we have gotten common Gallinule in there fairly regularly in the past. And one
purple after a hurricane a few years back. I would lean toward Common. will
keep an eye out. You may also need to go in the 'secret' trail, and see if the
bird is in the upper section where the water will be nice and low this time of
year
________________________________
From: tn-bird-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <tn-bird-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> on behalf of
Chloe Walker <chloebelle119@xxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, August 3, 2020 5:31 PM
To: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [TN-Bird] Re: VW Wetlands Purple Gallinule or Common Gallinule?
Gallinules are pretty small - smaller than American Coots I believe. Is there
any possibility that it could have been an American Oystercatcher?
Chloe Walker
Vail, AZ
Sent from my iPhone
On Aug 3, 2020, at 2:14 PM, Charles <owlman505@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I stopped by the VW wetlands in Hamilton County about 3 PM this afternoon.
While viewing the western area of the wetlands I saw a rather large bird in the
water among the plants. While trying to get a photo of this rather distant
bird, it disappeared from view, and I could never relocate it. My immediate
impression for the short time I had it in view was that it was a gallinule. I
never got an extended view of the head, nor was I able to see a possible white
stripe on its side. It did have a red bill. My overall impression was “a rather
stocky black bird with a red bill.” Maybe if it stays there for a few days,
someone else may get a better look and/or a good photo. I cannot now say for
sure if it was a Common Gallinule or a Purple Gallinule. I lean toward Common
Gallinule.
Charles Murray
Birchwood, TN
