ALABAMA & MISSISSIPPI 
One of 1 1 banded at at Clay, Jefferson County, Alabama in fall 2008, this North- 
ern Saw-whet Owl (here 6 November) added to the Sargents' many records from 
this site from the previous season. Their nocturnal banding efforts have nearly 
quadrupled the state records of this species. Photograph by Martha B. Sargent 
ph.) furnished the first autumn record for Ala- 
bama and only the 2nd inland. 
NUTHATCHES 
THROUGH BLACKBIRDS 
Tying an early record for the M.R., a lone Red- 
breasted Nuthatch was in Jefferson 12 Sep 
(RRS, MBS). The Brown Creeper in Lee, MS 5 
Oct (WRP) was ahead of schedule. Sadly only 
occasional now in Alabama, a Bewick’s Wren 
was a rather elusive treat at the Alabama Or- 
nithological Society meeting at Dauphin 10- 
12 Oct (JNW, m.ob.). Scarce in the M.R., a 
Marsh Wren was near Birmingham 5 Oct 
(RSD). Establishing a late record for inland 
Alabama, a Swainson’s Thrush was banded in 
St. Clair 8 Nov (FM). Eight American Robins 
in Hancock, MS 14 Sep (NB) were unusually 
early. Alabama’s 2nd Varied Thrush caused 
much excitement on Dauphin 16-22 Nov 
(LM, TS, JS, JNW, AW, m.ob., ph., p.a.). An 
American Pipit near Birmingham 27 Sep 
(PAR) provided Alabama’s earliest record. 
The scarce Brewster’s Warbler was noted at 
Wheeler 27 Sep (RSH, DCH, 
RR). At Montgomery, 2 Ten- 
nessee Warblers 8 Nov (LEG) 
furnished a late I.C.P. record. 
Nashville Warbler is uncom- 
mon to rare in our Region in 
autumn; nine reports of 12 
birds in the M.R. and I.C.E of 
Alabama were unusually boun- 
tiful for those regions. Good 
totals of Nashvilles in the TV. 
included 5 on the Wheeler area 
count 27 Sep (tying the previ- 
ous T.Y maximum) and 4 birds 
10 Oct in Colbert (DJS). A 
count of 20 Chestnut-sided 
Warblers in Autauga 18 Sep 
(LEG) set a new I.C.P. maxi- 
mum. Black-throated Blue 
Warbler is a rare treat inland; 
single birds were in the Birm- 
ingham area 20 Sep (GDJ) and 
27 Sep (SSH). The Black-throated Green War- 
bler on Dauphin 9 Aug (CH) provided a new 
early G.C. date, while the Yellow-throated 
Warbler at Montgomery 19 Oct (LEG) gave 
the I.C.P. a late fall record. An estimated 300 
Palm Warblers near Opelika, Lee 11 Oct (LW 
et al.) established a high count for inland Ala- 
bama. Blackpoll Warbler is quite rare in fall in 
our Region, so individuals banded at Ft. Mor- 
gan 4 & 9 Oct (RRS, MBS, FB et al.) were no- 
table. Also at Ft. Morgan, a Cerulean Warbler 
26 Oct (RAD, LRD, CHB) was the latest on 
record for Alabama and quite late for this 
species in the United States. Tardy as well 
were 2 Prothonotary Warblers at Wheeler 27 
Sep (RSH, DCH, RR), setting a late TV. date; 
another 13 Oct at Ft. 
Morgan (RRS, MBS, FB 
et al, b.) was the latest 
in fall for the G.C. and 
tied the latest fall Ala- 
bama date. Recorded 
only twice previously 
in the I.C.P., a Con- 
necticut Warbler was 
found in Montgomery 
1 Oct (BC). Rare 
Mourning Warblers 
were discovered 11 
Aug at Anniston, Cal- 
houn (DeM, ph.) for an 
early Alabama record, at Montgomery 19 Sep 
(LFG), and at Wheeler 27 Sep (RR). 
Clay-colored Sparrow is rare but regular in 
coastal areas in fall; singles were at different 
sites at Ft. Morgan 16 Oct (RRS, MBS, FB et al, 
b.), 4 Nov (LFG), and 9 Nov (GDJ, DGJ); one 
was on Dauphin 28 Oct (HEH et al.). More un- 
usual was the Clay-colored farther inland at 
Two parties in need of a "pit stop" independently discovered Alabama's second Varied Thrush 
1 6 November 2008 near a park restroom on Dauphin island, Mobile County. The bird delight- 
ed visitors for six additional days (here 19 November). Photograph by David IV. Dortch. 
Henleyfield, Pearl River, MS 26 Oct (NB, p.a.). 
Both rare in the M.R., a Lark Sparrow was at 
Harpersville, Shelby 16 Sep (MS, HHK et al), 
and a Lincoln’s Sparrow was spotted 9 Oct in 
ne. Jackson QT). Establishing a late I.C.P. 
record, a Rose-breasted Grosbeak was at Mont- 
gomery 8 Nov (LFG). Three Dickcissels in St. 
Clair n Sep (|Sh) were both unusual in au- 
tumn in the M.R. and set a new fall maximum. 
A flock of 10 Bobolinks in Shelby 10 Sep (HHK, 
MC) was rare for the M.R. in fall. Alabama’s 
15th Bronzed Cowbird was photographed at Ft. 
Morgan 9 Nov (GDJ, DGJ); the species is more 
regular in coastal Mississippi, and 2 birds were 
in Hancock through 25 Oct (NB). 
Cited observers (subregional editors in bold- 
face); Birmingham Audubon Society, Winston 
& Linda Baker, Larry Barkey, Fred Bassett, 
Eric Beohm, Ned Boyajian, Johnny W. Brad- 
ford, Cecil H. Brown, Bill Campbell, Eugenia 
Carey, Dale Carruthers, Linda Caruso, Walt E 
Chambers, Alice S. Christenson. Martha 
Coghlan. Neill Cowles, Stephen J. Dinsmore, 
Carrie P. Dortch, David W. Dortch, Jan 
Dubuisson, Lucy R. Duncan, Robert A. Dun- , 
can, R. Scot Duncan, Susan Epps, Frank & 
Shirley Farrell, Barry K. Fleming, James E Fly- 
nn, Peter S. Floyd, Peter S. Floyd, Jr. (PSFjr), 
Lawrence E Gardella, Ben C. Garmon, Wanda 
Garner, Jessica Germany, Scott Gordon, 
Gretchun Grammo, Alban Guillaumet, An- 
drew Haffenden, Dana C. Hamilton, R. Stan 
Hamilton, Greg J. Harber, Rob Heflin, Chazz 
Hesselein, Howard E. Horne, Sharon S. Hud- 
gins, Alex Hudson, Debra G. Jackson, Greg D. 
Jackson (Alabama), Michael J. Jordan, Helen 
H. Kittinger, Gene C. Knight, Shannon G. 
Knight, Diane Lafferty Nancy Madden, Leslie 
Marcus, Steve W. McConnell, Don McKee, 
Debbie McKenzie (DeM), Sharon Milligan, Ja- 
son M. Mitchell, Fred Moore, Raymond J. 
Moore, North Alabama Birdwatchers Society, 
Reese Partridge, Wayne R. Patterson, JoRee 
Pease, David Plumb, Tommy R. Pratt, Eric 
Pullis, Rick Remy Linda B. Reynolds, Richard 
A. Reynolds, Pelham A. Rowan, Dave Ruple, 
Patti & Mike Ryan, Max Sanders (MSa), 
Martha B. Sargent, Robert R. Sargent, Marion 
H. Schiefer, Terence L. Schiefer (Mississippi), 
Maureen Shaffer, Jim Sherrill (|Sh), Joan Sieg- _ 
wald, Tom Siegwald, Damien J. Simbeck, Car- 
olyn T. & Phil Snow, Mary Stevens (MSt), Bill 
Stripling, John Trent, Bill Turnock, Ken Un- 
derwood, Allison Walker, Jake N. Walker, Ken 
Ward, Lorna West, Mark S. Woodrey Harriett 
H. Wright, Jon & Dawn Yoder. 0 
Greg D. Jackson, 2220 Baneberry Drive 
Birmingham, Alabama 35244 
(g_dJackson@bellsouth.net) 
100 
NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS 
