[TN-Bird] Pace Point again; 11/20/08

11/20/08
Henry Co; Big Sandy Unit, TNWR
Benton Co; Lick Creek

I spent half the day today birding the Pace and Rocky Point areas. Finally, 
good numbers of birds to go through in conditions they can be seen. 
Highlights were: PACIFIC LOON, RED-NECKED GREBE, AMERICAN TREE SPARROW, and 
singing BLUE-HEADED VIREO.

On the way into Pace Point, I noticed a group of Chipping Sparrows, among 
others, feeding in the road. After looking at them briefly thru the 
windshield, I got a glimpse of a bird that looked a lot like a Tree Sparrow. 
After getting closer and getting out, I relocated the American Tree Sparrow, 
and got some fair shots of it. This isn't a bird I get in this area often, 
and this is definitely earlier in the season than I would have expected one.

Rocky Point was next, and though there weren't but about 50 loons in the 
area, after several scans I came across a nice adult Pacific Loon not too 
far out, relatively speaking. This bird was on the move constantly, and 
never associated with any of the other loons. I watched it for about 10 
minutes, (wasting some time trying to get photos) then lost it. I came back 
later and could not relocate the bird.

As I came to Pace Point, the big raft of divers was right out there where it 
was supposed to be. Majority of these birds are Scaup, at least 2000 Lesser 
with 100+ Greater in the mix. Not a lot of variety out there, though a 
couple of Goldeneye were nice. As I got to the trailing edge of the raft, 
the welcome shape of a sleeping Red-necked Grebe came into view. This bird 
slept practically all the time I watched it, only occasionally raising it's 
head to preen a bit. Hopefully it wasn't just resting up, and one of these 
fine birds will again spend the winter in the area. I got a poor photo of it 
before heading to the Point itself. Very few gulls on Pace, and nothing 
interesting. Numbers of Herring Gulls were very high today, close to 400 in 
the area. Couldn't ferret out anything among them.

While coming back from Rocky Point the 2nd time, I stopped to look over a 
bunch of sparrows that flushed from the road. While hear, I was pretty 
shocked to  hear a Blue-headed Vireo sing several times. I didn't find the 
bird until I saw it fly, but it was a bird I wasn't expecting to hear today!

I didn't walk out into the LeConte's field, or even look into the bay there. 
A few eagles around, but no Golden yet. Lick Creek was full of dabblers, 
with close to 1000 Green-winged Teal alone. But, again, nothing unusual.

I've posted photos of the American Tree Sparrow and Red-necked Grebe,as well 
as the Shrike that hangs out going into Britton Ford. These start here: 
http://www.pbase.com/mctodd/image/106163051

Good Birding!!

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

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