[TN-Bird] MS-TN-KY along the MS RV.
- From: OLCOOT1@xxxxxxx
- To: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 30 May 2012 08:10:33 -0400 (EDT)
May 26-27-28, 2012
In north Mississippi, lots of Least Terns on the MS and small drying
puddles, a single Black-bellied Whistler out from Walls, plus a Painted
Bunting.
Along a circuitous route from south to north and back in TN, 5 Ruddy
Turnstones at 3 locations among hard to come by shorebirds, yielded only 11
species of late Wind Birds. In just 3 weeks the first returnees should
magically
appear. Trips to all birding sites for Western Kingbirds and
photographing nest and residents in Memphis, produced only 17 active sites and
two
previous sites were no shows but due to habitat they are probably still there.
Scissor-tailed Flycatchers are feeding 3 young and another is still hard
on the nest while at least 2 hybrid birds are tending nests. Painted
Buntings seen at 4 sites along the way.
Bank Swallow colonies were visited at 2 river locations, an Anhinga was
viewed sailing over the MS RV, a single Caspian Tern rested on a sandbar and
more Least Terns were seen as the MS RV has finally relinquished its hold on
sandy real estate.
The river roads have been mostly restored in Dyer and Lake Counties except
the wash out a Flower Sheep Road but the land there has been completely
submerged under many feet of sand, looking like a western desert. Lauderdale
County is far behind on restoring back road access.
Reelfoot Lake had only Least Terns (I had hopes for a Arctic Tern movement
;o) The lake is suffering and the stump fields will soon appear without
some BIG RAIN. Many Osprey are feeding young and only 2 immature Bald Eagles
were seen and egrets and herons were in short supply with very few DC
Cormorants to glean through.
In KY, Lake #9 is receding fast and the drought has sucked most wet areas
dry but father north a flyover Western Kingbird held something in its bill?
A few photos from the long weekend at:
_http://www.pbase.com/ol_coot/image/143632787_
(http://www.pbase.com/ol_coot/image/143632787)
Good Birding!!!
Jeff R. Wilson / TLBA
6300 Memphis-Arlington Rd.
Bartlett, TN. 38135
_http://WWW.pbase.com/ol_coot/_ (http://www.pbase.com/ol_coot/)
"What is this feathered thing that lifts my heart to the heavens."
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- » [TN-Bird] MS-TN-KY along the MS RV. - OLCOOT1
