FreeLists / tn-bird / [TN-Bird] Damp fine Birding!

[OLCOOT1@xxxxxxx]

DEC. 2, 2007
MS RV, Ensley Bottoms
Shelby Co. TN
Tunica Co, MS
 
 
I met the Harboldt's from Jackson TN, down at Mud Island and the gray skies  
and howling wind made for unsteady conditions but we were Rewarded..........I  
first came across 3 Goldeneye (2m/1f) floating downstream and a few 
Bufflehead  but no Peregrines, they may have been blow off their perches.
 
Finally, down the river floated a Lesser Scaup, a female Red-breasted  
Merganser and THE SURF SCOTER!! We could not find any Black Scoter but we had a 
 
back up bird waiting.
 
I had talked to QB Gray about looking for the Black Scoter at TVA Lake and  
when I pulled up, almost the first bird I came across was the sleeping Black  
Scoter. The wind made for difficult looks but the ID points were well seen by  
all. QB had been there and been enjoying the bobbing bird for some time from 
his  truck.
 
Next stop was for the Thayer's Gulls in Tunica Co. Again we had to stand  
behind the truck in order not to be blown, tumbling down the road but we had  
great looks at one of the Thayer's and poor looks at the other. We also had 
good  
comparative shots at both Herring and Thayer's in the air. You can see some 
nice  photos taken by Mike on Saturday starting at:   
_http://www.pbase.com/mctodd/image/89812863_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/mctodd/image/89812863)   
 
One of the Rough-legged Hawks was barely holding on to it's thin little  
branch at the top of it's favorite tree and put on quite a show as it hunted,  
kiting right in front of us. After much searching for western  Meadowlarks, I 
had 
about a dozen birds fly across the road but they would  not stand for being 
looked at by strangers but they will stay in that area  for better looks. Had a 
few scattered Lapland flocks but they were hunkered in  pretty tight.
 
We met a couple of other birders from Memphis and started an evening vigil  
in the rain but what an abundant pay-off for our efforts. At one time we had  
Sandhill Cranes going to roost and calling, over 50 Harriers flying over  the 
roost field, Snow, Ross's and Greater White-fronted Geese going  over by the 
thousands, 2-300 Lapland Longspurs flying over giving their  occasional "tew" 
notes and finally the first of and in great light,  over 30+ Short-eared Owls 
that called and chased Harrier Hawks and left the  field for over 30 minutes, 
until too dark to see but they called and called.  Never let the weather keep 
you in the house...................
 
ONE DAMP FINE DAY!! 
   
Good Birding  !!!

Jeff R. Wilson / TLBA
6300 Memphis-Arlington Road
Bartlett, TN  38135
http://www.pbase.com/ol_coot/
What is this feathered thing that  lifts my heart to the heavens.




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