[TN-Bird] Damp Fine Birding

From: OLCOOT1@xxxxxxx
To: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Fri, 28 Feb 2003 09:19:33 EST
Feb. 26-27, 2003
Shelby Farms - Ensley Bottoms
Shelby Co. TN

At lunch and between running between jobs, the past couple of damp fine days, 
I've seen a lot of birds actively feeding and moving about.

On Wednesday, I spent almost two hours in Shelby Farms and found the 
following: The Great Egret that has been over-wintering did not stick out 
like a sore thumb because of the patchy white snow. At the horse pens were 31 
Brewer's Blackbirds with a few Rusty mixed in for great plumage comparisons 
and a large flock of a couple of hundred Rusty were feeding under some not 
too distant oak trees. 

The Wilson's Snipe are pumping away in all the puddles out in the fields. I 
only saw 1 immature Cooper's that flew in and perched about 30 feet away and 
then darted through a small opening as slick as would be expected from a 
blue-darter. Its crop appeared empty but a refueling stop I'm sure was its 
intent. The total of 10 sparrow species included Vesper, Fox and an 
unexpected Lincoln's feeding under a privet bush with a mix of 
White-throated, Swamp and Song. The Vespers were feeding at roadside with 
Juncos. 

Red-tailed Hawks were down to 6 plus a dark morph, the Harlan's was not to be 
seen. Waterfowl scattered around included, Canada Geese, Gadwall, Mallard, 
Black, Shoveler, Green-winged Teal, Ring-necked, Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, 
and Ruddy. Killdeer paced the fields in great numbers and a single Pectoral 
Sandpiper made its pre-spring appearance. The Mississippi River is up 30 feet 
over the last three weeks, forcing Ring-billed Gulls to forage in fields.

At Ensley Bottoms, a quick run through, found the largest concentration of 
the year of Lesser and Greater Scaup with TVA Lake almost covered and just as 
many out on McKellar Lake. Among them were token, Gadwall, Mallard, 
Canvasback, Ring-necked and Hooded Mergansers. I'll try a few minutes of 
scanning again today as something good ought to show up in that many Scaup. 
In a large group of Mallards, I photographed the white Mallard again, this 
bird has a pale blue speculum bordered in white that is lighter than the 
white of the body. It is full blooded Mallard, just a very white leucistic 
form as all the normal colored areas on the bird are discernible but frosted 
over. It is now into its 3rd year of survivorship. A large flock of 500 to 
700 Lapland Longspurs were rolling about in the plowed fields. These birds 
also could harbor an unusual vagrant.

Good Birding!!!

Jeff R. Wilson
OL' COOT / TLBA
Bartlett Tenn.


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[TN-Bird] Damp Fine Birding

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