West Point Dam in Troup County has produced many rare species, namely gulls. In recent years A Little Gull (Larus minutus) and Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus) have been found by Jim Flynn, Jr., on 2/9/1998 and 2/6/1999 respectively. On 2/1/2000, Doug Robinson located an Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides). You get the idea.

On 11/7/2000, I was able to locate a first winter Black-legged Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) there as well. Unfortunately, the bird never came in close enough to get photo documentation.  However, on 4/11/2001, while photographing a Caspian Tern (Sterna caspia) below the dam, I was stunned to have another first winter kittiwake fly in. The bird came in very close (within 6 feet) to me several times on the wing between rests on the bedrock below the dam.

This bird looked a bit more worn than the one found the previous fall, but the black half-collar on the back of the neck, and the black and white wing patterns were still quite striking. The bill was starting to acquire the yellow of an adult bird, least in the tip, and the base was olive. The black spot near the auriculars was still noticeable and the legs were actually a dark pink/gray. The bird stayed around for several days.

Description:

• Slightly shorter than the nearby Ring-billed Gulls, with a rounder head, and fuller build (body less attenuated in appearance)-- see photo.

• The head was round, the eyes were dark with a dark smudge around the orbital region. the was also a large dark, "smudge" on the auricular regions behind the
  eyes.

• Bill rather small and short, with a dusky olive base fading into a pale yellow tip

• Legs/feet were short and dark pink/gray in color

• Wings had a black stripe that followed the leading edge of the primaries that then went diagonally from the "wrist'' along the base of the secondaries to the back.  The the other parts both the primaries and secondaries were white.

• The tail was white and slightly forked/notched with a thin black trailing edge.

• The forewing and back were a light gray

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