[TN-Bird] Black Scoter - 5 species of geese

Nov. 19, 2006
Mississippi River, TVA Lake
Ensley Bottoms, Robco Lake
Shelby Co. TN
Tunica Co. MS
 
On the Mississippi, after a drop of 6 feet, the river is rising again. A  few 
groups of migrating ducks and Ring-billed Gulls hurried south while two pods  
of Buffleheads hung out in some slack water. In with the 22 Buffleheads were 
5  Lesser Scaup, 2 Gadwall, and 3 Redheads. Dacus bar had only a small piece  
above water, no more than 100 square feet, but centered up on the sand was our 
 wintering Peregrine that had re-staked its claim.
 
At TVA Lake, the Black Scoter was sleeping as usual, among 380 Lesser  Scaup, 
26 Greater Scaup, 41 Hooded Merganser, 35 Ring-necks, 9 Canvasback, 11  
Redhead, 9 Shoveler, 3 Gadwall, 4 Mallard, 3 Ruddy and 21 Pied-billed  Grebe. 
Fifty 
plus Ring-billed Gulls were feeding over 9 DC Cormorants  with 77 Coots, 
dipping and diving.
 
The adult rufous morph Red-tail still is complaining or claiming  its 
territory to the 20 or so Red-tails seen at Ensley. I saw only 21 Least  
Sandpipers 
and 4 Wilson's Snipe among the widely scatted Killdeer. In with the  resident 
Canada Geese was a single, first year Ross's Goose. The single white  goose 
syndrome strikes again. American White Pelicans soaring over President's  
Island 
cut across Ensley on their way to North Lake.
 
Robco Lake was crowded with waterfowl but viewing is never good on a sunny  
day. Fifteen White Pelicans sailed over heading east??
 
Tunica County, MS always produces some neat treat, today it was 9  Western 
Meadowlarks and most of them were singing and calling. I've never heard  so 
many 
at one time. They stayed in one tree after they flushed and the  light was 
good enough for a few photos. Off of Hot Thornton Road, I had 5  species of 
geese in one field of view and hundreds of Lapland Longspurs swirling  and 
calling. Red-tailed Hawk numbers increased slightly (65) but Harriers were  
seen in 
multiples at every stop, over 30 seen in the golden triangle in a very  short 
period of time. Over 700 Ring-billed Gulls were seen roosting in one field  and 
4 Bonaparte's Gulls coursed over one muddy rice field.  
Good Birding  !!!

Jeff R. Wilson / TLBA
6298 Memphis-Arlington Road
Bartlett, TN  38135



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