Harry LeGrand and I checked out the usual sites for Scissor-tailed
Flycatchers and Dickcissels in the Sequatchie Valley (mostly northeast of
Pikeville) this morning and early afternoon (Thursday, May 26, 2016).
The interesting birds, with notes taken from eBird, were:
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 6 All known sites where Scissor-tailed
Flycatchers have been seen in the upper valley were checked. Pair at Oxier
Hollow Rd./Lee Hollow Rd. (Melvin Crossroads Rd.) & Upper East Valley Rd.
Pair at Swafford Chapel & Cemetery (off Upper East Valley Rd). Single at
Ninemile Cross Road apparently building nest on transformer (usual
location). Single along Upper East Valley Rd. 1/4 mile northeast of junction
with Old Dayton Rd. (New location for me.)
Dickcissel 2 All known sites for Dickcissel were checked (including
site along Wesley Chapel Rd. southwest of Rt. 31). One heard and seen
singing from top of tree at intersection of Oxier Hollow Rd./Lee Hollow Rd.
(Melvin Crossroads Rd.) and Upper East Valley Rd. (Known location from
previous years.) One heard repeatedly singing along Rt. 31 uphill from the
intersection of Old Dayton Rd. and Rt. 31. (New location).
Loggerhead Shrike 1 At Brushy Cemetery. Seen along fence behind
cemetery. Distant, requiring spotting scope to make ID (to see black mask,
black wings with small white spot). Seen in morning and again in early
afternoon. (Known location from previous years.)
Grasshopper Sparrow 2 One along Melvine Crossroad near intersection
with Upper East Valley Rd. One heard singing at Swafford Chapel & Cemetery.
Northern Bobwhite 4 Two heard singing at Brushy Cemetery. Pair flew
across road at Melvin Crossroads Rd. near Upper East Valley Rd.
Ed LeGrand
Cumberland Co., TN