FreeLists / birdky / [birdky] Northern Shrike Missed

["Mark " <benn5609@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

14 November 2004:

I came out of my non-birding shell to chase a potential life bird only
40 miles from my house today, the Northern Shrike observed yesterday by
Hap C, Roseanna D, David R. and perhaps others.  This was apparently
enough to cause the bird to hide or move as it had NOT been observed by
several birders as of 4:00 CST.  This was despite a constant vigil by
some at the point of last sighting and a fairly thorough search of the
Sinclair Unit of Peabody by others.  Hopefully, someone saw it after the
group broke apart, but I am doubtful.

The day was not a total loss for me, however.
 
For me, highlights were as follows:

1.  A single female Snow Bunting while on my way to the Shrike site at
the junction of S-1 and the unnamed road that connects S-1 to River Road
just north of S-2.
2.  A flyover Lapland Longspur that Brainard Palmer-Ball had the
alertness to call out (while I was thinking what was that strange
rattling call?).
3.  6 Least Sandpipers at the TVA Lake adjacent to the former Ash Basin.
4.  2 Dunlin at the same location as above.
5.  2 Great Egrets flying in from the east as observed while between the
former Ash Basin and the TVA Lake(s).
6.  App. 150 Vultures (based on partial count and extrapolation) on 2
power line towers near the Green River south of the Steam Plant.
7.  2 or more Palm Warblers in the "Shrike" area.

Also observed were a few Red-tailed Hawks, Northern Harriers, and
American Kestrels.  There were also some exciting moments that turned
out to be Northern Mockingbirds (not even a Loggerhead Shrike).

I look forward to reading posts from others to see what they say.
Overall, the day was a nice one, despite the disappointment.

I was also disappointed to observe that the Ash Basin is rapidly
becoming a Fragmentes field.  This appears to be the results of dropping
water levels.  While some "mud" and water remains, much of the
impoundment is overgrown with weeds or the invasive grass previously
mentioned.

That concludes this report.

Mark Bennett
Russellville, KY  (Logan County)

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