FreeLists / tn-bird / [TN-Bird] Long-billed Murrelet details - Reelfoot Lake, TN

[OLCOOT1@xxxxxxx]

Dec. 14, 2002
Reelfoot Lake, TN

Mark Greene, Bob Forhring and I were scanning the lower lake from a location 
just east of the renovated White's Landing looking for a few fill in birds 
for the Reelfoot CBC. I had been up since 4:30 that morning and the motors 
were just idling when there was a significant revving of engines as a small 
bird floated into my field of view. Three thoughts raced through my mind at 
once, what the h--- is this, look at the size and Murrelet. The bird was some 
200 or less yards away but the lake was relatively smooth and the pattern on 
the bird was distinctive. I called out for Mark to come and then looked over 
his way as he started walking toward me and I then yelled run! He took the 
message to heart and sped to my side. I told him to look in my scope and tell 
just me what it looked like and then I'd let Bob look. I watched Mark's eyes 
as he searched for the image and there was a noticeable widening of them when 
the vision took hold. With in a matter of seconds he looked at me and said "I 
don't know what you think but I think it starts with an M." By that time Bob 
had joined us and I then asked him to look. 

Bob Forhring has relatives I believe that live in the San Juan Islands in 
Washington State and spends considerable time in the area, fishing and 
birding. Bob looked in the scope and with no hesitation said "If I were in 
the Northwest I'd say it was a Marbled Murrelet."  We each had arrived at the 
murrelet ID independently and immediately on seeing the bird.

We then got back to our scopes and observed the bird traveling first north 
and then south, diving and bobbing back to the surface. We all agreed as to 
where the white was located on the face and neck on this tiny dark bird. Due 
to the silvery glare on the water it was hard to see the exact location of 
the water line on the bird, so we could not tell much about the extent of 
white at the water line. The bird was moving in a straight line, diving and 
popping back up on the surface. We studied the bird in direct comparison to 
Pied-billed Grebes, Horned Grebes and Ruddy Ducks. At that time we all agreed 
that the bird was significantly smaller than any of these three. 

We decided to travel to the east and try for a better or closer view. Before 
we got to the car and books, I made sure we went over the details that we had 
seen and discussed the extent of the white and its location. Since Bob was 
not familiar with the Long-billed Murrelet, I filled him in that it was 
probably the most expected murrelet in the interior US. I told them both to 
get one of the field guides and familiarize themselves with the pattern of 
these two species as I drove to the board walk behind Ellington Hall. They 
agreed that the pattern we had discussed was perfect for the Long-billed 
while looking in the guides.

We set about looking from various points for the bird and talking about the 
field marks as we went. Suddenly the bird appeared in my scope and it was 
considerably closer and I could see that all the details, the size, color and 
gizz spelled Long-billed Murrelet. At that time I noted the light markings on 
the back but the bird was steadily diving and moving behind a tree line so 
exact locations were not noted. Mark also got a close up look before the bird 
swam behind the tree line and disappeared. Needless to say we both went a 
little bit wild. Bob was too far to the right and did not get on the bird in 
time which was my fault for not letting him to view through my scope but the 
bird was moving and diving.  We continued to search until we lost our light. 
At that time I made a drawing and put a few notes on my ever ready 3x5 cards.

The very small size (65% of the size of a Pied-billed Grebe according to 
Sibley's by weight), the white on only the lower part of the sides of the 
head slightly below the eye running from the bill to a point slightly behind 
the eye and then turning and running down the sides and front of the neck in 
a similar pattern to a Pacific Loon plus the bill shape all fit Long-billed. 

The first view of the bird was from 450 to 600 feet with even lighting from 
an overcast sky. The second was I believe under 300 feet with less light but 
the bird was sitting on silvery smooth water and the image in my 85 mm Ziess 
Scope is exceptionally bright. The three of us never saw or hesitated on the 
call and saw no details that would indicate any other species other than 
Long-billed Murrelet.

A group of us spent all day Sunday looking over an extensive area but mainly 
covering the waters around Bo's Landing and Ellington Hall. Anthony Whitted 
discovered a female Long-tailed Duck in the trees at Ellington early in the 
morning and the duck was in view the rest of the day from Bo's Landing and 
Ellington Hall. Joe Guinn and Anthony went out in a boat and we guided them 
around with or radios. 

At one time, I picked up a distant bird moving to the east and this small 
short necked, dark and light bird was acting exactly like the Murrelet but 
the choppy waters prevented any significant or satisfying looks. Later Nancy 
Moore relocated this bird in the area that I had lost it in. A quick look 
convinced me that it was the same bird but again the heat waves and choppy 
water prevented any clear looks. We guided the boat into the area and shortly 
thereafter Anthony spotted a very small dark bird diving and heading away 
from them. They were giving us directions to the bird in relation to the boat 
when another boat cut in front of them and the bird disappeared. The whole 
area was covered with Ruddy Ducks for comparison as to size of anything you 
had in view. None of these sightings were definitive but do indicate that the 
bird might still be in the area.

Needless to say it was a great way to end an already Great and always 
exciting Reelfoot CBC........ 

Good Birding!!!

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


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