FreeLists / bristol-birds / [bristol-birds] Austin Springs & Bowmantown

[Dnldhlt@xxxxxxx]

Greetings,
     The Elizabethton Bird Club held a scheduled field trip Saturday, March 
16, 2002 to Austin Springs and the TWRA wetland at Bowmantown, Washington 
County, TN.  Meeting in the rain at 8:30 am at Winged Deer Park in Johnson 
City, TN, Don Holt, Reece Jamerson, and Rick Knight did not have to wait long 
for the rain to quit.  The group birded until around 5:30 pm, ending the day 
with a total of 60 avian species.
     At Austin Springs, in the trees near the river a good view of a 
Loggerhead Shrike was enjoyed, and two different vocalizations were heard.  
Rick told us that was a good sign that the bird may be breeding at the site.  
Along the shoreline, three American Pipits were walking among the rocks, 
searching the nooks and crannies.  Invisible in the grass until they flew up 
into a tree at our approach were several Savannah Sparrows.  Also in the 
field was a Vesper Sparrow hiding in plain view among the cow patties, 
flashing his white tail-edges as he arrived, and on departure.  Across the 
fence in the shrubby marsh, Swamp Sparrows eyed us suspiciously.  In the 
nearby forest a mixed feeding flock included a Golden-crowned Kinglet in the 
tree tops, and, remarkably, a White-breasted Nuthatch on the ground, jumping 
up repeatedly, apparently catching insects!
     Taking the backroads to Bowmantown, Rick spotted in the distance what he 
suspected to be a Wild Turkey at the edge of a field beside a forest.  
Driving to a better vantage point, we saw a pair of Wild Turkeys, caught in 
the act of mating, the female crouched down low to the ground, almost 
invisible underneath the fluffed up male.  She stood up and they circled each 
other, he with his tail spread wide and curved to the side in front of her 
face as they circled clockwise for about two turns before she ran off into 
the edge of the woods.  He remained in the open, displaying his plumage.
     At Mr. Garland's pond, Rick heard a Barn Swallow, but we failed to spot 
it.  Then, in quick succession we saw a Red-tailed Hawk, a Cooper's Hawk, and 
an American Kestrel.
     After lunch at a small, country diner near Bowmantown, we went on to the 
Ruritan park, and had good looks at the Red-headed Woodpecker there.  Then, 
at the TWRA wetland, Swamp Sparrows, Song Sparrows and Eastern Towhees were 
abundant.  One Male and one female Rusty Blackbird flew up from a shrub in 
the middle of the marsh, landing high in a tree affording all a good view.
     Driving around the county, we checked out several ponds and marshy 
areas, adding a species here and another there.  Some of the species seen 
were Ring-necked Duck, Gadwall, Common Snipe, Tree Swallow, White-crowned 
Sparrow, Purple Finch, et al.
     Returning to Winged Deer Park, we parked in the back lot and walked the 
trails, spying two Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, and hearing the song of a Fox 
Sparrow, a pleasant conclusion to a full day.

Don Holt, Central, Carter Co., TN

     
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