CORRECTION: DATE FOR GULL WAS SEP. 6, 2006 AND NOT SEP 9, 2006 Wallace Coffey Bristol, TN ----- Original Message ----- From: Wallace Coffey To: Bristol-birds Sent: Thursday, September 07, 2006 10:25 AM Subject: [Bristol-Birds] Herring Gull at South Holston Lake Sep 9. 2006 Musick's Campground South Holston Lake Sullivan Co., TN Richard Kretz found a large, dark gull just before noon at the TWRA boat ramp across from Observation Knob Park and located near Musick's Campground. He was able to take excellent photos of the bird. It flew back towards Musick's Campground but could not be relocated. I was able to find the bird about 6:30 p.m. and studied it for an hour. Richard and I have concluded it is apparently a juvenile Herring Gull. Due to the similarity of juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gulls and their fast expanding summer population in costal Virginia along with the recent storm passage to our east, we gave careful consideration to that possibility. Perhaps better eyes and more knowledgeable birders will get a look at this bird today and can lend more informed thought and keen observation than we have been able to bring to this identification. Any other conclusions would be greatly appreciated. Two (2) Sanderlings were on the outer bank just at sundown Wednesday. A Forester's Tern was on a buoy near Observation Knob Park. Also seen were Eared Grebe 2, Osprey 1, Great Egret 1, Canada Goose 80, Mallards ~100 and Great Blue Heron 2. These photos are copyright 2006 by Richard Kretz Let's go birding...... Wallace Coffey Bristol, TN