FreeLists / bristol-birds / [Bristol-Birds] Spotted Sandpiper at Kingsport

["Rick Phillips" <sunfish0501@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Went out for a while this morning to see what was about.  I really wanted to go 
looking for some of the good stuff I've been reading about on this list, but 
decided I would just look right around home (Kingsport) since the areas up 
around Bristol and Elizabethton are pretty well covered. First place I stopped 
after picking up my biscuit at Burger King was at Riverfront Seafood Rest. 
along Netherland Inn Rd.  The S. Fork Holston River at this location used to be 
a fine spot to pick up some waterfowl.  First thing I saw (would you believe 
it) was a bunch of Canada Geese.  No Ross, no Snow's, no Cackling...just plain 
ole Canadas.  But, there was some quick, rather jerky movement that caught my 
eye along the shoreline of the river right in front of me.  I looked down and 
there was this porky little shorebird on the rocks in among a bunch of trash. 
Before I looked too closely I took a moment out to try to dream it into being 
something really wild like a Purple Sandpiper or something.  When I actually 
looked it was a very active little Spotted Sandpiper working around on the 
rocks just like it was April or May or some warmer month.  I can't quickly 
locate my copy of Rick Knight's book but it looks like they are not too common 
in winter according to Robinson's Checklist of the Birds of Tennessee.  Anyway 
I know it' something I don't usually see this time of year. 

No good waterfowl here so I moved on down to Phipp's Bend in Hawkins Co.  Had a 
couple of Red-tailed Hawks along the way but not a single Kestrel.  Had a 
female Harrier and an Adult Red-shouldered Hawk both near the Tennessee 
Technology Center at Phipp's Bend.  Even though there were no hunting signs 
posted in the wildlife viewing area at Phipp's Bend there were hunters, 
gunshots, and a pack of dogs there so I didn't stick around too long.

Rick