FreeLists / bristol-birds / [Bristol-Birds] Gulf Coast Birding

[Whoopinwiller@xxxxxxx]

30 NOV 03
Alabama Coastal Birding Trail (ACBT)
Gulf Shores, AL
and surrounding area
.
The past few days, Thanksgiving forward, I have been able bird along the Gulf 
of Mexico which gives one cause to be, well, thankful!
Thanks to the birders and their responses I got from AL Birds and a bit of 
exploration I am happy t report the following notable finds:
.
Magnificent Frigate Bird - 1 (imm.) by the Gulf State Park Pier, cruising 
west at low altitude!
Northern Gannet - dozens
Black-necked Stilt - 20 Bayou La Batre ponds ACBT- 50
American Oystercatcher - 30 Coden Belt Road ACBT - 49
Black Skimmer - 1 Coden Belt Road ACBT - 49
American White Pelican - 20+ Mobile Bay from I-10
Bald Eagle - 1 Mobile Bay from I-10
In question are:

Masked Booby - 2 Gulf Shores Sea and Suds Restaurant
These birds had the necessary plumage marks but I am not familiar enough wit 
N. Gannet variations ( 3rd year plumage range) to be comfortable eliminating 
them as a possibility. They were too distant to get facial patterns, yet, near 
enough to easily see the black at the base of the secondaries and a clear 
white rump. 
.
A quick trip to Gulf Islands National Seashore, Ocean Springs, Mississippi 
yielded:
.
Osprey - 2
Clapper Rail - 1
Tricolored Heron -1
Red-breasted Merganser - 8

'Til we bird again

Rack Cross
Blountville, TN


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