[TN-Bird] Merlins at Percy Priest Lake

From: "Scott Somershoe" <Scott.Somershoe@xxxxxx>
To: <tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 2010 19:06:44 -0600
I stopped by Hamilton Creek Rec area and Anderson Rd Rec areas on the west side 
of Percy Priest Lake on the way home today.  A moderate number of waterfowl and 
loons were present.  I had one sleeping male American Wigeon in with 10 
sleeping Gadwall and a couple sleeping scaup spp.  I think it was my first 
wigeon for the lake this winter and wouldn't be surprised if a female wigeon 
was sleeping and hiding in that group.  They were not exactly close to shore.  

Just before sunset I got to the merlin roost area at Anderson Rd Rec Area.  I 
had 2 merlins perched together.  I was only 25m away when I spotted them and 
had both in the scope at the same time!  Neither were banded (in previous years 
one individual has been banded at this location).  Not sure of sexes of the 
birds (little experience with merlins, esp. with a perched bird at 25m) and 
neither let me see their backs.  I was also dealing with a setting sun, which 
changed colors of everything nicely.  Of course today is the one day I didn't 
have my camera!

Good birding!
Scott Somershoe 



State Ornithologist
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
P.O. Box 40747
Nashville, TN 37204
615-781-6653 (o)
601-868-0101 (cell)
615-781-6654 (fax)

"Keeping the rubber side down." -SGS
=================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBER=====================

The TN-Bird Net requires you to SIGN YOUR MESSAGE with
first and last name, CITY (TOWN) and state abbreviation.
You are also required to list the COUNTY in which the birds
you report were seen.  The actual DATE OF OBSERVATION should
appear in the first paragraph.
_____________________________________________________________
      To post to this mailing list, simply send email to:
                    tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
_____________________________________________________________ 
                To unsubscribe, send email to:
                 tn-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
            with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field.
______________________________________________________________
  TN-Bird Net is owned by the Tennessee Ornithological Society 
       Neither the society(TOS) nor its moderator(s)
        endorse the views or opinions expressed
        by the members of this discussion group.
 
         Moderator: Wallace Coffey, Bristol, TN
                 wallace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
                ------------------------------
                Assistant Moderator Andy Jones
                         Cleveland, OH
                -------------------------------
               Assistant Moderator Dave Worley
                          Rosedale, VA
               --------------------------------
               Assistant Moderator Chris O'Bryan
                        Clarksville, TN
__________________________________________________________
         
          Visit the Tennessee Ornithological Society
              web site at http://www.tnbirds.org
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

                          ARCHIVES
 TN-Bird Net Archives at //www.freelists.org/archives/tn-bird/

                       MAP RESOURCES
Tenn.Counties Map at http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/states/tennessee3.gif
Aerial photos to complement google maps http://local.live.com

_____________________________________________________________
[TN-Bird] Merlins at Percy Priest Lake

Other related posts:
