Around 11:30 this morning today, I observed a large raptor perched in a tree
across the slough from the viewing area at Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge in
Birchwood (Meigs County). This bird was comparable to the one I had seen in the
same area on January 14, 2016. That bird had been confirmed and reported by
Rick Houlk as being an adult golden eagle. A few other highlights from this
morning, all from Meigs County, were Northern pintails, ruddy ducks, and a snow
goose at HWR. At the Cherokee Removal Memorial Park earlier in the morning, I
saw about 15 American white pelicans, a large immature bald eagle, and an
American wigeon. There were several hundred sandhill cranes in view at the two
sites.
I still think that a large number of sandhill cranes were seen migrating north
over the Birchwood area in the past few days. Has anyone north of Meigs County
(such as Crossville, Cookeville, etc.) seen any migrating cranes in recent
days?
Charles Murray
Birchwood, TN
