[TN-Bird] North Memphis Bird Watching-Wood Stork or Bust

From: "John Walko" <walko@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sun, 20 Aug 2006 22:35:56 -0500
Sat & Sun, 19-20 August, 2006, Memphis, Shelby County, Tn (North Haven Area)
Sat 0745-0830: Started out in the area Jeff Wilson mentioned in his Friday
post (Hwy 51 N of Watkins) looking to add Wood Storks to my list. Found the
pond, found some birds, but no Storks. The drainage pond is close to dry and
the remaining fish are easy picken's for those with long legs. Grt Egret
-28, Snowy Egret-1, Killdeer-15+, a couple each of Lesser Yellow legs,
Solitary Sandpiper and Pectoral Sandpiper. Canada Geese-6, King Bird-1,
Goldfinch-1 and a lone Starling.

0835-0850: Moved on back around the bend to N Watkins south of the
Loosahatchie Bridge to the first wetland area and was greated by a good
number of Grt Egrets-15, Snowy Egrets 38, and a couple of Immature Little
Blue Herons.

0855-0905: Moved up to the Cypress pond ( Lots of water yet) Additional Grt
Egrets-12 and Snowy Egrets 4. Jeff Wilson and Mike Todd drove up behind at
this time and we talked about the mornings success or lack of (No stork
yet).Jeff and Mike went ahead, while I wrote up my notes. 

0910-0940: Contemplated going down a river access rd south of the bridge,
but the van lacked 4WD to handle the foot deep ruts. So I headed over the
bridge where Jeff flagged me down. Mike had spotted a Wood Stork on the W
side of the rd up in a Cypress Tree in a small Cypress swamp just south of
the N haven rd. Lifer # 204 for me and my short bird watching career. Great
View, Mike I think got some Picts. After awhile the bird flew down into the
swamp area out of view. 10 minutes after Mike & Jeff left a hawk flew in and
scattered everything up 18 Great Egrets and the Wood Stork flew up
gracefully and scattered to the south. Other birds noted: 2 Ms Kites, 2
Indigo Buntings, 6- crows and a couple of Hs Finches.

0945-1000: Since in the area I scouted out Benjistown-Cuba rd Other than
almost getting lost, I got some decent pictures of a Loggerhead Shrike
sitting on a wire over a farmers field. 

1030-1050: Finally got myself down to Riverport Rd and TVA ponds- the
Riverport rd ponds yielded the pair of Red Hded Woodpeckers, 3- Grt Egrets,
1-Grn Heron, 1-Grt Blue Heron,1-Kingfisher, a Wood Duck and a Mallard and a
young Coopers Hawk who almost didn't make it flying across the rd.(Tractor
trailer almost took him out as he did a low fly over). Tva ponds yielded
good looks at more Great Egrets-25, Grt Bl Heron-2, Kingfishers-3 Snowy
Egrets 5. and the resident Morning doves.

Day ended abruptly since I found a bolt imbedded in my front left tire. The
Pits would have to wait.

Sunday 445pm-615pm: Went back up to the N haven area again in search of the
Wood Stork. No luck today though. Pond is drying fast and the fish kill is
getting worse, 4 wheelers have moved in just as I got there and the few
egrets flew off to the SW. N Watkins Cypress swamp and pond  had a load of
birds. Between the two spots I counted 56 Great Egrets and 59 Snowy Egrets
(some may have been Little Blue Immatures) North of the bridge had only 3-
Grt Egrets and 7 crows today and then it started Raining (Downpour with lots
of lightning). Birding was over for the weekend.

 

In short was a great weekend. Thanks to Jeff and Mike I got # 204.

 

Jay Walko, MTOS,   Collierville, Tn 38017

 



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[TN-Bird] North Memphis Bird Watching-Wood Stork or Bust

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