Post by Gord on Jan 22, 2006 19:20:10 GMT -8
On my way to the mall (almost sans camera and scope but I happily put them in at last moment) with baby I spotted the large flock of gulls that have been around Evans Rd in Sardis all winter. Baby was asleep, so I pulled over for a look, and it wasnt long before I spotted the very dark backed gull with real smudgy head that caused me to leap out of my car, almost smudging my head on the roof of the car during the exiting process.
Happily Evans Road is a very wide road, so lots of room to pull over and set up shop for a few minutes. The gull was certainly a slaty-backed gull, determined by dark back, smudged neck/head that gives a 'frowning' appearance, light coloured eye, strong pink legs and black wingtips with black confined to the very tips of the primaries. It offered great views from about 100 yards out. I even got a chance to see it fly to get a good look at the wing tips as before mentioned. The flock was pretty bold for the most part; even the flamboyant truck honkings from the local Funny Man didnt spook them very much.
I worked away taking pictures, but the bird was actively feeding the whole time and it was hard to stay on target. Also, it was in a corn field, and was always behind the stubble. Enough turned out to show what it was. Right before I left, it walked closer and allowed a few with the 300mm SLR (these are the last two pictures, the first two are digiscoped).
This field is on Evans Rd, just north of the train tracks. Probably 2000 gulls in the area as well as a bunch of Canada geese with a black muscovy duck with them. Not sure if this bird's flying with them or is just out for a walk from a nearby farm or residence. When I drove by in the evening, most of the gulls were gone, but the geese were still there, and the muscovy in the middle of the geese as well.
A great bird, well out of its normal high north Alaska and Siberian range. Hope it hangs around!
Happily Evans Road is a very wide road, so lots of room to pull over and set up shop for a few minutes. The gull was certainly a slaty-backed gull, determined by dark back, smudged neck/head that gives a 'frowning' appearance, light coloured eye, strong pink legs and black wingtips with black confined to the very tips of the primaries. It offered great views from about 100 yards out. I even got a chance to see it fly to get a good look at the wing tips as before mentioned. The flock was pretty bold for the most part; even the flamboyant truck honkings from the local Funny Man didnt spook them very much.
I worked away taking pictures, but the bird was actively feeding the whole time and it was hard to stay on target. Also, it was in a corn field, and was always behind the stubble. Enough turned out to show what it was. Right before I left, it walked closer and allowed a few with the 300mm SLR (these are the last two pictures, the first two are digiscoped).
This field is on Evans Rd, just north of the train tracks. Probably 2000 gulls in the area as well as a bunch of Canada geese with a black muscovy duck with them. Not sure if this bird's flying with them or is just out for a walk from a nearby farm or residence. When I drove by in the evening, most of the gulls were gone, but the geese were still there, and the muscovy in the middle of the geese as well.
A great bird, well out of its normal high north Alaska and Siberian range. Hope it hangs around!
