Rolan,

Thanks for following up on this. I studied the bird for maybe ten minutes as it stood on the gravel bar in the flock, scanned away to see what else was there, but when I looked again for it it was gone, so I missed the chance to see it in flight. Still, it was quite different from the Western that was also present, in head markings, eye color, and wing-tip pattern, but it wasn't exactly what I would call a prototypical Slaty-backed either, but I think within the normal range of Slaty-backed variation, though I suppose a Slaty-backed x Vega Gull might also be possible, though the size would seem a counter indication.

Gene.

----- Original Message -----
From: Rolan Nelson
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Sent: Saturday, November 26, 2005 9:34 PM
Subject: [Tweeters] No Luck on the Renton Slaty Back


Greetings,

Given limited time and cool temps, Jack Philbrick and I made a valient attempt to sort out the reported Slaty-Backed Gull at Cedar River Park in Renton. We were there from 10 AM to 11 AM before other commits called us away. 5 Gull species, but none of them the right one. One adult Western had us salivating, but we just couldn't ignore the clean, white head.

The birder's creed: "Better luck next time"

-Rolan


Rolan Nelson
Fircrest, WA
rnbuffle at yahoo.com


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