Black-headed Gull in Birch Bay, WA

Last year, Birch Bay birders recorded a rare Black-headed Gull, an exciting find for Washington’s inland coastal waters. This gull showed a dark ear spot, pale gray mantle, and bright white underparts in clean nonbreeding plumage. It looked very much like nearby Bonaparte’s Gulls, but its red-based bill and orange legs provided clear identification clues. The most noticeable difference of the Black-headed Gull was its larger size, which stood out among the smaller Bonaparte’s flock. This rare sighting reminded birders to scan mixed gull groups carefully for unusual visitors that show up unexpectedly. Find some other locations that are excellent birding in the Bellingham area.