[TN-Bird] Re: Rankin shorebirding

We were only on land during my visit to Rankin Bottoms.  I walked into areas 
that typical birders probably don't go into.  For instance, I went off the 
road past the railroad tracks and through the thick vegetation to get to mud 
flats that aren't seen from any easily accessible sites.  At this mud flat I 
saw one spotted sandpiper and some herons.

I think not having a boat is a very likely a factor in why we did not see as 
many species, though timing and birder skills are also a factor.

Tomorrow, we will have a boat at Rankin Bottoms.  We will compare walking 
the accessible areas versus the boat to see if we come up with a significant 
difference in observations.

I am very interested in using a canoe at Rankin Bottoms.



Allan Trently
ajtcorax@xxxxxxxxxxx


>There were two postings on 8/23 re :Rankin (Cocke county) shorebirds - Alan 
>Trently reported "few shorebirds", Don Miller reported (conservatively) 90 
>individuals of 6 species.  Why the apparent contradiction?  The best 
>shorebird habitat at Rankin Bottoms is not presently visible from the road, 
>nor from any shore accessible on foot. I'm assuming Allan didn't go out on 
>the water.  If anyone would like to view shorebirds from land at Rankin 
>Bottoms, I recommend waiting until Douglas Lake is below 982 feet; bring a 
>spotting scope.  Current and imminent lake levels can be gotten by phoning 
>1-800-238-2264: punch in "07" for Douglas Lake, then "1" for current, or 
>"2" for predicted levels.  The TVA website also shows lake levels.
>OR contact us for a canoe tour.  We've become fervent explorers of the 
>2000-acre area, and we've learned a lot from experienced birders who have 
>ventured out with us.  We can get right up to the mudflat edges; shorebirds 
>tolerate closer human proximity than most other wild birds. >>>  For anyone 
>interested, we're leading a Sierra Club outing on 8/28 at 9:30 AM.
>
>Michael Sledjeski & Leslie Gibbens
>423-487-3161
>Cocke County TN
>=================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBER=====================
>
>The TN-Bird Net requires you to sign your messages with
>first and last name, city (town) and state abbreviation.
>-----------------------------------------------------
>----------------------------------------------------
>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
>* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
>
>     ========================================================
>
>

_________________________________________________________________
Don?t just search. Find. Check out the new MSN Search! 
http://search.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200636ave/direct/01/

=================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBER=====================

The TN-Bird Net requires you to sign your messages with
first and last name, city (town) and state abbreviation.
-----------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------
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
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

    ========================================================

Other related posts: