[TN-Bird] Flood Water Birds - Memphis
- From: OLCOOT1@xxxxxxx
- To: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 9 May 2011 08:54:24 -0400 (EDT)
May 8, 2011
Memphis, TN
Getting to Ensley Bottoms entails a convoluted route due to road closings.
"Water, Water Everywhere" as we will get within inches of the record 1937
Flood, 40 feet today or tomorrow here at Memphis.
The best bird of the day may or may not have been due to the flood but
fits in with the timing of other Prairie Falcons seen in the spring in the
areas along the Mississippi. The bird came from behind me and passed within 30
feet of my truck as it jumped a levee and rousted the Wind Birds in one
pool. The bird was slightly below and it proceeded to run up birds in at least
3 other pools using the same tactic. The shorebirds had been broken up
into small nervous groups all morning and this must have been the reason for
their concern. Extended looks at details of plumage were had as the bird
twisted and turned and then started circling, climbing higher and higher
moving to the east.
There are still good numbers of Lesser Yellowlegs to glean through but
diversity changes day to day. Eight Semipalmated Plovers were new for the day
and a single Short-b Dowitcher was my first of season but the flood waters
had forced Black-necked Stilts back out of the nearby low areas and filled
the "Pits" with 128 black and white squabbling adults. A total of 15 Wind
Bird Species were present at Ensley along with 2 Soras. The male ANHINA is
still sitting in the trees off of Riverport Road.
FIFTEEN BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCKS were found after a few days with
none being seen. A single bird was found in the area where a pair had been for
over a week, so maybe another nest in progress while 14 were evidently
driven back to the pits by high water. BLACK TERNS were found in 3 locations
feeding over back water areas around President's Island.
A total of 5 Western Kingbirds were found at 2 old nest locations plus a
new pair at a new site in southwest Memphis, while on President's Island a
HYBRID was seen and photographed interacting with 2 Western Kingbirds plus 2
other singles near old nest sites, plus a male Scissor-tail also sat for a
portrait.
Since Cassin's Sparrows have shown up this week in North Carolina,
Illinois, Arkansas and Louisiana it would not hurt to look at all the drab
sparrows this week, just in case ;o)...........................
Good Birding!!
Jeff R. Wilson / TLBA
6300 Memphis-Arlington Road
Bartlett, TN 38135
http://www.pbase.com/ol_coot/
What is this feathered thing that lifts my heart to the heavens.
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