J. Percy Priest Lake area

Davidson County
Nashville Tenn. Ornithological Soc. Field Trip
2012 Jan. 21

Saturday morning Jan. 21, was overcast with cool temperatures and increasing winds, but 16 birders braved the conditions and visited six different J. Percy Priest Lake areas, looking for winter species.  The group was rewarded and found over 50 species. At the dam, 11 NORTHERN PINTAILs flew overhead while an adult BALD EAGLE was seen across the way at Nashville Shores.  At Cooks Recreation Area, one of our young birders spotted a flying COMMON GOLDENEYE. At the next stop, Seven Points Recreation area, several birders had a brief view of a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK. Later we saw 14 SNOW GEESE arrive on the lake and afterward spotted a RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. The area was well populated with at least 115 HORNED GREBEs. Land birds included BROWN CREEPER, YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, and a large flock of EASTERN BLUEBIRDs. After lunch we finished the Merganser trifecta, finding both HOODED and the continuing female COMMON MERGANSER at Couchville Lake.  We missed the MERLIN at Anderson Road Rec. Area, but were rewarded at Hamilton Creek Rec. Area when we saw 7 COMMON GOLDENEYEs and after some patient waiting, were able to identify 3 SURF SCOTERs, one of which was an adult male. A great day of birding warmed the heart, even if the hands were cold. We thank Richard Connors for acting as trip leader.

For some species minimum numbers are estimated.

Snow Goose  14 Seen flying and then landed on the lake

Canada Goose   3
Gadwall  3
Mallard  26
Northern Pintail  11
Surf Scoter   3, 1 adult male  
Bufflehead    11
Common Goldeneye  8
Hooded Merganser  5
Common Merganser  1 female
Red-breasted Merganser  1
Ruddy Duck  1
Wild Turkey   97 in two flocks
Common Loon   54
Pied-billed Grebe   13
Horned Grebe   115
Great Blue Heron  9
Black Vulture   34
Turkey Vulture   1
Bald Eagle   1 adult
Sharp-shinned Hawk   1
Cooper's Hawk    1
Red-tailed Hawk   3
American Coot  137
Killdeer    1
Bonaparte's Gull  29
Ring-billed Gull  65
Mourning Dove   1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 4
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker   1
Downy Woodpecker  3
Hairy Woodpecker  2
Blue Jay   1
American Crow   14
Carolina Chickadee  11
Tufted Titmouse   4
Brown Creeper   2
Carolina Wren   3
Golden-crowned Kinglet  10
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  1
Eastern Bluebird  45
American Robin   88
Northern Mockingbird  1
European Starling  22
Yellow-rumped Warbler  21
Swamp Sparrow     1
White-throated Sparrow  2
Dark-eyed Junco   16
Northern Cardinal  5
Red-winged Blackbird  20
American Goldfinch  2

Hickory - Priest CBC

Jan. 1, 2012
Nashville TN

Eighteen people were out in 5 parties, on a very windy but still warmer than usual New Year’s Day. Highlights include: one likely TUNDRA SWAN seen early and briefly by Scott Somershoe at Anderson Rd Rec Area. Other notables include 3 Bald Eagles, 3 Merlins, 1 each  Marsh Wren, Gray Catbird, Orange-crowned Warbler, Lincoln's Sparrow and a  high count on Chipping Sparrow (320+). Duck variety was good with 13 species found. White-breasted Nuthatch (1) has finally become a "regular" on this count. Notable misses include Wood Duck, Wild Turkey, Herring Gull, Great Horned Owl and Brown-headed Cowbird.

Click "Bird Count Results" on the right to view the complete results.

Total Species - 90 
Total Birds - 18292