Brainard Palmer-Ball, Jr., and Lee McNeely

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 exciting rarity from the season was a potential first-state record for Black Skimmer. Other unusual observations included lingering Purple Finches and a juvenile Red Crossbill. Black-necked Stilt and Scissor-tailed Flycatcher continued their recent trends of nesting in the western part of the state and an Anhinga at a heronry in Fulton County may be a promising sign of future nesting. Again this summer, West Nile Virus incidence appeared to be much less prevalent than in 2002.

Publication of any unusual sightings in the seasonal report does not imply that these reports have been accepted as records for the official checklist of Kentucky birds. Observers are cautioned that records of out-of-season birds and all rarities must be accompanied with good details or documentation for acceptance. Documentation must be submitted to the Kentucky Bird Records Committee (KBRC). Decisions regarding the official Kentucky list are made by the KBRC and are reported periodically in The Kentucky Warbler.

 Abbreviations – Miscellaneous: county names appear in italics; when used to separate dates, the “/” symbol is used in place of “and”; “ph.” next to an observer’s initials indicates that the observation was documented with photograph(s); “vt.” next to an observer’s initials indicates that the observation was documented on videotape; “*” next to an observer’s initials indicates that written details were submitted with the report; ad. = adult; imm. = immature; juv. = juvenile; yg. = young; KDFWR = Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. Place names: Barkley Dam = Barkley Dam, Lyon/Livingston; Calvert City = Calvert City, Marshall; Camp #9 = Peabody Camp #9 coal facility, Union; Camp #11 = Peabody Camp #11 mine, Union; Chaney Lake = Chaney Lake State Nature Preserve, Warren; DBNF = Daniel Boone National Forest; Fishing Creek = Fishing Creek embayment of Lake Cumberland, Pulaski; Homestead = Homestead Unit Peabody WMA, Ohio; Ky Dam = Kentucky Dam, Livingston/Marshall; Ky Dam Village = Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park, Marshall; Ky Lake = Kentucky Lake, Calloway (unless otherwise noted); Kuttawa = Lake Barkley at Kuttawa, Lyon; Lake Barkley = Lake Barkley, Livingston/Lyon/Trigg; Lake No. 9 = Lake No. 9, Fulton; LBL = Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, Lyon/Trigg; Long Point = Long Point Unit Reelfoot NWR, Fulton; Mammoth Cave = Mammoth Cave National Park, Edmonson (unless otherwise noted); Mitchell Lake = Mitchell Lake, Ballard WMA, Ballard; Open Pond = Open Pond, Fulton; Paradise = Paradise Power Plant impoundments, Muhlenberg; Petros Pond = Petros Pond, Warren; Sauerheber = Sauerheber Unit of Sloughs WMA, Henderson; Smithland Dam = Smithland Dam on the Ohio River, Livingston; Surrey Hills Farm = Surrey Hills Farm, Jefferson; Walton's Pond = Walton's Pond, Warren; WMA = Wildlife Management Area.

Snow Goose – an apparently resident blue morph bird was observed at Overbrook Farm, Fayette, in early July (WS, fide RC).

Blue-winged Teal – 2 females with broods were present at Chaney Lake 20 June (DR, CH); 2 were observed at Open Pond 27 June (KL, BLg); a female was also observed at Petros Pond 28 July (DR).

Gadwall – a male, likely injured, was observed at Kuttawa 3 June (BP, EC, et al.).

Ring-necked Duck – an injured male was at Kuttawa 3 June (BP, EC, et al.); an apparently summering (injured?) male was observed at Homestead 20 July (DR) and 31 July (RD, HC).

Greater Scaup – 2 females, certainly injured, were on Lake Barkley above the dam 3 June (BP, EC, et al.).

Lesser Scaup – at least 8 birds, certainly injured, were at both Kuttawa and on Lake Barkley above the dam 3 June (BP, EC, et al.) with at least 6 still there 18 June (BP).

Bufflehead – 2 birds (a male and a female), possibly injured, were on Lake Barkley above the dam 3 June (BP, EC, et al.).

Hooded Merganser – 1 was observed at Chaney Lake 20 June (DR, CH); 1 was observed above Ky Dam 18 June (BP).

Common Loon – 2-3 birds continued above Ky Dam into June, with 3 there 3 June (BP) 2 there 4 June (HC) and 18 June (BP), and 1 molting out of alternate plumage there 9 July (BP); also reported were singles in basic plumage at Kuttawa 3 June (BP, EC, et al.) and at Bernheim Forest, Bullitt, 7 July (ph.E&JH) and on Otter Creek, Meade, from early July into August (ph.BLw).

Pied-billed Grebe – the species was last observed at Chaney Lake 4 June (DR).

American White Pelican – 53 were at Obion WMA, Fulton 5 July (HC); 18 were over Fords Bay, Lake Barkley, Trigg, 20 July (ME).

Double-crested Cormorant – again this summer, a few birds lingered into or through the season at several localities including 12 at Calvert City and ca. 30 at Kuttawa 3 June (BP, EC, et al.); 5 still at Calvert City and ca. 20 still at Kuttawa 18 June (BP) with ca. 6 remaining at Calvert City through July (BP) and several at Paradise in late July (DR). The Ky Lake nesting colony was again active this summer with at least 20 active nests present 21 June (HC).

Anhinga – promising as a possible indication of future nesting was a female at a heronry near the confluence of Bayou de Chien and Little Bayou de Chien, Fulton, 8 June (*BP, EC). KBRC review required.

Least Bittern – 1 was observed at Paradise 29 July (DR, NR).

Great Blue Heron – a number of new heronries were reported this season; a nest along the golf course at Pine Mountain State Resort Park, Bell, had to be the most out-of-place (SM). Full details will be published in an upcoming article summarizing results of the 2004 heronry survey.

Great Egret – 2 birds were at Chaney Lake 4 June (DR). A statewide heronry survey yielded confirmed breeding of birds at 6 distinct sites in Carlisle, Fulton (2), Hickman, Lyon, and Marshall, including at least 115 active nests at Long Point at the former site of "Kentucky Cranetown" (BP, EC, PB). As usual, post-breeding birds began showing up in early July with 2 at South Shore WMA, Greenup, 8 July (SM) and 2 at Casey Creek embayment of Green River Lake, Adair, 10 July (RD); as usual, numbers of post-breeding birds were highest in the w. part of the state and included up to ca. 150 on a slough near Sauerheber 13/21 July (NR); 200 in w. Fulton 22 July (HC, ME) and 300 at Mitchell Lake 23 July (SR).

Little Blue Heron – an undetermined number of nesting pairs were present at Kuttawa 3 June (BP, EC, et al.); somewhat unusual were 2 juveniles at Fishing Creek 28 July through the end of the month (RD).

Snowy Egret – wandering birds were present at Petros Pond 2 June (DR, NR); the presence of a few birds at the heronry at Kuttawa 3 June indicated nesting was likely occurring again (BP, EC, et  al.).

Cattle Egret – active nests were again present on 3 different islands in n. Lake Barkley, Lyon, in early June (BP, EC, et al.).

Black-crowned Night-Heron – again this summer, a few birds were present at Paradise (m. ob.) but no nests were located; active nests were again present on 3 different islands in n. Lake Barkley, Lyon, in early June (BP, EC, et al.).

Yellow-crowned Night Heron – a juvenile was observed at the Highland Creek Unit Sloughs WMA, Union, 14 July (CC); 2 nests over Woodbine Drive, Lexington, were successful in fledging 4 and 5 young in early July (ph.TS, JWm).

Osprey – out-of-place for the early dates in presumed non-breeding areas were 1 at Open Pond 5 July (HC) and a juvenile at Barren River Lake, Allen, 22 July (DR). Six nests were observed on Ky Lake 21 June (HC). New nesting areas were located along the Ohio River, w. McCracken, in April (KT) and on the lower Tennessee River below Ky Dam, Livingston, 3 June (BP).

Mississippi Kite – 2 birds (1 a first-year) were observed at the Sinclair Unit of Peabody WMA, Muhlenberg, 8 July (BP); also, the same nest site at Long Point was active again this year with adults present 13 June (HC, ME) and at least 1 chick observed in the nest on 6 July (HC). Also reported in seemingly traditional summering areas were 3 or 4 near Kaler Bottoms WMA, Graves, 21 July (GL) and 1 over the Highland Creek Unit Sloughs WMA, Union, 14 July (CC). A first-year bird between Danville and Perryville, Boyle, 9 June (BK) represents a first for the Inner Bluegrass region.

Bald Eagle – quite unusual was an adult at South Shore WMA, Greenup, 8 July (SM).

Northern Harrier – nesting birds were reported on the Peabody WMA, Muhlenberg/ Ohio on several occasions during the season (m. ob.).

Sharp-shinned Hawk – a family group including juveniles was observed at Homestead 20 July (DR).

Peregrine Falcon –pairs again nested at 5 locations along the Ohio River in Jefferson, Trimble (2), Carroll and Greenup, with successful fledging of 1-4 young birds in all locations except one of the Trimble sites (TC, SV); 2 of the Louisville family group were observed at the Falls of the Ohio 25 July (GD).

Common Moorhen – 1 was observed at Sauerheber 23 June (CC); with 2 adults and 4 chicks there 2 July (CC); 3 adults and 4 young there 14 July (CC); and 1 adult and 3 young there 28 July (CC).

American Coot – at least a dozen birds lingered at Camp #11 into June (BP) with several observed there 9 July (BP, TE).

American Golden-Plover – 1 in basic plumage was observed near Open Pond 5 July (ph. JWs).

Semipalmated Plover – latest spring reports were for 7 at Walton's Pond 2 June (DR, NR) and 1 there 4 June (DR). First fall report was for 1 at Mitchell Lake 29 July (SR).

Killdeer – peak counts included 170+ at Camp #9 on 9 July (BP) and 500+ at Mitchell Lake 27 July (NR).

Black-necked Stilt – unprecedented numbers appeared in w. Fulton during July, with up to 67 counted (49 at Open Pond alone) and 4 nests observed 5 July (JWs, HC). By 10 July, water was receding and the count of birds was only 7); 1 additional nest was observed in w. Fulton 18 July (JWs), but it is unknown if any nestings were successful. Extralimital observations were limited to a male at Chaney Lake 2 June (DR, NR) and 2 at Mitchell Lake 1 July (CW). KBRC review required for report outside of Fulton.

Greater Yellowlegs – early peak count of 14 at Mitchell Lake (DR).

Lesser Yellowlegs – first fall reports included 2 at Open Pond 26 June (HC); with 13 there by 5 July (HC).

Solitary Sandpiper – first fall report was for 1 near Sauerheber 13 July (NR).

Spotted Sandpiper – latest spring report was for 1 at Paradise 8 June (DR). Birds reappeared in early July with 1 on the Ohio River at Dayton, Campbell, 12 July (FR).

Semipalmated Sandpiper – latest spring reports were for 34 at Walton's Pond and ca. 20 at Chaney Lake, both 4 June (DR). Earliest fall reports were for 3 at Cooley's Pond, Wayne, 22 July (RD) and 5 at Long Pond, Swan Lake WMA, Ballard, 23 July (GL).

Least Sandpiper – first fall reports were for 3 at Open Pond 26 June (HC) and 5 July (JWs), 1 at Paradise 8 July (BP), and 3 at Camp #11 on 9 July (BP, TE).
 
White-rumped Sandpiper – latest spring reports were for 23 at Walton's Pond 2 June (DR, NR), 1 there 4 June (DR), and 4 at Paradise 8 June (DR).

Pectoral Sandpiper – first fall reports were for 1 at Open Pond 26 June (HC). Peak early season count was 340+ at Mitchell Lake 27 July (NR).

Stilt Sandpiper – first fall reports were for 6 at Mitchell Lake 23 July (GL) and 2 at Lake No. 9 on 25 July (KL, BLg).

Short-billed Dowitcher – first fall reports were for 4 at Lake No. 9 on 25 July (KL, BLg); 8 in w. Fulton 29 July (HC, ME); and 1 at Mitchell Lake 29 July (DR, NR).

Laughing Gull – an adult was observed at the Ky Dam Village marina 6 June (HC, CP).

Ring-billed Gull – 6 were still at Ky Dam Village marina 3 June (BP) with 15 there 18 June (BP); an impressive count of 290 (most adults) had returned to Ky Dam Village marina by 9 July (BP) with 450 including a juvenile there by 26 July (DR); also reported were ca. 20 below Smithland Dam 9 July (BP) and 30-40 at both below Smithland Dam and at Barkley Dam 26 July (DR).

Caspian Tern – 8 birds were still at Ky Dam 6 June (HC, CP).

Forster’s Tern – 2 first-year birds were still at Calvert City 3 June (BP, EC) with 1 still there 18 June (BP).

Common Tern – quite unusual was the observation of 7 adults at Barren River Lake, Allen/Barren, 29 June (DR).

Least Tern – it was a mixed season for the species. Populations on the lower Ohio River again endured near or complete failure of nesting attempts due to a lack of optimal sites. At least 26 nests were initiated at the Calvert City industrial pond site as of 18 June (BP), but a predator had destroyed all nests by 9 July (BP) and the colony did not reestablish (BP, EC). Eighteen nests were initiated on bars below Smithland Dam 29 July (LC), but a subsequent rise in the river inundated them. On the Mississippi River the story was much better – a 22 July survey detected nesting at the 3 traditional sites: Island No. 1, Carlisle (125 birds); Middle Bar, Hickman (420 birds); and Kentucky Bend, Fulton (141 birds) (KJ, JR). During the latter part of July, at least 6 birds were observed foraging on the Ohio River, ne. Daviess, and associated sandbar upstream from Grandview, Indiana, where nesting is occurring on a power plant basin (DA). Also reported were 4 on a water treatment pond on the e. side of Paducah, McCracken, 8 June, where they have been reported in recent years (HC); 5 on buoys above Ky Dam 3 June (BP); and 2 at Camp #9 on 9 July (BP).

Black Tern – first fall report was 1 in w. Fulton 5 July (JWs). A noticeable early season movement occurred in late July with 14 at Fishing Creek 30 July (RD); "about the same number" over Lake Barkley, Trigg, 30 July (ER); 15-20 At Mary Ross Lake, Shelby, 31 July (TB fide HB); and 4 at Paradise 31 July (RD, HC).

Black Skimmer – what will become a first state record if accepted was an adult bird observed loafing and flying around a sandbar along the w. margin of Kentucky Bend, Fulton, 22 July (*JR, KJ). KBRC review required.

Eurasian Collared-Dove – no significant expansion was documented this breeding season.

Black-billed Cuckoo – only report for the period was 1 in n. Livingston 18 June (BP).

Barn Owl – it was a banner season for reports of this secretive and poorly known species; unfortunately, however, most were reported by wildlife rehabilitators who cared for 5 broods that were disrupted by a variety of natural and human created events. Broods of displaced young were reported as follows: ca. 1 mi nw. of Massac, sw. McCracken, in mid-May (SL, fide EW); Eminence, Henry, 28 May (FM, fide EW), Central Ky WMA, Madison, in early June (MS, fide EW); ca. 2.5 miles nw. of Cropper, Shelby, in early July (JH, fide EW); and ca. 1 mile ne. of Cunningham, Carlisle, in mid-July (HC). Also, a family group of up to 2 adults and 5 young were observed at the General Electric plant, s. Jefferson, 29 June into mid-August (DPr).

Chuck-will's-widow – unusual for the ne. part of the state was a late report of a bird singing for about a week during about the third week of May at West Liberty, Morgan (ME).

Red-headed Woodpecker – a count of 7 in the former Red-cockaded management areas along KY 90 e. of Cumberland Falls, Whitley (FR), was indicative of the habitat changes that have occurred there, especially since the pine beetle infestation several years ago.

Olive-sided Flycatcher – 1 was relatively late at Mammoth Cave 5 June (J&PB, et al.).

Willow Flycatcher – birds were reported in a few locations where reports are not regular including Creelsboro, Russell, 22 July (RD) and Ballard WMA, Ballard, 29 July (DR).

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher – the pair near Grand Rivers in s. Livingston nested successfully with incubation underway in early June (m. ob.) and 4 young observed near the nest 18 June (BP); 1 was observed below Barkley Dam 3 June (BP, EC) but no later reports originated from that location and nesting likely did not occur there. KBRC has reviewed from previous years.

Bell’s Vireo – a bird singing at Mayfield, Graves, 21 July represents a new county summer record (GL).

Blue-headed Vireo – 2 were reported from the S Tree area, DBNF, Jackson, 10 June (RD); and the species was reported at Jenny Wiley State Resort Park, Pike, in mid-June (DPt).

Tree Swallow – relatively late was a family of young that fledged near Dot, Logan, 17 July (FL).

Bank Swallow – a nesting colony was again active this year on the Ohio River at Lewis County WMA 8 July (SF).

Cliff Swallow – quite impressive was a post-breeding gathering of ca. 3000 birds observed in w. Fulton 18 July (JWs).

Red-breasted Nuthatch – 2 birds were observed at the traditional nesting area in the Rock Bridge area of DBNF, Wolfe, 26 June (FR).

Sedge Wren – 2 were heard in n. Taylor 6 June (BP); a few birds showed up at Surrey Hills Farm beginning 20 July (BP).

Swainson's Thrush – latest migrants were 3 at Mammoth Cave 1 June (MM) and 1 in LBL, Lyon, 3 June (BP).

Gray-cheeked Thrush – a late migrant was still in LBL, Lyon, 3 June (BP).

European Starling – a potential first report for Kentucky was a non-cavity, globe-shaped nest situated in the dense interior cover of a red cedar tree in Shelby during  June (ph. HB).

Golden-winged Warbler – an EKU graduate project following up last year's KDFWR/Cornell sponsored atlas project resulted in the study of 36 territorial males (23 in Bell, 2 in Harlan, 11 in Whitley) and the discovery of 7 active nests (1 each in Bell and Whitley, 5 in Bell) (LP, et al). The nests are the first ever reported from the state. Full details will be published in an upcoming article.

Brewster’s/Lawrence’s hybrids – the EKU graduate project located 8 territorial males (4 in Bell, 4 in Whitley) (LP, et al.).

Chestnut-sided Warbler – quite unusual was a basic plumaged bird at Mammoth Cave 21 July (SK).

Yellow-throated Warbler – relatively impressive was a count of 29 birds along the Rockcastle River downriver of Bee Rock, Laurel/Pulaski, 26 June (RD).

Cerulean Warbler – surveys for the species in LBL during May and early June were successful in finding a pitifully small number of territorial males (4) in the Kentucky portion (MB, BP, VR); indicative of the early migratory period for this species was a bird in a yard in s. Warren 28 July (JE).

Prothonotary Warbler – a bird along Pigeon Roost Creek, just w. of McKee, Jackson, was e. of the species' normal range.

American Redstart – a relatively late migrant was in a yard near St. Matthews, Jefferson, 1 June (BW).

Swainson’s Warbler – birds were heard at traditional breeding areas in DBNF including an impressive count of 6 at Little Lick, Pulaski, 19 June (RD, TF); near the mouth of Cogur Fork, DBNF, McCreary, 11 June (JK); and 1 near Bee Rock, Pulaski, 3 July (RD); also reported were single singing males near Yahoo Falls, DBNF, McCreary, 9 June (JK, MV) and at Natural Arch, DBNF, McCreary, 11 July (RD).

Connecticut Warbler – a relatively late spring migrant was seen and heard at Surrey Hills Farm 1 June (BP).

Hooded Warbler – relatively impressive was a trail count of 44 birds near Bee Rock, DBNF, Pulaski, 3 July (RD).

Bachman’s Sparrow – a total of 14 territorial males and 2 confirmed breeding pairs (1 pair carrying food and 1 active nest) was accounted for at Fort Campbell, Trigg, during June (DM). Four young fledged from the nest 15 June (DM).

Lark Sparrow – a total of 5 territorial males, 2 probable breeding pairs, and 1 non-singing bird were found on Fort Campbell, Trigg, during June (DM); 2 birds were reported from a somewhat traditional nesting area in w. Boyle 11 July (fide BK).

Grasshopper Sparrow – a count of 24 at Ano 7 June was impressive (RD, SBC).

Henslow’s Sparrow – this species continues to be found in new areas, especially in the w. part of the state: reports of birds in new locations for probable breeding included up to 5 singing at Blizzard Pond, Clarks River NWR, McCracken, in early June (AW, HC) and 1 singing in ne. Graves 21 July (GL). Also reported were birds at Green River Lake State Park, Taylor, in mid-June (BG), w. of Danville, Boyle, 2 July (DW, DPe); and 22 including adults carrying food and at least 2 juveniles at Ano 17 July (RD).

White-throated Sparrow – a singing male lingered in a yard near St. Matthews, Jefferson, to 8 June (tape recording/ph.BW).

Bobolink – nesting birds were observed just outside of Harrodsburg, Mercer, and w. of Danville, Boyle, in June and early July (DW, DPe).

Yellow-headed Blackbird – quite unusual was a male observed in the company of numerous nesting Red-winged Blackbirds in a hayfield at Shaker Village, Mercer, 3 June (DW, DPe). KBRC review required.

Purple Finch – unprecedented was the presence of 1-2 birds (what appeared to be a female and a first-year male) that lingered through June near Fisherville, se. Jefferson (E&JH) with 1 last observed there 3 July (ph.E&JH).  Early in the summer 1 bird had conjunctivitis, but later in the season the birds appeared healthy.

Red Crossbill – a juvenile bird was picked up dead in a yard in Fort Mitchell, Kenton, 14 July for an extremely unusual summer report (CB fide MVi).  It is unknown if the bird was of local origin, but suitable breeding habitat is apparently present in the form of several groves of large conifers in at least one nearby cemetery (fide FR).
 

Contributors: David Ayer (DA); Jand & Pat Bell (J&PB); Michael Bierly (MB); Pat Brandon (PB); Horace Brown (HB); Todd Brown (TB); Rhonda Bryant (RB); Cindy Burns (CB); Tina Carter (TC); Hap Chambers (HC); Ron Cicerello (RC); Elizabeth Ciuzio (EC); Lee Cope (LC); Amy Covert (AC); Charlie Crawford (CC); Roseanna Denton (RD); Gary Dorman (GD); Melissa Easley (ME); Mary Elam (ME); Jackie Elmore (JE); Tim Ervin (TE); Tarcila Fox (TF); Scott Freidhof (SF); Brian Gray (BG); John Hammond (JH); Carter Hooks (CH); Eddie & Jennifer Huber (E&JH); Kenneth Jones (KJ); Bill Kemper (BK); James Kiser (JK); Steve Kistler (SK); Betty Leggett (BLg); Ken Leggett (KL); Bryan Lewis (BLw); Glen Lovelace (GL); Stacy Loe (SL); Frank Lyne (FL); many observers (m. ob.); Frank Marlow (FM); Scott Marsh (SM); Lee McNeely (LM); Mark Monroe (MM); Daniel Moss (DM); Brainard Palmer-Ball, Jr. (BP); Don Parker (DPr); David Patrick (DPt); Laura Patton (LP); Don Pelly (DPe); Clell Peterson (CP); Nicole Ranalli (NR); Ed Ray (ER); Scott Record (SR); Frank Renfrow (FR); Vince Robinson (VR); David Roemer (DR); John Rumancik (JR); Woody Schatt (WS); Marcia Schroder (MS); Travis Snyder (TS); Somerset Bird Club (SBC); Stephen Stedman (SS); Kevin Tucker (KT); Marilyn Vickers (MVi); Shawchyi Vorisek (SV); Mark Vukovich (MVu); Danny Watson (DW); Eileen Wicker (EW); Charlie Wilkins (CW); Jim Williams (JWm); Jeff Wilson (JWs); Barbara Woerner (BW); Ben Yandell (BY).
 – 8207 Old Westport Road, Louisville, KY, 40222 (brainard.palmer-ball@mail.state.ky.us) (Palmer-Ball) and P.O. Box 463, Burlington, KY, 41005 (lkmc9@netscape.net) (McNeely).