FW: L. Black-backed Gull, 2-6-04

["Eric Huish" <poorwill_ at hotmail dot com>]

Birdnet Email -- from the website

----Original Message Follows----
 It was submitted by Julie
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Subject: L. Black-backed Gull, 2-6-04

Message: I'm really having to pay my dues to see birds lately!  When the 
LBBG was here a couple of years ago, I chased about four times I think and 
never saw it.  Finally, on Friday, 2-6-04, I got to see this nemesis.  
Pomera and I started out at the Bountiful Landfill about 9 am but the 
earth/trash mover wasn't active so no birds were around.  We went on to 
Antelope and saw the Snow Bunting on the south side of the causeway and the 
Long-tailed Ducks (2) on the north and south side at the bridge near the 
island, along with Buffleheads and Common Goldeneye.  The ranch was 
absolutley dead--we saw a covey of Chukar on the way down to the ranch. Also 
saw 2 coyotes on the causeway; about 50 antelope, some buffalo and 3 
procupines in deciduous trees along the road to the ranch.

We went back to the landfill at about 1:45 pm and finally got the gull at 
about 3 pm.  It was a first winter bird with all black bill, legs sort of 
between pink and yellow, and a funny-looking charcoal, slaty-gray back, 
quite obvious in flight and perched--no need to strain your eyes trying to 
see if it's a darker shade of gray than the other gulls---it's bold!  Pomera 
and I both saw it flying at about the same time, and it graced us with its 
presence by landing close-by and not behind a slope or garbage--just right 
out in the open.  We watched it for about 20 minutes.  Hoorah!!!

Good birding y'all,
Julie

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