Hugh Barger and I left Birchwood (Hamilton County) about 7:25 AM this morning
for a birding trip to Yuchi Refuge (Rhea County). Highlights were:
· Cliff swallows – an estimated 200 in Meigs Co.near the Highway 60
bridge.· Purple martins – in a colony in Meigs Co. nearthe Hwy
60-Shadden Rd. junction· Osprey – Highway 302 (Rhea Co.)· Cattle
egrets – about 25 in a mowed field offHighway 302 (Rhea Co.)· Bald eagle
– with a fish in its talons overYuchi Refuge (Rhea Co.)· Great egret –
Yuchi Refuge· Wild turkeys – 2 at Yuchi Refuge · Wood ducks – 2
at Yuchi Refuge· Yellow-billed cuckoos – 2 at Yuchi Refuge·
Eastern wood pewee – at Yuchi Refuge
· Wood thrushes – 2 or more at Yuchi Refuge· Gray catbirds – 2
at Yuchi Refuge· Prothonotary warblers – 2 or, more likely, 3 seenat
Yuchi Refuge · Common yellowthroats – a few seen, several more heard at
YuchiRefuge · Prairie warbler – 1 seen, 2 or more others heardat Yuchi
Refuge
A total of 45 species were seen on the trip.
Charles MurrayBirchwood, TN