FreeLists / tn-bird / [TN-Bird] Concentration at Pace Point

[OLCOOT1@xxxxxxx]

Dec. 7-8, 2002
Pace Point Area
Henry - Benton Co. TN

The concentration of waterfowl, grebes and gulls in the Big Sandy reach is 
mind boggling. Evidently the extreme change in water temps has caused a fish 
kill. Very small shad minnows are washing up on the shores and the birds are 
spread all across this area, alula to alula.

I arrived early on Saturday and had ducks stacked in the cove just before you 
reach the point. Over 300 Common Goldeneye were seen in one continuos line 
with more in every quarter. In the next two days I had 21 species of 
waterfowl that included; a single Ross's Goose, all three mergansers and on 
Sunday, Mike Todd, Don Manning and I had great looks at a single adult female 
Long-tailed Duck a.k.a. Oldsquaw. A great find but a species I already had on 
my Year List.

Big numbers of Horned and Pied Grebes got my hopes up for a Red-necked but 
scanning for two days didn't pay off. Common Loon numbers were down to around 
50 birds and most had moved out to deeper water. Bald Eagles were frequently 
seen harassing groups of ducks and gulls. Sharp-shinned and Cooper's were 
seen hunting the area along with Red-tailed, Red-shouldered and Harriers.

In the gull category, the rewards were few considering the number I looked at 
and I shall kick myself for a lapse that possibly caused me to miss a great 
year bird. Just prior to being joined by the Nashville group Saturday, I 
found my first ever 2nd year Lesser Black-backed Gull. I have seen all the 
other ages of this species at Pace but never a second year. While studying 
this bird another gull caught my attention as it bathed farther out from the 
LBB. My interest was mainly on the LBB and I should have stayed on the 2nd 
bird because on later thought it was probably the bird of the weekend. We 
looked for this gull all morning long on Sunday but could not even find the 
Lesser Black-backed Gulls. When Casey and friends arrived Saturday morning, I 
showed them the 2nd year LBB and then saw a 1st year LBB land in the large 
group. Everyone, I think, got satisfying looks at this classic immature.

I don't know how long this phenomena will last but I highly recommend getting 
over to the Big Sandy "bonanza of birds" if you can get away.

Good Birding!!!

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


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