FreeLists / birdky / [birdky] RPT: West Ky 7-8 May incl 33 spp warblers

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

Adam Smith and I were in western Kentucky yesterday, May 8th. We drove
down afternoon of 7th. Following are some highlights:
 
7 May:
 
Audubon State Park, Henderson Co.: lots of thrushes including 2 or 3
Veeries; decent warblers including a Cerulean and a Hooded (both perhaps
rare breeders at the park?); 12 spp of shorebirds at a few quick stops
including a Piping Plover at the Camp #9 coal facility in Union County.
 
8 May:
 
33 spp of warblers ... 29 in LBL incl. 2 Golden-wingeds; many fewer
Tennessees and Blackpolls than last week; plenty of Maggies and Amer
Redstarts, 1 Blackburnian, and a few Cape May, Bay-breasted, and
Black-throated Green, and with additions since last week of 2 Wilson's,
2 Canada, and a Mourning; upon departing LBL, added Yellow-rumped
nearby, Palm at Wickliffe, Northern Waterthrush at Swan Lake WMA, and
Nashville at Ballard WMA (missed OCWA, BTBW, SWWA, and COWA).
 
Our shorebird observations in Ballard County were quite similar to Scott
Record's with the addition of a Stilt Sandpiper on Lower Beaverdam
Slough; it was disappointing that the recent rains have already raised
Mitchell Lake back up; not sure if they will it draw down again???
 
Very few larids around the northern lakes, but we did see Scott's
previuosly reported adult Laughing Gull above Ky Dam, along with tardy
or injured Common Loon, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye and Bonaparte's
Gulls (2).
 
A roadside Lark Sparrow and a few singing Willow Flycats at Swan Lake
Unit Boatwright WMA; a nice Olive-sided Flycatcher at Ballard WMA.
 
bpb, Frankfort