David Abbot's Slaty Backed Gull on the CBBT

Edward Jendrek (aj97@bellatlantic.net)
Thu, 18 Feb 1999 11:58:35 +0000


    David Abbot reported a Slaty-Backed Gull, 2nd winter bird, found on
the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel Islands on Monday, Feb 15.  From his
description, the bird may be a slaty-backed gull.  But it also may be a
hybrid or an extremely pale GBBG 1st winter.  He did not cross-post his
report, so I also sent it to the VON and MDOsprey.  David seems very
emphatic that this bird is a Slatey-Backed, using phrases such as "stuck
out like a sore thumb" and "Plainly, the bird is entirely consistent
with Slaty-backed Gull."  So it seems this may be worth checking.

Brian Monk
Bel Air MD