[TN-Bird] Re: Best waterfowl birding around Knoxville?
- From: kde@xxxxxxx
- To: larkspur20@xxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2009 22:46:52 -0500 (EST)
Anne,
Douglas and Cherokee Lakes are often good for waterfowl but
you certainly won't be close enough for photographs. Finding
ducks in Knoxville can be quite a challenge in itself... add
in having them close enough to photograph... tough indeed.
Here are some thoughts...
Mossy Creek WVA in Jefferson City. From Knoxville, take Hwy 11-E
east to Jefferson City. Take Old AJ Hwy at the first traffic light
in Jefferson City (at the hospital). Then turn left at the second
traffic light on this road and follow it down the hill and across
the railroad tracks to where it tees into Cherokee Dr. Turn left
onto Cherokee Dr and the continue a few blocks until you see the
parking area on your right. There are often a few dabblers
visible from the observation towers... mostly Mallards but often
GW Teal, Gadwall, Wigeon, Wood Duck and even Pintail.
Eagle Bend Fish Hatchery (note it is only open weekdays though)
Take I-75 north to exit 122 then west on Hwy 61. The fish hatchery
is on your left just after you cross the river bridge (a few miles
from the exit). There are often a few dabblers scattered around
the ponds and divers on the upper pond. You can drive around and
use your car as a blind.
Cove Lake State Park. Take I-75 north to exit 134. The park is
on the east side of the interstate right at the exit. There are
often several ducks here but they can be fairly distant... go
early to have the light at your back.
While in the area, there has been a Black Scoter and a few other
ducks hanging around the wier dam on the Clinch River below Norris
Dam. You can probably get close enough for some decent photos
with enough lens. Again, go early to have the light at your back.
Otherwise, it can be hit or miss at some of the small ponds or
lake access points around town. Some areas to try within Knoxville
are Pellissippi State campus, Baum Lake, Concord Cove Park, and
Bluegrass Lake. Further out, you can try the pond at Alcoa
High School (see a recent post), Louisville Pt Park (good birds
but most too distant for photos), and the Lackey Creek area
along Louisville Rd. Kyker Bottoms will have some good birds
but access is limited to the observation towers which puts the
birds rather distant. You are mostly going to get Mallards,
Canada Geese, and Muscovy at these places but will occassionally
get lucky.
Your best bet is to go to the TOS Winter Meeting at Wheeler NWR
in northern Alabama.
Dean Edwards
Knoxville, TN
On Sun, 11 Jan 2009, larkspur20@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
> Dear birding enthusiasts and experts,
> If the weather breaks tomorrow afternoon, I would like to photograph some
> waterfowl in the Knoxville area. I am even willing to drive to Douglas Lake
> to capture something more exotic than Mallards and Canada Geese. Where are
> my best chances of seeing a lot of birds closer to the shoreline?
>
> Thanks in advance!
>
> Anne Cracraft
> Knox County
> Knoxville, TN
>
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