ML645748105

Behaketaren xehetasunak

Incredible find by James Flynn earlier today and huge thanks to all the other birders who tried to help me relocate it today after I missed it by literally seconds at Black Hammock. Huge thanks to Hayden who first spotted it again off to the NW of Overlook Park. We had distant scope views that I would’ve been content with, but to my surprise, just as I was packing up my scope, 3 Laughing Gulls came flying by from the west and headed up over the bridge. Moments later here comes the kittiwake on their tail, flying not far off the dock. I had great views of the bold M and dark collar in the binocs as it flew toward and then in front of me, and then I quickly grabbed my camera from my backpack and fired off a few photos as it was flying away from me toward the east side of the lake. They aren’t the best photos but the show the bold black M pattern and the white trailing edge of the wing, unlike the similar Bonaparte’s Gull. This bird is a first county record and I believe only the second inland record in the state.