Jamie Baker and I had intentions of covering some shorebird spots in Henderson
County yesterday, but the area got 2-2.5 inches of rain early yesterday
morning, and both ways in to Horseshoe Road Slough were blocked by deep water.
I suspect access via the roundabout back way might be open by today or
tomorrow, but we could see the water level from an adjacent county road and it
has gone way back up into the cockleburs. This means it *might* offer some
great habitat in a couple of weeks if not sooner. The slough along Uniotown-Mt.
Vernon Road was also back up into the weeds, but a variety of five common
species were still present there. The small slough off KY 1574 was also full
again, so it may offer some habitat in coming days. On the small sand spits on
the Ohio River opposite Horseshoe Road Slough we had two adult Least Terns.
We had much better luck to the south in Union County where only a little rain
had fallen and we had 13 spp of shorebirds. Highlights included 24 American
Avocets at the Camp #9 prep plant; an early Long-billed Dowitcher, 7
Short-billed Dowitchers, an imm. Little Blue Heron, and 4 Black Terns at the
former Camp #11 mine; and 2 Forster's Terns, a few Semipalmated Plovers, and 18
+ 5 Stilt Sandpipers.
Access to the former Camp Mines in eastern Union County continues to be dicey,
but if the weather remains dry in that area, they could remain good for
shorebirds and I will attempt to figure out a way to have a field trip there. I
have been grandfathered in from my days with state government for limited
visits, but land ownership has changed and I will have to see if I can work out
an organized trip.
bpb, Louisville
================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBERS==============
When posting on BIRDKY, please close posts with
your first and last name and your address (city or county).
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
To post on BIRDKY, send e-mail to:
birdky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Visit the KOS website at
http://www.birdky.org
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Visit the KOS Photo Page to view photos of birds recently
sighted in Kentucky:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/kentucky_ornithological_society/pool
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
To unsubscribe, send e-mail to:
birdky-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject line.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
BIRDKY List Manager: Gary Ritchison.
E-mail: gary.ritchison@xxxxxxx
