FreeLists / tn-bird / [TN-Bird] 2nd southeast Tennessee birding excursion

["Carole Gobert" <cpgobert@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Sunday, January 8, I drove to Harrison Bay State Park (Hamilton County) to 
look for the red-headed woodpeckers seen there by David Patterson last 
weekend.  Driving down Harrison Bay Road before reaching the park entrance 
there is a small viewing area below road level to the left that I believe is 
also part of the park as it has one of their self-pay kiosks. I noticed what 
appeared to be the back of a bald eagle sitting on a sand bar with the gulls 
close to the shore, so I drove down to take a closer look and it was an 
ADULT BALD EAGLE.  It took off as I tried to snap its picture, stirring up 
the ring-billed gulls, but I got off a couple of flight photos.

At the park I did find a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER by parking where David 
suggested, walking across the sandbar and onto the island.  (Thank you, 
David, for posting the directions.)   I watched it as it looked for food, 
working its way up a couple of trees, eventually opening and eating an acorn 
atop a small dead tree, until it finally flew off.

So, a bald eagle and a red-headed woodpecker.  An auspicious start to my 
wanderings Sunday.

I then headed to Nickajack Dam in Marion County and discovered that all the 
space on the water had been reserved by American Coots.  I believe they hold 
their family reunions in Marion County.  Shore to shore coots-- there must 
have been a thousand or more-- with only a handful of Canada Geese to add a 
little variety.

On my way back I returned to Marion County Park where on December 18, I had 
found coots, yes, but also Gadwall, ring necked ducks, pied billed grebes, 
buffleheads and Northern Shovelers.  Not so Sunday.  Only coots on the 
water--lots of coots--one great blue heron, A couple ring-billed gulls and a 
lone double-crested cormorant (which didn?t stick around long).

Carole Gobert
Knox County, Tennessee


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