In the past several days my visits to the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge in Meigs
County at Birchwood have produced several first-of-season (FOS) sightings and a
few other highlights. Species observed from the viewing area at HWR will be
noted as such. Observations from the viewing ramp at the Cherokee Removal
Memorial Park will be labeled CRMP.
* 11-19-17: Horned Grebes – FOS at CRMP; also 10 species of ducks seen
* 11-20-17: Winter Wren – FOS at CRMP; an immature Bald Eagle was attacked
by a Merlin or a Peregrine Falcon; using tracking equipment, a Whooping Crane
signal was heard from HWR; it was found by satellite tracking from Wisconsin in
Wheeler Refuge in Alabama the next day.
* 11-21-17: Snow Geese – FOS at CRMP
* 11-22-17: Northern Bobwhites seen on private property near HWR
* 11-23-17: Hundreds of Sandhill Cranes and some Am. White Pelicans in the
same kettles flew south from HWR; Palm, Pine, and Yellow-rumped Warblers and
Brown-headed nuthatches also seen at HWR; 48 species for the day
* 11-24-17: Canvasback and Redhead ducks – FOS at HWR
* 11-25-17: Most Sandhill Cranes so far this season late PM at CRMP
* 11-26-17: Fox Sparrow and Swamp Sparrow – both FOS at HWR; Large numbers
of Sandhill Cranes and Am. White Pelicans at CRMP
Charles Murray
Birchwood, TN
