114th CBC Alabama/Mississippi Regional Summary

By Larry Gardella and David King

There were 27 counts in the two-state region this year, with 17 in Mississippi and 10 in Alabama.  The same counts were conducted as last year except that the Washington County, MS count was not held.  A total of 205 species were recorded, nine fewer than last year.  Though this is the lowest total in over a decade, it is only about seven species fewer than the 20-year average.  Alabama reported 190 species, and 186 were found in Mississippi.  Southern Hancock County, MS (150) was the only count to reach the magic 150 species total, but two other coastal counts were close: Jackson County, MS (144) and Gulf Shores, AL (143).  Eufaula N.W.R., AL (126) had the highest total for an inland count.  Only 11 counts recorded species totals in triple digits.

All of the counts combined found approximately 1,350,000 birds, which is about equal to the long-term regional average.  Sidon, MS, at roughly 590,000, found the most birds, with over a half million of those being Snow Geese.  Wheeler N.W.R., AL, at roughly 170,000, had the second-most with the bulk being blackbirds and grackles.  Gulf Shores had the highest totals in the region for 28 species, followed by Wheeler and Southern Hancock County, both with 24.  Gulf Shores also had five species not found elsewhere in the region.  This was followed by Dauphin Island AL, Waterloo, AL, Jackson County, and Southern Hancock County, which all had three.  In all, 13 counts had at least one unique species.

The low number of species this year can at least be partly blamed on the local (as opposed to continent-wide) weather.  Several strong cold fronts moved through the region during the count period, and unfortunately, these tended to be spaced about a week apart and arrived on weekends.  So while much of the count period had sunny weather, the weekends (when most of the counts were held) tended to be rainy and cold.  A greater than normal percentage of the counts reported at least some rain on count day.  The bad weather on count days led to an unusually large number of birds recorded during count week only; 12 counts had a total of 50 “cw” species.

Massive geese flocks were found within count circles this year, with the largest numbers in the Mississippi delta region.  1711 Greater White-fronted Geese were tallied on 10 counts, with a max of 675 at Moon Lake, MS.  Snow Geese were found on 12 counts (+2 count week), with a total in excess of 625,000, of which 571,000 were at Sidon.  A total of 367 Ross’s Geese were reported on seven counts, with a max of 250 at Arkabutla Lake, MS.  Waterloo reported a Mute Swan and 10 Tundra Swans.  Two additional Tundras were found at Montgomery, AL.  Redheads were well dispersed throughout the region, being reported on 15 counts (+2 countweek), with an impressive 1835 at Southern Hancock County.  This is the most ever reported on a count within the region.  Likewise, Greater Scaup were found on five counts throughout the region with a very large flock of 250 at Southern Hancock County.  It was an unusually good year for scoters, with all three found in the region.  Waterloo found the only Surf Scoter.  Two White- winged Scoters were at Eufaula N.W.R. and another was at Sardis Lake, MS and a countweek bird was at Gulf Shores.  Fifteen Black Scoters were found at Gulf Shores, another at Dauphin Island, and one inland at Noxubee N.W.R., MS.  In addition, Gulf Shores had eight scoters unidentified to species.  A Long-tailed Duck was found at Eufaula N.W.R. and Dauphin Island found another count week.  The only Common Mergansers were two at Wheeler N.W.R.

Northern Bobwhites continue their long slow decline, with only a total of 21 reported from three counts.  A Red-throated Loon was found at Guntersville, AL, and a Pacific Loon was count week at Gulf Shores.  Two Eared Grebes were at Jackson County, with countweek birds at Hattiesburg, MS and Sardis Lake.  A total of 115 Northern Gannets, an unusually high number, were found offshore at Gulf Shores.  Two American Bitterns were found inland, one each at Natchez, MS and Noxubee N.W.R, plus a count week bird along the coast at Southern Hancock County.  It was a good year for Cattle Egrets, with an impressive 35 at Eufaula N.W.R., plus three at Sidon, two at Eagle Lake, MS, and Gulf shores, and one at Jackson, MS.  Bald Eagles continue their increase in the region, breaking the 200 mark for the first time with a total of 205.  They were found on 23 of the 27 counts and included an impressive max of 50 at Guntersville.  Falcon numbers were about average, with 13 Merlins found on nine counts (+1 count week) and six Peregrine Falcons on five.  Small rails were well dispersed in the region with 44 Virginia Rails on eight counts (max 13 at Gulf Shores) and 48 Soras on six counts, including a dozen each at Gulf Shores, Southern Hancock County, and Grenada, MS.  Fourty-four Common Moorhens were found on five counts with a max of 24 at Vicksburg MS.  Sandhill Cranes were found on five counts, but the 9433 at Wheeler N.W.R. were the most ever on a regional count.  Wheeler also (for the 7th consecutive year) had introduced Whooping Cranes (17), and this number was also an all-time high for the region.

Jackson County had a flock of 28 Black-necked Stilts, and Grenada had an American Avocet.  A (solitary) Solitary Sandpiper was found at Gulf Shores.  In addition to 14 Spotted Sandpipers found on the four coastal counts, one was found inland at Vicksburg along with count week birds at Hattiesburg and Lauderdale County, MS.  Southern Hancock County had the only Red Knots (2).  Sanderlings are rare away from the coast, but four were found at Dahomey-Great River Road, MS.  The largest numbers of Least Sandpipers were along the coast, but 90 were also found on six inland counts (max 43 at Noxubee N.W.R.).  While over 2000 Dunlins were found on the four coastal counts, the 362 found inland at Dahomey-Great River Road was an impressive number; 19 more were on four other inland counts.  American Woodcocks can be difficult to locate in winter, thus 35 on eight widespread counts is impressive, including a max of 22 at Jackson County.

A Lesser Black-backed Gull was at Sardis Lake, and a Glaucous Gull was at Gulf Shores, both good finds.  A Sandwich Tern (rare in winter) was found at Dauphin Island.  White-winged Doves were found on all four of the coastal counts, with an impressive 124 at Gulf Shores, and additionally eight were found inland at Montgomery.  Inca Doves continue their slow penetration into the region from Louisiana, with eight at Natchez, five at Vicksburg, and four at Eagle Lake, all counts along the Mississippi River adjacent to Louisiana.  Eagle Lake had an impressive four Short-eared Owls.  For the second year in a row, Southern Hancock County had a Chuck-will’s-widow, a bird rarely found in winter.  An impressive three Rufous Hummingbirds were inland at Birmingham with two more were along the coast at Gulf Shores.  Additionally a Selasphorus sp. was at Jackson County, and a hummingbird sp. was at Gulf Shores.

Two Vermilion Flycatchers were found along the coast at Southern Hancock County, where they are more-or-less expected, but additionally three were found inland where they are decidedly uncommon, with one at Vicksburg and two at Eagle Lake.  Four Western Kingbirds were found at Dauphin Island along with a count week bird at Southern Hancock County.  Six White-eyed Vireos on five counts (2 at Eufaula N.W.R.) was well above average.  A total of 1259 Horned Larks (with most from the Mississippi Delta where a percentage are resident) was a very high number, with a max of 608 at Moon Lake.  Migrant wrens turned up in higher than usual numbers.  These included 96 House Wrens on 17 counts (+1 count week) (max 26 at Southern Hancock County), 136 Winter Wrens on17 counts (max 42 at Guntersville), 98 Sedge Wrens on 10 counts (max 50 at Jackson County) and 63 Marsh Wrens on eight counts (max 25 at Jackson County).  Blue-gray Gnatcatchers turned up in expected numbers along the coast, but there were also single inland reports from Vicksburg and Eufaula N.W.R., and from the far north at Wheeler N.W.R.  The 31,265 American Robins tallied from all the counts is not a massive number (400,000 is the max for the region) but it is well above average and the highest in several years (max of 17,415 at Wheeler N.W.R.).  Gray Catbirds are expected along the coast, but inland three were found at Hattiesburg, along with singles at Eufaula N.W.R., Montgomery, Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, AL, and as far north as Moon Lake.

Unusual wintering warblers are always a delight.  This year’s finds included a Yellow-throated Warbler at Gulf Shores, a Prairie Warbler at Dauphin Island, and two Black-and-white Warblers at Gulf Shores.  Palm Warblers occurred along the coast in average numbers but, surprisingly, there were also 29 found on seven inland counts plus one count week (max 12 at Eufaula N.W.R.).  Eufaula also located an impressive 32 Common Yellowthroats, with an additional 60 being found on 13 other counts.  Waterloo reported the only Clay-colored Sparrow, and Southern Hancock County had the only Grasshopper Sparrow.  An impressive eight Le Conte’s Sparrows were found at Sardis Lake, with an additional two at Jackson County and singles at Auburn and Grenada.  Gulf Shores and Southern Hancock County each had a Lincoln’s Sparrow.  Moon Lake reported a highest ever for the region 1127 Lapland Longspurs, with an additional three at Wheeler N.W.R.  Mixed blackbird flocks showed up in larger than average numbers, though nowhere near their massive potential.  These included 123,000 Red-winged Blackbirds, 152,000 Common Grackles, 11,000 Brown-headed Cowbirds, and 37,000 European Starlings.  Wheeler N.W.R. had the highest numbers for each of these species.  Also, 817 Brewer’s Blackbirds were tallied on 14 counts.  This is a large and hopeful number for this species that is in decline.  Finally, Pine Siskins had a small movement into northern Alabama, with five each at Guntersville and Tuscaloosa, plus singles at Waterloo and Birmingham.

Thanks go to the 469 of you who spent those 1247 hours traveling 6932 miles counting birds in the field plus the additional 22 of you watching feeders.  A special yawn of thanks to those of you who spent those 34 pre-dawn hours owling.  See you next year.  Bring your friends!