It was time today for routine checking the shore between Quintana and East Beach for terns. There were a few âpatchesâ of terns and gulls; all expected species. But one gull was extra - Great Black-backed Gull 1cy. Must be a male as Herrings look dwarfed next to it; LAGU and RBGU like miniatures. He was ruling all of them. It was early morning not the best light on the shore but I tried to cut the angle and not get all shots back lighted. (Of course weather forecast was wrong - great day there) _http://www.pbase.com/image/147681371_ (http://www.pbase.com/image/147681371) Spread wings _http://www.pbase.com/image/147681363_ (http://www.pbase.com/image/147681363) Headshot _http://www.pbase.com/image/147681374_ (http://www.pbase.com/image/147681374) Spread tail and tertials _http://www.pbase.com/image/147681375_ (http://www.pbase.com/image/147681375) 20 more images here: _http://www.pbase.com/mbb/great_blackbacked_gull_1cy__follets_island_utc_dec ember_3_2012_ (http://www.pbase.com/mbb/great_blackbacked_gull_1cy__follets_island_utc_december_3_2012) In Quintana not even one human soul (except one wintering on the beach in broken car), not many more on other beaches. Number of birds small but there is always something interesting; e.g. many oystercatchers here and there in small groups (1-3). Checking eBird there is no entered GBBG records on this side of Gulf in November so this might be a first one going west. BTW I was checking my December tern data from last few years and found that I have Black Tern on December 3 last year. I see that there is only one historical record in Texas (inland) - none on UTC (same in âBirdlife in UTCâ - cut off is in November). Just curious if somebody saw BLTE in Texas during December in the past. Mark B Bartosik Houston, Texas _http://www.pbase.com/mbb/from_the_field_ (http://www.pbase.com/mbb/from_the_field) Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at //www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List Owner
