Melissa, I love your TN-Bird posts! Keep them coming! What magical sightings
you've had over the past several days!
Jacki Hinshaw
Johnson City, TN
Washington County
________________________________
From: tn-bird-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <tn-bird-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> on behalf of
R M J Turrentine <avocet1990@xxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, January 18, 2018 9:28 AM
To: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [TN-Bird] Winter walk on road Wednesday January 18 2018
My family and I opted for a walk on our snowy road yesterday instead of our
woods to walk for curiosity - conditions and different birds.
Greatly rewarded I was...especially at one frozen
(pardon the intended pun) moment of time, in one view with binoculars, I had
three different species of thrush, twenty birds total in my sight.
Perhaps the wonderful look at the Pileated Woodpecker should have been our
omen...for just beyond was even more birds....
The road had only melted in a few spots and the road's wetness had a slight
puddle in the road. Initially, American Robins were flocking down
excitedly....then the Eastern Bluebirds came to investigate...a Hermit Thrush
flew up. We initially thought this was wonderful....2 Robin's and Hermit in
your view....with dashes of blue. After enjoying for some minutes, we walked a
bit more.
I turned around fir my last Thrush glimpse....and had to stop...again....for
birds were everywhere.
Three Hermit Thrushes...Five Bluebirds...Twelve Robin's....all in my view for
10 minutes or more...the Hermit Thrushes were surprisingly very obliging....
often in the road or in the little open ditch. The grasses afforded beautiful
looks yet challenging to find in camera view, despite my detailed markers I
silently noted for photographing them in a more natural habitat... perhaps the
bracing cold couldn't allow my hand to steady it but I managed a few
pictures.The Bluebirds mostly stayed over the others on low branches, affording
a bright blue "stand-out" among an overcast day.
As the Northern Flicker flew in and Eastern Towhee... birding was extremely
satisfying at this point. I then joined the family a bit down for an almost
birdless end as cold wind picked up.
So, my "walk away" looks at birds continue as snow and cold temperatures
prevent my usual over- busy life to happen.
"Walk away looks" are indeed treasures among the birds...
Melissa Turrentine
Normandy TN
Bedford County
