[Bristol-Birds] Spotted Sandpiper at Kingsport
- From: "Rick Phillips" <sunfish0501@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <bristol-birds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 20 Jan 2006 12:32:25 -0500
Went out for a while this morning to see what was about. I really wanted to go
looking for some of the good stuff I've been reading about on this list, but
decided I would just look right around home (Kingsport) since the areas up
around Bristol and Elizabethton are pretty well covered. First place I stopped
after picking up my biscuit at Burger King was at Riverfront Seafood Rest.
along Netherland Inn Rd. The S. Fork Holston River at this location used to be
a fine spot to pick up some waterfowl. First thing I saw (would you believe
it) was a bunch of Canada Geese. No Ross, no Snow's, no Cackling...just plain
ole Canadas. But, there was some quick, rather jerky movement that caught my
eye along the shoreline of the river right in front of me. I looked down and
there was this porky little shorebird on the rocks in among a bunch of trash.
Before I looked too closely I took a moment out to try to dream it into being
something really wild like a Purple Sandpiper or something. When I actually
looked it was a very active little Spotted Sandpiper working around on the
rocks just like it was April or May or some warmer month. I can't quickly
locate my copy of Rick Knight's book but it looks like they are not too common
in winter according to Robinson's Checklist of the Birds of Tennessee. Anyway
I know it' something I don't usually see this time of year.
No good waterfowl here so I moved on down to Phipp's Bend in Hawkins Co. Had a
couple of Red-tailed Hawks along the way but not a single Kestrel. Had a
female Harrier and an Adult Red-shouldered Hawk both near the Tennessee
Technology Center at Phipp's Bend. Even though there were no hunting signs
posted in the wildlife viewing area at Phipp's Bend there were hunters,
gunshots, and a pack of dogs there so I didn't stick around too long.
Rick
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