November 19th, 2018
I met up with Daniel Redwine and Andrew Lydeard this morning at dawn to
search for Sprague’s Pipit, Longspurs, etc. and get in some general Lake
County birding. Here are a few highlights from the day.
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, Mark Greene’s continuing adult female at Jolly Landing,
very reliable and cooperative all day.
SMITH’S LONGSPURS, at least two, one a male, in a very large corn stubble
field on the opposite side of the road from the traditional Smith’s
location, seen with good numbers of Lapland Longspurs and Horned Larks. We
had to hike perhaps a quarter mile out into the field before Daniel and
Andrew first picked them up by ear. I got flight views only, but they were
very satisfactory looks with spotting scope at a full color male.
FRANKLIN’s GULL, one first cycle bird on Reelfoot Lake out from Keystone
Pocket.
RED PHALAROPE, surprisingly my third for the season, out on Reelfoot Lake
at gull-roost time, seen from the State Park. We watched this bird feeding,
flying and landing on the water repeatedly. We lost it when it got too dark
to stay on it.
The lowlight was not being able to find a Little Gull even with carefully
glassing large numbers of Bonaparte’s Gulls at roost time. My main reason
for the trip. I guess that means I’ll have to go back soon.
Ruben Stoll, Centerville Tennessee
