ML643243541

觀察細節

As we arrived at North Regional Pond, Bart noticed an odd small gull on the south shore, facing away. As we put our bins on the bird we quickly realized this was a juvenile Sabine’s Gull and began excitedly taking photos. As we did so the bird picked up and began to fly low over the pond, joining a Sterna that turned out to be the Common Tern in the process. It landed a few more times briefly before picking up and flying around us and heading south over the southern wtp ponds. Zane chased after it and eventually refound the bird on Pond 3, where he was joined by Julian Johnson in watching it swim amongst Red-necked Phalaropes. It then hopped over to pond 4 to join the local avocets, before picking up yet again and drifting west then south far in the distance, last seen as a speck thermaling near a Red-tailed Hawk. Kirk Swenson was a few ponds over and managed to see the bird in flight. This was a very small gull, smaller than the avocets, with gray-brown upperparts and partial hood scalloped with white on the back. The eye and bill were dark. One the water we could see the long black primaries that gave it an almost tern-like appearance. In flight it showed its stunning characteristic “M” pattern across the upperparts. It flew with a buoyant flight very similar to a tern. A stunning bird that only stuck around for 40 minutes! Many photos to be posted.