A nesting colony of Great Blue Herons was seen along the Holston River today (3/28) in Hawkins County, TN and (to the best of my knowledge) is a new location for a colony in the region. It is located on Christian Islands upstream of Phipps Bend. It appeared to have about seven nests. According to resident Trudy Smith, the colony has been there for several years. This is not the same location as the colony found Jan 20, 2006 on the backside of Phipps Bend by Chris O'Bryan and Wallace Coffey which had 15 nests and was found active on 4 Feb of that year by O'Bryan, Coffey, Charlie Parker and Rick Phillips. Smith also has been seeing two Bald Eagles near the site but no nest. Let's go birding . . . Wallace Coffey Bristol, TN