FreeLists / tn-bird / [TN-Bird] Hatchie NWR Vermilion Flycatcher

[Oeserscave@xxxxxxx]

Saturday morning I drove out to Oneal Lake at Hatchie NWR, just off Highway 
76 between I-40 exits 52 and 56.  After first searching the trees along the 
entrance road, I drove into the visitor center parking lot and noticed a 
reddish 
bird flying toward the woods behind the center.  I then proceeded to check 
around the lake parking area and the trees along the road again, with no 
flycatcher.  
Jon Mann had mentioned that a couple of weeks ago they had found it in some 
small trees behind the visitor center, across a muddy ditch.  I took his clue, 
put on my boots and hiked across the muddy cornfield toward the woods 500 feet 
behind the center.  First I jumped about 8 snipe in the low areas, then 
looked left and saw the Vermilion Flycatcher about 100 feet away.  The red was 
obvious and helped locate the bird.  It was hanging out about 50-100 feet from 
the 
trees, near the area where the field has a small strip cutting off the back, 
left corner.  I had excellent looks at the bird as it perched on cornstalks in 
between short flights.  It is in full plumage, with the full red cap and red 
belly all the way up to its chin, leaving the brownish-gray eye stripe.  The 
red isn't quite as deep as a cardinal, more pinkish, which to me is more 
striking.
What I believe to be a Fish Crow (rather than American Crow) was calling from 
a tree in the lake.  Swamp, Savannah, and White-Throated Sparrows were 
spotted along the road around the lake.  A few Hooded Mergansers, 
Double-Crested 
Cormorants, and Canada Geese were in the lake, while an American Kestrel 
patrolled the fields around the visitor center.  Also of note was a skunk 
digging in a 
field just off the south side of the lake.  I got out to investigate and got 
within 50 feet before it noticed me and raised its tail.  It kept scavenging, 
but kept its eyes (and tail) on me just in case.

Afterwards I went to Pace Point and Rocky Point in Big Sandy NWR.  While 
there I encountered 'Ol Coot' and a group birdwatchers with wide-ranging 
license 
plates.  He had a Red-Throated Loon in his scope.  I had spotted Common Loon, 
Bufflehead, Horned Grebe, Lesser Scaup, Common Goldeneye, etc. from Pace Point 
prior to meeting the group, but had not seen the RT Loon, so I'm glad I went 
back.  I then went to Rocky Point, where I saw some more Common Loons, and what 
I'm guessing could have been Pacific Loons way out to the northwest from the 
rocks.  With the identifiable Commons nearby, it seemed that 2 loons had 
smaller bills, and the plumage was a little different, but the winter plumage 
is 
giving way to spring, so it was tough for me to know.
Ken Oeser
Hendersonville, TN
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