[birdky] Roseate Spoonbill, White Ibis, Tricolored Heron at Lake 9 4-5 August 2005
- From: David Roemer <dlroemer@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: bird ky <birdky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 5 Aug 2005 19:11:29 -0700 (PDT)
The highlight of a trip to Fulton County on August 4th
and 5th was obviously the waders encountered at Lake
9.
The lack of precipitation has left the Lower Hickman
Bottoms dry for the most part. Pools were limited to
Lake 9 which is very low, Willow Pond which is almost
dry, a pond just east of and across the road from the
entrance to Long Point/Reelfoot, and a slough running
east from Hwy 94 near Midway Church Road. A few
waders were found in these areas with most being at
Lake 9 on Thursday evening.
A juvenile White Ibis and a juvenile Tricolored Heron
were present at the southern end of Lake 9 when I
checked it at about 6pm yesterday. They were in the
company of approximately 35 Snowy Egrets, 20 Little
Blue Herons, and 20 Great Egrets. After photographing
and watching them until 7:00, I checked the other
areas and returned at 8:00 to find the birds gone.
The water level at Lake 9 is too low for the birds to
feel comfortable roosting there and they are moving
south to spend the night.
I saved Lake 9 until last to check this morning giving
the birds time to get there, and found fewer birds on
the area pools. At 8:00 while walking the lane toward
the southern end of the lake I saw a juvenile Roseate
Spoonbill flying northbound over the lake. It made a
circle over the southern end and continued north over
the lake until out of sight. A few minutes later it
flew south over the lake and continued toward
Tennessee, apparently seeking more water.
Neither the White Ibis nor Tricolored Heron were seen
this morning. I returned to Lake 9 at 2:00 this
afternoon and the Tricolored Heron was again present.
It was moving about often and at 2:10 it flew north up
the lake and out of sight.
I checked the pool in Tennessee where the spoonbills
were originally located, but only a few egrets were
present. This pool is only .9 mile from the state
line. The Ibis Hole at Phillippy in Tennessee also
held a few egrets and a Black-necked Stilt both days.
Thanks to Mark and Brainard for posting the sightings.
I believe Mark added the part about timing and luck
being needed, but it is true, timing is everything.
A few pools on the gravel bars along the Mississippi
River at Kentucky Bend were holding shorebirds with
the following observed:
Killdeer 250+
SemiPlover 18
Gr Yellowlegs 1
Lesser Legs 3
Solitary Sp 3
Spotted Sp 7
Upland Sp 1 flyover calling
Semipalmated Sp 15 incl 3 juvs
Western Sp 7 incl 3 juvs
Least Sp 40 incl 3+ juvs
Pec 100+ incl a juv
Stilt Sp 6
SB Dowitcher 1
Other birds of interest were three Bald Eagles
including two juvs and several Mississippi Kites. Two
Least Terns were also observed.
In addition, four Willets were present below Smithland
Dam on Thursday afternoon.
David L. Roemer
Bowling Green, Ky.
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- » [birdky] Roseate Spoonbill, White Ibis, Tricolored Heron at Lake 9 4-5 August 2005
