May 21, 2016
The Nashville chapter of TOS hosted a field trip to include Rutherford and Wilson county birds. The weather was pleasant with temps near 65 degrees, and though the skies darkened a couple of times most of the day was partly sunny. Chloe Walker led the group of eight birders. We began at the Discovery Wetlands, moved on to Lyle Creek Road both in Murfreesboro, Rutherford County, Tn. Then, we moved on to Alsup Mill Road, Spain Hill, Cedar Forrest Road, and the Nashville Speedway in Wilson County.
On Cedar Forrest Road, we met other birders from the Lebanon chapter of TOS. They were looking at the Scissor-tailed Flycatchers, and from there would move to the end of the road for the Loggerhead Shrikes.
Wildflowers found along the way were, Poison Hemlock, Yellow Goatsbeard (Oyster plant), Prairie Golden Aster, Glade Bluet, Great-blue Lobelia, and Drumhead (Crossleaf Milkwort).
Our list of birds is below.
| Canada Goose - 6 Mallard - 7 Wood Duck - 6 Double-crested Cormorant - 1 Great Blue Heron - 1 Wild Turkey - 2 Northern Bobwhite - 1 Black Vulture - 9 Turkey Vulture - 2 Red-tailed Hawk - 3 Cooper's Hawk - 2 Mourning Dove - 11 Yellow-billed Cuckoo - 1 Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1 Chimney Swift - 4 Downy Woodpecker - 2 Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1 American Kestrel - 2 Great Crested Flycatcher - 3 Eastern Kingbird - 7 Eastern Wood-Pewee - 2 Scissor-tailed Flycatcher - 4 Eastern Phoebe - 5 Loggerhead Shrike - 4 Red-eyed Vireo - 1 White-eyed Vireo - 2 Blue Jay - 3 American Crow - 4 Barn Swallow - 11 Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 3 Carolina Chickadee - 1 Tufted Titmouse - 4 Carolina Wren - 3 |
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 3 Swainson's Thrush - 1 Eastern Bluebird - 3 American Robin - 5 Northern Mockingbird - 13 Brown Thrasher - 3 Gray Catbird - 3 Cedar Waxwing - 32 European Starling - 28 Yellow Warbler - 1 Magnolia Warbler - 1 Canada Warbler - 1 Common Yellowthroat - 4 Northern Parula - 1 Prairie Warbler - 2 Grasshopper Sparrow - 5 Field Sparrow - 5 Chipping Sparrow - 1 Lark Sparrow - 3 plus at least 4 young Eastern Towhee - 5 Northern Cardinal - 5 Dickcissel - 3 Indigo Bunting - 10 Blue Grosbeak - 4 Eastern Meadowlark - 6 Red-winged Blackbird - 16 Common Grackle - 15 Brown-headed Cowbird - 3 Orchard Oriole - 3 House Finch - 1 American Goldfinch - 2 |
Thanks to all who came to share the fun.
Tarcila Fox
