FreeLists / tn-bird / [TN-Bird] Ash-throated Flycatcher/ Ensley Bottoms/Memphis TN

[OLCOOT1@xxxxxxx]

Dec. 11, 2002
Ensley Bottoms
Shelby Co. TN

The good news is that the only shot I got in the early morning fog shows the 
diagnostic tail pattern of an Ash-throated Flycatcher. The bad news is that 
Anthony Whitted and I searched around the area for a couple of hours this 
afternoon without finding the bird.

I have been checking the river front most mornings and if I have time I run 
to Ensley for a quick run around. On the river anything can show up and This 
morning I counted 652+ Ring-billed Gulls, 3 Bonaparte's and 11 Herring Gulls 
plus about 100 American White Pelicans. TVA Lake at Ensley could harbor a 
rare duck in the large mixed flock while the other areas have produced Common 
Ground Doves in the winter. You have to try every chance you get near the 
close of a Big Year.

We found an immature Black-Crowned Night-Heron and a partial albino Starling 
but no flycatcher. There is extensive territory down there and we did not 
have time to walk into the best habitat so the bird very well may still be in 
the area.

The bird flew across the road about 150 feet in front of my car. The color 
and size really stood out. When I drove up to the ditch line to scan and came 
across this bird perched just and 50 feet away I shifted into high gear. I 
reached back for the camera and the bird flew away from me. I attempted to 
jump out of the car while the seat belt was still buckled and about broke my 
neck. The bird was moving northwest down the ditch line stopping every 20 to 
30 feet. I ran as far as I could and waited for the bird to stop again. The 
first shot I took was too dark and you could not even see the bird. I 
advanced a little farther and adjusted the light gage and got one shot. 
Fortunately it shows all you need to see.

The bird continue this stop and go flight but I never saw the bird feed. It 
would just stop look around and it continue to the levee of a spoil pit and 
then I lost sight of the bird. I drove to the far side of the treatment plant 
and searched from there but then had to leave for a work appointment.

I have a big schedule tomorrow so I might not be able to check the area again 
till afternoon.

Good Birding!!!

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


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