June 8-9, 2002 Shelby, Lauderdale, Lake, Dyer Co. TN With 13 species of waterfowl seen over the weekend, you might think it to be winter rather than June. Of course Canada Geese are breeding everywhere now and making more poop than you can shake a foot at. The most surprising and pleasing birds were both Tree Ducks that were enjoyed, with 5 Black-bellied at North Lake in south Ensley Bottoms in Shelby County on Saturday; and the pair of Fulvous still seen early in the day by Todd and Greene at Mud Lake in Lake Co. These two were hard to find as they flew into and out of the flooded winter wheat. They were sitting out in the open near a little island that they had been using all week when I arrived at 7:30 Saturday evening. I saw them fly from that area into the wheat again early Sunday morning and many trips back by Mud Lake did not prove fruitful all day except for the many other duck species picked up at that location. There were 6 Wood Ducks at Mud Lake, 3 pair along with; one Gadwall male, 3 Wigeon, 2 male and 1 female, an American Black Duck that I had to walk a quarter of a mile to make sure it was not a wayward Mottled, another species soon to be found in TN. Mallards in all sizes and conditions of molt were in all the wet holes with 27 counted at Mud Lake, Blue-winged Teal were represented by 3 males hanging together and another mated pair that stayed away from the cruisers. A single female Northern Shoveler and a ratty looking Canvasback were seen off and on all day. A male Lesser Scaup is still present at Champy's Pocket at Reelfoot Lake and Hooded Mergansers were seen along the Great River Road, Reelfoot Lake and another pair of females at Mud Lake. The final species I mention here put on a real show, I found 1 Ruddy Duck in a barrow pit just north of 155 on the Great River Road and a pair on Reelfoot Lake but the 70 counted at Mud Lake with 62 brightly plumaged males and 8 females were stunning in numbers and colors. The bright blue bills, white cheek patches, ruddy bodies and stiff tails were to be marveled at again and again. What a difference 7 days can make here along the Mississippi River as since last Sunday the river has dropped 18 feet. The fields are quickly drying, much too quickly, as two Black-necked Stilt nest in Lake Co. were destroyed this week, one by a road grader and another by plow. Most of the 14 or so Black-necks seen last week in Lake Co. have moved on but at Memphis the number of active nests grew and birds were seen breeding while hatched young were being located. There are a few sand bars just rising from the waters and Least Terns have abandoned the fields where there were hundreds last week except for a few that could not wait; most of these nests will fall to the ever present plow that follows the pale color of drying soil across the wide fields. Life goes on along the Mighty Missisip'. Good Birding!!! Jeff R. Wilson OL' COOT / TLBA Bartlett Tenn. =================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBER===================== The TN-Bird Net requires you to sign your messages with first and last name, city (town) and state abbreviation. ----------------------------------------------------- To post to this mailing list, simply send email to: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx ----------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send email to: tn-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Topographical Maps located at http://topozone.com/find.asp * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Visit the Tennessee Ornithological Society web site at http://www.tnbirds.org * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * TN-Bird Net Owner: Wallace Coffey, Bristol, TN jwcoffey@xxxxxxxxxx (423) 764-3958 =========================================================