Sorry for the late post but yesterday my husband and I drove to Tacoma and Commencement Bay/Dick Gilmur Public Access in search of the Black-tailed Gull.

We arrived at about 1 PM. Other birders helped search also. While we waited, we think we convinced two non-birders (retired guys) to take up the hobby when they stopped to see what we were doing. One already had camera equipment that his wife complained he didn?t use. They were really interested.

Around 3:30 PM one of the other birders had been watching a ?black-tailed? gull that flew in. There are ?black-tailed? gulls there that are NOT ?the? BT Gull.

Finally this gull stretched or preened enough for us all to positively identify the BLACK-TAILED GULL. After looks at it as the temperatures began dropping, the others left and we stayed to try to get some photos. I got better ones than I had before of the one at North Cove years ago but not great due to the distance and lighting.

Another birder mentioned it may stay a couple more weeks (give or take) then leave with the California Gulls.


Sherry Hagen
littlebirder at comcast.net
tweeters (littlebirder at pacifier.com)
Vancouver, WA