A remarkable bird in a remarkable location at a remarkable time of year.

Found late on a Memorial Day Monday by some very lucky birders, birding the desert oases in search of spring vagrants. Unfortunately, the bird was on sensitive property and not very cooperative so was only seen by a lucky few. It was a one day wonder. This will be a first for California and a first for the lower 48 states.

Check out Joe Morlan's California Birding Gallery for more shots and even video of this bird!

"Found on Lake Michigan beach habitat and old jetties. This alternate adult represents the state's 10th record. The bird associates with neither the few Bonaparte's nor the 100s of loafing Ring-billed Gulls and is quite animated (displaying and posturing often), aggressive (occasionally robs the Common Terns) and very vocal. It calls frequently, a very different sound than we're used to here" John Idzikowski & Brian Boldt

Note the pattern of the undersides of the primaries and brown hood

Note the pattern of the undersides of the primaries and brown hood

Note the nice size comparison and different build of the Black-headed Gull compared with the accompanying Bonaparte's Gulls.

"The bird was seen on the refuge until Wednesday, May 16, 2001." Phil Brown

Phil used a Leica Televid APO scope with a 20x lens and a Sony Mavica camera to produce these shots.

"The bird has been on the refuge for a week this Friday. " Phil Brown

Phil used a Leica Televid APO scope with a 20x lens and a Sony Mavica camera to produce this shot.