The Black-tailed Gull's native range spans much of the eastern coast of Asia from Hokkaido to Hong Kong, so the sudden increase in records of this species from northeastern North America in the last decade or so is a bit surprising.  This bird was discovered on the Vermont side of Lake Champlain in mid-October 2005 and has remained for several weeks.  A beautiful adult in basic plumage, it has proven to be very photogenic and accomodating for the hundreds of birders who have made the trek to the shores of Lake Champlain, hoping to catch a glimpse of this vagrant from the western Pacific.