[TN-Bird] Franklin's & Laughing Gulls- Big Sandy to Paris Landing area 10/2/03
- From: <birder1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 2 Oct 2003 20:57:45 -0500
10/2/03
Big Sandy (Pace Point), Britton Ford, Paris Landing areas
Henry & Benton Co.
Don and I got off to a late start due to both of having to get tires
fixed this morning (and I would have another flat while we were birding
today!). We got off to a slow start with warblers, but wound up with
several nice feeding flocks on the day, for 11 species of warblers.
These included my FOS Yellow-rumped, in addition to Tennessee, Parula,
Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, Black-throated Green, Palm, Bay-breasted,
Black-and-white, Common Yellowthroat, and a slightly tardy
Yellow-throated. We ended the day across the river from Paris Landing at
Gray's Landing, enjoying one of the Blue Jay movements that we've
encountered in this general area several times now. There was a constant
stream of Blue Jay's flying low over the woods going south, often in
groups of 15 to 20, group after group. At this location, we also had
what is as close to a flock of Vireos as I've seen. We had several
Red-eyed, several White-eyed, a Blue-headed, and at least 5 Philadelphia
Vireos (my high count) that together with Titmice were keeping things
lively in our small area. As there were only a couple of warblers in
attendance at this location, it was a Vireo show. We also had a
Yellow-throated Vireo earlier at Britton Ford for 5 Vireos on the day.
I've been waiting for a good passerine day over here and finally got it.
We tried a couple of great looking sparrow fields, with only a few
Swamps to show for it. Hopefully, with a little time off, a little more
stomping at Britton Ford will yield Sharp-tailed Sparrows again this
year.
Things were very quiet on the water today, with very few ducks (no
divers), and no loons seem to have snuck in the area yet. Pace Point had
it's usual complement of Ring-billed Gulls and Caspian Terns. We decided
to walk out on the island, and as we made our way out, a 2nd-winter
LAUGHING GULL flew right over us and sat down with it's brethren on the
island. This Laugher stayed a short while and then headed south down the
Tennessee River. My last trip here produced a juvenile Laughing Gull.
The FRANKLIN'S GULL was a 1st-winter bird seen late in the day on the
island just south of the Hwy 79 bridge at Paris Landing. This island
also held a good number of Herring Gulls along with Ring-billed. No sign
though of the Lesser Black-backs that will call this area home for the
winter.
Shorebirds were very hard to come by, in contrast to my last trip to the
area. The Lick Creek flats looked good, but held nothing but Killdeer.
The extensive flats at the mouth of the Big Sandy, held only a few
Killdeer, whereas the last time I was here we had 10 species. Britton
Ford had a few Pec's mixed in with the Killdeer. The last place we
stopped was the shorebird spot of the day, with many Least, a few Pec's
(with a Western in tow), and gobs of Killdeer. No Snipe or Dunlin on the
day. This location was the mud flats at Eagle Creek just south of Paris
Landing. Also here were several Forster's Terns resting with Ring-billed
Gulls.
We kept an "eye to the sky", but only saw a few Broad-wings and
Red-tails along with a Cooper's Hawk, juvenile Bald Eagle and a
lingering Osprey.
I have added a couple of shots of the Laughing and Franklin's Gulls at
my website under the "Uncommon to rare local birds (vol. 3)" album at:
http://home.bellsouth.net/p/s/community.dll?ep=330&groupID=116215&folder
view=thumbs&ck=.
Good Birding!!
Mike Todd
McKenzie, TN
Carroll Co.
birder1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://home.bellsouth.net/p/s/community.dll?ep=330&groupID=116215&folder
view=thumbs&ck=
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