FreeLists / bristol-birds / [Bristol-Birds] Elizabethton Fall Count

["Richard Knight" <rknight8@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The Elizabethton Fall Count was conducted on 30 September by members of the Lee 
& Lois Herndon chapter of TOS.  The area covered was Carter County and parts of 
adjacent Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi, and Washington counties.   There were 27 
observers in 8 parties.  The weather was generally good.

127 species were found.  This was slightly above the average of 123.8 species 
for the last 20 years.  The record high for the fall count was 137 species in 
1993.

Aside from Killdeer, no shorebirds were found.  !9 species of warblers were 
seen, but overall numbers seemed low.  A good variety of raptors occurred.  
Swallows were more numerous than usual at this date, with 4 species & a record 
high count of Tree Swallows.

Missed were N. Bobwhite, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Barn Owl, and shrike.

Best finds were N. Goshawk at Roan Mountain and Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow 
in Shady Valley.
Also notable were Eared Grebe, Am. & Least Bittern, Merlin, N. Saw-whet Owl, 
Philadelphia Vireo, Sedge & Marsh Wren, and Wilson's Warbler. 

Rick Knight
Johnson City, TN