[tn-bird] Rankin area-9/29

Douglas Lake is down to 968', and Rankin Bottoms is now a lush meadow.  
Waterbirds are still plentiful downriver, around the bend past the Leadvale RR 
bridge.  The flats along this stretch are known locally as "Ten Mile Island" 
and terminate at the bend visible from Walters Bridge.

Along the riverbanks, just west of the trestle, we saw about 50 peeps - 
semipalmated and least sandpipers et al?, 20 or so pectorals and numerous 
killdeer.  A greater yellowlegs was hanging with 3 lesser yellowlegs by a small 
pond.  A dozen blue-winged teal burst into the air when we approached for a 
better look.  Farther along the riverbank, we spotted a northern pintail in a 
gang of mallards.  He was a first for both of us, and for once, the live 
specimen looked just like the illustration in the guide.

The flock of great egrets that roosted at Rankin Bottoms through the summer has 
relocated to the mouth of Fall Rock Branch, and can be seen from Walters 
Bridge. We stayed late one night last week and counted 275, give or take a 
couple.  They fly in until dark and crowd and croak into a long ghostly line.  
Late yesterday afternoon, we saw about 220 dispersed along the riverbank and 
into the sloughs of Ten Mile Island.  Forty great blue herons mixed in with 
them.  

Our happiest find was a pair of American avocets, who were prancing in a big 
puddle with 10 lesser yellowlegs and a short-billed dowitcher.  The peregrine 
falcon we've been seeing  regularly for the past month flew by and perched high 
on a snag above the egrets.  We saw 20 double-crested cormorants flying over;  
wood ducks, black and turkey vultures, and American crows also were plentiful.  
In the dusky dark, a great horned owl hooted from the woodland, and 
black-crowned night-herons called along the water.  

Michael Sylva and Leslie Gibbens
Del Rio, Cocke County, TN       
mtnsylva@xxxxxxx Get more from the Web.  FREE MSN Explorer download : 
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