[TN-Bird] Re: Lakes, Ducks and Noshows
- From: KD Edwards <sparverius@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: TN-Bird <tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 25 Jan 2014 16:12:25 -0500
Historically, the area by Douglas Dam and out from Cowboys Seafood on Hwy 139
have been great spots for wintering diving ducks, loons, and grebes despite the
heavy boat traffic. Mornings and evenings were always best. I made regular
treks there during winters in the 1990s and 100+ loons, 50+ grebes (Horned,
Pied-billed, and the rare Eared), and large rafts of diving ducks were not
uncommon. But sometimes it's a bust. On one trip, Rick Knight and I had 7
Long-tailed Ducks fly in. Cherokee Dam was always better for scoters.
Taylor's Bend on Douglas was always better for dabblers and Dunlin.
I've been itching to make it to both spots with all the recent reports but
haven't found the time. I suppose there could be any number of reasons for
fewer birds. Food availability, boat traffic, time of visit (sunrise and
sunset are best), weather pushing birds to sheltered areas, etc. My suggestion
would be to keep trying... And if it's a bust there, make the short drive to
Cherokee Dam.
Dean Edwards
Knoxville, TN
Sent from my iPhone
On Jan 25, 2014, at 11:52, michael sledjeski <mbsledjeski@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Keith,
>
> I suspect that the area near the Douglas Dam has fewer waterfowl because of
> boat traffic. The cove at Taylor Bend is a dead end and quite shallow, so
> there are never boats but always ducks to be found there in the winter
> (usually dabblers rather than divers), while there are few ducks, but
> frequent powerboats on the main river channel. Also, over the years I've
> seen all the usual waterfowl species that show up in TN at the the upper end
> of Douglas Reservoir (what I would call the "headwaters") - in the Rankin WMA
> (this time of year, in the impoundments), Ten Islands, & Dutch Bottoms (very
> large rafts in the fall). They just don't stick around, likely because of
> boats launched at the Walters Bridge ramp, plus 4x4 & ATV activity on the
> flats.
>
> BTW, Dalton Lake, in the Wild Pear Shores Subdivision, near Swann's Bridge,
> often has a variety of ducks, and no boats.
>
> M. Sledjeski
> Del Rio TN
>
> On Jan 24, 2014, at 7:10 PM, shaawitya@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
>
>> Hi all
>>
>> I was wondering what the thinking is on the lack of ducks at Douglas Dam
>> compared to other reservoirs around East TN, notably, Chickamauga,
>> Nickajack, South Holston, which seems to hold a lot of birds and a fair
>> richness; even Loudon in Knox and Blount counties seems to have a fair
>> representation of waterfowl, occasionally. Douglas Dam headwaters on the
>> other hand, seems to have very little richness and very few birds. I was
>> there today and only had one Gadwall, several Common Loons, Pied-billed
>> Grebes, and some mutt Mallards. Does anyone have an explanation for this
>> type of discrepancy? Feel free to post to my email directly or for the
>> edification of others, back to the TN-Bird.
>>
>> Thanks and
>>
>> Peace
>>
>> Keith Watson
>> Pittman Center, TN
>>
>>
>
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