FreeLists / tn-bird / [TN-Bird] Hamblen & Jefferson County birding, east Tenn

[David Trently <dtrently@xxxxxxx>]

(east Tennessee - counties are east of Knoxville)

On Saturday, Nov. 4, after a successful trip to see the INCA DOVE in 
Morristown, Rasmus Larsen and I visited a few birding spots on our way back to 
Knoxville.

At Panther Creek State Park, from the Cherokee Lake overlook, we saw a single 
COMMON LOON and a BONAPARTE'S GULL. There were a few other gulls in the 
distance, but didn't try to id them. A WINTER WREN was also seen at the park.

We next stopped at the Mossy Creek Wildlife Viewing Area near Jefferson City. 
Only ducks here were a couple of MALLARDs. Highlight was a few RUSTY 
BLACKBIRDs. Another WINTER WREN showed itself.
Sad news is that much of the open, non-flowing water there is covered with 
vegetation which I believe is an exotic plant. It is thick enough to prevent 
ducks from swimming through.

In hopes of seeing an assortment of water birds and gulls, we next visited 
Cherokee Dam on the border of Jefferson and Grainger Counties. We were 
disappointed with just a few AMERICAN COOTs and a PIED-BILLED GREBE. There was 
some good birding here along the dam and the trails though, with BROWN 
CREEPER, AMERICAN PIPITs, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW (these seem to be easier to 
find all over the area this year), HERMIT THRUSH.
A TVA security guard told us of a nearby Bald Eagle nest. He said it had 
produced young the past two years. He gave us directions to it, but we 
couldn't find it. Bald Eagles are seen in that area regularly, and he 
described seeing a bird catch a fish from the lake while flying over, like an 
eagle (not diving into the water like an Osprey). Will have to go back up to 
check on that.

David Trently
Avian Pursuits Nature Tours
Knoxville, TN

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