FreeLists / tn-bird / [TN-Bird] TN-MS - Gulls-Ducks and Swan

[OLCOOT1@xxxxxxx]

Jan. 20, 2007
Ensley Bottoms-Robco Lake
Shelby Co. TN
Tunica Co. MS
 
Still tied close to home but had a few good birds on a dull dreary day. The  
escapee Mute Swan that occasionally frequents the barrow pits around the  
expressways has returned to one of its favorite wet holes on the north leg of  
240 
east of the Highland exit. The bird started out a few years back  as an 
immature bird on McKellar Lake.
 
At TVA Lakes in Ensley Bottoms, the dredging efforts have cut the duck  
numbers down but there are still a few Canvasback and Redheads in the mix of  
scaup 
etc. There are still a couple of bill tagged Lesser Scaup in the flock.  With 
the numbers of Lesser down the Greater Scaup were in higher concentration,  
especially in the east pond. Most of the other birds may have transferred to  
Robco Lake as it was covered up with a great variety. Unfortunately it  started 
raining and left me no choice but to head down to Tunica for a GULL  FIX. 
 
The dump was hustling and the numbers in the roosting flocks out in the  
fields, sometimes mind numbing. Finally, there were more interesting birds in  
the 
mix than in recent days. No adult Herring, but a surprising THREE third year  
birds, the hardest age group to find in these flocks. I ended with 9 immature 
 Herring and finally late in the day a Thayer type gull dropped in that 
looked  more Kumlien's/Iceland like. I have a few shots taken in the failing 
light 
but  I'll try for better shots today. It takes hours of waiting as these gulls 
trade  in and out of the dump but goodies are found in this huge  
concentration using the area.
 
Over 90 Sandhill Cranes were strewn about one huge Rice field. These  are 
great additions to our super winter show in the Tunica area.  
Good Birding  !!!

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



=================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBER=====================

The TN-Bird Net requires you to SIGN YOUR MESSAGE with
first and last name, CITY (TOWN) and state abbreviation.
You are also required to list the COUNTY in which the birds
you report were seen.  The actual DATE OF OBSERVATION should
appear in the first paragraph.
_____________________________________________________________
      To post to this mailing list, simply send email to:
                    tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
_____________________________________________________________ 
                To unsubscribe, send email to:
                 tn-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
            with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field.
______________________________________________________________
  TN-Bird Net is owned by the Tennessee Ornithological Society 
       Neither the society(TOS) nor its moderator(s)
        endorse the views or opinions expressed
        by the members of this discussion group.
 
         Moderator: Wallace Coffey, Bristol, TN
                 wallace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
                ------------------------------
                Assistant Moderator Andy Jones
                         Cleveland, OH
                -------------------------------
               Assistant Moderator Dave Worley
                          Rosedale, VA
__________________________________________________________
         
          Visit the Tennessee Ornithological Society
              web site at http://www.tnbirds.org
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

                          ARCHIVES
 TN-Bird Net Archives at http://www.freelists.org/archives/tn-bird/

                  EXCELLENT MAP RESOURCES
Topographical Maps located at http://topozone.com/find.asp
Tenn.Counties Map at http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/states/tennessee3.gif
Aerial photos to complement google maps http://local.live.com

_____________________________________________________________