In reply to Steve's post, the two birders he mentioned were me & Ottavio
Janni. Ottavio was the one to find it, and fortunately it was close to
us and allowed close study. We also saw 2 (poss. 3) Lessers, most
probably the same that Steve saw.
Prior to visiting the landfill, we birded Julie Metz. We did not find
the Harris's Sparrow, but did see the Clay-colored. While Ottavio
thought it was on the light side, it didn't really strike me as outside
the range of normal (though admitedly my field experience with
Clay-coloreds is limited).
Good birding,
Paul Pisano
Arlington, VA
cheep AT erols.com
Subject: CA Gull, PW Landfill
From: "Steve and Heather Rottenborn" <rotten.born AT verizon.net>
Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2003 21:04:02 -0500
VA Birders:the Prince
This afternoon (27 Dec.), I photographed an adult California Gull at
William County landfill. The bird had been found earlier by two otherbirders
whose names I did not get (if the discoverers read this, please let meknow who
you are so the record can be properly attributed). I relocated it atabout 2:05
p.m. Also present were 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (single first,second, and
third-winter birds) and 20 or so lingering Laughing Gulls among themultitudes
of Ring-billed, Herring, and Great Black-backed Gulls present.
Steve Rottenborn
Jeffersonton, VA
rotten.born AT verizon.net
