Old Hickory Dam area

J. Percy Priest Dam
Sat. Nov. 17 2012

Nine birders enjoyed a morning outing to the Old Hickory Dam area followed by a short visit to J. Percy Priest Dam. The forest trail at the dam produced large numbers of HERMIT THRUSHes BROWN CREEPERs and GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETs. Two PINE SISKINs called as they flew over, while a single RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH was heard by only a small part of the group. Two RED-SHOULDERED HAWKs were calling in the distance. Seen circling overhead through the pines was a flock of 12 BONAPARTE'S GULLs. At Snow Bunting Peninsula highlights included COMMON LOONs, HORNED GREBEs, two NORTHERN SHOVELERs, and two HERRING GULLs. A quick visit to J. Percy Priest Dam added no additonal species. We found a total of 55 species for the morning.

Frank Fekel

NTOS field trip coordinator

Radnor Lake State Natural Area

Oct. 17, 2012

This morning 11 folks shared the last of our fall Wednesday walks. Most of the warblers have moved on, waterfowl and winter birds beginning to arrive. Spectacular foliage, mild temperature and a slight breeze made for a pleasant morning.

Canada Goose  84

Wood Duck  41
Gadwall  8
American Black Duck  1
Ring-necked Duck  3
Wild Turkey  15
Pied-billed Grebe  6
Great Blue Heron  1
Black Vulture  3
Turkey Vulture  1
American Coot  15
Belted Kingfisher  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker  6
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  1
Downy Woodpecker  5
Northern Flicker  1
Pileated Woodpecker  5
Eastern Phoebe  1
Blue Jay  15
American Crow  21
Carolina Chickadee  11
Tufted Titmouse  10
White-breasted Nuthatch  1
Carolina Wren  5
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  2
Eastern Bluebird  3
American Robin  12
Gray Catbird  1
Brown Thrasher  1
Cedar Waxwing  40
Yellow-rumped Warbler  35
Black-throated Green Warbler  5
White-throated Sparrow  4
Northern Cardinal  7
House Finch  1
American Goldfinch  2

Susan Hollyday

Radnor Lake State Natural Area

October 10, 2012

Fourteen birders gathered in the birdy parking lot to begin our fifth Wednesday Walk. Cloudy and chilly, we had a remarkable morning observing 56 species, many very close-up. Next Wednesday will be our final fall walk. Join us if you can.

Canada Goose  177

Wood Duck  26
Gadwall  5
Mallard  32
Blue-winged Teal  8
Wild Turkey  5
Double-crested Cormorant  1
Great Blue Heron  2
Turkey Vulture  2
American Coot  24    
Chimney Swift  3
Belted Kingfisher  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker  8
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  1
Downy Woodpecker  7
Hairy Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker  2
Pileated Woodpecker  3
Eastern Wood-Pewee  2
Acadian Flycatcher  1    
Eastern Phoebe  2
Blue-headed Vireo  1
Blue Jay  25
American Crow  9
Carolina Chickadee  18
Tufted Titmouse  10
White-breasted Nuthatch  8
Brown Creeper  12    
Carolina Wren  12
Golden-crowned Kinglet  1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  2
Eastern Bluebird  2
Swainson's Thrush  1
American Robin  57
Gray Catbird  2
Northern Mockingbird  1
Cedar Waxwing  8
Golden-winged Warbler  1   
Tennessee Warbler  10
Orange-crowned Warbler  2
Nashville Warbler  5   
Common Yellowthroat  2
Northern Parula  1
Magnolia Warbler  19
Bay-breasted Warbler  6
Blackburnian Warbler  1
Palm Warbler  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler  25
Black-throated Green Warbler  12
White-throated Sparrow  4   
Northern Cardinal  17
Rose-breasted Grosbeak  7
Indigo Bunting  1
Common Grackle  100
House Finch  2
American Goldfinch  2

Susan Hollyday

 

Radnor Lake State Natural Area
October 3, 2012

Under clear skies and brilliant sunshine with mist rising from the lake, 20 birders set off this morning on the NTOS-sponsored walk at Radnor Lake State Natural Area. As might be expected, MAGNOLIA WARBLERS were in high numbers, but they were actually outdone by the BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLERS. Several BAY-BREASTED WARBLERS were seen; one along the Lake Trail was particularly cooperative. A little unusual was a lone female YELLOW WARBLER spotted in bare branches near the Spillway. A first for this fall for the group was a GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET. Dozens of CHIMNEY SWIFTS flew out over the lake, swooping down, skimming along the surface for a a second or two, and rising up only to do it again. A large gathering of ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS was seen near Grassy Point and a few males still had considerable color.

Below is a list of species observed.

 

41 species

Canada Goose 8
Wood Duck 27
Blue-winged Teal 7
Pied-billed Grebe 8
Great Blue Heron 1
Turkey Vulture 1
Chimney Swift 105
Red-bellied Woodpecker 5
Downy Woodpecker 3
Northern Flicker 2
Pileated Woodpecker 2
Eastern Phoebe 2
Blue-headed Vireo 1
Philadelphia Vireo 1
Red-eyed Vireo 3
Blue Jay 12
Carolina Chickadee 14
Tufted Titmouse 11
White-breasted Nuthatch 7
Carolina Wren 11
Golden-crowned Kinglet 1
Eastern Bluebird 1
Gray-cheeked Thrush 2
Swainson's Thrush 1
American Robin 12
Gray Catbird 1
Cedar Waxwing 35
Tennessee Warbler 1
Nashville Warbler 1
Northern Parula 2
Magnolia Warbler 11
Bay-breasted Warbler 3
Blackburnian Warbler 2
Yellow Warbler 1
Chestnut-sided Warbler 1
Black-throated Green Warbler 14
Field Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 7
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 9
Indigo Bunting 1
Common Grackle 2

Kevin Bowden

NTOS Fall Count
September 29, 2012

This year's Nashville Fall Count totaled 126 species, the highest since 2006.  With cool temperatures and partly cloudy skies, it was a great day to be out.  There was a good mix of breeding birds, transient migrants, and early wintering species.  Highlights included 4 Bald Eagles at Cheatham Co. and Warner Parks, a kettle of 8 Broad-winged Hawks at Shelby Bottoms, 1 Peregrine Falcon at Rutherford Co.,1 Sora at Cheatham, 4 Red-headed Woodpeckers at Harpeth East, Bells Bend and Cheatham, 12 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers (4 in one tree at Shelby), 1 Olive-sided Flycatcher, 1 Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, and 1 Least Flycatcher all at Shelby, 5 Scissor-tailed Flycatchers in Rutherford Co., 3 Red-breasted Nuthatches at Shelby, a whopping 17 Sedge Wrens (14 at Bells Bend), 6 Marsh Wrens at Bells Bend and Rutherford, 1 Lark Sparrow and 1 Savannah Sparrow at Rutherford, and 7 Swamp Sparrows at Cheatham and Bells Bend.  Thank you to all who participated.

Click Bird Count Results in the right side menu to view all route results.

Jan Shaw

Radnor Lake State Natural Area

September 26, 2012

On this beautiful fall morning 23 birders enjoyed 43 species including 10 warbler species and 3 vireo species. We had a visitor from Arizona and a former NTOS member who now resides in Kentucky join us on the walk. There were many excellent looks at close-up birds, always a treat.

Canada Goose 6

Blue-winged Teal 7

Great Blue Heron 1

Turkey Vulture 1

Red-shouldered Hawk 1

Mourning Dove 2

Chimney Swift 30

Ruby-throated Hummingbird 4

Red-bellied Woodpecker 5

Downy Woodpecker 3

Eastern Wood-Pewee 1

Empidonax sp. 1

Eastern Phoebe 4

Blue-headed Vireo 3

Warbling Vireo 1

Philadelphia Vireo 2

Blue Jay 6

American Crow 1

Carolina Chickadee 10

Tufted Titmouse 12

White-breasted Nuthatch 4

Carolina Wren 9

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1

Eastern Bluebird 1

Gray-cheeked Thrush 6

American Robin 26

Gray Catbird 5

Cedar Waxwing 33

American Redstart 8

Northern Parula 1

Magnolia Warbler 7

Bay-breasted Warbler 3

Blackburnian Warbler 2

Yellow Warbler 2

Chestnut-sided Warbler 2

Yellow-rumped Warbler 1

Black-throated Green Warbler 5

Canada Warbler 3

Scarlet Tanager 1

Northern Cardinal 8

Rose-breasted Grosbeak 4

Brown-headed Cowbird 1

American Goldfinch 2

Susan Hollyday

Shelby Park and Bottoms

2012 September 22

On Saturday morning a modest contingent of 5 birders came out for the annual NTOS Fall Flock at Shelby Park and Bottoms in Nashville.  In addition to the large flock of AMERICAN ROBINs that swarmed over Mission Hill, the path around the hill produced an unsolicited calling E. SCREECH OWL, and later we heard several ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKs and saw two SCARLET TANAGERs. Aside from the robins, migrants on our walk were dominated by BROWN THRASHERs (at least 2 dozen), who seemed to be calling everywhere we went, and GRAY CATBIRDs (at least 15 seen and heard).  Transferring our walk to Phase I of Shelby Bottoms, we found several SWAINSON'S THRUSHes, two INDIGO BUNTINGs, and a SUMMER TANAGER.  Along the Ecology trail we heard a chip in the weeds that might have be a SEDGE WREN, but the bird never popped into view. Warblers were dominated by MAGNOLIAs and AMERICAN REDSTARTs. Those who stayed for the full walk enjoyed a YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER along the Cornelia Fort trail in the woods of Phase 2.  In all we totaled 39 species for the morning.

 

Frank Fekel

NTOS Field Trip Coordinator