[Bristol-Birds] Scoter Hunters (Watchers)
- From: Robert Biller <merlin42@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: bristol-birds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx, tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 15 Oct 2006 13:28:30 -0400
Reports of a possible Harlequin duck brought out six bird hunters (watchers) to
East Tennessee's South Holston Lake in the county of Sullivan. The possible
Harlequin was spotted at Musick's Campground but was seen at a great distance
and not positively IDed. After Don Holt, Dianne Draper, Rick Knight, Wallace
Coffey, Larry McDaniel, and Rob Biller converged at Musick's Campground, Rob
and Don proceeded over to Painted Creek Boat Ramp to check that part of the
lake because that was the direction the duck was last seen heading toward from
Musicks. Don and Rob spotted an odd duck that they couldn't get a handle on
and decided to walk out the newly dried sandbar created at the lake is being
drawn down. When the two had walked out closer they set back up the telescope
and relocated the bird. After finding the bird with some Pied-billed Grebes
(about twice the size) they knew that they had a Scoter but because of the
sun's position in the sky (right in the path the two hunters [watchers] were
looking) they were not able to ID it down any further. The two re-positioned
their angle but before another good luck could be had, a boat came right across
where the grebes and duck was sending the Scoter airborne. The bird first flew
toward Observation Knob Recreational Area then banked back over top of the two
hunters (watchers). As they watched the bird fly out of sight toward Musick's
Campground, the two quickly grabbed their cell phones and relayed what was
coming their way to Dianne, Wallace, Larry, and Rick. The four hunters
(watchers) picked up the bird on the wing but it flew on past them and landed
behind Egret Island. Egret Island being part of the exposed lake bed just on
the north side of the look out point at Musick's (not where the 6 Great Egrets
were sitting, which was in between Musick's Campground and Painted Creek Boat
ramp in a cluster of small trees...). Before long the duck came out from
behind Egret Island and the four had IDed the duck as a Surf Scoter (first
year female, I believe which could account for why it looked like a Harlequin
Duck at an extreme distance.) This information was provided to the two hunters
(watchers) when they arrived back at Musick's and the two were also offered
great looks for their efforts.
Rob Biller
Elizabaethton, TN
*************************************************
BRISTOL BIRDS NET LIST
Bristol Birds Net Photo Gallery located at:
http://photos.yahoo.com/ph/jwcoffeyy/album?.dir=/efd5
Be sure and visit the Bristol Bird Club website at:
http://bristolbirdclub.org
This is a regional birding list sponsored by the
Bristol Bird Club to facilitate communications
between birders and bird clubs of Southwest Virginia
and Northeast Tennessee.
--------------------------------------------------
You are subscribed to Bristol-Birds.
To post to this mailing list, simply send an email
to: bristol-birds@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx To unsubscribe, send
an email to bristol-birds-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with
the one word 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field.
--------------------------------------------------
Wallace Coffey, Moderator
wallace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
(423)764-****
Other related posts:
