Waterfowl

As many as eight Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks were reported in Henderson Co, KY 9 Aug (ph. Charles Crawford) and 18 Sep (ph. Jeff Sole, m.ob.). The latter report was an apparent family unit with adults and juveniles different from the earlier report. Three were also reported northeast of Morganfield, Union Co, KY 5 Aug (Melissa Gaither). Outside of the regular population in Shelby Co, TN, these were the only reports. Always very rare in the region, two Fulvous Whistling-Ducks were found at Reelfoot Lake, Lake Co, TN 20 Sep (ph. Mark Greene).

A single Snow Goose in Nashville, Davidson Co, TN 30 Aug (ph. Paige Smith, Graham Gerdeman) was the earliest arrival; 700 at Sauerheber 26 Nov (ph. Isaac Morris) was the highest number reported. One Ross’s Goose at Sauerheber 28 Oct (Brainard Palmer-Ball, Jr., Keith Michalski, David Stone) was the first reported. A flock of 50 Greater White-fronted Geese over Meeman-Shelby Forest 5 Oct (Jeffrey Hill) was the earliest sighting; a notably high count of 1,550 was at Duck River 21 Oct (Ruben Stoll, Daniel Redwine). A flock of 14 Cackling Geese at Duck River 20 Sep (ph. Ruben Stoll) set the earliest fall record for TN by at least two weeks. Very notably, a small Cackling Goose found in a pond in Brentwood, Williamson Co, TN 29 Nov (ph. Jim Arnett) was confirmed to be of the B. h. minima subspecies. It is the first to be photo documented in TN and one of only a small handful of confirmed records ever in the eastern USA. It continued throughout the season.

Eight Tundra Swans at South Holston River Weir, Sullivan Co, TN 10 Oct (Roy R. Knispel) was a notably early date; 24 at South Holston Lake, Sullivan Co, TN 10 Nov (Richard L. Knight, ph. Sherrie Quillen, m.ob.) appears to be the state’s second highest fall record.

Two Gadwall continuing from summer at Duck River were last reported 4 Aug (Daniel Redwine). A single American Wigeon which also summered at Duck River was last seen 19 Aug (Daniel Redwine).

Surf Scoters were reported in five counties in KY and eight in TN. Four on the Ohio River in Louisville, Jefferson Co, KY 16 Oct (ph. David Bailey, Pat Bell) was the highest count. Eight White-winged Scoters on Green River Lake, Taylor Co, KY 19 Nov (ph. Brainard Palmer-Ball, Jr.) was the most reported; there were also two on the Ohio River in Louisville, Jefferson Co, KY 10 Nov (Tommy Becker), and five to seven on Kentucky Lake in Marshall Co, KY 22/26 Nov (Clay Bliznick, David Stone, Brainard Palmer-Ball, Jr., Mike Muller). In TN, there were seven White-winged Scoter sightings from six counties: all were single birds except for a count of six at Cook Recreation Area, Davidson Co, TN 11 Nov (Avery Fish, Daniel Redwine). There were six reports of Black Scoter, one in KY and five in TN: two on the Watauga River, Carter Co, TN 31 Oct (Brookie Potter, Jean Potter), one from Hamilton Co, TN 12/14 Nov (Bruce Dralle, Tim Lenz, m.ob.), two at Fate Sanders Marina in Rutherford Co, TN 11 Nov (Jeff Walz, m.ob.), one on the Ohio River in Louisville, Jefferson Co, KY 21 Nov (ph. Laurel Fuson, David Bailey), and a high count of three from Cook Recreation Area, Davidson Co, TN 11 Nov (Daniel Redwine), with at least one bird reported daily in that location until 14 Nov.

Long-tailed Ducks were observed in four TN counties: one at Franklin Reservoir, Williamson Co 21 Nov (Roy McGraw, Walker Lincoln), one at South Holston Lake, Sullivan Co 24 Nov (Brookie Potter, Jean Potter, ph. Sherrie Quillen, Bambi Fincher), two at Chickamauga Dam, Hamilton Co 28 Nov (Frank Fekel, m.ob.), and one at Shelby Farms Park, Shelby Co 25–30 Nov (ph. Connor Robinson, P.J. Pulliam, m.ob.). Well away from what are now expected breeding areas in east TN, an adult pair and 10  juvenile Common Mergansers were on Bedford Lake, Bedford Co, TN 31 Oct (Tommie Rogers).

Flamingos through Nightjars

As part of an historic incursion of American Flamingos into the eastern US following Hurricane Idalia’s late August landfall on the Gulf Coast, KY gained its first state record American Flamingo on Cave Run Lake, Rowan Co 4 Sep (ph. Peyton Little, m.ob), and another on the Ohio River in north Gallatin Co early Sep–1 Oct (ph. Madison Malott Hudepohl, m.ob.). The latter record was reported to KY Dept of Fish and Wildlife as having been around for 2–3 days, so the precise date of the first sighting is unclear. Tennessee gained its second American Flamingo record with five birds—an adult pair with three juveniles—on a pond in Wayne Co 2 Sep (Morris Williams, Damian Simbeck, m.ob.). All but one juvenile were gone the following day, but the remaining bird was reported almost daily until 15 Sep (Paul Mayer, Emily Mayer).

An estimate of 180 Pied-billed Grebes was a notable fallout on South Holston Lake, Sullivan Co, TN 7 Oct (Richard L. Knight fide Graham Gerdeman); one day prior, 100 at Jacobson Park, Fayette Co, KY 6 Oct (Mark Ernste) was the most for KY. A single Horned Grebe in breeding plumage on South Holston Lake, Sullivan Co, TN 1–6 Aug (Mike Sanders) likely represents a summering bird. Casual visitors to the region, Red-necked Grebes were present in four TN counties and one in KY: a single bird at Lexington Reservoirs #2 and #3, Fayette Co, KY 31 Oct (ph. Dan Stone, m.ob.), one at Trap Lake, Shelby Co, TN 15 Nov (Rob Harbin), one at Cook Recreation Area, Davidson Co, TN 4 Nov (ph. Daniel Redwine), followed by two in the same area 12–15 Nov (ph. Daniel Redwine, Helen Kornblum, m.ob.); single birds at Hurricane Bridge Recreation Area, Dekalb Co, TN 18 Nov (Susan McWhirter), and Fort Loudon Lake, Blount Co 15 Nov (Randy Winstead). Eared Grebes were present in three KY counties and two TN counties: one on Barren River Lake, Allen Co, KY 6 Sep (Tom Durbin, David Roemer), one at Chickamauga Dam, Hamilton Co, TN 9 Nov (ph. John Diener, m.ob.), three at South Holston Lake, Sullivan Co, TN 10 Nov (Debi Campbell), one in Louisville, Jefferson Co, KY 18 Nov (Brainard Palmer-Ball, Jr., m.ob.), and one at the regular overwintering spot at Wolf Creek Dam, Russell Co, KY from 24 Nov (David Stone, m.ob.). A single rare Western Grebe was at Reelfoot Lake SP Visitor Center, Lake Co, TN 25 Nov (ph. Cameron Rutt) and relocated 28 Nov (Mark Greene). There are approximately 25 previous state records.

A White-winged Dove continued from summer in Paducah, McCracken Co, KY 1 Aug (ph. Debra Puckett). This western species has become regular in Shelby Co, TN, where a high count of seven was reported 21 Aug (Cameron Rutt). Elsewhere, one visited a feeder in Marshall Co, TN from 1–19 Aug (Kathy Smith), and a singing bird was heard at Grassroots Sod Farm in Davidson Co, TN 23 Aug (Graham Gerdeman). A tardy Yellow-billed Cuckoo was found at Beckley Creek Park, Jefferson Co, KY 2 Nov (ph. Steve Brown, Meg Brown). Black-billed Cuckoos were reported from 10 counties, five in each state. A Common Nighthawk count of 730 from the Townsend Visitor Center, Blount Co, TN 29 Aug (Kathryn Barrow) was notably high.

Hummingbirds through Cranes

There were single lingering Ruby-throated Hummingbirds from three locations: east Fayette Co, KY 11 Nov (David Svetich), Montgomery Co, TN 12 Nov (ba., Cyndi Routledge fide Graham Gerdeman), and Shelby Co, TN 18 Nov (Cyndi Routledge fide Graham Gerdeman). There were five Rufous Hummingbirds, three from KY and 2 from TN: a bird in Daysville, Todd Co, KY 27 Aug–7 Dec (ph. Gloria Edwards Oakes, ba. Brainard Palmer-Ball, Jr., m.ob.); one in east Fayette Co, KY 14 Oct which continued into winter (ph. Lisa Combs, David J. Svetich, ba. Brainard Palmer-Ball, Jr., m.ob.); one in Murray, Calloway Co, KY in late Nov (Nicole Hamm fide ph. Hap Chambers, ba. Cyndi Routledge) which continued into winter; a well-photographed bird  in Maury Co, TN 13 Sep (ph. Kate Watkins); an adult female in Monroe Co, TN 22 Oct (ba. Cyndi Routledge fide Graham Gerdeman). Kentucky’s first state record Allen’s Hummingbird occurred in Pulaski Co 3 Oct (ph. Roseanna Denton, ba. Brainard Palmer-Ball, Jr., m.ob.) and continued into winter. A hatch-year male Allen’s Hummingbird was also banded in Farragut Co, TN 29 Nov (ba. Mark Armstrong fide Graham Gerdeman).

An apparent juvenile Clapper Rail was found at Taylorsville Lake, Anderson Co, KY 3 Sep (ph. Matthew Fryer). If accepted, it will represent a first KY record. Virginia Rails were reported only twice in KY: one at Lake Cumberland WMA, Pulaski Co 18 Oct (Roseanna Denton), and a window strike bird in Louisville, Jefferson Co 6 Nov (Zachary Holmes, ph. Hance Ellington). In TN, at least two were present throughout the season at Duck River in Humphreys Co, as well as at Kyker Bottoms, Blount Co. There were individual reports from Lincoln Co 18–28 Oct (m.ob.), from Carroll Co 6 Oct (Ruben Stoll), and from Standifer Gap Marsh, Hamilton Co 28 Aug (Wolf Jedamski). Both gallinule species are only casual visitors to the area, and there were several this period. Three Common Gallinules were found in TN and one in KY, all were lone juveniles: Riverport Road Sloughs, Shelby Co, TN 13–20 Aug (ph. P.J. Pulliam, ph. Cameron Rutt, m.ob.); Standifer Gap Marsh 13 Oct (ph. Tim Lenz); H. Gentry Lake, Metcalf Co, KY 7 Oct–7 Nov (ph. Rickey Shive, Jannah Lee, m.ob.); and Gilbert Drive Marsh, Knox Co, TN 26 Nov (ph. Eric Bodker, m.ob.), which continued into winter. There were two juvenile Purple Gallinules in TN: one at Emory Bend Wetland, Roane Co 16 Sep (ph. Roger Kroodsma) and last reported 27 Sep (ph. Randy Winstead); another in Washington Co 28 Sep–2 Oct (ph. Warren Massey, m.ob.). Yellow Rail is always exceedingly difficult to find on migration—there were three reports in TN: one flushed by bush hogging at Duck River 12 Oct (Clayton Ferrell); a bird flushed at the J. Percy Priest Field Trials Area, Rutherford Co 4 Oct (Avery Fish); and also at Duck River, an exceptional report of a heard-only bird giving a vocalization only recently described in the literature 8 Oct (Daniel Redwine, Ruben Stoll).

Limpkins continued in numbers too great to list here, occurring in 13 counties in KY and 24 counties in TN. Most notably, high numbers were regularly reported at Duck River, culminating with a shocking 20 birds 11 Nov (ph. Ruben Stoll, Mark Greene). This is likely a new record high number for any inland, non-coastal state.

Two Whooping Cranes were photographed in a flyover flock of Sandhill Cranes in Montgomery Co, TN 25 Nov (ph. Stanley York, Jr.).

Stilts through Phalaropes

Outside of their regular breeding area in Shelby Co, TN, Black-necked Stilts were found in two locations, both in KY: three at Horseshoe Rd Sloughs, Henderson Co 9/14 Aug (ph. Charles Crawford, ph. David Stone); and one at Crappie Hollow, Calloway Co 18 Sep (ph. Hap Chambers). American Avocets were around in decent numbers with reports from three KY and 10 TN locations; 16 in a flyover flock in Warren Co, KY 6 Oct (ph. Rickey Shive, Scott Newman) was a high count. There were only two reports of Black-bellied Plovers from KY: seven at Crappie Hollow, Calloway Co 27 Oct (Hap Chambers), and two at Jonathan Creek, Marshall Co 1 Nov (Josh Powell, John S. Powell). A Semipalmated Plover at Taylorsville Lake WMA, Spencer Co, KY 30 Oct (James Wheat) was unusually late. There were several Upland Sandpipers in TN: one at Grasslands Sod Farm, Davidson Co 18 Aug (ph. Frank Fekel, m.ob.); two at Winstead Turf Farm, Fayette Co (ph. Ruben Stoll, Daniel Redwine); one at Duck River 4 Aug (Daniel Redwine) and 7 Sep (Ruben Stoll); one at Shelby Farms Park, Shelby Co 20 Sep (au. Sophie Dismukes); and one at Randall Landing, Tipton Co 9 Sep (Daniel Redwine). In KY, there was one report of a single bird in northeast Washington Co 18 Aug (Brian Gray fide Brainard Palmer-Ball, Jr.).

Always rare in the region, a single Whimbrel was found at Duck River 31 Aug (Ruben Stoll, Victor Stoll). Rarer still by far, a flyby calling Long-billed Curlew at Tiptonville Landing, Lake Co, TN 5 Sep (ph. Mark Greene) was only the sixth confirmed state record. A single Hudsonian Godwit appeared at Chester Frost Park, Hamilton Co, TN 11–13 Oct (ph. Tim Lenz, m.ob.), the first county record since 1995. Single Ruddy Turnstones were reported from five locales: Tiptonville Landing, Lake Co, TN 4 Aug (Mark Greene); The Falls of the Ohio, Jefferson Co, KY 18/23 Aug (Brainard Palmer-Ball, Jr., ph. David Bailey, m.ob.); Randolph Landing, Tipton Co, TN 27/30 Aug (pg. Cameron Rutt, Dick Preston); Lowes Ferry Rd Stilt Pond, Blount Co, TN 7–8 Sep (ph. Randy Winstead, m.ob.); and Hillsboro Hwy Pond, Coffee Co, TN 7–8 Sep (Susan N. McWhirter, m.ob.).

Twenty-three Sanderlings was a notable fall count at Duck River 9 Sep (Ruben Stoll, Avery Fish, Cameron Rutt). Rare in fall, there were six reports of White-rumped Sandpiper in TN: one on the Duck River mudflats 31 Aug–1 Sep (Ruben Stoll); as many as two at Rankin Bottoms, Cocke Co 19–24 Sep (ph. Mike Winck, Chuck Estes); one at Ensley 7 Sep (ph. Cameron Rutt); one at Shelby Farms Park, Shelby Co, TN 11/13–14 Oct (Cliff VanNostrand, ph. Sophie Dismukes, m.ob.); one at Boiling Pond, White Co, TN 10 Sep (Debbie Shannon, Roi Shannon); and one at Fowler Rd Irrigation Pond, Lincoln Co, TN 18 Oct (ph. Ruben Stoll). Western Sandpipers were reported from 10 locales, five in each state.

Ten Short-billed Dowitchers reported at Fowler Rd Irrigation Pond 28 Oct (Avery Fish, Connor Gardner, Adam Nicholson) represents a significant late fall record. There are fewer than 10 confirmed records in eBird later than 20 Oct, most with insufficient documentation to independently verify ID. Long-billed is much more expected in October, so unsupported records require scrutiny, given the difficulty of this identification. Somershoe and Sloan’s “Birds of Tennessee: A New Annotated Checklist” (2015) lists 27 Oct as the latest fall date. Fifty-one Long-billed Dowitchers at Duck River 13 Nov (J.D. Johnson) was a notably high count. High counts for this species in fall have gone up significantly in recent years. Also notable was a high count of 22 Spotted Sandpipers at Randolph Landing, Tipton Co, TN 2 Aug (Daniel Redwine). A single Willet was present in KY at Falls of the Ohio, Jefferson Co 11–14 Aug (Michael Autin, m.ob.). There were 3 reports from TN: one at Nickajack Dam, Marion Co 10 Aug (Tommie Rogers); two at Mud Island, Shelby Co 12 Aug (ph. Ruben Stoll); and one at Ensley 29 Aug–3 Sep (ph. Cameron Rutt, m.ob.).

Wilson’s Phalaropes were reported seven times from six locations. In KY there was one at Cave Lake, Wayne Co 2 Aug (ph. Roseanna Denton); a different individual at the same location 27 Aug (Roseanna Denton); one at Horseshoe Rd. Sloughs, Henderson Co 16–17 Aug (ph. Teresa Graham, m.ob.); one at Falls of the Ohio, Jefferson Co 26–29 Aug (Michael Autin, ph. David Bailey, m.ob.); and one at Jonathan Creek, Marshall Co 27 Aug (ph. Jeremy Teague). In TN there were from one to two 31 Aug–9 Sep at Duck River (Ruben Stoll, Victor Stoll, m.ob.), and one at W.R. Grace Ponds, Hamilton Co 10–13 Sep (Kevin Calhoun, m.ob.). Single Red-necked Phalaropes were observed in both states: Falls of the Ohio, Jefferson Co, KY 25 Aug–5 Sep (Michael Autin, Brainard Palmer-Ball, Jr., m.ob.); and Ensley 29 Aug–9 Sep (ph. Cameron Rutt, m.ob.). By far the rarest phalarope in the region, a single Red Phalarope was at Woods Reservoir, Coffee Co, TN 23–26 Oct (ph. Richard Candler).

Alcids through Loons

Tennessee’s extraordinary first state record Ancient Murrelet was found at Chickamauga Dam, Hamilton Co 24 Nov (ph. Tim Russell, m.ob.) and was observed by hundreds of birders and casual birdwatchers until last reported 3 Dec (m.ob.).                               

A young Sabine’s Gull was found at Rankin’s Bottom, Cocke Co 21–22 Sep (ph. Mark Armstrong, m.ob.). There are now approximately 30 records in TN. A juvenile Little Gull in the mouth of the Duck River reported from both Humphreys and Camden Cos, TN 20 Sep (Ruben Stoll, ph. Aaron Maizlich) represents around the twentieth state record. Laughing Gulls had three reports from each state: two at Nathan Bedford Forrest SP, Benton Co, TN 8 Sep (ph. Ruben Stoll); two at Pickwick Dam, Hardin Co, TN 8 Sep (ph. Cameron Rutt, Ruben Stoll); one near KY dam from Marshall/Livingstone Cos, KY 15–16 Sep (ph. Brainard Palmer-Ball, Jr., David Stone); one at Camden WMA, Benton Co, TN 21/23 Sep (ph. Victor Stoll, Ruben Stoll); one at Sledd Creek Boat Ramp, Marshall Co, KY 28 Oct (Mike Muller, Richard Clendenen); and one at Calvert City Landfill, Marshall Co, KY 22 Nov (Brainard Palmer-Ball, Jr.). A count of 990 Franklin’s Gulls at Reelfoot Lake SP Visitor Center, Lake Co, TN 28 Oct (Daniel Redwine, Ruben Stoll) was notable. Iceland Gulls were reported twice, both in KY: up to three at Calvert City Landfill, Marshall Co 21/22 Nov (Brainard Palmer-Ball, Jr., ph. Clay Bliznick, David Stone); and one at KY Dam, Marshall Co 22 Nov (Clay Bliznick, m.ob.). A lone Lesser Black-backed Gull at Falls of the Ohio, Jefferson Co, KY 14 Aug (David Bailey) was early. Twenty-three Lesser Black-backed Gulls at Pickwick Dam, Hardin Co, TN 27 Oct (Ruben Stoll) establishes a new high fall count for that state.

Rare away from the Mississippi River, individual Least Terns were reported in TN at Duck River 6 Aug (Graham Gerdeman, Chris Sloan, Mike Smith); from Tie Landing, Humphreys Co 7 Sep (Ruben Stoll); and at Lock 3, Old Hickory Lake, Sumner Co 15 Aug (ph. Tim Loyd).

Red-throated Loons were reported from five counties in TN and three from KY, with as many as two at Chester Frost Park, Hamilton Co, TN 10–25 Nov (ph. Tim Lenz, m.ob.). Other reports were of individual birds from Watauga River, Carter Co, TN 13–19 Nov (Brookie Potter, Jean Potter); J. Percy Priest Lake, Davidson Co, TN 18–20 Nov, likely representing different birds (Daniel Redwine, m.ob.); Kentucky Lake, Henry Co TN 10 Nov (Ruben Stoll); Reelfoot Lake, Lake Co, TN 25/28 Nov (Mark Green/ Cameron Rutt); Newburgh Dam, Henderson Co, KY 10–13 Nov (ph. Robert Rold, m.ob.); Barren River Lake, Allen Co, KY 22 Nov (David Roemer, ph. Jacob Howe); and Kentucky Lake, Marshall Co, KY 26 Nov (Scott Record). Individual Pacific Loons were found in four locales: Barren River Lake, Barren/Allen Cos, KY 3–25 Nov (David Roemer, ph. David Stone, m.ob.); Chester Frost Park, Hamilton Co, TN 14 Nov (ph. Stefanie Whitson, Kristin Whitson); Chickamauga Dam, Hamilton Co, TN 25–26 Nov (Cyndi Routledge, Steve Routledge, m.ob.); and Reelfoot Lake–Lower Blue Basin 25 Nov (Ruben Stoll). A count of 592 Common Loons from J. Percy Priest Lake, Davidson Co, TN 10 Nov (Daniel Redwine) was exceptional.

Wood Stork through Roseate Spoonbill

There was a single Wood Stork at Black Bayou Refuge, Lake Co, TN 31 Aug (W.G. Criswell fide Mark Greene). Anhingas continue to be uncommon but regular at Duck River and at Shelby-Meeman Forest, Shelby Co, TN with four and three birds the highest counts from each location, respectively. Individual Neotropic Cormorants were reported regularly at Duck River. There was also one at Rankin Bottoms, Cocke Co, TN 22–23 Sep (ph. Chris Welsh, m.ob.); and one at Cross Creeks NWR, Stewart Co, TN 21 Aug (ph. Daniel Redwine).

American Bitterns were reported from three locations in KY and five in TN, all single individuals: Mammoth Cave NP, Edmonson Co, KY 9 Sep (Sasha Rohde); Beckley Creek Park, Jefferson Co, KY 12 Oct–5 Nov (Pam Spaulding, ph. Pat Bell, m.ob.); Long Run Park, Jefferson Co, KY 13–15 Nov (Pam Spaulding, ph Christine Hayden, m.ob.); Cornelia Fort Airpark, Davidson Co, TN 24–30 Sep (ph. Aaron Rushin, m.ob.); Riverfront Park, Warren Co, TN 15 Sep (Nancy Robb); Shelby Farms Park, Shelby Co, TN 1 Oct (Cliff VanNostrand, Jim Varner); Standifer Gap Marsh, Hamilton Co, TN 11–17 Oct (ph. Tim Lenz, m.ob.); and Kingsport, Sullivan Co, TN 23–24 Nov (Bambi Fincher, Sherrie Quillen, m.ob.), a notably late date. Least Bitterns were only reported from two locations: four were at Sinclair, Peabody WMA, Muhlenberg Co, KY 5 Aug (ph. David Bailey); the known breeding location at Standifer Gap Marsh, Hamilton Co, TN had multiple reports with a high count of two 9 Aug (Tim Lenz).

There was a single White Ibis in KY at Falls of the Ohio, Jefferson Co 14–18 Aug (ph. David Bailey, m.ob.). In TN, they were relatively numerous, all juvenile birds: one at Cherokee Dam, Grainger Co 12–14 Aug (ph. Dallas Herrell, Jason Cole, m.ob.); one at Standifer Gap Marsh, Hamilton Co 26/29 Aug/9 Sep (Patrick Higgins, Luke Thompson, m.ob.); as many as four at Duck River 1–26 Aug/7 Sep (ph. Ruben Stoll, Warren Massey, m.ob.); one at Swamp Rd, Rutherford Co 10–15 Aug (ph. Paige Smith, m.ob.); one at Riverport Rd Sloughs, Shelby Co 11 Aug (Ryan Pudwell); four at Ensley 15 Aug (ph. Cameron Rutt); two at Shelby Farms Park, Shelby Co 6 Oct (ph. Sophie Dismukes); two at Carters Creek Rd, Williamson Co 1–6 Aug (ph. Paige Smith, Daniel Redwine, m.ob.); two at Rankin Bottoms, Cocke Co 22 Sep (Chris Welsh); as many as two at White Lake Refuge, Dyer Co 5–16 Sep (ph. Mark Greene, m.ob.); and eight at Randolph Landing 9 Sep (ph. Daniel Redwine). Single dark Plegadis ibises were seen in three TN counties, none of which could be identified to species: Coffee Co (Susan McWhirter, ph. Avery Fish, m.ob.); Dyer Co 13–16 Sep (ph. Mark Greene, Daniel Redwine, Ruben Stoll); and Humphreys Co at Duck River 8 Oct (Ruben Stoll, Daniel Redwine).

Roseate Spoonbills continued from summer in two locales: one at Falls of the Ohio, Jefferson Co, KY was last reported 9 Sep (Brainard Palmer-Ball, Jr.); in TN, five at Duck River were last reported 1 Oct (m.ob.); one at Big Sandy Flats 22–23 Sep (ph. Joe Hall, m.ob.) was a new report.

Raptors through Flycatchers

Swallow-tailed Kite is a review species in KY. There were three reports of individual birds: one at Raven Run Nature Sanctuary, Fayette Co 17 Aug (Ronan O’Carra, Anna Wiker); one north of Beaver Dam, Ohio Co from the last week of Aug–4 Sep (Nick Eskridge, m.ob.); and one Henderson Co 27 Aug (Hope Hartmann, ph. David Stone). In TN, post-breeding dispersal birds have been increasing for several years and there were numerous reports from 11 locales, including at least three first county records. Six feeding over a farm in Decatur Co for an entire week 7–14 Aug (Bob Brasher fide ph. Mark Greene, Ruben Stoll, m.ob.) was an exceptional count well away from the Sequatchie Valley, where 10 was the highest of the season in Marion Co 12 Aug (ph. Tim Lenz, m.ob.).

Individual Golden Eagles were reported in TN at Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge, Meigs Co 11 Nov (ph. Luke Thompson, Tim Lenz) and at Duck River 13 Nov (J.J. Johnson). A late Mississippi Kite at Reidland, McCracken Co, KY 24 Oct (au. Karen Smith) establishes a new late date for that state. A hawk watch in Pigeon Forge, Sevier Co, TN produced a count of 2,321 Broad-winged Hawks 19 Sep (Alan Chretian, Glen Chretian), the highest of the season. Lone Swainson’s Hawks were reported three times in far west TN: at Ensley 12 Aug (Daniel Redwine); Shelby Farms Park, Shelby Co 24 Aug (Ryan Pudwell); and around Proctor City Rd, Lake Co 28 Oct (ph. Daniel Redwine, Ruben Stoll, Mark Greene). A single vagrant Rough-legged Hawk was photographed near Finley, Dyer Co, TN 24 Nov (ph. Lisa Clifft).

Captured and banded only months prior in spring 2023, a Burrowing Owl returned for the fourth straight year to a restricted TVA site in Humphreys Co, TN on 28 Oct (Tammy Ross, Liz Burton Hamrick fide Graham Gerdeman). This bird’s impressive site fidelity begs the question of where else lone Burrowing Owls might be going unnoticed. A single Long-eared Owl was found during surveys on Fort Campbell, Montgomery Co, TN 26 Oct (Daniel Moss fide Graham Gerdeman). It was an active season for Short-eared Owls across both states. Northern Saw-whet Owls were reported from two KY locations and one in TN. A total of 13 were banded in Jefferson Co, KY 1–13 Nov with a peak of five 13 Nov (Mark Monroe fide Ronan O’Carra). As many as two were reported during banding at Whigg Meadow, Monroe Co, TN 11/13 Nov with one bird banded (ba. Clayton Gibb, Timothy Guida).

An Alder Flycatcher in Bells Bend Park, Davidson Co, TN 30 Sep (Lise Brown) was late. A Least Flycatcher at University of Memphis Southernwoods, Shelby Co, TN 1 Aug (Cameron Rutt) was quite early. Vagrant Say’s Phoebes were found in three TN counties: at UT Cherokee Farms, Knox Co 24 Sep (ph. Chuck Estes, m.ob.); Shelby Bottoms–Cornelia Fort Airpark, Davidson Co 27 Sep (ph. David Parsley, m.ob.); and Maness Swamp Refuge, Dyer Co 15 Nov (Mark Greene). There are now around 20 state records. An Ash-throated Flycatcher at Baylor School, Hamilton Co, TN 3–4 Nov (ph. Luke Thompson, m.ob.) establishes the twelfth state record. Presumably the same bird was reported again about 5 miles away 21 Nov (Donald McKenzie).

Vireos through Wood-warblers

A late Yellow-throated Vireo at Falls Creek SP, Van Buren Co, TN 5 Nov (Susan McDaniel) sets a new late fall date. A Blue-headed Vireo at Raven Run Nature Sanctuary, Fayette Co, KY 30 Nov (Ronan O’Carra) was late. Thirteen Philadelphia Vireos at Minor E. Clark Fish Hatchery, Rowan Co, KY 25 Sep (Caleb Strand) was a record high number for the state; one at Lexington Cemetary, Fayette Co, KY 24 Oct (ph. Nancy Braun) was tardy. There were late sightings of a Warbling Vireo in north Franklin Co, KY 12 Oct (Joyce Bender, Joyce Fry), and a Red-eyed Vireo at Bernheim, Bullitt Co, KY 24 Oct (Pat Bell).

Thirty-thousand was the highest estimate of Purple Martins at their roost in Jefferson Co, KY 10 Aug (Meg Brown, Steve Brown). In Nashville, Davidson Co, TN, 200,000 was the highest estimate at the impressive downtown roost (Graham Gerdeman, m.ob.). Always rare and difficult to find in the east, individual Cave Swallows were reported from Duck River 16/19 Aug (Ruben Stoll, ph. Wade Baker, m.ob.); from TN NWR–Busseltown Unit, Decatur Co, TN 17 Sep (Ruben Stoll); and from Mousetail Landing SP, Perry Co, TN 17 Sep (Ruben Stoll).

A Veery at Pulaski County Park, Pulaski Co, KY 10 Oct (ph. Ethan Wells) was a late date for the species. Conversely, a Gray-cheeked Thrush in Scott Co, KY 29 Aug (David Lang) was early. A nocturnal flight call count at Atlee Fields, Knox Co, TN nearly tripled the previous state high count of Swainson’s Thrushes with 1,875 reported in a major migration event (K. Dean Edwards). A notably late Wood Thrush at Radnor Lake, Davidson Co, TN was last seen 30 Nov (David Parsley, m.ob.)

A calling flyover Red Crossbill reported from Shelby Co, TN 28 Sep (Victor Stoll, Ruben Stoll, Obed Frixzen) was a very rare record away from the eastern mountains. Reports of Purple Finch and Pine Siskin were fairly scarce throughout both states.

Casual to the region, individual Clay-colored Sparrows were reported from four KY locales and five from TN: Hisle Farm Park, Fayette Co, KY 6 Aug (ph. Ronan O’Carra, m.ob.); Hays Kennedy Park, Jefferson Co, KY 7 Sep (ph. Katie Burke); Blount Co, TN 1–5 Oct (ph. Evan Kidd, m.ob.); Shelby Park, Davidson Co, TN 6 Oct (ph. Graham Gerdeman, m.ob.); Calvary Cemetery, Jefferson Co, KY 14–15 Oct (Michael Autin, David Bailey, Ron Hirsch); Edwin Warner Park, Davidson Co, TN 17 Oct (ph. Graham Gerdeman, m.ob.); Duck River 17 Oct (Rick Shipkowski); Shelby Farms Park, Shelby Co, TN 6/13/23 Oct (Rob Harbin, ph. Cliff Van Nostrand, m.ob.); and Waterfront Park, Jefferson Co, KY 8–9 Nov (Lucas Wilson, Connor Ties, Brainard Palmer-Ball, Jr., ph. Asher Higgins).

A single juvenile Harris’s Sparrow visited the same yard in Williamson Co, TN 15 Nov (ph. Paige Smith) where one was present in Nov 2022. There were two reports of LeConte’s Sparrows in KY: two at Sauerheber 28 Oct (Keith Michalski, ph. Brainard Palmer-Ball, Jr., David Stone); and 10 at Sloughs WMA, Henderson Co, 31 Oct (Robert Rold, David Stone). Leconte’s Sparrows are more abundant in TN in fall. There were regular reports from five counties, with a high count of 14 at Shelby Farms Park, Shelby Co 3 Nov (ph. Sophie Dismukes, Cliff VanNostrand, Cameron Rutt). As many as three Nelson’s Sparrows were reported at Duck River 8 Oct–4 Nov (Daniel Redwine, Ruben Stoll, m.ob.); up to two at Shelby Farms Park, Shelby Co, TN 8–24 Oct (m.ob.); two at J. Percy Priest Field Trials Area, Rutherford Co, TN 25–26 Oct (ph. Avery Fish, m.ob.); and one at Sloughs WMA, Shorebird Unit, Henderson Co, KY 12 Oct (David Stone).

Western Meadowlarks are occasionally found in far west TN, generally close to the Mississippi River. Five were reported at Jolly Landing, Lake Co 28 Oct (ph. Daniel Redwine, Ruben Stoll) and two at Bogota WMA, Dyer Co 18 Nov (Daniel Redwine). On the extreme opposite end of the state, one recorded at Chester Frost Park, Hamilton Co, TN 15 Nov (au. Tim Lenz) represents a notably extralimital record.

A Louisiana Waterthrush in Sevier Co, TN 18 Oct (ph. Robin Nichols) was very late. A Tennessee Warbler in Jessamine Co, KY 28 Nov–8 Dec (ph. Sydney Penner) was late. Hard to locate in fall, there were four reports of individual Connecticut Warblers: North Fayette Co, KY 16 Sep (ph. ba. David Westneat, m.ob.); Shelby Bottoms Park–Cornelia Fort Airpark, Davidson, Co, TN 30 Sep (Ariel Dunham, Andrew Cameron, Cassy Dorff); Melton Lake Islands, Anderson Co, TN 7 Oct (ph. James Davis, Tara Davis); and Berea, Madison Co, KY 13 Oct (Robert Foster). A Blackburnian Warbler at Long Run Park, Jefferson Co, KY 9 Nov (Kevin Flowers, Carol Challas) establishes a new late fall record for KY.

Blackpoll Warblers mostly stay north and east of the region in fall, with scattered reports mainly in KY. There were only two confirmed reports in TN: three caught in mist nets at Cherokee NF Whigg Meadow, Monroe Co 2 Oct (Mark Perry), and one at Bays Mountain Park 3 Oct (ph. Bambi Fincher, Sherrie Quillen). A late Yellow-throated Warbler at a feeder in Sequatchie Co, TN 25 Nov (ph. Jeff Conn) establishes a new late date for the state. The fifth TN state record Townsend’s Warbler was found at Point Park on Lookout Mountain, Hamilton Co 12–14 Oct (ph. Bruce Dralle, m.ob.). A hybrid Townsend’s x Black-throated Green Warbler was photographed at a home in Rutherford Co, TN 1 Oct. (ph. Carole Swann).

References
eBird Basic Dataset: An online database of bird distribution and abundance [web application]. eBird, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. Available: http://www.ebird.org. (Accessed: Nov 2024).

Report processed by Andrew Keaveney, 14 Mar 2025.