[Bristol-Birds] Herring Gull at South Holston Lake

["Wallace Coffey" <jwcoffey@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Sep 9. 2006
Musick's Campground
South Holston Lake
Sullivan Co., TN

Richard Kretz found a large, dark gull just before noon at the TWRA boat ramp 
across from Observation Knob Park and located near Musick's Campground.  He was 
able to take excellent photos of the bird. It flew back towards Musick's 
Campground but could not be relocated.  I was able to find the bird about 6:30 
p.m. and studied it for an hour.


Richard and I have concluded it is apparently a juvenile Herring Gull.  


Due to the similarity of juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gulls and their fast 
expanding summer population in costal Virginia along with the recent storm 
passage to our east,  we gave careful consideration to that possibility.

Perhaps better eyes and more knowledgeable birders will get a look at this bird 
today and can lend more informed thought and keen observation than we have been 
able to bring to this identification.  Any other conclusions would
be greatly appreciated.

Two (2) Sanderlings were on the outer bank just at sundown Wednesday.  A 
Forester's Tern was on a buoy near Observation Knob Park.  Also seen were Eared 
Grebe 2, Osprey 1, Great Egret 1, Canada Goose 80, Mallards ~100 and Great Blue 
Heron 2.

                                  These photos are copyright 2006 by Richard 
Kretz

Let's go birding......

Wallace Coffey
Bristol, TN

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