NTOS Fall Count
The Nashville Fall Bird Count was held on
October 1 with 120 species tallied. It was a crisp, beautiful fall day, but the
persistent north winds curtailed the bird activity and sent many of them south
the previous night. The excitement of the day came at Radnor Lake where the
group there saw and heard a possible Black-headed Grosbeak. The identity wasn't
100% confirmed, so it unfortunately won't be added to our list. Signs of
wintering birds were evident with 2 Lesser Scaup at Old Hickory Lake, 1
Northern Harrier at Bells Bend Park, 9 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, 4
Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 1 Hermit Thrush at Cheatham Co., 62 Yellow-rumped
Warblers, and Savannah, Swamp, and White-throated Sparrows. Other highlights
included 171 Wild Turkeys (78 at Harpeth West), 6 Osprey and 6 Bald Eagles, all
three expected owl species, 2 Red-headed Woodpeckers at Percy Priest Lake and
Cheatham Co., 2 Sedge Wrens at Shelby Bottoms and Bells Bend Park, 2 Lincoln's
Sparrows at Percy Priest Lake, and a late Orchard Oriole at Radnor Lake.
Disappointments included no Northern Bobwhites, only 1 Black-crowned
Night-Heron at Old Hickory Lake where they are usually numerous, only 1
shorebird species (44 Killdeer), and only 1 Loggerhead Shrike at Percy Priest
Lake. Thank you to all observers. Click here to view the list of species seen by route.
