FreeLists / tn-bird / [TN-Bird] Duck River Float- Bedford Co

["Roy and Melissa Turrentine" <roymel@xxxxxxxxx>]

Anyone who is interested:
Roy & I took a nice relaxing float yesterday morning on the Duck River, putting 
in at Cortner Mill and taking out at Three Fourth's Bridge in Bedford Co. As 
usual, this was a "spur of the moment" float but like always, it ALWAYS reaps 
some rewards...Those designated with an asterisk means these we HEARD ONLY.

Birds & other goodies of note:

Great Blue Herons (at least 3)
Green Heron (finally...at the very end of the float)
Wood Duck (12+)
Canada Geese* (field nearby)
OSPREY- see note below Turkey Vulture
Wild Turkey*
Downy Woodpecker*
Red-bellied Woodpecker*
Pileated Woodpecker 
Eastern Wood PeeWee*
Belted Kingfisher
Mourning Dove
Yellow-billed Cuckoo*
Blue Jay (5+)
American Crow
Empty Nests of Cliff Swallows- most likely this year's because of frequent 
flooding earlier in season
Tufted Titmouse (several)
Carolina Chickadee
Summer Tanager*
American Goldfinch (3+)
Carolina Wren

OSPREY NOTE: this is only the second time we have ever noted one on the 
river...this time it was calling the whistle sound and I had just turned from 
the bow of the canoe with a puzzled look toward Roy , about to comment that it 
sounded like an Osprey... & it flew right over our heads (...the other one we 
have ever seen on while canoeing this part of the Duck was years ago...it was a 
clumsy one (young??) who unsuccessfully attempted to land a fish, flying from a 
low overhanging limb...it did succeed in a drenching and a gasping "wow" from 
us, however)

Other:
Several Slider Turtles, including some tiny ones!
Cardinal Flower & Blue Lobelia- full bloom along riverbank
Hummnigbird Moth on Lobelias

Noted Birds that were absent but usually present (many of these are still 
visible in the area, however):
Rock Pigeon-  their presence was not under the usual bridge or seen on the 
float, in general
Eastern Phoebe
American Robin
Eastern Towhee
Chimney Swifts
Barn Swallows- haven't seen these in a week in our area
Cliff Swallows
Ruby-throated Huimmingbirds

Animals absent:
muskrat!

Melissa Turrentine
Normandy
Bedford Co TN
John Sellars TOS