Hello Tweets,Oregon birders, and any other interested birders,

The Black-tailed Gull was well observed and photographed this morning between 11:30am-11:50am by up to 6 birders at North Cove. The bird was first detected by Steve Kornfeld of Bend,Oregon at 10:30am until we and 2 other birders arrived at the location just before 11:30am. Steve signaled us and we quickly ran down to the shoreline and located the gull at a safe distance. We first watched the bird resting with it's head tucked on the upper beach amongst a gull flock that also contained several Caspian Terns. Eventually another birder joined us as we all watched the Black-tailed Gull with the bird only allowed views of the smudgy head(especially noted on the hind portion of the head)until the bird pulled out it's head revealing the long,thin,straight yellow bill with an obvious red tip bordered by black along with the yellow eye that was surrounded by a dark gray-brown area with extensive smudgy areas on the remainder of the head. It was A STRIKING GULL! We continued watching the gull,as it got up and walked around amongst the other gulls and Caspian Terns showing the much darker gray mantle and obvious smaller,more delicate size as compared to nearby California Gulls as we slowly and cautiously worked our way closer to the gull flock. The bird eventually worked it's way towards the shoreline just above the waters edge,as it stretched it's wing and feet from behind showing us even more details. The bird eventually lifted by itself showing several of us it's black tail bordered by white,which was not especially conspicuous,but still observed. The bird flew first at an upward angle to the west over the ocean,then as several of us followed the bird,as it circled higher up in the air several times it eventually drifted in a northward direction to an unknown location. We waited several minutes to 12:15pm,but the bird never returned then my mother and I returned again at 1pm,but the gull flock had greatly diminished,but hopefully the bird may reappear. We will submit more details and observations in an upcoming more thorough message.

Sincerely,

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan
Fircrest,WA
godwit at worldnet.att.net

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