Earlier this afternoon around 3:00 p.m., I stopped at the Alcoa Duck Pond
(Blount County) to scan for waterfowl and was rewarded with a mixed-sex
group of 12 Hooded Mergansers and two male Redhead, neither of whom pulled
their heads up from where they were tucked neatly into their backs. Upon
leaving the pond and heading back toward the highway, I pulled over near
the intersection of E. Hunt and Springbrook Road, very near the Springbrook
Park sign, and observed 200+ likely Rusty Blackbirds high up in the trees
along the park side. They were in mixed flocks with grackles and starlings,
but most appeared to be rusties, though my identification isn't solid
because the light was terrible; I have observed them in the same location
before in prior years, however.
Good birding,
Angela Hoffman
*Angela M. Hoffman*
Knoxville, TN
ahoffman1979@xxxxxxxxx
