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Recent Postings from
Mississippi Birding List

Updated on Tuesday, December 11 at 11:30 AM ET
The most recently received Mail is at the top.

December 11, 2007

Friends------

After my email of 11:56; 10 Dec. to all of you, I have received emails 
back from Bill McGehee (Natchez); Harley Metcalfe (G'ville); Judy Howe 
(Columbus); and Vicki Williams (Goodman) in which they have sent notes 
of small, but steady, sightings of the Loggerhead Shrike.

As a results of these emails, I am sending a return "Foward" to you in 
which I added the MISSBIRD to the list.

A sincere movement has taken place in the Delta by the "Nature 
Conservancy", and other groups, to purchase parts of environmental areas 
for protection. It has been very successful.

The Delta is a unique, beautiful country, and we seem to be starting to 
care for it properly.

In my opinion, the population of our wildlife is stabilizing and is 
certainly worth protecting.


Ed Alex-----
Greenville

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	My LOSH card I sent earlier
Date: 	Mon, 10 Dec 2007 11:56:
From: 	Ed alexander 
To: 	gsknight , Nick Winstead 
, G.Edward Alexander,Jr. 






December 10, 2007

Hi Gene------

In gathering my stuff on the Loggerhead Shrike together:

Reviewing the events shown below:

This was a review of my Engineering work as a partner with the County 
Engineer inspecting under
 bridges in Washington County.

My card did not reflect the condition of the bridge-----just the 
presence above on the wire.

My notes dictate:
"9/10/74 & 9/23/74--totals of 3 (1-levee N. G'ville & 2 - L. Washington)
10/1/76 - all day trip through County - 4 for day; again on 12/10 - 3"

(Copied from my card,)


My opinion ? - looks like all is about the same.

Ed Alex-----
Greenville





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Missbirders,
Please note that the listserv will be unavailable from
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messages during those days. 
Thanks,
Martha

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Martha Swan
1665 Toccopola Jct. Rd.
Thaxton, MS 38871

For the past five days, I've had a great number of Robins and Cedar 
Waxwings at my two bird baths.

Twixt bathing and drinking, they're using almost eight (8) gallons of 
water per day.

Anyone else experiencing the same?

Ken Bonnell
Greenville


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I, too, have seen a Loggerhead shrike on a street sign at the corner of
County Line Road and I-55 on the edge of Jackson, MS.  I'm always surprised
at the traffic birds will tolerate. 
Vicki Williams
Attala Co.
Goodman, MS 

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-missbird AT willow.olemiss.edu
[mailto:owner-missbird AT willow.olemiss.edu] On Behalf Of harleyiii
Sent: Sunday, December 09, 2007 12:23 PM
To: missbird AT willow.olemiss.edu
Subject: [MISSBIRD] Loggerhead shrike

I saw one yesterday while at the stoplight at the busy intersection of
highway 1 and 82 in Greenville. There seems to be good numbers of them here
in the Delta.
Also an immature bald eagle was reported to me yesterday, by a friend, in
the city limits of Greenville on Cypress Lane.
Harley Metcalfe

I took a look at the Natchez CBC records for the last 20 counts and  see no 
indication that shrike populations are down in our area. Most CBC  shrike 
counts were about 25 - 30 for our circle. For the most recent 107th CBC we had 

only 8 but we had fewer participants and fewer  participant hours than usual, 
plus high wind and horizontal rain for much of the  day so all species numbers 
were down. For the 105th CBC we tallied 38, the second highest in twenty years. 

 
Bill McGehee



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I saw one yesterday while at the stoplight at the busy intersection of highway 
1 and 82 in Greenville. There seems to be good numbers of them here in the 
Delta. 

Also an immature bald eagle was reported to me yesterday, by a friend, in the 
city limits of Greenville on Cypress Lane. 

Harley Metcalfe

While birding in Hancock County Dec. 4 we had six loggerhear shrikes - the most 
I have seen in one day in a very long time. 


JoRee Pease

The message is ready to be sent with the following file or link 
attachments: Loggerhead Shrike2 Note: To protect against computer 
viruses, e-mail programs may prevent sending or receiving certain types 
of file attachments. Check your e-mail security settings to determine 
how attachments are handled.

I saw a loggerhead shrike at Prairie Waters Tuesday.

Judy Howle
Southern Exposures
http://southern-exposures.net
Digital Photography Class
http://digitalphotographyclass.net

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: knights 
  To: Nick Winstead 
  Cc: MISSBIRD 
  Sent: Sunday, December 09, 2007 10:45 AM
  Subject: Re: [MISSBIRD] Bird population estimates for Mississippi


  Nick and Missbirders:

 I looked up the population in MS for one species that I have seen plummet 
drastically over the past 5 years...the LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE. The PIF breeding 
season estimation is 80,000 birds!!!!!!! for the whole state of MS. That is 
almost 1000 birds per county!!!!!! Of course that figure is outrageous!!! Some 
counties have more and some have less. I can hardly find 10 birds in my county 
of Lafayette.....which I couldn't do 25 years ago. The delta region may have 
the largest number of breeding pairs in MS. I propose that all birders in MS 
make special efforts this coming Spring and Summer to pay special attention to 
the shrike numbers in their areas/counties and report them to Nick, Missbird, 
and the MS Ornithological Society. This is only 1 species that I checked on in 
the PIF database mainly because I have wondered about the shrike's demise. 


  Gene Knight
  Oxford, MS

December 09, 2007

Re: Jeff Wilson-----& Mike Todd and the knights.

As usual, I enjoyed your delightful (and most informative) writing of a 
wonderful subject !!! I will look foward to placing this into my 
BirdLibrary.

NOW-----I would love to have some sort of map that shows me where all 
these events occur Any hope of my receiving this ??

Thanks alot !!

Ed Alex------
Greenville

Nick and Missbirders:

I looked up the population in MS for one species that I have seen plummet 
drastically over the past 5 years...the LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE. The PIF breeding 
season estimation is 80,000 birds!!!!!!! for the whole state of MS. That is 
almost 1000 birds per county!!!!!! Of course that figure is outrageous!!! Some 
counties have more and some have less. I can hardly find 10 birds in my county 
of Lafayette.....which I couldn't do 25 years ago. The delta region may have 
the largest number of breeding pairs in MS. I propose that all birders in MS 
make special efforts this coming Spring and Summer to pay special attention to 
the shrike numbers in their areas/counties and report them to Nick, Missbird, 
and the MS Ornithological Society. This is only 1 species that I checked on in 
the PIF database mainly because I have wondered about the shrike's demise. 


Gene Knight
Oxford, MS
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Nick Winstead 
  To: MISSBIRD 
  Sent: Wednesday, November 28, 2007 3:06 PM
  Subject: [MISSBIRD] Bird population estimates for Mississippi


 Partners in Flight has created a webpage (http://rmbo.org/pif_db/laped/) where 
you can view breeding bird population estimates for landbirds at multiple 
scales. The scales include continental, bird conservation region (BCR), each 
state's portion of each BCR, or statewide. So for Mississippi, you can see what 
the population estimates are statewide, for the Delta (BCR 26) or for the rest 
of the state (BCR 27). These data are based on the results of the Breeding Bird 
Survey, which I've posted about on MISSBIRD before. The Breeding Bird Survey is 
our best way of estimating populations and deciding which species are in 
trouble. There are a lot of assumptions in the estimations, but they're at 
least a good starting point. It's pretty interesting to look at some of the 
numbers. For example, did you know that Mississippi is estimated to have 10% of 
the world's population of Hooded and Prothonotary Warblers? 


 These are, of course, estimates. So if you think you see something that isn't 
quite right, please let me know. We're trying to tweak the figures to reflect 
the most accurate information available. From just a cursory look, I know there 
are some things that can be updated. We know of at least 100 Bald Eagles 
nesting in the state instead of the 40 listed. There are no estimates for 
Yellow-throated Warblers in the Delta due to a lack of BBS routes with 
detections in the Delta. There are some very rare species, like Mississippi 
Sandhill Crane and Swallow-tailed Kite that don't show up well on the BBS, 
therefore didn't make it into the estimates. We probably have fair estimates 
for some of these through special projects unrelated to the BBS that we can use 
to help update the estimates. Most of the problems with the database are a 
reflection of the relatively few BBS routes we have in Mississippi and the fact 
that we don't always have people to run all of them every year. 


 So if you get a chance, take a look at it and see what you think. Let me know 
if you have any comments or questions. 


  Nick


  Nick Winstead
  Ornithologist
  Mississippi Dept. of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks
  Museum of Natural Science
  2148 Riverside Drive
  Jackson Mississippi 39202
  Phone:, ext. 108
  Fax:
  http://www.mdwfp.com/museum/

Missbirders,

There was a single Eared Grebe on the front pond this morning.  The back
pond had a single White Pelican, the first I have seen in Tupelo.

Wayne Patterson
Shannon, MS  Lee Co.

December 08, 2007


Hi Dub------

I am unable to properly read my computer after late A.M.------BUT-----I 
know all about dealing with hummingbirds after catching them in my 
nets----(no longer in operation of open nets)

Over the last many years, I have been able to take the bird out of my 
net, and carefully turn it over into my palm-----and hold it as long as 
I am motionless  !!------an interesting experiance !!


Ebby

Just when I thought my backyard bird watching was not very interesting, this 
morning I saw my first ever yellow-bellied sapsucker. At first I thought it 
was a downy woodpecker, then I saw the long white band on the wings.

Other birds that I've had the past week are brown-headed nuthatch, mounring 
dove, cardinal, chickadee, titmouse, blue jay, mockingbird, Carolina wren, 
chipping sparrow,  dark-eyed junco, and towhee.

Becky Ryder
Hattiesburg, MS
hryder29 AT comcast.net 

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Location:     Tunica Cnty Catfish Farms
Observation date:     12/2/07
Notes:     Went down to the catfish ponds in Tunica County.
Lousey weather for
bird watching, Very windy, and rain squalls coming through.
Strings of
Cormorants overhead constantly at first stop. Lots of ducks
at one time far to
the east over and above but the rain and fog prevented
longdistance ID. Started
with the ponds at Limerick & Rt 4. GB Herons feeding on the
catfish. Huge roost
south of the ponds about 3/4 mile down the rd in a wetland
area w/deadtimber.
Impressive that many Herons together at this time of year.
But then again the
dinner table is always set. Moved on to Sarah Rd and then
Walnut Lake Rd. Walnut
Lake didn't have one bird on it. However some of the farmers
have started to
flood fields and one had a good number of various ducks on
it. Finished off with
a look at the ponds o n Gum Pond Rd. N side. The few ponds
that can be seen from
the rd held alot of Scaup and some Mallards and a few
Canvassback.
Number of species:     17

Gadwall     10
Mallard     61
Northern Shoveler     1
Northern Pintail     12
Canvasback     3
Lesser Scaup     313
Hooded Merganser     63
Ruddy Duck     33
Double-crested Cormorant     200
Great Blue Heron     119
Osprey     1
Red-tailed Hawk     2
American Kestrel     4
Killdeer     3
Eurasian Collared-Dove     48
Mourning Dove     29
Belted Kingfisher     1

	


Martha Swan
1665 Toccopola Jct. Rd.
Thaxton, MS 38871

DEC. 2, 2007

MS RV, Ensley Bottoms

Shelby Co. TN

Tunica Co, MS

 

 

I met the Harboldt's from Jackson TN, down at Mud Island and
the gray skies and howling wind made for unsteady conditions
but we were Rewarded..........I first came across 3
Goldeneye (2m/1f) floating downstream and a few Bufflehead
but no Peregrines, they may have been blow off their
perches.

 

Finally, down the river floated a Lesser Scaup, a female
Red-breasted Merganser and THE SURF SCOTER!! We could not
find any Black Scoter but we had a back up bird waiting.

 

I had talked to QB Gray about looking for the Black Scoter
at TVA Lake and when I pulled up, almost the first bird I
came across was the sleeping Black Scoter. The wind made for
difficult looks but the ID points were well seen by all. QB
had been there and been enjoying the bobbing bird for some
time from his truck.

 

Next stop was for the Thayer's Gulls in Tunica Co. Again we
had to stand behind the truck in order not to be blown,
tumbling down the road but we had great looks at one of the
Thayer's and poor looks at the other. We also had good
comparative shots at both Herring and Thayer's in the air.
You can see some nice photos taken by Mike on Saturday
starting at:   http://www.pbase.com/mctodd/image/ 

 

One of the Rough-legged Hawks was barely holding on to it's
thin little branch at the top of it's favorite tree and put
on quite a show as it hunted, kiting right in front of us.
After much searching for western Meadowlarks, I had about a
dozen birds fly across the road but they would not stand for
being looked at by strangers but they will stay in that area
for better looks. Had a few scattered Lapland flocks but
they were hunkered in pretty tight.

 

We met a couple of other birders from Memphis and started an
evening vigil in the rain but what an abundant pay-off for
our efforts. At one time we had Sandhill Cranes going to
roost and calling, over 50 Harriers flying over the roost
field, Snow, Ross's and Greater White-fronted Geese going
over by the thousands, 2-300 Lapland Longspurs flying over
giving their occasional "tew" notes and finally the first of
and in great light, over 30 Short-eared Owls that called and
chased Harrier Hawks and left the field for over 30 minutes,
until too dark to see but they called and called. Never let
the weather keep you in the house...................

 

ONE DAMP FINE DAY!! 

 
 
Good Birding !!!

Jeff R. Wilson / TLBA
6300 Memphis-Arlington Road
Bartlett, TN 38135
http://www.pbase.com/ol_coot/
What is this feathered thing that lifts my heart to the
heavens.




Martha Swan
1665 Toccopola Jct. Rd.
Thaxton, MS 38871

Missbirders,
Recently a few (not all) Internet providers rejected
postings from Missbird. I'm reposting the messages I caught
- they will be duplicates for some of you.
Martha

Dear Birders,



Th Vicksburg CBC will occur on 22 December
2007 and the Tensas River CBC will occur on 5 January 2008. 



Please let me (or Bruce Reid - breid AT audubon.org)
know if you can participate in either of these bird counts.
A compilation
will be at the USGS/FWS office following the Vicksburg
count.



If you know of others who may wish to participate,
please forward this message. Thank you.



Dan Twedt

USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center

2524 South Frontage Road, Vicksburg, MS
39180
 (Fax )

Martha Swan
1665 Toccopola Jct. Rd.
Thaxton, MS 38871

Thank you to those who examined the "golden eagle" pictures and determined
there were field marks there for an immature bald eagle.

As a photographer, I can't argue with getting bald eagle pictures.

Mark Goodman
Starkville

The Arkabutla CBC will take place on Thursday, December 27, 2007. Contact Van 
Harris,. 


Van Harris
Millington, TN

Reposting for Mark Goodman - the attached photo made the
message too large to deliver to Missbird. Please contact him
directly (sps642460 AT gmail.com) if you would like to see the
photo.

Missbirders

I took this photographs on Nov. 21 at Noxubee Refuge.  The
bill indicates an
eagle and the lack of white in the tail feathers eliminates
a bald eagle.
Therefore, I have identified the bird as a golden eagle,
which do appear in
the winter at the refuge.

Mark Goodman
Starkville

Martha Swan
1665 Toccopola Jct. Rd.
Thaxton, MS 38871

Like a rare Mississippi Delta snowstorm, an immature male Rufous was 
here a while. A trap was set, but it didn't go in and left for the rest 
of that day. Came back a few more times, but has not been seen for a 
week now.

Like snow, it was nice while it lasted.

Ken Bonnell
Greenville


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Dear Birders,

Th Vicksburg CBC will occur on 22 December 2007 and the Tensas River CBC 
will occur on 5 January 2008. 

Please let me (or Bruce Reid - breid AT audubon.org) know if you can 
participate in either of these bird counts. A compilation will be at the 
USGS/FWS office following the Vicksburg count.

If you know of others who may wish to participate, please forward this 
message. Thank you.

Dan Twedt
USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
2524 South Frontage Road, Vicksburg, MS 39180
 (Fax )
http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/staff/profiles/documents/twedt.htm

Reposting for Mark Goodman - the attached photo made the
message too large to deliver to Missbird. Please contact him
directly (sps642460 AT gmail.com) if you would like to see the
photo.

Missbirders

I took this photographs on Nov. 21 at Noxubee Refuge.  The
bill indicates an
eagle and the lack of white in the tail feathers eliminates
a bald eagle.
Therefore, I have identified the bird as a golden eagle,
which do appear in
the winter at the refuge.

Mark Goodman
Starkville

Martha Swan
1665 Toccopola Jct. Rd.
Thaxton, MS 38871

December 03, 2007

I would be glad to enter you into my BirdLibrary, but I need yourr 
Name(s) and Addresses.

Thanks.

Ed Alex------
Greenville

The Jackson CBC will be Sat Dec 29. Please let me know ASAP if you will be 
counting. Thanks, Mary 

 
Mary P. Stevens
Museum Librarian
Mississippi Museum of Natural Science
2148 Riverside Drive
Jackson, MS  /
Fax: 601/
email: library AT mmns.state.ms.us

All,

 The winter hummer season has started in Carriere MS, I had the pleasure of 
banding 

a AHY/Female Rufous, HY/Female Black-chinned and HY/Male Black-chinned this 
weekend at my home. 

Nothing like those orange-red, or violet colored gorget feathers to give you a 
hint as to what you might have... 

The flowers are still everywhere, which teaches perseverance in the chase. I 
have reported Hummingbirds 

from the Diamondhead area to check.  
Keep watching your feeders, and let us know... be glad to visit you !!

  James Bell
  HBSG Bander
  Carriere, MS
  jbellbirds AT bellsouth.net
   

Or drop Bob Sargent a note

Dear Birders,

Th Vicksburg CBC will occur on 22 December 2007 and the Tensas River CBC 
will occur on 5 January 2008. 

Please let me (or Bruce Reid - breid AT audubon.org) know if you can 
participate in either of these bird counts. A compilation will be at the 
USGS/FWS office following the Vicksburg count.

If you know of others who may wish to participate, please forward this 
message. Thank you.

Dan Twedt
USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
2524 South Frontage Road, Vicksburg, MS 39180
 (Fax )
http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/staff/profiles/documents/twedt.htm

Ed,

You can add my name to the list of folks with Red Breasted Nuthatchs at
their feeder.  I've seen it several times today.

Also I forgot to report yesterday an almost mature Bald Eagle circling
over downtown Tupelo.  Had the white head but tail had not turned and was
also mottled underneath.  Not the same bird I saw two week ago at the
Treatment Plant as that one was a mature bird.

Wayne

DEC. 2, 2007
Shelby Co. TN
Tunica Co. MS
 
Here are a few photos of some of the birds we were fortunate to see  
yesterday. Mike Todd and Gene Knight will have better photos of the Thayer's 
Gulls 

later. Got to go now and find some of them feathered  Yankees hiding in the 
hinterland.
 
Try:         _http://www.pbase.com/ol_coot/image//medium_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/ol_coot/image//medium)    

Good Birding  !!!

Jeff R. Wilson / TLBA
6300 Memphis-Arlington Road
Bartlett, TN  38135
http://www.pbase.com/ol_coot/
What is this feathered thing that  lifts my heart to the heavens.




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products.
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DEC. 2, 2007
Shelby Co. TN
Tunica Co. MS
 
Here are a few photos of some of the birds we were fortunate to see  
yesterday. Mike Todd and Gene Knight will have better photos of the Thayer's 
Gulls 

later. Got to go now and find some of them feathered  Yankees hiding in the 
hinterland.
 
Try:         _http://www.pbase.com/ol_coot/image//medium_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/ol_coot/image//medium)    
Good Birding  !!!

Jeff R. Wilson / TLBA
6300 Memphis-Arlington Road
Bartlett, TN  38135
http://www.pbase.com/ol_coot/
What is this feathered thing that  lifts my heart to the heavens.




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_____________________________________________________________

DEC. 1, 2007
Crittenden Co. AR
Shelby Co. TN
Tunica Co. TN
 
Christmas came today in all three states, at least for Mike Todd and the  
Ol'Coot........... We started with 2 Adult PEREGRINE FALCONS perched up on 
Dacus 

Bar, then 6 Buffleheads floating down the river with an immature, male SURF  
SCOTER. This bird took flights up and down the river in front of us. Mike  
spotted another dark duck on the far side of the river, under the bridge (the  
bird was in AR waters) and it turned into a female/immature type BLACK SCOTER  
that eventually moved into TN waters. We went to Presidents Island passing the 

11,000 runners doing the St. Jude Run going in the opposite direction, with  
us feeling like Salmon going against the current. There we had over 3,000+  
Eurasian Collared Doves at the numerous grain elevators.
 
At TVA Lake in Ensley Bottoms, we counted 300+ Lesser Scaup, 72 Greater  
Scaup, another BLACK SCOTER hiding with head tucked, 14 Redhead, 12 Hooded, 16 

Ring-necked, 12 Gadwall, 2 Canvasback, Coots, Pied-billed Grebes and 24  
Ring-billed Gulls, 2 DC Cormorants on the water and strings going  overhead. 
 
At Robco and Coro Lakes we photographed a late OSPREY. Then started  scopeing 
through the 8,000 Lesser Scaup ( we both agreed there were probably  many 
more than that) only 50 Greaters that we could see, plus 350 Ring-necked,  21 
Gadwall, 2 Green-winged Teal, 1,000 Ruddy, 12 Canvasback, 12 Bufflehead, 4  
Shoveler, 5 Pied-bill, 21 DC Cormorants and 200+ Ring-billed Gulls.
 
In Tunica Co. Mississippi, we ran up on Gene and Shannon Knight looking  over 
a huge flock of gulls near the dump. We ended up estimating a mere 10,000  
gulls in view at one time. Mike came up with an immature THAYER'S and I soon  
added another. We had both standing next to each other and in flight for  
comparison with the Herring Gulls present. The last time I was with Gene and  
Shannon down there we had 2 Thayer's a couple of years ago. We all got pretty 
good 

photos of these MS rarities. For the day Mike picked up a Light Morph  
Harlan's which is a real rare bird, we also had a dark Harlan's and a dark 
morph 

plus adult and immature Krider's Red-tails.
 
We went over to the area where I had found 3 immature and 1 dark  morph 
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK a couple of weeks ago. We soon had the 3 immature birds in 
view 

at one time and then I picked up on a distant bird heading  right at us 
showing a white leading edge to it's wings, when it landed BINGO. it was an 
adult 

Light Morph ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK. That makes 5 different  Rough-legs seen in this 
one field. 
 
Not to be out done, Gene picked up another bird and this time when it cut  
right across in front of us we all three yelled FERRUGINOUS as we viewed both  
upper and lower wing pattern plus the tail color. The bird kept going  east, 
I'll look for it tomorrow. This is the same field that I found the Ferruginous 

Hawk in on December 31, 2004!!
 
Mike and I decided we would put the Harriers to bed in a nearby field, but  
suddenly we heard the SANDHILL CRANES  going to roost and had 33 pass by.  We 
lost count of Harriers diving into the straw stubble at 46 when Mike spotted  
an AMERICAN BITTERN dropping in the same field. We then had over 24 fluttering 

and calling SHORT-EARED OWLS. I managed to call in one that hovered  over my 
head trying to figure out where that squeaky mouse was hiding and I got  one 
photo with my flash.
 
It was one HECK of a birding day!!!!! Great Birds and GREAT  
Company............  

Good Birding  !!!

Jeff R. Wilson / TLBA
6300 Memphis-Arlington Road
Bartlett, TN  38135
http://www.pbase.com/ol_coot/
What is this feathered thing that  lifts my heart to the heavens.




**************************************Check out AOL's list of 2007's hottest 
products.
(http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?NCID=aoltop00030000000001)

DEC. 1, 2007
Crittenden Co. AR
Shelby Co. TN
Tunica Co. TN
 
Christmas came today in all three states, at least for Mike Todd and the  
Ol'Coot........... We started with 2 Adult PEREGRINE FALCONS perched up on 
Dacus 

Bar, then 6 Buffleheads floating down the river with an immature, male SURF  
SCOTER. This bird took flights up and down the river in front of us. Mike  
spotted another dark duck on the far side of the river, under the bridge (the  
bird was in AR waters) and it turned into a female/immature type BLACK SCOTER  
that eventually moved into TN waters. We went to Presidents Island passing the 

11,000 runners doing the St. Jude Run going in the opposite direction, with  
us feeling like Salmon going against the current. There we had over 3,000+  
Eurasian Collared Doves at the numerous grain elevators.
 
At TVA Lake in Ensley Bottoms, we counted 300+ Lesser Scaup, 72 Greater  
Scaup, another BLACK SCOTER hiding with head tucked, 14 Redhead, 12 Hooded, 16 

Ring-necked, 12 Gadwall, 2 Canvasback, Coots, Pied-billed Grebes and 24  
Ring-billed Gulls, 2 DC Cormorants on the water and strings going  overhead. 
 
At Robco and Coro Lakes we photographed a late OSPREY. Then started  scopeing 
through the 8,000 Lesser Scaup ( we both agreed there were probably  many 
more than that) only 50 Greaters that we could see, plus 350 Ring-necked,  21 
Gadwall, 2 Green-winged Teal, 1,000 Ruddy, 12 Canvasback, 12 Bufflehead, 4  
Shoveler, 5 Pied-bill, 21 DC Cormorants and 200+ Ring-billed Gulls.
 
In Tunica Co. Mississippi, we ran up on Gene and Shannon Knight looking  over 
a huge flock of gulls near the dump. We ended up estimating a mere 10,000  
gulls in view at one time. Mike came up with an immature THAYER'S and I soon  
added another. We had both standing next to each other and in flight for  
comparison with the Herring Gulls present. The last time I was with Gene and  
Shannon down there we had 2 Thayer's a couple of years ago. We all got pretty 
good 

photos of these MS rarities. For the day Mike picked up a Light Morph  
Harlan's which is a real rare bird, we also had a dark Harlan's and a dark 
morph 

plus adult and immature Krider's Red-tails.
 
We went over to the area where I had found 3 immature and 1 dark  morph 
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK a couple of weeks ago. We soon had the 3 immature birds in 
view 

at one time and then I picked up on a distant bird heading  right at us 
showing a white leading edge to it's wings, when it landed BINGO. it was an 
adult 

Light Morph ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK. That makes 5 different  Rough-legs seen in this 
one field. 
 
Not to be out done, Gene picked up another bird and this time when it cut  
right across in front of us we all three yelled FERRUGINOUS as we viewed both  
upper and lower wing pattern plus the tail color. The bird kept going  east, 
I'll look for it tomorrow. This is the same field that I found the Ferruginous 

Hawk in on December 31, 2004!!
 
Mike and I decided we would put the Harriers to bed in a nearby field, but  
suddenly we heard the SANDHILL CRANES  going to roost and had 33 pass by.  We 
lost count of Harriers diving into the straw stubble at 46 when Mike spotted  
an AMERICAN BITTERN dropping in the same field. We then had over 24 fluttering 

and calling SHORT-EARED OWLS. I managed to call in one that hovered  over my 
head trying to figure out where that squeaky mouse was hiding and I got  one 
photo with my flash.
 
It was one HECK of a birding day!!!!! Great Birds and GREAT  
Company............  
Good Birding  !!!

Jeff R. Wilson / TLBA
6300 Memphis-Arlington Road
Bartlett, TN  38135
http://www.pbase.com/ol_coot/
What is this feathered thing that  lifts my heart to the heavens.




**************************************Check out AOL's list of 2007's hottest 
products.
(http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?NCID=aoltop00030000000001)


=================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBER=====================

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Aerial photos to complement google maps http://local.live.com

_____________________________________________________________

Missbirders,

Today I took the yearly  to Tunica Co. in search of the Rough Legged
Hawks.  Like QB I only saw one but that's all it takes to get a lifer
right?  Thanks Jeff and QB.  Also in the area were 42 Sandhill Cranes. 
Only saw one small flock of Lapland Longspurs.  The wind was a bit high
but other than that a great day to be out.

Wayne Patterson
Shannon, MS  Lee Co.

MISBIRDERS:

We birded the Tunica fields where the Rough-legged Hawks have been seen lately 
and were joined by Jeff Wilson and Mike Todd of TN. We found 2 juvenile 
THAYER'S GULLS near the Tunica Dump in a flock of several thousand Ring-billed 
Gulls. Then went back to Buck Island Road area and located the RL Hawks. 
Suddenly there were 3...all light phase showing the black belly and black wrist 
patches. And shortly a 4th bird not showing the black belly but had the obvious 
black wrist patch making it an adult male!!!! This makes 5 RL Hawks seen in 
this area over the past 2 weeks!! 

AND then along came a FERRUGINOUS HAWK!!!! It is hard to believe that we were 
standing in a field in MS. Jeff will post more on his findings after we left he 
and Mike watching for Short-eared Owls. 



Gene & Shannon Knight
Oxford, MS
gsknight AT dixie-net.com

This page was sent to you by: jsb8 AT webtv.net.

N.Y.Times, Dec. l, 2007. F Y I


OPINION | December 1, 2007
Editorial: Endangered Species

Americans have the ability to save many of the bird species that are in most 
serious trouble by the wise use of the Endangered Species Act. 



http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/01/opinion/01sat4.html?ex=&en=95c685811c1ea96d&ei=5070&emc=eta1 





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ABOUT THIS E-MAIL
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Copyright 2007 The New York Times Company

Reposting again for Matthew Brooks - if this is a duplicate,
please let me know at my personal email address. I removed
some links in case they were causing a problem. Please
contact Matt if you are interested.

Dear Miss Birders,
>
> I am working on a research project in De Soto NF looking
> at wintering grassland bird habitats.  I will be
> conducting line-transect surveys this winter starting the
> first of December and continuing through early March.  My
> work is entirely dependent on volunteers;  needing 3
> people every time I survey.  I will also be catching and
banding 
> some birds like Bachman's Sparrows, Henslow's
> Sparrows, and Le Conte's Sparrows.  This is a great time
> to get in some grassland birding and see some of these
> rarer species up close and personal.  I will be surveying
> almost every weekend and can always use a hand. 

 I am available at
> the phone number below or by email if anyone has any
> questions.  My sites are all in longleaf pine savanna, the
> work is fun, the people are great, and it always involves
> LOTS of birding.  Please let me know if you you would like
> to come out.  Thanks.
>
> Matt Brooks
>
> Matthew E. Brooks
> School of Renewable Natural Resources
> 227 RNR Building
> Louisiana State University
> Baton Rouge, LA 70803
>
> mbrook5 AT lsu.edu


Martha Swan
1665 Toccopola Jct. Rd.
Thaxton, MS 38871

MISSBIRDers:

Its time to send your fall (August-November) season records to me.  They
should reach me by 15 December or sooner in order to insure that they make
the deadline for the fall season report in "North American Birds" (aka
"Field Notes", aka "American Birds").  Records received after this date can
still be included in "Birds Around the State", but timely submission of
records is strongly encouraged.  Drop me an E-mail if you need any blank
"Bird Record Cards" or "Rare Bird Report Forms" on which to submit your
records.  We'd love to have your records.

What bird records should be turned in?  Turn in any records of uncommon or
rare species, arrival or departure dates, unusual numbers of individuals, or
any other record of interest. Your record can have state-wide significance
or just be a good record for your neck of the woods.  Records of species on
the Mississippi Review List should be submitted with full details as on a
"Rare Bird Report Form".

All records submitted are archived and become part of the permanent file of
bird records available for the future study of Mississippi Birds.  Note
that birds reported in your posts to MISSBIRD do NOT become part of
Mississippi's ornithological record unless you also submit the record on a
Bird Record Card (or similar card) or Rare Bird Report Form.

Thanks.

Terry

-- 
Terence Lee Schiefer
Mississippi Entomological Museum
Box 9775
Mississippi State, MS 
ph: (W); (H)
FAX:
email: tschiefer AT entomology.msstate.edu

Martha Swan
1665 Toccopola Jct. Rd.
Thaxton, MS 38871

November 30, 2007


Hi Judy !!!

Congratulation on  your "2007 Winners and Finalists" selection on the 
Great Backyard Bird Count. It is a Beautiful photo of our Cardinal.

I know all about dealing with the Cornell Laboratory of 
Ornithology----and more specifically the U.S Geological 
Survey---Biological Research Division (Bird Banding). It goes back to 
1980 with me when computers were not precisely completed. It has been an 
interesting adventure !!

Again-----congratulations------Beautiful picture----wish it was larger 
for my wall.


Ed Alex-----
Greenville

P.S. I told mysel not to burden my friends with remembering things with 
my love of birds, BUT---
The Cardinal was the largest bird that I banded under my "Western MS 
Study of Migratory Warblers"-----of course, this is not a warbler, but I 
often caught them in my nets. It is a bird with a VERY sharp beak!! It 
took me several years to learn how to handle them without gloves.

I'm trying to find a date and contact info for the Jackson County CBC,
not Jackson city.  I think it must be the Biloxi area, but I'm
guessing.  Thanks   JP

-- 
J Pat Valentik
Huntsville, AR 72740

I failed to mention BCR 37 (Gulf Coastal Prairie) which is essentially the Gulf 
Coast. Mississippi's state-specific document related to these estimates didn't 
include BCR 37 so I assumed it was lumped into BCR 27 which is Southeastern 
Coastal Plain. Since most of BCR 37 is in Texas and Louisiana, the small 
portions in Mississippi and Alabama are often lumped into BCR 27, but on the 
webpage they have split the 2 for Mississippi. All of the estimates for the 
coast are pretty bad though. 


You can see a nationwide map of the BCRs and learn more about them by clicking 
here http://www.nabci-us.org/map.html. 


Nick


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Nick Winstead 
  To: MISSBIRD 
  Sent: Wednesday, November 28, 2007 3:06 PM
  Subject: [MISSBIRD] Bird population estimates for Mississippi


 Partners in Flight has created a webpage (http://rmbo.org/pif_db/laped/) where 
you can view breeding bird population estimates for landbirds at multiple 
scales. The scales include continental, bird conservation region (BCR), each 
state's portion of each BCR, or statewide. So for Mississippi, you can see what 
the population estimates are statewide, for the Delta (BCR 26) or for the rest 
of the state (BCR 27). These data are based on the results of the Breeding Bird 
Survey, which I've posted about on MISSBIRD before. The Breeding Bird Survey is 
our best way of estimating populations and deciding which species are in 
trouble. There are a lot of assumptions in the estimations, but they're at 
least a good starting point. It's pretty interesting to look at some of the 
numbers. For example, did you know that Mississippi is estimated to have 10% of 
the world's population of Hooded and Prothonotary Warblers? 


 These are, of course, estimates. So if you think you see something that isn't 
quite right, please let me know. We're trying to tweak the figures to reflect 
the most accurate information available. From just a cursory look, I know there 
are some things that can be updated. We know of at least 100 Bald Eagles 
nesting in the state instead of the 40 listed. There are no estimates for 
Yellow-throated Warblers in the Delta due to a lack of BBS routes with 
detections in the Delta. There are some very rare species, like Mississippi 
Sandhill Crane and Swallow-tailed Kite that don't show up well on the BBS, 
therefore didn't make it into the estimates. We probably have fair estimates 
for some of these through special projects unrelated to the BBS that we can use 
to help update the estimates. Most of the problems with the database are a 
reflection of the relatively few BBS routes we have in Mississippi and the fact 
that we don't always have people to run all of them every year. 


 So if you get a chance, take a look at it and see what you think. Let me know 
if you have any comments or questions. 


  Nick


  Nick Winstead
  Ornithologist
  Mississippi Dept. of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks
  Museum of Natural Science
  2148 Riverside Drive
  Jackson Mississippi 39202
  Phone:, ext. 108
  Fax:
  http://www.mdwfp.com/museum/

Partners in Flight has created a webpage (http://rmbo.org/pif_db/laped/) where 
you can view breeding bird population estimates for landbirds at multiple 
scales. The scales include continental, bird conservation region (BCR), each 
state's portion of each BCR, or statewide. So for Mississippi, you can see what 
the population estimates are statewide, for the Delta (BCR 26) or for the rest 
of the state (BCR 27). These data are based on the results of the Breeding Bird 
Survey, which I've posted about on MISSBIRD before. The Breeding Bird Survey is 
our best way of estimating populations and deciding which species are in 
trouble. There are a lot of assumptions in the estimations, but they're at 
least a good starting point. It's pretty interesting to look at some of the 
numbers. For example, did you know that Mississippi is estimated to have 10% of 
the world's population of Hooded and Prothonotary Warblers? 


These are, of course, estimates. So if you think you see something that isn't 
quite right, please let me know. We're trying to tweak the figures to reflect 
the most accurate information available. From just a cursory look, I know there 
are some things that can be updated. We know of at least 100 Bald Eagles 
nesting in the state instead of the 40 listed. There are no estimates for 
Yellow-throated Warblers in the Delta due to a lack of BBS routes with 
detections in the Delta. There are some very rare species, like Mississippi 
Sandhill Crane and Swallow-tailed Kite that don't show up well on the BBS, 
therefore didn't make it into the estimates. We probably have fair estimates 
for some of these through special projects unrelated to the BBS that we can use 
to help update the estimates. Most of the problems with the database are a 
reflection of the relatively few BBS routes we have in Mississippi and the fact 
that we don't always have people to run all of them every year. 


So if you get a chance, take a look at it and see what you think. Let me know 
if you have any comments or questions. 


Nick


Nick Winstead
Ornithologist
Mississippi Dept. of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks
Museum of Natural Science
2148 Riverside Drive
Jackson Mississippi 39202
Phone:, ext. 108
Fax:
http://www.mdwfp.com/museum/

people are so shocked when they find out these herbal pills actually work 
http://www.eiavalue.com/ 

Miss Birders

The first phase of the web site on the bird breeding project is complete.
You may view it at:

http:///atlas/

The site includes all reports we obtained during the 7 years of the project.

We are still looking for photographs of some species.  I'll post that list
at a later time.  I hope to add the dates for confirmed breeding for each
species.

Mark Goodman
Atlas coordinator
Starkville

The message is ready to be sent with the following file or link 
attachments: Cackling Goose Note: To protect against computer viruses, 
e-mail programs may prevent sending or receiving certain types of file 
attachments. Check your e-mail security settings to determine how 
attachments are handled.

Gene----this is a recap-----this cataract is bugging me----Ed

hi, how be fine

The Jackson MS CBC will be Dec 29.  Contact Mary Stevens

Mary P. Stevens
Museum Librarian
Mississippi Museum of Natural Science
2148 Riverside Drive
Jackson, MS  /
Fax: 601/
email: library AT mmns.state.ms.us
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "J Pat Valentik" 
To: 
Sent: Monday, November 26, 2007 10:07 AM
Subject: [MISSBIRD] Need CBC information


> I'm gonna try to be on the Gulf Coast during CBC time and need a list of
> the CBC circles and contacts for Mississippi (whole state, I'll try for
> one northern one on the way home).  Thank you.   J Pat
> 
> -- 
> J Pat Valentik
> Huntsville, AR 72740
>
> 
>

MISSBIRDERS:

This noon there was a Cackling Goose hanging out with the resident Canadas on 
the A & D Turf Farm south of Oxford. The geese also feed in the corn field near 
the Yocona River just east of the sod fields. 



Gene & Shannon Knight
Oxford, MS
gsknight AT dixie-net.com

During the winter, they love thick heavy evergreen hedges, bushes and trees. 
Some of mine have overwintered in brush tangles, cedar trees, and a privet 
hedge that is rather thick. 


Ken

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "Wade Grant"  

> Just wondering, where do hummers need/like to roost for the winter? 
> Anyone have stories on wintering these guys? 
> 
> 
> Wade Grant 
> Senior Network Specialist 
> Mississippi Department of Education 
> Helpdesk: 
> wgrant AT mde.k12.ms.us 
> 
> "I want something good to die for 
> to make it beautiful to live" 
> Queens of the Stone Age - Go with the Flow. 
> 
> 
> >>> 11/22/07 3:10 PM >>> 
> 
> In a message dated 11/22/2007 1:57:52 PM Central Standard Time, 
> breid AT audubon.org writes: 
> 
> I decided to put fresh sugar water in my hummer feeders today, in honor of 
> the rufous hummingbird that came Thanksgiving Day several years ago and 
stayed 

> until April 15. Within an hour, I had what appeared to be a young male 
> rufous at the feeders. We'll see how long it stays. That makes my fourth 
winter 

> hummer in the five years we've been in this house (three rufous and one adult 

> male calliope). Keep those feeders out. Happy Thanksgiving. 
> 
> Bruce Reid 
> Audubon 
> 
> 
> Bruce and Missbirders 
> We just finished a "run" into Mississippi and came up empty since the birds 
> had departed or were uncatchable. We will be back in the very near future. 
> We did capture two Rufous in the Memphis area, plus one late, healthy adult 
> female Ruby-throated. 
> 
> Bruce, congratulations on once again demonstrating what can happen when we 
> leave a feeder up in winter. 
> 
> The Green-breasted Mango that we banded a couple of weeks ago in Dublin, GA 
> is still on site. 
> 
> Please contact me if you have a wintering hummingbird from now through 
> mid-March. 
> 
> Bless all and have a great Thanksgiving holiday. 
> Bob Sargent 
> Clay, Alabama 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> **************************************Check out AOL's list of 2007's hottest 
> products. 
> (http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?NCID=aoltop00030000000001) 
> 
> 

I'm gonna try to be on the Gulf Coast during CBC time and need a list of
the CBC circles and contacts for Mississippi (whole state, I'll try for
one northern one on the way home).  Thank you.   J Pat

-- 
J Pat Valentik
Huntsville, AR 72740