Reelfoot Lake area 4/1/02 (no jokes involved)----------? Today I was finally able to get out and spend a day in the field, after way too much work lately. I enjoyed a very leisurely day with some new arrivals and some soon to be departing friends. The day began at Walnut Log with some cool temps. Spring migrants were still pretty slim, but several Northern Parulas were buzzing away, along with a couple of Yellow-throated Warblers, and a Black-and-white. The ever-present Yellow-rumped's were singing away as well, this did it for warblers on the day, but a nice welcome anyway. Other signs of spring included a flyover Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Fish Crows seemingly everywhere, Gnatcatchers fussing already, and Great Egrets. On the other end of the spectrum, I saw at least a half a dozen Sapsuckers, a singing Winter Wren, and the highlight, a duel of excellence by a couple of the Hermit Thrushes still enjoying our southern hospitality. One quick call seemed to indicate that an Eastern Wood-Pewee had come north a little early, but I never heard it again so I didn't make the call. From here a trip around the upper end of the lake produced lots of Shovelers, Green and Blue-winged Teal, and Gadwall, with a few Hooded Merg's thrown in. Shorebirds were few and far between, with Long Point having the only real concentration of Yellowlegs, the majority being Greater. I expected to but never stumbled across a Least Sandpiper all day. I finally found a flock of 78 American Golden-Plovers in a field off of Hwy 78, with my only Pectorals of the day mixed in. Killdeer and Snipe rounded out the shorebirds. Great Blues and Great Egrets had a close eye on practically every water hole. The lake itself was pretty much dead, with the only Pelicans seen being a group of twelve feeding in a flooded field off of the levee. I looked through a lot of gulls hoping for a Franklin's, but had to settle on some gorgeous fully-hooded Bonies, although most of them are still sporting the "splotched" look. All of the swallows were accounted for except for Bank. Nothing great, but a great day to be out!!!!!!! Mike Todd McKenzie, TN Carroll Co. mikectodd@xxxxxx =================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 =========================================================