[TN-Bird] Reelfoot to the Pits, 16 Aug 13
- From: Scott Somershoe <Scott.Somershoe@xxxxxx>
- To: TN-Birds <tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 17 Aug 2013 02:35:05 +0000
Stephen Zipperer and I made a loop through west TN hotspots today looking for
target species for Stephen. Long day, but a few highlights:
Reelfoot area - more water on the ground then expected, but almost no
shorebirds to speak of.
Tiptonville Bar, Lake Co. - 555+ Least terns, 1 Black Tern
Sheeps Ridge Rd where the levee blew out, eliminating access to Island 13 (Lake
Co.) - Olive-sided Flycatcher (I'll post photos eventually).
Missed Western Kingbirds at a couple usual places in Shelby Co., but this is no
surprise as others have missed them recently.
Ensley Bottom, Pits, Shelby Co. -
The main pit had more shorebirds than I've ever seen. I was estimating the
massive flock in groups of 500 and counted 17,000 birds, twice. Of that, about
15,000 were Least Sandpipers, 1500 Pectorals (in a wide variety of sizes and
plumages that were quite fascinating), and 500 Semipalmated Sandpipers.
Smattering of other expected species, but pretty limited numbers. Few
Black-necked Stilts as most of the smaller ponds were drying up.
We found the Fulvous Whistling-Duck in with Black-bellied's in one of the
smaller ponds with a lot of light brown weeds. One family of Black-bellieds
had a bunch of pretty small young.
Not much else to note at the Pits but the huge number of birds! I felt like I
was at a coastal concentration point. At one point, a Cooper's Hawk scared
everything up. Pretty impressive sight! A few more hours and a little luck and
maybe a real goody could be teased out of that group! Hopefully they'll be
around tomorrow.
Good birding,
Scott Somershoe
State Ornithologist
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
P.O. Box 40747
Nashville, TN 37204
615-781-6653 (office)
615-781-6654 (fax)
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