I observed a somewhat strange, small white gull at the Para Ponds outside
Othello, WA yesterday. I believe it was a first year *Bonaparte's
Gull*molting into adult plumage. The head was still white and there
was no brown
on the wings and back, but a small black line at the tip of the tail. It
did have the white mirrors in the wing, however they appeared somewhat
shorter than on an adult. Are Bonaparte's Gulls very unusual away from the
coast?

The gull was feeding on the far side of the main pond, picking up food
items ( insects?) from the water surface, lightly dimpling it. Several
times this was followed by a large boil of water and twice a saw the back
of a large fish. I do not believe that bass grow that large here. It seemed
more like a large carp, common in that area. Has anybody ever seen this
type of interaction?

Cheers,

--
*Hans Feddern*
Twin Lakes/Federal Way, WA
thefedderns at gmail.com
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