FreeLists / tn-bird / [tn-bird] Reelfoot Run

[OLCOOT1@xxxxxxx]

June 2, 2002
Dyer and Lake Co. TN

Water is still spread over the area as the Mississippi and Obion Rivers 
slowly recede. Habitat stretches for miles and gives the remaining shorebirds 
many places to hide. Along the Great River Road I found the following species 
and totals: Killdeer with young and still sitting on nest all along the way, 
Semipalmated Plovers 3 in one location, Greater Yellowlegs 1 heard, Spotted 
Sandpiper 2, Semipalmated Sandpipers 59, Least Sandpipers 3, White-rumped 
Sandpiper 35, Dunlin 6 in stunning plumage, and last but not least 
Black-necked Stilts at 4 locations in TN and 1 in KY with nesting confirmed 
at 3 of these locations with 6 nests.

The flooded fields made for some surprising birds like the Common Loon found 
off 79 Highway and two Fulvous Whistling-Ducks south of Mooring reported on a 
previous post. The only DC Cormorant of the day was also off 79 with nesting 
Pied-billed Grebes in Mud Lake. Duck species seen in the flooded areas were: 
many breeding Mallards and Wood Ducks, 2 male Blue-winged Teal at 104 highway 
and a pair at Mud Lake, a single female Ring-necked at Mud Lake, 19 Hooded 
Mergansers - 6 adult with 13 young, 7 Ruddy at Mud Lake - 5 male, 2 female. I 
only looked at Reelfoot Lake from Champy's Pocket where I found 1 Lesser 
Scaup and 5 Ruddy - 4 males and a female. In the area around Lake #9 in KY 
were: 1 Lesser Scaup, Wood, Mallard, Hooded with young plus a male 
Blue-winged Teal.

Adult Bald Eagles were seen at Tiptonville Landing Road, Mud Lake and at 
Reelfoot Lake. A Common Tern was hunting at 79 highway and hundreds of Least 
Terns are beginning to nest in the dry areas of flooded fields. Pray for a 
very slow fall as most of the eggs will be plowed if the fields dry out 
quickly. Three Forster's Terns were seen on the high and mighty Mississippi 
River. I checked 4 nesting locations of Cliff Swallows in case a Cave has 
snuck into town.

Willow Flycatchers were found at two locations off the Great River Road with 
one bird collecting nest lining material while a male sang.  Coots were found 
at 104 Highway, 103 Highway and Mud Lake and with a lot of observation we 
might find them nesting there due to the courting seen a couple of weeks ago. 


Just think, in less than three weeks we will see the first returning 
shorebirds of the coming fall season!!!!

Good Birding!!!

Jeff R. Wilson
OL' COOT / TLBA
Bartlett Tenn.


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