Sabine's Gull - Thacker Park May 21

[Gord]

This afternoon I fortunately was looking in the right direction at the right time to see a small gull flying erratically towards me as the little gulls like to do. As it passed I said hello (possibly out loud) to a Sabine's Gull. Far from expected. Happily I was close to my camera and got a shot as it was heading away downstream over the Coquihalla River. A bit of an odd sighting of a gull who prefers open ocean to travel between wintering and breeding grounds which is far far to the north.

019_8782 by Gord G, on Flickr

[murraybrown]

Way to go Gord! I wonder how many of us would have picked it out and then got the shot? Not many I would say.

[Randy]

I'm really disappointed with your photograph here Gord. Please try to get a better photo next time.

Ha ha ha, amazing sighting! I agree with Murray - whenever I'm birding with you it's amazing how you can pick out something just slightly different without the aid of binoculars even! Ie. a brown bird flies across the path 30 feet away and you suspect swamp sparrow rather than song sparrow. Crazy and impressive!

[Gord]

I am humbled by the accolades from those who are far from slouches themselves

_{Do you guys want your promised payment via cheque or cash?}

[paulos]

Great find! That's strikes me as an unexpected location, but very cool.

[Gord]

Paul, I agree. However when I think of it I've had Bonaparte's Gull several times on nearby Kawkawa Lake so perhaps there's something about the area that draws them in. I guess since they're not huge fans of forested mountains the lake, river and marsh is about all there is for them if they happen to be passing over.