[TN-Bird] Reddish Egret trip & mountain birding

7-16-08
Rankin Bottoms, Cocke Co
7-17-08
Great Smoky National Park (Newfound Gap to Clingman's Dome),Sevier Co

Not being able to come up with a sane way of getting over there for the 
Reddish Egret (my 1st long chase in a few years now), I left work at 01:30 
on Wednesday morning, and made the almost 400 mile drive, stopping for a nap 
along the way. I arrived a little after 10 at Rankin, and immediately had 
the Reddish out in the distance. Great looks, but poor shots. Other birds in 
the area included a couple of Short-billed Dowitchers and a few Least 
Sandpipers among the many Killdeer.

Later in the afternoon, Jean Obrist arrived, followed by Michael Sledjeski. 
Michael took Jean out for some great looks at the Egret, then we got out and 
explored the area in his canoe. During this same time, Mike Nelson and Robin 
Barrow arrived, and they saw the Egret fly out of sight to the left. Michael 
and I searched down that way, where there is no suitable habitat, before I 
finally noticed the bird quite close to us, perfectly camouflaged on a 
weathered piece of wood that the Cormorants usually use for a perch. As 
Michael's photos already attest, the Reddish isn't concerned at all about 
people slipping up in a canoe. Many thanks to Michael for the great looks we 
had at the bird.We had a few odd and end shorebirds that weren't visible 
from the shore, including 6 Spotted, 2 Pectoral, 2 Lesser Yellowlegs, and at 
least 20 Least Sandpipers, among the gobs of Killdeer. Being my 1st time 
here, I can easily see why they get the awesome shorebirding they do later 
in the season.

My plan was to stay over that night, since I had already made the 
expenditure in fuel to get over there, and bird the mountains in the morning 
which I haven't done in several years. I think the heat and fatigue 
triggered a migraine, which altered my plans. After getting to Newport and 
crashing for the night, I awoke the next morning still not in great shape. 
But, I was there, so I took a quicker than expected trip up to the high 
elevations. My main targets were the birds we just don't get very often, or 
at all, in west TN (Black-throated Blue Warbler, Common Raven, Black-capped 
Chickadee, and Red Crossbill) and I got all, though I had to settle for 
hearing Ravens, which is about as enjoyable anyway.

I was really surprised by the amount of singing still going on up high (just 
my inexperience over there). Veery and Winter Wrens were singing everywhere, 
as were Blue-headed Vireos and Black-throated Blue and Green Warblers, and 
of course Junco. Black-capped Chickadees were more numerous than I 
remembered. I had a nice adult male Red Crossbill at the beginning of the 
path up Clingman's Dome, and Crossbills overhead near the Spruce-Fir trail. 
I got most of the other upper elevation breeders as well, such as 
Blackburnian and Chestnut-sided Warblers. Pine Siskins were very numerous at 
Clingman's Dome, with at least 10 birds in the area. Still feeing bad, I 
left earlier than expected, and had a rough drive home, but I would do it 
all again; though hopefully not too soon!

Thanks again to everyone for steady updates on the Reddish, to Michael 
Sledjeski for the tour of the area and great looks at the Egret from the 
canoe, and to Jean Obrist for the offer to put me up for the night.

I have uploaded a few photos from the trip (a few of the Egret, and a couple 
of mountain birds), in a new gallery here: 
http://www.pbase.com/mctodd/fall_2008 , or the 1st image starts here:
http://www.pbase.com/mctodd/image/100345102

Good Birding!!

Mike Todd
McKenzie, TN
birder1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
www.pbase.com/mctodd

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