SOUTHERN ATLANTIC 
One of six Marbled Godwits outfitted with satellite transmitters in Geor- 
gia the previous winter, this bird migrated to breeding grounds in the 
Dakotas in spring 2009. Photograph by Bridget Olson. 
Representing only the fourth state record was this Black-headed Gull 
mingling with migrating shorebirds in St. Catherine's Island Sound, 
Georgia on 9 May 2009. Photograph by Brad Winn. 
This group of seven Red-necked Phalaropes loafed in the surf on Core 
Banks in Carteret County, North Carolina on 15 May 2009. Photograph by 
Pat Bland. 
The Gulf Stream off Hatteras, North Carolina produced sight- 
ings of at least four Bermuda Petrels in spring 2009, includ- 
ing this one 23 May. Photograph by Edward S. Brinkley. 
This Wilson's Storm-Petrel was photographed from the pier 
at Oak Island, North Carolina 26 May 2009, during easterly 
winds that also moved many Leach's Storm-Petrels into in- 
shore waters. Photograph by Harry D. Sell. 
billed Grebes again nested in Clayton, GA, as 
ads. were seen with young 28 Apr (CL); a 
breeding-plumaged Horned Grebe on Tybee I., 
GA 15 May was quite late (GB); a Red-necked 
Grebe again appeared on L. Crabtree, NC 29- 
30 Mar (GGB, Al); and Eared Grebes were re- 
ported sporadically in all three states. 
Observation of seabird migration this spring 
was phenomenal. Some reports during pelagic 
birdiug trips and even from shore were un- 
precedented (see S.A.), and many were related 
to predominant strong easterly winds for many 
consecutive days, generated in part by a non- 
tropical cyclone that lashed the w, Atlantic 18- 
20 May. Rarer gadfly petrels were well repre- 
sented this spring on 19 daily pelagic trips out 
of Hatteras, NC 20 May-7 Jun (BPI): 5 
Trinidade (Herald) Petrels, 8 Pea’s Petrels, and 
4 Bermuda Petrels, 3 of which were pho- 
tographed 29 May, certainly the highest count 
on record for North America. Notable Black- 
capped Petrel sightings included 54 in South 
Carolina and Georgia waters 30 May 
(ND et al.) and a high count of 60 off 
Hatteras 6 Jun (BPI); the season total 
off Hatteras was 359 (BPI). As expect- 
ed, the larger shearwaters did not ar- 
rive in numbers until late in the sea- 
son: the high count of 130 Cory’s 
Shearwaters came on 6 Jun, while 13 
was the highest tally of Greater Shear- 
waters on 7 Jun (BPI); not often seen 
from land, one of the latter species 
was viewed from Long Beach, NC 23 
May (RD). An impressive season total 
of 491 Sooty Shearwaters was tallied 
off Hatteras, 361 (74%) of which were 
seen between 20-23 May in the wake 
of the gale (BPI); the storm generated 
several rare onshore sightings as well; 
30 off Long Beach, NC 23 May (RD); 
one dead at Cumberland L, GA 24 
May (tPL); 3 at Ft. Macon and Pine 
Knoll Shores, NC 24-25 May 0F)i 
and 2 at Ocean L, NC 25 May (TP), 
one of which flew under a fishing pier. 
The smaller shearwaters were also ob- 
served in good numbers this season: 8 
Manx Shearwaters was the highest 
count off Hatteras 21 May, where the 
season total was an above-average 29 
(BPI); the highest count of Audubon’s 
Shearwaters was predictably later in 
the season, as 80 were off Hatteras 6 
Jun, with a season total of 395 (BPI). 
There were many unusual onshore 
sightings of storm-petrels, as well as a 
few rarities recorded offshore. No- 
table Wilson’s Storm-Petrel sightings 
included: on 23 May, 6 at Long Beach, 
NC (RD) and 20 at Ft. Macon, NC 
(|F); on 25 May, 8 at Ocean L, NC 
(TP), 12-1 at Oak I., NC (SS), and 2 off 
Cumberland I., GA (JFl, EH); on 26 
May, 2 at Myrtle Beach S.P. (P&ST), 
where dead birds were also found, one 
at H.B.S.P (RL), and 2 still at Oak I., 
NC (ph. HS). The highest one-day count of 
465 Wilson’s was recorded off Hatteras 20 May 
(BPI). A very rare European Storm-Petrel was 
spotted off Hatteras 29 May (BPI, ph. CS). 
Leach’s Storm-Petrel sightings of note includ- 
ed: one in the Pamlico Sound w. of Ocracoke I. 
18 May (GA, JFa et al); on 24 May, a mori- 
bund bird at Fort Macon, NC (RN) and 2 fly- 
ing plus one dead at Pine Knoll Shores, NC 
QF); on 25 May, 4 at Ocean 1., NC (TP), 12-i at 
Oak I., NC (SS), and ll-i storm-petrel species 
plus one dead Leach’s at Waites I., SC (CH, 
*CCU); 2 at H.B.S.P. 26 May (RL); and 4 dead 
birds salvaged on Hutaff L, NC 29 May (GG, 
*NCMNS). The high counts of 36 Leach’s were 
off Hatteras 23 & 24 May (BPI). Another Swin- 
hoe’s Storm-Petrel off Hatteras 6 Jun (BPI, ph. 
SH) suggests that perhaps the species is not as 
“accidental” in the w. Atlantic as previously be- 
lieved. As is considered typical, no Band- 
rumped Storm-Petrels were observed from 
shore, and the high count offshore was 16 off 
Hatteras 27 May (BPI). Single White-tailed 
Tropicbirds were observed in Georgia waters 
during a 30 May pelagic trip (ND et al.) and off 
Hatteras 3 Jun (BPI). The most interesting 
Red-billed Tropicbird sighting was a full-tailed 
ad. onshore at Cape Point, NC 10 Mar and 21 
Apr (PM et al, ph. BPI); 5 were seen off Hat- 
teras during the period (BPI); and a juv. was in 
Georgia and South Carolina offshore waters 30 
May (ND et al., ph. CSn). 
NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS 
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