Another insanely frigid day to do a CBC (I'm feeling for all of you doing
counts tomorrow .... brrr).
Michael Autin, Preston & Shari Forsythe, Steve & Teresa Graham, Chris Hill,
Matt Stickel, and I conducted the Paradise CBC today. It was an interesting day
with a tentative tally of 93 species. This count usually has a higher species
tally during cold weather because it concentrates the waterfowl where we can
scan through them.
I wanted to mention one highlight in particular that may be of greatest
interest ... early this afternoon I squeaked in a flock of 14 Red Crossbills
just n. of the jct. of KY 176 (Pond Run Church Road) and Fulkerson Road (as
shown on google maps) in southern Ohio County. I will enter an eBird checklist
after I get some photos downloaded. I have no idea if this would be a good
place to search for the flock, but there are so many pines in the area that I
suspect a relocation strategy of simply birding the general area might be in
order???
Other highlights included 7 Greater White-fronted Geese, 4 Tundra Swans, all
the regular dabblers, a female Common Goldeneye, a Virginia Rail, 3 Wilson's
Snipe, 2 Barn Owls, 2 Short-eared Owls, a Merlin, Red-breasted Nuthatches at
several locations, 3 Pine Warblers, a Le Conte's Sparrow, 3 Chipping Sparrows,
a Lincoln's Sparrow, 2 Pine Siskins, and Purple Finches at a few spots. I'm
probably forgetting a few things in my stupor ....
I might also mention that certain portions of the Ken Unit were tilled and
planted to some sort of millet last fall; in many areas where the millet did
not come up, foxtail has invaded. These fields are LOADED with some of the
largest sparrows flocks I have ever seen in Kentucky. With 3 Harris's Sparrows
in Tennessee, I can't help but think more scrutiny of these flocks could yield
one among the hundreds of White-crowneds.
bpb, Louisville
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