[TN-Bird] north Blount County (incl heron nests)

From: Charlie <cmmbirds@xxxxxxxxx>
To: TN-Bird <TN-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, Michael Lee Bierly <mlbierly@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sat, 18 Mar 2006 16:32:49 -0800 (PST)
Hi folks,

I had an appointment halfway through Tracey's bird walk, so I decided
to get out early on my own instead.  I found a total of 54 species in
the northwest corner of Blount County in about 3 hours this morning. 
Highlights included:

OSPREY on a nest at Scenic Point and another flying at Lousiville
Point Park (I'm told that they are on the nest there, too, but didn't
see it myself).  The number of PIED-BILLED GREBES is down all around,
and only 4 were at Scenic Point - the lowest number I've seen there
since November.

There are now GREAT BLUE HERONS nesting in the pines at Louisville
Point Park (2 nests) and across the water from there, in Knox County
(at least 4 nests, but I saw about 25 birds circling at one point)  I
am not aware of previous nesting there.

I saw 11 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS from Jones Bend Road, on the way to
Penninsula Hospital.  Also 2 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS, 4 NORTHERN
SHOVELLERS, 7 BUFFLEHEADS, etc.

The muddy area off Miser Station Road boasted my first BLUE-WINGED
TEAL of the year, and I saw them in 3 other places today as well.

TREE SWALLOWS were over every body of water I glanced at.  They went
from nothing to all back in a hurry this year!

Phelps Pond had a smattering of GADWALL, BLUE-WINGED TEAL, NORTHERN
SHOVELLERS, and others.  After getting off to a late state, the
number of GREAT BLUE HERON nests seems to increase everytime I go
there.

When I came home (south Blount County) I was surprisingly greeted by
PINE SISKINS.  We almost never have them unless there is snow on the
ground.  Our WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW and several PURPLE FINCHES are
still here.

I believe my Blount County list is now 106 for 2006.

Charlie

*******************************************************************
Charlie Muise, Naturalist near
Great Smoky Mountains National Park

"To the dull mind all nature is leaden.  To the illuminated mind 
the whole world sparkles with light."  - Ralph Waldo Emerson

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around 
http://mail.yahoo.com 
=================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBER=====================

The TN-Bird Net requires you to sign your messages with
first and last name, city (town) and state abbreviation.
You are also required to list the count in which the birds
you report were seen.  The actual date of observation should
appear in the first paragraph.
_____________________________________________________________
To post to this mailing list, simply send email to:
tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
_____________________________________________________________ 
To unsubscribe, send email to:
tn-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field.
______________________________________________________________
  TN-Bird Net is owned by the Tennessee Ornithological Society 
       Neither the society(TOS) nor its moderator(s)
        endorse the views or opinions expressed
        by the members of this discussion group.
 
         Moderator: Wallace Coffey, Bristol, TN
                 wallace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

_____________________________________________________________
     Visit the Tennessee Ornithological Society
          web site at http://www.tnbirds.org
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Topographical Maps located at http://topozone.com/find.asp

_____________________________________________________________
[TN-Bird] north Blount County (incl heron nests)

Other related posts:
