[TN-Bird] Front Pushed Shorebirds

July 24-25, 2004
Lauderdale, Dyer Co. TN


In a short period of time, Chickasaw NWR has come a long way in providing 
shorebirds with habitat and is fast becoming my second most favorite shorebird 
place in TN. Shorebird numbers in the past few seasons there have grown fast, 
with an impressive 3,000 Lesser Yellowlegs seen at one time this spring. As I 
have always preached, consistent habitat will produce shorebirds, with rewards 
realized over a surprisingly short period. Birds return in larger numbers and 
more species each successive season. They have the best management program 
going here in West TN. I hope they keep on the right track. This year, as 
everywhere, they have had to contend with the high Mississippi River but 
preparation 
the year before paid dividends. They understand they have a way to go but they 
are on the right track.

I finally got to Chickasaw NWR in Lauderdale Co. late in the afternoon 
Saturday because of the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher nest in Memphis. There were 
shorebirds spread out all over two of the pools. I estimated 4-500 Killdeer 
alone 
and I had time for only a quick tour to note anything different. Nothing stood 
out and there were 10 shorebird species counted. The White Pelican numbers had 
dropped to 6 but I'd guess they are coming in and out from the Mississippi 
backwaters. I decided to return and do a close count on Sunday, AM.

The best laid plans off times go astray. I woke up to thunder, lightening and 
pouring rain early Sunday and knew I did not want to take the long walk to 
the pools carrying a tripod.
I headed north up the Great River Road in the rain and found the following: 

In the prairie grass fields on the south side of White Lake Refuge, I enjoyed 
spending some time with a family of Grasshopper Sparrows. The 2 adults and 4 
young were playing up and down the wet gravel road, riding seed heads down, 
feeding and then splashing in the puddles. They would chase each other and some 
approached my truck and disappeared out of sight in front of my hood. Field 
Sparrows were also enjoying this much neglected habitat that is being replanted 
successfully but on far too few acres. I love prairie grass 
fields............sparrows do too!

The wet areas on the refuge have dried, grown up or been plowed and presented 
little or no shorebird habitat. A little to the north in the middle of a 
soybean field I found; 16 Killdeer, 14 Black-necked stilts (8 adult and 6 
immature), 3 Lesser Yellowlegs, 48 Least Sandpipers, 2 Pectoral and 1 
Short-billed 
Dowitcher. At 79 Highway and the Great River Road, I had 34 Killdeer, 3 Lesser 
Yellowlegs, 4 Solitary, 1 Spotted, 41 Least Sandpiper, 9 Semipalmated 
Sandpiper, 
7 Pectoral and 9 Stilt.

The rain stopped and I headed back south to Chickasaw NWR.  The wind was out 
of the southwest and the skies overcast, so the walk out was almost perfect. 
The problem was that the storm front had swept away 2/3 of the shorebirds seen 
late Saturday. The 6 American White Pelicans were still present and good 
numbers of the regular egrets and herons but shorebird numbers were way down. I 
walked around two of the ponds and sat down and counted the following 
shorebirds: 
Killdeer - 115, Semipalmated Plover - 7, Black-necked Stilt - 2 (both males), 
Greater Yellowlegs - 1, Lesser Yellowlegs - 14, Solitary Sandpiper - 31, 
Spotted Sandpiper - 7, Semipalmated Sandpiper - 26, Western Sandpiper - 3, 
Least 
Sandpiper - 373, Pectoral sandpiper - 148, Stilt Sandpiper - 12 and 
Short-billed Dowitcher - 3.  I just wish I'd had a chance to count on Saturday

The wind suddenly changed and came out of the northwest and a black cloud was 
coming my way. I did the Ol'Coot shuffle, that's just leaning way forward and 
trying to keep my feet under me. I made it to the truck with a few minutes to 
spare.

Shorebirds are on the MOVE!!!!

Good Birding!!!

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


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