This year (El Nino) Heermann's is a possibility and your
description sounds pretty good. I saw an imm Heermann's
Gull at Cape Flattery in mid-Feb. about a month ago, so
they're in the area. Normally, ie not an El Nino year, they
are only here July-Nov.

Chris Chappell
Olympia, WA
chris.chappell at wadnr.gov

>>> Ivorybilld <Ivorybilld at aol.com> 03/17/98 05:42am >>>
I've just returned from a wonderful five day stop at Sekiu,
Neah Bay etc,.
Thank you to who ever recommended the Straitside Inn. It
was a pleasant, $
were not out of this world and no one was around.
Okay, to the nitty gritty.

3/11/98-Wednesday It was 5:15pm 3 of them on boat dock
in man made inlet.
Here is a descript of the gull and between Peterson, the
Audobon handbook and
an older Golden North American field guide I can't figure it
out.

The description in the Audobon book goes like this
Immature uniform chocolate-brown, darkest on head, wing
tips and tail; bill
pinkish with dark tip.

This is exactly what I wrote in my journal- with a few more
additions.( I
actually wrote dark sooty brown)
Dark legs
and white rump with white in the "primaries" I'm not sure if
that is the
correct location. It was barely visible when the wings were
folded and seemed
to be right on the very tip. The rump was noted in flight.

I am stumped. I do not take notice of gulls much due to they
are difficult to
identify. I've grown up around them and this one was actually
shocking to
see. The brown was beautiful and unbroken with the
exception of that white.
Also noting that these are out of their "range" if it is
Heermann's gull. (no
adults around) Western gulls around and Black legged
Kittiwake in case they
hang out with certain types.

Numerous other birds were noted and I will have to continue
this tomorrow.
Thanks for your help.

Ivory
Ivoryblld at aol.com
Seattle, WA