Subject: [Tweeters] Richland Lesser Black-backed & Glaucous Gulls
Date: Feb 14 15:49:52 2014
From: Carol Riddell - cariddellwa at gmail.com


I observed the resting gulls at the Yakima River Delta for two hours this morning and only found California, Ring-billed, Herring, and Glaucous-winged Gulls. I took a break and went up Nine Canyon Road to see if any Snowy Owls were still around. An hour's search of that area turned up nothing but scads of Horned Larks. I returned to the gull spot about 2 p.m. The Glaucous Gull put in a brief appearance and dwarfed all of the other gulls by its size. Most gulls were further out on the river, at too great a distance for identification. But I continued to scan through the smaller numbers that were closer in and finally found the adult Lesser Black-backed Gull about 3 pm. Initially I got all field marks but the legs because its legs were obscured by a Ring-billed Gull in front of it. Patience paid off and it finally moved forward so that I could see the darker yellow legs.

Thanks to Denny Granstrand for updated directions to the gull viewing spot. I am including them here for those who plan to try for these gulls over the long weekend and need directions:

"Take I-82 east to I-182, which goes to the Tri-Cities. Take SR 240 off I-182 toward Kennewick. Take the first exit off SR 240, which says something like "Columbia Park Trail". After you take the exit you come to a round-about. Take the east-most road off the round-about and go east about half a mile. You will pass several commercial properties on the left, then it is open space for a while. There is a paved parking lot down a short paved driveway on the left (north) side of the road. This is the parking lot for Bateman Island . . . Once in the parking lot, drive to the west end and onto a dirt road. Follow the dirt road west until you see birds. The gulls were about a quarter mile west of the parking lot."

The dirt road has big potholes that are filled with water but passenger vehicles were negotiating the road just fine. Signs at this area call it Wye Levee Nature Area. I thought I had a Greater White-fronted Goose but it turned out to be a GWFGxCAGO hybrid. I enjoyed it anyway as I had not seen this hybrid before. Good birding to all who get out on this long weekend.

Carol Riddell
Edmonds, Wa