Just a couple days after Dean Edward's Clay-colored Sparrow comes another Knox
County rarity -- an adult male BREWER'S BLACKBIRD feeding in a recently burned
field at Seven Islands State Birding Park (Monday, Oct. 10). I was completely
taken aback by it, and for a second thought it was just an odd-looking grackle.
But about ten minutes later it rose up and flew past me, helping to clinch the
ID. A very uncommon bird for East Tennessee, though I suspect, like the
Clay-colored Sparrow, that quite a few pass through the area unnoticed.
Had I not seen the blackbird, the MERLIN a few minutes later would have been
the top highlight. It appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, and scattered all the
sparrows I was so patiently trying to wade through for rarities. Then it landed
in the middle of the charred field and just stood there, as if gloating that it
had inconvenienced me. Quite an interesting morning!
Other notable sightings include first of the season WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS and
a GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, and two adult BALD EAGLES flying side by side.
For details about the blackbird see my eBird checklist at:
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S31980843
Jay Sturner
Knoxville
