FreeLists / tn-bird / [TN-Bird] SHutes Branch Recreation Area

[<thornius@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Today a brief trip to Shutes Branch Recreation Area on Old Hickory Lake  in 
Hermitage, Tn, Davidson County yielded several birds of interest.  Numerous 
Great Blue Herons, some soaring on air currents like gulls, and Black-Crowned 
Night Herons were seen on and around the island about 200 yards offshore of the 
recreation area,  2 - 3 Rough-Winged Swallows were soaring and chattering 
pleasantly over the lake, and 1-2 Pied- Bill Grebes were swimming and diving 
off shore.  The highlight of the day for me was at least one and possibly more 
Bonapartes Gulls in breeding plummage flying by every few minutes.  This was 
only the second time in 18 years of birding that I have Seen this gull.  The 
total species seen were:

Canada Goose    20
American Black Duck     Possible ABD/Mallard Hybrid
Mallard 20
Northern Shoveler       1 Mallard/ Northern Shoveler hybrid
Pied-billed Grebe       1-2
Great Blue Heron        4-5 some soaring
Black-crowned Night-Heron       4-5 on or flying around island
Black Vulture   1 on road
American Coot   15-20
Killdeer                              1
Bonaparte's Gull        1-2 breeding plummage
Ring-billed Gull        10
Belted Kingfisher       1
American Crow   3
Northern Rough-winged Swallow   2-3
Carolina Chickadee      6
Carolina Wren   1
American Robin  5
European Starling       10
Northern Cardinal       3
Common Grackle  15
Brown-headed Cowbird    5
House Finch     3

Number of Species: 24

I still suspect that there may be a Heron Rookery on the island offshore.

Nat Winston III
Hermitage, TN
Davidson County

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