Tennessee & Kentucky: Summer 2024

Waterfowl through Black-billed Cuckoo

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks have expanded to the point of being expected anywhere in west TN and uncommon elsewhere in the state. One-hundred eighty-nine at Ensley 31 Jul (Ryan Pudwell) was the highest count. Increasing now in KY as well, there were sightings in three counties, including eight in Henderson Co 29 Jun (ph. Charles Crawford). A few Greater White-fronted Geese lingered in TN, with one in Shelby Co last reported 15 Jul (ph. Wade Baker) and one at Memorial Park, Sumner Co until 29 Jul (ph. Tim Loyd).

A drake Gadwall over-summered at Duck River, last reported 28 Jul (Ruben Stoll, m.ob.); there were also three lingering Gadwall at Gupton Wetland, Roane Co, TN 8–9 Jun (ph. Eric Bodker, m.ob.), two at Kyker Bottoms Refuge, Blount Co, TN 6 Jun (Paul Hartigan), and one in Clark Co, KY 17 Jun (David Svetich, Lisa Combs). There were two rare summer records of American Black Duck: two birds at Steele Creek Park, Sullivan Co, TN 22 Jun (Linda Gardrel) and one at Lake Barkley, Trigg Co, KY 5 Jun (John Brunjes). Lone Green-winged Teal were at Ensley until at least 9 Jul (ph. Adrian Hall) and all summer at Duck River, being last reported 27 Jul (ph. Daniel Redwine). A single Red-breasted Merganser on Lake Tansi, Cumberland Co, TN 16 Jun (Pamela Barrett) was quite late.

White-winged Doves were reported from three locations in KY and two in TN. There was one at a regular location in north Lexington, Fayette Co, KY until 2 Jul (Jeff Sole) as well as another near the UK Arboretum, also Fayette Co 23 Jun and 25 Jul (ph. Heather Worne); one was east of Harrodsburg, Mercer Co, KY 16 Jul (Sydney Penner); one at a feeder in Roberston Co, TN 5–6 Jun (ph. Robin Rains) was a first for that county; and five was the high count in Shelby Co, TN 27 Jul (ph. Ruben Stoll), where the species has been scarce, but regular for some time.

Always rare in the summer months, single Black-billed Cuckoo reports came from Black Mountain, Harlan Co, KY 3 Jul (au. Rosanna Denton) and Cosby, Cocke Co, TN 1 Jun (Alan Troyer).

Shorebirds

American Avocets again had an unusually strong showing with reports at Ensley of single birds from 1–7 Jun (ph. Jim Varner, Cameron Rutt, Ryan Pudwell) and two to three birds 4, 16, and 24 Jul (PJ Pulliam, Cameron Rutt, Jim Varner, Ryan Pudwell); two were at the Falls of the Ohio, Jefferson Co, KY 22 July (Gary Dorman); individual birds were found in Muhlenberg Co, Ky 23 Jul (ph. James Wheat, m.ob.), in Carter Co, TN 13 Jul (ph. Danny Huffine), and in Scott Co, TN 31 Jul (ph. BettySue Dunn). An American Golden-Plover in alternate plumage was a nice summer find at Duck River 19–20 Jul (ph. Ruben Stoll, Alan Troyer). A single Piping Plover was reported this season on a sandbar in the Mississippi R. at Kentucky Bend, Fulton Co, KY 6 Jun (John Brunjes). A lone Marbled Godwit at Ensley 9 Jul (ph. PJ Pulliam, Cameron Rutt, m.ob.) was likely displaced by Hurricane Beryl.

Summer records in the region are rare. Phalaropes are always rare during the summer months. There were individual Wilson’s Phalaropes in four locales: one at Morgan Pond, Christian Co, KY 10 Jul (ph. Mark Monroe, Brainard Palmer-Ball, Jr.); one at Lake Cumberland, Pulaski Co, KY 20 Jul (ph. Roseanna Denton); in TN there was one Duck River 23 Jul (Alan Troyer); and one at Ensley 30 Jul (Cameron Rutt). A single Red-necked Phalarope was at Ensley 1–3 Jun (ph. PJ Pulliam, Ryan Pudwell, m.ob.); one also made a rare appearance in east TN at Sequatchie Co 2 Jun (ph. Deb Shannon, Roi Shannon, m.ob.), which was a county first.

An early migrant Buff-breasted Sandpiper was at Ensley 28 Jul (ph. Cameron Rutt). Similarly, a lone Baird’s Sandpiper at Ensley 26 Jul (Josh Matlock, Matthew Matlock) was the only report from the region. A single Sanderling at Ensley 26 Jul (Cameron Tescher, Ryan Giordanelli) was the only report of that species.

Gulls through Grebes

A single lingering Bonaparte’s Gull in the mouth of the Duck River, Humphreys Co, TN 4 Jun (ph. Ruben Stoll) was a very rare summer record for the region. Laughing Gulls were found in two locations in TN and one in KY: two at Chester Frost Park, Hamilton Co, TN 2 Jun (ph. Sean Walters, m.ob.); one at Pickwick Dam, Hardin Co, TN 9 Jul (Ruben Stoll, Victor Stoll, Daniel Redwine); and 1–2 at KY Dam Village SRP, Marshall Co, KY 6, 9, and 12 Jul (Mike Muller, Brainard Palmer-Ball, Jr.; ph. Ruben Stoll, David Stone). A single Herring Gull occurred at KY Dam Village SRP, Marshall, Co KY 29 Jul (Mike Muller). Three Lesser Black-backed Gulls were found at Pickwick Dam, Hardin Co, TN 27 Jul (ph. Alan Troyer).

Two vagrant Sooty Terns blew into Pickwick Dam, Hardin Co, TN on the remnant winds of Hurricane Beryl 9 Jul (ph. Daniel Redwine, Ruben Stoll, Victor Stoll) and continued the following day 10 Jul (m.ob.). Also associated with Hurricane Beryl was a notably high summer count of 40 Black Terns at Tiptonville Landing, Lake Co, TN 9 Jul (Mark Greene). Finding Least Terns away from the Mississippi River where they breed is always rare, but there were two at Duck River 4 Jun (ph. Ruben Stoll) and again 19 Jul (Ruben Stoll). Much more surprising was a lone Least Tern all the way over in the eastern foothills of the Smoky mountains at Douglas Dam, Sevier Co, TN 2 Jun (ph. Ruben Stoll, Victor Stoll, m.ob.). A count of 500 was reported at the nesting colony on New Madrid Bar, Fulton Co, KY 6 Jun (John Brunjes), the highest of the season. Wrapping up terns, there were five Common Terns at Bailey’s Point on Barren River Lake, Barren Co, KY 29 Jun (ph. Rickey Shive); in TN, two were at Duck River 4 Jun (ph. Ruben Stoll); and one was found at Chester Frost Park, Hamilton Co 31 Jul (ph. Kristen Whitson, Stefanie Whitson).

The presence of two juvenile Pied-billed Grebes at Duck River 16 Jun (ph. Alan Troyer) indicated what is rare breeding success in the region.

Anhinga through Roseate Spoonbill

A single Anhinga was reported over Cypress Creek, Marshall Co, KY 12 Jun (Mike Muller, Scott Wagner, Chase Wilson). Still a review list species in KY, Anhingas are expanding rapidly just to the south in TN, with multiple known breeding pairs in Humphreys and Shelby Cos the past few years. Nesting is also strongly suspected in Bogota WMA, Dyer Co, TN, where 12 were the most observed 30 Jul (ph. Mark Greene). Eight was the highest count at the Duck River rookery 23 Jul (Alan Troyer). Eight was also the highest number of Neotropic Cormorants at Duck River 6 Jul (ph. Alan Troyer), where they were seen in smaller numbers throughout the season. There were no records elsewhere in the region.

An American Bittern at Gilbert Drive Marsh, Knox Co, TN 28 Jul (Beth Schilling, Colin Sumrall) was rare for the summer season, presumably an early fall migrant. For the second summer in a row, a Tricolored Heron was found in TN, this time at Duck River 21 Jul (Evan Beachy fide Ruben Stoll).

Generally a rare post-breeding visitor, there was an unusual irruption of White Ibises in the region in the latter half of Jul, mostly in TN. This movement may have been influenced by the effects of Hurricane Beryl, which came up through Texas and Arkansas the prior week. Ten White Ibises were found at Ensley 17 Jul (ph. Cameron Rutt); six were reported from Duck River 19–20 Jul (Rick Shipkowski, Ruben Stoll, m.ob.); as many as five were found in the Chattanooga area at Amnicola Marsh, Hamilton Co 20–22 Jul (ph. Tim Lenz, Luke Thompson, m.ob.); and five were also reported in the northeast at John Sevier Lake, Hawkins Co 25 Jul (ph. Susan Hubley). One to four White Ibises were reported from ten additional counties across TN. In KY, individual birds were reported at Morgan Pond, Christian Co 10 (ph. Mark Monroe, Brainard Palmer-Ball, Jr.), 11 (ph. Rickey Shrive), and 19 (ph. Jeremy Teague). and at the Falls of the Ohio, Jefferson Co 31 Jul (ph. Brainard Palmer-Ball, Jr., m.ob.).

A single Glossy Ibis at Brainard Levee, Hamilton Co 27 Jun (ph. Kent Dubois, m.ob.) was the first in that county in 11 years. Two White-faced Ibises were at Ensley 12 Jun (ph. Cameron Rutt, m.ob.). Another Glossy/White-faced Ibis observed in Claiborne Co, TN 10 Jun (Nell Moore) lacked sufficient details to confirm the species. Roseate Spoonbills are annual vagrants in the post-breeding season. Only one was found this season, at Fowler Road Irrigation Pond, Lincoln Co, TN 31 Jul (ph. Ruben Stoll).

Raptors

Up to two Swallow-tailed Kites were reported in the regular area of the Sequatchie Valley, Sequatchie Co, TN 27–30 Jul (ph. Roi Shannon, m.ob.); two were in Dayton, Rhea Co, TN 28 Jul (Kelly Ducham, Robert Ducham); and one was found at the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge, Meigs Co, TN 21 and 30 Jul (Charles Murray). Mississippi Kites are increasingly common west of Nashville and continue to expand eastward in TN. Three in Nashville’s Shelby Park, Davidson Co 19–20 Jun (ph. Ariel Dunham, m.ob.) included a bird carrying nesting material. Two at Cedars of Lebanon SP, Wilson Co 2 Jun (ph. Robin Nation, Candy Nation); one near Lynchburg, Moore Co 28 Jul (ph. Michael Kerwin); and one at Dale Hollow Dam, Clay Co 8 Jun (Mark Brown) were rare records east of Nashville. The latter two established first county records.

Tennessee’s surprise first Snail Kite was found along the Buffalo River in Wayne Co 19 Jun (ph. Will Wiggins) and relocated by birders on kayak 21 Jun (ph. Mark Greene, Victor Stoll, m.ob.). A juvenile, it appeared very weak and was brought to a rehab facility. Sadly it did not survive. Always very rare in summer, a single Merlin was reported in north Spencer Co, KY 10 Jun (James Wheat).

Flycatchers through Warblers

A Western Kingbird at Lytle Creek Road, Rutherford Co, TN 7 Jul (ph. Nathan Heath) marked the second summer one was found in this location. Unlike the previous year, it was only observed once. A species only expected for the region in Shelby Co, TN, ten were high counts found at both Ensley 19 Jul (ph. Tricia Vesely, Dick Preston) and Maynard C. Stiles Water Treatment Plant 20 Jun (ph. Tricia Vesely, Dick Preston). A returning pair of Scissor-tailed Flycatchers at Auburn Cemetery, Logan Co, KY successfully fledged three young (m.ob.). They were the only known to be in KY. In TN, Scissor-tailed Flycatchers continue a somewhat random, yet steady pattern of expansion north and east. They were reported from 13 counties, mostly in established breeding areas, but including a new nest in far northeast Washington Co (ph. David Hollie, m.ob.). The latter was a first nesting record for the eastern mountains.

Bell’s Vireo continued to show strongly in several areas along the Mississippi River, with nine reports in Shelby Co 2 Jun–10 Jul (ph. au. Ryan Pudwell, m.ob.); three at Chickasaw NWR, Lauderdale Co 30 Jun (ph, Alan Troyer); two at Thorny Cypress WMA, Dyer Co 8 Jun (David Chaffin); and one at Tiptonville Landing, Lake Co 28 Jun (Mark Greene). They were also reported in the expected nesting location of Ft. Campbell, Stewart Co 3 Jun and 16 Jul (Daniel Moss fide Graham Gerdeman). Expected in much of western KY, five Bell’s Vireos at Sandy Watkins County Park, Henderson Co 3 Jun (Charles Crawford) was the high count.

Estimates of numbers in Nashville, TN’s massive, late-summer downtown Purple Martin roost were 100,000–250,000 birds 29–31 Jul (Graham Gerdeman, Laura Cook, m.ob.); estimates of 12,000 were reported from the large roost in Bowling Green, Warren Co, KY 25 Jul (ph. Steve Tyson), and 10,000 from a roost at Norton Commons, Jefferson Co, KY earlier in the month 11 Jul (ph. Anne Ensign). Such numbers are famously difficult to estimate. The numbers from Nashville may well be high, while the KY numbers are certainly low by an order of magnitude, as radar signatures indicated the Bowling Green roost, specifically, to be as large or larger than the one in Nashville.

There is only one known nesting location for Red-breasted Nuthatch in KY, in the Red River Gorge, Wolfe Co. There was one report of 1–2 birds there 14 Jun (Meg Brown, Steve Brown, au. Nancy Braun). Very rare in KY, there was also a single report of two Brown-headed Nuthatches in Laurel Co 9 Jun (ph. Jamie Buchanan, m.ob.). That species has colonized up and down the Tennessee River in TN, and is expected to continue to spread where they find appropriate pine habitat.

One Vesper Sparrow was reported in the region, along J Dance Road, Henderson Co, KY 22 and 24 Jul (David Wilkins; au. ph. Julia Farmer). A Lincoln’s Sparrow found window-killed in Clarksville, TN 9 Jun (ph. John Johanson) was an extremely late date and established the only record for either Jun or Jul in the entire region. Lastly, a Tennessee Warbler at Lock 5 Wildlife Refuge, Trousdale Co, TN 25 Jul (ph. James Davis, Tara Davis) was a surprising Jul record and bumped the early fall date of 27 Jul established in 2023. The species usually does not arrive in the area until late August.

Report edited by Andrew Keaveney, 3 Jun 2026.