FreeLists / tn-bird / [TN-Bird] Western Meadowlarks / Reelfoot

[OLCOOT1@xxxxxxx]

March 14, 2004
Near Black Bayou Handicap area
Lake Co. TN
Yesterday, I had a group of meadowlarks fly up from the side of highway 78 
just south of the road into the handicap hunting area of Black Bayou. I 
recognized the birds as Western and turned around and pulled up in the field 
road 
south of the Black Bayou handicap road on the east side of 78. 

The birds had flown into some soybean stubble. I located the birds and was 
trying to get photos of the distinct tail pattern (I did get one shot finally) 
when two of the birds started trading half songs. This is typical of young 
birds as they develop their songs through the winter. 

I tried to get closer but the birds flew north to the edge of the trees. When 
they flushed, I heard multiple "chupp" notes given, the only real diagnostic 
vocalizations that can be used to separate the two species as they can sing 
each others songs. There were 10 birds in the flock although I had only been 
able to locate 8 in my scope. I checked two other locations where they had been 
seen this winter but had no luck.

I did get 2 LeConte's Sparrows and 1 Short-eared Owl over near Bogota Refuge.

Good Birding!!!

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


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

The TN-Bird Net requires you to sign your messages with
first and last name, city (town) and state abbreviation.
-----------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------
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

 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
     Visit the Tennessee Ornithological Society
          web site at http://www.tnbirds.org
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Topographical Maps located at http://topozone.com/find.asp
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

    ========================================================