[TN-Bird] River Raptors

Sept. 24, 2006
Mississippi River
Shelby Co, TN
 
After spending time at the pits on Sunday morning, I sat for a couple  of 
hours scanning the blue skies for raptors from Mud Island, watching for  
something migrating after the front passage. Early that morning on a quick stop 
 to 
view Dacus Bar, I had discovered an adult Peregrine feasting on an  unlucky 
pigeon. I had another adult Peregrine hunting at the pits later and  then an 
immature soaring over the expressway at Martin Luther King Park. This  all 
added to 
my decision to watch the skies over the river.
 
The timing was all wrong but I had good luck and wonder just what was going  
over earlier in the day. From 11 AM till 1:15, I recorded the following: Two  
Bald Eagles gliding south about 15 minutes apart, one adult and one second 
year  bird. A total of 8 Broad-winged Hawks, a couple of pairs but the rest 
traveling  solo. Two pairs of Red-shouldered,  5 Red-tailed, 1 high flying 
Harrier  
female (they are always a good bet to travel after a storm), 2 Osprey, 4  
Cooper's and a single Sharpie quickly past on swift winds from  the 
north-northwest. I had a total of 9 Kestrels on the day but only two  were seen 
on the 
river, the rest were remnants of two family groups raised  around Ensley. Ten 
species of raptors is not to shabby for mid-day here in  Memphis.
 
I would have expected to see more movement on the river early on Saturday  
and Sunday but just a smattering of Great Blues and Great Egrets and a few  
Killdeer were to be had. The Peregrine could have been a big factor in having  
fewer small birds sticking around. There were a few groups of DC Cormorants  
fishing the area between Dacus and the upper Loosahatchie Bar and only one 
short  
string was seen flying high and to the south. Only two small groups of  
shorebirds, mixed Least and Pectorals, were seen hurrying south, skimming the  
river. An adult Caspian Tern with a begging immature in tow were present  both 
Saturday and Sunday with a single unexpected Least Tern, all were  welcomed 
additions to the short list.  
Good Birding  !!!

Jeff R. Wilson / TLBA
6298 Memphis-Arlington Road
Bartlett, TN  38135



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