[TN-Bird] Sightings Report, Saturday, 30 August 2014, Ensley Bottoms Environs, Memphis, Shelby County, Delta Windbirds Fall Shorebird Workshop

  • From: John Walko <walko@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: Tn-Bird <tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, missbird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx, Georges McNeil <mcneilg20@xxxxxxxxx>, Martha Waldron <martha.waldron@xxxxxxxxx>, Mike Todd <birder1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, Rob Harbin <pastor.flc@xxxxxxxxxxx>, Gaynell Perry <gcperry1@xxxxxxxxxxx>, Dick Preston <dickpreston@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Sat, 30 Aug 2014 22:48:34 -0500

Delta Windbirds Fall Shorebird Workshop was held with 44 individuals birding in 
the rain. Birds were not in short supply, as we had 15 shorebird species total. 
Below is a complete listing.

Ensley Bottoms, Maxson Wastewater Lagoons(The Pits)/Earth Complex, Shelby, US-TN
Aug 30, 2014 7:40 AM - 1:40 PM
Protocol: Traveling
2.5 mile(s)
Comments:     Todays birding was part of a Shorebird workshop presented by 
Delta Wind birds. Classroom sessions were held at the Wastewater plant 
operations center classroom. Weather was more or less lousey. The canopy tents 
we brought for sun shade ended up being used for protection from the on and off 
rain. Temps wee a humid low 80's completely overcast with intermittant light 
rain. Jason Hoeksema, Gene Knight, J.R. Rigby and Wayne Patterson came up from 
Mississippi (which is the direction the rain came from) for the in class and 
field presentations. Assisting in the field were local birders Mike Todd and 
Jay Walko from TOS.  Birds were plentiful but scattered. Good close looks at 
all the Peep Sandpipers.
Additional birders Rob Harbin, Georges Mcneil, Martha Waldron, Gaynell Perry, 
Judy Dorsey, Chris Welsh, Cloe Walker(ABA Young Birder of the Year) and 31 
others.
38 species
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck  148     The adults were really showing up today, 
six broods of totaling 46 young ranging in 2 day old zebra striped chicks to 
first time flyers who were seen several times taking laps around the complex.
Greater White-fronted Goose  1     This bird who has been finally abadoned by 
its friends just this past week has an injured wing and has been here since 
spring.
Canada Goose  2
Wood Duck  3
Mallard  17
Blue-winged Teal  4
Canvasback  1     This bird is injured and has been here for several weeks now 
hanging out with the other ducks.
Little Blue Heron  1     Wht morph seen early morn pit 4 & 5 tree line
Green Heron  4
Mississippi Kite  1
Cooper's Hawk  1
Red-tailed Hawk  1
Black-necked Stilt  3
Semipalmated Plover  5
Killdeer  175
Spotted Sandpiper  2
Solitary Sandpiper  7
Lesser Yellowlegs  14
Stilt Sandpiper  6
Baird's Sandpiper  1     Seen early pit 5
Least Sandpiper  1750     Made up the majority of the population of todays 
shorebirds.
Pectoral Sandpiper  50
Semipalmated Sandpiper  140
Western Sandpiper  5
Short-billed Dowitcher  1     Nice juvenile hanging with L Yel Legs and Stilt 
Sandpipers
Least Tern  2
Black Tern  8     Close in flybys for good looks.
Mourning Dove  12
American Kestrel  1
Northern Rough-winged Swallow  2
Purple Martin  1
Barn Swallow  4
Carolina Wren  1
Northern Mockingbird  2
European Starling  1250     Young and adult birds everywhere in the wastewater 
complex, this may be a low est count as big as the flocks were.
Field Sparrow  3
Indigo Bunting  4
Dickcissel  2
View this checklist online at 
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S19619183

Allen Fossil (Steam) Plant ash ponds, Shelby, US-TN
Aug 30, 2014 12:45 PM - 1:05 PM
Protocol: Traveling
0.25 mile(s)
Comments:     Quick stop by several of the birders during our Delta Windbirds 
Shorebird Workshop. Mike Todd, Jason Hoeksema, Rob Harbin and Georges Mcneil. 
Others may have come up to see at other time during the day.
13 species
Canada Goose  27
Mallard  29
Northern Shoveler  6
Great Blue Heron  2
Green Heron  1
American Avocet  1     Single bird seen also earlier at 730 am today on the 
North side of the north shoreline and then on the mudflat shallows.
Killdeer  12
Greater Yellowlegs  1
Least Sandpiper  350     350+ birds on the mudflat.
Pectoral Sandpiper  4
Least Tern  13     Adults and juvs resting and feeding.
Mourning Dove  6
Belted Kingfisher  1
View this checklist online at 
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S19619270
















John "Jay" Walko
Collierville, TN
www.pbase.com/jwalko

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