SOUTHERN ATLANTIC 
A species now found annually off North Carolina's Outer 
Banks in the Gulf Stream, this Bermuda Petrel was smartly 
photographed off Hatteras 27 June 2009, the fifth of the 
year there. Molting birds sometimes show a thin white 
hindcollar, recalling some Black-capped Petrels. Photo- 
graph by Dan Haas. 
WATERFOWL THROUGH WADERS 
There were many sightings of Black-bellied 
Whistling-Ducks away from coastal strong- 
holds this season, all in Georgia’s coastal plain: 
4 in Thomasville 5 jun (YS); one at Reed Bing- 
ham S.P. 7 Jun (MM, WS); 4 in Dougherty 16 
Jun-6Jul (MM, WS, AA); 2 at RS.N.R 20 Jun+ 
(fide LS); 2 in Shellman Bluff 30 Jun (PWS et 
al.); and 2-6 in Baker 25 Jul-r (WS). Unusual 
waterfowl for summer in their respective loca- 
tions included a Gadwall in Clayton, GA 15 Jul 
(CL) and 2 at Panola Mountain S.P, GA 25 Jul 
(CM) ; a Blue-winged Teal in Goldsboro, NC 11 
Jul (ED); a Green-winged Teal in Macon, GA 
12 Jun (Tl, KC) and 2 at the S.S.S, 2Jul (SC); a 
Ring-necked Duck on Bass L., NC 6 Jun (]L); 
and a Greater Scaup at the S.S.S. 20 Jun (SC). 
One of 2 male Surf Scoters lingering in 
Charleston, SC stayed until 23 Jun (EA, ph. 
DG). Two female Hooded Mergansers were ob- 
served in Clayton, GA 18 Jun-27 Jul (CL), 
though breeding was not detected. Red-breast- 
ed Mergansers extending their stay in the Re- 
gion included: 2 at H.B.S.P. 1 Jun (GL); 7 at 
Oregon Inlet, NC 14 Jun, and 3 there 27 Jun 
QL); and one at the S.S.S. 20 Jun (SC). Ruddy 
Ducks again summered at the S.S.S., with an 
impressive 84 tallied on 6 Jun and a pair with 
ducklings 27 Jun (SC). A Red-throated Loon 
was late at H.B.S.P. 1 Jun (GL), while a few 
Common Loon sightings were typical for mid- 
summer. Pied-billed Grebes again nested “in 
good numbers” in the piedmont in Clayton, GA 
(CL), and a Horned Grebe in breeding plumage 
was still at Fivers L, NC 4 Jun (JE, RM). 
Results of early Jun pelagic trips off Hat- 
teras, NC were included in the spring col- 
umn, but there were several noteworthy mid- 
summer finds as well. A Pea’s Petrel was ob- 
served off Hatteras 18 Jun (BPI), as was a 
Bermuda Petrel 27 Jun (BPI, ph. DH). One 
Cory’s Shearwater was seen on a pelagic trip 
off Tybee L, GA 14 Jun (KB et al.), while the 
species was expectedly numerous off 
Hatteras late in the season (BPI); Greater 
Shearwaters were present there in low to 
modest numbers all summer (BPI). 
“Many” Leach’s Storm-Petrels were off 
Hatteras 18 Jun (BPI), while at least two 
forms of Band-rumped Storm-Petrels 
were observed this season. An imm. 
Brown Booby was a good find just out- 
side Hatteras Inlet, NC 11 Jun (BPI), 
while the latest imm. Northern Gannets 
were 2 recorded off Tybee L, GA 14 Jun 
(KB et al.) and one off Topsail L, NC 3 Jul 
(ph. Al). Four American White Pelicans 
were at Bear Island W.M.A., SC 19 Jul 
(ND), and the species was present at the 
S.S.S. 10 JuH (SC). Brown Pelicans nest- 
ed in Georgia at the Satilla Marsh 1. (350 
pairs) and on Little Egg Island Bar (1000 
pairs); nest and chick abandonment was 
high at the latter location due to an avian 
tick infestation (BW); one ad. continued 
inland at L.W.EG. 26-27 Jul (WS). 
An American Bittern was unseasonable 
at Donnelly W.M.A., SC 20 Jul QE), and 2 
Least Bitterns were found in appropriate 
breeding habitat in Bartow, GA 19 Jul (GS et 
al), in a region where the species is a rare and 
local breeder. Notable inland waders included 
2 Tricolored Herons in Baker, GA 25-31 Jul 
(WS) and several Glossy Ibis reports: one to 4 
in Sumter, GA 3-19 Jul (CR, WS, ph. PH), 3 in 
Dooly, GA 25 Jul (JFl), and a high inland count 
of 85 at L. Mattamuskeet, NC 25 Jul (RD); 2 of 
the latter species were notably far offshore, 88 
km e. of Blackboard L, GA 14 Jun (ph. RC). 
Wood Storks had a productive nesting sea- 
son in Georgia: 1900 pairs, including 500-r at 
the largest rookery at Harris Neck N.W.R. 
(BW); inland dispersal was about average, 
with one juv. in Clayton 13 Jun (CL) and 20 
at P.S.N.P. 20 Jun (LS) being the most note- 
worthy sightings. The northernmost reports 
involved a juv. in Charlotte, NC 17 Jun 
(D&MW) and one at Pea Island N.W.R., NC 
RAPTORS THROUGH FLYCATCHERS 
Biologists participated in the first interstate 
effort to survey Swallow-tailed Kite popula- 
tions between e. Texas and South Carolina; 
the species is of special conservation concern. 
Because the birds form large communal roosts 
in late summer, aerial surveys along major 
rivers may provide a means to accurately esti- 
mate numbers across their U.S. range. In 
Georgia, 155 were found gathered in seven 
roosts 21-22 Jul (TK), with a few scattered 
pairs as well; biologists flying along the Sa- 
21 Jun (NM). 
Glossy Ibis staged a notable inland incursion into southwestern 
Georgia, including this bird (one of three) in Sumter County 3-9 
(here 3) July 2009. Photograph by Phil Hardy. 
C A species once considered likely to be encountered only in Gulf Coast states, Roseate Spoonbills did not"disperse"into 
sJfidhe Region this summer, they simply exploded. Unexpected pink blobs in wader roosts or foraging in shallow, wet ar- 
eas surprised and delighted birders far n. into the Carolinas: 2 were inland in Duplin, NC 13-16 jun (ED); 3-6 at Bear Island 
W.M.A., SC 1 3 Jun-1 9 Jul (ND); 2-4 at Sunset Beach, NC 1 6 Jun-1 7 Jul (DM, m.ob.); 2 in Mt. Pleasant, SC 20 Jun-4 Jul [fide 
ND, m.ob.); 2-9 at Pea Island N.W.R., NC 26 Jun-13 Jul (NM, LY, m.ob.); 2 at H.B.S.P. 6 Jul-t- (RL); and 7 at Goat I., SC 24 Jul 
(MT). The highest count this summer was an astonishing 20S recorded at the S.S.S. 2 Ju! (SC). The wave also spread deep into 
Georgia's coastal plain: an early arrival of 2-5 juvs. in Miller, GA 2-22 Jun (TA, m.ob.); one in Bulloch, GA 12 Jun {hde BB); one 
m Atkinson, GA 13 Jun (AB); 2juvs. in Sumter, GA 12-25 Jul (CR, ph. PH, m.ob.); and one in Decatur, GA 26 Jul (LL). Spoonbills 
are uncommon in Georgia and South Carolina spring through fall, with juvs. appearing in early Jun. Nesting is considered im- 
minent by some biologists in Georgia but has yet to be documented. The species has even been observed mingling in wad- 
ing bird nesting colonies, including a pair among White Ibis on James 1., SC 6 Jun (WP). The species is now a permanent res- 
ident in coastal Georgia, though still very rare in winter. 
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NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS 
