[TN-Bird] Sabine's Gull & etc. KY Lake 10/21/07

10/21/07
KY Lake areas of Henry & Benton Co
(Big Sandy Unit/Pace Point area, Lick Creek, Big Sandy flats, Eagle Creek, 
Britton Ford, and Paris Landing)

I finally got to get back out today, after an all-around rough month, and 
though it was rather slow overall, some nice surprises along the way. I 
birded with Bob Raschkin (sp) from Gleason, who was on his 1st trip birding 
the KY Lake area.

I got a call from Jeff pretty early this morning, alerting me to the 
fantastic adult Sabine's Gull he had at Mud Island this morning. This is a 
species I'm always looking for in the fall at KY Lake, but so far my only 
ones had been at KY Dam, and two that Nancy Moore and I had at Island 13, on 
the Mississippi, a few years ago. I had looked through a lot of gulls around 
Pace Point, and had about given up on anything at Rocky Point when one last 
scan produced a small gull coming south low along the Big Sandy towards me 
from the north. After a couple of seconds I finally got that big gorgeous 
upperwing flash of a young Sabine's. This bird was steadily going south 
along the Big Sandy, generally staying within a few feet of the water, with 
that distinctive ternlike flight. We watched it for about 5 minutes before 
losing it to the south. Unfortunately at no point was it close enough to 
even attempt a photo, but it sure was a blast to watch. Definitely one of my 
favorite gulls, love to see an adult one of these days though! We tried a 
few spots south on the Big Sandy on the way out, but no further luck with 
the bird.

The Sabine's made for a 7 species gull day, which I think ties my personal 
best in TN. In addition to the hordes of Ringers, and numerous Herring 
Gulls, we had the following gulls:

Lesser Black-backed Gull- adult at Pace Point and a different adult and a 
1st-winter at Paris Landing. Finally my FOS for this species, which I 
usually get in September.
Bonaparte's Gull- a single bird near Pace Point
Franklin's Gull- single birds near New Hope on the Big Sandy (adult) and a 
1st-winter flyover heading south at Paris Landing
Laughing Gull- single bird sleeping at Paris Landing (1st-winter)

The only terns were Forster's, with over 100 at Eagle Creek and scattered 
birds elsewhere.

Otherwise, the next highlight was probably the adult Golden Eagle seen 
harassing a young Bald Eagle over the bay near the old maintenance sheds on 
the way into Pace Point. It's nice to know there is a Golden around already. 
This was at the usual 10:30 time, as between 10:00 and 12:00 it is often 
possible to see a Golden up soaring in this area. Not much else happening 
with hawks today.

Other selected sightings:

All of our expected dabbling ducks, but no divers except Ring-necked Ducks 
and a few Ruddies.

Common Loon- bird sleeping at Britton Ford; FOS and only one of the day

American White Pelican- 500+ at Lick Creek (Benton Co); 100 at Eagle Creek, 
small groups seen soaring several times

Greater Yellowlegs- 1 at Britton Ford and 1 at Big Sandy flats

Least Sandpiper- 50 at Britton Ford

Long-billed Dowitcher- 1 at Big Sandy flats

Red-breasted Nuthatch- 1 at Eagle Creek in the remaining pines there

Only warblers in addition to plethora of Yellow-rumps were a few 
Yellowthroats and Pine Warblers

Didn't work sparrows any, but did have one Lincoln's at Big Sand

Good Birding!!

Mike Todd
McKenzie, TN
birder1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
www.pbase.com/mctodd





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