[TN-Bird] Pickwick Slim Pick'ns

From: OLCOOT1@xxxxxxx
To: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Thu, 26 Dec 2002 17:41:09 EST
Dec. 25, 2002
Pickwick Dam,
Hardin, McNairy Co. TN

After getting rid of Santa early yesterday, I traveled to Pickwick Dam to 
spend the afternoon looking for a Christmas present that Santa may have left 
up there for me. There were slim pick'ns but I did manage to stay interested. 
On the upper lake, I found 6 Common Loons, 7 Horned Grebe, 9 Pied-billed 
Grebe, a passel of coots, very few ducks, 3 Mallards, 14 Red-breasted 
Merganser, and 12 very distant Bonaparte's Gulls feeding down toward the 
Mississippi State line.

Above and below the dam area there were less than 150 Ring-billed Gulls and 
16 immature Herring all of the later in varying coloration's and states of 
plumage and one 3rd year Herring. While studying the group of immature 
Herrings that were spread around, I was able to find an immature Lesser 
Black-backed Gull and photographed a light immature Thayer's Gull. That makes 
the fourth of the latter species I've seen this year in Tennessee. The first 
was at the winter TOS meeting on Sunday afternoon, at which I also found a 
Lesser Black-backed Gull that was shared by a lot of birders on Saturday so 
Pickwick is a good location for both it seems. I have seen two different 
Thayer's at Pace Point within the last few weeks and photographed one of 
those. That makes 10 of this species seen since 1996 between Pace Point and 
Pickwick Dam and it is probably overlooked among the gulls in other areas of 
Tennessee.

Pickwick Dam is a hit or miss location where a long drive gets you nothing or 
sometimes great stuff but it is better in January and February when gulls and 
scoters ease back north; whereas Pace Point is pretty good to great most of 
the time in the winter but I think better from October into mid January.

A little time was spent in the Savannah Bottoms and Pipits were found in 
large numbers along with big flocks of Horned Larks. Only 5 Lapland Longspurs 
were seen in the mix but there is too much habitat for there not to be more. 
I was struck by the few raptors I saw, only 2 Red-tailed Hawks and 2 Harriers 
were seen in a long drive through the area.

I had a great variety of Red-tails around lunch today at Ensley here in 
Memphis but more on that later.

Still need crossbills, Evening Grosbeak or another good gull or hummer ;o)

Good Birding!!!

Jeff R. Wilson
OL' COOT / TLBA
Bartlett Tenn.


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[TN-Bird] Pickwick Slim Pick'ns

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