A bird usually seen in Europe and Asia getting attention after rare sightings on the West Coast

An uncommon bird species, typically spotted in Europe and Asia, has made a surprise appearance on the West Coast, specifically Santa Cruz County, California. The bird in question is the Black-headed Gull, which was first sighted on December 27 in the Santa Cruz vicinity, promptly leading to a flurry of eager birdwatchers descending on Rio Del Mar on Monday to capture photographs of the elusive winged visitor. Local bird enthusiast, 13-year-old Elias McKown was instrumental in identifying the bird, getting in touch with regional experts to confirm the unusual spotting. "I had a hunch it could be that bird due to its red beak. I sent my suspicion to Abram and other birders, and they validated that it was indeed a Black-headed Gull. We all then made our way here to scour for it," McKown shared. News of the rarity's presence spread quickly, drawing birdwatchers from far and wide. More about it can be seen in the attached video player.