FreeLists / birdky / [birdky] RPT: West Ky March 15-16

["Palmer-Ball, Brainard (EPPC OOS KNPC)" <Brainard.Palmer-Ball@xxxxxx>]

I was in western Ky for a meeting and some field work this week.

On the afternoon of March 15, I visited a large Great Blue Heron nesting
colony off Kentucky Lake. Nesting is already in full swing and I was
surprised to actually hear young already calling from a nest or two in the
core of the colony!

On March 16, I visited our Three Ponds State Nature Preserve along the
Mississippi River in Hickman County. This preserve is mostly a tract of
fairly mature bottomland hardwood forest. It is interesting to really see
the season changing now. Cardinals and White-throats were up in the canopies
of elm trees, eating newly formed fruits with American Goldfinches. I ran
across at least 8 Winter Wrens, at least 4 of which were singing!; Brown
Creepers were also heard singing a few times, as was a Yellow-rumped Warbler
... a quiet little rendition of the more robust warbles to come.  In one
feeding canopy flock, I thought I heard a Field Sparrow three different
times; because I am always interested in seeing native species in naturally
occurring habitats, I really wanted to see this seemingly odd combination
(Field Sparrow in a mature bottomland forest); I couldn't find the bird, but
then it called again and flew in over my head ... but it wasn't a Field
Sparrow ... it was a warbler that I've recognized before has chip notes like
a Field Sparrow's ... an Orange-crowned! Hadn't entered my mind that that's
what it could be; probably a bird that has resided somewhere in the area
this winter rather than an early arrival.  Also seen/heard were a pair of
Fish Crows, a performing (growling) Hooded Merganser, and a pair of Eastern
Bluebirds deep in the forest.

It was a raw, windy day, but as long as I was that far west I did a brief,
late-afternoon run-through of the upper and lower Hickman bottoms; dabbling
ducks were in great supply, along with some early shorebirds.  Waterfowl
were packed into Obion WMA, Long Point, and Lake No 9. Some highlights were
more than 1100 Green-winged Teal at Long Point (more than 700 in one single
group!); 325 Wilson's Snipe in a single loose group at Long Point; 300-500
more Green-winged Teal and 100-150 Northern Pintail along with other
dabblers at Obion.  Shorebirds included single American Golden-Plovers at
Obion and Long Point as well as a flock of 18 that dropped into Open Pond;
Greater Yellowlegs at Long Point and Lake No. 9; and Pectorals at Obion and
Long Point. Also, one of the Lake No. 9 Bald Eagle pair was feeding a chick
in the nest.

bpb, Louisville
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