FreeLists / tn-bird / [TN-Bird] Blue Darters and Kestrels

[OLCOOT1@xxxxxxx]

Oct. 9, 2005
MS RV, Ensley Bottoms
Shelby, Tipton & Lauderdale Co.
 
There were Cooper's, Sharp-shinned and Kestrels just about in view at every  
location on Sunday. A small, adult male Sharpie sitting in the trees at my 
house  started my day and brought back the name Blue Darter to my mind. Its 
back 
was  truly Blue. Three Sharp-shinned and 9 Cooper's were seen over the day but 
 Kestrels have really moved in big time, the difference between Saturday, and 
 Sunday was quite noticeable. 
 
Another movement of White Pelicans at 8:15 at Mud Island totaled a measly  
676 birds and for the first time an Osprey did not show up patrolling the open  
water. Other new comers at TVA Lake in Ensley were 9 American Coots and 4  
Pied-billed Grebes, while only a single Pectoral Sandpiper was added to  
Saturdays list of Wind Birds. 
 
Lincoln Sparrows were in the mix, feeding with a high number of  Ruby-crowned 
Kinglets in all the Giant Ragweed Patches along with the ever  present Indigo 
Buntings. Tennessee and Common Yellowthroat Warblers also were  seen in good 
numbers in the Ragweed.
 
Along the MS River in Tipton and Lauderdale Co, I saw no movement, not one  
gull or tern was seen all day. There were 2 Sanderling and a Spotted Sandpiper  
at Morris Road Overlook in Lauderdale Co, and of course there were swallows  
at every stop. There is no water at Chickasaw NWR headquarters area but I did  
have the 2 tanager species from the platform. 
 
I've been checking a small marshy area off of 51 in Covington and there I  
found 2 Greater Yellowlegs and 4 Wilson's Snipe bringing the Wind Bird weekend  
total to 12 species.
 
Good Birding  !!!

Jeff R. Wilson / TLBA
6298 Memphis-Arlington Road
Bartlett, TN  38135