[TN-Bird] Gull-billed Tern

Now as Paul harvey would say "here is the rest of the story".  Yesterday, May 
26, Jeff Cowell were on our way to the Smokies and dropped in at Kingston Steam 
Plant (Roane County).  There were about 50 White-rumped Sandpipers, and a few 
other assorted peeps.  While we were looking at the sandpipers, I saw a white 
tern approaching from the north, which I assumed would be a Caspian.  When we 
looked at the bird we saw the short, thick, all black bill, with black cap of 
an adult Gull-billed Tern.  The bird is almost all white with a bit of black on 
the underside of the wingtips.  We watched the bird for about 10 minutes at 
varying distances, and then it flew off south toward the 2 towers.  We had a 
"Blackberry" with us and thought we had sent a message to Tn-bird, which must 
have failed. 

 This afternoon, on our way home, we stopped off again, and the tern was now 
loafing on the mudflat in the largest ash-pond.  This was at 4 PM Central time. 
 There were only a few White-rumped Sandpipers left and a few other peeps.

I am sorry our posting failed yesterday and hope others may see the bird 
tomorrow.

In the Smokies, we found 2 Swainson's Warblers on the Schoolhouse Gap trail, 
and the Peregrines seem to be nesting again at the Alum Cave Bluff.

Does anyone know how many other sightings of GB Tern there are for the state???

Terry Witt
Murfreesboro Tn     

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