[Bristol-Birds] Saturday in Blountville

I headed out late yesterday afternoon to do a little birding.  Mostly to get 
out of the house after a day of mopping, dusting, and laundry.  

Spotted a Solitary Sandpiper at the Hamilton Rd and Muddy Creek Rd intersection 
in Blountville, TN., Sullivan Co.  He wasn't alone.  Counted a total of two 
Solitary Sandpipers and one Green Heron working the water logged pasture.  
Several Killdeer announced my arrival and their obvious dislike of my presence. 
 Tree Swallows were busily working over the fields all around the airport.  
Spotted a pair checking out a bluebird box on the back side of the airport.

Also pulled in at Northeast State Tech College to check the woodlot that sits 
between Muddy Creek Rd and the newest parking lot at the school.  Apparently it 
was a Goldfinch convention.  Did not see much else there.  

Came home, was greeted by husband who knows his wife's instinct to care for all 
that is fuzzy.  He had stumbled upon to fledglings in the old garden spot 
behind the house.  Feeling he was doing the right thing he scooped them up and 
placed them in a box with a plastic bowl in which he formed a nest of hay.  
They were quite comfortable but I assured him that they were indeed supposed to 
be on the ground and that mom was probably frantic.  We carried the box with 
its contents to the garden and very carefully placed them on the ground in the 
exact spot from which they came.  Momma Robin watched cautiously from her perch 
high a top a wild cherry.  Her babies were back and had only spent a brief hour 
out of her sight.  I expect her to pick up where she left off.  

On another note I was awakened this morning about 5am to the loud yipping of 
coyotes coming from the knob.  It is nice to live where wildlife abounds even 
if it is only for a short time.  Blountville has seen an increase in 
subdivisions and developments.  Our precious wildlife is slowly being 
compressed into smaller and smaller habitats.  I guess that is how coyotes end 
up in swimming pools on the Tree Streets of Johnson City.  I suppose he was 
looking for a cat meal and a drink of water.  Fortunately the pool was not 
filled with water and the animal was rescued from his concrete trap.  It would 
be wonderful if humans were as willing to adapt as the rest of God's creatures. 
 

Anywho, gonna head out today and check on the status of the little robinettes 
and see what else is fluttering around on this beautiful day!

Michelle King
Blountville TN
Sullivan Co.

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