FreeLists / tn-bird / [TN-Bird] Osprey, Red-winged Blackbird

["David & Gloria Patterson" <dgpatterson@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Osprey:  April 29, walking in an isolated wooded retreat south of Pigeon Forge, 
Blount County, we were surprised to see an Osprey circling overhead.  As far as 
I know there are no ponds larger than say 100' diameter for miles (more than 12 
miles to Douglas Lake.   This morning, walking in woods near Houston Lane, 
Hamilton County, we saw an Osprey overhead; again there are no large ponds in 
this area (Standifer Gap Marsh 6 miles away).
Red-winged Blackbird:  At Standifer Gap Marsh we have found 15-20 old Red-wing 
nests that have been covered over to make a resting or nesting place for a 
small grey shrew-like critter which I call a Water Shrew.  The covering is of 
the same neat material and tight construction as the inner liner of the nest, 
completely enclosing a space the size and shape of a golf ball, with no 
opening.  Often when we probe into the nest a Shrew exits the bottom, dives 
into the water and disappears.  Yesterday we checked RW1 Redwing nest which was 
complete with zero eggs April 15 and 16, 3 eggs April 23 to May 2.  May 3 it 
had a top; when I touched it the Shrew squeaked, came out of the bottom of the 
nest, and disappeared into the water.  There were some shells but no eggs.  
Apparently the Water Shrew is a predator rather than just an opportunistic nest 
user.

On today's wade with James and Sasha Peters we found a 4th Least Bittern nest.

David and Gloria Patterson
Standifer Gap Marsh
Chattanooga, Hamilton County
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