FreeLists / tn-bird / [TN-Bird] A Magnificent Seven at Ensley Pits

[OLCOOT1@xxxxxxx]

DEC 31, 2004
Ensley Bottoms
Shelby Co. TN
Tunica Co. MS
 
TVA Lake was plumb full of scaup the first time I looked it over and there  
were twice as many when I checked it the second time. Scanning the flock I had  
over 60 Greater Scaup the first time and no telling how many more the second  
time but I did not tarry.
 
At the "Pits", I found SEVEN SANDERLING, looking like so many snowballs  
blowing around on the flats. These birds have now been present since November 
19  
and set records each day. Along with the Sanderling were 1 Western Sandpiper 
and  52 Least Sandpipers, a hardy bunch to have survived the recent extreme 
cold and  ice. Horned Larks, Pipits and a couple of Lapland Longspurs also 
shared 
the  flats.
 
Down in Tunica Co, I found 3 different flocks of Sandhill Cranes but only  31 
birds. I had Western Meadowlarks in 3 locations and tons of geese. A large  
concentration of geese were found near the landfill with 41 Ross's counted from 
 one view point. One Snow had a yellow neck band and one had a red band; I'll 
 send the numbers off and see where they came from in the north. There are 
lots  of Ring-billed Gulls and a few Herring, in and around the landfill.
 
I looked at a lot of hawks throughout the day and it paid off big time.  Just 
as I was backing out of the field where I had photographed the Ferruginous  
Hawk I notice a birder and introduced myself to a Houston Ticker working on his 
 MS list. He had seen the Ferruginous fly away but had IDed it as a  
Rough-legged Hawk a much more expected species. He was looking for a 
Short-eared  Owl, 
so I took him west to the most productive location and we had 2 or 3 flying  
and barking before one flew straight at us and west toward the bright  Casinos.
 
I ended my West TN Year List at 283, with some mighty find birds in  the 
mix................Next year I'm going to have to bird some in the  
East...........
 
Happy New Year to All and to all a  good night!!  
Good  Birding!!!

Jeff R. Wilson
OL'COOT / TLBA
Bartlett,  TN



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