FreeLists / tn-bird / [tn-bird] A day at Reelfoot

[Mikectodd@xxxxxx]

Reelfoot Lake area 4/1/02 (no jokes involved)----------?

Today I was finally able to get out and spend a day in the field, after way 
too much work lately. I enjoyed a very leisurely day with some new arrivals 
and some soon to be departing friends. The day began at Walnut Log with some 
cool temps. Spring migrants were still pretty slim, but several Northern 
Parulas were buzzing away, along with a couple of Yellow-throated Warblers, 
and a Black-and-white. The ever-present Yellow-rumped's were singing away as 
well, this did it for warblers on the day, but a nice welcome anyway. Other 
signs of spring included a flyover Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Fish Crows 
seemingly everywhere, Gnatcatchers fussing already, and Great Egrets. On the 
other end of the spectrum, I saw at least a half a dozen Sapsuckers, a 
singing Winter Wren, and the highlight, a duel of excellence by a couple of 
the Hermit Thrushes still enjoying our southern hospitality. One quick call 
seemed to indicate that an Eastern Wood-Pewee had come north a little early, 
but I never heard it again so I didn't make the call.

From here a trip around the upper end of the lake produced lots of Shovelers, 
Green and Blue-winged Teal, and Gadwall, with a few Hooded Merg's thrown in. 
Shorebirds were few and far between, with Long Point having the only real 
concentration of Yellowlegs, the majority being Greater. I expected to but 
never stumbled across a Least Sandpiper all day. I finally found a flock of 
78 American Golden-Plovers in a field off of Hwy 78, with my only Pectorals 
of the day mixed in. Killdeer and Snipe rounded out the shorebirds. Great 
Blues and Great Egrets had a close eye on practically every water hole. The 
lake itself was pretty much dead, with the only Pelicans seen being a group 
of twelve feeding in a flooded field off of the levee. I looked through a lot 
of gulls hoping for a Franklin's, but had to settle on some gorgeous 
fully-hooded Bonies, although most of them are still sporting the "splotched" 
look. All of the swallows were accounted for except for Bank. 

Nothing great, but a great day to be out!!!!!!!

Mike Todd
McKenzie, TN
Carroll Co.
mikectodd@xxxxxx
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