FreeLists / tn-bird / [TN-Bird] Ringing out 2006 / Cranes and California Gull

[OLCOOT1@xxxxxxx]

DEC 30, 2006
Ensley, Robco Lake
Shelby Co TN and
Tunica Co. MS
 
Ringing out the year should read "wringing out" due to the almost constant  
rain. The weather on Saturday had the scaup stacked up on TVA and Robco  Lake, 
although the diversity of species was way down, scaup numbers were way up.  
One flock of 21 Greater Scaup returning from McKellar Lake to rest on the  
settling ponds, made for a flashy entrance. The long white wing stripes made it 
 an 
easy ID. A sudden hard down pour suddenly prompted most of the scaup to  
start bathing and preening. Thousands of birds splashing, dipping and fluffing  
their feathers makes for a very special effect.
 
At Robco, the Ring-billed Gulls produced no more than a greater respect for  
how many different sizes, looks, colors, and plumage's they can show. I can  
never resist looking for mew in the mix.
 
In Tunica Co, Mississippi, I stopped by to look for the Trumpeter Swans but  
they were not to be seen but I did find the first of 3 flocks of SANDHILL  
CRANES in their place. Over the afternoon I had a total of 132 Sandhill  
Cranes. 
The gulls were scattered away from the dump and out in the fields but on  one 
pass a few birds had returned to the area and among them was a second year  
CALIFORNIA GULL. This makes the 3rd in two years at that location. 
 
In scanning just one flooded field, I had Sandhill Cranes, Snow, Ross's and  
Greater White-fronted Geese, Harriers, Red-tailed Hawks, Great Blue Herons, 3  
Lesser Yellowlegs, 28 Least Sandpipers, 21 Wilson's Snipe and over 240 
Killdeer,  plus flyover Laplands and Horned Larks.
 
Looking forward to getting out now and starting a NEW YEAR list..........  
Good Birding  !!!

Jeff R. Wilson / TLBA
6298 Memphis-Arlington Road
Bartlett, TN  38135



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