Some Sandhill Cranes were kettling to apparently head further south today at
the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge in Meigs County at Birchwood. However, there were
still hundreds of cranes in view at late afternoon from the nearby Cherokee
Removal Memorial Park, also in Meigs County. From the CRMP viewing area, I
added Green-winged Teal to my list of first-of-season ducks. To date, I've
observed 13 species of ducks in the HWR area this fall. There were also a
number of American White Pelicans in the Tennessee River northwest of Hiwassee
Island. At home in Birchwood (Hamilton County), I saw a Red-breasted Nuthatch
at a sunflower-mixed seed feeder for the first time ever. Palm and Pine
Warblers were noted at the HWR viewing area.
Charles Murray
Birchwood, TN