[TN-Bird] R-N Grebe/R-T Loon/LBB Gull
- From: OLCOOT1@xxxxxxx
- To: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 24 Nov 2003 07:47:36 EST
Nov.22-23, 2003
Pace Point Area
Henry and Benton Co. TN.
I met Phillip Casteel and Frank Fekel from Nashville, Saturday morning at
Britton Ford. We soon located the Red-necked Grebe in the middle cove, again
feeding in a large group of Horned Grebe with a few Pied-billed and
Red-breasted
Mergs. Phillip and Frank were rewarded with great views of the Red-necked in
flight, truly a treat if you have never seen one come whizzing by. The
waterfowl
numbers were down from last week as the water level was up and covered most
of the mud flats. Dunlin and Snipe were the only "Wind Birds" beside the
Killdeer that paced the narrow edges.
Later off Trailer Road, I had the usual brief and unsatisfactory looks at a
Red-throated Loon that disappeared in the wind driven waves heavily mottled by
heat waves. Later, I was to get better but still distant looks at this gray
ghost from the opposite shore during my late afternoon loon watch. At Pace
Point, I flushed 2 Snow Geese and we saw a single American White Pelican but
the
waves gave us little chance at anything else.
I counted about 300 loons from 2 points at parade time. There are still well
over 400 loons in the area. I still have not had a Pacific Loon this season.
As the sun set, I was approaching Lashlie Spring when I saw what I first
thought to be a large hunting dog laying in the road. It turned out to be the
largest Bobcat that I believe I have ever seen, it slowly unfolded and slipped
into the weeds with its stubby tail held in the typical "comma" curve. At the
eagle roost at last light, I was joined by a couple of residents of the area
and
one had written a history of the surrounding territory and had answers to all
my questions about some of the old home sites I have stumbled across in my
ramblings.
We enjoyed 19 adult Bald Eagles and about 6 immatures, settling and calling
in the pines. We were also serenaded by a Screech, a Barred and a Great Horned
Owl plus a couple of troops of Coyotes.
Mike Todd joined me Sunday and we located the Red-necked Grebe in the middle
cove at Britton Ford but it moved with the group to the cove at the
observation platform where we found it off and on through the day. The bird can
be hard
to see as it quickly dives and is usually seen at a distance. We got our first
close looks at the bird and some ID shots finally. This bird was a "Lifer"
for Mike just last week in the rain, so we spent a lot of time going over the
details for distant IDs and Mike also was treated to a long flight by the bird
and was duly impressed. Finally up close, the bird had very faint facial
markings on the right side of the face that indicate that it is an immature
bird
rather than adult as I first thought.
Back at Britton Ford late in the day, we had not seen any interesting gulls
during our trips to all the usual points and I complained. Well, no sooner than
the words had drifted off with the breeze, in popped a third year Lesser
Black-backed Gull for our viewing pleasure. As I often say "Ask and yee shall
receive"
Waterfowl species numbered 21 for the weekend with only 1 Surf Scoter, 2 male
Goldeneye and a small surprise in a single female Blue-winged Teal.
Good Birding!!!
Jeff R. Wilson
OL'COOT / TLBA
Bartlett, TN
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