11/7/02 Standifer Gap Marsh Chattanooga Several birders have suggested checking the southeast corner of the marsh. Here's what I found there today. Walking north behind the small church and then west, close to the water, skirting some of the dense cattails, the floor is very irregular, there are numerous strong vines and quite a few brambles,- not an easy stroll. At all times there were 3 to 6 Swamp Sparrows close by, either 30 or more individuals or a group of 6 that really liked my company. I heard 3 Virginia Rails, one immediately behind me; I must have almost stepped on it. Also one Tennessee Warbler in that area. The west side is bounded by a tractor trail, a fence, a creek with water level at least 3 feet below the marsh, and then woods. The beaver dams which keep the water in the marsh are very old and grown up with saplings, but beavers had applied fresh mud, apparently since the last rain. The tractor trail is the easiest way to get to the west side of the marsh. David Patterson Chattanooga =================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBER===================== The TN-Bird Net requires you to sign your messages with first and last name, city (town) and state abbreviation. ----------------------------------------------------- To post to this mailing list, simply send email to: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx ----------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send email to: tn-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Topographical Maps located at http://topozone.com/find.asp * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Visit the Tennessee Ornithological Society web site at http://www.tnbirds.org * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * TN-Bird Net Owner: Wallace Coffey, Bristol, TN jwcoffey@xxxxxxxxxx (423) 764-3958 =========================================================