[TN-Bird] Long-billed Murrelet details - Reelfoot Lake, TN
- From: OLCOOT1@xxxxxxx
- To: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 16 Dec 2002 09:14:15 EST
Dec. 14, 2002
Reelfoot Lake, TN
Mark Greene, Bob Forhring and I were scanning the lower lake from a location
just east of the renovated White's Landing looking for a few fill in birds
for the Reelfoot CBC. I had been up since 4:30 that morning and the motors
were just idling when there was a significant revving of engines as a small
bird floated into my field of view. Three thoughts raced through my mind at
once, what the h--- is this, look at the size and Murrelet. The bird was some
200 or less yards away but the lake was relatively smooth and the pattern on
the bird was distinctive. I called out for Mark to come and then looked over
his way as he started walking toward me and I then yelled run! He took the
message to heart and sped to my side. I told him to look in my scope and tell
just me what it looked like and then I'd let Bob look. I watched Mark's eyes
as he searched for the image and there was a noticeable widening of them when
the vision took hold. With in a matter of seconds he looked at me and said "I
don't know what you think but I think it starts with an M." By that time Bob
had joined us and I then asked him to look.
Bob Forhring has relatives I believe that live in the San Juan Islands in
Washington State and spends considerable time in the area, fishing and
birding. Bob looked in the scope and with no hesitation said "If I were in
the Northwest I'd say it was a Marbled Murrelet." We each had arrived at the
murrelet ID independently and immediately on seeing the bird.
We then got back to our scopes and observed the bird traveling first north
and then south, diving and bobbing back to the surface. We all agreed as to
where the white was located on the face and neck on this tiny dark bird. Due
to the silvery glare on the water it was hard to see the exact location of
the water line on the bird, so we could not tell much about the extent of
white at the water line. The bird was moving in a straight line, diving and
popping back up on the surface. We studied the bird in direct comparison to
Pied-billed Grebes, Horned Grebes and Ruddy Ducks. At that time we all agreed
that the bird was significantly smaller than any of these three.
We decided to travel to the east and try for a better or closer view. Before
we got to the car and books, I made sure we went over the details that we had
seen and discussed the extent of the white and its location. Since Bob was
not familiar with the Long-billed Murrelet, I filled him in that it was
probably the most expected murrelet in the interior US. I told them both to
get one of the field guides and familiarize themselves with the pattern of
these two species as I drove to the board walk behind Ellington Hall. They
agreed that the pattern we had discussed was perfect for the Long-billed
while looking in the guides.
We set about looking from various points for the bird and talking about the
field marks as we went. Suddenly the bird appeared in my scope and it was
considerably closer and I could see that all the details, the size, color and
gizz spelled Long-billed Murrelet. At that time I noted the light markings on
the back but the bird was steadily diving and moving behind a tree line so
exact locations were not noted. Mark also got a close up look before the bird
swam behind the tree line and disappeared. Needless to say we both went a
little bit wild. Bob was too far to the right and did not get on the bird in
time which was my fault for not letting him to view through my scope but the
bird was moving and diving. We continued to search until we lost our light.
At that time I made a drawing and put a few notes on my ever ready 3x5 cards.
The very small size (65% of the size of a Pied-billed Grebe according to
Sibley's by weight), the white on only the lower part of the sides of the
head slightly below the eye running from the bill to a point slightly behind
the eye and then turning and running down the sides and front of the neck in
a similar pattern to a Pacific Loon plus the bill shape all fit Long-billed.
The first view of the bird was from 450 to 600 feet with even lighting from
an overcast sky. The second was I believe under 300 feet with less light but
the bird was sitting on silvery smooth water and the image in my 85 mm Ziess
Scope is exceptionally bright. The three of us never saw or hesitated on the
call and saw no details that would indicate any other species other than
Long-billed Murrelet.
A group of us spent all day Sunday looking over an extensive area but mainly
covering the waters around Bo's Landing and Ellington Hall. Anthony Whitted
discovered a female Long-tailed Duck in the trees at Ellington early in the
morning and the duck was in view the rest of the day from Bo's Landing and
Ellington Hall. Joe Guinn and Anthony went out in a boat and we guided them
around with or radios.
At one time, I picked up a distant bird moving to the east and this small
short necked, dark and light bird was acting exactly like the Murrelet but
the choppy waters prevented any significant or satisfying looks. Later Nancy
Moore relocated this bird in the area that I had lost it in. A quick look
convinced me that it was the same bird but again the heat waves and choppy
water prevented any clear looks. We guided the boat into the area and shortly
thereafter Anthony spotted a very small dark bird diving and heading away
from them. They were giving us directions to the bird in relation to the boat
when another boat cut in front of them and the bird disappeared. The whole
area was covered with Ruddy Ducks for comparison as to size of anything you
had in view. None of these sightings were definitive but do indicate that the
bird might still be in the area.
Needless to say it was a great way to end an already Great and always
exciting Reelfoot CBC........
Good Birding!!!
Jeff R. Wilson
OL' COOT / TLBA
Bartlett Tenn.
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