FreeLists / tn-bird / [TN-Bird] Mississippi Flyway Migration

[OLCOOT1@xxxxxxx]

August 14, 2005
MS RV. - Ensley Bottoms
Shelby Co. TN
 
The winds strengthen and shifted to more out of the south and  migrating 
flocks dwindled on Sunday. I had high hopes for a few drop outs but  was 
disappointed at Ensley as I could only find a single dowitcher that settled  in 
the 
bathing pool early in the day after much flying around. I took a few  photos as 
the bird presented a lot of mixed signals as to species but all could  be 
sorted out with patience. It will be a good bird for shorebird quiz sessions.  
The 
regular cast of characters plus the fresh juvenile plumaged birds made for  
some nice looks at shorebird diversity.
 
I made an early run by the Mississippi River and was able to show a couple  
of interested runners, 21 Black Terns flouncing down the river like large  
butterflies. The regular species were still scattered over the newly exposed 
mud  
flats as the river continues to fall. The channel is getting so narrow that  
barges are having to wait below some of the narrower passages till all is 
clear.  One Forster's Tern sat dwarfing the Least terns on one sand spit while 
Great  Blue Herons and Great Egrets made up the short wader list.
 
About 2 PM, I returned to find the Forster's was now a part of a trio but  
the Black Tern numbers had been reduced to one bird. Other small flocks of Wind 
 
Birds were still traveling south but far fewer than on Saturday.
 
Red Knots evidently made a move over the weekend with the 11 birds  here in 
Memphis while others were found on Sunday in Illinois and Arkansas.  Now is the 
time to look for them traveling the waterways in the interior. I used  to get 
them as regular fall migrants around Pace Point.
 
 

Good  Birding!!!

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