Thanks so much for organizing!!!! Sorry we had to leave a tad early and didn't
really get to say thanks and goodbye. It was a great trip!
Susie
Sent from my iPhone
On Sep 3, 2017, at 8:10 AM, Stephen Zipperer <stczipperer@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
2/3/2017
Yesterday 21 adventurous birders embarked on the third running of the
Reelfoot to Memphis Run. We had Black Terns and Least Terns and Buff-breasted
Sandpipers at the Tiptonville Ferry sand bar out on the Mississippi river.
Am. White Pelicans, Bald Eagle, Osprey at Reelfoot Lake. Had a few common
peeps at a flooded field heading down the road to the Air Park area.
Mississippi Kites were seen at Booth Landing. At the Pits in Memphis,
Solitary, Spotted, Least, Semipalmated, Western, Baird's and Stilt
Sandpipers were seen. Along with Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, Wilson
Phalarope, Short-billed Dowitcher, Black-neck Stilt, Black-bellied
Whistling Ducks were best birds. We had our youngest birder this year. 12
year old Luke from Chattanooga. Great young birder trying to get to 300 life
birds this year. He found his own Short-billed Dowitcher to make his 8th or
ninth lifer seen for the day. Great job Luke . Luke also found out that
birders like to have a lot of fun. He was looking through my scope at
Buff-breated Sandpiper when i casually mentioned thst my best bird from the
day before was 3 Bandit Ringtails. He eased away from the scope with a
puzzled look on his face and asked what? I said you know Racoons. The look on
his face was classic. Great to meet and bird with you. Pam from Nashville was
hoping to get to 250 species seen in Tennessee this year. She got to 252
yesterday. Pam learned yesterday when she asked what Mike Todd meant by
classic Western Sandpiper that it meant cowboy hat and boots. I just could
not resists. Congrats Pam. It was a great day. Lots a great stories and
memories, and laughs and good natured pranking going on all day along with
the great birds. Thanks to all who came out for the first time. Thanks to
those who made it out for their second run. A special thanks to all the
original members of the original group who made it out this year, Mark
Greene, Mike Todd, Chris Agee, Joe Hall, Joshua Stevenson, Graham Gerdeman.
We missed Ruben and Victor Stoll who are lost somewhere in the wilds of
Alaska we think tracking down birds for their big year and my Dad Jack
Zipperer who could not make it either. Beautiful day of birding the
Mississippi Flyway. Thanks again. Mark your calendars for the Saturday of
Labor Day Weekend in 2018. If there is interest we will make the Run again.
Great Birding
Stephen Zipperer
Rutherford Co
