[TN-Bird] Lots of Grasshopper Sparrows

From: Jimi Moore <jimimoore@xxxxxxxx>
To: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2003 19:40:34 -0400
Tues   4-29-03       Campbell County birding

     After attending Carolina Bird Club state meeting in SC mountains
last weekend, and seeing plenty of mountain habitat birds, I headed up
Powell Valley
towards Middlesboro,  KY  this morning in Campbell County to look for
grassland  type habitat birds. On my first stop apx. 3 miles from
Lafollette along a road called Cross Valley, I heard my first GRASSHOPPER
SPARROW. I had these in this location last year, but this was the first
time I have looked for them early in the morning and this early in the
season. They were EVERYWHERE around these hundreds of acres fields that
have not been mowed yet for hay. I quit counting at 35+ in about a 2 mile
radius. It was interesting to watch quite a bit of Grasshopper "mating
displays" and watch male and female on barbed wire interacting with each
other.
I also saw a BLUE GROSBEAK and many SAVANNAH SPARROWS were around singing
so I could compare those with the Grasshopper songs.  Field Sparrows were
also numerous. 

     From there I birded at Doaks Creek TVA area close by where I saw an
OSPREY in a tree clutching a large fish.  He remained there the entire
time I was in the area, and was the first I have seen there.  A YELLOW
WARBLER was moving about singing in the Willows, and  many Common
Yellow-throated Warblers were singing. I also heard a YELLOW-BREASTED
CHAT, my first here for the Spring. The only other warbler was a lone
PALM WARBLER and one PRAIRIE WARBLER. 
The lake level is very high now with little exposed bank, but   I found a
GREAT EGRET in the edge as well as 4 SOLITARY SANDPIPERS AND 6 SPOTTED
SANDPIPERS that were teetering on logs at the waters edge. 
17  Turkey Vultures and 4 Black Vultures were sunning all together in a
large tree with wings open to the sun rays. 
     Apx. 40 CLIFF SWALLOWS are again beginning nesting under the bridge
on Old Hwy 63 right at Doaks Creek. 
    One WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW was still present nearby at Minton Lane. 
  I heard and saw several House Wrens, Eastern Kingbirds and many other
common  species.  Despite careful searching ,  I did not see a Shrike
which I had in this area a few months ago and was hoping for.
Very nice morning. 

 Nell Moore
Caryville, TN
N. of Knoxville
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[TN-Bird] Lots of Grasshopper Sparrows

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