Unfortunately I haven’t managed to get this weeks shorebird report to post
yet. Sorry for that last message a bit ago. I’ll try this again.
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Ruben Stoll <birdchaserrws@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: Tue, Jul 21, 2020 at 12:16 PM
Subject: Duck River Shorebird Week
To: tnbird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <tnbird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
I didn’t get around to reporting on here yet but I’ve been able to run by
the Duck River Unit TNWR in Humphreys County several times over the past
week for the purpose of surveying shorebirds for ISS.
As expected both numbers and diversity have been going up at the Refuge
since the beginning of July with most of the activity concentrated at the
upper end of pool 1. This is a location that can’t be seen from any roads
and is only accessible by kayak from the Pump Station or by hiking in from
Refuge Road along Grassy Lake. (Don’t go in from the Refuge Headquarters
along pool 2 as this route is closed for Wood Duck banding).
Here are just the shorebird highlights for all the three days with
complete lists on eBird.
Wednesday, July 16th
Jamin Beachy, Victor and I hiked in from Refuge Road and had 225
shorebirds total with 9 different species found. Along with decent numbers
of Least and Pectoral Sandpipers and Lesser Yellowlegs there was a pair of
SHORT BILLED DOWITCHERS, a pair of STILT SANDPIPERS, A pair of WILLETS and
a single SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER.
Other highlights on the day at the Refuge (we had 96 total species) were
an ANHINGA, three juvenile YELLOW CROWNED NIGHT HERONS and a WILLOW
FLYCATCHER.
Sunday July 19th
Jubal Beachy, Simeon Molner and I kayaked in from the Pump Station to
upper pool 1 and found 250 shorebirds in 11 different species including 4
Greater Yellowlegs, 2 Solitary Sandpipers, 10 STILT SANDPIPERS, a
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER and a male WILSON’S PHALAROPE. An increase in the mud
along the edges had increased the numbers by a bit but no Dowitchers or
Willets were seen.
Tuesday July 21st, today
Jamin Beachy, Victor, Flynn, Daniel Redwine and I braved the forenoon
heat and hiked in to the upper end again. Redwine has the total numbers
but I think it was up again with more like 300-400 shorebirds in 13 species
and also an abundance of mudflats. There was a single SHORT BILLED
DOWITCHER, a pair of WILSON’S PHALAROPES, a pair of Semipalmated Plovers, a
WESTERN SANDPIPER, a handful of Semipalmated Sandpipers and a recently
arrived adult BUFF BREASTED SANDPIPER that Jamin spotted along the near
grassy edges. This appears to be an early record, I know it’s the earliest
that I’ve seen in TN.
Can’t wait to see what shows up over the next several weeks.
Good birding! Ruben Stoll, Pleasantville Tennessee
