I was called to come look at a gull specimen that was thought to be a
Black-legged Kittiwake. Here?s what I found:
Legs- Darkish.
Bill- Yellowish toward the tip, blackish toward the base.
Tail- All white, slightly forked.
Wings- Ternlike, black primaries tipped in white.
Mantle ? Gray.
Head- White with dark grayish wash on nape and head back. Black eyes.
Total Length- 13.5?
Wing spread- 33?
I believe this is an adult Sabine?s Gull in basic plumage. It was
found on Whidbey?s West Beach struggling to move around but died shortly
after being captured and before it could receive medical attention. There
appears to be a small wound in the breast but is in otherwise great shape (
at least outwardly).
The specimen will be turned over to the biologist on the local naval
airstation who has a permit for such things.
Is this a Sabine?s Gull? The bill rules out Franklin?s and other small
gulls and I believe the size is enough to say it isn?t a kittiwake. I?ve had
some experience with kittiwakes in Alaska and this guy seemed too small
before I even started to measure it.

I?m more than a little uncomfortable sending in all these sightings of
late. It seems like we can go months with nothing but song Sparrows and
Double-crested Cormorants and now we?re getting rare birds on an almost
weekly if not daily basis.
Steve Ellis
sellis at coup.wednet.edu
Coupeville, Wa ( Where I didn?t see anything more unusual than a Varied
Thrush this morning!!)