Took the day off work today and started late morning at Eagle Bend Fish
Hatchery. I was hoping there would be a small chance to see the Ross or Snow
Geese reported earlier in the week but there were none to be seen. The birds
of note I did see are below:
2 Redheads - In the upper pond with a bunch of Mallards
9 Buffleheads - 5 male and 4 female in the first elevated pond on the right
when coming in the main entrance
68 Ring-billed Gulls
2 American Pipits
1 Eurasian Collared-Dove
1 American Kestrel
1 Kingfisher
20 Cedar Waxwings
8 Eastern Meadowlarks - All in a loose group feeding in the grass, the most I
have ever seen together at one time
Later in the day I made a stop near my home at Concord Park. I scanned several
areas of Ft. Loudon lake and did not see much besides Mallards and a few
Pied-billed Grebes. However, I did get lucky at the Concord Park boat ramp and
spotted an Osprey over the small bay in front of the eastern facing dock. The
water is low so I assumed incorrectly it would not have much luck hunting but
sure enough after a few minutes it caught about a six inch fish (most likely a
shad). I managed some bad photos and attached one above. Ospreys can be a
daily occurence here in warmer months but I have never seen one this late in
the year. Has anyone else seen one in December? I guess it does not need to
rush south if it can still find food this easily.
Dan Ellsworth
Farragut, TN
Attachment:
Osprey Concord Boat Ramp 12-5-13.JPG
Description: JPEG image
