STANDARDABBREVIATIONS USED IN THE REGIONALREPORTS

Abbreviations used in placenames: THE In mostregions, place names given in •talictype are counties. WINTER Other abbreviations: Cr Creek SEASON Ft. Fort Hwy Highway I Island or Isle December1, 1990-February28, 1991 Is. Islands or Isles Jct. Junction km kilometer(s) AtlanticProvinces Region 244 TexasRegion 290 L Lake Ian A. McLaren GregW. Lasleyand Chuck Sexton mi mile(s) QuebecRegion 247 Mt. Mountain or Mount YvesAubry, Michel Gosselin, Idaho/ Mts. Mountains and Richard Yank Western Montana Region 294 N.F. National Forest ThomasH. Rogers 249 N.M. National Monument New England Blair Nikula MountainWest Region 296 N.P. National Park HughE. Kingety N.W.R. NationalWildlife Refuge Hudson-DelawareRegion 253 P P. Provincial Park WilliamJ. Boyle,Jr., SouthwestRegion 299 Pen. Peninsula Robert O. Paxton, and Arizona:David Stejskal Pt. Point (not Port) David A. Culter andGary H. Rosenberg New Mexico: R. River MiddleAtlantic Coast Region 258 Sartor O. Williams III Ref. Refuge HenryT. Armistead andJohn P. Hubbard Res. Reservoir(not Reservation) S P. State Park Sonthern Atlantic AlaskaRegion 394 262 W.M.A. WildlifeManagement Area CoastRegion T.G. Tobish,Jr. and (Fall 1990 Report) M.E. Isleib HarryE. LeGrand,Jr. Abbreviations used in the British Columbia/ names of birds: Florida Region 265 Yukon Region 306 Am. American JohnC. Ogden Chris Siddle Corn. Common 309 E. Eastern OntarioRegion 268 Oregon/WashingtonRegion Ron D. Weir (Fall 1990 Report) Eur. Europeanor Eurasian Bill Tweit and David Fix Mt. Mountain AppalachianRegion 272 N. Northern GeorgeA. Hall Oregon/WashingtonRegion 312 S. Southern Bill Tweit andJim Johnson W. Western Western Great Lakes Region 274 DavidJ. Powell Middle Pacific Coast Region 315 David G. Yee, Otherabbreviations and symbols MiddlewesternPrairie Region 277 StephenF. Bailey, referringto birds: BruceG. Peterjohn and Bruce E. Deuel ad. adult •mm. immature CentralSouthern Region 282 SouthernPacific Coast Region 319 juv. juvenalor juvenile StephenJ. Stedman GuyMcCaskie sp. species Prairie ProvincesRegion 287 HawaiianIslands Region 324 ? meansthat written details Rudolf F. Koes and RobertL. Pyle were submitted for a PeterTaylor sighting * meansthat a specimenwas NorthernGreat PlainsRegion 268 collected Ron Martin d male 9 female CBC Christmas Bird Count

Volume 45, Number 2 ß243 NS, and, althoughplumage ATLANTIC descriptionwas brief (suggesting an incompletelymolted, alter- PROVINCES nate adult), its bill wasstated to be "heavy.... brightyellow in REGION strong sunlight...decidedly Ian A. McLaren upturned...[with] culmen straight"(original emphasis). It drifted seaward and was not Theweather in theRegion was foundby subsequent searchers. ;Gro$MorneNatPar • not so oppressive as last Evidentlyno Pied-billed Grebes winter's,generally remaining lingeredpast December. There moderateuntil January, when weresubstantial early-winter cold snapsand more snow countsof regulargrebes, includ- spoiledit forsome. Although ing 57 Red-neckedoff BrierI., mainland Nova Scotiaremained NS, Dec. 18 and 101 Horned relativelyopen, Newfoundland alonga 12-mishore near Hali- and northern New Brunswick fax Dec. 2. were at times snowed under. While N. Fulmars are routine Againthe Region was a focus off Nova Scotiain winter, 42 off S.P.M. Feb. 22 were notewor- for vagrantsfrom all quarters, NEW producingfully confirmed first thy (RE).A GreaterShearwater BRUNSWICK provincial recordsof Tufted with N. Fulmars Feb. 5 on Duck, Eurasian Curlew, Red- BrownsBank, NS (fideRB), was bellledWoodpecker, and Field- not unprecedented.A few Dou- fare.There was some agonizing ble-crested Cormorants were overrare geese. Also of interest spottedduring Decemberoff werelarge numbers of Dovekies S.P.M. and the Maritimes, and inshorein NovaScotia, a big twolingered near Sydney, NS, incursionof Northern Shrikes, throughJanuary (A & CM). As speciesasynchronies among usual, a few Great Blue Herons winter finch fluctuations,and wintered in Nova Scotia, but locally variabledeclines in one at Cocagne,NB, Jan. 20 species. A Snow Goose in HouseSparrows. Again, use is (ST) wasless routine. Yarmouth,NS, from Jan. 23 made of"unofficial" Christmas "Stoppress" information on throughFebruary (H & HH), Bird Counts that will not be a releaseduring fall 1989of and two during Februaryin publishedin AmericanBirds. unbanded,unpinioned water- Shelburne,NS (J.Czapaly) were fowl from a collection on an not extraordinary, but the Abbreviations:S.P.M. (Saint- isletoff GrandMarian I., NB, Yarmouthbird wasthought Pierreet Miquelon). Place names nullified some of this winter's (IM, Eric Mills) to be a "Less- in italicsare counties. mostunusual goose records er,"much less likely as a winter (detectivework by BD). Three laggard.However, the released LOONS TO orange-billedGreater White- Snow Geeseare believed to have WATERFOWL fronted Geese around Grand remainedin the vicinity of A reportof a possibleYellow- MananI. throughwinter (BD), Grand Manan I. A Bar-headed and one (race?)near Sackville, Goosein NovaScotia in spring billedLoon by 2 experienced FemaleEurasian Wigeon at St. 1990is probablyaccounted for. observers(John & Shirley NB, Jan.5 (GillesDaig16, ph.) John's,Newfoundland, January 6, Cohrs)was noteworthy. The mighthave been suspect, except Finally,one of 2 pairsof Barna- 1991. Photograph/Bruce bird wasobserved Dec. 2 for 5 that the waterfowl collection cle Geesethat stayedin the Macravish. minutes in Halifax Harbour, apparendydid not includethat releasearea produced four youngwith whichthey disap- thenext episode. peared in late summer. This Wintering Canada Geese seemsto eliminatethe listability wereperhaps down slightly in of thefamily (2 ad.,4 juv.)that Nova Scotia,and sparseelse- arrivedon CapeSable I., NS, in where,except at GrandManan earlySeptember, however apt I., whereBrian Dalzell specu- for their normal Greenland latesthat fetal Canadasare caus- departuretime. The family was ing a declinein the Region's waryat first, roosting on an islet onlysubstantial wintering Brant and feeding at sea,but soon flock.As usual, many dabbling habituatedto beingfed with duckswere being fed in urban with a small local collection of parksand ponds. A Regional semi-wildand pinioned water- scatteringof winteringGreen- fowl,including Canada Geese. wingedTeal includeda drake Theyhad become quite tame "Eurasian"at St.John's (BMct). whenfound by birderson the In New Brunswick, Am. Black localCBC, but disappeared Jan. Ducksand Mallards stayed in FiveBarnacle Geese (of six present) on Cape Sable Island, Nova Scotia, 8 after a hard freeze (v.o.; larger numbers than usual January5, 1991.See text for the explanation why these were not details,Randall Ross). Read the (DSC)and there were also more. "cormtable"wild birds. PhotogTapMan McLaren. NewEngland Region report for Blacks than usual in n.e. Nova

244' AmericanBirds, Summer 1991 Scotia(PP). One of last fall's BretonI., Jan.13-Feb. 7 (A & Dec. 26-30, than by sevento NewBrunswick. Large numbers Eur.Wigeons was a nicestudy CM). Two otherswere in Nova nine dark birds seenby him of Bonaparte'sGulls in s. New throughwinter in St.John's, Scotiaduring February. Bald duringa bird tourto n. New- Brunswick left after December NF (BMcr). Eaglesagain concentrated at foundandJan. 16-20. Birdersat (DSC), but the usualhandful Canvasbacks, rare in the artificial and natural food Moncton, NB, were content stayedin Nova Scotia. Mew Region,staged a definiteevent. sources.A record count of 72 with whatsome some thought Gulls, all identified as L. c. In Nova Scotia, the first was in immatures and 76 adults was to be a singlebird, andothers canus,continue to increase.In YarmouthDec. 17 (H & HH), tallied Feb. 3 in w. Kings,NS, upto threedark gray individu- St. John's,NF, therewere an followed, beginning late mostlyaround poultry farm als. adultthrough winter and three December,by at leastsix in the offal(fide JWW). A groupof SpruceGrouse totals of 13in first-yearbirds until Jan. 10 Halifax area,two in Yarmouth, about 20 near Yarmouth, NS, Nova Scotia and 11 in New (BMct). In Nova Scotia, an and a male near Pictou. Also included individuals banded in Brunswick were more than adult Dec. 18 at Amherst (ST) arrivingin lateDecember were Prince Edward Island and New usualon CBCs. Eight dead Wil- supplieda first record outside up to five in and near Saint York State (Peter Austin- lowPtarmigan found in early the Halifax area, where there John, NB (fide BD, DSC). Smith).A gatheringin mid- March on the ice of the Oro- were at least one first-winter, Finally,Prince Edward Island's February of up 114 near mocto R., near Fredericton one 2nd-winter, and one adult share was a male at Vernon Antigonish,NS, exploited natu- Junction,NB, hadapparently throughthe reporting period Bridgein earlyJanuary (fide ral fish die-offs (v.o.). The 73 been shot, but their origin is (v.o.). A 2nd-winter Herring DM). Where did they come birds on New Brunswick CBCs mysterious(DSC). Two Ruffed Gull at St. John's, NF, was fromthis late in winter?A single included 28 being fed by a Grouse were drumming at believedto bea northEuropean Redheadagain wintered in Syd- lightkeeperat BlacksHarbour 10:30 p.m. Dec. 2 in Fundy L. a. argentatus(BMct). Com- ney,NS (A & CM). Mostexcit- (DSC). Northern Harrierswere N.P., undera full moonat 32øF paredwith our smithsonianus, it ingwere the Region's first Tuft- widelyreported from the Mar- (ST). waspaler on headand under- ed Ducks outside Newfound- tomes,and an individualJan. 4 parts,and had moresharply land. The two previously providedthe first winter record RALLII• TO checkeredwing coverts,con- reportedfemales in St.John's, for S.P.M. (CM). A N. ALCII• trastinglypaler inner primaries, NF, grewproper tufts by late Goshawk at Petite Rivilre, NS, An errant Sora was at Custletts, anda strikinglynarrower dark December,and disappeared Jan. broke windows of a shop on Placentia Bay, NF, Dec. 22 tail band. Amongthe usual 11 after hard weather (BMct). enteringand exiting, with "no (BMct et al.), andone at Saint- "Kumlien's,"one bird during An obscure, almost tuftless apparentdamage to thehawld" Pierre,S.P.M., Feb. 18 (CM), February in Halifax was femalediscovered (FL) Jan. 13 (NellieSnyder). was even sillier. As usual, an thoughtto be a satisfactory in Dartmouth,NS, wassavored A Red-shouldered Hawk at Am. Coot overwintered in Thayer'sGull (v.o.).Wintering Lesser Black-backed Gulls by manythrough the reporting Yarmouth,NS, Feb.4 (Jerome Dartmouth, NS. •eriod. Elsewhere in Nova Sco- D'Eon) furnisheda 2nd winter A few Black-bellied Plovers included three adults in St. tia, a well-tufted first-winter recordfor the province.Once and Killdeers survivedwinter in John's,at leastthree adults and two near-adultsaround Halifax femaleappearing at N. Sydney again,young Broad-winged Nova Scotia;a Black-belliedwas Jan.19 (D. McCorquondaleet Hawks missed their cues. This moreat riskJan. 7 at Ferryland, Harbour,and adults near Lock- al.) anda probablead. female w•nter in Nova Scotia there NF (ST). Apparentlyone of eportand N. Sydney,NS. foundat YarmouthJan. 20 (J. were one on the Halifax East three well-identified LesserYel- Dovekies were in their usual hordes off s.e. Newfoundland Kearneyet al., ph.), both stayed CBC (IAM etaL, ph.), up to lowlegson the Halifax East three near Yarmouth in late CBC overwintered,for one was (BMct), perhapssomewhat throughFebruary. Finally, an more common than usual off ad. male wasreported at W. December(H & HH), andone seenin the vicinity in early Lawrencetown,NS, Feb. 9 (Ada nearWolfville Jan. 21 (Mike March (FL, Bev Sarty). The S.P.M. (RE), and probably Hines,fide PP). Dad•well). The usual buteos mostexciting shorebird find underreported from New CommonEiders were again were in usualnumbers, but two (ST) was a meticulously Brunswick.They were strikingly displacedby huntingfrom vhite Red-tailed Hawks described (BMct) and abundant in Nova Scotia from speedboatsaround S.P.M., with nearWolfville, NS, causedsome identifiably photographed earlyDecember to earlyFebru- up to 1500along the east coast excitement. EurasianCurlew at Ferryland, ary.A fewwere "wrecked," but of Miquelonthrough the season Bruce Mactavish was more NF. DiscoveredJan. 7, thebird mostwere found feeding in bays (RE). Theywere rated particu- excitedby a "fabulouscode 10" wassubjected next day to the all alongthe Atlantic coast, sometimes at stream mouths. larly abundant in New whiteGyrfalcon in St.John's, first hard freeze of winter, and Brunswickthis winter (DSC). disappearedbefore more than a Other alcidsseemed present in Lesscommon seaducks includ- few local birders saw it. Half- usual numbers. ed two King Eiders in New hardyCalidris were not report- Brunswick, a gratifying 9 edbeyond December, except for DOVESTO WOODPECKERS reportsof some22 Harlequin smallflocks of Sanderlingson Ducks in Nova Scotia (but not SableI., NS (v.o.), and a sur- MourningDoves rebounded elsewhere),and Barrow's Gold- prising48 Dunlinat Matthews after the severe 1989-1990 win- eneyestotalling about 20 in L., NS, Feb.21 (DavidYoung). ter, andwere widespread and common at feeders in the Mar- Nova Scotia, 12 in Prince ACom. Snipe was at Saint- Edward Island, and 50 in New Pierre,S.P.M., Jan. 22 (NB). itimes. It wasan off year for Brunswick. Buffleheads were FiveLittle Gulls were a good SnowyOwls, with reportsof especiallycommon in s. New find at Deer I. Pt., NB, Dec. 1 onlyone in s.e.Newfoundland, Brunswick in early winter (ST et al.). After severeearly- two on S.P.M., one in Nova (DSC). Januaryweather, only 25-30 Scotia,one on PrinceEdward Com. Black-headed Gulls Island, and two in New DIURNAL RAPTORS stayedin St.John's, NF, while Brunswick. Three N. Hawk numbers remained normal in Owls in New Brunswick,where A TurkeyVulture was enticed Gyrfalconat Riverview,New to a "feeder" stocked with fish Brunswick,February 9, 1991. Nova Scotia. One at Deer I. Pt., nesting has recently been discardsat Sand Lake, Cape Photograplv'Stuartlingley. Dec. 1 (ST), wasunusual for confirmed,included one readily Volume 45, Number 2' 245 foundnear Shippagan through therewas another incursion (cf. same time (RE). A Varied bymy son, and hurriedly pho- thereporting period. A weak- 1988-1989) of CarolinaWrens Thrush came to a feeder at tographedin dim light. ened Boreal Owl was nurtured to New Brunswick: two at Fred- WhitesL., NS, frommid-Jan- Although there was quick and releasedin St. John's,NF, ericton,two at SaintJohn, and uarythrough February (v.o.). responseto a birdalert, it appar- another was found dead on oneat Yoho Lake, most staying NorthernMockingbirds were ently becamebreakfast for a Saint-Pierre, S.P.M., and the atfeeders through the reporting the "mostever reported" on shrike,leaving no share for oth- totalof four (onerehabilitated) period. The only post-CBC New BrunswickCBCs (DSC), ersof this3rd provincial occur- in New Brunswick was "unusu- WinterWren was at Quispam- and"there were plenty" in Nova rence. al" (DSC). sis,NB, Jan.28 (JL).A Ruby- Scotia(RS). During Decemberabout 16 Ten post-CBC Belted crownedKinglet was unexpect- BohemianWaxwings were Pine Warblers were noted in Kingfisherswere more than ed nearCape St. Mary's,NF, againabundant, with record Nova Scotia and four in New usualin Nova Scotia,and one at Dec. 22 (BMct); one lived highCBCs in New Brunswick Brunswick; one survived GowanBrae, PEI, Feb.7 (fide throughJanuary in Dartmouth, and flocks of hundreds in New- throughFebruary at a feederin DM) wasquite unexpected. NS (JamesTaylor). The latestof foundland and Nova Scotia. W. Pubnico, NS (LD). Four None of three Red-headed lastfall's reverse-migrant Blue- CedarWaxwings, which do not Black-and-whiteWarblers were Woodpeckersin New Bruns- grayGnatcatchers was in Hali- alwayswinter in theRegion, not seenbeyond Dec. 2 in St. wick and one in Nova Scotia faxuntil Dec.7 (BD), but more werealso moderately common John's,NF, in spiteof mild werenoted after early January. surprisingwas one that struck a throughout.Last fall's large weather(BMct, v.o.). ACom. Last fall's small incursion of the window Dec. 6 at Charlotte- influx of N. Shrikes was sus- Yellowthroatat Carequet in late rarerRed-bellied Woodpecker town,PEI (DorothyMacLeod). tainedthrough winter in New December was a first in winter was amplified by birds that A Townsend's Solitaire Brunswick (a record 71 on for n. New Brunswick(fide arrivedand stayed later; there appearedat Quispamsis,NB, CBCs; DSC) and Nova Scotia DSC), while one Jan. 23 on werewintering individuals at 2 Jan.5 (JL).Caraquet, NB, host- (ca.80 post-CBCbirds report- CapeSable I. (G. & J. Tufts) localitiesin New Brunswick and edthe Region's first wholly sat- ed; RBS), but very few was the latest recordedin Nova 3 placesin Nova Scotia,and a isfyingFieldfare outside New- remained in Newfoundland and Scotia. Two Wilson's Warblers Red-belliedWoodpecker at S.P.M. lingeredin St.John's, NF, until NewGlascow, PEI (RoryFran- As in other recentwinters, Dec. I (JW), and a bright cis),was a firstfor the province. wood warblers continued to (western?)bird in Halifax, NS, For the first time more Three- astonish.An Orange-crownedwas last seen Dec. 2 (v.o.). An toed (six) than Black-backed WarblerDec. 2 at Mary'sPt., Ovenbird was in St. John's, woodpeckers (three) were NB, produceda latest provincial NF, Dec. 24-26 (JW). Two reported on New Brunswick record (ST). About six were Yellow-breasted Chats in CBCs, perhapsbecause "the noted in Nova Scotia,the latest Halfax-Dartmouth, NS, and budworm-stressed trees of the in the Wolfville area to mid- two in s.e. Newfoundland were '70sand early '80s are gone January.A NashvilleWarbler at not seenafter early to mid- now" (DSC). A N. Flicker was suetnear Yarmouth, NS, toJan. December. unusualJan. 1 at Saint-Pierre, 10 (H & HH) wasthe lateston S.P.M. (BrunoLetournel), and recordfor theprovince. A Yel- TANAGERS TO a record 16 post-CBC birds low Warbler Dec. 16 at St. FINCHES were noted in Nova Scotia. Two John's (BMct) was the latest A Western Tanager visited at Cocagne,NB, Jan. 20 were ever in Newfoundland, and Robert Trivers' feeder at S.W. apparentlybeing sustained on anotherat Rothesayuntil Dec. Port Mouton, NS, Nov. bayberries(ST). Fieldfareat Caraquet,New Brunswick,Janua•j 25, 1991. 29 (StephenClayden) was the 29-Dec. 11. The high New Firstfully documentedrecord for first for winter in New Brunswick CBC total of 24 N. FL¾CATCHœR•T0 the province.PhotograplVStuart Brunswick. A Townsend's Cardinals included a record WARBLœR• Tingley. Warbler in Halifax wasa some- sevenin Fredericton (DSC). An Empidonaxin Halifax in Twelve in Nova Scotia were earlyDecember was critically, foundland(4 NF occurrences; more widespreadthan usual butdisappointingly, assessed as also2 ill-documentedsightings (RBS). A feeder Dickcisselat a LeastFlycatcher (BD, FL, in Nova Scotia 1971-1972 and Lamique, NB, lasted until BM). There were two late W. a mid-1960s report for New Dec. 27 (G. Benoit), while Kingbirdsnear Halifax (one Brunswick).It arrivedJan. 23 at two at W. Pubnico, NS, made untilDec. 5) anda slightlylater Edith Robichaud's feeder and it throughFebruary (LD). An one near Canso,NS (Nancy stayedthrough the reporting unusually large number of Petersetal.). The Eur.Jackdaw period. Mlle. Robichaudhad wintering Rufous-sided failed to return to Halifax this thoughtfullykept quantities of Towhees included three in winter. Numbers of Am. Crows frozen mountain-ashberries, Newfoundland, four in New remained elevated all winter in hopingto attract waxwings. Her Townsend'sWarbler, probably a Brunswick, two in Nova Sco- New Brunswick (DSC), and catchwas widely publicized, female,at Halifax,Nova Scotia, on tia and one in Prince Edward civic concernwas expressed bringing resuppliesof wild December25, 1990.Third provin- Island.One present through abouthuge roosts in Kentville berriesand many birders from cial record.Photograph/lan Januaryat Marble Mountain, andHalifax, NS. Amongthe near and far. American Robins McLare.. Inverness,NS, was said to be of woodlandgleaners, numbers of werecommon throughout the one of the "spotted"western Black-cappedChickadees on Regionin earlywinter. They what embarassingfamily races(Wendy MacDonald). CBCswere "comparable to last dwindledand were "in rough monopoly.My wife, without American Tree Sparrows year'shighesr-ever level" in New shape"around St. John's,NF, optics,had identified it tenta- werethought to berelatively Brunswick(DSC), and Brown with the disappearanceof tivelynear our home Dec. 21. It scarce in New Brunswick Creepers"seemed positively berriesafter January (BMct); reappearedat our doorstep (DSC) and Nova Scotia abundant"in NovaScotia (RS). ,nterestingly, hundreds Christmasmorning, to be spot- (DAC). A Clay-coloredSpar- Beginning mid-December, appearedon S.P.M.at aboutthe tedby my daughter,identified row in w. Hants, NS, Dec. 22 246' American Birds,Summer 1991 (BM,FL), and another atFer- while11 at Miquelon, S.P.M., where. House Finches were up throughwinter inNova Scotia ryland,NF, in early January Dec. 15 provided afirst CBC slightlyinNew Brunswick, (DAC), and"back upto levels (RogerBurrows, fideBMct) record (RE), and 20 at Monc- with 22 on CBCs (DSC), but of 1987-1988and addedtoa developing Region- ton, NB, Feb. 2were "a little onlysix were reported inNova 1988-1989"in New al pattern.Photographs surprising" (ST). SnowScotia, where they seem Brunswick(DSC). (BMct)suggest thata sparrow Buntings were also widely "stalled."It was generally an atFerryland, NF,Jan. 7was a reportedingood numbers. "off year" for crossbills and Observers:(subregional edi- darkish"Ipswich" ratherthan Theusual feeder icterids redpolls inall parts of the totsin boldface) -- Richard apale "mainland" Savannah were generally scarce inboth Region. InNova Scotia, where G.B. Brown, David S. Sparrow;thisfollows lastwin- NewBrunswick (DSC) and observershavebeen urged to Christie,David A. Cuttle, :er'sfirst NewfoundlandNova Scotia (DAC). Three notesuch matters, 50 "large- Brian Dalzell, Lisette record. Yellow-headedBlackbirds at billed"(Newfoundland?) Red D'Entremont, Roger Etcheber- Theusual woodland spar- Nova Scotia feeders survived Crossbills wereseen inHalifax ry, Keith Keddy, Helen rows,except juncos, were at least through January, buta Dec.21 (FL). By contrast, Hubert Hall, Ken Knowles, deemedscarce inNova Scotia few laggard N. Oriolesdid Pine Siskinsand Am. FultonLavender, John Lavi- (DAC),but about average in not. Goldfincheswerecommon at gne, Bruce Mactavish (BMct), NewBrunswick CBCs (DSC). AbundantPine Grosbeaks feeders almost everywhere, the Blake Maybank, Dan ALincoln's Sparrow inDart- diminished(with the lattereven reaching e.New- McAskill,Christian Moullec, mouth,NS, Dec. 2 (BM)was waxwingsand robins) after foundlandwhere they are Alan&: Cathy Murrant, Peter late.Four lingering White- January ins.e. Newfoundland "usually absent" (BMct). Payzant, Francis Spalding, crownedSparrows inNew (BMct),but elsewhere few EveningGrosbeaks obviously Richard Stern, John Wells, Jim Brunswickwerenot reported were seen throughout winter. recovered from last winter's W. Wolforal.-- IAN A. afterDecember. Lapland Purple Finches were "fairly slump,and were "crowded" at McLAREN, Biology Depart- Longspurswereunusually fre- common" around St.John's, feeders around St.John's, NF ment,Dalhousie University, quentinNova Scotia (DAC), NF (BMct), but scarcer else- (BMct), increasingly common Halifax, NSB3H 4J1. QUEBECREGION ß.adisson • ...... Michd Gossdin,and " RichardYank YvesAubry, QUEBEC ".. Thewetfall extended into. ••(. Eastmain • •'• • .....Havro-$t.-e,erre!;: / December;insouthern Quebec, //ff t, Sept-lies wheretemperatures wereabove ß' taami • !) • normal,much of the precipita- r•ag øChibougamau• {, ( •'• :ionfell asrain--precipitation ß •-• Baie-.,•"• Corne•u.. • •aspee•' recordsaland onwere the brokenMagdalen atMenire-Islands. .•rns t•'•-- • •/'/•e•.;,.•.,•:,tan• Rimouskie This meant plenty of open . ßHouyn_ - '•'"tr•3 Chicoutimi"'"•.,.•:•/ß /' ...... ~-•...- waterand agood variety oflin- •;•5•a ,•l,•l:livl•r. geringwaterfowl. January was . , //• • QuebecCity// •'• coldtionsbyin comparison, northern and witheastern loca- Lauder Quebecaveraging asmuch as 9 ø Montreal • • -rthierville C below average.Northern ß. Hull Quebecexperienced aconsis- Sherbrooke..... tentlycold winter with heavier ...... than normal snowfall in r•. December,but light thereafter. EarlyFebruary soonbrought GRIrBES 1'0 Romuald-d'EtcheminDec.2-3 Philipsburg Feb.50GP). above-freezingtemperatures W•1'FRFOWL (PBr,LR) and C6te-Sainte- Aflock of400 Snow Geese backtosouthern Quebec, but APied-billed Grebe was still CatherineJan.5-7 (DD etal.). still remained atPhilipsburg morenormal conditions pre- presentatLaSalle onthe record- Mild weather andopen water Dec. 2(DD), while animma- vailedduring thelast half ofthe latedate ofJan. 13 (PBa). As allowedDouble-crested Cor- ture furnished thefirst winter- month. occursevery now and then, morantstotarry longer than ingrecord for the province-- Analmost complete absence there wasa late movement ofN. usual. Singles werereported at feeding among exotics atthe offinches characterized thesea- Gannets upthe St. Lawrence IL, Hull Dec. 16 (DSH, MA), Hemmingfordzoo(PBa). One son,but other northern species with one at Beauport Dec.1 C6te-Sainte-CatherincJan.5 hundred wildCanada Geese (includingGyrfalcon, Willow (PC, NC), another atLachine (DD et al.), and Beauharnois alsofreeloaded atthe zoo, while Ptarmigan,andNorthern Hawk Nov. 30(fide DCu), and possi- the next day (PBa); only one a flock of139 birds waslate on Owl)did move south inappre- bly the same bird at the previousJanuary record existed L.MagogJan. 3(LC). Rarely ciablenumbers. Townsend's Beauharnois damDec. 16-26 forthe Region. Great Blue encounteredinmid-winter, 10 SolitairesandVaried Thrushes 0MB, v.o.); asis most often the Heronswere also inevidence in Green-winged Tealwere sighted addedadash ofwestern spice, case, all wereimmatures. s.Quebec, including singlesat I. onthe Ch•teauguay R.Jan. 8 whileTufted Titmice served up Uncommon alongthe Upper Perrot Jan.1 (PBa), Laval Jan. 6 (DDet al.), while four Gadwall ahearty helping ofsouthern St.Lawrence, loneGreat Cor- (JMG), Granby Jan.25 (fide successfully overwinteredfor the fare. morantsreached Saint- VL), Magog Feb. 3 (FL),and firsttime in the Lachine rapids Volume 45, Number 2 ' 247 (PBa).ARing-necked Duck Com.Moorhen ata Dorval atHudson beginning Jan.21 observedatAylmer until Jan. 20 shoppingcenter for about one (GJ,m.ob.), one at Beaconsfield (EAet al.) was also unusually month until Dec. 10, surviving Jan. 24 (SS), and one at Joliette late.The only Harlequin Ducks on popcorn fedto it bymovie- Feb. 10 (CS). An estimated 38 reportedthis season were single goers(fideJA, m.ob.)! Short-earedOwls hunted over malesatJonqui•re Dec. 16-24 Extremelyearly was a fieldsin the Montreal area in (CG,MS) and Baie-Comeau Killdeer seen atLaval Feb. 22 late Novemberand early Feb.9 (GCyetat). (JMG),while a Dunlinwas Decemberand a few remained quitelate at Beauharnois Dec. 1 throughoutthe season, includ- P,$iFI'OI•3!'0 (DD,PBa). Two Com. Snipe ing a group ofseven oreight $1•ORlel•lRl}• winteredat Beauport(SBI, thatroosted ina residential area Goodnumbers ofRough-legged m.ob.) and also atTracy (PBa et ofChambly from mid-January Hawksspent the season ins.w. at),while singles were found at onwards(BS,GT). The species Quebec,but one at Saint- PlessisvilleJan.5-Feb.24 (AC) is extremelyrare in winter Bruno,L. Saint-Jean, Jan. 4 andLa Pocati•re Jan.29 (CA). beyonds.w.Quebec, soparticu- (CG,MS etal.) was exception- These birds were all at well- larlynoteworthy weresingles at allylate so far north. Falcons established wintering sites, Havre-aux-BasquesJan.4 (FV) providedtheir share ofexcite- along open streams where one andLa Pocati•re Jan.19 (JFR). mentthis winter. The most wouldnormally expect tofind Theonly Boreal Owls detected northerlyMerlin was at Am.Woodcock. Thelatter do outsidetheir breeding range eve:xce ChicoutimiJan.27(CG) and notoverwinter, but one at weresingles atLa Pocati•re Dec. sixor more were observed far- AylmerDec. 16 (GDe, CD, 20 (CA,DF), Laval Jan. 11 nr n•t• thersouth, atleast one winter- RP) did tie the 110-year-old late (HB), and Cap-Tourmente Feb. e tn• occurJ ingat Saint-Lazare (BB, MM). departurerecord. 24 (RGet al.). Northern Saw- usi,,• t, Itwas the best winter forGyr- whetOwls were scarce during "':.u1R• •nc•r falconsin s. Quebecsince {llll.l.$IO January,unreportedsave for ent1981-1982;birds were possiblyseen s.w. 11of differ-Que- O•l•On the Magdalen Is., Com. one(MBI),onbut Mt. an Royalevident Jan.influx 15 .. becCity, including eight Black-headed Gullspeaked at occurredinearly February when wanderer visitedQuebec during aroundMontreal, and good 50 birdson Etang du Nord fourappeared at3 sites around 6 of10 winters inthe 1980s. numberswere also reported Dec. 10 (BL, GCa). Not all MontrealFeb. 3-6 (fidePBa), Late Hermit Thrushes could alongthe Lower St.Lawrence. Ring-billed Gulls were driven one showed upat Saint-Eus•be stillbe found Dec. 21 at Bale- Aspredicted lastyear (see AB southby the January cold, as Feb.5 (MBa),and dead birds Comeau(GGa et al.) and Dec. 44:234),Willow Ptarmigan three remained atLaSalle Jan. werepicked upat Saint-Elie- 31 at Quebec City(RG), where stagedamajor irruption. The 20(PBa),while others returned d'Orford Feb. 2 (fideFS)and Am.Robins were said to be firstbirds appeared along the earlyon the heels ofthe Febru- Neuville Feb.13 (CB). commonthroughout thewin- NorthShore of the St. arythaw,including four each ter.The latter species drewlittle Lawrence,with one at Mingan onFeb. 9 atAylmer (JD, JPA, •{ll•{llrl$}lœ• commentelsewhere. The Nov.2 (fideSP) and up to 15 at EA,GDu) and C6te-Sainte- !'0 $}1R1•{œ$ appearanceofVaried Thrushes Manic-5dam Nov. 19 & 29 Catherine(PBa). One also SingleBelted Kingfishers still isnot always synchronous wit} (CF).Flocks were subsequently remained atGros-Cap, Mag- lingeredatValleyfield Dec.31 thatof solitalres--although encounteredallalong the n. dalenIs.,Jan. 17 (BL, GCa). An (PBa,DD), and at both Saint- both are w. frugivores witha shoreofthe Estuary, asfar west ad.California Gullreported off Jovite(LH) and C6te-Sainte- tendency towander east--but asSaint-Simeon where three I. PerrotDec. 17 (BB, MM) Catherine(AB) until mid-Jan- three Varieds were located this birdswere reportedly shotJan. couldunfortunately notbe rdo- uary.In view of the weather, year: atMcGregor L.Dec. 6-24 12(fide RO). Large numbers cated thereafter. Notunexpect- however, itwas surprising that (BP,m.ob., ph.), Saint-J•r6me alsoreached L.Saint-Jean and ed this winter was avery late thishalf-hardy species didnot Dec.19 (FO), and Mt. Royal theUpper Saguenay. Hundreds imm. Black-legged Kittiwake at overwinter. TheRed-bellied starting Jan.6 (fidePBa, m.ob.). werefound n.of L. Saint-Jean C6te-Sainte-Catherine Jan.6 Woodpecker reported atGasp• Largenumbers ofBohemian inearly December andby mid- (DDet aL), but birders in lastfall remained throughout Waxwings wintered inc. Que- monththey had reached many search ofptarmigan atChute- the winter (FM), aYellow-bel- bec. Some 1500 were sighted localitiesaround thelake, as far des-PassesDec.15 were sur- liedSapsucker wasquite late at nearSaint-Marc-de-Latour southas Lac-Bouchette; this prisedto find an imm. Ivory L.Brome Dec. 29 (IF), while Nov.25 (AG) and,from late wavespread eastward toSainte- Gull there Dec. 15 (SBo, MT, alsonoteworthy inwinter were December through January, 15 Rose-du-Nordonthe n. shore LB). Locally rare was aBlack singleN. FlickersatSainte- sightings of1000 or more birds ofthe Saguenay R.and to La GuillemotatNeuville Dec. 30 LouiseJan. 7 (CA),La Baie weremade inthe L. Saint-Jean Baieon its s. shore (fide GS). (MDa). Dec.14-Jan. 23 (JMS), and area,including 2700 at Alma Theinvasion wasrather short- It wasat best an average year Rimouskiallseason (DCt, YB). Jan.13 (CG, MS, AJ) and an lived,as most of the unwary for Snowy Owls, but the inva- Forthe 2nd consecutive yearastounding 7000atChicoutimi birdswere wiped outby hunters sion of N. HawkOwls that twoWinter Wrens apparently lan. 23 (CG, MS). A group of withina fewweeks oftheir beganinNovember continued survived onI. des Soeurs, where 4000 invaded Rimouski inearly arrival. stronglywith approximately 21 they were still present Feb. 9 January(JRP et at), and 1000 WildTurkeys appear tobe individualssighted inaddition (fide PBa)--a rare occurrence in were seen at Amqui Jan. 29 doingwell along the U.S. bor- tothe 12 reported inthe fall. thisRegion despite thespecies' (DB). Flocks ofup to 1000 der,as evidenced bya flock of GreatGray Owls staged aminor name.The first Townsend's birds were also observed around 24at Hemmingford Feb.21 invasionbycomparison, with Solitairesofthe new decade Quebec City (fide LMe). Tallies (GZ)and three in February at s•xbirds found along the n. werediscovered onMt. Royal were more modest farther Dunham,anew locale for this shoreofL. Saint-Jean andthe fromJan. 13 onwards (PD et south,with high counts of500 species(RM, BH). The oddest Saguenay R.(fide GS), two at al.)and at Saint-Fulgence Jan. at Hudson Jan. 24 (FH), 200 at reportof the season was of a Cap-Tourmente(fida?YA), two 19-28(JV, m.ob.); this western Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle Feb.6 AmericanBirds, Summer 1991 (PBa),and 350 at AylmerJan. Contributors and observers: NEWENGLAND 12 (EA).Northern Shrikes were E. Artigau, J.P. Artigau, J. relativelycommon in s.Quebec Atkinson,M. Aub& C. Auchu, for the first time since the win- P. Bannon (PBa), F. Barnard REGION ter of 1985-1986. (FBa), B. Barnhurst, H. Blair Nikula Bastien, M. Beaulieu (MBa), WARBLERS TO R. Ballanger,M. Bdlisle(MBI), FINCHES J.M. Bdliveau,A. Bellehumeur, N. Binet, S. Blais (SBI), F. Althoughit was not a particular- Despitethe mild December, the ly excitingseason for birders, it onlylate warblers were a record- Blouin(FBI), D. Bouchard,G. Bouchard,J. Bouchard, L. was,for the most part, a pleasant lateOrange-crowned onNotre- one to be out in the field. Tem- Dame I., Dec. 15 (DD, FBI), Bouchard,S. Bouchard(SBo), the Yellow-throatedWarbler at Y. Boulanger,F. Bourguignon peraturesforthe season averaged justover 4øF above normal in Buckinghamuntil Dec. 8 (FBg),F. Bourret(FBt), E. Brault, M.A. Brochu, C. Boston,making it thesecond- (RC--see Fall report), and a warmestwinter in 121years of displacedPrairie Warbler in Brodeur, P. Brousseau(PBr), downtown Montreal Dec. 4 Seeminglylivi.g upto its name G. Caron (GCa), N. Caron, P. recordkeeping. Sixty-degree was this NorthernOriole in the temperatureswere reached on OM). Caron, R. Ch•nier, C. Cormi- Extralimital N. Cardinals snowat An.lui, Quebec,Decem- er, A. Crt•, D. Crt• (DCt), D. tendays during the period. It ber 1990. PhotograplVDaniel Coulombe (DCu), L. wasnot onlywarm, but fairly includeda femaleat Jonqui•re Bouchard. until Dec. 16 (RAS), a maleat Cousineau,G. Cyr (GCy), D. dry,with only 8 inchesof rain (almost5" belownormal) and Rimouski Dec. 27 (GLe), Daigneault, M. Darveau less than 20 inches of snow. another at Saint-Elz•ar-de- feedersat GranbyNov. 18-19 (MDa), U. D&oste, M. Decemberset the pace,averag- T•miscouataJan. 22 (RD), a (MP), AylmerDec. 8 (RLD), Demers(MDe), R. Deschlnes, and La Tuque from Dec. 13 B. Desgagn&S. Desgreniers, inga record-breaking40.7øF, femaleat Sept-Ilesuntil mid- incredibly7øF above normal. February(FBa, LD), and anoth- (MDe). G. Desjardins (GDe), L. er that wintered at Price (LG); ThreeRed-winged Blackbirds Desrosiers, C. Doyle, J. More typical temperatures winteredat Gros-Cap, Magdalen Dubois, R.L. Dubois, P. returnedin January,when win- thespecies was observed at sev- ter made a few rather feebleand eral localities in the Quebec Is. (UD), whileworthy of men- Dubuc,G. Dupuis(GDu), D. tionamong the several wintering Faucher,I. Ferrier, R. Filion, short-livedattempts to establish City region,including Saint- itself,but the warmthreturned Pascal(fide LMe). The Rufous- RustyBlackbirds was one at C. Fournier, P. Fradette, L. Sainte-Hedwidgeuntil Feb. 17 Gagn&G. Gauthier(GGa), R. in Februarywhich averaged sided Towhee reported at a more than 5øF above the norm. Chicoutimi feedersince last fall (NB) and two at Sainte-Anne- Gingras, C. Girard, J.M. Thepaucity of snow meant that wasapparently picked off bya de-Beaupr•Feb. 10 (RF).Now Giroux, A. Gosselin,P. Grave- shrikeJan. 6 (FT, JB etal.),but an annualevent, up to twoYel- line, G. Groulx (GGr), W. bareground was the rule rather the one at La Pocati•rewintered low-headed Blackbirds were Grubeft, B. Hamel, F. Hilton, thanthe exceptionacross the southern two-thirds of the successfully(CA), as did a observed in and around L. Horrocks, D. Jauvin, G. female at Hudson (WG). A BeauharnoisDec. 1-Jan.6 (PBa Jefty,A. Jomphe,G. Lachaine Region. Everyyear, lingering individ- "pair"also wintered at 2 sepa- etal.). Exceptional, however, was (GLc), L. Lagueux,J. Landry rate feeders in Saint-Narcisse a N. Oriole that cameto a feeder (JLn), J. Lariv•e (JLr), G. ualsof thosespecies that winter well to the southof our Region (RB),while a femalewas still at atAmqui Nov. 23-Dec. 9 (DB, Lauzi•res (GLz), B. Leblanc, BassinJan. 12 (GCa, BL). A ph.). G. L•gar• (GLe), F. Lessard, comprisea substantial percent- Flockscomprising up to 23 V. L•tourneau, B. MacDuff, ageof the reports at thisseason. HouseFinches were reported at M. Mcintosh, L. Messely Giventhe prevalenceof bare QuebecCity (MAB, m.ob.), (LMe), F. Milette, L. Miller groundand open water this wherethe species now seems well (LMi), R. Morel, J. Mountjoy, year,it isno surprise to findan established,and a pairwintered F. Ouellet, R. Ouellet, J.G. unusualpreponderance of such onthe Gasp• Pen. at Price (LG). Papineau,R. Paquette,S. Par- sightingsin the following sum- Otherwise,observers agreed on adis,J.R. Pelletier, M. Pollen- mary.This tendencywas espe- thescarcity offinches across the der, B. Potvin, P. Poulin, J.P. ciallypronounced among water- province.Pine Grosbeaks were Pratte,J.F. Rousseau,L. Roy, fowl. Other birds that were found in low numbersand Pur- M.A. Rub•novitch, D. Saint- unusuallyevident, presumably ple Finchesseemed totally Hilaire, J.M. Samuelson,G. owingto benevolentweather absent--aswas the caselast win- Savard, M. Savard, C. Savi- includedherons, Osprey, East- ter--but smallflocks were pre- gnac,B. Schneider,F. Shaffer, ern Phoebe, wrens, warblers, senton the Magdalen Archipela- R.A. Simard, S. Staton, M. sparrows,blackbirds, and East- go.Crossbills were generally Th•riault, G. Thompson, F. ern Meadowlark. scarce,but an influx of White- Tremblay,F. Vigneau,J. Vil- Borealirruptives were general- ThisField Sparrow, photographed wingedswas noted in the Sague- leneuve, G. Zenaitis.•YVES ly scarce,with theprominent December24, 1990, overwintered nayregion in February.Redpolls AUBRY, Canadian Wildlife exceptionof NorthernShrike unusuallyfar uorthat Maffmaki, and Pine Siskins were also Service, P.O. Box 10100 and,to a lesserdegree, Rough- Quebec.PhotograplVGilbert reportedin lownumbers every- Sainte-Foy,PQ, G1V 4H5, leggedHawk and Bohemian Bouchard. where,but Am. Goldfinchnum- MICHEL GOSSELIN, Orni- Waxwing. berswere near normal, being thologySection, Canadian Comprehensivereports were reportedas common in some Museum of Nature, P.O. Box received from all six states-- FieldSparrow overwintered at thanks to all who contributed. Maniwaki (GB, EB), latewas a areasinduding the Magdalens. 3443, Station D, Ottawa, As usual,CBC recordshave been FoxSparrow on Havre Aubert I. EveningGrosbeaks were again ON, KIP 6P4, and RICH- scarcein theUpper St. Lawrence ARD YANK, 566 Chester omitted from this summary. Jan. 12-27 (GCa etaL), and Contributorsare asked to please threeDark-eyed Juncos of one Valley,but more typical num- Road, Beacons-field, PQ, H9W 3K1. notemy change of address. of the"Oregon' races visited berswere present elsewhere. Volume 45, Number 2 - 249 son,and startling if true,was a group,in Osterville,MA, Jan. MagnificentFrigatebird reported 18-Feb.28 (B. Barber,m.ob.), flyingpast Sachuest Pt., RI, Feb. were assumed to be the same 4 (RG,J. Gee). Regrettably, only birdsreported from Nova Scoff= vague2nd-hand detailswere duringthe first half of the winter; received. Much as I dislike to asthis was being written a report belaborthe point, it mustbe re- surfacedindicating that the birds emphasizedthat a bird of this wereconfirmed parolees from rarity,no matter how seemingly captivity. straightforward the WoodDucks were reported Bangor identification, must be docu- fromevery state and in seasonally mented.A frigatebirdat 100 unparallelednumbers from the 'DeadCreek yardsin goodlight may be an southernhalf of the Region: one WMA easycall, but at 1000yards in eachin Maineand Vermont, two Nil poorvisibility may present a in New Hampshire,35+ in Mas- VT ;. more difficult challenge. sachusetts(most in theinterior), Observersare alsoreminded that 12 in Rhode Island, and 16 in morethan one species offrigate- Connecticut. Some of these birdis possible in this area. appearedin thelast 10 daysof SingleSnowy Egrets in Quin- MA February,presumably the result cy, MA, Dec. 7 and Jan. 1-3 of an earlynorthward move- (KR eta/.),E. BostonDec. 9 (N. ment. HartfordßCT Plymouth Smith),and Hyannis/Center- The annual aerial waterfowl ville,MA, Jan.19-23 (S.Clifton survey of the Massachusetts eta/.) werethe firstat thisseason coast, recorded 19,150 Am. in severalyears. A Green-backedBlack Ducks Jan. 2•1, up slight- Heron at the ScituateRes., RI, ly overlast year but 7% below Dec. 20 (J. Zbryowski) was Abbreviations: CCL&PWS the1 O-year average (HWH). In inland,but a singlegrebe in far equallyrare. Although breeding contrast, the CCL&PWS found (CapeCod Lake & PondWater- northernErrol, NH, Jan.26 was populationsof Black-crowned a recordhigh 2004 Black Ducks j3wl Survey);MAS/TASL (Mas- unprecedentedat this season Night-Heronsare doing fairly on CapeCod pondsDec. 1-2, sachusettsaudubonSocie{y• "Take (fideDDL). Red-neckedGrebes well in New England,for no up63% over the 6-year average A SecondLook"censusofBoston werein shortsupply, but two obviousreason the species has (C.C.B.C.), and 3394 weretal- Harbor); M.V. (Martha • Vine- inland at Andover,CT, Dec. 9 becomescarce asa winterer (e.g., liedin BostonHarbor Jan. 20 yard). (L. Bevieret al.) were notable; a total of only 13 at 7 sitesin (MAS/TASL). the usual late winter incursion Massachusettsthis season); thus, Unprecedentedat thisseason LOONSTO apparentlyfailed to materializeto a groupof 12 in Jerusalem,RI, HERONS wereseven Blue-winged Teal: any degreethis year.Details Feb.4-5 (MMu) wasof interest. onein Hadley,MA, Jan.6-30 Modest numbers of Red-throat- accompaniedthe reportof an LingeringGlossy (presumably) (PY), only the 3rd winter record ed Loons included 95 in EaredGrebe on Lake Champlain Ibisesincluded one on PlumI., forw. Massachusetts(fide SK); Provincetown,MA, Feb.3 (PT), at Ferrisburg,VT, Dec.15 (J'A. MA, Dec. 2 & 5 (GdE etaL), twoin Yarmouth,MA, through- 47 at SherwoodIsland S.P., CT, Pistoriuseta/.), but not another two in Squantum,MA, Dec. 7 out theperiod (v.o.,fideBN); Feb.25 (JF),and 45 in Wellfleet, at SachuestPt., RI, Jan.14 (K. & (KR),and one in S.Kingstown, and four at Trustom Pond MA, Feb.24 (KJ),the latter two D. Karlson).The WesternGrebe RI, Dec 20 (S.Haydock). N.W.R., RI, Dec. 31 (L. totalsperhaps indicating anearly was reported sporadically Symynkywicz,fide DE). The northward movement. An Arc- throughJanuary and February in WATERFOWL pondsof MonomoyN.W.R. tic/PacificLoon was studied by a Georgetown,ME, for the 14th Thanks to the weather, it was attractthe largest concentration numberof observersin Sag- consecutiveyear (fide WT); one generallya great seasonfor ofN. Shovelersinthe Region; 74 amore,MA, Jan. 13-20 (RA et wasfound again in Rye,NH, waterfowllovers, particularly werestill there Dec 2 (SPeta/.). aL), althoughno detailswere Feb.9-18 (v.o.,fideDDL),and inland. Shovelers also set new winter received. Common Loons were another was on Nantucket Feb. A Greater White-fronted highselsewhere, with nineat 6 againin largenumbers along the 11 (tJP). Goose was discovered in New sitesin Massachusetts,nine at 3 Region'ssouth coast, as evi- NorthernFulmar reports have Bedford,MA, Feb.13 &28 (TA sitesin RhodeIsland, and onein dencedby an estimateof 500 beenfew in recentyears, but a etal.). Following last fall's huge Connecticut. The CCL&PWS from Matunuckto Charleston, handful were found 10-30 mi flightthrough the Champlain recorded151 Gadwall Dec. 1-2, RI, Jan.14 (RG);reports of up southof Nantucket:one Jan. 2; valley,Snow Geese lingered into nearlydouble the previous high to 12 at theQuabbin Res., MA, 12+ Jan. 29; and three Feb. 5 December: 1000+ were estimat- and265% over the 6-year aver- throughearly January (fide SK), (SH). The spectacularlate fall ed at Dead Creek W.M.A. Dec. age(C.C.B.C.), and two were andone on L. Winnipesaukeeconcentration of N. Gannets off I (PH) and800 in Addison,VT, notableat NicholsPt., VT, Dec. Jan. 14 (G. & C. Ports) were Chatham,MA, numberinginto Dec. 7 (J. Peterson).In Maine, 22-29(DJH). Eurasian Wigeon indicative of ice-free conditions thetens of thousands,remained one Snow Goose was in Saco inland. numberedseven or eight Region- into mid-December but then Dec. 23 (S. Pollock)and "sever- wide: one in Connecticut,three Pied-billed Grebe numbers disappearedabruptly, despite al" wereon Deer IsleJan. 30 in Rhode Island, and three or continued low; 43 on the continuingmild weather. Gan- (fide WT), while in Mas- four in Massachusetts. CCL&PWS, Dec. 1-2 netswere surprisingly scarce sachusettsfour singleswere Twenty-twoCanvasbacks at 5 (C.C.B.C.), was45% belowthe southof Nantucket with a high noted and in Connecticut there sitesin w. Massachusettswas well previous6-year average. Nine of only 25+ on Feb. 5 (SH), were sevenat 4 sites.A Barnacle aboveaverage (fideSK), but at Pied-billedsin Lakeville,MA, although200 were in Province- Goosewas in Lexington,MA, their more traditionalhaunts, Jan. 11 (KSA) madean unusual town,MA, Jan.19 (IG eta/.). Dec. 6-7 (•'L. Batchelder,v.o., numberswere rather sparse. The mid-winter concentration Potentiallythe bird of thesea- ph.);and six, apparently afamily anatid of the seasonwas a Tufted 250' AmericanBirds, Summer 1991 Duck seenby manytn Warren, Dec. 6 (fideDDL) and 118 tn area•n January (S. Conway etal.) stragglersat 3 s•testn w. Mas- RI, Jan.20-Feb. 28 (C. Hobbs, Arlington,MA, Jan.1 (LT). musthave been a strikingsight. sachusettsduring December (fide m.ob.).The aerialsurvey of the Rough-leggedHawks were SK),and one through February Massachusetts coast uncovered rather scarce in Maine and New in Plymouth,VT (L. Maurer) only4255 scaup, the lowest total TurkeyVultures are becoming Hampshire,but numerous in the wasapparently a successful win- since 1963 and 37% below the too numerous as winterers in s. Champlainvalley of Vermont terer--most unusual at that lati- 1O-year average (HWH), but New Englandto detail; peak whereup to 11/daywerereport- tude.Displaying Am. Woodcock 10,000 GreaterScaup in West counts,possibly involving some ed (v.o.), and parts of Mas- in both Chatham and Salem, Haven,CT, Dec. 15 OF) made veryearly migrants, were of 30 in sachusettswhere daily peaks MA, Feb. 9, wererushing the animpressive aggregation. A few Guilford, CT, Feb. 19 (C. includedeight in Bridgewater season(BN, JB). LesserScaup usually overwinter Goertz); 20 in S. Dartmouth, Jan. 13 (KH) and seven in Rarest larid of this non-winter tns. coastalNew England,but MA, Feb. 13 (TA); aridup to MarshfieldJan. 25 (MM). Four was a first-winter Franldin's Gull five in Ferrisburg,VT, Jan. 7 eightin Hopkinton,RI, in Jan- Rough-leggedsmade it to Con- in Weekapaug,RI, Dec. 10-13 (WGE etal.) and up to 28 in uary(fide DE). Farthernorth, necticut and five to Rhode ('•CR,MMu). SingleLitde Gulls Belfast Harbor, ME, Dec. singlevultures were in Colch- Island. were reportedfrom 3 sitesin 26-Feb. 6 (M. Sears)were very ester,VT, Feb. 11 (J. Marsh), Asusual, a GoldenEagle win- Massachusetts and one site in atypicalat thoselatitudes. Hinsdale,NH, Feb. 6 (WGE), teredat Quabbin,MA (fideSK), Rhode Island, while Com. One of the few remaining andat 3 sitesin Maine during butthe only other was an imma- Black-headed Gulls numbered arianspectacles in the Region is January,the northernmostin ture found shot in North Hero, three in Maine, one in New the massivewintering concen- Turner(fide WT). Bylate Febru- VT, Jan.2 (T. Lynchetal.). Five Hampshire, 21+ in Mas- trations of Com. Eider off our ary, migrantshad appearedin Merlins in w. Massachusettswas sachusetts(a peakof 15 at the s e. coast,particularly the shoals many areas. "very unusual" (SK). The traditionalWinthrop site), and off MonomoyI., where(unfor- Ospreyslingered through Regionwidetotal of 20+ Pere- two in Connecticut. Numbers of tunatelyfor us) they are virtually Dec. 8 in Manchester, NH (E. grineFalcons was indicative of Bonaparte'sGulls often linger •naccessible.This year'saerial Staub); Dec. 2 at Lake Fairlee, that species'continued well- into earlywinter, but typically surveyJan. 2-4 tallieda record VT ('•F. & E. Pratt); through being.Gyrfalcons were reported disappearonce the weather turns high 185,290eider, more than mid-December at 2 sites in Mas- from Plum I., MA, Dec. 2 (?R. severe; 800 on Nantucket doublelast year's total and 61% sachusetts(fide RHS); and Bradburyetal.); Chatham, MA, throughJanuary were atypical. abovethe 1O-year average; of throughDec. 2 in Cumberland, Dec. 15 (P. Bailey);Bridport, Unprecedentedin the Region these, 108,000 were off RI (D. Kowal); but mostamaz- VT, Jan. 13 (B. Rist); and was the occurrence of two ad. Monomoyand another 40,000 ing wasone in Brewster,MA, Provincetown,MA, Feb.4 (G. Mew Gulls together in off M.V. (HWH). King Eider Jan.27 (SH etal.,fideBN). Sin- Martin). Winthrop, MA, in February werescattered along the coast: at gleOspreys in Goff, NH, Feb. (RHS, '•JBetal.); at leastone of least 10 in Maine, sevenin New 27 (B. Cannon) and Lakeville, MOORHEN TO thesebirds was present as early as Hampshire, nine in Mas- MA, Feb. 25 (M. Murphy), ALCIDS December 16 (SP). Another sachusetts,six in Rhode Island, althoughprobably very early A Corn. Moorhen survived until Mew Gull wintered again in and one in Connecticut. migrants,must have wintered at least Feb. 14 on Nantucket Quincy,MA (RAet aL), and one Three Black Scoters remained not too far away.Bald Eagle (JP) and another was in wasreported from Newburyport, •nlandat Ferrisburg,VT, Dec. totalson the nationalsurvey in Chatham,MA, throughJan. 19 MA, Feb. 10 (S. Mirick). Both 30-Jan. 3 (DJH). Only 6512 Januarywere somewhat lower (WRP etaL). American Coots Icelandand Glaucous gulls were Corn.Goldeneye on thecoastal thisyear, presumably because the were found in the best numbers scarcer than usual in w. Mas- Massachusettsaerial survey was birds were less concentrated in in severalyears: 22 in Rockland, sachusetts,attributed to thegrad- lessthan half of lastyear's total the ice-free conditions. ME, throughJan. 31 (B. Cad- ualclosing of dumps (fide SK)-- and 27% below the 10-year Sharp-shinnedHawks have bury); a maximumof 260 at anotherprice we'll haveto pay average(HWH), but probably become routine in winter theirRegional stronghold in Ply- for a cleaner environment! A reflectedthe mild season, as sug- throughoutmost of theRegion, mouth,MA (SPetal.); a peakof Lesser Black-backed Gull was in gestedby thewell-above-average but Cooper's Hawks drew com- 49 on Nantucket0P); and64 in Hinsdale,NH, Feb.24 (?WGE total of 284 in w. Massachusetts ments from far and wide, and Litchfield, CT, Dec. 12-14 et al.), while six were noted in (fideSK). Barrow's Goldeneyes terrorizedmany a bird feeder. (DR). A SandhillCrane, present Massachusetts,and three or four weresimilarly scarceexcept, AlthoughRegional totals are sinceOctober, remained through in Connecticut. curiously,in Rhode Iiland, impossiblero enumerateaccu- the winter in Belchertown, MA Dovekieswere well represent- wherefive was "many more than rately,representative were totals (fideSK), and another was in Sal- ed in December, with countsof normal"(DE). Inland Barrow's from w. Massachusettswhere 33 isburyand nearby Canaan, CT, up to sevenfrom many coastal were at Lake Bomoseen, VT, Cooper'swere reported com- Jan.27-Feb. 16 (NC eta•). sites in Massachusetts,and two Dec. 28 (R. Ellison), and paredwith 55 Sharp-shinneds Despitethe favorable weather, made it as far south as Rhode Holyoke,MA, Feb. 5-9 (fide (fideSK). A dozenor moremid- shorebirdsmade a poorshowing, Island. A southeasterlyblow SK). winter Red-shouldered Hawks in emphasizingthat, for anybird, Dec.4 generateda "mini-wreck" HoodedMerganser numbers s.New England were encourag- thebottom line is foodsupply, of these diminutive alcids in continuedtheir upward surge: ing,and one was as far northas not weather--and the two are Maine andNew Hampshire;in 116 at DamariscottaMills Jan. Brunswick,ME, in January;by oftennot correlated. Wintering Maine,numerous reports includ- 12 (D. Anderson),apparently a mid-February,residents had GreaterYellowlegs included 10 ed severalas far as 50 mi inland, recordwinter count for Maine; returned to several locales. at 5 sitesin Massachusettsduring and another was found in War- 720 on the CCL&PWS Dec. Although Red-railed Hawks January(fide GdE) andat least ren,NH (T. Sears),just south of 1-2, shatteringtheir previous werescarcely mentioned for the four at 3 sites in Connecticut the White Mts! At least several highand 168% above the 6-year mostpart, the annual rapmr sur- throughFeb. 5 (fideBK). Two Corn. Murres, all in Mas- average(C.C.B.C.); and 180+ in veyin HampshireCo., MA, Feb. W. Sandpipersin Winthrop, sachusettsand most in Province- w. Massachusetts,"many more 9, located 72 birds, more than MA, Dec. 4 (TA) were late, as town, was somewhat more than than normal" (SK). Other doubletheir previous1 O-year werefive Long-billed Dowitchers normal.Scattered reports of one notable counts of Hoodeds high(fide SK). An "albino"Red- on Plum I. Dec. 6 (W. Drew et ro two Thick-billed Murres from •ncluded 68 in Franklin, NH, tailed in the Montpelier, VT, al) TwelveCorn Snipewere Maine ro Rhode Island was nor-

Volume 45, Number 2' 251 in fallat SwartswoodLake, NJ, Farthersouth, a pairwas at Bom- continuedthrough the first week bayHook Feb. 5 (G. Gerada). in December(m.ob.), while the With the mild weather, Snow nowregular groups appeared on Geese were late to move south. the lower Delaware R. in Twelve thousand were at Point Decemberand January.The au Roche near the north end of biggest flock was of 16 at LakeChamplain Dec. 16 (RH, Pedricktown,Salem, NJ, Jan. 23 T. Mack), and 550 were at the DerbyHill (WDa). Bashaldll,Sullivan, NY, Dec. 22. NEWYORK Albanyß About20 reportsof Am. Bit- An estimated 76,000+ were on Rochester ß MontezumaNWR ß NiagaraFalls ternwere received, all along the the Delaware side of Delaware .Buffalo ßIthaca coast;while not a hugenumber, Bay in earlyJanuary (APE). it was well above normal. More Muddy Run hosted10,000 in than the usualscattering of earlyJanuary and again in late .,• Aii•..-. ' Ne' heronsand egrets included all of February,when Pennsylvania's theregularly occurring species. first Ross' Goose was found ß Amongthe less frequent winter amongthem on the27th (E. & visitors, Tricolored Heron was J. Pealersen,m.ob.). It remained noted on CBCs in New York into mid-March and, on the 3rd = .!-;??Philadelphiaß andNew Jersey, and singles were a 2nd Ross' Goose was discov- found in DelawareJan. 20 at eredat nearbyMiddle Creek. DelawareSeashore S.P. (JS) and Another Ross' Goose returnec Feb.2 at LittleCreek W.M.A. (J. fora 2ndwinter to Bridgehamp- White). Green-backedHerons ton, L.I., Jan. 5, and was seen '.DE were recordedon the Boonton, throughthe 15th at nearby NJ, and Wilmington, DE, Hook Pond(JA etal.). A Ross' CBCs, while a Yellow-crowned Goosewas at the Baxter Tract, Night-Heronwas a highlightof New Castle,DE, Jan. 26 for a Wildlij•Ref., Atlantic Co., NJ); included one at Alcove Res., theCape May CBC.Numerous firstcounty record (CC, ES), and CapeHenlopen (Cape Henlopen Albany, NY, Dec. 16 on the Black-crownedNight-Herons anotherwas at BombayHook State Park, DE); Dunkirk CBC; threein Pennsylvania, lingered,including individuals at Jan.29-Feb. 5 (F. & L. King, (DunkirkHarbor, Chautauqua with one at Lake Nockamixon, Greece, Monroe, NY, all of NH). Completinga sweep of the Co.,NY); Indian River (Indian Bucks,to Dec.6 (D. Farbomick), December, and anotherat Buffa- 4-stateRegion, one or twoRoss' RiverInlet, SussexCo., DE); L.I. oneat LakeCarey, Wyoming, loJan. 10. A Plegadisibis, pre- Geesewere reported at Brigin (LongIsland); Manasq uan Inlet Dec. 24 (WR), and another at sumablyGlossy, was in the lateDecember (fide L. Rubin- (ManasquanInlet, OceanCo., Muddy Run Feb. 11-12 Rochester area at Greece until stein). NJ); Middle Creek (Middle (m.ob.).; and two in NewJersey, Dec. 16 (MD, m.ob.), while at Eurasian Wigeon were CreekWildli• Management Area, the Swartswood Lake, Sussex, least two were at Broadkill widespread,with aboutfour on Lancaster Co., PA); Montauk birdfrom fall continuing to Dec. Beach, DE, all winter, with a LongIsland, eight in NewJersey, (MontaukPoint and vicinity, 2 (m.ob.), and anotherat Round maximumof fiveJan. 8 (v.o.). twoat BombayHook, and three LongIsland, NY); Moses-Saun- ValleyRes. on the NW Hunter- in Lancaster,PA; an Am. Wigeon dersDam (Moses-SaundersDam, donCBC,Dec. 16(DB). WATERFOWL at the Bashakillwas a first in win- New York-Ontario,near Massena, EaredGrebe, a rare but annu- Largenumbers and a goodvari- ter for Sullivan,NY. St.Lawrence Co., NY); Muddy alvisitor, was represented bytwo etyof waterfowltook advantage Redheadswere more widely Run (MuddyRun Reservoir and individuals; one discovered at of the open water to winter reportedthan usual away from theadjacent Susquehanna River, SandyHook Dec. 2 remained throughoutthe Region. Tundra their normal w. New York con- LancasterCo., PA); Sandy Hook into earlyApril (NK, m.ob.), Swans were found in several centrations.Most noteworthy (SandyHook Unit, Gateway NatI while another remainedat Staten spotsin w. New Yorkall season, were a pair that wintered near RecreationArea, NJ). Place Islandto Jan. 13 (BC). One of and3300 returningmigrants Wind Gap, Northampton,PA names in italicsare counties. thepremier rarities of theseason wereat Middle Creekin early (DD). The annual c• Tufted was,unfortunately, enjoyed by December.One of the premier Duckwas reported only once LOONS TO onlyone person; the bird was an raritiesof theseason, if accepted from the CentralPark Reservoir, HERONS apparentad. Brown Booby that asa wild bird, wasa Pink-looted New York City, Jan. 20 (B. With the openwater, loons, cruisedinto LittleEgg Harbor Goosediscovered with a large Bakeretal.), and what was prob- grebes,and many other water- Inlet on Dec. 16. Veteran birder flockof CanadaGeese on a golf ablythe same bird was noted at birds wintered outside usual Seager,participating in the coursein MiddleIsland, Su•lk, Weehawken,Hudson, NJ, Feb. ranges.Two Red-throatedLoons Marmora CBC, was there to L.I.,Jan. 16 and seen through at 25 (JDo). An estimated50,000 south of Rochester at Conesus record extensivedetails, which leastthe 20th (JC, JJR eta/.). GreaterScaup wintered at Sandy Lake,NY, Dec.22 werea high- have been submitted to the New Greater White-fronted Geese Hook (WJB,m. ob.). light of the local CBC; also JerseyBird Records Committee were widely reported, those A flock of 70 Com. Eider was unusuallylate were singles at (J'KS).Northern Gannets put on detailedapparently being of the at Montauk Dec. 2, but there SodusBay and Oswego Harbor, anexcellent show through the Greenland race. Two were shot wereonly a fewreports thereafter NY, on Lake Ontario, Jan. 5, winter,probably attracted by the by hunterson easternL.I. in fromLong Island and New Jer- andone at MuddyRun in early sameschooling fish that lured early January(fide JA), and sey. A female was on Lake January(RMS eta/.). Both Pied- alcidsclose to shore;a spectacu- anotherwas at MecoxBay, L.I., Ontario at Greece, NY, Nov. billedand Horned grebes lin- lar 4000 were at Montauk Point Jan.27-28 (B. Lee eta/.). A sin- 24-Dec. 16 (RO, RGS).King gered in upstate New York Dec. I (Moriches Audubon), glewas at a pondin Bethlehem, Eider were noted frequently throughthe winter, while Red- while1000+ were off Cape Hen- PA,Dec. 29-30, anda pairwas from Montauk, whereabout 20 necked Grebes were in their best lopenFeb. 10 (CC, ES, JS). at Middle Creek late December wintered,along s. Long Island to numbersin years.Inland reports Four Great Cormorants noted into mid-January(fide BLM). NewJersey (about 25 birds)and

254' American Birds, Summer 1991 winterthroughout most of the Old Lyme, CT (fideBK), and It was the worst winter in a Region,staging its biggest inva- another appearedin N. Fal- long, long time for winter HUDSON- sion in a decade or so. Crude mouth, MA, Dec. 10-14 (M. finches. Pine Grosbeaks were totalsby statewere: Maine, 27; McCloskey,v.o.). reportedonly twice in Maine,3 DELAWARE New Hampshire,34; Vermont, A good,though unspectacular, times in New Hampshire,once 35+; Massachusetts,110+; Rhode numberand variety of sparrows in Vermont, and on 5 occasions REGION Island,4; andConnecticut, 13. overwintered.Clay-colored Spar- in Massachusetts.Purple Finches lgqlliamJ. Boyle,Jr., rows were found at 4 sites in wereagain hard to findthrough- RobertO. Paxton,and WARBLERS TO Massachusetts and one was in outthe Region. Red Crossbills David A. Cutler SPARROWS Wakefield,RI, Feb. 27-28 (JO concentrated (to use the term Nothingexemplified the season's etal.). Up to 12 ChippingSpar- veryloosely) in w. Masschusetts, temperarenessmore than the rowswere in Yarmouth,MA dur- wherethe largest of 10+flocks appearanceof 14 speciesof war- ingFebruary (KH), butvirtually was37 birdsat Quabbin(GdE); The Regionexperienced one of biers.This potpourri of procrasti- no otherswere reported. Single in n. New England,there was the warmest winters on record natingparulids was highlighted VesperSparrows were found at 2 onlyone report each from New andsome of thebest birding in by a NashvilleWarbler in S. sites in Massachusetts and at one Hampshireand Maine, and none years.Continuing the trend from Boston,MA, Jan. 5 (KR); a (3 in RhodeIsland, and Lark Spar- fromVermont. Incredibly, there the fall, Decemberwas warm and Black-throatedBlue in Norfolk, rows were in Sandwich, MA, wereno White-winged Crossbills wet.Temperatures averaged well MA, on the incredible date of Dec.13 (PT) andNorthampton, reportedfrom eitherMaine or abovenormal in Buffalo (up Jan.17 (B. Rothwell,fideWRP); MA, Jan.23-Feb. 3 (T. Gagnon, NewHampshire, and only one 5.5ø), Rochester(+4.8ø), and a Black-throated Green in v.o.). Good numbersof Savan- sightingin Vermont,but a total NewYork City (+6.4ø),where it Chatham,MA, Dec. 6 (W. Bai- nahSparrows included up to 57 of 32 were at 4 sites in Mas- was the third warmest December ley);a Prairieon Nantucket Dec. in Hadley,MA, a recordwinter sachusetts.Inexplicably, half of on record and the thermometer 31-Jan.1 (DB etal.);Ovenbirds count in that area (fide SK). the (very few) Corn. Redpoll hit 60 or moreon sevendays. in Springfield,MA, Dec.9-15 GrasshopperSparrows were reportscame from Connecticut, Precipitation was about 50% (fideSK) and Hookset, NH, Jan. unearthedin Portland,ME, Jan. a total of 12 birds at 4 sites;else- abovenormal, although most of 5-29 (?R. Novack); a N. 10-11 (•'R. Eakin etaL) and where,there were only 2 reports it fell asrain, except in western Waterthrush in Waltham, MA, Chester,VT, Dec. 30-Jan. 3 from New Hampshire, one NewYork. January was closer to Dec. 2 (LT); and a Wilson'son 0'T. Johnson,ph.), andgood re0ort eachfrom Maine and average,but Februarybrought Nantucket Dec. 29 (SP etaL). detailswere provided for a Lin- Massachusetts, and none from another heat wave. Rochester Curiously, the only Orange- coln'sSparrow in Springfield, Vermont or Rhode Island. Small wassix degrees above normal and crownedWarbler(s) were one or VT, Jan. 13 (•'L. Sneddon,L. flocksof PineSiskins were sparse- New York City almostseven, two birds on Nantucket Dec. Master);less convincing was a ly scatteredacross the interior of hittingrecord highs on four con- 29-Jan.1 (KJeta•); a decadeago Lincoln'sreported at a feederin theRegion and modest numbers secutivedays in the firstweek, thiswas one of themore regular Clinton,ME, Jan.28. of EveningGrosbeaks were pre- includinga balmy70 ø on the of the lingeringwarblers in s. sentat higherelevations inland, fifth. coastalareas, but it hasbecome LONGSPURSTO but bothspecies were virtually The mild weather left fresh increasinglydifficult to findat FINCHES absentfrom the coastal plain. water open over most of the thisseason. Yellow-rumped War- Somegood counts of Lapland Region,and even lakes Erie and bierswere extremely scarce along Longspurs included 40 in Sub-regionaleditors (boldface), Ontarioremained partially open. the coast,but three in Lewiston, Gouldsboro, ME, Feb. 15 (F. contributors (italics), and As a consequence,waterfowl ME, Jan.15 (D. Anderson)and Young)and in Massachusetts,80 observers:Robert Abrams, Kath- werewidespread in goodnum- one in Bloomfield, VT, Dec. in NewburyDec. 5 (SP etaL), leen S. Anderson, Tom Aversa, bersand great diversity. Land- 26-Jan. 1 (D. Killametal.) were 50+ on Plum I. Jan.26 (WRP), Jim Berry, Mike Boucher, birdswere hard to findas good unusualin interiorn. NewEng- and50 in HalifaxJan. 27 (KSA). Richard Bowen, David Brown, foodcrops combined with the land.A fewPine Warblers regu- SnowBuntings were numerous CapeCod Bird Club, Nell Cur- climateto keepthem well dis- larlyoverwinter in s.coastal sec- inlandthough less so than last rie, Walter G. Ellison, Glen persed,but goodnumbers of tions, but one at a feeder in winter,but veryscarce along the d'Entremont, Diane De Luca, half-hardymigrants remained for Fairfield,ME, Jan. 6 & 13 (W. coast. There seemed to be more Alan & BarbaraDelorey, Jody the season. Winter finches were & B. Sumner) and another in winteringRed-winged Blackbirds Despres, David Emerson,Jeff virtuallynonexistent. Springfield,VT, Dec.15-31 (W. thanusual, particularly in interior Fengler,Richard A. Forster,Kay Oneof thehighlights of the Elton) were in noteworthy s. New England, and a Gammons, Richard Gee, Ida seasonwas the biggest alcid flight locales. Palm Warbler is another widespreadarrival of spring Giriunas,George W. Cove,Ken in morethan fifty years, appar- speciesthat regularly remains in migrantswas evident throughout Hamilton, H.W. Heusman, entlyowing to the presenceof smallnumbers along the s. coast theRegion Feb. 22-24. Eastern SewardHighley,David J. Hoag, abundant schools of fish. Some until snowcovers the ground, Meadowlarks were found in the KarenHolmes, Peter Hunt, Kyle of the usual winter attractions, but four in Eastham,MA, Jan. bestnumbers in years:in Mas- Jones,Seth Kellogg, Betty Klein- suchas white-winged gulls and 15 (KH) and one in Osterville, sachusetts,147+ were reported, er, DouglasL. Kraus,Vernon SnowyOwls, were relatively MA, Feb. 13 (PH) werenotable witha highof 40 in Middleboro Laux,Mark Lynch, Mike Maur- scarce,but a longlist of rarities survivors.Post-CBC period Yel- Feb. 22 (fideRHS); in Rhode er,Mary Murray (MMu), Julie promptedRich Kane, the voice low-breasted Chats induded five Island, 104 were noted in M. Nichols,Jim Osborn,Jackie of NewJersey Audubon Society's tn Massachusetts,the latestin S. December(DE). RustyBlack- Papale,Simon A. Perkins,Wayne hot-line, to call this "the mother Dartmouth Feb. 24 (MB), and birdswere virtually all in Mas- R. Petersen,Chris Raithel, David of all winters," borrowinga one or two in Jamestown,RI, as sachusetts, where 120+ were Rosgen,Kevin Ryan, Robert H. phrasefrom events transpiring in lateas Feb. 12-18 (W. Gardner). reportedat 10 sites.Both Corn. Stymeist,Lee Taylor, William anotherpart of theworld. A Rose-breastedGrosbeak was Grackles and Brown-headed Townsend, PeterTrimble, Ver- reported, without details, in Cowbirds wintered in above mont Institute of Natural Sci- Abbreviations:Bombay Hook Holyoke,MA, Dec. 16-23 (D. averagenumbers and, like Red- ence, Peter Yeskie.--BLAIR (BombayHook Nat'l Wildlife McLain,fide SK). A (3 Painted wingeds,began migrating in NIKULA, 2 Gilbert Lane, Har- Ref., nearSmyrna, DE); Brig Buntingagain overwintered in numbers Feb 22-24 wich Port, MA 02646. (BrigantineUnit, Forsythe Nat?

Volume 45, Number 2' 253 •n fall at SwartswoodLake, NJ, Farthersouth, a pmrwas at Bom- continuedthrough the first week bayHook Feb. 5 (G. Gerada) in December(m.ob.), while the With the mild weather, Snow nowregular groups appeared on Geese were late to move south the lower Delaware R. in Twelve thousand were at Point December and January.The au Roche near the north end of biggest flock was of 16 at LakeChamplain Dec. 16 (RH, Pedricktown,Salem, NJ, Jan.23 T. Mack), and 550 were at the Bashakill,Sullivan, NY, Dec. 22 About20 reportsof Am. Bit- An estimated 76,000+ were on ternwere received, all along the the Delaware side of Delaware coast;while not a hugenumber, Bay in early January(APE) it was well above normal. More Muddy Run hosted10,000 in than the usualscattering of earlyJanuary and again in late heronsand egrets included all of February,when Pennsylvania's theregularly occurring species. first Ross' Goose was found Amongthe less frequent winter amongthem on the 27th (E. & visitors, Tricolored Heron was J. Pedersen,m.ob.). It remained noted on CBCs in New York into mid-March and, on the 3rd, andNew Jersey, and singles were a 2nd Ross' Goose was discov- found in Delaware Jan. 20 at eredat nearbyMiddle Creek DelawareSeashore S.P. OS) and Another Ross' Goose returned Feb.2 at LitdeCreekW. Mdk. 0. fora 2ndwinter to Bridgehamp- White). Green-backedHerons ton, L.I., Jan. 5, and wasseen were recordedon the Boonton, throughthe 15th at nearby NJ, and Wilmington, DE, Hook Pond 0A etal.). A Ross' CBCs, while a Yellow-crowned Goosewas at the Baxter Tract, Night-Heronwas a highlightof New Castle,DE, Jan. 26 for a WildliJ3Ref., Atlantic Co., NJ); included one at Alcove Res., theCape May CBC. Numerous firstcounty record (CC, ES),and CapeHenlopen (Cape Henlopen Albany,NY, Dec. 16 on the Black-crownedNight-Herons anotherwas at BombayHook State Park, DE); Dunkirk CBC; threein Pennsylvania, lingered,including individuals at Jan.29-Feb. 5 (F. & L. King, (DunkirkHarbor, Chautauqua with one at Lake Nockamixon, Greece, Monroe, NY, all of NH). Completinga sweep of the Co.,NY); Indian River (Indian Bucks,to Dec. 6 (D. Farbotrfick), December,and anotherat Buffa- 4-stateRegion, one or twoRoss' RiverInlet, SussexCo., DE); L.I. one at LakeCarey, Wyoming, lo Jan.10. A Plegadisibis, pre- Geesewere reported at Brigin (LongIsland); Manasquan Inlet Dec. 24 (WR), and another at sumablyGlossy, was in the lateDecember (fide L. Rubin- (ManasquanInlet, OceanCo., Muddy Run Feb. 11-12 Rochester area at Greece until stein). NJ); Middle Creek (Middle (m.ob.).;and two in NewJersey, Dec. 16 (MD, m.ob.), while at Eurasian Wigeon were Creek•'ldli• ManagementArea, the Swartswood Lake, Sussex, least two were at Broadkill widespread,with about four on LancasterCo., PA); Montauk birdfrom fall continuing to Dec. Beach, DE, all winter, with a LongIsland, eight in NewJersey, (MontaukPoint and vicinity, 2 (m.ob.),and another at Round maximumof fiveJan. 8 (v.o.). twoat BombayHook, and three LongIsland, NY); Moses-Saun- ValleyRes. on theNW Hunter- in Lancaster,PA; an Am. Wigeon dersDam (Moses-SaundersDam, donCBC, Dec. 16 (DB). WATERFOWL at the Bashakill was a first in win- New York-Ontario, nearMassena, Eared Grebe, a rare but annu- Largenumbers and a goodvari- ter for Sullivan,NY. St. LawrenceCo., NY); Muddy alvisitor, was represented bytwo etyof waterfowltook advantage Redheadswere more widely Run (MuddyRun Reservoir and individuals; one discoveredat of the open water to winter reportedthan usual away from theadjacent Susquehanna River, SandyHook Dec. 2 remained throughoutthe Region. Tundra their normal w. New York con- LancasterCo., PA); Sandy Hook into earlyApril (NK, m.ob.), Swans were found in several centrations.Most noteworthy (SandyHook Unit, Gateway Nat'l while another remained at Staten spotsin w. NewYork all season, werea pairthat winterednear Recreation Area, NJ). Place Islandto Jan. 13 (BC). One of and 3300 returningmigrants Wind Gap, Northampton,PA names in italicsare counties. thepremier rarities of theseason wereat Middle Creekin early (DD). The annual c3 Tufted was,unfortunately, enjoyed by December.One of thepremier Duck wasreported only once LOONS TO onlyone person; the bird was an raritiesof theseason, if accepted from the Central Park Reservoir, HERONS apparentad. Brown Booby that asa wild bird, wasa Pink-footed New York City, Jan. 20 (B With the open water, loons, cruisedinto LittleEgg Harbor Goosediscovered with a large Bakeret al.), and what was prob- grebes,and many other water- Inlet on Dec. 16. Veteran birder flockof CanadaGeese on a golf ablythe same bird was noted at birds wintered outside usual Seager,participating in the coursein MiddleIsland, Suffblk, Weehawken,Hudson, NJ, Feb ranges.Two Red-throated Loons Marmora CBC, was there to L.I.,Jan. 16 and seen through at 25 0Do). An estimated50,000 south of Rochester at Conesus recordextensive details, which leastthe 20th 0C, JJRetak). GreaterScaup wintered at Sandy Lake,NY, Dec.22 werea high- have been submitted to the New Greater White-fronted Geese Hook (WJB,m.ob.). light of the local CBC; also JerseyBird Records Committee were widely reported, those A flock of 70 Com. Eider was unusuallylate were singles at 0'KS).Northern Gannets put on detailedapparently being of the at Montauk Dec. 2, but there SodusBay and Oswego Harbor, an excellentshow through the Greenland race. Two were shot wereonly a fewreports thereafter NY, on Lake Ontario, Jan. 5, winter,probably attracted by the by hunterson easternL.I. in fromLong Island and New Jer- andone at MuddyRun in early sameschooling fish that lured early January(fide JA), and sey. A female was on Lake January(RMS et al.). Both Pied- alcidsdose to shore;a spectacu- anotherwas at MecoxBay, L.I., Ontario at Greece, NY, Nov billed and Horned grebeslin- lar 4000 were at Montauk Point Jan.27-28 (B. Leeetal.). A sin- 24-Dec. 16 (RO, RGS). King gered in upstateNew York Dec. 1 (Moriches Audubon), glewas at a pondin Bethlehem, Eider were noted frequently throughthe winter, while Red- while1000+ were off Cape Hen- PA, Dec. 29-30, anda pairwas from Montauk, whereabout 20 necked Grebes were in their best lopenFeb. 10 (CC, ES,JS). at Middle Creek late December wintered,along s. Long Island to numbersin yearsInland reports Four Great Cormorants noted into mid-January(fide BLM) NewJersey (about 25 birds)and

American Birds, Summer 1991 thes. half of theRegion. Black contrast to last winter, not a sin- Durand-Eastman Park, Vultures even made mid-winter gleGyrfalcon was detected. Rochester,in early January, foraysinto s. New York, with 3 while about four were in the reportsof threeor four birds in RAILS TO Niagaraarea at thesame time Orangeand Rockland. A survey SHOREBIRDS anda singlewas at Dunkirkon of Salem,NJ, Feb.3, turnedup A BlackRail wasseen at Tobay Lake Erie. Three were seen on 1166raptors of 10 species,the Sanctuary,L.I., Dec.2 (J.& E. Long Islandand one or two majorityTurkey Vultures. A late Casper);so little is known about aroundCape May in December, Ospreywas at AblesPond, migratorydates and wintering whilea pairwas at IndianRiver Dutche•,NY, Dec. 5 (B. Butler), habitsof this speciesthat it's [an.3 (NH). while three were noted in interi- hardto judge the significance of Bonaparte'sGulls peaked at orNew Jersey in mid-December;this late record. With the mild about 40,000 at the Niagara most unusual was one at Lake season,numerous rails, mainly River mouth Dec. 8, but unusu- Ontelaunee, PA, Jan. 29 (D. Virginias,were noted on CBCs. allylarge numbers remained for Gemmill,J. Galm). The most unusual member of the winter, with 15,000 there BaldEagle reports were too the family to occur was a Jan.19. A Thayer'sGull wasat numerousto tally(approaching Eurasian Purple Gallinule (Por- the Moses-SaundersDam Dec. 2 200), but thespring report will phyrioporphyrio) that appeared (BD),but impressive numbers of carrynews of increasednesting. in suburbanWilmington, DE, Iceland Gulls were there later in Indication of the continuing Dec. 5 and fed and roosted on theseason, with 32 countedJan. recoveryisgiven by the estimat- theproperty of a neighborhood19 and 67 Feb. 6 (BD). Else- ed 82 winteringon the upper church for 2 weeks(R. Varner, where,there were about a dozen Delaware of New York and m.ob.).Thought to beeither a alongthe Great Lakes and about Male HarlequinDuck at Indian eighton Long Island, including RiverInlet, Delaware, Januai? 27, 30-35 in s.New Jersey. As noted moltingsub-adult and/or from one of the Middle Eastern sub- 1991. Phetograph/Coli.D. above,N. Harriers wintered in an unpigmentedbird, resem- Campbell. aboveaverage numbers, and species,itsorigins (boat-assisted, bling the nominate race, that has roosts were found in many escapee,or vagrant) will likely wintered at Shinnecock Inlet Delaware,where one or two win- places.Some of themore impres- remaina mystery. since 1987. There were nine tered at Indian River (WWF, siveroosts, all on theground in AmericanOystercatchers con- reportsfrom New Jersey, but APE). Five were on Lake farmfields, induded up to 20 at tinueto overwinterin increasing onlytwo from Delaware at the Ontario from Manitou, Monroe, Alpha, Warren(GH), 35 at numbers;Cape May had a WilmingtonDump, that also to Pt.Peninsula, Jeerson, NY, in PointBreeze, Hunterdon, NJ (J. record 254 on the CBC, 35 were producedthe state's only Glau- Januaryand February, and a sin- DeMarrais),and a spectacular stillpresent at StoneHarbor, NJ, cousGull of the winter Jan. 26 gle madethe MassenaCBC. 90-110 at PineIsland, Orange, Jan.23, and onewas at Jones OS,CC etal.). HarlequinDucks were similarly NY,Jan. 13 & 15 (SA);the latter Beach,L.I., Feb. 4. Bombay Lesser Black-backed Gulls distributed,but with no concen- groupdispersed following a Hook still held 50 Am. Avocets wereagain present in goodnum- tration at Monrauk; up to 15 snowstormon the 16th. Dec.1, although numbers rapid- bersin all partsof the Region, wereat BornegatLight, Ocean, At least eight to 10 N. ly diminishedthereafter, but six includingan impressive11 on NJ,and one to twowere at Indi- Goshawkswere around Cape werestill present in earlyJanuary the LowerBucks, PA, CBC, and a anRiver in January(WWF, NH, Mayduring the season, and three (NH); onewas at Wilmington first Berks, PA, record on the ph. CC). At leastthree were ventured into n. Delaware's New Dec. 15, and another was at ReadingCBC. An unprecedent- foundalong Lake Ontario in Castle,including an adult that ManningtonMarsh, Salem, NJ, ed mid-winter Forster'sTern was January,and one wintered at the visited a Centerville feeder 5 in mid-February,an unusual at Dunkirk Harbor on Lake Erie Moses-Saunders Dam. times Feb. 16-24 (E. & S. winterrecord (RJB, BM). Jan.3-6 (D. Klayborn,m.ob.). A White-wingedScoter was Speck).Rough-legged Hawks An extremelylate Solitary This was the Winter of the an unusual mid-winter find on wintered in moderate numbers, Sandpiperwas discovered in Alcid from Montauk to Indian theSusquehanna R., Lancaster, exceptat theupper end of Lake Newton,NJ, Dec. 16-17 (S. & River,with the biggestflight PA,Jan. 12-13 (SSa),but others Ontario, whereup to 100 per W. Wander). Later still was a since the 1930s. All six eastern wintered on the Great Lakes. daycould be foundin the Pt. SpottedSandpiper in Rye,NY, alcidswere found in New Jersey, Barrow'sGoldeneyes occurred in Salubrious-Pt.Peninsula region Jan.26 0- Stanley).A Marbled while New York had three and record numbers, but all in New ofJe•rs0nOqdz KLC). Godwitwas a highlightof the Delaware two. A Dovekie York. Six, four males and two Merlinsappear to bechanging Oceanville,NJ, CBC, Dec. 15. washed ashore at Monmouth females,were present in such theirwintering habits in this Among the many wintering Beach,Monmouth, NJ, Dec.4 to diverseareas as Three Mile Har- Region;whereas 10-15 years ago dowitchers,those identified were startthe influx, and wastaken to bor, Suffolk,Jan. 29 to late inland records in mid-winter termedLong-billed. a rehabilitation center. One on February(JA et al.); Bronx, New wouldbe viewed with great skep- the Montauk CBC was the first YorkCity, Jan. 19 to February ticism,such sightings, correctly SKUAS TO since1980, while the S. Nassau, (SW, m.ob.);Staten Island Jan. identified,are becoming almost ALCIDS L.I., count alsorecorded one. 12-14 (BC);Rye, Feb. 24-Mar. commonplace.There were about Two Great Skuas seen at close Although there were some 19 (TWB etal.);Au SablePoint, 18 reportsfrom New Jersey, rangefrom a fishingboat 15 mi December reports of Clinton,on Lake Champlain Jan. two-thirdsof them awayfrom eastof CapeHenlopen Feb. 10 unidentified murres, one to two 19 (C. & H. Hess);and two at the immediate coast and some would provide a first for Thick-billedMurres were regular Moses-Saunders Dam Dec. 9 representingbirds seen repeated- Delaware,if accepted by the state at ManasquanInlet from early (BD). ly at favoredsites. There were a recordscommittee (tCC, ES, January to mid-February dozenreports from New York, JS).Details were also submitted (m.ob.),and a CommonMurre includingsix from such upstate for a Great Skua seen from land waswith one of the Thick-billeds Raptors,especially Turkey Vul- locationsas Dutchess, Albany, at ManasquanInlet Feb. 15 Jan.21 (KK) & 24. At leasttwo tures, N. Harriers, and Red- Rochester,Buffalo (Jan. 14-Feb. (?JZ). Little Gulls remained other Corn. Murres and several tailed Hawks, were presentin 26), and evenCape Vincent at throughthe winter in upstate Thick-billedswere reported by excellentnumbers throughout the n. end of Lake Ontario. In New York; up to 13 were at the NJ Audubon hotline. In Volume 45, Number 2' 255 the pastdecade. A coupleof Jan. 29 and Feb. 12 (H. & S. Winter Wrens were in good dozenSnowy Owls were found Kurtenbach). numbersthroughout, and seem in upstateNew York, but only a Otherwintering owls were in to be recoveringfrom earlier sixmade it to thes. partof the aboveaverage numbers. Up to declines.A SedgeWren on the state (two in Dutchess,four on 30 Short-eared Owls wintered at Montauk CBC was the 3rd for LongIsland), and just three were thePine Island, Orange, NY, sod the count and first since1937; locatedin NewJersey, including farms(SA), sevenwere at a farm one wasfound in CapeMay two that wintered at Island in WyominbPA, and many were Dec. 1 (VE, BB), andanother at Beach S.P. Three Snowies win- in theirusual haunts along the HanseyCreek, Cumberland, NJ, teredin e. Pennsylvania,with coast of New Jersey and Feb.21 0Do). two at the Allentown-Bethlehem Delaware. Northern Saw-whet Airportall season. Owls were widely reported, THRUSHES TO The bird of the season in includingseven in theLehigh, WARBLERS Pennsylvaniawas a Northern PA, area,where young Jason The only reportsof Varied Thick-billedMurre at Maua•ua, Horn startedoff theyear right Thrush also came from New Inlet, NewJersey, February 10, withseven species ofowls Jan. 1. York;one spent the winter at a 1991. Thiswas New Jersey's best Vying with Hawk Owl for Napanock,Ulster, feeder (B. & alcid winter In decades. Photo- birdof theseason in e.Pennsyl- M. Edleman,m.ob.), and anoth- graplVAlanBrady. vaniawas an Empidonax discov- er was at Letchworth S.P. Dec. eredon the S. Lancaster County 16(B. Mongi, S. Skelly). Taking Delaware, two Thick-billed CBC Dec. 15 (J.Meloney, H. advantageof the mild season, Murres were at Indian River Morrin). Relocated the next Gray Catbirdswintered as far Feb. 9, for the 2nd state record morning,it wasstudied, pho- north as w. New York at Fredo- (JS,BL, APE). tographed,and tape recorded, nia, East Aurora, and Greece, Razorbillswere widely report- thenidentified as Pacific-slope while Brown Thrashers,rarer still ed in impressivenumbers. Flycatcher(B & FH, RMS, SSa, in winter, alsoremained for the Twenty-eighton the Montauk L. Lewiset al.); fortunately, the seasonat Olean, Greece, and CBCwas the highest since 1931, birdremained through Dec. 26 evenCape Vincent. while 24 at Island BeachS.P., to beenjoyed by many. If accept- The highlightin NewJersey NJ, Jan. 5 wasthe top land- edby the Pennsylvania Records wasa BohemianWaxwing dis- basedcount in NewJersey. Off- Committee,as seems likely, it coveredat SandyBook Feb.3, shore counts included 88 seen would constitute the first state andenjoyed by many through 2-4 mi off SeaIsle City, NJ, record and first confirmed record Feb.18 (S.Komito, m.ob.). This Feb. 28 (DW). In Delaware,one Birders came from near and far to eastof theMississippi. Eastern wasonly the 6th for New Jersey, Razorbill was at Indian River in view this Northern Hawk Owl near Phoebestook advantage of mild allwithin the past 40 years,and mid-January,but unprecedented Lookout, Pennsylvania, in Feb- weatherto winter in goodnum- ruary 1991. It furnishedthe first thefirst since 1977 to linger for was a flock of 15 in the surf at bers,including a few as far north multiple viewers. Northern Cape Henlopen Feb. 9 (BL); definite record for the state in over a century.Photograph/Randy asthe Albany, NY, area(fide Shrikesstaged a major invasion 20+were seen on the pelagic trip C. Miller. KA). SingleW. Kingbirdswere into NewJersey, with at least10 off theCape the following day on the S. Nassauand Captree reports,including individuals (CC, ES,JS). CBCs, on Long Island, and presentfor months at Penning- The rarestof the alcidsin New Hawk Owl discoveredon a farm anotherwas at SandyHook Dec. ton, Mercer;Thompson Park, Jersey,Black Guillemot, wasa in the PoconoMts., near Look- 9-Jan. 1 (GW eta/.). Monmouth; Barbour Pond, surprisevisitor to SandyHook out, Wayne,Feb. 17; by the fol- TheBlack-billed Magpie at Wayne;and Sandy Hook. One Jan.20 (CS, PS,VE); it wasseen lowing weekendhundreds of Montauk, noted in the fall waspresent for severalweeks in to fly in, resta fewminutes, then birdersconverged on thescene report,remained to mid-March Lancaster,PA (J. Heller), and takeoff to the south,where what fromhundreds of milesaway to (m.ob.). Fish Crows continue another was seenin the samearea wasprobably the same bird was viewthis typically tame and usu- their expansionup the major as the Hawk Owl Feb. 21-25 seenat ManasquanInlet anhour ally cooperativevagrant (T. rivers,a fewwintering as far (v.o.).Upstate New York report- later(?LL, S. Lipschutzet aL). Gauld, m.m.ob.). Discussions north as Schenectady,NY edabove average numbers, espe- What mayhave again been the with thefarmer, who set up a (RPY). Fourteen Corn. Ravens ciallyearly in theseason. samebird wasreported from concession stand to take advan- nearClaryville, NY, Jan.4 were Amongeight species of war- ManasquanInlet a weeklater (A. tage of the influx of visitors, partof the growing Catskill pop- biersfound on New York City Schreck, L. Fields). An revealed that the bird had been ulation (J. Weise et al.). The CBCs, a TennesseeWarbler was unconfirmedreport was received presentsince late October; it was major movement of Black- an outstandingfind for the ofa BlackGuillemot seen briefly last seenMarch ! 7. This was the cappedChickadees that started Bronx-Westchester CBC, Dec. atJones Beach, L.I., Jan. 13 (fide firstfully documented record for in fall reached as far south as 23 (J.Moyle). Orange-crowned B. Spencer).Rounding out the Pennsylvaniain more than a cen- Wilmington,DE, andCumber- Warbler numberswere far above list, an Atlantic Puffin was seen tury.Two otherN. HawkOwls land,N J, but no BorealChick- normal; 14 were found on two froma boat8 mi off CapeMay wereseen briefly in upstateNew adeescame south with them. LongIsland and four New Jersey Feb.23 (M. Fritz etal.). York,where they are more fre- Tufted Titmice are continu- CBCs, one wasat an Ulster,NY, quent;one was at HamlinBeach, ing to increasein upstateNew feeder from late December to DOVES TO Monroe, Jan. 27 (RO), and York,e.b, Buffalo and Schenec- mid-January(N. April), and WRENS anotherwas sitting atop a tree tady,as are Carolina Wrens, one another wintered in N. Chili, A White-wingedDove visited a besidethe Adirondack Northway of whichwas singing in Canton, near Rochester(M. Lanzone). feederin Tuckerton,Ocean, NJ, (I-87)just north of theWarrens- St.Lawrence, all winter (KLC). A An Orange-crownedagain win- Dec. 31-Jan. 1 and was burg exit the sameday (J. House Wren was in Mount tered at the Eatontown Arbore- identifiablyphotographed (ph. J. Burgiel).Another rare visitor, a Olive,Morris, NJ, Jan. 6 (DH), tum, Monmouth,NJ, whereit Bauer);there are only 3 previous GreatGray Owl, visiteda yard and several were on CBCs in wasjoined by Pine Warbler, Yel- recordsfor New Jersey, all within near Elizabethtown,Essex, NY, New Jerseyand LongIsland. low-breastedChat, andN. Ori-

256' American Birds, Summer 1991 ole (NK). More unusualwas a numbersas far north as the Nia- m.ob.).Finally, two males were Lane, Rochester,NY 14612), Nashville Warbler that visited a garaRiver, Elba, and Cazenovia, seen off andon throughthe sea- Joe Gula, Sr. & Jr., Barb & feeder in Landisville, Lancaster, allin upstateNew York. A male son at a feederin Easton,PA (A. FrankHaas, Robert Hagar, Greg PA, from mid-February into of the western"spotted" form Koch etal.). Hanisek (n.w. NJ: 4 Marnel March (T. Kauffman, v.o.). A wasat ConesusLake, Livingston, With all of the otheractivity Rd., Phillipsburg,NJ 08865), verylate Black-throated Blue NY, Dec.22 (DS,J. Skelly). notedabove, perhaps it isjust as David Harrison (DHa), Dan Warbler wasin W. Cape May, ChippingSparrows also win- well that this was not a winter Heathcote (DHe), Armas Hill, Dec.9 (k Zemaitis-Smith). teredin smallnumbers through- finchyear. In mostplaces, winter NormanHolgerson, Gene Hug- A Pine Warbler visited a outthe Region, and were actual- finches were nonexistent. Other gins(Oneida Lake Basin, NY: Dutchess,NY, feederfor the 2nd lyfairly common in thesouth. A than a flock of 45-50 Pine Gros- 1065 Westmoreland,Syracuse, winter in a row (F. Germond), Clay-coloredSparrow discovered beaks at Massena, St. Lawrence, NY 13210), Rich Kane, Kevin while a late Am. Redstart at Lawrenceville,NJ, duringthe NY, Jan. 2 (fideKLC), there Karlson,Nerses Kazanjian, Paul stoppedat a feederin Princeton, PrincetonCBC Dec. 15, wasstill wereonly 5 other reportsof Kerlinger,Bob Kurtz, Bruce NJ, Dec. 3 (T. Southerland). presentthe next day (RJB, BM); smallgroups, all in upstateNew Lantz, Laurie Larson (n.c. NJ: Unusual warblers noted on New althoughregular in fallalong the York. Small flocksof Red Cross- )0 N. Stanworth Dr., Princeton, York CBCs, in addition to the coast, there are few winter billswere likewise mostly in the NJ 08540), Tony Lauro,Gary Tennessee,were Black-and-whke records.The samecan be saidof north,although a few made it to Lee, MearnsBird Club, Helen Warbler and Ovenbird, both in LarkSparrow, but onewas at a LongIsland and six were along Manson(Lower Hudson Valley, Central Park, and a Northern feedernear Lyndell, Chester, PA, the Delaware River at Ding- NY: MooresMill, RD 4 Pleasant Waterthrush on the Queens Jan.3-6 (fideAH),while anoth- man'sFerry, NJ, Feb.1 (DB). Valley,NY 12569),C. IC Melin, CBC(fide B. Dieterich). Yellow- er waswith a flockofjuncos in The four reportsof White- (FingerLakes Region, NY: 449 Irish Settlement Rd., Freeville, breastedChat was a newspecies Clarksboro,Gloucester, NJ, Feb. wingedCrossbill were all from for the Hamburg,PA, CBC, 4 into March (R. Steelman, upstateNew York, while the NY 13068), J.K. Meritt, Brad whilea wintering bird was at the m.ob.). The "Gray-headed" sevenreports of Com.Redpoll Merritt,J.C. Miller, B.L Morris Baxter Tract, New Castle,DE, Dark-eyedJunco found at Ham- includedone from New Jersey, (e. PA: 825 MuhlenbergSt., Jan.26 (MVB,J. Russell). lin Beach S.P., NY, Feb. 9 was twofrom Pennsylvania, and the Allentown, PA 18104), Terry surelythe one seenthere in restfrom New York. Evening Mosher,Bill & Naomi Murphy, TANAGERSTO November(RGS). Grosbeaks were uncommon to Mike NewIon, MichaelO'Brien, FINCHES LaplandLongspurs were hard rare,except in theAdirondacks. RichardO'Hara, J.M.C. Peter- A WesternTanager discovered in to find,especially with the lack son (Adirondack-Champlain Central Park, NYC, Dec. 1 sur- of snow cover. Two made it as Observers:(Subregional com- Region,NY: DiscoveryFarm, vived to make the Lower Hud- farsouth as Bombay Hook, but pilersin boldface)Ken Able RD 1, Elizabethtown, NY sonCBC, but wasfound dead the maximum at St. Charles (Hudson-MohawkRegion, NY: 12932), Vivian Pitzrick, Dec.27 0. Moraetal.). Another Cemetery,Farmingdale, L.I., Dept. of Biology, SUNY, William Reid (n.e. PA: 73 W. W. Tanagerwas in N. CapeMay wasonly 22 in February(SW); Albany,NY 12222), Robert Ross St., Wilkes-Barre, PA Jan.15 only 0Do, ph.CS, KS). on the other hand, observers Andde,Scott Angus, Jim Ash, 18702),Rochester Birding Asso- A Rose-breastedGrosbeak visited founda majorinvasion at the n. Peter Bacinski(coastal NJ: 260 ciation,J.J. Ruscica, Steve Sant- endof Lake Ontario (fide KLC). Page Ave., Lyndhurst,NJ her (SSa), Sy Schiff (Long Two others were in a flock of 07071), Tom Bailey,Bob Bar- Island: 603 Mead Terrace, S. 200+Snow Buntings atMeshop- ber,M.V. Barnhill,Irving Black Hempstead,NY 11550),R.M. pen, Wyoming,PA, Feb. 18 (n.e. NJ: EagleRock Village, Schutsky, Keith Seager, (WR). Snow Buntings were Bldg.26, Apt. 8B,Budd Lake, DominicSherony, Ellen Short, found in fair numbers as far NJ 07828),R.J. Blicharz, Alan Steve Sobosinski(SSo), R.G. south as BombayHook, but Brady,Dennis Briede, Elizabeth Spahn(Genesee Ornkhological nothingapproaching the 3000+ Brooks,T.W. Burke(New York Society), Sullivan County at Caledonia,Livingston, NY, RareBird Alert), Colin Camp- AudubonSociety, Clay Sutton, Jan.28 (F. Dobson). bell, Bob Claremont,Jim Clin- PatSutton, Joe Swertinsld, Stiles Largeflocks of wintering ton,B. Craig,K.L. Crowell (St. Thomas, J.P. Tramontano blackbirdsproduced interesting LawrenceRegion, NY: RD 4, (Orange and Sullivan, NY: findsin Salem,NJ, including Box 97, Canton, NY 13617), OrangeCo. Community Col- about 10 Yellow-headed Black- William D'Anna (WDn), Ward lege,Middletown, NY 10940), birds.But the big story involved Dasey(WDa, s.w. NJ: 29 Ark SteveWalter, DaveWard, W.J. Brewer's Blackbird. Before last Road, Medford, NJ 08055), Wayne,George Wenzelburger, winter,when eight showed up in Mike Davids, Dave DeReamus, Rick Wiltrant, Eric Witmer, AI CapeMay, there were only a few Peter Deryen (Rockland,NY: Wollln(Long Island: 4 Meadow confirmedrecords for New Jer- 70 Third Ave., Nyack, NY Lane, Rockville Center, NY sey.This season one was found 10960), Bruce DiLabio, Jim 11570), R.P. Yunick, Jim in Woodstown, Salem, Dec. 2 Dowdell (JDo), A.P. Ednie Zamos.Many otherobservers (WDa) and threewere in Cape (New Castleand Kent, DE: 59 (approximately300) whosent WesternTanager at NorthCape May,Dec. 8 (A.Keith), but on LawsonAve., Claymont, DE reportsto usor theirRegional May,New Jersey, January 15, Jan.20 a flockof 50 wasdiscov- 19703), S.W. Eaton (Niagara compilerscould not be listed, 1991. PhotograplVClaySutton. eredat Ft. Ellsborgnear the Frontier, NY: Ten Mile Rd., but theircontributions are grate- town of Salem;numbers varied Allegany,NY 14706),Vincent fully acknowledged.--WIL- a feederin Harmony,NJ, Dec. but some of thesebirds were seen Ella,Sheryl Forte, C. Fosdick, LIAM J. BOYLE,JR., 12 Glen- 28-30 (R. Farley,B. Lorentz). throughMarch (P. & A. Guris W.W. Frech(Sussex, DE: Cam woodRd., Denville,NJ 07834; Two Dickcisselswere found on m.ob.).Across the riverat Leip- Rt. 3, Box 1144, Lewes, DE ROBERT O. PAXTON, 460 the Elmer,NJ, CBC, and one sic,Kent, DE, whereBrewer's 19958), G.L. Freed, Padraic Riverside Dr., Apt. 72, New wintered at Higbee Beach havebeen seen almost annually French, Paul Gillen, Laurie York, NY 10027; and DAVID W.M.A., CapeMay. Rufous- formore than 30 years,a record Goodrich,K.C. Griffith (Gene- A. CUTLER, 1110 Rock Creek sidedTowhees wintered in small flockof 110 wasfound (JCM, seeRegion, NY: 61 Grandview Dr., Wyncote,PA 19095. Volume 45, Number 2' 257 MIDDLE ConowingoDarn ?" ATLANTICCOAST ßFrederick Baltimore REGION Patuxent.Sand"[ Eastern HenryT. Armistead ß WashingtonD.CO S.R• •NeckNW'

On the heels of a mild fall this ß Blackwater NWR winterwas exceptionally mild alsowith temperaturesabove normalin December(+6.1 o F.), 'A'••t•l•'Eastøn : January(+3.5), andFebruary (+5.3). Combined with low VIRGINIA snowfalland brief, unsustained coldsnaps, the effectwas for ß Richmond manybirds to linger,especially ' Lynchbur2Appornattox•-/•'"• herons, some shorebirds, phoebes,warblers, and wrens. Reportsof manyspecies nor- mallydriven out by cold,such ß Martinsville as loons, gannets,pelicans, ß Kerr Res. R Ospreys,Least Sandpipers, and Tree Swallows,were aboveaver- age.Combined with an excel- City CBC Dec. 28 (CSR). Far showingever in theVirginia WATERFOWL lentgull winter, a goodflight of inland at Kerr Res., VA, 17 Capesarea with 64 at Little Mildnesswas also responsible Rough-legged Hawks and werefound Dec. 16 (BP). Port- Creek CBC Dec. 31, 26 at Back for low numbers and late Short-earedOwls, and invasions lock found 71 on the lower BayCBC Dec. 28, twoup the arrivalsof manywaterfowl, of alcidsand Northern Shrikes, RappahannockR. in tidewater JamesR. nearYorktown Jan. l althoughthere were outstanding thiswas an interesting winter, in VirginiaJan. 5. HornedGrebes (BW), five at C.B.B.T. Feb. 14 countsof somespecies. Single spiteof yetanother year without continueto manifestpathetic (CRV, C & DB), andfour up Greater White-fronted Geese a flightof northernfinches. Pre- totalscompared to theirnum- the coast at Chinc. Feb. 22 wereat 5 localitiesincluding the cipitation was only slightly bers in the mid-1970s and earli- (JJF). first ever for Caroline, MD, aboveaverage during December er,with Wilson's 105 at Craney No doubt owing to mild Dec. 18 (MWH, SW etaL). and January but 2.3 inches Dec. 10 the highest count weather, this was a better than SnowGeese condnue in stupen- belowthe norm for February. received.There were six reports averagewinter for herons.An doussupply on the Maryland E. of Red-necked Grebes from 5 Am. Bitternat Lilypons,MD, Shore with 20,000 at Abbreviations:Assat (Assateague sites, mostly in February, was unusual for the Piedmont SudlersvilleJan. 1 (J& PF); the L, MD); BackBay (BackBay including one at Patuxent Jan. 20-Feb. 11 (LMD, MI, peakcount of "Blues"wasat Nat? Wildli2•Ref., MD); the N.A.S., MD, Feb. 20 and two EMW etaL). GreatEgrets lin- their j•stungof Blackwater, Bay(Chesapeake Bay); Blackwa- thereFeb. 27 (KR).Always rare, gered,in somecases, through where 1400 were on the CBC ter (BlackwaterNat'l Wildli2• singleEared Grebes were seen at the winter in high numbers, Dec. 26 (CSR et al.). An errant Ref.,MD); C.B.B.T. (Chesa- Ocean City on 3 dates Jan. such as four at D.C. Dec. 16 Brant was at Blackwater Dec. peakeBay Bridge& Tunnel, 14-Feb. 16 (BL, MO, EB), and OffdeJB), one on the Piedmont 10 (MO). Single hutchinsii VA);Chinc. (Chincoteague Nat'l onewas at CraneyDec. 6 (SR). at Nokesville, VA, Dec. 12 CanadaGeese were reported Wildlife Ref., VA); Craney At seaoff Virginia Beach, 18 (KHB), a record 10 at Crisfield fromLaytonsville, Montgomery, (CraneyIsland Disposal Area, Manx ShearwatersFeb. 2 (BP, CBCDec. 27 OffdeCRV), 32 at Feb. 1 (MO) and Church Hill, Portsmouth,VA); D.C. (Wash- KHB et al.) apparentlyset a Cape Charles CBC Dec. 27 QueenAnnes, Feb. 20 (J & PG), ington,D.C.); FishI. (Fisherman record state total. Northern (HTA et al.), and six were at and several other small birds IslandNat? Wildli2•Ref., VA); Gannets were in record winter ElliottI., MD, Feb.18 (LMD). weresuspected hutchinsii also. Hart (Hart &Miller Islandsin numbersin the mid Baywith The onlynon-CBC Little Blue Hart hadsome exceptional theBay e. of Baltimore); Susq. nine on the Crisfield, MD, Heron wasone at Chinc. Jan. waterfowlcounts, including (lower SusquehannaR./ CBC Dec. 27. Owing to the 19-20 (EMW). Deal I. contin- 1000 Green-wingedTeal and ConowingoDam, MD). Place mildness,36 werealready at N. uesto bethe outstanding winter 20,000 scaup(mostly Lessers) names in italics are counties. BeachFeb. 27, almostas far up heronlocale for Maryland, with Dec. 16 (RFR etal.). Eurasian the Bayas Annapolis (JLS). totalsof twoSnowy Egrets, 60 Green-wingedswere at Black- LOONS TO Tremendous numbers overwin- Tricolored Herons, and 80 water Jan. 3 (GG) and Deal I. IBISrS teredin theVirginia Capes area Black-crownedNight-Herons Jan. 23 (SHD). On Assat I., Notable inland were three Red- with reportssuch as 5000 Feb. plusfour Glossy Ibises Dec. 18 Hoffman'stop Mallard tally was throatedLoons at Seneca,MD, 14 (C & DB) and 6000 Feb. 23 (MO, RV). Black-crowned 16 onJan. 16. Why bother say- Dec. 1 (MO, PO). A spectacu- (SR) from C.B.B.T., plus Night-Herons continue to ing so?Because this illustrates lar flighttook place offAssat. "thousands"off Rudee Inlet, decline as winterers on the Vir- that Mallards still are rather Feb. 11 when 3000 were esti- VA, Feb. 1-2 (SHD). giniacoast, with low numbers scarcein remote salt marsh areas mated (MO, HLW et aL). An Am. White Pelican,by on CBCsthere. Single White of the Region.Blue-winged CommonLoons lingered in nowpractically a dassicfixture andGlossy ibises were at FishI. Teal wereseen at 7 localities,a recordnumbers up theBay as there, wasat Chinc. most of the Dec. 27 (MAB, DD), and strongshowing for winter here. indicated by CBCs, and 172 winter (VBK, JJF, m.ob.). Vaughnfound a Glossyat Wal- Gadwall were abundant at Deal also set a record for the Ocean Brown Pelicans made the best lopsI., VA,Feb. 12. I., with 800 Dec. 10 (MO).

258 ßAmerican Birds, Summer 1991 ThreeEur. Wigeon were seen, I come next fall (GDT). How singlesat FishßI. Dec.27-Jan. nice it would be to have a coastalplain population estab- 26(RLA, EH,HTA), DealI. I • hisiOri•l pei•pective; Soirnp&or•tant witfiwaterfowi•shovs.the lished hereß LDi]]i••;eb•• (D7c.R•4•G)'Ba• ß d,!I Canada19•0• •o•ng•b0se fW•npfipulatlon •06Ot0 atBlackwater6000•-941=19;43; ai2000 •henin19•9• in&teasing 500in Eight Soras at Ft. Eustis,VA, TG,DLH, DSs). The remote [ steallily dhfi•g 1952•{9•, durin gwhicE periødkPeaked •t c: throughoutthe winter were of Pocomoke Sound area has someß [ 100,000•Meanwhile'. '. theduck totals there peaked from 1955•1969 interest (SR). The Poolesville, ofthe best duck concentrations [ at100,000 oimore: By 1•i36-i990, maximum duck totals had MD, Sandhill Crane, present inthe Region but few are ever [ declln• to•0,000 orf•ve;, the geeseA0,000 drfewer (fide •fuge continuouslyfor well over 2 theretosee them, except onthe [ •afi% R-&fuge-•nG •at•3fow•haV• alway• •eemed •omewhat years, was last seenDec. 16 CrlsfieldCBC, which thas year [ sus• and bureaucratic yome.; Even s•the•e B!adcwat½• fi•re•are (MO), and other birdswere s. found8000 Redheads, 6001[ telllng. Gkese adal•t add •hahge •eirlfoodsofir ce••tnd16caliu is ofTrappe, MD, lateDecember Canvasbac.ks,12,000Ruddy I ?athe? readiiY. Man}/Canada Geeseare Wintering north oftF•s to Feb. 28, adjacentto Last Ducks,and 779 Surf Sco. te.rs Re,,ion.now, including numBerS inSemi-u•an areas. wh teas •me ChanceLiquors offRt. 50 (GG, Dec._27 ,,(fide, C,RV). Thas. is 19'50• •fid c•liC? •,,,n? •e winteredsouth 0Fit. World and MI, MO, m.ob.,ph.), at Lang- more KeclneaClsman an active ' • •< • ' ;n T ford, MD, in January and ß . . regional•nosv •oose p.opulau ns nave ncreasea ßsince oe February(J & PG etaL),and at observercansee in a hfetlme i9, 0s. s'prea"nu ea•. DLK'cs donot adal• is Nokesville, VA, Feb. 28 (KHB, anywhere, , , else, in the, Region , . at ...... tara: ;vlaa •t tm • aucl •Ot•o re"^*•• mtv,,• p?,• at, ' r toelays levels,unless mey just n•t• •otnn} nrea]• 'eq. "aris,' nol en n•½ as RAA,ph.). happento seethe Pocomoke Sound-TangierI. birds fly over SHOREBIRDS someother locality on their way Mild weatherallowed good to or fromthe prairies! numbersof shorebirdsto li.nger Wilson found 7000 Canvas- wellpast normal departure, as backson FishingBay at Elliott evidencedby thislist of waders I. Dec. 26 and 6656 were seen at Hart on thevery late date of by the Annapolis-GibsonI. Dec. 16 (RFR, SRi): one Mar- bled Godwit, eightLeast, one White-rumped,and 40 Western estimatedat 4675 (HTA, AM, reportsthat soundauthentic; sandpipers.Thirty Leastswere PT). HoodedMergansers were butreally good descriptions for at Hopewell,VA, Dec.16 (fide in highnumbers, highest ever thisspecies are hardly ever sub- LR), fiveat OceanCity Jan.17 on CBCs at Cape Charles mitted. (MO, GG) and nine on Assat. (378), Crisfield(66), andOcean This was a better than aver- Jan. 27 (MHf). Other tardy City (33), with 550 at Little ageRough-legged Hawk winter. shorebirdswere a SpottedSand- CreekDec. 31,167 at Newport There was even one at Kerr Res. piperand two Piping Plovers at News Dec. 15, and 287 at CBC Dec. 16 (fideBP) and 15 Fish.I. Dec. 27 (RLA, MAB), a W'dliamsburgDec. 16. were at Deal I. Feb. 8 (MO), Red Knot at Blackwater Dec. 10 withtwo at SaxisI., VA, proba- (MO), andfive Semipalmated RAPTORS TO blythe southernmost site where Ploversat Assat.Jan. 6 (MHf). CRANES expected,in lateJanuary (JJF, TwenryWillets at Chine.Jan. Excellent vulture totals were TD). 27 made a high mid-winter perhapsencouraged to linger In thecannon fodder depart- total (TD). A new locale,W'dlis owingto themildness. Ospreys ment it is of interest to note that Wharf, on the c. EasternShore Canvasbackson the Choptank were seen on 4 CBCs; others 58 Ruffed Grousewere released of Virginia,produced 35 Mar- River,Maryland, February 1991. weresingles at Hatford,MD, in Charles, MD, near Zekiah bled Godwits, four LeastSand- A few goodconcentrations were Swamplast fall with moreto fonndin the Regionthis winter, Jan.26 (fideRFR), and a proba- pipers,and 30 W. Sandpipers but evidentlynone to compare ble earlyarrival on the lower Jan.25 (TD), and oneto three w'•h the nnmbersof hah a century RappahannockR., VA, Feb.22 Marbled Godwits wintered ago. PhotograplVDaveCzaplak. (WP), with two birds in early along the Chine. causeway Decemberin Marylandproba- (VBK, SHD, JJF,DC). A Red CBC Dec. 30, hearteningbut bly latemigrants. Bald Eagles Knot wasat OceanCity Feb. still a pale reflectionof the wereagain in fine numbers, 17-18 (MO, LMD). A Long- untold thousands of "cans" that althoughthe influx of northern billed Dowitcher was at Black- occurredon the Bay in the birdswas muted owing to sea- water Dec. 26 (MO) and 1940s. As usual one to two sonallywarm weather, with the Ringletet al. discovered22 at Commonand King eiders were JanuaryVirginia count record- Deal I. Dec. 1. presentat Ocean City and ing 271 (vs. 314 last year; American Woodcock band- C.B.B.T., but more unusual MAB) andthe analogous Mary- ingswere down at CapeCharles was a Corn. Eider at Chine. land censusfinding 115 (5th this winter because it takes a Feb.18-22 (JjF, DC), andrare highestsince 1979, but cf. 263 strongcold snap to concentrate wasa c• HarlequinDuck on the last year; GDT). Three N. them there. Even so, 231 were Bayat DriftwoodBeach, MD, Goshawkswere reported:in capturedthrough early February Feb. 10 (DB). Black Scoters Charles, MD, at Benedict (PT, BN). As usual the best werein recordnumbers at Cape Bridge,Dec. 8 (MI et aL), at shorebirdingwas on the E. Charles CBC Dec. 27 with Little Creek CBC Dec. 31 Shore of Virginia, with 20 4671 (HTA et aL) and 403 at (DLH, TG) andone present at speciesat CapeCharles Dec. 27 OceanCity wasthe bestsince CapeChades November to Jan. including a Semipalmated 1965(fide CSR). A flockof Surf 20 (JJF,PWS, PM eraL).Every Plover,236 Am. Oystercatchers, Scotersat FishßI. Jan. 26 was winterthere are a fewgoshawk 96 GreaterYellowlegs, a Whim- Volume 45, Number 2 ß259 brel, 35 Marbled Godwits, and ter ever for LesserBlack-backed sixRed Knots. SomeVirginia Gullswith sightings at22 locali- totalswere relatively low, espe- ties. Best counts were four at ciallyfor the larger species. Later Little Creek Dec. 31, five at in the seasonat Thoms Creek, GeorgetownRes., D.C,. Jan.9 wheremost of the big shore- (OJ),and seven at Laytonsville birdson CapeCharles CBC are Dec. 22 (MO, WK, HLW) seen,90 Black-belliedPlovers, with nine thereJan. 21 (MO, 25 Willets, a Whimbrel, 30 PP).In thefreak show category Marbled Godwits, 20 W. Sand- weretwo hybrids: an apparent pipers, 3000 Dunlin, and 15 LaughingX Ring-billedGull at Short-billed Dowitchers were Ocean City Feb. 9-10 (MO, observed under simultaneous EB,ph.) and a GlaucousX Her- attackby two Peregrine Falcons ring at Laytonsville Jan. 21 and a Merlin Jan. 27 (HTA, (MO, PP). BN). A fewRoyal Terns lingered at Schwab'sBack Bay beach themouth of theBay with two patrol continues to turn in IcelandGull (back center) at GeorgetownReservoir, Washington, D.C., at CraneyDec. 10 (EMW) and superiorSanderling counts such February12, 1991. PhotograplVOttavioJanni. oneat BackBay Jan. 3 (DS, as 852 Dec. 21 and 862 Feb. TG). More unusualwas one at 12. Lessexpected were 14 at OceanCity Dec. I (RFR,JDn, Benoni Pt. Dec. 23 (HTA, bill, a Little Gull, and 40 Black- centrations,35,000 Ring-billed EB). Most unexpectedwere MEA) with 20 nearby at leggedKittiwakes were seen out Gulls were estimated Dec. 30 threeCom. Tern reports: singles Oxford Dec. 16 0GR) in Tal- fromVirginia Beach (KHB, BP (GS), but thesehad declinedto at FalseCape S.P. Dec. 23 bot,MD. A genuinerarity was a et al.) plusManx Shearwaters 200 by Jan. 31 (MO). There (NB), HamptonRoads Dec. 31 RedPhalarope on a pondin the andRed Phalaropes. This trip werethree Thayer's Gulls seen: (RMe,fide NB), andBack Bay Virginia Piedmont near S. wasalmost scrubbed owing to at PineyRun Park, Carroll, Dec. Feb.26 (DS, TG). BostonDec. 23 0CB, ph.),and lack of interesfi 8 (RFR), GeorgetownRes. in This winter marked the best Dyke found oneat W. Ocean Thiswas one of thebest gull D.C., Dec. 15 (DC), andLay- alcidinvasion in theRegion's City, MD, Feb.26. wintersever with 12 species tonsville,Montgomery, MD, history.Unfortunately there was (notcounting Yellow-legged), Jan. 21 (MO, PP). Iceland little boatingactivity to help mostin goodnumbers. Strange- Gulls were at 7 localities, with chroniclethis, with most sight- ly, LaughingGulls and Forster's two at LaytonsvilleDec. 22 and ings amazinglybeing made Ternswere scarce in spiteof the Jan. 19 (MO). GlaucousGulls from shore,such as three Com- mildness. One or two Little wereat 5 places,all in Mary- mon Murres and two Razorbills Gullswere at OceanCity most land, except one at inland reportedfrom Ft. StoryJan. 20 of the winter (MO, DC, EB), NokesvilleDec. 16 in company (SA); the murres need rarities but highcounts were of sixat with two Lesser Black-backed committee verification, since Ft. StoryFeb. 3 (KHB, BP) and and 166 Great Black-backed theyrepresent anew Virginia at C.B.B.T. Dec. 21 (WR). gulls(KHB etal.). record. The previousday a Common Black-headed Gulls Two Yellow-leggedGulls Dovekie and a Razorbill were werefound at OceanCity dur- werewell documented:single seenhere (PP et al.). At Ocean ingFebruary, Back Bay Feb. 12 adultsat Laytonsville,MD, Jan. City three Com. Murres and (DS, TG), Chine. in December 5-Mar. 2 (RH, MO, OJ, POet two Razorbillswere reported (VBK, JJF), Salisbury,MD, al.) andGeorgetown Res. in Feb. 10 (EB,JC etal.) and the Dec. 16 (GS), and near Balti- D.C. Dec. 18-Mar. 16 (GG, next day observerssaw nine more Feb.27-Mar. 1 0W). At RH, DC, MO, OJ,ph. etal.). Razorbillsplus 59 unidentified Susq.,famous for itsgull con- Thiswas perhaps the best win- largealcids (MO, HLW, GG). The onlyThick-billed Murre reportwas of oneat Chine.Feb. 22 (JJF). Other Razorbill recordswere oiConeat Rudee Inlet in Virginia BeachFeb. 1 (SHD) and two at Chine. Feb. 18 (DC).Alcids are rare enough Great Skua at the north end of in thisRegion that all should be NorfolkCanyon, off the coastof documented in detail. Virginia,February 2, 1991. Photo- graph/Ken Bass. OWLS TO SHRIKES A Long-earedOwl, always JAEGERSTO scantilyreported, was banded at AL½IDS E. Shoreof Virginia N.W.R. The highlightof theperiod was Jan. 15 (BW, PT), five were at probablythe mostsuccessful Mt. Airy, MD, Jan. 27 (SW), winterpelagic trip in thehistory andthere were 2 otherMary- of the Regionon Feb.2 when "ellow-legged"Gull(at center,taking off) with Ring-billed and Herring land records.This was an excel- two Great Skuas(ph.), 290 gullsat GeorgetownReservoir, Washington, D.C., January 1991• This lent Short-eared Owl winter. Dovekies(a recordstate count), controversialform (race of HerringGull, or full species?)was kieatified They werewidespread and in two AtlanticPuffins, one Razor- at twolocalities in the Regionthis wJater. Photograph/Dave Czaplak. goodnumbers with totalssuch

260 ßAmerican Birds, Summer 1991 as 12 at Saxis, VA, Jan. 24 JJF,RAA, JB, m.ob.), Patapsco Baltimore,Feb. 13-Mar. 5 (B & Fallon, Jane Farrell, A.F. (TD), sevenat Manassas, VA ValleyS.P. Jan. 26 (CR, DH, BC, EPr). This winter'sfancy Fletcher (Caroline, MD), (VBK, JJF,SR), nine at Elliott CB, AR), and nearElkton Jan. sparrowwas a Le Conte'sat Ft. HaroldFogleman, Robert Folk- I Feb. 18 (LMD), and five at 27-Feb.3 (HF). A Loggerhead Eustis,VA, Jan.13 andFeb. 16 er, J.J. Fulton, Hans Gabler, Deal I. (SHD, PGD), six at Shrikewas also present most of (SR). A Dark-eyed(Oregon) Greg Cough, Jim & Patricia Massey,MD, Jan.1 (J & PC), Januaryat Lilypons,providing a Junco was presentin Char- Gruber (Kent, MD), Tom plusnumerous other records. welcomecomparison. Logger- lottesville, VA, late November Gwynn,Dan Haft, G.B. Harris, Red-headedWoodpeckers headsmade a slightlybetter to March (RB, CES). Ed Hatch, J.F. Hays, M.W werein highsupply in partsof showingthan usual, by recent Yellow-headed Blackbirds in Hewitt, Robert Hilton, Robert Virginia, including70 on the standards. Maryland were a female at Hindle (RHe), Mark Hoffman CBC at Banister River W.M.A., BlackwaterFeb. 3 (MO), a male (MHf; AssateagueI., MD), R.L which recorded 100 on the VIREO• TO at Rising Sun Jan. 13 plus a Homan, MarshallHowe, W.H 1989 CBC! Nowhere else are FINCHES femalethere Feb. 16 (HF), and Howe, D.L. Hughes,Marshall they so abundant in this Genuinelyrare was a White- one at Snow Hill Feb. 17 Iliff, OttavioJanni, George Jett, Region.This was an exception- eyedVireo on OceanCity CBC (DMd, EJ). There were three EmilyJoyce, Hank Kaestner, allygood winter for E. Phoebes Dec. 28 (BD); one at Sparta, reportsof Brewer'sBlackbirds, Teta Kain (C.B.B.T.), Kerrie with good numberson the VA, in earlyJanuary was less includingfour at Nokesville, Kirkpatrick, V.B. Kitchens, CBCs and evenafterwards, such surprisingyet still unexpected VA, Dec. 16 (KHB), one in M.K. Klimkiewicz, Wayne assix at PocomokeCity, MD, (WP). A SolitaryVireo was at Howard,MD, Jan.26-Feb. 16 Klockner, David Kubitsky, Feb.8 (MO). SingleW. King- Ft. EustisDec. 2 (SR) and sin- (RM etal.), and five females Bruce Lantz, H.E. LeGrand, birds were seen on the St. gleswere on CBCs at Williams- with 10 RustyBlackbirds at MargaretLisi, J.C. Loenze,Pete Michaels, MD, CBC Dec. 23 burg and Little Creek, with BlackwaterFeb. 28 (MO). Two Marevitch (PMh), Ann andat C.B.B.T. Dec. 19 (SR). threeat BackBay Dec. 28 (fide N. (Baltimore)Orioles were at McCready,Joan McKearnan, For the first time in several PWS).This was an outstanding HopewellCBC Dec. 16, one PaulMcQuarry, Nancy Mag- years,Tree Swallows overwin- winter for Orange-crowned was in Fairfax, VA, Dec. nusson,Doug Miller, Stauffer tered, with 275 at Assat.Feb. 9 Warblers, on CBCs and after- 19-26, and one was at Broad- Miller, CarolynMills, Randy (EB), 100 at Chinc. Jan. 27 wards,with recordssuch as one mead,MD, Feb. 2 (NR). Moore(RMe), Dotty Mumford (TD), and 15 at Fish.I. Jan.26 at HogI., VA, Feb.3 (BW),five PurpleFinches were in pitiful (DMd), RosamondMunro, Bill (HTA, AM, PT). There was a at Ft. EustisFeb. 9 (SR), two at numbers,with severallarge Murphy, Ben Nottingham, big influx of White-breasted Williamsburg, VA, Feb. 12 CBCs reporting only one Marianna Nuttie, Michael Nuthatchesinto the Region this (SR), and one at Bellevue,MD, apiece.No birdis quite as errat- O'Brien (state of MD), Paul winter, lessso for Red-breasted Feb. 16 (HTA). Warblerrarities ic asRed Crossbill.This year O'Brien, Bonnie Ott, Earl Nuthatches.A pair of Brown- included a Cape May at therewere 5 scatteredreports Palmer(EPr), F.L. Parks,Brian headed Nuthatches was excavat- Jamestown,VA, Feb. 19 (SR), fromwidely separated localities. Patteson, Elizabeth Peacock, inga nestcavity as early as Mar. an Ovenbird in Baltimore Nov. Thiswas another very poor win- GraysonPearce, Paul Pisano, 7-10 near Richmond, VA, an 26-Feb. 1 (BR), and a Wilson's ter for PineSiskins (especially) E.L. Pitney(lower E. Shoreof unusuallocality (PB). in Alexandria,VA, Dec. 1 (BP, andEvening Grosbeaks. To end MD), William Portlock,Mary HouseWrens, normally sel- ML). Less surprising but on a noteof absurdity,the CBC Pulley,Kyle Rainbo, J.G. Reese domreported after the CBCs, notablewere single Prairie War- at CapeCharles, usually the (Talbot, MD), Carol Renfrew, werefairly widespread through biersin theBack Bay area Dec. countwith the longest list in the SueRicciardi (SRi), Bob Rineer, the winter. The samemay be 23 & 28 (NB, BP) andYellow- Region, recordedonly two R.F. Ringler (entire stateof said for Marsh Wrens with six at breastedChats at Olney Dec. HouseSparrows. This species is MD), C.S. Robbins, Larry Hart Jan.19 (RFR etal.) plus 22 (JSp)and Ellicott City Jan. decliningin manyareas of the Robinson,Walter Rodgers, Art threeat Tanyard,MD, Feb.3 12 (DK). Half-hardyspecies Region and is, in fact, not Rogers,Steven Rottenborn, (MO). The CraneyRock Wren such as Pine and Palm warblers numerousat theCape, but sure- W.F. Rountrey,Nancy Rowe, overwintered,although it was and Corn. Yellowthroats were ly somewere overlooked. GeneScarpulla, R.M. Schutsky, notalways easy to find(EMW, foundmuch more frequently Don Schwab, Sharon Schwem- VBK, PP,m.ob.), providing an than usual after the CBCs, Observers:D.F. Abbott, J.M. mer,Jay Sheppard (JSp), S.W. enduring2nd Regionalrecord. undoubtedlybeneficiaries of the Anderson, R.A. Anderson, R.L. Simon,Chris & EddieSlaugh- Numbers of Winter Wrens on mild weather this season. Anderson, G.L. Armistead, ter, L.T. Short, Don Snipes CBCswere better than average. An exceptionalwinter rarity M.E. Armistead, Scott Atkin- (DSs), Jo Solera (Howard, Eastern Bluebirds continue in was a Summer Tanager at a son,Robert Barbee, Cliff Barry MD), J.L. Stasz,C.E. Stevens, excellentnumbers, with Math- feederin Amherst,VA, Jan. 1 (CBy), K.H. Bass,J.B. Bazuin, D.B. Stewart, Charles Swift, ews,VA, postinga record724 and later (BP etal.). Another Chris Beaton, Paul Bedell, J. P.W. Sykes,Brian Taber, Peter on its CBC Dec. 30 (MP etal.) goodfeeder bird wasa Rose- Bjerke, J.B. Blalock, Eirik Tango,G.D. Therres,David & and record numbers also on breastedGrosbeak in Sterling, Blom,M.R. Boatwright,Dave Mark Titus, R.J. Tripician, CBCsat Hopewell,Crisfield, VA, in lateFebruary (CT etal.). Bohaska,David Brinker (DBr), CraigTufts, V.E. Unger,C.R. andSalisbury. A d' PaintedBunting was near NedBrinkley, Don & Carol Vaughn(lower E. Shoreof VA Catbirds and Brown Thrash- NewportNews during January Broderick,J.H. Buckalew,M.A. & MD), Ron Vorhees, Mark ers overwinteredin slightly (BW et al.). A Dickcisselwas Byrd,Jeff Chenowyth, Martha Wallace, Pete Webb, Dave h•ghernumbers than usual. The bandednear Laurel, MD, Feb. Chestem,Betty & BobChristo- Weesner,David West (DWt), greatestNorthern Shrike inva- 6-17 (MKK, WHH). The pher, Patty Craig, David Steve Westre, Bob & Steve sion since the mid-1950s mildness did not seem to induce Czaplak,John Dalmas, Thelma Whitcomb,H.L. Wierenga,Jim reachedMaryland with singles more than the usual number of Dalmas(TDs), L.M. Davidson, Wilkinson, Bill Williams, G.M. at 5 localities:Schooley Mill ChippingSparrows to linger, Doug Davis,Tom Dick, Bob Williamson, G.B. Wilmot; Park in Howard Jan. 5-6 and although67 wereseen on the Dixon, Jon Dunn (JDn), Sam E.M. Wilson (greater D.C. Feb. 28 (NM, MC, RFR, Chinc.CBC Dec.29 (fideTK). Droege,P.G. DuMont, S.H. •rea),Dick & JeanneWoods.- m.ob.), Crumpton Jan. 20 Lark Sparrows were at Dyke,Roger Eastman, Stephen HENRY T. ARMISTEAD, (FLP,J & PC), LilyponsJan. Hopewell,VA, CBC Dec. 16 Eccles,Jeff Effinger, Ethel 523 E. Durham St., Philadel- 20 into February(RH, MO, (fideLR) and at Holly Neck, Engle,Bob Eubanks, Frederic phia,PA 19119.

Volume 45, Number 2' •! SOUTHERN

ATLANTICCOAST Greensboro,,, Falls L. REGION JordanL.• ßRaleigh (FALL 1990 REPORT) ßCharlotte NORTH

ßGreenville CAROLINA HarryE. LeGrand,Jr. Morehead

' SOUTH This maysound like a broken ßAtlanta CAROLINA record, but the weather was Columbiaß

warmerthan usual. Significant- Sa•ee NWR GEORGIA ß Aiken ly, the Raleigh-Durham,North

Carolina, airport has now ß Macon recordedabove-normal temper- Charlemon • atures for eleven consecutive months(January to November).

Rainfallwas normal to light, Savannah and a number of interior lakes were severalfeet below normal, ßAibany producingextensive mudflats. Unfortunately,there were no Okefenokee greatwaves of migrants,nor ,•,,•-. NWR other notable weather condi- tionsthat producedfallouts. Brunswick,CA, in Julypeaked MAV). The bestpost-breeding na since1975. The speciesis HurricaneLili wasprepared to at 101 Aug. 18 (MC). Else- count of Cattle Egret in the doingwell, and is now common make landfall on the North where,White Pelicans were rep- Piedmont was of a notable 46 in in Colleton,Beauj•rt, and Jasper Carolina Outer Banks in Octo- resentedonly by singlesall fall Clayton,GA, Sept.1 (BD,AM). (RC); populations in these ber,but it veeredaway. at Pea I., NC (m.ob.), and the Did WhiteIbises have a poor counties are apparently Savannahspoil area, SC, Nov. nesting season?There were descended from birds releasedat LOONS TO 12 (KC). A Brown Pelican extremelyfew reportsinland. Bear I., Colleton.Six N. Shovel- FRIGATEBIRDS appearedon L. Lanier, GA, GlossyIbises are notable inland ersin Hall, CA, Aug. 25 (JP) The only inland sightingof Sept.4-6 •qdeEJW); there are at anyseason. Such reports for wereearly and rareaway from Red-throated Loon was near at least 5 previous inland thefall were of twoin Clayton, the coast.Male Eur. Wigeons Greensboro, NC, Nov. 10 records for the state. It can be CA, Sept.1-15 (BD, AM) for were reported from 4 sites: (HH, HLi), whilesingle Com. assumedthat single Magnificent justthe 2nd Atlanta area record; Bodie I., NC, Nov. 10 (TH, Loonswere out of seasonAug. 3 Frigatebirdsat Jekyll I., CA, singlesat Goldsboro,NC, Aug. JPo, HW); L. Mattamuskeet, on L. Lanier,GA 0P), andAug. Oct. 6 and St. Simons I. Oct. 7 2 (GH) & 20-26 (ED); and NC, Nov. 17 (HH et aL); 25 on L. Spivey, GA (HG). •qdeD & DC) werethe same oneat theupper end of L. Mur- Savannah N.W.R., SC, Nov. HatedGrebes were seen again at individual. ray,SC, Sept.12-15 (KC, LG). 22-23 (AW, VW); and Pea I. both Goldsboro, NC, and Mon- RoseateSpoonbills seen during Nov. 25 (MT). One of the few roe,CA; the specieshas been WADERS summer near Brunswick, GA, reportsofa •?Eur. Wigeon for reportedfrom pondsat these The remarkableflurry of "Great remaineduntil Oct. 13 (JG); the Regionwas at PeaI., Sept. sitesfor thepast few autumns. White"Heron sightings contin- peakcount was of eightSept. 2 16 (RD); femalesare presum- Returningbirds included one at ued, and again most were (D & PMcC). Wood Storks ablyas numerous as males, but theformer site Sept. 2-Oct. 26 inland. One was near Golds- werereported inland on 4 occa- identifyingthem is a dangerous (ED) and one all of November boro,NC, Aug.8-26 (ED), one sionsin Georgia. proposition! at the lattersite (TJ), with three wasat the SouthCarolina spoil GreaterScaup were detected thereNov. 10 0G). site near Savannah, GA, Nov. WATERFOWL away from the coastonly 3 Becausethe deepwater zone is 21 (DF, DoF, MJ), and the AlthoughI suspectthat Greater times, at Goldsboro (ED), difficultto reachin a one-day summer birds at 2 sites in Geor- White-fronted Geese were lurk- Augusta(VW), and Monroe, trip off SouthCarolina, Black- gia-Clayton and L. Lanier-- ing somewhereat Eufaula GA (TJ). Definitelyout of sea- cappedPetrel is seldom reported remainedto Oct. 21 (A.A.S.) N.W.R., GA, the only report son,although there are a few in that state. However, one was andSept. 23 0P), respectively.received was from reliable San- previoussummer records for about 30 mi off Charleston Why is this coastalbird ofs. tee N.W.R., SC, where one was North Carolina, was an imm. c3 Aug. 23 (TH et aL). Good Floridaappearing mainly inland presentmid-October to Nov. CommonEider at OregonInlet counts in North Carolina were in theRegion? Is it simplyover- 12 (RM etal.). A few blue Snow Aug. 15-19 (PD). A 9 of 1500 Cory'sand 62 Greater looked amongall the Great Geeseappeared at Georgiasites HarlequinDuck returnedto its shearwatersoff OregonInlet Egretsalong the coast? Reddish where rare, but there were no wintering haunts under the Aug. 4 (HL, ML). The elusive Egrets in the Region nearly concentrationsof the species OregonInlet bridge by Nov. 25 anddifficult-to-identify Band- alwaysconfine themselves to the awayfrom normalwintering (LP). AlthoughOldsquaws are rumpedStorm-Petrel was just coast;this season's reports--all areas(tidewater portion of the common in Pamlico Sound, that, with singlesoff Oregon of dark morph immatures-- Carolinas). South of winter NC, onea fewmiles away on L. Inlet Aug. 4 (HL, ML) & 1 l wereof singlesSept. 2 at Ore- range was a Brant in MattamuskeetNov. 11(TH. et (HL, RM, TH) theonly certain gon Inlet (BL), Aug. 5 at Charleston,SC, harbor Nov. 19 al.) wasnoteworthy. An excel- individuals. AndrewsI. near Brunswick,GA (RM, KC). Mottled Duck has lentcount of eightSurf Scoters The flock of Am. White Peli- (D & DC etal.),and Sept. 25 at been introduced into several wasunprecedented atJordan L., cans at Andrews I. near nearby Jekyll I. (PM, TM, marshes in coastal South Caroli- NC, Nov. 24 (PSa). One Surf

262' American Birds,Summer 1991 was at that lake Nov. 4 (HLi, Raneyfound two adult and two quentlythan in the pastfew HS et aL), whereasan ad. male youngcoots at GriffinRes., GA, years,but nothing approaching wassurprising in a floodedpas- Aug. 11. the numbersseen 15 yearsago. ture (!) near St. Matthews, SC, A totalof 11 on Sept.9 in Lau- Oct. 28-30 (RM, LG). The two SHOREBIRDS rens,GA (TKP), wasexcellent; Com.Mergansers that were pre- The somewhat extensive elsewhere,only ones and twos sent in summer at Jordan L. mudflats on inland lakes con- werereported. werelast noted Sept. 7 (PSa); tributed to an overwhelming Of note were Wilson's the observerbelieved they were floodofshorebird reports, per- Phalaropesinland: one at Jor- imm. males. haps20-25% of thetotal of all danL Sept.8 (HLi, C.H.B.C.), reportsfor the season!There two at GoldsboroSept. 12-19 HAWKS TO were14 reports of Lesser.Gold- (ED) and singlesthere Aug. COOTS en-Plover, some involving 30-Oct. 15 (ED), and three at Surprisingly,there were no duplication,but birds were seen Laurens, GA, Oct. 25 (TKP). reportsof any major hawk inNorth Carolinaat CapeHat- Thebest Red-.necked Phalarope flight,either along the coast or teraspoint, Goldsboro, Falls L. count wasof 89 off Oregon from the foothills. The Bald nearDurham, JordanL., the Inlet Sept. 1 (PD). A Red Eaglesituation continuesto Raleigh-DurhamAirport, and Phalarope that spent Oct. brighten,at leastbased on the L. Brandt near Greensboro. 21-26 on the beach at Hilton plethoraof fall sightings.Did Georgiareports came from Head I., SC (GD, m.ob.), drew anyonelook at the Broad- Claytonand Dublin. The best hordes of birders, as this is a wingedHawk flight along the counts were of 11 at Falls L. toughspecies to find in that foothills?No suchflight totals Oct. 14 (RD) and four at state. Nonetheless,.18 Reds werereceived. The bestreports DublinSept. 9-10 (TKP). Sel- RedPhalarope (In transitionfrom were encountered off juvenalto first-winterplumage) at were of an immature well stud- CharlestonNov. 19 (RM, KC). domreported inland, and per- HiltonHead Islaml, South Caro- ied Nov. 30-Dec. 1 near hapsfrequently misidentified, lina,October 1990. Photog•aplV GULLS TO Raleigh,NC (JM), for a very wasa Wilson'sPlover at L. Juli- GrahamC. Dugas. late Regionalrecord, and an ettein c. GeorgiaSept. 8 (TJ); TERNS The rare Franklin's Gull was immature mist-netted near thereappea•s to bejust one pre- 14-19 (ED). Justone Red Knot encountered twice, in Geor- Mayesville,SC, Sept.25 (EDa, vious inland record for the state. wasinland--near the Raleigh- LG). SingleWillets were inland DurhamAirport Sept. 30 (HL). gia--awinter adult at Jekyll I. Nov. 3 (PS) and one at Skid- A Rough-leggedHawk, soar- Aug.31-Sept. 10 at Goldsboro FourSemipalmated Sandpipers ingwith Red-tailed Hawks, was (GH, ED), Oct. 20 in Aiken, were studied on the late date of awayI., Nov. 18 (RMa). Sel- domreported before the CBCs rareand quite early Oct. 29 s.of SC (DCon),Aug. 27•Sept. 1 in Nov. 17 at the spoilarea near Goldsboro (ED). As with the Forsyth,GA (JP),and Aug. 31 Savannah(RC); alsolate wasa wasthe returning Com. Black- previousspecies, any report of in Clayton,GA (BB, GW). headedGull at MoreheadCity, W. Sandpiper Nov. 22 at NC, noted Oct. 27 (PSa).Also GoldenEagle is noteworthy; Long-billedCurlews were not Goldsboro (ED). White- bothof the seasoh'ssightings unusualat OregonInlet 20 rare before Christmas was an rumpedSandpipers generally imm. Iceland Gull at Pea I., camefrom Georgia, with single yearsago, but onethere Sept. avoid inland sites in fall, and immatures Oct. 13 at Ft. Stew- 29 (NB) was notable. Other Nov. 25 (MT). LesserBlack- therewere just 2 suchreports-- backedGulls were widespread art (JGet al.) andNov. 24 near Long-billedswere singles at Ft. oneto two at GoldsboroAug. Fitzgerald(MH, BHu).Merlins Fisher, NC, much of the fall 26-Oct. 24 (ED) and one in alongthe coast;they show up werefound inland only 3 times, (SC, GH, BG), and Cumber- Forsyth,GA, Sept. 1 (Jp). slightlyearlier and in larger numbers nearly every year. aswere Peregrine Falcons. If land I., GA, Nov. 27 (LGa, Baird'sSandpipers were seen on thesespecies are doing well, one HG, AA, severaloccasions at Cape Hat- Sightingswere made at PeaI., Avon,Cape Hatteras, and Ocra- would not know this from One of the few Regional teraspoint Sept. 4-16 (BH, RB, reportsfrom the Region. The inlandreports for Hudsonian cokein North Carolina, Folly RD), andat Clayton,GA, Aug. Beach in South Carolina, and severe decline in Am. Kestrel Godwit was one at L. Matta- 30•Sept.4 (BD, FM etal.) and muskeet, NC, Nov. 11 (HW, TybeeI. andJekyll I. in Geor- continues,and observerscan at Sept.29 (CP0. times find more Merlins or TH); theblack wing lining was PectoralSandpipers com- gia. PeregrineFalcons (four or five seen.The species was, as usual, Georgiahad more late reports monlylinger into November, than usual of Sandwich Tern, birds)than kestrelsalong the seenelsewhere only along the but three Nov. 29 in Laurens, OuterBanks at the peakof fall Outer Banks,with one notable GA (TKP), wereexceptional. includingNov. 27 at Cumber- land I. (AA et aL). The only migration. exception.The literature indi- The loneCurlew Sandpiper was cates that HudsonJan Godwit RoseateTern wasat CapeHat- ClapperRails make a migra- simplya holdoverfrom summer tion short-cut over the inland migratesprimarily in fallover terasuntil Sept.3 (PD et aL). at PeaI., wherelast seenAug. Inland Least Terns were two at portionof theRegion, but land the Atlantic Ocean, with the 12 (HL, MT). One of the few only whenthey collidewith southernmostpoint on thecoast shorebirdsthat would get votes L. Lanier Aug. 21 (JP), one towersand buildings. Such mis- of regularoccurrence being for continental increaseover the thereSept. 20 (Jp), and20 in fortunehit a Clapperat Golds- CapeHatteras. The migrants past2 decadesis Stilt Sand- Pitt, NC, Aug.4 (JW). Num- bersof Bridledand Sooty terns boro, where it was found alive arepractically never seen; yet, a piper. Fall birds were in the Gulf Streamvary wildly Aug.23 (ED). A VirginiaRail flockof 15 godwitswas seen widespread;notable were 15 as wastardy Dec. 1 at ChapelHill, gettingup from the water (!) 20 late as Nov. 17 at the Savannah from pelagic trip to trip. A remarkable 81 Sooties, all NC (HW), whereas a Com. mi ENE of OregonInlet Aug. spoilarea (RC), 10 at Golds- Moorhenwas a migrationcasu- 25 (RD et al.). boro Oct. 11 (ED), and seven adults,were off OregonInlet alty at Greensboro,NC, Oct. The only inland Ruddy Aug.11 (MT, HL); onlythree nearthe Raleigh-DurhamAir- Bridleds were seen. DuMont's 13 (BC; *UNC-G). What may Turnstones were in North Car- portOct. 2 (TH, Jpo).Buff- havebeen the firstnesting by olina,good counts being of six breasted Sandpipers were tripsin thesewaters yielded one Am.Coot in theRegion's Pied- nearGreensboro Sept. 16 (HH) reportedsomewhat more fre- Sootyand 10 BridledsAug. 18 mont was established when and four at Goldsboro Sept. and six Sooties and 65 Bridleds

Volume 45, Number 2' 263 Sept. 1. Other terns of note in North Carolina. A Western AugustaSept. 22 & 29 (AW, Finches,to determineif House were an excellent 22 Sooties off was also inland at New Bern, VW) and a bird banded near Finchesare contributingto CharlestonAug. 23 (TH, LG et NC, Oct. 22 (BH, RB, KW), MayesvilleSept. 17 (LG, EDa). populationdeclines. Maybe al.), 15 Bridledsover cold water one of the few reportsaway A MourningWarbler was band- HouseFinches are impacting n.e. of OregonInlet Sept. 8 from the coast in a decade. ed at SouthernShores, NC (no only HouseSparrows, but I (MT, HL), anda Sootyat Jekyll Grant witnessedvery large date, DLe) and another was wouldsuspect other species are I. Sept.2 (EM, JEW). numbersof E. Kingbirdsin observedNov. 1 at Athens, GA beingimpacted, as well. Croatan N.F., NC, Aug. 28, (BDu). DOVES TO with at least 274 counted at 2 Observers: Anselm Atkins FLYCATCHERS lakes.A Gray Kingbirdwas a TANAGERS TO AtlantaAudubon Society, Kay The 6th South Carolina record rarity at Avon, NC, Aug. 19 FINCHES Bergey, Bill Blakeslee,Rich of White-winged Dove was (PD). Scissor-tailedFlycatcher A WesternTanager was note- Boyd,Joel Brenner, Ned Brink- I was encounteredjust once-- worthyon JohnsI., SC, Oct. 1 ley, Kevin Calhoon, Derb (PL). Late was a Painted :1 Sept. 18 in n. Pamlico, NC Carter (DCa), Robin Carter, (SC). BuntingNov. 19 in Glynn,GA JackCamsos, Chapel Hill Birc (D & DC), andthe only Dick- Club, Mike Chapman,Don & NUTHATCHES TO cissel as usual was a seen/heard DorisCohrs, Steve Compton WARBLERS birdat BodieI. Sept.16 (RD).I (StC), Dan Connelly(DCon), Red-breastedNu[hatches had feelthat Regional birders simply SamCooper, Bill Craft, Evelyn anotherpoor flight. A singing are not familiar with the Dabbs(EDa), Ricky Davis, Eric Winter Wren at Falls L., NC, "buzzer"callof the Dickcissel; Dean, Bruce Dralle, Graham wasvery early Sept. 18 (RD).As the speciesshould be found Dugas,Paul DuMont, Barny hasbeen mentioned here before, moreoften along the coastat Dunning(BDu), Caroline East- thrushesare disappearing as this season. man, Mary Eriksen, Dennis migrants. No one reports Coastalbirders missed Clay- Forsythe, Donna Forsythe significantcounts any more; the coloredSparrow, as the only (DoF),John Fussell, Hugh Gar- only notablerecords were of a report was in Durham, NC, rett, Liz Garrett (LGa), Lex White-wi.gedDove i. Cbarlesto., lateSwainson's in Anderson,SC, Nov.4 (TK). LarkSparrow was Glover,Betty Grady, Gilbert SouthCaroli.a, November11, Nov. 20 (PW) and a Wood in reportedonly once; this species Grant, JoeGreenberg, Todd 1990. Photograph/SteveComp- AdantaNov. 2 (DL). Although wasnot a rarecoastal migrant Hass, Herb Hendrickson, Bob to.. thereare at least7 previous 10to 20 yearsago. The elusive Holmes,Hop Hopkins(HHo), South Carolina records, the Le Conte'sSparrow was found Milton Hopkins,Gene Howe, establishedwhen Compton Sprague'sPipit seenrepeatedly near Darien, GA, with two BobHumphries (BHu), Fran photographedone in hisyard at at HuntingtonBeach S.P. Nov. Nov. 21 (DF, DoF, MJ). Lap- Irvin,Terry Johnson, Margaret Charleston Nov. 11-13. Where 20-25 (IP, LG, RC, DF etal.) landLongspurs were regular in Jolly, MargaretKavanaugh, are the Black-billed Cuckoos? wasthe first from this Region in lateNovember at Huntington Tom Krakauer,Dennis Lacoss, One bandedat Mayesville,SC, over a decadethat was identified Beach S.P., with four there Pete Laurie, David Leake Oct. 1 (LG, EDa) and another to everyone'ssatisfaction, espe- Nov. 25 (DF etaL); the only (DLe), Harry LeGrand, Bob seenat Clayton,GA, Sept.30 ciallythis editor's! othersighting was of one at Fig- Lewis,Henry Link (HLi), Mer- (A.A.S.) were the only ones The elusiveWarbling Vireo ure Eight I., NC, Nov. 18 rill Lynch, Marcia Lyons reported.Can it be true?There wasfound in Forsyth,GA, Sept. (DCa). (MaL), Robert Manns (RMa), werethree times as many reports 9 (JC).Just as elusive, although A Bobolinkwas seen early Greg Massey,Ellery McClin- of RufousHummingbirds (i.e., much more numerous east of Aug. 5 in Clayton,GA (JG). tock, Dennie & Pam McClure, Selasphorushummingbirds) as the mountains,Philadelphia Thereis a "migration"of Yel- Roger McNeill, Francis Black-billedCuckoos! The only Vireowas banded at Mayesville low-headedBlackbirds along Michael,Peggy Moore, Terry definitive record was of one at Sept.28 andOct. 2 (LG, EDa) the coastin earlyfall, and 3 Moore,Jim Mulholland,Adri- Forsyth(town), GA, lateOcto- and Jekyll I. Oct. 16 (D & recordspoint this out--one at enneMyles, Vince Pack, John berinto November(H & JWi); DC); otherswere seen at Caroli- PeaI. Sept.2 (PD),two at Cape Paget,Leonard Pardue, T.K. it was banded and measured na Beach,NC, Sept.16 (SC) Hatteras Sept. 7-16 (MaL, Patterson,Irvin Pitts,Joe Pos- Nov. 4 (B & MS) and deter- andAugusta Sept. 29 (AW). RD), and two near Charleston ton (JPo), Paul Raney,Chris mined to be an ad. 9 Rufous. A Nashville Warbler that cir- Oct. 2 (DF). Shiny Cowbird Rustay, Paul Saraceni(PSa), Other female/immatures were cleda boat off Oregon Inlet wasencountered again. Holmes Bob& MarthaSargent, Harriet at Winston-Salem, NC, Nov. Sept.8 (HL, MT) wasunusual, had a male at his feeder in New Sato,Carol Sewell,Jeff Sewell, 30+ (RS, KB, HHo et aL); aswere two earlyNashvilles at Bern Oct. 9-12, North Caroli- Alistair Smith, Ramona Snave- RaleighOct. 13 (FI); Tucker, Cape Romain N.W.R., SC, na's 2nd; the bird returned Oct. ly, PeterStangel (PSt), Paul GA, Aug. 6 (JS,CS); Decatur, Aug.24 (TH, VP). Amongthe 29 and met its demise (*, not Sykes,Steve Thomas, Mike GA, in early September(fide bettercounts were 30 Magnolia yetdeposited). Tove,University of North Car- JV); andSnellville, GA, Sept. Warblersalong the Chatta- The winter finch scenario olina-Greensboro,Mary Ann 27-28 (fideJS). hoocheeR. nearAtlanta Sept. sounds like a broken record for Vernocy, Joel Volpi, Anne Empidonaxflycatchers must 29 (A•,.S.)and 24 Bay-breastedmost of the pastdecade. Red Waters, Vernon Waters, Gene be on the decline; observersare Warblers at Ft. Fisher, NC, Crossbillsagain were unreport- Wenger, E.J. Wentworth, havingdifficulty finding them Oct. 14 (GM). There were 5 ed, Pine Siskinswere uncom- Haven Wiley, Ken Wilkins, nowadays.There werejust 3 reportsof CeruleanWarbler, all mon, andEvening Grosbeaks Harry & JuanitaWillingham reportsof Yellow-belliedFly- fromAug. 4 to Sept.15. Very were rare. And, as House Finch (H & JWi),Peter Worthington, catchers:at OregonInlet Aug. late was a N. Waterthrush Nov. continues to dominate feeders, JeannieWright (JEW),John 26 (RD, HL), nearAurora Sept. 23 at Savannah N.W.R., SC Purple Finches are b•eing Wright, Ann Wyand(AWy), 25 (SC),and banded at Jekyll I. (AW), as was a Hooded War- squeezedout fromthe suburbs. Peter Yaukey.--HARRY E. Sept. 24 (D & DC). Western blerNov. 12 in Jones,NC (HL, Observers in the East need to LeGRAND, JR., N.C. Natur,al Kingbirdswere found only 5 JF). Reportsof Connecticut keepan eye on nativecardueline Heritage Program,P.O. Box timesalong the coast, with four Warblerswere of singlesat finches,particularly Purple 27687,Raleigh, NC 27611.

•4. American Birds, Summer 1991 feedingsite options may be the FLORIDAREGION singlemost important factor JohnC. Ogden contributingto thispopulation decline.I suggest that unless we seriouslyaddress this issue, Florida will continue to lose Wintersin Florida,ornithologi- wadersat a fast pace,to the callyspeaking, are often charac- pointwhere we will someday terizedby the source and mag- placereports of wadingbird nitude of invasions from the concentrations on our tele- outside. Thus we have western phonehot-lines! invasions, northern invasions, Whatprompted me to edito- Caribbeaninvasions and, rarely, rialize on this crisis wader situa- eastcoast invasions by seabirds. tion was that as of the end of the The other majorfactors that period,only about 550 pairs of stronglycolor the ornithological wadingbirds had initiated nest- character of the winter seasons ing in the entirecentral and arethe wide year-to-year differ- southernEverglades region encesin thenumber of neotrop- (AMS, RJS,JCO). The only icalmigrants that overwinter in noteworthywader observations thepeninsula, and the effects were for two coastalspecies. that rainfall extremes have on One ReddishEgret was unusu- thedominant waterbird popula- ally far northfor winterat St. tions. While almost all winters Marks N.W.R. Jan. 1-Feb. 17 show influences from all or (DS), andtwo differentReddish mostof thesevariables, many Egretswere at coastallocations winter imagesare clearly the in Pascoand PineliasJan. 15 productof strongcontributions (BP,DJR, PAY). Three Roseate from one or at most two from Spoonbillswintered inland in the list. All of which is an elabo- the Polk phosphate mines rate way for me to say that (CLG), andtwo wereseen Feb. because none of the above Pasco, Dec. 27 (BP, RDG, estimated at not fewer than I at the Jack Island Preserve occurredto any exceptional PAY). EaredGrebes, once con- 25,000, wasoffAnclote Key, nearFt. Pierce,where they are degreeduring the winterof sidered accidental in Florida, Pasco,Jan. 15 (BP,PAY). considered rare in late winter 1990-1991 (thoughthe num- haverecently been found annu- 0MB). berof neotropicalspecies win- ally.One was at CrystalBeach, WADING BIRDS teringnorth of whereexpected Pinelias,Jan. 17 (SEB,MWT), The numberof wadingbirds WATERFOWL, wason thehigh side), it wasa and four wintered at 2 Polk nestingin theFlorida peninsula RAPTORS somewhat difficult one to locations(CLG), the 8th con- almostcertainly is declining, When I askedabout waterfowl, describe. secutive winter that one or more andquite likely at anaccelerat- one s. Florida responsewas, In thefollowing paragraphs, Eareds has been found there. ingpace. The reasons, while not "What waterfowl?" (PWS, therefore, [ will attempt to About50 MagnificentFrigate- well documented,certainly go SAS).Things may have been a makea mostlyuneventful win- birdswere attending nests on well beyondthe effects of the bit better in the interior of c. ter seasonnot soundtoo dull. In LongKey, Dry Tortugas,Feb. currentdrought. Besides the Florida,where high counts of addition, I will take this "short 26 (GEW, HBT); so far as I WoodStork, long recognized to 3000 eachGreen-winged Teal report"opportunity to elaborate know, increasedlevels of boat be in trouble,many observers and N. Shoveler were in the on twotopics where some spec- traffic at the MarquesasKeys now shareconcerns for Snowy Polkphosphate mines Dec. 31 ulation is called for: the future have resulted in no recent Egretand White Ibis aswell. (PJF,CLG, DF). To the west, of waterbird populationsin frigatebirdnesting there. Up to Fear for the future of the ibis is however, numbers of Lesser Florida, andthe questionof 80 Am. White Pelicans on anespecially troublesome situa- Scaupin Hillsboroughand whereall thosemostly neotropi- pondson n. KeyLargo during tion; White Ibis wasonce far McKay bays were very low cal migrantsthat showup in earlyJanuary (PWS, SAS) prob- and awaythe mostabundant (RTP). The most notable southFlorida in Februarycome wadingbird in the state.Peter waterfowlreport was of one from. ably were there becauseof extremelydry conditionsin Frederickhas recently calculated White-cheeked Pintail with a Weather-wise, the winter was nearbyinland wetlands. that the number of ibises nest- small flock of teal at Nine Mile mildand dry for themost part. Northern Gannets occurred ing in Florida during Pond,Everglades N.P., Feb.5 Thankfullywe experienced no in unusuallyhigh numbers, in 1986-1987,before the drought, (C & JNR, JAT; ph. to FOS severecold front throughout the the hundreds,off St. George was no more than half the num- recordscommittee). A high period,although the absence of Island, Franklin, throughout ber that nested in the mid- count was of 22 Greater White- strongfronts also contributed to theperiod (RW). Alsooff St. 1970s.The numbernesting at frontedGeese flying high over the rainfalldeficiency in many GeorgeIsland was one ad. onetraditional ibis colony site, Lanark, Franklin, Jan. 21 areas,and our prolongeddry BrownBooby Feb. 17 (RW); Alafiain TampaBay, dropped (DCB). CommonGoldeneyes spellcontinued into the second theyare very rare in winter.Six from 80,000 in the 1940s to appearedstatewide in more or thirdyear, depending upon MaskedBoobies, including two 30,000 in the mid-1970s, to locations than usual: one each location. attendingtwo large chicks, were 10,000 in the late 1980s (RTP). in PascoDec. 26 (RWS, LAH), at the smallHospital Key, Dry Evengreater declines by ibises TarponSprings Dec. 22 (PT), LOONS TO haveoccurred in theEverglades. and near Moore Haven Feb. 11 CORMORANTS Tortugas,nesting colony on Feb. 26 (GEW, HBT). An We understandthe biology and (PWS,SAS). Other noteworthy One Red-throatedLoon, very amazinglylarge concentration ecologyof waderswell enough waterfowl observationswere of rarelocally, was at PortRichey, of Double-crested Cormorants, to know that steadylosses in oneFulvous Whistling-Duck

Volume 45, Number 2' 265 on the Dry TortugasFeb. 27 The largestconcentration of inlandat theKeystone Heights neySwifts, two Chaeturasp. (GEW, HBT), threeAm. Black Am. Oystercatchers I can dump, Bradford,Dec. 7-20 were in n.w. Pasco Feb. 28 Ducks at St. Marks N.W.R. rememberbeing reported in (BJB)were noteworthy. One (PAY).A hummingbirdalmost Dec. 2 (DAE, DBN), and three Florida was of 850 on a sand- Black-leggedKittiwake was certainlya first-yearC3 Black- SurfScorersat CedarKey Jan. baroff CedarKey, Levy, Dec. found dead on the beach,and chinnedHummingbird (violet 17 (B & LC, m.ob.). 29 (B & LC, DCH, BW). A anotherseen flying nearby, at of beginninggorget seen) was Up to 12 Black-shouldered locallyhigh mid-winter cofint St. GeorgeIsland, Franklin, at a CedarKey feederJan. 4-8 Kiteswere in w. Dadeduring for Black-necked Stilts was of Dec. 16 (RW). (DCH, DTF). Selasphorussp. theperiod (PWS, SAS, m.ob.). 35 at McKay Bay Jan. 26 If not wintering, one Am. (RWS).Interest in surveying Swallow-tailed Kite at Lake- forPiping Plover has turned up landJan. 30 (JGo)was about a local high counts: 228 in monthearly in returningfrom coastalPasco and PineliasJan. the tropics.The mid-winter 15 & 19 (SEB, MWT), and41 statewideSnail Kite survey at LanarkReef, Franklin, Jan. (December) revealeda decline 21 (DCB, RKC). A worthwhile from one year earlier in the by-productof thesesurveys numberof kitesin thetoo-dry werehigh counts of 12 Snowy Water Conservation Area 3A Plovers at Ft. DeSoto Park impoundment,Dade/Broward, Dec. 31 (SEB, MWT), and 10 from 169 to 13 birds (JAR)! Snowiesat Ft. Myers Beach Fortunately, the Snail Kites Jan.18 (JLB).These compara- showed their true characterand tive numbersreinforce my appearedin almostequal num- beliefthat Snowy Plovers are in bers in several c. Florida lakes. much more trouble in Florida Asof theend of theperiod, 80 thanare Pipings. neststarts by kites had been One Long-billedDowitcher documented at one of these seenand heardcalling at St. lakes,L. Tohopekaliga,Osceola Marks N.W.R. Feb. 8 (DAE) (JAR). waseither an earlymigrant or Buteos that were north of rarewintering bird. One Am. CommonBlack-headed Gull at Naples,Florida, December 17, 1990. their usualwintering range Woodcockperforming inten- Photograph/PatWare. includedsingle Broad-winged sive distractiondisplays in Hawks at Tallahassee Feb. 22 extreme s.w. lacksonJan. 17 White-wingedDoves, from hummingbirdswere reported (JAC,KN) and nearSebring (CJB) wasalmost certainly introductions, are rapidly fromGainesville, one through- Feb. 20 (JG), one Swainson's closeto a nestingsite. At the becomingcommon urban birds out theperiod (DTF; twicetwo Hawk at Lake Placid Dec. 23 oppositeend of thepeninsula, in the LakeWales area (CLG). were seen), and one at Cedar (BP, GEW, RDG), and one two woodcockswere making P. William Smith points out KeyJan. 19-27 (DTF, DCH). lightmorph Short-tailed Hawk courtshipflights at latedusk in thatthe dynamics of "Canary- at St. Marks N.W.R. Jan. 20 e. EvergladesN.P., beginning winged"Parakeet populations FEBRUARY MIGRATION BY (RLW etal.). Jan. 23 (PWS, SAS), the 4th in Dadeis anything but settled. NEOTROPICALPASSERINES consecutiveyear for this loca- While the big Coral Gables In my winter reportone year RAILS TO tion. roosts of the 1970s were com- ago, I describedsome charac- SHOREBIRDS posedof trueCanary-wingeds, teristics of whatmay be Febru- The elusive Black Rail contin- GULLS TO Brotogerisv. versicolurus, many ary migrationby a substantial uesto pop up hereand there, HUMMINGBIRDS "canary-wingeds"seen this listof neotropicalspecies. The stronglysuggesting that it is A high countof Bonaparte's winter in more western and most noticableaspect of this not a rarebird. SingleBlacks Gulls was of 300 at Tierra southernparts of the county early "flight" is the rather wereheard at Upper Tampa Verde, Ptnellas,Feb. 15 (BHA, were the well-marked race B. v. abrupt increase,usually at BayPark, Hillsborough, Dec. LSA). Good details were sub- chiriri, the "Yellow-lined" many southFlorida locations 22 (BP), and on Rattlesnake mitted to the FOS records Parakeet. One flock of 18 of and well underwayby mid- Key, Levy, Dec. 29 (DCH, committee for one Little Gull, the latterseen repeatedly near month, of small flocks of war- BW), and one was seen near rareanywhere in the peninsula Homesteadduring January biers,including Parula, Prairie, the lighthouseat St. Marks and especiallyso inland, at contained all banded birds and Black-and-whites. While N.W.R. Dec. 9 (BDN). It LakeJessup, Seminole (CTR, (PWS, SAS)! theseand other species in these wasn't the beef that was miss- CT). The Corn. Black-headed Groove-billed Ani made a Februaryflocks regularly win- ing, but the Am. Coots, Gull found in November at minorinvasion of thepeninsu- ter in south Florida, the throughout the Everglades Napleswas seen again and pho- la, with oneat PaynesPrairie, Regionalincreases in numbers region.Ponds and lakesin the tographed Dec. 17 (JRW, Alachua, Jan. 9 & 24 (BMS, impliedby theseobservations nationalpark that had floating PW). One Glaucous Gull was EMS et aL), and singlesat 2 are convincingme that birds mats of tens of thousands of at Ward's Bank near Jack- widelyseparate locations in s. arealso coming up frommore coots a few years ago had sonvilleFeb. 6 (BJR).Although Florida, Eco Pond near tropical locations as well. almost none this winter. Yet becomingregular along the Flamingo,Everglades N.P., Recent conversations with Bill they must have been some- Atlantic coast, Lesser Black- Feb. 5-28 (GW, PWS, SAS), Smith (PWS) and Bill Robert- where in the s. peninsula;a backed Gulls are still rare on and w. Dade, Feb. 24-28 son(WBR) haveonly served to largeraft estimated at possibly the Gulf coast or inland. Thus (PWS,SAS). Wintering Corn. reinforce this notion. We all as many as 100,000 cootswas two at the Pinellaslandfill Dec. Nighthawks unusually far haverepeatedly noted substan- along the n.w. shore of L. 1 (LSA, BHA), oneat the East- north were two calling at tial mid-Februaryincreases in Okeechobee Feb. 21 & 24 point landfill, Wakulla,Dec. Clearwater Dec. 18 (RWS). Gray Catbirds around our (HBT). 29 (LSA, BHA), and one Possiblyearly returning Chim- homes,and blue-plumaged 2• ßAmerican Birds, Summer 1991 Indigo Buntingsat our feed- over a week, with 30 first found on FisheatingCreek, Glades, Cowbirds appearedat Lake- ers. If these are no more than roostingFeb. 21 (PWS,SAS). Feb. 13 (PWS, SAS) both land, five on Dec. 14 (L & locallywintering birds show- Two Cave Swallows were on occurredduring that same early BC), one near Odessa, Pasco, •ngpre-migratory restlessness, Bush Key, Dry Tortugas,Feb. Februaryperiod when sev'eral Dec. 27 (RDG), and one in w whereare comparablenum- 26 (HBT, GEW). tanagersmay have "arrived" Palm Beach Feb. 3 (BHH) bersduring mid-winter? If my oneyear ago (see my 1990win- And PineSiskins barely pene- yardbecomes a daily haven for NUTHATCHES TO ter report). tratedthe Regionthis winter, eight to ten catbirdsduring TANAGERS the only reportswere of six in thelast two weeks of February, The only Red-breastedNut- GROSBEAKS TO Jacksonville throughout why areonly one or two there hatch reportedwas one in s. SlSKINS February(TW) and one near throughoutthe winter? I sug- JacksonvilleJan. 10 (RWL). The scene this winter at the Wakulla Springs Dec. 9 gestthey are south of Florida! Rarelyfound on the coast,one Belle Glade marina, Palm (DAE). Brown Creeper was at St. Beach,was perhaps unprece- FLYCATCHERS, Marks N.W.R. Dec. 2 (DAE), dentedfor the Floridapeninsu- Corrigendum: AB 45(1):92, SWALLOWS andanother creeper was as far la, and wasmore reminiscentof column2, thelarge population Western Kingbirds were south as Gainesville Feb. 27 the assemblagesof migrants of Ospreysat LakeDisston was encounteredat an unusually (SM). Almost unreportedin one encounters in southern censusedby HenryM. Steven- large numberof locationsin Florida any longer,-one Mexico in winter. Bird feeders son. central and north Florida, Bewick's Wren remained at a at the marina campground •ncluding singles at White siteon the ApalachicolaN.F., hosted maximum counts of 12 Contributors and observers: Oaks Plantation, Duval, Jan. Leon,Nov. 26-Jan. 6 (TM). A Blue Grosbeaks, four Orchard (Area editors in boldface) 10 throughFebruary (MRT), locally unprecedentedhigh Orioles, two N. Orioles, and B.H. Anderson(BHAn), B.H at 2 Franklin sites Dec. 2 & 9 countfor CedarWaxwings was threeDickcissels through most Atherton, L.S. Atherton, J.L. (BDN, DAE), in ruralAlachua of 750 in Beacon Woods, of February (HPL, BHH, Baker,M. Biggat,S.E. Bogert, Jan. 2-17 (RDW, GES), and Pasco,Feb. 27 (BP), in a winter GSH, KG, CN)! Orchard Ori- B.J. Bolte, R. Bowman,J.M. four at Montverde, Lake, Feb. whenno otherstation reported olesare especiallyrare any- Brooks, C.J. Brown, D.C 6 (DWF). One Couch'sKing- highnumbers. where in Florida in winter; Bryan,J.A. Cavanagh,E. Chi- bird was well studied, and Good numbers of warblers thesewere presentFeb. 2-5. cardi, R.K. Christen, B. & L heard calling, at the Belle were encountered north of Another Orchard was at Saw- Cooper,M.C. Davidson,R.S Glade marina, Palm Beach, their expected wintering grassLake Park, Pinelias, Dec. Duncan, D.A. Emkalns, D.T Feb. 2-23 (BHH, HPL, GSH, ranges.The highlightsof this 30 (RDG).And it certainlywas Fagen,P.J. Fellers,D. Ford, m.ob.). Great CrestedFly- list are as follows: Tennessee a goodwinter for BlueGros- D.W. Freeman, C.L. Geanan- catchers also wintered unusual- Warbler, one at Lake Placid beaks elsewhere as well; one gel, K. Getsher,J. Godwin, ly far north, asevidenced by Dec. 23 (RDG); Yellow War- wasat StonyBayou, St. Marks R.D. Goodwin, J. Graham, singlesat 2 Alachualocations, bier,one at St. PetersburgDec. N.W.R., Dec. 15-Jan. 27 M.E. Gustafson, D.C. Hen- onethrough the period and the 15 (MH), and two othersw. of (BDN, DAE), andanother was derson, J.H. Hintermister, other Feb. 1 (JHH, CAL), and Boynton Beach Dec. 30 on St. GeorgeI. Feb.8 (RW). W.R. Hoffman, B.H. Hope, one at Bartow, Polk, Dec. 14 through January (BHH); Also well north of expected L.A. Hopkins, M. Hughes, (PJF, DF). One of the few Black-throated Blue Warbler, areas,one Indigo Bunting was G.S. Hunter, A.C. Kent, C.A specimensof theAsh-throated one w. of West Palm Beach foundnear Lake Jessup Dec. Lanciani, H.P. Langridge, Flycatcherfor peninsular Flori- Jan. 27 (GW, HPL); Black- 29 (BPa, GM), and single R.W. Loftin, F.E. Lohrer, M. dawas acquired when one Ash- throatedGreen Warbler, a high PaintedBuntings were at Jack- Lopez, M. McMillian, S throated chased another in countof threeat SawgrassLake sonville Jan. 17 and Feb. 4 Massey, J. Millward, G front of a passingcar, near Park, Pinelias, through the (MCD), and St. Petersburg Minor, T. Morrill, B.P. LakeJessup, Seminole, Dec. 29 period(RDG); Am. Redstart, Dec. 15-Feb. 19 (SEB, Muschlitz, K. NeSmith, D.B (BHAn, EC, * to Univ. Central one at Lake Placid Dec. 23 MWT). Neville, J.C. Ogden, R.T Florida)!Apparently two differ- (BP, RDG, GEW); Prothono- A highcount of Lark Spar- Paul, B. Payne,B. Peterjohn entLa Sagra'sFlycatchers were tary Warbler, onenear High- rows was of six near Home- (BPe),P.C. Powell,B. Pranty, found in the upper Florida lands Hammock State Park, steadin late December-early C. & J.N. Randall, B.J Keys.One found on Elliott Highlands, Feb. 20 (RB); January (JCS, PWS, SAS), Richter, T. Roberts, W.B Keyduring the late December Ovenbird,a highcount of 11 while one on PaynesPrairie Robertson, C.T. Robinson, Christmas Count (WRH) in the Bartow area Dec. 14 Dec. 26 (TR) was considered D.J. Robinson,J.A. Rodgers, remainedthrough the period (PJF, DF); Louisiana rarethere in winter.Although R.K. Rowan, D. Sandee,R.J (m.ob.).The otherLa Sagra's, Waterthrush, one in w. Pasco thebirds were not alwayseasy Sawicki, G.E. Schultz, J.C found on Key Largoin Octo- Dec. 27 (BP, DJR); and Yel- to locate, Bill Smith (PWS) Simard, B.M. & E.M. Smith, ber, remainedthrough the low-breasted Chat, one near consideredGrasshopper Spar- P.W. Smith, R.W. Smith, S.A entire winter period(WRH, LakeJessup, Seminole (BHAn, rowsfairly commonin Dade Smith, S. & A. Stedman, A.M PWS,SAS, calls taped). EC). thiswinter; two Grasshoppers Strong,M.R. Taylor, P. Tim- No greatnumbers of Tree Details of a sightingof a were also located Dec. 29 in ruer, H.B. Tordoff, J.A Swallows made it as far south Bananaquit near Pompano Seminole (BPa, GM), where Toups, C. Turner, M.W asthe Everglades this mild win- BeachJan. 22 (JLB)were sub- theymay be much rarer. Turner, G. Wagner, R.W ter, but 500,000 were estimat- mitted to the FOS records A maximum count of 23 Wallace, J.R. Ware, P. Ware, ed in a rooston L. Istokpoga, committee. A • plumaged Yellow-headed Blackbirds was R.L. West, T. West, R Highlands,Dec. 23 (ML, C & Stripe-headedTanager was made at 4 Palm Beach loca- Widrig,C. & M. Winegarner, MW). Presumablythe same, alongthe SnakeBight Trail, tions Feb. 2-4 (HPL, BHH, B. Witman, G.E. Woolfenden, determined Bahama Swallow EvergladesN.P., Dec. 14-25 GSH). No new locations were P.A. Young.--JOHN C. returned to the same s. Dade (BPe,MEG, PWS,SAS, ph. to reportedfor ShinyCowbirds, OGDEN, South Florida CaoeSwallow colony for the FOS records committee). A while up to six were in the ResearchCenter, Everglades 4th consecutiveyear, March 2; Summer Tanager in Home- usualHomestead to Flamingo National Park, Box 279, the Caveshad preceded it by steadFeb 6 (MB) and another spots(PWS, SAS) Bronzed Homestead, FL 33030

Volume 45, Number 2' 267 ONTARIOREGION ßWawa % Winisk non D. lY&ir ( Moosoneeß Theseason was most interesting and, like many aspectsof Nature, exhibitedboth pre- Cochraneß " dictable and contradictory •ultSt. Marie I• • occurrences. The trend to -'•k•..• ' Sudbu• <:• .Thunder Bay warmer winters continued with lesssnowfall throughout the southand cold snaps that lasted onlya few daysat a time. Pre- dictablewere the late lingering waterfowlthat exploitedopen water,and raptors that hunted successfullyin the shallow snow cover. This was the 'finchless' XL • ONrAR,O =awa'Cornwa,:• winter over much of the provinceas the birdsremained withintheir nesting range for the mostpart. On the other hand,many of thetraditionally hardywinterers like creepers, J Waterlooß Torontoß kinglets,Red-breasted Nut- Hamilton ß •arnia hatches,and PurpleFinches ß London clearedout almost completely. Feederoperators complained of low attendancerates. However, Red-belliedWoodpecker and CarolinaWren prosperedand many of these winterers are expectedto nestin theprovince. oughJan. 9 (AGC), andJones ter plumageremained Feb. ing of 11 at PeleeFeb. 28 tied Theirruptive species making Falls Jan. 6 (MH). Early 9-28 (RHC etaL). the earlyarrival date (GTH). headlineswere Gyrfalcon and migrantswere at PeleeFeb. 3 The overwinteringattempt The largestconcentrations of King Eider, both of which (AW) and St. Williams Feb. 21 by the Am. Bittern near Am. Black Duck and Mallard pushedsouth in numbersto the (RWK, MJ). The latestHorned Kingstonwas costly, as the bird were7500 and 12,500,respec- lower Great Lakes. The owl Grebes were at Silver Islet, slowlystarved and was finally tively,at WildwoodL., Oxj•rd, movement was mediocre, Thunder Bay, Dec. 15 (SVP, picked up deadJan. 2 (WG, Dec. 16 (JMH etaL).A 9 N. althoughnoteworthy incursions RMW), Owen Sound to Feb. RDW). TheGreat Egret at Pit- Pintail at BobcaygeonJan. to the south were detected for 18 (PM), andPelee Jan. 10-12 rockL., Woodstock,Dec. 1 was 1-Feb. 28 was unusual there GreatGray Owl and Northern (AW). The 25 Horneds and record late by 22 days for (RJP, RGT, DT), and a 9 Hawk Owl. nine Red-neckeds at Winona Oxfbrd(JH)and furnished one Blue-wingedTeal at Guelph Feb.28 (BS)were early arrivals. of few provincial recordsin Jan.19-20 was Wellington} first Abbreviations:P.E. Pt. (Prince The 76 Red-necked Grebes December. in winter (RVT). Of the 46 N. EdwardPt.); Pelee(Point Pelee madea seasonalhigh total, led Shovelersin Toronto'sHigh Nat'l Parkand vicinity); Algo- by 25 offManitoulin I. Dec. 1 WATERFOWL ParkDec. 1 (HK), eightwere nquinand Presqu'ile are Provin'- (JCN) and LongPoint's first The Lake Ontario mid-winter still presentFeb. 17 (AGC). cial Parks. Place names in italics ever in winter Dec. 15 (DA, waterfowl inventory Jan. 6 Two Gadwall at Pelee Feb. 4 refer to counties. DSh). resultedin a tally of about were recordearly by 2 days The influx of Northern Gan- 93,700individuals of 37 species (AW). A c3'Am. Wigeon X LOONS TO nets into the lower Great Lakes alongthe inshorewaters from WoodDuck hybridlingered HERONS basin, first noted during Kingstonwest to Niagara.Lead- near Woodstock Dec. 9-15 The 10 Red-throated Loons autumn,was evident early in ing the totals were 25,556 (JMH etal.). were the most in winter of the this period.One appearedat Canada Geese, 21,466 Old- Late Ring-necked Ducks last decade, and double the Queenston Dec. 2 (WD, RFA squaw,16,239 Mallards, and weresingles well n. at Swastika average.Singles were at Rich- et aL) and an immature was 10,052 Com. Goldeneye Dec. 16 (LT) and at PeleeJan. mondHill, LongPt., Niagara- pickedup alive but exhaustedat (WJE). 12 (AW). Kingston'sCom. on-the-Lake, P.E.Pt., Amherst KingstonDec. 6. It wasfattened The most northerly of 21 Eider tarried at Millhaven Nov. I., andWhitby Dec. 1-Jan.6. priorto itstrip Dec. 17 to New records of Wood Duck were of 24-Dec.2 andmoved to nearby laterbirds were singles at Whit- Jerseyfor successful release (ph. a male and femaleat Coboconk, Amherst I. by Jan. 6 (JHE, byFeb. 7, wherethree appeared KC). AnotherAtlantic coastrar- Victoria,a femaleat Bobcay- RDW et aL). The 20 King Feb.13 (BH, DDC, MJB),and ity to appear,also propelled pre- geon,Victoria (RJP, RGT, DT), Eiders constituted an invasion at Winona Feb. 28 (BS). More sumablySW along the St. all Dec. 1-Feb. 28, and three at (1982-1990winter average of than usual numbers of Pied- Lawrence R., was Great Cor- Black Rapids,Leeds, Jan. 16 4) that wasdetected last autumn billed Grebeswintered, includ- morant. An immature was in (N.L.B.). Two Green-winged when eight were shot at ing singlesn. to Owen Sound HamiltonJan. 5 (AGC), where Teal at SudburyDec. 23 were Presqu'ile.Singles were at Port Dec. 22-Feb. 8 (PM), Peterbor- two adults and one in first-win- late(DG, CTB) andthe sight- Elgin Nov. 25-Jan. 1 (MP),

268' American Birds, Summer 1991 Oshawa Dec. 2 (MJB), and duringthe period. Single Pere- Amherst I. Dec. 26 & 27 and grineFalcons were in Hamilton Feb. 15 each in different Dec. 10 (TC) andJan. 3 (RHC, plumage(TFMB, K.F.N.). Ii:•as'.theG•rfal•o ia:t•at stoi e BS), KingstonJan. 4 (PH), Anotherwas shot at Presqu'ile the'raptor shl)w, •iih numbers Toronto's e. Headland Dec. Dec. 5 (SML), but fortunately ex•e•ding•h0s•:0f •lSelr last big: 1-Feb. 28 (MWD etaL), and four were still alive there Dec. inva•k)rldu}i•g w•nter 1984• Ottawa Dec. 1-Feb. 28 Oqde 2-10 (AGC, CV etaL). Seven .•85.•n••6e mo•fl• •set(le• VBD. were near St. Catharines Dec. Theonly rail report was of a Billshape is usuallya goodfield 16 (MEH) andthe two females VirginiaRail at LongPt. Dec. mark in gull identificatio• but nut at Winona Nov. 29-Dec. 9 15-Mar. 12 (L.P.B.O., AW). always,as suggestedby this Ring- (MWD, EJ etaL) werejoined NoteworthyAm. Coots were sin- billed Gull with a deformed bill at byan imm. male Dec. 1-Jan. 6 glesat Tillsonburg Dec. 24 for Toronto,Ontario, December 28, 1990. Photograph/TimSabo. (JLO). Oxj•raesfirst in winter(JMH, HarlequinDucks numbered JSk) and WheatleyJan. 2-21 nine (1982-1990 winter aver- (AW etal.). throughoutthe periodover much ofs. Ontario, no doubt ageof 5), ledby fourin Sault Mild conditions through SteMarie Jan. 2, oneof which Decemberencouraged some lit- influencedby thewarm weath- waspresent Feb. 1-28 (EC, toralsto linger late, including a er.The only Franldin's Gull was GM). Two wereat Presqu'ile juv. LesserGolden-Plover at at NiagaraFalls Dec. 9 (fide Dec. 21 (DS) and singles ErieauDec. 16 (AW,MWJ). The RFA). FewerLittle Gulls fre- remained in Oshawa Dec. RuddyTurnstone at Wheatley quentedthe NiagaraR. than 26-Jan. 1 (GAS), Toronto Dec. 2-Jan. 1 (AW etaL) was normal(GBe), but 116 at Pelee IslandsJan. 6-20 (GC, WJE), thoughtto havebeen the same Dec.4 madea recordhigh tally and Winona Feb. 9-15 (KAM birdat ErieauJan. 6 (KJB).AW. there (AW). One at Wheatley Feb. 12 furnished the first mid- etal.). Leading the totals for the Sandpiperat TurkeyPt. Dec. winter record for the Pelee area largenumber of scotersnoted 8-11 (RDM etaL)was record were 25 Blacks off Amherst I. late for the province,and a (AW). One Corn.Black-headed Dec. 23 (K.F.N.), 27 Surfsat White-rumpedSandpiper at Gullappeared in theQueenston Pelee Dec. 22 (GTH) where Wildwood L. was recordlate for area Jan. 6-27 (fide RFA), two were record late Dec. 31 Ox•rdby13 days (JMH). Other Ontario's20th duringthe past (DGC, AW), and1045 White- tardywaders were the two Pec- 27 winters. The 40,000 Bona- parte'smoving past Niagara-on- wingedsat P.E.Pt. Jan. 6 the-Lake Dec. 8 were the sea- (K.F.N.). The only Barrow's Goldeneyenoted was a male son'shigh (GBe), and 75 adults near Lakefield Dec. 1-Feb. 28 at WheatleyFeb. 12 madea (DCS etal.). hightally for mid-winter (AW). Ontario's 13th Mew Gull VULTURESTO appearedin westToronto Dec. SHOREBIRDS 14-Feb.12 (ph.RY etal.),but Turkey Vultures were n. to was not alwayseasy to find Wolfe I. Dec. 16 (RDW), amongthe loafing gulls. The 45 Demorestville,Prince Edward, Icelands,nine Thayer's,and Jan. 2 (RTS), andJoyceville 176Glaucous gulls were normal Feb. 3 (KB). Another wasnear numbers,but the 70 Glaucous WoodstockJan. 27 (TS). The in w. Hamilton Bay Dec. 26 madea noteworthyconcentra- 100Bald Eagles reported in the This RuddyTurnstone at Wheatley tion (AW, RGF). The 19 Lesser south representeda further Harbour,Ontario, was already Black-backedGulls Dec. 1-Feb. increasein thespecies' steady extremelylate whenit waspho- rise since 1982. Enormous tographedon December5, 1990, 17 were double the 1982-1990 numbers of voles attracted 72 but it lingeredinto January. Pho- winteraverage of nine.Some 13 N. Harriers on Amherst I. Dec. tograplVAlanWormingtoo. were concentrated from the 23 (K.F.N.), whereraptor num- Torontoregion to Hamilton bersremained high through the and Niagara.The six others season. The 62 Red-tailed toralsat LongPt. Dec.2 (DAM werein Ottawa,Peterborough, Hawksat Presqu'ileDec. 16 etal.) andPurple Sandpipers at Wellington,and Wildwood L., werenoteworthy (SML), along Presqu'ileto Dec.21 (SC,PC) Oxj•rd.A GreatBlack-backed with the adult and immature andNiagara Falls Jan. 5 (JBMet Gull at Wildwood L. Jan. 20 frequentinga ThunderBay al.)and Feb. 3 (JMH etal.).The (JMH) provideda firstJanuary grainelevator Dec. 1-Feb. 28 lastof many late Dunlin were sin- recordfor Oxj•rd.Six Black- (NGE). Rough-leggedHawk glesat Presqu'ileto Dec. 21 leggedKittiwakes were the most numberswere up in s. Ontario, (SML)and Niagara Falls Jan. 5 duringwinter since 1983-1984. probablya resultof thelight (JBM et aL), andtwo eachat Singleswere at Wheatley Dec. 3 snowcover. Usually deep snow Eight Golden Eaglesabout AmherstI. to Dec. 23 (K.F.N.) & (AW), Fort Erie Dec. 9 (fide reducestheir huntingsuccess, equalledthe 1982-1990 winter Hamiltonto Jan. 1 (RHC etal.). RFA), St. CatharinesDec. 16 therebyforcing the birds farther averageof seven.They were in OqdeMEH), andWolfe I. Dec. southinto the USA. Highest Thunder Bay Dec. 10 (SVP, GULLS TO 16 (RDW, J. Haig). Two were concentrations were of 78 on RMW) andManitoulin I., Peter- OWLS at TurkeyPt. Dec. 15 (RHC et Amherst I. Dec. 27 (K.F.N.) borough,Algonquin, Prince Herring,Ring-billed, and Great aL). Ontario's2nd Ross'Gull and 46 at Metz Dec. 27 (RVT). Edward,Frontenac, and Wolfe I. Black-backedgulls were present delightedobservers at Turkey Volume 45, Number 2' 269 Pt. Dec. 11 (RDM et aL). The gara,Feb. 24 (fideRFA) and 18 Ottawa.Singles were in Ponty- Presqu'ileDec. 27-Mar. 1 (DS province'sfirst, May 14-24, at LansdowneFeb. 13 (N.L.B.). pool,Peterborough, Dec. 1-Feb. et aL), Wheatley P.P. Jan. 1983,was photographed along The onlyBoreal Owls were sin- 28 (AP), Inverhuron, Bruce, 3-Feb. 28 (DGC etaL), and the James Bay coast at gleson Amherst I. Dec.21-Jan. Feb.15 (MP), and Port Sydney, Nephton,Peterborough, Feb. Moosonce. 6 (ph.AS etal.) andManitoulin Muskoka, Dec. 1-Feb. 28 10-14 (CAS etal.). The Swain- SnowyOwls totalled about I. Feb. 14 (SH). A N. Saw-whet (JGfd). A late House Wren son'sThrush at Leamington 60 in the south,their bestshow- Owlwas well north at Virginia- appeared at Erieau Dec. 16 Jan. 1-2 furnished a first local ing sincewinter 1987-1988. townJan. 3 (ph.MN etal.). (AW),and noteworthy among winter record (AW et aL). The onlyconcentrations were of nine late Marsh Wrens was one Flocksof upto 100Am. Robins 11 on Wolfe I. and 10-13 on KINGFISHERS TO nearPresqu'ile Dec. 16 (CV et were reportedall winter from AmherstI. throughthe period GNATCATCHERS al.).Golden-crowned Kinglets Waterloo,Niagara, Durham, (K.F.N.).Following the strong WinteringBelted Kingfishers werescarce everywhere. A lone Simcoe,and Frontenac. Six Var- irruption of N. Hawk Owls weren. to Battle,Peterborough, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher appeared ied Thrushesequalled the duringautumn, it wasnot sur- andMinden, and single Red- at Long Pt. Dec. 15 (AW, 1977-1990winter average: at a prisingthat the speciescontin- headedWoodpeckers were far- MWJ). Thunder Bay feeder Nov. uedto appearin numbers.Five ther north in SudburyDec. 25-Feb. 28 (EH), Red Rock in the north and 12 in the south 1-31 (JCN) andon Manitoulin THRUSHES TO Dec. 12-Jan. 15 (OC), Sault exceeded those totals from the I. Nov. 15-Jan. 31 (RCa, WARBLERS Ste. Marie Jan. 1-Feb. 28 (A. irruption of 1987-1988. Two DEB). The 44+ Red-bellied WinteringE. Bluebirdsnum- Walker), GuelphDec. 1-Feb. remainedin Sudburythrough- Woodpeckerswere indicative of beredfive n. to MoscowJan. 18 28 (fideKAM), NobletonDec. out the season(JCN) and sin- theirstrong numbers, and pio- (EK), fourin CamdenEast Jan. 5-Jan. 31 (JRM), and Klein- gleswere in North BayDec. 8 neersexpanded the range again. 19 (PG), and four at Castleton burgDec. 14 (JL). (RDT), Nolalu,Thunder Bay, Singleswere n. toThunder Bay Jan. 31 (SML). Pelee's 4th Six Gray Catbirdswere the Dec. 18 (JM), and Sault Ste Dec. 1-Feb. 28 (AV et aL), Mountain Bluebirdlingered mostin winterin at leasta decade; MarieJan. 1-Mar. 5 (ph.DG et Sault Ste. Marie about Dec. 15 Nov. 30-Dec. 3 (JEFetal.). Six theywere in downtownToronto aL). Thosein the southwere led (NH), NorthBay Dec. 15-Jan. Townsend's Solitairesoccurred Dec. 1-Feb.17 (TS,AD), Toron- by five on Manitoulin I. Dec. 31 (RDT), and Barrie I. off during the 8 winters 1982- to'sHigh Park Feb. 9-28 (GC), 3-Feb. 28 (JCN) and threein Manitoulin Feb. 1-28 (JCN). OttawaDec. 2 to lateFebruary At thee. edge of therange, four (VBL). Singleswere in Kenil- birdswintered at 3 Kingston worth Dec. 15 (G. Meyer), sites (K.F.N.). Toronto's Yel- BrightonNov. 28-Jan.20 (KL low-belliedSapsucker spent the etal.)until it waskilled by a car, periodagain alive and well in RichmondHill Jan.15-Feb. 23 the Mr. PleasantCemetery (DWT etaL), and Indian R., (HK), and tardy sapsuckers Peterborough,Jan. 20-Feb. 13 weresingles on Wolfe I. Dec. (PB et aL). GreatGray Owls 16 (RDW), westToronto Dec. alsoerupted into the south, but 23 (HK), TillsonburgDec. 24 typicallywithout any signs of (JMH, JSk),and the Jarvis area them last fall. The 20 birds in Jan.1 (JBM, SJM,GP). the Thunder Bay areaDec. A Barn Swallow near 1-Feb. 28 were most ever there Brightontarried Nov. 21-Dec. (NGE). The 13 in the south 13 (LC).Extralimital Gray Jays arrived in e. Ontario at Ottawa pushedsouth to Clarendon, Dec. 9 (fide VBL), Perth, Frontenac, Oct. 15-Mar. 7 Lanark,Dec. 12 (RB), and near (M_AS),Dyer's Bay Dec. 1-Feb. Smith'sFalls Jan. 12 (G. Ide). 28 (TRM), ColpoysJan. 12 One reachedMarkham Jan. 26 (TRM), KleinburgJan. 26 & (JW).The big influx with a sec- 30 (REA), and Tamworth Feb. ond wave occurred on Mani- 9 (ST). For the firsttime, roosts toulin I., whereeight birds of Corn. Ravenwere discovered appearedFeb. 4-28 (JCN), and in theKingston area, containing another showed at Ottawa Feb. 25 birdsat theCharleys Locks 24 & 26 (VBL). Two of those sitefrom Dec. 20 (MB, RDW) onManitoulin I. werekilled by and 20 at the Canoe L. site dur- cars. ingJanuary (JG). Red-breasted Numbers of Short-cared Nuthatchesand Brown Creep- Owlswere way up, providing a erswere scarce everywhere. basisfor some optimism for this Carolina Wren numbers, speciesthought to bein trouble buoyedby a seriesof mildwin- becauseof habitat destruction. ters, reached an all-time winter The 100in HaldimandJan.13 highof 103+birds. The 84+in werepart of a largergroup win- the traditional range from Townsend'sSolitaire at WheatleyProvincial Park, Ontario, January 3, teringthere (JBM, GP etaL). Hamiltonand Niagara to the 1991.Four in the province this winter represented aninvasion. Phol;o- Some 50 overwintered at 8 sites southwestwere part of a steady graplVAlanWormington. nearLondon (PAR) and up to rise,but 19 elsewhere were a big 40 each were on Wolfe I. and jumpfrom the 1982-1990win- 1990, so this season'sfour con- WhitbyDec. 23-Jan. 12 (RGT et AmherstI. duringthe period ter averageof six. Seveneach stitutedan invasion.Singles aL),Peterborough Nov. 17-Dec. (K.F.N.). Other concentrations wintered at sites in the Toronto werein ThunderBay around 16 (WM), and London Feb. 21 were of 24 at Stevensville,Nia- andKingston areas, with twoat Dec. 15 (ph., fide NGE), (JMcK).The 6th waswell north 270. American Birds,Summer 1991 at ThunderBay Dec. 6-7 (S & PeleeDec. 22 (fideAW) and frequenteda feeder 40 kms. of bell (RCa), D.J. Caple, A.G. MB). oneat AldershotDec. 31 (JLO). ThunderBay Dec. 8-13 (ph.S Carpenter,0. Cearnes,D.G. The Bohemian Waxwing Two FoxSparrows appeared at & RI et al.). The extensivegrey Cecile,P. Chapman,S. Char- flightwas moderate from Sud- GoreBay, Manitoulin I., Feb. on the head suggestedthe bonneau,L. Chatten (LC), T. burye. to Ottawa,where num- 24-28 (SW) from unknown "Hepburn's"orcoastal race of Cheskey,B. & M. Chomyshyn, bersbuilt up after Jan. 8 (VBL). origins. theGray-crowned Rosy Finch K. Chubb, W.S. Climie, G. Movement s.w. of this axis was The only Yellow-headed that occurs from Alaska s. to Coady,T. Cole(TC), D. Craw- evidentduring early February as Blackbird was an imm. male at British Columbia. Pine Gros- ford (DC), D. Crysler(DCy), 430 birds penetratedto the BrightonDec. 16-Jan. 6 (S& beaks remained in the north H.G. Currie, R.H. Curry, E. Pickeringarea Feb. 2-3 (fide DH), whichcompares with the within their breeding range, Czerwinski, W. D'Anna, A. MJB)and 30 arrivedat Camden 1982-1990 winter averageof andmost Purple Finches had Davidson, M.W. DeLorey, East Feb. 3 (PG). Singles twobirds. The threeRusty and left the provincelast autumn, B.M. DiLabio, R.Z. Dobos, reachedGuelph Jan. 30 (BKW) one Brewer's blackbirds at Swe- leavingonly a fewspread over W.J.Edmunds, J.H. Ellis,N.G. andWheatIcy P.P. Feb. 3 (B & aburg, Oxford,Jan. 1 were widelyscattered areas. Large Escott,J.E. Faggan, D. Fidlet, MC), thesame day two were in unusual for winter (JMH). numbers of Red Crossbillswere R.G. Finlayson,F. Foster,J. PortRoyal (RZD). Numbers of OtherBrewer's were five along in PetroglyphsP.P. during the Geale0Ge), P. Good,W. Got- N. Shrikeswere up sharply L. St. ClairJan. 1 (KJBeral.), period.Two males killed on the rod,D. Gorsuch,J. Grandfield nearlyeverywhere with 154+ two at Brighton Jan. 1-10 road there showed measure- (JGfd),J. Gregory(JG), S. & birds. On Amherst I., where (AGC, TS etal.), and onenear mentsof wings and culmen well D. Hadlington,G. Haldane about 10 wintered, the shrikes Nobleton, York,Jan. 26-Mar. 1 beyondthe rangeof thesub- (GH), S. Hall, N. Hanigan,T. were eating meadowvoles (DJC). ThreeCom. Grackles speciesL.c. sitkensis. These data, Hanrahan, E. Hansen,J. Har- whichthey stored on the thorns survivedat a feeder in Kirkland togetherwith their orange red vey,M.E. Hebb,M. Henririck, of hawthorne. Lake Dec. 1-Feb. 28 (LT) and plumageand 'choopchoop' B. Henshaw, G.T. Hince, J.M. An Orange-crownedWar- another was in Matchewan to callswhen alive, suggested the Holdsworth, R.P. Holland, P. bler, very rare in winter, Dec. 25 (LT). The c• Brown- subspeciesL.c. minor, the old Hunt, S. & R. Illingworth,M. appearedin ColchesterDec. headed Cowbird at a feeder northeastern subspeciesre- Jacklin (MJ), B. Jackson,A. 15-17 (PDP, AW). A Yellow- withinAlgonquin Dec. l-Feb. named L.c. neogaea(see AB Jaramillo,E. Jefferson,M.W. rumpedWarbler wintered at a 27 wasthe park's first in winter 41:189-194, 1987) (RJP). A Jennings,J.W. Johnson,E. feederin Toronto's Rexdalearea (]. Coons). few Reds were noted s. to Keech,H. Kerr,Kingston Field (MAK), but the specieswas Ontario's 2nd ever Bram- Presqu'ile,Whitby, Ox•rd, and Naturalists, R.W. Knapton, scarceeverywhere. The Yellow- blingvisited a feedern. of Port LongPt. Dec. 2-28, but a flock M.A. Kubisz, V.B. Ladouceur, throatedWarbler reported last HopeFeb. 20-28 (JGeetaL). of 22 appearedat LongPt. in S.M. LaForest,K. Lajeunesse, autumn at Heathcote remained Theprovince's 6th Rosy Finch lateFebruary (L.P.B.O.). Only J.G. Lemon,T. Lobb,Long Pt. to Dec.26 (DCy) andanother nineWhite-winged Crossbills BirdObservatory, J. Loue (JL), was in Leamington Dec. 22 werereported during the peri- H. Lumsden,J.R. Macey,V.P. (MBI).A lateOvenbird dined at od, from widely separated Mackenzie, J. Manuel (JM), a Mississaugafeeder Dec. 3-27 locales.Redpolls failed to move D.A. Martin, W. McCord, J.D. (GH), while another at an in anynumbers s. of a linejoin- McCracken, J. McKeeman Ottawafeeding station survived ingSudbury n.e. to Virginia- (JMcK), K. McKeever,K.A. Dec. 16-Feb. 28 (fideVBL). town.The only Hoary Redpoll McLaughlin,N. McPherson, Since 1982, there have been wasa singlenear Thunder Bay R.D. McRae, G. Meagen, P. Ovenbirdrecords during 3 win- Feb.24 (JSk).Pine Siskins were Middleton, J.B. Miles, S.J. ters.Even more bizarrewere the alsovery scarce in thesouth and Miles, A. Mills, T.R. Murray, three N. Waterthrushes. One werenoted in numbersonly on J.C. Nicholson,M. Nickerson, wasin the Long Pt. areaDec. Manitoulin I. (JCN) and North LeedsBirdwatchers, J.L. 15-16 (L.P.B.O.,TS), another Temiskaming(PWR). Evening Olmsted, M. Parker,D. Peura- remained in Toronto's Grosbeaksremained plentiful in maki,S.V. Phippen,R.J. Pitt- Lambtonwoods Dec. 23-Jan. 6 mostof theirnesting range and away,G. Pond,P.D. Pratt,A. (AR, NM), while the 3rd for- onlya fewpenetrated farther Proctor, R.A. Read, P.W. agedsuccessfully all winter in south. Richter,A. Riley,T. Sabo,D.C. theSnowy Owl pensof Toron- Sadlet, M.A. Saunders,C.A. to'sMetro Zoo (MWD etal.). Corrigendum: AB 44:1128, Schaefer, D. Schoenefeld column 4, bottom, the Whim- (DScd), A. Scott, G.A. Scott BIJNIINGS TO brels were at Hurkett June 3 D. Shanahan(DS), N. Shantz, FINCHES (SVP,WSC) not at Presqu'ile D. Shepherd(DSh), J. Skeving- Single Indigo Buntings, June 13. ton (JSk), B. Smith, R.B.H. extremelyrare in winter,were at Smith, R.T. Spraque, R.D. Tobermory Dec. 19-Jan. 10 Subregionaleditors (boldface), Tafel, L. Taman, D.C. (JWJ,TRM) andWhitby Dec. contributors(italics), and cited Thompson,W. Thompson, 23-Jan. 12 (DB et aL). The observers: R.F. Andrlc, D. D.W. Tomlinson, D. Tozer, most northerly of the nine Argo,R.E. Ashnail,D.E. Bai- R.G. Tozer, S. Treganza,R.V. Rufous-sidedTowhee reports ley, M.J. Bain, D. Barry, R. Twest,C. Vardy,A. Veurink, wasthe single at a feedernear Beacock(RB), T.F.M. Beck T. Waite, A.T. Walker, J. Wat- Clinton Dec. 23-Feb. 28 (TL). C.T. Bell, G. Bellerby(GBe), son, R.D. Weir, S. White, C.J. RosyFinh inthe Thuner Bay Rareover?vintering Chipping M. Blagdurn (MBI), C.G. Whitelaw, H. & W. Wilson, A. Districtof Ontario,December 9, Blomme, R.L. Bowles, H. Wormington,R.M. Worona, Sparrowsincluded one at Sud- 1990. Sixthprovinial record.The bury to Jan. 19 (DScd) and Bremner,M. Brown (MB), S. & B.K. Wyatt, R. Yukich.-- veryextens'we gray on the face RON D. WEIR, 294 Elm- another in Paris, Waterloo, to suggestsa northwestcoastal M. Bryan,K. Bull (KB), D.N. Feb. 15 (H & WW). Late form,unexpected as a strayso far Bucknell,K.J. Burk, P. Burke, wood Street, Kingston, ON SavannahSparrows were two at east. Photograpb/N.G.Escort. L. Campbell(LCa), R. Camp- K7M 2Y8. Volume 45, Number 2 ' 271 APPALACHIAN TN, thelatter providing a first localwinter record (RK). REGION GreaterScaup are usually rare Pymatun•ngRes.•;œ• :? -Baldß in thisRegion, so reports from GeorgeA. Hall PymatuningL., PA, Dec. 16

Yi• L.Arthur :.•'•.pA'/:; • -State• ' .,,_ (first CBC record) (RFL), Mosquito L., OH, Dec. 16 - Piltsburgh FromErie, Pennsylvania, Jerry ß : Powdermill:.'"• (NB), Mason, WV, Dec. 29 McWilliamssummed up the • ßWheeling • •' (WA), andtwo wintering at seasonfor thewhole Region: JohnsonCity, TN (RK), were "Fall extendedwell into winter • • .•' e9henyFrq• all notable. All three scoters and then spring arrived." :' .•b•-. WEST.•• _ wereat P.I.S.P.,with up to four Indeed,it wasanother year Blacks,a totalof 20 Surfs,and without a real winter. All three 18White-winged scoters (JM). ß' ßCh• .ß month.saveraged warmer than .. ntin•onß ..??•. •- . • A White-wingedScoter was also normaland there were only one reported from Roanoke,VA or two reallycold spells.At Jan.19 (MS). Theprize water- Pittsburghthe rainfallfor the 'KY ,;!•::'5;:.:'." .;'-Blac. fowl recordsof the seasoncame three monthswas 10.63 inches from P.I.S.P. with an immature while the normal is 8.49 inches. King Eider (ph.) Jan. 1-27 December alone had 8.51 inch- (TF) anda 9 HarlequinDuck es.There were no heavy snow- (ph.) Feb. 17 for the 9th Erie falls. record(JM). Mostof theRegion had plen- ty ofopen water throughout the RAPTORS period,which resulted in many A Black Vulture at State Col- waterfowlremaining in the lege,PA, Dec. 4 wasrare there north, andalso produced an in anyseason (TF). Turkey Vul- unusual number of records of tures arrived in the north in the 3rdweek of February,as much gullsand other wedand species. and winteringreports came (EB).A belatedGreat Egret was Unlikelast year the Christ- from Fishersville,VA (SR), at RuralRetreat L., VA, Dec. 14 as8 daysearly at someplaces. masBird Counts(CBC) were Rowan (FB), and Warren, PA (HC). The only Ospreyreport was conductedin mild, open weath- (DD). A Red-neckedGre• was fromLaughlintown, PA, Jan. 17 er andmany regions reported at P.I.S.P. Feb. 16 (DHo) and WATERFOWL (RM,RCL). Bald Eagle sight- recordhigh numbers for many an Eared Grebe was there Dec. ingswere reported from 13 dif- Theabundance of openwater ferentareas. Eagles were at a species.Surprisingly, though, 8-Jan. 1 (EK). The 14 Horned madea markedchange in the there were not a lot of "half- Grebesat SomersetL., PA, Dec. nestingsite at Mosquito L., waterfowlstatus of manyareas. OH, in lateFebruary (DH) and hardy"stragglers reported. 3 (TM) madean interesting Many birds remained in the Wild foodsupplies were ade- wereat theBath, VA, nesting concentration,but the flight of northas, for example,the ice- siteJan. 21 (MH). quateand many backyard feed- about 400 that arrived at freewaters at PresqueIsle Bay, ingstations were nearly deserted P.I.S.P. the night of Feb. 15 Cooper'sHawks, Red-tailed for most of the season.There Erie,PA, had large numbers all Hawks, and Am. Kestrelswere (JM) was most remarkable. winter with maximum countsof was no influx of "northern all in goodnumbers, and there Could theyhave been forced 10,000Com. Goldeneyes, 6000 finches,"but SnowyOwls and outof•e northby a freezeup?Canvasbacks, and 1200 Red- weremany reports of the usually rare Sharp-shinnedand Red- NorthernShrikes made a good A Horned Grebe was also at heads(JM). Consequently showing. Trout Run Res., PA, Dec. shoulderedhawks. Wintering numberswere low in the south, N. Harriers were found at Lan- 30-Jan. 15 (• & RCL), and andsome regions had few or no der, PA (WH), Somerset,PA Abbreviations:B.E.S.P. (Bald therewere 4 reportsfrom n.e. ducks.Most areas, however, did EagleState Park, CentreCo.,, %nnessee(•). (TM), MosquitoL., OH (CB), PA); Ch.N.F. (Chattahoochee reporta goodvariety of species,and Toccoa, GA (DB). The Two or •ree DouNe-crested and at severalplaces CBC Nat'l Forest, GA); K.C.P.P. Cormorants were at P.I.S.P. only reportsof N. Goshawks countsset new species highs. camefrom Kinzua Dam, PA, (KygerCreek Power Plant, Gallia fromDec. 15 to Feb.10 (JM) Tundra Swanswere still mov- Co., OH); M.E.C.H. (MinorE. •d •o wintered on S. Hoiston Jan.4 (DD, WH), Cambridge ing south in Decemberwith Springs,PA, Jan. 19 (RFL),and Clark Hatchery,Rowan Co.. L., TN (• whileother reports scatteredreports from w. Penn- KY); P.N.R. (PowdermillNature nearErie, PA, in a flightof Red- camefrom C.F.H., •, Jan.11 sylvanialocalities, induding a Reserve,Westmoreland Co., PA); (FB),Pymatuning L., PA,Dec. taileds,Feb. 24 (JM).Rough- high countof 120 at Kinzua legged Hawks were more P.I.S.P.(Presque Isle State Park, 16 (•D, and Woo••, Dec. Dam, PA, Dec. 26 (RL). More Erie Co., PA). Place names in ]] 0D. widespreadthan usual, possibly italicsare counties. unusualwere reports from anotherconsequence of the Theabundan• of open water K.C.P.P. in s. Ohio Jan. 26 mild weather. The southern- produceda largenumber of LOONS TO (WA), and Fishersville,VA, wintering Great Blue Herons mostreports were from Mason HERONS through the period (SR). A and Cabell, WV (WA), and evenas far northas Craw•rd, GreaterWhite-fronted Goose, A Red-throated Loon was at Augustaand Highland, VA (SR). PA, where 25 were listed on the with Canadas,at CaveRun L., P.I.S.P.Dec. 2 (JM). Common CBC Dec. 16 (RFL). At the KY, Jan. 11 (FB) furnishedthe Theonly reports of wintering Loonswere widely reported in heronry in Mercer, the first first local record. Snow Geese GoldenEagles came from High- land,VA, whereas many as December,with a highcount of Great Blues•rived Feb. 19 and werereported from Pymatuning 121 at S. HoistonL., TN (BC). bythe end of theperiod 75 were threewere seen Jan. 4 (SR).A A total of 23 wintered on lakes L., PA (m.ob.);Shenango L., birdthought to bea belatedfall present,perhaps 15% of the PA (EB); Wood (KC) arid nearElizabethton, TN (RK), expectedbreeding population migrantwas seen at BaldEagle Cabell,WV (WA); and UnicoM, Mt., PA,Jan. 13 (KS). 272 ßAmerican Birds, Summer 1991 Unusualfor winter were "goodnumbers" ofGlaucous goodnumbers inthe far north Merlinsat Stuart's Draft, VA, Gulls.Two of theThayer's ofthe Region, in Erie,Warren, Dec.31 (SR), Erie, PA, Feb. 16 Gullswere the first adults ever $.•L andElk, PA, Trumbull, OH, 0M),and perhaps thesame bird recorded inPennsylvania (JM,What gives withthe Short:cared andinthe mountains ofSomer- atP.I.S.P. Feb.2 0eS, JiS). EK). Owls?Until recently thiswas a set,PA. Especially noteworthy Mostunusual were Forster's rar•specie•inthis Regjqn, but wasa Bewick'sWren in GROUSETO Ternsreported from P.I.S.P. suddenly i•t:has turne•.intO a Whioqeld, GA,Dec. 17 (MP). TERNS Jan.13-19 (JM) and Boone L.,common w•ntering bi•d RuffedGrouse werereported as TN, Dec. 24 (RK). Both pro- places, particularly wheretecov: KINGLETS TO doingPA(PS,very GS).well Wild at LockTurkey Haven,pop- vided firstlocal winter records. siveereda•eas surface 0fgrassland mines offer habitai:. exten- In WARBLERSDespite themild winter, few ulationsseemto be booming as, OWl• TO Pennsylvania,reportscamqfro• Golden-crownedKingletswere forexample, therecord high48 WRENS Erie(up to s•y•h bi?d•) (J•), reported,andRuby-crowned listedonthe Clarksville, PA, A Barn Owl nest inWashington, 'Mer•erand Clarion (30birdi) Kingletswere reported only CBC(RB) and the 12-15 that TN, had 7eggs (one hatching) i•), •ndWarren (WH). }n fromB.E.S.P. Dec.31 0P) and flewacross Interstate 79in Hat- Feb. 18(DHu). TheHunting- .Oh]q,•ol•mbi• nah•dU• to fromStaunton, VA(CC). A rison,WV,Jan. 25(GB). ton,WV, CBC listed arecord seyen {DH•N-B)•]ej•son l•adBlue-gray Gnatcatcher atBoone InWhioqeld, GA,200 south- eight Great Horned Owls upto El(MA), an•otfiers'we}e Dam,TN,Dec. 21(DH) pro- boundSandhill Cranes were (WA). Snowy Owls were ih Ath}m(MF', jE). M6rc vided the first local winter seenDec. 16 (CB1,KSa) while • rernatkable•asthei• occurrence record. There were only a few innearby Murray, northbound ß..... inat l•ast • 10ca'tions n•rWay 2 reports ofHermit Thrushes, but birdswere reported thelast • Shenar;doahYa!ley,n•boro•VA,i• tile agriculturalwith •h' 'a E.monBluebirds than usualweremoreand com- Am. weekofFebruary (HD,MDa). countof12 at Swo6pe F•b.26 Robinswerepresent inlarge cranesInthe nowHiawasee winter CBCby thecircle,"hun- } (RS). numbersevenin the north. A dreds"where even aslate as the ...... VariedThrush (ph.) at Walden, mid-1980stheywere unknown TN,Dec. 13-Feb. 15apparent- (JPa).Most unusual wasaSand- • Owlswere at P.I.S.P. Dec. lyfurnished thefirst state record hillCrane atColyer L, PA, Feb. 8-Feb.17 (DDa); a roost of 0Pa). 2(EBu, MR). possiblyfour was located in Theonly reports ofGray Therewere numerous reports Clarion,PA(WF); and one was Catbirdscame from Centre, PA, ofwintering Killdeer, with a aroad-kill inMason, WV, Feb. Dec. 12 (J & BP) and Jan. 12 highnumber of120 at Boone 3(WA). (TF),but Brown Thrashers Dam, TN (RK), and spring The Black-chinnedHum- werereported from Warren,PA migrantsarrivedby mid-Febru- • mingbirdreported inthe fall (WH),Centre, PA,Dec. 2(J & ary.A RuddyTurnstone at reportfrom Chattanooga wasBPe), Somerset, PA,Dec. 28 P.I.S.P.Jan 26 furnished the $aowyOwlat Edinbor0, Erie lastseen there Jan. 14 (JPa). (TM), Fishersville, VA,Dec. 15 firstlocal winter record (JM). County,Pennsylvania, onFebruary Red-bellied Woodpeckers con- (SR), and Morehead, KY,Dec. FiveAm. Woodcock were seen winter,3,1991. onlyIn this a few non-invasionSnowies made tinue to expand tothe north 16(FB), and they were regular inCentre, PA,Dec. 3(MB) and itas far sootb asPennsylvaaia. withreports from Warren arToccoa, GA(DB). theone at P.I.S.P. Jan. 2pro- Photograph/JerryMcWilliams. (WH) and atotal of 10-12 in AmericanPipitswere found videdafirst winter record there Clarion,inplace of the usual in Meigs, OH, Dec. 30 (VF) (BW).By the 3rd week in reportedfrom P.I.S.P. Jan. one(WF). Eastern Phoebes and Washington, TN,Jan. 2 February,woodcock weredis- 31-Feb.25(JD), a2nd bird in winteredinmore than the usual (RK). Itwas agreat year for N. playingatmany places, andone Erie Dec. 2(RC), Pymatuning numbers. Therecord ofthe sea- Shrikes withat least 15birds shotin Washington, TN,Feb. L.,PA, Dec. 29-Jan. 5(RFL, son was ofanAsh-throated Fly- reported, allin northern loca- 23was carrying anegg in the IK),and Wood, WV, Dec. 1-8 catcher(ph.) inJejS•rson, WV, tions: four in Erie (JM), one in oviduct(AA). (JE).One or two Long-eared Dec. 15-26 (RD, WHe). Venango,PA(JM), four in War- Itwas agreat year for gulls, Twolarge concentrations of ten,PA (WH), two in Centre, andreports ofunusual numbers HornedLarks were reported: PA(JP), and four in Trumbull, ofRing-billed Gullscame from 400-500inSomerset, PA,Dec. OH (CB, DH). Individual Log- allover the Region. AtPresque • • 26(TM) and 447 at Stuart's gerhead Shrikes werereported IsleBay, PA, gull numbers Draft,VA, Jan. 9(SR). Black- from Murray, GA (HD), peakedatjust under 100,000 cappedChickadees hadstaged a Stephens, GA(DB), and Rock- withan unprecedented totalof modestsouthward movement in bridge, VA (SR), as well as 1000Great Black-backed Gulls theautumn, but a record total 10-12reports from the Eliza- (JM).As usual, one Great of442 on the CBC at Lock bethton, TN,area (RK) which Black-backedwas seen at Haven,PA, was remarkable has been the last stronghold of B.E.S.P.,Jan.5 (lvlW). Ten to (PS).This Count also had a thespecies inthis Region. 20Bonaparte's Gullswintered recordhigh of159 Tufted Tit- Yellow-rumpedWarblers atBoone L.,TN (RIO, 15 were mice(PS). There were scattered were unusually numerous even seeninWhitfield, GA,Jan. 20 reportsof Red-breastedinthe North. At Lock Haven (HD),and 258 were reported at Nuthatchescoming tofeeders, PA, 37 on the CBC was the MosquitoL.,OH, Dec. 16 butno major invasion. Brown- 2nd-highest ever(PS). Other (NB).Finally, theroll call ofthe headedNuthatches werepresent than afew Pine Warblers inthe rarergulls from P.I.S.P. includ- • t ' allseason atToccoa, GA(DB). south,theonly other warbler edup to four adult and one L0ng-earedOwlatPre•ue Isle CarolinaWrencontinues to records camefrom n.e. Ten- imm.Little Gulls, four Thayer s State Park, Pennsylvania, Febru-thrive, andthe rather mild win- nessee:aYellow-throated War- Gulls,six Iceland Gulls, seven a• 17,1991. Photograph/Jerry terwas good tothem. Especially blerwintered ata feeder inUni- LesserBlack-backed Gulls,and MeWilliams. encouragingwerereports of colfor a first local winter record Volume 45, Number 2 ' 273 (GW);WashingtonaPalmFeb. Warbler6(TMc); wasandin White-winged9 (CC). TheonlyCrossbills report came of WESIERN GRr•I Wisconsintheaccount hadthatafewfollows, ofboth. place In atCorn.Elizabethton Yellowthroats Dec.were16noted (FA) from (LB).Athens, There OH,were inFebruaryonly two L•KESREGION andnamesto inreduce italics are unnecessarycounties andWashington Jan.2(RK). reportsofCorn. Redpolls: 25in DavidJ.Powell duplication,onlythe most Huntingdon,PA,Jan. 3 (MW) exceptionalChristmas Bird SPARROWS70 andtwo at P.I.S.P. Feb. 23 0B). Countdata are included. FINCHES Therewere widely scattered Mostofthe sparrows, including reports ofsmall numbers ofPine Generally,itwas another mild LOONSTO Rufous-sidedTowheeand Dark- Siskins andEvening Grosbeaks. winter in theRegion, with WATERFOWL eyedJunco, drew highly varied The siskins occurred mostly as belowaverage snowfall, particu- reports.Afew areas hadgood singles orvery small flocks, while lady inthe north, andnear aver- Thethe seasononly Red-throatedwas one Dec.Loon 4 ofat numbers,evenrecord highnum- the grosbeaks fellinto one of agetemperatures. Theseason New Buffalo, Berrien, MI(RS). bersofsome species, butmost three categories: (1)a very few startedwitha bang, when abliz- areashadvery low numbers or stations hadmoderate numbers zardmoved through thesouth- DecemberCommon Loonsin Wisconsinlingered intoand weremissing certainspecies alto-all season, (2)many stadons hadern portions ofthe Region, Michigan, andone Jan. 14 at gether.Forseveral years,without occasional smallgroups, and(3) dumpingafoot or more of SaultSte.Marie, MI(RP), was muchnotice, Am.Tree Sparrow many stations hadnone. snowinmany areas, butthe thelast reported. Pied-billed hasdisappeared asawintering temperaturesthenwarmed, Grebes lingered inall 3 states birdfrom thecentral partofthe Contributors: RichardAlmy, most ofthe snow melted, andwith individuals overwintering erallyRegion,reportedand thisas beingyear itunusuallywas gen- MichaelFred Alsop, Arabia, Andy Atomann,Wendell tivelythe next mild. several Manylakes weekswere inMin- rela- in Kalamazoo, MI(JG), and scarceinthe north also.A Vesper Argabrite, CaroleBabyak, Jimhavenesota beenwhich frozen normally for several would Eauthe Duluth Claire, WICBC, (JP), the andfirst one ever on Sparrowwasat Waynesboro, Barker, Lynn Barnhart, Ralph HornedGrebes lingered in VA,Jan. 10(SR). Fox Sparrows Bell,Clyde Blum (CB1), George weeks remained open,resulting Michigan andWisconsin, with werereported morecommonly Breiding, Margaret Britting- , inusual many onmore their waterbirds CBCs. Latethan the highest count20 on Jan. 12 eyedJuncothanusual. An"Oregon"came to afeederat Dark-Edwardham, JamesBrucker, Brooks Nancy (JBr), December toearly January Girard,OH, all season (J& Brundage,Edward Budd (EBu), resulted inmore sleet and ice in DH). DavidBulluck, Fred Busroe, Wisconsin thannormal, again SingleLapland Longspurs Crista Cabe, Kathy Cain, Hart- inthe southern two-thirds. The•rumpeter Swansln•at}hn wereseen atP.I.S.P. Dec. 1(EK) sellCash, Alan Clark, Linda Tessenremarked thatit seemed theRegit,n:i• N:Comn • m rc & 22(GR), and six were at Christenson,RogerCode, Brian more like the southern states .*nd more confused w•th anotherlocation inErie Jan. 17 Cross,Dave Darney (DDa), than the Great Lakes. InMin- ,•onii•nu•gin/rroductions an, (JiS,SS).Wellsouth ofnormal David Davis,Mike Davis nesota,temperatures dropped m9r½slghtingg. Tfiis range,andproviding afirst coun- (MDa), Bob Dean, Julie Dell, wellbelow zero during thesame unhanded asWell tyrecord, wasa flock ofat least Harriett DiGioia, Dan Doher- period, with temperatures get- bi?d• Wer• •n i,,.•D 13longspurs atStuart's Draft ty,Mike Donahue, Jeanette ting as low as -45øF. Warmer with five at OSb' •=g VA,Jan. 8and later, associating Esker,Victor Fazio, TedFloyd, weather followed, butthe real (TZji 0ne interm•rte withthe large flock of Hornet StevenGrado, Mike Griffith, surprise wasin early February the •iss•s•j•P'i R.'i, u Larksmentioned above(SR). Greg Grove, John Heninger, when arecord warm spell came, tm.0b•);.andofie fou-• FourSnow Buntings werealso ir MozelleHenkel, Wilbur Hersh- particularly innorthern Min- 1 •• Tri•P•&i• thisconcentration, whichwas berger, William Highhouse, nesota. Manyrecord highswere :which dieds•eyerafday• 'r causedbya snowfall (SR).One David Hochadel,Judy recorded, astemperatures ran lead poisoni..ng (fideFI I n SnowBunting had also been Hochadel,Deuanne Hoffman 20-30 degrees above normal. A Minnesota,. ana pp 'ar•nil• ,aud foundnear Fishersville, VA,Dec. (DHo),Dan Huffine (DHu), trulystartling temperature was "wild and countable" Trumpeter 15(SR). RexineJohnson, RayKiddy, recorded February 3in Grand shbWed Upat Reads Landingl Afew Red-winged Blackbirds Ivor Kiwi, Rick Knight, Ed MaraisonMinnesota's North Goodhue, in D•cember, and andE. Meadowlarks wintered in Kwater, Robert C.Leberman, Shore, where thehigh was 54øF, iventually overwintered (with thenorth, and the early spring Ronald F.Leberman, RickLyle, a record by20 degrees! More seVkn'•non-countabl•" Red-wingedsarrived bymid- TonyMarich, Tom, McNeil normaltemperatures returned t•a t hadbeen introduced at February.Midwinter Rusty (TMc), Jerry McWilliams, thereafter, andsome snow fell, C3eiMeadows W.M•A•, WI). Blackbirdswerereported from RobertMulvihill, Dave Ostran- but by the end of the season All ihe swans were triced b• Columbiana,OH,Jan. 27, der,Johnny Parks (JPa), John snowfall levelswere way down thei• neck bands, andthis partic- '.ular i•dividual, 36FA, had be• and(ND),Somerset, Niles, OH,PA,Jan.Feb. 22l 1 (CB),& 21 MourinPeplinski, Poole, BeckyMark Peplinski, Roberts, acrossRegion.the northern partsofthe I ban•edht LaCree kN,W•,, (TM).ABrewer's Blackbird wasGeoffreyRobinson, StephenThis was awinter ofno birds S•he?e a flodk has bee• seeninHuntingdon, PA,Jan. 13 Rottenborn,Katherine Sapp at feeders Regionwide. Thiswas established sinceth•196•s. I:•- (GG). (KSa),Glenna Schwalbe, Paul certainlyowing inpart to the ther •nves{igation revealedthat Therewasno concerted move-Schwalbe, MikeSmith, Robert near total absence ofwinter th'i• birdw• most likely part of mentofPurple Finches, andin Smith(RSm), Ruth Snyder, finches, buteven other small the estabijsl•ed floClqnota stray n.West Virginia House Finches Anne Stature, Karl Striedeck, birds were absent from feeders. or introduction fromone of tl e were not as numerousas in JeanStull (JeS), Jim Stull (JiS), It mighthave been owing to the theri'•tr6d•c .... • el-c- recentyears (GAH). Red Cross- Sam Stull, Mary Twigg, Gary opennature ofthe winter, with ',ere•u•n•nc ...... y billswere reported Dec. 16 & 26 Wallace,Nelson Walters, Bren- thegeneral lack of snow, but m •ota• •r½t•om- fromCh.N.F. (HD etal.), where da Watts, Merrill Wood, Chuck even out in the woods, birds o• theyhave been more orless regu- Yohn.--GEORGE A.HALL, werehard to come by. Min- m lar,Elizabethton, TN,Dec. 16 P.O.Box 6045, West Virginia nesota hadrecord ornear record (RK),Centre, PA,Jan. 1and Feb. University, Morgantown, WV numbers ofGreat Gray Owls 3 (TF),and Highland, VA,Feb. 26506-6045. andNorthern Hawk Owls, and ......

274' American Birds, Summer 1991 grineFalcons were also reported morefrequently than usual in Minnesota,likely a reflectionof recent introductions. The Regionwas virtually invaded by Gyrfalconsthis winter, with FeltonPrairie three in the SanIt Ste. Marie, MI, areathrough the period MINNESOTA•u,•th•. (RP,m.ob.), two Feb. 26 found feedingon Prairie-Chickensat BuenaVista Marsh, Portage, WI (MB), and no fewer than 7 Minnesotareports: two in Lake eB'gStøne NW•nne•lis ee ofthe Woods Dec. 28-29 (DW, Black•L MK et aL), with onerelocated Jan.12 (PS);two in RoseauJan. H•chester 12 (SM); andsingles Dec. 1 in ßBue Mounds S.R HonconN•R Wadena(KL), Dec. 16 in Aitkin Madison•Milwaukee• • eGrandR•ids (AB), and Jan. 27 in Anoka (RG).This is certainly the high- esttotal everreported for the Region:one or twois more nor- mal. The only PrairieFalcon reportedwas a well-described bird Feb. 9 at the Buena Vista in Leelanau,MI (CF). LateRed- Green-wingedTeal were in Michiganand excellent num- Marsh,Portage, WI (EM). necked Grebeswere found Dec. reportedfrom 6 Michiganand bers in Wisconsin, with some 1-2 at Pt. Iroquois,Chippewa, one Wisconsin locations, with countsin thelatter state tallying RAILS TO MI (WW, PC, JG), and Dec. 2 oneoverwintering in Kalamazoo 50+ individuals. GULLS at TawasPt., losco,MI (RW). (JG,DP). A N. Pintailsurvived GoldenEagles were well rep- VirginiaRails apparently suc- American White Pelicans the winter at the unusuallyfar resented this winter, with four cessfullyoverwintered at Kens- wintered at Albert Lea and northern location of Duluth. A individuals from 2 sites in ingtonMetrobeach, Oakland, BlackDog L., MN, and lin- KingEider was at PortAustin, Michigan,and eight from 5 MI, as two were seen Feb. 17 geredinto December at 2 other Huron, MI, Dec. 9 (ME). sitesin Wisconsin, severalover- (DC). SandhillCranes lingered locations in Minnesota. Dou- HarlequinDucks were at one winteringin eachstate. Ameri- in bothMichigan and Wiscon- ble-crestedCormorants lingered Michigan,2 Minnesota,and 2 can Kestrels were found in sin, with overwintering in all 3 states,with birds over- Wisconsin locations,with over- above-averagenumbers in confirmed in Calhoun, MI winteringat one Michigan and winteringlikely at bothMin- Michigan.Merlins continue to (MI). The first northbound 2 Wisconsin locations, about nesotalocations and at Milwau- do well, with at least10 reports cranesarrived in MichiganFeb. averagefor this increasing kee, where two of the four in Minnesotaand 4 reportsin 23. A late Black-bellied Plover species.Great Blue Herons lin- foundin Decemberspent the Michigan,high for winter. Pere- wasat HamptonPark, Bay, MI, gered in good numbers winter.Inland Oldsquaws were Dec.1 OS).A PurpleSandpiper throughoutthe s. parts of the reportedfrom Jackson,MI at Sheboygan,WI, wasthe first Region,with overwintering (DB), andMadison, WI. Black overwinteringbird for the state. birds in severalplaces in s. Scoterswere reportedfrom 2 One was also seen Dec. 29 in Michiganand s. Wisconsin. Michigan and 2 Wisconsin Michigan'sUpper Peninsula, on Twenty-twowere seen Feb. 2 at locations and Surf Scoters were theWhitefish Point CBC (JG et the Erie Power Plant, Monroe, reportedfrom 3 Michiganand 2 aL). Common Snipe were in MI (DP),an impressive number Wisconsin sites. above-averagenumbers in for Februaryin theGreat Lakes. DecemberRegionwide, with A Great Blue seen Feb. 3 in RAPT01• , onesuccessfully overwintering Freeborn,MN (RK), raisedthe A TurkeyVulture Feb. 24 at in Kalamazoo,MI (DP, JG). A Franklin's Gull was at the possibilitythat one also man- Grand Haven, MI (FD), was agedto overwinterin Minneso- early.Northern Harriers were Erie Power Plant, Monroe, MI, Dec. 1-9 (DB, PC, TWe). Two ta. seenin goodnumbers across the The normal number of Tun- Regionin December,and over- Little Gulls were seen Dec. 1, dra Swanslingered in both winteredin severalMichigan with one still there Dec. 2, at Michiganand Wisconsin, with andWisconsin locations. Sharp- Muskegon,MI (JH, SMi). several overwintering at shinnedand Cooper'shawks Bonaparte'sGulls lingered in Muskegon,MI (JG). Mute werewidely reported in both Michiganand Wisconsin, with Swans continue to increase in Michiganand Wisconsin, many one still present Feb. 3 at Michigan,with reports from 26 of themvisiting feeders, as has Charlevoix,MI (BS,JSt). Ring- counties,and a highof 486 in becomethe normfor Accipiters billedGulls lingered in above- in the winter. A Ferruginous averagenumbers in December Kalamazoo (RA). Greater Gyrfalconin ChippewaCounty, White-fronted Geese were seen Hawk,presumed to bethe same in Michigan, while Herring Michigan,December 28, 1990. Gulls wintered in reducednum- twicein Michigan,four Dec. 14 individual as last winter, was The westernGreat Lakesenjoyed at theKellogg Bird Sanctuary, seenintermittently through the whatmay have been their greatest bersin Minnesota. Thayer's Kalamazoo•qde RA) andone periodat AlleganS.G.A., MI Gyrfalconinvasion ever during the Gullswere reported from the Jan 10 at the AlleganS.G.A. (KM). Rough-leggedHawks winter of 1990-1991. Photo- Saginaw River, Bay, MI (fideTM). werereported in goodnumbers graph/JimGranlund. (m.ob.), the Muskegon Volume 45, Number 2 ß275 distributionwas eight in St. 9 squaremile areain onehour winter's mild weather should Louis,MN, fivein Lakeof the and 15 minutes.He actually helpit continueits reboundin Woods, MN, two in Airkin found 18 theRegion. There were reports MN, andtwo in Douglas,WI, 3 asduplicates. Although several froml 0 Michigancounties and with singlesin Pine,MN, St. GreatGrays were picked up from 2 Minnesota and 4 Wis- Croix,WI, Marathon, WI, and deadas road kills, apparently consin locations. A Marsh Wren Chippewa,MI. The Minnesota none died of malnutrition ashas Dec. 5 at Faribault (TB) was birds were difficult to find on a beenthe case in previousinva- verylate for Minnesota.Gold- regularbasis, presumably owing sionyears, again pointing to an en-crownedKinglets were sur- to theopenness of thecover ant abundanceof prey this winter in prisinglycommon in somen. apparentabundance of prey Minnesota(KE). GreatGrays Wisconsin locations, but this (KE). Normally, a Hawk Owl were also seenin Wisconsin, wasnot true in thes. portions of once located tends to remain in where two to three birds in both the state.Eastern Bluebirds and thesame spot for weeks,as did Douglasand Bayfieldwere con- Hermit Thrushespresented a the birdsin Superior,WI, and sidereda mini-invasion. As dur- contrastingpicture this winter. Sault Ste. Marie, MI. This was ingthe last Great Gray invasion Wisconsin observers found the 2nd-highesttotal for Min- in the winter of 1988-1989 them on only two and one nesota, and the most ever for Michigan observersmostly CBCs,respectively, but Michi- Wisconsin. Barred Owls were missedout on the birds, with ganobservers found them quite up in numbersin Minnesota,as only 3 reports(likely of one widespreadin thes. third of the hasbeen the case in previous bird) in SaultSte. Made. state,particularly bluebirds, A Short-eared Owl Dec. 28 with 425 individuals on the Adult "Kumlien's" Iceland Gull at in Airkin (WN) was quite CBCs and reports from 16 the SaginawRiver, Bay •dy, unusualfor Minnesota, where counties.In s.Michigan, partic- Michigan,Janua•j 6, 1991. Pho- theyare rarely seen in winter.In ularlythe southwest, bluebirds tograph/RodPlanck. Michigan and Wisconsin, havecome to be expectedin Short-earedsaremore regular, w•nter,particularly in swamps. WastewaterSystem, MI (JG, butthis winter they were found An Am. Robin Feb. 3 in Mar- PS), and Sheboygan,WI morecommonly than normal, quette(JJ) was well n. of norrnal (m.ob.), a total of about 10 with 22 on one Wisconsin for the winter. Varied Thrushes birds.Iceland Gulls were report- CBC, and 11 Feb. 16 in St. wereseen in theirpoorest num- ed from 4 Michiganand one Clair, MI (DM). BorealOwls bersin manyyears, with only Wisconsinsites, a total of about werereported 5 timesin Min- onein Michiganand only four 10 birds. Glaucous Gulls win- nesota, two alive in Lake and in Wisconsin. tered in normal numbers in threedead in St. Louis(fide Gray Catbirdswere seen in Michigan,with reports from 11 SW), a few more than usual. surprising numbers, with counties, but were well above Red-belliedWoodpeckers reportsfrom 2 Michigan,2 normal in Wisconsin, with an continue to wander N in the Wisconsin, and even one n. impressive19 at Superior. Region,with reportsfrom the Minnesota site. More Brown Great Black-backed Gulls far north from all 3 states.The Thrashers than normal were were seenin unprecedented only reportsof Black-backec seen at Minnesota feeders. The numbersalong L. Michiganin Woodpeckerscame from Wis- ever variable Bohemian Wisconsin,with sixto 10 birds, consin,where 2 pairswere in Waxwingwas scarce to absent mainlyadults reported from late Pine (MH) and six were in the January through February BruleRiver area, Douglas (LS et (m.ob.).Single Lesser Black- al.). A possiblymated pair of backedGulls in Michiganwere Three-toedWoodpeckers was foundDec. 10 in Bay(MP), seenand heard drumming most Jan.9 in Berrien(RS), and Jan. Four Northern Hawk Owls in Wis- consinrepresented the state's of the winter on the Gunflint 12in Bay(DB), aboutaverage highestwinter total ever. This one Trail, Cook,MN (K & MH). for this increasinglyseen wasin DouglasConnty, Wiscon- species. First-winter Black- sin, December6, 1990. Photo- PHOEBES TO leggedKittiwakes were found graplV JaninePolk. WARBLERS Dec. 4 at New Buffalo,Berrien, Eastern Phoebes were seen in MI (RS), Dec. 9 at the Erie GreatGray Owl invasionyears. bothMichigan and Minnesota, Power Plant, MI (PC, TWe, After last year's record low withsingles on the Battle Creek, KP), and Dec. 16 on the numbers,Great Gray Owls MI, CBC (R & BK), Flint, MI PortageCanal, Houghton, MI stagedtheir largest invasion of CBC (SJ), and Dec. 15-16 in (JC etal.). Minnesotayet, with no fewer La Crescent,Houston, MN (FL than 128 reportedby mid- et aL), only the 2nd winter OWLS TO March(previous record was 122 recordfor Minnesota. Common WOODPECKERS in 1983-1984). The bulk of the Ravens were found s. ofnorrnal Afterlast winter's low numbers, recordswere from Roseau,Lake in Huron (KO) and Tuscola Snowy Owls were found in of the Woods,Beltrami, Aitkin, (JS), MI. Red-breasted good to excellent numbers and St. Louis, and the North Nuthatcheswere absent/very Regionwide.Northern Hawk Shoreof L. Superiorin Lake. scarcein Minnesota and n. Wis- Owls were seen in invasion The most remarkable concen- consin,but were present in nor- numbersin theRegion, with l 6 tration was found late in the mal numbersin s. Wisconsin. in Minnesota, four in Wiscon- ThisPine Warbler spent the wip- afternoonof Mar. 3, when Ver- CarolinaWren is a species ter at a feederat La Crosse,Wis- sin,and one in Michigan.The sawfound no fewer than 15 in a that is winter-limited, so this consin.Photograph/F.Z. Lesher. 276. AmericanBirds, Summer 1991 this winter in Minnesota, with n. of normal. The lastone-third nesotaCBCs, 3 reportsfrom MIDDLEWœ$it.RN only3 reportsfrom the south of Februarybrought a return of Michigan,4 reportsfrom Min- andonly 8 CBCshaving them. numbersofgrackles, blackbirds, nesota, and very few in Wiscon- PRAIRIEREGION Wisconsinwas hardly better, and cowbirds to southern areas. sin.With theexception of scat- with small numbers in the n. Michigan's 2nd (Gray- tered small numbers on Min- BruceG. Peterjohn one-thirdof thestate. Michigan crowned)Rosy Finch was seen nesotaCBCs, Common Red- camecloser to havingnormal pollswere almost as scarce as numbers,but they were all White-wingedCrossbills. There The seasonstarted on a mild confinedto the n. one-third of werefew reports (essentially all notewith abovenormal temper- the Lower Peninsula. On the from the far north), no large _- aturesthroughout December, other side of the coin, N. numbers,and no reportsof encouraginga number of late Shrikeswere up Regionwide HoaryRedpolls anywhere. Pine migrantstolinger into the CBC this winter, with their best Siskinswere in small numbers •n scatteredlocations in Michi- period.What passed for winter movementin manyyears. Yel- weatherarrived in January,pro- low-rumpedWarblers overwin- ganand Wisconsin. American ducinga several-week period of teredin Michigan,where not Goldfincheswere seen in good snow and ice cover in most unexpected,and might have in numbersin Michigan,particu- Unusuallywarm weather Minnesota, where much less larlynorth. Evening Grosbeaks returned during February, ush- expected,where one was found wereseen in onlythe n. partsof eringin anotherearly start to Feb.5-6 in Bloomington(SC). Michiganand Wisconsin, and thespring migration. Precipita- One was alsoseen Dec. 20 in St. there in small numbers. A tionwas generally above normal Paul (BH). A Pine Warbler Eurasian Tree Sparrow was throughmid-January, resulting overwintered at a La Crosse, presentat Lindsley'sfeeder in in floodingalong the Ohio WI, feeder(FL etal.). Pierce,WI, for the 4th year in Rivervalley, but wasclose to succession,although it hadnot normal later in the season. CARDINALSTO RosyFinch at Pigeon,Michigan, beenpreviously reported (ph.). The mild weather allowed WEAVERFINCHES Februa• 25, 1991. Secondstate reservoirsto remain open in Northern Cardinals continue to record.Photograph/Robert Contributors:(This editorwish- southern Missouri where be reportedwell n. in the Putman. esto thankthe many individuals increased coverage produced a Region,with one at a Port who submitted reports.The spectacularassortment of rari- Wing,WI, feeder(LE), and one at PigeonFeb. 24-27 (TB, nature of this summary pre- ties. It was alsoan eventful sea- as far north as Hovland, Cook, MW, m.ob.,ph.), but unfortu- cludeslisting every individual son in Illinois and Iowa, but MN (SL). AmericanTree Spar- natelyleft beforemany could whosends in a report;therefore, records from the other states rows were in low numbers in seeit. Interestingly,the other onlyobservers with dted records conformed to recentpatterns. bothMichigan and Wisconsin, Michigan RosyFinch also are listedbelow. Stateeditors are butMichigan observers found occurredin lateFebruary. After in boldface.)Ray Adams, Betsy Abbreviations:Say. Res. (Say- them farther n. than normal. A last winter's relativeabundance, Beneke,Murray Berner, Tom lo rville Reservoir,IA); L.B.L. FieldSparrow lingered until the winter fincheswere almost Boevers, A1 Bolduc, Don nd betweenthe Lakes, KY); Jan.11 in St. Paul(BH), quite totally absent this winter, Brooks,Steve Carlson, Donald S.C.R. (SquawCreek Nat'l latefor Minnesota.A FoxSpar- returningto thepattern of the Chalfant, Phil Chu, Jean Wildlife Reft, MO); Spfld. row on the Sax-Zim, MN, CBC wintersprior to last.Pine Gros- Cochrane, Feller DeWit, Kim (Springfield,IL). Placenames in (KE) was quite far north. beaksvaried from poor in Min- Eckert (Minnesota), Laura italics are counties. White-throatedSparrows were nesotaand Wisconsinto only Erickson,Monica Essenmacher, much lesscommon than usual slightlybelow normal in Michi- CarlFreeman, Ray Glassel, Jim LOONSTO in Michiganand Wisconsin, gan,with none south anywhere Granlund (Michigan), Maybelle HERONS withonly a fewreports. Lapland in theRegion. Purple Finches Hardy, BruceHitman, Jason Late migrantRed-throated Longspurswere found in small weregenerally distributed, but Hoeksema,Ken & MollyHoff- Loonswere singles at Thomas numbers throughout the onlyin smallnumbers. House man, Mabelle Isham, Bob Hill Res.,MO, throughDec. 2 Region,with more reports from Fincheshave almost completed Janssen,Sharon Johnson, J. (SH) and Kentucky L., KY, then. partsof theRegion, par- theirconquest of the Region; Judichi,Martin Kehoe,Rich & Dec. 15-19 (tBP etal.). Other ticularlyn. Minnesota,than theyare absent only in Michi- BrendaKeith, V. & K. Kepler, Red-throgtedsat CaesarCreek normal. gan'sUpper Peninsula, the n. Ron Kneeskern,Ken LaFond, Res.Jan. 6-19 (tDD, CS)and Meadowlarks (most likely one-third of Wisconsin, and FredLesher, Sandy Lunke, Tom Killdeer Plains W.M.A. Jan. Easterns) were more common northof a line formedby 1-94 Mears, Steve Millard, Dan 13-16 (LR,JH etal.) provided thanin recentyears in Wiscon- between the Twin Cities and Miller, Kip Miller, Steve rare mid-winter records for sin. Yellow-headedBlackbirds Moorhead,MN; in the restof Minard (SMi), Erik Munson, Ohio. Kentucky'sfirst Pacific lingereduntil Jan. 20 in Otter the area,they vary from com- Warren Nelson, Karl Overman, Loonwas photographed at Ken- Michael Petrucha,Rod Planck, Tail, MN (SM), andthrough monto abundant,particularly tuckyL. Dec. 15-19 (tBP et Januaryat Horicon N.W.R., in cities,but spreading into the JaninePolk, David Powell, Kurt al.). Other late Pacificswere WI. Althoughreported in small countryside. Powell,Larry Semo, Roy Smkh, documentedfrom Smithville L., numbers,Rusty Blackbirds were Red Crossbills were scarce JoeSoehnel, Bonnie Stout, Janie MO, throughDec. 7 (tPM, reportedmore often than nor- Regionwideand restricted to Stout(JSt), Peder Svingen, Paul TB) and L. Gage, IN, Dec. mal from all 3 states,with a few the far north,with the onlysiz- Sykes,Daryl Tessen (Wiscon- 6-11 (tHaw,m.ob.). A flightof overwinteringin Wisconsin able flock 75 at Whkefish Point, sin),Terry Walsh, 185 Com. Loonsat Alum Creek and individualsn. of normal in MI, Jan. 13 (RP). Latein the Tex Wells (TWe), Warren Res.,OH, Dec. 2 (BPj, MG) Koochiching,MN (RG,BJ), Jan. season,they madea modest Whaley,Dan Williams,Steve was sizable for early winter. 12 and Emroerr,MI (BS, JSt), incursion into n. Wisconsin. Wilson, Tom Ziebell.-- Most Commons departed Dec. 22-Feb. 1. Two Com. White-wingedCrossbills were DAVID J. POWELL, 217 beforeJan. 1, andthe only win- Grackles found Feb. 22 in Mar- almostnonexistent Regionwide, Montrose Ave., Kalamazoo,MI teringCommons away from s. quette,MI (V & KK)were well withnone on Michigan or Min- 49001-4222. Volume 45, Number 2 ß271 .... -P ...... • ...... (SD),200 at OtterSlough •.• .... . •- W.M.A., MO, Feb. 16 (HF), ; t 25-28 at 2 Illinois sites, and .• nine in Warren, KY, Feb. 23 -' • ...... • :' (BPet al.). Therewere also 2 •' IOWADavenport Cbicagok • Michian•-- Toledo_••,'-•.•.,• -O4--•.,•,6• *x* • fromrecordsIndiana. fromFallOhio Snow andGeese one 'Say/orvilleRes. CilyFt.- NWR peakedat 420,000at DeSoto • NwB ILLINOIS OHIO ß-DeSoto ßDesMoines/ Wayne•. ': largestN.W.R.,winter IA,Dec. flock1while totalled the . ._.'Squaw Creek NWR ßPeoria INDIANA Columbus-• 18,000at Ballard W.M.A., KY S•vanLakeNWR ßSpnngf,eld fl Muscatatuck- Indianapolis if- .Cincinnati•:ßDayton dent(CW).duringTheir NpassageFebruary. wasevi-As : St.L0u•s. •' : flocksharbored some Ross' :KansasCity RendL• •EvansviiiI'WViRt3 'L•ouisvil' le • expected,Geese,such theas largean impressive Snow Goose56 Crab'•r_ _• e• • •/Lexington. MISSOURI•vv_Cl/•K.•T.U,•cnam C.K• wereat(SD).DeSoto restrictedWintering N.W.R., to IllinoisRoss'IA,Dec.Geese with1 MingoNWR. ßBallard WMA L. Curnberland• • two at Rend L. Dec. 2-22 and ..... oneatBaldwin L.Jan. 21-Feb. •ll'•7• ;.... • 9 (TF,JD et al.). Spring • migrantsappeared at single locations in each w. state and 4 • •: ' -•--' =- sitesin Illinoisduring February. The onlyBrant was a casualvis- exceptional22Black-crowned itorto Chicago Dec.1-4 (JBI, . • Night-Heronsweretallied atL. m.ob.). .T•ble•ock• 3,d•served Calumet, IL,Dec. 29 (WM). WhileBallard W.M.A., KY, .thetitl•"Lbt' aof Inland thereOnly smallafter Jan.numbers 1,but werescattered noted hosted 50,000 puddle ducks, its • NorthAme•coillpletnenrel ;•winter.wmtenng' ' A night-herons appearedatnearby largest1970, wintering their showing numbersin mostsince Com•Loon • ,, •ineffbya locations inn.e. Illinois and other areas wasgenerally unim- •' n.w.Indiana. Other wintering pressive. Mostdeparted after • Yeli0.w•fiill&1Ithe.sb•eifi•iv,,an.s, mldiscbv•red nodoubt IBlack-crowneds wereupto early Januarybut returned in thereihstyear •'asinitial!y'threenear Lawrenceburg, IN, February, suchas flocks of ß ..... - 013;•;e8De• (CL)al•l ': throughJan.14 (PW) and one 2000-3000N.Pintails inIlli- Afirst-winner PacificLoonfaces •em•ined intu oh.Ax least. inSt. Charles, MO,Jan. 5(N & noisand Iowa Feb. 23-24. Very thecamera atKentucky Lake, twoPacifi•Lo• sowinteredRW). rareduring winter, Blue-winged MarshallCounty, Kennucky, De- •i•.th•lak_e:::for-tl:ndconsecu-, Tealremained into the CBC cember19,1990. First state Liveyear, after tl •,, discoveryWATERFOWL •eriodat5 locations. Thelatest record.Thenarrow dark"chin- Jan, 15 (m. ob.). t_ampleting the Small numbers of Tundra were noted Dec. 31 at Betten- fromstrap"this showsangle. exceptionallyPhotograph/ well grand slam• aRed-throated Swanspassed through then. dorf,IA(PP), and Jan. 12near BrainardPalmer-Ball. Loonwas discovered there Jan. statesduring December, but Hammond,IN (KB et al.). 2! (?pM}t al.)•lingering I most departed despitethe mild throughFebruary. Thel•}esence weather. Wintering Tundras Missouriwereupto five inGib- of./burlq0nspecies'o•one lakewere one inPulaskg KY,Jan. $.A, son,IN,through Jan.27(JC, at the sani• time is•ithout 2-11 (JEI), one tofour at2 TheGreat Lakes inv.•asion by GB). precedentinthe interi6r ofthis Iowa locations, andamaximum ZebraMussels hasreceived con- of ThePied-billedexpected Grebes smallwintered,numbers continent. ofthree atDanville, IL,Jan. siderable negativepress in•eCent: while45 in Gibson, IN,Feb. 10 13-Feb.16. Spring migrants years. While their detrimental (GB)were probably early Oneortwo Am. WhitePeli- Feb.returned10-16. toOhio Atleast and fourIllinois Trum- by documented,characteristics thesehavemussels be'en hav•well • migrants.Sizable wintering canslingered at2 Illinois and 4 peterSwans fromthe intro- also proyen tobe beneficial for flocksofHorned Grebes Iowasites through Dec.15-21. duced Minnesota population somlbixds. Theyplbvide•n totalled42at Baldwin L.,IL, OneatThomas HillRes., MO, winteredinIowa, while 13from abundant foodsource which, il [an.21(TF, JD) and upto 36 jan. 20 (BG) may have win- Wisconsin appearedin Illinois. increasingly utilizedby'W•t•r• inGibson, IN(JC, GB). An tered.Migrants returnedto that Mute Swans continued to fowl. Additionally, theyhave impressive229early migrants stateby Feb. 10. expand,producing flocksof markedl Yim Proved waterclarity gatheredatStockton L.,MO, Themild weather allowed 14-30 inn. Illinois, 23in c. whichisiesultingin iherørS•b- Feb.10(TB). Wintering Aech-above-normal numbersofGreat Ohio, andfive in Iowa. l•kh•en[:0•sUb•e•qed aquat:c mophorusgrebesincluded a Blue Herons towinter with Thelast fallGreater White- ve•etadbr/,,•nother tmportant WesternatBraidwood, IL,Feb. maxima of82 in Calloway, KY, fronted Geese were two late toed for dlvin- ducks T 22-Mar.4(JM, ph.) and Mis- Jan. 2(JE, fide CP) and 47-52 migrants inOhio, KY,Jan. 1 'esultwasa souri's2nd Clark's Grebe in Ohio, Indiana, andIllinois. (RH). None wintered, buttheir he of throughouttheseason at Table The latest Great Egret noted Nflight started early,with 18 at • RockL.('•PM, '•TB, m.ob.). was in Ottawa, OH,Dec. 9 CarlyleL.,IL, Jan. 26(KM). Bothspecies arevirtually (BPj, MG),while singleGreen- The3, were widespread during winter.unknown inthis Region during backed Herons appeared on February withmaxima of340 at CBCsin Illinoisand Ohio. An RivertonW.M.A., IA, Feb.24 ...... Mostof theseteal were injured. totals of 1864 in Illinois, 1815 The onlysizable concentra- in Missouri, and 169 in Ken- tionof wintering Canvasbacks tucky. The 89 eaglestallied in totalled 10,000 on Maumee Indiana were remarkable, Bay,OH. A flockof 319Ring- including31 scattered along the neckedDucks at L. Pewee,KY, WabashR., 14 on the White R., Jan.15 (JH) was exceptional for and 18 at L. Monroe. Fair num- mid-winter.Sizable scaup flocks bers of N. Harriers included were restricted to the Great groupsof 15-40in moststates. Lakes.An earlymigration of It wasnot a flightyear for N. Greater Scaup produced Goshawkswith only 13 sight- remarkableinland totalsof 92 at ings Regionwidesouth to RendL., IL, Feb. 10 (TF etal.) Macon,MO, Jan.1 (-•PM,TB), and50+ on L. Barkley,KY, Feb. SpringMill S.P.,IN, Dec.21 9-18 (BP). FewerHarlequin (TC, LS), and3 sitesin c. Illi- Ducks wintered on the Great nois.Rough-legged Hawks con- Lakeswith two on L. Michigan gregatedin w. Indianawhere throughJan. 1-6 andtwo into i0+ wintered in Montgomery RedPhalarope at Michigan City, Indiana, December 12, 1990. and Parke (AB). Elsewhere, Marchat Cleveland.Oldsquaw Photograph/KenBrock. appearedin fairly typical num- reportsof six to 15+daily repre- bers with a Great Lakes maxi- sentedfair to goodnumbers. mum of 145 at Evanston, IL, ImprovedGolden Eagle ducedbirds in largecities. Acci- appearedin Barren, KY, by Jan. 22 (MS) and elsewherein Ken- Dec. 29 (DJ). The mostnote- numbersincluded reports from dentalthroughout the Region, a worthyof 12 inlandrecords 14 locations,with an unprece- gray-morphGyrfalcon was dis- tucky and Indiana during werefour Oldsquawat Table dented 11 at 7 sitesin Indiana. coveredin LaSalle,IL, Dec. 24 February. December'smild weather pro- RockL., MO, Jan.21 (PM et Only Ohio lackedsightings. ('•LA, m.ob.).This cooperative immature thrilled the multi- ducedsome remarkable flocks of al.). The winter statusof Merlins is changing,assmall numbers are tudesthrough Feb. 17. It was Killdeer with 400 near Terre LingeringBlack Scoters were Haute, IN, Dec. 15 (P & KB), notedinto Decemberalong L. becomingregular residents in alsoa banner winter for Prairie Michiganand at 2 inlandsites moststates, with reportsfrom 3 Falcons.Ten reportsfrom Iowa 108in Wayne,KY, Jan. 5 (JE1), in Illinois and one in Iowa. Four Missouri,5 Iowa,5 Illinois,and and 4 from Missouri indicated andgroups of 50-60 in Ohio. Blacksremained at Cleveland 6 Ohio locales,plus others on theyhave become regular in Theseflocks eventually departed, CBCs. Birdswith characteristics thosestates. Three recordsfrom althoughwintering Killdeers throughJan. 20 but did not weremore widespread than nor- winter.Normally very rare in ofthe pale prairie race appeared Illinois includedone wintering mid-winter, Surf Scoters eastto Morgan, IL, Jan.1 (DB). in LaSalleat the samearea host- mal.Spring migrants appeared appearedin exceptionalnum- PeregrineFalcons were reported ing the Gyrfalcon (-•JL, m.ob.). in everystate by Feb. 5-10. bers.As many as 13 wintered at from7 locations,mostly intro- Theyare still accidental farther Other lingeringshorebirds Cleveland and one to three at east, where Indiana's first includeda LesserYellowlegs at L. Pewee, KY, Dec. 2 (BP), a Joliet,IL (JM).Other records Prairie Falconwas documented includedfive at HuestonWoods from DuggerW.M.A. Mar. 3 RuddyTurnstone in Gibson,IN, S.P.,OH, Jan.3 (DD, DS), one ('•DW etal.). Kentucky's2nd throughJan. 13 (GB, JC), and in]asper,IL, Jan.7 (LHa),two PrairieFalcon in Ohiothrough Sanderlingsalong L. Michigan at LouisvilleJan. 11 (LRa),and Jan.13 (J& PBe,-•m.ob.) may throughDec. 2-12. Least Sand- one at Thomas Hill Res., MO, have been the same one noted pipersremained in everystate thereduring winter 1988-1989. exceptMissouri during Decem- Jan.19 ('•TB).Only scattered ber with a maximumof 39 inw. White-winged Scoterswere In LaSalle,IL, bothlarge fal- detectedon the GreatLakes and conswere subsisting on large Kentucky.The lastLeast was noted at Buck Creek S.P., OH, small numberswere noted at 7 flocksof Ring-neckedPheasants inland locations.Their numbers with asmany as 200+ in some Jan.13 (DO). A PurpleSand- appearto bedeclining. fields(JM). A RuffedGrouse in piperlingered along L. Erie until WarrickDec. 9 (JC)was outside Jan.1. As expected, small num- bersof Dunlin were noted dur- HAWKS TO itsnormal range in s.Indiana. SHOREBIRDS The mild weatherenticed a few ing December.Mid-winter Black Vultures continued to VirginiaRails to linger.One recordsare very unusual, such as was detected on an Iowa CBC singlesatJoliet, IL, Feb.10 (JM) prosper.Increased numbers and Buck Creek S.P., OH, included roosts of 30-80+ in one was noted in Kane, IL, Jan. Kentuckyand 75 atTable Rock 5-12 (BO) andfound dead on throughJan. 13 (fideJS).An L., MO, Jan. 27 (LM, CH). thelast date, another appeared exceptionallyearly Long-billed in Seneca,OH, Jan. 13 (TBa), Dowitcherreturned to Spfld. Approximately50 BlackVul- Feb.23-24 ('•DB). The lastAm. tureswere poisoned in Adams, and two at Spring Valley OH, in late winter, a sizable W.M.A., OH, Mar. 3 (PW) Woodcockwas reported Dec. 10 at Ballard W.M.A., KY (BP). portionof the state's small pop- probablywintered. Even more ulation.Wintering Turkey Vul- remarkable was a lingering One at Ozark,IL, Jan.25 (TF) tures were restricted to estab- Com. Moorhen in Butler, OH mayhave wintered. The first lishedroosts, peaking at 225+in throughJan. 21 (-•CS).Migrant migrantwas noted near Dayton, Prairie Falconin La Salle Count•, OH, Feb.4 (BD) and in other s.w.Missouri. Early migrants SandhillCranes during Decem- Illinois,January 18, 1991. More ber included flocks of 700 over statesexcept Iowa by Feb. appearedN to Montrose,IA, individualsthan usualwandered Feb. 9 (SD) and Tuscarawas, eastinto the upperMidwest this Hart, KY, Dec. 30 (SK), and 10-17.The only Red Phalarope OH, Feb. 23 (ES). Mid-winter season.Photograph/Joe B. 125 overHamilton, OH, Dec.4 paida visitto MichiganCity, BaldEagle surveys produced Milosevich. ODe). Spring migrants IN, Dec.7-15 (CF,m.ob., ph.). Volume 45, Number 2 ' 279 JAEGERSTO noted at sites on c. Lake Erie. Crow rooststotalled 50,000 in TERNS Inland recordswere of three on Vermillion,IL (SB), 20,000 in Accidentalin Missouriat any thew. Kentuckylakes during Springfield,OH (fide DO), season,a Pomarine Jaeger was mid-December(BP et al.), one 8300 at Ames, IA (JDi), and at Alton Feb.27 (tBW, JZ et or twoat Alton,MO, afterJan. 2000-3500 at 2 other locations. al.). An ad. LaughingGull at 6 (m.ob.),and singles atSpfld. Threerecord-early Fish Crows Spfld.Dec. 29 (tDB) alsoestab- Dec. 23-24 (DB), Columbus, returned to Union, IL, Feb. 4 lishedone of veryfew winter OH, Dec.26 (BPj),and Pekin, (TF). Red-breastedNuthatches recordsfor this Region.This IL, Jan. 13-Feb. 18 (LA, wereuniversally scarce. Carolina gullmay have wandered to s.w. m.ob.). Wren numbers continued to Indiana,where one appeared in Great Black-backed Gulls improve,approaching popula- GibsonJan. 1-6 (JC, GB). continued to increase on L. tion levelsof the mid-1970s in Franklin's Gulls were detected Michigan,producing 9 reports some areas. Increased numbers againthis winter, although sin- from Indiana and Illinois. Still at then. edgeof the Region gleson an Iowa CBC and in noteworthyinland, single Great included 23 in Iowa n. to Call Summit,OH, Dec.24 (LR,ph.) Black-backeds were noted at S.P.A Bewick'sWren in Joplin, wereprobably late fall migrants. Peoria,IL, Dec.25 andJan. 21 MO, duringDecember (LH) Singlesat Say. Res. Feb. 1 (LA),Alton, MO, Jan.5 (DBe), furnishedone of veryfew recent (•SD) and Thomas Hill Res. Bettendorf,IA-Moline, IL, Jan. winter records. MO, Feb.7 (•BG)were report- 14-17 (•JFu, •TK), and edlyearly spring migrants. Only Keokuk, IA, Feb. 7-8 (tSD, KINGLETS TO oneLittle Gull was found along •AJ). Good numbersof Black- DICKCISSEL the Great Lakes, on L. Michi- leggedKittiwakes were high- Golden-crownedKinglets gannear Chicago. One at Clin- lightedby four at Say.Res. Dec. apparendyexperienced consid- ton L. Dec. 6-8 (•RC, m.ob.) 9 (SD) and an adult at Clinton Long-earedOwl in SiouxCity, Iowa,December 9, 1990. This erablemortality in Illinoisdur- wascasual in inlandIllinois. Up L., IL, Dec.6-10 (•RC, m.ob.). bird roostedin a suburbanback to two Little Gulls at L. of ing January,but wintering Oneof theSay. Res. kittiwakes yarddaily for muchof the early Ozarks Feb. 12-Mar. 2 fur- numberswere fair to goodelse- moved to Red Rock Res. and winter.Photog•aplVRandall D. where. Wintering Ruby- nishedone of veryfew records remained through Jan. 9 Williams. crowneds were noted n. to St. from Missouri(•AC, m.ob.); (m.ob.).Additionally, one was Louisand Champaign,IL. A theywere accompanied byMis- observedat Spfld.Dec. 5-20 eared Owls were discovered in Blue-grayGnatcatcher near souri's2nd Com. Black-headed (DB) andthere were 3 reports every state except Indiana RendL., IL, Dec. 15-16 (BDa, Gull, a well-markedadult noted from the Great Lakeswhere two includingseveral roosts of 10+ •m. ob.) addedto the handful of Feb. 12-17 (tAC, m.ob.). remained at Lorain, OH, in the n. states.Wintering December records from this Exceptionalnumbers of Bona- throughJan. 13 (m.ob.).This Short-earedOwl numbershave Region. Good numbersof E. parte'sGulls lingered during winter'sbirding highlight was noticeablyimproved during the Bluebirdsincluded a remarkable December'smild weather. The probablythe appearance of two pastfew years, in partowing to 200 in VanBuren, IA, Jan.27 largestinland flocks numbered Ivo• Gulls,both immatures.A betterhabitat availability result- (JFu).Townsend's Solitaires are 5000at KentuckyL., KY, Dec. cooperativeindividual found ing from the CRP program. rarebut regular winter visitors 31 (JE,fideCP) and 1500 in belowRed Rock Res., IA, Dec. Roostsof 15-30+ Short-eareds to Iowa, where there was one Gibson,IN, Dec. 15 (JC). 24 (•SD)was viewed by many werediscovered in every state. CBCreport plus singles in Mills Whilelarge numbers wintered through Jan. 1. Another A Pileated Woodpeckerat Feb.9 (DRo)and Woodbury along L. Erie, most inland appearedat Spfld.Jan. 1 (•CO, S.C.1LFeb. 18 (CFi, DM) fur- Feb. 23 (•BH). One was also Bonaparte'sdeparted by early tDB et aL) but could not be nishedone of few recentrecords found in Illinois on a CBC. January. However, "several relocated.They provided the from n.w. Missouri. HermitThrushes were generally hundred"wintering in w. Ken- first confirmedrecords for both An incrediblylate Empidonax scarce. The largestAm. Robin tuckyand 150 at L. of Ozarks, states;the Spfld. record is easily flycatchernear Red Rock Res., MO, Feb. 14 (PM etal.) were roostswere from opposite cor- themost southerly sighting in IA, Dec. 16-18 (AJ, •m.ob.) nersof theRegion with 10,000 unusualfor thoselocalities. the midwest. An ad. Forster's was identified as a Leaston the An ad. California Gull at in Stoneand Taney,MO, Jan. Tern wasbriefly noted in St. basisof its "whit" call note and 21 (PM, TB) and 6000+ in StocktonL. Feb. l0 (•TB) fur- CharlesFeb. 9 (TB, •PM), fur- plumagecharacteristics. A num- Lake,OH, Dec.29 (BPj).A nished a first winter record for nishingthe firstwinter record berof E. Phoebeslingered into Missouri. Good numbers of VariedThrush in Memphis fromMissouri. Perhaps the December, one n. to Tus- throughJan. 10 (JDa,m.ob., Thayer'sGulls included 17+ same tern was noted at Ken- carawas,OH, throughDec. 22 ph.) addedto the handful of reportsfrom the Chicago area as tuckyL, KY, Feb.12 (CP). (ES). Mid-winter records are sightings from Missouri. well asmaxima of sixat Alton, moreremarkable, such as single Reportsfrom the n. stateswere MO, Feb. 9 (PM et aL), four at CUCKOOSTO phoebesat Ozark,IL, Jan.21 of threewintering in Winneba- WRENS Peoria,IL, throughFeb. 17 (JD, TF), L. Monroe,IN, Feb. go,IL (DWi, JDo, m.ob.), one (m.ob.),and three singles on the An exceptionallylate Yellow- 8-23 (DW), and PulaskgKY, at Spfld.Dec. 24-Jan. 7 that w. Kentuckylakes. Others were billedCuckoo in HamiltonDec. Feb.16 (JEI).Two early Tree met its demise at a window noted in Missouri, Iowa, and 8 (fidePW) was easily the latest Swallowsreturned to Saline,IL, Illinois. Few Iceland Gulls were (DB), one in Spencer,IA, everfor Ohio.The onlyBarn Feb.23 (TF, JD). Recordlate throughJan. 28 (fideJFu),and reported,scattered singles along Owlsreported were from Ohio, Barn Swallows were two on an oneon an Iowa CBC. The only bothGreat Lakes, two at Peoria, includingone in TrumbullDec. Indiana CBC and one near Gray Catbird after the CBC IL, Dec.25-Feb. 9 (LA,m.ob.), 31 (PK),unexpected in the n.e. Waverly, OH, Dec. 25-27 periodwas found in Wayne, and one at Spfld. Jan. 24 counties.Snowy Owls staged a (VH,fide LD). OH, Jan. 25 (LY, EM). The (•DB). It wasa goodwinter for mediocreflight with 17 reports A Black-billedMagpie on a expectedsmall numbers of LesserBlack-backed Gulls. Four acrossthe n. states.One winter- w. Iowa CBC had wandered Brown Thrashers wintered in werefound in theChicago area, ing in Knox,IN, markedthe s. onlya fewmiles from its estab- most areas. One in n.w. Iowa whileone to four dailywere edgeof this movement. Long- lishedrange. The largest Am. wasn. of its normalrange, 280 ßAmerican Birds, Summer 1991 returnedto Rend L., IL, Feb. 10 Ohio harbored flocks of (DR etal.)and 17 were noted at EveningGrosbeaks, such as 195 Taberville Prairie, MO, Mar. 2 in HockingJan. 31 (JF);they (PL). A c• Chestnut-collared were scarceto absentelsewhere. Longspurwas briefly noted in A smallpopulation of Eur.Tree LaSalleFeb. 10 (SJL),establish- Sparrowshas become estab- inga 4threcord for Illinois. lished in s.c. Iowa where a maxi- Since both meadowlarks are mum of 14 wintered near rare winter residents in Iowa, a Burlington(E & EA,m.ob.). totalof 635 meadowlarkssp. in Pageand Fremont Jan. 14 (SD) HYPOTHETICALRECORD was noteworthy.Thirty W. The reportof a "YellowGros- Meadowlarks in Knox Jan. 20 beak"visiting an Elkhart,IA (MB) wasa sizablewinter flock feederthrough Jan. 7 generated for Illinois. Yellow-headed considerable attention. It was Blackbirdswere represented by thoughtto be an imm. male, but a pairat Zion, IL, Jan.I (LB, thewritten descriptions may not RB) andsingles in Cass,MO, besufficient to accuratelydeter- Jan.16 (JJ),Elizabethtown, KY, minethe age and sex of this indi- PineWarbler at a suetfeeder in Vigo County, indiana, February 1, 1991. Feb. 16 (BP), andSpfld. Feb. vidual. Photograph/HenryTamar. 20-25 (DB). Asobservers sift Thisintriguing report poses a throughblackbird flocks winter- numberof problems.The Yel- described as "demented and includedan impressive12 on a ingat feedlots, Brewer's Black- low Grosbeakof Mexicois part s.c. Missouri CBC, four at birdsare proving to be more of a superspeciescomplex that unhappy"as it visiteda Sioux alsoincludes similar species in Centerfeeder through Feb. 6 Ozark,IL, Jan.2-Mar. 5 (TF), numerousthan previous records andone wintering at a W. Terre indicated.The largestflocks Central America and n. South 0VD). America. While the adult males Normallyabsent after the Haute, IN, feeder(H & MT, included50 winteringin War- ph.). Most surprisingwas a ren, KY (BP et aL), 30+ in of thesespecies are readily iden- CBC period,a fewAm. Pipits tified in the field, their immature winteredwith asmany as 30+ in tardyAm. Redstartin DuPage, Lucas,OH, Dec.9 anda similar Warren, KY, after Feb. 3 (BP), IL, Dec. 8-15 (SEW etal.). A numberwintering in Ross,OH plumagesare similar and may two in Gibson,IN, Feb. 3 (GB), few Corn. Yellowthroats were (BPjetal.), and 22 in Lake,IL, not be separablein all cases. and one in Tuscarawas, OH, notedduring December but the Ian. I (DJetal.). A flockof 75 Theseimm. plumages are also Jan.19 (ES). Earlymigrants onlyone to winter was at Spring Great-tailed Gracklesat S.C.R. poorlydescribed inthe literature, appearedat severallocalities ValleyW.M.A., OH (TL, CC). Jan.19 (TB) provided the only addingto theconfusion. The duringlate February. Single Other lingering passetines report.A N. Oriolewith charac- writtendescriptions of the Iowa teristicsof the "Bullock's"race "YellowGrosbeak" did not posi- Bohemian Waxwings were includeda tanager at a Scott,IA, noted at 3 Iowa locationsdur- feeder Dec. 2; the details did wintered at an Akron feeder tively eliminateall similar ingDecember where they are notallow for a specificidentity (LK, ph.), onlyOhio's 2nd specks,hence a discussion ofthis record of this race. individual'sorigins would be rarebut fairly regular visitors. A but it was a remarkable bird casual visitor to Illinois, one nonetheless.Indigo Buntings The winter finchflight was speculativeatbest. If one assumesthis bird was a BohemianWaxwing briefly were one on an Illinois CBC disappointing.The onlyPine YellowGrosbeak, its appearance appearedat Spfld.Feb. 21 andanother banded in Poplar Grosbeakreported was on an (SDB). CedarWaxwings were Bluff,MO, Jan.19 (VM). The IowaCBC. While300+ Purple duringwinter does not fit the notedin poorto fair numbers onlyDickcissels noted were in Finchescongregated atan Osce- patternof summer/earlyfall but no exceptionalconcentra- Madison,IA, Dec. 3 (E & EA) ola,IA, feederFeb. 28 (BB)and vagrancyinArizona. While very tions were encountered.It wasa and Urbana,IL, Dec. 9 (RC). 105 were counted in Macon, fewindividuals have been legally goodwinter for N. Shrikes, MO, Jan.29 (TB), theywere importedinto the U.S. during with 35+ reportsevenly dis- SPARROWSTO scarce to absent in most areas. thepast decade and this species is tributed across the n. states, WEAVER FINCHES Red Crossbillswere restrictedto currentlyrare in captivity,they Sparrowscontinued their Iowa, Missouri,and Illinois, arestill regular components of rangings. to Champaign,IL, the bird trade between Latin and Tuscarawas,OH. mediocreshowing of recent "widelyreported" in Iowabut The mild weather allowed a winters.The "spotted"form of local in the other 2 states.The Americaand Europe. The illegal Rufous-sidedTowhee wandered largestflocks totalled 10-15 importationof grosbeaks from goodvariety of warblersto Mexicois another possibility that lingerinto the winter period. E to Spfld.Jan 25 (DB). An crossbillsand they wandered S exceptionallylate Sharp-tailed to Butler, MO (VM). White- should be considered. Given Single Orange-crowneds these facts and the absenceof appearedon CBCs in Missouri Sparrowwas discovered at wingedCrossbills were very and Illinois. The only Cape Cleveland Dec. 10 (TLe). A scarcewith one reportfrom previousrecords oflong-distance May Warbler tarried at winteringFox Sparrow atRock- Indianaand 2 Iowasightings. It vagrancybythis species, the ori- Plainfield,IL, Dec. 9-21 (JM, ford, IL (JDo, ABr), wasnear wasa poorwinter for Corn. ginsof the Iowa grosbeak must ph.).Yellow-rumped Warblers then. edgeof itswinter range, Redpolls.Small numbers were besuspect. werefairly scarce,although aswas a SwampSparrow near scatteredacross e. Iowaand only Corrigenda:The followingcor- threein VanBuren Jan. 27 (TK, SiouxCity, IA, Feb.3 (BH). A oneappeared in Illinois.Given rectionsare necessaryfor the JFu)provided a rare mid-winter total of 275 White-crowned this poorflight, oneat a St. record for Iowa. A Yellow- Sparrowsin Scott, MO, Feb.20 Joseph,MO, feederJan. 30 spring 1990 report (AB (PM,JHz) was impressive. Illi- (LG) was unexpected.Pine 44:432-439): The Western throatedWarbler was reported Grebeat Charleston,IL, wasdis- from a Missouri CBC while noisexperienced anincursion of Siskinswere generally scarce, Ohio's2nd winterrecord was of LaplandLongspurs during Jan- althougha few flocks of 40-86 coveredby R. Bradley.The numberof Laughing Gull sight- onevisiting a Holmes feeder into uary,peaking with 10,000in developedin Illinois and Iowa. January(m.ob.). Above-normal LaSalle Feb. 10 (Re). Nine Even Am. Goldfinches were ingson L. Eriewas 2, not 20. numbers of Pine Warblers early Smith's Longspurs scarcein manyareas. Only s.c. Thereport of 20 Golden-winged Volume 45, Number 2 ß281 Warblersat Mingo N.W.R., andsome unprecedented ones about rarities--be considered MO, should be attributed to B. CENTRAL remlted. for inclusion in future winter Reevesand R. Brundage.One Given the warmth of the sea- seasonreports. Several processes reportwas inadvertently left out SOUTHERN son,an absence of boreal species might work to ensure tha• of thesummer 1990 summary wasexpectable, and that expec- Regionaleditors get these valu- (AB 44:1138-1142). An REGION tationwas generally borne out. abledata in time to usethem. extralimitalScissor-tailed Fly- StephenJ. Stedman AlthoughRough-legged Hawks For those,like me, who find catcheralso appeared in Cham- werefound in expected(that is, thepost-Christmas Bird Count paign,IL, June6-7 (•RC etal.). verylow) numbers,Red-breast- monthsof Januaryand Febru- All partsof theRegion experi- ed Nuthatches wintered in ary at bit dull afterthe excite- Contributors:(Subregional edi- enced milder than usual tem- unexpectedlylow numbers tors in boldface)E. & E. Arm- mentof Decemberbirding, let peratures this season. Snow nearlyeverywhere and in many me recommend an antidote: strong,L. Augustine,S. Bailey, cover was almost absent even in locationswere absent.American T. Bartlett(TBa), T. Barksdale, WinterRoadside Bird Surveys. theRegion's northern sectors. TreeSparrows staged a small With my wife's assistance,I M. Baum,D. Beeher(DBe), J. Rainfall,on the otherhand, was irruption into Tennesseeand & P. Bell (J & PBe),L. Binford, conductedsuch a surveyin Put- far aboveaverage in middle surroundingareas, while a few namCounty, Tennessee, during R. Biss, J. Blout (JBl), D. Tennessee, where 15 inches small flocks of Red Crossbills Bohlen,G. Bowman,A. Bran- January1991, by selecting 500 accumulatedduring December wereencountered in Mississippi roadside sites representing all hagen (ABr), K. Brock, B. in Cookeville, in southernLou- and Arkansas. habitats and topographic Brown,Alan Brunet(Indiana), siana, where a record 20 or ChristmasBird Counts gen- regionsin the county.At all J. Campbell, C. Cathers, R. moreinches fell in Januaryat eratedquite a bit of information stops,which were at leastone- Chapel, A. Contreras, T. somestations, and in a quitea thatwas vital in thefollowing thirdof a mileapart, I counted Cordell,R. Cummins(RCu), B. fewother places. Consequently, account. Without the infusion birdsseen and heard for 4 min- Danley(BDa), B. Dare,J. Davis manyrivers flooded during the of thismaterial, the Regional utes.After compiling the data (IDa), L. Day,J. Decker(JDe), season.Although these floods pictureofavian events would be from500 stops,I hada excel- J. DeNeal (JD), J. Dinsmore weredevastating to thepeople radicallydifferent. I thankthe lentindication ofthe frequency (JDi),S. Dinsmore, D. Dister,J. of manytowns and cities, their subregionaleditors for their dili- andabundance ofthe 72 spedes Donaldson(JDo), J. Elmore effecton local bird populations gence in obtainingthe more of birds encountered. I com- (JEI),P. & ICEslinger, J.Erwin, wasapparently negligible if the unusual records from these paredthese with "guestimates" H. Ferris,C. Fields,T. Fink, C. dearthof observer commentary counts. I would urge state CBC of winter abundancenoted on Fisher(CFi), J. Fry (JF), J. Fuller about them is a reliableindex. editorsto followthe example of thecounty bird list and was able (JFu),L. Galloway,B.Goodge, Avianevents during the sea- Tennessee's editor, Susan to substitute sounder abun- R. Goranson,M. Gustafson,J. son reflected warmth rather McWhirter, who mailed in danceclassifications formany Hancock(JH), D. Hardesty,L. thanwetness, with many sum- copiesof all countsthat came speciesthan had been possible Harrison(LHa), J. Haw (Haw), .mer.and migrant species linger- her way. Overall, however, previously.This surveyalso J. Hazelman (JHz), S. Hazel- •ngmto winter,some far inland. copiesof fewerthan a third of resulted in first winter records wood, R. Healy, L. Herbert Semi-hardyspecies like blue- theRegional counts found their for threespecies, as well asa (LH), C. Hobbs,J. Howard birds survived well and were way to my deskin time to be recordfor one species not previ- (JHw),V. Howard,B. Huser, J. often noted in considerable scrutinizedfor this report. ouslydocumented before in the Jefferson,A_ Johnson, D. John- numbers.Furthermore, many Giventhe restrictions imposed county.Finally, I learnedthat son,T. Kent,S. Kistler,P. Kitde, speciesthat winter almost exclu- onthe length of reportsin the White-throatedSparrow density L. Kupka, J. Landing, P. sivelyalong the coast ventured issueof the magazine devoted to in thecounty is strongly corre- Lehman,T. LePage(TLe), T. into theinterior this year; an thecounts, it isimperative that latedwith elevation: many more Little,C. Lundberg,W. Marcisz, amplitudeof unusualrecords all thesedata--not just data winterin thewestern portion of P. McKenzie,K. McMullen, D. Mead,E. Miller, J. Milosevich, L. Moore, V. Moss,D. Nolin, C. Olson, B. Orlock, D. Over- acker, B. Palmer-Ball (BP), BrucePeterjohn (BPj) (Ohio), • .•, •/• • ßCross CreeksNWR P. Petersen, C. Peterson, L. TENNESSEE Rauth (LRa), Mark Robbins (Missouri),Doug Robinson (Illinois), L. Rosche,D. Rose ßFtSmith AR•NSAS .Medis •h•le• (DRo), C. Saunders, E. Schlabach,L. Schools, J. Shrad- [.•ill• Wh•eRiver•R MI•ISSIPPI er, RossSilcock (Iowa), Anne Stamm(Kentucky), M. Stur- geon,D. Styer,H. & M. Tamar, J. Van Dyk (JVD), E. Walters, B. Wetteroth, P. Wharton, D. LOUISIANA ontgo•e• Whitehead,N. & R. Widmer, C. Wilkins, D. Williams, L. Yoder,J. Ziebol. In addition, manypersons who couldnot be individuallyacknowledged sub-

mittednotes to thesubregional ' New OMeans reports.--BRUCE G. PETER- JOHN, PatuxentWildlife Res. Center,Laurel, MD 20708.

•. ' AmericanBirds, Summer 1991 the countyat 600-800 feet sippi,with frequent daily counts AcadiaDec. 19 (DLD), Vermil- Faulkner,AR (HP, MP)--were abovesea level than do so in the of 200+ thisseason (JAT). ionDec. 19 (KVR, GHR), and beingstudied to determinetheir easternend at 1500-2100 feet. Many Tennessee CBCs ]ef•rsonDavis Jan. 27 (KVR) origin. Birderswho are bored in mid- recordedDouble-crested Cor- providedfurther evidence of Greater Whiteffronted Geese wintermight conduct a roadside morants, some of which over- this status.Considered unusual invadedMississippi in moderate surveyor somesimilar project; wintered,though the majority werefour Plegadissp. in Han- numbers--e.g.,45 in Laj•yette had movedsouth by January; cock,MS, Dec. 27 (MB, TH), Dec. 18 (GK, VT)--and pene• you'lllike doing it andyou'll trated to the coast, where 15 in find the results will be of con- post-December sightings five ad. RoseateSpoonbills siderablevalue. included four birds in Smith inlandin JeffersonDavis, LA, HancockDec. 27 (GK, SK) rep- }an. 3 (SJS)and five (down Jan.27 (KVR), anda Wood resenteda maximum;they were LOONS TO from 108 Dec. 18) in LakeFeb. Storkin MaconJan. 10 (AM), unreported in other states ANHINGA 1 & 16 (WGC). Anhingas the latter a first Alabama mid• exceptArkansas, where 28 in BentonFeb. 26 (DJ, m.ob.) AlthoughRed-throated Loons rarelyoverwinter in Louisiana, winter record. wentunreported from the Gulf where six were found in Terre- werenoteworthy. Ross' Geese Coastw. of the Floridapanhan- bonneDec. 22 (RSB, MHA, WATERFOWL arenow regular in smallnum- bers in s.w. Louisiana, with 4 dle, onewas present Dec. 1 in CLA)and one in ]•rson Davis Fulvous Whistling-Ducks Escambia, FL (PWS, RAD), Feb.1 (AWK, JW); theirstatus stageda minor invasionof more December sightings where casual.It is even lessfre- is similarin Mississippi,where Louisiana,where very rare in (SWC, DLD, AWK, JVR, onewas reported in Hancock winter;flocks of two to 29 visit- MJM) in thatpart of thestate. quent awayfrom the coast, Outside of Louisiana this makingone near the border of Dec. 27 (LK, JP, CK); however, ed Orleans(DN, DM, PRC), Panola/Laj•yette,MS, Jan. 1-2 in n.w. Florida the speciesis Calcasieu(KVR), Vermilion specieshas also been recorded (WMD, GB) and another in moreregular, as indicated by (KVR,AWK, JW), andJe•rson withincreasing frequency; this winter saw small flocks in Lime- Henry,TN, Feb.26-27 (?PL, twoin GulfDec. 27 (RLW)and Davis (SWC, DLD, CAM) SF,JRW, DoM) noteworthy.A ninein BayDec. 29 (HL etal.). from lateDecember until early stone,AL, Jan.20 (JRW,DoM, Pacific Loon in Escambia, FL, February.Alabama's first Black- SM); Tunica, MS, Feb. 21 Dec.1 (PWS,RAD) establishedBITI'ERNS TO belliedWhistling-Duck record (JRW);Cross, AR, Feb.25 (PL, the 8th or 9th localrecord. STORKS involvedthree in MorganDec. SF etal.); and Benton,AR Feb. Unusual concentrations of Rareinland appearances of Am. 24 (fideGDJ);two were shot by 24 & 26 (MM, DJ, m.ob.). In Horned Grebesappeared in Bittern,including one in Cata- huntersand one escaped, to be addition, at least 67 were observedin Drew, AR, Feb. 16 Arkansas:73 in CarrollDec. 13 houla,LA, Dec. 28 (JM fide seen Dec. 31 at Wheeler (MM) and a flock of 250+ in SWC) and three from N.W.R. (?HHK, RJK). (DRS). About 12 small flocks of Marion Jan. 10 (DRM); the Arkansas--in Prairie Dec. 2 An imm. Tundra Swan in onlyother inland report of (WMS etal.), LawrenceDec. 28 Noxubee and Oktibbeha, MS, GreaterScaup were reported, comparablenumbers involved (TT), and Hot SpringJan. 13 Jan.2 throughFebruary (TLS, probablyindicating a modest 58 on theHickory-Priest CBC, (MP)--providedtestament to MC, JuB) representedthe increasein thespecies' numbers TN, Jan. 1 (CGD etaL). The the mildnessof the season. southernmostof 3 sightings;an or greaterskill on the part of onlyRed-necked and Western Low lake levelsin Mississip- adult and three immatures Regionalobservers; no large pi'sinterior, as well as the mild stayedthe season in Lauderdale,flocks were reported from grebesinvolved one of the for- coastalLouisiana, where they mer in Henry, TN, Dec. 9 season,probably prompted TN (JRW, WGC), while an (JRW,DB) andtwo of thelat- nearly500 GreatBlue Herons immaturein Washington,AR, maybe considered too common ter in Cameron,LA, Feb. 9 & to remain in Laj•yette and Feb. 10 & 14 (DJ, AF) was to report. Oldsquawswere 20 (SWC, DLD, ?CAM, PA). Yalobushaduring December accompaniedby an imm. aboutnormally represented by EaredGrebes were more widely (TLS et aL). Great Egrets TrumpeterSwan, thought to recordsof singlebirds at 3 sites in Alabama and 2 sites in Han- detectedwith sixat the regular remained inland late, with two have been a wild bird. Other cock, MS; a female Dec. 9 in sitein Jones,MS, Dec.9 (TLS), in Grenada,MS, Dec. 20 (GK, TrumpeterSwans earlier in the Richland,LA (MMH, MTD), one in Washington,AR, Dec. TLS, DMS); 10 in œonoke,AR, season--three immatures in 9-16 and Jan. 5-22 (MM), Dec. 21 (KS, WH); one in Cleburne,AR, Jan.3 (RC, BV, wasa rarity.A singlerecord of Black Scoter surfaced: seven to another in Clark, AR, Dec. 31 Sumner,TN, Dec. 1-24 (RN et ph.MP) and an adult with three (DDH), andthree in Faj•urche, al.),the 2nd local winter record; immatures Jan. 19-20 in 14 malesin Harrison, MS, Jan. LA, Jan. 13 andFeb. 2 (DM, and 235 on the Montgomery MaM, RDP, NLN). CBC Dec. 29 (JoB etaL). At American White Pelicansvis- least three Tricolored Herons ited several far inland areas, wererare away from the coast in includingWarren, MS, where a Vermilion,LA, Dec. 19 (AWK, flockof 100+Jan. 25 (HM) was JVR, JB, DP). Alsorare was a deemedto be overwintering; white morphReddish Egret Arkansassightings included two (with two scarcedark morph in Hempstead/HowardJan.12 birds)in Laj•urche,LA, Jan. 13 (DJ, m.ob.),13 in PopeJan. 26 (MaM,NN, DM, RDP).Single (HP, MP), and30 in YellFeb. ReddishEgrets in HarrisonDec. 21 (HP, MP), while an imma- I and Hancock, MS, Dec. 11 ture in Hardin, TN, Dec. (JAT,m.ob.) were considered 14-29 (DJS)provided further rare. evidenceof the species'push The onlyinland White Ibis northward this season. Brown reportcame from Winston, MS, Pelicans remained scarce in Jan.20 (GK, SK).The regular Cameron,LA (JVR), with 6 presenceof smallflocks of recordsof one to 10 birds.This GlossyIbis in s.w.Louisiana is speciescontinued to increase graduallybecoming established Immature Trumpeter Swans east of Heber Springs, Arkansas, January 8, dramaticallyin coastalMissis- records of one to 10 birds in 1991. Photograph/MaxPadter. Volume 45, Number 10 & 12 (JAT).The onlySurf hardto interpret;observers are (DM etal.) was a by-productof theonly report, and occurred at Scoterswere in Shelby,TN, Jan. urgedto continuereporting the censuswork describednext. a sitewhere seldom reported; 27 (GB); Hancock,MS, Dec. 27 these birds each winter, and DuringJanuary and February did thebirds at theBattleship (JAT,CR); lackson, MS, Jan. 6 subregionaleditors are asked to theLouisiana Natural Heritage Alabamain Mobilenot appear (GM, JP, CC); Madison,MS, summarizeall reports. Program(RM) coordinateda this winter? Jan.5 & 20 (MH, HM, m.ob.); A Swainson's Hawk on the PipingPlover Survey along 177 PectoralSandpipers are very andOrleans, LA, Feb.16 (NN). New Orleans CBC Dec. 23 mi of mainland and barrier rarewinter stragglers, making Threereports of White-winged (NN, GC, ?ph. RDP) was islandbeaches in Cameron,Ver- one in Gulfi FL, Dec. 27 Scoter arrived: a male Dec. 27 probablya firstfor that locale, milion,Iberia, St. Mary, Terre- (?BHS) and another in in Hancock,MS (JAT, CR, while another was well docu- bonne,Laj•urche, Jef•rson, and Laj•urche, LA, Feb. 3 (RS, JNR); threenear Gulf Shores, mentedin Jefj3rsonDavis, LA, St. Bernardparishes. Over 25 MW) noteworthy;a third, AL, Jan. 12 (GF, JL, PG, SG); Dec.29 (ph.KVR), wherecasu- personsparticipated in the sur- probablyan early migrant, was and one Jan. 12-13 in Clark al. "Harlan's" Red-tailed Hawks vey,which counted 750 plovers in Laj•yette,MS, Feb.26 (GIO. AR (DDH, HP, MP). A raft of were noted at 3 sites in Missis- (4.2/miof beachsurveyed). Of On Dec.6 a PurpleSandpiper 1200 HoodedMergansers in sippiand onein Louisiana.An thehabitat surveyed, the barrier appearedin Gulfport,MS (ph. Panola,MS, Dec. 11 (WMD) incubatingRed-tailed in Wash- islands,including those of the JAT),the 5th consecutive year representeda high count. The ington,AR, Feb. 26 (D J) was Chandeleur chain, Isles of sightingsat thatlocation 9 Com.Merganser on the New deemedto bean earlynester. Dernieres, and the Timbailer American Woodcocks were OrleansCBC Dec. 23 remained SixRough-legged Hawk reports Is., offered the best habitat for widespreadin theOzarks (D J, to at leastJan. 27 (GS, ?JPS), (fideMGW & DFV) in Ten- PipingPlovers. However, some BR),and one engaged in a dis- and one wasin lackson,MS, nesseewere about the expected ofthese islands are experiencing traction display Jan. 17 inJack- Feb. 14 (JAT, m.ob.);each was number, while two were also substantialland lossdue to ero- son,FL (fideRLW), wherefew consideredvery rare. presentin s.Louisiana during sion,or arebeing riprapped to breed. December(?GS etal.). prevent erosion. Should these RAPTORS Normally rare in Arkansas islandsever erode completely or GULLS, Ospreysapparendy took advan- GoldenEagles, including an be buried under mountains of TERNS tageof themild season to winter adultand four immatures,were rock, suitablesubstitute habitat LaughingGulls were scarce in inlandmore frequently; they reported in 4 counties; an canbe created for theplovers, Jef•rsonDavis and Acadia, LA werealso more common along immature in •'nston and Nox- since RM discovered that the (KVR), while an adult in thecoast, as evidenced by 14on ubee,MS, duringmost of the smalldredge spoil islands in the Panola, MS, Jan. 24-Feb. 9 theCBC Dec. 29 in Bay,FL, seasonwas the 4th locally (TLS, AtchafalayaR. Delta hosteda (GK, TLS etaL)was only the (HL etaL), where the average m.ob.).Merlins were better rep- dense plover population 3rdlocally in winter. Mississip- overthe past10 yearswas 3.5. resentedthan usual in the inte- (13.5/mi). Unsurveyed,but pi's6th Litde Gull was reported Black-shoulderedKitesperpetu- rior with 2 reportseach from similar,habitat--the large without details from Grenada ated their statusas scarcewinter Tennessee, Arkansas, and n. dredgespoil islands created near Jan. 15 and Feb. 15-17 (GK, residentswith sightings in Han- Mississippi.A Peregrine Falcon themany passes at themouth of WMD et aL), as was the 3rd cock,MS (JAT, LK), and in in Little River,AR, Dec. 29 and theMississippi R.--might also Arkansassighting, made Dec. Cameron, LA (SWC, DLD, Jan.4 (CM, HP, MP) wasa first supportplovers; these will be 28 and Jan. 1-5 in Little River GHR, CAM, DP). The concen- in winter for the L. Millwood highpriority sites for next year's (CM, m.ob.). The 4th and 5th trationof BaldEagles for which area;two reportsfrom w. Ten- surveyeffort. Mississippirecords of Common the Reelfoot L., TN, area is nessee (fide MGW) were TwelveWilson's Plovers were Black-headedGull, reported renownednumbered 176 (107 encouragingand probably also earlyin Jefferson,LA, Feb. 2 fromTishomingo andPanola on ad.and 69 imm.)Feb. 4 (fide indicative of the mild weather. (DM etaL), as were three in Jan.12 (GK,JRW) and Jan. 18 MGW), somewhatlow; 30 in Well documented Prairie Fal- Escambia,FL, Feb.24 (RAD). & 24 (WMD, GIO,respective- Benton,AR, Feb.3 (DJ, m.ob.) consraised adrenaline levels Jan. FewAm. Oystercatcherswinter ly, alsoarrived without docu- representedthe next highest 26 andFeb. 12-13 (JRW,BPL, in s.e.Lousisiana, making two mentation; Arkansas'first Com- totalreported. Very few non- HP, MP) and Feb. 3 (D J, in Jef•rsonFeb. 2 (RDP, NN et mon Black-headed Gull, an CBC harriersand accipiters m.ob.),in Popeand Benton, AR, aL)notable; six were present all adult in Little RiverDec. 29, werereported, a paucitythat is respectively,where the species is seasonin Hancock,MS (JNR, wasphotographed (JRW, CM). rare. CR, m.ob.), where uncommon Observersand subregional edi- but regular.Late Greater Yel- tors are reminded that all RAILS TO lowlegsshowed up at 3 sitesin recordsof speciessighted fewer SHOREBIRDS Arkansasduring December than10 times in a state,except Inland rail recordswere few, (WMS, JLY,KY, RHD), while individualsthat return year after despitepresumably favorable anearly or wintering Lesser Yel- year to the samesite, shouldbe conditions:four Virginia Rails lowlegsappeared in Laj•yette, submitted with full substantiat- wereheard in Pulaski,AR, Dec. MS, Feb. 2 (GK). A further ingdetails. 15 (JLY, DP), and two Soras indicator of the mild winter was Interior Bonaparte'sGulls were registeredin Chicot,AR, thefirst January Spotted Sand- werereported more frequendy Feb. 4 (DRS). piperin Grenada,MS, seenthe than usual from Louisiana Locallylate and unusual,a 15th (GK). Two Whimbrels in (SWC),while 500+ stayed all of Lesser Golden-Plover visited Rapides,LA, Feb. 2 (DP, MM Januaryand February at pro- Swainoh'sHawk, evidently a Escambia,FL, Dec. 6 (RAD). et aL) were unprecedented ductive Pickwick Dam in first-winterbird, in JeffersonDavis SnowyPlovers in n.w. Florida inlandwinter vagrants; rare sin- Hardin, TN (DJS, m.ob.). A Parish,Louisiana, on December were presentin smallnumbers, gleswere in Cameron,LA, Feb. putative California Gull Dec. 29, 1990. Generallyrare in North including13-19 in Escambiaall 2 (SWC, DLD, CAM) and in 8-29 in Hardin, TN (?DJS, Americain December,the species season(RAD), two in GulfDec. Jackson,MS, all of January and m.ob.),awaits analysis by the shouldalways be documentedlike 27 (fideRLW), and 17 in Bay February(CD, m.ob.). A Long- TBRC,as does a putativeThay- this. PhotograplVKennethV. Dec. 29 (HL etaL); a single billedCurlew in Gulf,FL, Dec. er's Gull seenin the samearea Rosenberg. Snowyin ]efj3rson,LA, Feb.2 26-27 (?SJS,BHS) furnished Dec. 28-29 (?DJS);each would 184 ßAmerican Birds, Summer 1991 representa firststate record If well representedby 10 records Mena in the Ouachita N.F., Sprague'sPipits seen at sites10 accepted.Another Thayer's was in Tennessee,aswell as by a sin- AR, apparentlyhit it off mar- mi apartin Cameron,LA, Dec describedin superiordetail in glebird in Tunica,MS, Feb.21 velouslywith themale; no other 14 and Feb. 3 (SWC) were St. Bernard,LA, Feb. 22 (PL, (JRW), three in Prairie, AR, reports(and certainly none as probablydifferent individuals ?CAM, SF, GS), aswas an ad. Feb. 24 (PL etal.), and five in racy)of thisendangered resi- andwere certainly unusual. Lesser Black-backed Gull there Acadia, LA, Dec. 19 (SWC, dent of the Region were The White-eyed Vireo in the same date (?CAM). Lesser DLD, DaP, BF). Unidentified received. Clark, AR, Dec. 15 (HP, LD) Black-backedswere also report- swifts,probably representing at Louisiana almost cornered was far north of usual winter ed from Harrison, MS (TLS, least2 species,were noted at 2 themarket on rareflycatchers, haunts.Fairly cooperative and JAT, m.ob.), the 8th consecu- sitesin E. BatonRouge, LA, dur- sportingthree Vermilion Fly- vocal,a Bell'sVireo in Cameron, tiveyear of sightingsthere, and ing Decemberand January catchers (AWK, KMD, KVR, LA, Dec. 15 (?GHR, ?JVR, from Grenada, MS, Dec. 13 (AWK, SWC etal.). DP), one Ash-throatedFly- AWK) established the 5th or (GK), with no details; two catcher(?SWC, DLD), and one 6th winter record for that state. lmmatureswere reported in HUMMINGBIRDS TO Couch'sKingbird--seen and SingingN. Parulasin Jej•r- Hardin, TN, Dec. 28-29 FLYCATCHERS heard Feb. 10-11 in or near St. sonand St. Charles,LA, Feb. 19 (?DJS)and await action by the Louisiana's first Broad-billed John the Baptist (WA, CF, & 25, wereearly. A c• Black- TBRC. Glaucous Gulls Hummingbird,described in the +RDP, +JPS,GS), it represent- throated Blue Warbler in St. appearedin Hardin, TN, Jan. fall report,continued in Jej•r- ed the 2nd or 3rd for the state. Johnthe Baptist Dec. 29 (BO, 6-19 (DJS, JRW, DoM, sonuntil Jan. 5 (?NLN, ph. SingleW. Kingbirdsin s.Alaba- RBH), presentsince November, m.ob.),RutherJbrd, TN, Jan.7 PN). Six additionalspecies of ma (RAD) and n.w. Florida provided the first well-docu- (TJW), and Marshall, AL, all hummingbirdswere present (GF etal.)were all thatprevent- mented winter record for period (ALM, ?GDJ). Great duringthe seasonin Louisiana: eda monopolyby the birders in Louisiana. One 9 Black-throat- Black-backed Gulls were well Buff-bellied(1 record),Ruby- thebayou state. edGreen Warbler showed up in representedwith singlebirds throated (at least 1 record), Bay, FL, Jan. 25 & 28 (JO, along the Gulf Coast in Black-chinned (at least 4 SWALLOWS TO EK),while Black-throated Gray Laj$urche,LA, Jan. 13 (MaM, records), Broad-tailed (1 PARULIDS Warblers were noted in NN, RDP, ?DM), Harrison, record), Rufous (at least 6 Early Purple Martins arrived CameronDec. 16 (DM, RDP) MS, Dec. 19 until the end of recordsof 22 birds,including Jan. 18 in E. BatonRouge, LA andPlaquemines Dec. 30 (DM, the period (ph. JAT, m.ob.), 14 in one Reserveyard), and (AWK), and Feb. 23 in Nox- KVR, ?AWK). Pine Warblers Baldwin, AL, Jan. 26 (?GF, Allen's(1 record);experienced ubee,MS (JRW, WMD). Fish wintered in n. sections of the PB), and Gulf FL, Dec. 27 observers considered these Crows wintered for the first Regionin fairnumbers, such as (?SJS);an inlandsighting of an resultsto representan average or timein Noxubee,MS, whereup 14 in Hardin, TN, Dec. 29 immaturetook place in Hardin, evena bit belowaverage season. to fourwere present (TLS, JuB, (DJSet al.) and twoJan. 3 & 4 TN, Dec. 29 andJan. 6 & 12 Elsewherein the Region,hum- GK, SK). A Rock Wren in in Putnam,TN (SJS),where no (?DJS, JRW). I2one imm. mingbirdsightings were proba- Catahoula, LA, Dec. 15 previouswinter recordsexisted. Black-leggedKittiwakes graced bly aboveaverage. Alabama's (?KCC) wasthe 4th or 5th for Black-and-white Warblers and L. Millwood, AR, Jan. 4 (HP, 2nd Calliope Hummingbird the state, if acceptedby the Ovenbirdswere reported from ph. MP), SardisL., MS, Dec. stayedthe winter in Shelby LBRC. At least two Bewick's many areaswhere normally 12 (GK, VT), and St. Andrew (?RRS,m.ob.); it weighed2.89 Wrenswere in Ruther•rd,TN, absent or scarce in winter. Rec Area in Bay, FL, Dec. gramswhen it wasbanded. One onespending the winter (RVM, Three N. Waterthrushes visited 29-Jan. 3 (MAO, HL, ph. Rufous was banded in Mobile TJW, DM); oneappeared Jan. Jej•rson,LA, duringJanuary TM), thelatter a countyfirst. Jan. 25 (RRS, MS), and four 26 in YellAR (BPL);Mississip- andFebruary (DM), whilesin- The first December Least stayedthe seasonat feedersin pi records included one in gle Yellow-breasted Chats Tern for Escambia, FL, coastalMississippi (fide JAT) YalobushaDec. 13-20 (GK), turned up in E. Baton Rouge appearedDec. 4 (RAD). with anotherpresent in Wash- threein Grenada(GK, SK), and Dec. 18 (RTB) and St.John the ington, MS, until Jan. 14 one in QuitmanJan. 31 (GK); Bap•st,LA, Dec.29 (BC,JK). DOVES TO (GEA). Two were presentin andsingles were discovered in SWIFTS Arkansas, another measure of Louisiana on the Johnson TANAGERS TO Forty-twoEur. Collared-Doves the mildness of the season: an Bayou CBC Dec. 16 (DLD, LONGSPURS in Walton,FL, duringDecem- imm. male stayedthe winter SWC) and the Baton Rouge At least two December Summer ber (fideRAD) representedan andwas banded in Union (SS, CBC Dec. 18 (RBH). More Tanagerswere detectedin E. increase.White-winged Doves LS) and an imm. female was thanthe customary number of BatonRouge, LA (KVR, TAP, werereported from 4 Louisiana banded in Pulaski Dec. 15 SedgeWren sightingswere RTB), wherequite rare in win- parishesin smallgroups, all pal- (WMS, RC). Finally, a 9 recordedin n. Mississippi(GK, ter. Anad. c• Rose-breasted ing by comparisonwith the Rufous discovered in November TLS), while a Marsh Wren in Grosbeakwas late or wintering roostof 120 in Plaquemines remaineduntil Feb.14 in Coj• Carroll,AR, Dec. 28 (MM) was in Williamson, TN, Dec. 22 Dec. 30 (KVR, DM, AWK). An •e, TN (DD). onlythe 2nd for the n.w. part of (DFV), while a c• Black-headed Inca Dovein Washington,AR, The controversial "Red- that state. Grosbeakin Clark, AR, Dec. 5 Dec. 1-Jan.4 (DJ etal.), killed naped"Sapsucker in Orleans, Arkansas' 2nd Townsend's (DDH) wasrare. Eight Blue by a cat andthen preserved(* LA, returned this winter and Solitaire visited YellFeb. 9-17 Grosbeaksstayed the season in U.A.M.), was the 2nd for the wasexposed as a plebianYel- (WMS, BV, ph. MP), andtwo St. John the Baptist,LA (RS, n.w.part of thatstate. low-bellied(SWC, PL etaL). A Wood Thrushesturned up on MW). Rarewintering Indigo Groove-billed Anis were Red-cockadedWoodpecker was the Gulf ShoresCBC, AL, Dec. Buntingsdotted the Regional noted in 6 Louisianaparishes identified near Irons Fork L. in 29 (CLK), for that state's3rd landscape;one appeared in Jej• Dec. 17-Jan. 13 in groupsof Polk,AR, a new locationfor the winter record.By Feb. 16 an ferson, AR, Dec. 25 (GL), one to five(m.ob.). The only species.A female,trapped in Am. Robinhad already laid an anotherin Laj•yette,MS, Feb. Long-earedOwls were singles in Texas,transported across state eggin itsnest in Nashville,TN 22-27 (GK, SK), and at least Henry,TN, Dec.2 (JRW) and lines, and ensconsedin a man- (DAB). AmericanPipits were three in different Louisiana Grenada, MS, Dec. 19 (GK, madecavity in theterritory of a unusuallywidespread in n.w. parishes(AWK, JVR, MW, RS, TH) Short-eared Owls were bachelor Red-cockaded near Arkansas(MM), while single DM) An equally unusual c•

Volume 45, Number 2' 2•$ PaintedBunung visited Escam- record,were studied Jan. 27 and be a more pleasantone than son,Greg D. Jackson(Alabama bia,FL, Feb.7-12 (OEF,JoM), Feb.1 in Jej•rsonDavis (KVR, thoseattending the arrivalof and n.w. Florida), Douglas while 5?-plumaged birds SWC, DLD, AWK, ?CAM). certain other avian colonists. James,Ed Keppner,Cecil Kerst- showedup in Acadia,Jej•rson, LaplandLongspurs occurred in Red Crossbills visited Nox- ing,Curtis L. Kingsbery,Helen and Orleans, LA, on Dec. 19 numbers:55+ werein Shelby, ubeeand •nston, MS, in flocks H. Kittinger,Ricky J. Kittinger, (JH), Jan. 13 (MaM, RDP TN, Dec. 23 & 26 (MGW, of one to 11 in late December Joe Kleiman, Gene Knight, NN, DM), andFeb. 23 (DM), m.ob.), 44 were in Limestone, and February (TLS, m.ob.); ShannonKnight, Lele Kopfler, respectively.Seven Dickcissels AL, Jan.19 (JRW), 100 werein theywere also present during Andrew. W. Kratter, Eric Lefs- in Louisiana (SWC, DLD Bolivar,MS, Jan.9 (NJH), and Februaryin flocksof oneto two tad, Paul Lehman,Bill & Paula KVR), onein n.w. Florida(RH, 300 invadedAcadia, LA, Dec. dozenin Scott,AR (RHD). Pine Lisowsky(BPL), Jan Lloyd, KO), a male in coastalMissis- 25 (KVR, RTB). Smith's Siskinswere generally absent or Horace Loftin, Louisiana State sippi (JP, CC, m.ob.), and a Longspursoccurred in smaller present in low numbers, UniversityMuseum of Natural malein Jej•rson,AR, Dec. 29 numbers:up to 22 in Prairie althougha fewpockets of better Science,Guy Luneau, Curtis A (RHD) wereall noteworthy. AR (WMS, JLY,HP, MP); two representation in Tennessee Marantz, Joel Martin (JoM), The first local winter record to eight in Shelby,TN, in werereported (MGW, DFV). RichardMartin, David McCar- of Bachman'sSparrow occurred Decemberand February (JG, American Goldfinches had a roll, SteveMcConnell, Ruth V Feb. 2 in Noxubee,MS (GK, MGW et al.); and one in goodwinter, but Evening Gros- McMillan, Tony Menart SK). Two Rufous-crowned Yalobusha,MS, Dec.19 (GK). beakswere all but absent,with 4 Andrea Menyhert, Allan Sparrowsin Logan,AR, Dec.4 reportscoming in from Ten- Mueller (AMu), CharlesMills (WMS, AMu), four in Yell,AR, MEADOWLARKSTO nessee,2 from Mississippi, and Ann L. Miller, Mike Mlodinow Feb. 11 (BPL), andone at a new GROSBEAKS one each from Alabama and James Montgomery, Hal location--RedlandMt. in Pike, Western Meadowlarks in Arkansas. Moore,Duane R. Moren,Gerry AR--Feb. 15 (WMS, CT) Laj•yette(KVR), Acadia (SWC, Morgan, Michael J demonstratedthat this sparrow DLD), and Vermilion(KVR), Corrigendum: The 32 Am. Musumeche, David Muth isstill doing well in theRegion's LA, wererare but expected,as Swallow-tailed Kites near DollyannMyers (DOM), Mac n.w. frontier. American Tree wasone in Pope,AR (HP, MP); Marengo, AL, reported (AB Myers(MaM), Norton Nelkin Sparrowsstaged a moderate onefarther east in Lafourche, 44:1144) as presentJuly 2, Nancy L. Newfield, Paul incursion into Tennessee: 27 LA, wasmost unexpected Feb. 1990,we're actually seen Aug. 3, Newfield, Richard Newton, were counted on the Reelfoot 24 (RSB). Brewer'sBlackbirds 1990(as correctly stated in AB Katie O'Connor, Mary Ann CBC Dec.18 •qdeMGW), and werereported in smallnumbers 45:114). Olson, Brent Ortego,John 40+were in thatvicinity Feb. 2 fromTennessee, although 50 in Oswald, Helen Parker (SJS,BHS, m.ob.); 19 werein LawrenceDec. 28 (DJS)were an Contributors:(Subregional edi- (Arkansas), Max Parker Stewart Dec. 15 (CSH), and exception;two femalesin Put- torsin boldface)Penny Abbot, (Arkansas),David Pashley, fourshowed up farthereast in nam,TN, Jan. 15 (BHS) estab- G. EdwardAlexander, Christy Dave Patton(DaP), RobertPat- MontgomeryJan. 8 (AHH). lished the first local winter L. Arceneaux,Milton H. Arias, ton, LancePeacock, JoRee Pen- Only threerecords of single record.A • ShinyCowbird in WilliamAyers, Mickey Baker, nell, Drew Phillips, R. Dan birdsoccurred inArkansas •qde Escambia,FL, Feb. 3 (?CDF) JohnBates, Deborah A. Beasley, Purrington, Cheryl Randall, MP), while Alabamahosted the probablyrepresented a first win- Gilbert Beaver, Richard S. J.N. Randall,Barbara Raulston, southernmost, with three at terrecord for that area. Purple Bello, Joel Black (JOB),Paul J. Van Remsen, Virginia WheelerN.W.R. Jan.19 (SM). Finches were in low to moder- Blevins,Donald Blunk,Julia Reynolds,Gary H. Rosenberg, A singleClay-colored Sparrow atenumbers wherever they were Broyles (JuB), Robb T. K.V. Rosenberg,Martha Sar- in Cameron,LA, Dec. 15 (JVR, reported. Brumfield,Carolyn Bullock, gent,Robert R. Sargent,Ter- AWK) wasextremely rare. House Finches invaded the StevenW. Cardiff (Louisiana), enceL. $chiefer(inland Missis- Small to moderate numbers westernmost and southernmost ChitaCassibry, Ben B. Coffey, sippi), John P. Sevenair, of VesperSparrows stayed late reachesof the Region in MargaretCopeland, Roberta WilliamM. Shepherd,Shug in Tennessee: 20 were counted unprecedented numbers. Crabtree, Gay Craft, Bruce Shugart,Luvois Shugart, John on theMemphis CBC Dec. 16 Observers in Arkansas and Crider,W. Glen Criswell,Ker- Sichel, Damien J. Simbeck, (fide MGW); 15 were on the alongthe Gulf Coastare now mit C. Cummings,Don David- Richard W. Simmers, Don R CBCin LawrenceDec. 29 •qde gettinga tasteof whathas been son,W. MarvinDavis, Kathryn Simons,Gwen Smalley, Noreen DJS);two were in Coj•eDec. goingon in Region'sn.e. sector M. Deagan, Lewis Delavan, Smith, Barbara H. Stedman, 29 (DD); and one was in Put- for the pastdecade, and they Charley Delmas, Donna L. StephenJ. Stedman,Ron Stein, namJan. 3 (SJS). SevenLark had better brace themselves, Dittmann (Louisiana),Robert Keith Sutton, Dana & Martha Sparrowson theCrowley CBC, becausenumbers are just going H. Doster,M. T. Douglas,C. Swan(DMS), PaulW. Sykes, LA, Dec. 19 representeda tokeep increasing. For example, GeraldDrewry, Robert A. Dun- Terence Teel, Vic Theobald, respectablenumber; single birds onebander in Shelby,TN, han- can,Bill & Lou Erwin (BLE), JudithA. Toups(coastal Missis- in Lowhales,MS, Dec. 15 (TLS) dled 1700 birdsin January Owen E. Fang, Shawneen sippi),Christian Tunk, William and Rutherford,TN, Jan. 5 (BBC),and that figure was 900 Finnegan,Albert Flaig,Carol Vermillion, Bo Verser,David F. (TJW, DM, BLE) wereunex- fewerthan the previousJan- D. Fleming,Gene Fleming, B. Vogt (middleTennessee), Uni- pected. The 2nd and 3rd uary'stotal; 5 yearsago such Fontenot,Charles Frank, Larry versityof ArkansasMuseum, Louisiana recordsof"Gambel's" totalswould have beenunthink- Gardella, Ben C. Garmon, JosephW. Wahl, Martha G White-crowned Sparrow able.Furthermore, given this PeggyGibbs, Joe Guinn, Sandra Waldron (west Tennessee), occurred Dec. 14 (* bird'sability to toleratehigh Gunn,William Hailey, Carol S. Melvin Weber, Richard L L S.U.M.N.S.) and Feb. 2 in temperatures,it will stayas a Hale, R.B. Hamilton, M.M. West,Jack Whittemore, Jeff R Cameron(SWC). The season's breeder as far south as there is Harraway,Don & DoloresHar- Wilson,Terry J. Witt, Karen onlyHarris' Sparrows stayed land to breed on. With the rington(DDH), GlennHarris, Yaich,Paul Yakupzack, J. Lyn- [an.16, 20, & 21 in Shelby,TN completionof theHouse Finch ThomasHeatley, Annie H. dal York.--$TEPHEN J. (CB, VR, NS, m.ob.)and Dec. invasion, the avifaunal character Heilman,Nona & J.C. Herbert $TEDMAN, Departmentof 19 in Acadia,LA (JH). of ourentire Region will be sub- (NJH), James Holmer, Ron English,Box 5053, Tennessee TwoMcCown's Longspurs, tly changedin lessthan 15 Houser, W. Chuck Hunter, TechnologicalUniversity, establishingthe 2nd Louisiana years,although the change wdl Marion Hutto, Debra G Jack- Cookeville,TN 38505 1..$6'American B•rds, Summer 1991 PRAIRIE PROVINCES REGION WoodBuffaloNat.Park L.•• ßUraniUm •/•C' RudolfE Koesand Peter7ylor Ft.McMurray. ßGrande Prairie / After a relativelymild startto theperiod, extremely cold air .. ALBERTA/ • ß • -Thompson envelopedthe Regionfrom December 17 to January 10, withdaytime maxima generally remainingbelow 0øF. There was a partialrespite in mid-January, ' Ba N . I W•pog thenan exceptionally mild spell in earlyFebruary, with maxima wellabove freezing throughout the south for a week or more. After thai, conditions were morevariable, and the period . _. OldWives L. BrandonWignipe9 ' closed out with a short but sharpcold snap. Precipitation remainedgenerally low where it isneeded on theprairies. 4 (FR). At Boundary Dam studied near Robsart, SK, Dec. Gardiner Dam Dec. 5 (CB, Manystraggling waterfowl reservoir, Estevan, SK, there 16 (KB, RKr, RM). Rough- WH). GlaucousGulls peaked at andhalf-hardy birds were driv- were two Gadwall Feb. 27 (PC, leggedHawks were at theirlow- six in that area Dec. 8 (SS, en or weeded out in the cold RKr)and an Am. Wigeon Feb. est in 4 years near Calgary MW), and one remainedat L. Christmasperiod, and feeder 13 (DW). (RD), and very scarce in DiefenbakerJan. 28 (WH). birdswere generally scarce. The PineFalls provided the best Saskatchewanand Manitoba. A Black Guillemot was earlymild spell brought some late duck recordsin Manitoba: a An overwintering9 Pere- droppedalive on a Churchill, changesatthe feeder scene, and Ring-neckedDuck Dec. 1 (RKo grineFalcon in Winnipeghad MB, streetby a passingCorn. justa hint of springmigration. etal.), a GreaterScaup Dec. 8-9 beenreleased at CedarRapids, Ravenon Jan. 4. Retrievedby a Overall it wasa quiet season, (GGf et aL), andan Oldsquaw Iowa,in July1989. At least14 local resident and forwarded to with owlsand falconsdoing a lingeringfrom fall to Dec. 9 Gyrfalcon reports in Natural Resourcesstaff, it died lot to keep birder and soul (PT etaL). A 2ndRing-necked Saskatchewan were enviable, from an infection at the Win- together. Duckwas nearby at McArthur while four in one field in Cal- nipegZoo 3 dayslater (fide FallsDec. 1-2 (PT, DBy etaL). gary,Dec. 16 (ET, BC, TK) GRrBES TO I•FrORS Rarities at Gardiner Dam were a weretruly drool-inspiring. Scat- Eastern Screech-Owls were One W. Grebe remained on the Common Eider Dec. 8 (SS, tered Prairie Falcon records reportedfrom 8 locationsin South Saskatchewan River near MWi), a t3 Harlequin Duck included a returnee to a Win- theirlimited range in s.Manito- Gardiner Dam to Dec. 5 (CB, presentfrom fall to atleast Feb. nipegsenior citizen's home ba and s.e. Saskatchewan; a WH). Twenty-fourspecies of 8 (CB,WH, m.ob.),and an ad. (RKo et aL)--an odd sight locallyrare red-morph bird fre- waterfowlwere reported across t3 Barrow'sGoldeneye Dec. 5 indeed,roosting on an air-con- quenteda barnnear Kleefeld, theRegion, but only14 after (CB). Alsounusual so late were ditioneron a high-risebalcony. M,B,for muchof thewinter December,mainly at Calgary a White-wingedScoter Dec. A pair of PrairieFalcons was (CP, DF). SnowyOwls were and near dams in s. 1-5 (WH, RKr, m.ob.) and a alreadymating at Medicine patchilydistr!buted in fair num- Saskatchewan. Avian cholera Red-breastedMerganser Dec. 2 Hat, Feb. 16 (BV). bers(peak day counts around struck crowded waterfowl on & 17 (CB, RKr). 10 birds) in all 3 provinces. the Bow R. in Calgary,with BaldEagles were attracted to GALLIFORMESTO Northern Hawk Owls were about 1000 succumbingby duckcarcasses in Calgary, with WOODPECKERS found at 15 or more locations mid-January(RD). a peakcount of 17 onJan. 12 Grasslands N.P., SK, is a acrosss. and c. Saskatchewan, Unusuallylate were a Greater (TK). NorthernGoshawks were Regionalstronghold for prairie and six were banded near Sun- White-frontedGoose at Regina more common than usualacross gamebirdsnew and old: 110 dre, AB (DC), but only three Dec. 5-6 (RKr, FL) andan ad. s. Manitoba,with 28 reported Ring-neckedPheasants and 19 werereported in Manitoba. SnowGoose at CalgaryDec. 23 sightings;the only other accip- SageGrouse were counted there GreatGray Owls were well (JS,SH). Fewerthan 350 Cana- iter specieswere on Alberta Dec. 30 (PC). Five Killdeer representedat normal locations da Geesewintered at Regina, CBCs.A well-regardedobserver remainednear Calgary until in all 3 provinces.In s.e.Mani- continuingthe decline since the reporteda Swainson'sHawk Dec. 17, disappearingwith the toba, numbers rivalled the power-plantclosure. Three win- near Medicine Hat, AB, Dec. firstblizzard (RD), andone was record winter of 1978-1979; 80 teringAm.Black Ducks, also at 16 (PM,fide DBo). A Calgary at Govenlock, SK, Dec. 16 birdsbanded were thought to Regina,comprised two probable odditywas a darkmorph Red- (WH). A HerringGull at Cal- representa quarter of reports escapeesand one believed to be tailed Hawk at the Cominco garyDec. 12 (MWi) provided a received(RN, JD, HC). An wild. An impressive10,600 property,Jan. 13 (AS)--the 5th local late record. An Iceland albinisticGreat Gray Owl was Mallards were still at Gardiner consecutive winter record at Gull wasindependently iden- found near Patricia Beach,MB, Dam Dec. 5 (WH), and about that location. A dark morph tifiedby 2 observers,and com- Dec. 29-30 (GH, BF, RN). 4000 remained in the area Feb. adultFerruginous Hawk was paredwith Glaucous Gulls near Short-eared Owls were

Volume 45, Number 2' 287 widespreadacross the southin Alberta's 3rd winter N. coisXavier Jan. 22, butits genes early winter, especiallyin Mockingbird, and the first apparently lived on in three Saskatchewan;Regina's CBC known to survive, braved the hybridoffspring. total of 25 was remarkable. The elementsin Calgaryfrom late only BorealOwl reportcame Decemberinto April (MBb, Corrigendum:The Ring-billed from Somme, SK, Feb. 20 m.ob.). Thousandsof Bohemi- Gull at Calgary on Dec. 5, (DBI). A N. Saw-whetOwl sur- an Waxwingsremained in Cal- 1989, wasnot the city's first vived a window collision near gary for the winter, but the wintergull, as originally stated. Medicine Hat Dec. 1 (WT), specieswas spottily distributed andthis species was calling in andgenerally scarce farther east. Observers:(Subregional com- the Calgaryarea by Feb. 15 A count of 5445 Lapland pilersin boldface)Bob & Rae (RD) and at SherwoodForest, Longspursat Bromhead,Jan. 2, Anderson,Mairi Babey(MBb), SK, on Feb.26-28 (PC etal.). was another Saskatchewan CBC Martin Bailey(MBI), Dennis NorthernFlickers were surpris- record (CB, MBI). The most Baresco (DBo), Keith Bart inglyplentiful in severalprairie unusualsparrow was an over- Doug Barry (DBy), Carol citiesin earlywinter; thosein winteringSwamp Sparrow in Bjorklund,David Black (DBI), Winnipegdisappeared in late Calgary,probably a Regional PaulChytyk, Brooke Clibbon, December (RKo), but at least first; itwas last seen Mar. 13 HerbCopland, Doug Collister, somesurvived in Regina(TH). (JP,HG, m.ob.).A SongSpar- RossDickson, Jim Duncan, row visited a feeder in Win- Dennis Fast, Bruce Foutch, PASSERINES nipeguntil Dec. 22 (RT), and GordonGraham (GGm), Gor- Themild spell brought Horned two SongSparrows were seen don Grieef (GGf), Horst Larks back to s. Manitoba even along Battle Creek, s.w. Grothman, Wayne Harris, earlierthan usual,with numer- Saskatchewan,Dec. 15 (RKr, GeorgeHolland, Stewart Holo- oussightings Feb. 6-15. A total KB, RM). han, Trevor Herriot, Rudolf of 3050 Horned Larks in the A "Black" Rosy Finch, NorthernMockingbird in Calgary, Nberta, January16, 1991. Third Koes(RKo), Terry Korolyk, Rockglen-Coronacharea set a apparentlythe firstfor Canada, Robert Kreba (RKr), Fred Saskatchewan CBC record winterrecord for the province, wasan excellent find in theBig and first one known to have actu- Lahrman, Peter Mehrer, M. (MM, RR). Common Ravens Muddyvalley, just north of the ally survivedthe seasonthere. Meyers, Ron Myers, Robert edged out of the forest in Montana-Saskatchewanborder, Photograph/TerryKorolyk. Nero, Clark Penner,Jamey strengthagain in SaskatchewanJan. 2 (CB, MBI). A c• House Podlubny, R. Rafuse,Frank and Manitoba; 387 werecount- Finchat a Carberryfeeder, Nov. while Pine Siskins and Am. Roy, Stan Shadick, Andrew ed at a roost in Birds Hill 17-Dec. 4, furnished Manito- Goldfinches were numerous Slater,John Steeves, Peter Tay- ProvincialPark, near Winnipeg, ba'sfirst winter-period record onlyin s.w.Manitoba. Evening lor, RussellTkachuk, Wilbur in lateJanuary (GGm, fide RN). (B & RA,ph.). Grosbeaknumbers were gener- Tripp, Eric Tull, Ben Velner, Red-breasted Nuthatches were The more characteristic win- allybelow average; a CBC total Don Weidl, Merril Wershler "in largenumbers everywhere" terfinches were disappointing of 550at The Pas, MB, suggests(MWi), M. Williams(MWi).-- around Calgary (RD), but in general.Few Pine Grosbeaks that manymay have stayed RUDOLF F. KOES, 135 Ross- scarce to absent in Saskatch- left the forest,and both crossbill north. mere Cres., Winnipeg, MB ewan and Manitoba. A Winter specieswere extremely hard to Finally,Manitoba's one and R2K 0G1, and PETER TAY- Wrenlingered in Calgaryuntil find. CommonRedpolls were only Eur. Tree Sparrowwas LOR, Box 597, Pinawa, MB Dec. 17 (RD). fairly numerousbut patchy, seenfor the last time at St. Fran- ROE 1L0.

NORTHERN

GREATPLAINS ßShelby MedicineLakeNWR [ UpperSouris • •.•lyerNWR REGION \ • NORTH - Ron Martin NTANA • •...... A,,•o• Anothermild, open winter with very sparseprecipitation over MilesCi• •lnger almostthe entire Region con- ; tinued the trend of the last sev- Billi•e L Oahe eralyears. As the drought lingers on, theoutlook for the prairie Pierre potholes is even more bleak than last year. Numerous •.... SOUTH speciesremained into Decem- B/ackHdls ber,but a coldsnap from mid- ßLacreek NWR Yan• Decemberto early January drove out most of the semi- hardyspecies. A goodmix of latewaterfowl were at numerous localities.

288. AmericanBirds, Summer 1991 Severalraptor species were pre- Bowman-Haley Dam (D & sevenThayer's Gulls were at Three Gray Jays were at sentin above-averagenumbers, CG) and Garrison Dam fur- Garrison Dam Dec. 8 (GBB). Mayville, ND, Jan. 14 (RMK) but owls did not follow this nished the 3rd-latest record for The IcelandGull reporteddur- anda Steller'sJay was in Billings trend. Larids continued to cause North Dakota. Common Mer- ing the fall seasonat Garrison Jan. 18 (JP). BlueJays contin- excitement at Garrison Dam ganserspeaked at 3200 Dec. 6 Dam remainedto Dec. 16, and ued to increase in e. Montana with sevenspecies present in in Yankton,SD (WH). the 4th documented North A Common Raven was in Pem- December. Finch numbers were Dakota recordwas provided bina, ND, Jan. 4 (LFM). A generallyunimpressive except RAPTORS TO SHOREBIRDS Dec. 8 when a second bird Mountain Chickadee pho- for American Goldfinches, but Bald Eagleswere well below appeared(REM, GBB).A Less- tographedJan. 3 in Fall River, several individual finch records normalat GarrisonDam during er Black-backedGull gracedthe SD (KA), waspresent for most were of interest. theannual January survey, after late afternoon scene at the Gar- of the season,and represented Seasonalhighlights included most of the Missouri R. had rison Dam CBC Dec. 16 the 3rd state record. Nine of the the third Mountain Chickadee frozendownstream during the (REM, DNS). Opinionswere samespecies in Malta, MT, for South Dakota and the first extreme December cold. After a still beingsolicited as of this Dec.15 made an unusually high Lesser Black-backed Gull for peakof 41 on Dec.30, onlytwo writing, but the bird was total there. A Marsh Wren at North Dakota. birdsremained by Feb. 2 at Fort thoughtto be in 2nd-winter Bowdoin N.W.R. Dec. 15 was Peck. In other areas, numbers plumage.If acceptedthis would in the same location as one LOONS TO reportedwere average.A N. representthe first recordfor observedOct. 31 (KS). The WATERFOWL Harrier in Grand Forks, ND, NorthDakota and the Region. bird furnished the first winter ACom. Loonfound on a high- Dec. 15 waslate (EF). Sharp- GlaucousGulls were reported record for L9. Three December way at Malta, MT, in mid- shinned Hawks at 6 locations at 2 South Dakota locations reports of Golden-crowned Decemberdied Dec. 21 (DP). were about normal for recent alongthe Missouri R. andalso Kingletsmade a verylow total A greenvent area suggested lead years.Several sightings of a at Garrison Dam, ND. At Fort for North Dakotaand only one poisoning.Six December Great Cooper's Hawk at Bowdoin Peckthey peaked at sevenDec. sightingcame from e. Montana Blue Heron reportsfrom the providedthe first wintering 23, and five remained to Feb. They were at 7 locations in Dakotaswere aboveaverage, recordfor latilong L9 (KS). 10 (CC).An unidentifiedlarge, South Dakota in December. and one wasat Yellowtail Dam, Afteronly 5 reportslast year, N. light-backed,adult gull at Gar- Twenty-oneE. Bluebirdsin Bighorn,MT, Feb.12 (HC). Goshawksmay be on theupside rison Dam Dec. 8 resembled a Yankton, SD, in December Tundra Swans also made a of their 10-yearcycle with 26 bird photographedOct. 31 at madean unusuallyhigh num- good late showing with 2 individuals noted. the same location. Photos of the ber. The 31 Townsend's Soli- December reports in South Counts of 14-29 Rough- October bird sent to three w. taires on the Medora CBC set a Dakota and three birds on L. leggedHawks were noted along coastexperts did not garnera new record high for North Sakakawea until Dec. 16. Three some highway stretches in unanimousopinion, and the Dakota. American Robins were Greater White-fronted Geese Montana.Golden Eagles were birdor birdswill likelyremain a very scarcein North Dakota Dec. 6 in CharlesMix, SD, were widespreadand in goodnum- mystery.The three Black-legged after the CBC period.Four Var- late (BKH). Snow Geese bersthroughout the Region, Kittiwakes found at Garrison ied Thrushes were all in Mon- remained to mid-December in and the 28 recorded Dec. 15 on Dam in late November were tana.Representing only the 2nd all 3 states and a North Dakota the CBC at Medora set a new seenagain Dec. 1 andone bird winter recordsfor their respec- Gameand Fish Department recordhigh for North Dakota. was at the same location Dec. tive stateswere Gray Catbirds surveyof CanadaGeese in early Afterthe goodfall movement, 8-16 (REM, GBB). on theCBCs at Fargo,ND, and Decembertallied 135,000 birds mid-Decemberreports of Gyr- Rarein North Dakota, a red- Billings,MT, Dec.15. from L. Sakakawea to the South falcons came from Fort Peck morph E. Screech-Owl was BohemianWaxwings were Dakota line. In Montana, (CC) and Freezeout L., MT found Feb. 3 in Grand Forks generallyin low numbersin Canada Geese returned to 3 (fideMS), andPierre, SD. For (DOL). Aftera fairSnowy Owl both Dakotas but about normal refugesin earlyFebruary. the 3rd consecutive winter, movementin earlyDecember, in Montana. Northern Shrike EarlyFebruary waterfowl in Gyrfalconswintered in the Gar- veryfew were seen during the numberswere generally good, Yankton,SD, included Green- rison Dam area, with two birds last half of December and in andheld throughout the period wingedTeal, Gadwall, Red- presentthis year (v.o.). Prairie January.February produced a A day-longtrip in c. North head, Ring-necked Duck, Falcons were widespreadin totalof onlyeight birds. Three Dakota Feb. 17 yielded six Greater Scaup, and Lesser Montana and North Dakota Januarysightings of Long-eared birds.Yellow-rumped Warblers Scaup(BKH, WH). Alsonoted but onl• 2 reportscame from Owls were all in Montana, and on 2 s. South Dakota CBCs tn SouthDakota in earlyFebru- SouthDakota. A PeregrineFal- 19 Short-earedOwl sightings werevery unusual. ary wereAm. Wigeon in Fall conwas at ArrowwoodN.W.R., weredown from 33 lastyear. A River(RAP) and Buffleheadin ND, Jan.3 (pcV). N. Saw-whet Owl Jan. 1 at TOWHEES TO Charles Mix. Two Green- Wild Turkeysgathered into a Sawyer, ND, was the only FINCHES wingedTeal Dec.8 at Garrison flock of 600 in Richland, ND reportof theseason (RM). A Rufous-sided Towhee at Dam providedthe 2nd-latest (BK).ACom. SnipeDec. 9 at Minor, ND, Januaryto March record for North Dakota Garrison Dam furnished the LARKS TO mayhave been the first to over- (GBB), and two remained at 3rd winter record for North WARBLERS winter in North Dakota (RM) Fort Peck until Jan. 15 (CC). Dakota (DNS). Flockscontaining hundreds of An Am. TreeSparrow retrapped AnAm. BlackDuck Jan. 13 at Horned Larks were seen Jan.13 in Jackson,SD, hadbeen Garrison Dam furnished a rare GULLS TO throughthe period in c. andw. originally banded in 1983 mid-winter record (RM). An OWLS North Dakota, but Marble (KG). For the 2nd consecutive Oldsquawthat spent the season A Ring-billedGull appearedat commented that numbers in the year,Dark-eyed Junco numbers at GarrisonDam providedthe Fort Peck Feb. 7 and remained Chester, MT, areawere very were aboveaverage. The Fox firstwintering record for North to theend of the period(CC). low.They were moving into e. SparrowDec. 9-18 in Grand Dakota. Two Barrow's Golden- The last California Gull left North Dakotaby earlyFebru- Forks, ND, was among few eyeon the CBC at Pierre,SD, Fort Peck Dec. 23, and one ary,and a flockof severalthou- winter records for the state wereeast of theirnormal range. arrived at Freezeout L., MT, sandwas in Jackson,SD, Feb. (m.ob.). LaplandLongspurs HoodedMergansers Dec 16 at Feb 26 (MS) A recordhigh 28 (KG) were more widespread in c

Volume 45, Number 2' 289 North Dakotathan in anywin- scattered at feeders in North and Bismarck,with a peakof both in North Dakota. ter since1978 with a peakof Dakota and were in 3 South 14 in December in Grand 900 Jan. 13 in McLean, ND Dakota counties. Five birds at a Forks.Crossbills were virtually Area editors (boldface) and (GBB). Snow Buntingswere Malta,MT, feederthrough the nonexistentwith only2 county cited observers: MONTANA: alsoquite numerous in c. North periodestablished a new record reports of Red Crossbillsin Charles Carlson, Helen Carl- Dakotawith daily counts higher for L9 (JM). Three Cassin's South Dakota and two small son, Clarke Dirks, Harriet Mar- than for e. North Dakota. Usu- Finches at the same feeder the flocks of the same in Minot, ble, JackMillar, Ted Nordha- ally the oppositeis true. The lasthalf of Decemberalso pro- ND, in December and Febru- gen, Dwain Prellwitz, Jim specieswas noted at only 2 vided a new record for L9. Pho- ary. Common Redpollswere Phelps,Michael Schwitters, Montana and 3 South Dakota tos were obtained of both presentin verylow numbersin Jamesand Karen Stutzman. localities. species. Montana and North Dakota NORTH DAKOTA: Gordon Unusualwere eight Yellow- The House Finch parade and were reported in only 4 Berkey,Eve Freeberg, Dave and headed Blackbirds Feb. 8 near continued with more birds at South Dakota counties. Pine CarolynGriffiths, Bob Kloubec, the Montana-North Dakota more localities. In South Dako- Siskinswere at manylocalities RobertKruger, Donald Kubis- stateline westof Grenora(TN). ta, 45 werepresent most of the in the Dakotas in low numbers chta, David Lambeth, Ron Brown-headed Cowbirds are periodin Yankton(WH) and but only 3 reportscame from Martin, Laura Mitchell, Shel- veryrare in North Dakota in singlemales were in Roberts Montana. American Gold- donMyerchin, Kristine Nelson, winter, so one at Grand Forks Dec. 11 (BB) and Lawrence fincheswere widespread in the Gary Nielsen, Dan Svingen, (DOL) Dec. 9 and one in Rich- throughoutthe season (DCB). Dakotaswith the bestshowing Paul Van Ningen. SOUTH land Dec. 20 (KLN, SMM) In Montana, House Finches since 1983. Ten to 35 were DAKOTA: Kathy Anderson, wereunexpected. Two reports were said to be at virtually regular at many feeders in DougBacklund, Barbara Bern- were received from South every feeder in Billings and North Dakota with a peakof stein, Ken Graupman,Willis Dakota. werestarting to singby theend 72 in McLeanJan. 13 (GBB). Hall, Bruce Harris, Mike Therewere only 2 reportsof of the period.Farther east, 75 Two observationsof Evening Michael, Richard Peterson, RosyFinches for the Dakotas wererecorded at Miles City on Grosbeaks,away from their Dennis Skadsen,Jerry Stan- and none for Pine Grosbeaks in the CBC. In North Dakota, usual haunts in w. South ford.--RON MARTIN, Rt. 1, theRegion. Purple Finches were birds were in Minot, Fargo, Dakota and Montana, were Box59A, Sawyer,ND 58781.

TEXASREGION cG•egW. Lasley and uck Sexton ß Buffalo Lake NWR

ßMuleshoe NWR •Nichita ß HagermanNWR Falls Superlativeswere not muchin ß Lubbock evidence in the accounts from Fort Wo•h ß ß Dallas our contributors this season, ß•, .. , ", ßAbilene neitherin a positivenor a nega- ß El Paso tive vein. Instead, adjectives %a',,-'.;"Park ßMidland %• • Nac•dochese such as "mild" and "uneventful" were uncharacteristically Davis• -Ange•S• A•Waco• overused. To be sure, we had onecold arctic blast just before Christmaswhich chased linger- inghummingbirds and flycatch- erssouth and put mostof the statein a deepfreeze momentar- ily, but that event was noted morefor the extracomplaints U • Aran•s.WR GULF from unluckyChristmas Bird Kin;ville-_%•rpu, R Count participantsthose days than for any major avian • Be•sen impact. Most of the state •. State receivedat least somegood Park rains,except for the droughty interior of south Texas and the playasof theHigh Plainswhere createda bountiful seedcrop, tic irruptive speciessimply rekindleda litdeextra follow-up there was almost a complete settingup a feastfor seed-eaters didn't. Nuthatches, goldfinches, field effort in January and absence of surface water. Baffin this season. This also led to purplefinches, and especially February. Perhapsjust a bit Bayon thelower coast, normal- unprecedentedlingering of sev- siskinswere almost universally more this seasonthan usual, vis- ly a productiveestuarine habi- eralspecies that generally winter described as scarce. Most iting birdersand tour groups tat,was suffering from the lack farther south. Nonetheless, as remarkable was the virtual seemedto stumbleupon and of freshwaterinput and the con- first hinted at in the fall, avian absence of bluebirds and soli- alert locals to rarities, and of tinued presenceof a "brown invasionswere mostly absent: taires in the western half of the coursethis was more typical in tide"algae. The baywas nearly No masses of birds came down state. the heavilyvisited coastal and birdless. from the mountains, in from In manylocales the Christ- southern parts of the state. By contrast,the impressive the eastor west, or over the river masBird Counts seemed to pro- Detailedornithological explo- rains in the fall in west Texas from the south. The characteris- vide tantalizing rarities that ration of the new Big Bend

•0. American Birds, Summer 1991 State Natural Area (hereafter Feb. 26 (N.E.T.F.O.) were BentsenFeb. 11 (R & LG). A Observers' attention was the"Big Bend Ranch"to distin- muchless expected than the "Harlan's" Red-tailed Hawk caughtby a fewLong-billed guishit fromthe neighboring handful reportedalong the wascare.fully studied near El Curlewsin unexpectedlocalities nationalpart to theeast) began coast.Very unusualfor mid- PasoFeb. 15 (BZ); few legiti- in far n. and w. Texas. The 2nd in earnest,with someintriguing winterwere 12 SnowyEgrets at mate records exist for this race winterrecord of W. Sandpiper finds. Ft. Hancock,Hudspeth, Jan. 17 in w. Texas.Ferruginous Hawks forHudspethwas found Jan. 17 After this season we will (BZ). A flock of 1000 White- were more frequent in some (BZ). Freeport'stwo Purple regrettablylose the services of facedIbises was seenon a ranch areas,including a rare Hill Sandpiperslingered through the our indefatigableeast Texas in San Patricio Dec. 17 (RM et Countryrecord in Gillespie(NJ) seasonand another Purple was subregional editor, Ted al.). andsome beautiful dark-morph foundat thevery tip of Texasin EubanksJr., to a busyschedule Wintering Black-bellied birdsin Kenedyand Kleberg (N Cameron on Feb. 28 (BZ), of otherornithological pursuits Whistling-Duckswere scarce & PP, m.ob.). Two single undoubtedlythe southernmost and businessdemands. Thank- andlocalized in drought-strick-Rough-legged Hawks in e. recordfor this part of theworld. fully,none of ushas heard the en interior south Texas. A Tun- Texaswere fortunate finds; they Terry Maxwellfound an Am. lastof Ted...staytuned for big- draSwan made a 3-daystop at were in Upsbur Feb. 9 Woodcocknear San Angelo in gerand better things from this Big Boggyin mid-December (N.E.T.F.O.) and VictoriaFeb. lateJanuary, providing the 2nd remarkable observer and (fideB.C.N.C.). Two pairsof 25 (RW). PeterScott and Rose ConchoValley record (DT). Ann Rowlett had a rare Golden reporter. Tundras were reported at A Little Gull spent Dec. Wichita Falls in mid-January Eaglein AustinDec. 9. Merlin 16-Jan.24 on L. Wacobut was Abbreviations: Ft. Bliss (Ft. (fide BO) and another was wasanother species seemingly difficult to find most of the time BlissSewage Ponds in El Paso found in El PasoJan. 17 (LJ). more numerous in many parts (JMu).An ad.Common Black- Co.); G.M.N.P. (Guadalupe Greater White-fronted Geese of thestate. Presumably hacked headedGull hadpreceded that Mountains Nat'l Park); were less numerous in s. Texas AplomadoFalcons were seen in bird at the same lake Dec. 11 L.R.G.V. (LowerRio Grande butthere were 3 reportsof up to scatteredL.R.G.V. locationsbut (MC, JMu).Rare in mid-winter Valley);U.T.C. (UpperTexas 40 birds at scattered Trans- onereported to the northat werea fewBonaparte's Gulls in Coast).The followingare short- Pecos locations. Ross' Geese Aransas(fide BO) wasunexpect- the Trans-Pecos in December enednames for the respective werenotably more abundant ed. andJanuary (BZ). A first-winter county,state, or national parks, statewide,including a flockof Mew Gull, furnishingthe 3rd refuges, etc.: Anzalduas, 76 Jan.26 at Hagerman(KN et QUAILTO Aransas,Attwater, Bentsen, Big aL) andMidland• 3rd county TERNS Bend,Big Boggy,Hagerman, recordFeb. 1-28 (G & MT). ThreeMontezuma Quail found Hueco Tanks, Lake Texana, ThreeEur. Wigconsconsti- in Dog Canyonof G.M.N.P. LagunaAtascosa, Lost Maples, tuteda goodsprinkling: Nacog- were an excitingfind Dec. 2 and Santa Ana. dochesJan. 20 (D & MW et (RR);we have learned that there aL), nearLaguna Atascosa Jan. hasbeen a releaseprogram for LOONS TO 27 onward (E & JM), and that speciesin recentyears in DUCKS Austin Feb. 17 (BF). Canvas- thepark. Only 146of the 155 The only PacificLoon of the backspeaked on L. SamRay- Whooping Cranes in the leafed on the Galve- burn with 3000 Jan.25 (DF et Aransas/Wood Buffalo flock ston CBC Dec. 26. Common aL). Five reportsof up to 22 reachedTexas. Tragically, a Loons wintered in record num- Greater Scaupin coastals. record11 werelost, mostly to bers at L. Tawakoni; a few Texas made a better than aver- unknown causes,to leave the Commons in Lubbockand Cros- ageshowing. An impressive300 flockat 135 by season'send. byin Decemberwere notewor- Corn. Merganserswere at Ft. Thespring migration will bring thy.A staggering800 Horned HancockJan. 17 (BZ); three further bad news. Grebes were counted Feb. 3 on Red-breasteds in Lubbock 10 A SemipalmatedPlover at L. Tawakoni (RK, GH, JN). dayslater were of also of note. Balmorhea L. Dec. 7-15 was a Three W. Grebes, a species first for winter in the Trans- Mew Gull in first-winterplumage absent from e. Texas for almost P•PlO•5 Pecos(ML); anotherSemipal- at CalaverasLake, San Antouio, a decade,frequented Lake Tex- Richard Wright and David matedlingered in Harrisonin Texas,December 14, 1990. Pho- ana,Jackson, Feb. 9 onward Wolf documenteda surprising the Pineywoodsuntil Dec. 2 tograpb/BretWhituey. (Spoonbill).Galveston CBC migrationof TurkeyVultures (N.E.T.F.O.). Agencyperson- •articipantswere shocked into overNacogdoches Dec. 13 & nel and volunteers, under the staterecord, was sporadically incredulityby a SootyShearwa- 15 when 1100 and 1725+ auspices of the Great sightedat CalaverasL. in San ter that remained around Galve- respectively,were counted. Not Lakes/Northern Great Plains AntonioDec. 1O-Jan. 7 (ph. ston harbor for most of Dec. 26. onlywas this unexpectedly late PipingPlover Recovery Team, WS et al.). Interestingly,a dead Sooty was in the season, these were also conducteda censusof the Pip- The Brownsvilledump was found on the beach near San the largestmigrations of this ingPlover throughout its win- clearlythe best place for gull Luis Pass,Brazoria, about 25 mi speciesever detected over that teringrange. In Texas,the cen- watching.Jon Dunn pho- down the coastJan. 2 (TH). area. A Black-shouldered Kite, susrevealed a totalof 1904Pip- tographeda first-winter Thay- About three Audubon's Shear- accidental in the Trans-Pecos, ing Ploversand 1413Snowy er'sGull thereJan. 4 aswell as waterswere reported off Port wasfound in HudspethDec. 23 Plovers.An extraordinarycon- Lesser Black-backeds and a Aransason a Feb.15 pelagic trip (ES,LyS). The Harris'Hawk centration of over 6000 Am. Glaucous; the latter birds (SG). The Masked Booby continued to be seen in Lub- Avocets was at Boca Chica remainedinto February.Lesser Black-backeds continued to be reportedon theFreeport CBC bock,north of itsnormal range. Cameron, Feb. 28 (BZ). Four Dec. 16 addedto thesparse set Two adults and an immature avocetsat Ft. HancockJan. 17 reportedwith increasingfre- of winterrecords for thespecies. were found Dec. 2-31 (CSt, wereeither extremely early or quencywith at least seven SingleAm. Bitternsat Big L.E.A.S.). winteringin thearea for only describedand/or photographed, BendRanch Jan. 6 (KB) andin Fourvery early Broad-winged the 2nd time in the past 20 includingthe Port Aransas bird Marion (in the Pineywoods) Hawks were reported over years(BZ). (8th winter).The LesserBlack- Volume 45, Number 2 ß291 backed at Balmorhea L. men- December(RM etal.). Curiously, alongside the tionedin fall lingeredthrough Sapsuckersand flickerswere SWALLOWS TO reportsdescribing the lack of Dec. 3 (ML, m.ob.). Another reportedlysparse in muchofs. SHRIKES bluebirds and solitaires in their Glaucous Gull was found in Texas (N & PP). A Downy Definingthe "winter" season for normalareas were sightings of Austin Dec. I (N & RA, ph. ,j Woodpecker in McKittrick swallowsightings in coastaland out-of-rangestrays such as a 9 & BRi) andyet another was on CanyonDec. 29 provideda rare s.Texas is as tricky as recogniz- Mountain Bluebird at Anzald- the Port AransasCBC (TA). G.M.N.P. record(ML). Expect- ing"summering" shorebirds. It uasfrom Feb. 13 onward (R & Dunn'slast entry from a virtu- edbut rare wintering Empidon- is approximately,january for LG, m.ob.), a c3'Mountain at osoperformance finding rare ax flycatchersincluded two mostspecies but thatis mislead- HagermanFeb. 21-28 (KH et gullsin s.Texas was a first-win- Leastson the U.T.C. (Spoon- ing.Small numbers of Barns,N. aL), anda solitairein Bastrop ter Black-leggedKittiwake at bill, WG) andDuskies pho- Rough-wingeds,larger numbers Feb.17 (BF). There are clearly the mouth of the Rio Grande tographedat the Big Bend of Trees,and occasionally other no "laws"castin stoneregard- Jan. 4. Small numbersofkitti- Ranch(KB). Very unexpected speciesare normally reported ingvagrant occurrences but two wakeswere reported on the wasa GrayFlycatcher also pho- from the CBC seasoninto Jan- situationsseem to producethe U.T.C. in December; one on L. tographedby BITan at BigBend uary.By late,january and early most here: Eithera seasonwhen O' The PinesDec. 1 wasespe- Ranch,jan. 6, onlythe 2nd doc- February,most of theregular a speciesis super-abundantin ciallynotable (KN etaL).A very umented Texas winter record. speciesare already headed back its normalrange or whenit is late Corn. Tern wasreported N into Texas. Cave Swallow has unexpectedlysparse in such Dec. 2 from Mt. CreekL. (KN, nowbecome the wintering swal- areas. Can anyone offer an fideWP). low in mostofs. Texas(e.g., explanationfor thelatter situa- 200+ in San Antonio). We tion? Clay-colored Robins PIGEONS TO heardof a not-unexpectedfirst desertedus. There was but a sin- FLYCATCHERS Cave Swallow record for Victo- glereport from Laguna Atascosa A vagrantWhite-winged Dove ria on Feb. 23 (RW). andseveral reports at SantaAna. appearedduring late December In stark contrast to the winter Theabundance of thespecies in n.e. of Ft. Worth (NG, ph. RDC). Inca Dove continuedits northwardexpansion. One in Pampa,Gray, Feb. 3 (M & TM, fideJE)was a countyfirst. Away from the L.R.G.V., two Green Parakeets and at least one Red- crownedParrot were seen irreg- ularlyin Kingsville(CBu, N & PP). Notable owl records includeda Ferruginous Pygmy- Owl reportedat Bentsen(RM), a fewElf Owlsat thesame park GrayFlycatcher iu Presidio Thestatus of CaveSwallow iu Texas has changed remarkably iu recent (R & LG),and Burrowing Owls Couuty,Texas, Janary 6, 1991. years.It wasformerly scarce iu summeraud absent iu wiuter; uow it is winteringwell n. of their usual Secoud documented winter record abuudantiu summer,aud wiuter records are becomingcommouplace. rangein the n. half of the state for Texas.Photograph/Kelly B. Thisflock of CaveSwallows was at BrauuigLake, Sau Antouio, Texas, ou (m.ob.). Eachyear we come Bryau. December24, 1990. Photograph/WillieSekula. very close to getting Corn. Nighthawks on the Austin Theremarkable overwintering of 1989-1990, the onlynote- CBC; thisyear the last of them Grayin Karneswas still present worthy corvid recordsin w. lingeredthrough Dec. 20 but on Mar. 8 (DMu). A Say's Texaswere of a flockof Pinyon just outside the CBC circle Phoebespent its 2nd winter in a Jaysin Dog CanyonDec. 29 (GC, RD). row in Cleburne,Johnson (CE). (SW) and2 sightingsaround Prior to the Christmasfreeze, A full arrayof documentation, the New Year of the Black- singleBuff-bellied Humming- includingphotos and multiple billedMagpie returning for its birds were encountered out of taperecordings, was amassed on 2nd winter near El Paso(MMi, rangein SanAntonio Dec. 1-6 a pair of Tropical Kingbirds KK). Three Mexican Crows at (MH,fideSH) and in Austin identifiedin BrownsvilleFeb. 9 LagunaAtascosa Feb. 23 werea Dec.21 (NAI, ph. GL). The lat- by,jeffKingery and Dave Sibley surprisejust severalmiles n. of Female Mouutaiu Bluebird at An- ter birdwas captured alive by for Texas' 2nd solid record their regular haunts at the zalduasPark, Texas, February 13, rehabilitatorsand transported a (m.ob. into March). We are Brownsvilledump (fide ST). A 1991. Thespecies is veryrare few months later to the grateful to Kingery, Sibley, CanyonWren in YellowHouse iu the lowerRio Grande Valley. L.R.G.V. for release(GL, VE). Chris Benesh and others who Canyon,Lubbock, in January PhotograplVShawneeuFiunegau. A d' Anna'sHummingbird quicklyrecognized not only the andFebruary was the first there spentpart of the winter in w. rarity of the sightingbut the in 10 years(fideDS). The most 1989-1990 lulled observers to CorpusChristi (CC et al.); a 9 specialdocumentation require- interestingof scatteredWinter sleep:None of the reportsthis Broad-tailedHummingbird was ments for this species. A Wren records were in winterwas accompanied by any at thesame site simultaneously Cassin's Kingbird in Alpine G.M.N.P. in late December documentation. Folks, this is (CC). Broad-taileds were also Feb.22 mayhave been an early (ML) andin RandallinJanuary stilla veryrare species in Texas!! reportedin Decemberand ,jan- migrantor an overwintering (KS et aL). Golden-crowned American Robins were abun- uary in Kingsville(N & PP). bird (ML). A coupleof CBCs Kingletwas an exception,to the dant in n. and central Texas but Interestingkingfisher records benefitedfrom hardy Scissor- lack of winter visitors; the theymostly stopped short ofs. includedRinged at Laredo(ES, tailed Flycatchersthat were specieswas widely reported as Texas.There were 3 reportsof LyS)and Boerne (Dill) in,Jan- reluctantto bepushed south by being more numerousthan Varied Thrush: A hard-to-find uary, and a Green in Goliadin the late December freeze. usual. bird at Bentsen in December

292- American Birds, Summer 1991 (TP, R & LG, m.ob.),a Dec. 15 were on coastal and s. Texas period(RUet al.). reportedthe seasoh'sonly reportin Lubbock(MN, NO), CBCs, anotherwas at Laguna Most excitingwas an imm. EveningGrosbeaks, a flock of and a bird in Chambers Feb. 2 AtascosaJan. 2 (fideST), anda Golden-crownedSparrow dis- 200 Feb. 28. onward(JW etal.). final individual was at San Mar- covered at the base of the Unusuallate records of Gray cosJan. 11 (DH). Franklin Mts. in n. EIPaso Dec. Addendum:A specimen collect- Catbirdinduded single birds in 31 OS).Another imm. Golden- edin August1980 on Padre I., Garland and G.M.N.P. in late GROSBEAKSTO crowned visited a feeder n. of Kleberg,and now in theWelder Wildlife Foundation collection December.A SageThrasher FINCHES Amarillo in Potterfrom early Dec. 29 providedPalo Pinto A Black-headed Grosbeak, not Decemberthrough the period (W.W.F. No. 2270) wasrecent- with its 2nd record(EWet al.). expectedin e. Texasin anysea- (TMa). One McCown's ly identifiedas a GreaterShear- CedarWaxwings were much son,appeared at LakeTexana Longspur,the rarest of thefour water(CS, GL), providingonly more abundant in the e. Hill Feb. 21 (RM). Small numbers longspursin n.c. Texas, mingled the2nd specimen and 4th doc- umented Texas record of the Country than normal: An of Blue Grosbeakswere report- with 200 Laplandsin n.w. Ft. uncountablcswirling flock that edalong the Rio Grande from Worthduring december (CH, species. covereda half-acreexpanse over Del Rioto theBig Bend region m.ob.).Laplands became scarce Contributors and cited the berry-ladencedars w. of throughthe season. As many as after December in that area, but Austinin lateFebruary was par- 26 VariedBuntings along with Smith'sLongspurs closed in on observers:(Subregional editors ticularlyimpressive (CS). A sin- one Painted Bunting were all-timehighs at L. Tawakoniin in boldface)Peggy Acord, Nor- gleN. Shrike,in PaloDuro reportedin earlyDecember at Januarywith 320 counted Jan. man Almond (NAI), Tony CanyonDec. 20, was reported BigBend Ranch (KB); we just 1 (m.ob.).On thesame day, an Amos,Ben Archer Jr. (BA), N. (MP). don't know what to expectin impressive82 Smith's were tal- & R. Armstrong,Eddy & Nina that area! lied on the LongviewCBC. In Arnold, Keith Arnold, Mike VIREOS TO If sparrowsseemed sparse in addition, 150 or more Smith's Austin, Sy Baldwin (SyB), TANAGERS someparts of centraland s. were found in several fields in SharonBartels, Bay City Nature SolitaryVireos were newswor- Texas, blame verdant w. Texas Hunt (MWh) and a flockof 95 Club, Bay County (FL) thy in Dog CanyonDec. 29 wheremany observers reported wasin theCaddo grasslands of AudubonSociety, Will Brewer, (SW),Edgewood, Van Zandt, hugeconcentrations, especially Fannin Dec. 18 (CH etal.). David Brotherton, Charles Dec. 19 (RK), and at nearby in Big Bend.Lark Buntings The onlyexceptions to the Brown,Hugh Brown,Kelly Wills PointJan. 1 (JC). Before werelikewise concentrated by generallack of PurpleFinches Bryan,Art & JonellBuckels, hestarted on his gull tear, Dunn the thousandsin that area,while werefound locally in n.c.Texas CharlesBucy (CBu), Frank turnedup a Virginia's Warbler in otherparts of the normal whereobservers in Johnson(CE) Bumgardner,Harold Burgess at SantaAna Jan. 3. This first range the speciesseemed andat L. Tawakoni(fide CH) (HBu), Ted Cation, Charlie documentedwintering Virginia uncommon. The most norther- felt thespecies had never been Clark,Jeremy Clark (JCl), Alice forTexas remained through the ly ofour regular wintering spar- more numerous! & Don Cocanougher(A & periodand was seen by many. rows, the Am. Tree Sparrow, About 30 Red Crossbills DCoc),R.D. Coggeshall,Bob KellyBryan found and pho- was also more numerous in its remainingin Midland from Cowan,Gay Craft, Ann Crouch, tographeda Lucy's Warbler at usualhaunts. One at Hagerman Christmasthrough the end of JanCumming, David Daughlin, BigBend Ranch Jan. 6, alsoa Jan.26 (KN) wasa rarefind as theperiod provided only the Gladys Donohue, Robin first documented winter occur- wasone in Dog CanyonDec. 3rd recordin nearly40 years Doughty,Jon Dunn, Charles rencein Texasand one of very 29 (SW). At the latter locality there(D & AK,fide FW). A Easley, Jan Elston, Victor few in the United States.Other anddate, a FieldSparrow was LesserGoldfinch at L. Tangle- Emanuel,Ted EubanksJr. (East noteworthylingering warblers also an excellent find (SW). wood, Randall, Dec. 9 (TJo) Texas: 2701 Amherst, Houston, included a c3Yellow at Ft. Bliss VesperSparrows seemed plenti- furnishedonly the 5th winter TX 77005), Dixie Fewerbachcr Dec. 3-7 (first EIPaso winter ful on the U.T.C. (WRi, sightingin that area.At the (DFe), ShawneonFinnegan, record;BZ), a possibleGrace's m.ob.). Two Lark Sparrows same locale, Johnson later DeanFisher, Mark Flippo, Phyl- Feb. 22 in Boerne (SWi), a nearAmarillo Dec. 9-15 repre- lis& TonyFrank, Dave Frech, Brush Freeman, Red & Louise Prairie in Sinton Dec. 8-10 (M sentedonly the 2nd winter & LS, CC), a Palmin Longview r•cord on the caprock (HH, Gambill,Steve Ganley, Noel Jan. 13 (KN), a Black-and- KS). Over 200 Grasshopper Gaumond,Tim Gollob (TGo), whitein NacogdochesDec. 16 Sparrowswintered in onearea Darrell Goodson,John Gower (DW), two Prothonotarieson of Karnes(DMu), while two (JGow),William GraberIII, CBCs on the U.T.C., and a Grasshoppersin El PasoJan. 9 MarthaGrace, Kad Hailer,Hap Louisiana Waterthrush at Lost were the first there in several Hamous,George Harmon, Pat MaplesDec. 12 (DMu). years(BZ). Henslow's Sparrow Hartigan,Tyrrell Harvey, Steve Pine Warbler received the disappearedfrom c. Texas in the Hawkins,Vern Hayes,Carl most mention asbeing extra 1980s.A glimmerof hope,at Haynie(North Central Texas: abundant.Among extralimital leastfor wintering populations, 737 Meadowcrest, Azle, TX 76020), Dick Heller,Dick Hen- reportsof this specieswere a wasprovided by 5 recordsthis firstKleberg record Jan. 13 (N season: One was in Nacog- ¾ rr derson (Dill), Dave Henson, & PP), a first ConchoValley dochcs Dec. 14-16 (DW); Joan& ScottHolt (J& SHo), recordFeb. 20 (DT), one in Rio anotherfound at JonesCreek MargeHooks, Joe Ideker, Nick GrandeVillage Feb. 24 (undoc- on the FreeportCBC stayed LOt Jackson,Bill Johnson,Tom umented in the Trans-Pecos; R throughJan. 21 (MG, JGo, u Ida Johnson(TJo), GregJoiner, & JRo),and a 3rdwinter record m.ob.); one was at Attwater LarryJordan, Brad Jury, George in Midland Jan. 19-27 (J & Dec. 19; two near Ore City, Jury, Karen Kaplan, Louise DMe, m.ob.). Western Tan- Upshur,on the L. O' ThePines Marie Keeton, Greg Keiran, agersmade scattered news. At CBC remained into mid-Jan- between :The Donna& AlvinKelly, Charlotte interior locations,they were uary(MP etal.);and as many as Kidd, Richard Kinney, Ed Kutac, SteveLabuda, H.P. Lan- reportedon the L. Livingston three were found in Chambers and Burnet CBCs. A few more Feb.24 throughthe end of the gridge, Greg Lasley,Paul Volume 45, Number 2' •3 Lehman, Llano Estacado AudubonSociety, Mark Lock- IDAHO-WESTERN wood,Sue Lower, Terry Massey (TMa), Terry Maxwell, MONTANA Lawrence McCloskey, Kay *Libby'!'•'•' McCracken,Brad McKinney REGION (BM), RuthieMelton, Tony ThomasH. Rogers ':•..,MO Menart,Joann & Don Merritt(J & DMe), Emma & John Messerly,Martha Milios (MMi), December weather at first was -Mms0um"77:::•,. 55: -.- David Mitchell (DMi), Pete [:...... Moore,Jim Morgan,Mary & quite normalbut during the Tom Morgan,John Muldrow third week it plunged the (JMu), Norman Mutt, Derek Regioninto the deepfreeze, Muschalek (DMu), Kenneth with temperaturesin many Nanney,Michael Nickell, Larry placesdropping into the-20s Norris, Northeast Texas Fiel• F, and at Helena, MT, to -35 Ornithologists(N.E.T.F.O.), degreesand Polebridge, MT, JuliusNussbaum, John O'Brien. to -51 degrees!Another subze- Andy O'Neil, Norman Orr, ro spelloccurred during the last week which, in western BrentOnego, Outdoor Nature Club(Houston), Nancy Palmer, Montana and southernIdaho, Paul Palmer (South Texas: continued into the first week Dept. of History,Texas A & I ofJanuary. Elsewhere, January DeerFlat //'Grays•' University, Kingsville, TX temperatureswere about nor- • Shaker 78363), Mike Patterson, Dick mal.By contrast, February was • •II•'Pocatello:•.•:' Payne,Tom Pincelli, Charles decidedlywarm, generally Potter, BarbaraPorthast, Brian averagingat least 10 degrees & JoannPruitt (B & JPr),War- abovenormal. Precipitation ren Pulich Sr., Christopher wasgenerally low, especially in Raithel,Robert Ramsey (RRa), February,which was notably the winter. Jan.30-31 (JM,JK). "A rough RossRasmussen, John & Bar- dry.The principaleffect of the Several Tundra Swans win- estimate of 17,000 (Canada bara Ribble (J & BRi), Peter abnormalweather pattern was tered on Coeur d'Alene L., n. Geese) on American Falls Res. Riesz, Rio Brazos Audubon that springmigration tended ID (SHS) and the species illustratesthat they are doing Society,Jan & Will Risser(J & to be earlyin manyareas. In returned to Kootenai N.W.R. welland provide lots of eagle WRi), EugeneSankey, Gloria spite of the extreme cold of in late February(JJR). About food. Fortunately, most Saylor,Peter Scott, Willie Seku- late December, in general 350 Trumpeter Swanswere wounded ones now have steel la, Maurice& LonnieSelby, reportersconsidered the win- capturedon the HenrysFork shotin them" [asopposed to ChuckSexton, Ken Seyffert ter mild, encouragingsome in Harriman S.P., ID, and at leadshot, which formerly was normallynonwintering birds Red Rock Lakes N.W.R., responsiblefor muchlead poi- (Panhandle:2206 S. Lipscomb, to remain. Amarillo, TX 79109), David Lima, MT, by the U.S. Fish& soning] (CHT). At Kootenai Sibley(DSi), J.W. Sifford,Jane Wildlife Service and moved to N.W.R. about500 werepre- LOONS TO Bruneau Sand Dunes S.P. and sentbefore the freezeupand Smith(ISm), Spoonbill contrib- WATERFOWL utors,John Sproul, Tom Stehn, Spring Cr. on Ft. Hall Res. 300 returned by February's Darleen Stevens,Elton Stilwell, A PacificLoon was sighted on north of Pocatello, ID. This end (JJR). Cliff Stogner(CSt), Lynne theSnake R. belowC.J. Strike wasdone to providethe birds More than 180 Wood Stowers(Lys), Marilyn Summer, Dam, ID (DT, ST), and one withfood, as the aquatic vege- Ducks were on West Pond in Glenn Swartz (GSw), Delbert wason Pend Oreille L., ID, in tationat the captureareas had LewistonJan. 30 (C.B.). Two Tarter, Texas Panhandle November and December, beenseriously overgrazed. were seen at Ft. Boise Feb. 8 AudubonSociety, Git & Marge along with a Yellow-billed Fort Boise W.M.A., (DT). Mallards at Kootenai Tompson,Steve Thompson, Loon (EAC). Arrowrock Res., Canyon, ID, counted 70 N.W.R. followed a pattern John Tveten, Richard Uzar, Elmore, ID, had a Corn. Loon Greater White-fronted Geese similar to that of the Canarias, Alan Valentine,Era S. VanDen- Dec. 14 (DT), and one was on Feb. 8 and 1300 Feb. 26; 36 except that somemay have burg,Ro Wauer, Sally Weeks Flathead L., Flathead, Dec. 2 were at Deer Flat N.W.R. winteredon the nearbyKoote- (SWe), SteveWest, Ed Wetzel, (DC). Four Commons were about Feb. 20 (DT). Snow nai R. Several other duck found on Coeur d'Alene L. Matt White (MWh), JoeWhite- Geese at Ft. Boise numbered speciesthere returned about 2 head,Bruce Whitthuhen, Egon Dec. 13 (SF, PL, BT, BW). 100 and several hundred flew weeks earlier than normal & SueWiedenfeld (E & SWi), Thirty Horned and 12 West- over there very high Mar. 3 0JR). SeveralCinnamon Teal Iris Wiedenfeld, Burr & Frances ern grebeswere on FlatheadL. (fideDHJ). Two SnowGeese nearSpringfield, ID, Feb. 23 Williams (B & FW), Francis at Somers,MT, Dec. 8 (DC). were on the Snake at Lewiston seemedearly (FR). Unusual Willis,David & Mimi Wolf (D Two of the former were on the Jan. 9 (BA); a pair was on dates for N. Shovelers were & MW), BryanWoods (BWo), ClearwaterR. at Lewiston,ID, ThompsonL., Kootenai,ID, Dec. 9 (one) and Feb. 10 RichardWright, Barry Zimmer [an. 27 (C.B.). A few Double- Feb. 28 (JN), and L. Lowell (two) near Pocatello(CHT). (Trans-Pecos:6720 Heartstone crestedCormorants lingered had two the 2nd week of Kiwanis Park, Lewiston, had a Ct., El Paso, TX 79924).-- on L. Lowell, Deer Flat December (DT). Two Ross' Eur. Wigeon Jan. 27 (C.B.) GREG W. LASLEY, 305 N.W.R., Nampa, ID, until Geeseaccompanied a flock of and one was on the Coeur LoganberryCt., Austin, TX mid-December(DT). Two or SnowGeese heading N near d'Alene River W.M.A. near 78745, and CHUCK SEX- three Great Blue Herons were American Falls Res., s.e. Harrison, ID, Feb. 23 (PG, TON, 101 E. 54th Street, present at Kootenai N.W.R., Idaho, Feb. 23 (CHT) and C.A.S.). Four GreaterScaup Austin, TX 78751. Bonners Ferry, ID, most of two wereon a Lewistonpond accompaniedLessers at Hager-

American Birds, Summer 1991 man W.M.A., ID, Dec. 2 was on ParadiseR•dge near Pocatello Feb. 8 (NN). throated Sparrows and one (DT) and two maleswere with Moscow,ID. Severalsightings Unusual were 12 Horned Harris' Sparrow at Devil's a Lesser at Somers Dec. 8 of turkeyswere made in the Larksin the FlatheadValley n. Slide Dec. 1-Feb. 28 were (DC). A Red-breasted Mer- Farragut S.P.-Coeur of Somers in December and apparentlythe latilong'sfirst ganserappeared on American D'Alene-St. Maries, ID, area. into January(DC). Four Blue (JQ, TM). The latter species Falls Res. Feb. 5 (CHT) and Sixteen N. Bobwhite were Jaysfrequented a feederon the wasreported near Star, ID, in one was at Deer Flat about sighted near Rose Lake, ID Gifford-Reubens Rd., ID, in January (CW). A White- Feb. 22 (DT). (LD, SW), for the first record early December (LN). One throated Sparrow visited a since1914. Their origin was wintered in Pocatello (CHT, Culdesac, ID, feeder Dec •pTo• unknown. Six Mountain JT, P.A.S.); one wintered at a 1-Feb. 15 and a Harris' was An earlypair of Ospreyswas Quail were seen at Pollock, Lewisville,ID, feeder;two fre- there Dec. 1-Feb. 1 (WH, found near St. Maries, ID, ID, Feb. 7 (CV, WH). quenteda feederin Arco, ID, HH). One White-throated Feb. 23 (PG, C.A.S.). The Two Sandhill Cranes flew Dec. 28 (fideCHT), and one was along the Missouri R. and Reservoir over the Coeur d'Alene-Post appearedin Idaho Falls, ID Gifford-Reubens Rd. Dec. 8 complexjust e. of Helena, Falls,ID, areaFeb. 28 (RB). A (P.A.S.). (RG, WH, CV). The Swamp MT, had a peak Bald Eagle very late Least Sandpiper Arrowrock Res., Elmore,ID, Sparrow at Missoula stayed count of 264 in December. appearedat Deer Flat Dec. 4 had a Canyon Wren Dec. 14 through Decemberand Jan- The birdscongregated there to (DT) andone apparently win- (DT). Early Mt. Bluebirds uary, disappeared in early feed on spawningKokanee teredwith Killdeeralong the were appearing in the Mis- February, and reappeared salmon (GH). Idaho's mid- Snake R. above Massacre soula area in late February Mar. 11 (PLW). winter eaglecount cameup Rocks S.P. (CHT). Coeur (PLW). Springfieldhad one A flock of Lapland with 830 Balds,highest in the d'Alene had a tremendous female Dec. 16 (CHT). A Longspurs appeared near last 12 yearsbut with a record gathering of gulls Dec. 13: Hermit Thrush was found at Pablo,MT, Jan. 5 & 25 (DH, low count for northern Idaho 800 Ring-billed,600 Califor- Pocatello Dec. 17 (CHT). DTr) and a small flock was (LMB), and 101 Goldens. At nia, 700 Herring,eight Thay- Several Am. Robins had mixedwith SnowBuntings at Deer Flat, BaldEagle numbers ers,one Glaucous-winged, and appeared by Feb. 13 in the Black's Creek Res. e. of Boise peaked at about 30 in late four Glaucous (SF, PL, BT, Eureka-Rexford, MT, area Jan. 1 (DT). SnowBuntings December (DT). Two were BW). The Polson,MT, dump (WW). Missoula had a Varied weresighted in the Blackfoot presentmost of the winter at yieldeda Mew Gull Jan. 5 and Thrush Jan. 19 (WK) and Valley n.e. ofMissoula.A W KootenaiN.W.R. and a peak Feb. 2 (DH, PH, DTr, DW), springmigrants were arriving Meadowlark reported near of eightoccurred there in mid- plusa Glaucous-wingedJan. in late Februarythere. Four Fortine,MT, Feb.9 wasWey- February(J JR). Singlebirds 26 and a GlaucousGull Jan. 5 Am. Pipits were sighted at demeyer'searliest record in 71 appearedoccasionally at Pole- (DH, DTr), the latter a new Deer Flat Dec. 4 (DT) and years'observing there. bridge,MT (DJO). w. Montana record. Deer Flat three were in the Frenchtown "Gray-crowned" Rosy An abundance of microtine hadsingle Herring Gulls Dec. Valley Feb. 20 (DH). Some Fincheswere more commonly rodents in w. Montana attract- 4 and about Feb. 21 (DT). A 900 BohemianWaxwings were reported at feeders in the ed high numbersof Rough- GlaucousGull wassighted at sightedat Coeur d'Alene L. upperFlathead Valley than in leggedand Red-tailed hawks. the PortneufR. mouth near Dec. 13 (PL etal.) anda "huge mostwinters. At least20 Rosy Counts of 133 of the former PocatelloFeb. 5 (JT, CHT). flock" was reported at Hells Finches roosted in rimrock and 63 of the latter were made Gate S.P.s. of Lewiston Jan. near Lucky PeakDam s.e. of at Ninepipe N.W.R. in the DOVES TO 8-9 (BA). Early Loggerhead Boise (DT) and up to 300 valleys. of FlatheadLake. The SHRIKES Shrikeswere sighted Feb. 16 birds, including all three FrenchtownValley w. of Mis- Two Mourning Doves sur- near Pocatello (CHT) and forms, visited feeders in the soula, MT, also had high vived the winter at Helena Feb.22 nearSpringfield (DB). Devil's Slidevicinity (JQ). In numbers (PLW). "Record" (MW). A Barn Owl was a flock of some 400 Rosy numbersof Rough-leggedsin reported near the Fish & WARBLERS TO Finches at Miller Cr. s. of the upper Flathead Valley Game hatcherynear American FINCHES Missoula in late December, around Kalispell dwindled Falls,ID, Dec. 8 (fideCHT). A Yellow-rumpedWarbler was "Hepburn's"outnumbered the sharply after the severe One was found in Spalding found at Missoula during "Gray-crowned"about two to Decembercold spell, in spite Park, Nez Perce, ID, Feb. 2 CBC week(fide PLW). Single one (HK). Pine Grosbeaks of highvole numbers (DC). A (C.B.) andthe speciesappar- Rufous-sided Towhees were werementioned only for Pole- count of 21 was obtained in ently wintered in the vicinity sightedin LewistonOrchards, bridge, early in the winter the Lewistonarea Jan. 26 (CV, of Moscow,ID (P.A.S.). A W. ID, Jan. 4 (OM) and at a (DJO), and for the Coeur WH, MK). A Ferruginous Screech-Owlwas calling Feb. Viola, ID, feeder Jan. 1-18 d'Alene area(SHS). Hawk was sighted w. of 8 nearPolebridge (DJO). The (JH, MH). One at Coeur House Finches at Devil's Bruneau Sand Dunes S.P. speciesis rare in Montana. At d'Alene Feb. 25 may have Slide, MT, were apparently Dec. 2 (DT). Three Merlins, Deer Flat, a few used nest beenan earlymigrant (WK, the first everfor the latilong onePeregrine, 13 Gyrfalcons boxesthroughout the winter RK). AmericanTree Sparrows (JQ). They dominated a (mostly on CBCs), and one (DT). The Polebridge,MT, were reportedmostly from s. Somersfeeder during Decem- PrairieFalcon were reported. area had a visit from a N. Idaho. One at a feeder at ber, but Cassin's exceeded Hawk Owl Jan. 27 (SG). Sin- Devil's Slide n. of Gardiner, them in numbersthere by the PTARMIGAN TO gle N. Saw-whetOwls were MT, Dec. 20 was worthy of endof the reportperiod (DC) GULLS found in the Viola-Potlatch, note (JQ). A White-throated The latter were reportedfor A flock of White-tailed ID, area(MH) and in Spald- Sparrowcame to a feederin the Coeur d'Alene vicinity Ptarmiganwas sighted all win- ing Park (DBr, MK, LL, LP). the Coeur d'Alene vicinity (SHS) and at PolebridgeFeb ter in the Schweitzer Ski Basin Onewas calling along Kinney Dec. 7-Jan. 6 (RB). One near 18 (DJO). Red Crossbillswere nearSandpoint, ID (AC, TC, Cr. s. of Pocatello Feb. 10 Helena in mid-December little reported.Common Red- PK, JWP, MJR, LW). Cotton- (CHT). apparentlywas the 2nd ever pollswere mentioned only for wood Cr. e. of Lewiston had A sapsucker,presumably reportedfor that vicinity(TB, the Helena area, where they nine Wild Turkeys and one aRed-naped,was spotted in EB). One to two White- were common (GH). One or

Volume 45, Number 2' 295 two Pine Siskins and a few Tundra Swan (125-300 seen LOONS TO Am. Goldfinches visited a MOUNTAINWEST migrating at Stillwater and DUCKS feeder at Devil's Slide, MT Ruby LakesN.W.R., NV, and Red-throated and Pacific loons (JQ, TM), and the latter REGION Casper,WY, and even two at reportedin fall stayedinto eady specieswas alsoreported for HughE. IOngery Yellowstone Dec. 5), Snow Decemberat LasVegas, Pueblo, the Coeur d'Alene vicinity Goose,Sora, and Bonaparte's Denver,and Longmont,CO. (SHS). Evening Grosbeaks Gull (including100 at Pueblo, Common Loons wintered in occurred in record numbers in CO, Dec. 1--A.V.A.S.). Most Colorado for the first time, one Lincoln, MT, where a feeder Weather this season had an of these birds disappeared each at Grand Junction and n.w. of Eurekawas visited reg- observable effect on bird move- when the below-zero weather Rawhide (G.V.A.S., F.C.A.S.). ularlyby severalhundred birds ments in the Mountain West. arrived Dec. 17. Utah's first Observersfound them in Jan- (WW). Many smallflocks fre- Mild fall weather continued LesserBlack-backed Gull, how- uary at LasVegas, Reno, and quentedthe Lewistonarea and until December 18; then sub- ever, camein January.Mild- s.w. Utah. A Yellow-billed up to 40 visited a feeder at zerotemperatures arrived and nessled land birds too to linger Loon--Colorado's 7th--also Devil's Slide(JQ). continued unabated for seven to until the sub-zeroonslaught: a wintered at Rawhide, and was tendays. Even at LasVegas the W. Kingbirdat Moab, UT, to seenusually in the companyof Addendum:A flightof 270 W. temperaturedropped to 7 ø F Dec. 15, Winter Wrens, the wintering Com. Loon Grebesoccurred at MurphyL. December23, andstayed in the Orange-crowned,Cape May, (t't'F.C.A.S.). nearFortine in lateMay, 1990 low teensfor severalnights. In and Yellow-rumpedwarblers, At Yellowstone a U.S.F. (WW). An imm. RuddyTurn- southwestern Utah, observers Utah's first N. Parula, an oriole &W.S. aerialsurvey counted stone was described at Sand- foundsapsuckers dead beneath at Loveland, CO. The four Le 680 TrumpeterSwans Dec. 6, point's city beach Oct. 4, trees. Many Utah stations Conte'sSparrows that provided but only 75 on Feb. 7. Fifteen 1990, as was an ad. Arctic reportedthe coldestDecember Colorado's second record were Trumpeterswintered at Ruby Tern accompanying26 Com. in 35 years. The printout of found Dec. 2, but they sur- L., and of 24 released at Fish Terns Sept. 30, 1990 (EAC, Regionalobservations shows vived the cold unfazed; Springs,14 wintered. A Trum- KC). dozensof late recordsin early observers saw at least three of peter at Boulder,CO, stayed December, all ceasing on them in March. with a Tundra Dec. 9-16, for Observerscited: (subregional December 18. convenientcomparisons (BK). editors in boldface) Bill Adler, Manybirds had lingered with Abbreviations: I.P.W.B.C. The winter producedtwice as Tim & Elizabeth Baker, themild fall temperatures,but (Indian Peaks,CO, Winter Bird manyreports of GreaterWhite- Richard Beeks, Dwayne the abrupt cold either drove Count);LILIBIL (Longmont/ frontedGeese as any recent one; Brigham(DBr), Deb Buetler, them out or did them in; few Lyons/Berthoud/Lovelan•l area, they included 16 found Jan. Coeur d'Alene Audubon Soci- half-hardyvagrants and water- CO, usingFoothills Audubon 9-22 at Stillwater(WH) and 18 ety (C.A.S.), CanyonBirders fowl persistedafter the abrupt Club records);S.S.G.L. (South in Februaryat Fallon,NV, Ft. (C.B.), Lewis M. Brown, Dan cold. Shore,Great Salt Lake); • (writ- Collins,and BonnyRes., CO. Casey, Earl A. Chapin, Ken tendescription onfile witht•E.); Snow Geese had started to Chapin,Arlene & Ted Cook, OPEN WATER • ? (writtendescription on file return in February,with 8000 Linda Daley, Shawneen Many specieslingered far later with,and subject to approval of, alreadyin s.e.Colorado Feb. 1 Finnegan,Russ Gebhart, Steve thanusual. Species recorded up stateor localrecords committee). (D.F.O.) and 8500 at Carson Gniadek, Pam Gontz, Hank & to Dec. 15 (the 2nd dayof the Thisreport omits most observa- L., NV, Feb. 25 (AJ, LN). Winnie Hepburn, John & first CBC weekend) included: tions from Christmas Bird Threewintered in theLas Vegas Marty Hirth, Denver Holt, Pacific Loon, Com. Loon, W. Counts, as the American Birds area (Me). Henry surveyed George Holton, Peter Hunt, Grebe, Am. White Pelican, CBC issue covers those thor- 5132 Canada Geese in the Dean H. Jones, John Kauff- Double-crested Cormorant, oughly. Lahontan Valley, NV, and man, Will Kerling, Harold Knapp, Roberta & Walter Knoles, Merlene Koliner, .•.; ß Sheridan Phillip Kuran,Louise La Voie, SundanCe- Paul Lehman,Joanne McCor- mack, Terry McEneaney, $'i&kson WYOMING OpalMcintyre, Nancy Nation, LaurenNewman, John Nigh, Daniel J. Owens, Palouse AudubonSociety (P.A.S.), Lou Losanß Potter, John W. Pucci, Joyce •-Bear•iver ß•ock Sprinfis ..-.Oheyenne Queckborner, Frank Penn, JimmieJ. Reynolds,Michael J. Sa,Lake.•/2• •' •ernal RubyLa•o NWR c• ...... COLORADO Rogers,Shirley H. Sturts,Dan Reno Taylor,Sam Taylor, Joel Tins- NEVADA FishSprings ley, Dave Trochlell (DTr), Lahontan Lurid ß VaNßl/ .;,..•! Charles H. Trost, Bill Tweit, ,['•?!•TAH Carole Vande Voorde, Marvel ?•:•?" ,, Weggenman,Carin Weiford, ß Dyer .r•:• Park SueWeller, Winton Weyde- Las Veg• ß ' meyer, Bart Whelton, Dave Worthington, Philip L. Wright, Larry Wyatt.- THOMAS H. ROGERS, E. 10820Maxwell, Spokane, WA 99206.

American Birds, Summer 1991 found69% were Lessers (B.c. [ I tastic1400 Am. Avocets (WH). taverneri),31% Honkers (B.c. ß Eightto 11Greater Yellowlegs moj•¾ti),and 13 (0.3%) Cack- ß [ winteredat FishSprings and lers(B.c. minima). ß ß onewas at Logan, UT, Feb.17 Tominimize arian cholera, [ ß (LR).At S.S.G.L. several errant MonteVista N.W.R. turnedoff ß shorebirdsappeared in January: wells.allpumpedThe andresultantregularfreezeupartesian ß I fivefourGreaterto fivepeepsYellowlegs Jan. 22-23, Jan.4, reducedingMallards overcrowding.dropped Winter-from [ and(CK,oneES, DunlinJV, TS). Jan. 4-Feb. 5 •,.".,. 16,000to6500,andmortality ,• •'•; ! [• includedDecemberone Bonaparte'sin LahontanGullsVal- droppedviouswinters. significantlyThe composition from pre- •1,,-- •_: • leyDec. 12 (AJ, LN). Reno had ofwintering ducks at L/L/B/L . _• its3rd Mew Gull in 3 yearsJan. ' • " shifteddramatically from last :.•. ,'. 10(•CS, ph. JT). It alsohad year:1837 dabblers this winter, high numbersof Herring cfi3887last year, and 1932 div- - •-"- • • • Gulls--50Jan. 6-12, as did :.• ingducks this winter sextupled .... .•. Pueblo(62 on Dec.31), lastyear's 346 (including7 • L/L/B/L(80 cfi 3 lastyear), and timesas manyCorn. Mer- Denver(115 on D.F.O. trips). gansers).Canada Geese also _ Utahgarnered its first Lesser increased,threefold. The GyrfalcouinWeld Coun!•,Col- Black-backed GullJan. 25 at D.F.O.tallied asimilar dropin orado,December 2,19•0. SaltLake City. Itexhibited all : dabblers,with 1040, 28% lower Phot0grapWBriauK.Wheeler. charactersof a classicadult than the lowestcount in the exceptfor a smudgeon itsbill, -. previous6 years.At Fish edgeof the Region--31 Rough- asit posedinthe same binocular Springsand Ruby L., a few Cin- leggedsatSheridan, WY, Jan. 9 viewwith Ring-billed, Califor- :.. namonTealwintered. The Eur. (HD). The Region had a nia, andHerring gulls (?CK, Wigeonfound at Renoin remarkablethree Gyrfalcons: ?ES). A fewGlaucous Gulls Novemberstayed through Feb. theusual Sheridan record, Jan. wintered--oneatReno provid- 3 (JT).Another was reported 1 (?MHu), plusone east of edthe 3rd n. Nevadarecord fromSheldon N.W.R. in n.w. Casperseen Jan. 30 andFeb. 10 (?CS,ph. JT). Four wintered at NevadaDec. 12 (?D & BS). (?J& VH) anda juvenilegray SaltLake City dumps(ES et Coloradanscounted 13 Greater morphbird that wintered in al.),and e. Coloradoreported Scaup,including six at Col- Weld,CO (ph. BW, m.ob.). four. Shmt-ear•OMin Weld County, oradoCity Feb. 28. The 13 Coloradobird watchers rarely A fewMourning Doves sur- Colorado,inlauuary 1991. One Oldsquaws(more than ever findGyr•, but falconers in the vivedthe sub-zero December to ofabout {our individuals s•u recordedin theRegion in any stateclaim they occur regular- winterin theFort Collins area, regularlybybirdera seeking the season)included three that win- ly--enoughso that in 1989 including10 seen at Windsor wiuteringGyrlalcou inthe ar•a. teredat Provo, one at Las Vegas theypersuaded the Wildlife Jan.19- Two Inca Dovesin Photngraph/lauisSteeuberg. Feb.8, twoin CasperJan. 21 Commissiontopermit trapping WashingtonFeb. 4-20 gave andFeb.25, andfive in e. Col- Gyrsfor falconry. Utahits 8th record(SH, BD, six of the 24 were seenat orado.White-winged Scoters TS). Berthoud,CO, Jan.24. On wereat Pyramid L., NV, Dec.9 CRANESTO CameronPass, CO, Feb.28, (•JW, •DBo) andGrand Jct., DOVES OWl•TO thefull mooninspired five to CO, Dec.5 (CD). SandhillCranes had arrived in FLI•KEI• the SanLuis Valleyby Feb. Observersfound 26 Long-eared P•Iv!'ORS 28--7500 alongwith at least Owls,including 13 on 5 dates At CedarCity, UT, 150Bald twoWhooping Cranes. Stillwa- atGrand Jct. Reports ofShort- • •,, Eagleswintered, up slightly terRef., by Feb. 28, had a fan- earedOwls increased slightly; •ndt>rm s cone (SH),and a peak of 30 plied the I ...... c South Shore of Great Salt L. qte• •g nccn n , The BaldEagle roost count at t n• RockyMt.Arsenal, CO,peaked ,l'a,.1 c lq at38 Jan. 27 (DR).Band num- longtrm on omnt re berson a Bald at Fairfield, UT, ,, ?• revealedthat it wasat least14 h, n yearsold: banded asan adult in : 1 1 h ,-,, 1981 at GlacierN.P., MT, it 1 •, I ha. ,'•a -'•'• winteredthat yearin Fairfield, on mt t•orc and nested in the Northwest -- Territories,Canada--data cour- m= an tesyof radio telemetry (BWa). 'westutam Regionwide,commentators i•Pueb!o•bU"' 1 referred to low numbers of ernsare'mk:rooan cr• Rough-leggedHawks: e.g., 30% t,,•rlap6f ran• ofnormal atCedar City, UT, •_ _ ...... orado.70b'se eightonD.F.O. trips (a6-year AduR MewG.11 (standi.g onthe tall whitewashed rock)surrounded by rCp0r• b0tfi rangeof threeto 25).The Ring-billedGullseast of Reno, Nevada, January 10,1991. 0•Puel•lo. exceptionoccurred at the n. Photograph/JaneThompson. '...... Volume 45, Number 2- L•7 eightBoreal Owls to call (RR). menced a westward movement day(?BC, ?CK). Priorweather with Red-wingedBlackbirds At Yellowstone, four N. Saw- in the Puebloarea. This year had been mild, a late autumn ('[RS). A flock of 117 Great- whetsresponded to a tapeon theycapped a 1O-year increase without frosts. At Colorado tailedGrackles, the largest yet Feb. 25 (TM). with a wintering flock that City, CO, a Cape May War- reportedin Colorado,made a A Yellow-belliedSapsucker peaked Jan. 5 at 40 birds blerstayed Dec. 1-11 in anold cacophonyat LasAnimas Jan wintered in a Fort Collins ceme- (A.V.A.S.). Two moved 20 mi apple orchard."The warbler 6 (MJ). Otherswintered at St tery (ph, DL). Another was farther west to Penrose Feb. fed off flies and hovered about George,UT, and at Cortezfor reportedfrom Canon City, CO, 6-14. Mountain Westerners see the appleslike a hummingbird the first time (LB). Brown- but without a description.In the Mr. Bluebird as the first sipping nectar" ('[DS). Col- headed Cowbirds wintered in our Region,winter sapsuckers springreturnee--even though a orado has 15-20 records, Pueblo (100 on Jan. 3) and probablyare more likely Yellow- few winter in the s. part of the including one of a bird that Fruita, CO. A first-yearc• N bellied than Red-naped,but Region.(Pueblo, Cortez, and spentthe winterat a suburban (Bullock's) Oriole came to a until we establish their status L/L/B/L reported January Denver feeder. Loveland, CO, feeder Dec moredefinitely, each winter observations.)The first ones, 16-18, and ate bits' of sapsucker needs a written greeted with enthusiasm, sunflower seedsthat other birds descriptionso that we caneval- arrived Feb. 2 at Rocky Mt. had left. On Dec. 19 came a uate the reports. The 9 Arsenal,Feb. 11 + at Evergreen, A 9 Northern Cardinal win- snowstorm,and the bird disap- Williamson'sSapsucker at Las CO, and Feb. 12 at Fort Mor- tered at Sheridan, the first Lad- peared(AM). VegasJan. 24 gavethe Region gan,CO, followeda weeklater longrecord ('[HD, ph. EM, A RosyFinches descended in itsfirst January record in recent by othersat Cody, WY, Ruby & ML); Wyoming hasfewer theirusual numbers, although years (MC). Woodpeckers L., Casper,and Denver (its first than 10 records. Sheridan the 500 at Cody and 400 at increased substantially in time on a D.F.O. Denver-area recorded its first wintering Grand Jct. were more than L/L/B/L, with 85 Downies and winter trip). Four Varied Rufous-sidedTowhee ('[HD). usual (and Grand Junction's 154 N. Flickers(39 and 84 last Thrushes all arrived in Decem- Scarce last winter, Am. Tree flockof 150mostly Blacks was year);D.F.O. had91 flickers,in ber;those in SaltLake City and Sparrowsreturned in good unusual). The 100 at Sheldon a 6-yearrange of 39-131. GrandJct. spentthe winter or numbers: L/L/B/L tallied 630 N.W.R. were also unusual, mostof it, the onesin Reno and cfi220 andD.F.O. counteda maybe becauseso few bird LARKS TO JohnMartin Res.,CO, did not. record 270 on its field trips; watchersvisit there(B & DS). KINGLETS Bohemian Waxwings Casperand Grand Jct. also had The I.P.W.B.C. counted Despite a lack of snowcover, streamed South. In n. good numbers. Rare in n. 101 Pine Grosbeaks, a record Horned Larkswere conspicu- Wyoming(Jackson and Sheri- Nevada,single Am. TreeSpar- high, and Jacksonclaimed ous.The Nunn (PawneeGrass- dan)they peaked in December; rows were found at Sheldon more than usual. One came to land) CBC counted8404, up January saw only a few in N.W.R. Dec. 24 and Feb. 16 a feeder far from the conifers in fromthe previous high of 7779 Wyoming. To the south, on (B & DS). Bridgesfound Col- GreenR., WY, duringJanuary in 1975. Jan. 5-6, camecounts of 108 orado's most remarkable winter (LBr). Red Crossbills were Very early Tree Swallows fromMorgan, UT, 3541on the record:./bur Le Conte'sSpar- locallycommon--I.P.W.B.C arrived--one Feb. 11 at Fallon I.P.W.B.C., and200 at Rocky rows, seen from Dec. 2 counted 170, at 1.54/hour a and three Feb. 18 at Fish Mountain N.P. A few arrived in through Mar. 6 ('[SF, count high. A pair buildinga Springs.Blue Jays strayed W to Fort Collins at the same time, m.ob.). This coterie inhabited nestJan. 5 at Evergreenhad SaltLake City Jan. 30, Loganin thenburgeoned to 3000+Jan. a reedy/weedy/grassymarsh, fledgedits youngby Feb. 28 February,Jackson, WY, from 23. Smaller flocks continued typicalof their habitatprefer- (RH), ashad a pairon Mt. Fal- CBC to Feb. 28, and Grand throughFebruary. Utah report- ence,and provided a long-last- con near Denver Feb. 20 (DL) Jct.,where one wintered. Amer- ed only a few small flocksin ing, firm basisfor Colorado's White-winged Crossbills ican Crows have become more Ogdenand Logan, plus one that 2nd record.Ten or soSwamp observed on the I.P.W.B.C noticeable in the Region: wandered out to the desert and Sparrowsinhabited the same engagedin likely courtship 1500-2000 wintered at Cedar found Fish SpringsFeb. 21 marsh.White-throated Spar- behavior,but no nestingwas City, LasVegas had 500 Feb. (JE). Southernmost records rowsstrayed west to LasVegas, documented. Near George- 27, Denver had 500-1000 win- came from Rye, Salida, and Ogden,Logan, and Durango, town, CO, on Feb. 16 was a teringin thecity. A singlemob Monte Vista, CO. all in Decemberexcept the two flock of 45, and two were seen of 83 Com. Ravens swirled over Winter warblers in our at LasVegas. Colorado had one at YellowstoneFeb. 14 (•'TM) a Jackson,WY, observeron Feb. Region often causea stir, as Golden-crownedSparrow at Only Jacksonand Sheridan 13. Althoughobservers found two remarkable ones did this Puebloin December(MY, M J) reportedCom. Redpolls. Winter Wrensin earlywinter year. Fort Collins had a late and one at Denver Jan. 29 and Almostevery observer com- fromSalt Lake City to Boulder Orange-crowned Dec. 10 later (RS). The Alaskanbreed- mented on the absence of Pine andFort Collins, no onereport- (DL). Utah's first Northern ing range of Lapland Siskins.They did winter in a ed them after Jan. 10. Marsh Parulagreeted Chanson as he Longspursmakes it surprising few reportingplaces--Cody Wrens wintered at Grand Jct. "wasawaiting lunch in the Red that theyoccur so rarely in the and Sheridan, the foothillswest andBerthoud. A smatteringof IguanaRestaurant [in down- Great Basin. This winter two of Denver--but most observers Golden-crowned Kinglets townSalt Lake City.] The bird reportscame in, onefrom Fish saw few to none. In contrast, appearedin the valleys,as in flew to a small deciduous tree Springs Jan. 9 (JE) and one Am. Goldfinches seemed com- Cedar City and Zion N.P., (20 feet high) on the side- from Sheldon N.W.R. Dec. 12 mon in some Colorado towns Reno,Boulder, and Lyons. The walk...I watched the bird ('[B & DS). (Penrose, Florence, Fort Indian Peaks W.B.C. counted throughthe window for about In s.e. Colorado on Jan. 6, Collins, L/L/B/L, Cortez, 44 onJan. 5--at 0.4/houra big 5 minutes as it flitted in D.F.O. found 45,000 Red- Walsh). Evening Grosbeaks increaseover the prior high of branches and gleaned for winged Blackbirds.LILIBIL reflectedthe samepattern as 0.3/hour. insects. After lunch I retrieved reportedlarge numbers--8941 the siskins. my binocularsfrom my carand cf 3262 lastwinter. The Rusty BLUEBI•S •O relocated the bird." He noted Blackbird found on the Green Addendum: For some reason I WARBLEI• all the appropriatefield marks, River, WY, CBC spent the misseda noteworthyobserva- Eastern Bluebirds have com- asdid observersthe following winter,attending a feederalong tion from Fontanelle, WY, last

American Birds,Summer 1991 summer: that warbler trap S.T.P. Dec. 17 (JWh) and two (TC), and anotherat Peck'sL. addedWyoming's 2nd Canada SOUTHWEST in Tucson, the first in n.e. Tuc- Jan. 24-Mar. 4 (VG et aL). Warbler to its list of gems son Nov. 30-Dec. 26 (m.ob.) Greater White-fronted Geese (tFL, RS). REGION andthe otherjust s. of the air- awayfrom the L.C.R. included port Dec. 22 (M. Stevenson). six to seven at Willcox Dec. Corrigenda: AB 44 (5): Data Arizona This bird is still exceptionally 26-Feb. 25 (J. O'Brien et al.), on the failed colony at DavidStejskal and rarein thispart of thestate. The and another in ScottsdaleJan. Pathfinder N.W.R. came from GaryH. Rosenberg only reportfor Horned Grebe 21 throughFebruary (JIB, DR, WY Game and Fish Dept. (p. wasof a singlebird at Willcox RN et al.). SingleSnow Geese 1161, first paragraph). BR, Jan. 26 (RM). A W. Grebe, were observed at Avondale citedon p. 1163 for N. Parula alwaysa surprisein s.e.Arizona S.T.P. Dec. 11-23 (BD, JW, andMourning Warbler, should Despitethe heavy rains and sub- at thistime of year,was found RN), Granite Reef Dam Dec. havebeen BRi (BobRighter). sequentsurplus of grassespro- in Tucson Dec. 22. After last 30-Jan. 13 (SGa), and Peck's ducedduring summer and fall summer'shuge invasion of L. Jan. I0 (VG). More surpris- Compilers(in boldface),con- 1990,the anticipated "Big Spar- Brown Pelicans, it was not a ing werefour more along with tributors (in italics), and cited row Winter" never materialized. completesurprise to learnof at two Ross' Geese at M.F.L. Dec. observers: Keith Archibald, What seemed to influence bird leasttwo that lingeredinto the 8 (CL). Both of thesespecies ArkansasValley Audubon Soci- populationsthis season were the period:one until Dec. 16 at arequite rarein n.e. Arizona. ety,Lu Bainbridge,L. Bennett generallyabove-normal temper- Ruthrauff Pond in Tucson Other Ross' around the state (LBe), Dean Bjerke (24 aturesthrough much of the (PH), almostcertainly the same included one near McNeal Dec. observers), D. Boardman period.Insectivores, frugivores, bird across the Santa Cruz R. at I (GHR etal.), one w. of Tuc- and other warmer climate-lov- (DBo), Nelson Boschen (9), Silverbell L. Dec. 21, and sonJan. I0 (J. Druick), and as BoulderAudubon Society,L. ing species lingered into anotherthrough the periodat manyas five in ScottsdaleJan. Brinkerhoff, W.W. Brockner Decemberand often beyond, the Bill Williams arm of L. 21 through the period (JIB, (16), SaraBrown, Blaine Chan- anda numberof speciesarrived Havasu (m.ob.). Only one DR, RN). son, Marian Cressman (6), in the state somewhat ahead of reportwas received of Oliva- One to two c• Eur. Wigeons Denver Audubon Society, schedule.A scattering of quality ceous Cormorant, an immature wandered between McCormick DenverField Ornithologists, rarities acrossthe state, such as at KinoSprings Dec. 23-Mar. 1 Ranch, the Phoenix Zoo, and the state'ssecond Mew Gull and Coen Dexter (5), Keith Dixon (m.ob.). Unusualfor both local- PapagoPark through all of (4), Ruby Ebright, Joseph PineWarbler, plus an incredible ity anddate was a LeastBittern Decemberand January (m.ob.), Engler, Margaret Ewing, S. Aztec Thrush, all combined to at the Gila Farms Pond s. of andanother was reported with- further elevate Arizona birders' Finnegan,Foothills Audubon PhoenixNov. 26 (C. Clark). out documentation from Sun Club, Fort Collins Audubon temperatures. A few Black-bellied City in earlyDecember (fide Society,Jewel Gifford (3), Whistling-Ducksagain win- SGa).An apparentc• Eurasian Grand Valley Audubon Soci- Abbreviations:A.B.C. (Arizona tered with six at the Avondale X AmericanWigeon waspre- ety, Dave Hallock, May Bird Committee);B.T.A. (Boyce S.T.P. through the period sentmuch of theperiod at Kino Hanesworth (6), Phil Hayes ThompsonArboretum); L. C.R. (m.ob.) and two at the Sierra Springsand GuevaviRanch (16), Steve Hedges (7), W. (LowerColorado River); M.F.L. VistaS.T.P. Dec. 18 OqdeDK). near Nogales (m.ob., ph. Henry,M. Humphris(MHu), (ManyFarms Lake); S.P.R. (San A flockof upto 21, anunusual- CDB). Rare winter duck R. Huston, AnneJanik, Mark PedroRiver); S.T.P. (Sewage ly highnumber for winter, was speciesreported included a 9 Janos, David Jensen, B. TreatmentPlant); V.O.C. (Vil- presentthrough the period at Greater Scaup at •he Gila Kaempfer,Ursula Kepler (19), lageof Oak Creek). the Phoenix Zoo (m.ob.). FarmsPond Dec. 19 (CB), a 9 Merlin Killpack,C. Kneedy, Three Tundra Swans, about an Oldsquawreported without Edward Kurtz, A. & M. Leach, LOONS TO averagenumber, were located detailsfrom Lee'sFerry, Col- Dave Leatherman (15), P. WATERFOWL in c. Arizona with one at Gran- oradoR., Dec. 10 (fideCL), Lehman,Forrest Luke, Terry An impressivethree Pacific ite Reef Dam e. of Phoenix anda White-wingedScoter at McEneaney (15), E. Loons were found in s.e. Ari- Dec. 25 (M. Deprest), an the Chandler S.T.P. Dec. 6-10 McWilliams, Ann Means (30), zona, with one at Sierra Vista immature at Alamo L. Jan. 3 (H. Willoughbyet al.). Anne Motkill (AMo), Larry Neel, Susan O'Neill (6), C. Orr, B. Percival, Norma Peter- son,Elizabeth &John Rawinski, GrandCanyon ,•Farmington •:'--•!•!•!'3i!:' -c-': Clayton- Bert Raynes(26), J. Reddall, DonnaRieckmann, J. C. Rigli, LarryRyel, Terry Sadler (7), D. Fe/ & B. St. George,Dave Silver- )DavisDam,.:•:7 ¾(•,,Flagstaff / •:;•\ { -Tucumc.'• man (I 6), Arnold Smith, Ella Sorerisen--Utah Editor, C. Sorenson,R. Steenberg,Jane Thompson(7), Janeal Thomp- son (JTh), U.S. Fish & ::• rJ -'"• ':'3"5:;::':]g'::.•?•;;..'.•T.'•¾1•*.3:{:• (,•ApacheNWR ?BiI•er Lak • WildlifeService, Tuesday Bird- • .:5':'.•or .:35:>. ers,Julie VanMoorhem, Alan •.• .• .• -- AlamogordoPark Vetsaw,H. Wainwright, B. • ',•Tucson'•"'Willco!S.ilver City LaseCruces CarlsbaedNat. Walters(BWa), J. Walters,Jim • RosieWatts, Brian Wheeler, ß •)' '? Patagonia % I - M. Yaeger, Vic Zerbi.-- HUGH E. KINGERY, 869 Milwaukee Street, Denver CO 80206.

Volume 45, Number 2' • VULTURES TO DOVES TO at Cook'sL., lowerS.P.R., was a GULLS WOODPECKERS newwintering locality for this Three Black Vultures were seen An IncaDove at Tapco,Verde sparsewinter resident (GM). s.w. of Phoenix Jan. 21 (A. R. Valley,Jan. 12 wasconsid- A pairof Am. Dippers build- Spencer).There havebeen few ereda casualstraggler from the ing a nestin CasnerCanyon, recordsin thispart of the state south(VG). Followingthe male SycamoreWilderness Area, on in recentyears. A TurkeyVul- seenhere during the fall, at least the early date of Feb. 21 was ture near Sierra Vista Feb. 23 two Ruddy Ground-Doves extraordinary0W. Gunning). wasa bit early(JWh). The only were again seensporadically Records of Golden-crowned Black-shouldered Kite for the mostof theperiod on the upper Kingletsin thelowlands of Ari- season was a lone bird near S.P.R. nearthe Highway 90 zonain non-invasionyears are BuckeyeDec. 20 (,fideDT). Is MewGull in first-winterplumage at LakeHavas. City, Arizona, bridgewith a femalethere Dec. few,so six at CampCr. n. of this bird on its way out after Febr,ary 25, 1991. Seconddocn- 18 (TG, DK), and a male and PhoenixJan. 26 werenotewor- invadingthe state only 9 years me.ted state record.Photograph/ femalethere Feb. 16-25 (DK). thy (TC). It would havebeen ago?If observersare continuing JosephG. Hentz. Arizona records continue to interestingto havedetermined to see this bird in Arizona, accumulate.Primary feathers of thesubspecies of these birds. pleaselet usknow about it! 30-Jan. 1 (CL). Remarkably, a BarnOwl werepicked up 13 Unusual in n.e. Arizona at At leastone and possibly two the Wilson's Phalaropethat mi s.of Tonalea near Tuba City thistime of yearwere a single imm. N. Goshawks were found remained through fall at Feb. 9 (CL); there are few Hermit Thrushat M.F.L. Jan. on the upperS.P.R. near Here- Ruthrauff Pond, Tucson, lin- recordsfor this part of the state. 1, and three others at Moenave ford Dec. 18 •qdeDK) and geredat leastuntil March, pro- Only a handful of winter nearTuba City Jan.27 (both again8 min. of there Feb. 26 vidingthe first overwintering records of Violet-crowned CL). A total wonder was the (DK). Another immature was recordfor thestate (m.ob.). Hummingbird exist for the discoveryof an ad. c• Aztec reportedfrom Patagonia Jan. 5 Excitingwas the discovery state, so one at a feeder in Bis- Thrushfeeding on Pyracantha (TC); this speciesis always of a first-winter Mew Gull at beeDec. 9 throughthe period berries with a flock of Am. unexpectedin the lowlandsof L. HavasuCity Feb. 25-Mar. was very interesting (JWh). Robins at Portal, Chiricahua s.e.Arizona. Surprising was a 9 (JK, m.ob.; ph. CB, D. Early c• Broad-tailed Hum- Mts., Jan.25-Feb. 3, marking Harris' Hawk, n. of its usual Treadway, J. Hentz). This is mingbirdsincluded one at a the first winter record of this Arizonarange, at Cottonwood only the 2nd verified state feederin SedonaFeb. 20 (G. casualvagrant from the moun- Jan. 11 (VG). The 3rd Red- record, the other involving Robinson), and another the tainsof Mexico(ph. C. Rau; shoulderedHawk reportedfor four birds at Davis Dam in next day at RamseyCanyon ?D. & T. Powelletal.)! One N. the Fall/Winter periodcame March andApril 1979.An ad. (JWh).Very late was a Selaspho-Shrike was observed near Mor- fromw. TucsonFeb. 2 (JK).An Bonaparte's Gull was an rushummingbird, reported as a mon L. s. of Flagstaffmid- ad. "Harlan's" Red-tailed Hawk unusualfind at TucsonJan. 26 Rufous, inW. Sedona Dec. 16 Decemberto Jan. l 1 (JC etal.), wasseen by numerousobservers (PH). A realrarity at anytime (E. Keefe).At leastfive Green and a total of nine was counted nearMcNeal through most of of year, a first-winter Black- Kingfisherswere reported for throughthe period in n.e.Ari- the period. This raceis infre- leggedKittiwake put in an theperiod with single females at zonabetween Cow Springs and quentlyreported from Arizona. appearanceat Kayenta Dec. the upperS.P.R., Sonoita Cr., Dinnehotso(CL). Following Intriguingwas the presence 1-8 (ph. CL) for n.e.Arizona's andNogales (m.ob.), a maleon suit with the rest of the conti- of one,and possibly as many as firstreport. the upperS.P.R. Dec. 9 (DK), nent, LoggerheadShrike num- three,Whooping Cranes in the andyet another from Arivaca L. bersappeared to be downthis SulphurSprings Valley at least '1 n.w. of NogalesFeb. 3 (W. winterin theS.P.R. Valley Oqde Jan. 16-Feb. 10 (JWh, R. Clark). DK). Arizona birders should Woodroof,JIB). The originof Lewis'Woodpeckers, sparse remain alert for declines of this this bird(s) would almost cer- in s.e. Arizona outside of inva- troubledspecies. A wintering tainlybe the Grays L., ID, foster sionyears, were near Hereford Solitary Vireo wasfound at parentflock which normally on the upper S.P.R. Dec. 11 Tapco,Verde R. Valley,Feb. 1 winters in New Mexico. and nearElfrida Jan. 16 (both (VG); thisspecies is unusualin Almostunprecedented was JWh). Much rarerat anytime winter n. of the Phoenix area. thelingering of a singleWillet of year,single Yellow-bellied at the Gila Farms Pond to at Sapsuckerswere reported from WARBLERS TO leastDec. 23 (RN, SGaet al.). M.F.L. Dec. 30-Jan. 12 (CL), TANAGERS There is only one previous and s.w. of Phoenix Feb. 23 A verylate Tennessee Warbler December record for the state: (DR). Aswe havestated previ- was discovered near the three birds in Phoenix Dec. ously,details or photosshould confluence of the Salt & Verde 27, 1969.Western Sandpiper accompanyall reportsof this Rivers e. of Phoenix Dec. 17 was recorded from several species. (•TC). SabinoCanyon near localities in the Phoenix and Tucson hosted one Dec. 2 Tucson areas with one to two FLYCATCHERSTO (WR) and anotheror the same at theAvondale S.T.P. through VIREOS Dec. 25 (KK, LK), but not theperiod (m.ob.), as many as SingleE. Phoebes,rare but reg- between those dates.A N. Paru- fiveat the nearbyEl Mirage ular visitors,were discoveredat la attemptingto overwinterat Rd. Pond Dec. 23 (RN), two Empire Cieneganear Sonoita B.T.A. Jan. 13-31, mayhave at theGila FarmsPond Jan. 12 Dec. 1! (TC), and near St. lingeredbecause of an injury (TC), and two more at the DavidJan. 3 (DK). One or two (TC). Individual Chestnut- Snyder Hill S.T.P. Jan. Black-leggedKittiwake iu first- GreaterPewees are generally sidedWarblers, regular in win- 19-Feb. 24 (PH). A Corn. winnerplumage at Kayenna, detectedin thestate during the terin smallnumbers during the Snipe, rarely reported from Arizona,December 6, 1990. First winter, with this season'scom- past20 yearsor so,were found n.e. Arizona in mid-winter, record for northeastern Arizo.a. ingfrom s.w. of PhoenixDec. 8 s.w.of PhoenixDec. 12 to early was found at M.F.L. Dec. Photograph/ChuckLaRue. (CB).A Hammond'sFlycatcher February(BNi), and another •00. American Birds,Summer 1991 backed Oriole with the first, R.G.N.C. (Rio GrandeNature thoughtto bean imm,female, Center,Albuquerque); T or C at Arivaca Dec. 3-18 (•GHR et (Truthor Consequences);Zuni al.), andthe 2nd, thought to be (Zuni IndianReservation). Place an ad. female,at GreenValley names in italics are counties. Feb.16 throughthe end of the period(?PS, S. Mlodinowet LOONS TO a/.).This species (this individu- WATERFOWL al) hasbeen recordedhere in A probablePacific Loon was at winterfor 3 of thelast 4 years. Navajo L. Feb. 12 (JH, JV). The only Purple Finch Notable were 15 Com. Loons at reportedto usduring the season E.B.L.Jan. 26 (JP)and seven in was a single male at Seven the Brantley L. areaDec. 23 Springsn. of PhoenixJan. 26 (fideSW);singles were at Blue- (TC). A trickle of Lawrence's water L. Dec. 8-18 (DC, SI) Goldfinches made it into the and Sumner L. Feb. 19 (LH). statethis year. One to two probableHorned Grebeswere at BosqueRefuge Contributors:(Area compilers Dec. 2 (LG, CD), E.B.L. Jan. in boldface) Charles Babbitt, 27 (LG, CD), and Caballo L. Pat Beall, Chris D. Benesh, Dec. 1 (JP). Notable were six MalePine Warbler at Mesa,Arizona, January 4, 1991. Seconddocu- W. Grebesat NavajoL. Feb.13 mentedrecord for Arizona.Photograph/Robert A. Witzeman. JerryBock, Robert Bradley, Jim Burns,Josh Burns, John Coons OH, JV), whilea localfirst was a (Flagstaff), Troy Corman, Clark's Grebe at Evans L. Dec. wasat a Tempeyard Feb. 4 (R. Dec.18 nearthe Hwy 90 bridge William Davis, Bix Demaree, 8-19 (D & MZ, ph. RF). Dummer).Possibly resulting (fideDK), andtwo morenear Rich Ferguson,Steve Ganley, About 2900 Aechmophorus from the milder than usual tem- St. David Feb. 20 (DK). More Tom Gatz, Virginia Gilmore, grebes,in flocksof 300-1000, peraturesacross the state, many unusual were three at Dead Sharon Goldwasser, Alma werecounted at E.B.L. during observers noted that Horse S.P. near Cottonwood Greene(Sedona), Grace Gregg, an aerialsurvey Jan. 7 (SOW), Townsend'sWarblers appeared Feb. 17 (VG), amongfew win- Paul Hammerton, JackHol- andthese presumably wintered to be much more common than ter recordsn. of Phoenix. loway(Tucson), John Spencer there. usual in s. Arizona. On an A Cassin'sSparrow s. of Big (Globe), Marty Jakle, Dan Two to three Am. White Pel- entirelydifferent level was an Wash,Falcon Valley, w. of Ora- Jones,Kenn Kaufman,Lynn icanswere at • B.L. and up to ad. (3 Pine Warbler at a feeder cle Feb. 14 was at an odd locali- Kaufman,Jeff Kingery, Dave 25 wereat CaballoL. through in a Mesayard Dec. 10 through ty at thistime of year(GM). A Krueper(Sierra Vista), Chuck the period(v.o.); seven were in February(M. & S. Hornbaker, Five-stripedSparrow census in LaRue(Kayenta), Gale Mon- the Brantley L. areaDec. 23 m.ob.;ph. RW), providingthe Sycamore Canyon w. of son, Robert Morse (Portal), (fideSW) and five at Ascension, state with its 2nd record. Inter- NogalesFeb. 3 yieldedno fewer RobertNorton, Jim Paton,Don Chih., Jan.22-24 (RD, WB). estingis thefact that the only than 11 birds (SM et aL). Rosey,Will Russell,John Saba, NinetyOlivaceous Cormorants other record in the state was of a Whetherthese birds are present Walter & SallySpofford, Paul were near T or C Dec. 1 (JP). birdattempting to winter also. here during colder winters Sunby, Rick Taylor, Dick SingleDouble-cresteds were at As hasbeen customary dur- remains to be seen. Good num- Todd, Carl S. Tomoff BluewaterL. in December (DC, ing recentyears, a Louisiana bers of both Fox and White- (Prescott),Greer Warren, Jack SI) and EvansL. Dec. 9 & 11 Waterthrush was found at throatedsparrows were present Whetstone, Robert & Janet (RF), plusup to eightin Eddy MaderaCanyon Feb. 16 into throughouts.e. Arizona this Witzeman (Phoenix).-- Dec.22-23 (fideSW)and six at March (PS etal.). A very late winter. Three White-throateds DAVID STEJSKAL, 5755 E. Guerrero,Chih., Jan. 29 (RD, MacGillivray'sWarbler was werealso reported from the n. River Rd., Apt, 703, Tucson, WB). One or two Great Blue detected in Chandler Dec. 4 half of the state, one at Moe- AZ 85715; GARY H. ROSEN- Heronswere already standing (SGa); there are still very few naveJan. 27 (CL) andtwo near BERG, 5441 N. Swan Rd., on or near nests at Glenwood winter records for this bird in Sedona Feb. 25 (S. Clemenz). Apt.313, Tucson,AZ 85718. Feb. 4-6, thoughnot nesting the USA.A SummerTanager at OneHarris' Sparrow in n. Tuc- (JH). A Snowy Egret was at the Phoenix Zoo Dec. 27 was sonJan. 7 (JBo)and another Loving Dec. 22 (SW), while thoughtto bea latemigrant (R. there Dec. 23-Jan. 12 (KK, severalCattle Egretswere at Jones). WR), and single Golden- NewMexico Mexicanos L., Chih., Jan. 28 crownedsthrough the period at Sartor O. Williams Ill (RD, WB). GROSBEAKSTO Portal (m.ob.), at Arivaca Dec. Three Tundra Swans were at FINCHES 18 (PS), and at Proctor Rd., andJohn P. Hubbard BosqueRefuge Dec. 2 (SOW et A 9 Blue Grosbeak, an lowerMadera Canyon, Jan. 26 al.) andone on Feb.9 (JP,AIO. extremelysparse wintering bird (JBo)were the only ones report- Other probableTundras were away from the Patagonia/ ed.Very unusual in s.e.Arizona Abbreviations:Bitter Lake (Bit- one to three at Ute L. and near Nogalesarea, was near Fair- wasa LaplandLongspur in the ter LakeNat'l Wildlife Ref.); Santa Rosa Jan. 8 (SOW), bank, upper S.P.R., Feb. 27 San Rafael Grasslands s. of BosqueRefuge (Bosquedel Redrock Jan. 10-13 (AF), (DK). This was an excellent SonoitaJan. 12-13 (?SM, S. ApacheNat'l WildlifeRef.); LordsburgPlaya Dec. 31 (CS), winter for Lazuli Buntingsin Alden et al.). C.C.N.P. (Carlsbad Caverns andLoving Dec. 22 (fideSW). s.e. Arizona. Large numbers Two HoodedOrioles, sparse Nat'l Park);Chih. (stateof Chi- Unusual were singleGreater (possiblyhundreds) were pre- in winter, were seenat Tucson huahua, Mexico); E.B.L. (Ele- White-fronted Geese at Zuni sentin the Patagonia/NogalesDec. 24 (PS).Another Hooded phantButte Lake); L.V.N.W.R. Feb. 24 (ph. DC) and area throughoutthe period spentthe seasonat a Tucson (LasVegas Nat'l Wildlij•Ref.); R.G.N.C. Feb.9 (LG), plus26 (m.ob.),and a feweven lingered feeder(P. Whidey). More excit- P.O. Canyon (Post Office' at Sevilleta N.W.R. Dec. 15 alongthe upper S.P.R. with one ingwere 2 reportsof Streak- Canyon, Peloncillo Mts.); (PES); threewere at Ascension,

Volume 45, Number 2 ß Chih.,Jan. 22-24 (RD, WB). A Black-shouldered Kite at and 14 on Jan. 22 (PES). One Snow Goose at Rattlesnake Endnillas,Chih., Jan.27 (RD, to threeCorn. Snipe were at Springs,Eddy, Dec. 15 (SW et WB). An aerialsurvey Jan. 7-9 Santa Fe Dec. 16 (PI etaL), aL) was a local first; a blue- yielded368 BaldEagles (55% L.V.N.W.R. Dec. 23 (G13 et morphSnow was in DonaAna ad.) on standard transects in al.),and Zuni Dec. 15 (fideJT); Jan. 10 (BZ), where rare. Ross' New Mexico (SOW), the 2nd noteworthywere 45 at Loving Geesewere reportedly plentiful highesttotal since the surveys Dec. 22 (SW etaL). Unusual at 13itterLake in December(S13i were initiated in the late 1970s. wasa Bonaparte'sGull at Albu- etaL) andmoderately common Notable concentrations includ- querqueDec. 15 (S. Cox,fide at 13osqueRefuge through the ed57 birds in theChama Valley HS); others included three at period(S & NC etaL); others (Espanolato Heron L.), 42 at E.13.L.Dec. 7 (PES)and Jan. 27 included one at 13urnL., Dona ConchasL., 28 at Ute L., 82 at (LG), threeat CaballoL. Jan.5 Ana, Dec. 30 (13Z) and several E.B.L., and 30 at Caballo L. (PRS),and 16 in theBramley L. at Ascension,Chih., Jan. 22-24 Twenty-threeBald Eagles at areaDec. 23 (SW etal.). One to (RD, WB). The 12,000 Canada BosqueRefuge Jan. 5 (JP) two California Gulls were at Geeseat ClaytonL. in theperi- appearsto bea newlocal high, E.13.L.Jan. 27 (LG) and oneat odmade a newlocal high (fide while six were in n. Chihuahua CaballoL. Dec. 16 (BZ). An ad. WC). Small-bodied Canadas Jan. 22-31 (RD, WB). The probableWestern Gull wasseen includedseveral at MorganL., specieswas scarcein the Gila and described at Caballo L. SanJuan, Feb. 12 (JH, JV), six Valley (fideRF), while birds Dec. 16 (13Z),for the first reli- at R.G.N.C. Feb. 17 (LG), and awayfrom water included sin- ableNew Mexico report. four at Sevilleta N.W.R. Dec. glesin the SandiaMts. Jan.8 15 (PES). and on Albuquerque'sWest DOVES TO Wood Ducks continued to MesaJan. 26 (HS). SWALLOWS MaleAnna's Hummi.gbird in Las Notable was an ad. N. Cruces,New Mexico, December thrivein theRio Grande Valley, White-winged Doves were 30, 1990. Thissame bird bad ap- Goshawk at R.G.N.C. Dec. 21 includinghighs of 10 at Cor- locallynumerous in the south, parently been present here the ralesDec. 13 (SBa),96 at Albu- (JP) and Feb. 17 & 23 (LG et includinghighs of 25 at Socorro lastthree winters. PhotograplV querque Dec. 16 (HS etaL), aL). A probable Common Dec. 8 (JP), 44 in the Barry R. Zimmer. eightat 13osqueRefuge Dec. 2 Black-Hawkat GlenwoodJan. Caballo/Percha area Dec. 16 (SOW), and threeat LasCruces 5 (R. Skaggs)represented the (13Zet al•) and 30 thereJan. 26 al.). The state's first verified Dec. 20 (13Z etaL); elsewhere, state's first reliable winter (JP),16 in theAlamogordo area Red-belliedWoodpecker was onewas at Tesuque,Santa Fe, report. A Harris' Hawk at Dec. 29 (RJ etaL), and 51 at nearRattlesnake Springs Dec. Jan.27 (W. Huey),two were at Caballo L. Jan. 21 (PES) was C.C.N.P. Dec. 15 (SW etaL). 15 (T. & J. Reynolds,ph. SW), RoswellDec. 15 (S13ietal.), one outsidethe usual range. Up to The populationwest of the Rio althoughsight records date back at Glenwood Feb. 4-5 (JH), 15 Merlins were reported Grandeis migratory,so most to 1955! Possible Yellow-bellied andfour at SilverCity Dec. 15 statewide(v.o.), with a highof unusual were three birds at Sapsuckerswere singlesat and Jan. 7 (RF, D & MZ)-- threeat SantaFe Dec. 16 (PI et Redrockduring January (AF) Socorro, Silver City, Las with fiveat nearbyTyrone Feb. al.). and one that overwintered at Cruces,and Rattlesnake Springs 5 (RF). Unusuallylate were 16 Eleven Corn. Moorhens were P.O. Canyon(RS). Inca Doves (v.o.),but the reports were not 131ue-winged Teal at at Las Cruces Dec. 30 (BZ et included five at Socorro Dec. 8 all detailed. L.V.N.W. tL Dec. 23 (GB etal.) al.).Noteworthy Sandhill Crane (JP),four at RoswellDec. 15 for Six Cave Swallows were back and25 at LovingDec. 22 (SW reports included 55 at the2nd winter there (S13i etal.), at C.C.N.P.Feb. 10, increasing et aL). A few Cinnamons L.V.N.W.R. Dec. 23 (GB et andup to sixin the Brantley to40 byFeb. 28 (fideSW). remainedat 13osqueRefuge al.),two over Moriarity Feb. 24 L./Cadsbad/BlackRiver Village W !t • •- throughJanuary (v.o.), with 13 (PI etal.), 20 at Moon Ranch, areaduring the period (SW et at Caballo L. Dec. 16 (13Zet Grant,Feb. 7-8 (JH), and two aL). A Corn. Ground-Dove at aL). The November Greater nearRodeo Dec. 29 (fideRS). P.O. CanyonNov. 3 through Scaup at R.G.N.C. was still Only 12 WhoopingCranes Februaryprovided only the 2nd thereJan. 4 (HS);other singles migratedsouth from Idaho this local record and the first to wereat CaballoL. Dec. 16 (13Z) year (fide U.S.F.W.S.), with overwinter(fide RS). and Burn L. Dec. 30 (13Z).A eightat BosqueRefuge Dec. 15 SingleN. Pygmy-Owlswere Surf Scoterwas at 13osque (S & NC etal.). in SantaFe Dec. 16-19 (fidePI, RefugeDec. 15 (fides& NC). Late were 17 Am. Avocets at SBa)and at Zuni Dec. 15 (JT). Up to 12 Barrow'sGoldeneyes Burn L. Dec. 3 (LS). Single One to two 13urrowingOwls werebelow Navajo Dam Feb. 2 LesserYellowlegs were at near the n. limit of the winter- (De), where documented last BosqueFeb. 9 (JP)and Laguna ing range were near Albu- winter; a few were still there Grande,Eddy, Jan. 3 (SBa). querqueDec. 16-Jan.31 (HS). Feb. 16 & 23 (JP, PRS). SpottedSandpipers included SingleAnna's Hummingbirds Notable were 18 Hooded Mer- onebird at Cliff Jan. 25 (RF). wereat feedersin Albuquerque gansersat 13itterLake Dec. 15 About100 Long-billed Curlews Dec. 7-21 (13.Halstead etaL) (S13ietaL). Over 8500 Corn. wereat Ascension,Chih., Jan. andLas Cruces Dec. 30 (ph. Merganserswere at CaballoL. 22-24 (RD, WB). The juv. BZ), the latterwhere present Jan.11-12 (CS,13Z), plus over Sharp-tailed Sandpiperat the past3 winters. The Red- 3500 at E.13.L.Feb. 17 (DC). BosqueRefuge Nov. 3 waslast headedWoodpecker at Mesilla seen there Dec. 2 (LG, CD, in Novemberwas last seen Jan. RAPTORSTO DC); a singleDunlin wasalso 11 (ph. 13Z).Notable were sev- Red-beadedWoodpecker at GULLS present there Dec. 8 (v.o.). MesillaDam, New Mexico, Decem- eralAcorn Woodpeckers in the ber30, 1990. Rareso far west, Unusual was an Osprey at Long-billed Dowitchers at LasCruces area Feb. 10 (LS et this birdwas presentat least MaxwellN.W.R. in January BosqueRefuge included up to aL), while six were at Novemberto Ja.uary.Photo- (W. Mosley).Noteworthy was a 24 Dec. 15 (S & NC etaL,JP) Caballo/PerchaDec. 16 (13Zet graph/BarryR. Zimmer. 302' AmericanBirds, Summer 1991 CORVIDS TO Roswell Dec. 15 (SBi), while (RS et aL) and at Rattlesnake Decemberat Socorro,Bosque WARBLERS northerlywere one near Chaco SpringsDec. 15, plusone at Refuge, Roswell, and Rat- In stark contrastto last year's CanyonN.M. Feb. 23 (JH et Black River Village Jan. 18 tlesnakeSprings (v.o.); 15 at influx, no Steller's Jayswere at.), up to 10 SageThrashers at (SW et aL). LazuliBuntings in Black River Village Feb. 19 recordedaway from montane Zuni Dec. 15 (JT et at.) and at n. Chihuahua at Galeana and were a local first (SW). areasnor BlueJays west of the leastthree w. of MagdalenaFeb. CasaGrandes Jan. 25-26 (RD, Northerly were two Brown- easternplains; however, a few 15 (JH, RWD). Westerly WB) were near the n. limit of headed Cowbirds at Albu- ScrubJays were scattered in the BrownThrashers were singles at the species'winter range.One querqueJan. 4 (HS), aswas a s. lowlands.Southerly Pinyon Glenwood Feb. 4 (JH) and to two Painted Buntings at Scott'sOriole "flycatching"at Jaysincluded about 90 at Silver MesillaDec. 30 (BZ). Las Cruces Dec. 8-11 (LS et Pancho Villa S.P. Dec. 31 City Dec.15 (RF etal.) and 20 CedarWaxwings were rela- at., ph. R. White) represented (SBa). Two ad. d' Purple Jan.11 (D & MZ), andone at tivelynumerous in the south, the first winter record for the Finches were at Glenwood RattlesnakeSprings Dec. 15 withnorthern reports including state.Two CanyonTowhees at Feb. 4-6 (JH) and the species (fideSW). Unusualwere six 40 in TaosFeb. 3 (PT,LH) and LosAlamos Feb. 24 may have mayhave wintered in thearea Black-billedMagpies at Cor- oneat GallupFeb. 7 (SI). Eight overwintered(PRS), high for (R. & S. Nelson). Cassin's rales Dec. 7 (SBa), while the N. Shrikeswere reported, the the species.Notable Am. Tree Finches and Pine Siskins were speciesmay be increasingin mostsoutherly in Albuquerque Sparrows were 12 near scarce or absent in submontane Union(fide WC). Over 8000 Dec. 9-15 (HS etat.). A Hut- EspanolaFeb. 3 (PI, LH), 63 areas, and the few Red Cross- Am. Crows were counted at ton's Vireo at Percha S.P. Dec. at L.V.N.W.R. Dec. 23 (GB et billsreported were confined to Albuquerqueroosts Dec. 16 at.), two at Bluewater L. Dec. the Jemez,Sangre de Cristo, (BW, fide HS), with another 10 (DC), and one at Roswell and Sandia mrs. (v.o.). In con- 1300at BosqueRefuge Dec. 15 Dec. 15 (SBi etaL). Thirty trastto lastwinter's showing, (S & NC etat.); notablewere Chipping Sparrowsin the EveningGrosbeaks were espe- about five Feb. 7-8 at Moon Albuquerquearea at R.G.N.C. cially conspicuousby their Ranch (JH, RWD). Chi- Jan. 11 (HS) werenoteworthy; absence--the only submon- huahuan Raven was finally highsfarther south included tanereports were of a fewnear confirmedin the Albuquerque 467 at Caballo L. Dec. 16 (BZ SantaFe Feb. 5-23 (LH, SBa), area when a bird (* Univ. New et at.) and 913 in the Peloncil- Gallup Dec. 16 (ST), Zuni Mexico) wasfound dead Dec. lo Mts. Dec. 29, where other Dec. 15 (fideJT), SilverCity 26 (BW);up to 16roosted with grasslandsparrows (Brewer's, Feb. 19 (D & MZ), and the crows there during January Vespers)were alsocommon SandiaMts. Feb. 26 (HS). (BW), with oneto threeon the (RS et al.). West Mesa all winter (HS). Low to moderate numbers Addendum: A Rufous Hum- Up to six Bridled Titmice of Swamp Sparrows were mingbirdwas at a Carlsbad werein SixmileCanyon, Mag- widespread,including two at feederOct. 23, 1989, through dalenaMts., Feb. 15 (J. Black). Zuni Dec. 15 (ST). White- Jan. 10, 1990, where it sur- SubmontaneAm. Dipperswere throatedSparrows "invaded" vivedtemperatures as low as singlesat NavajoL. Feb. 13 much of the state, including 10øF in December and left (JH, JV) andSanta Fe Dec. 16 highsof 10 at Zuni Dec. 15 when the weather warmed in (fide PT). LowlandGolden- (JT et aL) and 26 at Percha January(D. & J. Hoffman). crownedKinglets were four at S.P. Dec. 26 (BZ). Single AlbuquerqueDec. 16 (HS et Golden-crowned Sparrows Cited observers:Sy Baldwin, al.) andsingles at RoswellDec. were at Zuni Dec. 15 (JT), in Pat Basham,Sherry Bixler, 15 (fideSBi) andLoving Dec. BernatitloJan. 13 (B. Vaughn), GeorgeBlanchard, Wendy 22 (SW). A Blue-gray Gnat- and P.O. Canyon Dec. Brown, David Cleary, Wes catcherwas reported in cre- 20-Feb. 28 (RS). Four Harris' Cook, Steve & Nancy Cox, osotebushat DrippingSprings, Sparrowswere in the Albu- Carol Davis, Robert W. Dick- DonaAna, Jan. 11 (KS et at.), querquearea Dec. 16 (fide erman, Rod Drewien, Ralph thoughnot detailed.Eastern !!utton's Vireo at Percha Dam HS), with one to two at Cabal- Fisher,Alton Ford, Larry Gor- Bluebirdsmade an impressive State Park, NewMexico, January lo L. Dec. 16 (JSetat.) andLas bet, Harold Harrison, Lois 11, 1991. Firstconfirmed record Cru.ces all season(CS, EW). Herrmann, John Hubbard, showing,including three in for the Rio GrandeValley in New TaosFeb. 3 (LH, PT), one at Six LaplandLongspurs were at StephenTngraham, Pat Insley, Mexico. Photograph/BarryR. RobertJenness, Burton Lewis, Zuni Feb.23-24 (ph. DC), up Zimmer. MoriartyFeb. 1 (LG) andone to 18 at Sumner L. Feb. 19-22 at Los Lunas Feb. 9 (JP, AK). AndyKraynik, John Parmeter, (LH, SBa), 25 in the Moderate numbers of Catherine Sandell, Robert Caballo/Percha area Dec. 16 16-Jan.26 (JP,ph. BZ) wasthe McCown's were at the Moriar- Scholes, Lorraine Schulte, (BZ etal.), two in thePeloncillo first confirmed in the Rio ty andLos Lunas turf farms, Hart Schwarz,Katie Skaggs, Mts. Dec.29 (fideRS), five in GrandeValley. A Townsend's plus25 wereat SunlandPark, Patricia R. Snider, John LasCruces Dec. 30 (BZ et aL), Warbler at Dripping Springs Dona Ana, Feb. 10 (P. Sproul, Ted Stans,Paul E. and 103 at RattlesnakeSprings Jan. 11 (KS et aL) furnished Lehman). Chestnut-collared Steel, RossTeuber, John Tro- Dec. 15 (SW et at.). Mountain only the state's2nd winter Longspurswere widespread in chet, JamesVaught, Steve Bluebirds (and Am. Robins) report.Highly unusualwas a moderatenumbers, including West, Bill Willard, S.O. were common in the Zuni area, probableYellow-throated War- threeat Zuni Dec. 15 (fideJT), Williams, Eleanor Wootten, but Westernswere relatively bler at Roswell Nov. 14 and one at Bluewater L. Dec. 18 BarryZimmer, Dale & Mari- scarce(fide JT). SouthwesterlyDec. 10 (M. Peckinpaugh). (ST),and two eachnear Glen- an Zimmerman.--SARTOR Mountains included three in wood Feb. 7 and near Moon O. WILLIAMS III and the Moon Ranch area Feb. 8 CARDINALS TO RanchFeb. 8 (JH, RWD). JOHN P. HUBBARD, New (JH, RWD) butnone in theSil- CARDUELINES Northerly were two Corn. MexicoDepartment of Game verCity area(RF). Three each N. Cardinals were Gracklesat LasVegas Dec. 23 and Fish, Santa Fe, NM A late Gray Catbird wasat in the Peloncillo Mts. Dec. 29 (GB et aL), with others in 85703. Volume 45, Number 2 ß303 ALASKAREGION T. G. lbbish,Jr., andM. E. Meib

Since winter weather hac gripped the Region by late November, 1990-1991 snow accumulationsmounted quick- ly throughoutthe State.The patternof upperatmosphere winds,that all Fallhad cycled wet low pressuresystems up into the BeringSea and across the Interior, continued off and on throughout the season. Record-breakingsnowpacks were recordedall alongthis storm track between the eastern Seward Peninsula and the upperTanana Valley. By the period'send, Fairbanksrecord- ed its heaviest snow accumula- an increasein feedingstations (m.ob.). This season'swinter HAWKS TO tion ever.Snowpack cover was and exoticberry-producing peakcount of 5605 Emperor GULLS aboveaverage throughout most plantshave played in thisrecov- Geese at Izembek Lagoon SingleN. Harriersat Cordova of therest of theRegion except ery,is an intriguingunknown. (CPD)was well above average Dec. 15 (REF), Adak Dec. 30 alongthe coastalfringes in The season'sbird surprises for that traditional winter site. (SC), and ShemyaI. Jan23 Southcoastal and in Southeast. includedthe Region's first win- None wasfound beyondthe (JCW, MH) were more than Belowaverage temperatures ter Rustic Bunting and easternextreme of thespecies' expected.The centraland west- werethe widespread norm until Townsend's Warblers. normal winter distribution at ernInterior's N. Goshawkpop- late December, when most of Kodiak. This season's winter ulationwas thought to beat or the Regionhad a "warm-up• LOONS TO population of Brant, in the nearthe high in its cycle,no thatushered in nearlya month WATERFOWL vicinityof the AlaskaPeninsu- doubtct•incident with rising of unsettledweather systems Our suspicionsthat bothArctic la, reachedan above-average hare populations. This Accipiter andfluctuating temperatures. and Pacific loons winter in the 6114 (CPD), concentratedat was considered common at Ice coverin theBering Sea was Aleutian district were Izembek Lagoonand in the Galena (TO0) and Fairbanks still advancingsouth by the confirmed this seasonat Adak. SanakIs. A singleBrant at (PJW).Unusual was a single period's end and was fast Two basic-plumagedArctic Kodiak I. Jan. 19 (RAM) fur- light Red-tailed Hawk on approachinga twenty-year Loons were well described in nishedonly the 5th localwin- Prince of Wales I. Feb. 16-23 extreme, into southern Bristol FingerBay Jan. 17 (tJCW, SC, ter report. (JW). The verylocal alascensis Bay. GVB, DB) in directcompari- No surface-feedingducks form of Red-tailed Hawk is Sincethe Region's coverage sonto Pacifics.Both species werelocated on spring-fed open thoughtto be residentin its isso sporadic and incomplete in apparentlywinter in northern water lakes in the easternInteri- limitedrange between S.E. Alas- winter, our ability to match Japan.A Pied-billedGrebe, first or thiswinter. Up to 10 Gad- ka andthe Queen Charlotte Is.; birdpopulation trends or distri- noted at Sitka Jan. 3 (MW), wall,a newlocal high, wintered we know of 2 other mid-winter butionwith weather patterns is lingeredthrough the season. It at Adak throughthe period reportsfrom Southeast.This seriously hampered. What wasthe Region'sfirst since Fall (SC, JCW). Eighteen Eur. season'sonly Rough-legged effects,for instance,the south- 1988.The se•son's peak West- Wigeonwere located at 6 sites Hawkreport was of a singleat ernpack ice limits have on win- ern Grebe count in Southeast betweenPetersburg and She- KodiakFeb. 18 (DWM), a 3rd ter bird distribution remains wasof only221 nearKetchikan mya, concentrated in the sea- local winter record. Golden poorly understood. We can Dec. 15 (SH); traditional win- son's2nd half(RAM, PJW, SC, Eaglesare distinctly rare in win- notein generalterms, however, ter concentration areas could JCW, REF). The Adak I. win- ter in theRegion, so singles at thatthe combination of early notbe reachedfor censusing. ter flock of Canvasbacks SewardDec. 22 (TGT, EW) season (November) extreme SingleWesterns near Sitka Dec. reacheda new high of 23 birds andin the KilbuckMts. Jan4 coldand heavy snow accumula- 16 (MW) andnorth of Juneau Jan. 19-Feb. 16 (MH, SC). (BJM)were of note. tionsusually eliminate late lin- on Lynn Canal Dec. 20 (MEI) The season's Tufted Duck The onlyAm. Coot report geringmigrants and semi-hardy representedthis winter's unusu- count peaked at 14 at Adak for the season came from species.Such was the casethis al dispersionlimits. Dec. 18 throughthe period Ketchikan,where two remained season.This trendis usually The only WhooperSwan (GVB, JCW, MH). The Izem- throughthe period(SH). The best illuminated with Christ- report wasfrom ShemyaI., bek Lagoon area count of Ketchikandump continues to mas Bird Count data. Resident where a group of six was 35,369 Steller'sEider Jan. 9 drawgreat numbers of gulls. speciesthat were hard hit bythe observedin flight Jan. 23 (CPD) wasthe highestever Followinglast fall's appearance winter 1989 "OmegaBlock" (JCW,MH). TrumpeterSwan Januarytotal. Despitethese of severalapparent Glaucous- freeze have begun to show numbers at traditional winter numbers,complete surveys of wingedX WesternGull individ- recovery.Several hardy taiga areas in Southcoastal, at Cor- the Alaska Peninsula indicate uals(q.v.), two more were iden- speciesoccurred in locallyhigh dova and Yakutat, and in thatthe area's winter popula- titledthere in earlyDecember numbers in the Cook Inlet Southeastat Petersburg were at tion has declined at least 50% (SH, ph.). A peakcount of at Basin in December. What role long-termaverages this season in thepast 10 years. leasteight Glaucous Gulls in 304- AmericanBirds, Summer 1991 KetchikanDec. 9 (SH) repre- aroundthe greaterAnchorage sentedone of Southeast'shigh- area. Brown Creeper counts estone-day tallies. Although ice wereequally healthy at those conditions preclude daily locations, but the species influxesof gullsto UpperCook remains hard to find at Kodiak Inlet andAnchorage by mid- (RAM) and on the Kenai Pen. December,enough open water at Homer(GCW). The Kodiak habitat remains at the Kenai R. areaWinter Wren population mouththat gullscontinue to continues to rebound, and this venture north to that area winterthe species was half the throughoutmost winters. Sixty- normal winter numbers. two Glaucous-wingedGulls, Golden-crowned Kinglets scatteredbetween the Soldoma continue to be the hardest hit dumpand the Kenai R. mouth speciesby the harsh winter of Dec. 29 (MAM, MR), were a 1988-1989; populations in ChippingSparrow at Anchorage,Alaska, January 20, 1991.Remarkably goodmid-winter count (MAM, Southcoastalremain very low. far umthfor theseason, this bird furnished a firstlocal wintering MR). This winter's numbers at record.Photograph/David W. Sonneborn. Anchorageand Kodiak are still a OWLS TO fraction of what had been nor- dozen December Lincoln's Scatteredgroups of White- WAXWINGS mal. Still considered casual in Sparrowreports between Eagle wingedswere also reported from Indicationswere strong that at winter in the Region,single River and Southeast, none the east and west ends of the leastsome local populations of Townsend's Solitaires were remainedpast Dec. 29 (fide Interior, but only a few were N. Hawk Owl have finally located at Cordova Dec. DFD, RAM, fide MEI). The found in between at Fairbanks begunto increase.Most areas 13-Jan.25 for a firstlocal win- imm. Swamp Sparrow that (TOO, TJD, DDG). The only within the species'range had terrecord (RED andnear Eagle appearedat KetchikanNov. 30 movementdetected during the previouslyreached a high in the RiverFeb. 18 for a 2nd Upper lingeredto Dec. 12 (SH) to periodwas a drift of White- cyclein theearly 1980s. This Cook Inlet record(tRDJ). Nor- establisha new late date for the wingedsinto the Fairbanks area winter's birds were found at mallyabsent from the Region Region. in late February(DDG). Red- Kodiak,two throughar least bylate November, a late Hermit Representing only the pollswere scattered in average December(RAM), and at Cor- Thrush was noteworthy at Region's2nd record away from numbersthroughout the main- land in a band between the dova,six along the CopperR. KetchikanDec. 15 (fideSH). theBering Sea/Aleutian Is. and Hwyall season (REF), localities BohemianWaxwings invaded Kodiak's first ever, a winter- Yukon R. valley and South- that hadexperienced at leasta theUpper Cook Inlet basin by plumagedRustic Bunting was coastal.A late seasonsurge of 7-yearhiatus without this owl. earlyDecember in recordnum- found on a CBC near Cape palerHoary types reached into A singlecalling Boreal Owl at bersand remained in highnum- Chiniak Dec. 30-Jan. 1 the Upper Cook Inlet basin AnchorageDec. l 5 (RLS)was bersthrough the period.The (tRAM, KM, JBA). There are (i.e.,five or sixin Anchoragethe exceptionallyearly by at leasta AnchorageDecember peak no prior Alaska fall reports lastweek of February,m.ob.). month. For the first time in sev- reached a conservative total of beyond late October. The Pine Siskin winter distribution eralyears, N. Pygmy-Owlswent 9070birds Dec. 15 (m.ob.).Up McKay'sBunting with a flock showedno discerniblepattern unreportedin the Regionall to 800 in dispersedflocks of Snows at Homer Dec. 26 within the normalwinter range between the N. Gulf Coast and winter. remainedthere through the (DWS) furnisheda 2rid local Reportsof singleN. Flickers period, continuinga trend record,well eastof the species' Southeast. The specieswas from Homer, Anchorage,and begunin themid-1980s. Prior normalwinter range from the essentiallyundetected beyond near Ketchikan were about aver- to then, BohemianWaxwings Alaska Peninsula to Kotzebue thecoastal fringe, so a flockof age.The Anchorage bird was werecasual after early January. Sound zone. Other reports 220at Hope(WT) throughthe the same individual from the Observersat Homer and Kodi- came from Bethel, where both seasonwas puzzling. previouswinter (q. v.). A single ak alsoremarked on the pres- Snowand McKay's buntings Say'sPhoebe lingered at Sitka enceof goodnumbers at those were present sporadically Contributors and observers: to Dec.16 (tKH). Althoughwe localesafter mid-January. throughthe season; maximum J.B. Allen, D. Boone, G.V. havenumerous Octobe•r and a McKay'scount was of 25 Feb. Byrd,S. Crabtree,C.P. Dau, fewNovember reports of Say's, WARBLERSTO 26 (BJM). Both specieswere D.F. Delap,T.J. Doyle, R.E. this was the Region'slatest FRINGILLIDS absent from the Kotzebue Fairfall, D.D. Gibson, K. Han- sightingand first in winter. Followingthe fall's (q.v.) 2nd Sound coast,where snow and son,S. Heinl,M. Hipfner,R.D. Casual in Alaska, a Clark's islandsighting of Townsend's icecovered the favoredElymus Jones,K. Macintosh,R.A. Mac- Nutcracker put in a brief Warbler at Kodiak, two and fiats(WRU). Intosh,B.J. McCaffery,D.W. appearanceat a Juneaufeeder possiblythree birds were seen Two groupsof what were Menke, M.A. Miller, T.O. Dec. 13-15 (RBW). At leastin sporadicallyaround that com- probably18 Bramblingslin- Osborne,M. Raymond,R.L. the UpperCook Inlet basin, munity Dec. 17-Feb. 24 geredat 2 separateareas of Scher, D.W. Sonneborn, G.J. severalresident passerines have (tRAM, DWM, JBA).We had Kodiak I. to Dec. 9 (JBA, Tans,W. Trimmingham,W.R. rebounded from the 1989 longanticipated a winter record tRAM). Thesebirds were part Uhl, P.J. Walsh, M. Ward, J. "Omegablock" freeze. Record of this warbler, since it winters of thefall report's unprecedent- Watters, G.C. West, E. Whit- counts of Red-breasted occasionallynorth to s.coastal edgroup of sevenfound in the ney, J.C. Williams, R.B. Nuthatch were obtained at British Columbia. Both of the same area in late November. Williams.All details(t), pho- Anchorage,71 on Dec. 15, at fall's(q.v.) exceptionally late AnotherBrambling spent the tographs(ph.), and specimens EagleRiver, 13 on Dec. 30, and ChippingSparrows lingered month of Decemberat a Juneau (*) referencedhere are on fileat northto the MatanuskaValley, into the winter season,to Dec. 4 feederOqde MEI). BothRed and University of Alaska Muse- 16 on Dec. 29 (m.ob.). Most at Sitka (MV4-) and to at least_ White-wingedcrossbills were um.•T. G. TOBISH Jr., 2510 resident forms are certainly Feb.10 at Anchorage (first local foundlocally in variablenum- ForakerDrive, Anchorage,AK aidedthrough the winters by and 2nd Alaska winter record, bers between Kodiak I. and s. 99517; M. E. ISLEIB, 9229 the expandingfeeder system GJT, DWS, ph.). Of the half- Southeastthrough the'period. EmilyWay, Juneau, AK 99801. Volume45, Number2 ß305 BRITISH was well described (Denise ;:•-•'":'•:{ e•5• c YUKON%., NORTHWEST Brownlie). This was the 2nd "?:•;•9hitehorse' TERRITORY'•i t'TERRITORIES record for the Okanagan Valley COLUMBIA/ andprobably only the 5th for YUKONREGION •Atlin•':-Wa•n L•e the province'sinterior. Four Casiiar -.. CommonGoldeneyes, among Chris Siddle the hardiestducks, were on the F• Neigh Yukon R. near Whitehorse, Yukon,Dec. 8 (HG). A 9 KingEider, very rare on Earlywinter was mild until just the coast,was seen at the Iona I. beforeChristmas, when a large :"•i;•sBRITISHCOLUMBIA Jetty,Vancouver, Jan. 19 into Arctichigh pressure cell began .,, ½::%?',.•.:, to dominate the weather February (tDavid B. Lewis, throughoutBritish Columbia Ann MarieNeugebauer). This for the next three weeks.Tem- ">•.c½:':Dawson Creek' was the 8th Van area record, and first since 1986. An eider peraturesplummeted as low as- 46.1 degreesCelsius (about -45 • , 5•:?•....PrinceG•rge :;':•:' '•:'- sp. wasseen at Crofton, V.I., F) January8 in PrinceGeorge. Dec. 15 (rE Watts,S. Baker,J. Coastal locations like Victoria Griffin). Red-breastedMer- experienced snowfalls, rare gansers,rare winter residents in events around Christmas. A theOkanagan Valley, were seen briefperiod of mildweather in at Vernonand Osoyoos. Two Februaryseemed to drawsome wereat OkanaganLanding Jan. earlymigrants into the southern 24 (PR) andup to sixwere at interior; however, the month OsoyoosFeb. 17-27 (DB). A • ended cold and wet with no end ,.,,, .... Com. Merganserwas on the Yukon River near Whitehorse to winterin sight. Dec. 1 (HG). Onceagain, Vancouver as an areadid not forward anything VULTURES TO morethan a fewrare bird sight- with several hundred Trum- CRANES ings. peter Swansin a field on West- A fewTurkey Vultures lingered ham I. Feb. 16 (tDJ, Brian on southern V.I. with one over Abbreviations:V.I. (Vancouver Self).This was a 2ndsighting Island). MetchosinDec. 7 (J. Moll, A. for theprovince; the first was Knowles)and two on the Sooke reportedin November 1990. LOONS TO CBC Dec. 29 (I. Weston). In Thesesightings join a growing February,more were seen with WAI[RFOWL body of observationswhich A Yellow-billed Loon on Howe includes a "Bewick's" Swan two overMetchosin Feb. 10 (J Sound Dec. 15 was a local first & RS), one over the Malahat photographednear Regina, SK, Feb.21 (DFF), oneflying N for the SunshineCoast checklist Oct. 27-Nov. 11, 1978, and (DB).Another was at Qualicum overthe Victoria airport Feb. 25 sightrecords from s. Ontario (BD), and one over Saanichton BeachDec. 9 (E.Nygren). Only ands. Alberta (W.E. Godfrey, four Clark's Grebes have ever Feb. 28 (BB). TheBirah of Canada, 1986). LesserWhite-fronted Goose at The cold weather of late beenaccepted for Vancouver. The annual Kamloops- Saanich,Vancouver Island, British One was well documented off Columbia,December 15, 1990. Decemberand January drove Okanaganswan count of Jan. Bald Eaglesout of the back Iona I. Dec. 16 (tRick 13 found 40 Tundra Swans,a OHginsof thisbird were unknown, country,concentrating them Toochin),possibly the same dramaticallylow total dueto bat as yet there are .o nncon- tested records for North America. alongunfrozen water courses Clark's seenOct. 8. freeze-up,and 171 Trumpeter Great Blue Herons were Swans, a total that continues to Phatograph/BruceWhittington. both along the coast and absent from Revelstoke this throughoutthe interior. Sixty- climbeach year--partly because first. Origins of this bird will seven were at Goldstream P.P. winter,probably driven out by observersare getting better at forever remain a source of Jan.20, anall-time high for the the cold weather around Christ- distinguishingswan species, and debate.If it wasa wild bird, it mas(DP). For the 3rd year in a park(DFF, G &JA). Some105 partlybecause Trumpeters are would be Canada's first. Less concentratedat Cowichan Bay row, Great Blue Herons were increasingaround Kamloops unusualwas a single Snow foundon the PrinceGeorge (RH). [an.27 (BB).The annual eagle Goose at Duncan Jan. 18 count Jan. 13 found 65 Bald CBC.This year, two were along Three Greater White-fronted (DM).An EmperorGoose, per- Eaglesin the Okanaganand the NechakoR. Dec. 16, com- Geesewere in KamloopsFeb. hapsthe samebird that had paredto one the previous2 Karoloopsarea, the highest total 23 into March (SR, m.ob.). spentthe last 3 wintersin Victo- sincethe countbegan, and 19 gears(P.G.N.C.). Very few Cat- Three wintered in Kelowna ria, appearedat variousloca- tle Egretswere reported. One GoldenEagles (RH). (Robin Yellowlees, BT). An tions on the Saanich Peninsula From the Victoria area 15 was at Martindale Flats, •mmaturewas at PentictonJan. Jan.20-Feb. 22. Saanich,Dec. 17 (BB, T. Gille- reportsof 46 sightings ofSharp- 4 (GD, PR, CS). A Lesser A WoodDuck at Kamloops shinnedHawks were forwarded, spie),perhaps the same bird that White-frontedGoose was pho- Dec. 8-16 wasunusual (RH). A was reportedon the Victoria probablyrepresenting atleast 16 tographed and describedin d Tufted Duck was at birds. There was an all-time BirdAlert at MartindaleJan. detail aroundVictoria Dec. 15 EsquimaltLagoon from Feb. 23 highcount of 27 onthe Victoria 2-5. andJan. 17 & 21 (tBW, tBB, to the endof the period.An A swanmatching the descrip- CBC Dec.15. Cooper'sHawk JS,RS, m.ob.). Supposedly this imm. d Tufted Duck was sightingsfor Victoria were also tionofa Bewick'sSwan (Cygnus bird actually arrived about found on the Kelowna CBC on columbianusbewickii ) wasseen upfrom 1989 with 61 sightings, Octoberand was very shy at OkanaganLake Dec. 15 and involvingabout 20 birds(fide 306. AmericanBirds, Summer 1991 BW). FourN. Goshawkson the short period of spring-like FLYCATCHERSTO NakuspCBC Jan.2 madean weather(DB). WARBLERS unusual concentration. Four- A Say'sPhoebe at VaseuxLake teen were found on the interior SHOREBIRDSTO Feb.8 seta recordearly spring CBCs,marginally higher than WOODPECKERS migration date (Carlton lastyear's 11. Two goshawks The Willet, Long-billed McNaughton). On Feb. 23 were seen in the s. Yukon, one Curlew, and Marbled Godwit, anotherwas at Osoyoos(DB). at Marsh L. Dec. 16 (Don Rus- all casual in the Vancouver Thehighest count of Eur.Sky- sell)and the otherflying across Checklist area, continued to larks for Victoria was of 42 on the SouthKlondike Hwy Jan.2 residein companywith oneor Dec. 29 in a Central Saanich (HG). :woWhimbrels at BlackieSpit, bulb field (BB). There was A Merlinwintered in Nakusp CrescentBeach, throughout the muchflocking and wandering for the first time in about 10 winterand into April ('•Wayne owingto the snowcover. One years(GD). Thelast Merlin at Weber,CS). The MarbledGod- bird on a lawn on the water- PrinceGeorge was seen Dec. 20 witprovided the first Vancouver front of Dallas Rd., Victoria, (JB).Three Medins on theRev- winter record. A small flock of BurrowingOwl at PatriciaBay Air- Jan. 5 wasin a very unusual elstokeCBC might have found Dunlinat Kamloopsduring the port,Vancouver Island, British location (Keith Taylor). A easyprey among the dozens of fall dwindledto four birds by Col.mbia,on March 13, 1991. HornedLark, nowvery rare in Varied Thrushes, which were Dec.23 (RH). A SpottedSand- Presentsince early Jauuary, this the Vancouver Checklist area, veryplacid and unwary, from piper, rare in winter in the birdprovided the sixthrecord for was at Iona I. Dec. 16 ('•DJ, VancouverIsland. PhotograplV m.ob.).Blue Jays left over from eithercold or hunger (DP, CS). province,was at UclueletFeb. David F. Fraser, The Victoria CBC had an all- 10 (CE). A LesserYellowlegs the fall invasion wintered in var- timehigh count of 19Merlins. wasreported from Westham I. ious locations. Three or four A PeregrineFalcon on the Feb.20 (eD. timehigh, were recorded on the wereat Nakusp (GD), upto five NakuspCBC Jan.2 wasthe An imm. Franklin's Gull was Victoria CBC Dec. 15! Short- were at Revelstoke (DP), one onlywinter record for the inte- near the mouth of the Nicomekl eared Owls were very scarce wasnear Kimberley until at least rior (GD, Terry Bennett),but R. in SurreyDec. 1, forthe 3rd aroundVictoria with only one mid-January(MW), onewas at Victoriareported 41 sightings Vancouverwinter record('•Hue or two reported all winter. Wasa L. most of the winter duringthe winter, the highest MacKenzie,-•Jo Ann MacKen- Kamloopshad 5 overwinter (MW), and on the coast one numberof reportsin thelast 3 zie).A WesternGull at Seebelt (RH). was at Roberts Creek from Nov. years.A possibletundrius Pere- Inlet Dec. 7 was the second for A C3Anna's Hummingbird 3 onwards(Dorothy Wright), grinewas at EsquimaltLagoon the checklist area (TG). Ten spentthe fall at aVernon feeder and one was on Salt Spring Jan.29 (RS,Blake Maybank). A California Gulls were in Kam- butdisappeared Dec. 7 aftera IslandDec. 13 (DFF, D. Cop- Prairie Falcon in Delta Dec. 20 loopsDec. 8-16 (RH). Alsoin shortcold snap (John Barling, ley, E. Walters) and Jan. 3 ('•Colin Butt, Olive Butt) may Karoloopswere a Thayer'sGull CS). Two Lewis'Woodpeckers (KT). The latterbird had been have been the same bird has Dec. 8 and a Glaucous Gull overwinteredin Kamloops(fide presentsince October. Higher beenwintering in thearea since Dec. 16 (RH). The onlyother RH), which is very unusual, than usual numbers of Clark's the winter of 1988-1989. interior Glaucous Gulls were sincethis species generally win- Nutcrackers were found, but AnotherPrairie Falcon appeared one at the mouth of the Adams ters only around Summer- only in the West Kootenays at OsoyoosJan. 24 andFeb. 2 R. Dec. 22 (RH) and one at land-Vaseux Lake. where15 on the NakuspCBC & 12 (DB). One or two Roberts L., Kelowna, Dec. 15 Jan.2 wasfairly typical for this appearedbriefly in Vernon,one (Bill Baker,CS, GD). Alsopre- winter (GD). Dec. 2 in Lavington(John sent at Kelowna Dec. 15 was a At least a few Bewick's Wrens Quirk) and the other at the first-winterGlaucous-winged survivedthe long cold snap. headof OkanaganL. Dec. 16 Gull (CS, GD). Ten were at Rithet's Bog, (PR, Peter McAllister). The Rock Doves survived -45 ø C Saanich,Feb. 27 (B. Hanwellet onlyinterior Gyrfalcon was a temperaturesin Whitehorse, al.). Victoriaalso set an all-time record for Winter Wrens with graymorph bird at SwanL., Yukon,in January(HG). Possi- Vernon,Dec. 16 ('•CS).On the bly they found somewhere 451 on its CBC Dec. 15. A coasta grayGyr was over Blenk- warm to roost. Golden-crownedKinglet at insopL., Saanich,Feb. 21 (RS). A SnowyOwl wason IonaI. PrinceGeorge Jan. 2 furnished Very unusualwas a White- Dec.4 (CE). Anotherturned up a first winter record(Wilf Fort- tailedPtarmigan at Gibsonsat at a mall in Nanaimo Dec. 20 ney). 200 ft above sealevel Jan. 18 (RP). Northern Pygmy-Owl MountainBluebirds are quite (GeorgeSmith), while several sightingswere about the same as rare around Victoria during wererepeatedly spotted in the 1989 CBCs on the coast but springand fall. A December cross-countryskiarea (5000 ft) were down to half the 1989 recordwas unheard of, until one of Silver Star Mountain, Ver- totals for the interior. A Bur- to five birds were seen in Cen- non(Ken Dennys) and one was rowingOwl wasone of thesea- tral SaanichDec. 13-17 ('•BD, presentat the bottomof the son'shighlights on V.I. It J & GA). Two at Cranbrook RevelstokeSki Hill throughout appearedat thePattida Bay air- duringthe last week of February December (DP, m.ob.). A port,N. Saanich,in earlyJan- wereunusually early (MW). ptarmigansp. was at MarshL., uarybut birdersdidn't find it Verynoteworthy was a Red- s. Yukon, Dec. 16 (Cathy until Feb. 26--27 (BD, J & GA, throatedPipit in Delta Dec. McEwen). Eighteen Sharp- BB, m.ob.). This wasthe 6th 23-24. Aside from a single- tailed Grouse were found on the recordfor the Victoria checklist observersighting in the mid- KamloopsCBC on Dec. 16 area. How established have 1980s,this wasthe first record (RH). SixSandhill Cranes were Barred Owls become on V.I. for the Vancouver Checklist seenover Osoyoos on thevery where10 yearsago, they were area, and the first accepted record for British Columbia. earlydate of Feb.21 duringa noteworthyratifies? Five, an all- Volume 45, Number 2' 307 Thebird loosely associated with Sparrowswere reported much Columbiaiscomplex. House asmall flock of Am. Pipits in a morefrequently thanusual with Finchesseem to be staging a marshyfield (•BRG, m.ob.). threeat Revelstoke during Jan- minorinvasion ofNakusp inthe Threesets of field notes were uary,one at Nakusp allwinter WestKootenays withup to three forwarded;unfortunately, two (GD), upto fourat Vernon wintering(GD). In theOkana- werewritten hours after the (CS),two at Kelowna (BT), and gan,Cassin's Finches winter observationshadtaken place. twoat Victoria (fide Ken Mor- locally,asthey do in the West Red-throatedPipitcan be tough gan). At least one Dark-eyed Kootenays. Thenumber ofPur- .•. toidentify. Notes on such abird Juncosurvived most of the very pieFinch reports continues to shouldbe made at the time of coldwinter ata Whitehorse feed- grow.Observers should beeau- observation. er(HG). tionedthat • -plumagedPurple . AlthoughBohemian Wax- BritishColumbia's 2nd Rus- andCassin's finches are often wingnumbers were low in the ticBunting appeared ina back- verydifficultto tellapart, particu- ' WestKootenays, they were yardin TorinoDec. 8 and larlysin•emost field guides do muchmore common thiswinter remained tolate February. Excel- not adequately treatimportant inthe Okanagan Valley and the lentfield notes and sketches were fieldmarks. Reports ofPurple PrinceGeorge area, with an esti- made(•RP). Miss Patterson isto Fincheshere must be substanti- lhisWhile-throated Swat, first mated11,000 in theVernon becongratulated forthe good atedwith photos orcareful field oneever e0nfirm• •0r the ar•a areaalone (fide PR). One was spiritshe maintained whileover descriptions,writtenat the time ¾ane0uvnr,BritishC01,,mbia, was reportedfrom Courtenay Jan. 200birders visited herduring of observation. elevatorpiebrai,,p inailing November ata Ineal 1990.grain Pho- 25-27(D.W. Innes, Barbara the bird's stay. RedCrossbills werepresent in tograpb/LorraineAndrusiak. Sedgwick).Small flocks of FourBramblings werespot- verysmall numbers throughout BohemianWaxwings inWhite- ted this winter, three around the s.half of the province inearly Beggs, Jack Bowling (Ptince horsesurvived -45øC weather Victoria andone at Vancouver. winter, and began toappear in Georgeandthe north), Doug (HG,Clive Osborne, RobbEll- TheVancouver bird,probably a large flocks atKimberley in Brown,Bunny Cooper, Gary wood).They ate mountain-ash female, came toa South Vancou- February (BC). White-winged Davidson (Kootenays), Brent berries.Sixteen Cedar Waxwings ver feeder Jan. 6 (•A.J.Patrick Crossbills were uncommon or Diakow,Cameron Eckert, atKamloops Dec.16 provided a Oswald, Hilary Oswald). This absentthroughout. Common David F. Fraser (southern V.I.), firstconfirmed winter record was the 5th Vancouver record Redpolls werequite uncommon Bryan R.Gates, Orville Gordon, there(RH). andthe first since 1984. The first oreven absent from most places Tony Greenfield (Sunshine SouthernV.I.had most ofthe VictoriaBrambling wasamale in inthe south, butaround Prince Coast), Helmut Grunberg winteringwarblers with two ColwoodDec. 15-Feb. 26 (B. Georgewere in "normal" num- (Yukon),Rick Howie (Kam- Orange-crownedsatVictoria, Irwin). The 2nd was afemale in bers,with 1034 tallied on the loops),Dale Jensen, Derrick twoCom. Yellowthroats (one N. Saanich, about Dec. 14 to at CBCDec. 16 (P.G.N.C.). Three Merven, Rory Patterson, Doug eachatSomenos andCrofton on leastFeb. 10 (J. & B.Holt). A reportscame from Victoria with Powell,Prince George Naturalist Dec. 3--DM), and one 3rd,unconfirmed, bird was onebird well described Jan. 1 Club(P.G.N.C.), PhilRanson, Townsend'sWarbler atSaanich reported inCentral Saanich Jan. (BB).Pine Siskin numbers var- SydRoberts, JoySatterfield, Ron Dec.15 (JeffGaskin). 23-26. led.Revelstoke reported "big Satterfield,Chris Siddle, Keith RosyFinches were erratic, as numbers"thiswinter while Kim- Taylor,Brenda Thompson, Mil- SPARROWSTO usual,appearing foraday or two berleyhad large flocks toward dred White, Bruce Whitting- FINCHES inscattered locations, andthen theend of winter (BC). Prince ton.--CHRIS SIDDLE, Site It wasagood winter onsouthern disappearing. Upto 200 were Georgereported only small 10,Comp. 56, R.R. 8, Vernon, V.I. forAm. Tree Sparrows, atop Silver Star Mountain, Ver- flocks,asdid the Okanagan and BCV1T 8L6. whichare vagrants there. The non,Dec. 16 to at leastDec. 23 mostcoastal locations firstwas found along Lochside (Brian Holmes, Peter McAllister, including Victoria. The 41:1'1revised •cl:J.l:J.on Trail,Central Saanich, Dec.14 CS).More Rosy Finches wereon 0f the popular untilat leastJan. 31 (BB,C. theVernon Commonage Jan.23 Addendum:A mori- O'Brien).This isor another was (MavisCameron). Fivewere in bundWhite-throated T !• alongIsland View Road Feb. 9 RevelstokeJan.19 (OG) and Swift,providing the O 1• (S.Cumming). An unconfirmed 100 were at Merritt Dec. 2 first confirmedrec-

Saanich,birdwas Jan.at Quick's 19 (M. Blau),Bottom, and (RH).Pine Grosbeaks numbers were area,ordforwas the recoveredVancouver a3rd or4th bird was atSomenos upin the n.half ofthe province from agrain elevator Carl laelty and Flats,Duncan, Jan.18 and Feb. and down inthe southern half.in North Vancouver LUgSBaptista 1& 15(DM). One was reported They were abundant in the in earlyNovember fromWesthamI.Dec.4(CE). Prince George area. Flocksof 1990. Possibly the i$ no,davailal•l• OneSwamp Sparrow wasat 10-20birds atthe beginning of birdconfused thetall Saundersl:•.ll•lishincj at SomenosFlats,Duncan, Dec. Decemberdwindled tothree to concretesidesof the 800-782-44 79 6-Feb.1(DM). eightbirds each by the end of elevatorfor canyon White-throatedSparrows February(JB). North Pine CBC cliffs.The birdwas weretheprovince. reported Theacrossnorthernmost the s.half of (Fort157 PineSt. John) Grosbeaks hada record Dec.high 15 recovery?)rehabilitated at(aa local swift ' wasanimmature atPrince (Derek Connelly), whileshelterand flownto •,-•.i•'•,' ".• Vernonhad four on its CBC. Vernon,Pine Grosbeaks general- Therewere single birds at feeders ly stayed in themountains, with Initialedobservers: •.*.'..:3.;.:.'-.: NakuspinGeørgeGibsons (GD),Dec'(DB),16and(P'G'N'C')'TorinoRevelstoke (RP), inonlySmithers theonevalley small CBC(CS). flockrepørtedencountered 231' Inin Califørnia(subregionalboldface) før release-Gladyseditors '" reported(OG),whileabout southernseven. Harris'V.I. tion The inwinter s. interior Carpodacussitua- British Anderson, BarbaraJerry i'•,•': 308 - AmericanBirds, Summer 1991 droma, believed to be a Juan OREGON/ Fernandez Petrel (P. externa), ' ,.•' Ornak '•"'•-•- was seenby 2 boatloadsof WASHINGTON birdersat theedge of theCon- tinental Shelf off Westport REGION WASHiNGTON•'•- Sept.14 ($TW, $BT, m.ob.). [FALL1990 REPORT) Thissighting is the first for the Bill Tweit e. Pacific within the 200-mi Olympia enatcheeSpokan• limit. and It was the poorestfall in David Fix Yaklnla gearsfor Buller'sShearwater. Richlan( ßWalla •(•la None were seen during August,and the peakcount •Jmat•lla,.c--• wasonly 10 off GaribaldiOct. 20. A Manx Shearwater was It was the third-warmest fall on seen in the mouth of Grays recordin centralOregon, with TheDalles 'x'•/•i: ?;•;?'•ii•! HarborSept. 14 by birderson Augustand September abnor- 2 boats ($BT, $TW, m.ob.), mallyhot and dry there. Effects OREGON seenagain the nextday from includedcontinued receding of the O.S. jetty (?BSu, ?TSc, Malheur Lake and a 3300-acre $WC), and apparentlyseen forest fire at Bend. Eastern eBums again20+ mi off Westport Washingtonsuffered local Oct. 6 (?NL, ?RM, ?TW). floodingduring a wetterthan The descriptionsof thisfirst averageAugust. Following statereport seem to exclude rainfall in October and the Pacific members of the ß Klamath Falls H•a•Mt.An{elope Range November that was almost puj•nuscomplex. twice the average, western Brown Pelican numbers in Washington had extensive Washingtonwere above the flooding the last week of recentaverage: over 1000 were November. presenton bothGrays Harbor The warm sea surface tem- (BT, DPa) and Willapa Bay peraturesand low amounts of (RM). There were no reports upwellingthis fall were similar farther north on the outer to conditionsduring the 1983 LOONS TO Banks L., Grant, WA, Oct. 28 coast,but two were seeninside El Nino event. This fall's con- EGRETS (AS, BT). There were reports PugetSound. One at PointNo ditions were linked to low The 10,000loons moving S off of 35 migrantsor winterersin Point,I•tsap, Oct. 9 (VN) was numbers of Buller's and Flesh- Lincoln,OR, Nov. 8 (PP) were w. Oregon and two in w. onlythe 2nd in 15years there, footedshearwaters, high num- i0% Common, 40% Pacific, Washington.Oregon reports andanother was equally rare in bers of Brown Pelicans and and 10% Red-throated,a high included20 (no details)with lowerGeorgia Strait Oct. 5-15 Heermann's Gulls, and an Ele- percentageof Com. Loons for 3000 W. Grebes in the (WW, Tom Burton,fide TW). gantTern incursion. a coastalmovement, generally Columbia R. gorgeNov. 17 Therewas a smallflight of It wasa greatfall for vagrant dominatedby Pacifies.Red- (AF) and four on the s. coastat Cattle Egrets,with about a warblers,primarily in southeast throated Loons were scarce Port Orford Nov. 24 (NL), dozenin w. Oregonafter Oct. Oregon. Other movements fall; therewas only where regular. The two w. 25. Two near Vancouver, includeda considerableflight one freshwater record, on Lost Washington reports with Clark, Nov. 9 (WC) and four of scoters in the interior, a Creek Res.,Jackson, OR, Oct. details were of one at O.S. on the Lummi Flats, Whatcorn, November incursion of 18 (Der). SevenYellow-billed Oct. 5 (?G & WH) and one at Nov. 18 (JD) were the only Steller'sJays into the Columbia- Loonswere reported, includ- SeattleNov. 11 (*BSu). Washingtonreports. In e. Ore- Basin, unusual numbers of ing two fromthe outercoast: A recordnumber of pelagic gon,one at SummerLake Nov. BlueJays through much of the WinchesterBay, OR, Sept. 8 tripswere reported: 11 from 21 (CM) wasa firstfor Lake. Region,and record numbers of (L. & C. Yox) and GraysHar- Westport, WA, Aug. 11 to White-throatedSparrows. bor, WA, Oct. 7 (TW et al). Oct. 7 (TW), onefrom Ilwaco, WATERFOWL The fivePuget Sound reports WA, Sept.8 (JJ),three from The regularsmall number of includedthree in the SanJuan Garibaldi,OR, Aug. 11, Sept. TrumpeterSwans in n.w.Ore- Abbreviations: Bandon (Ban- Is. Nov. 3-4 (TW etal), oneat 9 (TC), andOct. 20 (NL), and gonappeared in November. donand the Coquille R. estuary, Pt. RobertsOct. 8 (WW), and one from Charleston, OR, Three were on Sauvie Nov. 17, Coos Co., OR); Davis (Davis one at Dosewallips Oct. 28 Sept.8. LaysanAlbatross were one was at Forest Grove, Lake, Klamath and Deschutes (DPa, BSu). seentwice off Westport(TW) Washington,Nov. 24, three counties,OR); Fields (Fields, Clark's Grebes were more and one was seen from shore at wereat ScappooseNov. 26, Harney Co., OR); Malheur widely reportedthan in any CapeArago, OR, Nov. 25 (fide and three were near Airlee, (MalheurNat'l Wildlij• Ref., previousfall. In e. Washing- NL). Northern Fulmar num- Polk,Nov. 27 (fideHN). Four OR);O.S. (OceanShores, Grays ton, up to 20 were at the bers through September pairsof Trumpetersproduced Harbor Co., WA); Sauvie colonyon MosesL. Sept.14 ranged15-169, and jumped to sevencygnets this year at Mal- (SauvieIsland, ColumbiaCo., (RM). In e. Oregon, there ove;2300 by Oct. 5 (TW). In heur and an October survey OR);S.J.C.R. (south jetty of the were 8 reports of 22 birds, late November,40 werefound found 20 adults there (GI). ColumbiaR., Clatsop,OR); apparentlyall but one of dead on Lincoln beaches(Bob The first Snow Geese had W.W.R.D. (Walla Walla River migrants.Latest in theinterior Loeffel, SaraBrown) and 240 returned to the Skagit Flats, delta, Walla Walla, WA). Place were of two at Malheur Oct. were seen from Cape Arago WA, Sept.27 (JonAnderson) names in italics are counties. 20 (LH, CB) and one on Nov. 25 (NL). A large Ptero- andby the endof November, Volume 45, Number 2 ' 309 31,000were counted (fide TW). immature at Toledo, Lincoln, abovetypical levels. The 270 at PrinevilleSept. 24-Oct. 5 (DA, The Dept. of Wildlife noted OR, Sept. 16 (E & HH). TokelandNov. 4 (RM) likely DL) wasa first for Crook.Four that 2 consecutiveyears with Rough-leggedHawks were madea recordhigh for Wash- imm. Ruffsreported from the summer ice storms in Siberia scarce, but there were some ington.In Oregon,at least73 Grays Harbor area Aug. havecaused nearly complete die- earlysightings. Three reported godwitswere reported from 8 25-Sept.16 (v.o.)and two from offsof cropsof goslings.Single from the SteensMts., Malheur, coastal locations. At least one theOregon coast Sept, 16 & 17 Ross'Geese in w. Oregonwere OR, Aug.10 (S.Freshman, RV) imm. Bar-tailed Godwit was on (JG,B & ZS) madean average on SauvieOct. 12-28 (m.ob.) seta newearly arrival date. Sev- Willapa Bay, WA, Aug. 25 number.Red-necked Phalarope and at Nehalem Nov. 16+ (Bill eralmid-September sightings, (?NL) throughOct. 6. On the numberswere low. The peak Shelmerdine).The only Emper- from Philomath, OR (Sheila Oregoncoast, imm. Bar-tailed count off Westportwas 184 or Geese,also rare but annual, Madden), in Asotin,WA (fide Godwitswere seen at Bayocean Aug. 18 (TW), about10% of werethree at Oceansidein early MK), andnear Spokane (JW) SpitSept. 7 (RS)and at Bandon average. Interior numbers October(CR). werealso a bit early. Sept.8 intoOctober (•'BT, JG). seemedaverage, with a peak A Mallard banded as a A few Merlins also showed The four sightingsof imm. count of 261 at Summer L., fledglingJuly 30 nearSummer up early.The mostunusual was Hudsonian Godwit could have OR, Aug. 16 (CM). Red Lake,OR, wastrapped 28 days one n. of Corvallis,OR, for sev- been the same individual. One Phalaropeswere low until late later and 300 mi farther north eral weeksin August(Bill & wasin flightover O.S. Sept.8 November.The peakof 34 off on Columbia N.W.R., Grant, Rita Snyder)and therewere 4 (•'BSu)and one was seen Sept. 8 Westport Aug. 18 (TW) was WA (RH)! If onlyScott's Ori- Washingtonreports in August. & 13 at nearbyLeadbetter Pt. not impressive.There was one oles would do that... Seattle's Therewas only one Gyrfalcon (?NL, WC). The 4th wasnear unusualinland sighting in early TuftedDuck X scaupreturned reported,an immature in What- the Siuslaw R. mouth, Lane, fall,a breeding-plumagedadult for a 5th winter (EH). A brood com, WA, Nov. 7 (Paul Sept.18 (B & ZS). Thesemade Sept. 2 at Everett, WA (EH). of LesserScaup was found at DeBruyn,fideTW). A Prairie bothOregon's and Washing- The storms of Nov. 25 caused Everett, WA, Sept, 2 (EH); Falconat O.S. Sept.15 (DPa) ton's 1 lth records. thousandsof RedPhalaropes to there are very few breeding wasa first for Washington's A juv. Great Knot foundat passnear shore, estimated at recordsin the Region.There outer coast,and anotherwas on Bandon Sept. 1 (•'NL, JG, 15,000 passingS past Cape were six Oldsquawreported the Lummi flats, Whatcom, m.ob.)stayed through Sept. 19, Arago(NL). One at Yamhill, •nlandOct. 20 (PM) to Nov. 26 WA, Aug. 31 and later (JD) for the first confirmed North OR, Nov. 26 (Tom Love) was (JT).An unusuallylarge move- wherenow almost regular. American record outside of theonly inland sighting associ- ment ofscoters occurred in the Alaska. Red Knots were scarce ated with this storm. •nteriorin October.The largest SHOREBIRDS on the coast(v.o.). In the interi- flock of Surf Scoters was B & ZS surveyedOregon or, one was at the W.W.R.D. JAEGERSTO remarkable:38 at SuttleL., Jej• beachesfor SnowyPlovers this Sept.10 (KK) for the2nd local ALCIDS ferson,OR, in late October fall.Among those they found on record and one was at the near- Theonly interior report of Para- (TC). Therewere 29 otherSurfs Lane beacheswere birds banded byYakima R. deltaSept. 24-26 siticJaeger was at MalheurSept reported in e. Oregon and in 1990 in Coos,and on Coos (RW) for the 3rd local record. 14 (Fred Zeillemaker). No S Washington,and six in w. Ore- beachesthey found birds band- At least41 SemipalmatedSand- PolarSkuas were reported off gonaway from the coast,Oct. ed in California and a bird piperswere found in theinterior Oregon,and there were only 4 14 (JA, DA, DL, CC) to Nov. bandedin 1989 on Lake Abert, and 29 on the west side. sightings out of Westport 23 (PS). The largestflock of Lake,OR. In addition,a Snowy What hashappened to Pec- betweenSept. 8 and Oct. 7 White-wingedScoters was of 13 Plover was at the Necanicum R. toralSandpipers? Numbers were (TW), wellbelow average. at Lake Lenore, Grant, WA, mouth, OR, Nov, 10 (MP), abysmal again, with most Franklin's Gull numbers on Oct. 14 (JA), and 10 others four were at Bayocean,OR, counts of fewer than ten. West- the west side this fall were never were reported from other e. Oct. 24 to December(HN), up sidepeaks were 32 at Sauvie higherthan three immatures in localesthrough Oct. 27 (AS, to five were at Leadbetter Pt., Oct. 1 (NL) and 15 at any locality from the same BT). A singleBlack Scorer was Pacific,WA, throughSept. 8 Aberdeen,WA, Aug. 29 (G & PugetSound locales that in ear- on Willow Creek Res., Morrow, (AS, MO), and onewas at O.S. WH) and the eastsidepeak lier yearsheld 10 to 15 birds. Oct. 20 (DL, CC) for one of Sept.12 (EH). countwas 46 at MalheurSept. Eightfirst-year birds were sight- few eastsideOregon records. Four Am. Avocets in w. Ore- 10-11 (GI). The Sharp-tailed edin w. Washingtonand two in Red-breastedMergansers, also gonwere more than usual. One Sandpiperpicture was mixed. w. Oregon. One near Salem scarceon the eastside, were also wasat SauvieAug. 7 (David For the 2nd consecutiveyear, Nov. 11 (BB) was late, and a aboveaverage. The largestflock Bailey),two at BandonAug. 26 therewas only one Washington Marion first. The 4 eastside was of 12 on Banks L., Grant, for the 5th Coosrecord (LT), report,inland at theYakima R. records included two at Clark- WA, Oct. 28 (BT, AS, BL), and andone at YachatsAug. 25-30 mouth Sept.26 (RW) for the ston,WA, Sept.15 (AF), oneat sixothers were reported Oct. 13 (fideDFa). Willet reportsfrom 2nd localrecord. In Oregon, Richland, WA, Oct. 17-25 (CC) to Nov. 21 (CM). areas where casual were one at therewere six sightings at Ban- (RW), and one in Morrow,OR, Lummi Flats, WA, Aug. 19 don Sept. 22 (Dan van der Nov. 22 (CC). The only Little HAWKS (JD), anotherat BayoceanSpit, Broek) to Oct. 28 (LT). One Gull was an adult at Seattle Black-shouldered Kites were OR, Aug. 12 (NL), two at the wasat SauvieSept. 14-19 (HN, Sept.22 (EH). Over250 Bona- scarcein Oregonthis fall. Only W.W.R.D. Sept.27 (MLD) for NL) and one was at S.J.C.R. parte'sGulls migrating south in eightwere reported from the the 3rd Walla Walla record,and Oct.29 (LisaCampbell etal.). e. WashingtonOct. 27-28 (AS, entire coast and seven from the twoat KinneyL., Wallowa,OR, An ad. Curlew Sandpiper BT, BL) wasa largemovement Roguevalley (fide MM). In Sept.3' (PS). An ad.Gray-tailed molting out of breeding for theinterior, but timingwas Washington, six were at the Tattler from BandonAug. 18 plumageat O.S.Sept. 19 (•'EH, typical. Raymondbreeding site (RM), (?JG,GL) furnisheda firstOre- •'JS)was the 5th Washington Heermann'sGulls were high and one near Duvall Oct. 18 gonrecord. sighting.Buff-breasted Sand- on theWashington coast, with (Gerry Adams)was a 2nd for Therewere 10+ Long-billed pipershad nine reports from w. peakcounts of 1820 at Grays King. There was only one Curlewsalong the Oregon coast Washingtonand seven from w. Harbor Aug. 18 (TW) and reportof Red-shoulderedHawk (v.o.),well above average. Mar- Oregon.Buff-breasteds arevery 2000 at Willapa BaySep't. 11 awayfrom regularrange, an bled Godw•t numbers were also rare on the east s•de, one near (RM) One ad Heermann'sat

31o. AmericanB•rds, Summer 1991 ThompsonRes. Oct. 16 (•'SS) andby mid-September,flocks were heard in the Blue Mts., n. Spokane (Fran Hayward), wasthe 2nd for e. Oregonand of 50 to 150 were on the Ore- of Tollgate,OR (DL), Sept.9 Clarkston (L. & V. Bradley), maycorrelate with big coastal goncoast. Arctic Ternswere andin theOkanogan Highlands Lummi Flats (JD), and Everett numbers this fall. At least five almost unrecordedoffshore, but in the RogersLake, WA, area (M. Manzanares).There also Mew Gulls were in the interior. up to 50 wereonshore at the Aug.25 andNov. 3 (AS). was some parid movement. Two adultsat Spokane(JW) UmpquaR. mouthSept. 11-15 A Black Swift near Sno- Morrow in the Columbia Basin werethe onlyones away from (DI, HN eta•). Two in e. Ore- homishOct. 13 (Ken Brenner) had a flock of Mountain Chick- the ColumbiaR. Two first-year gon,near Wamic, Sept. 8 (DL) wasthe latest ever for Washing- adeesand two Chestnut-backed Thayer'sGulls were reported werevery rare inland. ton. An imm. Yellow-bellied ChickadeesOct. 20 (CC, DL), fromthe interior,where proba- Common Murre numbers Sapsuckerat MalheurOct. 14 the latter a countyfirst. In w. bly scarceannual migrants: at showedsome improvement over (TC, SS)was a 5th for Oregon Oregon, several Mountain Grand Coulee, Grant, WA, lastfall (TW, BT), but werestill anda refugefirst. At leastthree Chickadeesappeared at Port- Oct. 28 (AS,BT, BL) andat the belowaverage. Marbled Mur- Red-breastedSapsuckers were land(fide HN), twowere n. of Wenatchee R. mouth, Chelan, reletswere well reported along found at Malheur Sept.9 into Gold BeachOct. 13 (DFi), and WA, Nov. 28 (JT). theOregon coast. The highest October(v.o.), probablythe two were at Lone Ranch Beach The six Glaucous Gulls count was of 135 off Cape highestfall totalyet. At least Nov. 23-25 (SS,JJ). reportedwere all fromw. Ore- AragoAug. 23 (B & ZS),prob- threeRed-breasted Sapsuckers The Bewick'sWren expan- gon.They includedone rare ablya Coosrecord. KM's surveys were found in Bend in Novem- sion in the interior extended to adult at Moolack Beach, Lin- in Lincolnfound 50 at Yaquina ber (TC). A brief survey in Columbia N.W.R., WA, with coln,Nov. 29 (DFi). In the inte- Head Sept.9, 40 at Yachats November of the area burned one Oct. 4 (RH). A Blue-gray rior, a Black-leggedKittiwake Aug.4, and 30 at SealRock duringAugust near Bend found Gnatcatcheron BayoceanSpit on the SnakeR. Nov. 10 (Ray Sept. 9. Ancient Murrelets 14 Black-backed,35 Hairy, and Oct.25 (DFi)provided only the Korpi)furnished a 2ndAsotin seemedlow on PugetSound; four White-headedwoodpeck- 4th Oregonn. coastsighting. A record and an ad. Sabine's Gull the peakwas 90 at Point No ers (TC, CM). These birds Gray-cheekedThrush was on SummerLake, OR, Sept.26 Point Nov. 16 (VN). On the apparentlymove into newly reportedat Wallula Oct. 6 (SS)was also rare. Oregoncoast, Ancients were burnedareas rapidly. (•'Ken Knittie, •'JoeEvanich) morereadily found than usual A LeastFlycatcher among for thefirst Washington report. in November. Twenty were at many other Empidonaxat A few Bohemian Waxwings YaquinaHead Nov. 18 (DL), DeMoss Springs Park, OR, appearedby the end of theperi- 35 wereat CapeArago Nov. 25 Aug.23 (PP)and one at Mal- od alongthe e. edgeof the (NL), andthey were plentiful heur Sept. 15 (TC) werethe Region(v.o.). along the Curry coastNov. only reports of this rare A Blue-wingedWarbler at 24-26 (SS). migrant.A GrayFlycatcher near AnacortesSept. 17 (•'EH, •'Jeff Amongpossible effects of SpokaneSept. 2 (JA) wasa Gordon)furnished a firstreport above-averagesea surface tem- countyfirst and may be indica- for Washington. It was an peraturewas the great number tiveof theirincreasing range in excellent fall for warblers in e. of Cassin's Auklets close to Washington.The tokenTropi- Oregon.A d' N. Parulaat Mal- shore. The most remarkable calKingbird was one at Yaquina heur Sept. 23-26 (DA) wasa countswere from Oregon's Lin- Bay,OR, Oct.24 (TriciaHem- rarefall vagrant, more frequent coln coast: 3000 seen from the inghaus).Purple Martins at 2 •n spring.A Chestnut-sided RockyCr. viewpointOct. 30 Whatcornsites in August(TW) Warbler at Malheur Sept. 17 (PP) and 40/minute passing maybe evidence of recoloniza- (CB) wasa moreregular fall BoilerBay in 90 minutesSept. tion of n.w. Washington. A vagrant.A MagnoliaWarbler, 12 (PP), and therewere counts PurpleMartin in RichlandSept. another fairly regular fall elsewherein Oregon of 50-500. 4 (RW) providedthe first fall vagrant,was at MalheurOct. In Washington,auklet counts recordfor e. Washington. 5-7 (K & JKe). An imm. • on trips off Westport were CapeMay Warbler at Malheur below200 ! trip until Oct. 6 CORVIDS TO Sept.22-24 (SS,JG, ph.) fur- when 800+ were found (TW). WARBLERS nisheda 5th staterecord. Black- A moltingad. HornedPuffin Steller'sJays began an incursion throated Blue Warbler is anoth- off BandonSept. 23 (•'Michael into the Columbia Basin. First er of themore regular vagrants. Price)was the 2nd for Coos. reportswere of fourat Irrigon, This fall's included a female at Morrow, OR, Oct. 28 (CC). Moro, Sherman,Sept. 9 (PP, CIJCK00S 1'0 During November, they GL), a maleat FrenchglenSept. $WAIœ0W$ appearedat Touchetand Wal- 23 (C. & M. O'Leary), and a A Yellow-billed Cuckoo found lula, WA (MD), and at Board- femaleat MalheurSept. 26 (JJ). dead near Omak, WA, on the man, OR (CC). Many more Animm. Bay-breasted Warbler incrediblylate date of Nov. 5 Blue Jays than usual also at MalheurSept. 24 (JG) pro- (R. & J. Wilkinson,ph.), fur- appeared.Eastern Oregon had videdthe 8th Oregonrecord. nishedonly the 2nd recordin at least 9 records.One at Silver Therewere five Blackpoll War- Washingtonin thelast 10 years. LakeSept. 30 (SS)was the first. blersightings, all fromMal- There were no Snowy Owl DuringOctober, records came heur,Sept. 9-Oct. 1. A Black- reportsin the Region.A d' from Pendleton (PS), Hermis- and-white Warbler was at 6 BarredOwl wasin the Maple- ton (CC), Fields (J & KKe), Mile Pond, Catlow Valley, Excellent numbers of Com. ton areaofw. Laneduring the and Malheur (R. Roberts). At Harney, Sept. 19 (RS). A Terns were reported inside summer(fide Blythe Brown) leastthree appeared in Vale, Worm-eatingWarbler at Mal- PugetSound and alongthe and one heard at Thornton Cr. Malheur, in November (Rob heurSept. 16 (•'TC, DaveSte- Oregoncoast. On PugetSound, Oct. 5 (DFa) wasa firstfor Lin- Johnson).In Washington,Blue skal,Tony Greager) furnished the peak count was 1500 at coln. Short-eared Owls were Jaysappeared on both sides of a firstrecord for Oregon.The Point No Point Sept.4 (VN) reportedsparingly. Boreal Owls the Cascades in October: at onlyvagrant found in w. Ore- Volume 45, Number 2' $11 gonwas a window-killedCana- Crossbills were absent, with Thrush,warblers, and sparrows. KM, HN) and two from the daWarbler in Gold Hill, Jack- only 3 reportsfrom the Cas- The remainder of the season ColumbiaR. (JJ,AS); this may son,Sept. 17 (RobertNelson), cades (JD, PP) and the wasrelatively mild, dry in the betheir normal winter pattern. the 4th for the state. OkanoganHighlands (AS). interior and wetter than normal A Jan.19 pelagictrip off West- on much of the westside. port, WA, found very few SPARROWS TO Initialedobservers: (subregion- For the third consecutive tubenoses (TW). The few FINCHES al editors in boldface) Jim winter, Bud Anderson and included three Black-looted and An Am. Tree Sparrowat the Acton, David Anderson, C. many(97) volunteersconduct- two Laysanalbatrosses and 60 S.J.C.tLNov. 18 (MP) wasvery Baars,Barb Bellin (Salemarea), ed a mid-wintersurvey of the N. Fulmars.Two LaysanAlba- rare on the outer coast. The Thais Bock (Tacoma area), raptorpopulations on theSkagit trosses and three Mottled onlytwo Clay-colored Sparrow Wilson Cady,Craig Corder, and Samish flats of northwest- Petrelswere reported 45 mi off reportswere from the s. Oregon Tom Crabtree (e. Oregon), ern Washington.The survey Lincoln, OR, Dec. 11 (?Tom coast:North Bend Sept. 20 DickCronberg, Mike & Merry was conducted after extensive Staudt). The Mottled Petrels (BG)and Nesika Beach, Curry, L. Denny,Jim Duemmel,Mer- floodingof muchof thesurvey provided the 4th Oregon Oct. 13(DFi). A LarkBunting lin & ElsieEltzroth (Corvallis area.Some portions of the area report. A Fork-tailed Storm- at MalheurSept. 17-23 (JJ)was area),Darrell Faxon,Dave Fix, wereunder water for up to two Petrelin PugetSound off Seat- thefirst for the refuge and about AnthonyFloyd, JeffGilligan, weeks,which presumably affect- tle Jan. 14 (Mike Gracz) was the 10thfor Oregon.Numbers GregGillson, Barbara Griffin, edthe rodentpopulation and unusual for mid-winter and a of White-throatedSparrows Larry Hammond, Elizabeth& indeed,there appeared to bea l•'ngfirst. wereoutstanding. Eastern Ore- HendrikHerlyn, Randy Hill, shift of raptor numbersto American White Pelicans gon had at least27 and there Glen& WandaHoge, Eugene inland, unflooded areas. Red- have become annual winterers wereanother five in e.Washing- Hunn, DavidIrons, Gary Ivey, tailed Hawk numbers were in the Columbia Basin. Peak ton. They werewell reported JimJohnson, Ken Knittie, Mer- downby 20% but thenumbers count this winter was of 38 on throughoutw. Oregon,and w. leneKoliner (s.e. Washington), of N. Harriers were similar to the Hanford Reach of the Washingtonhad at least15. In Karen& JerryKearney, Bruce theprevious two years. ColumbiaR. Dec. 26 (RH). An contrast,few Harris' Sparrows Labor,Nick Lethaby,Gerard Othernotable aspects of the earlyarrival was set at Malheur werereported: four on thewest Lillie, Donna Lusthoff, Phil winter includedthe highest with sevenseen at HarneyL. sideand three in e.Oregon. Mattocks, Larry McQueen, numbers of Glaucous Gulls ever ßFeb. 21 (RV). Theonly winter ThreeRusty Blackbirds were KathyMerrifield, Craig Miller, recordedin the Region,low reportof BrownPelican was one found: at Aberdeen, WA, Oct. MarjorieMoore (Rogue valley), numbersof thenorthern raptors at YaquinaHead, OR, Jan. 13 13 (?RM),Sauvie Oct. 28 (JG), RogerMuskat, Harry Nehls (w. (Rough-leggedHawk, Snowy (KM). Remnants from the andEagle Point Nov. 16 (HS). Oregon), Vic Nelson, Mark and Short-eared owls), and minorfall flight of CattleEgrets A Great-tailed Grackle at Mal- Oberle,Hal Opperman,Mike irruptivemovements of jays. lingered until Dec. 16 at heurOct. 26 (D. Browder)pro- Patterson, Dennis Paulson Eurasianvagrants included a Bellingham,WA (PL,SF). vided the 2nd fall record for (DPa),Phil Pickering, Craig male Smew on the Columbia This fall's surveysindicate Oregon.An OrchardOriole in Roberts,Tom Rogers(e. Wash- Riverand two more Brambling that the total of the Siberian Brookings, Curry, Nov. ington),Howard Sands, Tom records. populationof SnowGeese nest- 12-Dec.12 (ColinDillingham, Schooley,Fred Sharpe,Jeff Regionalobservers please ingon WrangellI. hasdeclined m.ob.)was the 3rd for Oregon. Skriletz,Richard Smith, Andy take note. We have excluded to 63,500. Of these, 33,500 Two Bramblingsappeared Stepnewski, Bill & Zannah moresightings than we would were counted this winter on the on thewest side for shortperi- Stotz, Paul Sullivan,Steve Sum- like fromthis summary, since Fraser,Skagit and Stillaguamish ods.The 3rd for Oregonwas a mers,Bob Sundstrom, Jerry they were undocumented.All R. deltas ofs. British Columbia bird in Florence Oct. 25-31 Tangren,Larry Thomburgh, R. sightingsof raritiesshould be andn.w. Washington(Sean (GregHamman, m.ob.). Wash- Vetter, Terry Wahl, Wayne accompaniedwith details, espe- Boyd).Soviet ornithologists are ington's5th wasat SedroWoo- Weber, Jeff Wisman, Bob ciallysightings of speciesthat worried that another summer leyNov. 6-10 (fideTW,ph.). Woodley.--BILL TWEIT, are still on the review list for with low reproductivesuccess Red Crossbills went almost P.O. Box1271, Olympia, WA eachstate's records committee. couldpush the populationto unreportedthis fall, exceptfor 98507, and DAVID FIX, 2611 critically low levels.A Ross' numberson SanJuan I., WA, in S.E. 35th Pl., Portland, OR Abbreviations:Malheur (Mal- Goose wintered at Nehalem September(EH). White-winged 97202. heurN.W.R., Harney,OR); meadows,Tillamook (fide HN); S.F.W.R.C.(Skagit Flats •'nter theyare now almostannual in RaptorCensus, Skagit and Sno- winter in w. Oregon. Several homish, WA); W.W.R.D. mid-winter records of Wood (Walla Walla R. delta, Walla Ducks in the interior were of OREGON/ Walla, WA). interest. Three were at Omak, WA, Jan.9 (SJ),one was at the WASHINGTON LOONS TO mouth of the Grand Ronde R., FALCONS Asotin,WA, Jan. 12 (MK), and REGION Four inland records of Pacific four were at Prineville, Crook, Bill Tweit and Loon(TC, DL, DA, RW, WC) OR, Jan.29 (CM). The only Johnson included three from the Eur.Green-winged Teal report Columbia R., a normal number wasof oneat Kent,WA, Jan.26 for winter. There were no Yel- (EH); generallythere are 5+ low-billedLoon reports from sightingsper winter. Eurasian A severecold snap that began Washingtonand no document- Wigeoncounts from the interi• December 19 and lasted edreports from Oregon. Nor- orwere well above average. The throughthe firstweek of Jan- mally a few are found. Clark's high count was nine at Ana Bramblingin Florence,Oregon, uaryhad conspicuous effects on Grebeswere scattered through- Res.,Lake, OR, duringDecem- October28, 1990. Thirdstate Red-breasted Sapsuckers, outw. Oregon,with sixalong ber (SS), and 12 others were record.Photograph/Jim Johnson. Bewick's Wrens, Varied the outer coast (Ben Fawver, reportedfrom all partsof the 312. American Birds,Summer 1991 interior.The onlyhybrid Eur. X nearRaymond (Ruth Taylor). palmatedPlover, W. Sandpiper, foundin our Region.Western Am. Wigeonreports were one at In w. Oregon,kite numbersin and Long-billed Dowitcher Oregonhad the highestnum- SeattleJan. 20 (GaukerHjartar- the Roguevalley were lower werevirtually unreported this ber:17 birds,including at least son)and two on the Skagit Flats thanthe last2 years(MM) and winter, either as a result of three adults,along the outer Feb.16 (BT); we suspectmany numbers seemedreduced on the reportingpatterns or climate. coast and Columbia R. In e observersare not checkingfor coastas well (NL). SeveralBald Nine Snowy Plovers were Washingtonat leasteight indi- hybrids. Eaglereports suggested their reported from Lincoln and viduals,including three adults, The Tufted Duck X scaup numberswere above average Tillamookbeaches (fide HN and were found at 3 locations(RW, that haswintered in Seattlefor 5 this winter. The S.F.W.R.C. DFa) whereregular most win- JA, CC). In w. Washington,at winterswas seen through Feb. found 308 eagles,up about ters. Winter reportsof Lesser least 14 birds were reported 17 (Dick Veit), and a pure c3 20% fromthe last2 years(BA). Yellowlegsin our Regionare from t0 locations (m.ob.) Tufted Duck was at the Sheri- The counton theSkagit R. was like winter reports of House Therewere no reportsfrom e dan SewagePonds, Yarnhill, approximately400 eagles(fide Wrens:few reports have plausi- Oregon,where Glaucous are OR, Jan. 26-Feb. 6 (Bob BA), the highestin 5 years.In ble details. However, one at highlyunusual. Barnes).While coastalobservers theinterior, over tOO, an excep- NetartsBay, Tillamook, Dec. 30 There were also several complainof a long-termdecline tionallyhigh number for e. Ore- (?GL)was credible. A veryearly reports of gulls initially In Greater Scaup numbers, gon,were around Harney L., migrantMarbled Godwit was at identified as Iceland Gulls, Columbia R. observers are not- Malheur,Feb. 17 (TC, SS). MalheurFeb. 28 (fideGI). The althoughafter additional scruti- lnglarger wintering numbers. A Northern Harrier numbers Region'sonly sizeable flock of ny noneof themwas confirmed flock of 2500 on the Columbia wereaverage on the S.F.W.R.C. winteringgodwits and curlews, Several of the individuals were R. at Biggs,OR, Feb. 6 (DI, (BA) andabove average in the at Tokeland, WA, included 35 verypuzzling, and most of the DFi) wasan outstanding count. interior at Ellensburg,WA Long-billedCurlews and 230 seriousgull observersin the More mundane numbers, flocks (PM), and Summer L., OR MarbledGodwits (AS) thiswin- Regionremain as puzzled as of 10-200, were reported (MSL). The threew. Oregon ter. A decadeago, wintering everabout definitive separation betweenMosier, OR (DL), and reports of Red-shouldered Whimbrels were almost of Kumlien'sfrom Thayer's. An Brewster, WA (SJ). Interior Hawk included one very far unknown in the Region. ad.Red-legged Kittiwake was reportsof Oldsquawincluded northalong the coast at Cannon Recently,they have wintered briefly seen on the Jan. 19 an imm. male at Summer L., BeachJan. 19 (Tim Janzen). annually at Ediz Hook and pelagicoff Westport (•'DP, OR, Dec. 17 (MSL) anda pair Red-tailed Hawk numbers were Tokeland, WA, where peak ?EH), for the 2nd or 3rd Wash- at W.W.R.D. Feb. 16 (M & down by 20% on the counts were four and five ingtonrecord. Only a handful MLD). Columbia R. observers S.F.W.R.C. (BA). "Harlan's" respectively(EH, BSu).A Red ofAncient Murrelets were sight- arealso finding larger numbers Red-tailed Hawk reports Phalaropeat Washougal,Clark, edon n. PugetSound, with the of Barrow'sGoldeneyes winter- included two on the WA, Dec. 13 provideda first lastJan. 19 (TB); low numbers lngon the river than previously S.F.W.R.C. and three in the localrecord (WC). Up to 250 werefound on PugetSound this expected.Peak counts were 94 interior(JE, NL, PM). Rough- RedPhalaropes were onshore at fall also.In comparison,above at BiggsFeb. 18 (NL) and30 at legged Hawks occurred in Newport, OR, Jan. 13 (Hen- averagenumbers were found Richland,WA, Jan.1 (AS).A c3 below-averagenumbers in all drikHerlyn) and smaller num- alongthe outer coast of Oregon Smew found on the Columbia parts of the Region (M & bers, totalling 20+, were this fall, and goodnumbers R. at Stevenson,WA, Jan. 26 MLD, NL, RH, JJ, TC, MSL). onshorein the GraysHarbor remainedalong the south coast (WC, ph.) was the first The S.F.W.R.C. found 39, a area Jan. 13-15 (G & WH). into the winter.Up to 50 were confirmedfor Washington. 43% dropfrom the high count Ten werefound on theJan. 19 at Port Orford (GL), 27 were at After tantilizing Oregon in 1989 (BA). pelagictrip off Westport (TW). YaquinaHead (KM), andsmall- observersfor a coupleof days,it The Merlin count of 11 on No PomarineJaegers were er numberswere reported from finally movedacross the river the S.F.W.R.C. was well above foundon theJanuary pelagic manyother locations. for that state's first record. The theprevious two counts of seven trip off Westport,but twowere Smew remained until Feb. 23, and five, while the Peregrine seenfrom shore in Oregon:one OWLS TO and was most often found at count of six wasequal to the off CapeBlanco Dec. 2 andone TROGLODYTES GovernmentCove, Hood River, prior countsof six and five. off CapeMeares Dec. 31 (GL). Therewas only one Snowy Owl OR (m.ob.).It isworth noting Merlin andPeregrine reports An ad. Little Gull at Point No reporton thewest side this win- that a c3 Smew was seen in the fromthe rest of theRegion indi- Point in Puget Sound Feb. ter: oneDec. 15 on the Skagit same area Dec. 28, 1989 cated usual numbers. It was a 16-18 (VN) was the only Flats (fideBob Kuntz). In e. (?ChristinaDuchesne). slowwinter for Gyrfalcons,with report.Thayer's Gull isanother Washington,up to four were Very earlyTurkey Vulture singlebirds reported from n.w. speciesthat appearsto be more nearMoses Lake (HHu) andup reports included three at Washington(BA) and3 loca- regularin theinterior than was to sevenwere in the Harring- Detroit Lake,Linn, OR, Jan.26 tionsin e. Washington(AS, JA, formerlythought. In e. Wash- ton-Reardan area of Lincoln (Kathi Crabtree) and one at EH). The only PrairieFalcon ington,singles were seen at 3 (JA,John Martin). Short-eared Dungeness,WA, Feb. 1-2 (D reportsfrom westof the Cas- locationsalong the Columbia R. Owlswere scarce throughout & SS).An Ospreyat Bonneville cadeswere two in Oregon(Tom from late Novemberto Jan. 1 theRegion, with no morethan Dam on the ColumbiaR. Jan. Love,ME), unusuallylow for (JerryTangren, RW, PL, SF, tworeported from any locale. A 27 (JG, Owen Schmidt) was the last 3 winters, but not for BT). They appearto be more c3Costa's Hummingbird was very unusualfor mid-winter thelong term. unusualin e. Oregon;one at watched Dec. 18-25 at the there. Black-shouldered Kites HaystackRes. Feb. 16 (LR) was sameS. Ashlandfeeder patron- werereported from 4 locations CRANES TO Jefferson's2nd. A W. Gull at izedby a malelast spring (fide In w. Washington: near ALCIDS Umatilla, OR, Feb.3 (CC) was MM). Thereare only a couple McChord,Pierce, Nov. 30 (fide A Sandhill Crane wintered at veryrare that far inland. This of prior winter recordsfor John Gatchet), near Toledo, Carlsborg,Clallam, WA (D & wasan exceptionalwinter for Costa's in Oregon. Rufous Lewis,Jan. 2 (WendellHoag), SS),well north of regularwin- Glaucous Gulls in most of the Hummingbirdsreturned on atJohns River along Grays Har- tering groundsin the lower Region,both for totalnumbers time:Feb. 6 in Coos,OR (fide bor Feb. 21 (Mark Ostwald) Columbia R. mouth. The 'mild and number of adults. In most LT), Feb. 21 at Astoria, OR andat theironly regular locale, winter' shorebirds such as Semi- winters, ad Glaucous are not (Alan Richards),and Feb 24 at

Volume 45, Number 2 313 CascadeLocks, OR (JE). An associatedwith this movement, bersthan average were found in coupleof SavannahSparrow Anna's Hummingbird nest a flockof eightPinyon Jays in theirusual range along the east congregations were noted with youngwas found in Seat- the EmigrantL. area,Jackson, slopeof theCascades extending shortlyafter the freeze: 48 near tle duringFebruary (fide Rob OR, Dec. 6-Jan. 20 (MM, RS) southto Ellensburg(SJ, PM) Sequim, WA, Dec. 21 (Scott Thorne),and other February was quite unexpectedon the and those numbers diminished Atkinson) and 20 at Umatilla reportsindicated some survived west side. Three Am. Crows afterDecember. In e. Oregon, N.W.R., OR, Dec. 23 (CC). the freeze. spentthe winter in Bend, OR small flocks were found in the Only small numbers were ThreeAcorn Woodpeckers (TC), for the first time in 5 northeast(Paul Sullivan, CC) in noted later. On the same discoveredin The DallesJan. years. December.There was only one Yaquina Bay transect men- 21 (Linda Weiland, Pat Therewas a low-density,but Harneyreport: six at BurnsFeb. tioned for Varied Thrush, AF Mueller,DL) andseen through widespread,invasion of Moun- 24 (RV). Many werein Lake found 779 live and 114 dead the winterrepresent a range tain Chickadees into w. Ore- (SS, MSL), but few were noted Fox Sparrows. Both the live extensioninto e. Oregon.This gon.Only singles were report- all winter in Bend(TC). None and the dead count are remark- group is 10 mi east of Wash- ed from any location, but wasnoted on the westside; usu- ablylarge. ington'sonly knownpopula- sightingswere distributed from allya feware reported. North- The onlySwamp Sparrows tion in Lyle, Klickitat, where Brookingsto Portland(m.ob.). ern Shrike numbers on both reportedin Washingtonwere up to fivewere noted through A PygmyNuthatch was in Ash- sides of the mountains seemed two at Willapa N.W.R. Jan.5 the winter. An imm. Yellow- land during January and belowaverage this winter (G & (NL), well below totals of the belliedSapsucker in Cur•y Feb. February (RS); they are WH, BT). past few years.However, 22 24-Mar. 2 (ColinDillingham, extremelyrare in Jackson,or Apparently few Yellow- werefound throughout w. Ore- tAB) mayhave been Oregon's anywherein w. Oregon.The rumpedWarblers survived the gon(m.ob.), about average. The 6th.A coldsnap almost invari- Bewick'sWren rangeexpan- freezein w. Washington(Rob exceptionalnumbers of White- ably driveslarge numbers of sion into the interior continued Thorne) or the interior (M & throatedSparrows reported in Red-breastedSapsuckers into with four birds at 2 new loca- MLD, CC). Townsend's War- fall carriedthrough into the the lowlands and the Dec. 19 tions along the lower Little blersmay have been similarly winter in the interior, with five snap was no exception. The SpokaneR., Spokane,WA 0A). affected:the onlypost-freeze in e. Washington(RW, CC, M numbers are best reflected in One on the East Canal at Mal- reportsin w. Washingtonwere & MLD, VN) and one in e. the CBCs taken after the heur Dec. 17 (SS) was in the of birds at suet (Patrick Sulli- Oregon0E). Sixreports from freeze,such as 43 onthe Skagit onlyarea in Harneywhere they van,Ilse Allen). The only Palm w. Washingtonand 18 fromw. CBC Dec.23. Theywere wide- are established. The bad news Warblerreport came from the Oregonwere about average. ly reported,especially in the is that very few were left in Oregon coast, at Waldport SevenHarris' Sparrowsin e. Seattlearea, through the rest of WallaWalla after the freeze(M Dec.30 (fideDFa). Washingtonand five in e. Ore- December. & MLD); they were almost A c3 Rose-breasted Gros- gonwere somewhat below aver- Say's Phoebes arrived commonin riparianareas there beak,a rarevagrant, was at an age,as were three reports from throughoutthe interior in mid- prior to thiswinter. Ashland, OR, feeder Jan. w. Washingtonand one from w. February; the earliest was at 12-13 (fideMM). Reportsof Oregon. Omak, WA, Feb. 12-15 (SJ). THRUSHES TO Am. Tree Sparrowstotalled The Orchard Oriole found Treeand Violet-green swallows WEAVER FINCHES almost150 birds, mostly in the thisfall in Brookingsfor the 3rd werenot widelyreported until The first W. Bluebirds return- northernhalfofe. Washing- Oregon record was last seen mid-February,somewhat late ingto breedingareas in Wash- ton.This large number is part- Dec. 12 (AB). TricoloredBlack- for Tree Swallows and about ragtonwere seen Feb. 10 at Fort ly the resultof excellentcover- birds wintered for the 2nd con- averagefor Violet-greens. Lewis (George Walter, Liz ageof northernWashington secutiveyear in centralOregon. The jay incursioninto the Hoenig). Ten Feb. 2 near (SJ), but it also seemsto have Thirty were at Powell Butte, ColumbiaBasin and nearby Sequim Bay, Clallam, WA beena goodwinter for them. Crook,Feb. 3 (TC, LR) andup areasapparently lasted the win- (DudleyDoss), were in an area An ad.and an imm.Chipping to five were at another Crook ter. Steller'sJays were in above wherebreeding has not been Sparrowin Washtucna,Adams, locationDec. 2-Jan. 12 (TC, averagenumbers in Ellensburg documentedfordecades. Maybe Dec. 12 (tSF, tPL) furnished LR). One was at Summer L. (PM) and were found in areas theyare recolonizing?Else- the first documented winter Feb. 16-22 (Anne & Merle whereusually absent. Fifteen where,numbers of returning recordsfor e. Washington.A Archie,SS). A RustyBlackbird werein theHermiston-Irrigon bluebirdsincreased throughout area, OR (CC), three were at February (m.ob.). Varied the Snake R. mouth, WA Thrushmortality during the (RW), and singleswere in Decemberfreeze was heavy. Clarkston, WA (MK), and Shortlyafter the freeze began, Wapato, Yakima, WA (AS). AF found 269 live and 63 dead The BlueJay movement was Varied Thrushes Dec. 22 on a moreeither more widespread 14-mistretch near Yaquina Bay, or morewidely detected than OR. Other observers in the the Steller's movement. In the samearea found them picking interior, four wintered in the throughoyster shell piles along- Hermiston, OR, area (CC), sideBlack Turnstones (Range onewas in St. John, Whitman, Bayer,Robert Olson). A Brown WA, in December (Eileen Thrasherwintering in French- Schmidt), onewas in Colbert, glen,OR (SS,m.ob.), provided Spokane,WA (JA),and singles about the 4th winter record for were in Ephrata (fide Ron this Oregonvagrant. Large Friesz)and Moses Lake (fide flocksof BohemianWaxwings HHu), WA. On the westside, werefound along the e. border ThisBrambling inGrays Harbor County, Washingtan, onJanuary 19, one wintered in Lake Bay, of Washingtonduring Decem- 1991, provMedthe state'sthird record in threemonths---and seventh Pierce,WA (fideTB). Maybe ber(M & MLD). Smallernum- recordever. Photograph/V.J.Anderson. 314 ' AmericanBirds, Summer 1991 at Washburn l., near the OkanoganR. mouth,Feb. 17 MIDDLEPACIFIC (tSJ) furnishedthe 3rd winter •eßCrescentCity•.'x.• -.•c %.'.;?'•:. ßYreka Klamath • •Basin •) recordfor e.Washington. After COASTREGION ; •:. •.--•,. refuges its5th recordthis fall, Washing- David G. IOe, ."...:-L;;. ;-i.. tonwas graced with two more StephenE Bailey, and Bramblingrecords: a male near Bruce E. Deuel Elma,Grays Harbor, Jan. 20 to Feb.26 (VickieAnderson, ph., m.ob.)and one at PortAngeles ßChico ';'-'•: Dec. 14-Feb.28 (tided & SS, More Pterodromasgraced our ph.).The only two Com. Red- ocean waters, Swainson's pollsreported each provided a Hawks were confirmed winter- first record:one was in Shelton, ingin theCentral Valley, and CALIFORNIA Mason, WA, Feb. 22-23 YellowRail wasagain found (AndrewBeelik) and another alongthe north coast. However, wasvideotaped in Reedsport, amidthese highlights were the Douglas,OR, Feb.19 (Kathy Region'sfifth straight year of Crocker). drought,and an Arctic blast thatset record low temperatures EXOTICA duringthe last week of Decem- A Barnacle Goose was at Col- ber.These events appeared to legeFarm, Walla Walla, WA, havea profoundeffect on local ßSalin• Fresnoe,•;-•'• . Nov. 10-Dec. 10 (M & MLD). winteringwaterfowl popula- SequoiaN*I.•'•':..• A flamingo(sp.) wasat the tions,distributing them in large Yakima R. mouth, Richland, numbersover atypicalareas. WA, Feb.9-Mar. 4 (RW). Moststriking was how the Big Freezeaffected insectivores and Corrigendum: The breeding nectarivores.The lengthand recordof Black-chinnedSpar- severityof the freezecaused rowin Oregonin summer1990 massivevegetation and insect wasthe 2nd for Oregon.The die-offs.Many noted the drop lingeredinto December-Jan- Benicia, Solano,Dec. 17 (ABtt, G. •rr, V. Cobran). first wason RoxyAnne Butte, in hummingbird,Tree Swallow, uary in 1987-1988. The S. Jackson,in 1970(Otis Swisher, and warbler numbersduring Marin CBC total of 536 Clark's EGRETS TO ss). and after the freeze. Rich Stall- Grebes Dec. 29 set a new conti- cupfelt Townsend's Warblers nental CBC record. DUCKS luitialedobservere, subregional andRuby-crowned Kinglets in The 1140 N. Fulmars count- A most unusual Snowy Egret editorsin boldface:Jim Acton, coastalMarin County may have ed from PigeonPt. Dec. 29 with entirelyyellow legs was BudAnderson, David Anderson, sufferedmortality rates in excess (BS)established a new high for found at L Earl, DelNorte, Feb. Alan Barron,Thais Beck, Wil- of 90%! San Mateo. Eight Mottled 2-3 (ph. ADB). This could sonCady, Craig Corder, Tom Petrels from 39 mi w.n.w. of complicateidentification of Crabtree(e. Oregon), Mike & Abbreviations:C.A.S. (Cali•r- PatricksPt., Humboldt, to 36 youngLittle Blue Herons! The Merry Lynn Denny, Merlin niaAcademy of Sciences); C.V. mi w.s.w.of Point St. George, hybridSnowy Egret X Little Eltzroth (Corvallis area), Joe (Central Valley); D.F.G. DelNorte, Dec. 10 were almost BlueHeron spent its 4th winter Evanich, Darrel Faxon, (DepartmentofFish and Game); expected,but a Murphy'sPetrel at the south end of S.F. Bay ShawneenFinnegan, Dave Fix, E.O.P. (End of Period);F.I. at the latter location (all •M. (m.ob.). A flock of 90 Cattle AnthonyFloyd, Jeff Gilligan, (SoutheastFarallon Island); S.F. Force,T. Staudt)was seasonally Egretson Bouldin 1., San RandyHill, Glen & Wanda (SanFrancisco); ph. (photoon unprecedented(see AB 43(3): Joaquin,Dec. 1 (DGY,WRH) Hoge, EugeneHunn, Holly file withRegional Editors). All 400-415 and AB 45(1): 146). wasthe only large group noted. Hutzell,Dave Irons, Gary Ivey, records from F.I. should be Flesh-footed Shearwatersoff- The Sebastopol/SantaRosa Wood Stork remained until Stuart Johnston, Merlene creditedto Point ReyesBird shoreMonterey Feb. 2 (RLCL) Kolliner(s.e. Washington), Paul Observatory.Place names in & 9 (DLSh)may have been the Dec. 28 (ph. DN, m.ob.),was Lehman,Nick Letbaby, Gerard italics are counties. samebird. Ashy Storm-Petrel is seenat Pt. ReyesDec. 29 (D. Lillie, Donna Lusthoff, Phil rarein winter,especially near Weintraub), and was found Mattocks(Washington), Kathy LOONS TO shore,but onewas off Bodega deadnear Pigeon Pt. Jan.2 (P. Merrifield,Craig Miller, Mar- CORMORANTS HeadJan. 27 (M. Williams). Gandy-Jaureguy,*C.A.S.), a jorie Moore(Rogue valley), lnland Pacific Loons were at L. Double-crested Cormorants first for San Mateo. HarryNehls (w. Oregon),Vic Shastina,Siskiyou, Dec. 14 (RE) wereextraordinarily abundant Over 47,000 Tundra Swans counted on the Stockton CBC Nelson, Dennis Paulson, Lou andO'Neill Forebay,Merced, in SanJoaquin, with maxima of set a new national CBC record. Rems,Tom Rogers (e. Washing- Dec. 30 (RAE).The lonedocu- 1500 at the Stocktonsewage ton),Martin St. Louis, Ray Skib- mented Yellow-billed Loon fre- pondsJan. 30 (WRH) and As manyas four "Bewick's" Swans wintered in the Sacra- by,Dory &Stan Smith (Clal- quentedMoss Landing Jan. 2200roosting on Empire Tract lam),Andy Stepnewski, Steve 10-Feb. 13 (REM, tDR, Feb. 22 (DGY). The drought mento-San Joaquin Delta Summers,Bob Sundstrom, Larry •m.ob.). A Red-neckedGrebe andstrong shad runs in theSan (MJL, SNGH, LJPet aL) and another was seen at Pt. Arena, Thornburgh,R. Vetter,Terry wasrare away from tidewater at JoaquinR. were possible expla- Wahl,Robert Woodicy.--BILL Overfelt Gardens, San Jose, nations(DGY). Two Brandt's Mendocino,Dec. 27 (R. Alexan- TWEIT, P.O. Box 1271 Dec. 18 (D. Johnson).Roughly and threePelagic cormorants der). An adult andfour imm. 500,000Eared Grebes were still weredeep inside south S.F. Bay TrumpeterSwans were present Olympia,WA 98507,and JIM in the Arcata Bottoms Dec. JOHNSON, 914 NE 44th on Mono L. Dec. 30 (D. Banta, (PJM, RJR,ES) andanother Apt.3, Pordand,OR 97213. ES). Suchlarge numbers last Pelagicwas found inland to 24-Jan. 6 (S. Miller, •FJB, Volume 45, Number 2 ß315 ?BBA),ouronly verified report 7 (?FJB, RLeV, GSL) were in descriptionlackedthe observer's Stiltson F.I. Jan. 2provided a thisseason. Coastal goose unusualareas. Manyobservers name! Avery light Red-tailed first island record, and 14 reportsincluded 42Greater commented onthe abundance Hawk at Sargent's Landing, coastal birds from Bolinas White-fronted,10Snow, and ofHooded Mergansers, capped Santa Clara, Jan. 27 (?MMR, Lagoon n.to Arcata Marsh, all 19Ross'(includingahighof12 by 150 on PutahCr., JiC)was described betterthan after Dec. 30, were unprece- inthe Monterey area). Two Napa/Solano,Jan.15 (FGB). previousreports of"Krider's," dented inwinter. Displacement EmperorGeeseappeared onF.I. butprobably most such birds by the Big Freeze issuspected. Jan.25 (?ph. J.Walsh). One RAPTORS areunusually palewestern Red- Three Dunlins atMono L.Jan. stayedthrough E.O.P. but the Twenty-eightBaldEagles inthe taileds.Rough-legged Hawks 1-2 (ES eta/.) were first winter otherleft around Feb. 1and was CarsonR.Valley, Alpine, Jan. weregenerally scarce, with 126 recordsthere. A Ruffwas at probablythesame individual 12included manyimmatures, onthe Fall R. Mills CBC (BY et MoonglowDairy, Monterey, thatfrequented Pt.Reyes Feb. andwas the largest number in al.)the only la•ge number Feb. 10 (?HG). 1I-E.O.P. (?PP,m.ob.). 10yearsof coverage (WEH).A reported.Amongunprecedent- Anotherwas found at Colusa Red-shoulderedHawkon the L. ednumbers ofMerlins winter- IAEGERSTO N.W.R.Dec. 8 (?MJL).Two AlmanorCBC Dec. 18 (HG) ingin Santa Clara, mostly in AICIDS Brantand a BarnacleGoose was rare in the n. Sierra. Two urbanhabitats, lastyear's ad.t3 FourParasitic Jaegers onthe S. weremixed with Aleutian Cana- imm. Broad-winged Hawks richardsoni returned toMoun- Marin CBC Dec. 29 (RS, KH, daGeese nearGrimes, Colusa, began thewinter inw. Marin tain View (MMR). PP)were surprising, asour Dec.19 (RMcM). Was the lat- butneither persisted. Onein entireRegion averages about terthe same bird as in 1985, a InvernessDec.15-16 was last RAILSTO twoper winter. Apparently only newescapee, orare we seeing a seenbefore the Big Freeze (RS). SHOREBIRDS oneFranklin's Gull wintered, patternhere? Stayed tuned. Theother was in Bolinas Dec. A YellowRail was found on animmature atPalo Alto and EightEur. Green-winged 14(KH), but its tail and other Samoa Spit, Humboldt, Feb.10 MilpitasJan.26-Mar. 8(DPM, Teal(inclui:ling aEur. X Am. featherswere found Dec. 31 (?T.Leskew), inthe same area ph. A. Walther, ?WGB). One hybrid)reported this winter (DaS,*C.A.S.). andby the samemethod imm. Little Gull cruised Santa indicatedinterest inthis form is FiveHarlan's-type Red-tailed (flushed bya dog) as one in Cruzlagoons andestuaries Dec. notdead inthe Region. Afteran Hawkswere reported, twowith 1987.Better than in recent 23-Feb. 6 (ph. ?PEL, ?GFi, absenceof2 months, thet3 fulldetails: w.of Los Banos years, aminimum of11 Black ?ALE, ph.A. Walther). Anad. Garganeywaspresent atthe Dec.7(?SBT, P.Delevoryas) Railsin 4 S.F. Bay area marshes gullat the Sunnyvale sewage Bolinassewer ponds Dec. andonBouldinI.,San]oaquin,wereseen,butone was eaten by ponds,Santa Clara, Jan. 10 29-Jan.5(?DaS, m.ob.). Num- Jan. 16 (?DGY).A third aGreat Egret atBenicia S.P., (?RSTh)may have been a bersofBlue-winged Teal(55) Solano,Dec.2 (RLCL eta/.). hybridHerring xGlaucous- andEur. Wigeon (74plus two ALesser Golden-Plover at winged. Glaucous Gullsbroke hybrids)were above average. BractTract Dec. 15 (AEn eta/.) all our records inS.F. Bay Area Over3600 Canvasbacks were S/!, furnishedonlythe 2nd winter counties. Asurvey oflandfills foundon the Stockton CBC W{thnumerous ,er• SanJoaquinrecord. The Big andreservoirs inSanta Clara, Dec.15OfdeDGY). •-Fibrua•repgNsoii's Freezewasa disaster forKilldeer Alameda, andContra Costa tal- Themale Tufted Duck win- Hawks: inthe •lelta •n inMarin (RS) and Humboldt lied11 immatures (SBT,P. teringatRodeo Lagoon, Marin, jøaqui•i•liaring•ec ars,it (FJB)asbirds found itimpossi- Delevoryas), withahigh of untilJan. 21 (?D. Cunning- ha•been. sRggestc, 5•i bleto obtain food in the frozen thtee at Contra Loma Res., ham,m.ob.) was thought tobe aciuallywinterint ZlBground. Mountain Plovers were Contra Costa, Jan. 23 (SBT). thesame bird present atSutro • •43:5•2 & 4•i32• was absentfrom Panoche Valley, Non-surveymaxima were up to Baths,S.F.,Jan. 18-E.O.P. .Confirmed'in !990-]' 1 -ri:f SanBenito,wherethey normally fiveat Sunnyvale sewageponds (m.ob.).Afemale described marllyon Venice afin Bou 'n winter,but made noteworthy Jan.6 & 3! (bothPJM) and fromBouldin I.Dec. 15 (?MJL, Is:, and also inportions z-• appearanceselsewhere, with threeatDillon Beach, Marin, MFe)was refound onthe Stock- mento and ContraCost• •SY]' four at L. Shastina, Siskiyou, Jan. 12 (LEE, MiW). Seven ton sewerponds Dec. 18 WRH),Moststa•ilini•as28 Dec.15 (?RE), 70-80 in the morewere in othercoastal (?DGY)for only the 3rd or 4th birdsflying into •n e 'ning SanJoaquin Delta Dec. countiesandYolo. An adult was C.V.record. Another female roost onAndrus I.•Sacramento, 15-Feb. 3(AEn, S.& L. Stock- near Bodega BayFeb. 11 (KH). waspresent atthe s. end of Dec,L While thii fiumb•was lng eta/.), and one at Monterey Asurvey cruise from the Gulf of MareI., Solano,Feb. 11 notseen subsequentiy, upto15 BayAcademy, SantaCruz, Jan. theFarallones to50 mi offshore were(?DAsh).reported Threewithout Tufted details. Ducks scatteredbirds were consiste•fiyObiervedover varioiisdelta 14(DLSu). Two Black-necked Feb.14-17 counted upto 200 GreaterScaup areregular inland islands through mid-10el•uary, atcertain reservoirs, but150 at Curiously,over 90% 0fifiegi'r•ls O'NeillForebay Jan. 20 (DGY, weredark morph adults. Many WRH)Inlandawas 9 Oldsquaw a largenumber. atthe questionsthem are,arise;from foremostwfiered•thes• among - Hwy16 Trestle Ponds Dec. 22 birdscome and how long have (MPet al.) was Yolo's first, and theybeen wint•ri•/g•A cl'n• to oneat MonoLake County Park the latter quest•on ma Y be in Dec.30-Jan. 8 (?ES, L. Horn) theirnoted beha•i0/offeeding wasthe 2nd in thatarea. The onsmall rodents•lSehind tractors totalof 134Barrow's Gold- discingcorn fields. Local farmor• eneyesreported was down 30% statedthat this •in}er fromthe previous 2-yr average. •rocedure w• •r=,*ed inthe la,, A malenear Lucerne, Lake, i960• ,•h•n • ta.farmers Dec.2-Jan. 16 (GCo, JRW) switch•,t •'oh • Theseasoh's onlyFranklin's Gullfor northern California wasthis first- andtwo birds near the Mad R. ihl,rota or winterbird, photographed atPalo Alto on January 28,1991. Photo- mouth,Humboldt, Jan. 5-Feb ...... graph/NanWalther.

316' AmericanBirds, Summer 1991 (?ES,m.ob.). Humboldt's 2nd recordof Williamson'sSapsuck- er at Grouse Mt. Feb. 25 (R. Hewit, GJH) came5 months after its first. The Rcgion's3rd winter Least Flycatcher,at Pine L. Park, S.F., Dec. 17-20 (ph. ASH, ?SFB,m.ob.) probably did not survivethe Big Freeze, while our lone "Western"Fly- catcherwas at Butte Slough, Sutter,Dec. 20 (BED). Another Empidonaxat Wilder Ranch S.P., Santa Cruz, Dec. 13 (DEG) was felt to be a Ham- mond's/Least type. Winter recordsof Say'sPhoebe from Thedocumented immature Little Gull at SantaCruz, California, the coastn. of Sonomaare few, December23, 1990. PhotograplVPaul E. Lehman. so one at Arcata Bottoms Jan. 21-22 (FJB)was noteworthy. Black-leggedKittiwakcs per ered weekly (T. Wooster). Interestingly,the birdshave Anotherat Mono City Feb. 12 day, with both age classes (D. & J. Parker)established the numerous (SFB, M.W. New- beenfound nesting in second earliestspring arrival for the White (or Black-backed?)Wagtail comer, DR). growthforests as regularly as Mono Basin. in MontereyCounty, California, Only threeor fiveCaspian ancient forests (T. Wooster). January10, 1991. PhotograplV Concomitantly,the pair of Unlike mostof its predeces- Terns were reported:one at sors,the Region's 7th Dusky- Dan Nelson. Stockton Jan. 7-8 (WRH, BarredOwls wasseen again at WheelGulch along the Big R., cappedFlycatcher made only a DGY) andtwo at Mad R. Estu- brief appearanceat Natural row a White/Black-backed ary, Humboldt,Dec. 31 and Mendocino,Feb. 23 (S. Bunnell, K. Roberts), and another was BridgesS.P., Santa Cruz, Dec. Wagtail wasbetween Pajaro Jan.25 (bothFJB). Astounding l•i (?SA,DLSu). San]oaquin's Dunesand Moss Landing Nov. was an Arctic Tern about 3 mi located at Stewart's Pt., Sonoma, TropicalKingbird of theFall 7-Jan. 19 (RMrr, ph. DN, s.w. of Bolinas, Marin, on the s. of Gualala,Aug. 3 through ?m.ob.).Many have suggested Dec. 29 CBC (rASH, M. the winter (T. Wooster). The wasseen again at Terminous Dec. 15 (MFe, ?MJL). Single that these are the same bird, latterrepresents the southern- Elliott, R. Holway). Were not Cassin'sKingbirds were in indicatingthat the bird should thedescription from a goodand mostconquest of this recent be adult;based on thisassump- invader to the Pacific North- Montereyat King City Jan. 1 very cautiousobserver, the tion the bird keysout to White west. (D. Fisher)and Greenfield Jan. reportwould not be believed. 15-21 (M. Tidwcll). Wagtail.However, other expert We know of no credible winter Winter reports of Com. San Mateo became our last observershave questioned the or CBC recordsfor Arctic Tern Poorwillare annual, but single coastalcounty to bringhome a ageof all birdsduring the 3 in North America. Ancient activebirds at BodegaBay Dec. Clark's Nutcracker: Portola S.P. years,leaving the identifications Murrelets were numerous in 25-Jan. 5 (NTC et aL) and Feb9 (BS).ACom. Ravene. of controversial. Our only N. December, but less common Dec. 18-Feb. 26 (R. & E. StocktonDec. 29 (K. Crump) Shrikeaway from traditional later. Maxima in San Mateo Reid),and another near Bolinas andtwo in theYolo Bypass Feb. locales was an immature near Dec.28 (?S.Dovgill) surviving were 134 at Half Moon Bay 11 (MP) wererare for the C.V. Solano L. Dec. 16 (WEH, L. Dec. 10 (PJM) and 167 at the Big Freezestill cameas a floor. Turner). Two DecemberSoli- PigeonPt., Dec. 29 (BS). surprise.A 5?Costa's Hum- tary Vireos(one cassinii, the mingbird in Stockton Dec. CHICKADEESTO other undetermined) were DOVES TO 7-Jan. 8 (DGY et aL) also VIREOS belowthe recentaverage. HUMMINGBIRDS stayedhealthy, but departed On the heels of last Season's whenthe flowering eucalyptus SingleMt. Chickadeesvisited the lowlandsat McKinleyville WOOD WARBLERS mini-invasion to the c. coast, a trees succumbed. Males were Bottoms, Humboldt, Dec. 17 TO GROSBEAKS Common Ground-Dove was alsoseen in Modestoduring (FJB)and Pt. SaintGeorge, Del With a dismalFall and the Big found at Wilder Ranch S.P., most of January (B. & M. Freeze,not surprisingly this was Flesher,HMR etaL) and Los Norte, Jan. 29 (ADB). The SantaCruz, Jan. 18-24 (DEG, White-breasted Nuthatch at oneof poorestwinters for war- ?RAEet al.). The loneBurrow- AltosJan. 30 (PLN). CrazyPeak Jan. 20 (ADB, J. biers.Coastally, there was only ingOwl in Livermore, Alameda, WOODPECKERSTO Gartland)was only Dd Norte's oneTennessee, eight Nashvilles, Dec. 22 was the last known 13 Palms, five Black-and- individual in the LivermoreVal- RAVENS 2nd during the past7 years. Varied Thrush seemedtolerant whites,two Am. Redstarts,and Highlightingthe six Yellow-bel- ley(ALE), and epitomized this of all this"funny weather" as three N. Waterthrushes. Most owl's condition statewide. lied Sapsuckersreported this Season were DelNorte's first mostreporting CBCs showed of theseand many of thefollow- Manyobservers have noted its nearaverage numbers. ingwarblers were not observed steadydecline in recentyears, and 2nd records: an immature in Smith R. Dec. 10-17 (ADB, The Region's2nd wintering pastthe Big Freeze. and we encourageeveryone to GrayCatbird pleased many at The Vermivorahighlight was monitor its numbers.The Cali- m.ob.)and an ad. malenear Ft. theLucy's Warbler in Pacific Dick Feb. 8-9 (J. Gartland, PajaroDunes, Santa Cruz, Jan. forniaD.F.G.'s ongoingSpot- l-Feb. 9 (?PJM,?m.ob.). That Grove Dec. 27-29 (RFT, DR). ted Owl censusrevealed at least ADB, T. Leskew).Among nine othercrowd-pleasing mimid, EightYellow Warblers were 270 pairswithin Mendocino, Red-napedSapsuckers was the the Bendire's Thrasher in •een into mid-December but Lake, Napa, Sonoma,and Mono Basin's first in winter at not thereafter. The 5? Black- Marin, with new birds discoy- Lee Vining Dec. 30-Jan. 8 Acampo,was last seen Mar. 2 (DGY). For the 3rd year in a throated Blue Warbler in S.F.

Volume 45, Number 2' 317 waslast observed Dec. 10 •qde Lapland Longspurs Dec. nett, William G. Bousman, JM). The lone Black-throated 26-Jan. 16 (FJB) wasa note- FredJ. Broerman,Phyllis M. Gray Warbler tallied between worthyRegional winter con- Browning, Guy Commeau, the Stockton and Sacramento centration. All three of our NancyT. Conzett,Jim Corliss, CBCssummarized their pauci- Chestnut-collaredLongspurs Bruce E. Deuel, Arthur L. ty in the C.V. thiswinter, with alsocame from Humboldt. Edwards,Ray Ekstrom,Lee Townsend'sWarbler reports in TricoloredBlackbirds put on Elias(LEE), Andrew Engilis the C. V. equallyscarce. An a good show in Humboldt (AEn), RichardA. Erickson,Gil oasisin thewarbler drought was wherevery rare in winter:up to Ewing(GEw), CarterL. Faust providedby theRegion's first 12 in the McKinleyvilleBot- Mike Feighner(MiF), Marc "winter" record of Black- toms Dec. 16-Jan. 15 (BBA, Fenner(MFe), GeorgeFinger throated Green Warbler at L. FJB, R. Hewitt) and two at the Earl, DelNorte, Dec. 16-17 (GFi), DouglasE. George, RedwoodCr. mouth Jan. 17 BruceH. Gerow, Ron H. Ger- (tADB, tMFRb, LPL,J. Gan- (FJB,S. Beatty). A RustyBlack- stenberg,Philip E. Gordon, land). Veryrare Prairie War- birdat MossLanding Jan. 13- Helen Green, Paul D. Green, blerswere at Mad R. County 26 (•'SBT, •GKN et al.), a Keith Hansen, Charlotte D. Park, Humboldt, Dec. 9-13 Hooded Oriole in Sacramento Harbeson(CDHa), W. Edward (•*BA,?FJB etal.) andPilarcitos Dec. 20 (•'J. Dick), and six Harper, Gjon Hazard (GHz), Cr., SanMateo, Dec. 22 (RS). coastal "Bullock's" N. Orioles WaldoR. Holt, AlanS. Hop- A MacGillivay'sWarbler found met their recent winter aver- kins, SteveN. G. Howell, Lin the comfort of Golden Gate ages. Jensen, Robert N. Johnson, Park,S.F. enough to gothe dis- Clay-coloredSparrow at Half TheRegion's 4th Brambling RobertJ. Keiffer,Theodore H. tanceNov. 21-Feb. 25 (ASH, was very cooperative as it Koundakjian,Paul E. Lehman, MLR, m.ob.). Moo. Bay,California, December 12, 1990. PhotograplVJo#.Rose. thrilled many in SantaCruz RobinL. C. Leong,Gary S. SummerTanager showed Dec. 15-Feb. 16 (BBrr, Lester,Lauren P. Lester,Ronald well in Marin with singlesat ph.•'m.ob.). Wandering LeValley(RLeV), MichaelJ. InvernessDec. 16-18 (RS) and Dec.15-E.O.P. (G. Deghi,ph. J. Rose,m.ob.). There were six Cassin's Finches reached S.F. Lippsmeyer, Timothy D. BolinasDec. 29-Feb. 3 (KH et Bayas two 5?-plumaged birds Manolis, Robert E. Maurer, al.), and another was in San additionalbirds sighted in these areasduring December-Jan- were in San Rafael Feb. 7 Robert McNab (RMcN), BrunoJan. 17-18 (H. Wong). (CLF) and one male was in RobertV. Merrill(RMrr), Peter Among W. Tanagers, one uary. Conversely,one would expectour local Brewer's Spar- BerkeleyFeb. 21-26 (•'HG, J. Metropulos,Joseph Morlan, warmed up to Golden Gate PDG). Red Crossbillcontinued DanP. Murphey,Gary K. Neil, ParkDec. 12-Jan.25 (ASH et rowto befound somewhat reg- ularlyduring winter, but one at its Fall influx into the c. coast Dan Nelson, Paul L. Noble, al.),one was found on the Hay- butnot elsewhere except for up Michael Pertone, Lina Jane wardCBC Dec.16 •qdePEG), Pine GulchCr. Dec. 15 (AdW, THK) wasone of fewRegional to 20 in Benicia, Solano,Dec. Prairie,Peter Pyle, Harold M. andup to threewere along San December records! 30-Feb.11 (S.Beasley et al.),a Reeve, Jean M. Richmond, FrancisquiteCr., SantaClara, In addition to the Sharp- county where there were few RobertJ. Richmond, Michael Dec. 14-17 (PMB). As usual, recordsif any.Pine Siskin was F. Robbins (MFRb), Don the Regionreceived a handful tailedSparrows mentioned in theFall report, one at Alameda noted for its near absencein the Roberson,Mike M. Rogers, of Decembergrosbeaks. Our C.V. (DGY, TDM). lone Rose-breasted visited S. ShoreDec. 31 (G. Gerlach) MaryLouise Rosegay, Ruth A. was from a new locale and one Rudesill,Barry Sauppe, Debra Pacific Grove Dec. 1-3 (W. Addendum: The Red-breasted L. Shearwater(DLSh), David Hurlbert)while single Black- of fewfor the S.F. EastBay. FoxSparrows followed the lead Merganserat Oroville in AB Sibley(DaS), Jean-Marie Spoel- headedswere at Castro Valley, from Rufous-sided Towhees 44:343 was observedon Feb. man,Rich Stallcup, Bradley M. Alameda,Dec. 16-17 (RJRet 19. Stovall, Emilie Strauss,David al.), Pescadero Dec. 23-30 lastwinter as they elicited many comments from the Sacramen- L. Suddjian (DLSu), ScottB. (PJMet al.), Kelseyville,Lake, CorrJgenda:The male Anna's Terrill, Ronald S. Thorn Dec. 30-Jan.2 (NWh, JRW), to andSan Joaquin Valleys on theirexceptional numbers. In Hummingbirdgathering nest (RSTh), RobertF. Tinde, Kent andSaratoga Jan. 29 (H. Get- material dted in AB 44:324 was Van Vuren, Adrian Wander son). addition to the now annual plethoraof coastalSwamp actuallya femalewith an all-red (AdVO,Jerry R. White, Nikki throat.The breedingLong- White (NWh), MichaelWihler ?OWHœES1'0 Sparrowsreported (55+), three were in the C.V. and one wasat eared Owls at M.B.O.S.P. men- (MiW), Anna Wilcox (AWi), FINCHES tioned in AB 44:1182 were not A Green-tailed Towhee at San HoneyL. Jan. 1 •qdeRNJ). A David G. Yee, Bob Yutzy. healthyeight Harris' Sparrows a first for that locale.A pair Many morecontributors were Luis N.W.R. Jan.4 (L. Cole) raisedthree youngthere in not specificallycited; all are was the first C.V. winter record were reportedfrom the coast, C.V., and Great Basin. A spring1987. The E. Kingbird appreciated.--STEPHEN F. in 6 years.An Am.Tree Spar- at Cloverdale Rd., AB 44:1182 BAILEY (loonsthrough cor- row s. of Samoa, Humboldt, "Gray-headed"Junco in Sierra Valley Dec. 16 (•*LJ)was the wasobserved July 25-26, not morants, raptors, jaegers Jan.4 (•FJB)was far from reg- June25-26. The imm. Fermgi- through alcids), Dept. of ular winteringsites. Fifteen first for Plumas, and another wasat Tom's Place,Mono, Dec. nous Hawk near Honcut, AB Ornithologyand Mammalogy, yearsago, Clay-colored Spar- 45:147, wasobserved Oct. 8, California Academyof Sci- rows were considered an 15 (CDHa). Thesewere only theRegion's 7th & 8thduring notAug. 10. ences,Golden Gate Park, San anomaly.However, wintering Francisco,CA 94118; BRUCE Clay-coloredSparrows were thepast decade. However, most outstandingwas the state'sfirst Cited contributors: (sub- E. DEUEL (egretsthrough againfound along the c. coast. regional editors in boldface) This Season saw two birds at documented"White-winged" ducks,rails throughshore- BrooksB. Allen, SteveAllison, birds), 1843 Clark Road, Live Pine Gulch Cr., Marin, Oct. Junco in San Rafael, Marin, "throughoutthe Period" (CLF, DickAshford (DAsh), Stephen Oak, CA 95953; DAVID G. 23-E.O.P. (THK, KH, m.ob.) F. Bailey,Bruce Barrett (BBrr), and another at the Half Moon •RS,JW, ph.?SFB). In theEel YEE (dovesthrough finches), R. Bottoms, Humboldt, 30-75 AlanD. Barron,Anthony Bat- 2930 Driftwood Pl. #39, Bay golf course,San Mateo, tiste (ABtt), Florence G. Ben- Stockton,CA 95219. 318 ßAmerican Birds, Summer 1991 UTHERN PACIFICCOAST •'•Scotty's Castle REGION Furnace GuyMcCaskie Creek Ranch

Dry weathercontinued through mostof thewinter. Heavy rains ßMorro Bay CALIFORNIA at theend of Februaryand early Oceano Marchbrought the rainfall for '-'•:• ß Bakersfield mostareas up to nearnormal ß Santa Maria ß Harper Dry ßBaker !f•i forthe year, but this did little to ':.•"•;. ':•-'-•:'•'"" CaliforniaCity Lake reducethe effect of fiveyears of ß Goleta ' :'.•'•,. ß Lancaster "' Needlesß drought. Motretain birds were relative- . • .. 6xnarS'-•..-';•.'::•i!•' '- ly scarcein thecoastal lowlands, ß MorongoValley with virtually no Mountain Chickadeespresent, and only a handful of Red-breasted Huntington' •,t• BI he ß Nuthatches and Golden- Beach crowned Kinglets reported. Numbersof berry-eaterssuch as robins and Cedar Waxwings werein generalunimpressive, althoughHermit Thrushes were far more numerous than usual. Veryfew Purple Finches moved observers,only the observer ini- (MTH), off La Jolla Mar. 6 an adult found there Jan. 1 from areas of normal occur- tially identifying the bird is (JO'B),and off SanDiego Jan. (GMcC), and a subadultnear rence,and Pine Siskinswere vir- included. Documentation is on 1 (CGE). Most unusualfor S. the mouth of the San Diego tuallyabsent away from known file with the California Bird Californiawaters was the pres- River found Jan. 26 (pJ), all breedingareas. Records Committee (c/o ence of 15 Fork-tailed Storm- presentthrough February. The An exceptionalcold spell in Michael A. Patten, P.O. Box Petrels in the area of 34 ø ad. ReddishEgret spending its late December undoubtedly 8612, Riverside, CA 92515- 00'N-123 ø 00'W, far off Pt. 9th winteraround s. SanDiego impacteda number of insectivo- 8612) for all rarities listed in Conception,Jan. 21 (RRV). Baywas present through at least rous speciessuch as Ruby- thisreport, and records submit- ElevenAshy Storm-Petrels net- Jan. 1 (GMcC), andthe imma- crownedKinglets, and clearly ted without documentation are tedon SanMiguel I. duringthe ture in the samearea was pre- had an adverse effect on birds notpublished. night of Jan.7 (JD) strongly sent through at least Feb. 8 attemptingto winternorth of suggestednesting at thislocali- (DSe). The ad. Yellow-crowned normalrange, as was evident LOONS TO ty. Night-Heron near Imperial from the numbers of such PELICANS Four Red-billedTropicbirds Beachremained through Jan. 7 speciesas Solitary Vireos, At least five Red-throated Loons were seenfar off San Diego, (DA), and the individual pre- Nashville Warblers, Wilson's werefound on largebodies of with two together at 31 ø sent around La Jolla and San Warblers, SummerTanagers, fresh water w. of the Coast 10'N-118 ø 50'W on Jan 9 Elijo Lagoon sinceOctober andNorthern Orioles present in Range,where small numbers are (RRV), andsingle birds at 31ø 1981 was in La Jolla Dec. Decembercompared to those presenteach winter. ACom. 20'N-120 ø 15'W and 31 ø 18-Feb.26 (JO'B).Two Wood still presentin Januaryand Loon on West L. near S.E.S.S. 05'N-120ø 45'W on Jan. 10 Storks near Escondido Dec. February. Dec. 10 (JLD) was in an area (RRV). Five Red-tailedTrop- 28-Feb. 13 (PJ)were along the where few winter records are icbirds a little more than 200 mi coast,where very rare. Abbreviations:B.V.R.A. (Buena known.Single Red-necked off San Diego Jan. 11-12 At least 65 Greater White- Vista RecreationArea, s.w. corner Grebes, unusual anywhere (RRV) were in an area where fronted Geesewere reported of theSan Joaquin Valley, Kern southof Pt. Conception,were this speciesis reportedsome- duringDecember and January Co.); F.C.R. (Furnace Creek in Ventura Jan. 7-25 (RJM), whatregularly. Ten BrownPeli- along the immediate coast, Ranch in Death Valley, Inyo Oxnard Feb. 23 (RJM), and cans on the Salton Sea Dec. 13 where now consideredquite Co.);H.D.L. (HarperDry Lake, Marinadel ReyDec. 7-Feb. 10 had declined to two on Jan. 13 rare,including flocks of 20 at n.w.of Barstow, San Bernardino (BE). A bird believed to be a (WRR); theseand an immature the SantaYnez R. mouth, Santa Co.);N.E.S.S. (northend of the light morph Wedge-tailed nearBrawley, Imperial, Jan. 26 Barbara, 15 near Del Mar, and Salton Sea, Riverside Co.); Shearwater was seen near 32 ø (GMcC) mayhave spent the 11 at Point Mugu, Ventura.At S.B.C.M. (San Bernardino 45' N-120 ø 45'W, about 60 mi winterlocally. least 40 Snow Geese were County Museum); S.C.R.E. s.w. of San Nicolas I., Jan. 15 reportedfrom the samearea, (SantaClara River Estuary near (RRV); thereare only 2 accept- HERONS TO includingflocks of 13 at Point Ventura);S.E.S.S. (south end of ed recordsfor this speciesin RAPTORS Muguand 11 nearOceanside; theSalton Sea, Imperial Co.); California. A few Sho'rt-tailed Three Tricolored Herons were an adultphotographed at Sec- V.A.F.B. (VandenbergAir Force Shearwaterswere along the around San Diego with an combe Lake near San Bernardi- Base,Santa Barbara Co.). As vir- coastas indicated by singles off immature at the mouth of the no Feb. 24 (MAP) was of the tually all rarities found in S. PismoBeach Feb. 3 (EVJ), off Tijuana Rivernear Imperial bluemorph, exceptional away Californiaare seen by numerous Newport Beach Dec. 21 Beach found Dec. 7 (GMcC), from S.E.S.S. Twenty-seven

Volume 45, Number 2' 319 Ross'Geese were also reported throughthe period(BLa), and adult in Escondido Dec. SaltonCity Dec. 9 (JLD) and along the coast, including a an imm. malewas present near- 19-Mar. 12 (MM) and an another at S.E.S.S. Dec. 18 flock of seven in Anaheim Dec. by Dec. 30 throughFebruary immature there Jan. 30-Mar. (GMcC) were inland where 7-Jan. 1 (DRW); one at F.C.tL 18 (MM). The fact that only unusual in winter. A Wilson's throughoutthe period (T & Ten Oldsquawswere found one Rough-leggedHawk was Phalarope, most unusual in JH) and seven near Cantil, alongthe coast,with a female reportedfrom along the coast, winter, was at S.E.S.S. Feb. 11 Kern, Feb. 1 (MTH) were at on San Diego Bay Nov. and none was found in the n.e. (HEC). interestinglocalities. Up to 20-Feb. 24 OLD) the southern- portion of the Region,illus- Fourad. Laughing Gulls, rare seven Canada Geese of the most;one photographed inland trates just how scarce this in California in winter, were at endangeredrace leucopareia near Cantil Dec. 8 (MTH) was specieswas this winter. A Mer- N.E.S.S. Dec. 29 (KR), one was were near Del Mar Dec. apparentlyonly the 2nd found lin photographednear Bishop, on FinneyL. nearS.E.S.S. Dec. 16-Jan. 21 (LS), andat least 13 in Kern; one shot at S.E.S.S. Inyo, Jan. 26 (T & JH) 10-17 OLD), andanother adult "CacklingGeese" were along Dec. 22 (WRR) and another appearedto be of the dark race wasphotographed near West- thecoast, including six together seenthere Feb. 13 (WRR) were suckleyi,considered very rare in morlandJan. 30 (BRZ). A first- at S.C.R.E. Dec. 31-Feb. 10 also inland. Since Black Scoters S. California. winterFranklin's Gull, very rare (LRB). arequite rare s. of Pt. Concep- anywherein Californiain win- SinceBlue-winged Teal are tion, the presenceof six scat- CRANES TO ter, was on V.A.F.B. Dec. 16 rarely found away from the teredalong the coast, including ALCIDS (KH), and anotherwas in Santa coast in winter, 12 s.e. of Bak- up to two together on San An imm. SandhillCrane pho- Barbara Feb. 5 (FS). The Mew ersfieldthroughout the season Diego Bay Jan. 8 through tographedat N.E.S.S.Dec. 29 Gull found at the B.V.R.A. (JCW) and 15 around the February(DA), weremore than (MAP)was away from any area Nov. 24 wasstill presentDec. Salton SeaDec. 10 OLD) were expectedin recentyears. Two of regularoccurrence; up to two 22 (SF), and first-winterbirds at of interest. At least 28 Eur. Surf Scoters on the Salton Sea iramaturesnear San Juan Capis- S.E.S.S. Dec. 18 (GMcC) and Wigeonwere reported, includ- nearSalton City Dec. 9 (JLD) trano Dec. 20-Feb. 10 (POKE) N.E.S.S. Dec. 9-Feb. 2 (JLD) ing two malesfar inland near and three more at N.E.S.S. Feb. andanother over Orange Feb. were also far inland. An ad. Helendale, San Bernardino, 18 (GMcC) were inland, where 25 (SG) werealong the coast, Herring Gull on KlondikeL. Nov. 1 l=Mar. 3 (MAP). Most rare.A White-wingedScoter on where now considered casual. A nearBig Pine Dec. 30 (T & JH) significantwas a c• Common the Salton Sea at the mouth of Black-belliedPlover at Edwards, wasamong very few ever found Poehard at Silver Lakes near Salt Creek Dec. 10 (JLD), Kern, Feb. 16 (MTH) was in Inyo.Even rarer in thisgener- Helendale Jan. 17-Feb. 23 another at N.E.S.S. Dec. 16 tmexpectedlyearly for thisarea. al areawas a first-winterThay- (EAC), undoubtedlythe same (MAP), and two more at Reportsof wintering Lesser er's Gull in Victorville, San bird aspresent here during the S.E.S.S. Dec. 13-18 (WRR) Golden-Plovers included two Bernardino,Jan. 1 (MAP). Since winter of 1988-1989 (AB were also rare inland. An ad. c• near SantaMaria still present W. Gulls are considered casual 43:365). At least sevenTufted Barrow'sGoldeneye on Tin- Mar. 9 (JSR), six on V.A.F.B. inland,up to threeat N.E.S.S. Duckswere in the Regionthis nemahaRes. near Big Pine, Jan. 18 (KH), five near Point Dec. 17-Feb. 18 OLD) wereof MuguFeb. 9-Mar. 1 (RJM),up interest. A 2nd-winter Glau- to 12 at SealBeach through the cous-wingedGull at N.E.S.S. period (DRW), and one near Dec. 29 (KR), and an adult at Del Mar Feb. 7 (DP), all iden- S.E.S.S.Dec. 18-Jan.26 OLD), tified asthe Asiaticfulva,the were far inland where consid- onlyform knownto winter in ered rare. An ad. Glaucous Gull the State.The onlyMountain standingon theice at Tinnema- Ploversfound along the coast, ha Res. near Big Pine Dec. wherethey have become rare, 23-25 (MTH) was the first werethe usualflock of up to 30 found inland awayfrom the '! nearSanta Maria (KH), up to SaltonSea; along the coastat 13 on V.A.F.B. (KH), 15 near least 11 first-winter birds were Point Mugu Jan.26-Mar. 10 found,including nine along the (DDJ), and 10 near Imperial Santa Barbara coast(AA, SEF, Beach(GMcC). BKH, KH, MAH, JSR, KJZ) Two RuddyTurnstones near and up to two at S.C.R.E. Jan. Tufted Duckat Ventura,California, February 9, 1991. At least seven individualswere found in southernCalifornia during the season. Photograph/DonDesjardin.

winter, with a female near Inyo,Jan. 5-6 (T & JH) wasin S.C.R.E. Jan. 19-Mar. 5 an area where small numbers (RJM),a femaleat nearbySati- maybe regular. coy Dec. 23 (JLD}, up to two Two Black-shouldered Kites maleson CastaleL., LosAngeles, near Westmorland Feb. 18 Dec. 28-Jan. 28 (KLG), a male (GMcC) and another at on nearby Pyramid L. Jan. S.E.S.S. Feb. 22 (KLG) were in 14-Feb. 7 (BJ), another male the s.e.corner of the Region, on Quail L., LosAngeles, Feb. where still considered rare. At 1-Mar. 8 (DK), and a 5th male least four Zone-tailed Hawks on PuddingstoneRes., Los were along the coastof San Angeles,for at leastits 3rd win- Diegothis winter, with an adult ter Nov. 17-Jan. 30 (MB). The near Oceanside Dec. 22 9 Harlequin Duck at Point (GMcC), another adult near First-wioterGlaucous Gull at the SantaClara RiverEstuary, California, Mugu sinceNov. 17 remained SanMarcos Dec. 22 (JO'B), an February19, 1991. Photograph/BradSilleson.

320' American Birds, Summer 1991 14-Mar. 2 (RJM). Jan. 1 (DLD) and two more onesreported this winter. Four near Corona Feb. 8-9 (DRW) A Corn. Tern in Goleta Nov. were over Lower Otay L. near E. Phoebeswere present with wasonly the 5th everfound in 18-Jan. 15 (RGJ) wasclearly SanDiego Jan. 5 (KR).A Corn. onespending its 3rd winterin S. California in winter. attemptingto winter locally. Up Poorwill in Randsburg,Kern, Santa Barbara Oct. 30-Feb. 8 A N. Rough-wingedSwallow to 175 Black Skimmers at Point Dec. 13 (DVB) and anotherat (RWH), anotherin Grand Ter- overEl Monte Jan. 18 (DRW), MuguJan. 3-Mar. 2 (RJM)and H.D.L. Dec. 9 (EAC) were race, San Bernardino, Nov. another in Irvine Dec. 2-30 up to 16 in SantaBarbara Jan. amongvery few ever found in 1-Feb. 1 (DG), a 3rd in the (DRW), one in Anaheim Dec. l-Feb. 4 (FS) were by far the thee. portionof the Regionin Prado Basin near Corona Feb. 3 21-Feb. 10 (JP), another in largestnumbers ever north of winter. (EAC), and the 4th alongthe Costa Mesa Jan. 11 (JP), and Orange,and surprising for this Four Vaux's Swifts near Santa Ana R. near Riverside two nearImperial Beach Dec. timeof year. downtownLos Angeles Mar. 16 Dec. 16-Jan. 6 (SJM). A Ver- 15-Feb. 3 (GMcC) clearly ReportsofXantus' Murrelets (KLG), 50 overEl Monte Jan. milion Flycatcherspending its spentthe winter locally. included one off Santa Barbara 22 (DRW), anothergroup of 2nd winter near Santa Maria Dec. 29 (JLD), two off New- about 50 near Oceanside Dec. Oct. 21-Jan. 13 (SFB) was JAYS TO portBeach Jan. 20 (MTH), one 22 (GMcC), and one near unusuallyfar north.The only VIREOS off La Jolla Jan. I (DJ), and ImperialBeach Dec. 8 (GMcC) Ash-throatedFlycatcher was The presenceof sevenSteller's anotheroff SanDiego Jan. 28 wereall undoubtedlywintering. near Imperial BeachDec. 2 Jaysin the areaof SanMarcos (BRZ).A fewAncient Murrelets A d' Broad-billedHumming- (REW).A TropicalKingbird at Pass above Santa Barbara, and birdin OrangeFeb. 11 (DRW) Los Serranos L. near was the first to be found in Cali- Chine Jan. 29-Mar. the newest generation of binoculars... forniain 2 years.Well described 31 (HEC) and Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers another in Anaheim included an immature near San Nov. 13-Feb. 16 Luis Obispo Dec. 13-Jan. 8 (DRW) were away •__. ßCompletely waterproof (DR), another in Arroyo from the immediate Grande,San Luis Obispo, Dec. coast, thus most ßRetractable eyecups 20 (MB & NM), and another unusual; one on inland at Desert Center Dec. 8 V.A.F.B. Jan. II ßLifetime USAwarranty (CMcG).A DownyWoodpeck- 30-Mar. 15 (KH) plus 3 year no-fault er at H.D.L. Jan. 16 (EAC) was was apparentlythe • ßpassportSoft case end protectionrainguard awayfrom anyarea of normal same bird present Included occurrence. herethe past2 win- For our torolog and discount price list. ters, and another in coil (518) 664-20i 1 or write to- FLYCATCHERSTO GoletaSept. 27-Feb. SWALLOWS BIRDING forOpUc$ the .eadqBird Watcher...... 5 (RGJ) was appar- PO Box 4405Ae, Ancient Murrelet at the Ventura The GreaterPewee spending its ently the samebird Halfrnoon,NY 12065-4405 A Divisionof SportingOptics Inc. Marina,California, January 1, 3rd winter in San Diego was presenthere the past . SOLARSIPPER TM 4 winters. A Cassin's 1991. Photoffi'apb/BobHefter. still presentat the end of the "Because birds likeadrink period(B & IM), andanother Kingbird at Finney ofwater too." [] The portaUe •. bird-testedSolarSipper isa moved south into S. California near Tustin Feb. 10-13 L. near S.E.S.S.Jan. • coldweather bird watering 19 and Feb. 10 '.', device.It uses the power of watersas indicated by up to two (GMcC)was only the 2nd to be : thewinter sun aswell asair in VenturaJan. 1-7 (DDe), one found in Orange.Wintering (HEC) was among • insulationpockets to extend • I thetimethatwater remains off Newport BeachDec. 15 GrayFlycatchers included one veryfew ever found -- ' hquidin freezing tempera- (MTH), two off La Jolla Dec. in SantaBarbara Dec. 29-Jan. 1 in this area. A Thick- . ._. : turesduringdaylighthours. u It isenvironmentally safe 12-16 (JO'B), and threemore (BS), anotherin RiversideDec. billedKingbird near andmakes a perfectgift. It may be used on the g round or on a thereMar. 6 (JO'B). 27 (C-TL), and a 3rd near Tustin Dec. 16-Mar. drybirdbath. An avallaNe mour4ing bracket isuseful for ele- Rubidoux, Riverside,Feb. 8-9 16 (DRW) wasclear- vated installationsnear windows or feeders. Ordernowfrom Happy Bird Corporation DOVES TO (CMcG). A "W. Flycatcher"in ly the samebird that 479South St., Box BW, Foxboro. MA02035 WOODPECKERS MissionViejo Dec. 16 (BED), spentthe last8 win- Madein USA. Pat Pending. ModelSTD SS Solar Black ...... $19.95 another in Irvine Dec. 30 ters at this location. Three White-winged Doves ModelDLX SS Berry Red ...... $26.95 near SantaYnez, Santa Barbara, (DRW), and a 3rd in Del Mar A W. Kingbirdin the Add$15.00 for Mounting Bracket. Add $3.50 per unit (with or Prado Basin Park withoutbracket) for shipping and handling. Dealers tray wishto Dec. 12-15 (CP), anothernear Dec. 16 (JO'B) werethe only write for information SolvangJan.27 (HPS),and one near Imperial BeachDec. 9 (REW) wereaway from the w. EO. Box 10?8BIRD edgeof thelow desert, the only Comeexperience the area in the State where this remarkablebeauty St. Simons Island speciesregularly winters. Two andcalm of •'• 9 RuddyGround-Doves were LittleSt. Simons Georgia, 31522 still at F.C.R. Dec. 14 (T & JH), probablyattempting to 912-638-7472 winter. Since Short-eared Owls havebecome alarmingly scarce ,.e.e.vefo..o " in this Regionin recentyears, one on Upper Newport Bay Holeback Ridingß Canoeing ß Boating Dec. 3-30 (PK) and another LITTLE Beach•alking ß Nature Hiking near S.E.S.S. Dec. 29 (BM) Enjoying.Fishing. Reading ST SIMONS were of interest. Two Lesser ISLAND Nighthawks,very rare in winter, BirdwatchingßRelaxing were near Lakeview, Riverside,

Volume 45, Number 2 ß821 three more in Santa Barbara December,including at leastsix present Feb. 25 (HPR). A • SummerTanagcrs were report- itself, indicated some moved alongthe Tijuana R. nearImpe- Pine Warbler in San Diego ed, butonly seven of thesewere from the mountains into the rial Beach,but with onlythree Mar. 3-21 (DP) undoubtedly foundafter the first of theyear. coastal lowlands; one in Bak- remaining past the end of spentthe winter locally, and was Western Tanagersappeared ersfield Dec. 28-29 (MOC) December; inland four were about the 12th known to have scarcerthan usual with only26 suggesteda few mayalso have around Bakersfieldin December wintered in S. California. Nine reportedalong the coast. The moved down into the Central withonly two remaining later, PalmWarblers along the coast only Rose-breastedGrosbeak Valley.A PlainTitmouse of the andone more was in Brawley werefewer than expected,but reportedwas in SantaBarbara coastal race transpositusin Jan.20-31 (EAC); all but three one at N.E.S.S. Dec. 29 (SJM) Dec. 29 (KB). A Black-headed Mecca Dec. 29-31 (GH, cassiniinear Imperial Beach and wasamong very few everfound Grosbeak,most unusualin win- *S.B.C.M.) was the first ever two morein Orangewere of the inlandat thistime of year. ter, wasin OceanoDec. 6 (KJZ) found in the vicinity of the grayform plumbeus. EightBlack-and-white War- andanother was in SanDiego Salton Sea. Single Winter blerswere reported: singles in Jan.8 (D & MH). A • Indigo Wrens near Lakeview Dec. 16 WOOD WARBLERS San Luis Obispo Dec. 1-15 Buntinginland in BrawleyJan. (SJM) and Dec. 18-Jan. 27 A • Golden-wingedWarbler (JSR),Goleta Dec. 21 (RGJ), 19-20 (EAC)was among very (SJM),and another near Impe- alongthe Tijuana R. nearImpe- CarpinteriaNov. 30-Jan. 26 few ever found in S. California rial Beach Dec. 3-15 (DP), rialBeach Dec. 15 (REW)may (LRB),Ventura Dec. 17-Jan.9 in winter. werethe southernmost report- havebeen an exceptionally late (BL), Long Beach Dec. 22 A Clay-coloredSparrow, very ed;the latter was thought to be fallvagrant, since much looking throughFebruary (DSt), Hunt- rare in winter, waspresent in a birdfrom the e. populationon by a number of interested ington BeachNov. 3-Feb. 9 Lompoc Nov. 12-Jan. 20 the basisof its call. observers failed to locate it (BED),Escondido throughout (KH). Three Large-billed A Brown Thrasher, a rare again. A Lucy's Warbler in theperiod (pJ), and near Impe- [Savannah]Sparrows (Passercu- straggler,was near Calexico GoletaNov. 22-Dec. 23 (RPH) rial BeachDec. 3-9 (JO'B).An lus[sandwichensis] rostratus) at Dec. 13 (WRR). A Sage wasattempting to winterlocal- Am. Redstartpresent for its3rd S.C.R.E.from fall through Feb. Thrasher at L. Los Carneros ly, butevidently succumbed to winter in Santa Ana Nov. 23 (RJM) were the northern- near Goleta Jan. 8 (JPH), thecold spell in lateDecember. 15-Dec. 30 (DRW), one near mostreported. A Grasshopper anotherin IrvineDec. 24 (JB), Seventeen Nashville Warblers Oceansidein December(PU), Sparrow,rarely found in winter, and a 3rd in Orange Feb. 2 werereported in December,but another in La Jolla Dec. 2 wasnear Valencia, LosAngeles, (BED)were along the immedi- with onlyfive of theseremain- (JO'B), onein SanDiego all Dec. 29 (KLG), and another ate coast,where unusual in win- ing pastthe New Year.A Vir- winter (REW) and two more was on the Plano Trabuco, ter. The ad. White Wagtail ginia's Warbler in Riverside alongthe Tijuana R. nearImpe- Orange,Jan. 11 (LRB). ALe found in SaticoyNov. 8 was Oct. 28-Mar. 3 (MAP) and rial Beachin December(REW) Conte'sSparrow at H.D.L. Jan. still presentMar. 9 (RJM). A another in Brawley Nov. wereall alongthe coastwhere 6 (EAC, * S.B.C.M.)was only BohemianWaxwing was well 10-Jan. 31 (MAP) were both rare in winter, but four or five the 3rd ever found in California returningfor their2nd winter. around S.E.S.S. were in an area in winter. Swamp Sparrows A N. Parulain SanDiego Dec. wheresmall numbers regularly appearedto bemore numerous 2-Jan.18 (B & IM) wasappar- winter. than usualwith 20 reported entlythe same bird present here At least five N. Waterthrush- alongthe coast, and at least12 duringthe past 2 winters. eswere along the Tijuana R. moreinland including seven A Chestnut-sidedWarbler, nearImperial Beach in Decem- around the Salton Sea. White- veryrare in winter,was present ber (REW) but onlytwo were throatedSparrows appeared to in PacificBeach, San Diego, stillthere at the end of theperi- be a little more numerous than Dec. 13-Jan31 (JO'B);another od,suggesting some may have usualwith at least35 reported. nearImperial BeachDec. 1-3 beenlate fall migrantsor failed The only Harris' Sparrows (REW) wasprobably a latefall to survive the late December found this winter were one in vagrant.A MagnoliaWarbler in coldsnap. A MacGillivray's GoletaDec. 29-Jan. 11 (TW), LompocNov. 18-Dec. 7 (KH) Warbler, very rare in winter, anotherin LongBeach Nov. appearsto havebeen an excep- was seen in Ventura Dec. 25 17-Dec. 19 (MH), and a 3rd in tionallylate fall vagrant.A • (RL), anotherwas found in San IrvineJan. 1-30 (BED). Cape May Warbler in Costa Marino Feb. 18 (DC), and a Two McCown'sLongspurs, MesaFeb. 9 into March (RAH) 3rd wasnear Imperial Beach rarestof theregularly occurring BohemianWaxwi.g at BigPine, was about the 7th known to Dec. I (REW). A • Hooded longspursin California,were on California,Janua•j 8, 1991. havespent the winter in S. Cali- the Plano Trabuco Dec. 16 Photograpl•romHeindel. Warblerin El Toro, Orange, fornia.Only 12 Black-throated Dec. 15-16 (LRH) wasappar- (RAE), two more were near Gray Warblers were found entlya verylate fall straggler. LucerneValley, San Bernardino, photographedin Big Pine Jan. alongthe coast, and singles were FortyWilson's Warblers along Jan. 26-Feb. 3 (RMcK), and 8-13 (T &JH), andup to three inland in BrawleyDec. 10 the coast in December was an four were near S.E.S.S. Dec. 9 werepresent in BakersfieldJan. OLD) and Jan. 26 (MAP). aboveaverage number for win- OLD). Reports of Lapland 16-19 (JCW),indicating afew Thirteen Hermit Warblers were ter, but fewer than half of these Longspursincluded up to six reached S. California this win- reportedbetween Morro Bay remained into the New Year. near Lucerne Valley Jan. ter.The only N. Shrikereported and San Diego, now being 26-Feb. 6 (RMcK), one in was an adult at Tinnemaha Res. foundregularly along the coast 1.ANAGERS1'0 EncinoDec. 23 througbFebru- near Big Pine Feb. 14 (T & in small numbers at this season. FINCHES ary (JSR), one on the Plano JH). A Black-throated Green War- A c• HepaticTanager in Santa Trabuco Dec. 16-Jan. 11 A Bell's Vireo, most unusual blerin LompocNov. 18-Dec.5 BarbaraOct. 23-Apr.3 (HPR) (RAE), and three at S.E.S.S. in winter, wasnear Imperial (KH) mayhave been attempt- wasundoubtedly the samebird Dec. 9 (JLD). More Chestnut- BeachDec. 2-Jan. 5 (REW) ing to winter locally but was presenthere during the past 8 collaredLongspurs were found with a 2nd nearby Dec. 15 morelikely a latefall vagrant. winters, and another ad. male thanexpected with a flockof up (GMcC).Fifteen Solitary Vire- The Grace's Warbler found in was present nearby Nov. to 50 nearLucerne Valley Jan. os were along the coast in SantaBarbara Sept. 23 wasstill 29-Dec.29 (BLo).Twenty-two 26-Feb. 6 (RMcK) and another 322 ßAmerican Birds, Summer 1991 flockof up to 30 on the Plano area where considered rare but SuzanneBarrymore, Louis R. Lentz, Roger Linfield, Bob Trabuco Dec. 16-Jan. 11 provingto be regular.A few Bevier, Milt Blatt, David V. Logan (BLo), Nancy Mann, (DRW); one in Irvine Dec. 30 Red Crossbillswere reported Blue,Mike Bondello,Jeff Boyd, Betty & Ida Mazin, Chet (BED) wasprobably a latefall includingtwo in BigPine Dec. Karen Bridgers, Eugene A. McGaugh,Robert McKernan vagrant. 13 (T & JH), two in California Cardiff (SanBernardino), Mark (Riverside),Don Moore,Randy A RustyBlackbird in Malibu CityFeb. 1 (MTH), andat least O. Chichester(Kern), Henry E. J. Moore, Bill Moramarco, Dec. 11 throughFebruary (BP) 12 on V.A.F.B. Dec. 22-Feb. Childs,Daniel Cooper,Eliza- Merwin Munsum, StephenJ. wasthe only one reported this 18 (KH), alongwith flocksof bethCopper (San Diego), Brian Myers, John O'Brien, Bob winter. A (3 Com. Grackle, up to 50 in the San Gabriel E. Daniels, Deborah L. David- Pann, Dennis Parker, Michael casual to accidental in Califor- Mts. of LosAngeles during Jan- son, Don Desjardin (DDe), A. Patten, Wilson Percival, nia,photographed near Big Pine uaryand February(KLG). A Dale Dillon (DDi), Jenny Cruz Phillips,Jim Pike, Kurt Dec. 12 (T & JH) isbest treated flockof 20 EveningGrosbeaks Dugan,Jon L. Dunn, Tom M. Radamaker,William R. Radke, asa verylate fall vagrant.A • presentin BigPine all winter (T Edell(San Luis Obispo), Claud Hugh P. Ranson, David Orchard Oriole on Pt. Loma in & JH) andfive more in Ridge- G. Edwards, Barbara Elliott, Richardson,Geoffrey Rogers, SanDiego Mar. 9-15 (GMcC) crestJan. I (DM) werein the Richard A. Erickson, Shawneen JimS. Royer,Florence Sanchez, had undoubtedly wintered n.e. portion of the Region E. Finnegan,Sam Fitton, Sylvia Luis Santaella, Brad Schram, locally.A HoodedOriole, rare where small numbers can be Gallagher,Kimball L. Garrett David Seals(DSe), GregoryP. in winter, wasfound in Ventura expected;up to 50 aroundBig (LosAngeles), Dave Goodward, Smith, Hugh P. Smith, Don Dec. 31 (RGJ), anotherwas in Pines in the San Gabriel Mts. Robb A. Hamilton, Robert W. Sterba (DSt), Philip Unitt, nearby Simi Valley Jan. 30 duringJanuary and February Hansen,Don & MarjorieHast- Richard R. Veit, Richard E. (FH), three were togetherin (KLG) were the only ones ings,Loren R. Hays,Gjon Haz- Webster, Robert Weissler,Dou- SanMarino through the period reportedfrom the mountains; ard, Fred Heath, Matt T. Hein- glasR. Willick (Orange),John (DC), and anotherwas inland one in Ventura Dec. 25 (VK) del, Mitch Heindel, Tom & Jo C. Wilson, Mark C. Wimer, in Bakersfield Dec. 29-Feb. 15 wasalong the coast where unex- Heindel, BradK. Hines, John Tom Wurster, Barry R. Zim- (JCW).Northern Orioles were pected,and another in Brawley P. Hirth, Ken Hollinga,Mark mer,Kevin J. Zimmer.An addi- scarcerthan usual with only53 Dec. 10 (JLD) wasin the s.e. A. Holmgrem,Richard G. Jef- tional 65+ observerswho could foundalong the coast, including corner of the State, where acci- fers,Bob Johnson, Dick John- not be individuallyacknowl- a "Baltimore" in Goleta Dec. 14 dental. son,Eric V. Johnson,Patrick edgedsubmitted reports this (JEL),another in VenturaDec. Johnson,Virgil Ketner,Mark season.--GUY McCASKIE, 31 (PEL), and a 3rd on Pt. Contributors:(county coordi- Kincheleo, Paul Klahr, David San Diego Natural History LomaJan. 13 (REW). nators in boldface)Alex Abela, Koeppel,Brad Lane (BLa), Cin- Museum, Balboa Park, P.O. Two PurpleFinches in Braw- DougAguillard, Stephen F. Ty Lee,Paul E. Lehman(Santa Box 1390, San Diego, CA leyJan. 26 (MAP) werein an Bailey, Larry R. Ballard, Barbaraand Ventura),Joan E. 92112.

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Volume 45, Number 2 ß323 HAWAIIAN ISLANDSREGION RobertL. Pyle

The wet weather of late fall con- tinued through December excepton Kaua'i,at the north- west end of the main islands, whichwas very dry. This dry weatherspread in Januaryand February to all stations on O'ahu, and on to most stations on Maui and Hawai'i by sea- son's end. Wetland conditions remainedgood for waterbirds throughoutthe winter, but migrantsin theseareas were againwell belownumbers that were usualup to a few years back,apparently for some cause otherthan habitat suitability. PACIF!( _.

Abbreviations:BPBM (prefix j?brcatalogue numbers ofspeci- mensin B.P. BishopMuseum, Honolulu); F.F.S. (French startedat Ke'ilu Pt., an isolated FrigateShoals); H. (Hawai• L); heavilyused trail in the Kaena WATERFOWL K. (Kaua• L); M. (Maui L ); 0. beach area just east of the Pt. Natural Area Reserve on The nine Greater White-front- (O•hu I.); J.C.N.W.R. (/ames Refuge(all from KF). O'ahu,another site where they ed Geesereported at Kealia On O'ahu, however, the Campbell IV. W.R., 0.); have congregatedin recent Pond,M., thispast fall were last K.M.C.A.S. (Kane bheMarine Laysans'choice of sitesfor con- years.One eggwas soon aban- seenDec. 30 (JO). A (Black) Corps Air Station, 0.); gregatingand nesting attempts doned; the other was incubated Brant first seen at Tern I., P.H.N.W.R. (Pearl Harbor havebeen imprudent and inap- but was found broken some F.F.S., Nov. 17 wascaptured N. W.•, 0.). propriate. At Dillingham weekslater, despitespecial andtreated for an injured foot, Airfield and K.M.C.A.S., num- effortsto protectthe nest from then bandedand released,and bershave increased annually disturbance(MSa). was still thriving at end of ALBATROSSES despitesevere disturbance from FebruaryOM). AnotherBrant The banded subadult Short- people,dogs, and vehicles. Ani- STORM-PETRELS witha brokenwing, first seen at tailed Albatross that has been a mal DamageControl staffof TO HERONS thebeach at Kihei,M., Dec.23, regularvisitor to SandI., Mid- theU.S. Department of Agri- A Leach's Storm-Petrel was wasbrought to thestate endan- way, in recentwinters was back culture have had some success foundfreshly dead on a lava geredspecies facility at Olinda thereagain this winter (CR). overthe past 3 yearsin discour- flow near the seaat La Perouse Dec. 26 and was still in rehabili- LaysanAlbatross are return- aging nestingand reducing Bay,M., Dec.27 (AF,fide RG, tation at season'send (RG). ing to nest at Kilauea Point numbersat theseairfields by *BPBM-178353). Leach'sare Brant are casual visitors to N.W.R., K., in increasingnum- non-lethal harassment, i.e. recordedin Hawaii rarelyas Hawaii. Two small(probably berseach year. This winter, out fireworks,chasing, capturing, deadremains along the shore. A Cackling)Canada Geese were at of 61 eggslaid beginningin banding,and release elsewhere. Red-billed Tropicbird was Kipu Kai, K., fromDec. 6 until December, 23 chicks hatched Nestswere obliterated and eggs observedwell at EastI., F.F.S., at leastMar. 5 (TT). Thesingle and 18 were still alive and were given to University of Feb. 21, the 3rd time this acci- small (probablyTaverner's) healthyat endof March.Three Hawaiifor physiology research. dentalstraggler has been record- Canada resident at Waiakea otherchicks brought over from Any chicksfound were taken to ed at the Shoals at this time of Pond in Hilo, H., wasstill there PacificMissile Rangewere SeaLife Parkfor raisingand year(JM, KN). Jan. 3 (KI), and the one resident placedsuccessfully with foster release. Three Brown Boobies were foryears at Amorient Aquafarm, birds. Three more chicks Nevertheless,new birds are seendiving near a podof Spin- O., wasseenflyingover one of removedfrom the Range,for returningto Kaua'iand O'ahu ner Dolphinsat Smugglers theponds Feb. 26 (BE).The lit- whomno appropriatefoster In greaternumbers each year. Cove, Kaho'olaweI., Jan. 24 tle populationof Nene(Hawai- birdswere available, are being Thus, non-lethal harassmentat (BE),an interestingrecord for ian Goose,Endangered) intro- raised by a volunteer. At theseairfields and also at Pacific thisrarely visited military target ducedat Kipu Kai, K., pro- Princeville,an upscaleresiden- MissileRange on Kaua'iwill island. Single Great Blue ducedat least14 goslings from tial area a few miles west of the haveto continuediligently if Herons,considered a vagrant in 4 known neststhis winter. Most Refuge,four eggs were laid in a lethal control of these Hawaii,were reported this win- fledgedsuccessfully (TT). vacant lot between housesand magnificentbirds is to beavoid- ter at Loko Waka Pond near Wintering ducksremained the four healthychicks were ed (TO). Hilo, H., Jan. 3 (KI) and Feb. low in numbers this winter. beingzealously guarded by Furthermore,two pairsof 13 (PaulConryfide BE), and Highestcounts at singlelocali- nearbyresidents. Three more Laysanseach laid an egg in late alsoat KanahaPond, M., Dec. ties were :27 N. Pintails at chicksare thriving in the3 nests Decemberbarely 10 ft from a 23 andin March(JO). Waipi'o Pen.,O., Jan. 11 (PD) 324' AmericanBirds, Summer 1991 and 55 N. Shovelersat Kanaha 16, this time flying over a winterRing-billed Gulls win- Finches, now very rarely Pond, M., Jan. 12 (JO), well pondat Waipi'o Pen.on the tered at Kahuku Pt. Pond and reportedon O'ahu although belowmaxima for thesespecies Christmas Bird Count (MO). nearbyJ.C.N.W.R. (PD), and common in western Hawai'i I., recorded in the mid-1980s and Two dark-morph Hawaiian one was at Kealia Pond, M. was observed at Salt Lake, O., before.Reports of lesscom- Hawks('Io, Endangered)were (JO). Two Glaucous-winged Jan. 11 (PD). mon speciesincluded six 9 observedchasing 'Apapane and Gulls were also seen at Kahuku A pair of Hawai'i Creepers Green-wingedTeal (a high 'l'iwi for 15 minutes at Pt. and J.C.N.W.R. during (Endangered)was observed number) at Honouliuli Unit, Hakalau N.W.R., H., Feb. 22. December,with oneremaining nest-building at Hakalau P.H.N.W.R., Feb. 21 (PD), One finally caughtand ate a throughFebruary (PD, BE). N.W.R., H., Jan. 24, and two Garganeyin 9 plumage juv. Tiwi (JL). FiveErckel's One adult and one 2nd-winter incubating during February seenregularly at WaiakeaPond Francolins were observed on Glaucous-wingedwintered at (JL). A flock of 10 Orange- in Hilo, H., Dec. 13-Jan. 3 PalikeaTrail high in the s. Tern I., F.F.S. (JM), and one cheeked Waxbills was seen (KI), and two moreGarganey Waianae Mts., O., Jan. 19 wasseen at SandI., Midway Feb. 9 at their regularhaunt at Waipi'o Pen., O. Jan. 9 (PD). Dec. 4 (MSi). along Hanson Rd. near (PD). During the winter one to Pu'unene, M. (JO), the only Hawaii's only recorded two Black-bellied Plovers were PASSERINES localityknown for this intro- Com. Merganser,a female seen several times at Kealia EurasianSkylarks were singing ducedspecies on Maul reportedoccasionally in fall Pond,M. (JO), aboutthe only at Waiawa Unit, P.H.N.W.R., and winter since 1986 at site in the state where this and Waipi'o Pen. from late Kealila Pond, M., was seen uncommon migrant can be Decemberthrough late Febru- Contributors: Peter Donald- there several times this fall but found fairly regularly. Five ary(PD). TwentyRed-vented son, Fern Duvall, Bruce Eil- not afterearly November (JO). Bristle-thighedCurlews flying Bulbulsalong Aiea Trail Dec. erts,Andy Engilis, Ann Field- Thus,it wassignificant when a near Ki'i Unit, J.C.N.W.R., 23 and 10 alongPalikea Trail ing, Lenny Freed,Kathleen merganserwas reported at Feb. 25 (BE) furnished a Jan. 19 (PD) reconfirmedthat Fruth, Renate Gassmann- WaimeaBay, O., in February notable winter record for this thisintroduced pest species has Duvall, Kamal Islam, Jaan and confirmed Feb. 21 to be a speciesin the main Hawaiian movedsolidly into both the Lepson,Lynne Matusow, Jen- 9 Corn.Merganser (PD). Per- Is. Most observersagreed that Ko'olau and Waianae Mr. nifer Megyesi,Ken Nietham- hapsit wasthe same bird head- the commonmigrants, Lesser rangeson O'ahu. Two Red- mer, Tim Ohashi,Jerry Old- ed north for the breedingsea- Golden-Plover,Ruddy Turn- billed Leiothrix also heard on enettel,Mike Ord, CraigRow- son. stone,Sanderling, and Wan- Aiea Trail Dec. 23 (PD) indi- land, Maile Sakamoto, Mari- dering Tattler, all seemed cated that this more welcome lyn Sigman, Donald Stiles, HAWKS TO downin numbersdespite avail- introducedspecies continues Tom Telfer, Don Williamson. GULLS ability of seeminglysuitable to reboundfrom its population --ROBERT L. PYLE, 741 N. O'ahu's virtually resident habitat. crashof the pastfew decades Kalaheo Ave., Kailua, HI Osprey was seenagain Dec. Two adult and two first- on O'ahu. A pair of Saffron 96734. The most important b!rdingtools since tts bnoculars. ....

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Volume 45, Number 2' 325