[TN-Bird] Pluvia equals Plovers

March 22, 2009
Shelby Co. TN
Crittenden Co. AR
 
Pluvia is Latin for "rain" and used in the scientific name for  
Golden-Plovers. The controversy on if the name for the bird is derived from the 
 dappled 
pattern on their backs or their arrival with the spring rains, makes  little 
difference to me, as long as I can hear their calls in the spring rain  each 
year. As most know, I love bad weather! The set up yesterday, with a front  
coming 
in from the northwest and the first small groups of Golden-Plovers  starting 
to move through, then the rain and the fast moving front would  most likely 
put these rain birds on the ground.
 
This week at Shelby Farms, in Memphis,  5 Golden-Plovers showed up in  the 
rain and that number grew to 6 by Friday, so I headed to the  old Benwood Lake 
bed across the river in Crittenden Co. AR. The were Wind Birds  were strewn 
across the old lake depression and much scopeing finally  produced a lone 
Golden-Plover, so all I had to do was wait and scan the  shorebirds.
 
Pectoral and Wilson's Snipe could keep you counting all day as  they fed in 
the wet stubble but other surprises lurked in the muck. A few  scattered Least 
Sandpipers, 6 Long-billed Dowitchers just putting on a flush of  pink color, 
Killdeer, 3 Lesser Yellowlegs and 1 flyover calling Greater, but  also in the 
drizzle, I found 7 Dunlin, 3 WESTERN and a single BAIRD'S.   Finally, I heard 
their plaintive calls and out of the clouds floating and  darting came 20 more 
Golden-Plovers. ELEVEN Wind Bird species, what a great way  to start a day.
 
On the backside of Wapanocca NWR, over the levee and sailing into TN. was  my 
first ANHINGA of the year!
 
At Ensley Bottoms, the scaup produced no excitement and the "pits"only  
scattered Snipe, Least and Pectorals but one flock of Goldens-Plovers was seen  
speeding north over the steam plant.  
Good Birding  !!!

Jeff R. Wilson / TLBA
6300 Memphis-Arlington Road
Bartlett, TN  38135
http://www.pbase.com/ol_coot/
What is this feathered thing that  lifts my heart to the heavens.

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