[TN-Bird] what's dem finches?
- From: Charlie <cmmbirds@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 29 Dec 2002 19:06:46 -0800 (PST)
Hi Folks,
Had a pretty slow day helping out with the Cades Cove CBC. Only 38
species. But it was made up for fairly well with one sighting.
Tracey and I did pretty well with Screech Owls (8) but skunked on the
other species in almost 2 hours of pre-dawn searching. Dawn was
uneventful on the Foothills Parkway with the exception of 3 ravens.
But as we descended from the Parkway onto Flats Road (Blount County,
south of Maryville) we remembered a certain house that had a large
number of Pine Siskins around it last year. We were hoping for a
repeat performance. As we rounded the corner, Tracey asked (are
those all house finches?) As my window was down, I could anwser
without even seeing them (yes, I DO watch the road, contrary to what
a few friends will tell you...) The harsh "clack-clack" call told me
were were about to see something much nicer.
With no place safe to pull off, I slowed down to what I like to call
"Cades Cove on Sunday afternoon in October Pace". I looked up at 120
RED CROSSBILLS! I then decided that the folks who were not home
wouldn't mind me using their driveway for a few minutes... I've seen
flocks of 30-50 several times but never this large. And so uncaring
of my presences. In 20 minutes I used a roll of film - I hope my
pawn shop telephoto lens works :-0
To get there, take the Foothills Parkway south from US 321 in
Walland. Follow it to the exit for the campground, just north of
Look Rock. Just before the campground (which is closed this time of
year, but a great place from which to hear ravens) take a right, then
a second right onto Flats Road. Go about a quarter mile, maybe less,
until you see a small private drive called Pilgrims Path. There is a
pretty sharp right bend in the road (so be careful parking) and the
crossbills were hanging out on the wires, in the trees, and on the
ground in front of the 2 houses on the left. One has a sign that
says Sheehan, the other is in the final stages of construction. The
best views were when groups of 15-20 would drop to a sandy area on
the ground for 2-3 minutes at a time.
I've stopped in front of this house several times in the past, and
the people there have seen me most times, yet not acknowledged my
presence in any way - not even returning my friendly nod. They seem
neither friendly nor unfriendly. I've not pressed it, but have
clearly stayed off their land. I figure that one day either their
curiosity will get them, or they will challenge me, or this will go
one the way it is. I'll be friendly and polite, of course, if they
ever do ask what the heck I'm doing!
This was exciting for us, because in 8 days in New Hampshire and
Massachusetts last week, we didn't see ANY winter finches. Nor were
there any reports on the listservs/RBAs. And no wonder - they are
all here.
We tried hard, but couldn't find any other species in this flock.
A trip to Cades Cove did not produce the Short-eared Owl that Jean
and David had last week. We did, however, have Vesper, Fox, Song,
Swamp and Field Sparrows, as well as a brown Northern Harrier - all
in one field off Hyatt Lane.
Good birding!
Charlie
=====
**************************************************
Charlie Muise, Senior Naturalist
Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont
Townsend, TN lat 35 deg, 38'23" long 83 deg, 41'22"
"Up, Sluggard, and waste not life; in the grave will be sleeping enough"
- Ben Frankline, Poor Richard's Almanac
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