[Bristol-Birds] South Holston Lake level playing catch up but migrants are coming in.
- From: "Wallace Coffey" <jwcoffey@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "Bristol-birds" <bristol-birds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 25 Aug 2009 00:16:12 -0400
In good years the TVA summer pool drawdown at South Holston
lake has reached an optimal peak of 1721 to 1722 feet on or
about August 10. This is well timed for shorebird migration here at
the foot of Holston Mountain, the western most mountain in the
Unaka chain of the Blue Ridge.
The elevation Monday is at 1725 feet. We are tracking a little
behind but exposed mudflats and sandbars are starting to be
exposed and cooler weather is bringing migrants in. In the graph
below the dark blue line indicates the optimal high water level
TVA is willing to seek. The red line indicates the actual levels
by dates and months for 2009. The green line indicates a
projected operation. The black line indicates last summer's
levels during the significant drought. The shaded areas is the
range TVA would prefer to operate within at any given date.
It appear that
we have an
approximate
30 to 45-day
window which
best benefits
shorebird and
wading bird
migration.
This will likely
be good until
the last of
September
or mid-October
if not longer.
At elevations
below 1723 the Spring Creek Mudflats along Va. Rt. 75 become
well exposed as do other smaller areas in the Virginia portion
of the impoundment. At the current 1725 feet the Spring Creek
Mudflats are starting to be exposed enough to stop migrants.
The "Musick's Campground" vicinity (Spring Creek Embayment)
is at theconfluence of Spring Creek with the more narrow-channel
of the South Holston Reservoir along the Virginia-Tennessee line.
It provide some of the most critical and useful shorebird and wading
bird habitat in the Upper Holston Projects.
The Spring Creek Embayment has a great history of hosting the
Southeastern United States' largest migratory and wintering
population of Eared Grebes. Nearly two dozen individuals have
been present there in a single count in past years.
Musick's Campground is the most heavily birded site for waterbirds
between Rankin Bottom and the New River. It may well be the most
frequently birded site for waterbirds in the entire western Virginia
area of the Ridge and Valley.
The location has attracted nationwide interest since it was a lead
article on thefront page of "Winging It " published by the American
Birding Association.
This is a great time to be a birder. Musick's Campground is a
wonderful place to be birding.
Let's go birding....
Wallace Coffey
Bristol, TN
Other related posts:
- » [Bristol-Birds] South Holston Lake level playing catch up but migrants are coming in. - Wallace Coffey
