Date: 2/14/25 9:46 pm From: Randy Soto <giantsoto1...> Subject: Re: Possible Slaty-backed Gull - Stillwater
Hello all,
First Thank you Scott for finding this gull and making us be bad partners on Valentine's Day.
Tried for the Gull again today, and went by the Landfill 1st before Boomer Lake and I observed a lot of the gulls swarming the new input of trash and compaction from the dozers. A lot of the gulls started to show typical behavior seen at landfills and went to the lagoons on the east side of the landfill to digest and preen. Make sure that you know this a private area and is not accessible to the public, please do not trespass. I was able to look from my car outside of the the fence. Found a California Gull on the main lagoon that is lined with fabric. Saw quite a few American Herring Gull, abundant Ring-billed Gull, and then about 4:30 PM a large 1st cycle gull came into the lagoon and started preening. Immediately noticed all black bill, that was bulky and could see the gape line that extended inward toward the head and had a frown look to it. It was pot-bellied and had an apparent large tertial crescent. Rosy to pink legs. The greater coverts seemed light in color and all of the primairies had consistent color on the outer webs. Did notice molt pattern on mantle.
The other gulls at the lagoon provided a good comparison for size, and in flight it showed characteristic wing pattern consistent with 1st cycle Slaty-backed Gull. But beware, this gull can be hard to tease out if you start second guessing. The upper tail coverts are darker than a lot of referenced Slaty-backed Gulls for this time of year. The trouble is it stands out, but then again a lot of 1st cycle gulls do at this time. At about 5:10 PM it and the other gulls took flight after a Red-tailed Hawk flew over. All gulls got lift and started soaring, eventually flying toward Boomer Lake. Notified A. Short who was near Boomer Lake and we both looked for gull at Boomer, but decided to go to Lake Carl Blackwell to see roost site of gulls. Got to the Lake with minimum light and gulls were arriving and landing off the east shore of Ski Point. Within the group noticed quite a few larger gulls along with Ring-billed Gulls. 1st cycle American Herring Gull stood out and then a Bald Eagle flushed the gulls and A. Short was able to get some photos of gulls in flight with one in particular that was a good candidate for the Slaty-backed Gull.
As you stated Scott, it appears the gulls are maintaining a pattern of utlizing the Landfill for food, Boomer for loafing and Lake Carl Blackwell for roost.
Good luck to everyone, and please be nice to your loved ones on Valentine's Day during this crazy time of chasing 1st cycle gulls that will only make you more frustrated than ever. Just don't bring the frustration home or be late to home. Family is more important!!!!!
