CAMPBELL AND ANDERSON COUNTIES / TN North of Knoxville I managed to get in some "low impact" birding (from the jeep and short walks) this week. Monday , March 3, 2003 DOAKS CREEK TVA area at Well Springs in the NE end of Campbell County . The lake levels are rising bringing enough water into the small pond/cove area in to host a few nice ducks with very nice close up views- NORTHERN PINTAIL 4 males a a female along with AMERICAN WIGEON 2 GREEN -WINGED TEAL 3 WOOD DUCKS 3 and a large group of Canada Geese and Mallards which are not usually here at all. I drove around the immediate area quite awhile but was unable to find the Shrike I found a few weeks ago. COVE LAKE STATE PARK Not much activity this week so far, other than a nice group of Ring-Billed Gulls 40-50 as well as the first COMMON GRACKLE for Spring. No Swallows here yet. A few Gadwall remain along with Wood Ducks. 2 BLUE MORPH SNOW GEESE remain. Very quiet, but this changes daily. Wednesday 3-5-03 EAGLE BEND FISH HATCHERY Clinton, TN Anderson County In intermittent morning rain I observed several nice birds around the fish ponds. There was a LEAST SANDPIPER, one lonely AMERICAN PIPIT and 4 WILSON'S SNIPE. Many TREE SWALLOWS now, hard to count but at least 27. Ducks were few, but nice close up views of LESSER SCAUP and RING-NECKED DUCK. A TREE SWALLOW was already staking out a nesting box. I took some time to photograph the GREAT BLUE HERONS nesting, and observed some interesting courting behavior. Even though the nests appear finished, more building material (sticks) were being brought in by the males and offered to the females. Neat to watch. There are a couple new nests from last year further away from the main group. Jacksboro/ Home Feeder watch This week I have seen several CHIPPING SPARROWS coming to the feeder as well as Field Sparrows which have been present all winter and are starting to sing. A Pine Warbler was on the suet, despite the Pines in the area all being dead. First one all winter. Good Spring birding to all, Nell Moore Caryville, TN N. of Knoxville =================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBER===================== The TN-Bird Net requires you to sign your messages with first and last name, city (town) and state abbreviation. ----------------------------------------------------- To post to this mailing list, simply send email to: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx ----------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send email to: tn-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Topographical Maps located at http://topozone.com/find.asp * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Visit the Tennessee Ornithological Society web site at http://www.tnbirds.org * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * TN-Bird Net Owner: Wallace Coffey, Bristol, TN jwcoffey@xxxxxxxxxx (423) 764-3958 =========================================================