When I got home yesterday and looked at the photos I'd posted on a good computer monitor, I had two thoughts--"Ooops!" and "Wow--based on his response to my report, Tony Hertzel's really a polite guy." The photos I posted were clearly of two birds, and equally clearly of Ring-billed Gulls.
As I noted, when we first discovered the interesting bird flying overhead, no one took photos, and the wingtip edges looked absolutely clean, and the tail mark looked clean. I want to think I saw that the tail was slightly notched, but we didn't note that aloud as we watched it, so that may have popped into my head after consulting a field guide. I noted the tiny bill, tapering at the tip (which the photos I posted belie!) One person noted clearly the nape pattern while I was trying to keep track of the upper wing pattern. We well may actually have seen a kittiwake. But the truth is, if I could so easily jump on the next ring-bill flying by 10 minutes later, I'd discount the report myself, so I'm glad Tony did. It's SO important for MOURC members and for people doing hotlines to make sure of the accuracy of reports. Trusting or discounting reports simply on the basis of who makes them is neither scientific nor helpful to birders who want accurate information. (Though perhaps if you ever read post of mine about a kittiwake again, EVER, that isn't in a huge colony on an Alaskan island, you'd be smart to think twice.) On a much happier note, last night a hummingbird finally showed up in my yard, and he's back this morning. Laura Erickson Duluth, MN Staff Ornithologist Binoculars.com www.birderblog.com There is symbolic as well as actual beauty in the migration of birds. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature--the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after the winter. --Rachel Carson