FreeLists / tn-bird / [TN-Bird] KY Lake region; 6 sp. of gulls 10/02/04

[<birder1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

10/02/04
Paris Landing area to mouth of Big Sandy River
Henry Co.
I leisurely birded the KY Lake area again today until about 16:00, and was 
rewarded with a beautiful day and some nice birds. A couple of hours of the day 
were spent chatting with people who happened upon me, and of course the topic 
of conversation was birds. It's always nice to be able to share our birds with 
others who have the interest but who didn't have any idea what detail you can 
see through a scope, or how much variety there is out there! 

The changing weather is quickly bringing a change in the birds. In my past few 
trips up here I've ran across the occasional Pintail or Wigeon, but today both 
birds, along with Gadwall, were seen in some numbers at different locations. I 
had all of our regular dabblers with the exception of American Black Duck 
today. Nice concentrations of dabblers are already stacking up on the flats at 
Eagle Creek and the mouth of the Big Sandy.

The highlight of the day was having 6 species of gulls, not bad gulling for 
October in nice weather. The island at Paris Landing once again produced 2 
adult and 1 2nd-winter Lesser Black-back and an adult Laughing Gull along with 
the Ringers and Herrings. The flats at the mouth of Big Sandy are now getting 
right, and among the horde of gulls using this area were 4 1st-winter 
Franklin's. The 6th gull species wasn't a hoped-for rarity, but an early 
Bonaparte's seen with the gulls at Eagle Creek. Forster's Terns were present in 
numbers several locations, but no other terns today.

Shorebird habitat has come back, and so have the shorebirds, with 11 species. 3 
Sanderlings were keeping the Gulls company on the island south of the bridge at 
Paris Landing. Once again, the mouth of Eagle Creek, and finally, the mouth of 
the Big Sandy are the place for shorebirds. No big numbers anywhere, but decent 
variety. Wilson's Snipe were seen at 3 locations, and I finally got my American 
Golden-Plover for the year, with 2 at the mouth of Eagle Creek. Also here were 
2 Semi Plovers, and several Pectorals, Lesser Yellowlegs, and Least Sandpipers 
along with a Spotted. The mouth of the Big Sandy produced a Long-billed 
Dowitcher and Greater Yellowlegs along with the Pec's and Lesser Yellowlegs 
there.

I didn't spend much time in the woods, and the wind played havoc on me anyway, 
but a few migrant passerines were found. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks were coming 
through in good numbers, with probably a dozen just at one location. Several 
Scarlet Tanagers were about as well. Warblers were represented by 11 species, 
with Magnolia being most common, others were Blackburnian, Pine, Black-throated 
Green (several), Bay-breasted, Yellow-throated, American Redstart, TN 
(several), Northern Parula, Northern Waterthrush, and Common Yellowthroat 
(several). The only Vireos were Red-eyed and White-eyed, both of which are 
still singing. 

Other birds of interest included:  the 1st small group of Coots has arrived 
back at Paris Landing, soon to be joined by thousands more, and my 1st of the 
fall Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Song Sparrows. There was a large Blue Jay 
movement through the area, though the birds were high overhead as opposed to ON 
TOP of your head at Danville!

I didn't have time to cover the Pace Point side of Big Sandy, but hope to 
tomorrow morning.

Today wasn't a day for photography, but I have posted a single image of the two 
adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls in the same frame as Herrings and 
Ring-billed's. 

This can be viewed at: http://www.pbase.com/mctodd/image/34544196

Good birding!!

Mike Todd
McKenzie, TN
Carroll Co.
birder1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
www.pbase.com/mctodd


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