Hi all -
The Black-headed Gull showed up again today at Point-No-Point in Kitsap County.
Michael Hobbs & I showed up at some point before 10:00am and started
looking. Fortunately for us, there was plenty else to look at for the
first few hours, because the Bonaparte's didn't start appearing until
after 12:00. Before then, it was enjoyable to watch other birds
including many Marbled Murrelets, Rhino Auklets, Common Murre &
Pigeon Guillemots cruising by and occasionally splashing in for
closer looks.

Finally, in the afternoon, the Bonys started appearing. Eventually
the flocks moved closer. After 2:00pm, Grace Oliver cried out 'I've
got it' -- and there was the Black-headed. We had good looks as it
actively fed in a flock of well over a thousand Bonapartes. The
Black-headed was reasonably easy to pick out mostly by its bigger
size and perhaps by its method of holding its tail -- the tail
pattern, with the black subterminal bar seemed to somehow stand out
from the 1st Winter Bonys that occasionally popped out. In addition,
the bill was distinct for its slender & slightly down-curved shape.
Most all the Bonys were adults, which made it easier to confine the
search to the few 1st winters around. Notably, there was at least 1
Bony with a fully black head [already in alternate plumage], and a
few well along the way to that state.

It was a tiring day, but well worth it for the reward at the end,

Matt Bartels
Seattle, WA
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