[TN-Bird] Ensley Migration and Banded Pectoral Sandpiper
- From: OLCOOT1@xxxxxxx
- To: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sat, 13 Aug 2005 21:06:31 EDT
August 13, 2005
Ensley Bottoms
Southeast Shelby Co. TN
The drought reigns at Ensley, there is very little water running through the
system and the only clean water bathing pool will be dry in the next few
days. Only 11 species of Wind Birds were seen today, I could not rouse even a
single call much less a sighting of the Upland Sandpipers that have been
hanging
out in the pigweed and I expected Buff-breasted, Baird's or Stilt
Sandpipers, but none appeared before I left at 1:30 this afternoon.
There was a migration going on all day, with 2 Greater Yellowlegs falling in
and leaving along with small groups of Pectoral and Lesser Yellowlegs. The
Least Sandpipers number in the thousands with only 1 Western and dwindling
numbers of Pectoral and Semipalmated Sandpipers. Two Black Terns came in from
on
high followed by 5 more and then 2 but an hour later none could be found.
I found a Pectoral Sandpiper that kept me busy for two hours. It was
sporting a flag on its lower left leg but both legs were so covered in sludge
that I
could not get a read on the number or colors of the other suspected bands.
It has been a couple of years since I've seen a banded shorebird at Ensley,
this makes about 40 I've seen over the years.
I knew the bird would eventually go to the bathing pool and I might get a
look there. Sure enough it left and I trailed it over and watched as the mud
came off; the flag was green indicating it was banded somewhere in the US.
Besides the flag, it also sported 4 other colored bands along with a metal
band.
I got some photos of the bands and I will be able to trace down where the
bird was banded from their positions on the legs.
Overhead all morning, there was a huge number of Chimney Swifts (many
hundreds), swallows, a few hawks and feeding Mississippi Kites. Three
Broad-winged
Hawks slipped down the draft off the ridge line to the east and appeared to
be migrating.
Good Birding!!!
Jeff R. Wilson
OL'COOT / TLBA
Bartlett, TN
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