FreeLists / tn-bird / [TN-Bird] Kyker Bottoms - Goshawk!

[Charlie <cmmbirds@xxxxxxxxx>]

Kyker Bottoms WMA
Blount County 
April 1 2006

Hi folks,

9 members of the Knoxville Chaper of TOS went to Kyker Bottoms WMA
yesterday.  We had a great time in beautiful weather, and
collectively observed 69 species of birds.  Several dragonflies and
damselflies were about and around, and those of us who showed up for
dawn chorus were nearly deafened by the singing frogs, and especially
American Toads.

Highlights:
American Woodcock peenting, Great-horned and Barred Owls calling at
dawn
Osprey
40+ Green-winged Teal
9 Northern Bobwhite, flushed twice (neither time on purpose)
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW seen by one expernienced member
NORTHERN GOSHAWK seen by several of us, three different times during
the morning.  We were all leaning towards that ID, but I wasn't
personally certain until I consulted some books.  Some of the key ID
points we noted:  the "flap flap flap glide" pattern consisted of 6
or 7 flaps.  Flight was very direct, very powerful.  The undertail
coverts were not white and fluffy.  The tail, while not fan-shaped,
was quite wide.  It was still very long, as one expects in an
accipiter.  The bird was gray all over, top and bottom.  We were
fortunate enough to see all 3 accipipter species through the day, as
well as both red-tailed and red-shouldered hawks.

We did NOT see a shrike or any falcon.

Charlie

*******************************************************************
Charlie Muise, Naturalist near
Great Smoky Mountains National Park

"To the dull mind all nature is leaden.  To the illuminated mind 
the whole world sparkles with light."  - Ralph Waldo Emerson

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