Hi, just a quick note to say that despite the sentence in the post below that stated "Keith's not so much, but he should be praised for trying", in regard to the bird I SAW IN PERSON and easily identified as a Slaty-backed Gull.
I for one, wasn't viewing my awful photos taken at a great distance in heavy winds and pouring rain.
I was actually there and saw the bird. It was at rather close range initially before an eagle put them all to flight. I followed the bird until it landed much further out in the field and then proceeded to take the pics.
The bird I saw was a Slaty-backed Gull (I've seen lots after 10 summers in Alaska) and it actually matched up smudge for smudge, neck streak for neck streak with the picture of "Charlie's bird" which I carried in my hand.
Case closed.
Awfully reminiscent of words from the exact same direction which disparaged the posts by Bruce LaBarr at North Cove of the Black-tailed Gull as a California Gull and Patrick and Ruth Sullivan's Temminck's Stint as a Least Sandpiper.
If I have my doubts regarding a post, I usually send a simple, friendly personal e-mail (and often have) to the parties involved for further details
This way I'm more prepared to know what I'm talking about if I decide to go to the whole group.
Oh, and I'm looking forward to all that praise I will get for "trying".
Keith Brady
Olympia, WA

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