Results of the 33rd Putnam County, Tennessee, Spring Bird Count—13 May 2006
The 33rd Putnam County Spring Bird Count occurred on the day following the night of the full moon, so nocturnal species were well represented on this count, including a Putnam County SBC record number of Great Horned Owls.
Windy conditions from mid-morning and thereafter through the day probably prevented this SBC from eclipsing the record Putnam County SBC species total (137) set back in 1992. Even under these less than ideal conditions, 30 species of warblers were counted, including just the second Connecticut Warbler ever to be recorded on one of these local counts.
The high winds on count day did not prevent a new species—Cattle Egret—from being recorded on the count. Except for a Cattle Egret recorded in Putnam County back in May 1968 during a TOS spring meeting (the bird count resulting from this meeting did not constitute an official Putnam County SBC, though it was sometimes treated as one in the past, because birds seen in adjacent counties may have been included in the list and because the list derives from effort expended over two days), there have been no SBC records of this egret in Putnam County until this year. Congratulations to Carol Williams, who obtained a photo of the egret, Janie Finch, Nancy Layzer, and Margo Hinkle on a really nice find.
Some species that are difficult to record were found again during this year's SBC. These included an adult Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, two Barn Owls, and ten Brown-headed Nuthatches; for details about these sightings, see Comments (below).
Additional information about the Spring Bird Count in Putnam County may be viewed by clicking on the link below:
Table 1. Results of 33rd Putnam County Spring Bird Count.
| Location | W | NW | NNE | NE | E | SE | SW | FW | |
| Party Leader | SJS | JCF | WAW | RWS | JEM | BHS | DLC | Total | |
| Party Members | CDW | MPO | RLM | BD | KB | CEW | |||
| NSL | RJY | MV | RCF | ||||||
| MH | BD | ||||||||
| Number Field Observers | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 16 |
| Number Field Parties | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| Number Feederwatchers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Start CDT | 0356 | 0510 | 0515 | 0600 | 0450 | 0435 | 0620 | 0800 | 0356 |
| End CDT | 1841 | 1945 | 1815 | 1801 | 0950 | 1940 | 1930 | 1600 | 1945 |
| Hours on Foot | 1.5 | 4.25 | 2 | 4.5 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 16.25 |
| Hours by Car | 12 | 9.25 | 11 | 2.5 | 2.25 | 11 | 9.25 | 0 | 57.25 |
| Total Party Hours | 13.5 | 13.5 | 13 | 7 | 3.25 | 11 | 12.25 | 0 | 73.5 |
| Miles on Foot | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 |
| Miles by Car | 150 | 78 | 101 | 30 | 5 | 117 | 37 | 0 | 518 |
| Total Party Miles | 151 | 82 | 103 | 31.5 | 5.5 | 117 | 38 | 0 | 528 |
| Owling Hours | 1.25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.75 | 0 | 0 | 2.5 |
| Owling Miles | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 51 |
| Feeder-watching Hours | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Low Temperature F | 41 | ||||||||
| High Temperature F | 78 | ||||||||
| Wind Direction | SW | ||||||||
| Wind AM (mph) | 0–15 | ||||||||
| Wind PM (mph) | 10–25 | ||||||||
| Sky AM | m cle | ||||||||
| Sky PM | p clo | ||||||||
| Precipitation AM | none | ||||||||
| Precipitation PM | late driz | ||||||||
| Moon Phase | Full | ||||||||
| Total Species | 99 | 84 | 89 | 60 | 59 | 107 | 90 | 26 | 136 |
| Location | W | NW | NNE | NE | E | SE | SW | FW | Total |
| Canada Goose | 13 | 20 | 27 | 1 | 0 | 52 | 21 | 0 | 134 |
| Wood Duck | 8 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 25 |
| Mallard | 0 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Blue-winged Teal | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Ruddy Duck | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Northern Bobwhite | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 12 |
| Wild Turkey | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 8 |
| Pied-billed Grebe | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Double-crested Cormorant | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Great Blue Heron | 8 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 22 |
| Cattle Egret | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Green Heron | 1 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 16* |
| Yellow-crowned Night-Heron | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Black Vulture | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 11 |
| Turkey Vulture | 11 | 13 | 11 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 17 | 0 | 66 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 8 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 14 |
| Location | W | NW | NNE | NE | E | SE | SW | FW | Total |
| American Coot | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Killdeer | 6 | 13 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 37 |
| Spotted Sandpiper | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Greater Yellowlegs | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Lesser Yellowlegs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Least Sandpiper | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Rock Pigeon | 3 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 26 | 0 | 56 |
| Eurasian Collared-Dove | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2* |
| Mourning Dove | 34 | 72 | 30 | 5 | 11 | 85 | 25 | 21 | 283 |
| Yellow-billed Cuckoo | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 8 |
| Black-billed Cuckoo | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Barn Owl | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Eastern Screech-Owl | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Great Horned Owl | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6* |
| Barred Owl | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Common Nighthawk | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Chuck-will's-widow | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Eastern Whip-poor-will | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Location | W | NW | NNE | NE | E | SE | SW | FW | Total |
| Chimney Swift | 15 | 67 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 18 | 0 | 150 |
| Ruby-throated Hummingbird | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 15 |
| Belted Kingfisher | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
| Red-headed Woodpecker | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| Red-bellied Woodpecker | 8 | 7 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 14 | 7 | 1 | 51 |
| Downy Woodpecker | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 22 |
| Hairy Woodpecker | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| Northern Flicker | 3 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| Pileated Woodpecker | 8 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 28 |
| American Kestrel | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 8 |
| Eastern Wood-Pewee | 42 | 7 | 25 | 8 | 11 | 24 | 9 | 0 | 126** |
| Acadian Flycatcher | 35 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 59 |
| Empidonax sp. | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Eastern Phoebe | 22 | 12 | 12 | 1 | 4 | 21 | 4 | 1 | 77 |
| Great Crested Flycatcher | 5 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 40 |
| Eastern Kingbird | 12 | 20 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 37 | 8 | 1 | 94 |
| White-eyed Vireo | 74 | 2 | 13 | 7 | 1 | 28 | 4 | 0 | 129 |
| Yellow-throated Vireo | 20 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 40 |
| Blue-headed Vireo | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Red-eyed Vireo | 260 | 5 | 86 | 69 | 62 | 190 | 19 | 0 | 691** |
| Location | W | NW | NNE | NE | E | SE | SW | FW | Total |
| Blue Jay | 13 | 28 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 85 | 7 | 5 | 160 |
| American Crow | 48 | 49 | 33 | 5 | 13 | 80 | 15 | 6 | 249 |
| Horned Lark | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Purple Martin | 7 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 55 | 7 | 0 | 84 |
| Tree Swallow | 3 | 12 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 1 | 0 | 53* |
| Northern Rough-winged Swallow | 4 | 22 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 62 |
| Bank Swallow | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Cliff Swallow | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Barn Swallow | 30 | 6 | 20 | 5 | 0 | 65 | 21 | 0 | 147 |
| Carolina Chickadee | 20 | 10 | 11 | 5 | 14 | 51 | 7 | 0 | 118* |
| Tufted Titmouse | 24 | 21 | 15 | 8 | 8 | 47 | 5 | 5 | 133 |
| White-breasted Nuthatch | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 12 | 3 | 5 | 32 |
| Brown-headed Nuthatch | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10** |
| House Wren | 15 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 40 |
| Carolina Wren | 100 | 17 | 24 | 17 | 7 | 45 | 16 | 2 | 228 |
| Blue-gray Gnatcatcher | 60 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 5 | 18 | 18 | 0 | 115 |
| Eastern Bluebird | 35 | 19 | 42 | 4 | 7 | 85 | 31 | 7 | 230 |
| Gray-cheeked Thrush | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Swainson's Thrush | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 20 |
| Wood Thrush | 20 | 1 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 38 | 4 | 0 | 85 |
| American Robin | 56 | 87 | 70 | 12 | 0 | 170 | 40 | 14 | 449 |
| Gray Catbird | 4 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 1 | 1 | 36 |
| Northern Mockingbird | 28 | 20 | 30 | 50 | 0 | 15 | 21 | 5 | 124 |
| Brown Thrasher | 9 | 14 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 8 | 0 | 67 |
| European Starling | 45 | 152 | 80 | 7 | 0 | 220 | 50 | 0 | 554 |
| Cedar Waxwing | 40 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 22 | 22 | 0 | 100 |
| Location | W | NW | NNE | NE | E | SE | SW | FW | Total |
| Ovenbird | 4 | 0 | 7 | 15 | 23 | 70 | 0 | 0 | 119 |
| Worm-eating Warbler | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 11 |
| Louisiana Waterthrush | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 14 |
| Northern Waterthrush | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Blue-winged Warbler | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
| Black-and-white Warbler | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 21 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 37 |
| Prothonotary Warbler | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Tennessee Warbler | 21 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 31 |
| Connecticut Warbler | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Kentucky Warbler | 43 | 0 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 73 |
| Common Yellowthroat | 52 | 4 | 21 | 10 | 2 | 50 | 9 | 0 | 148 |
| Hooded Warbler | 35 | 0 | 9 | 22 | 14 | 47 | 4 | 0 | 131 |
| American Redstart | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 50 |
| Cape May Warbler | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Cerulean Warbler | 26 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 36 |
| Northern Parula | 40 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 55 |
| Magnolia Warbler | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| Bay-breasted Warbler | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
| Blackburnian Warbler | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Yellow Warbler | 12 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 23 |
| Chestnut-sided Warbler | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Blackpoll Warbler | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| Palm Warbler | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Pine Warbler | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 21 |
| Yellow-rumped Warbler | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Yellow-throated Warbler | 7 | 1 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 39 |
| Prairie Warbler | 25 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 36 |
| Black-throated Green Warbler | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| Wilson's Warbler | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Yellow-breasted Chat | 34 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 23 | 2 | 0 | 72 |
| Location | W | NW | NNE | NE | E | SE | SW | FW | Total |
| Eastern Towhee | 47 | 16 | 15 | 12 | 0 | 60 | 6 | 1 | 157 |
| Chipping Sparrow | 33 | 3 | 19 | 5 | 7 | 80 | 10 | 0 | 157 |
| Field Sparrow | 33 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 40 | 6 | 0 | 105 |
| Grasshopper Sparrow | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 7 |
| Song Sparrow | 29 | 7 | 29 | 13 | 0 | 65 | 16 | 4 | 163 |
| White-throated Sparrow | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Summer Tanager | 37 | 6 | 16 | 4 | 0 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 85 |
| Scarlet Tanager | 11 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 18 | 32 | 2 | 0 | 76** |
| Northern Cardinal | 92 | 26 | 73 | 16 | 13 | 160 | 27 | 14 | 421 |
| Rose-breasted Grosbeak | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 6 |
| Blue Grosbeak | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 19 |
| Indigo Bunting | 237 | 18 | 72 | 22 | 18 | 180 | 37 | 0 | 584 |
| Bobolink | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| Red-winged Blackbird | 23 | 35 | 67 | 6 | 0 | 190 | 53 | 6 | 380 |
| Eastern Meadowlark | 24 | 29 | 14 | 5 | 0 | 75 | 23 | 0 | 170 |
| Common Grackle | 8 | 16 | 36 | 2 | 0 | 45 | 21 | 20 | 148 |
| Brown-headed Cowbird | 28 | 20 | 27 | 2 | 4 | 75 | 17 | 2 | 175 |
| Orchard Oriole | 23 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 4 | 1 | 64 |
| Baltimore Oriole | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| House Finch | 6 | 10 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 42 | 10 | 3 | 90 |
| American Goldfinch | 10 | 7 | 19 | 3 | 6 | 40 | 10 | 3 | 98 |
| House Sparrow | 10 | 24 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 115 | 9 | 6 | 181 |
| Total Individuals | 2244 | 1061 | 1264 | 392 | 416 | 3249 | 827 | 139 | 9592 |
| Total Species | 99 | 84 | 89 | 60 | 59 | 107 | 90 | 26 | 136 |
| Location | W | NW | NNE | NE | E | SE | SW | FW | Total |
Key to Participants:
| Name | Initials |
| Kris Ballinger | KB |
| Daniel L. Combs | DLC |
| Bettie Doyle | BD |
| Janie C. Finch | JCF |
| Richard C. Finch | RCF |
| Margo Hinkle | MH |
| Nancy S. Layzer | NSL |
| Ronnie L. Magnuson | RLM |
| Joseph E. Mast | JM |
| Michael P. O'Rourke | MPO |
| Richard W. Simmers, Jr. | RWS |
| Barbara H. Stedman | BHS |
| Stephen J. Stedman, compiler | SJS |
| Mark Vance | MV |
| Catherine E. Walden | CEW |
| Winston A. Walden | WAW |
| Carol D. Williams | CDW |
| Rueben J. Yoder | RJY |
Comments:
One species not previously recorded on the Putnam County Spring Bird Count (SBC) is featured in bold red; this species brings the all-time species list for the Putnam County SBC to 200. Species totals (5) denoted by one asterisk (*) represent record numbers on the Putnam County SBC; species totals (4) denoted by two asterisks (**) represent record numbers on the Putnam County SBC and all-time high numbers in Putnam County.
The Ruddy Duck was a disheveled-looking individual found on the lake at Cane Creek Park (JCF, CDW, MH, NSL), where it had been seen intermittently for several weeks.
The Cattle Egret was an adult in alternate plumage found on Clemmons Rd. (JCF, CDW photo, MH, NSL).
The Yellow-crowned Night-Heron was an adult found at Burgess Falls State Natural Area (MV).
The Osprey was found at McWilliams Pond near Brotherton (WAW, MPO).
The Eurasian Collared-Doves were singles found at the lower end of Phifer Mountain Rd. (BHS) and near Double Springs (SJS).
The Black-billed Cuckoo was heard calling along Martin Creek in extreme western Putnam County (SJS).
The Barn Owls were a pair with eggs found at the traditional site in the county (DLC, KB, MV).
The Horned Lark was found at the Hackworth Farm on Rt. 62 east of Monterey (BHS).
The Bank Swallows were found on Joe Jackson Rd. off of Rt. 70 west of Monterey (BHS).
The Cliff Swallows were found at exit 268 on I-40 (nesting under overpass) and on Martin Creek Rd. (SJS).
The Brown-headed Nuthatches were found at the Cookeville Golf Course and included a family group of 6 (WAW, MPO).
The Gray-cheeked Thrush was found at City Lake (BHS).
The Prothonotary Warbler was found above the dam at Burgess Falls State Natural Area (DLC, KB, MV), not a site where this species has been reported much in the past.
The Northern Waterthrush was found near the Ironwood Golf Course (JCF, CDW, NSL, MH).
The Connecticut Warbler was found on Campground Rd. off of Rt. 62 east of Monterey (BHS—good details of bird seen and heard).
The Wilson's Warbler was found near the Ironwood Golf Course (JCF, CDW, NSL, MH).
The Bobolinks were found on Scott Lee Rd. (2 males engaged in courtship flight—SJS) and at Monterey Lake (14—BHS).
Quick links to other sections of this website: