Just back from a walk up the Coffin Butte Trail (annex on on the west side of
E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area). On my way up the hill I noticed about 500 gulls
swirling around in the dumping area of the adjacent landfill, so I went out to
the boundary of the wildlife area and scanned the flock from there.
Looked like the usual winter mix (I'll add more later) but one resting on the
geotextile-covered slope jumped out as me as about 15-20% longer in body length
compared with the nearby Western x Glaucous-winged mutts. Massive bill,
yellowish with black band across the tip. Angular head. Very dark on the mantle
but mottled brownish wings below that.
Didn't have my scope or camera along ... was trying to get some exercise so I
finished the hike up the hill quickly and came back. Only about 200 gulls left
when I came back down and I didn't see the big guy, but it could have still
been there (didn't look real hard). Another 50 or so gulls had moved off to the
upper treatment pond for landfill leachate, just off Coffin Butte Rd by the
landfill entrance. Others were flying around in the sky, probably starting to
head back to their nocturnal roost pretty soon here.
--
Joel Geier
Camp Adair area north of Corvallis
