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