10-23-2015
I spent a good part of the last two days checking areas along Kentucky
Lake in Perry, Humphreys, and Henry Counties, starting at Tom's Creek in
Perry County, and heading North from there.
Other stops were TNWR South Shores, Tie Landing, TNWR DRU Pump Station and
Pool 1, Bennet's Creek Overlook, Pace Point, Rocky Point, Big Sandy
Mudflats, Paris Landing, Eagle Creek, and Britton Ford.
Here are some of the high lights in taxonomic order; (hopefully)
Common Loon, (less than a dozen, most at Pace Point, one at the Pump
Station, DRU.)
WESTERN GREBE 1, (Seen this morning 10-23-15 from Pace Point looking West
across the lake. Viewing conditions were good enough to eliminate Clark's
at long distance.)
13 species of waterfowl, nothing rare;
Redhead 11
Lesser Scaup 3
Ruddy Duck 45, all at Pace Point.
Osprey 1 at Port Road Overlook
15 species of shorebirds;
Spotted Sandpiper 1, Rocky Point
Black-bellied Plover 1 (flyover at Taylor Rd.)
American Golden Plover 1, Eagle Creek.
Greater Yellowlegs 8, Pool 1
Lesser Yellowlegs 6, Pool 1
Stilt Sandpiper 37, Pool 1
Dunlin, 12 at Pool 1, 5 at Eagle Creek, 25 at Britton Ford. Total 54
Pectoral Sandpiper 4, Tom's Creek
Least Sandpiper 19, Tom's Creek
White-rumped Sandpiper 2, Pool 1
Short-billed Dowitcher 2
Long-billed Dowitcher 28
Wilson's Snipe, many locations
American Woodcock 1 Perry County
Five gull species;
Franklin's Gull 17, 13 at Pace Point, 1 Eagle Creek, 3 Britton Ford.
Bonaparte's Gull 1, Pace Point
Lesser Black-backed Gull 2, both first cycle at Paris Landing.
Forster's Tern 68, 2 at Pace Point, 48 at Eagle Creek, 18 at Britton
Ford.
Peregrine Falcon 1, Bennet's Creek Overlook.
FISH CROW 1, heard and photographed at Britton Ford this evening, 10-23-15.
Tree Swallow 1200 at Pool 1
Gray Catbird 1 at Bennet's Creek Overlook
Only six Warblers, with Yellow-rumped and Palm numerous and widespread,
and one each;
Tennessee, Britton Ford
Orange crowned, Tie Landing
Bay breasted, Tie Landing
C. Yellowthroat, several, I forgot where.
Eleven Sparrow species, which is rather poor for the last of October,
highlights;
Vesper 2, Big Sandy Mudflats
Lecontes 1 TNWR South Shores
Lincoln's 3, 2 at Bennet's Creek, one Britton Ford.
Dark-eyed Junco 1 FOS, Rocky Point (Sparrows really should be
outnumbering shorebirds by now)
Nothing for my year list, but Orange-Crowned Warbler and Lecontes Sparrow
were my first for Humphreys, Western Grebe and Fish Crow my first for Henry
County.
Good birding, Ruben Stoll , Centerville TN.
