[TN-Bird] Pace Point area; 1/11/10

From: <birder1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:39:32 -0600
1/11/2010
Pace Point area of Henry Co

I spent about 4 hours today birding Pace Point. All bays are completely 
frozen (of course), and the Big Sandy River is frozen up to almost Pace 
Point. There was a little bit of open water out from Eagle Creek, which was 
covered with birds, but I didn't make it over there.

There are still several thousand gulls around the area, but nothing like my 
last trip. I didn't see a single Bonaparte's Gull today, they left with the 
big freeze. I had hoped for a Glaucous or Iceland, or something, but no 
luck. Highlights today were an Eared Grebe still (looked to be a different 
bird than the one I photographed a couple of weeks ago, neck not quite as 
dark), and 5 of possibly my favorite duck; Common Mergansers.

The west side of Pace Point was completely frozen in, but the east side was 
covered with birds. There were 4 Common Mergansers (2 male and 2 female) 
working out from here initially, amongst all the dabbling ducks and scaup. 
There was another female that didn't associate with these birds at all. 
Before I left the 4 birds had flown around to the open water between Pace 
and Eagle Creek, and the females had hauled out on the ice

I photographed the Common Mergansers, (the best I could anyway) and the lone 
female in particular gave me the best views of this species I  have ever had 
in TN. Probably 75% of my sightings of this bird in TN have been in the bay 
below where the old maintenance buildings used to be on the way into Pace 
(and where overlook is now; Bennett's Creek). Though a great place to see 
the birds, they are quite distant. I have had a few good looks off of the 
Pace area over the years, but today was the best.

Otherwise, not much going on. Lots of Eagles standing around on the ice; I 
counted 17 from Pace Point. One juvenile bird was sloppily working over some 
coots, when I swear it came and gave me a once over before deciding I was 
too much trouble. Got some nice shots of this bird anyway! Unfortunately if 
it keeps up this kind of behavior around humans, it likely will get shot 
with something besides a Canon.

I have added several new shots from this year, though nothing rare at all; 
about 15 new shots in total including several from today of the Common 
Merg's and the young Eagle. The first new shot starts here:
http://www.pbase.com/mctodd/image/120801547/original

Good Birding!!

Mike Todd
McKenzie, TN
birder1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
www.pbase.com/mctodd


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[TN-Bird] Pace Point area; 1/11/10

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