Life has been hectic since getting back from the coast ABC trip. See the post on the ABC site for a report on the rest of the trip.
Highlights since returning have included seeing the Franklin’s gull at Dash Point (Pierce FOY) and best of all the Lesser Black-backed Gull at the 11th St. Bridge. I was working at Brett’s house on August 5th, planning a couple of hours of work before heading to Rotary, when Will sent out a group text that he had the LBBG. I quickly left, binos but no scope, and on arrival at the bridge Will and Michael Charest both had the gull in their scopes from the shore just upstream from the bridge. It was only maybe 40 meters out on the sand bar, and I got great looks, a couple digiscope photos on Will’s scope, and drank in great looks. The gull was obvious through binos, by its very dark back and wings, its yellow legs, pale yellow eye, and was felt to be a 3rd year because it lacked much for white spots in the wing tips. This was a Pierce lifer for me.


A Heerman’s gull, again found by Will Brooks, has been hanging out on the Marine Park all this week, and I was just driving into my parking spot here at home when will texted us all. I hopped back in the car and again without a scope easily found the gull on the pilings as described.

Yesterday Bruce and I spent the morning birding Pierce from the south back to Pt. Defiance. Stops at Mount’s Road, Easterday Rd, the trail at the end of McNeil (where Bruce showed me a better place to look over the delta area), a new spot for me called Saltar’s Point Park in Steilacoom, Sunnyside Beach, and Pt. Defiance gave us nice looks at lots of common birds, but nothing outstanding.