Associated Ohio-birds correspondence

 From: "Larry and Lenna Mae Gara"  
Subject: Black-backed Gull 
Date: Thu, 12 Sep 2002 13:37:38 -0400 
 

The elusive Black-backed Gull was seen again on Caesar Creek beach early this morning. It was again with the Ring-bills and this time Steve Lee also saw it. While watching it we noticed that the legs were not pink as far as we could tell so is it an even rarer Lesser? I don't think so because the bill is huge, the edging on the wing in flight is too wide and it is too big. It is not as big as some I have seen but bigger than a Lesser should be. If you want to contact me about it or if you see it, please contact me direct since for some reason I am not getting the postings on the list. Ken Kaufman mentions "runt Great Black-backs" in his advanced birding and also mentions other leg color. All the other books I have consulted say pink or flesh colored legs.

One other interesting coincidence is that it was just about this time that a Lesser showed up at East Fork a year or two ago.

Puzzled Cheers,  Larry Gara
 

 From: Hlabird@aol.com  
Date: Fri, 13 Sep 2002 13:49:54 EDT 
Subject: Lesser Black-backed Gull 
 

The mystery gull at Caesar Creek S. P. gave up and allowed a closer look. At 10:40 the light was right and the bird posed for good views. Lesser Black-backed it is! I missed the Buff-breasted Sandpiper though. Sept. 5, 1997 was the last time a Lesser Black-backed Gull was sighted this far south in Ohio at East Fork S. P. That bird was last seen on the 26 of Sept.

Hank Armstrong
Cincinnati Ohio
 

From: "Larry and Lenna Mae Gara"  
Subject: Caesar Creek Black-back 
Date: Mon, 23 Sep 2002 13:16:17 -0400 
 

This morning from 9:15 to 9:45 the Lesser Black-backed Gull was again observed on Caesar Creek beach amidst the more than 100 Ring-bills. It is clear now that it is a different bird from the one Doug has been seeing at Buck Creek. Amazing.

Early Fall Cheers,  Larry Gara
 

 
 Date: Tue, 24 Sep 2002 14:06:41 -0400 
From: William Hull  
Subject: Caesar Creek LBBG 

The Caesar Creek Lesser Black-backed Gull was there again this morning. It flew in to the beach around 9:15 and hung out with the Ring-billed Gulls until a woman let her dog run at the gulls around 11:00. (Even though the beach is clearly behind the sign that states "No pets past here".) At that point it flew out over the lake. I'll probably have some pics on my website later this week.

Cheers,
Bill Hull
Cincinnati, OH

 From: "Scott Reeves"   
Subject: Caesar Creek SP - Lesser black-backed gull 
Date: Thu, 3 Oct 2002 13:16:58 -0300 

Spent a couple hours birding around Caesar Creek SP in Warren Co. this AM. The lesser black-backed gull, present off and on since mid-September was once again on the beach among the ring-billeds. It is always nice to have a rarity become "part of the landscape." The gulls were accompanied on the beach by a single caspian tern.

Weather conditions - muggy and about 75 degrees at 9 AM - felt more like July than October and the birding followed suit.

From: Scott Reeves  
Date: Thu, 10 Oct 2002 22:50:28 -0300 
Subject: Caesar Creek gulls 

Greetings. The Franklin's gull found yesterday by Larry Gara at the beach at Caesar Creek SP in Warren County was present this morning at 0730. The lesser black-backed gull also was present. An osprey flew past while I was scoping the gulls.

Scott Reeves
sreeves@cinci.rr.com
Mason, OH

  
Date: Mon, 21 Oct 2002 13:51:14 -0400 
From: "John Shrader"  
Subject: Lesser Black-backed Gull at Caesar Creek Lake 

On Saturday morning, we led an abbreviated Dayton Audubon Society Field Trip to Caesar Creek (due to the rain) - the Lesser Black-backed Gull was still present on the beach, and there was also an immature Bonaparte's Gull. No sign of the Franklin's Gull. . . .

  
From: "Larry and Lenna Mae Gara"  
Subject: Caesar Creek birds 
Date: Sun, 27 Oct 2002 15:41:03 -0500 

This AM there were six Bonaparte's Gulls along with the Lesser Black-backed Gull and many Ring-bills on the beach. Another birder who was earlier than I was also saw several Forster's Terns but none showed up while I was there. Each time I see it the LBBG has more dark markings on its head and neck.

Dreary Day Cheers,  Larry Gara

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