[TN-Bird] Long weekend + Good Birds= Long Report

May 24-25-26- 2003
Lake, Obion and Dyer Co. TN
The long weekend was filled with good birds and good birders to share them 
with. At various times, I had the pleasure of birding with Hap Chambers, Nancy 
Moore, Roly LLoyd from Australia, Mary Walters from KY, the Satterfields from 
east TN, Glen Criswell, Betty and Ken Leggett and briefly with the Bills from 
Knoxville.

The weekend produced 130 species with little time spent in the woods. The 
flooded fields were extensive and you never know what magic they will produce. 
We 
spent a lot of time looking for Roly a few birds to add to his US List and 
were successful on most ticks.

American White Pelicans (up to 9) are still lounging around the flooded area 
at 79 Highway west of the Great River Road. A LEAST BITTERN at the handicap 
hunting area at Black Bayou was enticed into answering my weak imitation of its 
call. We got good looks as it traded around looking for this intruder with the 
horrible voice. The birds of the weekend were up to nine FULVOUS WHISTLING 
DUCKS found by Ken and Betty just south of the location where we had 11 
Black-bellied just a couple of weeks ago. Only 7 waterfowl species could be 
found but 
Hooded Mergansers were seen with young at two locations and lots of pairs of 
Blue-winged Teal are still around.

In the raptor category we found only 7 species with nesting Osprey at three 
locations on Reelfoot. A congregation of five 2 and 3 year old Bald Eagles were 
bathing together off 79 Highway early Monday. Looks like more and more 
potential breeders for the area. A Red-tail Hawk pair has set up housekeeping 
and 
was feeding young in a Great Blue Heron nest off 79 highway.

The Wind Birds were found at widely separated locations but the driving paid 
off with 18 species. Only two Black-bellied Plovers were found over the 
weekend but one, everyone agreed was the most stunningly handsome male we had 
ever 
seen. The next surprise was the Black-necked Stilts that were found at nearly 
every location. The prognosis for nesting success is poor in these flooded 
fields but I found nests at 4 locations and watched copulations at many others. 
Most likely after the nests are plowed we will get a tremendous increase in 
numbers at the pits in Memphis with hopefully many late nesters just as last 
year.

Only one Greater Yellowlegs was seen on Sunday off 79 and late on Monday I 
found 2 Lesser off Booths Point Road. The big surprise early Saturday was a 
WILLET that I found resting on 79 and this bird came up close on Sunday for a 
shot 
or two. It was seen again on Monday. A single male RUDDY TURNSTONE was found 
on Monday by Criswell and enjoyed by many off Lenox Road and even poised for a 
photo. I located a single Stilt Sandpiper at this same location late Monday. 
Four crispy clean SANDERLING were present on Saturday at 79 along with scores 
of breeding plumaged DUNLIN. I counted over 500 of these birds over the 
weekend at different locations, an all time high for me and probably for the 
state. 
In among the many White-rumped, Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers, we were 
able find at least two BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS. A single breeding plumaged 
Short-billed Dowitcher was seen along 79 Highway.

We had 5 species of terns, Caspian, Common, Forster's, Least and Black. While 
scanning at Champy Pocket on the Lake, Mary called our attention to a huge 
flock of terns descending from on high. There were over 100 in the flock and we 
were able to pick out some classic Common Terns in the bunch but no Arctic;o(. 
The 22 breeding plumaged Black Terns feeding off Parker Road were a delight 
to behold in their black, gray and white dress.

At Nancy Moore's feeders the hummingbirds were going nuts after the rain, 
with 10 buzzing one feeder at one time. There were 20 or more in view at anyone 
time. A single Olive-sided was seen along the levee and after over an hour at 
my favorite Yellow-bellied Flycatcher spot, we got good looks as one came in 
and chased a Least that had been busy calling all around us. Acadian were seen 
buildings nests and many were calling at various locations.

All the expected swallows were seen with the Banks enjoying the sand pile 
built off 79 Highway by David Sams of TWRA for their nesting pleasure. A late 
Swainson's off Island 13 Road was the only one seen over the weekend. Only 7 
species of warblers were seen with a few more heard only. The Painted Bunting 
in 
KY was seen holding territory at the regular location. Grasshopper Sparrows are 
having a tough time due to the water. One was seen sitting out on a gravel 
road looking mighty forlorn. Single Song and Bobolink just barely made the list.


Good Birding!!!

Jeff R. Wilson
OL' COOT / TLBA
Bartlett Tenn.


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