[TN-Bird] Lake & Dyer Co Birding; 9/2/05

From: <birder1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, 2 Sep 2005 22:33:32 -0500

9/2/05
Lake & Dyer Co.

I spent part of the day birding along the Mississippi wherever I could get access. I had hoped for an outside chance at a returning Hurricane bird, but not to be. I had also hoped that some of the good spots that had been dry, might have some habitat. I underestimated the effect of all the rain, as the places that had been being dry were completely inundated. I only saw shorebirds one place off of the Mississippi River, and this was just a Solitary and Greater Yellowlegs in the edge of a flooded field.

The River had also jumped up more than I had expected, covering much of the Tiptonville Bar. Tiptonville Bar produced 5 Caspian Terns, 5 Black Terns, and 1 Least Tern, along with 2 Ring-billed Gulls, all huddled up on a tiny spit off of the point. These would be only tern species of the day, although Blacks were seen pretty much anywhere you could look at the river, at least 50 on the day. Tiptonville Bar did produce the only Sanderlings of the day, as 2 flew by going south.

Island 13 was the highlight of the day, though there was nothing out of the ordinary here. After a long walk in from the top end, when I got to the traditional area where the birding is good, birding didn't look very good. I was curious what the island looked like, and got about what I expected. Much of the old pool area is now filled in, and at 1st glance there were only a couple of small, deep pools which nothing was using. I had about given up when I noticed a couple of peeps drop down behind a rise in the distance. As I got closer, the 1st bird I saw was a Buff-breasted Sandpiper which walked over a rise in front of me. Things were looking up. I eventually got to the tiny little wet area that all of the birds were using. I took my time and was able to walk right up on top of these birds, and I spent an enjoyable (but hot) couple of hours just watching all the birds interact. There were only 8 species here, but they included 17 Buff-breasteds, 9 Baird's, 2 Stilt Sandpipers and my 1st Semipalmated Plover of the fall. This spot will likely be dry shortly.

Trips into White Lake Refuge and Heloise were both busts, to much water for much of anything. I had hoped to maybe cross paths with one of the Tricolored Herons or Spoonbills that have been seen recently, but no luck. I couldn't stay long enough to wait for the birds to come into roost in the afternoon.

Hopefully they'll get KY Lake down soon, as I plan to spend most of the little birding time I have in this area for the immediate future, with the gas situation being what it is.

I have created a gallery of some shots I took today while on Island 13. Nothing unusual, but some up-close and personal shots of Buffies and Baird's. For those interested, the link is here: http://www.pbase.com/mctodd/island_13_

Good Birding,

Mike Todd
McKenzie, TN
Carroll Co.
birder1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
www.pbase.com/mctodd


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[TN-Bird] Lake & Dyer Co Birding; 9/2/05

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