Hello Tweeters,
After searching every day this week i finaly saw the Adult Slaty-backed
Gull. I started at 11.00 am searched all the area the previous Slathy-
backed Gull in 1997 to 1998 where sighted.There was few birders but all
left ,so i drove to American Lake to see if the Little Gull arrived yet,but
there was no Boneparte Gulls that is when he usual beeing sighted with.I
made one more attemt going back to look for the Slaty-backed Gull. There
was a large dark Gull sleeping on the roof on the corner of Lincoln Ave,
and Mc Farland Ave.This was exactly 2.00 PM.I kept on eye on the Gull
looking to the Scope in order in case he would fly to see the underwings.
he was tucked tight so i could not even see the bill .But after 25 minutes
he got up and start preening i saw the staight straw colour bill the dark
smudge in front of eye. From looking at the fine pinstripes this bird was
heavy striped much more so as the bird in earlier years.He was preenig
forever and i could tell with the wings sometime lifting that he had the
paler underwings with the white wingspots. I stood there for two hours when
all the Gulls went up in to the air the Slaty-backed Gull stood out in size
the white trailing edge and the so called String of Pearls.Even flying away
you can keep an eye on this bird and pick it out from amongst the other
Gulls. All the regular Gulls seetled down afterwards but the Slaty-backed
Gull kept going west alone direction to the Sound. I must thank Michael
Donahue for beeing so persistent to look for this bird so early. I believe
this is the 6th record in Washington 4 in Tacoma.

Ruth Sullivan
Tacoma
godwit at worldnet.att.net