FreeLists / bristol-birds / [Bristol-Birds] nolichucky plovers

["michael sledjeski" <mtnsylva@xxxxxxx>]

We launched our canoe at the Leadvale boat ramp on upper Douglas Lake/lower 
French Broad River to survey the mouth of the Nolichucky River, about 1 mile 
upstream.  There's good shorebird habitat, but viewing from land is limited, 
if not impossible. A tight flock of nine SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS was the best 
find.  About a dozen PECTORAL  and twice as many LEAST SANDPIPERS were also 
in the area, along with 5 SPOTTED SANDPIPERS.  Plenty of KILLDEER, of 
course.

Rankin Bottoms is on the opposite side of the river/lake, and typical Rankin 
waterbirds were also present on the Nolichucky : GREAT EGRET, GREEN HERON, 
WOOD DUCK, BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, & GREAT BLUE HERON.  A hundred+ 
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS gathered on a midriver shoal, near a small flock 
of CANADA GEESE.

As the big red sun dropped over the horizon, we watched great  egrets cruise 
in from all directions to form a long queue in the watery  edge of the 
Rankin flats.  The two white pelicans stood center stage, dwarfing the 
waders to either side of them.

The lake is losing about a foot of water daily.  Viewing opportunities from 
land at Rankin Bottoms will be optimal for the next few days.

Michael Sledjeski & Leslie Gibbens
Cocke County TN


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