[TN-Bird] Common Raven at Persimmon Ridge, Washington County

  • From: jameswbrooks@xxxxxxxxxxx
  • To: tn-bird <tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 12:30:48 +0000 (UTC)

Persimmon Ridge Park in Jonesborough is not on anybody's birding hot spot list, 
although it attracts all the migrational birds I could find elsewhere if I 
chose to spend the gasoline money. The two best locations are the marsh just 
inside the park entrance and which is privately owned, and the boardwalk and 
Walter's trail that runs past the boardwalk. 

Sunday ran true to form as the decent winter rains have recharged the marsh and 
I found at least three Swamp Sparrows, which obediantly popped up onto cattails 
in response to pishing, showing off their chestnut wing and lead-gray heads. 

Just after passing the boardwalk I heard the raucous rasp of what could only be 
a Common Raven or an over-sized American Crow with a bad cold. I saw the bird 
take off through the trees, and as I followed it with my 8x42 Leica Trinovid 
binoculars, joy of joy, it circled and flew directly overhead, quothing loudly 
the entire time, though I did not think it quoth "Nevermore". 

I got a clear look at the proportionately longer wings, undulating in their 
flight, and of the diamond-shaped tail. It made a large circle around the park 
and flew out of sight. 

When I first moved into Bear Run in 1991 I heard a Common Raven flying behind 
the trees and counted it on the yard list as a heard bird, but this one was a 
crushingly good look. Now I won't have to spend the gas money to drive 50 miles 
up Roan Mountain for this annual tic. Along with a Savannah Sparrow and an 
Eastern Towhee in the marsh and a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker at Bear Run I had 52 
species to start the year, better than half as good as Jeff Wilson's New Year's 
day in Memphis, but I bet he didn't have a raven. 



James Brooks 


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  • » [TN-Bird] Common Raven at Persimmon Ridge, Washington County - jameswbrooks