Record shot of Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris) - Lund, BC
I went to Powell River to see my lifer Black-tailed Gull. It is a bird I have always wanted to see. It was a really long day to get there and get back home but was worth every minute. He flew all the way from Asia, the least I can do is travel 6.5 hours and take 2 ferries to see him! He used to stay on a rock in the middle of the ocean that you had to have a boat to get to but today he flew right into town on the government dock allowing us to view him from land. I also got to see a pod of Pacific White-Sided Dolphins frolicking behind him. I rarely get to see dolphins so it was a special treat. This gull is really stunning. It is a 3rd cycle gull and he has beautiful pale eyes, white eye arcs and that unique yellow bill with black ring and red tip. Plus of course his conspicuous black tail band and white rump. He flew into the ocean once for a quick swim and it allowed me to see that. He really is very elegant with his dark grey back and wings and black wingtips. I'm really lucky I got to see him so close to shore today. This is the 422 nd bird I have seen in BC. This is the second rare Asiatic gull in BC right now as a Slaty-backed Gull was found a few days later but has not been relocated.
This is a heavy crop but wanted to post it anyways since it is such a special bird.
This is only the 3rd confirmed photo documented record for the province of BC. This bird is listed as a code 4 by the ABA.
Record shot of Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris) - Lund, BC
I went to Powell River to see my lifer Black-tailed Gull. It is a bird I have always wanted to see. It was a really long day to get there and get back home but was worth every minute. He flew all the way from Asia, the least I can do is travel 6.5 hours and take 2 ferries to see him! He used to stay on a rock in the middle of the ocean that you had to have a boat to get to but today he flew right into town on the government dock allowing us to view him from land. I also got to see a pod of Pacific White-Sided Dolphins frolicking behind him. I rarely get to see dolphins so it was a special treat. This gull is really stunning. It is a 3rd cycle gull and he has beautiful pale eyes, white eye arcs and that unique yellow bill with black ring and red tip. Plus of course his conspicuous black tail band and white rump. He flew into the ocean once for a quick swim and it allowed me to see that. He really is very elegant with his dark grey back and wings and black wingtips. I'm really lucky I got to see him so close to shore today. This is the 422 nd bird I have seen in BC. This is the second rare Asiatic gull in BC right now as a Slaty-backed Gull was found a few days later but has not been relocated.
This is a heavy crop but wanted to post it anyways since it is such a special bird.
This is only the 3rd confirmed photo documented record for the province of BC. This bird is listed as a code 4 by the ABA.