We were free on Saturday, so after sleeping late, we drove to Shelby Farms in east Memphis with a picnic lunch to look for birds. The weather was perfect. It was cloudy and overcast with a cool breeze and temps of about 62 degrees. The first place we stopped was a hilly field that we have never birded before. It was the old landfill field on the south side of Walnut Grove where they have several methane release valves. We climbed a rather steep hill covered in grass and weeds. We heard several Eastern Meadowlarks (Sturnella Magna) hidden in the grass. Their song is diagnostic. We finally got one in sight with its yellow sides and the two white tail feathers.
We moved from there over to Refuge Pond, a small fishing place behind a Christmas Tree collection site near the Laser Tag facility. At the lake we saw two unsuccessful fishermen, but no birds. On the power lines, there were beautiful Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia Sialis) and quite a few noisy Killdeer (Charadrius Vociferus). In the soybean fields, we spotted a flock of purple Rock Doves (Columba Livia) and a swarm of invasive European Common Starlings (Sturnus Vulgaris). After crossing busy Walnut Grove onto Farm Road, we drove around the newly created Hyde Lake. There were no ducks or egrets due to the great number of people walking around the lake, chasing the birds away.
There are twenty small lakes in the Park, according to the website. Driving around the main road, we passed Pine Lake, where there were only two Mallards (Anas Platyrhynchos), (one male and one female). We saw people riding the new Zip Line across the lake. In the field across from Pine Lake, we spotted Red Winged Black Birds (Agelaius Phoeniceus) and a White Throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia Albicollis). The White Throated Sparrow is a regular winter visitor to this area from the north.
By this time, we were getting hungry, so we drove past the horse barn and found a picnic table under a copse of cedar trees at Beaver Lake. For our picnic we ate stuffed celery, Cheese, Pears and Cantaloupe, and Robert's famous, homemade Chicken Salad with crackers. Robert also had made a delicious spinach and tomato salad, which he ate with Raspberry Vinaigrette.
As we were finishing our lunch, four Canada Geese (Branta Canadensis) walked up to the table. We discussed giving them some crackers, but decided not to. When animals are fed by humans, they often loose their fear of people and can get into trouble. As the geese waddled down the hill from us, we heard some loud honking. Two male geese were having a dust-up to determine who would be a mate for the female geese. One male goose lowered his head and ran straight at the other male goose, who then lowered his own head and ran back at his attacker. (Sigh... boys will be boys). The fight did not last long and soon everyone seemed to be friends again, going on their way to eat grass in the field.
Berry
Photos courtesy of wikipedia, Alastair Rae, rfowler
