While atlasing for the WVBBA, Dan Sanders, Doreene Linzell and I came across a pair of Herring Gulls at the Racine Locks. They are rare nesters on the Ohio River, one confirmed north of Pittsburgh this year Nearby Huntington is the farthest south they have nested inland (So I have been told). The Huntington pair nested below the locks on the rocky bank.It is difficult to see the river banks in the Racine area. They are not on the WV breeding bird list. Anyone in the Gallapolis or Marietta area in the next two months, may want to make a side trip to look for recently fledged young. Being included in the WV atlas would depend on which river bank they nested, but worth a look. Also of interest, I saw a Virginia Rail along the reeds at a water deprived woodland swamp at the Tappan Lake spillway. When I startled it, it gave a series of warning grunts. No chicks were seen. I had two CA chickadee nests on the same stub only three feet apart, both nests had adults actively feeding young. Seems like a close nesting for this beligerent little bird. ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]