[TN-Bird] Memphis area birding

     Saturday, 1-25-03, Jeff Wilson and I started the morning off by observing 
a male COMMON MERGANSER on the "Mighty" Mississippi River out from Mud Island 
in Memphis, TN. and a lone SNOW GOOSE out on the bar in the middle of the 
River.  This was just the start of a good day as we travelled to Wapanocca 
National Wildlife Refuge in Crittenden County, Arkansas adjacent to the city of 
Turrell which is only a 30 minute drive from Memphis.  There were 1000's upon 
1,000's of Geese and Ducks on the water there.  We saw SNOW, ROSS'S, GREATER 
WHITE-FRONTED, and CANADA GEESE there and a grand total of 21 species of 
Waterfowl including a very odd visitor for this time of year, a male 
BLUE-WINGED TEAL which just sat out on the ice without moving very much.  We 
also saw a few VESPER SPARROWS and a total of 8 BALD EAGLES in the refuge.
     The Ol' Coot struck again as he helped me get three Lifebirds that I've 
been needing for a while now but have just never went after since I've been in 
Memphis.  Jeff took the time out to show me all the characteristics of the 
WESTERN MEADOWLARKS that we saw from the head pattern, malar mark, upperparts, 
tail bars, to flight pattern which was a great learning experience.  I finally 
got to see a BREWER'S BLACKBIRD that I've wanted to see for quite some time 
which we got great looks at both the males and a female.  Jeff then took me 
right in the middle of about 2,000 LAPLAND LONGSPURS which I got to study with 
some great lifebird looks at very close range. We ended with a day list of 
about 82 species, not bad for 5 hours of birding.  It was a great weekend 
adventure!!  And as always thanks to Jeff!  If you are in the area, this Refuge 
is a wonderful place to visit and has so much potential for good birds showing 
up year round.

Anthony Whitted
M1 Student of UT Memphis School of Medicine
Memphis, TN.
awhitted@xxxxxxxxx

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