FreeLists / bristol-birds / [Bristol-Birds] Rankin shorebirds etc.

["michael sledjeski" <mtnsylva@xxxxxxx>]

Rankin area, Cocke county, 8/9/06, 7:15 PM to 8:45 PM
Douglas Lake elevation: 987'

Shorebird habitat and numbers have increased considerably, with over a mile 
of muddy shoreline at Rankin Bottoms.  We did a quick motor/canoe trip into 
the mouth of the Nolichucky and saw about 75 individuals of 6 shorebird 
species on the first little island, about 1/4 mile upriver.  We then cruised 
along the outer shoreline of Rankin Bottoms as night fell.

Shorebird viewing from dry land will improve through next week.  At the 
current lake elevation, the best viewpoint, and it's rather limited,  is 
near the RR crossing at the entrance to the WMA.  That would also be the 
best vantage point to see the wood stork, if it's still around.

Canada goose (200+)
Wood duck (12)
Great blue heron (15)
Great egret (92)
Little blue heron (21)
Green heron (15)
Black-crowned night-heron (5)
Osprey (5)
Semipalmated plover (3)
Killdeer ( 250+)
Lesser yellowlegs (8)
Solitary sandpiper (9)
Spotted sandpiper (5)
Semipalmated sandpiper (2)
Least sandpiper (55)
Pectoral sandpiper (82)
Stilt sandiper
Wilson's phalarope (distinctive white face and underparts; possibly viewable 
from RR crossing)

Michael Sledjeski & Leslie Gibbens
Cocke county TN


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