SOUTHERN ATLANTIC 
This Bronzed Cowbird was present on 22-23 (here 23) November 2008 and again on 1 December in 
Charleston, South Carolina, representing a first state record. Photograph by Nathan Dias. 
This Sprague's Pipit was a very rare find at the Savannah Spoil Site, South Carolina 
on 29 October 2008. Photograph by Steve Calver. 
across the Region, 5 of which occurred at 
Jackson Park, NC 9 Aug-21 Sep (fide WF). 
Very early Canada Warblers were reported at 
Henderson Park, GA 1 Aug QS) and in Musco- 
gee, GA 3 Aug (WC), the former establishing 
a new fall arrival record. 
There were three sightings of Western Tan- 
agers, including 2 in the field 20 Sep at N. Fol- 
ly Beach, SC (fide ND) and at Carolina Beach 
S.P. 3 Oct (ph. LW), along with a more typical 
feeder appearance in Conway, SC 12 Nov 
(GP). There were eight reports of Clay-colored 
Sparrows, including 3 at Pocosin Lakes 
N.W.R., NC 9 Nov (RD), a semi-annual win- 
tering site. Lark Sparrow sightings included 
singles in Carteret, NC 17 Aug QF), Southport, 
NC 30 Aug (HLe), New Bern, NC 20 Sep (AG 
et ah), N. Augusta, SC 27 Sep (LS), and Pea 1., 
NC 23 Oct (ph. JL); 2 birds at Mt. Pleasant, SC 
28 Sep (ND); and 3 at Daniel 1., SC 3 Oct (SH). 
Rare migrant Henslow’s Sparrows included one 
in Catoosa, GA 7 Oct (DH), one or 2 at the 
C.R.N.R.A. 18-25 Oct (m.ob.), and a juv. at L. 
Mattamuskeet, NC 11 Nov (CN). Single Le 
Conte’s Sparrows were reported from the regu- 
lar wintering grounds at Eufaula N.W.R., GA 
23 (MMc et al.) & 30 Nov (TM). Over the past 
decade, Lincoln’s Sparrows have been increas- 
ing in the Region, both during migration and 
in winter, a trend typified this fall by 23 sepa- 
rate sightings (12 in Georgia and 11 from the 
Carolinas). Snow Bunting reports included 
one at Alligator River 
N.W.R., NC 6-8 Nov (DC, 
m.ob.), 2 at Pelican 1. 8 Nov 
(BB), and one at H.B.S.P 12 
Nov QCa). Three Indigo 
Buntings were late at L. 
Seminole, GA 16 Nov (EB), 
as was a Dickcissel on 
Roanoke 1., NC 7 Nov OU; 
one of the latter species in 
Henderson, NC 12-14 Oct 
(MW) and 2 at the 
C.R.N.R.A. 19-27 Oct (ph. 
SCh, m.ob.) were rare for their respective loca- 
tions. A high count of 900 Bobolinks came 
from Alligator River N.W.R., NC 30 Aug QL). 
A female Yellow-headed Blackbird was spotted 
in Hatteras, NC 25 Sep (DSm), while a male 
was in Colleton, SC 1 1 Oct (ND); 2 were in the 
latter location 18 Oct (ND). A Brewer’s Black- 
bird at Pea L, NC 7-8 Nov (JE) was most un- 
usual, but a Bronzed Cowbird in Charleston, 
SC 22-23 Nov and 1 Dec (ph. ND) represented 
a first state record and was the first well-docu- 
mented sighting in the Region. More records of 
this primarily w. blackbird can be expected, as 
it appears to be expanding as a breeder and vis- 
itor in Elorida and elsewhere. An Orchard Ori- 
ole was extremely late at L. Mattamuskeet, NC 
22 Nov (ph. JL). Purple Finches trickled into 
the Region early Nov-i- with no indicators of a 
major event. In stark contrast was a massive 
surge of Pine Siskins late Oct-i- which was like- 
ly the beginning of an unprecedented irrup- 
tion. Notable sightings related to this event in- 
cluded early arrivals at Pea I., NC 12 Oct OL) 
and in Maxeys, GA 3 Oct (LB); fiocks of 75- 
100+ birds were observed in Chattooga, GA 14 
Nov (DB) and Catoosa, GA 15 Nov (DH), 
while 150 birds were at Pee Dee N.W.R., NC 23 
Nov (RC). The species was commonly report- 
ed at feeders s. to the upper Coastal Plain and 
barrier islands of Georgia, where 3 were just a 
few miles n. of the Florida border at Crooked 
River S.P 25 Nov (KB). 
Contributors: Nick Anich, Sandy Beasley, Bet- 
ty Belanger (BBe), Eric Beohm, Michael 
Bernard, Brandon Best (BrB), Ken Blanken- 
ship, Brian Bockhahn, Rich & Susan Boyd, 
Brenda Brannen (BBr), Patrick Brisse, David 
Brown, Jacquelyn Burns, Barbie Byrd (BBy), 
Steve Calver, Susan Campbell (SCa), Derb 
Carter, Jeff Catlin, Joan Carr (JCa), Walt 
Chambers, Stan Chapman (SCh), Ron Clark, 
James Coman 0Cc’)> Sam Cooper (SCo), Bob 
Crowley, Ricky Davis, Eric Dean, Maureen 
Dewire, Nathan Dias, Phil Dickinson, David & 
Susan Disher, Theresa Domanski, John Ennis, 
Nathan Earnau, Jared Eisher QEi), Jim Elynn 
OFl), Dennis Forsythe, Wayne Forsythe, Wade 
Fuller (WFu),John Fussell, John Galvani, Al 
Gamache, Hugh Garrett, Gilbert Grant, Annie 
Gorgone (AGo), Theresa Hartz, Shawn Hayes, 
Chris Hill, Royce Hough, Alex Houston, Gene 
Howe, Mike Johnson, Gene Keferl, Alan Knei- 
del, Carol Lambert, Harry LeGrand, (HLe), 
David Lenat, Jeff Lewis, Henry Link, Bill Lotz, 
Sidney Maddock, Dwayne Martin, Greg 
Massey, Julien McCarthy, Trey McCuen, Mark 
McShane (MMc), Max Medley, Alan Meijer, 
Pete Moore, Ron Morris, James Neves, Randy 
Newman, Christian Newton, Jim Parnell QPa), 
Brian Patteson Inc. (BPl), Jack Peachey QP^)' 
Gary Phillips, Z. Taylor Piephoff, Jeff Pippen, 
Chris Pitman, Paul Raney, Peter Range (PRa), 
Mary Ellen Rogers, Don Rote, Chuck Saleeby 
Georgann Schmalz, Michael Schultz, Connie 
Shertz (CSh), Norma & Bill Siebenheller, 
Chris Snook (CSn), Jeff Sewell, Donna Slyce, 
David Smith (DSm), Curtis Smalling (CSm), 
Joshua Spence QSp), Lois Stacey, Steve Stokes, 
Paul W. Sykes, Jr., Ted Theus, Lydia Thomp- 
son, Mike Tove, Steve Wagner, Rick Waldrop, 
Marilyn Westphal, Gene Wilkinson, Louis 
Womble, David Wright, Connie & Stan 
Wulkowicz, Bob Zaremba. O 
Ken Blankenship, 3774 Tulip Tree Road 
Marietta, Georgia 30066 
(kenhblankenshipiScomcast.net) 
VOLUME 63 (2009) • NUMBER 1 
65 
