[va-bird] Trip to Tennessee

Greetings to all:

I had to go to Sevierville TN for all most a week for work and got in a little 
birding each morning and on the way to the store from the motel.

During the trip, I saw or heard a total of 51 species.
The best of all was just behind the store location where a field next to the 
French Broad River and found Tree Swallows, Barn Swallows, NRW Swallows, Bank 
Swallows, Purple Martins and Chimney Swifts.  Sadly all of this land is up for 
sale and will soon be developed.

I only had my old Eastern Peterson's Field Guide which showed that Tree 
Swallows did not nest in TN.  It has now expanded its range according to the 
newest Peterson's to cover all of TN.  I saw one pair nesting just a few feet 
from a restaurant.

Also observed a Starling banging a small live mouse up against the sidewalk.  
Every now and then the mouse would make a run for it only to be captured by the 
Starling again.  A few times the Starling would take the mouse in the grass and 
then return to the sidewalk to work on it again.

After about 10 minutes the Starling grabbed the still live mouse and flew up 
into a small bush where I lost sight of it.

On Tuesday morning I was lucky enough to happen on a Gray Fox as it was hunting 
just before dawn.

Jeff Blalock
South Boston, VA
(434) 572-8071
jcbabirder@xxxxxxxxxxxxx


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