Michael P. finally getting some time on his own -

> Oh my, those Alt 1 California Gulls look *so* suggestive of Sabine's in wing
> pattern at a great distance.

One of the best accounts yet to come out of the "Birds of North America" project
is that of the California Gull by David W. Winkler. Apparently, this species
spends the winter wandering south along the west coast to California until
February or so and then starts to wander back north to BC again. Non-breeders -
such as these - stay on the coast in the summer. It is not mentioned
if B.C. has more summering non-breeders than other west coastal locations but if
the trend in general movement holds true, then this may be the case.

> In the 'gull sp.' category were three small birds sitting on a floating log
> near the limit of visibility; though I watched them for twenty minutes
> uninterruptedly, they didn't budge except for two short out-and-back flights
> by one of them, showing only enough to establish that they were clearly much
> smaller than the California Gulls, either small gulls or terns. Bonaparte's
> Gulls and terns often perch on floating logs; does anyone know if Sabine's
> Gull or kittiwakes do the same?

Kittiwakes are highly aerial. About the only time I saw them alight on structures
on the open Pacific is during Force 9 storm winds when not even they could remain
airborne wihtout being torn apart. Too bad Richard Rowlett isn't still around to
add his two cents in here. He has much more experience at sea than I do.

> In the Iona Settling Ponds were 2 Western Sandpipers on the SW pond.

Assumed non-breeders?

- Jack



Jack Bowling
Prince George, BC
jcbowling at mindlink.bc.ca