Today was one of those magical birding day, where a rarity brings out the best NYC birders who then find everything around them that would normally be missed.

Two days ago, a Slaty-backed Gull was seen one the reservoir but misidentified as a Lesser Black-backed Gull. Once the error was realized, many birders came to Central Park to see a bird usually only found in Asia but occasionally in Alaska.

But as happens when a rare bird appears, having over a hundred birders including many experts looking for a rarity, less rare birds are also found.

Today, many of us had eight species of gull:

• Black-headed Gull
• Ring-billed Gull
• Herring Gull
• Iceland Gull
• Lesser Black-backed Gull
• Slaty-backed Gull
• Glaucous Gull
• Great Black-backed Gull

Thank you to all of the experts today who helped those of us who are “gull challenged” to have a great experience. 2-2-22 will have a special meaning for many of us.

Here are pictures of the Slaty-backed Gull:

And photographs of the Iceland Gulls