Snow cover in the past week or so along with unusually mild northern weather may make the waterfowl run on the Bristol Bird Club slow for the 2009 count which is scheduled tomorrow (Sunday, 27 Dec.) Here are some possible expectations. Long-tailed Duck, last on the count in 1965, found Sat, 26 Dec 2009, by Coffey on South Fork Holston River along the gravel road leading to Rivers Way. It was flying up and down the river and riding the current down stream while diving and feeding. We'll need documentation. Ring-necked Ducks will be in near record numbers (record 123 in 2004) Hooded Mergansers at normal 10 year average 200 but virtually void at Middlebrook Lake. Probably 95% of birds in count circle are at Clear Creek Lake. We need a very accurate count from this site and all parties. It seem apparent that the forage fish staple for waterfowl at Middlbrook Lake has crashed this winter. Little utilization of the lake by migratory species. Gadwall expected to be low American Wigeon average at 50 Bufflehead might be as low as half normal numbers American Coots should be at normal average number. Pied-billed Grebe low Great Blue Heron low Black-crowned Night-Heron at 10 year average = one at Clear Creek today. Rufous Hummingbird (not since 1992) one at Musick's Campground on 26 Dec. American Kestrel in fair numbers after pushing in to area with snow. Red-tailed Hawks appear to not have arrived from the north and that species could be very hard to find in any numbers. The Red-shouldered Hawk may also be absent. Snow cover was unfavorable. Bald Eagle -- watch carefully for this species anywhere near the upper end of the lake. The breeding pair which nests above Avens Bridge is thought to be in the vicinity. WEATHER OUTLOOK: Sunshine along with some cloudy intervals. High 44F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. DEC 27,2009......SUNRISE 7:40 AM EST SUNSET 5:21 PM EST 6 a.m. temp 29 9 a.m. temp 33 noon temp 40 3 p.m. temp 42 6 p.m. temp 37 South Holston Dam will be sluicing 340 cubic feet per second until further notice. Generating 24 hours from midnight Sat. until midnight Sun. This will mark 48 hours of continuous generation. South Holston Lake is above the normal desired level TVA wants in order to hold future flood storage space for spring. TVA is now running the sluiceway from the alternative tower which is controlled from the crane tower at the end of the dam nearest the flagpole. This is more or less an emergency drawdown procedure to restore the lake level to the desired lower operating level. The river is flowing at near full discharge and at its highest normal level. The discharge will continue in the river throughout the Bristol CBC on Sunday. Such a continuous high flow might well move birds to fields, ponds and other areas where they do not have to fight the current. Few remnant spots of snow can be found anywhere. Waters are open with the exception of the ponds at Green Springs community where they are about 80 to 90 percent frozen despite the warmer temperatures. No waterfowl are expected to be using the ponds. Ponds and small lakes are all full with water and creeks and other smaller streams are flowing at the tops of their banks. Some low areas in field have standing water. The gull population will be near normal except for Middlebrook Lake which is at an extreme low for water bird diversity. Reasonable numbers are at Clear Creek and Musick's which should provide a near normal count. There appears to be no inner city build up of gulls along the hamburger lane routes and shopping malls in the city. Canada Goose numbers appear to be lower than usual but we will not get a good handle on the population until we compile the count. Count geese carefully. Watch feeders at residences with care due to the possibility of Purple Finch. They are found over a wide area of the south at this time but not in great influx numbers. Last winter the Bristol CBC had a Brown-headed Nuthatch at Washington County Park on South Holston Lake. That may have been a wandering bird out of its normal range but they occur at Knoxville and in the Roanoke River watershed and New River watersheds to our north. Hope everyone has a good count, Sunday. Let's go birding . . . . Wallace Coffey Bristol, TN