[TN-Bird] Hiwassee Whooping Crane

First, let me apologize that this message has nothing to do with cats, indoors 
or out. Also, it does not speak badly of any other birder. I hope I am within 
the rules of this listserve by posting something about birds in Tennessee.

On Thursday, Dec. 26. Allan Trently, Anthony Whitted, Ed Manous and I visited 
the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge in Meigs County in east Tennessee. A few thousand 
SANDHILL CRANEs were in the area (perhaps as many as 10,000?). While scanning 
the cranes this morning, a single adult WHOOPING CRANE flew in and landed in 
one of the fields with a couple thousand Sandhills. This bird had a band on 
its upper left leg. It was easily seen from the viewing platform.

There were few ducks in the area, mostly Mallards and Gadwall. Some RUSTY 
BLACKBIRDs were seen in a cow pasture south of the refuge.

We also visited Standifer Gap Marsh were a few more RUSTY BLACKBIRDs were 
seen. These were in nearly breeding plumage - very little 'rusty' coloration. 
A GREAT HORNED OWL was heard calling one time while we were here, around 2:00 
p.m.
About 100 GADWALL and one RING-NECKED DUCK.

Other birds of note:

Harrison Bay (I think that's what it's called, on route 58 between Booker T 
Washington and Harrison Bay State Parks)
  hundreds of Bonaparte's Gulls, with some Ring-billed Gulls
  1 adult and 1 imm Bald Eagle

Booker T Washington State Park
  ~20 Common Goldeneyes
  immature Bald Eagle
  Common Loons

Rest area on I-24 in Marion County
  female Common Merganser
  female Greater Scaup

Nickajack Dam
  Common Goldeneyes, Buffleheads, Lesser Scaup, imm Bald Eagle, Ruddy Duck, no 
Western Grebe.

We had almost 75 species for the day.

David Trently
Knoxville, TN
dtrently@xxxxxxx

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