FreeLists / tn-bird / [TN-Bird] A very little Big Day

["Desgrosellier, Jay" <jay.desgrosellier@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Sunday, May 4, 2003
Reelfoot Lake Area (Lake, Obion and Dyer Co.) to Paris Landing (Henry
Co.) and Land-Between-the-Lakes (Stewart Co.), TN
4:30 am - 7:30 pm
 
The team of Jay Desgrosellier, Chris Sloan and Terry Witt spent a
blustery Sunday attempting to break the Tennessee Big Day record.
Unfortunately, we came up short, real short. Although I think many
people would agree that 140 species is a respectable day's total, it is
way short of the record of 174. The day started well enough with our
first bird being a BARN OWL in Tiptonville. However, the light breeze
that we encountered while owling steadily increased all day to become a
downright annoying wind. The wind would've been tolerable had there been
a steady supply of birds to keep us busy. This was not the case however,
as migrants were few and far between. Walnut Log Road was EXTREMELY
quiet. At times we had to ask each other if it was really May as it
could've easily been mistaken for mid-summer by the lack of bird song. 
 
Highlights included a WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER at the pond near Walnut Log
Rd., 3 DUNLIN along the Heard Rd. loop, a late BONAPARTE'S GULL on
Reelfoot Lake from Keystone pocket and 2 COMMON LOON off of Paris
Landing. Another nice bird was the staked out PAINTED BUNTING in
Kentucky near the Long Point Unit of Reelfoot NWR. Of course it didn't
count towards our species total, but since it was right along the way we
just had to stop. 
 
Otherwise, this was one of those "it figures" days as many birds that we
traditionally struggle with on big days were easily found, sometimes on
multiple occasions. For example, BELTED KINGFISHERS were seemingly
abundant this year, as were EURASIAN COLLARED DOVES and SONG SPARROWS
didn't put up much of a struggle. However, the utter lack of migrants
and the strong winds severely hampered our efforts. Oh, well, at least
we avoided the tornadoes.
 
Good Birding!
 
Jay Desgrosellier
Nashville, 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.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Topographical Maps located at http://topozone.com/find.asp
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
     Visit the Tennessee Ornithological Society
          web site at http://www.tnbirds.org
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
    TN-Bird Net Owner: Wallace Coffey, Bristol, TN
        jwcoffey@xxxxxxxxxx      (423) 764-3958
=========================================================