Tn-Birders, I've seen a couple emails sent around and many of you guys have been somewhat introduced to me as being the new State Ornithologist with TWRA (starting Monday). I've been on TN-Bird for a month or so seeing what is happening up here (and how it differs from central Mississippi, which I know so well). All I can say is it is amazing how delayed spring migraation is here vs. central MS. I had numerous migrants (some species which are just showing up here) back on 10 March in Vicksburg, MS, incl. white-eyed vireo, black-and white warbler, gnatcatcher, parula, yellow-thr vireo, etc (you could argue one of those individuals overwintered, but that's another story for another time). My first Purple Martin there was on 31 January! Things are delayed here and I just need to learn arrival dates and how pushed back things are. In any event, I went birding at Priest Lake Thursday morning more or less to see what the area looked like and see if I could find anything interesting (i.e. those merlins which I'd love to see). Basically no neotrops (sadly!!), but lots of juncos, both kinglets, and singing goldfinches. Goldfinches are rare breeders in west MS and I have only rarely encountered singing birds, so that was a real treat (and made me listen twice). I did go to Anderson Rd. Rec Area and didn't see any of the birds Jan Shaw noted except the gorgeous common loons, but I did have one male Common Goldeneye in with the coots (no blue-winged teal, no eagle, no grebes, no gulls). I haven't seen a goldeneye in years, so it was a real treat. I have also found tons of field sparrows (also basically non-breeders in western MS) and meadowlarks while out biking around the area south and east of Nashville. Field sparrows are one of my favs!! Hopefully some real migrants will start coming through soon!! I look forward to working with TN-BIRD and TOS in years to come. Sincerely, Scott Somershoe (soon to change to TWRA) U.S.G.S.-Patuxent Wildlife Research Center 2524 S. Frontage Road Vicksburg, MS 39180 601-629-6628 (o) 601-636-9541 (fax) http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/somershoe.htm "Keeping the rubber side down" - S.G.S. =================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBER===================== The TN-Bird Net requires you to sign your messages with first and last name, city (town) and state abbreviation. You are also required to list the count in which the birds you report were seen. The actual date of observation should appear in the first paragraph. _____________________________________________________________ To post to this mailing list, simply send email to: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx _____________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, send email to: tn-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field. ______________________________________________________________ TN-Bird Net is owned by the Tennessee Ornithological Society Neither the society(TOS) nor its moderator(s) endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Moderator: Wallace Coffey, Bristol, TN wallace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx _____________________________________________________________ Visit the Tennessee Ornithological Society web site at http://www.tnbirds.org * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Topographical Maps located at http://topozone.com/find.asp _____________________________________________________________