August 19th, 2019
Victor and I had 141 species on this full and fun weekend with time spent
in some very diverse habitats. We started at the DRU on Friday, hit Great
Smoky Mountain National Park on Friday Evening and Saturday morning,
stopped by E Pat Howard’s place in Clinton TN for Rufous Hummingbird, then
spent Sunday and Monday morning on the Mississippi River by boat. 141 is a
very modest species total considering what all could have been found with
more time.
Highlights were 16 species each of shorebirds and warblers, 7 Flycatcher
sp. and three new birds for the year, RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, RED-NECKED
PHALAROPE and ALDER FLYCATCHER.
Friday morning at the Duck River Overlook along Refuge Road there were
Eastern Screech-owls calling and as it got daylight we could see huge
numbers of Cattle Egrets still roosting on the rookery Island. (I estimated
around 350 which is probably low) The other regulars were also there,
including Little Blues, Snowys, and YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS. We also
picked out the two continuing WHITE IBIS in the trees with the Cattle
Egrets before they headed out towards the Wildlife Loop. We didn’t see any
Anhingas there but those haven’t been seen for a while now.
A few shorebirds in the upper end of pool 2, all common stuff except for
a WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER that was first seen in flight and then landed for
half decent photos.
We had a warbler flock near the Pump Station that included Yellow,
Yellow-throated, Parula, BLUE-WINGED WARBLER and a surprise NORTHERN
WATERTHRUSH that got me started thinking along the lines of how many
warblers we could find on the weekend. I have 12 species around Stoll Farm
that are nearly all very difficult to find, and I seldom see more than 6 or
7 in a day in August. (I had seven species in a flock by the house at last
light the day before).
There was also a GREAT-CRESTED FLYCATCHER calling at the Pump Station
(increasingly difficult to find) and six swallow species on the wires near
there.
We made it up to Newfound Gap GSMNP by 5:30 p.m. on Friday and
immediately found RED CROSSBILLS calling and flying around the area. Our
reason for being up here was to try and photograph Saw Whet Owls overnight
and we didn’t allow much time for anything else. We didn’t even locate any
owls (perhaps because it was full moon?) but it’s always fun to see some of
the more common Eastern specialties. We saw about 12 species that we didn’t
have since Spring. Veery, Hermit Thrush, Black-capped Chickadee, Winter
Wren, Golde-crowned Kinglet, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Junco, and only four
species of warblers; BLACK-THROATED BLUE, BLACK-THROATED GREEN, CANADA and
CHESTNUT-SIDED (We should have seen Ovenbird and Blackburnian Warbler but
we didn’t) Victor also needs a Raven photo for his photo big year but we
couldn’t find one.
Thanks to E Pat Howard from Clinton Tennessee, we stopped by his house
for great looks and photos of a very sharp looking, if bossy, male RUFOUS
HUMMINGBIRD that has returned for the third year to spend the winter. I’m
still waiting for a first record of this species from our part of the State.
We made it home on Saturday evening in time for me to search for a few
local warblers. KENTUCKY WARBLERS are easily found there as well as PRAIRIE
WARBLERS this time of the year. A quick run by Cane Creek Bridge for a
territorial male AMERICAN REDSTART and a random LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH for a
bonus.
At Tie Landing we found a family of PROTHONOTARY WARBLERS, a WORM-EATING
WARBLER and a PINE WARBLER which made sixteen species (we missed
Black-and-white and Hooded at Stoll Farm, and you don’t find warblers from
a boat on the Mississippi River so that was it) and also the first mudflats
of the season with a dozen FORSTER’S TERNS and a few scattered shorebirds
including a Semipalmated Plover and four WESTERN SANDPIPERS.
Island 18 in Dyer County has never been accessible to us before but I’ve
always wanted to go since I first saw it from the 155 Bridge. With a boat
it’s just 10 minutes from Booths Point. It was still an Island with no
Coyote tracks on it. Covered in LEAST TERNS, both adults and newly hatched
chicks. Soon after we landed we spotted an AMERICAN AVOCET in the distance.
We went closer and found around 100 other shorebirds there, including 8
WESTERN SANDPIPERS and a juvenile RED-NECKED PHALAROPE that turned out to
be very cooperative. All the shorebirds were still there when we left.
We then loaded our camping gear in the boat and headed to Island 13 for
the night. A stop at Tiptonville Bar produced more BLACK TERNS, a WESTERN
SANDPIPER and three SANDERLINGS.
We got to Island 13 late and didn’t go around it but could see about 50
American White Pelicans and a Tern flock with Least, Black and Forster’s
Terns and had 17 WESTERN SANDPIPERS dropped in briefly.
Monday morning early we spent an hour walking in to the shorebird spot on
Sheep Ridge Road (The Road has been washed out worse and may remain
inaccessible to vehicles for the remainder of the year) There was a bit of
decent habitat with a hundred or so shorebirds including both Yellowlegs,
Black-necked Stilts and a single LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER. There were quite a
few empids along the road with at least three ALDER and one LEAST
FLYCATCHER. The Alders were pipping nonstop.
We then did a fairly thorough check of Island 13 but all we found was a
few Least Sandpipers and a SANDERLING.
Around noon we picked up Daniel Redwine and headed back to Island 18 to
refind the Avocet and Phalarope but the poor little boat was maxxed out
with four on board. It sank before we reached the Island, and we had to
cancel the trip. (I think Redwine is giving it one more try by kayak)
All complete lists are on ebird.
Good birding! Ruben Stoll, Centerville Tennessee.
