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Subject:

Sandy Point State Park: Sabines gull

From:

stanley arnold

Reply-To:

stanley arnold

Date:

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 13:37:32 -0400

Hi Folks,

Hoping to get an hour or two of birding in this morning before a
mid-morning doctor's appointment, I set out for Sandy Point (AA Co.)
early, arriving about ten minutes past six.  The weather was
miserable.  The wind, it was a blowin'.  The rain, it was a blowin'
too.  I drove through some fairly heavy rain enroute, which seemed to
lighten up upon my arrival at the park, giving me enough time to get
out to one of the bath houses before getting soaked.  Wind and heavy
rain followed, but I stayed dry under the eave of the building scoping
the usual flock of gulls and the part of the bay that was not
obstructed by trees.  All the usual stuff:  the big four gulls,
Caspian Tern, Royal Tern, Common Tern, Forster's Tern.  I did have one
good find, however, when three BLACK TERNs came wafting by, one of
them in almost full breeding plumage.

I scanned for about an hour, but then it was time for me to go.  I
debated whether to drive to the parking area out at the point (the
small craft launch area), but thought what the heck, I'll see if
there's anything on the beach.  Good I came out here, because there
were a lot more gulls sitting on the beach, with a few more terns.
While sitting in the car with the windows partially lowered I sifted
through these larids, bringing my Great Black-backed Gull count up to
640.  As I looked out over the water I noticed a tern flying by, so
put my binoculars on it.  It had long slender wings and a FULL BLACK
HOOD.  I was momentarily befuddled--a tern with a black hood?--but
when I caught a glimpse of the upper mantle I saw white triangular
patches, and then I knew I was looking at a SABINE'S GULL.  I jumped
out of the car, heart thumping, and got my scope set up in the rain,
and watched the bird fly away to the north.  It had a pure white tail.
 I saw the bird mostly from the side or from the rear, and did not
have enough time to get off any digiscopes.  The rain began to fall
heavily as the bird disappeared behind a tree near where I stood, and
I realized it was well past the time for me to go.

Phil, I know you'll want a full report.   It will be forthcoming.

BTW, Elaine had our first fall warbler in the yard today--a colorful
NORTHERN PARULA.

Stan Arnold
Ferndale (AA Co.)