[TN-Bird] Natchez Trace Birding
- From: "Candice & Kevin" <ethden@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: <tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 24 Apr 2009 16:12:02 -0500
Meriwether Lewis Site
Natchez Trace Parkway
Lewis County, TN
Since 2009 is the bicentennial of Meriwether Lewis' death along the Natchez
Trace, I decided to combine some history with some birding. Technically, I
would have to wait until October for the right bicentennial month; spring
birding trumped history.
My First Of Season singing SUMMER TANAGER met me in the tree overlooking the
Lewis gravesite. Once I was on the Little Swan Creek Trail, the action got
interesting. While my warbler species numbers were not terribly high (7),
the numbers of birds for species observed was substantial. It seems every 50
feet or so I had a singing OVERNBIRD, many were up on open branches, giving
me great views. There were also a good number of singing KENTUCKY WARBLERS.
Hearing the two almost simultaneously was a good audio lesson in
distinguishing between them. WORM-EATING WARBLERS were also vocalizing in
large numbers and there were enough of them that I got several good
spottings. In fact, three of them were in a tussle on or near the ground and
a fourth bird came in to investigate-a NORTHERN PARULA. I had never seen a
PARULA on or near the ground before. I had several ACADIAN FLYCATCHERS,
which I also had not heard yet this year and one lone silent SWAINSON'S
THRUSH.
I did not hear a single Chip-brrr call of the SCARLET TANAGER; instead, I
must have heard 8 or 9 singing along the way, some out in the open. But
perhaps the most interesting observation was a WILD TURKEY in the middle of
the creek pecking at a large-and I do mean large--black snake. This poor
snake was doing all it could do to escape the attentions of the aggressive
TURKEY, and finally it did seem to slither into a crevasse in rocks lining
the creek. But the TURKEY would not give up, grabbing at sticks and other
debris in hopes that might just be the snake. Suddenly, the TURKEY spied me
and went racing up the bank and hill, putting as much distance between me
and itself as possible.
Here's a rundown of my 34 species:
Wild Turkey
Great Blue Heron
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Broad-winged Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Chimney Swift
Red-headed Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Acadian Flycatcher
Great Crested Flycatcher
Yellow-throated Vireo
Red-Eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
Blue Gray Gnatcatcher
Swainson's Thrush
Wood Thrush
Northern Parula
Yellow-throated Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Ovenbird
Kentucky Warbler
Summer Tanager
Scarlet Tanager
Brown-headed Cowbird
Kevin Bowden
Nashville, TN
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