[tn-bird] Shorebirds on the Move

June 22, 2002
Ensley Bottoms
Shelby Co. TN

In between chasing Western Kingbirds and there young today, I managed a few 
trips over to the pits. I had 119 Black-necked Stilts as the high number for 
today counting young and old. I know I missed some of the young birds hiding 
in the grass. There were birds mating, building nests, brooding eggs and 
young and others just standing around doing nothing. killdeer and their young 
were heavy in the mix.

At 11 AM this morning, 5 Pectoral Sandpipers came winging in and went through 
the typical traveler's routine of circling again and again, casing the joint 
for a good place to land. After settling, two went to sleep, two went to 
preening and one just sat down. I knew they were not going to be there long 
and at 11:20 they called, picked up and left on the now famous heading of 
south-southeast. Late this afternoon I found another ragged bird, looking 
completely worn out but picking its way across the flat; it will be still 
there tomorrow.

Earlier in the morning, I had 3 Least Sandpipers come into TVA Lake but they 
circled, landed but started to feed and late this afternoon they had been 
joined by 2 others feeding in a different part of the ash flat. The "Best 
Shorebird of the Day" was a Short-billed Dowitcher, a full week earlier than 
my only other June record. The bird was found feeding in a small pocket of 
water surrounded by weeds. This brought back memories of the day Ben Coffey 
took me to the pits one hot summer long ago but still vivid in my mind. We 
found a Dowitcher in just such a setting and I had to go out into the weeds 
to flush the bird for Ben to hear. It also was a Short-billed and being close 
to my first Dowitcher and it being in almost full breeding plumage plunged me 
head long into this passion I have for shorebirds.

Any how, they are back and all is right with the world at this 
time.............. 

Good Birding!!!

Jeff R. Wilson
OL' COOT / TLBA
Bartlett Tenn.


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