FreeLists / birdky / [birdky] RPT: West Ky June 18, 2004

[Brainard.Palmer-Ball@xxxxxx]

I conducted a BBS route in Livingston County this morning, a gorgeous dawn,
but hot by the last 10 stops. Tallied 77 species including two new species
for this route, a singing Black-billed Cuckoo (Yellow-billeds were
EVERYWHERE!) and 2 Fish Crows. Also observed were a Loggerhead Shrike
carrying food and 3 different Henslow's Sparrows.

After I completed the route I headed to the Kentucky Dam area, where 4 cute
little bob-tailed fledgling Scissor-tailed Flycatchers were sitting all in a
row in the sycamore tree across the quarry road from the nest pole. I
watched them being fed by both parents.

Two Common Loons continue above Kentucky Dam. Being in alternate plumage,
one has to wonder if they can fly.

I only saw Ring-billed Gulls (a handful), but at Calvert City there were
several Least Terns and a first-year Forster's still hanging in on one pond.
At another within the Atofina plant, there are at least 26 birds on nests
with another 30+ loafing and likely others out feeding.  This may be the
ONLY Kentucky site where successful nesting occurs if the rivers remain
high, especially away from the Mississip.

Regarding Roseanna's post on the cicadas a couple of days ago, in my travels
I have found them nowhere more common than in the Louisville area (similar
to 1987), although the Knobs across the river in southern Indiana have many,
as does the Blue Licks area.  Today, I heard only a few in Livingston County
at the beginning and end of the route.  As far as I can tell, they are
especially scarce across southern and western parts of the state, but much
larger broods affect those areas in different years (e.g. the impressively
large brood in the Land Between the Lakes area in 2002). Has anyone seen a
map on the internet of the distribution fo this brood?

bpb, Louisville
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