ML630154298

Observation details

****MEGA. First Kansas State Record, and only record for the Lower 48 since June of 2023 (there is a sight-only bird from Brandon Holden in Ontario on October 15th, 2024). Found on January 31st by Christi and Stan McMillen, who were birding the area in the evening looking for Short-eared Owls. Great photos were taken and immediately circulated (and identified), allowing for one birder to make it on the 31st and a whole slew of birders the following morning. A truly stunning find, an adult Ross's Gull feeding on dead Snow Geese, left or unable to be salvaged by hunters. I arrived at 7:40 AM to see a line of cars enjoying the bird at quite a distance, roughly here: 37.490538, -100.080723. I gather the bird was close to the road earlier, but then flew out to feed on a different dead goose. Views were distant, but the bird didn't stay put for long, eventually flying west along the back edge of the playa and circled to land on another carcass next to the road here: 37.488211, -100.085499. This proved to be the favored carcass for the morning, and the bird happily swam and fed for the following couple of hours, occasionally getting up to fly around, and briefly to feed on the distant carcass from earlier. Towards the end of my visit, it flew to land on some nearby ice, and stood preening for a few minutes. When it was close to the road, we could watch it no further than 20 feet away, and it was entirely unbothered by the numerous cameras and telescopes. A small white and gray gull, a non-breeding adult bird, with a notably buoyant flight, bulbous body shape with a tapered tail, bowed wings at the wrists revealing almost an "M" shape in flight. When sitting/feeding, I noted it's rounded, almost pigeon-like head, with large round black eyes (probably to help see in the Arctic winters), a very thin and dainty black bill, smudges across the eyes (like it was hungover), small black spot behind the eye and a bit lower towards the nape, and bright pink/reddish legs. Back was a light gray, wings were gray with a thick white border along the base of the secondaries and into the primaries, body was all white but with a faint pink wash on the breast which could be seen at close range, nape had a very faint ring around it (seen best in flight), and tail was all white and a very clear diamond-shape. Truly one of my most-desired gull species for years now, and a bird which I had a history of never having a chance to see. Grateful for the McMillen's for the incredible find, and for the general community for keeping updates coming. A world lifer for me, and one I'll cherish for a long time! Many photos and videos taken.