Hi Tweeters:
Here is a belated message concerning the Black-tailed gull at North Cove. On
Sept. 9, my wife and I stopped to look for the gull at Mile 20.6 on Hwy. 105. The time was 10:35 AM, just at high tide. After about one-half hour or so, I took another look at the gull's picture to see what could be used to find it more readily, and I homed in on the bright yellow legs, in that none of the other gull species present have legs of this color. Again scoping through the gull flock, I soon came upon a pair of yellow legs belonging to the desired gull. The weather that day was ideal, with no wind and good lighting conditions. Thus, we enjoyed a fantastic view of the gull. While I watched it, the gull flock decided to take off and so I got to see the black tail band, which couldn't be seen while the gull was on the ground. Only about one third of the gulls returned, the rest continued southward, including THE gull. I think anyone still wishing to see the gull could still find it under similar conditions. In any event, good luck to anyone still looking.
Cheers,
Bob Woodley
Richland, WA
bobpatwoodley at msn.com