The critical birding sites that were closed for most of migration in 2020 because of COVID were open in 2021. Spring ornithological meetings were again canceled or Zoomed, but far fewer birders stayed home as “shelter-in-place” edicts ended, and vaccinations reduced concerns about catching or spreading COVID. This year’s report is based on a spring of more typical levels of birding than last year’s. During their outings, the region’s birders found one mega-rarity (a White-crowned Pigeon), a good mix of warbler hybrids (including one left unidentified; see what you think), and an assortment of birds found early, remaining late or at a seasonal (or all-time) maximum.

Sub-regional Compilers
Greg D. Jackson (Alabama), Terence L. Schiefer (Mississippi).

Abbreviations
Alabama Gulf Coast (Gulf Coastal Region of s. Alabama, consisting of Baldwin and Mobile Cos); Alabama Inland Coastal Plain (Inland Coastal Plain Region of south and central Alabama, consisting of Autauga, Barbour, Bullock, Butler, Chilton, Choctaw, Clarke, Coffee, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Dallas, Escambia, Geneva, Greene, Hale, Henry, Houston, Lamar, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Monroe, Montgomery, Pickens, Pike, Russell, Sumter, Washington, and Wilcox Cos, most of Bibb and Tuscaloosa Cos, and the northern half of Elmore and Lee Cos); b. (banded); B.B.S. (Breeding Bird Survey); Catalpa (Catalpa Creek Bottoms, Lowndes Co, MS); Dauphin Island (Dauphin Island, Mobile Co, AL); Eufaula N.W.R. (Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge, Barbour Co, AL); Fort Morgan (Fort Morgan State Historical Park, Baldwin Co, AL); m.ob. (many observers); Mountain Region (Mountain Region of n. Alabama, consisting of Blount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Cullman, DeKalb, Etowah, Fayette, Jefferson, Marion, Randolph, St. Clair, Shelby, Talladega, Tallapoosa, Walker, and Winston Cos,  the northern parts of Bibb, Elmore and Lee Cos, the northeastern part of Tuscaloosa Co, the southeastern portions of Jackson and Marshall Cos, and the southern portion of Lawrence Co); MSU North Farm (Mississippi State University North Farm, Oktibbeha Co, MS); MSU South Farm (Mississippi State University South Farm, Oktibbeha Co, MS); Noxubee N.W.R. (Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge, Noxubee/Oktibbeha/Winston Cos, MS); Ruffner (Ruffner Mountain National Park, Jefferson Co, AL); Swan Creek (Swan Creek WMA, Limestone Co, AL); Tennessee Valley (Tennessee Valley Region of northern Alabama, consisting of Colbert, Franklin, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, and Morgan Cos plus most of Jackson and Lawrence Cos and the northwestern half of Marshall Co); v.r.( voice recorded); vt. (videotaped bird); Wehle (Wehle Nature Center near Midway, Bullock Co, AL); Wheeler N.W.R. (Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, Limestone/Morgan/Madison Cos, AL). “Seven-county area” refers to the following seven counties in Mississippi near Starkville: Choctaw, Clay, Lowndes, Noxubee, Oktibbeha, Webster, and Winston.

Ducks through Shorebirds

Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks continue their expansion in both Alabama and Mississippi. Local but increasing in the Alabama Inland Coastal Plain, two were near Coffeeville, Choctaw Co, 29 Apr (Jerred Seveyka, fide Eric Soehren, v.r.); and a maximum of five were on a nest box and probably nesting in Choctaw N.W.R., Choctaw Co, 21–22 May (Lizzie Diener, John Diener, ph.); neither is a regular area. They are rare but increasing in the Tennessee Valley where up to eight were near Florence, Lauderdale Co, 30 Apr–3 May (Damien Simbeck, ph.); four were at Gnat Pond in Muscle Shoals, Colbert Co, 5 May (Dana Aycock, ph.); three were at Swan Creek 13 May (Rick Kittinger, Ron Kittinger, Thomas V. Ress, ph.); and three were near Courtland, Lawrence Co, 21 May (Rick Kittinger, Ron Kittinger ph.). In Birmingham, two Black-bellieds 10 May (Jessica Griswold, ph.) provided the fifth Mountain Region record. In Mississippi, where there were no records prior to July 2015 for the seven-county area, Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks were found at five different locations in Oktibbeha Co (Terence L. Schiefer, Marion Schiefer, Jeffrey A. Harris, Katie Hanson-Dorr, Paul Mack, Wayne Patterson, Jared Elmore, Tea Burdine, Jonathan Peeples, Levi Peeples, Deanna Tremblay, Misty Vaughn, Linda Foshee, Tira Overstreet, Steve Meredyk, Robert Lewis) with up to 70 found at one site near Starkville. Two Black-bellieds on Riverside Rd., Grenada Co, MS 30 May (Gene Knight) furnished the second county record. In Parrish, Walker Co, 3 Mar (Todd DeVore), 160 Gadwall established a Mountain Region spring maximum. At Columbus Lake, Clay Co, 1 May (Terence L. Schiefer), two Green-winged Teals established a late date for the seven-county area nine days later than the previous late date. A Northern Pintail at Eufaula N.W.R. 16 Apr (Geoffrey A. Hill) set an Alabama Inland Coastal Plain late record. White-winged Scoters are rare inland. At Columbus Lake, Clay Co, MS (Terence L. Schiefer, Marion Schiefer), one stayed until 29 Mar for the latest departure from the seven-county area. Occasional in the spring in the Tennessee Valley, one was at Triana, Madison Co, 16 Mar (Brian Bohannon, ph.). One at Weaver, Calhoun Co, 19 Mar–9 Apr (Skip Smith, ph.) was the fourth in spring in the Mountain Region. On 2 Mar at Neely Henry Dam, Calhoun Co, (Skip Smith, ph.), 58 Red-breasted Mergansers provided a Mountain Region spring maximum.

At Neely Henry Dam, Calhoun Co, on 19 Mar (Skip Smith), 20 Horned Grebes established a Mountain Region spring maximum. Rare in the Tennessee Valley, an Eared Grebe in Guntersville, Marshall Co, 9–10 Mar (Sue R. Moske, m.ob.) was molting. Casual in Mississippi, a Western Grebe was at Ross Barnett Reservoir, Madison Co, 14–30 Mar (Ken Clough, Andrew Bell, Gene Knight, Bob Foehring, Rob Harbin, ph.). Alabama’s third White-crowned Pigeon was at Barnwell, Baldwin Co, 22–30 Mar (Tammy Anderson, m.ob., ph.). Occasional in the Alabama Inland Coastal Plain but increasing, up to six Inca Doves were in Washington Co, 4 Mar (Jean K.S. Parnell, ph.), not a regular site; and two were at Ashford, Houston Co, 13–15 Mar (Renea Simpson, m.ob., ph.), a site where they are becoming regular. An Inca at MSU South Farm 12–23 Apr (Jeffrey A. Harris, Terence L. Schiefer, m.ob., ph.) was the second for the seven-county area and first for the county. Rare but increasing in the Alabama Gulf Coast, one was at a new site in Mobile 14–17 Apr (Chris Chevrier, ph.); and one was east of Fairhope, Baldwin Co at another new site 22 May (Carole Tebay). Local but increasing in the Alabama Inland Coastal Plain, a White-winged Dove heard near Jackson, Clarke Co, 7 Mar (Geoffrey A. Hill), not a regular site; and two were at another new site in Demopolis, Marengo Co, 18 May (Jeff T. Garner, Jesse Hoifield, m.ob., ph.), where the homeowner has seen up to six. A Chuck-will’s Widow near Dadeville, Tallapoosa Co, 14 Mar (Patricia Tyler) set an early record for the Alabama Inland Coastal Plain, where it is rare. Also rare in the Alabama Inland Coastal Plain, an Eastern Whip-poor-will at Wehle 24 Mar–19 May (John A. Trent) tied the early record for the Alabama Inland Coastal Plain. Casual in Mississippi, a Broad-tailed Hummingbird continued from the winter in Jackson, Hinds Co, 28 Dec–7 Apr (Emma Rhodes, m.ob., b., ph.), and another was in Florence, Rankin Co, 5 Mar (Emma Rhodes, b., ph., Jean K.S. Parnell).

Rare in the Mountain Region, a Common Gallinule was in Saginaw, Shelby Co, 7–24 Apr (Ron Kittinger, ph.). Also rare in the Tennessee Valley, up to six Commons were at Wheeler N.W.R., Madison Co 15–24 Apr (Rick Kittinger, Ron Kittinger), a site where they are regular; four were at Scottsboro, Jackson Co, 6 May (Geoffrey A. Hill), a new site; and one was at Swan Creek 8–9 May (Charles W. Boley, SA, m.ob.), another new site. In the seven-county area, Commons are rare and regular only at Noxubee N.W.R. where present this spring from 6 Apr into summer (Tira Overstreet, Terence L. Schiefer, Marion Schiefer, Jeffrey A. Harris, m.ob., ph.). On an airboat trip in the delta from Spanish Fort, Baldwin Co, 1 May (Katherine Clemo), 36 Common Gallinules were seen for a new Alabama Gulf Coast spring maximum. A lone Limpkin heard at Grangeburg, Houston Co 26–30 May (John A. Trent, m.ob., v.r.) provided the 21st Alabama record, the eighth in spring, and the ninth in the Alabama Inland Coastal Plain. Occasional in spring in the Alabama Inland Coastal Plain, six Black-necked Stilts were near Jackson, Clarke Co, 7 Mar (Geoffrey A. Hill). Black-necked Stilts are rare but becoming regular in the Tennessee Valley, particularly in northwest Alabama; two were near Florence, Lauderdale Co 30 Apr (Damien Simbeck), one was near Leighton, Colbert Co 2–6 May (Sue R. Moske, Bala Chennupati, Rick Kittinger, Ron Kittinger, ph.), and one was at Swan Creek 13–18 May (Thomas V. Ress, m.ob. ph.). Also rare in the seven-county area, one Black-necked Stilt was at Catalpa 28 Mar (Terence L. Schiefer, Marion Schiefer, Paul Mack) and up to three were there 4–11 May (Terence L. Schiefer); up to three were at Columbus Lake, Lowndes, and Clay Cos 14–29 Apr (Terence L. Schiefer, Paul Mack, Marion Schiefer); and two at McLeod, Noxubee Co 16 May (Jeffrey A. Harris, ph.). Rare but regular in the Tennessee Valley, American Avocets were found near Triana, Madison Co 21 Apr (Steven Glynn, ph.), near Leighton, Colbert Co 30 Apr–8 May (Rick Kittinger, Ron Kittinger, ph.), and at Swan Creek 11–13 May (Sue R. Moske, Bala Chennupati). Avocets are rarer in the Alabama Inland Coastal Plain, where five southwest of Auburn, Lee Co 21 Apr (Barry Fleming, ph.) established the third Alabama Inland Coastal Plain spring record. Rare also in the seven-county area, three American Avocets were at Catalpa 10 Apr and 24–28 Apr (Dianne Patterson, Terence L. Schiefer, Marion Schiefer, Paul Mack), where they set the earliest record, breaking the old record by four days.

Up to three Black-bellied Plovers at Columbus Lake, Clay Co 26–28 Apr (Terence L. Schiefer, Marion Schiefer, Dianne Patterson, Jim Patterson, Paul Mack) provided the seventh seven-county area record for spring and the earliest arrival date by three days. In Maplesville, Chilton Co 25 Apr (Joe Wujcik, ph.), a Whimbrel furnished the eighth record for inland Alabama, the fourth inland in spring, and the sixth for the Alabama Inland Coastal Plain. At Fort Morgan 23 Apr (Stephanie Pluscht, ph.), 33 Marbled Godwits (flying north) set an Alabama maximum. Stilt Sandpipers are rare in spring in the seven-county area, where as many as 12 were at Catalpa 28–31 Mar, 23–30 Apr, and 5–14 May (Terence L. Schiefer, Marion Schiefer). In the seven-county area, Dunlins are rare; they were found at Catalpa 20 Mar (5), 28 Mar (1), 26 Apr (1) (Terence L. Schiefer, Marion Schiefer, Paul Mack), and in McLeod, Noxubee Co (Terence L. Schiefer, Marion Schiefer). Rare but regular in the Alabama Gulf Coast in spring, a Baird’s Sandpiper was at Fort Morgan 18 Apr (Robert A. Duncan, Bala Chennupati ph., Lucy Duncan, Barry Fleming, Lawrence F. Gardella, Craig Litteken). In the same group of shorebirds as the Baird’s at Fort Morgan 18 Apr (Simon R.B. Thompson, m.ob.), an estimated 150 Pectoral Sandpipers established an Alabama Gulf Coast spring maximum. A Western Sandpiper in Eastaboga, Calhoun Co 14 Apr (Skip Smith, ph.) was the earliest ever in the Mountain Region. Rare in spring in the seven-county area, three Westerns were at Catalpa 15 Apr (Terence L. Schiefer), and two were at McLeod, Noxubee Co 25 Apr (Jeffrey A. Harris, ph.), and one was at McLeod 2 May (Terence L. Schiefer, Marion Schiefer). Both species of dowitcher are rare in spring in the seven-county area; three Short-billed Dowitchers were among 18 Long-billeds at McLeod, Noxubee Co 23 Apr (Terence L. Schiefer, Marion Schiefer), and three were at Catalpa 12 May (Terence L. Schiefer). Several of the Long-billeds at McLeod 23 Apr had been there since 22 Apr (Marion Schiefer, Terence L. Schiefer), and singles were found on two roads in McLeod 2 May (Terence L. Schiefer, Marion Schiefer). In addition, at Catalpa, three Long-billed Dowitchers were seen 29 Mar (Terence L. Schiefer), and up to nine were seen 14–26 Apr (Terence L. Schiefer, Marion Schiefer, Paul Mack, ph.); and two others were at Columbus Lake, Lowndes Co 28 Apr (Terence L. Schiefer). In White Plains, Calhoun Co 18 Mar (Skip Smith), an estimated 100 Wilson’s Snipe set a Mountain Region maximum.

In McLeod, Noxubee Co, two Lesser Yellowlegs 28 May (Jeffrey A. Harris) were seven days later than the previous latest departure date for the seven-county area. Willets are rare but regular in the Tennessee Valley; one at Key Cave N.W.R., Lauderdale Co 29 Mar (Sue R. Moske, ph.) was the earliest inland; a maximum of nine were in Guntersville, Marshall Co 20–24 Apr (Jerry D. Green, Matt Morrow, ph.), and 12 were near Leighton, Colbert Co 2 May (Sue R. Moske, Bala Chennupati, ph.). Also rare in spring in the Alabama Inland Coastal Plain, one was at Hacoda, Geneva Co 21 Apr (Odis H. Johnson), four were in Tuscaloosa 24 Apr (Eugene Huryn, Satchell Watts-Kerr, ph.), and one was in Maplesville, Chilton Co 25 Apr (Joe Wujcik, ph.). Willets are rare any season in the Mountain Region; 35 were in Oxford, Calhoun Co 1 May (Susano Medina, ph.). At Catalpa Creek 10 Apr (Terence L. Schiefer), a rare Willet was six days earlier than the previous seven-county area arrival date. Other records for the seven-county area were two at McLeod 25 Apr (Jeffrey A. Harris, Terence L. Schiefer, Marion Schiefer, ph.), and eight at Noxubee N.W.R. 27 Apr (Terence L. Schiefer, Marion Schiefer, ph.). A Wilson’s Phalarope, rare in the seven-county area, was at Catalpa Creek 14 Apr (Terence L. Schiefer, Marion Schiefer, Dianne Patterson, ph.), and another was at the same site 24 Apr (Terence L. Schiefer, Marion Schiefer, Paul Mack), two were there 5 May (Jeffrey A. Harris), and one was at McLeod, Noxubee Co 1–2 May (Jeffrey A. Harris, Terence L. Schiefer, Marion Schiefer, ph.). Lone Red-necked Phalaropes appeared at five sites in Alabama, including three different birds at three locations on Dauphin Island: one near the pier on Dauphin Island 23 Apr (Keith Boland, Sheila Boland, ph.) furnished the seventh Alabama Gulf Coast spring record; one near the end of Pelican Island, Dauphin Island 22 May (Marybeth Lima, Sama Myers, Melissa Harrell, Tracy Quirk, m.ob., ph.), the eighth Alabama Gulf Coast spring record; a different bird at West End, Dauphin Island 25–26 May (Ben Garmon, m.ob., ph.), the ninth Alabama Gulf Coast spring record; one near Tallassee, Elmore Co 4 May (Geoffrey A. Hill, ph.) established the eighth Alabama Inland Coastal Plain record, third in spring; and one at Swan Creek 15 May (Bala Chennupati, Sue R. Moske, ph.) provided the fourth Tennessee Valley record, second in spring. Occasional in Alabama, a Red Phalarope found injured on Orange Beach, Baldwin Co 10 Apr (Farren Dell, Thomas Rossman, ph.) provided the fourth Alabama spring record, third in spring on the Alabama Gulf Coast.

Gulls through Siskins

Rare in the seven-county area, a Laughing Gull was at Columbus Lake 26–28 Apr (Terence L. Schiefer, Marion Schiefer, Paul Mack). Another was at Grenada Dam, Grenada Co, MS 13 Mar (Andrew Bell), where rare in spring. Also rare in spring in Mississippi, a Franklin’s Gull was at Sardis Lower Lake, Panola Co 12 Mar (Gene Knight). Rare in Mississippi, a Lesser Black-backed Gull was at Lower Lake Sardis, Panola Co 9 Apr (Gene Knight). During a storm front with strong east-southeast winds, a rare Brown Noddy was at Pass Christian, Harrison Co, MS 19–20 May (Michael J. Sandoz, Holly Cox, m.ob., ph.). Rare inland in the region, one adult Least Tern was at Oxford Sewage Lagoon, Lafayette Co, MS 12 Mar (Gene Knight). In Tuscaloosa 24 Apr (Satchell Watts-Kerr), seven Forster’s Terns established a spring Alabama Inland Coastal Plain maximum. Red-throated Loons are occasional inland in Alabama in spring; one in Guntersville, Marshall Co 8–12 Mar (Greg D. Jackson, m.ob.) provided the ninth Tennessee Valley spring record. Rare in Mississippi, one Pacific Loon continued from winter at Ross Barnett Reservoir, Madison Co 28 Jan–28 Mar (Andrew Bell, Gene Knight, m.ob.). Occasional in the Alabama Gulf Coast, a Sooty Shearwater was in Orange Beach, Baldwin Co 20 May (Andrew Bell). Rare in Mississippi, but regular on the coast, a Brown Booby was in Biloxi, Harrison Co 20 May (Peter Kappes, Rachel Anderson, Jared Feura, Mark Woodrey, ph.). Near Tuscaloosa on 4 Apr (Eugene Huryn, Satchell Watts-Kerr), 25 Anhingas set an Alabama spring maximum. A surprisingly large number of American White Pelicans (432) flew over downtown Birmingham 18 Apr (Greg Harbor). Occasional in the Tennessee Valley in spring, a Tricolored Heron was near Leighton, Colbert Co 30 Apr–1 May (Rick Kittinger, Ron Kittinger, ph.).

Rare in the seven-county area, a Glossy Ibis was bear Bent Oak, Lowndes Co 23 Apr (Dianne Patterson, ph.). A Glossy was near Wheeler N.W.R., Lawrence Co 7 May (Bob Butler, ph.); they are occasional in the Tennessee Valley. In the Alabama Inland Coastal Plain, Glossies are rare, but they are becoming regular at Eufaula N.W.R. where one was seen 28 May (John McMahan, ph.). At Wheeler N.W.R., Limestone Co 8 May (Therese Catanach), a White-faced Ibis provided the fifth Tennessee Valley record. Near Lake Purdy, Shelby Co 24 Apr (Pelham A. Rowan, ph.), three Plegadis ibises, occasional in the Mountain Region, were photographed but still not identifiable to species. A rare Glossy/White-faced hybrid was in Yazoo N.W.R., Washington Co, MS 23 May (Gene Knight, Cullen Brown). Roseate Spoonbills are rare but regular in the Alabama Gulf Coast, where one was on the Mobile causeway, Baldwin Co 7–9 Apr (Wyatt Egelloff), and three were on that causeway, Mobile Co 18 Apr (Ann Martin, Pullen Watkins). In the Alabama Inland Coastal Plain, Roseates are also rare but regular; one was at Eufaula N.W.R. 21 May (Bob Kornegay, Renea Simpson, Art Redding). South of Bellfontaine, Mobile Co 13 Mar (Eugene Huryn), 100 Black Vultures set an Alabama Gulf Coast spring maximum. In Northport, Tuscaloosa Co, a Northern Harrier 15 May (Leslie Miller) tied the latest spring Alabama Inland Coastal Plain record. During the Birmingham area spring count 24 Apr (Pelham A. Rowan, John M. Imhof), four Bald Eagles tied the Mountain Region spring maximum. Mississippi Kites are rare in NW Alabama and the Mountain Region but increasing in both areas; one was near St. Florian, Lauderdale Co 1 Apr (Jeanene Daniels, Ed Daniels); two were in Center Star, Lauderdale Co 6 May (Damien Simbeck); two were in Birmingham 8 May (Greg Harbor, ph.), possibly a regular site; and 16 were near Eastaboga, Talladega (Rick Kittinger, Ron Kittinger). In late fall, Swainson’s Hawks are regular in the Alabama Gulf Coast, but two in Orange Beach, Baldwin Co 20 Apr (Damien Simbeck) represented the first Alabama Gulf Coast spring record and only the third spring record for Alabama. Rare in the seven-county area, a “Harlan’s” Red-tailed Hawk was at Prairie Wildlife, Clay Co 24 Mar (Hal Mitchell, ph.).

In downtown Birmingham, a pair of Peregrine Falcons copulating 12 Apr and often seen afterwards (Greg Harbor) were possibly nesting, just as was likely last year; the last confirmed nesting was in 1962. Rare in the seven-county area, a Peregrine at Catalpa Creek 31 Mar (Terence L. Schiefer, Marion Schiefer) tied the earliest arrival date; single Peregrines were also at Oktibbeha County Lake, Oktibbeha Co 30 Apr (Terence L. Schiefer, Marion Schiefer), and in McLeod, Noxubee Co 2 May (Terence L. Schiefer, Marion Schiefer). Rare in Mississippi, an Ash-throated Flycatcher was feeding at a pond in Biloxi, Harrison Co 22 Apr (Andrew Bell, ph.). On 25 May in Fort Morgan (Pamela R. Green, ph.), a Tropical/Couch’s Kingbird marked the tenth Alabama record for the complex, the third in spring. Gray Kingbirds are rare but regular on the Mississippi coast; one was in Ocean Springs, Jackson Co 24 Apr and 8 May (Abby Darrah, Peter Kappes, Collin Stempien, Jimmie Dufault, ph.). In the Alabama Inland Coastal Plain, Scissor-tailed Flycatchers breed locally, but ones seen near Tuscaloosa 7 May (Pamela R. Green, ph.), and near Montgomery 25 May (Seth Maddox) were not at regular sites. They are also rare in the seven-county area where one was at MSU South Farm 11 Apr (Jeffrey A. Harris, Terence L. Schiefer, Marion Schiefer); one in Brooksville, Noxubee Co 27–31 May (Jeffrey A. Harris, Wayne Patterson, ph.) provided the eleventh breeding record; and one was at MSU North Farm 29 May (Chris Whitlow, ph.). The gem from the mid-April fallout on the coast was an immature Fork-tailed Flycatcher at Fort Morgan 18–19 Apr (Simon R.B. Thompson, m.ob., ph.), which furnished Alabama’s seventh record. Rare in spring in the Mountain Region, an Olive-sided Flycatcher was near Boothton, Shelby Co 5 May (Pelham A. Rowan, ph.). Both Willow and Alder Flycatchers are rare in Mississippi; an Alder Flycatcher was at Bagley Bottoms, Lafayette Co 15 May (Andrew Bell, Gene Knight); a Willow was at Coldwater River N.W.R., Quitman Co 6 May (Gene Knight, Cullen Brown); another was in Lafayette Co. A “Traill’s” Flycatcher was near Columbus, Lowndes Co, MS 6 May (Jeffrey A. Harris). Alabama’s fifth voice-identified spring Alder Flycatcher was singing and calling at Swan Creek 10–13 May (Charles W. Boley, Scott Gravette, ph., v.r.). Although Least Flycatchers are common in fall on the Alabama Gulf Coast, they are only occasional in spring; one was on Dauphin Island 3 May (Ben Garmon). A rare Vermilion Flycatcher was in Biloxi 3 Mar (Holly Cox, ph.).

In Valley Grande, Dallas Co 12 Mar (Hal Mitchell), a Yellow-throated Vireo heard singing tied the early record for the Alabama Inland Coastal Plain. At Fort Morgan 17 Apr (Michael Jordan, Gena Todia), 125 Yellow-throated Vireos set an Alabama maximum. In Bankhead NF, Lawrence and Winston Cos, AL (Scott Gravette), at least nine Blue-headed Vireos were found to have active territories, and one male had built three nests; this species breeds only very locally in Alabama, and nine is a good number of likely breeders. Casual in the Alabama Inland Coastal Plain in spring, a Philadelphia Vireo in Northport, Tuscaloosa 7 May (Harold Elder) briefly held the record for the latest in spring in the Alabama Inland Coastal Plain, but the next day another Philadelphia in nearby Tuscaloosa 8 May (Eugene Huryn) set the current record. At Wheeler N.W.R., Morgan Co 6 Mar (Steve McConnell), 100 Fish Crows established a Tennessee Valley maximum. Horned Larks are rare in the Alabama Inland Coastal Plain but have become regular in parts of southeastern Alabama, including where two were found calling and/or singing near Orangeburg, Houston Co 26 May (John A. Trent) and where six were during three B.B.S. stops in Henry and Dale Counties 30 May (John A. Trent). Rare but regular in spring on the Alabama Gulf Coast, two Cave Swallows were at Fort Morgan 2 Apr (Michael Jordan), one was at Fort Morgan 15 Apr (Craig Litteken), and one was on Dauphin Island 17–18 Apr (Ben Garmon, Chuck Estes, m.ob.). Near Waterloo, Lauderdale Co 9 Apr (Rick Kittinger, Ron Kittinger), four Red-breasted Nuthatches provided a spring maximum that was tied by four at Wheeler N.W.R., Madison Co 15 Apr (Rick Kittinger, Ron Kittinger). A Red-breasted seen and heard at Monte Sano 13 May (J. Milton Harris) was the latest spring record for the Tennessee Valley. White-breasted Nuthatches primarily nest in Alabama north of the Alabama Inland Coastal Plain; at Talladega NF, Bibb Co eight tied the spring maximum. At Eufaula N.W.R. 16 Apr (Geoffrey A. Hill, ph.), eight singing Marsh Wrens established an Alabama Inland Coastal Plain spring maximum. A Gray Catbird at Swan Creek 1 Mar (Jeff T. Garner, ph.) was probably a rare wintering bird for the Tennessee Valley rather than a record early migrant. At Monte Sano 28 May (Milton Harris), a Pine Siskin set a late Tennessee Valley spring record, but a Pine Siskin at Underwood, Lauderdale Co 28–29 May (Paul D. Kittle) broke that record. A rare Lesser Goldfinch was seen on Singing River Island, Jackson Co, MS 19 Apr (Peter Kappes, Jonathan Layman, Matthew Sukiennik).

Sparrows through Buntings

Lark Sparrows have a patchy distribution in central Alabama; two were found in areas where they are not regular: one near Auburn 23 Apr (Jeff T. Garner, ph.), rare for the Mountain Region, and one in Tuscaloosa (Kevin Shaw, ph.), not at one of the Alabama Inland Coastal Plain local breeding sites. In Auburn, a Clay-colored Sparrow 20 Mar–14 Apr (Amanda Carpenter, Alex Merchlinsky, b., ph.) provided the 17th inland Alabama record, 14th for Alabama in spring and third spring inland. At Key Cave N.W.R., Lauderdale Co 7 Mar (Amber Hart, ph.), 26 White-crowned Sparrows set a north Alabama spring maximum. Occasional in the region, a Harris’s Sparrow was in Wazoo N.W.R., Washington Co, MS 12 Mar (Tina Pryor, ph.). At Conecuh NF, A Covington Co 14 Mar (Eugene Huryn, ph.), three Henslow’s Sparrows established an inland Alabama spring maximum. Rare in spring in the Mountain Region, a Lincoln’s Sparrow was in Birmingham 3 Apr (Scott Duncan). Rare but regular in spring in the Tennessee Valley, a Lincoln’s was near Woodville, Madison Co 14 Apr (Sue R. Moske). Occasional in spring in the Alabama Inland Coastal Plain, one was at Eufaula N.W.R. 16 Apr (Geoffrey A. Hill). Near Tuscaloosa a Swamp Sparrow 14 May (Daniel Redwine) set a late Alabama Inland Coastal Plain spring record. A Yellow-breasted Chat seen and heard at Wheeler N.W.R., Madison Co 7 Apr (Matthew Niemiller) tied the Tennessee Valley early record. Rare in spring on the Alabama Gulf Coast, single Yellow-headed Blackbirds were at Fort Morgan 18–20 Apr (Simon R.B. Thompson, m.ob, ph.) and 3 May (Janice Neitzel, Franklin Chalk, ph.). A new early record for Orchard Oriole for north Alabama was set by a singing bird near Auburn 23 Mar. At Ashford, Houston Co 9 Mar (Renea Simpson), 13 Baltimore Orioles established a spring Alabama Inland Coastal Plain maximum; most of the birds probably wintered at the site, as Baltimores are rare but regular and increasing in winter in the Alabama Inland Coastal Plain. Rare breeders in the western Alabama Inland Coastal Plain, a Baltimore was at a nest in Demopolis, Marengo Co 28 May (Greg Harbor, ph.). Rare on the coasts of Alabama and Mississippi, single Shiny Cowbirds were at Fort Morgan 11 Apr (Eric Haskell, ph.), Dauphin Island 27 Apr–8 May (Katherine Clemo, m.ob., ph.), and Cat Island, Harrison Co, MS 4–26 May (Chris Walters, Robert Smith, ph.). Occasional in the Alabama Inland Coastal Plain, up to five Boat-tailed Grackles were near Hartford, Geneva Co (Randy White, Jared Busen), a regular site, and two were at Eufaula N.W.R. 20 Apr (Renea Simpson, Bob Kornegay).

A Worm-eating Warbler in Daphne, Baldwin Co 15 Mar (Cathie Marx) established a new early record for the Alabama Gulf Coast. Rare in spring in the Alabama Inland Coastal Plain, a Golden-winged Warbler in Hale Co 8 May (Kevin Shaw, Eugene Huryn, ph.) set an Alabama Inland Coastal Plain late spring record. Occasional in spring in the Alabama Gulf Coast, a “Brewster’s” Warbler was at Fort Morgan 16 Apr (Michael Jordan); and rare in the seven-county area, a “Brewster’s” was at Black Prairie Wildlife Management Area 1 May (Jeffrey A. Harris). “Lawrence’s” Warblers are occasional in Alabama; one in Daphne, Baldwin Co 12 Apr (Lawrence F. Gardella, Jeannette Ruffles, Edlyn Burch) was the sixth for the Alabama Gulf Coast in spring. The most intriguing hybrid warbler was a strikingly marked bird at Fort Morgan 29 Mar (Stephanie Pluscht, ph.) that could not be identified to species; suggestions for parents included Black-throated Blue Warbler x Yellow-throated Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler x Black-throated Gray Warbler, and Black-throated Gray x Townsend’s Warbler. A new early date for Black-and-white Warbler was set by a male at Ruffner 3 Mar (Rick Remy, ph.). A Black-and-white at Wheeler N.W.R., Morgan Co 5 Mar (Joanie Webb, Emily Webb, ph.) provided a Tennessee Valley early record. At Apple Grove, Morgan Co 27 Apr–8 May (Amber Hart), where Swainson’s Warblers breed locally, three singing provided a Tennessee Valley maximum. In a tract by the Sipsey River in Tuscaloosa 9 May (Stephen Ritchie), 16 Swainson’s Warblers set an Alabama spring maximum and tied the Alabama maximum.

Rare in spring in the Mountain Region, a Connecticut Warbler in Birmingham 20 May (Jessica Griswold, ph.) struck a building, then died before it could be rehabilitated. Connecticuts are occasional in the Alabama Gulf Coast; two at Fort Morgan 22 May (Andrew Bell) furnished the seventh Alabama Gulf Coast spring record. Rare but regular in spring in the Tennessee Valley, a Mourning Warbler was at Lauderdale WMA, Lauderdale Co 3 May (Bob Butler), and one was at Apple Grove, Morgan Co 8 May (Amber Hart). Casual in Mississippi, a Mourning was near Starkville, Oktibbeha Co 8 May (Paul Mack), and another was near Riverside, Lafayette Co 16–17 May (Andrew Bell, Gene Knight). At Plymouth Bluff 29 Mar (Paul Mack), a Kentucky Warbler set a new early arrival date for the seven-county area six days earlier than the previous early date. A Hooded Warbler 14 Mar at Lake Purdy Jefferson Co (Jordan Broadhead) set an early inland Alabama record. In Auburn 27 Mar (Lew Scharf), an American Redstart established an early inland Alabama record. At Trinity, Morgan Co 30 Mar (Therese Catanach), a Yellow Warbler was the earliest ever for inland Alabama. A Blackpoll Warbler at Roebuck, Jefferson Co 23 Mar (Ty Keith) set an early record for Alabama. Occasional in the Alabama Inland Coastal Plain, a Black-throated Blue Warbler was at Eufaula N.W.R. 16 Apr (Geffrey A. Hill), and one was in Auburn 28–29 Apr (Molly Folkerts). A Black-throated Green Warbler singing in Eldridge, Walker Co 13 Mar (Nancy Robb) provided an early inland Alabama record. Rare in spring in the Alabama Gulf Coast, a Canada Warbler was on Dauphin Island 6 May (Jay Wilbur, Judy Wilbur). Another Canada was at Northport, Tuscaloosa Co 7 May (Sam Bowman); they are occasional in spring in the Alabama Inland Coastal Plain. Occasional in spring in the Alabama Inland Coastal Plain, a Wilson’s Warbler was near Eufaula, Barbour Co 6 Mar (Jim Holmes).

Rare but increasing in the Alabama Gulf Coast, the Western Tanagers at three sites in Baldwin Co continued into spring. When they were found at each of the sites on March 5 (Edlyn Burch, Venetia Friend, Pam Henson, ph.), this provided an Alabama maximum. Another Western was in Mobile 3 Mar (James H. Davis, ph.). In Tuscaloosa 26 Apr (Satchell Watts-Kerr), 25 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks established an Alabama Inland Coastal Plain maximum. An Indigo Bunting near Woodville, Madison Co 18 Mar (Sue R. Moske) furnished an early Tennessee Valley record. At Ashford, Houston Co 5 Mar (Renea Simpson), at a site where Painted Buntings had wintered, six set a maximum for inland Alabama. Occasional in spring in the Mountain Region, a Painted was in Opelika, Lee Co 3 May (Larry Wiley, ph.). At Swan Creek, up to two Painted Buntings were present 7 May–12 Jul (Thomas V. Ress, m.ob., ph., vt.) with a pair 11 May–19 Jun, providing the sixth Tennessee Valley record, the fourth in spring, and the first probable nesting in north Alabama. A Painted Bunting in Abbeville, Lafayette Co 15 May (Gene Knight, Andrew Bell) furnished the county’s second May record.

Report processed by Eric DeFonso, 18 Jan 2022.