[tn-bird] RPT: Carroll & Henry Co. 5/27/02

I decided to get up this morning and check on some local birds, as it seems
like the past month every time I get out I head west to the River. I had a
good morning, although one of my target locals couldn't be located. The
morning began at daylight with quite a surprise. I was on my way out to
Henry Co. where I have gotten Lark Sparrows in the summer the past 3 years
(and Don Manning for several years before this). While stopping to enjoy the
song of a close Blue Grosbeak, I was quite surprised to hear a Henslow's
Sparrow "hiccup" near me in the weedy margin of a cultivated field. This
isn't what I would consider good Henslow's habitat, and when I came back
through a couple of hours later I couldn't relocate him. I can't help but
think this is a lingering migrant, but I will return on the off-chance the
bird hangs around.

I was unable to locate any Lark Sparrows, but these birds always seem to
move around the area, and are hit and miss. I did have a singing male in the
area last month. The Henry Co. Swainson's Warbler spot is still holding
strong. This tiny area amazes me as it has also had Swainson's the past 3
years, the understory is very thick, but lacks the Cane that we usually
associate Swanson's' with in West TN. When I arrived the Swainson's was
singing very repetitiously, and I finally located him, with a lot of luck,
in a tree just back in from the edge of the woods. The vegetation is so
thick that luck is all I can contribute it to. Naturally, I was just far
enough away to prevent me form getting a good shot (I got some good ID
shots, but not what I wanted) and too close with the camera/scope setup I'm
using. I got the bird in the scope, but the head and bill were all I could
frame in the shot!  It was probably just coincidence, but it sounded as if
the Swainson's and a La. Waterthrush, which was just across the road, were
countersinging. One would sing and then the other would sing, over and over.
Their songs are somewhat similar, but I know they didn't have each other
confused. Other warblers in the area were Parula, Hooded, Kentucky,
Prothonotary, and Common Yellowthroat. I left here and went up to some
Westvaco upland habitat, which is transitioning from clear-cut, and found
the expected abundance of Chats and Prairie Warblers (among others) in the
area.

My last target bird of the morning was Willow Flycatcher in Carroll Co. I
had birds singing last spring in this area, and sure enough after a few
minutes a Willow, and then another, sang. I only saw the one bird in the
distance, but it seemed to be setting up territory, as it sang from about 5
consistent perches in a circuit. The flycatchers are in a flooded bottom
(transitioning back to timber, with a lot of willow and other saplings) of
the Obion River, near McKenzie. This is good habitat, hopefully they'll stay
around through the summer.

Great morning to be out, Good Birding!!!!!

Mike Todd
McKenzie, TN
Carroll Co.
mikectodd@xxxxxx




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