Tennessee & Kentucky: Fall 2024

Waterfowl

Eighty-four Black-bellied Whistling Ducks in Obion Co, TN 2 Nov (Ruben Stoll, Alan Troyer) was notable as this species continues to expand outside of the established Memphis population. A very early Snow Goose appeared in Lincoln Co, TN with migrating Canada Geese 3 Sep (ph. Ruben Stoll) and continued until the end of September. The Nashville-area’s long-staying rarity “minima” Cackling Goose continued, and it crossed county lines to Davidson Co 29 Oct (ph. Matthew Bowling). It remains one of very few records of the subspecies in the southeast. A single Mottled Duck was found at Duck River 12 Aug (ph. Daniel Redwine, Ruben Stoll, Alan Troyer). There are now approximately 20 state records.

There were six reports of Surf Scoters in KY: one on Barren River Lake, Allen Co 17 Oct (ph. Joanne Beachy, Jamin Beachy), two on the same lake in Barren and Allen Cos 8 Nov (ph. Roseanna Denton, Hap Chambers, David Roemer), one on Lake Linville, Rockcastle Co 9 Nov (ph. Roseanna Denton, Ethan Wells), one on Lexington Reservoirs #2 and #3, Fayette Co 11 Nov (ph. Katey Buster, Laura Flowers), one at KY Dam, Marshall Co 29 Nov (Christy Soldo, ph. Clay Bliznick), and one on the Ohio River, Jefferson Co 30 Nov (ph. Brainard Palmer-Ball, Jr., Jessica Jacobs). A single Surf Scoter in TN was at Ft. Loudon Lake, Blount Co 23 Nov (ph. Randy Winstead, m. ob.).

There was only one report of White-winged Scoter: on Barren River Lake, Allen Co, KY 10 Nov (ph. Jamin Beachy, Joanne Beachy, Tom Durbin). Black Scoters were reported from multiple locales: one on J. Percy Priest Lake in both Davidson and Rutherford Cos, TN 10–14 Nov (ph. Avery Fish, Jeff Walck, m. ob.), one in Chickamauga Lake, Hamilton Co, TN 3 Nov (ph. Tim Lenz) and two at the same location 15–21 Nov (ph. Tim Lenz, m. ob.), one at Ft. Loudon Lake, Knox Co, TN 5–7 Nov (ph. Eric Bodker, m. ob.), one at Maynard C. Stiles Water Treatment Plant, Shelby Co, TN 14–29 Nov (ph. PJ Pulliam, m. ob.), two at Lexington Reservoirs #2 and #3, Fayette Co, KY 12 Nov (ph. Ronan O’Carra, m. ob.), and one on the Ohio River, Bracken Co, KY 24 Nov (ph. Sandra Keller).

Three Long-tailed Ducks at Radnor Lake, Davidson Co, TN 23 Nov (ph. Matthew Bowling, m. ob.) was a notably high count; individuals were also reported from Allen Co, KY 9 and 10 Nov (David Roemer, m. ob.), on the Ohio River at Newburgh Dam, Henderson Co, KY 18 Nov (ph. David Stone), and at Mud Island, Shelby Co, TN 23 Nov (ph. Cliff VanNostrand, PJ Pulliam, Adrian Hall).

Doves through Rails

An Inca Dove was identified on a farm in Kenton, Gibson Co, TN 6 Aug (ph. au. Mark Greene) and continued until 23 Aug (ph. Jerry Webb, m. ob.) to the delight of many state birders. It established the state’s seventh record. Only casual to the region, a Common Ground Dove was at the Fowler Road Irrigation Pond, Lincoln Co, TN 8–23 Nov (ph. Avery Fish, m. ob.). Individual White-winged Doves were reported from Union Co, KY 17 Aug (David Stone), Davidson Co, TN 6–10 Sep (ph. Shelley Smith, m. ob.), Fayette Co, KY 27 Oct (ph. Heather Worne), and Shelby Co, TN 14 Sep (Alan Troyer). Four were the most at Mud Island, also Shelby Co, TN 12 Oct (Jaime Hudgins), where a small population has been regular for several years.

A fall migration count of 1,241 Common Nighthawks from Townsend Visitor Center, Blount Co, TN 31 Aug (Evan Kidd, m. ob.) was notable for the region. A count of 4,000 Chimney Swifts roosting at Tullahoma High School, Coffee Co, TN 4 and 7 Sep (Melissa Turrentine) was pleasantly high for a species rarely seen in such large numbers these days. Rufous Hummingbirds occurred in moderate numbers, with three reports from KY and nine across TN throughout the season (m. ob.).

Kentucky’s second Clapper Rail occurred at Hays Kennedy Park, Jefferson Co 15–26 Sep (ph. David Bailey, m. ob.). Single Yellow Rails, very rarely detected, were seen at Sauerheber 10 and 23 Oct (David Stone), and Duck River 25 Oct (Clayton Ferrell)—the latter two reports being birds flushed during bushhogging operations.

Shorebirds

For the most part, shorebird migration was average to above average across the region. Continuing the trend from summer, it was an incredible season for American Avocets, with reports from 14 counties across TN and three from KY. A fallout of 84 at Ensley 1 Nov (Ruben Stoll, Alan Troyer) established a new high record for TN. Always a rare find, individual Piping Plovers were found on sandbars in the Mississippi River in Carlisle Co, KY 9–13 Sep (ph. Ben Yandell, m. ob.), and at Island 13, Lake Co, TN 8 Aug (ph. Victor Stoll, Ruben Stoll, Obed Frixzen). A single Hudsonian Godwit was at Fowler Road Irrigation Pond, Lincoln Co, TN 13 and 18 Sep (ph. Tim Lenz, Michael Fritts, m. ob.). A lone Marbled Godwit was along the TN River in Marshall Co, KY 18–26 Sep (ph. Jeremy Teague, m. ob.). Very rare for the area, a single Red Knot was in Carlisle Co, KY 3–5 Sep (ph. Brainard Palmer-Ball, Jr., Mark Monroe, m. ob.).

A count of 706 Long-billed Dowitchers at Ensley 1 Nov (Alan Troyer, Ruben Stoll) shattered the previous state high count. One Wilson’s Phalarope at Ponderosa Lake, Scott Co, TN 15 Sep (BettySue Dunn) was a very rare sighting for the upper Cumberland Plateau, and a first for the county. Otherwise, there were typical scattered reports of both Wilson’s and Red-necked Phalaropes in the region.

Jaegers through Terns

Following Hurricane Helene, Pomarine Jaegers were found in several locales: one at Barren River Lake in Allen and Barren Cos, KY 28 Sep (Mark Monroe, Brainard Palmer-Ball, Jr., ph. David Stone, m. ob.), one at Old Hickory Lake in Davidson and Sumner Cos, TN 30 Sep–1 Oct (ph. Tim Loyd, Mike Smith, m. ob.), and one at Chickamauga Lake, Hamilton Co, TN 27 Sep (Bruce Dralle, Tommie Rodgers, ph. Stefanie Whitson). Additionally, a jaeger was observed at J. Percy Priest Lake, Davidson Co 28 Sep (ph. Avery Fish, Daniel Redwine) which could not be identified to species.

Sabine’s Gulls were present in both states, several of which were pushed down by Helene on their way south across the country: one at Barren River Lake, Barren Co, KY 28–29 Sep (ph. David Stone, Rickey Shive, m. ob.), up to three on the Ohio River in Louisville, Jefferson Co, KY 30 Sep–1 Oct (ph. David Bailey, m. ob.), one in Monroe Co, TN 27 Sep (Avery Fish, ph. Ruben Stoll, m. ob.), and one in Anderson and Knox Cos on Melton Hill Lake 30 Sep–1 Oct (Terry Crowe, Maria Crowe, ph. Eric Bodker, m.ob). Only one earlier Sabine’s Gull at Pickwick Dam, Hardin Co, TN 12–14 Sep (ph. Ruben Stoll, Victor Stoll, m. ob.) preceded the hurricane. As is typical for birds crossing inland in fall, all of these reports were of first-cycle juveniles.

A first-cycle Bonaparte’s Gull in Benton Co, TN 12 Aug (ph. Ruben Stoll) was exceptionally early and established a new early fall date for TN. Individual Laughing Gulls were reported in Jefferson Co, KY 13 Aug (ph. Jamie Baker, m. ob.) and 6 Nov (ph. Michael Callan); in Humphreys Co, TN 20 Aug (ph. Ruben Stoll); at Pickwick Dam in Hardin Co, TN 24 Aug and 1 Sep (Ruben Stoll, Alan Troyer); in Lake Co, TN 6 Nov (ph. Mark Greene); and around KY Dam in Livingston and Marshall Cos, KY 13 Sep and 28 Sep–3 Oct (Scott Record, Teresa Graham, m. ob.). Always a rarity, single Iceland Gulls were reported in Benton Co, TN 25 Oct (ph. Ruben Stoll), Hardin Co, TN 27 Oct and 11 Nov (ph. Ruben Stoll, Alan Troyer), and KY Dam, Livingston Co, KY 20 Nov (ph. Wade Baker, Zach McClay). The TN birds were believed to be the same first-cycle individual. The sighting on 25 Oct appeared to be the earliest TN fall record to date. A count of 77 Lesser Black-backed Gulls at Pickwick Lake, Hardin Co, TN 10 Nov (Ruben Stoll) established a new state high count on a day that also produced a notably high count for TN of 205 Herring Gulls (Ruben Stoll).

A single Sooty Tern was found along the Little Tennessee River, Monroe Co, TN 27 Sep (Victor Stoll, Chuck Estes, m. ob.) following the remnants of Helene. Also storm-related, 109 Common Terns in Meigs Co, TN 27 Sep (Alan Troyer) was an exceptional count. Four days after the passing of Helene, a Royal Tern at Chester Frost Park, Hamilton Co, TN 1 Oct (ph. Stefanie Whitson, Kristen Whitson, m. ob.) marked only TN’s ninth record.

Loons through Ibises

A juvenile Common Loon in Sullivan Co, TN 29 Jul (Bambi Fincher, Sherrie Quillen) likely summered there. There were reports of single Red-throated Loons in four locales: Reelfoot Lake, Lake Co, TN 2 Nov (ph. Ruben Stoll, Alan Troyer), Barren River Lake, Allen Co, KY 8–9 Nov (David Roemer, Roseanna Denton, Hap Chambers), Clark Co, KY 8 Nov (Lisa Combs, ph. David Svetich), and Lock 3 in Sumner Co, TN 28 Nov (Patrick Higgins, Emily Badri, Erin Higgins). Individual Pacific Loons were found at Reelfoot Lake, Lake Co, TN 2 and 6 Nov (Mark Greene, Ruben Stoll, Alan Troyer), at J. Percy Priest Lake, Davidson Co, TN 6 Nov (Avery Fish), and Chickamauga Lake, Hamilton Co, TN 15–16 and 23 Nov (ph. Bryan Otis, Tim Lenz, m. ob.).

Shelby Co saw the largest incursion of Wood Storks to the region in many years with 106 being the highest count on private property 25 Aug (ph. Cameron Rutt, Ruben Stoll, m. ob.). They persisted until one bird was last reported at Riverport Road Sloughs 4 Sep (ph. Cameron Rutt, Jim Varner). A review list species in KY, a single juvenile Wood Stork was at Taulbee, Breathitt Co 9 Aug (ph. Joy Hopkins).

Magnificent Frigatebirds were found in multiple areas with the passing of Hurricane Helene, several of which may have been the same individuals: In KY, there were two over Lake Cumberland in Pulaski Co 27 Sep (ph. Roseanna Denton, m. ob.), one at Barren River in Barren Co 27 Sep (David Roemer, ph. Rickey Shive), two over Fagan Branch Lake, Marion Co 28 Sep (ph. Rex Graham, Kyle Bixler), and one at Green River Lake, Taylor Co 28 Sep (ph. Roseanna Denton). Tennessee saw reports from seven eastern counties, with two birds at Nickajack Dam, Marion Co 28 Sep (Alan Troyer, ph. Avery Fish, m. ob.), one along the TN River in Hamilton Co 27–28 Sep (Daniel Jacobson, ph. Daniel Redwine, m. ob.), two in Polk Co 28 Sep (Matthan Beachy), two flying over a yard in Monroe Co 27 Sep (ph. Jarvis Shirky), and two the same day at Toqua Campground in the same county (ph. Alan Troyer, Kevin Calhoun), one in Blount Co 27 Sep (Spencer England), one in Roane Co 27 Sep (ph. Roger Kroodsma, m. ob.), two in Knox Co 27 Sep (ph. Susan Hoyle), and one lingering at Cherokee Lake in Hawkins Co 1 Oct (ph. Tammy Bright, Sherrie Quillen, m. ob.), a first for that county.

An Anhinga in Knox Co, TN 21 Aug (ph. Susan Hoyle) was notable for the northeast of the state, and only a second county record. The species is increasing in TN and was otherwise reported from Humphreys Co, where they have nested the past two years, 10 Aug (Alan Troyer), one in McNairy Co 1 Sep (ph. Alan Troyer), two in Obion Co at Reelfoot Lake 17 Aug (Ruben Stoll, Alan Troyer), and three in Shelby Co 25 Aug (Ruben Stoll, Cameron Rutt). Also continuing to expand their range, five Neotropic Cormorants was the highest count at Duck River 28 Aug (Ruben Stoll). Individuals were also found in TN in Benton Co 6 Aug and 8 Sep (Ruben Stoll, ph. Mark Greene), in Shelby Co 25 Aug (ph. Sophie Dismukes, Cameron Rutt) and 12 Oct (ph. Norman Soskell, Judith Barrie), in Sumner Co 28 Aug (ph. Tim Loyd), in Rutherford Co 12 and 28 Sep (ph. Avery Fish, Jeff Walck), and Marion Co 5 Sep (ph. Tim Lenz, Kent Dubois). A review list species in KY, one Neotropic Cormorant was found at the Falls of the Ohio, Jefferson Co 12 Aug–6 Nov (ph. Clay Bliznick).

White Ibises continued from summer in greater than normal numbers in TN, with reports from ten counties across the state. Ten on private property in Shelby Co 27 Aug (Cameron Rutt, Sophie Dismukes, m. ob.) was the most seen. There was one continuing bird in KY at the Falls of the Ohio, Jefferson Co which was last reported 7 Aug (m. ob.). Only a single Glossy Ibis was confirmed in the region, at Ensley 27 Oct (ph. Tricia Vesely), although first year Plegadis ibises which could not be pinned down to species were found in Shelby, Humphreys, Davidson, and Lincoln Cos in TN. A juvenile Roseate Spoonbill at Fowler Rd Irrigation Pond, Lincoln Co, TN continued 31 Jul–1 Aug, and a different, adult bird was found at the same location 14 Aug (Avery Fish).

Kites through Flycatchers

Swallow-tailed Kites are occurring with increasing frequency in TN in fall, and this season was good for them, with reports from 10 counties. Five at Tims Ford Lake 15 Aug (Dave Tietjen) was the most reported. The species rarely makes it into KY, but up to two birds were reported along the interstate between Scott and Fayette Cos 17–23 Aug (Karen Bonsell, Josh Stapleton, Ronan O’Carra). A Golden Eagle at Radnor Lake, Davidson Co, TN 8 Oct (Matthew Bowling) was a very rare Nashville record. Another was seen over a yard in Monroe Co 25 Oct (Jarvis Shirky). Mississippi Kite is another species expanding in the region. In Cheatham Co, TN, a nestling left the nest early and was fed by parents in a private yard 10–19 Aug (ph. Kevin Burgart fide Graham Gerdeman) until fledging, marking a first breeding record for the county.

The regular winter-resident Burrowing Owl of the restricted TVA New Johnsonville Plant in Humphreys Co, TN (banded in spring 2023) returned for at least its fifth consecutive year on 17 Oct (Tammy Ross fide Graham Gerdeman). It disappeared after being last seen at its regular burrow 4 Nov (Becky Seaton fide Graham Gerdeman), almost certainly marking the end of its historic residency at the site. It was apparently a weak year for Northern Saw-Whet Owl migration, with only seven birds banded in KY (Mark Monroe fide Ronan O’Carra). In TN, there were only two reports outside of the high mountains: one at Reelfoot Lake, Lake Co 1 Nov (Andrew Lydeard), and one at Montgomery Bell SP, Dickson Co 24 Oct (Jacob Miranda).

It was an interesting season for Tyrant flycatchers. Vagrant Ash-throated Flycatchers were found in two locations: one in Soddy Daisy, Hamilton Co, TN 29 Oct (ph. Roi Shannon, Debra Shannon, m. ob.), and one in Cumberland Co, TN 23 Nov (ph. Tim Lenz, Nicole Koeltzow, Kent Dubois). There are now more than a dozen state records. Two Cassin’s Kingbirds in TN established only the second and third state records. The first was found at Cornelia Davis Airpark in Nashville, Davidson Co 14–15 Nov (ph. David Parsley, m. ob.). The second was in Hamilton Co 22–30 Nov (ph. Pete Robinson, Luke Thompson, m. ob.). A Western Kingbird near Tie Landing, Humphreys Co, TN 31 Aug (Ruben Stoll) was a county first and a rare sighting outside of Shelby Co.

An early Olive-sided Flycatcher in Fayette Co, KY 2 Aug (Ronan O’Carra) tied that state’s earliest fall date. On the late end of things, single Least Flycatchers in Sumner Co, TN 11 Nov (ph. Tim Loyd) and Fentress Co, TN 25 Nov (ph. Ron Hoff, Dollyann Myers) were exceptionally late, the latter setting a new late TN record. There is only one previous November record. Wrapping up flycatchers, Tennessee’s third Western Flycatcher was found at Reelfoot Lake, Lake Co 9 Nov (ph. au. Ruben Stoll), eleven months after the state’s second record had been found a few miles away.

Vireos through Blackbirds

Kentucky’s first Plumbeous Vireo, and a first for the region, was reported east of Bowling Green in Warren Co 1 Nov (David Roemer). An exceptional year for Bell’s Vireo reports in TN continued with six being the highest number at Chickasaw NWR 13 Aug (au. Alan Troyer, Ruben Stoll); one was last reported at Thorny Cypress WMA in Dyer Co 13 Aug (Justin Nation, Robin Nation). Single birds were additionally reported in Perry Co 6 Sep (Ruben Stoll), on Ft. Campbell, Montgomery Co 17 Sep (Daniel Moss fide Graham Gerdeman), Warren Co 26 Sep (ph. Mark Brown), and Grainger Co 30 Sep (ph. Dallas Herrell), which established the first east TN record. It is unclear if Bell’s Vireo is occurring in more places, or if increasing birder density is simply leading to more frequent identifications.

A Common Raven at the Cumberland Trail, Cumberland Co, TN 19 Oct (Melinda Welton) was the most recent evidence of the species’ recolonization of their historic range along the Cumberland Plateau. Extirpated from the area for the past century, the first modern nesting record on the plateau was documented in neighboring Morgan Co in Jun 2021 (Charles P. Nicholson, The Migrant 93(3): 60-61, 2022).

Tennessee’s second Sage Thrasher was found at Shelby Farms Park, Shelby Co 1 Nov (ph. Rob Harbin, m. ob.), but was sadly a one day wonder. On the same day, KY’s first Townsend’s Solitaire was seen by only one observer at John A. Kleber WMA, Owen Co (ph. Randy Coon). Three Sprague’s Pipits at a solar farm in Lake Co, TN 27 Oct (ph. Victor Stoll, Ruben Stoll, Alan Troyer) was only the fourth record of the species in the past 25 years.

A single Evening Grosbeak was found in Polk Co, TN 21 Oct (Matthan Beachy). Pine Siskins were scarce throughout the region, with most reports being of single birds.

A Chestnut-collared Longspur found along North Garrett Sawmill Rd in Obion Co, TN 31 Oct (ph. Mark Greene) established only the fourth state record. Always notable and increasingly rare to the region, a single Smith’s Longspur was at Shelby Farms Park 2 and 4 Nov (Mark Greene, Cliff VanNostrand, Bob Foerhing, Rob Harbin). Casual, but increasing, to the region, there were reports of Clay-colored Sparrows in both states: one in Decatur Co, TN 9 Sep (ph. Robert Ducham, Kelly Ducham), one in Russell Co, KY 22 Sep (ph. Ethan Wells, m. ob.), one in Pulaski Co, KY 1 Oct (ph. Ethan Wells), as many as three in Jefferson Co, KY 2–6 Oct (ph. Emma Herald, m. ob.), one at Ensley in Shelby Co, TN 5 Oct (ph. Ruben Stoll), and one in Davidson Co, TN 7–12 Oct (ph. Nathan Snell, m. ob.).

Uncommon and rarely detected, there were Nelson’s Sparrows at two KY locales and four in TN. In KY, individual birds were found at Sauerheber 10 Oct (David Stone) and Hays Kennedy Park, Jefferson Co 13 Oct (Jessica Jacobs). In TN, one at Shelby Farms Park, Shelby Co was reported sporadically from 11–28 Oct (ph. Jim Varner, m. ob.); two was the most at Duck River 15 Oct (ph. Ruben Stoll, Daniel Redwine, m. ob.), where single birds were found from 5–25 Oct (m. ob.); one in Rutherford Co 10–29 Oct (ph. Avery Fish, m. ob.); and one in Roane Co 25–28 Oct (ph. Roger Kroodsma, m. ob.).

Three Yellow-headed Blackbirds at Fowler Road Irrigation Pond, Lincoln Co, TN 21 Sep (ph. Austin Young) was the only report. Lastly, Western Meadowlarks, always scarce, were found in one KY location and four counties in TN: There were two in west Fulton Co, KY 7 Nov (au. Mark Greene), single birds in Shelby Co, TN 1 Nov (Ruben Stoll, Alan Troyer), 10 Nov (ph. PJ Pulliam), and 18 Nov (Cliff VanNostrand); single birds at two different Dyer Co, TN locations on 2 Nov (Daniel Redwine, Alan Troyer) and another on 20 Oct (Alan Troyer); reports of three and two birds from two different Lake Co, TN locations 2 Nov (au. Ruben Stoll, Alan Troyer, Daniel Redwine, Andrew Lydeard), and one at Duck River 15 Oct (ph. Daniel Redwine, Ruben Stoll) which was a notable record away from the western edge of the state.

Report processed by Eric DeFonso, 16 Jul 2026