[TN-Bird] Pace Point area (Henry Co)

From: Michael Todd <birder1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: TN Birds <tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sun, 27 Oct 2013 21:30:53 -0700 (PDT)
Pace Point area (Henry Co)
10/27/13
 
Following up on Terry's post, though not much to add other than some Vesper 
Sparrows along the road, which if counting Towhee gave me a 13 species day. 
Sparrows were:
 
Eastern Towhee 
Field Sparrow 
Chipping Sparrow 
Nelson's Sparrow 
(2, notes following)
LeConte's Sparrow (at least 8, evidently came in on last cold front)
Savannah Sparrow 
Vesper Sparrow (3 along road)
White-crowned 
Sparrow 
White-throated Sparrow 
Dark-eyed Junco 
Swamp Sparrow 
Lincoln's Sparrow 
Song Sparrow 
 
I have been trying for several years now (!) to get photos of Nelson's Sparrow 
in TN. Though work hasn't allowed me much local birding time this fall, I did 
decide to try the productive fields at Big Sandy one time this fall, especially 
as Ruben, etc have found Nelson's there recently. I started getting LeConte's 
up immediately after entering the big field below the overlook, and had some 
great looks. Had one very uncooperative Nelson's as well as Sora, several Marsh 
Wrens. Met up with Terry Witt here for some tromping. Terry later found the 3 
Surf Scoters at the Point which I was able to refind easily, though well down 
to the right of the point.
 
On the way out I decided to try the field below the information stand, which 
also looked very good. I had a single LeConte's, and gobs of Swamp Sparrows out 
in this very wet field. As I was about to leave, I scanned sparrows sitting up 
behind me for the umpteenth time, and there was a Nelson's sitting there just 
high enough to be visible! I got some bad shots, and then followed this bird 
around the field for 10-15 minutes before Terry pulled up, and quickly joined 
me. We saw the bird fly several times, but never got a good look after Terry 
arrived. Luckily, I did finally get some passable shots of this fine sparrow 
here in TN though!
 
I've posted a number of new shots from today, and a few hours last week spent 
at Britton Ford/Paris Landing etc. They are in my summer/fall 2013 gallery, 
with first new photo starting here: http://www.pbase.com/mctodd/image/152945125 
 There are several LeConte's and Nelson's images in the gallery, as well as a 
couple of distant Scoter pix.
 
Good Birding!!
 
Mike Todd
McKenzie, TN
birder1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
www.pbase.com/mctodd
[TN-Bird] Pace Point area (Henry Co)

Other related posts:
