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

sstedman@tntech.edu

Introduction

Early June was delightfully cool; seasonal temperatures were reached only around the 25th of June, making the tasks of conducting BBS routes and engaging in other bird-monitoring techniques more enjoyable than those tasks have been during many previous breeding seasons.

    Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) data for 2003 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 in the species accounts.

• UCR Breeding Bird Survey Data for 2003
• BSFNRRA BBS Data for 2003
• OWSR Point Count Data for 2003
• DBNF (Wolf Knob) BBS Data 
• DBNF (Little Lick) BBS Data
• Frozen Head State Natural Area Cerulean Warbler Survey

Abbreviations:  * completed documentation form provided; BBS = Breeding Bird Survey; BSFNRRA = Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area; DBNF = Daniel Boone National Forest; KY = Kentucky; NPS = National Park Service; OWSR = Obed Wild and Scenic River; TN = Tennessee; UCR = Upper Cumberland Region; USGS = United States Geological Survey. 

Acknowledgments

Many thanks to the observers cited below who provided records directly or indirectly for this report. Many thanks also go to Kathryn Huie 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

A male Ring-necked Duck was present at Dillon Pond, Livingston, Overton Co., TN, 14 June/19 July 2003 (SJS/SJS, WAW), continuing a Spring 2003 record; this duck was observed flapping its wings during preening activity, but it never was seen flying.

    An alternate-plumaged Pied-billed Grebe was present 14 June 2003 at Dillon Pond, Livingston, Overton Co., TN (SJS); another adult was spotted on Holmes Creek Rd., Center Hill Lake, DeKalb Co., TN, 11 July 2002 (TLC, VC, CDW, SJS); a Pied-bill that probably dropped in to the lake at Cane Creek Park, Putnam Co., TN, during or just after a night-time thunderstorm was noteworthy 22 July 2003 (SJS).

    Six immature Double-crested Cormorants at Casey Creek, Green River Lake, Adair Co., KY, 19 July 2003 (SJS, RMD, SBC) were a bit earlier than most cormorants appearing in the Region each "fall"; some or all of these may have summered on the lake, but it is unlikely that they were the product of local breeding.

    Post-breeding Great Egrets began to appear in the Region as early as 14 July 2003 at Brush Creek, Smith Co., TN (anonymous observer fide DC fide CDW; photo); two others appeared 19 July 2003 on Green River Lake, Adair Co., KY (WAW, RMD, SBC); 1-2 were noted in late July in DeKalb Co., TN (JF fide CDW); and one appeared at Cane Creek Park, Putnam Co., TN, 31 July 2003 (SJS).

    A Cattle Egret--the first for DeKalb Co., TN, and 15th Regionally--was observed on Student's Home Rd. 5-6 June 2003 (EF, JCF), one of very few

    An adult Black-crowned Night-Heron at Hurricane Marina, Center Hill Lake, DeKalb Co., TN, 20 & 24 June 2003 (CDW photo) provided one of very few summer records in the Region.  If a breeder, it would be of considerable interest; Terry Hall first reported the bird, and Mark Ragland noted that at least one bird of this species had been present for three previous summers at the same site (fide CDW).

Raptors to Gallinaceous Species

An adult Bald Eagle and two juveniles were found on Mitchell Creek, Dale Hollow Lake, Overton Co., TN, 5 July 2003 (TMC); this site has been known to harbor an eagle nest for at least the last two years.  No other information about nesting eagles in the Region was forthcoming, but a molting adult was seen 19 July 2003 on Casey Creek, Green River Lake, Adair Co., KY (AM, RMD et al.), suggesting the possibility of local breeding.

    A begging juvenile Cooper's Hawk at Yahoo Falls, BSFNRRA, McCreary Co., KY, 9 July 2003 (SJS) confirmed suspicions of possible breeding raised when an adult was noted at the same site 5 June 2003 (SJS), providing a first breeding record for that park.  Another begging juvenile was seen pursuing an adult Cooper's in southeastern Adair Co., KY, 19 July 2003 (SJS, RMD, SBC).

   A Virginia Rail was heard at Pumphouse Pond, Pulaski Co., KY, 2 and 13 June 2003 (RMD), continuing a Spring 2003 record and strongly increasing the likelihood that its presence was connected to breeding activity; however, no breeding evidence beyond the rail's presence on those dates was forthcoming.

Shorebirds to Gulls

A flock of 54 Killdeer at Clifty Pond, Pulaski Co., KY, 15 July 2003 (RMD) provided nice count.    

    The first "fall" report of migrant Greater Yellowlegs involved one at Clifty Pond, Pulaski Co., KY, 22 July 2003 (RMD).

    Earliest Regionally was a "fall" migrant Lesser Yellowlegs at Clifty Pond, Pulaski Co., KY, 22 July 2003 (RMD); another Lesser Yellowlegs at Cane Creek Park, Putnam Co., TN, 27 July 2003 (SJS) was about six weeks earlier than the previous early fall arrival date.

    The first migrant Solitary Sandpiper of the season Regionally showed up at Cane Creek Park, Putnam Co., TN, 21 July 2003 (SJS); it was just two days later than the early "fall" arrival date for the county.

    The first returning Spotted Sandpiper of the season Regionally was a "fall" migrant noted at Cane Creek Park, Putnam Co., TN, 13 July 2003 (WAW); another was found in Clay Co., TN, 20 July 2003 (TMC).

    A Least Sandpiper at Clifty Pond, Pulaski Co., KY, 22 July 2003 (RMD) was the earliest "fall" migrant of the species reported this season.

Dove to Waxwing

The first confirmed sighting of Eurasian Collared-Dove in Putnam Co., TN, occurred 4 June 2003 (TDP *) when two birds were observed on the Tennessee Tech University campus; a fair number of previous sightings have been reported from Putnam Co., but none possessed ironclad evidence; it is good to have the species finally confirmed in the county.  The first confirmed sighting of collared-dove for Wayne Co., KY, took place 1 July 2003 when five were found in Monticello (CB fide RMD); on 9 July 2002 at least 14 were counted at the same site (RMD), a largish number indicating the doves had probably been in this area for several or more years. Other Regional counties with confirmed collared-dove sightings are Barren, KY; Bledsoe, TN; DeKalb, TN; and Overton, TN.  Two collared-doves found on Jaybird Rd., Overton Co., TN,  14 June 2003 (SJS) provided additional evidence that this expanding columbid is resident in that county, which was the first Regional county with a record in1995; see the Spring 2003 UCR Bird Report for a record from Jaybird Rd. during that season.  The best way to confirm the presence of this dove is to look for it near feed stores and farmer's co-ops in small towns; it is also partial to older residential neighborhoods, especially those with some evergreens.

    Chuck-will's-widows have been considered absent from the BSFNRRA prior to this summer, so one just west of the Rugby (Brewster) Bridge, Fentress Co., TN, 11 June 2003 (SJS) may have been a first for that park; two others calling along Rt. 297 west of Bandy Creek, BSFNRRA, Fentress Co., TN, 18 June 2003 (SJS) further suggest that this caprimulgid is expanding into the park (or has been present but undetected in low numbers in the past).

    Willow Flycatchers remain thinly and locally distributed breeders in the Region.  The only Regional report of the season involved the male noted last spring at Cane Creek Park, Putnam Co., TN, which continued singing until 22 June 2003 (SJS).

    Blue-headed Vireos increased dramatically on point counts conducted in the OWSR, Morgan Co., TN, this season (BHS), following smaller increases during most years from 1998 to 2002; data from these point counts may be accessed via the link included in the Introduction (above). Since Pine Warblers declined on these same point counts during 2003, it would seem that the Blue-head and Pine Warbler populations in the park are reacting quite differently to the reduction in pine habitat caused by the southern pine beetle outbreak of 1999-2002.

    A Warbling Vireo heard along the Sulfur Lick BBS in Metcalfe Co., KY, 14 June 2003 (SJS) may have been the first with details for that county.

    The number of Red-eyed Vireos registered on the eight federal BBSs conducted in the Region during 2003 revealed a small decline from numbers registered during each of the previous five years.  Furthermore, the 100-stop BBS conducted in the BSFNRRA and the 50-stop BBS conducted in the OWSR continued to reveal a small, but fairly steady, decline in numbers of Red-eyes over the past six years; collectively, these latter two sources provide fairly robust data about Red-eye numbers.  However, data from the early June walking transect in Frozen Head State Natural Area, Morgan Co., TN, reflect fairly steady numbers of Red-eyes since 1994.  Although the Red-eye is clearly still an abundant breeding bird of the Region, some concern about its future is perhaps merited based on these admittedly still conflicting results.

    Bank Swallows noted at Pumphouse Pond, Pulaski Co., KY, 4 June and 12 July 2003 (RMD) strongly hinted at local breeding.

    The first nest of Red-breasted Nuthatch for the BSFNRRA and for the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee was discovered 7 June 2003 near Bandy Creek, Scott Co., TN (FR *); photographed 9 June 2003 (SJS photo), it remained active until at least 21 June 2003 (FR); details of this excellent discovery were published (Renfrow and Stedman 2003).

    The small population of Brown-headed Nuthatches at the Cookeville Golf Course, Putnam Co., TN, remained active, as indicated by two noted there 11 July 2003 (SJS, MAS).

    Veeries breed with certainty in the Region only at the higher elevations of Frozen Head State Natural Area, Morgan Co., TN, where three were registered 1 June 2003 (SJS) during a 16-km (4-hr) walking transect; this number is at the lower end of the range (2-11) registered on the same transect 1994-2002.

Warblers

A Chestnut-sided Warbler singing near Coalfield, Morgan Co., TN, 1 June 2003 (SJS) during the running of the Oliver Springs BBS was somewhat unexpected because the elevation of the site was about 1200 ft, lower than the elevation selected by most breeding birds; another Chestnut-side found at an elevation of about 3000 feet on the jeep trail in Frozen Head State Natural Area, Morgan Co., TN, that same day was at a more expected elevation for this species.  However, there is probably a trend toward selection of lower elevation breeding sites in the Region, in Kentucky, and in Tennessee, as evidenced by quite a few low elevation breeding records in Tennessee and Kentucky during the last 5-10 years.

    Black-throated Blue Warblers breed Regionally only above 2500 feet in Frozen Head State Natural Area, Morgan Co., TN; five registered on a 16-km walking transect conducted there 1 June 2003 (SJS) were about an average number for this species on that survey.

    Sixteen Blackburnian Warblers were counted 1 June 2003 at elevations ranging from 2500 to 3200 feet along a 16-km (4-hour) walking transect in Frozen Head State Natural Area, Morgan Co., TN (SJS); this is by far the largest total of Blackburnians accumulated along this route during the decade in which this bird survey has been conducted; however, Blackburnians often migrate into early June, so all these birds may not have been breeders, though many probably were.

    Pine Warblers substantially decreased on the 100-stop BBS in the BSFNRRA this season (SJS), being registered at about half the stops and in half the number of individuals as during each of the preceding six surveys (1997-2002), an outcome mostly related to the substantial change in the park forest wrought by the outbreak of southern pine beetles; a similar reduction in Pine Warbler registrations took place on the 50-stop point count survey in the OWSR this year compared to registrations occurring 1998-2002 (BHS).

    Cerulean Warblers numbered 52 on a 16-km (4-hour) walking transect to survey birds conducted for the tenth consecutive year in Frozen Head State Natural Area, Morgan Co., TN, 1 June 2003 (SJS); although quite a respectable number, it was still slightly less than half the number counted on the same transect in 1994.  Nineteen Ceruleans were noted during a 24-stop (five minutes each) BBS route conducted in the DBNF, Whitley [not in the Region] and McCreary counties, KY, 5 June 2003 (SJS); while lower totals have been counted along this route in recent years, higher numbers ranging to 34 were counted in the mid-1990s on this BBS route.  Two Cerulean Warblers were detected 5 June 2003 along 8 km of trail bordering the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River between Yahoo Falls and Negro Creek, BSFNRRA, McCreary Co., KY (SJS); this number is difficult to compare with numbers accumulated in previous years because all those numbers were obtained in early May, but the numbers were always somewhat (5) to considerably (15) higher than this total, indicating a possible reduction in the breeding population at this site.  However, just a few km upriver from Negro Creek four Ceruleans were noted near Yamacraw Bridge, BSFNRRA, McCreary Co., KY, during canoe surveys of the river 8-9 July 2003 (SJS, BHS). Only one Cerulean was noted on the Little Lick BBS, DBNF, Pulaski Co., KY 6 June 2003 (BHS), about an average number for this 23-stop BBS route during the past decade. At least three Ceruleans were noted 7 June 2003 near the Rt. 85 bridge over the East Obey River, Fentress Co., TN (RDS), a site where the species has been detected in the past.  Another site where Ceruleans have been reported in the past is wooded hillsides around Center Hill Lake; at the scenic overlook on Rt. 56  just north of the Hurricane Bridge, DeKalb Co., TN; at least one singing Cerulean was noted there 9 June 2003 (GKE).  See the Spring 2003 UCR Bird Report for other information about Cerulean Warbler numbers and locations from the early part of the breeding season.

    American Redstarts often breed sympatrically with Cerulean Warblers in the Region.  Perhaps the site with the highest Regional density of redstarts is Frozen Head State Natural Area, Morgan Co., TN, an area also known for its high density of Ceruleans.   The walking transect conducted 1 June 2003 in Frozen Head resulted in a tally of 45 redstarts; this number, while respectable, is the lowest total of redstarts registered on this transect since it began in 1994 (SJS).  Exactly what this decline in registrations might mean for the Regional population of redstarts is too soon to say, but redstarts bear watching across the Region in the future.

    Swainson's Warblers were particularly sought in the BSFNRRA this season as part of an NPS-funded effort to inventory the breeding birds of that park (and many other parks located in the Appalachian Highlands and Cumberland Piedmont); at least ten different Swainson's were located during June and July in the park (SJS).  See Appendix A (below) for a summary of these and other sightings of this retiring and thinly distributed parulid in the Region.

    A first for the BSFNRRA and for Scott Co., TN, was a singing Mourning Warbler about a mile above Big Island on the east side of the main river 6 June 2003 (SJS), a fairly normal date of occurrence for this late-migrating warbler.

    A single Canada Warbler was noted 1 June 2003 on a 16-km walking transect conducted in Frozen Head State Natural Area, Morgan Co., TN (SJS); this site is the only one Regionally hosting any breeding Canadas, which are irregularly registered on this survey.

Sparrows to Weaver Finch

Four Grasshopper Sparrows at the Scott County Airport, Scott Co., TN, 23 July 2003 (NM) provided the first report from that county.

    Five Henslow's Sparrows were still singing in field on Beech Grove Rd., Pulaski Co., KY, 15 July 2003 (RMD), providing a nice count away from the Ano strip mines in the same county.

    During the past decade Song Sparrows have proved to be very uncommon breeders in the BSFNRRA, so singing birds found along the gravel road to the Bear Creek Horse Camp, McCreary Co., KY, 10 June/8 July 2003 (SJS/SJS, BHS); under Yamacraw Bridge, McCreary Co., KY, 8-9 July 2003 (SJS, BHS); and along the main river about 2 km downriver from Blue Heron, McCreary Co., KY, 8 July 2003 (BHS) were notable but probably not sufficiently numerous to upgrade the breeding abundance status of this sparrow to uncommon in that park.

    Five Rose-breasted Grosbeaks were noted along a 16-km (4-hour) walking transect in Frozen Head State Natural Area, Morgan Co., TN, 1 June 2003 (SJS), about an average number of grosbeaks registered on this transect since 1994.  This site is one of few locations in the Region where Rose-breasts occur as breeders.

    Blue Grosbeaks have been extremely scarce in the BSFNRRA during the past decade, so three records this summer there were noteworthy: one singing along Clear Fork under the Brewster/Rugby Bridge, Fentress Co., TN, 22 June 2003 (SJS); one at the Katie Blevins Cemetery near Bandy Creek Visitor Center, Scott Co., 26 June 2003 (SJS); and one singing at the intersection of Rt. 297 and the gravel road to the West Leatherwood Overlook, Scott Co., TN, 23 July 2003 (SJS, BHS).

    Dickcissels are quite localized, sporadic, and thinly distributed breeders in the Region.  The counties with the most dense breeding populations appear to be Metcalfe and Monroe, KY; this year six were recorded 14 June 2003 on the Sulfur Lick BBS (SJS), which runs through both counties; this figure lies midway within the range (1-10) of Dickcissels recorded on this route 1998-2002.  See the Spring 2003 UCR Bird Report for a late May sighting in Macon Co., TN, not too far from the counties noted above.  Of interest were two singing Dickcissels 24 July 2003 on Ball Hill Rd., Putnam Co., TN (SJS), the only site where the species is known to have been a breeder in the county in the past but where no birds were present in early May (this record, incidentally, provided the late "fall" date for the species in Putnam County).  All Regional occurrences of Dickcissel should be put on record.

Observers:  Clay Black (CB), Terry M. Campbell (TMC), Darcie Cripps (DC), Tommy L. Curtis (TLC), Virginia Curtis (VC), Roseanna M. Denton (RMD), Ginger K. Ensor (GKE), Eddie Fuson (EF), Judy C. Fuson (JCF), Scott Marsh (SM), Nell Moore (NM), Arlene Morton (AM), Trisha D. Poling (TDP), Frank Renfrow (FR), Michael A. Sanders (MAS), Ronnie D. Smith (RDS), Somerset Bird Club (SBC), Barbara H. Stedman (BHS), Stephen J. Stedman (SJS), Winston A. Walden (WAW), Carol D. Williams (CDW).

Literature Cited

Appendix A: Regional Observations of Swainson's Warbler during Summer 2003.

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