June 18, 2005 President's Island Shelby Co. TN An early visit to the Scissor-tailed nest site Saturday, revealed the female on the nest but continually changing positions and looking at the eggs. The male was stationed across the street the whole time I was there. I decided to return later and after noon, I discovered the female sitting on the wire outside the nest. Soon the male returned and both went to the nest. He fed very small young and after an hours vigil I was able to see three very small fuzzy heads. There could be another but 3 were all I could make out at one time. They were having a tough time holding their heads up. The Western Kingbird at Ensley was calmly sitting on her nest and occasionally would fly out and catch a snack on the wing and return. The male was seen far out in the bean field. At the pits, I found 10 Least Sandpipers, double the number I saw on Friday and saw no White-rumped. I'm getting reports of early returning shorebirds to our north. There was 1 Ring-billed Gull on McKellar Lake along with a bunch of displaced Least Terns. The Mississippi River just peaked after an 11 foot rise and has eaten practically all the sandbars head to toe. Good Birding!!! Jeff R. Wilson OL'COOT / TLBA Bartlett, TN