Tweeters,

My concerns that the Graysmarsh Slaty-backed Gull might actually be a
Western have all but evaporated after some Google research and an email
exchange with the finder Scott Atkinson. As Scott tells it, "I spent
very considerable time in the Russian Far East in the 90s, especially in
Kamchatka on marine business, and saw tens of thousands of SB Gulls, so
I never had any doubts as to i.d. once I got all characters."

He agrees that this third cycle individual that created a lot of
interest in California a little over a month ago could work as a body
double. "although it would seem to have a barely darker mantle than the
Grays bird".

Here is the link- http://fog.ccsf.edu/~jmorlan/sbgu012105.htm

As of yesterday the Gull is on the NORTH AMERICAN RARE BIRD ALERT
(NARBA).

It still needs it's picture taken. I'm not sure today would be a good
day for that.

Good gulling,

Larry Schwitters, Issaquah, for myself and Scott Atkinson, consultant to
the Graysmarsh landowners, and custodian of the property bird and plant
lists. He is interested in others' sightings