BIRDS of the UPPER CUMBERLAND REGION(draft)

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

sstedman@tntech.edu

Introduction

Weather in the Region (Figure 1) began with an August that was about average in terms of rainfall but below average in terms of temperature.  September witnessed considerably more rainfall than the average, while temperatures during that month were about average.  October witnessed plentiful rainfall, somewhat in excess of long-term average amounts, with the rainy weather event during mid-month possibly accounting for the appearance of two first Regional records (see Shorebirds through Terns below).

    Records of rare species are noted in bold-faced red below, while records of species new to the Region are in bold-faced fuchsia.

    Fall Bird Counts and BirdBlitzes provide many of the quantitative data on which an assessment of the Regional birdlife may be made during autumn; access to these data, collected in three Regional counties,  is available via links at the following page of this website:

• Fall Bird Count and BirdBlitz Data 2009

    Early and late dates of arrival and departure for migrant species in the Region this autumn may be viewed at the following page of this website:

• UCR Early/Late Dates Fall 2009

Acknowledgments

Thanks are extended to all the field observers whose records are cited below.  Observers who were able to support their sightings with photographs are especially thanked for their submissions.

Abbreviations and Symbols

† = written documentation provided; BSFNRRA = Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area; DBNF = Daniel Boone National Forest; FBC = Fall Bird Count; KOS = Kentucky Ornithological Society; OWSR = Obed Wild and Scenic River; TOS = Tennessee Ornithological Society; UCR = Upper Cumberland Region; WMA = Wildlife Management Area.

Waterfowl through Gallinaceous Species

A Surf Scoter at the Wolf Creek Dam, Russell Co., KY, 17 October 2009 (RMD) was the earliest ever during fall in the Region.

Loons through Ibises

A Pacific Loon in basic plumage in Barren River Lake State Resort Park, Barren Co., KY, 13 October 2009 (DB, DLR photo) was the first for that county and just the second Regionally; it was relocated between Dry and Walnut creeks on the reservoir 17 October 2009 (DLR).

    Two basic-plumaged Common Loons on Green River Lake at Corbin Bend Rd., Adair Co., KY, 21 August 2009 (RMD) were probably summering immatures though possibly early migrants; three alternate-plumaged loons off of Lake Cumberland State Resort Park, Russell Co., KY, 3 September 2009 (RMD) were more likely early migrants.

    The earliest Horned Grebes of the season Regionally were six at the Floating Mill Recreation Area, Center Hill Lake, DeKalb Co., TN, 16 October 2009 (SJS); two on the lake at Fall Creek Falls State Resort Park, Van Buren Co., TN, 3 November 2009 (DFV) were the first ever for that park and that county.

    A Least Bittern was noted 19 September 2009 on Waterview Rd., Putnam Co., TN (BHS) during the FBC there; this sighting was the first for the Region and the county in about 15 years.

    An immature Little Blue Heron was photographed at Burns Lake near the Bledsoe County High School, Bledsoe Co., TN, 4 August 2009 (DJS photo), the first of the season to be reported Regionally and the first ever for that county; another county first was obtained when an immature Little Blue was photographed at the Dry Creek Unit, Barren WMA, Barren Co., KY, 17 August 2009 (DLR photo).

    The second Regional record of Tricolored Heron took place in Edgar Evins State Park, DeKalb Co., TN, 29 August 2009 (JCF †, MJH †); the first Regional record--made at Lillydale in Clay Co., TN, 20 April 2002--was also established at one of the big lakes of the Region.

    An adult Black-crowned Night-Heron at the Dry Creek Unit, Barren River Reservoir, Barren Co., KY, 10 September 2009 (DLR) was the first of that species to be reported in that county.

Diurnal Raptors through Cranes

The earliest Northern Harrier to be reported this fall came from the Hillendale Rd. area of Cumberland Co., TN, 7 September 2009 (DJS photo); the next earliest harrier was noted 12 September 2009 on Student's Home Rd., DeKalb Co., TN, (JCF).

    An American Coot at Cane Creek Park, Cookeville, Putnam Co., TN, 10 September 2009 (DJS photo) was probably a bird that summered on the lake there and may have been a bird unable to fly.

    All Regional reports of Sandhill Crane are presented in Appendix A (below); the first report of the fall was made 17 October 2009 in Putnam Co., where five cranes were observed migrating south (EKL).

Shorebirds through Terns

See the Summer 2009 UCR Bird Report for records of shorebirds found in the Region during early "fall."

    Five juvenile Black-bellied Plovers at Plum Point, Green River Lake, Adair Co., KY, 14 October 2009 (RMD photo) established the second record from that county and just the fourth record for the Region; one of this species (possibly one of the original five)  was noted near Plum Point 31 October 2009 (RMD).  A basic-plumaged Black-belly was noted at the Lexus Pond, Clemmons Rd., Putnam Co., TN, 23/24 October 2009 (SJS, BHS/WAW photo), providing the second record in that county with full details and the first to be photo-documented, as well as the 5th Regional record.

    An American Avocet was photographed on Irons Creek Rd., Clay Co., TN, 26 September 2009 (WAW photo, MPO, JDB) during the Fall BirdBlitz there, providing the 2nd county and 12th Regional record; five avocets were noted 24 October 2009 at Barren River Lake State Resort Park, Barren River Reservoir, Barren Co., KY (TD, BY, MY, DLR), providing the 13th Regional record.

    Two first-cycle Franklin's Gulls at Barren River Reservoir, Barren Co., KY, 28 September 2009 (DLR) established the earliest ever appearance during fall in the Region, as well as the sixth county record of this scarce gull, which has been recorded in just one other county of the Region--Pulaski Co., KY; additional first-cycle Franklin's (1-5) were noted in Barren River Lake State Report Park in the same county 13 October-1 November 2009 (DLR photos [several dates]).

    A basic-plumaged adult Mew Gull at Barren River Lake State Resort Park, Barren Co., KY, 18 October 2009 (DLR photo, photo) was the first for the county, for the Region [Regional species # 306], and for Kentucky.

    A basic-plumaged adult California Gull at Barren River Lake State Resort Park, Barren Co., KY, 19 October-2 November 2009 (DLR photo [first date], m. ob.) was the first for the county and the Region [Regional species # 305]; it was sighted mainly at the park beach, but was occasionally observed in the gull roost near Mason's Island (DLR).

    A first-cycle Lesser Black-backed Gull at the Austin Boat Ramp and later at Barren River Lake State Resort Park, Barren River Reservoir, Barren Co., KY, 16-31 October 2009 (DLR photo [first date], m. ob.) was just the second for the county and the Region.

    A Caspian Tern at the Wolf Creek Dam, Russell Co., KY, 21 August 2009 (RMD) was the first to be reported Regionally this season; two Caspians on the Smith County side of the Cumberland River at the confluence with Indian Creek 7 September 2009 (SJS, BHS) were the first ever for that county.

    First county records of Black Tern were established 21 August 2009 when 35+ were noted in Lake Cumberland State Resort Park and at the Wolf Creek Dam, Russell Co., KY (RMD), and when 27 were noted on Lake Tansi, Cumberland Co., TN (EKL photo, DJS photo); 32 were noted in Adair Co., KY, the same day RMD).

    See the Summer 2009 UCR Bird Report for the date of the first Forster's Tern reported this fall; six Forster's on the Jackson County side of the Cumberland River near the confluence with Indian Creek 30 August 2009 (SJS) were the first ever for that county; a Forster's at Cane Creek Park, Cookeville, Putnam Co., TN, 16 October 2009 (SJS) was latest ever in that county; the last report of the season involved several at the site of the gull roost on Barren River Reservoir, Barren Co., KY, 31 October 2009 (DLR).

Doves through Shrike

Several reports of Olive-sided Flycatcher were submitted, including the first ever for Clay Co., TN, 5 September 2009 when one was seen below the dam at Dale Hollow Lake (EKL, SJS).

    Photographed 5 September 2009 on the Cathy Crockett Trail, Pulaski Co., KY (RMD photo), a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher was also heard uttering the "pewee" call diagnostic of this empid; this record established the earliest fall arrival date in Pulaski County, tied the Regional early fall arrival date, and was the earliest report this fall; it was also just the sixth Regional record of this rare but probably regular migrant.

    See Appendix B (below) for a list of all sightings submitted this season for Loggerhead Shrike.

Jay through Waxwing

Although size estimates for the Regional Purple Martin roosts were not forthcoming this fall, the large roost at Lillydale, Clay Co., TN (NEB) was active again, while the smaller roost in Glasgow, Barren Co., KY (LC), was apparently also active.

    A Sedge Wren recorded on Lampton Lane Rd., Adair Co., KY, 1 August 2009 (DC fide RMD) was the first of the fall Regionally and possibly a bird attempting a second nesting cycle after a short migratory hop south from a more northerly breeding area; another Sedge, noted on Leffle Webb Rd., Cumberland Co., TN, 29 September 2009 (EKL), was certainly a migrant.

Warblers through Tanagers

Only a handful of records of Golden-winged Warbler was generated this fall, a paltry, but mostly predictable, showing for this scarce and decreasing warbler; see Appendix C (below) for a list of these records.

    A female Black-throated Blue Warbler in the Alpine Recreation Area, Pulaski Co., KY, 5 September 2009 (RMD photo) was the only one reported during the season Regionally.

    No reports of Cerulean Warbler were submitted this season from anywhere in the Region.

    A late Ovenbird, probably recovering from striking an object like a window, was photographed on Brookhaven Dr., Crossville, Cumberland Co., TN, 14 November 2009 (DJS photo), quite late even for an injured bird.

    Latest ever in Putnam Co., TN, and in the Region, a Mourning Warbler was noted on West Oak Dr., Cookeville, 6 October 2009 (WAW †); this warbler responded to an iPod recording with chips that were the same as those on the recording.

Sparrows through Siskin

The first DeKalb Co., TN, record of Clay-colored Sparrow was obtained 16 October 2009 at the intersection of Smith Fork Rd. and Dismal Rd. (SJS, JCF photo), providing the 4th Regional record of this species.

    Two Pine Siskins on Lakeland Dr., Putnam Co., TN, 7 August 2009 (SJS, BHS, JCF) were hard to categorize but perhaps represented the results of a local breeding effort, though this behavior was certainly unconfirmed.

Observers: Lana Baker (LB), DJ Becker (DJB), Nan Evans Beesley (NEB), Wally Brines (WB), David Brown (DB), Margie Buxbaum (MB), Derek Coomer (DK), Linda Craiger (LC), Roseanna M. Denton (RMD), Tom Durbin (TD), Judy C. Fuson (JCF), Dana Girard (DG), Robbie C. Hassler (RCH), Jim Hazard (JH), James Layzer (JL), Nancy S. Layzer (NSL), Edmund K. LeGrand (EKL), Peter Li (PL), Susan N. McWhirter (SNM), Michael P. O'Rourke (MPO), David L. Roemer (DLR), DJ Stanley (DJS), Barbara H. Stedman (BHS), Stephen J. Stedman (SJS), David F. Voft (DFV), Winston A. Walden (WAW), Faye Wells (FW), Ralph Wiggers (RW), Virginia Wiggers (VW), Ben Yandell (BY), Mary Yandell (MY), Rex Zimmerman (RZ).

Literature Cited

Appendix A.  Reports of (Mostly) Southbound Sandhill Cranes during "Fall" 2009 in the Upper Cumberland Region.

Appendix B.  Reports of Loggerhead Shrikes during Fall 2009 in the Upper Cumberland Region.

Appendix C.  Reports of Golden-winged Warblers during Fall 2009 in the Upper Cumberland Region.

Appendix D.  Reports of Cerulean Warblers during Fall 2009 in the Upper Cumberland Region.