Attention Tennessee Birders:

For those of you who have never been to Radnor Lake State Park, it's typically a great time to go there.

Here's a brief synopsis from the Tennessee Ornithological Society.

Radnor Lake State Natural Area is one of the crown jewels of Tennessee's state park system. The park consists of the 85-acre lake itself, plus the surrounding woodland area. Few major cities in this country can boast of such a pristine environment right in the heart of the city. For birders, Radnor Lake offers one of the best opportunities in the state to observe an incredible variety of species in every season in a very relaxed environment. Of particular interest is the large number of migrant wood-warblers in spring in fall, where lucky observers routinely report upwards of twenty-five species in one morning. Furthermore, Radnor Lake is almost without question the best place in the state to see two of the more elusive warblers during migration - Connecticut and Mourning.

This time of year, a significant number of ducks come to stay for the cold season. There is a decent over-wintering population of ring-necked ducks, lesser scaups, widgeons, gadwalls, canvasbacks, teals, buffleheads, and the occasional hooded merganser.

And we've now seen the appearance of an emergent species, the Wooded Douchebag (Camophilus armada). Dressed in camo and openly carrying an AK-47 pistol, he can be seen wandering the trails when he isn't being detained by our finest state park rangers...

So, for all of you families out for a weekend hike, or the folks out for the day walking your dogs along the road - keep a close eye on your children, and keep your pets on a short leash.

Forewarned is forearmed, as the saying goes.