Black-legged Kittiwake; possible Mew Gull (Port Huron)

[Macklin Smith]

Birders,

A trip this morning in search of these birds proved at least partly 
successful.  I spotted a first-winter kittiwake from the end of Riverview 
St., but it did not seem to be associating with the large compact flock of 
Bonaparte's Gulls there, which I watched for about an hour; rather, it was 
observed flying north past this area in company with just three or four 
Bonaparte's Gulls.

It's possible I saw the Mew Gull also reported yesterday by Alan Ryff, this 
from Edison Park.  (Lakeside Park was practically gull-free.)  The bird in 
question, an adult in flight which I observed with binoculars and scope 
from 50 yards at best and which eventually disappeared down stream, clearly 
had big white mirrors in primaries 10 and 9, less black in the wing tips 
than Ringed-bills in association, and had qualitatively darker upper parts. 
It looked very promising for Mew Gull, but I could never get a clear view 
of the bill, alas.

Good birding,

Macklin

Macklin Smith
Department of English
University of Michigan