150 at L male seen on a rock in the middle of the Sal- Regional count at Sullivan'sI., S.C., Feb. 7 Moultrie Jan. 28 (all BL). The first Regional uda R., near Columbia, S.C., Jan. 2 (MLi). (TR). Observersare finding that Least Sand- record of White-winged Black Tern, not Much less astonishing,although still very piperswinter over much of the inland areasof previouslymentioned in this journal, was an noteworthy,were the ad. c• and 9 King Eiders the Region, with recordsthis seasonfrom individualstudied in detail at Jekyll I., Sept seenflying over the surf at Carolina Beach, Raleigh,Augusta, Clemson, and LakesGreen- IS, 1977, by Robert Manns and Jean Bevls N C, Jan. 20 (RD). ExcellentCom. Merganser wood, Marion, and Moultrie (all in South Car- (Oriole 43:30-31). A few alcids managed to counts were 13 on L. James Feb. 17 (THa) and olina). Notable totals were 28 all winter at reachthe Regionthis winter, as evidencedby 16 on L. Surf Feb. 22 (KM). Especiallyinter- Clemson (HL), 50 at L. Marion Jan. 28 (BL), North Carolina sightingsof single Razorbills estlngis that 11 of the 13, and 10 of the 16, and 30 at L. Moultrie Jan. 26 (BL). Dunlins near Wrightsville Beach on the Wilmington were males; the vast majority of Commons rarely linger inland past December;thus, CBC, Dec. 16, and at Pea I., Dec. 31 (HL,ML), observedin this Regionare females. noteworthywere three or four at Augustauntil a Dovekie was at Oregon Inlet on the Bodie- Jan. 27 (ARW), three at Eufaula Feb. 11 (JO), Pea I. CBC, Dec. 30. HAWKS -- Single Rough-leggedHawks, and one at Santee N.W.R., L. Marion Jan. 28 both light-phase, were noted at Seaforth, (BL,HL). It had been assumedthat Long- DOVES THROUGH HUMMINGBIRDS Chatham Co., N.C., Dec. 10 - Feb. 10 (BR et billed Dowitchers wintered only along the -- The five Ground Doves Dec. S at Ft. Macon al ) and at Magnolia Gardens near Charles~ coast, but apparently small numbers now S.P., N.C., at the n. extremity of their range, town Feb. 24 (TR, JR, PN). There were also winter on large Coastal Plain lakeshores. provided a record area count (JF). One of the two reports of Golden Eagles: an immature Eighteen were counted Jan. 28 at Santee few Snowy Owl sightingsin the Region In near McClellanville, S.C., Dec. 11 (JBS), and N.W.R. (BL, HL), wherethe specieswas also recent decades was an individual at Cedar I, one of unspecifiedage near Burlington, N.C., reportedlast winter,and six wereat Eufaula N.C., Jan. 27 (EP). Other owl records of note Feb 15 (CL). The upswingin Bald Eagle rec- Feb. 10 (BO, DC). Nine were also along the were a Short-cared at L. Surf Dec. 18 - Jan. 11 ords continuedthis winter, and again most coastat Davis, N.C., Feb. 3 (JF). Amongother (JC), and a Saw-whet seen and heard (both a involved immatures. Eagles away from the noteworthy Georgia highlights were a W. "rut-rut-rut-rut" and a "ting" call) at I. of coast were noted at Beaverdam Res., near Sandpiperat AugustaJan. 16 (ARW), and Palms, S.C., Dec. 28 & Jan. 22 (HEW). Raleigh (WHW), L. Surf (TH), and Mouse three Northern Phalaropesoff Jekyll I., Feb. S.A. Harbor, PamlicoCo., N.C. (PJC,MEW); Mag- 11 (TM et al.). The streakedbacks and very nolia Gardens (TR,JR,PN) and L. Moulttie, thin bills of the phalaropeswere seen; this Winter hummingbird records almost S C (BL); and Eufaula, Ga. (BO,DC). At the appearsto be the first winterrecord for the alwayspresent problems. The majorityare latter locale two immatureswere present all Region. O-plumaged individuals, and because winter, and two adults were observed until thesebirds frequently afford observers just Feb 3. JAEGERS THROUGH ALCIDS -- The brief glimpses,the presenceor absenceof On a negativenote, a Prairie Falcon was pelagic trip off Jekyll I., turned up an ad. rustycoloration in the plumage(Selaspho- lost by a falconerin Atlanta in earlyFebruary. ParasiticJaeger Feb. 11 (TM et al.), the only rus vs. Archilochus) is often not noted. A Whetherothers have escaped from this area in jaeger reported excepting those sightings bird at a Marietta, Ga., feeder most of the past is not knownto me, but nevertheless, noted on CBCs. Immature Glaucous Gulls, December- Jan. 3 {fideTM), with no trace suspicionis cast on the recordsof Prairies the more common of the two white-winged of red or rust coloration, was almost cer- near Atlanta and Clemson, S.C., within the speciesin the Region,were observed at Hunt- tainly a Ruby-throated. A c• Ruby- past few years.Probably no type of documen- ingon Beach S.P., S.C., Jan. 27 (BL, HL et throated was reported at Summerville, tation could prove that "wild" Prairies visit al.), Buxton, N.C., Feb. 3 (AB, KH), and S.C., Dec. 19 (RDL), but no description th•s Region.A PeregrineFalcon near Surrency, MoreheadCity Feb. 18 (JF). The only Iceland wasgiven. Highly significantwas the dis- Ga, Dec. 27 (ARW) wasquite noteworthy, as reported from the Charlestonarea, lacked covery,ofa dead Rufous Hummingbird at weresingle Merlins inland at AugustaDec. 18 descriptionof bill size and color, and thus Athens, Ga., Nov. 6 (HBH), a first state & Jan. 27 (ARW) and at Chapel Hill, N.C., couldnot be accepted.A countof 20-25 Great record and fourth Selasphorusfor the Feb 19 (SG, GG). Black-backedGulls, all immatures, at Jekyll Region(two **, oneph., onesight record) I., and offshore Feb. 11 was an excellent The specimen was confirmed by the CRANES THROUGH SHOREBIRDS -- Georgiatotal (TM et al. ). Adult LesserBlack- National Museum of Natural History, and Three Sandhill Cranes in Bladen County, backed Gulls• were reported at three sites: it is now in the University of Georgia N C, Jan. 10 - mid-February0FPJF), provided HuntingtonBeach S.P., Jan. 27 (HL,JO,BL et Museum of Natural History. There are a one of the few recordsfor that state. Virginia al.), Charleston early January and late number of winter sight recordsof Ruby- Rails analSofas were detected in the first half February(BE), and two or three Feb. 24 near throateds,most probably valid, although of Decembernear Raleigh (RJH) and Clemson Lowland, N.C. (PJC,MEW). Another adult one wondershow many of thesebirds were (HL), but it is not known if they spent the was observedOct. 15, 1977 at Jekyll I. (RM et examined for rufous flanks and tail entire winter. Inland records for the winter al.), establishingthe first Georgia record. patches.Even when one doesmake sucha season of these two rails are slowly accu- There is still no specimenevidence from the completeexamination, can he assumean mulating,and it seemsthat both (especially Region,nor recorddocumentation by photo- Archilochus to be Ruby-throated, and a the Virginia)winter sparingly over most of the graphs.There hasnot beenany Regionalcon- Selasphorusto be Rufous? Region,perhaps with the exceptionof the w. troversyover Lesser Black-backedsightings Piedmontof North Carolina.Fussell gathered (unlike the situation with the Iceland), but additional Black Rail wintering records in state records committees would rest easier FLYCATCHERS THROUGH VIREOS -- North Carolina with the use of a tape record- with tangible documentation. A well- A W. Kingbird waslate at Pea I., Dec. 9 (RPT lng of the species'territorial call and aggres- described Black-headed Gull at Bodie I., et al.), as were Barn Swallows on CBCs in sion "growl" call. He had responsesof one N.C., Jan. 7 (OLM et al.) providedone of the mid-Decemberat Wilmingtonand McClellan-

Volume33, Number3 273 vdle Most surprtsmgwas a Barn Jan 28 at find m Columbra, where it was noted Jan 17 - Lewts, Mtck Lindsey (ML0, Ralph Lloyd, SavannahN W R, S C (JO) Very few Red- Feb 28+ (LW, EW, KS) Most wmter Tree Merrill Lynch, Robert Manns, Kevin Mason, breastedNuthatches visited the Region this Sparrowsoccur in the n. Piedmontof North O. L. McConnell,Terry Moore, Jim Mulhol- winter, and they were seeminglyabsent over Carolina;thus, as many as five at a feeder in land, Perry Nugent, Jim Orgain, Brent much of Georgiaand South Carolina. Both Corapeake,N.C., duringthe winter(DB et al.) Oftego,J. F. Parnell,T. K. Patterson,Eugene marsh wrenswinter sparinglyinland, mostly provideda very rare CoastalPlain record. Pond, Tom Reeves, Jim Roberts, Barbara tn the CoastalPlain; noteworthywas a Long- Anotherwas at ChapelHill Feb.9 (WI-IW,MW). Roth, CharlesSaunders (CSa), Jerry Shiffert, billed at AugustaJan. 13 (ARW) and a Short- ChippingSparrows were remarkably common J. B. Shuler Jr., Kay Sisson,Clyde Smith, billed in a snow-covered field at Clemson Feb. on many CBCsin the Region,highlighted by Ramona Snavely,R. F. Soots,Adair Tedards, 19 (HL)! A rare midwinter White-eyedVireo 436 at Southern Pines and 608 at Atlanta. A R. P. Teulings, Margaret Wagner, W H recordwas of a singlebird near Wilmington surprisingnumber of LaplandLongspurs win- Wagner, A. R. Waters, Libba Watson (LWa), Feb. 16 (RD), whereassingles near Newport tered with Horned Larks in a field near Town- Mrs. H. E. Welch, Gall Whitehurst, M E Dec. 13 and Core Cr., Dec. 14 (JF), both far- ville where longspurshave previouslywin- Whitfield,Edward Whitmire, LucyWhitmlre, ther n. along the coast,might representlate tered. Twenty were seenJan. 10 (HL), and 30 * -- specimen,N.C.S.M. -- North Carolina stragglers. were there Jan. 27 (SAG), perhapsa record StateMuseum of NaturalHistory. -- HARRY countfor the Region!Interestingly, there were E. LeGRAND, JR., Department of Zoology, WARBLERS THROUGH BLACKBIRDS no otherseasonal reports, although there is no ClemsonUniversity, Clemson, S.C. 29631. -- Single Black-and-white Warblers were questionthat a fair numbermust winter with found at four North Carolina sites: Durham larksin extensiveplowed fields; habitat that is Dec. 9 (JH, CSa), NewportDec. 8-20 (JF), definitelyunderbirded at this season. Fayetteville Jan. 20 (PJC et al.), and in e. BrunswickCounty Feb. 2 (RD). At long last the Clemson area has a winter record of FLORIDA REGION Orange-crownedWarbler, as one was seen A major problemin identificationhas Feb. 11 nearTownville (HL). SingleCape May recentlysurfaced in this Region,and per- /Henry M. Stevenson Warblers on the Raleigh CBC, Dec. 16 (GW) hapsit is presentin othersas well.Inex- and at McCain, Hoke Co., N.C., Dec. 19 periencedobservers have been turning The beginningof the winter period was (LWa) addto the surprisingnumber of winter House Finches into Com. Redpolls, a more like a continuation of autumn, with tem- recordsfor that state. Despitethe mild fall, problemespecially acute at feeders,where peraturesgenerally continuing well abovenor- few other lingering warblers were detected, so manyof the formeroccur. The inade- mal. At the beginningof the month near Tal- with only a Prairie at Sullivan'sI., Feb. 8 (TR) quacyof the Petersonand Robbinset al. lahasseea numberof live Silk Spidersper- and a Com. Yellowthroatat ChapelHill Feb. 2 fieldguides are partly to blame.The Peter- sistedin the woods,ripe muscadines(Musca- (ALB) beingworthy of mention.On Jan. 19 a sonEastern guide does not includeHouse dinia Munsoniana of Small?) were found on d Brewer's Blackbird was seen in the same Finch; thus,observers familiar with Purple the coast on December 8, and a Formosa Finchesseeing an unfamiliar bird with a yard in Raleighwhere a femalewas noted two Azalea was in full bloom on the 13th. But red forehead-crown and dull red or rosy yearsago (GW). hopesfor a mild winter were dashedin Jan- breastbelieve they have a d redpoll.The uary, whentemperatures averaged below nor- illustrationof the d redpollin the Robbins FINCHES -- Adding to the remarkable mal for the fourth successiveyear. February number of winter records of Blue Grosbeak in guideshows a rosycolor to the breastand wasalso cold, and the deficienciesin average little whitishcast to the upperparts,but North Carolina were individuals on the Dur- temperaturefor the twomonths ran to 5øFor most males have a pinkish breastand a more in north Florida. Nevertheless,it was the ham and Chapel Hill CBCs. Anotherbird, whitishcast to the upperparts.Last winter apparentlyinjured, was seenregularly at an mild fall and December that decided the avlan redpollswere reported from several feeders characteristicsof the winter, as the bulk of the Easley,S.C., feederJan. 17-31 (AT). Evening by observersunknown to me, and I pub- Grosbeaks were rare to absent over most of southwardmigration is completedbefore Jan- lished the records, because two coastal Georgia and South Carolina, but a midwinter uary.Observers generally spoke of the paucity reports(one with an excellentphotograph) tnflux occurred in North Carolina. An of many species,some indicating that it was werereceived from experiencedbirders. A estimateof 300 in a ChapelHill yard (CH) the dullestwinter in many years.One reason report of redpollsthis winter at a CarL was surelythe fact that many specieswhose duringlate Februarywas remarkable, even for N.C., feeder was confirmed as a House an invasionyear. As expected,Purple Finches winterranges extend well north of Florida did were in rather low numbers over much of the Finch; a report of redpollsat a Raleigh not (because of the mild weather) move south locale,at a feederwhere seen last winter, Region, and at Winston-Salemthis winter in their usual numbers,especially waterfowl seemshighly unlikely, and I suspectthat and fringillids. Ironically, mild weather they were consideredto be outnumbered by House Finches were involved. From now House Finches 100:1 •fi'deRS)! Other House apparentlydid not inducempre than the usual on, I will not acceptredpoll records with- number of tropical winterersto remain m Finch reports of note were 150 in a single out convincing details, and I strongly Chapel Hill yard Feb. 18 (CH), 210 at the Florida. Further aggravating the situation, encourageexperienced birders to corrob- somesemi-hardy species hard hit by the two RaleighRose Garden Feb. 26 (KH,DA), tallies orateall suchrepots, particularly at feed- of 20 or more at severalAtlanta feeders•'de precedingcold wintershave not fully recov- ers. [An easyway to distinguishbetween TM), and four at Whispering Pines, Moore ered their losses,and there was little evidence Houseand Purple Finchesin any plumage Co., N.C., Dec. 18, for the first North Carolina that the westernelement was any better rep- is the groundcolor of the underparts.In resented than usual. Sandhillsrecord {fide JC). It is surprisinghow Purple Finches it is white or creamy: the scarcethe speciesis in the CoastalPlain, con- streaks are quite. distinct. In House stdering its abundancein many Piedmont AVIAN DECREASES -- When the fre- Finchesit is gray, "dirty" or dusty: the c•ties. quencies (birds-per-hour) were computed streaksare far lessdistinct.--Ed.].' Pine Siskins,like EveningGrosbeaks, were separatelyfor Leon County and the coastal scarceeverywhere, especially in South Car- counties of the Tallahassee Division for olina and Georgia; Red Crossbillswere not Novemberthrough February, as explainedm observedat all in the Region,although many CONTRIBUTORS AND OBSERVERS -- previousyears, the data seemedto bear out wintered in the North Carolina mountains. Dennis Atkinson, Jean Bevis, A. L. Brough- other observers'commentary on the lackluster GrasshopperSparrows are sosecretive in win- ton, Allen Bryan, Danny Bystrak,Jay Carter, season.Of six to eight "months of record" ter that the few that are seen at this season Dan Combs, P.J. Crutchfield, Ricky Davis, (tburfor strictlycoastal species), 64 specieshad mustweigh heavily when attempting to delin- J. H. Dick, Bill Elliot, John Fussell, S. A. subnormalfrequencies in at least75ø7o of those eate the winteringrange. At Townville,where Gauthreaux,Margaret Gidley, Gary Graves, months,excluding species that were adversely tt wintersregularly, an individualwas observed Steve Graves, R. J. Hader, Tom Haggerty affectedby a changeof field coveragebegtn- Jan. 10 & Feb. 11 (HL). One seenat a "ground (THa), Carol Hamilton, Kevin Hintsa, John ning in 1975-76.The followingspecies Were feeder" in a Pinehurst, N.C., yard Feb, 7-28 Horn, Tom Howard, H. B. Howe Jr., Marion low in all months of record: Com. Loon (MJ,JC)was near the n. edge of its range. A Jones,R. D. Lambert, Bilr Lazar (BLa), Dave (coastalcounties), Canada and Snowgoose, Dark-eyed(Oregon) Junco was an excellent Lee, Harry LeGrand, Carl Leibrandt, Bob Mallard, Gadwall, Corn. Goldeneye,Ruddy

274 AmericanBirds, May 1979 Coolato's Fom Blu List 1980

Each year American Birds publishesa list of speciesof birds which appear to be decliningin number,either in speciesrange proportions or regionally.Birds considered eligible for the BlueList are thoseapparently involved in non-cyclicalpopulation changes, but whichhave not reachedthe endan- geredstatus. In previousyears we've termed it an "early warninglist," for its purposewas to alert the scientific,governmental, and birdingpublic to possiblecauses for alarm,present or future. Althoughthe Blue List has beenmuch quoted, used in EnvironmentalImpact Statements,and is probablythe inspiration for theU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service list of threatenedspecies, it has a glar- ing weakness.There simplyhas not beena broad enoughinput basefrom the field; not a few of the designationsto, or deletionsfrom, the list, are basedon viewpointsfrom too few respondentsto make them unimpeachable.Although our responsein recentyears represents the viewsof severalhundred activeobservers from coastto coast,this responserepresents the viewsof lessthan 1% of our far-flung networkof observingcontributors. This year we want to attempt to reach and elicit opinionsfrom a far greater cross-sectionof our readership.In the past, selectededitors and contributorsreceived blue sheetsto be completedand returned.This year,the "blue sheet"is the reverseside of this page.You are invitedto contributeyour knowledgeto the Blue List for 1980,with onereservation. We mustrestrict our input to information suppliedby personsof experience.Obviously, if you havebeen birding only a few years,you cannot, throughfirst-hand knowledge, know whichspecies have suffered declines over the last 10-20or more years.For this reason,we solicitreturns from thoseobservers only who haveat leastten years'of com- parativeknowledge in oneparticular area or region.Obviously, the moreyears you have birded your area, the more valuableyour ballot. Blue-listedbirds will be: 1. thosespecies that may or may not be decliningnow, but may be in jeopardyin the foreseeablefuture; 2. thosespecies that occurin suchsmall numbersthat their status shouldbe monitored;3. thosespecies for whichthere is no scientificdata to determinewhether or not theyare declining,but thereis definiteconcern for the species;and 4. thosespecies which give definite evidenceof non-cyclicaldeclines in all Orpart of their ranges. Pleaseuse the oppositeside of thispage for yourballot, attaching additional pages when necessary. Mail them to American Birds, 955 Tkird Avenue,New York, NY 10022.

The deadlinefor receiptof theseballots is September15, 1979. Blue List Report Form -- 1979for 1980

This yearwe will makeno referenceto the BlueList of 1979,or of recentyears, but start from scratchwith nothing on paper to influenceour cooperators.If recentlists were accurate,of course,we shouldcome out with a list similarto lastyear's to a majordegree.

On the sheetbelow (or attachedsheets) you are askedto list yourcandidates for the 1980Blue List by species,or by racesif yourdesignation is for onerace only.

If youhave specific data pertinentto yournominations, note them on the sheetbelow or attachedsheets.

Thereis no limit to the numberof speciesyou may nominatebut listslonger than 50 specieswill probablycarry somewhatless weight than shorterlists.

DO NOT list EndangeredSpecies, or speciesnot foundin yourarea.

In additionto the reasons1-4 to be listedby number(see reverse), you may alsowish to list probableor possible causesby letter: A -- habitat loss;B -- pesticides;C -- predators,including man; D -- breedingdisruptions; E -- adverseweather; F -- alwaysrare, dwindling; G -- other;H -- unknown.

Species ReasonListed (1-4) Cause(A-H)

Area reportedon

Number of yearsstudied

Name

Address

Thankyou for yourassistance! The BlueList for 1980will appearinAmerican Birds, November, 1979. 30 - mid-January(HPL Springs,Waku!la Co., Dec. 14 (HMS) and 7 CENTRAL SOUTHERN REGION, et al. ). A Least Bittern mi e. of Myakka River S.P., Dec. 31 0ohn Pat- -TALLAHASSEE at Summerland Key terson). An Osprey was late at L. Talquin, DIVISION Dec. 8 (LPB, Marge Leon Co., Dec. 3 (GEM). Brown)was one of very few knownto the Keys. TURKEYS, CRANES AND COOTS -- Turkeys are rare near the Atlantic coast, but DUCKS -- In much four flew across1-95 in Indian River County, of the Region,Fulvous Jan. 27 (HWK). A flock of seven Sandhill Whistling Ducks are Cranesmade up a late E flight near L. Jack- hardly newsworthy, son,Leon Co., Dec. 1 (JMS, RichardThomp- but two at Stock I., son). Jan. 27 & 29 (FTH, JKS,TBW) and 40 flying SE at Cowpens Another report of a Caribbean Coot, Key Feb. 15 (Sandy Port St. Lucie, Dec. 19 - Feb. 28+ (HPD, Sprunt) were unusual. Stock I. also had a WED,CTC), coupledwith hearsayrecords from variousother states, points up a dras- Green-winged Teal tic need for further studiesof this "spe- Feb. 12 & 19 (FTH, cies." One contributor asks whether all JKS,TBW). Six Ring- suchbirds reported in Florida have been necked Ducks at Alli- males, and whether females (anywhere) gator Pt., Feb. 19 are alsohave "high, unspottedshields." Char- the only ones I can acteristicsof the frontal shield are surely recall having'seen on salt water. ACom. variable among North American coots (although probably less so than in the Goldeneyewas unusually Caribbeanbirds), but this differencemay Duck. Red-breastedMerganser. Royal Tern, far s. at Rookery Bay, Collier Co., Dec. 6 not be sufficient to warrant full specific (THB), and the onlyOldsquaw reported was at Black Skimmer, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, rank. Here is a case where a study of Winter Wren, Mockingbird, Hermit Thrush, L. OkeechobeeDec. 24 (DMM,GY, Polly extant museum skins might be quite E. Bluebird. Golden-crowned and Rub.v- Rothstein).Almost incrediblylarge numbers revealing. crownedkinglets, Water Pipit, Palm Warbler, of scoters were seen as far s. as Juno Beach -- Brown-headedCowbird, Purple Finch, Pine ca. 800 were considered Surf Scoters and 3350 Siskin,Vesper Sparrow, and Dark-eyedJunco. were not identified to species;the fact that Italicizedspecies have been reduced ever since thesebirds wereflying S is anomalousconsid- SHOREBIRDS -- The Spotted Sandpiper the unusually cold winters of 1976-77 and/or ering the evidentscarcity or absenceof scoters rather rarelywinters inland in the Tallahassee 1977-78.as werea few additionalspecies with farther s. A Black Scoter was identified at Division,but Menk sawone at L. Talquin Jan. normalor highfrequencies in oneor twomonths Pasadena, Pinellas Co., Dec. 12 - Jan. 1 (But- 2. In the samegeneral area Long-billedDow- this winter. ler Durham). Masked Ducks againvisited the itchers were considered rare until last winter, LoxahatcheeN.W.R.; four remainingDec. 23 but 18 again wintered at L. Jackson(HMS) NESTING ACTIVITIES -- Brown Pelicans - March (HPD,DWF, Wally George).A high and two were at the Ta!lashasseesewage dis- begannesting in Decemberat three rookeries countof ca. 80 HoodedMergansers was made posalplant Dec. 18 (GEM). A N. Phalarope on the Atlantic coast (HWK), but not until nearSt. Marks LightDec. 11 (HMS). An ad. c• was identified at Port Canaveral Dec. 30 (Don mid-Febroary near Naples (THB). By early Red-breastedMerganser as far s. as EsteroL, Devitt et al. ). Unusually high countsfor the February at least two colonies of Reddish Lee Co., Jan. 13 was unusual (HWK,WI). respectivespecies were: 40 SnowyPlovers at Egrets were nesting in Florida Bay with Common Merganser records in Florida are Estero I.. Jan. 13 (HWK, WI), 6500 Red Knots "excellent"results, and other coloniesbegan not alwaysreliable, but there were two prob- at CaseyKey, SarasotaCo., Jan. 23-26 (Sted- in late February(RTP). RoseateSpoonbills in ably valid recordsprovided this year: a female marts),and 18 Purple Sandpipersat the St. the same area began nesting in December at Ward's Bank (mouth of St. Johns River, n. JohnsR. jettiesFeb. 18 (JLW). (later than usual), but their successwas varied side) Dec. 31 - Jan. 28 (JLW) and a male at (RTP). Crescent Beach Jan. 7 (Caroline Coleman). JAEGERS, GULLS AND TERNS -- Single Long-tailed Jaegers were reported without LOONS, GREBES AND SHEARWATERS DIURNAL BIRDS OF PREY -- A presumed details off Cape Canaveral Dec. 8 & Jan. 24 -- A Red-throated Loon at Summerland Key late migration of Turkey Vultures was a s. (JJ),and a PomarineJaeger (rarely wintering Feb. 1 (LPB) added to the small number of flight ofca. 140just aheadof a cold front near in the Gulf) was at LongboatKey, Mariatee redords for the Florida Keys. Two Eared TallahasseeDec. 9 (GEM). As many as 15 County, Jan. 5 (Michael Resch).One-to-two Grebeswere found in Pinel!asCounty -- Dec. Everglade Kites were seen at the Tamiami Glaucous Gulls at each location were seen off 15 (Glen Woolfenden)and Jan. 23 (PollySher- Trail w. of Miami (m.ob.) on various dates, CanaveralDec. 6 & 8 (J•, at PortCanaveral man). There was a substantial increase in the and a pair begannesting in Januarynear Ft. Dec. 28 (DH et al. ), and at Ward's Bank small number of Manx Shearwaters known to Pierce (HPD,WED). Single Swallow-tailed (first-year bird) Dec. 17, (second-yearbird) Florida. Two were seen15 mi off Cape Canav- Kites were early near Punta Rassa Feb. 25 Dec. 27 (JLW). The only Iceland Gull was also eral Dec. 6 (JJ),and one off'Ft. PierceFeb. 11 (DWF) and Orlando Feb. 27 (Nancy Sharp, at Port Canaveral Dec. 28 (DH eta/.). A Great (PWSy,HPD,WED et al.); onewas found dead CharlieTate), but unidentifiedpersonnel at L. Black-backed Gull was 20 mi inland at Man- at Sebastian Inlet Jan. 1 (RDB: *Brevard KissimmeeS.P., reported one "before Feb. darin, St. Johns R., Feb. 9 (PCP). An imm. Mus.). The similar Audubon's Shearwater. 10." A Red-tailed Hawk had moved as far s. Thayer's Gull was reported to be at St. rare in winter, was reported at Cocoplum as upperKey Largoby Feb. 5 (WayneScott). Petersburg'sToytown dump Dec. 8-16 (LA), Beach, Florida Keys, Jan. 10 (Barny Dun- Also on Key Largo was a Swainson'sHawk but apparentlyno authorityhas yet confirmed ning). Jan. 9 (N&RTP); a concentrationof 12 Swain- any Florida photographof one. Florida rec- son's near Homestead was feeding on large ords of Lesser Black-backed Gulls mushroomed. GANNETS, CORMORANTS AND BIT- green caterpillars Feb. 19 (DWF,PLF,PWS, St. Petersburghad eight Feb. 9 and others TERNS -- Gannets were found in perhaps RJS). As most Short-tailedHawks breedingin throughoutthe winter(LA et al.); singlebirds unprecedentednumbers on the East Coast; n. Florida apparently winter farther s., 2-4 were at Port Canaveral Dec. 28 (RDB et aL), 371 were counted off Juno Beach Dec. 2 seen at the Tosohatchee State Preserve Feb. 18 mi e. of CapeCanaveral Jan. 16 (JJ),off Ft. (PWSy et al.), and 1000 estimatedoff Cocoa 24-27 (RDB, Dorothy Freemanet al.) may Pierce Jan. 14 (m.ob.), and at Stock L, Jan. 14 Jan.26 (JJ),but noevidenc.e of an increasewas havebeen early arrivals.At this localityan imm. (CTC,FTH). ThroughJan. 12 therewere three noted in the Gulf of Mexico. The only Great Golden Eagle was seen Jan. 13 (Chuck recordsof Franklin's Gulls in PineliasCounty Cormorantremained at BoyntonBeach Dec. Turner), and others were found at Waku!!a (LA, Wayne Hoffman et al.), and a Little Gull

Volume33, Number 3 275 lying refugiumwill soonbe eliminatedowing to the replacement of Spartina by Red Mangroves.Lark Sparrowsare becomingtoo regular in the Florida Peninsulato detail; singlebirds this year werefound at Hypoluxo, Estero I., and near Clearwater. An area near Hypoluxo also featured three Clay-colored SparrowsDec. 13 - Feb. 4 (HPL,TT) and a White-crowned Sparrow Jan. 2 - Feb. 18 (HPL); another Clay-coloredwas near Clear- ,waterFeb. 17-19 (LH,DG, Judi Hopkinset al.). Until recentyears, winter reports almost invariablyended here, but now two additional speciesare frequentlyreported. Both Lapland Longspurand SnowBunting werefound this winter at one of their favorite haunts -- Ward's Bank -- the longspurFeb. 24 0as. Lane)and the buntingDec. 31 (JLW).

CORRIGENDUM -- The Thayer's Gull photograph(Am. Birds 32 [3]:341) should have been credited to Brooksand Lyn Ather- Imm. Little Gull, Ft. Pierce Harbor, Fla., Jan. 14, 1979. Photo/Alan Wormington. ton, not to H. M. Stevenson;three lines above the picture,change * to ph. was seen by many and recognizablyphoto- million in another section the next day graphed(Alan Wormington; ph.. T.T.R.S.)at (PWSy). As few Barn Swallows persist OBSERVERS (area editors in boldface) -- Fort PierceJan. 13 - March. Bonaparte'sGull throughoutwinter in n. Florida,the sightof Lyn Atherton, L. Page Brown,Margaret C. was again presentin large numberson the twoflying E at EastpointFeb, 3 0MS, Mark Bowman, Robt. D. Barber, Ted H. Below, Gulf coast;ca. 500 around Eastpointin late Baxley)was surprising. Early Purple Martins Chas. T. Clark, Robin M. Carter, Helen P. February(JMS) and 50 as far s. as Naplesin reachedOrlando by Jan. 23 (DF) and St. Dowling,Win. E. Dowling,John B. Edscorn, lateJanuary (THB, Va. Below,Nonie Grieve). Marks Lightby Jan.28 (RMC,GEM).Five DavisW. Finch, Peter L. Fahey,David Good- Almost unknown in North America in winter, Long-billedMarsh Wrens at threeLeon County win, Dan Heathcote, Frances T. Hames, a Sooty Tern appeared at Cocoa after a sitesthis winter (GEM,HMS) may have been Gloria S. Hunter, ]obn H. Hintermister, Larry nor'easterDec. 28 (m. ob.) and possiblythe unprecedentednumbers, but by February Hopkins,Win. Ihle, JohnnieJohnson, Herbert same bird at Sebastian Inlet, ca. 70 mi s.c., apparentlynone remained. W. Kale II, Howard P. Langridge,David M. Dec. 30 (MCB). Rare inland, a Royal Tern was Mark, Gail E. Menk, John C. Ogden, Nanc3r found dead near Sebring,Feb. 26 {fide Fred WARBLERS, ICTERIDS AND TAN- Paul,Richard T. Paul, PeggyC. Powell,John Lohrer). AGERS -- Early N. Parulasreached Jefferson Kirby-Smith,P. Win. Smith,Robert J. Smith, Co., by Feb. 25 (GEM) and Tallahasseeby Annette & StanleyStealman, Jas. M. Steven- DOVES, PARAKEETS, OWLS AND Feb. 27 (HMS). A N. Waterthrush collected son,Paul W. Sykes(PWSy), Tadziu Trotsky, NIGHTJARS -- The prizeof the entireseason near TallahasseeDec. 27 (GEM,HMS) fur- JoeL. Wilson, Thurlow B. Weed, Gus Yaki. was a Key West Quail-Dove seen by most nished the second known winter record for birdersin s. Florida and manyfrom elsewhere this part of Florida(*T.T.R.S.; notesent to OTHER ABBREVIATIONS AND SYM- and photographedby several(ph., T.T.R.S., Fla. Field Nat.). At least six Yellow-headed BOLS -- E.N.P., Everglades Nat'! Park; PWSy, Fred Barry), representingprobably Blackbirdswintered to Feb. 5, in PineliasCo. T.T.R.S., Tall Timbers ResearchStation; *, onlythe third UnitedStates record of thiscen- (LH,DG et al.), and onewas at Port Charlotte collectcdspecimen; ph., photograph;v.o., tury. It wasfirst seenon or about Jan. 22 and Jan. 25 (Malcolm Simons).Menk's estimateof various observers. -- HENRY M. STEVEN- was still presentlong after the end of the 100 Brewer's Blackbirds in e. Leon County SON, Tall Timbers ResearchStation, Rt. 1, period.A White-wingedDove was late on St. was unusual for Florida, and at least three Box 160,Tallahassee, FL 32312. GeorgeI., Dec. 1 (RMC,HMS). The Monk Bronzed Cowbirds wintered near St. Peters- Parakeetreported at Tallahasseelast fall was burg (LH, Paul Fellerset al.). Boat-tailed alsoseen this winter (v.o.); accordingto Mrs. Grackles are rare inland in the Tallahassee Glenn Heinlen,it has beenpresent since last Division and unknown there in winter; the summer. Two Short-eared Owls were seen at earliestspring records were establishedon Dunedin Beach Dec. 23 - Feb. 25 (m.ob.) and Feb.21 by single males at L. Lafayette(HMS) one at St. Marks Light Dec. 18 (Frances and L. Iamonia 0MS). A well described •? James)and 30 (HMS et al.). Early singingby a SummerTanager was found at KendallFeb. Chuck-will's-widow was noted Feb. 28 near 22 (DWF et aL). ONTARIO REGION Veto Beach (MCB, John Treadway). In his /C!ive E. Goodwin descriptionof five silentnighthawks seen near GROSBEAKS THROUGH SPARROWS Royal Palm Hammock, E.N.P., David Mark -- A Rose-breastedGrosbeak was at a Belle- (with GY et al. ) commented that the white bar air feeder, PinellasCo., Jan. 5 (D.&K. Mac- It was the winter of the Great Gray Owl -- appearedclose to the end of the wing,but that Vicar), and a Blue Grosbeaknear Homestead and not much else, as the unprecedented the LesserNighthawk so far e. in winterwould (PLF,PWS,RJS).A d Painted Buntingfre- influx of these rare owls relieved a winter be "ridiculous." We have no assurance, quentedthe feederof AngelWhitehurst at when other birds were scarce. In the south though, that all nighthawkswintering in GainesvilleJan. 22 to March {fideJHI-I), and December was an open month but relatively Florida are C. minor, and the occurrence of single Dickcisselswere listed near St. few migrants lingered past the start of the acutipennisis not as unlikely as one might PetersburgJan. 1 (m. ob.) and Homestead period, although the first few days did yield suspect(see, e.g., Fla. FieldNat. 6:50). Feb. 19 (PLF. PWS, PUS). Purple Finches the customary scattered sightings of late reachedn. Floridaonly in smallnumbers, and warblers and other species.January brought FLYCATCHERS, SWALLOWS AND the only Pine Siskinwas seenby Virginia heavy snow and February extreme cold, and WRENS -- A Wled's CrestedFlycatcher was Markgrafat JacksonvilleJan. 23. Marshes in the north weather was severe from the at Gumbo Limbo Trail, E.N.P., Jan. 20-27 near Fort Pierce Inlet are about the s. winter- beginning of the period. At the end of Feb- (HPL, J. Pratt et al.). Thc numbers of Tree ing limit for Sharp-tailedand Seasidespar- ruary cloudymild weatherseemed to promise Swallowsreported in ConservationArea 3A rows on the Atlantic coast, and their respec- an early spring, but the only noteworthybird (Everglades)ran into millions--five million tive numbersthis winter were in the range of report that resulted was a Tree Swallow at goingto roostin onescetion Dec. 13 andeight 12-15 and 20-30. But Kale notes that this out- SudburyFebruary 28 (T. Ingran,fide CB).

276 AmericanBirds, May 1979 although farther north Whoopers would be firsts for both the Prov- around Virginiatown, ince and Canada as a whole. Supporting this most fruits were gone view is the fact that the dates and even the before the start of the weather conditions were right, and these are period (PWR). This expensivebirds not presentin mostwaterfowl probablyalso explains collections.In fayour of escapestatus is the the flocks of winter fact that there is only one prior record for e. finches in Algonquin North America, and in continental terms the .1 /v•oosoneedm• • . and their poor show- birdsprobably do occurin many collections. ings elsewhere, with A flock of 30_+Snow Geesenear Clyde fly- Nipigon Hearst • , • only Evening Gros- ing SE on Feb. 11 (P. Staite, CAC) was Kenora /'• e Cochrane beaks, Purple Finches remarkable. Peterborough had some water- and goldfinchesappear- fowl late for that inland locality: a Green- .•' •.,,' ThunderBay • -• ' • KirklandLake•.•I• • ing in even moderate winged Teal Dec. 6-8, a Ring-neckedDuck to .... •.... •. %• .• •, numbers over most of Dec. 18 and a Black Scoter to Dec. 6 (m.ob.). the Province. They also had a Ruddy Duck, but one at Ott- Intriguing patterns awa Dec. 16 (LS, MG, SiG) was the latest- were not confined to ever there. There were up to 3500 Redheads :• •% • ONT. Brockville•'-• _•': I passetines.Hawks were and 2500_+Canvasbacks on the St. Clair R., unusually scarceexcept to mid-February (DR et al.), and there was on Amherst Island, also a Barrow's Goldeneye there from Jan. 7 and in the southwest (JPK,JAG, et al.). The two Ottawa Barrow's where both Red-taileds were again present throughout. Toronto's and Rough-leggeds Harlequin Duck was also presentthroughout, • • •Rond•u , gPoint '"'• • were widespread.Ring- and another appearedat Oakville in February billed Gulls remained (m.ob.), but the real numberswere at Sarnia in astonishingnumbers: in December, when up to six birds were SCARCITY AND ABUNDANCE -- It is the most dramatic example was a Toronto reported (m. ob.). Only three King Eiders not customaryor even desirableto deal with waterfronttrip in the Februaryfreeze-up, when were seen, two at Lennox Feb. 22 (FP) and large elementsof the report separatelyfrom most of the Lake was frozen, and Ring-billeds one off Fort Erie Jan. 28 (RFA, J. F. Thill). the systematicsummary. This winter, how- actuallyoutnumbered Herrings. In formeryears The more noteworthy scoter reports were of ever, presentedso many unusual patternsof Herrings typically outnumbered Ring-billeds 600 White-wingeds off Hamilton Jan. 28 scarcityand abundancethat it seemedinap- by ratiosranging from 20:1 to 40:1, and evenin (RC) and seven Blacks at Toronto Jan. 27 propriateto submergethem all in the usual recentyears when Herring Gulls have seriously (JAK). sequence. declined, ratios have been from 5:1 to 10:1. In the fall report we speculatedon the To those who find the above generaliza- VULTURES, HAWKS -- Hawk move- reasonsfor the apparent scarcity of many tions irritating, the CBCs provide some ment continued to Dec. 29 at Hawk Cliff species.For this seasonthe same question relief. Long Point Bird Observatory's Bird (MHF et al.), and there were late Turkey arises: why were many of the birds that Feeder Survey will also become increasingly Vultures at Cambridge (R. MacLaren) and at winter regularlyin small numbers-- black- valuable in the future as its data increase, but Mississauga(EK, HK), both Dec. 17. Buteo birds and sparrowsare the most noteworthy unfortunately in its nature it will, only give numbers hit a 10-year low at Toronto and groups-- unusuallyscarce? The succession early winter information for the currentyear. Kingston but, on Amherst I., there were 25 of severe winters had clearly reduced some Red-taileds and 55 Rough-leggeds Feb. 3 populationsto very low numbers:for exam- LOONS, GREBES -- The warm waters off (KFE). Accipiters, by contrast, were in ple, the only Carolina Wren report was from the Toronto Hearn power plant had a con- averageto good numbersacross the s. There Ottawa (of all places)Dec. 2-3 (StG,DP). But centration of waterfowl including 16 Red- were five Bald Eagles seen in the s.w., and perhaps in the case of the commoner necked and three Horned grebes Feb. 23 three reportselsewhere, excluding the CBCs. migrantssuch as SongSparrows, that compo- (HK), when almost the whole of L. Ontario Few Merlins were seen and kestrels became nent of the population that winters at the was frozen. The Great Cormorant that spent very scarce in most areas in January, but extreme north of the winter range has been last winter at Port Credit reappeared there eight Gyrfalcons and six PeregrineFalcons severelyreduced in numbers. Whatever the from the first week in December (m.ob.). representedgood totals for winter. The Gyrs reason,such species were unusually scarce. Ottawa's latest-ever Double-crested Cor- included one white-phase bird, with the This scarcity extended to some species, morant was seenDee. 12 (MG, SiG). othersevenly divided betweengray and dark such as Dark-eyed Juncos and Tree Spar- phases,and the sightingsof these birds fol- rows, that are common wintering birds in the SWANS, GEESE, DUCK -- Can anyone lowed n.o pattern either geographically or south. For others a patchy picture emerged. shedany light on the origin of three young chronologically. Blue Jays were exceptionallycommon from Whooper Swansthat spent the late winter Toronto to Algonquin, and even continued alongthe w. end of L. Ontario? One bird was GROUSE THROUGH GULLS -- One of so during the bitter cold of February, but seen first in Hamilton in late December, and few southerly Sharp4ailed Grouse records were unusually scarcein the southwest.Red- by late Januarythere were three and they had away from Prince Edward County was a bird breasted Nuthatches were almost absent in moved E to Oakville. By that time also they on Amherst I., Feb. 21 (FC). Late records many southern areas, but set records on had joined up with an ad. Whistling Swan included a Sora at Cayuga Dec. 10 (BD), and Algonquin and MiddlesexCounty Christmas which had been working slowly W along the Am. Coot at Peterboroughto Dec. 8 (m.ob.) Bird Counts (hereafter, CBC), and Black- waterfront, and the entire group was grate- and a Black-bellied Plover at Erieau Dec. 6 cappedChickadees presented a similar pat- fully accepting hand-outs with the feral (fide AHK). tern. flocks of Canada Geese, Black Ducks and Glaucous Gulls were in moderate numbers The widespreadoccurrence of Am. Robins Mallards in the area. It is ironic that the fall throughout the period: high counts included and Cedar Waxwings in unusual numbersis report discussedthe problems of escaped 12 at Orillia (WZ), ten on the St. Clair R., in easierto explain.When the seasoncommenced, waterfowl, becauseit is possibleto construct February (DR) and nine at Marathon Feb. 17 wild fruits in the Toronto area were excep- convincingarguments to supporteither wild (NGE). Iceland Gulls were widespread in tionally abundant, and this seemedtrue over or escapeorigins for these three, and their ones and tw.os. The Jan. 12 Lennox high of much of southern Ontario. Mountain Ash, final disposition thus presentsa problem. 50 Great Black-backedGulls (fide HQ) was a normally strippedby robin flocks in migra- Here this reportitself might help: the publicity good count for this species,although its num- tion, was often untouched until well into the surrounding the fall Barnacle Goose appar- bersincrease towards the e. and were relatively winter and much still remained at the end of ently did result in the probable owner (from high elsewhere. The gull concentrationson February. In Algonquin P.P., tree fruits gen- Quebec)reporting a lossfrom about the time the St. Clair R., included two Thayer's to erally werein remarkablequantities (fide RT) the bird appeared in Ontario. If wild the Jan. 11 (DR). Rarer gull speciesincluded a

Volume33, Number 3 277 Laughing Gull at Frenchman's Bay Dec. 24- both three-toedspecies was centredin Ott- 30 (JMS et al.) and two Black-leggedKitti- awa;the CBCs tell the story, although the wakesat Sarnia Dec. 9 (DR). ratiolowerofat Northerns: Ottawa during Black-backedsthe rest of the wasperiod. much ANIS, OWLS -- Ontario's first fully authenticated Groove-billed Ani arrived at (TDP,TNH)was hard to explain -- anexcep- the Royal Ontario Museumafter beingfound tionally early migrant or a very hardy sur- at Sundridgeduring the last period, Oct. 27 vivor? (fide RDJ). The Barn Owl at Barrie was last recordedDec. 24 (CJM,CGH). The interest CROWS THROUGH THRUSHES -- The in other owl speciesled to a major influx of AnE.appearancePhoebeatHydeParkat London of Gray JaysfromFeb. Feb. 5 &5 Great Horneds going almost unnoted. The 24 (JB,AFJ) was remarkable in a year when species appeared in exceptional numbers no flight of this speciesoccurred. A Black- along the lower Great Lakes, but by contrast billed Magpie was seenin the Thunder Bay was rather scarcefarther n. Both Long and area Jan. 4 (L. Jarvis). Mockingbirds Short-earedswere reported in generallysmall appeared in scattered areas e. to Ottawa; numbers,although the former at Ottawa Jan. however, there were fewer reports than in 21 (StG) and the latter in Oxford County, past years, suggestingthis species is yet Dec. 7 & Jan. 18 (D. Bucknell,fide BP) were another southerner hard-hit by the recent noteworthy.Barreds yielded their usualscat- series of severe winters. Other mimids included tering of reports, and Snowiesstaged a mod- a Brown Thrasher at Sheguiandahwhich sur- erate flight and were present in the s. vived to Dec. 18 (GG) and a hardy Gray Cat- throughout. bird which appeared in Toronto Feb. 11 But the big event of the winter was the Great Gray Owl, Toronto, Ontario, Feb- (DRo). Varied Thrushescontinued their pattern of winter occurrences. A bird at Ottawa unprecedentedinflux of Great Gray Owls. ruary, 1979. Photo/T. A. Modro. The first hint, readers may recall, was in the to Feb. 21 was the third there (m. ob.), there fall where we suggestedthat "small move- at the period's end. On F•b. 3 only three was one at Toronto from Jan. 3 and another ments" of the rarer northern owls seemed to birds were known to be on Amherst l., but by at Pickeringfrom Feb. 16 (m.ob.), and others be developing.In the caseof Hawk and Bor- Feb. 17 elevenhad been found and by Feb. 25 were at Hurkett Dec. 14 (fide HA) and N. eal owls the adjectivewas reasonablyaccu- at least 30 were present(fide HQ), and there Keppel Township to Dec. 27 (LSh). Seven rate. Eight Hawk Owls were seenin addition are unauthenticatedreports of even more. Ottawa reports of Golden-crownedKinglets to the four in the fall report; and only two (See p. 245). In all, even if the Ottawa and weresurprising for a speciesthat has become werelater than December,suggesting the spe- Peterboroughbirds are consideredto have rare in winter over much of the Province. des movedthrough our Regionin the last two been relocatedfarther s.w., a grand total of months of the year. The two later birds were 61 Great Gray Owls seemspossible. The total PIPITS THROUGH TANAGERS -- A at Moonstone Feb. 4 (FW), and on Amherst of all birds reported in the only previous late Water Pipit was at Woodbridge Dec. 3 I., from Jan. 3, where it was one of the ten influx of anything like theseproportions, in (AD,GB). Bohemian Waxwings were scat- speciesthere that made that island the owl 1965-6,was 38. About ten birds were recorded tered across the Province in small numbers: capitalof NorthAmerica for a periodin late in the s. in each of the winters of 1969-70, the largestflock was 180 Thunder Bay Jan. February!(See p. 245).Boreals were found 1971-2 and 1973-4. 27 (KD). The N. Shrike flight was average, road-killed at Bowmanville Dec. 20 (RN), The direction of movement, into e. Ontario and followed the usual pattern of being and there were birds in EnnismoreTownship and then S and W, is traditional and suggests heaviestin December.Yellow-rumped War- Jan. 21 & 27 (fide RDM), and at Ottawa Dec. an origin for these birds in Quebec; the blers were n. to Tobermory Dec. 28 (JWJ) 27 & Jan. 27 - Feb. 28 (ED, D&LS). Most of Amherst concentrationprobably reflected the and e. to Amherst I., on a late date of Feb. 25 the Amherst birds appeared past the end of shortageof rodents over much of e. Ontario (fide HQ), but the most interestingwarbler the period, but there was one there from Feb. this year, when Amherst by contrast teemed report was a hold-over from summer, and 25 (MC). with prey. By the time of writing (March 15) that wasthe Peterborougharea's first Prairie But for Great Gray Owls, the Algonquin most of the birds had departed. Warbler nest, located near Apsley June 24 bird in Novemberwas just a hint of the influx Kay McKeever writes a sorry postscript to (P.F.N.C.). Three Yellow-headedBlackbirds to come. In fact, not much happened until this influx. The Pickeringbird wasnever seen stayed near the corn cribs of the Mitchell's late December,although rather more reports to capture any prey, and in fact proved to be Bay area Jan. 26 - Feb. 17 (J. Wilson Sr. et than usual were coming from the Ontario injured in one ear by shotganpellets. Capture al.), following summer sightings of this breedinggrounds. A bird was hit by a train of the starvingbird was delayedbecause peo- speciesin that area. A N. Oriole at Ottawa to near Scoville Dec. 13 (RCI, fide RWN), and ple wanted to "get it on their lists," and just Dec. 19 was eclipsedby a report of what at least three birds were around Marathon prior to its capture photographerswere seen appearedto be a 9-plumagedScarlet Tanager from Dec. I 1. In all there were some five owls pounding on the branch on which the bird in Douro Twp., Peterborough Co., Feb. 5 reportedfrom the area betweenNipigon and was sitting to force it to take off, so they (AGC). A Brown-headed Cowbird was Manitouwadge to Feb. 15, plus perhaps could get shotsof it in flight. It provedto be extremely late in Algonquin P.P., Dec. 9 another six reported from non-birders too far gone to digest rodent food, but has (DS) and a Corn. Grackle wintered there (NGE). Farther w., at Thunder Bay, the only now been nursed back to health. Mrs. (PW). Another was at Marathon to Feb. 22 bird reported was Feb. 20 (TP, fide DA). McKeever says "this kind of priority makes (NGE). Thesedates, of course,overlap those of the s. me sick with a senseof outrage.What can be birds. Theseappeared first in the last week of done to protect theserare incursivesfrom the FINCHES, SPARROWS -- Cardinals December, mainly at Ottawa where there witless and selfish zeal of the human idiots in seemedscarce along the limits of the species' were 17 reportsDec. 25 - Jan. 14 (fide StG), our midst?" range, althoughthere was a bird at Evansville althoughbirds were w. to Ancasterand Pick- in December (fide JL). A Rose-breasted eting. By mid-Januarythey appearedin num- WOODPECKERS THROUGH FLY- Grosbeak was seen at Meaford in January bersat Peterborough,with 25 isolatedreports CATCHERS -- The most northerly Corn. (fide JC), and a much rarer Black-headed to mid-February(fide DCS), and Kingston, Flicker report was of a bird at Clavering to Grosbeak at London throughout. The bird with 14 birdsin the sameperiod (fide HQ). Jan. 24 (JWJ) and two Red-headedWood- was first identifiedJan. 27 (GEM), and rep- At the same time there was one at Hillsdale peckersin Asphodd Twp., Jan. 13 (AGC) resents the third recent record in the Prov- Jan. 17 - Feb. 3 (WZ), and by the beginning fall into the same class. Red-bellied Wood- ince. Reports. of House Finches in the of February the movementwas farther s. and peckers continued to hold their own in the Niagara-on-the-Lakeset the current popula- w. again,with 7-14 in the Cobourgarea from s.w. Ontario strongholdsaround Middlesex tion at 12 (fide AD et al.) and there was an Jan. 30, and six to Feb. 24 in the Oshawa area and Elgin Cos. (fide WRJ), and there were unsupported report from Burlington Dec. over the same period, and maybe another birds e. to AmherstI., Feb. 22 (FP) and Ott- 26-27.Noteworthy late or winteringsparrows four at Toronto,some of whichwere present awa to Jan. 21 (m. oh.). A moderateflight of -- in a winter when these birds were scarce --

278 AmericanBirds, May 1979 includedtwo Chipping Sparrowsat Kingston CONTRIBUTORS (italic) and CITED Kerr, J.P. Kleiman, J. Lemon, C. J. Mac- Jan. 3-27 (fide HQ), a White-crowned Spar- OBSERVERS -- R. F. Andde, D. Asquith, Fayden,G. E. Mad&ford, E. R. McDonald, row at Angus Jan. I - Feb. 11 (CJM), a H. Atkinson, M. Bain, J. Bates, C. Bennett, K. McKeever,R. D. McRae, multipleobserv- White-throatedat Markstay and a SongSpar- C. Blomme, P. Bridges,C. A. Campbell, M. ers (m.ob.), R. W. Nero, R. Nisbet, B. Park- row at SudburyDowns, both throughout and Carlson,A. G. Carpentier,R. Clark (RCI), J. er, T. D. Patterson, T. Pertons, Peterbor- both the first successfulwinterings for the Clarke, F. Cooke, R. Curry, A. Dawe, K. ough Field Naturalists Club, F. Phelan, D. Sudbury area (CB, JL), a Lincoln's Sparrow Denis, E. Dickson, B. Duncan, E. Dunn, Purvis,H. Quilliam, P. W. Richter, D. Roe- at Whitby Dec. 12 (MB) and a Swamp Spar- K. F. Edwards,N. G. Escort,M. H. Field, G. buck (DRo), D. Rupert, D.C. Sadler, L. row at Violet Hill Dec. 14 (AWL Somelarge Garrette, M. Gawn, Simon Gawn (SiG), Shier(LSh), L. Sirois,D. & L. Smith, J. M.. Snow Bunting flocks were seen, with several Stephen Gawn (StG), J. A. Greenhouse, Spelts,D. Strickland,R. Tozer, P. Ward, F. exceeding1000 birds. C. G. Harris, T. N. Hayman, R. D. James, Westmore, A. Wormington, W. Zufelt. -- W. R. Jarmain, A. F. Jeffrey, J. W. John- CLIVE E. GOODWIN, 11 WestbankCresc., SUB-REGIONAL EDITORS (boldface), son, A. H. Kelley, J. A. Kelley, E. Kerr, H. Weston, Ontario, Canada M9P 1S4.

NIAGARA-CHAMPLAIN REGION HAWKS TO PAR ...... /Douglas P. Kibbe TRIDGE--overzealous CBCEach count-year F •s r•or• on• or two I Although the season opened serenely enoughwith generallymild conditionspersist- R•-sho•d•edHawks. ing through early January.the plummeting •is seasonnofewer] temperaturesand deep snowfall that followed a fewof whichmay % forced many to conclfidethat this was the •ve •n co•y iden-• worstwinter in recentmemory; no small acco- lade consideringthe severityof the past two. tified.It isprobable • Seeminglyeternal cold made February the thatmost of the chilliest in four decades (second coldest in lowRegion in theexperienced microtinea ,• history).Lake Ontario nearlyfroze overcom- cycle, since Rough- pletelyin responseto continuoussubzero tem- legged Hawks were peraturesand even 435-foot deep Cayuga exceptionallyscarce (e.g., only ten sightings this speciescontinues to maintain its toehold Lakewas icelocked briefly. in Vermont all winter), and even Red-tailed in the Region. Reasons for its failure to Excellent food suppliesin western sectors Hawks and Am. Kestrel numbers were below expand along either the Ontario or Cham- inducedexceptional numbers of severalfrugi- averagein centralNew York. Six Bald Eagles plain lakeplainswarrant investigation. vorousspecies to overwinterbut low numbers were noted, three of them in the Rochester of waterfowl,hawks, gulls and winterfinches area. Smaller-than-usual numbers of Marsh RAILS THROUGH OWLS -- A hardy madebirding spotty. Birds were particularly Hawks wintered in New York. With the Virginia Rail located Feb. 8 at Mendon scarcein mountainousregions as evidenced by exception of a Gyrfalcon in E. Craftsbury PondsP. (G.O.S.) wasthe only one reported Christmas Bird Count (hereafter, CBC) Dec. 31 (FO,JW) all rare falcon reportslacked for the season.The nine Corn. Snipe sightings returns(e.g.. the Vermont total was down 16 confirming details. A single Spruce Grouse included three in February when the mercury speciesfrom last year's tally). The season on the I. Pond CBC, constituted the season's stayedbelow zero for more than a week. Four couldhardly be termedlackluster, however, as only sighting.Ring-necked Pheasant popula- Dunlin, two Purple Sandpipers,and a Red an unpredecentedinvasion of highly-sought tions continued to plummet while wild Tur- Phalarope tarried into December. An ad. northern owls literally overran the eastern keys expandedtheir range on severalfronts. Black-headedGull and single Franklin's and two-thirdsof the Region. The latter's success in the face of several Thayer's Gulls were discovered at Niagara severe winters underscores both the impor- Falls in Deeember(fide B.O.S.). Little Gulls LOONS THROUGH WATERFOWL -- tance of using wild birds in restockingpro- lingered into January at both Buffalo and Mid-Februarybrought a flurry of grounded grams and the extent to which abandoned Rochester and Vermont got its first winter divers,apparently fleeing ice-choked lakes, to farm land has reverted to forest in much of record when last fall's adult was tallied on the w. New York includinga Red-throatedLoon the Region. Both reports of Gray Partridge Ferrisburg CBC. Despite, or perhaps owing and three Red-necked Grebes. An Eared were from the St. Lawrence R. valley where to, prolonged cold which closed nearly all Grebe appearedbriefly, Jan. I at SodusBay (R&MMc, .fide G.O.S.). Reversing recent trends Double-crested Cormorants were well down,Oswego yielding the only reports(FS). Great BlueHerons were reported sporadically into Januaryin severalareas and may have successfullywintered at Elmira (fide WB). An Am. Bittern discoveredat Braddock Bay Jan. 24 (NH) was the only other long-legged waderreported. Mute Swansstaged an unusualwinter incursion,with singlesat NiagaraFalls, Rochester, and Oswegofor varyingperiods of time. The NewYork Statewaterfowl tally in Januarywas the lowestin the count's 30-year history(fide VP). It's unclear at this point whether this decline(43% below average) is attributableto extensiveice coverageor other factors.Rarer divingducks included a Harlequinat Russell Station(RO, fide G.O.S.); Barrow'sGolden- eyeat NiagaraFalls (DF et aiD, Oswego(FS et al.), and L. Champlain (fide RY); and a King Eider on the NiagaraR: (DF eta!., fide B.O.S.). Great Gray Owl. Photo/Robert P. Yunick.

Volume33, Number3 279 openwater, gull concentrationswere unspec- whet owls were very scarcewhile a Barn Owl mondsport in late December through early tacular and Glaucousand Iceland gullswere seenin Middlebury (BP) was Vermont's third January and Horseheads Jan 1 (fide WB) particularly scarce.Single Black Guillemots and the Region's only winter record. Cedar Waxwingswere, predictablyin view of wereidentified on a pond near Phelps,N.Y., the bountiful fruit supply,common to abun- Dec. 23 (PT et al., fide WB) and at Burling- PICIDS THROUGH PARIDS -- Red- dant in much of the Region but were accom- ton Dec. 22-28 (B&OE, m.ob.). The latter is bellied Woodpeckershave showna slight but panied by only modest numbers of Bohe- the second consecutivewinter record for L. constant increase in numbers over the past mians: 100 at Cornwall, Vt. (BP), being the Champlain but Vermont's first since 1955. It several years and now regularly equal or best tally. The latter species,usually con- is problematicalwhether these birds represent exceedHairy Woodpeckerson some central sidered a vagrant in the Region, has been the same wreck which producedthis fall's New York CBCs. A Red-bellied frequenting a incredibly regular at Cornwall, this being alcid reports. Stratton feeder most of the seasonwas only their fourth consecutiveyearly appearance Vermont's second, the first record, in 1971, .S.A. Northern Shrikes continued in good num- was also a winter report from the s.e. corner bers, setting records on several CBCs. Per- It all startedinnocuously enough with a of the state. Another bird in Henderson, haps owing to the selectivepressure of the singleGreat Gray Owl report from Jay, N.Y., provided only the third St. Lawrence past severalwinters, lingeringwarblers were N.Y., on New Year's Eve but before the R. valley record (fide LC). A singlefoolhardy virtually absent; a handful of Yellow- seasonwas over as many as 52 may have E. Phoebe was noted, in Webster, N.Y., Dec. rumpeds and one Com. Yellowthroat con- beensighted in the Regionand the total 25 (RS). Gray Jays were sightedin a number stitutingthe only reports. for the Northeast was several times that of locations including Montezuma N.W.R. high. It waswithout questionthe greatest (fide WB) and Albany, N.Y. (unconfirmed), ICTERIDS AND FRINGILLIDS -- documentedinvasion in history (there are plus three s. Vermont localities. While Appearances of N. Orioles at Ithaca and fewer than 30 previouslyconfirmed New regionsto the s. bewailed the absenceof Blue Glenville, N.Y., from late Decemberthrough York records).Virtually all the Region's Jays, feeder fillers in Vermont bemoaned ßmid-January are exceptionaland probablya reportscame from the St. LawrenceR. their presenceas they set local abundance further reflection of the abundance of natural valley,the lake plainse. of L. Ontario, or records. One was observedkilling chickadees food. Even more extraordinary were reports the e. edgeof the Adirondacks.Apparently on three occasionsin Plymouth, Vt. Com- of a Rose-breastedGrosbeak in S. Royalton, no birds ventured into w. New York and mon Ravenscontinued their rangeexpansion Vt. (fl'de V.I.N.S.) Jan. 19 and two in Greece, only two adequatelydetailed reports came with severalsightings near Alfred, N.Y. (VP N.Y., through mid-January (fide G.O.S, from Vermont althoughjudging from the et al.). The origin of thesebirds is presumed R.B.A.). With the exceptionof, Pine Gros- number of sightingsto the s.e. many must to have been w. Pennsylvania. Boreal Chick- beaks which were locally very abundant have traversed that state. It should be adees dispersedslightly from their breeding (flocks up to 400 birds) in mountainous noted that the Great Gray is not, by groundswith singlessighted in Jerico, Cabot, areas, winter finches put in only token nature,a bird of the opencountry, unless and Plainfield, Vt., and on SlideMt., N.Y. appearances.Common Redpolls and both driven there by food scarcity.Thus the Recent studies (Weise and Meyer, 1979, crossbillswere virtually absentwhile Purple absenceof sightingsfrom wooded moun- Auk. 96:40) have shown that young Black- Finches, Pine Siskins, and Am. Goldfinches tainous portions of the Region is, per- capped Chickadees regularly disperse from were presentin modestnumbers, mostly in w haps, a better reflection of observerdis- breeding areas while adults are relatively New York, althoughthe latter put in a strong tribution than owl density. The actual sedentary. Feeder utilization and banding showingin the Champlain valley. Abundant numberof birdswhich participated in this studiesnear Corinth, N.Y. (RY) have found food induced many half-hardy sparrows to influx must be several times the number that Black-cappedsstage invasionsat two linger, particularly in New York. Rufous- observed. The reasons behind this huge year intervals with the invading birds being sided Towhees and White-throated and invasion,particularly in the absenceof a comprised, as expected, primarily of young. Swamp sparrows were all much more abun- similar influx farther w., are obscure. This winter, however, birds stagedan "odd dant than usual.Other rarer lingerersincluded Surely a specieswhich reputedly (God- year" (i.e., consecutive)invasion comprised two Savannah and Chipping sparrowsand frey, 1966, Birds of Canada) breeds no of nearly50ø7o returnees (i.e., adults). Equally >24 Field Sparrows,including a bandedfifth farther e. than c. Ontario would not be puzzling was an unprecedentedmovement of winter returnee (RY). Dark-eyed Juncos, expectedto stagea unidirectionalmove- Tufted Titmice, normally consideredrdativdy Tree Sparrows, and Lapland Longspurs,on ment to the ESE. It seemsmore likely that sedentary,into the Northeast. The species the other hand, were all down while Snow this year's irruption involved a different extended its range both latitudinally and Buntingswere only presentin modestnum- populationthan last year's Lake States' altitndinally in the Adirondack and Green bers. influx (seeAm. Birds 32(3)). In all prob- Mts., and temporarily increasedenormously in abundance. ability it encompasseda portion of a sus- ADDENDUM -- An ad. d Townsend's pectedbreeding population in n. Qu6bec. Warbler was photographedMay 11, 1978, (Seealso p. 242).Unfortunately very few WRENS THROUGH WARBLERS -- near New Haven, OswegoCo., N.Y. (DC,FS) birds were banded and processedfor Two lingeringLong-billed Marsh Wrens were to become the state's tenth record. meaningfuldata, e.g., age, size, weight, found in c. New York in mid-December. plumage,sex, etc. There were, of course, Gray Catbirds and Brown Thrashers loitered CONTRIBUTORS (in boldface) AND tragic chaptersto the birds' appearance. around the bumper berry crop in w. New CITED OBSERVERS -- AlleghanyCounty Severalwere downedby sportsmen. York, but few if any lastedthrough January. Bird Club (A.C.B.C.), J. Allen, R. Andrle, American Robins in "astonishing numbers" W. Benning,E. Brooks,Buffalo Ornitholog- and Hermit Thrushes "too numerous to war- ical Society (B.O.S.), D. Burton, L. Burton, Although it wasgenerally a poor winter for rant reporting" were terms used to sum- L. Chamberlain, D. B. Clark, T. Collins, D. other owls, the Great Grays were accom- marize these hardy birds in berry-rich areas. Crumb, T. Davis, J. Dye, M. Dye, B. East- panied by a few Boreal Owls. Four were Eastern Bluebirds were also unusually numer- man, O. Eastman, W. Ellison, D. Freeland, found in the Adirondacks(fide TD), one of ous by recent standards. Although recent GeneseeOrnithological Society (G.O.S.), A. which was photographed while a second, visitors were believed responsiblefor the Gosnell, N. Henderson, L. Hughes, D. P found dead in Glenville, became New York's decimationof the species,interpid observers Kibbe, S. Laughlin, M. Maurer, S. Maurer. thirteenthspecimen (fide RY). Others,as this in Craftsbury, Vt. (lured onward, perhaps, M. McKinney (MMc), R. McKinney (RMc), spnng's report will reveal, undoubtedly by the possibilityof finding the Gyrfalcon M. F. Metcalf, J. Nicholson, W. Norse, North escapednotice. It should, perhaps, be noted seen locally the previous day) tallied an Country Bird Cluh (N.C.B.C.), R. O'Hara, that Boreals breed across northeastern Can- astonishing 100 Golden-crowned Kinglets Onondago Audubon Society (O.A.S.), C. ada and would be expected to accompany (threetimes the previousstate high). It would Perrigo, B. Peterson, R. Pitzrick, V. Pitz- Great Grays s. Surprisingly,in view of the be interesting to know if these birds were rick, Rochester Birding Association strength of the movement the other boreal local breeders and, too, why the apparent (R.B.A.), M. Rusk, F. Scheider,R. Spahn, species,only two Hawk Owls were located, decline in those wintering farther s. Water C. Spies, P. Trail, J. Van Riet, Vermont both in Vermont. One bird was present in Pipits, exceedingly rare during winter, Institute of Natural Science (V.I.N.S.), J Westford Dec. 26 - Feb. 28+ (S&MM, appearedin c. New York for the secondcon- Wood, R. Yunick. -- DOUGLAS P. KIBBE, mob.). Long-eared, Short-eared and Saw- secutiveyear. Singleswere identified at Ham- Box 422, SaxtonsRiver, Vermont, 05154.

280 AmericanBirds, May 1979 APPALACHIAN REGION migrants had returned to Warren County,Pa., /George A. Hall in the last week in February(DSn). About The consensus was that it was a dull season. 2000 Canadas win- The generalimpression was that birds were tered at Blythe Ferry scarce,and manyobservers so commented, in (RSt). There were rec- manycases not quite accurately.There was no ords of Snow Geese sizable influx of "northern finches" and this from BlytheFerry Feb. in itself made for a quiet season.December 26 (8 "white" and 12 was much milder than usual, with little snow- "blue" -- RS0; Elk- fall, and throughoutthe month few birds ton, Va., Feb. 6 (4 came to feeders. Most Christmas Bird Counts "white" and 3 "blue" (hereafter,CBC) were quRe successful.At -- R.B.C.); Franklin, Pittsburghten specieswere listed in record W. Va., Feb. 16 (30 numbersand four morein the secondhighest "white" and 13 "blue" counts (PH). At Garrett County, Maryland -- R.B.C.); Knoxville sevenspecies were listed in record numbers Dec. 25 (one "blue"); (FP). At Blacksburg,Virginia, however,only Feb. 24 (8 "blue" 7648 individuals were counted as compared •fide CN); and Lines- with 17,805 last year although four species ville, Pa., Feb. 23 (one were seen in record numbers (JMu). "white" -- RFL). At In mid-Januarythe weatherchanged and a Knoxville a flock of very cold period ensued.At PittsburghJan- 15White-fxonted Geese • uary and Februaryshowed a total temperature remained Dec. 25 deficiencyof over 500 day-degrees:Snowfall Feb. 28+ for the largestnumber ever recorded the n. the prolongedsnow cover prevented the was generalbut not as heavyas last year. In there (CN et al. ). A White-fronted Goose was usualbuildup in Am. Kestrelpopulations but south to central West Virginia the ground alsoseen at ChattanoogaJan. l (LD). most of the missingbirds apparentlymoved remained snow-covered for about six weeks. Of the rarer ducks, White-wingedscorer ratherthan perished. This cold spellwas not brokenuntil the very was at ChickamaugaL., Tenn., Feb. 27 (LD) end of the period.Despite the prolongedcold and Ft. Loudon L., Tenn., Feb. 24 (B&SS), CRANES, RAILS, SHOREBIRDS -- there was little evidence of additional bird Surf Scoterswere at ChickamaugaL., Feb. 25 Sandhill Cranes were seen at Charleston, mortality, and someof the speciesthat have (DJ), and PresqueIsle Jan. 20 (JM,JF),and a Tenn., Dec. 4 (DJ), Knoxville Dec. 6 (GW). A beenhit hard in the past two wintersshowed BlackScorer was at PresqueIsle Dec. 2 0M,BG). flockof fiveat Menlo,Ga., Feb. 17wasof very signsof a smallrecovery. A Harlequin Duck at PresqueIsle Jan. 16 - early migrants (TM). A Corn. Gallinule at Feb. 8 providedthe secondlocal record (SSt). ShenandoahL., Va., remained Nov. 14- Jan. 2 LOONS, GREBES, HERONS -- The only (R.B.C.). reportsof Red-throatedLoons were from Bald HAWKS AND EAGLES -- Western Penn- CommonSnipe was in goodnumbers at the EagleS.P., Pa., Dec. 16 (DP) andPresque Isle, sylvania had an unusual number of fewplaces where it wintersin the Region.Join- Pa., Dec. 17 {fide DS). At PresqueIsle there Goshawks: Pymatuning L., Dec. 2 (RFL), ing the snipeat ChattanoogaDec. 17 was a were recordsof as many as six Red-necked State CollegeFeb. 25 (MB), PowermillNature totalof 65 Dunlins(RSt). One was still present Grebes throughoutFebruary (DS) and one Reserve(hereafter, P.N.R.) one throughFeb- on the PresqueIsle CBC, Dec. 17 and a wasseen at Bald EagleS.P., Dec. 16 (DP). ruary (RCL), Clarksvilletwo (RB), and several Greater Yellowlegswas seen there Dec. 29 othersin the Pittsburgharea (PH). Therewere (BG). more reportsof Sharp-shinnedHawks than is usual, and Cooper'sHawks were also more GULLS -- Most areasthat had openwater On the night of Jan. 6-7 a sleet storm common. In both cases the unusual numbers reported good numbers of gulls present over much of s.w. Pennsylvaniaand w. may be an artifact of snowyweather forcing throughDecember and into early January, Maryland forced down large numbersof Accipitersto frequentfeeding stations more i.e., 2000_+Ring-billed and 1000_+Bonaparte's HornedGrebes, apparently migrating S as than usual. gullson the Linesville,Pa. CBC (RFL). How- the Great Lakesfroze up. This musthave The most interestingraptor news of the ever,the real gull capitalof this Regionis at involvedmany hundredsof birds, judged winter was the extensiveinflux of Rough- PresqueIsle and Erie Bay. In Decemberthe by the reports of rescuedindividuals at leggedHawks, which normally reaches no far- total populationthere peaked t 34,000and in hand. In the LigonierValley, Pa., at least ther s. than n. Pennsylvania.It wasthought Januaryat 26,000 but on some days not a 20 were picked up (RCL), 23 in Greene that 20-30 (14 seen at one time) wintered in the singlegull could be found, indicating a highly County, Pa. (RB), 40 in Fayette County Ligonier Valley of Pennsylvania (RCL). mobile population(DS). The Great Black- (RB), "hundreds" at State College, Pa. Reports came from as far s. as Elizabethton, backedGull numbersthere peaked at 200 in (KJ) and 75 near Cumberland. Md. (KH). Tenn. (GE), Chattanooga(LD), and Menlo, mid-February (SSt), and Dec. 17 a Lesser Ga. (TM), but at Knoxville numbers were Black-backed Gull was there for the second lowerthan last year (CN). localrecord (JB). Glaucous Gulls v/ere present A GoldenEagle wintered in GreeneCounty, thereon 20or moredays; with a peakof seven WATERFOWL -- The mild December Pa., beingfed on road-killeddeer supplied by on Feb.12 (SSt), and Iceland Gulls were pres- causedmany ducksto linger and CBCs listed the local gamewarden (RB). GoldenEagles entthroughout the periodwith a highof three goodnumbers both of spedesand individuals, were also reportedfrom Thornwood,W. Va., on Feb. 11-12 (SSt,JM).A bird tentatively but with the adventof coldweather in January Dec. 26 (BKa),Kline, W. Va., Jan. 23 (P•B.C.), identified as an Iceland Gull was seen Jan. 28 mostof thesedeparted. The N migrationhad Lexington, Va., Dec. 15 (DW), and Wood- near Chattanooga(m.ob.). The bird waspho- barelystarted by the end of the period. bury, Tenn., Feb. 24 (RSt). There were three tographed,and if the identificationis continned Two flocksof WhistlingSwans near Knox- sightingsof four Bald Eagleson the Allegheny it wouldrepresent the first Tennesseerecord. ville in December were most unusual, one of R. in Warren County, Pa., in Januaryand A LittleGull was at PresqueIsle Dec. 2 0M.DS). which stayedthrough the period (CN); a lone February(WH), six sightingsof nineeagles in bird lingeredat BlytheFerry, Tenn. (RSt). A the Crawford County, Pa. area (RFL); a cen- DOVES AND OWLS -- MourningDoves smallflock of WhistlingSwans was seen flying susJan. 23 counted23 Bald Eagleson the e. seemedto be doing well over much of the n. S at Meadville, Pa., Jan. 23 (RFL). The winter- Tennesseelakes as far s. as Chattanooga{fide part of the Regionand many commentshave ing populationof CanadaGeese at Pymatun- CN). beenreceived on increased numbers at feeding ing L., Pa., was 5000_%the normal number An Osprey on the Fayetteville,Pa. CBC, stations. (RFL). A flock of 200_+ wintered on the Ohio wasunusual (CG). The onlyPeregrine report A SnowyOwl was presentat PresqueIsle R., near East Liverpool, O. (NL). Early was of one at Meadville, Pa., Feb. 23 (RFL). In Dec. 28 - Jan. 16 (SStJM,JF) and one was seen

Volume 33, Number 3 281 nearUnion City, Pa, Feb 9 (AR) Therewere scarceat State College(MW), but elsewhere reportedat leasta few grosbeaks,which amved twosightings at PymatumngL, Pa, Jan 19 & they were unusuallycommon, and in Alle- about Jan 1, but numbers were low, to the s 23 (RFL), and one was seennear Petersburg, gheny County, Pa., a flock of >4600 was and w. they were widespreadbut scarce.The W Va., Jan. 17 (R.B.C.).A Long-caredOwl countedcoming to a roost(PH). A wintering only report of Pine Grosbeakwas from State was seen in Erie County, Pa., Jan. 20-21 Hermit Thrushwas reportedfrom State Col- College(KJ). House Finch numbers continued (JM,SST), one was found dead near Front lege(PB) and therewere 12 reportsthrough to climb. At Pittsburghthe specieswas first Royal,Va., Jan.23 (LL); onewas at Berryville, the periodfrom w. Pennsylvania(PH), but only recordedon the CBC in 1977 and this year 190 Va., throughoutJanuary and February (RSi). two sightingsat Elizabethton(GE). The most were listed. Pine Siskinswere reported only Four wereseen at NickajackL., Tenn., in Jan- unusual thrush of the season was a SwainsoWs from State College (MW), Sheffield, Pa uary(RSt). There was a smallinvasion of Saw- at Fayetteville,Pa., Dec. 16(CG). (RSm),Highland County, Va., Dec. 29 (BKa), whetOwls in Erie Countywhere six roost sites and from above 5000 ft (two flocks) on Roan KINGLETS, WAXWINGS, SHRIKES -- were discovered(DS), and one was found in Mt., Tenn. (GE). The only reports of either WashingtonCounty, Pa., Jan.17 (LR). How- The two kingletspecies, hard hit by the past crossbill came from the mountains around two winters, remain in low numbers at most ever,the real owl newsof the seasonwas the Harrisonburg,Va.: eight sightingsof small unusual number of Short-cared Owls found places:for example,only 14 Golden-crowneds flocks were made from Jan. I0 - Feb 22 Regionwide.The records were mostly of on the Pittsburgh CBC rs. 198 in 1973. (R.B.C.).There were a fewscattered'sightings However,there were some signs of recovery;at singlesbut as many as nine were reported of Com.Redpolls in w. Pennsylvania. Lexington,Va., the 62 Golden-crownedsand from Mercersburg,Pa., Feb. 18 (CG).Most of A Rufous-sidedTowhee wintering at State the 34 Ruby-crownedswere considered to be theserecords were scattered through Pennsyl- Collegewas unusual(AF). Dark-eyed Juncos goodnumbers (RP), and 26 Ruby-crowneds on were in lower-than-normal numbers and Tree vaniabut reportscame from asfar s. as Knox- the CBC at Shenandoah N.P. was a record ville Jan. 9 (PP), ElizabethtonFeb. 13 (GE,HF), Sparrowswere very scarce,being essentially BotetourtCounty, Va., Feb. 7 (BK), Waynes- high (DC). Cedar Waxwingswere in good absent at many places. The White-throated numbersthroughout the Regionwith record Sparrowcontinues to do well in the n., with boro,Va., Dec. 16+ (RS), Harrisonburg,Va., CBC counts (361) at Shenandoah N.P. (DG) manysightings (R.B.C.), and Blue Grass Val- and Elizabethton (378) (GE), but as usual it recordnumbers on the PittsburghCBC (PH), ley,Va., Dec. 19 (BKa). but at P.N.R., theywere below normal (RCL) wasmissing from someareas. There was a remarkable number of N. In a previousreport I commentedon the effect WOODPECKERS, FLYCATCHERS, of the eradicationcampaign for multiflora Shrikesreported: Montour County,Pa., Dec. CORVIDS -- Common Flickers were roseon winteringMockingbirds, and nowthe 8 & Feb. 3 (SS1),Bald Eagle S.P., Pa., Dec. 9 unusuallynumerous in w. Pennsylvania,with effectof this programon winterpopulations of (DP), Bradford County, two Dec. 27 (EW), 38 listed on the PittsburghCBC (PH) and White-crownedSparrows is becomingevident Vawter, Pa., Feb. 22 (EW), Butler County, in lower numbers.In the Huntington, W Va "best wintering numbersever" at P.N.R. Pa., three Dec. 29 - Feb. 25 (RBy,CB),three (RCL). The Red-bellied Woodpecker con- area, February floods on the Ohio R., and sightingsof four birds in CrawfordCounty, tinuesto expandN, with excellentnumbers at other streams left the usually weed-choked Pa. (RFL), severalthroughout the period in P N.R. (RCL), four on the PittsburghCBC, a bottomlandscovered with a layer of mud, and Erie County,Pa. (m.ob.),and one at Youngs- record (PH), one throughJanuary and Feb- eliminatedthe usualwinter feeding ground for town, O., Dec. 16 (WB). ruaryand anotherin Februaryin Erie County, manysparrows (LW). Pa. (DS). Most remarkable were the ten Red- WARBLERS, ICTERIDS -- An unusually A Fox Sparrowat StateCollege in February (RC) and a SwampSparrow on the Raccoon headed Woodpeckersat Erie N.W.R., Pa., large numberof warblerslingered into late Feb. 18 (JM,SSt,DS). December: Black-and-white at Roanoke, Va., Creek S.P., Pa. CBC, were unusual. Lapland The only reportsof the E. Phoebewere of Dec. 16 (BKi, GV), Nashvilleat Waynesboro, Longspurswere reported from Williamson, one from Shenandoah N.P., Jan. 12 & 20 Va., Dec. 5 & 8 (RS): and Huntington, Pa., Feb. 18 and Mercersburg,Pa., Feb 18 (DC), and six throughthe seasonin Rocking- W. Va., Jan. 16 (HS); N. Parula at State Col- (CG), LawrenceCounty, Pa., through Feb- ruary(PH), ButlerCounty, Pa., Feb. 25 (RBy), ham County,Va. (R.B.C.). At Shenandoah legeDec. 7 (DB); CapeMay at Butler,Pa., N P., 110 Com. Ravenswere listed on the CBC Dec. 12-17(MG) and Belpre,O., Jan.7 (PC); and severalsightings in Erie CountyJan 9 - Feb. 24 (DS). There were the usual reportsof (DC) and this specieshas becomefairly com- Bay-breastedin n. ShenandoahCounty, Va., monin partsof the GreatValley of Virginia, Dec. 16 (RSi); and Palm Dec. 15 at Clarke and SnowBuntings from n. Pennsylvania,with a for examplenear Lexington (RP). Shenandoahcos., Va., Dec. 27 (RSi). Yellow- flockof 100+ seenat StateCollege (MW), but more unusual was one seen at Knoxville Jan 7 rumpealWarblers were more common in the TITMICE, NUTHATCHES AND CREEP- n. than usual in December and a record total (MS) and a flock of eight near there Jan 11 ERS -- At Pittsburgh1086 Black-capped of 71 was counted on the Charleston, W. Va. (WJ). Three SnowBuntings were locatedon Chickadees were counted on the CBC (PH), the Roan Mt., Tenn. balds (GE). CBC (NG). ACom. Yellowthroat was banded 972 Tufted Titmice were a count record there. at P.N.R., Dec. 7 (RCL). Red-breasted Nuthatches were very scarce The Yellow-headed Blackbird at Harrison- PASSING NOTED -- This Regionlost two of its most faithful contributorsduring the throughout;many areas did not reportthem. burg, Va., Feb. 17 (RBC)would have been winterwith the passingof William A. Clarke, The Brown-headedNuthatch reported earlier unusualfor the Regionin any season.There from near Waynesboro, Va., remained were three reportsof late winter N. Orioles Jr., of State Collegeand L. R. Hemdon of Elizabethton.Both of these gentlemenhad throughthe period (RS). Brown Creepers were from the ShenandoahValley of Virginia at reportedas being scarce almost everywhere. StantonJan. 17 (YL), HarrisonburgDec. 20 - beencontributing since almost the inception Feb. 3 (R.B.C.) and BridgewaterFeb. 7 of reportsfrom this Region 30 yearsago. WRENS, MIMIDS, THRUSHES -- Car- (R.B.C.). ohna Wrens remainedscarce or evenmissing CONTRIBUTORS -- Richard Almy, at places.At Elizabethtonpopulations were FRINGILLIDS -- Many observersfelt that William Bartolo,Mary Bastuscheck,Jim Bax- about 75% of normal (GE), and at Waynes- the numbersof Cardinalscoming to their ter, Ralph Bell (RB), CharlesBiers, Dorothy boro, Va., two CBCs listed 31 as compared feeders were lower than normal, and at Bordner, Phil Bucher, Richard Byers (RBy), with 67 in 1976 (RS). There were somesigns P.N.R., this specieswas in the lowestnumbers DennisCarter, PaulineCollett, Ralph Condec, that this speciesis recovering:the 43 on the on record(RCL), but at nearbyPittsburgh the CharlesConrad, Lil Dubke, Glen Eller, Harry CharlesTown, W. Va. CBC, was an improve- CBC listed 1430,the secondhighest total on Farthing,Jim Flynn, Alice Fuller, Tom Flnu- ment (CM). A House Wren was at Natural record (PH). A Rose-breasted Grosbeak was cane,Carl Garner,Marguerite Geibel, Bonnie Chimneys,Va., Dec. 3 - Jan.23 (R.B.C.)and seenat P.N.R., Dec. 8-29 (RCL), and two were Ginader, Norris Gluck, CharlesHandley, John there were two separatereports from Bote- reportedcoming to a feederat Harrisonburg, Heninger, Paul Hess, William Highhouse, tourt County,Va., Dec. 16-17(•V,BK). Va., in mid-January(R.B.C.). Kendrick Hodgdon, Nick llnicky, Daniel Brown Thrashers are often reported on Of the "northern finches"only the Purple Jacobson,Wesley James, Katherine Jones, CBCs,bfit seldomare foundafter the first of Finch was a widespreadinvader and it was Brian Kalos (BKa), Barry Kinzie (BK), Bob the year.This seasonreports came from State fairly commonat mostplaces. AfPittsburgh it Kirby(BKf), Nevada Laitsch, Yulee Larner, College,Pa., lateJanuary - Feb. 26 (MM,PB), wasreported that EveningGrosbeal½s staged a Robert C. Leberman,Ronald F. Leberman, Indiana, Pa., Jan. 16 (CW) and four from the "major invasion"(PH), but this was the only Lenny Leta, Murray Martin, Jerry McWll- Pittsburgharea (PH). Robinswere considered area where this was so. Most areas in the n. liams (JM), Clark Miller, Terry Moore, John

282 AmericanBirds, May 1979 Murray (JMu), Charles Nicholson.Paul Par- Mike Sloan(MS), Dave Snyder(DSn). Donald liams. Erika Wilson, Leon Wilson, Rick Wil- due. Robert Paxton, David Pearson, Glen Snyder (DS). Ruth Snyder (RS). Stan Stahl traut. Merrill Wood. George Woods -- Phillips, Francis Pope. Alice Rice. Lorinda (SSI}. Elizabeth Stanley. Barbara Steadman. GEORGE A. HALL, Department of Wildlife Richardson.Rockingham Bird Club (R.B.C.}. Steve Steadman (SS}. Jerie Stewart. Randy Biology(Mall Address:Department of Chem- Ruth Samuelson(RSm}. Ellis Shimp. Robert Stringer(RSt}, Sam Stull (SSt}.Gretchen Van istry},West Virginia Unlverslty,Morgantown, Simpson(RSi}. Merit Skaggs.Harry Slack. Tassel. Jerry Via. David White. Cora Wil- West Virginia 26506.

WESTERN GREAT LAKES MAN. and reportedfrom Mus- I. I A kegon and Monroe REGION R t o O County, Mich., and /Kim R. Eekert late Black Scoters lingered on L. St. Clair No one can rememberwhen morale among near Detroit Dec. 2-3 Minnesota birders had been so low. Wisconsin & 9 (AR). observersapparently included a few expletives in their descriptionsof the seasonthat had to HAWKS -- This win- be deletedfrom the compiler'ssummary. If it ter presenteda confus- had not been for some excitement in the Sault ing and inconsistentpic- Ste. Marie area, the situation in Michigan ture of the status of would have been just as depressing.For the diurnalraptors. In Min- third winter in a row this Region suffered nesota, Sharp-shinned through almost intolerable weather condi- and Cooper's hawks tions. The heights of the snowdrifts were were reported more matched only by the depths of the thermo- I•WA often than usual, the meterreadings. Although there were some aver- I sameheld true in Wis- ageand even mild temperaturesin December, consinespecially around especiallyin Michigan, and somethawing in feeders, but the only late February,there was simply too muchcold decidedto overwinterat Albert Lea in spiteof Michigan increasenoted was just from the and snow. While the severityof this winter the severe weather (m.ob.). Double-crested Detroit area and just for the Cooper's.Red- perhaps deservesfurther elucidation, this Cormorantswere very late Dec. 10 at Lac tailed Hawkswere said to be up in the Detroit writer wouldjust assoon drop the subject. Parle L., Minn. (CMB) and until Dec. 17 at St. area while Am. Kestrels were down, but other Because the weather was so bad, birders Joseph,Mich. (WB et al.). Great Blue Herons Michigan areas reported good kestrel num- failed to venture out as often as usual, and were surprisinglywidespread in Decemberin bers. Wintering Bald Eagleswere down in when they did they typicallyfound little to Minnesota(ten reports)and Michigan (five Minnesota and on the Wisconsin side of the encouragetheir efforts. With few exceptions reportsincluding a maximumof 36 at the Erie MississippiR., but at the sametime theywere an obviousscarcity of birds prevailedthrough- Marshes);two were evenfound into February up farther e. alongthe WisconsinR. Hawks in out. Woodland and field birds must have in Michiganat Lansingand Allegan.Two Am. general were notably scarce in Wisconsin found food scarce in all that snow, but Bitterns were exceptionallylate at Horicon (exceptfor Accipiters),but Berrien County, curiouslyvery little was drivento feedingsta- N.W.R.. until Dec. 16 (RD). one of Michigan'skey birding areas,reported tions, suggestingthat more than the usual hawksas "more numerousthan any winter I number of birds wintered farther south (or, in SWANS AND DUCKS -- Whistling Swans can remember" (CS). Among the more the case of the winter finches. never really unexpectedlyoverwintered as far n. as Fergus unusualspecies. Golden Eagleswere almost arrivedfrom the north last fall). Open water Falls, Minn. (GW) and Green Bay (EC). widespread:there were no fewer than seven was at a premium, but while this servedto Ducks also made an unexpectedlystrong Minnesotareports as far n. as Crow Wing drive somespecies away, a better-than-usual showing despite the general lack of open County Dec. 16 (TS)and at two Lake County variety of water birds was reported owing to water; some examplesof lingering numbers locationsJan. 21-22 (FL, M. Hoffman), as their concentration into fewer areas. Indeed, and species:175 winteringGadwall at Mad- manyas five individualswere found through- while the number of individual birds present ison plus an above-average13 individualsin out the winter in Wood County, Wis. (DF et was clearlydown, the overalltotal of different the Detroit area, Green-wingedTeal as far n. al.), and at leastone was present at the usual speciesrecorded was at leastclose to normal. as Duluth on the Christmas Bird Count (here- AlleganCounty, Mich. site Dec. 16-20(AR,BB). But this variety was little consolation. after, CBC) and Green Bay Dec. 30 (EC,BC), All three states also reported the always- especially to Minnesota and Wisconsin 65 wintering N. Shovelersat Madison plus exciting Gyrfalcon: gray-phaseadults wer• observerswho grimly had to enduretoo much anotherDec. 16 at E. Lansing(CF), no fewer seen at Duluth Jan. 24 (M. Hoffman) and in n. winter and too few birds (let alone rarities) -- than IS MinnesotaWood Duck reports,Can- Beltrami County, Minn., Dec. 17 and again if it had not been for some isolated excitement vasbackswintering at Fairmont,Minn. (EB), Feb. 26 .(fide D. Warner), another gray in Michigan, this report would read like, and Milwaukee and on the St. Clair R., near individualwas carefullystudied Jan. 1 near wouldhave as muchlife as, an obituary. Detroit (peak of 3000),more than the usual Readfield, Waupaca Co., Wis. (DT), while a number of Decemberreports of Hooded Mer- dark-phaseGyr was one of the attractionsat LOONS THROUGH BITTERNS -- Lin- gansetsin Wisconsin,and a good concentra- SaultSte. Marie duringJanuary and February geringCorn. Loons in the s. part of the Region tion of 8000 Corn. Mergansersin Muskegon (m.ob.). Merlins were reported four times are not unexpected,but the onethat overwin- County,Mich., Dec. 30 (GW). from Minnesota and Wisconsin, with two of teredfar n. at Sault Ste. Marie wasnoteworthy A fewrarities also brightened the potentially these attracted to bird feeders. .(fideWG). Even more unusualwas a Red- dim waterfowl picture: a g? Barrow's throated Loon at Detroit Feb. 24, for only the Goldeneyewas carefully studied and photo- GALLINACEOUS BIRDS THROUGH third local winter record .(fide AK). Also graphedon both the Michigan and Ontario SHOREBIRDS -- As usual, SpruceGrouse unusual were a Red-necked Grebe in n. Mich- sidesof the St. Clair R., throughoutthe winter reports were confined to n. Minnesota with igan at PetoskeyDec. 30 (WG) and another (m.ob.),Harlequin Duckswere found Jan. 20 four on the Itasca S.P. CBC, and another Dec. inland near Detroit found on the ice at Ken- on L. Superiorat Two Harbors, Minn. (FL) 18 near Babbitt (TH). Bobwhites continued singtonMetropark Feb. 18 which later died and near Grand Marsis, Minn. (TS), at the scarcein the s. partsof the Region,with three .(fideAK). Far more remarkablewas Min- mouth of the French R., near Duluth Feb. consecutivesevere winters certainly a factor; nesota's first winter Eared Grebe which 8-14 (KE), at New Buffalo, Mich., Jan. l althoughthere was no commentfrom Wiscon- somehowfound its way to FergusFalls on the (CS,WB), and at Sault Ste. Marie throughout sin, there was only one Minnesotareport and unlikelydate of Jan. 20 and remainedthrough the winter(m.ob.). White-winged Scoters were in Michigan,Betrich Countyobservers man- February (GO). Also a first for Minnesota seenin Wisconsinon L. Michigan in Manito- aged only one sightingwhile the Detroit area were four White Pelleans which inexplicably woc and Kenosha counties and at Milwaukee, total wasa merethree coveys.Pheasants were

Volume33, Number 3 283 also reporteddown around Detroit but in real news came from the Sault Ste Marie area nesota, while another w visitor now almost Minnesotathere continuedto be an encourag- where scoresof Michigan birders witnessed regular in Minnesota, the Townsend'sSol- Ing comebackin many areas,although it is that state'sgreatest recent Great Gray Inva- itaire,appeared at AustinDec. 23 - Feb. 17 (C too soonto tell if the former declinehas truly sion,which corresponded nicely with the huge Wilsonet el.). BohemainWaxwings were dif- been arrested and what has contributed to this influx farther e. in Ontario and New England. ficult to find in Michigan and Wisconsin(only apparentrevival. There is no question,how- At least12 and perhapsas manyas 20 individ- threereports between them), but in Minnesota ever,that MinnesotaGray Partridgeare much uals were recorded, mostly on Neebish I., there was a decent showingwith 11 reports easier to find than a few years ago, a good wherelocal residentsfirst spottedowls in late And N. Shrikes were also inconsistent,with exampleof this being no fewer than 80 October. The birders didn't arrive until late Minnesota having fewer reports than usual countedduring a 15 mi drivein MurrayCounty January,but from then on through February while Wisconsin observers found them easier (AD). DecemberVirginia Rails werevery late all this was clearly this winter's highlight in to find than normal, and, despite several on the St. Paul N.E. CBC, and in Detroit (five Michigan. The spectacularBoreal Owl influx Michigan sightings,the Detroit area report reports),and oneeven overwintered in Berrien witnessedin Minnesotalast year did not result saidthey were down. County(CN), but the Corn.Gallinule Dec. 28 in an echo invasionthis year; there were only in Muskegon County was even more excep- three isolatedFebruary individualsreported BLACKBIRDS THROUGH TOWHEES -- from Duluth, Itasca and Beltrami counties. tional (EP). Truly exceptionalas well were AlthoughWisconsin observers found black- these late shorebird records: two Dunlins Dec. KINGFISHERS THROUGH CORVIDS -- birds generallyfew in numbers,this Region 2 in Milwaukee(JI, EE) and 32, amazingly,on had enoughto go around.Two Yellow-headed The goodnumbers of BeltedKingfishers seen the samedate in Monroe County,Mich. (JK), Blackbirdsunexpectedly lingered until the SanderlingsDec. 25 - Jan. 1 at New Buffalo, in Minnesotarepresented a goodexample of Cottonwood,Minn. CBC, and another was at some water birds being concentratedinto Mich. (CS, WB), and, most amazing of all, a WaukeshaCounty, Wis. feeder in January fewer open water areas as a result of below- careful identificationsof a N. Phalarope at Red-wingedand Rustyblackbirds and Com New Buffalo and a Red Phalarope at St. averagetemperatures; kingfishers were also Grackleswere reported more often than usual up in the Detroit area. Two woodpeckers Joseph,Mich. -- both by CS and both Dec. in Minnesota;also three Rusty reportsfrom 31 which are often partial to open oak woodsin Detroit and a grackle overwinteringin the Minnesota showed noteworthy trends this Upper Peninsulawere considered noteworthy GULLS -- Minnesota and Wisconsin winter; Cam. Flickers were up and Red- A N. Oriole wasvery late at a Winona, Minn, observersreported gulls harder to find this headedWoodpeckers were down in numbers feeder until Dec. 12 (G. Gordon). (the latter was also down around Detroit). winter owingto the lack of open water; e.g.. After the surplusof winterfinches last year, with L. Superior almost completelyfrozen, There were the usual few reports of Black- backed Three-toeds in n. Minnesota and this winter's general scarcity was all too Herring Gulls were totally absentin Duluth apparent.Although there were someisolated Michigan, but a most unusualconcentration from Januarythrough mid-February and only exceptions,the overwhelmingconsensus was two could be found at Grand Marais, Minn., of 30_+Black-backeds plus aboutfive or six N. that this was one of the worst winters ever for Three-toeds was found in January in n.w. Jan 20-21. Michigan, however,reported no northernfinches. Evening and Pine grosbeaks scarcityas evidencedby impressiveDecember CookCounty, Minn. (C. Bergman);this latter were very obviouslydown; e.g.. only 24 Pine maximain MonroeCounty of 7000_+Herrings, specieshas beenvery scarcein Minnesota in Grosbeakreports were received with the only 8000_+Ring-billeds and 1800_+Bonaparte's. recent years. There was another interesting concentrations noted from Minnesota on the As usual, a few Glaucouswere reportedfrom agreementbetween Minnesota and the Detroit Itasca S.P. CBC (28) and at Ely feeders,and all three states,and an Iceland was reported area on another species: many observers from the Sault Ste. Marie area with >100 seen from Madison Dec. 4 (RH), but, while it was found fewer Blue Jays,especially at feeding Dec. 21 (CS). The lack of redpollswas even stations.One of the manygood finds in Mich- compared to nearby Glaucousand Herring more strikingwhen comparedto last winter igan was a Clark's Nutcracker Dec. 16 at gulls, neither its age nor the Thayer's pos- The largestdaily total from Minnesotawas a WhitefishPt., onthe UpperPeninsula (WG). sibilitywas mentioned. Two possibleIcelands, mere 200, Wisconsincould manage only 14 a secondyear immature and an adult, were reportsfor the entireseason (!), and the only seenin Decemberat Black Dog L., Dakota TITMICE THROUGH WARBLERS -- It Michigan concentrationreported was 235 at Co, Minn., but it seemsmore likely they were is in this group that the reader will find the Whitefish Pt. Hoaries were identified only just small Glaucous. The usual number of mosttelling examples of lossesfrom threecon- three times in n. Minnesota. Pine Siskins were Great Black-backed Gulls was seen in s.e. secutivesevere winters. Among those showing clearly down in Minnesota, although some Michigan, but unexpectedlythere were two a continued decline in numbers: Tufted Tit- Wisconsinand Michiganareas reported good reportson the e. shoreof L. Michiganin Ott- mouse (two reports each for Minnesota and numbers especially later in the season awa County Feb. 10 (LF) and at PigeonL., Michigan), Winter and Carolina wrens Crossbillswere also conspicuouslyabsent Feb. 19 (VJ). That amazing Black-headed (especiallydown at Detroit and in Berrien Reds were only reported three times, once Gull foundby J. Greenhousein late November County),Mockingbird (especially in Berrien from each state, and White-wingedswere at Detroit remained until Dec. 2, and Wiscon- County,although defying this trend were four mentionedonly four times, from Minnesota sin salvagedan otherwisedismal gull picture Detroit area sightingsand one on the Minne- (threereports) and Wisconsin(once)! In con- with a Black-legged Kittiwake inland at apolisCBC), and E. Bluebird (especiallyBer- trast, PurpleFinch numbersappeared to be Madison Dec. 4-15 (RH et el.). rien County).But therewere also a few species averageeverywhere, and, althoughnot truly a that might have been expected to be "winter" finch here, Am. Goldfinches were OWLS -- Both Minnesota and Wisconsin vulnerable to the weather but seemed not to be: Brown Creepers and Golden-crowned generallyup, especiallyin s. Minnesotawhere reported lower owl numbers than usual, feeders were full of them (even in n. Minnesota especiallyGreat Horneds,in Minnesota,and Kingletswere much more in evidencein Min- therewere perhaps unprecedented overwinter- Long-earedsand Short-eareds,in Wisconsin. nesota than in recent winters, Am. Robins ing numbers).One of Wisconsin'sfew rarities But SnowyOwls were widely reportedin all and Cedar Waxwings were up in all three wasits first westernor (Spotted)Rufous-sided three states:at least 20 reportingcounties in states, and several Michigan locations Towheeat Milwaukee Dec. 16 - early January both Minnesotaand Wisconsin(including an reportedYellow-rumped Warblers (especially (MD,EE). unprecedented30-35 in the Duluth - Superior the Detroit area with 59 individuals). harbor, 23 of which were banded by D. A few unexpectedlingerers also defied the Evans), and about 15 countiesin Michigan weather,including a Gray Catbird Dec. 17-18 SPARROWS AND SNOW BUNTINGS -- (Includingten reports from the Detroit area in Berrien County (CS, GSm), six Brown Michigan reportedtwo very late sparrows,a and seven individuals at Sault Ste. Marie). Thrasher reports(two from each state),three Savannahat E. Lansing(SW) and a Vesper at SevenHawk Owls,all in the generalvicinity of Lansing,Mich., area, Ruby-crownedKinglets neareby Okemos .(fide DM) both Dec. 16 Duluth, were seen in Minnesota, but it only as late as Jan. 17 (fide DM), late Michigan Althoughseveral unverified and probably mls- tookone wintering at SaultSte. Marie to keep Water Pipits Dec. 2 in Macomb County(AR) identified Chipping Sparrows have been the crowdsof Michigan birdersthere happy. and Dec. 3 in Berrien County(CS), and three reported in winter in Minnesota, the individ- Minnesota failed to record an "echo" invasion Cam. Yellowthroats in Detroit until Dec. 23 ual photographedat an Austinfeeder Dec 19 of Great Grays,but did manage13 individuals •de AK). VagrantVaried Thrushes exhibited & Jan.6 (T. Dorsey)represented only the third from sevenlocations including one as far s. as a predictablee.~w. pattern with one in Mich- valid record.The usual few Harris' Sparrows a Minneapolissuburb Dec. 19-27(m.ob.). The igan, four in Wisconsin and seven in Min- lingered in s.w. Minnesota, but unexpected

284 AmericanBirds, May 1979 were individualsat feedersoverwintering at ADDENDUM -- A belated but very con- Robert Driesl•in, Eric Epstein, Laura Erick- Aitkin, Minn. (WN) and at Port Huron, Mich. vincingreport of an eider,sp. wasjust received; son, Don Follen, Randy Hoffman, John Idzi- (DEM). Althoughfewer White-throateds were it was seen Dec. 27 at StoneyPt., St. Louis kowski, Charles Kemper, Gordon Kratzat, reportedfrom Wisconsin,more than the usual Co., Minn., by C. Bergmanwhose description R.&C. Lukes, Allen Shea, CharlesSontag, numberwere found in Minnesotawhere Song of this imm. male seemsto suggestthe excep- Gary Stout, Daryl Tessen, Steve Thiessen; Sparrowswere also much more in evidence tionallyrare Corn. Eider. Michigan: Ray Adams, Walter Booth, Bill than usual(both specieslasted at least until Bouton, Harriet Davidson, Chris Faulkner, mid-Januaryas far n. as the Duluth area). Les Ford, William Grigg, Vic Janson,Alice Michigan'slast .of a long list of rarities this CONTRIBUTORS (sub-regionaleditors in Kelley, J.P. KIeiman. Doug McWhlrter (DM), winterwas a Lincoln'sSparrow at an Alpena boldface) -- Minnesota: D. Anderson, Jo D. E. Miller (DEM), Chuck Nelson, James feeder Dec. 23 .(fide WG). However, Min- Blanich, Ed Brekke-Kramer, C.&M. Buer, Ponshalr,Ed Post, Alan Ryff. Maria Schnei- nesota and Wisconsin observers at least man- Mrs. A. DeKam, Kim Eckert, L.&C. Falk, derman,C. RoySmith, Gordon Smith (GSm), aged to have the last word over Michigan E.&M. Ford, Joan Fowler, Karol Gresser, Mrs. E. Wedge, Stan Wellso, GeorgeWick- (whichseemed to claim all the goodbirding Tom Hargy, Vince Herring, Bob Janssen,H. strom. There were also 144 other observers(42 thisseason) in thisreport; both states reported Kyllingstad, K. J. La Fond, Violet Lender, from Minnesota, 37 from Wisconsin and 65 exceptionalnumbers of Snow Buntings that Fred Lesher, Steve Millard, Warren Nelson, from Michigan) who reported observations werequite widespread in Decemberand seemed Gary Otnes,Terry Savaloja,D.&G. Wachtler, that contributedto the analysisbut were not to increaselater in the winter (e.g.. no fewer Gerald Winkelman; Wisconsin: Marjorie specificallyincluded in thissummary. -- KIM than 50 Minnesota counties recorded this Albrecht,T.&I. Baumann,Homer Bishop,Ed R. ECKERT, 9735 North Shore Dr., Duluth, species). Cleary, Brother Columban, Mary Donald, Minn. 55804.

MIDDLEWESTERN PRAIRIE torily documented, but REGION whichmay be credible, appear in the UN- /Vernon M. K!een CORROBORATED RECORDS section. The 1978-79 Winter Season was rather dull and unremarkablefor the majority of observ- LOONS. GREBES ers. Record-breakingsnowfalls and cold tem- -- Common Loons lin- peraturesdampened most observers' spirits -- geredin all statesexcept not only becauseof the lack of interesting Iowa well into Decem- birds,but the inabilityto travel to seethem. ber: at some locations Many specieswere found in the lowestnum- through the end of the bersever and others,such as dovesand robins, month; 170 were still wintered in the area in relatively large num- present at Columbus, bers,to the surpriseof mostbirders. This was O., Dec. 9 (J).The only obviouslynot a "winter" finch year -- in fact, Red-throated Loon en- those specieswere extremely scarce on a countered this winter Regionwidescale. As cold and snowyas it was, was reported from Cleveland Dec. 2-7 (tCT, areasclose to the Great Lakes;spring arrivals observers felt cheated that the birds did not m.ob.). Four singleRed-necked Grebes were werenoted at RisingSun, Ind., by Feb. 5 (W) respondto the generoushandouts provided reported -- all probably spring migrants: and Cincinnati Feb. 10 (VW). Some Canada them. On severaloccasions hawks were pres- Louisville,Ky., Feb. 18 (tBP et al.): Gibson Geesewere still headingS in late Januarynear ent at feedingstations, selectively reducing the County, Ind., Feb. 28 (TKI); Lorain County, Cincinnati(W) and had begunreturning there natural populationsof small bird visitors. O., Feb. 19-20 (tJJP); and Akron, O., Feb. in early February;large numbers(hundreds) Other speciesreported in fewer numbers 25-28 (LR). Horned Grebeslingered along lingered at favorablelocations through early than expectedwere Rough-legged Hawk, win- with Corn. Loons through early to mid- December;spring migrants began reappear- tering owls, Bobwhite and pheasant, Red- December at several Regionwidelocations; ing during the last week of February. Single headedWoodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, singleswere noted at MichiganCity, Ind., Jan. White-fronted Geese were found at Bloom- Carolina Wren, bluebird, both kinglets, and 28 & Feb. 11 (KBr) and three other locations ington, Ind., Feb. 17-18 (SG, m.ob.) and in somecases, various sparrow species. Large until Christmas or later (m.ob.); 97 were still Amana, la., Jan. 6 (CBn). The S1 Snow Geese influxes were noted primarily for Lapland present at Cleveland Dec. 8 (M). Small at Bowling Green, Ky., Dec. 23 were con- Longspursand SnowBuntings. By early Feb- numbers of Pied-billed Grebes wintered; sidered unusual there. ruary, the only speciesnoted migratingwas however, the majority departed during Fairly large numbersof Mallards wintered the CedarWaxwing. December. at severallocations; a few Wood Ducks survived As noted,the bad weatherwas again a fac- the winter and small numbers of other dab- CORMORANTS, HERONS -- Single tor in the fight for survivalfor many species Double-crested Cormorants were noted at blers were sporadicallyencountered. Up to for the third consecutiveyear. December was 1150 Ring-neckedDucks wintered at Mad- somewhat above the norm both in tem- Michigan City, Ind., Dec. 6-25 (KBr) and Kansas City, Mo., Dec. 2 (NM). A Green isonville,Ky. (JHa). Small-to-largegroups of peratureand for total rainfall; however.Jan- Canvasbackswere noted; the largest-- 1500 uary and Februarywere both well belownor- Heron was still present at Springfield, Mo., Dec. 5 (CBoet al.). A Great Egretwas noted at --was reportedfrom Lorain, O., Jan. 17 (JP); mal in temperature and above normal for 500 were found at Cleveland Jan. 28 (CT): 61 Newton, I11., Dec. 5 (LHr). Three Black- total amount of snowfall;many extremerec- at Madisonville,Ky., Dec. 26; and 10-20 at a ords were established. crownedNight Heronswere present at Lorain, O., Dec. 10 - Jan. 24 (JP). few Illinois locationsduring December.Reg- Owing to the dullnessof the season,many ular numbers(max. 400) of Oldsquawwere observersdid not submit notes; however. we WATERFOWL -- Three Mute Swans encountered along L. Michigan vantage greatly appreciate the information from all stayedat Rising Sun, Ind., Feb. 5-28+ (W); points; however, the number in L Erie who did. As usual, all extraordinary sight anotherwas noted at RockyRiver S.P., Cleve- appearedto be low in contrastto most pre- records must be thoroughly documented at land Feb. 4-18 (M). WhistlingSwans were vious years; inland encountersincluded four the time of observation. For the Winter Sea- more widely encountered; the latest were in St. Charles County, Mo., Dec. 7 (PS et aL) son, a total of i 16 documentation forms was sevenat Elizabethtown, Ky., Jan. 3-5 (tJR); with one still presentDec. 22; DelawareCounty, received: Ohio --31, Iowa --24, Missouri -- others included 12 at Horseshoe L. Conserva- O., whereone or two lingeredinto January (J); 18, Illinois -- 17, Indiana -- 13, and Ken- tion Area, AlexanderCo., Ill., Dec. 28 (K); and one at Tiffin, O., Feb. 19-20 (tTBt,JK). tucky-- 3. In addition,two photographswere two in MadisonCounty, Ill., Dec. 13-20 (A) -- At leastone of the ChicagoHarlequin Ducks received. All documented records have been one later illegally killed; one at Charleston, remainedthrough Dec. 5; one or two (sameas denotedby a dagger(t) and specimensby an Ill., Dec. 13-22 (RCo); one at L. Waveland, Chicago's?)were noted along the Indiana asterisk (*). Records which were not satisfac- Ind., through Dec. 27 (AB); and severalin shoresof L. MichiganDec. 1 - Jan. 28 (KBr et

Volume33, Number 3 285 al ), anotherreappeared at ClevelandDec 17 Ring-neckedPheasants were also scarce,but eared Owls were somewhat more common and (M) and one or two were noted at Loraln, O, it wasnoted that they werebetter able to sur- widespreadthan Long-eareds, however, not Jan. 24. The best duck of the season was the vive becausethey readily "dug" under the regularly encountered.Saw-whet Owls were King Eider at Springfield, IlL (hereafter, snowfor food. The highestnumber of Turkeys found in as many locations as were Short- Spfld.)present from at leastFeb. 19 through reportedwas 31 at Amana, Ia., Dec. 24; the earedsincluding three in Iowa, one in Indi- Mar. 17 ('•H, •-m.ob.). Large numbers of speciesis spreadingin w. Illinois and hasnow ana, five in Illinois, one in Missouri and one in White-winged Scoterswintered along Chi- been reportedfrom St. CharlesCounty, Mo. Ohio. A hummingbird(Ruby-throated??)hn- cago'slakefront (up to 1000);only small num- (m.ob.). gered at a feeding station at Cape Fair, Mo, bers were noted along Cleveland'slakefront; through Dec. 9 (•-AG). Belted Kingfishers one appearedin St. CharlesCounty, Mo., Jan. CRANES AND SHOREBIRDS -- Fifty founda few placeswhere the waternever froze Sandhill Cranes were observed at Cincinnati 25 (TBk). The only recordsof Surf Scoters and managed to survivethe winter without wereof singlesat Lorain, O., Dec. 4 & Feb. 24 Dec. 13 (KM); one was found in St. Charles leavingthe Region;however, the total number (JP)and in St. CharlesCounty, Mo., Dec. 15 CountyDec. 9 (PS et al.). A smallnumber of of successeswas low. Many areasreported a (PS,WRu). From one to three Black Scoters Killdeersmanaged to winterin favorableloca- 50ø7odecline in Com. (Yellow-shafted) Flicker werefound at ClevelandDec. 2- Jan.4 (M, m.ob.). tions. Three Purple Sandpipersappeared at populationsbased on CBC data; the species ClevelandDec. 3-7 (JHo, •-m.ob.). The 55 Ruddy Ducks at Madisonville,Ky., wasregularly encountered at bird feedersthis were unusual there Dec. 17-26 (JHa). GULLS -- Herring, Ring-billedand Bona- winter; two Red-shafted forms were lden- VULTURES THROUGH FALCONS -- parte'sgulls were periodicallyabundant [in titled: one at Hamburg, Ia., Dec. 3 (IG) and According to Kentucky Christmas Bird the Clevelandarea--Ed.], movingwith wind one at St. Joseph, Mo., Dec. 7 (L). The Counts (hereafter, CBC), there was a 67ø70 and weather and joined by other speciesat PileatedWoodpecker in BuenaVista County, Ia., was a welcomesight there Dec. I (DB), decreasein the Turkey Vulture population; times.All gullswere in poorevidence Jan. 23 - two in e.c. Illinoiswere alsowelcome (MCJSm) Cincinnati reported only one during the Feb. 7 with fewerthan 50 gulls of any species period; however,nine were observedin s. Illi- being evidenton a singleday in this period For the most part, Red-headedWoodpeckers nois Dec. 28 which is unusual there. had departed; only thosechoice areas along (M). Other specieswere most often reported bottomland forests were attractive to birds Goshawkswere reported from onlythree loca- owingto their rarity. The GlaucousGull was that lingeredfor the winter. tions this winter. The other two accipiters recorded from all six states -- two at Louis- werewidely encountered -- often during their ville Feb. 14-18(•-BP et al.); alongthe Indiana FLYCATCHERS, NUTHATCHES AND frequent visits to bird feeding stations. lakeshore;at Cincinnati Feb. 14-15 (DS) and Observersreported an excellent number of severallocations along L. Erie; CouncilBluffs, WRENS -- An E. Phoebewas reportedfrom Red-tailed Hawks. The total number of Red- Ia., Dec. 5-7 (-•TBr, m.ob.); Thomas Hill Res- the Sullivan, Mo. CBC. A Say'sPhoebe was shoulderedHawks was encouraging; although ervoir, Mo., Feb. 4 (WG et al.); and St. presentfor the Beverly,Ill. CBC, and remained rarely reportedin groupsof two or more, the CharlesCounty (five) during the period(m.ob.): through at least Jan. 1 (JFu, tm.ob.). Red- breasted Nuthatches wintered in small num- number of encountershas definitely increased Warsaw, II1., Mar. 1 (•-DF) and Spfld., Jan. this winter. Rough-leggedHawks staged only 5-6 (H) and alongthe Chicagolakefront. The bersand were patchyin distribution.A House a modest incursion this winter; the largest Iceland Gull was identified at Cleveland (1-2) Wren found the ShadesS.P., Ind., suitable for concentrationwas 27 at the Atterbury, Ind., Feb. 15-18 (M, -•RHn): in Lorain County,O., a few days Dec. 17-22 (J-AB).Winter Wrens Fish & Game Area in February (CK). The Jan. 6-15 (max. three) and Feb. 9-25 (max. were very scarce. Carolina Wrens were also Missourieagle count indicated the presenceof five;JP, m.ob.);and Dolton, II1., Feb. 17 (•JL). very scarce-- but a few continuedto survive at least 38 Golden EaglesJan. 2-5; two were The second Great Black-backed Gull record One Long-billedMarsh Wren was presentat Oxford, O., Dec. 16 (DO). reported from Kentucky Lakes, Ky., Jan. 20 for Iowa was establishedat, Council Bluffs (CP)and threewere found in n.e. Iowa during Dec. 6 (•'RG, •et al.); one appeared at the period; singlebirds were encounteredat MichiganCity, Ind., Feb. 23 (•-KBr);and the MIMIDS AND THRUSHES -- Mocking- two Indiana, two Iowa, three Missouri and one specieswas termed "regularlyincreasing" in birds encountereda poor winter season,sev- Illinois locations during the period. Bald the Cleveland area with two general waves eral areasreported decreases exceeding 50% Small numbers of Brown Thrashers wintered Eagleswere reported in the greatestconcen- reported:Dec. 9 - Jan. 22 (max. 52 birds, Jan trations ever, since current record-keeping, 12) and Feb. 10 - Feb. 28 (max. 500+ birds on successfully.Large groups of robins were with >1400 found along the Illinois and Feb. 16) -- (M). A Lesser Black-backed Gull encounteredthroughout the entire period-- a Mississippirivers Jan. 20 (m.ob.);the species was documented for Cleveland, Lorain Har- surpriseto most observers.The only Varied wasalso widely reported from inland locations bor, Feb. 19-21 (•J, -•m.ob.). Thayer's Gulls Thrush reportedwas found at Shenandoah, in all six states; an excellent concentration of continued their widespread realization Ia., Feb. 23 ('•RP).The E. Bluebirdpopulation 812 wasreported from SquawCreek N.W.R., throughobserver searches; the focal point of continuedits downwardtrend; many birds Mo. (hereafter,S.C.R.) in January. the speciesdistribution seemsto be the St. were found dead in boxes; from individuals to Marsh Hawks were noticeablyscarce this Louis, Mo., area -- at least more birds were small groups were occasionallyencountered winter; however, a "roost" of 20 individuals at identifiedthere than anywhereelse; the other throughoutthe winter. Four Townsend'sSol- Lawrenceville,II1., duringFebruary was quite reportswere from Cleveland(January), Lorain itaires were satisfactorilydocumented; one unusual(LHr). The Prairie Falcon in Jersey County,O. (January,February); Chicago (Jan- each at Des Moines, Ia., Dec. 24-29 (DMn, County,II1., Dec. 2 (•-BSy,-•WRu, m.ob.) was uary)and Spfld.(January). A Franklin'sGull m.ob.);Sheldon, Ia., Feb. 3 (•-JV);St. Joseph, an excellent find. At least one, sometimestwo, madea brief Spfld.appearance Dec. 21 (H). A Mo., Dec. 18 (LG,L); and Crab Orchard N.W.R., II1., Jan. 25 ('•SH). Peregrine Falcons were regularly observed Black-headed Gull was noted for Lorain, O., (and photographed)in LawrenceCounty, Ill., Dec. 27 (-•JP)and Cleveland Dec. 31 (•RHn). KINGLETS, WAXWINGS AND Dec.23 throughlate January (-•LHr,•-DJn, m.ob.); From two to six Little Gulls remained in the SHRIKES -- Golden-crownedKinglets were anotherwas sightedin Douglas County, IlL, Clevelandarea through Jan. 5 (M, m.ob.).The Decl 27 (•-EL); singleswere alsoencountered only Black-leggedKittiwake reported was still exceedinglyscarce, often absent,in most tn St. CharlesCounty, Mo., Dec. 1 & Jan. 6 located at Port of Indiana, Ind., Jan. 1 (-•TK1). areas. Bohemian Waxwings were reported from five Iowa locations:none from elsewhere (PS,MS). The only Merlins satisfactorily DOVES THROUGH WOODPECKERS -- reportedwere singlesat three Missouriloca- CedarWaxwings were detected as migrants in tions:Kansas City Dec. 28 & Feb. 1-12 (m.ob.); Mourning Doveswintered in much greater largenumbers Regionwide beginning in early February; max. numbers were noted in mid- Ozark County, mid-December(NF); and St. numbersthan usual and apparentlysurvived Louis Jan. 11 (PS et al.). The Am. Kestrel was to a significantdegree. Two Barn Owls were February (m.ob.). A normal number of N reported from Missouri CBCs; another took Shrikeswas identified; again, only at the n foundto be scarcein someareas and relatively up residenceat Chicago'sLincoln Park Zoo edgeof the Region:one in Indiana, many in commonin others;overall, the speciesappar- Dec. 16-30 until it succumbed (KBe, m.ob.). Iowa, ten in Ohio, and one in Illinois. Small ently fared well. Only a few SnowyOwls appearedthis winter; numbersof LoggerheadShrikes were encoun- GALLINACEOUS SPECIES -- A Greater Iowa, where most are usually recorded, teredsomewhat n. of their usualwinter range Prairie Chickenwas observedsitting in a tree reported few; none were found in Missouri. at Pisgah, Ia., Feb. 7 (tlSc et al. ). The Bob- Long-earedOwls were rather scarce,being WARBLERS, BLACKBIRDS -- The three white was still scarcethis winter Regionwide. reported from only eight locations.Short- December records of Com. Yellowthroats

286 AmericanBirds, May 1979 were: L. Waveland. Ind.. Dec. 16 (I'TK!); s.c. 0P). The 74 Rufous-sided Towhees at Oxford, john (n. Ohio);(K) VernonKleen (Illinois),(L) LaPorte County, Ind., Dec. 30 H'VR); and O., in mid-Decemberwere exceptional(DO). Floyd Lawhon, (M) William K!amm, (N) Lorain, O., Dec. 22 0P). There were no large Small numbers of Savannah Sparrows were Nicholas Halmi (Iowa). (P) Peter Petersen, (R) blackbirdroosts reported; it wasbelieved that reportedthis winter. Three VesperSparrows Mark Robbins,(S) Anne Stamm (Kentucky), the extremely cold winter forced the birds to spent the winter in LawrenceCounty, Ill. (W) Arthur Wiseman, other observers and move S of the Region.Yellow-headed Black- (LHr, Din). The Tree Sparrowwas found to be reportersincluded: K. Alexander,D. Arvin, birds were pleasant additions to the winter quite abundant in the n. portionsof the E. Armstrong, R. Austing, T. Barksdale sceneat Dunlapsvi!le,Ind., Dec. 17 (fide LC); Region:however. scarce -- oftenabsent -- in (TBk), T. Bartlett (TBt), C. Becker (eBk), K. IndianapolisFeb. 18 (I'WW); Nelsonvii!e.O., manys. partsof the Region.There werea few Bell (KBe), C. Bendoff (CBn), B. Bertrand Jan. 3 (SKI, m.ob.); and Franklin County, O., Iowa encountersof Harris' Sparrows;one was (BBe), D. Bierman, R. Biss (RBi), G. Black, R. Jan. 3-13 H'JFr). Two N. (Baltimore) Orioles regularlyobserved in Franklin County, O., Bedeman (RBd), C. Bonner (CBo), T. Bray attemptedto winter at Cincinnati(W); others Feb. S-20 (•-JFr,m.ob.) and Beverly,Ill., Jan. (TBr). K. Brock (KBr), B. Brown (BBr), W. were noted at an Oxford, O., feeder during 2S-31 0Fu). Some observers found more win- Brown, A. Bruner, T. Bruner, E. Burstatte, M. January(DP); and one at St. LouisDec. 6-13 tering White-crownedSparrows than in the Campbell, L Carter, K. Clay, R. Chapel (A). Exceptfor the 1000Rusty Blackbirds in a past.The Dec. 19 & Jan.27 presenceof Lin- (RCh), D. Coskren,R. CoRingham(RCo), R. c. Ohio roost 0), the species was rarely coln'sSparrows (one each) at S.C.R. (TBk) Cummins (RCu), A. & F. Dierkes, J. Dins- encounteredthis winter. although some were and Shenandoah, la. (RP), respectively,was more, D. Dunn, J. Ellis 0El), J. Elmore 0Em), present at feeders.The first ever Bronzed unusual. An excellent number of Lapland N. Fay, D. Fischer,C. Frazer. J. Fry.0Fr), J. Cowbird was found in Missouri at S.C.R.. Jan. Longspurswintered throughout the Region; Funk (JFu), L. Galloway, I. Getscher, B. Gill, S (*BH et aL ). most were observedduring Januaryand Feb- D. Gi!laspey,S. Glass,W. Goedge,A. Gould, ruary; a peak of 1500 was reportedfrom St. R. Green, J. Greer. C. Grimes, L. Haines FRINGILLIDS THROUGH BUNTINGS Louis Jan. 27 (A). The first St. Louis area (LHn), J. Hancock (JHa), R. Hannikman -- A Rose-breastedGrosbeak was present at record for MeCown's Longspur was firmly (RHn), L. Harrison (LHr), D. Hatch, C. Hath, an Oxford, O., feeder in January (TP). A established when one to two birds were doc- J. Haw (Haw), R. Hayes(RHy), B. Heck, J. Hil- Black-headed Grosbeak stayed at Cedar umented Jan. 11-16 (•'PS et al., m.ob.). Snow sabeck 0Hi), K. Hobbs, J., D. & J. Hoffman Rapids. la., Dec. 1-10 (•'SM, m.ob.). An Buntingswere also widely reported; most were OHo), S. Hossler,V. Humphreys,D. Johnson Indigo Bunting wasstill presentat Ft. Wayne, found in areasthat did not have an icy ground (Dlh). G. Johnson.N. Johnson.D. Jones(Din), Ind., Dec. 3 ('}'DL). EveningGrosbeaks were coveringbeneath the snow;the heaviestcon- K. Jones,C. Keller (Indiana), T. Keller (TK!), recordedin only tokennumbers this winter-- centrations occurred in January and Feb- T. Kent (TKn), J. Knoblaugh, D. Koenig, F. scarce everywhere. The Purple Finch was ruary;large numbers were reported through- Kringer. R. Krol, J. Landing. E. Larson, F. observedin only "fair" numbers;in Kentucky out the Region as far s. as c. Missouri and Loetscher. D. Lupe, K. Maslowski, L. they were noted as "the lowest numbersin Gibson County, Ky.; >3000 were present in McKeown. N. McLaughlin, S. Millikin, D. history." Up to 14 HouseFinches were found oneSeneca County, O., field Feb. 16 (TBt). Mooney(DMn), D. Mosman(DMs). M. New- !on, R. Niewiarowski, D. Osborne (s. Ohio), B. at Lorain during the period0P); small num- UNCORROBORATED RECORDS -- Fer- berswere regularly observed at Akron feeders Palmer-Ball, L. Parker, C. Peterson, T. Peter- all winter- max. 12 (CT). CommonRedpolls ruginousHawk at Amana.la., in earlyFeb- son, D. Pfohl, R. Phipps, J. Pogacnik, W. ruaryand at KansasCity Dec. 10 & 30. Prairie werefound in onlythree locations: Kansas City, Randie (WRa), I. Ratbert (Missouri). J. Falcon at Tabervi!!e, Mo., Feb. 24. A Swain- Rickert, V. Riemenschneider, Mrs. C. Robert- Mo., Lafayette,Ind., and Iowa (exactlocation sowsThrush at ChicagoDec. 27. A Gray- unknown). Pine Siskins were also relatively son. L. Rosche, W. Rndden (WRu), J. Schauf- cheekedThrush at Bloomington,Ind., Dec. scarce;they weresporadic in distributionand enbuel 0Sc). C. Schlemmer, M. Scudder. R. 16. One McCown's Longspurat Atterbury Silcock (RSi), B. Shaw (BSh). J. Smith (ISm). encounteredmost frequentlyin the north. Fish & Game Area. Ind., Feb. 4. American Goldfinches were termed "com- P. Snetsinger,R. Starr (RSt). T. Staudt. D. mon" in some areas and absent from others; ADDENDUM -- Two Boreal Chickadees Styer, B, Symes(BSy), E. Tramer, C. Tveek- dumping may have been the case.From one visitedan Osage,la., feeder,Nov. 24-26 rem. L. VanCamp. J. Van Dyk, N. Walker, V. to two Red Crossbillswere found in four widdy (tAW). Weiss, W. Weisel!, M. Weldon, H. West scattered locations from early January (HWe), 1. Wilson, R. Windsor, T. Winstel, A. throughearly February.;however, 14 were CONTRIBUTORS -- (Subregional Woolfries, C. Woolfries, H. Wuestenfeld foundin LorainCounty, O., Dec.28 (JP). Only Editors'names in boldfacetype; contributors (HWu), H. Zalatel, M. Zierath. --VERNON two flocksof White-wingedCrossbills were are requestedto sendtheir reportsto these M. KLEEN, Division of Wildlife Resources, detected;one at Burlington,la., in December editors). Major contributors(A) Richard Illinois Department of Conservation,Spring- (fide GB) and one in Lorain CountyDec. 28 Anderson,(H)David Bohlen, (l) Bruce Peter- field,IL 62706.

CENTRALSOUTHERN REGION LOONS THROUGH HERONS -- The only fRobert B. Hamilton :.:.:i! .... 'C ...... concentration of Corn...... :::•:.:...... • Loons was the 45 at GulfportHarbor, Miss., Jan. 16 (WCW). The The weather pattern was similar to last Red-throated Loon at year'swith a relativelywarm Decemberand ['2 "2_ ' '" Waveland on the S. much colder January and February. January Hancock County CBC was the coldest on record throughout the I 'i•. •""*- o'•'( .-. i •*•g* %'. ' (LG) furnished the Rosedale • ' ' m ' " Regionand Februarywas colder than normal. eighth Mississippirec- Despitethe cold,there was only a tiny echoof ord and the Red-necked lastyear's Evening Grosbeak and Pine Siskin Grebe identified at the Hattiesburg sewage invasion,The relativelymild December was [ .m-! ...... d' *-- I •o,*•o,,,o.t ß :.; probablyresponsible for many of the hum- pondsDec. 9-12 (LG, mingbirds,flycatchers, warblers and tanagers RMJAT,BWo) provided reportedon ChristmasBird Counts(hereafter, ' . •o•_..•--•_.... >.:::.]: the first Mississippi CBC) as well asthe million plusTree Swallows record. Eared Grebe was at a roost in southernLouisiana. Tree Sparrow present in good num- was the most obvious invader; several other bers in Mississippi: a species, such as Whistling Swan, were maximum of 12 was at t... J '-' ...:. ..: Hattiesburg sewage reportedmore than usual. Severalspecies -- mostlywestern -- extendedtheir rangesinto pondsDec. 18 (WCW); or within the Region. one was at Pascagoula

Volume 33, Number 3 287 R marsh, on the coast where this speciesis nowregularly use Eufaula N W R, as winter- The extremelycold weatherapparently did rare Dec 16-21 (mob ), the two at Horn I, lng groundsfitde JBO) The 55 Ring-necked not adverselyeffect Marsh Hawks m Arkan- Dec. 22 (JJ)were the first for the M•ss•ss•ppl Ducks at Hancock City Feb. 2 (JAT) were sas, 17 were found m Prairie County Feb 4 offshore islands. White Pelicans were found at reported as high for s. Mississippi.Seven (H&MP) and 24 in CraigheadCounty Feb 10 severalunexpected places: Miller's L., Evan- GreaterScaup were at WheelerN.W.R., Dec. (ENH,HHH,H&MP). There weremore Osprey gelinePar., Dec. 8 (RDe);Sibley L., Natchi- 10 (L&RWL); up to sevenat PascagoulaR. reportsthan usual especiallyfrom Louisiana toches Par., Dec. 18-20 (CV); Merritt Mill marsh, Dec. 16 - Jan. 6 (PD,WCW,RCh,JAT and Mississippi.Singles were reportedfrom Pond, JacksonCo., Fla., Dec. 16 (HMS,GM) et al.); four at the Hattiesburg sewageponds JacksonCounty, Fla. (RCa), Clark County, --first inlandcounty record; 17 at W. ShipI., Dec. 28 (LG,MFH); and offshore approx- Ark. (H&MP), Eufaula, Ala. (JBO), Ablta Feb. 25 (JJ,CDC)--first February Mississippi imatelyten in MississippiSound Feb. 23 (JJ, Springs(NN. Cr. B.C.), Johnson'sBayou, Pine record.Ralph Havard'soffshore marine biol- CDC et al. ). There wereseveral other reports. Prairie (two -- CBC), L. Ponchartrain (BC, ogyactivities have increased knowledge of pel- Scatteredrecords of Com. Goldeneyescrossed RJN,EK), Bonnet Carte Spillway (PN), all agicsoff of s. Alabama•fide TI). Two Blue- my desk:the mostinteresting was the 30 at L. Louisiana; also Natchez and S. Hancock faced Boobies were found Jan. 28 (JaP,Rha, Maumelle, Pulaski Co., Ark., Feb. 4 (H&MP). CBCs,Jackson County CBC (five), and two at RM) and one Feb. 24 (RHa). The five Brown A 9 Barrow's Goldeneye wintered and was JacksonCity (JAT,MFH), and one elsewhere, BoobiesJan. 11 (RHa) provided Alabama's photographedat Radnor L., Nashville.It was (JAT,MFH,GMo,AD) and Hancock City, all first winter record; three were found Jan. 28 last reportedDec. 30 and marked the second Mississippi,Dec. 3 - Feb. 24. The Peregrine (JaP,RHa,RM).The 250 GannetsRalph found Tennesseerecord •ide MLB). The cold Falcon was found at three locations in Loui- Jan.4 easilyeclipsed the previous high of 100+ weatherprobably accounted for the 85 Old- siana:near Ville Platte, EvangelinePar., Dec and were an extraordinarynumber for the w. squawat W. ShipI., Feb. 25 (JJ,CDCet al.); 15 (JBO); at Rutherford Beach,Cameron Par, part of the Gulf as werethe 50 at W. ShipI., 50 were there Feb. 26. Four were at Ross Jan. 8 (RJN,BC,EK); and at Venice Jan 9 Feb. 24 (JJ,CDCet al.). The 34 Double-crested Barnett Res., Hinds Co., Miss., Feb. 10 (N&PN). In Mississippithere wasone at Horn Cormorantsreported at SwanCreek W.M.A., (FW,RDo,CB,EL). An imm. Harlequln Duek I., Dec.23 (JJ)and one at W. ShipI., Feb 25 Jan. 7 (RWL) documentedan increasein Ala- was collected in n.w. Decatur, Limestone Co., (JJ,CDCet al.). One was at Bay County, Fla, bama •'de TI) and echo severalcomments Jan. 19 (HS,DHu); it was the fourth reported Dec. 29 (B&SS). The only non-CBC Merlin suggestinga Regional increase.Normally, Alabama occurrence.The only White-winged was one at Petit Bols I., Dec. 3 (JJ,CDC et al ) winteringOlivaceous Cormorants in s.w.Loui- Scoter was an ad. male at Old Hickory L., The 385 Am. Kestrels found on the 18 Arkan- sianawould not be of interestbut the report of near Nashville, Feb. 24-28 (TM). Bruce Crider sas CBCs, were 70 more than in any recent nestingwith youngapproximately 2-3 weeks reportsthat Black Scoterswere rarer than in year(average for the last5 yearsis 241). old at Johnson'sBayou Dec. 17 (HD,McR) is the previoustwo wintersat Cameron,La. On Sandhill Craneswere first reported migrat- noteworthy.There werethe usualreports of the other hand, 175 were reported off Petit ing throughTennessee at Byrdstown,Pickett winteringAnhingas in s. Louisianabut the Bols I., Dec. 3 (JJ,CDC et al.): Dec. 4, 75 were Co., Nov. 1, with a flock of 10; a flock of 25 two at Hattiesburg Dec. 28 (LG,JAT,B& present.The 400 HoodedMergansers at Nox- was seen Nov. 22, but the major movement MWo) werereported as unusual at anyseason. ubee N.W.R., Jan. 10 (WCW,CDC) is a note- was Dec. 1-2 when 765 were countedin eight Lingering Magnificent Frigatebirdswere at worthy number as is 228 at Eufaula, Feb. 10 flocks (D&RH). Two were at Holla Bend Petit Bols, I., Jackson Co., Miss., Dec. 3 (JBO,DC). N.W.R., PopeCo., Ark., Jan.20 (ENH,HHH (CDC,JJ,BJS)and at SabineL., CameronPar., C&EA). The 35+_near Cheneyville,Rapides Dec. 30 (MC,BO,BCr,LML, H&LM). The fifth HAWKS, CRANES, RAILS -- Black Vul- Par., Feb. 8 (BC,RJN)is an area high. A Sora Nashville area wintering Green Heron, Nov. tures were far s. at Holly Beach, Cameron at Ashland City, Tenn. (TM) made the first 22-31 (CE,RMi), and the sixth Dec. 10 Par., Dec. 3 (one -- BC,RJN,KZ), and Sabine Nashville area winter record; although this (D&PC) occurred before severe weather, as N.W.R. (CBC -- seven). An indication of the specieshas been recorded at Columbia,50 ml did the one on Buffalo R., Ark., CBC. Other improvementis the five Sharp-shinnedsfound s. for four consecutivewinters; a seldom-seen heronslingering early in the seasonwere five oneach of twoMississippi CBCs and the three Yellow Rail at Reserve(BC,RBH); and a Pur- Little Blues (CMi,EP,CM) and the Am. Bit- Cooper'sHawks found on the PinePrairie and ple Gallinuleat Sabine(BC,KZ). tern at Nashville which marked the second the HattiesburgCBCs. Broad-wingedHawks winter record Dec. 9 (LJ). There were several were reported at Gulf Breeze, Fla., Dec. 12 CHARADRIIFORMES -- Two Am ReddishEgret reportsfrom the e. sectionof (LD), and on the ReserveCBC. The light- Oystercatcherswere found at Gautier Jan our Region: one at Gautier, Miss., Dec. 29 - phase Swainson•sHawk reported at Ocean 6-27 (JAT,MFH,RCh,WCW). The 30 Semi- Jan. 15 (JAT,LG,WCW,J&TI); one at W. Ship View Beach, Cameron Par., Jan. 9 (BC,RJN) palmatedPlovers at W. ShipI., Feb.24-25 (JJ, I, Feb. 24 (JJ,CDCet al.); a dark-phase at provided the second Louisiana January rec- CDC) was a large number for an uncommon Eufaula N.W.R. (JBO,DC) was the third ord. A minimum of 16 Rough-leggedHawks winter residentas were the 36 Piping Plovers inland Alabama record and first in winter. A was found in 9 middle Tennessee counties at Bay St. Louis,Miss., Feb. 22 (JAT).On the SnowyEgret was at EscambiaCounty, Fla., and five were reported from Arkansas and other hand, Piping Plovers were notably Dec. 16 (CKi et al.) and Feb. 10 (DR et al.); Louisiana. absent in n.w. Florida •fide CKi). Snowy there is only one previouswinter record.The The increasein Golden Eagle records is Plovers were recorded several times this winter Least Bittern at Pensacola Beach, Fla., Feb. encouraging.They werefound on 5 Regional all in Louisiana: total, 24-25 birds at four 10 (JPh;L,R&SD) provided a third winterrec- CBCs; one was near Jasper, Ala., Nov. 8 locations, various dates Dec. 10 - Feb 24 ord.The Plegadis ibis sp. found at Miller'sL., (HWr,AM), an immature was at Leaf River (BCO,KD,McR,RJN,BC,JJ,CDCet al.) The Dec. 17 (MWe) & 20 (JBO) was unexpected W.M.A., Perry Co., Miss., Jan. 27 (WM); and Wilson's Plover on the Johnson'sBayou CBC, that far inland, especiallyin winter. an especially encouraging four at Spring was unexpected.A Whimbrel was at John- Bayou Plantation, Madison Par., Feb. 25 son'sBayou Jan. 29 (RJN,BC). The Solitary WATERFOWL -- There was an unprec- (BC,RJN). The Nat'l Wildlife Federation Sandpiperat W. Ship I., Feb. 23 (JJ,CDCet edentedinvasion of WhistlingSwans this win- mid-winter eagle count tallied 30 Golden al.) was nine daysearlier than the Mississippi ter. A widespreadflight reachedthe s.e.about Eagles:two in Alabama, one in Mississippi,27 springrecord; three were there Feb. 24 On Nov. 19 with birds wintering in Mississippi in Arkansas, and none in Louisiana. The same Dec. 18, 40 Greater YelloMegswere at Grave- andAlabama •f•'de JBO). The maximumnum- surveyfound a total of 444 Bald Eagles:21 (17 line Bayou,Jackson Co., Miss.(J&RCh) The ber reportedwas 47 at WheelerN.W.R., Ala. imm.) in Alabama, 19 (10 imm.) in Missis- 20 LesserYellowlegs at JacksonCity Feb 10 (TZA, fide JBO). The four on S. Hancock sippi, 368 (160 imm.) in Arkansas,and 36 (14 (JAT,PD)were probablyearly migrants The CountyCBC (J&RCh)were a coastalMissis- imm.) in Louisiana •fide RAy). Several 40 Red Knotsat W. ShipI., Feb. 23 (JJ,CDC), slppi first. There were several scattered observersreported increasedBald Eagle pres- provideda recordMississippi high count Six reportsfrom Tennesseeand Arkansaswith ence: locations included Natchitoches Par. Long-billedDowitchers at Eufaula Feb 10 maxima of 27 at Woods Res., Tenn., Nov. 27 (CV), Toledo Bend Res. (CBD&JWG), St. JBO,DC)were unex. pected inland in winter A (JWS,K&LDu), 12 at Hopefield Chute, Ark.- Charles Par. (MiB,TC), St. Tammany Par. 3emipalmatedSandpiper was reported at Pas- Tenn., Jan. 14 (JH), and ten at Reelfoot L., (juv. in nest -- JAT,J&CF), and Noxubee cagoulaR. marsh,Dec. 26 (J&RCh).The 50 at Tenn., Dec. 24 (WCr). In Tennessee,White- N.W.R. (WCW,CDC). There weremany other W. ShipI., Feb.25 (CDC,JJet al.) aredifficult fronted Goose numbers were sufficient to be recordsbut persecutionpersists: in Arkansas to explain; this speciesis primarily a late termed an invasion•fide MLB). Snow Geese at leasteight were shot this winter •fideENH). migrant.

288 AmericanBirds, May 1979 Marbled Godwits,usually rare in Mississip- Corn Nighthawkat Clarkesvllle,Montgomery S P, EvangelinePar, Dec 14 (JBO), and a pi, wintered at Gautier where they were Co, Tenn, Dec 12 (DSn) At Cameron, the female was at Albermarle L, IssaquenaCo, observed Dec 6 - Feb 26 The maximum LesserNighthawk reported Dec 14 (PN) pro- Miss., Dec. 2-10 (LPC). Several observerscom- number was six on Jan. 7 & 11 (JAT,LG). A vided a first Louisiana winter record. mented on Tree Swallow concentrations Wllson'sPhalarope was observed in a flooded There was an unprecedentednumber of 1000_+at JacksonCity, Miss., Jan. 27 (JAT), field near Miller's L., Dec. 13 (JBO). Amer- hummingbirdsthis winter. In Tennessee,the 10,000 at Harrison City, Miss., Feb. 27 (JAT, man Avocetswere locally abundant. The 90_+ hummingbirdreported at Murfreesboro,Ruther- J&CF); and the unprecedentedmillion plus at PascagulaR. marsh,Dec. 25 (J&RCh),had ford Co., Nov. 28 - Dec. 3 (EH) was believed to observedroosting in sugarcane at Edgard, St dwindled to 21 by Feb. 10 (JAT,PD). They be a late Ruby-throated(details not given-- John Par., La., Dec. 20-29 (PN,RS,MWe). The were accompaniedby Black-neckedStilts: six other speciesmore likely). At Arkansasfeed- two Barn Swallowsreported at Reelfoot L, on Pascagoula marsh Dec. 18 (J&RCH) ers:a hummingbirdwas at Batesville,Independ- Dec. 22-23 (WCr) were the first w. Tennessee decreased to one Feb. 10 (JAT, PD). There had enceCo., Dec. 8 (fideEMN); aSelasphorussp. December record; one has been at L. Lurleen, been only one previousMississippi December was present at Little Rock until Jan. 28 Ala., sinceJan. 13 0NF; D&RCo; F&JT). The record. There was a January record this year (HHH,ENH,J&RC); another Selasphorus Purple Martin reported at Marianna, Fla, from Gautier (WCW). stayed at Little Rock until Dec. 11 (HHH, Dec. 16 (MG,MWa) continues the recent SinglePomafine Jaegers were found Dec. 16 ENH,WMS,W&VS) and a definite Rufous trend of winter sightings. (REH) & Jan.28 (JaP,RHa,RM) near Dauphin Hummlngbird was at the same location Dec. The ten Brown Creepersat Marianna, Dec I, for the fifth and sixth Alabama records. A 10 (ENH). In Mississippithe oneat Gulfport 16 (NW, m.ob.) were the first found there in direct comparison with 16 Parasitics was Jan. 13 (CT) was thought to be a Rufous. In manyyears; other reportsindicated a goodS made Dec. 16. Another Parasitic was found Louisiana, a 9 Archilochus wintered in movement.Some observersreported large Dec 19 at Fort Pickens, Fla. (RD), where it Shreveport(JRS); a Black-chinned,a Rufous numbers of Winter Wrens: 21 at Marianna providedthe first winter record.The Glaucous and a Selasphorussp. winteredat my feeder; Dec. 16 (NW, m.ob.), and eight on the Hat- Gull at L. Millwood, Little River and Hemp- several wintered at Reserve and as usual the tiesburg CBC, and four in January stead Cos., Ark., Dec. 10-11 (CMi,CM et al.) maximum concentration was at New Orleans (WCW,LG). In Arkansas, a Gray Catbird at wasan excitingrecord but doesnot compare where several observers maintain feeders. E1 Dorado Feb. 20-22 (HHS,KLS) was with the first year Iceland Gull reported at unusual. The partial albino (upper surfaces Old Hickory L., Feb. 27 (MPS et al.) that white) Am. Robin at Gulf Breeze, Fla., Feb S representedthe first Tennesseerecord. The In New Orleans Nancy and Paul New- (LEP) was similar in appearanceto one at 1680 Ring-billedsat Eufaula Feb. 10 (JBO), field captured, measured(for identifica- Ocean Springs, Miss., Feb. 27-28 (AD). A may further indicate a movement into our tion) and markedmany hummingbirds. A Wood Thrushwas at MemphisDec. 17 - Jan Region.The ad. Franklin's Gull at Dauphin 1 (RP,VH,BBC et aL). There were several I, Jan. 28 (JaP,RHa,RM) marked the second brief summaryof winteringNew Orleans hummers follows (all records are from the encouragingE. Bluebird reports: 84S were coastal Alabama record. Bonaparte'sGulls Newfields or Bob Raether unless otherwise found on 18 ArkansasCBCs (S yr. avg.: 761), were more common than usual to the s. and noted:2 Ruby-throateds(1 9, 1 imm. cY),7 SO were at Garland County, Ark., Jan. 6 werereported as abundanton (he Mississippi Black-chinneds (1 cY, 4 9, 2 imm. cY), 1 (H&MP); and 30 at Hancock City, Miss coast;230 were at Eufaula Jan. 28 (JBO). The Broad-tailed (imm. cY, Dec. 5-20, third (JAT). The cYMountain Bluebird at Grenada threeGull-billed Terns at W. Ship I., Feb. 26 Dam, Miss., Dec. 26 (RWh,BBC,ASm,MD) staterecord), at least4Archilochus sp., 11 (CDCJJ,JB)were perhapsearly migrants.A constituteda first Mississippirecord; one was Black Tern was found n. of Creole, Cameron Rufous (5 cY,3 9, 3 imm.), Selasphorus hybrid ?; ad. cY, measurements and seenin the fall in CameronParish. The largest Par, Dec. 6 (PN). appearance suggest Rufous X Allen's Cedar Waxwing flock reportedwas 1300_+at Decatur, Ala., Feb. 17 (RWL). DOVES THROUGH HUMMINGBIRDS cross.Bird presentDec. 17 - Jan. 6 when it died (*LSU Mus. of Zool.), 3 Buff-bellied -- Another unusual bird this winter was the VIREOS THROUGH TANAGERS -- The Hummingbirds(BRa,BM). One humming- Band-tailedPigeon at Petit Bois I., Dec. 2 (JJ, Bell's Vireo in Cameron Par., Mar. 1 (DTK, bird wasseen and capturedJan. 5-10 that CDC,BJS,FS)for the first Mississippirecord. GHD,RBT) may havebeen an earlymigrant couldnot be attributedto species.There A first winter record of Yellow-throated Vireo In addition to the White-winged Doves were several black feathers on its chin but reportedon the CBCs,one was at HancockCity, was at Gatcon Pt., Santa Rosa Co., Fla., Dec feathershape eliminated Black-chinned. Feb 22 (JAT). Three grounddoves were near 16 (DR,DT,D&RA). The Solitary Vireo at Van Cleave, Miss., Dec. 16 (LG,SP). Inca Clayton,Miss., Dec. 19 (BBC) and two at Sar- Dove is the final unusualColumbid reported dis L., Jan. 13 (EA,BBC,LCC,C&SR), were of this winter; two were at Peveto Beach Woods, WOODPECKERS THROUGH WAX- interest. Black-and-white Warblers were more Cameron Par., Dec. 16 (BCo,KD,McR). WINGS -- Apparentlythe Regionacorn and in evidence than usual: one was at Baton The Yellow-billed Cuckoo at Marianna, pecan crop was good becauseRed-headed RougeDec. 10, 23 & 30 (PMc) and sevenwere Fla, Dec. 16 (MB,D&PM) provided a first Woodpeckersdid not reach the Mississippi on the ReserveCBC, as well as singleson winter record there. Groove-billed Anls made coast in numbers and several observers noted several other counts. The Tennessee Warbler an unprecedentedappearance into Alabama high numbersin n. Mississippi(See CBCs). at Kosciusko,Attala Co., Miss., Dec. 7-8 (JS) wherepreviously ani was on the hypothetical The L. Georgia-Pacific,Ark. CBC, had 31 (vs. may havebeen late departing.The Nashville list In late fall and winter anis were recorded 23; 1977)Red-cockaded Woodpeckers. There Warblerat Venice,La., Jan.9 (N&PN) prob- at Dauphin I., Oct. 7 - Dec. 31; Mobile Jan. 1; wereseveral interesting flycatcher reports; the ably waswintering but the N. Parula in s.w Gulf Shoreand Fort Morgan Oct. 21-22; and New Orleans CBC found W. Kingbird, EscambiaCounty, Fla., Feb. 20 (MLM) was one was photographedat Eufaula, 100 mi Scissor-tailedFlycatcher, Great Kiskadee and probably an early migrant. Two Black- inland, Nov. 4-18 (JBO, fide TI). Another a controversialkingbird first identified as a throated Gray Warblers were near Venice inland record was at Miller's L., Dec. 17 Tropical.It wasseen subsequently Jan. 4. The Dec. 6 (BC&RJN) and a female was found on (JBO,RBH). Other records were two at tail wasforked deeper than the Tropical'sand the New Orleans CBC. The Yellow-throated LaPlace, La., Feb. 24 (MWe) and one at Pas- therewas a light outerweb on at leastthe right Warbler at Wheeler N.W.R., Dec. 13 (AM) cagulaR. marshDec. 17 (WCW,RCh). A Bur- rectrix. Photographsseemed to indicate a providedthe only winter Tennesseevalley rowingOwl wasat SabineJan. 9; anotherwas smaller bill than the Tropical's (fide MiB). record for Alabama. Three Pine Warblers at W. Ship I., Feb. 23-25 (JJ,CDCet aLL Unfortunately, this record will have to be wereat feedersin Hot Springs,Ark., Jan. 25 There were scattered records of Short-eared Tyrannussp. The Myiarchusat Cottondale, (H&MP). The PrairieWarbler at Apalachee Owls, as usual: 20 individuals at 7 locationsin JacksonCo., Fla., Dec. 16 (B&SS),was believed W.M.A., JacksonCo., Fla., Dec. 7 (RCA,fide Arkansas, Tennessee,and Louisiana, includ- to be an Ash-throatedFlycatcher; the descrip- HMS) marked the first local winter record ing 12 at LaHay's L., EvangelinePar., Feb. 8 tion of a "Great CrestedFlycatcher" from an The only Palm Warbler concentrationwas of (BC,RJN). A Chuck-will's-widow was banded unspecified Mississippi location matched >15 at Ocean SpringsFeb. 27 (MFH). An at Petit Bols I., Dec. 1 (JJ,CDC et al.); one at Wied's Crested Flycatcher more closely. Ovenbirdstayed at a feederin NashvilleDec Venice, Jan. 9 (N&PN); and one was on the Observersneed to be extremely careful with 14- Jan. 8 (JM). Johnson'sBayou CBC. The mild early winter winteringMyiarchus. In addition to the CBC Yellow-headed Blackbirds were found in weatherprobably helped to accountfor the Vermilion Flycatchersa male was at Chicot widely scatteredlocationg: the imm. male at

Volume33, Number 3 289 NashvilleJan 3-24 (CKn,LB, J&LN, M&OPa) (H&MP, DoJ), Loms•ana, Haynesville,Feb 4 Charles Mills (CM•), Wflma Mitchell, Don was the third m•ddle Tennessee record, the 50+ (RJN,HJ,C&LK et al ), and Tallulah Feb Moore, Peck Moore, R•chard Moore, Gerry female at Wheeler N.W.R., provideda first 25 (BC,RJN), there are about seven previous Morgan (GMo), Harold Mortimer, Lucde Alabama Tennesseevalley record; and the Louisiana records. In addition to CBC Harris' Mortimer, Edna Mac Nash, Nancy Newfield, female at PascagoulaR. marsh Jan. 13 Sparrows,four were at Bella Vista, Benton Paul Newfield III, Marcella Newman, Robert (WCW,LG; T&JI) was a fourth Mississippi Co., Ark., Jan. 14 (DRG); two were at Fort J. Newman (Louisiana), John Nix, Linda N•x, record. Northern Orioles wintered at several Smith, SebastionCo., Jan. 28 (H&MP); and at BabetteOdom, J. Brent Oftego,Helen Parker, localities:Stuttgart, Ark., Feb. 2-16 (SMc), leasteight near Loggy Bayou W.M.A., Bossier Max Parker,Marge Patrick (MPa), OscarPat- severalat BatonRouge and New Orleans;and Par., Feb. 26 (RJN,BC,HJ). The Golden- rick (OPa), James Peary (JAP), Juliet Peck at Nashville(HFE) whereone photographed crownedSparrow found near Loggy Bayou (JuP),Rob Peeples,L. E. Pelton,Ed Pemble- provideda fourth winter record.A Great- Feb. 11 (RJN,BC)& Mar. 17 (BC,SH)provided ton, E. W. Parmenter,Stephen Peterson, Jimmy tailed Grackle was heard at Miller's L., Dec. a fourth Louisianarecord. The three Lapland Phil (JPh),Linda Pitts, R. D. Purrington,Bob 13 (JBO).Bronzed Cowbirds were seen in New Longspursfound at Destin Dec. 17 - Jan. 6 Raether (BRa), Herschel Raney, Mac Read Orleans as usual, a male Feb. 24 (N&PN), but (R&LD, m.ob.) marked a secondn.w. Florida (McR), Don Richardson, Charles Rollins, Sue extendedtheir range E to Mississippiwhere it record;the oneheard at Ocean SpringsDec. Rollins, Beth Rood, Rusty Rood, JamesSan- wasobserved at PascagoulaR. flats: one,Jan. 21 (WCW) was the first reported for coastal ders,Vivian Scarlett,William Scarlett,Bette 6, three, Jan.7; one,Jan. 10; and >15 on Mar. Mississippi.The largestnumber reported was J. Schardien, William M. Shepherd, H. H 13 (MFH,JAT; J&RCh). In additionto the W. 290 at Memphispenal farm Jan. 24 (T.O.S.- Shugart,K. Luvoisghugart, Virginia J Tanagersfound on CBCs, a male was at a Memphis chapter). A Snow Bunting was Slaughter,Alice Smith (ASm),Harry Smith, BatonRouge feeder Jan. 25, 28 & Feb.1 (VC). found with Horned Larks and Lapland Long- David Snyder (DSn), M. Pat Stallings, SummerTanagers were reported in Baton spursthere Feb. 11 (RB,fide BBC);for a sec- Barbara Stedman, Steve Stedman, Ronald RougeDec. 15 (VJS) & 23 (PMc,TH); at ondMemphis record. Stein, Henry M. Stevenson,J. R. Stewart, Jo Shreveportthis specieshas winteredat the W. Stone,Faye Swan,Tennessee Ornitholog- same feeder for six consecutiveyears {fide CORRIGENDUM -- The Chuck-will's- ical Society,Frances Thompson, Jim Thomp- JRS); and one winteringat Mobile (PB) con- widowreported last winter at Horn I., Miss., son, Christina Toups, Judith A. Toups, Jack st•tuteda fourth vicinityrecord. Jan. 17, has been reidentitled as a 9 Whip- Trotter (JTr), Dave Turpin, R. B. Twyman, poor-willby the observerafter extensivecon- Charles Viers, Cile Waite, Noel Warner, FINCHES -- Observers in Arkansas sultingof hisfield notesand studyof museum Margaret Watson (MWa), Melvin Weber reporteda declineof Cardinals.The 9 Rose- skins. (MWe), Wayne C. Weber, Jim Whelan (JiW), breasted Grosbeak wintering at Nashville Tom Whitley, Richard Whittington (RWh), feeder (sixth winter record) was present Dec. CONTRIBUTORS (boldface) AND Frances Wills, Bob Wood (BWo), Martha 29 - Feb. 7 (JM). SingleBlack-headed Gros- OBSERVERS --Ed Alexander, Jr., Jan Alex- Wood(MWo), HarrietWright (HWr), Kathleen beaks were at LaPlace, La., Jan. 20 (MWe); ander, Don Anderson, Rusty Anderson, Zinn. -- ROBERT B. HAMILTON, Schoolof BatonRouge Jan. 28-31 (B&PMc eal.); and Carlos Araoz, Eulalia Araoz, T. Z. Atkeson, Forestry, Louisiana State University, Baton near Baxley, Newton Co., Ark., Jan. 23-26 RayAycock (RAy), Geneva Barry, W. J. Bean, Rouge,LA 70803. (H&MH); and at Little Rock Mar. 4 (LP). An Linda Bennett, Christine Berry, Michael L. IndigoBunting was a window-killat Memphis Bierly(Tennessee), Paul Blevins, Marlys Boyd, (WJB, fide BBC) was the first December Mike Braun (MiB), Mark Brown (MBr), Rob occurrence there. Dickcissels were found Jan. Browne,Jimmy Bullock, Robin Carter (RCa), 6 at Gallatin, Summer Co., Tenn. (PL, fide Louis P. Cashman,Jr., Virginia Cazedessus, PC) and at Nashville (JA); on Feb. 27 one was Jim Chapel(JCh), R. Chapel(RCh), Ben B. at Campti,Natchitoches Par. (BC,RJN).In Coffey,Ir. (W. Tennessee),Lulu C. Coffey, Tennessee,there were reportsof a few single David Cole (DCo), Ruth Cole (RCo), Dan EveningGrosbeaks for a dayor two.In Loui- Combs,C. Dwight Cooley,Betty Cornelius siana, a female was near HaynesvilleJan. (BCo), Tom Coulson,Merry Cox, Jack Crab- 22-24 (C&LK) and one was at Gretna Mar. 19 tree, Roberta Crabtree, Bennie Craig (BCr), (GB). Observers throughout the Region Dot Crawford, Paul Crawford, CrescentBird reportedPurple Finch numbers low earlyin Club (Cr.B.C.), Wendell Crews (WCr), Bruce season.Later, they were in normalnumbers in Crider, William Criswell, C. B. Dartez, e sectionof the Region.They arrived en masse Howard Davis, Judy Davis, Marvin Davis, m Tennesseein mid-Januaryand somearrived Randall Deshotel (RDe), Pete Donaldson, m Arkansasin early February, but birds G. H. Douglass,Ruth Downey(RDo), Ken remainedvery scarce in Louisianaand Missis- Drozd, Ken Dubke (KDu), Lil Dubke (LDu), NORTHERN GREAT PLAINS s•ppi. Male HouseFinches were at Florence AnnetteDuchein, Lucy Duncan, Robert Dun- /Esther M. Serr Jan. 26-27 (PK) (fifth Alabama record) and at can, Scot Duncan, Craig Empson, H. F. Wilton Feb. 17 (CMi) (fourth Arkansas rec- Evans, Margaret Floyd, Wendy Forster, ord). There were very few Pine Siskinsthis Chuck Fuller, Jane Fuller, Larry Gates, S. A. This winter seasonwas exceptionallycold winter, in contrastto last yeaifs record inva- Gauthreaux, J. W. Goertz, Hylma Gordon, -- the coldest since 1936. Moderate snowfall sion. Siskinsdid stay at severalBaton Rouge Mary Gray,Mr. & Mrs. D. R. Grimes,Edith continuedto build up withoutany melting and feeders,however. There wereseveral reports of N. Halberg (Arkansas),Henry H. Halberg, someparts of everyprovince and statehad at VesperSparrows from the n. partof theregion Robert B. Hamilton, Van Harris, Dave Has- least 65 days of continuous temperatures wherethey are rare. There werescattered rec- sler, Robbie Hassler,Ralph Havard (RHa), belowfreezing. Luckily, there were only a few ords in middle Tennessee (T.O.S.); one was EdithHaynes, Richard E. Hayward,S. Heath, stormsand not muchwind. At SquawRapids, se•enat Noxubee N.W.R., Dec. 11 (JS,EWP) & HaroldHedges, Margaret Hedges, Tom Hick- Sask.,on February 13 over 12 inchesof snow Jan. 10 (CDC), and five in Lonoke County, cox,Malcolm F. Hodges,James Holt, David fell with wind velocityup to 30 mph combined Ark., Jan. 27 (H&MP). A Lark Sparrow was at Hulse (DHu), Joe Imhof, Thomas Imhof with a -44øF temperaturefor an incredible PulaskiCounty, Ark., Dec. 30 (MF). A Dark- (Alabama), JeromeJackson, Louise Jackson, windchill factor.In spiteof the coldan amaz- eyed(Oregon) Junco was reported Jan. 25 at DouglasJames (DoJ), Horace Jeter, D. T. Kee, ing numberof migratorybird speciesmanaged L•ttle Rock (ENH,HHH); five were in Hot Cecil Kendrick, Loice Kendrick, Curtis to survive the winter. Springsin February(H&MP). There was a Kingsberry(CKi) (Florida),Paul Kirtle, Carol majorinvasion of Tree Sparrowsinto the n.w. Knauth (CKn), EvelynKramer, L. M. Leving- HERONS -- A Great Blue Heron was late In Tennessee,an invasion (smaller than in ston,Jr., PeggyLigon, Evelyn Lockett, Laurie Dec. 1 in RobertsCounty, S.D. (DD: singles 1977-78) occurred Jan. 21 - Feb. 19. Most were Lowe, Roy W. Lowe, Roger Maner, Tim were also seen Dec. 10-19 at SpruceWoods observedin fields; max. flock size was 30 Mann, ClydeMassey, Mary Lou Mattis, Jane P.P., Man. (DRMH); the Little Big Horn R, (T O.S.).There were also reports from Missis- Maynard,S. McCoy (SMc), Bill McKee,Becky Mont., Feb. 21 (D. Howell,fide H. Downing) s•ppi(Oxford, 10-MD); Arkansas, mostly Feb- McKenzie (BMc), Paul McKenzie (PMc), Gail and-onespent the entireperiod at CanyonL, ruary, scattered locations, flocks 2-90 Menk, Rocky Milburn (RMi), Ann Miller, RapidCity, while its wing mended.

290 AmericanBirds, May 1979 -•F ...... N.W T. Man., Willow Ptarmiganpeaked at 150 Ëan. I I HUOSON I Sask.,7 (JEJ,MAG);Nov.28 one& Feb.was 25 and one Rock Ptarmiganwas found dead Churchill •A¾ at Burke Jan. 2S (GLS) Feb. 5 (BC). Thirty White-tailed Ptarmigan and anothernear Spear- were seen at Fort Chipewyan,Alta., Dec. 4 / i SASK. MAN. fish, S.D.. Feb. 26 (GRAE). (RMH). Numerous Red- It was this group that sufferedheavy losses I A tailed Hawks stayed in the winter stormsof 1977-1978,yet South A near the Missouri R., Dakota showedbetter productionthan usual. C in s.e. South Dakota This was probably owing to the increased (WH) with only a few moisturethat producedgood prairie grassfor reported from the rest habitat. Greater Prairie Chicken sightings totaled 177 from Turner, Bon Hornroe and ter. An ad. Red- Charles Mix counties, S.D. (LAWJEW,WH). • shoulderedoftheRegion Hawk this win-was Sharp-tailed Grouse have not been observed roadkilled Dec. I at in suchnumbers for yearsand Gray Partridge Clearwater. Man. It peaked at >10,000 Feb. 8 in Deuel County, was taken to the S.D. (BKH). Sharp-tailedswintered well, with Museum of Man and 750 at Upper Souris(IOR) and 300 at J. Clark Nature. Winnipeg, to SalyerRef., N.D. 0RF); there were 125+ in become the first con- onefield at SpringValley, Sask., Dec. 18 (FB). firmed record for the Five Sage Grouse were seen in January at Province and lends cred- Eastend,Sask., the only onesreported in the ibility to earlier rec- Region (RSJJEJ,MAG). Pheasantswere easy ords consideredhypo- to find only in the Billings, Mont., area thetical (R. Dyck, A. (HWC). A flock of 35 Turkeys wintered at NEBR. Schrit0. Valley City, N.D. (RPM) and a total of 140 Much discussion and was counted in the Black Hills (DLB,EEM). GEESE AND DUCKS -- Again an attempt studywas givento the convincinglydescribed Ten Bobwhite were seen Dec. 9 in Yankton was made at WascanaMarsh, Regina. Sask., dark-phaseSwalnson's Hawk reported from County,S.D. (WH). to force Canada Geese and Mallards to leave Webb. Sask., Dec. 3 - Jan. 10 (BP). Numerous after freeze-up by not feeding them. Yet 835 Rough-leggedHawks settled into e. Montanaand GULLS -- Two Glaucous, 23 Herring and Canadas and 215 Mallards remained on the w. South Dakota for the winter. There was a six Bonaparte'sgulls were at Fort Peck Res., ice for three weeks without food or water. concentrationnear Reliance, S.D., withten along Dec. 9. A Black-leggedKittiwake was observed Finally the powerplant was startedto provide 8 highwaymi Nov. 30 and 17 along4 mi Jan. Dec. 23-26, also on Fort Peck, to become a water, but this plant will be demolisheddur- I I (WH,WCT). second occurrence for Montana 0CC,CMC). ing the summer of 1979 (LS). Canadas. By Jan. I mostGolden and Bald eagleshad There was a total of 14 Glaucous Gulls on migratingN numbered10,000_+ at Fort Ran- left the Provinceswith the Goldensspreading Garrison Dam, N.D. (RNR, m.ob.) and 26 dall Dam. S.D.. Feb. 25 0EW.WH). out overthe prairie and the Baldsconcentrat- Herring Gulls near Gavin's Point Dam. S.D.. A few of almost every duck specieswere ing alongthe MissouriR., in the three states. all observedin December (WH). reportedfrom part of the Region.Three Wood Eleven Marsh Hawks wintered in South Ducks wintered with captivesat Jamestown, Dakota. N.D. 0TL) and 30 were seenat BillingsFeb. Gyrfalconsdid not ventureinto the statesof 22 (HWC,BBF,RDF). A Barrow's Goldeneye the Region this winter. Six birds. white and was first observed Dec. 17 and remained on dark, where at Churchill Dec. 28 - Feb. 25 Canyon L., Rapid City, the entire period (BC); five weresighted in s.e. Manitoba Dec. 0LB). A pair was on the Wabamun L., Alta. 31 - Jan. 25 (RWK,IAW). One was counted CBC, Dec. 16 and threewere at Calgary,Alta. Dec. 16 at Wabamun L., Alta.. and singles (ACS).Three 9 Buffleheadswintered at Rapid were at Fort Walsh, Maple Creek and East- City; 23 were seen Dec. 16 at Wabamun L., end, Sask., Dec. 28 - Feb. 10 (GJW.MAGJEJ). and one made the only known record in Jan- Only a few Prairie Falcons wintered in Can- uary at Point du Bols.Man. (GDG,IAW). A 9 ada; however,there were 13 sightingsDec. 7 - HoodedMerganser, that did not appearto be Feb. 1S in South Dakota, six in North Dakota injured,was on an openpool Jan. 4 at ]. Clark and many were seen in e. Montana during a Salyer N.W.R., N.D., where there had been a duck-bandingoperation (TMH). SinglePere- breedingpopulation last summer(RLB). grlne Falconswere noted in Decemberat Fort An Oldsquawwas seenDec. 15 below Oahe Peck (CMC) and at Lewistown, Mont. (W. Dam and a Whlte-winged Scorer was on Bell); an immature was seen in the Grand CapitolL., Dec. 14, both at Pierre,S.D. (RLS). Forks area Dec. 12 (DOL,GSL) and one HAWKS AND EAGLES- Goshawksight- immature was at La Broqueri, Man., Jan. 24 ings in the Region were the most frequent (IAW). Merlins wintered in good numbersat since 1974-1975,with dates throughoutthe Saskatoon (PON,MIH,JBG) and at Edmon- period. The forestedareas of Prince Albert ton, Alta., with just a few reportedfrom other and Squaw Rapids, Sask., had an unusual partsof the Region. Black-leggedKittiwake, Ft. Peck, Mont., total of 43 (WCH.SMLTAGu.GNK) and 12 Dec. 24, 1978. Photo/C. M. Carlson. weresighted in s.e. Manitoba. One was found GALLINACEOUS BIRDS -- A total of 29 in a trap at Churchill. Man. When it was Spruce Grouse was seen at Prince Albert, OWLS [by D. O. Lambeth]-- Ten species released, it flew 3/4 mi with the talons of one SquawRapids and Waskesiu,Sask., Dec. 1 - of owls were reportedfor the Region.A foot dangling and perchedin a tree (BC). Feb. 25 (TAGu,LJS,DR) and sevenin all were ScreechOwl was seenoccasionally on a win- Anothercaught and ate a Black-billedMagpie seen in SandBands and Belair Forest Reserves dowledge in ReginaBeach, Sask. (FWL et al.) at Calgary 0JP); four were sighted in the on Jan. 24 & Feb. 24. Ruffed Grouse numbers and a gray-phasewas discovered Feb. 3 by C. Black Hills, S.D. (RAP) and one at Chester, totalled 29 from Waseea (CDP), Prince Albert, W. Owen in his hen house near Hatton, N.D. Mont., dived into a flock of 30 Sharp-tailed Saskatoon,Wolseley (JDH), Round L. (DF) (.fideJFK). The latter bird had apparently Grouseand 12 Gray Partridge,missing them and Moose Jaw, Sask. (PRK). There were still entered through a ventilation shaft and the all as they flew in everydirection (HMM). goodnumbers in Manitoba after a peak last residents seemed more bemused than alarmed With constantsnow cover, Sharp-shinned winter (RFK). Three were sighted in the by their nnusual visitor. Other observations Hawkswere more prevalentat feeders.Single higherBlack Hills, S.D.: and onewas around were of one in Minor, N.D. (GBB) and four in Cooper's Hawks were observedat Eastend, Calgaryduring the period(JJP). At Churchill, SouthDakota. SnowyOwl sightingstotaled

Volume 33, Number 3 291 more than 250 for the Region,but converting Fourteen were seen feeding on roadkills O'Shea, J J Podlubney, A C Slater, D J the numberof s•ght•ngsinto an eramateof between Browning and Cutbank, Mont Stiles, B Wylie MANITOBA--B Chartier, b•rdspresent was difficult as usual.Despite (HMM). A peak of 50 was at Fort McMurray H. W. R. Copland, C. W. Cuthbert, K A theearly autumn flight into North Dakota and (BW) Dec. 9 - Feb. 18 and 19 wereseen near Gardner, C. D. Grieef, D. R. M. Hatch, the scarcitynoted in someareas of North Janet,Alta., Feb. 18 (RJB). R.W. Knapton, R. F. Koes, R. W. Nero, P Dakota and Saskatchewan in mid-winter, Taylor, I. A. Ward. E. MONTANA -- C. M. SouthDakota reportedonly ten sightings-- CHICKADEES, WRENS -- White- Carlson, H. W. Carlson, J. C. Carlson, B B all from the n.e. quadrant.It wasa goodyear breasted Nuthatch numbers appeared to be FitzGerald, R. D. Foxall, T. M. Hinz, H M for Hawk Owls. Four were banded in Decem- on the upswingafter being lower than Red- Marble. NORTH DAKOTA -- G. B. Berkey, ber near Lac du Bonnet,Man. (RWN,HWRC) breasteds for a few years. Four Pygmy Nut- M. B. Brophy, R. L. Bryant, P. P. Forness, and Alberta observersreported singles at hatches were observed Feb. 10 at Billings, J. R. Foster, T. A. Gatz, J. F. Kelly, D. O. WaterValley (ACS), Didsbury (DJS) and Irri- Mont. (HWC, m.ob.). The Regionaltotal of Lambeth, G. S. Lambeth, S. O. Lambeth, cana(CMc) and two each at Bottrell(JJP,RJB) BrownCreeper sightings increased to 45 dur- J.T. Lokemoen, R. P. Manson, E. B. Podoll, and near Fort McMurray (BW). Saskatch- ing the periodthis winter. Two CationWrens R. N. Randall, I. O. Rostad, R. Schmidt ewanhad singlesat SquawRapids and Pike were observed Jan. 15 & 20 in the higher (RSc), L. H. Wittenberg. SASKATCH- Lake (SJSet al.). A Barred Owl was banded Black Hills, S.D. (RAP,NRW). EWAN -- F. Bogdan, D. Francis, J. B. Gol- Feb. 4 near the Bird R., n.e. of Lac du Bonnet lop, M. A. Gollop, T. A. Guthrie (TAGu), (RWN,HWRC) and others were at Fargo THRUSHES -- More robins than usual W. C. Harris, J. D. Hayward, M. I. Hous- (MBB)and Big Stone L., S.D.(BKH). startedmoving N, with flocksof 200 observed ton, L. M. Hoyte, J. E. Jenkins, R. S. Jer- How many Great Gray Owls were in s.e. Jan. 19 on Rapid City streetsand by Feb. 26 ema, E. W. Kern, P. R. Kern, G. N. Kohl- Manitobaduring the currentinvasion -- the the flocks peaked at 300. It is known that berg, B. Krebe, F. W. Lahrman, S. M. third majorone in a row?The numberbanded migratingrobins arrive in RapidCity in Octo- Lamont, P. O'Neil, B. Peart, C. D. Pike, D was46 (RWN,HWRC) and observerstraveling ber and winter in the cedar breaks along the Rowland, L. Scott, S. J. Shadick, L. J Sfi- to pointse. ands.e. of L. Winnipegto viewthe edgesof the Black Hills. Theserobins have a zer, M. Skinner, G. J. Wapple. SOUTH solar eclipseFeb. 26 saw seven along 60 muchgrayer back, orange-tonedbreast, a bit DAKOTA -- J. L. Baker, D. L. Bjerke, N J h•ghwaymi (GSL,DOL).A returntrip Mar. 4 of white in the edgeof the tail, a more prom- Eckmann, W. Hall, B. K. Harris, J. H. Har- turned up eight-- three in view at one time inenteye-ring and no spotsremain to indicate ter, R. M. Hickenbotham, N.J. Holden, K and seven in different locations from those juveniles.According to Salts' "The Birds of J. Hoover, D. Linehan, R. D. Michael, E E seenjust six days earlier (SOL,JFK). The birds Alberta," this is the robin of Canada. The Miller, R. A. Peterson, E. M. Serf, R L were hunting in broad daylight and the really red-breastedrobin doesn'tarrive until Spomer, G. L. Steffen, W. C. Thietje, N R percheschosen (utility poles,edges of aspen theforepart of April to claimterritory. Single Whitney, J. E. Wilcox, L. A. Williams -- groves)were reminiscent of Red-tailedHawks Townsend's Solitaires were rare finds in ESTHER M. SERR, 615 - 8th St., Rapid seenin other seasons.Great Grayswere also SpruceWoods P.P., Dec. 10 (CWC) andalso City, S.D. 57701. seen at five locations in Saskatchewan and at at ReginaDec. 11 - Jan. 22 (RK,FWL) and at Cochrane, Alta. (MO). Saskatoon Dec. 26. A Varied Thrash was The onlyLong-eared Owl reportedwas seen extremelyunusual Dec. 26 at PierceL., Sask. at Regina in December.Short-eared Owls (L. Christie).This speciesis provingto be a winteredin goodnumbers, with 50 in Alberta, regularwinter visitor in SouthDakota: a win- six in Saskatchewan, five in North Dakota, dow killed bird was found Dec. 16 at Pierre e•ght in SouthDakota and three in e. Mon- (RLS) and onestayed at Billings,Mont., Dec. tana. A Boreal Owl near Winnipeg in late 1 - Jan. 29 (S. Morse). Mountain Bluebird Januarywas often observedhunting at mid- scoutsusually appear with regularityon Feb. day (W. D. Kyle et al.) and perhapsa dif- 19 around Rapid City (NJE) but none was ferentone was seen Feb. 12 (RayTuokke). A observedthis winter period. Bohemian and very rare sightingfor North Dakota was one Cedar waxwingswere presentin all parts of Dec. 22 at Minot (GBB et al.). Saw-whet Owls the Regionin regular numbers. were found at Lethbridge, Alta. (MDO), Endeavor and Indian Head, Sask. (N. Harris, BLACKBIRDS, FINCHES AND SPAR- MS) and at Bismarck, N.D. (TAG). A total of ROWS -- A few of most of the regular four in Januaryand Februaryin sl Manitoba blackbird specieswintered at some place in the Region. A W. Meadowlark stayedin a was unusual (CWC). One was found dead Jan. SOUTHERN GREAT PLAINS 8 at UpperSouris N.W.R., N.D. (LHW). barn with pigeons near Saskatoon, Sask., during January (LMH). A few Yellow- REGION WOODPECKERS, CORVIDS -- Ten spe- headed, Red-winged, Rusty and Brewer's /Frances Williams roesof woodpeckerswere reported, all show- blackbirds,Com. Gracklesand even Brown- lng an increasein numbers.The Red-bellied headed Cowbirds remained and one might has expandedits range to the n.w. One win- guess that they were caught in the early During the first three weeksof December tered at Fargo (PPF) and another was seen November storm and didn't try to migrate. and last two weeksof February the weather near Bismarck Feb. 7 (RNR). Six were The numbers of Evening Grosbeak, as well as was seasonal. But the seven weeks from s•ghtedin e. South Dakota including a pair in the other "winter" finches, were very low. Christmasuntil February 17 provided the s BrookingsCounty wherethey had not been Rufous-sided Towhees wintered at Grand coldestwinter spell on record in most of the seen in ten years (NJH). An imm. Red- Forks, N.D. (fide DOL,SOL) and at Burke, Region. Snow storms and ice storms were headed was very late at Stonewall, Man., S.D. (GLS). One was seen at Edmonton, widespread,even in Texas. Birds reported Dec. 4 (KAG). One was at Burke Dec. 15-24 Alta., Dec. 12 (E&E Kuyt) and another was found dead of exposureand/or starvation (GLS) and one at Yankton, S.D., Feb. 13-28. last seen alive in a weakened condition at included Rough-leggedHawk, Ring-necked Horned Larks by the hundredswere hedge- Pinawa, Man., Jan. 12 (PT). There were Pheasant, Bobwhite, flicker, Horned Lark, hopping acrossthe stubble fields in s. South many reportsof White-crownedand White- Brown Thrasher, House Sparrow,meadow- Dakota by late January and by Feb. 28 num- throated sparrowsthat managedto live into lark sp., Cardinal, Dark-eyedJunco, Tree and bers were estimated in 1000s (JHH,KJH, late Januaryand somemade it to the end of Harris' sparrows. NRW). Migrants arrived at Jamestown, the period, A late Fox Sparrowwas seen Dec. Northern finches were absent but the •nva- N.D., Feb. 10 (JTL) but no migrants had 30 near Bismarck(EBP,RSc). Lapland Long- sionof montanespecies filled the gap. Moun- arrived at Moose Jaw by Feb. 21 (EWK). spursand Snow Buntingswere in average tain Chickadees, Mountain Bluebirds, Town- Common Crows and Pition Jays were numbers this winter. send'sSolitail:es and severaljay specieswere noticeably scarce. Common Raven numbers found far out on the plains. There were also have increased, with total sightings of 138 at CONTRIBUTORS (area editors in bold- more Golden-crownedKinglets than in the Squaw Rapids(TAGu,LJS,GNK) and 785 at face). ALBERTA -- R. J. Butot, G. R. A. past few years, but by no means could their Prince Albert, Sask., for the period (WCH). Ehel, C. McGougan(CMc), M. Oliver, M.D. presencehave beencalled an "invasion."

292 AmericanBirds, May 1979 LOONS THROUGH CORMORANTS -- trans-Pecos Texas but Few loons wintered in the Region Although were scarce in the about 100 Corn. Loons were on L. Livingston remainder of the m e Texas in early winter only three remained Region. A Merlin at the end of February. Other reservoirs chased a cat from a hostedfewer loonsand all the birds departed -,w,..- J NorthPlalto .. ß , ßOmaha yard in OklahomaCity / ...... • ß LInc•n when severe cold arrived. Red-necked Grebes Did it realize the feline were observedin Tarrant County, Tex., Dec. was a competitor for 5-6, Crosby County, Tex., throughoutthe the sparrows? period and LubbockCounty, Tex., Dec. 23. DenYerI• Marthael?n - • PRAIRIE CHICK- Horned Grebes at Midland Feb. 5-25 and L. C 0 L O. I Hay,. To•)ok•'L•'ran•' KENS THROUGH Buchanan in c. Texas Feb. 12 were w. of their RAILS -- About 200 usualrange. Western Grebes were presentin ß .• wichit• I Grandtake Greater Prairie Chick- early December in Texas at Buffalo Lake ens live in a commer- N W R., Midland, Dallas and Fort Worth. cial air park near One remained in Dallas Jan. 12-24. White Baldwin,Kans. They use Pelicanswintered at L. Livingston,as did at hJG •l &AG ¾ &II Amarilloß !I •H, •e6/• OklahomaßMusKogee eLMoffett the intersection of the least 15,000 Double-crested Cormorants. two main runways as a About 100 of the latter were presentFeb. 11 boomingground {fide near KeystoneDam on the Arkansas R. in RLB). Two Greater Oklahoma. A Double-crested Cormorant at m Dentonß •øemmerce Prairie Chickensspent Midland Dec. 20-26 provided a first winter the winter at the record (m.ob.). Cushing,Okla., Country Milliand Club where they sur- HERONS THROUGH GEESE -- A Great vived by eating acorns Blue Heron found some open water in the Numbersof Sharp-tailed Platte R., in DouglasCounty, Neb., Feb. 1. MEXICO Grouse at Crescent L, Little Blue Herons, Cattle and Great egrets were much lower than lingeredin n. Texas until mid-December.In in the winter of 1977- the Texas Panhandle Am. Bitterns remained 78. Several Nebraska at Buffalo Lake N.W.R., until mid-December Dec. 19 (JF,DSt). A Goshawk visited Lincoln, and Kansas observersreported finding flocks and one in CrosbyCounty Jan. 21 provideda Neb., Jan. 13 (NJ). Nearly every contributor of frozen Bobwhites. In December flocks first winter record. Whistling Swans were mentioned how common Sharp-shinned of 100 or more Ring-neckedPheasants were reported in severalTexas localities,with a Hawks were at feedingstations. Although a common in c. Kansas, but after the Jan- peak of 19 at LubbockDec. 4. Other observa- widevariety of passerinesprovided sustenance uary cold it was difficult to find a flock of 20 tions were from Red River, Ellis, Dallas and to the Sharpies,House Sparrows seemed most Gray Partridgesseen in Sarpy County, Neb, Crosby cos. Five spent January at newly oftentaken. An extremelylarge population of Feb. 4-23 were presumedto be a spill-over created L. Limestone in Limestone, and Free- Red-tailed Hawks amazed observers at Tulsa from a flock introduced in Iowa. The intro- stoneand Navarro cos.Ross' Geese were pres- and Nacogdochesbut numberswere the low- ducedpopulation of Rio Grande Turkeysin ent at TishomingoN.W.R., Okla., a not sur- est since 1961 at Fort Worth. Four Red- n.w. Texas survivedby feedingwith cattle or prisingrecord as the specieshas wintered on shoulderedHawks were presenton the Mis- by beingfed by ranchfamilies. Virginia Rails the Texas side of L. Texoma at Hagerman souri R., DouglasCo., Jan. 15 (DD). Rough- wintered at Lubbock and L. Meredith in the N W R. In Comanche County, Okla., 400 legged Hawks were common in Nebraska Texas Panhandle and remained until late White-fronted Geese stopped to feed in a along the North Platte R., Crescent Lake December at Hagerman Re/ A Corn wheat field Feb. 24. N.W.R., and Lincoln. In Pawnee County, Gallinule was sighted at Lubbock Jan. 21 Kans.,they werecommon in early December (DS). DUCKS AND MERGANSERS -- and late February but absentbetween. Per- Nebraska observerswere surprised to find hapsthose were the onesobserved at Hager- SHOREBIRDS THROUGH TERNS -- Gadwallswintering on the Platte R., in such a man N.W.R., in January.A Zone-tailedHawk Shorebirdscompletely deserted the Regionin severewinter. In February, Cinnamon Teal photographedin BastropCounty, Tex., Feb. 1 January and for most of February. Not even were located in Texas in Hutchinson, Real and (GL) providedthe first documentedrecord e. the usually ubiquitous Least Sandpipers Bnsco cos., Buffalo Lake N.W..R., and L. Liv- of the Edwards Plateau. One was alsosighted could be found. This makes the appearance ingston.A EuraslanWlgeon was photographed in UvaldeCounty, Tex., Feb.24 (E&KM). of an Am. Avocet in Crosby County Jan. 25 at Clint, Tex., near E1 Paso, Feb. 11 (KZ,BZ). Althoughnumbers of winteringBald Eagles even more amazing (ML)! Two sub-adult A WoodDuck visitedAlpine, Tex., Feb. 25. A were down in Nebraska, Kansas and Okla- Glaucous Gulls were in Shawnee County, Greater Scaupwas sighted on L. TexomaFeb. homa, they were "super-abundant"in the Kans., in mid-December (OR) and 1-5 could 2 and three were presentat NacogdochesDec. Texas Panhandle and more numerous than be found at Oklahoma City most of the win- 13-20 Lesser Scaup wintered in Sedgwick usualin n. ande. Texas.The reportsfrom all ter. No reports of wintering Bonaparte's County, Kansß Common Goldeneyeswere areasthat imm. eaglesoutnumbered adults Gulls were received. Have they become so abundant in Texas from the Brazos R. to the wereencouraging. Like mostraptors, Marsh common that observers no longer consider PecosR. In the plethoraof recentlypublished Hawks were common in December but hard to them worth reporting? Forster's Terns books on waterfowl, not one mentions the find during the Januarycold. Two Ospreys remained at Hagerman Ref., until Jan. 27 phenomenalincrease in the numberof Hooded werepresent near open water on the Platte R., (CRB) in spite of the severeweather. Merganserswintering on SouthernPlains res- in DouglasCo., Feb. 2 (AG,RW). LakesLiv- ervmrs.The specieswas reported this winter at ingstonand Conroeeach boasted two winter- DOVES THROUGH NIGHTHAWKS -- Lewellen, Neb.; Osage and Sedgwick cos., ing Ospreyswhile two were sightedat Sam Very few Mourning Doves wintered n. of Kans; Tulsa and Ellis cos., Okla.; and many Rayburn Res., St. AugustineCo., Tex., Jan. Texas and several were found dead in Lyon Texas localities. Peak counts were 237 at 28. One at LubbockJan. 19 providedone of County, Kans., in January (YG). An Inca HagennanN.W.R., Dec. 16 and 50 in Crosby the few winter records there. Dove visited a feeder in Stillwater, Okla, County during January. An amazing 1500 An imm. Gyffalconwas captured 7 min. of during most of the winter. Two Inca Doves Corn Mergansers were present in Crosby CrescentL Ref., Dec. 27. It had apparently wereseen at Alpine, Tex., Feb. 12. A confused County, and 200 were countedat Balmorhea flowninto a telephoneline andbroken a wing. Barn Owl sat besidea road at high noon Dec L, Tex., Feb. 10. A Red-breastedMerganser It was airshippedto a Minneapolisraptor 11 in Rush County, Kans. A Barn Owl in wasrecorded at L. Ogallala,Neb., Feb. 17. rehabilitation center (MLS,CFZ). Very few NacogdochesCounty, Tex., Dec. 24 provided Prairie Falconswere reported. A Peregrine a first record there (SL), while one found in RAPTORS -- A White-tailed Kite was was observedin RobertsonCounty, Tex., Dec. Washington County, Okla., Feb. 27 was the sightedat L. Conroe,Montgomery Co., Tex., 14. An unusual number of Merlins wintered in first observedat that localitysince 1971 (AP,ED)

Volume33, Number3 293 At Sherman, Tex, a ScreechOwl roosted •n record •n F•nney County Th•s speciesalso May Warbler was caught •n a net at Baldwin, an aluminum mart•n house The only Snowy v•s•tedthe Black Mesa area of Oklahoma, El Kans, Dec 1 (AJB,KBK) A Palm Warbler Owl seenwas •n Sarpy County Feb. 4 (WT et Paso, Hueco Tanks S.P., and Balmorhea and was s•ghtedDec. 3, at College Station, where al.). Long-eared Owls were discovered at were present in astounding numbers in the it is considered an irregular winter ms•tor Oklahoma City Dec. 2, Midland Feb. 3, lowlandsof the GuadalupeMts. One at Ama- (HH). Hueco Tanks S.P., Tex., Dec. 16, Crescent rillo Jan. 11-14provided the first record there L., Jan. 6 and in Pawnee County, Kans., in 12 years (BZ,KS). White-breasted and ICTERIDS -- Mike Schrick,park manager Feb. 12. Very few Short-eared Owls were Pygmy nuthatches also left the high Guada- at Hulah Res., Okla., reported observing a seen, but then very few birders were in the lupes and were seen feeding in cactus and meadowlarklying on its side holding a Tree field at sundown during sub-freezing yucca plants in the lowlands. A singleWhite- Sparrow while other meadowlarkskilled and weather. Mobbing Com. Crows revealedthe breastedNuthatch visited Potter County Jan. madeoff with the sparrow.In PawneeCounty presenceof a BarredOwl in HemphillCounty, 20 (BZ) and one at L. Ogallala, Neb., Feb. 17 Seltmanobserved meadowlarks crawling •nto Tex., Jan. 28 (KS,BZ). A Saw-whetOwl was providedan unusuallocality record (CFZ). the cracks between bales in haystacks He found in Sarpy County Feb. 4 (WT et al.). Red-breasted Nuthatches were seen at Lin- wrote: "Undoubtedly many survivedbecause Perhapsthe most unexpectedbird found this coln, Oklahoma City and Amarillo. of this practice but many died where they winter was a Common Nighthawk seenand A House Wren in Kendall County, Tex., huddled. When we loaded up bales to feed heard calling over Alpine, Tex., on several Jan. 12 - Feb. 16 constituted one of the few our cattle, frozen meadowlarks constantly warm afternoonsin January (TG,AR). records at that locality. Winter Wrens were fell at our feet as we dismantledthe hay- sighted in Cowley County, Kans., Jan. 20 stacks." On Dec. 31, when the temperatureat SWIFTS THROUGH FLYCATCHERS -- (SK), JohnsonCounty, Kans., Dec. 6 (MLM) Lubbock was -2øF., and there were three A Chaetura swift was seenat College Station, and Potter County, Tex., Jan. 20 (BZ). With inchesof snow on the ground, a "Baltimore" Tex., Feb. 28 (DD). This was 21 days earlier one exception,all contributorsmehtioned the Oriole visiteda feeder(DS, m.ob.). In Lyon than any previous record for Chimney Swift scarcity of Bewick's and Carolina wrens. County, Kans., Rusty Blackbirds, Brown- and it is possiblethe bird might have been a Two Carolina Wrens which frequented Mrs. headed Cowbirds and Com. Grackles num- Vaux's Swift. Rufous Hummingbirdsremained Myers' feeders had been banded by her; one bered in the hundreds. Rusty Blackbirdsand at Tulsa until Jan. 1, at Nacogdoches until in April, 1976 and the other February, 1977, Great-tailed Grackles were unusually com- mid-January, and at Garland, Tex., until so both had survived two previous severe mon in SedgwickCounty, Kans., and Tulsa Feb. 11. A Belted Kingfisher at Crescent L., winters. A Rock Wren was observed near About 50 Com. Grackles wintered at M•d- Feb. 18 provided an unusual winter record. Cleburne, Tex., Dec. 17, rather far e. for this land, the first time more than four have been Red-headedWoodpeckers were abundant at species(MD). Very few Rock Wrens couldbe recorded there. Tulsa, L. Conroe and Huntsville, Tex. Bird- found at Lubbock, Crosby County, or Mule- ers wishing to add Red-cockaded Wood- shoe N.W.R. FRINGILLIDS -- A Cardinal was sighted peckers to their lists should visit the CBC near Lewellen, Neb., Feb. 17 (CFZ). Mrs circle at L. Conroe, for there are 57 colonies MIMICS THROUGH THRUSHES -- A Myers counted 60 Cardinals at once at her •n the circle! A Lewis' Woodpecker visited Mockingbirdfrequented a heatedbird bath at feedersor near-by and there were hordesof Odessa, Tex., Feb. 4-10 (BE). A William- Omaha all winter (B&LP). A Brown Cardinalsin Tulsa. The only Evening Gros- son's Sapsucker was located in the Davis Thrasher that remained at a Pawnee County, beaksand Com. Redpollsin the Regionwere Mts., Jan. 27 (MAC,AB). A BlackPhoebe in Kans., feeder through December was found at Omaha (MW). Purple Finchesand P•ne Kinney County, Tex., Feb. 1 was unexpected. dead Jan. 9. Brown Thrashers were abundant Siskinswere largely absent. A few Cass•n's A Say's Phoebe in Hutchinson County, Tex., in w. Texas where normally they are difficult Finches were seen at several spots in the Dec. 30 was far n. for the season(BZ). to find. A Curve-billed Thrasher in Roberts Davis, Guadalupe, Chinati and ChisosMts, County, Tex., Jan. 28 was n. of its expected and at Alpine. The largest flock comprised CORVIDS -- Blue Jayswintered at Alpine range (BZ,KS). A Sage Thrasher fed on var- five birds. and Fort Davis, where they were unknown ious berriesin an urban garden at Midland until last year. Steller's Jays were notable for during January, a most unusual habitat for their low-elevation movements in the Davis this species.Thousands of Am. Robins con- In AB 32:(6) 1136 there appeared and GuadalupeMts. (TG). Singlebirds were gregated in Red River County, Tex., and statement that the westernmost e. House found in the Chinati Mts., Tex. (SW), and in numbered in the hundreds in several w. Texas Finches were in St. Louis and the eastern- Morton County, Kans. (MS,AW). Scrub Jays cities. A Varied Thrush visited ldalou, Lub- most w. House Finches were in s.w. Okla- were incredibly numerous in the Guadalupe bock Co., Tex., Feb. 18 - Mar. 10 (E&RD, homa. This prompted observersin n e Mrs., during February. Others were found in m.ob.). Mountain Bluebirds roamed the Kansas to report two records which had Morton County Dec. 29 (MS,AW), Odessa plains in good numbersand were seenas far previously appeared only in the Bullettn Feb. 4 (BE) and Balmorhea, Tex., Feb. 10 e. as Payne County, Okla., Grayson and of the Kansas Ornithological Society: a d (FW). Thousands of Com. Crows were in Edwardscos., Tex. A W. Bluebirdin Crosby House Finch was caught, banded and Yoakum and Terry cos., Tex., in December. County Feb. 28 provided a new county record photographed at Baldwin Feb. 22, 1977, They outnumberedthe residentWhite-necked (KH). Townsend'sSolitaires were dispersed and was seen regularly until Mar. 12 of Ravens as much as 20 to 1. In Lincoln hun- widelyin the Region,occurring e. to Omaha, that year (AJB,KBK), and HouseFinches dreds of Com. Crows invaded the city, Emporia, Kans., Oklahoma City, Fort Worth nested at Oberlin in n.w. Kansas in 1976 •nspiring Norma Johnson to write: "Some and San Angelo, Tex. s•ght, watching and listening to 200 crows circling your house and neighborhood. I KINGLETS THROUGH WARBLERS -- At E1 Paso, "The numbers of Fringflhds admit a great fondnessfor them." Flocks of Golden-crowned Kinglets appeared in small wentthrough the ceiling,with more sparrows Pition Jayscomprising 100-500 birds could be numbers at ten localities, an increase com- and towhees present than in any winter •n found on the Davis Mr. loop road and some- pared to the past two years. A Sprague's severalyears." (KZ). This was in contrast t•mes there were two or three Clark's Nut- Pipit encounteredin Big Bend N.P., Feb. 18 with the remainder of the Region, where crackers in the flock (TG). Pition Jays in was carefully identified (BF,RB). Small sparrow numbers of most species were Howard County, Tex., Feb. 3 provided a new flocks of Bohemian Waxwings were present extremely low. At San Angelo, grassland countyrecord (GW,SC). The specieswas also at Crescent L., Dec. 11 & Jan. 9 and a flock sparrowsin generaland Vesper Sparrowsm located at L. Meredith Dec. 23 (m.ob.). A comprising25 birds was located at Alliance, particular were in very low numbers, but Clark's Nutcracker visited Amarillo briefly Neb., Dec. 25 (VED). Cedar Waxwings were SongSparrows and other wet habitat species Jan. 19 (BZ). scarceuntil mid-February, but after that they seemedto be presentas usual (TM). A Grass- inundated the Region. Northern Shrikeswere hopper Sparrow at Hueco Tanks S.P., Dec CHICKADEES THROUGH WRENS -- sighted at Crescent L., and Riley County, 16 constituteda first record(KZ) and several Mountain Chickadeeswere photographedin Kans., as well as three localities in the Texas near Alpine Feb. 23 were also noteworthy Morton County, Kans., Dec. 29, providing a Panhandle.A hungry Orange-crownedWar- (MB). ALe Conte's Sparrow was seennear first documented record for the state (MS, bler ate wild bird seed at a Fort Worth feeder CollegeStation Feb. 21 (PT). A Sharp-tailed m.ob.). There had been one previous sight and attemptedto eat sunflower seed.A Cape Sparrowwas sighted in Llano CountyFeb 12

294 AmericanBirds, May 1979 (E&KM). Lark Sparrows normally linger in Panhandle observersestimated 7000 Lapland Martin Schwilling, Scott Seltman, Donald s.w. Texas through December, but were Longspurs Jan. 13 and over 20,000 Jan. 14 Vannoy, AI White, Nebraska:Tanya Bray, mostly absent this winter. One that visited a (KS,BZ). Lapland Longspur was the most R. G. Cortelyou, Vivian E. DeWitt, Dot feeder in Sherman Feb. 8 after a snowstorm abundant species in the Region and Duda, Ruth Green, Alan Grenon, Norma certainly gives cause for speculation as to McCown's and Chestnut-collaredlongspurs Johnson,Babs and Loren Padelford, Monte where it had been wintering. At Hueco Tanks were locally common. Smith's Longspurs L. Shaul, Warren Tart,, Melba Wigg, S.P., 35 Sage Sparrows were counted Feb. were scarce but a single individual at Hunts- RichardWright, C. Fred Zeillemaker,Melly 1I. The occurrenceof Dark-eyed Juncoswas ville, Tex., Dec. 15 constituteda first county G. Zeillemaker,Oklahoma: Pat Berg,y, Ella erratic, some contributors reporting hun- record (KBB,RM). Delap, Joe Grzybowski,Elizabeth Hayes, dreds, othersstating there were very few. The A flock of 30_+ Snow Buntings was in Deloris Isted, Robert M. LaVal, Janet M. "Oregon" race was reported farther e. than ScottsBluff, NOb., Jan. 26, and a largeflock McGee, Sophia C. Mery, John G. Newell, usual. Gray-headed Juncos were unusually comprising at least 50 birds was in Cherry Ashland Patrick, Jack D. Tyler, Texas: commonat Lubbock and were also sightedat County Feb. 9. Peggy Acord, Keith Arnold, Jim Barlow, Amarillo. Tree Sparrows staged a major Alma Barrera, Bert Bivings,Margaret Bro- invasion of the n. and e. sections of the CORRIGENDA -- AB 32:(5) 1027: Log- day, Charles R. Brown, Kelly B. Bryan, Region. They were presentfrom CrescentL., gerhead Shrikes in Big Bend N.P., were Robin Byers, Mary Ann Chapman, Robert s. to n.c. and e. Texas. At Lincoln, enormous feedingjuveniles Mar. 31, not Mar. 1. AB 32: Coggeshall,Sue Cots,n, Debbie DeKeyzer, mixed flocks of june,s, Tree and Harris' (6) I 181: Four hummingbirdsof two species, MichaelDonahue, Ron and Ellen Dunaway, sparrows fed in weedy pastureseven when Rufous and Broad-tailed, were seen in n.w. Bill Edwards,Bob Fiehweg, John Ford, Tony snow was several inchesdeep. At Bartlesville, Nebraska. AB 32:(6) 1182: a line was omitted Gallucci,Kelly Himmel, Holly Hobart, Bill Okla., Emma Mess,fly and Sophia Mery in the Fringillid section which should have Hoppes, Greg Lasley, Mark Lockwood, Sue banded a thousandTree Sparrows. Chipping read: Pine Siskins from last winter's invasion Lower, Terry Maxwell, Arch McCallurn, Sparrows a! Buffalo Lake N.W.R., Feb. 18, remained into June in many areas. Grasshop- Ralph Moldenhauer,Ernest and Kay Mud- Caprock Canyon S.P., Feb. 25 and Midland per Sparrows were presentin good numbers ler, Jim Nichols,Warren Pulich, Midge Ran- Jan. 28 were unusual for the season. at Tulsa... dolph,Ajay Revels,Ken Seyffert, Layfette The best time to find longspursis imme- Stankewitz, Darlene Stevens,David Stuart diately after a severesnowstorm. They leave CONTRIBUTORS AND OBSERVERS -- (DSt), Paul Turner, GeneWarren, E. and W. the vast open expansesof pasture and farm- Kansas: Amelia J. Betts, Roger L. Boyd, Watson,Steve West, Keith and Jan Wiggets, land to feed along highwayswhere traffic or Yogi Gilliland, Kelly Hobbs, Katharine B. David Wolf, Barry Zimmer, Kevin Zimmer. snowplows have revealed accumulated seeds. Kelley, Steve Kingswood, Mary Louise -- FRANCES WILLIAMS, 3307 Neely, In Donley and Randall cos., in the Texas Myers, Orville Rice, Jean Schulenberg, Midland, TX 79703.

SOUTH TEXAS REGION was seenflying over a /Fred S. Webster, Jr. resaca (old water-filled river bed) at Browns- ville Feb. 16 (SB), a An early December intrusion of arctic air mostunusual setting for provideda fitting introductionto a cold, wet, this pelagic species. cloudywinter. Freezingtemperatures killed Unusuallylarge num- tender vegetationas far south as the Coastal bers of Double-crested Bend.A 19øF.reading at AustinDecember 10 Cormorantswere pres- was the lowesttemperature recorded for the ent on the c. coast and localityin 1979despite below-normal averages as far inland as Eagle during the previouswinter. Althoughthe L, Colorado Co., where remainderof Decemberwas relativelymild, 3000 wintered (WAS). Januaryblew in with an ice storm in the north- crn and upper coastal counties. A 13øF. HERONS, IBISES, readingat AustinJanuary 2 wasa recordlow SPOONBILLS -- Cat- for the date and the coldestfor anydate since tie and Reddishegrets 1963.At AransasNational Wildlife Refuge were again "extremely "eventhe saltwaterbays were covered with a scarce" on the upper thin layerof icealong the shorelineand up to coast during the cold- 200 yards out into the bay" (SL). Effectsof est weather (TE); sim- this coldspell on vegetationwere very evident ilarly most Roseate asfar asthe southernmosttip of Texas.There- Spoonbiilsleft the Coas- after, throughoutthe Region,temperatures exceptthe Rio Grande Delta where numbers tal Bend in January.On the other hand, 2500 averagedconsiderably below normal until late weresharply above those of recentyears. This White-faced and 500 White ibises wintered at February. Rainfall was below normal until doesnot seemto explain the relative scarcity EagleL. (WAS), and the formerspecies was Christmas, then above normal until mid- of northern finches this winter. found in greater-than-usualnumbers on the February, except in the more xeric counties lower coast. southand west of a (approximate)Kingsville- LOONS THROUGH CORMORANTS -- to-San Antonio line. Loons were generally scarce. Single Red- WATERFOWL -- Habitat was generally Seedand berrycrops were reported ample to necked Grebes, found on the Houston and goodfor waterfowlon the coastalprairies, so abundantin most areas,but insectpopula- Freeport Christmas Bird Counts (hereafter, that populationscould and did dispersereadily. tionswere suppressed except in far southTexas. CBC). were quite unusual,and 1S Horned Amongthe larger concentrations of geese were In the Rio Grande Delta, vegetationmade a Grebeson CanyonL, Feb. 10 OS) was high up to 30,000Snows and Blueswhich began rapid recoveryfrom the early Januaryfreeze, count in a better-than-averageseasou for this gatheringon AnahuacN.W.R., in late Decem- while northern localities remained brown and scare, species.Eared Grebeswere in below- ber and remained for about three weeks(WK). barren of deciduousfoliage. Januaryrains normalnumbers along the coast.Laguna Ata- FulvousWhistling Ducks were seen at Mitch- assuredsoggy or floodedfresh water habitat at seosa N.W.R., again hosted W. Grebes, as ell L, in late November and December. the least as far west as San Antonio and as far manyas five individualsbeing reported during first in recentyears for the San Antonioarea southas CorpusChristi. Cold and wet condi- the season. Two Audubon's Shearwaters and .(fide JAM). The Bahama Duck (White- tions were assumedto be at least partial two Gannetshighlighted a Feb. 24 cruiseto cheekedPintail), reported for the fall season. causes for the smaller-than-usual numbers of the snapperbanks about 4S mi e. of Port remainedat LagunaAtascosa N.W.R., at least many passetinesobserved in almost all areas Aransas(J&BR,SH). An ad. Masked Booby until Mar. 23 (JA&SB).A pair of WoodDucks

Volume33, Number 3 295 wasseen in the San Ygnacioarea, Zapata Co, cott) was observed with a Com Ground Dove mal in other areas Notable rarities were a d Feb 3 (B&CY), apparentlya countyfirst m Brooks County Jan 21 (AB&MAC) Golden-wrnged Warbler at Santa Ana Since the creation of Falcon L., and "discow Groove-billedAms were conspicuousm the N.W.R., Jan. 24 (WM), a d Palm Warbler at ery" of L. Casa Blanca, near Laredo, birders Rio Grande Delta through December, then RanchoSanta Margarita Feb. 3 (WS), and a haveworn ruts in U.S. 83 while filling gapsin disappeared(SB). Great Horned Owls were Yellow-breasted Chat at Brownsville Jan 20 the state'scounty bird lists.Probably many of "thick" in Karnes County (WS). Several (SB).It is interestingto notethat both N. and these firsts have escapedour notice, since Rufousand Buff-belliedhummingbirds fed on Tropical Parnlas were seen at Santa Ana touringbirders are not usuallywell-informed Turk's Cap and shrimp plant around Santa N.W.R., and Bentsen-RioGrande Valley S P, regardinglocal records.Of coursethe main Aria N.W.R. hq. until the Januaryfreeze (fide by a numberof observersduring the winter, contributing factor to swelling county lists SB). The Benns' feeders at Brownsville sus- and that two different d Tropical Parnlas along the Rio Grande is the availability of tained several Buff-bellied Hummingbirds were seen in Brownsville (SB). A bird well- fresh water habitat, formerly lacking. Num- throughthe winter. described as a d Connecticut Warbler was bers of diving ducks,especially Lesser Seaup, observedat the Sabal Palm Sanctuarynear wereconsidered low alongthe coast. WOODPECKERS THROUGH JAYS -- BrownsvilleJan. 24 (WM). Common Flickers and Yellow-belliedSap- HAWKS -- One or two Hook-billed Kites suckers were in below-normal numbers in the BLACKBIRDS, FRINGILLIDS -- A Rusty were seen occasionallyaround Santa Aria CoastalBend. Tropical Kingbirdswintered in Blackbird near BrownsvilleDec. 16 (SB) may N W.R. An ad. female was reported at greater-than-usual numbers in the Rio representa first for the Rio Grande Delta Bentsen-RioGrande Valley S.P., Jan. 19 (EC, Grande Delta; 4 or 5 sightingsper day was Very unusualin winter were Indigo Buntings KE&JG). White-tailed Kite numbers con- average(SB). Three Scissor-tailedFlycatchers in CameronCounty Dec. 16 (PP) and Jan 21 tmued on the upswingon the upper coast. were observedjust s. of Matamoros on the (SB);and a PaintedBunting at FalconDam "Two were regularly seen throughout the Mexican side of the Delta, Dec. 29 (GB). Kis- Jan. 30 (KW). Purple Finches,Pine Siskms winter, kiting over the groundssurrounding kadee Flycatcherswere "quite numerous"as and Am. Goldfinches were below normal the Astrodome in Houston." (TE). Observa- far n. as Kingsville (KM). An Ash-throated throughoutthe Region.A few White-collared tions of this speciesat San Ygnacio Feb. 2, Flycatcher,rare on the upper coast at any Seedeaterscould be found at San Ygnaclo and L. CasaBlanca Jan. 30 (B&CY) may rep- season, was seen on Bolivar Pen., Dec. 30 Lark Buntingsarrived early in Karnes County resentfirsts for Zapataand Webb cos.A Mis- (DTD&TE). BrownJays were reported occa- but few of this usually common species sissippiKite at AustinFeb. 19 (AB,J&BR)was sionallyat Rancho Santa Margarita. Two or remained for the season(RR). Savannah,Ves- the first winter observation for c. Texas in this threeGreen Jays again frequented a feederat per, Lark, Chipping, Field, White-crowned, century. An unusually large population of Dinero, LiveOak Co. (MT,fide VG). White-throated,Lincoln's and Songsparrows Sharp-shinnedand Cooper'shawks in the were below normal on the coastal plains Rockport area was coincidentalwith lower- NUTHATCHES THROUGH KINGLETS SavannahSparrows were commonin the Rio than-usualpassefine numbers (DW). It wasa -- Red-breasted Nuthatches were scarce; Grande Delta, Cassin's and Black-throated good seasonfor Buteos. Red-tailed Hawks Brown Creepersuncommon, and House and sparrowswere fairly commonon dry land e of were unusuallycommon along the coast.Two Winter wrens below normal in most areas. A Brownsville, and Lincoln's Sparrows were Zone-tailed Hawks at Bastrop S.P., Feb. 1, Brown Thrasher, rare in the Rio Grande abundant in fields w. of Brownsville(SB). were newfor the area (G&BL). Rough-legged Delta, visited a feeder in Brownsville (SB). and Ferruginoushawks were scatteredliberally Two Sage Thrasherswere seen in w. Travis CORRIGENDUM -- The supposedIceland throughout the Region. A Rough-legged County in February (CE). American Robins Gull photographedat the Brownsvillecity Hawk in KarnesCounty in December(WS) were reportedabove normal exceptin the far dump(AB 32:974,1030) is nowlisted as a first maybe newto the countylist, asmay be a Fer- s. A southboundflock of about55 wassighted year Thayer's Gull, as a result of concerned ruginousHawk(s) reported by multipleobserv- in Hidalgo County Dec. 15 (GD). A Varied responseand further study. ers in Zapata County.A Gray Hawk wasseen Thrush made the seasonfor many birders; it m the FalconDam area by severalobservers in was discoveredat Gilchrist, Bolivar Pen., Dec. CONTRIBUTORS AND CITED OBSERV- January,and an adult was downriverat Santa 27 (DC&DTD), and remainedthrough Jan- ERS -- John Arvin, Alma Barrera, Steve Margarita Ranch Jan. 27 (DH). A possible uary. A bird describedas an Aztec Thrush Benn, Gene Blacklock, Jim and Sharon RoadsideHawk (Buteomagnirostris) was seen (Ridgwayiapinicola), "identical" to the male Cameron, Elizabeth Campbell, Dennis at Rancho Santa Margarita Jan. 7 by several depicted in Peterson and Chalif's A Field Caputo, Mary Ann Chapman, David T. Dau- competentobservers .(fide TE). This resident Guide to Mexican Birds, was observed on a phin, Don Delnicki, GladysDonohue, Charles of n.e. Mexico is listed for the United States lawn at Port Aransas Jan. 30 (J&SC,WP) -- a Easley,Kim Eckert, Ted Eubanks,Jr., Velma on the basis of a 1901 specimencredited to very unlikelyhabitat for this bird of high Geiselbrecht, Janet Green, V. L. Grover, Steve CameronCounty. mountain rangesof w. and c. Mexico. Unfor- Hawkins, Don Hoechlin, David G. Huffman, CRANES, RAILS, SHOREBIRDS -- The tunatelyit did not remainfor studyor photog- Wayne King, Ed Kutak, SteveLabuda, Jr, raphy. Its appearancehad been precededby winter count of Whooping Cranes at Aransas Greg and Becky Lasley, James Leet, Kay McCracken, Mr. and Mrs. William Men- N W.R., remained at 68 adult and six first- two blusterycold fronts from the w. There is one previousobservation of this speciesfor wether, James A. Middleton, James G. Mor- year birds (SL). Virginia Rails and Soras, usually fairly common, were scarce on the Texas, a juvenile found in Big Bend N.P., gan, AndrewO'Neil, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Pratt, August 1977. Hermit Thrushesand E. Blue- upper coast.Mountain Ploverwintered at the Warren Pulich, Jr., Mrs. RaymondRegrnund, birds were below normal on the c. coast and John and Barbara Ribble, Willie Sekula, New Braunfelsairport, and small numbers inland. A MountainBluebird, rarely found in Wayne A. Shiffiett, Jack Sunder, Mary Tay- couldbe foundin the coastalbend. An appre- ciable number of Red Knots wintered on the c. the Region in recent years, was seen near lor, Mr. and Mrs. Keith Wiggets, Doris Win- Zapata Feb. 3 (J&BR,WS). Golden-crowned coast, if a count of 250 in a 3-mi stretch of ship, Phyllis Yochem, Bob and Carol Yutzy Kingletswere again very scarce,while Ruby- -- FRED S. WEBSTER, JR., 4926 StrassDr., beach in mid-winter(KM) is any indication. crowned Kinglets were less common than Austin, TX 78731. Stilt Sandpiperswere unusuallycommon on usual. the uppercoast.

GULLS, TERNS -- An imm. Thayer's Gull WARBLERS -- The 18 warbler species was seen at the Brownsvillegarbage dump reportedon the uppercoast in Decemberindi- Jan. 26 (DH). A Great Black-backed Gull was cateda goodnumber of lingerers,but January reportedat LagunaAtascosa N.W.R., for the cold either drove out the birds or drove birders third consecutivewinter. Bonaparte'sGulls at to cover. The action shifted to the Rio Grande L Casa Blanca Jan. 30, and a Forster's Tern Delta where warblers, as well as some other at SanYgnacio Feb. 2-3 (B&CY)may be firsts passerines,were more abundantthan might for Webb and Zapata cos. normallybe expected.Notably common in the Delta were Black-and-white, Orange- DOVES THROUGH HUMMINGBIRDS crowned,Nashville and Yellow-rumped(Myr- -- A Ruddy Ground Dove (Columbina talpa- tle) warblers-- speciesgenerally below nor-

296 AmericanBirds, May 1979 NORTHWESTERN CANADA A Snowy Owl was REGION seenat Upper 60, Feb 27 (RF). One Hawk /Helmut Grfinberg Owl report came from Teslin Feb. 25 (D& PD), and a Boreal Owl An abnormally heavy snow cover, was observed near originating from the November snow falls, Whse., Dec. 16 (JL). protected many life forms throughout the Hairy and Downy winter. The temperatureswere close to nor- woodpeckerswere less mal in December and slightly below normal common than last win- in January, while February 1979 turned out ter. One Hairy was to be the coldestFebruary on record: White- seen all winter at a horse had a mean temperature of -28øC feeder 10 km s. of (-18øF)which is 15øCbelow normal. Dawson Whse. (KB), two were and Old Crow registeredan incredible -40øC noted at Shadow L., s. (-40øF)as mean temperature. of Whse., Dec. 27 (D& Low temperatures combined with deep SR) and a pair appeared snow made birdwatching other than from daily at a feeder a few inside a heated room a difficult adventure. km n. of Whse. (D& Nevertheless,six new specieswere added to SS). A Downy was our winter list, and the total number of seen for a few days in speciesobserved was 38, two more than dur- mid-December and in ing the previouswinter season. early January near Graham Inlet (RB). LOONS THROUGH PTARMIGAN -- Northern Three-toed The first winter record of Com. Loon was Woodpeckers were receivedfrom Teslin L.; 1-3 stayedthere until noted regularly, but Dec 11, shortly before freeze-up(BS). Two 9 less often than during merganserswere reported from the Yukon the previouswinter. R, in Whitehorse(hereafter, Whse.), Dec. 26 Gray Jays were (AM). In the samearea, one 9 Corn. Mergan- reported as common from all areas covered. observedin the w.c. Yukon werepossibly all ser was seen Dec. 27-29 (HG). No other Black-billed Magpies, although lesscommon Hoaries (RF,ML) while the majority of red- waterfowl was reported this winter. than the previous species,were reported by polls in the s. Yukon and n. British Columbia Three Goshawks were seen regularly most observers.Magpies were not seenin the (flocks up to 22 birds) were Corn. Redpolls throughout the winter at the Yukon Game c. Yukon. Common Ravens were observed in (reported as "Corn. Redpoll" or "redpoll Farm, (hereafter, Y.G.F.), n.w. of Whse. all areas. A maximum number of 453 birds sp." by many observers). (KS) One was noted at Dawson Jan. 16 (JF) was registeredat Whse., Dec. 26 (m.ob.). The survival of three sparrow specieswas and one was observedat the Upper Sixty Mile Black-capped and Boreal chickadeeswere facilitated by feeders. One Savannah Spar- R, (hereafter, Upper 60), w.c. Yukon, Jan. drawn to the communities where they row, provided a first winter record for the 25 - Feb. 28 (RF). An imm. Golden Eagle was appeared in about equal numbers. Two Region, was taken by a cat in Whse., Jan. 8 notedat Y.G.F., Jan. 24 (KS). Another imm. Black-cappedChickadees were seenas far n. (RC). A Dark-eyed Junco as well as a White- Golden Eagle survived the low temperatures as Dawson Dec. 11-(RF). In areas of boreal crownedSparrow (new winter record) survived at Upper 60, and was seen Jan. 27 - Feb. 22 forest the Boreal Chickadee was more com- at a feeder s. of Whse., throughout Decem- (RF) Gyrfalconswere noted as follows: one, mon. One or two Dippers were seen at Cas- ber, January and into early February (KB) very light phase, at the head of Cowley Cr., siar (PM), Atlin (DMa) and Whse. (AM). Three unidentified sparrows were seen at Lone Mts., Dec. 3 (DC); one 200 km e. of Four were noted along the Dempster Hwy., GrahamInlet in late February(RB). Only few Burwashin December(KP); two in the Ibex Feb. 22 (DMo). Snow Buntings appeared to have wintered Valley near Whse., Feb. 20 (RA); two along One was seenat CarcrossDec. 8 (HW) and the Dempster Hwy., Feb. 22 (DMo); two at THRUSHES THROUGH SNOW BUNT- up to 16 were observedin Whse., Dec. 25-26 Haekel Hill near Whse., Feb. 27 (MH); and INGS I The smallestbirds made up the (HG,SH,JS). Three were noted in Carcross one at Upper 60, Feb. 28 (RF). The observa- largestnumber of new winter records.They Jan. 11 (HW) and three in Whse., Jan. 17 tion of a Peregrine Falcon at Surprise L., were found mostly at feedersor searchingfor (JL). In February up to 20 were observedin near Atlin, B.C., Dec. 15 provided the first food near human habitation. Whse. (HG,SH). winter record for our Region(CL). An Am. Robin was noted in front of the Spruce Grouse appeared to be abundant, ,Whse.post office Dec. 25, constitutinga new CONTRIBUTORS -- Ralph Archibald, perhaps increasing in numbers. They were winter record(HG). A Ruby-crownedKing- Kate Bennett, Mrs. R. G. Brook, Ren6 seen by 13 observers in all areas. Ruffed • let, also establishinga new winter record, was Carlson, Barry Carlstrom, D. Caruthers, Grouse were noted at Graham Inlet, B.C. seen near Atlin (DMa). Sixteen Bohemian Denny and Patricia Denison, J. Frisch, (RB), near Atlin (DMa), at Teslin (D&PD), at Waxwings were counted in Whse., Dec. 10 Robert Frisch, Sylvia Hackney, Manfred L Laberge (RC) and at Upper 60 (RF). A (RC), three were seenin CarcrossDec. 21 and Hoers, John Lammers, Maria Ledergerber, Sharp-tailed Grouse was observed at L. one was noted there Dec. 2 & 8 "at -35øC and Claudia Lombardi, Dick Mahoney (DMa), Laberge Dec. 24 (RC). Willow Ptarmigan wind" (HW). Three Bohemian Waxwings Paul Mantle, Art Martell, Dave Mossop were seen regularly in appropriate habitat. werestill in Whse., Feb. 4 (HG). A N. Shrike (DMo), T. Nette, Ken Page, Lloyd Parker, Flocks of up to 150 birds were noted along was seenat Y.G.F., Dec. I (KS). Ten Star- Don and Sharon Russell, Karel Sars, Don the Dempster Hwy., Feb. 22 (DMo). Rock lingswere sightedin Atlin in early December and Sharon Schuler, Joan Shaxon, Barbara Ptarmigan in flocks to 50_+were seen near (CL). One was seenin Mayo, which is one of Studds, FrancesTchulokovski, Henry Wil- timberline at Upper 60, Jan. 26 - Feb. 28 the coldest spots in the Yukon, for several kinson.-- HELMlIT GRONBERG,Yokoo (RF) Fifty to sixty White-tailed Ptarmigan days before it was caught by dogs Jan. 11 ConservationSociety, 302 SteeleSt., White- were observed near Atlin Feb. 3, 12, & 28 (TN). horse,Yukon Y1A 2C5, Canada. (DMa). Pine Grosbeaks were noted in numbers of up to ten by 16 observersthroughout the win- DOVES THROUGH DIPPERS -- Rock ter. Few redpolls were observed, with an Doves were observed in normal numbers in apparentrelative increaseof Hoary Redpolls Whse. (HG); 83 individuals were counted of which 4-5 appeared daily at a feeder in Dec 26 (SH,JS). Our most commonowl, the Teslin (D&PD), and 2-4 were seenin Whse., Great Horned, was noted by sevenobservers. Jan. 6 - Feb. 3 (HG,SH). The 10-40redpolls

Volume33, Number 3 297 NORTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN- GREBES THROUGH HERONS -- A lone February's end. Malheur had 3500_+over Har- INTERMOUNTAIN REGION Red-necked Grebe was on the Columbia R., at ney L., Feb. 28: somemay havewintered there. A Brewster,Wash., in late January(SJ). Swan L., few Ross'Geese appeared with SnowGeese in /Thomas H. Rogers Mont., had a W. Grebe Dec. 2 & 4 and one February in the Klamath area (SS). Mallard wason the Flathead R.. near Kalispell, Mont.. numbersreached a high of 287,000_+at Deer Jan. 20 (E.A.S.). Two Pied-billed Grebes were Flat Dec. 13. Ducks. 90% Mallards. reached In the wordsof one reporter, it was a bear- on the Blitzen R.. Malheur N.W.R.. Burns. an above-normalpeak of S7,000_+at McNary cat of a winterwith everymonth experiencing Ore., Dec. 23. The Columbia R. had six White N.W.R.. in January.A peak of 2000_+Green- subnormalaverage temperatures, particularly Pelicans in the Hanford area. Feb. 7. and ten wingedTeal wasin the Nampa area Dec. I. A in January.when Kalispell, Montana reported on Feb. 24 (GS&TF; RF&RK). A mixed-up pair of N. Shovelerswas on L. Chelan. Wash., 14.9øF.below normal. Snow and coldset in by Black-crownedNight Heron was at Lewiston. the last week of January (SJ). Some 800 Can- early Novemberin mos! parts of the Region Ida., Jan. 6 (EM). An imm.-plumagedGreen vasbacks were between Wilson Cr.. and Mar- with continuous snow cover at least into Feb- Heron appearedDec. 2-4 alongthe Link R.. lin Feb. 28 (RF). Up to 50 GreaterScaup and ruary. Precipitationwas generallysubnormal Klamath Falls. Ore.. where it is very uncom- up to 100 RuddyDucks were on the Columbia but owingto a late thaw it piledup dispropor- mon even in summer (SS). R.. between Brewster and Pateros. Wash., in tionately. More northerly areas however,had late January(SJ). Up to four Greater Scaup lower than usual depths. Freeze-upcame in WATERFOWL -- Mute Swans wintered at were at Klamath Falls Dec. 2 - Jan. 14 and the mid-December and only deeper lakes, fast- Livingston,Mont., and scatteredindividuals sameplace had a 9 OldsquawDec. 16-17(SS). flowingstreams and warm springsremained havespread to YellowstoneN.P.. causingcon- The only HarlequinDuck reportedwas a male open. Thawing began in February. Only the cern that they may competewith and adversely on Vaseux L., extreme s. British Columbia Klamath Basin of southernOregon had nor- affectTrumpeter Swans (RS. fide PDS). One Dec. 29 (SRC). SingleRed-breasted Metgan- mal conditions. Mute Swan was on Okanagan L.. near Ver- setsappeared at Livingston.Mont., Lewiston. Frozen water drove most waterfowl out and non. B.C., Feb. 9 (DG) and three were at Ida., and Spokane(PDS&CL; EM: JA; THR). with them raptors dependent upon them. Kelowna. B.C., Dec. 30 (JG). They are uncom- VULTURES AND HAWKS -- A Turkey HoweverBald Eaglesin the Wenatcheearea mon in interior British Columbia. Whistling Vulture lingered at Deer Flat N.W.R., until subsistedon American Coot and fish left by Swanswintered in goodnumbers around Kla- Dec. 7 (G.E.A.S.).At least18 Goshawksight- otters. In some places they fed on carrion. math Falls with 850 Dec. IS and migrant ingswere made, mostly in s. BritishColumbia Snowcover caused hardship to small ground numbers swelled to 3000 in one area there feeders and once crusted made survival dif- Feb. l0 (SS). Some may have wintered at and n.c. Washington. Sharp-shinnedHawk Malheur N.W.R. One at Salmon. Ida., Dec. numbersappeared high but Cooper'sHawks ficult for gamebirds, especiallyquail. which, were seldom noted. The latter were in above- with flickers, meadowlarks and Red Cross- 16 was noteworthy. A swan believedto be a normal numbers in the Vernon area, however. bills, foraged along roadsideswith many Bewick's was carefully studied at Miller I., Red-tailedHawks, winteringin unusualnum- becomingtraffic casualties.The snow also near Klamath Falls Feb. 2S and three others bersin the n. Okanaganof British Columbia, made hunting difficult for rodent-feeders, may have been hybrid Bewick's X Whistling particularlyBarn Owls. Somebirds appeared (SS). Trumpeter Swan numbersat Red Rock apparentlysuffered toward winter's end; one to be unusuallyinactive and somedied of cold Lakes N.W.R., Lima, Mont., roseto a peak of wasfound deadand another,nearly so, appar- and starvation.Small passetineswere scarce 2S3 adults and 20 cygnetsin late February. ently from starvation(PJ). The Bald Eagle or absent in some localities. The Walla Wa!!a Two familygroups of color-markedbirds from count sponsoredby the Nat'l Wildlife Federa- tion tallied 392 birds in Idaho OH) and 138 in area reported higher temperatures in the Grand Prairie. Alta.. wintered there. The mountainsthan in the valleys.which may have Montana-Idaho-Wyomingmid-winter survey e. Washington(RK). The Klamath Basinof causedbirds to.stayat higher elevations.The found 850_+(RRS). More than the usual num- Oregon- Californiayielded about 610 (SS). "northern finches" were low in numbers. ber winteredat Malheur where41, including The four Gyrfalconreports received were all Exceptionalconcentrations of some species ten imm. birds were seen Jan. 4. Three adults from w. Montana and e. Washington.There occurred,notably Horned Larks and gold- werenear Springfield, Ida., Dec. 14(WHS). were 30 Prairie Falconsightings but only two finches. Food for fruit eaters was generally Canada Goose numbers peaked at 9400_+ of Peregrine Falcons. Many more Merlin adequate,barely in some areas. Other areas Dec. S at Deer Flat N.W.R., Nampa, Ida., but sightingsthan usualmay indicatean actual had fruit but no birds to eat it. the majority left with the freeze-up. McNary increasein this scarcelittle raptor. N.W.R., Burbank, GALLINACEOUS BIRDS -- On the whole Wash.. had 2S,000_+ in thesebirds camethrough the winter surpris- January and at least ingly we!!. A small flock of Sharp-tailed 30,000_+ were between Grouse, extremely unusual in the Missoula Wilson Cr.. and Mar- Valley, was seen along 1-90 w. of the city lin. Wash., Feb. 28. (PLW) and threeappeared between Wasa and About 6S00, over three Ft. Steele, B.C., where they are very scarce times last year's num- (MVW). Eightwere "budding" in birchtrees ber, wintered at Mal- e. of Bridgeport,Wash., Feb. 11, and Kam- •WILLIAMS LAKE •. • i heur. "Several thousand" wintered in s. loopsB.C., had 12 on Jan. 7. In the Lewiston Idaho (WHS). Over 800 area California Quail and Chukars appeared to havehad a hardtime, oftengathering along wintered at Penticton, KAML PS/ ß XeBa•F • roadways.The latter, seldom reported from B.C.. in spite of adverse conditions. The the Grand Forks, B.C. area, were sighted there Dee. 26 0G). Mountain Quail were Columbia R., at Brew- sightedfour timesalong the highwaybetween ster had a Cackling Rigginsand Weiser,Ida., Dee. 23 & 31; many Goose Jan. 14 - Feb. 1 were road-killed.Three were sightedJan. 20 (SJ). A White-fronted / I POKANEeJe % KALISPELL near Dworshak Dam, Ahsaka, Ida. (EM). Goose wintered with Ring-neckedPheasants were actuallypresent [LLEN•RC •on. j •- eMISSOULA• Canadas near Vernon •K•A e • ß in increased numbers in s. Idaho and in the •K• V LAe •LEWISTON NELENA• and one was shot at •R V LA•_•% : THREE Bozemanarea. A small flock of Turkeys was Malheur Dec. 10. still survivingat BozemanPass e. of Bozeman BAKER,/ ß• Yakima had one Dec. / SALMON x 31 and one was at (SC).The specieswas also reported at Creston, lEND )e PAYETTE e. of Kalispe!l,Mont. (F.A.S.),and sevenwere Richland Feb. 3 (Y.A.S.; sightedin the Mt. Hull area, s.e. of Oroville, REW). This species Wash. (BH). Fifty were seenat Prairie, Ida., and Snow Geese num- ORE•OFJ• IDAHO WYOMING on three occasions(PCo). ber in the thousands in the Klamath Basin by RAILS THROUGH GULLS -- Penticton

298 AmericanBirds, May 1979 had twoVirginia Rails Dec. 26 (SRC),Vaseux exceptfor a report of 17 in sagebrush e. of examination" but refuge personnel were L., oneon Dec. 29 0G), and onewas along the Withrow, Wash., Dec. 23 and six seen on Jan. unableto find the birds to confirm the sight- SnakeR., 20 mi w. of Buhl, Ida., Jan. 28 (DT). 20 by field trip participantsin the Walla ing 0RR). A Ruby-crownedKinglet was still A SpottedSandpiper was alongthe Link R., Walla area. Saw-whetOwl sightingswere dis- at Vernon Dec. 4 (MCo) and Parker Heights KlamathFalls area Feb. 25 andone was along tinctly up however.An Anna'sHummingbird near Yakima had one Dec. ! (Y.A.S.). In the Mallad R., GoodingCo., Ida., Dec. 27 survived at a Boise feeder at least until Dec. 30 Idahothe specieswas noted Feb. 11 at Hager- (DT). SingleGreater Yellowlegs were sighted (G.E.A.S.): three were at Wenatchee Dec. 29 man fish hatcheryand Feb. 18 in the SnakeR. Dec. 17 and Jan. 21 at Klamath Falls and a but disappearedduring the January "deep canyonn. of Buhl (DT). A Water Pipit wasat LesserYellowlegs was found there Feb. 25 freeze" (PC), and the Spokanebird was not Hagermanhatchery Jan. 11 (DT) and Nampa (SS). The Yakima R. delta, near Richland, seen after Dec. 29 when the thermometer had 80 Dec. 9 (G.E.A.S.).One wasalong the Wash., had 14 Least SandpipersFeb. 18 droppedto -22øF. (DS). Snake R.. near Asotin. Wash.. Jan. 27 and 13 (REW). Dunlins numbered 45 there Dec. 9, werealong the ClearwaterR., in LewistonJan. WOODPECKERS THROUGH WRENS disappearedduring the freezeand 18 birds 30 (EM&RG). A late report was of two -- A few Lewis'Woodpeckers apparently win- returned Feb. 18 (REW). A late Marbled God- Sprague'sPipits observedand photographed tered at Hamilton, Mont. (CP) and in the wit was on Lower Klamath N.W.R., Dec. 3 in an alpine meadowat Wilcox Mr., near the Yakima area (Y.A.S.). One was found s.e. of Ice FieldCenter. Jasper N.P., Aug.9 (THG). and two very late Am. Avocetswere on a fro- Union. Ore., Dec. 9 (JE) and one was at zen marsh at Klamath Falls Dec. 7-16 (SS). Brewster, Wash., Jan. 13 (SJ). One was at WAXWINGS THROUGH BLACKBIRDS Singlefirst-year Glaucous Gulls appeared at Coeur d'Alene, Ida., Dec. 26 and at Pasco, RockyReach Dam n. of WenatcheeFeb. 23 -- Bohemian Waxwing numbers seemed (PC) and Salmon, Ida., had one Dec. 16 Wash., Jan. 30 (JWW). In the Klamath Falls aboutaverage in mostlocalities. However Spo- (HBR). Two Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers at kane reported a flock of 10,000+_and Boise areaan ad. Glaucous-wingedGull wassighted Pentieton Dec. 26 were most unusual (SRC). A at three different locations Dec. 13-27; an ad. had a flock of 400 which is large for that area (LM). Some 2000+_ arrived at Helena in Mew Gull was there Dec. 13, and three Bona- pair of White-headed Woodpeckerswas observeds. of Heppner.Ore.. at the Wheeler Novemberbut numbersdropped drastically, parte'sGulls Dec. 7 (SS).A HerringGull was County line (BC,CC&REW). Ten or more probablyowing to poor food supply.then rose sightednear Creston.Mont., Jan. 18 (WJ& each of Black-backed and N. Three-toed MS). againto 1000+_in February.Cedar Waxwings Woodpeckerswere presentin the Pattee Cr. wintered in more than usual numbers. La area burn, 2-3 mi s.w. of Missoula (SF). A con- ROADRUNNERS THROUGH HUM- Grande, Ore.. reported300 Feb. 10 (WCD) centration of 500 Horned Larks was found 6 MINGBIRDS -- A Roadrunner near Cald- and Spokanehad occasionalflocks of up to mi s.e. of La Grande, Ore., Jan. 27 0E) and 50. Twenty-fivewere seen Feb. I at Malheur; well, Ida., Dec. 9 waspresumably an escaped one of 5000 was near Moxee, Wash., Jan. 28 bird (PW). Several Barn Owls found dead in they are consideredoccasional in s.e. Oregon (Y.A.S.). A trip from Colfaxto Pasco,Wash., the Nampaarea were presumed to havestarved in winter (ST). An Orange-crownedWarbler Jan. 30 yieldeda total of 1895 alongthe road was studiedfrom 10 ft along the Link R.. at (G.E.A.S.).One wassighted near Winchester Klamath Falls Dec. 13 & 28 (SS). A Yellow- Wastewaye. of Quincy,Wash., Feb. 24 (PC). eatinggravel (IOB&JWW). The onlyBlue Jay rumped Warbler was near Kalispell Dec. At least 17 Snowy Owl sightings were reportswere of two alongthe Little Spokane R., n.w. of SpokaneFeb. 25 and one at Kim- 13-14 (BR). A few Yellow-headed Blackbirds reported,all frome. Washingtonexcepting for two from s. British Columbia and one near berley,B.C., feedersall winter(MVW). Com- wintered with other blackbird speciesin the monRavens appeared to be on the increasein Klamath Basin (SS) and six were found in Marsing,Ida. A Hawk Owl wasobserved on the Okanaganof s. BritishColumbia where at GoodingCounty. Ida.. Jan. 18 (DT). A very several dates in January at Cataldo, Ida. late male was near Vernon Dec. 2 0B). (m.ob.).The mostsoutherly Pygmy Owl sight- least500 wereat a slaughterhousenear Arm- strongDec. 30 and seenfrequently through Brewer's Blackbirds apparently wintered in ingsever for s. Idaho wereof singlebirds at the winter (JG). The raven roost at Malheur Prairie Jan. 13 (PCo) and near St. Anthony the Kalispell area (F.A.S.). A Corn. Grackle L., Ore., was again active; >800 birds fre- wintered at a Bozeman feeder (ETH&RAH). (RGo).Two BurrowingOwls entered a burrow quented it in 1977 (ST). Chestnut-backed surroundedby 5-6 in. of fresh snow near FINCHES -- The Brambling at Swan L., Othello, Wash., Jan. 10 (RF&TF). The only Chickadeeswere reported only from the Kali- spellarea (F.A.S.) and fivereported near Mill- Mont., wasseen until Dec. 3 (F.A.S.).Evening BarredOwl reportswere of singlesightings at creek s.e. of Walla Walla Jan. 6 (DM). The Grosbcaks were absent ncarly everywhere. Kalispell,Clarkston, Wash., and Kelowna, only Bushtitreports were of 35 at La Grande, Only Kimberley B.C., reported near normal B.C.(one appeared to be starving).Great Gray numbers. At Spokane they were virtually Ore., Jan. 18 (WCD). Two Wrentils at Upper Owl sightingswere at Grand Forks, B.C.; Klamath L., at Howard'sBay Jan. 21 appar- absent until late February; 350+_appeared Island L., between Libby and Kalispell, ently furnishedthe most northerlyrecord e. of alongthe Little SpokaneR.. Feb. 25. Cassin's Mont.; near Tetonia, Ida., and s. of Bozeman. the Cascades (SS). Vaseux L., s. British Finch was scarce or absent except in the Short-earedOwl numbersappeared very low Columbia, had a Rock Wren Jan. 12 (SRC). Okanagan. where they were unusuallycommon. Three House Finches at Salmon, Ida., THRUSHES THROUGH PIPITS -- Var- Dec. 16 were noteworthy (HBR). Bozeman ied Thrusheswere found winteringin large reportedno sightings.Pine Grosbcakswere numbersin e. Washington.At Wenatchee rarely seen and Gray-crownedRosy Finches they were "more commonthan robins"; at were observedonly along the BlackfootR., Walla Walla they were "in variousyards... n.e. of Missoula in January (AB); 50 ncar especiallynumerous on Whitman Campus"; Cascade, Ida.. Feb. 10 (MC&ZC), and two at Lewiston,"many" wereseen in town. and birds s.w. of Walla Walla Feb. 4 (JO). Com- on the SpokaneChristmas Bird Count they mon Redpollswere virtually absent.Notewor- nearly outnumberedAm. Robins. The n. thy were 3-4 at a Kennewick,Wash. feeder in Okanaganhad morereports than usual:sev- early January (JD). Pine Sisldns were eral were still up in snow-boundcountry at "superabundant"in Douglasfir standsacross 4100 ft. Dec. 26. Walla Walla had a Hermit s. BritishColumbia; estimates placed the total Thrush Dec. 5 (SM) and Richland had one populationabove one million (JG).Red Cross- and two on Dec. 16 & 23 respectively(REW). bill occurrenceswere spotty, this perhaps Two W. Bluebirds wintered at Penticton related to their commonappearances in s. (SRC). At Malheur N.W.R., nine W. Blue- British ColumbiaDouglas fir forests.White- birds were sightedJan. 24 (BE) and a good wingedCrossbills were abundant in subalpine buildupof MountainBluebirds was occurring forestsof spruceand in hemlockstands of the at the end of the period.Flocks of Mountain "wet belt" ors. BritishColumbia. Singing an'd Bluebirdstotaling 200+_were reported in courtship feeding were observedat Vernon OwyheeCounty, Ida. (PK). Three apparently Jan. 12 (JG).Elsewhere they were reported only winteredat Rupert(WHS). Turnbull N.W.R., in the PatteeCr. burn, near Missoula:at Swan Hawk Owl, Cataldo Mission, Idaho, Jan. 28, Cheney,Wash., had a report of three Wheat- L., e. of Bigfork, Mont., and at Polebridge 1979. Photo/J. F. Acton. ears: the report "withstoodthe test of cross Ranger Station,Glacier N.P., Mont.

Volume 33, Number3 299 SPARROWS--A flock of 30-40Tree Spar- was spotted in mid-January near Brewster, Craig Corder, SharonCotterell, Jim Davidson, rowsfrequented a Hamilton feederall winter Wash. (SJ)and one or possiblytwo wintered William C. Dowdy. Brad Ehlers, Joe Evanich, and the Rexburg area had many times their along the Link R., near Klamath Falls (SS). Flathead Audubon Society(F.A.S.), T. Flint, usual numbers. Harris' Sparrow sightings Twin Falls County, Ida., had 1-4 Lapland Ron Friesz, Sid Frissell, (RG) Russ Gebhart, were sparse.One wintered at a feeder near Longspursin late Januaryand earlyFebruary (RGo) Ririe Godfrey,Dorothy Goertz, Golden Vernon(JG). as did oneat Livingston(CL) and (DT). Snow Buntingsmostly appeared in Eagle AudubonSociety (G.E.A.S.), Timothy one was at Penticton, B.C., Dec. 27 (SRC). An small numbersexcepting a flock of 70 at Sul- H. Goldsmith, JamesGrant. Eve T. & Ray A. imm. bird appearedat Imnaha, Ore., Feb. 3 livan Meadows8 mi s. of Polebridge,Mont. Hays, Bill Hebner, JamesHeckathorn, Wanda (FC&JE) and one visiteda feeder near Spo- (SB) and one of 500 near Helena Feb. 8 (SM). Jamieson,Stuart Johnston,Pip Jordan, Pat kane Dec. 30 and Jan. 13 (SAS). White- Thebirds reached as far s.as Nampa (G.E.A.S.). Knee, Rick Knight, Cary Lurid, Ed McVicker, crowned Sparrows were reported for Kali- ADDENDA -- A remarkable record was of Cindy Mish, Levi Mohler, Dirk Muse. Shirley spell, Nampa, Rupert, Ida., and Yakima. Muse, John O'Connell, Colleen Powell, James a Caracara, tardily reported, at L. Owyhee, Brewster, and Clarkston, Wash. The only Malheur Co., Ore., about May 3, 1978 •ide R. Rees, Robert F. Ringler, Hadley B. Golden-crownedSparrows were an adult at L. CHT). Belatedly,a report camein of a Wheat- Roberts,Hazel Roe, ThomasH. Rogers,Betty Lowellnear Nampa Dec. 21,(DT) and two at Rose, Dorothy Sattier, G. Scrivens, W. H. ear observedand photographedat Malheur BoiseFeb. 12 (HR). A White-throatedSpar- N.W.R., June 22, 1977 (RFR). Shillington,Ruth Shea, Richard R. Sjostrom, rowwintered at a Livingstonfeeder (CL) and P. D. Skaar, Mac Sudan, Steve Summers, Dan one wintered at PolebridgeRanger Station. OBSERVERS CITED -- James Acton, Taylor, Steve Thompson, Charles H. Trost, Glacier N.P. (SB; JD&CM). Lewistonhad Fox John Baumbrough, Canyon Birders (C.B.), PeggyWaterman, John W. Weber, Mildred V. SparrowsJan. 6 (C.B.)and singlesappeared at Arnold Bolle, Susan Buchel, I. O. Buss, Steve White, Robert E. WoodIcy.Philip L. Wright Yakima Jan. 18 and near Moxee. Wash., Jan. R. Cannings,(MC) Mel Carlson,Zilda Carl- and Yakima Audubon Society(Y.A.S.). -- 28 (Y.A.S.). One in RichlandJan. 28 wasonly son, (PC) Phil Cheney,(MCo) Mary Collins. THOMAS H. ROGERS, E. 10820 Maxwell Bob Woodley'sfourth. A Lincoln's Sparrow Frank ConIcy.(PCo) PriscillaCook, Becky& Ave., Spokane,WA 99206.

MOUNTAIN WEST counts dropped (BR), /Hugh E. Kingery while 17 wintered at Fish Springs(GWE), and 20 at Ruby L. The combinationof heavysnowfall and cold (SHB). Most geese temperatureswhich hit the Mountain West cleared out of the made 1978-79 the most severe winter on rec- Region in December, ord. Many speciesnormally common during but about 1500 win- winterfither left altogetheror stayedin reduced tered around Monticello, numbers,yet no influx of mountain or north- Utah, an "incredible" ern speciesfilled the gap. Although most ß number scattered in that severein Coloradoand Wyoming-- eventhe desert area (FB). Snow Wind River froze at Dubois, Wyoming -- NEVADA• UTAH : • (AB 33:199)con- lakes froze as far south as Cedar City, Utah, •.: tinued to migrate and Monticello, Utah received 3-4 feet of .... j throughJackson to Dec. snow.Moose, Wyoming, reported the lowest ? 23,in flocksof 100s. temperature-63øF. • SubsequentlytheRegion Indicativeof the reducednumbers of spar- i reportednone until rows, juncos, grosbeaks,and meadowlarks • mid-February,the peak which wintered were Christmas Bird Count 2700 in s.e. Colorado (hereafter,CBC) totals. A party-houranalysis the large numbersof last year, althoughno Feb. 17-18 (JR). Monte Vista reportedfive of commonbirds on CBCsshowed all except one covered L. Mohave. Counts of W. Grebes Ross' Geese Feb. 27 (MTN). hawks down from 7-year averages. This at L. Mead hit only 2275 Dec. 2, 1500 Jan. 10 The cold sharply reduced overwintering applied to woodpeckers, Steller's Jays, -- the latter 10% of last winter'speak. A new waterfowl. Utah D.W.R. counts reported a magpies, chickadees, House Finches, and contributor reported that hundreds of W. 15-25%drop, to 14,600ducks, 1514 Canada sparrows.Midwinter waterfowl counts in Utah Grebes wintered on L. Powell in s.e. Utah, a Geese, and 1672 coots in late January. It dropped15 per centbelow last year and Bear site not previouslycovered (CC). Two W. affected the migrations as well: early River Refugehad noneoverwinter. At Grand Grebes wintered at Boulder for Colorado's December and late February U.D.W.R. Junction, Colorado. waterfowl never did first reportof overwintering(PM). Amonga countsdropped 70% and 50ø7orespectively. At develop a regular feeding schedule,so that flock of 24 Double-crested Cormorants on the RubyLake N.W.R., Nev., <•0 duckswin- many were absentfrom normal concentration Las Vegas CBC, an OIIvaceousCormorant, tered(SHB), and DavisDam, s. of Las Vegas, areas during waterfowlcounts (KG). At Las Nevada's first, permitted a leisurely and sportedone-third the count of 2 years ago Vegas, Mowbray missed21 specieswhich he careful inspectionDec. 16 (tVM; details (VM). Monte Vista N.W.R., Colo.,reported found last year, and the Foothills Audubon elsewhere).Many observerssaw a Green 9000ducks, 90% Mallards,wintering -- three Societyreported 14 fewer speciesat Long- Heron at St. George,Utah, Dec. 27 - Jan. 29 times last year's population.By the end of mont, Colorado. "A poor pinyon nut and (MW). Late reportscame of a GreenHeron at February the migration did begin, despite riparian berry crop and low food supplies Vernal, Utah, in early October (MP) and continuedcold. Utah's reported32,320 ducks undoubtedlyaffected winter bird movements another at Paonia, Colo., in mid-November included12.835 Green-wingedTeal. On Feb. around Ely, Nevada. Few Dark-eyed Juncos, (TC), and of Cattle Egrets-- one Nov. 1 at 27, 2000 Pintailsflew overCarson City, Nev. Mountain Chickadees, Pition Jays were Vernal (MP) and two which spent 5 days in (BP). found, and no robins." (PL). mid-Septemberin a cattle pastureat Delta, CinnamonTeal -- sign of spring -- first Colo. (FW, fide TC). The latter supplement appearedFeb. 19 at Bluff, Utah (FB) & Feb. LOONS THROUGH HERONS -- Arctic last faH'sunprecedented Cattle Egret reports 24 in the Denver area (D.F.O.) -- about 2 Loonreports persisted in Nevadathrough the (/lB 33:199).A SnowyEgret winteredat L. weekslater than usual.A Eur. Wigconstayed winter:at L. Mead singlebirds on threedates Mead, a rare occurrence(VM). Mid-winter at Ft. Collins Jan. 15-17, for Colorado'sninth in December and two on Jan. 10, and at Davis Black-crowned Night Herons appeared at record (RAR,CCh,CEB). Single Greater Dam. singlesJan. 20 & Feb. 8 (all VM). A DenverJan. 1-5 (PE) andLogan, Utah Jan.20 Seaupsdetected in late December(LCB) and Red-necked Grebe surprised observersat (RKA). Feb. 23 (VT) at Pueblo,Colo., remind us that Boulder, Colo., Jan. 28 (PM•') and 2 weeks careful scrutiny can detect rarities among later (MH, fide PM). In NevadaEared Grebe WATERFOWL -- About 100 Whistling look-alikes. At Great Salt L., 1000 Corn. countsdeclined from 200 Dec. 2 to 1-2 during Swanswintered in Utah, and 12 at Ruby L. At GoldeneyesDec. 14(2•? :1 c•)had disappeared the rest of the winter; no Nevadans detected Jackson,Wyo., wintering Trumpeter Swan Jan. 6 0N). Reportsof winteringBarrow's

300 AmericanBirds, May 1979 Goldeneyesincreased m the s portionof the the hard winter to come At Guanella Pass, very few late lingeringbirds, one was of a W Region Besidesthe regular sites at Dubols Colo, 98 White-tailed Ptarmigan were lden- Kingbird at Genoa, Nev, Dec 19 (BP), and Estes P., Colo., they wmtered at Logan tffied; with 40% young,they evidenceda good another of two Say's Phoebesat Cedar City (5-6pairs, RKA), GrandL., Colo.(20-30, DJ), productionyear (CEB). The increasedreports Dec. 16 (SH).First spring Say's Phoebes arrived Ruby L. (5, SHB), and their now-usualDavis of SageGrouse included 55-60 on a temporary in late February; one at Pyramid L., Nev, Dam haunt (the usual 30-35, VM). Single practicelek that beganstrutting practice Feb. Feb. 25, began defenseof a 1978 nest site observationscame from FarmingtonBay, Provo, 12 (SB). "Despitethe snow-coveredfields and (DG). Like the swifts, the s. Nevada swallows St George,and Hall's Crossing,Utah (ME1, cold weather, the migration of Sandhill had a much reducedpopulation, with only MW,CC). Great Salt L., Dec. 11 (JN) and Craneswas no later than spring1978," and 1000 Tree Swallows counted at Davis Dam GlenwoodSprings, Colo., Feb. 25-26(MBo) 10,000had arrivedin the San Luis Valley, Colo., Jan.20 (VM). LasVegas reported the onlyearly eachhad an Oldsquaw.A hunterkilled oneof by Feb. 28 (MTN). Usuallysome shorebirds migrants; a handful Feb. 17-26 (VM). two Com. Scotersat Rifle, Colo., Dec. 1, but a lingeruntil Januaryat Bear R., but this year birder found the one at Denver Jan. 1-5 the freezeand snowcame early and the refuge JAYS THROUGH THRASHERS -- Blue (D F.O.). had none Nov. 20; last year's CBC had 600 Jay observationsin Longmont,Colo., increased Killdeer;this year it had none(JN). Spring- overlast winter's(157 comparedwith 23) but RAPTORS -- The Loganraptor surveytal- returningshorebirds began arriving later in in new frontiers like Sheridan and Cody, lied similar counts of 245 Dec. 2-8 and 240 Februarythan in most years,except for one Wyo., none were seen after December Jan 20;the per hourcounts were 2.4 and3.1 veryearly Least Sandpiper Feb. 25 at Denver (HD,UK), and Loganhad only one observa- respectively.Most abundant were Red-taileds (JR). tion (RKA). The Blue X Steller'shybrid at (58, 48) and Rough-leggeds(58, 59). Notable Grand L., Colo.,spent the winter;it appeared shifts from December to January occurred GULLS TO ROADRUNNERS -- The to be a back-cross,Blue Jay X hybrid (DJ) with Marsh Hawks (49 to 17), the January dozenGlaucous Gulls reported, all from Col- Althoughthe Coloradoand Utah piedmont countsharply reduced from last year'sJan- orado, were many fewer than previouswin- townsreported no Steller'sJays, and the CBC uarytotal of 47, andwith Short-earedOwls (0 ters. The 1-4 Thayer's Gulls at Las Vegas in count droppedto its lowestin 7 years, .75/ to 15, JGs). CBC countsof hawks,calculated December(VM) and the 2-3 at Denverin Feb- party-hour, Jackson,Cedar City, and Zion for the e. 3 Mountain West statesfor 7 years, ruary(PM,D.F.O.) compared favorably to pre- N.P., did have small influxes. "By January, show a uniform increase.Accipiters have vious years. At Las Vegas, the "trend of Scrub Jayswere abundant in higher sections steadilygone up from.016/party-hour in 1972 almost all (Californiaand Ring-billed)gulls of Zion, while Steller'sstayed in the lowland to 052/party hour in 1978. Marsh Hawks beingadults continues" (VM), probablyowing -- an interestingreversal." (LE). Great Basin haveincreased by 25% overthe averageof the to gullcontrol programs at nestingsites (AB observersnoted increases of Scrub Jays at first 5 years,with the 1978count of .13/party 31:204). Zion reported 50-100 Band-tailed Logan, Cedar City, and Verdure, Utah, and hourthe greatestin the 7 years.The 42 Red- Pigeons Feb. 5 (LE). Mourning Doves Ruby L. CBC countsof Black-billed Magpies tailed Hawks in s. Utah alone accounted for occurredat Cedar City, Utah, in occasional droppedto 2.84/party-hour,down from the the increaseof that speciesto .12/partyhour, flocksof up to 20; usuallythey do notwinter averageby .45/party-hours.Nonetheless, the the highestsince 1972. in the Region.One at Eureka,Nev., about snow cover made them more conspicuous A Red-tailed Hawk fed on Virginia Rails Dec. 10, before the cold weather, was 2 Ward reported that old-timers around and a Sora at a Ridgway, Colo., marsh in months later than ever before (JE). A Road- Meeker, Colo., "say increased traffic has December;the Sofa,deterred from migrating runnerappeared at a ColoradoSprings feeder increasedroad kills, and they are amazed at owingto a brokenwing, was picked off Dec. Dec. 10 and stayedthrough the winter,feed- the large flocksof magpiesfeeding alongthe 31 (JRG). Wyominghad fewer than usual ingon groundbeef (CLC,MS). road. They don't recall suchlarge numbersm Rough-leggedHawks through the winter (HD, wintertime."On Feb. 26 shesaw one perched BO,SB,BR);the drop on CBC countsin n. OWLS THROUGH KINGFISHERS -- on the back of a browsingdeer. Observersat Wyomingfrom 73 to 27 continuedthrough the Two Barn Owlsinhabiting storage buildings Grand L., concurwith the Meeker old-timers winter. Observationsapparently dropped in at Bear R., succumbed to sub-zero cold and (DJ), but at Eagle, Colo., they did not begin Utah, but Nevadareports were equivocal. The limited food supply(RV). Eight Barn Owls feedingon road kills tmtil the weatherimproved Wyomingeagle survey counted 212 Golden found during Februarynear Provoincluded (JM). From the s. Utah fringe of their range, Eagles in January (BO). Fifteen wintered two nestingpairs (MW). Rehabilitatedand magpieswere reportedfrom Bluff, Blanding, betweenAspen and Grand L., accordingto an released was a Screech Owl which flew into an Zion, and Cedar City. aerialsurvey in January(DJ). One adult was opencar windowon 1-80w. of SaltLake City CBC counts of Black-cappedChickadees "seen in the middle of L. Granby, Colo., on (AK). The only SnowyOwl report camefrom wereaverage (1.05/party-hour) but Mountains the ice, fighting over a tidbit with two Banner,Wyo., Feb. 16 (GN,fide HD). Found droppedto their lowestlevel, at .98/party-hour coyotes."(DJ). Statewidesurveys of Bald dead in JacksonDec. 17, was a Boreal Owl downfrom the averageby .5/party-hour.Two Eaglestallied 418 in Wyoming,42 in Nevada. (MMc, fide BR). While the numberof White- Verdinswere found Dec. 29 at St. Georgeand Other high countsincluded 50+ w. of Provo throated Swifts declined markedly at Las two Jan. 4 at Beaver Dam Wash nearby (SH) Jan. 13 (MW), 46 at FarmingtonBay, Utah, Vegas and Davis Dam (none at Las Vegas Severalflocks of Bushtitsflitted alongthe Col- Feb. 1-15 (AK), and 38 around Cedar City Jan. after Dec. 16; only 50-70 at Davis Dec. 22 - orado E. Slope Dec. 15 - Jan. 10, more than 19 (SH). WinteringOspreys seem extremely Jan. 20 -- VM), the observationof oneflying the occasionalwinter flocks. For example,the unlikelyin the MountainWest, especially the near St. GeorgeJan. 3, furnishedthe first Denver CBC found five different flocks and a last 2 winters;however the abundanceof arti- winter record for Utah (SH). Hardy Belted ColoradoSprings feeder had 23 observations ficial impoundmentscould give credenceto Kingfishersappeared at a number of cold throughthe winterof flocksup to 30 in num- the reportswhich persist -- onein Jan.1976, placesduring the winter, the oddest being one ber (RWa). Winter Wrensregularly range to s one which reportedlyspent January near Ft. seenthree times in Januaryat Westcreek,Colo., Utah -- this year to Zion and Beaver Dam Collinslast year, and one this winter in n.e. where all lakes and streams were frozen the Wash-- but asusual, were not reportedfrom Boulder County, Colo., Dec. 16 (Longmont entire month (RW). the other Mountain West states except on CBC) and Jan. 6 (MM). Marsh Hawk observa- CBCs. Winter Mockingbird reports came tionsdeclined -- bestquantified by the one- WOODPECKERS THROUGH SWAL- from Zion Dec. 7 (JG), Boulder Dec. 27 (PG), month drop betweenLogan's raptor surveys. LOWS -- After 6 yearsof increaseson CBCs, and Carson City Feb. 4 (IH), and Brown A gray-phaseq? Gyrfalcon wintered at Com.Flickers dropped to .66/party-hour,the Thrashersappeared at Denver Dec. 23 (RF), Sheridanapparently one whichhas returned lowestsince 1972. A Red-belliedWoodpecker ColoradoSprings Dec. 2-9 (RAF), and Boul- for 5 years(HD,•'EP). Sheridanhad reportsof stayed in a Colorado Springsyard for 15 der Jan. 25 (RVz). The three Crissal Thrashers two other possibleGyrfalcons, and another minutesonly Dec. 4 (EW). CBC averagesfor at Beaver Dam Wash Jan. 4 were the first win- report camefrom Briggsdale,Colo., Jan. 27 Hairy and Downywoodpeckers were identical ter reportsfrom Utah in someyears (SH). (JC,BJ). to last year's,below the 7-yearaverage. Before 1973, the Zion area had two records of ROBINS THROUGH PHAINOPEPLAS -- GROUSE, CRANES, SHOREBIRDS -- A Ladder-backed Woodpecker; this season it American Robins mostly did not winter, Blue Grouse which perched on a car in had two on its CBC, three Jan 13, and a female althougha few flocks persistedin Glenwood downtownJackson, Wyo., Dec. 15, hinted of five times (JG). Observers'reports included Springsand Longmont. They reappearedin

Volume33, Number3 301 mid-to late-February,about the normawtlme towns(except Pueblo) reported good counts of Archibald(14), Mary Back (5), EthlynBarn- The first 2 weeksin Decembersaw single Var- Cassln's Finches m Colorado, n Utah, and eby, A Blale, L C Binford, Fred Blackburn ied Thrushesat Boulder, Salt Lake City, and Wyoming.Numbers of rosyfinches approx- (5),Hartley Bloomfield, Sophia Bogart, Steven PyramidL. (B.A.S.,GK,DG).Mountain Blue- imatedlast year's;Ward founda flock of 25 H. Bouffard, Boulder Audubon Society,C E birdsbegan returning in mid-February,about at Axial, Colo.,roosting in Cliff Swallownests. Braun, W. W. Brockher (18), Elaine Calzolarl, 2 weekslater than normal;the first reportwas The only Com. Redpollswere in Sheridan C. L. Campbell(10), C. ChaseIII (CCh), K ofeight at RenoFeb. 4 (IH). TwoWater Pipits (scatteredreports), Jackson (one), and on Clegl , TheoColburn, J. ColvimCheryl Con- appearedat FarmingtonBay W.M.A., Utah, CBCs, at Pike's Peak (200) and Cedar City rad, Helen Downing(23), J. Dozier,P. Ethel- Jan. 28 (NH). Then Feb. 27, ski tourers found (one).Reporters found few Red Crossbills, and meyer, Glenn W. Elisof, M. Ellis (MEI), an adventuresomeearly flock of five Water only three White-wingedCrossbills at Logan Margaret Ewing, Louise Exeell (11), Janet Pipitsvaulting with the winds at 11,500ft near Feb. 17 (RKA). The Abert's Towhee at Zion Eyre, R. A. Fisher, Foothills Audubon Club, Vail., Colo., in Krummholztimberline habitat Jan. 5-6 was the first there since the 1930s Fort Collins Audubon Society, R. Franz, (CGt). BohemianWaxwings drifted S to Col- (JG). Green-tailed Towheeswere at Bountiful, David Galat, P. Garthwaite, J. Gessamen orado Springs,Cedar City, and Ruby L. In Utah, Dec. 3-23 and Farmington Bay, Utay, (JGe), Jerome Gifford, Krist'm Graves (8), Februarytheir numbersburgeoned in n. Utah Jan. 28 (NH). A Green-tailed Towheeat Glen- CharlesGroesbeek, J. R. Guadagno,N. Had- andWyoming; most spectacular report was in woodSprings Dec. 14-25 got into the house of ley, May Hanesworth(15), I. Hanf, Steven theBig HornBasin, n.w. Wyoming, of a 2-day the local Audubon chairman and roosted in Hedges(8), P. Heidenreich,Louise Hering increasefrom 100 to 20,000,Jan. 28 (TM,fide her Christmastree... (MSt). (27),M. Holmgren(MHo), DavidHutchinsof, BO). The two Phainopeplasat Beaver Dam B. Johnson, Gleb Kashin, Anne Keene (13), W•sh Jan.4 gaveUtah oneof its few winter SPARROWS -- At Las Vegas,the most sig- Ursula Kepler (7), Merlin Killpack, Steve records (SH). nificant observationwas the lack of sparrows: Kingswood, Reid Lowrance, Paul Lucas, very low numbers,especially Sage, and no Michael Manson, T. McEnearney,M. Mclll- WARBLERS TO BLACKBIRDS -- The Harris',Chipping, Brewer's, or Larks(VM). benny (MMc), John Merchant (6), Cheryl The Black-throatedSparrows at Cedar City four Orange-crownedWarblers reported from Michel,Pete Moultof, VinceMowbray, M T s Nevadawere somewhatfewer than for pre- Dec. 16 (KC) and St. GeorgeJan. 8 (SH)may Nail, John Nelson, G. Novakovich, R. Park- be Utah's first winter records.The SageSpar- viouswinters. Yellow-rumped Warblers largely ison, Michael Perry, B. Pickslay,E. Pitcher, leftthe Region.Nevada CBCs found half those row count on all Nevada CBCs was only 49 -- BertRaynes (8), J. Reddall,Warner Reeser (6), of last year;otherwise reporters mentioned only comparedto a 6-yearaverage of 222. Feeders J. C. Rigli, D. Silverman,E. Sorerison,Irma almostuniformly reportedfewer juneosthan a quarterof the usualscattered 10-20. A very Sparks(7), Mahlon Speers,M. Stewart(MS), usual, but the CBC count was average.CBC highcount of 500at DavisDam Dec. 22 (VM), Van A. Truan (8), Utah Division of Wildlife numbersof Tree Sparrowsdipped to a new at the S tip of Nevada,evidenced a movement Resources,R. VanZandt(RVz), Ray Varney, farther S than usual.A late report arrivedof a low, 1.86/party-hour,compared to an average Doug & Judy Ward, Rosie Warts (RWa), BlackburnJan Warbler in Boulder Nov. 19 of 2.71. Tree Sparrowsoccasionally range into Merrill Webb, F. Wild, Elinor Wills, Roberta s. Utah and Nevada; two stayed 2 weeks at (B A.S.). Much reducedin numbersthrough Winn (4). -- HUGH E. KINGERY, 869 Mil- the middle of winter, some W. Meadowlarks Hall's Crossing,Utah, one was at Las Vegas waukeeStreet, Denver, Colo. 80206. laf. 22 (VM), and one called at a Eureka, had returnedby mid-February.At Las Vegas 15-25 Yellow-headed Blackbirds, more than Nev.,feeder in lateJanuary (AB). ThreeChip- ping Sparrowstraveled with W. Bluebirds usual,spent the winter.The onlyothers were Jan. 19 for Zion's first winter record (LE). at Hall's Crossing,Utah, Feb. 19 (CC). Red- White-crownedSparrows, the countsskewed wingedBlackbirds, like meadowlarks,mostly by totals of 2137 and 2286 at Kanab and St. gonein mid-winter,did massfor a countof George,Utah, respectively(up from 555 and 10,000near Longrnont Jan. 13 (MM) and2000 SOUTHWEST REGION at JacksonRes., near Ft. Morgan the same 831the previousyear), had a party-hourfigure of 2.31, up from a 1.29 average.At Las Vegas day (MM). The return migrationbegan in /Janet Witzeman, JohnP. Hubbard 1-3 Golden-crownedSparrows wintered (VM), mid-February,topped by a huge flock of and Kenn Kaufman )100,000 at John Martin Res., near Hasty, andReno had singles Dec. 4-7 & 24 (IH). Fox Sparrowsappeared Dec. 11 at a Sheridan Colo., Feb. 18 (JR). During a snowstormat Silver Plume, Colo., Feb. 27, one stray from feeder(HD) and for Christmas'week at Logan In the warmer western sectors of the the migrationon the plainsdropped onto the (RKA). Although Wyoming observers Region,where the two precedingmild winters porchof a mountaincabin; "We didn'teven reportedfewer Lapland Longspurs than usual, had lulledus into a falsesense of complacency, have them in summer." (EC). Aside from Coloradohad goodnumbers, including 200- winter arrived dramatically the first week of 300, Feb. 3, at Rayruer(PM), and a good CBCs,the winter producedonly three reports December.The major stormthat hit then was of Rusty Blackbirds,all in n.e. Colorado countalong the ArkansasR., fromPueblo and felt most intensivelyin southeastArizona, (B A.S.,MM,D.F.O.). The last week of Ryee. to RockyFord (VT). Rarer on the other wheresub-zero temperatures humbed areas as Decembersaw Com. Gracklesat Wheat Ridge side of the ContinentalDivide, Laplandsvis- lowas Nogales. Heavy snowfall on December7 (PE),•ngrnont (F.A.C.),and Westcliffe,Colo. ited Granby,Axial, Logan,and Bear R. Ref. forced the closingof Interstate 10 between (VR,BA,LCB),the latter a rare summerlocale (30 on Jan. 1 -- ES). A pallid echo of last Tucson and the New Mexico stateline; and on for them. At Sheridan "a flock of grackles year'sSnow Bunting flight brought one all the the followingmorning, the desertlandscape winter at a feederwhich feedssquirrels and way s. to GooseberryMesa at Zion Jan.4, for -- with snowshrouding the saguarosand oco- the Park's first record(LEet al.). Four were on HouseSparrows. The numbersreduce as win- tillos -- made an unforgettable sight. Tem- Antelope1., Great Salt L., Feb. 3, and singles peraturesremained colder than normaluntil ter progressesand frozengrackle bodies are visited urban areas of Boulder and Denver foundnow and then until they are reducedto early February, and anothermajor wind and Jaf. 13 & Feb. 27. Pawnee Nat'l Grassland zero,usually by theend of January;however I snowfallhit Arizona at the end of January. sawone bird there Feb. 13." (HD). Loganhad had reportsof onlythree flocks, although one By coincidence,KK birded the San Rafael flock Jan. 13 had 125 (MM). its first winter Brown-headedCowbird during Grasslandsof southeastArizona both just Christmasweek (RKA) and at Reno five win- CORRIGENDA -- Yellowstone Park has beforeand just after the December7 snowfall teredin twoyards (JA). severalOldsquaw records from the 1930s,con- Three days before the storm he found trary to AB 32:1037.The old reportsin Brod- Sprague'sPipits and Savannah,Baird's and FINCHES -- The femaleof a pair of Car- derick'sBirds qf Yellowstone(1952) were not Grasshoppersparrows to be presentin near- dlnalswintered at Lafayette,Colo. ffide LH). pickedup in Follett's1976 pamphlet.ffide normal numbers.Returning three days after As last year, feedersattracted fewer Evening JD).Please disregard the report of theW. Gull the storm, he tramped for miles acrossthe Grosbeaks. While Sheridan, Boulder, and (AB 32:1038).The Clay-coloredSparrow (AB snowywastes without flushinga singlespar- Longmonthad occasionalflocks, most usual 32:1193) was Jackson's third record, not its row of any kind; the only remainingpasser- locations had almost none. Observers iden- first(fide OKS). ineswere ravens, Horned Larks, meadowlarks tified four Purple Finchesat PuebloDec. 23 and Chestnut-collaredLongspurs, and this (VT,LCB,DS) and one at Cedar City the first CONTRIBUTORS AND CITED OBSERV- picture remained unchangedon subsequent week in December(PH). Valley and plain ERS --Jessie Aires (4 observers),R. Keith visitsthrough the end of the period.

302 AmericanBirds, May 1979 Geese;Canada numbers seasonis mild or harsh (DSz et aL). A very late peaked at 4000+_,and phalarope,either a Northernor Red, waspres- three White-fronteds ent at Bosquedel Apache N.W..R., Dec. 2 were also present;the (tWS). best find at Cibola was A White-wingedDove at WilliamsburgFeb. the state'seighth {Black} 14 (DM) wascarly. SingleGroove-billed Aais, Brant, with at least one scarcestragglers from Mexico, werein Guada- presentfrom Dec. 1 on, lupe Canyon,N. Mex., Dec. $ (C. L. Cadieux) and two possiblythree and at Phoenix Dec. 20-21 (DSj et aL); at seen Feb. 16 (all BMW Arivaca. Ariz.. wheresix werepresent last fall. et aL ). one remained at least until Jan. 24 (DSz). A (5 EuropeanWig- con was at Phoenix OWLS. NIGHTJARS -- A Ferruginous Jan. 13 - Feb. 25 (P. Owl was found n. of Tucson Jan. 28 (DSz); Marshallet al., ph.,(N& althoughthere may still be a residentpopula- CL). for a second or tion in this area. the birds are very rarely third Arizona record. detected. Despite the cold, a Lesser Night- Common Goldeneyes hawk was at Wellton, Ariz., as late as Dec. 25 reached Arizona in (G&DR). Three Poor-wills at Carlsbad Cav- exceptional numbers. ernsN.P.. Feb. 19 (RW) wereearly -- or per- The winteringconcentra- hapswintering? Some other speciesreacted to the harsh tion on the L.C.R., was conservatively HUMMINGBIRDS. SWIFTS -- In Ram- conditions. Gray Flycatchers (normally the estimated at 1000_+ (BMW); Prescott had seyCanyon of the HuachucaMts., Ariz., hum- commonwintering Empidonax) disappeared "more than ever" (CST); record numbers were mingbird feeders sustained Anna's. Blue- from the Patagonia area. but a few Ham- at Painted Rock Dam, and more than usual throateds, Rivoli's, and even Violet-crowned mond's and Dusky flycatchers (normally reached s.c. Arizona (DSZ et al.). Barrow's hummingbirdsthrough Dec. 7; however,none much less common) survived there. perhaps Goldeneye numbers in the L.C.R.. were not persistedthere after the heavy snowfall and suggestingthat the latter two. both northern- abovethe recent average,but a male at Pres- hard freeze Dec. 8 (DD). At NogalesDec. 7 montanebreeders. have higher tolerancesfor cott Feb. 15-21 (CST et al. ) was the first credible Arizona record away from the Colorado was alsothe last date for a lingeringViolet- cold. Vermilion Flycatchernumbers dropped crowned (RMa). At Portal, farther from the R. A 9 Oldsquawnear AlamogordoDec. 16 - noticeably after the December storm and center of the storm. one Rivoli's made it declined further following the late January January(tLM et al.) wasonly the sixthrecorded freeze. for New Mexico. through December;five Blue-throateds survived the storm, with four present through The periodwas also wetter than usual.with January and at least three through February floodingin southeastern,southwestern, and RAPTORS -- An ad. "Harlan's" Red- (W&SS). One and possible two imm. (5 south-centralNew Mexico and partsof central tailed Hawk, foundentangled in somecording near Cochiti L., N. Mex.. Jan. 18 0. L. Rosetta). Rufous at Las Cruces lingered until at least and western Arizona. By late winter. snow Dec. 16 (TM et al.), the latest ever for New was released Feb. 18 after rehabilitation in packswere 200•o or moreof theirnormal depth Mexico. January records of White-throated almost throughout the higher elevationsof Santa Fe. Photos established this as the sec- both states. ond documented state record: the first dates Swiftsare rare in that state,so the "many" at RattlesnakeSprings in the period Jan. 12-14 from the 1850s.and wasconfirmed by Spencer (RW) and six in the Alamo Hueco Mts., Jan. Baird! An ad. Broad-wingedHawk near Tuc- LOONS THROUGH IBIS -- A Red- 20 (BJH) were notable. son was seenonly Feb. 6-7 but may have been throated Loon at Painted Rock Dam Nov. 26 attemptingto winter somewherenearby (KK WOODPECKERS -- The 9 Red-bellied (tST,GR) was about the fifth for Arizona. et al.); there are about a dozen previous White Pelicansare usuallyscarce in New Mex- Woodpeckerat RattlesnakeSprings in Octo- Arizona records. A Zone-tailed Hawk near ber was still presentthrough Jan. 28 (RW). ico in winter,so the 80+ at ElephantButte L., Cliff. N. Mex.. Feb. 14 0E) waseither very early Jan. ! (DM) were notable. A Brown Pelican SingleGila Woodpeckersnear RodeoDec. 31 or a winteringbird. (RS et al. ) and Glenwood Dec. 29 (JPH) were from last summer's flight remained on the Combinedsurveys for the latter half of Jan- Lower Colorado River (hereafter, L.C.R.), out of their normal range in New Mexico. uary showedat least 241 Bald Eagles winter- Several typically montane speciesof wood- near Yuma throughthe period,with another ing in New Mexico. This was only about two- (or the same?) seen 50 mi farther n. at Cibola peckerswere present s. of their usual New thirds of last year's level, and the birds were N.W.R., Dec. 31 (RD). The Olivaceous Cor- Mexico range, includinga Downy at Alamo- more spread out this winter than last, morant continues to increase in numbers and gordoDec. 16 {fide LM), two Hairies at Ros- especiallys. and e. (JPH et al.). SingleCara- regularityof occurrencein far s.w. New Mex- well Dec. 16 (EP et al. ) and one at LovingFeb. caras outside recent limits were 33 mi e. of 11 (SW), and a N. Three-toed near Silver City ico,with up to sixat EvansL., Grant Co., Feb. Yuma Dec. $ (VH.DL) and 19 min. of Oracle Jan.31 (M. Moseley). 6-25 (JE) and one at GlenwoodFeb. 8 (Roger Jct., Jan. 24 (DSZ,SP). An imm. falcon Skaggs)-- a first for CatronCounty. reportedas an AplomadoFalcon wasseen in FLYCATCHERS THROUGH CHICK- The fall surge of Cattle Egrets into New HidalgoCounty, N. Mex., Dec. 28 (•TM); the ADEES -- A Black Phoebe at Cochiti L., Jan. Mexicoleft a residueof up to ten into Decem- details supportingthe report suggestthat a 25 (N. Dodd, K. Giezentanner) was well n. of ber in the Carlsbadarea (SW et aL). plus two correctidentification of this raptor, now very the normal winter range. Steller'sand Scrub at Bosquedel ApacheN.W.R., Dec. 1 (WS) rare in the U.S., was made. jays were evidentin generallysmall numbers and two at Las Cruces Dec. 16 (TM et aL). throughthe periodat lowerelevations and in Larger numbersthan ever wintered in the CRANES THROUGH CUCKOOS -- The the far s. of New Mexico. as their invasion of Phoenixregion, with >200 presentduring the experimentalflock of Whooping Cranes last autumn continued; most notable were the seasonat variouspoints; a few were alsoscat- wintered as expected in the middle Rio Steller's at Las Cruces (TM et al.) and s. of tered throughouts.e. Arizona. White-faced Grande Valley, with eight birds presentuntil Alamogordo(LM). while Scrubswere present Ibisesseldom winter in Arizona, but this year N migration in February; unexpectedwas in the lower PecosValley (SW et al.) and one small numbers were present on Cibola another bird near Janos, n.w. Chihuahua Jan. waseven at HobbsDec. 21 (HS). The Blue Jay N.W.R.. and probably Imperial N.W.R.. 17-19, this being a juvenile from 1978'spro- at Farmingtonin October,1978 persisted into throughoutthe season(BMW et aL). duction (Rod Drewienet al.). RecentlyLong- February (APN). Common Crows were more billed Dowitchers have remained in s.c. Ari- numerousthan usualat Farmington(AN et WATERFOWL -- The wintering concen- zonathrough mild winters.The fact that some al.), as well as at Bosquedel ApacheN.W.R., tration of geese-on Cibola N.W.R., was alsoremained during this year'sharsh winter Dec.30 (CHet aL)and nearLas Vegas Feb. 20 notable for Arizona in both numbers and at Willcox, Nogales,and Tucson, perhaps 0PH). A magpiein the SandiaMts., N. Mex., variety. Six Ross' Geese and one "Blue" indicatesthat thisarea is now a regularpart of Dec. 16 0ira Karo et al.) was s. of its usual Gooseaccompanied the large flocksof Snow the winterrange -- regardlessof whetherthe range.Mountain Chickadeesjoined the corvid

Volume33, Number 3 303 invasion,including in the southernmostparts the site of the secondrecord, in Spring1977. CONTRIBUTORS (areacompilers in bold- of the valleysof the Rio Grande (TM et al.) Found Nov. 17 (ST,RG,GR), it was seenby face) -- Bertin Anderson,Dave Baker, John and Pecos rivers (SW et aL ). many into March. Photos (J•N,KVR et al.) D. Bean, George Beringer,Robert Bradley providedthe first acceptabledocumentation (RBr), Dan Cohan, Elaine Cook, John Coons MIMIDS THROUGH WAXWINGS -- A of the species'occurrence in the state;a 19th- (Flagstaff),Doug Danforth (HuachucaMrs.), Bendire's Thrasher, rare in the L.C.R., win- century "Arizona" specimenlacks a precise William Davis, Salome R. Demaree, Robert teredjust n.e. of Yuma (VH et aL). American date or locality. Dummer, John Egbert, Ralph A. Fisher, Robinswere nearlyabsent over most of Ari- Other notable winter warblers not on Agnes& Harold Gaither, SharonGoldwasser, zonaduring early winter. However, about Feb. Christmas Bird Counts, included a Hermit GraceGregg, Bill Harrison(Nogales), Bruce J. 1, large numbersappeared almost simulta- Warbler Jan. 11 on the Kofa Game Range, Hayward. Alton Higgins, Valerie Hink, Bill neouslyat Tucson,Globe, Phoenix,Flagstaff, Ariz. (L. Anderson), and a Wilson's Warbler Howe,Charles A. Hundertmark,Mary Hunni- and in the L.C.R., the reasons for (and the n. of NogalesJan. 7-21 (DSz,BD et aL). For cutt, Chuck Hunter,Catherine Irwin. Betty sources of) this truly massive invasion are the first time in severalyears, Scott'sHooded Jackson,Chuck Kangas, Andy Laurenzi, unknown.The specieswas also numerousin and Northern orioles all wintered at feeders Diane Laush, Nyle & Carol Leatham, Wes February in e. New Mexico, e.g., Portales near Tucson;this usedto be a regular occur- Loder,Helen Longstreth,Randall Madding (JPH) and Hobbs (HS). The season'sonly Var- rence in the !ate 1960s •;de DSz). An ad. • (RMa), Tom Marr, Robert McKernan, Doris ied Thrush was a female s. of Ehrenberg, Scott's again wintered at Silver City •ide Miller, Gale Monson (consultant on Arizona Ariz., Dec. 19 (MH). Good numbers of all RAF), probablythe samebird that has done record), Robert Morse, Alan P. Nelson, Susan three bluebird species,especially Westerns, so over three previouswinters. Two W. Tan- Parker,E. Patterson,Joanne Phillips, Harris werepresent locally in s. Arizonafoothills early agers, quite rare in winter, were found in Richard,Gw. en & Dick Robinson(Yuma), Bill in the winter; their spreadinto morelow-lying Phoenix Feb. 6 (SRD,HL). Roe,Gary H. Rosenberg,Ken V. Rosenberg, and n. areas coincided with the robin move- RobertScholes, Hart Schwarz,Saliy Spofford ment in early February. Westernsand Moun- FRINGILLIDS -- The biggestnews in this (Portal),Walter Spofford, David Stejskal (DSj), tains also invaded s. New Mexico, especially family was the scarcity of most species William Stone (WSt), Douglas Stotz (DSz, the latter specieswhich reached the Mexican throughout s. Arizona (which is usually the Tucson), Scott Terrill, Ross L. Tenher, Dick boundaryarea and alsothe e. plainsnear Tuc- wintering fringi!lid capital of the United Todd, Carl S. Tomoff (Prescott),Steve West, umari. Easterns were evident in the lower val- States). Erratic visitors such as Lawrence's Bret M. Whitney (L.C.R.), Richard Wilt, leysof the Pecosand Rio Grande riversplus n. Goldfinch and Pine Siskin were virtually Robert A. Witzeman, Kevin Zimmer. to Albuquerque-- with threethere Jan. 12 (JP absent,but in addition most wintering spar- Abbreviations: t, written details on file with et aI. ). rows(Savannah, Vespers, Grasshoppers, Spi- New Mexico Ornithological Society Most records of the rare occurrences of zellas, Lincoln's, White-crowneds) were in (N.M.O.S.) or with Arizona Bird Committee BohemianWaxwings in Arizona havebeen in very low numbers.Exceptions to the general (A.B.C.);* specimen;ph., photo on file with n. Arizona.A newlocation for the speciesin paucity were Rufous-winged and Black- N.M.O.S. or with A.B.C.; L.C.R., Lower Col- the state was in the n.e., at Ganado Feb. 18, throated sparrows(which evidentlyenjoyed orado River. -- JANET WITZEMAN, 4619 when a flock of 40_+was seenfeeding in cot- excellent breeding success in 1978) and E. ArcadiaLane, Phoenix,Ariz. 85018;JOHN tonwoods there (WL). Another individual was Rufous-sided Towhees. P. HUBBARD, 2016 Valle Rio, SantaFe, N. seenat Flagstaff Feb. 9 (C. LaRue,fide JC). Single c• Cardinals at Silver City Jan. 2 Mex. 87501; KENN KAUFMAN, 1411 E. The only onesreported in New Mexico were (Mary Granger,fide RAF• and s. of Hachita, Adams, Tucson,Ariz. 85719. flocks in the Farmington area Dec. 14 and N. Mex., Jan. 21 (BJH) were out-of-range. later (AN), except for an exceptionalvagrant Amongthe few EveningGrosbeaks reported at Silver City Jan. 31 (M. Zimmerman.fide in Arizona were up to 12 at Ganado Jan. 1 - RAF). Feb. 19 (HR,WL); the species'winter status with us is still poorlyunderstood. A 9 Purple SHRIKES THROUGH TANAGERS -- Finch was at Portal Dec. 1-3 (ph.. W&SS); Northern Shrikeswere presentin lower num- almost all Arizona specimensare of the race ALASKA REGION bers in New Mexico than in the past two win- californicus,which must arrivefrom the w., so /D. D. Gibson ters, but notable recordsincluded singles near it is odd that the speciesshould occur so fre- Melrose Feb. 20 (JPH), and in Dona Aria quently at Portal, in the s.e. corner of the County near E1 Paso Dec. 9 (KZ). A Cape May state. Unusual for Los A!amos, N. Mex., were December and January were mild, but Warbler, representingArizona's third record 200 rosy finches Feb. 15 and earlier (Burr February was a return to old-fashionedAlaska for this century, survivedthe winter at the Lewis et aL), these being mainly Brown- winters. A cold front held the state for most of ßBoyce Thompson Arboretum, which was also cappedwith a few Gray-crownedsincluding at thatmonth, producing, for example,the cold- least one littoralis (Hepburn's).A Grasshop- est February on record at Fairbanks, where per Sparrowwas found Jan. 11 near Poston, the averagetemperature for the month was Ariz. 0D; *Arizona St. Univ.); the speciesis -25.3øF.Minimum temperatures there were extremelyrare in the L.C.R. -40 ø or colder on 14 consecutivedays, Absolutely unprecedentedwas the down- February3-16, and temperaturesin the -50øs slopemovement of Yellow-eyedJuncos in s. and-60øs were common throughout the Inter- Arizona.The speciesappeared in numbersin ior duringthis period; -71øF (-57øC)at North- areas where never recorded before: at least way on February 9 was coldesttemperature four around Tucson (GG,KK et al. ), several in recorded in winter 1978-79 and the coldest the Baboquivari, Atascosa,and Patagonia everin Alaskain February. Mrs. (fide DSz, BH et aL), and two in Bisbee Pacific Coast areas had severe weather dur- (DD); in addition, unusuallylarge numbers ing Februarytoo. Ambientair temperatures occurred at low elevation in the Huachuca and were characteristicallyhigher than those Chiricahua Mrs. (DD,W&SS). inland,but, for all organismstrying to pro- An imm. Golden-crownedSparrow at Santa duce and hold body heat, wind chill factors Fe from Dec. 9 - Feb. 28+ (JPH, ph.) was drove the effectivetemperatures far below perhapsthe 12th specificrecord for New Mex- zero. ico. A flood-damaged,unharvested sorghum field near Phoenixproduced a bonanzafor GREBES, DUCKS -- At least three W. observers, with 20+ Chestnut-collared Grebeswere present in the Cordovaarea dur- Longspurs(quintupling the previousMari- ing the last week of December(MED. There copaCounty record) and the county'sfirst havebeen only two prior Southcoastalrecords CapeMay Warbler, Boyce ThompsonArbor~ McCown'sLongspur record Feb. 6+ (ST, ph., (seeAB 31:362).The fiveRedheads reported etum, Ariz., Jan. 6, 1979. Photo/Ken V. KVR er al.), as well as at least 10,000 each of at Kodiak in October-November (see autumn Rosenberg. HouseFinch and SavannahSparrow! report) were presentthere at least through

304 AmericanBirds, May 1979 vious Alaska winter rec- crowned, Golden-crownedand Fox sparrows ords of this species wintered as far n. and w. as Kodiak, the first (also of this form) are fairly common and the rest rare (RAM). A alsofrom Wrangell(see White-throated Sparrow wintered at a Cor- % Condor 52:32-38, dovafeeder {CW.MEIJC, ph.). It waspresent 1950). A "Red-breasted" from at least late Decemberthrough most of Sapsuckerobserved at February, the third Southcoastaland second a Kodiak feeder Feb. local record, all in fall or winter. And Macin- 15 (WED,RAM) was tosh did it again: a Lincoln'sSparrow found estimated to be the at Kodiak Dec. 31 providedthe third Alaska same bird seen at winter record, all at Kodiak and all by RAM Kodiak last autumn (seeAB 30:7SS,AB 31:363)! A Lapland Long- (q.v. I. Varied Thrushes spur at Narrow Cape Feb. 18 was a second were abundant at Kodiak winter record (RAM). The species Kodiak this winter doesnot winter in Alaska with any regularity. (RAM) but wereappar- TwoMeKay's Buntings in a flock of Snow ently absent at Juneau Buntingsat WomensBay, Kodiak, Dec. 21+ (RBW,FAG). A Water (RAM,MMM,WED,DB,TOO), marked the Pipit at Narrow Cape, first substantialsightings e. of the BeringSea Kodiak, Dec. 26 (RAM) coast.Two seen 1S mi from Womens Bay Feb. maybe the first Alaska 10 (TOO) could have been different individ- winter record e. of the uals. Aleutians, where there are very few such rec- CORRIGENDUM -- The Brown-headed ords.The five Starlings Cowbirdon the Tutakoke R., last September at Kodiak (see autumn (seeautumn report 1978) providedthe third, report) were present not the second,w. Alaska record of the spe- throughFeb. 2 (MMM), cies. one through the close Feb. 18 (RAM). At leastthree separate ad. d of the period(RAM), and two werenoted in CONTRIBUTORS AND OBSERVERS -- Ring-neckedDucks were seen at Kodiak Feb. AnchorageFeb. 18 (MEI). The small group R. H. Armstrong,J. Cunningham,W. E. Don- 18, a fourth individual was found Feb. 21 and thatattempted overwintering at theFairbanks aldson, D. & P. Fesler, V. K. Gile, F. A. Glass, a fifth (all ad. males) Feb. 28 (RAM,WED, dump(see autumn report) apparently did not M. E. Isleib, B. Kessel, M. M. Macintosh, v.o.). An ad. d Tufted Duck was found at L. surviveFebruary's cold (BK). R. A. Macintosh, D. B. McDonald, M. A. Louise, Kodiak, Jan. 13 (WED,KS). It was Miller, T. O. Osborne, J. C. Pitcher, K. Sund- joined by a subad. male Feb. 21, and both FINCHES, BUNTINGS -- A Brambling berg, G. J. Tans, G. Terpening, J. L. Trapp, remained through Feb. 28, when they were was observedfrom late Novemberthrough C. Weise, R. B. Williams; m.ob. = many observedwith two of Kodiak's Ring-necked Februaryat Bird Cr., near Anchorage(DPF, observers;v.o. = various observers;ph. = Ducks(RAM)! Noneof thesethreeA.vth. va was GJTJCP.m.ob.). where it regularly accom- photo U.A.M. -- D. D. GIBSON, University knownat Kodiak beforerecent years. paniedjuncos to a feeder.It becamethe sixth of Alaska Museum, Fairbanks, Alaska 99701. Regionalrecord e. of the Aleutian and Bering FALCONS THROUGH OWLS -- The Am. Sea islands, three of which have been in Kestrel at L. Rose Tead, where it was a first Southcoastal Alaska. All but one of these rec- Kodiak record (see autumn), was present ords have been in fall or winter (see Studies in through Dec. 14 (RAM). A Killdeer was Arian Biology1, 1978:AB 33: autumn 1978). observed Jan. 1 at Juneau (FAG, RHA); the CommonRedpolls were present in fair to good species is a very rare winter visitant in numbers(e.g., flock of 100-150 Feb. 18) all Southeastern.A Sharp-tailed Sandpiper at winteringat Kasilof (MAM). and the species NORTHERN PACIFIC COAST Womens Bay, Kodiak, Dec. 19 (RAM,GT) wasfairly commonat AnchorageOLT). There provideda new late recordfor Alaska, eclip- was a generalscarcity of redpollsall seasonin REGION sing a Dec. 3, 1974, individual at the same the Cordova area, but small flocks were /Philip W. Mattocks, place (seeAB 29:729). Residentowl species becomingmore frequent at the end of Feb- (e.g., Great Gray, Hawk, Boreal, Saw-whe0 ruary than earlier (MEI). CommonRedpolls were widely reported within their respective were seen at intervals during the period at Colder and drier weather than usual for the ranges in the Region this winter, perhaps Juneau, flock maxima of 100 Feb. 5 & 15 Region continuedthrough to January. Tem- reflecting more observersthan in the past, (FAG). Redpolls(Hoary, Commonand inter- peraturesat the Seattle, Portland, and Med- since the records did not seem to reflect con- mediatebirds) were fairly commonall winter ford stationsaveraged about 4øF belownor- centrations or higher-than-usual numbers in the Fairbanks area (m.ob.). Pine Siskins mal for the two months. Precipitation was anywhere.A poorly-known,apparently irrup- continuedto be common(e.g., 1064 Dec. 31) about three inches lower per month than rive, winter visitant to Southeastern Alaska at Kodiak (see autumn repor0. where they usual. From late December to early January from Canada (there are no summer records in were presentall winter (RAM, v.o.), and a few the daily maximum stayedat or below freez- Alaska and the speciesis not recordedevery scattered flocks were seen about Cordova all ing. Such an extended period of cold is winter), Pygmy Owl was recorded in the period(MEI). A flock of 350 Feb. 5 was the unusual. and it furthermore included 1.5 Juneau-DouglasI. area, apparently a half maximumat luneau, where the specieswas inches of rain in the Portland area January dozen individuals, from at least late December presentthroughout the period(FAG). White- 9-11 which coated the landscape with ice. throughFebruary (RBW,FAG,RHA, v.o.). A wingedCrossbills were fairly commonall win- Temperatureswarmed thereafterand normal lack of reporterselsewhere in Southeastern ter at Kodiak (RAM); small flocks were seen rainfall returned in February. left one to wonder how widespreadin that all period at Kasilof (MAM) and at Cordova There were several noticeable effects of the regionthe phenomenonwas. (MED. and the specieswas recorded all winter coldweather: a considerableduck mortalityat at luneau (FAG). Sauvie's Island near Portland, a dramatic Whether a Dec. I SavannahSparrow at influx of sapsuckersto the lowlandand urban WOODPECKERS THROUGH STAR- Kodiak (RAM) wasa very late migrantor a areas. a temporary absenceof small insecti- LINGS -- There weretwo woodpeckerrecords winter bird was equivocal;the bird was not vorousspecies such as Ruby-crownedKinglets of particularinterest. A Red-shaftedCommon seenagain. As fall (q.v.) implied, no Harris' and Townsend'sWarblers, and a subsequent Flleker wintered at Wrangell, all Januaryto Sparrow.s were recordedin Southeasternthis near absence of resident landbirds from sev- mid-February, where it fed with robins on winter (RBW), bre•tkinga 14-yearchain of eral well studied islands offshore the north- Mountain Ash berries (VKG). The only pre- occurrences. Juncos and Tree, White- westernWashington coast.

Volume33, Number 3 305 19 {fide A&JG). Single An imm. "Blue" Goose wintered with a few SnowyEgrets at Coos SnowGeese near Tacoma (tCC) for only the Bay and at Bandon, secondw. Washingtonrecord. An ad. Ross' Oreg.. apparentlywin- Goosewas observed from the SeaI. jetty. near tered {fide AC&DF). Vancouver.B.C.. Jan. 30 (WC,fide VB). The five and eight Five individuals of the introduced Black Black-crowned Night Duck population near Everett, Wash.. were Herons on the Coos found in that area during January. Small Bayand Portland Christ- groupsof up to 14 Gadwallwintered in a few mas Bird Counts (here- localitieson s. V.I. (fide VG) throughJanuary. after, CBC), were usual. In February,24-44 were presentat the same The speciesis much locations, and two males were found farther scarcerfarther •; single n., at CowichanBay. V.I.. Feb. 10 0C), indi- adults were at Grays cating an early spring movement.In addition Harbor Dec. 16 (CB,ME) to a few Cinnamon Teal found on CBCs. there and near Carnation, was a pair near Seattle Feb. 4, with several King Co., Wash., Feb. other blue-winged type teal (EH,BMe). 11 (ME). American Bit- Migrant Cinnamon Teal appearedon sched- erns were widely ule in s.w. Oregonin mid-February{fide AC) reported from Oregon and at Sauvie'sI., in late February(HN). Four and Washington.and n. c• Blue-wlngedTeal were at Forest Grove. to Sea I.. and Reifel Oreg., Dec. 3 (GW. fide HN). Five Eur. Ref., near Vancouver, Green-wingedTeal were noted: two in the B.C., in January (GA, Vancouver area Jan. 7 - Feb. $ (JI,BS,DK}, VG). two on s. V.I., Jan. 9 & 20 (VG,RSa) and one on Sauvie'sI., Feb. 14 (MS.fide HN). All but a SWANS, GEESE. very few of the reportsof this form for the AND DUCKS -- Sev- Regionare after mid-December.A c•Falcated eral thousand Whis- Teal was shot Jan. 3 at Willapa Bay. Wash. tling Swanswintered in (KG. fide JWe). The specimenwas mounted the Willamette Valley and photographedand representsthe first Cessationof morningsong and someappar- of Oregon this season,a much higher than Washington state record, pending Record ent roostingbehavior were widely noted the usualpopulation level. About 250 were on the Committee assessmentof possible escapee morningof February26 duringthe total solar Skagit flats, Wash. (DP,TWL and several origin. The usual numbers of Eur. Wigcons eclipse. dozenwere in mixed flockswith Trumpeters werefound. The high countswere 14, Sauvie's in s. British Columbia. Trumpeter Swanswere I.. Dec. 24. at Portland Dec. 30, and on the LOONS THROUGH HERONS -- There in their usual numbers and locations, with Samish flats, Wash., Feb. 17-25 (MM,DP), were detailed reports this seasonof seven 200+ near Mt. Vernon, Wash., scattered and 13 in Vancouver,B.C., Dec. 19 {fideGA). Yellow-billed Loons in upper Puget Sound smallerflocks in n.w. Washingtonand s. Brit- The regular winter concentrationof Red- and in s. British Columbia, and two others at ish Columbia,and one or two with Whistling headsat CoosBay numbered375 Dec. 16 (DF Prince Rupert, B.C. At least three of these Swans on Sauvie's I.. near Portland. et al.), elsewhereno more than eight were were seen almost weekly throughout the Three Emperor Geesewere reported: one reported at any of a dozen localities.As last period. Red-necked Grebes were found in Dec. 2 & Feb. 22 at Sauvie'sI. (JGi,fide HN; year, the main Canvasbackconcentration was greaterthan usual numberson the s. Oregon B&DJu. fide SSa), one at Nehalem Oct. IS - the IS00 at Yaquina Bay (DF; BO. fide HN). coast.whereas the normally uncommonEared Feb. 28+ (m.ob.. JGi. ph.). and one at A c•Tufted Duck, with just the beginningof a Grebe was almost absent throughout the Leadbetter Pt., Wash., from Feb. 20 on (SA. tuft, was at the Everett sewageponds Feb. Region. Otherwise loon and grebe species DN, ph.: RW). White-fronted Geese were 18-27 OEH,DP.B&PE et al.). Several hundred werereported in their usualnumbers. found at four localities ire • British Columbia Barrow'sGoldeneyes again stayedon Capitol On Dec. 14 ca. 200 mi w. of Tillamook. with the flock of 19 at Somenos flats. Duncan. L., Olympia during December (G&WH). A Oreg.,SJ found one or twoBlack-footed Alba- V.I.. Dec. 20-30 OC et al.) the largestnoted. youngc• King Elder wasseen at Pt. Roberts, trossesand two Laysan Albatrosses.By the Farther s., the only reportswere of three near Wash.. Jan. I & 15 (V&HH. fide GA; •'DP, next day ca. 50 mi off Grays Harbor. Wash., Sequim,Wash., Dec. 17 (DSm) and one in TW.KW) for about the seventh record for there were 10 Black-footedsand two Laysans. Eugene.Oreg., throughthe period (SG.AC). Washington.More Black Scotersthan usual In the same location there were about five N. Fulmars and a Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel Dec. 1S. On Dec. 13, while 350 mi w. ofs. Oregon, SJhad two sightingsof the MottledPelrel OSJ). Another Laysan Albatross.four Black-footed Albatrosses. and a few N. Fulmars were off OregonJan. 4 (TW). AnotherN. Fulmar was over Swiftsure Banks. off Vancouver I., B.C. (hereafter, V.L). Dec. 16 (SJ). Six small shearwaters. the one seen well a Short-tailed, were in the Strait of Juan de Fuca just s. of Dis- coveryI., V.l.. Jan. 17 (WC.fide VG). Fewer Green Herons than usual were found wintering in Washington, and none was reported from British Columbia. The only Cattle Egrets reported were one along the Sixes R., near Port Orford, Oreg., in early December (D&JR, fide AC) and three near Longview,Wash.. Jan. 3 (GS,fide SSa).There were fewer Great Egrets than usual on the Oregoncoast, but more than normal in the Willamette Valley. North of the Columbia R.. a Great Egret wintered in Olympia, Wash., and oneappeared near Vancouver,B.C., Dec. Emperor Goose, Nehalem, Oreg., Oct. 15, 1978-Feb. 28% 1979. Photo/JeffGi!!igan.

306 AmericanBirds, May 1979 werereported from coastalOregon this winter SeattleDec 30 wasthe highestcount, and one however,the Herring Gull is more numerous (AC,DF,HN) wasout of placeon TatooshI, off Cape Flat- (BHT,EH) The 4060 California Gulls at Port- tery, Wash., Dec. 28 (DB). land Dec. 30 was double the previousstate- RAPTORS THROUGH RAILS -- An imm. widehigh count for CBCs.As lastwinter very Turkey Vulture attemptedto winter at Rose- few Bonaparte'sGulls were reported except SHOREBIRDS -- Several Semipalmated around s. V.I., where 6000_+ moved N off burg, Oreg., but died during the January Ploverswere still at Grays Harbor, Wash., and Saanich Dec. 27 (VG) and several hundred treeze, despitesupplemental feeding by a Coos Bay and Siletz Bay, Oreg., in mid- farmer {fide FP). Another immaturewas seen werepresent Dec. 10 & Jan.27 (RSa,fide VG) December.Singles were in SeattleJan. 6 (EH) An imm. Sabine's Gull was seen off Cape severaltimes in Ladnet, B.C., Dec. 23 - Feb. 1 and near Vancouver, B.C., Jan. 6-8 (JI, fide (DW,KF et al.). Apparentmigrants at Dun- GA) for verylate records.About 30 Snowy Arago, Oreg., Dec. 17 (•'AC). About ten can, V.I., Jan. 28 (JC,JWo)and at Reedsport, Ploverswere at Coos Bay through the season Black-leggedKittiwakes were 75 mi w. of Oreg., Feb. 8 (EWS) wereboth considered (AM). One to three Ruddy Turnstones,win- GraysHarbor Dec. 15 (SJ)and in Westport Feb. 9 (G&WH), smaller numbers were seen very early. The overallcount of wintering tered n. to V.I., Vancouver, B.C., and the White-tailedKites in Oregonremained near Lummi flats, Wash. (TW,tMD). A dozen throughoutthe Regionduring December and lastyeaifs levels, although pairs were found in February. Long-billedCurlews at Tokeland,Wash., Feb. Hundreds of Ancient Murrelets were seen several new areas. About 20 White-tailed 15 weremost surprising (BHT,JB). Groups of Kitesutilized an eveningroost at Fern Ridge 2-3 Whimbrels wintered at Coos Bay and off s. V.I. throughthe season{fide VG), and Res, through the winter (AC,HN). Sharp- flocksof up to 50 werearound the San Juan I, YaquinaBay as usual, also n. to GraysHarbor and in n. Puget Sound(TW,DP et at) A shinnedand Cooper'shawks were widely and alongthe Straitsof Juande Fuca(GVV, reportedin goodnumbers. There werealso SSm), with two off SaanichFeb. 8 (KT, fide singleTufted Puffin was 200 mi w. of Tilla- nineGosh awk sightings. mook, Oreg., Dec. 14 (SJ) and about six VG). A flock of 30+_Willets was again at the Tufted Puffins and one Horned Puffin were An ad. Red-shouldered Hawk near the North R., on Willapa Bay during February Eugeneairport Jan. 1-22 (SGr,AC et al.) was seen75 mi w. of GraysHarbor Dec. 15 (SJ) (G&WH et al. ), and about 12 were in Newport, Another Horned Puffin was found dead on the well n. of its usualrange to n.-c. California. Oreg.,also in February(SG,RL). A Wander- Also an imm. Red-shoulderedwas hit by a car beachat Dungenessspit, Wash., Jan. 28 (KK) ing Tattler waslate at SealRock, Oreg., Dec. There are less than a dozen records of the nearLanglois, Curry Co., Oreg., Jan. 28, and 20 (DF,DI,JE), as were single Red Knots at recoveredlive (DR, ph.).These records, which HornedPuffin for Washington,and veryfew Ocean Shores Dec. 16 (DP) and at Oak Bay, winter records of the Tufted Puffin. possiblydocument a natural range expansion, V.I., Dec. 19 (•'LR,fide VG). are seriouslyclouded, however, by the release LeastSandpipers stayed through the season OWLS THROUGH WOODPECKERS -- this fall of three Red-shouldered Hawks in to at least mid-February:one was in Victoria Grants Pass,Oreg., by DSi {fide AC). Red- Relativelyfew SnowyOwls werepresent this Feb. 2-3 (RSa, M&VG), three were in Port winter. The 22 on the Ladner CBC, Dec. 17 tailedHawks wintered in goodnumbers, with Angeles,Wash., Feb. 14 (KK), and25 wereon 368 on the Dallas, Oreg. CBC, more than wasthe high count,and one at the S.J.CR, the Skagitflats Feb. 17 (DP et al.). Western throughthe period was the only reported from doublingthe high CBC tally for the state. Sandpiperswere well representedas usualon SingleHarlan's Red-tailed Hawks wintered on Oregon(DF,HN). A SpottedOwl was found m the Washingtonand OregonCBCs, with fewer s.w.Mt. Rainier N.P., Feb. 5 (RT). SingleBur- the Skagitflats (MM,AN) and on Sauvie'sI. seen thereafter. rowingOwls were at GoldBeach, Oreg., Jan (HN et al.). Others were found during Two short-billed,gray-backed peep found 1 (D&JR,fide HN) and at the Eugeneairport Decemberon the NisquallyN.W.R. (BHT) Jan. 1-8 at C. Saanich, V.I. (JiW,MB,VG,RSa: from late Januaryon (AC et al.). A BarredOwl and the Lummi flats w. of Bellingham(PD, tJT) are consideredunidentifiable. There are waslocated in CampbellRiver P., S. Langley, fide TW). Observersthroughout the Region only two winter recordsof W. Sandpiperon commented on the reduced numbers or B.C., Dec. 30 (TH,KB,fide GA), and another V.I. (VG), and nonefor the entire Regionof absenceof Rough-legged Hawks. was seen and heard Feb. 18 & 25 at the estab- Semipalmated. lished site on Bacus Hill, e. of Sedro Woolley, All dowitchersidentified to speciesWere Wash. (EH et al. ). Long-billed,with mostreports in December. SeveralSelasphorus sp. hummingbirds were During Jan. 13-27, RK of the Wash. The 116Long-billeds at WestportDec. 10-16 foundvery late; singleswere in SeattleDec 12 Dept. of Game coordinatedseveral hun- (BHT) was the high count, and two were in (MK,ES,ph,), and at TillamookDec. 1695de dred observersin conducting a surveyof Oak- Bay, V.I., Feb. 7 (WC,HC, fide VG). HN), and two werein SalemDec. 30 {fide SG) Marbled Godwits wintered unusually far n., all known Bald Eagle winteringareas in A d RufousHummingbird arrived in Seattle Washington.A similarcensus was compiled andin highnumbers: 30 at the NorthR., Dec. 22 (EP), 53 at Tokeland Feb. 15 (BHT,JB), by Feb. 11 (B&GRe),a slightlyearly date in s. British Columbia by A&JG and in Anna'sHummingbirds continue to be found Oregon{fi'de HN). A countof 4200+_Bald and two throughoutthe period at Cadboro in new localities,and a female was collecting Eagles was totaled. The 1214 around Bay, Saanich{fide VG). GreaterYellowlegs, nestmaterial in Langford•V.I., Feb. 21 (G& Squamish,B.C., wasthe high concentra- Rock Sandpiper, and Dunlin wintered TBr,fide VG). tion, and 814 were at Harrison Bay, B.C. throughoutand in their usualnumbers. The "Red-breasted" Yellow-bellied Sap- The combined total of these two localities suckerstaged a remarkableinflux into low- is triple that of last year. Allowing for GULLS THROUGH ALCIDS -- There land areasof the RegionDec. 29 - Jan.1. Nor- duplication,988 werefound in w. Wash- werereports of about24 GlaucousGulls this mallyvery sparsely reported, there were 58 on lngton,with 381 alongthe SkagitR., and season,which is a few more than last year, the EugeneCBC, Jan. 1, 25 on the Seattle 107 alongthe NooksackR., and 900+_were despitetheir absencefrom severalof their CBC, Dec. 30, 23 at Ocean Shores, Wash, found in w. Oregon.Reports of onesand usual Puget Sounddump locales.As usual, seenby two observers(DP,SD) Jan. 1, and up twoswere very widespread. veryfew of thesewere adults, and a first-year to a dozenin a day werereported then from bird at Florence,Oreg., Feb. 19 (HN) and a StanleyP., Vancouver,B.C., Sequim,Wash, second-yearbird inlandat EugeneJan. 21 & and CottageGrove, Oreg. The influx followed Feb. 9 (•SG) werethe farthests. The singleW. severalunusually cold daysduring which the An Ospreywas at NisquallyN.W.R., Jan.4 Gulls seen on three occasions in the Vancou- temperaturedid not riseabove freezing. After & Feb. 4 (CC,RK,AD) and another was in ver area (JI,G&WA,BS) were the most north- a warmingtrend in earlyJanuary, a fewsingle Vancouver,B.C., Jan. 6 (BL, fide A&JG). The erly reported. Hybrid Glaucous-wingedX sapsuckerswere seenthrough mid-January, increasein Peregrinereports continued from Western Gulls continue to be noted; 33 were and then the speciesreturned to its usual fall into winter, with 34 scatteredthroughout countedat GraysHarbor Dec. 16 (BHT,DP, obscurity. the Region.Three Gyrfalconswere reported, EH,G&WH), 16 werein SeattleDec. 30 (DP), A Williamson'sSapsucker was brought m one each in British Columbia, Washington, andseveral were in EugeneJan. I (TL). Wher- by a housecatDec. 30 near Battleground, and Oregon during December.Merlins, kes- everin PugetSound that Thayer'sand Her- Clark Co., Wash., for the first winter record trels, and Marsh Hawks were noted in normal ring gullsare carefullyidentified, Thayer's is for the state(SSi,fide HN*). numbers. found to be the predominantwintering spe- A few Virginia Railswintered as usual, and cies.For example,the carefulreports by VG FLYCATCHERS THROUGH PIPITS -- A the severalJanuary records indicate that most this season showed640+_ Thayer's Gulls to pair of Black Phoebeswas at the Denman survived the late December freeze. Four at 40+ Herringson s. V.I. On the outer coast, GameManagement Area just n. of Medford,

Volume 33, Number 3 307 Oreg..Jan. 27 (OS),for a newlocation for this members, or are we missing a significant count. A SnowBunting at the Eugeneairport speciesin the Region. A Horned Lark spent source of information ? Feb. 4 (TL, DF) was only the secondlocal rec- the seasonat Clover Pt., Victoria {fide VG), A d Yellow-headed Blackbird wintered in ord and the farthest s. this winter. Several win- and a flock of 50 found at the Eugeneairport Saanich {fide VG), a female was s.w. of Van- tered at Tillamook and the S.J.C.R.. and a Feb. $ (TL,DF) was unusual. Very early cOuver, B.C., Jan. 14 (G&WA) & Feb. 18 flock of 35_+wintered at Ocean Shores, Wash. Violet-greenSwallows were near Aldergrove, (JWi), and a male was on Sauvie's I., Feb. 20 The birds of the season were the two B.C.. Jan. 14 (GRy,fide A&JG) and in Seattle (RSm.fide HN). Two Rusty Blackbirdswere McKay's Buntings found Dec. 16 at Ocean Feb. 17 (SH). Otherwise both Tree and pickedout. one Dec. 23 in Duncan, V.I. (JC) Shores(G&WH; EP,SP). One still in perfect Violet-greenswallows arrived on schedulein and one Dec. 31 near Bellingham, Wash. breedingplumage was found aloneat the base late February.No Blue Jayswere found in the (EH). A 9 Hooded Oriole stayed around a of the jetty Dec. 16-18 (AR,BMc). The other Regionthis winter. The Scrub Jay found last Eugenefeeder Dec. 24 - Feb. 28+ (LMa,AC; had some traces of winter rust and was seen year in Seattlewas still presentthis winter. A LMc. photosshowing decurved bill and exten- with the Snow Bunting flock by dozens of Boreal Chickadee was found in a flock of siveyellow underparts). observersthrough March 3. There wasno evi- Chestnut-backedsJan. 22 in Cypress P.P.. dence of prior captivity, and several photo- near Vancouver (BS). for one of very few win- FINCHES AND SPARROWS -- A flock of graphs(DP,ES,PM) and excellentfeather-by- ter recordsfor the area. During the earlyJan- 82 Gray-crowned Rosy Finches at Surrey. feather written descriptions are on file uary cold a flockof Bushtitsmoved into a gar- B.C., Jan. 1 (GRy, fide GA) was the only (tEH,tMM,tDE). This is of course the first age at night in Newberg,Oreg. (CR). Two reportfor that species,as was the groupof five record for Washingtomand probablyalso for White-breasted Nuthatches wintered at Scat- redpollson SamishI., Wash., Feb. 24 (TW). anywhereaway from the BeringSea. ter Cr. Ref., s. of Olympia, Wash, (CC). Five Only scatteredsmall flocks of Pine Siskins pair of Dipperswere seen along the RogueR., were noted, with many locations reporting CITED OBSERVERS, and abbreviations. Oreg.. Feb. 11, one of which was already their near absence. Red Crossbills were well with sub-regionaleditors in boldface. Gerry activelynest-building (OS). reported only from s. V.L Elsewhere there and Wendy Arisell. Scott Atkinson. Kevin Wrentits continued their residence in the wereonly two each at CoosBay Dec. 17 (AM). Bell, Mike Bentley. Thais Bock (TBo), Dee Willamette Valley of Oregon. n. at least to BellinghamDec. 31 {fide TW), and Sequim. Boerstoa.Cathy Boiles,Gwen and Tom Briggs Finley N.W.R., near Corvallis (AC.GG). Wash., Feb. 21 (KK). (G&TBr). John Buiger. Wayne Campbell. SingleMockingbirds were noted at Tillamook A Vesper Sparrow attended a feeder in H. R. Carter, Chris Chappell, John Comer, Dec. 16 {fideHN) and at Salem,Oreg., Jan. 14 Portland from early February into March Alan Contreras, Tom Crabtree, Susan (TC). More than usual Hermit Thrushes were (JL,HN) for a very unusual winter record. Dailum, Paul DeBruyn, Michael Donahue, found this winter on the Oregon coast (DF) There wereeight Tree Sparrowsreported; four Alison Duryee. Marc Eisdorfer, Joe Evanich, and numbers on V.I.. were threefold those of at Sea I., B.C. (GA) and one s. to Portland Bob and Pat Evans. Cai and Charlotte Fan- last winter (VG). Eleven W. Bluebirds at Coos Dec. 30 {fide HN). One Chipping Sparrow ders. David Fix, Kathleen Fry, Jeff Gilligan Bay Dec. 17 (AM) were the first ever for the winteredin Eugene(AC) and two wereon the (JGi), Greg Gillson.Margaret and Vie Good- CBC there, but only 25 were countedon the Sauvie'sI. CBC, Dec. 24 (DI). SingleHarris' wilI, Steve Gordon (SG). Ai and Jude Grass Medford CBC. down from last year and far Sparrowswere found throughoutthe seasonat (A&JG). Ken Greenfield, Sayre Greenfield belowcounts during the early 1970s.Several Sea I., B.C., on the Skagit flats and in Seattle. (SGr). Barbara Griffin, Terry Haremeli. Bill flocks of from 30 to several hundred Water Wash., and at feeders in Forest Grove and Harrlngton-Tweit (BHT), V. and H. Hesse, Pipits were reported, and many smaller Roseburg,Oreg. There were reportsof 14_+ Sue Hills. Glen and Wanda Hoge, Eugene groupswere scatteredthroughout the Region winteringWhite-throated Sparrows, which is Hunn, Bob Hutchison, John Ireland, David n. to CowichanBay (JC). near normal for the Region. SeveralOregon Irons, Stuart Johnston, Don Jole (DJo), Brian observerscommented on the high numbersof and DorisJustus (B&DJu), Meredith Kangley, WAXWINGS THROUGH BLACKBIRDS Fox Sparrowspresent this winter. and the 441 Rick Knight. Ken Knittie. Robert Lucas. -- As last winter, Cedar Waxwings were in EugeneJan. 1, was a new statewideCBC Brian Luck. Tom Lund, Jim Lyon•, Bruce scarce or absent, except in the Willamette high countby 85ø70.Three Lincoln'sSparrows MacDonald (BMc), Lela Mays (LMa), Alan Valley, where severalhundred were counted in winteredat Duncan. V.I. (JC). A SwampSpar- McGie, Larry McOueen (LMc), Brien Meii- the Eugeneand Roseburgareas (AC.FP). A row Jan. 1 at the Fern Ridge Res.. near leur (BMe), Mike Moore, Harry Nehls, Darryl Bohemian Waxwing at North Bend, Oreg., Eugene, was Oregon's ninth record (fide Nelson, Audrey Newman, Bob Olson. Fred Jan. 1, was most unusual (BG, fide AM). LMc). Small groups of Lapland Longspurs Parker. Dennis Paulson, Evelyn Peaslee, There was a coincidenceof other reports of were scatteredin the Region:the 27 at Grays Susan Peaslee, Bill and Geness Reicheft this speciesfor Jan. 25-26;300_+ were found at Harbor Dec. 16 {fide BHT) was the high (B&GRe), Alan Richards, Craig Roberts, Terrace. B.C. (WC,fide VG), sevenin w. Van- Leila Roberts, Dennis and Jim Rogers,Glen couver. B.C. (BS). and one near Vancouver, Ryder (GRy), Ron Satterfieid (RSa), Susan Wash. (DJo). A LoggerheadShrike wintered Saul (SSa), Barry Sauppe,Mike Shirai, Dave at Sea I.. near Vancouver, B.C. (GA et al.). Sidden (DSi), Susan Signor (SSi). Dory and Northern Shrikes were somewhat scarcer than Stan Smith (D&SSm). Richard Smith (RSm). usual this season in s. British Columbia and w. Ernie Spragg, Dave Stirling (DSt), Gary Washington and almost absent from w. Suhadoinik, Wally Sumner, Otis Swisher, Oregon. Jeremy Tatum, Keith Taylor, Ron Toohen, SingleOrange-crowned Warblers wintered Gus Van Viiet (GVV), Terry Wahl, Glenn n. to Sequim(WS) and Bellingham,Wash. Waithail, Joe Welch (JWe), E.G. White-swift (TW). A late Black-throated Gray Warbler (EWS). Nat Wheelwright,Ralph Widrig, Jack was in the CoosBay area Dec. 17 {fide HN). Williams (JWi), Doug Wilson, Jim Wilson There were many reportsof Townsend'sWar- (JiW), Ken Wilson, Joe Woodcock (JWo), (t) = biersduring December.several in the Vancou- written descriptionon file, (S.J.C.R.)= South ver area and on s. V.I., with 10 on the Grays jetty of the ColumbiaR., Oreg., (V.I.) = Van- Harbor CBC, being the high count. During couver I.. B.C. -- PHILIP W. MATTOCKS, Januarythere were only two reports;seven in JR., Dept. of Zoology,Univ. of Washington, DiscoveryP.. Seattle Jan. 14 (NW,SH), and Seattle, Wash. 98195. one in Eugenein late January(AC). Three Palm Warblerswere reported: one Dec. 10 at Westport (BHT), one Dec. 17 at Ocean Shores, Wash. (EH), and two Dec. 25 in Saan- ich, V.I. (DSt. fide VG). A Northern Water- thrush flew againsta window e. of Seattle Dec. 30 (C&CF,TBo,*U.W.)for onlythe fourth recordfor w. Washington.all in winter. Are McKay's Bunting with flock of Snow Bunt- rarebirds killed preferentially against the win- ings, Ocean Shores, Wash., Jan. 9, 1979. dows of the relativelyfew Audubon Society Photo/P. W. Mattocks, Jr.

308 AmericanBirds, May 1979 MIDDLE PACIFIC COAST lied Dec. 23 at old REGION Alameda Cr., in s. San ...... '• 0g_ R•. E. O 0 N Francisco Bay (here- /Jon Winter and StephenA. Laymon after, S.F. Bay) where The winter season commenced very cold 700-800 were regular and dry, with apprcbensionof a returning 15 yearsago (HLC). A drought.Mid-January however, brought needed • z• •lS ßBinoar few Greater Seaupare relief as storm after storm crossedthe Region, expected from inland bringingthe rainfall and temperaturesback to locations, but 49 with normal, where they remained for the rest of 12 Lessers at Borax L., the period. Lake Co.. Jan. 21 (SAL) Waterfowl stayed in the Central Valley and 30 at Copco Res., (hereafter,C.V.) refugesand along the coast Siskiyou Co., Feb. 4 until heavy rains arrived. at which time they •fideMT) weresurpris- spreadout into floodedareas. The mostexcit- 0 Sarda•osa eNop ø •eot • eBri•po• I ing. Four d Tufted ing bird of the winter was a Greater Shear- Ducks were found: one water on Monterey Bay, but the discoveryof a each at L. Merritt Dec. suspectedSkylark (Alauda arvensis?)created 2 - Jan. 13 (JM):Muddy much more discussion (see S.A.). Son S na r 0 'Merced E•. . X ' Hollow, Pt. ReyesDec. This report will be the last for the senior 14 - Feb. 25 (JE et al. ): co-regionaleditor. More time is neededfor an adult at Tiburon researchand meeting other demandsof a very Jan. 14 (RS et al. ); and busy schedule. Being an American Birds an immature there Jan. regional editor is both a rewarding and, at 19(RSetal.). times. quite frustrating job, but it is none- One hundred eight- thelesseducational. I haveenjoyed my tenure, een Barrow's Golden- and I wish to thank contributorsthroughout eyes were reported, a the Regionfor their observations.Through the CORMORANTS THROUGH HERONS • record number; 55 of them at L. Merritt Feb. cooperationof our large and very active com- More than !• Double-crested Cormoran• 2 (SFB). 22 at Kutras P.. Red-ding Dec. 30 munity of observers,the Middle PacificCoast were at Indian Valley Res.. Lake Co., Jan. 19 (SAL). and 15 at Oroville Jan. ! (SAL). Hooded Regionconsistently manages to producevery (SAL).Trees left standingwhen this lake filled Mergansers appeared in normal numbers interesting reports. They are always a chal- severalyears ago •e ideal habitat for this except for a flock of 35 at FosterCity, San lenge.Steve Layman will carry on with, as yet, species.Cattle Egre• were again reportedin Mateo Co., Dec. 29 (PM). Exceptionallylarge an unchosen co-editor. high numbers.with 115 found inland and nine concentrationsof Corn. Merganserswere 1950 on the coast. Out-of-place Great Egre• were at L. Almanor Dec. 27 (SAL), and 2000+ at LOONS THROUGH TUBENOSES -- two at Willow Cr., Humboldt Co., •c. 23 CopcoRes., Siskiyou Co., Feb. 2 (PD). Inland Late migrant Arctic Loonswere noted along (DA). and one at •wiston Dam, Trinity Co., Red-breasted Mergansers were at Oroville the coastwith 1500_+moving S off Pt. Reyes •c. 29 (DA,SAL). Four Sn•y E•ets wereat Jan. 16-24 (KVV, m.ob.) and Friant. Fresno Dec. 16 (DE) and 50 off Humboldt Bay Dec. the Ukiah Sewer Ponds, Mendodno Co., Jan. Co., Jan. 19 (KHetaL). 30 (DEet al.). A Red-throated Loon at L. Hen- 28 (OJK). The only White-faced Ibiseswere at nessey,Napa Co., Dec. 9 OVS),and oneat Rio •s BanosState Wate•owl ManagementArea RAPTORS, RAILS -- Information on the Vista, Sacramento Co., Feb. 8 (DE) were (hereafter.S.W.M.A.) with a peak of !• declineof White-tailed Kite populationscon- unusual inland. Horned Grebes were found in Feb. 3 (S•). tinues to mount. State Fish and Game mid- smaller-than-normal numbers on inland winter raptor surveys showed a 65•o-90% lakes. Eared Grebes numbers also appeared WATERFOWL • Sca•ered sightingsof decline•fide J. Snowden)and the MossLand- down inland, so 2000+_ on Don Pedro Res., WhistlingSwans were reported from alongthe ing Christmas Bird Count (hereafter, CBC), TuolumneCo., Feb. 7 (laD)was a bit surprising. •t in •ater-•-no•al num• (m.ob.). hasexperienced a 90% dropin the past4 years A few Black-looted Albatrosses were found Twenty thousandswans ne• Or•ille Jan. 17 -- from 50 to 5 (DP). On the positiveside, the on off-shore trips which is normal. Northern (SAL et aL) representeda sizablepro•ion Chico CBC was only 30% below its 7-year Fulmarsstaged a minor invasionearly in win- of the state's wintering po•lati•. An ad. average.One at Lower Klamath N.W.R., Feb. ter with 10-50 being seenon pelagictrips to Trumpeter Swan w• with six Whistlings at 14(D. Fix)was out of the normalrange. mid-January (m.ob.), but the specieswas Tule L., Lake Co., Feb. • (?SAL et al. ). This An imm. Goshawk at Gray Lodge mostlygone by the end of January(RS). Pink- is probably tbe first record for Lake County. S.W.M.A., Dec. 7 (BED) was the only one looted Shearwaterswere seenon pelagictrips Two additional sightings, probably of the reported. Three Broad-wingedHawks were in small numbers(m.ob.) as in the past few same bird, were at L•er Klamath N.W.R., in found; one each at the Carmel R., Dec. 3 (EM winters. Two Flesh-looted Shearwaters were late Janu• (S. Summers) & Feb. 4 (C. et al.); InvernessDec. 14-20 (RS et al.); and on the Cord,lie BanksJan. 13 (W.F.O.) pro- Stratushess,fide?MT). West Pittsburgh Dec. 9 - Feb. 23 (A. Gille. vidingthe sixthRegional winter record. More than the averagenumbers of Canada SFB,•DE). This is the most that have ever The mostexciting pelagic bird of the season G•se were reartad from coastallocations. A winteredin the Region. was a well described Greater Shearwater 10 mi real sunrise were s•en of the endange•d Rough-leggedHawks were at or near nor- w. of Moss Landing Feb. 24 (tK. Garrett, tL. Aleutian subspecies at the Salinas R. mal levels only in Great Basin locations. Fer- Norris, •-J. Dunn et al.). This is the first S.W.M.A., in late •ember (BE). Unfor- ruginousHawk wasat its lowestlevel in recent sightingfor California and on the Pacific tunately one was shot by a hunter. Quite yearswith only ten reported.The first annual Ocean.The speciesis normallyconfined to the unusual were • (Black) Brant at the Fish statewideBald Eagle surveyheld Jan. 19-20, Atlantic Ocean. The sighting details, once Docks on •. Reyes ]an. 21 •CB). Out-of- yielded a total of 820: 48.5% of which were reviewedby the CaliforniaRecords Committee range Ross'Geese were: one at Crespi Pond, iramatures: 50% were recorded in the Klam- will be publishedelsewhere. A New Zealand Monterey Co., •c. 28 - Feb. 25 (RS et al. ) and ath Basin and the rest scatteredthroughout Shearwater at the Cord,lie Banks Jan. 13 •ur at •khorn Slough-Jan.1 (TB,P•. the state,Primarily in the n.: Shasta,Butte, (W.F.O.) established only the third winter Gadwall wererepo•od in exceptionalnum- and Tuolumnecos., each recording >20. It is record for California. Short-tailed Shear- bers from Gray •ge S.W.M.A., with estimatedthat only25% of theseeagles nest in waters were back to their normal few after last 16,• there Dec. 20 (BED). An apparent California (PD). Peregrine Falcons were winter's invasion. Manx Shearwaters were Pintail X Green-•nged Teal was at Gray reporteddown 60-70% from the averageof the againwell representedwith a peakof 28 at Pt. •dge Jan. 31 - Feb. 8 (BED). Impressive past few years,while Merlins were at or above ReyesDec. 28 (RS,BSa); latest were five on fl•ks of W• Ducks comis• of 1• at San• normal levels. Monterey Bay Feb. 11 (SFB et aL). This Rosa •c. 9 (BDPJP), and 58 at Crystal A Clapper Rail was at Elkhorn Sloughfor matches last winter's pattern perfectly. No SpringsRes., Feb. 23 (PM). the first time in severalyears, and was seen petrelswere reported. A high count of 289 Canvasbackswas tal- throughoutthe period (BE,EM). Two Sofas

Volume33, Number 3 309 were near Weed Dec 16 and three were near immature ever reported in the Region A number of Slerran specieswinter at rather Grenada, S•skiyouCo, Jan 2 (hde MT) This Frankhn'sGull was at Pajaro DunesJan 10 highelevations m spiteof the harsh conditions is an unusualwinter location.The only Black (J&RW). An incredible concentration of Two Black Phoebeswere found winteringin Rail reportedwas one calling at KehoeMarsh, 1500+Bonaparte's Gulls wintered on ClearL. SiskiyouCounty where they are exceptionalat Marin Co., Dec. 16 (RS). At least 13 Com. (SAL). One imm. Sabine'sGull seen several this time of year (fide MT). Say's Phoebe Gallinules were found in the Clear L. Basin miles off Humboldt Bay Jan. 4-5 (B. Sizoo) numbers were noted by many observersas wherethey were previouslythought to be rare and anotherin MontereyBay Feb. 18 (S. Ter- beingconspicuously low. rill, GMcC) providedtwo of very few winter (SAL), and one was at L. Hennessey,Napa S.A. Co, Dec. 9 - Jan. 19, wherethey are unusual records. (WS,BDPJP). Estimated reduction of cootsat ElegantTerns at the Pajaro R., Dec. 6-18 On Dec. 16 Dick Erickson found a Bohnas Lagoon was approximately90% of (J&RW) werevery late. More Marbled Murre- strangebird amonga largeflock of Horned lets were recorded than is normal, with 88 seen pre-droughtnumbers (GP); the samepercen- Larks in a cattle pasture at Point Reyes tage reductionwas alsonoted on the Sacra- from Humboldt Bay to Santa Cruz. Most After much initial confusion L. C. Binford mento R., at Red Bluff(SAL). intriguingwere ten birds flying over Big Basin finally provedthat it wasa speciesof lark S.P., at dawn on three January dates (DP), A consensusamong many observersis that SHOREBIRDS -- Black-necked Stilt win- indicatingthat this speciesmay roostinland it was a Skylark, Alauda arvensis.It was tering populationshave been increasingat throughoutthe year.Xantus' Murrelets were last seenFeb. 19. Many photographswere coastallocations over the past 10 years, but againfound on MontereyBay with a max- takenby A. Ghiorsoet al. Thesehave been this winter they reachedan all time high with imum of two on Feb. 18 (LCB). Exceptional sent to authorities in Victoria, B.C., for concentrations of Cassin's Auklets were found. 400_+at the e. end of DumbartonBridge Dec. comparisonwith their introducedpopula- 11 (SFB,DE); 210 at old Alameda Cr., Dec. 23 A raft of 5000_+on MontereyBay Jan. 6 and tion of Skylarks,A. a. arvensisand to the 3500-+ at CordelleBanks Jan. 13 & 21 (W.F.O.) (HLC): oneat Pt. ReyesDec. 18 (JEetal.): and British Museum. up to six at BodegaBay Jan. 1-6 (WS,DS, S. are noteworthy.Rhinoceros Auklets were A preliminarycomparison of photosof Yaninck et al.). Up to three Semipalmated reportedas abundantwith 5000_+on Mon- this bird and British Columbia Skylarks Plovers were at Stafford L., Marin Co., Dec. tereyBay Feb. 18 (W.F.O.)and 1000_+on the indicatethat the Point ReyesSkylark was CordelleBanks Jan. 21 (W.F.O.). One ad. Tufted 12- Jan. 3 (DS). The speciesis rare awayfrom much morebrightly coloredwith a some- coastal mud flats in winter. Mountain Plovers Puffin was at the Cordelle Banks Jan. 21 what smallerbill. Thesephotographs were made news this winter with two near Drakes (W.F.O.)and anotherat Pt. PinosDec. 28 (RS, also compared directly with series of Beach, Pt. ReyesDec. 16-29 (•-DE,RS et al.), BSa). specimensof variousasiatic races at the and one at Pajaro Dunes, Monterey Co., Dec. Museum of Vertebrate Zoologyin Berke- 23-25 (J&RW). These seem to be the first win- PIGEONS THROUGH OWLS -- The sur- ley. The Point Reyesbird differed in sev- ter records for the coast. Fifty at Arbuckle, prising scarcity of Band-tailed Pigeons eral waysfrom the specimensofA. a. pek•- Colusa Co., Jan. 27 were n. of their normal throughoutthe periodwas widely noted. The hensis;e.g., all the specimensof that race winter range in the C.V. Three to four Am. populationdynamics of this speciesare, at showedheavily streaked throats while the Golden Ploverswintered on Pt. Reyes(m.ob.); times,most unusual, especially in view of the Point Reyesindividual had an unstreaked oneseen there Jan. 28 wasnoted as very yellow largenumbers of birds seenlast winter.The throat. The specimensof A. a. kibort• m color, and may have been of the Siberian presenceof a Great Horned Owl in late Feb- more closelyresembled the photographs, race,fulva (AE). ruary at the Hall Natural Area, (hereafter, but no specimenof any race showedthe Marbled Godwitswere consideredunusually H.N.A.), Mono Co., at 10,000 ft providesone rich rusty colorationof the Point Reyes commonin the Vallejo-Martinezarea (DE, FKB), with somefood for thoughtabout adaptability bird. Individual rather than taxonomic but on the Hayward shore a maximum of and prey availabilityunder such conditions variation may accountfor much of this, 1100+ was found Feb. 2, where 4000+ were (DDeS).Eighteen Pygmy Owls, reported mostly and it would be very dangerousto assign from inland locations, was about normal for regular 12 years ago (HLC). A late January this bird to any distant race regardlessof and Februarymovement of LesserYellowlegs thisspecies in winter.Eight SpottedOwls were its resemblance. was noted in the C.V., with four at Holland reportedfrom the coastwhich, Christmas Bird Some observers feel that the Oriental Tract, Contra Costa Co., Jan. 18 (DE,DW): Counts(hereafter, CBC) notwithstanding,is a Skylark,A. gulgula, has not been com- five at Merced N.W.R., Feb. 4 (RH,KH et al.); better-than-averagenumber. A singleBurrow- pletelyeliminated. Only onerace of Orien- and four at Sacramento N.W.R., Feb. 11 ing Owl winteredjust s. of St. Helena,Napa tal Skylark is consideredmigratory, A. g (KVV) beingthe largestgroups. Co., and wasthe onlyone reported (KVV,BDP inoplnata, from the Himalayas.There is Up to three N. Phalaropes,including a et al.). A wintering Long-earedOwl present virtually no chancethat this speciescould breeding-plumagedfemale were at the Fre- Dec. 14-26 apparentlysuccumbed to a Great occur naturally in California. Deliberate mont Salt Ponds Jan. 10 - Feb. 7 (•-SFB,DE). HornedOwl in Muddy Hollow,Marin Co. (JE, introductionis a possibility,but importa- There are very few winter records for the DS et al.). Some15 winteringSaw-whet Owls, tion ßof Skylarksis expresslyforbidden by Region and most are from salt dehydrator all reported from the coast, was a much state law and no exceptionshave been ponds. The only Red Phalaropes reported better-than-averageshowing. authorizedwithin the last five years.Our were 15 on the Cordelle Banks Jan. 21 Skylarkdiffered from specimensofA. gul- GOATSUCKERS THROUGH FLY- (W F.O.), and 30 at Pt. Pinos Jan. 19 (RS et gula in severalrespects but the signif- al ) Red Knotswere found in high numbersin CATCHERS-- A single9 $elasphorushum- icanceof thesedifferences is disputedand SF Bay with 300_+ at Coyote Pt., Dec. 28 mingbird(possibly Allen's) was found trying we await opinionfrom authoritiesat the (PM), and 162 at Hayward Landing Jan. 31 to winterDec. 23 - Jan.16 at BodegaBay (m.ob.). British Museum. (CS). One was at Napa Jan. 2 (KVV) where An ad. c• Costa'sHummingbird was observed --Joe Mofian they are rare. A Ruff was at BodegaHead Jan. 15 in Sacramento•'de BK), and a female Dec 18 (L. Stenzeletal.). wasat CapeMendocino Dec. 28 •ide DE), but no details were submitted. JAEGERS THROUGH ALCIDS -- Seven Nine Pileated Woodpecker reports (one LARKS THROUGH THRUSHES -- A Parasitic Jaeger reports were again higher inland from Alpine County)mostly from the singleHorned Lark found atop the Trinity than normalfor the period(m.ob.). Ten Glau- coast was normal. Lewis' Woodpeckers Dam on the Lewiston CBC, Dec. 29 (PD,DA) cous Gulls were reported, nine from coastal appearedin severalcoastal areas over the wasquite unexpected and may have been the locations and, most notable, an adult at Vic- period, but the largest concentrationwas first recordedin Trinity County. A surprising toria I., SanJoaquin Co., Jan. 30 (DE et al.). found on the PeaceValley CBC, Dec. 29 where numberof swallowswas found throughoutthe Mew Gull wasthe mostcommon gull at Stock- 148were tallied (BED). A 9 WilliamsoWsSap- Regionthis winter. Some300 Tree Swallows ton Feb. 8 (DE) with 325+ present.An imma- suckerwas found at Del Valle Regional P., were found at the Pajaro R. mouth Jan. 21 ture wasat OrovilleJan. 1 (SAL)providing only AlamadaCo., Jan.20 - Feb. 1 (AE,DEJM, m.ob.) (J&RW,DP) and another125 wereat Elkhorn the third Butte County record. An imm. was most unusual as it is rarely found away SloughDec. 31 - Jan. 1 (EM). A Rough- LaughingGull wasat MossLanding Jan. 22 - from montane habitat. Finding a Hairy wingedSwallow was seen here Jan. 2 (TB,PM) Feb 19 (L. Spear,•-m.ob.). This representsthe Woodpeckerat 10,000ft on the H.N.A., Jan.1 A Cliff Swallow found at P.R.B.O.-Palomann first Regional winter record and the first wasmost surprising (DDeS), It appearsthat a Dec. 12 was the first recordedin the Region

310 AmericanBirds, May 1979 biggestdisappointment of the periodwas the Road, Fresno Co., Feb. 4-17 OM,AE et aLL discoveryof 50.000+ Starlings at Patterson Three more Sharp-tailedSparrows joined the PassRoad, Alameda Co., Feb. 28 (DE). bird seen at the mouth of New Pine Cr., Nine Black-and-white Warblers appeared Bolinas Lagoon Feb. 24 {fide DDeS). Two to have wintered Dec. 31 - Feb. 28 from more were seen Jan. 10-27 on the Dumbarton SonomaCounty to the CarmelR. {m.ob.).Only boardwalk,San FranciscoBay N.W.R. (DE,SFB) one TennesseeWarbler was reported; a very and still another seen at the Palo Alto Bay- bright, well marked individual Dec. 31 at lands Jan. 25 - Feb. 24 0M, m.ob.). These BodegaBay that mayhave been the samebird numbersfor the winter period are unprec- reportedin !ate Novemberthere 0W,RS et edented. a/.). Orange-crownedWarblers were practically Ten Vesper Sparrowsat L. SolanoFeb. 10 nonexistent all winter, but at least four (DS) was the high count for the period. A Nashvi!!es were found from Ukiah to the Car- Gray-headedJunco, with "Pink-sided"genes, mel R.. Dec. 10 - Feb. 18 (LCB,OJK,EM,DHE). was unexpectedat Pt. ReyesDec. 29 0M). Only two Yellow Warblersfound observers;at Two Clay-coloredSparrows were found win- MontereyFeb. 18 (LCB) and at GoldenGate tering in a yard Dec. 24 - Jan. 22 in Ferndale P.. Jan. 24 (PM). The latter present from (•'DA). Only two Harris' Sparrows were Novemberand may have also wintered there reportedfor the period; one at ShastaValley last year. One of the mostinteresting Parulid was last seen Jan. 3 {fide MT) and another discoveries was of a cY Black-throated Blue returned to Palo Alto for the third consecutive Warbler in Auburn Dec. 12, frequenting a winterJan. 14 (EM). White-throated Spar. rows feeder and still present Mar. 3 {fide BK, were found in surprisinglylow numberswith m.ob.). This marks only our secondwinter only three reported. Longspursrarely over- Skylark, Pt. Reyes, Calif, Dec. 16, 1978. record. Three Black-throated Gray Warblers winter alongthe coast,but both Lapland and Photo/Mike Wihler. from ButteCounty Jan. 25 - Feb. 1S(KW,SAL) Chestnut-collaredlongspurs were tallied on during December (DDcS). Gray Jays were and onefrom Lake CountyMar. 3 (BDP) rep- coastal CBCs. At least 800_+Laplands birds noted as "abundant" between 5-6000 ft, on resenteda good showingfor this species. werefound Regionwide;inland the high count Mt. Shastaall winter (MT). A single Black- Unusual were three Hermit Warblers at Afio at Honey L., was 492 on Dec. 21 (SAL) and cappedChickadee seen several times over the NuevoJan. 10 (TB). SinglePalm Warblersat along the coast at least 100 were found at winter at Greenhorn P., Yrcka was the only BodegaBay Jan. IS (DS) and at Pt. ReyesSta- Cape Mendocino Dec. 29 (DE,BC). Two one reported (MT). A report of Mountain tion Dec. 7 (RS,JE) and 3-4 birds at Neary's Chestnut-collaredLongspurs were found on Chickadeesbeing common at the H.N.A., Lagoon.Santa Cruz Dec. 22 (TB) represented the Pt. ReyesCBC, Dec. 16 (DE et aL): the elevation >10,000 ft, Dec. 30 (DDeS) is inter- averagewintering numbers of this species.A first ever recorded on that count. esting.The observationof two White-breasted N. Waterthrush found along the Pajaro R., Nuthatches there Dec. 31 is even more Santa Cruz Co., Dec. 31, remained until Mar. CORRIGENDA -- In AB 30:1001 the remarkable (DDeS)! Red-breasted Nuthatches 11 (•-C. Frederickson, TB,RM) and another Ovenbird found at DeChambeau Cr., was seen were noted markedly absent all winter . . . was found at Five Brooks, Marin Co., Feb. 10 June 22 not June 6. In AB 30:763 the "Bul- where were tbey? What could a Brown - Mar. S (D. Ellis, JM, m.ob.). Most unusual lock's" Oriole found in Golden Gate Park Creeper find to cat on the H.N.A., in late wasa winteringMacGillivray's Warbler found should be Feb. 7, not Feb. 2. February(DDcS)? Dippers appear to stay at at the Pajaro R., Santa Cruz Co., Dec. 21 - highelevations in the Sierraas long as there is Mar. 12 (EM,•-TB et al.) that providedthe CONTRIBUTORS -- David Anderson, openwater. A singlebird wasfound along the Region with its fourth winter record. The Maurine Armour, Stephan F. Bailey, Bernice upper reachesof Lee Vining Cr., Mono Co., Hooded Warbler seen last fall in Muir Woods Barnes, Craig Benkman, Frank K. Beyer, Jan. 1 at 9700 ft (DDcS). Four House Wrens was last seen Dec. 7 (DE). Five Wilson's Laurence C. Binford, Tony Bledsoe,William winteredin the Region,a better-than-average Warblers were reported from Santa Cruz to Bonsman,Betty Burridge,Bill C!ow, Howard number. Tbe Bcndirc's Thrasher at tbe Park- Monterey cos., Dec. 3 - Jan. 4, and at least L. Cogswe!l,Richard Dean, Dave DeSante, cr's feeder in Courtland was still presentFeb. four cY Am. Redstarts were found in the same Phil Detrich, Bruce E. Duel, Art Edwards, 28+. Two winteringSage Thrasher reports area Nov. 26 - Feb. 19, one of which returned David H. Edwards, Bruce Elliot, Dick Erick- were received; sevenbirds found at Lava Beds to WatsonvilleSewage Plant for its third con- son,Jules Evens, Lynn Farrar, Keith Hansen, Nat'! Mort., Jan. 28 {fide MT) and two were secutive winter (TB.PM). Rob Hansen, Joel Hornstein, Betty Kimball, found on the Butte Valley CBC, Dec. 23 {fide Oliver J. Kolkmann, Stephen A. Laymon, MT). Two other February reports wcrc BLACKBIRDS THROUGH FINCHES -- Eugene Makishima, Guy McCaskie, Peter undoubtedlyof carly migrants. Many of the A single "Bullock's" Oriole seen at Dog I., Metropulos, Randall Morgan, Joe Morlan, Rcgion'smost active observersreported that Tehama Co., Dec. 16, was the only oriole Gary Page, Dennis Parker, Benjamin D. Par- robin and Varied'Thrush numbers were "way reported for the period (SAL). The Great- meter, John Parmeter, Point Reyes Bird down"; as much as 97ø70in some areas as com- tailed Grackle found in San Francisco Observatory, Don Roberson, Elsie Roeruer, pared to last winter. A high count of 125_+ remainedthroughout winter, havingbeen first Dave Rudholm, Barry Sauppe (BSa), Dave Mountain Bluebirds were reported from San discoveredin June,1978. A single9 Western Shuford, Rich Sta!!cup,Wally Sumner, Otis BenitoCounty Jan. 27. One-half of them were found at Ukiah Feb. 10 was the only tanager D. Swisher,Michael Taylor, Kent Van Vuren, presentFeb. 17(AEetal.). reported(OJK). John& Ricky Warriner, WesternField Orni- A youngmale Rose-breastedGrosbeak was thologists,David Winkler. -- JON WINTER GNATCATCHERS THROUGH WOOD found frequentinga feederin E1 CerritoJan. {Pigeonsthrough Sparrows}1158 Humboldt WARBLERS -- Cold weatherappears to have 20 (KVV, m.ob.). A gooddescription of an ad. #7, Santa Rosa, CA 95404 and STEPHEN A. affected the winter populations of Ruby- male Cassin's Finch was received of a bird LAYMON {Loonsthrough AleMs) 3290 Aek- crowned Kinglets at Dog I., Tehama Co. seenat BodegaBay Jan. IS (tDS). It provides ley Rd., Lakeport, CA 95453. (SAL). Some 57 birds were found there Nov. Sonoma County with its first record of this 29, but droppedto 12 by Jan. 31, after a pro- species.Interesting was the discoveryof 30-•-- longedcold spell. A flock of 100_+Bohemian Pine Grosbeaks on the H.N.A.. at 10,000 ft. Waxwingswas found winteringnear S. Taylor Dec. 30 (DDeS). This speciesdoes not seemto Cr., in the Tahoe Basin Jan. 4 - Mar. 11 {fide drift altitudina!!yduring winter as do so many SL). This flock is odd, since the specieswas other Sierrianspecies. A singleGray-crowned reported from nowhereelse in the Region. Rosy Finch was seen here Dec. 31 (DDeS). Cedar Waxwingswere absent or found in only Also found the same day on the H.N.A., were marginalnumbers throughout. The samewas three Red Crossbills and another seen there in true of N. Shrik6s.Only two were reported; !ate Februarythat appearedto be carrying singlesat SacramentoJan. 2 {fide BK) and at nestingmaterial (DDeS)! At least three Lark Grey Lodge N.W.R., Feb. 10-22 (BED). The Buntings were found along Little Panoche

Volume33, Number3 311 SOUTHERN PACIFIC COAST away from the Colorado R. The two Arctic Palo Verde on the Colorado R.. Dec. 9 REGION Loonson L. Palmdalewere present to Dec. 4 (BMW). A migrantflock of 600 White-fronted (JD), and anotherwas near Imperial Dam Geese at L. San Jacinto. Riverside Co.. Feb. l0 /Guy McCaskie Feb. 27 (EC). A Red-necked Grebe at (ASE) wasan impressivenumber for anywhere McGrath S.P., near Ventura Feb. 27 (REW) in s. California. We again experiencedanother wet winter. was the only one reported.As usual a few A d (Eur.) Green-wingedTeal. a casual with exceptionallyheavy rainfall occurringin Horned Grebes were found inland with two on straggler.was well seenon L. Cuyamacain the Decemberand January.along with a record- L. Palmdale Dec. 4 - Jan. 27 (JD). one on L. mountainsof San DiegoCounty Mar. 11 (EC). breakingcold spellin January.Bird distribu- Hemet in the San Jacinto Mrs., Dec. 15 (JD) As usualsmall numbersof Blue-wingedTeal tion was also somewhat unusual. with most of and another on L. Henshaw Feb. 20-26 (RH): were found along the coast with the largest our commonlyoccurring winter landbirdvisit- small numbersoccur regularly on our larger number. 1S. around Goleta: a male at ors apparently scarcerthan normal, while vir- inland bodies of water. S.E.S.S.. Dec. 13 UD) wasthe only one found inland. European Wigeon may have been more numerousthan usual with eight along FULlMARS. SHEAR- the coast as well as 1-2 on L. Henshaw Dec. 29 WATERS. STORM- - Feb. 2S {RH) and another at S.E.S.S.. Feb. PETRELS -- North- 18 (REW). A Wood Duck near Pala Feb. 11 ern Fulmars were scarce (AF) was quite far s. and anotherat Baker with IS off Morro Bay Dec. 10-12 (SC} was at an unusual locality. Jan. 70D) being the Greater Scaupappeared more numerousthan largestnumber reported. usual along the coastwith eight as far s. as Two Short-tailed San Diego Jan. 25 (CGE); inland six were on Shearwaters were seen Quail L., LosAngeles Co.. Jan. 27-28 (JD) and off Morro Bay Jan. 7 a concentration of 60 was at S.E.S.S.. Feb. 27 OD); this species is (JDL A d Tufted Duck on Quail L.. Dec. 4 - proving to be regular Feb. 26 (JD) was the fourth recorded in this off our coast in winter. Region. Besidesthe 10-12 Barrow'sGolden- Manx Shearwatersap- eyes at Parker Dam throughout the winter peared more numerous (BMW),three were near Imperial Dam Feb. than usual with 50 as 17 (REW). one was at Baker Dec. 22 (SC, far n. as Morro Bay *S.B.C.M.}, one was at the north end of the Jan. 7 (JD). An Ashy Salton Sea (hereafter, N.E.S.S.) Dec. 10 Storm-Petrel off Morro (EAC). another was at Salton City Jan. 21 Bay Jan. 28 (EVJ) was (GMcC). and a single bird was seen near unexpected, as few Imperial Beach Jan. 7 (GMcC) and Mar. 9 have been reported in (EC), givingus an unprecedentednumber of winter. records.The only Oldsquawswere up to five on San Diego Bay during January(CGE) and one at Venice. Los Angeles Co., Jan. 29+ tually all thosemore northernspecies which PELICANS. ANHINGA -- A Brown Pel- (H&PB). A d Harlequin Duck at Carlsbad, ican at Imperial Dam all winter (BMW) had sporadicallyinvade the Regionwere conspic- San Diego Co., Jan. 21 - Feb. 15 (CGE) was at uously absent. Mountain species,such as been presentsince Aug. 8, and is the first to Mountain Chickadees and Red-breasted Nut- the s. extreme of the species'winter range. havesuccessfully wintered at an inlandlocality White-winged Scoterswere more numerous hatches were almost nonexistent in the low- in the Southwest.The Anhlnga first found at alongthe coastthan in recentwinters, but not lands. Berry-eaters.such as American Robins, SweetwaterRes.. near San Diego Feb. 4. 1977, as numerousas 15 yearsago. A Surf Scoterat Hermit Thrushes. Cedar Waxwings and Pur- wasstill presentJan. 20 (CGE). Salton City Dec. 14 LID} was the only one ple Finches were scarce throughout the found inland. A few Black Scoters were found Region, and Pine Siskins were unreported HERONS -- Cattle Egretscontinued to along the coast.with flocks of up to 14 seen from many areas. Only Lewis' Woodpeckers increasein numberswith concentrations upto along the coastof San Luis Obispo County, showed any signs of a movement into the 30 aroundSan Luis Obispoall winter(FRT), and up to three together being seen on San Region.and thosewere somewhat localized. 4S in the SantaYnez Valley of SantaBarbara Diego Bay Nov. 4+ (EC). Three Hooded Mer- Among the waterbirdswe had an apparent Co.. Dec. 11 (GSS), 5{30around Chino. near garnersnear Imperial Dam Feb. 17 {REW) influx of Greater Scaup and White-winged SanBernardino all winter(EAC), 200 along were quite far s. A group of 40 Red-breasted Scoters along the coast. with some of the the ColoradoR.. s. of Blythethroughout the Mergansersat SaltonCity Dec. 14 LID) was a former occurringinland. In addition, Com- period{BMW) and 32Snear Imperial Beach, large numberfor that areain winter. mon Goldeneye,accompanied by a few Bar- SanDiego Co., Jan. 20 (GMcC), along with the row's, appeared in above-averagenumbers. "thousands" around the Salton Sea. A Red- HAWKS --Two White-tailed Kites at Har- Black-leggedKittiwakes were scarceand N. dish Egret at Imperial Dam Feb. I l - Mar. 3 per Dry Lake, San Bernardino Co., Feb. 10 Fulmars were all but unrecorded. (SG)is only the fifth to be found along the Col- (EAC)were e. of thespecies' range in Califor- An exceptionalnumber of birds normally orado R. Two or three Louisiana Herons nia. An imm. Broad-wingedHawk in Santa considered summer visitors to southern Cal- aroundSan Diegoall winter (GMcC). along BarbaraDec. 30 - Feb. 4 (MP) wasthe only ifornia were presentthis winter, with someof withone at SanElijo Lagoon.San Diego Co., one found this winter. An ad. Zone-tailed the wood warblers (e.g., Yellow and Black- Feb. 23+ (AF), werethe onlyones along the Hawk, a rare stragglerto California, waswell throated Gray) and Northern Orioles being coast; however, another was inland at the seen hear OceansideJan. 13 (MT). Rough: the mostevident. In addition.this winter pro- south end of the Salton Sea (hereafter, leggedHawks were decidedly scarce with <1•5 duced records of Least Flycatcher, Philadel- S.E.S.S.) Feb. 19-27 (BT,EC). A Least Bittern individuals reported. Only five Peregrine phia Vireo, Prothonotaryand Black-throated at SanElijo Lagoon Jan. 17 (AF) wasthe only Falconswere reported away from Morro Bay, Green warblers,all previouslyunrecorded in one reportedaway from the Salton Sea. indicatingthe species'continued decline. California at this time of year. as well as a SnowBunting far southoffis normalrange. SWANS, GEESE. DUCKS -- A few Whis- CRANES -- Over 4000 Sandhill Cranes on tling Swanswere scatteredalong the coast, the CarrizoPlain in January(EMcM) and 75+ LOONS, GREBES -- Up to 12 Corn.Loons with one on NewportBay Dec. l0 (BT) and near Brawleyall winter (GMcC) are the only on L. Cachuma near Santa Barbara all winter two near Pala. San Diego Co., Feb. 11-24 flocksnow wintering in s. California. (PL),up to 10 on L. Palmdalein the Antelope (AF). being the southernmost;in addition, Valley Dec. 4 - Jan.27 (JD)and oneon L. Hen- groupsof up to 44 wereseen in Inyo County, SHOREBIRDS -- An Amerlean Oyster- shaw in the mountainsof San Diego County one was at Baker, San Bernardino Co., Jan. 11 cateherwas at Pt. Fermin, LosAngeles Co., Feb. 26 (RH) werethe only onesfound inland (SC)and a flockof 11was seen in flightnear Dec. 23 - Jan. 14 (DH); this is only the third to

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Volume 33, Number 3 313 'be found on the mainland of s. California in ter, but groupsof more than five are excep- Tern at McGrath S.P., Jan. 13 (REW) was this century. Up to six Black Oystercatchers tional. A group of 12+ Stilt Sandpipersat unusual,the last of the fall stragglersare nor- were at Pt. Fermin all winter (BB) and one or S.E.S.S., Feb. 27 - Mar. 3 (JD) had undoubt- really goneby late December. Up to 24 Black two wereon Pt. Loma in San Diegoduring the edly winteredlocally. A Ruff, a rare straggler Skimmerswere on San Diego Bay throughout sameperiod (CGE); this speciesis rare on the to s. California. was at the Santa Maria R. the period(CGE) and it appearsthe speciesis mainland s. of San Luis Obispo County. The mouth Dec. 24 (PL). A few Red Phalaropes nowestablished here as a permanentresident. only Am. GoldenPlovers reported were a flock were off the coastthis winter as indicated by of up to 21 near Santa Maria all winter (PL). fiveoff SanDiego Jan. 19 (EC),one at the Santa MURRELETS --Two Marbled Murrelets one in Goleta throughoutthe period (LRB) Maria R. mouth Jan. 20 (REW). 100+ off off Avila Beach,San Luis ObispoCo., Jan.21 and another at Playa del Rey all winter AvilaBeach and Morro BayJan. 21 (EVJ,REW) (NS) establishesone of the few acceptable (H&PB);small numbers are presenteach win- and one at Pt. Dume Feb. 8 (JD). Approx- recordsof this speciesin the Region,but it imately 20 N. Phalaropeswere at Imperial may prove to be regular in this area since Beach all winter (GMcC); small numbers are nestingis suspectedat Big Sur S.P., a short found on the salt evaporationponds here each distance n. The only Xantus' Murrelets winter. reportedwere three off Morro BayJan. 7 (JD): the winterstatus/distribution is poorlyknown. GULLS. TERNS, SKIMMERS -- Five The only AncientMurrelets reported were off GlaucousGulls were reported with two on San the coastof San Luis ObispoCounty with 15 Miguel I., Mar. 15 (JRJ). one at the Santa off Morro Bay Jan. 7 (JD) and one off Avila Maria R. mouth Dec. 24 (PL), another at Beach Jan. 21 (EVJ). McGrath S.P.. Feb. 5 (REW) and the fifth on NewportBay Feb. 16 (JAJ);small numbers DOVES THROUGH WOODPECKERS -- reachs. California every year. A Glaucous-A flock of 1500_+Band-tailed Pigeons in winged Gull. rare any distanceinland. was at Riverside Jan. 2 (ASE) was a remarkable con- SaltonCity Dec. 14 (JD), another wasat centration for a lowland locality. As now S.E.S.S..Feb. 18 - Mar.3 (REW)and two appears normal, small numbers of White- werein Coltonnear San Bernardino Feb. 3 winged Dovesremain throughoutthe winter (SC).Single yellow-legged W. Gulls were at at isolatedsprings in the Anza BorregoDesert QUESTERS SaltonCity Feb. 1 (GMcC)& 11 (JD);this ofe. San Diego County:one in SantaBarbara distinctform is now being found on the Salton Mar. 2 (PL) was the only one reportedon the WORLD OF Sea every winter. Unexpected were a yellow- coast.A grounddove at BouquetCanyon Res., leggedW.Gull near Imperial Beach Dec. 7 Dec. 16-26(LLI) appearsto be onlythe third NATURE (EC)and another, possibly thesame bird Jan. found in Los AngelesCounty. A LesserNight- 19(EC); there is but one documented occur- hawkwas near Imperial BeachJan. 6 (EC) and TOURS reneeof this form for the coast of California. another was at nearby SweetwaterRes., Jan. Threeor four Thayer's Gulls in theSan Ber- 20 (CGE):winter records from alongthe coast are few indeed. The presenceof 12 Vaux's "Naturetour" hasa specialmeaning when nardino/Riversideareaall winter (SC) were an you travel with Questers.We are the only Swifts near Oceanside Jan. 18 (EC) and 15 professionaltravel companyspecializing were found in the vicinity of the Salton Sea thereJan. 24 (AF) indicatesthis speciesonce exclusivelyin naturetours. appreciablewith two neardistance Brawleyinland.Dec. 11Four (BMW),Mew one Gulls at again wintered in that area. A Costa'sHum- Our approachin planning Worldwide SaltonCity Dec. 14 (JD) and another atFinney mingbird in Santa Barbara Jan. 25-26 (JD) Nature Toursis to provideyou with the wassomewhat n. for this time of the year.The broadestpossible opportunity of experienc- L.,Jan. 27 (SC): two near Chino Feb. 3 (REW) ing for yourselfthe naturalhistory and cul- werealso far inland. An imm. Laughing Gull d Broad-billedHummingbird at a feederin w. tureof eacharea we explore.With the leader- LosAngeles remained to Dec. 30 (JD), another ship of an accompanyingnaturalist, we late; there are only two other Januaryrecords was in Riverside Jan. 12+ (JDeB) and a third searchout the plantsand animals,birds and forat N.E.S.S.,the SaltonJan. Sea.2 (ASE) A Franklin's was exceptionally Gull on appeared in Spring Valley near San Diego flowers... rain forests, mountains, and Mar. 8-10 (MT); this specieshas becomea tundra... seashore,lakes, and swampsof the regionswe visit. Wealso study the ar- lateNewport fall Baymigrant.Dec. but8 (JMcD) another was atprobably Pitas Pt..a regularwanderer to Californiain recentyears. chitecture, archaeology,museum collec- VenturaCo., Feb. 11 (REW) must have been The presenceof three Acorn Woodpeckers tions,temples, and customs of the people. winteringlocally. A Sabine'sGull at McGrath at the Mt. Whitney Fish Hatcherynear Big The currentDirectory of WorldwideNa- Pine in the OwensValley Feb. 7 (KG) is most ture Toursdescribes 29 tours varyingin dates of occurrence in s. California. lengthfrom 9 to 36 daysand goingto virtu- interesting.This localityis outsidethe species' ally every part of the world_ Included are S.P..TwoDec. Gull-bffied2(LS) establishes Terns at N.E.S.S.,oneofthe Jan. latest 20 known range, but supportsoak trees,and may Mexico, Peru, Hawaii, Alaska, Ladakh, Sri also support a small population of Acorn Lanka,Galapagos, Patagonia, Iceland, Scot- (LS)or werewere attemptingeither exceptionally to winter locally;latestragglersthere is Woodpeckers. considering the frequencyof land, and Switzerland. Tour parties are reports from the area. A few resident Acorn small, the pace leisurely, and itineraries noprevious record of thespecies inCalifornia unusual. duringJanuary and February.An Elegant Woodpeckersnear Honey L. (Condor62:297. Call or write Questersor seeyour Travel Agent lodaF for your freecopy of the Direc- tory of WorldwideNature Tours.

Patricia Lcdlic-booksc,cr•x 46 Buckfield.Maine 04220 (207) 336-2969 Queste Tours Out of Print. Rare AND TRAVEL, INC. Dept.New York,AB-579, N.Y.257 101310 Parkß (212)Avenue 673-3120 South .... "Bird Book AnnotatedCatalogtlcs: $ IOO ByAppointment

314 AmericanBirds, May 1979 1960)are the only onesknown in California e. of the Sierra Nevada; hence, additional check- ing near Big Pine is encouraged. Lewis' Woodpeckerswere evidentlyconcentrated on Victor Emanuel Nature Tours the desertslopes of the San BernardinoMts., and throughout the Laguna Mts.. in San Diego County with 30 counted around Pio- 1979-80 Tour Schedule neertown Dec. 23 (ASE) and 18 near Mesa Grande Dec. 2 (CGE). The c• Yellow-bellied Sapsucker(S. v. varius)remained at Refugio NORTH AMERICAN TOURS S.P., to Dec. 9 (JG). A Red-napedSapsucker (S. v. nuchalis). rare on the coast n. of Los South Texas Workshop: March 26-31, Angeles.was in Malibu Dec. 3 (KG) and 1980 another was in Goleta Mar. 2-7 (PL). Texas Coast: April 4-14, 1980 Grand TexasTours: April 19-May FLYCATCHERS, SWALLOWS -- A 3, 1980 Tropical Kingbird in HuntingtonBeach Jan. Big Bendextension: May 3-8 1-6 (D&BH) was the only one reported this SE Arizona Tours: winter. More than the averagenumber of E. May 9-18, 1980 Phoebeswere reported with oneat Pt. Mugu May 18-27, 1980 Feb. 24 - Mar. I 1 (REW). one in Pasadena May 31-June 9, 1980 Palenque/Yucatan: March 1-16, 1980 Dec. 26 - Mar. I (BC), another in Riverside July 20-29, 1980 Oaxacaand PacificChiapas: May 30- Mar. 3 (LDF). one at L. Henshaw Feb. 6-20 August 1-10, 1980 June 12, 1980 (RH) and a fifth at L. HodgesNov. 27 - Mar. Florida Workshop: Panama Tours: Jan. 11-27, 1980 10 (PU). Unprecedentedwas a Least Fly- Jan. 18-Feb.3, 1980 (two spacesleft) catcher at Fillmore, Venture Co., Nov. 5 - May 14-18, 1980 extension: May 18-22 Feb. 8-24, 1980 Mar. 3 (REW) and another at Brock Ranch, Feb. 9-24, 1980 (two spacesleft) Imperial Co.. Nov. 26 - Feb. 17 (JD); this Alaska: June 8-21, 1980 Churchill: June 20-29, 1980 Jamaica/Hispanola: Jan. 25-Feb. 4, speciesis a rare fall vagrant, previously 1980 unrecordedin Californiaduring the winter.A Colorado: June 6-15, 1980 Gray Flycatcherwas at Twentynine Palms Nova Scotia: June29-July 13, 1980 Venezuela: March 6-19, 1980 Oct. 12 - Dec.28 (SC);small numbers formerly Pacific NW: Aug. 14-23, 1980 Surinam: March 14-30, 1980 winteredin s. California.but the speciesis California: Aug. 23-Sep.2, 1980 Costa Rica: March 15-30, 1980 rarelyreported at this time of year today.A Colombia: May 31-June15, 1980 W. Flycatcher,rare in winter,was in Carpin- Ecuador/Galapagos:July 13-Aug. 3, teria Jan. 28-29 (MP), another was in San AFRICA TOURS 1980 Pedro Dec. 30 - Mar. I (LH) and a third Brazil: Sep. 29-Oct. 12, 1979 remained in PasadenaJan. 7 - Mar. I (BC). A Kenya: Nov. 1-19, 1979 Bolivia: Oct. 13-29, 1979 Coues' Flycatcher near Parker Dam on the Sep. 20-Oct. 6, 1980 Colorado R., Nov. 25 - Feb. 1 (BMW) was Camerouns:March 29-April 20, 1980 SouthernAfrica: Sep. 11-Oct. 1, 1980 Peru: July 12-31, 1980 undoubtedlythe samebird foundwintering at August 9-Sep. 2, 1980 this spot last year. Vermilion Flycatchers Botswana extension: Oct. 1-10 appearto be on the declineas winteringbirds along the coast, but three were as far n. as Fillmore throughout the period (REW). Directors: Victor Emanuel and John Althoughsmall numbersof Rough-winged Rowlett Swallowsregularly winter along the Colorado R., and in the vicinityof the SaltonSea they Associates:Roger Tory Peterson,Peter are rarely found elsewhereat this time of the Matthiessen, Rose Ann Rowlett, year, hence.one at Huntington BeachJan. 1 David Wolf, Bret Whitney, Ted (D&BH) is of interest. Parker, RobertRidgely.

JAYS THROUGH THRASHERS -- A ScrubJay near Earp on the ColoradoR., Jan. 20 (JD) and anotherat LagunaDam Jan. 19 - Mar. 3 (JD)were outside the species'normal range in California. A Plain Titmouse at Yaqui Wellsin the AnzaBorrego Desert was a little e. of its normalrange in California.Five Dippersin the SantaBarbara area during the winter(MP) and anotherin the lowerportions CENTRAL AND of the Santa Monica Mts., Dec. 3 - Jan. 8 SOUTH AMERICAN TOURS (DPo)deserve note, and indicatethis species will moveinto areassupporting streams run- West Mexico: Nov. 9-19, 1979; Feb. ning only during wet years. As usual a few 15-25, 1980 Winter Wrens were present in the coastal Northeastern Mexico: Nov. 30-Dec. lowlandsand foothillswith one near Ramona, 10, 1979 San Diego Co., Dec. 12 (HAW) being the Guatemala Highlands: Nov. 23-30, For details on these tours, contact: southernmost. A Brown Thrasher at Brock 1979 Victor Emanuel Nature Tours, Inc. Ranch Dec. 12 - Feb. 17 (ID,REW) was the Tikal Workshop: Nov. 30-Dec.9,1979 PO Box 4429 only one reported this winter. A Bendire's Eastern Mexico: Dec. 26-Jan. 6, 1980 Thrasherremained near ImperialBeach Dec. Austin, Texas78765; phone 17 - Mar. 10 (EC); there are very few winter pre-trip extension: Dec. 22-26 512/454-0576 records for Califo•:nia. A Curve-billed Thrash- er, rare in s.e.California, was seen at Laguna Dam Dec. 12 and Jan. 19 0D).

Volume33, Number 3 315 KINGLETS THROUGH VIREOS -- Only species'range at any time of the year. Nine within this species'normal area of winter small numbersof Golden-crownedKinglets Tennessee Warblers were found in the Santa occurrence, As usual a few Palm Warblers were presentalong the coastwith one or two Barbara area between Dec. 6 and the end of winteredalong the coastwith oneat the Santa near Imperial Beach during Decemberand the period.but threeof thesewere seen only in Maria R. mouth Jan. 6 (JD). eight individuals January(EC)being the southernmost.A Bohe- December and may well have been late fall found around Santa Barbara during the mian Waxwing in Tecopa, Inyo Co., Dec. 10 migrants,leaving six wintering;one in River- period(PL), oneat NewportFeb. 24 (TC) and 0T} wasthe onlyone reported. Similarly, a N. side Dec. 30 - Feb. 24 (SC)was the only other anothernear Imperial Beach Dec. 16+ (EC).A Shrike at Harper's Dry Lake, San Bernardino one found in the Region. Seven Nashville N. Waterthrush was in Griffith P., Los Co., Dec. 26 (EAC) was the only one seen.A Warblersfound alongthe coastwould appear AngelesNov. 25 (JR)and oneor twowere near Bell's Vireo, extremely rare in winter, was to be closeto an averagenumber for a winter Imperial Beachduring Decemberand January near Imperial BeachJan. 6 (GMc}. Four Sol- period. A N. Parula near Niland Dec. 13-28 (EC); small numbersevidently winter along itary Vireos were found with one in Riverside (JD) and another near Imperial Beach Dec. the coast each year. A MacGillivray's War- Dec. 17 - Jan. 30 (AS}, one near Imperial 16-24(GMcC) may both havebeen exception- bler, very rare in winter, was in Griffith P., Beach Dec. 3 - Mar. 1 (EC), another at L. Hen- ally late fall migrantsor individualsattempt- Jan. 26 (JR). Only eight Wilson'sWarblers shawFeb. 20 (RH) and the fourth at Laguna ing to winterlocally. Fifteen Yellow Warblers werereported, all coastal,illustrating just how Dam throughoutthe period(BMW}; all were were found along the coast.along with three scarcethis speciesis in winter. An Am. Red- of the grayrace. plumbeus, except for the one around S.E.S.S., and one more near Earp on start in Goleta Oct. 2+ (PL), another in Fill- at L. Henshaw which was cassinii. Remark- the ColoradoR.. Nov.25 - Jan.20 (JD),giving more Nov. 5 - Jan. 13 (REW) and a third near able was a PhiladelphlaVireo in San Pedro us an exceptionalnumber of sightingsfor the Oxnard Feb. 4 (REW) were on the coast where Dec. 30 - Jan. 12 (LH}; this speciesis a casual winter period. A Magnolia Warbler. only the it is rare in winter; three around S.E.S.S.. were fall stragglerto California, with no previous third to have wintered in California, was in in an area of regularwinter occurrence. record later than Nov. 9, and was not antic- Riverside Nov. 17 - Feb. 26 (SC). Nearly 20 ipated to occur in winter. A Warbling Vireo, Black-throatedGray Warblers were reported, BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES, TANAGERS casual in winter, was in Griffith P., Los but 12 of these were in the Santa Barbara area -- Two Orchard Orioles remained in Santa AngelesFeb. 17 OR). with the rest beingfound elsewherealong the Barbara Jan. 20+ (PL}, anotherwas in nearby coastexcept for one at Brock Ranch Feb. 17 Goleta Mar. 12 (BS) and a fourth was in River- WOOD WARBLERS -- Nine Black-and- (REW). Black-throated Green Warblera fre- side Jan. 2-26 (AS}; one or two of these birds white Warblers were found with five in the quently occur late in the fall, but one near are found every winter. A d ScoWsOriole, Santa Barbara area during the period (PL), ImperialBeach Dec. 16 - Jan.6 (GMcC}may veryrare in winter,was in SantaBarbara Feb. one at Pt. Mugu S.P., throughoutthe winter have been winteringlocally. and another in 10 (PL) and another was near Palm Springs (REW), another in Riverside Dec. 17 - Jan. 29 GoletaDec. 22 - Feb. 24 (PL, ph. S.D.N.H.M.} Feb. 26 (SG}. As usual a few "Baltimore" (D&BH), one in OceansideJan, 1 - Mar. 3 (PL) was definitelywintering locally; there are no Orioleswere reported with four in the Goleta/ and the ninth near Imperial Beach Nov. 4 - previouswinter recordsfor California.Four Santa Barbara area (PL), one in Ventura Jan. Feb. 12 (PU). Unprecedentedwas a Prothono- Hermit Warblers spent the winter in Santa 24 (GG). another in Oceanside Feb. 3 (CGE) tary Warbler in Santa Barbara Dec. 30 - Mar. Barbara (PL}; small numbersoccur along the and a seventhin San Diego Dec. 16 (EC). 10 (KG.PL, ph. S.D.N.H.M.) sincewinter rec- coast of c. California everywinter. with most "Bullock's" Orioles were present along the ords from anywherein the United Statesare beingfound in areassupporting Townsend's coast in small numbers. as is normal, with the limited, and California is far outside the Warblers,and SantaBarbara mayprove to be largest numbers (24 different individuals} found around Goleta/Santa Barbara, two at Brock Ranch Feb. 11 (EC) were the only ones reported from an inland locality. A Rusty Blackbird in Santa Barbara Jan. 22-29 (LRB) Bird Bonanzas,inc. was the only one found this winter. A Great- celebratesits 10t• aa,l'versaryi'• 1980. We are st I t•e taurs tailed Grackle in San Pedro Feb. 25 (JJ}could wi • the smallgroups af birdersand large rur-bers af birds. well be the samebird presenton Pt. Fermin last Septemher. A few W. Tanagers were Our 1980 toursinclude Alaska, Minnesota, Mexico, Casta Rica, foundalong the coast,as is normal,with eight in the Goleta/Santa Barbara area (PL}, two in Panama,Colombia, Venezula, Surinam, England, Israel, Africa, Pasadena Jan. 12 (KG) and six around San India, Nepal,Ceylon, Diego(CGE). Two HepaticTaeagers remained Australiaand others. •L• '• togetherin OceansideNov. 27 - Mar. I (PU); onehas spent the pasttwo winters at this same locality. Three Summer Tanagers were t•orted withone in SantaBarbara Mar. 2 (SJR), another in Riverside Dec. 17 - Jan. 26 (D&BH) and the third near Oceanside Jan. 2 - Mar. 10 (AF); one or two are found everywinter.

FINCHES, SPARROWS, LONGSPURS -- A Rose-breasted Grosbeak in Goleta Dec. 2 (PL) was undoubtedlya late fall migrant, but one or two in Santa Barbara Nov. 29 - Jan. 14 (PL) and anotherthere Feb. 10 (PL) probably wintered locally. A Black-headedGrosbeak. Foraddi ional info atlonwrit• alwaysscarcer than Rose-breastedsin winter, BIRDBONANZAS wasin SanDiego Feb. 4 (EC).A groupof up to five EveningGrosbeaks on Mt. Palomar Dec. 12550Biscayne Boulevard, 2-4 (RH) wasthe onlyone reported this winter. Noah Mia•;, 33161 A Lark Bunting, exceptionallyscarce this winter, was in Ojai. Ventura Co., Jan. 13 - Feb. 17 (DS) and another was in Griffith P., Los AngelesDec. 26 (JR). As usual a few Gray-headedJuncos wintered in the s. portion of the Region with one or two near Malibu Dec. 16 - Mar. 2 (H&PB) beingthe northwest- ernmost.A Clay-coloredSparrow, casual in winter, was in PasadenaOct. 8 - Dec. 30 (BC)

316 AmericanBirds, May 1979 and anotherwas in NewportMar. 5 (D&BH). the end of the period. -- GUY McCASKIE, more also visited near Kii Pond, Oahu (here- A Black-chinnedSparrow at Camarillo, Ven- San Diego Natural History Museum, Balboa after. O.) from Dec. 19 (GB) until at least Feb. tura Co., Feb. 25 (REW) was one of the very Park, P.O. Box 1390, San Diego, California 23 (RL,BB,DS). The Dark-rumped Petrel few found in California in winter. The only 92112. (EnSp) is known to breed only in extremely Harris' Sparrowsreported this winter were small numbers on Maul and H. Is. It was one in Kelso Dec. 12 (SC) and another in encouragingto receivethe report of three Goleta Dec. 25 - Feb. 2 (PL). White-throated HAWAIIAN ISLANDS REGION just-fledgedbirds at widely scatteredeleva- Sparrowswere also scarce with but six /C. JohnRalph and Robert L. Pyle tions and locations on Kauai Nov. 23 - Dec. 2, reported. Six Swamp Sparrowswere found indicatingat leasta small nestingpopulation alongthe coast,with up to threein Fillmore on this island (GVB). Two Blue-faced Boobies all winter (REW), one at L. Sherwood Jan. 13 After two extremelydry winters (9ø'/0and on Moku Manu I.. O., Feb. 18, providedan (REW) one in Malibu Dec. 3 - Jan. 14 (JD) and 25% of normal rainfall at Honolulu), the rains interesting winter record (RLP, MO,RS, the otherat L HedgesMar. 3-10 (GMcC);in and cool weather returned this season to mark H.A.S.). The last of the inhabited main addition one was in the mountains at L. Hen- the first above-averagewinter precipitations in Hawaiian Islandswas finally known to be col- shaw Feb. 20 (RH). Two or three McCown's 7 years. Hawaii normally receivesnearly one- onized by Cattle Egrets when nine were seen Longspurswere around S.E.S.S.. Dec. 28 - half of its annual rainfall between December during an aerial surveyon Niihau I., Jan. 20 Feb. 18 (JD.REW) where small numbers occa- and February.During one big stormin mid- (TT.GVB). The occasional Canada Goose is sionallywinter. but five at Harper'sDry Lake January, 5 feet 11 inches of rain fell in five reportedin mostyears; this seasonthere was near Barstow Dec. 26 (EAC) were the first to days at two different places in the mid- one on Kii Pond. O., Dec. 5 - Feb. 28+ be recordedfrom that area. The only Lapland elevations of eastern Hawaii Island. Another (GB,BB). Anothergraced Kealie Pond,Maui Longspursreported were two on the Carrizo storm, February18-19, brought20-25 inches (hereafter. M.), in December (CBK). The Plain all winter (EMcM) and one was at in 24 hoursin the samearea. A major effect of Garganeynear Hilo, H., remainedthrough the S.E.S.S., Feb. 18 (REW). Remarkable was a the wet weatheron birds was the dispersalof season(CJR,CPR,JMS). American Wigeon Snow Bunting in Kelso Valley near Mojave wintering shorebirdsand ducks to scattered winteredin extraordinarilyhigh numberswith Dec. 23-27 (KA) since there are only two pre- temporarilywet areas.with thereforenotice- 32 on Kii Pond.O., Jan. 1 (RE); 23 at Waipio viousrecords of this speciesin s. California; ably lowercounts at the traditional ponds. O.. Nov. 18 (RLP); and smaller numbers at this establishes the southernmost occurrence Cool weather just before the January storm other locationsthroughout the winter. The in California. kept mid-day temperaturesat record lowson rather rare Eur. Wigeonwas sighted at Wai- Kauai, Oahu, and Hawaii. Daily highs were pio O., Jan. 28 (MO.RLP). A 9 Redhead,rare ADDENDUM and CORRIGENDUM -- A only60-69øF. -- not low enoughto iceup the in the state, was presentfor almost a month Prairie Warbler. exceptionallyrare inland, ponds.but stillrather chilly for Hawaii. after Jan. 27 at Waiakea Pond, Hilo, H. (CJR. was in Rialto, San Bernardino Co., Oct. 5, PP, LM), and two males were at Kakahaia 1978 (SC). The Lawrence's Goldfinches (,,lB GREBES THROUGH DUCKS -- The two N.W.R., Molokai I., Jan. 23 (CBK). A 9 Red- 32:1210, 1978)nested near Blythe, not Bard. Pied-billed Grebes near Hilo, island of Hawaii breastedMerganser, the only recordedsince To avoid unnecessaryduplication, all birds (hereafter,H.), reportedlast season,remained 1893, when two were shot, also enlivened seen and reported only on Christmas Bird through the winter (JMS,CJR,CPR).Two Kakahaia Pond Jan. 23 (CBK,RM). Counts have been omitted. This should not detract from the validity of thoserecords, but is meant to conservespace for recordsother than those on Christmas Bird Counts.

CONTRIBUTORS -- Keith Axelson, Dave Baker, Larry R. Ballard, Hal Baxter, Jean gillOS'• ' We've BetweenGøtItAllThe Tøgothor Covers! '' Brant, Bruce Broadbrooks, Hank & Priscilla Bredkin (H&PB), EugeneA. Cardiff, Steven Cardiff, Terry Clark, Barbara Cohen. Elizabeth Copper. Fay Dalton, Joan DeBus, Ron Dew, ion Dunn (coordinator for Los Angeles County), Claude G. Edwards. A. TheRead:Hawk and Hare Are One, by Pulitzer t . SidneyEngland, Andrdw J. Foreman,Larry InLoco Parentis: A Starling Saga, by D. Foreman, Alice Fries, Kimball Garrett, prizewinner WilliamCaldwell. C• Greg Gillson, Sharon Goldwasser, Jim FaithMcNulty. Greaves, Dan Guthrie, Linda Hale, Don & Owl's Well That Ends Well, by Mary Leister. Helping the Bluebird, by Lawrence Zeleny. Bonny Hoechlin (D&BH), David Holdridge, The Enduring Bittern, by Laura Riley. RogerHigson, Joseph R. Jehl,Laura Lou Jen- Horizons of Ornithology Still Expanding, by Douglas Lancaster. ner, Jim Jennings,Eric V. Johnson,Jerome A. Johnson,Larry LaPre, Paul Lehman (coor- Sharing Bird Watching Discoveries with Children, by Joan Carson. dinator for Santa Barbara County), John The Bald Eagle Returns to the Great Lakes, by Sergej Postupalsky. McDonald, Eben McMillan. Don Parham ... and dozens more written with literary style and humor, yet with serious purpose (DPa), Michael Perrone, Dan Popper (DPo), and filled with solid information! Sylvia J. Ranney, Dorothea Rible, Justin Compact digest size, published bimonthly in May, July, September, November, Russell, Andy Sanders. Lawrence Sansone. January and March. Brad Schram. Trudy Siptroth, Nancy Spear. Perfect for you and as a gift for bird watching friends! Don Sterba. G. Shumway Surfel. Fern R. Talnter (coordinator for San Luis Obispo County),Jan Tarble, MargaretThornburgh. SUBSCRIBE TODAYI Only $7.50 for 6 issues! BarbaraTurner. Philip Unltt (coordinatorfor San Diego County), Kent VanVuren, Ken Name Weaver, Richard E. Webster (coordinatorfor Ventura County), Bill Wedendorf, Bret M. Address Whitney (coordinator for Colorado River Valley), Harold A. Wier, Doug Willick. Spec- City State Zip __ imen (*). photographon file (ph)., San Ber- nardino County Museum (S.B.C.M.), San DiegoNatural History Museum (S.D.N.H.M.). [] Check enclosed [] Bill me! A plus(+) followinga date indicatesthat the Mall to: BIRD WATCHER'S DIGEST, Box 110, Marietta, Oh 45750 bird or birds were presentfrom that date to

Volume 33, Number 3 317 The Com.Snipe decid- Mauna Kea, H., wassighted just off the Sad- dle Road at Puu Huluhulu, a few kilometers s. • beingedlyis seennot onlycommon, occa- of its normal range Dec. 29 (LS). The winter sionallyin the islands. rains apparentlyresulted in unusuallyheavy So it was exciting to blooms of mamane (Sophora) on the drier have .five at Waipio, slopesof Mauna Kea, auguringwell for the O., Jan. 7 (MO,RLP). Palila,which depends upon it for food.On the More excitingwere two w. slopesof the mountain,the bloomattracted of the Asiatic race unprecedented(CvR) numbersof the nectar- H,•,v'• (Capellag. gallinago) eating'I'iwl; >50 wereseen in just 2 hoursat which were carefully Puu Laau Jan. 31 (CJR,HR,CPR,JH). studied (GVB) at Han- .... alei N.W.R., K., Dec. CONTRIBUTORS -- Tim Burr, Gordon ..... 6-10. This subspeciesis Black, Barry Brady, G. Vernon Byrd, Jeremy is readily identifiable Hatch, Hawaii Audubon Society (H.A.S.), in good light (see D. CameronB. Kepler, (EnSp) EndangeredSpe- Gibson, 1978, •lepaio cies,Eugene Kridler, ReynoldLarsen, Laurie 39:8). Two Greater Mclvor. Randy Manaba, Michael Ord, Peter Yellowlegswere seen; Paton, Carol P. Ralph, Harry Recher,Charles one at Kealia Pond, M. van Riper, J. Michael Scott,Robert Shallen- OSPREY THROUGH TERNS -- An (CBK) Dec. 23, and another at Mana Pond. berger,Dan Snider,Lani Stemmermann,and Ospreyturned up at WaiawaUnit, PearlHar- K., Jan. 16 (TT,GVB). The odd scattering Tom Telfer. -- C. JOHN RALPH, Institute of bor N.W.R., O., Feb. 11-12 (BB.GB) and of gulls continued over the winter. Prom- Pacific Islands Forestry, U.S.D.A., Forest againFeb. 22 (EK). inent among them was a W. Gull at Paiko Servlee, 1151 Punchbowl St., Honolulu, HI S.A. Lagoon,O., from late Decemberinto spring 96813 and ROBERT L. PYLE, 741 N. Kale- (m.ob.).Also seen in severalareas were Laugh- heo, Kailua, HI 96734. Perhaps owing to the wet winter. ing, Bonaparte'sand Herringgulls (CBK,RLP Hawaiian Coots (EnSp) and Hawaiian et al.). The highlightof the seasonwas a Cas- Stilts (EnSp) left their usual haunts at pian Tern, a first for the state, seenJan. 3 at Hanalei N.W.R., Kauai (hereafter, K.), the remnants of Salt Lake, O. (RL). The bird where populationswere only one-quarter then apparentlytook an islandtour, appear- of the fall figures(GVB). The stilts have ing at Waipio Pen., through early February probablyin part movedto Niihau I., 65 km (m.ob.) and was at Kaneohe MCAS Mar. 5 to the s.w., where >100 were seen from the (TB). air (TT.GVB) in January.(No birdershave been allowed on this privately-owned LAUGHING-THRUSHES THROUGH island in 25 years.) However, the where- HONEYCREEPERS -- The presenceof a aboutsof the cootsis a mystery;they may flock of 12-15 Greater NecklacedLaughing- have dispersedto newly wet areas that Thrushes at Hanalei N.W.R., K., indicates appearedafter the winterrains. Or, irreg- that the speciesis still establishedthere, ular influxesof migrantsfrom the main- althoughit apparentlyis not spreading(GVB). land might conceivablyaccount for the An 'Amakihi, the reasonablycommon insect- large fluctuationsthat are observedocca- eating honeycreeper,was found (CJR,CPR) sionally in coot populations, but not in singingand feedingregularly Feb. %28+, at otherweftand breeding species. an extremelylow elevationof ca. 100 m, in a residential area in Manoa Valley, O. The Paiila.(EnSp) the finch-billedhoneycreeper of

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318 AmericanBirds, May 1979