August 30th, 2020
Victor and I intended to run the TN River with the boat this afternoon to
look for late storm waifs but we quickly got sidetracked by the shorebirds
on the mudflats in the mouth of the Duck River. (This area is visible from
Tie Landing but kayaks are needed to get decent looks).
We had between 500 and 1000 shorebirds birds and 19 different species.
The best birds were two RED-NECKED PHALAROPES that didn’t hang with the 7
WILSON’S PHALAROPES but stayed in the water near the Blue-winged Teal (200)
flock and the Caspian Terns (14) most of the time.
Other highlights were a continuing WILLET, 1 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, 2
SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS, 12 BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS here for the first
time this season, 4 SANDERLINGS, 7 BAIRD’S SANDPIPERS, a WESTERN SANDPIPER,
An AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER (doing strange calls gave us fits for a while)
and a dozen SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS.
Other good birds that were not shorebirds were a calling ALDER
FLYCATCHER, a continuing juvenile BONAPARTE’S GULL, two juvenile WHITE IBIS
and a ROSEATE SPOONBILL that was on the rookery/roosting island on a Great
Blue Heron nest. This is likely the same bird that was reported at the DRU
by ACL and Redwine some weeks ago. My guess is it roosts on the island with
all the other waders.
Good birding! Ruben Stoll, Pleasantville TN
