[TN-Bird] A couple areas to view birds

From: queen mab <queenmab001@xxxxxxxxx>
To: "tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sun, 31 Mar 2013 01:05:34 -0700 (PDT)
I just wanted to note several inconpicuous places for birding. Prior to my 
recent avian awakening, I usually drove past these areas for many years with 
eyes wide shut. However, in the recesses of my memory, I can remember waterfowl 
being present at these locations. 
 
The first area is a cow pond. When exiting 840 onto the Nashville ramp to I-24 
west, a mile or two to the very right one will see the pond which is close to 
the highway. Waterfowl are not seen on a daily basis nor during the day. They 
are usually seen during dusk. This pond is a resbite area--birds will only stay 
for a day. This past evening the pond was home to one bufflehead and several 
coot. Last month during a cold snap, I viewed what looked like a large white 
goose and several duck species. However, I could not stop for several 
reasons--one of which was traffic. It would take a quick right swerve onto the 
highway's shoulder if one wanted to view a bird. Traffic can be dangerous at 
times if someone is riding your vehicles' bumper. 
 
Another area of note is the Franklin ramp entering 840 from I-24 east. When it 
rains, water collects and stays quite a while in low lying areas. Many ducks 
have been seen here. Perhaps it may be good for shorebirds as well when the 
water recedes. A driver does have to be careful because this ramp can be 
tricky--it is a ramp that leads to another ramp prior to entering 840. Halfway 
between this exit and the Veteran's Hwy ramp, there appears to be a high 
embankment to the right. If one is more observement, the top of the embankment 
exposes the surface of what appears to be a large manmande lake where waterfowl 
have been noted here as well.
 
All these places have shoulders where one can park their car. Safety is a 
concern though.
 
For the birder who inquired if I have espied shore birds when turning right 
instead of left off of Veteran's Hwy, the answer is "no." However, at the end 
of the highway is a low-lying pond hidden within the trees. I have seen several 
ducks in this area, but best time for viewing is the afternoon. One can not ID 
birds when the bright light of sunrise hits the water. 
 
Marnie Mitchell
Rutherford County
[TN-Bird] A couple areas to view birds

Other related posts:
