Hi Tweets:
I finally got to see this gull! It was at some distance, but I was
overjoyed after paying my dues looking for it. I thought I knew every road
down near Gog-Le-Hi-Te because I had been down there looking for the
Slaty-backed Gull so many times. But one of our party knew of yet another
vantage point.
Three of us were down there on Tues., Feb. 8. It rained hard in the morning
and into the afternoon. We looked for awhile and didn't see the gull so we
went to lunch and left the area. In the afternoon, one of the people in the
party suggested we take the dike road on the WEST side of the river. We
accessed it from Portland Ave., south of the 11th street bridge and north of
a bldg. which said Bennett Machinery. There is a small dirt access road
which goes in past some containers and up to the dike. Up on the dike we
turned left toward the 11th st. bridge. It's one-way, but there is space to
turn around down near the bridge, and a few very-narrow areas to pass other
vehicles. We drove til we saw lots of gulls on the river. Here we stopped
and scanned the river, and the Sealand Bldgs. across the way. The rain had
let up and the tide was out.
The Slaty-backed Gull was on top of a bldg. that said Dock Office. The bird
was easily observed on the top of a white bubble on the roof. We observed
it w/ scopes for 15 minutes at 3 PM. We never saw it fly, but it was very
noticable on its perch, especially when compared w/ a few Western Gulls that
were also on the roof. The Western Gulls, and many of the Glaucous-winged
Gulls have white heads, but the Slaty-backed Gull continues to have dark
streaks on it's head and chest. At certain times we could see a dark
auricular patch behind and below the eye. A striking-looking bird.
We did need the scopes, especially one scope set at 60X. It's some distance
away. But the dike is open on the west side and there is nothing in the way
of viewing.
Then two of our party had to leave. I came back a little later. The gull
was gone. Then someone started shooting fireworks over there ??? (I think
to haze the gulls) and all the gulls left. After awhile (maybe 20 minutes)
a few gulls started coming back to the roof of the Dock Office bldg.
Carol Schulz
DesMoines
linusq at worldnet.att.net
-----Original Message-----
From: SnyderLaBar at aol.com <SnyderLaBar at aol.com>
To: TWEETERS at u.washington.edu <TWEETERS at u.washington.edu>
Date: Sunday, February 06, 2000 8:31 PM
Subject: Slaty-backed Gull


>Today, I birded the Tacoma tide flats from noon to 2 pm. From Portland St.
>to Lincoln St. turn left on to Stewert St. follow to the left towards the
>river. Park by the locked gate and walk the dike road towards the 11 St.
>bridge. Near the bridge many gulls were bathing in the river around 1 PM.
>Among the flock was the Slaty-backed. I was able to view the gull for about
3
>mins. before it disappeared on to one of the roof tops near by. There are
2
>or 3 very dark Westerns in this area also. Be very carefull in your
>observation. The Iceland hasn't been seen for at least a week. I could not
>find any of the Glaucous Gulls either.
> Bruce LaBar
> Tacoma, Wa.
> Snyderlabar at AOL.com