[TN-Bird] Forks of the River WMA Blue Grosbeaks

Forks of the River WMA, Knox County, August 24, 2008, my second recent visit.  
Until this July I had never birded Forks of the River WMA except for attending 
two Woodcock Walks there in past years.  I did set out to one time but upon 
encountering a parking lot full of men with guns I quickly changed my mind and 
went to nearby Meades Quarry.
 
Back to the present.  Early July 2008 I returned, feeling certain that it 
wasn't hunting season, and I was amazed and awed by the acres and acres of 
sunflower fields, some of which are viewable from the Will Skelton Greenway, 
but to see the true extent of the fields requires walking along the dirt 
trails. 
 
Yesterday, August 24, I covered the area more extensively (from 10:55 a.m. to 
1:40 pm), starting out by walking a mile on the Will Skelton Greenway beginning 
near the parking lot for Forks of the River and ending just past Milepost 3.25, 
then returning via the dirt/gravel trails.  I observed 3 Blue Grosbeaks from 
the greenway (a distant look at an adult male and closeup looks at 2 females) 
at a point between milepost 2.75 and 3.00.  Taking a short, semi-circular mowed 
path off the gravel road, I was suddenly surrounded by "chink" sounds and 
little birds flying to the other side of the path.  I spent a lot of time 
walking back and forth that small area and just standing still, getting 
occasional looks at the birds and listening to their frequent calls and was 
eventually rewarded with close-up views at at least 8 female and 2 rather 
bedraggled looking male Blue Grosbeaks in one small tree/bush with fern-like 
leaves (perhaps a giant fern?).  
 
Also a relentlessly singing White-Eyed Vireo at the parking lot (come to think 
of it, it was there in July too).
 
I only had 18 species but don't consider that bad considering the date and time 
of day.  Most numerous species was American Goldfinch... heard and seen 
everywhere.
 
Carole Gobert, Knoxville, TN 
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