FreeLists / tn-bird / [TN-Bird] California Gull - Savannah Bottoms - Hardin Co. TN also AR and AL

[OLCOOT1@xxxxxxx]

Jan. 10, 2003

Clyde Blum and I were birding the Savannah Bottoms on Saturday and after 
working northward through the bottoms and eating lunch in Savannah, I 
remembered 
at wet hole north of the west end of the TN River Bridge. Crossing the bridge 
we could see a nice accumulation of gulls and took the first right (north) 
after the bridge. Some of the gulls were north of the road and close to it, so 
I 
stopped on the east edge of the water for us to scope out the birds. In the 
flock closer to the road, I ran across a bird I recognized as a first winter 
California Gull. I called Clyde's attention to the bird and ticked off the ID 
details. I have had California Gulls on three other occasions at Pickwick Dam. 
After going into each detail and making sure we saw each field mark well, I 
decided to move down the road to position us for some photos. Unfortunately 
these 
bird flushed, some moving back away from the road while others left the area. 
This is a day roost site with gulls moving into and out of the pool almost 
continuously.

I could not relocate the bird but while scanning, I found an immature Lesser 
Black-backed Gull which we enjoyed and watched as it got up and circled over 
head before heading out. I continued searching the flock and came across a nice 
immature Thayer's Gull (this was what Clyde had been on me about for a year 
and the reason for his trip) which was good enough to stand still for a set of 
photos. I had seen a very light Thayer's at the Dam on Friday afternoon but 
this bird was darker so there are at least 2 in the area just as last year when 
Steve Dinsmore and I had two different birds one light and one slightly darker.

On Sunday, Kenny and LaDonna Nichols, located and photographed a second 
winter California Gull in Arkansas and Monday - 1-12-04, Greg Jackson found a 
first 
winter California on the coast in Alabama. Three California Gulls in 3 
successive days in 3 States, means these birds may be found at this time just 
about 
anywhere if you will just get out and put in the time......




Good Birding!!!

Jeff R. Wilson
OL'COOT / TLBA
Bartlett, TN


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