Youth Spot Rare Gull During Birding Trip

By Jim McGinity, Florida Young Birders Club

Young birders with Tammy and David McQuade. Photo by Tiffanie Bendever.

A rare Black-headed Gull was spotted by young birders on their field trip to Southeast Florida. Photo by Jim McGinity.

Jim McGinity led the Florida Young Birders Club on a weekend of birding in southeast Florida in January. The club made an extra stop to look for a rare Black-headed Gull behind a Winn-Dixie in Belle Glade, Florida.

The group looked around with no luck and contemplated leaving. As luck would have it, a gentleman drove up in a car and asked us if they were looking for the gull, then said “Well, it’s behind the store right now. Follow me.”

Sure enough, there was the gull. It was at that point that one of the kids recognized the kind gentleman and asked, “Are you the McQuades from the movie Listers?” They said yes! Tammy and Dave McQuade had a great conversation with the young birders about the best places to bird in North America. It made for a great ending to their weekend and a very memorable experience for the young birders.