[TN-Bird] Whistling Ducks and Wind Birds - Ensley

July 20-21, 2008
Ensley Bottoms
Shelby Co, TN
 
The female Black-bellied Whistling Duck was seen Sunday afternoon by David  
Kirschke and I, as she was brooding her young and both adults  were seen on 
Monday with young in tow. Everything looks good for now but  I'm trying to stay 
as far away as possible so as not to move the family. Photos,  at a distance 
with the heat waves, are impossible at this time.
 
David and I had great, up close looks at male and female Western  Sandpipers 
that have moved in the past few days.  Sunday afternoon, I  counted 27 
Westerns among the large numbers of Least, Semipalmated and Pectoral  
Sandpipers.  We 
also had a great diversity of Semipalmated Sandpiper  plumage colors, 
everything from pale to dark. A few even had scattered  replaced basic feathers 
on 
their mantles. Unlike, the Westerns which have  dropped most of their mantle 
and 
scaps feathering, the Semi's will put off  molting till on their wintering 
grounds outside the U.S. One Western had  replaced nearly 80% of its feathers 
and looked like a gray ghost, while a pale  gray Semi was still in full 
alternate. Each passing day brings new Wind Bird  wonders.
 
Mississippi Kites on Sunday at Ensley, appeared to be few in number until  
you scanned high in the sky where you found many hiding and up  there the big 
swirling flocks of hundreds of Chimney Swifts go undetected.  Painted Buntings 
are still singing but harder to see.
 
In Frayser, the hybrid female and the Western Kingbird male, were busy  
feeding 3 fledged youngsters Sunday morning.
 
Good Birding  !!!
Jeff R. Wilson / TLBA
6300 Memphis-Arlington Road
Bartlett, TN  38135
http://www.pbase.com/ol_coot/
What is this feathered thing that  lifts my heart to the heavens.



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