BIRDS of the UPPER CUMBERLAND REGION
Spring 2001 UCR Bird Report
(1 March–31 May)
Stephen J. Stedman
Department of English
, Box 5053
Introduction
During March and early April, spring migration in the Upper Cumberland Region (UCR) of Kentucky and Tennessee was about "normal" in terms of numbers of migrants and weather patterns; however, migration slowed considerably in late April and during the first three weeks of May, causing observers to locate few northerly breeding species during most days in the field, even after periods of rainy weather. Late May brought cool conditions that occasionally resulted in some evidence of migration, as, for instance, occurred 28 May 2001 in Putnam County, but generally few instances of notable migratory movements were brought to my attention.
Evidence of the very slow migration was particularly notable 12 May 2001, the date of the two Spring Bird Counts (SBC) conducted in the Region. These counts took place in Pulaski County, Kentucky, and Putnam County, Tennessee; the Pulaski SBC resulted in a list of 116 species (up from 109 last year), while the 126 species recorded on the Putnam SBC placed that count at the low end of the range of totals (125-137) achieved since 1992. On both counts numbers of species breeding north of the UCR were quite low.
My thanks to all observers noted below and particularly to Roseanna M. Denton, both for submission of many records, especially records involving first arrival dates, and for supplying SBC data for Pulaski County, Kentucky.
Abbreviations and Symbols: * = written or photographic documentation on file with SJS; BSFNRRA = Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area); OWSR = Obed Wild and Scenic River; N. F. = National Forest.
Waterfowl through Raptors
Eight Blue-winged Teal on the Big South Fork 11 March 2001 a kilometer upriver from Troublesome Creek, McCreary Co., KY (SJS, BHS), provided the first record for the BSFNRRA.
A female Ring-necked Duck remained on Cane Creek Park lake, Putnam Co., TN, 7-12 May 2001 (SJS), providing a late spring departure date for the county and becoming the first of its species to be registered on the Putnam SBC (GKE, KLM, RJM); a male Ring-neck was present 7-8 May 2001 at the same site (SJS).
The Ruddy Duck reported in Putnam Co., TN, during mid-May 2001 by Casteel (2001c) is erroneous.
The most notable sightings of Common Loons included 25 at the Waitsboro Recreation Area, Lake Cumberland, Pulaski Co., KY, and 14 at Wolf Creek Dam, Russell Co., KY, both observations occurring 31 March 2001 (RMD).
Pied-billed Grebes are rarely encountered in the BSFNRRA, so one present 11 March 2001 about 2 km above Devil’s Jump on the Big South Fork, McCreary Co., KY (BHS, SJS), was noteworthy. Another stayed through the end of the period on Cane Creek Park lake, Putnam Co., TN (SJS et al.).
Horned Grebe numbers at Floating Mill Boat Ramp on Center Hill Lake, Dekalb Co., TN, peaked 24 March 2001 when 430+ were seen, with 60% in alternate plumage; 385+ were still present there 30 March, nearly all in alternate plumage, but only 13 remained April 6 (SJS); two grebes present on the last date were observed performing the "penguin dance," a courtship behavior of this species.
A small Great Blue Heron rookery containing ten nests was found on Spring Creek, Dale Hollow Lake, Clinton Co., KY, 23 March 2001 (DH, RCH). A single Great Blue Heron nest was located in Edgar Evins State Park, Center Hill Lake, DeKalb Co., TN, 20 May 2001 (CW, DW), while a rookery with 20-25 nests on Moss Island near the Floating Mill Recreation Area, Center Hill Lake, DeKalb Co., TN, was active throughout the period (SJS).
On 31 March 2001 an old Osprey nest was located on the Obed River about 1 km upstream from the confluence with Clear Creek in the OWSR, Morgan Co., TN (BHS, SJS); on 5 May 2001 an Osprey was seen in this vicinity (AM), giving rise to hopes that the nest might be active this year.
A second-year Mississippi Kite over the Mine Lick Creek arm of Center Hill Lake in extreme southwestern Putnam Co., TN, 12 May 2001 (SJS *) provided the first record for that county; it was observed during the Putnam County SBC, providing the first registration for that count. At least one other Regional sighting of this graceful kite is on record--one in Standing Stone S. P., Overton Co., TN, 13 May 1951 (AFG et al. [Ganier 1951a]); note the similarity of the dates involved in these two records.
An adult Bald Eagle seen 10 March 2001 at the confluence of Hurricane Branch and the Big South Fork and then downstream 1 km at the Tennessee/Kentucky line in the BSFNRRA, Scott Co., TN/McCreary Co., KY (SJS, BHS), provided the first record for the Tennessee part of the park and only the second record for the park. An eagle nest inspected 23 March 2001on Dale Hollow Lake, Pickett Co., TN, looked as if material had been added to it since last year (DH, RCH); this nest was also active the last three years at least, but so far no evidence of fledged young has been attributed to this nest. Still another nest might also be located on Dale Hollow Lake (GN, fide TMC).
Shorebirds through Flycatchers
An American Golden-Plover was videotaped on Stone Rd. near Celina, Clay Co., TN, 3 April 2001 (TMC *); this shorebird is rarely encountered in the Region.
A Semipalmated Plover showed up in Pulaski Co., KY, 8 May (RMD).
A Greater Yellowlegs seen and heard along the Big South Fork from the Yahoo Falls Overlook in the BSFNRRA, McCreary Co., KY (SJS, GH, MY, CN, WN, JB), became the first ever documented in the park.
A pair of Barn Owls raised six young in Putnam Co., TN, during the season (SJS, DLC et al.); few Regional breeding records exist for this secretive and uncommon species.
The earliest Eastern Whip-poor-will of the season showed up 3 April 2001 in McCreary Co., KY (LP); one in Cookeville, Putnam Co., TN, 4 April 2001 (SHF) was earliest ever in that county. A count of 42 Whips along Divide and Laurel Ridge roads in the BSFNRRA 5 May 2001 (SJS) set a new high count for the park.
Red-cockaded Woodpecker breeding in the Region effectively ended during March 2001, when two of the three remaining birds in McCreary Co., KY, were captured and relocated to the Ouachita N. F. in Arkansas (fide LP). All but one of the other remaining Kentucky Red-cockadeds were also captured and relocated either to the Ouachita N. F. or to Sandhills N. F. in South Carolina this spring as a result of serious degradation of the species’s habitat caused by southern pine beetles. An immature male remains in McCreary Co., KY, but plans to capture and relocate it to one of the sites mentioned above remain in place. Consequently, the Red-cockaded still retains a tarsushold in the Region, but its days are proverbially numbered.
Acadian Flycatchers returned to the Region at several widely separated locations 28 April 2001, being reported in Morgan (BHS), Pickett (RS), and Putnam (RWS) counties, TN, on that date. A new high count for the Putnam SBC was provided by 81 tallied 12 May 2001; this total was also a new all-time high count for the county.
A Willow Flycatcher returned to Cane Creek Park, Putnam Co., TN, 11 May 2001 (SJS), setting an early spring arrival date in that county; it was noted the next day at the same site, becoming the first of the species to be registered on the Putnam SBC (GKE, KLM, RJM). This is the third consecutive year that Willows have inhabited Cane Creek Park. Few other regional breeding sites of this flycatcher are known. Besides the Putnam site, a breeding site near Frozen Head State Park in Morgan Co., TN, has been active the last five years (SJS); in the late 1980s a few Willow Flycatchers were found northwest of Clarkrange in Fentress Co., TN, during June (SJS); in the late 1980s a few were also found during late May in Celina, Clay Co., TN (SJS), but these may have been migrants (doubtful) rather than breeders (likely); on 7 June 1990 a singing Willow Flycatcher was found near Temperance Hall, DeKalb Co., TN (SJS) during the Silver Point BBS; during the early 1990s Willow Flycatchers were occasionally found just east of the Freeman bridge on Rt. 53 in Granville, Jackson Co., TN (SJS); in early May 2000 a Willow Flycatcher was found at the old airport in McCreary Co., KY (SJS, LP et al.), but it, too, may have been a migrant (doubtful) rather than a breeder (likely); and there are breeding records for Pulaski Co., KY (fide RMD). Can anyone add records from other counties in the UCR to that list?
An Alder Flycatcher seen and heard 28 May 2001 at Cane Creek Park in Putnam Co., TN (SJS*), provided the first county record. There are few substantiated records of this flycatcher in the Region, though it is surely a regular, if rare, migrant here during spring.
Shrike through Nuthatch
A Loggerhead Shrike in extreme eastern Putnam Co., TN, 10 March 2001 (SB, WB) was a welcome report of a declining "songbird." One was also noted on the Pulaski SBC 12 May 2002 (fide RMD), and one was present in Putnam Co., TN, the day after, but not the day of, the SBC (SB, WB).
Pulaski Co., KY, hosted the earliest returning White-eyed Vireo 10 April 2001 (RMD). The total of 149 tallied on the Putnam SBC represented a new high number for that count and county.
The earliest Blue-headed Vireos of the season were three singing 18 March 2001 on the Coyce Branch Trail in the BSFNRRA, Scott Co., TN (SJS).
A singing Philadelphia Vireo 28 May 2001 at Cane Creek Park in Putnam Co., TN (SJS), provided the latest spring departure date for the county. Very few spring records of this vireo exist for Putnam Co., and the same is true for most counties of the Region.
The first seasonal report of Red-eyed Vireo in the Region came from Cane Creek Park, Putnam Co., TN, 11 April 2001 (SJS). The 666 Red-eyes tallied on the Putnam SBC represented the highest total ever for that count and the highest ever for that county and may well have been a record high count for the Region (and perhaps the state of Tennessee?) also.
A N. Rough-winged Swallow in Pulaski Co., KY, 17 March 2001 (RMD) was the first of the season reported in the Region.
A small colony of Bank Swallows was located in Pickett Co., TN, 8 April 2001 (RCH, DH); the birds were nesting in a bank on a small arm of Dale Hollow Lake near the Kentucky line; this swallow is seldom discovered nesting in the Region.
The first arriving Cliff Swallows were found in Granville, Jackson Co., TN, 30 March 2001 (SJS). This swallow is undergoing range expansion and probably population increase at the present time. Minor evidence of the former characteristic was provided by four noted 12 & 16 May 2001 on Spring Fork Rd. at a bridge on the Putnam/Jackson county line (SJS); seven nests were at this site, but only two of these were active on those dates, indicating that the species had probably bred at this site in previous years. The only other known Putnam County breeding site--a colony located at exit 268 on I-40--had more birds this year--30+--than in any year since 1992 and more nests--25+ (both new and used)--than in any year since then. Two Cliff Swallows were present 14 May 2001 at Cane Creek Park in Putnam Co., TN, at a potential breeding site (a large culvert); one bird remained there 15 May 2001, but both birds were absent 16 May 2001 (SJS), perhaps indicating they were unimpressed scouts. Two small colonies of Cliff Swallows noted on the Pulaski SBC (fide RMD) were deemed noteworthy. A traditional colony at the bridge over Indian Creek at the Jackson/Smith county, TN, line 16 May 2001 (SJS) contained at least 80 birds; another colony at the Freeman Bridge in Granville, Jackson Co., TN, 16 May 2001 (SJS) had over 150 nests, some under construction but some built in previous years. A colony on the Caney Fork River at the first bridge downstream from the I-40 Rest Area in Smith Co., TN, was active 13 May 2001 (DLC). A small colony near Temperance Hall, DeKalb Co., TN, was active 26 May 2001 (SJS).
Ten Barn Swallows in Wayne Co., KY, and four in Pulaski Co., KY, 17 March 2001 (RMD) were the earliest reported Regionally.
Latest reported Regionally, a Red-breasted Nuthatch was heard near the Oscar Blevins Farm in the BSFNRRA, Fentress Co., TN, 5 May 2001 (SJS).
Warblers
The earliest Blue-winged Warbler was at City Lake, Putnam Co., TN, 14 April 2001 (BHS). One near Alum Ford in the BSFNRRA, McCreary Co., KY, 21 April 2001 (WN, SJS et al.) was earliest ever for the park. A Blue-wing found near DeRossett, White Co., TN, 14 May 2001 (MW) was considered to be a breeder; few Blue-wings inhabit the plateau during breeding season.
A Golden-winged Warbler in Cookeville, Putnam Co., TN, 22 April 2001 (SHF) tied the early spring arrival date for the county. Two were found in White Co., TN, 14 May 2001 (MW), and three were in Cumberland Co., TN, 15 May 2001 (MW); these birds were considered to be breeders.
The first Black-throated Green Warbler appeared in the BSFNRRA, McCreary Co., KY, 25 March 2001 (RMD).
Sixty singing male Cerulean Warblers were located along roads in western Putnam Co., TN, 12-16 May 2001 (SJS, DLC); all but a few were found on escarpment slopes west of Hwy. 56 and Mine Lick Creek; an additional 11 Ceruleans were located on escarpment slopes east of Cookeville 12 May 2001 (BHS, RWS). The total of 71 singing male Cerulean Warblers found along Putnam County roads suggests that the size of the entire population of this declining warbler in the county may be well over 100 pairs. Eight Ceruleans were also noted during the Pulaski Co., KY, SBC (fide RMD).
The earliest Black-and-white Warbler showed up at City Lake in Putnam Co., TN, 31 March 2001 (SJS). Numbers were down on the Putnam Co. SBC.
Earliest Regionally this spring, several American Redstarts were heard along the upper reaches of the West Obey River in Overton Co., TN, 14 April 2001 (SJS, BHS). Another near Alum Ford in the BSFNRRA, McCreary Co., KY, 21 April 2001 (SJS et al.) provided a new early arrival date for the park.
The first Prothonotary Warbler of the season came from Barren Co., KY, 16 April 2001 (JE), while another heard 21 April 2001 along the Big South Fork near Yahoo Falls Overlook in the BSFNRRA, McCreary Co., KY (SJS et al.) was the earliest ever noted in the park. A Prothonotary heard 28 May 2001 at City Lake in Putnam County (BHS) was at a site where the species has bred in the past, but it is rare there.
A Worm-eating Warbler in Macon Co., TN, 9 April 2001 (JDF) was the earliest one reported.
Two Swainson’s Warblers singing near Leatherwood Ford in the BSFNRRA, Scott Co., TN, 5 May 2001 (SJS) were at a site where birds had been heard for a couple of weeks (fide RGE). Two Swainon’s were also noted on the Pulaski SBC (fide RMD).
A Mourning Warbler 9 May 2001 in eastern Putnam Co., TN (RWS), tied the early spring arrival date for the county. Another was reported on the Pulaski SBC (fide RMD).
The earliest reported Common Yellowthroat was one at City Lake in Putnam Co., TN, 9 April 2001 (SJS). The 409 registered on the Putnam SBC represented a record high total for that count and for that county.
Few Wilson’s Warblers were reported around the Region. One at Cane Creek Park, Putnam Co., TN, in mid-May was singing (SJS).
Sparrows through Oriole
Earliest arriving Grasshopper Sparrows were two in Warren Co., TN, 7 April 2001 (SM).
A late-departing Lincoln’s Sparrow was in Pulaski Co., KY, 16 May 2001 (RMD).
A Swamp Sparrow 5 May 2001 near Bandy Creek Visitor Center in the BSFNRRA, Scott Co., TN (SJS), provided a late spring departure date for that area.
Indigo Buntings returned to Cumberland Co., TN (WTT), and Putnam Co., TN (WB) 12 April 2001. The 892 reported on the Putnam SBC was a new high count--by just one bird--for that count and that county.
A Baltimore Oriole near the John Litton Farm in the BSFNRRA in Scott Co., TN, 5 May 2001 (SJS) was one of few reported in that park.
Cited Observers: Judy Brant (JB), Sharon Brines (SB), Wally Brines (WB), Terry M. Campbell (TMC), Roseanna M. Denton (RMD), Jackie Elmore (JE), Ginger K. Ensor (GKE), John D. Froeschauer (JDF), Albert F. Ganier (AFG), David Hassler (DH), Robbie C. Hassler (RCH), Gay Hodges (GH), Arthur McDade (AM), Susan McWhirter (SM), R. J. Moore (RJM), Kenneth L. Morgan (KLM), Connie Neeley (CN), Wendell Neeley (WN), Lynda Perry [Mills] (LP), Richard W. Simmers (RWS), Ronnie Smith (RS), Barbara H. Stedman (BHS), Stephen J. Stedman (SJS), William T. Thornton (WTT), Melinda Welton (MW), Carol Williams (CW), Don Williams (DW), Margaret York (MY).
Literature Cited:
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