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