[TN-Bird] Long-tailed Duck still present, Great Black-backed Gull; Henry Co 11/23/07

11/23/07
Henry Co
Paris Landing, Port Rd area, Britton Ford

I had a few hours today in-between commitments, so decided to try and get 
some better shots of that interesting Long-tailed Duck. It was still in 
basically the same area, though much closer to the causeway going out to the 
bridge, at times probably within 100-150 yards of me. I did get some much 
better shots, and at times, with better views, she pretty much looked like a 
(dingy) Long-tailed Duck. Still the darkest by far that I have seen. I 
appreciate the numerous comments I got on those poor images, with the 
general opinion that there was nothing else it could be, though most also 
said it was a darker bird than they had seen.

While at Paris Landing, usually waiting for the duck to surface, I would 
keep an eye on the island. There weren't any really interesting gulls 
sitting out there, but a 1st-cycle Great Black-backed made a couple of 
passes over the island, scattering lesser gulls, but never sat down. It 
finally lumbered off towards Pace Point, and sat on the water in the 
distance with a number of other gulls. This makes the 10th species of gull 
seen in the Paris Landing/Pace Point area so far this season, and it's not 
even December yet! Gulls so far this fall/winter are:

Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Bonaparte's Gull
Franklin's Gull
Laughing Gull
Sabine's Gull
Thayer's Gull
California Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
( I would trade several of these for a Kittiwake though :")

Otherwise, not much happening. Paris Landing was very rough, with few ducks 
around except Buffleheads. Port and Trailer Rd loon numbers were way down 
from yesterday (down to around 150 combined), nothing but Commons again 
today. The Trailer Rd area had only a handful, so they may have just changed 
locations a bit. The birds in this huge area are definitely hit or miss, as 
there are several Lesser Black-backed Gulls in the area, but I didn't see 
one either of the last two days.

Britton Ford had many more ducks than yesterday, though most were out well 
past where I could do anything with them. Did finally have some Canvasbacks 
though. I had the Snow and Ross's group up flying briefly, and a sleeping 
Cackling Goose just happened to be where I could see it, though it took a 
while for it to raise it's bill so I could be sure of the ID. I saw one 
Greater White-front head pop up over the same hill, so hopefully most of the 
geese are still there, just out of sight today.

I will get some better shots up tonight of that Long-tailed Duck, if anyone 
is interested. That little duck has been quite a learning experience for me, 
you just never know what you are going to come across; even if it's just a 
different look to something you are familiar with.

Good Birding and Happy Holidays!!

Mike Todd
McKenzie, TN
birder1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
www.pbase.com/mctodd


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