Chris Sloan
224 Hicks Road
Nashville, Tennessee 37221
(chris.sloan@comcast.net)

Brainard Palmer-Ball, Jr.
Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission
801 Schenkel Lane
Frankfort, Kentucky 40601
(brainard.palmer-ball@ky.gov)

June and July 2004 were characterized by slightly higher-than-normal rainfall and well-below-average temperature. In fact, July may have been the coolest on record with multiple frontal passages that reinforced the mild temperatures. The stormy weather of May persisted into the first part of June, but July was nearly devoid of severe weather events. Mississippi and Ohio River levels dropped gradually over the period without major rises, allowing for successful nesting of Least Terns on the former.
The most unusual rarity from the season was a potential first-Kentucky record for Black Skimmer. Other unusual observations included a Neotropic Cormorant, lingering Purple Finches, and a juvenile Red Crossbill. Black-necked Stilt and Scissor-tailed Flycatcher continued their recent trends of nesting in scattered locales and an Anhinga at a heronry in Kentucky's southwesternmost county may be a promising sign of future nesting. West Nile Virus incidence was hardly mentioned by rehabilitators and health officials, boding well for bird populations.

Abbreviations:  Ensley (Ensley Bottoms, including the EARTH Complex, in sw. Shelby, TN), Heritage Marsh (Heritage Marsh, White, TN), Kentucky Dam (Kentucky Dam, Livingston/Marshall, KY), White L. (White L. W.M.A., Dyer, TN).

LOONS THROUGH IBIS
Two to 3 Common Loons lingered above Ky Dam into Jun, with 3 there 3 Jun (BP) and one still there 9 Jul (BP); also reported were singles in basic plumage on L. Barkley, Lyon, KY 3 Jun (BP, EC, et al.), on Percy Priest L., TN 6 Jun (RC), in Bullitt, KY 7 Jul (ph. E&JH), and in Meade, KY from early Jul into Aug (ph. BLw).
 American White Pelicans lingered through the season, especially along the Mississippi R., as was evidenced by flocks ranging in size from 18 to 193 reported from Fulton and Trigg, KY and Lauderdale, Dyer, and Lake, TN. One soaring over the mountains in Carter, TN 17 Jul (BS) was rare both for the e. Tennessee location and the date. A Neotropic Cormorant at White L. 7 Jun (†KL, WGC) added to the handful of records for the Region. Again this summer, a few Double-crested Cormorants lingered into or through the season at several localities and nesting colonies at Kentucky L., Calloway, KY (at least 20 active nests 21 Jun (HC)), Rankin Bottoms, Cocke, TN (15 active nests 25 Jul (MSl, LG)), and Old Hickory L., Davidson/Sumner, TN (at least five active nests 26 Jun (PC, MZ)) were again active this summer. A female Anhinga at a heronry in Fulton, KY, 8 Jun (†BP, EC) was a promising indicator that nesting birds may return to Kentucky in the near future. A female at Eagle L. W.M.A., Shelby, TN 13 & 20 Jun (VH) was possibly nesting in a nearby heronry.

Begin S.A. A cooperative statewide survey of heronries in Kentucky yielded further evidence of a marked increase in the Great Blue Heron in the Region. As of the early 1950s, about 900 pairs of nesting Great Blues were known from eight sites in Kentucky (more were doubtfully present but unknown to ornithologists of the era). During the "DDT era" of the late 1960s and early 1970s, this species apparently disappeared from the state as a breeding bird and was seldom seen at other times of the year. However, nesting birds returned in the late 1970s in the western portion of the state and a gradual increase commenced soon thereafter. A cooperative survey of active heronries conducted in 1994 documented the presence of more than 1750 pairs at 24 sites. In 1999, more than 2500 pairs were found at 48 distinct colony sites. The 2004 survey yielded a remarkable total of more than 5150 pairs now present at more than 70 sites! Banning of organophosphate pesticides like DDT, recent wetland protection regulations and initiatives, and adaptation to reservoirs and other manmade water bodies apparently all are contributing to this remarkable recovery. End S.A.
 An American Bittern was observed on five occasions in Jul at Heritage Marsh (DDo, SJS) suggesting breeding. At least five and possibly as many as ten Least Bittern nests were found at Standifer Gap Marsh, Hamilton, TN (DPt) during the period. The Kentucky heronry survey found Great Egrets (1-115 pairs) breeding at 6 distinct sites in Carlisle, Fulton (2), Hickman, Lyon, and Marshall (BP, EC, et al.); as has been the case in recent years, at least two pairs were on nests at Old Hickory L., Sumner, TN 26 Jun (PC, MZ). At least ten pairs of nesting Little Blue Herons were present on L. Barkley, Lyon, KY again this year (BP, EC, et al.); quite unusual was a possible Little Blue Heron x Snowy Egret at the same site in early Jun (ph. TF). A Tricolored Heron, a rare but regular find in the Region, was observed at White L. 1 Jul (CBu, VRe). Nesting Cattle Egrets were again present on three different islands in n. L. Barkley, Lyon KY (BP, EC, et al.). The only nesting sites for Black-crowned Night-Herons in Kentucky were again three islands in n. L. Barkley, Lyon (BP, EC, et al.) and at Louisville (BP, MM).
 Three different White Ibis – an above average number – were reported; imms. were observed in Knox, TN 15–16 Jul (EM) and at Chickasaw N.W.R., Lauderdale, TN 18 Jul (JRW), and an ad. was at White L. 6 Jul (WGC).

WATERFOWL THROUGH MOORHEN
Single Snow Geese at the Brainerd Levee, Hamilton, TN 12 Jun (HBi) and in Fayette, KY in early Jul (WS) were strange summer finds. Blue-winged Teal – a relatively rare breeder – was confirmed nesting at five locales across the Region as follows: s. Warren, KY (DR, CH), Standifer Gap Marsh, Hamilton, TN (CS, m.ob.), White, TN (DDo), Ensley (JRW), and White L. (JRW). The four reports for Tennessee represent an above average number.
 Lingering waterfowl included a male Gadwall, a male Ring-necked Duck, 2 female Greater Scaup, at least 16 Lesser Scaup, and a pair of Bufflehead – most or all likely injured – on L. Barkley, Lyon, KY 3 Jun (BP, EC, et al.); a male Ring-necked Duck in Ohio, KY 20–31 Jul (DR, RD, HC); 3 Gadwall and an American Wigeon at White L. 10 Jul (WGC, KL, BLg); one to 2 Northern Pintails at White L. 23 Jun–23 Jul (WGC, KL, BLg); a male Green-winged Teal at White L. 20 Jun–28 Jul (WGC, KL, JRW); one to 2 Northern Shovelers at Ensley 1 May–17 Jul (JRW, CBu, VRe) and another at White L. 27 Jun–11 Jul (WGC, KL, BLg, JRW).
 A Northern Harrier in Bradley, TN 19 Jun furnished a surprising summer record (BJ). Sharp-shinned Hawks are uncommon summer residents, especially in w. Tennessee, so single individuals in McNairy 2 Jul (MG) and Dyer 21 Jul (CBu, VRe) were noteworthy. An imm. was noted in Hamilton, TN 19 Jul (JSL).
 Five pairs of Peregrine Falcons again nested along the Ohio R., KY in Jefferson, Trimble (2), Carroll, and Greenup with successful fledging of 1-4 young from all locations except one of the Trimble sites (TC, SV). In Tennessee, one fledgling was still hanging around the nest site with 2 adults at Chickamauga Dam, Hamilton 1 Jun (fide KC) and 2 fledglings and 2 ads. were observed near the nest site at Alum Cave Bluff, Great Smoky Mts. N.P. 28 Jun (SH).
 Three Virginia Rail nests were found at Standifer Gap Marsh, Hamilton, TN 21–29 Jun (DPt); one bird at Heritage Marsh 1 Jul (DDo, SJS) suggested breeding at that location as well. Common Moorhens again nested at the Sauerheber Unit Sloughs W.M.A., Henderson, KY (CC); single individuals were present at Ensley 13–19 Jun (CBu, VRe, JRW) and Shelby Farms, Shelby, TN 21 Jun–2 Jul (CBu, VRe, MW).

SHOREBIRDS THROUGH TERNS
The shorebird highlights of the season were two different Hudsonian Godwits in Tennessee: one at White L. 2–4 Jun (WGC, KL, NM) and an ad. female at Ensley 5–6 Jun (JRW, QBG).
 Unprecedented numbers of Black-necked Stilts appeared in w. Fulton, KY in early Jul, with up to 67 counted (49 at one location alone) and 4 nests observed 5 Jul (JRW, HC); receding water levels likely caused failure of most nests (JRW). What must be considered the only extralimital observations (now that breeders seem established all along the Mississippi R. floodplain) were a male in s. Warren, KY 2 Jun (DR, NR) and 2 birds in Ballard, KY 1 Jul (CW).
 An American Golden-Plover was likely an early fall migrant in Dyer, TN 20 Jun (WGC, KL).  Other unusually early fall transient shorebirds included another American Golden-Plover in basic plumage in w. Fulton, KY 5 Jul (ph. JRW), a molting adult Dunlin in Lake, TN 11 Jul (JRW), and a Wilson's Snipe at Ensley 17–18 Jul (JRW et al.). There was a noticeable movement of Willets in late Jun and early Jul along the Mississippi R., with single birds noted in Dyer, TN 22 Jun (WGC, KL), at Ensley 4 Jul (JRW), and at the Shelby Farms, Shelby, TN 8 Jul (WRP), as well as 6 at Ensley 10 Jul (JRW). Noteworthy early season peak shorebird counts included 1387 Least Sandpipers at Ensley 17 Jul (JRW) and 1060 Pectoral Sandpipers and 52 Stilt Sandpipers at Ensley 27 Jul (JRW). A Semipalmated Plover at White L. 7 Jun (WGC, KL) was a late spring transient.
 An adult Laughing Gull was present at Kentucky Dam Village S.P., Marshall, KY 6 Jun (HC, CP) and one was at Ensley 26 Jun (JRW). Eight Caspian Terns were still in the vicinity of Kentucky Dam 6 Jun (HC, CP). A first-year Forster’s Tern lingered in Marshall, KY to 18 Jun (BP).  Quite out-of-place were 7 adult Common Terns at Barren River L., Allen/Barren, KY 29 Jun (DR); one at Chickasaw N.W.R., Lauderdale, TN 5 Jul (JRW) was also an unusual find.
 It was a mixed season for Least Terns. Populations on the lower Ohio R. again endured near or complete failure of nesting attempts due to a lack of optimal sites. At least 26 nests were initiated at a Marshall, KY industrial pond site along the lower Tennessee R. as of 18 Jun (BP), but a predator had destroyed all nests by 9 Jul (BP) and the colony did not reestablish (BP, EC). On the Mississippi R. the story was much better – a 22 Jul survey detected nesting at the 3 traditional sites in Kentucky in Carlisle (125 birds), Hickman (420 birds), and Fulton (141 birds) (KJ et al.). The same survey continued downriver 22-23 Jul and documented confirmed nesting at 11 Tennessee sites in Dyer (3), Lake (2), Lauderdale (3), Shelby (1), and Tipton (2) involving just over 2100 birds (19-649 per site) (KJ et al.); also, over 600 birds were noted in Tipton, TN 12 Jun (JRW). A noticeable early-season movement of Black Terns occurred 30-31 Jul with 4-20 reported at four locales in Kentucky (RD, ER, TB fide HBr, HC) and 3 at Ensley 31 Jul (JRW). What will become a first state record if accepted by the Kentucky BRC was an adult Black Skimmer observed loafing and flying around a sandbar along the w. margin of Kentucky Bend, Fulton, 22 Jul (†JR, KJ).

CUCKOOS THROUGH STARLING
The only Black-billed Cuckoo reported was one heard in n. Livingston, KY 18 Jun (BP). It was a banner season for Barn Owls in Kentucky with nine broods reported, some of which were disrupted by a variety of natural events and human activities; broods were reported in Carlisle (DB), Jefferson (DPr), Hart (E&SG), Henry (FM, fide EW), Madison (MSc, fide EW); Marion (DJ), McCracken (SL, fide EW), Shelby (JH, fide EW), and Simpson (RB, fide EW).
 A calling Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in Monroe, TN 11 Jun (DV) and two pairs with young in Carter, TN in late Jun (DHt et al.) furnished first county breeding records for this uncommon Southern Appalachian breeder.
 A relatively late Olive-sided Flycatcher was heard at Mammoth Cave N.P., Edmonson, KY 5 Jun (J&PB et al.). A Willow Flycatcher nest discovered 4 Jun at Standifer Gap Marsh, Hamilton, TN (DHo, BC) furnished the first confirmed breeding of this species in se. Tennessee in at least ten years.  Two Least Flycatchers in the Cumberland Mts. – one on Bootjack Mt., Campbell, TN early to mid-Jun (LB) and one on Fork Mt., Anderson, TN mid-Jun (LB) – were remarkable in that this species has historically been limited as a breeder to extreme upper e. Tennessee. Continuing the trend of recent years, five Western Kingbird nests were found at Ensley 10 Jul (JRW). Similarly, Scissor-tailed Flycatchers bred widely across the Region, with nests in s. Livingston, KY (m. ob.), Bledsoe, TN 12 Jun (RS), Maury, TN 29 Jun (TE), Rutherford, TN 3 Jul (TW et al.), S. Pittsburgh, Marion, TN 15 Jul (JI), and President's I., Shelby, TN 24 Jul (JRW). Apparently unpaired birds were seen in Lyon, KY (a former nesting site) 3 Jun (BP, EC), at the Brainerd Levee, Hamilton, TN 24 Jul (J&VL), and at Ft. Loudoun Dam, Loudoun, TN 12 Jun (KDE).
 A Bell's Vireo singing at Mayfield, Graves, KY 21 Jul (GL) represents a new county summer record. For the second consecutive year, one was found at Black Bayou W.M.A., Lake, TN 5 Jun (NM, WRP). Two Red-breasted Nuthatches were observed at the traditional nesting area in Wolfe, KY 26 Jun (FR). At least 17 Sedge Wrens were on territory at Ft. Campbell, Montgomery, TN 29 Jul (DM); this is a remarkable concentration for the Region, and especially in Tennessee where only a handful of confirmed breeding records exist. One at Heritage Marsh 20 Jul (SJS, DDo) was also suggestive of breeding.
 Single Swainson's and Gray-cheeked thrushes in Land Between the Lakes, Lyon, KY 3 Jun (BP) were relatively late. A potential first report for Kentucky was a non-cavity, globe-shaped nest of European Starling situated in the dense interior cover of a red cedar tree in Shelby during  Jun (ph. HBr).

WARBLERS THROUGH FINCHES
An Eastern Kentucky University graduate study following up a 2003 Golden-winged Warbler atlas project in se. Kentucky resulted in the logging of 36 territorial males (23 in Bell, 2 in Harlan, 11 in Whitley) and the discovery of 7 active nests (one each in Bell and Whitley, 5 in Bell) (LP et al.) – the nests are the first ever reported from Kentucky. The same graduate study located 8 territorial male Brewster's Warblers (4 in Bell, 4 in Whitley) (LP et al.). Quite unusual was a basic-plumaged Chestnut-sided Warbler at Mammoth Cave N.P., Edmonson, KY 21 Jul (SK). Surveys for Cerulean Warblers in the Land Between the Lakes N.R.A., KY-TN during May and early Jun resulted in the documentation of only 13 territorial males (MB, BP, VRo). The most remarkable aspect about this total is that despite several weeks of field work, only that many were found amidst a large public parcel containing more than 60,000 hectares of potentially suitable forest land habitat!  A relatively late Connecticut Warbler was seen and heard in Jefferson, KY 1 Jun (BP); likewise, a relatively late female Mourning Warbler was banded at Edwin Warner Park, Nashville, TN 2 Jun (SB).
 A very impressive total of 17 territorial male Bachman's Sparrows and 3 confirmed breeding pairs was accounted for at Fort Campbell (Trigg, KY and Stewart/Montgomery, TN) during Jun (DM). Also impressive was the tally of 6 territorial male Lark Sparrows, plus 3 probable breeding pairs and one non-singing bird found on Fort Campbell (Trigg, KY and Stewart, TN) during Jun (DM). Two Lark Sparrows were also reported from a somewhat traditional nesting area in w. Boyle, KY 11 Jul (fide BK). Henslow’s Sparrows continue to expand; a small colony in McCracken, KY in early Jun (AW, HC) represented a new county summer record. Likewise, small colonies in Coffee, TN (DDa) and at Heritage Marsh 11 Jul (SJS, WW) established new breeding locations for Tennessee. A singing male White-throated Sparrow lingered in a yard in Jefferson, KY to 8 Jun (tape recording/ph. BW).
 Two small colonies of nesting Bobolinks were followed through the season in Boyle and Mercer, KY (DW, DPe). A male Yellow-headed Blackbird at the Mercer, KY Bobolink nesting locale 3 Jun (†DW, DPe) was certainly out of place. Unprecedented for Kentucky was the presence of one to 2 Purple Finches (what appeared to be a female and a first-year male) that lingered through Jun at a feeding station in se. Jefferson (E&JH) with one last observed there 3 Jul (ph. E&JH). Early in the summer at least one of the birds had conjunctivitis, which may have been in large part responsible for their presence so late in the season. Also unprecedented for Kentucky was a  juv. Red Crossbill that was picked up dead in a yard in Fort Mitchell, Kenton, 14 Jul (CBr fide MVi).  It is unknown if the bird was of local origin, but suitable breeding habitat is present in the form of several groves of large conifers in at least one nearby cemetery (fide FR). Pine Siskins are rare in summer in Tennessee, and even rarer breeders, so up to 18 at two locations in Carter, TN (BS, TM) in Jun and Jul were noteworthy.

Cited Contributors (subregional editors in boldface): Jane & Pat Bell, Michael Bierly, Harold Birch (HBi), Sandy Bivens, Horace Brown (HBr), Ronnie Brown, Todd Brown, Denny Broyles, Carolyn Bullock (CBu), Leslie Bullock, Cindy Burns (CBr), Phillip Casteel (middle Tennessee), Kevin Calhoon (se. Tennessee), Tina Carter, Hap Chambers, Elizabeth Ciuzio, Richard Connors, Charlie Crawford, W. Glen Criswell, Brandon Croft, Don Davidson (DDa), Roseanna Denton, Douglas Downs (DDo), K. Dean Edwards, Tommy Edwards, Tom Fusco, Eric & Summer Garris, Leslie Gibbens, Q.B. Gray, Mark Greene, John Hammond, Van Harris, David Hollie (DHo), Don Holt (DHt), Carter Hooks, Susan Hoyle, Eddie & Jennifer Huber, Jerry Ingles, Bonnie Johnson, David Jones, Kenneth Jones, Bill Kemper, Steve Kistler, Rick Knight (e. Tennessee), Jack & Vickie Leather, Betty Leggett (BLg), Ken Leggett, Bryan Lewis (BLw), Stacy Loe, Glen Lovelace, Jonnie Sue Lyons, Ed Manous, Frank Marlow, Tom McNeil, Mark Monroe, Nancy Moore, Daniel Moss, Brainard Palmer-Ball, Jr., Don Parker (DPr), David Patterson (DPt), Laura Patton, Don Pelly (DPe), W. Robert Peeples (w. Tennessee), Clell Peterson, Nicole Ranalli, Ed Ray, Frank Renfrow, Virginia Reynolds (VRe), Vince Robinson (VRo), David Roemer, John Rumancik, Woody Schatt, Marcia Schroder (MSc), Roi Shannon, Michael Sledjeski (MSl), Chris Sloan, Stephen J. Stedman, Bryan Stevens, Marilyn Vickers, David Vogt, Shawchyi Vorisek, Winston Walden, Martha Waldron, Danny Watson, Alan Whited, Eileen Wicker, Charlie Wilkins, Jeff R. Wilson, Terry Witt, Barbara Woerner, Mary Zimmerman.  Many thanks go to the numerous additional individuals who contributed information that was used in this report. Regretfully, due to space limitations, we cannot acknowledge each individual contributor.