After seeing the less-happy reports about looking for the Black-tailed Gull
yesterday at Commencement Bay, I thought I should report that it was seen
yesterday (10/16) around 11 am. I got there around 10 am as Carol Smith of
Gig Harbor was leaving. She had not seen it. There weren't many gulls
around at the time, and the squalls made birding from inside one's car seem
advisable at times.



Not long after Carol left (and I hope she came back later!) I was joined by
- I think I have this right - Anne Kahle of Castle Rock. We studied all the
California and Mew Gulls on the log booms and water while ducking out of the
rain squalls for the better part of an hour. Around 11 am Anne spotted
several airborne gulls a long distance away and we began inspecting them, I
with a scope, she with binos. A few flew in our direction and about the
same time we picked out one that turned out to be the Black-tailed. We saw
its tail band clearly while in flight, standing out very sharply against a
white rump. It settled on the distant boom, turned sideways, and began to
preen. At one point watching through the scope I saw it raise its wings and
angle its tail toward shore, again showing the distinct black band very
clearly. The other features of the gull squared with the previous reports -
slightly smaller than the California Gulls with somewhat darker gray mantle
(no brownish to it); white on the face, with fading or smudging on the back
of the head and neck; longish straight bill with a large spot near the tip
(colors not obvious in that light), legs a yellow-green cast.



Several other birders arrived at this juncture and we pointed it out before
leaving. I hope they all got as satisfactory looks as we did.



If you are wavering about going there to look, I'd certainly encourage you
to give it a try. You just might want to allow enough time to let it show
up.



Gary T. Smith

Alki Point