Hi Tweets,

While leading a field trip to the Grand Coulee for the Sandhill Crane
Festival we observed what appeared to be a 3y Lesser Black-backed Gull at
the south end of Lake Lenore.
It is unclear whether this is the same bird that has been in the area for
the last few years or it is a different bird. I suspect this is the same
bird, but the plumage cycle seems out of sequence. The original bird located
in 2004 as a 1cy should be a 2cy molting into 2nd summer plumage.
The bird was well seen by all participants and showed classic 3y
characteristics including light terminal tips to the underwing coverts
giving a barred appearance to an otherwise white underwing, a few smudgy
retrices, a very dark mantle & scapulars, very long and thin wings, and
bright yellow feet.
The bird soared over us a reasonably close range in great light for well
over a minute.
Other notable birds included several Golden Eagles, 4 Prairie Falcons, one
Merlin, a single Dunlin, several Chukar, and the first Cliff Swallows of the
year.

Cheers

Doug Schonewald
Moses Lake, WA
--
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.1.385 / Virus Database: 268.3.1/292 - Release Date: 3/24/2006