ARKANSAS & LOUISIANA 
The jury is still out, but some experts believe that this subaduit dark-backed guli at Holly Beach, Cameron Parish 2 May 2009 exhibits characteristics 
consistent with Slaty-backed Gull, which would constitute a first for Louisiana. Photographs by PaulE. Conover. 
centrations estimated at 4000 in Poinsett 26 
Mar (DB) and a whopping 10,000 in Critten- 
den 29 Mar (J. R. Wilson et al.) wiped out the 
previous record high counts for Arkansas. 
Good numbers were also noted at Vaughn, 
Benton, where 225 on 13 Apr QCN, Lynn 
Christie) upped the local record high count; 3 
at Lollie Valley 30 May QDx) were relatively 
late. Providing only the 5th confirmed 
Louisiana breeding record, a female Snowy 
Plover was found attending a small chick at 
Rutherford Beach 2 May (ph. DLD, SWC). 
About the 16th and 17th Arkansas spring 
records, single Piping Plovers were at S.EE 17 
Apr ODx) and at C.EH. 7-8 May (MAM, 
Charles McCutchen, JBr). 
STILT THROUGH TERNS 
A Black-necked Stilt at C.N.E 20 Mar (ph. DB) 
was record early for Arkansas. Most notewor- 
thy among hve Arkansas reports of inland 
Willets (presumably migrating inornatus) 
were nice flocks of 33 at S.EE 28 Apr (K&LN) 
and 22 at Harrison, Boone 30 Apr (Sheree & 
Hank Rogers), plus a possible Hrst for Faulk- 
ner at Lollie Valley 17 May (KH, J&JJ, RHe). 
Eighteen Solitary Sandpipers at W.W.R 29 Apr 
(MAM) may represent a record high count for 
Arkansas; singles near Cameron (PAW, DPM) 
and at Eayetteville (MAM), both 17 May, were 
rather late. Surprisingly rare in Arkansas, 3 
Whimbrels at Lollie Valley 16 May (AM, 
K&RaH, DS et al.) were the first for Faulkner 
and added to only a dozen or so previous state 
spring records. Three Long-billed Curlews 
were unexpected on the cen. Louisiana coast 
at Raccoon 1., Terrebonne 4 Apr (EJR); the 
species is rare in the Region away from the sw. 
coast. Relatively far e. for the species was a 
Hudsonian Godwit at Georgetown, White, AR 
17 May (K&LN), and 4 were in the same area 
18 May (KN). Only the 2nd for Faulkner, and 
a good bird anywhere in the interior, especial- 
ly in spring, a Marbled Godwit was at Lollie 
Valley 17 May (KH, J&JJ, RHe); 10 Ruddy 
Turnstones there 16 May (K&RaH, AM) made 
an apparent county first and also a very re- 
spectable count for the interior. A Sanderling 
at C.N.E 15-17 Apr and 2 there 29-30 Apr 
(DB) were the only inland reports of this rare 
interior migrant. Coinciding with the above 
massive grounding of American Golden- 
Plovers, and setting a new high for Arkansas, 
were a remarkable 7000 Pectoral Sandpipers 
in Poinsett 26 Mar (DB). A Ruff at C.N.E 15 
Apr (DB) was about the 12th for Arkansas; 
most of the other records are also from spring. 
A hefty 5000 Short-billed Dowitchers 
at Port Eourchon, Lafourche 17 Apr 
(PAW, DPM, RDP) may represent an 
all-time high for Louisiana. Red- 
necked Phalaropes are very rare mi- 
grants in the Region, so three reports 
from Desha, AR in one season was im- 
pressive: 2 males near Kelso 18 May, a 
female there 24 May, and a male at 
C.N.E 19-26 May (all ph. DB). 
An ad. Laughing Gull at L. Dard- 
anelle, Pope, assumed to be the same 
individual that has wintered there 
since 1998-1999, remained through 28 
Mar (K&LN). An alternate-plumaged 
ad. Eranklin’s Gull in Pulaski 11 Mar 
(ph. Dennis Eagle) was incredibly ear- 
ly but, surprisingly, not unprecedent- 
edly so for Arkansas; one at Holly Beach 28 
Mar (ph. DBo) was also very early for 
Louisiana. An unexpected dose of rare Glau- 
cous Gulls began in Mar with several sightings 
in the Holly Beach^ohnsons Bayou area. Most 
encounters in that area 12-29 Mar (ph. JVH, 
ph. PEC, BMM, ph. DBo, ph. JBo, ph. GB) 
were thought to pertain to the same bird (ru- 
mored to have been present since 21 Eeb), but 
another individual was confirmed 28 Mar (ph. 
PEC) and was seen again 17 Apr (ph. BMM, 
ph. PEC). Yet another first-cycle Glaucous was 
present at Grand Isle, Jefferson 18-19 Apr Qeff 
Webster, vt. DPM, vt. PAW, 
ph. DLD, ph. Kevin Colley, 
ph. DBo, m.ob.). The most 
interesting gull, and potential 
best bird of the season, was at 
Holly Beach 2 May (ph. PEC, 
vt. PAW, CCS); initially iden- 
tified as a subad. Great Black- 
backed, subsequent analysis 
of documentary images has 
sparked debate as to whether 
the bird is actually a Slaty- 
backed Gull, which would be 
a state and Regional first. An- 
other large, dark-backed sub- 
ad. gull at Grand Isle 18-19 
Apr (ph. DLD, SWC) was 
thought to be a Great Black-backed x Herring 
hybrid. A first-cycle Black-legged Kittiwake 
near Cameron 18 Apr (ph. GB) was the only 
report of the species. 
Surely propelled inland by the unrelenting 
late spring southerly winds, Arkansas’s first 
Gull-billed Tern appeared at C.N.E 26 Apr 
(ph. D&SB, ph. CM, DS). A flock of 36 Caspi- 
an Terns at Lollie Valley 16 May (K&RaH, 
AM, Kathleen Mueller) was apparently the 
state’s record high number of this scarce 
spring migrant. Common Terns are detected 
surprisingly infrequently in the interior in 
The best guess regarding the identity of this subadult dark-mantled 
gull at Grand Isle, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana 1 9 April 2009 was hybrid, 
most likely Great Black-backed Gull x Herring Gull. Photograph by 
Donna L Dittmann. 
spring, so one at Eayetteville 25 May (HDC) 
and 7 at Lollie Valley the same day (David 
Ray) were of interest. Black Terns continue to 
be detected much earlier than previously con- 
sidered normal, with 3 near Cameron 15 Mar 
OBo, DBo). 
DOVES THROUGH FLYCATCHERS 
Illustrating the dramatic recent push of 
White-winged Doves into the Region’s interi- 
or, Arkansas’s first was recorded only 15 years 
ago, but there are now 40-t- occurrences for 
the state; this spring’s contributions included 
450 
NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS 
