September 3, 2015Weakley, Obion, and Lake Counties
I started out the day east of Martin in Weakley County, looking for the
Swallow-tailed Kite, which was reported the day before by Dawn Wilkins via
eBird. The bird was seen on Hyndsver Road, about 1 maile east of the jct. with
Ralston Road. I made a few trips up and down Hyndsver Road with no luck but the
bird could have moved anywhere in 24 hours. I did spot a kettle of vultures
apparently coming off of a roost and starting to gain altitude on a thermal so
I focused on the flock and noticed a few smaller birds there as well. I drove
up Ralston Road to get closer and there were 3 smaller birds at the top of the
vulture kettle - 2 Mississippi Kites and a Peregrine Falcon! Not as good as a
Swallow-tailed Kite but a good consolation prize. After a few minutes, the
Peregrine left the vulture group and flew straight west towards the town of
Martin.
I drove over to the Reelfoot area to see what habitat was available for wading
and shorebirds and there wasn't a lot. The Philiipy Pits and the Ibis Hole were
dry and planted in soybeans. Lake #9 in Fulton County, KY had lots of water and
there were about 50 Canada Geese and several Great Egrets and Great Blue Herons
present.
I drove south down the levee to Markham Levee Slough and I saw that there was
still some water available when I topped the levee. There were a few birds of
interest here:
Killdeer - 15Solitary Sandpiper - 1Stilt Sandpiper - 2Least Sandpiper -
16Pectoral Sandpiper - 2Semipalamated Sandpiper - 1
From here I drove through Black Bayou Refuge. There were a few Black Vultures
feeding on dead fish near the old pumphouse and a few Great Egrets but that was
it. The rice field adjacent to Black Bayou was full of water and this area
holds potential for rails, etc. later on in the fall when they start the
harvest. The rice was just starting to turn slightly yellow in places but is
still mostly green.
Tiptonville Landing was my next stop and Tiptonville Bar is extensive right
now. There were a few Least Terns around and quite a few swallows - N.
Rough-winged, Bank, Barn, and Cliff were counted on the wires. Out on the bar
itself there weren't a lot of birds - a few Killdeer, a few peeps, and a few
Great Blue Herons. Looking north up the sandbar I noticed 4 white birds resting
in the edge of the water. I figured they might be terns so as I was scanning I
would occasionally look back at these. Finally I noticed some black on the
sides of one of the birds. It looked interesting enough that I decided to drive
a little closer so I drove north up Tiptonville Landing Road about 1/4 mile
until I was straight out from the 4 birds. When I put my scope on the window I
saw that they were basic plumaged American Avocets! I watched them for several
minutes as they preened and then went to sleep. Typical behavior for traveling
migrants that had stopped for a short rest. I called Nancy Moore and told her
about the birds. They were still there sleeping when I left.
A few of us are hitting a some spots along the mighty Mississippi River in West
Tennessee this weekend so hopefully we can find some good birds!
Good birding!
Mark GreeneTrenton, TNGibson County
