[TN-Bird] Raptor Movement at Ensley

Sept. 26, 2004
Ensley Bottoms
Shelby Co. TN

Mike Todd joined me for another fantastic experience at Ensley. At TVA Lake 
we missed the White-faced Ibis that was present on Saturday but made up for it 
big time with the ducks and ever changing parade over head heading south. The 
duck numbers built all day with 300 Mallards in the late evening, 2 Pintail, 1 
Wigeon, Shovelers, Blue-winged Teal and Wood Ducks. Among the visitors were 7 
Ring-billed Gulls and a Caspian Tern.

Off and on through the day we watched White Pelicans drop into the lake on 
President's Island and when they lifted off and swirled away with such with 
elegance that evening, I was able to get a pretty good count on 540 birds. Add 
that to the 223 we saw over North Lake earlier and there was one mess of 
Pelicans 
heading south Sunday. Many more Double-crested Cormorants that that passed 
over all day with skeins of over 200 counted.

Mike added a Spotted Sandpiper which I had missed on Saturday bringing the 
shorebird species total to 19 at Ensley for the weekend. I ferreted out 3 
Solitary for an increase on Saturday's single. Stilt Sandpipers numbers were up 
to 
235 and had passed the Lesser Yellowlegs at 187. These birds were quite tame 
allowing us to sit just 15 to 20 feet away as they fed and alerted us to what 
was flying over.

The shorebird numbers were still there but you had to wait and hunt out the 
birds as it was another "Day of the Falcon" at the pits with at least 5 
different Peregrines, 3 in view at one time. The young male tundrius of 
Saturday was 
still unsuccessful most of the day until late on Sunday when he took a Lesser 
Yellowlegs (there favorite food at Ensley) and allowed us the good fortune to 
photograph the feasting. Before he had that reward for his persistence he 
managed to chase a huge immature female around until she turned on him and he 
quickly lost interest. He took up chasing Kestrels and other underlings. The 
large 
female perched on a tower for most of the morning. Tundrius tend to show up 
in groups as the families are pushed out of the far north by early weather and 
before the young are completely independent. Often the young are seen chasing 
their siblings or the adults and begging for food.

Two other Peregrine Falcons were high flying and another Merlin passed over 
in their usual nonchalant manner of migration. Add to those, Broad-winged, 
Red-shouldered, Red-tailed, 2 Osprey, 9 Kestrels minimum, many fly over 
Cooper's 
and a couple of Sharp-shinned and you have a pretty good raptor day. The 
topping on the cake came when two adult and an immature Bald Eagle traveling 
one 
behind the other but with good distance between and all in the same flight 
path. 
Another adult Bald came in later and perched on the Osprey's favorite limb and 
glean a few left overs. Hopefully this is one of the pair that nests at 
Ensley.

It was an awesome day to witness. I'll post more on the successful hunt and 
photos of this little master of the skies ASAP.


Good Birding!!!

Jeff R. Wilson
OL'COOT / TLBA
Bartlett, TN


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