Consider the following:
"Spring" arrival dates for Tree Swallows have been earlier and earlier over the
last 2 decades.
Robinson (1990) cites just TWO Feb dates for the whole state. Since then there
have been literally
hundreds of Feb sightings in the state, including flocks of over 100 birds.
There have been no Tree Swallow sightings in the state since 11 Nov 2017,
according to eBird.
So apparently there were none wintering in the state.
The sighting on 26 Jan 2018 is just a week earlier than the previous early
arrival date, so that
tells me that these 2 birds were arrivals, whether you want to call that
"spring" or not.
Regardless, they are certainly FOS, as claimed.
Rick Knight
Johnson City, TN
----- Original Message -----
From: angst
To: rknight8@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cc: Jean Alexander; tn-bird
Sent: 1/27/2018 1:23:40 PM
Subject: [TN-Bird] Re: ***UNCHECKED*** RE: FOS Tree Swallows at Eagle Bend Fish
Hatchery, Anderson County, TN
I guess it depends on when you draw the line as there are a number of Dec and
Jan records of Tree Swallow in TN including a couple times on the Knoxville
CBC... most recently on the 115th CBC on 3 Jan 2015 with a single bird found by
Ed LeGrand on Melton Hill Lake at Haw Ridge along Knox/Anderson Co line.
Dean Edwards
Knoxville TN
Sent from my iPhone
On Jan 26, 2018, at 9:22 PM, Richard Knight <rknight8@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Jean,
Wow, that's early. Indeed, it sets a new early arrival date in the state.
The previous early date was Feb 2.
Rick Knight
Johnson City, TN
----- Original Message -----
From: Jean Alexander
To: tn-bird
Sent: 1/26/2018 7:50:43 PM
Subject: [TN-Bird] FOS Tree Swallows at Eagle Bend Fish Hatchery, Anderson
County, TN
Today, January 26, we saw two Tree Swallows over the muddy pond in the back
area of Eagle Bend Fish Hatchery. This is the earliest we have ever seen them
in this part of Tennessee. The only waterfowl seen were, Mallard, Gadwall and
Canada Goose.
Jean Alexander & David Johnson
Maryville, TN
