[Bristol-Birds] BBC Float Boat Trip set for Saturday, November 29 (DETAILS)
- From: "BBC Net" <jwcoffey@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "'bristol-birds'" <bristol-birds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2014 19:34:18 -0500
The Bristol Bird Club's Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend birding trip by float
boat
at South Holston Lake has drawn considerable interest as have most of our
birding by boat field trips over the years.
We are getting frequent phone calls and emails asking about the dates and
other details.
The birding-by-boat event is scheduled for the Saturday morning after
Thanksgiving Day which will be Saturday, November 29, and will launch
from our staging and loading area at US 421 bridge at 9 a.m. We will
probably be on the water for three hours.
We will meet at the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency's US 421
paved boat ramp at the Holston Mountain end of the bridge and load
from a floating dock which is in place by TWRA. This is a large site
that can probably accommodate nearly 100 boat trailers and cars so you will
not be limited to finding a parking place. The area will not be heavily
used
at that time.
Distinguished co-leaders have agreed to lead the trip and identify water
birds
with participants. The leaders will be Rick Knight and Dr. Andy Jones,
curator of birds from the Cleveland, OH Museum of Natural History who
is also secretary of the American Ornithologists' Union.
The field trip is limited to 18 participants and we are nearly full. Neal
and
Jean Henson of Kingsport will provide one float boat with 10 passenger which
Include Rick Knight and 9 passengers. Wallace Coffey and Nancy McPeak will
provide a second float boat with 8 passengers which will include Andy Jones
and 7 passengers.
The parties will use FRS (Family Radio Service) walkie talkies operating on
Channel 5 to communicate between the two crafts and parties which will
travel and scan the water usually within maybe 30 yards or so of one
another.
Jean Henson and Nancy McPeak will provide an abundant supply of hot
chocolate with cups and napkins, etc. on their individual boats with large
thermos jugs for each boat. In addition, free pastries will be provided on
each boat from the Blackbird Bakery. If you need hot coffee bring your own
small thermos bottle.
Participants are asked to dress warmly and to bring blankets or quilts
or thermal blankets for extra comfort. The Henson's will probably be able
to use their boat space heater for any special needs.
Couples and other individuals will be assigned to boats in order to balance
skill levels and personal interests. The parties on each boat will be
notified
before Thanksgiving as to the boat and trip leader to which they are
assigned.
Boats, gas and all other needed items including life jackets will be
provided
free and in more than adequate numbers for each boat. In addition, boats
will each have one or two spotting scopes for use by participants.
All aspects of the event are free to all participants and reservations have
been taken on a first come first reservation basis.
Boat setups and fueling and other aspects of readiness will be done by
the boat providers at least by the day before on Friday.
Anyone wishing to enjoy extended fellowship and good food can
pull together a Dutch lunch stop at the Little Italy Restaurant on
US 421 farther back towards Bristol following a fun morning of birding.
Neal and Jean will bring their boat to the TWRA ramp from Friendship
Marina and Wallace and Nancy will bring their boat from the Painter
Creek Marina farther up the lake. The boats will be there probably
by 8:30 a.m. but there will be no rush for seats since everyone will
have seats for their use.
Our only concerns for weather will be snow, heavy rainfall or high
winds. Neal is keeping an eye on that for us and we will make whatever
safe calls are needed in plenty of time for everyone to react.
This event will be the fifth or sixth such BBC float boat field trip and
we have had trips at various seasons and in both daylight and darkness.
Several of you will remember our large cookouts and hauling firewood
to cook snacks and stay warm by night bonfires. And some of you will
remember our float boat field trip that went out in the rain and came back
with the first known Eared Grebe at South Holston Lake more than
20 years ago.
Email me at jwcoffey@xxxxxxxxxx if you need help or call my
cell phone (423-360-2532) if you need to make reservation or ask questions.
Wallace Coffey
Bristol Bird Club
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- » [Bristol-Birds] BBC Float Boat Trip set for Saturday, November 29 (DETAILS) - BBC Net
