FreeLists / birdky / [birdky] RPT: Spring KOS meeting summary

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

Nearly 60 KOS members attended the Spring 2006 KOS meeting at Pennyrile Forest 
State Resort Park this weekend, April 28-30. Saturday's bird list was around 
130 with another 10 or so species added Sunday.

Off-and-on showers and brisk winds (especially on Sunday) plagued birding 
activities, but several good field trips were held and many birded on their own 
in small groups. The proximity of Kentucky Lake/Land Between the Lakes/Lake 
Barkley and a less-than-stellar show of passerine migrants lured most birders 
west about 30 miles to look for waterbirds!

The highlight rarity of the weekend was a Red-necked Grebe in near alternate 
plumage found on Kentucky Lake above the dam on Saturday morning; subsequent 
attempts to relocate it Sat PM and Sunday on "the Kentucky Sea" [several foot 
high breaking waves] were unsuccessful. On Sat the Ky Dam Village Beach 
provided nice study of 18 Willets, 10+ (?) Caspian Terns, up to 60 Forster's 
Terns, 2 adult Bonaparte's Gulls and an injured drake Northern Pintail. On 
Sunday, a drake Redhead, an adult Laughing Gull, a few Herring Gulls, and 2 
Common Terns were added to the waterbird list; most of the latter on the Ky Dam 
Village marina roof. Also observed on Sat were an alternate plumaged Horned 
Grebe, several Common Loons, a female Red-breasted Merganser, and a raft of 
about 70 Northern Shovelers.

A pair of Scissor-tailed Flycatchers were seen both Sat and Sun on the east 
side of the Cumberland River immediately below Barkley Dam (where a pair has 
nested at least two of the past few years). None were seen at the site north of 
Grand Rivers along KY 453.

At least 27 species of warblers were reported including small numbers of  
Chestnut-sided, Cape May, and Blackpoll among the many nesting species 
including a couple of Ceruleans.  

If I missed anything, participants should feel free to chime in ....

BPB
Louisville