For all my fellow birdwatching friends from Tennessee and Mississippi, Looking
for a Rare birding fix?
The Fork-tailed Flycatcher was still present in nearby Desha County, AR. this
afternoon.
Roughly 3+ hour drive from Memphis and North Mississippi.
See my eBird post from my visit today as listed below.
Sunny, 42-44 degs with a constant 20mph NW wind to add to the chill factor.
Looking for the Fork-tailed Flycatcher, At first it was a no show. Just a
Kestral and a bluebird on the nearby wires.
From the warmth of the vehicle I searched from both parking areas on either
side of the Bayou bridge, no luck. Parked the car on the North parking area and
took a walk across the bridge checking the underbrush and trees. Got to the
south parking area and started to scan the wires and trees, no luck.
Just when I was going to get back in the car and head south to check all the
utility lines along the way, up pops up a bird about 100 yds down the lower
power lines in the curve of the road. Bingo Fork-tail... got back in the car
and timed my drive to stay out of traffic (There is no shoulder at this point)
to get in photo distance of about 100ft.
Got some photos of a cold looking puffed up Fork-tail.
I met Doug Baxter when he stopped by and we chatted for a bit after it had flew
off. But it returned while we were talking.
Several other birds also noted.
16 species
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S76925558 ;
<https://ebird.org/checklist/S76925558>
John "Jay" Walko
Lowell, Arkansas
www.pbase.com/jwalko
