Rutherford and Wilson Counties
June 7, 2014

Nine birders showed up for the Rutherford/Wilson county field trip this morning, Saturday June 7th. Fortunately, the morning wasn't too hot and was free of rain showers. The target birds cooperated nicely, several of which were life birds for many of the participants.

We began by taking a brief walk around the Discovery Center Wetlands. This was somewhat successful; we found several muskrats, a raccoon, Wood Duck and Mallard ducklings, and an agitated Green Heron. Next we drove along Florence Road and found two Scissor-tailed Flycatchers at two different locations. After Florence Road we checked the speedway in Wilson county and were happy to find two Lark Sparrows and had wonderful looks at a Cliff Swallow. We moved on to Simmons Bluff Road and found a Red-headed Woodpecker in a stand of trees. At the corner of Simmons Bluff Road and Cedar Forest Road, we were thrilled to see three additional Lark Sparrows, one of which appeared to be a recently-fledged juvenile. Several participants were fortunate enough to see a fly-over Cattle Egret on Cedar Forest Road as well. On Barlow Lane, we had outstanding views of both a Dickcissel and a Grasshopper Sparrow on electrical wires. Finally we checked Middlepoint Landfill and saw a handsome male Blue Grosbeak that was wonderfully colored against the purple Thistle.

A big thanks to Terry Witt for co-leading the trip. Also, thanks to those who joined us on this wonderful outing. A complete checklist can be found below.

67 species

Canada Goose - 15+ (some w/ducklings) Wood Duck - 15+ (some w/ ducklings) Mallard - 15+ (some w/ ducklings) Northern Bobwhite - 3 Wild Turkey - x Great Blue Heron - 4 Green Heron - 1 Black Vulture - 100+ Turkey Vulture - 20+ Red-tailed Hawk - 6 Killdeer - 2 Rock Pigeon - x Mourning Dove - 20+ Yellow-billed Cuckoo - 2 (heard) Chimney Swift - x Belted Kingfisher - 1 Red-headed Woodpecker - 2 (one seen; one heard) Red-bellied Woodpecker - 2 Downy Woodpecker - 1 Northern Flicker - 1 American Kestrel - 3 Eastern Wood-Pewee - 1 (heard) Eastern Phoebe - 3 Great Crested Flycatcher - 1 (heard) Eastern Kingbird - 4 Scissor-tailed Flycatcher - 2 Blue Jay - 2 American Crow - 8 White-eyed Vireo - 2 (heard) Yellow-throated Vireo - 1 (heard) Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 20+ Purple Martin - 1 Barn Swallow - 40+ Cliff Swallow - 1

Carolina Chickadee - 2 Tufted Titmouse - 2 Carolina Wren - 2 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 2 Eastern Bluebird - 20+ (one juvenile) American Robin - 20+ Brown Thrasher - 1 (heard) Northern Mockingbird - 6 European Starling - x Kentucky Warbler - 2 (heard) Common Yellowthroat - 3 (heard) Prairie Warbler - 3 (only one seen) Yellow-breasted Chat - 3 (heard) Eastern Towhee - 4 Chipping Sparrow - 5 Field Sparrow - 20+ Lark Sparrow - 5 (four adults; one juvenile) Grasshopper Sparrow - 10+ (one seen) Song Sparrow - 2 Summer Tanager - 2 (heard) Scarlet Tanager - 1 (heard) Northern Cardinal - 11 Blue Grosbeak - 6 (only two seen) Indigo Bunting - 20+ Dickcissel - 10+ (only one seen) Eastern Meadowlark - 20+ Red-winged Blackbird - 10+ Common Grackle - 20+ Brown-headed Cowbird - 10+ Orchard Oriole - 5 House Finch - 9 American Goldfinch - 6 House Sparrow - x

The following pictures were taken by Chloe during the field trip. Lark Sparrow, Grasshopper Sparrow, Raccoon.

Chloe Walker - NTOS Field Trip Coordinator

Nashville Area
May 21, 2014

The Nashville Spring Bird Count was held on May 10 and totaled 145 species, eleven fewer than last year, and lower than normal. For several days leading up to the count, there were warm, sunny days with south winds, contributing to fewer transient migrants in our area. After a little rain in the morning, the day turned pleasant. Some of the highlights included 28 Northern Bobwhites, 3 Common Loons, 7 Great Egrets, 2 Osprey, 1 Caspian Tern, 6 Red-headed Woodpeckers, 1 Alder Flycatcher, 2 Scissor-tailed Flycatchers, 1 American Pipit, 31 warbler species, 24 Savannah Sparrows, 7 Grasshopper Sparrows, 2 Lincoln's Sparrows, 24 Dickcissels, and 7 Bobolinks.

To view a detailed list of species seen go to the Bird Count Results page (link on the right side of this page).

Jan Shaw co-compiler

Bark Camp Barrens WMS
Coffee County
May 17, 2014

Susan McWhirter led ten birders around Bark Camp Barrens WMA this morning, and it resulted in an interesting (for lack of a better word!) trip. The weather was abnormally cool for May - around 50 F with a slight drizzle, strengthening near the end of the trip. It was slow-going at first, but things sped up when we found three Loggerhead Shrikes - two adults and one juvenile. (There might have been four, but they were darting around as quick as warblers!) These were observed on the electrical wire that runs behind the barn on Warren Road. We walked around the fields a bit and flushed a pair of Northern Bobwhites and got great looks at a calling male Blue Grosbeak. Near one of the plowed areas we found a couple of late Savannah Sparrows. As we were walking along the pine stand in the recently-burned field (the field that can be accessed from the sod farm), we finally heard a Henslow's Sparrow! The bird was on the opposite side of the tree line, so we climbed through the barbed wire fence to get some looks at him. It didn't take long to find him; he was perched next to some bright yellow flowers throwing back his head every now and then to give his "tsi-lick". A complete list of species can be found below. A big thanks to Susan for leading us out here!

35 species

Northern Bobwhite - 2 Wild Turkey - 3 Red-tailed Hawk - 2 Yellow-billed Cuckoo - 1 Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1 Great Crested Flycatcher - 2 Eastern Kingbird - 3 Loggerhead Shrike - 3 White-eyed Vireo - 1 Blue Jay - 2 American Crow - 1 Barn Swallow - 3 Tufted Titmouse - 1 Carolina Wren - 1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 1 Brown Thrasher - 2 Northern Mockingbird - 1

Common Yellowthroat - 7 Yellow-throated Warbler - 2 Prairie Warbler - 2 Black-throated Green Warbler - 1 Yellow-breasted Chat - 6 Eastern Towhee - 6 Field Sparrow - 11 Savannah Sparrow - 2 Henslow's Sparrow - 1 Summer Tanager - 2 Scarlet Tanager - 1 Northern Cardinal - 1 Blue Grosbeak - 4 Indigo Bunting - 7 Red-winged Blackbird - 3 Eastern Meadowlark - 8 Brown-headed Cowbird - 2

Chloe Walker - NTOS Field Trip Coordinator

Radnor Lake State Natural Area
May 14, 2014

Four birders bravely ventured to Radnor Lake for the fifth of the 2014 NTOS-sponsored Spring Radnor Walks. Most of the birds were tucked in their beds keeping dry, but we did have a few highlights including a briefly seen (yet very vocal!) Barred Owl in the West parking lot, several Swainson's Thrushes, a Veery, and one Wood Thrush in various locations along the Lake Trail, and a Northern Waterthrush bobbing in a honeysuckle bush on Otter Creek Road. A complete list of species is below.


47 Species

Canada Goose - 4 Wood Duck - 11 American Black Duck - 1 Double-crested Cormorant - 1 Great Blue Heron - 2 American Coot -1 Barred Owl - 1 Chimney Swift - 3 Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker - 5 Downy Woodpecker - 4 Hairy Woodpecker - 1 Northern Flicker - 2 Pileated Woodpecker - 4 Eastern Wood-Pewee - 5 Acadian Flycatcher - 4 Great Crested Flycatcher - 3 Eastern Kingbird - 2 White-eyed Vireo - 2 Red-eyed Vireo - 3 Blue Jay - 2 American Crow - 3 Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 4 Barn Swallow - 2

Carolina Chickadee - 6 Tufted Titmouse - 5 White-breasted Nuthatch - 2 Carolina Wren - 13 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 2 Veery - 1 Swainson's Thrush - 4 Wood Thrush - 1 Louisiana Waterthrush - 1 Northern Waterthrush - 2 Prothonotary Warbler - 2 Tennessee Warbler - 1 American Redstart - 1 Northern Parula - 2 Bay-breasted Warbler - 1 Yellow-throated Warbler - 1 Summer Tanager -6 Scarlet Tanager - 1 Northern Cardinal - 17 Indigo Bunting - 1 Red-winged Blackbird - 2 Brown-headed Cowbird - 4 American Goldfinch - 2

Chloe Walker

Radnor Lake State Natural Area

May 7, 2014

Quite a few people were present today. The temperatures are warming up with a steady south wind. Below is combined list of two groups at the lake this morning.

57 Species 

Canada Goose - 5 Wood Duck - 3 American Black Duck - 1 Wild Turkey - 5 Pied-billed Grebe - 1 Double-crested Cormorant - 10 Cooper's Hawk - 1 Red-tailed Hawk - 1 Spotted Sandpiper - 2 Chimney Swift - 1 Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker - 3 Downy Woodpecker - 2 Pileated Woodpecker - 2 Eastern Wood-Pewee - 2 Acadian Flycatcher - 3 Great Crested Flycatcher - 2 White-eyed Vireo - 1 Philadelphia Vireo - 3 Red-eyed Vireo - 2 Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 6 Barn Swallow - 2 Carolina Chickadee - 7 Tufted Titmouse - 1 White-breasted Nuthatch - 2 Carolina Wren - 7 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 4 Eastern Bluebird - 3 Veery - 1

Swainson's Thrush - 2 Wood Thrush - 1 Gray Catbird - 1 Tennessee Warbler - 5 Northern Parula - 2 Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1 Magnolia Warbler - 1 Black-throated Green Warbler - 1 Blackburnian Warbler - 1 Yellow-throated Warbler - 1 Palm Warbler - 3 Bay-breasted Warbler - 2 Blackpoll Warbler - 5 American Redstart - 1 Prothonotary Warbler - 2 Ovenbird - 2 Louisiana Waterthrush - 1 Mourning Warbler - 1 Wilson's Warbler - 2 Canada Warbler - 2 Summer Tanager - 5 Field Sparrow - 1 White-throated Sparrow - 1 Northern Cardinal - 8 Indigo Bunting - 2 Brown-headed Cowbird - 1 Baltimore Oriole - 1 American Goldfinch - 3

Radnor Lake State Natural Area

Apr 30, 2014

The heavy rains moved out and the birds moved in. It was a great morning once the sun came out.

67 species 

Canada Goose  5 Wood Duck  6 Wild Turkey  1 Great Blue Heron  1 Red-tailed Hawk  1 Chimney Swift  10 Ruby-throated Hummingbird  1 Red-bellied Woodpecker  4 Downy Woodpecker  2 Pileated Woodpecker  1 Eastern Wood-Pewee  2 Acadian Flycatcher  1 Great Crested Flycatcher  1 White-eyed Vireo  3 Yellow-throated Vireo  2 Blue-headed Vireo  2 Warbling Vireo  1 Philadelphia Vireo  1 Red-eyed Vireo  4 Blue Jay  2 American Crow  1 Northern Rough-winged Swallow  6 Barn Swallow  3 Carolina Chickadee  7 Tufted Titmouse  8 White-breasted Nuthatch  1 Carolina Wren  6 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  3 Ruby-crowned Kinglet  1 Eastern Bluebird  1 Veery  2 Swainson's Thrush  5 Wood Thrush  1 Gray Catbird  1

Cedar Waxwing  6 Ovenbird  1 Louisiana Waterthrush  3 Northern Waterthrush  1 Black-and-white Warbler  1 Prothonotary Warbler  1 Tennessee Warbler  6 Nashville Warbler  2 Common Yellowthroat  1 Hooded Warbler  2 American Redstart  3 Cerulean Warbler  1 Northern Parula  3 Magnolia Warbler  3 Bay-breasted Warbler  2 Blackburnian Warbler  1 Yellow Warbler  1 Chestnut-sided Warbler  4 Blackpoll Warbler  4 Palm Warbler  8 Yellow-rumped Warbler  6 Yellow-throated Warbler  1 Black-throated Green Warbler  4 Canada Warbler  2 Field Sparrow  1 White-throated Sparrow  4 Summer Tanager  4 Scarlet Tanager  2 Northern Cardinal  8 Indigo Bunting  2 Brown-headed Cowbird  5 Baltimore Oriole  1 American Goldfinch  3

Radnor Lake State Natural Area

April 23, 2014

On a beautiful spring morning a couple of groups went birding at the lake. Below is a combined list of the species seen. For the past week or so, Yellow-rumped Warblers were the most dominant warbler species, however, they were outnumbered by Palm Warblers today.

49 species

Canada Goose  6 Wood Duck  3 Mallard  3 Wild Turkey  1 Great Blue Heron  2 Turkey Vulture  1 American Coot  3 Broad-winged Hawk 1 Barred Owl  1 Chimney Swift  7 Ruby-throated Hummingbird  1 Red-headed Woodpecker  4 Red-bellied Woodpecker  5 Downy Woodpecker  2 Hairy Woodpecker  1 Pileated Woodpecker  2 Acadian Flycatcher  1 Eastern Phoebe  1 Eastern Kingbird  3 White-eyed Vireo  2 Blue-headed Vireo 3 Blue Jay  4 American Crow  1 Northern Rough-winged Swallow  1 Carolina Chickadee  5

Tufted Titmouse  3 White-breasted Nuthatch  1 Carolina Wren  6 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  6 Eastern Bluebird  2 Wood Thrush  1 Cedar Waxwing  8 Louisiana Waterthrush  1 Prothonotary Warbler  1 Nashville Warbler  2 Kentucky Warbler  1 Hooded Warbler  2 Northern Parula  1 Blackpoll Warbler  1 Palm Warbler  7 Yellow-rumped Warbler  3 Eastern Towhee  1 White-throated Sparrow  3 Summer Tanager  1 Scarlet Tanager  2 Northern Cardinal  7 Red-winged Blackbird  1 Brown-headed Cowbird  2 American Goldfinch  7