The 125th Christmas Bird Count in Alabama and Mississippi

Alabama conducted thirteen CBC’s (Auburn, Birmingham, Cullman, Dauphin Island, Eufaula, Gulf Shores, Fort Morgan, Guntersville, Montgomery, Tuscaloosa, Waterloo, Wheeler Dam, and Wheeler N.W.R.) and Mississippi nineteen (Arkabutla Lake, Brooklyn – Camp Shely, Dahomey – Great River Road, Duck Hill – McCann, Grenada, Hattiesburg, Jackson, Jackson County, Lauderdale County, Moon Lake (Lula), Natchez, Noxubee N.W.R., Southern Hancock County, Sardis Lake, Sidon, Strawberry Plains, Tupelo, Vicksburg, and Washington County (South). Twelve of the circles tallied 100 or more species. Jackson County led with 142 species, Gulf Shores and Southern Hancock each had 141, Eufaula N.W.R. 130, Dauphin Island 122, Wheeler N.W.R. 117, Noxubee N.W.R. 113, Wheeler Dam 109, Fort Morgan 107, Waterloo 104, and Jackson 102. Alabama counts totaled 205 species, Mississippi 197, and the region a total of 220 on count days, plus an additional six only during count week: five in Alabama (Magnificent Frigatebird, Brown Booby, Northern Goshawk, Franklin’s Gull, and Indigo Bunting) and one in Mississippi (Long-tailed Duck).

Several circles noted that they had not covered all their territory this year. Most significantly and atypically, Tupelo had only a single party of two people this year out for a total of five hours and one person monitoring a feeder for an hour, leaving most of the territory untouched. Dauphin Island did not run the Fowl River route. Southern Hancock County has lost access to a significant wetland area that historically provided good numbers of dabbling ducks; a sector including sewerage lagoons that did get birded failed to yield ducks despite its historically good numbers of scaup and occasional Redhead and Canvasback. The circle also noted that as its observers age, they do not walk as much; that may be true in other circles, too. Nevertheless, effort does not explain most of the decline in numbers across the region. Southern Hancock County saw a thirty-nine per cent decrease in the total number of birds from the average number over the last twelve years. Natchez also commented that both the total number of birds and the total number of species were well below its five-year averages of 5111 and 93, respectively. In Gulf Shores, the total number of individual birds was 43,856, below the overall mean of 63,000 but close to the overall median and higher than the prior eleven-year mean of 34,000.

As in recent years, waterfowl and sparrow tallies were particularly low. There are declines both long-term and short-term. Interestingly, some compilers focus on changes from a recent period, while others (including me) primarily look at divergence from averages over the life of the count. In Lauderdale County, far fewer birds were seen during the afternoon when winds got strong, and high winds also were a factor at Wheeler N.W.R. Every season, wind and rain affect one or more counts, so they do not explain trends. An extended drought from July through December may have been more significant in Wheeler N.W.R. this season, as it resulted in drastically lowered water levels in impoundments where many waterbirds forage during winter; its waterfowl numbers during December were the lowest recorded over the past fifty years.

In addition to setting a new high for the Gulf Shores count, 458 Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks established a new Alabama maximum. Alabama’s only Greater White-fronted Geese were 45 in Wheeler N.W.R.; they were found on eight Mississippi counts. Birmingham reported its first Ross’s Goose, Eufaula N.W.R. its sixth, and Noxubee N.W.R. its eleventh. Washington County (South) has reported the species twenty-eight times; this winter it had a high tally of 98, not far short of its all-time maximum of 125. Southern Hancock County reported only eleven Canada Geese, which have been decreasing in recent years there; no other count had numbers low enough to mark, although Washington County (South) came close. Sardis Lake has had Wood Ducks on forty-five of fifty counts, but this year’s one was its lowest non-zero tally; Wheeler N.W.R. reported a low total of fifteen, the fewest since the seventy-ninth count and historically low - although not much different from the past six years. Jackson had recorded Wood Ducks fifty-nine of sixty-three counts, with as many as 3000, but this year had none. Gadwall numbers have been decreasing in Jackson, where eleven this year was low but somewhat higher than two recent counts under ten; Southern Hancock County also had a low six Gadwalls. After up to 242 Gadwalls on thirty-eight of forty-two counts, Montgomery missed the species this year. Sidon and Washington County (South) each had only single American Wigeons. Alabama’s only Mottled Ducks were four on Dauphin Island, and all four of Mississippi’s were in Southern Hancock County. Dauphin Island also had the only Mallard X Mottled Duck hybrid. Wheeler N.W.R. has recorded as many as 6155 American Black Ducks, but this winter had only four, one more than the all-time low. Noxubee N.W.R. had the only American Black Duck X Mallard hybrid. In Noxubee N.W.R. two Blue-winged Teal were unusual. Jackson County had a low four Blue-wingeds, the fourth time with four or less in last five years, which had only happened four other times in the history of the count; nine times tallies exceeded 100, twice three years in a row. Mallards are becoming dramatically scarcer across the region. Montgomery missed the species on count day. Tuscaloosa (one), Lauderdale County (one), Sardis Lake (ten), Vicksburg (two) each had their fewest ever. There were also low totals in Dauphin Island (six), Natchez (two), and Washington County (South) (130; it had 42 last winter but historically has mostly been in the four-digits and has an all-time high of 80,379). Dahomey – Great River Road established a low of two Northern Shovelers, Jackson County had its third straight low year (38) after twenty-two straight years with more than 100; and Southern Hancock County had a low 49, less than one per cent of its all-time maximum. In Montgomery, 200 Green-winged Teal established a maximum.

Sidon set an all-time low with only one Canvasback, having recorded up to 700 in past years. After years with up to 520 Redheads, Gulf Shores found none. In Guntersville, thirteen Ring-necked Ducks was historically low although in line with past six years; Waterloo, which had counted as many as 700, tallied only one; Arkabutla Lake recorded only four; Sidon had a low three, but approximately every other year has had single-digit counts; Washington County (South) detected fourteen, one of its few counts this century less than 100); Sardis Lake had none. Two Greater Scaup provided Washington County (South) with only its sixth CBC record for Greater Scaup; in Wheeler Dam, 117 established a new maximum. Dahomey – Great River Road, which has a maximum of 3537 Lesser Scaup, found a very low two, as did Jackson County, where the maximum is 4235. Many times, Moon Lake (Lula) has tallied more than 100 Lesser Scaup, and four times in past thirteen years more than 1000; it had a low eighteen. Natchez, with four counts with more than 100 Lesser Scaup in last ten years and a maximum of 1261, failed to find any; South Hancock County continued its recent trend with a historically low 60; Sardis Lake had none.

Gulf Shores recorded three each of Surf Scoter and White-winged Scoter, the only ones of either species in Alabama. Southern Hancock had Mississippi’s only Surf Scoter. In the six circles where Black Scoter is unusual, Dauphin Island detected 45 (twelfth record); Southern Hancock County seventeen (thirteenth); and Wheeler Dam and Noxubee N.W.R. each had its second. Gulf Shores established a high of 37 Black Scoters. Sardis Lake has had Buffleheads on 38 of 50 counts but missed it. Eufaula N.W.R., which had seen up to 279 Buffleheads, had two; Guntersville (up to 357), five; three in Washington County (South) was an all-time low except for one time the species was missed. The relatively new count (seven years) at Wheeler Dam set a high with 94; and Hattiesburg, in its fifty-second winter, set a high with 43. During count week Noxubee N.W.R. had its twelfth Common Goldeneye; in Guntersville, 33 was historically low, but in line with past ten years. Sardis Lake saw a low seven Hooded Mergansers, the fourth straight time with twelve or fewer. In the Vicksburg circle, where unusual, 22 Red-breasted Mergansers established a high; another high was set by 28 in Noxubee N.W.R.; in Jackson County, last winter’s record low four was followed with a low six, suggesting a shift from the coast inland. The region’s only Long-tailed Ducks were count week birds in Natchez.

The only Mississippi circle with Northern Bobwhite was Sardis Lake (27). After years of regularly finding Wild Turkey, Auburn and Lauderdale County had none. Alabama’s only Pacific Loon was in Waterloo. Jackson County and Southern Hancock County both had historically few Common Loons. Dahomey – Great River Road (two) and Vicksburg (five; third straight year with fewer than 7) had very low numbers of Pied-billed Grebes; Grenada and Moon Lake (Lula) regularly get them but did not. In Southern Hancock County, the tally of nine Horned Grebes was very low. The region’s only Eared Grebe was one in Hattiesburg. Far short of the average of169 and maximum of 1147, Gulf Shores tallied only one Northern Gannet. The region’s only Neotropic Cormorant was in Jackson. The region’s only Magnificent Frigatebird and only Brown Booby were both at Fort Morgan during count week. Dahomey – Great River Road and Sidon each found only single Double-crested Cormorants, while Waterloo established an all-time maximum with 3453. The region’s only Neotropic Cormorant was in Jackson. Continuing a trend of American White Pelicans wintering farther north, Dauphin Island recorded a low five, while Wheeler N.W.R. and Guntersville established maxima with 2078 and 478, respectively; two in Montgomery were unusual; their numbers were very low (four) in Lauderdale County, but the usual winter flock was on a lake outside the circle.

Alabama’s only American Bittern was Eufaula N.W.R.; in Mississippi, singles were at Dahomey – Great River Road (first) and Southern Hancock County (twenty-second). Three Mississippi circles reported low Great Blue Heron counts: Arkabutla Lake (seven); Sardis Lake (sixteen), and Vicksburg (eight). Two Mississippi circles established maxima for Great Egrets: Lauderdale County (227) and Sardis Lake (seventeen, one more than its low Great Blue Heron count). Alabama’s only Little Blue Heron was at Eufaula N.W.R.; in Mississippi, Jackson County recorded five and Southern Hancock County a very low three. Alabama’s only Tricolored Heron was on Dauphin Island; Mississippi had ten at Jackson County and six in Southern Hancock County. The only Reddish Egrets were two on Dauphin Island and one in Jackson County. The region’s only Western Cattle Egrets were 24 at Eufaula N.W.R. Gulf Shores found the region’s only Green Heron, although Cullman had one during count week. Jackson County had all seven of Mississippi’s Black-crowned Night-herons; five counts in Alabama had them, including Wheeler Dam with an apparently high eight. Birmingham recorded the region’s only Yellow-crowned Night-Heron. Where unusual, five White Ibis were in Dahomey – Great River Road (fourth) and one in Noxubee N.W.R. count week; Jackson County had a low 6, and Gulf Shores a high 38. Mississippi had the only Plegadis ibis: in Jackson County (second time; three records for Glossy Ibis, two for White-faced), and 60 in Southern Hancock County (second time; one Glossy Ibis record)

Four different circles had high numbers of Black Vultures: Gulf Shores (151); Waterloo (maximum of 140); Arkabutla Lake (maximum of 211); and Southern Hancock County (173, highest since once in the 1980’s). For the new Brooklyn – Camp Shelby circle, four was the lowest except for the one time it was missed. Dahomey – Great River Road (35) and Moon Lake (Lula) (29) set all-time highs for Turkey Vulture, and Washington County (South) was only two short of the maximum with 75. Lauderdale County detected an Osprey for the third time, and Tuscaloosa for the fourth; Dauphin Island tied its all-time high with 33; and 63 in Gulf Shores established a new Alabama maximum. Dauphin Island missed Sharp-shinned Hawk for only the sixth time. The only Northern Goshawk was at Wheeler Dam during count week. Noxubee N.W.R. set a maximum with 24 Bald Eagles. Of the three circles with high counts for Red-shouldered Hawk, Dahomey – Great River Road and Brooklyn – Camp Shelby set maxima with eleven, and Waterloo was one short of its maximum with thirteen. For the fourth straight winter, Sardis Lake had fewer than ten Red-tailed Hawks (three).

Mississippi’s only two King Rails were in Jackson County; Alabama found four in Eufaula N.W.R., two in Fort Morgan, and one in Gulf Shores. Three Virginia Rail provided Noxubee N.W.R. with its ninth Christmas count record. Southern Hancock County tallied a high ten Soras; one count week in Noxubee N.W.R. was the third. With eleven Common Gallinule, Southern Hancock County had its highest total since eleven in count 97; Washington County (South) recorded a low one after double digit numbers almost every year this century. While Jackson County (52) and Washington County (South) (71, lowest ever) had low numbers of American Coots, Lauderdale County and Moon Lake (Lula) uncharacteristically failed to find any. Three Sandhill Cranes gave Southern Hancock County its eighth record, and Wheeler Dam established a maximum with 77. Wheeler N.W.R. detected the only fourteen Whooping Cranes in the region.

Only Mississippi’s Jackson County had Black-necked Stilts (53), though Southern Hancock County reported the species for count week. The only four American Oystercatchers in Alabama were on Dauphin Island. Gulf Shores recorded the region’s only Piping Plover, although one was on Dauphin Island during count week. In both Gulf Shores and Jackson County, Black-bellied Plovers have been scarce recently, but this winter’s numbers were historically low; Gulf Shores found three (single digits for nine of the past ten years), and Jackson County two (has not exceeded ten since count 114). In 1961, Alabama set a maximum for Spotted Sandpipers with eleven, which was not matched until this year on Dauphin Island. Jackson County had an all-time high of seven, but the number was not far out of line. Across much of the region, Greater Yellowlegs showed up in unusually high numbers; a maximum 175 at Eufaula N.W.R.; ten in Guntersville (second); a maximum 47 at Brooklyn – Camp Shelby; a maximum of 28 in Dahomey – Great River Road; 28 in Lauderdale County (second); and 22 in Moon Lake (Luna) (sixth). Southern Hancock County found a low three Willets. At Moon Lake, 28 Lesser Yellowlegs provided the circle’s third record. A historically low three Ruddy Turnstones were on Dauphin Island. Dauphin Island found Alabama’s only Red Knot, and Lauderdale County had Mississippi’s, a high total of 52. The only Stilt Sandpipers were six at Dahomey – Great River Road and one in Southern Hancock County, both firsts. For the first time since count 108, Dauphin Island had fewer than 100 Sanderlings (46); it usually finds more than 200; Southern Hancock County established a record low with four. Dauphin Island detected the region’s only six Western Sandpipers. The circle also set a maximum with 535 Dunlin after only twice having tallies greater than 400 (both 469). Dauphin Island reported Alabama’s only 46 Short-billed Dowitchers; both Jackson County and Southern Hancock County also found them. Eufaula N.W.R. had Alabama’s only two Long-billed Dowitchers, its fourth record for the species; Jackson County recorded 104, Noxubee N.W.R. one (its first), and Sidon two.

The only Franklin’s Gull was a count week bird at Wheeler Dam. Gulf Shores detected the region’s only Iceland Gull (the circle’s second), a “Thayer’s”. Fort Morgan recorded the region’s only Sandwich Tern. All 24 Black Skimmers were in Southern Hancock County, with the absence on Dauphin Island considered a miss. Gulf Shores averaged 105 Rock Pigeons, but it had only three. Montgomery and Jackson failed to find expected Barred Owls, and Montgomery and Noxubee N.W.R. missed Great Horned Owl. Those misses were somewhat offset by unusual owl finds. Short-eared Owls were found in Mississippi at Arkabutla Lake (twelfth record for the count) and in Eufaula (seventh record). The only Burrowing Owl was on Dauphin Island (second). Gulf Shores found the region’s only Ruby-throated Hummingbird (eighth) and only Black-chinned Hummingbird (eighth). Alabama’s only four Rufous Hummingbirds were in Gulf Shores, although another Rufous was in Cullman during count week; and Mississippi’s two were in Hattiesburg (twelfth),. The region’s only Buff-bellied Hummingbird was in Jackson County (fourth).

Across much of the region, Red-headed Woodpeckers were scarce. Having had in past years up to 83 and fifteen, respectively, Lauderdale and Noxubee N.W.R. missed Red-headeds on count day; Waterloo (one), Wheeler Dam (four), Moon Lake (Lula) (one), Sardis Lake (four) , and Wheeler N.W.R. (two) all had extremely low numbers. Perhaps reflecting the tendency of Red-headed Woodpeckers to relocate, Dahomey – Great River Road found its highest total: fifteen. Also setting a maximum, Dahomey – Great River Road had 115 Red-bellied Woodpeckers; fourteen in Grenada marked an all-time low, and eighteen in Sardis Lake was also low. A similar pattern held for Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, where Dahomey – Great River Road had an all-time high fourteen, while Sardis Lake had a low three (following only one last winter). Wheeler N.W.R. tallied just a single Hairy Woodpecker, and Arkabutla Lake and Moon Lake (Lula) missed this expected species entirely. All six Red-cockaded Woodpeckers were at Noxubee N.W.R. At Dahomey – Great River Road, nineteen Pileated Woodpeckers was the all-time high; although in line with past years, twenty Pileated Woodpeckers established a maximum for Hattiesburg. Dahomey – Great River Road tallied another maximum for a woodpecker with 53 Northern Flickers; Arkabutla Lake had a low six, and Sardis Lake a lowest-ever seven. Vicksburg had its fifth Merlin, and Fort Morgan had its maximum with three. In Eufaula N.W.R., a single Peregrine Falcon provided a fourth record; three other Alabama circles found Peregrines on count day (Gulf Shores, one; Wheeler Dam, one; and Wheeler N.W.R., 2), as did one in Mississippi (Jackson County).

The region’s only Vermilion Flycatchers were six in Southern Hancock County (twenty-fifth record) and two in Gulf Shores (eighth). The only Western Kingbirds were singles on Dauphin Island (eighteenth) and in Southern Hancock County (thirteenth). In recent years, Loggerhead Shrikes have become scarcer; Birmingham, Wheeler N.W.R., and Grenada missed them; Guntersville tallied only two; and, although following twelve years of similarly low numbers, four in Jackson was far below the numbers from the 1980’s. At the same time, Dahomey – Great River Road had a record high 42 shrikes. In Southern Hancock County, ten was a high number of White-eyed Vireos; four Blue-headed Vireos in Washington County South established a new high. On two Mississippi circles, tallies of Blue Jays set record lows: Sardis Lake (23) and Vicksburg (54). Fish Crow were down in Gulf Shores (eleven) but up in Lauderdale County with a record thirteen. Grenada recorded its fewest American Crows (21). Arkabutla Lake reported only nine Horned Larks, slightly fewer than in the past two winters but significantly lower than recent three-digit tallies; 71 in Dahomey – Great River Road established a new minimum and failed to top 100 for only the fourth time. Alabama’s Gulf Coast recorded all the swallows for the state; a Northern Rough-winged on Dauphin Island (fifth); 1210 Tree Swallows at Fort Morgan, 3047 at Gulf Shores and count week bird on Dauphin Island; a single Barn Swallow on Dauphin Island (first) and three at Fort Morgan (second); and a Cave Swallow at Fort Morgan (first). Mississippi’s only swallow was Tree Swallow in three southern counties plus a count week record in Noxubee N.W.R.

In addition to providing a maximum for the Gulf Shores circle, 125 Carolina Chickadees established an all-time maximum for Alabama’s Gulf Coast. In Waterloo, a count of 64 chickadees was only one over its all-time low; eleven at Arkabutla Lake was a minimum, as was the count of fifteen in Grenada; Jackson found a low 32. Wheeler Dam had an all-time high 119 Tufted Titmice, while nearby Guntersville barely exceeded its all-time low with 65. Only a single Brown Creeper was at Artkautla Lake. Only a single Northern House Wren was reported from Birmingham. An unusual Winter Wren was the third for Southern Hancock County; Washington County (South) had an all-time high seven. Two Sedge Wrens gave Arkabutla Lake its fourth record; Brooklyn – Camp Shelby tallied an all-time high 33; and Vicksburg had its highest, also, with seventeen. Gulf Shores had only six Marsh Wrens, but two gave Tuscaloosa its second record, and 46 in Southern Hancock County was rather high. Arkabutla Lake detected an all-time low ten Carolina Wrens; Sardis Lake reported only nineteen; but Jackson had a high 114. At Fort Morgan 44 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers set an all-time high. Although the Brooklyn Camp – Shelby circle is new, its record high 106 Golden-crowned Kinglets is impressive; Fort Morgan had a high count of 26; Sardis Lake detected an all-time low of six.

Moon Lake (Lula) failed to find any expected Hermit Thrushes, and Strawberry Plains had only one. Across the region, American Robin numbers in winter vary greatly, but four Mississippi circles had particularly low counts this season: Jackson County (42), Moon Lake (Lula) (eight – third straight time with fewer than 10); Sardis Lake (an all-time low 2); and Vicksburg (five). Fort Morgan reported an all-time high of 129 Gray Catbirds, and catbirds were also found in three Mississippi circles where they are unusual: Arkabutla Lake (two,second record); Grenada (fourth); and Noxubee N.W.R. (fourth). Grenada and Sidon each had only a single Brown Thrasher; Waterloo, an all-time low four; and Jackson only six, not far below its average over the past ten years; and Dahomey – Great River Road missed the species. Extremely low totals for Northern Mockingbirds were in Hattiesburg, which had two (missed once, but the only other time in single digits), and Sidon, four. Washington County (South) reported a very low 44 European Starlings. American Pipits move around early in the winter, but Auburn failed to find any, and Gulf Shores tallied a low 47; Guntersville set an all-time high with 500. Like pipits, Cedar Waxwings also wander greatly, but three Mississippi circles had low numbers: Dahomey – Great River Road (one); Sardis Lake (two); and Strawberry Plains (two). Wheeler N.W.R. recorded all nineteen of Alabama’s Lapland Longspurs; Mississippi found 32 at Arkabutla Lake, singles at Dahomey – Great River Road and Grenada (twelfth).

For the fourth time, Auburn reported Black-and-white Warbler; Dauphin Island for the fifth time; Eufaula, where they are regular, a high seven; Noxubee N.W.R., its first; and Southern Hancock County, two – its ninth. In Washington County (South), six Orange-crowned Warblers constituted an all-time high. For only the fourth time, Dauphin Island failed to report a Common Yellowthroat. The only American Redstart was in Jackson County, its second. Dauphin Island had the only Cape May Warbler (its first). Birmingham tallied a high ten Palm Warblers; Jackson County,167, one short of its maximum); and Noxubee N.W.R. had one count week (fourth); Southern Hancock County had its first Yellow Palm Warbler. Both Arkabutla Lake and Washington County (South) failed to find expected Pine Warblers; Guntersville detected an all-time low fourteen; Waterloo, an all-time low of three; but Hattiesburg reported 215, its first time with more than 100 since count 96. Guntersville reported only 35 Yellow-rumped Warlbers; Arkabutla Lake, just one; Moon Lake (Lula), only five; and Sidon, seven – in line with the past five winters. The only Yellow-throated Warbler was at Gulf Shores. The region’s only Wilson’s Warbler was in Jackson County.

All the region’s nine Grasshopper Sparrows were at Brooklyn – Camp Shelby. Dauphin Island found Alabama’s only Henslow’s Sparrow (its eighth), while Jackson County tallied twenty, Vicksburg one (its second), and one was at Brooklyn – Camp Shelby count week. No Alabama count reported LeConte’s Sparrow, but in Mississippi, there was one at Artkabutla Lake, four at Brooklyn – Camp Shelby (second record), three at Noxubee N.W.R., four at Sardis Lake, and nine in Vicksburg (fourth). Dauphin Island had the only Nelson’s Sparrow. Seaside Sparrows were only on Dauphin Island (four) and Southern Hancock County (one); it is expected at Jackson Count but was missed. Five circles had markedly low Chipping Sparrow counts: Dauphin Island (eight), Fort Morgan (three), Dahomey – Great River Road (none), Grenada (one); Natchez (two), and Southern Hancock County (thirteen); two others saw many: Birmingham (291) and Wheeler Dam (407, an all-time high). Similarly, Gulf Shores missed Field Sparrow for the first time in fifty-two years, and Sidon also missed it; Arkabutla Lake and Jackson each saw only one; Moon Lake (Lula), three; but Wheeler Dam had an all-time high of 166. In southernmost Alabama Dauphin Island found its fourth Lark Sparrow, and two in Gulf Shores provided its fifth record; no others were located. Wheeler N.W.R. failed for only the thirteenth time to report any Fox Sparrows. Arkabutla reported a low twelve Dark-eyed Juncos; Hattiesburg missed the species; Wheeler Dam tallied an all-time high 322; Cullman noted a leucistic junco. Two circles failed to find expected White-crowned Sparrows on count day: Washington County (South) and Sidon (seen count week). The only Harris’s Sparrow was at Wheeler N.W.R. (its first). While White-throated Sparrows were historically scarce on five circles (Gulf Shores, 20; Arkabutla Lake, all-time low of 68; Grenada, all-time low of 33; Jackson County, nine – one more than lowest; and Sardis Lake, all time low of 74), Wheeler Dam set an all-time high with 577. Gulf Shores narrowly exceeded its all-time low with three Vesper Sparrows; Sidon set an all-time high with 30. Three circles had few Savannah Sparrows: Guntersville, four; Jackson, nine (far below historical averages but in line with past nine years); and Southern Hancock County, fourteen (well below historical averages, but there have been fewer than 100 on each count since the 115th). As with White-throated Sparrows, Song Sparrows were hard to find in several circles (Gulf Shores, eighteen - just four above all-time low; Arkabutla Lake, seventeen – just two over the all-time low; Jackson County, fifteen; and Natchez, 7), but at an all-time high of 248 at Wheeler Dam. The only Lincoln’s Sparrows were two at Fort Morgan (fifth record) and one at Southern Hancock County (its twenty-second). In Guntersville seventeen Swamp Sparrows was one of its lowest tallies, but it has not recorded triple digits since count 106); in Montgomery, ten was far less than the historical average of 139, though five of past six counts have been less than ten; and six in Grenada exceeded only last year’s five. The Montgomery circle’s twenty Eastern Towhees was considerably less than the average of 87.

Gulf Shores detected Alabama’s lone Summer Tanager, its fifth. The only Indigo Bunting was a count week bird on Dauphin Island. Gulf Shores had the region’s only two Painted Buntings, its fifth record. The only Rose-breasted Grosbeak was in Jackson County, its second. A count week Dickcissel was in Natchez, its first; none were found count day. Brooklyn – Camp Shelby reported its highest number of Red-winged Blackbirds, 393; Cullman tallied an all-time low eighteen; Jackson County had a low 276, its third straight year in this range; 29 in Lauderdale County marked an all-time low; four at Sardis Lake was near its minimum; and Eufaula N.W.R. missed this expected species. Arkabutla Lake located the only two Western Meadowlarks, its second. In the past ten years during which Hattiesburg has seen more than nine Eastern Meadowlarks only once, and the circle again had a low count: only one; Natchez had an all-time low four; Strawberry Plains, an all-time low two; Washington County (South), an all-time low seventeen; and Fort Morgan did not find any. In its 52 winters, Washington County (South) has found Brewer’s Blackbirds forty-five times with as many as 637, but it missed them this time. Cullman had an all-time low five Common Grackles; Jackson County just missed an all-time low with two; and Noxubee N.W.R. had but one. For the third time, Eufaula N.W.R. reported Boat-tailed Grackles, a high of 24. Gulf Shores detected the region’s only two Bronzed Cowbirds, the circle’s third, as well as the region’s only two Bullock’s Orioles, the circle’s sixth. Brown-headed Cowbirds were scarce in several Mississippi circles; Jackson County found one; Southern Hancock County, seventeen (fewer than 25 in three of previous four years); Sidon, three (under five for four of previous five counts); and Vicksburg, eighteen. Alabama had twenty Baltimore Orioles, a new Gulf Coast winter maximum of nineteen in Gulf Shores and one in Montgomery. Wheeler Dam had an all-time high 145 House Finches. After finding up to 53 Purple Finches in twenty-five of its twenty-eight counts, Lauderdale County failed to find any. Waterloo had the lone Red Crossbill, the circle’s first. American Goldfinch numbers continue to plummet. For the past ten winters, Dauphin Island has recorded fewer than its historical average of 84 American Goldfinches, but this winter had its lowest, three; similarly, Fort Morgan continued its trend with six American Goldfinches, far fewer than the average 73; Arkabutla Lake and Moon Lake (Lula) each tallied an all-time low two; Natchez, an all-time low of four; Sardis Lake, all-time low of ten; Strawberry Plains, all-time low of nine; and Vicksburg, 27, more than last winter’s twelve but still very low. In five circles, House Sparrows were hard to find; Wheeler Dam had an all-time low ten; Wheeler N.W.R., a low eight; Dahomey – Great River Road, an all-time low six; Lauderdale County, nine; and Strawberry Plains, an all-time low of two; but Southern Hancock County had its highest total ever, 53. All Alabama’s 111 Scaly-breasted Munias were in Gulf Shores, although Dauphin Island recorded one during count week; in Mississippi, Jackson County found one, and Southern Hancock County 32.