[TN-Bird] Northern Goshawk & Red Crossbills, Obion Co.

January 29, 2009
Ken-Tenn Hwy. 
NE of Union City
Onion County
 
I worked in Obion County today where we're still trying to get power restored 
to customers who have no power because of the major ice storm that hit NW 
Tennessee (as well as AR, MO, and KY). I work for an electric cooperative that 
serves about 34,000 customer in NW TN (mostly rural areas and a few small 
towns). We've had about 12,500 customers without power because of the ice 
storm. That number was down to about 5900 this afternoon. Most of the customers 
that are still out are in Lake and Obion Counties. The damage in these counties 
is catastrophic. It will probably be sometime next week before power gets 
restored to many folks, some maybe even longer. That's the bad part of this 
report. 
 
Because of this ice storm I've had to be outside a lot the last three days. 
Birds were also in desparation mode searching for food because of the ice 
storm. I'll try to give a full report of my sightings one I get a little more 
time at the computer once things get a little more back to normal.
 
Today while working on Ken-Tenn Hwy. (Hwy. 214) between Union City and South 
Fulton I had an adult Northern Goshawk sail right over me and make a couple of 
sailing turns before going down into some trees in a backyard. This was just 
west of the Jiffy Steamer plant which is 4462 Ken-Tenn Hwy. This was at about 
10 am.
 
At approximately 1 pm I heard the distinctive call notes of a Red Crossbill. 
The notes kept getting closer and I looked up and 2 Red Crossbills flew over 
heading south. Presumably looking for a food source that wasn't covered in ice. 
This was on Ken-Tenn Hwy. near where Claude Tucker Rd. and Harris Rd. come in 
and jct. with the hwy.
 
I also had an adult dark-morph Rough-legged Hawk on Crosswind Church Rd. (just 
off of Hwy. 51) north of Union City. Mike Todd already reported the Snow 
Bunting that I had in the road on Mt. Zion Rd.
 
I should be working in the area for the next several days so I'll be keeping my 
ears and eyes open and my binoculars close by! I'll try to give a more complete 
report / list later on other birds I've seen. These were the highlights.
 
Thanks to Mike Todd for reporting the Snow Bunting yesterday. Glad he got over 
to see the bird as well. By the way Mike, you don't owe me anything, I'm just 
paying you back for getting my state Western Grebe a couple of winters ago!
 
Good birding!!!
 
Mark Greene
Trenton, TN
Gibson County (we were spared from the ice storm)
 

      
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