[Bristol-Birds] February gull influx growing in eastern Sullivan County
- From: "Wallace Coffey" <jwcoffey@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "Bristol-birds" <bristol-birds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2013 22:18:29 -0500
An estimated 2,000 Ring-billed Gulls were filling the
sky over Boone Lake last Thursday (7 Feb 2013)
as the annual February influx and build up of late-
winter gulls congregate in the region.
All were along the South Fork Holston River
embayment of Boone in Sullivan Co., TN
Gulls were on the water, soaring and diving in all
directions as seen from the TWRA "Boone Lake-
Airport (Misty Waters) Boat Ramp" as TWRA calls
the facility. It is just off Hamilton Rd. behind the
airport. Barely upstream from mile marker 5 by boat.
The gulls were out in the main channel. This is a
traditional area for gull congregations on Boone.
Today (11 Feb 2013), the gulls could be seen in
good numbers in various locations of Eastern
Sullivan County (east of I-81).
An estimated 500 were in the Spring Creek
Embayment at South Holston Lake and resting
on the outer banks of Musick's Campground,
as seen from the north side of the embayment.
A flock of ~200 were scattered along the wet
field and at the pond as you drive on Pemberton
Rd. south of US 421 and Darter's Store.
Another ~300 were at Middlebrook Lake in
east Bristol Tennessee.
Big numbers and a significant influx usually
occurs in early to mid February in Northeast
Tennessee.
Six weeks ago, we had just 259 on the
Bristol Christmas Bird Count. None were
found on the Glade Spring CBC this year,
but they seldom are.
As a comparison, the Bristol Christmas Bird
Count record is 1,341 in 2004. The all-time
average since the 1950s is just over 200 per
year. The last 10 year average about 650
and the last 20 year average just under 500.
The region record is 5,000 at South Holston
Lake 12 Feb 2011. Then, they sometimes seemed
like a great, white, insect hatch. Birds stretched
across areas a mile wide. The density was unusually
high and consistent along perhaps 10 river miles from
the dam to the stateline near Musick's Campground.
Gulls were so numerous then that large groups not only
rested on points but many settled on covered boat slips
near US 421 bridge. In every visible and adjacent cove,
gull groups swirled.
A group of a 1,000 gulls were seen at Middlebrook
Lake 5 Feb 2007 and a 1,000 were reported 15 Feb
of the same year at Musick's Campground on South
Holston.
Keep your "top-of-mind" awareness ready for big
gull numbers as you bird the region in the coming
days.
Wallace Coffey
Bristol, TN
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