More reasons to love Tweeters: My post offering a
ride up to go for "The Gull" resulted in quick
responses and an easily organized trip leaving
early on the morning of the 21st. Joined by Knut
Hansen, Mike Willison and Pete Fahey, it was off
to Palmer Lake. Bottom line (a few details to
follow) was a successful sighting of the
spectacular gull. There has been much written
about this bird so I will not add to that but do
want to add some other reflections: First a thank
you to Tweeters for making its presence known.
Second a thank you to Tweeters for being the means
to finding not just riders to share the cost and
provide company, but also who were great birders
and great folks. Third the trip IS LONG but also
very beautiful. There was a lot of snow and ice
including some on the roads but the weather was
clear if cool and the scenery spectacular. We
went the I-90 route which I would recommend over
either Hwy 2 or Blewett Pass. Frost and ice and
snow covered hills and ponds and trees were a
constant treat. Especially when on a mission, we
sometimes forget to appreciate the incredible
scenery afforded us by many of the places (sewage
ponds aside) that birds take us. Palmer Lake
itself is incredibly gorgeous ringed by its snow
clad hills and is "almost" worth the journey.
Fourth, yes this was an incredible bird and worth
the effort all by itself. Our first views of it
were of it flying first away from us and then
towards us before it settled on the infamous deer
carcass which then gave everyone great views. In
flight towards us particularly, the pink hue was
more noticeable. The bird is almost tern like -
delicate and "pure" - unique. Fifth, the rancor
about private property is both appropriate and
somewhat misrepresented. The property in question
where many viewers ventured for better views was
not marked as Private and there were no "No
Trespassing" signs. No evidence that it was
anything but public with the possible exception of
a few snow covered steps. It was my sense that
the bigger ethics concern was whether this
"encroachment" was on the bird and might spook it
to fly off and deprive all of the view. Whether
the bird was simply oblivious to the people (what
are "people" to such an arctic loner?) or wiling
to tolerate them because of the appeal of the
carcass, it did not fly off and away. Most of the
birders were respectful of distance and
disturbance and certainly did nothing to damage
the property. Sixth, the sign in book left at the
Kwik Mart in Loomis provided a great opportunity
to visit with the locals...some colorful...who
were trying to figure out what was going on. No
birders in that group but they enjoyed being
included in this sensation and enjoyed the
pictures shared and the stories of our travels and
obsessions ... acknowledging that most if not all
of us are "crazy" in one way or another and that
bird madness is not such a bad form. Seventh,
there were "other" birds to be seen but that said,
it was REALLY SLOW for us. I think we ended up
with 45 species as we spent several hours on back
roads, in towns and especially on the Cameron
loop. We spotted two Snowies in the last light of
the day on the Plateau - mostly white spots on
green fields. Another great bird was a White
Headed Woodpecker and there was a Townsend's
Solitaire right by the Gull, but hoped for good
looks at the northern finches were not to be had.
A couple of red crossbills, poor view of snow
buntings flying by and probably some heard
redpolls plus lots of horned larks...but REALLY
SLOW. Lots of Red Tails, a few Rough Legs, more
than expected Kestrels, several Bald Eagles and
two Golden Eagles but that was it. No bigger
falcons. Eighth and finally...it really was a
spectacular gull and I am glad I canceled a
business meeting and a dinner to make the trek.
Thank you Tweeters, Mike, Knut and Pete...really a
great day!!

And oh yeah - still high from the gull and with
the great sunshine yesterday, I stopped by
Montlake Fill for an hour and with Connie saw the
now 19 swans out in the lake. We tried hard to
make one of them into a Tundra but at most a
maybe. Think they were all Trumpeters...and how
can that be disappointing...