[TN-Bird] Red-throated Loon, Western Grebe, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, etc. (Grainger, Hamblen, and Jefferson Co., TN)

From: Alice Loftin / Don Miller <pandion@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: TN-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx, bristol-birds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx, butternuts@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Thu, 1 Jan 2009 22:48:08 -0500 (EST)

January 1, 2009

Susan Hubley and I traveled to Cherokee Lake this morning in hopes of finding 
the rare species reported recently.  When we arrived at the boat launch on the 
Grainger County side of the lake near the dam, we found David Kirschke already 
on territory, birding with the same goal.  Together, the three of us worked our 
way up to the Wa-Ni Campground (located adjacent to Grainger County Park) and 
back down to the boat launch.  When we arrived back at the launch, we met Ron 
and Rose Lapp, who had driven down from Hawkins County.  The five of us 
eventually located the Western Grebe, which worked its way back and forth 
between the Jefferson and Grainger sides of the river channel.  Shortly after 
Ron and Rose left, David, Susan, and I found the two Red-throated Loons across 
the lake in Jefferson County waters near the shoreline.  The identification was 
difficult at such a distance, but with patience we were able to work it out.

As Susan and I were headed home, we made a stop at the dam and were astonished 
to find two Northern Rough-winged Swallows feeding over the river.  We studied 
them carefully to confirm the identification and to confirm that we really had 
seen two birds.  After I got home, I also double-checked to re-confirm my 
understanding of the timing of Tree Swallow molt, since juvenile Tree Swallow 
is the bird most likely to be confused with Northern Rough-winged Swallow.  
(Tree Swallow juveniles molt out of that plumage by October.)

Other notable species observed today:

Common Loon (3 in Grainger, 2 of which also were seen in Jefferson)
Horned Grebe (8 in Grainger)
Double-crested Cormorant (Grainger)
Black-crowned Night-Heron (2 in Grainger, below Cherokee Dam)
Bald Eagle (immature seen in both Hamblen and Grainger)
Bonaparte's Gull (153 in Grainger, 50 in Jefferson) 
Herring Gull (3 in Jefferson, 1 of which flew into Grainger) 
Eurasian Collared-Dove (9 on Hill Drive (in New Market) 0.1 mile from Highway 
11-E)
Purple Finch (4 in Grainger)
Pine Siskin (in Grainger)

Don Miller
Greeneville, Greene Co., TN 
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[TN-Bird] Red-throated Loon, Western Grebe, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, etc. (Grainger, Hamblen, and Jefferson Co., TN)

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