This morning I searched Westmoreland Park, looking for the two Glaucous Gulls photographed by Sherry Hagen. I did not find either of them. I did not find the Slaty-backed Gull there either.

I met Don and Carol Kohler there, where they were also looking for the Slaty-backed. Once it was apparent that it was not there we headed separately to downtown Portland's Waterfront Park near the W end of the Burnside Bridge. After looking for a while we
walked down toward the S end of the park and checked for Gulls there. There was a 1st year GLAUCOUS GULL there, but no Slaty-backed.

When we arrived back to the lawn/seawall area on the S side of the Burnside Bridge, we bumped into two birders (sorry, I do not know their names), who told us they had walked over to the E side of the Willamette River on the only dock between the Burnside and Steel Bridges. Don & Carol Kohler and I began walking North of the Burnside Bridge, where we bumped into Dave Irons and Diane Petty at the W seawall looking across the River to the E side dock where the SLATY-BACKED GULL was hanging out with dozens of other gulls. Chumming with bread from the W side, eventually enticed more and more Gulls to fly west. The SLATY-BACKED GULL flew over also, but to the area S of the Bridge rather than to our position on the N side.

Unseen by us (construction under the Bridge blocks views), someone had dumped a large amount of bread on the lawn S of the Bridge. As we all moved quickly from the N side to the S side of the Burnside Bridge, Dave Irons got there first just in time to watch the SLATY-BACKED GULL briefly on the lawn, before it flew again, and ultimately returned to the dock on the E side of the Willamette.

Eventually, all split up:
-Dave Irons and Diane Petty, to get scopes,
-Don & Carol Kohler to take a break and warm up
-I decided to walk across the Steel Bridge and over to the E side dock.

Luck was with me as the SLATY-BACKED GULL remained on the dock or in the water near the dock. At one time, I was feeding it from about 5-6 feet.

The SLATY-BACKED GULL is quite shy relative to other Gulls, and seemingly more timid around them than around humans with gifts of bread. While I was on the dock, Don & Carol Kohler arrived on the dock and also got very close views and photos of the SLATY-BACKED GULL.

This gull is definitely worth it, and likely will hang around for a while. Based on earlier reports, it appears that someone daily (afternoons ~ 1-2 ish) dumps a large pile of bread scraps on the lawn S of the Burnside Bridge. Keep in mind that the E side dock is not really visible from the S side lawn/seawall area.

PATIENCE is the 1st message.

Check the E SIDE DOCK is the 2nd message.

I got there around noon and left for home around 3PM. The SLATY-BACKED GULL was still on the E side dock when I left.

Will Clemons
SW of Portland
willclemons AT Yahoo dot com