Subject: [Tweeters] Lesser BB Gull+ Graysmarsh 10/23 (long)
Date: Oct 25 09:35:15 2005
From: Scott Atkinson - scottratkinson at hotmail.com


Tweeters:

I've delayed in reporting sooner because of technical issues related to
posting photos (had to get the USB hub for laptop, posting site, etc.) but I
attempted to document an unusual gull I had Sunday at the Graysmarsh public
beach. As you will see, I leave much to be desired as a photographer (one
of the reasons I almost never try), but Dennis, if you're out there, at
least I gave it a shot.

This bird was at the Graysmarsh public beach access, reached via Wilcox Lane
off Woodcock Rd. The bird was there early, then flew with the flock west
and landed just a short ways into the Sunny Shores property that adjoins the
access, staying on the beach. The good news on access: the blocked-off
spot right there where Wilcox Lane meets the beach at the 90-degree bend is
now being used (apparently without incident) by duck hunters (who are
hunting further down the beach usually at the south end of the access).
There's room for a couple cars. I'd be willing to bet the gull is still
there, on either the Grays side or the Sunny Shores side.

I believe the bird to be a 2nd winter LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, an apparent
first for OP and Clallam Co., but I'm interested in other's opinions. I
want to thank Ned McGarry, who did me the favor of creating a link for the
photos (http://www.pbase.com/nmcgarry/scott_atkinson). Additionally, I have
one 2-3 second video clip. Be forwarned--the photos were taken by digital
camera through the telescope, and if the bird appears headless, in the brief
time I had it was constantly preening, and it was tough to get a head shot.
All that said, what you can see (if you look hard):

--distinctive slender silhouette and a smaller, darker gull than nearby
Olympic hybrids and Californias there too, note smallish rounded head;

--dark slate gray mantle coming in, contrasting (in flight, no photo) with
dark brown greater and lesser coverts;

--flanks, nape, undertail coverts, and belly streaked, remnants of juv.
plumage; horizontal streaks above/below eye, some streaking on crown also

--bill pale at the base but mainly black (barely visible in photos);
distinctly smaller bill than Olympics'; legs yellowish to pinkish depending
on angle of photo

--in flight (my photo abilities too crude to get flight photo), the bird had
uniformly dark brown wings from below, dark slate gray back, with the wings
elongate and narrow, (dead match for Sibley's (2nd edition) depiction in
flight)

--black tail band, not as crisply defined as with, say, Black-tailed Gull,
but nonetheless present

Other details on request. I've seen Lesser BB Gulls in 2nd-3rd year before
in Europe and also once in MD, so although time was scarce, the bird
instantly caught my attention and I sprinted back to snap these "shots".

Other interesting birds at Grays 10/23 among just over 100 sp for the day:

Eared Grebe 1
Cackling Goose 305 (best count ever, mostly along border of farm adjoining
Grays from the south)
Gr. White-fr. Goose 175 (best count ever)
Bufflehead & LT Duck (widespread arrivals on salt water)
PRAIRIE FALCON 1 (the other hot bird, handsome juv, along bluff at s. Grays,
first for Grays)
LB Dowitcher 8
phalarope, sp. 2
9 gull sp, including Lesser BB, also single arrival Thayer's, Herring
only 1 Bonaparte's Gull, no Com. Terns--where are they??
Hermit Thrush 2
Am. Pipit 27
Swamp Sparrow 1 (heard only at usual wintering site)

Best

Scott Atkinson
Lake Stevens
mail to: scottratkinson at hotmail.com