FreeLists / bristol-birds / [Bristol-Birds] Herndon TOS at Phipps Bend report

[Dnldhlt@xxxxxxx]

Saturday 13 NOV 2004, the Herndon Chapter of TOS at Elizabethton held a field 
trip to Phipps Bend along the Holston River in Hawkins County.  Participating 
were Gil Derouen, Dianne Draper, Don Holt, Rick Knight, and Larry McDaniel.  
Arriving at the site of the abandoned nuclear project, we were excited to see 
a Bald Eagle soaring over the river before we even got out of the vehicle.  A 
hike around the large open field near us brought further raptor sightings 
including Northern Harrier, and some aerial interactions among three American 
Kestrels.  After searching the field for sparrows, we were met by a very polite 
gentleman, the caretaker of the property for the Industrial Board, who informed 
us that the area was off limits.  In our excitement over the Bald Eagle, we 
had failed to notice that we were parking directly behind a No Trespassing 
sign! 
 The rest of the trip was spent on the public walking trail on the other side 
of the ponds, where we later came across Ron and Rose Lapp.  The habitat 
there looks like it ought to be quite productive for birding throughout the 
year, 
and the thought was expressed without dissent that the area ought to be birded 
more often.  The morning was concluded with an enjoyable meal at Wild Willy's 
Barbecue in Church Hill, which has a surprisingly large and varied menu for a 
small restaurant, including breakfast any time of day.
     Species seen were as follows:
Pied-billed Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
American Black Duck
Ring-necked duck
Canada Goose
Mallard
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Cooper's Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
American Coot
Virginia Rail
Common Snipe
Ring-billed Gull
Mourning Dove
Rock Pigeon
Belted Kingfisher
Downy Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Eastern Phoebe
American Crow
Blue Jay
Carolina Chickadee
Eastern Tufted Titmouse
Carolina Wren
Eastern Bluebird
Northern Mockingbird
American Pipit
European starling
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Northern Cardinal
Field Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Rusty Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark
American Goldfinch

submitted by
Don Holt
Johnson City, TN
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