[birdky] Transient Lakes and KY/Barkley Dams 5 and 6 April 2008

[David Roemer <dlroemer@xxxxxxxxx>]

I checked McElroy yesterday morning, 5 April, but
Aaron's stilt had already departed.  The
Golden-Plovers departed late morning and I watched 2
flocks totalling about 100 birds head north.  A pair
of Common Loons dropped in but decided just before
touchdown that they would continue their northward
journey.  A Double-crested Cormorant was resting on
the water when I arrived, but with the lifting of the
heavy overcast it too was soon on the wing northbound.

Good numbers of Blue-winged Teal and several
Bufflehead remain but numbers of other waterfowl
species continue to decline.  Only a few yellowlegs,
pecs, and Least Sandpipers remained along with snipe. 
There was a nice movement of pipits with over 50 seen
working their way north over the fields.

Fewer birds were present at Chaney with the exception
of over 100 snipe.

Today, 6 April, Tom Durbin and I checked transient
pools as well as below Barkley Dam and below/above Ky
Dam.  The only new species present at McElroy this
morning was a Great Egret which soon departed.  We did
see an adult female Northern Harrier eating a coot!

Morgan's Pond in Christian County had a fair number of
common waterfowl species and a single female Greater
Scaup.  We also observed a Vesper Sparrow there.

On the way to pick up Tom this morning, 2 flocks of
cormorants totalling 900-1000 birds were seen
northbound over 31-w in Bowling Green.  

The highlight of the day was the number of birds at
the dams including some good gulling.  The number of
white pelicans has declined below Barkley Dam but
there are still plenty to enjoy.  Lots of Bonaparte's
Gulls to look through also.

Ky Dam had the most interesting birds while we were
there today with the following species recorded:

Surf Scoter (2 female-plumaged just above the dam)
Herring Gull (total of 300 above and below dam)
Great Black-backed Gull (2nd cycle below)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (2nd and 3rd cycle below)
Glaucous Gull (1st or 2nd cycle on lock above)
Forster's and Caspian Terns
Yellow-throated Warbler (singing below dam)

We stopped by Guthrie and saw an eagle sitting on the
nest as well as an adult Great Horned Owl and 2 chicks
on their nest.

There is little shorebird habitat now with the rising
of the transient pools, but this will improve as soon
as water levels begin dropping.

David L. Roemer
Bowling Green, Ky.







      
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[birdky] Transient Lakes and KY/Barkley Dams 5 and 6 April 2008