Subject: [Tweeters] Slaty-backed Gull Update, 2/1
Date: Feb 2 09:31:50 2007
From: Floyd, Chris - chrisf at mitre.org
Seeing no status report in the last three digests, I thought it might
be useful to report that the Slaty-backed Gull was a no-show at the
Cedar River mouth in Renton during the following three periods: 1400
until dark Tuesday (1/30), 1600 until dark Wednesday, and 1100 until
noon Thursday. On Tuesday, Ryan Merrill and I also checked the very
large gull flock on the lake over at Gene Coulon Park. On every visit,
I periodically scoped the gulls over there from the Cedar River spot.
And I also repeatedly (and discretely) checked the gulls on the roofs
of the Boeing buildings all along the road into the park.
Many thanks to the several Tweeters readers who responded to my request
for directions to the spot. In spite of missing the target, I was
rewarded with getting better perspective on sorting out your
challenging mix of big gull species (and hybrids) and with nice looks
at your wintering Palm Warbler (thanks again, Ryan). Plus, in
Massachusetts, I'm not used to getting such superb looks at Barrow's
Goldeneye as I had of the birds in the Cedar River.
Chris Floyd
Lexington
chrisf at mitre.org