FreeLists / bristol-birds / [Bristol-Birds] Rankin pelican, snowys, etc.

["michael sledjeski" <mtnsylva@xxxxxxx>]

We canoed around the Rankin portion of Douglas Lake, in Cocke county,  with 
some friends on Sunday,  9/4.  The AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN reported by Don 
Miller was still present, content to forage and groom with great egrets.  It 
passed directly overhead, showing a mud-stained belly when it flew to roost 
in the heronry.

We watched a pair of SNOWY EGRETS foraging along the edge of the pond past 
the gate on the old RR bed; a third was fishing near 2 LITTLE BLUE HERONS on 
the French Broad riverbank.  All 3 egrets had black forelegs and yellow 
lores; no mating plumage evident.

We studied an odd duck at close range for a while and concluded that it was 
a juvenile REDHEAD,  apparently the first of its species recorded at Rankin. 
 Rankin doesn't seem deep enough for redheads, but according to Sibley, 
diving ducks will dabble in shallow water.

We saw 10 species of shorebirds, including STILT SANDPIPER and WILSON'S 
SNIPE, in the mudflat below the gate.  The Holt Town Rd. wetlands, across 
the river, are rapidly revegetating;  there were a few spotted & solitary 
sandpipers and killdeer.  Great blues, great egrets, little blues, 
black-crowned night- herons, & green herons were feasting on the backwater 
shad.

Lake Level:  None of the highlighted species were easily observable from 
shore; lake elevation was 987.5'.  However, fall drawdown officially began 
on 9/4;  986.5' is predicted for 9/7.  Rankin Bottoms should be good for 
birding from the road and shore by the weekend.  Canoe birding will still be 
the better m.o.; call if you'd like to join us.

Michael Sledjeski & Leslie Gibbens
(423) 487-3161
Cocke county


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