I had a large, Interesting Gull at the Duck River Unit today that I think
is a very faded 1st/2nd cycle GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL.
Hopefully it'll stick around for others to enjoy, and for better photos.
If you try for this bird, try the Pump Station area as well as the Camden
WMA.
The bird was using a beached carcass on the far mudflats in the main
Tennessee River.
Ruben Stoll, Centerville TN.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <ebird-checklist@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Oct 7, 2017 7:56 PM
Subject: eBird Report - Tennessee NWR--Duck River Unit, Oct 7, 2017
To: <birdchaserrws@xxxxxxxxx>
Cc:
Tennessee NWR--Duck River Unit, Humphreys, Tennessee, US
Oct 7, 2017 5:39 AM - 6:04 PM
Protocol: Traveling
11.5 mile(s)
Comments: <br />Submitted from eBird Android 1.2.2
101 species
Canada Goose 220 Large group hanging out in the Duck River Mudflats.
Wood Duck 18
Blue-winged Teal 20 With other waterfowl (Shovelers) feeding in the
Duck River Mudflats shallows.
Northern Shoveler 18 All basic plumage, feeding in the Duck River
Mudflats shallows with Teal.
Gadwall 6 With group of mostly Wigeon.
American Wigeon 25 All but 3 of these were counted in the Duck River
Mudflats, the 3 were across the river from the Pump Station.
Mallard 2
Northern Pintail 120 Conservative count of many groups throughout
area.
Green-winged Teal 2 Seen across the river from the Pump Station.
Wild Turkey 23 Two family groups, 2 lone gobblers.
Pied-billed Grebe 4
Double-crested Cormorant 137 The main group was close to the New
Johnsonville Bridge.
American White Pelican 220 A large group out from the Pump Station,
probably another group in the Duck River Mudflats.
Great Blue Heron 35
Great Egret 242 Conservative count of numerous birds throughout.
Black Vulture 8
Turkey Vulture 24
Northern Harrier 1 Juvenile bird, seen in pool 2.
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
Bald Eagle 6 At least 6, probably more around.
Red-shouldered Hawk 4 Counted at scattered locations.
Red-tailed Hawk 3
Sora 2 Both flushed from grassy area in pool 2.
Black-bellied Plover 8 3 seen early across the river from the Pump
Station, 8 were counted there at noon, then 7 BBPL and single Dunlin (
probably the same Plovers minus 1) were present at the Duck River Mudflats
at dusk. <br /> Large Plovers, colder colored than American Golden with
larger bills. Black wing pits were noted in flight.
Killdeer 40 Single flock of 28 birds on the Duck River Mudflats,
other scattered birds.
Sanderling 4 Seen out from the Pump Station with Black-bellied Plover
and Dunlin. <br /> Overall pale color, size and behavior made them
distinctive at long range.
Dunlin 2 2 birds present in the morning across the river from the
Pump Station, single bird with Black-bellied Plover on the Duck River
Mudflats at dusk.
Least Sandpiper 3
Pectoral Sandpiper 1
Greater Yellowlegs 1 Seen alone on the upper end of the Duck River
Mudflats.
Lesser Yellowlegs 1 Flyover at dawn, heard only.
Ring-billed Gull 85 Feeding wherever there was mud. Estimated number.
Herring Gull 12 8 birds, including two juveniles passed the Pump
Station at dawn, headed South. <br /> 4 adults were present later, loafing
on the mudflats.
Great Black-backed Gull 1 I don't know what else to do with this
bird, unless possibly a hybrid Great Black-backed×Glaucous Gull. <br /> I
first saw the bird on my second stop at the Pump Station, flying North. (In
the distance) I watched as it landed on the mud bar much closer to the
Camden WMA and started tearing at a beached carcass.<br /> I watched for a
while, then went to the Camden WMA and observed the bird from there for
over an hour. <br /> Structurally and behaviorally perfect for Great
Black-backed to my eye, with huge size, substantial black bill, white head,
checkerboard pattern on back, white tail with narrow, diamond shaped
terminal tail-band. <br /> The one thing that is confusing for me is the
normally black markings are much paler, either very bleached (which I would
think possible, especially on a late first cycle bird that hasn't begun
moulting in adult-like scapulars, like this bird) Glaucous Gull genetics?
Probably not likely. <br /> I am tentatively listing as a Great
Black-backed with plans to do more research on possible hybrid genetics. If
this bird is a hybrid, I am confident there is no Herring Gull involved.
<br /> Hopefully others can see this bird, it's a good looking bird
either way.
Forster's Tern 31 Actual count at noon from the Pump Station, resting
on the far mudflats. <br /> I couldn't find any Common Terns among them.
Eurasian Collared-Dove 2
Mourning Dove 11
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1
Eastern Screech-Owl 2 Both at usual location along the Duck River.
Great Horned Owl 1 Finally heard at dusk.
Barred Owl 3
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1 Seen flying past at dawn, no others seen
all day.
Belted Kingfisher 3
Red-headed Woodpecker 5
Red-bellied Woodpecker 15
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1
Downy Woodpecker 3
Hairy Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker 3
Pileated Woodpecker 4
American Kestrel 2
Eastern Wood-Pewee 3
Least Flycatcher 1 Seen on the New Johnsonville Peninsula. <br />
Very small empid with large, rounded head, short primary extension, bold
wingbars, white throat contrasting with olive crown. <br /> Good habitat
for Least.
Eastern Phoebe 6
White-eyed Vireo 4 Actual count.
Blue Jay 132 Numerous in migration, I couldn't get away from hearing
them all day.
American Crow 125 Good group on the mudflats out from the Pump
Station.
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 74 Several scattered flocks, resting on
powerlines.
Tree Swallow 1018 Large numbers over the refuge.
Bank Swallow 1 Small, slender Swallow with white underside and
distinct breast band. <br /> Continuing, getting slightly late.
Barn Swallow 1
Carolina Chickadee 18
Tufted Titmouse 32
White-breasted Nuthatch 4
House Wren 1 Heard, then seen in brushy uplands.
Sedge Wren 1 Along Refuge Road.
Marsh Wren 6 Counted as they flushed from the grassy area into the
corn in pool 2.
Carolina Wren 23
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
Eastern Bluebird 65 Conservative count. Good numbers everywhere.
American Robin 9
Gray Catbird 4
Brown Thrasher 16 Numerous throughout. Conservative count.
Northern Mockingbird 20
European Starling 125
Black-and-white Warbler 3
Tennessee Warbler 10
Common Yellowthroat 7
American Redstart 2
Northern Parula 4
Magnolia Warbler 10
Bay-breasted Warbler 3
Chestnut-sided Warbler 4
Pine Warbler 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 2
Yellow-throated Warbler 2
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Chipping Sparrow 12
Field Sparrow 14
Swamp Sparrow 1
Eastern Towhee 5
Summer Tanager 2
Northern Cardinal 18
Indigo Bunting 94 Most of these were in groups feeding in standing
corn fields.
Eastern Meadowlark 1
Red-winged Blackbird 165
Brown-headed Cowbird 95 One flock counted as they dropped into
sunflower.
Common Grackle 318 Good flock in Oak woods.
House Finch 3
American Goldfinch 3
View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/
checklist/S39609891
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
