FreeLists / tn-bird / [TN-Bird] Rankin Bottoms trip report

[cwelsh <cwelsh@xxxxxxx>]

My apologies for the last posting.

On Sunday 4 May I co-led the TOS Spring Meeting field trip to Rankin Bottoms 
in Cocke Co., TN.  For those who've visited the area in Aug-Sep looking for 
shorebirds and can visualize mudflats, it doesn't look like that now.  The 
water is so high you can't even drive to the coal tipple (although you could 
paddle to it!).

This trip was a canoe/kayak tour following the canoe trail mapped out by 
co-leaders Michael Sledjeski and Leslie Gibbon.  We had a wonderful experience 
paddling through the flooded woods and even heard/saw 52 species of birds.  
Prothonotary warblers were so common we scarcely paid attention to them unless 
they were within 10-20' of the boats.  Baltimore Orioles dueled with songs 
from adjacent cottonwoods, nothing but water and air between them.  Warbling 
Vireos joined in, often from the same trees as the orioles.  Orchard Orioles 
were also around to provide a little contrast to the Baltimores.

Other highlights beyond the pure relaxation afforded floating on flat water on 
a beautiful day:

We found a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher nest only 2' or so above water level (I hope 
the water levels haven't risen that much the last few day . . .).  Rad 
Mayfield may have gotten a nice photo of it [Rad, if you read this, send me a 
copy of the photo.]  The female sat tight even as our boats passed within a 
couple of feet of the nest.

60+ Double-crested Cormorants were gathered in the area where they've nested 
in recent years.  No nests evident on Sunday.

Several Spotted Sandpipers (fully spotted and ready for breeding season) were 
spotted as close as 20' from the boats.  No, the boats weren't spotted.

A Willet flashed us with it's black-and-white wing pattern as we were loading 
up the boats, a very nice bird to end the trip on.

We saw or heard 4 species of vireos (Red-eyed, Warbling, White-eyed, and 
Yellow-throated).

We saw two active Great Blue Heron nests, but no sign of Great Egrets or 
Cattle Egrets.  Maybe later in the summer.

All in all a very pleasant outing and a great way to get in some birding!

Chris Welsh
Knoxville, TN

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