Subject: [Tweeters] Lesser Black-backed Gull remains
Date: Oct 14 22:11:51 2004
From: Eugene and Nancy Hunn - enhunn323 at comcast.net


Tweets,

Played hookey today; found the Lesser Black-backed at 1:15 at the usual spot, the swimming dock (covered with bird droppings so not too inviting for a swim) at the far se corner of Sun Lakes State Park near Coulee City. It was standing on a piling just off the swim dock when I arrived, while half-dozen California Gulls and a Ring-billed loafed on the dock itself. They flew off on my approach and settled in the water, where they swam around for the duration of my stay.

I concur with the id as a Lesser Black-backed Gull going into 2nd winter plumage. The only thing that surprised me was that it seemed a bit more heavily built than I expected. Noticeably larger than the Californias (though it kept apart from them somewhat) and with the bill proportionately longer. Perhaps it is a male at the large end for the species. It seemed to have the proportions of a Herring Gull, perhaps with longer wings and a less pronounced gonys. I note that Sibley gives lengths for the LBBG equal to California but indicates that it is substantially heavier. The legs were clearly yellowish to my eye; the eye pale grayish; the mantle quite dark, about Western Gull gray; quite long primaries. It seems quite happy to stay put for a while, unlike the Walla Walla bird(s).

No luck with the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper at the south end of Soap Lake, but did see a Black-bellied Plover there.

Also, two Mountain Chickadees and a Varied Thrush in the trees above the parking lot at Sun Lakes.

Gene Hunn.