[Bristol-Birds] Bald Eagle / raft of waterfowl
- From: Wallace Coffey <jwcoffey@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: 1-A Bristol-Birds <bristol-birds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 17 Nov 2002 14:27:48 -0400
Musick's Campground
Weir Dam
Middlebrook Lake
My wife, Carolyn, and I went out a few hours this morning
and enjoyed a beautiful adult Bald Eagle and a raft of
nearly 300 water birds.
The eagle was perched in a tree at the South Holston
Weir Dam just up the left shore from the parking lot. It
was a wonderful view. I set my scope up and could almost
fill the view.
Many weir visitors stood in line at my scope to look at it.
Not one had ever seen a Bald Eagle in the wild. Adults and
children would go to the end of the line and wait their turn
over and over to look at this great national emblem. Visitors
from Lauray, Va. were thrilled. A family which had just moved
here 18 months ago from Germany could not believe their
eyes.
There was a giant, beautiful, Bald Eagle right there.
People told others who came from the restrooms
and from cars arriving in the parking lot.
It was exciting and fun. Each person had the opportunity to
look a the big eagle until they had seen all they wanted. They
soaked it up. Then they stood and talked about it.
Then Carolyn and I watched the eagle for as long as we wanted.
We watched it search the waters below and watch the ducks.
Looking at its large yellow bill and deep eyes were enjoyable.
Two fishermen were not far away in a boat. They must have
really enjoyed having the eagle so near and perched so low.
Finally, we gave it up. We drove up the river to look for other
birds. We returned and went to lunch. It was strange looking
back and seeing the Bald Eagle still perched there on the limb
above the river. I've never had such a long and leisurely view
of an adult at such close range around this region.
Of note were three Hooded Mergansers with the usual small
numbers of wigeon and Bufflehead at the Weir.
At Musick's Campground a raft of about 300 birds was resting
just offshore in Washington County, Va : Yes! RED-NECKED
GREBE was still there. American Wigeon 25, Gadwall 4,
Bufflehead 3, Eared Grebe 1, Pied-billed Grebe 2, Ring-billed
Gull 14, Herring Gull 2, Ring-necked Duck 260. Had DUNLIN 3
in Sullivan County near the campground.
We found almost nothing at Middlebrook Lake in Bristol other
than the Double-crested Cormorants which have been there
for a couple of weeks or more.
Let's go birding....
Wallace Coffey
Bristol
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