Day 298: Sabine's Gull

I almost forgot to post about a really great bird that we saw a while ago. In early September, a Sabine's Gull wandered into Maryland, and we were lucky enough to see it! This was only the eighth state record of a Sabine's Gull in the state.

The Sabine's Gull breeds in the arctic but migrates south in autumn to the tropics and subtropics. It's considered to be an easily identifiable species due to its tricolored wing pattern and other distinct features.

Jared was able to go see the Sabine's Gull a few days before me, and he got a fabulous picture. The photo is so good, in fact, that David Sibley (birding God) posted Jared's photo on his Facebook wall!! So jealous....

My photos are not much more than blobs, since the gull didn't get very close while I was there. It was really fun to watch it through a scope, though, and it's a wonderful bird to add to our list.