I arrived at Wenzel Slough Rd and Keys Rd about 9:30 AM; a careful look in
all the nearby fields produced no gulls of any sort. The same situation
applied at about 1:30 PM. Perhaps a thousand American Robins were present,
causing me to believe that perhaps the gulls had metamorphosed into that
species. Is that possible? I was greatly relieved not to have to
distinguish between gull species, as it has caused considerable debate.



I searched the hundreds of geese in the skies and fields from MP 50-53 W of
South Bend twice from 10 AM to 12:20 PM. A second Tweeters birder arrived
partway through this and also searched. We both used binoculars and scopes.
No emperor goose was found. A half dozen bald eagles were seen, around
100 violet green swallows, perhaps half that many tree swallows, as well as
two deer and a farmer.



Marvin S. Hoekstra

Sammamish, WA

marvin dot hoekstra at verizon dot net