[TN-Bird] Surf Scoter, Bald Eagles, Knoxville TOS Field Trip on Nov. 29

Highlights of the Nov. 29, 2008 Knoxville TOS field trip along Ft. 
Loudoun Lake in Blount, Loudon and Knox Counties included an adult male 
Surf Scoter and 2 adult Bald Eagles.

Unfortunately, I (Marcia Davis) was the only one of the 8 birders on the 
trip to see the Surf Scoter. It was spotted from Louisville Point Park 
in Blount County. I was lucky enough to have just focused the spotting 
scope on a large, dark, low- floating duck way out in the lake when the 
duck took flight. I was able to pan with the scope and follow the duck 
as it flew down river. When I looked up to try to show the others the 
location of the bird, I lost it from view near Mariner's Pointe 
subdivision in Knox County. The velvety black scoter with a white patch 
on the back of the neck and large, orange-red multicolored bill was 
clearly visible in the scope as it flew several hundred yards. We could 
not relocate the bird. After studying a map, I think the scoter was 
probably in Knox County even though I viewed it from Blount County.

Tony King led us to the eagles' nest below Ft. Loudoun Dam in Lenoir 
City. Two adult Bald Eagles perched near the nest. We all enjoyed great 
views through the scopes. After the eagles we all enjoyed a late lunch 
and an escape from the rain.

We birded George's Creek, Louisville Point Park, Polland Creek, Phelps 
Dairy Pond, Scenic Point, Ish Creek (all in Blount County) Tellico Boat 
Launch, Ft. Loudoun Dam, Lenoir City eagles' nest (all in Loudon County) 
and Concord Park boat launch in Knox County.

The 45 species recorded on the trip are:

Canada Goose
Mallard
Ring-necked Duck - 2 - Phelps Dairy Pond
Surf Scoter - 1 adult male - Louisville Point Park
Common Loon - 1 - Louisville Point Park
Pied-billed Grebe - several dozen
Horned Grebe - about half a dozen or more
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret -1- intersection of Louisville and Topside Roads in Blount 
County
Black-crowned Night Heron - 3 at Polland Creek
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle - 2 adults below Ft. Loudoun Dam in Lenoir City
Sharp-shinned Hawk-1
Red-tailed Hawk - 3
American Kestrel - 1
American Coot
Killdeer
Bonaparte's Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
N. Flicker
Blue Jay
American Crow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Brown Creeper
Carolina Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Eastern Bluebird
American Robin
N. Mockingbird
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Field Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
American Goldfinch

Marcia Davis
Knoxville, TN








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