Department of English and Communications
Box 5053
Tennessee Technological University
Cookeville, TN 38505

sstedman@tntech.edu

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Recommended citation:

Stedman, S. J. 2010. Birds of the Upper Cumberland Region: Fall 2010 UCR Bird Report. Accession date: _______.

     http://iweb.tntech.edu/sstedman/UCRBirdReportFall2010.htm.

Introduction

Weather in the Region (Figure 1) began warmly but by late August temperatures moderated considerably and stayed below average into mid-September.  Rainfall in early August was torrential with damaging floods being reported in many Regional rivers and creeks; precipitation during late August and early September was below average and remained that way into late October.

    Records of rare species are noted in bold-faced red below.

    Fall Bird Counts and BirdBlitzes provide many of the quantitative data on which an assessment of the Regional birdlife may be made during autumn; access to these data, collected in three Regional counties, is available via links at the following page of this website:

• Fall Bird Count and BirdBlitz Data 2010

    Early and late dates of arrival and departure for migrant species in the Region this autumn may be viewed at the following page of this website:

• UCR Early/Late Dates Fall 2010

Acknowledgments

Thanks are extended to all the field observers whose records are cited below.  Observers who were able to support their sightings with photographs are especially thanked for their submissions.

Abbreviations and Symbols

†—written documentation provided; BSFNRRA—Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area; DBNF—Daniel Boone National Forest; FBC/FBB—Fall Bird Count/Fall BirdBlitz; KOS—Kentucky Ornithological Society; OWSR—Obed Wild and Scenic River; TOS— Tennessee Ornithological Society; UCR—Upper Cumberland Region; WMA—Wildlife Management Area.

Waterfowl through Gallinaceous Species

Record early during fall in the Region, a Greater White-fronted Goose was observed at the Fishing Creek Recreation Area, Lake Cumberland, Pulaski Co., KY, 26 October 2010 (RMD).

    Also record early during fall in the Region was an adult Ross's Goose at Miller Pond, Russell Co., KY, 20 November 2010 (RMD photo, AMM, GC); additionally, this sighting was the first for Russell County.

    A Mute Swan on Lake Tansi, Cumberland Co., TN, 24 September 2010 (DJS photo) and on several later dates through November and beyond was much earlier than any previous fall-arriving member of its species in Regional history, suggesting the possibility that its appearance may not have been entirely unaided.

    Eighteen early American Black Ducks was reported in northeastern White Co., TN, 18 September 2010 (WAW, TMS, MPO) during the FBC in that county.

    A male Surf Scoter 16 November 2010, then three female or immature types 17 November 2010, and then an unsexed and unaged individual 23 November 2010, all on Barren River Reservoir, Barren/Allen counties, KY (DLR) were the first to be reported this season Regionally.

    Five Black Scoters at the Wolf Creek Dam, Lake Cumberland, Russell Co., KY, 4 November 2010 (RMD) were the first of the fall to be reported, as well as providing the 15th Regional record of this scarce duck; the 16th and 17th Regional records quickly followed when two birds of this species were noted at the Waitsboro Recreation Area, Lake Cumberland, Pulaski Co., KY, and two were also noted at Mill Spring Mill, Wayne Co., KY, both on 5 November 2010 (RMD)., the latter representing a first county record; the 18th Regional record followed almost as quickly when six of this species were seen on Barren River Reservoir, Barren/Allen counties, KY, 8 November 2010 (DLR), these perhaps being some of the same birds observed 19 November 2010 when four were found on the same reservoir (DLR).

Loons through Ibises

Counts of 200 and 500+ Common Loons on Barren River Reservoir, Barren/Allen counties, KY (DLR), 18 and 23 November 2010, respectively, were peak counts of the season Regionally.  Note: Of considerable interest was the report of a loon outfitted with a satellite transmitter on its breeding grounds and tracked during its southward migration. It was outfitted 20 July 2010 in the Turtle-Flambeau Flowage in the western end of the Upper Peninsula, Michigan, where it remained until 20 November 2010; it was then tracked in migration first to the southern end of Lake Michigan (21 November 2010), then to Barren River Reservoir, Barren/Allen counties, Kentucky (24 November); then to Tim's Ford Lake, Tennessee (25 November 2010); then to  Guntersville Lake, Alabama (26 November 2010); and then to the Gulf of Mexico offshore from Franklin County, Florida (28 November 2010 and thereafter).  Details at this website (click on loon # 55479): http://www.umesc.usgs.gov/terrestrial/migratory_birds/loons/migrations.html. [Thanks to DLR for reporting this site, which was drawn to his attention by Lester Doyle.]

    Nineteen Horned Grebes at the Floating Mill Recreation Area, Center Hill Lake, DeKalb Co., TN, 22 October 2010 (JCF, PBH, SJS) were the first to be reported this fall Regionally, but a few of these had no doubt arrived earlier than that date.

    American White Pelicans were once again observed in Barren Co., KY, three being noted 29 October 2010 (DLR et al.), six 30 October 2010 (DLR et al.), three 31 October 2010, six on 1 & 5 November 2010 (DLR et al.), and one each 12, 14, 23–25 November 2010 (DLR et al.).

    An adult Little Blue Heron at Evins Mill, DeKalb Co., TN, 14 September 2010 (JCF) was the first of its kind to be recorded in that county and the last of the fall to be reported Regionally.

    A juvenile Yellow-crowned Night-Heron at Burgess Falls SNA, Putnam Co., TN, 9 October 2010 (ET) tied the late fall departure date for that county and was latest reported Regionally this fall.

    An immature White Ibis was photographed in Clay Co., TN, 6 August 2010 (TMC photo), documenting the first record for that county of this post-breeding disperser and providing the fifth Regional record.

Diurnal Raptors through Cranes

Field work this fall turned up two heretofore unreported Osprey nests; these nests probably represent breeding efforts during 2010 (and possibly during earlier years) and certainly add to the seven nests (five in Jackson County and two in Smith County) previously documented Regionally.  One of the new nests was found and photographed 18 September 2010 during the White County FBC along the Caney Fork River (which forms the boundary between DeKalb and White counties) at the end of Three Island Rd. (CDW photo, MJH); an Osprey was also noted at this site the same day.  The other nest was found 27 November 2010 on Free State Rd. along the Cumberland River in Jackson Co., TN (WAW, TMS).

    A Merlin harassed an Osprey 18 September 2010 in eastern White Co., TN (EKL), during the FBC in that county, providing the first report of the season Regionally; a male was observed in the Dry Creek Unit, Barren River WMA, 24 September 2010 (DLR), and two other Merlins were noted 3 October 2010 and 24 October 2010 in the same county (DLR). A late Merlin was detected in Barren Co., KY, 25 November 2010 (DLR).

    All reports of southbound  Sandhill Cranes are listed in Appendix A (below); the earliest sighting this fall took place 21 October 2010 in DeKalb Co., TN (JCF), where a flock of 15 was sighted as it headed south.

Shorebirds through Terns

The shorebird season usually begins during July, sometimes even June, of each year, so check the Summer 2010 UCR Bird Report for additional shorebird data.

An American Golden-Plover at Fishing Creek, Pulaski Co., KY, 16 November 2010 (RMD) was latest ever in that county.

    Only the fourth ever for the Region and second for Pulaski Co., KY, an alternate-plumaged Ruddy Turnstone was photographed at the Fishing Creek Recreation Area 14–15 August 2010 (RMD photo).

    The Region's fifth Wilson's Phalarope, a juvenile, was photographed at the Fishing Creek Recreation Area, Pulaski Co., KY, 13 August 2010 (RMD photo), documenting the second occurrence of this species in that county.

    A flock of 140 Franklin's Gulls on Barren River Reservoir, Barren Co., KY, 28 October 2010 (DLR photo) was the largest ever witnessed in the Region; two adults remained at this site 29–31 October 2010 (DLR), and several sightings of 1–3 were made into rather late November at the same location (DLR).

    A Mew Gull was observed on Barren River Reservoir, Barren Co., KY, 18–24 October 2010 (DLR et al.), exactly a year to the date after, and at the same site where, the first Regional (and Kentucky) record was made during fall 2009.

    Four Forster's Terns at Lake Tansi, Cumberland Co., TN, 18 August 2010 (EKL photo) were the first to be documented for that county (an undocumented report from December 2009 at the same site preceded this well documented record).

Doves through Shrike

Black-billed Cuckoos go unrecorded during some fall seasons in the Region, so a well described individual on the DeKalb County FBB 25 September 2010 (CDW) was a welcome sight.

    An injured Barred Owl, found 3 October 2010 in Warren Co., TN (fide SNM), was determined (MGW) to be an individual from the northern subspecies rather than the local southeastern subspecies, based on its toes being more feathered than are those of individuals from the southeastern subspecies; this bird was briefly rehabilitated in Memphis and then released in Warren County 13 October 2010 (SNM) at or near the site where it was first found.

    One Short-eared Owl was observed at Shadow Mountain Estates, Cumberland Co., TN, 10 November 2010 (EKL), the first report of the fall and just the 13th Regional record; five Short-ears near Bon Ayr, Barren Co., KY, 20 November 2010 through the end of the period (DLR) tied the high count for the Region and became the 14th Regional record; up to six owls were noted at this site on various later dates.

    A flock of 150+ Common Nighthawks in the vicinity of Hillendale Rd., Cumberland Co., TN, 29 August 2010 (EKL) was the largest reported this season.

    An Eastern Whip-poor-will called unsolicitedly in eastern White Co., TN, 18 September 2010 (EKL) during the FBC in that county, providing a latish record of this species, but the latest report of the season involved another unsolicited singer heard in southeastern McCreary Co., KY, 2 October 2010 (BHS) during the FBB there.

    A count of c. 275 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds at feeders located on Walter Stone Rd., White Co., TN, in early September (WB) was the largest reported during the season.

    The first Yellow-bellied Sapsucker of the fall Regionally was noted in eastern White Co., TN, 18 September 2010 (EKL) during the FBC in that county.

    An Olive-sided Flycatcher was photographed near the Snake Creek Boat Ramp, Adair Co., KY, 9 September 2010 (RMD photo), providing the first record for that county.

    Three records of Yellow-bellied Flycatcher were submitted this fall, quite a good number for a species that is difficult to substantiate during fall in the Region: 28 August 2010 (1) Pulaski Co., KY (RMD); 19 September 2010 (1) Adair Co., KY (RMD); and 22 September 2010 (1) Barren Co., KY (DLR).

    All reports of Loggerhead Shrike are listed below (Appendix B).

Jay through Waxwing

The Purple Martin roost at Lilydale, Clay Co., TN, was again active, 30,000 being estimated to be present 10 August 2010 (WAW, TMS); that number may have been exceeded a week or so earlier.

    The first Red-breasted Nuthatch of the fall Regionally was noted 17 September 2010 in the Dry Creek Meadows area of northern Putnam Co., TN (GKE); based on lowish to moderate numbers reported at many sites thereafter, especially on the FBCs and FBB, as well as on a count of 14 in Barren Co., KY, 12 November 2010 (DLR, DRB, SJS), this species may be present in moderate numbers during the coming winter.

    See the Summer 2010 UCR Bird Report for a record of Sedge Wren from late in that season; another Sedge Wren was reported 16 September 2010 from City Lake, Putnam Co., TN (BHS), a site where no record had been made during 21 previous years of observation; and still another was reported from Mason Grissom Rd., Warren Co., TN, 14 October 2010 (SNM).

    The first Golden-crowned Kinglet of the fall Regionally was observed in Pulaski Co., KY, 1 October 2010 (RMD).

    As has often been the case during the past decade, the first Regional FBC, conducted 18 September 2010 in White Co., TN, turned up the first Ruby-crowned Kinglets of the season (BHS, JaF, BKC).

    A Gray Catbird near City Lake 26–27 November 2010 was latest ever in Putnam Co., TN (SJS), on the latter date, as well as latest Regionally this fall.

Warblers

All reports of Golden-winged Warbler are listed below (Appendix C).

    Quite late in departing, a Magnolia Warbler was photographed in Lake Cumberland State Resort Park, Russell Co., KY, 4 November 2010 (RMD photo), providing the late departure date for the season (and perhaps for all fall seasons) in the Region.

    Cape May Warblers are seldom reported during fall; this fall one was noted at Casey Cove, DeKalb Co., TN, during the FBB there 25 September 2010 (EKL, SJS), and another was observed in Pulaski Co., KY, 12 October 2010 (RMD).

    A female Black-throated Blue Warbler was observed in Barren River Lake State Park, Barren Co., KY, 24 September 2010 (DLR); records of this warbler in the Region during fall, as during spring, are infrequent.

    A very early Palm Warbler was noted 5 September 2010 on Leffle Webb Rd., Cumberland Co., TN (EKL), the first of the season Regionally.

    For only the fourth time in Regional history, a Blackpoll Warbler was seen and well described during fall migration, this one being found at Fairfield Glade, Cumberland Co., TN, 14 September 2010 by a visiting  birder (JC †) from Minnesota.

    All reports of Cerulean Warbler are listed in Appendix D (below).

Sparrows through Siskin

Early Savannah Sparrows Regionally this fall were noted at several sites in White Co., TN, 18 September 2010 (BHS et al., EKL) during the FBC in that county, but much earlier (and suggestive of possible local breeding) was a Savannah on Mason Grissom Rd., Warren Co., TN, 17 August 2010 (SNM).

    A Lincoln's Sparrow on Mason Grissom Rd., Warren Co., TN, 14 October 2010 (SNM) provided the first record for that county.

    The earliest White-throated Sparrow of the season Regionally was observed at a feeder on City Lake, Putnam Co., TN, 23 September 2010 (BHS).

    A somewhat early Dark-eyed Junco was present in northern McCreary County 2 October 2010 (RMD) during the FBB in that county, providing the early date Regionally this fall.

Observers: Wally Brines (WB), David R. Brown (DRB), Frank Bulow (FB), Terry M. Campbell (TMC), Clay Collins (CC), Granville Cox (GC), Linda Craiger (LC), Brenda K. Curtis (BKC), John Cyrus (JC [from Carver Co., Minnesota]), Roseanna M. Denton (RMD), Steve Denton (SD), Tom Durbin (TD), Ginger K. Ensor (GKE), Janie C. Finch (JaF), Richard C. Finch (RCF), John D. Froeschauer (JDF), Eddie Fuson (EF), Judy C. Fuson (JCF), Dana Girard (DG), Michael J. Hawkins (MJH), David Hume (DH), Nancy S. Layzer (NSL), Edmund K. LeGrand (EKL), Susan N. McWhirter (SNM), Janice Montgomery (JM), Arlene M. Morton (AMM), Michael P. O'Rourke (MPO), Susan E. Pirolo (SEP), David L. Roemer (DLR), Thomas M. Saya (TMS), DJ Stanley (DJS), Barbara H. Stedman (BHS), Even Tanner (ET), Winston A. Walden (WAW), Martha G. Waldron (MGW [Memphis]), and Carol D. Williams (CDW).

Literature Cited

Appendix A.  Reports of (Mostly) Southbound Sandhill Cranes during "Fall" 2010 in the Upper Cumberland Region.

Appendix B.  Reports of Loggerhead Shrike during Fall 2010 in the Upper Cumberland Region.

Appendix C.  Reports of Golden-winged Warblers during Fall 2010 in the Upper Cumberland Region.

Appendix D.  Reports of Cerulean Warblers during Fall 2010 in the Upper Cumberland Region.

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