[TN-Bird] Rock Wren - Little Gulls in North Mississippi

Oct. 22, 2006
Enid and Sardis Lakes,
Yalobusha, Panola Counties 
Just south of Memphis in
Mississippi
 
Well, TLBA's first trip birding away from Memphis in five months paid off.  I 
just had to get away and see Gene and Shannon Knight's wren at Enid and I 
must  say it is well mannered. I arrived a 9 AM,  parked to the right of the  
point pavilion just past the headquarters at Cossar State Park. In less than 30 
 
seconds the bird popped up at the base of the smallest Sweet Gum  Tree at  the 
edge of the bank, not 15 feet away. It perched up on a rock long enough  for 
an ID and went back down. I circled down to the base of the rocks and found  
the bird feeding in and out right in front of me. I went to the truck for my  
camera and eased back into position and the bird popped out no more than 15  
feet away, gave me the once over and after posing went back to feeding.  Photos 
posted at:
 
_http://www.pbase.com/ol_coot/gallery/msrockwren_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/ol_coot/gallery/msrockwren) 
 
Ken Hackman, from Jackson, MS and Jason, one of his students, appeared  right 
above the bird and they too circled around for good looks at this little  
gem. Moving slowly and watching is all that is necessary to view this bird  
well.
 
We left Enid, happy to say the least, and went north to Sardis  Lake.  When 
we first got there, the lake was practically bare only a  few DC Cormorants and 
a couple of pods of ducks. Moving to the north end of the  dam we set up and 
were scanning,  when a swirling mass of 200+  Bonaparte's Gulls dropped out of 
the sky. After that 5 Common Loons steamed into  view and then 150 or so 
Forster's Terns dropped in. May have been  other tern species in the mix but 
they 
were distant and spinning around,  diving and feeding. It was like someone had 
suddenly turned a spigot on full  blast.
 
While scanning this mixed flock, flashing black underwings stood  out like a 
coal chunk in a snow bank.  An adult Little Gull with  rounded wingtips was 
dancing in the flashing white of Ring-billed, Bonaparte's  Gulls and Forster's 
Terns.  Within minutes, we had brief looks also  of a first year Little Gull!!  
Memories of the Reelfoot adventure  last year in TN. Waterfowl wise, we ended 
up with only; Pied- billed  Grebes, Green-winged Teal, Shovelers, Gadwall, 
Pintail, Mallard and Lesser  Scaup. Let the NORTH WINDS blow..................
 
Good Birding !!!
Jeff R. Wilson / TLBA
6298  Memphis-Arlington Road
Bartlett, TN 38135


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