Yesterday evening, we set out from the Rankin Coal Chute (or tipple) by
canoe to look for shorebirds on the emerging mudflats in the area. Douglas
Lake is at 990 feet, still a foot or two too high for extensive flats. We
found a couple dozen peeps (LEAST, WESTERN, AND SEMI-PALMATED), and single
SOLITARYand PECTORAL sandpipers in the Holt Town Rd. wetland; 3 SPOTTED
sandpipers, and 15 CANADA GEESE foraged near the tipple.
We returned to watch waders return to the rookery in the tree line 1/2 mile
east of the tipple, across the embayment. We could see a couple dozen
GREAT EGRETS in the trees, and hear more out of sight. The sun set as we
waited, and about 50 more GEs flew in. We could see 4 LITTLE BLUE HERONS,
including one adult, in the canopy. Seven more immature little blues came
in a flock, and at the same time 2 immature WHITE IBISES arrived. Three
more ibises came after about 5 minutes. A mature BALD EAGLE flew past at
one point.
OSPREY fledglings were flying with adults, one pair roosted side-by-side
near the heronry; the difference in size was striking; the parent looked
NEARLY twice as big. DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS, WOOD DUCKS, MALLARDS,
EASTERN KINGBIRDS, GREEN HERONS, and BLACK-CRESTED NIGHT HERONS were common
throughout the area. Early in the trip, a single CASPIAN TERN flew
overhead. We saw and heard several YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOOS, and an EASTERN
WOOD- PEEWEE in the willows.
Overall the weather was idyllic, despite the thunderstorm warnings, and the
sunset was sublime.
Michael Sledjeski & Leslie Gibbens
=================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBER=====================
Moderator: Wallace Coffey, Bristol, TN
wallace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Visit the Tennessee Ornithological Society
web site at http://www.tnbirds.org
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Topographical Maps located at http://topozone.com/find.asp
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