Nashville Christmas Bird Count
Dec. 19, 2015

The Nashville CBC was held on Saturday and totaled 74 species, the lowest since 2006. With clear, cold weather and 43 observers, it certainly wasn't for lack of trying. Some of the highlights included 1 Northern Pintail and 2 Green-winged Teal at Radnor Lake, 1 Northern Harrier, 5 American Woodcock, and 1 House Wren at Bells Bend, 6 Bald Eagles (4 at Harpeth East and 2 at Poplar Creek),1 Red-headed Woodpecker at Poplar Creek, 4 Winter Wrens at Harpeth East, Warner Park and West Meade, 21 Hermit Thrushes, 1 Savannah Sparrow at Harpeth West, 3 Fox Sparrows at Bells Bend and Harpeth West, 1 Lincoln's Sparrow at Warner Park, and 2 Purple Finches at Warner Park and Poplar Creek. The 6 Bald Eagles was the highest count ever for this CBC.  It was only the fifth time a Lincoln's Sparrow has been seen, and the sixth time for a House Wren. Some of the misses were Canvasback, Lesser Scaup, Northern Bobwhite, American Coot, and Wilson's Snipe. Thank you so much to all who participated.

To view the full results click on the Bird Count Results in the right side menu.

Jan Shaw, Compiler

Nashville, TN
Dec. 12, 2015

We birded the Metro Center and West Meade areas. Weather was mild, in the 70s most of the day with cloudy overcast skies. Most birding was done from the car. We got out on the Richland Creek Greenway at 22 White Bridge Rd. and walked.

Nothing exciting but a nice morning to be outside.

Here is the list of species:

Pied-billed Grebe Great Blue Heron Mallard Hooded Merganser Red-tailed Hawk Black Vulture American Coot Ring-billed Gull Morning Dove Rock pigeon Northern Flicker Downy Woodpecker American Crow Blue Jay

Carolina Chickadee Tufted Titmouse Carolina Wren Eastern Bluebird American Robin Northern Mockingbird European Starling Northern Cardinal Dark-eyed Junco Song Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Common Grackle House Finch House Sparrow

Tarcila Fox

Percy Priest Lake
Davidson County, TN
Nov. 21, 2015

It started out frosty, breezy and clear, but as the day progressed it warmed up to comfortably cool, windy and cloudy. Richard Connors guided our group of six around From Percy Priest Dam to points of interest at Cook, Seven Points, Anderson and Smith Springs Parks.

The greatest number of bird species was the Common Loon, which were in great rafts in several locations. Highlights of the day were a Bald Eagle which flew over and around the dam as the participants arrived for the field trip, and later a pair of female Purple Finches. It was a pleasant morning and the fellowship was very enjoyable.

Thanks to Richard Connors for guiding us and to those who showed up for the fun!


36 Species:

Horned Grebe Pied-billed Grebe Common Loon Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Ring-necked Duck Canada Goose Mallard Redhead Bald Eagle Red-tailed Hawk Black Vulture Turkey Vulture American Coot Ring-billed Gull Mourning Dove Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Downy Woodpecker

Red-bellied Woodpecker American Crow Blue Jay Carolina Chickadee Tufted Titmouse Carolina Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet Eastern Bluebird American Robin Hermit Thrush European Starling Cedar Waxwing Yellow-Romped Warbler Northern Cardinal Dark-eyed Junco Purple Finch American Goldfinch

Tarcila Fox

Davidson County
October 17, 2015

There was a change of plans about where we were going this morning. We birded around the Stone Hall property and around the Greenway to Stone’s River Greenway. We then drove to the Lytle farm and birded on the old farm property. To get onto the property we had to get through a locked fence. When we left it was locked again, so it is not open to the public at this time.

We started out frosty cold, with the temp around 39f. By noon it had warmed up but was still only in the high 40s. Everyone had a great time. Best bird of the day (my opinion) was the White-crowned Sparrow. Also fun to watch, were a couple of male Kestrels doing aerial acrobatics and then a female appeared nearby. A couple of Coopers Hawks were circling the thermals, with small birds around them. I couldn’t decide if the Coopers were chasing the small birds for a meal, or if the small birds were mobbing the Coopers.

Thanks to Aaron T. for sharing his Birds-Eye list with me for this report!

Here are the lists:

At the grounds of Stone Hall and the Stones River Greenway. (Davidson County, Nashville TN)

Killdeer 1 Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 5   Mourning Dove 8   Belted Kingfisher 1   Downy Woodpecker 1   Northern Flicker 1   Blue Jay 3   Carolina Chickadee  3   Tufted Titmouse 1   Carolina Wren 1   Golden-crowned Kinglet 1

American Robin 75   Brown Thrasher 1   Northern Mockingbird  3   European Starling 12   Tennessee Warbler 1   Pine Warbler 1   Yellow-rumped Warbler 3   White-throated Sparrow 6   Northern Cardinal 15   House Finch 1 Great Blue Heron 1

   

At the Stones River Farm/Lytle Farm Metro Parks property (Davidson County, Nashville TN)

Wild Turkey  1   Black Vulture 9   Turkey Vulture 1   Cooper's Hawk   2 Red-tailed Hawk  1 Mourning Dove 13   Belted Kingfisher  1   Red-bellied Woodpecker  1   American Kestrel 3   Eastern Phoebe 1   Blue Jay 6 American Crow 3

Carolina Chickadee 2   Brown Thrasher 1   Northern Mockingbird 3   European Starling 1   Palm Warbler 3   Yellow-rumped Warbler  1   White-crowned Sparrow  1 White-throated Sparrow 7   Song Sparrow  2 Northern Cardinal 2   Eastern Meadowlark 1   House Finch 3

Tarcila Fox
NTOS Field Trip Coordinator

Radnor Lake State Natural Area
Nashville-Davidson Co. TN
October 14, 2015

7 birders attended the last Wednesday walk of 2015 at Radnor Lake State Park, Davidson County. It was a beautiful day to get out and enjoy migration. Here are the results:

Canada Goose  15 Mallard  12 Pied-billed Grebe 14 Great Blue Heron 3 Black Vulture 1 Barred Owl 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 5 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 4 Northern Flicker 2 Downy Woodpecker 8 Pileated Woodpecker 2 Eastern Phoebe 1 Blue Jay 5 Carolina Chickadee  8

Tufted Titmouse  5 White-breasted Nuthatch 2 Carolina Wren 4 Golden-crown Kinglet 1 Eastern Bluebird 3 (heard) Cedar Waxwing 15 or more Tennessee Warbler 5 American Redstart 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 22 Black-throated Green Warbler 2 Song Sparrow 1 Swamp Sparrow 1 White-throated Sparrow 1 American Goldfinch 1

Danny Shelton

Radnor Lake State Natural Area
Nashville-Davidson Co. TN
October 7, 2015

This morning during the NTOS Radnor Walk, sixteen enthusiastic birders enjoyed fabulous weather and a healthy variety of birds. We also enjoyed the company of Ken Tucker and camera crew from Tennessee Wildside who completed their video work (which they started at the spring meeting) on an upcoming episode highlighting TOS. We are expecting the episode to be aired around Thanksgiving depending on where you live, so stay tuned.

Highlights included 47 species and 1 taxa:

Canada Goose - 3 Wood Duck - 14 Mallard - 1 Wild Turkey -6 DC Cormorant -2 Great Blue Heron -2 Black Vulture -12 Broad-winged Hawk -1 Red -tailed Hawk -1 Yellow-billed Cuckoo -1 Chimney Swift -20 Ruby-throated Hummingbird -1 Belted Kingfisher -1 Red-bellied Woodpecker -13 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker -2 Downy Woodpecker -5 Hairy Woodpecker -1 Northern Flicker -1 Pleated Woodpecker -1 Eastern Pewee -4 Empid -1 Eastern Phoebe -3 White-eyed Vireo -1 Philadelphia Vireo -3

Red-eyed Vireo -1 Blue Jay-8 American Crow -2 Carolina Chickadee -24 Tufted Titmouse -17 White-breasted Nuthatch -5 Carolina Wren - 9 Golden-crowned  Kinglet -1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet -1 Gray -cheeked Thrush -1 American Robin -1 Gray  Catbird -1 Cedar Waxwing -15 Black and White Warbler -3 Tennessee Warbler -4 American Redstart-1 Magnolia Warbler -9 Bay-breasted Warbler -5 Blackburnian Warbler -1 Chestnut -sided Warbler -3 Yellow-rumpled Warbler -7 Black -throated Green Warbler -5 Summer Tanager -1 Northern Cardinal -11

Thanks to all who came out today. It was a wonderful time!

Steve Routledge

NTOS Fall Count
Nashville Area
Sep 26, 2015

The Nashville Fall Bird Count was held on Sept. 26 and totaled 115 species, much better than the 108 we had last year, but still a little below average for the last 10 years. Some birds of interest included one Northern Harrier at Radnor Lake, one American Golden-Plover at Shelby Bottoms, 2 Common and 1 Forster's tern at Percy Priest, 35 Eurasian Collared-Doves with 30 in one tree on the Percy Priest route, one Yellow-bellied Sapsucker at Harpeth West, 2 Yellow-bellied Flycatchers at Shelby Bottoms and Harpeth West, one lingering Eastern Kingbird at Harpeth West, 3 Scissor-tailed Flycatchers at Percy Priest, 3 singing Marsh Wrens at Bells Bend, and 2 Veeries at Harpeth East. There were 21 warbler species seen with 72 Magnolias being the most common. This count takes in parts of several counties which requires lots of dedicated birders. Thank you so much to each of the leaders and to all who participated once again.

Click on Bird Count Result on the right to view the results.

Jan Shaw

Radnor Lake State Natural Area
Nashville-Davidson Co. TN
September 23, 2015

Brilliant sunshine, calm winds and moderate temperatures greeted 25 birders who participated in today's NTOS-sponsored Walk at Radnor Lake.

By far the highlight of the morning was a very cooperative WILSON'S WARBLER that spent a lot of time near the Spillway as did the group. Everyone got good looks at this bird as it foraged in the open at eye level for more than 5 minutes.

Later and further down the lake trail almost to the overlook that is under construction, an enigmatic warbler flitted about overhead; one that had the group puzzled. Opinions varied. This bird morphed into several different species as the various possibilities were discussed. One possibility was a female Cape May Warbler, but in retrospect, due to its heavy notched tail, I suspect it may have been a very dull-looking Pine Warbler. Confusing Fall Warbler, for sure.

Below is a list of the more definitively-identified birds:

Wood Duck 6 Mallard 11 Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1 Chimney Swift 23 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 3 Belted Kingfisher 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 6 Downy Woodpecker 6 Northern Flicker 1 Pileated Woodpecker 3 Eastern Wood-Pewee 2 Eastern Phoebe 1 Blue Jay 8 American Crow 6 Carolina Chickadee 5

Tufted Titmouse 6 White-breasted Nuthatch 2 Carolina Wren 4 Swainson's Thrush 8 American Robin 4 Cedar Waxwing 48 Blue-winged Warbler 1 Black-and-white Warbler 3 Tennessee Warbler 2 American Redstart 8 Magnolia Warbler 15 Black-throated Green Warbler 4 Wilson's Warbler 1 Northern Cardinal 10

Kevin Bowden

Bells Bend Park
Davidson County, TN
September 12, 2015

What a beautiful and pleasantly chilly morning! Ten smiling birders met at the Bell’s Bend Nature Center. We had two brand new birders with us, a nine year-old and her mom who seemed to thoroughly enjoy the whole experience. The group decided to take the trails behind the nature center first and to try the sod farms later. The cool temps and light wind were refreshing. We saw 41 species (listed below), if we count a dead Ovenbird that was found on the road this morning by one of the birders. Highlights were a Yellow-billed Cuckoo, a Bald Eagle, and a Great Egret. Thanks to everyone who participated!

Pied-billed Grebe Great Egret Great Blue Heron Bald Eagle Cooper’s Hawk Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel Black Vulture Turkey Vulture Killdeer Tern (species) Mourning Dove Yellow Billed Cuckoo Ruby-throated Hummingbird Hairy Woodpecker Pileated Woodpecker Red-bellied Woodpecker Least Flycatcher Eastern Phoebe Eastern Wood Pewee American Crow

Blue Jay Carolina Chickadee Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Eastern Bluebird Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird Brown Thrasher Cedar Waxwing Philadelphia Vireo White-eyed Vireo Ovenbird (dead) American Redstart Black and White Warbler Magnolia Warbler Orange-crowned Warbler Palm Warbler Common Yellowthroat Eastern Towhee Field Sparrow Bobolink American Goldfinch

Tarcila Fox
NTOS Field Trip Coordinator

TN NWR--Duck River Unit
Humphreys Co., TN
August 15, 2015

Earlier today, eleven birders gathered for a summer field trip at the Duck River Unit of the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge. Distant thunderstorms and on-and-off rain showers were with us throughout the trip, but fortunately it kept us cool and comfortable! Upon entering the refuge, one of our participants deftly picked out a perched juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk, which was being scolded by a pair of Blue Grosbeaks. We also had very nice views of American White Pelicans from the Blue Goose Loop and at the Pump Station. Shorebirds were few due to limited habitat, but all were observed well. These included Spotted, Solitary, and Pectoral Sandpipers; Killdeer; Semipalmated Plover; and Lesser Yellowlegs. A hearty "thank you" to all who attended the outing...it was great to catch up with old friends and meet new ones! A list of species from our day is below.

44 species

Canada Goose - 267 Wood Duck - 7 Double-crested Cormorant - 38 American White Pelican - 116 Great Blue Heron - 75 Great Egret - 217 Black Vulture - 1 Turkey Vulture - 18 Osprey - 11 Cooper's Hawk - 1 Red-shouldered Hawk - 5 Red-tailed Hawk - 1 Semipalmated Plover - 1 Killdeer - 16 Solitary Sandpiper - 1 Spotted Sandpiper - 11 Lesser Yellowlegs - 1 Pectoral Sandpiper - 6 Ring-billed Gull - 2 Caspian Tern - 37 Mourning Dove - 5 Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 3

Belted Kingfisher - 2 Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1 Pileated Woodpecker - 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee - 1 White-eyed Vireo - 1 Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 65 Bank Swallow - 60 Barn Swallow - 4 Cliff Swallow - 10 Tufted Titmouse - 2 Carolina Wren - 1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 3 Northern Mockingbird - 1 Eastern Towhee - 1 Northern Cardinal - 5 Blue Grosbeak - 6 Indigo Bunting - 22 Dickcissel - 2 Red-winged Blackbird - 63 Eastern Meadowlark - 1 Common Grackle - 2 American Goldfinch - 7

Chloe Walker

Bowie Nature Park
Fairview, TN
July 18, 2015

Six birders gathered for the NTOS's monthly field trip, which was held at Bowie Nature Park in Fairview. It was a sticky morning, but the birds didn't seem to mind! Bowie is a great place to see Red-headed Woodpeckers, and today was no exception. Throughout our walk we saw and heard many of these stunning birds, and we even observed a few feeding young. Pine Warblers were also actively foraging in the treetops along the Loblolly Loop trail. Finally, we all got a bit of practice identifying juvenile birds, including an Eastern Bluebird, an Eastern Towhee, and a Chipping Sparrow. A big thank you to everyone who showed up! Our trip list is as follows:

33 species

Canada Goose - 40 Mallard - 6 Mourning Dove - 7 Yellow-billed Cuckoo - 2 Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1 Red-headed Woodpecker - 9 Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1 Downy Woodpecker - 1 Hairy Woodpecker - 3 Northern Flicker - 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee - 2 Blue Jay - 2 American Crow - 6 Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 2 Barn Swallow - 6 Purple Martin - 22 Carolina Chickadee - 5

Tufted Titmouse - 8 White-breasted Nuthatch - 1 Carolina Wren - 2 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 5 Eastern Bluebird - 4 American Robin - 2 Gray Catbird - 1 Pine Warbler - 6 Yellow-throated Warbler - 1 Eastern Towhee - 4 Chipping Sparrow - 6 Field Sparrow - 1 Summer Tanager - 2 Northern Cardinal - 5 Indigo Bunting - 3 American Goldfinch - 4

Chloe Walker

TOS Meeting Field Trips
May 1-3, 2015


The 100-year anniversary TOS meeting at Montgomery Bell State Park featured a wide variety of field trips. A number of our walks took place at the park itself, yielding a good tally of species expected in a forest habitat. On Saturday and Sunday we ventured farther afield to a variety of mid-state locales such as Mound Bottoms, Bicentennial Trail/Dyson's Ditch, Narrows of the Harpeth, Ft. Campbell, and the Duck River, and those outings brought our count up considerably.

Our total species count for the weekend was 132 (list below), including 27 species of warblers and 11 sparrow species. Among the highlights were Bachman's Sparrow (Ft. Campbell), Henslow's Sparrow (Ft. Campbell), Grasshopper Sparrow (Ft. Campbell), Glossy Ibis (Duck River), Sora (Duck River), and White-rumped Sandpiper (Duck River). Additionally, participants on the Mound Bottoms walk were treated to a young Woodcock, while those on the park's Lake Loop on Sunday got up close looks at a Great Horned Owl.

Thanks to all the field trip leaders and participants for making the weekend excursions memorable and productive!


TOS 100-year Anniversary Meeting Species list:

Canada Goose Wood Duck Mallard Blue-winged Teal Northern Shoveler Northern Bobwhite Wild Turkey Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Great Egret Green Heron Glossy Ibis Black Vulture Turkey Vulture Osprey Mississippi Kite Sharp-shinned Hawk Copper’s Hawk Bald Eagle Red-shouldered Hawk Broad-winged Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Sora American Coot American Golden-Plover Semipalmated Plover Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper Solitary Sandpiper Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Least Sandpiper White-rumped Sandpiper Pectoral Sandpiper American Woodcock Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Barred Owl Great Horned Owl Chimney Swift Ruby-throated Hummingbird Red-headed Woodpecker Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Pileated Woodpecker Eastern Wood-Pewee Acadian Flycatcher Willow Flycatcher Eastern Phoebe Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird White-eyed Vireo Yellow-throated Vireo Blue-headed Vireo Warbling Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Blue Jay American Crow Horned Lark Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Cliff Swallow Carolina Chickadee Tufted Titmouse White-breasted Nuthatch

Carolina Wren Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Eastern Bluebird Veery Gray-cheeked Thrush Swainson's Thrush Wood Thrush American Robin Gray Catbird Brown Thrasher Northern Mockingbird European Starling Ovenbird Worm-eating Warbler Louisiana Waterthrush Northern Waterthrush Blue-winged Warbler Golden-winged Warbler Black-and-white Warbler Prothonotary Warbler Tennessee Warbler Nashville Warbler Kentucky Warbler Common Yellowthroat Hooded Warbler Cerulean Warbler Northern Parula Bay-breasted Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Yellow Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Palm Warbler Pine Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Yellow-throated Warbler Prairie Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Yellow-breasted Chat Eastern Towhee Bachman’s Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow Lark Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Grasshopper Sparrow Henslow’s Sparrow Swamp Sparrow White-throated Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Summer Tanager Scarlet Tanager Northern Cardinal Rose-breasted Grosbeak Blue Grosbeak Indigo Bunting Dickcissel Bobolink Red-winged Blackbird Eastern Meadowlark Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird Orchard Oriole House Finch American Goldfinch House Sparrow

Tony Lance

Beaman Park
Davidson County, TN
June 20, 2015

The NTOS's field trip to Beaman Park was a great success, despite the wet and windy conditions. Upon arrival, we were treated to a chorus of juvenile Carolina Wrens learning to sing. Worm-eating Warblers, an annual breeder here, responded to pishing and cooperated nicely for the group. A couple of us had fleeting looks at a Great Egret as it flew from the creek - quite a surprise. Louisiana Waterthrushes were also present during our walk, though they were heard only. Thank you to those who participated! Our checklist can be found below.

24 species

Great Egret - 1
Chimney Swift - 4
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1
Downy Woodpecker - 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 2
Acadian Flycatcher - 3
Red-eyed Vireo - 2
Blue Jay - 1
Carolina Chickadee - 3
Tufted Titmouse - 4
White-breasted Nuthatch - 1
Carolina Wren - 4
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 2
Wood Thrush - 2
Worm-eating Warbler - 4
Louisiana Waterthrush - 4
Kentucky Warbler - 1
Northern Parula - 2
Yellow-throated Warbler - 3
Summer Tanager - 2
Scarlet Tanager - 2
Northern Cardinal - 2
Indigo Bunting - 1
Brown-headed Cowbird - 1


Chloe Walker
NTOS Field Trip Coordinator

Radnor Lake State Natural Area
Nashville, TN
May 20, 2015

The last of the NTOS-sponsored Wednesday Radnor Walks took place in ideal weather- sunshine, light breeze and comfortable temperatures. The big migration wave has mostly passed through; however, there were a few stray migrants in addition to species that normally spend the summer months at Radnor.

All the group got great looks at a YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO along the dam. It perched low on a bare branch over the lake in several ideal spots. Later the group saw a female MAGNOLIA WARBLER at the spillway and a few of us spotted a quick moving female ORCHARD ORIOLE in the same location. And due to its position on the sunlight, a male RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD stood out like a brilliant gem on a bare branch. An interesting find further along was a BARRED OWL and then a GREAT-CRESTED FLYCATCHER. The latter we often hear, but seldom see at Radnor. Other cooperative birds included an ACADIAN FLYCATCHER. WHITE-EYED VIREOS were very vocal, but mostly hidden. On the other hand, while the RED-EYED VIREOS remained unusually quiet, one was seen by some of the group as it came down low to feed near the Spillway.

Thanks to all who led and participated in the six Wednesday Walks this Spring.

Below is a recap of species observed:

40 species

Canada Goose  6 Wood Duck  2 Wild Turkey  3 Double-crested Cormorant  6 Red-tailed Hawk  1 Yellow-billed Cuckoo  2 Barred Owl  1 Ruby-throated Hummingbird  1 Red-bellied Woodpecker  3 Downy Woodpecker  4 Pileated Woodpecker  2 Eastern Wood-Pewee  4 Acadian Flycatcher  3 Eastern Phoebe  1 Great Crested Flycatcher  3 White-eyed Vireo  2 Red-eyed Vireo  1 Blue Jay  3 American Crow  2 Northern Rough-winged Swallow  16

Barn Swallow  2 Carolina Chickadee  8 Tufted Titmouse  5 Carolina Wren  2 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  3 Cedar Waxwing  21 Kentucky Warbler  2 Northern Parula  2 Magnolia Warbler  1 Bay-breasted Warbler  1 Blackpoll Warbler  1 Yellow-throated Warbler  1 Black-throated Green Warbler  1 Summer Tanager  2 Northern Cardinal  8 Indigo Bunting  1 Red-winged Blackbird  1 Brown-headed Cowbird  4 Orchard Oriole  1 American Goldfinch  8

Kevin Bowden

Radnor Lake State Natural Area
Nashville, TN
May 16, 2015

The NTOS field trip to Radnor Lake this morning was quite soggy to say the least, yet nonetheless, 12 birders happily participated. Although there was no steady bird action, we eventually finished with 46 species. Highlights included awesome views of a singing Kentucky Warbler near Long Bridge and a surprise adult Common Loon in breeding plumage diving on the lake. In addition, a few of us heard a weak "Old Sam Peabody" song from a White-throated Sparrow by bench #13. Thank you to all who "braved the rain" today, and especially Chris Sloan, who led the trip.


46 species

Canada Goose - 4 Wood Duck - 3 Wild Turkey - x Common Loon - 1 Double-crested Cormorant - 2 Green Heron - 1 Mourning Dove - 1 Yellow-billed Cuckoo - 1 Barred Owl - 1 Chimney Swift - 3 Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 2 Red-bellied Woodpecker - 3 Downy Woodpecker - 3 Pileated Woodpecker - 2 Eastern Wood-Pewee - 4 Acadian Flycatcher - 2 Eastern Phoebe - 1 Great Crested Flycatcher - 1 Eastern Kingbird - 2 White-eyed Vireo - 1 Red-eyed Vireo - 4 Blue Jay - 1 American Crow - 1

Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 6 Barn Swallow - 3 Carolina Chickadee - 5 Tufted Titmouse - 4 Carolina Wren - 3 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 3 Swainson's Thrush - 1 Cedar Waxwing - 52 Louisiana Waterthrush - 2 Kentucky Warbler - 2 American Redstart - 3 Northern Parula - 3 Bay-breasted Warbler - 2 Blackpoll Warbler - 3 Black-throated Green Warbler - 1 Canada Warbler - 1 White-throated Sparrow - 1 Summer Tanager - 2 Northern Cardinal - 7 Indigo Bunting - 2 Brown-headed Cowbird - 4 Orchard Oriole - 1 American Goldfinch - 1

Chloe Walker

Radnor Lake State Natural Area
Nashville, TN
May 13, 2015

Today's NTOS Wednesday Walk at Radnor Lake was a good one with 16 participants.  The weather was beautiful though a little breezy early on.  While our overall numbers weren’t exceptional, we made up for it with some great sightings.  Many in the group were able to see Yellow-Billed Cuckoo, Yellow-Throated Warbler (on the ground for a couple of minutes), Canada Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler - and most exciting - a male Black-Throated Blue Warbler.  Total number of species was 51, with 15 species of warblers observed (all but Tennessee Warbler were viewed).


51 species (+1 other taxa)

Canada Goose  10 Wood Duck  4 Mallard  2 Wild Turkey  1 Pied-billed Grebe  1 Double-crested Cormorant  1 Great Blue Heron  2 Turkey Vulture  1 Red-tailed Hawk  2 Yellow-billed Cuckoo  1 Chimney Swift  20 Red-bellied Woodpecker  3 Downy Woodpecker  3 Pileated Woodpecker  1 Eastern Wood-Pewee  3 Acadian Flycatcher  2 Least Flycatcher  1 Empidonax sp.  2 Eastern Phoebe  1 Great Crested Flycatcher  3 Eastern Kingbird  2 White-eyed Vireo  4 Philadelphia Vireo  1 Red-eyed Vireo  3 Blue Jay  2 American Crow  3

Northern Rough-winged Swallow  5 Barn Swallow  2 Carolina Chickadee  4 Tufted Titmouse  7 Carolina Wren  3 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  6 Cedar Waxwing  15 Louisiana Waterthrush  2 Black-and-white Warbler  1 Tennessee Warbler  1 Kentucky Warbler  1 Common Yellowthroat  2 American Redstart  6 Northern Parula  3 Magnolia Warbler  1 Bay-breasted Warbler  2 Blackpoll Warbler  6 Black-throated Blue Warbler  1   Yellow-throated Warbler  1 Black-throated Green Warbler  2 Canada Warbler  1 Wilson's Warbler  1 Summer Tanager  1 Northern Cardinal  9 Red-winged Blackbird  1 American Goldfinch  7

Jim Arnett

Radnor Lake State Natural Area
Nashville, TN
May 6, 2015

Twenty-plus birders joined the NTOS Wednesday walk at Radnor Lake today.  The weather was sunny, without wind, temperature ranging from 65 degrees at 7:30 to 81 degrees at 10:45 am. Warbler migration appears to have peaked, but we saw and/or heard 10 warbler species.  Highlights of the morning were watching barn swallows gather mud for their nest under the rafters at the old visitor's center; watching a Red-eyed and a Philadelphia Vireo within feet of each other in a willow below the dam, and good looks at a Bay-breasted Warbler fairly low in a tangle of trees not far down the lakeside trail from the dam.  A total of 44 species were seen and/or heard as follows:

Canada Goose 13 Wood Duck  6 Mallard 1 Wild Turkey- loud gobbling out of sight Turkey Vulture 1 Spotted Sandpiper 1 Mourning Dove 2 Chimney Swift 3 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2 Belted Kingfisher 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 6 Downy Woodpecker 2 Pileated Woodpecker 3 Eastern Wood Pewee 2 Acadian Flycatcher 3 Great Crested Flycatcher 4 Eastern Kingbird 3 White-eyed Vireo 6 Yellow-throated Vireo 1 Blue-headed Vireo 1 Philadelphia Vireo 1 Red-eyed Vireo 3

Blue Jay 2 American Crow 2 Barn Swallow 2 Carolina Chickadee 2 Tufted Titmouse 4 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 6 Swainson's Thrush 1 Louisiana Waterthrush 1 Northern Waterthrush 1 Tennessee Warbler 2 Kentucky Warbler 2 American Redstart 1 Northern Parula 3 Bay-breasted Warbler 3 Blackpoll Warbler 1 Palm Warbler 5 Yellow-rumped Warbler 2 Field sparrow 1 Summer Tanager 3 Northern Cardinal 8 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 3 American Goldfinch 4

Camille Monohan

Radnor Lake State Natural Area
Nashville, TN
April 29, 2015

Clouds gave way to mostly sunny skies as 22 birders attended the third spring walk of 2015 at Radnor Lake this morning. Palm Warblers were seemingly everywhere along the north shore of the lake, even outnumbering the abundant Yellow-rumped Warbers. Other highlights include a Yellow-throated Warbler collecting nesting material at or near the ground, a first-of-season American Redstart for many, as well as a Blue-winged Warbler at the parking lot.

57 Species

Canada Goose- 2 Wood Duck- 2 Mallard- 1 Lesser Scaup-  5 Wild Turkey-6 Double-crested Cormorant- 1 Great Blue Heron- 1 Black Vulture- 1 Red-tailed Hawk- 1 Spotted Sandpiper- 2 Solitary Sandpiper- 2 Chimney Swift- 6 Red-bellied Woodpecker- 2 Downy Woodpecker- 4 Hairy Woodpecker- 2 Pileated Woodpecker- 2 Eastern Wood Peewee- 2 Acadian Flycatcher- 1 Eastern Phoebe- 2 Great-crested Flycatcher- 1 Eastern Kingbird- 1 White-eyed Vireo- 2 Yellow-throated Vireo- 1 Red-eyed Vireo- 2 Blue Jay- 1 American Crow- 1 N. Rough-wing Swallow- 6 Barn Swallow- 3 Carolina Chickadee- 2

Tufted Titmouse- 4 White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren- 1 heard Blue-gray Gnatcatcher- 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet- 2 Eastern Bluebird- 2 Wood Thrush- 2 heard American Robin- 1 Northern Mockingbird- 1 Cedar Waxwing- 1 Louisiana Waterthrush- 3 Blue-winged Warbler- 1 Kentucky Warbler- 1 American Redstart- 1 Northern Parula- 1 Yellow Warbler- 2 Blackpoll Warbler- 1 Palm Warbler-31 Yellow-rumped Warbler- 26 Black-throated Green Warbler- 1 White-throated Sparrow- 2 Summer Tanager- 3 Scarlet Tanager- 1 Northern Cardinal- 3 Rose-breasted Grosbeak- 1 Indigo Bunting- 2 Red-winged Blackbird- 2 American Goldfinch- 1

Danny Shelton

Radnor Lake State Natural Area
Nashville, TN
April 22, 2015

Earth Day 2015 found twenty-nine adventurous birders participating in the second of six Spring Wednesday morning walks at Radnor Lake.  The sun peeked out occasionally and a few raindrops fell on our heads but all and all it was a great morning with friends new and old.

Highlights of the day included BALTIMORE ORIOLE and a singing LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH near the parking lot, a beautiful male SCARLET TANAGER, a singing WOOD THRUSH, a NASHVILLE WARBLER darting around Dogwood blossoms, 3 RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD enjoying the cross-vine scattered along the trail and a BROAD-WINGED HAWK soaring high above.


61 species

Canada Geese – 6 Wood Duck – 5 Mallard – 3 Lesser Scaup – 4 Wild Turkey – 3 Pied-billed Grebe – 3 Double-crested Cormorant – 1 Great Blue Heron – 1 Green Heron – 1 Black Vulture – 1 Turkey Vulture – 3 Cooper’s Hawk – 1 Broad-winged Hawk – 1 Red-tailed Hawk – 2 Spotted Sandpiper – 1 Ring-billed Gull – 5 Barred Owl – 1 Chimney Swift – 15 Ruby-throated Hummingbird – 3 Belted Kingfisher – 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker – 2 Downy Woodpecker – 4 Pileated Woodpecker – 1 Eastern Phoebe – 1 Great Crested Flycatcher – 3 White-eyed Vireo – 3 Yellow-throated Vireo – 1 Philadelphia Vireo – 1 Red-eyed Vireo – 4 Blue Jay – 4 American Crow – 4

N. Rough-wing Swallows – 12 Barn Swallow – 2 Carolina Chickadee – 7 Tufted Titmouse – 11 White-breasted Nuthatch – 2 Carolina Wren – 2 Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher – 14 Ruby-crowned Kinglet – 1 Eastern Bluebird – 1 Wood Thrush – 1 American Robin – 2 Louisiana Waterthrush – 1 Black and white Warbler – 1 Tennessee Warbler – 1 Nashville Warbler – 1 Common Yellowthroat – 1 Northern Parula – 3 Palm Warbler – 4 Yellow-rumped Warbler – 16 Black-throated Green Warbler – 8 Eastern Towhee – 1 White-throated Sparrow – 4 Summer Tanager – 2 Scarlet Tanager – 1 Northern Cardinal – 13 Rose-breasted Grosbeak – 1 Red-winged Blackbird – 1 Brown-headed Cowbird – 3 Baltimore Oriole – 1 American Goldfinch – 3

Cyndi Routledge

Radnor Lake State Natural Area
Nashville, TN
April 15, 2015

Ten hearty individuals showed up on this foggy, rainy morning for the first NTOS Wednesday morning walk of the year.  While no records were set, it was a good outing with 42 species recorded.  10 warblers were observed, which included a FOY Kentucky Warbler seen and heard by most of the group.

Canada Goose 2  Wood Duck 3  Rehead (male) 1  Great Blue Heron 2  Black Vulture 5  Chimney Swift 12  Red-bellied Woodpecker 2  Downy Woodpecker 5  Pileated Woodpecker 2  Eastern Phoebe 1  White-eyed Vireo 2  Red-eyed Vireo 2  Blue Jay 2  American Crow 3  Northern Rough-winged Swallow 15  Tree Swallow 2  Barn Swallow 4  Carolina Chickadee 6  Tufted Titmouse 12  White-breasted Nuthatch 2  Carolina Wren 1

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 20  Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1  Eastern Bluebird 2  Cedar Waxwing 2  Louisiana Waterthrush 1  Blue-winged Warbler 2  Black-and-white Warbler 2  Prothonotary Warbler 2  Kentucky Warbler 1  Northern Parula 1  Palm Warbler 2  Yellow-rumped warbler 50  Black-throated Green Warbler 1  Chipping Sparrow 1  White-throated Sparrow 20  Scarlet Tanager 2  Northern Cardinal 20  Red-winged Blackbird 3  Brown-headed Cowbird 4  American Goldfinch 10

Big Sandy Unit of TNWR
January 31, 2015

The NTOS field trip to the Pace Point/Britton Ford area was a wonderful success!

Our group started at the Bennetts Creek Overlook within the Big Sandy Unit of the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge, and no sooner had we stepped out of our vehicles when the cry of "Golden Eagle!" sounded. We all had fantastic views of both an adult and an immature together - a life bird for many.

Duck numbers were sky-rocketing throughout the day, the vast majority being Mallards. Three hybrid dabblers were sighted: one, a "Brewer's Duck" (Gadwall x Mallard) at the Bennetts Creek Overlook; the second, a handsome Mallard x American Black Duck at Tennessee NWR--Britton Ford Unit; and finally, an additional "Brewer's Duck" at Britton Ford. Also of note was a merganser "trifecta" at Bennets Creek Overlook and all five regular geese at Britton Ford.

Notable misses: American Coot (!)

Wow...what a day! A huge thanks to Mike Todd for leading the trip, and thank you to all who attended.

65 species

Great White-fronted Goose Snow Goose Ross's Goose Cackling Goose Canada Goose Gadwall Mallard Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal Canvasback Redhead Ring-necked Duck Greater Scaup Lesser Scaup Bufflehead Common Goldeneye Hooded Merganser Common Merganser Red-breasted Merganser Ruddy Duck Common Loon Pied-billed Grebe Horned Grebe American White Pelican Great Blue Heron Black Vulture Turkey Vulture Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Red-shouldered Hawk Red-tailed Hawk

Golden Eagle American Kestrel Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Red-headed Woodpecker Red-bellied Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Pileated Woodpecker Eastern Phoebe Blue Jay American Crow Carolina Chickadee Tufted Titmouse White-breasted Nuthatch Carolina Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Eastern Bluebird American Robin Yellow-rumped Warbler Eastern Towhee Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Northern Cardinal Red-winged Blackbird Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird American Goldfinch

Chloe Walker
Field Trip Coordinator