Since I just returned from a solo trip to the coast, I
wanted to post a quick update. After my new Canadian
friends (Malcolm & Joan MacDonald) and I spent most of
our day (Sunday 10/25/04) at North Cove with the
single minded purpose of finding "The Gull", we were
finally rewarded at 4:25 PM. The Gull looked quite
dapper in it's crisp dark-mantled plumage, bright
yellow legs, and that outrageous candy cane bill. This
wonderful bird flew in on an outgoing tide, and was
almost hyperactive in bathing, and running along the
shoreline and then vigorously preening. At first, it
landed along the bank of the creek channel.
Afterwards, it then flew into the surf and bathed at
the mouth of the creek. After that, It landed in the
middle of a group of California Gulls that were
roosting on the beach. It was still there when we left
at 5:00 PM.

We ended up seeing nine species of gulls at North Cove
today (Ring-billed, Cal., Herring, Thayer's,
Heermans's, Western, Glaucous-winged, BLACK-LEGGED
KITTIWAKE, and of course "The Gull". Red-throated
Loons, Peregrine Falcon, W. Grebes were seen as well.

During a brief visit to Bottle Beach today, we saw
thousands of Dunlin & Sanderlings, some Black-bellied
Plovers, and a EURASIAN WIDGEON.

On my drive home tonight, I saw an incredible
exploding fireball (meteor) that burned bluish green
that trailed orange sparks on the way down. I hadn't
seen meteor of that magnitude since since the Leonid
Meteor Storm a couple of years ago.

Thanks go out to all the Tweets who offered me advice
and encouragement for finding the BT Gull. I am simply
ecstatic over seeing it.

Gina Sheridan
Spokane, WA