This morning (May 30) Pamela Barrett and I checked out the previously known
sites for Scissor-tailed Flycatchers, Loggerhead Shrikes, and Dickcissels in
the Pikeville area of the Sequatchie Valley in Bledsoe County. We had
success with each species. Location details are in the linked eBird list:
https://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S37268781.
Six Scissor-tailed Flycatchers were found in four locations, including two
nests with incubating birds. One nest was on the usual transformer at
Ninemile Crossroads (tail seen sticking out). Behind Swafford Chapel we
noticed a bird going into a big persimmon tree and not coming out.
Subsequently we found a nest in the tree, and with great effort saw that a
bird was on the nest. I'd thought they only nested on transformers!
A pair of Loggerhead Shrikes was at a "usual" location behind Brushy
Cemetery, off Old Highway 28.
Four Dickcissels were heard singing (and two seen) at three locations.
Earlier in the morning we had found a pair of Dickcissels in Cumberland
County at Shadow Mountain Estates, where they have occurred irregularly in
recent years.
Ed LeGrand
Cumberland Co., TN
