Subject: [Tweeters] Slaty-backed Gull today
Date: Mar 11 20:10:35 2008
From: Ruth Sullivan - godwit513 at msn.com


Hello Tweeters,
First CONGRATULATION to Charlie for finding a Slaty-backed Gull on Brady
Loop Rd.I saw Charlie"s photo and it was good enough to show fieldmarks,to
convince me that it is a Slaty -backed Gull.Reading Eugene Hunn"s remarks
about about the comparison with the Vega Gull made me curious to drive and
seeing this Gull in the Field.There is more than the dark slate gray color
to make this in to a Slaty-backed Gull.But a fairly good birder should know
all the main Fieldmarks.
After looking least 30 minutes looking all the hundreds of Gulls over,I
finally found the bird in the last group in the field looking only to my
Binoculars,I did not needed a scope since I saw all the fieldmarks of this
bird.First what stands out the slate black color what was so visible with
all the hundreds of all shape of grays that the smutch around the light eye,
the straight straw colored bill and the light beige pinstripe going from the
head all the way to the neck.I was than thinking to get my camera,but the
Gull lifted ,flying up,circled and I was seeing the broad white trailing
edge.As I watched this bird Lonnie Somer from Olympia came and this for a
moment I took my eye of this Gull.
But we found The Slaty -backed Gull back as Tim mention,we both took
photos.I kept my eye on this gull and too quite few photos what I hope to
publish tomorrow.Patrick always wrote the message plus the photos.I am not
Patrick,I am tired and hungry ,but I am so happy to had a chance to get
close for some good photos.I also mention that the other birders saw two
more gulls what supposed to be also Slaty-backed Gulls, what I did not saw.I
also forgot the leg color of this Gull what was real bright pink.


Cheers Ruth Sullivan