[TN-Bird] Pickwick Gulls/ 5 species

Jan. 17-18, 2004
Pickwick Area, Hardin Co. TN

I spent most of both of these "damp" fine days looking through gulls at the 
pool west of Savannah and Pickwick Dam. The area off highway 64 west of 
Savannah produced very little in the rain Saturday, although there were 
hundreds of 
gulls (3 species) present. In the gull department about the best I could come 
up with was a 3rd year Herring Gull which are always good to study because you 
see so few. I did see Mike's single Least Sandpiper in the AM and 3 in the 
evening. Three Wilson's Snipe put in an appearance late in the day just as all 
the gulls left to go to roost in mass. This area held zilch on Sunday because 
there were hunters in the blind. I found just Ring-billed Gulls in the fields 
to 
the west Sunday. They did not stay too long as they seem to prefer their 
soybeans soaked under water. They fed on these underwater beans all day 
Saturday. 
I bet the roost is bubbly at night;o)

At the dam on Saturday, I found a second year Lesser Black-backed Gull, 6 
Common Loons, 38 Pied-billed Grebes and 9 Horned Grebes and a sprinkling of 
Bufflehead, the only ducks. The Merlin seems to stay in the area as I saw it on 
Saturday and again twice on Sunday. Two adult Bald Eagles still check out the 
area a couple of times a day as they trade about.

More rain Sunday produced the same few Ring-billed at the dam plus a half 
dozen immature Herring, one, a very dark, huge immature gull which I'm still 
wondering about but after getting a few shots Saturday, it disappeared never to 
be 
seen again. The best gull was worth the wait as finally at noon I found 
another immature California Gull and this time I got a few distant shots. I saw 
no 
sign of any Thayer's over the two day vigil. 

I like sitting and watching an area for an hour or so at a time; it is 
amazing what the turn over is, as one bird after another makes an appearance 
and 
then is replaced by another of slightly different plumage or attitude. It is an 
ever changing panorama but you must pay attention to each character or you 
sometimes will miss a cameo appearance of a real star.


Good Birding!!!

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


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