Nashville Christmas Bird Count
Dec. 15, 2013

The Nashville CBC was held on Sunday, Dec. 15 and produced 82 species and one count week species, American Wigeon at Radnor Lake. The day was cold and cloudy, and the wind may have kept some birds down in open areas like Bells Bend Park. A female Long-tailed Duck was found by the Hwy 70 group on a small lake in Bellevue, and continues to constantly dive for food there as of Dec.18. A Peregrine Falcon was a nice find on Sneed Rd. on the Warner Park route, and an American Tree Sparrow was spotted by the Harpeth West group off of Hwy 100. Other highlights included 172 Wild Turkeys, 3 Bald Eagles, 1 Sandhill Crane, 4 Red-headed Woodpeckers, 27 Hermit Thrushes, 4 Palm Warblers, and 3 Purple Finches. Blackbirds were noticeably scarce. Thank you so much to all who participated, and to Susan Hollyday for a delicious supper/compilation. We couldn't do this without everyone's help.

To view the entire list click on Bird Count Results on the right menu and select Nashville CBC under 2013.

Jan Shaw, Compiler

Percy Priest Lake

Dec. 7, 2013

Six birders gathered for the NTOS field trip to Percy Priest Lake. We had a bit of a foggy start at Percy Priest dam, and then went clockwise around the lake. Best birds were a mixed flock of 25 Redheads and 50 Lesser Scaup plus an adult Bald Eagle seen from Anderson Rd Public Use Area. Seven Red-breasted Mergansers were seen at Hamilton Creek Park. A list of species found is below:

43 species

Northern Shoveler-20 Green-winged Teal-8 Redhead-25 Lesser Scaup-50 Bufflehead-3 Common Goldeneye-4 Hooded Merganser-15 Red-breasted Merganser-7 Ruddy Duck-2 Common Loon-19 Pied-billed Grebe-4 Horned Grebe-8 Great Blue Heron-3 Black Vulture-30 Bald Eagle-1 Cooper's Hawk-1 Red-tailed Hawk-1 American Coot-78 Killdeer-9 Bonaparte's Gull-109 Ring-billed Gull-86 Herring Gull-2

Mourning Dove-2 Red-bellied Woodpecker-3 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker-1 Northern Flicker-2 Blue Jay-22 American Crow-17 Carolina Chickadee-15 Tufted Titmouse-2 Carolina Wren-2 Golden-crowned Kinglet-5 Ruby-crowned Kinglet-1 Eastern Bluebird-31 American Robin-19 Northern Mockingbird-1 European Starling-140 Cedar Waxwing-6 Yellow-rumped Warbler-10 Song Sparrow-3 Dark-eyed Junco-11 Northern Cardinal-1 American Goldfinch-2

Chloe Walker

NTOS Field Trip Coordinator

Old Hickory Lake Area

Nov. 16, 2013

Today brought another field trip with not-so-great weather. The overcast skies and heavy fog made it hard for us birders to view and identify the birds as well as to bring the birds out to from their beds! I've been birding for about three years now and never have I heard woods so quiet and empty! Despite the poor weather conditions, thirteen birders showed up for the NTOS field trip to the Old Hickory Dam area. A few interesting sightings include a Bald Eagle sitting above the nest in the trees at the horse pasture, a Red-shouldered Hawk that literally screamed at us when we first entered the field behind the nature trail, a Brown Creeper that gave everyone thrilling views, two Common Loons floating and diving only yards away from us, and a Hermit Thrush that we kept hearing and then finally saw. Probably the most notable bird of the day was an Orange-crowned Warbler that gave a couple of birders a brief view then ducked back in the shrubs. This bird responded to playback within seconds after it was first played, and yet still didn't provide anyone good looks. The complete species list for the day is below.

40 species

Canada Goose-50 Gadwall-2 Mallard-17 Common Loon-6 Pied-billed Grebe-6 Horned Grebe-3 Great Blue Heron-6 Black Vulture-2 Bald Eagle-1 Red-shouldered Hawk-2 American Coot-46 Killdeer-1 Ring-billed Gull-32 Mourning Dove-26 Barred Owl-1 Red-bellied Woodpecker-1 Downy Woodpecker-4 Northern Flicker-1 Eastern Phoebe-1 Blue Jay-2

American Crow-9 Carolina Chickadee-7 Tufted Titmouse-3 Brown Creeper-1 Carolina Wren-4 Winter Wren-4 Golden-crowned Kinglet-11 Ruby-crowned Kinglet-3 Hermit Thrush-3 Northern Mockingbird-1 Brown Thrasher-1 Orange-crowned Warbler-1 Yellow-rumped Warbler-10 Field Sparrow-1 Song Sparrow-4 White-throated Sparrow-8 Dark-eyed Junco-1 Northern Cardinal-8 Common Grackle-60 American Goldfinch-3

An interesting day to say the least.

Chloe Walker

NTOS Field Trip Coordinator

Bell’s Bend Park

Davidson County

Oct. 26, 2013

This frosty morning, seventeen birders, including some new members, braved the cold for the October NTOS field trip to Bells Bend. A couple of birders in the group got "lifebirds", and that's always exciting--even for those who have already seen the species! The trees around the Outdoor Center yielded dozens (or should I say HUNDREDS) of Yellow-rumped Warblers and American Robins. A Lincoln's Sparrow gave somewhat nice views for a few and even sang its warbling song briefly. Towards the end of the trip, a Sharp-shinned Hawk dashed in front of us and glided at a quite high altitude. Two other notable species were a Green Heron and a Barn Swallow which seemed to be a little late despite the weather. Overall, a pretty decent day.  The complete list is as follows:

44 species

waterfowl sp.-8 Great Blue Heron-1 Green Heron-1 Black Vulture-11 Turkey Vulture-9 Sharp-shinned Hawk-1 Cooper's Hawk-1 Red-tailed Hawk-1 American Kestrel-1 Red-bellied Woodpecker-4 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker-3 Downy Woodpecker-2 Northern Flicker-7 Eastern Phoebe-1 Blue Jay-12 American Crow-3 Barn Swallow-1 Carolina Chickadee-x (heard) Tufted Titmouse-x (heard) White-breasted Nuthatch-1 Carolina Wren-2 House Wren-2

Marsh Wren-1 Golden-crowned Kinglet-3 Eastern Bluebird-13 Hermit Thrush-x (heard) American Robin-200 Northern Mockingbird-4 Brown Thrasher-2 European Starling-1 Cedar Waxwing-x (heard) Yellow-rumped Warbler-40 Eastern Towhee-6 Chipping Sparrow-2 Field Sparrow-17 Song Sparrow-29 Lincoln's Sparrow-1 Swamp Sparrow-23 White-throated Sparrow-14 Northern Cardinal-5 Red-winged Blackbird-2 Common Grackle-10 House Finch-2 American Goldfinch-7

Chloe Walker

Great sparrow habitat - photo by Mary Zimmerman

Radnor Lake State Natural Area

Davidson County

Oct 16, 2013

Several hardy birders made it out to Radnor Lake today on a wet morning for the season’s final NTOS Lake walk. Birding was quite slow until we got to the spillway area. The overcast sky made identification difficult at times but we did get to see a few species of warblers and a vireo.

31 species

Mallard  1 Pied-billed Grebe  1 Great Blue Heron  1 Red-tailed Hawk  1 Belted Kingfisher  1 Red-bellied Woodpecker  5 Downy Woodpecker  4 Northern Flicker  2 Pileated Woodpecker  1 Eastern Phoebe  1 White-eyed Vireo  1    Blue Jay  6 American Crow  1 Carolina Chickadee  7 Tufted Titmouse  6 White-breasted Nuthatch  3

Carolina Wren  4 Golden-crowned Kinglet  1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet  1 Eastern Bluebird  4 American Robin  15 Gray Catbird  1 Cedar Waxwing  6 Tennessee Warbler  2 Nashville Warbler  1 Yellow-rumped Warbler  6 Black-throated Green Warbler  2 White-throated Sparrow  2 Summer Tanager  1 Northern Cardinal  12 Rose-breasted Grosbeak  2

Scott Block

Nashville

Radnor Lake State Natural Area

Nashville, Davidson County TN
Oct. 2, 2013

Overcast skies gave way to steady rain on today's NTOS-sponsored Radnor Lake walk. This kept the numbers low for both "observers" and "observees".

The group did see one late-season Eastern Kingbird along the dam road. Later a Great Egret flew past along the lake's edge. The egret stirred up a Great Blue Heron and at one point the two birds flew across the lake together.

Below is a list of birds observed:

27 species

Wood Duck 6 Double-crested Cormorant 2 Great Blue Heron 2 Great Egret 1 Green Heron 1 Black Vulture 1 Chimney Swift 40 Belted Kingfisher 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 3 Downy Woodpecker 4 Eastern Phoebe 3 Eastern Kingbird 1     White-eyed Vireo 1

Blue Jay 4 Carolina Chickadee 8 Tufted Titmouse 5 White-breasted Nuthatch 1 Carolina Wren 9 Swainson's Thrush 1 American Robin 10 Cedar Waxwing 5 American Redstart 1 Magnolia Warbler 4 Black-throated Green Warbler 1 Summer Tanager 2 Northern Cardinal 5 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2

Kevin Bowden

NTOS Fall Bird Count

Sep. 21, 2013

The Nashville Fall Count was held on September 21 and totaled 115 species, about average for this area.  It included parts of Davidson, Cheatham, Williamson, and Rutherford counties, but Percy Priest Lake itself was not counted this time. Birds or numbers of interest included 809 Blue-winged Teal(mostly at Radnor Lake and Bells Bend), 2 Yellow-crowned Night-Herons in Rutherford Co., 3 Bald Eagles and 2 Osprey in Cheatham Co., 13 Spotted and 14 Solitary sandpipers, 1 Olive-sided and 1 Willow Flycatcher at Warner Parks, 3 Scissor-tailed Flycatchers in Rutherford Co., and 7 Red-headed Woodpeckers, 1 Sedge Wren, and 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet all in Cheatham Co. Thank you so much to all who participated.

To view the entire list click on Bird Count Results on the right and select Fall Count under 2013.       

Radnor Lake State Natural Area

25 September, 2013

Eighteen birders participated in today's walk let by Danny Shelton. The rain had stopped by the time we got under way, but misty, cloudy conditions persisted for the entire morning making the observing challenging as we continually looked into a gray background. American Redstarts were the top numbering warbler species. The bright spot in the gray was a male Summer Tanager perched atop a bare tree near the Spillway.The red was very obvious.

We spotted an unusually high number of Black Vultures which had begun settling in a nearby tree. We had just walked past the tree when we heard a loud snap, then a crash and the startled flight of numerous vultures suddenly airborne. We assume the weight of perched vultures was more than the branch could bear and down it came, leaving the birds instantly in flight.

35 Species

Canada Goose 12 Wood Duck 20 Wild Turkey 5 Double-crested Cormorant 2 Great Blue Heron 2 Green Heron 3 Black Vulture 41 Mourning Dove 1 Chimney Swift 9 Red-bellied Woodpecker 4 Downy Woodpecker 10 Pileated Woodpecker 4 Eastern Wood-Pewee 3 Empidonax sp. 1 Eastern Phoebe 2 Blue Jay 9 American Crow 1 Carolina Chickadee 16

Tufted Titmouse 6 White-breasted Nuthatch 2 Carolina Wren 14 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1 Swainson's Thrush 5 American Robin 18 Gray Catbird 1 Tennessee Warbler 3 American Redstart 9 Magnolia Warbler 7 Palm Warbler 1 Black-throated Green Warbler 3 Eastern Towhee 1 Summer Tanager 2 Scarlet Tanager 1 Northern Cardinal 9 American Goldfinch 2

Kevin Bowden

Sept. 18, 2013

Radnor Lake, Nashville
Davidson Co.

Action started out slow this morning, but picked up somewhat as we worked the Lake Trail into the woods. Walk participants numbered 23 with new birders Cassidy and her mom Erin welcomed into the fold. Highlights of our last little flock encountered included Wilson's Warbler and female Golden-winged Warbler. See list below.

47 Species

Wood Duck 2 Double-crested Cormorant 1 Great Blue Heron 3 Great Egret 1 Black Vulture 7 Turkey Vulture 5 Broad-winged Hawk 1 Yellow-billed Cuckoo 2 Barred Owl 1 Chimney Swift 13 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 5 Downy Woodpecker 6 Hairy Woodpecker 2 Northern Flicker 2 Eastern Wood-Pewee 3 Empidonax sp. 3 Eastern Phoebe 1 Great Crested Flycatcher 2 White-eyed Vireo 1 Red-eyed Vireo 2 Blue Jay 6 American Crow 7

Carolina Chickadee 8Tufted Titmouse 7 White-breasted Nuthatch 1 Carolina Wren 6 Eastern Bluebird 1 Veery 1 Swainson's Thrush 6 American Robin 4 Gray Catbird 1 Cedar Waxwing 40 Golden-winged Warbler 1 Tennessee Warbler 2 Chestnut-sided Warbler 1 Magnolia Warbler 5 Black-throated Green Warbler 1 Bay-breasted Warbler 2 Black-and-white Warbler 2 American Redstart 3 Wilson's Warbler 1 Eastern Towhee 1 Summer Tanager 2 Northern Cardinal 6 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1 American Goldfinch 5

 

Richard Connors

Sept. 11, 2013

Radnor Lake, Nashville
Davidson Co.

Our first of the season fall Radnor walk was a success as 18 birders gathered to enjoy the morning stroll. The warbler numbers were fairly light, but we managed to see 7 species including Magnolia, American Redstart, Black and White, Bay-breasted, Chestnut-sided, Northern Parula and very satisfying looks at a cooperative Canada Warbler.

The walk up and past the spillway trail was fairly quiet. The highlights included Acadian Flycatchers, a Yellow-billed Cuckoo ( a lifer for some), Summer Tanagers, and White-eyed Vireos. The lake trail had 2 separate pockets of warblers where we found most of those previously mentioned as well as three Swainson's Thrushes. While most of the group returned after reaching Long Bridge, four of us continued along the Otter Creek trail back to the parking lot. Besides a few Wood Ducks and another small pocket of warblers, including the Northern Parulas, we managed to get our Belted Kingfisher and Great Blue Heron for the day. A good morning was had by all.

The complete list of 40 species seen today:

Wood duck - 28 Mallard - 8 DC Cormorant - 5 Great Blue Heron -1 Green Heron -3 Black Vulture -6 Turkey Vulture -1 Yellow-billed Cuckoo - 1 Chimney Swift - 5 Belted Kingfisher -1 Red-bellied Woodpecker -8 Downy Woodpecker -4 Northern Flicker - 2 Pileated Woodpecker -1 Eastern Wood-Pewee - 4 Acadian Flycatcher -2 Eastern Phoebe - 1 White-eyed Vireo -3 Red-eyed Vireo - 2 Blue Jay -7

American Crow -3 Carolina Chickadee -17 Tufted Titmouse -12 White-breasted Nuthatch - 14 Carolina Wren -23 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 2 Eastern Bluebird -4 Swainson's Thrush -3 Black and white Warbler - 4 American Redstart - 5 Northern Parula - 2 Magnolia Warbler -3 Bay-breasted Warbler -1 Chestnut-sided Warbler -1 Canada Warbler -1 Eastern Towhee -1 Summer Tanager -3 Northern Cardinal - 15 Common Grackle - 1 American Goldfinch - 2

 

Steve Routledge

Saturday August 10th

TN-NWR- Duck River unit

Twelve birders participated in today's field trip to the Duck River Unit of TN-NWR. A big hearty "Thank you !!" to Frank Fekel for coordinating the field trips these last two years. Our most noticeable "miss" was the Roseate Spoonbill. We took two separate loops around Blue Goose Boulevard but still came up empty handed. On a brighter note we saw 61 species solidly with two other possibilities including: a distant Forster's/Common Tern resting on a log in the Tennessee River and an unidentified owl, large enough to be a second Great Horned ( we saw one earlier perched pleasantly on an open snag in the noon day sun) or possibly a Barred. We also got to enjoy splendidly close looks at a Western Willet and what appeared to be the prairie subspecies of Short-billed Dowitcher foraging side-by-side along the most southern side of the Blue Goose Boulevard. Another welcome find was a group of 12-15 Little Blue herons with at least three in adult plumage and a large flock (30+) of Black Terns flying along the far side of the Tennessee River as viewed from the trail that runs by the New Johnsonville pump house.

Our list included:

 

Canada Goose - 75 Wood Duck -2 Mallard - 6 Wild Turkey -5 Pied-billed Grebe- 2 Double-crested cormorant - 71 American White Pelican -5 Great Blue Heron - 45 Great Egret -95 Little Blue Heron - 15 Green Heron -3 Black Vulture -1 Turkey Vulture - 15 Osprey -4 Bald Eagle -1 Cooper's Hawk -1 Red-shouldered Hawk -2 Red-tailed Hawk -1 Killdeer-5 Spotted Sandpiper -4 Solitary Sandpiper-1 Willet -1 Short-billed Dowitcher -1 Caspian Tern -3 Black Tern - 30+ Common/Forster's -1 Mourning Dove -6 Yellow-billed Cuckoo -1 Great-Horned Owl - 1 (2?) Barred Owl - (1) Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 3 Hairy Woodpecker -1

Northern Flicker - 1 Eastern Wood -Pewee - 3 Eastern Phoebe -1 Eastern Kingbird -1 White-eyed vireo -1 Blue Jay -2 American Crows -12 Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 52 Barn Swallow - 12 Carolina Chickadee -2 Tufted Titmouse -1 Carolina Wren - 6 Eastern Bluebird-17 American Robin -15 Norhtern Mockingbird -2 Prothonotary Warbler - 2 Common Yellowthroat -9 Northern Parula -1 Palm Warbler -1 Eastern Towhee - 3 Chipping Sparrow -7 Field Sparrow -2 Summer Tanager - 2 Northern Cardinal - 13 Blue Grosbeak -7 Indigo Bunting- 48 Dickcissel -17 Red-winged Blackbirds - 35 Common Grackle - 3 Orchard Oriole - 2 American Goldfinch -2

 

Steve Routledge

Richland Creek Greenway

Nashville, Davidson Co., TN
July 20, 2013

On Saturday, seven birders arrived at the Richland Creek Greenway for a bit of early morning birding. Avoiding the joggers, bikers, baby strollers, and dogs, we managed to find a nice variety of summer nesters. Through the shaded portion of the trail we heard and saw an INDIGO BUNTING and GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER. At the far end of the walk EASTERN BLUEBIRDs posed for us, while on the walk back to the parking area an EASTERN KINGBIRD fluttered overhead. In all 25 species were seen or heard.

Species found:

Great Blue Heron 1 Rock Pigeon 4 Mourning Dove 4 Chimney Swift 18 Red-bellied Woodpecker 2 Downy Woodpecker 2 Great Crested Flycatcher 1 Eastern Kingbird 1 Blue Jay 8 American Crow 4 Barn Swallow  3 Carolina Chickadee 11 Tufted Titmouse  6

Carolina Wren  5 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1 Eastern Bluebird  2 American Robin 2 Northern Mockingbird 6 European Starling 24 Northern Cardinal  11 Indigo Bunting  4 Common Grackle  3 House Finch  1 American Goldfinch  3 House Sparrow  1

Frank Fekel

NTOS Field Trip Leader



Great Blue Heron - Photo by Mary Zimmerman

Harpeth River  Greenway

Nashville-Davidson Co. TN
June 8, 2013

On Saturday, 16 birders came out to the Harpeth River Greenway next to Morton Mill Road in Bellevue. The walk began in relatively dense fog that slowly dissipated. Highlights included numerous CLIFF SWALLOWs that coursed low over the man-made lake, two male ORCHARD ORIOLEs, a GREEN HERON that was patiently waiting for breakfast, and a GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER. In all 40 species were seen or heard.

 Species found:

Mallard 4--female with 3 teenagers  Great Blue Heron 1  Green Heron 1  Killdeer 2  Rock Pigeon 2  Mourning Dove 3  Chimney Swift 1  Belted Kingfisher 1  Red-bellied Woodpecker 3  Downy Woodpecker 2  Great Crested Flycatcher 1  Eastern Kingbird 2  White-eyed Vireo 1  Blue Jay 3  American Crow 1  Northern Rough-winged Swallow 2  Purple Martin 2  Barn Swallow 1  Cliff Swallow 9  Carolina Chickadee  6

Tufted Titmouse 3  White-breasted Nuthatch 2  Carolina Wren 3  Eastern Bluebird  3  American Robin 4  Northern Mockingbird 4  Brown Thrasher 3  European Starling 3  Common Yellowthroat 1  Eastern Towhee 2  Field Sparrow 2  Song Sparrow 1  Northern Cardinal 5  Indigo Bunting  8  Red-winged Blackbird 4  Common Grackle 9  Brown-headed Cowbird 2  Orchard Oriole 2  House Finch 2  American Goldfinch 6

 

 

Great Crested Flycatcher. A life bird for some of the participants.
Photo by Mary Zimmerman

 Frank Fekel

 NTOS Field Trip Leader

Radnor Lake State Natural Area

May 18, 2013

A large group turned out for the NTOS morning field trip to Radnor Lake.  Highlights were 2 CONNECTICUT WARBLERS, one of which was cooperative to a nearly unprecedented degree. It sang on a close open branch in full view of the entire group, allowing numerous pictures and even some video.  At one point it was nearly right over our heads. There was also 2 MOURNING WARBLER heard, one of which was seen briefly by some. Other highlights included a BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO which posed for photos and a nearby YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO for comparison; great looks at CANADA and KENTUCKY WARBLERS; a large number of BLACKPOLL WARBLERS, male and female; and a face-off between a BARRED OWL and a Squirrel. An empid below the spillway, provided good enough looks to be identified as a TRAILL'S, but remained silent, so positive ID was not possible; however, he was foraging in willow trees, suggesting it was a WILLOW FLYCATCHER. Several of the birds seen were life birds for some of the group, including the Connecticut and the Kentucky Warblers. 74 species were seen, including 21 warbler species, and the Trail's and another unidentified empid.

Number of Species: 74

Canada Goose - 4 Wood Duck - 6 Mallard - 3 Wild Turkey - 4 Black Vulture - 2 Turkey Vulture - 1 Red-tailed Hawk - 1 Mourning Dove - 1 Yellow-billed Cuckoo - 1 Black-billed Cuckoo - 1 Barred Owl - 2 Chimney Swift - 15 Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 2 Downy Woodpecker - 2 Hairy Woodpecker - 1 Northern Flicker - 1 Pileated Woodpecker - 2 Eastern Wood-Pewee - 4 Acadian Flycatcher - 3 Least Flycatcher - 2 Traill's Flycatcher - 1 Empidonax sp. - 1 Eastern Phoebe - 2 Great Crested Flycatcher - 3 Eastern Kingbird - 3 White-eyed Vireo - 2 Yellow-throated Vireo - 2 Philadelphia Vireo - 1 Red-eyed Vireo - 7 Blue Jay - 3 Tree Swallow - 2 Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 25 Barn Swallow - 10 Carolina Chickadee - 15 Tufted Titmouse - 6 White-breasted Nuthatch - 2 Carolina Wren - 14 House Wren - 1

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 12 Eastern Bluebird - 2 Gray-cheeked Thrush - 1 Swainson's Thrush - 8 Wood Thrush - 2 American Robin - 1 Cedar Waxwing - 35 Tennessee Warbler - 1 Yellow Warbler - 2 Chestnut-sided Warbler - 2 Magnolia Warbler - 4 Cape May Warbler - 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler - 1 Black-throated Green Warbler - 1 Blackburnian Warbler - 2 Yellow-throated Warbler - 1 Bay-breasted Warbler - 2 Blackpoll Warbler - 21 Black-and-white Warbler - 1 American Redstart - 7 Prothonotary Warbler - 1 Louisiana Waterthrush - 2 Kentucky Warbler - 1 Connecticut Warbler - 2 Mourning Warbler - 2 Hooded Warbler - 1 Wilson's Warbler - 1 Canada Warbler - 5 Summer Tanager - 2 Scarlet Tanager - 2 Northern Cardinal - 16 Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 1 Indigo Bunting - 2 Red-winged Blackbird - 1 Brown-headed Cowbird - 5 American Goldfinch - 7

Mary Zimmerman

Radnor Lake State Natural Area
Nashville-Davidson Co. TN
May 15, 2013

BLACKPOLL WARBLERS and BAYBREASTED WARBLERS were the species of the day for the last of the NTOS-sponsored Spring Wednesday Walks at Radnor Lake State Natural Area. We saw them along the dam and down the lake trail in large numbers, both male and female. A  highlight near the Spillway was a brilliant male BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER. A lone female BALTIMORE ORIOLE was spotted foraging in the treetops along the dam. Several YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOOS were also spotted during the walk and on our way back to the parking lot we heard a singing VEERY.

Thanks to all who participated in the walks this spring. A special thanks to those who kept the checklists: Susan Hollyday, Jean Buchanan and Pam Lasley.

Below is the tally of species observed:

 
61 species

Canada Goose 4 Wood Duck 6 Wild Turkey 1 Black Vulture 4 Turkey Vulture 2 Red-tailed Hawk 3 Yellow-billed Cuckoo 3 Chimney Swift 6 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2 Red-bellied Woodpecker 5 Downy Woodpecker 2 Pileated Woodpecker 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee 3 Acadian Flycatcher 2 Eastern Phoebe 1 Great Crested Flycatcher 1 Eastern Kingbird 1 White-eyed Vireo 3 Yellow-throated Vireo 1 Red-eyed Vireo 9 Blue Jay 3 American Crow 1 Northern Rough-winged Swallow 19 Barn Swallow 2 Carolina Chickadee 8 Tufted Titmouse 7 White-breasted Nuthatch 1 Carolina Wren 8 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 7 Eastern Bluebird 2 Veery 1

Swainson's Thrush 6 Wood Thrush 1 European Starling 1 Cedar Waxwing 15 Louisiana Waterthrush 1 Black-and-white Warbler 1 Prothonotary Warbler 1 Tennessee Warbler 6 Kentucky Warbler 1 American Redstart 5 Northern Parula 3 Magnolia Warbler 3 Bay-breasted Warbler 10 Blackburnian Warbler 1 Chestnut-sided Warbler 4 Blackpoll Warbler 12  Palm Warbler 4 Yellow-rumped Warbler 2 Yellow-throated Warbler 2 Black-throated Green Warbler 5 Field Sparrow 1 Summer Tanager 4 Scarlet Tanager 2 Northern Cardinal 9 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1 Indigo Bunting 1 Common Grackle 2 Brown-headed Cowbird 1 Baltimore Oriole 1 female American Goldfinch 2

 

Kevin Bowden

NTOS Spring Bird Count

May 5, 2013

The Nashville spring bird count was held Sunday, May 5, postponed from May 4 because of rain.  Thirty-eight birders found a total of 156 species, which is about average.  Highlights included 2 Red-breasted Mergansers in Cheatham Co., 1 Black Duck at Radnor Lake, 22 Northern Bobwhites (20 at Bells Bend Park), 9 species of shorebirds with 1 Short-billed Dowitcher at Percy Priest Lake, 3 Scissor-tailed Flycatchers in Rutherford Co., all the expected vireos, 1 Bank Swallow at Percy Priest Lake, 32 warbler species with 27 seen at Radnor Lake, 6 Cerulean Warblers at Harpeth West and Radnor Lake, 2 Mourning Warblers at Shelby Bottoms and Radnor Lake, and 57 Bobolinks at Old Hickory Lake and Shelby Bottoms.

To view the results of each route and the totals click on Bird Count Results in the menu on the right.

Jan Shaw

Radnor Lake State Natural Area

Nashville-Davidson Co. TN
May 8, 2013

Highlights of today's NTOS-sponsored Wednesday Walk at Radnor Lake included great looks at an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, perching for over 10 minutes in the top branches of a bare tree by the house and spillway as well as a reasonably cooperative WILSON'S WARBLER at the spillway. A brilliant male REDSTART was seen in the same area. The total warbler species count was 15. A few hardy birders remained with the group for a complete circle of the lake where they got nice looks at both SCARLET and SUMMER TANAGER, a good look at a singing LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH and a brief look at a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER. Although a rarity a Radnor, the latter species has been seen regularly this spring leading to speculation that a nesting attempt may be underway.

Below is a tally of today's observations:

59 species

Canada Goose 2 Wood Duck 3 Mallard 2 Wild Turkey 3 Great Blue Heron 1 Turkey Vulture 2 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Spotted Sandpiper 2 Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1 Barred Owl 1 Chimney Swift 5 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2 Red-headed Woodpecker 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 5 Downy Woodpecker 6 Pileated Woodpecker 3 Olive-sided Flycatcher 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee 1 Acadian Flycatcher 5 Eastern Phoebe 3 Great Crested Flycatcher 3 White-eyed Vireo 2 Red-eyed Vireo 8 Blue Jay 4 Northern Rough-winged Swallow 10 Barn Swallow 3 Carolina Chickadee 12 Tufted Titmouse 13 White-breasted Nuthatch 1

Carolina Wren 11 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 7 Eastern Bluebird 1 Swainson's Thrush 6 Wood Thrush 3 European Starling 3 Cedar Waxwing 9 Louisiana Waterthrush 2 Prothonotary Warbler 2 Tennessee Warbler 5 Nashville Warbler 1 Kentucky Warbler 1 American Redstart 1 Northern Parula 1 Magnolia Warbler 1 Yellow Warbler 1 Blackpoll Warbler 3 Palm Warbler 3 Yellow-rumped Warbler 11 Yellow-throated Warbler 2 Black-throated Green Warbler 2 Wilson's Warbler 1 Field Sparrow 1 White-throated Sparrow 1 Summer Tanager 7 Scarlet Tanager 2 Northern Cardinal 11 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 4 Indigo Bunting 2 American Goldfinch 1

Kevin Bowden

 

Radnor Lake State Natural Area
Nashville-Davidson Co, TN
May 1, 2013

Over twenty birders joined this morning's NTOS-sponsored walk at Radnor Lake State Natural Area.

It was one of those mornings where you get some good looks at certain birds, and hear plenty of others. For many, the ACADIAN FLYCATCHER calling out near the road as we strolled from up the parking lot to the lake was a first for this spring. The bird not only sang out loud and clear, but came down on a bare branch for all to see. That's about when we saw the LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH on the road surface in plain view. The youngest member of the group, David, found a RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD nest on a bare branch over the dam road. When we queried him as to how he ever found such a tiny bump on the twig, he said he saw the bird fly onto the nest. Along the same road we saw two YELLOW-THROATED VIREOS, one with nesting material in its bill, and sure enough we found a nest high up in a sycamore tree at the lake's edge. Also along the dam was an AMERICAN COOT standing at the edge of the water, just beside a SPOTTED SANDPIPER that cooperated nicely as well. All this, while a WOOD THRUSH sang continually nearby. We also spied an EASTERN KINGBIRD perched out at the top of a tree near the Spillway, making his buzzy sharp kzeet call.  A highlight for many was seeing and hearing a SUMMER TANAGER out in the open, above the road over the dam. We did later see and hear a female SUMMER TANAGER making pit-a-tuck calls.

On the Lake Trail we spotted a BARRED OWL perched low near the first little footbridge coming from the Spillway. It suddenly dove down, but came up empty-clawed to the same branch, and then flew off, brushing right past us.

We heard more warblers than we saw, but a handful of us saw a male BLACKPOLL WARBLER near Grassy Point; a few more of us saw a NORTHERN PARULA, and most of us got a good look at a PROTHONOTARY WARBLER. Most all the other warblers were heard and not seen.

As we approached the Long Bridge a pair of male SCARLET TANAGERS sat almost side by side, which stopped the group for a while. And finally when we got to the Long Bridge we had a VIREO chorus: a RED-EYED, WHITE-EYED, and YELLOW-THROATED singing simultaneously.

48 species

Canada Goose 7 Wood Duck 5 Wild Turkey 4 Great Blue Heron 1 Turkey Vulture 3 Red-tailed Hawk 1 American Coot 1 Spotted Sandpiper 1 Barred Owl 1 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2 Red-bellied Woodpecker 3 Downy Woodpecker 2 Pileated Woodpecker 3 Acadian Flycatcher 1 Eastern Kingbird 1 White-eyed Vireo 1 Yellow-throated Vireo 3 Red-eyed Vireo 3 Blue Jay 6 Northern Rough-winged Swallow 1 Purple Martin 1 Barn Swallow 6 Carolina Chickadee 6 Tufted Titmouse 9

White-breasted Nuthatch 1 Carolina Wren 6 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 5 Eastern Bluebird 5 Swainson's Thrush 1 Wood Thrush 1 Louisiana Waterthrush 3 Prothonotary Warbler 3 Tennessee Warbler 2 Nashville Warbler 1 Kentucky Warbler 1 Cape May Warbler 1 Northern Parula 2 Blackpoll Warbler 1 Palm Warbler 4 Yellow-rumped Warbler 6 Yellow-throated Warbler 1 Black-throated Green Warbler 1 Summer Tanager 3 Scarlet Tanager 3 Northern Cardinal 12 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 3 Brown-headed Cowbird 3 American Goldfinch 4

Kevin Bowden

Dauphin Island and Fort Morgan, AL

April 19-21, 2013

Sixteen birders from the middle Tennessee area participated in the extended weekend field trip to Dauphin Island, Alabama that was held during the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) spring meeting weekend, April 19-21. Individual schedules varied with some of our NTOS group arriving as early as Thursday afternoon and some staying as late as Monday morning. An informal gathering was held Friday evening at the Dortchs' (former NTOS members) house on Omega Street next to the airport marsh. Many of the trip participants also attended the AOS dinner on Saturday evening and two of our group won door prizes! While numbers of some neotropical migrants were not as extensive as in some meeting springs, there was plenty of variety. One special place was a hedge of bottlebrush shrubs at a house next to Shell Mound Park where a feeding Cape May Warbler provided near continual entertainment all weekend. Other warblers also enjoying the same bottlebrush flowers included Northern Parula, Prothonotary, Tennessee, and Pine warblers plus several Orchard Orioles, whose chatter filled the air.  A Northern Waterthrush put in occasional appearances as well.

Other highlights on Dauphin Island included several Osprey at nesting platforms, a Gray Kingbird (a life bird for some in the group) at the golf course, and a perched Peregrine Falcon at Audubon Park. Splashes of color were also provided by a number of Scarlet and Summer Tanagers and a horde of Indigo Buntings. Members of our group assiduously searched on Dauphin Island and Fort Morgan, which is across Mobile Bay, for Painted Buntings and some were fortunate to see them. A wide variety of shorebirds was found highlighted by Whimbrel, all the expected plovers, and White-rumped, Baird's, and Stilt Sandpipers. In addition to shorebirds and chattering Marsh Wrens, the airport marsh produced several Sora and Clapper Rails, a dancing Reddish Egret, and a Nelson's Sparrow. Fort Morgan at one point had numerous Blackpoll warblers, plus a recurring Merlin, Great Horned Owl, and for a fortunate few, a Cave Swallow.  At least 2 foxes, a nutria, meadow voles, and dolphins were also seen. Comparing lists from several birders, more than 165 bird species were found on the trip, including about 20 species of warblers.

Canada Goose Mallard Blue-winged Teal N. Shoveler N. Pintail Redhead Mottled Duck Bufflehead Red-breasted Merganser Common Loon Pied-billed Grebe Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Reddish Egret Great Egret Snowy Egret Little Blue Heron Tricolored Heron Cattle Egret Green Heron Yellow-crowned Night Heron Brown Pelican White Ibis Glossy Ibis White-faced Ibis Turkey Vulture Black Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Cooper's Hawk Broad-winged Hawk Red-tailed Hawk American Kestral Merlin Peregrine Falcon Sora American Coot Black-bellied Plover Snowy Plover Wilson's Plover Semipalmated Plover Piping Plover Killdeer Clapper Rail American Oystercatcher Black-necked Stilt Greater Yellowlegs Willet Whimbrel Lesser Yellowlegs Ruddy Turnstone Sanderling Semipalmated Sandpiper Western Sandpiper Least Sandpiper White-rumped Sandpiper Baird's Sandpiper Dunlin Stilt Sandpiper Short-billed Dowitcher Wilson's Snipe Laughing Gull Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Least Tern Gull-billed Tern Caspian Tern Royal Tern Common Tern Forster's Tern Sandwich Tern Black Skimmer Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Eurasian Collared Dove Yellow-billed Cuckoo Great Horned Owl Common Nighthawk Chimney Swift Ruby-throated Hummingbird Belted Kingfisher Red-headed Woodpecker Red-bellied Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Downy Woodpecker Pileated Woodpecker Eastern Wood Pewee Eastern Phoebe Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird Gray Kingbird Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Loggerhead Shrike White-eyed Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Blue-headed Vireo Yellow-throated Vireo Blue Jay American Crow Fish Crow Purple Martin Tree Swallow Northern Rough-wing Swallow Bank Swallow Cliff Swallow Cave Swallow Barn Swallow Carolina Chickadee Tufted Titmouse Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown-headed Nuthatch Carolina Wren House Wren Marsh Wren Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Eastern Bluebird Veery Swainson's Thrush Wood Thrush Am. Robin Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird Brown Thrasher Cedar Waxwing European Starling Worm-eating Warbler Louisiana Waterthrush Northern Waterthrush Prothonotary Warbler Tennessee Warbler Nashville Warbler Kentucky Warbler Common Yellowthroat Hooded Warbler American Redstart Cape May Warbler Northern Parula Yellow Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Palm Warbler Pine Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Prairie Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Eastern Towhee Chipping Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Nelson's Sparrow Swamp Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Summer Tanager Scarlet Tanager Northern Cardinal Rose-breasted Grosbeak Blue Grosbeak Indigo Bunting Painted Bunting Bobolink Red-winged Blackbird Eastern Meadowlark Common Grackle Boat-tailed Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird Orchard Oriole House Finch American Goldfinch House Sparrow

Frank Fekel