Gary and made a mad dash to Quincy, Il to see an Ivory Gull that had been sighted there. When we left home the sun was shining and the world looked beautiful. As we traveled west the clouds began to overtake the area. By the time we got a few miles from Quincy the snow began to fly. We wondered if our start to the year was going to be a big strike out since visibility wasn't good and with the snow would the gull fly.
Above is a spread of sketches I did from the pictures Gary took.
The Ivory Gull was most cooperative. We didn't have to wait long for the gull to come in to the ice right in front of where we were parked. It took a dip in a small opening of the ice and proceeded to preen.
A successful chase for a life bird is a fabulous way to begin a birding year.
