The 125th Christmas Bird Count in Alabama and Mississippi

Alabama carried out 13 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 – Nice River Street, 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 extra species. Jackson County led with 142 species, Gulf Shores and Southern Hancock every 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 area a complete of 220 on rely days, plus a further six solely throughout rely week: 5 in Alabama (Magnificent Frigatebird, Brown Booby, Northern Goshawk, Franklin’s Gull, and Indigo Bunting) and one in Mississippi (Lengthy-tailed Duck).

A number of circles famous that they’d not coated all their territory this 12 months. Most importantly and atypically, Tupelo had solely a single celebration of two individuals this 12 months out for a complete of 5 hours and one particular person monitoring a feeder for an hour, leaving many of the territory untouched. Dauphin Island didn’t run the Fowl River route. Southern Hancock County has misplaced entry to a big wetland space that traditionally offered good numbers of dabbling geese; a sector together with sewerage lagoons that did get birded did not yield geese regardless of its traditionally good numbers of scaup and occasional Redhead and Canvasback. The circle additionally famous that as its observers age, they don’t stroll as a lot; which may be true in different circles, too. Nonetheless, effort doesn’t clarify many of the decline in numbers throughout the area. Southern Hancock County noticed a thirty-nine per cent lower within the whole variety of birds from the typical quantity during the last twelve years. Natchez additionally commented that each the whole variety of birds and the whole variety of species have been nicely under its five-year averages of 5111 and 93, respectively. In Gulf Shores, the whole variety of particular person birds was 43,856, under the general imply of 63,000 however near the general median and better than the prior eleven-year imply of 34,000.

As in recent times, waterfowl and sparrow tallies have been significantly low. There are declines each long-term and short-term. Apparently, some compilers deal with modifications from a current interval, whereas others (together with me) primarily take a look at divergence from averages over the lifetime of the rely. In Lauderdale County, far fewer birds have been seen through the afternoon when winds bought sturdy, and excessive winds additionally have been an element at Wheeler N.W.R. Each season, wind and rain have an effect on a number of counts, so they don’t clarify tendencies. An prolonged drought from July by means of December could have been extra vital in Wheeler N.W.R. this season, because it resulted in drastically lowered water ranges in impoundments the place many waterbirds forage throughout winter; its waterfowl numbers throughout December have been the bottom recorded over the previous fifty years.

Along with setting a brand new excessive for the Gulf Shores rely, 458 Black-bellied Whistling-Geese established a brand new Alabama most. Alabama’s solely Better White-fronted Geese have been 45 in Wheeler N.W.R.; they have been discovered 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 occasions; this winter it had a excessive tally of 98, not far in need of its all-time most of 125. Southern Hancock County reported solely eleven Canada Geese, which have been lowering in recent times there; no different rely had numbers low sufficient to mark, though Washington County (South) got here shut. Sardis Lake has had Wooden Geese on forty-five of fifty counts, however this 12 months’s one was its lowest non-zero tally; Wheeler N.W.R. reported a low whole of fifteen, the fewest for the reason that seventy-ninth rely and traditionally low – though not a lot totally different from the previous six years. Jackson had recorded Wooden Geese fifty-nine of sixty-three counts, with as many as 3000, however this 12 months had none. Gadwall numbers have been lowering in Jackson, the place eleven this 12 months was low however considerably larger than two current counts underneath ten; Southern Hancock County additionally had a low six Gadwalls. After as much as 242 Gadwalls on thirty-eight of forty-two counts, Montgomery missed the species this 12 months. Sidon and Washington County (South) every had solely single American Wigeons. Alabama’s solely Mottled Geese have been 4 on Dauphin Island, and all 4 of Mississippi’s have been in Southern Hancock County. Dauphin Island additionally had the one Mallard X Mottled Duck hybrid. Wheeler N.W.R. has recorded as many as 6155 American Black Geese, however this winter had solely 4, yet another than the all-time low. Noxubee N.W.R. had the one American Black Duck X Mallard hybrid. In Noxubee N.W.R. two Blue-winged Teal have been uncommon. Jackson County had a low 4 Blue-wingeds, the fourth time with 4 or much less in final 5 years, which had solely occurred 4 different occasions within the historical past of the rely; 9 occasions tallies exceeded 100, twice three years in a row. Mallards have gotten dramatically scarcer throughout the area. Montgomery missed the species on rely day. Tuscaloosa (one), Lauderdale County (one), Sardis Lake (ten), Vicksburg (two) every had their fewest ever. There have been additionally low totals in Dauphin Island (six), Natchez (two), and Washington County (South) (130; it had 42 final winter however traditionally has largely been within the four-digits and has an all-time excessive of 80,379). Dahomey – Nice River Street established a low of two Northern Shovelers, Jackson County had its third straight low 12 months (38) after twenty-two straight years with greater than 100; and Southern Hancock County had a low 49, lower than one per cent of its all-time most. In Montgomery, 200 Inexperienced-winged Teal established a most.

Sidon set an all-time low with just one Canvasback, having recorded as much as 700 in previous years. After years with as much as 520 Redheads, Gulf Shores discovered none. In Guntersville, 13 Ring-necked Geese was traditionally low though in step with previous six years; Waterloo, which had counted as many as 700, tallied just one; Arkabutla Lake recorded solely 4; Sidon had a low three, however roughly each different 12 months has had single-digit counts; Washington County (South) detected fourteen, one among its few counts this century lower than 100); Sardis Lake had none. Two Better Scaup offered Washington County (South) with solely its sixth CBC document for Better Scaup; in Wheeler Dam, 117 established a brand new most. Dahomey – Nice River Street, which has a most of 3537 Lesser Scaup, discovered a really low two, as did Jackson County, the place the utmost is 4235. Many occasions, Moon Lake (Lula) has tallied greater than 100 Lesser Scaup, and 4 occasions in previous 13 years greater than 1000; it had a low eighteen. Natchez, with 4 counts with greater than 100 Lesser Scaup in final ten years and a most of 1261, failed to seek out any; South Hancock County continued its current pattern with a traditionally low 60; Sardis Lake had none.

Gulf Shores recorded three every of Surf Scoter and White-winged Scoter, the one ones of both species in Alabama. Southern Hancock had Mississippi’s solely Surf Scoter. Within the six circles the place Black Scoter is uncommon, Dauphin Island detected 45 (twelfth document); Southern Hancock County seventeen (thirteenth); and Wheeler Dam and Noxubee N.W.R. every had its second. Gulf Shores established a excessive of 37 Black Scoters. Sardis Lake has had Buffleheads on 38 of fifty counts however missed it. Eufaula N.W.R., which had seen as much as 279 Buffleheads, had two; Guntersville (as much as 357), 5; three in Washington County (South) was an all-time low apart from one time the species was missed. The comparatively new rely (seven years) at Wheeler Dam set a excessive with 94; and Hattiesburg, in its fifty-second winter, set a excessive with 43. Throughout rely week Noxubee N.W.R. had its twelfth Frequent Goldeneye; in Guntersville, 33 was traditionally low, however in step with previous ten years. Sardis Lake noticed a low seven Hooded Mergansers, the fourth straight time with twelve or fewer. Within the Vicksburg circle, the place uncommon, 22 Crimson-breasted Mergansers established a excessive; one other excessive was set by 28 in Noxubee N.W.R.; in Jackson County, final winter’s document low 4 was adopted with a low six, suggesting a shift from the coast inland. The area’s solely Lengthy-tailed Geese have been rely week birds in Natchez.

The one Mississippi circle with Northern Bobwhite was Sardis Lake (27). After years of frequently discovering Wild Turkey, Auburn and Lauderdale County had none. Alabama’s solely Pacific Loon was in Waterloo. Jackson County and Southern Hancock County each had traditionally few Frequent Loons. Dahomey – Nice River Street (two) and Vicksburg (5; third straight 12 months with fewer than 7) had very low numbers of Pied-billed Grebes; Grenada and Moon Lake (Lula) frequently get them however didn’t. In Southern Hancock County, the tally of 9 Horned Grebes was very low. The area’s solely Eared Grebe was one in Hattiesburg. Far in need of the typical of169 and most of 1147, Gulf Shores tallied just one Northern Gannet. The area’s solely Neotropic Cormorant was in Jackson. The area’s solely Magnificent Frigatebird and solely Brown Booby have been each at Fort Morgan throughout rely week. Dahomey – Nice River Street and Sidon every discovered solely single Double-crested Cormorants, whereas Waterloo established an all-time most with 3453. The area’s solely Neotropic Cormorant was in Jackson. Persevering with a pattern of American White Pelicans wintering farther north, Dauphin Island recorded a low 5, whereas Wheeler N.W.R. and Guntersville established maxima with 2078 and 478, respectively; two in Montgomery have been uncommon; their numbers have been very low (4) in Lauderdale County, however the typical winter flock was on a lake exterior the circle.

Alabama’s solely American Bittern was Eufaula N.W.R.; in Mississippi, singles have been at Dahomey – Nice River Street (first) and Southern Hancock County (twenty-second). Three Mississippi circles reported low Nice Blue Heron counts: Arkabutla Lake (seven); Sardis Lake (sixteen), and Vicksburg (eight). Two Mississippi circles established maxima for Nice Egrets: Lauderdale County (227) and Sardis Lake (seventeen, yet another than its low Nice Blue Heron rely). Alabama’s solely Little Blue Heron was at Eufaula N.W.R.; in Mississippi, Jackson County recorded 5 and Southern Hancock County a really low three. Alabama’s solely Tricolored Heron was on Dauphin Island; Mississippi had ten at Jackson County and 6 in Southern Hancock County. The one Reddish Egrets have been two on Dauphin Island and one in Jackson County. The area’s solely Western Cattle Egrets have been 24 at Eufaula N.W.R. Gulf Shores discovered the area’s solely Inexperienced Heron, though Cullman had one throughout rely week. Jackson County had all seven of Mississippi’s Black-crowned Evening-herons; 5 counts in Alabama had them, together with Wheeler Dam with an apparently excessive eight. Birmingham recorded the area’s solely Yellow-crowned Evening-Heron. The place uncommon, 5 White Ibis have been in Dahomey – Nice River Street (fourth) and one in Noxubee N.W.R. rely week; Jackson County had a low 6, and Gulf Shores a excessive 38. Mississippi had the one Plegadis ibis: in Jackson County (second time; three information for Shiny Ibis, two for White-faced), and 60 in Southern Hancock County (second time; one Shiny Ibis document)

4 totally different circles had excessive numbers of Black Vultures: Gulf Shores (151); Waterloo (most of 140); Arkabutla Lake (most of 211); and Southern Hancock County (173, highest since as soon as within the 1980’s). For the brand new Brooklyn – Camp Shelby circle, 4 was the bottom apart from the one time it was missed. Dahomey – Nice River Street (35) and Moon Lake (Lula) (29) set all-time highs for Turkey Vulture, and Washington County (South) was solely two in need of the utmost with 75. Lauderdale County detected an Osprey for the third time, and Tuscaloosa for the fourth; Dauphin Island tied its all-time excessive with 33; and 63 in Gulf Shores established a brand new Alabama most. Dauphin Island missed Sharp-shinned Hawk for under the sixth time. The one Northern Goshawk was at Wheeler Dam throughout rely week. Noxubee N.W.R. set a most with 24 Bald Eagles. Of the three circles with excessive counts for Crimson-shouldered Hawk, Dahomey – Nice River Street and Brooklyn – Camp Shelby set maxima with eleven, and Waterloo was one in need of its most with 13. For the fourth straight winter, Sardis Lake had fewer than ten Crimson-tailed Hawks (three).

Mississippi’s solely two King Rails have been in Jackson County; Alabama discovered 4 in Eufaula N.W.R., two in Fort Morgan, and one in Gulf Shores. Three Virginia Rail offered Noxubee N.W.R. with its ninth Christmas rely document. Southern Hancock County tallied a excessive ten Soras; one rely week in Noxubee N.W.R. was the third. With eleven Frequent Gallinule, Southern Hancock County had its highest whole since eleven in rely 97; Washington County (South) recorded a low one after double digit numbers nearly yearly this century. Whereas 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 seek out any. Three Sandhill Cranes gave Southern Hancock County its eighth document, and Wheeler Dam established a most with 77. Wheeler N.W.R. detected the one fourteen Whooping Cranes within the area.

Solely Mississippi’s Jackson County had Black-necked Stilts (53), although Southern Hancock County reported the species for rely week. The one 4 American Oystercatchers in Alabama have been on Dauphin Island. Gulf Shores recorded the area’s solely Piping Plover, though one was on Dauphin Island throughout rely week. In each Gulf Shores and Jackson County, Black-bellied Plovers have been scarce not too long ago, however this winter’s numbers have been traditionally low; Gulf Shores discovered three (single digits for 9 of the previous ten years), and Jackson County two (has not exceeded ten since rely 114). In 1961, Alabama set a most for Noticed Sandpipers with eleven, which was not matched till this 12 months on Dauphin Island. Jackson County had an all-time excessive of seven, however the quantity was not far out of line. Throughout a lot of the area, Better Yellowlegs confirmed up in unusually excessive numbers; a most 175 at Eufaula N.W.R.; ten in Guntersville (second); a most 47 at Brooklyn – Camp Shelby; a most of 28 in Dahomey – Nice River Street; 28 in Lauderdale County (second); and 22 in Moon Lake (Luna) (sixth). Southern Hancock County discovered a low three Willets. At Moon Lake, 28 Lesser Yellowlegs offered the circle’s third document. A traditionally low three Ruddy Turnstones have been on Dauphin Island. Dauphin Island discovered Alabama’s solely Crimson Knot, and Lauderdale County had Mississippi’s, a excessive whole of 52. The one Stilt Sandpipers have been six at Dahomey – Nice River Street and one in Southern Hancock County, each firsts. For the primary time since rely 108, Dauphin Island had fewer than 100 Sanderlings (46); it often finds greater than 200; Southern Hancock County established a document low with 4. Dauphin Island detected the area’s solely six Western Sandpipers. The circle additionally set a most with 535 Dunlin after solely twice having tallies larger than 400 (each 469). Dauphin Island reported Alabama’s solely 46 Brief-billed Dowitchers; each Jackson County and Southern Hancock County additionally discovered them. Eufaula N.W.R. had Alabama’s solely two Lengthy-billed Dowitchers, its fourth document for the species; Jackson County recorded 104, Noxubee N.W.R. one (its first), and Sidon two.

The one Franklin’s Gull was a rely week fowl at Wheeler Dam. Gulf Shores detected the area’s solely Iceland Gull (the circle’s second), a “Thayer’s”. Fort Morgan recorded the area’s solely Sandwich Tern. All 24 Black Skimmers have been in Southern Hancock County, with the absence on Dauphin Island thought of a miss. Gulf Shores averaged 105 Rock Pigeons, nevertheless it had solely three. Montgomery and Jackson failed to seek out anticipated Barred Owls, and Montgomery and Noxubee N.W.R. missed Nice Horned Owl. These misses have been considerably offset by uncommon owl finds. Brief-eared Owls have been present in Mississippi at Arkabutla Lake (twelfth document for the rely) and in Eufaula (seventh document). The one Burrowing Owl was on Dauphin Island (second). Gulf Shores discovered the area’s solely Ruby-throated Hummingbird (eighth) and solely Black-chinned Hummingbird (eighth). Alabama’s solely 4 Rufous Hummingbirds have been in Gulf Shores, though one other Rufous was in Cullman throughout rely week; and Mississippi’s two have been in Hattiesburg (twelfth),. The area’s solely Buff-bellied Hummingbird was in Jackson County (fourth).

Throughout a lot of the area, Crimson-headed Woodpeckers have been scarce. Having had in previous years as much as 83 and fifteen, respectively, Lauderdale and Noxubee N.W.R. missed Crimson-headeds on rely day; Waterloo (one), Wheeler Dam (4), Moon Lake (Lula) (one), Sardis Lake (4) , and Wheeler N.W.R. (two) all had extraordinarily low numbers. Maybe reflecting the tendency of Crimson-headed Woodpeckers to relocate, Dahomey – Nice River Street discovered its highest whole: fifteen. Additionally setting a most, Dahomey – Nice River Street had 115 Crimson-bellied Woodpeckers; fourteen in Grenada marked an all-time low, and eighteen in Sardis Lake was additionally low. An analogous sample held for Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, the place Dahomey – Nice River Street had an all-time excessive fourteen, whereas Sardis Lake had a low three (following just one final winter). Wheeler N.W.R. tallied only a single Furry Woodpecker, and Arkabutla Lake and Moon Lake (Lula) missed this anticipated species totally. All six Crimson-cockaded Woodpeckers have been at Noxubee N.W.R. At Dahomey – Nice River Street, nineteen Pileated Woodpeckers was the all-time excessive; though in step with previous years, twenty Pileated Woodpeckers established a most for Hattiesburg. Dahomey – Nice River Street tallied one other most for a woodpecker with 53 Northern Sparkles; Arkabutla Lake had a low six, and Sardis Lake a lowest-ever seven. Vicksburg had its fifth Merlin, and Fort Morgan had its most with three. In Eufaula N.W.R., a single Peregrine Falcon offered a fourth document; three different Alabama circles discovered Peregrines on rely day (Gulf Shores, one; Wheeler Dam, one; and Wheeler N.W.R., 2), as did one in Mississippi (Jackson County).

The area’s solely Vermilion Flycatchers have been six in Southern Hancock County (twenty-fifth document) and two in Gulf Shores (eighth). The one Western Kingbirds have been singles on Dauphin Island (eighteenth) and in Southern Hancock County (thirteenth). In recent times, Loggerhead Shrikes have grow to be scarcer; Birmingham, Wheeler N.W.R., and Grenada missed them; Guntersville tallied solely two; and, though following twelve years of equally low numbers, 4 in Jackson was far under the numbers from the 1980’s. On the identical time, Dahomey – Nice River Street had a document excessive 42 shrikes. In Southern Hancock County, ten was a excessive variety of White-eyed Vireos; 4 Blue-headed Vireos in Washington County South established a brand new excessive. On two Mississippi circles, tallies of Blue Jays set document lows: Sardis Lake (23) and Vicksburg (54). Fish Crow have been down in Gulf Shores (eleven) however up in Lauderdale County with a document 13. Grenada recorded its fewest American Crows (21). Arkabutla Lake reported solely 9 Horned Larks, barely fewer than previously two winters however considerably decrease than current three-digit tallies; 71 in Dahomey – Nice River Street established a brand new minimal and did not high 100 for under the fourth time. Alabama’s Gulf Coast recorded all of the swallows for the state; a Northern Tough-winged on Dauphin Island (fifth); 1210 Tree Swallows at Fort Morgan, 3047 at Gulf Shores and rely week fowl 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 solely swallow was Tree Swallow in three southern counties plus a rely week document in Noxubee N.W.R.

Along with offering a most for the Gulf Shores circle, 125 Carolina Chickadees established an all-time most for Alabama’s Gulf Coast. In Waterloo, a rely of 64 chickadees was just one over its all-time low; eleven at Arkabutla Lake was a minimal, as was the rely of fifteen in Grenada; Jackson discovered a low 32. Wheeler Dam had an all-time excessive 119 Tufted Titmice, whereas close by Guntersville barely exceeded its all-time low with 65. Solely a single Brown Creeper was at Artkautla Lake. Solely a single Northern Home Wren was reported from Birmingham. An uncommon Winter Wren was the third for Southern Hancock County; Washington County (South) had an all-time excessive seven. Two Sedge Wrens gave Arkabutla Lake its fourth document; Brooklyn – Camp Shelby tallied an all-time excessive 33; and Vicksburg had its highest, additionally, with seventeen. Gulf Shores had solely six Marsh Wrens, however two gave Tuscaloosa its second document, and 46 in Southern Hancock County was quite excessive. Arkabutla Lake detected an all-time low ten Carolina Wrens; Sardis Lake reported solely nineteen; however Jackson had a excessive 114. At Fort Morgan 44 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers set an all-time excessive. Though the Brooklyn Camp – Shelby circle is new, its document excessive 106 Golden-crowned Kinglets is spectacular; Fort Morgan had a excessive rely of 26; Sardis Lake detected an all-time low of six.

Moon Lake (Lula) failed to seek out any anticipated Hermit Thrushes, and Strawberry Plains had just one. Throughout the area, American Robin numbers in winter fluctuate tremendously, however 4 Mississippi circles had significantly 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 (5). Fort Morgan reported an all-time excessive of 129 Grey Catbirds, and catbirds have been additionally present in three Mississippi circles the place they’re uncommon: Arkabutla Lake (two,second document); Grenada (fourth); and Noxubee N.W.R. (fourth). Grenada and Sidon every had solely a single Brown Thrasher; Waterloo, an all-time low 4; and Jackson solely six, not far under its common over the previous ten years; and Dahomey – Nice River Street missed the species. Extraordinarily low totals for Northern Mockingbirds have been in Hattiesburg, which had two (missed as soon as, however the one different time in single digits), and Sidon, 4. Washington County (South) reported a really low 44 European Starlings. American Pipits transfer round early within the winter, however Auburn failed to seek out any, and Gulf Shores tallied a low 47; Guntersville set an all-time excessive with 500. Like pipits, Cedar Waxwings additionally wander tremendously, however three Mississippi circles had low numbers: Dahomey – Nice River Street (one); Sardis Lake (two); and Strawberry Plains (two). Wheeler N.W.R. recorded all nineteen of Alabama’s Lapland Longspurs; Mississippi discovered 32 at Arkabutla Lake, singles at Dahomey – Nice River Street and Grenada (twelfth).

For the fourth time, Auburn reported Black-and-white Warbler; Dauphin Island for the fifth time; Eufaula, the place they’re common, a excessive 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 excessive. For less than the fourth time, Dauphin Island did not report a Frequent Yellowthroat. The one American Redstart was in Jackson County, its second. Dauphin Island had the one Cape Might Warbler (its first). Birmingham tallied a excessive ten Palm Warblers; Jackson County,167, one in need of its most); and Noxubee N.W.R. had one rely week (fourth); Southern Hancock County had its first Yellow Palm Warbler. Each Arkabutla Lake and Washington County (South) failed to seek out anticipated Pine Warblers; Guntersville detected an all-time low fourteen; Waterloo, an all-time low of three; however Hattiesburg reported 215, its first time with greater than 100 since rely 96. Guntersville reported solely 35 Yellow-rumped Warlbers; Arkabutla Lake, only one; Moon Lake (Lula), solely 5; and Sidon, seven – in step with the previous 5 winters. The one Yellow-throated Warbler was at Gulf Shores. The area’s solely Wilson’s Warbler was in Jackson County.

All of the area’s 9 Grasshopper Sparrows have been at Brooklyn – Camp Shelby. Dauphin Island discovered Alabama’s solely Henslow’s Sparrow (its eighth), whereas Jackson County tallied twenty, Vicksburg one (its second), and one was at Brooklyn – Camp Shelby rely week. No Alabama rely reported LeConte’s Sparrow, however in Mississippi, there was one at Artkabutla Lake, 4 at Brooklyn – Camp Shelby (second document), three at Noxubee N.W.R., 4 at Sardis Lake, and 9 in Vicksburg (fourth). Dauphin Island had the one Nelson’s Sparrow. Seaside Sparrows have been solely on Dauphin Island (4) and Southern Hancock County (one); it’s anticipated at Jackson Rely however was missed. 5 circles had markedly low Chipping Sparrow counts: Dauphin Island (eight), Fort Morgan (three), Dahomey – Nice River Street (none), Grenada (one); Natchez (two), and Southern Hancock County (13); two others noticed many: Birmingham (291) and Wheeler Dam (407, an all-time excessive). Equally, Gulf Shores missed Discipline Sparrow for the primary time in fifty-two years, and Sidon additionally missed it; Arkabutla Lake and Jackson every noticed just one; Moon Lake (Lula), three; however Wheeler Dam had an all-time excessive of 166. In southernmost Alabama Dauphin Island discovered its fourth Lark Sparrow, and two in Gulf Shores offered its fifth document; no others have been positioned. Wheeler N.W.R. failed for under the thirteenth time to report any Fox Sparrows. Arkabutla reported a low twelve Darkish-eyed Juncos; Hattiesburg missed the species; Wheeler Dam tallied an all-time excessive 322; Cullman famous a leucistic junco. Two circles failed to seek out anticipated White-crowned Sparrows on rely day: Washington County (South) and Sidon (seen rely week). The one Harris’s Sparrow was at Wheeler N.W.R. (its first). Whereas White-throated Sparrows have been traditionally scarce on 5 circles (Gulf Shores, 20; Arkabutla Lake, all-time low of 68; Grenada, all-time low of 33; Jackson County, 9 – yet another than lowest; and Sardis Lake, all time low of 74), Wheeler Dam set an all-time excessive with 577. Gulf Shores narrowly exceeded its all-time low with three Vesper Sparrows; Sidon set an all-time excessive with 30. Three circles had few Savannah Sparrows: Guntersville, 4; Jackson, 9 (far under historic averages however in step with previous 9 years); and Southern Hancock County, fourteen (nicely under historic averages, however there have been fewer than 100 on every rely for the reason that a hundred and fifteenth). As with White-throated Sparrows, Track Sparrows have been laborious to seek out in a number of circles (Gulf Shores, eighteen – simply 4 above all-time low; Arkabutla Lake, seventeen – simply two over the all-time low; Jackson County, fifteen; and Natchez, 7), however at an all-time excessive of 248 at Wheeler Dam. The one Lincoln’s Sparrows have been two at Fort Morgan (fifth document) and one at Southern Hancock County (its twenty-second). In Guntersville seventeen Swamp Sparrows was one among its lowest tallies, nevertheless it has not recorded triple digits since rely 106); in Montgomery, ten was far lower than the historic common of 139, although 5 of previous six counts have been lower than ten; and 6 in Grenada exceeded solely final 12 months’s 5. The Montgomery circle’s twenty Japanese Towhees was significantly lower than the typical of 87.

Gulf Shores detected Alabama’s lone Summer season Tanager, its fifth. The one Indigo Bunting was a rely week fowl on Dauphin Island. Gulf Shores had the area’s solely two Painted Buntings, its fifth document. The one Rose-breasted Grosbeak was in Jackson County, its second. A rely week Dickcissel was in Natchez, its first; none have been discovered rely day. Brooklyn – Camp Shelby reported its highest variety of Crimson-winged Blackbirds, 393; Cullman tallied an all-time low eighteen; Jackson County had a low 276, its third straight 12 months on this vary; 29 in Lauderdale County marked an all-time low; 4 at Sardis Lake was close to its minimal; and Eufaula N.W.R. missed this anticipated species. Arkabutla Lake positioned the one two Western Meadowlarks, its second. Prior to now ten years throughout which Hattiesburg has seen greater than 9 Japanese Meadowlarks solely as soon as, and the circle once more had a low rely: just one; Natchez had an all-time low 4; Strawberry Plains, an all-time low two; Washington County (South), an all-time low seventeen; and Fort Morgan didn’t discover any. In its 52 winters, Washington County (South) has discovered Brewer’s Blackbirds forty-five occasions with as many as 637, nevertheless it missed them this time. Cullman had an all-time low 5 Frequent Grackles; Jackson County simply missed an all-time low with two; and Noxubee N.W.R. had however one. For the third time, Eufaula N.W.R. reported Boat-tailed Grackles, a excessive of 24. Gulf Shores detected the area’s solely two Bronzed Cowbirds, the circle’s third, in addition to the area’s solely two Bullock’s Orioles, the circle’s sixth. Brown-headed Cowbirds have been scarce in a number of Mississippi circles; Jackson County discovered one; Southern Hancock County, seventeen (fewer than 25 in three of earlier 4 years); Sidon, three (underneath 5 for 4 of earlier 5 counts); and Vicksburg, eighteen. Alabama had twenty Baltimore Orioles, a brand new Gulf Coast winter most of 19 in Gulf Shores and one in Montgomery. Wheeler Dam had an all-time excessive 145 Home Finches. After discovering as much as 53 Purple Finches in twenty-five of its twenty-eight counts, Lauderdale County failed to seek out any. Waterloo had the lone Crimson Crossbill, the circle’s first. American Goldfinch numbers proceed to plummet. For the previous ten winters, Dauphin Island has recorded fewer than its historic common of 84 American Goldfinches, however this winter had its lowest, three; equally, Fort Morgan continued its pattern with six American Goldfinches, far fewer than the typical 73; Arkabutla Lake and Moon Lake (Lula) every tallied an all-time low two; Natchez, an all-time low of 4; Sardis Lake, all-time low of ten; Strawberry Plains, all-time low of 9; and Vicksburg, 27, greater than final winter’s twelve however nonetheless very low. In 5 circles, Home Sparrows have been laborious to seek out; Wheeler Dam had an all-time low ten; Wheeler N.W.R., a low eight; Dahomey – Nice River Street, an all-time low six; Lauderdale County, 9; and Strawberry Plains, an all-time low of two; however Southern Hancock County had its highest whole ever, 53. All Alabama’s 111 Scaly-breasted Munias have been in Gulf Shores, though Dauphin Island recorded one throughout rely week; in Mississippi, Jackson County discovered one, and Southern Hancock County 32.