[TN-Bird] Rutherford Co. Bewick's Wren, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, E. Kingbirds, etc.

From: "Scott Somershoe" <Scott.Somershoe@xxxxxx>
To: <tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, 08 Apr 2011 17:17:00 -0500
I had originally planned to go to a series of locations and do specific surveys 
for Bewick's Wrens today, so Terry Witt finding a couple birds yesterday made 
me optimistic I'd find one or two.  

I spent significant time at a few locations where birds (incl a pair) were 
found last year with no luck.  I also checked out some places where they have 
been in the past and a bunch of other places that looked good.

I relocated only one of the Bewick's Wrens on Lytle Creek Rd.  The bird was at 
4945 Lytle Creek.  I initially only heard the bird from a distance, but upon 
coming back an hour later the bird was near the road and provided a lot of song 
and some good looks.  I hope to revisit all these sites and some more in a 
couple weeks, hopefully with more luck.  In the area, I refound the pair the 
shrikes that have nested in the same location for at least 4 years.  

I had one Scissor-tailed Flycatcher in a usual spot on Lytle Creek (they 
returned on 1 Apr according to one of the landowners).  I also had 5 Eastern 
Kingbirds scattered in the area.  LOTS of Eastern Meadowlarks and Field 
Sparrows in the area.  Just a tad early for Grasshopper Sparrows.

One Prairie Warbler was in the northern end of the county.   I also had 
white-crowned sparrows in numerous places with many half singing their song.  I 
was also thrilled to come across a couple flocks of Purple Finches away from 
feeders.  I had 2 groups of birds working on tree buds and singing.  One flock 
was >20 birds.  Quite nice to hear (and learn) their song and see them not at a 
feeder.

I checked some areas previously occupied by shrikes near Eagleville.  No luck, 
but I didn't have much time.  A couple snipe in a usual spot were nice.

South of Murfreesboro there are some fields that stay flooded and have 
reportedly had lots of waterfowl and shorebirds recently.  I found 68+ 
blue-winged teal, 20 American Coots, and 3 Wilson's Snipe.  The site has 
potential for shorebird habitat if the timing and water levels are right.  It 
doesn't look like it completely dries up very often.  I hope to begin checking 
it regularly.

Blue-gray gnatcatchers were everywhere.  Upon driving a lot of miles slowly 
with the windows down, I probably heard 100+ birds.

Good birding!
Scott Somershoe

State Ornithologist
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
P.O. Box 40747
Nashville, TN 37204
615-781-6653 (o)
615-781-6654 (fax)

www.tnwatchablewildlife.org
www.pbase.com/shoeman
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[TN-Bird] Rutherford Co. Bewick's Wren, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, E. Kingbirds, etc.

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