[TN-Bird] Elizabethton Fall Count
- From: "Richard Knight" <rknight8@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "bristol-birds" <bristol-birds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "tn-bird" <tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 5 Oct 2012 14:09:10 -0400
The Elizabethton Fall Count was held on Saturday, 29 Sep 2012. This count
has been held annually since at least 1970; any earlier data has apparently
been lost.
27 observers in 7 parties covered Carter Co and parts of adjacent Johnson,
Sullivan, Unicoi, & Washington Cos.
Weather conditions were less than perfect. Rain fell for much of the day in
the mountains, although considerably less so in the western valley portion
of the count area. One observer described it as the rainiest count in which
he had ever participated. The higher mountains were "socked in" all day.
A total of 131 species were tallied on the count. This is above the average
of 124 species over the last 30 years, but below the all-time high of 137
species
found in 1993.
Neotropical migrants, especially warblers, were in low numbers.
Highlights (all comments pertain to previous Fall Counts here) - -
Six species were found in record high numbers: Wild Turkey - 156,
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 69, E. Phoebe - 75, Tree Swallow - 557,
E. Bluebird - 266, and N. Mockingbird - 192.
Other notable finds:
Wood Duck - 110, the most since 1992
Ring-nk. Duck - 1
Ruffed Grouse - 2
Black-cr. Night-Heron - 6
Osprey - 9
Bald Eagle - 2
N. Harrier - 1
Peregrine Falcon - 1, found 11 of past 16 years
Virginia Rail - 1
Black-bellied Plover 2, (1 each at Musick's & Paddle Cr.), 1st time on count
Caspian Tern - 4
Com. Tern - 2
Eur. Collared-Dove - 2
Black-billed Cuckoo - 1, only 2nd ever on Fall Count
N. Saw-whet Owl - 2, found 7 of last 11 years
Red-headed Woodpecker - 2
Loggerhead Shrike - 2, only found 7 of last 20 years, last in 2005
Philadelphia Vireo - 2
Com. Raven - 13
Red-br. Nuthatch - 2
Sedge Wren - 1
Marsh Wren - 2
Wood Thrush - 1, fewest since 1974
warblers - 18 species
Tenn. Warbler - 107, only numerous warbler
Nashville Warbler - 1
Cerulean Warbler - 1
Canada Warbler - 2
Lincoln's Sparrow - 1
White-cr. Sparrow - 1, early
Summer Tanager - 1
Rose-br. Grosbeak - 80
Bobolink - 8
Pine Siskin - 4
Notable misses included:
N. Bobwhite - only 4 singles in last 20 years, last in 2001
Great Egret
Com. Nighthawk
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
several warblers: Ovenbird, N. Waterthrush, Parula, Yellow-throated.
Blue Grosbeak
Thanks to all participants, especially those who slugged it out through
the "mountain monsoon".
-----------------------------------------------
Rick Knight
Johnson City, TN
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