FreeLists / tn-bird / [tn-bird] Chasing Lili - part two

[OLCOOT1@xxxxxxx]

Oct, 5-6, 2002
Pace Point-Paris Landing
Henry Co. TN

The late evening wind had not died as I came out of the restaurant in Paris 
Friday night. I was hopeful that the birds would stay but as I walked out at 
dawn on Saturday I was greeted by a northwesterly wind and hope sank. I met 
Mark, Mike and Don and we started our search from Paris Landing. The gulls 
and terns were stacking up on the little island just south of the bridge. We 
soon counted up to 15 Franklin's Gulls among the throngs also a few Common 
terns could be sorted from the numerous Forster's and about a half dozen 
Caspian rested on the island. One immature Herring and about 6 adults were in 
the mix with a few more drifting in during the morning. Mike found a Laughing 
Gull resting in the flock as we sifted through the group again and again. 

Some excitement was had with a bird sitting next to a Franklin's in the crowd 
that was dark and smaller than the gull but larger than the terns. The badly 
back lit birds were crowded together and we dropped Mike and Mark out up on 
the bridge where they had a better view. We talked back and forth with radios 
trying to relocate the mystery bird. Mike had a brief look at a bird laying 
in the group but the opening closed with the shifting of the flock and we 
never saw the bird again. Eleven Franklin's suddenly rose in the air from 
various locations in the group like a magic wand had been waved and they flew 
south not to be seen again. It is strange how these birds can communicate 
their intentions.

We tried all the normal viewing areas and went over to Gray's cemetery to try 
for a Lesser Black-backed Gull that had been seen by Mike the previous day 
but found just a few Ring-billed. We ran into big numbers of Blue Jays 
migrating south along the ridge and this was a phenomena that we would 
experience over the rest of the weekend along with concentrations of 
Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and warblers.

I needed a Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow for my year list and had picked out 
a good location a couple of weeks before at Britton Ford so we decided to try 
for one and left the point with a nonproductive stop at Port Road. 

Sharp-tailed Sparrows come through before most people start to walk for 
sparrows and before most other sparrow species arrive and this is the reason 
so few are seen. In the right grass at this time of the year, careful and 
slow searches will produce. Mark needed one for his state list so the four of 
us started a slow sweep of the field. Out first bird flushed was a Bobolink 
and we ended up with three. We had a few Swamp Sparrows and then a 
Sharp-tailed that fluttered into the adjacent corn and perched briefly. Mark 
didn't get on that one but the next bird perched too close for him to even 
get it in his glasses for a TN lifer. We also had 2 or 3 Marsh Wrens. 

We met the Satterfields on our way out and we all headed for Pace Point to 
search some more for Lili's birds.

On the way in we found a field just tumbling with birds, 20 plus Palm 
Warblers were joined on the ground by many bright and dull Pine Warblers and 
Horned Larks. The weeds and bushes shook with Indigo, Blue and Rose Breasted 
Grosbeaks, Bluebirds, Field and Chipping Sparrows, Goldfinches, Towhee, Cat 
birds with the trees behind us trembling with feeding warblers and Mr. Bob 
White protesting our intrusion. It was a bedlam of birding.

We ended up at Rocky Point before the gulls had started collecting and were 
treated again to a parade of warblers that past within a few feet and left 
Don Manning crying for help from back in the scrubby growth that he was 
covered up with warblers. We had up close and personal looks in bright 
sunlight at some 14 species including Bay-breasted and Blackburnian. A pair 
of Great Horned Owls were softly courting, a Barred Owl protested and a 
Screech Owl admonished us all for waking it as we called species after 
species and directed each to the location in the near trees where a 
particular jewel could be seen.

We turned to see the movement of gulls into the area and we all went to 
scanning. Nothing but the regular species could be found, not even 
Bonaparte's which had been seen the evening before and earlier in the day by 
the Satterfields. Finally a bit of excitement as I picked up a low flying 
jaeger going north. We watched it for an extended time and lost it when it 
made a turn near the same area I had seen the jaeger the evening before. We 
had fair looks at this powerful flier and by flight, wing depth and size I 
would have to say Pomarine but could not eliminate Parasitic, so only jaeger 
species goes on the year list. Anyone birding the area should be on the 
lookout for this bird. 

The Satterfields and I decided to stay over and try the following morning for 
possible Lili left overs and to get a look at the jaeger. We searched along 
the length of the Big Sandy reach but were mostly entertained by Blue 
migration and fields of dickey birds and passing flocks of warblers and 
grosbeaks. They left at noon and the rest of the afternoon brought no new 
birds into view for me.

Lili had brought few gifts but she will always be held in high regard by this 
grateful birder.

    
Good Birding!!!

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


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