[TN-Bird] Ensley Extension

May 17, 2004
Ensley Bottoms
Shelby Co. TN

I met Mike O'Malley from Clarksville, TN, down at the pits at 4 PM, to look 
for a few TN Birds for his list and we quickly filled the bill with the 
exception of the Baird's Sandpiper. As we drove past the TVA Steam Plant, Mike 
spotted a Western Kingbird and we immediately saw it following another just as 
an 
attentive male will do in the early stages of nesting. He got a few nice shots 
of the birds. From there we went to the Painted Bunting area and a male jumped 
up off the side of the road and flew right in front of us for good but brief 
looks. We saw the bird again briefly but the wind had the trees swaying.

We went to the pits and were greeted by masses of Semipalmated Sandpipers 
swirling around all over the area. Something had them upset but what ever it 
was, 
it never showed itself to us. The wind had died and we spent the rest of the 
time studying the Wind Birds, up close and in perfect afternoon light. The 
roads had mostly dried out so we could look in all the nooks and crannies. 

We found 20 Black-necked Stilt nests and saw many complete sets of eggs at 
various nests were the couples were changing duty. Mike got some stunning shots 
of these long-legged beauties with his Canon Digital as we were teated with a 
few approaching us within just a few feet. Maybe he will share some with us. 
They were quite a few of these birds that have not paired up yet, with a lot of 
wrangling as to which preferred which with unending chasing and chatter.

We found 15 species of shorebirds with Baird's, Greater Yellowlegs and LB 
Dowitcher eluding us but Mike spotted a sleeping Solitary Sandpiper for a 
species 
we did not have on Sunday.

With the perfect afternoon lighting, we had up close and crushing scope looks 
at Killdeer with young, 7 Semipalmated Plovers standing together calling and 
preening, Black-necked Stilts throwing nesting material over their shoulders 
toward their nests and then reaching out as they brooded and tucking the 
material under them. Lesser Yellowleg numbers were way down, we added another 
Spotted Sandpiper to Sunday's number, making 3. Amazingly a different 
Sanderling was 
pacing the flats much farther along in molt than Sunday's bird. Semipalmated 
Sandpiper numbers could only be estimated and they were continually changing 
places in mass but I figured somewhere between 6 and 8 hundred, We had great 
studies of a male Western Sandpiper (only one seen) that was still in basic 
plumage as it preened and showed us its details while in a group of Semi's. 

Least Sandpiper numbers were slightly down, White-rumped numbers were up, 
Pectorals still numbered in low double figures with one exceptionally redheaded 
and red faced individual. I run across these shinning examples of Pectoral 
diversity from time to time and for a short moment my heart stops. With such 
variety it is hard to believe there is but one race.

Dunlin figures remained at about 30 birds but all making me want to change 
their names back to Red-backed Sandpiper. At first we had about 9 Stilt 
Sandpipers scattered all in breeding plumage but very late with a grand flurry 
26 
birds dropped in right in front of us. They settled in quickly with some going 
to 
sleep and others to preening and within minutes were winging it off to the 
North as programed. The Short-billed Dowitchers were exquisite eye candy all in 
bright plumage but the 2 LB were not to be found as they were late in their 
journey and had to catch up if they were to participate in any mating rituals 
before all the good mates were had. The next few days could hold some nice 
surprises in Shorebirds.

At 8 PM we folded our stools up and repaired to my favorite nearby Bar-B-Que 
establishment to savor the food and talk about the sights we were privileged 
to witness. 

Life is the "Pits";o)

Good Birding!!!

Jeff R. Wilson
OL'COOT / TLBA
Bartlett, TN

PS: In yesterday's post, I left off the list a single Black-bellied Plover 
seen in Covington, Sunday, AM, the day's 18th species. I looked all over 3 
counties Saturday, expecting Black-bellied and remembered a wet area that I had 
seen a group of these birds in last year and was greeted by its mournful 
whistle. 
These shorebirds never cease to amaze me with their loyalty to particular 
places at exact times.


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