FreeLists / tn-bird / [TN-Bird] Possible _flavirostris_ Greater White-fronted Geese

[chris.sloan@xxxxxxxxxxx]

Jay Desgrosellier and I spent most of the day Saturday (April 3) birding various
units of the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge.  At the Duck River Unit
(Humphreys Co.), we were surprised to find two GREATER WHITE-FRONTED
GEESE in with about ten or so Canadas.  This was interesting for two
reasons.  First, there are almost no April records of this species for
TN, and second, because both of these birds had bills that were
unmistakably, unequivocally ORANGE.  Nominate Greater White-fronts
normally have pink bills; an orange bill is the most noticeable feature
of the subspecies _flavirostris_ (Latin for "orange-billed"), which
breeds in Greenland and is a vagrant to the Atlantic coast.  We were
within 100 yards of the two birds with optimal lighting conditions with
an unobstructed view - there is no disputing that the bills were orange.
Does this mean they were definitely _flavirostris_?  I don't know the
answer to that one yet, but would welcome comments.

Another interesting waterfowl sighting at Duck River was a leucistic
male GADWALL.  Presumably, this is the same bird that Jeff Wilson
photographed at Britton Ford (just nw of Duck River) in January.

All in all, the day produced 90 species, with the following highlights:

50+ Common Loons (most in breeding plumage) at and around Pace Point in
the Big Sandy Unit (Henry/Benton Co.)
24 Am. White Pelicans at Pace Point
10 Osprey nests, including 8 visible from one location (Granny's Branch)
1 Broad-winged Hawk at Duck River, another along Hwy 70 headed home
6 spp. of shorebird at Duck River, including a flock of 51 Greater and 7
Lesser Yellowlegs
all the regular swallow spp. except Bank at Big Sandy
2 White-eyed Vireos at Big Sandy
5 spp. of warbler at Big Sandy (nothing unexpected)
1 Leconte's Sparrow at Big Sandy (below the maintenance shed)
1 Vesper Sparrow at Big Sandy (also below the maintenance shed)
50 White-crowned Sparrows (largest single flock I've ever seen)

Chris Sloan
Nashville, TN
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