Saturday, September 24, 2016; Knox County:
The "Fall Migration Kick-Off Birding Hike" at Seven Islands State Birding Park
this morning was a bit below average for actual migrants, but there were, as
always, a few highlights. These include a SEDGE WREN at Wayne's Pond, a small
flock of BOBOLINKS in the tall grasses just west of Kelly Lane Greenway, and
the presence of over 20 MONARCH BUTTERFLIES. For warblers, the only ones we saw
were seven COMMON YELLOWTHROATS and three MAGNOLIAS. About 25 CHIMNEY SWIFTS
flitted about overhead, and several GRAY CATBIRDS meowed from the bushes. High
numbers of AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES, INDIGO BUNTINGS, and FIELD SPARROWS were
present in just about every corner.
In total we had just 45 species. But despite the overall low numbers, it was
still a nice walk. A few people got lifers, too, which is always a GREAT thing.
Bonus report: The true highlight of the day--at least for me--happened shortly
*before* the walk. Between 6:30 and 7:00 a.m., with the stars still shining, I
was carefully listening for the nocturnal flight calls of migrating birds. At
peak, which was between 6:40 and 6:50, I heard dozens upon dozens of SWAINSON’S
THRUSHES (250+ calls), a couple of GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSHES (3 calls), some
VEERIES (5+ calls), an AMERICAN ROBIN, a few undetermined thrush species, and
about 5 other species I couldn't identify. I never saw the SPACE STATION, which
I found out later could be seen, but I did see a tiny thrush silhouette fly
across the face of the moon! It was one of the most beautiful things I've ever
seen.
Jay Sturner
Knoxville
Here's my eBird checklist for the walk:
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S31728906
Here's my eBird checklist for the Nocturnal Flight Call Count:
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S31732485
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