DEC. 24-25, 2006 MS RV-Ensley, TN Tunica Co,MS Two very different days producing in different ways. The falling Mississippi River at Mud Island produced a sandbar which in turn the Peregrine Falcon again took up perching and hunting. On Sunday it just sat and preened but on a foggy Christmas morn, it was feasting on duck and living up fully to its name, Duck Hawk. A few Ring-billed Gulls and Great Blue Herons were the only birds still in view of the king's perch. TVA Lake held the usual duck ensemble with two Lesser Scaup wearing bill tags, a female in pink and a male in red. Both days a small flock of Yellow-rumped Warblers were feeding in the Phragmites, something I'd never seen before as few birds really like the stuff. A loud phish produced a Marsh Wren both mornings, evidently it liked the infectious hustle and bustle of the flock. Over 100 DC Cormorants dropped in and began diving for shad, amazing how many they caught in that small area. After a couple of late nights putting together Christmas presents for grand kids, I enjoyed the two different early mornings this weekend. Calm fog was in order as the weather started to change Sunday but I really do love sitting in the rain and just watching the different species doing their survival thing. In Tunica County, not one species was missing a beat in the rain and wind that caused most humans to seek shelter. Pipits, Lapland Longspurs and Western Meadowlarks were strolling the wet fields and grassy areas. Sparrows, including 3 Vesper were flitting, feeding and chasing one another in all type of habitat while Harriers, harried and Red-tailed Hawks watched for the unwary. I was allowed one photo of a Sharp-shinned Hawk that sat in a tree deciding which grove to dash through and snatch an unlucky Christmas treat. It did not take it long to decide and I could watch its progress by the birds bailing out of the tree line, like an old cop chase scene in a Max Sennet movie. Geese were moving and feeding in the Rice Fields in ever growing numbers and I found 63 SANDHILL CRANES in one field, the same field where Gene Knight and I discovered the first wintering flock of 7 birds some years back. A great big treat were the 4 TRUMPETER SWANS (3 adults and an immature) that have taken up feeding in a small wet area off Bond Road in Tunica Co. Even at a half mile they were big enough to photograph, one wears a neck band applied on the young bird a few years back in OHIO! I watched hundreds of Great Blue Herons, somberly standing around the catfish ponds, waiting for that one not so healthy catfish to swim close to the bank. They actually perform a service by weeding out the sick fish as they cannot get to the healthy catfish, that stay on the bottom. At one place three gray birds flushed from a ditch line, the center bird looked as if someone had cut it off both front and back, an adult BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was trying out the Great Blue life style. It might try to over winter along Hot Thornton Road. The year is fast approaching its final days, another year of great birds, birding and birding friends. Looking forward hopefully to experiencing more of the same in the coming year. Season's Greetings and get out and bird, rain or shine, hot or cold, the birds are always waiting to teach. Good Birding !!! Jeff R. Wilson / TLBA 6298 Memphis-Arlington Road Bartlett, TN 38135 =================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBER===================== The TN-Bird Net requires you to SIGN YOUR MESSAGE with first and last name, CITY (TOWN) and state abbreviation. You are also required to list the COUNTY in which the birds you report were seen. 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