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Our adventure began in earnest before we could even get out of Shelby County. A very friendly, female Tennessee State Trooper, with an Australian accent (go figure), stopped us on I-40 just about 3 miles from my house to ask where we were headed and why we were in such a hurry. My explanation that I was excited to begin my quest to find a Snowy Owl and was in a rush to get to Springfield, IL was not enough to keep her from writing me a ticket for going 76 in a 65 MPH speed zone. At least we didn't go to jail!
The good news is that we began seeing interesting species of birds right away. Just outside Dyersburg , TN- where Hwy, 51 crosses the Obion River - we saw a Northern Harrier cursing across a partially flooded bean field and several Wild Turkeys scratching and feeding at the edge of the field. A light snow had blanketed the area the night before - which made the landscape appear more like Iowa or Wisconsin than West Tennessee.
We passed through beautiful rural West Tennessee and Southwest Kentucky. All along the early lleg of our journey, we saw decaying farm houses, barns, and other structures. It was as though the families that once lived and worked the farms just moved away leaving the beautiful wooden structures to rot and melt into the landscape. It was sad to see and serves as a sad commentary on the fate of agricultural communities across America. Homes, businesses, and entire communities, just rotting away.
Near Wickliffe, KY we stopped at a beautiful spot overlooking the Mississippi River at the site of historic Fort Jefferson. Fort Jefferson (which is no longer there) was established in 1779 by George Rogers Clark and was visited by Lewis and Clark on their journey west with the Corps of Discovery. Fort Jefferson sits high on a bluff overlooking the River and is now home to a 90' white cross - erected by local churches - which can bee seen from 3 states, Kentucky, Illinois, and Missouri.
From the bluff we saw a beautiful Bald Eagle edging high above the shore of the River. While the Eagle was high above the river, she was at eye level with us because we were atop the bluff. Sadly, she moved off to the South and out of view before I could get my camera out and snap a picture. I did get some good shots of the River and a barge moving North, up the Mississippi towards the Ohio River.
We passed through Wickliffe, KY - a beautiful River Town that appeared to be bearing up to the changing economy better than the surrounding agricultural communities. I'm certain that Wickliffe's economy is stable because of its River Port and location along Hwy 57.
Just outside Wickliffe, we crossed the Ohio River and stopped at Fort Defiance, IL. - a narrow strip of land sitting at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. There's a "Park" at Fort Defiance with a few aging signs detailing the history and significance of the location. There is also an aging and neglected toll-house that is no longer in use.
Since pre-historic times, the site has been used as a trading post and military encampment. Archaeologist have found signs of use by indigenous peoples dating back to the early Mississippi Era (800-1600 CE). Lewis and Clark spent 6 days there, preparing to head up the Mississippi River. The site gets its name from a military outpost built by General U.S. Grant during the Civil War to control access to the two strategic waterways. It's a shame that the site is in such disrepair and suffers from neglect given its significance to the natural history of the area and to American history.
Leaving Fort Defiance, we headed north towards St. Louis. Along the way we saw a small flock of Wild Turkeys and several large flocks of high flying geese and waterfowl. We stopped briefly in St. Louis for dinner for fresh oysters, gumbo, and shrimp po-boys at Peacemaker Lobster & Crab. Finally made it to Springfield around 8:30 PM.
All in all, it was a good day. We visited some interesting sites, took in the natural beauty of rural West Tennessee and Southwest Kentucky, and identified 11 species of birds as we traveled. The weather was good today but is expected to take a cold and blustery turn overnight. Tomorrow we will head to an area West of Springfield where Snowy Owls have been sighted multiple times in the last 45 days.
Birds Identified Day 1:
Northern Cardinal - Shelby County, TN
Eastern Bluebird - Shelby County, TN
Red-tailed Hawk - Shelby County, TN & Ballard County, KY
Turkey Vulture - Tipton County, TN
American Kestrel - Tipton County, TN
Northern Harrier - Hwy 51 @ the Obion River
Wild Turkey - Hwy 51 @ the Obion River
Bonaparte's Gull - flooded fields in Obion County & Lake County, TN
Wild Turkey - Hwy 51 N. of Bardwell, KY
Great Blue Heron - Hwy 51 N. of Bardwell, KY & Ft. Defiance, IL
Bald Eagle - Fort Jefferson, KY
Red-shouldered Hawk - Hwy 62 S. of Wilson City, Missouri
Wild Turkey - I-55 @ mile 112 in Missouri
Additionally: Large flocks of high flying waterfowl; unidentified large gull at Ft. Jefferson
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