[TN-Bird] Reelfoot Lake CBC highlights and summary
- From: Mark Greene <greenesnake@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 20 Dec 2010 14:54:42 -0800 (PST)
The 67th Reelfoot Lake Christmas Bird Count was held on Saturday, December
18th.
Temps were on the chilly side with a low of 22 and a high of 38. Skies were
clear with a light wind of 5-7 mph from the north. 15 participants in 6 parties
tallied 116 species, slightly above the 10 year average of 115 species and way
above the overall average of 91 species.
The lake itself was 2/3 to 3/4 frozen and most all of the water in the fields
and sloughs was frozen so available open water (or lack thereof) definitely had
an impact on the count numbers. Highlights included:
Ross's Goose - 18 were seen in the big flocks of Snow Geese, 11th count record
Black Scoter - 1, new species for the count!
Common Merganser - 5, first count record since 2002
Northern Bobwhite - 7
American White Pelican - 4, 13th count record
Great Egret -1, 5th count record and only the 2nd record since 1971
Merlin - 1, 10th count record
Sandhill Crane - 2, 3rd count record
Barn Owl - 1, 9th count record
Short-eared Owl - 13, new high count (previous high was 8 in 2000)
Loggerhead Shrike - 18, highest count since 2006
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 1
House Wren - 1
Marsh Wren - 2
Orange-crowned Warbler - 1, 13th count record
Pine Warbler - 10, new high count (previous high count was 5 in 2006)
Palm Warbler - 1, 6th count record
American Tree Sparrow - 2
Chipping Sparrow - 1
Vesper Sparrow - 1, 14th count record
LeConte's Sparrow - 18, new high count (previous high was 12 in 2000)
Lapland Longspur - 52, lowest number since 1996
Western Meadowlark - 6, 12th count record
Brewer's Blackbird - 7
Purple Finch - 9
Notable misses included: Cackling Goose, Redhead, Greater Scaup (1st time
missed
since 1992), Red-breasted Merganser, Wild Turkey, Common Loon, Least Sandpiper,
and Fish Crow. The majority of these can be attributed to the lack of open
water.
Species, in addition to those listed above, found in lower numbers than usual
included:
Lesser Scaup - 13, lowest number since 1987
Double-crested Cormorant - 4, lowest number since 1992
Killdeer - 18, lowest number since 1989
Horned Lark - 264, lowest number since 1997
Species, in addition to those listed above, found in higher numbers than usual
included:
Northern Harrier - 34, new high count (previous high was 30 in 2000)
Rock Pigeon - 436, new high count (previous high was 161 in 2005)
Eurasian Collared-Dove - 110, new high count (previous high was 29 in 2006)
Eastern Phoebe - 16, ties previous high count set in 2006
Hermit Thrush - 44, 2nd highest count (previous high was 54 in 1975)
Savannah Sparrow - 522, new high count (previous high was 294 in 2000)
Count Summary:
Start and End Times : 6:30am to 5:30pm
Count Name: Reelfoot Lake
Count Code: TNRL
Count Compiler: Mark Greene
Count Date: December 18, 2010
Number of Party Hours: 62.0
Species reported on count date: 116
Observers in field: 16 observers in 6 parties
Part Hours and distance:
By Foot: 21.5 hours, Distance: 10 miles
By Car: 40.5 hours, Distance: 453 miles
Owling: 2 hours, Distance: 28 miles
Total Party: 64 hours, Distance: 481 miles
Weather:
Temperature: 22 degrees F to 38 degrees F
Wind: North, 5-7 mph
Still Water: Mostly Frozen
Moving Water: Open
Cloud Cover: AM & PM were clear
No precipitation.
Special Aspects for Count Circle: This year's count was dedicated to the memory
of Ken Leggett, a long time participant, who passed away earlier this year.
Checklist:
Greater White-fronted Goose: 2,651
Snow Goose: 10,256
Ross's Goose: 18
Canada Goose: 462
Wood Duck: 15
Gadwall: 738
American Wigeon: 45
American Black Duck: 27
Mallard: 100,950
Northern Shoveler: 44
Northern Pintail: 33
American Green-winged Teal: 89
Canvasback: 4
Ring-necked Duck: 129
Lesser Scaup: 13
Black Scoter: 1
Bufflehead: 249
Common Goldeneye: 20
Hooded Merganser: 337
Common Merganser: 5
Ruddy Duck: 1487
Wild Turkey: count week
Northern Bobwhite: 7
Pied-billed Grebe: 66
Horned Grebe: 2
American White Pelican: 4
Double-crested Cormorant: 4
Great Blue Heron: 67
Great Egret: 1
Black Vulture: 7
Turkey Vulture: 4
Bald Eagle: 109 (63 adults & 46 immatures)
Northern Harrier: 34
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 4
Cooper's Hawk: 2
Red-shouldered Hawk: 16
Red-tailed Hawk: 50
American Kestrel: 30
Merlin: 1
American Coot: 161
Sandhill Crane: 2
Killdeer: 18
Wilson's Snipe: 3
American Woodcock: 2
Bonaparte's Gull: 27
Ring-billed Gull: 23,065
Herring Gull: 1
Rock Pigeon: 436
Eurasian Collared-Dove: 110
Mourning Dove: 385
Barn Owl: 1
Eastern Screech-Owl: 1
Great Horned Owl: 7
Barred Owl: 24
Short-eared Owl: 13
Belted Kingfisher: 3
Red-headed Woodpecker: 7
Red-bellied Woodpecker: 66
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: 21
Downy Woodpecker: 52
Hairy Woodpecker: 9
Northern (Yellow-shafted) Flicker: 107
Pileated Woodpecker: 27
Eastern Phoebe: 16
Loggerhead Shrike: 18
Blue Jay: 67
American Crow: 140
Horned Lark: 264
Carolina Chickadee: 70
Tufted Titmouse: 70
Red-breasted Nuthatch: 1
White-breasted Nuthatch: 12
Brown Creeper: 16
Carolina Wren: 94
Winter Wren: 14
House Wren: 1
Marsh Wren: 2
Golden-crowned Kinglet: 48
Ruby-crowned Kinglet: 42
Eastern Bluebird: 66
Hermit Thrush: 44
American Robin: 126
Northern Mockingbird: 29
Brown thrasher: 23
European Starling: 12,260
American Pipit: 52
Cedar Waxwing: 69
Orange-crowned Warbler: 1
Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warbler: 284
Pine Warbler: 10
Palm Warbler: 1
Eastern Towhee: 14
American Tree Sparrow: 2
Chipping Sparrow: 1
Field Sparrow: 56
Vesper Sparrow: 1
Savannah Sparrow: 522
LeConte's Sparrow: 18
Fox Sparrow: 53
Song Sparrow: 167
Swamp Sparrow: 280
White-throated Sparrow: 425
White-crowned Sparrow: 45
Dark-eyed (Slate-colored) Junco: 115
Lapland Longspur: 56
Northern Cardinal: 177
Red-winged Blackbird: 7,896
Eastern Meadowlark: 120
Western Meadowlark: 6
Rusty Blackbird: 17
Brewer's Blackbird: 7
Common Grackle: 3,505
Brown-headed Cowbird: 1,550
Purple Finch: 9
House Finch: 17
American Goldfinch: 62
House Sparrow: 106
Participants were: Dennis Davin, Jerry Drewry, Bob Foehring, Mark Greene, Gail
King, David Kirshke, Brainard Palmer-Ball, Chris Sloan, Scott Somershoe, Joe
Stone, Sabin Thompson, Donna Ward, Melinda Welton, Allan Whited, and Jeff
Wilson.
Thanks to all who participated!
Good birding,
Mark Greene
Trenton, TN
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