[TN-Bird] California Gull - Savannah Bottoms - Hardin Co. TN also AR and AL
- From: OLCOOT1@xxxxxxx
- To: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2004 23:43:06 EST
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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