[birdky] W.Ky. birds

[BenYand@xxxxxx]

Took a long weekend to catch up on birding.  Nothing outstanding, but some 
decent finds.  1,060 miles and 102 species in all.  Here are some highlights:

3/14
* tree and n. rough-winged swallows -- boat dock area near the Ky. Dam beach. 
 I tried to tape the n.r-w swallows.  Haven't seen how that turned out yet.
* red-breasted mergansers, common goldeneyes, horned grebes (some starting to 
change into alternate plumage) -- on the lake itself (which was overrun with 
power boats).  
* osprey, common loon, greater scaup, white pelicans -- Lake Barkley from the 
Eureka Campground boat dock area.
* lesser black-backed gull -- same adult as previously reported, on sandbar 
in Lake Barkley, viewed from Old Kuttawa  Rd. 
* Forster's terns, a least sandpiper, and 98 pectoral sandpipers -- Jonathan 
Creek boat ramp area
* barred and great-horned owls - Long Point unit of Reelfoot

3/15
* greater white-fronted goose - 4 at Open Pond in Fulton Co. 
* snow goose - large flock on the ground just west of Open Pond; videotaped, 
but have not tried to estimate number; several hundred at least
* rough-legged hawk, 1 light, 1 dark phase - Peabody WMA, Sinclair
* short-eared owls and a dozen or so n. harriers hunting together over a 
ridge at dusk; at least two calling Am. woodcocks - Peabody WMA, Sinclair 
S2/S3 area
* possible LeConte's sparrow - Sinclair by marsh on S5.  A small, pale bird 
flew out of appropriate habitat, but I did not get enough of a look for a 
positive ID, and could not relocate the bird.

3/16
* vesper sparrow -- flushed up into a roadside tree along 268, where it makes 
the sharp left turn on the way to the Sauerheber Unit of Sloughs WMA west of 
Henderson
* pectoral sandpiper, greater and lesser yellowlegs, a few hundred rusty 
blackbirds - Sloughs WMA area.  I just saw the estimate of 800 pecs.  I also 
tried to estimate.  I don't know if more have joined the flock, or if I'm 
just optimistic.  My method was to count 100 birds, and then use that size 
clump to estimate the rest.  I estimated 1,200 birds in the fields on the 
north side of 268, just west of Tram Road, and at least 200 more on the south 
side.  The flocks were disappearing into the distance and the heat waves, so 
I'd believe there were hundreds more I could not see.  It was an amazing 
sight.
* Walking Hardy Slough produced nothing of interest except an injured greater 
white-fronted goose.

There's good shorebird habitat everywhere.  Hope it holds up over the next 
few weeks.

Ben Yandell
Louisville
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[birdky] W.Ky. birds