ALABAMA & MISSISSIPPI 
Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks were once again in evidence across the Gulf Coast 
states. Shown here are five from Alabama's tenth record of the species, a small 
flock present 21 May into summer 2009 on the Mobile causeway, Mobile County. 
Photograph by Bill Summerour. 
found in small numbers seasonally in our Re- 
gion; however, the lone bird in Warren, MS 25- 
27 Apr (JC, AH) was notably late. The Wood 
Duck nest box program at Wheeler has evi- 
dently paid excellent dividends in recent 
years, as evidenced by the new spring T.V 
maximum of 176 birds totaled during the 
refuge spring count 2 May (m.ob.). 
Nine reports of scoters were collected, all 
but one from coastal counties. Point aux 
Chenes Bay, Grand Bay, Jackson, MS continued 
to host signihcant rafts of these sea ducks 
through the period, with up to 200 Surf and 
12 Black Scoters cavorting with a lone White- 
winged (NB, JNW, DMc). An imm. male Surf 
Scoter at Ft. Morgan 30 May (RDL) and a male 
Black Scoter last seen on Dauphin 26 May 
(EL) were very late. Also late to depart was the 
female Common Goldeneye 17 May at Town 
Creek marsh, Colbert, AL (SWM). The discov- 
ery of a female Common Merganser in the 
Tennessee R. just e. of Waterloo, Lauderdale, 
AL 15 Mar was a pleasant surprise; the 
species, once regular, had not been reported 
from this location in several years (ph. SWM). 
The bird was relocated 2 Apr QRW). The dis- 
turbing downward trend in Northern Bob- 
white observations continues in Alabama. Si- 
multaneous area counts for Birmingham and 
Wheeler held 2 May only managed to detect 
one and 5 birds, respectively (m.ob.). These 
ridiculously low results could not have been 
imagined even a few years ago. Rarely found 
in spring, a late Red-throated Loon was seen 
daily at Dauphin’s w. end 22-29 Apr (LRD, 
RAD, ph. SWM). Even more surprising were 
the 2 Pacihc Loons, one in alternate plumage, 
discovered 4 May in the Tennessee R. near 
Waterloo, Lauderdale (DJS, JTG, SWM). These 
birds were with 20 Common Loons, a large 
number so late, and furnished the latest inland 
record ever for Alabama. 
Two large shearwaters, 
probably Cory’s, were a rare 
and noteworthy End from 
shore off the Ft. Morgan pen. 
13 Apr (LRD, RAD, CHB). In- 
land Brown Pelicans made a 
strong showing this season 
with four reports. The 5th and 
6th T.V. records were estab- 
lished by an imm. at Wheeler 
Dam, Lauderdale/Lawrence 17 
May (SWM) and an ad. in the 
Tennessee R. near Decatur, 
Limestone/Morgan 30 May 
(tHS). Mississippi also had 
two records, with the continu- 
ing flock of 4 at Ross Barnett 1 
Mar (present since fall 2005; 
G&SK) and another bird near 
Starkville, Oktibbeha 27-28 May (DD, ph. 
MC). Up to 3 Anhingas, including a pair, re- 
turned 2-31 May to the Saginaw swamp, Shel- 
by, AL, where breeding has been suspected 
for several seasons (HHW, JMl, m.ob.); the 
species is only rarely found in the M.R., and if 
breeding is conhrmed here, this would be the 
only currently known n. Alabama breeding 
site. Rarely detected in numbers, 8 American 
Bitterns were found at Ross Barnett 11 Apr 
(G&SK), a very impressive count. A Least Bit- 
tern heard at the Intergraph Wetlands in 
Madison, AL 1 Apr (DRC) established a new 
early T.V date; a visit 17 May 
found 2 birds. Only occasion- 
ally detected inland in Ala- 
bama, a Tricolored Heron was 
at Swan Creek W.M.A., Lime- 
stone 2-3 May (ph. SWM, 
SRM). Tricolored Herons also 
returned to nest again at Ya- 
zoo, where breeding has been 
recorded for about the last 
nine years; during this season, 
nesting was detected in four 
different rookeries (DL, SA, 
ph. MK). Five Glossy Ibis re- 
ports totaling around 20 indi- 
viduals were received from our 
Region. Most were along the 
coast, but noteworthy observa- 
tions were made of a single at 
Wheeler 28-29 Apr (CDC, ph. 
SWM) for only the 7th T.V. record and 2 birds 
at Noxubee with a single White-faced Ibis 20- 
23 Apr (DR, TLS, MS, m.ob.), only the 3rd 
area spring record. White-faced Ibis also 
made headlines later in the season at Yazoo, 
where the first confirmed nesting for Missis- 
sippi was documented 20 May (ph. DL). Lat- 
er return visits found at least 10 ads. and 
more nests 25 May; nestlings were document- 
ed during the summer season (tPJB, m.ob.). 
An ad. Roseate Spoonbill was a rare spring 
find at Yazoo 25 May (tPJB, m.ob.). Even 
though spring Wood Storks are occasionally 
found in Alabama, the 20 at Hacoma, Geneva 
16 Mar were exceptionally early (OJ). 
RAPTORS THROUGH SHOREBiRDS 
Osprey nesting at Wheeler and in the sur- 
rounding Tennessee R. area continues on a 
welcome upward trend. A new early T.V. 
record was set by a single bird at Wheeler 9 
Mar (MM). The impressive afternoon flight of 
27 Swallow-tailed Kites, 104 Broad-winged 
Hawks, and a few accipiters at Henleyfield, 
Pearl River, MS 31 Mar must have been a sight 
to behold (NB). Harlan’s Hawk is rarely 
recorded in Alabama, making the observation 
of one at Leighton, Colbert 17 Mar notewor- 
thy (DJS). King Rails were detected, and like- 
ly nested again, at Oakland marsh, Laud- 
erdale, AL 15 Mar-4 May (v.r. SWM). More 
impressive was the population of up to 10 
pairs present throughout the spring season in 
the KilnAVaveland area, Hancock, MS (NB). 
Five ad. Purple Gallinules were discovered at 
Ross Barnett 11 Apr (G&SK), a strong inland 
count. Also inland, a Common Moorhen was 
a surprise find during the Wheeler spring 
count 2 May (CDC, MSG, RJM). 
Late in the season, a pulse of Black-necked 
Stilts moved through n. Alabama, including 
up to 6 at Swan Creek W.M.A., Limestone 2-3 
May QMH, MM) and 6 more in Colbert 6 
May+, where two nests with eggs were dis- 
covered 30-31 May, furnishing only the 2nd 
state inland breeding record (DRC, RC, ph. 
SWM, JMH). A flock of 28 Solitary Sand- 
pipers in a roadside pool on the Ft. Morgan 
pen. 15 Apr (GDJ) was a surprising number 
for the species, even during migration. The 
White-faced Ibis were found nesting at Yazoo National Wildlife Refuge, Washington 
County (here 20 May 2009) for the first documentation of breeding in Mississippi. 
More adults, nests, and fledglings were found through the end of spring and into 
the summer. Photograph by David Linden, United States Fish and Wildlife Service. 
VOLUME 63 (2009) • NUMBER 3 
445 
