BIRDS of the UPPER CUMBERLAND REGION

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

sstedman@tntech.edu

Weather during the fall was warmer than normal, with October temperatures among the warmest on record for that month.  Rainfall was close to normal but occurred in intensive bursts, so much of the season, especially November, was very dry Region-wide.

    Organized efforts to survey bird populations are infrequently made during most autumns across the continent, and that condition was also, by and large, true within the Region this season.  Only one Fall Bird Count took place in the Region on the appropriate date, the third Saturday in September--the fall equivalent of the second Saturday in May.  This one was held for only the second consecutive year in Putnam Co., TN, where 103 species were tabulated, up slightly from the 97 species recorded there during fall 2000.  The paucity of FBC data from Putnam County makes it difficult to formulate any quantitative judgments about the fall bird migration there or elsewhere in the Region, but as more FBC data accumulate in future years, such judgments might become possible.

    A Fall Bird Survey  was undertaken in the BSFNRRA during September and October.  Data taken during this survey of seven trails (2 in KY and 5 in TN) within the BSFNRRA can be compared to data taken over the same trails in the BSFNRRA during the falls of 1995, 1997, and 2000.  These data in turn can also be compared to data taken in the BSFNRRA over the same trails during the springs of 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, and 2000.  From this comparison emerge a few conclusions about the nature of the fall and spring bird migrations at this site (and possibly at most forested sites within the Region as a whole).  For instance, the results for the fall surveys are fairly consistent from one year to the next in terms of the number of birds encountered per hour of surveying effort; i.e., about 36-39 birds per hour were encountered during these surveys.  These results are slightly less than 50% of comparable results from the spring surveys even though the number of species encountered during fall and spring surveys was roughly the same.  Furthermore, fall surveys include a greater mix of species not breeding in the BSFNRRA than do the spring surveys, during which comparatively few nonbreeding species or individuals are encountered.  Whether the findings from the BSFNRRA will be borne out by findings from other Regional sites is now an open question, but an intriguing one.  I urge all Regional field workers to conduct a survey each fall over exactly the same area(s) on nearly the same date; this effort need not take more than one morning's work each autumn, and it should lead to some valuable insights about the nature of the fall migration if enough field workers undertake it for a long enough period of time.

    Links to the Putnam County FBC data and the Fall Bird Survey data in the BSFNRRA are provided below:

• Putnam County Fall Bird Count
• BSFNRRA Fall Bird Survey

    A bit of organized hawk-watching was attempted this fall on Hinch Mt., Cumberland Co., TN.  On three dates (September 30, October 15, and November 10) 16 cumulative hours of observation took place.  Results were modestly good for the first of those dates, but not many raptors were counted on the other two.  See the section of this report devoted to "Raptors and Gamebirds" for some of the Hinch hawkwatch data.  

    For a few sites within the UCR, information about the dates of occurrence and high counts for most species of birds is known, as, for instance, is the case in Putnam Co., TN.  Some changes to the extreme dates and high counts within that county are noted below.  A few such changes are also noted for the BSFNRRA.  However, in most counties of the UCR, extreme dates of occurrence and/or high counts are not known, although some of these data undoubtedly lie buried in the state bird journals for Kentucky and Tennessee, as well as in the personal records of field workers currently and formerly residing in the UCR.  As the birding community within the UCR matures, so should the documents that result from our field encounters with birds.  Among these should be monographs devoted to detailing knowledge about the birdlife of restricted sectors of the Region, such as individual counties or large publicly owned sites, like parks and forests.

    With sadness I report that Fall 2001 witnessed the last occurrence of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers in the Region.  With considerable elation, however, I report the first known appearance of Whooping Cranes in the Upper Cumberland, albeit their presence was not (yet at least) "countable."  Read below for details about these and other items pertaining to the avifauna of the Upper Cumberland.

Acknowledgments: Many observers provided data during the season, and I thank them all, especially those listed at the end of this report.

Abbreviations and Symbols: BSFNRRA = Big South Fork National River and Recreational Area; FBC = Fall Bird Count; UCR = Upper Cumberland Region.

Geese, Ducks, and Gallinaceous Species

At least 400 Wood Ducks piled into Mud Creek Swamp, Warren Co., TN, at dusk 9 November 2001 (DM, CM, SJS).

    Two American Wigeons at Obey River Recreation Area, Dale Hollow Lake, Pickett Co., TN, 28 November 2001 (SJS) were noted in a county where few previous records existed.

    A Blue-winged Teal at Cane Creek Park, Putnam Co., TN, 7 August 2001 (SJS) was only one day shy of tying the early fall date for this duck in that county; another at Cane Creek Park 21 November 2001 (SJS) was a month later than the previous late fall date.

    A Red-breasted Merganser on the lake at Cane Creek Park, Putnam Co., TN, 13 November 2001 (SJS) tied the early fall date for the county.

   A Wild Turkey hen with 5 young was seen near the entrance to Fall Creek Falls State Park, Van Buren Co., TN, 8 August 2001 (GEB), a bit late for breeding.

Loons through Herons

Single Red-throated Loons on Green River Lake, Adair Co., KY, 3 November 2001 (RMD) and on Barren River Reservoir, Barren Co., KY, 29 November 2001 (DLR photo) were the only ones reported during the season.

    The first Common Loons of the season were represented by two near the boat ramp at the Floating Mill Recreation Area, Center Hill Lake, DeKalb Co., TN, 8 October 2001 (SJS).

    Few sightings of Pied-billed Grebe have occurred in the BSFNRRA, making one just upriver from Burnt Mill Bridge, Scott Co., TN, 2 September 2001 (SJS, DLC) noteworthy.

    First noted when a single appeared 8 October 2001, Horned Grebes increased to 44 by 28 October 2001 and to 94 by 26 November 2001 at the Floating Mill Recreation Area, Center Hill Lake, DeKalb Co., TN (SJS). A flock of Horned Grebes numbering 300 was present near Willow Grove, Dale Hollow Lake, Clay Co., TN, 28 November 2001 (SJS).  Smaller flocks of 22 and 3 were present the same day on Green River Lake, Adair Co., KY (SJS, BPB), and at Wolf Creek Dam, Russell Co., KY (SJS), respectively.

    An Eared Grebe identified on Barren River Reservoir, Barren Co., KY, 4 September 2001 (DLR) was very early for this scarce species.

    A count of 442 Double-crested Cormorants along the 40 miles of the Cumberland River in Jackson Co., TN, 8 September 2001 (SJS, TMC, WAW) provided a high count for the season Regionally and one of the highest totals on record for a Regional county. A single was noted 9 November 2001 at Harvest Farms Lake, Warren Co., TN (SJS, DM, CM). Another at Swafford Pond, Bledsoe Co., TN, 11 November 2001 (SJS photo) provided one of few reported county records.

    Great Egrets were reported around the Region as follows: one 14 August 2001 near the Stone Farm, Clay Co., TN (TMC); one 8 September 2001 in Jackson Co., TN (SJS, TMC, WAW); two 28 October 2001 in Wayne Co., KY (RMD).  This list is incomplete.

    Rare Regionally, a Snowy Egret briefly visited Pumphouse Pond, Pulaski Co., KY, 16 October 2001 (RMD), providing one of few late fall records for the county, the Region, and the commonwealth of Kentucky.

    Very uncommon Regionally in fall, two Cattle Egrets were present till 15 August 2001 near the Stone Farm, Clay Co., TN (TMC, SJS), extending a Summer 2001 UCR Bird Report.

    An immature Black-crowned Night-Heron was noted 27-28 October 2001 at Cane Creek Park, Putnam Co., TN (WAW, SJS).

    An immature Yellow-crowned Night-Heron was present along the Falling Water River in Burgess Falls State Natural Area, Putnam Co., TN, 18 August 2001 (SJS), providing about the 5th record of immatures at this site in the last 14 years; however, no nest site has yet been found near Burgess Falls.

    An unidentified night-heron was seen at dusk 9 November 2001 at Mud Creek Swamp, Warren Co., TN (CM, DM, SJS).

Raptors

A young Osprey capable of flight was still at the nest near Gainesboro, Jackson Co., TN, 24 August 2001 (SJS). Along 40 miles of the Cumberland River in Jackson Co., TN, 14 Ospreys were counted 8 September 2001 (SJS, TMC, WAW). Among the later Osprey sightings of the fall was one at Floating Mill Recreation Area, Center Hill Lake, DeKalb Co., TN, 21 October 2001 (WAW).

    An immature Bald Eagle was sighted at Fishing Creek, Pulaski Co., KY, 12 September 2001 (RMD); another immature migrated past Hinch Mountain, Cumberland Co., TN, 30 September 2001 (CS, SJS). An adult was viewed 28 October 2001 near Yamacraw Bridge, McCreary Co., KY (DAW), providing only the third record for the BSFNRRA; another adult was present at Waitsboro, Pulaski Co., KY, 17 November 2001 (RMD et al.); two adults visited the Floating Mill Recreation Area, Center Hill Lake, DeKalb Co., TN, 19 November 2001 (SJS); and two adults were noted 28 November 2001 on Green River Lake, Adair Co., KY (BPB, SJS); the latter two sites regularly host small numbers of wintering eagles.

    The largest reported group of migrating Broad-winged Hawks included 65 headed south or southwest 15 September 2001 south of Cookeville, Putnam Co., TN (SHF, ILC). Twelve were seen from Hinch Mountain, Cumberland Co., TN, 30 September 2001 (SJS, CS et al.).

    A banded Rough-legged Hawk showed up in Wayne Co., KY, 10 November 2001 (RMD).

    Fishing Creek in Pulaski Co., KY, was the location of a memorable Peregrine Falcon sighting 12 September 2001, when one was seen pursuing but not capturing a Semipalmated Sandpiper (RMD); this sighting represented the  first county record of this impressive raptor in that county since 5 July 1939, when a Peregrine was noted along the Rockcastle River by Robert M. Mengel (Mengel 1939).  Another Peregrine was among a couple of dozen migrant raptors noted near Hinch Mountain, Cumberland Co., TN, 30 September 2001 (CS, SJS, BS).

Coots through Terns

The earliest report of migrating Sandhill Cranes came from Putnam Co., TN, 18 October 2001 (RWS), when one or more were heard. Many other reports, itemized in Appendix A (below), were received. The totality of crane data suggests nothing abnormal about this fall’s crane flight, but "normalcy" is often a good characteristic of bird population numbers. 

    As part of a project to establish a second migratory flock of Whooping Cranes in North America, an ultralight aircraft led a small flock of whoopers south from Wisconsin to Florida during October and November 2001. The flight path of this training flight came directly through the Upper Cumberland Region, with the first Regional appearance taking place 8 November 2001 in Adair Co., KY; on 9 November the flock, consisting of 7 juvenile birds (one or two of which sometimes did not fly with the rest of the  juveniles), flew on to Cumberland Co., TN, where it stayed until the morning of 12 November, departing that morning for Hiwassee Refuge, Meigs Co., TN.  Details about the entire training flight can be obtained at this website: http://www.bringbackthecranes.org/

    A juvenile American Golden-Plover visited Fishing Creek, Pulaski Co., KY, 23 October 2001 (RMD), providing one of few fall records in the Region and the only one this fall.

    A Semipalmated Plover at Fishing Creek, Pulaski Co., KY, 12 September 2001 (RMD) was one of few noted Regionally.

    A Semipalmated Sandpiper at Fishing Creek, Pulaski Co., KY, 12 September 2001 (RMD) barely escaped death by Peregrine.

    A Baird's Sandpiper was among 7 species of shorebirds on Fishing Creek near Somerset, Pulaski Co., KY, 6 September 2001 (RMD); Baird’s Sandpipers are extremely rare migrants to the UCR..

    A Least Sandpiper was noted at Fishing Creek, Pulaski Co., KY, 12 September 2001 (RMD).

    A Pectoral Sandpiper was counted at Fishing Creek, Pulaski Co., KY, 12 September 2001 (RMD).

    Seven Dunlins at Fishing Creek, Pulaski Co., KY, 23 October 2001 (RMD) appeared at a site and during a time when this late-migrating shorebird is expected though it is not commonly reported in the Region. Somewhat later were four Dunlins on Barren Reservoir, Barren Co., KY, 26 November 2001 (DR).

    Three Caspian Terns visited Fishing Creek, Pulaski Co., KY, 27 August 2001 (RMD); another, providing only the 6th record for Putnam Co., TN, was at Cane Creek Park 12 September 2001 (SJS).

    A Black Tern along the Cumberland River at Granville in Jackson Co., TN, 4 August 2001 (SJS) was at a site where the species has been reported in previous years; two were at the same site 8 September 2001 (SJS, TMC, WAW).

Doves through Woodpeckers

A Barn Owl on the FBC in Putnam County, TN, 15 September 2001 (SHF, ILC) provided the only Regional report of the season.

    On 27 August 2001 a singing Eastern Whip-poor-will was heard near Pilot Knob, Putnam County, TN (ILC). Even later and the last report of a singing goatsucker during the season in the Region was a Whip in McCreary Co., KY, 10 September 2001 (LMM).

    A Count of 80+ Ruby-throated Hummingbirds at feeders in Algood, Putnam Co., TN, 12 August 2001 (WB, SB) established a new high count for that county. The latest Regional report of a hummingbird involved an immature male Ruby-throat, also in Algood, 24 October 2001 (WB), only four days earlier than the late fall date for the species in that county.

    Red-headed Woodpeckers have been recorded few times in the BSFNRRA since 1994, so two near Yahoo Falls parking lot, McCreary Co., KY, 16 September 2001 (SJS, DLC) and one at the East Rim Overlook, Scott Co., TN, 22 September 2001 (SJS) were noteworthy.

    The first report of Yellow-bellied Sapsucker for the UCR came from Putnam Co., TN, where one was noted 27 September 2001 (BHS).

    The last Red-cockaded Woodpecker known to occur in the Region was captured 14 September 2001 in the Daniel Boone National Forest, McCreary Co., KY, and translocated to Fort Gordon, GA (LMM), bringing a sad close to an important chapter in the history of the Regional avifauna.

Flycatchers through Swallows

An Olive-sided Flycatcher at Clifty Creek in Somerset, Pulaski Co., KY, 10 September 2001 (RMD) provided a first record for that county and was the only one reported Regionally; this flycatcher caught, but did not eat, a Monarch (Danaus plexippus) while observed.

    A singing Acadian Flycatcher 9 September 2001 on the Twin Arches Loop, BSFNRRA, Scott Co., TN (SJS), provided the latest report of the season.

    Few reports of Loggerhead Shrikes were received. One was noted 10, 12, & 25 October 2001 on a farm near Science Hill, northwestern Pulaski Co., KY (RMD); another was present 17 November 2001 about a mile west of Cooley’s Pond in eastern Wayne Co., KY (SBC, SJS et al.). No shrike was located during the Putnam County FBC 15 September 2001 (fide SJS), indicating the continuing paucity of shrikes in that county.

    A Warbling Vireo found on the FBC in eastern Putnam County, TN, 15 September 2001 (BHS) provided the latest fall record by nearly two months for that county.

    Philadelphia Vireos are always scarce in the Region, so reporting all sightings is encouraged. Singles showed up on Black Mountain, Cumberland Co., TN, 5 September 2001 (SJS); in Whitley City, McCreary Co., KY, 22 September 2001 (LMM); at Cane Creek Park, Putnam Co., TN, 23 September 2001 (SJS); and a couple of miles downriver from Angel Falls, BSFNRRA, Scott Co., TN, 29 September 2001 (SJS, DLC).

    A count of 150+ Tree Swallows at Cane Creek Park, Putnam Co., TN, 17 October 2001 (SJS) was close the the high count for that swallow in the county. Four Tree Swallows at the Meiser Swamp, Warren Co., TN, 9 November 2001 were late at that site (DM, CM, SJS) and were the latest reported Regionally this season.

    A Barn Swallow was observed at Walnut Creek on the Barren/Allen county line, KY, 11 November 2001 (DLR videotape).

Chickadees through Thrushes

Red-breasted Nuthatches irrupted into the Region during the season.  Following a very early report 17 August 2001 east of Monterey, Putnam Co., TN (RWS; but see Summer 2001 UCR Bird Report report for an even earlier record), the next reports came from the same area, eastern and northern Putnam Co., TN, on the FBC 15 September 2001 (BHS and GKE, respectively). Many reports involving small numbers ensued, indicating the irruption was widespread but of minor magnitude.

    The earliest seasonal Brown Creeper was recorded along the Honey Creek Loop, BSFNRRA, Scott Co., TN, 7 October 2001 (SJS).

    The latest reports of House Wren during the season came from Wayne Co., KY, where one was noted 17 November 2001 (SBC, CN et al.), and Putnam Co., TN, where one on Old Mill Rd. 21 November 2001 (SJS photo, MPO, LIG) was six weeks later than the previous late fall date (but there are quite a few CBC records of this species in the county).

    A Sedge Wren stayed at least a day at Cane Creek Park, Putnam Co., TN, 3 October 2001 (SJS), the only report of the season Regionally.

    The first ever detected in the BSFNRRA, a Marsh Wren was heard, but not seen, on Duncan Hollow Rd., Scott Co., TN, 27 October 2001 (SJS). Another single was heard and then seen at the Meiser Swamp, Warren Co., TN, 9 November 2001 (SJS, DM, CM).

    A Ruby-crowned Kinglet noted on the FBC in Putnam County, TN, 15 September 2001 (BHS) established a new early fall date for the county.

Mimids through Warblers

A Gray Catbird near Sand Springs, Putnam Co., TN, 18 November 2001 (BHS, SJS) established a new late fall date for the county.

    The first Regional report of American Pipit this fall occured 28 October 2001 at Cane Creek Park, Putnam Co., TN (SJS, WAW). Over a hundred pipits, some preening while perched in the tops of bare deciduous trees, were noted in eastern Wayne Co., KY, 17 November 2001 (SBC).

    Golden-winged Warblers remain scarce migrants in the Region. The following sightings took place: 10 September 2001 (1) Science Hill, Pulaski Co., KY (RMD); 22 September 2001 (1) Huling Branch, BSFNRRA, McCreary Co., KY (SJS);

    A Tennessee Warbler at Cane Creek Park, Putnam Co., TN, 26 August 2001(SJS et al.) established a new early fall date for the county. A Tennessee heard singing a somewhat rusty version of the species’ song 1 October 2001 near City Lake Natural Area, Putnam Co., TN (SJS), was of interest.

    Associating with a fairly late but not record-breaking Tennessee Warbler on a cold morning, a Nashville Warbler at the Shipley Farm 28 October 2001 (SJS, WAW) set a new late fall date for Putnam Co., TN.

    Orange-crowned Warblers usually appear in mid to late October at a Regional few sites, and this year was no exception as the following records indicate: 27 October 2001 (1) Duncan Hollow Rd., BSFNRRA, Scott Co., TN (SJS); 28 October 2001 (1) Shipley Farm, Putnam Co., TN (SJS, WAW); 31 October 2001 (1) Cane Creek Park, Putnam Co., TN (SJS, MPO).

    Earliest ever in fall in Putnam Co., TN, a Chestnut-sided Warbler was a Cane Creek Park 17 August 2001 (SJS).

    A Magnolia Warbler at Cane Creek Park, Putnam Co., TN, 26 August 2001(SJS et al.) established a new early fall date for the county. A total of 59 Magnolias on the FBC in Putnam County, TN, 15 September 2001 provided a new high count for that county.

    On 3 October 2001 a Cape May Warbler was noted at Ensor Sink Natural Area, Cookeville, Putnam Co., TN (SJS, GKE, MPO, JO), the only report of the fall in the UCR.

    The latest report of Cerulean Warbler, a very early-migrating parulid during fall, came from Science Hill, Pulaski Co., KY, 11 September 2001 (RMD); no nearby breeding sites are known for this warbler.

    The last reports of Prothonotary Warbler for the season were provided by singles at Cane Creek Park, Putnam Co., TN, 22 August 2001 (GKE, SJS) and along the nature trail below Center Hill Dam, DeKalb Co., TN, 24 August 2001 (SJS, BHS).

    Fall records of Northern Waterthrushes are a bit scarce, so one near City Lake Natural Area, Putnam Co., TN, 12 September 2001 (BHS) was noteworthy.

    An adult female or immature Common Yellowthroat at Cane Creek Park, Putnam Co., TN, 4 November 2001 (SJS) provided a new late fall date for that county.

Sparrows through Weaver Finches

Earliest ever during fall in Putnam Co., TN, a Vesper Sparrow was noted 18 October 2001 at Cane Creek Park (SJS). Few Vesper Sparrows have been recorded in the BSFNRRA, making one present 28 October 2001 on Duncan Hollow Rd., Scott Co., TN (SJS), noteworthy.

    Two Savannah Sparrows on Duncan Hollow Rd., Scott Co., TN (SJS), 28 October 2001 provided only the second record for the BSFNRRA.

    A Henslow's Sparrow on Mason Grissom Rd., Warren Co., TN (SNM), 21 October 2001 provided the second record for that county..

    A Lincoln’s Sparrow on the FBC in Putnam County 15 September 2001 (BHS) provided a new early fall date for the county.

    A Swamp Sparrow near the Bandy Creek Visitor Center, Scott Co., TN, 29 September 2001 (SJS) provided a new early fall date for the BSFNRRA.

    Several White-crowned Sparrows showed up 18 October 2001 at each of two regional sites: Cane Creek Park, Putnam Co., TN (SJS) and Science Hill, Pulaski Co., KY (RMD), providing the earliest Regional reports for the season. Four immatures present 28 October 2001 within a few miles of the Bandy Creek Visitor Center, Scott Co., TN (SJS), provided a new high count for the BSFNRRA and one of few park records.

    Lapland Longspurs are seldom reported in the Region.  After last winter's best-ever showing, an "echo" flight seemed possible.  One was reported in Barren Co., KY, 26 November 2001 (DR).

    A female Blue Grosbeak was observed feeding a juvenile on the FBC in Putnam County, TN, 15 September 2001 (SJS, CDW photo), providing evidence of late nesting in that county.

    A Bobolink heard 26 September 2001 at Shipley Farm, Putnam Co., TN (SJS), provided a new late fall date for that county.

    Two Purple Finches near Science Hill, Pulaski Co., KY, 18 October 2001 (RMD) were the first of the season reported.  This boreal invader was noted in small numbers fairly frequently this season.

    Pine Siskins irrupted into the Region this fall in mainly small numbers.

    Two female Evening Grosbeaks visited a feeder on Flat Top Mountain, Bledsoe Co., TN, 5 November 2001 (RS), the earliest report of the season for this irregular Regional irruptor.

Observers: Garrison E. Bickerstaff (GEB), Betty Bright (BB), Sharon Brines (SB), Wally Brines (WB), Frank Bulow (FB), Terry M. Campbell (TMC), Daniel L. Combs (DLC), Ivan L. Cordrey (ILC), Roseanna M. Denton (RMD), Susan H. Ford (SHF), Howard Groce (HG), Louann I. Gum (LIG), Michael Hodge (MH), Joe Liu (JL), Jan North-Liu (JNL), Crystal Malone (CM), Doug Malone (DM), Arthur McDade (AM), Susan N. McWhirter (SNM), Lynda M. Mills (LMM), Connie Neeley (CN), Michael P. O’Rourke (MPO), John Owens (JO), Brainard L. Palmer-Ball, Jr. (BPB), David L. Roemer (DLR), Jeanne C. Schmitzer (JCS), Roi Shannon (RS), Boyd Sharp (BS), Richard W. Simmers, Jr. (RWS), Chris Sloan (CS), Somerset Birding Club, Somerset, KY (SBC), Stephen J. Stedman (SJS), Winston A. Walden (WAW), D. Alan Whited (DAW).

Literature Cited

Appendix A: Records of Migrant Sandhill Cranes in the Upper Cumberland Region during Fall 2001.

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