[TN-Bird] Least Tern, Ruddy Turnstone, etc. (Cocke, Hamblen, Jefferson Co., TN)
- From: Alice Loftin / Don Miller <pandion@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: TN-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx, bristol-birds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx, butternuts@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sat, 18 Aug 2012 23:13:30 -0400 (EDT)
August 18, 2012
Cocke County (C): Rankin Bottoms
Hamblen County (H): Leepers Ferry Road and Nolichucky River upstream of Rankin
Bottoms
Jefferson County (J): Leadvale / Douglas Lake area
Observers: David Kirschke and Don Miller, in motorized canoe to and from
Leadvale boat launch, and along Leepers Ferry Road viewing bottomland adjacent
to Nolichucky River.
Water levels at Rankin Bottoms are still too high for good shoreline viewing,
although a few peripheral flats can barely be seen with a scope and a lot of
patience. We spent much time looking for shorebird habitat and found only a
moderate amount of it. Birding was good nonetheless.
Highlights today:
Blue-winged Teal (24 H, along Leepers Ferry Road)
Green-winged Teal (1 C)
Double-crested Cormorant (230 C, 19 H, 1 J)
Great Egret (43 C, 31 H, 3 J)
Little Blue Heron (11 C (including 6 also seen in H), 14 H (including 6 also
seen in C))
Green Heron (9 C, 8 H, 1 J)
Black-crowned Night-Heron (2 C, 2 H)
Osprey (2 C, 1 H)
Broad-winged Hawk (1 H)
Spotted Sandpiper (4 C, 2 H)
Solitary Sandpiper (1 C)
Greater Yellowlegs (2 C)
Lesser Yellowlegs (4 C)
Ruddy Turnstone (1 C; heard twice and seen briefly in flight)
Semipalmated Sandpiper (5 C)
Least Sandpiper (15 C)
Pectoral Sandpiper (25 C, 1 H)
Least Tern (1 C)
Caspian Tern (2 C)
Prothonotary Warbler (1 J)
The Least Tern was perched on a spit of land located about 3/4 of the way
between the tipple viewing area and the mouth of the Nolichucky River. It was
on the side of the spit facing the Nolichucky and was not visible from any
shoreline. David was able to get quite a few photos, as the bird appeared tired
and unwilling to fly.
Don Miller
Greeneville, Greene Co., TN
Other related posts:
- » [TN-Bird] Least Tern, Ruddy Turnstone, etc. (Cocke, Hamblen, Jefferson Co., TN) - Alice Loftin / Don Miller
