FreeLists / tn-bird / [TN-Bird] Avocet - TVA Lake - Plus

[OLCOOT1@xxxxxxx]

Oct. 12, 2004
Mud Island/Ensley
Shelby Co. TN

An early morning, before work trip to Mud Island, produced a few good birds 
on the Mississippi and its sandbars. The first bird I saw was a 2nd year Bald 
Eagle feeding at the edge of the water and it was soon joined by an adult bird. 
A Merlin came down the river below tree top level and made a detour to buzz 
the two birds but really did not put too much into the effort. A single Horned 
Grebe was seen floating down stream and a lone American White Pelican slept on 
the sand. A coyote wandered over the sand looking for a morning meal. The 
river continues to fall, exposing more and more habitat to scan.

After my appointment, I decided to invest an hours trip to Ensley. On TVA 
Lake, a white bird caught my eye immediately, it was too large to be the young 
Black-necked Stilt. The bins focused in on an adult, winter plumaged, male 
Avocet preening at ease among the ducks. These birds really like to settle in 
with 
ducks. A few quick photos for the plumage and sure enough the Black-necked 
Stilt walked into the back ground. The immature Black-necked Stilt has been 
joined by an adult female but the two never interacted or fed near each other.

At the Pits, there was just not enough time to go through all the birds but a 
Spotted Sandpiper was found, a species that I have missed over the last 
couple of weeks. Lesser Yellowlegs and Stilt numbers have really grown. Total 
shorebird species on the quick trip was 16 bringing the total for the week so 
far 
to 19. Pretty good for late fall shorebirds!!



Good Birding!!!

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


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