Radnor Lake State Natural Area
Nashville, TN
May 20, 2015

The last of the NTOS-sponsored Wednesday Radnor Walks took place in ideal weather- sunshine, light breeze and comfortable temperatures. The big migration wave has mostly passed through; however, there were a few stray migrants in addition to species that normally spend the summer months at Radnor.

All the group got great looks at a YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO along the dam. It perched low on a bare branch over the lake in several ideal spots. Later the group saw a female MAGNOLIA WARBLER at the spillway and a few of us spotted a quick moving female ORCHARD ORIOLE in the same location. And due to its position on the sunlight, a male RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD stood out like a brilliant gem on a bare branch. An interesting find further along was a BARRED OWL and then a GREAT-CRESTED FLYCATCHER. The latter we often hear, but seldom see at Radnor. Other cooperative birds included an ACADIAN FLYCATCHER. WHITE-EYED VIREOS were very vocal, but mostly hidden. On the other hand, while the RED-EYED VIREOS remained unusually quiet, one was seen by some of the group as it came down low to feed near the Spillway.

Thanks to all who led and participated in the six Wednesday Walks this Spring.

Below is a recap of species observed:

40 species

Canada Goose  6 Wood Duck  2 Wild Turkey  3 Double-crested Cormorant  6 Red-tailed Hawk  1 Yellow-billed Cuckoo  2 Barred Owl  1 Ruby-throated Hummingbird  1 Red-bellied Woodpecker  3 Downy Woodpecker  4 Pileated Woodpecker  2 Eastern Wood-Pewee  4 Acadian Flycatcher  3 Eastern Phoebe  1 Great Crested Flycatcher  3 White-eyed Vireo  2 Red-eyed Vireo  1 Blue Jay  3 American Crow  2 Northern Rough-winged Swallow  16

Barn Swallow  2 Carolina Chickadee  8 Tufted Titmouse  5 Carolina Wren  2 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  3 Cedar Waxwing  21 Kentucky Warbler  2 Northern Parula  2 Magnolia Warbler  1 Bay-breasted Warbler  1 Blackpoll Warbler  1 Yellow-throated Warbler  1 Black-throated Green Warbler  1 Summer Tanager  2 Northern Cardinal  8 Indigo Bunting  1 Red-winged Blackbird  1 Brown-headed Cowbird  4 Orchard Oriole  1 American Goldfinch  8

Kevin Bowden

Radnor Lake State Natural Area
Nashville, TN
May 16, 2015

The NTOS field trip to Radnor Lake this morning was quite soggy to say the least, yet nonetheless, 12 birders happily participated. Although there was no steady bird action, we eventually finished with 46 species. Highlights included awesome views of a singing Kentucky Warbler near Long Bridge and a surprise adult Common Loon in breeding plumage diving on the lake. In addition, a few of us heard a weak "Old Sam Peabody" song from a White-throated Sparrow by bench #13. Thank you to all who "braved the rain" today, and especially Chris Sloan, who led the trip.


46 species

Canada Goose - 4 Wood Duck - 3 Wild Turkey - x Common Loon - 1 Double-crested Cormorant - 2 Green Heron - 1 Mourning Dove - 1 Yellow-billed Cuckoo - 1 Barred Owl - 1 Chimney Swift - 3 Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 2 Red-bellied Woodpecker - 3 Downy Woodpecker - 3 Pileated Woodpecker - 2 Eastern Wood-Pewee - 4 Acadian Flycatcher - 2 Eastern Phoebe - 1 Great Crested Flycatcher - 1 Eastern Kingbird - 2 White-eyed Vireo - 1 Red-eyed Vireo - 4 Blue Jay - 1 American Crow - 1

Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 6 Barn Swallow - 3 Carolina Chickadee - 5 Tufted Titmouse - 4 Carolina Wren - 3 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 3 Swainson's Thrush - 1 Cedar Waxwing - 52 Louisiana Waterthrush - 2 Kentucky Warbler - 2 American Redstart - 3 Northern Parula - 3 Bay-breasted Warbler - 2 Blackpoll Warbler - 3 Black-throated Green Warbler - 1 Canada Warbler - 1 White-throated Sparrow - 1 Summer Tanager - 2 Northern Cardinal - 7 Indigo Bunting - 2 Brown-headed Cowbird - 4 Orchard Oriole - 1 American Goldfinch - 1

Chloe Walker

Radnor Lake State Natural Area
Nashville, TN
May 13, 2015

Today's NTOS Wednesday Walk at Radnor Lake was a good one with 16 participants.  The weather was beautiful though a little breezy early on.  While our overall numbers weren’t exceptional, we made up for it with some great sightings.  Many in the group were able to see Yellow-Billed Cuckoo, Yellow-Throated Warbler (on the ground for a couple of minutes), Canada Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler - and most exciting - a male Black-Throated Blue Warbler.  Total number of species was 51, with 15 species of warblers observed (all but Tennessee Warbler were viewed).


51 species (+1 other taxa)

Canada Goose  10 Wood Duck  4 Mallard  2 Wild Turkey  1 Pied-billed Grebe  1 Double-crested Cormorant  1 Great Blue Heron  2 Turkey Vulture  1 Red-tailed Hawk  2 Yellow-billed Cuckoo  1 Chimney Swift  20 Red-bellied Woodpecker  3 Downy Woodpecker  3 Pileated Woodpecker  1 Eastern Wood-Pewee  3 Acadian Flycatcher  2 Least Flycatcher  1 Empidonax sp.  2 Eastern Phoebe  1 Great Crested Flycatcher  3 Eastern Kingbird  2 White-eyed Vireo  4 Philadelphia Vireo  1 Red-eyed Vireo  3 Blue Jay  2 American Crow  3

Northern Rough-winged Swallow  5 Barn Swallow  2 Carolina Chickadee  4 Tufted Titmouse  7 Carolina Wren  3 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  6 Cedar Waxwing  15 Louisiana Waterthrush  2 Black-and-white Warbler  1 Tennessee Warbler  1 Kentucky Warbler  1 Common Yellowthroat  2 American Redstart  6 Northern Parula  3 Magnolia Warbler  1 Bay-breasted Warbler  2 Blackpoll Warbler  6 Black-throated Blue Warbler  1   Yellow-throated Warbler  1 Black-throated Green Warbler  2 Canada Warbler  1 Wilson's Warbler  1 Summer Tanager  1 Northern Cardinal  9 Red-winged Blackbird  1 American Goldfinch  7

Jim Arnett

Radnor Lake State Natural Area
Nashville, TN
May 6, 2015

Twenty-plus birders joined the NTOS Wednesday walk at Radnor Lake today.  The weather was sunny, without wind, temperature ranging from 65 degrees at 7:30 to 81 degrees at 10:45 am. Warbler migration appears to have peaked, but we saw and/or heard 10 warbler species.  Highlights of the morning were watching barn swallows gather mud for their nest under the rafters at the old visitor's center; watching a Red-eyed and a Philadelphia Vireo within feet of each other in a willow below the dam, and good looks at a Bay-breasted Warbler fairly low in a tangle of trees not far down the lakeside trail from the dam.  A total of 44 species were seen and/or heard as follows:

Canada Goose 13 Wood Duck  6 Mallard 1 Wild Turkey- loud gobbling out of sight Turkey Vulture 1 Spotted Sandpiper 1 Mourning Dove 2 Chimney Swift 3 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2 Belted Kingfisher 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 6 Downy Woodpecker 2 Pileated Woodpecker 3 Eastern Wood Pewee 2 Acadian Flycatcher 3 Great Crested Flycatcher 4 Eastern Kingbird 3 White-eyed Vireo 6 Yellow-throated Vireo 1 Blue-headed Vireo 1 Philadelphia Vireo 1 Red-eyed Vireo 3

Blue Jay 2 American Crow 2 Barn Swallow 2 Carolina Chickadee 2 Tufted Titmouse 4 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 6 Swainson's Thrush 1 Louisiana Waterthrush 1 Northern Waterthrush 1 Tennessee Warbler 2 Kentucky Warbler 2 American Redstart 1 Northern Parula 3 Bay-breasted Warbler 3 Blackpoll Warbler 1 Palm Warbler 5 Yellow-rumped Warbler 2 Field sparrow 1 Summer Tanager 3 Northern Cardinal 8 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 3 American Goldfinch 4

Camille Monohan