FreeLists / tn-bird / [TN-Bird] West TN - Hatching Scissor-tailed FC

[OLCOOT1@xxxxxxx]

June 18, 2005
President's Island
Shelby Co. TN
 
 
An early visit to the Scissor-tailed nest site Saturday, revealed the  female 
on the nest but continually changing positions and looking at the eggs.  The 
male was stationed across the street the whole time I was there. I decided  to 
return later and after noon, I discovered the female sitting on the wire  
outside the nest. Soon the male returned and both went to the nest. He fed very 
 
small young and after an hours vigil I was able to see three very small  fuzzy 
heads. There could be another but 3 were all I could make out at one time.  
They were having a tough time holding their heads up.
 
The Western Kingbird at Ensley was calmly sitting on her nest and  
occasionally would fly out and catch a snack on the wing and return. The male  
was seen 
far out in the bean field.
 
At the pits, I found 10 Least Sandpipers, double the number I saw on Friday  
and saw no White-rumped. I'm getting reports of early returning shorebirds to  
our north. There was 1 Ring-billed Gull on McKellar Lake along with a bunch 
of  displaced Least Terns. The Mississippi River just peaked after an 11  foot 
rise and has eaten practically all the sandbars head to toe.
 
 
Good  Birding!!!

Jeff R. Wilson
OL'COOT / TLBA
Bartlett,  TN