FreeLists / bristol-birds / [Bristol-Birds] merlin at kingsport - location within oak hill cemetery

["Rick Phillips" <sunfish0501@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

A single Merlin was present once again this afternoon at Oak Hill Cemetery, 
Kingsport, Sullivan County, Tennessee, from around 4:15 until 4:45 pm. The 
individual was perched in the same treetop the entire time.  I have not failed 
to see a Merlin in this treetop any afternoon I have been there since first 
seeing the birds on Jan 12.  Here are the best directions I can come up with to 
locate a bird in the cemetery.

After you drive thru the Oak Hill Cemetery entrance gate (there is only one 
entrance and exit) bear to your far left and follow the road for about .2 miles 
as it follows the cemetery boundary.  At around .2 miles you will see a large 
monument on your right which has the Lord's Prayer engraved on the side 
opposite the road.  Park here, get out of your car and walk over and place your 
back to the monument facing away from it and looking down into the cemetery.  
Look slightly to your left and you will see a couple of spruce trees, one of 
which has a few stems without any needles at the top.  This is where one of the 
Merlins has perched each afternoon.  I have seen him once there during the 
morning,and my brother saw it once around 9:00 am.  Your best bet is afternoon 
sometime after 3:30 pm until dark.  The other Merlin might be perched nearby in 
any other tall conifer...or might not be seen.

Hope this helps for those who come looking.  

Rick Phillips
Kingsport, Tennessee