[mou] Sabines Gull

[Steve Weston]

Saw the juvenile Sabine's Gull this morning.  The bird was quite unaffected 
by the nearby birders, which I have found characteristic of several of the 
high latitude species.  It flew around the parking lot with good agility. 
the flight pattern reminded me of a barn swallow with its many twists and 
turns, only a larger, lumbering version.  It seemed quite successful in its 
hunt for food.  At the entrance to the parking lot the gull flew by a 
similar sized juvenile Sharp-shinned lurking in ambush in the trees.  The 
short flurry attack of the hawk was answered with an almost effortless 
avoidance maneuver by the gull.  The gull settled to the pavement about 
twenty feet from the encounter.  After a few seconds, the gull resumed its 
hunt, flying again right by the waiting hawk, and again easily sidestepping 
its charge.

I thought the gull appeared alert, agile, and in good condition, despite its 
apparent lack of a set of functioning legs.  A beautiful bird.

Steve Weston on Quiggley Lake in Eagan, MN
sweston2@comcast.net