My work responsibilities include management of the Lyon County Landfill which borders the open-water Waterfowl Production Area (W.P.A.) north of Black Rush Lake. On 8 September 2020 at about 3:00 P.M., I observed a Long-tailed Jaeger (Sterco-rarins longicaudus) at this location. While scanning the landfill wetland, my attention was drawn immediately to a dark, gull-sized bird near the southeast end, about 50 meters from shore, among hundreds of Ring-billed and Franklin's gulls on the water. This bird "jumped off the page" amid the gulls, having an overall darker appearance on the head and back. The darker top was contrasted with a lighter throat, neck, and nape. Upon first look through binoculars, I knew this to be one of the jaegers (Stercorarius sp.), and I contacted Garrett Wee to get information out. He immediately notified the birding community. Local birders Kim Emerson and Beth Collins arrived within the hour.
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