Richland Creek Greenway, Nashville TN
March 26, 2016

Seven birders met at 7 a.m. to bird Richland Creek Greenway. It was a very chilly morning, even so, four of us came an hour earlier to do some owling and one Barred Owl was seen just at daybreak. As the day progressed the temps went from about 37° to a balmy 57°. The skies were clear and there was no wind. Bird of the day, (my opinion) was an early Northern Parula, which was heard but not seen.

We all had a great time of fellowship and fun the whole morning long. Other wildlife seen were grey squirrels, frogs, turtles, fish and one shy rabbit. Many of us got waylaid on the bridge looking at the many species of fish, and with their vivid colors, markings, and behaviors, they are as varied as birds.

We saw and heard 37 species of birds, the list to follow below.

Great Blue Heron Mallard Cooper’s Hawk Morning Dove Barred Owl Belted Kingfisher Northern Flicker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Red-bellied Woodpecker Eastern Phoebe American Crow Blue Jay Carolina Chickadee Eastern Tufted Titmouse White-breasted Nuthatch Carolina Wren Eastern Bluebird

American Robin Hermit Thrush Northern Mockingbird Brown Thrasher European Starling Northern Parula Yellow-Romped Warbler Northern Cardinal Dark-eyed Junco Field Sparrow Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Eastern Towhee Red-winged Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird Common Grackle House Finch

Tarcila Fox

Kentucky Lake, Kentucky
February 13, 2016

NTOS members went to the Kentucky Lake and Barkley Lake Dams for a joint field trip with KOS. The temperatures ranged from cold to very cold, the high was only 31°, but the Birders didn’t seem to mind.

We thank Hap Chambers, for leading the trip, and Brainard Palmer-Ball for providing many teachable moments. It was good to see former Nashvillian, Rob Lane who came from Louisville to join us. All of the Kentucky birders were a warm and friendly group, which was a nice contrast to the cold weather.

We all had a wonderful day of birding! Highlights among the gulls were, Lesser Black-backed Gull, and Thayer’s Gull. There were multiple Bald Eagles at every location, including one eagle on the nest. My favorite bird of the day was, the Brown-headed Nuthatch.

Below is our list of birds at the different locations.

KY Lake Dam, Marshall, Kentucky, US
Feb 13, 2016 8:34 AM - 9:59 AM
2.0 mile(s)
17 species

Lesser Scaup  18
Bufflehead  7
Common Goldeneye  17
Pied-billed Grebe  7
Horned Grebe  4
American White Pelican  18
Great Blue Heron (Blue form)  6
Bald Eagle  3
Red-tailed Hawk  1
American Coot  9
Ring-billed Gull  55
Herring Gull  43
Lesser Black-backed Gull  1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  7
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)  1
American Crow  5
Northern Cardinal  5


US-KY-Gilbertsville-787-999 Airport Rd, Marshall, Kentucky, US
Feb 13, 2016 10:32 AM - 11:14 AM
2.0 mile(s)
24 species

Canada Goose  3
Wild Turkey  4
Turkey Vulture  1
Northern Harrier  1
Sharp-shinned Hawk  1
Bald Eagle  2
Red-shouldered Hawk  1
Red-tailed Hawk  3
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  1
Downy Woodpecker  2
Northern Flicker  2
Carolina Chickadee  5
Tufted Titmouse  2
White-breasted Nuthatch  1
Brown-headed Nuthatch  2  
Brown Creeper  1
Golden-crowned Kinglet  5
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  1
Eastern Bluebird  6
Hermit Thrush  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler  1
Dark-eyed Junco  6
White-throated Sparrow  4
Red-winged Blackbird  10


Lake Barkley (Lyon Co.)--Dam, Lyon, Kentucky, US
Feb 13, 2016 11:53 AM - 12:48 PM
2.0 mile(s)
12 species

American White Pelican  22
Black Vulture  4
Bald Eagle  1
Bonaparte's Gull  2
Ring-billed Gull  70
Herring Gull  110
Thayer's Gull  1     Ist cycle
American Kestrel  1
Carolina Wren  1
American Robin  32
Northern Mockingbird  1
Northern Cardinal  4

Sledd Creek Boat Ramp, Marshall, Kentucky, US
Feb 13, 2016 2:10 PM - 2:58 PM
33 species

Snow Goose  2
Canada Goose  13
Gadwall  4
American Wigeon  1
Mallard  4
Blue-winged Teal  1
Northern Pintail  2
Green-winged Teal  2
Bufflehead  12
Hooded Merganser  1
Pied-billed Grebe  10
Horned Grebe  10
Great Blue Heron (Blue form)  2
Bald Eagle  3
Red-tailed Hawk  1
American Coot  5
Bonaparte's Gull  2
Ring-billed Gull  6
Lesser Black-backed Gull  4
Mourning Dove  1
Barred Owl  1
Belted Kingfisher  1
Downy Woodpecker  1
Blue Jay  2
American Crow  5
Carolina Chickadee  3
Tufted Titmouse  2
Brown Creeper  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler  1
Eastern Towhee  2
Northern Cardinal  2
Pine Siskin  1
American Goldfinch  3


Tarcila Fox

Robertson County, TN
January 16, 2016

Fourteen NTOS members carpooled together for a field trip of Robertson County TN which was led by Tony Lance. The temperature hovered around 35°f and the sky was overcast, but the camaraderie was warm and cheerful. After the field trip most of the members went up to Clarksville, TN in Montgomery County to see the Common Redpoll and the Ash-throated Flycatcher which have both continued in the area this past week.

Our first bird was a Peregrine Falcon, found by Cyndi Routledge! Tony said it was the first time he had ever seen one there. What a great start to the morning! A big thanks to all who participated and to Tony Lance for taking us to the hot-spots in Robertson County.

Below is the list of 45 Species we saw.

Wood Duck - 4 Canada Goose - 16 Peregrine Falcon - 1 Northern Harrier - 1 Coopers Hawk - 1 Red-Shouldered Hawk - 1 Red-tailed Hawk - 8 America Kestrel - 14 Black Vulture - 7 Turkey Vulture - 2 Wild Turkey - 47 Killdeer - 34 Mourning Dove - 21 Rock Dove - 52 Belted Kingfisher - 1 Northern Flicker - 8 Downy Woodpecker - 2 Pileated Woodpecker - 2 Red-bellied Woodpecker - 8 Horned Lark- 236 American Crow - 21 Blue Jay - 24 Carolina Chickadee - 1

Tufted Titmouse - 4 White-Breasted Nuthatch - 2 Carolina Wren - 1 Eastern Bluebird - 18 American Robin - 171 Hermit Thrush - 1 Northern Mockingbird - 4 European Starling - 16 Northern Cardinal - 31 Dark-eyed Junco - 23 Lapland Longspur - 5 Field Sparrow - 8 Savannah Sparrow - 4 Song Sparrow - 5 White-throated Sparrow - 2 Eastern Towhee - 2 Red-winged Blackbird - 50 Brown-headed Cowbird - 22 Common Grackle - 1 Eastern Meadowlark - 15 American Goldfinch - 9 House Sparrow - 4

*Mixed Blackbird flock - 1000
** Common Redpoll
**Ash-throated Flycatcher

* Not part of 45 species count
** Found after the field trip in Montgomery County, Clarksville TN.


Tarcila Fox

Nashville Christmas Bird Count
Dec. 19, 2015

The Nashville CBC was held on Saturday and totaled 74 species, the lowest since 2006. With clear, cold weather and 43 observers, it certainly wasn't for lack of trying. Some of the highlights included 1 Northern Pintail and 2 Green-winged Teal at Radnor Lake, 1 Northern Harrier, 5 American Woodcock, and 1 House Wren at Bells Bend, 6 Bald Eagles (4 at Harpeth East and 2 at Poplar Creek),1 Red-headed Woodpecker at Poplar Creek, 4 Winter Wrens at Harpeth East, Warner Park and West Meade, 21 Hermit Thrushes, 1 Savannah Sparrow at Harpeth West, 3 Fox Sparrows at Bells Bend and Harpeth West, 1 Lincoln's Sparrow at Warner Park, and 2 Purple Finches at Warner Park and Poplar Creek. The 6 Bald Eagles was the highest count ever for this CBC.  It was only the fifth time a Lincoln's Sparrow has been seen, and the sixth time for a House Wren. Some of the misses were Canvasback, Lesser Scaup, Northern Bobwhite, American Coot, and Wilson's Snipe. Thank you so much to all who participated.

To view the full results click on the Bird Count Results in the right side menu.

Jan Shaw, Compiler

Nashville, TN
Dec. 12, 2015

We birded the Metro Center and West Meade areas. Weather was mild, in the 70s most of the day with cloudy overcast skies. Most birding was done from the car. We got out on the Richland Creek Greenway at 22 White Bridge Rd. and walked.

Nothing exciting but a nice morning to be outside.

Here is the list of species:

Pied-billed Grebe Great Blue Heron Mallard Hooded Merganser Red-tailed Hawk Black Vulture American Coot Ring-billed Gull Morning Dove Rock pigeon Northern Flicker Downy Woodpecker American Crow Blue Jay

Carolina Chickadee Tufted Titmouse Carolina Wren Eastern Bluebird American Robin Northern Mockingbird European Starling Northern Cardinal Dark-eyed Junco Song Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Common Grackle House Finch House Sparrow

Tarcila Fox

Percy Priest Lake
Davidson County, TN
Nov. 21, 2015

It started out frosty, breezy and clear, but as the day progressed it warmed up to comfortably cool, windy and cloudy. Richard Connors guided our group of six around From Percy Priest Dam to points of interest at Cook, Seven Points, Anderson and Smith Springs Parks.

The greatest number of bird species was the Common Loon, which were in great rafts in several locations. Highlights of the day were a Bald Eagle which flew over and around the dam as the participants arrived for the field trip, and later a pair of female Purple Finches. It was a pleasant morning and the fellowship was very enjoyable.

Thanks to Richard Connors for guiding us and to those who showed up for the fun!


36 Species:

Horned Grebe Pied-billed Grebe Common Loon Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Ring-necked Duck Canada Goose Mallard Redhead Bald Eagle Red-tailed Hawk Black Vulture Turkey Vulture American Coot Ring-billed Gull Mourning Dove Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Downy Woodpecker

Red-bellied Woodpecker American Crow Blue Jay Carolina Chickadee Tufted Titmouse Carolina Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet Eastern Bluebird American Robin Hermit Thrush European Starling Cedar Waxwing Yellow-Romped Warbler Northern Cardinal Dark-eyed Junco Purple Finch American Goldfinch

Tarcila Fox

Davidson County
October 17, 2015

There was a change of plans about where we were going this morning. We birded around the Stone Hall property and around the Greenway to Stone’s River Greenway. We then drove to the Lytle farm and birded on the old farm property. To get onto the property we had to get through a locked fence. When we left it was locked again, so it is not open to the public at this time.

We started out frosty cold, with the temp around 39f. By noon it had warmed up but was still only in the high 40s. Everyone had a great time. Best bird of the day (my opinion) was the White-crowned Sparrow. Also fun to watch, were a couple of male Kestrels doing aerial acrobatics and then a female appeared nearby. A couple of Coopers Hawks were circling the thermals, with small birds around them. I couldn’t decide if the Coopers were chasing the small birds for a meal, or if the small birds were mobbing the Coopers.

Thanks to Aaron T. for sharing his Birds-Eye list with me for this report!

Here are the lists:

At the grounds of Stone Hall and the Stones River Greenway. (Davidson County, Nashville TN)

Killdeer 1 Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 5   Mourning Dove 8   Belted Kingfisher 1   Downy Woodpecker 1   Northern Flicker 1   Blue Jay 3   Carolina Chickadee  3   Tufted Titmouse 1   Carolina Wren 1   Golden-crowned Kinglet 1

American Robin 75   Brown Thrasher 1   Northern Mockingbird  3   European Starling 12   Tennessee Warbler 1   Pine Warbler 1   Yellow-rumped Warbler 3   White-throated Sparrow 6   Northern Cardinal 15   House Finch 1 Great Blue Heron 1

   

At the Stones River Farm/Lytle Farm Metro Parks property (Davidson County, Nashville TN)

Wild Turkey  1   Black Vulture 9   Turkey Vulture 1   Cooper's Hawk   2 Red-tailed Hawk  1 Mourning Dove 13   Belted Kingfisher  1   Red-bellied Woodpecker  1   American Kestrel 3   Eastern Phoebe 1   Blue Jay 6 American Crow 3

Carolina Chickadee 2   Brown Thrasher 1   Northern Mockingbird 3   European Starling 1   Palm Warbler 3   Yellow-rumped Warbler  1   White-crowned Sparrow  1 White-throated Sparrow 7   Song Sparrow  2 Northern Cardinal 2   Eastern Meadowlark 1   House Finch 3

Tarcila Fox
NTOS Field Trip Coordinator