FreeLists / bristol-birds / [Bristol-Birds] Several species at record highs in Shady Valley

["Wallace Coffey" <jwcoffey@xxxxxxxxxx>]

It was not surprising that a Loggerhead Shrike was found on the Christmas Bird 
Count in Shady Valley 
Sat. (1/5),  in light of the apparent record numbers found over the area this 
winter.  The Shady Valley 
bird, found in the valley proper at about 2,800 feet elevation, represents the 
first found there since 
John and Lorrie Shumate had one 16 years ago on 30 Jan 1992. Winter records of 
this species in
the valley have long been sporadic.

The Red-breasted Nuthatches were a record for the Shady Valley-Mountain City 
Christmas Bird Count 
but fell just three short of the valley record of (23) 1 Jan 2005 (Wallace 
Coffey, John Moyle, Rack Cross, 
Chris O'Bryan, Andy Jones, Rob Biller, Ron Carrico).

Ron Carrico, Rob Biller and Richard Lewis' tally of 49 Swamp Sparrows broke the 
old valley proper 
record of 35 previously counted 26 Oct 2002 Quarry Bog (Rack Cross).

The three Brown Creepers on the count in Shady Valley proper set a new record 
by one individual.  
The old record was (2) 17 Jan 2004 McQueen Knob Rd. (Chris O'Bryan).

This year's 7 Fox Sparrow did establish a new maximum for Shady Valley itself.

A close look at other counts may indicate that Northern Cardinals are having a 
banner year.  
The 53 birds found in Shady this past weekend establishes a new record.  The 
old high count was 
35  birds 1 Jan 2005 Christmas Bird Count (Coffey, John Moyle, Rack Cross, 
Chris O'Bryan, 
Andy Jones, Biller, Carrico).

If anyone has more updated info or corrections, please let me know.

Let's go birding......

Wallace Coffey
Bristol, TN