I just returned (11 a.m. Wed) from the Tacoma Tide Flats and the icy
(appropriate!), muddy parking lot that the bird has chosen for its home,
and as far as I'm concerned, the gull reported by Bruce LaBar is a typical
adult (Kumlien's) Iceland Gull. I see absolutely nothing about it to cause
me to question that, although I admire the caution of the original
observers.

It's too bad that it's injured and can't fly. If it was any other species,
I would have made an attempt to capture it and get it to a bird rehabber
(Olympic Wildlife Rescue in Olympia would be the best one), but I thought a
whole lot of birders would be robbed of their chance to see such a
beautiful bird (and I might get run out of town on a rail). It seems in
pretty good health otherwise, as it intimidated Glaucous-winged Gulls
larger than itself to grab slices of bread we threw to it.

It would be good if anyone who wanted to see the bird would get down there
right away, as I suspect its long-term existence is questionable. One
determined dog or Bald Eagle could bring about its demise. If it's still
alive, you should have no trouble seeing it.

If anyone finds it dead, or its partially eaten carcass, please bag it and
call me.

And good luck.

Dennis Paulson, Director phone 253-756-3798
Slater Museum of Natural History fax 253-756-3352
University of Puget Sound e-mail dpaulson at ups.edu
Tacoma, WA 98416
http://www.ups.edu/biology/museum/museum.html