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