Date: 3/7/25 7:12 am From: <jshetterly...> Subject: RE: [MASSBIRD] Ross's Gull - Remembering "The Bird of the Century," a Half-Century Later
I beg to differ a bit with my friend Glenn. Hermann D'Entremont had reported a possible Ross's Gull earlier, but the second person at that point was not Paul Miliotis. As time has gone by, various people crept into the story who were not there at first.
It was a cold and snowy day when the Ross's Gull was confirmed at the boat ramp, the moment that started the enormous spectacle.
I should say first that of the four people involved, I was the least qualified. I would not have dreamed to call a Ross's on my own.
Paul Miliotis and I had been out for several hours in the Newburyport area looking for Snowy Owls and whatever might come along. Early afternoon we went to the fields around the boat ramp in Salisbury to look for Longspurs and Snow Buntings. A young man named Walter Ellison from White River Junction was there with his Father. Walter didn't drive yet. We went over to the boat ramp to ask what they were seeing. At some point Ed Gruson joined us. There was a large flock of Bonaparte's Gulls, maybe 300, going back and forth in the channel. The sun was getting lower and there was some reddish in the sky making some of the gulls look pink at the right angle. Walter called out "Ross's Gull!" Ed immediately screamed "That's not funny!" Ed could scream.
There was a very long pause. Eventually Paul caught up with the bird that Walter was looking at. And Paul said, "He's right, Ed." Not to miss a chance at fame, Ed made up some excuse about having to leave for a bit, and went to a pay phone to call his contact at the New York Times. I think it was his brother. The story the next morning gives a primary role to Ed, an important role to Paul, a minor role to Walter, and none to me, That was fair for me, but unfair to Walter, and supremely unfair to allow Ed to take credit for something that he initially tried to quash. Once Paul, Walter and his Dad, and I had seen the bird enough to be absolutely sure, Paul went to the pay phone to call PA Buckley, who got out of a sick bed to hurry to the scene, with Peter Alden, and others. Within 24 hours, as I recall, over a thousand birders showed up. And it built from there.
Of the names mentioned, I think only PA is still around to confirm these central facts.
Best, Jay
John A. Shetterly Attorney-at-Law 127 Magazine Street Cambridge, MA 02139 <jshetterly...> 857/756-4240
-----Original Message----- From: <massbird-approval...> <massbird-approval...> On Behalf Of Barbara Volkle Sent: Thursday, March 6, 2025 6:54 AM To: massbird <massbird...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Ross's Gull - Remembering "The Bird of the Century," a Half-Century Later
Thanks to Glenn d'Entremont for this post
Barbara Volkle Northborough, MA <barb620...>
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Date: Wed, 5 Mar 2025 20:19:10 -0500 (EST) From: GLENN D'ENTREMONT <gdentremont1...> Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Ross's Gull - Remembering "The Bird of the Century," a Half-Century Later
The lost history of this event is the fact Herman Weisburg and Paul Miliotis ID'd this bird as early as late January. No one even looked for it as far as I know.
