Radnor Lake
July 15, 2012
Davidson County

Six birders participated in the NTOS field trip to Radnor Lake on Saturday, July 14. We walked around the lake in quite humid conditions and with some light rain. Several WOOD THRUSHES were singing as we started up the road to the lake. BLACK VULTURES were seen feeding on a deer carcass near the lake-side deck but we did not dally as the smell was quite strong.  Along the way we heard and saw a few SUMMER TANAGERS and GREEN HERONS. On the east end of the lake a dark colored duck with orange legs was seen preening on a log. Based on the color, size, bill color and an absence of white in the wings, it was determined to be an AMERICAN BLACK DUCK. It was a good outing and we made it back to the cars just before the heavy rains started.

Below is a recap of the walk.

Canada Goose - 30
Wood Duck - 40
American Black Duck - 1
Mallard - 12
Great Blue Heron - 1
Green Heron - 5
Black Vulture - 8
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1
Mourning Dove - 1
Barred Owl - 1
Chimney Swift - 3
Belted Kingfisher - 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 6
Downy Woodpecker - 4
Northern Flicker - 1
Pileated Woodpecker - 2
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 2
Acadian Flycatcher - 2
White-eyed Vireo - 1
Red-eyed Vireo - 1
Blue Jay - 2
American Crow - 2
Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 8
Barn Swallow
Carolina Chickadee - 9
Tufted Titmouse - 6
White-breasted Nuthatch - 2
Carolina Wren - 8
Wood Thrush - 5
American Robin - 2
Summer Tanager - 6
Northern Cardinal - 9
American Goldfinch – 8

Scott Block

Rutherford County

2012 June 9

On Saturday 15 enthusiastic birders, including one visiting from Pittsburgh, showed up for the Nashville Chapter of TOS trip, led by Terry Witt, to search for the open field specialties of Rutherford and Wilson Counties.  We saw all of our primary target species, starting with a family of 5 SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHERs. Puzzling however was the yellow lower breast coloration of the 3 young birds, and we wondered if they could be hybrids. We soon added good looks at a GRASSHOPPER SPARROW, a singing DICKSISSEL, BLUE GROSBEAK, and an ORCHARD ORIOLE feeding young.  Unfortunately, a LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was less cooperative, flying away as we approached it. A BEWICK'S WREN proved to be even more elusive, but we eventually were able to find one singing and to see it.  As a bonus, at that stop we spotted two BROAD-WINGED HAWKs and heard a PRAIRIE WARBLER. Our final quest took us in search of a LARK SPARROW, which we eventually tracked down. Looking for the sparrow, we also found RED-HEADED WOODPECKERs and to our pleasant surprise, two COMMON NIGHTHAWKs. With a big assist from Terry Witt, we finished the morning with an excellent 67 species.

Numbers of the more common species are approximate.

Canada Goose 1
Wood Duck  3
Mallard    2
N. Bobwhite 1
Wild Turkey 18
Great Blue Heron  1
Green Heron  1
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron 1
Black Vulture  27
Turkey Vulture  4
Broad-winged Hawk  2
Red-tailed Hawk 1
American Kestral 1
Killdeer  1
Rock Pigeon  3
Eurasian Collared-Dove 1
Mourning Dove 7
Common Nighthawk 2
Chimney Swift 2
Belted Kingfisher  1
Red-headed Woodpecker 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Hairy Woodpecker    1
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee  1
Eastern Phoebe      2
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 6
Loggerhead Shrike   1
White-eyed Vireo    2
Yellow-throated Vireo 1
Blue Jay  4
American Crow  3
Purple Martin  2
Tree Swallow   1
N. Rough-winged Swallow  2
Barn Swallow   3
Carolina Chickadee  2
Tufted Titmouse   1
Carolina Wren     2
Bewick's Wren   1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
Eastern Bluebird   6
American Robin     2
Northern Mockingbird  2
Brown Thrasher     1
European Starling  11
Prairie Warbler  3
Common Yellowthroat 2
Yellow-breasted Chat  2
Eastern Towhee   1
Chipping Sparrow  1
Field Sparrow    2
Lark Sparrow     1
Grasshopper Sparrow  2
Song Sparrow     1
Northern Cardinal  1
Blue Grosbeak    1
Indigo Bunting   1
Dickcissel       4
Red-winged Blackbird  1
Eastern Meadowlark  8
Common Grackle  18
Brown-headed Cowbird  2
Orchard Oriole   3
House Finch      5
American Goldfinch    2
House Sparrow    2 

Frank Fekel, NTOS Field Trip Leader

Shelby Bottoms Greenway, Phase 3
Nashville, Davidson Co., TN
2012 May 19

Saturday morning ten birders began a search for Connecticut, Mourning, and Swainson's Warblers at Shelby Bottoms Greenway, Phase 3 section. The Swainson's Warbler was very cooperative. We first heard and then got excellent looks at the Swainson's that has been announcing its territory since late April. It is presumably the same bird that was found in the same place last year. Connecticut and Mourning Warblers were not as cooperative, so unfortunately we did not hear or see any, although a late arriving Phillip Casteel reported hearing a Connecticut Warbler in Phase 1 earlier in the morning. As expected we found numerous Yellow-breasted Chats and Common Yellowthroats, as well as several Prairie Warblers and Indigo Buntings. Also seen or heard were Yellow-billed Cuckoo and Gray-cheeked Thrush.

44 Species

Double-crested Cormorant 2
Green Heron 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
Mourning Dove 2
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 2
Chimney Swift 1
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 5
E. Wood-Pewee 1
White-eyed Vireo 4
Red-eyed Vireo 2
Blue Jay 4
American Crow 1
N. Rough-winged Swallow 2
Tree Swallow 2
Barn Swallow 1
Carolina Chickadee 7
Tufted Titmouse 3
Carolina Wren 3
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 6
E. Bluebird 1
Gray-cheeked Thrush 1 singing in deep woods
American Robin 1
European Starling 2
Swainson's Warbler 1  star of the morning, heard and seen
Common Yellowthroat 7
N. Parula 2
Magnolia Warbler 1
Prairie Warbler  3
Yellow-breasted Chat 5
E. Towhee 7
Field Sparrow 4
Song Sparrow 1
Summer Tanager 1
N. Cardinal 9
Blue Grosbeak 1
Indigo Bunting 8
Red-winged Blackbird 6
Common Grackle 4
Brown-headed Cowbird 4
Orchard Oriole 1
American Goldfinch 4

Frank Fekel
NTOS Field Trip Chair

Swainson's Warbler



Radnor Lake State Natural Area

Nashville-Davidson Co. TN
16 May 2012

The last of this year's Spring 2012 walks at Radnor Lake sponsored by the Nashville Chapter of TOS took place in brilliant sunshine and seasonably warm temperatures. While the birding was a bit slow, we did get good looks at a BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER in the parking lot before we got underway and we got a fine look at a MAGNOLIA WARBLER. A male SUMMER TANAGER stayed low to the ground lake side so that we all got a good view. But no doubt the highlight, perhaps a bit gruesome, was watching a BARRED OWL swoop down to catch a large frog and carry it off to an exposed branch where the bird gave us quite a frog anatomy lesson as it pulled its prey apart.

Thanks to all who participated this spring and a special thank you Susan Hollyday, who always keeps an accurate checklist for the group.

Here's a recap of today's walk:

43 species

Canada Goose  12

Wood Duck  17
Mallard  3
Wild Turkey  2
Mourning Dove  1
Barred Owl  1
Chimney Swift  5
Ruby-throated Hummingbird  2
Red-bellied Woodpecker  5
Downy Woodpecker  2
Northern Flicker  1
Pileated Woodpecker  1
Acadian Flycatcher  2
Eastern Phoebe  2
Great Crested Flycatcher  2
White-eyed Vireo  3
Yellow-throated Vireo  1
Philadelphia Vireo  2
Red-eyed Vireo  5
Blue Jay  2
American Crow  2
Barn Swallow  2
Carolina Chickadee  7
Tufted Titmouse  6
White-breasted Nuthatch  2
Carolina Wren  7
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  3
Swainson's Thrush  3
Wood Thrush  3
American Robin  1
Louisiana Waterthrush  1
Tennessee Warbler  1
Northern Parula  1
Magnolia Warbler  1
Blackburnian Warbler  2
Field Sparrow  1
Summer Tanager  5
Northern Cardinal  15
Rose-breasted Grosbeak  2
Indigo Bunting  2
Common Grackle  1
Brown-headed Cowbird  3
American Goldfinch  4

Kevin Bowden

Radnor Lake State Natural Area

Nashville-Davidson Co. TN
09 May 2012

No doubt the highlight of today's walk at Radnor Lake sponsored by the Nashville Chapter of TOS was one very cooperative CERULEAN WARBLER. Repeatedly heard along the trail between the Lake Trail overlook and the Long Bridge, the bird flitted at mid level for a long period of time such that we all were able to see him quite well. At one point the bird sat on a branch with a large insect in his bill as if to display his prize. Other warblers of note were a singing MAGNOLIA WARBLER seen at the Spillway and a YELLOW WARBLER at the same location. A COMMON YELLOWTHROAT was also seen nearby. In addition, a few lucky participants got a look at the MOURNING WARBLER that had been reported at the Long Bridge.

Next week will be the last of this Spring's regularly scheduled NTOS walks at Radnor Lake.

Below is a complete list of today's observations:

62 species

Canada Goose - 5

Wood Duck - 15
Mallard - 4
Wild Turkey - 1
Double-crested Cormorant - 1
Great Blue Heron - 2
Green Heron - 2
Black Vulture - 2
Red-tailed Hawk - 2
American Coot - 2
Mourning Dove - 2
Barred Owl - 2
Chimney Swift - 6
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 5
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 6
Downy Woodpecker - 6
Hairy Woodpecker - 1
Pileated Woodpecker - 2
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 2
Acadian Flycatcher - 2
Eastern Phoebe - 2
Great Crested Flycatcher - 2
White-eyed Vireo - 2
Red-eyed Vireo - 4
Blue Jay - 3
Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 2
Purple Martin - 1
Barn Swallow - 4
Carolina Chickadee - 12
Tufted Titmouse - 11
Carolina Wren - 7
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 9
Eastern Bluebird - 4
Veery - 1
Swainson's Thrush - 3
Wood Thrush - 7
Cedar Waxwing - 6
Ovenbird - 1
Louisiana Waterthrush - 2
Black-and-white Warbler - 1
Mourning Warbler - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 2
Hooded Warbler - 2
Cerulean Warbler - 1
Northern Parula - 2
Magnolia Warbler - 4
Yellow Warbler - 1
Yellow-throated Warbler - 1
Black-throated Green Warbler - 1
Wilson's Warbler - 1
Field Sparrow - 3
Song Sparrow - 1
White-throated Sparrow - 1
Summer Tanager - 6
Scarlet Tanager - 1
Northern Cardinal - 14
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 2
Indigo Bunting - 5
Common Grackle - 1
Brown-headed Cowbird - 5
House Finch - 3
American Goldfinch - 3

Kevin Bowden

NTOS Spring Bird Count

May 5, 2012

The Nashville Spring Count was held Saturday and totaled 164 species which ties the highest for the last 10 years. Migrant numbers were low possibly due to high temperatures and southerly winds for the past week. But early morning rains kept it cool until it cleared off in the afternoon.  Several waterfowl species remained, mostly at Radnor Lake where there was a breeding plumaged Horned Grebe. Other highlights included 1 American Bittern at Shelby Bottoms, 5 adult Bald Eagles, 1 late Northern Harrier in Rutherford Co., 1 Black-billed Cuckoo in Cheatham Co., 7 Red-headed Woodpeckers, 2 young Pileateds being fed in a nest hole at Warner Park, 1 Olive-sided Flycatcher along the Natchez Trace Pkwy., 8 Scissor-tailed Flycatchers in Rutherford Co., 2 Loggerhead Shrikes, 1 Bewick's Wren, all the thrushes (including a late Hermit), 1 Swainson's Warbler at Shelby Bottoms, 2 Ceruleans in Williamson Co., 3 Lark Sparrows, 2 Henslow's, 6 Lincoln's, and 30 Grasshopper Sparrows, and 45 Bobolinks.

Thank you to all who participated.

Jan Shaw, Compiler

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

Radnor Lake State Natural Area

Nashville-Davidson Co. TN
2 May 2012

It was a warm morning for this spring's fourth Radnor Lake Walk hosted by NTOS. The excitement began in the parking lot where Phillip Casteel first heard then located a BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER. The bird eventually landed on dead branch at near eye level providing great views. Unfortunately the bird flew before most of the participants arrived. Also seen from the parking lot were a BALD EAGLE, a BARRED OWL and several BLACKPOLL and MAGNOLIA WARBLERS. Further along the trail a NORTHERN PARULA and a YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER came down from the tree tops to give most birders nice views.

Thanks to all who participated today. Below is a recap of what we observed:

77 Species

Canada Goose - 7

Wood Duck - 7
Mallard - 3
Blue-winged Teal - 2
Lesser Scaup - 1
Wild Turkey - 3
Pied-billed Grebe - 1
Double-crested Cormorant - 1
Great Blue Heron - 1
Green Heron - 2
Black Vulture - 1
Turkey Vulture - 2
Bald Eagle - 1
Red-tailed Hawk - 2
Spotted Sandpiper - 3
Mourning Dove - 2
Barred Owl - 2
Chimney Swift - 1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 4
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 5
Downy Woodpecker - 1
Hairy Woodpecker - 1
Pileated Woodpecker - 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 2
Acadian Flycatcher - 3
Great Crested Flycatcher - 5
Eastern Kingbird - 1
White-eyed Vireo - 5
Yellow-throated Vireo - 1
Philadelphia Vireo - 1
Red-eyed Vireo - 1
Blue Jay - 1
Tree Swallow - 1
Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 1
Barn Swallow - 2
Carolina Chickadee - 9
Tufted Titmouse - 7
White-breasted Nuthatch - 2
Carolina Wren - 5
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 4
Eastern Bluebird - 4
Veery - 2
Gray-cheeked Thrush - 2
Swainson's Thrush - 6
Wood Thrush - 2
American Robin - 1
Gray Catbird - 1
Cedar Waxwing - 15
Tennessee Warbler - 3
Nashville Warbler - 2
Northern Parula - 2
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 3
Magnolia Warbler - 6
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 2
Black-throated Green Warbler - 3
Yellow-throated Warbler - 2
Palm Warbler - 2
Bay-breasted Warbler - 1
Blackpoll Warbler - 7
Black-and-white Warbler - 1
Worm-eating Warbler - 1
Ovenbird - 1
Louisiana Waterthrush - 2
Common Yellowthroat - 1
Wilson's Warbler - 3
Summer Tanager - 5
Scarlet Tanager - 3
Eastern Towhee - 1
Field Sparrow - 4
White-throated Sparrow - 2
Northern Cardinal  - 6
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 2
Indigo Bunting - 3
Common Grackle - 1
Brown-headed Cowbird - 3
American Goldfinch - 4
 
Scott Block

Red-eyed Vireo