Birders,

On February 3, an adult "KUMLIEN'S" ICELAND GULL was reported from
Mission Point, along Highway 101 a short distance south of Sechelt,
B.C. The observers were Doug Brown and Arnold Skei, and it may have
been seen by others as well. The bird was well described. Doug is a
very experienced observer who has been out in the field almost daily
this year. He recently found the HOODED WARBLER near Sechelt as well
as the BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER on the Vancouver Christmas Bird Count.

I am not sure why this gull was not reported to the Vancouver RBA.
At any rate, it has not been seen since. Mission Point has large
numbers of gulls present at low tide, however, and it is not
inconceivable that the Iceland might show up there again.

Persons visiting the "Sunshine Coast" to look for the KING EIDER
at Roberts Creek might be well advised to stop at nearby Mission Point
as well. At low tide, even if the Iceland Gull is not there, you are
very likely to see several species of gulls as well as Black
Oystercatchers, Surfbirds, Black Turnstones, and sometimes Rock
Sandpipers.

Wayne C. Weber
Kamloops and Delta, B.C.
wayne_weber at bc.sympatico.ca