Radnor Lake State Natural Area

April 23, 2014

On a beautiful spring morning a couple of groups went birding at the lake. Below is a combined list of the species seen. For the past week or so, Yellow-rumped Warblers were the most dominant warbler species, however, they were outnumbered by Palm Warblers today.

49 species

Canada Goose  6 Wood Duck  3 Mallard  3 Wild Turkey  1 Great Blue Heron  2 Turkey Vulture  1 American Coot  3 Broad-winged Hawk 1 Barred Owl  1 Chimney Swift  7 Ruby-throated Hummingbird  1 Red-headed Woodpecker  4 Red-bellied Woodpecker  5 Downy Woodpecker  2 Hairy Woodpecker  1 Pileated Woodpecker  2 Acadian Flycatcher  1 Eastern Phoebe  1 Eastern Kingbird  3 White-eyed Vireo  2 Blue-headed Vireo 3 Blue Jay  4 American Crow  1 Northern Rough-winged Swallow  1 Carolina Chickadee  5

Tufted Titmouse  3 White-breasted Nuthatch  1 Carolina Wren  6 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  6 Eastern Bluebird  2 Wood Thrush  1 Cedar Waxwing  8 Louisiana Waterthrush  1 Prothonotary Warbler  1 Nashville Warbler  2 Kentucky Warbler  1 Hooded Warbler  2 Northern Parula  1 Blackpoll Warbler  1 Palm Warbler  7 Yellow-rumped Warbler  3 Eastern Towhee  1 White-throated Sparrow  3 Summer Tanager  1 Scarlet Tanager  2 Northern Cardinal  7 Red-winged Blackbird  1 Brown-headed Cowbird  2 American Goldfinch  7

Long Hunter State Park
Apr. 19, 2014

The weather was great, the sky a brilliant blue, and the birds happily out-and-about this morning as six birders gathered for the NTOS field trip to Long Hunter State Park. We all agreed it was a wonderful trip. Highlights include a welcoming Orchard Oriole singing in the parking lot; dozens of Prothonotary Warblers singing and feeding, even a couple at nearly eye level; four Ospreys circling (two of which were carrying fish) in the same field of view; five Spotted Sandpipers feeding and bobbing along the rocky bank; one somewhat cooperative Great Crested Flycatcher; a handsome male Summer Tanager; a very vocal Broad-winged Hawk that briefly soared above us; and finally, a "bee-buzzy" Blue-winged Warbler that almost broke our backs and necks.

A complete species list is below. Thank you, Mary Zimmerman, for your great help today!

44 species

Wood Duck-2 Great Blue Heron-3 Black Vulture-2 Osprey-4 Cooper's Hawk-1 Broad-winged Hawk-1 Spotted Sandpiper-5 Red-bellied Woodpecker-6 Downy Woodpecker-3 Hairy Woodpecker-3 Pileated Woodpecker-1 Great Crested Flycatcher-2 Eastern Kingbird-5 Yellow-throated Vireo-1 Red-eyed Vireo-3 Blue Jay-2 American Crow-5 Northern Rough-winged Swallow-x (heard only) Purple Martin-20+ Barn Swallow-20+ Tree Swallow-10+ Carolina Chickadee-12

Tufted Titmouse-12 White-breasted Nuthatch-2 Carolina Wren-6 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher-20+ (2 w/nests) Blue-winged Warbler-1 Prothonotary Warbler-20+ Palm Warbler-1 Yellow-rumped Warbler-8 Yellow-throated Warbler-1 Prairie Warbler-1 Eastern Towhee-2 Chipping Sparrow-5 Field Sparrow-1 Summer Tanager-1 Northern Cardinal-15 Indigo Bunting-1 Red-winged Blackbird-3 Common Grackle-2 Brown-headed Cowbird-12 Orchard Oriole-1 House Finch-2 American Goldfinch-15+

Chloe Walker

Radnor Lake State Natural Area

Nashville-Davidson Co TN

Wednesday 16 April 2014

It was cold this morning, but the sun was bright, providing some great looks at spring migrants at Radnor Lake for the first of the six weekly walks sponsored by the Nashville chapter of NTOS. The group had barely left the parking lot when we spotted a beautiful male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK high in bare branches. Lower down within easy view was a BLUE-WINGED WARBLER while several BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLERS sang and flitted about.

It got calm as we crossed over the dam, but the spillway came to life with warblers: PALM WARBLER, PROTHONOTARY WARBLER, NORTHERN PARULA, and a female PRAIRIE WARBLER  sitting calmly at eye level; this latter is a rare visitor at Radnor. The large number of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS was a good study in the variety of plumages in this species.

Later along the lake trail, we got looks at BLUE-HEADED VIREO, WHITE-EYED VIREO, YELLOW-THROATED-VIREO and a lone RED-EYED VIREO.

A RED-TAILED HAWK flew in and perched close by and an OSPREY soared overhead its disinctive M shape in outstretched wings.

Thanks to all who participated and helped to spot and identify and to Pam Lasley who kept the checklist going.

44 species

Canada Goose 6 Wood Duck 2 Wild Turkey 3 Great Blue Heron 1 Osprey 1 Cooper's Hawk 1 Red-tailed Hawk 1 American Coot 2 Barred Owl 1 Chimney Swift 50 Belted Kingfisher 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 3 Downy Woodpecker 2 Pileated Woodpecker 2 Eastern Phoebe 1 White-eyed Vireo 3 Yellow-throated Vireo 2 Blue-headed Vireo 1 Red-eyed Vireo 1 Blue Jay 2 American Crow 2 Northern Rough-winged Swallow 30

Tree Swallow 2 Carolina Chickadee 6 Tufted Titmouse 2 Carolina Wren 3 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 9 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 4 Eastern Bluebird 1 Cedar Waxwing 20 Blue-winged Warbler 3 Prothonotary Warbler 1 Northern Parula 2 Palm Warbler 5 Yellow-rumped Warbler 14 Prairie Warbler 1 Black-throated Green Warbler 6 Field Sparrow 1 White-throated Sparrow 3 Summer Tanager 1 Northern Cardinal 3 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1 Brown-headed Cowbird 2 American Goldfinch 6

Kevin Bowden

Beaman Park

Mar. 29, 2014

The cold rain soaked six daring birders from head to foot today as we bravely ventured to Beaman Park to look for waterthrushes. Despite the rain, our spirits were kept dry and lively! We heard at least four Lousiana Waterthrushes, two of which we saw very well. Other species that were seen/heard included: Eastern Phoebe, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, and Northern Cardinal. A HUGE thanks to Ed Schneider for leading us!

Chloe Walker

Field Trip Coordinator

Bell’s Bend Park

Feb. 15, 2014

Despite the bizarre meeting time, nineteen birders showed up at Bell's Bend this evening to look for displaying American Woodcocks. Many of us did a little birding before the "big show" and produced a decent list. Most notable were a couple of Fox Sparrows, one Northern Harrier, and a few fly-over blackbird flocks of several thousand birds consisting of mostly Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles, though there could have been a few Rusties hidden with them. But of course, the main attraction was the woodcocks, and they did not disappoint. At least ten woodcocks were heard and a few seen just after sundown. A big thanks to Cyndi Routledge for leading the outing! A complete list of species is below.

19 species

Northern Harrier-1

Red-tailed Hawk-1

Cooper's Hawk-1

American Woodcock-10

Mourning Dove-1

Carolina Chickadee-x (heard only)

Carolina Wren-2

American Robin-50+

Northern Mockingbird-1

Yellow-rumped Warbler-1

Eastern Towhee-6

Swamp Sparrow-20+

Song Sparrow-20+

White-throated Sparrow-20+

Northern Cardinal-25+

Red-winged Blackbird-1500+

Common Grackle-1500+

Eastern Meadowlark-12

House Finch-2

Chloe Walker

Field Trip Coordinator

Duck River Unit, TWR

Jan. 11, 2014

Eleven birders ventured out to the Duck River Unit of the Tennessee National Wildlife refuge for a wonderful outing with THOUSANDS of waterfowl and other interesting birds. Highlights included one fairly close Greater Scaup at the pump station; four species of geese including Greater White-fronted, Snow, Cackling, and Canada; twenty-six American Pipits at close range; a Palm Warbler at Pintail Blind; two male Brewer's Blackbirds; and an (not surprisingly) uncooperative Le Conte's Sparrow. Below is a list of all the species that were seen/heard.

  

77 species

Greater White-fronted Goose-400 Snow Goose-15 Cackling Goose-15 Canada Goose-300 Gadwall-280 American Wigeon-170 American Black Duck-2 Mallard-2000 Northern Shoveler-200 Northern Pintail-500 Green-winged Teal-60 Canvasback-110 Ring-necked Duck-12 Greater Scaup-1 Scaup sp.-200 Bufflehead-78 Common Goldeneye-7 Hooded Merganser-5 Ruddy Duck-30 Pied-billed Grebe-17 Horned Grebe-6 Double-crested Cormorant-59 American White Pelican-35 Great Blue Heron-8 Turkey Vulture-6 Bald Eagle-10 Northern Harrier-10 Sharp-shinned Hawk-1 Cooper's Hawk-1 Red-tailed Hawk-3 American Kestrel-2 American Coot-195 Killdeer-7 Wilson's Snipe-6 Bonaparte's Gull-35 Ring-billed Gull-45 Herring Gull-4 Mourning Dove-25 Belted Kingfisher-1

Red-headed Woodpecker-2 Red-bellied Woodpecker-4 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker-1 Downy Woodpecker-2 Hairy Woodpecker-1 Northern Flicker-3 Pileated Woodpecker-1 Eastern Phoebe-6 Blue Jay-2 American Crow-11 Horned Lark-2 Carolina Chickadee-4 Tufted Titmouse-1 Brown Creeper-1 Carolina Wren-5 Ruby-crowned Kinglet-5 Eastern Bluebird-4 Northern Mockingbird-2 European Starling-75 American Pipit-26 Lapland Longspur-2 Palm Warbler-1 Yellow-rumped Warbler-4 Field Sparrow-1 Savannah Sparrow-8 Le Conte's Sparrow-1 Song Sparrow-20 Swamp Sparrow-25 White-throated Sparrow-25 White-crowned Sparrow-2 Dark-eyed Junco-20 Northern Cardinal-5 Red-winged Blackbird-15 Eastern Meadowlark-19 Rusty Blackbird-5 Brewer's Blackbird-2 Brown-headed Cowbird-12 House Finch-1 American Goldfinch-x (heard only)

Chloe Walker

NTOS Field Trip Coordinator

Hickory-Priest Christmas Bird Count

Jan. 1, 2014

Twenty-five people in 5 parties participated, 96 species were reported. The count covers eastern Davidson County with bit of Sumner and Wilson counties included.

Highlights: Some highlights were previously reported by Scott  Somershoe for the Percy Priest Lake section, most notably the out-of-season Yellow Warbler. Fortunately it was seen (and heard) by  most of the party, and well-seen by a few. Also from this location was  Scott's early morning sighting of Pacific Loon and Peregrine Falcon. Ducks, 13 species including 2 merganser species, were fairly well represented but in mostly low numbers; no scoters found. Not too surprisingly Black Vultures outnumbered Turkey Vultures 20-1. 7 Bald Eagles counted, with 3 reported as adults. Falcons totaled 3 Merlins plus the Peregrine. On Priest the evening gull roost was productive with Ring-billed Gull and Com. Loons present in expected high numbers, plus Scott's addition of 2 Red-throated Loons to the mix. Sandhill Crane made the list with a fly-over of 2 at Priest. Several "winter" warblers were found on the Old Hickory section: Orange-crowned (2), Palm (1) & Pine (1), with the addition of Yellow-rumped giving them a 4 warbler day on Jan. 1st! Only 2 Purple Finches and 1 Rusty Blackbird reported, those from Neely's Bend.

To view the entire list click on Bird Count Results on the right menu and select Hickory-Priest CBC under 2014.

Richard Connors

Compiler