[Bristol-Birds] It was a swallow day, migrants arrive

Three species of swallows were seen in Sullivan County
today, including my first Barn Swallows of the year.

I had three Barn Swallows near the South Fork Holston River
along Paddle Creek Road.  A couple of Tree Swallows were
nearby.

At Middlebrook Lake, three Rough-winged Swallows made 
frequent visits to bank cavities along the shoreline, evidently
just inspecting them.

At Piney Hill Road near the Weir Dam on the South Fork Holston
River, two Pine Warblers were singing in late morning.

A newly-built nest of the American Crow was found along Piney Hill Road with
two adults perched at the nest.

A Brown Thrasher was heard at Middlebrook Lake and at Musick's Campground.
My first Brown Thrasher this year was seen Monday (3/24) along Reedy Creek
in Kingsport while birding with Marion Finucane.  It was high in a Sycamore
tree.

Four American Coots were at Middlebrook Lake and six seen in Washington
County, VA at the mouth of Spring Creek near Musick's Campground.

A female Hooded Merganser, seen last Friday (3/21) along Painter Road near
South Holston Lake, was still present today.

Virtually all of the wintering Hooded Merganser population left the area a
month ago and only a few migrants have been seen since. The Bufflehead
numbers at the Weir Dam have dwindled.  I found 16 there Friday and about
six or seven today.

An Eared Grebe (attractive spring plummage) was at Musick's Campground along
with a Common Loon.  A fisherman reported seeing five loons upstream in the
Virginia portion of the lake.

A White-crowned Sparrow in great color was feeding at Mae Musick's feeder.
An estimated 500 Ring-billed Gulls flew high above the lake at the
campground and headed north out of sight just before sunset.

I watched a Fox Sparrow feed for about 15 minutes near the wetlands at
Steele Creek Park on Monday (3/24).

Eastern Phoebes are back throughout the region and nest building is underway
from Steele Creek Park to Shady Valley
in Johnson County.  Several nesting sites near Backbone Rock were found to
have new nests under construction late last week.  

Let's go birding....

Wallace Coffey
Bristol




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