[tn-bird] 50+ W. Storks and 3 Roseate Spoonbills - TN

Aug. 24, 2002
Mud-Cocklebur Lake
Shelby Co. TN

After birding the pits with Alabama, Tennessee and Mississippi birders today 
I went south to see if Wood Storks had shown up yet in Mud Lake on the TN/MS 
line. Over 300 were there on the 26th of August last year. I was not 
disappointed, as I quickly found some roosting in the same tree that they had 
used last year. I could count only 34 but the bill clacking I was hearing 
told me there were more hidden behind the tree line that has grown up and 
blocks most of the view from the levee into the area.

I birdied further down the levee and back into Mississippi, there I found an 
Olive-sided Flycatcher at the Horn Lake Pass Boat Ramp off of Star Landing 
Road. I also photographed a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher on the levee coming 
back north before entering TN. I knew the Wood Storks would go out to feed at 
dusk and I arrived back in time to count three groups totaling 51 birds 
flying west into Cocklebur Lake. After the last group flew, I picked up three 
smaller birds and at first I thought they were White Ibis but when I put my 
glasses up I could see that they were three immature Roseate Spoonbills! They 
also dropped into Cocklebur Lake.

There were hundreds and hundreds of Great, Snowy and Cattle Egrets (the most 
I've seen anywhere this year) along with a few dozen DC Cormorants flying 
east to roost in Mud Lake. Since the only viewing is from the levee and this 
is restricted by the trees that have grown up, I am trying to get in touch 
with the owner which a friend of mine knows, to see if some of us can enter 
the area. There is no telling what is in there as I heard and saw a bunch of 
birds behind the tree line. I had Black-necked Stilts, Greater Yellowlegs and 
hundreds of Egrets and Herons at the few places where I could see into 
Cocklebur Lake.

In the TN Gazetteer on page 13 in the center bottom of the page you will see 
Mud Lake. The small lake to the west is Cocklebur Lake. The red line is the 
Mississippi River Levee. You have to go into Mississippi to Walls and go west 
to get back up on the levee. You can go to this site:

http://topozone.com/map.asp?z=15&n=3876081&e=753750

and follow the roads out to the road that forms a Y just under Lake in Mud 
Lake and start looking through the tree line around the red x mark. This map 
and the Gazetteer will show you when you are in TN.

Good Birding!!!

Jeff R. Wilson
OL' COOT / TLBA
Bartlett Tenn.


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