Greetings all - 
I have posted a MAP TO BLACK-TAILED GULL VIEWING SPOTS WITH KEY SITES and descriptions at: http://www.northnw.wordpress.com

Huge congrats to Craig Holt for finding Ohio's first state record of Black-tailed Gull! Dozens of folks were able to observe the gull all the way up until dark (and afterward) today, from multiple different vantage points of the Ashtabula harbor area, which is a massive area. There are two main sites in which to search for the bird, Lake Shore park on the east side and Hulbert Road/Museum site on the west side (offering views of the river). 
Notes on the bird: extremely close to Ring-billed Gull in size (much smaller then Herring Gull), slender build, slim neck, long-billed, long-winged, dark gray mantle (similar to Lesser Black-backed Gull), black primaries with no white spots save for the extreme tips of the primaries. Huge white trailing edge to wing. Jet-black and thick black band on the tail, with a trailing white edge to the band. Long, slender bill yellowish at base, with black ring and red tip. Very slight smudgy brownish markings (streaking) on the nape. Pale yellow legs. 
Other species observed this afternoon include:
One adult Lesser Black-backed Gull, two Great Black-backed Gulls, 4,000 Ring-billed Gulls, 1,000 Herring Gulls, 5,000 Bonaparte's Gulls, one POMARINE JAEGER (just north of the harbor, offshore, heading west), Black-crowned Night-Heron (1 at dusk). 
best of birdingjb



Jen Brumfield 
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Cleveland, Ohio
330-701-6452

Bird Illustrator / www.jenbrumfield.com

Birding Tour Guide (Ohio), Local Patch Birding / www.jenbrumfield.com
Birding Tour Guide (worldwide), Tropical Birding / www.tropicalbirding.com
Outdoor Education Specialist/Artist, Cleveland Metroparks / www.clemetparks.com
Nikon Birding Optics ProStaff / www.nikonbirding.com



                                          
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