ALABAMA & MISSISSIPPI 
This black-backed gull was photographed 14 March 2009 by a vacationing birder 
as his cruise ship was departing the Mobile harbor for Mexico. It appears to be an 
adult Kelp Gull, a species never before documented in Alabama. Photograph by 
Wayne Patterson. 
total of 490 Lesser Yellowlegs 24 Apr com- 
piled in Colbcrt/Lauderdale during a shorebird 
survey furnished a new inland Alabama max- 
imum (DJS). Four Upland Sandpiper reports 
were received, including an excellent total of 
21 at two locations in Hancock/Pearl River, 
MS 13 Apr (NB). Continuing a recent Ala- 
bama spring tradition, migrant Whimbrels re- 
turned in large numbers again to stage in the 
vicinity of Grand Bay, Mobile. This year’s high- 
est count was 372, most of these in a private 
pasture n. of town 25 Apr (MSchaf, AGM, ph. 
ECS, m.ob.). Large flocks of larger shorebird 
species have been scarce in recent years in our 
Region, making the 49 Marbled Godwits at 
Biloxi Beach, Harrison, MS 2 Apr especially 
noteworthy QNW). An all-time high T.V total 
for Western Sandpipers was attained with a 
count of 38 in Colbert/Lauderdale 26 May 
(DJS). Also that day, 91 White-rumped Sand- 
pipers were counted along the same shorebird 
survey route (DJS), but this total was sur- 
passed 30 May by the 159 at one Colbert 
site — a new, high inland Alabama count 
(SWM). Seven Baird’s Sandpiper reports from 
our Region seemed above normal for spring, 
when the species is rarely found. Easily the 
high point was the flock of 132 counted in 
Lauderdale 16 May (DJS) for a new Alabama 
maximum. The previous record count was 
12! Large numbers of Dunlin were noted stag- 
ing in the Grand Bay area 3 Mar-15 Apr; 2320 
on 11 Mar was the highest count QNW). On 
the Mississippi coast 30 Apr, about 100 Stilt 
Sandpipers were tallied at Seaman (NB, 
m.ob.), while 1500 unidentified dowitchers 
were noted at Grand Bay 3 Apr QNW). Still 
another high shorebird total was obtained 
from the survey on 24 Mar when 208 Wilson’s 
Snipe were found in Colbert for a new maxi- 
mum T.V. count (DJS). 
GULLS THROUGH 
WOODPECKERS 
Fewer than two-dozen state 
Black-legged Kittiwakes have 
been recorded in Alabama, 
making the two records of first- 
cycle birds this season note- 
worthy. The first M.R. record 
came from Logan Martin Dam, 
St. Clair/Talladega 28-30 Mar 
(ph. GDJ, DGJ), while one on 
Dauphin 20 May furnished the 
latest record in Alabama by a 
month (ph. EL). Early spring 
gatherings of Bonaparte’s Gulls 
are not unexpected in our Re- 
gion; however, the 4500-1- esti- 
mated at Guntersville Dam, 
Marshall 5 Apr (LB, RAR) set a 
new inland Alabama record for 
spring. Both Laughing and Eranklin’s Gulls are 
rare but regular spring transients through the 
inland portions of our Region. This season 
brought five Laughing reports (28 Mar-29 
May; all of 1-2 birds) and two Franklin’s sight- 
ings (24 Mar-2 Apr; both single birds), all 
from Alabama locations. Lesser Black-backed 
Gulls were detected early in the season at three 
inland locations: one ad. was near Waterloo, 
Lauderdale, AL 15 Mar (SWM); 2 ads. were a 
surprise at Guntersville, Marshall, AL 20 Mar, 
where one had wintered again (SWM); and a 
fourth-cycle bird continued through 1 Mar at 
Ross Barnett, where it had been seen in winter 
(G&SK). Still rare, the species is now expected 
at most regular large gull gathering sites. 
Coastal Glaucous Gulls were represented by a 
rather late bird on Dauphin and at Ft. Morgan 
11-17 May (ph. DWD, BMc) and by a Missis- 
sippi bird lingering from winter at Grand Bay 3 
Mar-23 Apr (ph. JNW, NB, DMc). A first-cycle 
Great Black-backed Gull on Dauphin 31 Mar 
(JNW) was the only report this season. A va- 
cationing birder was readying to depart Mobile 
harbor. Mobile, AL 14 Mar (ph. WP) on a 
cruise to Mexico when he noticed a large, 
dark-backed gull perched in a restricted access 
area. Fortunately, he was able to photograph 
the bird, apparently a Kelp Gull. Pending ac- 
ceptance, this would constitute the first Ala- 
bama record of the species. Gull-billed Terns 
made a good showing this spring along the 
coasts of both states. In Mississippi, up to 43 
were seen from early Mar into May at the Wa- 
terfront, Hancock (NB). Two pairs seemed to 
be performing territorial displays; however, by 
12 May, all had disappeared. 
Two White-winged Dove reports came 
from inland Alabama, where the species is 
rarely detected — one near Leroy, Washington 
27 Mar (MR) and 2 at Coosada, Elmore 18 
446 
Apr (MJJ). After becoming well established 
on the coast during the past decade, more in- 
land reports can be expected. Inca Dove 
seems to have established a toehold in Missis- 
sippi, where 2 were seen 1 Apr-i- in Sumner, 
Tallahatchie (ph. MW). At least four nesting 
groups are known: three in the Delta and one 
at Pass Christian, Harrison, where up to 12 
frequented feeders last winter (fide GK). Five 
Yellow-billed Cuckoos netted at Ft. Morgan 
27 Mar-1 Apr were unusually early (b. RRS, 
MBS, FB). A new high T.V. total of 63 Yellow- 
billed Cuckoos was recorded 2 May by ob- 
servers on the Wheeler spring count (m.ob.), 
while the wave of 100-r on Dauphin 23 May 
was an excellent number for so late in migra- 
tion (EL). Also on Dauphin, a Black-billed 
Cuckoo 10 Apr was much earlier than most 
ONW). Another Black-billed heard calling at 
Monte Sano S.P., Madison, AL 24 Apr was a 
rare inland find QE). A birder camping at 
Guntersville S.P., Marshall was astounded to 
wake before dawn to a calling Long-eared 
Owl 18 Mar (RSD). Alabama has 16 previ- 
ously accepted records, but, surprisingly, this 
is only the 2nd one for the T.V A Short-eared 
Owl was a rare find on the G.C. on Grand 
Batture L, Mobile 3 Mar (JNW). An amazing- 
ly early Chuck-will’s-widow was heard 21 
Mar near Starkville, Oktibbeha, MS, where it 
beat the prior area arrival date by 12 days 
(TLS, MS). Three Common Nighthawks in 
Jefferson 6 Mar (RRS, MBS) likewise made a 
new early Alabama record, and another 4 at 
Et. Morgan 5 Apr set a new early G.C. date 
(MJJ). The passage of a strong cold front 6 
Apr through n. Alabama, preceded by unsea- 
sonably warm weather, resulted in ther- 
mometer readings the morning of 7 Apr 
around 11° C lower than the previous day. 
This temperature change brought thousands 
of insectivores such as martins, swifts, and 
swallows to forage low over almost any stand- 
ing water. In the middle of all this activity, a 
sharp-eyed observer picked out a large, all- 
black swift at a small field pond near 
Leighton, Colbert (DJS). If accepted as a Black 
Swift, this observation would furnish the 2nd 
state record but first inland. After a few pass- 
es, the swift disappeared into the windy skies. 
By late afternoon, the large gatherings had 
disbanded, and only a few hundred swallows 
remained. A female Black-chinned Hum- 
mingbird was a late and rare find in Mont- 
gomery, AL 18 Mar (b. FB). Yellow-bellied 
Sapsuckers made an unusually strong show- 
ing at Ft. Morgan 28-29 Mar when 24 were 
banded — a new Alabama spring high count 
(b. RRS, MBS, FB). A very late sapsucker was 
discovered during the Wheeler refuge count 2 
May (LBR, RAR, HD). 
NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS 
