Sightings:  In 1997, 11 between May 8 and August 2.  In 1998, 17 between April 23 and August 2; and in 1999, 15 between April 12 and July 23

An adult Black-tailed Gull was seen on Sable Island in the summers of 1997 through 1999.  In most sightings, the gull was heard before it was seen - its vocalizations were very distinct amongst the calls of the Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls. During 1997 the bird was seen in various locations, the last being near a Herring Gull colony on the east end of the island.  During 1998 and 1999, in 30 of the 32 sightings, the Black-tailed Gull was at the same Herring Gull colony where it had been last observed in 1997.  This `site fidelity' suggests that it was the same individual visiting the island during the three summers.  Certainly the sightings in 1998 were all of the same bird - it had a gap, a missing or damaged primary, in the trailing edge of its left wing. 

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