Duck River Unit, TWR

Jan. 11, 2014

Eleven birders ventured out to the Duck River Unit of the Tennessee National Wildlife refuge for a wonderful outing with THOUSANDS of waterfowl and other interesting birds. Highlights included one fairly close Greater Scaup at the pump station; four species of geese including Greater White-fronted, Snow, Cackling, and Canada; twenty-six American Pipits at close range; a Palm Warbler at Pintail Blind; two male Brewer's Blackbirds; and an (not surprisingly) uncooperative Le Conte's Sparrow. Below is a list of all the species that were seen/heard.

  

77 species

Greater White-fronted Goose-400 Snow Goose-15 Cackling Goose-15 Canada Goose-300 Gadwall-280 American Wigeon-170 American Black Duck-2 Mallard-2000 Northern Shoveler-200 Northern Pintail-500 Green-winged Teal-60 Canvasback-110 Ring-necked Duck-12 Greater Scaup-1 Scaup sp.-200 Bufflehead-78 Common Goldeneye-7 Hooded Merganser-5 Ruddy Duck-30 Pied-billed Grebe-17 Horned Grebe-6 Double-crested Cormorant-59 American White Pelican-35 Great Blue Heron-8 Turkey Vulture-6 Bald Eagle-10 Northern Harrier-10 Sharp-shinned Hawk-1 Cooper's Hawk-1 Red-tailed Hawk-3 American Kestrel-2 American Coot-195 Killdeer-7 Wilson's Snipe-6 Bonaparte's Gull-35 Ring-billed Gull-45 Herring Gull-4 Mourning Dove-25 Belted Kingfisher-1

Red-headed Woodpecker-2 Red-bellied Woodpecker-4 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker-1 Downy Woodpecker-2 Hairy Woodpecker-1 Northern Flicker-3 Pileated Woodpecker-1 Eastern Phoebe-6 Blue Jay-2 American Crow-11 Horned Lark-2 Carolina Chickadee-4 Tufted Titmouse-1 Brown Creeper-1 Carolina Wren-5 Ruby-crowned Kinglet-5 Eastern Bluebird-4 Northern Mockingbird-2 European Starling-75 American Pipit-26 Lapland Longspur-2 Palm Warbler-1 Yellow-rumped Warbler-4 Field Sparrow-1 Savannah Sparrow-8 Le Conte's Sparrow-1 Song Sparrow-20 Swamp Sparrow-25 White-throated Sparrow-25 White-crowned Sparrow-2 Dark-eyed Junco-20 Northern Cardinal-5 Red-winged Blackbird-15 Eastern Meadowlark-19 Rusty Blackbird-5 Brewer's Blackbird-2 Brown-headed Cowbird-12 House Finch-1 American Goldfinch-x (heard only)

Chloe Walker

NTOS Field Trip Coordinator

Hickory-Priest Christmas Bird Count

Jan. 1, 2014

Twenty-five people in 5 parties participated, 96 species were reported. The count covers eastern Davidson County with bit of Sumner and Wilson counties included.

Highlights: Some highlights were previously reported by Scott  Somershoe for the Percy Priest Lake section, most notably the out-of-season Yellow Warbler. Fortunately it was seen (and heard) by  most of the party, and well-seen by a few. Also from this location was  Scott's early morning sighting of Pacific Loon and Peregrine Falcon. Ducks, 13 species including 2 merganser species, were fairly well represented but in mostly low numbers; no scoters found. Not too surprisingly Black Vultures outnumbered Turkey Vultures 20-1. 7 Bald Eagles counted, with 3 reported as adults. Falcons totaled 3 Merlins plus the Peregrine. On Priest the evening gull roost was productive with Ring-billed Gull and Com. Loons present in expected high numbers, plus Scott's addition of 2 Red-throated Loons to the mix. Sandhill Crane made the list with a fly-over of 2 at Priest. Several "winter" warblers were found on the Old Hickory section: Orange-crowned (2), Palm (1) & Pine (1), with the addition of Yellow-rumped giving them a 4 warbler day on Jan. 1st! Only 2 Purple Finches and 1 Rusty Blackbird reported, those from Neely's Bend.

To view the entire list click on Bird Count Results on the right menu and select Hickory-Priest CBC under 2014.

Richard Connors

Compiler

Nashville Christmas Bird Count
Dec. 15, 2013

The Nashville CBC was held on Sunday, Dec. 15 and produced 82 species and one count week species, American Wigeon at Radnor Lake. The day was cold and cloudy, and the wind may have kept some birds down in open areas like Bells Bend Park. A female Long-tailed Duck was found by the Hwy 70 group on a small lake in Bellevue, and continues to constantly dive for food there as of Dec.18. A Peregrine Falcon was a nice find on Sneed Rd. on the Warner Park route, and an American Tree Sparrow was spotted by the Harpeth West group off of Hwy 100. Other highlights included 172 Wild Turkeys, 3 Bald Eagles, 1 Sandhill Crane, 4 Red-headed Woodpeckers, 27 Hermit Thrushes, 4 Palm Warblers, and 3 Purple Finches. Blackbirds were noticeably scarce. Thank you so much to all who participated, and to Susan Hollyday for a delicious supper/compilation. We couldn't do this without everyone's help.

To view the entire list click on Bird Count Results on the right menu and select Nashville CBC under 2013.

Jan Shaw, Compiler

Percy Priest Lake

Dec. 7, 2013

Six birders gathered for the NTOS field trip to Percy Priest Lake. We had a bit of a foggy start at Percy Priest dam, and then went clockwise around the lake. Best birds were a mixed flock of 25 Redheads and 50 Lesser Scaup plus an adult Bald Eagle seen from Anderson Rd Public Use Area. Seven Red-breasted Mergansers were seen at Hamilton Creek Park. A list of species found is below:

43 species

Northern Shoveler-20 Green-winged Teal-8 Redhead-25 Lesser Scaup-50 Bufflehead-3 Common Goldeneye-4 Hooded Merganser-15 Red-breasted Merganser-7 Ruddy Duck-2 Common Loon-19 Pied-billed Grebe-4 Horned Grebe-8 Great Blue Heron-3 Black Vulture-30 Bald Eagle-1 Cooper's Hawk-1 Red-tailed Hawk-1 American Coot-78 Killdeer-9 Bonaparte's Gull-109 Ring-billed Gull-86 Herring Gull-2

Mourning Dove-2 Red-bellied Woodpecker-3 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker-1 Northern Flicker-2 Blue Jay-22 American Crow-17 Carolina Chickadee-15 Tufted Titmouse-2 Carolina Wren-2 Golden-crowned Kinglet-5 Ruby-crowned Kinglet-1 Eastern Bluebird-31 American Robin-19 Northern Mockingbird-1 European Starling-140 Cedar Waxwing-6 Yellow-rumped Warbler-10 Song Sparrow-3 Dark-eyed Junco-11 Northern Cardinal-1 American Goldfinch-2

Chloe Walker

NTOS Field Trip Coordinator

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

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