I saw the Ross's Gull today (Wednesday)--the Pink Pukka, as Pete Dunne
calls it. I got to the dam about noon and joined the group of birders
waiting up on the skydeck overlooking the dam. Although I hung around for
quite a while (talking to a reporter part of the time--the local press was
out in force covering the birding event), the high exposed walkway was
doing bad things to my acrophobia, and one of the local guys kindly guided
me to good area down on solid ground that you should all know about: As
you leave the visitors' parking lot, follow the signs to the Wildlife
Area, taking a road to your right and then another turnoff to the right,
and park at a small lot close to the river. Walk upstream from the
parking area and watch along the river; you can walk up on higher ground
that overlooks the dam area, but I'm told you should stay on the river
side of the fence, because they don't like people walking on their lawn
there. We got some pretty good looks at the gull from the river bank.
(Harry Nehls came down after a while and said that it had put on a great
show for several minutes for people on the walkway.) Between visits to the
dam, the bird seems to like to fly a little way downstream, land on the
water, and then drift farther downstream in the rapid current, so you can
get good looks at it with a spotting scope while it's on the water. The
rosy underparts are largely hidden then, but you'll notice the large black
eye (and surrounding ring).

In trying to pick the Ross's out of the gang of gulls around the dam, you
may find it most useful to look for the _very dark wing linings_. Grant
(p. 127) says, "Underwing coverts and undersides of outer primaries pale
grey of same tone or sometimes slightly darker than upperwing, _but often
appearing blackish through effect of shadow_." [my emphasis] From a
distance, this dark underwing contrasting with the white upperwing was the
most obvious feature to me, easier to see than the pink color.

A pretty bird. A shame it's so far away, but I felt it was worth the effort.

BTW, Pine Grosbeaks have been seen in that Wildlife Area where you park,
but they weren't found again while I was there.

Burt Guttman guttmanb at elwha.evergreen.edu
The Evergreen State College Voice: 206-866-6000, x. 6755
Olympia, WA 98505 FAX: 206-866-6794