Erin Schiding (TVA Terrestrial Zoology intern) and I birded Rankin Bottoms today (Dec 16, 05) between 9:48 and 11:21 am. Water level was at 950.62 at 10 am. We watched a Merlin flush from the ground along with about 50 American pipits. The merlin sat up in a tree for the remaining time we were in the area (about 45 minutes). The bird was either a female adult or a juvenile and of the Taiga race according to the photos in Sibley's field guide. The primaries ended near the end of the tail but not at the tip of the tail. A faint mustache was seen. To get to the location where the bird was seen go to the end of Hill Road where it ends before Birder's Point and the coal tipple. Off of Hill Road there is the gravel road that travels southeast out into the flats. Take this road for about 100 yards. The bird was seen in this location. Allan Trently Norris, TN ajtcorax@xxxxxxxxxxx _________________________________________________________________ Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today - it's FREE! http://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/ =================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBER===================== The TN-Bird Net requires you to sign your messages with first and last name, city (town) and state abbreviation. You are also required to list the count in which the birds you report were seen. The actual date of observation should appear in the first paragraph. _____________________________________________________________ To post to this mailing list, simply send email to: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx _____________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, send email to: tn-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field. ______________________________________________________________ TN-Bird Net is owned by the Tennessee Ornithological Society Neither the society(TOS) nor its moderator(s) endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Moderator: Wallace Coffey, Bristol, TN wallace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx _____________________________________________________________ Visit the Tennessee Ornithological Society web site at http://www.tnbirds.org * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Topographical Maps located at http://topozone.com/find.asp _____________________________________________________________