[birdky] RPT: Transient lakes tour ... a great day for cute babies!

From: brainard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
To: BIRDKY <birdky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2011 10:09:22 -0400 (EDT)
Eddie Huber and I toured some lingering transient lakes in Christian, Todd, 
Logan, and Warren counties yesterday. We had a nice list of 14 species of 
shorebirds, but the highlights had to be the number of fuzzy little waterbirds 
we encountered.

Swallow Spring Pond, Christian County: only 4 spp. of common shorebirds; at 
least 2 ad. Pied-billed Grebes but no evidence of successful nesting; however, 
there were two families of crisply plumaged, full grown Blue-winged Teal and a 
nest full of 4 fuzzy Green Heron young (we had seen the adult incubating here 
in June). The lake was also sprinkled with family groups of Mallards and Wood 
Ducks at every stage from fresly hatched to full-grown. Also present were a 
couple of adult Little Blue Herons.

Morgan Pond(s), Christian County: 10 spp. of shorebirds including an adult 
Western, 2 Short-billed Dowitchers, and at least 5 Black-necked Stilts 
including a pair vigorously defending 4 downy, week-or-so-old chicks from every 
other shorebird and Red-winged Blackbird that even looked their way. These guys 
actually may have a chance of making it as the water there continues to drop 
very gradually. Eddie likened the gangly chicks to miniature ostriches, which I 
hadn't thought of as appropriate until he mentioned it! There was also a family 
of Pied-billed Grebes (3 small young) being fed by a parent and a family of 
just-hatched Mallards in addition to numerous other Mallard and Wood Duck 
broods. A good group of swallows was foraging and loafing on wires including 
probably a couple hundred Banks.

NE corner Guthrie Swamp & US 79 pond ne. of KY 848, Todd County: nothing but 
Killdeer & Mallards.

Pond nr. Mosley Pond, Logan County: 5 spp of common shorebirds including our 
first Semipalmated Sandpiper.

McElroy Lake, Warren County: unfortunately, McElroy is reduced to about 3 small 
pools, the ditch, and about a half-dozen low, wet spots, none of which will 
last much longer with the upcoming hot, dry weather this week. The remaining 
water was alive with birds, however, including 11 spp. of shorebirds 
highlighted by 3 Short-billed Dowitchers, 2 beautiful Stilt Sandpipers that 
looked like they had not lost a single feather yet to molt, and at least 16 
Western Sandpipers (which may be a state high count for early fall adults?). 
Also present were many swallows (mostly Barn, Cliff and Bank), 5 Great Egrets, 
2 juv. Little Blue Herons, and some families of Mallards and Wood Ducks. It is 
too bad more folks didn't bird the lake this summer as there must have been 
some interesting things around.

Chaney Lake, Warren County: another nice assortment of families of waterfowl 
including another family of full-grown Blue-winged Teal young, plus what 
appeared to be at least three distinct family groups of Pied-billed Grebes 
(these much older than what was at Morgan Pond); also present was a male 
Green-winged Teal (summering?) and an Upland Sandpiper that we heard calling 
and just got to watch fly off to the west (it must have dropped in for a drink).

bpb & ebh
================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBERS==============

The BIRDKY Mailing List requires you to sign 
your messages with first & last name, city, & 
state abbreviation.
--------------------------------------------------
To post to this mailing list, send e-mail to:
birdky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
-------------------------------------------------- 
To unsubscribe, send e-mail to:
birdky-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject line.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  
Visit the Kentucky Ornithological Society
web site at http://www.biology.eku.edu/kos.htm
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 
BIRDKY List Manager: Gary Ritchison, Richmond, KY
E-mail: gary.ritchison@xxxxxxx
[birdky] RPT: Transient lakes tour ... a great day for cute babies!

Other related posts:
