14 SEP 03 Sabine's Gull Report Revisited Rack Cross Blountville, TN . Having worked on the documentation for the Sabine's Gull record, 7 SEP 03, in East TN I recognized a series events that drew a number birders both local and regional. I thought it so interesting I would share with the lists. The following is a list of names and their contributions, and these are just the ones I am aware of, as it also occurred to me during this process that unknown contributors could have been essential yet invisible links in this fortuitous chain of events. Kenn Kaufman, Larry McDaniel, Janet Brown, Don Holt and Chris O'Bryan: Wish Ed Talbott, Sam Cross and I "Good luck finding the Black Terns (our initial target) at Musick's Lakeside Campground [S. Holston Lake, Sullivan Co., TN]." Knowing our good birding friends were behind us as we departed the Fall Roan Mountain Naturalist Rally we felt well blessed and confident - necessary emotions for good bird finding in E. TN : ) Upon arrival at Musick's I immediately noticed a distant Gull soaring and got the scope on it . Ed scoped a Grebe of non-Pied-billed proportions (identified later as Eared Grebe). Sammy scanned with binos. I began to call out field marks of the Gull in relation to upper wing markings and stated, "We may have another Kittiwake out here," as the Black-legged Kittiwake found by Larry McDaniel et al on the Elizabethton Bird Club Spring Count had been discussed at lunch with Kaufman. I knew there was some black plumage missing on the back for a juv. Black-legged Kittiwake and Sam had already began leafing through the gulls in our Sibley's Guide searching for the field marks called. Then I heard him say, "Dad! It's a Sabine's Gull!" "Let me see that!", said I, knowing big trouble could lie ahead. I searched feverously for a more common gull to fit our observed bird and after several passes through the gull section of Sibley's it was not to be. The Gull landed on the water and Ed stated he saw a darker cap and nape clearly. I confirmed his sighting and stated, "I used to be a pretty good birder before I saw this bird. Ed, I have too many marks and too many good looks not to call this bird, it's a Sabine's." To which Ed jokingly replied, "I am not even here!" He continued, "We need someone [of established reputation] to confirm this Gull identification with us." I made the following cellular calls: Wallace Coffey - answering machine (no message left) Larry McDaniel - rings then my phone dies *plug in touchy car charger* Rick Knight - no answer, phone dies Don Holt - no cell service message Larry McDaniel - unfamiliar answering machine (wrong #?) Wallace Coffey - "Hello!!" . I was pretty worked up by now knowing time was of the essence. I skipped my usual good bird in the field tag, 'Rack Cross reporting from the field', hoping my cell connection would hold through the next few breaths and stated " It's Rack and I need you at Musick's as soon as possible." "What have you got?" he asked. "Sabine's Gull still present," which based upon Coffey's response time was a real attention getter! Coffey arrives with several gull/seabird titles in tow. He views the bird briefly before it zooms into Washington Co., VA and out of sight. We investigate his books. This guy has some good and timely books on hand. Bert and Loraine Hale arrive and Bert gives me a printout of the post he has just made to Bristol Birds list (another Coffey contribution) regarding the Sabine's Gull sighting as requested by Coffey. Unfortunately we tell them of the Gull's disappearance and our plan to pursue. They agree to join. Our group arrives at Washington Co. Park and do not find the Gull. A dog fight between Osprey with fish and Bald Eagle at close range, although incredible, do little to ease a sinking feeling of 'gull loss' that I begin to feel. Janice Martin, known to have camcorder (identical to Talbott's- he just knew he should have packed his that day) was phoned from here and asked to bring her camera. Mere moments later, she called from Musick's and we regathered there. Gull refound by Talbott who made haste to record it. Camera difficulty made video unusable and the Gull was lost sight of again. Then Coffey regained sight of it and Talbott began filming successfully! Coffey sponsored a celebratory pizza party with Sam, Ed and I. There we made plans to document the record. Ed said he would have e-photos up from the video by midnight and I would post the find afterwards. That evening from home Coffey contacted Teta Cain, VSO, with the exciting news and she mentioned Atlantic Ocean storm activity my have influenced the Gull's appearance. Ed posted photos and Wallace attached them to my post and forwarded them to appropriate lists. The next day, Ed forwarded correspondence from Ned Brinkley, North American Birds, confirming from photos the Sabine's Gull identification and mentioned 9 previous VA records and added a congratulatory note. Jeff Wilson posted to TN Birds congratulations as well and supplied western state records and encouraged every to be on the lookout for more Sabine's Gull this time of year. The entire list was now feeling "blessed and confident" and doggone if that doesn't work in W TN also! More Sabine's Gulls found. . In closing (you're welcome!), thanks to all you for your support this far and to those that will contribute to this matter in the near future. This single bird married birders from the 'coasts' and in between of two states very quickly allowing me to experience an exercise of a finely tuned network of birders contributing various skills abilities. And, oh yea, it was a life bird for all who saw it! . 'Til we bird again . Rack Cross Blountville, TN ************************************************* BRISTOL BIRDS NET LIST This is a regional birding list sponsored by the Bristol Bird Club to facilitate communications between birders and bird clubs of Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee. It serves the Russell County Bird Club, Herndon TOS Chapter, Blue Ridge Birders Club, Butternut Nature Club, Buchanan County Bird Club, Bristol Bird Club, Clinch Valley Bird Club and Cumberland Nature Club. -------------------------------------------------- You are subscribed to Bristol-Birds. To post to this mailing list, simply send an email to: bristol-birds@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx To unsubscribe, send an email to bristol-birds-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the one word 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field. -------------------------------------------------- Wallace Coffey, Moderator wallace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (423)764-****