[TN-Bird] Sightings Report, Shelby Farms 11 Dec 2011, Memphis, Shelby Cty

From: John Walko <walko@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: Tn-Bird <tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, Dick Preston <dickpreston@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sun, 11 Dec 2011 21:54:06 -0600
Visited four different areas this afternoon at Shelby farms checking out the 
waterfowl. Cold weather has finally brought migration into full swing for some 
of the waterfowl here in TN. The duck hunters aren't seeing much with all the 
high water but the birds are coming in thick at the DU Project field at sundown 
(see below).
Add todays counts With yesterdays visit to Ensley bottoms there is good birding 
to be had for waterfowl.

   Shelby Farms Patriot Lake, Shelby, US-TN
Dec 11, 2011 2:45 PM - 3:10 PM
Protocol: Traveling
0.25 mile(s)
Comments:     Clear bright afternoon, temp 51degs and dropping as the sun goes 
down for the afternoon.
11 species
Canada Goose  7
Canvasback  1     Single female
Bufflehead  5     3M & 2F
Ruddy Duck  36     Spread out with majority at the eastern end of the lake.
Pied-billed Grebe  2
Double-crested Cormorant  1     Single bird swimming with some geese not far 
from the island near the boat ramp
Great Blue Heron  4
Red-tailed Hawk  1
American Coot  21
Killdeer  22     Buffalo pasture most likely more but roads were busy with cars
Ring-billed Gull  1

  Shelby Farms Pine Lake Day use area, Shelby, US-TN
Dec 11, 2011 3:10 PM - 3:30 PM
Protocol: Traveling
0.25 mile(s)
Comments:     Quick run by the lake
6 species
Canada Goose  22
Gadwall  12
Mallard  13
Northern Shoveler  3
Carolina Chickadee  2
Northern Cardinal  2

  Shelby Farms Picnic Shltr 4/Lake, Shelby, US-TN
Dec 11, 2011 3:45 PM - 4:15 PM
Protocol: Traveling
0.5 mile(s)
Comments:     Strolled around the western shore with scope and binos, , 
interesting mix of waterfowl.
10 species
Canada Goose  7
Gadwall  14
Mallard  15
Northern Shoveler  10
Canvasback  3
Ring-necked Duck  27
Greater Scaup  1     1F, This was a big Scaup hanging out with the shovelers
Red-tailed Hawk  1
Blue Jay  3
Northern Mockingbird  1

  Shelby Farms Shooting Rng and East, Shelby, US-TN
Dec 11, 2011 4:25 PM - 5:40 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.0 mile(s)
Comments:     What started out as a quick stop leading into sunset, ended up 
being the longest stop of the day. The DU Flooding/Wetland Project is partially 
flooded from the latest rain on the south side with standing corn to the north 
side. There was only 34 Mallards & 9 Geese when I first got there. Then 
starting at 452pm the flood gates opened up as the sun went down. Flocks of 12 
- 57 Can Geese came in from every direction, Mallards came in in small groups, 
like fighter planes returning to base. A group of 15+ Gadwall came in with just 
enough light to recognize them. All of the sudden 200+ geese got up and circled 
before settling back down. All of the sudden I scanned the 40+ ducks at the 
south end of the water and determined they weren't Mallards or Gadwalls.  A dog 
handler who had been near the pond came back to his car and confirmed that they 
were Green Winged Teal as they had come in hard and fast at head height out of 
my view, right over his hide, they were the reason the geese spooked as they 
did. Great night roost for waterfowl can't wait for the full flooding to begin. 
250 + Mallards and 500+ Can Geese with more coming in as I left at 540pm.
8 species
Canada Goose  500     500+ estimate as they came in at sundown
Gadwall  15
Mallard  250     250+ estimate as they came in at sundown
Green-winged Teal  40     40 + Estimate maybe more
Mourning Dove  60     Down by the field trial farm fields near Case
Northern Mockingbird  1
Red-winged Blackbird  27
Common Grackle  50     Just a low estimate

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

John "Jay" Walko
Collierville, TN
www.pbase.com/jwalko
[TN-Bird] Sightings Report, Shelby Farms 11 Dec 2011, Memphis, Shelby Cty

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