March 31, 2016Ben Parker Road, Lake County
I was in Lake County late this afternoon and I was driving slowly down Ben
Parker Road with the windows down when I heard a plover-like call that I did
not immediately recognize. I stopped and searched and a few minutes later I
located the bird - a basic plumage Snowy Plover! The bird was near the north
end of Ben Parker Road on the west side of the road in a muddy field with some
Killdeer, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, and Pectoral Sandpipers.
I noted a small plover, the color of wet sand, much smaller than nearby
Killdeer. It had dark patches on the sides of the neck that extended onto the
top of the breast but it did not have a breast band. It had a white collar on
the back of the neck and a small, stubby black bill.
I think this is the 5th recorded occurrence of this species in TN and the first
since 1994. I believe that there is one other March record for this species in
the state. I'll look those up when I get home.
Mike Todd is headed there now. hopefully he can refind the bird.
Good birding!
Mark GreeneTrenton, TN
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