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Cra•,•,,•on• RI•'02990 80d-•26-3089 FIELD NOTES * AMERICAN BIRDING ASSOCIATION ß VOLUME 51: NUMBER 4 * FALL 1997

SPRIN•MIGRATION: MARCH1-MAY3• I997

THE REGIONAL REPORTS 898 Idaho-Western Montana 817 Editor's Notebook DAN SVINGEN 8:38 Atlantic Provinces 818 The Storms of 'gG: 900 Mountain West BLAKE MAYBANK Part I VAN A. TRUAN 842 EDWARDS. BRINKLEY, and BRANDON K. PERCIVAL PIERREBANNON TODD HASS, 904 Arizona and NORMAND DAVID and JIM LOCKYER CHRIS D. BENESH 844 NewEngland 832 ChangingSeasons: and GARY H. ROSENBERG SIMON PERKINS Spring1997 JEFF PRICE 907 New Mexico 848 Hudson- SARTORO. WILLIAMS III •ILLIAFvlJ. BOYLEJR., 836 How to Read 910 Alaska ROBERTO. PAXTON, the RegionalReports T.G. TOBISH JR. and DAVIDA. CUTLER 936 PictorialHighlights 913 British Columbia- 85: • Middle Atlantic Coast 941 How to Submit Records Yukon MARSHALLILIFF

856 Southern Atlantic Coast 880 Central Southern RICKY DAVIS 918 Oregon-Washington STEVENW. CARDIFF 860 and GERARD LILLE 884 Prairie Provinces BILL PRANTY RUDOLF F. KOES 922 Middle Pacific Coast 863 Ontario and PETERTAYLOR DON ROBERSON, RON RIDOUT STEPHENE BAILEY, 886 Northern Great Plains and DANIEL S. SINGER 867 Appalachian RON MARTIN GEORGE A. HALL 926 Southern Pacific Coast 888 Southern Great Plains GUY MCCASKIE 871 Western Great Lakes JOSEPHA. GRZYBOWSKI JIM GRANLUND 930 Hawaiian Islands 892 Texas ROBERTL. PYLE 875 Middlewestern Prairie GREGW. LASLEY,CHUCK SEXTON, KENNETHJ. BROCK WILLIESEKULA, MARK LOCKWOOD, 93: • West Indies and CLIFFSHACKELFORD ROBERTL. NORTON

ON THE COVER AsSpring 1997 began,tbis gull wassitting in Galveston,Texas, attracting birders and contributing to controversy.Any large dark-backed gull is rarein Texas,so, whenthis birdwas discovered on JanuaryI 5, 1996, it inspireda roundof name-calling-nameslike GreatBlack- backedGull, nominate-race Lesser Black-backed Gull, and Western Gull. Some birders pointed to flawsin all of thesediagnoses, and within a month•experts concluded that it wasa moreexotic find: a KelpGull, native to coastlinessouth of the equator.The bird remained into the spring;what was undoubtedly the sameindividual returned to the sameplace on November30, 1996, and remainedat leastinto the early springof 1997--the seasonfeatured in this issueof Field Notes. Birdsidentified as KelpGulls have had an odd historyin the Gulfof Hexico.Two were seenon the coastof Hexico'sYucatan Peninsula as longago as 1987. In 1989, two (or maybethree) werefound on Louisiana'soffshore islands. There have been records in bothplaces sincethen, and possibly elsewhere--including a remarkable record from Indiana (see page 879 of this issue).Still, KelpGull is not yet on the officialABA Checklist for NorthAmerican Birds. The American Ornithologists' Union recently placed it on the appendixto their list-- suggestingthat there are questionsabout the birds,at least in termsof howthey madeit fromthe westcoast of SouthAmerica to the Gulf of Hexico.Regardless, the presenceof KelpGulls in NorthAmerica adds to the potentialchallenge and excitement for gull-watchers.The KelpGull on the coverwas photographed February 7, 1997, by AlanWormington in Galveston. field notes is publishedby theAmerican BirdingAssociation American Birding Association in alliance with the NationalAudubon Society. PRESIDENT The missionof the journal NationalSudubonSociety Allan R. Keith is to providea completeoverview of the changingpanorama of North America's CHAIRMAN OFTHE BOARD VICE-PRESIDENT birdlife,including outstanding records, range Donal C. O'Brien Jr. WayneR. Petersen extensionsand contractions, population PRESIDENT dynamics,and changes in migrationpatterns SECRETARY or seasonal occurrence. John Flicker

BlakeMaybank PUBLISHER VICE-CHAIRPERSONS TREASURER ABA/GeorgeG. Daniels John B. Beinecke Ruth O. Russell Gerald J.Ziarno EDITOR Kenn Kaufman BOARD OF DIRECTORS MANAGEMENT TEAM MargaretBain EXECUTIVE EDITOR MANAGING EDITOR Daniel P. Beard Sharon Bartels Carol S. Lawson Victoria H. Irwin JamesA. Cunningham P.A. Buckley EDITORIAL CONSULTANT EricDraper GeorgeG. Daniels SusanRoney Drennan Frank B. Gill DaphneD. Gemmill Vice-Presidentfor Ornithology Glenn Olson Thomas J. Gilmore NationalAudubon Society Victoria Shaw Dennis H. Lacoss FIELD EDITORS StanleyR. Lincoln BOARD OF DIRECTORS Michael Ord StephenF. Bailey, Pierre Bannon, Oakes Ames ChrisD. Benesh,Gordon Berkey, Ann Stone John B. Beinecke JackBowling, William I. BoyleJr., William R. Stott Jr. CharlesG. BraggJr. KennethI. Brock,Steven W. Cardiff, Howard P. Brokaw Henry Turner David A. Cutler, Normand David, Harriet S. Bullitt EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RickyDavis, Walter G. Ellison, Donald A. Carr GregoryS. Butcher JeffGilligan, Jim Granlund, DouglasM. Costie JosephA. Grzybowski,George A. Hall, Leslie Dach CONTROLLER PeterHunt, Marshall J.Iliff, Lynn Yeager JackDempsey GregD. Jackson,Jim Johnson, Lynn Dolnick CONSERVATION AND EDUCATION RudolfE Koes,Greg Lasley, Gerard Lillie, David D. Dominick Paul Green BruceMacravish, Nancy L. Martin, Helen M. Engle DEVELOPMENT RonMartin, Blake Maybank, W. Hardy Eshbaugh Carol Lambert GuyMcCaskie, Ian A. McLaren, Ted Lee Eubanks David P.Muth, RobertL. Norton, CONVENTIONS AND CONFERENCœS JohnW. Fitzpatrick Rich Paul, Robert O. Paxton, Patricia H. Heidenreich Ken Hollinga Brandon K. Percival,Simon Perkins, Marian S. Heiskell CORPORATE RELATIONS WayneR. Petersen,Bill Pranty, Reid B. Hughes LangdonR. Stevenson RobertD. Purrington,Robert L. Pyle, VivianJohnson Ron Ridout, Don Roberson, GENERAL COUNSEL Carol Ann May GaryH. Rosenberg,Ann E Schnapf, Daniel T. WilliamsJr. Arsenio Milian ChuckSexton, Daniel S. Singer, BenjaminOlewine IV PAST PRESIDENTS StephenI. Stedman,Dan Svingen, David H. Pardoe Daniel T. WilliamsJr. (1993-1997) PeterTaylor, Daryl D. Tessen, Ruth O. Russell T.G. TobishJr., Van A. Truan, Bill Tweit, Allan R. Keith (1989-1993) Walter C. Sedgwick Noel Wamer,Richard West, LawrenceG. Balch(1983-1989) Norman Shapiro Sartor O. Williams III JosephW. Taylor (1979-1983) Amy Skilbred Arnold Small (1976-1979) PRODUCTION EDITOR Robert H. Socolow G. Stuart Keith (1973-1976) Susanna v.R. Lawson John L. Whitmire G. StuartKeith (1970pro tern) PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS JoyceA. Wolf ConstanceEldridge and Julie Reid BernardJ. Yokel

FieldNotes (ISSN 0004-7686) (USPS 872 200) is published quarterly by the American Birding Association, Inc., 720 West Monument Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904-3624.Periodicals postage paid at ColoradoSprings, Colorado, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: return postage guaranteed; sendaddress changes and POD forms 3579 to Field Notes, PO Box6599, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80934-6599. Subscription prices: $20/year (US) and US$25/year(Canada). Copyright ¸ 1997by the American Birding Association, Inc., all rights reserved. Printed by Publishers Printing, Shepherdsville, Kentucky. Theviews and opinions expressed in this magazine are those of eachcontributing writer and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of theAmerican Birding Association or itsmanagement. ABA is not responsible for thequality of productsor servicesadvertised in Field Notes, unlessthe products or servicesare being offered directly by the Association. GST Registration No. R135943454.

816 FIELD NOTES editor's notebook

identifiedthe BridledTern coming in--touching off pandemoni- um, becausewe werevery far north for that species.A gentleman SSocietyABIRD-CRAZED at the ageKIDof whonine,hadI subscribedjoined theto Nationala little publication Audubon standingnear me remarked,admiringly, "Wow, that girl is really calledAudubon Field Notes before I enteredmy teens.Before long, I good?I'm not surehe realizedthat "that girl" was the organizerof startedsending in recordsto it aswell. I'll neverforget how excited I the trip, the editor of the magazine,and a vice-presidentof the waswhen I got the nextissue and foundmy initials,my sightings, NationalAudubon Society. listed in the regionalreport for the SouthernGreat Plains.This Duringthe period when National Audubon was paying relatively journalpresented the wholepanorama of NorthAmerica's birdlife, little attentionto birds,Susan was the mainperson who keptbird and my observationswere, in their own smallway, contributing to conservationon the tableat all, and shekept the regionalreports thisgrand picture. A lifelongfascination with the statusand distri- goingthrough challenges large and small. It was no wonderthat butionof birdswas cemented in placeat that moment. ABA honored her with the Ludlow Griscom Award in 1988. The At thattime, in the late 1960s,these regional reports already had factthat Field Notes is still alive and well today is, in largemeasure, a a longand variedhistory (and the historyhas varied more since tribute to Susan's efforts. then). NationalAudubon had begunpublishing these reports in So as I move into the Editor's chair, I'm thankful for Susan's 1917in its magazine,Bird-Lore, under the heading"The Season." ample--andthankful that shewill be continuingwith us as chief The regionalreports became a separatepublication, called Audubon editorialconsultant for FieldNotes. Also, fortunately, Victoria H. FieldNotes, in 1947.In 1970the publication was renamed American Irwin will continueas managingeditor, bringing to bearher im- Birds,and wasexpanded with many articlesand features,until it pressivebacl•ground asa professionaljournalist and sharp birder. wasscaled back to FieMNotes again in 1994. Many individualsat ABA havestepped up to helpwith the transi- Duringthis long history, the National Audubon Society also has tion in publication.I'm delightedthat Carol Lawsonand Susanna gonethrough major changes.Founded as an associationfor bird Lawsonare involved; their great skills have been responsible fo•' the conservation,it maintained this focus until the 1960s, when it ex- beautifulappearance and timelyproduction of Birdingmagazine pandedits scope to becomea broad-basedenvironmental group. Its for the lastnine years. missionwas even broader for a time in the late 1980sand early However,I havenot yet mentionedthe two mostvital elements 1990s,when birds received relatively little attention.About three in the workingsof FieldNotes. yearsago, however, Audubon went through a majorreorganization, The heartand soulof thispublication are the RegionalReports. and reaffirmedits focuson birds.The rejuvenatedNAS is nowan For their preparation,we dependcompletely on the effortsof the excitingorganization to watch,moving ahead boldly on specific RegionalEditors. As a group,the RegionalEditors command an goals,all of whichrelate directly to birds,wildlife, and their habitats. awesomeknowledge of the status and distribution of North It is appropriatethat Audubonshotfid have now entered into an al- America'sbirdlife, and they contributea staggeringnumber of liancewith the American Birding Association to continuethe publi- hoursto the collectionand analysisof bird recordsevery season. cation of Field Notes. The reportsthey write are not mere recountingsof data; these Many admirablepeople work for NationalAudubon, but I want columnssummarize, analyze, discuss, and elucidate,putting all of to make specialmention of SusanRoney Drennan, who served the informationinto context.At theirbest, they provide a fascinat- AmericanBirds/Field Notes for morethan twenty years as associate ing educationin currentbird distribution. editorand then as editor. I wasfortunate to be ableto learna great And finally,the RegionalEditors•even thoughthey are all ac- dealfrom Susan, especially after I joinedthe staff of AmericanBirds tive observersthemselves--must depend upon input from numer- in 1984.Susan is oneof thoseremarkable individuals that you meet ousbirders in thefield to maketheir columns complete. The reports onlyrarely, someone with numeroustalents and with an extraordi- in thesepages are based on sightingsmade by manythousands of nary capacityfor gettingthings done. Insiders at Audubonknow observers;it would be accurateto saythat FieldNotes is produced that shehas contributed an astonishingamount of work to innu- not onlyFOl• the birdersof North America,but BYthem as well. We merableprojects there. She has alsomaintained her abilitiesas a welcomeyou to the newABA/NAS publication of FieldNotes, and superfield birder. As oneexample among many, I recalla moment inviteyou to takepart in thisinteractive network as both an observ- on a pelagictrip (sponsoredby AmericanBirds) when forty pairs of er and a reader. keeneyes were scanning like mad, and it wasSusan who spotted and --Kenn Kaufman, Editor

FALL 1997 817 Thismoribund Sooty Tern was found on the upperbeach at CapeMay Point, , two daysfollowing the passage FIELD NOTES of hurricaneBertha• July 15, 1996. Photograph/KevinKarlson birdsand atlantic tropical cyclones in an activeyear

THE STORMS OF '96 EDWARDS. BRINKLEY*,TODD HASSt, and fin LOCKYER•

Overthirty hours in advanceof thestorm, the skies became blackened with seabirds of everykind, size, colorand description,moving rapidly toward the west, as if fieeingfrom theviolence of thecoming storm. --U.S. ArmyChief Signal Officer for Carteret County, , journal entry for August 24, 1881(Barnes 1993)

PART 1: THE STORMS AND AND THEIR ASSOCIATED BIRDS

and 1996), followinghard on the heelsof 1995,another top-ten OWHEREguests.In ARE1996,HURRICANESthe 13 tropical andcyclones tropicalthat storms movedwelcomethrough yearwith 19 named storms. Of the 13storms in 1996,six were cate- theNorth Atlantic took 135lives and caused nearly five billion dol- gorizedas "major cyclones." larsin damage;by far themost devastating of thesewas Fran, which For centuries, mariners and island dwellers have known of the killed34 peoplein the UnitedStates and causedover four billion powerfuleffect of thesestorms upon seabirds.For about the last dollars'worth of damage.The year was ranked among the ten most 150years, amateur and professionalornithologists have taken an activeon recordfor tropicalcyclones in theAtlantic (between 1886 interestin the displacementof birds by hurricanesand other storms.Though the devastationof the stormsis to be fearedand * 108Cocke Hall, University ofVirginia, Charlottesville, Virginia ;);)903 1-Departrnentof Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599 avoided,they harbor an enduring fascinationfor humans-- •t35 LetitiaLane, Nedia, Pennsylvania 19063 especiallyfor studentsof bird life, for whom hurricaneshave

FALL 1997 819 HE STOFMS OF

occasionallymeant a terrestrialglimpse into the livesof seabirdsoth- erwisevirtually never seen on landaway from the nestinggrounds. LandfallPath/Bird Reporting Sites Part 1 of this articlepresents a detailedaccount of noteworthy July 12-14 1996 bird observationsfrom easternNorth Americaduring, after, or ap- 0500 45 rnph parentlyas a resultof hurricanesBertha, Edouard, Fran, and Hortense and tropicalstorm ]osephine. This compendiumwas made possible by the large group of observersand contributorslisted in the Acknowledgments,many of whomshared their recordsthrough the Internet.In thismanner, data collection was greatly accelerated rela- tiveto that for hurricanespast, in particularthrough the Hurricane- Net, run by WallaceCoffey, and by BirdChat,run by Chuck 1700 Williamson.Other recordswere found in NationalAudubon Society Field Notes(Brinkley 1997; Davis 1996, 1997a;Ellison and Martin 1996; Iliff 1996, 1997; Kaufman 1996; Paxton et al. 1996, 1997; 0800 Petersen 1997), Bird Observer(Forster et al. 1996, 1997), Birders 60 mph ]ourhal(Curry 1996,Curry and Olmsted1996), Chat (Davis1997b), O Hurricane PennsylvaniaBirds (Pulcinella 1996), and Kingbird(Crowell 1997, 13 O TropicalStorm 0100 D'Anna1997, Griffith 1997,Kelling 1997, Koeneke and Purcdl 1997, Tropical 75 rnph Schiff and Wollin 1996, 1997). Depression Repoding Site 2200 Part2 of the articlewill treatthe speciesobserved during 1996 in 95 mph 1N1ND FORCE historicalcontext, namely in relationto recordsof hurricane-dis- 12 1500 1O0 mph placedseabirds over the previous150 years, beginning with the first Tropical Storm I JULY suchNorth Americanrecord, a Black-cappedPetrel found in Florida in 1846.There have been but fewsuch analyses in thescientific litera- ture previously,with the exceptionof Robert CushmanMurphy's Figure1. Berthamade just before9 PHon July12 densebut brief section"Birds and Hurricanes"in OceanicBirds of at CarolinaBeach and Kure Beach, south of Wilmington,North SouthAmerica (1936). Part 2 will appearin a later issueof Field Carolina,where the CategoryZ hurricanebattered the coast Notes. with windsof 115 mph.The of the stormat that time waswell- definedand approximatelyZO miles across.Bertha then moved northwardthrough eastern North Carolina and, on July13, into BERTHA Virginiain the Cityof Suffolk,thence northward just westof the The first storm of the 1996 season to make landfall in North America ChesapeakeBay. What remained of the filling eye of the storm wasBertha, an unusuallyearly storm. In fact,this wasthe firsthurri- enteredthe ChesapeakeBay in Harylandwaters at about7 AH, caneto trackalong the interiorof the mid-Atlanticcoastal plain in passedonto the DolmarvaPeninsula near Cambridge, moving the month of Julysince Cindy did so in 1959;the lasthurricane to 45 milessouth of Dover,Delaware, at 8 AH,then into DelawareBay. reachthis strengththis early in the seasonwas Alma in 1966.Not to Fromthere, the storm'scenter passed immediately west of Cape Hay, up the EastCoast, and backout to sea.Although Bertha was be confusedwith a storm of the samename of 1990 (LeGrand 1991), still classeda Category1 hurricaneat 5 AH,its windswere only Berthawas born on July4, 1996,from an Africaneasterly wave as a 55 to GOmph sustained in Virginia,and thus it wastechnically tropicaldepression about 800 milesWSW of the CapeVerde Islands a tropicalstorm by the time it reachedthat state. Hap/JimLockyer in the easterntropical Atlantic. In the half-centurysince systematic reconnaissanceflights for the studyof hur- TABLE I: BIRDS ASSOCIATED WITH HURRICANE BERTHA,JULY 12-17 1996 ricanescommenced, 85 percentof all in- SPECIES LOCALE STATEDATE BIRDS FOUND tense(Category 3, 4, or 5) cycloneshave No•ernGannet CapeMay (inbackyard) NJ 07/13 1 originatedhere, even though on average HeraldPetrel ChesapeakeBayBridge-Tu nnel VA 07/13 2 only two stormsannually are born in this 1 FalseCape State Park, Virginia Be_ach VA 07113 area(Landsea 1993). Within two days,the Black-cappedPetrel ChesapeakeBayBridge-Tunnel VA 07/13 9 FortStory, Virginia Beach VA 07/13 1 stormhad strengthenedinto a hurricane. CapeMay (Bay side) NJ ] 07/13 8 By July8, Berthabrushed eastern Puerto ChesapeakeBayBridge -Tun nel VA ] 07114 26 Rico, then moved northward close to the 1 ChesapeakeBay/ Cape Charles VA •L_ 07/14 and un,dentifledgadflypetrel ChesapeakeBayBridge-Tunnel V•- ] 0• 1 FortStory, Virginia Beach V•07/13 1 the followingday. On July 10, hurricane Cor'/sShearwater ChesapeakeBayBridge-Tunnel VA ] 07/1• 3 warningswere posted from Sebastian Inlet, 1 FalseCape State Park, Virginia Beach VA I 07/13 Florida, to the North Carolina-Virginia MecoxBay, NY ] 07/13 1-2 ChesapeakeBayBridge-Tunnel VA ] 07114 2 border, and a hurricane watch was declared GreaterShearwater ChesapeakeBayBridge-Tunnel VA ] 07/13 5 north to Chincoteague,Virginia. The 1 FalseCape State Park, Virginia Beach VA ] 07/13 storm'slowest barometric pressure mea- Avalon NJ ] 07/13 1 MecoxBay, Long Island NY ] 07113 1-2 suredoffshore was 960 rob,a Category3 ChesapeakeBayBridge-Tunnel VA ] 07114 1 storm. CapeMay / LewesFerry ] NJ/DE ] 07/14 1 1 On July12, radar located the eyeof the ChesapeakeBa•(7..... MDborder) •VA •07/16 SootyShearwater FalseCape State Park, Virginia Beach ]VA j 07/13- storm at 9 PM 25 miles WNW of New Bern, SharkRiver Inlet INJ [ 07/13 North Carolina,with winds of 85 mph, table continuedon page823) hurricane-forcewinds extending 115 miles

8ZO FIELD NOTES from the stormcenter, and tropical-storm-forcewinds not more than 200 milesfrom center.Winds at the ChesapeakeBay Bridge- Tunnel(hereafter, CBBT) were docked at 110 mph at 10:40PM on July12. By the time Berthareached New Jersey at 10AM on the 13th, sustainedwind speedswere under 40 mph,and by 11 PM,the storm hadpassed off NewEngland, about 60 milesNE of ,and out to sea.The track of the storm (Figure 1) resemblesthose of HurricaneNo. 2 of July5-10, 1946,Cindyof July 5-17, 1959,and es- peciallyTropical Storm No. 6 of September12-15, 1961. Birdsentrained in Bertha(Table 1) werenearly as numerous as thoseof Fran.Almost all birdsthought to havebeen displaced by the storm(nearly 6000, not includingherons, shorebirds, or land- birds)were observed over the weekend of July13-14, though small numberswere located in the lowerDelaware Bay area as manyas five dayslater, with the discoveryof two Band-rumpedStorm- Petrelswith a largegroup of Wilson'sStorm-Petrels off Cumberland County,New Jersey, on July17. The stormwas most remarkable for itsdisplacement of unprecedentednumbers of Black-cappedPetrels and Band-rumpedStorm-Petrels from Virginiato New Jerseyand for its two Virginia recordsof Herald (Trinidade)Petrel (Ptero- droma[a.] arminjoniana).Prior to Bertha,Virginia had only 11 recordsof Black-cappedPetrel totaling 16 individuals,and only three recordsof Band-rumpedStorm-Petrel totaling 20 birds. Unprecedentednumbers of Black-cappedPetrels were found Delawarehad only a singlerecord of eachspecies, none from shore, in the interiorof NorthCarolina, Virginia, Maryland, andNew Jersey had no verifiedrecord of eitherspecies in itswaters, Pennsylvania,, and Ontario following in 1996. It is assumedthat mostof thesehirds perished; the HudsonCanyon (now consideredNew Yorkwaters) excepted. alongor nearthe shoresof LakesErie and Ontario, there were Herald Petrel is seen regularly in the Gulf Stream off North 17 sightrecords of live Black-cappedPetrels, with :)3 speci- Carolina,but there existedonly a singleprevious Virginia report mens(including the oneabove) discovered dead or dying. (September22, 1991,just after the passageof hurricaneBob, off- Photograph/B.Curry shoreat the NorfolkCanyon [Armistead 1992]), and only one older NorthAmerican record attributed to hurricanedisplacement. In addition to the birds listed in Table 1, a remarkable south- westwardmovement of gulls,terns, and pelicansoccurred at C•3•3T a on July13 (andto a lesserextent July 14), into the strong(20- to 50- knot) southwestwinds following Bertha's passage (Table 2). Farther to the north,no increasesin RoyalTerns or any otherwhite terns werenoted, nor wereany of the speciesenumerated in Table2 ob- servedto be movingahead of or with the storm.On the western shoreof the Chesapeakein MathewsCounty, Virginia, and the Chesapeakeshores of Maryland,no clearlystorm-related birds were noted,despite intensive search efforts (Iliff 1996).Apparently, the windshad abatedenough by dawnof July13 in southeasternVir- ginia for the birds displaced(from the North Carolina seabird coloniesand from the coast) to reversedirection, but thesebirds wereconcentrated in a fairlynarrow band along the easternedge of the lowerChesapeake Bay. Discussion of the variousflight linesof A veterinarianin Mattydale,New York, examines a youngmale ternsand tubenosesduring Bertha and otherstorms will be found Black-cappedPetrel that wreckedat nearbySkaneateles Lake. in Part2, whichwill appearin a laterissue of FieldNotes. Photograph/S.Kuyo Certainlythe rarestof the year'sstorm-waifs was deposited by Bertha:a bird identifiedas a (WestIndian) Black Swift, Cypseloides n. niger,at ChappaquiddickIsland, Martha's Vineyard, Massachu- TABLE 2: OTHER MARINE BIRDS OBSERVED FRO•I SOUTH THI•IBLE ISLAND, BRIDGE-TUNNEL, VIRGINIA setts,on July14 (Forsteret al. 1996). SPECIES JULY 13 JULY14 EDOUARD Brown Pelican 700 12 RoyalTern 1265 40 HurricaneEdouard was a classicmid-summer -origin Common Tern 334 40 stormthat remainedwell offshoreuntil reachingLong Island and Least Tern 114 0 NewEngland, where good numbers of seabirdswere noted, particu- Sandwich Tern 226 2 larly from 'sseawatch sites. The stormwas labelled Forster's Tern 48 TropicalDepression Five until August22, at which time tropical LaughingGull 2430 150 stormEdouard was recognized about 500 milesWSW of the Cape HerringGull 347 120 VerdeIslands. By August 15, when Edouard was 925 mileseast of the Great Black-backed Gull 74 30

FALL 1997 entiremorning at the CBBTcomplex to the TABLE3: HURRICANEFRAN (continued) north. The lowestpressure recorded was SPECIES LOCALE STATE / PROVINCE DATE BIRDS FOUND 981 mb in the Gulf of Mexico.The only Cornrnon Tern DelawareRiver, Airport VA 09•07 10 storm-associated records involved two ConejohelaFlats, Susquehanna River MD 09/07 12 PresqueIsle Peninsula, Gull Point PA 09/08 500 jaegers, one dark-morph (probably LakeArthur, Moraine StatePark PA 09/08 1 Parasitic)and one light-morphParasitic, BaldEagle State Park PA 09/08 5 along with a Bridled Tern and a Red- Roseate Tern Kerr Resereoir VA 09/06 1 PotomacRiver at Wilson Bridge DC / MD 09/06 2 necked Phalarope,at Cape Point, Dare North Beach MD 09/06 1 County,North Carolina,in the morning, Forster'sTern LakePinehurst NC 09/06 12 and eight Parasiticand one Long-tailed Goldsboro NC 09/06 15 Fayetteville NC 09/06 5 jaegers(all adults)from the CBBTin the af- JordanLake NC 09/06 75 ternoon. Bridled Tern has not been record- FallsLake NC 09/06 35 ed from CapePoint in the past,though it is ChapelHill CountryClub NC 09/06 2 Lake Auman NC 09/06 20 fairlycommon offshore in the Gulf Stream Harris Lake NC 09/06 25 only15 to 20 milesdistant in thelate sum- Kerr Resetcoif NC 09/06 20 mer and fall. Small numbers of Parasitic ChesapeakeBay Bridge-Tunnel NC 09/06 50 Kerr Resereoir NC 09/06 5 Jaegersand Red-neckedPhalaropes are Rigby'sFolly, Bellevue VA 09/06 204 seenhere on a regularbasis during migra- KeystoneReservoir, Armstrong Co. VA 09/06 4 Yellow Creek StatePark VA 09/06 5 tion The total numberof jaegersfrom the BaldEagle State Park MD 09/06 1 CBBTis without precedent and probably in- LakeMarburg, Codorus Creek State Park PA 09/07 16 LakeArthur, Moraine StatePark PA 09/07 1 volvedbirds displacedfrom the offshore Gull-billed Tern North Beach MD 09/07 1 waters by northeasterly winds into Vienna MD 09/07 2 ChesapeakeBay, rather than any type of Point Lookout MD 09/08 3 Point Lookout MD 09/09 1 transportationwithin the storm.North- Sandwich Goldsboro NC 09/06 2 easterlywinds were clearly responsible for Tern lordanLake NC 09/06 15 the high countof 127 PeregrineFalcons, a FallsLake NC 09/06 3 Kerr Reservoir VA 09/06 2 typicalpelagic migrant off the EastCoast, BrieryCreek Reservoir VA 09/06 1 observedjust north of CBBTat the Kipto- Kingsmill,James River VA 09/06 1 North Beach MD 09/07 1 pekeHawkwatch on October7 duringand LakeAnna VA 09/07 1 followingJosephine's passage. ChesapeakeBay Bridge-Tunnel VA 09/07 60 MontaukPoint, Long Island NY 09/08 1 RoyalTern LakePinehurst NC 09/06 12 ACKNOWLI•DGMB•11• Goldsboro NC 09/06 6 JordanLake NC 09/06 120 A greatdebt of thanksis due list-ownersChuck Falls Lake NC 09/06 15 Williamsonand WallaceCoffey and to the com- Lake Auman NC 09/06 15 pilers of sightingsin their respectiveregions: Kerr Reservoir VA 09/06 40 Charles "Will" Cook in North Carolina; Nick Kingsmill,James River VA 09/06 65 ChesapeakeBay Bridge-Tunnel VA 09/07 150 Pulclnellain Pennsylvania;Patti Lehman in New Rigby'sFolly, Bellevue MD 09/07 31 Jersey;Dorothy Crumb, P. A. Buckley,Tom FireIsland Inlet, Long Island NY 09/07 8 Burke,and Angus Wilson in New York;and Bob LakeAnna VA 09/08 3 Curry in Ontario. Without the dedicationof CaspianTern •ordanLake NC 09/06 18 these observersto data gathering,this article Falls Lake NC 09/06 10 Lake Auman NC 09/06 8 could not have been assembledaccurately. Kerr Reservoir VA 09/06 3 Instrumentalin the reviewand improvementof Kingsmill,lames River VA 09/06 25 thisarticle were Will Cook,Bob Curry, and Brian PleasantValley Sewage Ponds MD 09/06 1 Patteson.Finally, this paper could never have ChesapeakeBay Bridge-Tunnel VA 09/07 2 been written without the following field ob- CraneyIsland VA 09•07 88 Oakland MD 09•07 1 servers,who contributed recordscited herein: R. Yellow Creek State Park PA 09/07 2 L Anderson, H.T. Armistead, T. Armour, D. LakeMarburg, Codorus Creek State Park PA 09/07 1 Beadle,J. Berry, J. Biggs, E.A.T Blom,D. Brown, LakeArthur, MoraineState Park PA 09/07 3 J Burger,T. Burke, C. Campbell, B. Carl, B. DelawareRiver, Philadelphia airport PA 09/07 40 Chaffton,D. Clark,G. Coady,C. Cook,J. Cooley, LakeMarburg, Cordorus Creek State Park PA 09/07 1 B Cooper,D. Campbell,P. Craig,M. Cribb, R. ConejohelaFlats, Susquehanna River PA 09/07 37 BlackTern CuriesNeck VA 09/05 2 Crossley,H. Cuttle, R. Curry,W. D'Anna, K. Fayetteville NC 09/06 40 Dawd,L. Davidson,F. Day,E. Dean,B. DiLabio, JordanLake NC 09/06 35 R Dobos, L. Dole, R. Dole, L. Douglas,W. Falls Lake NC 09/06 75 Evans,A. Farnsworth,G. Felton,K. Fox,L. Frey, ChapelHill CountryClub NC 09/06 6 J K Gablet, T Garner, C. Gibson,L Gibson, D. Lake Auman NC 09/06 12 Harris Lake NC 09/06 35 Gill, A. Guarente, M. Gustarson, A. Guthrie, T. Kerr Reservoir NC 09/06 15 Gwynn, B. Haas, F. Haas, D. Hart, M. Hart, R. BrieryCreek Reservoir VA 09•06 2 Heft, B. Henschel,B. Henshaw,P. Hess,R. Hilton, HuntingCreek, Alexandria VA 09/06 3 T Hlnce, J. M. Holdsworth, A. Humann, J. Smith Mountain Lake VA 09/06 2 Hyman,M. Illif, J.Jensen, A. Keith,S. Kelling,K. ChesapeakeBay Bridge-Tunnel VA 09/07 15 Kmght,E. Kwater,B. Kurtz,J. Lamey, AJ. Lauro, Kingsmill,James River VA 09/08 13 K Lebo,L. Lewis,W. Lindley,L. Lynch,M. Lynch, (table continuedon page8Z8

FALL1997 8Z7 TABLE3: HURRICANEFRAN (continued) G. Mackiernan,B. Mayhank,K. McLaughlin,A McTavish,J. McWilliams, J. C. Miller, S. Mltal, B SPECIES LOCALE STATE / PROVINCE DATE BIRDS FOUND , Nikula, M. O'Brien, J. Olmstead,R. Paonessa,B BlackTern Kerr Reservoir VA 09/07 3 Patteson, G. Pearce, E. Pederson, S. Perkins, T Rigby'sFolly, Bellevue MD 09/07 3 Yellow Creek StatePark PA 09/07 3 Piephoff, S. Pike, J. Pippen, P. Pisano, N LakeArthur, Moraine StatePark PA 09/07 7 Pulcinella, I. Reese,E. Reich, S. Ricciar&, M LakeMarburg, Codorus Creek State Park PA 09/07 6 Pines,D. Salisbury,E. Scarpulla,M. Schultz,L Lake Somerset PA 09/07 Schultz,R. Schutsky,D. Schwab,E Schwalbe,G MountDavis-Meyersdale PA 09/07 Schwalbe,R. Scovell,J. Shields,D. Sibley,R JonesInlet, Long Island NY 09/07 25 Simpson,D. Snyder,J. Stasz,M. Stinson,R PresqueIsle Peninsula, Gull Point PA 09/07 53 Fort Erie ON 09/07 150 Stymeist,B. Sullivan,B. Taber,J. Tiley, S. Tmgley, HigbeeBeach, Cape May NJ 09/08 10 L. Todd, B. Truitt, 1LVeit, J.Walker, G. Wheaton, Hamilton ON 09/09 1 R. White,H. Wierenga,G. Wilhelm,B. Williams, SootyTern JordanLake NC 09/06 1 L. Willis, A. Wilson (ON), A. Wilson (NY), W Harris Lake NC 09/06 1 Wilson, D. Wright, I. Wright, P. Wright, A Falls Lake NC 09/06 3 Lake Auman NC 09/06 2 Wormington,and J.Youngß [The editors of Fzeld HuntingCreek, Alexandria VA 09/06 1 Noteswish to thankDaphne Gemmill for steer- Kerr Reservoir VA 09/06 24 ing us to the NOAA imagesused in this amde ChesapeakeBay Bridge-Tunnel VA 09/06 11 We alsothank Shawneen Finnegan for helpwith Kingsmill,James River VA 09/06 8 photographs.We areparticularly grateful to Paul SandyPoint State Park MD 09/06 20 Lehman,whose cooperation was essential for the BlackMarsh,Baltimore Co. MD 09/06 15-20 LittleSeneca Lake, Black Hill Reservoir MD 09/06 2 timely appearanceof this article, and whose OceanCity MD 09/06 2 formidableexpertise was invaluable to us.] ChesapeakeBay Bridge-Tunnel VA 09/07 6 Rigby'sFolly, Bellevue MD 09/07 1 LITERATURE CITED North Beach MD 09/07 1 TilghmanIsland MD 09/07 2 Armistead,H.T. 1992.The fallmigration: Middle CapeHeulopen State Park DE 09/07 3 Atlantic Coast region. AmericanBirds 46 DelawareRiver, Philadelphia Airport PA 09/07 5 74-79. ConejohelaFlats, Susquehanna River PA 09/07 2 Barnes, I. 1993. North Carolina's Hurmcane SchuylkillRiver, 1-476 ARt. 422 PA 09/07 2 History.University of North CarolinaPress, CapeMay Point NJ 09/07 6 CapeMay/Lewes Ferry NJ 09/07 1 ChapelHill. MorichesInlet, Long Island NY 09/07 1 Brinkley,E.S. 1997. The ChangingSeasons The Newton NJ 09/08 1 fall migration 1996. National Audubon CapeMay Point NJ 09/08 1 SocietyField Notes 51: 8-15. JonesInlet, Long Island NY 09/08 2 Crowell,K.L. 1997.Region 6--St. LawrenceFall FireIsland Inlet, Long Island NY 09/08 1 Report.Kingbird 47: 59-62. ZacksBay NY 09/08 1 Curry, B., and I. Olmsted.1996. The gifts of JaegerRocks, Fort Erie ON 09/08 1 Hurricane Fran. BirdersJournal 5: 231. Chub Point ON 09/08 1 WaveflyBeach, Fort Erie ON 09/08 1 Curry, B. 1996. Hurricane Fran : September North Beach MD 09/08 1 1996. BirdersJournal 5: 283-297. HerefordInlet NJ 09/09 1 Davis, R. 1996. The nestingseason: Southern Wavefly Beach,Fort Erie ON 09/09 1 Atlantic Coast region. National Audubon Hamlin BeachState Park NY 09/10 1-2 SocietyField Notes 50: 940-943. Wavefly Beach, Fort Erie ON 09/10 1 --. 1997a. The fall migration: Southern BridledTern JordanLake NC 09/06 4 Atlantic Coast region. National Audubon Falls Lake NC 09/06 1 SocietyField Notes 51: 39-43. Lake Auman NC 09/06 1 --. 1997b. Briefs for the Files. Chat 61 ChesapeakeBay Bridge-Tunnel VA 09/06 1 204-220. Kingsmill,James River VA 09/06 1 ChesapeakeBayBridge-Tunnel VA 09/07 5 D'Anna, W. 1997.Region l--Niagara Frontier BollingAir Force Base DC 09/07 1 FallReport. Kingbird 47: 30-36. Black JordanLake NC 09/06 6 Ellison, W.G., and N.L. Martin. 1997. The fall ;kimmer ChapelHill CountryClub NC 09/06 1 migration: New Englandregion. Natzonal Harris Lake NC 09/06 1 AudubonSociety Field Notes 50: 23-28. ChapelHill CountryClub NC 09/06 1 Forster,R. 1986. The winter season:Northeastern Kerr Reservoir VA 09/06 1 maritime region. American Birds 40 Kingsmill,James River VA 09/06 1 254-260. BaldEagle State Park PA 09/07 1 Forster,R. A., M. W. Pines,and R. H. Stymelst American Port Colborne ON 09/09 2 1996.Bird sightings: July 1996 summary Bzrd Oystercatcher Observer 24:313-318. Red Kerr Reservoir VA 09/06 1 ---. 1997.Bird sightings:September 1996 Phalarope BurgesonNature Center NY 09/08 2 summary.Bird Observer 25: 41-48. PeaceBridge ON 09/08 3 Woodlawn BeachState Park NY 09/09 1 Griffith. K.C. 1997. Region2--Genesee Fall Report.Kingbird 47: 36-40. (tablecontinued on page 829) Holland, G.I. 1993. Global Guide to Forecasting.WMO/TC-No. 560, Report No. TCP-31. World Meteorological Organization,Geneva. Iliff, M. 1996. The nesting season:Middle Atlantic Coast region. National Audubon SocietyField Notes 50: 936-940. ß 1997. The fall migration: Middle Atlantic Coast region. National Audubon SocietyField Notes 51: 34-39.

828 FIELD NOTES Kaufman,K. 1996.The ChangingSeasons: The TABLE3: HURRICANEFRAN (continued) nestingseasonß National Audubon Society F•eldNotes 50: 918-921. SPECIES -- LOCALE STATE/ PROVINCE DATE BIRDSFOUN•- Kelhng,S. 1997.Region 3--Finger LakesßFall Red-necked JordanLake NC 09/06 41 ReportßKingbird 47: 41-47. Phalarope FallsLake NC 09/06 35 Koeneke,M.A., and B. Purcell.1997. Region 5-- Kerr Reservoir VA 09/06 43 OneidaLake Basin. Fall ReportßKingbird 47: ChesapeakeBay Bridge-Tunnel VA 09/07 1 53-59. CraneyIsland VA 09/07 8 Oakland MD 09/07 1 Landsea,C.W. 1996.Frequently Asked Quest- Lake Ontelaunee PA 09/07 2 •ons:Hurricanes, Typhoons, and Tropical PresqueIsle Peninsula-Gull Point PA 09/07 1 Cyclones.Part I: Definitions,Basic Ques- Imperial PA 09/07 1 tions, and BasicInformationß Part II: Real- LawrenceCo. PA 09/07 1 Time Information, Data, and Referencesß Woodlawn BeachState Park NY 09/09 12 http://tropical.atmos.colostate.edu Batavia Waste Water Plant NY 09/09 9 ß 1993. A climatologyof intense(or StewartPark, Ithaca NY 09/09 10 major)Ariantic hurricanes. Monthly Weather Black-bellied JordanLake NC 09/06 15 Review211: 1703-1713. Plover Kerr Reservoir VA 09/06 25 LeGrand,H.E. Jr. 1991.The autumnmigration: Semipalmated JordanLake NC 09/06 3 SouthernAtlantic Coast Region (Summer Plover ChapelHill CountryClub NC 09/06 1 Goldsboro NC 09/06 2 1990report)ß American Birds 45: 88-91ß Kerr Reservoir VA 09/06 2 ß. 1985.The autumnmigration: Southern Marbled JordanLake NC 09/06 6 Atlantic Coastregionß American Birds 39: Godwit FallsLake NC 09/06 1 35-42. SandyPoint State Park MD 09/06 1 Murphy, R.C. 1936. OceanicBirds of South Greater JordanLake NC 09/06 7 America. v. 1. American Museum of Natural Yellowlegs KerrReservoir VA 09/06 1 Hastory,New York. Lesser ChapelHill Country Club NC 09/06 1 Paxton,R.O., W.I. Boyle,lr., and D.A. Cutler. Yellowlegs JordanLake NC 09/06 4 1996.The nesting season: Hudson-Delaware SandyRiver Reservoir VA 09/06 1 region.National Audubon Society Field Notes Buff-breasted JordanLake NC 09/06 1 50: 931-935. Sandpiper ß 1997. The fall migration: Hudson- Stilt BrieryCreek Reservoir VA 09/06 2 Delawareregion. National Audubon Society Sandpiper Imperial PA 09/06 1 F•eld Notes 51: 28-33. Oakland MD 09/07 1 Petersen,W. 1996. The nesting season:New BaldEagle State Park PA 09/07 1 Englandregion. National Audubon Society Willet JordanLake NC 09/06 6 F•eld Notes 50:927-931. Kerr Reservoir VA 09/06 1 Pulcmella, N. 1996. Hurricane Fran's fallout. Goldsboro NC 09/06 1 PennsylvaniaBirds 10: 138-142. Short-billed JordanLake NC 09/06 1 Schiff, S., and A. Wollin. 1996. Region10- Dowitcher Marine. Summer Report. Kingbird 46: unidentified Kerr Reservoir VA 09/06 4 371-375. dowitcher 1997. Region 10--Marine. Autumn Ruddy JordanLake NC 09/06 4 Report.Kingbird47: 75-81. Turnstone Kerr Reservoir VA 09/06 6 Ve•t, R.R., and W.R. Petersen.1993. Birds of Pectoral ChapelHill CountryClub NC 09/06 1 Massachusetts. Massachusetts Audubon Sandpiper KerrReservoir VA 09/06 1 Society,Lincoln, MA. Sanderling JordanLake NC 09/06 22 Kerr Reservoir VA 09/06 73 BrieryCreek Reservoir VA 09/06 1 Goldsboro NC 09/06 12 BaldEagle State Park PA 09/07 1 Yellow Creek StatePark PA 09/07 1 DaytonGravelPits NY 09/08 1 Least Kerr Reservoir VA 09/06 1 Sandpiper Semipalmated JordanLake NC 09/06 2 Sandpiper SandyRiver Reservoir VA 09/06 1 BfieryCreekReservoir V_A 09/9•-- 5 __

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850 FIELDNOTES Birds" On his tri India'sTiger Park, Warren and his S•qift Audubons © found themselves between a rockand a hard place. Gettingto the nestingplace of the elusiveblack faced Ibisbillby bus and elephant back was the easy part. Spottingthebird among themillions ofgrey • .•.: stonesof the KosiRiver bythe townof '" Ramnagarwas another thing. The Ibisbillis :. the samecolor and shapeas the stones aroundit. A worthychallenge to anybirder. Butonce again the incredibleresolving power and the brightcrisp image of Warren's SwiftAudubons separated bird fromstone. Warren'slife birdsnow standat 2,985 includingthe Lammergeiror beardedvulture, another "really nice bird". (Rumors that the ominouscough in the bushesclose by wasanything more than a stork-billed Kingfisherwith a badcold have been greatly exaggerated).

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FALL1997 851 *' of t• JwoFor ~ changing seasons SpringMigration, March 1-May 31, 1997 JEFF PRICE birdmigration patterns, it is oftenthe weather of themoment that playsa majorrole in determiningwhen, and where, birds are LIMATECHANGE hasreceived agreat deal ofpress in1997. Amid found.During the middle to latemigration period this year, a series theshort-term attention to E1Nifio and long-term concern of weather disturbancesmoved from west to eastacross the conti- aboutglobal warming, there is a sensethat our very definitions of nent.Migration was reported as delayed--by one to threeweeks in thetiming of theseasons may be subject to revision. mostareas--and many western spedes turned up in the east.For Onestudy examined satellite data and found that "spring" is ar- example,a Violet-greenSwallow was found in Provincetown, rivingup to sixdays earlier, and "fall" four days later, in northern Massachusetts,andup to 26Western Tanagers were found well to latitudes.A scientist in theUnited Kingdom examined changes in thedate on which birds laid their first egg; in 20of the65 species theeast of theirbreeding range. examined,the first egg was being laid an average of ninedays earli- Theseweather patterns had other effects as well. Some winter- er nowthan in 1971.In northernMichigan, an examination of 30 ingspecies lingered, and April blizzards and heavy snowstorms had yearsof recordsby a singleobserver showed that 34% of thespecies a highhuman and avian toll in theUpper Midwest and parts of werearriving earlier, some by up to threeweeks. NewEngland. The weather also led to manyfallouts being reported Theearly part of the springmigration in 1997was like that. thisspring. There were as many as five fallouts reported in Florida, Manyareas noted record early arrivals, some species breaking their threein Texas,two in Ontario andManitoba, and one each in previousearly arrival records by morethan a week.In Alaska,11 Wisconsin,Michigan, Minnesota, and Colorado. Many of these speciesarrived early in theupper Cook Inlet, nine species in thein- eventswere widespread. On April25-26, there were groundings re- teriornear Tok, and three on theNorth Slope. The pattern did not portedin Florida,Louisiana, and Texas.The Texasfallout was re- hold,however, and weather played a principalrole in therest of this portedas the sixth best in 21years of record-keepingatHigh springsmigration. Island,and as having grounded an estimated 3000-4000 warblers Climatecan be thought of asan average of theweather over on PadreIsland. (The pointhas been made before, but birders time.While there is probably a relationshipbetween climate and shouldremember that these fallouts are not good for birds. For all

83Z FIELDNOTES of thebirds that turn up exhaustedin coastalwoodlots, many more for more information on the hundreds,or eventhousands, of war- drown in the Gulf.) blers seen in small areas. The weatherpatterns were such that migrationwas bunched up The congregationthat wasn't this year was of shorebirdsgather- in mostareas, leading to manyregional compilers commenting on ing alongthe DelawareBay shoreline in lateMay. Numbers were re- howgood the migration was. This points out the difficulty of as- ducedagain this year, as were the numbers of horseshoecrabs lay- sessingbird populations by how many are seen during migration. ingtheir eggs on thebeaches. Shorebirds in DelawareBay feed on Foryears, some regional compilers have decried the poor status of horseshoecrab eggs to fattenup for theirjourney to theirArctic spnngmigration and wondered whether this might be tied to de- breedinggrounds. Declines in shorebirdnumbers are thought to be dinesin birdpopulations. The only way of adequatelytracking bird tiedto thedecline in horseshoecrabs. The governor of NewJersey placedan interimban on thetaking of horseshoecrabs and has populationsisby standardized quantitative surveys. If youare not sinceextended the ban by executiveorder. Fishermen, who use acuvein countingbirds, either through Christmas Bird Counts, horseshoecrabs for eelbait, are currently contesting the ban in BreedingBird Surveys, Breeding Bird Censuses, point counts, court.Birders need to followthis developing issue and support a ProjectFeederWatch, or otherprograms, I encourage you to be- banon thetaking of horseshoecrabs until sustainable harvest regu- come involved. lationscan be developed. Springalso brought the first sign of potentialavian impacts fromE1 Nifio. E1 Nifio is anirregular variation in oceancurrents in SPECIES RECOVERING equatorialregions of thePacific Ocean. A strongE1 Nifio canhave Therewas more good news on the endangeredspecies front. globaleffects, bringing droughts to someparts of theworld and PeregrineFalcons bred in Connecticutfor thefirst time since the floodingto others.Increases in seasurface temperatures, and 1940sand continued to dowell in othereastern states. Bald Eagles changesin theupwelling currents that bring nutrients to thesea arealso doing particularly well. Despite setbacks in Massachusetts, surface,often lead to changesin seabirddistributions and numbers. wherethe April Fools' Day blizzard was thought responsible for the ThisE1 Nifio startedvery early in theyear and is oneof the abandonmentof two or threenests, other areas had a goodearly strongestyet recorded. In Alaska,the E1Nifio was thought to have nestingperiod. For example, Nevada had its first known chick affectedboth the volume and diversity of the arianmigrants pass- hatchedsince 1866. There were 14 pairsof eaglesnesting in lngthrough the state by alteringthe position of theAleutian Low. Delaware,12 pairs in NewJersey, and six in easternPennsylvania. Staytuned to thesummer, fall, and winter Changing Seasons for In North Dakota,nine nests were found along the Missouri River moreon E1Nifio andits impacts on bird distributions. systemas opposed to thetypical two or threein recentyears. In MontereyCounty, California, a pairnested for the firsttime since MIGRATORY SPECTACLES 1934.This is just moreevidence that the EndangeredSpecies Act Someof thegreatest congregations of wildlife in NorthAmerica canwork; but it takestime for a speciesto recover--justas it took canbe seenduring migration. This spring saw sizable concentra- timefor thespecies to becomeendangered in the first place. tionsof manyspecies. In the GrandManan Archipelago, more than 10,000Brant (almost 8% of thebreeding population of the hrota THE LAST (ALMOST) BIRDING FRONTIER subspecies)were counted in earlyApril. An observerin northern Regularlyscheduled pelagic trips are slowly improving our under- New Brunswickcounted 11,700 Black Scoters (23% of the north- standingof thedistributions of pelagicbirds off thecoast of North easternNorth American population) in earlyMay. Snow Goose America.This season the pelagictrips off the OuterBanks of North populationsare exploding, so flocks of 400,000in PhelpsCounty, Carolinaturned up 111Black-capped Petrels on onetrip, oneFea's Nebraska,on March8 andat Baie-du-Febvre,Qudbec, on April 14 Petrelon a differenttrip, andHerald Petrels were seen on at least werenot unexpected.Other notable concentrations included 500 fourtrips. The numberof sightingsof HeraldPetrels suggests we TrumpeterSwans at Nulki Lake,British Columbia, on April 7, some needto reconsiderwhat the distribution of thisspecies might be in 50,000waterfowl in PresqueIsle Bay, Pennsylvania, during the last thewestern North Atlantic. A trip off theAlabama coast produced weekof March, and40,000 Ross's Geese (almost 18% of the world's fiveto sixWilson'sStorm-Petrels, 12-15 Band-rumped Storm- population)at LowerKlamath National Wildlife Refuge in Petrels,and one or two Leach'sStorm-Petrels, notable numbers for California on March 8 and 9. theGulf of Mexico.In Oregon,a NOAAvessel sighted 14 Murphy's Thereare several reasons why birds congregate at onespot. One Petrelsapproximately 110 nautical miles off thesouthern Oregon is a restrictionor limitationof suitablehabitat: For example,wet- coaston May 3, andtwo more on May 12.In Alaska,there were landswith openwater in spring,mudfiats for shorebirds,or access severalMay reports of theglobally endangered Short-tailed to anadequate food supply (e.g., horseshoe crab eggs). Another big Albatross.At leastsix individuals were seen associating with fishing reason involves weather. Certain weather conditions can concen- vesselssouth of Kodiak Island, and another two were seenfarther tratebirds in smallareas. Many White Ibises migrated through the west,south of the ShumaginIslands. This species is occasionally Rockport,Texas, area on March8, with up to 10,000being counted. hookedby long-line fishing vessels. The fisheries industry is experi- Springcongregations of shorebirds can also be impressive. This mentingwith ways to reducethe incidental taking of seabirds. season,125,000 Red-necked Phalaropes were counted passing by GoletaPoint near Santa Barbara, California, in a 1.5 hourperiod OTHER WATERFOWL OF NOTE on April 28. Similarnumbers were seen from EastBeach in Santa Thisseason brought reports of at least34 "Eurasian" Green-winged Barbaraon April29. GuyMcCaskie commented that "One can only Teal,more than 230 EurasianWigeon, and at least33 TuftedDucks I guessat the numberof Red-neckedPhalaropes that moved through Theteal (not countingthe "Eurasian-type" race resident in the the SantaBarbara Channel April 28-May 1."Weather-related con- Aleutians)were concentratedin the AtlanticProvinces, but one was gregationsoccurred during the fallouts mentioned earlier. In par- alsoseen in Hawaii.Eurasian Wigeon reports were concentrated in tlcular,see the Texas, Ontario, and Mountain West regional reports the northeast(Atlantic Provinces and Qudbec),Alberta, the Great

FALL 1997 833 Basin,and Alaska, although undoubtedly many along the Pacific weatheris that sometypical winter birds stayed around. Snowy Coastwent unmentioned. Finally, Tufted Ducks were also concen- Owlsdidn't leave Boston until May 20, PrinceEdward Point, tratedin theAtlantic Provinces. One suggestion for thenumbers of Ontario,until May 25,Barrie Island, Ontario, through the end of sightingsof all threespecies in theAtlantic Provinces is thatthe the reportingperiod, Marathon County, Wisconsin, until May 24, areahas become a newwintering or migratorycongregation area Duluth,Minnesota, until May 22, andWhitefish Point Bird for Europeanbirds. Perhaps more likely is that one or all of these Observatory,Michigan, until May 28. Severalregions also reported speciesnow breed in NorthAmerica. This is especiallytrue for latedates for othertypical "winter" birds like Golden-crowned EurasianWigeon. The questionis, where? Kinglets. OtherEuropean species made appearances this spring. The followingreports were probably not relatedto thestring of WhooperSwans were reported from the region with weathersystems specifically but to thelingering of winterin gener- littlecomment as to theirlikely provenance (but some known es- al.The nineRazorbills found on LakeOntario near Buffington, capeeshave been wandering that region in recentyears). The Ontario,on May 18must have come as a shock.Eight of themwere WhooperSwan pair on Attu nestedagain this year, so the species stillpresent May 23. Northeast gales off thecoast of Newfoundland remains(barely) a NorthAmerican breeder. A"Bewick's" Tundra broughthundreds of IvoryGulls to communitieson the tip of the Swanwas found in Oregonon March19. A Pink-footedGoose was northernpeninsula there. A BorealOwl strucka windowof a Lake seenwith a flockof SnowGeese in BerksCounty, Pennsylvania, County,Ohio, home on April5. Thisfirst report of thisspecies for fromMarch 29 throughat leastApril 10.Barnacle Geese were re- Ohio leads me to wonder whether this was an individual that win- portedfrom five regions this spring. In eachregion sightings were teredin the areaor a confusedmigrant. consideredto beof escapees.Two Barnacle Geese were seen in Davidsonville,Maryland (March 17), threewere seen at Boothbay THE WESTERN EXPRESS Harbor, (April 2), onewas in Regina,Saskatchewan (April Theweather this spring did morethan delay migration. It alsodis- 9), onewas at Montmagny,Quebec (May 14),and one was seen at placedmany species to theeast. This spring may be remembered as LakeFlower, New York (May 8). Thepattern of sightings--with theyear of theRose-breasted Grosbeak. Record setting numbers birdsmoving from south to north,added to thesightings of many wereseen in PinellasCounty (100+ on April23) andSt. George otherwaterfowl of Europeanorigin--suggests these could have Island,Florida (40+ onApril 23). Theywere reported coming to beenwild birds.The recordscommittees in the statesand provinces feedersin the Mid-Atlantic, SouthernAtlantic Coast,and involvedshould take a carefullook at thesesightings, in context Appalachianregions. In theSouthern Atlantic Coast region their with prevailingweather patterns and other sightings, before rele- occurrencealong the coastwas described as "unprecedented" and gatingthese birds to theescaped category. Finally, a goosenot of excellentnumbers were found across the region.There was also a Europeanorigin was the EmperorGoose found among cholera-af- heavyflight in NewBrunswick and . Even with this flictedwaterfowl in ClayCounty, Nebraska, on March17. If accept- easternshift in themigration, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks continued edby therecords committee, this would be amongthe firstsight- to turn up in thewest in aboutaverage numbers. Seven were seen lngsof thisspecies away from the West Coast. Another Emperor in the Trans-Pecosof Texas (above average), two in western Gooseaway from the West Coast, but in theopposite direction, Nebraska,one each in Colorado,Idaho, Wyoming, and Nevada, turnedup in Hawaii. more than 10 in New Mexico, four in Arizona, three in the Oregon/Washingtonregion, four in the Mid-Pacificregion (one THE •L•WKS SO• P/•T , . . winteredlocally), and about fifteen in theSouthern Pacific region I Migrationof hawksis not aspronounced in springas in fall.Fewer wonderwhether the b•rds turning up in thewest winter in a differ- observersare manning fewer hawk watch stations and the migra- ent areathan the bulk of thosein the east?The birdsdisplaced east- tionmay be more diffuse in bothspace and time. There was no real wardwere almost certainly trans-gulf migrants, while those in the migratoryhawk news of note,but MississippiKites provided some westlikely took an overlandroute. interestingextralimital patterns. Mississippi Kites arrived early in Alongwith the Rose-breastedGrosbeaks came a smatteringof Florida and returned to North Carolina, , and easternreports of Black-headedGrosbeaks. The winter ranges of Georgiain increasingnumbers and locations. There appeared to be thesetwo speciesdo not overlapto a greatextent, and the migra- severaldifferent flights producing extralimital records this season. torypathways are also largely different (trans-gulf vs. overland) Oneflight occurred in earlyMay (4-8) with b•rdsreaching Rowley, Thepattern of sightingsof thisspecies suggests that a fewof these Massachusetts;Hoopes Reservoir, Delaware; and South Windsor birds(Georgia, Florida, Mississippi) likely crossed the gulf and may andBethel, Connecticut. A secondflight occurred a fewdays later havebeen mixed in with migratingRose-breasted Grosbeaks. The (May 11-17)with birdsseen at Fort Smallwood,Maryland; otherrecords likely refer to birdsdisplaced from their typical over- Grimsbyand Pt. Pelee, Ontario; Hopkins and Estral Beach, landmigratory route. Complicating matters further, females of the Michigan;Regina, Saskatchewan; and Ledges State Park, Iowa. two speciescan be difficultto tell apart,so some of thesereports Finally,there was a lateMay flight(28-30) whenbirds were seen at maynot be valid. Nevertheless, two were reported from Georgia, NinigretNational Wildlife Refuge and Block Island, ; one from Minnesota,one from Manitoba, one from Gulf Breeze, Orleans,Massachusetts; and Cape May, New Jersey. The pattern of Florida,and one from Le Flore County, Mississippi. With thisstring thesesightings suggests that there may have been a weather-related of easternrecords it istoo bad the two birds reported from Prince componentto thedirection of theirflight. EdwardIsland, Canada, were not documented.Were they really Black-headed Grosbeaks or misidentified Rose-breasted Grosbeaks? EXTENDED WINTER VACATIONS Anotherspecies with goodrepresentation in theeast this year Thestring of weathersystems that moved from west to eastacross wasthe Western Tanager. Like the Black-headed Grosbeak, this the continentheld winter in placein manyareas. Snow was still on species'migratory route is largely overland, not trans-gulf.The pat- the groundin lateApril in somenorthern states. One resultof this tern of sightingsof vagrantssupports this. Furthermore, examining

834 FIELD NOTES the datesof occurrencesuggests that the tanagers cotfid have been BentonCounty, Arkansas; and Allen Parish, Louisiana. Birds this caughtin severaldifferent weather systems. The first birds occurred seasonwere also seen in Castroville,Texas; Sherman County, m earlyMay with individuals being seen in Wisconsin(May 6-7) Kansas;Otero and Baca countiesand Lamir, Colorado; and andIowa (May 3). Thesecond group followed a litfielater with in- Roswell,New Mexico. In partsof Europe,this species is reportedto dlvldualsseen in Pennsylvania(May 10), Wisconsin (May 13 and raisesix broods per year. If thesame is true in NorthAmerica, then 15-17),Michigan (May 12-14), North Dakota (May 13), and Iowa theremight not be a limit to thespeed and extent of thisspecies' (May 8-13). Nextcame a groupof birdsseen in NewBrunswick rangeexpansion. (May 19),Ontario (May 19and 20-21), Illinois (May 18),and Floridarecorded three cowbird species this season. Brown- Michigan(May 20-23). A fourthwave of birdsturned up in Nova headedCowbirds breed in the state,a BronzedCowbird was found Scotia(May 23-24), (May 24), Ontario (May at St.Marks National Wildlife Refuge, and more than 60 Shiny 24-26),and Wisconsin (May 25). Finally, a fewlate birds were seen Cowbirdswere reported. Shiny Cowbird sightings came from m NorthDakota (May 29) andNew Brunswick (May 31). Seven Naples(30), Key West (23), Highlands County (one), Franklin birdsseen in Manitobawere mosfiy reported without dates. County(one), Fort George Island (four), and Escambia/Santa Rosa Manywestern species turned up asvagrants in theeast. County(three). Other Shiny Cowbirds were reported from Massachusettsrecorded its first Violet-green Swallow with an indi- DauphinIsland, Alabama; Grand Isle and Plaquemines Parish, vidualat Provincetownon May 12.A Band-tailedPigeon was seen Louisiana;and Port O'Connor and Tarrant County in Texas. in Winnipeg,Manitoba, from April 7 to May2. A Black-billed Finally,Cave Swallows (more benign invaders) have finally crossed Magpieall theway east to Marietta,Ohio, in Aprilcotfid have been the Sabine River from Texas into Louisiana. anescaped captive, but a nestingpair found in PlymouthCounty, Iowa,in May representedthe extreme eastern edge of thebreeding RARITIES range.Iowa's fourth Vermilion Flycatcher was found in Holsteinon Raritiesthis spring came from Eurasia, South America, Central May24. Other western birds included aCassin's (Solitary) Vireo in America,and the West Indies. Space does not allowa completerun- ,Townsend's Warbler in Massachusetts,Virginia's Warbler down,but some highlights included Canada's first Black-tailed m Michigan,and single Black-throated Gray Warblers in Ontario Gull,an individual seen on SableIsland from May 8 throughthe and Iowa. endof thereporting period. This may have been the same bird that Themystery bird of theseason had to bethe White-winged hadbeen present at theChesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel in Virginia, Dove.This species was seen substantially farther north and east lastseen on March 20. Common Cuckoos are reported many years, thannormal. While this species has been expanding its range in re- usuallyfrom Alaska. This year's bird was seen on SandIsland, centyears, it isnot a sufficientexplanation for thepattern of occur- Midway,Hawaii! A TropicalKingbird found in KeweenawCounty, rence.Single birds this year were seen in Sterling,Connecticut (May Michigan,on May23 wotfidbe the state's first. With onlya littleef- 18,first documentedstate record); Ottumwa, Iowa (April 8-15, first fort,seeing the kingbird and a SnowyOwl in thesame day wotfid staterecord); Columbia, Missouri (April-early May); Le Grand, havebeen possible. Iowa(April 28 to May16, second state record); Lawrence County, Otherrarities: West Indian species seen in Floridathis year in- SouthDakota (May 28, second state record); Marion County, cludedKey West Quail-Dove, two to fourLa Sagra's Flycatchers, Kansas(April 19-24); and Garyin County, Oklahoma (April BahamaMockingbird, and two Stripe-headedTanagers. Central 22-23).Only time will tellif thiswas a flukeor if thisspecies isbe- American/Mexicanspecies included Mangrove Cuckoo, White-col- ginningrapidly to extendits range. laredSwift, and apparent Slate-throated Redstart in Texas,and Black-cappedGnatcatchers (breeding) and Fan-tailed Warbler in RANGE EXPANSIONS Arizona.Finally, Eurasian species included Fieldfare (New HouseFinches aren't in thenews anymore, having pretty much Brunswickand Nova Scotia), European Goldfinch (Quebec), crossedthe continent. Other species, though, may be hot on their CommonChaffinch (Massachusetts), Curlew Sandpiper (North heels. These include the Great-tailed Grackle and Eurasian Carolina,Louisiana, Texas, and California),Red-necked Stint Collared-Dove. (BritishColumbia and Alaska), Little Stint (Yukon), Northern At thebeginning of thetwentieth century, Great-tailed Grackles Wheatear(Kansas), Siberian Accentor (Idaho), Common Ringed in theUnited States were largely restricted to southTexas. They first Plover(Hawaii), and CommonPochard, Eurasian Kestrel, turnedup in Austin,Texas, in 1915,in Arizonain the 1930s, MongolianPlover, Common Greenshank, Wood Sandpiper, Long- Oklahoma in 1953, Kansasin 1964, and Nevada in 1973.This sea- toedStint, Eyebrowed Thrush, Olive-backed Pipit, Pechora Pipit, sonbrought numerous reports from Iowa and a countof 30 in Brambling,Eurasian Btfilfmch, and Hawfinch (all in Alaska). Columbia,Missouri (where they nested in 1996).South Dakota Readerswill needto turn to the appropriateregional reports for recordedthe species in fourcounties, with breeding suspected in more details. one Threefemales were sighted near Chubback, Idaho, and a fe- In closing,there was one recurrent thread occurring throughout male Great-tailed/Boat-tailed Grackle seen at Whitefish Point Bird theaccounts this season (and most seasons). Many species were re- Observatoryin Michiganwas almost certainly this species. On the portedwithout any documentation. Some compilers delete these westcoast, grackles were seen away from their usual haunts in recordsin theirentirety while others mention them, albeit reluc- MontereyCounty and the Yosemite Valley in Californiaand in tantly.I encourageall readersto learnhow to documenttheir rare Harney,Oregon. How far will thisspecies be able to expandits bird sightings,and to submitdocumentation that is ascomplete as range? possible.Good birding! A similarquestion shotfid be askedfor theEurasian Collared- Dove. Introduced into the Bahamasin 1974, it soon crossedto JEFFPRICE is the directorof the U.S.Important Bird Areas Program Floridaand has spread rapidly throughout the state.It haspushed of theAmerican Bird Conservancy. He is alsothe seniorauthor of The northinto Colbert County, Alabama; Grenada County, Mississippi; SummerAt/as of NorthAmerican Birds (Academic Press, 1995).

FALL lgg7 835 how to read the regional reports enedversions of the namesof somebirding categoriesof birdsthat the Regional Editors wouldplace in boldfacewould include any Birdirds havedistributionno respect in Northforrange America maps. is hot spots; they list these local abbreviations in a separateparagraph, just aftertheir in- speciesthat hasbeen recorded fewer than constantlychanging, as birds expand their 10 times previouslyin a given state or rangesinto new areas,disappear from for- troductorycomments and just before their province;any new breedingrecord for a mer strongholds,or alter their patternsof main speciesaccounts. stateor province; or anybird totally outside migration. What do the initials in parentheses establishedpatterns of seasonaloccurrence Our knowledgeof bird distributionis mean? (For the mostpart, recordsare not bold- also changingconstantly, as' discoveries facedunless they are backed up with solid continueto comein. Keepingup with all Most recordspublished in eachreport will detailsor photographs.)Birders who like to thesedevelopments is a challengefor or- be followedby initials, to indicate the know aboutrare birds (and mostof us do) nithologists,conservationists, and birders. source:the person(s) who foundor report- canget a completerundown of theseason's The RegionalReports, published four ed thebird(s) mentioned. The initialsmay outstandingrarities by scanningall the timesa year,contain a wealthof informa- be followedby et al. (short for et alia, RegionalReports for thoseboldfaced birds tion about North America's dynamic meaning"and others"), or precededby fide birdlife.When seeingthe reportsfor the (literally,"by the faith of"--meaningthat Why ere some of the place names this is a second-handreport, and the per- first time, they might appeardifficult or in italic type? technical,but theyare not; anyone with any soninitialed is the onewho passed it along birdingexperience will find thereports easy to the RegionalEditor). A dagger(?) be- In most of the regional reports, place to understand.We invite you to readthe re- fore the initials meansthat this person namesgiven in italictype referto counties port from your areaof the continent;we turned in written detailson the sighting. (Italicsrepresent parishes in Louisiana,and predictthat the information there will alter- Thereare good reasons for givingcredit in partsof Ontariothey may refer to dis- natelysurprise you and confirm your ideas to the observersinvolved. Readers may be trictsor regionalmunicipalities.) aboutbirdlife in your region.To helpyou reassuredabout the accuracyof surprising What are the boxes in the text getstarted, here are answers to someques- sightingsif theyknow who the observers marked "S.A."? tionsthat mayoccur to first-timereaders. were; researcherswho want to know more abouta certainrecord may be ableto con- "S.A."stands for "SpecialAttention" (and, What kind of informetlon tact the observersdirectly. In somecases, by coincidence,is pronounced"essay") is iacluded? Do the Regioaal whena birdwas seen by manybirders, the Thepurpose of theboxed essays is to draw Editors just report everything RegionalEditor may add"v.o." (for "vari- attentionto particularlynoteworthy phe- nomena or trends. that's reported to them? ousobservers") or "m.ob."(for "manyob- Likely topicsfor essaysinclude new RegionalEditors do not reportevery sight- servers")after the first setsof initials. populationtrends or newpatterns of bird ingof everybird. Such a listwould be huge, Who are the people who send distribution,unusual invasions or migra- unwieldy,and not very useful. Instead, they tion events,field research projects that have solicitreports from as many observersas in ,their sightings? All observers are invited to send in notes to yielded new data, specificconservation possible,screen the recordsfor accuracy, problemsthat havean impacton birdlife, choosethose that aremost significant, look theirRegional Editors: details on raresight- or detaileddiscussion of someoutstanding for trendsand patternsof occurrence,con- ings,species that werescarcer or morenu- (or perplexing)rare bird record.Experi- nect scatteredbits of information, and ulti- merousthan usualduring the season,un- encedreaders of FieldNotes make it a potnt usualconcentrations or migration,and so matelycome up with a concise,readable to flip throughall theRegional Reports and on. Readingthe reportsfor yourregion for summaryof thereal bird news--the impor- read all the $.A.s,even in regionswhere tant avian events and trends of the season a few seasonsis the bestway to find out theydo not read the rest of thetext. throughouttheir region. what kinds of information are desired. Althoughthe RegionalEditors cannot cite Why are there so many everyrecord that theyreceive, every con- abbreviations in the text? tributor helpsthem to producea more Weabbreviate some frequently-used words thoroughand accurate summary. andphrases to savespace. Most of theseare easyto understandand remember. (See the Wlly are some bird names list of abbreviations at the end of this sec- in heavier or blacker type? tion.) In additionto thesestandard abbre- We useboldface type to drawattention to viations,some Regional Editors use short- outstandingrecords of rare birds.General

836 FIELD NOTES STANDARD ABBREVIATIONS BINOCULARS AND SPOTTING SCOPES USED IN THE REGIONAL REPORTS OpticOuO•itters

Abbreviations used in place names forBirders 7 In mostregions, plate names given in italictype are counties, Other abbrevia- tions: Cr. Creek Ft. Fort Hwy Highway AuthorizedDealerfor: I. Island or Isle Leica,Zeiss, Swarovski, Swift, Nikon, Celestron, Bausch & Lomb,Kowa, Questar, Is. Islands or Isles Tele Vue,Pentax, Canon, Meade, Steiner, Leupold, Bushnell, Burris, Jct. Junction Fujinon,Eagle Optics,Bogen, Velbon, Brunton, Mirador, Redfield km kilometer(s) Getthebestin formation, adviceimdpfices from BLrderswhoknow?' ...... Birds,Birders t Birding andBirdingEquipment. We'vebu'fit anation-wide reputation on L. Lake offenng birders the best in selection, service and prices on quality op tic products and are told mi mile (s) byourcustomers that ourcomprehensive catalog is the most complete birding optic catalog Mr. Mountain or Mount available.Our courteousandknowledgeable salesstaffwillassist you in selecting from our .completeandextensive inventory, your bestvaluein quality birding equipment. Mrs. Mountains N.E National Forest • (800)289-1132 I IwebSite:http'd/www'eagteøptics'cøm N.M. National Monument Call and askfor your FREE ComprehensiveOptic Buying Guide N.P. NationalPark N.W.R. NationSWildlifeRefuge p.p. pyoVincial•a$'!5 Eagle Optics Pen. Peninsula 716S. Whitney Way Madison,WI 53711 Technical Assistance:(608) 271-4751 Pt. Point(not Port) DiscountOrder Line:Price (800)List 289-1132onoptics Fax:from (608) all271-4406 major manufacturers •0% R. River Reft Refuge Res. Reservoir(not Reservation) S.P. State Park W.M.A. WildhfeManagement Area BIRDERS DESERVE GOOD SOUND Areyou discouraged bythe terrible bird song sound quality from your multimedia CD-ROM? Abbreviations used That'sbecause it usescompressed WAV or QT sound files instead of true audio sound. And ia the aames of birds: yourCD-ROM doesn't allow you to group similar birds together to study them side-by-side Am. American andtake quizzes. For effective bird song study, you need music-quality CDs managed by Com. Common intelligentlydesigned software that helps you become a better birder. The solution is... E. Eastern Eur. Europeanor Eurasian AviSys Song TM Mr. Mountain AviSysSong supports any, or all, of the five best true music-quality birdsong CD sets: N. Northern -• PetersoffsEastern/Central 267 spec. Songbirdsof... S. Southern ß PetersoffsWestern 522spec. • SouthwestCanyon Country 66 spec. W. Western -• NationalGeographic 180spec. -• RockyMountain Foothills 33spec. AviSysSong gives you rapid access and complete control of theCDs Other abbreviations ß Playindividual bird songs with a mouseclick. • Seebirds' official state checklist status. and symbois referring to birds: -• Setup groups of birds; put them on a stage;compare their songs; play songs randomly. ß Takequizzes, get instant feedback, and replay your mistakes as often as you need. imm. immature -• Saveyour favorite bird groups for play at anytime. -• Turnnarration on and off. juv. juvenalor juvenile Thisthing is so muchfun your kids wiil get mad at youfor hogging the PC! sp. species Requiresone or more of the above CD sets, Windows or Windows95, a CD-ROMplayer, earphonesor a soundboard and speakers. v.t. video-taped $59.95plus $4.00 S&H ~ risk-free60 daymoney back guarantee -• written detailswere If youdon't already have the CDs, we can provide the Petersoffs CD sets at $39.95 each, submittedfor a sighting theNational Geographic CD set at $24.95, and the "Songbirds of.." CDs at $14.95each. * a specimenwas collected • male Call 1-800-354-7755 for orders or info ~ 24 hours ~ MC/VISA • female PerceptiveSystems ~ POBox 3530 ~ Silverdale,WA 98383 CBC Christmas Bird Count Soldonly to those who get a thrilllistening toa Cany(•Wren, smile heanng a Yellowthroat. andmarvel at a SwainsoffsThrush

FALL 1997 837 atlantic provincesregion

Abbreviations: BI (Brier WATERFOWL L, Nova Scotia);BPI (Bon An imm. Greater White-fronted Goose PortageI., NovaScotia); CSI gracedthe Chafio R. estuary,NB, from May (CapeSable I., NovaScotia),' 12-20 (D. Mann, B. Gilleset al.). Flocksof GM (Grand Marian archi- SnowGeese descended on the Regionthis pelago,); spring,but--as usual--mostfavored New MSI (MathiasSeal I., New Brunswick, where 4 flocks of 12 or more Brunswick);PEI (PrinceEd- birdswere noted, including one of 53 onthe wardI.); SI (Salle I., Nova SaintJohn R. May 2. In NovaScotia, a flock Scotia);SPM (Saint Pierre et of about40 rangedbetween Economy and Miquelon). Advocate, on the n. shore of the Minas Ba- sin,from April 29 to May 11.Brant continue LOONS TO HERONS to increaseeach spring; numbers peaked in The editor failed to re- earlyApril, with 10,000on GM (BD), 8000 ceive a summary of the on CSI (MN), and 2000 aroundBI. Pt. Lapreau,NB, seabird An unusualnumber of Blue-winged monitoring efforts this Tealmoved through SPM between April 16 spring,but was awareof and May 18,with not morethan 1 maleand 647 Red-throated Loons 4 femaleson St.Pierre, and 3 or 4 pair on talliedMay 7, reinforcing Miquelon(v.o.). European dabbling ducks theimportance of theBay (but of Europeanorigin?) are sighted with of Fundy for northward increasingregularity. "Common" Green- migrationfor thisspecies, wingedTeal reportswere almostconfined as well as scoters and ei- to New Brunswick and Newfoundland, ex- ders(see the Spring1996 ceptfor a maleat the AmherstPt., NS, bird AtlanticProvinces report). sanctuaryApr. 15. There were 4 separate This year'ssouthern her- males in New Brunswick between mid- BLAKE HAYBANK on flightwas pleasant, but not impressive. March and mid-April,while in Newfound- The only LeastBittern was found deadin land,Mactavish reported 4 pairin St.John's Lameque,NB, April 10.Three single Great until mid-April,with 2 pairstill present in moanditors elsewherethe ]ate spring,inthe East and wi]l webe- in Blue Herons reachedthe Avalon, NF, in Atlantic Canadawill echothe complaint. mid-May.Two other males were noted near April, an above-averageshowing. Little Thecool, damp season, albeit relatively un- Ferryland(CB, JW et al.). Two separate Blue Heronswere unusuallyscarce, with stormy,delayed migration by up to three bachelormales in lateMay mayrepresent but a singleadult in Newfoundland,where weeks. Birders, although deprived of post-coitalbirds--we anxiously await con- muchappreciated. Glossy Ibis were also re- warmth and sunshine, did not lack for firmation of the first "Common" Green- luctant to move north. The New Brunswick birdingexcitement, as frequent southwest- wingedTeal breeding in North America. Yellow-crownedNight-Heron was particu- erlywinds propelled numerous rarities into Mind you,we've awaited such a confirma- larly obliging,lingering near Hampton the region. The increasingly popular tion for Eur. Wigeonfor sometime, for NatureNB and NatureNS internet discus- fromMay 5 to the endof theperiod. whichspecies sightings proliferated across The herontable in the 1996report was siongroups facilitated the exchangeof in- the Region,too numerousto citeindividu- incorrectlyprinted. The correctedversion formation, and fuelled birders' enthusiasm. ally.There were four overwintering birds in appearsin the corrigenda(page 841). These groupsalso continue to make this St. John's,NF, until earlyMay, with two editor'sjob that mucheasier. 1997 SOUTHERN HERON SUMMARY, Reporting was good for New Bruns- : NOVASCOTIA NEWBRUNSWICK NEWFOUNDLAND wick, Nova Scotia, and Saint Pierre et GreatEgret 5 5 Miquelon,sketchy from theAvalon Penin- Little Blue Heron 1 sulaof Newfoundland,skimpy from Prince . SnowyEgret 7 4 Edward Island, and almost non-existent Tricolored Heron I l elsewhere.It is my hope that the newly CattleEgret 2 3 2 Green Heron 6 * openedbridge to PrinceEdward Island will Yellow-crowned 1 encouragenon-resident birders to explore Night-heron the island,and improvethe coveragepro- Gloss)Ibis 2 2 videdby the few resident observers. *breedsregularly ins. New. Brunswick insmall numl•r•.

838 FIELDNOTES atlantic provinces othersin Bonavista.Two pair andthree sin- each containing up to 3000 birds. NF, at the same time. Mactavish believes glemales and a singlefemale were seen in Abruptly,just around the areaknown as these traditional late-winter influxes of NovaScotia through early May, while New McLeod'sSiding, they stopped. Gyrfalcons(and Snowy Owls) represent the Brunswickhad a pair and five othersingle Themain raftswere always in an ex- birds' southernmostwinter wanderings tendedellipse, very narrow at eachend, males,all in May. Much laterthan the foregoingsightings was and bulgingin the middle, sometimes Alwaysrare and appreciated,a male with two bulges;I havenever seen a cir- a Gyrfalconon $I May 15 (MN et al.). Canvasback made a brief, but well docu- cularor squareor amorphousraft--and Willow Ptarmiganwere reintroduced mented,appearance on the LaplancheR., theseellipses always face into the cur- onto Miquelon, SPM, last year, and four justinside Nova Scotia, Mar. 31 (T. Erskine rent. Scattered flocks can be found in- wererelocated on the islandMar. 25 (fide et al ). Two other maleswere hits in New sidethe main rafts;they, too, are always RE). New Brunswickbirders were excited Brunswick:Apr. 17 in Lancaster(D. Johns- swimmingfacing the current,unless a and frustratedby the arrivalof a Purple ton), and Apr. 13-May 2 at Saints'Rest coupleare havinga fight. When they C•111nldenear LowerJemseg May 3-4 (J Marsh(v.o.). Oddly, there were many more dive, in these smaller flocks, most of Goltz et al.). The bird, aboutthe 7th for the TuftedDuck reports away from Newfound- them go together.The singingis very province(and onlythe 2nd in spring),had land--where the two St. John's over-win- pronouncedand there seemsto be a the potentialto lingerbut wasmade inac- greatdeal of skirmishinggoing on. tenng femalesdeparted mid-April--than cessibleby risingfloodwaters of the nearby Lastyear I noted that, in the large in it In New Brunswick,the overwintering rafts,there seemed to be a greatdeal of river;washed-out roads prevented birders Saint John male was present until late excitedactivity and I guessedthat this from reachingthe scenethe day after the March,and a groupof twofemales with an might be a signof imminentdeparture bird'sdiscovery, and by the time flood-wa- Lmm male was seennear Saint John Mar. 5 farthernorth. This year, with a far better ters subsided,the bird was gone. Nova (CJ) Tufteds are now almost routine in scopeand more of an awarenessas to Scotia and New Brunswick each hosted a NovaScotia. March reports included males whatto look for,I am realizingthat this Sandhill Crane; the Nova Scotia bird was in GlaceBay (C. Murrant)and Trenton (C. frenziedactivity probably has more to near ElmsdaleMay 10-13 (B. Grantmyre), Brennan,KM), and a male with two fe- do with breedingexcitement and large while the New Brunswick individual was males in Eel Brook, Yarmouth, Mar. 28 groupdynamics. foundnear Hammond R. May 28 (CJ). (BMy,IM, EM, MN). Singlemales were on Despitethe appealof a short-cutacross AmericanOystercatchers put on an ex- Stfihvan'sPond Apr. 5 (J. Waldronet al.), theChignecto Neck, some Black Scoters still cellent show this spring, an arrival that and at the mouth of BarringtonR. Apr. choosethe longerroute alongthe Atlantic foretold great happenings(wait for the 6-15 (MN et al.). McLaren and Mills ob- coast of Nova Scotia; 1500 were seen off Summer1997 report). The first bird was served"a ratheramorous pair" at Tiddville ThreeFathom Harbour Apr. 6 (IM). foundat AdvocateHarbour, NS, May 14-20 Pond,Digby Neck, Apr. 14. How longbe- (J.Mills), whileanother was briefly seen on fore TuftedDucks are confirmedbreeding DIURNAL RAPTORS GMI May 20 (BD). On May 18 a singlebird on this side of the Atlantic? TO SHOREBIRDS showedup on C$I, and it wassoon joined KingEiders bypassed observers in Nova TurkeyVultures continue their spreadin by another;both stayed through the endof Scotia,but the otherprovinces fared well, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. In the lat- theperiod. Stay tuned. Black-bellied Plover with six males in New Brunswick in late ter provincethere were ten or more sight- arrivedrecord-early by a weekin $PM,with March through mid-April, two off Cape ingsaway from Brier I. andthe Digby Neck, oneApr. 27-28. FourWillets reached $PM, RaceMay 18, and sixbirds in $PM during whileNew Brunswick may have had dozens they are rare both there and on adjacent April (O. Poirier). Although the editor of birds; I found it hard to correlateall the Newfoundland.All were seenMay 20-27 doesn't have the seabird counts from Pt. disparateoccurrences. A compelling single- (fide RE). Upland Sandpiperswere well- Lapreau,scoters must have passed through observersighting of a Swallow-tailedKite representedthis year; Nova Scotia had three as describedlast year, as 11,700 Black took placeApril 24, betweenSydney and birds in the first half of May, while $PM Scoters were counted in the lower Resti- hadits 4th ever,on May 6 (RE). Forthe 2nd Louisbourg,Cape Breton,NS ($. Fudge). gouche,in n. NewBrunswick, in earlyMay. consecutivespring, Newfoundland did not This is the first Regionalreport sincethe An interestingdescription was provided by experiencea fall-out of Europeanwaders, 1905Nova Scotia specimen, but despitethe Michael Lushington,who commendably despitesome apparently appropriate winds convincingdescription, the recordmust re- observesbirds in additionto simplycount- in lateApril. However,two differentBlack- main "hypothetical;'in keepingwith treat- ingthem: tailed Godwits were fair consolation: one at ment of single-observersightings else- Further notes on the Black $coters. Last WhitbourneApril 26-May 1 (J. Gosse),the where.The over-winteringGolden Eagle year,I opinedthat thesebirds concen- otherat BonavistaMay 8-11 (J. Joy).Per- trate in an area of the lower Resti- (sub-adult) on BI was seen until mid- hapspart of the samemovement, a Ruff gouche,beginning just west of its entry March (CH), and an un-agedbird was at (reeve)was at Mt. Carmel,St. Mary'sBay, into the Bayof Chaleurand continuing Daniel's Marsh, NB, Mar. 9 (A. Clavette,R. May 9 (T. Boland,G. Stroud).Two Pectoral upstreamfor aboutten kilometers,but Leblanc).In New Brunswick,the Dalhousie Sandpiperson GMI April 17 (BD) werethe stoppingshort of the Campbelltonarea. Gyrfalconwas sightedthrough the first first ever seenin April, and very rare in My observationsthis springare con- weekof March,while in Gyr-friendlyNew- spring.Short-billed Dowitchers are similar- firming that.-We startedto see small foundland,eight-ten different Gyrfalcons numbersjust westof the point created ly scarceas spring migrants in the Region, by the uppergovernment wharf and the (higherthan average)were present around especiallyon the remarkablyearly date of chemicalplant; as we moved farther St. John'sbetween Mar. 10 and mid-April, April 19,and at the unexpectedlocation of north, we encounteredraft after raft, all but threebeing white morphs. A similar PortugalCove South, on the AvalonPen severala coupleof kilometresin length, arrival was noted at L'Anse-aux-Meadows, (CB, IW).

FALL 1997 839 GULLS TO ALCIDS SWALLOWS TO WAXWINGS Perhapscoincident with the arrivalof Am. It's alwaysworthwhile to takethe measure Oystercatchers,Laughing Gulls showed up of N. Rough-wingedSwallow sightings, as in forceacross the Regionduring May, with the Regionis at the extremeedge of their at least nine individuals in Nova Scotia n.e.range. This spring Nova Scotian sight- (sevenadults), a dozenin s. New Brunswick ingswere restricted to islands,with two on (all adults), three in Newfoundland (all SI May 14 (MN) andone at Freeport,Long adults,including two in St. John's),and an I., May 19 (IM, EM). In New Brunswick,a adult and an immatureon SPM, only the potentially nesting pair was seen at 4th occurrencefor the specieslocally. It FrederictonJet. May 28-30 (ST et al.). The would be wonderfulif the specieswould St.John's dump, NF, Jackdawwas seen on 5 reestablishits breedingpresence in Nova datesbetween Mar. 16 andApr. 29 (BMt et Scotia. Newfoundland continues to be the al.);this is consideredthe samebird present provinceof choicein the Regionfor Frank- since December1995. Spring Blue-gray lifts Gull;they are almost annual there, usu- Gnatcatchersare becoming routine in the s. allyin the first 10 daysof May.This spring part of the Region,and it wouldbe wonder- therewere two adults,at St. Mary'sMay 9 ful to addthis species to our listof regular (fideJP) and GouldsMay 17 (BMt et al.). breeders.There were 3 sightingsin Nova Awayfrom this Franklin'shot-spot, New Scotia:SI May 14 (MN, S. Atwood) & 28, Brunswickhad its 6th springbird, an adult and BI May 23 (RS). In New Brunswick at Petit ShippaganMay 23 (HC). Lesser therewere 2 mainlandreports, May 13 in Black-backed Gulls are now too routine to Alma (D. Melanson)and May 19 in St. cite individually,although it's heartening Andrew's,but freewere unprecedented on that moresub-adult birds are beingidenti- GMI May 19 (v.o.,fideBD). fied,as observersgrow more familiarwith Thisadult Black-tailedGull was present The New Brunswick Varied Thrush was thesetrickier plumages.There were four on SableIsland, Nova Scotia, May 11-22, lastreported Mar. 17.Both New Brunswick birds in New Brunswick, five in Nova 1997, providinga first photographically confirmed record for Canada. and Nova Scotiaenjoyed a Fieldfarethis Scotia,and severalaround St. John's,NF, in- Photograph/ZoeLucas spring,the 2nd recordfor eachprovince. cludingthree into late May. After such a lus- The New Brunswick bird was much more ciousgull report, I've savedthe bestfor last, April, with six differentbirds on SPM and accessibleand cooperative,lingering in Canada'sfirst Black-tailedGull, an adulton fiveat the St.John's dump. Elsewhere in the Sussexfrom Feb.21 to early May (D&J wretchedlyinaccessible Sable I. fromMay 8 Regionnone was reported.A freshlydead Hughes,m.ob.). The Nova Scotiabird was to theend of theperiod, well-photographed N. Saw-whet Owl was found near St. John's, on remoteSI, and seenonly on the dayof by Lucas.It seemsnatural to suspectthat NF,April 10 (K. Knowles);the speciescon- its discovery,Apr. 22 (fide IM). Gray- this maybe the RhodeIsland bird, perhaps tinues to be much more rare than Boreal cheeked Thrushes continue to be scarce on tiredof easyscrutiny, and deciding to make Owl in Newfoundland,with onlya handful SPM, where only three-four individuals life more difficultfor the acquisitivelister. of records.Southern woodpeckers made a were encountered. Also on SPM, and of An ad. Ivory Gull on MSI Apr. 3 (fide modestincursion into the Region.A single note,was a singingmale Gray Catbird a few BD) wasnot associatedwith an impressive Red-headedWoodpecker was on GMI May hundred meters from where the first local appearancealong n.e. NewfoundlandApr. 19-21 (fideBD). Four Red-belliedWood- nestwas found 2 yearsago. An overwinter- 25-30. Northeastgales brought hundreds of peckersappeared in lateMay: one in New ingmale Brown Thrasher was belatedly dis- thisclassy gull to communitiesalong the tip Brunswickon GMI May 19-22 (fideBD), coveredon CheticampI., CapeBreton, NS of the Northern Pen., the most local resi- and in Nova Scotia,three in Little Harbour (KM), andby Apr. 26 it wasin full song;it dentshad seenin recentyears. Only two May 22 (DY), WoodsHarbour May 25 (fide was unlikelyto attract a mate so far re- imm. birdswere reported(D. Anderson). JC),and BI May 27-28 (D. Pughet al.).For movedfrom the species'limited breeding The flightreached as far southas the Avalon the 2nd consecutivespring an Acadian rangein New Brunswick. Pen.,with countsfrom CapeSpear of 12 Flycatchergraced BI, this year May 18(IM, Apr. 28 and fiveApr. 30 (BMt et al.). The EM, A. Maclean);a photocould not be se- VIREOS TO FINCHES reasonsfor thisyear's flight are unknown, curedthis time, but the writtenreport was Unusual vireos were restricted to Nova sincepack ice and NE galesprevail along the thorough.There are about a half-dozen Scotia.White-eyed Vireos were found on SI n.e.coast of Newfoundlandannually in late provincialoccurrences. A W. Kingbird,typ- May 8 (FL) andBI May 27 (EM, IM), while April. icallyan autumnvagrant in theRegion, was the 2nd or 3rd springYellow-throated Vireo unexpectedon BPI May 22-28. An E. was on SI May 6 (IM, FL). Birdersacross DOVES TO FLYCATCHERS Kingbirdat ChebuctoHead Apr. 6 (K. Tutt, the Regionwere desperatefor returning MourningDoves, now firmly established C. Cornell)was record-early in NovaScotia warblers,but patiencewas required;this (andstill increasing) across the Maritimes, by over2 weeks.Four E. Kingbirdstogether observerhad but 2 specieson the North maybe poisedto expandacross the Cabot on SPMMay 27 (fideRE) representeda no- Americanspring migration count, briefly Strait. Five reached SPM, and with suffi- table concentration for the n. side of the notedthrough snow flurries. Almost all the cientfeeders they may be ableto hangon. CabotStrait. House Wrens are rarely found breedingspecies had beenseen before the Snowy Owls were well-reported from in the Regionin spring,but onewas band- endof theperiod, and migration continued Newfoundland and SPM in March and ed on BPI May 10. well in June.Although the late migration

840 FIELD NOTES atlanticprovinces

precludedany conclusionsregarding the New Brunswick noted a similar movement, semblagenoteworthy anywherein the stateof thebreeding populations, desperate with a remarkable count of 25 birds on GMI Region.The overwinteringHarris's Sparrow searchingthrough the slimpickings did re- May 19 (fideBD). Elsewherein the Region, in Saint John,NB, was last seenMar. 8 (C veal a few rarities, modest consolation. three singlemales were found on PEI in Malcolm).A singingmale "Oregon" Dark- Golden-wingedWarblers, increasingly May,and five reached the AvalonPen., NF, eyed Juncoseemed at home on SI May scarce,were sightedat Upper Clements at the sametime. Spring Dickcissels are al- 8-16, but in the endit movedon, its passion May 10 andGaspereau May 31-June10 (P. waysnoteworthy. Nova Scotia hosted three, unconsummated(IM, FL et al.). Tayloret al.);both were males, the latter a maleApr. 21 at CanardPond (T. Regan,no New Brunswickgrabbed most of the singingcooperativety throughout its stay. ?), a maleon BI May 19(IM et al.),and a fe- Yellow-headedBlackbirds that were heading McLarensuspected that one of threemale male on BI May 31 (fide CH). New in the direction of Nova Scotia. There were Black-throatedBlue Warblers on SI May 9 Brunswickenjoyed a femaleDickcissel at maleson CampobelloI., Apr. 19-20 (J was of the southeast cairnsi race, based on Alma May 25-27 (D. Rossiteret al.), while Mitchell)and Alma Apr. 22 (RW), and a fe- its streaked crown and broad black back the overwinteringbird on SPM remained maleon GMI May 11-18(BD et at.).Prince streaks.Cerulean Warblers are exceptional throughthe period.The overwinteringE. EdwardIsland snagged the remainingbird, in spring,so a maleon GMI May 19-22was Towheein Dartmouth departedApr. 14, at PleasantviewMay 23 (J.Blanchard). The and ten others were seen at various loca- both rare and cooperative(M. Cormieret coolspring seemed to concentrateorioles at at ), whilea malereported from Charlotte- tions acrossthe provincebetween Apr. 20 feedersacross the Region,but especiallyin town,PEI, May 16had no details(L. Stats). andthe endof theperiod. more s. locales. In Nova Scotia there were A quartet of southernyellow warblers SpringClay-colored Sparrows are ex- more than 30 Orchard Orioles mixed in madeisland appearances in NovaScotia, as pectedonly in NewBrunswick, where males with more than 200 Baltimore Orioles, with is their wont; a male Prothonotaryon BI haveestablished territories in earlieryears; most on CSI (more than 25), BI (more than May6-10 (CH, RS),a maleKentucky on BI thisyear one was in AlmaMay 22-25 (RW). May 24 (BMy),a maleHooded on SI May 6 Two extralimital Chipping Sparrows (FL, IM), and a femaleHooded on BI May reachedSPM in the 3rd weekof May (fide CORRIGENDA (TABLES)

18 (IM, G&J Tufts). RE). A few springField Sparrowsare rou- CAPE ENRAGE / WATERSIDE A "BannerYear" is an appropriately fine;one was on SI May 7-12 (FL,IM), with (R. Walker, ST, DSC) brightdescription of thisspring's flight of anotherearly on CSI Apr. 14 (MN et al.). DATE RTLO COEI OLDS BLSC SUSC WVVSC tanagersinto the Region.Nova Scotiaper- New Brunswickhad threein May: in Alma 04/18 10,500 1500 hapshad the brighter pennant, with at least May 8 & 13 (RW), and a singingbird at 04/28 944 96 15 100 4000 25 12 Summers,20 Scarlets,and a male West- Mary'sPt. May 26 (DAC). An "Ipswich" 104/291302 I I ern Tanager,this latter bird on BPI May SavannahSparrow was w. of itsusual spring 23-24 (fideJC), for aboutthe 15thor 16th migrationroute at Waterside,NB, Apr. 5 1996 POINT LAPREAU BIRD OBSERVATORY (ST), constitutingone of few compelling provincialrecord. New Brunswickwas not data fide Iris McCurdy) to be outdone;there were six Summer Tana- New Brunswickrecords. A very rare spring gersin lateMay amongdozens of Scarlet GrasshopperSparrow showed well on SI DATE RTLO COEI OLDS BLSC SUSC WVVSC 04/11 691 184 629 145 Tanagers,and two WesternTan•gers, the May 5-9 (FL, IM et al.). It wasthe finest 04/12 1220 1155 6th and 7th provincialrecords, the first on late-Aprilshowing of FoxSparrows in Nova 04/13 554 820 169 GMI May 19 (fideBD), and a cooperative Scotiain manyyears, with mostfeeders re- 04/14 928 3354 320 malein SaintJohn May 31 and later (W. porting severalindividuals, but the star 04/17 2893 480 727 967 73 Locketet at.). Poorly-coveredPrince Ed- feederwas one in Port Greville, which host- 04/18 55 4983 530 16,567 4030 338 wardIsland reported but two ScarletTana- ed at least60 birdsat the peak(fide JC). An 04/19 112 726 967 04/20 8 286 1365 2896 45 gers.Two separate Black-headed Grosbeak impressivefall-out of sparrowsoccurred on 04/21 930 170 5 reportsfrom PEI were not documented, the Port-au-portPen. on Newfoundland's 04/22 615 2074 and must be discountedin light of the w. coast,a delightfulmigrant trap that war- 04/24 88 305 2035 1330 94 heavyflight of Rose-breastedGrosbeaks rants more attention than it receives.Paul 04/25 12 488 1776 1161 47 monitored acrossNew Brunswick and Nova Jones,on May 19, counted 53 White- 04/28 1635 1366 Scotia(dozens of reports);.the Rose-breast- crownedSparrows, 2500 White-throated 05/02 143 1055 1787 ed incursion extended across the Cabot Sparrows,and 500 Dark-eyed Juncos, an as- 05/04 23 72 189 81 15 Strait,with five birds in the Avalon Pen. of These three tables 1996 SOUTHERN HERON SUMMARY, ATLANTIC CANADA Newfoundland, and _

FALL 1997 841 35), BPI (more than 15), and SI (more than Contributors(subregional editors in bold- Cormorants' nest ever found in the Out- 20). In New Brunswick similar numbers face): Chris Brown, Dave S. Christie aouaisregion was reported at Hull May 27 werereported, and most noteworthy was a (DSC), John Cohrs, Dave Curry, Joan (fideDT). An inlandGreat Egret at Mont- groupof 20 OrchardOrioles in an orchard Czapalay,Brian Dalzell, Fred Dobson, Jim Lanrier May 24-25 was noteworthy(B. Edsall,Roger Etcheberry, Roger & Andrew on GMI May 19 (fideBD). Unbelievably, Demerset al.).A SnowyEgret at Richelieu Foxall, Sylvia Fullerton, Carl Haycock, April 2 pulverizedthe Regionalearliest ar- therewas only a singleBaltimore reported Cecil Johnston,Keith Keddy, Fulton rival dateby 12 days(G. P. de Laborie), in PEI. No definitive Bullock's Orioles were Lavender, Zoe Lucas, Bruce Macravish while another bird or the same was discov- found,although claims were made, includ- (BMt), DaveMcCorquodale, John McKay, ered at nearbySaint-Paul-de-l'lle-aux- inga purportedfemale at a PEI feederfor 2 Ken McKenna, Ian McLaren, Eric Mills, Noix April 23 (P. ]•thier,DD); a 3rd indi- weeks;a photowould have been useful, and MurrayNewell, Johnny Nickerson, Francis vidual brightenedCacouna May 31 (M. likelynot hardto securein sucha situation. Spalding,Richard Stern, Stuart Tingley, Lafleur,J-P. Ouellet). Other southernwad- Winter finches elicited little comment RobWalker, Jim Wilson, JohnWells. erswere meagerly represented by a single (no big movementswere in evidence),and Blake Maybank (BMy),144 Bayview Drive, CattleEgret at ChandlerMay 27 (P.Roy, J. it seemsappropriate to dose suchan ex- White's Lake, NS, Canada, B3T 121 Roy,fide JR.Lepage), and singleGlossy travagantreport on a modestnote. ([email protected]). Ibisesat CacounaMay 10 (D. D'Amours) and Pohenegamoukin late April-early May (R. Bilanger).The first White-faced Ibis for theRegion entertained a group of delighted observersat Val-Senneville, Abitibi,May 11 (AL et al.,ph.). quebec region It was a very poor seasonfor the TundraSwan, as evidenced by the report of onlyone, seen at Cap TourmenteMay 27 (CN). The seven Greater White-fronted Geeserepresented the lowest Regional total '• ßRadisson of the last3 years.Snow Geese apparently peakedat an incredible400,000 at Baie- du-FebvreApril 14. Apparentindividuals of the atlanticusrace were reportedat Montbrun, the first time in Abitibi, where caerulescensis more likely encountered (D. ßMatagarni eChibougamau Migneault, SG). The 15 Ross'sGeese in- cludedthree blue morphs: singles at Noyan Mar. 30 (PB), Trois-PistolesMay 8 (R. Deschesnes),and DeschambaultMay 21 ßRouyn -E • Chi•uti• (E Dion, R. Dion). A BarnacleGoose made a one-dayappearance at MontmagnyMay 14 (J. Landry).The recentincrease in the number of records for the hutchinsii race Laurier of Canada Goose and for the creccarace of Montreal Hull ß Green-wingedTeal probablyreflects a Sherbrooke greatervigilance on thepart of Qutbecob- servers;the seasonwas highlighted by six hutchinsiiand three crecca.Moreover, two Green-wingedTeals showing features of both creccaand carolinensiswere reported for the 2nd consecutiveyear: one at Saint- PIERRE BANNON May 7, bringingout somefreakish scenes, Gtdton May 14-18 (SBet al.) and oneat suchas a NorthernWaterthrush singing in a and NORHAND DAVID Chateau-RicherMay 13 (CN, G. Lemelin). snow-coveredswamp near Mt. OrfordMay FifteenEur. Wigeons included ten in the veragetemperatures forspring 1997 8. Not surprisingly,the bulk of theneotropi- southwest,one in the QutbecCity region, wereconsiderably colder than normal. calmigrants did not peakuntil the last week one in the Lower St. Lawrence,and three in It wasthe fourthcoldest spring for theperi- of May in southernQuebec, and evenlater the Saguenay-L.Saint-Jean. od 1948-1997. Overall, southern Quebec at morenortherly locations. A male Canvasback wandered E to wasnormal for precipitation,but the boreal Barachois,GaspS, May 17-June1 (DB et forestregion of northernQuebec was drier GANNET TO WATERFOWL al.), whilea pair at CacounaMay 5-6, al- than normal.Southern Quebec was hit by A flockof 22 N. Gannetsat CapTourrnente thoughstill noteworthy,came as no real late snowfalls. As much as 55 centimeters fell May 19 provideda notablespring concen- surprise(JRP). A Tufted Duck causeda alongthe UnitedStates border April 18,and tration so far upstreamalong the St. Law- sensationwhen it appearedat La BaieApril 10-15 centimeters fell east of Montreal renceR. (JL, AC). The first Double-crested 22 (H. Simard et al., v.o.). Inland Com.

842 FIELD NDTES quebec

Eiders included six at Mont-Saint-Hilaire 15-26 (M. Arnaudin, v.o.), and Rimouski spring,single birds were found at Rigaud Apr 13 (C. C6t•), and one at La BaieApril May 24-25 (GG et al.). This year'shighly Apr. 6 (LS, P. Simard, GH), and at 29 (GS). A femaleHarlequin Duck that respectablePurple Sandpiper total included ScotstownApr. 12 (P.Wery). A White-eyed overwintered at Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu 30 at Saint-Vallier (JL), 31 at Maizerets Vireoat OkaMay 18(E Bourguignon)pro- lingereduntil May 2 (LS),while another in- (AD, G. Lord), and 75 at Portneuf(CM), all videdthe 17thRegional record. dlvidualpaused at MorrissonI. April 12 (J. May 25; a single bird strayed W to Dubois).A countof 300 Oldsquawstallied SabrevoisMay 16 (LS). A Stilt Sandpiper WARBLERS TO ORIOLES at Salnt-AnicetApril 30 wasunusual for made a rare spring appearancein the Rarewarbler sightings included a Prairie that locale (A. Hogue). A Barrow's Region,in the upperRichelieu valley May Warbler in Gatineau Park May 24 (B Goldeneyeat L. LongMay 19 wasa prize 20-24 (IMB, FB,v.o.). This year's Ruffs in- Ladouceur),a Worm-eatingWarbler at I find for birdersin Abitibi (S. Lehouiller,L. cludeda malein the upperRichelieu valley des Soeurs May 19 (S. Dumont), a Gauthier).The presumedhybrid Common that arrivedApril 29 and stayeduntil May KentuckyWarbler at VictoriavilleMay 22 x Barrow'sGoldeneye present at C6te- 24 (LS,L. Gervais,N. Mayeu,v.o.), and a fe- (J. Ducharme),and singleHooded Warb- Salnte-Catherinelast winter reappeared male at Pointe-au-P•reMay 11 (GG). A lersat Pointe-ClaireMay 16 (M. Sardi)and thereMar. 22-23 (PB), while anotheror the well-describedLong-billed Dowitcher was at Cap TourmenteMay 27 (S. Richard,L samevisited Saint-Stanislas Mar. 30-April 2 enjoyedby severalbirders at Berthierville Rivard). (M Bertrandet al.). May 28-31 (PB,R. Pich•, R. Bannon,v.o.). Outsideits knownbreeding range, the Rare for Abitibi, a pair of Wilson's N. Cardinal was sightedat Dubuisson, VULTURES TO TERNS Phalaropesturned up at MacamicMay 18 Abitibi,Apr. 28 (AL), at ChicoutimiMar. 19 A Black Vulture wandered to Rivi•re- (Y. Leclercet al.), while a femalewas found (R.Guimond), and al•o at Rivi•re-du-Loup Madeleine,Gaspd, May 20 (R. Blanchette); at R. CoutureMay 23 (SG). until Apr. 12 (DB). A W. Meadowlarkwas of the 20 recordsin the Region,7 originate The season'sLaughing Gulls included found at Saint-Simon, Lower St. Lawrence, fromthe Gasp• Pen. Turkey Vulture has be- singlesat Rivi•re-MadeleineMay 14 (G. May 10,and was seen for severaldays (GG), come a regular spring feature in the Blanchette),Rivi•re-Ouelle May 24 (CA, B. of the 12 reportsof the speciessince 1984, Rlmouskiregion, where 50 birdswere tal- Desmeules),and Pabos May 27 (M. eight come from the s. shoreof the St lied April 20-May 20 (GG et al.). In the Larriv•e).Single ad. Franklin's Gulls bright- LawrenceR. e. of QuebecCity, and none south,a bird at Lacdes Loups, Outaouais, ened La Pocati•re (CA) and Saint-G•d•on fromthe greater Montreal area, presumably Mar. 2, wasextremely early, considering (SB),both May 22. Two ad. Little Gullsat becauseof unsuitablehabitat created by an March'sweather (D. Dallaire,C. Legault). ChamblyMay 26 wereunique this season ever increasingland surfacedevoted to Of interestwas the predation of young (PB). Three Thayer'sGulls were reported corn growing.A Yellow-headedBlackbird Com Ravensin their nestby a ravenous for the period Mar. 3-April 1, while the wasseen at LonguePointe de MinganMay TurkeyVulture at Mont-Saint-HilaireApril total of seven Lesser Black-backed Gulls 7-13 (A. Chiasson,C. Kavanagh).A first- 30 (DD et al.).The hawk migration was un- representedthe highest spring count for the year male Orchard Oriole was found at remarkable,except that BaldEagle was re- Region.Three imm. Black-leggedKitti- Grande-•le,Valleyfield, May 10 (GH). ported in increasingnumbers. Gyrfalcon wakesat I. de la VisitationApril 1 repre- was unreported, a contrast With last senteda very unusualspring sighting for INTRODUCED spnng'shigh of 10individuals. the Montreal region (G. Lachaine). A An Emperor Goosestopped at Baie-du- ACom. Moorhen was noteworthyat CaspianTern at Saint-Paul-de-l'ile-aux- FebvreApr. 13-14 (A. Luneau,N. Roy).A UIsle-VerteMay 29-31 (fide DB et al.), Noix May 20-23 was the only one to visit GreylagGoose was seennear Berthierville whilean Am. Cootwas a rare springvisitor the Region(IMB, FB,v.o.). A countof 2200 May 19 (M. Boulard, LS). A Mandarin to New-RichmondMay 29 (R. Caissy). ArcticTerns at Rivi•re-Ouell•May 28 was Duck was at OtterburnPark Apr. 20 (R SandhillCranes were again well in evidence consistentwith recentspring counts (CA). Beauregard,fide S. Denault). A Chukarvis- in Abltibibut--to our greatsurprise--re- iteda feederat Saint-Tite-des-CapsMay 26 mained undetectedin the Saguenay-L. SWALLOWS TO VIREOS throughthe season(fide R. Bisson).A Eur Saint-leanregion. Elsewhere, seven individ- A N. Rough-wingedSwallow atRimouski Goldfinch was seen at a Beaconsfield's feed- ualswere reported, including one at Saint- er May 6 (fidePB). May 27 (GG) representeda goodfind. At StamslasApril 6 that matchedthe Regional Val-d'Or May 24, an ad. White-breasted earliestarrival date (B. Barnhurst). SubregionalEditors (boldface) and Initialed Nuthatchwas seen bringing nesting mateft- Shorebirdsmade a goodshowing, espe- Observers: C. Auchu, P. Binmort, JM cially in the Quebec City region. A al into a treehole (AL), providinga firstin- B•liveau,D. B•rub•, E Blouin, S. Boivin, H dicationthat the speciesbreeds (at leastir- Whlmbrelat PortneufMay 24 (CM, P. Brunoni, C. Cormier, A. C6t•, D. Daig- Otis),and three at MaizeretsMay 25 (AD,P. regularly)in theAbitibi area. A Townsend's neault,A. Desrochers,P. Fr•dette,S. G•- Slmard), were unique in the Region. Solitaire was found at Saint-Fulgence, non, D.G. G•udet, G. Gendron,G. Huot, J Easternstraying HudsonJan Godwits in- Chicoutimi,Apr. 11 (L. Dion). Hugeflocks Lachance,A. Lefebvre,C. Marcotte, L. Mes- cluded singlesat M•tabetchouan-Saint- of BohemianWaxwings roamed at thehead sely,E. Milot, C. Nadeau,JR. Pelletier, P. G•d•on May 19-22 (SB) and at Pointe-au- of the SaguenayR. valleyduring March, Poldln, G. Savard, L. Simard, D. P•re May 31 (G. Bouchard,JRP). After a with up to 3000birds in lonqui•re,and up Toussaint. high count of 12 last spring,Marbled to 6000in Chicoutimi(fide GS). Since the Godwitsnumbered only threethis year; almost complete disappearanceof the Pierre Bannon, 1517Leprohon, Montreal, singleswere at Saint-FulgenceMay 11 (D. LoggerheadShrike as a nestingbird in the quebec,H4E 1P1, and Normand David, Roy), Saint-Paul-de-l'ile-aux-NoixMay Region,any sightingis noteworthy;this 11931 Lavigne,Montreal, quebec, H4J 1X9

FALL 1997 843 new england region

Rarities were plentiful washis uncanny knack for anticipatingthe thisspring, especially in nextvagrant. Virtually all of his statebirds Massachusetts.Pending were specieshe had fully expectedto see actionby respectiverar- sooner rather than later, birds for which he ities committees, White- hadbeen del•erately and actively search- winged Dove could be ing.Roughly eight weeks before the discov- added to Connecticut's ery of theViolet-green Swallow, two weeks state list, Boat-tailed before he died, this writer asked Richard MAINE Grackle to Maine's, wherehe thoughtthe first Violet-green 'ff Grand Isle i Scissor-tailedFlycatcher would appearin the state.In his inimitable ! to Vermont's, and Mass- ß. eBurlington manner,obviously having alreadypon- • 'DeadCreek i achusettsbirders sub- WMA deredthe question,he answeredunhesitat- • mitted Ross'sGoose and NH ingly,"P'town; Hatches Harbor:' He wasoff Violet-greenSwallow as byless than a mile! new candidates for in- Concorde We in Massachusetts have lost more Portsmouth clusionon the BayState than a model birder. He was our Ted Quabbln Newburyport list. Amazingly, these Parker;our captainof theteam. latter two represented the fourth and fifth Abbreviations: D.C.W.M.A.(Dead Creek HartlottieCm PlymoLJth-•"• Massachusetts additions Providencee W.M.A., Addison,VT); EE.B. (FirstEncounter in less than a year Beach,Eastham, MA),' H.B.S.P. (Hammonassot (following Northern BeachS.P., Madison, CT); M0nhegan (Menhe- Lapwing, Band-tailed gan I., LincolnCo., ME),'P.R.N.W.R. (Parker Pigeon,and a not yet-- RiverN.W.R., Newburyport, Newbury, RowIcy, perhapsnever to be-- Ipswich,Essex Co., MA). identifiedswift). Quite a SIHON PERKINS roll. Otherhighlights (all in Massachusetts) LOONS TO DUCKS included Swainson's Hawk, the third At leastthree Pacific Loons were reported aberedhe springfor theof1997April willFools' longDay be Blizzard. remem- Regional Rock Wren, two Townsend's Solitaires, a Townsend's Warbler, and a this spring,all from Massachusetts.The Thisstorm dumped 25.4 inches of snowon Common Chaffinch. first was noted off Race Pt. in Provincetown Bostonin lessthan 24 hours,the greatest Thoughbirds appeared to haveweath- Mar. 4 (SMil), and two others were seen accumulationon recordin a one-dayperi- eredthe April storm,the blizzard cost bird- from ER.N.W.R.May 10 & 24 (SP et al.). od, exceedingeven the great blizzardof ersdearly. With a senseof profoundloss, Until recently,most "Pacific"Loons in 1978.Yet little indication was found to sug- this writer reportsthe passingof Richard Massachusettswere relegated to thecatego- gestthat birds were affected at all by this Forster, who succumbed to heart failure ry of "Arctic/Pacific-type."But, based on a event.In Massachusetts,the nestingfailure while shovelingsnow April 1. He was 24 growingbody of knowledge(much of of two-threepairs of Bald Eagleson the daysshy of his53rd birthday. To refer to his which is included in an exhaustive article in ConnecticutRiver, and the presenceof a deathas tragic cannot begin to describethe BirdingVol. 24, No. 2), local observersare fewseabirds seen in CapeCod Bay, provid- extent to which he will be missed as a friend increasinglycomfortable with callingmost ed theonly clear avian evidence that any- andmentor to many,and as a leaderin the of the Region'sbirds Pacifics.Both of the thing had happened.Four daysafter the birdingcommunity. No oneknew the birds birds at P.R.N.W.R. the first in full breed- storm, virtually all the snow was gone. of NewEngland better. ing plumage,the latter in basic--were Ironically,several much less potent.weather In a state that boasts the oldest continu- thoughtto be Pacifics,based on theirsmall patterns thereaftercaused a number of ousornithological record in the country, bills,rounded heads, silver napes, and dark avian groundings.These affectedgeese, and hashosted ornithological giants such flanks(lacking any white at thewaterline). gulls,and swallows. as John JamesAudubon, William Brewster, The latter bird also possesseda distinct Overall,this springseason was signifi- and Ludlow Griscom--a state in which "chinstrap:' cantlycooler than normal. For example, there appearedto be little room left for An EaredGrebe, present at SabinPt., Bostonaveraged nearly 2øF below normal. avianpioneers---Richard personally added Providence,RI, sinceearly February, was For the firsttime in 26 years,the mercury six speciesof birdsto the statelist. These last seenMar. 29 (D. Finizia et al.), and an- neverreached 80øE The highmark was 76 ø were Anhinga, Little Egret, White-faced other wasnoted in Stamford,CT, Apr. 11 E Consequently,the general arrivals of cer- Ibis,California Gull, Vermilion Flycatcher, (P.Dugan). tain insectivores,such as phoebes and swal- and Boat-/Great-tailed Grackle: an amaz- Smallnumbers of SootyShearwaters lows,were delayed. ing legacy.One of the keysto his success and Wilson's Storm-Petrels 20 mi e. of

844 FIELD NOTES new england

MonomoyI., Chatham,MA, Apr.26 (WP) fin), the first for the statedespite the fact VULTURES TO SKIMMER wereearly, as wasa Manx Shearwateroff that the specieshas occurredannually in Black Vultures in Connecticut have become Rockport,MA, Apr.24 (JS).One-hundred- Vermont for roughly 10 years.The flock, toocommon to enumerate,especially along thirty N. Fulmarsand 85 Leach'sStorm- presumablywith the Ross's,departed the the w. border. Their numbers continue to Petrelswere seen at EE.B.,a day after"The nextday. Most Vermont Ross's Geese occur slowlyincrease in Massachusettsas well, Blizzard"(BN), and another10 Leach'sap- in autumn,but a singlebird wasnoted this but thoughthey have become annual in the pearedat SandyNeck in Barnstable,MA, in springin GrandIsle Apr. 4 (DH). We are past 10 years,their statusin the Bay State the wake of a smallerstorm Apr. 19 (B. left to ponderin vain the origin of three still does not approach what it is in Volkle). BarnacleGeese reported from Boothbay Connecticut. Outside Massachusetts and Three Am. White Pelicans seen Mar. 7 at Harbor,ME, Apr.2 (fideWT). Connecticut,the speciesis stillconsidered a H B S.P.were probably part of the flockof Brant are seldom detected inland in rarity. In Massachusettsthis spring,two four that had beenpresent there since late springas they depart overland to thenorth- BlackVultures that spent part of thewinter w•nter(A. Ackerman, fide GH), andanother west.This year the only birds reported away at a TurkeyVulture roost in S. Dartmouth singleAm. White Pelicanwas seen on Vinal- from the coast were 30 on Mascoma L., lingeredin that vicinity through mid- havenI., ME, May 8 (fideJ. Markowsky). Enfield,NH, May 25 (D. Crook). March (BO), and a 3rd (?) bird was seen Another enigmaticegret in Rye, NH, Single"Eur." Green-winged Teal were sporadicallyat another Turkey Vulture Apr 20-21 (SM et al.) possessed2 medium- notedin S. Kingstown,RI, Mar. 22 (DF); roostin Randolphthrough Mar. 20 (NS) length,Little Egret-like plumes on itsnape, Scarborough,ME, Apr.15 (G. Carson);and One of thesebirds may have accounted for but thesefeathers emerged from a bushy, SouthWindsor, CT, Apr. 19 (P.Desjardins). a sightingin BarnstableMar. 28 (G. Mar- SnowyEgret-like crest.Birds fitting this The origin of a drakeCinnamon Teal in tin). However,a BlackVulture at samedescription have been reported in re- LonsdaleMarsh, Lincoln, RI, Mar. 30-Apr. May 30 (EFA) wasprobably a springwan- cent yearsfrom Connecticutand Massa- 5 (B.Gearhart et al.) will,like too many wa- derer from farther south. chusetts, but it remains unclear whether terfowl,remain a mystery.Wouldn't it be MississippiKite reportsnumbered an theseare hybridSnowy x Little Egrets,or niceif collectorswere required to band all all-time-high six. In chronologicalorder, merelySnowys with unusuallylong plumes. their captivebirds? A carefullystudied hy- theseincluded a bird of unspecifiedage in CattleEgrets away from theirmore tra- brid duckin Concord,MA, Apr. 7-13 dis- Rowley,MA, May 4 (G. Gove);a sub-adult &uonal sitesincluded four earlybirds in playedtraits of drakeN. Pintailand drake in SouthWindsor, CT, May 5 (M. Szantyr), Grand Isle,VT, Mar. 1 (P.Taber), and two in Green-winged Teal (SP). Eleven Eur. an adultin Bethel,CT, May 8 (L. Harvey);a ,NH, May 20 (SM). A veryearly Wigeons Regionwideincluded one in sub-adultat NinigretN.W.R., Chariestown, Yellow-crownedNight-Heron appeared in Vermont,one in New Hampshire,four in RI, May 21 (J&R Gee); another (?) sub- Pepperell,MA, Mar. 26 (E. Stromsted),and Maine, and five in Massachusetts. adultat BlockI., RI, May 28 (M&S Carr), a Yellow-crownedat D.C.W.M.A. May 26 Redheadswere well reported away from and an adult in OrleansMay 28-30 (M (C Yates)must have come as a quitea sur- theirmore traditional s.e. wintering strong- Prue et al.). The latter bird remained in the priseto a Vermontbirder. holds. These included four in 3 New area in which it was discovered for several A Whooper Swan in Hampton, NH, Hampshirelocalities (fide PH). In Massa- days,affording many birders a locallyrare Apr 5 (A&BD) wasprobably a wandering chusetts,two were in Gloucester Mar. 7-10 opportunity to study it at length. As it individualfrom the groupof four present (JS),two in FraminghamMar. 18-20 (A. turnedout, the bird was loitering because it throughout most of the spring at Porter),four in ConcordMar. 13-28 (SP), wasill; it wasfound dead May 30. PR N.W.R. An above-averagetotal of nine 18 in Brookfield Mar. 15-16 (B. Volkle), The only Golden Eagle reported was Tundra Swans,all winter holdovers,were and 21 in Northboro Mar. 15-28 (ML). The seenin Charlotte,VT, Apr. 22 (T. Murin) reported.In Massachusetts,one tarriedin latter 2 flockswere the two largestever Visitingoccidental raptorphile Steve Hoff- Newton/Brightonuntil Apr. 3 (BO);Rhode recorded in Worcester. man musthave thought he wasstill in Utah Islandreports included five individuals in 3 What has accounted for the sudden in- when an ad. light-morph Swalnson's localities, the latest of which was last seen creasein Tufted Ducks in our Region.• Hawk passedoverhead while he washelp- Apr 3 (fide DE); and three remainedin Severalare now reportedannually. This ing cover a hawk watch site in West Naples,ME, throughApr. 3 (J.Preis). year winter birdslingered in Nantucket, Newbury,MA, May 4 (P. Robertset al.). A A Greater White-fronted Goose was MA, throughApr. 6 (fideE. Ray),and Old Gyrfalconwas noted at Nantucket,MA, presentin W. Newbury,MA, off and on Saybrook,CT, throughMar. 20 (GH), and Apr.20 (E. Ray),and PeregrineFalcon was throughmost of March (BO), and a 2nd anotherwas seen in Plymouth,MA, Apr. confirmedbreeding in Connecticutfor the bird, which spentthe winter in Wellesley, 15-16 (SA). An ad. drakeBufflehead still in first time since the 1940s,when a pair raisedquestions about its originsby linger- Manchester,MA, May 29 (MR) was a bit hatchedthree young on the TravelersTower ingthrough May 18(BO). late departing. A tally of 225 Hooded in Hartford(fide GH). Rain and drizzle associated with a weak Merganserscoming in to roost on Great One Clapper and one King Rail seen "AlbertaClipper" Mar. 22 groundedthou- Bay,s.e. New Hampshire, during late March andheard at leastthrough May, apparently sandsof SnowGeese, primarily along the (SM) representeda very high count for the on territory near the n. limit of both ConnecticutR. Valley. One flock of roughly GraniteState. Comparable numbers else- species'breeding ranges at P.R.N.W.R.,may 1200 Snows in a corn field in Sunderland, wherein the stateare likelyto comeonly havebeen paired. Previous reports of possi- MA, waspossibly the largestever seen on from stretches of the Connecticut R. A ble Clapper/Kingpairs and rumored hybrid the groundin the ConnecticutR. Valley. transient Red-breasted Merganser in offspringhave come from thissame locale, Foundamong this same flock Mar. 25 were Gardner, Worcester,MA, Apr. 3 (T. Pirro) sporadically,since the 1970s.Even farther two long-awaitedRoss's Geese (P. Champ- wasa rarefind in the county. northand rather early was a singleKing in

FALL 1997 845 ScarboroughMarsh, ME, Apr.12 (E.Wood- the 2nd countyrecord. The Bonaparte's not especiallysurprising, given the fact that •n). Reportsof eight Com. Moorhensin- weresignificant in their own right inas- BarnOwls nest nearby on bothNantucket cludeda singlein Massachusetts,three in muchas the speciesis rarelygrounded in- andMartha's Vineyard. But it mightprove New Hampshire,and four in Maine. A land,despite the factthat theymust regu- to be significant,since Tuckernuck repre- SandhillCrane put in a brief showingin larly overtlyinterior New Englandduring sentsthe last n.e. strongholdfor breeding Wayland,MA, May 26 (H. Norwoodet al.), springmigration. Other Bonaparte'sin the Short-earedOwls (they have all but disap- and two-three birds in Maine included re- state associated with this event included 18 pearedfrom Nantucket).If, assome people portsfrom DixmontApr. 17-25 (C. Hardy, in Concord(D. Diggins)and two in W. suspect,Barn Owlscompetitively exclude B Barber),Kennebunk Apr. 26 (A. Gilbert Bridgewater(SA). Four Iceland Gulls in Short-eareds,this could mean that the last et al.), and MedwayApr. 26-27 (E Daviset Acton,MA, Mar. 20 (RAF) representeda of thenesting Short-eareds in New England al). highinland count, while a Regionaltotal of arein dangerof losingtheir only remaining Two pairs of Am. Oystercatchersre- seven Lesser Black-backed Gulls--two in refuge.A SnowyOwl, color-markedand re- turnedto LoganAirport in Boston,MA, the Maine and five in Massachusetts--was leasedfrom rehabilitation in Duxbury,MA, next-to-the-northernmostbreeding site for below average.An Ivory Gull in "first- in latewinter, was seen in Pelham,NH, Apr the species;a single bird was seen at spring"plumage, discovered at Monhegan 13 (fidePH), andanother Snowy lingered at PR.N.W.R.May 10 (S. Surneret al.), and May 13 (P.Vickery, D. J.Abbott), may have LoganAirport, Boston,MA, until May 20 several returned to the Scarborough beenthe sameindividual that spentmuch (NS). Two of the three Northern Hawk Marshes,ME, wherethey first successfully of the winter in Portland. The Portland Owls that overwinteredin Vermont (•n nestedlast year. An oystercatcherreported birdwas last reported Mar. 13(C. Lemmon, Cornwall and Bridport) remainedat least from SchoodicPt., Hancock,ME, Apr. 29 fideJD). throughthe endof March(VINS), andthe (C. Witt, fide JD) wasespecially far afield. A veritablespate of Gull-billedTerns one Maine wintererin Newburgh,Penob- E•ghtyLesser YelloMegs in Newburyport appearedin coastalMassachusetts in May. scot, was last reported Mar. 25 (T&D Harbor, MA, May 10 (RH) representeda They includedsingle birds in Chatham Mohrie). record-highcount for the Regionin the May 1 (L. Gill), E. BostonMay 10 (R. Sizableflocks of migrantCom. Night- spring. A W. Sandpiper in Chilmark, Cressmanet al.), P.R.N.W.R.May 11 (N. hawksare seldomseen in springin New Martha'sVineyard, MA (VL), furnisheda Samson),and Edgartown,Martha's Vine- England,so a flockof 139in Concord,MA, veryrare springrecord. During springmi- yard,May 24 (A. Keith et al.). A Regional May 27 (D. Lange)--partof a totalof 319 gration,Stilt Sandpiper,like W. Sandpiper, total of 10 CaspianTerns included one in seenfrom May26 to 27 at Concordand two typicallyturns NW from the eastcoast RhodeIsland, two in New Hampshire, othere. Massachusettstownships--was re- prior to reachingNew England, so a breed- three in Maine, and sevenin Massachusetts. markable.Early nighthawksincluded one lng-plumagedbird in W. BridgewaterMay One of the Maine birds was inland in in Westwood,MA, Apr. 16 (EN), andtwo in 10 (WP) wasnoteworthy. Single Ruffs put AugustaMay 3 (D. Ladd),as was a Massa- Cromwell,CT, Apr. 26 (J.Morin). As usual, in theirusual Essex, MA, appearancesin the chusettsbird (albeitbarely) in HalifaxApr. a minimum of 10 Chuck-will's-widows re- townsof Essexand IpswichApr. 19-26 (T. 22 (R. Finch).There were 107 Roseate Terns turned in May to Edgartown,Martha's Younget al.), and NewburyportHarbor countedat NapatreePt., Westerly, RI, May Vineyard(VL). Despitethe fact that chucks Apr.26 (RH). A 3rd Ruffwas reported from 15 (C. Raithel).Though this count was, no have never been confirmed as breeders •n Harwich,MA, May 17 (P.Kyle). A Wilson's doubt,comprised of birdseither converg- Massachusetts,there can be little doubtthat Phalaropein Concord,MA, May 9 (SP)was ing on, or foragingfrom, the GreatGull I. some or all of these birds nest there annual- unusual inland. colonyin LongIsland Sound, it nonetheless ly. The questionremains: How can it be A LaughingGull wasa rareinland find representeda high total for the Rhode proven? at Turner's Falls, MA, Apr. 30 (M. Island shore (fide DE). Three Forster's A Red-belliedWoodpecker that ran the Fairbrother).Two LittleGulls were report- Ternswere reported from Massachusetts, raptorgauntlet to getto Monheganin late ed thisspring, a 2nd-yearbird in Newbury- and one was seenin ShelburneBay, VT, May (B. Boyntonet al.), by Januaryrmght port Harbor,MA, May 10-25 (R. Lewiset Apr. 8 (fideJP). Two of the Massachusetts be asking itself "why?"Vermont's first al ), and an adult on MascomaL., Enfield, birds were in the salt marshes behind Scissor-tailedFlycatcher, in Bethel,May NH, Apr. 7 (PH). With the exceptionof P.R.N.W.R.,where the specieshas bred 25 (C. Hoisington),was overdue, though it four in Rhode Island, and two in Maine, all since at least 1992. A Black Skimmer at is perhapsless surprising that Vermont was of theroughly 22 Black-headedGulls in the P.R.N.W.R. May 31 (S&L Hennin) was thelast of theNew England states to record Regionwere reported from Massachusetts. pushing the northern limit of the thisspecies, since it is theonly state in the Sevenwere in Winthrop,MA, wherethe envelope. Regionlacking a coastline. numberof winteringbirds has dropped Cliff Swallowsmade a strongshowing, s•gnificantlysince the quality of the dis- DO•S 1'O $HRIKE$ especiallyin e.Massachusetts. On May 10,a chargeat the BostonHarbor outfall off A White-wingedDove videotapedin day accompaniedby cold,damp weather Deer I. was"improved." In this case,"im- Sterling,CT, 18May (R. Dixon),if accepted that groundedmany migrant swallows, 40 proved"is a subjectiveterm that differs by the recordscommittee, would furnish Cliffs (along with more than 700 Barn substantially,depending upon whether you the first fully documentedstate record, Swallows)were found in W. Newbury are a gull or a human.The only other though a previousunconfirmed sight (RH), and 65 Cliffswere talliedin Concord Black-headeds of note were the two that recordexists (fide GH). A BarnOwl found (SP). Other above-averagelocal totals •n- appearedamong a groundedflock of 75 roostingin a houseon TuckernuckI., MA, cluded 67 migrating up Plum I. at Bonaparte'sGulls in Athol, Worcester,MA, in May (B. LaFarge)represented a first for P.R.N.W.R. May 24 (SP), and 26 at Apr. 6 (B. Fregeau).These furnished only this Nantucket satellite island. This record is NapatreePt., Westerly,RI, May 26 (CR)

846 FIELD NOTES newngland

Anotherlong-awaited state bird, ¾iolet- ed BlueWarbler put in an earlyappearance Sparrowthat spent the winter in Salisbury, greenSwallow, finally appeared May 12,in acrossthe soundat Nantucket,MA, Apr. 13 MA, waslast reported Mar. 22 (BO). Provincetown,MA, whereit wasfound for- (ER). A Yellow-headedBlackbird was report- agmgover a smallpond in theBeech Forest The warbler of the season was the ed from PenikeseI., Goshold,MA, Apr. 13 sectionof the CapeCod National Seashore Townsend's Wgbler in Provincetown, (T. Quatromoni), and a male Brewer's (A King,M. Tuttleet al.). MA, May4-7 (SMil),though nearly as rare Blackbirdat Martha'sVineyard May 16 Fish Crowscontinue to baffle anyone in the Regionin springwas a well-de- (VL) furnisheda veryrare spring record for who has tried to make sense of their status scribed,singing male Connecticut Warbler NewEngland. A largegrackle, identified as and distributionin the Region.For exam- in Barrington,RI, May 23 (E. Starring). a Boat-tailedGrackle, was reported from ple,what was a flockof 26 doingparading Remarkably,a 2nd Connecticut,also ac- CapisticPond, Portland, ME, May 31 (K N, then returningS, high overPlymouth companiedby a verygood description, was Gammons).As with anotherrecent Maine Beach,MA, May31 (WP et al.)? discoveredin Nahant, MA, May 28 (L. sighting,this bird was almost certainly cor- WanderingCom. Ravens e. of theirnor- Pivacek). rectlyidentified, but Great-tailedGrackle mal range(why don't they regularly come A big warblerday in Kent,CT, May 23 could not be ruled out. Meanwhile, •n to thecoast?) induded single birds in Beach includedmore than 50 Magnolias,more Connecticut, a Boat-tailed was at H.B.S.P, Pond,RI, Mar. 12 (D. DeForest);Boxford, than 20 Ceruleans, and more than 50 May22 (D. Sosensky),and a maleand two MA, May 3 (WP); Quincy,MA, Mar. 1 Canadas.In e. Massachusetts,May 12 femalesreturned to the LordshipMarshes (NS);and Ipswich,MA, Mar. 3, aswell as broughta heavyflight of warblersto 2 in Stratford,where the specieswas first two birds togetherin IpswichMar 10 (J. coastal locales. Totals from Marblehead in- foundbreeding in 1995(fide GH). MacDougall).The latter birds were ob- cluded 45 N. Parbias,25 Magnolias, 16 A Common Chaffinch was presentin servedfeeding on a road-killedFisher! Black-throatedBlues, 38 Black-and-whites, Scituate,MA, from about the time of The The 3rd RegionalRock Wren wasdis- 24 Ovenbirds, and 55 Com. Yellowthroats. Blizzarduntil at leastmid-May (ph., fide coveredMar. 30 in Gloucester,MA, whereit At the ManometCenter banding station in MAS). While the origins of North survivedThe Blizzard,remaining through Plymouth,totals (all banded)included 50 Americanchaffinches are generally regard- Aprfi22 (lb et al.).The 2 previousrecords Gray Catbirds,42 Black-and-whites,40 ed assuspect, the Scituatebird addedto an also came from Massachusetts. The first Ovenbirds,and 15 N. Waterthrushes(fide increasinglyprevalent pattern of springoc- wasfound in 1965in Rockport(naturally), JA,TLE). Approximately500 warblersen- currences. a mere2 mi from thisyear's bird. Single gagedin an apparent"reverse" migration Oddly,as numbers of visitingEvening Grosbeaks have declined in winter within s SedgeWrens, neither of whichgave any in- werecounted as they departed RR.N.W.R. &cationsthat they intended to nestlocally, in small flocks,southbound, in light rain and e. portionsof the Region,this species were discoveredin Brandon,VT, May 26 May25. Among these were more than 150 hasshown signs of becomingmore com- mon as a breeder in these areas. This was (S Wetter),and Marshfield,MA, May 7-9 Magnolias and more than 200 Am. (D Ludlow). Redstarts(SP, EN). evidencedby theappearance of four adults When B. Loughranfound a Town- The northernmost Yellow-throated with onejuvenile in Royalston,MA, May 26 send's Solitaire in Sandwich, MA, Mar. 5, Warblers,among a Regionaltotal of eight, (EN). he immediatelydrove to Barnstable(less werein Concord,NH, May 11 (fide PH); Subregionaleditors (bold), contributors than 5 mi asthe solitaireflies) to seeif the EastKingston, NH, in mid-May(D. Finch); (italics),and observers: S.Arena, ]. Atwood individualthat spentthe winterthere was andManchester, VT, May 25 (N. Brown).A (ManometCenter), Audubon Society of stillpresent. When he foundit was,he no LouisianaWaterthrush on Monheganwas New Hampshire,J. Berry,Bird Observer doubtbecame the only birderever to see somewhatout-of-place on the late dateof magazine,L. Brinker,A & B Delorey,J. two solitairesin New Englandin the same May 26 (LB). Despres (Maine), D. Emerson (Rhode dayThe Sandwich bird was not seen again, Among20 SummerTanagers reported Island), D. Finizia, R. A. Forster, D. Hoag, but the Barnstable bird remained at least throughoutthe season,an individualon G. Hanisek(Connecticut), R. Hell, P. Hunt throughMar. 16 (no). MonheganMay 20 (B.Boyton) was the far- (NewHampshire), V. Laux,T. Lloyd-Evans SinceLoggerhead Shrike has vanished thestafield, and a maleW. Tanagermade a (Manomet Center), M. Lynch, Maine asa nestingspecies in NewEngland--and surpriseappearance in Dublin,NH, May 24 AudubonSociety (MnAS), Maine Bird it hasbecome a rare migrant--any Logger- (T. Warren).Western Tanager has become a Notes, MassachusettsAudubon Society head,including the individualfound in less-regularfall visitorto NewEngland in (MAS),S. Miller (SMil), S. Mirick (SM), E Ferrisburgh,VT, Apr. 6 (S.Patten et al.),is a thelast 20 years, and they have always been bonus. Nielsen,B. Niknla (CapeCod), S. Perkins, rarein spring.Three, of a totalof roughly W. Petersen,Judy Peterson (Vermont), C 19, Blue Grosbeaksstrayed to Vermont Raithel, E. Ray, M. Rines (e VIREOS TO FINCHES (VINS), and oneof four Mainebirds was Massachusetts),N. Smith, J. Soucy, R. The mostsignificant vireo report involved seenon Monhegan(LB). Stymeist, W. Townsend (Maine), anapparent Cassin's Vireo that was careful- A highspring total of nineDickcissels Vermont Institute of Natural Sdences. ly studiedin S.Burlington, VT, May21 (S. probablyincluded many birds that had Simon Perkins, MassachusettsAudubon Morrical). spentthe winter locally. Nine Clay-colored The amazingCape May Warblerthat Sparrowsreported from 4 of the 6 New Society,Lincoln, MA, 01773, survivedthe winter by eatingstrawberry Englandstates reflected that species contin- jam at a feederin Edgartown,Martha's ued,gradual increase within the Region.A Vineyard,MA, wasstill going strong at the Lark Sparrowwas noted in Windsor,CT, endof March(fide VL), anda Black-throat- May 20 (P. Desjardins),and the Harris's

FALL1997 847 hudson-delaware region

adjacentparts of Susque- Fulmars,while the May trip found another hanna R., Washington l l fulmars,two Manx and two Cory's Twp.,Lancaster Co., PA); shearwateys,aswell as numerous Sooty and DerbyHill (Hawk watch Greater shearwaters. More Am. White near L. Ontario,Oswego, Pelicanswere seenthan usual, with only NY); HamlinBeach (Hamfin Delawaremissing out. Someof the reports BeachS.P. and adjacent couldrepresent the sameindividuals wan- erbyH lakeshore, Monroe Co., deringwidely, but therewere dearly multi- • NEWYORK ^,b•,•- NY);Jamaica Bay (Jamaica plebirds. The first was a fly-overenjoyed by .,RochesterßMontezurnaNWR Bay Wildlife Refuge, multiple observersat Derby Hill Apr. 27. Oueens,NYC); LI (Long Anotherwas seen over Tobay Sanctuary, LI, ßu• /s/and, NY); Port Mahon May 11 (RP)and again later the same day at ; (marshesand bayshore JamaicaBay (S. Wicker), both times heading •o••' alongroad east of Little west.An individualwas at Brig May 16 ,.•ma•ca• Bay Creek,Kent, DE); Sandy (JDa),and it--or another--atThompson's Hawk•'- P•c• s,•H Hook (SandyHook Unit, BeachMay 21-27 (S. Dowling,m.ob.). Yet •d•'• • NJ J•,•hS.P GatewayNat'/. Recreation anotherwas inland at the ConejohelaFlats '• Area,Monmouth Co., NJ); May 17-18(EW, RMS, TG). *•.• ThompsonsBeach (bay- Brown Pelican, on the other hand, went shoreand tidal mudflats, totallyunreported for the firsttime in more _• o%c• nearHeislerville, Cumber- than a decade.Although a few sightings •,%• land Co., NJ); D.R.B.C. probablyslipped through the cracks,the •-• (DelawareRare Birds Com- turn about from the mass invasions of the • ATLANTICOCEAN mittee); N.J.B.R.C. (Newlate 1980sand early 1990shas been pro- JerseyBird Records Com- found.No longerdo we anticipatethe im- mittee);N.Y.S.A.R.C. (New WILUAHJ. BOYLEJR., minentestablishment of breeding colonies YorkState Avian Rarities Committee); P.O.R.C. in the coastalbays. ROBERTO. PAXTON, (Pennsylvania Ornithological Records Great Cormorant numbers have de- and DAVID A. CUTLER Committee). dined dramaticallyalong the coastduring the pastfew winters,so therewere only a LOOMS TO IBISES Pring1997 never arrived overmost of fewlingering into March,but an individual the Region.The weatherfor the entire The PacificLoon reportedfrom Indian R. up theHudson R. at Coxsackie,Greene, NY, seasonwas much cooler, and generally wet- Inlet, Sussex,DE, duringwinter was noted May 9-13 was most unexpected (R. ter, than normal.Bird migrationwas de- againMarch 1 & 17 (fideAPE); the record Guthrie).A femalefrigatebird, presumably layed,as well, althougha few cold fronts has been referred to the D.R.B.C. Another encounteredsoutherly flow in mid- to late Magnificent,was over Great Gull I., off the PacificLoon, this one in breedingplumage, May and broughtsome good flights to a e. endof LI, May 17 (H. Hayes). number of locations. wasseen on L. Ontarioat RochesterApr. 27 Wanderingherons induded a LittleBlue Numerous holdovers from the winter (RSp,S. Spahn, • to N.Y.S.A.R.C.).The new Heron at MendonPonds, Rochester, May providedsome good early spring birding, hawkwatch at CapeHenlopen also demon- 17 (R. Cooper)and a TricoloredHeron at but therewere relatively few raritiesto en- stratedthat the siteis goodfor migrating Derby Hill May 26, which flew over and liven an otherwisechilly birding season. loons,with up to 50 Com.Loons seen there thenlanded within sight, for theenjoyment Pelagicbirding off NewJersey was poor, al- Apr.2 (CB). of the day'shawk-watching crowd (J. Tietz Red-necked Grebes were rather scarce thoughtwo differenttrips out of Montauk et al.). The now annual White-faced Ibis at eitherend of the seasonproduced excel- in the south,although one hung around appearedon scheduleat Bombay Hook lent birding.The first,on March 1, found IonesInlet, H, all March.So a groupof 11 May 24 into the summer(FR, m.ob.). manyalcids, while the second,on May 31, at CornwallBay, Orange, NY, Apr. 28 was wasgood for tubenosesand jaegers. especiallynoteworthy (E. Treacy).A maxi- WATERFOWL mum of 372 on the Ontario lakeshore west A pair of TrumpeterSwans, one wearinga Abbreviations:Braddock Bay (Braddock Bay of Rochesterwas an excellenttotal (RSp). band,was at the Cone•ohelaFlats, where a S.P.and vicinity,Monroe Co., NY);Bombay The only EaredGrebes were in New York, familygroup of five appearedlast spring, Hook(Bombay Hook N.W.R. near Smyrna, DE); with one off Robert Moses S.P., H, Mar. 9 from May 17 on (EW et al.); they are pre- Brig(Brigantine Unit, Forsythe N.W.R., Atlantic (S. Mitra), and another at Conesus L., sumed to be from the Ontario reintroduc- Co.,NJ); Cape Henlopen (Cape Henlopen S.P., Monroe,Mar. 28 (KFo, J.Fox). tion program.The 2nd Regionalrecord of Sussex,DE); Conejohela Flats (mud flats and The Marchpelagic trip recorded55 N. Pink-footed Goose, if accepted by

848 ' ' FIELD NOTES hudson-delaware

P.O.R.C., was discoveredin a flock of Snow LI, lingeredwell into March (v.o.), while 318 Merlinsfor the spring,but the mostin- Geeseat Oley,Berks, PA, Mar. 29, andseen both King (four) and Common eiders terestingitem wasa single-observerreport in the areauntil at leastApr. 10, whenthe (more than 100) were at Montauk at late as of a Eur.Kestrel May 2, whichwould be a flock departed (m.ob.). Although the May 18 (TWB).A femaleKing Eider was at firstfor the stateif acceptedby the D.R.B.C. rangesof thesespecies do not overlap,sev- Longport, Atlantic, NJ, Apr. 6-15 (M. A Gyrfalconwas seen at SnowshoePt., eral of the previouslyaccepted records of Hyatt).A pair of HarlequinDucks on the Jefferson,NY, Mar. 16 (NL et al., ph.), while Pink-footed Goose in North America have SusquehannaR., Dauphin,off West Fair- another was very late at Pt. Gratiot, been birdsin largeflocks of SnowGeese. view, Apr. 5 provided an outstanding Dunkirk, Chautauqua,NY, on the L. Erie The firstRegional record was of a bird that recordfor inland Pennsylvania(DH, R. shoreApr. 5 (M. O'Connell). arrivedwith a flock of migratoryCanada Henise,ph.), while a verylate drake was at A YellowRail wascalling from the Port Geeseat BombayHook in earlyNovember Hamlin BeachMay 16 (WSy). Breeding Mahon marsheson the night of Apr. 30 1953,and remainedlong enough to make HoodedMergansers were found at 2 sitesin (APE et al.), but not thereafter; another the ChristmasBird Count (DAC, m.ob.). Luzerne,and one in Bradford,PA, the later YellowRail was heard and taperecorded at The SnowGoose flock at Oley alsoin- evidencebeing a femalewith 13 chicksin Whitesbog,Burlington, NJ, May 7 for oneof cludeda Ross'sGoose and a possibleRoss's StandingStone Township (WR). the few definitive records from the Pine x SnowGoose hybrid. Two Ross's Geese in Barrens(A. Sexauer).Black Rails were al- Delawarewere normal, but threein upstate RAPTORS TO CRANES most abundant in the Port Mahon marshes New York was exceptional.One was at DerbyHill reportedan exceptionallyslow in May, and Delawarebirders found nu- HowlandIsland W.M.A., Cayuga,Mar. 9 season, the 3rd lowest total ever, as the merousKing Rails at freshwatermarshes in (SA et al.), whileboth a blue-morphand a frontsconspired to proliferatea patternof Kent and New Castle. whitebird were at FL Miller, Washington,on N and W windsthat disperserather than Derby Hill had a total of six Sandhill the e. bank of the Hudson R., Mar. 30 concentratemigrant raptorsalong the L. Cranes for the season. Two birds were at (WGE, NLM, B. Putnam). Greater White- Ontario shore. A new hawk watch initiated CapeMay on May 21 (v.o.), and another frontedGeese were reported in above-aver- at Cape Henlopen by Bennett provided pair at Hen Village,Jefferson, NY, May 29 agenumbers, but a Brantof the black-bel- someinteresting insight into the migration (LBC). Most interesting,however, was the lied westernsubspecies at Sandy Hook Apr. alongthe . With the dis- presenceof a pair of cranesin OntarioMay 19 wasa rarity (J. Burgiel,E Lesseret al.). continuationof the SandyHook count,this 31 (RSp,KFo), at a possiblebreeding loca- This form is probablyoverlooked in the is the only coastalspring hawk watch. tion. If confirmed as nesters, this would Regionbecause of the difficultyof distin- Amongthe birds seen there were two Missi- representthe first modern recordof this guishingBrant sitting on thewater, and be- ssippiKites, a speciesunknown in Delaware speciesbreeding in NewYork State. causeof its lesserstatus since being down- a decadeago. Another Mississippi Kite was gradedto a subspeciesin the early1970s. A at HoopesRes., New Castle,DE, May 8 (J. SHOREBIRDS Barnacle Goose at L. Flower, Franklin, NY, White), and up to five were aroundCape American Golden-Plovers were in short on the improbabledate of May 8, is notlike- May laterin the month.For the firsttime in supplythis spring, the maximumtally being ly to be acceptedas a wildbird (TD et al.). manyyears, no Swallow-tailedKite was re- a modestfive alongthe entranceroad to Green-wingedTeal of the Eurasiansub- portedfor the springseason. BombayHook Apr. 5. Followinglast year's specieswere at Port of Wilmington, DE; The BaldEagle population continues to mini-invasion,the onlyWilson's Plover of Heislerville and Thompsons Beach, expand,with 14 pairsnesting in Delaware, the season appeared at Westhampton Cumberland,NJ; and Brig duringMarch. 12 pairs in New Jersey,and six in e. Dunes,Suffolk, LI, May 9-14 (K. Meckill,J. The usualcomplement of Eur.Wigeon was Pennsylvania;the New York total will ap- Fritz et al.). North of their Delawarebreed- scatteredaround the s. partsof the Region pear in the summerreport. Productivity ing grounds,Black-necked Stilts were at as well. A Redheadat Woodland Beach,DE, continuesto be good,although there are BrigMay 2, GoshenLanding May 3, and at May 29 mayhave been injured (WJW). The numerousnest failures. For example,of the CapeMay on May 17-18 (PL,SF et al.). pair of TuftedDucks at Calverton,Suffolk, 14 nests in Delaware, 7 failed but the An early Upland Sandpiperwas near other 7 produced 14 Smyrna,Kent, DE, Apr. 6 (APE, JLS),but ,,- young.A Swainson'sHawk this declining migrant was otherwise at Hamlin Beach May 1 scarce.A few pairs were at Manorville, furnishedthe only report Suffolk,LI, during May, remainingto nest of the season(WSy). The (ESa), and Lakehurst Naval Air Station, Cape Henlopen hawk Monmouth,NJ, had about a dozen pairs watchtallied an impressive (BO). Otherwisethere was only the odd pair here and there.The huge concentra- tions of shorebirdsthat gatheralong the Aß exceptionalinland DelawareBayshore in late May weremuch recordwas provided reduced in numbers again this year. by this pnir Biologistsattribute the dedine to a sharp of HarlequinDucks reduction in the numbers of horseshoe on the SnsqnehnnnaRiver at WestFnirview, crabscoming ashore to lay their eggs.As a Pennsylvania, result,Governor Whitman of New Jersey on April 5, 1997. institutedan interim ban on the taking of Photograph/DonHenise horseshoecrabs, and later extended the ban

FALL 1997 849 by executiveorder. This order is currently GULLS TO ALCIDS beingcontested in the courtsby fishermen, The May 31 pelagictrip recordedall three who use the crabs for bait. jaegersand two SouthPolar Skuas, in addi- Raritieswere relativelyfew. A Curlew tion to the fine collection of shearwaters. Sandpiperwas at BombayHook fromMay An ad.Franklins Gull wasthe highlightof a 7 to the end of the month (S. Gonzaga, "four hoodedgull" day at SouthAmboy, m.ob.), anotherwas at Brig May 9 (v.o.), Middlesex,NJ, for one fortunate observer and a 3rd at Nummy I., CapeMay, NJ, May Apr.21 (SB,t to N.J.B.R.C.).In additionto x, 13 (M. Fritz). Stilt Sandpipers,rare in the usualLaughing Gulls, the collectionin- spring,were at BombayHook Apr. 30 and cluded a Little Gull and a Com. Black- Woodland Beach (3) May 7. Ruffs no headed Gull. Another ad. Franklin's Gull longerappear at Pedricktown,NJ, but one wasseen on the SusquehannaR., Dauphin, at ThompsonsBeach Mar. 29 stayedfor the May 15 (D. Bogar)but couldn'tbe relocat- spring.Others were at Brigfrom mid-April edthe nextday. Up to four LittleGulls were and at Cape May for most of May. In round Cape May in March, and a couple Delaware, there were three-four in the wereat JonesInlet duringthe month,but BombayHook-Woodland Beach area dur- the big concentration,as usual,was at the ing late-Marchto May,while the mostun- mouth of the Niagara R., where 61 were usual was one at Struble L., Chester, PA, countedApr. 17. This impressivetotal is May 5 (LL, G. Saunders).Among the scat- stillshort of lastspring's record 78. teredreports of Red-neckedPhalarope, the The gullspectacle along the DelawareR. Studiedat Thompson'sBeach, New mostinteresting was of a groupof four on at Florence,Burlington, NJ, continued from Jersey,on May24, 1997, this bird the SusquehannaR., Dauphin,near Marys- the winter season,although diminished wasidentified as a Thayer'sGull in first- somewhat.Following reports of both Mew year plumage.Although wear and fading ville May 16 (DH, R. Konry). make determination more difficult and Thayer'sgulls by variousobservers by late May,bill shapeand wing pattern during the winter, Daseyreported an ad. suggestthat the identificationwas California Gull there Mar. 12 and an ad. correct.(See also Pictorial Highlights.) Thayer'sGull Apr. 28, and supplieddetails Photograph/KarlBardon to the New JerseyBird RecordsCommittee (WDa). There have been no accepted Thisseason's Scissor-tailed Flycatchers were recordsof either speciesin the state, al- both in New York, the first at Darien, thoughthere are numerous sight records of Genesee,May 21-22 (C. Laben,WDn et al.), thelatter, many of themlikely correct. This andthe 2ndat lona1., Rockland, May 26 (M. problemmay be resolved after discussion of Reynolds,N. Bates,et al.). AlthoughCliff excellentphotos of an apparentfirst-winter Swallowsappear to beincreasing over much Thayer'sGull at Thompson'sBeach May of the Region,continuing their recovery 24-27 (K. Bardon,PL, SF et al.). from the low pointsof the late 1970s,the Although Thayer'sGull is of regular, colonyat Odessa,Kent, DE, seemsto have thoughuncommon, occurrence in upstate been abandoned. Brown-headed Nuthatch, NewYork, its statusin the s. part of the Re- on the other hand, is doing well in s. gion hasbeen controversial. Two Thayer's Delaware,with more and more spots--in- Gullswere identified among the massesof duding Cape Henlopen--recordingthem gullsat the StatenIsland dump (a.k.a.sani- regularly(fide CB). tary landfill)Apr. 12, by experiencedob- Up to four SedgeWrens were in the Port servers(R. Lewis,R. Veit,P. Post,ph.). Also Mahon marshesin mid-May,and a singing presentthere that daywere up to 17 Lesser bird wasin the SouthCape May Meadows Amongthe hugenumbers of gnllsstudied Black-backedGulls, including one on the from May 7 (v.o.).With all the uncertainty at the dumpat StatenIsland, New York, intermediussubspecies. Three early Royal aboutdefinitive field marksfor separating on April 12, 1997, wasthis apparentadult Ternswere at JamaicaBay Apr. 28-May 1, Bicknell'sfrom Gray-cheekedThrush away Thayer'sGull. Note the bill shape, and a RoseateTern was at CapeMay, where fromthe breedinggrounds, voice is proba- the darkiris, andparticularly the details of wingtip patternas seenfrom above theyare now annual, May 25. bly the most reliablemethod for distin- and below in this shot. The Mar. 1 pelagictrip out of Montauk guishingthe two whenthe opportunitypre- Photograph/RobertH. Lewis turnedup 40 DoveIdes,one Com. Murre, 20 sentsitself. Witmer encountereda Gray- Razorbills,24 AtlanticPuffin, plus another cheeked/Bicknell'stype and had the bird re- morethan 50 unidentifiedalcids. One puf- spondto a recordingand repeatedly give the fin waseven seen on the May 31 trip. call,though not the song,of the Bicknell's Thrushon the tape(EW). A VariedThrush DOVES TO SHRIKES was seenby one observerat RootsTavern A Black-backedWoodpecker at Irish Settle- Rd., Geneseo,NY, Apr. 22 (P.Weld). mentRd., Canton, St. Lawrence, NY, Apr. 20 A LoggerheadShrike, now very rare as a wasoutside the species' normal range (DD). springmigrant, was at SaranacL., Franklin,

850 FIELD NOTES hudson-delaware

NY, Mar. 29 (TD); another was the first in hundredbirds were present in May and SaratogaSprings, NY 12866),K. C. Griffith many years for Great Swamp N.W.R., thereafter(BO). ALe Conte'sSparrow was (GeneseeRegion, NY: 61 GrandviewLane, Morris,NJ, Apr. 5 (H. Burk, TH). ThreeN. seenand heard singing at WoodlandBeach, Rochester,NY 14612), Barb & Frank Haas, Shrikes,including two singingmales, were Kent,DE, Apr. 22 (WJW,S. O'Bryan),and Tom Halliwell, Don Henise, Armas Hill at MassawepieMire, St. Lawrence,NY, on another migrant was at Nine Mile Pt. (PhiladelphiaBirdline), Rich Kane (RKa), thevery late date of Apr.20 (DD). EnergyInformation Center, Oswego, NY, SteveKe!Ung (Finger Lakes Region, NY May 12 (BP,•' to N.Y.S.A.R.C.). AppliedPhysics, Cornell University, Ithaca, VIREOS TO WARBLERS A WesternMeadowlark at Hamlin May NY 14850),Rick Koval (RKo), Bill Krueger, The springmigration of passerines,war- 8 wasthe firstreport in severalyears of a RobertKurtz (RKu), Laurie Larson, Tony blersin particular,was delayed by thepro- formerlyregular migrant (RO), but one Lauro,Gary Lee,Paul Lehman, Nick Leone, longedcold spring.When it came,there seen,heard, and tape-recorded at Thomp- Larry Lewis,Glen & EileenMahler (GEM), were a few goodwaves, but mostlybirds son GrovePark, Monmouth,NJ, May 26, Robert Marcotte,N. L. Martin, Fred Mears, passedthrough quickly. A Bell'sVireo, a would representthe first state record in AugustMirabella, Brian Moscatello (BMo), first for the GeneseeRegion--if accepted manydecades, if acceptedby N.J.B.R.C.(A. Bill & Naomi Murphy (BNM), Michael by N.Y.S.A.R.C.--wasreported at Roches- Spears,•' to N.J.B.R.C.).The onlyreport of O'Brien, R. O'Hara, Bob Olthoff, Tom ter May 14 (RSp).Yellow-throated Warblers Yellow-headed Blackbird came from Parsons,J. M. C. Peterson (Adirondack- were notedoutside their normalrange at Smyrna,DE, Apr.22-23 (ESh,FR). ChamplainRegion, NY: DiscoveryFarm, Greece,Monroe, NY, May 31 (J. Bounds) There was a small incursion of both Red RD 1, Elizabethtown,NY 12932), Vivian and at HempsteadLake S.P.,LI, Apr. 27 and White-wingedcrossbills into the s. Pitzrick, Jim Previdi (Rockland,NY: 26 (RKu). At least six birds were territorial in Adirondacks in March. Yunick collected Rammler Lane,Bardonia, NY 10954),Nick Delaware,PA, where they have not nested numerous road-kills for examination and Pulcinella,Bill Purcell(Oneida Lake Basin sincethe early 1980s (NP). found all of the Red Crossbillsmeasured to 281 Baum Road, Hastings,NY 13076), A Swaln•on'sWarbler waspresent for be of the race minor of the Pacific North- William Reid (n.e. PA: 73 W. Ross St, oneday only May 6 at CapeMay, where the westand had minorshaped bills (RPY,* to Wilkes-Barre,PA 18702), Rochester Birding specieshas occurredseveral times in the Columbia-GreeneCommunity College). If Association, Frank Rohrbacher, Eric pastfew years (T. Leukering,LZ). The farst identificationby thesecriteria is reliable, Salzman(ESa), Sy Schiff (Long Island: 603 Louisiana Waterthrush of the season was a this resultonly further substantiatesthe MeadTerrace, S. Hempstead, NY 11550),R week early at BelleplainS.F., Cape Ma? unpredictabilityof the nomadicwander- M. Schutsky(Bird Treks), Dominic Shetony (PD). KentuckyWarblers were found in ingsof thisspecies. (DSh), Ellen Short (ESh), David Sibley much higher numbersthan usual in the (DSi), J.L. Skolnicki,R. G. Spaha(Genesee greaterNew York City area,and one was Observers(subregional compilers in bold- OrnithologicalSociety), Dean Spaulding heardonly at CarpentersFlats, Clinton, in fnce): S. Adair, Robert Andtie (Buffalo (DSp), Clay Sutton,Pat Sutton,William far upstateNew York (BK, C. Mitchell).A area), Scott Angus,Peter Bacinski,Tom Symonds,Don & Donna Traver (DDT), ConnecticutWarbler was among 25 species Bailey (TBa; coastalNJ: 87 Wyndham MichaelUsai (LowerHudson Valley, NY' of warblersat Wilkes-Barre,PA, May 24 (J. Place, Robbinsville, NJ 08691), Scott 70 Virginia Rd., Apt. 18A, North White Shoemaker). Barnes,Ghris Bennett (Sussex, DE: Cape Plains,NY 10603),Brian Vernacchio (c Henlopen S.P., 42 Cape Henlopen Dr., NJ: RancocasNature Center, 794 Rancocas TANAGERS TO FINCHES Lewes,DE 19958),Irving Black (n.e. NJ: Rd.,Mt. Holly,NJ 08060),William Watson, Far north of its normalrange, a Summer EagleRock Village, Bldg. 26, Apt 8B,Budd W.J.Wayne, Eric Witmet, AI Wo!lin (Long Island: 4 Meadow Lane, Rockville Center, Tanagervisited a feederin Irondequoit, Lake,NJ 07828), Frank Bonnano,Elizabeth Monroe,NY, May 12-21 (R&JScott et al.). Brooks,P. A. Buckley,T. W. Burke (New NY 11570),Brian & Mary Wood (BMW), Alsowell n. of its range,but occurringin- YorkRare Bird Alert), Colin Campbell, Lee R. P.Yunick, Louise Zemaitis. Many other observerswho sentreports to us or their creasinglyin recentyears, a femalePainted B. Ghamberlaine(St. LawrenceRegion, Regionalcompilers could not be listed, Buntingwas at CapeMay, May 15-17 (PL NY: P.O.Box 139, Henderson,NY 13650), et al.). Dickcisselswere againreported in Richard Crossley(RCr), K. L. Crowell, but their contributionsare gratefully acknowledged. above-averagenumbers, and severalpairs DorothyCrumb, W'ffiiam D'Amm (WDn, set up territories at Bright View Farm, NiagaraFrontier, NY: 2257 Cayuga Dr. Ext., Georgetown,Burlington, NJ, where the Niagara Falls, NY 14304), John William I. Boyle, Jr., 14 CrownDrive, Warren,N] 07059; Robert O. Paxton, 460 landownerdelayed mowing until afternest- Danzenbaker(JDa), Ward Dasey(WDa, lng wascomplete. s.w.NJ: 29 Ark Road,Medford, NJ 08055), RiversideDr.,Apt. 72, New York, NY 10027; and In additionto someholdover Clay-col- Dean DiTomasso, Mary Dobinsky David A. Cutler, 1110 RockCreek Dr, ored Sparrowsfrom the winter season, (SusquehannaRegion, NY: 7 Spencer Wyn½ote,PA 19095. threebirds in the Rochesterarea in May Drive, Oneonta, NY 13820), Jim Dowdell couldhave been nesting; a pairat Ft.Drum, (JDo), Tom Dudones, Pete Dunne, A. P. lefferson,NY, May 31 wasalmost certainly Ed•Lie (New Castle and Kent, DE: 59 nesting(m.ob.). Grasshopper Sparrows are Lawson Ave., Claymont, DE 19703), doingwell in appropriatehabitat. About 50 Vincent Ella, W. G. Ellison, Shawneen pairswere at ManorvilIe,Suffolk, LI (ESa), Finnegan, Kurt Fox, G. L. Freed, Don andmany others were at a nearbyUPS fa- Freiday(n.w. NJ: 1 JessicaLane, Warren, NJ clhty in Calverton (RKu). At Lakehurst 07059), Tom Garner, Jane Graves Naval Air Station, Monmouth, NJ, several (Hudson-Mohawk,NY: SkidmoreCollege,

FALL1997 851 middle atlantic coast region

ed SaintMary's firsts. Small numbers of N. Gannetsdid appearin the Marylandpor- tion of theBay in Marchand April, with the ß Frederick Baltimore last two at North Beach,Calvert, Apr. 13 (JLS).Brown Pelicans returned to the Bay Patuxentß Sandy Point Eastern Neck NW ' Mar. 24 whena loneimmature appeared in WashingtonD.C,••R Matthews(JBB), followed by othersthere and farther north at P.L.S.P. (PC). \ American White Pelicans returned to their recents. Virginia hauntsof Fisherman'sI., )eal Island Northampton,VA, Man 13 (DC), and Hog I., Surr)6VA, May 11 (BT). More unusual was a single American White Pelican notedflying N pastFt. SmallwoodMay 1 (p.a.,HLW, PF et al.) for AnneArundel's3rd and Maryland's 20th. Double-crested Cormorant numbers continue to increase, with 785Apr. 25 (EB)and a latehigh of 650

Norfolk May 24 (EB) from Conowingo Dam,

ß Kerr Res. Harford. Some interestingsmall inland Great Blue Heron colonies continued at L. Whetstone(2nd year), Montgomery,and HARSHALL lUFF (Districtof Columbia);Hart (Hart-Miller L); p.a. ConowingoDam (EB), and at a new loca- (pendingacceptance by state records commit- tion near VantagePoint, Howard (JS). A hiswinter wasone ofthe warmer on tee); RR.N.A.S. (PatuxentRiver Naval Air Great Egret in obvious migration over record,resulting in someearly nesting Station);RL.S.R (Pt. Lookout S.P.). All locations WinterHarbor was very early Mar. 1 (JBB). and migrationactivity in the Region.The listed in the text can be assumed to be in Most Tundra Swansappeared to have springseemed to be aheadof scheduleup Maryland,except that each Virginia location is left the RegionMar. 8-9, whennumbers of until aboutmid-April, at whichpoint most annotatedthe first time it is mentioned. migrantswere reported at inlandlakes and neotropicalmigrants seemed surprisingly overhead.One ad. male Eur. Wigeon visited absent.Most migrantsdid not arriveuntil LOONS TO SHOREBIRDS Chinc., Accomack,VA, Mar. 10-Apr. 28 earlyMay, whensmall flights were noted Countsof both loonsfrom the Bay and (v.o.).Top duckhonors go to the ad. male May 3-4 and May 10.Much of earlyMay elsewherewere absolutely miserable, with Tufted Duck (p.a.) at JeffersonPatterson was cold and wet nonetheless, and most 65 Com.Loons at VirginiaBeach, VA, earn- Park, Calvert,Maryland's 2nd and first numbers seemed low. Some coastal ing the dubioustitle of seasonalhigh count since 1979. It was found by Bell and species,such as Brown Pelicans and Man 2 (RA), the only count over 26 this KostenkoMar. 18, and wasseen and pho- AmericanOystercatchers, continue their season.Horned Grebesfared much better, tographedby othersover the next 2 days. pushinto the ChesapeakeBay, and ob- and had notable concentrations of 300 at Captiveorigin is alwayspossible, but the servers continue to monitor their success. P.L.S.P.,Saint Mary's, Man 11 (PC); 131 at regularityof fall and winter reportsin the Loon numbersseemed shockingly low, Winter Harbor, Matthews, VA, Man 24 northeast,especially the Maritimes,sug- grebes were up, and Red-breasted (JBB); and 250 at North Beach, Calvert, geststhat our 4 Regionalreports may just Nuthatches continued to be absent, but Apr. 8 (JLS).Four Red-neckedGrebes ap- be outliersof regularwinterers. Addition- otherwisemost speciescounts seemed to pearedat only3 localities,well below aver- ally,a recentspate of BarrowsGoldeneye be aboutaverage. age comparedto the last 3 good years. suggeststhat this Tufted Duck--and the Three Eared Grebesat JeffersonPatterson one last winter at Chinc.--may both be Abbreviations: Assat.(Assateague Island Park, Calvert,provided a high count for productsof a southwardshift of someNew NationalSeashore); Bay (Chesapeake Bay); MarylandMan 20 (JLS),and a singlelin- Englandwaterfowl. The ad. male Barrows Black.(Blackwater N.W.R.); C.B.B.T. (Chesa- gered there through Mar. 29 (GMD. Goldeneyeat ER.N.A.S.,Saint Mary's, was peakeBay Bridge-Tunnel);Chinc. (Chinco- Another wasat North BeachMar. 16 (JLS), lastseen Mar. I (p.a.,fide PC). The EL.S.E teague N.W.R.); Conowingo(Conowingo while one at P.L.S.P.Mar. 10-13 (PC, KR) King Eider was last seenMar. 16 (AR), Dam);Craney (Craney L DisposalArea); D.C. and anotherat GreenwellS.P. both provid- while an imm. male Com. Eider remained

85Z FIELD NOTES middle atlantic coast at OceanCity until at leastMay 10 (JB), Marylandfor MississippiKites. Singles May and an ad.male Harlequin Duck was still at 12 & 17 (p.a.,SR) brought the totalfor this the C.B.B.T., Northampton,VA, May 24 locationto seven(Maryland has only about (CV). Harlequin high countswere six at 26 records and the Maryland Records OceanCity Mar. 16 (SHD) and six at the Committee still reviews reports of this C.B.B.T. Mar. 30 (AW). Counts of most species).Another was awayfrom regular otherdiving ducks, especially scoters, were Virginialocations May 11 at Hog I. (BT).A notablylow, and almostno big concentra- Swallow-tailedKite was reported from tionswere reported along the Bayshore or Quantico, Prince William, VA, on the rela- inland.The onlycounts worthy of mention tivelyearly date of Apr. 20 (MB). The only were made at Rigby'sFolly, Talbot,where N. Goshawk was an adult near Brambleton, 275 Bufflehead and 3750 Surf Scoters were Loudoun, VA, Mar. 15 (SE), and the last counted Mar. 18 (HTA) and 840 Ruddy Rough-leggedHawk was a light morph at Ducks flockedMar. 29 (HTA). The only Elliot I., Dorchester,Apr. 13 (HTA). An scotereven a little out of placewas a male imm. GoldenEagle at Black.,Dorchester, This odd-lookimgKilldeer, apparently White-wingedat Violette'sLock, Montgom- May 3 (HTA, WCR et al.) furnishedone of a melanisticindividual, foraged in fields ery, Mar. 15-16 (TT, OJ). Two Barnacle Maryland'slater reports. in St. Hary'sCoonty, Haryland, in late March lg97. Geesereported Mar. 17from Davidsonville, Photograph/PattyCraig AnneArundel (CAH), werelikely escapes, RAILS TO SHRIKES while two RuddyShelducks Mar. 9 at L. A Black Rail at Cornfield Harbor, Saint Elkhorn,Howard (DE), certainlywere. Mary's,May 10-11 (AB, PC) was almost to the same bird, came from Lisbon, Thisyear Ricciardi, Wierenga, and oth- certainlya migrant, and providedone of Howard, May 8 (DN); Buckeystown, erslogged a record81 daysand 424 hours very few recordsfor the county.American Frederick,May 10 (ph. EF); and Mannassas of coverageat the Ft. Smallwoodhawk Coots remained in good numbersthis Airport, PrinceWilliam, VA, May 11 (MS). watch,and--not surprisingly--thiseffort spring,and two lingeredat North Tract Fifty Am. Avocetsat Craney, Ports- producedsome good daysand seasonal P.W.R.C., Anne Arundel, May 26 (SA). mouth,VA, representeda very high count records.New spring seasonhighs were SandhillCrane reportsare becomingever Apr. 14 (GW), andfive were at Hart May 24 recorded for Black Vulture (188), Red- morefrequent. The SouthPoint, Worcester, (EJSet al.). Black-neckedStilt reportsin- shoulderedHawk (413), and Merlin (100), immaturewas still presentMar. 7 (SHD), cludedone at Black.May 3 (HTA, WCR et as well as for total number of raptors and another immature (or the same?)was al.) and two there May 10 (HTA et al.); ( 12,512). Someof thebetter days were Mar. seenMar. 23 (JR) feedingon lawns at three at Craney May 5 (LW); four at Huntley MeadowsCounty Park, Fairfax, 8, when the 264 Red-shoulderedHawks de- TilghmanI., Talbo•where locals reported it VA, May 20 (JA,EH) for an unusualinland molishedthe previousone-day high by hadbeen for nearlya week.Another proba- report;and Deal, Somerset,May 24 (NS). more than 100; April 26, with 583 ble immature overflewthe crane pens at American Oystercatcherscontinue to in- Sharp-shinnedHawks and 49 Merlin (3 EW.R.C., PrinceGeorge's, Mar. 21 (GGe); creaseas Bay nesters, with 3 nestsfound in underthe recorddaily total); and May 19, the live decoyshere make this perhapsthe Mathews,VA, in May (JBB) and a new with 508 Broad-winged Hawks. Fort most reliableplace in the Regionfor this WesternShore high count of four which Smallwood is the most reliable location in species.Other reports,possibly pertaining flew by P.L.S.P.Apr. 20 (JK). Three very earlyreturnees were found Mar. 2 in Winter Harbor (JBB). The warm winter and warm earlyMarch weatherresulted in severalre- ports of early Killdeer nests(DP, v.o.). A strangelooking melanistic Killdeer, whose normally white underparts were dusky browndarkening to blackishon the central belly, fed in fields off Camp Brown Rd., SaintMary's, from Mar. 22 to 29 (ph. tPC, AB). A great count of 300 Killdeer was noted in thosesame fields Mar. 20 (PC). An Am. Golden-Ploverflock containing 23 birdswas discovered May 12 (DS) in a n.w. Queen Anne's field. More Black-bellied Ploversthan usualwere found in earlyand mid-May at both inland and Bay sites, probablydue to cold,wet weather,which tendsto groundthem from overlandmi- gration.The PipingPlover that winteredat HaleBarrow's Goldeneye atPatuxent RiverN•val Air Station, Haryland, Bethel Beach caused some excitement when on February23, 1997. Thebird remained ontil the beginning it wasjoined by a secondbird Mar. 29 anda of Harch.Photograph/Kyle Rambo third Apr. 4; the count finally built to six

FALL 1997 853 May 2 (J&DM, JBB).But numbersquickly providingMaryland's latest inland record catcherwas an early single in Suffolk, droppedto one,which remained only until for any white-wingedgull by at least a Suffolk,VA Mar. 18 (LW). Thrushnumbers May 18 and showedno interestin nesting. month. againwere notably low, and no Bicknell's PipingPlovers are very unusual at anytime Caspian Tern numbers peaked at a were reported,though somewere surely m theBay and this may have been the high- record-high398 at Hart May 24 (EJSet al.). overlooked.Gray Catbird migration seem- estcount away from the Bay mouth. A Roseate Tern furnished a nice find at ed particularlyslow, with mere dribsand Evidenceof yellowlegsmigration was WachapreagueInlet, Accomack, VA, May 25 drabsreported until the first weekendin alreadyapparent at Winter Harbor Mar. (LW).A record-earlyLeast Tern returned to May,when numbers finally picked up. The 1-2 (JBB),an earlydate. An unusualWillet, P.R.N.A.S.Apr. 9 (KR), and three were two LoggerheadShrike reports came from almostcertainly of the westernrace inorna- thereApr. 18 (KR). BlackTerns were excep- Auburn,Fauquier, Mar. 26 (SSh)and Brac- tus, was found inland at Laytonsville, tionallyscarce, with only3 reports.An ad. kett'sFarm, Louisa, Apr. 13 (JBB).The lack Montgomery,May 3 (?RH). A little fallout and a sub-ad. Com. Tern were at Halns Pt., of reportsfrom Marylandwas a starkre- of SpottedSandpipers brought about 50 D.C.,May 30 (PP),where they are unusual, minder of this species'plight in the down at the C&O Canal near Blackhouse especiallyin late spring.Two BlackSkim- Northeast. Pt., Montgomery,May 18 (DS). Hart's mers were at P.L.S.P.May 21 (PC). A shorebirdhighlights were Purple Sand- Thick-billedMurre at Ft. Story,Virginia VIREOS TO SPARROWS pipers,very rare in the UpperBay, Mar. 28 Beach,VA, wasa greatfind Mar. 23 (BPe). A White-eyedVireo was singing Mar. 30, 4 (EJS)and Apr. 27 (EJS).A maleRed-necked Evenbetter was the firstMaryland Bay re- daysahead of the record-earlyarrival, at Phalaropetouched down in the PotomacR. port of Atlantic Ptfffm, an ad. bird that JugBay, Anne Arundel (DB). Manywere re- at Great FallsPark, Montgomery,May 11 flewin andlanded next to the KingEider at portedin the GreatDismal Swamp, Suffolk, (T&JC),while a femalevisited Craney May P.L.S.P.Mar. 16 (p.a.,AR). VA,Apr. 2 (LW),where some might winter 22 (NB) and three were at Hart May 24 A RingedTurtle-Dove at ArlingtonApr. Two Apr. 5 Yellow-throatedVireos were (EJS et al.). Whimbrel flocks were not 10 wascarefully checked to eliminateEur. earlyin PrinceWilliam, VA (DSt). An aver- much in evidence,but 180 were noted over Collared-Dove(IBB). A Black-billedCu- age four PhiladelphiaVireos were found Rigby'sFolly flying with fiveBlack-bellied ckooat HuntleyMeadows was very early betweenMay 3-13 (v.o.). PloverMay 24 (HTA); 20 were seenin Apr. 19 (SS); the specieswas reported in Warblermigration showed an interest- MatthewsMay 26 (JBB).A smallshorebird generallyhigh numbersand generallyar- ing dichotomy.A numberof exceptionally group at Allen'sFresh, Charles, May 11 rivedearly this season (v.o.). An ad.Snowy earlydates were collected at the startof the (GMJ) containedthree Black-bellied Plover Owl wasspotted at NationalAirport, D.C., migration,and some of the earlyApril mi- and oneStilt Sandpiper,for whichthere are on the somewhatlate date of Mar. 8 (PP, grantsarrived in forceright on time. But onlya couplecounty records. Some notable OJ). Yellow-belliedSapsuckers remained despitea verysmall push on the mid month shorebirdhighs were 645 Semipalmated remarkablyscarce, as in mostrecent years. weekendof Apr. 13-14, mostmigrants de- Sandpipersat Hart May 31 (EJSet al.), and' Two reportseach of Olive-sided,Yellow- layedtheir arrival in the Regionalmost en- 875 Dunlin in DorchesterMay 10 (HTA et bellled, and Alder flycatcherswere well tirelyuntil the 2nd week of May.Ten species al.). Six Stilt Sandpipersat 4 locationsApr. below average,perhaps due to the late recordedMay arrivals,and 3 othersarrived 20-May 10 (v.o.)was about average. spring.These species are late migrantsal- on the lastday of April. Reportingfrom a One ad. Little Gull at Hart Mar. 23 ready,and the shiftof thisyear's migration weekendin late April on an averageyear (EJS),three Mar. 28 (EJS),four Apr. 5 (EJS mayhave meant that theywere missed by mightyield almostall speciesof migrant et al.), and two Apr. 13 (EJS)were the only most observers, who concentrate their warblers,and would typically miss only the onesreported. Single Black-headed Gulls birdingeffort in mid-May.A Scissor-tailed latestand scarcestwarblers. May 3-4 saw wereat ConowingoMar. 7 (fideLE) and at Flycatcher,Maryland's 12th and Montgo- the first little pushof migrantswhen the Back R. Waste Water Treatment Plant, mery's2nd, was found hawking insects over cloudyweather cleared up a bit. The next Baltimore,Apr. 19 (DBu). An ad.Franldin's the PotomacR. at BlockhousePt. May 3 noteworthyday was May 10, when some Gull at DullesAirport PondApr. 13-14 (p.a.,?DS, BS). A N. Rough-wingedSwal- greatnumbers were reported from a fewlo- (ph.DFA, KM, m.ob.)would provide a first low at Lilyports,Frederick, Mar. 8 (TD, KG) cations,and small numbers of mostspecies RegionalPiedmont record, pending accep- bestedMaryland's previous arrival date by appearedacross the state.Perhaps the ma- tanceby the staterecords committee. The a week.At Ft.Smallwood, the best flight day jority of the birds passedright over the Black-tailed Gull continued at the C.B.B.T. for BlueJays was Apr. 27, when 1325were Region,or camethrough during the week through Mar. 20 (p.a., BP). A first for recorded(SR). The Black-cappedChicka- or latein the season,when observer activity Wicomico,and 2nd ever for Maryland's dee at Dameron,Saint Mary's, remained is low. Black-and-white Warblers returned EasternShore, was the ad. Califomi• Gull throughMar. 3 (PC). Amazingly,no Red- early,with threelate March and a number seensporadically at Salisburybetween Feb. breastedNuthatches were reported. of earlyApril reports.An Am. Redstartre- 24 andMar. 16 (fideSHD), andlocated by Of the two SedgeWrens reported, the turnedon the record-earlydate of Apr.4 to DykeMar. 6 (p.a.).The first-winterIceland one heardMay 17 (?DS) at Violette'sLock Wicomico(SHD). Great Dismal Swamp Gull at Solomon's, Calvert, remained wasthe most interesting. In whatseemed to tendsto garnermany of the earliestwarbler through Mar. 13 (KR), and another-- be a surprisinglypoor springfor the spe- reportsfor the Region,such as the Prairie among the latest ever for Maryland-- cies,an astonishinglylate femaleGolden- thereApr. 2 (LW). The morethan 17 Palm joined eightLesser Black-backed Gulls at crownedKinglet beat the Maryland depar- Warblersreported from 7 locationsMay 10 Hart May 31 (EJSet al.). A first-winter ture dateby 2 dayswhen it wasnetted at wasindicative of thelate spring; this species GlaucousGull appeared at Wilde L., JugBay Wetlands Sanctuary, Anne Arundel, is typicallyquite scarce by thistime. Four Howard,May 15-24 (DO, ?JF,JS, m.ob.), May 15 (DB). The first Blue-grayGnat- "Brewster's"and one"Lawrence's" hybrids

854 FIELD NOTES middle atlantic coast wereseen this season,along with a typical Smallwoodregularly counts large numbers Templeton,Charlie Vaughn, Dave Webb countof nineGolden-winged Warblers. Of of migrant Am. Goldfinches.This year, (Hatford,107 Royal Oak Drive,Bel Air, MD the scarcerwarblers, 20 reports each of 1289May 10 (SR)furnished the best count. 21015), GaryWeinberger, Audrey Whitlock, Nashville and Tennessee,18 Wilson's, 13 Fair numbersof Purple Finchespassed Hal L. Wierenga, Les Willis (Virginia Cape May, 24 Bay-breasted,and seven throughin April, but not surprisingwere Birdline), Erika M. Wilson (Voice of the Mourningwarblers were all aboutaverage. only 2 reports each of Pine Siskinand Naturalist),Fran Woods. A falloutof sortsoccurred at Observatory EveningGrosbeak (v.o.), given the depress- Marshall I. Iliff, reportto JamesL. Stasz, Hill, near Charlottesville, Albemarle, ingly low numbersof thesespecies this P.O. Box 71, North Beach, MD 20714 VA, May 10 (NB), and included 60 winter. ([email protected]). Chestnut-sided, 50 Black-throated Green, 26 Blackburnian, 21 Cerulean, and 41 ADDENDA Black-throated Blue warblers. A sensational A latereport was received documenting the reportof 300 Black-throatedBlue and 24 firstsolid Maryland record for SootyTern Chestnut-sidedwarblers along the Gun- not associatedwith a major hurricane:An powderR., Baltimore,the sameday (DM) emaciatedfemale was pickedup at Ocean indicated that this was not localized to the City Aug. 5, 1995,and later expired(p.a., Virginiaridges. A ProthonotaryWarbler GKH, * to Delaware Museum Natural His- that turnedup at LibertyRes. May 17-24 tory No. 80733).Coming before the spate (RFR)represented only Carroll•5th. Often of sightingslast September,it provided Placenames that are frequentlymen- missedentirely in spring,two Connecticut Maryland's8th-and Worcester's first. tioned,but very long,may be abbrevi- Warblerswere found: one at Observatory ated in a form such as "C.B.B.T:' or Hill May 10 (NB) and another seenand Observers(area compilers in boldface): "W.P.B.O: Such local abbreviations heard singingat GreenbeltPark, Prince David F. Abbott, Jane Agee, Robert will be explainedin a keyat the begin- George's,May 22 (GG). Anderson, Henry T. Armistead, Stan ningOf the particular regional reportin The cold,wet earlyMay pushedmany Arnold,John B. BazuinJr., Tyler Bell, Anne whichthey are used.Standard abbrevi- Rose-breasted Grosbeaks to feeders, and Bishop,John Bjerke, Eirik Blom, Mather ations that are usedthroughout Field consequentlythe specieswas well reported Boczek,Ned Brinkley, Don Burggraf(DBu), Notesare keyed on page837. (JS, v.o.). Three Dickcisselsreturned to a Danny Bystrak, David Clark, Ian field nearLilypons May 18 (WLH), others Cornelius(Frederick, 7321 Old Middletown were at Lucketts,Loudoun, VA, May 24 Rd., Middletown,MD 21769),Patty (DBS),and one at Hog I. May 31 (JKa).In a (SaintMar?% P.O. Box 84, LexingtonPark, poor year for the species,the Am. Tree MD 20653), Tom & Joan Cristensen,Todd 1998 Sparrowat Black.Mar. 5 (SHD) wasespe- Day,Samuel H. Dyke,Les Eastman, Steven ciallyunusual: The speciesis quiterare on Eccles,Darius Ecker, Ethel Eagle (Caroline, Directory of thelower Eastern Shore even in a goodyear. MD, 20789Dover Bridge Rd., Preston,MD A HenslowsSparrow at Hart Apr. 13 (EJS) 21655), Fred Fallon, Jane Farrell, Earl BirdingFestivals providedthe onlyreport for thisexception- Fogelberg,Sam Frieberg (Montgomery, All acrossthe continent, ally raremigrant. No Nelson'sSharp-tailed 8733 SusannaLane, Chevy Chase,MD communitiesare organizing Sparrowswere reported, but a "Sharp-tailed 20815-4713), Paul Fritz, Kurt Gaskill, birdingfestivals that high- Sparrow"singing in a marshat lug Bay, GeorgeGee (GGe), Greg Gough (GGo), lightornithological wonders Anne Arundel,May 26 (DB) could have Gax•Gr]f•th (Cecil,55 SarahDrive, Elkton, and promotebird and beeneither species, most likely a Nelson's. MD 21921),Wilbur L. Hershberger,Gene K. habitatconservation through Alsoat lugBay, AnneArundel, was a Seaside Hess,Andy Higgs, Rob Hilton, Mark L. economic activities. The Sparrow,the firstfor thisinland freshwater Hoffman, Clifton A. Hornton, ElaineHowe, marsh,May 21-23 (DB). Lincoln'sSparrows Ottavio Janni, George M. Jett (Charles, 1998 Directorywill be avail- werereported in averagenumbers. The 756 9505 Bland Street, Waldorf MD 20603), able by the end of 1997. For White-throatedSparrows at P.L.S.Rrepre- JulieKamarcik (JKa), JaneKostenko (JKo), yourcopy call Sharon senteda great count Mar. 10 (PC). At Donald Mattson,Joyce & Don McKelvey, DeCray(800/850-2473) at LibertyRes., Carroll, two female"Oregon" KatherineMessina, Diane Nagengast, Doug ABA or check out our Web Dark-eyedJuncos lingered into spring,with Odermatt, Brian Patteson, Butch Pearce Site: a paler hooded one departing Mar. 31 (BPe), Paul Pisano, Elizabeth Pitne• (•'EJS)and a darkerhooded one leaving the (Wicomico, 7218 Walston Switch Rd., www.americanbi rding.org nextday (J- ph. EJS). Parsonsburg,MD 21849),Danny Poet, Kyle A Rusty Blackbirdat North Tract Rambo, Jan Reese, Sue Ricciardi, Arlene P.W.R.C.,Anne Arundel, through May 13 Ripley,Robert E Ringler,William C. Russell, (DB) wasrelatively late. Bobolinks were not Norm Saunders, Eugene J. Scarpulla, especiallynumerous, but 450 migrants SusanneShear (SSh), Don Simonson,Earl passingFt. SmallwoodMay 15 (SR)provid- Smith, Martha Smith, Jo Solera (Howard, ed a goodcount. A winteringBaltimore 10617Graeloch Rd., Columbia,MD 20723), Oriole continued at a Williston, Caroline, Don Stein (DSt), David B. Stewart, Sherman feeder through Apr. 14 (fide EE). Fort Suter,Byron Swift, Brian Taber,Thomas

FALL 1997 855 southern atlantic coast

Murrell'sInlet, SC,May 23 (JP),providing aboutthe 4th or 5th pelagicsighting for that state. The best Leach's Storm-Petrel totalwas 26 out of Hatteras,NC, May 24 (BP et al.) and the peak Band-rumped ßCha,o•e NORTH Storm-Petrelcount was a respectable66 ßGreenville JordanCAROLINAL.•ßRaleigh out of OregonInlet, NC, June1 (MT et al.). Morehead• In North Carolina,tropicbirds also seemed •orne SOUTH. Wilmington ß/ fewer in number, with identified White- tailedsbeing found only twice--one out of -Atla• • Col•bia.CAROLINA HatterasMay 31 (BPet al.) andone out of GEORGIA•g•'N .Aiken •antee NWR OregonInlet June1 (MT et al.).In Georgia waters,where the speciesis harderto come by,one was found out of SavannahMay 1 (fide TM). The much rarer Red-billed Tropicbirdwas found once when an adult was seenout of Hatteras,NC, on the very earlydate of Mar.29 (SS,fide BP). The only Am. White Pelicansreported were three in Okefenokee• flight over the NagsHead, NC, causeway .__ .w.f/..... Mar. 30 (fide DC). Alwaysunusual away from the coastin our Region,a first-year BrownPelican was a surprisenear Valdosta, RICKY DAVIS LOONS TO WOOD STORK GA, Apr. 16 (BB,fide TM). The Double- Coastal numbers of Com. Loon seemed crested Cormorant continues to increase in about normal, but inland at Moss L., the Region,especially at inlandlakes. This Pringmost of1997 thewas birders awelcome in theseason Region.for Cleveland, NC, a countof 30 Apr. 17 0C•e springat FallsL., NC, an amazingone-day Temperatureswere much warmer than JM) wasnoteworthy. Eared Grebes contin- totalof 700was had Apr. 20 (RD). normalthrough March and into mid-April. ued from the winter season,with some ac- Encouragingwas the discoveryof 10 Then a majorcold snap put a halt to the quiringalternate plumage before leaving. nestsof Yellow-crownedNight-Heron at a rushof earlymigration for abouta week. The latestreports for the Regioninvolved colonyin Augusta,GA, Mar. 29 (AW), and By lateApril a seriesof weathersystems one at the Goldsboro,NC, W.T.P.May 3 4 nests at the establishedcolony in broughtwest winds, cooler temperatures, (ED) and two at North Inlet, Georgetown, Greensboro,NC, this spring(HH). Some and much rainfall.This, interspersedwith SC,May 4 (WA,fide JP). Also, the W. Grebe earlyreports of ReddishEgret included one warmingconditions, helped to produce foundin the oceanat C. Hatt., NC, during on OssabawI., GA, Apr. 12,and one at the goodnumbers of certainpassetines farther Februarywas seen again Mar. 1 (SCaet al.). AltamahaR. estuary,GA, Apr. 22 andMay 5 to the east than normal (Rose-breasted Seabirdmigration seemed to be late this (BW). There were 120 GlossyIbis at Darien, GA, Mar. 20 (GB), an impressive Grosbeaksalong the Atlanticcoast, for ex- year, and pelagictrips from the North total for the dateand area.Also early and ample).May continuedcooler than nor- CarolinaOuter Banksproduced no major unusualwas the Wood Storkin flightover mal, and numbersof somebreeders seemed rarities.The bestBlack-capped Petrel count was111 out of HatterasMay 24 (BPet al.), Jackson,SC, Apr. 20 (AW et al.). to be down or just late in arriving. andonly one definite Fea's Petrel was re- Althoughthere were no major raritiesre- portedout of OregonInlet May 23 (BP et WATERFOWL TO RAILS ported,the numbersof migrantsand inter- al.). I-IeraldPetrels, on the otherhand, put After the winter season influx of Greater estingweather made this spring very enjoy- in an excellentshowing. Singles were seen White-fronted Geese, one was found this able. outof OregonInlet May 24 andJune 1, and springin n. Greene,GA, Mar. 1 & 22 (PS). two werefound May 25 (MT et al.). From Puddleduck reports were unremarkable in Abbreviations: C. Hatt. (CapeHatteras, Hatteras,singles were found May 24 & 25 the Region,but severaldiving ducks were NC);E.L.H. (œ. L. HuieLand Application Facility, and June1 (BP et al.). The flight past C. noteworthy.Some lingered exceptionally, ClaytonCo., GA); H.B.S.P. (Huntington Beach Hatt. wasuneventful for Sootyand Cory's suchas two GreaterScaup at E.L.H., GA, StatePark, $C); K. Mr. (KennesawMt. National shearwaters, but five different Manx May 25 (JS); two Canvasbackss. of BattlefieldPark, GA); S.Sp.S. (Savannah Spoil Shearwatersbetween May 23-25 wasnote- Fayetteville,NC, May 10 (PC); a female Site,Jasper Co., $C); W.T.P. (Wastewater Treat- worthy (NB, RD, m.ob.).Much rarer was Com. Eiderat the MoreheadCity, NC, wa- mentPlant). the Manx Shearwater found offshore out of terfrontuntil early May (m.ob.); and a Surf

856 FIELDHOTES southern atlantic coast

Scoterat C. Hatt., NC, May 25 (PM et al.). breederis the SpottedSandpiper. This year In North Carolina,the jaeger migration Therewere fewer reports of overshoot- a pair wasseen displaying and courtingat seemedto be latethis spring,and numbers lng migrant Swallow-tailed Kites this the Winston-Salem,NC, W.T.P.,May 24 were reducedwhen comparedto previous spring.The only reportfrom North Caro- (RS et al.), at a site where breedingoc- years.There were some Long-taitedsre- hnawas of onenear the TrentR., 1ones, May curred in 1993. Rare inland Willets were at ported, though, with adults being seen 8 (NM). MississippiKite wasreported well Woodlake,Moore, NC, May 4 (TH) and at from shoreat C. Hatt.May 24 & 25 (NB et from all 3 states,continuing an apparentin- E.L.H., GA, Apr. 28 (BH). This was one of al., v.o.); offshorebirds includedone out of creasein numbersand locations.Cooper's the better springmigrations for Upland HatterasMay 25 (BP et al.), two out of Hawk reportswere about average,with a Sandpiperin our Region.The bestcount OregonInlet May 30 (BP et at.), and one few found throughoutthe Region.Much wasan amazing20 in Laurens,GA, Apr. 16 out of OregonInlet May 31 (MT et at ) lesscommon in spring,the Sharp-shinned & 23 (TP). The earliestreport was of four at SouthPolar Skuasincluded singles out of Hawk wasfound in n. Granville,NC, May the Orangeburg,SC, SodFarm Apr. 5 (RC, OregonInlet May 24 (MT et at.), out of 24 (HL), eithera verylate migrant or a po- CE), and the latest was four at Townville, HatterasMay 24 & 31 (BP et at.), and two tentialsummer lingerer. There were several SC, May 5 (VP). During the last several from HatterasJune 1 (BP et at.). noteworthyBroad-winged Hawk reports.A yearsit hasbecome apparent that the South In thegull department, very unexpected migratingflock of 49 was at K. Mt., GA, Carolinaand Georgiacoasts are major stag- wasthe ad. Little Gull found up theTrent R Apr 20 (JF1,BD) and the rare-in-the-east ing areasfor migratingWhimbrets. This at NewBern, NC, Mar. 8 (JF);this species is dark morph was found at JordanL., NC, year'sbig count involved at least1900 flying normallya beachand oceanbird in our May 18 (RG,fide WC). And,not to be out- over the ocean and beach at Edisto Beach, Region.Lingering gulls included an Iceland done,a Rough-leggedHawk appeared at the Colleton,SC, May 20 (SP).Future monitor- at C. Hatt.,Apr. 19 (R&PT); a LesserBlack- Raleigh-Durham,NC, Airport Mar. 7-8 ing needsto be doneto determinethe loca- backedat H.B.S.P.,SC (fide TPi); and a (DS, WC et at.), for a rare springreport. tion and magnitudeof this event in the Glaucousat C. Hatt., NC, May 6 (ML) Noteworthyinland Merlins included singles Region.Inland W. Sandpiperswere found Noteworthyinland tern reportsincluded in n Greene,GA, Apr. 19 (PS);K. Mt., GA, more often than normal, with the best an impressive54 Caspiansat FallsL., NC, Apr 19 (lFt, BD); RavenRock S.E, NC, Apr. countsbeing five in Spartanburg,SC, May Apr. 20 (RD); two Royalsnear lackson, SC, 19 (DB); Florence,SC, Apr. 21 (SP); and 10-11 (LC et at.) and four in N. Augusta, Apr. 20 (AW et al.); .a Leastnear Bennetts- SouthernPines, NC, May 10 (DB). SC, May 10 (AW et at.). White-rumpeds ville, SC, May 31 (RC, CE); 20 Forster'sat Continuingrecent trends, rails were were also in good numbers,with six at Dreher Island S.P.,SC (LG); and single plentifulat severalinland Georgia sites this Rocky Mt., NC, May 17 (RD), five at Blacksat Columbus,GA, May 3 (fideJS), spring.An impressivefour BlackRails May E.L.H., May 4 (IS), and five at N. Augusta, Timmonsvitte, SC, May 10 (SP), and 10, 15Virginia Rails Apr. 15, and fiveSofas SC, May 10 (AW et at.). Undoubtedlythe Fayetteville,NC, May 10 (PC). The only May3 (PS)were all at then. Greene site, il- rarest shorebird this season was Baird's RoseateTern report came from the usualC lustratingthe importanceof this spot.The Sandpiper.This species does not normally Hatt. area,where from one-threewere pre- marshesat K. Mt. alsohad goodnumbers appearhere in spring,and all reportsneed sent May 13-31 (v.o.). Offshore Arctic of Virginiasand Kings, and in theweird de- to be scrutinized. Nevertheless, one was Terns were found in decent numbers, the partmentwas a Sofaon the mountainthat well-studiedin Spartanburg,SC, May 10 best countsbeing eight out of Hatteras, flew into a treeApr. 27 (fideGB)! Alsoof (LC et at.) and another was found at NC, June1 (BP et at.) and 10 out of Oregon note, a Com. Moorhen was found near JacksonPark, Hendersonville,NC, May 4 Inlet, NC, June1 (MT et at.). BridledTerns ChapelHill, NC, Apr.26-28 (CW), provid- (WF, ST,LF, PF,MW), an areajust outside were in their usuallow springnumbers, ing a rarelocal record. our Regionalboundary. It wouldseem that and the only Sooty Tern report was of the westerlywinds were responsiblefor one-twoon land at HatterasInlet May 23 SHOREBIRDS TO RAZORBILL bringingus two Baird's this far east. until the endof the period(v.o.). The shorebirdmigration seemed to be re- Otherinteresting inland shorebirds in- After the modest winter flight of latedto the westerlywinds and wet condi- cludeda PectoralSandpiper over K. Mt., Razorbills,the only springsighting was of tions,especially inland. Noteworthy plover May 5 (GB); singleDuntin at E.L.H.,Mar. two off BodieI., NC, Mar. 8 (RD). reports included two Black-belliedsat 5-23 (m.ob.),DeKalb Res., GA, Apr.6 (IS), E LH., GA, May 4 (JFt et at.); single andRocky Mt., NC, May 11 (RD); fourStilt DOVES TO VIREOS American Golden-Plovers at Pendleton, Sandpipersat E.L.H.,May 10 (JS,JFt); and White-wingedDoves have become almost SC,Apr. 26 (RY et at.) and S.Sp.S.,SC, Apr. six Short-billedDowitchers at E.L.H.,May regularin the Region,and this springone 8 (SC);and goodcounts of Semipalmateds 3 (PH). The rare but regular Curlew wasin Lowhales,GA, June1 (BB,fide JS) with 10 at E.L.H.,GA, May 4 (JF1)and 14at Sandpiperwas found only once, with a sin- And just what is goingon with the Com RockyMt., NC, May 17 (RD). Very rare gle at North Pond,Pea Island N.W.R., NC, Ground-Dove?As the coastalpopulation awayfrom the coastwas the Black-necked May 25 (fideDC). Wilson'sPhataropes also continuestodecline and even disappear in Stilt found at the Gotdsboro, NC, W.T.E, stagedone of their bettermigrations in the the n. sections,we are findingseveral new May 31 (ED). Alsoof notewere the 2 pairs Region.In what mustbe closeto a record inlandlocations for the species.This season of Am. Avocetsexhibiting nesting behavior count, 37 were found at the S.Sp.S.,SC, sixwere in Allendale,SC, May 18 (RC,CE), at the $.Sp.S.,SC, during late May; no nest May 3 (SC). Inland Witson'sincluded two and one was at Watkinsville,GA, May 1 wasfound (SC). Breeding in the Regionby at E.L.H.,May 2-6 (CL, KD, GB,JD); oneat (GB, JF1,MH). The Black-billed Cuckoo this speciesis very rare, and all suspicious Greenville,NC, May 4 (JW); one at Rocky was recorded more than normal this behavior needs to be checked wherever the Mt., NC, May 11 (RD); andone in Dawson, spring.This specieswas reported from the birdsare found Anothervery local and rare GA, May 18 (JC) foothills to the coast,with the best counts

FALL 1997 857 beingthree at K. Mt. in earlyMay (fideGB), the Region,but severalWarbling Vireos reportsof Black-headedGrosbeak. One was eightin AlligatorRiver N.W.R., Dare,NC, werefound. One wasin Cherokee,SC, May at a feederin n.e.Atlanta Apr. 5 & 6 (fide May 25 (M&ILy), and an astounding16 10 & 13 (fideLC); one wason RoanokeI., TM), and anotherwas at a feederin B•bb differentindividuals in Dare, NC, May 17 NC, May 11(IL, KF);and another was at K. for oneday the lastweek of April (RM, fide throughthe endof theperiod (IF). Someof MT, May 11 (IS). A countof 63 Red-eyed PJ). One wondersif the westerlywinds the latter birds remained into June--more Vireosat K. MT., May 11 (GB et al.) was broughtthese farther east, too! Dickcissels about this in the summerreport. Last sea- definitelyimpressive. One was very early in were reported many times. Sightings son'sCalliope and Rufoushummingbirds Orange,NC, Mar. 15 (GT), obviouslydue spannedall 3 statesfrom the foothillsto the at a feederin Hampstead,NC, remained to thewarm early spring weather. coast,with the best counts being the 2 pairs until at leastthe first week of March (v.o.). in Cherokee,SC, May 10 (fideLC); threew. The only report of Olive-sidedFly- WARBLERS TO FINCHES of Shelby,NC, May 10 (IM et al.);and three catcherwas of one at K. Mt., May 10 (IF1, Many observersfelt it wasone of the best nearCherryville, Gaston, NC, in May (KC) BD, KD). Normallyvery rare in our Region warblermigrations in years.It wasobvious, Someinteresting spring sparrow reports in spring,Yellow-bellied Flycatchers were from the reportsreceived, that manywar- includeda LarkSparrow in Columbus,GA, found twice. One was seen and heard at blersarrived early and that much of themi- May 4 (fideJS); a rareClay-colored in Elko, Raleigh,NC, duringMay (KK), andanoth- grationshifted to theeast this spring. Some Houston,GA, Apr. 25-27 (D&PG),possibly er wasat K. Mt. May 31 (fideGB), provid- of the excellentone-day totals for K. Mt., a first middle-Georgiarecord; and a late ing a first local spring record. Willow for example,included five Orange-crown- Vespers. of Fayetteville,NC, May 10 (PC) Flycatchersalso made news:At Mason edsApr. 19 (fide GB), 17 Chestnut-sideds The Henslow'sSparrows at the 2 VOA in e Farm,Chapel Hill, NC, one and then two May 11 (GB et al.), 11 MagnoliasMay 10 North Carolinawere censusedagain this werefound from early May untilthe endof (fideGB), 35 Black-throatedGreens May 5 yearby Wright. At VOA-Ain Beaufort,there the period (HW, m.ob.)! The Gray (GB), 14 BlackburniansMay 11 (GB et al.), were90 singingmales May 25, andat VOA- Kingbirdsfound nestingat Ft. Caswell, 12 Bay-breastedsMay 11 (GB et al.), 29 B in Pitt, therewere 65 singingmales May Brunswick,NC, lastyear returned, and one BlackpollsMay 5 (GB), 19 CeruleansApr. 26.The numberswere higher than last year, wasobserved sitting on a nestMay 18 (HL, 20 (JF1,BD), and38 OvenbirdsApr. 20 (IF1, thusproving again that thesesites need to JPn).These birds remained until June.One BD). The very rare "Lawrence's"Warbler be managedto meet the habitatrequire- wondershow many yearsthis pair will hybridwas found once: A malewas seen in ments of the species.The importanceof comeback. Noteworthy migrant Grays in- Spartanburg,SC, May 9-10 (SH,LC et al.). these sites to Henslow's cannot be stressed cludedsingles at the S.Sp.S.,SC, May 15 Other notablewarbler reports included an enough. (SC); EdistoBeach, SC, May 25 (SG, CB, earlyChestnut-sided at MagnoliaGardens, A pair of SongSparrows that fledged RE);and in Buxton,NC, May 26-28 (v.o.). Charleston,SC, Apr. 10 (1 & GH); five dif- two youngnear L. Wildwood,Bibb, GA, The alwaysexciting Scissor-tailed Flycatch- ferentCape Mays in the Savannah,GA, area May 27 (PI) providedthat state's southern- er was found once--an adult was at the NC duringApril (SC);an earlyBlack-throated mostbreeding record. The rare-in-spring 54 Impoundment,Chapel Hill, NC, Apr. 12 Green in Dare, NC (IF); an early Black- Lincoln'sSparrow was found 3 times:One (LP et al.).Horned Larks pushed their nor- throated Blue at Fernbank Forest,De Kalb, wasin n. Greene,GA, Apr. 19 (PS);one was mal breedingranges to the south.Three GA, Mar. 25 (GS); a record-earlyBlack- at Clemson,SC, Apr. 26 (ST);and two were territorial birds were found w. of Estill, burnian at Piedmont N.W.R., GA, Mar. 12 at Mason Farm, ChapelHill, NC, May 2 Hampton,SC, Apr. 5 (RC, CE), and five (fideID); 22 Blackpollsat the S.Sp.S.,SC, (JHn). Three SwampSparrows were in n adultsand three fledged young were seen at May 14 (SC);an earlySwainson's in Jones, Greene,GA, May 10 (PS). One was seen the E. GeorgiaTurf farm,Bulloch, GA, May GA,Mar. 25 (I&MA); andan earlyHooded carryingnesting material! This specieslS 4 (RCh et al.). Othernesting news involved near Darien, GA, Mar. 6 (DCo). Connecti- notknown to breedin theRegion; does this a pair of TreeSwallow that bredat E.L.H., cut Warbler reports included singlesat behaviorsuggest something? Also, a Swamp GA, duringMay (CL), a very rare occur- LandsfordCanal S.P.,SC, May 17 (IP); wasfound freshly dead at New Bern,NC, rence in that state. Fernbank Forest,De Kalb, GA, May 21 on the absurdlylate date of May 28 (BHo) The thrush migration once again (GS);and E.L.H.,GA, May 24 (CL). And 4 Last season'sdark "mystery"sparrow at brought mixed reviews.Most observers reportsof Wilson'sWarbler included sin- Durham, NC, waslast seenApr. 12 (RK), continuedto tell a storyof majordeclines gles at Richlands,Onslow, NC, May 10 and no vocalizations were heard. In a simi- anda generallack of sightings.But some re- (NM); e. Edgecombe,NC, May 11 (RD); lar vein, a "melanisticWhite-throated" was portsgive hope. During a predawncount SouthernPines, NC, May 11 (SHy); and seenon RoanokeI., NC, May 10 (IL). This Apr. 30 in Cumming,Forsyth, GA, Flynn Spartanburg,SC, May 15 (IP). bird had an all-dark head, throat, and heardup to 150Veeries and 300 Swainson's, If therewas one species indicative of the breast,but the wingsand restof the body both very impressivetotals. A peakof six easternshift in migrants this spring, it wereapparently normal. Could two abnor- Veeries far to the east on Roanoke I., NC, would have to be the Rose-breasted Gros- mal White-throatedsin onestate be just a May 11 (IL) wasnoteworthy. Gray-cheekeds beak. Observersreported excellent num- coincidence? were found very sparingly,and no one bers acrossthe Region.There were many Bobolinknumbers were locally impres- reporteda Bicknell's.Cedar Waxwings were reportsfrom coastalareas of small flocks sive.What mightbe recordcounts were the found lingeringlater than normal and in presentat feeders--anunprecedented oc- 1127at Macon,GA, May 10 (IA) and the areasall the wayto the coast(m.ob.). This currence!Many reportedthat thishabit of 1500 at Augusta,GA, Apr. 25 (AW) No oftenleads to a rashof nestingreports in feederusage during migration seemed to be doubtthe westerlywinds lyere responsible thee. part of theirrange in thesummer. a relativelynew and developingpractice for theselarge congregations. Yellow-head- PhiladelphiaVireo wasnot reportedin amongthe transientsThere were 2 Georgia ed Blackbirdsturned up at Ft Macon,

858 FIELD NOTES southern atlantic coast

Carteret,NC, Apr. 27-29 (RN, fide JF); at theE. GeorgiaTurf Farm,Bulloch, GA, May on Na tu re 13& 15 (RChet al.);and at Roper,NC, May 23 (BB1,RED. This spring'stoken Shiny Cowbirdreport was of a maleat the Cedar I., NC, ferry terminal May 15 (JF). BaltimoreOrioles were also represented in good numbersfarther eastthan normal, with eightat PeaIsland N.W.R., NC, May 3 POLAND (DC) andnine on RoanokeI., NC, May 11 Apr 30-May 9 $1295 (JL). And how can one explain the 48 May 16-26 $1375 PurpleFinches at K. Mr. Mar. 22 (fideGB), Last year, Euro Pygmy-Owl, Great Snipe aftera lacklusterwinter for thespecies? BULGARIA ADDENDUM May 8-17 $1250 A ShinyCowbird was belatedly reported Last year, 204 species ß White-ta/led P/over from the Winston-Salem,NC, W.T.P., Nov. SPAIN OUR 9TH YEAR 9, 1996 (RS et al.). The identification was œxtremadura. Gredoe Mountaine confirmedafter the observersgot experi- Jun 21-28 $1195 encewith the spedesearlier this year at the Ebro Delta, Pyrennees, Spanish Steppes Dry Tortugas.This recordrepresents the Jun 28-Jul 5 $1075 farthestinland the specieshas been found The Cenary Islands in the Region. Jul 5-11 $1275 These tours can be combined. Contributors:Wendy Allen, Jerry& Marie Last year, Marbled Duck, 5 Eagles, 4 Vultures Areorson,Gift Beaten, Carroll Belser,Brad Bergstrom, Bill Blakesloe (BB1), Ned ICELAND Brinkley,Dick Burk, SteveCalver, Keith Sept 28-Oct 2 or Oct 10-14 $495 Camburn,Lyle Campbell, Susan Campball Lest year, White-tailed Eagles, Gyrfalcons (SCa), Robin Carter, JackCaruses, Ray These tours precede & follow: Chandler (RCh), Doris Cohrs (DCo), Will Cook, Dwight Cooley,Phil Crutchfield, SWEDEN KevinDanchisen, Ricky Davis, Eric Dean, Oct 2-10 $1395 Bruce Dralle, Jon Dunn, Caroline Eastman, Last year, Red-breasted Goose RobertEggleston, Richard Ellenberg (RE1), TOURS TO BE LEDBY ARMAS HILL, BOB WALTON, & VARIOUSLOCAL GUIDES Larry Farer, Kent Fiala, WayneForsythe, INCLPRZEMYSLAW KUNYSZ (IN POLAND),DIMITAR GEORGIEV(IN BULGARIA). Jim Flynn (IF1), Peggy Franklin, John Fussell,Sid Gauthreaux,Jr., Lex Glover,Rob A COMPLETEHSTING OF ALL BIRDS FOUND DURING OUR EURASIAN TOURS Cluck,Dan & PamGuynn (D&PG), Judy & ON OURWEB SITE: http://www.focusonnature.com George Halleton, Stephen Harris, Scott Hartley (SHy), Malcolm Hedges, Herb CONTACT US TOLL-FREE; 1-800-362-0869 Hendrickson,Bob Holmes (BHo), Pierre E-MAIL: FONTOfocusonnature.com Howard, Tom Howard, Brock Hutchins, FAX: (302) 529-1085 PHONE: (302) 529-1876 JeremyHyman (JHn), Paul Johnson,Ken FOCUSOn Nature Tours, Inc. PO Box 9021 Knapp,Roger Kohn, Carol Lambert, Harry Wilmington, DE 19809, USA LeGrand,left Lewis,Merrill & Ida Lynch (M & ILy), Marcia Lyons,JoAnn Martin, Nell Moore, Pat Moore, Terry Moore, RandyNewman, Vince Pack,Len Pardue, for enthusiastsof Birds of Prey StevePatterson, Tommy Patterson,Brian Patresort,Jack Peachey,Taylor Piephoff • RAPTOURS, In conjunctionwith the World Conferenceon Birds of Prey in Johannesburg.August 3-10: (TPi), JeffPippen (JPn), Irwin Pitts, kff SOUTHAFBICA CapeTown, incl KalahariPark, DrakensburgNitns, N. Zululand Sewell, Georgann Schmalz, Doug Jul 18-Aug 3 $2990 Shadwick,Ramona Snavely,Spurgeon Durban, incl Drakensburg Mtns, N. Zululand Stowe,Paul Sykes, Simon Thompson, Mike Jul 25-Aug 3 $1890 (inc/air within South Aftice) Tore, Ginger Travis, Russ & Patricia ZIMBABWE Victoria Falls & the Matebe Hills Aug 12-16 $850 Tyndall,Anne Waters,Marilyn Westphal, TOURS TO BE lED BY BILL CLARK,CO-AUTHOR OF THE PETERSONGUIDE TO "HAwKs" Haven Wiley, Carol Williamson, Brad AND THE "RAPTORPHOTO GUIDE", AND BY LOCALEXPERTS. W'mn,John Wright, Ruth Young. Contact same address. phone. fax. as for FONT in above ad. E-mail: raptours@focusonnature. com R•cky Davis, 608 SmallwoodDrive, Rocky Mount,NC 27804 ([email protected]).

FALL 1997 859 florida region

port for the Florida Apr. 19 (HL et al.), and 36 BrownBoobies Region for many years, were at D.T.N.R Apr. 23 (SMI, CH, PL). HowardP. Langridge has AmericanWhite Pelicanreports included retired. This report was 1300at PolkPhosphate Mines Mar. 17(PF) compiledby Bill Pranty, and /35 migrating along the Dixie coast the StateCompiler of the Mar. 27 (PSy,CK). InlandBrown Pelican re- Florida Ornithological portsinduded three birds each at L. Kissim- Society Field Observa- mee Apr. 5 (TP) and nearMulberry, Po/k, tions Committee. Other Apr. 30 (ll). A White Spoonbill(Platalea Committee members are leucorodia)at McKay Bay May 18 (SBa) Linda Cooper, Gail probablywas the samebird observedsince Menk, PeggyPowell, Rex October1993, an escapefrom nearby Busch Rowan, and Ron Smith. Gardens.A White-facedIbis was pho- tographedat S.M.N.W.R.May 10 (fideRW). Abbreviations: A.B.S. Extralimital Black-belliedWhistling- (ArchboldBiological Station, Duckswere at St. PetersburgApr. 29 (JH, HighlandsCo.); A.RA.ER. LH et al.) and Gainesville (seven birds) (AvonPark Air Force Range, May 13 (DO, LO et al.). An exoticBlack Highlandsand Polkcoun- Swanwas found at ShellKey, Pinelias, Mar. ties);B.C.C.R (Brooker Creek 17 (BI), but the 26 Canada Geese at L. CountyPreserve, Pinelias Denton, Highlands,Apr. I (CF), and 11 Co.);D.T.N.R (Dry Tortugas nearbyApr. 11 (fideDF) presumablywere N.P., Monroe Co.); E.N.R wild. Lingeringducks included a Redhead (EvergladesN.P., Dade and at B.C.C.P.May 17 (ASm, RS), a Greater Monroe counties); EB.R. Scaupat T.R.S.T.EApr. 5 (BBe,KA, JBx),a (FloridaBirding Report hot- LesserScaup at HernandoBeach, Hernan- line,operated by Dotty and do, May 31 (CB), and an Oldsquawat BILL PRANTY Hank Hull); ED.C.R (Ft. H.I.S.R.A.Apr. 18 (WY). A CinnamonTeal DeSotoCounty Park, Pinel- at Wickham Road in Brevard remained un- everestorms thisspring resulted in Ias Co.); EO.S.R.C. (Florida Ornithological Society til Mar. 8 (EB.R.). spectacular fallouts of migrants RecordsCommittee); H.I.S.R.A. (Honeymoon throughoutthe Region.Fronts hit the area IslandS.R.A., Pioellas Co.); H.T.B.S.R.A. (Hugh RAPTORS TO TERNS March31, April 13,April 23-24 and 25-26, TaylorBirch S.R.A., Broward Co.); RRS.R Singlead. White-tailed Kites at A.B.S.Mar. 9 and May 11. In particular,the storm of (PaynesPrairie State Preserve, Alachua Co.); (ASm,RS), near L. PlacidMar. 15 (CA), and April 23-24 resultedin many significant S&A1994 (Stevensonand Anderson 1994, The at A.P.A.ER., Polk,May 30 (NH, AM) indi- bird reports.Pinellas set the rainfallrecord Birdlife of Florida, Univ. Press of Florida, catea continuingincrease in c. Florida.Two for April with over 10.5 inches,as did Gainesville);S.M.N.W.R. (St. Marks N.W.R., others were found in E.N.P., Dade, Mar. 15 neighboringHillsborough with 10.71inches WakullaCo.); S.R.A. (State Recreation Area); (VM). A MississippiKite at GainesvilleMar. (average= 1.15inches). Large numbers of S.R.S.T.E(Springhill Road S. T.F., Leon Co.); S.T.E 25 (DLe) establishedthe earliestspring re- many specieswere reported, and the high (SewageTreatment Facility); T.R.S.T.E (Tram port (S&A 1994), and an incredible200 numbers of Wilson's Phalaropes,Rose- Road S.EF., Leon Co.); W.I.C.R (WeedonL wereat T.R.S.T.F.Apr. 4 (KM). A femaleN. breastedGrosbeaks, and Dickcisselsreport- CountyPreserve, Pioellas Co.);, W.S.S.R (Wekiwa Harrier at Kissimmee Prairie State Preserve, edwere unprecedented. SpringsS.P., Orange Co.). Okeechobee,May 18 (TD) waslate, and a WestIndian straysthat reachedFlorida Broad-wingedHawk at P.P.S.P.Mar. 20 (AF, includeda KeyWest Quail-Dove, a West LOONS TO WATERFOINL BM) was early. Numerous Short-tailed Indian Short-earedOwl, two La Sagra's A rarePacific Loon was photographed at St. Hawkswere reported from Highlandsand Flycatchers,three Cave Swallows,one GeorgeI. Apr.23 (JC),and an EaredGrebe Polk,plus one pair near Suwannee,Dixie, BahamaMockingbird, two Stripe-headed was far south at HomesteadMar. 23 (RH). Mar. 26;three birds near Fowlers Bluff, LED,, Tanagers,and numerousShiny Cowbirds. SingleCory's and Sootyshearwaters were Mar. 27; and one at SandersCr., Dixie, Mar. Other significantbirds reportedwere the observedfrom St. AugustineMar. 20 (TT, 27 (all PSy,CK). One wasat F•N.P.Visitor Red-billed Tropicbird,White-faced Ibis, DWh), and a Leach'sStorm-Petrel was 20 CenterMay 4 (WB et al.), one near Cedar Arctic Tern, Olive-sidedFlycatcher, Warb- mi off PortCanaveral May 18 (fideRRo). A KeyMay 25 (TW), andone at W.S.S.P.May lingVireo, and Snow Bunting. Red-billedTropicblrd, casualin Florida, 25 (SBe).A lingeringPeregrine Falcon was After compilingthe springseasonal re- wasfound between D.T.N.P. and Key West at S.R.S.T.EMay 3 (DHa, GMe).

860 FIELD NOTES florida

A Yellow Rail was found at S.M.N.W.R. reportedwas one at S.R.S.T.F.Apr. 7 (DHa). WildernessPreserve Mar. 29 (LC et al.) rep- Mar 31 (BHe, DWe) andApr. 5 (KA, JBx, There were seven Black Noddies at D.T.N.P. resentthe Region'searliest breeding report BBe),and singleBlack Rails were at Amelia this spring, includingfive seenat once-- (S&A 1994). I, Nassau,Mar. 12-16 (CW) and Tomoka the highest North American count An E. Bluebirdat E.N.P.,Dade, Apr. 18 AquaticPreserve, Volusia, May 22 (DS). A (WB et al.). There were 1500 Black wasbelieved to be the first park reportin Purple Gallinulearrived at Tall Timbers Skimmers found at Lower Suwannee morethan 20 years(BD, DC, JBa).Storm- ResearchStation Mar. 20 (RW), and one at N.W.R.,Levy, Mar. 11 (PSy). driven thrushes included 25 Veeries, 250 H I S.R.A.Apr. 19 (WY) may be a first for "Gray-cheeked"and Swainsoffsthrushes, the park.Single Com. Moorhens and Am. DOVES TO VIREOS and 30 Wood Thrushesat ED.C.P.Apr. 23 Cootsfound deadat D.T.N.P.Apr. 6 were New Eur. Collared-Dovesites yielded six (WY et al.);22 "Gray-cheekeds" were band- rare (WB). Two WhoopingCranes were birdsnear Oxford, Sumter, Apr. 30 (CB)and ed at CaseyKey, Sarasota, Apr. 24 (ASt) seen over Melrose, Alachua,Apr. 9-10 one in GadsdenMay 30 (GMe, TE). A Key Another Veery at W.S.S.P.Mar. 8 (fide P (BBo). Unconfirmedas a breederin Flori- West Quaff-Doveat Elliott Key,Biscayne Small) was early. LingeringAm. Robins da, 26 Am. Avocetswere found at H.I.S.R.A. N.P., Dade, was found May 4 (BD, ? to werefound at D.T.N.EApr. 19 (WM, HL et Apr 26 (WY); two wereat S.M.N.W.R.May EO.S.R.C.),but wasnot relocated.A pair of al.); L. Alfred,Polk, May 3 (CG); and Kelly 4-27 (BoS, BrS, GMe et al.); three at Monk Parakeets nested at Lakeland Mar. 20 Park, Orange,May 13 (PSm).A bird be- Blenville Plantation, Hamilton, May 10 (TP).At CedarKey Apr. 28, two Black-billed lieved to be a Bicknell's Thrush was ob- (JK), 35 at Polk PhosphateMines May 14 Cuckooswere found (BR) among"hun- servedat D.T.N.P. in direct comparison (PF), and three at McKay Bay May 18 dreds"of Yellow-billeds(DHe). Another with Gray-cheekedThrushes May 6 (WB). (SBa).A SolitarySandpiper at S.R.S.T.E Black-billedwas found at TallahasseeMay 1 Forty-fiveGray Catbirdswere countedat Mar 11 (GMe) wasearly, while flocks were (GMe), and an earlyYellow-billed was at Ft. PierceInlet S.R.A., St. Lucie,Apr. 24 reportedat KanapahaS.T.E, Alachua, (19 P.P.S.P.Mar. 20 (ML). A "W. Indian" Short- (JBr),and a BahamaMockingbird visited birds) Apr. 23 (RRo); Hague Dairy, Ala- earedOwl wasat D.T.N.P.May 6-8 (DG et H.T.B.S.R.A.May 11-12 (WW, WG, TH) chua,(14 birds) Apr. 23 (MMa); F.D.C.P. al.). A Whip-poor-willsang at Key West Late Cedar Waxwingreports were 225 at (40 birds) Apr. 26 (LA); and W.I.C.P. (12 Mar. 11 (JOn),and an earlyChimney Swift B.C.C.P. May 9 (RS) and 10 over birds) May 11 (ASm, RS). Similarly,15 was at TallahasseeMar. 19 (FR). A Black-' GainesvilleMay 26 (RRo). A Loggerhead SpottedSandpipers were at HagueDairy chinnedHummingbird was found at Fort Shrike at Cedar Key Apr. 6 was Dale Apr 23 (MMa), and 50 at NewnansL., Clinch S.P.,Nassau, Apr. 3-6 (RP), and Henderson'sfirst there in 13 years.ACom Alachua,May 12 (AK).A Baird'sSandpiper three Selasphoruslingered at Tallahassee Mynanest at Ft. Pierce,St. Lucie, contained wasfound at S.R.S.T.F.May 2 (JC),and an- feedersto Mar. 5 (JS),8 (JOM), & 15 (RL). two nestlingsMay 31 (JBr).A rare Bell's otherwas at D.T.N.P.Apr. 30-May 1 (WB et At CedarKey Apr. 20, observerswatched a Vireo wasfound at SCCPMay 13 (PF), a al.) OtherCalidris reports were six Pectoral Red-belliedWoodpecker cache a tree- Yellow-throatedVireo was singing at Sandpipersat W.I.C.P.Apr. 27 (ASm,RS et frog in a pine and "hammerit to death" GainesvilleMar. 4 (BR) and nine were at al ), a Purple Sandpiperfar south at Big (RRo et al.). W.S.S.P.Mar. 8 (fide PSm).A Warbling PineKey Apr. 21 (SM1,CH, PL),and many An Olive-sidedFlycatcher was found in Vireo, casualin the Region,was at Cedar Stilt Sandpiperreports, with 185 at Polk Miami Apr. 17 (DLy), and a rare Yellow- KeyApr. 20 (GMc,details to FOSRC),while PhosphateMines Mar. 17 (PF), 54 at belliedFlycatcher was identified at ED.C.P. 15 Red-eyedVireos were at SCCPMar. 24 Mayport,Duval, Apr. 23 (NW), and 35 at Apr. 26 (LA et al.). A La Sagra'sFlycatcher (PF). A Black-whiskeredVireo was far Blenville Plantation May 10 (JK). Four at KeyLargo Mar. 25 (LM) remaineduntil northat S.M.N.W.R.May 4 (BoS,BrS), and Buff-breastedSandpipers were at ED.C.P. Apr. 13; two birds were heard on other two were on territory at H.I.S.R.A. May 9 Apr 23 (ASm,RS et al.), and a lateCom. dates(WB). A La Sagra'sat H.T.B.S.R.A. (RS). Snipewas found at A.P.A.F.R.,Polk, May 5 Apr.27 wasjoined by a 2ndbird Apr. 29-30 (BP). Storm-drivenWilson's Phalaropes (bothWG, JBk,JDi et al.).Kingbird reports WOOD-WARBLERS TO MANNIKINS made newsin the Region,with 3 Pinellas included a Western at S.M.N.W.R. Apr. A Blue-wingedWarbler was found at reportsfrom May 9-17 thatwere the first in 29-May 5 (JDo);early E. KingbirdsMar. 23 H.T.B.S.R.A.Apr. 20 (.fideWG). Golden- at least10 years (ASm, RS), and an incredi- at St. GeorgeI. (threebirds) and BuckI. wingedWarblers at CedarKey Apr. 20 (LS) ble 150-200at S.M.N.W.R.Apr. 29 (JDoet Ranch,Highlands, Mar. 23 (MMc);and sin- andtwo each at ED.C.P.Apr. 24 & 27 (both al )--the highestcount ever in Florida. gle GrayKingbirds inland at A.B.S.Apr. 26 LA et al.) were rare. Nashville Warblers A Franklin's Gull photographedat (KT, HE), GainesvilleApr. 28 (RRo), and were at H.T.B.S.R.A. Mar. 23 (WG) and NewnansL. May 5-11 (RRo et al.) estab- EP.S.EMay 1-4 (BR).A TreeSwallow over MysteriousWaters, Wakulla, Apr. 12 (JE) hshed the Region'slatest spring report, the Green Swamp,Polk, May 29 (PF, SR) An earlyhigh countof N. Parulaswas 126 while two Lesser Black-backed Gulls were was late, a Cliff Swallowflew by F.D.C.P. at W.S.S.P.Mar. 8 (fidePSm). Unusual war- at BocaChica Key, Monroe, Apr. 25 (SM1, Apr.24 (LA et al.), andCave Swallows were blers included a Chestnut-sided at CH, PL). Inland tern reportsincluded 15 at D.T.N.E (one bird) Apr. 23 (SM1,CH) S.M.N.W.R. Apr. 22-24 (DM, JR), a Cape Caspian Terns at L. IstokpogaApr. 20 and Key West(two birds)May 22 (JOn). May at NewnansL. Mar. 28 (GMc), and a (MMc, SMc); one Com. Tern at OrangeL., Verylate were two SedgeWrens singing at Yellow-rumpedat A.B.S. May 17 (RR1) Alachua,May 2 (RRo);and two-three Fors- A.P.A.ER., Highlands,May 30 (BP). A SingleBay-breasted Warblers were reported ter'sTerns there May 20 (RRo). An Arctic Ruby-crownedKinglet at D.T.N.P.Apr. 9 from S.M.N.W.R.Apr. 12 & 22 (DM et al ), Tern found injured in Ft. Lauderdale (MMA et al.) was thoughtto be the first San FelascoHammock, Alachua, Apr. 27 May 7 diedlater (fideWG, * to University springreport from the park (WB). Three (MMa); H.T.B.S.R.A.Apr. 27 (JBk, JD1), of Central Florida) The earliestLeast Tern nestlingBlue-gray Gnatcatchers at Disney and CedarKey (two birds)Apr 28 (DHe)

FALL 1997 861 A PineWarbler at D.TN.P.Apr. 10was very (fideRS). At KissimmeePrairie Sanctuary, Vince McGrath, Mike McMillian (MMc), rare (WB et al.). TwoBlackpoll Warblers at Okeechobee,May 9, Scheuerellfound a Wilda Meier, Gail Menk (GMe), Steve the PeaceR., Polk,Mar. 16 (CG, PT) were singingHenslow's Sparrow in the samearea Mlodinow (SM1), Don Morrow, Barbara the Region'searliest (S&A 1994). This where one was found in June 1996. The Muschlitz, Katy NeSmith (KNS), Kns springwas called "the best in recentmemo- SnowBunting that winteredat Canaveral Nelson (KNe), Julie O'Malley (IOM), ry" for Worm-eatingWarblers in Pinella& National Seashore was seen last Mar. 10 David O'Neill, Liz O'Neill, JoeOndre;ko with one at ED.C.P. Mar. 23 (BHo, MH) (F.B.R.).Large numbers of Bobolinksin- (IOn), Tom Palmer,Craig Parenteau, Leslie and eight at BonnerPark, Largo,Apr. 16 cluded75-100 over F.D.C.P.Apr. 26 (LA); Paugh,Steve Peacock, Ross Pollack, Peggy (JF);seven others were at H.T.B.S.R.A.Apr. 80 at W.I.C.P. Apr. 27 (ASm, RS); 185 in Powell,Bill Pranty,Joe Reinman, Sue Palfie, 20 (SM1, CH). Swainson'sWarblers were HillsboroughMay 10 (DB); 924 in Alachua Ralph Risch(RRi), Bryant Roberts,Rex alsoreported in goodnumbers, with one May 10 OqdeRRo); and an impressiveflock Rowan(RRo), Fran Rutkovsky,Jill Safold, early at MysteriousWaters Mar. 26 (JE); of 2500in St.Petersburg May 11 (ASm,RS LennySantisteban, Mark Scheuerell,Bob four in Leon Apr. 10 (DHa); singlesat et al.). Scott (BoS), Brenda Scott (BrS), Debra H T.B.S.R.A.Apr. 12, 14, 15, 16, 20, & 22 A Yellow-headed Blackbird was at Punta Shelley,Parks Small (PSm),Austin Smith (WG); and 12in Pinellas(fide RS), with five Gorda, Charlotte,Mar. 6 (F.B.R.), and one (ASm), P. William Smith (PWS), Ron at BonnerPark Apr. 16 (JF). A Kentucky at PineyZ L., Leon,May 10 (DHa) estab- Smith, Susan Smith, Gary Sprandel, Warblerwas at MysteriousWaters Mar. 26 lished the Region'slatest spring report AnnetteStedman CASt), Paul Sykes (PSy), (JE), and F.D.C.Ehosted five Apr. 13 (LA, (S&A1994). Among numerous Shiny Cow- KeithTarvin, Jack Taylor, Terry Taylor, Pete MW et al.). SingleConnecticut Warblers bird reportswere 30 at Naplesin March Timmer, Noel Wamer, Tom Webber,Donna were at CaseyKey May 3 & 25 CASt); (F.B.R.),23 at KeyWest Apr. 29 (JOn), one Wells(DWe), Rick West,Karen Weuang, D T.N.P. May 7 (WB, RF); O'Leno S.E, male displayingat A.B.S.May 13 (GW), Don Whitehead(DWh), MargieWilkinson, Alachua,May 10(CP); H.TB.S.R.A. May 13 singlesin FranklinMay 17 & 18 (JDo),and Walt Wilson, Glen Woolfenden, Carol (WG); JohnU. LloydS.R.A., Broward, May two "pairs"at Fort GeorgeI. May 31 (RC). Wyatt, WilfredYusek. 13 (JBk);and Bonner Park (two birds) May A male Bronzed Cowbird at S.M.N.W.R. 17 (KNe, JF).ACom. Yellowthroatlingered Apr. 20 (RW et al.) wasthe first for the e. Point,FL 34667-2662. at KeyWest to May 28 (IOn). Sevensinging Panhandle (S&A 1994). Finches included Yellow-breasted Chats were found at Cedar 12 Purple Finchesat TallahasseeMar. 17 KeyScrub State Reserve April-May (TW), (FR), a pair of House Finchesin Jackson- and three-four sang at P.P.S.P.May 1 ville Mar. 7 (RC), and a partiallyleucistic throughthe period(RRo). maleAm. Goldfinchat Gainesvillethrough SingleStripe-headed Tanagers were at May 31 (BM). Four ad. and onejuv. Nut- Kendall,Dade, Apr. 11-13 (WB et al.) and meg Mannikins (Lonchurapunctulata) at ElliottKey May 11 (BD). Othertanager re- HomesteadMay 12 (PWS, SS) probably portsincluded an earlySummer Tanager in bredlocally. PascoMar. 4 (BP,SP), 50 ScarletTanagers at H I.S.R.A.Apr. 23 (WY), and 25 at F.D.C.E Contributorscited: Curt Adkisson,Lyn Apr.24 (LA et al.). Largenumbers of Rose- Atherton,Kristi Avera,Steve Backes (SBa), breasted Grosbeaks included a record-set- JocieBaker (JBk), Joe Barros (JBa), Jenny ting more than 100 at H.I.S.R.A. Apr. 23 Baxter (JBx), Shane Belson (SBe), Brad (WY) and more than 40 at St. GeorgeI. Bergstrom(BBe), Wes Biggs,Clay Black, We'll breathe new life into Apr. 23 (JC, SJ,KNS, TE). A BlueGrosbeak Bill Bolte (BBo), Dave Bowman, lane yourold optics,other birding near Old Town,Dixie, Mar. 27 (PSy)was Brooks(JBr), Jim Cavanagh,Roger Clark, equipment,and books! early,while 2 pairsat B.C.C.P.May 9 (RS) Linda Cooper,Dick Cunningham,Tylan Cooperatingwith Manomet wereat the s.limit of theirbreeding range. Dean, JoeDiPasquale (JDi), JackDozier Center for Conservation SrxtyIndigo Buntings were at ED.C.P.Apr. (JDo), Bob Dusek, Hugh Ellis, Todd 14 (ASm,RS, MW et al.).Two out-of-range Engstrom,John Epler, Alice Farkash,Paul Sciences,ABA is gathering Painted Buntings were singing s. of Fellers,Judy Fisher, Clarice Ford, Don Ford, usedbirding equipment that GainesvilleMay 10-16 (AK, AF), and one Ron French, Chuck Geanangel,Wally Manomet matches with at HomesteadMay 18 was "remarkably George, Dave Goodwin, Roy Halpin, requirementsof thosedoing late" (PWS, SS). Amazing numbers of NathalieHamel, David Harder (DHa), Bob bird conservation research in storm-relatedDickcissels were reported, Henderson(BHe), Dale Henderson(DHe), Latin America and the Carib- with 50-60 at St. GeorgeI. Apr. 23 (JC,SJ, Ted Hendrickson,Brett Hoffman (BHo), KNS,TE) and 116at ED.C.P.Apr. 23 (ASm, Marti Hoffman, Charles Hood, ludi bean.You can helpby RS, BHo, MH), with 75-100 thereApr. 26 Hopkins, Larry Hopkins, Janet Jackson, donatingyour used equip- (LA).A Dickcisselat D.T.N.P.May 25 (BHe, SallyJue, Adam Kent, Cam Kepler,Jerry ment,funds, or by actingas a DWe) wasthe Region'slatest (S&A 1994). Krummrich, Mary Landsman, Howard courier. Contact Paul Green A ChippingSparrow lingered at Key Langridge,Robin Leach, Paul Lehman, WestApr. 21-25 (SM1,CH, PL).A Clay-col- Doug Levey(DLe), David Lysinger(DLy), (800/850-2473) at ABA if oredSparrow at Fort GeorgeI., Duval,re- Keith MacVicar, Allison Mains, Mike you would like to helpor mainedto Apr. 23 (RC), and ED.C.P.'swin- Manetz (MMa), Larry Manfredi, Greg need more information. teringLark Sparrowwas seen last Apr 21 McDermott (GMc), SteveMcGehee (SMc),

86Z FIELD NOTES ontario region

at HamiltonApr. 5 (RC);individuals inland at L. Whittaker,Middlesex, Apr. 13 (DM) ßwawa Winisk• andBeachville May 9 (JMH) werenotewor- thy.Common Loon totals included arecord 437 at RondeauApr. 13 (JB,KB, SC) and 250 at Toronto May 4 (GC). Counts of LSault St.Marie Cochrane HornedGrebes dropped sharply, with peak totalsof 40 at GrimsbyMar. 30 (KM), 65 at ßSudbury ßMarathon Presqu'ileApr. 14 (BD), and 100at P.E.Pt. 'Sudbu• Apr. 20 (K.F.N.),well belowrecent springs. • NorthBayß Latebirds included two at PortlandMay 25 .•,•.-' .I•... AlgonquinProv (PH) and oneat Presqu'ileMay 26 (J&JE). Moreencouraging was the Red-necked pic- ture, with a 10 day tally of 2441 off BonnibraePt., Durham,Apr. 21-30 (THo) Cornwall and inland counts of 15 at Laurel L. O..A.,O WaterlooApr. 12 (JH et al.) and 23 at WildwoodL., Oxfort•Apr. 13 (JMH). Sightingsof EaredGrebes totaled an • v Pet•roughKingsto•_ above-averageeight, including individuals / at TorontoMar. 28-Apr.4 (m.ob.),Kings- • Wated•.Torontoß ton Mar. 29-Apr. 1_3(KE, RDW), Blenheim Hamaton ß ' ß Samia Apr. 27-May 4 (DS et al.), TorontoMay 4 ß London (RY), PeleeMay 5 (DF, JF,JG), Wheatley HarbourMay 7 (S&JLo),and a pairnesting againat Emo May 29 (DE). SingleAm. White Pelicanswere at Holiday Beach, Essex,May 14 (B&RP);Thunder Bay May RON RIDOUT ern overshootsmust settle in wherethey are 23-24 (SB, m.ob.);and RondeauMay 24 stopped,and are less likely to pushnorth of (KB,JB). Up to 1300Double-crested crowd- t'shard toimagine aspring thatcould so rangein the usualsudden rush of spring ing a few smallopen leads in the mostly soon rival the record cold one of 1996, migrationin earlyMay. With the unusual frozenGeorgian Bay at Dillon CoveMay 3 but thisspring came very close to it. With exceptionof SummerTanagers, numbers of (JN) wasa remarkablesight, while an indi- theexception of a verybrief warm spell in the "southern overshoots" were noted in vidualwith purewhite plumes, characteris- late March, temperaturesremained well verylow numbers.Outstanding rarities of tic of the westernsubspecies albociliatus, belownormal until the third week of May. the season included a flock of Razorbills wasat HillmanMarsh, Essex, Apr. 28 (KM). In an almostexact repeat of 1996,a warm anda SageThrasher. All raritiesmentioned The first Great Blue Herons reached the front pushedinto the provinceon the in thisreport are subject to the approvalof still-frozen north Mar. 28 at Manitoulin eveningof May 18,bringing with it thefirst the Ontario Bird Records Committee. (JL), KelleyL., Sudbur?(RCa), and Thun- majorwave of migrantsacross a broad der Bay(JA). Two very early Great Egrets front.Observers afield on May 19recorded Abbreviations: Pelee(Pt. PeleeN.P. and wereat LongPt. and TurkeyPt., Norfolk, recordnumbers of manyspecies, particu- Mar. 10 (MG, MP), while individuals at vicinity);RE.Pt. (Prince Edward Pt., Prince larlythe wood warblers. GananoqueMay8 (JHa)and Carp May 1 & EdwardCo.); L.RB.O. (Long Pt. BirdObserva- It's oftensaid that a duckwon't migrate 27 (RH) wereunusual. Rarer southern her- tory, NorfolkCo.); O.B.R.C. (Ontario Bird until its feet are warm, and this was never ons included single Snowy Egrets at RecordsCommittee); T.C.B.O. (Thunder Cape more true than this spring.With water OakvilleMay 3 (RG),Niagara-on-the-Lake BirdObservatory, Thunder Bay); Algonquin, temperatureson the lower Great Lakes May 4 (JB1,KR et al.), andBeachville May hoveringin the40s øF well into May,many Presqu'ileand Rondeau are Provincial Parks. 28 (JMH); a TricoloredHeron at AmherstI. PLacenames in italicsrefer to counties,districts, waterfowl remained late in the south in May 13-June1 (K.EN.); and singleCattle goodnumbers. orregional municipalities. Egretsat LondonApr. 17 (MM), Erieau Coolsprings seem to precludethe possi- May 16 (KB, JB, SC), Long Pt. May 19 bilityof manysouthern overshoots. While LOONS 1'0 IBISES (SM), andone well n. at Dillon May 16-20 northernnesters are bottled up southof the Numbers of Red-throated Loons fell below (JN).An earlyBlack-crowned Night-Heron Great Lakes,waiting to move on to the recentspring totals, though high counts in- was at Niagara-on-the-LakeMar. 19 (GY, breedinggrounds, the "traditional"south- cluded16 at Presqu'ileApr. 14 (BD) and48 AP), while numbers reached62 birds at

FALL1997 863 NiagaraFalls by Apr. 28 (WB). Individual at TavistockApr. 13-19 (JMH); single Tuft- Most shorebird numbers were below av- ibisesidentified as Glossys were at Dundas ed Ducksat Presqu'ileMar. 29-30 (J&JT), erage,likely due to a generallack of habitat, May 7 (BPo,RC); RuscomShores, Essex, VinelandApr. 4 (PB), and ThunderBay particularlyalong the GreatLakes' shore- May 16 (AB,JBa); Pelee May 17-23 (RPi,JI, May 4 (NE); loneKing Eiders at LongPt. line where water levels were near record KM); and AngusMay 23 (DFe, v.o.). An Apr. 11 & 20 (L.P.B.O.)and Pelee May 28- high. Two Am. Avocetswere at Blenheim unidentifiedPlegadis was seenat Alfred June 3 (RB, JLe,FM); singleHarlequin May 11-12 (DS et al.) and KingsvilleMay May 31 (DC). Ducksat CotnamI., Renfrew,Mar. 1-Apr. 18-25 (DMi, m.ob.). While well off last 27 (m.ob.), an imm. male at TorontoMar. spring'srecord numbers, Willet sightings WATERFOWL TO RAPTORS 16-May4 (RSmet al.),a femaleat Burling- stilltotaled a respectable45birds, including For the 2nd consecutivespring, Tundra ton May 3 (RC),and a pair at TorontoMar. a record25 at TurkeyPt. May 1 (IF, v.o) Swansmoved through on a widefront, for- 1-28 (m.ob.); and individual Barrow's Reportsof Hudsonian Godwits included sakingthe traditionalstopovers for inland Goldeneyes,including a femaleat Cotnam singlesat FiftyPt., Niagara,May 17 (SMa, fields.The highestcount of 3000 came I. Mar. 1 (BD), a female at Ottawa Mar. 17 MMi); EmbrunMay 18-19(VL); FoxyMay from St. Thomas, while birds n.e. of the & 23 (RPa), a male at Toronto Mar. 22-23 25-26 (CB); and two at Port PerryMay usualroute included one at NepeanMay (NM), the winteringmale at Ottawauntil 27-31 (m.ob.). Marbledstotaled 17,includ- 14-15 (DMe, v.o.) and two at Algonquin Mar.29 (m.ob.),a maleat P.E.Pt.Apr. 5 (JE, ing a notableseven birds together at Pelee Mar. 25 (DSt). TrumpeterSwan sightings RDW), and a femaleat HowdenvaleApr. May 6 (KM). High totalsof RedKnots in- includedan immatureat NorwichMay 12 23-26 (PL, v.o.). cluded70 at LongPt. May 22 (L.P.B.O.)and (JMH) and the pair at Portland,the female The loneBlack Vulture of the spring 150at Aldolphustown May 25 (K.F.N.)The of whichwas introduced after the original wasat EE.Pt.May 21-22 (DCr, v.o.),repre- lone W. Sandpiperof the periodwas at femalewas shot. Despite a rockystart, the sentingthat county'sfirst. Sightingsof SchombergMay 18 (KS et al.), whilethe pairbonded and nesting was underway by MississippiKite included one at PeleeMay onlyBaird's was at HarrowApril 27-May 2 the end of the period(WBa). A pair of 17 (CM, WL, BW) andNiagara's first at the (KM, v.o.). Thirty White-rumpeds at Mute Swanswas well n. at Hurkett May NiagaraPeninsula Hawkwatch, Grimsby, AmherstI. May 24 (K.F.N.)was notable A 10-24 (m.ob.). Numbersof GreaterWhite- May 11.A BaldEagle successfully overwin- Reeveat HarrowMay 21 (BPf)was the only frontedGeese skyrocketed again, with 102 teredat Atikokan,scavenging at the local oneof the season.Reports of Long-bfiled reported,including one recordflock of 75 dump(DE). Manitoulin's breeding popula- Dowitchersinvolved two at ErieBeach May birds at KomokaMar. 19 (GP,IP). A flock tiondoubled to 2 pairs,both on nests at pe- 4 (KB,JB, SC) and oneat PortPerry May of 20 SnowGeese at PeleeMar. 8 (PP)rep- riod's end (m.ob.).The only Swainson's 19-21 (GCaet al.).Red-necked Phalaropes resenteda highcount there, as did 4000 at Hawksof the springinvolved an unusual totaled14, including a record-earlythree at CornwallMar. 25 (BM). LoneRoss's Geese two birdson the sameday at the Niagara PeleeMay 12 (BBe). were seen at Toronto Mar. 11-16 (CM, HawkwatchMay 2. UnusualRed-taileds in- Sightingsof LaughingGulls were close mob.), KingsvilleMar. 15-16 & 26 (K&D cludedan albinoat LondonApr. 27 (DSk) to therecent average. Lake Erie individuals Mc), Hillman Marsh Mar. 17 (AW), Dun- anda rufouscalurus at ParisMar. 18 (WL). were at WheatleyHarbour May 5 (KM), dasApr. 2-3 (DH, m.ob.), RichmondHill Severaldifferent Rough-leggeds lingered Erie Beach(KEc), Long Pt. May 16 (SM), Apr.545 (SCf, RF et al.), and Teeswater Apr. into May, with the most noteworthyat andPort Stanley May 25 (RSr),while one at 5-6 (m.ob.). Brant were also abundant, PeleeMay 16 (L&BC, TO). Urban Pere- NepeanMay 2 (VL) wasnotable. Frankira's with a high countof 4000 at AmherstI., grinesincluded 2 pairsat Toronto,and a Gull numbers increaseda little, but were LennoxAddington, May 24 (K.F.N.);out- pair eachat Hamiltonand London (m.ob.). stillbelow the long-termaverage. Singles, standingcounts in the southwestincluded all on L. Erie,were seen at PeleeMay 4 60 at Port RyerseMay 20 (S&CW) and 25 GROUSE TO GULLS (J/Via)& 18(fide AW), Long Pt. May 16(JJ), at EagleMay 24 (MD). Observersat Gore Bay's Sharp-tailed andRondeau May 24 (KB,JB). The bulkof Significantcounts of other waterfowl Grouselek tallied55 displayingbirds Apr. LittleGulls involved 32 at OshawaApr 27 included 340 Green-wingedTeal at 15 (v.o.).Singing Yellow Rails were report- (GC) and65 at Niagara-on-the-LakeMar Hillman MarshMar. 28 (AW); 3000N. Pin- ed at RichmondMay 24-29 (m.ob.) and 31 (GB, MSm). Most were in the south, taftat RicevilleApr. 5 (BD); 3220and 17050 nearKirkfield late in May (v.o.).Reports of thoughan immatureat AlmonteMay 31 CanvasbacksMar. 27 at Presqu'ile(MMa) King Railsincluded individuals at Keswick (TH et al.) was interesting.Lone Black- and Long Pt. (RK), respectively;7600 May 16 (JM, BB),Melbourne May 17 (PR, headedswere at TorontoMar. 1 (NM, CM), Redheadsat LongPt. Mar. 27 (RK); 13,000 IP), SelkirkMay 21 (JMi),and at leastfour ErieBeach May 13 (KEc), and Long Pt. May GreaterScaup at RE.Pt. Apr. 10 (K.F.N.); birdsat St.Clair N.W.A. in lateMay (JHn). 19-21 (JJ). LesserBlack-backed numbers 22,435 scaupat Long Pt. Apr. 10 (RK); Thefirst Virginia of theseason was early at wereabout average, with 21 birdsreported, 30,000Oldsquaws on L. Ontariooff Fifty Presqu'ileApr. 1 (ABo). SandhillCrane includingseven at the Nepeandump Apr Pt, Niagara,May 17 (MMi, SMa);and 1000 numbers continue to increase.A flock of 40 13 (BD). A Black-leggedKittiwake found Com. Goldeneyesat RE.Pt. Mar.2 (JE, birds at NiagaraFalls Mar. 18 (GM) was starvingat KingstonMar. 17 (BF) diedthe RDW). Mostsignificant was 91 KingEiders particularlynoteworthy. An Am. Golden- nextday. One off BonnibraePt., Durham, offVinelandMar. 12 (RC, RS). Ploverat EmbrunMay 28 (VL) was e. of May 8 (RPy)was in betterhealth. Unusual speciesincluded Atikokan's the usual migrationcorridor. Piping 3rd-everGadwall Apr. 30 (DE); 10different Plovers in the south involved individuals at TERNS TO CORVIDS Eur. Wigeon, including two femalesat PeleeMay 4-5 (JW,Cv, m.ob.) and Long Pt. A countof 1000Com. Terns at the tip of HillmanMarsh apparently paired with Am. May 5-8 (JJ),while one was at L. of the LongPt. May 16 (JJ)was interesting given WlgeonsMar. 28 (AW) anda Eurasianpair Woods,Rainy River, May 31 (DE). thatjust 15 mi awayon LongPt. Inner Bay,

864 FIELDNOTES ontario the speciesis quiteuncommon. A flockof WRENS TO WARBLERS representingthe park'sfirst record.Sight- nineRazorbills on L. Ontariooff Burling- Forthe 2nd consecutiveyear, Long Pt. had ingsamong the 31 LoggerheadShrikes re- ton May 18 (fideRD) representedthe first the only Bewick'sWren May 1-2 (RR, portedincluded individuals n. of the usual Ontariorecord in decades.Eight were seen MMc). The late springprobably encour- rangeat CarlingTwp., Parry Sound, May 31 in the samelocation May 23 (SMy,WE). As ageda Golden-crownedKinglet to lingerto (JN) and at PassL., ThunderBay, May 21 a resultof the coolspring, several Snowy a recordlate May 24 at Pelee(RH, RRe).In (BMo, Av). Owlslingered in the southwell into May, the mad dashwhen warm weatherfinally White-eyedVireos e. of rangewere at includingsingles at Hagersvilleuntil May 4 arrived,Blue-gray Gnatcatchers made it as KingstonMay 23 (WM) andP.E.Pt. May 25 (mob.), P.E.Pt.May 25 (K.F.N.), and at far north as Howdenvale (JJo) and (RDW). A strongpush of warm southerly Bartie I., Manitoulin,through the end of MississagiLight, Manitoulin (CB), both air that blew into the provinceon the the period(m.ob.). At leastfive N. Hawk May 25.A maleMt. Bluebirdput in a brief eveningof May 18 broughtlarge numbers Owls presentaround Thunder Bay disap- appearanceat Dorion Apr. 10 (JA,MJ). A of migrants,particularly vireos and war- pearedin mid-March as soon as the Am. Gray-cheekedThrush put in an earlyap- blers.Observers in the southwestenjoyed Crowsbegan to arriveback from the south pearanceat Thunder Bay May 12 (NE), recordnumbers of manyspecies (see Table (NE). A pair that wintered at Barde I. while a $wainson'swas early at LongPt. 1), and many claimedthe bestbirding in begannesting and had downy young by the Apr. 24 (F&TW), and sevendifferent Her- years,a commentheard just one year earh- end of the period (m.ob.), providing mit Thrushes were counted on Manitoulin er on the same date. Farther east,observers Manitoulin'sfirst nesting record. After their I. Mar. 28 (m.ob.), aheadof mostarriving had to wait until May 25 for their fallout,a s invasion,the last Great Grays had left the in the south.A recordcount of 125 Gray pattern similarto that which occurredin southby the firstweek of April. Of the 12 Catbirdswas tallied alongthe ThamesR., 1996.High countson May 25 in the eastin- Boreal Owls reported, four were found Oxford,May 19 (JMH), part of a largepas- cluded 60 PhiladelphiaVireos, 70 N dead,most victims of passingcars. sagedetailed in the table (below).Three Parulas,600 Chestnut-sidedWarblers, and Two Chuck-will's-widows were heard in differentN. Mockingbirdswere seen in the 450 Black-throated Blues at P.E.Pt the south,one eachat Long Pt. May 11 ThunderBay area,well n. of range,Mar. (K.EN.). One observernoted a secondary (SM) andPelee May 20 (RCo).In keeping 24-31 (m.ob.). A Sage Thrasher at wavein the southwestalong the W. Thames with a general decline in all regions, WallaceburgMar 16-Apr. 9 (BM, m.ob.) R. May 26. Numbersincluded 70 Nashville Kingstonreported only one Red-headed maywell have wintered in the areawhere it Warblers,80 Chestnut-sideds,55 Magnol- was found. A count of 75 Brown Thrashers WoodpeckerMay 21 (RW). In contrast, ias,150 Yellow-rumpeds, 25 Black-throated Red-belliedswere widely reported well into at P.E.Pt.May 11 (JE, RDW) wasnotable Greens,75 Blackburnians,110 Bay-breast- giventhe declineof thisspecies in general. eds, 25 Blackpolls,80 Am. Redstarts,75 c Ontario,and oneeven successfully win- An Am. Pipit at Dewer'sCr., Manitoulin, Wilson'sWarblers, and 40 Canadas(JMH) tered at Evansville(m.ob.). Three Yellow- Mar. 29 (DBa) was quite early there. Sightingsof note, apart from these bellledSapsuckers arrived back at South BohemianWaxwings were noted in average waves,included two different "Lawrence's" BaymouthMar. 28 (CB),the sameday they were noted in several s. locations. The male numbersin c. and n. Ontario throughout Warblersat PeleeMay 15 (D&NMa) & 17 March into April. The only bird in the (fideAW), andone at CoilingwoodMay 28 Black-backedWoodpecker at Palgravewas southwas at RondeauMar. 23-26 (KB, JB), (DB). A male Black-throated Blue at seenagain Mar. 1 (PG). Both Rondeauand Peleehad sightings HIGH SPECIES COUNTS.•MAY i9, 1997 of four differentAcadian Flycatchers, all in mid- to late May (m.ob.). One at P.E.Pt. SPECIES(AW,PELEESP) (KBRONDEAUET AL.) (L.P.B.O.)*LongP• OXFORDW. THAMES OMH) R. BRONTE May 31 (JE,RDW) wasvery rare there.An Goden-winged Warb er -- 9 ------Orange.crowned -- __ __ 6 -- exceptionallyearly E. Phoebewas seen at Warbler CraigleithMar. 9 (DB), whilea countof 49 NashvilleWarbler 620 -- 30 425 32 at PeleeMar. 28 (FU) washigh for the date. Northern Parula -- 19 ------Interestingly,five reached South Baymouth Yellow Warbler -- 223 50 350 -- the sameday (CB).A W. Kingbirdat Ron- Chestnut-sided Warbler 280 165 25 125 23 deauMay 17-20 (KB,JB, SC) wasthe only MagnoliaWarbler -- 281 -- 250 52 report of the period. An E. Kingbird at CapeMay Warbler -- __ 20 110 -- BalmoralMar. 28 (FD) setwhat is likelya Black-throated Blue -- 81 25 35 31 Warbler record-earlyarrival date for the province.A Yellow.rumped -- 109 250 4500 -- TreeSwallow at FiftyPt. Mar. 3 (SMa) pre- Warbler cededall othersby overa week.A colonyof Black-throatedGreen -- 73 10 115 33 Cliff Swallows with more than 400 nests at Warbler KingstonMay 25 (K.EN.)was exceptionally BlackburnianWarbler -- 54 27 175 -- Palm Warbler -- 68 ------large.A Black-billedMagpie at P.E.Pt.Apr. Black-and-white -- 86 -- 120 33 20 (EM, BJet al.) raisedthe usualquestions Warbler of origin,particularly in a non-irruptive Ovenbird -- 235 55 50 33 year.Common Ravens well s. of rangein- Northern Waterthrush -- __ 16 18 -- cluded one at Toronto Mar. 30-31 (RY), MourningWarbler -- 12 ------threeat GrimsbyApr. 2 (DC, JO), and one CommonYellowthroat j -- 58 ------at BonnibraePt., Durham,Apr. 25 (THo). *Restricted Census Area

FALL 1997 865 PlttockL., Oxford,May 12 (JMH) wasbe- GrasshopperSparrow at Toronto Apr. 6 Fewster(DFe), D. Fidlet(DFi), R. Fleming, hevedto be of thecairnsi subspecies. An (RFr, BBo) set a record-earlyarrival date J. Flynn,L. Foott,W. Foott,R. Frost(RFr), "Audubon's"Yellow-rumped Warbler was for the province. Of the 13 Henslow's D. Gardiner,M. Gartshore,R. Gaymer,R reportedfrom KingsvilleApr. 23 (L&WF). Sparrowsseen, six were at Pelee Apr. Geras (RGe), G. Gervais, C. Goodwin, J A male Black-throatedGray Warbler at 19-May 16 (m.ob.),four at RondeauMay Gordon,L. Griffith,J. Haggeman (JHn), J BeachvilleMay 2 (JMH) provided the 3-10 (m.ob.),one at WindsorMay 8 (LG), Haig (JHa),T. Hanrahan,T. Hoar (THo), P province's3rd recordin asmany years. The and two at PeleeI. May 10 (EMe). One Hockey,J.M. Holdsworth,R. Holland,K springwave of Yellow-throatedsinvolved wonderswhere these migrants ultimately Hollinga, K. Hooles(KHo), R. Horvath individualsat RondeauMay 14 (MS, KH) end up. Sightingsof Le Conte'stotaled 10 (RHo), D. Hough, J. Hummel, J. Iron, J & 18(JB, BMa), Comber May 17(RF et al.), birds, one of which droppedinto the Jantunen,M. Jennings(MJe), J. Johnson and Bronte May 25 (PM). Surprisingly, Algonquinairfield May 23-24 (RT, v.o.). (JJo),M. Jones,B. Joyce,Kingston Field nonewas seen at thetraditional hotspots of NorthboundNelson's Sharp-tailed Spar- Naturalists, R. Knapton, K. Konze, V Peleeand Long Pt. It's probablynot sur- rowswere found at PeleeMay 14 (BF) and Ladouceur,S. LaForest,B. Laking, W prising,with the recent increasein the May 24 (m.ob.), and at LongPt. May 24 Lamond,J. Lemon, J.Letendre (JLe), J. & S world populationof Kirtland'sWarblers, (JJ).Single Harris's Sparrows were at Chat- Lorimer (J&SLo),P. Lumb, J. Macey, S that reports of strays should increase. ham May 11-12 (DS, PAW)and Thunder Macey (SMy), E. Machell, S. MacKenzie Sightingsduring the period included one at CapeMay 27-June7 (T.C.B.O.).A caniceps (SMa), B. Mann (BMa), M. Mannaart DelawareMay 13-14 (PC, v.o.) and a Dark-eyedJunco at HuntsvilleMar. 31 (BL, (MMa), D. & N. Market (D&NMa), D sangingmale near St. Williams May 24 m.ob.) furnished Ontario's 2nd record of Martin, J.Martin (JMa), W. Martin, W. & B (RGe,SMy, WE), LongPt.'s first. Reports of this subspecies.A flock of 340 Lapland Mayer (W&BMr), M. McAlpine, M Prothonotarys,now classifiedas endan- Longspursat BeachvilleApr. 21 (JMH) rep- McBrien (MMc), J. Mcintosh (JMc), C geredin the province,totaled 21, mainlyin resentedan unusuallyhigh number for the McLauchlan,K. McLaughlin, D. & K the southwest,though one at Ottawa date.A Smith'sLongspur was the otherrar- McNorton (D&KMc), P. McParland, D May 20 (VL et al.) wasexceptional. Other ity of noteto dropinto theAlgonquin air- McRae(DMr), E. Meleg(EMe), G. Melvin, "southern"warblers were poorly represent- field,on May 18(DM, RT,WC). D. Merry (DMe), A. Mess,J. Miles (JM1), ed. Numbers at Pelee and the rest of the The onlyW. Meadowlarkof the spring M. Mills (MMi), D. Milsom (DMi), B southwestwere well off the long-termaver- wasat CedarSprings May 24 (DW). Out- Moore (BMo), B. Morin, E Mueller, S age.The only Kentuckyaway from Pelee of-rangeYellow-headed Blackbirds were Mulkeen,J. Nicholson(JNi), J. Nlsimnen,J andRondeau was at WhitbyMay 27 (MB). recordedat P.E.Pt. May 15 (KE, RE), Olmsted,T. Osborne,B. Parks,R. Parks,M Amherst I., LennoxAddington, May 22 Patrikeev,A. Pelzer,B. Pfeiffer (BPf), S I'ANAGERS 1'O FINCHES (AS); and Foxy, Manitoulin, May 18 Pike,R. Pinella(RPa), R. Pittaway(RPi), G SummerTanagers were the truly bright (m.ob.). A imm. Bullock'sOriole seen at Platt,I. Platt,B. Pomfret(BPo), E Pratt, P. "southern"light of the season.A totalof 24 Port RyerseMay 22 (SMy,JM) furnished N. Prior, R. Pye(RPy), P. Read,R. Reid (RRe), P. Richter (PRi), R. Ridout, G birds,far exceedingthe springaverage, was Long Pt.'s2nd record.A PurpleFinch at bolsteredby a record14 at Peleeand, for RondeauMay 4 (JB,KB) exhibitedcharac- Rowland,K. Roy, A. Scott,K. Shackleton, D. Shire(DSh), R. Simms(RSi), D. Skinner the 2nd consecutivespring, one made it to tersof the subspeciescalifornicus. In a non- (DSk),M. Smiley(MSm), R. Smith(RSm), Manitoulin I., this year at EvansvilleMay invasionyear, two Com. Redpollsat Perth D. Smith, M. Smout (MSt), R. Snider,M 23-24 (W&SC1). Three differentmale W. May 10 (fideAM), an EveningGrosbeak at Street,D. Stricldand(DSt), L Taman, J &J Tanagers,an exceptionaltotal, involved sin- LongPt. Apr. 16 (DG), andthree at FiftyPt. Thomson, E. & R. Tickher (E&RTi), R. glesat PeleeMay 19 (W&BMr), Windsor May 17 (SMa,MMi) werethe onlyreports Tozer, F. Urie, A. van Niejenhuis,C. van May 20-21 (GG), and ThunderBay May of thesespecies in the southand, for that 24-26 (GR). Lone Blue Grosbeaksincluded matter,most of the province. Schalk,IL Walmsley,J. Waud, R.D. Weir, S & C. Wood, P.A. Woodliffe, E & T. Wood- an imm.male at LongPt. May 11 (JJ),a fe- row,D. Worker,A. Wormlngton,B. Wyhe, malethere May 17 (SM), andan imm. male Subregionaleditors (boldface), contributors G. Yaki, R. Yukich. at PickeringMay 14 (DSh). Sightingsof (italics), and cited observers:J. Allair, R. Dickcisselsincluded singlesat Timiska- Andrle,D. Bailey(DBa), M. Bain, J. Ball Røn'Ri'døutfl•or•½'"P'il' Bi"rd'O'•'s"e'bv•io'ry, P0 mingApr. 17-22 (LT,PRi), OshawaApr. 26 (JBa), W. Barker (WBa), C. Bell, G. Box160, PortRowan, ON, CanadaNOE 1MO (JMc), PeleeMay 15 (E&RTi) and May Bellerby,B. Beneteau(BBe), J. Black(JB1), 17-18 (AW), and a pair at Rainy River A. Bloss,A. Boisvert(ABo), B. Boyd(BBo), May 8 (RSi). W. Broderick,R. Brouse,S. Bryan, B. A count of 30 Am. Tree Sparrowsat Brydon,D. Bucknell,K. Burk, J. Burk, P. PerthMay 10 (fideAM) wasnotable for the Burke,R. Campbell(RCa), G. Carpentier date, and another indicator of the late (GCa), S. Charbonneau,L.& B. Cherriere, spring.Thirty singingClay-coloreds at T. Gheskey,S. & W. Clark (S&WC1),S. RicevilleMay 21 (BD) representeda high Cluff (SCf), G. Coady,P. Cole,R, Cooke count.A FieldSparrow banded at Thunder (RCo),D. Copeland(DCo), D. Craig,D. Cape May 19 (T.C.B.O.) furnishedthe Craighead(DCr), W. Grins, R. Curry, F. northernobservatory with its 2nd record. Deiter, B. DiLabio, R. Dobos, M. Drenth, The seasoh'sLark Sparrowsincluded sin- D. Dufour, K. Eckert (KEc), W. Edmunds, glesat PeleeMay 10 (KK et al.) andMissis- K. Edwards, R. Edwards, D. Elder, J.&J. sagiLight, Manitoulin, May 18 (CB,JL). A Ellis, N. Escort, B. Falls, I. Ferrier, D.

866 FIELD NOTES appalachianregion

weeksof May, and a LOONS TO HERONS few passagemigrants SingleRed-throated Loons were found at were still coming in B.E.S.P.Mar. 4 & 8 (RH, CP); L. Somerset, early June. However, PA, Mar. 18 (RCL, M&EW); SouthAvis, PA, the overall migration Mar. 24 (G&PS); S.H.L., Mar. 15-Apr. 6 was one of the best in (LM, WC), and Mason,WV, Apr. 23 (WA). ß '•;.. ' Yorkß recent years--some re- A few Corn. Loonswere presentin mid- portersthought it the May,but overall numbers were low. Horned best. Grebeswere in goodnumbers, with 130 in As a result of the Crawford,PA, Mar. 23 (RFL);55 at B.E.S.R cold weather,tree leaves Mar. 15 (P&GS); 50 reportedfrom S.H.L. did not develop,and Mar. 8 (RB,RC); 35 at QuemahoningRes., warblers and other PA, Mar. 18 (E&MW, RCL); and a record passetineswere easy to countof 29 in Augusta,VA, Mar. 14 (fide II•INIA see.With the cold, driz- YL). Theonly reports of Red-neckedGrebe zly weather and the KENT KY camefrom Pymatuning L., PA, Mar.8 (RFL) Mr.'/•gers lack of a developed and Venango,PA, Mar. 23-Apr.24 (JS).As canopy,many migrants manyas 19 EaredGrebes were in thewin- •' remained near the teringpopulation at S.H.L.,and a straggler groundwhere shelter-- Knoxv,il;• ' ..l•.•!,..•ar• wasstill thereApr. 22 (LM). EaredGrebes and presumablyinsect werealso reported from Staunton,VA, Mar. NNE EE "-•::•'•evi,, food--were more avail- 14 (A&YL) for a 2nd countyrecord, and L. able.Thus birdingwas Arthur, PA, Mar. 25-31 (m.ob.,fide PH). generallyeasier than in ..• .D• •. SOUTHCAROLINA Double-crestedCormorant was in good most years. numbersthroughout the Region,with the GEORGIA The cold, wet wea- ther resulted from a highestcounts being 140 at MeanderL., OH, Apr. 10 (D&JH); and 130 in Cocke, seeminglynever-end- GEORGEA. HALL TN, May2 (RK).At Huntington,WV, a for- ing streamof weather mal point counttallied 4.2 cormorantsper systemsmoving in fromthe West, where vi- otwo spring seasons areever alike, but hour of observationflying up the Ohio R. the 1997 Springwas like no other olent weather events were common. As a result,the Region was treated to a seriesof in April, and 1.4 birdsper hour in May within memory.The latewinter had been (HS). westernspecies which normallydo not warmer than average,and this warm AmericanBitterns were reportedfrom reach us in spring. Severalshorebird weather continued into March. At the P.LS.P. Apr. 11-May 14 (fideJM); Y.C.S.P. Pittsburghweather station, March rainfall species,Orange-crowned Warblers, West- ernTanager, Harris's Sparrows, and Black- Apr. 11 (GL); P.N.R.Apr. 19 (RM, RCL); wasslightly below normal, and tempera- billedMagpie all added spice to thebirding KeystoneRes., Armstrong,PA, Apr. 14 tureswere well above average. Cold weather season.There were alsomore individualsof (MH); Hamilton,TN, Apr. 19 (KC); Mason, returned in early April and continued southernspecies, which overflew their nor- WV, Apr. 24-25 (WA); and Conneaut throughMay, whichwas the coldestin malrange and appeared in thenorth. Some Marsh,Crawford, PA, Apr. 27 (DD). Least recordedhistory at Pittsburgh.April hada of theseare probably forerunners of future Bitternswere at ConneautMarsh, PA,Apr. 1.58 inch deficiencyin rainfall,and May rangeexpansions 27 (RFL); at Indiana,PA, May 10 (DFr); at was much wetter than normal, with over six G.B.W.M.A.May 11 andlater (HS); and at inches.Unlike some years, the cool weather Abbreviations: B.E.S.P.(Bald Eagle S.P., P.I.S.P.from May 13 (m.ob.).Great Blue continuedto the endof theperiod. CentreCo., PA); G.S.M.N.R(Great Smoky Heronshad 2 new nestingcolonies of The waterfowlmigration had begun be- MountainsN.P.); G.B.W.M.A. (Green Bottom 10-20 nestseach in Trumbull,OH (D&JH), foreMarch 1 andsome passelines arrived in W.M.A.,Cabell Co., WV); Mi.W.A. (MosquitoI. andthey were nesting in Wood,WV (fide earlyMarch. There were many early arrival WildlifeArea, TrumbullCo., OH); O.R.I. (Ohio JE).Great Egrets were more widely report- dates,and throughMarch and earlyApril RiverIslands N.W.R., Wood Co., WV);RI.S.R ed than usual.A remarkable,for spring, themigratory schedule was well ahead of (PresqueIsle S.P., Erie Co. PA); RN.R. totalof five SnowyEgrets was reported: a normal. But as the weather turned cold and (PowdermillNature Reserve, Westmoreland firstcounty record at Ligonlet,PA, Apr. 16 wet,the migrationground to a halt,and Co.,PA); R.C.Bi. (Robert C. Byrdlocks, Ohio (RCL, RM, RS); Washington,TN, May ll thosespecies expected in lateApril and early R., MasonCo., WV); S. Hi. (SouthI-/olston I., (RK); Centre,PA, May 13 (TO); P.I.S.P.May Maywere ten days to two weekslate. The WashingtonCo., VA/Sullivan Co., TN); Y.C.S.R 18 (CGe); and a first county record in big pushof migrantswas in the lasttwo (YellowCreek S.P., Indiana Co., PA). Fayette,PA, May 31 (DK).Also unusual for

FALL1997 867 spring was the Little Blue Heron in OH, Apr. 4 (D&JH); and 500-600 Red- VA, Mar. 9 (LM, WC, JL). Other reports Washington,TN, May 11 (RK). Black- breastedMergansers at L. Arthur(fide PH). camefrom South Avis, PA, Apr. 18 (P&GS), crownedNight-Herons were more widely Reportsof the moreunusual species in- Venango,PA, Apr. 27 (JS);and P.I.S.P.May reportedthan usual.A nestingcolony of cludedGreater Scaup from Crawford,PA 15 (JM). The Peregrinenews was all good Yellow-crownedNight-Herons at Fairview, (RFL),Venango,PA (JS),Franklin, PA (CG), The nestingpair in downtownPittsburgh PA,had 4 nestsMay 31 (DHe); one pair Augusta,VA (YL), Wise, VA (RP), and hatchedone young,and a pair in the nested near Elizabethton,TN (RK). A JohnsonCity and Austin Springs, TN (RK). Oaklanddistrict of Pittsburghwas seen Yellow-crownedwas seen at MosquitoL., BlackScoter visited at Colyer1., PA, Mar. 21 copulating,but no nesthad as yet been OH, May 10 (CB),and one at R.C.B.L.May (D&BB). Surf and White-wingedscoters found(PH). A pairin G.S.M.N.P.(RK), and 24 (WA, KP). weremore widely reported than normal, anotherat ChickamaugaDam, TN, alsobe- A GlossyIbis at Indiana, PA, Mar. 1 with reportsfrom all partsof the Region. havedas if breeding(KC). Other sightings (B&KM) wasnot only a rare find, but re- A pair of apparentlywild Mallardsin camefrom Erie, PA, Mar. 28 (JC); four at markablyearly. Another Glossy was at Union,GA, Apr. 13suggested possible nest- P.I.S.P.from May 11-30 (DS, RMi, JM), Newville,PA, May 6 (DHe), and a White- ing, whichwould representa first for the downtownYoungstown, OH, Mar. 16 (J facedIbis in Hamilton,TN, Apr. 19-20 state (DF). A brood of downy Hooded &DH); Venango,PA, May 1 (JS); B.E S P (JHe) furnished the first e. Tennessee MergansersMay 25 madethe 2ndbreeding May 9-20 (BS);and Y.C.S.P. May 27 (MH) record. recordfor Venango,PA, and a pairof Com. The N. Bobwhite continues to decrease Merganserspresent there through May sug- For the first time in 54 yearsof the WATERFOWL gestedpossible breeding (JS). Elizabethton,TN, SpringCount, none was Whilelarge numbers of waterfowlhad gone reported(RK). The only reports came from north beforeMar. 1, mostplaces reported RAPTORS TO CRANES Lyndhurst,VA, Apr. 8; Swoope,VA, May 11 goodMarch flights. Indeed, at PresqueIsle TurkeyVultures had arrived in thenorth in (YL); and G.B.W.M.A.May 17 (HS) If Bayon L. Eriean estimatedpeak of 50,000 Februaryand became more common than bobwhitesare going down, Wild Turkeys birds occurred in the last week of March. usual. A count of 355 at S.H.L. Mar. 3 was a arebooming. A totalof morethan 100was This congregationcontained 8000 Canvas- record number for n.e. Tennessee(RB). reportedfrom M.L.W.A. Mar. 2 (BJ), and backs, 15,000 scaup, and 20,000 Red- Ospreyswere in better-than-averagenum- unusuallyhigh numberswere reported breastedMergansers (JM). bersduring migration, and nesting was re- fromn. WestVirginia (GAH), s.w. Virginia The migrationof TundraSwans appar- portedfrom Butlerand Mercer,PA (fide (LM), andn.e. Tennessee (RK). entlyskipped the Region this year; the only PH); Somerset,PA (AM); and Wood,WV VirginiaRails and Sofasresponded to largenumber was 231 at ConneautMarsh, (JE). A MississippiKite was at Austin theincrease in marshhabitat resulting from PA, Mar. 8 (RFL). A singleMute Swanwas Springs,TN, Apr. 22 for a 2nd localrecord the excessiverains, and both species were at P.I.S.P.Mar. 15-22 (GC), and 12 were (FA).The BaldEagle continues to do well, morewidely reported and in greaternum- thereApr. 22 (CGe,TC).With the increas- with reportsof 13 immaturesat M.L.W.A. bers than usual. The Com. Moorhen was ing continentalpopulation of SnowGeese, Apr. 10 (D&JH) and sevenimmatures at not so abundant,but wasreported from thisRegion receives more reports each sea- Kinzua Dam, PA, Mar. 8 (DW); there were PrinceGallitzin S.P.,PA, May 12 (MH), son.This springreports came from 7 loca- numeroussingles throughout the Region. Akeley,PA, May 10 (DW); and G.B.W.MA tions-from Erie, PA (IM), south to Nestsincluded 4 at PymatuningL., PA,and Apr. 27 throughMay (HS). More unusual Augusta,VA (YL), and the S.H.L. area one at nearbyConneaut Marsh (RFL),one werethe KingRail at G.B.W.M.A.May 3 & (LM). Most of thesereports were of small in Butler, PA (fide PH), and 6 in West 11 (WA, MG, HS) andthe PurpleGalhnule numbers,but a flock of more than 95 was Virginia (CS). at SandCr. Marsh,Wood, WV, Apr. 10-14 seen at South Avis, PA, Mar. 6 (P&GS). A territorialpair of N. Harrierswas seen (JE,GH). Thebird wasfound dead Apr 16 Replacingthe SnowGoose on the Regional in Venango,PA, in lateMay (JS).There were and the specimenwas preserved at O R I rarity list were Greater White-fronted no N. Goshawks at the 3 known nest sites in Alongwith the goodwaterfowl numbers, Geeseat Lyndhurst,VA, Mar. 11-20 and Warren,PA, Mar. 8 (DW), but singlebirds there were some free concentrations of Am Swoope,VA, Apr. 25-May 13 (Y&AL),and weresighted in Crawford,PA, Mar. 9 (RFL); Coots,with high countsof 860 at Y.CS P the Ross'sGoose in Mercer, PA, Mar. 12 Westmoreland,PA, May 2 & 10 (KB); near duringApril (MH), and morethan 600 at (SB, SM). Chilhowie,VA, Apr. 12 (WC, LM); and L. SomersetMar. 11 (RCL). Most areashad goodlists of dabbling Blacksburg,VA, Apr. 12 & 26 (BMo). Red- Three Sandhill Cranes arrived in ducks,but the only large flocks were of Am. shoulderedHawks were reported to be in Lawrence,PA, where they have nested in re- Wlgeon,with 275 at ConneautMarsh, PA, very low numbersin the Pittsburgharea cent years,on the early date of Mar 4 Mar. 23 (RFL) and 200 at M.L.W.A. Mar. 22 (PH). The only reportsof Rough-legged (GW). Other reportscame from Frankhn, (BJ).On the otherhand, some large flocks Hawks came from PymatuningL., PA, PA, Mar 13 & 17 (CG); Westmoreland,PA, of divingducks were reported. Canvasbacks wheretwo wereseen from Mar. 8-Apr.27 Apr. 30, for a first countyrecord (DKo), and Redheadswere unusuallyplentiful, (RFL).On Mar. 15a GoldenEagle was seen Centre,PA, May 3 and later (m.ob.);and with a high count of 520 Redheadsat "fighting"in flightwith an ad.Bald Eagle at P.I.S.P.May 11 (JHr,RMi). M L.W.A.(J&DH). Some other high counts PymatuningL., PA (RFL). At TusseyMt., were1500 Ring-necked Ducks at Conneaut PA, the SpringHawk Watchlogged a re- SHOREBIRDS TO TERNS Marsh,PA, Mar. 15(RFL); 262 Lesser Scaup markable55 GoldenEagles, with a peakof It wasgenerally a greatseason for shore- at ConneautMarsh, PA, Mar. 22 (RFL);255 15 Mar. 21 (DBr). birds.While the floodingof manyperma- Buffleheadat ConneautMarsh, PA, Apr. 23 There were 3 reportsof Merlin in e. nentbodies of waterby theheavy rains re- (RFL); 175 RuddyDucks at MosquitoL., Tennessee(RK), and one in Washington, ducedthe shorehabitat, there was a net m-

868 FIELD NOTES appalachian creasein wetlandswith the floodingof nor- The flight of Bonaparte'sand Ring- Red-headedWoodpeckers appear to be mally dry areas.As a consequence,some billedgulls was excellent, with a highcount doingbetter. Reports came from Morgan- areas saw far more waders than normal. The of 560Ring-billeds at S.H.L.,Mar. 2 (LM et town,WV, May 2 (SS);Wood, WV, May 4 usualspecies--Semipalmated Plover, Least al.). There continueto be more reportsof (JB1,JBe) & 17 (CBI); and Youngstown, andSemipalmated sandpipers, and the two Herring Gulls at locationsaway from L. OH, May 16 (NB). Red-belliedWood- yellowlegs--werein above-normalnum- Erie and the Ohio R., with records from peckerswere at 2 locationsin Elk,PA (LC), bersat mostplaces. Unusually high counts S.H.L. Mar. 8 (RC, RB); Fishersville,VA, indicatingcontinuing northern expansion included50 GreaterYellowlegs at Pyma- Mar. 4 (A&YL); and Morgantown,WV Other good woodpeckernews was in- tuning L., PA, Apr. 6 (RFL, IF); 75 Lesser (SS). The recentlyestablished breeding creasedreports of Yellow-belliedSapsucker, Yellowlegsat M.L.W.A.May 4 (J&DH);and colonyon the AlleghenyR. at Pittsburgh whose decline has been almost unnoticed a fantastic50 SolitarySandpipers at the had 4 nests(PB). In n. WestVirginia the E. Wood-Pewee Snowdenwetlands, PA, May 7 (Blu). A Great Black-backed Gull at Chicka- was late in arriving and in low numbers Black-bellied Plovers were reported maugaL., TN, Mar. 9 waswell out-of-range (GAH), but wasessentially not mentioned earlyfrom Sand Cr., WV, Apr. 21 (EE,MSh) (KC). The usualrare gullsfrom P.I.S.P.in- in otherreports. Is thisanother species shp- & 25 (IE); Y.C.S.P.May 6 (MH); Imperial, cluded Iceland Mar. 15 & 20 (IM, IF), ping awaywithout notice?Single Olive- PA (m.ob.); B.E.S.P.May 10 (BS); and LesserBlack-backed Mar. 15 (IM), Glau- sidedFlycatchers were reported from 6 w PymatuningL., PA,May 12 (RFL).An Am. cousMar. 12 & 15 (IM), and a Glaucousx Pennsylvanialocations: Edinboro May 25 Golden-Ploverwas seen in Pulaski,VA, May Herring hybrid Mar. 12 (JM). More re- (DS), VenangoMay 31 (JS),Imperial May 13 (CK, BG). ThreePiping Plovers were at markablewas the Iceland Gull away from L. 19 (CT), WestmorelandMay 18 (KB),Cen- PI S.P.May 8 (IM). Erie at L. Leboeuf,Erie, PA (CGe). tre May 10 (J&BP),and HuntingdonMay Willetswere unusuallynumerous, in- Smallnumbers of CaspianTerns were 10 (NBo). Another Olive-sided was at cludingrecords at P.I.S.P.,with fourMay 4 reportedat 18 locationsthroughout the Washington,TN, May 23 (FA). At EN.R, (EK); Westmoreland,PA, May 8, for a 2nd Region, with a high count of seven at bandingsof Yellow-belliedFlycatchers were countyrecord (KB); Franklin,PA, May 15 Y.C.S.P.May 3 (GL). BothCom. and For- 3 standarddeviations (S.D.) abovethe 10- (CG); Washington,OH, with 17 Apr. 17 ster'sterns were more widely reported than yearaverage (RCL, RM) andthe specieswas (NW); G.B.W.M.A.,with 14 Apr. 27 (MG); usual,but the 11 Forster'sat MosquitoL., reportedmore than usualthroughout the Hamilton,TN, with two Apr. 21-22 (TR); OH, May 4 (D&IH) wasthe largest number Region.Least Flycatchers were 2 S.D.above and BooneL., TN, with sixApr. 26 (RK). reported.As usual,Forster's outnumbered averageat P.N.R.(RCL, RM). Upland Sandpiperswere at a traditional Commons.More BlackTerns were reported In Union,GA, Purple Martin houses nestingarea in Venango,PA, May 9 (IS); than usual,with an interestingreport of 35 were devoid of birds, and in Towns,GA, Kecksburg,PA, Apr. 21 (DL, KB);and Elk BlackTerns flying up the Ohio R. at Hunt- therewere only 2 colonies,of 5 pairsand Garden,VA, Apr. 20 (BR). Twenty-four ington,WV, in a one-hourwatch (MG). onepair (DF). Treeand Cliff swallowscon- RuddyTurnstones were at M.L.W.A.May tinue to increaseas breeding birds in n e 18 (I&DH), and one was seenat Y.C.S.P. CUCKOOS TO CORVlDS Tennessee(RK). May 12 (MH). Northern WestVirginia had a moderate A Black-billedMagpie was seen in Dunlinand White-rumped and Pectoral outbreakof tent caterpillars,but it did not Marietta, OH, Apr. 19 (A&BBo).Escaped sandpiperswere more widely reported than result in increases in cuckoo numbers captive,or genuinewild bird?Twenty Fish usual.Western Sandpipers were seenat (GAH).A BarnOwl was seen at P.I.S.EMay Crows were seen at Lock Haven, PA, Mar Pymatuning L., PA, May 15 (RFL); 14 (AT, JM), but the only other reports 10 (SH). Four nests of Com. Raven were G B.W.M.A.,with 16 May 21 (MG); and camefrom the usualsites in lohnsonCity, foundin Somerset,PA; 3 on the highwalls Washington,TN, May 15 (RK). Baird's TN (RK), and Stuart'sDraft, VA (YL). The of surface mines and one on the boom of Sandpiperis rarein thisRegion in fall and only report of Long-earedOwl was of a an idlemine dragline (AM). Is almostunheard of in spring,so reports nestingin Indiana,PA, May 20 (MH et al.). from Wood,WV, May 20 (JE);Washington, A Short-earedOwl nestwith threenestlings NUTHATCHES TO VIREOS TN, May5 (RK);and Hamilton, TN, May2 wasfound at Imperial,PA, May 30 (CT). Veryfew migrant Red-breasted Nuthatches & 10 (TR, lHe) werenoteworthy. A Stilt Other sightingswere at P.I.S.P.Apr. 22 were reported.Red-breasted Nuthatches Sandpiperwas at G.B.W.M.A.May 3 (MG). (DS); Slickville,PA, Apr. 16 (DL); and nestedfor the2nd year in theRed R. Gorge, Short-billedDowitchers were reported Pulaski,VA, Apr. 7 (RCa). Nestingswere Wolfe,KY (FR). How manyother nests of from more placesand in more numbers found for N. Saw-whet Owls on Roan Mt., this speciesare within soundof singing than usual,with a remarkableaggregation TN (FA), and in a cavityused in 1995in Swainson'sWarblers? Another possible out- of 100 at G.B.W.M.A.May 15-17 (MG). Warren,PA (DP). Otherreports came from of-range nestingcame from Rabun, GA TheRegionally rare Long-billed Dowitcher Venango,PA, Mar. 18 (JS) and Gandineer (MO). Carolina Wren populations re- wasseen at R.C.B.L.Apr. 27 (MG, WA), and Knob,WV, in earlyMay (RW). mained low in the north, and House Wren ]n Greene, TN, Apr. 30 (DM). Eight Up to four Whip-poor-willsper day populationsseemed to be belownormal Wfison's Phalaropesappeared in the wereseen at P.I.S.P.May 6-19 (JM et al.), Winter Wrenswere in good numbersat Region:singles at Greencastle,PA, May 10 but elsewherein w.Pennsylvania there were most places.Sedge Wrens were reported & 11; Ft. Loudon, PA, May 1! (CG); only 4 records,one of whichwas the first fromImperial, PA, May 10(TF) andELS P Newville,PA, May 15-18 (DHe); Imperial, one bandedat P.N.R.in 30 years(RM, May 17 & !8 (JM, CT), and MarshWrens PA,May 10 (TF); Greene,TN, May 1 (DM); RCL). One wasalso reported from Wood, werefound at AustinSprings, TN, Apr. 26 Hamilton,TN, Apr.23-24 (TR); andtwo at WV (JBe),and one from Rockingham,VA andMay 8 (RK,FA) and in Centre,PA, May G B.W.M.A.May 17 (MG). (MS). 10 (MHe).

FALL 1997 869 The Swainson'sThrush migration was Worm-eatingWarbler at P.I.S.P.May 3 normal numbersin n. WestVirginia, and somewhatbetter than in recentyears, but (BWi)and 18 (WS). The only other reports wereanother species more conspicuous be- still low by earlier standards.At P.N.R., of SwainsoWs Warbler came from Chicka- causeof the delayedgrowth of leaves. sevenGray-cheeked Thrushes banded rep- maugaNational Military Park, TN, Apr.26 Ratherremarkable were the 2 Pennsyl- resentedthe best seasonin years(RCL, (KC); Wise, VA, Apr. 7 (RP); Kanawha, vaniareports of Com.Redpolls May I0 at RM). NorthernMockingbirds at Niles,OH, WV, May 19 & 30 (TFo); and the Red R. Indiana (MP) and Butler(fide GW). The Mar. 28 (CB) andWarren, PA, May I (DW) Gorge,KY. only report of Red Crossbillscame from werenorthward stragglers. A countof 240 A "Brewster's"Warbler was defending a ShenandoahMt., VA, May 4 (LT). There Am. Pipitsat Swoope,VA, Apr.I provideda territoryMay 7 on Roan Mt., TN, where werea few reportsof smallgroups of Pine localrecord count (YL). Pipitsat Imperial, 5-10 pairsof Golden-wingedWarblers are Siskinson Roan Mt., TN; G.S.M.N.E (FA, PA (TF), and AustinSprings, TN, May I0 still hangingon (FA, RK). A "Brewster's" RK); at feedersat 2 locationsin Indiana, PA (RK) wererather late. Single N. Shrikeswere wasalso in Shenandoah,VA, May 4 (DDa), (MH, MP); St. Marys,PA (LC); and Terra reportedfrom Akeley, PA, Mar. 17(AC, DC) and "Lawrence's"Warbler was reported Alta, WV (WW). American Goldfinches & 27 (MGr) and at Glades,Butler, PA, Mar from Imperial, PA, May 8 (BMc) and were in excellentnumbers in Elk, PA (LC), 23 (RH). The only reportsof Loggerhead Irvine,PA, May 17 (BW). but at P.N.R.(RCL, RM) and Morgantown Shrikescame from the usualregion in the (GAH) theywere unusually scarce. GreatAppalachian Valley. Nests were re- TABIAGERS TO I:11•ICHES ported from Swoope,VA (YL), Jefferson, Birders saw more Scarlet Tanagersthan EXOTICS WV (RD), and Sullivan,TN (LM, WC), and usualsince during cold, drizzly weather A ChileanFlamingo of unknownorigin was othersightings came from Smyth,VA, Mar manywere perched in low shrubsor even seenby hundredsof peopleat M.L.WA 22 (JMu), and Rockingham,VA, Apr. 27 on the ground.It is not known whether Mar. 7 (D&JH), and two TrumpeterSwans (MS). A WarblingVireo in Hamilton,TN, populationswere really high. Another were at M.L.W.A., Mar. 28 (J&DH). It was Mar. 29 wasa localrarity (DV). stragglerfrom the westwas the Western not reportedif thesebirds were part of the Tanager,at Indiana,PA, May I0 (FM). One Ohiointroduction program. WARBLERS of the unusual features of the season was While therewere the usualdisagreements thelarge number of reportsof Rose-breast- Contributors: Fred Alsop, Wendell amongreporters about individualspecies, ed Grosbeakscoming to feeders.At some Argabrite,Carole Babyak (CB), RalphBell mostareas thought the migration whenit placesthey were joined by IndigoBuntings (RBe),Ion Benedetti(JBe), Rob Billet (RB), finallycame--was good to verygood, with or Blue Grosbeaks.Out-of-range Blue JohnBlomberg (JB), Cindy Bloomer (CB1), someregions calling it the bestin years.At Grosbeakswere noted at Imperial,PA, May Nick Bolgiano (NBo), Dick Bollinger PN.R., 2 specieswere banded in numbers3 19(CT) and Venango,PA, May 17-18 (first (DBo), Atlee Bookman (ABo), Bette S D. abovethe average,7 speciesat 2 S.D. countyrecord; JS). Up to six Dickcissels Bookman (BBo), BlancheBordner (BB), above,and 7 speciesat oneS.D. above aver- were at the site of the 1996 nestingin Dorothy Bordner (DB), David Brandes age(RCL, RM). But werethere really more Washington,TN (RK), and at least3 males (DBr), PaulBrown, Nancy Brundage (NB), warblersthan in recentyears, or werethey were present at the 1996 nesting site at SuzanneButcher, Kenneth Byerly, Dick simplyeasier to seein the sparselyleaved R.C.B.L. (HS). Byers(DBy), Art Cagle,Kevin Calhoon, trees?The persistentinclement weather A total of 3 Clay-coloredSparrows was RaymondCallahan (RCa), Ron Carrico, keptmany individuals at lowerthan usual reportedfrom P.I.S.P.May 6-23 (JM, DS, DaveChase, Linda Christenson, Guy Alan heights.Did thismake them easierto see, JC),one was seen at ErieMay 8-10 (DBo), Clark, WallaceCoffey, Greg Cook, Jean andmore likely to be netted?The migra- and one wasat Imperial,PA, May 15-17 Cunningham,Toby Cunningham,Dave tion results cannot answer this. (JHo,BK). FieldSparrows have been in low Darney(DD), DavidDavis (DDa), Barbara The most unusual records were the two numbersin n. WestVirginia (GAH), but no Dean, Robert Dean, Eula Elliott (EE), Kirtland'sWarblers sighted: P.I.S.P., May reportercommented on them.The onlyre- Emanuel Erb (EEr), JeanetteEsker, Isaac 14 (NH, BMc) andCranberry Twp., Butler, ports of Henslow'sSparrows came from Field,Ted Floyd(TF), JamesFlynn, Tom PA,May 15 (MWi). The Orange-crowned Imperial (TF) and Indiana, both Penn- Fox (TFo), Dot Freeman(DF), Don Frew Warbleris veryrare in spring,but it wasre- sylvania(MH). Lincoln'sSparrows usually (DFr), CarlGarner (CG), ChuckGehringer ported from Mosquito L., OH (CB); manageto slip northwardwithout being (CGe), Mike Griffith (MG), BruceGrimes, Youngstown,OH (NB); P.I.S.P., (JM); seen,but there were more sightings this year Mary Grishaver (MGr), Nathan Hall, Venango,PA (JS);Wood, WV (JBe);Y.C.S.P. than normal.A Harris's Sparrow,which Randy Harrison, Glen Haynes (GH) (MH); P.N.R.(where a record4 wereband- hadbeen coming to a feederin Wood,W•, Jonathon Heller (JHr), John Henderson ed; RM, RCL); and SlipperyRock, PA, sinceDecember, finally came to the atten- (JHe), JohnHeninger, Don Henise(DHe), wheretwo birdswhich appearedto be the tionof thebirding community in Apriland Paul Hess,Margaret Higbee (MH), David westernrace lutescens were seen (GW). The waslast seen May I I (fideJE). Another re- Hochadel(DH), JudyHochadel (JH), Joyce Yellow-throated Warbler continues to move port camefrom Eighty-Four,PA (DBy et Hoffmann (JHo), Shonah Hunter, Bill northward,with reportsfrom Warren,PA, al.). A belatedLapland Longspur was at Jones(BJ), Bill Judd(BJu), Clyde Kessler, May 17 (BW); Venango,PA, Apr. 19 to the Conneautville,Erie, PA, May 14-17 (EEr). Bruce Kiester, Rick Knight, Don Koch end of the period (JS); and n. Butler,PA Orchard Orioles were reported from (DKo), Dave Krueger (DK), Ed Kwater, (fidePH). Someof thesemay be overflights, Edinboro,PA (DS), andP.I.S.E (JM), where Gloria Lamer, Allen Larner, YuLee Larner, but a Swainsoh'sWarbler was reported at theydo not normallyoccur; in Greene,PA, Jeff Larsen, Dennis Lauffer, Robert C Lawrence,PA, May 17 (BD); Kentucky 5 pairs were nestingon one farm (RB). Leberman (RCL), Ronald E Leberman Warblerat Warren,PA, May 17 (DW); and BaltimoreOrioles were in greatlyabove- (RFL), RichardLewis, Anthony Manch,

870 FIELD NOTES Beth Marshall,Kenneth Marshall, Shirley McCarl, Bob McChesney(BMc), Larry McDaniel (LM), Flo McGuire, Jerry McWilliams (JM), Don Miller, Randy western great Miller (RMi), Brian Monk (BMo), Robert Mulvihill, ludy Musick (JMu), Tim O'Connell, Mark Oberle, Richard Peake, Becky Peplinski,John Peplinski,Keith Peters,Marjorie Peterson,Dick Pilling, lakes region CharlottePryor, Frank Renfrow, Bob Riggs, Tommie Rogers,Larry Schwab,Glenna Schwalbe, Paul Schwalbe, Wait Shaffer, RobertShaw, Mary Shepherd (MSh), Harry

Slack,Michael G. Smith (MS), Mike Smith, ß AgassizNWR BobSnyder, Don Snyder,Jerry Stanley (JS), SallyStebbins, Craig Stihler, Dollie Stover, GranU Chuck Tague, Leonard Teuber, Andy Troyer,Evalen Watko, Mike Watko(MW), P•ltønPrairie•'tascaState Park / •• Brenda Watts (BW), Don Watts, Robert • • •rior •Ashla• SeneyNWR• Whitmore,Nyla Wiggens,Gene Wilhelm, M#IeLacs L.• • • • .• Mark Williams (MWi), Brad Wilson (BWi), WilliamWylie. GeorgeA. Hall, P.O.Box 6045, West VirgJnia ' ea•'s ß•. Paul ][ * TraverseCi• University,Morgantown WV 26506-6045

HorlconNWR •MuskegonPo•Huron •disonßMilwaukee- • ßGrand R•dsDetro•

fin GRANLUND rienceda cold, wet spring,with very few southerlywinds favorableto migration. achseason itseems onestate hosts Snow remained well into April in the more rarities than the others, and this northern parts of the Region,and some year it was Michigan, where the season evenfell in May.Flooding was a realprob- couldbe categorizedas nothingless than lem in westernMinnesota. May waspartic- phenomenal.When all records are re- ularlycool, resulting in a delayin the mi- viewed,Michigan could add as many as grationof warblersand associatedspecies. four new speciesto its statelist, including When the migrationfinally did arrive,it White-tailed Kite, Tropical Kingbird, camein a compressedwave, providing ex- Brewer'sSparrow, and Great/Boat-tailed ceptionalviewing for thosewho wereout. Grackle.Just as impressivewere second Thisphenomenal migration appeared from state recordsfor Virginia's Warbler and May 17-19 in Wisconsinand Michigan, BlackVulture, first photographicevidence andbit lateron May 24 in Minnesota. of PacificLoon, and multiple sightingsof WesternTanager and Blue Grosbeak.In Abbreviations: M.B.R.C.(Michigan Bird light of this,it seemsimprobable that the RecordsCommittee), W. RB.O. (Whitefish Point onlyaccidental species recorded in Minne- BirdObservatory, Chippewa ½o., MO. sotawere Arctic Tern and SageThrasher, while Wisconsin highlighted Anhinga, LOONS TO IBISES Glaucous-winged Gull, and Western Michigan recorded an amazing three Tanager.All threestates had a fairly quiet Pacific Loons, including a well pho- migrationof more commonspecies and a tographed breeding-plumagedbird on goodnumber of lingeringspecies. Hidden L., Livingston,Apr. 21-May 13 Weatherhas a greatdeal to do with the (m.ob.), and flyby birds May 27 & 28 at dispositionof the migration;this season W.P.B.O.(PC et al.).All reportsare pending wasno exception.The entireRegion expe- M.B.R.C. review.Minnesota reported an

FALL 1997 871 impressivemore than 1000 Horned Grebes Michigan had excellentnumbers in the (DN). In contrast, at W.P.B.O.--the other on L. Superior,St. Louis,Apr. 26 (ME). "thumb area," with a maximum of 16 at end of L. Superior--scoter migration Wisconsinhad a record-earlyEared Grebe ShiawasseeN.W.R. Mar. 20 (DP); five at peakedat 2683White-wingeds and 84 Surfs anKewatmee Mar. 12 (JHo),and other indi- Fish Point, Tuscola,Mar. 15 (MH, JHu, May 23. The male Barrow'sGoldeneye in vidualsat VirmondPark Apr. 15 (TU) and JBu);and 53 near Pigeon,Huron, Mar. 23 Scott,MN, remainedthrough Mar. 19 (fide GoosePond, Columbia, May 17 (TW) and (MW). Elsewherein Michigan,two were AH), whilethe Wisconsinmale at Virmond 29 (MPe,DT). Michiganhad a goodnum- presentfrom Mar. 26-27 at ArcadiaMarsh, Park,Ozaukee, reappeared in mid-Aprilfor ber of reportsof EaredGrebes, including Ministee (BA, KW). Ross'sGoose made a severaldays (TU). individualsin BerrienApr. 5 (DVi); in superbshowing in the Region.Wisconsin JacksonMay 3-5 (DBo);at the Muskegon had 21 birds,with individualsat Milwaukee RAPTORS Wastewater,Muskegon, Apr. 28 (JRGW, ES) Mar. 2-8 (MK), in DodgeMar. 7 (BD), in A possiblefirst Michigan record of White- and May 17-18 (BM, JP); and four at DaneMar. 17 (SR),at Ashland May 7 (DV), tailedKite wasreported Apr. 13 in n.e.Kent Reed'sL., Kent,Apr. 13 (FA). Minnesota and two in Columbiaand DodgeMar. 12 (MA); the writtenreport is pendingreview recordeda Clark'sGrebe in Big StoneMay (DT), fourfrom Mar. 29-Apr.2 in Dane,six by the M.B.R.C.Also pending review are 25 (LE). Incredibly,Wisconsin had 2 re- near ShioctonApr. 3 (DT), and three at reportsof MississippiKites near Hopkins, ports of Anhinga,including individuals HoriconN.W.R. Apr. 7 (DT). The Maybird Allegan,May 13 (DM) andat EstralBeach, overOshkosh May 4 (TZ) andtwo soaring provideda record-latedate for thatstate by Monroe,May 16 (CP). SwainsoffsHawks in s.Racine May 17 (JD).These would con- one month. Minnesota had an unusual werereported from 18 countiesin Minne- statute the 5th and 6th state record for this number of reportsin the northeast,with sotabetween Mar. 30 and May, including species,and consequently require review by three Mar. 27 in Olmsted (DA, BE) and an unusualn.e. recordat Duluth May 20 the Wisconsin records committee. seven Mar. 29 in Meeker. The state also (FN). Michiganalso had a goodnumber of SnowyEgrets were scarce Regionwide, recordednew late dates,with individualsin reports,with sixbetween Apr. 28-May 23 at with no reportsin Minnesota,only two in- Duluth May 26-31 and in Meadowlands, W.EB.O. and an immatureMay 5 (KK) and termittentlyat GreenBay, WI, and from St. Louis,May 31 (AH, PS et al.). Single an adult May 24 (KM) in Berrien.Ferru- Michigan,one in BerrienApr.27 (KM), two birdswere also reported in that statefrom ginousHawk reportsin Minnesotainclud- in MonroeMay 2 (MM), and one in Bay Anoka, Cottonwood, Dakota, Jackson,Lac ed an adultin LincolnMay 10 (PS),an im- May3 (JS).Wisconsin reported an ad. Litfie Qui Parle,Renville, and Rice.Michigan had maturein JacksonMay 12 (PS),and anoth- BlueHeron in s.e.Dodge May 3-6 (BD,SD, a recordshowing with sixin AlleganMar. 2 er adultin Lac Qui ParleMay 18 (AH, PH, DT, DB et al.). Alsoscarce this seasonwere (JG, CF), four Mar. 6 and one Mar. 13 at PS).In Michigan,where the species is acci- CattleEgrets, with only2 reportsin Michi- ShiawasseeN.W.R. (DP), one in Benzie dental,a report of an individualat Port gan,individuals in OttawaMay 2 (JP,EH) Mar. 21 (BA,KW, m.ob.),one near Pigeon, CrescentS.P., Huron, Mar. 27 (DD) ispend- andin SaginawMay5 (BW).Minnesota re- Huron, Mar. 23 (MW), and one at the ing M.B.R.C.review. The only reportsof ported only 2 large flocksof 280 in Big MuskegonWastewater, Muskegon, Apr. 14 Prairie Falcons came from Minnesota, StoneMay 1 (LE), and 15 in TraverseMay (JR EH). Two Brant on a pond in Racine, whereindividuals were reported in LacQu• 24 (WM). Wisconsinhad morethan 13-20 WI, fromApr. 28-May 4 (JD,MK, DT, DG ParleApr. 26 (BHa et al.) and in Marshall pairs,nesting at Oshkoshand GreenBay or et al.) provided a rare spring record for May 20 (CMa). Minnesotaalso reported foundin migrationat HoriconN.W.R. and the Region. the only Gyrfalcons,with individualsin Oconoto.Minnesota reported two Yellow- In Minnesota,reports of CinnamonTeal BeltramiMar. 2 (DJo) and at Duluth Apr crownedNight-Herons in Lac Qui Parle included two at Whitewater WA, Winona, 11 (FN). Apr. 18 (FE), an unusuallocation for this Mar.27 (fideAH), andone at Etter,Dakota, species.Wisconsin had a singlesighting of May 10 (SW).Unusual were reports of Eur. RAILS TO SHOREBIRDS an adultApr. 28 in Milwaukee(BB). Both Wigeon from all 3 states.In Minnesota, MigrantYellow Rails were very scarce this dark ibiseswere reportedin Wisconsin, wherethe speciesis casual,a malewas seen seasonRegionwide, with theonly reports of with a Glossyin Prairiedu Chien May 6 in LincolnApr. 19 (PJ,DN). Michiganre- territorial birds in Aitkin, Roseau,and St (DK et al.) and a White-facedin n. Door porteda maleat MapleR. StateGame Area, Louis in Minnesota, and from Comstock May 24 (BS). Gratiot,Mar. 24-Apr. 20 (JBa,JR, SS, AB). Bogin Wisconsin,where more than 20 in- Wisconsinhad a banner year for Eur. dividualswere present. The shorebirdmi- WATERFOWL Wigeons, with two Mar. 29-Apr. 1 in grationwas consideredpoor throughout Wisconsinreported at least 150 Greater Calumet(SB, DT et al.), a malenear Green the Region. The federally endangered White-frontedGeese, including flocks of 33 Bay,one in ChippewaApr. 5 (BH), and one Piping Plover was recordedfrom all 3 m Dane,22 in Sheboygan(DT), andstrag- Apr. 25-26 in Dunn (JPo et al.). In states.Wisconsin had reportsat Bailey's glersseen to earlyMay in Ashlandand at Michigan,the first-year male King Eider re- Harbor,Door, May i (JRe)and at Algoma, HoriconN.W.R. May 22 (JB,TS, DT). The mainedat SatfitSte. Marie into May, while Kewaunee,May 11 (JRe).Minnesota had migrationof White-frontedspeaked in an eiderspecies was seen at W.P.B.O.May singlemigrants in RenvilleMay 10 (BL, MinnesotaApr. 19, whenmore than 2500 25. The HarlequinDuck at Milwaukeelin- TT), RockMay 11 (PS),Olmsted May 12-13 werefound in 4 counties:Lincoln, Lyon, Lac geredto Mar. 22 (DG), while a male re- (m.ob.),Dakota May 17 (DS, BS),and B•g Qui Parle, and Big Stone(PJ, DN). The mainedat Sheboygan,WI, Mar. 16-May20 StoneMay 18 (LE); two arrivedat the last largestflock reported in Minnesotawas 620 (DBr et al.).Scoters were particularly scarce known breeding site on Pine-CurrysI, in JacksonApr. 13 (KB), and stragglersre- in Minnesota,with reportsof onlyone Surf Lakeof the Woods,by May 25. Michigan mainedin that stateto May 17 in Dakota Scoterat DuluthMay 17 (fideKE) andnine alsohad a goodnumber of reports,with (TT) and to May 18 in Big Stone(LE). White-winged Scotersin Cook May 25 singlesMay 2-3 and a pair May 21-22 at

872 FIELD NOTES ..... w,sern greatlakes

TawasPt., losco(GNe), singlesMay 13 & Faribault(RJ); an immatureMay 19 pro- 17-May31, with a peakof fiveApr. 27 A 18-19in PresqueIsle (BG), a pairMay 17in vidinga first countyrecord for Big Stone single Boreal Owl at the Springbrook Benzie (KW), several at Vermilion Pt., (LE); and an adult at PelicanL., Wright, NatureCenter in Fridley,Anoka, was seen Ch•??ewa(DO), and six individualsbe- May 30 (m.ob.). Wisconsin'sonly Little by "thousands"of Minnesota visitors before tween May 7-20 at W.P.B.O. Both Gull reportwas of two-May 15 in Milwau- it departedMar. 8 (fideAH). Wisconsinhad Wisconsinand Minnesotareported lower kee (MK et al.), whileMichigan's only re- 3 reportsof thiselusive northern visitor, in- numbersof Am. Avocet,while Michigan ports came from W.P.B.O.,where seven cludingan individualin PolkMar. 16, and had a better-than-normalmigration, with wereseen between May 14-24,with a peak road-killed individuals in Green Lake Mar an outstandingreport of 15 in Muskegon of twoMay 14& 24. Exceptionalfor Michi- 18 (TS) and St. CroixMar. 29 (RR). As ex- May 1 (GW,ES). Michigan also had an ex- ganwas a reported3rd-winter California pectedafter the invasionof the pastwinter, cellentmigration of Willets,with 15 indi- Gull at New Buffalo,Berrien, Apr. 19 (KM); W.P.B.O.hosted a goodnumber of Boreal viduals from 13 locations, as did the record is pendingM.B.R.C. review. Owls,with a finaltotal of 79 betweenApr Wisconsin,where an estimated 155 birds LesserBlack-backed Gull reportscontinue 11-May23, with a peakof 19Apr. 26. Less wereseen--including a flock of 60 alongL. to increase,particularly in Michigan,where expectedwere the five banded between Apr Michiganin OzaukeeMay 4 (BD et al.). 7 individuals were seen from 6 sites. Minn- 15-24 farthersouth in Michiganin Presque Minnesota had fewer Willets than normal, esotahad reportsof an adult at Dakota Isle(BG). althoughnine May 5 at Hoyt Lakes,St. Mar. 25 (KB), providinga new earlydate Impressivewas the report of 400-500 Lou•s(AE, NI), wereat an unusuallocation. for that state,and a first-yearbird in Isanti ChimneySwifts roosting in a singleMinne- Whlmbrelalso appeared at severalunusual Apr.6 (KB).A differentadult was found in sotachimney in BattleL.,Otter Tail (SM, locationsin Minnesota,with a singleat L. Dakota Apr. 21 (KB). WisconsinLesser DMi). Exceptionalin Wisconsinwas a Byllesby,Dakota, May 17(PBu, DS, BS) and Black-backedreports included individuals Three-toedWoodpecker at Pottawattoml threeat SherburneN.W.R., Sherburne, May at Two Rivers Mar. 18 (DT), Dane Mar. S.P.,Door, Apr. 9 (KY);the record is pending 24 (DJe).Wisconsin reported Whimbrels as 21-Apr. 5 (SR, DT), DodgeApr. 26-27 reviewby thebird recordscommittee. Both scarce,while Michiganhad normalnum- (TW), $heboyganApr. 21 through May earlyand rare was a Say'sPhoebe sighted in bers at concentration points such as (DBr, MB et al.), and at Port Washington Clay,MN, Apr.27 (CFo).The rarest find in WPB.O. HudsonianGodwits made a good May 28 (TU). Wisconsinhad anotherre- the Regionwas a Tropical Kingbird in showingin Wisconsin,with 55-60 birds port of Glaucous-wingedGull, this time an KeweenawMay 23 (LD) which,if accepted from 10 sites. Minnesota had more than imm./2nd-yearbird at Two RiversMar. 9 by theM.B.R.C., would provide a firststate 100birds from' more than 20 counties,in- (TU, CS);the reportis pendingreview by recordfor Michigan,as well as a firstRegion cluding a first county record single in the bird records committee. A 2nd-summer record. Michigan had 2 reports of W. HoustonMay 13 (PS)and a peaknumber of ArcticTern wascarefully identified in Du- Kingbird, including one Apr. 22-23 in 23 in RoseauMay 25 (m.ob.).The onlyre- luth May 29 (KE et al.), providinga rare Kentwood,Kent (FA), and one May 24 in port in Michiganwas of sevenHudsonians springrecord for Minnesota.A Forster's CopperHarbor, Keweenaw (LB). The only atWP.B.O. May 24 (JG,RPu). The Marbled Ternin OzaukeeApr.3 (JF) provided a new Scissor-tailedFlycatcher in theRegion was Godwitmigration was good in Wisconsin earlydate for Wisconsin. seenMay 20 in Door,WI (RL,CLu). with about 16 birds from 5 sites, and in Michiganwith sixbirds from 3 sites.All 3 OWLS TO FLYCATCHERS WRENS TO WARBLERS states had an excellent number of Red SnowyOwls lingeredinto May in all 3 A RockWren wasseen on theheadquarters Knots, including an impressive31 at states.Wisconsin's latest report was an in- building of the MinnesotaRiver N.W.R, WPB.O. May 23. dividualfrom May 23-24 in Marathon(DB, Hennepin,MN, May 5-6 (TT, m.ob.).Also CD); in Minnesota one was present in in that state were Mt. Bluebirds in Freeborn JAEGERS TO TERNS DuluthMay 22 (fideKE), and in Michigan Mar. 23 (ABa); two differentbirds in lack- A jaeger(species) seen at Duluth,St. Louis, the last was at W.P.B.O.May 28. The N. son,with one Mar. 30 (KB) and the other May 23 (DRa) providedone of lessthan 10 Hawk Owl at Superior, WI, remained Apr.9 (CMa); and a malenesting with a fe- springrecords for Minnesota.In Michigan throughMar. 24 (Rio), whilein Minnesota maleE. Bluebirdin Bemidji,Beltran, i, May at W.P.B.O.,where spring jaegers are regu- individualswere seen in RoseauMay 25-26 7 (m.ob.). In Wisconsin,a male Mt. Blue- lar, seven Parasiticsand three unidentified andLake of the Woods May 26 (CMa).All of bird appearedat Bubolz Nature Center jaegerswere observed between May 23-31, Michigan'sreports came from W.P.B.O., nearAppleton Apr. 29, the 2nd consecutive with a peak of two May 24. The only wherethree were seen between Apr. 3-19. A springat that location.The only Town- LaughingGull report came from Michigan, BurrowingOwl May 31 in Duluth (PS, send'sSolitaire reports came from Minne- whereone was seen in PresqueIsle May 25 m.ob.)provided only the 3rd recordever sota,with individualsin SibleyMar. 20 (RJ) (BG). Franklin'sGulls were quite scarce in for this speciesin n.e. Minnesota.Great andin OtterTaiiApr. 13 (SM,DMi). Varied Wisconsin,with individualsin DaneMay 2 Gray Owls continuedtheir invasionfrom Thrushesremained to Apr.6 at Aitkin (CB) (SR), in MilwaukeeMay 14 (SD), and in the winter. Wisconsin added several new and Apr. 7 in Kanabec(CM), both Minne- Colun.biaMay 17 (PA, TW). An unusual sightingsin March in the n. half of the sota,and to Apr. 4 in Manistee(BA) and sightingof this speciesin n.e. Minnesota state,with the latest reports of a bird Apr. 9 in Marquette(EB, LT), both Michi- wasreported from Duluth May 31 (BY et throughApr. 21 in Door (RL, CLu et al.) gan.After being quite rare overthe winter al ) Also in Minnesota were severalunusu- and two into Junein Bayfield.Minnesota in Wisconsin, Varied Thrush made a sur- al sightingsof Little Gull, includingan had one nestfound in the Sax-ZimBog in prisinglygood showing: one in March in adulton MinnesotaL. May 15,providing St.Louis (BY et al.), whileMichigan had 24 Dunn (fide lPo), two at a feederin Door firstcounty records for both Blue Earth and Great Grays reported at W.P.B.O.Apr. (fideRL, CLu), and one nearHerbster Apr

FALL 1997 873 13 (DV et al.). Minnesota had its 7th state at the WestwoodNature Center, Hennepin Don Brooks (DBo), Bernie Brouchoud recordof SageThnmher May 1-3 in Anoka (m.ob.).Michigan had individualsin Iosco (BBr), Paul Budde (PBu), Jeff Buecklng (JH, m.ob.). LoggerheadShrikes numbers May 10 (GNe), WayneMay 31 (DO), and (JBu), Cindy Butler,Adam Byrne,Steve weredown in Minnesota,with reportsfrom onewell n. of normalin KeweenawMay 18 Carlson,Don Chalfant,Allen Chartier,Phil only 9 counties,while both Michiganand (LB).Western Tanagers made a majorin- Chu, Patti-Jean Cousens (PCo), Julie Wisconsinonly had one report: a pair in cursioninto the e. portionsof the Region, Craves,Jerry DeBoer, Connie Decker, Scott Allegan,MI, Apr. 19 (CF) and a pair in with reportsin Wisconsinof individualsat Diehl, Dan Duso, Bob Domagalski, Shawano,WI, Apr.20. EauClaire May 6-7 (JPo),Crawford May 13 Eckert, Fred Eckhardt, Bob Ekblad, Lee A rare Bell'sVireo wasreported in Ann (DK et al.), PierceMay 15-17,and Bayfield Ellwanger,Molly Evans,Audrey Evers, Cole Arbor, Washtenaw,MI, May 8 (TWe, DC). May 25 (CD). Michiganreported males in Foster(CFo), Chip Francke,Jim Frank, Jim The warblermigration was late, probably AlleganMay 12-14 (RA, JG,m.ob.) andin Granlund,Bill Grigg,Dennis Gustafson, Jay due to the cool weather; however, once it WexfordMay 20-23 (BA,DKo); if accepted Hamernick (JHa), BruceHarris (BHa), Bob commenced it was one of the best in recent bythe M.B.R.C. they will representonly the Heagle,Anthony Hertzel, Paul Hertzel, memorythroughout the Region.Not only 5th and 6th state records! A male Black- Randy Hoffman, William Holmes, Jim werethere large numbers of birds,but the headedGrosbeak was photographedin Holschbach,Ernie Hoover, JoanieHubln- diversitywas outstanding, with manyob- Clay,MN, May 24 (TBr), while a female ger(JHu), Mark Hubinger,Nancy Jackson, serversencountering more than 20 species wasreported in Sprague,WI, May 17 (RJ, Robert Janssen,Paul Jantscher,Douglas of warblers.Birds continuedto migrate AS);the latterpending rare bird committee Jenness(Die), Oscar Johnson,Robbye throughthe areathrough late May andinto review.Michigan reported a verycoopera- Johnson (RJo), Kenn Kaufman, Dennis early June. in Wisconsin, an Orange- tive Blue Grosb•k, which visited a feeder Kirschbaum,Donald Kogut (DKo), Mark crownedWarbler in ManitowocMay 31 in OkemosMay 9-13 (TB); anotherwas Korducki,Leah Knapp, Carla Larson, Bill (CS) was consideredlate. A Virginia's seenat Universityof Michigan,Dearborn, Litkey,Charlotte Lukes (CLu), Roy Lukes, Warblerin ChippewaMay 20-21 (ABet Wayne,May 17 (JC). Wisconsinreported a CraigMandel (CMa), CraigMenze, Doug al ) would constituteMichigan's 2nd state Blue GrosbeakMay 22 in Milwaukee McWhirter,William Marengo,Bill Marti- recordif acceptedby the M.B.R.C.Minne- (WH). Minnesotahad reports of Lazull nus,Mike Mencotti,Robert Meyer, Diane sota had an unprecedented6 reports of Buntings,with a maleat Lynd,Lyon, May Millard (DMi), SteveMillard, Kip Miller, Yellow-throatedWarblers, including indi- 25-26 (RM) and a femaleMay 28 (RJ) at David Neitzel,Gary Nelkie (DNe), Frank vidualsin Anoka,Dakota, Hennepin, Mar- the samelocation. A PaintedBunting was Nicoletti, Darrin O'Brien, Patricia Parsons, shall,and Rice.Wisconsin had reportsin seenat TahquamenonS.P., Chippewa, MI, Dave Peters,Mark Peterson(MPe), Mike MilwaukeeMay 15-16, and at leasttwo Apr. 28. (JRa,JSp). Spotted Towhees were Petrucha,Greg Pietila, Rod Planck,Janlne singingmales were at WylasungS.P. in late recordedin Minnesotain LyonMay 10 Polk (JPo), Jim Ponshair, Curt Powell, May.Yellow-throated Warblers in Michigan (RSc, RS) and Otter Tail May 14 (SM, Robert Putman (RPu), Dan Rau (DRa), returnedto theirnormal breeding areas by DMi). A Brewer's Sparrow at W.P.B.O. JodyRaab (JRa), JohnRegan (JRe), Jack Apr. 27. Kirtland'sWarblers outside their May 24-25 (LD, m.ob.) would provide a Reinoehl (Michigan), Sam Robbins, normalbreeding areas in Michiganinclud- first staterecord for Michigan,if accepted Ronald Roettger,Jerry Sadowski(JSa), ed individualsat ShiawasseeN.W.R. May by the M.B.R.C.Harris's Sparrows in that Steve Santner, Robert Schroeder (RSc), 24 (JSa)and at BayCity S.E May 26 (MP, stateincluded reports in BerrienMay 15 Roger Schroeder,Tom Schultz,A1 Shea, JU). Also in Michigan,good numbersof (KM), in ShiawasseeMay 19-20 (JBu),and EllenSlater, Joe Soehnel, Chris Sontag, Jon Prairie Warblers included individuals in in KeweenawMay 19 (LB).A Lark Bunting Spieles(JSp), Becky Smith, Drew Smith, WashtenawMay 13 (TWe, DC), Macomb wasreported in EatonMay 6 (LK), provid- BarbaraStover, Peder Svingsn(Minne- May 14 (MM), Berrien May 17 (JG, RA, inga rareMichigan record. A femaleGre•t/ sota),Louis Taccolini, Daryl Tessen(Wis- KT), and two in Barry May 5 (CF). Boat-tailedGrackle present at W.P.B.O. consin), Kevin Thomas, Tom Tustison, Wisconsinreported Prairies in Manitowoc Apr. 15 & 17-18 (RP et al.) wouldprovide a JerryUrquhart, Tom Uttech, Dick Verch, May 20 (BBr) and at L. GenevaMay 24 first staterecord for Michigan,if accepted David Vinnedge(DVi), Tex Wells (TWe), (PP),while in Minnesota,where the species bythe M.B.R.C. Steve Weston, Keith Westphal,George is consideredcasual, a singleMay 18-21 in Wickstrom,Myles Willard, Bruce Winchell, Anoka (SC, GP) representeda goodfind. CORRIGENDA Tom Wood, Keith Yanda, Ben Yokel, Tom Ziebell. Michigan had an unusual number of Deletethe CurlewSandpiper at Pt. Mouille KentuckyWarbler reports, including indi- State Game Area, Monroe, MI, Aug. 11, Jim 6ranlund, ResarchAssociate, Kalama- vidualsin WayneMay 10(AC), Berrien May 1996 (AFN, 51: 59), becausedocumenta- zooNature Center, 6253 N. Westnedge,Kala- 11 (KM), HuronMay 18 (DM), KentMay tion was not submittedto support the mazoo,Michigan 49004. 18-19 (FA), and a territorial bird in Hills- sighting. daleMay 14 (JR).Minnesota had a single reportof this speciesMay 31 in Hennepin Observers:Ray Adams, Brian Allen, Diane (OJ), and Wisconsin had scattered sightings Anderson,Martin J.Andree, Frank Apsey, in May,with nestingat severalsites. Philip Ashman, Sylvia Barbarich, Karl Bardon,Al Batt (ABa), Jeff Baughman, TANAGERS TO FINCHES John Baumgartner (JBa), Dan Belter, All 3 statesreported Summer Tanagers, Laurie Binford, Ted Black, Elizabeth Blich- with five-seven birds seen in Wisconsin feldt, Brian Boldt, David Brasser(DBr), and a first-yearmale banded in Minnesota Terry Brashear(TBr), Margaret Brasser,

874 FIELD NOTES middlewestern prairie region

/_Erie IOWA Chicago•,,• eSa•lares, Davenp•ert Mich,ganC• Ft.ß '• Tøledø•'•'awaNWR ßDeSoto ßDes Moines Wayne .WR ILLINOIS OHIO ßPeoria INDIANA Columbusß ß SquawCreek NWR ßSpnngfield I•dianapolis eDaytøn S•NanLakeNWR MuscalaluckeeCinclnnal KansasCity NWR FiveRed-throated Loons were reported St Louis acrossthe northernpart of the Hiddie- Rendl...• EvanswileßLouiswile westernPrairie Region during the season, Crab Orchard ß Lexingtonß MISSOURI NWR includingthis oneat PleasantCreek Lake, ß KENTUCKY Iowa,on MayZ, 1997. Theextensively

MingoNWRe BallardWMA /- Curnber/and/.• whiteface and thin, upturnedbill are obviousin this view. Photograph/T.H.Kent

LOONS TO IBISES It was a good springfor loons.Five Red- throatedLoons were reported across the 4 n. states;one, discovered May 23 at Tampier KENNETH J. BROCK the persistentheadwinds, migrant hawks L., Cook, IL, lingered through ]une 14 circumnavigatedmost of the Region;the (•MN, •]L, m.ob., ph.). An imm. Pacific onlysignificant flights were recorded in ex- Loonwas at WestOkoboji, IA, Apr. 15-May tMiddlewesternwas another cold,Prairie late Region.spring forMerci- the treme northeastern Ohio. 26 (•ET, •LS, •DHk, ph.). Common Loom fully,conditions were not asharsh as those Consequencesof the cold springwere occurredin unprecedentednumbers on the experiencedduring spring 1996,but they most extremein the westernstates, where a Indiana lakefront, where 743 were counted were far more persistent.March tempera- late storm droppedtwo feet of snow in Apr. 5 (lMc, SB, CF). The seasonsaw a better-than-normal Red-necked Grebe tureswere near normal, April wascold, and mid-April. Chris Hobbs reportedthat in May wascolder. Indeed, May wasone of the northern Missouri hundreds of Killdeer flight, with singletonsin Illinois, Indiana, coldeston record,with severalcorrespon- were surprisedby the freak blizzard and and Ohio,plus four in Iowa.Thirteen Eared dentsreporting average temperatures more wereable to land only in tire tracksalong Grebeswere found e. of the MississippiR.; than 10øFbelow normal. Consequently, the roads.In keepingwith the "everycloud the southernmostreport came from Mc- Elroy L., KY, where one-three were seen vegetation development was retarded hasa silverlining" spirit, Tom Kent pointed throughoutthe Region, and was 10-15 days out that Iowa's first and second White- during April (Kentucky Ornithological Society). later than normal in the northern reaches. wingedDoves appeared on the heelsof the In addition, much of the Region was storm, and that snow cover forced hard-to- plagued by an insistent north wind find Chestnut-collaredLongspurs into the throughoutalmost the entire spring season. plowedroads of northwesternIowa. The effectof theseinhospitable condi- tionson the springflight was predictable; mostbirds arrived late and many lingered well beyond normal departuredates. In Abbreviations: H.B.S.R(Headlands Beach Chicago,Paul Clyne estimated that 22 spe- S.P.,OH), I. Cal.(L. Calumet,Chicago); Jax. R ciesfewer than normalhad arrivedby the (JacksonPark on the Chicago lakefront); S.C.R. PacificLoon at WestOkohoji, Iowa, end of April, and in Fort Wayne,Indiana, (SquawCreek N.W.R., MO); R.E.D.A. (Riverlands on April 15, 1997. The bird remained Jim Haw reckonedthat 30 specieswere be- EnvironmentalDemonstration Area, MO), Spfld. at this location for some six weeks. hind scheduleat the samepoint. To avoid (Springfield,IL). Photograph/EdThelen

FALL 1997 875 The best Am. White Pelican tallies were mainedin Schaumburg,IL, throughMay 10 mentsoccurred in n.e.Ohio, where good loggedat CarlyleL., IL, where700 were pre- (MM, GW, DBr,m.ob.). The onlyBrant re- flightswere loggedat Conneaut.Notable sentMar. 23-Apr. 12 (DKa);at Chautauqua portconsisted of a singletonat Jax.E Apr.5 dailytallies included 161 Red-shouldered N.W.R., IL, where 381 were seenApr. 3 (?RM, CA, m.ob.). HawksMar. 21 (LY), 1230Broad-winged (S&RB); and at South Hickman Bottoms, An ad. femaleAm. BlackDuck, appar- Hawks Mar. 26 (ES, LY), and 54 Am KY, where 59 were seenApr. 2 (CP). The entlypaired with a maleMallard, was care- KestrelsMar. 21 (LY).An earlySwainson's Double-crestedCormorant expansion con- fully studiedat the EagleBluffs W.M.A., Hawk was found near one of the traditional tinuedthis spring, with fine countsacross MO, May 24 (?PMc).Selected peak puddle Kane,IL, nestingareas Apr. 13 (GW, CW), the Region,highlighted by a superlative duckcounts included 10,000 Green-winged andfour wereseen in nearbyMcHenr)4 IL, tally of 5000 at Rend L., IL, Apr. 11 Tealat CarlyleL., IL, Mar. 29 (DKa), 703 Apr. 20 (JL). Golden Eagleswere wide- (J&CM). NeotropicCormorant reports are Blue-wingedTeal May 10 at EagleBluffs spreadwith one-two reportedin eachof becomingroutine in w. portionsof the W.M.A., MO (PMc et al.), 1500N. Shoveler the 4 n. states;the easternmostrecord con- Region.At S.C.R.,two immatureswere seen at Little ClearL., IA, Apr. 14 (MBr), and sistedof an adult at Conneaut,OH, Mar. 21 May 10 and two adultswere observedat 1225Gadwall at SaylorvilleRes., IA, Mar. (LY). Merlin numberscontinue to increase that locationMay 18 (BF). 24 (SD).Rarities amid this plethora includ- acrossthe Region,with 25 reported;the Most encouragingly,Am. Bitternswere ed nine CinnamonTeal in Iowa,plus sin- largestnumbers were in Ohio, where a plentifulacross the Region.The mostim- gletonmales at CarlyleL, IL, Mar. 29-30 dozenwere reported. The mostremarkable pressivereport came from the reclaimed (?DKa);at McElroyL., KY,Apr. 19-22 (CL; Merlin report involveda female/immature AyrshireMine in Warrick,IN, where an ?BPB,P&JB, m.ob., ph.); in Calhoun,IL, in extreme s.w. Indiana (Warrick) June 3 amazing20 were seenor heardApr. 26 May 4 (?RR);and in Boone,MO, May 10 (?JCb).The season'sonly PrairieFalcon (JCb,ML, AT, ph.). Although100 Cattle (tSH, ,IV, MV). EurasianWigeons were re- wasseen Mar. 9 nearArcoh, IL (?RCh). Egretswere counted in Vermilion,IL, Apr. ported at Castalia,OH, Mar. 16 (RHn, Regionalbirders ferreted out fiveYellow 19 (JSm),this species was generally scarce SWa) and a male in Steuben,IN, Apr. 1 Rails;records included singletons at Clin- acrossthe Region.In contrast,it was a (tHaw, FH). Without doubtthe bestduck ton L., IL, Apr. 5 (RCh); at TuckerPrairie, bountifulspring for Black-crownedNight- of the seasonwas Kentucky's first Tufted MO, 25 Apr. (SD1); at Merwyn Preserve Herons.The peak count consistedof 613 Duck, a male that entertained birders at Prairie,IL, May 5-6 (MF, TBu); at Lacey- seenduring the eveningdispersal at L. Cal. McElroy L. in March and April (DCo, KeosauquaS.P., IA, May 9 (JFu);and in May 10 (WM), but countsexceeding 100 ?BPB,P&JB, m.ob.). A tardymale Redhead Vermilion,IL, May 19 (?JSm).King Rails birdswere also logged at Fallsof the Ohio, lingeredat EagleBluffs W.M.A., MO, until were unusuallycommon, with sevenin KY, Apr. 11 (FR) and at MichiganCity May 31 (PMc).On L. Erie,three Harlequin Illinois, five in Ohio, and three in Indiana Harbor,IN, May29 (KBet al.).A breeding- Ducks were found at H.B.S.R Apr. 12 VirginiaRails and Soraswere both widely plumagedGlossy lb'm, flushed from a wet- (RHn, EB), and another was seen at reported;the singlemost impressive count land in s. Lake,IN, May 17 (?RHe,?LC et Cleveland Mar. 16 and Apr. 14 (TL). consistedof 96 Soras at Eagle Bluffs al.),provided Indiana's 3rd record. Remarkably,a femaleHarlequin lingered W.M.A. and Columbia sewagetreatment on theWllmette-Evanston, IL, L. Michigan plant,MO, May 10 (PMcet al.).Once agatn WATERFOWL lakefront from Apr. 28-May 25 (EW, Com. Moorhens may be in trouble Two FulvousWhistling-Ducks were seen m.ob.),establishing a record-latedate for Numberswere uniformly low; the Region's brieflyat the AyrshireMine, Warrick,IN, Illinois(fide PC). For the firstspring in re- peakreport consisted of onlytwo birds A June1 (?JCb,ph.); this constitutes Indiana's centmemory, White-winged Scoters were PurpleGallinule, discovered dead at Steeple 2nd record.The gooseexpansion continued not reportedin the Region.Three excep- ChaseGolf Course,Mundelein, IL, 10April thisspring with numerouslarge counts and tionallylate Com. Mergansers were found 1997 (TMo, TS, DHg, *), probablydied lingeringbird in the n. states.Noteworthy at ChautauquaN.W.R., IL, May 29 (S&RB, duringan April coldperiod near that time Greater White-fronted Goose tallies e. of the SC).The 3000Red-breasted Mergansers at (fide DJ). Sandhill Cranes continueto MississippiR. included:1200 at ClintonL., CarlyleL., IL, Mar. 19 (DKa), constituted flourish;notable spring reports include IL, Mar. 1 (MD); 251 in RockIsland, IL, Mar. an excellent count for an inland lake. sightingsat 12locations in Iowa,a countof 20 (PPet al.);and 212 in McHenr)4IL, Mar. 2110 migrantsat SaganashkeeSlough, IL, 14 (RBa).Two White-fronteds wandered E HAWKS TO CRANES Mar. 12 (RBz), and sevenbirds in Ohio. to FairportHarbor, OH, wherethey were BreedingOsprey reports included a pairat seenMar. 2 (KMe,LRo), and one lingered at the traditional Brookville Res.,IN, nest site SHOREBIRDS TO JAEGERS CarlyleL., IL, until May 28 (DKa). Snow Mar. 30 (WB); a nestin Portage,OH, Mar. Unusualplover reports included an early Geesefollowed a similarpattern; notewor- 31 (Lro); a nestingpair at Land Between Black-belliedPlover at H.B.S.P.Apr. 6 (EB, thy reportsinclude 198 at OttawaN.W.R., the Lakes,KY, Apr. 23 (CP); and near RHn) and a count of 450 Semipalmated OH, Mar. 2 (EP et al.) and 10 stragglersat BarkleyL. Bridge,KY, Apr. 23 (CP).A flyby Ploversat FishhookW.M.A., IL, May 17 CarlyleL., IL, May 28 (DKa, KMc). Ross's White-tailed Kite was seen May 8 at (RCh et al.). PipingPlovers were remark- Geesewere well represented in thegoose ex- Urbana,IL (?RCh).An extralimitalMissis- ablywidespread, with two or morereport- pansion,with a dramaticincrease in Iowa sippiKite wasobserved at LedgesS.P., IA, ed in everystate except Missouri. Black- (fide TK), a peak of nine in Santa Fe fromMay 12through the endof theperiod neckedStilts arrivedextremely early, with Bottoms,IL, Mar. 27 (DKa), an adult at (PW, ?LH). Northern Goshawkswere un- one in Boone,IL, Mar. 20 (ABe, ?RM, DW McElroyL., KY,Mar. 9, 15,& 22 (BPB),one usuallyscarce, with only four reported in 3 et al.) andanother at theLouisa Refuge, IA, at Lake St. Mary's Fish Hatchery Mar. n. states. Persistent n. winds restricted hawk Mar. 26 (?ASp).The only other Black- 30-Apr.6 (?DD),and a tardyadult that re- flightsin mostareas; the only sizable move- neckedStilt report consistedof three at

876 FIELD NOTES middlewestern prairie

CypressCreek N.W.R., IL, May 3 (KMc). (BPB). Red-neckedPhalaropes were re- The peakcount of 19 Am. Avocetswas du- strictedto the w. states,with eightin Iowa plicatedat 2 locations:East Chicago, IN, and one in Missouri. Apr. 26 (SB, m.ob.) and at RunnelIs,IA, May 4 (lSi). Noteworthypeak shorebird GULLS TO TERNS counts included more than 100 Greater During the first third of May a most re- Yellowlegsat Hickman Bottoms,KY, Mar. markablegull movementoccurred in s. L. 29 (CP); 36 Willetsat Wilmette,IL, May 2 Michigan;the flight producedunprece- (EW); 58 SpottedSandpipers in Lake,IN, dentedlate springnumbers of the larger May 8 (lCd et al.); 14 Whimbrels at borealspecies. Compared to recentyears, Waukegan,IL, May 25 (JPm) and againat Laughing Gull numbers declined this Wilmette,IL, May 30 (RHu);450 Hudson- spring;only fivebirds were reported across ian Godwitsin Fremont,IA, May 15 (TK); the Region.The onlyLittle Gullswere seen seven Marbled Godwits at L. Lemon, IN, at lax.P. Apr. 13 ('•PC) and in Lake,OH, May 1 (I&SH); 82 RuddyTurnstones at Apr.23 (lPo). An alternate-plumagedMew GrandLake St. Mary's, OH (DD); 20 Ruddy Gull wasseen briefly in Danville,IL, Mar. Turnstonesat McElroyL., KY, May 17 (L. 26 ('•RCh).The presenceof nine Thayer's Doyle,fide BPB); 17 Red Knotsin Wayne, Gullsalong the Chicagolakefront May 10 OH, May 19 (ES);55 Sanderlingsat Lorain, (RBi, EW, IM) graphicallyattests to the OH, May 25 (TL, CH); 1000 Least latenessof the springmigration. Another Sandpipersat CoralvilleRes., IA, May 11 Thayer'swas seen on the Indianalakefront (TK); 500 Dunlin at Ottawa N.W.R., OH, May 10 (JMc).kdand Gullsalso tarried in May 17 (GH); 100Short-billed Dowitchers theRegion, with thefollowing May records: A northwardstray was this White-winged at CarlyleL., IL, May 12 (KMc et al.); and Doveat Columbia,Missouri, 300 Com.Snipe at ConeMarsh, IA, Apr. 11 a 2nd-yearbird at Wilmette,IL, May 10-13 on April Z7, 1997. Two othersoccurred (TK). Both of the Region'sRuffs appeared (EW, IM); five on the Chicagolakefront in the regionat aboutthe sametime. in Henderson,KY; a male was discoveredoff May 10 (RBi,EW, IM); threeimmatures at Photograph/DavidA. Easterla KY 268Apr. 17 and a Reevewas found 2 mi Montrose Beach,Chicago, May 2 (GW); e. of the Rufflocation the sameday (?BPB). and threefirst-year birds at MichiganCity DOVES TO WOODPECKERS Harbor,IN, May 1 (KB,JMc). Lesser Black- Other noteworthyshorebird reports in- Birders in the w. states enjoyed three cluded early Long-billedDowitchers at backedGulls were also plentiful in the early White-wingedDoves this spring,as two Carlyle L., IL, Mar. 23 (DKa) and at May flight, as nine were countedon the appeared in Iowa (first and 2rid state Columbia,MO, Mar. 30 (PMc), plusnest- Chicagolakefront May 10 (RBi, EW, IM). records)and one in Missouri.The birds ap- ing Com.Snipe at the AyshireMine in s.w. The MississippiR. Glaucous-wingedGull pearedat a feederin Ottumwa, IA, Apr. Indiana,where an adult and two young reportedlast winter at R.E.D.A. was last 8-15 ('•NH, ph.), at the Knox McCrory were found May 21 ('•JCb,ML). It was a seenMar. 23 (fide CH). Most unusualfor feederin Columbia,MO, in April andearly goodspring for Wilson'sPhalaropes, with an inland location was a Glaucous Gull May ('•DE, '•PMc, ph. m.ob.), and in Le reportsfrom everystate except Missouri; near BarkleyDam, KY, Apr. 13 (HC, CP). Grand, IA, Apr. 28-May 16 ('•MP, '•lFu, peak countsincluded 20 at ReelfootLake Black-leggedKittiwakes were unusually '•TK, ph. '•m.ob.). Spring period Snowy N.W.R.,KY, in earlyMay (B. Yandell,fide commonthis spring,with singletonimma- Owl reportsinduded two at La SalleL., IL, BPB),17 at Colo Ponds,IA, May 7 (HZ), tures at Clinton L, IL, Mar. 8 ('•RCh), Mar. 1 (J&CM), one in Spencer,IA, Mar. 4 and more than 14 at McElroyL. Apr. 26 R.E.D.A. Mar. 8-15 (JVb), and Kane, IL, (fideLS), and a tardybird at MiegsAirport, May 4 (tASt). Chicago,Apr. 5 (GW,CA). Iowa'swintering S A Springjaegers areextremely rare Illinois' first adequatelydocumented Great Gray Owl remainedin CerroGordo r•on the GreatLakes; consequent- Gull-billedTern wasseen at Waukegan,IL, throughMar. 1 (RG). ly,the simultaneous appearan• offive May 30 ('•EW).An extremelyearly Caspian Common Nighthawksarrived 14 days Tern arrived in Jax.P. Apr. 3 ('•PC); the laterthan normal in Ohio(fide LRo). A very Pom•inesatth• Whiskey LMarina, Region'speak count consistedof 360 at late femaleYellow-bellied Sapsucker was Cleveland,OH, isextraordinary. The Michigan City Harbor, IN, May 8 (JCd, foundin s.Missouri May 20-21 (MRo). birds,which were discovered Apr. 16, m.ob.). An additional217 Caspianswere U -- remainedthrough Apr. 25 (PL,'•D & countedat Jax.P. May 3 (PC). Illinois'4th S A Ohio'sfirst Boreal Owl was IH, VF, '•KMe,m.ob. ph.), providing Arctic Tern, an adult, was identified at • chased into the window of a numerousopportunities for closerange WaukeganBeach May 31 ('•DBo, '•DKa, Lakehome by a flockof crowsApr. 5. studyof the rarelyseen first-winter '•MD, '•RCh,JL et al.). LeastTerns were re- }udyReimer took the bird to the Lake plumage(often characterized by a pale ported in everystate except Missouri; the MetroparksWildlife Center for rehabil- nape). This occurrence, which followed peak countwas 50 at the Gibson,IN, nest- itationwhere it was determined tobe a lastf•'s RegionalPomarine jaeger in~ ing siteMay 28 (fide JCs).Black Terns re- second-yearfemale;st Was released Apr. cursionand sporadic sightings through mainedscarce e. of the MississippiR., but 9 (JPo).A photographof the bird was thewinter, raises the possibility that excellentnumbers were loggedin Iowa, publishedin the ClevelandPlain Dealer these individuals wintered on L Erie. wherethe peak count was 2000 in Fremont, (fideLRo). May 15 (TK).

FALL 1997 877 FLYCATCHERS TO SHRIKES was still present May I (MRo). Cedar was discoverednear Cedar Bluff May 10 Extraordinarilyhigh numbersof Yellow- Waxwing numbers were low acrossthe ($JHu,CT, JCo).Among the moreinterest- bellled Flycatcher were recorded this Region,and were entirelyabsent in Iowa ing warbler reportswas a bird displaying spring,as evidencedby countsof 37 in (fideTK). A tardyN. Shrikewas still present the charactersof a "Sutton's"hybrid; it was Chicago'sGram ParkMay 30 (DS), 18 atA. in Lippold Park,McHenr)4 IL, Apr. 15-16 seenat L. Ahquabi,IA, May 5 (tJSi). Ohio A. Call S.P.,IA, May 25 (MK), and 14 along (RBa, DF etak). birders were treated to two Kirtlehal's the Indianalakefront May 29 (JCd et al.). Warblers;the first,a singingmale, was on Iowa's 4th Vermillon Flycatcher was Kelly'sI. May 14 ($RHn, SWa,m.ob.) and recordedMay 24 at Holstein,Sac (tCR). ^ the 2nd was at MageeMarsh, OH, May Scissor-tailedFlycatcher visited Ottawa 15-17 ($JHd, MT, m.ob. ph). A record- N.W.R.,OH, May 14-15 (SWr,m.ob. ph.), earlyPalm Warbler appeared at CarlyleL., much to the delightof Ohio birders.In IL, Mar. 29,and, most interestingly, the bird keepingwith the coldspring, martins and displayedthe uniformlyyellow underparts swallows arrived late in most areas. Selected of the e. race D.p. hypochrysea($DKa). peakcounts included 60 PurpleMartins at Four Swainson's Warblers were found in s. Mermet LakeW.M.A., IL Apr. 14 (KMc); Missourinear Van BurenMay 31 (PMc). 130 N. Rough-wingedSwallows in Union, An earlyLouisiana Waterthrush arrived at IL, May 3 (KMc); and 2000 Cliff Swallows Pomona, IL, Mar. 15 (KMc). Connecticut at Mark TwainN.W.R., IL, (DBo, VK et al.). Warblers were more common than nor- Clearlybucking the generalspring pattern, mal,with reportsfrom everystate except one overzealous Barn Swallow arrived at Kentucky.Most notable were four male Starved Rock S.P. in n. Illinois Mar. 29 Connecticuts found in Grindstone Park, (J&CM). A pair of Black-billedMagpies, Columbia, MO, May 24 (PMc et al.). discoveredin the LoessHills of w.c. Ply- Hooded Warblerswere not reported in mouth,IA, in earlyMay, thrilled birders at- Iowa had fewer than a dozen confirmed Iowaand, according to K. McMullen,num- tendingthe annual Iowa Ornithological recordsof LazuliBunting prior berswere also poor in s.Illinois. Unionmeeting May 18 (tJFu,tTK). Good to this spring,when four appeared, SummerTanagers pressed northward F/shCrow numbersappeared within their all in Mny.This male was north this spring,yielding multiple Chicago area expandingrange, with countsof 50 in of Glenwood,Iowa, on Hay 27, lgg7. records and a female at a Burr Oak, IA, OakwoodBottoms, IL, Apr. 19 (KMc) and Photograph/T.fl. Kent feeder,May 6-17 (DCa). Followinglast eightalong the leveeat HickmanBottoms, spring'sW. Tanagerinvasion, three birds KY,Apr. 24 (CP). Red-hreastedNuthatches were reportedthis year. Two malesap- VIREOS TO BUNTINGS wereuniformly scarce, indeed several ob- pearedin Iowa: one at Lacey-Keosauqua servers referred to them as "non-existent:' A White-eyedVireo in MoorheadPark, Ida, S.P.May 3 (•'JFu)and another at Ames May Amid thisdearth some excitement was gen- IA, May 28 (PE) and a Bell'sVireo at the 8-13 (•-KHe, •'JDi). In addition,a male was erated when an alarmed Red-breasted dis- MigrantTrap, IN, May 25 (EH) wereboth seenbriefly in ArlingtonHeights, IL, May playedterritorial behavior at CreationFalls, wellbeyond their normal ranges. Fine daily 18 (tJB, tCB, tJFa). KY,May 22 (FR);further investigation June PhiladelphiaVireo countswere logged in An echoflight of LazuliBuntings oc- 2 revealeda familygroup of six (BPB).A Cook,IL, where nine were seenMay 26 curred in the w. states,with four males and verylate BrownCreeper was seen in Boone, (DS), and at H.B.S.P.,where seven were tal- one femalereported in Missouriin mid- IL, May 26 (MRa).A finecount of 49 Blue- liedMay 25 (LRo). May (no t), plus four in Iowa (three of gray Gnatcatcherswas loggedApr. 20 in A remarkablylate Orange-crowned whichappeared May 18).The Iowarecords Union,IL (KMc). Townsend'sSolitaires ap- Warblerwas still in Chicago'sGrant Park includedsingle males in PlymouthMay 18 pearedin suburbanKansas City, MO, Mar. June3 (DS). Selectedpeak warbler counts (tJSi), at StoneS.P. May 18 (•'KK, •'AJ),at 2 (SP) and at L. Ahquabi,IA, Apr. 12-13 included:21 Golden-wingedsin Cook,IL, MasonCity May 18-22 (•-EM), and at the (JSi,•AJ). MigrantCatharus thrushes were May 17 (DS); 75 Tennesseesin Palos,IL, rural home of Annie and Walter Leich,n. of reportedin above-normalnumbers; high May 20 (DS); 88 Nashvillesin Cook,IL, Glenwood,May 23-29 (tTK, ph.).A male countsinduded 13 Gray-cheekedsin Jax. E May 17 (DS); 17 N. Parulasin Jackson,IL, PaintedBunting made a colorfulappear- May 10 (PC), 46 Swainsons'at A. A. Call Apr.21 (KMc); 120Yellows at H.B.S.P.May anceat Tiffin, OH, Apr. 17 (VF, LRo,ph.). S.P.,IA, May 15 (MK), and 54 Hermitsin 25 (LRo et al.); 43 Chestnut-sidedsin Cook, providingthe state'sfirst record. Jax.P. Apr. 16(PC et al.). In addition,an ex- IL, May 17 (DS); 59 Magoliasin Cook,IL, tremelylate Hermit Thrush (tail damaged) May 17 (DS); 30 Mourningsin Chicago's TOWHEES TO FINCHES was still in Chicago'sGrant Park June 3 Grant Park May 30 (DS); 58 Wilson'sin SpottedTowhee reports were restricted to (DS). Two very early Gray Catbirdswere Chicago'sGrant ParkMay 30 (DS); and 30 the w. states,with eightin Iowaand onein found at SpringvilleMarsh, OH, Apr. 6 Canadasin Lucas,OH, May 24 (RHa,SWa). Missouri.An exceptionallyhigh countof (TBa).American Pipits arrived quite early, CapeMay Warblerswere scarceexcept in 150Chipping Sparrows was made along the with one at Naperville,IL, Feb. 28 (DS), Ohio,where they appearedin goodnum- roadsof Fremont,IA, May 15 (TK). It wasa and departedvery late; the last reportwas bers(fide LRo). The latest among many late great spring for Clay-coloredSparrows, June 4 in Chicago (KHi). Three-four Yellow-rumpedWarblers was a singing with multiplesightings in all 4 n. states.In SpraguePipits were found at the Rosecrans malefound in Randolph,IL, June7 (tTD). describingClay-colored abundance in Airport, Buchanan,MO, Apr. 16, and one Iowa's2nd Black-throatedGray Warbler Iowa,T. Kentcommented "I personallysaw

878 FIELD NOTES middlewesternprairie more than ever before." In addition, 4 May 8 (PS, m.ob.). Most remarkablewas CORRIGENDA countsalong the Chicagolakefront exceed- Indiana's2nd McCown'sLongspur. This In the Fall 1996report (AFN51:62•;7), the ed five birdseach (the peakwas nine May well-described bird was found n. of sentenceon p. 64 thatbegins, "The Regions 18;JL), and three Clay-coloreds wandered E Hollandsburg,IN, Feb. 19 (tABu), within firstKelp Gull..." shouldbe replacedby to Ohio, wherethey were all seenMay 10 200yards of the siteat whichthe state's pre- the following: (the easternmost at H.B.S.P.; LRo, RHn, vious recordwas made. The Regionwas EB). Chicago'snow famousoverwintering awashwith Lapland Longspursin mid- Brewer'sSparrow was last seenApr. 25 March.The peakcount consisted of 20,000 C A On0-1 (JL).The VesperSparrow requires dose at- at Harrier Marsh,IA, Mar. 15 (SD), and that OMbelievedto be athird?i_ r tention;numbers were deemed only fair in statehad 8 reportsexceeding 1000 birds. Ohio (LRo),and in Illinoisthis specieswas Farthereast, a distinctdiurnal flight oc- beach-at•e •t Trap,I•t ..B, describedas rare acrossthe state (PC). Le curred Mar. 21, when hawk watcherscount- Conte'sSparrows were reported in all 4 n. ed2700 at MaumeeBay S.P., OH (ES),and 1770at JohnsonBeach, IN (KB, JMc). It was .•n• one•omaer •9• •e illix states;one rangedeastward to BayVillage, st•ie'•e. • •11Was•naz • •t•is OH, whereit was discoveredMay 5 (LRi, a goodspring for Smith'sLongspurs, with peak countsof 200 in Arcoh, IL, Mar. 22 location•e follo•g'mo• ?TF et al.). Nelson'sSharp-tailed Sparrows tRCfi),•d. t'•e C • •l, dt were restricted to the w. reaches of the (RCh), 85-100 at RosecransAirport, Buchanan,MO, Apr. 16 (MRo), and 23 in •t. 2• (•*uet L5t:but Region,with severalreported at Dewy's Parke, IN, Apr. 12 (ABu). Thirteen To•te, silo, ',ir• p Pasture,Clay, IA, May 18-19 (S. Fairbairn, Chestnut-collaredLongspurs (seven males fide JDi), one at S.C.R.May 20 (DE), and and six females) were seen at Rosecrans five in Illinois.The latestSharp-tailed was •neZ •S ß ix. Airport,MO, Apr. 16 (MRo). Chestnut-col- seenin ChicagoJune 11 (JPu).A Lincoln's •ou• m ' lared Longspurswere also found in n.w. Sparrowwas documented in Jax.E on the Iowa,with two breeding-plumagedmales in ,sp.... h exceptionallyearly date of Mar. 25 (?PC), Fremont, Apr. 12 (tB&LP); 16 seen in and a phenomenal106 Lincolns' were O'BrienApr. 10 (?DKo);a malein LyonApr. countedon the Chicagolakefront May 8 11 (tDHk); and a singlemale in Dickinson T! (DS).Another impressive Chicago lakefront Apr. 12 (?LS,?ET, ph.). tallyinvolved 185 Swamp Sparrows at Grant Bobolink numbers were low in Illinois ParkMay 8 (DS).In Chicago,a white-lored and Indiana, but counts exceedingI00 White-crownedSparrow (probably Z. /. birds were made in Kentuckyand Ohio. ilZr wero gambellibased on bill color)was seen May Four E. Meadowlarkreports came from 18-21 (JO).A Harris'sSparrow lingered in n.w. Iowa, where this speciesis unusual con' Dickinson,IA, untilMay 3I, establishingan (TK). Extralimital Yellow-headedBlackbird all-time late departuredate, and another reportsinduded a malein Nobel,IN, May appearedat a Wilmot, OH, feedingstation 3-4 (L&NC, TH), plus 4 reportsfrom w. Ohio. RustyBlackbirds lingered, providingseveral May records; Contributorscited {subregionaleditors in the latest involved a female in boldface):Cindy Alberico,Renee Baade Evanston,IL, May 18 (JE). The (RBa), Emil Bacik, SusanBagby, Tom eastward Great-tailed Grackle Bartlett (TBa), Pat & Jane Bell (P&JB), march continued, with numer- Cindy Bencheck,Robert Bezouska (RBz), ous reports from Iowa and Richard Biss (RBi), David Bohlen (DBo), a count of 20 in Columbia, Sigurd& RichardBjorkland (S&RB), Mike MO, wherethis species nested in Bowers (MBo), Marion Brewer (MBr), 1996 (PMc). Arlene Brei (ABe), David Brooks (DBr), The winter finch flight con- Ken Brock, Joan Bruchman, Alan Bnmer sistedof a modicumof Purple (ABu) (Indiana), Todd Bugg (TBu), Finch;the peakcount was 31 at WilliamBuskirk, Fred Busroe (Kentucky), Mammoth Cave N.P., KY, Mar. JimCampbell (JCb), Dennis Carter (DCa), 16 (P&JB.). Small numbers of Laura & Neff Case (L&NC), Lee Casehere, Red Crossbillswere reportedin JohnCassady (JCd), JohnCasttale (JCs), everystate except Ohio; the peak Hap Chambers,Robert Chapel (RCh), Paul countwas 10 (no dategiven) at Glyne(Illinois), Dona Coates (DCo), Scott ChautauquaN.W.R., IL (S&RB, Cohrs,John Cordell (JCo), Myrna Deaton, SC). Despite the near absence Tim DeverSteveDilks (SDI), JamesDins- of Pine Siskins across the Re- more (JDi), Stephen Dinsmore, David After snowsin April, scarcemigrant Chestnut-collared gion, recently fledged young Dister, Jon Dunn (JDu), David Easterla, Longspurswere foraging along exposed roadsides, were detected at Annie Leich's makingthem temporarilyeasier to find. This male JoshEngle, Peter Ernzen, Joey Fahey (JFa), wasin DickinsonCounty, Iowa, on April 1:•, 1997. feeder,n. of Glenwood,IA, May Vic Fazio,Clyde Fields, Bob Fisher, Darlene Photograph/EdThelen 25 (fideTK). Fiske,Todd Forsgren,Matt Fraker,James

FALL 1997 879 Fuller (JFu), Rita Goranson,Ray Hanni- kman (RHn), JoanHardie (Jhd), George Hardie,Rob Harlan (RHa), DouglasHarr, central southern Jim Haw (Haw), SusanHazelwood, Frannie Headings, Kevin Healy (KHe), Roger Hedge(RHe), Ted Heemstra,Lisa Heme- sath, Jim and SusanHengeveld (J&SH), Kanae Hirabayashi(KHi), Dee Hennig region (DHg), DennisHeurickson (DHk), Chris Hobbs (Missouri), Dick & Jean Hoffman

(D&JH), CraigHolt, Ed Hopkins,Nelson ß Cross Creeks NWR Hoskim, Robert Hughes(RHu), James Huntington (JHu), Ann Johnson,David ß Fayetteville eReelfootL•.• ßNashville Johnson, Dan Kassebaum (DKa), Kenn •1•Duck R.Unit TENNESSEE Kaufman, Ned Keller, Matthew Kenne, ß Ft.Smith ß Memphis Thomas Kent (TK)(Iowa), Vernon Kleen, ARKANSAS Darwin Koenig(DKo), Jim Landing,Celia N'•Wheeler'•• Lawrence,Midge Lechner,Tom LePage, ß L•[eRock ßSardis L Paula Lozano, Walter Marcisz, Paul McKenzie(PMc), JeffMcCoy (JMc), John %M#•woodWhiteRiver.WR MISSISSIPPI & Cindy McKee(J&CM), KeithMcMullen ß Birmingham (KMcMary Mendlen, Kevin Metcalf I NoxubeeNWRß (KMe),Richard Messenger, Igal Milchtaich, • . ? ALABAMA Ellen Montgomery, Tom Moorgensen (TMo), Michael Narish,John O'Brien, Babs •tShrevepOrt ßMo.... J / ß & Loren Padelford (B&LP), Brainard Palmer-Ball (BPB), SebastianPatti, Peter •UISIANAJackson t •"•Montgomery Petersen, Clell Peterson, Ed Pierce, John Pogacnik(IPo), JackPomatto (JPo), Mark Proescholdt,John Purcell (JPu), Marjury Rand (MRa), Robert Randall, Curtis •'•'•cLBatonRouge•ePø•• Gulft• • Rector,Frank Renfrow,Larry Richardson CameronP•r. • l"'"k•'• -- I • •" (LRi), Mark Robbins(MRo), LarryRo•e (LRo) (Ohio), Ed Schlabach,Lee Schoe- •. _•'•"• NewOrleansC - newe,Jim Sinclair(JSi), J. O. Smith (JSm), Tom Smith,Pat Soehnlen,Amy Sprunger- Allworth(ASp), Alan Stokie (ASt), Douglas STEVEN W. CARDIFF qualityare pendingacceptance by the re- Stotz, Monte Taylor, Ed Thelen, Andy spectivestate bird records committees. Thieneman,Carol Thompson,Jack Van- avidP.Muth, aftermany yearsof ser- States are indicatedonly the first time the Benthuysen(JVb), JudeVickery, Michael viceas editor for the winter or spring county/parishis mentionedin the text, ex- Vickery,Eric Walters, Sandy Wagner (SWa), seasons,has opted to go into indefinitere- ceptto avoidconfusion. Phil Walsh, Dan Williams Jr., Cristine tirement.His analyses,commentaries, and Williamson, Geoff Williamson, Scott generalknowledge of the Region'sdiverse LOONS TO HERONS Wright (SWr),Leroy Yoder, Hank Zaletel. avaifaunawill be greatlymissed. Two Pacific Loom remained in the Pensa- Many otherindividuals who couldnot be Judgingfrom the volume of records colaarea to Apr. 22 (ph. EC, m.ob.). Four personallyacknowledged also submitted submitted,it was an extraordinaryspring Com. Loonsin Plaquemines,LA, May 31 notesto the variousstate reports. throughoutthe Region--bothin termsof (CF) were probablysummering. At least Kenneth J. Brock, Dept.of Geosciences, observercoverage, and quality and quantity one HornedGrebe in Lake,TN, to May 14 IndianaUniversity Northwest, 3400 Broadway, of birdsfound. Weather-wise, temperatures (WGC) wasunexpectedly late. Almost nor- Gary,iN 46408. were unseasonablycool and rainfall was ma]in recentyears, a fewEared Grebes de- generallyaverage or above-average.Several toured eastwardto Mississippi,n.w. Ala- frontsin April-earlyMay precipitatedde- bama, and w. Tennesseeduring March- cent fallouts on the Louisiana coast, with April (JRW,WMD, GDJ,WGC et al.). The the mostmassive grounding of the decade Oktibbehaarea's first Western Grebe May 7 witnessedin CameronParish April 25-26. (TLS) was one of few recordsfor Mississi- Thesestorms almost certainly were partly ppi, and incrediblylate. A foray into Ala- responsiblefor sending above-average bama waters 43-69 mi s. of Baldwin numbersof manywestern circum-Gulf mi- May 24 (GDJ et al.) producedfive-six grantseast into our Region. Wilson's Storm-Petrels, one-two Leach's All recordsof speciesof "ReviewList" Storm-Petrels (3rd record), and 12-15

880 FIELD NOTES central southern

Band-rumped Storm-Petrels (2nd/3rd TLS, KK); two were in Tunica,MS, Mar. 8-9 SHOREBIRDS record;ph. SWM). Eight Band-rumpeds (JRW), not more than seven were in w. Outstandinglocal highs for otherwiseex- landed aboard a boat somewhere off the TennesseeMar. 2-16 (WGC), and one in pectedspecies: 46 Am.Oystercatchers in St. Alabama/Floridaline aboutMay 3; deliv- CaddoMar. 18- May 1 (PD) wasLouisiana's BernardMar. 25 (PY,RDP, DPM, RPR); 28 ered to rehabilitatorsin Pensacola,six were latest.A maleCinmunon Teal in DyerMar. HudsonJanGodwits in Benton,AR, May 14 releasedand two died (EC,* to Archbold 29-Apr. 12 (WGC) was Tennessee's6th. (JP);2000 W. SandpipersMar. 28 and more BiologicalStation). Status of thesespecies Amonga spectacularconcentration of Les- than4000 Short-billed Dowitchers Apr. 5 in in our waters remains uncertain; few re- serScaup, peaking at 31,000Mar. 1, wasan Lafourche/Jefferson(PW et al.); and 131 cords are supportedby hard evidence. apparenthybrid male Ring-necked Duck x Wilson'sPhalaropes in Shelb)4TN, May 1 A Red-billedTropicbird 47 mi SSW of GreaterScanp in Jefferson,LA, Mar. 22 (PY). (JRW).Exceptionally early or late records Oldsquawswere in OkaloosaMar. 3-May 7 of lessunusual species: a Solitary Sandpiper (D&CT et al.); SantaRosa, FL, Mar. 4 (R. at GrandIsle May 25 (JPK,DR); Hudson- Bonwit et al.); and Lee,MS, Mar. 19 (DP,AJ, ian Godwitin BentonMay 27 (MM, JP); NH). Scoterswere scarce;most notable were Arkansas'earliest-ever W. Sandpiperin an inland Surf in Colbert, AL, Mar. 23 BentonApr. 13 (JP, DC, MM) and n.w. (SWM) and 10 late White-wingedsin Florida'slatest-ever May 15 in SantaRosa OkaloosaMay 11 (DMW, LF). Generally (PT); and veryearly White-rumped Sand- pipersin VermilionApr. 12 (CW, WR) and scarceinland, there were 10 sightingsof OkaloosaApr. 14 (RAD). Red-breastedMergansers in n. Mississippi An Am. Oystercatcherin CameronMay and w. TennesseeMar. 6-May 20 (DP, 13 (DLD, SWC) was a rare visitor to s.w. WMD, TLS, L. C. Coffey,WGC); one in Louisiana. Scattered Am. Avocets were en- Thistropicbird, appareatly a Red-billed, PlaqueminesM•y 31 (CF) wasprobably countered inland in Mississippi and was photographed47 milessouth- summering. ArkansasApr. 14-May 24 (FB, G&SK, southwestof SouthwestPass, Louisiana, In n.w. Florida, 44 Swallow-tailed Kites K&LN, B. Verser); 20 in PensacolaApr. on Hay 24, 1997, to provide (including 18 at PensacolaMar. 19; P. a second state record. 25-26 (A&DF)were well east. A surprising Parrish)through Mar. 27 furnishedan all- Photograph/JohnP. Sevenair 14 reportsof inlandWillets induded early time high;elsewhere, an outstanding"fall- recordsin Vermilion/Acadia,LA, Apr. 12 out" of 40 occurredin St. Bernard,LA, Mar. (two; CW, WR) & 14 (20; SWC,DLD), and SouthwestPass, LA, May 24 (v.o.)would be 25 (DPM, RDP,PY, RPR), and onewas n. to NoxubeeApr.16 (two;TLS); 6 otherreports the state's2nd. A bewilderinglyearly Brown Scott,MS, Apr. 19 (T. Jacobson,E Manzo).A of morethan 10 individualsApr. 24-May Pelicanin Clark May 30-31 (WG, DH, nestwith fiveyoung Northern Harriers in 18included 25 in ColbertApr. 26 (Alabama K&LN) was Arkansas' 7th, and first adult. QuitmanMay 28 (ph.FB) providedconfir- inland high; ED. Kittie) and 26 in w. Alabama's 13th Great Cormorant was re- mationof breedingin Mississippi,and may TennesseeMay 1 (WGC, JRW).Whimbrels portedin BaldwinApr. 2 (RAD).Neotropic in Arkansas(less than 10 records)included Cormorants ventured N and/or E to representthe first record for the Region; one maleand threefemale adults were nearby. threein LonokeMay 10 (L&L Peacock,D. CleburneMar. 28-30 andLafayette, AR, May Zollner),and onein BentonMay 14 (MM, 25 (K&LN; about 4th & 5th staterecords); Rarelyconfirmed breeding Cooper's Hawks JP). Two HudsonJanGodwits in Prairie, Shelb)4TN, Mar. 22 (JRW);and Lafourche, included a pair nest-buildingin New AR, Apr. 13 (K&LN) were earlyand east, LA, Mar. 28 (PW, CS, BMM). An Am. OrleansApr. 8 (PY), and a nestwith one but not as far as four-five in w. Tennessee Bitternin Cameron,LA, May 17 (JPK,DR) chickin Warren,MS, May 24 (KH et al.). Apr. 26-May 15 (JRW, WGC, m.ob.). A waslate near the coast.A GlossyIbis in Trulyextralimital Swainsoh's Hawks in New Marbled Godwit Apr. 25 was rare for Okaloosa,FL, Apr. 30-May 5 (EC)was local- OrleansMay 7 (PW) andShelby, TN, May3 Escambia(A&DF), and up to eightin Lake ly rare.A White-facedIbis in Noxubee,MS, (JRW, MJW, DS) eclipsedeight in w. Apr. 30-May 1 (WGC) representeda state May 3-4 (TLS, MS, MC) representedan Louisianaand Arkansas.A Ferruginous area first and was rare for inland Hawk in VermilionMay 3 (GB)would fur- high and 2nd spring record for w. Tennessee.Five sightings of seldomdetect- Mississippi;another stray appeared in Clark nishLouisiana's first spring record and only ed interior RuddyTurnstones came from May 10 (DH, P.Price, WG). WoodStorks in the 4th/5th ever for the state. A Crested Lonoke,Benton, Panola, MS, and w. Tennes- NoxubeeMay 18 (TLS,MS) & 28 (three;J. Caracarawas a goodœmd on the immediate Bradford,D. Richardson),and in Montgom- see May 13-31 (K&LN, MM, JP,WMD, coastat Cameron,LA, Apr. 26 (MP); there JRW,WGC). er)4AL, May 20 (A. Menyhert)were excep- havebeen one-two Louisiana sightings an- tionallyearly. A RedKnot in CaddoMay 31 (PD) fur- nually in recentyears. Among 11 non- nishedn. Louisiana'sfirst spring occurrence coastalPeregrine Falcons were spring firsts andone of fewinland spring records for the DUCKS TO CRANES for Gibson, TN, Apr. 30 (MAG) and Region. Also extra special inland were Fifteenor more Black-belliedWhistling- OktibbehaMay 3 (TLS, MS); singlesin Sanderlingsin Shelby,TN, May 3 (JRW, Ducks were in Lafayette,AR, May 25 Cameronand Vermilion,LA, May 17 & 20 MJW,DS), PrairieMay 17 (K&LN), Benton (K&LN),where breeding occurred in 1996. (JPK,KF, DR) were record-lateon/near the May 19 (three;MM), and PanolaMay 30 SnowGeese lingered in Montgomeryto May coast.Very rare in Arkansaswere three (WMD, JRW, TLS). Record-shattering 10 (LG)and, exceptionally, in Oktibbeha to Purple Gallinulesin LafayetteMay 25 numbersof Baird'sSandpipers driven east- May 17 (TLS, MS). A Ross'sGoose re- (K&LN), and, also late, five Sandhill ward into s.w. Louisiana included 150 in mained in Lowndes,MS, to Mar. 2 (MC, Cranesin PopeApr. 8 (M&HP). Vermilion/CameronApr. 23 (DFL), and 250

FALL 1997 881 on RutherfordBeach, Cameron, Apr. 28 and first-everrecord n. of c. Florida,unless (SWC, DLD); smaller numbers occurrede. questionsarise regarding the bird's "origin." to OkaloosaMay 10 (DMW etal.), andn.e. EurasianCollared-Doves pushed N andW to ColbertApr.29 andMay 4 (GDJ,SWM et to ColbertMar. 21 (first n.w.Alabama; GDJ, al.) andShelby, TN, Mar.22-May 7 (JRW). DGJ); Grenada,MS, Mar. 11 (FB); Benton A CurlewSandpiper in n.e.Vermilion May May 10 (2nd n.w.Arkansas; DC, MM); and 6 (v.t.GB), and possibly the same bird near- Allen,LA, Apr. 25-26 (JPK,LCB, MMS). A by May 12 (GB), wouldprovide about the White-wingedDove in Pascagoula,MS,Apr. 6th Louisiana record. Buff-breasted 18 (G&SK,P. Hooper) was in the areawhere Sandpipersblown unusually far east/north nestingoccurred in 1995. indudedone in Lafayette,MS, Apr. 28-May 3 (G&SK,WMD); twoin Shelby,TN, May6 (JRW);and more than 15in OkaloosaApr. 29 (newarea high; LB). A Reevein Lafayette Apr. 26 (G&SK) provided one of few Mississippirecords. A Wilson'sPhalarope A raresight on the beachwas this PomarineJaeger near Cameron, was exceptionallyearly Mar. 23 in Talla- Louisiana,on MayZ6, 1997. hatchie,MS (G&SK). There were 4 records Photograph/MattPontiff of the rare Red-neckedPhalarope: Ala- bama's16th in ShelbyMay 7-8 (R.Stork, v.t. (K. Kearny).Only three Lesser Black-backed GDJ);Benton May 14and five there May 19 Gullswere reported: an adultin LakeMar. (MM, DC, JP);and LakeMay 15 (WGC). 15 (WGC, JRW,fide MGW), and an adult Mar. 15 (JPK,DR), andfirst-year May 2-3 JAEGERS TO DOVES (ph. PW) in Cameron.Records of imm. A Pomarine Jaegeron the beach near GlaucousGulls at 2 Cameronlocations Apr. CameronMay 26 (ph. MP) wasin an area 23-May 3 (ph. DFL,ph. B. P.Gibbons, JPK whereoccasional stragglers or "summering" etal.), and at Grand Isle Mar. 26 (R. Bello, birdsare found. More exciting was a contro- G. Worthington)and Apr. 17 (DPM), may versial"jaeger species" off SouthwestPass have involved one bird in each area. One May 24 (ph. JPS,ph. G. Payne,RDP, JPK); wasalso inland in PanolaMar. 6 (GK). An ImmatureBlack-legged Kittiwake (front photossuggest Louisiana's 3rd Long-tailed ad. GreatBlack-backed in LafourcheMar. 9 centerwith LaughingGulls and others) at HollyBeach, Cameron Parish, Louisiana, J•ger. Countsof more than 300 Franklin's (PW,BMM etal.), an immatureat Dauphin on May10, 1997. GullsApr. 28 (SWC,DLD) and 179Apr. 29 I. Apr. 15-17(M. L. Bierly,SWM etal.), and Photograph/JosephP. Kleiman (DFL)in Cameronwere an order-of-magni- an imm.Black-legged Kittiwake in Cameron tude higherthan previousspring maxima; May 10 (ph. JPK,KF) roundedout the rare moregeographically unusual were two in n. gulllist. Ten interior records of Corn.Terns CUCKOOS TO PIPITS Vermilion25 Apr. (BMM, CS), and one in May 10-31 (w. Tennessee,n.w. Arkansas, Two Black-billedCuckoos in Rutherford, Shdby,TN, May 1 (J&LZempel). An imm. and n. Mississippi;MAG, JRW,MM, AJ) TN, May 3 (TJW,D. McCatroll)were con- Little Gull wasin LonokeMar. 15 (K&LN). was above-average.A well-studiedad. sideredrare. A Short-earedOwl in Fayette A belatedBonaparte's Gull wasin Cameron ArcticTern in QuitmanMay 31 (JRW,AJ) May 24 (DDP) wasTennessee's latest. Adult May 14 (SWC, DLD). Alabama's 2nd wouldbe Mississippi'sfirst. StrayLeast and imm. maleBroad-tailed Humming- CadiforniaGull, andone of few Regional Terns were encountered in Calhoun, MS, birdswintering in the sameBaton Rouge springrecords, was at DauphinI. Mar. 17 May 25 (three;WMD); Noxubee,May 27 yardremained to mid-Marchand Apr. 4, re- (two;TLS); and VermilionMay 25 (four; spectively(M. Griffith).A BeltedKingfisher SWC,DLD). One in ShelbyApr. 25 (VBR), in n. Jefferson,LA, May 27 into June(PY) wasTennessee's earliest ever. An ad. Sooty wassummering or breeding.Olive-sided Tern was a surpriseonshore in Cameron Flycatcherswandered E to Jefferson,AL, May 2 (ph. PW,CS). May 10 (S.Hamilton), and Fayette and Lake A White-crownedPigeon in Ft.Walton May 24 & 26 (WRP, VBR, MAG, JRW). Beach,Okaloosa, Apr. 16-May11 (B. Fleck, Unusualin s.e.Arkansas, singing Willow C. King,DMW) will providea Regionalfirst Flycatcherswere located in ClevelandMay 6 (HP) andChicot May 10(DSi). A familyof E. Phoebesin MontgomeryMay 31 (LG) furnishedconfirmation of breedingfor the Alabamacoastal plain. Northwest Florida's first "spring"Ash-throated Flycatcher was GlaucousGull, (left) apparentlyin worn first-winter a winteringbird remainingin Okaloosato (first-basic)plumage, Apr. 14 (D&CT, DMW, RAD). Western at RutherfordBeach, Cameron Parish, Kingbirdswere relativelywidespread: 20 Louisiana,on May3, 19•7. recordsApr. 12 to the end of the period, Photograph/D.F.Lane with scatteredreports e. to n.w. Florida(5

882 FIELDNOTES central southern reportsApr. 16-May10, first April records, sees in Caddo Mar. 22 (RS), and male doublingthe numberof springrecords), Black-and-whites in Orleans and Bossier, and Fayette,TN (May 26- 31; S. McWhir- LA, Mar. 14 & 16 (PW, RS) and in Lee Mar. ten,MGW). SeveralScissor-tailed Flycatch- 18 (NH). Particularlylate migrants includ- erspenetrated marginally e. to s.e.Louisi- ed Golden-wingedsin CameronMay 14 ana, w. Mississippi,e. Arkansas,and w. (DLD, SWC) and OrleansMay 16 (RDP); TennesseeApr. 5-May 25. Nestingpairs of Black-throatedBlue in PlaqueminesMay 20 Tree Swallowsin Union,LA, Apr. 9 to the (PY); Palmsin OktibbehaMay 10 (DP, JP) endof the period(TD, MMH), andBolivar, and Shelby,TN, May 15 (Tennessee'slatest; MS, Apr. 14 to the endof the period(NHe, CHB); and Swainson'sMay 4 and N. J. C. Herbert), furnished 2nd breeding WaterthrushMay 25 in Cameron(DLD, recordsfor each state.Northern Rough- 8WC). UnusualNashville Warblers includ- wingedSwallows arrived early in Natchi- ed one e. on the coastat GrandIsle Apr. 6 toches,LA, with five Feb. 24 and 17 Mar. 1 (DPM), and a very late singingbird in (RS). Cliff Swallowswere early,too, with PutnamMay 26 (SJS).Inland Cape May small numbers recorded Mar. 15-30 as far Warblers included one in Lafayette,LA, north as Caddo, Union, and Natchitoches, Apr. 28 (B. Fontenot),and--very rare in Arkansas--three in Washington and LA (TD, MMH, RS et al.), and Lowndes,MS Cleburne/WhiteMay 12-14 (JP,KN et al.). Hale LazuliBunting on a feeder (KK); the first nest for Obion, TN, was Amazingwere wintering Black-throated at Sulphur,Louisiana, on Hay 3, 1997. foundMay 26 (JRW,MAG). GaveSwallows BlueWarblers in PlaqueminesMar. 2 (since Photograph/HattPontiff fmally joined a Cliff and Barn swallow Jan. 5) and Grand Isle Mar. 16-Apr. 27 colonyon the Cameronside of theSabine R. (both PW, DPM et al.); one in Hempstead see's "earliest" Mar. 21 (N. McWhirter, C. (Hwy 82). FoundApr. 17 (J.L. Dunnet al.), May 10 (C. Mills) was very rare for McCrary) had also probably wintered. up to six werepresent through the period Arkansas.Prairie Warblers, surprisingly Good numbers were found e. of normal on (LCB,JPK, DLD, ph. SWC;2nd/3rd record). scarcespring migrants s. of breedingareas, the coast.Two singing Bachman's Sparrows A Carolina Chickadee was unusual on the appearedin Cameron,Jefferson, Orleans, in ScottMar. 10 (J. C. Neal) wereArkansas' Cameroncoast Apr. 28 (SWC,DLD). A fam- and Iberville, LA, Apr. 5-27 (JS, DPM, earliestever. Rare or late sparrowson or ily of Brown-headedNuthatches in Hardin DLD, PW et al.). One in CameronMar. 15 near the Louisiana coast included a Lark May 16 (SWM et al.), anda BrownCreeper (MP) wasearly and mayhave wintered in Apr. 12 (JS)and a ChippingApr. 20 (DPM) nestin FayetteMay 4-24 (M. Watsonet al.), the area. A Palm Warbler in Washington at Grand Isle; Vesperand Lark Apr. 29, providedfirst and second breeding records, May 4 (MM et al.) was rare in n.w. SwampMay 4, andSavannah and Lincoln's respectively,for w. Tennessee.Singing Arkansas. A Swainson's Warbler in Ruther- May 13 in Cameron(DLD, SWC); three Bewick'sWrens in Washington,AR, May 16 fordApr. 30 (TJW) provideda countyfirst. Savannahsin JeffersonDavis May 17 (JPK, (MM), and Shelb)•TN, May 22 (JRW) were Generallyrare in the Region,Connecticut DR); and Le Conte'sin CalcasieuApr. 28 possiblyterritorial. A HouseWren in Noxu- Warblerswere sleuthedout in ObionMay (SWC, DLD). Scarce/localbreeders in the beeApr. 29 (TLS) and a Ruby-crowned 10 (JRW) and Shelby,both TN, May 16 Region,a pair of LarkSparrows in Lincoln, Kingletin LeeMay 10 (AJ,K. Corley,DP) (WRP), as well as in Escambia(EC) and LA, Mar. 29 appearedterritorial (TD). werelate. Breeding E. Bluebirdsin Vermilion Limestone,AL (GDJ,DGJ), both May 14.A SingleLark Sparrowsin the Oktibbehaarea mid-March-May(ph. W. Broussardet al.) Wilson's Warbler was rare inland/east in Apr.22 andMay 3 (TLS)and Escambia Mar. werebeyond their normal s. limit. An Am. Jefferson,AL, May 10 (GDJ,DGJ). 17-25 (PT), and a GrasshopperSparrow in Pipit in Jefferson,LA, May 1 (PY) wasvery Lafayette,MS, May 12 (GK), werelocally late near the coast, but more than 150 were TANAGERS TO FINCHES unexpected.A femaleLark Bunting in stillin LakeMay 5 (JRW,DS). A wintering Summer Tanager in Baton CalcasieuApr. 26 (W. Caillouet,MMS, LCB, Rougeremained to Mar. 4 (M. Davey).An JPK) furnished Louisiana's 5th (and first VIREOS TO WARBLERS earlyScarlet Tanager was in OrleansMar. 29 spring) record.Among 6 reportsof Lin- Blue-headedVireos were earlyin Putnam, (PW), and one was late for the inland coln'sSparrows in n. Mississippi,one Mar. TN, Mar. 13 (SJS),and late in CameronApr. coastalplain in MontgomeryMay 17 (LG). 30-Apr.3 (TLS,MS) may havewintered in 29 (SWC) and OktibbehaMay 10 (D&J Late Rose-breasted Grosbeaks were in Oktibbeha;one in MorganMay 1 (SWM) Patterson). Late coastal Yellow-throated OktibbehaMay 17 (TLS,MS), and,w. Tenn- was rare in inland Alabama, and one in Vireos were in CameronMay 14 (SWC), essee'slatest in FayetteMay 24 (DDP). Male Shelby,TN, May 29 (JRW) was very late. New OrleansMay 16 (RDP), and on N. Black-headed Grosbeaks caused excite- Roundingout the assortmentof late spar- BretonI., Plaquemines,May 20 (PY,DPM). ment in Gulf BreezeApr. 30-May 4 (G. rows were Swampsin OktibbehaMay 10 A PhiladelphiaVireo in FayetteMay 24 Boyceet al.; first n.w. Florida spring record), (TLS,MS) and Shdby,TN, May 16 (latestw. (DDP) was w. Tennessee'slatest. Rare and Leftore,MS, May 1 (J.Whicker, KH, E Tennessee; CHB); White-throated in Black-whiskered Vireos surfaced in Barbouret al.). A male LazuliBunting in Ibervilleto May 30 (SWC,DLD); andDark- OkaloosaMay 7 (RAD) & 11 (LF,DMW), Calcasieu,LA, Apr. 30-May 3 (L. East,PW, eyedJunco in LakeMay 10 (JRW,MAG). and n. Jefferson,LA, May 27-31 (PY, KF). ph. MP) wasonly Louisiana's 2nd, and the Above-averagenumbers of Yellow- Unusuallyearly records of anticipatedwar- firstfrom spring. A "wintering"Dickcissel in headed Blackbirds invaded the Louisiana bler speciesincluded Blue-wingedin BatonRouge was first seen Mar. 20,depart- coast,and singlesovershot as far as Oka- Cameron Mar. 22 (JPK, DR), two Tennes- ingApr. 28 (ph. C&JBarre), and w. Tennes- loosaApr. 29-May I (LB), NoxubeeMay 3

FALL 1997 883 (NH, TLS, MS), and ChicotMay 10 (DSi, H&MP). Shiny Cowbirdsreappeared in their usual coastal haunts: three different malesin Escambia/SantaRosa Apr. 12-May prairie 20 (EC, G. Fleming,B. Bremser);Alabama's 15th at DauphinI. Apr, 15-19 (J&JPorter, m.ob.); and two eachon Grand Isle May 17-25 (PW,ph. BMM, JPS,ph. JPK)and in provinces region PlaqueminesMay 20 (DPM, PY). Red Crossbillswere widely reported through the period over w. Arkansas,primarily in OuachitaN.F., but s. to Hempstead,with flocks of 36 individuals observed(m.ob., fide M&HP). Smaller numbers in n. Mississippiduring March and May included juvenilesand a familygroup in PanolaMar. I ChurchillUme R. McMurray. 12-13 for the state's2nd breedingrecord ß Grande Prairie (TLS, GK, WMD et al.); at leasttwo were as ALBERTA far e. asWinston, AL, where very rare, Mar. 9 -Thompson (SWM). An Evening Grosbeakin Gulf MANITOBA BreezeApr. 22-23 (P. Blakeburn)was re- markablylate/out of range.

Initialed observers(subregional editors in boldface): Laurence C. Binford, Linda Bogaiges,Fred Broerman, Gary Broussard, Carolyn H. Bullock,Steven W. Cardiff (Louisiana), Ed Case, David Chapman, OldWives L..Weyburn Margaret Copeland,W.G. Criswell, W. Marvin Davis, Paul Dickson, Donna L. Dittmann, Temple Douglas, Lucy R. & Robert A. Duneam (n.w. Florida), Karen RUDOLF F. KOES pressedinto the end of the periodand the Fay,Lennie Fennimore, Carol Foil, Ann & and PETER TAYLOR first few daysof June.Warbler migration Dan Forster,Larry Gardella, Mark A. seemedbest in the Regina area and in Greene, Ken Hackman, Norma Hamilton, A generallycoolspring waspunctuated southwestern Manitoba. Significant fallouts M. M. Haraway,Dolores Harrington, Nona with somespectacular weather events. occurredin CalgaryMay 23 and southeast Herbert (NHe), DebraG. Jackson,Greg D. Southeastern Manitoba endured a record- Manitoba May 24, with many warblers Jackson(Alabama), Allen Jolley,Keith breakingblizzard April 5-6, which exacer- feedingat groundlevel. Kimmerle, JoeP. Kleiman, Gene & Shannon batedthe "Flood of the Century"in the Red Knight,Daniel F. Lane, Steve W. McConnell, Rivervalley a few weekslater. The Edmon- Abbreviations: I.B.S. (InglewoodBird Mike Mlodinow, David P. Muth, B. Mac ton area receivedup to 30 centimetersof 5anctuary,Calgary); O.H.M. (Oak Hammock Myers,Kenny & LaDonnaNichols, David snowMay 21, but a quickmelt reducedits MarshWildlife Management Area, MB). Parker,I-Ielen & Max Parker (Arkansas),W. impacton migrants. RobertPeeples, Matt Pontiff,John Prather, A promisingstart to spring migration LOONS TO RAPTORS Dick D. Preston,R.D. Purrington, Van was cut shortby the blizzard;many early Forty-threeCom. Loonsgathered at Cal- Reinsen,Virginia B. Reynolds,Dave Roark, arrivalsin Manitobaperished, and Western gary'sGlenmore Res. May 2 (RB).The peak R_E Russell,David Sams,Marion & Terence Meadowlarksseemed especially hard hit. of 115Corn. Loons at NatalieL., MB, May 5 L Schiefer(Mississippi), Rosemary Seidler, AlthoughSaskatchewan and Albertawere (PT) waswell below last year's record, but John E Sevenair(JPS), Don Simons (DSi), not directlyaffected, the stormdoubtless 630Horned Grebes May 10was the highest Curt SorrelIs,Stephen J. Stealman, M. Mark impactedmany prairie-bound migrants as count since 1989 (PT et al.). Four Am. Swan,Joshua Sylvest, Phil Tetlow, Dana and it tracked across from Colorado. The "Red WhitePelicans were early at Tab,r,AB, Mar. CameyTimmons, Martha G. Waldron (w. Sea"that engulfeda hugeslice of Manitoba 29 (LB). A Cattle Egret was found near Tennessee),Phillip Wallace, Donald M. farmland seemedto divert some waterfowl, Glenboro,MB, around the end of April Ware, M.J. Welton, Jeff R. Wilson, Chris especiallyTundra Swans, to moremoderate (KDS),and another near Allan, SK, May 10 Witt, Terry J. Witt (middle Tennessee), floodingconditions elsewhere. (FR). A GreenHeron wasat Winnipeg'sFt. PeterYaukey. Regionwide,spring migration was typi- Whyte Nature Centre May 13-15 (GHo, Steven W. Cardiff, Museumof Natural callyone to two weekslate. The migration RW), and a White-faced Ibis visited Frank Science,119 FosterHall, LouisianaState periodfor manyspecies was more drawn L.,AB, May 19 (AS1). University,Baton Rouge, LA 70803-3216 out than usual,whereas much of the war- Onethousand Tundra Swans graced the ([email protected]. lsu.edu). bler and shorebirdmigration was corn- PakowkiL., AB, areaMar. 23; this species

884 FIELD NOTES pra,,!,rieprovinces was late and more widely dispersedthan GROUSE TO WOODPECKERS Apparentlyswept into Manitobaon the usual in s. Manitoba. Thirty Trumpeter No SageGrouse could be foundat 2 tradi- tail of theblizzard, the province's4th or 5th Swanswere reported near Stavely, AB, Mar. tional leks near Manyberries,AB, Mar. 23 B•md-tailedPigeon delightedmany ob- 30 (TK). A BarnacleGoose at Regina's (BV). ThreeWhooping Cranes were late at serversin Winnipeg approximatelyApr. WascanaMarsh Apr. 9 (BL) waspresumably LastMountain L., SK,May 15 (LS). Large, 7-May 2 (JF,SL, m.ob.). Owling binges be- an escapee.Greater White-fronted Geese, pale (unstained)Sandhill Cranes were the tweenElma and Ft. Alexander,MB, yielded increasinglycommon migrants in e. Mani- sourceof at leastsome Whooping Crane 56 N. Hawk Owlsand 32 GreatGray Owls toba,peaked at 66 at O.H.M.May 17(RKo). reportsin s.e.Manitoba. A PacificGolden- Mar. 2 (RKo, PT), and 57 N. Hawk Owls Fifty thousandN. Pintailsat PakowkiL. Hoverwas carefully identified near Dalroy, Mar. 15 (PT). Few of either speciesre- Mar. 23 (BV) representedthe largestcon- AB, May 22 (JS).Black-necked Stilts con- mainedin earlyApril. Localfirst recordsin centrationreported in the Regionin years; tinue to increaseand spreadN in Alberta; Albertawere a singleLong-eared Owl at above-averagenumbers were reportedat 35+ wereat KinivieMarsh May 10 (RKr), MillervilleApr. 11 (WS) anda nestingpair severalother localitiesRegionwide. Thirty while sightingsat Hay Lakesnear Edmon- at PolicePoint P.P.,Medicine Hat, in May CinnamonTeal provided an excellentcount ton induded 15 Apr. 25 (TT) and 21+ in (DB). Short-earedOwls made a good betweenIrricana and FrankL., AB, May 2 earlyMay (RDi). showingRegionwide, including "the best (WS). At least26 Eur.Wigeon were report- Fourteen hundred LesserYellowlegs numbersin severalyears" near Edmonton ed in Alberta in March and April. There swirled about a flooded field near O.H.M. (PMk) and "exceptionalnumbers north were34 Oldsquawsand 40 Surf Scotersat May 17-19 (RKo, PT). Good numbersof and south of Regina"(BL, RKr). Unfor- BurntstickL., AB, May 10 (MPr, IA), and40 Whimbrelsin Alberta in May includeda tunately,many nests were lost to agricultur- OldsquawsMay 16and 70 SurfScoters May peak of 40 May 8 near Taber(LB). Other al activitynear Regina. Rare visitors were a 13 at LesserSlave L., AB (JRo). Additional noteworthyshorebird concentrations in Al- Red-headedWoodpecker near TaberApr. goodcounts of SurfScoters in Albertawere bertawere 3300 Sanderlingsnear Innisfree 27 (GS) and a Red-belliedWoodpecker in 20 in the Ft. MacKayarea May 16 (PSh)and May 25 (RDi); 500 SemipalmatedSand- Winnipeg May 8 (PMn, .fide GH). A N. 23 at TwoJack L., BanffN.P. May 18 (MM). pipers at McElroy'sSlough May 22; and Flickerwas unusuallyearly at Stonewall, A pair of Barrow'sGoldeneyes visited Ft. 1000 Semipalmatedand 300 Stilt sand- MB, Apr. 1 (KG). Qu'Appelle,SK, in earlyMay (RH).. pipersin the Shepardand ChestermereL. We haveno detailson a MississippiKite areasMay 23 (TK). Not often recordedin PASSERINES reportin ReginaMay 15 (SB).For the 2nd spring,eight Buff-breasted Sandpipers were An earlyE. Phoebeat StonewallApr. 1-2 consecutivespring, late snowcoverconcen- nearDalroy, AB, May 22 (JS),nine werein (KG) and three in WinnipegApr. 4 (AE) tratedraptor migrationin Manitoba'sRed the Richardson and Buck L. area of Saskat- likely perishedin the blizzard. A Say's and Pembinariver valleys.Peak counts at chewanMay 17-22 (BL et al.), andsix were Phoebewas well e. of the breedingrange at Windygates,in the Pembinavalley, includ- late near Humboldt, SK, May 31 (FR). Miami, MB, May 9-16 (GH, CC). Well s.of ed recordsof 143 Bald Eaglesand 3671 Saskatchewan's 10th American Woodcock the boreal forest,3 pairs of Red-breasted Red-tailedHawks Apr. 3 (BSh), and sec- visitedPorcupine Hain in earlyMay (JD). Nuthatchesnested in Regina(fide RKr) and ondary Red-tailedpeaks of 1515 Apr. 1 Impressivetotals of Red-neckedPhalaropes anotherpair attemptedto do so in Stone- (G&AW) and 1738 Apr. 13 (ASc,DS). in Alberta included 11,500 at Birch L. near wall (KG). An early Winter Wren took Moderateconcentrations of Rough-legged InnisfreeMay 19-25 (RDi, B&NR), 6000at refugein a Pinawa,MB, garageApr. 8 (RS). Hawks this spring included 30 between MiquelonL., and2200 at BitternL. May 23 Eight Gray-cheekedand 75 Swainson's Irricana and Calgary Apr. 13 (TK). (RDi). thrushesvisited I.B.S. May 21 (JRi, RW). Highlightsof the GoldenEagle migration A nestingpair of Bonaparte'sGulls was Unwiselyearly in Winnipeg were three in w. Alberta were local record spring well s. of the normal breedingrange at Hermit ThrushesApr. 4 (AE). A Wood countsof 260 at Windy Pt. Mar. 21 (WS) Speers,SK, in May (SIlo,fide SS). A number Thrush wasbanded at Delta, MB, May 9 and 554 at Mound Head Mar. 22 (GHa). A of largegulls spiced up the season.An ad. (HdH); possiblythe samebird was there moremodest record of eightGolden Eagles CaliforniaGull waswell s.e.of the breeding May 21 & 22 (PG). A VariedThrush was a passedWindygates Mar. 23 (RKo,ASc). rangeat Beausejour,MB, May 31 (RKo,GG, rarespring visitor to Brandon,MB, May 23 PT). SingleThayer's Gulls visited Luresden (DCh). The only reportedN. Mockingbird Beach,SK, Apr. 22 (BL) and I.B.S.Apr. 23 & wasat DeltaMay 25 (HdH et al.). S A HighlightsatSt. Adolphe, inthe 30 (TK, BSt).Iceland (non-Thayer's) Gulls Three Am. Pipits were early at Mt. r• RedRiver valley s. of Winnipeg werereported at ReginaApr. 5-10 (RI et al.) Lorette, AB, Mar. 26 (PSh), and 1000 (before the inundation), were single andWinnipeg Apr. 16 (WC, MWa); the for- BohemianWaxwings represented a good Red-shoulderedHawks, all apparently mer wasidentified as nominateglaucoides. numberin CalgaryMar. 11(MPr). Latesin- migrating,Mar. 28 and Apr. 1, 3 & 25 SingleGlaucous Gulls visited I.B.S. Mar. 26 gleN. Shrikeswere near Turner Valley, AB, (m.ob.). A fifth passedHeadingley, on (MH) andApr. 25 (BSt),Saskatoon Apr. 12 Apr.28 (WS), at Mt. LoretteApr. 28 (PSh), the AssiniboineR. just w. of Winnipeg, (BW,BL), Luresden Beach Apr. 23 (BL),and and near ReginaMay 3 (RKr, BL et al.). A Apr. 12 (BSh).Although there have been NatalieL. Apr.30 (PT). A peculiargull near Blue-wingedWarbler briefly visited a a numberof sight!ngs{nrecent years, River Hills, MB, May 23 may havebeen a Kleefeld,MB, gardenMay 25 (RDu, .fide thisyear's migrafi•ff •i•cks of more Herring x Glaucoushybrid (PT). Adult DF), and a Golden-winged Warbler thanvagrancy. Is there'aginall breeding Great Black-backed Gulls were noted in visited Luresden,SK, May 23 (MPo). A populationsomewhere in the Region, WinnipegApr. 12-15 and St.Adolphe Apr. "Brewste•s"Warbler at SaskatoonMay 25 perhapsalong the•ssiniboine River? 13 (bothLdM, WN), andat La P•rouseBay, was well described (SS, PB). Rare so far MB, May30 (RR). west (or east?) were single Nashville

FALL 1997 885 Warblers near Winter Valley, AB, May GeorgeHalmazna (GHa), John and Lucy Pat Sargent(PSa), Lloyd Saul,AI Schritt 10-11 (CH) and near Calgary May 17 Hartwell, Dale Hjertaas,George Holland (ASc),Dorothy Schritt, Stan Shadick, Peter (DCo). Additionalwarbler highlights were (GHo), Ron Hooper, Stuart Houston Sherrington(PSh), Bob Shettler(BSh), a N. Parula near Claresholm,AB, May 27 (SHo), Brent Hughes, Clay Hunt, E. Andrew Slater (AS1),Wayne Smith, John (GN), a Black-throatedBlue Warbler in Huntley,Roy John,Rudolf Koes (RKo), Steeves,Bob Storms (BSt), Roy Styles, Peter ReginaMay 26 (DV et al.), an "Audubon's" TerryKorolyk, Robert Kreba (RKr), Mary Yellow-rumpedWarbler in ReginaMay 24 Krueger, Grace Laframboise, Suzanne Taylor,Terry Thormin, Ben Velner,Dan (RM), and a Hooded Warbler at Altona Lloyd,Bob Luterbach, Peter Mange (PMn), Vetter, Marlene Waldron (MWa), Glen and May 22-23 (MK et al.). Magnolia and Pat Marldevitz (PMk), Mike McIvor, Ron AdamWalleyn, Renee Will, Bill Williams, Connecticutwarblers were well represented Myers,Wayne Neily, Grace Norgaard, Mike MichaelWilliams (MWi), TedWilson. in Reginain lateMay (m.ob.). O'Shea, Marilyn Pollock (MPo), Mike Followingthe patternof recentsprings, Preston(MPr), BrianRainey, John Riddell Rudolf F. Koes, 135 RossmereCres., sevenW. Tanagersvisited feeders at 6 s. (JRi), Brian and Nancy Ritchie, Rocky Winnipeg,lvlB R2K 0G1 and Peter Taylor, Manitobalocations (v.o.); also noteworthy Rockwell,Jason Rogers (JRo), Frank Roy, Box597, Pinawa,MB ROE1L0. were a pair at Ft. Qu'AppelleMay 24-25 (RH), a male in ReginaMay 17 (JP,DV, PSa), and one in Medicine Hat May 6 (SHa). A male Black-headedGrosbeak vis: ited a Lundar, MB, feeder May 24 (BE). SingleLazuli Buntings were out of rangeat northern great ReginaMay 17 (fide MB); Swanson,SK, May 18-19 (FR); Mayerthorpe,AB, May 22-23 (EH); Vegreville,AB, May 27 (BH); and nearArgyle, MB, June1 (GL), aswas a female Indigo Bunting at Island L., MB, plains region May 31-June1 (TW). A Field Sparrow near Regina May 27 was attributed to the western arenacea race ß Shelby (RKr). A VesperSparrow provided a local first at LesserSlave Lake EP. May 11 (JRo). Manitoba's 2nd confirmed Golden- crownedSparrow was at DeltaMay 19-20 (J&LH, m.ob.). Twenty-fourSnow Bunt- ings were late near SaskatoonMay 24 (MWi), whereasa Yellow-headedBlackbird wasextremely early at Altona,MB, Mar. 30 (MK). A Bullock'sOriole was in Regina May 27 (RKr,BR). A Cassin'sFinch was lo- callyrare at MapleCr., nearMedicine Hat, at. 31-Apr. I (MO). Both speciesof cross- bill werewell representedfrom c.Alberta to w. Manitoba. Red Crossbills nested in kNWR Vermilion,AB (JRo),Regina (DH, BL), and probably Saskatoon(FR). White-winged Crossbillsnested in Regina(DH, BL) and possiblyEdmonton (PM), whilea hundred RON MARTIN grantssuffered detectable losses from the or morewere courting at TurtleL., SK,Mar. storm.This year again there were many 19 (fideRJ). flooded roads in the eastern half of the springorthe third kept muchconsecutive of theyear, migrationacool Dakotas, from the snowmelt. Precipitation one-two weeks late. Much of the record Observers(subregional compilers in bold- duringthe springperiod, however, was ac- snowfallsof the winterhad meltedby late face): Inga Allegg, Reid Barday, Dennis tuallybelow average in manyplaces. Devils Baresco,Margaret Belcher, Lloyd Bennett, March, only to be followedby a massive Lakecontinues to growby the squaremile, Stefan Bonneville, Pat Bulman, Dan stormApril 4-7 that brought18 inchesof and record floods from the snow melt in Chranowski (DCh), Ward Christianson, snowto somelocalities, with 50-70 mph the RedRiver valley made national news-- Doug Collister (DCo), Carolyn Curtis, winds.Temperatures dropped below zero andbrought local birder activity to a virtu- Larry de March, Heidi den Haan, Ken De in someplaces after the storm,and snow- Smet, Ross Dickson (RDi), Ron Dueck banks were still visible in northeastern al standstill.Warblers made a particularly (RDi), Jerry Dutcyich, Adolf Ens, Bill South Dakota May 20. In southeastern goodshowing, appearing in goodnumbers Eyolfson,Dennis Fast, Jack Foster,Ken North Dakota,the stormwas preceded by very late in the season.Few raritieswere Gardner, Gordon Grieef, Paula Grieef, freezingrain that downedpower lines. noted in Montana and North Dakota, but ShannonHadford (SHa), Michael Hagel, Somepermanent residents and early mi- SouthDakota had several notable sightings.

886 FIELD NOTES northerngreat plains

GREBES TO HAWKS contributed to the low numbers of shore- catcher,and 13thsince 1989, was at Fargo Horned Grebes were early Mar. 23 in birds noted in North Dakota for the 4th May 15-20 (GEN et al.).The Varied Thrush Charles Mix, SD (RM), and 23 Clark's consecutivespring. The samephenomenon that wintered at Bismarck, ND, was last Grebes were noted at a Freezeout L., MT, was noted in Montana, but South Dakota seenApr. 7 (BM), and onewas at BentonL, colony,where nesting numbers appear to reported good numbers.A Black-bellied MT, Apr. 25. SouthDakota's earliest by 8 be on the increase(MS). A Double-crested PloverApr. 17 at Ft. Peckwas early (CC). days,a GrayCatbird was found Apr. 18 in Cormorant at Audubon N.W.R. Mar. 19 Black-neckedStilts were at Kelly'sSlough CharlesMix (LAS).The firstMay recordof providedthe 2nd earliestdate for North N.W.R., ND, Apr. 30 (MRN) and in Brown, N. Shrikefor North Dakotawas provided Dakota (DGP). Casualin Montana, a Great SD, May 2 (SLS). Casualin both states, by an individualMay 10in Fargo(VO). Egretwas near Bainville May 17 (LK, MK). Whimbrelswere noted May 19in Hand,SD Far west was a Yellow-throated Vireo in FourteenTrumpeter Swansat FreezeoutL. (JSP),and an unusuallylarge flock of 17 Meade,SD, May 22 (REP). Philadelphia from late March to mid-April was more was at LostwoodN.W.R., ND, May 23 Vireo made a stellar showing in the than doublethe numberin recentyears, (RD). Providingabout the 14th Montana DakotasMay 20-June4. A newpeak of 11 and possiblyreflects the effort to modify record, three Hudsonian Godwits were at wasnoted at Minot andVelva, ND, May 25 swanmigration and wintering habits in the BowdoinMay 26 (SD). SouthDakota's 2nd (REM, GBB), and 6 observations were Red RocksL. area of s.w.Montana (MS). Ruff appearedin MinnehahaMay 6-10 recordedin SouthDakota. A Blue-winged GreaterWhite-fronted Geese were late May (RFS,JSP). Warblerwas still presentat NewtonHills 15 in Union,SD (SVS).Reverse migration The 800 Bonaparte'sGulls in Kidder S.P.,SD, May 31 (RFS,JSP). The 7 Golden- of Snow Geese was noted at Freezeout L. Apr. 26 provideda new springpeak for winged Warbler observationsin North thisspring following the Apr. 4 storm.Four North Dakota. South Dakota's 2nd Lesser Dakota were more than usual, and the collaredgeese seen in Saskatchewanseveral Black-backed Gull, an adult, was found specieswas late May 27 at Fargo(DPW, daysearlier were noted backat Freezeout Apr. 5 in Lake (ISP). Unusualin spring, GEN) and May 30 in Minnehaha,SD Apr 6, the birds havingbacktracked over GlaucousGulls were noted Apr. 12 in Lake, (RFS). Chestnut-sidedWarblers were noted 300 mi (MS). FiveSnow Geese were very SD (JSP),and at MedicineL., MT, May 19 in above-normal numbers in c. North late May 26 in Union,SD (SVS), and the (CW). Providingthe 2hal-earliestrecord for Dakota, and 4 reports of Black-throated specieswas present at Medicine L., MT North Dakotawere five CaspianTerns in Blue Warblersfrom the Dakotasspanned (LK,TG), andseveral North Dakota loca- Cass,Apr. 12 (GEN). May 22-28. Unusual were 3 reports of tionsat the endof theperiod. Perhaps a re- South Dakota's 2nd White-winged "Audubon's"Yellow-rumped Warbler from flect•onof their increasingnumbers, Ross's Dove was found in LawrenceMay 28 North DakotaApr. 19-May 13. A Black- Geesein NorthDakota were record early by (RAS).A firstfor ladlong6, andabout the burnianWarbler was far westMay 21 in 2 daysMar. 26 at LongLake N.W.R. (PCV), 20th Montana record, a N. Hawk Owl was Meade,SD (REP). One or two Pine Warb- andlatest ever by 6 daysMay 20 in Richland photographedin ChesterMay 14 (HM). lers were in Fargo,ND, May 1-7 (RHO, (REM). One of the Great Gnty Owls presentin DPW); there are now more than 20 records Waterfowlmigration was late, following SiouxFalls, SD, duringthe winter waslast for North Dakota.A Bay-breastedWarbler the blizzardand subsequentcold weather observedMar. 18 (RFS). A N. Saw-whet wasunusual in Hughes,SD, May 29 (DB) of earlyApril. A goodpeak of 500 Ring- Owl was heard in the Ponderosa Pine area Casual in South Dakota, Worm-eating neckedDucks was in McHenr)4ND, Apr.20 of Slope,ND, May 31, where they are Warblerswere banded in ClayMay 26 and (GBB).Very unusualin spring,a pair of thoughtto nest(HCT). A CalliopeHum- 30 (DS). Also casual in South Dakota, a Harlcq• D•,I• wasat Ft. PeckMar. 15 mingbirdat BentonL., MT, May 27, ap- LouisianaWaterthrush was in UnionMay andremained for severaldays (CC). A very pearsto be the firstobservation in latilong 16 (DS). North Dakota's 5th record for late pair of Barrow'sGoldeneye was ob- 17. A PileatedWoodpecker in Bottineau, KentuckyWarbler was furnished by an in- servedat BowdoinN.W.R., MT, May 28 ND, May 29, providedabout the 5th record dividualat Minot May 25 (REM,GBB), and (SD) Alsolate wasCom. MerganserMay for the Turtle Mts. (KMF). another was discoveredin Sioux Falls, SD, 19m Hughes,SD (JSP). May 27-29, providing about the 10th A TurkeyVulture May 10 in Chester, FLYCATCHERS TO WARBLERS record for that state (RFS, JSP,DS). A MT, providedthe first recordfor latilong Yellow-belliedFlycatchers made an unusu- MacGillivray'sWarbler was banded far east six(HM). Two-threeB•ld E•le nestshave ally good showing,with 9 observationsin in Brown,SD, May 24 (DAT). beenthe maximum in recentyears in North North Dakotaand five reportedfor South A bandingstation was again manned at Dakota,but this year 9 nestswere found Dakota.Kingbirds were still migratingat Westby,MT, and severalnotable warblers alongthe MissouriR. system.The Red- the end of the period. A Violet-green wereobserved May 23-25.Montana's 10th shoulderedHawk at FargoMar. 28 provid- SwallowApr. 30 in McKenzie,ND, provided recordsfor Chestnut-sidedand CapeMay ed the 13th record for North Dakota the 2nd earliest date for that rare nester warblers were noted, and also Montana's (DPW). Unusualwas a yearlingSwainsoh's (JAH), and a new springpeak for Bank 8th Mourning Warbler (PLW,TN et al ) Hawk at Clark SalyerN.W.R. May 22, the Swallowwas noted May 22 when5500 were firstever observed by Berkey. loggedat SalyerN.W.R. (GBB). A single TANAGERS TO CROSSBILLS Purple Martin was far westat BentonL., A ScarletTanager was early and far westin PARTRIDGE TO WOODPECKERS MT, May 27. Bowman,ND, May 1 (MLJ). Alsoin North The moderaterecovery of GrayPartridge Rock Wrens were far s.e. in South Dakota,W. Tanagerswere in BismarckMay numbersmentioned in previouscolumns Dakota,with one bandedMay 7 in Clay, 13 (LA) and FargoMay 29 (KC). A Blue seemsto havestalled, with very few noted and anothernoted May 16 in Union(DS). Grosbeakin Ransom,ND, May 25 provided by all observers.High waterlevels no doubt North Dakota's 17th Blue-gray Gnat- one of few recordsfor the e. part of the

FALL 1997 887 state(RK). An earlyLazuli Bunting was in Hughes,SD, Apr. 20 (EDS). In Montana,a Green-tailedTowhee May 14 at BentonL. provideda firstrefuge record and a firstfor southern great latilong17. Sparrowmigration was unimpressive, with very few speciesappearing in any numbers.A "White-winged"Junco was too far north May 16 at Ft. Peck,MT (CC). plains region Great-tailedGrackles appear to be estab- were turned to tinsel. lishingthemselves in SouthDakota. There eChadron This event had immedi- were4 previousrecords, all recent,and this ß Valentine NWR ate impacts:discovery of springthey were found at 4 locationsin the Scottsbluff NEBRASKA longspursin Nebraska's s.e. part of the state,beginning Apr. 19. ß Crescent Lake NWR Lake McConaughy snowy landscapes,and They were noted in Miner (JSP),Minne- NorthPlatte somedata points on the haha (RFS), CharlesMix (LAS), and Gre- costs of stochastic risks gory(RM, LAS,DAT), with possiblebreed- (as Seltman's observa- ingin the latter. Kirwln NWRß tions of failing Killdeer The HouseFinch invasion is virtually Manhattanß provided).These events completein North Dakota,with birdsnow .ys. KANSAS .Tonka turned the leaf-factory found in all smalltowns and movinginto ßCheyenne Bottoms clocks back almost a farm shelterbelts. Red Crossbills were con- NWR C month in Oklahoma and firmedor suspectedof nestingat no fewer Kansas-•earlyMay still than 6 locations in n.c. North Dakota this looked like early April. ß Black Mesa spring,and a nestfound Mar. 30 at Denbigh This amounted to NWR ,Tulsa ExperimentalForest was destroyed by the some birds acting like Aprilblizzard (GBB). White-winged Cross- mm.,•xOKLAHO M they were still in their bills alsomade a notablenesting splash in winter quarters even a n.c.North Dakota.Up to 25 birdswere pre- month later (into May). eWichlta Mounte,l•ls NWR sentat DenbighExperimental Forest during ßFort Sill BrokenBOW It also suggeststhat the _ __ Tishomingo Res.e the period,with nestingcontinned Apr. 13 ß NWR I migrationstimulus can whennest building and feedingyoung were have some proximate observedfor the first nestingrecord away regulatingfactors. For JOSEPH A. GRZYBOWSKI from a large city. Short-tailedfledglings example, Spotted Towheesand White- were also being fed May 23 at the Minot crownedSparrows in central Oklahoma CountryClub (REM). There are fewer than "observationshis spring providedand possiblean assortment insights. of werestill relatively common on datesthey 10nesting confirmations for NorthDakota. The cooperationof observersin providing shouldhave been almost all gone.This pat- tern was also notable in waterfowl and one of the best-documented series of ob- Contributors(state editors in boldface): servationsI can rememberwas gratifying. other short-distancemigrant passerines. MONTANA: Charles Carlson, Steve This may alsohave cut down the numbers Outstandinghas beenthe encouragement of somespecies, such as Orange-crowned Dinsmore, Tedd Gutzke, Layne Krum- and reportingfrom RossSilcock and Joel wiede, Mari Krumwiede, Harriet Marble, Warblers, which seemed scarcerthis season. Jorgensen,now coveringall of Nebraska, Superimposedon this pattern was a Ted Nordhagen,Michael Schwitters,P. L. andalso the long-standing efforts of subre- generallywetter long-term cycle (it's hard Wright, Carl Wolf. NORTH DAKOTA: gionalcompilers Lloyd Moore of Kansas,Jo to saythat for threemid-continental states LindaAltenberg, Gordon B. Berkey,Keith Loydof Tulsa,and Louis McGee of Lawton, at once,or whenone considers the drought Codiss,Robert Danley,Karl M. Fleming, Oklahoma.This type of reportinghelps JohnA. Heiser,Mayme L. Johnson,Randy we had the previouswinter and spring). distinguishbetween the patternsof occur- This meant better habitatsfor water, marsh, Kreil, Ron E. Martin, Bill May, Gary E. renceswe can be certainhave a biological Nielsen, Mike R. North, Robert H. and shorebirds. Someimpromptu "wet- basis,and those depictingexpectancy or O'Connor, Verna Olson, Dave G. Potter, H. lands"were wet through the season. other observationalbiases. This alsohelps This seasonalso brought out somespe- Clark Talkington, Paul C. VanNingen, train and attune birders (and want-to-be- Dennis E Wiesenborn. SOUTH DAKOTA: cial rarities. The state records committees birders) to become better observers,and Doug Backlund,Ron Mabie, Jeffrey$. will decidetheir status,but the sightings seethings they might not haveanticipated encompassbasic issues of originand iden- Palmer, Randy E. Podoil, Lake Andes otherwise,enjoying their sport more and N.W.R. Staff, Sand LakeN.W.R. Staff, Robb tificationdifficulty. makingreal contributions. F.Schenck, Ralph and Alice Shaykett, Eileen The seasonwas late, but--this time-- Abbreviations: CheyenneBottoms (Chey- Dowd Stekel, David Swanson, Dan A. with a clear causalevent. An early April enneBottoms, Barton Co., KS);Crescent Lake Tallman, SteveVan Sickle. snowstorm and cold snap that spread (CrescentLake N.W.R., Garden Co., NE); Fon- lion E. Martin, 16900125th St. SE, Sawyer, acrossthe Regionfroze out many sensitive tßnellßForest (œontenelle œorest, $arpy Co., ND 58781-9284. and not-so-sensitiveplants. Freshleaves NE);K.B.R.C (Kansas Bird Records Committee);

888 FIELD NOTES southern reat plains

McConaughy(L. McConaughy,Keith Co., NE),' K.B.R.C. issue. A status-wrencher was induding 10 from Quivira and Cheyenne N 0 U.R.C.(Nebraska Ornithologists' Union Nebraska'sfirst potential Garganey Mar. 28 BottomsMay 3 (EP,SS). RecordsCommittee); O.B.R.C. (Oklahoma Bird in Kearney,NE (B&MD); documentation Rumorhas it that GrayPartridges may RecordsCommittee),' Quivira (Ouivira N.W.R., has been forwarded to the N.O.U.R.C. soonbe extirpatedin Nebraska,but several StaffordCo., KS). Anotherwrencher was a EnmsianWigeon were still reported (fide WRS). The 21 Mar. 29 in Clay, NE (JGJ,GJ). Among Sharp-tailedGrouse found in s.w.Banner LOONS TO WATERFOWL thoseneeding careful looks was a hybrid andKimball, NE, mayprovide a significant A Red-throatedLoon in Douglas,KS, Apr. Cinnamonx Blue-wingedTeal Apr. 13 and expansionof rangeif actuallybreeding 20-26 (AP,m.ob.) and another in Sedgwick, May 17 in Tulsa (JWA). A pair of (fideWRS). KS, Apr. 13 (PJ) representedexceptional Cinnamon Teal loitered in Blaine, OK, YellowRails anyone? On Apr. 16,a con- finds.No lesssurprising were Pacific Loons, until at leastMay 24 (JAG). trolledburn on a "wet"upland prairie m onephotographed Mar. 24 in Bryan,OK Amongother lingering waterfowl were a Linn, KS, flushed about 50 small rails with (JW, TW); one Mar. 28-May 21 in Tulsa GadwallMay 25 in Tulsa(JWA), and Ring- white patchesin their wings.One which (JWA, m.ob.); and one May 21-22 in neckedDucks to May 24 in Brownand stunneditself was captured and document- McClain, OK (JSt). Common Loons were Rock,NE (JGJ),and May 26 in Tulsa(2-3 ed as a YellowRail (Holy Cow--50!!; See notedto May 31 at McConaughy(IH et birds;JWA). Buffiehead stayed to May 27 in Swanand Thompson1997, Bull. Kansas at ) TwelveHorned Grebes were still pre- CrescentLake (MF) and Red-breastedMer- Ornithol. Soc.48:25-27). One other was sentin TulsaMay 3 (TM). gansersto May 26 in Tulsa(JWA). Greater flushedMay 8 in Douglas,KS (CC). An A Red-neckedGrebe at QuiviraMar. 28 Scaup,a specieswhose status is being estab- early (and well-publicized)Whooping (AS) furnishedone of very few spring lishedor changing,were noted in Nebraska Crane was noted Mar. 9 in Buffalo,NE records,few documented.McConaughy from Mar. 30 (SJD)to May 8 (JGI), with a (PT). On the lateend, two werepresent at drew spectacularnumbers of W. Grebes, highcount of 23 at McConaughyApr. 13 Quivira(EP) andtwo at CheyenneBottoms peakingat 14,500 Apr. 19 (SJD). With (SID). Sevenwere reportedfrom Kansas (SS,EP), both May 2-3. these,reports of Ctark'sGrebes continue to (fide LM). The latestOldsquaws included increase,with 7 reportsof 44 birdsfor Ne- two in Coffey,KS, Mar. 2-23 (LM, m.ob.) PLOVERS TO TERNS braska(fide WRS), the high count 23 at and in TulsaMar. 28 (JWA,JT, ISi). American Golden-Plovers made what some McConaughyApr. 26 (SJD). Nine W. The rarestof scotersin the Region-- considereda spectacular showing in Nebra- Grebes appear to have been breeding Black Scoter--was noted Apr. 17-28 in ska,with high countsin the 100s(JGJ)-- at CheyenneBottoms through the end Geary,KS (CO,m.ob.). The onlyother sco- nonethelessa far cry from the real "old of the period,one mated with a Clark's ter reportedwas a White-wingedin Noble, days." Snowy Plovers edged up into Grebe (m.ob.). OK, Mar. 28 (JWA).Following' the discov- Nebraska,with 5 reportsfrom s.e. Nebraska A BrownPelican at QuiviraMay 17-18 ery of a pair of Barrow'sGoldeneyes at L. (fideWRS). At least8 pairsof PipingPlov- (SR et at.) was a surprise.Neotropic Cor- Ogaltala, Keith, NE, in February, a sub- ersset up shopat McConaughyby May 18 morants were noted in McCurtain Mar. 10 adult malewas identified at McConaughy (SJD). Early was a SemipatmatedPlover (JW, TW), Tulsa,Mar. 28 (JWA), at Quivira Mar. 30 (SID), and a femalewas observed Apr. 9 in Tulsa(JL, PS). Of smallnumbers, Apr 20 (m.ob.),and at CheyenneBottoms in Douglas,NE, Mar. 3 (IGJ). but of note,were Mr. Ploversthat appeared May 24 (BVD). AmericanBittern reports to be nestingin a narrowstrip of Kimball, werea little betterthan usual this year, with RAPTORS TO RAILS NE (SJD,IS); 2 nestswere found May 15 in 18 reportedfrom Nebraska(fide WRS). BaldEagles may be nestingat morelocali- Morton,KS (SJD).A recentphenomenon, Two White-facedIbises were presentin tiesthan mostsuspect, but a tallyof sitesis perhaps(probably?) linked to the recent TulsaMay 2 (JWA). difficult to accumulate--and perhaps wetter years, is the increaseof Black- Severalpairs of TrumpeterSwans were rightfully difficult to extractfrom those neckedStilts in the Region,with pairs notedbreeding at Grant,NE, May 4 (WM). that do know.Perhaps more than 20 pairs found in Sheridan,NE, and CrescentLake NineTundra Swans were present at Quivira maybe attemptingto breedin Oklahoma, (MF et al.). Mar 15 (CG). Snow Geesepeaked at with others reported from Kansasand Migrant shorebirds,a stapleof spring 400,000 Mar. 8 in Phelps,NE (LR, RH). Nebraska--goodnews. migration,were reported mostly as expect- Ross'sGoose numbers were alsoup, with A Sharp-shinnedHawk lingered to May ed.Among the regular migrant "delicacies;' severalreports of 187-500from severalto- 23 at CrescentLake (MF), a late date.A N. Whimbretreports spanned May 4-18, with cat•onsin Nebraska(fide WRS). A few lin- Goshawkwas identified in Cheyenne,KS, the high of 45 at Lancaster,NE, May 18 geredlonger than normal, with singlesMay Apr. 15 (DB). A FerruginousHawk in (JM). On May 17,51 werereported from 2 10 an Linn, KS (KS, RM et at.), and Blaine, Butler,KS, Apr. 23 (PJ)was out-of-range. A localitiesin Nobleand Pawnee,OK (JWA), OK (JAG et al.), May 17 in Fillmore,NE Rough-leggedHawk wasstill comfortable and nine from Sequoyah,OK (SB).Long- (JGJ),and May 21 in Cla3 NE (BP,LP). A in Kimball,NE, May 3 (SJD). billed Curlews were noted in Rock and real surpriseamong cholera-afflicted wa- Perhapspeople are tiring of reporting Brown,NE, the e. limits of their rangein terfowl in Clay, NE, Mar. 17 was an Merlins,now that theyare more frequently Nebraska(JGJ). A mid- to late-Maysurge EmperorGoose (WM). It showedno signs observed,but only4 reportswere tallied for of 76 Ruddy Turnstones occurred an of captivity,but its statuswill be decidedby Nebraska(fide WRS), 4 from Kansas(fide Nebraska(fide WRS). Highly unusualan the N.O.U.R.C.It mayvery well be the first LM), and 2 from Oklahoma.Peregrine Fal- springwere two Red Knots May 26 an recordaway from the West Coast. cons,on theother hand, were better report- Pawnee,OK (JWA); one undocumentedre- An Am. BlackDuck at QuiviraMay 3 ed,with 22 fromNebraska Apr. 9-May 19 portwas credited to Nebraska(fide WRS) (MM, GP) was very late or "Motfley"--a (fideWRS), and 13 from Kansas(fide LM), Nice wasa countof 62 Dunlin May 21 an

FALL 1997 889 Lancaster,NE (JS). Nebraska birders, as- McConaughyApr. 17 (SJD), the latter a OK (BH). Not often found in the spring sessinga migration"corridor" for Buff- more traditional location. wasa RufousHummingbird in TulsaMar. breastedSandpipers, found their highest Adult to near-ad.Thayer's Gulls were 9 (TH). countsin a narrowstrip, with 163 in York- documentedMar. 29 and Apr. 13 & 19 at CordilleranFlycatchers were located at SewardMay 10 (JGJ),and 116 in Fillmore, McConaughy(SJD), providingpotential 3 locationsin Nebraska'sPine Ridge Area, NE, May 17 (JGJ);this linesup with the supportto a still not well-supportedno- addingnew locales to the traditionalsite at highcount of 60 for TulsaMay 3 (JL,PS). tion that theyare a regular--butdifficult SowbellyCanyon (WRS). An Ash-throated The status of Short-billed Dowitchers in to convincinglydocument--species (not Flycatcherin Clark,KS, Apr. 26 (SS)was an the Regionmay need to be reassessed. to mention the ambiguoustaxonomy). exception.A Violet-green Swallowwas Expectedas regular, but rareand difficult to Ice[andGulls photographed at L. Ogallala, documentedfar eastin Harlan,NE, May 8 identify in e. areas,Nebraska tallied 96 Keith, NE, Mar. 30 (SJD), and at Scotts (G&WH). birds"with details"from Apr. 30-May 23 Bluff, NE, Apr. 19-20 (SJD, WRS) will Steller'sJays wintering in ScottsBluff, (fideWRS), a commendablenumber of ob- await review;another Iceland Gull pho- NE, departedby Apr. 15 (EE).In theafter- servationswhich can be used as reliable; 24 tographedin Osage,KS, Mar. 1-2 (AS,LM, math of the winter invasion,breeding by were noted at Quivira May 10 (SS), and m.ob.) appearsto meet criteria.A Glau- Clark'sNutcrackers apparently occurred in eightin Pawnee,OK, May 26 werealso doc- cousGull lingeredto Apr. 12 at McCon- w. Nebraska, with a brown-feathered umented (JWA). Red-neckedPhalarope aughy(SJD). And, Silcock'sreport claimed youngappearing with adultsMay 7 at a numberswere not stingyeither, with a high that Great B!ack-b• Gulls are becom- feederin ScottsBluff (ECT, AK). Other count of 250 from CrescentLake May 22 ing regularat McConaughy,with a 3rd- nestingwas reportedin the Pine Ridge (TLE) and an almostunprecedented 7 re- yearbird presentApr. 12-13 (SJD). country (fide WRS), and severalflocks ports of 40 birds in s.e. sections of Much appreciateddetails were provid- were presentin SowbellyCanyon May Nebraska(fide WRS); 30 wereseen May 22 ed for spring Corn. Tern reports from 22-23 (WM). A Clark'sin Grant,KS, stay- at Quivira(SS). A very"hot"prospect was a Nebraska,which included a hefty22 birds, ed until Mar. 29 (m. ob.). Corvids e. includ- black-morphmale Ruff May 24 in Phelps, including14 notedat McConaughyMay ed Black-billed Magpies in Jefferson NE (LR, RH), the 3rd record for Nebraska. 18-19 (SJD);two werenoted in lefferson, (G&WH), Lancaster(LE), and Pierce,NE KS, May 20 (LM). Very early,or possibly A GreaterYellowlegs was early Mar. 2 in (fideWRS) into mid-May. Fish Crows were overwintering,were the two Forster's Terns Grant,KS (LM), aswas a Baird'sSandpiper notedin Cherokee,s.e. KS, May 29 (DM), in TulsaMar. 10 (JL). Mar. 8 at Quivira (SS). The 300 Willets at continuingan. extensionof rangein the Region. CheyenneBottoms May 3 (SS)represented DOVES TO VIREOS A Mt. Chickadeein Cimarron,OK, May the largestconcentration I can remember 12 (JSt)was tardy. Molhoffwas able to doc- reporting. It wasa little quieterfor doves,but the sea- ument6 nestingsites of PygmyNuthatches Nebraska'spotential 7th LaughingGull sonstill producedWhite-winged Doves in in Siouxand Dawes,NE; perhapsonly one recordwas of a bird notedApr. 4 in Fillmore Marion, KS, Apr. 19-24 (G&DS, m.ob.) othernesting record exists for Nebraska.A (JGJ);an aduk was noted in Pawnee,OK, and Garyin, OK, Apr. 22-23 (JSt). The three-four Eur. Collared-Doves(for what- RockWren at QuiviraApr. 18-26 was an May 17 (JWA).In with the changingtimes, everthey may be worth) werewatched in outlier (CG). A Northern Wheatear in Little Gullswere reported at McConaughy Sherman,KS, May 15-31 (KS). Perhaps Cheyenne,KS, Apr. 12 (DB) will await re- Apn 19 (SJD;a 3rd for Nebraska),with an- more noteworthywas the pair of Inca view by the K.B.R.C.as a potentialfirst other Mar. 25 in Mayes,OK (PM, NL). A Dovesin Jackson,OK, which begannest- recordfor Kansasand the Region. California Gull in Douglas,NE, Mar. 19 buildingMar. 8 (fideIM); four birdswere A Golden-crownedKinglet May 10 in (JGJ)may provide only the 4th recordfor e. noted in the area. Pierce,NE, wasrather late (fideWRS). A Nebraska(fide WRS). Others included one ACom. Poorwill was noted e. to Knox, Townsend'sSolitaire in Iefferson,KS, Apr. Mar. 1in Trego,KS (M&EC), a 2nd-summer NE, May 18 (JH, EH), and a not often 23 was both e. of most and tardy (RR). bird May 10 in Rogers,OK (JWA),and 27 at foundnest of this species,with eggs,was EightVeeries were reported from Nebraska discoveredin Dawes,NE, May 30 (fideWRS), includingwestern-race birds (WM). Early were 14 Chimney (two) at Kimball,NE, May 17 (DH), and Swifts Mar. 24-26 in McCurtain, Keith,NE, May 12 (JH, EH). Only onewas reportedfrom Kansas,at Wyandotte,May 26 (LM), andtwo from Tulsa,OK (fideJL). Westward Gray-cheekedThrushes ap- The status of Iceland Gull pearedin Cimarron,OK, May 12 (JSt,JMc, on the Great Plains JHa) and Keith, NE, May 15 (JH, EH). is still controversial, Wood Thrushes wandered W to Harlan, but this individual'slong NE, May 9 (G&WH) and Keith,NE, May wingtips,very pale 14 (JH, EH). primaries,and dark bill Among wandering southwesternva- suggestthat it was correctly identified as such. grants was a Curve-billed Thrasher in Thebird was at MelvemLake, Finney,KS, Mar. 30 and Apr. 13 (L&BR, OsageCounty, Kansas, T&SS). Rare spring migrants, Sage on March1, lgg7. Thrasherswere foundApr. 20 in Banner Photograph/LloydMoore and Kimball,NE (SJD).An Am. Pipit in

890 FIELD NOTES southern great plains

Fillmore,NE, May 23 (JGJ)was as late as (T&SS);and Buffalo,NE, May 19 (LR, RH). they get in Nebraska.Northern Shrikes A W. Tanagerwas located e. in Douglas,NE, werenoted from Keith,NE, westwardApr. May 3-4 (NR), the earliestspring arrival 11-13 (SJD).A LoggerheadShrike in Cass, date for Nebraska. Rose-breasted Gros- NE, Mar.9 (GW) mayhave been among the beaks, casual in w. Nebraska, were located few that ever winter. in SiouxMay 22 (TLE), and in ScottsBluff A Yellow-throatedVireo in Blaine, OK, May 24-25 (AK, CK). Black-headedGros- May 11 (JAG)provided a first countyrec- beakswere noted e. to Butler,KS, May 14 ord. Tulsabirders kindly provideddocu- (BB).Lazuli Buntings were found e. May 16 mentationfor sixPhiladelphia Vireos span- in Platte,NE (LR, RH), and Jefferson,KS, ning the periodApr. 29-May 9 (fideLM). May 19 (PH). Not an everydayfind was a Green-tailed WARBLERS 1'O FIBICHF• White-wingedCrossbill (sharing a feeder Towhee in Russell,KS, Mar. 1 (M&EC). with an AmericanGoldfinch) Butwhat is springfor.? Among the "zooties" Henslows Sparrowswere noted in Washing- in OklahomaCity, Oklahoma, were Blue-wingedWarblers in Delaware, ton,lifE, Apr. 11 (GJ),and w. in Oklahoma on March16, 1997. Partof an exceptioaal OK, May 3 (JSt);]efferson, NE, May 8 (JGJ); to Noble,OK, Apr. 20 (JCH) and Alfalfa, winter movemeat of finches and other Douglas,KS, May 10 (PW); and ]ohnston, OK, alsoApr. 20 (JAG).Sharp-tailed Spar- birds,the crossbillwas seen at this locationintermittently KS,May 9-11 (SC). Recentyears have pro- row reportsincluded one undocumented in in Januaryand March. videdcounts for Golden-wingedWarblers Lancaster-Saunders,NE, and a second in the eightfrom Nebraska(fide WRS) and Photograph/SteveMetz Fillmore,NE May 19 (JM). SongSparrows four from Kansas(fide LM) werenoted w. continuean isolatedbreeding outpost in to Hall, NE, May 20 (LR, RH). CapeMay Phelps,NE (WRS). A Golden-crowned Citedobservers (area editorsboldfaced): Warblers,among the raresteastern warblers Sparrowin Morton,KS, May 4 (L&RS)un- KANSAS:James Barnes, Bob Broyles,Dan in the Region,were seen in Sarp•NE, May Busse,Calvin Cink, Mark & Elaine Corder, doubtedlyawaits K.B.R.C. review. 9-10 (BP,LP); Harvey,KS, May 10 (CS, Steve Crawford, Chet Gresham, Pain SnowsApril 9-10 made for an unex- m.ob.); and Riley,KS, May 10 (DM). A Hanson, Chris Hobbs, Pete Janzen, Mick pectedshow of longspurs,and someinter- ConnecticutWarbler appeared in Fonte- McHugh, RogerMcNeill, Lloyd Moore, estingquestions on theirApril statusin the nelleForest May 31 (BP,LP); one additional Dan Mulhern, Chuck Otte, Galen Pittman, record was undocumented. Region.A McCown'sLongspur drawn to a AlerS Powell, Eric Preston, Steve Rhoades, Otherwarblers reported as found in bet- road by a snowstormin Knox,NE (MB), Leonard & Betty Rich, Mark Robbins, ter-than-normal numbers were Chestnut- was e. of many. About 10,000 Lapland Richard Rucker,Carolyn Schwab,Scott sidedsin e. Nebraska(fide WRS), Black- Longspurswere noted in Knox(MB), a sur- Seltman, Tom & Sara Shane, Kevin Sink, burnianWarblers (27 reportsalmost state- prisingnumber when consideringthat the Lawrence & Ruth Smith, Glenn & Dorthea wide in Nebraska,fide WRS), and Bay- latestspring date on recordfor Nebraskais Strotkamp,Art Swalwell,Tom Swan,Max breastedWarblers, with five from Nebraska Apr. 15 (!!!;f/deWRS). The severalhundred Thompson, Hetty Trutza, Beverly Van (fideWRS), two from Kansas (fide LM), and Laplandsseen in Pawneeand Rush, KS (SS), Dyke, Phil Wedge. NEBRASKA:Mark two from Tulsa, OK (fide JL). Cerulean are equallyamazing. Among the surpris- Brogie,Bill and Mary KayDeBaets, Stephen Warblerswere notedw. to Dakota-Thurston, ingly few spring records of Smith's J. Dinsmore, Claire Drenowatz, Larry NE, May 17-18, carryingnesting material Longspursfor Nebraska, all from the Einemann,Ted L. Eubanks,Edson Ewing, (BFH et al.). southeast,were those noted in Washington, Marlin French, Robin Harding, David Warblerpotpourri included a Yellow- NE (JGJ).Snows also made viewing of 42 Heidt, Glen & WandaHoge, Erin Hueb- throatedin Cuming,NE, May 25 (LE),with Chestnut-collaredLongspurs in Blair,NE, schman, Jeff Huebschman, Bill F. Huser, 10 reportedfrom e. Kansas.Worm-eating Apr. 10 (JGJ)possible. GeraldJorgensen, Joel G. Jorgensen,Alice Warblersappeared in Sedgwick,KS, Apr. 20 Yellow-headed Blackbirds seem to be Kenitz,Clem Klaphake, Ron Martin (RMa), (PJ);Rogers, OK, May 10 (PS);and Keith, gettingat it earlier,as the one Mar. 8 in WayneMollhoff, JamesMountjoy, Babs NE, May 14 (JH, EH). LouisianaWater- Clay, NE (DH), testifies. Two Gray- Padelford,Loren Padelford, Lanny Ran- thrushesprobing the edgesof theirnormal dolph,Neal Ratzlaff, W. RossSilcock, John crownedRosy-Finches remained until Mar. rangewere found in Lancaster,NE, May 10 Sullivan,Paul Tebbel,Edna Claire Thomas, 13 in Dawes,NE (ZU). Perhapsjust our (LE) and lefferson,NE, Apr. 25 (JGJ).A Zee Uridil, Gertrude Wood. OKLAHOMA: imaginations,but PurpleFinch numbers KentuckyWarbler in Dakota,NE, May 18 JamesW. Afterburn,Sandy Berger, Joseph (RMa,WRS) was n. of most.Out-of-range just don't seemto be what they usedto A. Grzybowski,Jim Harmon (JHa), Berlin (WRS, JAG).Red Crossbills continued their was a Mourning Warbler May 27 in Heck, James C. Hoffman, Tom Horn, N. Morrill, NE, whereit wascompared with a storyof lastsummer, with birdspresent at Lowrie,Jo Loyd, Shirley McFarland, Louis MacGillivray's (ECT). Eleven Canada scatteredlocations across the Region McGee (LMc), Jeri McMahon (JMc), Ina Warblerswere reported mostly during late throughthe end of the period.Eastern lo- Mery, Terry Mitchell, Pam Moser, Pat May in Nebraska(fide WRS). Edge ex- cationsfor May includedCuming, Otoe, Seibert, Jerry Sislet (JSi), John Sterling tralimital Hooded Warblers were noted in and Sarpy,NE; Douglas,KS; and Cherokee, (JSt), Jim Thayer, Jeff Webster, Tina LeavenworthMay 7 (CH, MR et al.), and in Wagoner,and Muskogee,OK (fide WRS, Webster. Sedgwick,KS, Apr. 30 (JB). LM, JMc).A White-wingedCrossbill in ScarletTanagers found their wayw. to OklahomaCity this Januaryreappeared Joseph A. Grzybowski, 715 Elmwood Seward,KS, May 4 (HT); Scott,KS, May 10 from Mar. 12-28 (SM, m.ob.). Drive,Norman, OK 73072.

FALL 1997 891 texas region

cation wasthat the weathersystems had stoppedthe wavesof migrantsshort of that area.While "superlatives"were in orderfor ßAmarillo ß Buffalo Lake the seasonaldiversity in the Panhandle,the NWR Trans-Pecosmigration was describedas having"two faces":excellent in March,but ß Muleshoe NWR •Nichita ßHagerman NWR droppingoff to one of the worstever for Falls ß Lubbock April and May.In the latterarea, there was Fort •t)rth ß ß Dallas too little water at Fort Blissto offer good -a•alupe shorebird habitat, but too much water at • El Paso !•-'•7,•Nat. [. ßASna;el• lene the reservoirsdown the valley.The abun- •'park • ßMidland Nacogdochesßdanceof water was cited for a relatively Davis Mrs. _ • Wacoß poorshowing of shorebirdselsewhere away ,• ßBalmorhea L. TEXAS from the coast, but it also hosted a water-

Austin fowl migration termed "spectacular"in Houston some of the same areas. Nestingbirds reportedly arrived two to three weeks behind schedule in the Trans- ßD•'1ø • ßSan Anton,o ßF•ree•rt Pecos, a scenario not noted elsewhere. Ro '• • ,_An •NWR GULF Wauer described the arrival of Colima • "'¾'/• OF Warblersin the ChisosMountains as being Kingswileß •/ CorpUs initiatlyon time,but thenthe April freezes I Christi drovethe birdslower and out of preferred .s• Bentsen ß •ß State habitat,only to havethe birds head back up " Park • LagunaAtascosa NWR into suitable areas as the woodlands leafed out anew some weeks later. The remarkable GREGW. LASLEY,CHUCK SEXTON, down to the coast and offshore were often winter finch invasion into north, central, WILLIESEKULA, "well-timed"for weekendbirding efforts. and eastTexas lingered into May and be- Therewere several groundings all alongthe MARKLOCKWOOD, yondand wascommonly attributed to the coast,the moststriking of whichwas Apr. coolweather. A few winter finchessimply AND CLIFF SHACKELFORD 26, whenuncountable thousands of passer- didn't leave! inesdropped in. •im Morgandeclared it a The inaugural Great Texas Birding ummarizingtheebullience ofa whole "real fall-out;' from a quantitativestand- lot of happybirders, David Bradford Classicheld Apr. 19-27 wasbilled as"the pointthe sixthbest in 21 yearsof datacol- chimed"Finally, a springworth reporting:' biggest,longest and wildestbird watching There was also an uncharacteristic unanim- lection.Morgan had his highest-eversin- competition ever staged in the United gle-day totals for Wood Thrush (383), ity in descriptionsof the conditionsthis States"(see http://www. tpwd.state.tx.us/na- Ovenbird (438), and total birds (4222). springacross the state."Cool and wet" were ture/birding/bdass/gtbc.htm).It brought the commonterms. Temperatures averaged Excellentnumbers of GrayCatbird (645), an unprecedentedintensity and breadthof below normal for all areas all season. A Hooded Warbler (257), Scarlet Tanager focusof birdwatchingefforts to the Texas strongcold front brought freezing temper- (151), Rose-breastedGrosbeak (151), and coast.En masse,a totalof 357 specieswere aturesas far southas the Hill CountryApril IndigoBunting (400) werealso tallied. On talliedby 27 teamsduring the threeformal 12,and yet another froze back vegetation in the sameday, Paul Palmerdescribed the days of competition.These efforts un- the Trans-PecosApril 27-28. Rainfallwas largestpasserine grounding in years,with doubtedlycontributed to thevolume of the abundant.To the north, playaswere full to an estimated 3000-4000 warblers on North material we had to assimilate here. overflowingin the Panhandle(conditions PadreIsland. Large numbers of birds lin- whichhadn't been seen in 50 years).Way to geredfor twomore days on the coast.Other Abbreviations: Ft. Bliss(Ft. Blisssewage the south,many roadsideditches stayed goodfallouts occurred Apr. 12 statewide ponds, El Paso); G.M.N.R (Guadalupe flooded all season on Padre Island. This and in the eastern two-thirds of the state MountainsN.P.); L.R.G.V.(Lower Rio Grande moistscene stood in specialcontrast to just May 9-11. Valley),'S.S.W.T.R (South Side Water Treatment a yearago when we were in the midstof a There was somequirkiness in the pat- Plant, Dallas);T.B.R.C. (Texas Bird Records severedrought; this heightened everyone's terns of the fallouts. In Central Texas, ob- Committee/TexasOrnithological Society); senseof gratitudefor the meteorological serversout on the samedays as the massive T.C.W.C.(Texas Cooperative Wildlife Collection/ giftsof theseason. groundingson the coast saw relatively TexasA&M University);U.T.C. (Upper Texas The many wet fronts which roared modestnumbers and diversity.The impli- Coast);V.C.D.B. (Village Cr. Drying Beds, Tarrant

89Z FIELD NDTES texas

Co.).The following are shortened names for the usualhaunts were single Least Bitterns in from the winter remained at Brazos Bend respectivecounty, state, or nationalparks, YoungApr. 26 (KN) and Comfort, Kerr, until Mar. 2; anotherwas reported on w. wildlife refuges,etc.: Anahuac,Balcones May 10 (ES). A Great Egretat BuffaloL., GalvestonI. Apr.28 (tRRo, WBurchet al.). Canyonlands,Bentsen, Big Bend, Brazos Bend, Randall,Apr. 13 (PT) was early for the BuffaloL., ColoradoBend, Hagerman, Hueco Panhandle;two in HansfordMay 20 (BiMc) RAPTORS Tanks,Laguna Atascosa, Palo Duro, Santa Ana, werealso unexpected. Curious in w. Texas A pair of Swallow-tailedKites returned to and Sea Rim. werereports of singleLittle Blue Herons in the locationin Chamberswhere they nested TerrellApr.18-19 (JPa)and at Cottonwood last summer;the nestwas apparently not LOONS TO FLAMINGOS Campground,Big Bend,May 2 (BBo).An successful.Migrant Swallow-tailedKites Last winter's Red-throated Loon at L. ad. ReddishEgret at Hagerman,Grayson, awayfrom the coastalplain included one in Balmorhealingered until May 3 (m.ob.), Mar. 11-19 (KH, LL, ph. JCh) constituted BastropMar. 27 (BF) and onein HaysMar. whileone at CooperL., Hopkins/Delta,re- the first well-documentedreport for n.c. 30 (AH). Likelast year, we receivedalmost mained until Mar. 23 (M&KWh). Several Texas.Providing a 2nd record for the no mentionof significantnumbers of mi- PacificLoons lingered into the spring,with Trans-Pecos,an ad. GlossyIbis wasat L. grant MississippiKites or Broad-winged one-three at Offat's Bayou, Galveston, BalmorheaApr. 29 (ph. GRos);other single Hawks; either the birds were not seenor the throughthe period(TE, DP et al.), and one Glossiesaway from the coast included reportsnever reached us. Rarely well-docu- at L. Tawakoni,Rains, May 13 (ph. MWh). BastropApr. 30 (BF) and Dallas May 7 mented in Texas,an ad. N. Goshawkwas re- Two W. Grebes in the Panhandle, one in (RR). Numbersof thesebirds were report- portedat Rio GrandeVillage, Big Bend, Apr. GrayMay 10 (KS)and one in ChildtessMay ed from manyareas of the U.T.C.Immense 25-26 (tGLe, PAb, BHo, HPL). Common 16 (BiMc),stayed late. Other W. Grebesof numbersof White Ibiseswere seen migrat- Black-Hawksseem to be increasingin w. noteincluded one at CooperL. Mar. 17-21 ing throughthe Rockportarea Mar. 8, with Texas;a pair built a nestat BigBend's Rio (M&KWh) and oneat BolivarFlats Apr. 23 10,000 counted (RL). The Greater GrandeVillage and wasseen there Mar. 22 (B&JRi).A MaskedBooby was on Mustang Flamingo at LagunaAtascosa remained throughthe period (m.ob.). The species I. May 23 (TA). The nesting colony of throughthe season;dose photos (RIS) sug- also nested at their usual locations in the Double-crestedCormorants at McNary gestthat this bird is theAfrican subspecies. DavisMts. (KB et al.), and anotherpair re- Res.,Hudspeth, increased to 50 pairs;one turnedto Christoval,Tom Green, where they WATERFOWL pair of Neotropic Cormorantswas also nestedlast summer (TM). GrayHawks were nestingthere May 25 (JPa).Also of notefor SevenFulvous Whistling-Ducks at V.C.D.B. reportedin smallnumbers in the L.R.G.V. the areawas a singleNeotropic Cormorant Apr. 16 (EW) furnisheda very rare record and Big Bend,as hasbecome typical. Un- at Monahans, Ward, May 15 (BJP). A for n.c.Texas. The Black-belliedWhistling- usual records of Buteosincluded eight MagnificentFrigatebird over Houston May Duck in E1 Paso from the winter remained SwainsonsHawks in Delta (far east)Apr. 5 3 (DB) was an unusualsight. Out of their throughthe spring(LJ). A Ross'sGoose in (MWh); one in Angelina(far east)May 10 LubbockMay 3 (L.E.A.S.) and (CM, LS); a White-tailed Hawk at Concan, three Snow Geese in Oldham Uvalde,Apr. 28 (GLe);a Zone-tailedHawk May 16 (EK, RSc,JoHal) were in TaylorMar. 28 (ACh);and a Ferruginous verylate. The banded Am. Black in Amarillo May 24 (EK) and one in Duck reported last winter at Stamford,]ones, May 31 (fideLB). A Golden Lubbocklingered until May 5 Eaglewas reported over Nueces May 10 (fide (fide CSt). A Eur. Wigeonwas GS). A CrestedCaracara provided first photographedat Ft. BlissApr. countyrecords for Youngand PaloPinto 25 (?BZ);this speciesis almost Apr.28 (KN). annual in that area. A pair of GreaterScaup remained in San RAILS TO SHOREBIRDS Marcosuntil Mar. 29 (JCr). All 3 scoterspecies were present in handle, a Black Rail was well described in small numbers at Bolivar Flats CarsonMay 8 (TGr, SP).A little more ex- during April (m.ob.). Seldom pectedwere two BlackRails on S. PadreI. reportedin the Panhandle,sin- Mar. 31 (BMc), and otherscalling at the gle Red-breastedMergansers NuecesR. estuary,San Patricio,Apr. 17 & werein Amarillo,Potter, Apr. 12 23 (A&MC). A PurpleGallinule at V.C.D.B. (EK) and at L. Marvin, Hemp- May 4-17 (MMo, m.ob.)was at an odd lo- hill, Apr. 19 (JoHal et al.). At cation.Sandhill Cranes lingered late in the least one of the Masked Ducks Panhandle,including 300 in PotterApr. 12 (JoHal, RSc) and 115 in Oldham May 5 (RSc).Seven Whooping Cranes were seen Notablyfar inlandfor this normally-coastalspecies over DeWitt Apr. 6 (DMu). American wasthis adultReddish Egret Golden-Ploversprovided very rare spring at HagermanNational Wildlife records for the Trans-Pecos,with one at Ft. Refuge,in north-centralTexas, Bliss May 20-21 (BZ) and one-two at on March15, 1997. Imperial Res., Pecos,May 6-8 (BJP). A Photograph/JackChiles breeding-plumagedSnowy Plover at

FALL 1997 893 Cooper L. May 16-18 was a nice find (tGRos) and at GalvestonApr. 30 (?PDH). continueto be found in the Panhandle,and (M&KWh). Very unusualfor e. Texaswere An IcelandGull was widelyreported on onein GraysonApr. 11 (LL) provideda new three Piping Ploversin HarrisonApr. 26 BolivarPen. Apr. 20 onwardand purport- countyrecord. Black-billed Cuckoos were (G&ILu). Six Mt. Ploverswere in Dallam edly seenby many.To date,however, all more conspicuousalong the coastthan Mar. 26 (KM); one remained into mid- photosmade available to theseeditors or to usual. Whether this was a side effect of the April. Elsewhere,another late Mt. Plover the TB.R.C.appear to be a GlaucousGull. unusualweather patterns, the increased ob- wasin AustinApr. 28 (DBo). Hard to find No fewer than 10 Lesser Black-backed Gulls server coverage,or an actual increasein m springin n.e. Texas,nine Am. Avocetsat were reportedfrom variouscoastal loca- birds is unknown. A well-documented CooperL. May 16 (M&KWh) and one-two tions.Unfortunately, very few observers are MangroveGuckoo was at Quintana,Bra- Black-neckedStilts there May 3 & 17 pro- documentingthis speciesanymore, so the zoria,May 11 (•DV, ph. MG). As with all vldedgood records. A reportof a N. lacana possibilitythat we are overlookingother other Texas records, this bird is of the Mar. 4 in Hidalgo('•DHel) will be reviewed dark-backedgull species is significant.The buffy-breastedMexican subspecies. An owl by theT.B.R.C. Willets were reported in un- GlaucousGull situationalong the coast this heardcalling at BootSpring, Big Bend, be- usual numbers at two w. Texas locations: 25 springwas rather confusing; we arestill not tweenApr.' 22 andMay 17was variously in BriscoeApr.27 (TFe) and23 in Hudspeth certainhow many individualbirds were identifiedas a N. Pygmy-Owlor a N. Saw- May 2 (GL, DW). present.At leastthree were in the Bolivar whet Owl by differentobservers, and a Notable Whimbrel records included Flats/Galvestonarea, and three more were weak tape-recordingseems inconclusive threeat L. BalmorheaMar. 27 (MAd), four in the CorpusChristi and N. PadreI. area. Eitherspecies would be quiterare. Elf Owls thereApr. 29 (GRos),and one at L. Bryan, This is furtherevidence of the increasing were found at higher elevationsin the Brazos,May 13 (BeF).Long-billed Curlews abundanceof certaingull species once con- DavisMts. than everbefore. Single birds were more in evidence in n.c. Texas than sideredmuch rarer in Texas.The Kelp Gull wereat DavisMountains S.P. Apr. 22, andat normal,with recordsfrom Grayson,Dallas, presentduring the winterat Galveston(see LimpiaCrossing Apr. 29 throughthe endof Tarrant, Rains, and Young.Twenty-nine cover)remained at leastinto earlyMarch. the period (D&LH). Three Long-eared HudsonianGodwits on S. PadreI. Apr. 15 The 2nd-winter Great Black-backed Gull at Owls were in Midland Apr. 5-12 (JHe), (AW) and one at KirbyL., Taylor,Apr. 17 Galvestonfrom winter remainedthrough while anotherlingered at BuffaloL. until (fideLB) werenoteworthy. From one-nine at leastApr. 26 (fideML). Anotherfirst- or May 4 (KS), a very late date for the HudsonianGodwits dropped in at Cooper 2nd-winter Great Black-backed Gull was Panhandle.Seven Lesser Nighthawks at L. May 3-27 (M&KWh). MarbledGodwits on BolivarFlats May 25 (?JW). MidlandMay 13 surprisedobservers (JHe, made newsin n.c. Texas,the Panhandle,and A Black-leggedKittiwake was found in- J&DMe),as did a singlebird at TexasPoint at Midland. One SemipalmatedSandpiper jured at Port AransasMar. 13 (fideTA); the in far s.e.Texas Apr. 22 (BHo,HPL). at Ft. BlissApr. 23 (BZ) and two at L. birdlater died and will eventuallybe turned BalmorheaMay 3 (GRos)were of interestin over to the TC.W.C. Another kittiwake was SWIFTS TO WOODPECKERS the Trans-Pecos.Unexpected in the spring describedon BolivarPen. Apr. 25 (-•JR).A An apparentWltite-coHared Swift was In w. Texas were two Dunlins at Midland CaspianTern at McNary Res.May 2 (GL, photographedover a Brownsvillelake May Apr. 16-19 (J&DMe) and one at Imperial DW) provideda very rare recordfor that 18 (tBSum),foraging with a largeflock of Res.May 13 (BJP).With only6 previousac- area of the Trans-Pecos. Common Terns Cliff Swallows.The photographs, while not ceptedTexas records, the presenceof two wereat 3 locationsin theTrans-Pecos May 3 diagnostic,support the written description CurlewSandpipers this springwas a de- (GRo, LJ). Four Commonsat L. Lewisville A Buff-bellied Hummingbird was at light. The first was on BolivarPen. Apr. 8 May 10(LH) provideda firstDenton record. Castroville,Medina, May 2 (GE). Unusual (?B&IRi) and the 2nd was at Galveston's Photographstaken of a bird nearSea Rim Trans-Pecosspring records of Ruby-throat- East BeachApr. 30-May 2 (tph. PDH, Apr. 14, Jefferson,are very suggestiveof an ed Hummingbirdsincluded single birds at m.ob.). AmericanWoodcocks at High I. Arctic Tern (•JG, CE); thereis somedebate Big BendApr. 26 (DFa) and at Balmorhea May 10 (TE) and at BalconesCanyon- whetherthe photoseliminate all plumages S.P. Apr. 25-26 (TJ). A male Costn'$ lands,B&'lliamson, Apr. 15-May10 (EH, CS, of Com. Tern, however. To date there are Hummingbirdwas well-described at Big CA) werevery late,but therewas no hard still no acceptedrecords of ArcticTern for Bend'sRio GrandeVillage Apr. 26 (-•HPL, evidence of breeding. A Red-necked Texas,but stay tuned. LeastTerns were BHo); it will representthe 6th Texasrecord Phalaropeat FalconDam Apr. 12 (AW) was rathernumerous in w. Texas,including 10 if acceptedby the T.B.R.C.A Broad-tafied a surprise. reportsfrom the Trans-Pecos.Single Least Hummingbirdin AustinApr. 10-19 (PGa, Terns were at Canyon, Randall, Apr. 27 m.ob.)furnished an unusualspring record GULLS TO TERNS (PT), providingthe firstApril recordfor the A RufousHummingbird that remainedat A LaughingGull in Grandfalls,Ward, Apr. Panhandle;Midland May 9 & 30 (JHe);and the sameAngelina feeder from fall 1996was 27 (BJP)was certainly unexpected. Else- Amarillo,Randall, on the late dateof May last seenApr. 16 (LS), providinga rare e where,a LaughingGull in HopkinsMar. 28 (EK). Two SootyTerns were at $. Padre Texasspring record. A Green Kingfisher 3-4 (MWh) andthree at WichitaFalls May Is.Apr. 15 (BMc), probably not far from one was at Rio GrandeVillage Mar. 1S-Apr 1 10 (DMc) providedrare records. A verylate of the fewknown Texas breeding colonies. (MF, DO). RingedKingfisher was reported Bonaparte'sGull wasat ImperialRes. May at Park Chalk Bluff, Uvalde,throughout 29 (BJP).Lingering from the winter,four DOVES TO NIGHT JARS most of the period. The two Lewls's California Gulls remained at a Corpus Eurasian Collared-Doves in Texas continue Woodpeckersfrom last season at E1Paso re- Christi landfill through at leastMar. 22 to proliferate.One found in Castroville mained until Apr. 19 & 27 (fide BZ) (?WS,m.ob.). Other single California Gulls Mar. 9 (WS, J&BRi)provided another loca- Another Lewis'swas in San Angelo Mar were reported at L. BalmorheaApr. 29 tion for the species.White-winged Doves 11-Apr.28 (GC, •TM, m.ob.).Unexpected

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P11eatedWoodpecker occurrences included seasona Tropicalwas reported at Cotton- whatscarce; this spring they were reported one at Ft. Worth Apr. 8 (BT), the first woodCampground May 17 (RT). Reports from Chapefio, Salinerio, and Santa record for Tarrant since 1974, and another of singleThick-billed Kingbirds in Zavala Margarita Ranch.A pair of Tamaulipas at ColoradoBend, San Saba,May 2-31 Apr.2 (GeR)and at BigBend May 8 (RKn) Crowsat BrownsvilleApr. 21 (BMc) ap- (DBo, DWh). are on their way to the T.B.R.C.There are pearedto be scoutingfor a nestsite. Red- onlyabout a dozenrecords of this species breastedNuthatches stayed at several FLYCATCHERS in Texas, all from Brewster and Presidio. Panhandle and Trans-Pecos locations into A VermilionFlycatcher May 16at BuffaloL. Western Kingbirdsseemed to continue mid- andlate May. Apparently a firstnest- wasa greatfind in thePanhandle (EK, RSc, their eastwardrange expansion. This sea- ing recordfor Travis,four beggingyoung JoHal). Two reports of Dusky-capped sonthey were detected in Angelina,Harri- White-breasted Nuthatches were at Flycatcherat BigBend, one Apr. 17 ('•NC) son,and Nacogdoches in early May (m.ob.). WebbervillePark Apr. 17-19 (TFen, ph andone May 10 (tRW), havebeen submit- Lockwood was stunned to find two BF). Very rare in Big Bend,a SedgeWren ted to the T.B.R.C. Rare w. Texas records of Fork-tailedFlycatchers together at Austin's was alongAlamo Cr. Apr. 5 (MF). Black- GreatCrested Flycatcher included one at HornsbyBend Ponds May 6. He wasable to tailed Gnatcatchers are uncommon to rare BigBend May 4 (MD), two at PaloDuro geta photographof bothbirds in the same residentsin Starr,but severalreports at CanyonMay 6 onward(RSc, PT, KS), and frame;to our knowledgethis is the first Bentsenand anothernearby Hidalgo loca- oneat nearbyCeta Canyon May 24 (EK).A time that two Fork-taileds have ever been tion wereworthy of note (MO et al.). Late bluebirds included a Western at Palo Duro Brown-crestedFlycatcher in TerrellApr. 19 seentogether in the UnitedStates, and will (JPa)may providea first countyrecord; representthe 9th acceptedTexas record of Mar. 14 (EK, RSc) and a Mountain at however,the species is fairlycommon along the species.One of the birds stayed BuffaloL. May 4 (KS). Somewhatlate for the Devil's R. in adjacent Val Verde. overnightand was seen by a numberof ob- the Trans-Pecoswere Townsend'sSolitaires, Elsewhere,a Brown-crestedFlycatcher in serversMay 7. We received2 additional whichlingered in theDavis Mts. until May HaysMay 5 (JGe)was a surprise,as was a third-hand reportsof singleFork-tailed 10 (KB) andat HuecoTanks until May 18 GreatKiskadee slightly farther south in San Flycatchers(in Cameronand Chambers) (BJ). Townsend'sSolitaires appeared in Antonio Apr. 7 (CB) and yet another with no documentation. higher-than-expectednumbers on the Edward's Plateau e. to Meridian S.P, K•skadeejust n. of its rangeat DolanFalls, Val Verde,May 7 (BC). TropicalKingbirds JAYS TO SHRIKES Bosque,and Balcones Canyonlands, Travis, lingeringinto late April (m.ob.). Catharus remained at their well-known Cameron lo- ThreeSteller's Jays that wintered in E1Paso thrusheswere prominent in the April fall- cations.Last summer the specieswas docu- lingeredinto earlyMay (JoK,JMa). In re- outs along the coast.In the Panhandle,a mentedfor the first time at BigBend; this centseasons Brown Jays have been some- Veeryin VegaMay 12 (RSc)provided one of fewarea records. The smallcommunity SOldE ldOTABI. E VYARBI. ER RECORDS lid TEXAS, SPRlldG 1997 of Frontonin Starrhosted a Clay-colored SPECIES DATE LOCATION OBSERVER Robin Apr. 25 through the period (?BF, Golden-winged May6 Donle? KS PH). A BrownThrasher in E1Paso May 2 Golden-winged May 11 El Paso SH (DW, GL, m.ob.) furnisheda very rare %rgmla's May3 -4 BuffaloL. P.B.C. springfind for that region.San Angelo was %rgm•a's May5 Amarillo Jolla Magnolia May2, 19& 21 Amarillo RSc out-of-range for a PhainopeplaMar. 18 CapeMay May2 BigBend RW,MAd (ph. MH). A N. Shrikeremained at the Rita Black-throatedBlue (pair) April27 Lubbock [Hau,LeS Blanca National Grassland, Dallam, until Black-throatedBlue May7 BigBend LP Mar. 1 (EK et al.). Black-throatedGray April21 PackeryChannel Jill Herrrot April5 HighIsland DMa VIREOS TO WARBLERS B/ackburnian May12 Vega RSc Blackpoll April20 BigBend MF,MD SevenBell's Vireos singing at variousloca- Blackpoll Mayt 2 Vega RSc tions around Rockportwere of interest Blackpoll May13-14 Amarillo RSc (CC). Migrant Black-cappedVireos away Blackpoll May17 BuffaloL. RSc,TFe from nesting areas are most unusual; a Black-and-white April3 Canyon KSch male Black-cappedwas netted Apr. 14 on Prothonotary April22 BigBend CHe Padre Island National Seashore,Kleberg Prothonotary May1 BigBend MF Worm-eating April27 BigBend KO,AW (GB), and one-twowere seen Apr. 19-20 in Worm-eating May6 PaloDuro RSc,PT Montague,providing a first countyrecord Worm-eating May6 TaylorLakes, Donley KS (GH, WM). A Yellow-throated Vireo at Worm-eating May14 BigBend GLu LubbockMay 3 wasa nicefind (L.E.A.S.) S•wamson's May30 SanAntonio CCu The Apr. 12 groundingincluded over 60 LomslanaWaterthrush May17 & 20 BuffaloL. TFe,RSc, PT WarblingVireos in the Brownsvillearea Kentucky April28 Midland [Me (BMc), and an estimated 300 in the Kentucky May1 BigBend MF Kentucky May4 Amarillo RSc Harlingenarea (OC), remarkablenumbers Mourning May17 BuffaloL TFe,RSc for the species.Two PhiladelphiaVireos Hooded April27 BigBend AW,KO werereported at BigBend: one Mar. 17 at Hooded May7 G.M.N.P. J&BRi Rio GrandeVillage (JLi, BMcH) andanoth- Hooded •_M_ay12____•-1=•== _ Vega RSc er at LagunaMeadow Apr 8 (RT) Bothof

FALL 1997 895 theseare extraordinarilyearly for the state. usual range;much rarer was another at representthe 5th and 6th Texasrecords DocumentedYellow-green Vireos included Canyon,Randall, May 11 (ID, WD). Seven Counts of 100 Hooded Orioles on the one at Sarita,Kened)6 Apr. 20 (?AI, lB), one Rose-breasted Grosbeaks at various Trans- KenedyRanch in May wereamazing (AD et at Big Bend'sRio GrandeVillage Apr. 24 Pecoslocalities was a better-than-average al.). Veteran Texasobserver Arvin remarked (?GLe),and one on the KenedyRanch May number. A Black-headed Grosbeak at a that he had not seen numbers of Hoodeds 11 (?BF,m.ob.). A Black-whiskeredVireo at feederin NacogdochesMar. 18was either a like this in Texassince the early1970s The High I. May 10 (pT&PF,BB) will represent winteringbird or an earlymigrant (CE1). Cassin's Finch invasion in the Davis Mrs about the 12th state record. The lastreport of the pair of BlueBuntings and w. Texascontinued into late spring As with anygood migration year, war- wintering at Bentsenwas Mar. 29 (BMc). Somebirds lingered until the end of thepe- bler reportswere prominent. A longlist of LazuliBuntings were more conspicuousin riod;however, breeding activities were not interestingsingle records are summarized partsof w. Texas,and therewas the usual notedat anylocations (fide KB). in Table1 (page895). At least120 Nashville scatteringof sightingsin the e. half of the The Red Crossbill invasion continued in Warblersat Brownsvilletallied duringthe state.Several Varied Buntingswere seen in many areas.Since this beganin the fall of Apr. 12 falloutwas a substantialtotal near migration on S. Padre I. in April, where 1996,the specieshas been recorded in 10 e. the coast(BMc). As the live oak woodlands they are at bestunexpected (ph. SB,OC). Texascounties where no previousrecords on privateranches in Kenedyand Kleberg The Dickcisselmigration clearly shifted had existed(RiS). Theseincluded Anderson, are explored further, the magnitude of westward,with increasednumbers noted as Angelina,Hardin, Harrison,Jasper, Mont- Tropical Parula populationsbecome in- far west as Midland. Several remained to gomer)•Nacogdoches, Newton, Sabine, and creasinglyapparent. Up to fifteenTropicals nest in areas from Austin to Midland. An E. San Augustine.Amazingly, streaked juv werefound on the KenedyRanch in April Towhee was at Palo Duro Mar. 14 (EK, crossbillswere noted May 3 in SanAugus- and May (PH); the specieswas also noted RSc).Spotted Towhees lingered in brushy tine,which strongly suggested local breed- on the NoriasDivision of the King Ranch areasof c. Texasinto May, and at leastone ing (CSh, ChC). Crossbillsremained in 4 Apr.21 (JMcH)and at the old (traditional) stayedthrough the period near Dripping Panhandlelocations, including Randall, and new Sarita rest stopsand elsewhere Springs,Hays (JGe). A CanyonTowhee in Gray,Moore, and Hockley(fide KS). Else- alongU.S. 77 (fideTP). Nanneydiscovered s.e.Young Mar. 23-Apr. 13 may representa where, numbers of thesebirds remained in a probable breeding population of six smallpopulation a few countiesn. of the dozensof locationsthroughout much of Golden-cheekedWarblers in s.e. Young species'known rangein the Hill Country the state,except for the s.Texas brush coun- Mar. 22-May 31, providinga first county (KN). try. Therehas never been a RedCrossbill record in an area where researcher Warren A countof 30 Botteri'sSparrows on the invasionof thismagnitude in Texasbefore Pulichhad long agosuggested the species KenedyRanch May l0 suggestshow abun- Pine Siskins remained in numbers might occur.Blackburnian Warblers were dant this inconspicuousspecies can be in throughthe periodin the Panhandle(KS) particularlynumerous (25-30) in the May goodhabitat (PH, AD). Rarelyreported in Left over from last winter's influx were two 10-11 groundingin Kenedy(AD). There the Trans-Pecos,single Am. TreeSparrows Lawrence's Goldfinches: one at Hueco were also substantiallymore reports of madeone-day appearances at Hueco Tanks Tanksuntil Mar. 9 (ML) and anotherin E1 Blackpollsin s.Texas than in anyyear since Mar. 9 (ML) and at Davis Mountains S.P. Pasountil Apr. 1 (SHo).Evening Grosbeaks 1982(fide PP). A CeruleanWarbler provid- Mar. 18 (B&MCol). A Henslow'sSparrow remaineduntil late May in a numberof ed a first VanZandt recordApr. 24 (RK). A at L Tawakoni,Rains, Mar. 26 (BGi, AV) Panhandle and w. Texas locations. Else- ProthonotaryWarbler near Ft. DavisMay 5 providedone of few recordsfor n.e.Texas. where, 22 were in BrackettvilleApr 14- providedabout the 2nd reportthere (DW). Singlelate Le Conte'sSparrows remained May 12 (ph. TBa), whileanother 22 birds Swainson'sWarbler was another species into mid-May at BalconesCanyonlands were countedin WichitaMar. 23-May 9 notedmore frequentlyalong the s. Texas and in Delta and Randall (m.ob.). ALe (B&MCu et al.), providinga first for that coast;Palmer heard of about 12 sightings Conte'sin YoungApr. 29 provideda first area. Mar. 31-Apr. 28 (m.ob.). A Red-faced countyrecord (KN). ThreeNelson's Sharp- Warblerat BootCanyon, Big Bend,Apr. 23 tailedSparrows were detected at CooperL., UNDOCUMENTED RARITIES Delta,May 16, and one wasstill thereMay furnishedthe earliestspring report ever In addition to the documentedreportes 21-23 (MWh). A lateWhite-throated Spar- (AP). Very out-of-place was a well-de- listedabove, we receivedthe followingre- scribed Slate-throated Redstart viewed row wasin BastropMay 14 (BF). Another portsof TexasReview List speciesthis sea- briefly near San Antonio Apr. 17 (PSu); late seedeaterwas a Dark-eyedJunco in son with insufficient or no documentation thereis onlya singleaccepted sight record Quinlan,Hunt, May 15 (RK). A flockof 17 Brant at Lubbock, Heermann's Gull in El McCown'sLongspurs in n. SmithMar. 2 of thisspecies for Texas. Paso(there are only 2 Texasrecords of this (S&TPo et al.) was much farther eastthan species), Great Black-backedGull at normallyexpected. Somewhat early were Corpus Christi, Greater Peweein Kerr, TANAGERS TO FINCHES singleBobolinks Apr. 15 (AW) & 22 (BMc) Masked Duck at Port Aransas, Ruff •n A ScarletTanager at Ft. DavisMay 19 pro- at S. PadreI., and anotherApr. 22 at Sea Harris,Fork-tailed Flycatcher in Cameron videdjust the 2nd DavisMrs. record(PM, Rim (BHo). Countsof 1000Yellow-headed & Chambers,and Yellow-greenVireo at PE). A W. Tanagernetted in San Angelo Blackbirdsnear Abilene Apr. 26 (fide LB) Santa Ana. May 6 wasa raremigrant (liD); onlya sin- and 2000 near Smithville,Bastrop, Apr. 28 gle W. Tanagerwas reported from the (B&JRi)were notable. A ShinyCowbird Cited observers (subregionaleditors ia U T.C.,a sparsershowing than expected: It was well-described from Port O'Connor boldface): Peggy Abbott (PAb), Carlo wasat High I. May 10 (TE). A Pyrrhuloxia Apr. 19 (pPH), as was anotherin Tarrant Abbruzzese,Mark Adams, Dick Anderson, in YoungApr 12 (KN) wasa bit n e of its May 3 (pEW,RH); if acceptedthese would Fred Armstrong,Nina & Eddie Arnold,

896 FIELD NOTES texas

JohnArvin, Jerry Askins, Peter Assman, Jim Muschalek (DMu), Ken Nanney, Julius Amarillo, TX 79109), Cliff Shackelford Bangma, Tins Bauguess(TBa), Bob Nussbaum,Maureen O'Reilly, Dale Ohl, (CSh)(EastTexas: 4908-A Rowena,Austin, Behrstock,Charles Bender, Steve Bentsen, June Osborne, Karl Overman, Nancy & TX 78751. email: clifford.shackelford PeterBillingham, Nancy Bird, Lorie Black, Paul palmer (South Texas: 615 South @tpwd.state.tx.us),David and ElviraShap- Gene Blacklock,Don Blasingame,Doug Wanda, Kingsville, TX 78363. email: pirio, Mark Shaver,J. W. Sifford,R. J.Small Booher(DBo), Bill Bourbon(BBo), David [email protected]),Panhandle Bird (RJS),Darleen Smith, Lynn Smith,Leanna Bradford (U.T.C.: 18046 Green Hazel, Club (PBC), Helen Parker,Mike Patterson, Smith (LeS), StlvestreSorola, Brian Stefer, Houston, TX 77084. emaih brdfrd@tenet. Dick Payne,Dwight Peake (DPe), Tom Elton Stilwell,Cliff Stogner(CSt), Byron edu), Scott Brandes,Hugh Brown, Tim Pincelli, Lars Pomara, Steve Pomeroy, Stone, Rose Marie Stortz (RMS), Bill Brush,Kelly Bryan (Trans-Pecos: P.O. Box Sharon & Truman Powell (S&TPo), John Summerour (BSum), Bob Sundstrom, 786, Ft. Davis,TX 79734. emaih kellyb@ Praiswater, Arvino Punjabi, Ross Ras- Karin Sutherland (KSu), Glenn Swartz, phoenix.as.utexas.edu),Frank Bumgard- mussen (N.C. Texas: 600 S. Graves No. Rick Taylor, Daniel Thompson (DTh), ner, William Burch, Oscar Carmona, Bill 1704,McKinney, TX 75069),Janet Rathjen, Barbara Tompkins, P. Trollman, Peggy Carr, MargaretCarrington, Allen Chartier Ellen Red, Joel Reese(JRe), Martin Reid, Trosper,Al Valentine,Betty Vermiere, Don (ACh), Jack Chiles, Charlie Clark, Neal Bill Reiner,Barbara & JohnRibble (B&JRi), Verser,Ron Weeks (RWe), Ed Wetzel,Carter Clark, Scott Clark, Chris Collins (ChC), GaryRoberts, Bob Rogers, Richard Rosche Whatley,Carl White, Matt & KristinWhite Bruce& Mary Collins(B&MCol), Arlie & (RRo), Gary Rosenberg (GRo), Gerd (M&KWh), John Whittle, Sue Wiedenfeld Mel Cooksey,Gordon Creel, Mary Creel, Rotxoll (GeR), Laura Sare,Rick Schaefer (SWie), Teri Wilhelm, FrancesWilliams, Juhe Crouch, Bob & Mary Cummings, (RiS), Adriel Schoenhals,Kristen Schoen- Marge Williams, Jack Windsor (JWin), CarolynCuthbertson (CCU), IsabelDavis, hals, Monty Schoenhals,Rosemary Scott DavidWolf, Mimi Wolf,Alan Wormington Michelle Davis, Phil Davis, Walt Davis, Ross (RSc),Willie Sekula (CentralTexas: Rt. 1, Dawkins, Louis Debetaz,Sandy Dillard, Box 130, Falls City, TX 78113. emaih TX78745-6527 (glasley@onr. com) and Chuck RobertDoe, Ken Dollar,Andrew Donnelly, [email protected]), Chuck Sexton, Ken Sexton, 101 E. 54th St.,Austin, TX 78751- CharlesEasley, Gilbert Echtle, Ed Edmin- Se3rffert(Panhandle: 2206 S. Lipscomb, 1232(cwsexton@onr. com). ster, Carol Edwards (CEd), Jan Elston, Chuck Ely (CE1), PansyEspey, Ted Eu- banks,Doug Faulkner(DFa), Tim Fennel (TFe), Terry Ferguson(TFe), JoseFernan- dez, Mark Flippo, David Flynt, Connie Fordham,Tony & Phyllis Frank, Brush Freeman,Bert Frenz (BeF), Pam Garriston .... BIRDING (PGa), B. Geasey,John Gee (JGe), Brian Gibbons(BGi), PeterGottschling, Michael pLANO%%,ON TOURS Gray,Tim Green(TGr), Jim Harley(Jill), JohnHall (JoHal),Karl Hailer,Larry Hal- North, Central, Peninsular sey,Chuck Hamilton, GeorgeHarmon, 3-25 January BruceHarris, Rodney Harris, Jill Haukos, ScottHaywood, Colin Hedderick(CHe), Dawd & LindaHedges, Dick Heller (DHe), "thegreatest /7 The westernSOUTH Ghats,INDIA Madras, Jim Henderson (JHe), Bob & Nancy operatorof •/ • ' '.-- AndsmanIs. H•ghgate, Petra Hockey, Buddy Hollis // Asia (BHo), SallieHoman, Alton Homesly,Lee tourson /• • _ _ _•_,•__- Hoy, P.D. Hulce,Mike Husak,Joe Ideker, peclallStS LANKA Ann Johnson,Bob Johnson,Tom Johnson, Arthur /j••• Writefor 24danusry- 9 February LarryJordon, Donna Kelly, Richard Kinney, JohnKiseda (JoK), Ron Knaus(RKn), Ed Frommet•( itineraries PHILIPPINES Luzon, Mindanao, Cebu, Kutac,H.P. Langridge(HPL), GregLasley, Palawan, Bohol, Negros Geoff LeBaron(GLe), Lee Lemmons,John NW CHINA INDONESIA 20 February-23 March Ldler (JLi), Ray Little, Llano Estacado Xinjiang S Maluku (Moluccas) Is. AudubonSociety, Mark Lockwood,Guy & 10-21 June Ambon, Seram, Bum, BHUTAN JoanLuneau (G&JLu), Barry Lyon, Donna Kai, Tanimbar West to East Traverse Maddox (DMa), Mike Mansen,Jan Mar- TIBET 29 July-30 August 27 March -19 April nnez (JMa), Elke Matejivich,Terry Max- North to South Traverse well, Karen McBride (KMc), PennyMc- Lhasa, Xizang Qinghai, VIETNAM MALAYSIA Elroy,Jim McHanney(JMcH), BruceMc- Koko Nor North, South Malaya, Borneo, Mt. Kinabalu 19 November-13 December Henry (BMcH), Debra McKee,Bill Mc- 19 June-18 July 27 June-19 July Kinney (BiMc), Brad McKinney (BMc), Sylwa McTague, Joann & Don Merritt (J&DMe),Dorothy Metzler (DMet), Wayne Meyer, Carroll Moore, J. Moore, Matt Moses (MMo), Kevin Mote, Derek

FALL 1997 897 idaho-western montana region

White Pelicans are still uncommon and local in n. Idaho and n.w. Montana. Un- usualsightings this spring included a single on the Clearwater R. near Lewiston, ID, Apr. 23 (ES), eight at Ninepipe N.W.R., Lake,MT, May 20 (DC), and ten on Coeur d'AleneL., Kootenai,ID, May 21 (SW, RY, m.ob.). As noted in pastreports, Double- crestedCormorants are alsoincreasing in the Region'sn. half,so the singleon Coeur d'AleneL. May 19 (CC, DCm) wasnot un- expected.Single Great Egrets were at Boise, MøsCøW ID, Apr. 17 & 25 (MC, FK), and Darby,MT, Lewiston MetcalfNWR • DeerLodge May 10 (JO),the latterproviding about the 30th state record. Three neck-collaredTrumpeter Swans visitedMcArthur LakeW.M.A., Boundar)• ID, Apr. 1-3 (PC), wherethe speciesis rare. A flock of eight Greater White-fronted Geeseat ChurchSlough, Flathead, MT, Apr. Red Rock Lakes NWR 12 (DC) wasthe largestCasey has seen lo- cally in 14 years.A Snow Gooseat Lane Marsh, Kootenai,ID, Mar. 26 (C.A.S.) was noteworthy.One-four Ross'sGeese were at ilDAHO Mann L., Nez Perce,ID, Apr. 6-May 8 (JH, MH, J&AR, m.ob.), where annual; the sin- DeerFlat /GraysI•i•e gleRoss's 50 mi to the northeastat Elk R. in NWR / NWR"- "• -qnakeR American_f •) i. ' earlyMay (JE)finished a localfirst. •_"_• •' F• •,•'% "'. Unlike last year, Eur. Wigeons were ---'•/•.._. •'Pocatel,o:•. :... widelyreported in w. Montanathis spring (DC, PW), with ninemales by Somers,MT, Mar. 23 (DC). Idaho sightingswere down slightlyfrom last year's strong showing, but includedtwo malespersisting in Boiseuntil DAN $VINGEN Violet-greenand NorthernRough-winged Apr. 7 (MC, FK); one-twomales on Bene- swallowsrecord early by 2-21 days. wah L., Benewe&, ID, Mar. 2-8 (KD, JM); two malesat McArthur LakeW.M.A. Apr. 3 N springostofthewith Region delayed reportedmelt ofacool, last sea-wet Abbreviations: A.ER. (AmericanFalls Res., (PC); a male at Market Lake W.M.A., son'smighty snowpacK The inaccessibility AmericanFalls, ID); RW.Z.M.: (Philip t. Wright Iefferson,ID, Apr.22 (CT); and "several"at of high-elevationhabitats concentrated ZoologicalMuseum, formedy called University KootenaiN.W.R. throughoutspring (JRy). birdsin lowlandstaging areas. In northwest of MontanaZoological Museum, but renamed GreaterScaup are regularlyreported on Montana,Dan Caseynoted that Common at a dedicationMay 5 to honorlong-time cura- Pend OrefileL., Bonner,ID, during winter, Loons, Varied Thrushes, White-crowned tor,ornithologist, birder, and subregional edi- but often go unmentionedduring spring, Sparrows, and Spotted Towhees were tor,Dr. Philip Wright). makingthe 300 thereApr. 7 (JW) interest- amongthe speciesmost obviously affected. ing. One-twomigrant Harlequin Duck are The majority of observersfelt spring reportedfrom the South Fork Clearwater GREBES TO RAILS migrationwas tardy, with manyspecies ar- R., Idaho,ID, almostevery year; this year, rivinga weekor more late.The exception After successfullyraising young last year, one wasat Elk City Apr. 26 (fide SB1).An wasSalmon, Idaho, where Hadley Roberts Red-neckedGrebes are again nesting at Oldsquawnear Aberdeen, ID, Mar. 20 (DB) reported Snow Geese,Redheads, Ring- Kootenai N.W.R., Boundary, ID (JRy). provideda veryrare spring sighting. necked Ducks, Bonaparte'sGulls, and Althoughincreasing in recentyears, Am. TurkeyVultures are now commonin

898 FIELD NOTES idaho-western montana

Montana'sFlathead Valley, Lake and Flat- Montana'sFlathead Valley to Apr. 7 (JB). hopperSparrow was at HellsGate S.P., Nez head(DC, SY), parallelingtheir rangeex- SnowyOwl sightingsat the Coeurd'Alene Perce,ID, May 22 (WH, MS); the species'n pansionin the Region'sn. half overthe last airportincluded one Mar. 13 & 31, andtwo Idaho distributionis largelyunknown. A severalyears. A Broad-wingedHawk, an un- Mar. 28 (BG). Golden-crownedSparrow May 8 wasat the usualmigrant in w.Montana, was in Helena Three Common Poorwills were heard same Viola, ID, feeder that hosted the Valley,Lewis and Clark,May 11 (CJ,DSk, throughoutMay at Twin Lakes,ID (CL); speciesthe last 3 years(JH, MH). Harris's ST,m.ob.). A locallyrare SwainsoffsHawk thereare no breedingrecords for Latilong2. Sparrowsightings in Idahoincluded two in flew overGrangeville, ID, Apr.27 (SR).The PersistentBlue Jays included one in Dover, BoiseMar. 1-Apr. 20 (DJT), a single in Gannett,ID, Gyrfalconpersisted through ID, Mar. 14 (EC), threein LewistonMar. 22 LewistonOrchards Mar. 13-22 (WH, DK), March (fide CT). Idaho's2nd Common (JLo), three in Hayden Lake,ID, Mar. 26 andfour in nearbyLewiston Mar. 22 (WH) Moorhenwas in a marshadjacent to Carey (KP), three in Moscowuntil Apr. 4 (DG), Three female Great-tailed Grackles were WM A., Blaine,ID, Apr.25 (•'JRc). onein Grangevilleuntil May 8 (SR),one in nearChubbuck, ID, Mar. 12 (RC). A very BoiseApr. 17 (MC, FK, DJT, m.ob.), and early Bullock'sOriole gracedSandpoint SHOREBIRDS TO GNATCATCHER onein Pocatello,ID, until mid-May(CT). Mar. 14 (EC). Stx Black-bellied Ploverswere near Somers, Two Bewick'sWrens were near JulJetta, As usual, at least one LesserGoldfinch MT, May 13 (DC); the speciesis Regionally ID, May 10 (KD), in the samearea where pair was on territory along Mink Cr, rare duringspring. Up to 11 Black-necked mostof Idaho'srecords have originated. A Stfitswere at Mann L., Nez Perce,ID, Apr. pair of Blue-graygnatcatchers, casual in Bannock,ID, by mid-May(MCo). Likelast 26 (CM, JM, m.ob.), providingonly the Montana, nestednear Warren, Carbon,MT year,the specieswas alsopresent in s.w 2nd localrecord; two werestill present May (PH, JMa),providing the state'sfirst breed- Idaho, with a singleby SwanFalls Dam, I (DH). The singleBlack-necked Stilt at ingrecord. Incredibly, another pair was dis- Ada,ID, May 5 (MC, FK), and 19 alongthe F•ghtlngCr. Landfill,Kootenai, ID, May 14 coverednearby (JMa, *EW.Z.M.). BoiseR. in BoiseMay 15 & 16 (MC, FK) (C A S.),was even more unexpected. Single SohtarySandpipers were near Potlatch, ID, MOCKINGBIRD TO FINCHES CORRIDENDUM Apr 20 (JH, MH), and at Mann L. May 1 A N. Mockingbirdwas in BurleyMay 10-31 TheWhite-throated Swifts reported in AFN (DH) Whimbrel are very rare in w. (JL). The SiberianAccentor discovered last 49:953were in Latilong7, not Latilong8 Montana,but a singlewas at Stevensville seasonat Hailey,ID, remaineduntil Apr. 1 Apr 27 (WT). The 11 Whimbreln.w. of (WW). A N. Shrike near LeadoreMar. 20 Observerscited (subregional editors in bold- Kahspell,MT, May 11 (LK, BT) established (HR) waslocally record late. face):IDAHO: Steve Blair (SB1), Steve a new Regional high count. Seventeen If accepted,the Luc•s Warbler in Boise Bouffard(SB), DaveBurrup (DB), Corinne Marbled Godwits visited BlacksCreek Res., May 13 (MC, FK) would be Idaho's2nd, Cameron,Del Cameron(DCm), EarlChap- while the BlackpollWarbler at Market Ada,ID, Apr.22 (MC, FK).With onlyabout in, Ray Clark, Jim & Marilyn Clayton 20 Montana records, the Short-billed Lake W.M.A. May 17 (•'GR) would be (I&MC), Coeurd'Alene Audubon Society Dowltcherat FreezeoutL., Teton,MT, May Idaho's first. A male Black-and-white (C.A.S.)Pat Cole (PC), Mark Collie,Marty 17 (DC) wasof interest;it wasthought to Warblerin BoiseMay 15 (MC, FK) provid- Collar (MCo), David Dudley, Kas Dum- be of the caurinussubspecies (DC). ed only the 2nd recordfor Latilong 17. roese, John Edson,Dale GoNe, Don & Mel A Thayer'sGull was still at Coeur Rarelynoted in migration,an Am. Redstart Grinstead(D&MG), Bill Gundlach,Winme d'AleneMar. 6 (SHS,BG). The first-winter wasin BoiseMay 15(MC, FK). Glaucous-wingedGull at Sandpoint,ID, The male Northern Gardlmd discovered Hepburn,John Hirth, Marty Hirth, Ray& May 14, was both locallyand seasonally in Lewiston last winter continued to fre- BettyHoff (R&BH), DaveHolick, Lloyd & rare (C.A.S.). Common Ternsare rare mi- quent area feedersuntil at least May 19 Helen Hogden(L&HH), Pat lacks,Dwight grantsin n. Idaho;one visited Chatcolet L., (D&MG, WH, L&HH). Most of Idaho's20 Kilgore, FlorenceKnoll, Cindy Langlitz, Benewah,ID, May 14 (C.A.S.). An Arctic Rose-breasted Grosbeak records are from lulaneLowry (lLo), lasonLynch (IL), Cody Tern was at A.ER. May 3 (•'RC), where May, along the SnakeR. Plain or near Montgomery,lohn Montgomery (IM), mostof Idaho's11 recordshave originated. Ketchum. A male Rose-breasted in Sun Karen Parker, Jim Reichel (JRc), limmle There are about 20 Idaho records of ValleyMay 25 (I&MC) fitsthis pattern nice- Reynolds(JRy), Greg Rice,Sharon Ritter, Band-tailedPigeon, mostly from feeders ly. A male Indigo Bunting brightened John& Amy Roberson(J&AR), Hadley andpigeon coops in Apriland May. Several PocatelloApr. 24 (MR, CT, m.ob.);there are Roberts,Marlene Rossiter, Marilyn Smith, reportswere received this spring, the first a about15 previousIdaho records. Four Am. BrianSturges, Shirley $turts (SHS),Elaine singleBand-tailed at a Moscow,ID, feeder TreeSparrows were near Prichard, ID, May Sullivan, Dave Trochlell (DIT), Chuck Apr 17-18 (R&BH).An Ola,ID, feederpre- 14 (CL), a verylate date. A locallyrare Lark Trost, Wendy Warren, lennifer Welch, viouslyhosted the speciesseveral times Sparrowwas at Pierce,ID, May 18 (PJ).Last SusanWeller, RogerYoung, Fred Zeille- and,again, produced a Band-tailedarriving year produced an unprecedentedLark maker.MONTANA: lim Brown,Dan Casey Apr 21 and remainingto at leastMay 31 Bunting invasioninto s.e. Idaho, but the (DC), Paul Hendricks, Cedron Iones, Leo (FZ) Surprisingly,a 2nd bird arrivedMay onlyreports this spring were of singlemales Keane, left Marks (JMa), John Ormiston, 7, and alsopersisted to at leastthe end of near Sage JunctionMay 25 (CT) and Don $kaar (DSk), BruceTannehill, Terry the month (DD, FZ). A 4th Band-tailedvis- Downey,ID, May 26 (CT), and two males Topppins,Sara Toubman,Wayne Tree, ited a feederin SunValley, ID, Apr. 29, re- near Minidoka N.W.R., Cassia,ID, in late RogerWhite, Philip Wright, ScottYeats. ma•mngfor severaldays (BS). May (SB).A pair of Baird'sSparrows at Single Snowy Owls lingered near Brown'sL., Powell,MT (TT), May 29 pro- Dan Svingen, P.O.Box 132, Grangeville, ID Sandpoint until Mar 6 (EC), and in vided the Region's2nd record A Grass- 83530

FALL 1997 899 mountain west region

Churchill,NV, May 20 (LN). Twelvenests of Black-crownedNight-Heron were counted c3•ß ßSheddan SundanCe in HumboldtW.M.A., Pershing, NV, May 20 __:_•, -Cody? (LN), and 173in LahontanValley, NV, May %ackso. WYOMING 20 (LN). An ad. GlossyIbis wasw. of Las •..'•- Casper Animas, Bent, CO, Apr. 26 (MJ, BKP). Good numbers of White-faced Ibis were recordedthis spring. A groupof 400-500at ..•,.•.:; • •'•ßBearLoganßRiver .Rock Springs ..-Cheyenne •; ß• Highline Res.,CO, Apr. 1 (RL); 28 at L. Estes,Larimer, CO, May 1 (SR);6455 in the SaltLake-,.A<• •) •,hvlak.ß "WR City. : .... VernalI COLORADO •o.¾ LahontanValley, NV, May 20; and 1000at •eno• '--'- - -' .....• •-:•': L I ...•.•.,•¾:"•'•.:•'- ßDenver Res. ß HumboldtW.M.A., NV, May 20 (LN) were NEVADA F,shSp,og%;••) I•r•Jot ';j;.?.• the moreinteresting. valtey I .•"(•;•:' } /I "':•."" '2A:'Pueblo , WATERFOWL

ßDyer ]J .•."Zion•;;"' Nat • • •'•rang• •.,•;•-': Vaey '.:,•;j•( . B•aCo.- The TrumpeterSwan in Boulder,Boulder, • 't_J PaA • -.- •:"•'•:" CO, stayedto Mar. 7 (PL). GreaterWhite- frontedGoose were observed to Apr. 13 at •sV•a• •m• Highline Res., CO (CD). Twelve Snow Geesewere in s. Utah from Mar. 1-Apr.27 (SDS),and fivelingered at Nee NosheRes., Kiowa,CO, May 31 (BKP,MJ, BD). Unusual in mountain Colorado, three Ross'sGeese VAN A. TRUAN (RL); and 91 at Quail Creek Res., werein Salida,Chaffee, Mar. 7 (VAT); six and BRANDON K. PERCIVAL Washington,UT, Apr. 6 (SDS). Still quite wereat QuichapaL., Iron,UT, Mar. 9 (SDS, rare inland, a Yellow-billed Ecoa was re- PRS).A pairof WoodDucks at Padin,Gun- portedfrom Walker L., Mineral,NV, Apr. 19 nison,CO, May 2-4 (KP) andone at L. San ahereSierras wasand ahigh Rockies snow this pack spring. inboth Record the (LN, GC et al.). Cristobalat 8995ft. in Hinsdale,CO, May 4 floodingoccurred in westemNevada, fill- There were counts of 350 Am. White (PM) were new for those areas.The male ing lakesand wetland areas. Pyramid Lake Pelicansat QuichapaL., Iron, UT, Apr. 5 Eur. Wigeon in Ft. Collins, Larimer, CO, gainedfive feet,Walker Lake four feet,and (SDS); 5292 at Anaho Island N.W.R., stayedto Apr. 10 (DAL),and another male the Carson Sink was estimated at over Washoe,NV, May 6 (RBu); and 2200 at wasat Stillwater,NV, Mar. 22 (MM). Colo- 50,000 acres of wetlands. The rest of the WalkerL., NV, Apr.20 (NS).Approximately rado had its first two Tufted Ducks this seasonwas dry in Nevada. The Rockies 600 Double-crested Cormorant nests were spring:an ad.male at WaldenPonds, Boul- werewet andcold into May. It seemedto be talliedat AnahoIsland N.W.R., NV, Apr.6 der,Mar. 21-23 (MP et al.) and a 2nd male the longest,coolest spring in yearsin east- (RBu); 23 nests at Humboldt W.M.A., in Denver, Apr. 22-26 (BH). Thesewere ern Wyoming and Colorado; leaveson Pershing,NV, May 20 (LN); and 40 nestsat determinedto be differentbirds by the many treesdidn't appearuntil mid-May. S-Line Res.,Churchill, NV, in May (LN). lengthof their tufts--the Boulderbird had On Apr. 23, the hawkwatch at Dinosaur a longertuff, as comparedby observers Abbreviations: EC.R.R(Fountain Cr. Reg- Ridge, ]efferson,recorded a Neotropic who sawboth. A lateOldsquaw was at Big ionalPark, El Paso Co., CO); EL.W.E. (Fort Lyon Cormorant (BS), unusualin Colorado,and JohnsonRes., El Paso,CO, May 20 (RB, WildlifeEasement, Bent Co., CO); S.W.A. (State even more so the mountains. m.ob.). A male White-winged Scoter WildlifeArea). In Colorado,single Great Egretswere visitedL. Cheraw,Otero, CO, Apr. 16 (DA). reportedfrom Craig,Moffat, May 7 (FL); An estimatedhigh count of 1800Ruddy LOONS TO IBIS near Loma,Mesa, May 18 (PLa); and Ala- Duckswere at JumboRes., Sedgwick, CO, Coloradohad the onlyRed-throated Loons mosa,Alamosa, May 21 (TL). At an unusual Apr. 16 (SD). this season,singles near Snyder,Morgan, site,a SnowyEgret graced Clear Creek Res., May 10 (DAL, ]M) and at JohnMartin Res., Chaffee,CO, May 29 (VAT);approximately RAPTORS Bent,May 10 (SD,RB). The Regionsonly 246 nests were counted in the Lahontan An Ospreywas reported from Corn Cr., Pacific Loon was at Quail Creek Res., Valley, Churchill, NV, May 20 (LN). A Clark,NV, Apr. 5 (RS). A pair of nesting Washington,UT, Mar.2 (SDS).High counts Green Heron was at Riverside Drive Pond Bald Eaglesin the LahontanValley, NV, of Corn. Loon were reportedfrom New in St. George,Washington, UT, May 26 producedthe first chickin the statesince CastleRes., Iron, UT, with 21 Apr.5 (SDS); (SDS, PRS). Forty-five Cattle Egret 1866 (NS, LN discovereda chickMay 1). Highline Res.,Mesa, CO, with 16 Apr. 5 nests were counted at Canvasback Club, Rareon theplains in springwas an imm.N.

900 FIELD NOTES mountain west

Goshawkat F.L.W.E., Bent, CO, May 5 L., NV, Apr. 20 (LC, MM, GC, LN et al.). On Mar. 21, 17 BorealOwls were reported (DAL). A pair of Com. Black-Hawkswas Short-billedDowitcher reports included on Cameron Pass,Larimer, CO (PAR, DAL, reportedfrom Beaver Dam Wash, UT, Apr. oneat L. Cheraw,CO, Apr.23 (DB); oneat JFB,WPL). Unusualon the plains in e 29 (VAS).Colorado had three Red-shoul- Clifton, CO, Apr. 24 (BGu); two at Colorado, a N. Saw-whet Owl was at deredHawks: an adultat L. Henry,Crowley, O'SullivanPond (Hwy. 56), Iron,UT, May 3 C.V.C.G., Weld,Mar. 2 (DAL); more unusu- Apr 19 (DJ) and two immaturesat Fossil (SDS);three at GaynorL., nearLongmont, al wasa possiblenest at EL.W.E.May 2-9 Cr, Latimer,May 20 (RK).The hawk watch Boulder,CO, May 17 (BK); one at Lower (BKP, SC, MH, m.ob.). A juv.-plumaged site m Jefferson,CO, reported21 Broad- LathamRes., Weld, CO, May 17 (DQ); and bird wasobserved in and neara woodpeck- winged HawksApr. 28 (BS), 24 Apr. 30 sixat JohnMartin Res.,CO, May 19 (BKP, er holein an elm tree.A pair (maleand fe- (BS),55 May 1 (BS),and 25 May 4 (TL)--a MJ). Over200 Red-necked Phalaropes were male)of LesserNighthawks was in Lamar, goodyear for thisspecies in Colorado. reportedfrom Duck L., near Ft. Collins, CO, May 8-10 (VZ, DAL, JM); a male at CO, May 23 (DCE). Holbrook Res., Otero, CO, May 12 (MJ, GROUSE TO SHOREBIRDS BKP,JRo); a femalein Ft. Collins,CO, May SageGrouse counts in theGunnison Basin, GULLS TO DOVES 28-29 (DAL); and anotherat C.V.C.G.,CO, Gunnison,CO, reporteda totalof 645 birds A breeding-plumagedLaughing Gull visited May 30 (DAL). Theseconstitute the most in April and May (KP). Possiblyinvading AdobeCreek Res. (Blue L.), Bent,CO, May in Coloradoin one season.A Whip-poor- from Nebraska,six Sharp-tailedGrouse 26 (SSe).Franklin's Gulls includedthree in will was recordedat Mesquite,Clark, NV, were seen 4 mi s. of Tamarack Ranch, the LahontanValley, NV, Apr. 22-25 (LN); May 16 (JWa). Rare in the mountains,a Logan,CO, Apr. 13 (DB). ThreeGambel's oneat StillwaterN.W.R., NV, Apr.25 (MM); ChimneySwift was seen over L. Estes,CO, Quail were recorded at Ash Creek Res., and four at CarsonL., NV, May 17 (LN). A May 22 (SW). Washington,UT, May 25 (SDS,PRS). Black first-summerLittle Gull was at Cherry Possiblytwo Lewis'sWoodpeckers were Railsin Bentand Otero,CO, appearto be CreekRes., Arapahoe, CO, May 28 (LB,BB). at Kanarraville Rest Area, Iron, UT, Mar maintainingtheir numbersin established An ad. Mew Gull gracedUnion Res., Weld, 22-May 10 (SDS,PRS); one gracedCraig, haunts. CO, Mar. 8-Apr. 14 (PL, TL). The last Moffat, CO, May 5 (FL). A Red-headed The LahontanValley, NV, springshore- Thayer'sGull wasreported at JacksonRes., Woodpeckerwas in Eagle,CO, May 24 bird countApr. 22-25 totaled39,676 indi- CO, Apr.20 (TL, LNo).An ad.Lesser Black- (JMe) for a first area record. An Acorn mduals.High countsincluded 18,386 Am. backedGull wasat CherryCreek Res., CO, Woodpeckerreturned to Durango, La Avocets, 6557 Black-necked Stilts, 9517 Mar. 18-Apr.1 (BB).A lateimm. Glaucous Plata, CO, Mar. 31 (DB). Another one Long-billedDowitchers, and 67 Black-bel- Gullwas at CherryCreek Res. May 16 (SC). was at Lida, Esmeralda,NV, May 18 lied Plovers.The onlyAm. Golden-Plovers Great Black-backedGull reportsincluded (JBr). The only report of Red-bellied were one at Carson L., NV, Apr. 26 (EH, two in e. Colorado:an adult at Cherry Woodpeckerwas a singletonat RockyFord EG) and oneat Nee NosheRes., CO, May CreekRes. Mar. 10 (SC) anda first-yearbird S.W.A., Otero, CO, May 4 (NL). Two 17 (DB). Rarely seen in w. Colorado, a at NeeNoshe Res. Apr. 24-May 31 (SD et Yellow-belliedSapsuckers were reported SnowyPlover stopped at Clifton,Mesa, CO, al.). Two CaspianTerns were in Mesa,CO, from e. Colorado: one at Ft. Collins Mar. 6 May 1 (RL). Also at Clifton, a Semi- Apr.22 andMay 21 (RL).Rare in themoun- (DAL) and one at Hasty Campground, palmatedPlover was observedMay 1-2 tains,a Com. Ternwas at L. George,Park, Bent,Apr. 6 (BKP,MJ). Rarelyreported on (CD, RL). A Mt. Plover at Blue Mesa Res., CO, May 22 (VAT).Also in w. Colorado,a the plains,a Red-napedSapsucker was at Gunmson,CO, Apr. 12 (KP) provideda first Com.Tern was in MesaMay 23 (RL);two at the EL.W.E., CO, May 4 (DCE, WPL) county record.About 1000 Am. Avocets SweitzerL., Delta, May 24 (RL); and two A White-headedWoodpecker was observed werecounted at QuichapaL., UT, Mar. 22 nearMack, Mesa, May 27 (RL). LeastTerns near Mt. Charleston,Totabe N.E, e. of Las (SDS, PRS). Single Solitary Sandpipers appearedat normalsites in e. Colorado,but Vegas,May 17 (T&L Blake). Two male were noted at Clifton, CO, May 1 (CD); mostunusual were four in MesaMay 21-25 Black-backedWoodpeckers were at Spoon- Otter Cr. belowthe dam,Piute, UT, May 3 (RL) and three at Confluence Park, Delta, er LakeS.P., Carson City, NV, May 8 (MM) (SDS, PRS); and at Blue Diamond, Clark, Delta,May 24 (RL, KP). NV, May 4 (RSc). A high count of 164 Up to ten Eurasi•mCollared-Doves FLYCATCHERS TO TANAGERS Spotted Sandpiperswas made at Big continued in Rocky Ford, Otero, CO, A Greater Pewee was observed at Las JohnsonRes., CO, May 12 (SD).Whimbrels throughthe period, but themovement W is Vegas,NV, May 15 (RSc,JE, m.ob.), pro- wererecorded in unusuallyhigh numbers definitelyon. Two more were in Campo, viding the first Nevadarecord. A high in e Colorado.There were 76 reported Baca, Apr. 22 (VENT) and one was in countyielded 35 W. Wood-Peweesat Corn from 8 countiesand one in MesaApr. 26 LamarMay 30 (DN). SingleWhite-winged Cr., Clark, NV, May 24 (SDSet al.). There (fide RL). Near JacksonRes., Morgan, CO, Doveswere in Pueblo,CO, May 15 (JD,BD, was only one E. Wood-Peweereported, at 92 Long-billedCurlews were noted Apr. 13 BKP)and Virgin R. Parkway(Bloomington ChatfieldS.E, Jefferson,CO, May 31 (BB) (DAL, JM, JFB,JH). A singleHudsonian end), Washington,UT, May 16 (SDS). In Nevada,two--possibly three--Willow Godwitwas at NeeNoshe Res., CO, May 10 Flycatcherswere at Tonopah,Nye, May (SD, RB). A RuddyTurnstone was reported CUCKOOS TO WOODPECKERS 25-31; oneat Dyer,Esmeralda, May 26;and from CarsonL., NV, May 11 (JE),and two A Yellow-billedCuckoo was at Elgin, one at Corn Cr. May 30 (MM). A Black wereat JohnMartin Res.,Bent, CO, May 30 Lincoln,NV, May 16 (JWa).Two Barn Owls Phoebe was recorded in s. Gunnison,CO, (TB, CL). A remarkablesix Red Knots were were recorded in Monte Vista N.W.R., Rio May 24-26 (RL, KP). A Vermilion Fly- at HighlineRes., CO, Apr. 26 (CD) andone Grande,CO, May 18-21 (fideTL,BS). An E. catcherwas seen along the CimarronR, wasat Nee NosheRes., CO, May 26 (SSe). Screech-Owl called in Cottonwood Baca,CO, Apr.29 (DB). SevenGreat Crest- Nevada's 3rd Ruff was observed at Carson Canyon,Baca, CO, Apr. 30 (BKP,SD, BD). ed Flycatcherswere reported from e

FALL 1997 901 Colorado.A Brown-crestedFlycatcher was In Colorado,36 speciesof warblerswere nine Black-throatedBlues May 7-23; four at Corn Cr., NV, May 24 (RS), and an E. reported.This includesregular migrants, Black-throatedGrays on the e. plainsMay Kingbirdsallied at Tonopah,NV, May 31 such as 15 TennesseesMay 2-22; 11 1-15; five Townsend'sMay 2-18; eight (DTr). A Scissor-tailedFlycatcher was re- NashwllesApr. 30-May 19; 17 N. Parulas Black-throatedGreens Apr. 30-May 31; portedfrom Baca,CO, May 24 (DQ). Rare Apr. 28-May 30 (including four singing nine PalmsMay 2-30; 46 BlackpollsApr. in e. Coloradowas a femalePurple Martin malesat L. Henry May 9); l 1 Chestnut-sid- 30-May 25 (includingten at BonnyRes. in Lamar May 11 (FL, BB). An estimated eds May 8-27; 15 MagnoliasMay 4-30; May 14); 20 Black-and-whitesMay 2-21; 20,000Tree Swallows passed at CarsonL., 36 Am. RedstartsMay 9-31; 14 Ovenbirds NV, Apr. 4 (RF). Very rare,but expanding May 4-28; and 42 N. WaterthrushesMay westerly,a Blue Jay was at Montrose, S A InColorado, theComet Hale- 1-28. Montrose,CO, May 11-14 (JHo, AR). A ß '•Bopp was fantastic. But on The otherstates had the followingun- WinterWren wassighted along Lower Calf May 8-9--within a 20 acre cotton- common warblers: a Tennesseeat Corn Cr., Cr., Garfield,UT, Mar. 26 (AS).A Golden- wood/willow riparian lakeshoreat L. NV, May 31 (RSc);a Nashvilleat Cheyenne, crownedKinglet was recorded at Corn Cr., Henry, Crowley--aphenomenal occur- WY, May 17 (JLD, RD); a Lucy'sat Ash NV, Apr.6-13 (RS).Blue-gray Gnatcatchers rencein Coloradobirding history also CreekRes., Washington, UT, May 25 (SDS, included two at Glendo S.P., Platte, WY, took place.An outfall of "eastern"mi- PRS);single N. Parulasat Cheyenne,WY, May 29 (R&DR) and 38 at GuernseyS.P., gratoryland birdswere observed which May 17-18 (JLD, RD) and Corn Cr., NV, Platte,WY, May 31 (R&DR). Therewere 23 will godown as one of Colorado'sgreat- May 30 (JWa);a Chestnut-sidedat Torrey, reportsof Veeryin e. ColoradoMay 11-25. est single outfalls.According to the Wayne,UT, May 25 (AS); a Black-throated Two Gray-cheekedThrushes were found at Gray at Cheyenne,WY, May 20 (GJ); a (theclosest weather center), the night of L. Henry, CO, May 8-13 (BD, BKP, MJ, UnitedStatesWeather Service inPueblo Townsend's at BoulderMt., Wayne,UT JRo). A Wood Thrush was at F.C.R.P., El May7 beganwith a clearsky and a (AS);and a Palmat Cheyenne,WY, May 17 Paso,CO, May 26-28 (JDi, BG). A Bendire's steadySE wind at 10 mph.At about2 (CSBC). There were three Blackpollsat a.m. May 8, a coldfront hit, changing Thrasherwas at GoldButte, Clark, NV, May Gillette,Campball (JBW), two at Sheridan thewind directionto NE at 15-20 mph. 16 (JWa). Curve-billedThrashers continue May 16-20 (JBW), and one at Cheyenne Cloudsformed and drizzlebegan. The their northerlyexpansion, with singlesin May 17, all Wyoming(JLD, RD). Single nightwas the warmest of theyear so far Aurora, Adams,CO, Mar. 2 (ASe) and e. of Black-and-whitesvisited Cheyenne, WY, at 54øF,and stayed around that temper- Boulder,CO, May l0 (BK). Four Phaino- May 17 (C.S.B.C.);Tonopah, NV, May 19 peplawere at Ash CreekRes., Washington, atureall day. It appearsweather happen- (DTr); andCorn Cr., NV, May 24 (SDS,JKr ingslike this arewhat to look for in e. UT, May 25 (SDS,PRS) and a malewas at et al.). SevenAm. Redstartswere counted in Coloradoin the spring.The spectade FishSprings N.W.R., Juab, UT, May 30 (M. Nevada May 10-31, and another three ChabotHalley). beganwhen Bob Dickson stepped out of his vehicle and discovered "warblers ev- dropped into Cheyenne,WY, May 17 (CSBC).Single Ovenbirds in Nevadawere erywhere."He had severalLeast Fly- VIREOS TO WARBLERS at Nye May 31 (JBr)and Esmeralda May 31 catchers,a Gray-cheekedThrush, a sing- (MM). NorthernWaterthrush reports in- A singingWhite-eyed Vireo was at L. ing White-eyedVireo, more than 200 cludedthree from WyomingMay 15-17; Henry,CO, May 8--10(BD, FL). FiveBell's warblers (mostly "Audubon/Myrtle• oneat CornCr., NV, May 30 (JWa);and an- Vireoswere reportedin the Regionaway Yellow-rumped)of 14 species,two otherin Wayne,UT, May 30 (AS).A fallout from normal areas, included singlesin SummerTanagers, a lateWhite-throat- of 50 Wilson's Warblers were found at Corn EL.W.E.May 9 (BKP,MJ); Quail CreekS.E, ed Sparrow,and numerouscommon Cr.,NV, May 24 (SDS,JKr et al.). Washington,UT, May 10 (SDS,JKr); Apish- migrants.As the word got out, more ob- Rare warblers in Colorado included apa S.W.A.,Las Animas, CO, May 26 (BS); serversarrived, and 21 speciesof war- EC.R.P.May 29 (RB); and LasVegas, NV, blerswere found May 9. By Monday, Blue-wingedWarblers in LamarMay 1-8 May 30 (MM). Rarein e. Colorado,a Gray May 12,13 species of warblerremained, (BKP), CottonwoodCanyon May 3 (JJR, Vireo was reported in suitable habitat with manyother migrants still profuse. LR,JP), Two Buttes Res. May 7-10 (DB,VZ, in s.w. Teller,CO, May 26 (DA). A Blue- Word of the falloutspread within the FL), EL.W.E. May 9 (JM, DAL, VZ, DQ), headedVireo was at Lamar, CO, May 5 birdingcommunity, andscores ofbird- • and Bonny Res. May 14 (DB). Golden- (ME); oneCassin's at Tonopah,NV, May25 ersvisited thesite between May10& 13, • wingedWarblers were found at L. Henry, (MM); and two Cassin'sat Fort Collins, turningit into Colorado'sversion of the[ CO, with a first-yearmale May 10 (BKP, CO, May 29 (DAL). An incomprehensible "BoyscoutWoods" for a fewdays. An • PSS, CS), a female May 11-13 (MJ), a eightYellow-throated Vireos visited Colo- impressive21 w•ler specieswere seen singingad. male May 11-13 (BKP,MJ), and rado,all singlebirds, at LamarApr. 29-May duringthis 5-day event. The L. Henry anotherin Ft. Collins,CO, May 28 (JM). 3 (DB); Two ButtesRes.., Baca, May 2-4 list induded rarities such as three Least BlackburnJan Warblers in Colorado includ- (MJ,VZ, JRo);Nee Noshe Res. May 10 (SD, Flycatchers,a Veery,two Gray-cheeked ed a femaleat EL.W.E.May 2 (MJ), a male RB); Canon City, Fremont, May 11 Thrush,and a White-eyedVireo. Rare at Milton Res.,Weld, May 16 (DQ, RO), a (J&RW);Rocky Ford S.W.A., May 12 (BKP, warblers noted included an incredible singingmale at HastyCampground May 17 MJ, JRo); leffersonMay 14 (LB, BB); threeGolden-wingeds, two Tennessees, (BKP,MJ, BD), a femaleat C.V.C.G.May28 EL.W.E. May 19-21 (BKP,MJ, JRo,BD); fryeN. Parulas,and a Worm-eating.Also (JH), a femaleat Ovid, Sedgwick,May 28 and EC.R.P.May 31 (BHa). Rarethrough- notable were two Summer Tanagers (DB), and a male at Julesburg,Sedgwick, out the Region,a PhiladelphiaVireo was re- and a Baltimore Oriole. See details in May 28 (DB). A singing male Yellow- ported from Cheyenne,WY, May 17 the text. throatedWarbler was at L. Henry,CO, May (CSBC). 22 (BKP, DSm), and another was at Prewitt

902 FIELD NOTES mountain west

Res.,Washington, CO, May 24 (DB). At least female Painted Buntingswere observed, LaFluer, David A. Leatherman, Paul six Grace'sWarblers were reported from s. one at BonnyRes., May 16-17 (RB,WPL), Lehman, Tony Leukering,Rich Levad, Gunnison,CO, May 24-26 (RL, KP), pro- and anotherat HastyCampground May 17 Norm Lewis,Cindy Lippincott, William P. vidinga new locationfor this species.Five (BKP, MJ, BD). A pair of E. Towhees Lisowslqr,Forrest Luke, Joe Mammoser, Bay-breastedWarblers were found in dropped in Tamarack Ranch, CO, May Phil Mason,Bill Maynard,Jack Merchant Colorado,including a femaleat L. Henry 16-23 (DAL, DCE, WPL, JM). Six Field (JMe), Martin Meyers,Larry Neel, Duane May 16 (BKP,BD), a femaleat LamarMay Sparrowswere reported in e. Coloradobe- Nelson, Larry Norris (LNo), Ric Olsen, 22-24 (BKP, DSm), a male s. of Monte tweenMay 4-17. Rarelyobserved anywhere Brandon K. Percival, Pain Piombino, Vista, Conejos,May 24 (BG, JV; San Luis in e. Colorado,single Sage Sparrows were at Myron Plooster,Kim Potter, Bill Prather, Valleys2nd record),a male at BonnyRes. EN.G., Weld,Apr. 8 & 15 (G&JH) and at L. DaveQuesenberr)4 Scott Rashid, Alan Reed, May 25 (MH), anda maleat C.V.C.G.May EstesApr. 28 (SRo).Grasshopper Sparrows Joe Rigli, Joe Roller (JRo), Richard 29 (NEr). The warblers of the seasonfor arrived 10 daysearlier than the earliest DorothyRosche (R&DR), Ron A. Ryder, Colorado were two Cerulean Warblers, Wyomingrecord, with 15at CheyenneMay Norm Saake,George & MelodieSan Miguel 3rd and4th staterecords if acceptedby the 4 (AK). The Golden-crownedSparrow at (G&MS), Pearle Sandstrom-Smith, Rick C.B.R.C. One was a first-year male at Red RocksPark, Jefferson,CO, stayedto Saval, Rita Schlageter (RSc), Alan BonnyRes. May 14 (KC,DB), and the other Mar. 8 (PL). A late SnowBunting was in n. Schmierer,Aaron Sell (ASe), Scott Seltman a femalein Monte VistaMay 25-26 (DSm, Weld, CO, Apr. 6 (SD). Five Tricolored (SSe), V. Arnold Smith (VAS), Clif Smith, CS, PSS).Four ProthonotaryWarblers Blackbirdswere reported from Centerville, Drew Smith (DSm), Bonnie Stout, Brian werefound in the Region;a malewas pho- Douglas,NV, May 31 (MM). ACom. Sullivan, Priscilla R. Summers, Steve D. tographedfrom Cheyenne,WY, May 17 Grackle was in Tonopah,NV, May 21 Summers,Dennis Trousdale(DTr), Van A. OLD, RD et al.), providingthe 5th record (DTr). Rarelyobserved in Nevada,a male Truan,Bill Twiet,John Vanderpoel, Victor for Wyoming,and a male was found at BaltimoreOriole was at CactusSpring, Emanuel Nature Tours (VENT), Kevin Corn Creek,NV, May 26-30 (JTh,m.ob.). Clark,NV, May 24 (RS);another visited at Wallace,Jack Walters (JWa), Judy B. Ward, Two were reportedfrom Colorado:a male L. Henry,CO, May 10-31 (BKP,m.ob.). Red SusanWard, [ira & RosieWatts (J&RW), at Lamar May 4-5 (BKP,MJ, VZ) and a Crossbillsremained on the e. plains of Vic Zerhi. male at Gregory Canyon, Boulder,May Coloradoin small flocksthrough the sea- Va'•A.•Tr-•'•1901 C0•r• Siiee-•i 19-20 (PP, m.ob.). Four Worm-eating son.A White-wingedCrossbill was report- 81003(colobirdvan@juno. com)and Brandon Warblerswere seen in Colorado:singles at ed in EstesPark, CO, Apr. 21 (R&LE).The K. Percival,835 HarmonyDrive, PuebloWest, ColoradoSprings S.W.A., E1 Paso, May 2 latestCom. Redpollwas Mar. 7 in Colo- CO,81007 (flammowl@juno. com). (DA), L. HenryMay 8-12 (BD,FL), Lamar rado. Six Lesser Goldfinches were at Guern- May 9-10 (DAL, JM), and at Louisville, sey S.E, WY, May 31 (R&DR). Evening Boulder,May 21 (JLF). Three Kentucky Grosbeaksinvaded most of the Regionthis Placenames that a•e frequently m6n. Warblers were found in Colorado, includ- spring. Reports included Cedar City, ti0ned,but very 10ng, may Be abbrevL ing a maleat Two ButtesRes. May 3 (JH, Springdale,Washington City, Panguitch, ated 'in h form such aS "C.B•B.T:' or DCE, WPL, JFB),a male at EC.R.P.May 28 Garfield,and Washington,UT; Corn Cr., "W.P.B,O.• SuCh local abbreviations (BG),and a maleat C.V.C.G.May 30 (JH). NV; and numerous areas throughout A male Connecticut Warbler was found at Colorado. ningOf the particular regional report in Lamar,CO, May 16 (BKP).Two Mourning whidithey are •, Standardabbrevi- Warblerswere reported, one at Hale Ponds, Compilers(boldface), coatdbutors (italics), atiOh•ihatare•g• throughoutF/eld Yuma,May 14 (DB, JBH), and anotherat and cited observers:Doug Allen, John Notesare keyeden page 837. EC.R.P.May 23-25 (BM). Nevadabirders Brack (JBr), John E Barber, Toni Brevillier, found two Hooded Warblers at Corn Cr.: a Dan Bridges,Bob Brown, Lea Ann Brown, male Apr. 5 (RS) and another May 26 RobertBundy (RBu), Richard Bunn, Sherry (KW). Four werereported in Colorado,in- Chapman,Cheyenne Spring Bird Count cludingone at L. Henry May 7 (DB), an- (CSBC), Graham Ghisholm, Luke Cole, other at L. Henry May 16-17 (BKP,BD), Kevin Cook, Denver Field Ornithologists one at Bonny Res.May 16 (DAL, DCE, (DFO), Coen Dexter, Bob Dickson, [ohnie WPL), andat EC.R.P.May 18 (BG). Dickson,Jordan Dimmick (JDi), Stephen Dinsmor• Jane L Dom, Robert Dorn, Jim TANAGERS TO GROSBEAKS Eidel,Margi Elliot,David C. Ely,Roger & Six SummerTanagers were reported from Larae Essman (R&LE), Robert Flores, e. Colorado.A male ScarletTanager was at FoothillsAudubon Club (FAC), Bob Goy- NeeNoshe Res., CO, May 9-10 (BKP,MH). coolea, Ed Greaves,Robert Gustarson Five N. Cardinals were recorded in e. (RGu), Glenn & JeaneHageman (G&JH), Colorado.Single Rose-breasted Grosbeaks Barbara Hahn (BHa), Red Hanson (RHa), were at ConnectedL., Mesa,CO, May 24 Ed Harper,J.B. Hayes (JBH), JoeHimreel, (RHa);in Sheridan,WY, May 17 (SCSBC); John Horn (JHo), Mark Hullinger, Bill and at Corn Cr., NV, May 26 (KW). An Huntley,Mark Janos,Dave Johnson, Greg IndigoBunting was at AshCreek Res., UT, Johnson,Bill Kaempfer,Ursula Kepler, May 25 (SDS,PRS), and two visitedCom Ann King,D.W. King, Rachel Kolokoff, Josh Cr.,NV, May 26-31 (RS).In Colorado,two Kreitzer (JKr), Paul Laase (PLa), Joe

FALL 1997 903 arizona region

10 (C. VanCleve)provided only a 5th local record.Single Great Egrets were reported at WillowTank near Portal Apr. 7 (AC, NMC) GrandCanyon ßFarmingIon •.::•;::.';••i '•;' Clayton. andat WahweapMay 14 (CL), wherecasual at best.Snowy Egrets are fairly unusualin springin s.e.Arizona away from Picacho '-' :'NA Ganadoß::'-.:./*Santa Fe Res.,therefore one at SierraVista S.T.P. Apr. 21 (GC, DR), six at SnyderHill S.T.EApr. DavisDarn=.,•-'7 ßFlagstaff Albuquerqu';e':'?...:'-•!? / eTucum•, 26 (m.ob.), and another at HerefordMay ':)": '**:?::•i:?:..Sprin.ville, .. NEW MEXICO ParkerDam 16 (R. Harris),were all noteworthy.White- facedIbis is a more commonmigrant dur- .• •/ • ?•:';:•:'•.['•-.'i:•'•:;.:'-? •' ½,/ApacheNWR JBitterLa• NWR ingthe fall,therefore a largeconcentration Oyu.n•'--T--'-•Pa.ed•o•kDan••- Coh•uances4 _.. --.- of 200 at SierraVista S.T.P.Apr. 21 (GC, •,• .... '; \ A•arnogordo DR) was of interest. A singleRoss's Goose was at C.S.L.Mar. •,• • . ßTucson•..•,.'. ßWillc'::-"ißPortal Silver C• LasCruces CarlsbadNat.Park ß •..,'• 7 (CL), where it is consideredcasual, par- ticularlyin spring.A maleGreater Scanp at WahweapApr. 21-24 (CL) waslate for a lo- callywintering bird. Consideredcasual in CHRIS D. BENESH W. Grebeswere reported,with four at springwere single Surf Scotersat Snyder Hill S.T.P.Apr. 25-May 2 (L. Baker,NC, ph. and GARY H. ROSENBERG SnyderHill S.T.EApr. 5-May 5 (MS et al.), and anotherat FountainHills Apr. 27 (T. MS), at NogalesMay 14 (E Fekel),and at twas arelatively quietspring inmuch of Brodner,RD), but 500 birdson SanCarlos GreenValley May 14 (E Fekel).More un- Arizona.Many observers noted irruptive Res.Apr. 14 (GHe) wasexceptional. A sin- usualat anyseason, particularly in spring, speciesfrom this winter's big invasionlin- gleClark's Grebe at CowSprings L. May 21 wasa White-wingedScorer at PageApr. 28 geringwell into the period.The statusof (CL) wasthe onlymigrant record received (R. Radd). Individual White-tailed Kites were re- LeastTern in Arizonacontinues to change. this springfor this species.Twenty-four There were no fewerthan eight sightings Am. White Pelicansat ChinoValley May 3 ported from PrescottValley Mar. 11 (S. thisspring. Rarities included Black-capped (J.Morgan) provided a goodspring count Nelly), from near Amado May 1 (tE. Gnatcatchers and Fan-tailed Warbler. for that region.Single Brown Pelicans were Crabtree),from Arlington May 17 (JBo), Again,the ArizonaGame and FishAtlas presentat Patagonia L. Mar.8-20 (SH),and and from w. of ChiricahuaN.M. May 19 projectwas at workduddating the breed- at PicachoRes. May 2 throughthe period (tA. Hunt); this speciesis still a rare but ing distributionsof a numberof species. (J.Withgott, m.ob.); this species is usuallya regularresident in s.e.Arizona. On May 21, late summer visitant in s. Arizona, but re- a pair of MississippiKites was seennest- Abbreviations: A.B.C.(Arizona Bird Com- centlyhas been found at oddtimes of the building at the Trinity Monasteryat St. mittee);C.S..L. (Cow Springs L.); L.C.R.V. (Lower year,perhaps related to recentdie-offs at David(T. Plunkett);this locality is well s.of ColoradoR. Valley);G.ER (Gila Farms Pond); the Salton Sea and Gulf of California. the nearestnesting locality at Cascabdon IVI.EL(Many Farms L.); N.I.R. (Navajo Indian Numbers of Neotropic Cormorants at the San PedroR. AnotherMississippi Kite Reservation);RA.R (Pinal Air Park); P.R.D. PatagoniaL. remainedhigh into March, was reportedfrom PrescottMay 22 (tB. (PaintedRock Dam); S. RR. (San Pedro R.); S.T.R with 15 there Mar. 22 (SH), but decreased Pranter),well n. and w. of knownpopula- (SewageTreatment Plant); S.S.V. (Sulphur to onlysix May 26 (TC). Awayfrom there, tionsin Arizona.A verylate N. Harrierwas SpringsValley). numbers continue to increase around s. sighted10 mi w. of CedarRidge, N.I.R., Arizona,with four presentat PicachoRes. May 29 (TC); thereare only a coupleof LOONS TO HAWKS May 12through the period (MS et al.),and nestingattempts of thisspecies in the state. A loon identifiedas a Pacificwas present at another single at ScottsdaleMay 27-30 On a recentvisit to ArroyoCajon Bonito, Del Rio Springsnear Prescott Apr. 16 (CT); (SGa). A greater-than-usualnumber of Sonora,Mexico, Apr. 9, 3 pairsof Corn. thereare veryfew springrecords for the Cattle Egretswas seenin n. Arizona; on Black-Hawkswere found (JWh); this locali- stateaway from the L.C.R.V.The Red- Apr. 24, six were at C.S.L., six were in ty isjust s. of theborder e. of Douglas,and neckedGrebe that was present on L. Powell PastureCanyon, one was in TubaCity, and it is encouragingthat goodhabitat still ex- at WahweapMarina duringthe winter sea- anotherwas at Red L. (all CL). A male Least istsfor this speciesin extremen. Sonora.A son was last reportedApr. 16 (CL). A Bittern was seen again this spring at Broad-wingedHawk was reportedfrom Horned Grebeat PageMay 13 (CL) was PatagoniaL Apr.28 (SH), nearwhere one GraniteCr. May 4 (tCT); this represented very late,but this speciesapparently win- apparentlynested in 1996.Another in cat- onlythe 3rd Prescottarea record of thisca- tersregularly at nearbyL. Powell.Scattered tailsat KingfisherPond, upper S.ER,May sualspring migrant.

904 FIELDNOTES arizona

PLOVERS THROUGH TERNS Least Terns seen in Arizona, it was still sur- were seen along Sonoita Cr. May 18 Three Black-belliedPlovers at C.S.L.Apr. prising that no fewer than 8 individuals (NC et al.). Veryunusual at thisseason was 24 werenoteworthy, as this spedes is casual wereseen, perhaps an all-time recordfor a the report of an Acorn Woodpeckerin anywhere in the state during spring. singleyear; one was at SierraVista Apr. TempeMay 14 (H. Fibel). Exceptionalfor springwas an Am. Golden- 28-29 (B. Stocku,D. Clark), three (includ- Ploverreported from CochiseCollege, w. of ing a one-year-oldbird) were at Picacho FLYCATCHERS TO VIREOS Res.Apr. 30-May 18 (NB, SGa,ph. MS), Douglas,Apr. 19 (J.Oldenettel, A. Craig,N. Scarceas migrants away from breeding onewas at Gila FarmsPond May 11 (RD), Moore-Craig);this representsonly about areas,three separateGreater Pewees were one wasat WillcoxMay 11-18 (E. Boyd,J. the 5th springrecord for the s.e.portion of notedin migrationalong the upper S.P.R.; the state. Two pairs of Am. Avocetsat- Stasz,ph. BZ), one was at C.S.L. in n. onewas near the Highway90 crossingApr. temptednesting at theWahweap S.T.P. May Arizona May 23 (CL), and one was at 4-6 (GC, DR), oneat HerefordApr. 16 (M. 12 (CL), but neither was successful.A PatagoniaL. May 26 (TC). Pretti), and another one at Highway90 SolitarySandpiper at WahweapMay 14 (CL) wasvery late for n. Arizona.A flockof DOVES TO WOODPECKERS May 18 (D. Hawksworth).A territorialpair 22 MarbledGodwits at GilbertApr. 27 (SG, ExtralimitalWhite-winged Doves were re- of WillowFlycatchers was discovered along RD) representedan unusuallylarge spring portedfrom PrescottMay 4 (CT), andfrom the upperS.P.R. at KingfisherPond May 14 concentrationfor thes. portion of thestate, WahweapMarina areaMay 12 (CL); there (J.Ambrose et al.); this pair laterprovided whereasa flockof 58 nearCornville Apr. 24 are very few n. Arizona recordsfor this the first local nestingrecord since 1977 (R. Radd) fits a recent pattern of large dove. Three Corn. Ground-Doves at Miami (fideDK). A smallinflux of GrayFlycatch- flocksbeing grounded by bad weatherin GardensMay 20-21 (J. Spencer)were of erswas noted in s.e.Arizona; nine were pre- springin n. and c. Arizona.Sanderling is local interest. A Flammulated Owl in the sentin PortalApr. 28-30 (NMC), and five still a casualspring migrant in the south- Huachuca Mts. Mar. 2 (SH) was about 2 east,therefore one at SnyderHill S.T.P.Apr. weeksearlier than usual. A Long-earedOwl 25-May 5 (J. Withgott,NC, MS), and an- nest was reported from a saguaronear otherreported from Willcox May 14 (SH), ApacheJct. May 1 (M. Chew);there are few wereof interest.Similarly, Stilt Sandpiper is documentedlowland nesting records of this also considered casual in s.e. Arizona in owl from s.Arizona. The ArizonaBreeding spring,and one at WillcoxMay 19 (GHR, Bird Atlas volunteers located three Ferru- MS) waswithin thespan of datesfor previ- ginousPygmy-Owls "near the Mexicanbor- ousrecords at that season.A Semipalmated der on the Tohono O'odham Indian Reser- Sandpiperat WillcoxMay 5 (GR, MS) was vationduring April andMay" (fide TC). the only report of this casualspring mi- Other than the usual male White-eared grant this season.A Red Phalaropewas Hummingbird that spent most of the foundat the GreenValley S.T.P. Apr. 4 (S. spring at RamseyCanyon (m.ob), other Johnson);amazingly, this specieshas been single individuals were reported from recordedcasually in s.e.Arizona during Miller Canyon(female) May 27 (TC, RK) everymonth of theyear, except March. and from ComfortSpring (male) May 28 Franklins Gull made a better-than-aver- (TC, RK). A femaleLucifer Hummingbird ageshowing this spring, particularly in the was at BisbeeApr. 2-Apr. 19, when it was n. portionof the state;scattered individuals joined by a male (G&P McCrory, DD, or groupsof two-three were seenaround JWh). Another male was located in Chino thesoutheast between Mar. 29-May 17.Up CanyonApr. 2, joinedby a femaleby Apr. north,Apr. 24 wasthe dayto seeFranklins 13 (RH, NC) ByApr.20 the femalewas seen Gulls; 28 were at C.S.L., 36 were at Pasture on a nest(NC, ph.D. Nelson,GHR), with Canyon, and 46 were at Tuba City. the male doingits characteristicflight dis- ':•11 •a • il X ated ifi Additionally,23 were at Wahweapon L. playto the nest,but by earlyMay the nest PowellMay 13 (all CL). Similarly,scattered had been abandoned. This was the firsl Bonaparte'sGulls (six) werefound around documentedbreeding record of thisspecies s.Arizona between Apr. 18-May 15,but up in Arizona.Elegant Trogons were reported n. a very large concentrationoL99 birds from several odd localities; the one thai waspresent at WahweapApril 15 (CL). The wintered locally along Sonoita Cr. near Mew Gull that was presenton L. Powell Patagoniawas seenagain Mar. 12-Apr. 4, duringthe fall and winter wasstill present anotherwas reported from along the upper Apr. 15 (S. Glover). Large flocks of S.P.R.near Highway90 Apr. 18 (fide DK), CaliforniaGulls were again seenduring one was in GuadalupeCanyon May 25 springmigration in n. Arizona;on Apr. 24 (NC), and anotherwas in the Patagonia (the same day he saw large flocks of Mts. s.e.of PatagoniaMay 27 (TC, RK). Ii • '6i{at.'in v ',c• IS' Ill Franklins Gulls) LaRuehad 60 at C.S.L., 36 was estimated that 3 pairs of Green •a'iiona,one Et• s wond".fSu:t h at PastureCanyon, and another21 at Tuba Kingfishershad territoriesalong a 5-mi •anyBlack-caF d G.atCatchc•, City.Quite a gull dayfor Arizona!After re- stretchof the upperS.ER. on bothsides of p?•sentin s.AriOsto/this •! cent springswith increasingnumbers of Highway90 (.fideDK). Another3 or 4 birds

FALL 1997 905 were noted in Baker CanyonMay 13-16 yon May 6 (R. Taylor), along the upper Canyon May 29 (?TC, RK). Northern (NC). A territorialBuff-breasted Flycatcher S.ER.at HerefordMay 10 (C. VanCleve), Cardinalsinched northwards with sighnngs was discoveredin Bear Canyon, Santa and from KingfisherPond May 16 (?DK). fromYavapai Hills Mar. 16(J. Morgan) and CatalinaMts., May 10 (M. Kehl),remaining fromPrescott May 8 (CT). throughthe period;this is the first record WARBLERS THROUGH TANAGERS for this speciesin thesemountains since Casual migrants in the state, single GROSBEAKS TO FINCHES 1985.An E. Phoebewas at KingfisherPond, TennesseeWarblers were near Watson L. in SingleRose-breasted Grosbeaks included upperS.P.R., May 10 (N. Gross)and again PrescottMay 17-19 (CT), and at S.W.R.S. onein PortalApr. 18 (NMC), onein Brown May 22-23 (B. Neville, M&L Keitelman), ChiricahuaMts. May 24-26 (?C. Hohen- Canyon Apr. 25 (WR et al.), one •n providingonly the 4th springrecord for the berger).Four N. Parulaswere reported: GuadalupeCanyon May 13 (NC), and an- upper S.P.R.A Vermilion Flycatcherwas One was along the upper S.ER. near other in PrescottMay 16-18 (M. McCros- found May 26 throughthe period in Lee's HerefordApr. 16 (M. Pretti), one was in key).Two Fox Sparrows were reported, w•th Ferry(L. Bush),where it is consideredcasu- Portal Apr. 19 (fide DJa), one was in one(schistacea type) along the upperS PR al. A Dusky-cappedFlycatcher was along ParadiseApr. 21 (D. Julian),and another Apr.4 (HB) and oneat PatagoniaL. Apr 18 the upperS.P.R. near Hereford Apr. 25-27 wasalong Sonoita Cr. May 17 (L. Bryan). (RH). Rarely reportedin n. Arizona, a (GC, HB), presumablya migrant. Another Migrant Grace'sWarblers were recorded SwampSparrow was at WahweapApr 20 Dusky-cappedwas on Mt. Ord May 11 (M. awayfrom breeding habitat, with onealong (CL). Golden-crownedSparrow reports •n- Larson),only the 3rd recordfor Maricopa. the upperS.ER. at HerefordApr. 11 (DR) cluded one 10 mi n.w. of Prescott Mar. A Sulphur-belliedFlycatcher discovered and anotherdownstream at the Hwy 90 28-Apr. 1 (B. Stewart),one in the Grand n.w.of the SantaTeresa Mts. May 14 (PF) crossingApr. 17 (GC, DR). The onlyBlack- CanyonApr. 2 (CL), oneat thePhoemx Zoo wasat a new,rather northerly location for and-whiteWarbler reportedwas one at Apr.9 (RJ),one just e. of PrescottMay 13(J this species.Another Sulphur-bellied was Granite Cr., Prescott,May 17 (CT). Two Morgan),and another in TempeMay 14(H observedin OakCreek Canyon May 24 (JC, Am. Redstartswere reported,with one at Fibel).A Harris'sSparrow was vis•nng a K. Gooby). WhitlowDam May 22 (J.Bartley), and an- Kingmanfeeder Apr. 20-24 (ph. N. Mfiler), Clark's Nutcrackers remained in the otherat KingfisherPond, upper S.P.R., May thereare very few reportsfrom this part of HuachucaMts. until at least May 13 22-23 (B. Nevilleet al.). A Prothonotary the state.Single Com. Grackles were report- (GHR), andin the Chiricahuasthrough the Warblerwas along the upperS.ER. May 15 ed from WahweapApr. 24 (CL), and from period (fide DJa). The JuniperTitmouse (GHR, ph. R. Parry). Therewere 3 Oven- Lee's Ferry May 28 (CL). A female presentin Reid Park sinceNovember 1996 bird reportsthis spring; one was in Madera BaltimoreOriole was in PortalMay 17-19 wasstill present there Mar. 21 (CDB). Two CanyonApr. 3 (M. Springer),another at the (GHR, ph.A. Bess).At least100 of the Black Winter Wrenswere found on territoryin upper S.P.R.,May 7 (HB), and a 3rd at Rosy-Finchespresent since late November the WestFork of Oak CreekCanyon May OrganPipe Cactus N.M. May 13 (J.Patter- werestill s. of PageMar. 7 (CL). 24 (JC, K. Gooby)in the preciselocation son,W. Leitner).Very rare in Arizona,sin- CORRIGENDUM wherethis specieswas present last June. A gle KentuckyWarblers were in Flagstaff rare visitor to Arizona, a Varied Thrush was May 11 (F. Brandt),and at the confluence The amazingreport of Pine Grosbeaks detectedin SkullValley Mar. 14 (D. Moll). of BeaverDam Cr. and the Virgin R. May from feedersin Paradise,Chiricahua Mts, Single Brown Thrasherswere reported 24 (?J.Kreitzer). A singingHooded Warbet thispast winter was in error. from MesaApr. 11 (H. Payson)and along waspresent along Granite Cr. May 20 (CT), the upperS.ER. near Hereford Apr. 26-28 and anotherwas heard along Sonoita Cr. Contributors(area compilersin boldface): (J. Pike, D. Clark); this speciesis a casual May 27 (WR). WanderingRed-faced Warb- Charlie Babbitt (CBa), ParkerBackstrom, visitor to the state. Crissal Thrasher was lerswere found away from breeding locali- JerryBock (JBo), Hank Brodkin,Jim Burns foundnesting just n. of the confluenceof tiesas follows: one at HerefordApr. 24-25 (JIB), JohnCoons (Flagstaff), Troy Cot- the Little Colorado R. and the Colorado R. (MD), anothernear the Hwy 90 crossing man,Alan Craig, Narca Moore-Craig, Gary May 9 (TC); this is the first nestrecorded Apr. 25 (GC), and a 3rd reported from Crandall, Nigel Crook, Richard D•tch, awayfrom Cameronin the portionof the Frenchloe Canyon,Whetstone Mts., May ShawneenFinnegan, Peter Friedericl, Steve state framed by these 2 rivers. Rarely 11 (G. Ewing). As many as four Painted Ganley(SGa), Virginia Gilmore,Sharon recordedin migration,a singleGray Vireo Redstartswere found along the upperS.ER. Goldwasser(SGo)(Tucson), Stuart Healy, wasreported from the GrandCanyon Apr. Apr.3-16 (GC, DR, HB), wherethis species RichHoyer, Dave J•tsper (Portal), Jill Jones, 30 (CL). Othersingle Gray Vireos were re- is seldom recorded. One of the more frus- Roy Jones,Ramsay Koury, Dave Krueper portedfrom the upper San Pedro R. Apr.23 trating birds this seasonwas the singing (SierraVista), Chuck LaRue,Paul Lehman, (B. Eckharts)and againApr. 29 (P. Gallo), Fan-tailedWarbler, first heardMay 21- Gale Monson, Pete Moulton, Richard fromthe Prescottregion away from nearby but not seen and identifieduntil May Palmer, Donna Roten, Will Russell, John breedingareas Apr. 28-May 3 (CT), from 26-27 (JBo,T. Staudt,?WR, ?B. Principe, Spence,John Spencer (JSp; Globe), Mark Granite BasinMay 9 (B. Pranter,B. Tho- tapeDS) whichproved elusive for many Stevenson, Steve Summers, Bob Thomen, men),and another four from Baker Canyon who searchedfor it. Thereare at best6 pre- Ash Thornburg,Carl Tomoff (Prescott), in extreme s.e. Arizona May 14 (NC). vious records in the state. Deb Treadway,Jack Whetstone (S•erra Casualin Arizona, a Yellow-throatedVireo A femaleHepatic Tanager was on the Vista),Chuck W'fili•mson (Tucson), Janet was reportedwith brief detailsalong the upper S.ER.Apr. 26 (GC, DR), providing Witzenum(Phoenix), Barry Zimmer upperS.ER. Apr. 14 (?N. Cergl,J. Mason). onlythe 5thspring record for the river. A fe- Also sparsein Arizona, singleRed-eyed mmeFlame-colored Tanager was observed 85711; Gary H. Rosenberg, P.O Box Vireoswere reported from ScheeliteCan- copulatingwith a maleW. Tanagerin Miller 91856, Tucson,AZ 85752-1856.

906 FIELD HOTES new mexico region

MescaleroL. Apr.2 & 15 (AP), plustwo at GrindstoneL. Apr. 23 (AP). Neotropic Cormorants persisted in the Pecos GrandCanyon -Farmington:•...::;!••;;; %-- Clayton., drainage,where there were one at Santa RosaMay 16-31 (JO) and two at L. Avalon Apr. 19-May 10 (v.o.). Five active Great BlueHeron nests were in upperE.B.L. Mar. •??•:•::X- Albuquerque•;.;•?' -Tucumc. 22 (SOW), where breeding is seldom recorded.Peripheral Great Egrets included one-twoat Zuni Apr.27-May 31 (DC) and at Heart Bar W.M.A., Catton, May 29 (SOW,M. Conway).A waterbirdcolony near Anthonycontained 10 nestseach of SnowyEgrets and Black-crownedNight- Herons,plus 40 CattleEgret nests Apr. 27 (JNP).Single ad. Little Blue Herons were at Zuni Apr. 26-May 7 (ph. DC), Bosque N.W.R. Apr. 5-May I (v.o.),and L. Avalon Apr. 30 (D&JH). An ad. Yellow-crowned SARTOR O. WILLIAMS III LOONS TO DUCKS blight-I-Ieronnear Ft. Sumnerat Bosque RedondoL. May 15 (JEP,ph. JO) furnished It wasan activeloon season, highlighted by a local first;another adult wasat Bosque a Red-throatedLoon at BrantleyL. Apr.30 characterizedelativelycoolandNew moist Mexico's conditionsspring N.W.R.Apr. 4-5 (JEP,ph. JO).Late migrant (D&JH), where there was also a Pacific White-faced Ibises were 13 near Ft. Sumner weather,with snowstormsoccurring well Loon May 5 (JEP,JO); other Pacificsin- into April, followedin May by an early May 31 (JO) and 10 nearColumbus May cludedsingles at CochitiL. Apr. 27 (WH) 25 (SOW).Fulvous Whistling-Duck was onsetof the"summer" rains. Migration was andUte L. May 24 (JO),and two at Sumner (finally) verifiedin New Mexicowith the termed"slow" by some,but energeticbird- L. Mar. 5 (PS).Westerly Am. White Pelicans brief appearanceof two adultsat Holloman ing effortsnevertheless documented several included seven at Bluewater L. Mar. 29-30 L. May 17-18 (GE,SW, JEP, ph. JO);unver- raritiesand addeda new speciesto the state (DC, JO) and oneat Zuni May 10 (DC). A ified, mainlyspring season reports extend list. (Map on page904) sub-ad.Brown Pelican found its way to Las back to 1949. Holdovers from the winter, Cruces,where it wasactively plunge-diving the last BosqueN.W.R. TundraSwan was Abbreviations: B.L.N.W,R.(Bitter Lake at Burn L. May 26-30 (GE, JERphs. JNP, seenMar. 8 (JEP),while the Trumpeter N.W.R.);Bosque N.W.R. (Bosque de/Apache BZ). Double-crestedCormorants wandered Swan at La Joyapersisted until Mar. 19 N.W.R.);E.B.L. (Elephant Butte L.); R.G.V. (Rio to severalhigh-elevation lakes, including (PS).Among the rarerducks were a male 6randeValley); Zuni (Zuni Indian Reservation). singlesat L. RobertsMay 14 (RF) and Eur.Wigeon at StorrieL. Mar. 22-23 (CR, JO) and an ad. male Surf Scoter at Farm- ingtonL. Apr. l0 (TR); a femaleBarrow's Goldeneyeon the SanJuan R. Mar. 7 (TR) was the last seen.

VULTURES TO QUAILS The season'sfirst TurkeyVulture arrived abouton scheduleat DemingMar. 16 (JO); a record2521 passed the SandiaMts. look- out Mar. 19-May 5 (H.W.I.), easilyeclips- ing the previousrecord 1785. Ospreys con- TwoFulvous Whistling-Ducks take tinued to demonstrate their remarkable off from the water at Holloman comeback,with often multiple reports Lakes,New Nexico, on Nay18, from 23 locales statewide; a record 103 1997. Althoughsightings of this speciesin NewNexico go backal- passed the Sandia Mts. lookout Mar. mosthaft a century,this provided 23-May 6 (H.W.I.), up 90%from thelong- the first fully documentedrecord. term averagethere, while incubationwas Photograph/JerryR. Oldenettel underwayat 3 RioArriba nests by early May

FALL1997 907 (DS). The onlyWhite-tailed Kites were sin- Sandpiperat LovingtonMay 8 (JEP,ph. widow) was photographedMay 1995 A gles at RedrockMar. 15 (JO) and near JO); other White-rumpedsincluded two ChimneySwift was w. to PerchaApr 25 HachitaMar. 16 (ph. JO). MississippiKites eachat San Jon (JO) and Clovis(ph. JO) (JEP);in theeast, one-four Chimneys were where seldomreported were four at Ft. May 31. A PectoralSandpiper near Clovis at Tucumcari, Portales, Roswell, and SumnerMay 25 (JO) andone at ElidaMay May 16-17 (JEP,JO) and a Dunlin at CarlsbadMay 3-28 (JO, JEP,JBM) Five 9 (BN, DE). A Corn. Black-Hawkon a nest B.L.N.W.R.Apr. 13 (SW) & 27 (JO) provid- Chaeturaswifts were at Virden Apr 12 at SanPatricio, Lincoln, Apr. 30 (SB)estab- ed the onlyreports. A RedPhal•rope at (JO); the time and locationwere good for lisheda significantbreeding range exten- BosqueN.W.R. May 30 (ph. B. Williams) the still unverified Vaux's. sion;other easterly Black-Hawks were sin- furnisheda rarespring treat. Severalobservers reported hummingbirds glesat SantaRosa Apr. 19 (BN, DE) and Evidencethat Franklin'sGulls migrate as scarce,but it was conjecturewhether PerchaMar. 19 (GE). An ad.probable Gray throughNew Mexicoon a broadfront was hummerssuffered losses from an April cold Hawk was at PerchaApr. 15 (DL) & 18 furnishedby 24 near Mule Cr. Apr. 22 snapor weresimply more widely dispersed (JO), wherbthe situationwas complicated (D&BM), 22 near DemirigApr. 21 (LM), than usualin responseto abundantwild- by Broad-wingeds.Almost tripling the pre- and two at Capitan Apr. 12 (SW). flowers.Continuing their colonizationof vious high, a record 19 Broad-winged Noteworthyfor Hidalgowere 35 Ring- the SacramentoMrs., two Magnificents Hawksmigrated past the SandiaMrs. Apr. billedGulls at LordsburgApr. 13 (JO) and wereat RuidosoApr. 10-23 (AP,D. Hams), 20-May 1 (H.W.I.); elsewhere,singles were 15 near Road Forks Apr. 25 (D&JH). in the southwest,EO. Canyonhad a female at SantaFe Apr. 27 (PS)and near L. Arthur Among the rarer gulls was a probable MagnificentMar. 21 and a male May 25 Apr. 27 (JEP,JO), plusone-two at Percha Thayer'sat E.B.L.Apr. 11 (JO) and a possi- (RS),while anothermale wasin the Anlmas Apr. 18-29 (JO, JEP,DH, ph. BZ). Note- ble Glaucousx Herringhybrid at Branfiey ValleyApr. 16 (AC,NMC). The firstLucifer worthywas a congregationof 35 Swainsoh's L. Apr. 26 (JEP,ph. JO). LeastTerns wan- of the seasonreached P.O. Canyon Mar 29 Hawks feeding on airborne insects at dered more widely than usual,including (RS),but no morethan two males--andno Animas May 21 (AC). Migrant Merlins singlesn. and w. to FarmingtonMay 11 females--werethere through the period continued to show an increase at the Sandia (TR), BosqueN.W.R. May 3 (BZ, JNP), Suggestiveof localbreeding were two male Mrs. lookout, where a record 24 were Anthony Apr. 27 (JNP), and Tucumcari Costa's(one displaying) in the GilaMiddle countedFeb. 15-May 3 (H.W.I.).A vocalN. May 25 (JO), plustwo near ClovisMay 7 Box above RedrockApr. 15 (DL). The Bobwhite was n.w. to Puerto de Luna, (JEP,JO). At B.L.N.W.R.,the only known springpassage of both Calliopeand Rufous Guadalupe,May 31 (JO). breedinglocale, only 3 pairswere present hummers is to the west of New Mexico, so and initiatingnesting by late May (JBM). noteworthywere a Calliopenear Demmg PLOVERS TO TERNS Apr.26-27 (LM) andan ad.male Rufous in A Black-belliedPlover near ClovisMay 3 DOVES TO WOODPECKERS the AnimasValley Apr. 16 (AC,NMC) A (JEP,JO) providedthe onlyreport. Snowy Fillingin the gapsin theirR.G.V. distribu- Lewis'sWoodpecker was s. in the Mimbres Ploverswhere irregularly reported included tion were one White-winged Dove at Valleyto SanJuan Mar. 16 (RF), whilein two at E.B.L.Apr. 25 (JEP)and May 1 (BN, BernardoMar. 19 (PS) and four at Sevilleta the R.G.V.one-two persisted s. to Percha DE) andone-four at BrantleyL. Apr.15-27 N.W.R. May 8 (WH, AM); northeasterly throughApr. 20 (v.o.) and SunlandPark (SW, JO, D&JH). High count for Semi- was one at Boone'sDraw May 8 (JEP), throughApr. 15 (JNP);peripheral were sin- palmatedPlover was 20 at B.L.N.W.R.May while 20 were in the Sacramento Mts. at glesn.e. of SanAntonio Mar. 16 (JO) andat 3 (JEP,JO); two were late near Columbus MescaleroApr. 12 (SW). SingleInca Doves QuaraiMay 3 (HS). Westerlywas a Red- May 26 (SOW), aswas one at HollomanL. weren. to AlbuquerqueMar. 30 (J.Arnold) headedWoodpecker at Pajarito Village, May 18 (JO).A Mr. Plovernest with 3 eggs and Boone'sDraw May 17 (JEP,JO). Still Santa Fe, May 28-31 (PS, SW). Encour- wasat the Farleyprairie dog town May 16 biddingfor a placeon the New Mexicolist, aging were two Gila Woodpeckersn to (S. Dinsmore). Abundant rains in the e. four EurasianCollared-Doves persisted at BuckhornMay 11 (RF), whilefor the 2nd plainsprovided good conditions for nest- Roswellthrough May 10 (SB);first report- yearat leastone Gila wase. of theAntmas lng Am. Avocets,including a colonyof 20 ed therein September1995, their earlyas- Mts. on Deer Cr. May 26 (SOW). Downy adultsat SanJon May 31 (JO).Willets were sociationwith Ringed Turtle-Doveshas Woodpeckersat the s. edgeof their distri- notablywidespread and numerousApr. cloudedtheir status.Early were single bution includedsingles in the PinosAltos 21-May 3 from the PecosValley westward; Yellow-billed Cuckoos at Cliff (RF) and Mts.May 2 (LM) andat EmoryPass, Grant, earliestwere five at BrantleyL. Apr. 13 RattlesnakeSprings (SW) May 10.A Barn May3 (BZ,JNP). The recent Dome burn m (SW), latestwere 13 at FarmingtonL. May Owl nestwith 2 chicksat BosqueN.W.R. the JemezMrs. continued to be dependable 9 (TR). SingleWhimbrels were at Morgan May2 wassituated only 5 feetfrom a simi- for two-three Three-toed Woodpeckers L May 2 (TR) and Holloman L. May 17 larlyactive Great Horned Owl nest(JO). A throughMay (PRS,SW, JEP). (GE); two were at B.L.N.W.R.Apr. 27 (JEP, W. Screech-Owlthat respondedto a tapeat JO). A Long-billedCurlew strayed W to TucumcariL. May 25 (JO) wasfar eastof FLYCATCHERS TO THRUSHES Zuni Apr. 27 (ph. DC); four otherswere in usual;another Western was singingnear An EasternWood-Pewee reportedly was the grassyfoothills of thes. Magdalena Mts. Wall L., Catron, Mar. 20 (SOW). Earliest bandedat BosqueN.W.R. May 12 (DH), Apr. 26 (HS). Marbled Godwits made a LesserNighthawks were one near Deming but detailswere lacking. Late for the south strong showing almost statewide Apr. Apr. 27 (LM) and four at CarlsbadApr. 28 was an E. Phoebeat RattlesnakeSprings 20-May 6 (m.ob.); among a flock 100 (D&JH).A maleWhip-poor-will of unde- May 4 (SW); anotherwas at SantaRosa Marbledsat BosqueN.W.R. Apr. 26 wasa terminedrace was at the n. Roosevelttrap May 16 (JO),where breeding is a possibili- well-describedI-Iudsonian Godwlt (BN, May 7 (JEP,JO), where another Whip (er- ty. Noteworthy were single Vermilion DE). Somewhatearly was a White-rumped roneouslyreported as a Chuck-will's- Flycatchersat Loving May 10(J. Yancey, fide

908 FIELD NOTES new mexico

SW) and n. to BosqueN.W.R. Apr. 4-27 Long-billedreported at RattlesnakeSprings R.G.V.eastward May 3-31 (v.o.);west was (v o ), in the southwest,high countsfor Mar. 2 (SW). One-two Brown Thrashers one at Virden Apr. 26 (D&JH). Two Vermfiionsincluded 32 in GrantMay 10 were at 5 e. locales (including Bosque ProthonotaryWarblers were found--one (RF) and 10 in the AnimasValley Mar. 28 RedondoL. andRattlesnake Springs), plus in the snow at Cedar CrestApr. 12 (D (AC,NMC). Unusuallyearly were single W. at Las Crucesduring the period (v.o.). A Ligon),and anothersinging at Rattlesnake Kingbirdsin the Animas Valley Mar. 12 Bendire's Thrasher nest was n. of SpringsMay 17 (DL). An apparentmale (AC, NMC) and at Garfield Mar. 29 (JO); LordsburgMay 1-3 (BZ),where breeding is MourningWarbler was in n. RooseveltMay h•ghm elevationwas a Westernweathering poorly documented.A pair of Curve- 7 (IEP, 10), for only the state's7th well- a snowstormnear Alto, Lincoln,Apr. 12 billeds that overwintered at Eldorado near documentedreport. Rounding out the war- (SW) FiveE. Kingbirdswere w. to Espafiola SantaFe wasfeeding a stub-tailedjuvenile bler crop were single Hoodeds in n May 17 (BF), while a Scissor-tailed May 9 (SOW); the Crissalthat weathered RooseveltMay 7-9 (IEP,10, DE, BN) ands Flycatcherw. to SevilletaN.W.R. (AM, R. the Los Alamos winter was last seen there of VaughnMay 31 (SW). Rare in New Teuber)provided a localfirst. Noteworthy Mar. 12 (R. Boicourt).Two possibleSpra- Mexico,a male ScarletTanager was at for the SandiaMrs. was a male Purple gue'sPipits were among 26 Am. Pipitsat WhiteSands N.M. May 28 (IM). Marnn at CedarCrest May 16 (SW). Cave Bosque N.W.R. Apr. 30 (GE). Migrant Swallowsagain nested in s. Do•a Aria (BZ), CedarWaxwings were widespread in May; CARDINALS TO FINCHES while numbers at Carlsbad Caverns N.P. late were one at AlbuquerqueMay 24 Still consideredscarce in Do•a Ana, a male were judged stable at about 2000 birds (WH), 18in theFt. Sumnervicinity May 25 N. Cardinalwas at Owen'sFarm May 2 (ph (SW) Westerlywere two Blue Jaysat (JO),and 50 at RattlesnakeSprings May 23 BZ); continuinga northerlytrend were sin- Socorro through Apr. 27 (DH). Clark's (SW). A singingWhite-eyed Vireo wasin gle N. Cardinalsat SantaRosa Mar. 1 (IEP, Nutcrackerswere conspicuousin the s. Rhodes Canyon, e. Sierra, May 18 (1. JO) andTucumcari L. May 25 (JO),while a BlackRange, where rare, including20 at Puschock);a Bell'sat SpringCanyon S.P. northerlyPyrrhuloxia was in n. Roosevelt Iron Creek Camping Ground, Grant, May 7 (LM) provideda localfirst. Although Mar. 1 (JO,AC, NMC). Rose-breastedGros- May 1 (BN, DE); flocksof 30-40 nutcrack- rare,Yellow-throated Vireos recently have beaksstaged yet anotherimpressive show- ers were in the Sandia Mts. through become almost regular in migration at ing, with one-twoat some10 localesfrom m•d-Apr. (HS, BV), where they foraged Boone's Draw; this seasontwo were there the R.G.V. eastwardMay 7-17 (m.ob.), down to the pinyon-juniper zone. May 7 (AC, NMC, JEP,ph. JO). SingleRed- west,late, and a likelylocal first was a male MountainChickadees lingered in submon- eyedVireos were at the n. Roosevelttrap Rose-breastedat Columbus May 26 (SOW) taneareas through March; among the latest May 7 (JEP,JO), May 11 (BN, DE), and A VariedBunting was at Walnut Canyon, was one at Morgan L. Apr. 28 (TR). A May 16 (IEP), and at PerchaMay 31 (BZ). Eddy,May 26 (SW); anotherwas in San Verdm was n. in the R.G.V. to Bernardo Amongthe rarer warblerswere single AndresCanyon, Do•a Aria,in mid- to late Mar 19 (PS). Red-breastedNuthatches also Blue-wingedWarblers at ClaytonMay 5 May (fide WH). A pair of Green-tailed hngeredin the lowlands;notable were sin- (WC) and Morgan L. May 10 (D&M Towheeswas s. to Capilla Peak,Manzano gles•n n. RooseveltMay 17 (JO), at Percha Longenbauch,ph. TR), a male Golden- Mts., on the late date of May 18 (WH) May 3 (BZ), and at RattlesnakeSprings wingedWarbler banded at BosqueN.W.R. Low-elevationCanyon Towhees included May 9-10 (AC,SW), plusthree at Deming May 15 (DH) and a femalebanded there onenear Malaga Apr. 19 (SW) andtwo e. to Apr 27 (LM). A Brown Creeperat San May 30 (DH), and a westerlyTennessee at LeaMay 8 (JO).In spiteof seeminglyfavor- AndresN.W.R. Mar. 20 (MW) maybe the RedrockApr. 24 (D&JH).Single N. Parulas ablehabitat conditions, Cassin's Sparrows first recordedon that refuge.Wrens on the were at Moriarty May 9-11 (BN, DE, JEP, were absent(or, at least,not detected)on move includedsingle Cactus Wrens n. to ph. JO) and againMay 23 (ph. JO), San late May surveysin Luna, Grant, and AlbuquerqueMar. 23 (BV), wherealso pre- PatricioApr. 30 (SB),Boone's Draw May 17 Hidalgo.Only one Field Sparrowwas at sent•n 1996,and e. to e. GuadalupeMay 26 (JEP),and White SandsN.M. Apr. 15-21 RattlesnakeSprings Mar. 2 (SW), but (JO), plus a RockWren at Boone'sDraw (JM). Keepingthings interesting were sin- one-threemigrant Fields passed through May 4 (DE) and a singingCanyon at Ft. gle Chestnut-sidedWarblers at Albuquer- Boone'sDraw Apr. 20-May 8 (BN,DE, JO), Sumner May 25 (IO). Black-tailed queMay 9 (BV), n. RooseveltMay 11 (BN, while the last of several that wintered in n Gnatcatchers in the southwest included a DE), and RattlesnakeSprings May 6 (JEP, Rooseveltwas seen May 7 (JEP).Away from pmr at HughsCanyon near Virden and a JO,AC, NMC); a Magnoliaat Boone'sDraw the usualrange were two SageSparrows male at SanSimon Cienega Apr. 12 (JO). May 17 (JEP,JO); and a Black-throated singingnear E1 Rito May 30 (JEP).Intensive Late for the south was a Townsend's Blue in n. RooseveltMay 16 (JEP),where surveysfor Baird'sSparrows on Ft. Bliss' Sohta•reat Spring CanyonS.P., Florida therewas alsoan easterlyBlack-throated Otero Mesa found one-six at 6 sites Mar Mts, May 7 (LM). A Hermit Thrush near Gray May 11 (DE, BN). A well-detailed 3-Apr. 14, with "peak"numbers in early FarmingtonMar. 1 (TR) may have win- Praim'eWarbler at Boone'sDraw May 4 April,including three at ShilohDraw Apr. 9 teredlocally; an estimated50 Hermitswere (BN, DE, CR) providedthe state's4th re- and six (somesinging!) near MesaHorse partof a largefallout in n. RooseveltMay 11 port in lessthan 2 years.A femaleBay- CampApr. 10 (R. Meyer);to the west,three (BN, DE). breastedWarbler was banded at Bosque werenear Cloverdale Apr. 13 (10). Latewas N.W.R.May 15 (DH). A maleBlackpoll was a Lincoln'sSparrow at AlbuquerqueMay 24 THRASHERS TO TANAGERS in n. RooseveltMay 11 (BN, DE), where (WH). SwampSparrows where rarely re- The well-publicizedLong-billed Thrasher therewas a femaleMay 17 (JEP,ph. JO); portedwere singles in n. RooseveltMay 7 at BosqueRedondo L., discoveredin late anotherfemale Blackpoll was near Seneca, (10) andin Curryn. of TexicoMay 3 (JO) February,continued to perform through Union,May 24 (JO).Meanwhile, one-three Golden-crownedSparrows left over from May (v.o.);less well studied was yet another Black-and-whites were at 10 sites from the the winter'sinflux were one at Bosque

FALL 1997 909 RedondoL.Mar. I (JEP,JO, BN, D•) and the famoustwo at BosqueN.W.R. through mid-March (v.o.), with the last there on May 1 (BN, DE); undetailedwas one at alaska region SantaFe Apr. 27 (PS).A Harris'sSparrow was banded at BosqueN.W.R. Apr. 28 (DH); another appearedat Rattlesnake SpringsMay 3-6 (v.o.,ph. JO). j•••f •WalesChUkch•Sea BeauiortSea WesterlyCorn. Grackles induded singles Barro•,.,..,• __ • - '""t PrudhoeBay at FarmingtonMay 28 (TR) and Zuni May 10 (DC), whilesoutherly in the R.G.V.were 10at SocorroMay27 (PS)and four at Burn L. May 26 (GE). SingleBronzed Cowbirds Gamb•l[•,..•• SewardPen. returnedto Las CrucesApr. 25 (GE) and Owen'sFarm May 2 (BZ); to the eastwere 'St'• I"•Nøme'• • Fa,rbanks singlesat EuniceMay 4 (JO) andJal May 17 (JO). Unusual for the extreme southwest was a male OrchardOriole in Guadalupe CanyonApr. 11 (JEP).An ad. maleB•lti- moreOriole was at CedarCrest May 11 (K. Schneider),where others have been report- ed in pastyears. Rosy-Finches made news with a mixedflock including about 15 Gray- crowneds,10 Blacks,and 20 Brown-cappeds 8 min. of Chama Mar. 26 (ph. DC). Anotherflock including 35 Gray-crowneds, T.G. TOBISH JR. most of the spring, and notable (small) five Blacks,and 10 Brown-cappedswas at stormsonly hit the northhalf of the Bering the Taos Ski Basin Mar. 29 (WH). Three A latewinter continental highpressure Seacoast. Indeed, with the pressureanoma- likelyPurple Finches, two malesand one fe- systemprotracted a cold snap well liesat work by mid-May,several storms ac- male, were at GlenwoodApr. I (D&BM). into early April, especiallynorth of the tuallytracked southeast from the eastside Winter'swidespread and massivesubmon- AlaskaRange, and combinedwith milder of the ChukchiSea, dipping down into the tane invasion of Cassin's Finches, Red weather conditions south of there and southernBering Sea. With the lackof anti- Crossbills,and EveningGrosbeaks, which probablyinto the PacificNorthwest to pro- cyclones,mild dear weatherprovided ideal reachedall cornersof the state,gradually re- ducean odd spring 1997. Early migrants migrationconditions, and after early spring cededas the springseason advanced, al- were more than a few from all sections (by mid-April) therewere no aggregations thoughstragglers of eachspecies remained northof Southeast,induding the following or hold-ups for essentiallyall species in non-breedinghabitats well into May samplesof new recordearly arrivals:for groups.The El Nifio influencescertainly (m.ob.). The last of the Iawrence'$ Gold- ninespecies from the easternInterior in the alsodirectly affect the volumeand diversity fincheswere singles at CaballoDam Mar. Tok area,for at least11 speciesfrom Upper of Asian migrantsalong the Philippines- 19 (GE) and Apr. 6 (BN, DE), MangasMar. Cook Inlet, and at leastthree speciesfrom Japan-Kamchatka-KoryakHighlands route, 31 (RF), and VirdenMar. 15 (JO), plusan the North Slopeat PrudhoeBay. Several of sincedespite decent coverage, the Asiatic impressive21 at RodeoMar. 8 (NMC). thesewere early by morethan a few days. content was rather weak in the western Perhapsbecause of tardierwarming condi- Aleutians.Since field coverage of the west- Initialed observers:Sherry Bixler, David tions on the Mainland and north of the ern Aleutianscommenced with regularity Cleary,Wes Cook, Alan Craig, Narca Moore AlaskaRange, these early migrantswere in the mid-1970s,virtually every significant Craig, DouglasEmkalns, Gordon Ewing, mostoften only a fewindividuals and there El Nifio year(s)produced very poor Asiatic Ralph Fisher, Bernie Foy, HawkWatch were occasionallysignificant time gaps speciescontent in the Aleutians.This was International, David Hawksworth, Dick & until larger numberswere evidentin ap- mostevident, especially in retrospectivere- Jean Hoffman, William Howe, David Leal, propriatehabitats. views of speciesshowings, for the 1981, Larry Malone,John Mangimeli, Daniel & The impactsto Alaska'sbird migrations 1983, and 1993 seasons,which were some BarbaraMcKnight, James B. Montgomery, from El Nifio systemsare finally becoming of the strongestE1 Nifio eventsin the recent Angel Montoya, Bruce Neville, Jerry dear.E1 Nifio influencesof anysize and sig- past.Certainly this can be explained meteo- Oldenettel, John E. Parmeter, James N. nificanceapparently dissipate or severely rologically,but in eachof theseyears the Paton, Anita Powell, Tim Reeves,Christo- alter the position and dominanceof the Aleutiansare dominatedby variablewind pherRustay, Robert Scholes, Hart Schwarz, AleutianLow. This deviationsubstantially conditions,extended high pressure systems, Patricia Snider, Dale Stahlecker, Brad minimizesthe strengthand frequencyof and/or lengthyperiods of north winds. Vaughn,Mara Weisenberger,Steve West, low pressurecells that normally track Stormtracks are generally fewer in El Nifio S.O.W'filiams, Barry Zimmer. across the low end of the Aleutian Low, years,and thesetravel well southof "nor- •artorO. Williams III, New Mexico Dept. from west to east across the southern mal" spring alignments,which typically of Gameand Fish,RO. Box 25112, SantaFe, Aleutians and into the Gulf of Alaska. This pull developingstorms out of the Seasof NM 87504(sandyw@roadrunner. com). year,these systems were virtually absent Japanor Okhotsk and acrossthe North

910 FIELD NOTES alaska

Pacific centered between 45-54 ø North Geesealways remain in small numbersat took up residenceon the Elmendorf Air Latitudes. What was unusual about this traditionalwinter sitesinto early spring, ForceBase fish ponds in AnchorageMay 20 year was that St. LawrenceIsland results but oneon HomerSpit Apr. 29 (fideGCW) throughthe period(TGT, RLS,DWS, ph. wereequally below average. In pastyears wasvery late; good numbers were found at DFD, m.ob.),UCI's 3rd springrecord. Most with evena moderateE1 Nifio showing,the Attu into June (ATTOUR). Aleutian Cana- years,Herring spawning in protectedcoves springseason at Gainbelloften produced da Geesecontinue to makea wide-ranging throughoutSE supportearly spring mas- notablefinds and decent migrant numbers. recovery,with goodnumbers noted from sivenumbers of migrantscoters, loons, and extreme ends of what must have been this gulls.This spring'sopportunistic concen- Abbreviations: NorthGulf (NorthGuff of form'straditional migration arrival corri- tration focused 10,000 Surf Scoters on Alaska);$E (SoutheastAlaska); 5C (South- dor.Eight at Juneau'sMeridenhall wetlands Herring spawnnear Juneau'sPt. Bridget coastalAlaska); $W (SouthwestAlaska); U½I Apr. 20 (GVV) representedpossibly SE's earlyMay-May 10 and longer(PS, GVV, (UpperCook Inlet). first modernreport, while 17 wereidenti- BA). ConspicuousHooded Merganser fied aroundthe PribilofsMay 14-20 (ST. findsincluded three n. of HainesApr. 7 LOONS TO COOT PAUL),and numberspeaked at 90 at Attu (MS) anda femaleat Anchorage'sConnors Gambellseawatchers found average num- May 17 (ATTOUR). Recordsof the sub- L. Apr. 3 (TGT, LJO),UCI's 3rd andearliest bersof flybyArctic Loons, with a latepeak speciesfrom thesesites were unheard of for springrecord. of 15 at the Point June5 (WINGS). A latish mostof thiscentury, prior to thefederal re- Another, or potentially the same, single2nd-summer bird at Attu June6 pro- coveryprogram initiated in the early1970s. TurkeyVulture reappeared in "late May" at videdthe onlyother submitted report (AT- Noteworthydabbler highlightswere few the same Ketchikan waterfront site as last TOUR). This spring's only Pied-billed and includeda drakeBlue-winged Teal be- year'sfirst-ever SE record,remaining into Grebe find was also unusual,a single yondits known Interior sites at BethelMay June(ph. WN, fide SCH). Perhapsbecause around JuneauMay 4-8 (PS, GVV, BA, 14-17 (HJ,KL, WNJ), and a niceSE tally of of the pastseveral warm and long sum- RA), one of few spring reports for the 7 malesat JuneauMay 31 (GVV, BA); a mers,nest occupancy rates for InteriorBald Regionn. of traditionals. SE sites.Several male CinnamonTeal alsoat JuneauMay Eaglesand especiallyOspreys were both May reportsof various-agedShort-tailed 4-13 (PS,DWS, GVV); above-averageEur. >10% abovelong-term averages. For the Albatrossin the n. Gulf wereearly and en- Wigeonnumbers from the Aleutians,with first time since 1977, Attu's resident White- couraging.At least six individuals,de- 25 at BuldirI. allseason (ILJ et al.,fide JW), tailedEagle(s) was not foundthis spring scribedin variousstages of juv. plumage, 60 at Attu May 26 (ATTOUR), and from nor reportedby Coast Guard personnel were associatedwith fishingvessels May SC, includinga peak of 11 from Kodiak from the winter. It was feared that the last 15-18 s.of the TrinityIs., which lie nearthe Apr. 25 (JM). CommonPoehard sightings adultperished. The KodiakArchipelago's have declined in the w. Aleutians since the ContinentalShelf edge s. of Kodiak1. in the 4th-everGolden Eagle nest was discovered Gulf (?EAM). At leastanother two juve- mid-1980s,so three femalesat Attu May on the road systemthere Mar. 29 (RAM, nileswere described near the fishingfleet 17-31 (ATTOUR)were significant. South- WED) but appearedinactive after May 22. farther west in the n.w. Gulf s. of the coastalRing-necked Duck accountswere Alaska's7th Eurasian Kestrel, a female,was ShumaginIs. May 27-29 (EAM). Most up frompast years, including three around describedin a briefappearance atAttu May Regionalreports come in after early June. HomerApr. 23-25 (RK) and a singlen. of 22 (ATTOUR, ?SCH). Extralimital and ex- Although Gulf sightingscontinue to be there at KasilofMay 10 (SL, DL). These tremelyearly was one Am. Kestrelin the sporadic,numbers appear to be on the rise. early finds may representindividuals that Homer areaApr. 12-May 22 (CF,WD), and A singleDouble-crested Cormorant over hadwintered in theRegion. Another drake two at KetchikanApr. 13-21 (SCH). There AnchorageMay 31 (DV) becameUCI's ear- Ring-neckedreached Bethel Apr. 25 (CH), havebeen several April arrivalAm. Kestrels wherecasual, while two spentlate winter to liest,where it iscasual. Following a fewpre- thepast few springs, which may involve in- Mar. 31 (SCH) at Ketchikan'sWard L. Late viouswinter reports, Brandt's Cormorants dividuals that wintered in British Colum- wereagain found s. of Ketchikanin Nichols winter King Eidersshowed up in good bia.The seasodsonly Am. Cootreport was numbersat or beyondtraditional sites, in- PassageMar. 8-Apr. 19 (maximum 5 Mar. a singlein JuneauApr. 12 (GVV), where eludingfour near JuneauMar. 9 (GVV), 23; ?SCH,TH, DWS, SZ), includinghigh thereare few spring reports. whichmay havebeen SE'shighest count; alternate and imm.-plumaged birds. another four around Homer were late to Brandt's nest on a few outer coast isolated PLOVERS TO OWLS seastacksbetween Hinchinbrook Entrance May 10 (fideGCW). A femaleSteller's Eider Shorebirdpassage through the w. Aleutians at Prince William Sound and s. SE. was generallyearly and in decentvolume, TheAttu I. WhooperSwan pair was re- while concentrations at other established found at the n. side L. Nicholas site,where North Gulf siteswere unspectacular--no theynested last year (ATTOUR), May 17 doubt because of mild and storm-free con- through the period--a nest was located ditions.Highlights included rare-in-spring with 5 eggsJune 4. StragglerEmperor two Black-belliedPlovers at Attu May 18 and May 29-June 2 (ATTOUR); peak countsof sevenand sixMongolian Plovers TurkeyVulture at NorthPoint Higgins, from Buldir May 28 (fide JW) and Attu nearKetchikan, Alaska, in late May1997. May 18 (ATTOUR); two Com. Green- Onethat appearedhere the previousyear shanksat Attu May 25-28 (ATTOUR); a had provideda first recordfor southestem lowpeak of 24 WoodSandpipers from Attu Alaska.Photograph/Walter Northrup May 25 (ATTOUR), with threeat St.Paul I.

FALL lgg7 911 May 17-23 (ST. PAUL);Kodiak's 4th ever very late pair at Sitkalingered to Mar. 30 town May 28 (NS)--most SE recordsare Bristle-thighedCurlew, two May 16-18 andon, when they were last seen building a concentratedfrom urban centers after early (JBA);and exceptionaland synchronous nest (MLW, MT). June.Bramblings were difficult to find this Asiaticpeep counts, with sixand nine Red- Mountain Bluebirds arrived on time springwithin their regularrange, with the neckedStints at Buldir May 25 (fideJW) from the standardsites, including a single Aleutianpeak a verylow sixat Attu May 20 and Attu May 26-27 (ATTOUR),and five in JuneauApr. 25 (JS)and an above-aver- (ATTOUR)and an early single from St Paul and nine Long-toedStints, also at Buldir age14 from the Tok areaApr. 16-20 (TJD). May 14 (ST.PAUL) the sumtotal for May and Attu, both May 25 (ILJ et al., fide OneEyebrowed Thrush from Attu thickets RedCrossbills continued to expandinto SE JW, ATTOUR). May 19-20 (ATTOUR) providedonly re- and SC coastalsites by the endof the peri- California Gulls arrived about on time, port, amid continuanceof this species' od. The onlybreeding evidence came from with a singleat KetchikanMar. 29 and a downward trend since the late 1980s. Red- Juneau,where the highest numbers were re- spring maximum of 35 Apr. 13 (SCH). throatedPipits went unrecorded from Attu ported,with a femalecarrying grasses Mar Farthernorth, a singleadult was notable at all season,a firstin probably20 years,and 31 (PS).Given the poor passefine migration JuneauMay 21 (GVV, BA). This spring's onlythree showed early at BuldirI. to the throughthe Aleutiansthis season,a male Herringspawn Thayer's Gull peakreached eastMay 3 (ILJ et al.,fide JW).American Eurasian B-!lfindl was anomalous from >5000in the Juneauarea's Pt. BridgetMay Pipitswere also well belowthe norm, while Buldir May 17 (ILJ et al., fide JW), the 4 (PS).Slaty-backed Gulls made the stan- single Olive-backedPipits and Pechora Aleutians'4th springrecord. Hawfinches dardshowing with scatteredsingles at the Pipitsskulked briefly in the advancinglush madea niceshowing and lingered in thew regularBering Sea/Aleutian sites--the only greeneryat Attu May 28 (ATTOUR) and Aleutians, with two males recorded from extralimital was an adult described as a mi- BuldirMay 21-24 (fideJW), respectively. Attu May 27-June6 (ATTOUR, ph. SCH, grant at KetchikanMar. 27-29 (ph. SCH). Althoughrecognized as a rare breederon ph. SW) and anotherfour at BuldirMay About the 5th springPribilof areaRoss's the Commander Is. w. of the Near Is., 24-June14 (ILJet al.,fideJW). Gull reportwas an adultinshore at St.Paul PechoraPipit remainsa sporadiccasual I. May 22-27 (ST.PAUL). This High Arctic springmigrant in thew. Aleutians. The ear- Contributorsand observers:B. Agler,J B migrant remainspoorly known s. of the liest and now 3rd record of Bohemian Allen,R. Armstrong,ATTOUR (P.J. Balclch, BeringStrait. Caspian Terns arrived in early Waxwing,a singleat Buldir May 5 (fide S.C. Heinl, D. W. Sonneborn,J. Hunting- Maywith fiveat JuneauMay 11 (PS). JW), was likely the EastAsian form cen- ton, G. B. Rosenband,P. W. Sykes,M The Upper TananaValley's 3rd Snowy tralasiae,which has been confirmedby Toochin),G. Bullock,E. E. Burroughs,D B Owl appearednear Square L. n. of TokApr. specimenfrom Attu in 1989. Carlson,D. E Delap,W. E. Donaldson,T J. 6 (DBC), while the North Slopdsfirst re- Warblerswere generally early, dispersed, Doyle(E. InteriorSub-regional Compiler), portincluded a latishsingle at PrudhoeBay andon territoryby the 3rdweek of May. W. Dunne, L. Edfelt, C. L. Gardner, C May 30 (EEB).The season'sonly Barred Notableamong the earliestreports was a Harwood, S.C. Heinl, T. Hunt, H. Johnson, Owl find was a calling bird on the SE singingTownsend's Warbler above Anchor- W. N. Johnson,I. L. Jones,R. Kleinleder, K Mainland in Misty FjordsN.M. May 1 ageApr. 11 (GB),record early by >3 weeks, Lehmkuhl,D. Loshbaugh,S. Loshbaugh,R (SCH).If GreatGray Owls can ever be con- whilethree in KetchikanApr. 12 were earli- A. Macintosh, J. Metzler, E. A. Mitchell, W sideredregular anywhere in theRegion, it's estthere by a day(SCH). These early April Northrup,L. J.Oakley, K. O'Reilly-Doyle,J in the e. Interiorlowlands, which this year Townsend'slikely wintered in the Vancou- Pontti, R. L. Scher, M. Schwan, J. Sher- producedtwo singlesnear Tok Mar. ver I.-n. PugetSound area, since most mi- burne,N. Story,ST. PAUL (S. D. Smith,R 22-Apr. 11 (KOD, CLG). Takingshelter in grantstypically arrive in the lastweek of C. Hoyer et al.), D. W. Sonneborn,P the dunes at St. Paul I. was an extralimital April. Over 100 Orange-crownedWarblers Suchanek,M. Tedin, G. V. Vliet, M. L. Ward, BorealOwl May 19 (ph. ST.PAUL). Of the aroundKetchikan May 4 wereindicative of G. C. West, J. Williams, WINGS (Jon L now approximatelysix Pribilof records, an early movementby nearly a week. Dunn, G. H. Rosenberg,M. O'Brien,Paul there are 3 specimensof NearcticA. f WesternTanagers were listed only from Holt et al.), S. Wulkowicz,S. Zimmerman richardsoniand one Palearctic magnus. Juneau,where five malesreported May [Details,specimens and photographs refer- 21-26 (PS, MS, GVV, BA) represented encedare on file at Universityof Alaska WOODPECKERS TO TANAGERS probablythe best ever local spring tally. Museum.] Woodpeckernumbers continue to swellin T.G. TobishJr., 2510Foraker'Dnve, SC SpruceBark Beetleinfested forests, es- EMBERIZIDS TO FRINGILLIDS Anchorage,AK99517. peciallywith noticeablyhigh populations Althoughmost observers described a heavy of Hairyand Three-toed woodpeckers. This sparrowpassage, significant finds, numbers, trend should continue as another warmish or dateswere few and included only single and low-snowwinter and warm early extralimital Golden-crowned and White- springfavored this pest's life cycle for about crownedsparrows from St. Paul I. May28 & the 4th consecutiveyear. This spring'sex- 17, respectively,where both are casualin tralimitalN. Rough-wingedSwallow sight- spring (ST.PAUL). An Interiorzaboria Fox lng camefrom Juneau,where this casual SE Sparrowfound an Anchorage feeder May 16 visitorseems to overshootannually, with a (TGT), oneof fewSC spring records. Rustic singleMay 15 (LE). Black-billedMagpies Buntingwent unreported from the Region, lingeredlate at wintersites where they do and numbers seem to' be in decline since not breed,mentioned as tardy from Juneau aboutthe late 1980s. Ketchikan's first spring to Apr. 15 (GVV) andTok Mar. 25 (TJD).A Brown-headedCowbird showed up near

912 FIELD NOTES british columbia- yukon region The report for south- JackfishBay, Yukon, May 17 (BDo). Provid- '•.:- YUkOn t• NORTHWEST ern Vancouver Island ing onlythe 2nd Q.C.I. andRegional record was received incom- wasan apparentad. Red-facedCormorant plete. with sixPelagics at SkonunPt., Masset, May 7 (p.v., OD, BWi). Despitethe long, cold Abbreviations: B.C. winter, Great Blue Herons returned to the (British Columbia);Ok. 30-nesturban colony at Vernonin the 2nd (Okanagan);P.6. (Prince weekof March,with somebirds on eggsby George);p.v. (pending late in the month (CS). This spring'sva- verificationby responsi- grant overshootingGreat Egret showed up ',- "'._::....BRmSHCOLUMBIA ble Bird RecordsCbmmit- at SeparationL. near Princeton, s.c.B.C., tee); Q.C.I. (OueenChar- May 9-11 (MS, FBCN,m.ob.). lotteIs.); RPBS (Rocky Pt. It sometimes takes a whine for the Bird Banding$tatton, s. tip BandingLab gearsto turn, but it always Van. L); STP (Sewage provides interesting information. A TreatmentPlant/Ponds); Trumpeter Swan seen near Kamloops Van. (Vancouver);Van. I. January16, 1994,and January8, 1995,had (VancouverL); Vic. (Vic- been banded as a cygnet near Grande toria); Whse. (White- Prairie,Alberta, in September1992. A flock horse). of 500Trumpeters at Nulki L., Vanderhoof, c. B.C.,Apr. 7 (NK, HA) constituteda large LOONS springflock for the interior.Wintering only TO CRANES in small numbers in s. B.C., four Greater White-fronted Geese overwintered at •imo'••anc•er Vemø•en••':•a10 Rare inland, especially at valley level, was a McCoyL., s.c.Van. I., until Mar. 8 (DGC), Red-throated Loon at asthey have the past3 winters.Normally a Kamloops Apr. 21 vagrant during migration--with only one-ten records a decade, and almost all JACK BOWLING (SyR).A largeflock of 3200 Pacific Loons was off Roberts Cr., records involving single birds--Ross's nlythe Yukon escaped withnear nor- SunshineCoast, Apr. 24 (RTk). Thisloon is Geeseappeared in exceptionalnumbers as mal weather. British Columbia's occasionallyseen in suchlarge numbers the gooseflocks returned. One wasin with springwas mostlyugly: March wet and alongthe coastwhen staging during their a flock of CanadaGeese at EG. Apr. 6-10 cold, with heavysnow in the mountains. northbound journey. The only Yellow- (SK, LL, m.ob.); four were with three Snow April wasdrier, but windy and cool.May billed Loon reported was one in basic Geeseat Creston,s.e.B.C., Apr. 19 (BKo, startedand ended damp but hada hot spell plumagenear the mouthof the middlearm LMi); a flock of ll remained in the in the middle. Flooding in the British of the Fraser R. Mar. 21 (MKM). Two Quilchena area near Nicola L., s.c.B.C., Columbia interior was local in March, but Clark'sGrebes, distinguishable by headcol- Apr. 15-24 (WCW, m.ob.)accompanied by widespreadin mid-May.The lastbout co- oration,frequented the n. arm of the Fraser 11 Greater White-fronteds; and two were at incidedwith the first big push of north- R., upstreamof itsmouth, until at leastApr. Brisco,E. Kootenays,May 5-7 (MWh, EH, bound passerines.As bad as the weather 7 (RTo), while only one wasthere Apr. 25 m.ob.). In fact, a "grandslam" of inland was in the west, it was even worse on the (MKM). Thesegrebes, holdovers from the geesewas achieved in the P.G./Vanderhoof prairies,where stiff northerlywinds blew previousseason, were the first Clark's areasApr. 10 when GreaterWhite-fronted, mostof theseason. These winds apparently known to overwinter in the Region. Snow,Ross's, and Canada geesewere all deflectedwestward species more typical of Double-crested Cormorants are still rare seenthe same day (NK, HA), a notable the Central Flyway,such as Ross'sGeese inlandin B.C.,but maybe increasing(pers. event for the interior. A flock of 660 Brant and White-rumpedSandpipers. As is usual comm. RWC): Single birds were seen at was presentin TorinoHarbor, s.w. Van. I., in coldsprings, later arriving insectivorous McBride May 3 (E&G Stanley,m.ob.); Apr. 19 (DGC). The high countof feeding passetineswere mostlybehind schedule. NapierL., n. of Merritt, May 10 (RRH); and Brantat Sandspit,Q.C.I., totaled2967 May Indeed, unusualphenology, distribution, on the Kootenay R. near Wasa May 24 1 (MH, PH), one of the largeraggregations and numbersof birds--ratherthan long- (GSD, MWh). Three Double-crestedsre- on recordfrom the Islands.A pair of Wood distancevagrancy•ominated the season. turned to their traditional location at Ducks at LewesMarsh May 10 (tPS)

FALL1997 913 became the Yukon's first documented breedingevidence from e. of the Rockies known n.w.B.C. populationrather than recordof the species.For the 5th consecu- near Chetwynd,n.e.B.C. (AS,fide DgW). Alaskanbirds. Sandhills showed up in May tive spring,a "Eurasian"Green-winged An emaciated and decapitatedfemale at DelkatlaWildlife Sanctuaryin Masset, Teal has appeared at the Tranquille Cooper'scarcass found near the P.G. air- Q.C.I.,with 40 thereMay 26 (MH PH), the Marshes,Kamloops. This year's bird arrived port May 23 hadbeen banded by Dr. M.J. highestcount ever for the Islands.The flock thereMar. 20 (RR, WH, NS). A Garganey, Bechard,8 mi w. of IdahoCity, Idaho, Sept. remainedthere, feeding, through the end of accidentalto the Region,spotted on Wayne 18, 1993(fideDgW). A light-morphBroad- the period. L nearPrinceton May 9 (JGr),could not be wingedHawk at VernonMay 31 (?CS)pro- rediscoveredlater in the day.It hasbecome vided the first documented record for the SHOREBIRDS TO WOODPECKERS apparentthat any sizeableflock of Am. Ok. Valley,although one had been seen Therewere fewer golden-plovers seen pass- Wlgeonis likely to harbora Eur.Wigeon or near Enderbyin the SpallumcheenValley ingthrough the Q.C.I.this spring than dur- two acrossmost of B.C.in the spring,with only 50 km farthernorth May 13, 1995;yet ingthe past couple of years,with 30Paclfics reportsof Eurasianscoming from all com- more evidenceto suggestthis speciesis on at MassetMay 5 (PH), andthe lastAmeri- priersthis season. This includes the Yukon, the increasein the Region.A rare light- can at SandspitMay 22 (MH, PH). Only a whereit is still decidedlyrare, with a male morph "Harlan's"Red-tailed Hawk was scarceand irregularmigrant through the c at NaresL. Apr. 27 (PS,YBC), and two at spottedat Whse.Apr. 24 (?CE,PS); a very interior, two Am. Golden-Ploverswere seen McClintockBay May 18 (CE, HG, PS). smallproportion of the harlanipopulation at Giscome,e. of P.G.,May 19 (CA). Kill- Gadwallsare only stragglersto the Q.C.I., exhibitsleucism to somedegree. Only a deer arrivedearly to the Yukon,with the makingthe flock of 24 at JuskatlaMar. 6 very rare springstraggler to the Sunshine two at Whse.Mar. 31 (HG) beingthe first (MH, PH) a noteworthyevent. An apparent Coast,a Rough-leggedHawk was at Sechelt returningshorebirds. Seven Am. Avocets hybrid Canvasbackx Ring-neckedDuck Apr. 29 (DBr). Golden Eaglesreturned were near the mouth of Trout Cr, was observedon Nicola L., s.c.B.C., Mar. 16 early to the s. Yukon,with the first seen Summerland,c. Ok., Apr. 15 (CH). These (WCW). This drakewas the approximate Mar. 12 at Whse.-PilotMt. (BMu), followed birds were possiblyon their way to the sizeand shape of a Canvasback,but with a by 10 Mar. 21, four Mar. 27, andtwo Mar. Glenmore Landfill, Kelowna, a location to darkgray back, a blackhead with purplish 29 at Mt. Sima (MCon), another single which avocets have taken a shine. Last and red highlights,and a darkbill with a Mar. 29 over Whse.-Porter Cr. (CE, PS), year'shigh countof 18, with a coupleof palering nearthe tip. Two TuftedDucks and eight more Mar. 30 moving N over pairsbreeding, had increasedto about20 were last seenon Lost Lagoonin Van.'s LewesMarsh (CE, PS). A young Golden pairsnesting during May (JW).This is per- StanleyPark Mar. 15 (m.ob.).First seen in Eagle,rare on the s. coast,was seen moving hapsthe Region'sfirst true avocetcolony A Van. Harbor last Nov. 11, the youngmale N over New WestminsterMar. 18 (MPr). A wanderingAm. Avocetmade it to Maple- Common Eider molting into Alternate 1 PeregrineFalcon winging N overMcCoy L., wood Mudflats,N. Van., May 17.A Wfilet plumagemoved from Iona I. Apr. 18-20 Pt. Alberni, s.c.Van. I., Mar. 28 (DGC) was overwinteringat the TsawwassenJetty, s of (RTo)to theW. Van.shoreline Apr. 23-May considereda migrant. Exactly2 months Van., continuedits staythrough Apr 19 8 (LH, m.ob.).Oldsquaws pass through the later,Peregrine Falcons were noted from (DTy,m.ob.). The Long-billed Curlew pop- interior in small numbersand are rarely oppositeends of the RegionMay 28,with a ulation continuesto expandinto B.C's c seenin groupsof morethan half a dozen. late bird stoopingat JudasCr., s. Yukon interior. The first two curlews were back Surprisingthen were 14 at TunkwaL., s.e. (JH, YBC), and anotherover the Glenmore typicallyearly at VanderhoofApr. 9 (NK, of Kamloops,May 25 (RRH).A Red-breast- Landfill, Kelowna(JW). It is encouraging DG), followedby one at Chubb L. near ed Merganserat WasaL. nearCranbrook, to notethat sightingsof Peregrinesin the HixonMay 6 & 16 (SK,LL), andanother at s e. B.C., May 24 (RMN) provideda rare Ok. Valleyhave increased over the pastfew Shelley,near P.G., May 17 (JB,MPh, HA) springinland record of thissawbill. years.Gray-morph Gyrfalcons were report- Veryunexpected was another Long-bfiled TurkeyVultures continued their recent ed from Vernon,N. Ok., Mar. 16 (CS), and circlinga short-grassfield in the concrete trend of returningearly to the Ok. Valley, Tranquille,Kamloops, Mar. 22 (SyR).The jungleof NewWestminster, s.w.B.C., Apr 8 with the first seen at Naramata near pairof PrairieFalcons returned to theirtra- (MPr). Foundonly in smallnumbers in the PentictonMar. 1 (RJC). Interestingwas a ditionalaerie on The Throne,a rockybluff Yukon, four HudsonJan Godwits at Mc- vultureat Road 22, Oliver,S. Ok., feeding near Oliver, S. Ok., Mar. 25 (TE), and an- ClintockBay May 18 wereinteresting But on drownedcarp in a floodedfield--along- othersingle was at Tranquille,Kamloops, thesighting of a MarbledGodwit there the sideBald Eagles and gulls--Mar. 25 (RJC). Mar. 1 (SyR). sameday was even more exciting, as it pro- FiveOspreys patrolling the waters of Torino After rumors of extirpationfrom the videdone of veryfew documentedYukon Inlet, s.w.Van. I., May 18 (DGC) constitut- PortAlberni, s.w. Van. I. area,a callingmale records(?CE, ?PS,?HG). ed a large congregationfor the area. CaliforniaQuail at the localJ. V. ClyneBird The fever-inducingstints put in brief ap- Northern Harrierswere passingthrough SanctuaryMar. 23 (DGC) providedthe 2nd pearances,with a Red-neckedStint at Iona Vanderhoof,c. B.C.,in largenumbers Apr. recordin the pastfew years. Surveyors for STP,Richmond, May 20 (p.v., ?RTo),and 13, with 23 birds,mostly males, tallied in amphibiansturned up severalVirginia an alternate-plumagedLittle Stint, Yukon's the area(PGNC). A youngCooper's Hawk Rails--only recentlyadded to the P.G. first,at JudasCr. May 19 (?CE,?PS). This waswatched chasing starlings and pigeons checklist--at local marshes, with three at was the best White-rumped Sandpiper in the middleof a busycity intersectionat ConradSlough May 3 (PGNC) & 12 (SK, flight sincethe springsof 1985 and 1986 NewWestminster Mar. 20 (MPr), usingthe LL), and two at BuckhornL. May 13 (SK, The first singleappeared at JudasCr, s carsfor concealment--apparentlyit didn't LL). A low flockof 28 SandhillCranes fly- Yukon,May 19 (?CE,?PS), followed by an- stopfor the red lights,either. The species ing NW overVanderhoof Apr. 27 (PGNC) otherat LewesMarsh May 19 (?HG). Next seemsto be expandingn., with recent may have been membersof the litttle- were two at Nellson L., 50 km n. of P G,

914 FIELD NOTES british columbia-yukon

May 25 (PGNC), the first for the local 5000 Apr. 7 (RJC). A large flock of 1000 wheremany were found starving in March, checklistarea; and then anotherfour again Mew Gullsstaging at NaresL. May 10 (CE, apparentlyunable to find rodentson theicy at JudasCr. May 28 (JH, tYBC). And justto PS) providedsome dues as to this species' fidds (fideRRH). Numbersof SnowyOwls confirm that the Fort St. John area is still migrationroute through s. Yukon. graduallythinned out throughthe period the bestplace to seeWhite-rumpeds, eight Higher-than-normalnumbers of Ring- asthey headed back north. Most birds were were at Charlie L., and two more at the N. billed Gulls, all adults, were observedin s. gonefrom the BoundaryBay area by mid- SewageLagoons May 31 (TG). Althougha Yukon,with oneat Whse.Apr. 22 (ph. ?CE), April. One of those northbound owls flock of 200-250 PectoralSandpipers at two at NaresL. May 10 (?CE, ?PS),two caused a media sensation when it touched Giscome,30 km e. of P.G.,May 15 (CA, JB) moreMay 13 at LewesMarsh May 21 (ph. down at Sechelt Apr. 16 (m.ob.), the waslarge for the area,it paledin compari- ?CE,•PS), and anotherat JudasCr. May 31 SunshineCoast's 5th Snowy.Great Gray son to the 1800-2000 that staged at (JH). A HerringGull sportingyellow rather Owls were found at several locations in the McClintockBay, s. Yukon, May 16-18 (CE, thanpink legs was at theWhse. Landfill Apr. Ok. Valleyduring the period.Two wereat PS,HG), perhapsthe highest recorded con- 22 (ph. tCE)& 23 (?HG). Very rare in the Vernon Commonagein mid-March centrationanywhere in the Regionfor any spring in the Yukon, a first-summer (EN, BKo, PG); another was in E. Kelowna season. Rare in the Yukon, a Dunlin at Thayer'sGull wasat LewesMarsh May 13 Mar. 4-5 (J.Casling); and anotherwas seen McClintock Bay May 16 (triG) was fol- (ph. ?CE, tPS). Always a controversial off Camp McKinneyRd., Oliver,May 18 lowed by a 2nd at LewesMarsh May 30 "spedes"out west,an apparentfirst-winter (MAi). The Kelownaowl had been seenon (BrB,?HG). With only a handfulof spring "Kumlien's" Iceland Gull was found at and off in the same area the past year. Stilt Sandpiperrecords w. of the Rockiesin MissionPt., SunshineCoast, Apr. 11 (p.v., Alwaysa hard bird to ferret out, a Long- B.C., the discovery of an alternate- ?TG).An ad. Slaty-backedGull wasin with eared Owl respondedto some vigorous plumagedbird at NicolaL., s.c.B.C.,May a largegull flock in S. DeltaMar. 4 (RTo).It humanhootings at NicolaL., s.c.B.C.,May 24 (WCW) was noteworthy;meanwhile, wouldbe usefulto bandthis bird, to try to 10 (RRH). A Boreal Owl in Ladner Mar. 30 the three observed at Judas Cr., s. Yukon, determineif thisis the samebird returning (KW) wasthe 2nd live oneseen in the past May 28 (JH, ?YBC)was considereda low yearafter year to thissite s. of Vancouver.A 2 yearsin thisarea s. of Vancouver.The call- tallyfor the season. gatheringof 31 W. Gulls (induding seven ing scheduleof N. Saw-whetOwls was de- Three light-morph Parasitic Jaegers with mixedGlaucous-winged parentage) at layed3 weeksin the c. interior,with thefirst were watchedflying N togetherlow over Skonun Pt., Masset,Mar. 9 (MH, PH) fur- maleheard tooting at P.G.Apr. 28 (JB). the wateroffshore of the Universityof B.C. nishedthe highesthumber of Westernsever TwoVaux's Swifts observed flying in and campus,Van., May 25 (MPr). Of the 3 seenon the Q.C.I. A strongNE wind was out of the samechimney in Pt. Grey,Van., jaegerspecies, this is the onemost likely to blowing,which usually concentrates birds at be seenin inshorewaters. Providing a first this location. Sunshine Coast record was the imm. Little Glaucous-wingedGulls were alsoob- m reforestss.e. of KluaneL.,-s.w. Gull at WakefieldCr. Apr. 26 (TG), a rare served in greater numbers than usual S A Thiswinterthe White Spruce vagrantto the coastand moreoften found around the Whse.,Yukon, area. Sightings Yukon,hosted an unprecedented in the fall. An ad. Little was seen from the includeda first-summerbird May 6, an bet of three-tis•dwoodpeckers. This high density'coincidedwith a large vesselYorktown Clipper, feeding with a adultMay 7, and a 3rd-summerbird May SpruceBark Beetle population and con- flock of 500 Bonaparte'sGulls in Active 10 (ph. $CE).Three first-summer Glaucous PassMay 5 (SHD); and another (same siderablenumbers of standing dead Gullsappeared with 1000other gulls at the trees. A record count of 23 Three-toeds one?)was in with 35 Bonaparte's20 km far- mouth of Vernon Cr., n. Ok. L., Mar. 15 on the Dec. 28, 1996, Kluane Lake CBC ther north off the Iona Jetty,Richmond, (PG); and a first-winter bird was at Mission wasfollowed by a morethorough search May 16 (RTo).The Bonaparte'sthemselves Pt., SunshineCoast, Apr. 12 (TG). Caspian for woodpeckersMar. 9. Four observers peakedat ActivePass in early April with Ternscontinue to be seenin widely scat- (THe, CE, HG, PS) coveredabout 14.8 teredlocations far from anyknown breed- km in 10 hours and tallied an astonish- ing sites.Two were flying togetherover ing 54 woodpeckers.The total consisted S ARepørtsß '•wash onof gullsthe breastwith a pinkand Laredo Sound, n.c.B.C. coast, May 8 (SHD); three were observedat Vernon, N. of40 Three•toeds (24females, 14males, orangishPather than yellQ• legs and Ok., May 10-11 (PG); fivewere at Sandspit, 2 unknown)?four Black-backed•,. and bills,began •oming infrora the.ez end of 10"threeZt0• spT' F6rest managers rou- Ok.L. nea• Penticton Mar. 8 (RDY,TL, Q.C.I. May 16 (MH, PH), the highestnum- tinelylabel sucl• forests "beetle infested" ber yet recordedfor the archipelago;and SD, CH), when a "roseate"ad. Ring- and havepromoted clearcut logging as five frequentedEaglet L., P.G.May 23, with billed Gull was observed.By Mar. 15, the bestoption for dealingwith suchan two there the next day (SK, LL, DG). An one ad. Californiaand nine ad. Ring- "infestation:'However, this particular Arctic Tern at SkonunPt., Masset,Apr. 30 billedsthere displayed this colorvaria- typeof forestdearly provides important (MH, PH) providedthe onlyspring record tion (PG). Somediligent Internet work habitatfor an extraordinarydensity of for the Q.C.I., and wasat leasta weekahead by SydRoberts revealed that this aberra- woodpeckers.The view that clearcut of the usual northbound window. tion is not all that uncommonamong loggingis an appropriateresponse to The continuous snowcover since mid- EuropeanBlack-headed and Little gulls. such increasesin beetle populations November seemed to have little effect on It is apparentlydiet and age-related, ignores the complex relationships GreatHorned Owl cycles,with a pair back usuallylasts about 3 weeks,and can vary amonginsect• and forests, and the asso- at its nest near Vernon, N. Ok., Feb. 17 (M. widelyin intensityof huewithin aflock ciatedwildlife which dependon these of birds2 Koop).However, the samecannot be said relationshipS• for N. Pygmy-Owlsaround Kamloops,

FALL 1997 915 May 25 (MPr)--wherethey had first been (TG), a locationwhere any kingbird sight- at Chopakanear the Washingtonborder seen2 yearspreviously--suggested poten- ing is unexpected. May 18& 25 (RJC,m.ob.). tial nesting.Detailed nesting data are lack- A N. Rough-wingedSwallow returned A NashvilleWarbler at SecheltMay 11 ing for all 3 of the Region'sswifts. A male to McCoyL. Mar. 31 (DGC), a record-early (DBr) furnished the first SunshineCoast Gosta'sI-Iummlngbird, Van. I.'s 2nd and date for the Port Alberni area. A Bank record of a live bird, a specimenhaving theRegion's 5th, frequented a Saanich feed- Swallow,rare to uncommon on Van. I., was beenfound earlier.It wasa goodwarbler er Apr. 25-May 17 (R&M McKenzie- at Rithet'sBog, Saanich,Apr. 26 (HVP). A yearon the Q.C.I.A YellowWarbler heard Grieve,m.ob.). Becominga regularspring Cliff Swallow in with 60 Tree Swallows at May 18 andanother (same.•) seen June 1 at migrant on the s. coastthe past several Masset,Q.C.I., Apr. 27-30 (PH) addedto Masset (MH, PH) added to only a few years,a maleCalliope Hummingbird was about5 or 6 recordsfor the Islands,only a records.The 16 Magnolia Warblers at discoveredat Queen ElizabethPark, Van., couplefrom the spring.The BlueJay that KinuseoFalls, 40 km s. of TumblerRidge, Apr. 29 (K. McPherson).Extremely rare remained in the Deep Cove area of N. n.e.B.C., May 31 (ChH), signifieda major wasa Red-breastedSapsucker at Annie L. Saanich, s.e. Van. I., since the winter of passingwave. Known to neston the Q.C.I. Rd. nearWhse. in lateApril (p.v.,AF), the 1995-1996 was last reportedApr. 9 (T. onlyat higherelevations on GrahamI., any 2nd in as manyyears and potentiallythe Mays).A BlueJay rirst seen in the Cascade Wilson'sWarblers on the coastalplain of Yukon's3rd. Williamson'sSapsuckers are Park, Van. Area, mid-November 1996 re- MoresbyI. areconsidered migrants, as were earlymigrants, as confirmed by thethree mainedthere until May. 3 (S.Hagen), while the two at MassetMay 14, and the single males on power poles at August L., yet anotherwas found in nearbySurrey bird thereMay 31 (MH, PH). Much rarer Princeton, s.c.B.C., Mar. 24 (JHe). The Apr. 15 (D. Maynes).A BlueJay at Tumbler on the moist w. coast of Van. I. than the northerlyWilliamson's pair which bred at Ridge,n.e.B.C., May 29 (ChH) provided driere. side,a singingmale Black-throated IsabelL., Kamloops,in 1996did not return. the 2nd local record. A Black-billed Gray Warbler was a surpriseat the Magpie first spotted in late March at WickanninishBeach parking lot at Pacific FLYCATCHERS TO FRINGILLIDS EsquimaltLagoon, Colwood (D. Kindall), Rim N. P.,s.w. Van. I., May 18(DGC). Near the n. edgeof its Canadianrange, a Town- Only rare transientson the s. coast, waslater seen in thenearby Metchosin area send'sWarbler put in a rarebut timelyap- one-twoSay's Phoebes at Iona Reg.Park, on 3-4 daysaround May 12 (I. Tipton et Richmond (BS, m.ob.), were a treat. The al.). The speciesis accidentalon Van. I. The pearanceat a birdsongworkshop at Whse. ftrstreturning House Wren to s.Van. I. was May 24 (PS,YBC). The e. foothillsof the gradualexpansion of the W. Kingbird's noted at Mt. Tolmie,Vic., Apr. 19 (D. Rockies in n.e.B.C. are a contact zone be- rangefrom the Great Basin into B.C., which Copley).Likely part of the samewave was tween Townsend's and Black-throated beganin the 1950s,continues to this day. Greenwarblers, as evidencedby the male The mostnoticeable recent push has been the HouseWren in S. SurreyApr. 22 (PSp, m.ob.). This wren prefers the dry Black-throatedGreen singingjust e. of coastward.A single W. Kingbirdftrst seen at Mediterranean dimate of s.e. Van. I. and TumblerRidge May 27 (ChH), the 2nd Mt. Douglas,Vic., May 17 (PP) waslikely the Gulf Islands,and only rarelystrays to localrecord. A maleBlackpoll Warbler at responsiblefor a rashof sightingsaround the muchwetter e. sideof GeorgiaStrait. A WasaSloughs, W. Kootenays,May 24 (GSD, the Victoria/Saanichareas during the fol- Golden-crownedKinglet returned very AY) was a goodfind. The speciesis rarely lowingweek (m.ob.).It waslast seen May earlyto theWhse. area Apr. 9 (CE). found during migrationthrough s. B.C. 23 in N. Saanich(HVP, BD). The species Ruby-crownedKinglets are regular win- Havingexpanded w. acrossthe Rockies into nowoccurs most, but not all, springsin the the P.G. area the past severalyears, one s.e. Van. I. area. On the other side of teringbirds on the Sunshine Coast, but were largelyabsent this past winter, likely due to wonderswhether the Ovenbirdsinging at GeorgiaStrait, two W. Kingbirdswere ob- the unseasonablydeep snow cover. Well, Lindley Cr., Merritt, s.c.B.C., May 24 servedat Sechelt,Sunshine Coast, May 25 theymade up for it when"swarms"of chat- (WCW) wasjust a windblownvagrant or a tering migrantsmoved through in April southwardtrending pioneer. The weather- S A Purple•artins returned to (TG, m.ob.). Mountain Bluebirdsfollowed delayeddam of passepinemigrants broke in ß'• theirestablished nesting- •ites up lastspring's good passage through the the3rd week of May.Typical of thefrenzied B.C. interior with anotherone this year: passagesof some specieswere the 20 on s,Van, Land N. Van.in earlyMay, butit appears thaithe sped es• c•ntin- about 100 were tallied in the Vanderhoof WarblingVireos and 24 N. Waterthrushes uingto bioh•r. Tfiere h•l only•een2 areaApr. 7 (HA, NK) duringthe peak of the located at Hubble Rd. near Amanita L., 50 record•bf martel.on the S•shlne migration.A fewstragglers from the interi- km n.e.of PG,May 24 (SK,LL, DG). or pushmade it out to Van.I. A femalewas An Am. TreeSparrow at NakuspMar. 28 CoastiSthe period •971-19• .... until at Colwood Mar. 27 (R. Grasman) & 30 (M&J Allard,GSD) paid a rare visit to the this•pring! First •-rnale was spotted at Seclt f0uøwed (HVP), while a male was farther west at W. Kootenays.More commonlyreported bya pair at Sechei• MaylS• d•fen•l• JordanR. Mar. 27 & 30 (A. Cooper).Later the pastdecade, but still scarceon the s. nest•o•c .against passing' •r•ws onewas at C. SaanichMay 1 (L. DeMarch) coast, a Vesper Sparrow was at Pitt kingfishers.We foll ubifi andthe sameday another was reported way Meadowson a very earlydate of Mar 21. w. at Frank I., Torino,s.w. Van. I. (N. Rich- Anotherfour Vespersin the Nakusparea season'sTsummaryto'checkon •esting succes•Plans fob.m6re nest boxes have edy).The Greater Van. areas two showed up May 3 (GSD,NM) hintedat a relatively alreadybeen made • preparatinnfor at ColonyFarm, Coquitlam, Apr. 5-6 (LCo, heavyspring passage through the valleys. A theirSturnnext year, in an•ttempt to m.ob.).As is typicalof mostspecies at the singingmale Grasshopper Sparrow seen securethe Re•0n,s 3r• n3arfinnestigg edgesof their range,Sage Thrasher num- near Cranbrook,E. Kootenays,May 24-25 locaaon bersin the S. Ok. fluctuatenoticeably from (GrR, G1R,JLa, GSD) furnishedan interest- yearto year.This year a singlebird was seen ing discoveryof thisvery local s. interior

916 FIELDNOTES british columbia-yukon species.Fox Sparrows are sub-alpine breed- (GrR), GlendaRoss (G1R), Nels Saemerov, Weber (WCW), JasonWeir, Mildred White ers in the Kootenays,and are rarely en- MadeIon Schouten, Brian Self, Chris (MWh), Karen Wiebe, Betsy Williams countered during spring migration. Siddle, PamelaSinclair, Prue Spitmann (BWi), DougWilson (DgW), AlanYoung, Surprising,then, was one at valley level (PSp), Andew Stewart, Russ Tkachuk YukonBird Club (YBC). near GalenaBay Apr. 27 (GSD). Showing (RTk), Rick Toochin(RTo), Danny Tyson up more often in fall and winter than the Jack'B'oWii'n g,R•,i-•14'-Cq1, Prince'George, sprangin the Q.C.I., a Golden-crowned (DTy), Hank vanderPol (HVP), WayneC. BCV2N 2H8. ([email protected]). Sparrowat Port ClementsApr. 25, and two more at Massetthe next day,were good finds (MH, PH). A spectacularwave of White-crownedSparrows moved through the Whse.area in earlyMay, with flocksof 200 visitingfeeders (m.ob.). 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We remain the leader! ½ORRIGEIIIDA Here'swhat an AviSys user wrote: "OUTSTANDING! I have been a comput- In AFN 50:2,delete Gyrfalcon at KluaneL.; erprofessional for over 30 years and must congratulate you on generating photographsdo not supportoriginal iden- state-of-the-art,convenient to use,efficient and reliablesoftware. You've tlficataon.In AFN 50:3, Black-bellied Plov- thoughtof everything that my wife and I wantedin birdingsoftware." An- erson LongBeach were feeding on jellyfish, not sandworms. otheruser states: "AVlSYSlSA BLAST!'•,vhich is preciselyour objective. Checkthe following AviSys exclusive features! Initialledcontributors and sub-regional edi- • UnlimitedNumber of Lists:all major geographic listsautomatically updated. tors (in boldface):Marika Ainley (MAi), Example:assigning a sighting toyour yard also updates your City, County, State, CathyAntoniazzi, Helen Antoniazzi, Bruce Nation,Continent, world-wide ABA Area, world-wide ABA Region, and Life lists. Bennett (BrB), Doug Brown (DBr), R. • FullABA N.A. Checklist, Clements World Checklist, and Official Tony White Wayne Campbell (RWC), 1UchardJ. State/ProvinceChecklists, allfully integrated with screen and report facilities. • Instant switch betweenClements World and ABA North America lists on screen. Cam•gs (RJC),Doaald G. Cecile(DGC), OneAviSys edition now serves both World and North America birders. Mark Connor (MCon), Larry Cowan • TheFastest, Easiest and Most Flexible sighting entry--just click on the birds. (LCo), Gary S. Davidson(GSD), Robyn Findspecies with instant family or genus selection via our exclusive Jump Tables DeYoung (RDY), Brent Diakow, Boris andour other unmatched navigation and search facilities. Data entry is fun! Dobrowolsky(BDo), SteveDokker, Oakley • FieldNotes for sightings/sites; forsighting detail, ornithology studies etc. Dyer, SamuelH. Dyke (SHD), Cameron • UnlimitedReporting and Listing by date range, season, geography, species, Eckert, Tom Ethier, Federation of B.C. habitat,behavior, sex, nesting status, heard-only, photographed, key-words, etc. Naturalists(FBCN), Alex Frid, Phil Gehlen, • CensusSpreadsheets forpopulation, sighting, CBC, and ornithology studies. Jude Grass (JGr), Dave Gravelie,Tony • PowerfulFill-in-the-blanks data query/listing/spreadsheet/reporting facilities. Greenfield,Helmut Grunberg,Clemens • Intelligentdata export to dBASE, Excel, Word, WPerfect, etc.; a mustfor pros. Hackenberg,Lea Haggart,Peter Hamel, Seeour web site at www.mindspring.com/~avisys Wfihe Haras,Jim Hawkings,Todd Heakes Ordersor info,call 1-800-354-7755~ 24 hours~ MC/VlSA (THe), Margo Hearne, Charles Helm AviSys4.0 for Windows 95/Windows 3.1 ~ $99.95~ S&H$4.00 (ChH), JerryHerzig (JHe), Elizabeth Hofer, RichardR. 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FALL 1997 917 oregon-washington region Co.,OR);O.S. (Ocean Shores, NOAA vesselover deep water off Oregon, GraysHarbor Co., WA); found14 Murphy's Petrels approximately Sauvie(Sauvie I., Columbia 110nautical mi off thes. Oregon coast May Co. and MultnomahCo., 3, and two moreapproximately 140 nauti- OR);S.J.C.R. (south jetty of calmi off the s.coast May 12.These reports the ColumbiaR., Clatsop would providethe 2d and 3d recordsfor Co., OR);W.W.R.D. (Walla Oregon pending acceptanceby the WallaR. delta, Walla Walla ß Westport .•, ;•;;! ßEllensburg O.B.R.C.,and the first springrecords since Co.,WA). 1992. ':' ':'•:4;:•12h-• 'Yakima American White Pelicans, rare in w. Astor,a •¾:i•' Richland LOONS TO FAI.½ON$ Oregon,were seen at two locations:one at Two Yellow-billed Loons ER.R.March 27-May 14 (A. McGie,DBr) were found on Puget and one on SauvieMay 26 (J. Morawski). Sound waters: one at As hasbeen the casein mostrecent years, Poulsbo, Kitsap, Mar. BrownPelicans arrived along the coastin •) Till'arn(•)7 •.?; •'•'•aker. 9-10 (fideRR) andone at April. The first wasobserved in Brookings, Keystone,Island, Apr. 6 Curry,OR, Apr. 7 (DM). On the Oregon (SM). Twelve Western coast,they werepresent in smallnumbers and 16 Clark's grebes throughApril (m.ob.)and were regular by wereat ER.R.in lateMay mid-May (MP). The first Washingtonre- (MH); this is one of the ports wereApr. 24 (BW, PtSu), and they only known breeding wereregular on the s. coastby mid-May •?:Medford.•:• ,An•elo• Range sitesin w. Oregonfor W. (BSh, G&W Hoge). Two Great Egretsat Grebe, and the only Sedro Woolley,Skagit, May 13 (C. Blake) knownbreeding location wereunusually far north for springin w. in w. Oregonfor Clark's. Washington.A SnowyEgret at Crow Butte BILL TIII/EIT and GERARD BLUE It is interesting that S.P.,Benton, May 1-7 (WC, m.ob.) provid- Clark's appear to equal or outnumber ed about the 10th spring record for Westernsat this location, as Clark's are de- Washington.Single Cattle Egrets at Attalia, •hethan weather average wasor simplywet--either average. wetterSpo- cidedly less numerous than Westerns at in- Walla Walla,WA, May 24 (DR) and near kane received over seven inches of rain; terior locationswhere both speciesbreed. Coburg, Lane, OR, Mar. 30-Apr. 4 (F. normal there is three-and-a-half inches. Other Clark'sreports away from their ac- Chancey)were highly unusual. White-faced Farthersouth in the interior,precipitation customedinterior locations were singles at Ibis overshoots were found at Palouse, at Malheur National Wildlife Refugein Edmonds, Snohomish,WA, Mar. 4 (SM); Whitman,WA, May 7 (ph., A. Meyer)and southeasternOregon was more nearly nor- YaquinaBay, Lincoln,OR, Apr. 1 (SD); in WallaWalla, WA, May 25 (DR). mal. Springseemed to be a continuousse- WinchesterBay, Douglas,OR, Apr. 19 A "Bewick's" Tundra Swan was at F.R.R. riesof low-pressuresystems and accompa- (RM); WestMedical L., Spokane,WA, Apr. Mar. 19 (D. Jones)for the firstRegional re- nyingrain andshowers, albeit interspersed 25 (JA);O.S. Apr. 30 (BT); and offshoreat port of this race in the 1990s.Counts of with milder conditions. There was one Harbor,Curr)½ OR, May 18 (DM). Report- 1800 Greater White-fronted Geese on the strongstorm near the end of April that ed pelagictrips were taken Apr. 26 andMay westsideat the Humptulips R. mouth, slowedlandbirds, with a noticeablepush 17 off Westport,WA (TRW). No Laysan GraysHarbor, WA, Apr. 30 (BT) and 4000 north afterwards. Albatrosseswere reported,and very low in the Klamath Basin Mar. 21-22 (PaSu) The season seemed best characterized numbersof N. Fulmar (6-20), Pink-footed werevery high countsfor the Region,last by interiorbirds on the westside:Wilson's Shearwater(four-five), and SootyShear- equaledin 1990.Numbers of thisspecies in Phalarope,Calliope Hummingbird, West- water(207-567) were found. In Oregon,an w. Oregonwere sufficiently heavy to draw ern Kingbird,Loggerhead Shrike, Nashville ad.Laysan Albatross was found dead on the comment (HN). Ross'sGeese blanketed the Warbler.Eastern vagrants were unspectacu- beach s. of Manzanita, Tillamook, Mar. 28 Region:an amazing30+ were found away lar,but present. (fideGL). OregonSooty numbers were also fromtheir regular migratory stopovers in s. in thelow hundreds off BoilerBay, Lincoln, Oregon. Ten westside reports almost Abbreviations:ER.R. (Fern Ridge Re•., Lane May 15 (TJ, DVB) and out of Newport, equaledthe spring1994 record of 11: sin- Co., OR);Malheur (Malheur N.W.R., Hamey Lincoln,May 25 (RL). Force,working on a glesat Snohomish,Snohomish, WA, Mar. 3

9J8 FIELD NDTES ore on-washinton

(PtSu); NisquallyN.W.R., Thurston,WA, breedingrecords are few,but nestingap- May 19-21 (tRD) for the 2nd Washington Mar 21-22 (BSh); near Pacific City, pearedprobable (DL, KC) at thiscoastal lo- interiorspring record. Peak coastal counts Tdlamook OR, Mar. 21 (HN); near Flor- cation.A GoldenEagle at Everett,WA, Mar. of MarbledGodwit indicated their respec- ence, Lane, OR, Mar. 23-27 (DH, J. Sim- i (SM) and another Mar. 3 at nearby tiveabundance in Oregonand Washington mons);Ridgefield N.W.R., Clark,WA, Mar. Snohomish(PtSu), were unusual in the six in SiletzBay, Lincoln, OR, May 3 (DH), 24 (E Anderson,J. Engler); ER.R. Mar. PugetTrough. None of lastwinter's record nineat theNew R. mouth,Coos, OR, May 8 25-Apr. 6 (DH, PSh, RgR); Sutherlin, numberof Gyrfalconswas reported linger- (DL, KC); 135 at Tokeland,Pacific, WA, Douglas,OR, Apr. 21 (KW); the Hump- ing past early March: four were noted Mar. 29 (MD, MID); and 200 at O.S.Apr. 6 tulipsR. mouth,Grays Harbor, WA, Apr.30 throughMar. 8 (SM, fide RR), including (PtSu). Interior recordsof Marbled Godwit (BT), and two were at NisquallyN.W.R., one more Oregonreport, a graysub-adult includedsix at the W.W.R.D.May 3 (MD, Thurston,May 5 (PtSu).Twenty in e.Wash- near Scapoose,Columbia, Mar. 6 (HN). M1D) and one at the Hood R. mouth, Hood lngton was apparentlya record:one at Prairie Falcons are rare in the Willamette River,OR, May 3 (PaSu). RoyalL., Adams,Mar. 26 (fideRR); 11 at Valley in spring;one was at ER.R. May 4 A total of 4 SemipalmatedSandpiper re- Wfilow Bar, Garfield,Apr. 12 (MD, MID); (RT). SandhillCranes are rarelyreported portsis typicalfor spring:one at Dugwalla three at Reardan,Lincoln, Apr. 27 (tJA); from s.w.Oregon, so two at the FlorasL. Bay, Island, WA, May 3 (SM); two at one at StatelinePond, Walla Walla, May 4 bottomlands,Curry, May 17 (DL, KC) and Conway,Skagit, WA, May 4 (SA); and one (MD, M1D); one at Wallula, Walla Walla, two morethat sameday in the vicinityof nearCanby, Clackamas, OR, May 12 (TS) May 5 (DR); oneat RockL., Whitman,May PortOrford, Curry (TW), werenoteworthy, Also typical numbers were 2 Baird's 8 (PtSu); and two at FolsomL., Whitman, and also late. Sandpiperreports from SteigerwaldLake May 9 (PtSu).The EmperorGoose in resi- N.W.R., Clark WA, May 8 (WC) and denceon the SandyR. near Troutdale, CHARADRIFORMS W.W.R.D.May 11 (B&NL), and 2 Pectoral Multnomah,OR, remainedthroughout the Both golden-ploverspecies were reported: Sandpiperreports from Beaverton,Wash- period (m.ob.), and the bird found at an Americanwas seen near Brookings, ington,OR, Apr. 10 (PaSu)and S.J.C.R. May Hunter Cr., Curry,OR, duringthe winter Curry,OR, Apr. 28-May 1 (E. Irle et al.) and 17-18 (MP). A RockSandpiper of the coue- waslast noted Apr. 6 (CD). Threereports of singlePacifics were at O.S.Apr. 9 (TA) and si racewas at Westport,Grays Harbor, WA, Brantaway from the coastis fairlynormal: May 11 (ED) & 16 (BSh).The countof 450 May 11 (BT); thisrace is thought to be nor- Singleswere near ForestGrove, Washing- SemipalmatedPlovers reported from Clat- mallyresident in Alaska.A maleRuff was at ton, OR, Mar. 2 (HN); Royal L., Adams, sopBeach, Clatsop, May 4 (MP) represent- PonySlough, Coos Bay, Coos, OR, Apr. 18 WA, Mar. 20 (fideRR); and Baskett Slough ed one of the largestOregon counts of this (tDL, tKC), a very rare spring record.A N W R, Polk,OR, Apr.21-26 (TS, SD). Five species.Only 4 reportswere receivedof Short-billed Dowitcher found s. of Burns, reportsof Eur. Green-wingedTeal is above SnowyPlover, all from knownbreeding lo- Harney,OR, May 6 (T. Korolyk)was rare in average:Singles were on SauvieMar. 8 cations: the Siltcoos R. mouth, Lane, OR s.e. Oregon.The westsideexperienced a (GL), FenkRd. slough, Tillamook, OR, Mar. (B&ZSt, RgR); LeadbetterPt., Pacific,WA minor incursionof Wilson'sPhalaropes 9 (A Murray); at Everett,Snohomish, WA, (PtSu); and O.S. (ED). Black-neckedStilts May 9-11, with a few found later.A pair Mar 9 (SM); CrockettL., Island,WA, Apr.6 were found at several unusual e. Wash- was at BaskettSlough N.W.R., Polk OR, (SM), andKent, King, WA, Apr.25 (R.Veit). ington locations: Dallesport, Klickitat May 9 (SD). Singleswere at O.S. (ED); SixteenEur. Wigeon were found in theinte- (WC); Atkins L., Douglas (AS); St. An- Dungeness,Clallam, WA, (B. Boekelheide); rior, one at Reardan,Lincoln, WA, May 20 drews,Douglas (JA); and Reardan,Lincoln andBrady, Grays Harbor, WA, May 10(BT). (JA)was very late. The confirmedbreeding (JA). They alsograced 2 w. Oregonloca- On May 11,two femaleWilson's were near record of N. Shoveler obtained at Camas tions wherethey are rare:three at ER.R. Canby,Clackamas, OR, (SD); threewere at Swale,near Creswell, Lane, when Sally Nel- Apr. 5 (J. Carlson,S. Gordon,A&TM), and SteigerwaldLake N.W.R., Clark WA (WC); son observed a female with seven chicks one at EmigrantL., Jackson,Apr. 13 (RgR). andtwo wereat Kent,King, WA (fideRR). Apr 26, providedone of veryfew breeding The only westsideAm. Avocetreport was Later reports included four at Creswell, recordsfor w. Oregon.Redheads were being one at YaquinaBay, Lincoln, OR, May 13 Lane,OR, May 21 (SN); a male at Forest reportedfrom ER.R. in largernumbers this (TJ, CM, DVB). A total of 31 LesserYellow- Grove, Washington,OR, May 24 (G. springthan local observershave ever seen legsrepresented an above-averagenumber Gilson); singlesat Seattleand Edmonds, (mob ), and were still there at the end of of this scarcespring migrant. Oregon had WA,May 25 (fideRR); and one near Canby, theperiod. Breeding of thiseastside species unusualnumbers on veryearly dates: seven Clackareas,OR, May 28 (E. Specht).Red may be imminent at this westsidelocale, e. of Florence,Lane, Mar. 15 (B&ZSt) and Phalaropeswent unreported. which hosts numerous other eastside 13 near Astoria, Clatsop,Mar. 30-Apr. 2 Jaegerreports were .scarce, with an un- breeders.A hybrid TuftedDuck x scaup (MP). Washingtonhad 10 reportsduring expectedpreponderance of Long-tailed (sp) wasfound n.w. of Silvana,Snohomish, the normal Apr. 25-May 11 time span. Jaegers,normally the rarestof the 3 species WA, Apr.5 (•'SM). Oregon'swintering King Solitary Sandpipersalso appeared this in spring.The Apr.26 pelagicoff Westport, Elderat YaquinaBay, Lincoln, was still pre- springin goodnumbers. Western Oregon WA, found only one jaeger,a Long-tailed sentMar. 26 (fideGL). had eight,e. Oregonfour, and Washington over deep water (TRW). A flock of 62 Relativelyfew White-tailedKite reports seven.Willets at theW.W.R.D. May 11 (DR, Long-tailedwas observedapproximately werereceived this season,totaling 6 from B&NL) andat Harbor,Curry, OR, Apr. 27 140nautical mi off the s.Oregon coast May Oregonand one from Washington,at Julia (DM) were locally rare, as was a Long- 12 (MF). The May 17Westport pelagic trip BufferHansen N.W.R., Wahkiakum(PtSu). billed Curlew at Tennant L., Whatcorn,WA, had only one Pomarineand one Parasitic A pair at SouthSlough, Coos, OR, wereob- Apr. 12 (fide J. Meche). A Hudsonian (TRW). Two Franklin's Gulls, rare in w. served displayingMay 11-14; Oregon Godwitwas at TurnbullN.W.R., Spokane, Oregon,were at Plat I Res.,near Sutherlin,

FALL 1997 919 Douglas,Apr. 14 (l. Hein). A wintering Mondovi,Lincoln, Mar. 18 (IA) had disap- Apr. 27 (SD) and three May 5 (SD) Little Gull remained at Point No Point, pearedby Mar. 22, but singleslingered at Elsewhereon the westside,singles were at Kitsap,WA, until Mar. 1 (VN). Heermann's Creston, Lincoln, until Mar. 4 (M. Seattle,WA, May 6 (SA);along the North Gull reportsfrom Sequim,Clallam, WA, Houston).The N. Hawk Owl at Cheney, UmpquaRd., Douglas,OR, May 10 (RM), May 3 (SA) and the Keystone Ferry Spokane,WA, remaineduntil Mar. 17 (B. and at SpencerI., Snohomish,WA, May 13 Landing,Island, WA, May 8 (fideBN) were Whelton).A BurrowingOwl hit by a car (SM). Gray Flycatchersare evenmore un- indicativeof an earlynorthward flight. A nearBeaverton, Washington, Mar. 27 (BSa) usualon the westside;surprising were four count of more than 30 Mew Gulls at White was a w. Oregonrarity. The Great Gray at Detroit Flats,Marion, OR, May 5 (SD) Salmon,Klickitat, WA, Mar. 22 (MD, MID) Owl at BridleTrails S.P., King, WA, Apr. 6 BlackPhoebes are showinga rangeexpan- washigh for an interiorlocation. The rem- (M. Anderson)was the onlyremnant of the sion,but arestill unusual away from coastal nantsof the winter GlaucousGull reports winterinvasion, as the bird at BigBeaver L., Curryand the CoquilleValley of s.Oregon totaled 19. An imm. Iceland Gull was well Okanogan,WA, May 20 (WC) was in its A pairwas found nesting at Creswell,OR, describedfrom SamishFlats, Skagit, Apr. 6 regularbreeding range. May 15 (SM, SN), a first breedingrecord (?SM); there are 6 previous accepted Extreme rarities on the westside n. of for Lane; one was near Peoria, Linn, OR, Washingtonrecords. A handfulof Black- the Roguevalley included: the Com. Poor- Mar. 24 (O. Halvorson).The usual sprinkle leggedKittiwakes were reported from the will heardcalling in Gladstone,Clackareas, of Say'sPhoebe reports from the westside outer coast,with a peakcount of sevenat OR, Apr. 27 (fideGL); the White-throated consistedof one at Toketee,Douglas, OR, O.S. (PtSu). The countsof 118 Caspian Swiftat FinleyN.W.R., Benton, OR, May 18 Mar. 8 (KG);one at NeahBay, Clallam, WA, Ternsat W.W.R.D.May 9 (MD, MID) and (K. Carter); and the male Black-chinned Mar. 21 (BN); and one at Seattle,WA, Mar 75 at the PalouseR. mouth, Franklin, WA, Hummingbirdin St.Helens, Columbia, OR, 23 (S. Richardson).Western Kingbirds ap- May 31 (MD, MID) demonstratethe sub- during the first week of May (S. Nemitz, pearedin above-averagenumbers in Curry stantialpopulation growth in the interior. fide HN). The now annual reports of and the WillametteValley, outside of their Commonand Arcticterns were sparingly Costa'sHummingbird in Oregonincluded regularwestside range in the Rogueand reported;13 of the formerwere seen on the a male in BendApr. 18 (R. Baker) and a Umpquavalleys. T. Wahl reported>20 in Oregoncoast (DD, DL, KC, RL), and two malein Portlandin lateApril and early May the Elk R. bottomlands,Curry, OR, May 2, Arcticswere at S.LC.R.May 18 (MP). Black (P.Shepherd, fide HN). Eventhough tran- andeight were in Brookings,Curry, m early Terns,primarily an interior species,were sientCalliope Hummingbirds are found al- May (CD, DM). Fivewere reported in then nestingagain this year at ER.R.,with 16ob- mostannually in the lowerWillamette val- Willamettevalley, and six were along the c servedin May (MH). The peak count of ley,they are still considered quite rare in the and n. Oregon coast (m.ob.). In w Marbled Murrelet at Point No Point, n. valleyand alongthe coast.This spring, Washington,11 reports from the Puget Kitsap,WA, was 402 Mar. 24 (VN), a small- however,there were severalreports from Troughwas above average, but not record- er peakthan those noted in 1994and 1995. the s. Willamettevalley and an unusually breaking.Bank Swallows are anothereast- Cassin'sAuklet numbers off Westporthad large number from the n. end: one at sidespecies that occurirregularly w m the dwindledto oneby May 17 (TRW);we be- Cornelius,Washington, Apr. 6 (fideHN); a spring:6 sightingscame from Skaga,WA lievethe Washington populations may be in malein Astoria,Clatsop, Apr. 11 (MP); one (fideBK, SA),where breeding is a posslbfil- serious trouble. A Horned Puffin was found s. of Corbett, Multnomah, Apr. 12 (N. ty, and two were found elsewherein w dead on the beach at Yaquina Head, Willis);a displayingmale at SkinnerButte, Washington(TA, SM). Lincoln,OR, Mar. 6 (E. Barkley);30 were Lane,Apr. 12 (A&TM); onenear Waterville A coupleof Bluelays from the winter in- observedapproximatey 110 nautical mi off on the McKenzieR., Lane (A. Reid); one s. vasionremained until Apr. 22 in Eugene, the s. Oregoncoast May 3, and sevenmore of Creswell,Lane, Apr. 25 (D&H Lown);a OR (D. Wendtet al.); May 3 at Vancouver, were off the Oregoncoast May 12 (MF). malein Elmira,Lane, Apr. 26 (D. Pettey);a Clark, WA, (S&A Hagen);and May 10 at The live countsover deep water are the malein Mt. TaborPark in PortlandApr. 28 Moro, Sherman,OR (LR). The almost te- highestever for the Region. (GL); a malein Corvallis,Benton, Apr. 28 diousrecitation of W. Scrub-layreports (P.Murtaugh); one in HappyValley s.e. of fromtheir range edges included birds n to PIGEONS TO MIMIDS Portland,May 2 (D. Sutter);two malesat Kitsap(VN), King (l. Bragg),and Skaga Interior reports of Band-tailed Pigeon Toketee,Douglas, May 7 (KG); and one at (fideBK), and e. to RockCr. (MD, MID) and camefrom L. Chelan,Chelan, WA, Apr. 16 Mary'sPeak, Benton, May 10 (J.Plissner). A Goldendale (BT) in Klickitat; Cle Elum, (fide S. Hoover); Spokane,WA, Apr. 18 normalspring total has less than 5 westside Kittitas,WA (ED); and Moro, Sherman,OR (RD); PictureRock Pass, Lake, OR, May 13 reports. (LR).Other remainders of thewinter fhghts (TJ, CM); and MalheurMay 13 (AR, CB). A Yellow-belliedSapsucker was found includedtwo Mr. Chickadeesin w. Oregon Lingeringbirds from the SnowyOwl inva- at Pe Ell, Lewis, Mar. 3-15 (PtSu, SM, in early March (l. Hannan, DD) and a sioncontinued into mid-Marchin Oregon: m.ob.) for the first w. Washingtonrecord. PygmyNuthatch in Wapato,Yakima, WA, Two were still at the S.J.C.R.Mar. 20 (fide WestsideRed-naped Sapsuckers were at Apr.25 (AS).Rare away from theirhmlted GL) andone was along Tillamook Bay Mar. Boring,Clackamas, OR, Apr. 15 (N. Pestice) range in Oregon, four Blue-grayGna- 22 (BSa).Numbers in w. Washingtonheld and SeattleApr. 19 (TA). The only Least tcatcherswere found in Lane, OR: one w of strongthrough March, with at least21 re- Flycatcherreported was one at Davenport, EugeneApr. 24-29 (J.Morcello et al.) anda ported.The lastsightings in April weretwo Lincoln,WA, on the earlydate of Apr. 28 maleand two femalesfound on the s slope at Edison,Skagit, Apr. 6 (SM); four at O.S. (JA).Dusky Flycatchers, generally irregular of Mr. PisgahMay 1 thoughthe end of the Apr.9 (TA); oneat Bow,Skagit, Apr. 9 (fide on thewestside n. of s.Oregon, have proven period (PShet al.). Two Mt. Bluebirdre- RR);and two at Stanwood,Snohomish, Apr. reliable at Detroit Flats, Marion, OR, in ports came from the outer coast:two at 10 (TA). In e. Washington,the 16 birdsat smallnumbers each spring, with one seen LeadbetterPt., Pacific,WA, Apr. 24 (PtSu)

9ZO FIELD NOTES andone along the Elk R., Curry,OR, May 2 (GI), and at PortTownsend, Jefferson, WA, EXOTICS (TW) NorthernMockingbirds are rare in May 27 (R. Sikes).Two Indigo Buntings A N. Cardinalwas at Clarkston,Asotin, WA, w Oregon,and especially so in spring.Eight wereat MalheurMay 29-31 (AR, CB, CC) Apr. 14-May 23 (fideM. Koliner). recordsis probably a highfor spring:one in and anotherwas at FieldsMay 30 (WC). Brookings,Curry, throughApr. 13 (B. Two Clay-coloredSparrows had re- COI•I•IGENDOM Stewart,m.ob.), one just n. of Eugene,Lane, turnedto theirSpokane, WA, breeding site The referencein the Fall 1996report to a Apr 2 (RT); onein Alvadore,Lane, May 5 May 16 (JA)for at leasttheir 3rd yearthere. Washington specimen of Red-tailed (DBr); three in PortlandMay 9-23 (L. A Brewer'sSparrow on the westsidein Tropicbirdwas quite a blooperby Tweit, Carlson,R. Jolly,J. Quincey);and one in Pierce,WA, May 18 (K. Betfinger)was an- the specimenwas, of course,the expected Newberg, Yamhill,May 22 (F. Shipley). otherwanderer from the interior.One, ap- species,a Red-billed Tropicbird. Sevenreports from the interior is a bit more parently of the Timberline race (or than normal: one at Richland,Benton, WA, species?),was found on Upper Cold Cr., Initialledobservers, with subregionaledi- Mar 1-2 (B&NL);three in Harnej4OR (C. Yakima,WA, May 17 (?AS). Othereastside tors in boldfece:Jim Acton, ScottAtkinson, Elshoff, R&J Krabbe, CC, DE); one near sparrowsin the west included a Lark Tom Aversa,David Bailey,Range Bayer Echo, Umatilla, OR, Mar. 15 (CC); one in Sparrowe. of SweetHome, Linn, OR, May 8 (Lincoln,OR), Thai• Bock (Tacomaarea), Moro,Sherman, OR, through Mar. 22 (LR); (TJ,DVB), andBlack-throated Sparrows in Dan Van Den Broek (DVB), David Brown and one s. of Vale,Malheur, OR, May 18 Eugene,Lane, OR, May 3 (AP); at Detroit (DBr), Carla Burnside,Wilson Cady, (PaSu).A SageThrasher was at Detroit Flats,Marion, OR, May 8 (D. Copeland); KathleenCastlein, Craig Corder,Edward Flats,Marion, May 5 (SD); they are rare in and n. of Vancouver,Clark, WA, May 24 Deal, Mike and Merry LynnDenny, Ron w Oregon.Brown Thrashers, an almostan- throughthe period (S. Griffith, fide HN). In Dexter,Dewidt, Colin Dillln•alll (Curry), nual vagrant,appeared at 2 Malheurloca- yearsnow well past,Grasshopper Sparrows Steve DoMan, Duncan Evered, Michael tionsMay 4 (DE, L. Messick)& 19 (GI). bredat F.R.R.,their onlyknown breeding Force, Jeff Gilligan, Keith Graves,Dan Heyerly,Matt Hunter,Gary Ivey (Malheur SHRIKES TO FINCHES locationon the westside.Singing males were found at 2 different ER.R. locations N.W.R-), Tim Jantzen,Jim Johnson,Mer- Thenumber of westsideLoggerhead Shrike May 10 (TM) & 16 (RT,RgR); is it possible lene Koliner (Clarkstonarea), Bob Kuntz, reports was also above average:one at suitablehabitat is availablefor themagain? Bill & Nancy LaFramboise,Dave Lauten, FisherButte, Lane, OR, Apr. 2 (AP); oneat An easternsubspecies Fox Sparrowwas in Roy Lowe, Ron Maertz, Maitreya (M), FRR Apr. 5-6 (B. Combs,RgR); one on Sutherlin,Douglas, OR, Mar. 30-Apr. 1 Allison& TomMickel (Lane), Craig Miller, the deflationplain at the SiuslawR. mouth, (KW). The only SwampSparrow report SteveMlodinow, Don Munson, $Iarry Lane, OR, Apr. 7 (B&ZSt); one at Detroit lqehls(w. Oregon),Sally Nelson, Vic Nel- wasone at Maryhill S.P.,Klickitat, WA, Apr. Flats,Marion, OR, Apr. 15-May 5 (J.Lund- 22 (PtSu).Fifteen Golden-crowned Spar- son,Bob Norton, Mike Patterson, Al Prigge, sten,SD); two at Seattle,WA, Apr. 15-16 LewRems, Andy Renc, Roger Robb (RgR), row reportsfrom the interior is normal, (fideRR); and one-two at SteigerwaldLake DennisRockwell, Russell Rogers (Wash- with the latestat Davenport,Lincoln, WA, N WR., Clark,WA, Apr. 22-May 5 (PtSu, ington), Tom Rogers,Skip Russell(SRu), May 5 (JA), and the mostunusual at Mal- WC) NashvilleWarblers are anothereast- BobSalinger (BSa), Bill Shelmerdine(BSh), heurApr. 13 (E Bailey). side speciesthat is of rare, but annual, Tim Shelmerdine,Paul Sherrell (PSh), The Tricolored Blackbird colonies in e. springoccurrence in w. Washingtonlow- Andy Stepnewski,Bill & Zannah Stotz, Oregonwere apparently all occupied;110 lands Fourteenreports, from Apr. 11 Patrick Sullivan (PtSu), Paul Sullivan near Prineville, Crook,Mar. 1 (PaSu) was through May 5, is more than normal. (PaSu),R. Titus, T. Wahl, Terry R. Wahl, Hermit Warblers in Richland, Benton,WA, thehigh count. A maleGreat-tailed Grackle KatherineWilson, Bob Woodley. at Fields,Harney, OR, May 23 throughthe May 15 (B&NL) and at MalheurMay 16 Bill Tweit, P.O.Box 1271, Olympia,WA (C&A Elshoff,G. Larson)were interior rar- period(M, SRu)was the only report.An imm. male Orchard Oriole was in Brook- 98507 and Gerard Lillie, 329 SEGilham, ities Palm Warblers were observed at Portland,OR, 97215 ([email protected]) YaqumaBay, Lincoln, OR, Apr. 5 and near ings, Curry, Mar. 14 (?CD) for the 5th the s jetty of theSiuslaw R., Lane,OR, also Oregonrecord, if thedetails are accepted by Apr 5 (bothB. Newhouse), and at Malheur the O.B.R.C. A male Hooded Oriole at May 9 (DE). As is often the casein the CapeMeares Village, Tillamook, Apr. 17-21 spring,all theeastern vagrant warblers were (M. Tweelinckxet al.) wasthe onlyreport reportedfrom Harney: Tennessee Warblers of thisannual spring visitant to w. Oregon. at FieldsMay 24 (M) andat MalheurMay The only areawith numerousreports of 26 (DB), a male Chestnut-sidedWarbler at Red Crossbillswas the Washingtoncoast FieldsMay 23 (M), two BlackpollWarblers (BT, MD, MID). Two LesserGoldfinches at at MalheurMay 17 (fideDE), Black-and- RockCr., Klickitat, Apr. 26 (MD, MID) were whiteWarblers at FieldsMay 17 (M) & 31 e. of their usualWashington haunts in w. (SRu),and Am. Redstartsat FieldsMay 25 Klickitat,where several were found in April (M) and Malheur May 26-27 (GI). The (PtSu,ED). A Lawrence'sGoldfinch with a otherannual spring eastern vagrants, Rose- mixedflock of Lessserand American gold- breastedGrosbeak and Indigo Bunting, finches near Lower Table Rock, Jackson, werealso reported primarily from Harney. May 15 (T. Bray,Y. Zharikov) would consti- Male Rose-breasted Grosbeaks were at tutethe 2nd Oregon record, if acceptedby Malheur May 17 (C. Reep)and May 27 the O.B.R-C.

FALL 1997 middle pacific coast region Abbreviations: C.B.R.C.(California Bird RecordsCommittee); C.V. (Central Valley); S.F. (SanFrancisco); W.A. (WildlifeArea). Banded birdsfrom Big Sur R. mouth, Monterey, should ßYreka Klamath Basin':--':• becredited to BigSur Ornithology Lab. :'":'"•!i) •::". refugesWarner Ivh's.:•. LOONS TO SHEARWATERS Over 200 Red-throated Loons off Ft. Ord Apr.26 (DR, DSg,ASH, DWm) represented an exceptionalconcentration for Montere• thoughthey were staging in theirpreferred habitat of shallow water over sand. An ad. Com.Loon on PaicinesRes. May 25 wasthe first in spring for San Benito (DLSh). A striking migrant was an alternate-plum- agedYellow-billed Loon passing Pigeon Pt., San Mateo, Apr. 24 (•-BMcK, BS, •-FrT). Fouralternate-plumaged Horned Grebes at Ukiahsewage ponds May 3 wasan unusual group inland in Mendocino(RKJ, CEV, DAE, JRW). A Red-necked Grebe at Men- dota W.A., Fresno,Mar. 8 (B. Widowson) wasvery rare in the SanJoaquin Valley. May 9 was a late date for four Red-necked Grebestarrying at BodegaBay, Sonoma (DN). The LaysanAlbatross at Pt. Arenahar- bor was last reported Mar. 25-29 (GS, BDP). A LaysanAlbatross rescued from a streetin SouthSan Francisco Apr. 24 (fide]. Moghler)was the 3rd springbird onshore in SanMateo. Some inland Laysans appear to have ridden ships into the Port of Oakland and then were evicted, but recur- ring onshorerecords suggest that somear- rive unaided.Offshore, three Laysansoff SantaCruz May 16 (DLSh,JiD) and four off MontereyMay 20 (SFB)reflected this al- batross' continued increase off our coast. This year'sfirst Flesh-footedShearwater DONROBERSON, son"was also a sparrow(q.v.). Alas, intrigu- was off MontereyMay 24 (DLSh, JiD). STEPHENF. BAILEY, ing reports of KentuckyWarbler and Manx Shearwaterscontinued to be regular Common Grackle were received without in MontereyBay, with singlesoff Monterey and DANIEL S. SINGER detailsand will not be published;this is the Apr. 5 (RT) and at SeabrightBeach, Santa norm for reportsof exceptionalvagrants Cruz,Apr. 16 (•-BMcK). submitted without documentation. This roffshore.et another Onshore,E1Nino gathered the spring strength was general rule extendsto daims of firstsfor HERONS TO WATERFOWL ratherdry, and dry-country sparrows dom- counties;the few includedhere carry the NestingAm. Bitternscreated excitement in inated the landbird news(see discussions of "no details" comment. Observers should Santa Clara, where 2 nests discovered in Black-chinned, Black-throated, and Grass- assuretheir interestingfinds are adequately May (SCR) representedthe first known hopper sparrows).The "bird-of-the-sea- documented. breedingsince 1937. In adjacentSan Benito,

922 FIELD NOTES middle pacific coast an individual in Hollister Mar. 12 (JLx, SHOREBIRDS an adult at Eureka, Humboldt, Mar. 4 DLSh,ADeM) wasconsidered just the 2nd MigrantPacific Golden-Plovers were noted (GSL), an adult at SchollenbergerPark, countyrecord this century, but was quickly at PigeonPt., San Mateo, where five passed Sonoma,Mar. 8-15 (A. N. Wight, m.ob.), followedby another in HollisterApr. 13-20 betweenApr. 3-26, and one was at the and a sub-adultat TrestlePonds, Yolo, Apr. (DLSh,ADeM), displayingand pumping; SalinasR. mouth, Monterey,Apr. 26. At 5 (GEw,BDW). Twoad. Sabine's Gulls in- breedingwas later confirmed. Is thespecies least 19 Solitary Sandpipersdetected landat ShastaValley W.A. Apr. 20 provided increasinglocally, or hasit beenoverlooked Regionwidebetween Apr. 8-May 19 wasa the2nd spring record for Siskiyou(RE). An •n pastyears? Either way the newsis en- goodshowing; these were more or less oiled ad. Sabine's Gull visited Bolinas couraging.It is likelythat morerainfall evenlydivided between the coast and inte- Lagoon,Marin, May 10 (RS, LLu, CLu). throughoutthis decade has resulted in in- rior. A Curlew Sandpiperat Palo Alto, ElegantTerns returned to Montereyear- creasedpotential breeding habitat at the SantaClara, Apr. 14 markedthe 2nd con- lier than ever, except 1987: one over sametime that moreobservers are covering secutivespring--but only 2nd spring Zmudowskipond Mar. 29 (TAm)and four areasformerly ignored or overlooked.Two record--for this speciesin our Region. at ElkhornSlough Apr. 12 (G. Meyer), White-facedIbis at San FelipeL., May 27 Subtle differencesin structure led the ob- wherea raremigrant Least Tern appeared (SCR)made a rareSan Benito record. serverto speculatethat perhaps it wasa dif- Apr. 26 (DSg,DR, ASH, DWm). Thirty At least 11 dark-morph Ross'sGeese ferent individual than the one he found BlackTerns at SanFelipe L. Apr. 26 set a werecarefully scrutinized at LowerKla- nearby last year (?SCR). Two Semi- new record number for San Benito (KVV, mathN.W.R., Siskiyou, March 8-9 (?WEH, palmatedand four Baird's sandpipers be- CT). JTr),among a flockof an estimated40,000 tween Apr. 20-May 12 was an average The five Black Skimmers resided at Ross's.The winteringEmperor Goose at showing,but two well-describedPectoral CharlestonSlough, Santa Clara, through BodegaBay, Sonoma, lingered until Apr. 30 Sandpipersseen and heard along Santa Fe May 8, whenthey moved to neighboring (mob.). The"Aleutian" Canada Goose con- Grade,Merced, March 3 (KMcK)suggested areas(m.ob.). On Apr.27 singleskimmers tlnuesits remarkablerecovery from near possibleoverwintering. Spring migrants are wereat BrooksI., ContraCosta (SAG), and extinctionin theearly 1960s, with upwards unknownbefore mid-April. PajaroR. mouth,Monterey (C. Rodgers), of 24,000tallied in n.w.Del Notre March 15 and four sat on a beach at Princeton (M Fisher).A pair of Blue-wingedTeal LARIDS TO ALClDS Harbor,San Mateo, May 18 (AJ). bred successfullyin Marin, whereseven A total of 36 Pomarine Jaegerspassing Single alternate-plumagedMarbled ducklingswere noted at theOlema Marsh PigeonPt. Apr.3-4 (PJM,BMcK, RSTh) Murreletswere out of place,but not un- duringthe last week of May (RS). Sixty-five was a high 2-day count from shorein precedented,at BrooksI., ContraCosta, Surf Scotersat L. Mendocino, Mendocino, spring.A SouthPolar Skua 12 mi off the Mar. 15 (SAG) and off the Big Sur R. May 3 (RIK, CEV,IRW) wasan amazing MontereyPen. May 24 (DLSh,SNGH) pro- mouth Apr. 23 (GePh). Two alternate- totalat an inlandlocation, and begging the videdonly about our 1 lth recordin spring, plumagedAncient Murrelets sojourned late questionof justhow many of these"sea whenthis speciesis more regularoff s. May 31 nearPt. Reyes(RS, LLu, CLu). A Rhinoceros Auklet at a burrow entrance on ducks"actually migrate over the interior of Cal]fornia. ourRegion. A maleBarrow's Goldeneye at Three Franklifts Gulls in Santa Clara GreenRock, Humboldt, Apr. 26 (TWL) sug- theBig Sur R. mouth, Monterey, May 22-23 Apr.13-29 and four in Marinin May(fide gestedprospecting a new breeding site, yet (?TN,RC, IBo, ?DR) represented only the RS) representeda normal total, but none only1-3 TuftedPuffins were seen at this 2nd time this specieshas been recorded wasreported from the KlamathBasin. Of traditional but dwindlingpuffin colony alongour coast between May and Novem- threeMew Gullslingering to the end of (GSL, LPL, TWL). Horned Puffins ap- ber. One observer saw it do head-back May,the surprise was an adultat Bolinas pearedalong our coastfrom SanMateo courtship-likedisplays, evidently "just for Lagoon,Marin (KH). Coastal"Ring-billed north. One flew N pastPigeon Pt. Apr. 10 practice"since there were no othergold- Gulls"away from estuariesare usually (SAG). Singlesin Mendocinowere at eneyesaround. misidentifiedCalifornia or Mew gulls.Even MacKerricherS.E May 25 (S.Snyder) and thoughsingle Ring-billed Gulls at Mac- Pt.Arena Cove May 29 (•'DT).Six Horned RAPTORS KerricherS.E, Mendocino, May 3 (RJK)and Puffinswere found deadon Pt. ReyesGreat A pair of BaldEagles discovered nesting Big SurR. mouthMay 12 (JBo)were at Beach,Marin, May 26-June2 (RSet al.); at Ft. Hunter-Liggett,Monterey, was the smallestuaries, they were still rare along live birdswere found nearbyat Drake's Beach(?ES, m.ob.) and ChimneyRock county'sfirst since 1934. A previousreport theselong rocky coastlines. pertainedto nestsjust over the county line "K,lmlien's" Iceland Gulls were re- (RS,m.ob.); and HornedPuffin visited EI. in San Luis Obispo(AFN 50:327-328). portedfrom the same 2 sitesas the previous aboutthis time (fide RS).The causesof Political boundaries aside, the Ventana season,but spring'sboth wore first-basic May-JulyHorned Puffin wrecks remain WildernessSanctuary reintroduction pro- plumage.One at LucchesiPark, Petaluma, mysterious. gramappears to be takinghold; this Sea- Sonoma,Mar. 15 (JM, N. White) was be- OWLS TO HUMMINGBIRDS son'snest included a banded,VWS-released lievedlikely the samebird seenthere Dec. female,which recruiteda wild, unhanded 15(tiM), but anotherat MacKerricherS.P., A SpottedOwl n. of Orick,Humboldt, was male. Red-shouldered Hawks at an occu- Mendocino,Mar. 11 (•'RJK,DAE, CEV, DT) apparentlykilled and eatenby a pair of piednest Apr. 13 in Trinitymarked a breed- was2 yearsyounger than the bird seen BarredOwls Mar. 14 (?TWL);the rangeex- ing first for that county(JEH, GjH). A thereFeb. 23 (RS).Alviso's Lesser Black- pansionof thelatter owl continues to cause FerruginousHawk in s. MontereyApr. 21 backed Gull remained to Mar. 22 (NLe). problemsfor the endangered bird, not lim- (?SFB,J&HBa) was later by 3 weeksthan Threeof 12 GlaucousGulls that lingered ited to geneticswamping. Additional anyprevious year there. intoMarch or earlyApril were older birds: BarredOwls found duringthe springwere

FALL1997 923 at Richardson Grove, s. Humboldt, and near spring/summerE. Phoebes(note a pub- and outerPt. ReyesMay 17 (M. Lichen).A Hayfork,Trinity (J. Seeger, K. Young).A va- lishedaccount of Oregon'sfirst nestingof Phainopeplaover a Sacramentoyard Apr. grant Long-earedOwl was on outer Pt. "E. Phoebe"in OregonBirds 7:88-91); in 10 (TDM) was rare on the C.V. floor. Reyes,Marin, Mar. 20 (RS). thisRegion details will be required.A Say's There are no Humboldt records of Phoebein El Granada,San Mateo, May 29 LesserNighthawk, but a silentnighthawk at wasvery late (BS). S A Amated pairof Bell's Vireos ArcataApr. 14 (EE) must havebeen this A male Vermilion Flycatcherbriefly •1 at a likelynest site near Gilroy species,given the date(Commons don't ar- brightenedthe CarmelR. mouth May 29, May 13-28 (ph. tSCR) providedSanta rive until late May). Likewise,an out-of- for the 4th Montereyrecord (JBo, GePh et Clara'sfirst breedingevidence since 4 rangenighthawk at Marina, Montere)4Apr. al.). Lingeringwinter flycatchersof note eggs were collected in 1932 [W.E. 26 (RFT,JSo) was presumably a Lesser. were a Dusky-cappedFlycatcher in S.E to Unglish,Condor 39:39-40; another pub- TwoBlack Swifts in a hugefeeding flock Mar. 22 (ASH) and an Ash-throatednear lishedreport of a bandedbird (W. Birds of swiftsover Alamo, Contra Costa, Apr. 19 San Jose to Mar. 16 (MMR). Cassin's 19:10)proved erroneous (R. Mewaldt, (JMR) were inexplicable.In our Region, Kingbirdsfarther north than usualinclud- fide WGB)]. Intensiveefforts to revive BlackSwifts arrive after mid-May,but our ed six near the PajaroR., San Benito,Apr. the populationof this endangeredsub- filescontain a fewmysterious mid-April re- 8-11 (nesting;tSCR); Santa Clara'sfirst speciesin s. Californiamay sendmore ports. Could thesebe migrantsfrom the recordednest on San FelipeRd. from Apr. potential colonizers our direction. Canadianpopulation, which can arrive by 13 on (tSCR); and one at Pt. Reyeslight- Meanwhile, efforts to reduce cowbird late April (Campbellet al., 1990,Birds of houseMay 23 (RS), which Stallcupstated parasitism(the biggest current hurdle British Columbia,Vol. 2)? White-throated wasthe first"sanitary" Marin recordsince a facingthis speciesnow that habitat is Swiftsentering a holein a rockycutbank on 1972nesting effort. Western Kingbirds were badly fragmented)resulted in the re- Alder BluffsRd. May 5 providedthe first alsoover-represented, with 47 at GazosCr. movalof some150 cowbirds along the nestingevidence for Trinity(C. Secor),less mouth May 4 (AJ) eclipsingall prior San SalinasR., Monterey/SanLuis Obispo than 2 mi from Humboldt, where there are Mateosingle-day counts. A Bank Swallow border, an area that also hosted a Bell's no breeding records.Widely dispersed overthe GarciaR. flats,Mendocino, May 15 Vireo nest in the last decade(JBo). Costa'sHummingbirds included males n. (tDT) wasa countyrarity, while about50 to Redding, Shasta,Apr. 22 (CY); near wereat Sacramento'sonly remaining colony EurekaApr. 23 (B. Hawkins);and Killgore on RossmoorBar Apr. 2 (EDG). Vagrant Red-eyed Vireos were at Hills Apr. 13 and HorseshoeRanch W.A. After the fall/winter montane invasions, PrincetonHarbor, San Mateo, May 18 May 8-19, both Siskiyou(RE). remnantslingered into spring. Among (RSTh);Big Sur R. mouth,Montere)5 May Amongapparent hybrids reported this thesewere Clark's Nutcrackers in Monterey 29 (JBo); and Golden Gate Park, S.E, also spring were a female Anna's x Costa's on Cone Peak Mar. 16 (PEG) and Jack's May 29 (ASH). The Big Sur R. mouth also Hummingbird along PescaderoCr., San Peakall season(DHpt); in San Benitoon hadtwo TennesseeWarblers (May 9 & 26, Mateo,Apr. 13-24 (tBMcK), a Red-breast- San BenitoMt. to May 9 (DLSh,ADeM); the former bird banded), three N. Parulas ed x Red-napedSapsucker in Sacramento and in SanMateo on ButanoRidge May 2 in May (plus another three in June;JBo, Mar. 15 (TDM), and an apparentTree x (DLSu).Wandering Yellow-billed Magpies CHo, DR, RC), and two Chestnut-sideds BarnSwallow at BlueL., Humboldt,Apr. 16 far from regularlocales included two in (May 17& 25), addingto itsluster as a pre- (tGjH). Caution is warranted, because SolanoMar. 9 (Vallejo and Mare Is.; J. miersite for springrarities. San Mateo had whileBarns have hybridized with Caveand Lentz)and one near Cameros, s. Napa, Apr. a Tennesseeat El GranadaMay 31 (BS)and Cliff swallows (Auk 97:148-159, Condor 20 (P. Burton).The spreadof Com. Raven a N. Parula on San Bruno Mt. May 31 77:362-364),there is apparentlyno report in n. Montereyaccelerated with firstrecords (PJM).A rarespring Magnolia Warbler was of a pairingwith Tree(and it's hard to hy- from manysites on the MontereyPen. and at TrinidadS.E, Humboldt,May 29 (TWL). pothesizehow thiscould occur). BigSur coast (DR, JBoet al.), and a neston Six Palms, four Black-and-whites, and four San JuanGrade (ADeM, DLSh). Additional Am.Redstarts (some of eachwere lingering WOODPECKERS TO KINGLETS evidenceof ravenrange expansion came winterers)seemed about average for spring. Latedates of winteringYellow-bellied Sap- from a Metcalf Rd., SantaClara, nest (SCR) RarerOvenbirds were on Pt. ReyesMay 18 suckers at Pescadero and Ed Levin Park, and an Alamo, ContraCosta, pair during (RS) and Elk Head, Humboldt, May 27 Santa Clara, were Mar. 1 (RSTh) and Mar. March (JMR). Numbers of Red-breasted (TWL). Four MacGillivray's Warblers 11 (}MS), respectively,while Humboldt's Nuthatchesdeclined through spring,but along Gazosand Butano creeksMar. 31 vagrant White-headed Woodpecker at some lingered in the lowlands.The last were very early (BMcK). The wintering McKinleyvillewas last seen Mar. 21 (GSL). winteringRuby-crowned Kinglets usually Hooded Warbler near SanJose was last seen An Olive-sidedFlycatcher on Underwood go by early May, but one singingalong Mar. 12 (SCR, tAME). Mt. Road, Trinity,Apr. 13 wasquite early Butano Cr., San Mateo, May 28 was re- It was an excellentspring for both for the northwest (GjH et al.). Rare E. markablylate (DLSu). Yellow-breastedChats and Blue Grosbeaks, Phoebeswere at CoyotePt., San Mateo, riparian-lovingspecies which have been on Mar. 4-17 (RSTh et al.) and ShadyOaks THRUSHES TO DICKCISSEL thedecline in our Region.Some 48 migrant Park, Santa Clara, Mar. 2-15 (MJM et al., a Most winter wanderingTownsend's Soli- chatswere banded at BigSur R. mouthafter returningbird missedearlier in thewinter), taires left by mid-March, but exceptions Apr. 14,and nestingevidence was obtained but a lateMay claimfor Colusawas undoc- wereon San BenitoMt. to May 9 (tDLSh, at previouslyunknown sites in SantaClara. umented.Strangely, Dusky or Willow fly- ADeM), and vagrantsappeared at Piper The lattercounty also had its first presumed catchershave provoked claims of late Slough,Contra Costa, Apr. 26 (M. Havman) nestingpair of BlueGrosbeaks in Ed Levin

9Z4 FIELD NOTES middle acific coast

Park from Apr. 19 on (MMR et al.), plus SPARROWS TO FINCHES EdwardHarper, Dave Haupt, Gjon Hazard, threewidely scatteredbirds. Elsewhere, a The only Clay-coloredSparrow was at a KevinG. Hintsa,Craig Hohenberger, Alan singingmale was on territoryin SanBenito Sebastopol,Sonoma, feeder Apr. 10 (RoM). S. Hopkins,Steve N.G. Howell,John E. Apr.26 (KVV, CT); 5 territorieswere locat- A rare coastalBrewer's Sparrow was along Hunter, Alvaro Jaramillo,Robert J. Keiffer, ed in s. Monterey in May (J&HBa, JBo, PilarcitosCr., San Mateo,May 18 (RSTh). RobinLG. Leong,Tom W. Leskiw,Gary S. RFT), and 2 more on PattersonPass Rd., Scarcespring Lark Buntings turned up Lester,Lauren R Lester,Nick Lethaby,Ron LeValley,Cindy Lieurance, Leslie Lieurance, Alameda(R. Cimeno).Rounding out these on CrabtreeRd., Stanislaus,Apr. 27 (HMR) Jim Lomax, John S. Luther, Michael J. grosbeakrecords were three at PiperSlough and near Half Moon Bay,San Mateo, May 10 (RSTh). But the rarest of all was a Mammoser,Timothy D. Manoils, John May 8 (GFi) and one near HensleyL., singingLe Conte'sSparrow at L. Earl,Del Mariani,Roger Marlowe, Bert McKee, Kevin Madera,May 4 (SAG).Four Rose-breasted Nort• May 21-25 (ADB, tDFx, ph. MMR McKereghan,Peter J. Metropulos,Joseph Grosbeakswere locatedin Montereyand et al.). Morlan, Dan Nelson, Todd Newberry, SanMateo (the latter includeda wintererto The drum beat of Great-tailed Grackles Benjamin D. Parmeter,Gerard Phillips, Mar. 30). More interestingwas a female movingN poundedon with six more in Jude Claire Power, Harold M. Reeves,Jean Dickcisselin a Pescaderoyard Apr. 6-17 (tP- MontereyApr. 7-May 27 (KVV, SRv,GePh, M. Richmond, Don Robersou, Mike M. M. Saraceni,m.ob.). JMa et al.), and malesin YosemiteValley, Rogers,Stephen C. Rottenborn, Steve Mariposa,Apr. 6 (S. Recilo)and MesaL., Rovell,Ruth A. Rudesill, Barry Sauppe, Sacramento,May 2 (LEd). Left-overCas- Debra L. Shearwater,Daniel Singer,John sin's Finches from the fall/winter incursion Sorensen,Jean Marie Spoelman, Rich werestranded from SanBenito Mt. (to May Stallcup,Em;lle Strauss, Grace Steuer, S A ForBlack-chinned, Black- 8; ADeM, DLSh) to feeders in Pacific David L. Suddjian,Chris Tenney,Richard ß '•throated, and Grasshopper Grove,Monterey (AB), and Haywardand Ternullo, Ronald S. Thorn, Robert E Tintie, sparrows,"it was a very good year" Oakland, Alameda (all in mid-March; Dorothy Tobkin, Francis Toldi, John (humSinatra asyou read this). Singing KGH, JSL). Likewise,Red Crossbillslin- Trochet,James C. Mallely,Chuck E. Vaughn, Black-dainnedswere present at all sorts geredon the coastor in piney lowlands KentVan Vuren,Jerry R. White, BrianD. of newplaces in SantaClara, San Mateo, (breedingcan be expected), and unseasonal Williams, David Wimpfheimer,Bob & and Stanislaus,although breeding evi- EveningGrosbeaks were reported widely Carol Yutzy. Many more observerswere dencewas obtainedonly in the first into mid-May.Unrelated to the montane not specificallydted, but all areappreciated. county.Singing birds were near Hume invasion,Lawrence's Goldfinches appeared Stephen F. Bailey (Loonsto Frigates,Larids L., Fresno(SAG), and at the Red Mt. in unusuallyhigh numbers,with nesting to Alcids),Pacific Grove Museum of Natural trailh•ad,Trin•y(GjH), in earlyM•y, pairsin coastalMonterey and SanMateo, History,165 ForestAve., Pacific Grove, CA providingdata from poorlyknown lo- scattered birds n. into Mendocino and 93950;Daniel S. Singer (Heronsto Shore- cales.The only sournote was an appar- Trinity (where they are scarce;RJK, DT, birds),do Arroyo & Coates,500 Washington St., ent lossof a disjunctnorthern popula- GjH et al.),and around the C.V. foothills of Ste. 700, San Francisco,CA 94111; Don tion on GunsightRidge, Siskiyou, after Yolo,El Dorado,and Calaveras(SCH, WEH, Roberson (Dovesto Finches),282 GroveAcre the lastsinging bird thereMay 18 (RE). JCV et al.). Ave.,Pacific Grove, CA 93950. Black-throatedSparrows were recorded

from suchdiverse locales.as Paicines CORRIGENDA Apr.15 (ADeM; potential fi•st for Si•n Benito,no •-); the KillgøreHills, The LaysanAlbatross that hasbeen faithful Placenames that are frequentlymen- to Pt. Arena harbor during the pastfew Siskiyou,May 16 (RE); and BlackPoint, tioned,but very long,may be abbrevi- yearswas first seen Feb. 27, 1994(JBo), one ated in a form such as "C.B.B.T:' or Mono,May 24 (ES).But mostastonish- yearbefore it wasreported to us.Two war- "W.P.B.O." Such local abbreviations ingwere singers on theSierran w. slope. bler comments in AFN 50:994 need In fall 1992, the Cleveland Corral fire will be explainedin a key at the begin- burned 40,000 acresin El Dorado N.E amendment.Breeding Bird Atlaswork is ningof theparticular regional report in proving that MacGillivray'sWarbler is In lateMay, four males were on territory whichthey are used. Standard abbrevi- in CrystalBasin along Gifinite Springs ratherwidespread and local (not "rare")in ations that are usedthroughout Field Rd.,El Dorado(WEH, GFi).Although the coastranges of SanMateo/Santa Cruz, Notesare keyed on page837. and the nestingCorn. Yellowthroats cited the Black-throatedSparrow sometimes were in SanMateo (not SantaClara). exhibits dramatic (and temporary) rangeexpansions, its apprearancewas unexpected.Similar nesting evidence Citedcontribntors and sub-regionaleditors from'the w. slopewas obtained only in in boldfnce:Tim Amaral,Stephen E Bailey, 1974(Butte), •984 (El Dbrado),and AlanBaldridge, Jim & HelenBanks, Alan D. 1985 (Tulare). The incessantbuzz of Barron, William G. Bausman, Big Sur GrasshopperSparrows was heard in ex- Ornithology Lab, Jim Booker, Rita Carratello,Jim Danzenbaker,Al DeMartini, ceptional numbers throughout the coastalrange from Humboldtto Monte- DamienA. Ebert,Leo Edson, Ray Ekstrom, re),(m.ob.), with outliersto thew. Yolo Alan M. Eisner, Elias Elias, Gil Ewing, GeorgeFinger, David Fix, SteveA. Glover, foothillsand •psumnes R. Preserve, Phil E. Gordon, Edward D. Greaves,Helen Sacrazento, May 24 (JTr). Green,Steve C. Hampton,Keith Hansen, W.

FALL 1997 925 southern pacific coast region Preservenear Weldon, Kern Co.). Since virtually all raritiesin s.California are seen by many ob- servers,only the observer(s) initially finding and •,•Scotty's Castle identifyingthe birdare included.Documen- -'f'•;a• • tationfor species on the California Bird Records Committee(CBRC) review list is forwardedto X •. CreekRanch theCBRC Secretary and archived at theWestern FoundationforVertebrate Zoology in Camarillo.

MOUNTAIN FOREST BIRDS ßMorro Bay CALIFORNIA Some of the mountain forest birds that in- Oceano '-•;•:- ß Bakersfield ßBaker :i•!i vadedthis Regionduring the fall of 1996, ßSanta "i•,•:-Maria •:•1•,. i' •' . '•';-California ß City ' HarperLakeury ßKelso ':•: and remainedthrough the winter,were still •-•::.. in evidenceinto the springperiod. Goleta-i•.'•:,•.. ßLancaster ,• Needlesß -':?.•,•;•:•,.. Most of the Lewis'sWoodpeckers had •n• • -?•,•: ...... movedN by March,but threeremained in .•'"--,•Ls•?;ux•a o' •'.•z;•:'. -'" .•. Malibu ß MorongoValley e. Orangethrough Apr. 26 (WG), and an- LOSAngeles "'•-;""/.'.•;? •.•. other was still present in La Cafiada PACIFIC Flintridge,Los Angeles, at the endof the pe- OCEAN Huntington%' ':• "',,,. riod (KLG). -%' "%. '• SaltonSea A flockof eightPinyon Jays near Ventu- copain n.e. VenturaMar. 22 (DDJ) wasun- expected;13 in Ridgecrest,Kern, May 4 P.. •a• .SanOiego• (DMo) andsix-eight at nearbyGalileo Hill •qua• • Valley May 11 (SJP)were at desertoases far from any areaof normaloccurrence. Not unex- GUY NCCASKIE period"boring,• except for threedays of ex- pected,considering the scale of lastfall's in- citementin lateMay, is open to speculation. flux, were continuedreports of out-of- Did the migrantspassing through the east- rangeClark's Nutcrackers, such as one in od, with none of the storm fronts that ern part of the Regionmove up into the the Santa Lucia Mts. of San Luis Obispo pushsouth along the coastat thistime of SierraNevada, through suchlocations as May 3 (JSR),one in theLaguna Mts. of San the year reachingSouthern California. ButterbredtSprings at the southernend of DiegoMay 31 (GLR), and a flockof 12 at Observers on the coast were unable to find thesemountains, and avoidInyo, or did they Weldon, Kern, May 15 (KP), with four concentrationsof landbirds,even during fly over the area without stoppingat more near there June2 (SAL). the peakmigration time between late April watchedlocations in the OwensValley and Small numbers of Red-breasted Nut- andearly May, and made such comments as desert oases to the east? hatcheswere still present in the coastallow- "a lacklusterspring for landbirds"and "a lands and at some desert locations into lessthan exciting period." However, some of Abbreviations: C.L. (China t. Naval Air April, with stragglersremaining to the end the summervisitors arrived early, as indi- WeaponsStation, extreme n.e. Kern Co.); of April in SanDiego, early May in Santa catedby the presenceof territorialYellow E.A.F.B.(Edwards Air ForceBase, s.e. Kern Co.); Barbara,and to the endof May in SanLuis Warblers and Yellow-breasted Chats in the F.C.R.(Furnace Cr. Ranch, Death Valley National Obispo. Prado Basin of northwest Riverside/south- Monument,Inyo Co.); I.M.P.S.(iron Mr. Cassin'sFinches appeared to havede- westSan Bernardino on the earlydates of PumpingStation in s.e.5an Bernardino Co.); partedthe foothillareas of SantaBarbara March25 andApril 1 reportedby Pike.To L.A.C.N.H.M.(tos AngelesCounty Natural by earlyApril, but numberswere still pre- the eastin Imperial,Riverside, San Bernar- HistoryMuseum); N.E.S.S. (north end of the sentin the coastallowlands of San Diego dino,and particularly Kern, numbers of mi- SaltonSea, Riverside Co.); S.B.CM. (San Bern- and LosAngeles into April,with concentra- grantlandbirds were greater than expected, ardinoCounty Museum); S.œ.R.E. (Santa Clara tionssuch as 500 in WaterCanyon at the andincluded an exceptionalvariety of rari- R. Estuarynear Ventura,Ventura Co.); baseof the SanGabriel Mts. of LosAngeles ties,giving observers in that areaone of the $.D.N.H.M. (San Diego Natural History Apr. 4 (MSM) suggestingmany thousands mostexciting springs in memory.Why ob- Museum);S.E.S.S. (south end of theSalton Sea, werestill present along the s. edgeof these serversto the northin Inyoconsidered the ImperialCo.); S.EK.R.P. (South Fork Kern River mountains at this time. Red Crossbills were

9Z6 FIELD NDTES southern pacific coast still to be found in the coastal lowlands of Scoters on L. Henshaw in the mountains of San Diegoand Orangethrough April and San Diego Mar. 23 (GMcC, TRC) were into early May, and similar numbersre- probablyforced down by stormyweather, mainedat desertlocations in LosAngeles and givean indicationas to the numberof and Kerninto mid- and lateMay, with six thesebirds movingundetected across the still present as far south as Brawley, interiorof s.e.California in springon their Irnperia•as late as May 3 (RH).A wintering wayN from winteringgrounds in the Gulf flock of 25 Evening Grosbeaksin the of California. foothills of the San Bernardino Mts. re- mainedthrough early April, but stragglers RAPTORS TO CRANES werereported into May,with one in Pine An elusive ad. Common Black-Hawk at Valley,San Diego, May 9-13 (ES);another Oasis,Riverside, was seen by birders on only in the nearbyLaguna Mts. May 15 (RAH); 7 occasionsbetween Mar. 28-May 2 two in LosOsos, San Luis Obispo, May 28 (MAP), despitemuch looking; an adult at (M&PC); and one in CaliforniaCity, Kern, nearbyThousand Palms Oasis April 13, Immature Zone-tailed Hawk June1 (MAP) all beingnoteworthy. 1985(W. Birds20:11-18, 1989) is the only at FnrnaceCreek Ranch, Death Valley, one previouslyrecorded in California.Up California,on MayZS, 1997. LOONS TO WATERFOWL to eight Harris'sHawks remained around Onlythe fourthrecord for InyoConnty. A Horned Grebeat C.L. Apr. 23-May 10 BorregoSprings, San Diego,through the Photograph/TomHeindel (MTH) was in an area of Californiawhere period (RT), and two more were in Palm veryfew havebeen found. A Red-necked Springs,Riverside, May 10 (LRS).Nineteen Grebe,rare in S. California,was at the Santa SwainsodsHawks near BorregoSprings Maria R. mouth, SantaBarbara, Apr. 17 Mar. 17 (PRJ)and 16 overS.F.K.R.P. Apr. 6 (SAL)represented the largestflocks report- A sickShort-tailed Shearwater captured ed this spring, and one at Seal Beach, on the beachin Coronado,San Diego, Apr. Orange,Mar. 30 (SGM) wasthe only one 28 (BF) andanother found dead there May on the immediate coast. The Zone-tailed 2 (EC) were late for S. California.A decom- Hawk that spent the winter in Santa posed Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel on the Barbara/Goletawas last seenApr. 4 (BN), beachin CoronadoMay 26 (BF) wasun- and an immaturephotographed at EC.R. usuallyfar south. May 24-25 (MAP) wasthe 4th to be found An ad. Little Blue Heron at BolsaChica, in Inyo.A PeregrineFalcon at E.A.EB.May Orange,May 4-18 (TS) wasthe only one 4 (MTH) wasonly the 3rdto be foundin e. found away from s. coastalSan Diego, Kern. where resident in small numbers. An ad. An exceptionallylate and out-of-place Far moreFranklin's Gulls than usnalpassed TricoloredHeron at N.E.S.S. May 345 SandhillCrane was at UpperNewport Bay, thronghthe southwesternstates this season. Thisadnlt was at EdwardsAir ForceBase, (GMcC) and anotheradult at S.E.S.S.May Orange,May 4 (JS). California,on May11, lgg7. 3 (GMcC) were in an area where this Photograph/MattT. Heindel speciesis consideredvery rare to casual.A PLOVERS TO TB•111S ReddishEgret, a rare but regularstraggler Six winteringPacific Golden-Plovers were to the coastof extreme S. California, was at still presentat SealBeach Apr. 26 (TEW), beach at Seal BeachMar. 24 (TJ) were evi- BolsaChica Apr. 24-May 11 (PK), joined but an alternate-plumagedindividual on s. dently attracted to that location by by a secondApr. 30-May 2 (DPe).An ad. SanDiego Bay May 8-11 (DPa) wasthe Grunion(a smallfish that laysits eggsin Yellow-crownedNight-Heron was again only migrantreported. A Mt. Plovernear the wet sandduring very high tides)eggs. presentwith nestingBlack-crowned Night- Bishop,Inyo, Mar. 15 (ChH) wasaway from The onlySemipalmated Sandpiper report- Heronsin La Jolla,San Diego, Mar. 1-May 3 areas of normal occurrence. ed wasone at N.E.S.S.May 10 (GMcC).A (AME), havingfirst beenseen in this area SinceSolitary Sandpipers are normally Baird'sSandpiper, most unusual in spring, in October 1981. rarein spring,the presence of twoinland at wasat E.A.EB.May 15-26 (MTH). Onecan A Wood Duck at N.E.S.S. Mar. 29 DesertCenter, Riverside, Apr. 26 (GH), one only guessat the numberof Red-necked (GMcC) was in an area where few haveoc- at Baker,San Bernardino,May 4 (AME), Phalaropesthat moved N through the curred.A male Eur. Wigeonnear Bishop, and two at F.C.R.Apr. 17-19 (CrH), and SantaBarbara Channel Apr. 28-May 1 from Inyo,Apr. 10-13 (JMF) andanother on San single birds along the coast in Irvine, counts such as 125,000 in 1.5 hrs. at Goleta ElijoLagoon, San Diego, Apr. 22 (MT) were Orange,Apr. 26 (BAA), San Pedro,Los Pt. Apr. 28 (JEL), and similarnumbers at the latest of the wintering birds in this Angeles,Mar. 29 (JAJ),and nearCayucos, EastBeach in SantaBarbara Apr. 29 (JEL). Regionto depart.The female Harlequin San Luis Obispo,Apr. 22 (KMH) were of A SouthPolar Skua off SealBeach May Duckfound at theLos Angeles/Ventura line note. Two Black Turnstones, rare to casual 18 (DP) wouldappear to be only the 2nd Jan. 7 was last seenMar. 8 (ST). The half- inland, were found on the Salton Sea,with seenoff Orange.A LaughingGull in Goleta, dozenOldsquaws along the coastin March one near SaltonCity May 3 (GMcC) and Santa Barbara,May 6 (DDJ) was on the and April were expected,but two pho- the other at S.E.S.S.May 25 (KLG). About coast,where it is rare. Far more than the ex- tographedat PicoRivera, Los Angeles, Mar. 2000 Surfbirds,along with hundredsof pectednumber of Franklin'sGulls passed 9 (LSc) were inland. A flock of 900 Surf othershorebirds, feeding along a stretchof throughthe Regionas indicatedby more

FALL 1997 927 than 175 reportedbetween Apr. 26-June 2, nilesbelieved to havebeen hatched locally A Gray Vireo photographedin Redondo includingan impressive85 on the Salton (MSM, T&JH). A pair of Com. Ground- Beach,Los Angeles, May 11 (MHe) wasone Sea May 26 (MAP, KLG, MB); one in Doveswas still present in Nipama,San Luis of a veryfew everto be foundaway from Anaheim, Orange,Mar. 6-22 (DB) had Obispo,May 29 (PAW),this being at the n. knownnesting localities in S. CalifarmaA probablywintered locally, and another near extremeof this species'range along the male Yellow-throatedVireo, a casualto acci- Independence,Inyo, Apr. 12 (RP) was some- coast of California. One in Arcadia, Los dentalstraggler to California,was present m what early.Heermann's Gulls are rare in- Angeles,May 11 (MSM) was awayfrom WestminsterMay 29-30 (BED), but two land,especially so away from the Salton Sea, areas of normal occurrence. othersin May lack documentation.Three so an adultat S.E.S.S.May 4 to the end of A Yellow-billed Cuckoo at S.F.K.R.P. Red-eyedVireos were reported, with oneat the period(KCM) and anotherat E.A.EB. May 17 (BM) wasunusually early, and an- MorongoValley, San Bernardino, May 21 May 10-11 (MTH) were of note.Three otherat c. 6500ft nearBig Pines in the San (EAC), another near China, San Bernar- HerringGulls in e. Kern(Apr. 26 & 27 and GabrielMts., LosAngeles, June 2 (TN) was dino, June8 (DPe), and the 3rd at Butter- May 22-24; MTH) and anotherat Owens not onlyat anunusual locality, but alsoone bredtSprings, Kern, May 2%30 (MAP) L., Inyo,Mar. 27 (RAH)were in an areaof of a veryfew found away from the limited Californiawhere this species is rarelyfound. breedinglocalities in California. WOOD WARBLERS A somewhatlate Thayer'sGull was at Two ChimneySwifts over downtown A male Blue-wingedWarbler, a species N.E.S.S.May 3-10 (GMcC).A pale-winged LosAngeles May 8 (KLG)were the firstof rarelyfound in California,was at Butter- first-yeargull in AnaheimMar. 8-15 (GLT), the smallnumber now present at thisloca- bredtSprings, located in thefoothills at the wasjoined by a similarlooking gull on Mar. tion everysummer, and two over California s. end of the Sierra Nevada Mts n. of 15 (DRW), were variouslyidentified as City May 25 (MTH) providedthe 4th California City, Kern, June 8 (MTH) A Icelandand Thayer's gulls; multiple reports record for Kern. A male Black-chinned male Golden-wingedWarbler, a little more of IcelandGulls in Californiaare currently Hummingbirdon SantaCatalina I. May 9 frequentstraggler to Californiathan the on holdby the CBRCawaiting a taxanamic (PU) is believed to be the first for the previousspecies, was in CaliforniaCity, decisionby the AmericanOrnithologists' Channel Islands. Kern, May 31 (ST). Four Tennessee Union. Five GlaucousGulls reported from The winteringLeast Flycatcher in Costa Warblers--withone at EC.R.May 31 (CK), the coastduring March and April were Mesa,Orange, was last seen Mar. 30 (JEP);a anotherat nearbyIndian RanchMay 28 morethan expected; a latefirst-year indi- singingLeast Flycatcher at S.EK.R.P.May (MSM), a 3rd at ButterbredtSprings June 8 vidualwas near Oceanside,San Diego, May 14-18 (MHa) was the first to be found in (MTH), and the 4th in HuntingtonBeach, 4 (RP) and anotherwas inland at N.E.S.S. Kernin spring.An E. Phoebeon Pt. Lama Orange,May 17-18(JSB)--were fewer than May 3-10 (GMcC). Apr. 1-2 (REW) is oneof a veryfew to be expected.A dozen N. Parulasscattered A SandwichTern was presentwith found in Californiain spring.A Dusky- throughoutthe Region (seven in the e.por- nestingElegant Terns at BalsaChica, May 9 cappedFlycatcher on Pt. Lama, SanDiego, tion of the Regionand fivew. of the coast throughthe period (JA, CTC), and was be- Apr. 12-May 1 (PAG)had probablybeen range) betweenApr. 27 and June3 was lievedto be the sameindividual present at presentall winter,since an unidentified about the expectednumber. A Chestnut- this locationeach of the past2 summers. Myiarchuswas seen at thislocation Jan. 19 sidedWarbler in HuntingtonBeach May 15 An unprecedentedmovement of Least (BF). SingleBrown-crested Flycatchers in (BED)was the only one reported. The only Ternsinto s.e. Californiaplaced two near the GraniteMts. of e. SanBernardino May MagnoliaWarblers reported were three in Seeley,Imperial, May 31 (GMcC); single 17-18 (MAP) andat EC.R.May 27 (MSM) e. Kern,with one at GalileoHill May 11 birdson RamerL., Imperial,May 3 (RH), appearedto be migrantsfar from known (BD), anotherin CaliforniaCity May 17 N.E.S.S.May 3 (PAG), and DesertCenter nestinglocalities. Four E. Kingbirdswere re- (NF), and the 3rd at ButterbredtSprings Apr.28 (AS) and May 11 (MAP); threeto- ported,with singlebirds in thee. part of the May 31 (ST).A maleBlack-throated Blue gethernear Lancaster,Los Angeles, May Regionat I.M.P.S.May 20 (AS)and Galileo Warbler,most unusualin spring,was in 31-June 1 (AH); and single birds in Hill, Kern,May 29-30 (MAP),and along the CaliforniaCity May 26 (JCW). A male Helendale,San Bernardino,June 1 (MAP), coast in Westminster, Orange, May 31 Blackburnian Warbler, also most unusual CaliforniaCity, Kern, May 17-18 (MF), (TEW) and s. VandenbergA.EB., Santa in spring,was on s. VandenbergA F B C.L. May 22 (MTH) and at DeathValley Barbara,May 21 (MAH). June 7 (MAH). Four Yellow-throated Junction,Inyo, May 25 (MAP). A Sooty A Chestnut-backedChickadee in Carp- Warblers--with singlebirds on Pt Lama Tern with nestingElegant Terns at Balsa interia, Santa Barbara, Apr. 19-May 9 Apr. 10 (PAG), at MesquiteSprings in ChicaMar. 26 throughthe period (CTC) (MAH) was s. of this species'range. Two DeathValley N.E May 24 (RPH),Crystal L was believed to be the same individual at VariedThrushes on Pt. LamaMay 4 (TRC) in the SanGabriel Mts. May 26 (JF),and •n this locationeach of the past 3 summers; and anotherthere May 17 (REW) werefar WestminsterMay 29 (BED)--was more anotherwas seenat s. San Diego BayApr. south and unusuallylate. Two Bendire's than expected.The PrairieWarbler found 15-16 (MG, DWA). Thrashers at Smoke Tree Wash in the Anza- in Burbank,Los Angeles, Mar. 10 (GP) was BarregaDesert S.P. Mar. 9 (PJ)may have last seen Mar. 25, and another at Butter- DOVES TO ¾1nKos beenon a breedingterritory, but onenear bredtSprings May 26 (SS)was the 2nd to A White-wingedDove in GoletaMay 10 SeeleyMar. 21 (RH) wasa migrant. be foundin Kernat thistime of the year A (RPH) was the only one found alongthe A White-eyedVireo photographed near winteringPalm Warbler remained in E1 coast,and anotherin IndependenceApr. Cantil May 26 (MTH) wasthe 5th to be Monte,Los Angeles, through Apr. 19 (PB),a 10-14 (A&LK) was a little to the north of found in Kern. A singingBell's Vireo at singlebird in GoletaMar. 20-Apr. 8 (DC) this species'normal range. Up to six Inca S.EK.R.P.Apr. 10 (SAL)was well outside and anotherthere Apr. 20 (JEL)had proba- Dovesat EC.R. in May includedtwo juve- thisspecies' present-day range in California. bly winteredlocally rather than being

928 FIELDNOTES southern pacific coast

Salton Sea. Single Baltimore Orioles in Huntington Beach May 17 (JSB) & 26 (JEP),and another in Mojave,Kern; May 25 (DVB) werethe onlythree reported. A femaleBlack Rosy-Finch in Aspen- dell,In) o,Apr. 6 (SJP)was at the samefeed- er wherea similarlooking bird waspresent Feb. 11-15, 1995. Amongthe manyinteresting easternstrays found in Kern Cited observers(county coordinators bold- County,California, during , I , faced):Jim Abernathy,Douglas W. Aguil- the season was this Golden- lard, Bruce A. Aird, Peter Barnes, Dick wingedWarbler at California Barth,Marc Better,David V. Blue,Jeffery S. Cityon May31, 1997. Boyd,Karen Bridgers,Eugene A. Cardiff Photo9raph/MattT. Heindel Therese R. Clawson, Charles T. Collins, D. spring vagrants. A male Bay-breasted (JA). Fifteen Rose-breastedGrosbeaks and Compton,Luke Cole, Elizabeth Copper Warbler,rarely found in this Regionin re- about25 IndigoBuntings at asmany loca- (San Diego), Michael and PeggyCraig cent years,was photographedat Butter- tionsscattered throughout the Regiondur- (M&PC), Brian E. Daniels,James Danzen- bredt SpringsMay 25-26 (TEW). A male ing May was about averagefor these 2 baker, Pat Delahunty, Bill Deppe, Don Cerulean Warbler photographednear species.A femaleDickcissel, most unusual Desjardin(Ventura), Tom M. Edell (San BishopMay 23 (T&JH) wasthe first to be in spring,was near Bishop May 24 (T&JH). Luis Obispo),Alan M. Eisner,Richard A. foundin In?o,and one of a veryfew record- SinceClay-colored Sparrows are rarely Erickson, Samuel Fairchild, John M. ed in California. About 20 Black-and-white foundin spring,single individuals at Desert Finkbeiner,Ion Fisher,Mary Freeman,Nick Warblersreported from as many localities CenterMay 11 (MAP) and at I.M.P.S.the Freeman,Brian Foster,Kimball L. Garrett scatteredthroughout the Regionbetween sameday (MAP) were of note.A Black- (Los Angeles),Peter A. Ginsburg,Wayne Apr. 14 and May 30 wasdose to expected chinnedSparrow in California City May Gochenour, Michael Green, Murrelet numbers, but less than a dozen Am. 9-11 (DVB) wasonly the 3rd to be foundat Haltermann(MHa), K. MelodyHamilton, Redstarts,all in thee. portion of the Region a desertoasis in thispart of the Region.The Robert A. Hamilton, Matthew T. Helndel betweenMay 16 and June8, was far less Lark Buntingfound in BishopNov. 10 re- (Kern), Mitch Heindel (MHe), Tom & Jo than normal.A maleProthonotary Warbler mainedthrough Apr. 10 (J&DP),and single Heindel (Inyo), Gall Hightower,Roger at GalileoHill May 14-17 (AS)was the only springstragglers were near La Panza,Los Higson,Ron P. Hirst, Craig Hohenberger one reported this spring. Thirteen Angeles,Apr. 16 (JS),at L. Perris,Riverside, (CrH), Mark A. Holmgren,Chris Howard Ovenbirdsin the e. portion of the Region Apr. 19 (PD) and along the ColoradoR. (ChH), AndrewHowe, JerryA. Johnson, betweenMay 11 andJune 8 wasmore than north of Needles,San Bernardino,May 11 Tom Jones,Paul R. Johnson,Paul Jorgen- expected,but one on Pt. Loma May 17-18 (EAC). A Harris's Sparrow found in sen, Clay Kempf,Andrew and Leah Kirk (REW) wasthe only one found alongthe Lompoc,Santa Barbara, Feb. 9 remained (A&LK), Peter Knap, StevenA. Laymon, coast. A wintering N. Waterthrush in throughMay 4 (PR) and anotherwas in JoanE. Lentz (Santa Barbara), Bob Meade, Irvine, Orange,remained through Apr. 5 LonePine, In)o, May 10 (JW). The latestof D. Mitchell (DMi), Kathy C. Molina, (RAE); three N. Waterthrushesin the e. the wintering White-throated Sparrows Donald Moore (DOM), StevenG. Morris, B. part of the Regionin May wasfar belowav- weresingle birds in Goletathrough Apr. 17 Najar, Ted Nordhagen,Dennis Parker erage.A deadKentucky Warbler was picked (KB) and Los Osos, San Luis Obispo, (DPa), Jim and Debby Parker (J&DP), up in Ridgecrest,Kern, in mid-lateMay (SF, through May 1 (JP); one in Jawbone Robert Patton, Dharm Pellegrini (DPe), *L.A.C.M.). Ten Hooded Warblers were CanyonMay 10 (REW) and anotherat John Perkins, Stacy I. Peterson,Gerald foundin the e. part of the Region,with one nearbyButterbredt Springs May 23 (REW) Phillips,Karen Phillips, James E. Pike,Roy at Cottonwood Springs in JoshuaTree werespring vagrants. A Golden-crowned Poucher,Brian Prescott,Geoffry L. Rogers, N.M. May 6 (BP), anotherat I.M.P.S.May Sparrownear Lompoc May 21 (DMi) anda P. Rosso,James S. Royer, Michael San 20 (AS),and eightmore in e. Kernbetween singingGray-headed Junco at I.M.P.S.May Miguel, Larry Sansone (LSa), Larry late April and June 12 (DVB, MTH, MAP, 26 (MAP) were both unusuallylate mi- Schmahl(LSc), John Schmitt, Tom Seevey, BS, LSa, REW). A Painted Redstartpho- grants. Arnold Small, Edward Spocheck, Bob tographedat ButterbredtSprings May 4 Only four Bobolinkswere found,with Steele,Susan Steele, E Stevens,Langdon R. (JD) wasa longoverdue first for Kern. two at DesertCenter May 11 (MAP), onein Stevenson, Melanie Tallent, Robert Theriault, Gerald L. To]man, Steve Tucker, CaliforniaCity May 26 (DVB), and the 4th TANAGERS TO FINCHES at Galileo Hill June 7 (DVB). The male Philip Unitt, Richard E. Webster,Walter Seven Summer Tanagersin May, most Coremoil Grackle found in Torrance Mar. Webtie, Pat A. Wells, ludy Wickman, probably stragglersfrom the nominate 3 remainedthrough Mar 24 (MHe) and DouglasR. Wi!lick (Orange), Tom E. Wurster, John C. Wilson. An additional 50+ population,w. and n. of known breeding was accompaniedby a femaleMar. 17-24 localitiesin the s.e.portion of the Region, (MHe); anotherwas seen in flight overPt. observerswho could not be individuallyac- wasabout average for thistime of the year. Loma May 13 (REW). A male Bronzed knowledgedsubmitted reports' this season. Singlewintering Rose-breastedGros- Cowbirdat DesertCenter Apr. 28- May 12 Guy McCaskie,San Diego Natural History beaksremained in SantaBarbara through (AS) was the only one found away from Museum,Balboa Park, P. O. Box 1390, San Apr. 10 (FS) and in Venturathrough Mar. 8 along the Colorado R. and around the Diego,CA 92112.

FALL 1997 929 hawaiian islands region

notes and photographs(H.R.B.P. 1117- 1119) are archived.Toes lacked palmations when examinedthrough scope at 15 me- ters,and deeptracks in softmud showed no indication of palmations(H.R.B.P.- 1120). A (North American)Whimbrel seen with Bristle-thighedCurlews at Sand I., Midway, May 5-12 (PP; H.R.B.P.-1121, 1122)may have been there since late win- ter.A flockof 40 Bristle-thighedswas flying highin a thermalover Frigate Pt. on Sand I., Midway,Mar. 27 (SB).Counts of Bristle- thighedsroosting on thetaxiway at SandI. were51 May 5, 28 May 7, and eightfrom May 8 onward.Most of thewintering birds probablydeparted May 7-8, the firstdear night after a cloudy,rainy week (PP). Reportsof Bristle-thighedCurlews in the Main Hawaiian Islandsthis spring were three at SouthPt., H., Mar. 1 (DK); three at Moloka'i Sea Farms near Kaunakakai, Moloka'I, Mar. 13 (AE; said to have win- teredthere); and threeat JamesCampbell N.W.R., O., Apr. 10 (PP,RLP), wherethey ROBERT L. PYLE Shearwater,evidently a victim of light at- definitelydid overwinter.In the main is- traction,was picked up on a roadsidenear lands, Bristle-thighedshave long been Kalaheo,K., Apr. 1, thenmeasured, banded, scarcetransients in fall and rare in spring, Ithroughrequent light the precipitationnormally drycontinued spring and released (TT). but overwinteringbirds have been reported months.At Honoluluairport, 40 inchesof The strayEmperor Goose seen by many morefrequently in thepast decade. rainfallin the 12 monthsending in June observerssince early January at Kona compareswith theannual average of 15-20 Villageresort, H., wascaptured and banded JAEGERS TO OWLS inches.Spring nesting conditionswere Apr. 5, and determinedto be a female Wintering Pomarine Jaegerswere seen good,and vegetation in drierlowlands re- (P&HB). It departedMay 17.Unusual duck from fishingboats within 15 mi off w. mainedgreen into summer.Increasing eco- speciesreported included a (Eurasian) O'ahuMar. 9 (10;TSu) andApr. 11 (12; PP tour visitsto MidwayAtoll broughtmore Green-wingedTeal at SandI., Midway,May et al.),but noneMay 5 (EV,RLP et al.).The skilledobservers and numerousinteresting 4-17 (probablywintered; PP); a Cinnamon two imm. Ring-billedGulls at KealiaPond bird sightings,including the first record of Teal at Kealia Pond N.W.R., M., Mar. N.W.R., M., remained until Apr. 8 (PP, Common Cuckoo in the central Pacific. 20-Apr. 16 (MN); and singleGadwalls at MN), and onewas last seen Apr. 16 (MN). 'Ohi'apilo Pond,Moloka'i, Mar. 12 (AE) At SandI., Midway,first winter individuals Abbreviations: H. (Hawai?L); K. (Kaua'iL); and at Waiakea Pond in Hilo, H., until at of 3 largegull speciesprovided good op- M. (MauiL); O, (Oghut); H.R.B,P.:(prefix for leastApr. 6 (PP).Peregrine Falcons are now portunitiesfor comparison.The Glaucous- catalognumbers ofphotos in HawaiiRare Bird regular visitors to Hawaii in winter. wingedpresent in Decemberwas last seen Photographcollection). Lingerersthis spring were reported Mar. 21 Mar. 24, and a HerringGull wasreported at Kilauea Military Camp adjacent to Jan.4-Mar. 25. A Fmefirst-winter Sla W- ALBATROSS TO CURLEWS Hawaii VolcanoesN.P. (JC); on Mohihi backedGull (H.R.B.P.-1123-1127) was pre- Trail in the Alaka'i Wilderness,K., Mar. 22 sentFeb. 11-May 7 (SB,PP et al.,good p). A Laysanalbatross at SandI., Midway,hybrid (SB,DK);at SandI., MidwayApr. 2-May 11 Little Tern in full breedingplumage was at individualswere sighted 5 timesat 4 locali- (ad. female;SB,PP); and one flying high SandI., Midway,May 22-26, confidently ties duringthe first weekof April (SB). over downtown Honolulu, O., May 30 distinguishedfrom LeastTern by the en- Interestingtransient seabirds observed on a (EV). tirelysnow-white rump and tail sharplyset pelagictrip up to 15 mi off HonoluluApr. A smallplover identified confidently as off fromthe gray back, and by its character- 11 included six Mottled Petrels, one Ker- a CommonRinged Plover was observed isticsingle "check" call (PP et al., good?). madec Petrel (excellent ?; PP), and 60 well severaltimes Apr. 27-May 27 at Sand Quite high countsof White Ternsfrom SootyShearwaters. One groundedSooty I., Midway (PP, JN). Detailed descriptive boattrips off s.w.O'ahu were made Apr. 11

930 FIELDNOTES hawaiian islands

(25; PP,RLP et al.) and May 5 (60; EV,RLP (criticallyEndangered) under construction et al.).Many of thebirds were transiting be- Mar.6, a full monthearlier than last year. By tweenoffshore foraging areas and nesting endof May theyhad located 60 nestsfrom S A A(CuculusEurasian canorus) Commonat SandCuckoo I., trees in Honolulu and Waikiki. White Terns about25 pairs,many on their 3rd clutch Midway,May 23 waswatched perching in Honolulu are continuing to increase (TSn). Ten fertile eggsfrom first clutches andin flightover a periodof an hourby slowlyand steadily. were removed and transferred to Keahou at least6 observers,including 2 veryex- Bird Conservation Center near Volcano,H., At leastone Mourning Dove in a group periencedornithologists (PP, JN). Time of threedoves was glimpsed briefly May 4 for incubation.All hatchedsuccessfully. The in view totaled about 10 minutes at dis- alonga roadedge near Honu'apo on thes.e. four femaleshatched at the Centerlast year tances as close as 20 meters. The bird coastof Hawai'i I. (HC, sketch& •), report- from wild eggslaid 4 eggsthis spring.All ed by an observerlong familiar with wereinfertile, since no adultmales are yet in wasrecognized immediately as eithera Common or Oriental Cuckoo. The ob- Mourningand Spotted doves in California. the captiveflock. Hopes are high that males Thislocality is well out of normalrange for from thisyear's hatchings will join females serversmade very detailednotes and MourningDoves, which are scarceand lo- nextspring to produceoffspring for release drawingson the spot,and took some calized on the n.w. coast of this island. later in 1998 (TSn, AL). distantbut recognizablephotographs At least 12 Hawaiian (Short-eared) An O'ahu'Amakihi pair nestedin a yard (H.R.B.E 1129-1132).Comparing these Owls, an unusuallyhigh concentration, in ManoaValley at the unusuallylow eleva- later with literature and specimensin werecircling and occasionallylanding in tion of 380 ft., well within mosquitorange. the Museumof ComparativeZoology at fieldsadjacent to the Lana'iI. airportdur- One chick fledged successfullyMay 28 Berkeleyestablished identification of the ingthe morningof Apr. 17 (PBr). (EV). CooperSociety participants on the Midway bird as a Com. Cuckoo,pro• field trip May 4 to PowerlineRd. off the bablyof the subspeciestelephonus with SaddleRd., H., found one 'Akiapola'au,six lessdistinctly marked underparts. Writ- Hawai'i Creepers,and 12 Hawai'i 'Akepa old individual birds that for ten notes with sketches from 5 observers SA,T, im.e marches onfor the (AE), all Endangered. manyyears have comprised the lastre- are archived. No vocalizations were maininggroup of wild 'Alala(Hawaiian ALLEN PASSERINES heard.This is the first recordof any Eurasian cuckoo for the Hawaiian Is. Crow,severely Endangered). Only 2 A Red-ventedBulbul reported flying across breedingpairs of "old"wild birdshave the highwaynear 'Eldde, K., Mar. 18 (DK) remainedactive in recentyears. One was not found again, despite intensive Patten, Leilani Pyle, Peter Pyle, Vaughn pair lastproduced fertile eggsin 1994, searches with audio playbacks and Sherwood,Kristina Skarin,Ty Smucker, andthis year produced only one stunted widespreadposter displays and requests for Tom Snetsinger, Don Sterba, Tim infertileegg. The otherpair wasunsuc- information from the community (TT). Sutterfield,Tom Telfer,Nick Udvardy,Eric cessfullast year and did not pair again These bulbuls have become abundant fruit- VanderWerf, Alice Zacherle. thisyear (DB). Two "new" pairs formed eating peststhroughout O'ahu, and the statewildiife agency is strivingto prevent Robert L. Pyle, 741N. Kalaheo Ave., Kailua, thisyear, and strengthened bonds by b e~ HI 96734. their spreadto other islands.One Red- ginninginitial nest-budding attempts• whiskeredBulbul observedin a yard in Twobirds forming one "new" pair were Kailua,O., May 28 (LP,PP) is furtherevi- from the first class incubated and reared denceof the impendingexpansion of this ; in captivity,and releasedto the wild in speciesacross the Ko'olau Mts. from 1993.The other "new"pair is a female Honolulu. Common Waxbillshave long from the 1993 class,paired with an beenwidespread and abundanton O'ahu, olderwild maleof unknownage (DB). but have not been confidentlyreported Althoughindications are encourag- from other islands. Three observed at ing for nextsyear,the majorquestion is Umipa'a,w. of Kaunakakai,Moloka'i, Mar. whetherthese captive-reared and re~ [] 12 (AE) may indicatean incipientexpan- sion. Seven Chestnut Mannikins were seen leasedbirds can developthe behavioral skillsnecessary to raiseyoung success- wellat Lana'iL airportApr. 17 (PBr).These and the sightingson Maul late lastseason fully on their own. If they do, it will arethe firstreports that thisspecies may fi- mark another successfulstep forward nally be expandingto islandsother than for the daboratecaptive rearing/release O'ahu and Kaua'i, where it has been well- programtoward the gøal of perpetuat• established for decades. inga freepopulation 6f 'Alala success- fullyreproducing in thewild. Contributors:Steve Bailey, Paul & Helen Baker,Donna Ball, Phil Bruner, Jay Carlisle, HowardCogswell, Reg David, Jim Denny, NATIVE HAWAIIAN PASSERINES Peter Donaldson,Andrew Engilis,Laura In the Mohihi area of the Alaka'i Wilderness Gorman, Kamal Islam, MaryLou Kelly, Preserve,K., the rare speciesmonitoring Eleanor Koes, David Kuhn, Alan Lieber- team found the seasons first nest of Puaiohi man, Jim Nestler,Mike Nishimoto, Michael

FALL 1997 931 west indies region

New Providence,BA, was well e. of its usual springmigration route. Also in the Baha- mas, a Limpkin was seenand heard at Harbour Island Mar. 23 (TW et al.), and another was seen at North Eleuthera near BogueMar. 24.

PLOVERS THROUGH TERNS SnowyPlovers, found commonlyat Brine Pond,Crooked I., BA, May 4-6 (AB, BH, TW), areprobably resident birds. A Piping Plover was seen at Cable Beach, New Providence,BA, Mar. 10 (AB, PD, BH, TW). A SolitarySandpiper was noted at Great HarbourCay, South Andros, BA, April 25 (TW). Willets were common on South Andros, BA, Crooked I., and Acklin'sI from May 2-8 (AB, BH, TW), both Bahamas. Willets were also noted at Fresh Pond and at Little L., San Salvador,BA (CW et al.). A ROBERT NORTON BrownBoobies nesting at White Cay,off singleStilt Sandpiperremained until May SanSalvador, BA, May 9-11 (CW et al.) was 10 at the BFS catchment,San Salvador,BA. one pair of nestingRed-footeds that have Remainsof a first-winterBonaparte's Gull ' heseason,Bahamas with reportswerewellfrom represented Bimini, Berry this apparently been established there, in spite were found at Landrail Pt., Crooked I., BA, Islands, New Providence, South Andros, of lastyear's tropical storms and near miss May 3 (BH) for the firstrecord from the s. Eleuthera,Long Island, Rum Cay,San Sal- hurricanes,since 1985. MagnificentFri- Bahamas.Six HerringGulls were counted vador, Crooked Island, Acklins Island, and gatebirdswere also present with nestlings. Mar. 10 (PD et al.) near the water barge varioussatellite cays from late April to mid- Three White Ibis were noted near Stella wharf, Nassua,New Providence,BA. A 2nd- May.Ten members of the Ornithological Maris resort, Long I., BA, Man 12 & 15 year Herring Gull was reportedfrom Groupof the BahamasNational Trust ven- (TW, BH); and a singleWhite Ibis was SpanishWells Mar. 24 (TW et al.). Gull- tured to Bahamas Field Station, San Salva- recordeddaily at Great Harbour Cay, S. billedTerns were considered very common dor,May 9-11 to surveybirdlife there. Such Andros,BA, April 26-28 (TW). The juv. at CrookedI. and AcklinI., BA, May 3-9 reportingof birdsat one of the mostre- White Ibis that wintered at JubileeRd., BE, (AB, BH, TW). Ten Sandwich and >15 moteobservation sites in the Region less remaineduntil April (AD). NestingGreater Roseateterns were found roostingat a than 100 kilometers off southeast Florida-- Flamingos(ca 300 nests) have been report- FrenchWells sandbar, Crooked I., BA,May in earlyMay is an importantindicator of ed near SalinasPoint, AcklinsI., BA (fide 5 (AB,BH, TW). Whetherthey actually nest breedingstatus, as well as habitatuse by DS). Small flockswere seenat CrookedI., at Crooked I. remains to be determined, but lingeringneotropical migrants from sites BA,May 5 (AB, BH, TW) andAcklins I., theirpresence in the firstweek of May sug- close,and accessible,to continental North BA,May 8-9 (AB,TW). A GlossyIbis was geststhey are very close to nestingtime and America. seenat QuartersSettlement near Rocky Pt., location(RLN). Gull-billedand Leastterns SanSalvador, BA, May 10 (CW et al.).Fifty were seen at Fresh Pond, San Salvador,BA, Abbreviations: BA (Bahamas)BFS (Baha- WestIndian Whistling-Ducks appeared for whileRoyal Terns were noted at thes.w. cor- masField Station); BE (). Hallet andWhite Man 14 at Hog Cay,Long ner off SanSalvador, BA, from May 9-11. I., BA. White-cheekedPintails numbered 20 Bridledand Sooty terns and Brown Noddies TROPICBIRDS THROUGH LIMPKIN at RumCay Mar. 14(TW, BH, WD). A large werealready on territoryat GouldingCay, Several pairs of nesting White-tailed group(38) of White-cheekedswas noted at New Providence,BA, April 30 (AB, TW) Tropicbirdswere noted at Gun Bluff and Brine Pond, CrookedI., BA, May 3 (AB, wherethey would very likely be on eggsin LandrailPt., CrookedI., BA, May 4 (AB, BH, TW); adultswith six ducklingswere 7-10 days.At Gold Rock,Acklins I., BA, BH, TW) and another was seen at Gold notedat FrenchBay pond, and three others Bridled Terns (ca 50 pairs) and Brown Rock, Acklins I., BA, May 9 (AB, TW). were noted at Crescent Pond near the BFS, Noddies(75 pairs)were also ready to nest BrownPelicans were seen at Addins1. May San Salvador,BA (CW et al.) from May by May 9 (AB, AW). Sooty,Bridled, and 8 and North Bimini (two), BA, May 13-14 9-11. Also at Rum Cay was eight N. Noddy terns werevery recentarrivals at (TW), but their breedingstatus in the Shovelersand 12 Am. Wigeon.A Swallow- Gaulinand Cato cays, off SanSalvador, BA, Bahamasis still unresolved.Among the tailed Kite reportedApril 28 (TW) from May 4 (f•e CW), wherethey nest.

932 FIELDNOTES west indies

DOVES TO BROWN CREEPER speciesexchange is, sadly, on the sideof the BlowingPt. pond,Anguilla, Jan. 4 alsofur- At South Oceangolf course,New Provi- mainland.A Red-eyedVireo was seenat nishedrepresentative wintering numbers, dence,BA, Mar. 18,a KeyWest Quail-Dove SouthAndros, BA, May 1 (TW). Fourteen with smaller counts at various other island slippedout of the coppice-edge,giving a warblerspecies were recordedfrom New locations.Of note were two Whimbrels Jan. brief view (BH, TW) for an unexpected Providence,BA, Mar. 18-19 (AB, BH, TW 4, alsoat BlowingPt. pond,and a hostof treat of this elusivecolumbid. A singleton et al.). BlackpollWarblers were fairly com- peepsfrom Dec.30-Jan. 4--including reg- Mourning Dove and four White-winged mon at LyfordCay, New Providence,from ular winter visitors in good numbrs: Doves were noted (CW et al.) at San April 24-May 2 (TW), extendingthe early Sanderling(10), and Semipalmated(20), Salvador,BA, May 9-11. A Yellow-billed passagedates by 2 weeks(Brudenell-Bruce Western(10), and Least(15) sandpipers. Cuckooseen at CrookedI., BA, May 14 1975) and at BiminiMay 13-14 (AB, BH, Stilt Sandpipers(100), alsoat BlowingPt. (BH, TW) was rather late. Great Lizard- TW), althoughnot recordedfrom Crooked pond, were in good numbersas well. A Cuckooswere common at South Andros, and Acklins Islands. American Redstarts Corn. Snipe, rather unusual for a dry BA,May 1-2 (AB,BH, TW). If thisspecies were abundantMay 13-14 at Bimini, sug- regimeisland such as Anguilla, was flushed werea part-timenest parasite, what poten- gestinga latebuild-up of migrantsleaving from its migration roost in sand dunes. tial hostwould it chooseto raiseits young? the N. Bahamas for mainland destinations Resident Yellow "Golden" Warblers were FiveCorn. Nighthawks were heard and seen (see Table 1.). A female Rose-breasted found in preferredmangrove habitat at migratingover Bimini May 13 (TW). First Grosbeakwas noted Mar. 16 at LongI., BA Anguilla.Males were already in song(MI). arrivalAntillean Nighthawks were reported (TW). There'ssome mixed news on Shiny at LyfordCay, New Providence,BA, April Cowbird in the Bahamas. No cowbirds EXOTICS 29 andmany were reported thereafter (BH, were found on South Andros (AB, BH, Muscovyand Mallards at Hog Cay,Long I., TW) Courtingbirds were noted May 7 at TW), but a pair [sic]was seenat Lyford BA; RockDoves at New Providence,Long AckhnsI., BA (AB, AW).Chuck-will's-wid- Cay, New Providence,April 29-30, not I., andN. Eleuthera,BA, andAnguilla and owswere heard calling (BH) at LyfordCay, good news.Two BaltimoreOrioles were St. Martin; Eur. Collared-Doves at Bimini, New Providence, BA, Mar. 18. Two seenat Rum Cay,BA, Mar. 14 (BH). Black- South Andros, and Eleuthera, BA; Eur. Chimney Swifts were seen at Great cowledOrioles, a potentialhost for cow- Starlingat Bimini,BA; HouseSparrows at HarbourCay, South Andros, BA, April 25 birds, were considered common at South Bimini, New Providence, and Eleuthera, (AW), andtwo otherswere noted at Lyford Andros, BA. BA. Cay,New Providence,BA, April 30 (AB, AW) An EasternKingbird was carefully NEOTROPICAL MIGRANT LANDBIRD Contributors:Ailene Bainton, Jean Bennett, studied near Sabana Seca,, Mar. BUILD-UP AT BIMINI, BA, MAY 13-14, 1997 Sylvia Brown, Barbara Brown, Nancy 7 (RR) for one of few recentrecords of this SPECIES STATUS Cleare,Paul Dean, WayneDennis, Bruno speciesin the GreaterAntilles. Both N. CommonNighthawk Dittmar, Andrew Dobson, Liz Evans,Bruce Rough-winged(two) and Bank swallows Black-throated Blue Warbler c Hallet, Annabel Hammond, Marshall Iliff, (two) were observed at Landrail Pt., BlackpollWarbler C Lionel Levine, David Lincoln, Rick Oliver, , AmericanRedstart A Ross Rasmussen,Freddie Schaller, Sloan, CrookedI., BA, May 3, representingnew Ovenbh'd 1 records there (AB, BH, TW). A Brown Northern Waterthrush 4 TonVlugman, Carolyn Wardle, Tony, Trina, Creeperoverwintered at Bermudaand re- Common Yellowthroat C and Nelson White, Earl Wilson. malnedthere until Mar. 24 (fideAD). Bobolink 8 A = abundant; C = common Gainesville,FL 32605 (robert.norton@santa THRASHERS THROUGH ORIOLES fe.cc.fl.us). Two Pearly-eyedThrashers were heard at Rum Cay, BA, Mar. 14 (TW, BH, WD). ADDENDUM Although consideredfairly common at Includedin the report from the Bahamas Crooked I., BA, May 4-6, Pearly-eyed (TW et al.) wasan updateon the lastdate Thrasherswere hard to see(AB, BH, TW); (Feb. 16) the Fish Crow was seenat Grand and two--possibly four--Pearly-eyed Bahama(RO). Thrasherswere noted near the BFS May A late contribution from Iliff on the 9-11 (CW et al.). It wouldbe worth study- winter (Dec. 28, 1995-Jan.4, 1996) birds of ing the interactionsof thismimid andthe Anguillaand St. Martin is appendedhere, residentBahama and Northern mocking- illustratingtheir meageruse by neotropical birds where all 3 speciesoccur. Tantali- migrant landbirdsin the n.e. Caribbean, zinglydose to Floridawas a BahamaMock- whereasmigrant shorebirds find saltponds lngNrd seenat SouthBimini, BA, May 14 and lagoonsimportant stopover and win- (TW) A singleCedar Waxwing, a straggler tering sites.Iliff found no migrantland- from the largerwinter group reported ear- birds, save one Merlin Dec. 31 at Gulf her, was noted Mar. 10 at Mt. Vernon, Pond,Anguilla. Typical winter visitors were Nassau,New Providence,BA (PD, TW, AB, Black-bellied(35) and Semipalmated(45) BH) ploversDec. 30 at LongSalt Pond, Anguilla; And flowingfrom the mainlandto the however,an Am. Oystercatcherseen Dec. islandswere two Eur. Starlingsat North 30 is uncommon in the n.e. Caribbean. Blmlm, BA, May 13 (TW). The qualityof Greater(10) and Lesser(100) yellowlegsat

FALL1997 933 AB A. Sp o n S'øred B i r'd i n g T o U r s If youare interested inan ABA. sponsored tour Hsted here, please contact the tour company directly for information AND reservations.IDENTIFY YOURSELF AS AN ABAMEMBER. ABA sponsors these tours because many factors SUggesta•articuLarly fine birding experience and because the tour operators have agreed to return to ABA a percentageof the tour's costfor participatingABA members.

North America ZIMBABWE and BOTSWANA of Man, Inner Hebrides,St. Kilda, Fair Isle, Shetlands, and IncludesEastern Highlands, Victoria Falls, Chobe, Savut, BassRock. Expect a uniquecross-section ofsea and land RHODE ISLAND AND NEW YORK---•inter Moremi,and Okavango Delta. Leaders Derek birds.Leader Peter Harrison. Fifteen days from May 19, coastalbirding includes Sachuest Point, Shinnecock Solomonand Chuck Bell. September 26-October 17, 1998. Code GB/OB** Inlet,Jones Beach, and Jamaica Bay. January 21-25, 1998. Code A* Contact:Werner Zehnder, Zegrahm Expeditions, 1414 1998. Code R/A* Contact: Chuck Bell, Bellbird Safaris,P.O. Box 158, Dexter AvenueNorth, No. 327, Seattle,WA 98109; MASSACHUSETTS--capeAnn to from Livermore,CO 80536; (800) 726-0656. (800) 628-8747;e-mail [email protected] Boston.Includes Manomet Bird Observatory.Winter- ingwater and land birds. March 15-16,1998. Caribbean, Central FINLAND/NORWAY--Springmigration under Code themidnight sun. Leaders Jarl Peltomak and Chuck Bell. Alltrips are operated by Bob Schutsky. Call Bialm•(s and South America May22-June 6,1998. Code A* (717)548-3303 or write115 Peach Bottom Village, Contact:Chuck Bell, BellbirdSafaris, P.O. Box 158, PeachBottom, PA 17563-9716. PERU AND CHILE--west coast"Land of Livermore,CO 80536; (800) 726-0656. FLORIi)A•DRY TORTUgAS--Aboardthe Humboldtand Darwin:' Expect to see70 of theworld's 320species of seabirds.Includes landings on the Guano SPAlN-•centraland Northern Regions. Spanish YankeeFreedom. Prime breeding season for terns,frigate- Islandsand mainland birding. Led by PeterHarrison. 19 birds,and boobies; peak spring land-bird migration. Five steppes,Sierras, Pyrenes, and Ebra Delta. Search for three-dsytrips available: April 4-7, April 11-14, April daysfrom November 11,1998. Code OB** SpanishEagle, Lammergeier, and Wallcreeper, among Contact:Werner Zehnder, Zegrahm Expeditions, 1414 others.Leaders Peter Roberts and fan Hodsson. May 18-21,May 2-5, and May 9-12,1998. Can be combined Dexter AvenueNorth, No. 327, Seattle,WA 98109; with GrandBahama (see Caribbean). Code R* 17-June1,1998. Operated by British Tours. Code R/A* (800)628-8747; e-mail [email protected] Contact:Wes Biggs, Florida Nature Tours, P.O. Box Contact:Lauren Woodhouse, Siemer and Hand 618572,Orlando, FL 32861-8572;(407) 363-1360;fax: TRINIDADlIND TODAG0--Trinidad,Tobago, Travel,101 California Street,Suite 1750,San (407) 363-1887. NetherlandsAntilles, Orinoco River--voyage aboard the Francisco,CA 94111;(800) 451-4321; e-mail: [email protected] ALASKA and RUSSIANFAR EAST-- YorktownClipper. ABA escort Bill Murphy, author of a PetropavlovsktoNome via Aleutians and Pribilofs ab- Birder'sGuide to Trinidadand Tobago. Exclusive ABA BRITAIN•ABA Birdingworkshop conducted jointly boardthe World Discover}• Staff ornithologist Arnold post-cruiseextension in Trinidad, including Asa Wright NatureCenter led by Bill Murphy. December 22-January withBritish Trust for Ornithology. Surveys, banding re- Small.May 22-June 5,1998. Code OB '• searchprojects, migration counts with top British birders. Contact:Jim Toolen, Society Expeditions, 2001 2,1998.Extension January 2-5. CodeGB/OB**, exten- WesternAvenue, Suite 300, Seattle, WA 98121; sion R/A* LeaderPeter Roberts. August 16-26,1998. Operated by (800) 548-8669. Contact:Theresa Sherrill, Clipper Cruise Line (800) BritishBirding Tours. Code R* 325-0010ext 485. Extension Bill Murphy, Peregrine Contact:Carla White, Siemerand Hand Travel,101 ][I•--Nome andthe Seward Peninsula. Expect Enterprises,1011 Ann Street, Parkersburg, WV 26101; California Street,Suite 1750,San Francisco,CA 94111; Bar-tailedGodwit, Bristle-thighed Curlew, Gyrfalcon, and (304) 485-4710. (800)451-4321; e-mail: s•[email protected] Bluethroatamong 90-100 species. Led by Forrest Davis. COSTARICA/PAN}[MA--Voyage aboard the Threetrips: June 1-7, 8-14, and 15-21,1998. Code RA* Contact:Forrest Davis, High Lonesome Ecotours, 570 YorktownClipper, including Curu Wildlife Refuge, Asia S. Little BearTrail, SierraVista, AZ 85635; (520) 458- MarencoBiological Station, Darien Jungle, Panama Canal 9446;e-mail: hilonesome@ear thlink.net plustwo days of land birding for ABA members from San ISRAEls•springbirding ata migration crossroad. Jos&ABA escort Dan Canterbury.March 18-26,1998. IncludesKfar Blum, Hula Reserve,Mt. Hermort,and four ALASKA/SIBERIA,ALEUTIANS-- Code GB/OB** nightsin Eliat.Led by Peter Roberts and fan Hodgson- Archipdagoto Kamchatkaaboard the Worm Discoverer. Contact:.Denise McConnell, Clipper Cruise Line, March22-April 6, 1998.Operated by British Birding IncludesAttu. Expect Whiskered Auklet. Leader Peter 7711 Bonhomme Avenue,St. Louis, MO 63105-1096; Tours. Code R/A* Harrison.Seventeen days from June 20,1998. Code (800) 325-0010ext 485. Contact:.Werner Zehnder, Zegrahm Expeditions, Contact:Carla White, Siemerand Hand Travel,101 1414Dexter Avenue North, No. 327, SeattleWA GRAND RIHIAMA---Goal isto find all 18 resident California Street,Suite 1750,San Francisco, CA 94111; 98109;(800) 628-8747;e-mail [email protected] Caribbeanbirds and Florida accidentals. Led by Wes Biggs (800)451-4321; e-mail: [email protected] andEugene Stoccardo. Two trips April 14 or 8-11,1998. RERING SEA--Kamchatkato Nome, Alaska, via Cancombine with Dry Tortugas (see Florida). Code MONGOLIA---GobiDesert, Lammergeier Valley, and Kommandor,Pribilof/St. Lawrence, and Little Diomede Contact:Wes Biggs, Florida Nature Tours, P.O. Box LakeHovsgd. Search for Relict Gull. Leader Chris Leahy, Islandsaboard the WormDiscoverer. Expect Stdler's Sea 618572,Orlando, FL 32861-8572;(407) 363-1360;fax: authorof TheBirdwatchers Companion. May 22-June7, Eagle.Whiskered Auklet and Spoon-billed Sandpiper (407) 363-1887. 1998. Code A/I '• possible.Led by Peter Harrison. Seventeen days Contact:Denise Gogarty, Nomadic Expeditions, fromJuly 4,1998. Code GALfIPAGOS;ECUADOR'S ANDE.q--Travel Princeton Corporate Plaza 1,1 DeerparkDrive, Suite Contact:Werner Zehnder, Zegrahm Expeditions, 1414 to theGalapagos on anyof 60trip dates and see most en- M, MonmouthJunction, N108852; (800) 998-6634;e- Dexte• AvenueNorth, No. 327, Seattle,WA 98109; demicsas well as huge seabird breeding colonies. Options mail: [email protected] (800) 628-8747;e-mail [email protected] includeAmazon Basin, Machu Picchu, and Ecuador's Andes.Code R (ExtensionCode A)* TIJRKEY--Latespring birding among archaeological Contact:Linda Rehor, Inca Floats,1311-ABA 63rd Street,Emeryville, CA 94608;(510)420-1550. artifactsGoksu Delta, Euphrates River, Central Plateau, andCappadocia. Led by lanHodgson, June 2-17, 1998. SOUTHAFRICAnTransvaal and Natal plus a Operatedby British Birding Tours. Code R/A • WesternC•pe extension. Leaders Ken Newman, author Hawaii, South Pacific, Contact:Lauren Woodhouse, Siemer and Hand of NewmangBirds of Southern Africa, Derek Solomon, and Australasia Travel, 101 California Street, Suite 1750, San PhilHockey (extension), and Chuck Bell. February Francisco,CA 94111; (800) 451-4321; e-mall: [email protected] 27-March 15, 1998. CodeA* NEW ZEALAND Contact:Chuck Bell, Bellbird Safaris, P.O. Box 158, North,South, and Stewart Island. Expect over 50 en- Livermore,CO 80536;(800) 726-0656. SIBERIA--SeeBering Sea and Alaska/Siberia, demics.Leaders Tony Wilson and Chuck Bell. Aleutians.under North America. MOROCCO--BirdingNorth Africanthe fringes ofthe November15- December1, 1998.Code A* *Tour Codes and **Cruise Codes WesternPalearctic. Coastal wetlands, Atlas Mountains, Contact:Chuck Bell, BellbirdSafaris, P.O. Box 158, andSahara Desert. Target species include the endangered Livermore,CO 80536; (800) 726-0656. are abbreviationsfor the following: BaldIbis or Waldrapp and Double-spurred Francolin. R = Relaxed Ledby Peter Robers and fan Hodgson. April 7-23, 1998. Europe A = Advanced Operatedby British Tours. Code I = Intensive Contact:Carla White, Siemerand Hand Travel,101 California Street,Suite 1750, San Francisco,CA 94111; ENGLANDAND SC0TLRND--EXPediti.... y- GB = GeneralBirding (800)451-4321; e-mail: [email protected] ageaboard the Caledonian Star, including Seilly Isles, Isle OB= OptimalBirding do bird?.! videos, software, and accessories. .-

ABA/LaneEssential birdfindingBirdfinding guidesGuides: for beginning ,•.•'• •. as well as advanced birders. Accurate, detailed instruction for finding birds in North America. New Hampshire, Rio Grande Valley, Texas Coast, Southeastern Arizona, Arkansas, Wyoming, Eastern Massachusetts, Virginia, SouthernCalifornia, Florida, •

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RO, Box6599, Colorado Springs,CO 80934 Phone: 800 634-7736 or 719 578-0607 Fax: 800 590-2473 or 719 578-9705 emaih [email protected] web site:www. americanbirding.org

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Join the last great birding adventure in North America along arctic Alaska'sDalton Highway. PrudhoeBay to Fairbanks--500wilderness miles overland--June 15 - 20, 1998 "Theride up the DaltonHighway is oneof the mostspectacular trips I've ever made. Froma boat trip on the YukonRiver to the ArcticDivide of the BrooksRange, fi•ding muskoxen at Frank/inBluffs and finally,seeing a SpectacledEider at PrudhoeBay, Dan Wetzel's tdp fostersa trueappreciation of what is rare and preciousin the Arctic. rrn going to go again. • -Jean Brandt,Editor Western Tanager and formerPresident, LA Audubon A few seats still available for: NatureAlaska Tours 1998 Birds of Alaska Tour P.O. Box 10224 ABA Norne/Kenai/Denali/PrudhoeBay Fairban•, AK 99710 May 29- June13 Phone/fax:(907)488-3746 Contact Dan L. Wetzel ernail:[email protected] Come North with NatureAlaska Tours Alaska's oldest resident natural history and birding tour company.

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FALL1997 935 pictorial highlights

A recent(and ongoing)discovery is the presenceof Band-rnmpedStorm- Petrels,in somenumbers, in the Gulfof Mexico.This portrait, taken Hay 24, 1997, off the Alabama coast,shows the classicpattern of the white fromthe rumpwrapping aroundto belowthe planeof the tail. The bird is partwaythrough its wing molt; it appearsthat the outerthree Undoubtedlya first, this photoshows two Fork- primariesare old, andthe rest have tailed Flycatcherstogether in the UnitedStates-- beenreplaced, with one still growing at the HornsbyBend ponds, Austin, Texas, Hay 6, in. Some of the secondaries look 1997. Thisspecies turns up annuallyin verysmall fresh, but the impressionhere is that numbers,but the majorityof Fork-tailedsoccur in manyof the covertsare still old and fall alongthe AtlanticCoast, and probably come worn. As with some other fromthe (highlymigratory) southern South pelagics,questions remain about Americanpopulation. Spring birds in Texasseem the timingof molt in this species. likelyto havecome from Hexico. Photograph/SteveHcConnell Photograph/MarkW. Lockwood

Alaskavisitors birding Attu Island in springroutinely expect to find the birdsthat wouldbe anything but routine elsewhere--like this Red-necked Stint photographedthere Hay 28, 1997. Thismouth-watering

portrait showsthe separa- f tion between the clear rufous on the neckand the spotted areajust belowit, andthe contrast between dull coverts on the wingand brightly edged scapulars;these are bothdistinc- tions from the even rarer Little Stint. Photograph/SteveHeinl Numbersof strayAsian songbirds in the westernAleutians were belowaverage this spring,but a handfulof Hawfinches appearedat Attu and Buldirislands in late Hay andearly June. This one was at Attu June1, 1997. Photograph/SteveHeinl

A White-wingedDove (seen here with a HourningDove) came to a feeder Hale PaintedBunting at Tiffin, Ohio, in Ottumwa,Iowa, starting April 8, 1997, furnishinga first staterecord. April 17, 1997. Perhapssurprisingly, Evidentlypart of a micro-invasion,it waspromptly followed by a secondIowa this bird furnished a first state record. bird andby onein Hissouri.Photograph/Nelson R. Hoskins Photograph/LarryRosche

936 FIELD NOTES Eventhough Kirtland's Warbler PomafineJaeger (in first-winterplumage) at To date, despiteseveral past reports, opulationsare increasing,the species Cleveland,Ohio, April 1997. Remarkably, NewJersey has had no acceptedrecords s still veryrare, and finding a migrantbird five individualswere presenthere in late of Thayer'sGull. That situationmay change [awayfrom the breedingrange) April,following a notable"invasion" after consideration of the details s still a red-letter event. This male of the specieson the GreatLakes last fall on this first-yearbird at Thompson'sBeach, Nasat MageeMarsh, Crane Creek State and sporadicsightings during the winter. NewJersey, May 27, lg97. )ark, Ohio,May 16, 1997. It is possiblethat theseApril birds had over- Photograph/ShawneenFinnegan )hotograph/MonteM. Taylor wintered on Lake Erie. Photograph/VicFazio

Observers continue to work out the exact distribution of Clark's Grebe relative to the rangeof its near-lookalike,Western Grebe,but the birdsthemselves seem con- fusedat times.This Clark's stayed through the endof Maylg97 at CheyenneBottoms, ed Crossbills,famous for their enatic appearances,having been present at oddtimes Kansas,where it wasthought to be matedto d placeson the southernplains almost continuously since summer 1996, a WesternGrebe (one of a hand(ulof •ndsome continued through the endof this season.This one was at a feeder Westernsbreeding in the area). n CherokeeCounty, Oklahoma, May 1997. Photograph/LloydMoore hotogroph/AnnWilber

At Bolsa Chica in southernCalifornia, a Sandwich Tern was associatingwith the nestingElegant Terns beginningMay 9, 1997. An accidental visitor on the west coast,it was believed to be the same individual that had been presentat this location duringthe two previous summers.Photograph/ Anotherdistinguished visitor at the Elegant LarrySansone Terncolony at BolsaChica, California, this SootyTern was present beginning March lg97. It was believed to be the same indi- vidualcoming back for its fourthseason. Photograph/LarrySansone

iLL 1997 937 Cave Swallows have nested for severalyears in extreme eastern Texas,just a few miles from the Louisiana border;this spring, up to half a dozen were found on the Louisiana side of the SabineRiver, associatingwith Cliff and Barn swallows at a nestingcolony. Photograph/StevenW. Cardiff

BlackVultures have been pushing the northernboundaries of their range in recentdecades. The only one recorded in Ontariothis springwas at PrinceEdward Pointon May:•1, 1997, providinga first record for well.watched Prince Edward County.Photograph/Don Craighead

Thisjaeger, photographed 47 miles south-southwest of SouthwestPass, Louisiana, on May24, lg97, wasthe subject of muchdebate. Expertopinion wasleaning toward Long-tailed Jaeger,which would make it a third Louisiana record. Photograph/IohnP. Sevenair

Althoughit wasnot an exceptionalseason for easternvagrants in mostparts In extremenorthwestern California, the first of the West,inland areas of southern singingmale Le Conte's Sparrow ever found Californiahad a muchmore productive in the stateheld forth for five daysin late May springthan usual. Amongthe moreinter- 1997 at LakeEarl. The closestknown breeding estingfinds there was this White-eyed popolationsare in northwesternMontana Vireonear Cantil, Kern County, May 26, and eastern British Columbia. 1997. Photograph/MattT. Heindel Photograph/MichaelM. Rogers

Avery rare visitor anywhere east of the Great Plains, •'•'• ' - thisSage Thrasher caused astir in southern Ontario •-•- • •-•-• •"•-• • • atWallaceburg, where it remained from March 1G to April 9, Providingconfirmation thatthe Northern Harrier breeds 1997.The early date of its discovery suggested thatit might inMississippi, thisnest with five downy young was found May havewintered locally, althoogh the species isa veryearly 28,1997, in Quitman County inthe northwestern part springmigrant in partsof its normalrange. ofthe state. It mayhave represented the first proven nesting Photograph/timFlynn in theCentral Southern region. Photograph/Fred Broerman

938 FIELD NOTES ,u I I J I THE

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FALL 1997 939 Dry Tortugas

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940 FIELD NOTES how to submit records taking part in the field notes reporting network

suchsources can makeyour birding not veryissue ofField Notes presents an SUBMITTING PHOTOGRAPHS overviewof whatthe birds were doing onlymore educational, but more enjoyable. TO FIELD NOTES all over North America for an entire season. Anothergood way to learnabout local bird distribution is to establish contact with These summaries are based on observa- The photographsthat appearin the re- tionsby thousandsof birders.If youenjoy your nearestAudubon chapter or other gionalreports in FieldNotes add much bird clubs. Field Notes,we urge you to considerbe- to the interest and information value of cominga contributor of information as Perhapsyou arereporting to FieldNotes thisjournal. Field Notes does not pay for well as a reader. for the firsttime because you have found a the useof photographsin thisarea, but The columnsare written by Regional bird that is definitely unusualwhere or we do providethe opportunityto share Editors,all of whom are expertson the whenyou saw it. Whenreporting rarities, it yourphotos with thousandsof otherac- birdlife in their areas. All of these hard- is alwaysimportant to indude the detailsof tive birders. the record. Points to cover include: workingindividuals are volunteers.While In each issue, about 20-25 of the Date, time, and exact location. theyare generallyglad to receivemore re- photossubmitted with the regionalre- Viewingconditions (lighting, weather, ports (to make their accountsmore thor- portsare selected to be printedin color, distanceto bird). ough),we needto practicesome courtesies in a featurecalled "Pictorial Highlights:' to avoidoverwhelming them. A detaileddescription of thebird: ap- pearance,voice, behavior. Include only Generallythese are very good pho- Asa firststep, you should know the sig- tographsshowing birds of exceptional nificanceof the informationthat you are thosethings you actually observed. A descriptionwritten on thespot, during interest---eithervery rare vagrants,or reporting.Never send in just a list of the birds takingpart in unusualinvasions birds you saw, expectingthe Regional theobservation, is alwaysmore useful than one written later. or migrations. Editorsto sift throughit. If you arenew to Names of other observers who identi- The best way to submitphotos to thispublication, it wouldbe a goodidea to fied the same bird. FieldNotes is to sendthem to theappro- read a few issues'worth of reportsfrom priateRegional Editor. To makethings yourregion to geta betteridea of the kinds Photographs,even of marginalquality, easierfor theseindividuals (and for us), of bird records that are included. arevery worthwhile for establishing pleaselabel all photosdearly with the Basically,we covernews. If you seethe records.And if videoor audiotapes species,place, date, and your name.In expectedspecies in normalnumbers and at havebeen made, it's worth mentioning particular,print your namelegibly, as normalplaces and dates,this is reassuring thatthey exist, although it's not neces- you would want it to appear in the andimportant, and well worth recording in saryto sendthem along in mostcases. photo credit.We alsoneed to know the yourown fieldnotes. But we can'tpublish all of that in FieldNotes. (Can you imagine In askingfor details,Regional Editors addressto whichphotographs should be theheft of a NewYork Times that published are not castingdoubt on anyone'sabilities. returned.All photoswill be returned(to the dailyactivities of everyresident of the The topbird expertsin North Americarou- theRegional Editors or to thephotogra- city?)We reportthe unusual.However, this tinelywrite up detailsto supporttheir un- phers),but it may take severalmonths doesn'tmean you shouldignore the "com- usualsightings, and all birderswould do fromthe time they were submitted. mon"birds. The regionalreports are far well to follow their example.Reports of Eitherslides or printscan be repro- more than summaries of rarities. If there is truly rare findsare usuallykept on perma- ducedin FieldNotes, although given a a major invasionof AmericanRobins, for nentfile. Maybe everyone knows today that choicewe generally prefer slides. Photo- example,or if the BarnSwallows come back you'rea sharpbirder, but whatabout peo- graphsof either kind shouldbe pack- exceptionallyearly, such things are part of ple fifty yearsfrom now who are research- agedso that they will not be bent or the storyof whathappened during a sea- ing past records?They probably won't crushed in the mail. Prints should be la- son. knowyour reputation,and they'llwant to beled on the back, but not with ball- see details. To find out the "normal" bird situation pointpen, which may damage the emul- In someregions, especially large ones in your locale,you need to consultother sionof the photograph.If felt-tippens with lots of birders,reports are funneled types of publications.Most states and areused for labelling,the printsshould throughsubregional editors, and it is best provinces,and many smaller areas,have beseparated with sheetsof paperso that to sendyour reportsto theseindividuals. books or annotated checklists on bird sta- the ink from the back of one will not Someregions list the mailingaddresses for tus and distribution. Such references are es- rub off onto the surface of another thesesubregional compilers. Others do not, sentialto helpyou understandthe signifi- photo. canceof yourown observations. Checking (continuedon page942)

FALL 1997 941 but youmay be ableto find theiraddresses in theABA Membership Directory. If you're not sure of the address,it's better to send in notesto the main RegionalEditor than to not send them at all. Don't be discouragedif your sightings are not specificallyquoted in a particular report.Even minor observationshelp the RegionalEditors to form a morecomplete pictureof the season.By becomingpart of our reportingnetwork, you put your bird- ingobservations to gooduse, and you con- tributeto the permanentrecord of North America's birdlife. For each season,your field reports (alongwith supportingdetails and photo- graphs)should reach the RegionalEditors as soonas possibleafter the seasonends. The RegionalEditors are working on strict deadlines, and it makes their task much easierif theyhave time to considerand an- [•)HADEGROWN OFFEE alyze your reports before writing their columns.

Winter season (Decemberthrough February), Notesshould reach Regional Editors assoon as possible after March 1. Springseason (Marchthrough May), Notesshould reach Regional Editors assoon as possible after June 1. Summer season (Juneand July), Notesshould reach Regional Editors assoon as possible after August 1. Varieties Autumn season

Notesshould reach Regional Editors assoon as possible after December 1. HANKSGIVING

SONG BIRD COFFEE

SAVES CRITICAL BIRD HABITAT

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VICTOR EMANUEL NATURE TOURS endorsed Custom Series includes Forover 100 years, the ••,• , TheNationaltheAudubon 8x36, I0x40 Society and • • convenient 7x26 birdingcommunity has ".• , Customcompact. turnedto Bausch& Lomb' binoculars.Our optical instrumentscombine the verylatest technology with theexpertise ofthe world's leadingornithologists. Simplyput, our Elit• binocularsare the world's

finesLBy incorporating Our Custom' Series thefinest optical glass and carriesthe endorsement PC-3 TMPhase Correction of theNational Audubon coating,the Elite Society.Designed specifically provides.an forbirding, Custom incredible •- binocularsfeature BAK-4 15%increase ': portoprisms and multi- in resolutionand clarity over coatedlenses forhigh i•a•e conventionalbinoculars. detailresolution and superiorlight transmission.

The PremierHDR 15~45x60mmspotting scopeis available with • 45-degree or Straight Thru eyepiece.

The Elite binocular is available in waterprooflfogproof models, in either 8x42 or I0x42 Deta;•from •Fipmg PIover" painted by naturalistCindy House, optical configurations. who usesBaus;h & Lombopfi• for her field observations. PremierHDR TM .- _ Theyare o-ring sealed spottingscope andnitro•er/purged for BAUSCH incorporatesmulti- waterproof/f•;gproof coatedoptics and other protection.Elites feature & LOMB superiordesign features extend•eye relief and forunequaled resolution, extr•eme close near focus. Binoculars. brightnessand clarit>•

www.bushnell.comlbirdinglhome•html Forthe Bausch &Lomb binocular dealer nearest you or for our latest optics brochure, please call us at (800) 423-3537. Bausch& Lombs a regstered trademark of andused under licens• from Bausch & LombIncorporated.