Hello Tweets,

The Great Black-backed Gull was again observed today at the mouth of the Cedar River at Cedar River Park and also from Duck Island at Gene Coulon Park in Renton,King Co. We arrived at Cedar River Park at 10:45am,where the bird was being observed by 5 other birders at the mouth of the Cedar River amongst many other gulls.The bird remained at this location noted by several other birders until 12pm,when the bird flew east and relocated swimming around an outcropping of logs,etc just off the tip of Duck Island at Gene Coulon Park,as scoped from Cedar River Park until 12:15pm. Upon quickly arriving at Duck Island along with a few other birders the bird was not located,as an adult Bald Eagle was perched atop a snag off Duck Island,which presumably flushed off the gull flock,including the Great Black-backed Gull. We drove back to Cedar River park,where a fairly large group of birders assembled,scoping the gull flocks at the mouth of the Cedar River and abroad,then at 1:50pm Dan Waggoner broke away from the group of birders and quickly spotted the Great Black-backed Gull at the same location where the bird was last observed off Duck Island. At that point my mother and I raced over to Gene Coulon Park again along with other birders thereafter and immediately located the bird standing/resting atop a rock next to a partially submerged log off Duck Island. We obtained good photographs and views of the bird,as it seemed to defend it's perch on the rock going by it slightly somewhat aggressive behavior that was noted when any gulls approached the bird along with when the bird would lower it's head then quickly raise it extending it's neck fully into the air and call. It was observed doing this behavior at least 4 times during our visit until 2:35pm,when it flew off the rock into the lake at a short distance further off Duck Island,just as it began to drizzle. We all enjoyed great close views of the gull,as well as watched it's interaction between other nearby gulls and at times the bird seemed very sophisticated,as it would also graciously lean down as it was standing on the rock and drink water,as well as when it finally flew back into the lake at 2:30pm. In flight the very broad wings could easily be observed compared to other nearby gulls,which was noteworthy. Perhaps other birders remained at Gene Coulon Park after we left the location at 2:35pm and kept an eye on the Great Black-backed Gull,despite the changing weather. Additional observations of note that were observed at Gene Coulon Park of the Great Black-backed Gull that we did not note on the 15th included the iris color,which in scoping views appeared to have a slight paleness to it. Hopefully the Great Black-backed Gull will create a pattern and be more predictable,but we did notice today during our visit that gull numbers were nothing(being far,far less in numbers)compared to our visit on the 15th,as well as observations noted from other birders.


Other notable sighting during our visit to both park locations included the following:

1 very cooperative Eared Grebe noted at Gene Coulon Park
18 Greater White-fronted Geese
18 Canvasbacks
1 Barrow's Goldeneye
1 female Red-breasted Merganser(observed flying west of Mercer Island as viewed from Cedar River Park)
5 Bald Eagles(4 adults,1 immature)
32+ Herring Gulls
8 Thayer's Gulls
4 Western Gulls
1 female Varied Thrush at Duck Island
1 Yellow-rumped Warbler


Good gull watching,

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






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