[TN-Bird] Lesser Black-backed Gull and Hybrid Duck - Memphis
- From: OLCOOT1@xxxxxxx
- To: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx, missbird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 11 Dec 2006 07:51:41 EST
DEC. 10, 2006
Mississippi River
TVA Lake, Ensley Pits,
Robco Lake, Shelby Co. TN
The River jumped up 8 feet and now is on a slow fall, but still too high to
expose much in the way of sandbars. We are 15 inches behind on rainfall this
year! Out from Mud Island, there was a group of 218 Ring-billed Gulls, 3
Ruddy Ducks, 2 Ring-necked and 7 Lesser Scaup. Flying around with these gulls
was
a second year Lesser Black-backed Gull, only my second or third, I believe
for Shelby Co.
At TVA Lake, there was a steady turn over of ducks and gulls with 14 species
of waterfowl, Canada Geese, 1 Ross's Goose immature (has been around for 3
weeks, photos) , Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Gadwall, 28 Canvasback, 17
Redhead, Ring-necked, 48+ Greater Scaup, Lesser Scaup, 1 adult male Common
Goldeneye, 2 female Bufflehead, Hooded Merganser, Ruddy Duck. In the mix was a
hybrid
Ring-necked/Canvasback, I'll post some photos of this union of two very
different Aythya species.
At the pits the vociferous rufous morph Red-tail and immature Krider's still
persist along with the horde of their various aged and plumaged brothers and
sisters. There were 11 Least Sandpipers and 3 Wilson's Snipe along with lots
of Killdeer. Three Pipits strolled the flats and fairly large groups of
Horned Larks danced across the spread fields. A Cooper's, 4 Kestrels, 4
Harriers
kept the small birds alert.
All the Ring-billed Gulls had left the Tunica Landfill and settled in a
Robco Lake feeding frenetically with DC Cormorants on shad that have been
weakened by the sudden drop in temps, a common occurrence at this time of the
year.
Die offs on the major lakes should produce some good birds for hardy
observers. Over 20 Bonaparte's Gulls were also in the masses, diving and
calling.
Duck numbers were up and species mix numbered only 9 but sunlight and time
prevented a good search. There were 15 Great Egrets posted around the lake
along
with the ever present Great Blue Herons.
A dip into Mississippi, was rewarded with 23 Cackling Geese in one field
along with hundreds of thousands of geese, netting 5 species. Western
Meadowlarks are on location in good numbers and still singing. Lapland numbers
seem low
but again time prevented getting to a lot of fields. No Sandhill Cranes were
found, the destruction of their roost site may have moved them south but 11
were seen in the early morning just across the river in AR near Horseshoe
Lake.
Good Birding !!!
Jeff R. Wilson / TLBA
6298 Memphis-Arlington Road
Bartlett, TN 38135
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