BIRDS of the UPPER CUMBERLAND REGION
Summer 2002 UCR Bird Report
(1 June–31 July)
Stephen J. Stedman
Department of English
, Box 5053
Introduction
This report focuses on the breeding birds of the Upper Cumberland Region (UCR), though some reports of late spring migrants and early fall migrants are also included. Many important data from the early part of this breeding season are also located in the Spring 2002 UCR Bird Report, which should be consulted by anyone wishing to gain a comprehensive understanding of the 2002 breeding season in the Region. Unlike the Summer 2001 UCR Bird Report, the present report does not attempt to offer a comprehensive treatment of all species breeding in the Region. Consult that report for the general Regional status of the species breeding in the Region, including many not discussed below.
Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) data for 2002 from the eight federal BBS routes located within the UCR may be reviewed by clicking on the appropriate link at the end of this paragraph. Breeding bird surveys were also conducted in the BSFNRRA, the OWSR, and the DBNF; links to these and other datasets are also provided below. Occasional reference to these data is made below in the species accounts.
With some concern I report here the occurrence of an oil spill--yep, you read it correctly, an oil spill--in Morgan County, Tennessee, 18 July 2002. An oil drilling rig spilled hundreds of gallons of crude oil into White Creek, and the oil spread downstream to Clear Creek, part of the Obed Wild and Scenic River system. Some contamination continued to occur throughout the remainder of the summer (and throughout the ensuing fall). The portion of the OWSR between Barnett Bridge and Jett Bridge was closed while clean-up efforts were made. Effects on birds and wildlife in the OWSR were not immediately known but could not have been good. More on this issue in later reports.
Abbreviations: BSFNRRA = Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area; DBNF = Daniel Boone National Forest; OWSR = Obed Wild and Scenic River; UCR = Upper Cumberland Region.
Acknowledgments
Many thanks to the observers cited below who provided records directly or indirectly for this report. Many thanks also go to Lynda Mills and other U.S. Forest Service personnel for coordinating the breeding bird surveys in the Stearns and Somerset Ranger Districts, DBNF, and for providing logistical support to persons running routes in those districts. Thanks are also due to Leslie Morgan-Smith for similar support in the BSFNRRA and to various personnel in the OWSR for support in that National Park Service unit. Keith Pardieck (Breeding Bird Survey Program, U.S. Geological Survey) provided assistance to those conducting federal BBSs in the Region; to him many thanks are also due, and thanks and full credit also go to the USGS for maintaining the BBS website where many BBS data (collected by many dozens of volunteer route runners) are accessible to those interested in the breeding status of Kentucky and Tennessee birds.
Ducks through Herons
As has happened during several summers in the past decade, a Pied-billed Grebe in alternate plumage stayed the season on the lake at Cane Creek Park, Putnam Co., TN (SJS); it was joined by a second bird, also in alternate plumage, 24 July 2002 (SJS photo); coincidentally, two Pied-bills were noted at Cooley's Pond, Wayne Co., KY, 24 July 2002 (RMD); perhaps a small early "fall" incursion took place at that time? One Pied-billed was noted at Mt. Zion, Pulaski Co., KY, 11 July 2002 (RMD; Busroe 2002).
Sometime between late March 2002 and late September 2002, the tree supporting about 20 nests forming a small rookery of Great Blue Herons toppled on an island near Floating Mill, Center Hill Lake, DeKalb Co., RN (SJS); whether this event occurred while young were still in the nest is not known or at least has not been reported; a few nests were built in a smaller tree adjacent to the original, larger nest tree on the island, and 12 nests were built on top of a knob located about a kilometer south of the island on the mainland. Results of breeding success at other Regional rookeries were not reported with the exception of a small rookery with seven nests at a lake on Helms Bend Rd., Smith Co., TN, no date (TLC, VC).
A Great Egret was near Celina, Clay Co., TN, 18 July 2002 (TMC), the first report of a post-breeding wanderer this season in the Region; another single was at the Fishing Creek Recreation Area, Lake Cumberland, Pulaski Co., KY, 26 and 29 July 2002 (RMD; Busroe 2002).
The Yellow-crowned Night-Heron nest at Burgess Falls State Natural Area, Putnam/White counties, TN, was visited only once during June 2002; at least one large young was on the nest at that time; later visits disclosed no birds at the nest, and no juveniles or immatures were noted in the vicinity of the nest during the remainder of the summer and into early fall. See the Spring 2002 UCR Bird Report for details about the early stages of this nesting effort, the first of its kind to be documented in the park.
Raptors
Continuing a record first mentioned in the Spring 2002 UCR Bird Report, a Cooper's Hawk nest with four young was observed during June and July 2002 at a site in Science Hill, Pulaski Co., KY (RMD photo), where nesting has occurred in previous years going back at least to 1988.
The Golden Eagle nest in Jackson Co., TN, was blown down prior to or during this nesting season, and no new nest had been located by the end of the period (fide TE).
Shorebirds to Gulls
The latest Regional "spring" sighting of Semipalmated Plover took place at Mt. Zion, Pulaski Co., KY, 3 June 2002 (RMD; Busroe 2002), while the earliest report of the "fall" occurred 29 July 2002 at the Fishing Creek Recreation Area, Lake Cumberland, Pulaski Co., KY (RMD).
The earliest Regional report of Lesser Yellowlegs for "fall" involved one at the Fishing Creek Recreation Area, Lake Cumberland, Pulaski Co., KY, 29 July 2002 (RMD)
The earliest Solitary Sandpiper of the "fall" in the Region showed up 18 July 2002 at the Stone Farm, Clay Co., TN (TMC).
Single Spotted Sandpipers were noted 1 and 5 June 2002 at Clifty Pond, Science Hill, Pulaski Co., KY (RMD); four Spotted Sandpipers present at the same site 2 July 2002 all appeared to have downy feathers on their heads and tails (RMD photo); if breeding occurred, as seems likely, it would probably represent the first evidence of this behavior documented in the Upper Cumberland Region; it is worth noting that butterflies were heavily preyed upon by the young sandpipers.
Getting late for spring migrants were two Semipalmated Sandpipers 7 June 2002 at the airport in McCreary Co., KY (LMM, TBM); another was at Mt. Zion, Pulaski Co., KY, on the same date (RMD; Busroe 2002). The earliest returning "fall" Semis were represented by three 29 July 2002 at Fishing Creek, Lake Cumberland, Pulaski Co., KY (RMD). That's a pretty quick turnaround time if representative of the species as a whole.
The earliest "fall" report of Least Sandpiper in the Region involved two at Clifty Pond, Science Hill, Pulaski Co., KY, 25 July 2002 (SJS).
Rarely reported in the Region are White-rumped Sandpipers, so two at Mt. Zion, Pulaski Co., KY, 3-4 June 2002, and one still present 7 June (RMD; Busroe 2002d), were quite noteworthy.
On 24 July 2002 a Pectoral Sandpiper was at Cooley's Pond, Wayne Co, KY (RMD, the earliest Regional report of the "fall." A group of 28 on Lake Cumberland, Pulaski Co., KY, 29 July 2002 (RMD; Busroe 2002) represented a good count.
An adult Bonaparte's Gull on Barren River Reservoir, Barren/Allen County, KY, 24 June 2002 (DLR) was present on a date when this larid is completely unexpected anywhere within the UCR or even within the commonwealth of Kentucky or state of Tennessee.
Four Black Terns 29 July 2002 at Fishing Creek Recreation Area, Lake Cumberland, Pulaski Co., KY (RMD), were the earliest Regionally for the "fall."
Dove to Waxwing
A single Eurasian Collared-Dove was reported 16 July 2002 in Glasgow, Barren Co., KY (DLR), a site where the species had not previously been reported much, if at all.
Forty-five Eastern Whip-poor-wills were counted during an 18-stop night survey 4 June 2002 in the BSFNRRA, Fentress, Pickett, and Scott counties, TN, and McCreary Co., KY (SJS); this number was the highest recorded on that survey since it began in 1994.
A count of 18 Acadian Flycatchers 29 June 2002 at Bee Rock, Pulaski Co., KY (RMD; Busroe 2002) is worth noting.
Two Least Flycatchers heard 2 June 2002 countersinging at an elevation of c. 3000 feet in Frozen Head State Natural Area, Morgan Co., TN (SJS), were the only individuals of this rare Regional breeder reported during the season.
A Willow Flycatcher was singing at the airport in McCreary Co., KY, 7 June 2002 (LMM, TBM); this bird was at a slightly different location than other birds noted at the airport in May (see Spring 2002 UCR Bird Report) and could have been a late arrival. Another Willow was registered 2 June 2002 on the Oliver Springs BBS, Morgan Co., TN (SJS), a route where the species has shown up on about one year in three.
A Blue-headed Vireo was noted 9 June 2002 along Rt. 92 on the Monticello BBS, McCreary Co., KY (SJS), only the second time in a decade for this species to be recorded on that BBS. Eighteen were registered 2 June 2002 on the 16-kilometer transect in Frozen Head State Natural Area, Morgan Co., TN (SJS), the highest number detected since this survey began in 1994.
Two Loggerhead Shrikes were noted in Pulaski Co., KY, 8 June 2002 (RMD; Busroe 2002), the only non-BBS reports of the season.
Two Warbling Vireos were noted in Pulaski Co., KY, 8 June 2002 (RMD; Busroe 2002). The latest departing "fall" Warbling Vireo, typically an early-departing species, this year in the Region came from Pulaski Co., KY, where one was noted 7 July 2002 (RMD).
A juvenile Horned Lark was found near Mt. Zion, Pulaski Co., KY, 3 June 2002 (RMD; Busroe 2002). Two larks, one performing a nuptial display, were noted at the airport in McCreary Co., KY, 7 June 2002 (LMM, TBM). Another was noted 15 June 2002 on the Sulfur Lick BBS, Metcalfe Co., KY (SJS), one of few registrations on that BBS in recent years.
A pair of Tree Swallows had young in a nest gourd 18 June 2002 near the Barnett Bridge, Morgan Co., TN (JR photo), just outside the boundary of the OWSR, where nesting has not been confirmed in the past; fifteen Tree Swallows at this site 6 July 2002 (JR) were flying over Clear Creek, OWSR, thus providing one of few records for the park and the high count for the park. Two Tree Swallows were noted on the Sunnybrook BBS, Wayne Co., TN, 18 June 2002 (SJS), a route where the species not not been detected in previously. Nesting was also reported from the Lilydale Campground, Dale Hollow Lake, Clay Co., TN, in late June (RS). Five were noted on Lake Cumberland, Pulaski Co., KY, 6 July 2002 (RMD; Busroe 2002).
Two hundred Cliff Swallows at Creelsboro, Russell Co., KY, 21 July 2002 (RMD; Busroe 2002) provided a nice count of this early-departing swallow.
Six Veeries were counted 2 June 2002 on a 16-kilometer transect in Frozen Head State Natural Area, Morgan Co., TN (SJS), a fairly good count for that survey (range 1994-2001: 3-11). No other Regional breeding population is known.
Although abinism is not as noteworthy a feature of birds as it is sometimes made out to be, some of these birds are nonetheless striking and worth a look. An albino Northern Mockingbird was present at the Roaring River Recreation Area, Jackson Co., TN, 3 July 2002 (SJS photo, WAW) and had been present for some time previously (MG).
An adult Cedar Waxwing was brooding on a nest 4 June 2002 near the Bandy Creek Visitor Center, BSFNRRA, Scott Co., TN (SJS photo), the first evidence of confirmed breeding obtained for that park, where breeding has long been suspected. Another waxwing on a nest was found near Science Hill, Pulaski Co., KY, 21 June 2002 (RMD; Busroe 2002). Both SJS and RMD considered the species to be more common than usual this summer around the Region.
Warblers
A Chestnut-sided Warbler continued to sing at a site on Indian Knob Rd., McCreary Co., KY, as late as 7 June 2002 (LMM, TBM); see the Spring 2002 UCR Bird Report for May data regarding this bird. Another Chestnut-side was present 2 June 2002 in Frozen Head State Natural Area, Morgan Co., TN (SJS), a site where the species has been known to occur for many years but for which I had not had any records during my early June 16-kilometer transect for the previous eight years.
Four Black-throated Blue Warblers on the Frozen Head State Natural Area transect 2 June 2002 (SJS) were toward the low end of the range usually recorded on that 16-kilometer transect (range tallied 1994-2001: 3-8). No other Regional breeding population is known.
Five Blackburnian Warblers on the Frozen Head State Natural Area transect 2 June 2002 (SJS) were toward the high end of the range usually recorded on that 16-kilometer transect (range tallied 1994-2001: 0-7). No other Regional breeding population is known.
Data from the various BBSs conducted at sites where serious loss of evergreens has resulted from damage caused by southern pine beetles do not appear to show a decline in numbers of Pine Warblers during 2002 (but see the Spring 2002 UCR Bird Report for a brief discussion of an area in Putnam Co., TN, that completely lost its breeding pair of Pine Warblers as a result of southern pine beetle damage). In the BSFNRRA, (McCreary Co., KY, and Fentress, Morgan, Pickett, and Scott counties, TN) numbers of Pine Warblers registered during June 2002 on the 100-stop BBS (SJS) there were nearly identical to numbers for 1997-2001, despite the loss of over half of the pines in the park; results of future monitoring there should prove extremely interesting. In the OWSR (Morgan Co., TN) numbers of Pine Warblers registered in June 2002 on 50 point counts (BHS) were slightly higher than the highest numbers registered on the same points 1998-2001, despite large losses of pines at that site; again, future monitoring results should prove extremely interesting. On the Little Lick BBS in the DBNF (Pulaski Co., KY) numbers of Pine Warblers registered in June 2002 on a 23-stop route (BHS) were within the range of numbers registered on that route 1994-2001, despite large losses of pines; again, results of future monitoring on that route will be most interesting to watch.
Results from a 16-kilometer walking transect in Frozen Head State Natural Area, Morgan Co., TN, revealed about the same number (60) of singing Cerulean Warblers present 2 June 2002 (SJS) as occurred during similar counts in 1999-2001 (range: 53-73) but considerably fewer than were detected there 1994-1997 (range 85-106); results of the 24-stop Wolf Knob BBS conducted in Whitley and McCreary counties, KY, reflected a slight increase in numbers of Ceruleans registered over numbers registered 1998-2001, but the number was still somewhat lower than numbers registered 1994-1997. Two singing birds were noted 1 June 2002 at Little Lick, DBNF, Pulaski Co., KY (RMD; Busroe 2002).
Seventy-five American Redstarts were noted on the 16-kilometer transect in Frozen Head State Natural Area 2 June 2002 (SJS); the range from 1994-2001 had been 46-86, so the population seems to be doing well there and is among the most dense populations within the Upper Cumberland Region.
A count of 13 Worm-eating Warblers at Bee Rock, DBNF, Pulaski Co., KY, 29 June 2002 (RMD; Busroe 2002) was a good one.
Fifteen Prothonotary Warblers on Clifty and Fishing creeks, Lake Cumberland, Pulaski Co., KY, 6 July 2002 (RMD; Busroe 2002) represented a fine count of this scarce warbler, especially as it was accomplished by kayak.
A nice count of five Swainson's Warblers near Little Lick, DBNF, Pulaski Co., KY, 23 June 2002 (SM) was followed by a count of four at the same site 29 June 2002 (RMD; Busroe 2002) and was made at a site where the species has often been detected in the past. Four were noted at Bee Rock, DBNF, Pulaski Co., KY, 29 June 2002 (RMD), and five (plus one carrying food ) were singing at the same site 27 July 2002 (RMD; Busroe 2002); this is another site where the species has been found in the past, and the last report was also the last Regional report of the season for this traditionally early-departing parulid. Overall, Pulaski Co. had a nice population of this scarce warbler this summer. One singing Swainson's was noted near Leatherwood Ford, Scott Co., TN, on a couple of dates in early June (FR, NM); this is another regular site for the species.
One Canada Warbler on the 16-kilometer transect in Frozen Head State Natural Area 2 June 2002 (SJS) was a bit low (range 1994-2001: 0-4). No other Regional breeding population is known.
Grosbeak to Sparrows
Five Rose-breasted Grosbeaks on the 16-kilometer transect in Frozen Head State Natural Area 2 June 2002 (SJS) represented a good count (range 1994-2001: 0-6). No other Regional breeding population is known.
A Dickcissel singing south of Livingston, Overton Co., TN, 15 July 2002 (SHF) provided one of few records for that county and the first with details. About the usual number (8) of Dickcissels was counted 15 June 2002 on the Sulfur Lick BBS, Monroe and Metcalfe counties, KY (SJS), an area with about the densest population of this species within the Region.
Seventeen Grasshopper Sparrows were counted at the Ano strip mines, Pulaski Co., KY, 30 June 2002 (RMD; Busroe 2002), a nice count for this inconspicuous species.
A single singing Henslow's Sparrow was noted at Mt. Zion, Pulaski Co., KY, 2 July 2002 (RMD; Busroe 2002), while 2 were at the Ano strip mines in the same county 14 July 2002 (RMD; Busroe 2002).
Observers: Tommy L. Curtis (TLC), Virginia Curtis (VC), Roseanna M. Denton (RMD), Troy Ettel (TE), Susan H. Ford (SHF), Maderia Gaworski (MG), Scott Marsh (SM), Lynda M. Mills (LMM), Thomas B. Mills (TBM), Nell Moore (NM), Frank Renfrow (FR), Jeanne Richardson (JR), David L. Roemer (DLR), Ronnie Smith (RS), Barbara H. Stedman (BHS), Stephen J. Stedman (SJS), and Winston A. Walden (WAW).
Literature Cited
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