FreeLists / tn-bird / [TN-Bird] NW TN. Update

[OLCOOT1@xxxxxxx]

June 7-8-9, 2003
Lauderdale - Dyer and Lake Co. TN

Here are a few updates on birds seen the last few days:

Pied-billed Grebes have brought off young in quite a few of the wet areas. 

The adult Tri-colored was found on Saturday and Sunday but south of the 
original location that has now dried up. I found the bird west of Wardlow's 
pocket 
in Lauderdale Co. on both mornings. The location was about 2 miles from the 
place I found my first adult Tri-colored in TN on July 4, 1989. It started my 
quest to find them nesting in TN, which ended after finding many adults during 
the summer months over the years and finally a nest with 2 young on July 13, 
1996.

I don't believe any of the 9 Fulvous Whistling Ducks have been seen since May 
31, after being regular in the area for over a week. The Black-bellied 
Whistlers are still being seen over a wide area. After a few days with no 
sightings, 
Andy Sigler (from Chicago) found 4 on 79 Highway on Saturday morning. We all 
went to the area with no results during the day. Hap Chambers and I found the 
birds a little east of Andy's location late that afternoon and Dan and Kathy 
Jacobson made it back just before dark to record them for their TN list. 

The following morning I was there at 6:30 AM and they were still at that 
location but had left by 8:30 AM. Kevin Calhoun and Judy Newsome were waiting 
for 
the birds when they arrived at dusk on Sunday. These 4 were joined by another 
bird and were seen again on Monday at 6:30 AM. The water here is drying up 
fast.

Anyone in the area should check around any duck boxes just in case they have 
decided to breed here. The Moss Island Refuge would be a prime location.

The Black Duck was located again off of 103 Highway and evidently 2 more 
males seen Wednesday night were relocated at the Bogota Refuge late Sunday. 
Still 
expecting a Mottled. Other ducks seen in the area this past weekend were 
Ruddy, Shoveler, Gadwall with Blue-winged, Woodies, Hooded Mergs and Mallards 
escorting young.

Young 2 and 3 year old Bald Eagles abound with a few adults seen up and down 
the Great River Road. Least Bitterns are being found at the Handicap Hunting 
area and on Reelfoot Lake. 

The shorebirds have dropped to a trickle with a twist. Nesting Black-necked 
stilt numbers drop everyday due to less water and more plowing. Groups and 
single migrators seen this week were American Golden Plover (singles seen at 
two 
locations) Greater Yellowlegs - 2, Lesser Yellowlegs-1, Semipalmated Sandpiper 
- 20+, White-rumped Sandpiper- 50+, and Stilt sandpiper-1. The twist came when 
I found a small group containing a single Pectoral and 5 Least Sandpipers 
preening and bathing in a small pool off 79 highway. A couple of species that 
had 
not been seen in quite awhile. Hap Chambers and I wanted better looks at the 
plumage. These birds were definitely travelers by their actions and this was 
proven shortly as the Pectoral just picked up and left quickly gaining altitude 
and went straight south. Before it left I was able to see that it had good 
tertials, only slightly worn. The 5 Least were preening and we got very close 
and could see all were adults and only slightly worn with a full complement of 
tertials. A couple of the birds were missing a few scaps and coverts. While we 
were watching one bird even pulled a feather out in the preening process. My 
thinking of the timing and conditions is that these birds were very early 
returns. I look forward to finding out what the weather conditions were on the 
breeding grounds. Nesting success can usually be extrapolated by the numbers of 
immatures that will show up later. I usually pick up my first Least SPs 
returning on the 21-22 of June with Pectorals a few days later but these bird's 
condition plus the direction of the Pectoral's departure make me think these 
boys 
were going south unlike the other flocks that are still heading north. When I 
came back a few minutes later with Dan and Kathy, the Least had also departed.

Eurasian Collard-Doves were seen Highway 87 in Lauderdale Co. on Saturday 
morning. Any place there were houses or a prison there were EC-Doves. They were 
also seen at all the regular locations in Dyer and Lake Co.

The Black-billed Cuckoo was again seen crossing the Great River Road at the 
southwest corner of the Moss Island Refuge on Sunday afternoon. Another new 
nester for this area, along with the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. The many bright 
American Goldfinches seen sitting and feeding on the big blooms of the thistle 
along the Great River Road is worth the trip. They are stunning show stoppers 
that in the light and balanced against the hue of the flowers can take your 
breath.

Good Birding!!!

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


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