FreeLists / birdky / [birdky] RPT: Spotted Towhee and others on Paradise CBC

["Brainard Palmer-Ball, Jr." <brainard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Early yesterday morning, while participating on the Pardise CBC, Amy and I
found, as incredible as it seems, another Spotted Towhee! This bird was in
a brush pile/weed patch, on the west side of Rockport-Paradise road, just a
bit over 0.5 mi south of the road's overpass over the Western Kentucky
Parkway. As you reach 0.5 mi, there is a white farmhouse and associated
farmstead on top of the knoll on the right (west). Just as you top over the
hill, you'll see the brush pile on the right. The bird flew across the road
and over to the pond edge on the left. Associates included only a couple of
other towhee and some cardinals, White-crowned, Song and White-throated
sparrows, and a few goldfinches.

This spot is one where lots of folks park to go waterfowl hunting out in
the vast bottomland fields between the road and the Green River. I did not
have a chance to ask anyone if it was OK to poke around the brush piles,
but this should be done by anyone visiting the area and not encountering
the bird along the road. Also, for the sake of relations be aware that
waterfowl hunters out in the fields may not be that keen on birders walking
up and down the road, so you should probably limit your movements to close
to the brush pile area, where visibility into the fields is blocked by trees.

One other note, this bird does not appear to have much if any white
streaking in the middle of the back, and many of the streaks approaching
the middle of the back appeared to be even more buff or brown than the bird
in McCracken County. However, it has two white wing bars, white and tan
streaks on the scapulars and sides of the back, and the more obvious
whitish edgings on tertials and outer portions of the primaries. It also
called once nicely, giving the raspy note in addition to the shurweeee.

I haven't taken a final look at lists yet, but I am aware of  90 species on
the count. Other highlights I am aware of included Ross's Goose (same place
as last year on Schoolhouse Road), 2 Merlins, flyover flock of Snow Geese,
3 Bald Eagles, calling Virginia Rail, at least 6 performing American
Woodcocks, 1 flock of 239 Wild Turkeys!, 1 House Wren, a Cistothorus wren
that was likely a Sedge, and 1 Palm Warbler.  Weather was actually pretty
darned nice, considering the temps stayed in the mid 60s all day, the winds
were not really that strong and pretty much layed down during the late
afternoon and evening (making for better Short-eared Owl viewing),  and we
even saw some patches of blue skies during the day.

bpb, Louisville
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