tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25252844870325032962024-03-18T06:13:17.994-07:00LarusologyKirk Zufelthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14223956713828841853noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2525284487032503296.post-74352571600057383522012-09-28T14:07:00.002-07:002012-09-28T14:08:01.402-07:00Mew Gull MiracleYesterday I briefly viewed a adult Mew Gull at the Sault Ste. Marie Landfill.<br />
I was very distressed not to have gotten even a record shot. I returned today and after 2 hours nearly gave up. Then I noted this jigger about 6 feet away drinking from a puddle. An immaculate juvenile Mew Gull. A flock must have been waylaid onto Lake Superior and they are floating around mixed up with the Ring-billeds.<br />
<br />
No previous records of this species exist for the area evenly the intensively birded Whitefish Point.<br />
<br />
This is short and sweet as I wanted to get the pictures up.<br />
<br />
Kirk Zufelt<br />
Sault Ste. Marie<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxaR3FJcYI4GFdxx0f3eNaFoNNr2wmCEtM3C96XQBI5_dI7DtudoClR5_Aj4Mb3tiVnompm7u8WfymbbRrX83d-_HdLozV3aBkO1mpB3pwl6wWDPnwrulO3FKzlpEm6rRHX2qADrIPrEg4/s1600/mgjvssm8rz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxaR3FJcYI4GFdxx0f3eNaFoNNr2wmCEtM3C96XQBI5_dI7DtudoClR5_Aj4Mb3tiVnompm7u8WfymbbRrX83d-_HdLozV3aBkO1mpB3pwl6wWDPnwrulO3FKzlpEm6rRHX2qADrIPrEg4/s320/mgjvssm8rz.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNSp0CALhUi6EHnd3nBDS49cZPrSyIqGn-rM6zs3TkIVvc7dOM1Zv9r99eW085yobp0WdZpasLDEEzRVs-QWeNhcgN9uRzh-XaX3tOFXPpejRf7cg6ISuLtD65zWvoI8__8rG2ZIe_3Sn0/s1600/mgjvssm5rz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNSp0CALhUi6EHnd3nBDS49cZPrSyIqGn-rM6zs3TkIVvc7dOM1Zv9r99eW085yobp0WdZpasLDEEzRVs-QWeNhcgN9uRzh-XaX3tOFXPpejRf7cg6ISuLtD65zWvoI8__8rG2ZIe_3Sn0/s320/mgjvssm5rz.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZQf7k7gUfNPHoFerVrVDMJrIBzLh9797WDpVpxMx8jCYSr4SwBZnUBthsARLXh70zRV9W4O4iXZQcS9kT_6mfX0YmI5DmjpWehCYrOHis569eGt52DAYqTv6N20LQT6u2Bbm3-B1LSlnf/s1600/mgjvssm3rz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZQf7k7gUfNPHoFerVrVDMJrIBzLh9797WDpVpxMx8jCYSr4SwBZnUBthsARLXh70zRV9W4O4iXZQcS9kT_6mfX0YmI5DmjpWehCYrOHis569eGt52DAYqTv6N20LQT6u2Bbm3-B1LSlnf/s320/mgjvssm3rz.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghIHFJxMqdraBnBBAbFVO8-9p-jjKXkNF3wQ_UQVrEXcDIkKFi20rGYyqBPVFO2QL2kLHn4J9CqSJK9y7jaRXU8uNvcUP4L7mQsd2tAsyCKCcxBDRPobx4BKnHHji5RFwFsoI0qA92TQjp/s1600/mgjvssm2rz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghIHFJxMqdraBnBBAbFVO8-9p-jjKXkNF3wQ_UQVrEXcDIkKFi20rGYyqBPVFO2QL2kLHn4J9CqSJK9y7jaRXU8uNvcUP4L7mQsd2tAsyCKCcxBDRPobx4BKnHHji5RFwFsoI0qA92TQjp/s320/mgjvssm2rz.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeG602-TtmrrJbcGYnZBCx825PerWvrpmvvj8u5GSAvAWbcxjikdcPKSPvhJqUvO3Htlbks9t_EavWwA6z3b1E89D2u_5Keyy6ekEj0euByDF_a-kHrC8Kbb1mLwMvP6JZUDjydpiMKSkU/s1600/mgjvssm1rzrz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeG602-TtmrrJbcGYnZBCx825PerWvrpmvvj8u5GSAvAWbcxjikdcPKSPvhJqUvO3Htlbks9t_EavWwA6z3b1E89D2u_5Keyy6ekEj0euByDF_a-kHrC8Kbb1mLwMvP6JZUDjydpiMKSkU/s320/mgjvssm1rzrz.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Juvenile Mew Gull-SSM Landfill Sept28/12Kirk Zufelthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14223956713828841853noreply@blogger.com66tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2525284487032503296.post-81768594485150985112012-01-12T14:42:00.000-08:002012-01-12T14:42:27.972-08:00Slaty-backed Gull- Sault Ste. Marie Landfill- 12 Jan 2012Well it has been a while since I posted. Primarily that is because I have been spending a lot of time seabirding and working on a somewhat insane quest to see all the worlds seabirds.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.pelagicodyssey.ca/">www.pelagicodyssey.ca</a><br />
<br />
I have still been keenly looking for gulls around the Sault and had a adult Franklin's Gull of all things at the Sault landfill on Dec 17th.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWOEvHWvdMjB87kBnxHRAsgD4r8Pe2KpOcg041YnXFT8B9lkVI-iWhoWXYS_DE0dv7g90sKYl76lEXWYst73GgWV0lCcptRi-CFwLi9Myrw4DtJrv3Sw8_nJclWXN0zYwx3hdFuJy_dj5W/s1600/fgrz0182.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWOEvHWvdMjB87kBnxHRAsgD4r8Pe2KpOcg041YnXFT8B9lkVI-iWhoWXYS_DE0dv7g90sKYl76lEXWYst73GgWV0lCcptRi-CFwLi9Myrw4DtJrv3Sw8_nJclWXN0zYwx3hdFuJy_dj5W/s320/fgrz0182.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Adult Franklin's Gull-SSM Landfill 17 Dec 2012<br />
<br />
<br />
Well today- after sifting through 250,000 Herring Gulls, 100 plus visits to the local landfills and about fifteen hundred dollars worth of car repairs- came the pay off.<br />
<br />
An adult Slaty-backed Gull<br />
<br />
The gulls have been most flighty at the SSM landfill as about 40 eagles have been hanging out right in the dumping area. It has been difficult to observe the gulls as much of the time they are up high in the air very spooked.<br />
<br />
This bird had a decent hood typical of adult Slaty-backs (hard to see in some of the slightly over exposed pics), a very light eye with reddish orbital ring, broad tertial crescent and trailing edges to the flight feathers and the mandatory "string of pearls" wing pattern.]<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfmhtFYWHUT3dFFpZVOhMNChL7bSvK0W-RQEWykXKU5gpsRQ8kqlQQ6m0VHOAukSrqLFB8SSCK0NXzyKrf6EoP0w2GEcB1RyKX4OAERzanber3HXcsAwnvYazcz_eBzJTUw-KlaFjouqQh/s1600/Slaty-backed+Gull+-SSM+Landfill-+12+Jan+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfmhtFYWHUT3dFFpZVOhMNChL7bSvK0W-RQEWykXKU5gpsRQ8kqlQQ6m0VHOAukSrqLFB8SSCK0NXzyKrf6EoP0w2GEcB1RyKX4OAERzanber3HXcsAwnvYazcz_eBzJTUw-KlaFjouqQh/s320/Slaty-backed+Gull+-SSM+Landfill-+12+Jan+2012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Adult Slaty-backed Gull, SSM Landfill 12 Jan 2012<br />
<br />
Here are some more pictures<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgda0fmjvh-4v8kvrSARHrAw-kNBMI9fBdiWIaDqdEcPchMXU5rG-IMrmn1_FtX5HH8DxCDqYKxL3T6gRxCnmP8GkrJx-6pr91bq6rceqM7_R9pzwLhMrfYbnxbFR21dXm1Pi9XMK6QPEVe/s1600/Slaty-backed+Gull%252C+SSM+Landfill%252C+12+Jan+2012-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgda0fmjvh-4v8kvrSARHrAw-kNBMI9fBdiWIaDqdEcPchMXU5rG-IMrmn1_FtX5HH8DxCDqYKxL3T6gRxCnmP8GkrJx-6pr91bq6rceqM7_R9pzwLhMrfYbnxbFR21dXm1Pi9XMK6QPEVe/s320/Slaty-backed+Gull%252C+SSM+Landfill%252C+12+Jan+2012-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2B0CZUUObQAxfceR2cpLw6qF5h-m5ZjF-ZA4jshYhpYhCHoU3X15LCv03eXZeDQQZcwCEZ9f_JDZtYAJhV87HMa6-Xs3IaBDIfcoFgt47G9mEMOVX1nggHOI1Gl4Kr81HWEOoTD4EGfUg/s1600/Slaty-backed+Gull%252C+SSM+Landfill%252C+12+Jan+2012-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2B0CZUUObQAxfceR2cpLw6qF5h-m5ZjF-ZA4jshYhpYhCHoU3X15LCv03eXZeDQQZcwCEZ9f_JDZtYAJhV87HMa6-Xs3IaBDIfcoFgt47G9mEMOVX1nggHOI1Gl4Kr81HWEOoTD4EGfUg/s320/Slaty-backed+Gull%252C+SSM+Landfill%252C+12+Jan+2012-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_NxvfAuAt4vZoQn6o8i0iOyfWmOXMnH-SXJOL-wnr_ZLQk3ZFJcEmJoeEUX8HXj2iDhyphenhyphenHsqvm7Sb0pdTsJKBvJsxEHACVoyT_rmOOPeYuQuhqnJsOosIQBuuxfbe6WduR0uF-ujRmBMI/s1600/Slaty-backed+Gull%252C+SSM+Landfill%252C+12+Jan+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_NxvfAuAt4vZoQn6o8i0iOyfWmOXMnH-SXJOL-wnr_ZLQk3ZFJcEmJoeEUX8HXj2iDhyphenhyphenHsqvm7Sb0pdTsJKBvJsxEHACVoyT_rmOOPeYuQuhqnJsOosIQBuuxfbe6WduR0uF-ujRmBMI/s320/Slaty-backed+Gull%252C+SSM+Landfill%252C+12+Jan+2012.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9qdtWfFzdfIIcHSemLuaZngOPDGO0ss8GRAXByvdO4EnwTkYeXMxnTUoeO0CcFroIt5Li_mMlng-QKJEZTw9ZYgjh9YS9eR7-ZdfXh669TnDKfrppwGFl7_Kw7-rGWif0lHf20fwOYMp4/s1600/sbgssm4rz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9qdtWfFzdfIIcHSemLuaZngOPDGO0ss8GRAXByvdO4EnwTkYeXMxnTUoeO0CcFroIt5Li_mMlng-QKJEZTw9ZYgjh9YS9eR7-ZdfXh669TnDKfrppwGFl7_Kw7-rGWif0lHf20fwOYMp4/s320/sbgssm4rz.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNbpJMZ06eq2E7hqb55rOkRFVPS-h_OlLp86ERkzj4ItOMCgQv5MPool9M00RLqR8Iygguj0aCZzm-woVLalay1KaHr7Vtx0T783wmzRW_hxoB-2bxfAI0x5xAqiw0Sqmpj7mHSbv95KFv/s1600/sbgssm5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNbpJMZ06eq2E7hqb55rOkRFVPS-h_OlLp86ERkzj4ItOMCgQv5MPool9M00RLqR8Iygguj0aCZzm-woVLalay1KaHr7Vtx0T783wmzRW_hxoB-2bxfAI0x5xAqiw0Sqmpj7mHSbv95KFv/s320/sbgssm5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Adult Slaty-backed Gull, SSM Landfill 12 Jan 2012<br />
<br />
The landfill is unfortunately not open for general gull viewing and the dumping area currently is very treacherous. I spoke to the Landfill manager today and he did not feel this area was safe for public access.<br />
<br />
Undoubtedly this bird is spending time along the St. Mary's River as well as at Dafter Landfill in Michigan which isn't currently plagued with the "eagle problem". This is the second "sault Area Record" the first being 30 years ago at the old Chippewa landfill in SSM, MI.<br />
<br />
Persistence always pays off in the long run.<br />
<br />
Kirk Zufelt<br />
Sault Ste. Marie<br />
OntarioKirk Zufelthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14223956713828841853noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2525284487032503296.post-69091431107850928502010-11-17T20:21:00.000-08:002010-11-17T20:34:25.901-08:00The Appledore Gull and the Expansion of Lesser Black-backed Gull in North America<div style="text-align: left;">On February 22/2009 I was photographing gulls at Daytona Sores in Florida. There was a nice selection of LBB Gulls of all age classes. Just before leaving I cam across a very nice adult LBB Gull with bands on both legs.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObPlLUbOyHTjhHTIkx3Rr9BFyf2xYhJEOIuycZN731j8sDoBsRA9KMREUt59t_YENLt4kELAPe2ghqOoaQXGzpXVljQe6nEBlFAnyE7pcQfnGT5CWRNSJGSkOWexG3RM99RQmtd534yQ5/s1600/lbbgbdfl1144.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObPlLUbOyHTjhHTIkx3Rr9BFyf2xYhJEOIuycZN731j8sDoBsRA9KMREUt59t_YENLt4kELAPe2ghqOoaQXGzpXVljQe6nEBlFAnyE7pcQfnGT5CWRNSJGSkOWexG3RM99RQmtd534yQ5/s400/lbbgbdfl1144.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Banded LBB Gull-Daytona Shores, Florida</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">At the time I did not recognize these as "federal bands" and assumed the bird was banded either in Greenland, Iceland or the Old World. I was excited about potentially documenting the origin of at least some of the birds on the east coast. I made several enquiries but couldn't track down the origin of the bird. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Much later while doing some research on the expansion of LBB Gull in North America I was reviewing the two breeding records of this species in North America and came across the following blog.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://sites.google.com/site/appledorelbbg/">http://sites.google.com/site/appledorelbbg/</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrFQ0hU94Yx_WJdK7N94FevSgjo3y7r7S70V2U6VzX9NZ6LOip-qT4QUBhW7AbtDpDmHJEa5ourOc0xnxo7Hb1UeQEZ_gyMU2pJFfkO8GIpLXGrtlAjmaXHBmzfRSGMS5po-D77fQy-SER/s1600/6lbbgfl1148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrFQ0hU94Yx_WJdK7N94FevSgjo3y7r7S70V2U6VzX9NZ6LOip-qT4QUBhW7AbtDpDmHJEa5ourOc0xnxo7Hb1UeQEZ_gyMU2pJFfkO8GIpLXGrtlAjmaXHBmzfRSGMS5po-D77fQy-SER/s400/6lbbgfl1148.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">Banded LBB Gull-Daytona Shores, Florida</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="text-align: left;">So it turns out that this banded adult LBB Gull has been breeding with a Herring Gull since the summer of 2007 on Appledore Island off the coast of New Hampshire. This event was well described in "Breeding by a Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) on the Atlantic Coast of North America" in American Birds Vol. 61 p.546-548.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">This bird was discovered subsequently at Daytona Shores, by several birders including Michael Brothers and Alvaro Jarmillo in Jan.,2009. This was prior to my documentation of the bird in late February and the bird apparently wintered in that general vicinity between Jan-March, 2009.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The bird has returned to Appledore Island for at least four summers and has produced several hybrid young. One of these was documented on the coast of Alabama by Marshal Iliff on October 10/2010. This bird had been banded during the summer of 2009. Pictures of this bird and more on Appledore gulls can be found at the following link.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://gullsofappledore.wordpress.com/">http://gullsofappledore.wordpress.com/</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A second cycle offspring of the Appledore birds was seen by Blair Nikula at Cape Cod and subsequently at Cocoa Beach Landfill, Florida by Mitchell Harris.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1phrNzud4cMph3z3aWx-bVXREkRnZ5BuXais-lGsh0AZ5l5fjjxoK8gMJxW4VX5yhs2v6CmrYDJVqysLim8jkbhHiFQDlAsot4PpCmhLxlpsYC5FEOBDltjRoEmvnCbFOxvlx5Hrcx3hh/s1600/xLBBGxHEGU2cyPtown121309a05s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1phrNzud4cMph3z3aWx-bVXREkRnZ5BuXais-lGsh0AZ5l5fjjxoK8gMJxW4VX5yhs2v6CmrYDJVqysLim8jkbhHiFQDlAsot4PpCmhLxlpsYC5FEOBDltjRoEmvnCbFOxvlx5Hrcx3hh/s400/xLBBGxHEGU2cyPtown121309a05s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaAPUka3BPchBXucy0K71yvW2ZVc5j1qTQDmQfMikQxRyGWHKqoICYlwC3hbr0lZsFRl0GeJBZjcelkoV9k-0nn4gJTe1AXm6mWrpz4IuP5qZg1b2TanySaKYiLT7pS7Rcdq9lY7l0JfW_/s1600/xLBBGxHEGU2cyPtown121309a20s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaAPUka3BPchBXucy0K71yvW2ZVc5j1qTQDmQfMikQxRyGWHKqoICYlwC3hbr0lZsFRl0GeJBZjcelkoV9k-0nn4gJTe1AXm6mWrpz4IuP5qZg1b2TanySaKYiLT7pS7Rcdq9lY7l0JfW_/s400/xLBBGxHEGU2cyPtown121309a20s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheOheqTtll9-bMK-eXP6AoZoTcOz0-0QVSfmzM4719PwzuMV3xHkZeK2FIrSq18akbdlv2h77WFm-93mo5rNvyKay7oFUCw8m0aTEF45tCr27lBaQ-6e6pPho6P9mn_1mFHNn1wcszrL8s/s1600/xLBBGxHEGU2cyPtown121309a28s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheOheqTtll9-bMK-eXP6AoZoTcOz0-0QVSfmzM4719PwzuMV3xHkZeK2FIrSq18akbdlv2h77WFm-93mo5rNvyKay7oFUCw8m0aTEF45tCr27lBaQ-6e6pPho6P9mn_1mFHNn1wcszrL8s/s400/xLBBGxHEGU2cyPtown121309a28s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Second cycle LBB x Herring Gull at Cape Cod,MA Dec., 2009-Blair Nikula</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Although suspected LBB X Herring hybrids are seen not to infrequently on the eastern seaboard and Great Lakes I believe these birds are unique in having a known provenance.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The following map shows the sightings of the adult LBB Gull that has bred at Appledore (pink pushpin) as well as records of the offspring sightings (green pushpins) as well as the location of Appledore Island (yellow pushpin).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE9-rwmPWv_EHVNJfrz2t91z6yJCjth8Ae2WB2R_0cuDQMFzrucIBMlACsClZnOT00ggH6nYn8b-KFSvrl75nq5BfvWv_DljklXF1vLIY1UaXuJKlawLbk0OQCG4zocVZ5xK3ik4P3Uw9f/s1600/0000lbbg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE9-rwmPWv_EHVNJfrz2t91z6yJCjth8Ae2WB2R_0cuDQMFzrucIBMlACsClZnOT00ggH6nYn8b-KFSvrl75nq5BfvWv_DljklXF1vLIY1UaXuJKlawLbk0OQCG4zocVZ5xK3ik4P3Uw9f/s400/0000lbbg.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Appledore Gull Sightings</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Appeldore Island, Lesser Black-backed -Herring Gull Breeding Site-yellow</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult LBB Gull- pink</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Offspring LBB X Herring Gull-green</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The other breeding record of LBB Gull on the continent is also with a Herring Gull at Juneau, Alaska in June/1993.Given the number of juvenile LBB Gulls as well as probable LBB X Herring hybrids seen throughout the continent it is thought other breeding sights undoubtedly exist in North America.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Traditionally LBB Gulls nested exclusively in northern and western Europe. In the later half of the last century the breeding range expanded dramatically to the north west breeding was extended from the British Isle to Iceland and by1990 they had started breeding in Greenland. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In a 2008 paper by Boertland, "The Lesser Black-backed Gull, <i>Larus fuscus</i>, in Greenland"- Arctic,Vol.61p.129-133- he states "today lesser black-backed gulls breed abundantly in Southwest Greenland." They conservatively estimated 700 pairs in 2003. These sites are actually closer to the Great Lakes and eastern seaboard than many of the high arctic sites of Glaucous, Kumlien's and Thayer's Gulls.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIMoQ0vZvtswqL3lR6tQxYpdDMZEH5PJzH1KerFUi1VVLAYCnTCNjNSR4du36gL08Rg0cSyTpa5d8K0UV2o1jLCyjSk90KAvy61MnhiZwHwcm8oTeQLakNcL_KZWCaeKTfM6QWfhsIOGvn/s1600/lbbgbreeding+greeenland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIMoQ0vZvtswqL3lR6tQxYpdDMZEH5PJzH1KerFUi1VVLAYCnTCNjNSR4du36gL08Rg0cSyTpa5d8K0UV2o1jLCyjSk90KAvy61MnhiZwHwcm8oTeQLakNcL_KZWCaeKTfM6QWfhsIOGvn/s400/lbbgbreeding+greeenland.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Comparison between LBB Gull breeding sites and Glaucous Gull breeding site on Bylot Island, Nunavut</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The distance from the Greenland breeding colonies to Sault Ste. Marie is about 2800 km which is about 200km closer than the Bylot Island site were my recent banded Glaucous Gull originated. So it seems quite reasonable that the birds on the Great Lakes could well originate from the Greenland colonies.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFAybgmnzlsq1-k4Z706iHTlyH-SG4oQE-MHJ1X0mu4IL4crJTY7pLNIduVQPSYH81R2l_7le_F18dMfi2rsni0dEj3pTsrv15aT5X9ZfaN8hyK5Ez3g_vhOMcyLBBqY8l4wKrC16-ydZD/s1600/9lbbgssm0103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFAybgmnzlsq1-k4Z706iHTlyH-SG4oQE-MHJ1X0mu4IL4crJTY7pLNIduVQPSYH81R2l_7le_F18dMfi2rsni0dEj3pTsrv15aT5X9ZfaN8hyK5Ez3g_vhOMcyLBBqY8l4wKrC16-ydZD/s400/9lbbgssm0103.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile LBB Gull Sault Ste. Marie,ON- Sept. 19/10</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Boertland observed recently fledged juveniles on July 28th,2006. The latest sighting of a juvenile in Greenland is September 10. Egg laying apparently begins in late May and may continue until late June. He quotes a brooding period of 25 days and a fledgling period of 35 days leaving lots of time for juveniles to reach the Great Lakes by mid-September.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Boertland discusses that LBB Gull was considered a rare vagrant in West Greenland until the mid 70's with only six Greenland records prior to 1984. This coincides with the period of increasing records in eastern North America. I have assumed that this was directly related to the increased number of birds breeding in Iceland..</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHt3dgram1zI-p3NAyf_4Z-9ydHdXaMnSjUrIEhZMIlAJAw5inBmgetAW6z0geoyWRWNMrf_py_FV1BK_TmfwIvPjYa1TBjTahkM-cxfvdAqufp1QmdysnGqReT5D7XFY8R5aLZwXMM_YJ/s1600/xlggbgrasfl0893.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHt3dgram1zI-p3NAyf_4Z-9ydHdXaMnSjUrIEhZMIlAJAw5inBmgetAW6z0geoyWRWNMrf_py_FV1BK_TmfwIvPjYa1TBjTahkM-cxfvdAqufp1QmdysnGqReT5D7XFY8R5aLZwXMM_YJ/s400/xlggbgrasfl0893.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A relatively light mantled adult LBB Gull typical of the subsp. <i>L.f graselli </i>that breeds in Greenland</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I tried to get information on LBB Gull breeding in Iceland and found an interesting website called <b>Tracking Larus fuscus</b>. They have been color ringing LBB Gulls in Iceland since 1996 and it has been coordinated by Gunnar Thor Hallgrimson since 2007. They have a page on the website with pictures of many of their wintering ringed birds. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://notendur.hi.is/gunnih/LBBG_CR_pictures.html">http://notendur.hi.is/gunnih/LBBG_CR_pictures.html</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Of the 31 birds pictured none were photographed in North America. Most of the birds appeared to be wintering in Spain and Portugal. Are we missing these birds or are people seeing them and the information is not getting back to the banders? If anyone has seen a banded LBB Gull with a blue band with black or white alphanumeric codes I would be very keen on hearing about it as would the Iceland ringing team.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Keep your eyes peeled for these blue leg bands on LBB Gulls</span></span></span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">report one here:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_236417"><br />
</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://notendur.hi.is/gunnih/LBBG_CR_about.html">http://notendur.hi.is/gunnih/LBBG_CR_about.html</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS3CM9ogiAvG4j_7PEVD7WG-U9htfuzHNfX3I0S2opveeCAtLO_xijVEsNHQNmu4A0a6e0sDbhS0AIRnddunKW2eBqGKgRlASYlDBijFfSBF-5ThFpUrhVYH3nsLlAZDlASZo5ILpZk33w/s1600/xY522_14.11.2004_Gutierrez.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS3CM9ogiAvG4j_7PEVD7WG-U9htfuzHNfX3I0S2opveeCAtLO_xijVEsNHQNmu4A0a6e0sDbhS0AIRnddunKW2eBqGKgRlASYlDBijFfSBF-5ThFpUrhVYH3nsLlAZDlASZo5ILpZk33w/s400/xY522_14.11.2004_Gutierrez.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><div style="font-family: Times;"><div style="text-align: center;">Y522 was ringed as a chick at Gardaholt, SW-Iceland, 4 August 2004. The picture is taken on 21 November 2004 at Foz Harbour, Foz, Lugo, NW Spain.</div></div><div style="font-family: Times;"><div style="text-align: center;">© Antonio Gutierrez</div></div></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDlGyki-V5ErqIZcyLITS4oxzIAkk0eooD7Ae8Qsyd47NHqUaC95XQGeckpBW8Pqjgg8CYNuKixszpUCI3gc5wEr1tVtp38S_02ZTkI4ObCOJbWdj3BMDMK4H5IBt_NP_AnnVt-0Nhn0kP/s1600/xYA87_29.02.08_ag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDlGyki-V5ErqIZcyLITS4oxzIAkk0eooD7Ae8Qsyd47NHqUaC95XQGeckpBW8Pqjgg8CYNuKixszpUCI3gc5wEr1tVtp38S_02ZTkI4ObCOJbWdj3BMDMK4H5IBt_NP_AnnVt-0Nhn0kP/s400/xYA87_29.02.08_ag.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">YA87 was ringed as an adult at Sandgerði, Reykjanes Peninsula, SW-Iceland, on 27 August 2007 by Gunnar Thor Hallgrimson. The picture is taken 29 February 2008 at Cedeira Beach, Cedeira, A Coruña, Spain.</div><div style="text-align: center;">© Antonio Gutierrez</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibO2Xx7y3eva2nF87Ob2CvAfi0VS5K9Auwko3KyLuIUJjjFRQNVIZPMczzifTDQ79pamUkoyNGkL5NXV4doVvwnVnJoJp91QUHAAlEWj-OEfJOfjIoJ-AJv98USHrj-YrbtEXGklSUaGDd/s1600/xY367_27.02.08_ag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibO2Xx7y3eva2nF87Ob2CvAfi0VS5K9Auwko3KyLuIUJjjFRQNVIZPMczzifTDQ79pamUkoyNGkL5NXV4doVvwnVnJoJp91QUHAAlEWj-OEfJOfjIoJ-AJv98USHrj-YrbtEXGklSUaGDd/s400/xY367_27.02.08_ag.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Y367 was ringed as a chick at Garðaholt, Garðabær, SW-Iceland, on 23 July 1999 by Hallgrimur Gunnarsson. The picture is taken 27 February 2008 at Pantín beach, Valdoviño, A Coruña, NW Spain.</div><div style="text-align: center;">© Antonio Gutierrez</div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Despite the lack of recoveries it seems likely that some of the Iceland birds winter in North America. It would be nice to verify this by documenting some of these ringed LBB Gulls from Iceland.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Iceland was certainly the stepping stone to colonization of Greenland and likely further colonization of North America mostly likely in Labrador and/or Newfoundland (ala Black-headed Gull).</div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHZpax-O4pTTvgNZ9WsfiMiTCDoL5U9FJh_dboOIQ4O3IA3nzJ0eLFaksZtRTRMM5o6cxbKhs7NwE4htpwbnUFKaNmlEhFSCwwfgscTadJSWwRDzHHsYYQ_aOGvtGdQRdsXxpRR86UI_sP/s1600/6lbbgnflarus20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHZpax-O4pTTvgNZ9WsfiMiTCDoL5U9FJh_dboOIQ4O3IA3nzJ0eLFaksZtRTRMM5o6cxbKhs7NwE4htpwbnUFKaNmlEhFSCwwfgscTadJSWwRDzHHsYYQ_aOGvtGdQRdsXxpRR86UI_sP/s400/6lbbgnflarus20.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult LBB Gull wintering in Newfoundland a likely spot for colonization</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The first confirmed record of LBB Gull in North America was in New Jersey in 1934. There was only occasional records until the mid 70s when they became increasingly common both on the eastern seabord as well as the Great Lakes. The first LBB Gull for Ontario was found by Ron Pittaway and Roger Foxall in Nepean in Nov.,1971. It was confirmed at the time by Earl Godfrey but somehow never made it into the official record. The official first record was seen shortly after the Nepean bird in Hamilton. There is a documented record from March 14,1949 from Buffalo Harbor, NY. (pers comm Ron Pittaway).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho_-wlfBS1QW9h9MePd-jWWSm9tFJpNvSxd1CGJ96HoxfMoILOeCdFgdMjLt_eROaLDSxtZbXuFQcEKTbHGY5JlDbpwCadHj3TblRJbX3ZRY0SF-7om8Crp3FGuKumZPx6tnz4-yWrdWOY/s1600/lbbgnflarus2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho_-wlfBS1QW9h9MePd-jWWSm9tFJpNvSxd1CGJ96HoxfMoILOeCdFgdMjLt_eROaLDSxtZbXuFQcEKTbHGY5JlDbpwCadHj3TblRJbX3ZRY0SF-7om8Crp3FGuKumZPx6tnz4-yWrdWOY/s320/lbbgnflarus2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Adult LBB Gull in flight at the St. John's Landfill, Newfoundland.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Since the initial wave of sightings in the mid 70s LBB Gull has been seen in all of the eastern states and provinces with West Virginia being the last state in the east to record this species. Arizona, New Mexico and Utah all have recent records. It is relatively common wintering coastal bird in Texas (personal observation) and occasionally inland as far as Amarillo (pers comm Barret Pierce). I would be interested to hear if any states in the west are lacking this species on their state list.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On a cruise to the Carribean in early 2010 I was mildly surprised to find LBB Gull a common bird in the Bahamas at least on Nassau. Although not as apparent in the Lesser Antilles I saw at least 2 adults on St. Martin.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG3GlpMX7TmoV4r6TOnU_eEwtcMpkqtiBokEX1mKHZ-R2C9T7-TKEubGE9RIL4uwbEmEHVlfHfpa9oUwpHREKB38fuJPBl0akQ_UW56smE_fAXHaeWiKXpAhf0GvitSSuD-86DHkPyuyjR/s1600/xlbbgbahamas0723.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG3GlpMX7TmoV4r6TOnU_eEwtcMpkqtiBokEX1mKHZ-R2C9T7-TKEubGE9RIL4uwbEmEHVlfHfpa9oUwpHREKB38fuJPBl0akQ_UW56smE_fAXHaeWiKXpAhf0GvitSSuD-86DHkPyuyjR/s400/xlbbgbahamas0723.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Multiple LBB Gulls wintering in Nassau</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">In Raffaeles'"A Guide to the Birds of the West Indies" published in 1998 this species was considered very rare in the West Indies. Records had been documented for most of the major islands. Clearly things have changed in the last decade.<br />
<br />
<br />
As many as 456 LBB Gulls have been seen at one spot in North America at Lake Nockamixon, PA in March,2007. Boertman, 2008 theorized the recent range expansion of LBB Gull is secondary to "increased food resources (fishery discards,garbage,etc.)". In regards to the colonization of SW Greenland he states, "colonization did not take place until there was a sufficiently large surplus population from Iceland and northwest Europe to support a founder population". Along with the expansion across the North Atlantic the range of this species has expanded southward into France and the Iberian Peninsula with breeding as far south as the Canary Islands.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhbWO84j_IxJ2kzs7eELaevRQ-WB6ryzp8APsymYM3JEi1naGprt_wIAZBlZrr97gnI40HBDZhP1T5NbSnOcHSJ1N5qlYE71cgbTrKCqQXwWJG2p1-fjbzxl9ZKAnMt5u-yNhafzYQDI6/s1600/xlbbgaffl0668.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhbWO84j_IxJ2kzs7eELaevRQ-WB6ryzp8APsymYM3JEi1naGprt_wIAZBlZrr97gnI40HBDZhP1T5NbSnOcHSJ1N5qlYE71cgbTrKCqQXwWJG2p1-fjbzxl9ZKAnMt5u-yNhafzYQDI6/s400/xlbbgaffl0668.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Lesser Black-backed Gull possibly winging its way back to Greenland</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My next post will be devoted to the "trickier than you'd think" identification of second winter white-wing gulls, using an interesting gull photographed by Peder Svingen at Wisconsin Point and submitted to ID Frontiers by Ryan Brady. This bird was variously thought to be potentially everything from a Kumlien's to Thayer's to Kumlien's x Thayer's to a Nelson's Gull. Should make for an interesting dissection.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Kirk Zufelt</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">zufelt_k@shaw.ca</div><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Kirk Zufelthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14223956713828841853noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2525284487032503296.post-41536529374454298242010-11-11T17:23:00.000-08:002010-11-14T14:29:26.514-08:00Banded Glaucous Gull from NunavatI was very pleased to discover the origin of my banded adult Glaucous Gull. Thanks to some help from Joe Kaplan who recognized the "federal band" and some word of mouth via the internet I received an E-mail form Louise Laurin from the Canadian Wildlife Service letting me know the bird had been banded at South Plain, Bylot Island , Nunavut.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqbdVyfKzzy1J0qNuLOVqXrmCcloN_QZVlFWd9r6LC-wkNSae5S_aqgD520HBa0gc6ckREHsphCMNNHy8S6_VAt858HqH-UJxgAdPQ4_YOhZ0DYLxsg8bYIDS9WfVlrAd9zLOOMXZGz0SP/s1600/000ggssm0209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqbdVyfKzzy1J0qNuLOVqXrmCcloN_QZVlFWd9r6LC-wkNSae5S_aqgD520HBa0gc6ckREHsphCMNNHy8S6_VAt858HqH-UJxgAdPQ4_YOhZ0DYLxsg8bYIDS9WfVlrAd9zLOOMXZGz0SP/s400/000ggssm0209.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Glaucous Gull from Nunavut</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Subsequently I was thrilled to hear from the bander- Jean-Francois Therrien who added that "I marked this Glaucous Gull as a fledlging on Bylot Island, in August of 2007". Thus this is a 4th year bird and its first year in fully adult plumage. The distance from Bylot Island to Sault Ste. Marie is a mere 3,005 km as the gull flies,</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFWllriZiOzeqVqR0YBMGU0jq3py6Cujy5G0tcPBtAoNdRjMHLY08mBPqj6UbgBXkO7KYXyM40_WUpfRsCnRCxu689G46r8x3MhVY1Du05SyICME6APEF2oQARjEhxg4TH_kfReMIqCNkQ/s1600/GGBANDED.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFWllriZiOzeqVqR0YBMGU0jq3py6Cujy5G0tcPBtAoNdRjMHLY08mBPqj6UbgBXkO7KYXyM40_WUpfRsCnRCxu689G46r8x3MhVY1Du05SyICME6APEF2oQARjEhxg4TH_kfReMIqCNkQ/s400/GGBANDED.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Bylot Island, Nunavut to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario as the gull flies</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I am reasonably well travelled especially in North America but I must admit I have never heard of Bylot Island. Well it is off the north-east corner of Baffin Island in Canadas newest province Nunavut.</div><div style="text-align: left;">It is a large island in fact the 72nd largest island in the world. At 11,067 square kilometers its just a touch smaller than Jamaica. No Sandals resort however.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_sglwbnfR4x6t1wUOrN-_8-il2lXXehzIxivF3PddVA0wjLBZVGthc3yxQwGj-a0XU_w_7Kawm4K-ERAvPqFGfnkRAgzj2hQ4CotOSLdX6d8P62qZn711gREb5HX5PG0wK8pqu6l889cf/s1600/Bylot_Island.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_sglwbnfR4x6t1wUOrN-_8-il2lXXehzIxivF3PddVA0wjLBZVGthc3yxQwGj-a0XU_w_7Kawm4K-ERAvPqFGfnkRAgzj2hQ4CotOSLdX6d8P62qZn711gREb5HX5PG0wK8pqu6l889cf/s400/Bylot_Island.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Bylot Island, Nunavut, Canada</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was discovered by the arctic explore Robert Bylot in 1616 during his search for the North West Passage. Apparently it has a very rugged coast with a mountainous interior and many glaciers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZN39hRuYlDC45DpqFaUz6IxtZdGRKM9EJc5sIHXatwboQerH3dLC8f2HEzsWMVxqsTxLLqnQaGFIs6e-Bp4wk879gJ_WShxJ_QBFmgLUVGFn2eXgm_Gc1oHQ6nvC5oz-XUxl_S0w0JblE/s1600/bylot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZN39hRuYlDC45DpqFaUz6IxtZdGRKM9EJc5sIHXatwboQerH3dLC8f2HEzsWMVxqsTxLLqnQaGFIs6e-Bp4wk879gJ_WShxJ_QBFmgLUVGFn2eXgm_Gc1oHQ6nvC5oz-XUxl_S0w0JblE/s400/bylot.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sattelite image of Bylot Island showing its multiple glaciers</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Bylot Island was designated a Migratory Bird Sanctuary in 1965. It has some fantastic sea cliffs that provide nesting locations for a large number of seabirds including 320,000 Thick-billed Murres and 50,000 Black-legged Kittiwakes (I wonder if this is the origin of the Kittiwakes seen each fall on Lake superior).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD2uzQJPyfod9Z-h-XetQ7KNTk7IuF8dKN33SyoHR_pPQ0ZkpsMVpeDwJMDnZBPfidykPJib__0gvCFbsdu3wgg60FU80kDffhkJOSEtTUjyDshryULDuecgthTfgV3ureqlW2puatOdXo/s1600/xxxtbmprblf7571.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD2uzQJPyfod9Z-h-XetQ7KNTk7IuF8dKN33SyoHR_pPQ0ZkpsMVpeDwJMDnZBPfidykPJib__0gvCFbsdu3wgg60FU80kDffhkJOSEtTUjyDshryULDuecgthTfgV3ureqlW2puatOdXo/s400/xxxtbmprblf7571.jpg" width="337" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thick-billed Murre-St.Paul, Alaska</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhMu2r5FxRbidDg62fKDQSXmHrk7A46OGKBs5Sp-QTlmQV9uuvImWjt_MQYzoKngiADKwE5VQslyMu6pSv06XPPgsAtZ_NBxBILtji6agcTpIAKSkz0akWlPpXfGQuCcQsnYLZzNTpFETz/s1600/xxxblkprbs7579.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhMu2r5FxRbidDg62fKDQSXmHrk7A46OGKBs5Sp-QTlmQV9uuvImWjt_MQYzoKngiADKwE5VQslyMu6pSv06XPPgsAtZ_NBxBILtji6agcTpIAKSkz0akWlPpXfGQuCcQsnYLZzNTpFETz/s400/xxxblkprbs7579.jpg" width="313" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Black-legged Kittiwake - St. Paul, Alaska</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Apparently there is a large plain in the southwest of the island that holds about 75,000 breeding Snow Geese and of course Glaucous Gulls. In 1999 Sirmilink National Park was incorporated an included Bylot Isaland and some surrounding areas. Along with over 50 species of breeding birds the island houses at least 150 Polar Bears.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih1qSFmg6oEQwBhy2GtTEoy1Mm134DXl4JJh1k4C1ate95yzChCSvdHkZpXuV2NRJrX9dwFZx6EM_wxbWqu8jDuyB6FrE0yp6d-nxQSAoLprT1msLNGBZRvBYPQ344Z6n7LApXHFMl0tIl/s1600/Mount_Thule%252C_Bylot_Island%252C_1930%252C_Lawren_Harris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih1qSFmg6oEQwBhy2GtTEoy1Mm134DXl4JJh1k4C1ate95yzChCSvdHkZpXuV2NRJrX9dwFZx6EM_wxbWqu8jDuyB6FrE0yp6d-nxQSAoLprT1msLNGBZRvBYPQ344Z6n7LApXHFMl0tIl/s400/Mount_Thule%252C_Bylot_Island%252C_1930%252C_Lawren_Harris.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mt. Thule on Bylot Island by Group of Seven artist Lawren Harris</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lawren Harris painted Mt. Thule on Bylot Island in 1930. It isn't clear to me whether he visited the area or not. Interestingly Lawren Harris and his associates in the Group of Seven arguably the most well known and quintessential Canadian artists really made their names painting landscapes largely in Algoma the area surrounding Sault Ste. Marie. </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Getting back to gulls the LBB Gull below was photographed at Daytona Shores on Feb. 22th , 2009. It took me about a year and a half to find out its history. The story is quite remarkable and I will share it with you on my next post.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjzWAQ6eFGASwFMnv9lEiB1s0WsGfNEjYVWG9ydqOcHYx-VjarKsmhBBH8SL3USWkxEDN9E0kUce_MFsutBwxt58wsnDOis2gcPdDRRb-HCCQxDxv_NIPPVUdAumed8D2UsWRHSRiQ6siw/s1600/6lbbgfl1148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjzWAQ6eFGASwFMnv9lEiB1s0WsGfNEjYVWG9ydqOcHYx-VjarKsmhBBH8SL3USWkxEDN9E0kUce_MFsutBwxt58wsnDOis2gcPdDRRb-HCCQxDxv_NIPPVUdAumed8D2UsWRHSRiQ6siw/s400/6lbbgfl1148.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Banded celebrity adult Lesser Black-backed Gull - Daytona Shores, Florida</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The local gull situation is slower than expected. The Vega Gull was never seen again despite extensive searching. Currently there are several first year and at least one adult Great Black-backed Gull around with several juveniles and at least one second winter and one adult Thayer's Gulls. The numbers of Kumlien's Gulls is low with just one juvenile bird that I have noted. Despite a few early Glaucous Gulls there are none around currently. Apparently there is lots of open water up in James and Hudson's Bay (pers comm Alan Wormington) and this might be responsible for the relatively poor movement so far of arctic gulls.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Kirk Zufelt</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">zufelt_k@shaw.ca</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Kirk Zufelthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14223956713828841853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2525284487032503296.post-60267965159081168352010-10-31T17:29:00.000-07:002010-12-05T11:24:12.888-08:00Adult Vega Gull in Sault Ste.Marie,ONI could have titled this "Possible Vega Gull" or "Vega-like Gull" but I opted not to hedge. This bird seems to meet all criteria for an adult Vega Gull. For those who aren't obsessed with Larusology you might be asking -What is a Vega Gull?<br />
<br />
According to the AOU a Vega Gull is <i>Larus argentatus vegae </i>the east Asian-western Alaska subspecies of the Herring Gull. Olsen and Larsson consider it a separate species <i>L. vegae</i> closer to Slaty-backed than Herring Gull. Ujihara the Japanese gull expert also considers it a species. Howell and Dunn describe the differing viewpoints and go on to say "American Herring Gull, European Herring Gull and Vega Gull are best treated as distinct species,".<br />
<br />
Today at the landfill I noted a darkish mantled gull.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj02KF4sJW4aSy3VrVheRJxd3tSDEHyERfeq2DLlD9wREUb3cb6V8Jx-us0LCZwuWI9X2v5jGoGS00_x_GYncFvc7TKIulwY7m4difTLhQlgx4MM5Eo4THqw04Z7oNvZ51rIJy5FcfR2WoW/s1600/zdmgssm0123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj02KF4sJW4aSy3VrVheRJxd3tSDEHyERfeq2DLlD9wREUb3cb6V8Jx-us0LCZwuWI9X2v5jGoGS00_x_GYncFvc7TKIulwY7m4difTLhQlgx4MM5Eo4THqw04Z7oNvZ51rIJy5FcfR2WoW/s400/zdmgssm0123.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Adult Darkish Mantled Gull- Sault Ste. Marie</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Although the mantle was clearly darker than the Herrings it clearly wasn't dark enough to be a Lesser Black-backed or darker gull. This immediately rules out Slaty-backed and Great Black-backed (GBBG)which this bird clearly isn't. The bright pink legs and mantle shade rules out Lesser Black-backed.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">At first I was thinking Herring x Greater Black-backed hybrid. However on prolonged observation of the bird many things didn't seem to fit with that identification. First off the birds structure seemed very consistent with Herring Gull with no GBBG traits.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2OKBnHa3tkItHYvd5-UvgmPbxhgAMKOcOjWmkOWcXM8YsFqwZaKjLVOftqEifsf8Cs927AJyr1YNdpZXzfDs8-UpeJlKufXx1izl82GVK9jh7aguaZTnBTuk9Bql7sWL_NxbsPoDcnUCM/s1600/zdmgssm0372.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2OKBnHa3tkItHYvd5-UvgmPbxhgAMKOcOjWmkOWcXM8YsFqwZaKjLVOftqEifsf8Cs927AJyr1YNdpZXzfDs8-UpeJlKufXx1izl82GVK9jh7aguaZTnBTuk9Bql7sWL_NxbsPoDcnUCM/s400/zdmgssm0372.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Adult Herring Gull Adult Vega Gull - Sault Ste. Marie<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI67gd6W7IYNv1r8Sf1BbKQq9dayp6zlHecGu4ZaS4MvPtWOsa94Tx1wV3JaydWU2Fs_8X3lG7bN1zq2Gxvt2Vz0JyDEQ3NHo9sweeYg0gmcgjcV0aedbWQWWBdhKv0eMhXg14SBWLeTB9/s1600/zdmgssm0478.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI67gd6W7IYNv1r8Sf1BbKQq9dayp6zlHecGu4ZaS4MvPtWOsa94Tx1wV3JaydWU2Fs_8X3lG7bN1zq2Gxvt2Vz0JyDEQ3NHo9sweeYg0gmcgjcV0aedbWQWWBdhKv0eMhXg14SBWLeTB9/s400/zdmgssm0478.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Adult Vega Gull Adult Herring Gull - Sault Ste. Marie<br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Overall in size the bird was similar to the surrounding Herring Gulls. It was larger than many but smaller than about 30% of the nearby Herring Gulls (observation at the time). The head shape was consistent with Herring Gull as was the bill size.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I noted what appeared to be a darkish eye.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhOTTeKBFa1455PHJfhyphenhyphendTkSMapJ9AyOoti4bH4_VTVM4XWBRQx1Jqc5ZSrQvPv5ki-k5liy_B0txZrtQFY9k21Vh1s9o1HP5MdHGNonkOn1ISFf3FonSi9gX_o-e-L7eG_43VyOu1a9Pz/s1600/zdmgssm0177.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhOTTeKBFa1455PHJfhyphenhyphendTkSMapJ9AyOoti4bH4_VTVM4XWBRQx1Jqc5ZSrQvPv5ki-k5liy_B0txZrtQFY9k21Vh1s9o1HP5MdHGNonkOn1ISFf3FonSi9gX_o-e-L7eG_43VyOu1a9Pz/s400/zdmgssm0177.jpg" width="350" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Adult Vega Gull - Sault Ste. Marie<br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">On very close inspection through the scope the eye was brownish yellow and the the orbital ring was distinctly reddish in colour. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioebq0OZEaSH1QkOGpncFBVFjAhhgs8cawzlQ6M7y_ODvDSRB1k2doaaRymezOvUI2gsHKtk6L6DMOzB95dxqlcTuj1e7fk9t_LCCgy4lBnlKJopTbRjbRci-sPNbD1-6rrQ0iP7fcH2p7/s1600/zvgssm0402cui.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioebq0OZEaSH1QkOGpncFBVFjAhhgs8cawzlQ6M7y_ODvDSRB1k2doaaRymezOvUI2gsHKtk6L6DMOzB95dxqlcTuj1e7fk9t_LCCgy4lBnlKJopTbRjbRci-sPNbD1-6rrQ0iP7fcH2p7/s400/zvgssm0402cui.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Vega Gull - Sault Ste. Marie - close-up</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you go to your Sibley-Guide to Birds there is a very nice illustration of a adult Vega Gull on page 217 showing the orange-red orbital ring and the brownish yellow iris. The American Herring usually has a much paler iris and a yellowish-orange orbital ring.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu4qSjqtbPaEsuOEBg67ESQG1U-8nxBhDmHd6zERk2lWxgfGJ4JKu77sl3r-EREMNGvwAUQxkH3D2MGixWwFRnpaP2Yh8M_SHvjIpM_5edDCaOHy7_zTryZqMKtVqQ8MTRgEmKG7m0ENBt/s1600/zzhgssm6626.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu4qSjqtbPaEsuOEBg67ESQG1U-8nxBhDmHd6zERk2lWxgfGJ4JKu77sl3r-EREMNGvwAUQxkH3D2MGixWwFRnpaP2Yh8M_SHvjIpM_5edDCaOHy7_zTryZqMKtVqQ8MTRgEmKG7m0ENBt/s400/zzhgssm6626.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Herring Gull-head close-up</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Many GBBG and LBBG hybrids could potentially have a reddish orbital ring as well. I really needed to get some open wing shots to look for the other differentiating features of Vega Gull- 1. a very broad white trailing edge 2. white tongue tips on P6-8. Both of these features are reminiscent of Slaty-backed Gull.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Well after about an hour I finally got a decent series of open wing shots.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnyjFFN3HqqQpojSvaul3fdfXXrVgGiR3pM8r7w6jqmfo3p82h_5yV3Sqrw_icON_PLDmcM9bRoblrGe2bUCMGA3tL3wNnAxEnEZDlD1u4NywyaV9gZ33osFKJcitsZ1xawERSmgZWiR6m/s1600/zdmgssmb0110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nEIJ75mw_-oc8iCD3ciK0nR5sBZiiDiW1wngJHvthEGf9MVwL3I1Q0rDgk_lCYA9t7XcLJRJJnCEaONowXv9hBzCwdvH31EZXI95EJ984PQxS60xB5R6MUS3ayoyLbBDiXVk7eqRCA5N/s1600/zdmgssm0525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nEIJ75mw_-oc8iCD3ciK0nR5sBZiiDiW1wngJHvthEGf9MVwL3I1Q0rDgk_lCYA9t7XcLJRJJnCEaONowXv9hBzCwdvH31EZXI95EJ984PQxS60xB5R6MUS3ayoyLbBDiXVk7eqRCA5N/s400/zdmgssm0525.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Vega Gull - Sault Ste. Marie</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Note on the above bird the very wide white trailing edge as well as the white tongue tips on P6-8. (Tongues are the non black areas of the primaries sticking out into the black like a tongue.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0VWzHaSoLLPykZPpmkcKZ9ZQl0oXlbQxjSwhh8OXNleLNp1tHcQadKqBFc28xheJKXBc-h9GnIthMFrdlR9J_kWYJQqhtf52-k-3HGx89JKemLXR9CgzEYn-UtOIZGj1ZRMjqzgrDwr7X/s1600/zzzzdmgssmb0110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="357" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0VWzHaSoLLPykZPpmkcKZ9ZQl0oXlbQxjSwhh8OXNleLNp1tHcQadKqBFc28xheJKXBc-h9GnIthMFrdlR9J_kWYJQqhtf52-k-3HGx89JKemLXR9CgzEYn-UtOIZGj1ZRMjqzgrDwr7X/s400/zzzzdmgssmb0110.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Vega Gull - Sault Ste. Marie -showing white tongue tips</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Peter Adriaens pointed out that I had this primary incorrectly labelled P6. I had counted back from P10 and failed to note P7 is missing. I have corrected this on the current picture.This is actually even more supportive of Vega as most commonly a complete band is present across P5-although this is variable.-KZ</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGuwkkbrkYUAaKNqZgpDjle4H8i36Vp1mCuBEokObrEsiUsL1plEWKvvlJQg2vqz1vJ5pclLgH4x1sjnePS1JdGv-bWZoG1MoHgxdGcgNQD8twKDn9I5s12XSsa3QgT2hpIWaQkKax0xsz/s1600/zzvg0530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGuwkkbrkYUAaKNqZgpDjle4H8i36Vp1mCuBEokObrEsiUsL1plEWKvvlJQg2vqz1vJ5pclLgH4x1sjnePS1JdGv-bWZoG1MoHgxdGcgNQD8twKDn9I5s12XSsa3QgT2hpIWaQkKax0xsz/s400/zzvg0530.jpg" width="370" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Vega Gull - Sault Ste. Marie -showing white tongue tips</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> The primary pattern on my bird is very similar to the Vega Gull wingtip pattern #2 shown in Olsen and Larrson pg. 28. None of the American Herring Gull patterns approach this especially the amount of white on the tongue-tip of P6.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I would like to thank Japanese gullmasters Osao and Michiaki Ujihara for allowing me to use the following illustrative pictures from there excellent website. The following pictures were taken in late Oct. in Japan.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ujiharas website <a href="http://www23.tok2.com/home/jgull/gullidentifi_.htm"> http://www23.tok2.com/home/jgull/gullidentifi_.htm</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX1pKY5xbUAz8smKS-vrjek3d_nfi7Vjfjb7UgL9AOTeDipTWCo95Nc7a6TrE_sG9oR05Y4hfUpKGkuOli0YFXj6HBhhk9epGCDFATm7LP0p4oc6uoDFG_a_UmEQgVJGSIX4eiV5BYq8G-/s1600/zzvegaflight+(4).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX1pKY5xbUAz8smKS-vrjek3d_nfi7Vjfjb7UgL9AOTeDipTWCo95Nc7a6TrE_sG9oR05Y4hfUpKGkuOli0YFXj6HBhhk9epGCDFATm7LP0p4oc6uoDFG_a_UmEQgVJGSIX4eiV5BYq8G-/s400/zzvegaflight+(4).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Vega Gull -Japan-Oct.25/06- Osao and Michiaki Ujihara</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Note the similar stage of moult to my bird with mostly old primaries and missing coverts. According to Olsen and Larsson the outer primaries moult from late Nov. to Feb. Howell and Dunn confirm that Vega Gull under goes "a relatively late PB moult". In Ujihara's pictures of over 25 adult Vega Gulls on Oct. 25/06 all had retained some old primaries. In my bird P8-10 are old. Looking at hundreds of adult Herring Gulls today virtually none had retained old primaries and most had P9-10 almost completely grown in.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHm2YcM9HtfWaj4mXaDpWU3SU5SzXULBBXyX7KHeUgC2jQqo0qwB66Nx57NdQUdm96xtGYtJCfrWVHoB8mT3cp2S1u4WWwJysh2UcSwKQOdDOpA__CHuLe2V05ucGOobtaFgvEELJEGSc8/s1600/zz061025+(6).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHm2YcM9HtfWaj4mXaDpWU3SU5SzXULBBXyX7KHeUgC2jQqo0qwB66Nx57NdQUdm96xtGYtJCfrWVHoB8mT3cp2S1u4WWwJysh2UcSwKQOdDOpA__CHuLe2V05ucGOobtaFgvEELJEGSc8/s400/zz061025+(6).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Adult Vega Gull-Japan -Oct.25/06- Osao and Michiaki Ujihara</div><div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The above Vega Gull taken at a near identical time of year shows a near identical moult timing and wingtip pattern.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmS2Twp5zN3WRkomIeeOOCt_UZQDvdx2nqml-r383yhNL9fMprzORCkuTRDuZ1pOtV8WCRfI3eGwZfiT2H0GuihTF3-6zkm79_L2STJJs7LJtQLHG3uGIThDKp44EgPm_rUllAe23ECZ66/s1600/zzA_vega+(5).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmS2Twp5zN3WRkomIeeOOCt_UZQDvdx2nqml-r383yhNL9fMprzORCkuTRDuZ1pOtV8WCRfI3eGwZfiT2H0GuihTF3-6zkm79_L2STJJs7LJtQLHG3uGIThDKp44EgPm_rUllAe23ECZ66/s400/zzA_vega+(5).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Wyr62SzYUeQgfuexQqjW-r2M0QYOxqlQyBNghGhbjWgh9RD2SP76_mJW3JrpLtn5SBcP9pGTRV8Fo1NHMUyXfTQUN4SHFFWYRwLtzATmZIEPopIL5XKdSuAjvI3pJxl_ZiTiiI6GEfYK/s1600/zzvegae.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Wyr62SzYUeQgfuexQqjW-r2M0QYOxqlQyBNghGhbjWgh9RD2SP76_mJW3JrpLtn5SBcP9pGTRV8Fo1NHMUyXfTQUN4SHFFWYRwLtzATmZIEPopIL5XKdSuAjvI3pJxl_ZiTiiI6GEfYK/s400/zzvegae.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Vega Gulls-Japan -Oct.25/06- Osao and Michiaki Ujihara</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The above photos show several Vega Gulls in late Oct all with retained old primaries and several with still all white heads like my bird. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Chris Gibbins authored a study- "Identification of Adult Vega Gull: Field Observations from Japan". This was done in February so some observations such as head streaking could not be extrapolated to October birds. In most of the categories of observation well over 100 birds were studied. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.surfbirds.com/ID%20Articles/JapanGulls/index.html">http://www.surfbirds.com/ID%20Articles/JapanGulls/index.html</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Comparing my bird to Gibbins results I found that- 83% of studied birds had a similar mantle colour to mine (20-30% saturated), 68% of the birds had similar bill markings to mine (red,no black), 70% had similar eye colour to mine (light to medium speckled), 68% had similar primary pattern (black to P5). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The leg colour fell well within the 4 shades of pink illustrated (#678) but no percentages were given for the individual shades. He did say 93% of <i> L. vegae </i>had dull pinky-flesh colored legs. The bright pink legs seen in breeding season are lost to a certain extent during the winter.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjokvAygAtP8H7qhtTcbO1RDeTzQRkocWG2iwStZo678hrCmOYCLHaeqTKZq1SpCe_5us19agIZ2QmWTRwXiNo6W1bGqW1maWunOfRwgK681gbrFH5F-DXhMyT8H8lHYfIKlywJXvoQNuNi/s1600/zvgssm0108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjokvAygAtP8H7qhtTcbO1RDeTzQRkocWG2iwStZo678hrCmOYCLHaeqTKZq1SpCe_5us19agIZ2QmWTRwXiNo6W1bGqW1maWunOfRwgK681gbrFH5F-DXhMyT8H8lHYfIKlywJXvoQNuNi/s400/zvgssm0108.jpg" width="295" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Vega Gull - Sault Ste. Marie showing "pinky-flersh coloured legs"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlxr-QsR8cn5qEjh8BzbeWi8Rj5oPsnsjVSqEsrb49OsYpDyRb4yl6JDwsYR65MX5b5CQKf2kwlyzEm4C0Rgmt0Xjo9-5RycilbQl8nujyvpNohYARocaJCN1ZvwcRprUfmVYIJ-FM1yhQ/s1600/zzA_vega+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlxr-QsR8cn5qEjh8BzbeWi8Rj5oPsnsjVSqEsrb49OsYpDyRb4yl6JDwsYR65MX5b5CQKf2kwlyzEm4C0Rgmt0Xjo9-5RycilbQl8nujyvpNohYARocaJCN1ZvwcRprUfmVYIJ-FM1yhQ/s320/zzA_vega+(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Vega Gull-Japan -Oct.25/06- Osao and Michiaki Ujihara</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The above bird from Japan in late October shows similar coloured legs and bill as well as a nearly all white head and a similar stage of primary moult.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The variation of patterns on P10 were illustrated in Gibbins study and the 4th one illustrated was very similar to my bird. All in all this study reinforced that in all its main characteristics this bird fell well within the limits of the majority of Vega Gulls studied in Japan.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So to conclude I want to adress three questions from easiest to hardest.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1.Why isn't this just a regular American Herring Gull?</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is fairly easy- First the mantle shade is out of range of this species. The reddish orbital ring is also not seen in American Herring Gull. The primary pattern and very broad white trailing edge would also be quite atypical(but probably not impossible)for this species. The darkish eye is also atypical but a small percentage of Herring Gulls will have eyes darker than this.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2DD-YbnC6NPDSo0xaXg3oqbjreMWK1-FZ1EJaxVrLfN60UHsYmz7cW_BKi-HO0v4nAhdkvnG0T0f8oRbYsoGYkdp7v80u-P192FxPu7vLwXCDNuTeeeThgvSZtRwohFJXfLToVncAZMUR/s1600/zzvgssm0499.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2DD-YbnC6NPDSo0xaXg3oqbjreMWK1-FZ1EJaxVrLfN60UHsYmz7cW_BKi-HO0v4nAhdkvnG0T0f8oRbYsoGYkdp7v80u-P192FxPu7vLwXCDNuTeeeThgvSZtRwohFJXfLToVncAZMUR/s400/zzvgssm0499.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Adult Vega Gull-Sault Ste. Marie -showing darker mantle and classic "Herring Gull" structure</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">2. Why isn't this a American Herring Gull X Lesser Black-backed Gull (LBBG) hybrid.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The main argument against this is the primary pattern and the very broad white trailing edge to the wings. This wouldn't be something you would expect given that the adult LBBG usually has only a small white spot on P10, minimal white tips to the primaries and a relatively narrow white trailing edge. On some occasions they will have a small window on P9 shown on the bird pictured below. None of the multiple pictures of adults LBBG I reviewed in many sources had as much or more white on the wings. </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">All the pictures of presumed Lesser Black-backed X Herring hybrids I have seen have had a very odd pinkish- yellow leg colour as well as a considerably darker mantle than would be typical for Vega. A good example can be seen in Photo #7 on Jean Iron's excellent website.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.jeaniron.ca/Gulls/htmgulls/niagara.htm">http://www.jeaniron.ca/Gulls/htmgulls/niagara.htm</a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUu1Kc632OSKpw32vcFIwOzgvgJkGy2Hh5ATVF9LSgzMxjKyUbfkjJiWmeebIA9g3WuWBPrkXWWqsLa3CNyD3IPqYCcrf1599LheqK-QYyYsxOvaJFLyoQzm1IETXYTmOQMKer68kTZ7bp/s1600/lbbgnflarus2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUu1Kc632OSKpw32vcFIwOzgvgJkGy2Hh5ATVF9LSgzMxjKyUbfkjJiWmeebIA9g3WuWBPrkXWWqsLa3CNyD3IPqYCcrf1599LheqK-QYyYsxOvaJFLyoQzm1IETXYTmOQMKer68kTZ7bp/s400/lbbgnflarus2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Lesser Black-backed Gull showing maximum amount of white on wings</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">3. Why isn't this a Great Black-backed(GBBG) X Herring Gull hybrid?</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is clearly the most likely alternative identification. In fact initially in the field this was my presumption. However as I watched the bird I was increasingly stumped by its relatively light mantle much lighter than I would expect for this combination. Next I just could account for the total lack of any GBBG structural characteristics. No sign of the massive bill or odd "skinny looking" flat head. The size was that of a medium size Herring with none of the long -legged look of GBBG. </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Below are multiple pics of presumed GBB X Herring Gull hybrids that I will use to illustrate some points. All of these birds have been considered GBBG XHerring hybrids by multiple authorities</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXcU4wqPvzGxho1Fs6e3Rdqxex97y9gxaSV42l5YpcKgxrZLYxx3jJRYTLm9yuLvhNAVrid39lKScdxhXuJrQBx9YH4pwDxb_SexYbKv5bf8zug9f-tbjRfOIL5OTairw9e9c2UHaT8O42/s1600/zzdmg8941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXcU4wqPvzGxho1Fs6e3Rdqxex97y9gxaSV42l5YpcKgxrZLYxx3jJRYTLm9yuLvhNAVrid39lKScdxhXuJrQBx9YH4pwDxb_SexYbKv5bf8zug9f-tbjRfOIL5OTairw9e9c2UHaT8O42/s320/zzdmg8941.jpg" width="304" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Second winter GBBG X Herring hybrid</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Notice the large stout bill, the GBBG-like head and long legs. Although this picture doesn't portray its size well it was quite tall appearing and larger than most of the Herrings.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFI-mb6F5y8tTLXZSDU_iubYkZZzXLXQPgpxRBc6garBkk3rBmyxbhJ__i4A-PuOOBJ0LCpHwiOKmqTXYYtMVKZFDNrq_cBKsOys4NNDw6vXqLBefo0Tu_jCt8ygdm1mBih94qR5ogi8SG/s1600/zzgbbhybgulldafter1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFI-mb6F5y8tTLXZSDU_iubYkZZzXLXQPgpxRBc6garBkk3rBmyxbhJ__i4A-PuOOBJ0LCpHwiOKmqTXYYtMVKZFDNrq_cBKsOys4NNDw6vXqLBefo0Tu_jCt8ygdm1mBih94qR5ogi8SG/s320/zzgbbhybgulldafter1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Second winter GBBG X Herring hybrid</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Again a very stout bill with a flat angular head. Larger than most of the Herrings and quite tall appearing.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQQewnPO5-R1zmAterGD9ZeOux_K3dZf6hivtq3gqQRlGLhE7xq_1Bz6G1PjyN7CW-iSyDEP_GxtmTV8evqtom9Tw-_DsJ-B38pW81skU9_s_S4fPyj27eFmy5r6qrbSzmA0hztjNPys5N/s1600/zzhybssm0617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQQewnPO5-R1zmAterGD9ZeOux_K3dZf6hivtq3gqQRlGLhE7xq_1Bz6G1PjyN7CW-iSyDEP_GxtmTV8evqtom9Tw-_DsJ-B38pW81skU9_s_S4fPyj27eFmy5r6qrbSzmA0hztjNPys5N/s400/zzhybssm0617.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Third winter GBBG X Herring hybrid</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another tall bird with a very flat head and relatively stout bill. Notice the mantle shade quite a bit darker than my bird. The eye in this third winter bird is already lighter than. A very nice picture of an likely adult GBBG X Herring can be viewed at this site:</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bonxie88/3235557372/%C2%A0">http://www.flickr.com/photos/bonxie88/3235557372/ </a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQVirwFyHYoSUCAfRQxvZea0v8ovh_PABnIVEKCAtP3gZUxCO3pf-Rv-Z6XF36i_PC8yl__JgdnWICE20iUjjKYAEgliuJfwGB6IJRpoSn3kaXDiA9iTRKb_7KZzJ9mfYv_Ks8hMp2nRGz/s1600/zdmgssm0495.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQVirwFyHYoSUCAfRQxvZea0v8ovh_PABnIVEKCAtP3gZUxCO3pf-Rv-Z6XF36i_PC8yl__JgdnWICE20iUjjKYAEgliuJfwGB6IJRpoSn3kaXDiA9iTRKb_7KZzJ9mfYv_Ks8hMp2nRGz/s400/zdmgssm0495.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Vega Gull-Sault Ste. Marie-showing rounded head and relatively average "Herring Gull" type beak</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The above bird shows no trace of GBBG structure that I can detect. This was obvious in the field were it fit in nicely with the surrounding Herrings many of which were bulkier and larger than it. </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVDrDbfzuAGWn9X5phXvQKJ0lfvE998N4k1QffGvOZ0-XZJRd76fP0-eoBEb3zq71n6mM9wUNbxVQpzZntzjJlwdM17jYkDAhUvjgBdtOQAEljHZmL4c6_SzxvDCH9AV8YxgyIANLN6zz7/s1600/zzgbbgfl2524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVDrDbfzuAGWn9X5phXvQKJ0lfvE998N4k1QffGvOZ0-XZJRd76fP0-eoBEb3zq71n6mM9wUNbxVQpzZntzjJlwdM17jYkDAhUvjgBdtOQAEljHZmL4c6_SzxvDCH9AV8YxgyIANLN6zz7/s400/zzgbbgfl2524.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Great Black-backed Gull showing flat angular head and massive bill</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The next reason this bird is not a GBBG X Herring hybrid is its primary and secondary flight feather patterns. Both the Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls have medium sized white trailing edges to the secondaries. My bird as is typical of Vega has a very wide trailing edge reminiscent or maybe even wider than in a Slaty-backed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcY2qnP_0LBJFt6-S_r2omVHUU-1YDm_ATtj2wOqHVD-Ss4M-otLySI6nrWXnCj9_2jRmXmjrISWYmavaUEtSMN6Pwr88fhtm00XpiuLIrExG6fZr9Lop-dWBTAwEl-wauKjEwoOL4Xmci/s1600/zzgbbgorillia7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcY2qnP_0LBJFt6-S_r2omVHUU-1YDm_ATtj2wOqHVD-Ss4M-otLySI6nrWXnCj9_2jRmXmjrISWYmavaUEtSMN6Pwr88fhtm00XpiuLIrExG6fZr9Lop-dWBTAwEl-wauKjEwoOL4Xmci/s400/zzgbbgorillia7.jpg" width="318" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Great Black-backed Gull showing medium width trailing white wing-edge and typical primary pattern</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwbb36UtjpL93Zg0I_Y98HZYiiKZNPdRY9pgbrq8Mc6_5eeekEL3DiyP87HF7ldRkIaRU6CHAx-TwAnblF4gr1YOUOv01hHUulNkt_09eNVECzwZAusBSG94j_SxxlpBX4k1-MqjtoPxD4/s1600/zzzhgadftr1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwbb36UtjpL93Zg0I_Y98HZYiiKZNPdRY9pgbrq8Mc6_5eeekEL3DiyP87HF7ldRkIaRU6CHAx-TwAnblF4gr1YOUOv01hHUulNkt_09eNVECzwZAusBSG94j_SxxlpBX4k1-MqjtoPxD4/s320/zzzhgadftr1.jpg" width="247" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Herring Gull showing medium width trailing white wing-edge and typical primary pattern</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUUYPwjjKmhKZUVq1dxMPlAeT4hETI91ZUW_Fpapyh57tb2Yrf0-V1Y3favLV9egXv4dlC-FqzYYQfiwUhqC952hgHrDSzChKqtalYOTGJ378AH_bxpQuNC2LcMz4QJp9ahfaMGYXQoAUx/s1600/zzzgbbhyssm0690rz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUUYPwjjKmhKZUVq1dxMPlAeT4hETI91ZUW_Fpapyh57tb2Yrf0-V1Y3favLV9egXv4dlC-FqzYYQfiwUhqC952hgHrDSzChKqtalYOTGJ378AH_bxpQuNC2LcMz4QJp9ahfaMGYXQoAUx/s400/zzzgbbhyssm0690rz.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Third winter Herring Gull Third winter GBBG X Herring hybrid</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Both showing medium width trailing white wing-edge.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Below I will show pictures of a variety of adult Vega Gulls to illustrate the very broad white trailing edge to the wing along with the typical primary pattern usually with a large window on P10 and P9 and white tongue tips.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK8o4kEz9RR_HSFrtBwkQlmqcYZRTKv83FL1y9zfkA3HV3uoMC2Z7Ae17TvMcYmE7d65nkM12tOsda33JFJSZX-K5Yf1YbNJeRwk0VUlyhZw4cMQQi0OoF9NJisp3uVey3vD3d9bU0ZOzy/s1600/vggb3363.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK8o4kEz9RR_HSFrtBwkQlmqcYZRTKv83FL1y9zfkA3HV3uoMC2Z7Ae17TvMcYmE7d65nkM12tOsda33JFJSZX-K5Yf1YbNJeRwk0VUlyhZw4cMQQi0OoF9NJisp3uVey3vD3d9bU0ZOzy/s400/vggb3363.jpg" width="296" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Vega Gull, May/09 Gambell,Alaska</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigah6X0gachRr9vEi_LWw3ocXrxz2oOJC-UTMHy2GAEtZHtfqLPdsVucJa4mYIVl1oAXYQQqSXy6wzDyduxIjemK3xzqVKN9s1mzIkKRGw500hQDpMhq-wBWDFQ3uYRsDUOj6DyJuKhPIf/s1600/zztrlwhtVegagull+(7).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigah6X0gachRr9vEi_LWw3ocXrxz2oOJC-UTMHy2GAEtZHtfqLPdsVucJa4mYIVl1oAXYQQqSXy6wzDyduxIjemK3xzqVKN9s1mzIkKRGw500hQDpMhq-wBWDFQ3uYRsDUOj6DyJuKhPIf/s400/zztrlwhtVegagull+(7).jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM5R0moIvRAufFmz2mATU-LZmofO-nHbrVcGMVrnwmXn_c1zZ0N4YkyrMgt0llz2eHx6PCvNQmdwFXa1rh6i_hk-LaC_zFQ4ol98EBRqYhftUWTG8jr0A2AfNAxeCmtJ41G0MyLr-UGOYX/s1600/zztrailwhteVegagull+(4).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM5R0moIvRAufFmz2mATU-LZmofO-nHbrVcGMVrnwmXn_c1zZ0N4YkyrMgt0llz2eHx6PCvNQmdwFXa1rh6i_hk-LaC_zFQ4ol98EBRqYhftUWTG8jr0A2AfNAxeCmtJ41G0MyLr-UGOYX/s400/zztrailwhteVegagull+(4).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3on66ivOKXA2Y0b3aDppv3UwI13BGQT_62pLtX1nDSLbPThNc2l15A1jCQ0Xk2OUO4x6H_0vdjV_jpP7aXqOfMX3TR9eG5YlM7hoTSWvrqxb_ppkTd3Xkc6SsnZxXDaHWVDe7wubFl9Qo/s1600/zzvegaflight+(7).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3on66ivOKXA2Y0b3aDppv3UwI13BGQT_62pLtX1nDSLbPThNc2l15A1jCQ0Xk2OUO4x6H_0vdjV_jpP7aXqOfMX3TR9eG5YlM7hoTSWvrqxb_ppkTd3Xkc6SsnZxXDaHWVDe7wubFl9Qo/s400/zzvegaflight+(7).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Vega Gulls-Japan - Osao and Michiaki Ujihara</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Compare the Vega Gulls from Japan and Alaska to my Sault Ste. Marie bird.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUjnZOoIbn18e3gWYcgFDfeHzRuGAXZ4Js7RevkUPmbgkYSkBk7SAbLmkOneb1ZMkyDW8jcEVQgwoJPlwwOm6Ev2cPqAtrS9G0PovGzddtlXLDQ5pc-g3qZstk1UcPj1r1K7ZqFqL0P6Sj/s1600/zdmgssm0110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUjnZOoIbn18e3gWYcgFDfeHzRuGAXZ4Js7RevkUPmbgkYSkBk7SAbLmkOneb1ZMkyDW8jcEVQgwoJPlwwOm6Ev2cPqAtrS9G0PovGzddtlXLDQ5pc-g3qZstk1UcPj1r1K7ZqFqL0P6Sj/s400/zdmgssm0110.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNAUhjQUY5l4HqQoGl3A7HmEOGJGVpunQZP0cbEobAOYbB0I3NYaanykhtfmCSqVL8CiOyZ9Mprsr1xr2YRV7QvnnY023SuxbIuuwUxNQCCuZf58yzihRpoy4L60bQfLFG-xUCZcSLENNb/s1600/zzdmgssm0525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNAUhjQUY5l4HqQoGl3A7HmEOGJGVpunQZP0cbEobAOYbB0I3NYaanykhtfmCSqVL8CiOyZ9Mprsr1xr2YRV7QvnnY023SuxbIuuwUxNQCCuZf58yzihRpoy4L60bQfLFG-xUCZcSLENNb/s400/zzdmgssm0525.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwmOhD_-LxFqo3w6IsiVlzezTzjzxeNTdK2vcwgIdCxyAUer1QLzQwpA7oHgDUDw0QgdtsPRcvqNjyWdaAheq7-ltho-e673iMfJEJuLIzHkHwh-cFwpRd4IDEdRlcTPWu8A7syYqs8vEi/s1600/zdmgssm0487.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwmOhD_-LxFqo3w6IsiVlzezTzjzxeNTdK2vcwgIdCxyAUer1QLzQwpA7oHgDUDw0QgdtsPRcvqNjyWdaAheq7-ltho-e673iMfJEJuLIzHkHwh-cFwpRd4IDEdRlcTPWu8A7syYqs8vEi/s400/zdmgssm0487.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Vega Gull- Sault Ste. Marie-showing very broad trailing white wing-edge as well as white-tongue tips to primaries</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My final point is perhaps the most important of all and to me makes the identification of this bird as a Vega Gull secure. My bird is in relatively early prebasic molt with three retained old primaries per wing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is very typical of Vega Gull at this date. Ujihara noted that of 40 Vega Gulls he examined on Oct.25th,2006 all but 2 had retained primaries. Many still had retained primaries into late December.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_346214399"><br />
</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www23.tok2.com/home/jgull/061025/vegagull.htm">http://www23.tok2.com/home/jgull/061025/vegagull.htm</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Of the hundreds of adult American Herring Gulls I examined closely over the last two days I could not find a single bird with a retained old primary. Although moult is clearly a variable thing it would appear that Vega Gull is fairly unique in its late prebasic moult. Great Black-backed Gull typically is at this stage of moult in late August-early Sept. I have never seen a GBBG with retained primaries in late October.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7TvfBQ2JqgM4Ebll3YIyvzlRnz3mMeax5chLM3-N3-ul63f_OF-aulEv1heVVb0bHyOpBtUAk6EZYwaMkNUtSReGG-UNP5cLxKiSvhggmdxhNcy_FV19-TrD7pmikQZrEOOa1Smm1iZz7/s1600/zzgbbvb32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7TvfBQ2JqgM4Ebll3YIyvzlRnz3mMeax5chLM3-N3-ul63f_OF-aulEv1heVVb0bHyOpBtUAk6EZYwaMkNUtSReGG-UNP5cLxKiSvhggmdxhNcy_FV19-TrD7pmikQZrEOOa1Smm1iZz7/s320/zzgbbvb32.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult GBBG in active prebasic moult-Sept 1/2005 Virginia Beach</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Although Vega Gull is clearly a very rare find in the east it would not seem any less likely than Slaty-backed Gull which is a regular visitor to western Lake Superior over the last five years. Michael Brothers had a very nicely documented adult Vega Gull at Daytona Shores last winter. Unfortunately young birds are a very challenging identification and most of these birds are likely never identified.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This bird has Herring Gull like size and structure with a darker mantle, a reddish orbital ring, a very broad white trailing edge to the wing and a typical Vega Gull primary pattern. The eye clour, leg colour and bill pattern are all consistent with the majority of Vega Gulls studied by Chris Gibbins in Japan. To boot it is in active prebasic moult with three retained primaries a good 2 months after all the other candidate large gulls and hybrids should have been at this stage. I think this is sufficient evidence to identify this bird as an adult Vega Gull.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am hoping this bird sticks around so I can document it in full winter plumage. I did search for it today without luck but it is likely still around and I will be keeping a close eye out.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Comments on this bird would be appreciated.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">See ya</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Kirk</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">zufelt_k@shaw.ca</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nEIJ75mw_-oc8iCD3ciK0nR5sBZiiDiW1wngJHvthEGf9MVwL3I1Q0rDgk_lCYA9t7XcLJRJJnCEaONowXv9hBzCwdvH31EZXI95EJ984PQxS60xB5R6MUS3ayoyLbBDiXVk7eqRCA5N/s1600/zdmgssm0525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2mq4Inhv0mxHxiQF3s-gPKicPwCS0w1aR5p0elan2Hb6eB_B6MCAyjTCcmMD_psJ8ldyO-SxXZvJUyYIdMAct8p7AOT5ipPZHNWsdtWQT3LsjqATDDq_YgaGBt3WVY74pVuBj0Y18x08U/s1600/zdmgssm0141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2mq4Inhv0mxHxiQF3s-gPKicPwCS0w1aR5p0elan2Hb6eB_B6MCAyjTCcmMD_psJ8ldyO-SxXZvJUyYIdMAct8p7AOT5ipPZHNWsdtWQT3LsjqATDDq_YgaGBt3WVY74pVuBj0Y18x08U/s400/zdmgssm0141.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Kirk Zufelthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14223956713828841853noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2525284487032503296.post-55038091848632569712010-10-24T09:33:00.000-07:002010-10-24T09:34:30.499-07:00Banded Glaucous Gull - A9A major surge of gulls from the arctic has occurred locally over the last couple of weeks. At Whitefish Point they have had record numbers of Sabine's Gulls with as many as 4 in a day. At least a couple have been hanging out around the point with waterbird counter Scott Schuette seeing a couple juveniles off and on during the day for at least a week or more. This is quite unusual as this species is mostly seen as a flyby and rarely sticks around.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJjgm67htmi61NyaXXHFz6XKwqNMKg_THJsXBwt-fMZ2Fwq5UNuJ-YBP5dIuhMg4PQK-s3MUiL7e9wQKoUSVyNYYraIzdbnIvUa0gSTKx8DlVtWjfq_Uw5txtMzswOjITeI1OWIUTr-Ie/s1600/000DSC_7763+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJjgm67htmi61NyaXXHFz6XKwqNMKg_THJsXBwt-fMZ2Fwq5UNuJ-YBP5dIuhMg4PQK-s3MUiL7e9wQKoUSVyNYYraIzdbnIvUa0gSTKx8DlVtWjfq_Uw5txtMzswOjITeI1OWIUTr-Ie/s400/000DSC_7763+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Juv. Sabine's Gull at Whitefish Point-Dave Bell</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">At the Dafter Landfill yesterday I had an adult Thayer's Gull along with a juv. bird that was light enough to be a Kumlien's- but something about the plumage made me think this bird was probably a Kumlien's -Thayer's intergrade.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHa3fRJrvhCayANAWdfeh7oNdu-O_XGp9xlQXjit2aywQ6YSHf7Mkdc-oTzDfFhs4lzENbldaWCfz9Rm-1-kf24u4ADOZcxN-eQQi2dhFyS74lUbxynQO32LZd-bV6OoOzLDIuLeaLky7K/s1600/000tgassm0617rz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHa3fRJrvhCayANAWdfeh7oNdu-O_XGp9xlQXjit2aywQ6YSHf7Mkdc-oTzDfFhs4lzENbldaWCfz9Rm-1-kf24u4ADOZcxN-eQQi2dhFyS74lUbxynQO32LZd-bV6OoOzLDIuLeaLky7K/s400/000tgassm0617rz.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Thayer's Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdN4ney1aM0czzVvVLIWHIEzWTPF0nvB8m-xXv0VuCE6DuPN81zX7tTClanJBHzZYTgv0tdhtRcGoTTqlkncLWHcwcJOsu2jMqgk_LZSDw48mcO84HVeUJ6wo_peAtjcAz3rFz2OM0Cihm/s1600/000tgassm0635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdN4ney1aM0czzVvVLIWHIEzWTPF0nvB8m-xXv0VuCE6DuPN81zX7tTClanJBHzZYTgv0tdhtRcGoTTqlkncLWHcwcJOsu2jMqgk_LZSDw48mcO84HVeUJ6wo_peAtjcAz3rFz2OM0Cihm/s320/000tgassm0635.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Thayer's Gull (back bird)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This bird has yet to develop the dark hood seen in most adult winter Thayer's. The dark eye is apparent but this is not diagnostic as probably about 1 in 250 adult Herrings will have a dark eye. The occasional full fledged Thayer's will have a light eye. I had at least 3 distinctly dark-eyed Herrings today. The wing pattern is diagnostic for Thayer's. In Thayer's in a resting position you can often see the white underside of P10. In the Herring you can often see the P10 mirror immediately eliminating Thayer's.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtOE-Z3lrdOAVecYIHOzGitYTLhr-9QeLFT4xUyIEpXM1enNihh7rFi8OFGWvBmM5383zwDcyM9A5Di41QI7pi0fP8E3-f3gVkihqZ5LCSJzGT665j4Ag2ZscWErtj5gq-wRtGQJgFU7g1/s1600/000hgmirrorssm0320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtOE-Z3lrdOAVecYIHOzGitYTLhr-9QeLFT4xUyIEpXM1enNihh7rFi8OFGWvBmM5383zwDcyM9A5Di41QI7pi0fP8E3-f3gVkihqZ5LCSJzGT665j4Ag2ZscWErtj5gq-wRtGQJgFU7g1/s400/000hgmirrorssm0320.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Herring Gull -showing large mirror on underside of incoming P10</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu8TU9mzDi5ba9yHnv4sKxwOF5Iq_eOmoI4tKt4BhoMMT0DTHMxrlxwtkmaOo3Di1aEmOLyrDFlK0Wsvb6GKqpYS6xc5w75qqgLkanlbtfyqGjpGW7UX5WCe_FKQJTgN5BMFSAKzpRdgvp/s1600/000sssztgssm2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu8TU9mzDi5ba9yHnv4sKxwOF5Iq_eOmoI4tKt4BhoMMT0DTHMxrlxwtkmaOo3Di1aEmOLyrDFlK0Wsvb6GKqpYS6xc5w75qqgLkanlbtfyqGjpGW7UX5WCe_FKQJTgN5BMFSAKzpRdgvp/s400/000sssztgssm2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult winter Thayer's Gull-showing white underside P10</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Several times I have noted an adult Herring Gull with a dark eye and subsequently noted the other eye was light. The dark eye clearly having been lost in some dispute or accident. These birds can often be recognized as they are constantly moving there heads back and forth in compensation for there lost eye.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY3RzbJ2qZepUHTXtBLjwKeTR1d1EKblGtoh0KVSTr7L7XF2yJ998Jj2iuRrs34sYMBE89Ycnd-2kjffoB9uJ_WiHK89nnio1cqQqGX4GEduQflJaXuGTCAPl8yVp1OJUsp31K9x_VKTpo/s1600/000xhergoneeyeb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY3RzbJ2qZepUHTXtBLjwKeTR1d1EKblGtoh0KVSTr7L7XF2yJ998Jj2iuRrs34sYMBE89Ycnd-2kjffoB9uJ_WiHK89nnio1cqQqGX4GEduQflJaXuGTCAPl8yVp1OJUsp31K9x_VKTpo/s400/000xhergoneeyeb.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Herring Gull -dark eye secondary to injury?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie0q9vWd7Clu3vAAVaq6FLhwvwpPbdf9eeAumoF8NDq_VDb4sAUc4fFxzDeGLH-umHSjwJW46-KlYv8YC2XnWznNnRBWI2-hVOzpBx9f4-aBfhxbW0f0eqdQG2fsAuqb2NGmBGEHX5NR5Z/s1600/000xhergoneeyey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie0q9vWd7Clu3vAAVaq6FLhwvwpPbdf9eeAumoF8NDq_VDb4sAUc4fFxzDeGLH-umHSjwJW46-KlYv8YC2XnWznNnRBWI2-hVOzpBx9f4-aBfhxbW0f0eqdQG2fsAuqb2NGmBGEHX5NR5Z/s400/000xhergoneeyey.jpg" width="348" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Same adult Herring Gull-light healthy eye</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I probably see at least one legitimately dark- eyed adult Herring Gull per visit to the landfill. Note the</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">difference between the injured dark eye which is very black looking like a black hole and the healthy dark eye which still reflects light and with a good view the pupil can be seen. This difference can be seen fairly easily in the field.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4q63BkSIC7XTfBNKiBP_8pS6ug5yNRYjGOH0uLaZqt-7-u7FBlaO3H7xWn2Z0B16zx64ZL6M91Xa47YnP4e7-dAiRWhWFQrGcAFM0ZS5znLLrT0njeSYA-CuNUSTToGeBZVx4g7gk-JMN/s1600/000hgssm005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4q63BkSIC7XTfBNKiBP_8pS6ug5yNRYjGOH0uLaZqt-7-u7FBlaO3H7xWn2Z0B16zx64ZL6M91Xa47YnP4e7-dAiRWhWFQrGcAFM0ZS5znLLrT0njeSYA-CuNUSTToGeBZVx4g7gk-JMN/s400/000hgssm005.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Herring Gull-dark eye variant</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_UFL41K0azgqAdFeCzo49fPfbMRdKdiGf9j5Iwz0B8zaO7lYZdfhtKhipHvVvXaoLKAZzFVyNe9oh4bavwZLuo5LSowMTaOfhehqvLI3SNX6ehAV0jer5_XiHM-5abWOlzle19OpHJglS/s1600/000hgssm004b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_UFL41K0azgqAdFeCzo49fPfbMRdKdiGf9j5Iwz0B8zaO7lYZdfhtKhipHvVvXaoLKAZzFVyNe9oh4bavwZLuo5LSowMTaOfhehqvLI3SNX6ehAV0jer5_XiHM-5abWOlzle19OpHJglS/s400/000hgssm004b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Herring Gull-dark eyed variant</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here is the juvenile Kumlien's- like gull. Although the bird appears to be generally light enough to be a Kumlien's I am suspicious this is more likely to be a Kumlien's-Thayer's intergrade. The relatively solid tertials and the uniform brownish colour would be unusual for a pure Kumlien's which is usually fairly speckled looking with a white ground colour.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcFkTA-spel7XnXMarlvQxRxwEunc-vOTof8Y3A4gySlEjcxMxPMSFCYGukcEs79RamqLGT644rG3anJSB6KpCBlnfcCmqxBcF9J_70MI4qpjkLi5RKaSjRzd7YFM12B2oo27dI4QwcXfg/s1600/000ktdftr0671brz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcFkTA-spel7XnXMarlvQxRxwEunc-vOTof8Y3A4gySlEjcxMxPMSFCYGukcEs79RamqLGT644rG3anJSB6KpCBlnfcCmqxBcF9J_70MI4qpjkLi5RKaSjRzd7YFM12B2oo27dI4QwcXfg/s400/000ktdftr0671brz.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Kumlien's-Thayer's Gull intergrade</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwQ7R6bqYoACJ_5xEAoDP2y2jyCdT39lqWOu0oDpPWdWfJguuGMWltfyBfumsfiyDEP930c0vk6FQIA_5HfkPIlEyAXjv9C0pSc5QIz7stE9ePVXCr6UA3n38lVNmoEf-U3HWZaDpGk2QY/s1600/kgssmlarus9413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwQ7R6bqYoACJ_5xEAoDP2y2jyCdT39lqWOu0oDpPWdWfJguuGMWltfyBfumsfiyDEP930c0vk6FQIA_5HfkPIlEyAXjv9C0pSc5QIz7stE9ePVXCr6UA3n38lVNmoEf-U3HWZaDpGk2QY/s400/kgssmlarus9413.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Kumlien's Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another Thayer's Gull I had the other day was a bit different. This was bird molting into second basic plumage. Usually by the time Thayer's gulls get here they have mostly completed their molt. Often P10 isn't quite fully grown in but that would be about the extent of molt left to be completed. Olsen and Larsson suggest that Thayer's molt into second basic plumage between March and early September.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ3oHLF8rOiI0GWvzwKvKGLhLQCJm19_rYb6PtcneHmsTLyOabKoLXEgnZ0Qxj8wtYOaHsyZ7hkWZ9VCu_N24CFJfz44_YdqYiXMz3Gk8gVky92eIqaRPmgxyHLbS9ENUcPR7qZD3SkZvu/s1600/000tg2mltssm0450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ3oHLF8rOiI0GWvzwKvKGLhLQCJm19_rYb6PtcneHmsTLyOabKoLXEgnZ0Qxj8wtYOaHsyZ7hkWZ9VCu_N24CFJfz44_YdqYiXMz3Gk8gVky92eIqaRPmgxyHLbS9ENUcPR7qZD3SkZvu/s400/000tg2mltssm0450.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv037iknvQxcTmR1BqIWqszcILesx-2RT3dCnWVJcZtfQmjZY8bKL9o3078h_IGiwZ-16ns26w4EfajZwrsj9aKE8bvR58Aj_6jKcwqDxJuZ71MTT7PQSCmuyogsSvFj4j7W3fvljVZzLI/s1600/000tg2mltssm0432rz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv037iknvQxcTmR1BqIWqszcILesx-2RT3dCnWVJcZtfQmjZY8bKL9o3078h_IGiwZ-16ns26w4EfajZwrsj9aKE8bvR58Aj_6jKcwqDxJuZ71MTT7PQSCmuyogsSvFj4j7W3fvljVZzLI/s400/000tg2mltssm0432rz.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thayer's Gull molting into second winter plumage</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This bird has P9 still growing in and P10 is just starting. The inner secondaries and coverts are old and worn. The bill has yet to become bicolored. This bird clearly had an injured left foot. I am not sure if this somehow has delayed the molt? I don't ever recall an arctic gull arriving in this partially molted condition. I wonder if the bird might have summered locally given its injury?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My first adult Glaucous Gull of the season popped up today. The interesting thing was it was banded. It had a silver band (..767..) on the left leg and a blue band with -A9- on the right leg.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTaHv8DThG1xzVoDt-ubgg0yg5cqML6GfZB6K-FtmW3hY2spCDtNmjeUo91SnUwv1unJAyikEHDm0Ol145kbgpCOiVodDKHf2Xs0ksT4XZ-pUR25Bjd_6eGIz2yN-Off0SCRAlLDLa7Ej0/s1600/000ggssm0209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTaHv8DThG1xzVoDt-ubgg0yg5cqML6GfZB6K-FtmW3hY2spCDtNmjeUo91SnUwv1unJAyikEHDm0Ol145kbgpCOiVodDKHf2Xs0ksT4XZ-pUR25Bjd_6eGIz2yN-Off0SCRAlLDLa7Ej0/s400/000ggssm0209.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzjezMSs1Dx6-MCpFDY-wz5ydlDcdxpCukJug1V0UvLCiispkDHrUDEXwa7n79HdxH-VahA-4QIXGgsCeEawlXwtYYtGLtRqiRIvuufL5v83p3HCAxXM2RuqrU7-N-SV9sR6lxank1-OjX/s1600/000ggabandssm0313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzjezMSs1Dx6-MCpFDY-wz5ydlDcdxpCukJug1V0UvLCiispkDHrUDEXwa7n79HdxH-VahA-4QIXGgsCeEawlXwtYYtGLtRqiRIvuufL5v83p3HCAxXM2RuqrU7-N-SV9sR6lxank1-OjX/s320/000ggabandssm0313.jpg" width="254" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Glaucous Gull with bands</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This would appear to be a great opportunity to see were the Glaucous Gulls that pass through our area every fall originate. If any one is aware of who may be banding Glaucous Gulls please let me know.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_q5OzLcgoLEfPuLXYL8r6ph20OHBh9zUoS5XeGl3Vgu6KKng4y0P-23HPbVkNqSNbMBbC1OMpGpcz2xCP-nJKTsFK12TxbwRB6R93gLmpkeOxDYjGpPSQdIBHU9PFIm9iRr-gKYcz8mDd/s1600/000band10241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_q5OzLcgoLEfPuLXYL8r6ph20OHBh9zUoS5XeGl3Vgu6KKng4y0P-23HPbVkNqSNbMBbC1OMpGpcz2xCP-nJKTsFK12TxbwRB6R93gLmpkeOxDYjGpPSQdIBHU9PFIm9iRr-gKYcz8mDd/s400/000band10241.jpg" width="357" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Right leg band Glaucous Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvk4Inl7dGR_849idCj-Sza6uDMqxAGWoDXupDHja8EaKax4w1vjqmxtpiPTTaOsnscu08RBiyOfNluEe_d_sBk-DqzlfkWUhBpxADPkGd441nYU482IelE2XbQQLB3j2RCv8A2SW9_5MR/s1600/000band0242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvk4Inl7dGR_849idCj-Sza6uDMqxAGWoDXupDHja8EaKax4w1vjqmxtpiPTTaOsnscu08RBiyOfNluEe_d_sBk-DqzlfkWUhBpxADPkGd441nYU482IelE2XbQQLB3j2RCv8A2SW9_5MR/s400/000band0242.jpg" width="325" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Left leg band Glaucous Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The silver band has some writing on it which is not quite decipherable-the numbers "767" can be seen.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If any one has information or knows how I can find out where or who banded this bird please E-mail me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">zufelt_k@shaw.ca</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Kirk Zufelt</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Kirk Zufelthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14223956713828841853noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2525284487032503296.post-52708073031115373142010-10-09T19:40:00.000-07:002010-10-09T20:22:59.601-07:00Early Glaucous Gull-Glistening odd Thayer's GullI was quite surprised to have a Glaucous Gull at the landfill today, Oct.10/10. At first I assumed it was a second year bird as it was quite plain appearing but on closer examination of the pictures it appears to be a juvenile bird.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifp99beAV4BWH6UgDapIJCCYD61KEj65zZ7_7_swwZdJMYCQ1jVDKzuyTTHpsYpnu82x2tgyBe59pZ_PgoARCPquyTXEdwFOOUVWynwMsnEbzTmhaL9e1br0qJ8vQIwXcXYlRoG2mgbNm-/s1600/4ggssm0339.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifp99beAV4BWH6UgDapIJCCYD61KEj65zZ7_7_swwZdJMYCQ1jVDKzuyTTHpsYpnu82x2tgyBe59pZ_PgoARCPquyTXEdwFOOUVWynwMsnEbzTmhaL9e1br0qJ8vQIwXcXYlRoG2mgbNm-/s400/4ggssm0339.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Worn juvenile Glaucous Gull-Oct.9/10</div><br />
The unusual part is that it appeared very worn. This is a bit odd as most of the juveniles I see especially early are crisply marked. I thought this was likely at least a week or two before my early date but on checking I had a juvenile last year on Oct.10th.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYFhLsggqGw_PbASCI2VuZbGKwt0J_bmTgdM-b89sV1gJB5lG1HNxSrsZDHj1e3urlft63m_GjZSeGP7Vm3sO2a56XV_-G7lmvVNtgsjTZgDiYOyyL4omrkdFkGnjE5FUSp4j-p9aQ3P-9/s1600/4ggssm0328.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYFhLsggqGw_PbASCI2VuZbGKwt0J_bmTgdM-b89sV1gJB5lG1HNxSrsZDHj1e3urlft63m_GjZSeGP7Vm3sO2a56XV_-G7lmvVNtgsjTZgDiYOyyL4omrkdFkGnjE5FUSp4j-p9aQ3P-9/s400/4ggssm0328.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Worn juvenile Glaucous Gull-Oct.9/10</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Separating first from second year Glaucous Gulls in fresh plumage is not difficult but it can be more challenging when they are worn or in more southern areas and later in the season sun bleached. A simple way to separate them without having to look at the plumage is by their bill. Juvenile birds have a bicolour bill -pink with a black tip. Second winter birds have a similar bicolour bill but it has a little pink tip beyond the black.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF9_JmQSDlq04FPF5odejE6TfD6YDlZntDtb9G1pIzJCZX74QcmbxAz0DYhD-aM7mRSXvRnquFRVW8MlFa5KmkbTE9Upt6lu4qq6cnMQEIU4L-Z_b457feYsQrBMvwGXrdI_FXJsKsRpUQ/s1600/ggdafter23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF9_JmQSDlq04FPF5odejE6TfD6YDlZntDtb9G1pIzJCZX74QcmbxAz0DYhD-aM7mRSXvRnquFRVW8MlFa5KmkbTE9Upt6lu4qq6cnMQEIU4L-Z_b457feYsQrBMvwGXrdI_FXJsKsRpUQ/s400/ggdafter23.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Glaucous Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is quite typical of the juvenile plumage we see in the late fall -early winter. Note the black tip to the bill.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLqXtlnVvHoV_fIMac0ElrGCTXvYLiHIKhnmzIod18umRSBC4HW0aWmHMWKzVdbt6guzJajoiyteucnrmSnPaw7vMX-r87rAUOAdGv30gEC2X7yMhdTjCh3VhKvXxU7bDy8Ph1kcJCU59E/s1600/gg2cssmbill0490.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLqXtlnVvHoV_fIMac0ElrGCTXvYLiHIKhnmzIod18umRSBC4HW0aWmHMWKzVdbt6guzJajoiyteucnrmSnPaw7vMX-r87rAUOAdGv30gEC2X7yMhdTjCh3VhKvXxU7bDy8Ph1kcJCU59E/s400/gg2cssmbill0490.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Second winter Glaucous Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPT8ETeTJvbVgWBBfvIaAnLiuy6e2pZBsE9KgduMruXbJqsakYmxMMV_b9LhBcRJYtA-8MwQHN7XmCjawPcDhYOMPM3v8uzVVgYU28QBp7OYjKvXrP__WwXAdJ_Bh3XS8S5zrhlja1tE9g/s1600/ggssm0684rz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPT8ETeTJvbVgWBBfvIaAnLiuy6e2pZBsE9KgduMruXbJqsakYmxMMV_b9LhBcRJYtA-8MwQHN7XmCjawPcDhYOMPM3v8uzVVgYU28QBp7OYjKvXrP__WwXAdJ_Bh3XS8S5zrhlja1tE9g/s400/ggssm0684rz.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Second winter Glaucous Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Although the pink bill tip on second year birds is a bit subtle it is relatively easily seen. Clearly in the fall the vermiculated beige look of the juveniles is easily distinguished from the white blotchy look of the second year birds.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I took several pictures of what at the time I pegged as an odd juvenile Herring Gull. Its plumage was so immaculate it acutely glistened in the sun. It was a very uniform milk chocolate brown. I had a Herring Gull like this a few years ago so I jumped to the conclusion it was of the same ilk. After examining the pictures I quickly came to the conclusion it was a juvenile Thayer's Gull. I have never seen a Thayer's previously with this warm chocolate brown colour with no contrasting colours on the mantle,coverts or tertials. Maybe with a little wear it will appear a bit more contrasting.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFJCc8-QZ1i0EHYxt_ZxYEaDEN6KjgWm6tcvhbGNa2xekLr83eAvHl7zkU-uvL3TMxicp4O9LUJrC4rUu-ITczTqjUnrlNFOD3mgbbv3oZmmXCN78PA0rjAx4Ekwc7V01stDsXcGOUXIYb/s1600/4tgssm0227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFJCc8-QZ1i0EHYxt_ZxYEaDEN6KjgWm6tcvhbGNa2xekLr83eAvHl7zkU-uvL3TMxicp4O9LUJrC4rUu-ITczTqjUnrlNFOD3mgbbv3oZmmXCN78PA0rjAx4Ekwc7V01stDsXcGOUXIYb/s400/4tgssm0227.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Thayer's Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xfDImQOZjgtq2JCz2ZzM6gnk3ZJ3M53KPOR-MPsxbnCS1yYFqJE_2UDYVotLRvUdF9Tgd3aN49fBICyQI5Alm9d0tSW1f_gQ8FajJC9PiJMnZrFUXMf9rCEGQLMq7AQC-bE1JyiSWeDZ/s1600/4tgssm0091.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xfDImQOZjgtq2JCz2ZzM6gnk3ZJ3M53KPOR-MPsxbnCS1yYFqJE_2UDYVotLRvUdF9Tgd3aN49fBICyQI5Alm9d0tSW1f_gQ8FajJC9PiJMnZrFUXMf9rCEGQLMq7AQC-bE1JyiSWeDZ/s400/4tgssm0091.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Thayer's Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The structure of this bird is very much in keeping with Thayer's Gull especially the rather modest bill.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The primaries are a dark brownish with thin white chevrons and on the open wing shot the pigment is mostly restricted to the outer webs. The inner primaries have very little pigment with just a tinge of brown at the tips. Howell and Dunn have a nice picture comparing first cycle Thayer's and Herring wings on page 27 of Gulls of the Americas.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXlZea1s381E00e0nuxwwSN59bKT2zyQJmPVzZnaVPRFN9YwJgh-YehmYPcOwcGgw17ehn4xVPQB8WDVsMZescVmezpHGt24tDX37CeWQwHdVSJYv55BJFrntmdFsNpXzkgZppSVUINiuB/s1600/4tvshgssm0190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXlZea1s381E00e0nuxwwSN59bKT2zyQJmPVzZnaVPRFN9YwJgh-YehmYPcOwcGgw17ehn4xVPQB8WDVsMZescVmezpHGt24tDX37CeWQwHdVSJYv55BJFrntmdFsNpXzkgZppSVUINiuB/s400/4tvshgssm0190.jpg" width="323" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Thayer's Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKpE2WuntcsGad9ypu74bFPg0vP1r_92jiBwtJBpFokDjQ_3I5Bm5uRKVFJPX_51vtqbuAUD9t-bd6um12Ox4R_if6l8-r_v63Rq_Z4iNx8XoC7X0ea4DLNbKMDeEst9jMv9AkypjhavqR/s1600/tgssm0081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKpE2WuntcsGad9ypu74bFPg0vP1r_92jiBwtJBpFokDjQ_3I5Bm5uRKVFJPX_51vtqbuAUD9t-bd6um12Ox4R_if6l8-r_v63Rq_Z4iNx8XoC7X0ea4DLNbKMDeEst9jMv9AkypjhavqR/s400/tgssm0081.jpg" width="385" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Thayer's Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXK8Km8PZXB9_VHpCK-vQ7z-cxngJTo9YbY-rMQIIcciuN2ZBHzsR2Y-pyDITjo4cWmyEhzlKo4wWI2ve5Erqjq6SqowKYtzdMCkUYh1qEbnirpVHdTXI_4J38zLXZEGvfhoLmYvzrZyl6/s1600/4tgssm0160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXK8Km8PZXB9_VHpCK-vQ7z-cxngJTo9YbY-rMQIIcciuN2ZBHzsR2Y-pyDITjo4cWmyEhzlKo4wWI2ve5Erqjq6SqowKYtzdMCkUYh1qEbnirpVHdTXI_4J38zLXZEGvfhoLmYvzrZyl6/s400/4tgssm0160.jpg" width="390" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Thayer's Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPlhrvruUTuyUf0rELj92d8jH3PABLNeY9TL8DzyCRBzCuGRj2zJ0DTfF_-zC61i9JkVLaSvSlNFzHvwDhUdN5g87IJ9GhdiASSmBHGHJI43G_U2VvKz5pbHtI1eEypRD96t6Rg1YjcExa/s1600/4tgssm0091.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPlhrvruUTuyUf0rELj92d8jH3PABLNeY9TL8DzyCRBzCuGRj2zJ0DTfF_-zC61i9JkVLaSvSlNFzHvwDhUdN5g87IJ9GhdiASSmBHGHJI43G_U2VvKz5pbHtI1eEypRD96t6Rg1YjcExa/s400/4tgssm0091.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Thayer's Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Juvenile Thayer's Gulls can be quite varied but are usually much more contrasting on the topside with a lot of white edging to the scapulars and coverts and a lot of marbling of the tertials. Many Thayer's Gulls will be as dark as this bird but most will be lighter.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju7gVvBH4QjBvw46wzoR2dlxGFbM9VxN7bKU_tVq8PWSeYTLSFcBT5LlpDbEZ_3SaHcRESJjqHxHCP66QyPjM10qeP4FifbQ4wkNz-tkUA9ULyOQpHvhEeEY9k-qppULm90Qc2MaCXhCKV/s1600/sizetgdafter23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju7gVvBH4QjBvw46wzoR2dlxGFbM9VxN7bKU_tVq8PWSeYTLSFcBT5LlpDbEZ_3SaHcRESJjqHxHCP66QyPjM10qeP4FifbQ4wkNz-tkUA9ULyOQpHvhEeEY9k-qppULm90Qc2MaCXhCKV/s400/sizetgdafter23.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Dark juvenile Thayer's Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju7gVvBH4QjBvw46wzoR2dlxGFbM9VxN7bKU_tVq8PWSeYTLSFcBT5LlpDbEZ_3SaHcRESJjqHxHCP66QyPjM10qeP4FifbQ4wkNz-tkUA9ULyOQpHvhEeEY9k-qppULm90Qc2MaCXhCKV/s1600/sizetgdafter23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYExoLzdK3gjA7TGhVlmRJtjqSdjpMt-QteuqJg7gyErrhxS_y62TNCwhcprGQBUF9xzMk4r8854bu09Xu85WsdUkKkRFngwMPsvD84rPiTea2B6VbAOEpZnMf3VKaYjb59xMxWpBUyeB/s1600/sizetgssm330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYExoLzdK3gjA7TGhVlmRJtjqSdjpMt-QteuqJg7gyErrhxS_y62TNCwhcprGQBUF9xzMk4r8854bu09Xu85WsdUkKkRFngwMPsvD84rPiTea2B6VbAOEpZnMf3VKaYjb59xMxWpBUyeB/s400/sizetgssm330.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Dark juvenile Thayer's Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhneJe_OGvw1mfBQbOrls8F7DEZ2P6sshBy8K3O1e05xXkpxx0wG2W_ufrFnwLai9E0NEKE_fK_ZbRoHn2bdlqCcUojy74cz8H6BfNSBuKAplaykPagRcHPGc5VZX3S8KGk1cEKUbqleLCE/s1600/tglarus393.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhneJe_OGvw1mfBQbOrls8F7DEZ2P6sshBy8K3O1e05xXkpxx0wG2W_ufrFnwLai9E0NEKE_fK_ZbRoHn2bdlqCcUojy74cz8H6BfNSBuKAplaykPagRcHPGc5VZX3S8KGk1cEKUbqleLCE/s400/tglarus393.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Dark juvenile Thayer's Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A bunch of lighter specimens follow.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0b1nZrF8Gl7-mWqcU5-Fsos7w_3emgw-X1vF8bKOs8tXQ0rX7Gk64_AxYGO9iCZQayL5wCIOd9uTW7sMuVNZCQHj7XeTnA66NgN8MH_AxiRcy_Re-1F9yA_J5gycInrjSGlY38OsT3Xuh/s1600/sizttg1cssm0008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0b1nZrF8Gl7-mWqcU5-Fsos7w_3emgw-X1vF8bKOs8tXQ0rX7Gk64_AxYGO9iCZQayL5wCIOd9uTW7sMuVNZCQHj7XeTnA66NgN8MH_AxiRcy_Re-1F9yA_J5gycInrjSGlY38OsT3Xuh/s400/sizttg1cssm0008.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lighter juvenile Thayer's Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiljBudrgZp5gKWTbVmoyKMWHxMQpneMWHsS7ireZxr2U4wkrK7551Zi_aOqNRLr-6AcYBXNjNh5BeeFeTXoV6cGzPk2vcyurIAJ6CqPHQKvUm_qn1OyJboqBD7CgU5DRNRlQ9jIS5fX_36/s1600/sssztgdftr62.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiljBudrgZp5gKWTbVmoyKMWHxMQpneMWHsS7ireZxr2U4wkrK7551Zi_aOqNRLr-6AcYBXNjNh5BeeFeTXoV6cGzPk2vcyurIAJ6CqPHQKvUm_qn1OyJboqBD7CgU5DRNRlQ9jIS5fX_36/s400/sssztgdftr62.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lighter juvenile Thayer's Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvyzd3o1LL8u_lLtE_LwO8oz3qmCi4tC6kecda1pvmD9HM64KbAkmOliyYpeNPiHBi6LiGq_ME647fsokueQOJfFkrRW5iMibZ5Ogk48S0LghD7h6xCzKpR721465f7zEyJUVJbfiAFEb6/s1600/tgssmlarus4878.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvyzd3o1LL8u_lLtE_LwO8oz3qmCi4tC6kecda1pvmD9HM64KbAkmOliyYpeNPiHBi6LiGq_ME647fsokueQOJfFkrRW5iMibZ5Ogk48S0LghD7h6xCzKpR721465f7zEyJUVJbfiAFEb6/s400/tgssmlarus4878.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lighter juvenile Thayer's Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(maybe a bit of kumlieni in this one)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As I mentioned earlier I did have a Herring Gull a few years ago that was a uniform chocolate brown like this bird. Note the similarities and differences below.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqpMalDnciWw_9ySWOGfUjJkrXDpYZj5u8dnjMgzbFOrvHNH2QjKkzmvdNPjdXVJqbfTzl3c63BbluzWXhPm5t0WOpkYCZRL5zR9n2_e9WuhoI8Vgit86UqW8o1xwM8wyBN9Kd5B7zAZPV/s1600/4tgssm0227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqpMalDnciWw_9ySWOGfUjJkrXDpYZj5u8dnjMgzbFOrvHNH2QjKkzmvdNPjdXVJqbfTzl3c63BbluzWXhPm5t0WOpkYCZRL5zR9n2_e9WuhoI8Vgit86UqW8o1xwM8wyBN9Kd5B7zAZPV/s400/4tgssm0227.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Thayer's Gull</div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXI3ULITQelaF0QqH-ye-VvEtvzOuzb1yFSSmL4tLYm8aX_ZSnKirW_W3pyWb0J_21hl1O3sJcosxL_dw-mDAOB21MJDiy7o36fH98zpdOXmFkeqyIQzoTqe3mFQjJnXDmuSPBboqeJJkF/s1600/hgjvlarus2_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXI3ULITQelaF0QqH-ye-VvEtvzOuzb1yFSSmL4tLYm8aX_ZSnKirW_W3pyWb0J_21hl1O3sJcosxL_dw-mDAOB21MJDiy7o36fH98zpdOXmFkeqyIQzoTqe3mFQjJnXDmuSPBboqeJJkF/s400/hgjvlarus2_2.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Herring Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Note the differences in structure especially the bill. In the Herring Gull note the base of the bill is turning pink something that would be extremely unusual for a Thayer's at this time of year. Both of these birds are in immaculate plumage. Note the Thayer's has broadly rounded primaries and the Herring has sharply pointed primaries. I have noted this difference on many occasions and on checking a bunch of reference pictures I did come across a strong trend towards confirming this as a differentiating feature.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Kirk Zufelt</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Kirk Zufelthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14223956713828841853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2525284487032503296.post-55241168140033716012010-10-07T18:53:00.000-07:002010-10-07T18:55:01.542-07:00Silver Herring Gulls - ? Visitors from the ArcticLast weekend at the landfill I came across a couple of juvenile gulls that seemed to mock my assertion that differentiating juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gulls from Herring Gulls was a "no-brainer".<br />
<br />
Well clearly its not a challenge to tell this bird.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrcCV-JIhu0XjogMUQnfRAsBP9r0EXigwx35eFBgvPbOFqKwuIUnodqsMHBZUS7KrNtzq5dh7TZtGHR9Tfv6gsW2mShuLepaB6SoNTr6Sg1a0Tom2a-0HgMvaQaBhAiyCTkm_swzmquQA_/s1600/9lbbgssm0103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrcCV-JIhu0XjogMUQnfRAsBP9r0EXigwx35eFBgvPbOFqKwuIUnodqsMHBZUS7KrNtzq5dh7TZtGHR9Tfv6gsW2mShuLepaB6SoNTr6Sg1a0Tom2a-0HgMvaQaBhAiyCTkm_swzmquQA_/s400/9lbbgssm0103.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">From this bird.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrKqmHid01LxjMJlPnFa9HqTXkShtR3sXrnyvfZpJD-ABGgLSf3M50bmXOUzUSH8ND6_xH4k8WgbG34s0a0NoCFt-26o7hg4seskPPk6V2-UT3NMQcX2O_PcihZJ2yO6F_OSp8PF7fi1Tv/s1600/5hgjssm0112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrKqmHid01LxjMJlPnFa9HqTXkShtR3sXrnyvfZpJD-ABGgLSf3M50bmXOUzUSH8ND6_xH4k8WgbG34s0a0NoCFt-26o7hg4seskPPk6V2-UT3NMQcX2O_PcihZJ2yO6F_OSp8PF7fi1Tv/s400/5hgjssm0112.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Herring Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Things get a bit trickier when you add this bird to the equation.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2qv-PinNXioa8e5wTJrR_yyUrqBcxajQz8Fgq87f1QgqkQGNpDQhMCKqV2LJQ8uhvDx6km0kbSSb6-VmsDu-kYBIDhvaiB5uob0ZGLpy5zXeQXez2juwQ2D7z_lG9BiRRWoGuIijjVzsA/s1600/5hgsvssm0301.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2qv-PinNXioa8e5wTJrR_yyUrqBcxajQz8Fgq87f1QgqkQGNpDQhMCKqV2LJQ8uhvDx6km0kbSSb6-VmsDu-kYBIDhvaiB5uob0ZGLpy5zXeQXez2juwQ2D7z_lG9BiRRWoGuIijjVzsA/s400/5hgsvssm0301.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile "Silver" Herring Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Shortly after taking up position at the Landfill I spotted what I thought was probably a juvenile Lesser Black-backed. The light was very bright and harsh and in certain lights it looked very contrasting with the mantle feathers appearing grayish black. The bird was definitely not brownish with no warm tones. Depending on the light and view I went back and forth multiple times between Lesser Black-backed and Herring. Somethings about the bird just didn't seem right for a juvenile Lesser Black-backed. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd9UGZgJQV1vJo2JnO6T8ZSc1J0vZCocjS_RAUA2GuuhgQ-eOeZrdYSEaEehKMCZeIsUInZmiKMhUM-7CVj6biNBRQtCa-5hwgqVCdJWqDq80-EpGjb757qOs2m9WiwcyFR3ublazPn5_P/s1600/5hgsvssm0247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd9UGZgJQV1vJo2JnO6T8ZSc1J0vZCocjS_RAUA2GuuhgQ-eOeZrdYSEaEehKMCZeIsUInZmiKMhUM-7CVj6biNBRQtCa-5hwgqVCdJWqDq80-EpGjb757qOs2m9WiwcyFR3ublazPn5_P/s400/5hgsvssm0247.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile "Silver" Herring Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">First off the jizz (which can be appreciated in the above pic) seemed more Herring Gull like. It just didn't quite seem "black and white" enough and the underparts seemed uniform and Herring gull like. The bird goofed around in the trash for at least 15 minutes before it finally decided to flap its wings. I was ready.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHFsNJOf0LZxaurmNS-LBkQ2MS8dhgxs1bpXBO4UJuWz8ZetkYlYbbJBgPRRvVYX3wvF_Js8Bs_GPH3_C62M0t492VAsmIcyX78zOGAgUrwMmqYNGdEtzISWskh8XsTYtGoa35rdqP-vi3/s1600/5hgsvowssm0252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHFsNJOf0LZxaurmNS-LBkQ2MS8dhgxs1bpXBO4UJuWz8ZetkYlYbbJBgPRRvVYX3wvF_Js8Bs_GPH3_C62M0t492VAsmIcyX78zOGAgUrwMmqYNGdEtzISWskh8XsTYtGoa35rdqP-vi3/s400/5hgsvowssm0252.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile "Silver" Herring Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Well that cleared up the confusion very quickly. Large inner primary window unequivocally makes this a juvenile Herring Gull. It however is clearly of a different ilk than the standard juveniles I have been studying closely for the last several weeks. First of all the primaries were very black appearing contrasting very sharply with the inner primary window. The scapulars and tertials were narrowly rimmed with white seemingly very to a Lesser Black-backed. Most notably there was no apparent brown or warm colours to be found anywhere very atypical for the standard juvenile Herring. The bird was very much gray to black with a silvery sheen.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5giP6KGhqyDu1hGDoh3XmF1v518E-sfefC0pVT3uObxyjAYZVBf7kj9MApkSNGCNDNNR_SqylTv0vp6H_mIa9SEavsdkGxkVjx5-4fbVL-o93jpCVEWCS3GLl39ff9TA5t6TNcsFvTipl/s1600/5hgsvfssm1114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5giP6KGhqyDu1hGDoh3XmF1v518E-sfefC0pVT3uObxyjAYZVBf7kj9MApkSNGCNDNNR_SqylTv0vp6H_mIa9SEavsdkGxkVjx5-4fbVL-o93jpCVEWCS3GLl39ff9TA5t6TNcsFvTipl/s400/5hgsvfssm1114.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Comparison of first winter Herring Gull with "Silver" juvenile Herring Gull</div><br />
You might argue that the above picture is misleading as the juvenile bird has much fresher plumage and is thus much more contrasting and the first winter bird is a bit sun bleached and thus browner and warmer looking. However most very young fresh juveniles that I have seen are still quite brown with lots of warm tones. Variation is obviously great but in my opinion these "Silver" birds are very distinct. The pictures below illustrate some of the variation in juvenile birds.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhULdAqA6hNiqFVSKnH7BYosIhcX5KDT7cGCl6SCtU8mZS5DQxIYAmCsax_WtJRH2a_-u0Mn2asa-E-gy2ETajvYIHs0GhU8sJ-36c49T-r1f36qmlRm50gTPeJUEDixbCGF7E5BgL_31AT/s1600/5hgfrshjssm130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhULdAqA6hNiqFVSKnH7BYosIhcX5KDT7cGCl6SCtU8mZS5DQxIYAmCsax_WtJRH2a_-u0Mn2asa-E-gy2ETajvYIHs0GhU8sJ-36c49T-r1f36qmlRm50gTPeJUEDixbCGF7E5BgL_31AT/s400/5hgfrshjssm130.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Very young juvenile Herring Gull-July 13th Sault Ste. Marie, ON</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVEdaB5yo_R8d516Jog1k-w5ly4DNNIqnu5wGd4Mb3Vqpkqk_ttxOmrKoBRHmY_xfYisn2f67KIKvp4zB0rtUFHw5GvYhkDJn7ng2GATIVcv13kpQvxvg02LatyCWhPtNyKjzkjpInQYGz/s1600/hgjvlarus1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVEdaB5yo_R8d516Jog1k-w5ly4DNNIqnu5wGd4Mb3Vqpkqk_ttxOmrKoBRHmY_xfYisn2f67KIKvp4zB0rtUFHw5GvYhkDJn7ng2GATIVcv13kpQvxvg02LatyCWhPtNyKjzkjpInQYGz/s400/hgjvlarus1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Herring Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMvr-pIKT6lnxeWTIBTcwypcllAnsCJ2BSiAPrJpB-3O1L3L5X-3sYdw730O-HYe9m23yMLxL-0PhyphenhyphenlDm8XEhiBnbapnKNSKGTvan2uaUsV-mU5fd9TNgBNa9ZW_3gjYjJZnIIAOCC-aw/s1600/5hgjssm0855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMvr-pIKT6lnxeWTIBTcwypcllAnsCJ2BSiAPrJpB-3O1L3L5X-3sYdw730O-HYe9m23yMLxL-0PhyphenhyphenlDm8XEhiBnbapnKNSKGTvan2uaUsV-mU5fd9TNgBNa9ZW_3gjYjJZnIIAOCC-aw/s400/5hgjssm0855.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Herring Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5UnLC-NRT9livKU1cF0oB3923Yw3oCgAKX1ZifP61Vev_ewtz0R4kHhq9aJdMi9bxRuzhL5k2zxcAUCOQgOHuxPC-i_W6iaYhekuFu1qqz7E3ISn1KmyVSy4UvrSGK9Tl9zfkjbx4VdJ6/s1600/5hgjssm0112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5UnLC-NRT9livKU1cF0oB3923Yw3oCgAKX1ZifP61Vev_ewtz0R4kHhq9aJdMi9bxRuzhL5k2zxcAUCOQgOHuxPC-i_W6iaYhekuFu1qqz7E3ISn1KmyVSy4UvrSGK9Tl9zfkjbx4VdJ6/s400/5hgjssm0112.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Herring Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0UN9TLc6uKuSQ-xahk1xPzwmrJD70GtOZuDnt-qO3n7Pu_s9NIEC5xb4yXugxosKxy6TpD0cL1hrUHtoJ3Bi9NgZIlDyolQMxujXqKAUHLgq49NJ8DK5ERGvrXPCedgY-N6D_vRolWrF5/s1600/hgjvlarus2_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0UN9TLc6uKuSQ-xahk1xPzwmrJD70GtOZuDnt-qO3n7Pu_s9NIEC5xb4yXugxosKxy6TpD0cL1hrUHtoJ3Bi9NgZIlDyolQMxujXqKAUHLgq49NJ8DK5ERGvrXPCedgY-N6D_vRolWrF5/s400/hgjvlarus2_2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Herring Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-GmgBkNTE3dNNofE94KOFkiQDmWsvxCYESq2G_5T4jD9qQFwFyx0jxIBup79UsGLh68ToLCVKNLxp5ge1fS1adJ45JEcs2oF8o4gcXY8_zxYdz4zHkrAF0DFYmw5uopjosnHwlZMGqFSI/s1600/hgsvjssm1041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-GmgBkNTE3dNNofE94KOFkiQDmWsvxCYESq2G_5T4jD9qQFwFyx0jxIBup79UsGLh68ToLCVKNLxp5ge1fS1adJ45JEcs2oF8o4gcXY8_zxYdz4zHkrAF0DFYmw5uopjosnHwlZMGqFSI/s400/hgsvjssm1041.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile "Silver" Herring Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The above photos nicely illustrate some of the variation in plumage in juvenile Herrings. All the birds except the "Silver" bird have distinctly warm and brown tones to there plumage.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have been watching and photographing the juvenile Herrings this fall to try to understand the variation so it was clear to me that this bird was different. Shortly after my experience with this bird I spotted a very similar appearing juvenile bird. This bird was however very large and bulky and instantly recognizable as a Herring by structure. A third bird very similar to the first was subsequently noted.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It seemed apparent that a small group of these birds had just arrived to join the local gull flock. They all seemed very crisply turned out with quite fresh plumage. I have heard some gull enthusiasts talk about "Arctic" Herring Gulls and it seems that they may be distinguishable in the field. After viewing these birds I wondered whether these might be of arctic origin. Their relatively young appearance would correlate with later nesting at high latitudes and an isolated population could well develop a distinctive plumage. I am speculating and would be very interested to hear from anyone who has insight into what appears to me to be a fairly distinct form.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Practically I think it would fairly easy to confuse the "Silver" juvenile Herrings with Lesser Black-backed especially in poor light or if open wing views are not obtained.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWCc275AxNZZ_FDPnLj_APbygaszEeIlWuN0pL6NRbm0WvVT-GmlGkx34kuhbo4y11nPCuRmwkDoyL0z7a5US6tO3QA4LNy4v-NrHtgdICV-uC4J5CGHPnbqGtFj4EjjBBZyUe51QI5pmf/s1600/5lbbgjssm0453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWCc275AxNZZ_FDPnLj_APbygaszEeIlWuN0pL6NRbm0WvVT-GmlGkx34kuhbo4y11nPCuRmwkDoyL0z7a5US6tO3QA4LNy4v-NrHtgdICV-uC4J5CGHPnbqGtFj4EjjBBZyUe51QI5pmf/s400/5lbbgjssm0453.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzxVISB6cgWWrMLaANy2eiWpYIVHqvadZGyyU4h6JsYlkRzyPukFWttPpw9fl_OYlqHChgiENNoqhrOgbHvE9ACaYVALSgqLmvdspuFnOsXDZHUv4qwcg_MgO5pvAtc0_HVwHRzmuusjWe/s1600/5hgsvjssm1053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzxVISB6cgWWrMLaANy2eiWpYIVHqvadZGyyU4h6JsYlkRzyPukFWttPpw9fl_OYlqHChgiENNoqhrOgbHvE9ACaYVALSgqLmvdspuFnOsXDZHUv4qwcg_MgO5pvAtc0_HVwHRzmuusjWe/s400/5hgsvjssm1053.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile "Silver" Herring Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>The above photos illustrate how similar these two usually distinct species become in this circumstance. A few things I noted that help differentiate follow. First the Lesser Black-backed seems to have a white ground colour noticed best in the head. The "Silver" Herring seems to have a gray-silver ground colour. The Lesser Black-backed black feathers are a crisper black while the "Silver " Herring's black has a greyer tone. The white edging to the mantle feathers and even more so the tertials is fine and mostly unscalloped (although this trait is variable) in the Lesser Black-backed. The "Silver" Herring has more marbling in the distal tertials than would usually be found in a Lesser Black-backed.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfGqvHllcBOgHNX_ugauB7_8Z3tkSovp7SipUo0pISs3qHXMphIBBs2wZVbloTGxWOa02hVbJp-r4JrmqyS9TPnmedWhjz2cbUVLhnU3UWSAOk1Q8sSkiZW5nJOJuoB-b-FzIMcaW7ksrZ/s1600/5lbbgjssm0040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfGqvHllcBOgHNX_ugauB7_8Z3tkSovp7SipUo0pISs3qHXMphIBBs2wZVbloTGxWOa02hVbJp-r4JrmqyS9TPnmedWhjz2cbUVLhnU3UWSAOk1Q8sSkiZW5nJOJuoB-b-FzIMcaW7ksrZ/s400/5lbbgjssm0040.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Close up-scapulars,coverts and tertials- juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUa1zHVIrdZLTQQBv_dayT7wjgzib2wJisnq10bRo55Ia6l25UXRyilh5xNnJmVJerjCsUvlbzm_sgJ0KOHFx55Tzjm2Z3YR4FgCGeQ-8uq-ag0GxIQ_R4lnV030ZUEB9FL9d6wYvODSLn/s1600/5hgsvjssm1041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUa1zHVIrdZLTQQBv_dayT7wjgzib2wJisnq10bRo55Ia6l25UXRyilh5xNnJmVJerjCsUvlbzm_sgJ0KOHFx55Tzjm2Z3YR4FgCGeQ-8uq-ag0GxIQ_R4lnV030ZUEB9FL9d6wYvODSLn/s400/5hgsvjssm1041.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Close up-scapulars, coverts and tertials-juvenile "Silver" Herring Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The top picture nicely illustartes the fine and unscalloped white edging to both the scapulars (the feathers blown up by the wind) and the tertials as compared to the marbled terials and scalloped edging of the scapulars in the "Silver"Herring. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The last differentiating point in a resting bird would be that the Lesser Black-backed has a more streaky look to its head and underparts while the "Silver" Herring has a more uniform look. This is well illustrated below.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMXEE37YbMjKrsR4vOzrGkpd2A2A-sP7J001lqDi5QAhk7Hvqj3ipbbTNyzx3LgpVlvPx8ClaaLySul6guLsytc3GaOLWZXYHuOfag8x-C-N09pyKqUxnWEwxBALkoCNH1UOTEuaTyz5q1/s1600/5lbbgstry0408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMXEE37YbMjKrsR4vOzrGkpd2A2A-sP7J001lqDi5QAhk7Hvqj3ipbbTNyzx3LgpVlvPx8ClaaLySul6guLsytc3GaOLWZXYHuOfag8x-C-N09pyKqUxnWEwxBALkoCNH1UOTEuaTyz5q1/s400/5lbbgstry0408.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull showing streaky head and underparts</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgJIs9lRYBAgE9-oYZ9Ge6yheOM2U0HgFKx_q3VRv3MHTExc938_y00EljKk1C4lMUBddUWda-2tmaiMHSWv0E7aYxj7jnahHFyJKq1XG3xIOd1cWkOtDGYZ6RN_G8tqApSZPj85LZaImd/s1600/5hgsvjssm1097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgJIs9lRYBAgE9-oYZ9Ge6yheOM2U0HgFKx_q3VRv3MHTExc938_y00EljKk1C4lMUBddUWda-2tmaiMHSWv0E7aYxj7jnahHFyJKq1XG3xIOd1cWkOtDGYZ6RN_G8tqApSZPj85LZaImd/s400/5hgsvjssm1097.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile "Silver" juvenile Herring Gull showing uniform underparts and head</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Clearly these two birds can be separated easily and definitively if you get a good look at the open wing. The impressive inner primary window really jumps out on the "Silver" Herring Gulls.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have never keyed in on this variation in the juvenile Herring Gulls previously. I suspect they have been present possibly in small numbers and I have just not noted their rather unique appearance. I am very keen to hear from anyone who has some insight into this interesting form of the remarkably complex American Herring Gull.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Kirk Zufelt</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">zufelt_k@shaw.ca</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Kirk Zufelthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14223956713828841853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2525284487032503296.post-50799516169823959922010-10-02T21:46:00.000-07:002010-10-02T21:58:49.020-07:00Lesser Black-backed Gull - A to Z - Part 1During my formative birding years in the 70s the Lesser Black-backed Gull was a major rarity. When I drifted away from active birding in the late 70s to pursue a career in carousing I had still yet to add this species to my lifelist. After a career change in the late 80s I ended up back in southern Ontario and I eventually met up with an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull in 1992 by which time it was a regular visitor to the Great Lakes region. When I returned to fanatical birding in 2005 I visited Virginia Beach for a pelagic and was shocked to find Lesser Black-backed Gulls to be abundant along the beach easily outnumbering Great Black-backed and Herring Gulls.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMTeif8zPrnzfzR8f8ffzdKAmFq4lyicy8vst7gdfJ9B-oU_zTm8qT70Er3tjFJG6iJ4NFvnOwvUNn3PsB4vSPJEtPpFHdBaR188_QX7mMURyoOzmWmcCqn6x1REBqlqpe2w12ghLB8HH6/s1600/6lbbgvb59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMTeif8zPrnzfzR8f8ffzdKAmFq4lyicy8vst7gdfJ9B-oU_zTm8qT70Er3tjFJG6iJ4NFvnOwvUNn3PsB4vSPJEtPpFHdBaR188_QX7mMURyoOzmWmcCqn6x1REBqlqpe2w12ghLB8HH6/s400/6lbbgvb59.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Second cycle Lesser Black-backed Gull at Virginia Beach Sept, 2005 - recorded with primitive digiscoping technology</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Locally Lesser Black-backed Gull remains a minor rarity with an average of one bird a year (prior to 2010-11). Of the yearly Lariid visitors to the area it is the rarest. I have now had the opportunity to study this species not only locally but on numerous locations along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts as well as the Caribbean. I recently had a great opportunity to study a large number of Lesser Black-backs at Daytona Shores in Florida.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig1u8os9OOLW2Z9BLVxPJNGWMshQWsE85jNbmPmCAFLpqLols2hSpLMZryfWcP5pCQnwM1GtqomCoByHWgSuQGARoqOv0KlX3UobsghwJuloW3CwOJd3P-AOiTD7vMxd0G-hFfvCtt0tBz/s1600/6lbbg2636.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig1u8os9OOLW2Z9BLVxPJNGWMshQWsE85jNbmPmCAFLpqLols2hSpLMZryfWcP5pCQnwM1GtqomCoByHWgSuQGARoqOv0KlX3UobsghwJuloW3CwOJd3P-AOiTD7vMxd0G-hFfvCtt0tBz/s400/6lbbg2636.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Adult Lesser Black-backed Gull at Daytona Shores, Florida March, 2009 - recorded with modern DSLR technology</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I would like to digress briefly to highly recommend Daytona Shores for larophiles especially for photographers. Short of the landfill at St. John's, Newfounfland (which is a lot colder and a tad less aesthetic) this is the best site I have ever visited for close up study of 1000s of gulls. The gulls stop here for a couple hours in the afternoon on there way from Volusia Landfill to there nocturnal roost which I assume is a ways offshore. The birds are completely oblivious to the many people on the beach and binoculars are rarely necessary. The light is great in the late part of the day.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgd3Iw6M7NnklGWCaH3hB6L576TR4pn9kQxZdcUusBtGUrIDX87tbFNLr9cW_DQodpzYz5-kS5ek0d222T8raj3DUpqnZIXbZTc3aveErcanP_iITDlq4IEthNIKnbF7tt9rLntg_FTlK2/s1600/6dytnshrs0897.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgd3Iw6M7NnklGWCaH3hB6L576TR4pn9kQxZdcUusBtGUrIDX87tbFNLr9cW_DQodpzYz5-kS5ek0d222T8raj3DUpqnZIXbZTc3aveErcanP_iITDlq4IEthNIKnbF7tt9rLntg_FTlK2/s400/6dytnshrs0897.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Daytona Shores - The Promised Land</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK3bAwhQzKKi_Y16bXgji3CWp6flplEqkNJRG2KppihrmgRIX9O4pQ-wQFIMQpzLAlST7_0x_-OrT47vyCr0JMxhFDx-mrogWkNnJgLwv2k8EmWsUP7o8I6dyG5dtor2Sd2kftfPdJrsxI/s1600/6cgfl2552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK3bAwhQzKKi_Y16bXgji3CWp6flplEqkNJRG2KppihrmgRIX9O4pQ-wQFIMQpzLAlST7_0x_-OrT47vyCr0JMxhFDx-mrogWkNnJgLwv2k8EmWsUP7o8I6dyG5dtor2Sd2kftfPdJrsxI/s400/6cgfl2552.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Worn first winter California Gull (affectionately known as "Beaky" for obvious reasons)</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Daytona Shore, FL</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u>Taxonomy</u></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Larus fuscus</i> the Lesser Black-backed Gull is typically divided into three subspecies. <i>L.f. intermedius </i>and <i>graellsii </i>being very similar other than mantle shade and <i>L.f. fuscus</i> being quite distinct. The nominate subsp.<i> L.f. fuscus</i> commonly known as the Baltic Gull has not been officially recorded in North America. However if you look back in my blog you will see a very good candidate for <i>L.f.fuscus</i> was found in St. John's, NFLD in January of 2007.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAa9bD4_dcvOJyIvJoP2SSxN7ifoHZ29RetYcHan66hWgAwTa0mvQwjQC74pb7d6XCI5h3oF5na-yQrv-optvAOtFq_VA2Tq2AbbBPn28krh26KUvo4l6siNh9ZSM72Y9h_6TO8Fcicvfb/s1600/6lbbfuscuslaruse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAa9bD4_dcvOJyIvJoP2SSxN7ifoHZ29RetYcHan66hWgAwTa0mvQwjQC74pb7d6XCI5h3oF5na-yQrv-optvAOtFq_VA2Tq2AbbBPn28krh26KUvo4l6siNh9ZSM72Y9h_6TO8Fcicvfb/s400/6lbbfuscuslaruse.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Great Black-backed Gull and putatative adult Baltic Gull</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">St. John's NFLD - Jan/2007</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlGtr_g0rOO9LLiG9OJpKVQ1p7Hi763wYJvlTPOZsMclvh7sIeYP-58F9OUwuhr2EkbwDn-G-4VbqM3VP6vFQ7H0-er-IxN_w9HHEW0cvhh0roEquwqCcNMRvqG2m5Z2vzSwKq8jUpFUZE/s1600/6lbbfuscuslarus2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlGtr_g0rOO9LLiG9OJpKVQ1p7Hi763wYJvlTPOZsMclvh7sIeYP-58F9OUwuhr2EkbwDn-G-4VbqM3VP6vFQ7H0-er-IxN_w9HHEW0cvhh0roEquwqCcNMRvqG2m5Z2vzSwKq8jUpFUZE/s400/6lbbfuscuslarus2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Putative Baltic Gull, St. John's NFLD - Jan/2007</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Baltic Gull is quite distinct from the rest of the <i>Lasrus fuscus</i> clan. It breeds primarily along the Baltic Sea in Finland and its breeding range does not overlap with the other subsp. It is a long distance migrant wintering primarily in east Africa. The Baltic Gull is a three year (attains adult plumage in its third year) gull quite unlike <i>L.f.graellsii/intermedius</i> and most (Yellow-footed Gull being another exception) of the large white-headed gulls. It is amply distinctive in plumage and I would refer you to my previous post from Nov/2009 for more pictures and information on this taxon.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One other point of significance the Baltic Gull (unlike the other subsp. of Lesser Black-backed Gull) has not been expanding its range in fact its range has been shrinking and numbers decreasing. </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Larus fuscus graellesi</i> and <i>intermedius</i> may not be distinct subspecies. Olsen and Larsson state "<i>graellesi</i> and <i>intermedius</i> may represent only one clinal taxon <i>graellesi</i> the situation in N and W Europe paralleled by the (albeit much more complex) Herring Gull races <i>argentatus </i>and <i>argentus</i>". <i>L.f. graellesi</i> has typically referred to the palest backed birds that inhabit the British Isle well <i>L.f. intermedius</i> are darker backed primarily breeding in the Netherlands,Denmark to Norway.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXUMlfF64bTEL1wGK78T6kEcdHbs4Ine0GTiOHkm9PQLfZJ5NiAnJ5z2G6uWYB4FQWBE1j-eR4X9suu8K4NKm20eZQGNE1cfotIlw6LdcbpjLxN-4HrMWFbcnNfHeSsapF5Tuz0Hslp1oW/s1600/6lbbgfl2339.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXUMlfF64bTEL1wGK78T6kEcdHbs4Ine0GTiOHkm9PQLfZJ5NiAnJ5z2G6uWYB4FQWBE1j-eR4X9suu8K4NKm20eZQGNE1cfotIlw6LdcbpjLxN-4HrMWFbcnNfHeSsapF5Tuz0Hslp1oW/s400/6lbbgfl2339.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">Paler backed adult Lesser Black-backed Gull suggestive of<i> L. f. graellesi</i></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWHuHaW30qbAmOoKCUujBcj3cDwrq6rerpiEZGnyqw0MMEAviisxsE2NPcKu2xRRrhHz4ZGau8zPCl2epQ40pkZgKnniuy2KbyYdz0fxcJ4vwHGkUpDfK57JS1uecrN3CnHfd6xm5VLiu6/s1600/6lbbgnflarus20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWHuHaW30qbAmOoKCUujBcj3cDwrq6rerpiEZGnyqw0MMEAviisxsE2NPcKu2xRRrhHz4ZGau8zPCl2epQ40pkZgKnniuy2KbyYdz0fxcJ4vwHGkUpDfK57JS1uecrN3CnHfd6xm5VLiu6/s400/6lbbgnflarus20.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Darker backed adult Lesser Black-backed Gull more typical of <i>L.f. intermedius</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In reality it seems of little value and in many cases impossible to separate these two forms and a growing consensus seems to be that this is in reality one subspecies with a cline from light to dark-backed birds. One further caveat -shades of grey are notoriously light dependent. Bright direct light can make even the lightest mantled gulls look like a Slaty-back.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr2G1HXUbUzkTIUk3h4SzTPCz3HT-s5NPM76cq7LabsKbqQ5bQtUYFKffbUgLOpjLeK5shGlPVI3yPKyxKIg6Mi5UtzmmD86u4L_ZmdXeYEK67s5OXpNX4ypgWyqrZqmJ7OG241VRJ5H1l/s1600/6lbbgnc6957.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr2G1HXUbUzkTIUk3h4SzTPCz3HT-s5NPM76cq7LabsKbqQ5bQtUYFKffbUgLOpjLeK5shGlPVI3yPKyxKIg6Mi5UtzmmD86u4L_ZmdXeYEK67s5OXpNX4ypgWyqrZqmJ7OG241VRJ5H1l/s400/6lbbgnc6957.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Third winter Lesser Black-backed Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr2G1HXUbUzkTIUk3h4SzTPCz3HT-s5NPM76cq7LabsKbqQ5bQtUYFKffbUgLOpjLeK5shGlPVI3yPKyxKIg6Mi5UtzmmD86u4L_ZmdXeYEK67s5OXpNX4ypgWyqrZqmJ7OG241VRJ5H1l/s1600/6lbbgnc6957.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVJWWxuHruRvHJqPWzTrGUEjOycVnfW30c64qR5q98mo5U4Zzf-zt-i7PPmGbBxIx-pcmMA7A3xq2SOztlqY41xQB2XQSfc7F172igp80ILbVe-TGvxm-7sp455q7JTDObuBH4YMG6dJuW/s1600/6lbbgnc6963.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVJWWxuHruRvHJqPWzTrGUEjOycVnfW30c64qR5q98mo5U4Zzf-zt-i7PPmGbBxIx-pcmMA7A3xq2SOztlqY41xQB2XQSfc7F172igp80ILbVe-TGvxm-7sp455q7JTDObuBH4YMG6dJuW/s400/6lbbgnc6963.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The same bird less than a minute later in different light</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The above pictures illustrate how lighting significantly affects the perception of mantle color. The picture also nicely demonstrates how posture can play similar tricks with head shape.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u>Plumage</u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u><br />
</u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I would like to move along to discuss and illustrate the age development of Lesser Black-backed Gull through its four year plumage transition from juvenile to adult.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gulls have a sharp, crisp and distinctive plumage. Although other species may have a very similar juvenile plumage (Yellow-legged, Kelp) differences in molt timing and structure along with range can usually differentiate the aforementioned species. In North America the species of confusion would invariably be the Herring Gull.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1UiwO1_q1h4pRf5l3q5lAUatiQfLuPbxGFgHK-JKRK8JlSosGRafIIkBayvgzztIbgxdjqzC715039IOvw-_p7I7rLoHmLgSn3y1_gKzqEh_6e7n7W9B6a4sx2Pd6-UsObf2Yf6XELldJ/s1600/lbbgssmlarus4265.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1UiwO1_q1h4pRf5l3q5lAUatiQfLuPbxGFgHK-JKRK8JlSosGRafIIkBayvgzztIbgxdjqzC715039IOvw-_p7I7rLoHmLgSn3y1_gKzqEh_6e7n7W9B6a4sx2Pd6-UsObf2Yf6XELldJ/s400/lbbgssmlarus4265.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Typical juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Under most circumstances with careful study I don't think differentiating juvenile Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gulls is a significant challenge. The upper parts feathers are a dark blackish with neat white edging. The coverts are dark blackish as are the tertials. Olsen and Larsson note that the neat white edges of the tertials do not reach the greater coverts and on checking many pictures this seems to be consistent. This gives the juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull a very contrasting, black and white look. Some sources suggest the juvenile of this species has a darker "eye-mask" than Herring Gull. Juvenile Herring Gulls do seem to have a more uniformly brown head with the Lesser Black-backed having more white to the anterior face giving it a more masked look.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfK6PbV_b5kOAWt1TJND65NjlCqfLUoBrbChp5mJJpPaPSN681LEyeqlDrIhy3XdN8A3dkQht6YDFQvQZ5gVfA2-Us97EkKQgfMfABR5rcxh_DHUietAVY5d4ndneal7pG6OMJx0-YXyjo/s1600/hgjvlarus1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfK6PbV_b5kOAWt1TJND65NjlCqfLUoBrbChp5mJJpPaPSN681LEyeqlDrIhy3XdN8A3dkQht6YDFQvQZ5gVfA2-Us97EkKQgfMfABR5rcxh_DHUietAVY5d4ndneal7pG6OMJx0-YXyjo/s400/hgjvlarus1.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Typical juvenile Herring Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The above picture illustrates the browner, less contasting look of the juvenile Herring Gull. The significant differences in the tertial edging and the patterning of the coverts is readily apparent. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In flight the dark blackish primaries, secondaries and coverts without a inner primary window clearly seperates the Lesser Black-backed from the Herring Gull.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1vInzzcs2k5gBnJIh4A7K1Z5kb6KyiZMlwAlrLfxsIxPu_cT-eizftFAAARFHRId3DwWqjrUcqtdwJIrd6XwtjdFs6k4doUFyBiGTf8Kl4LcJFbVx0X0ousu_xpIi9K3YyF8Kuxi1Lul/s1600/lbbgdftrz5925.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1vInzzcs2k5gBnJIh4A7K1Z5kb6KyiZMlwAlrLfxsIxPu_cT-eizftFAAARFHRId3DwWqjrUcqtdwJIrd6XwtjdFs6k4doUFyBiGTf8Kl4LcJFbVx0X0ousu_xpIi9K3YyF8Kuxi1Lul/s400/lbbgdftrz5925.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull showing uniformly dark primaries, secondaries and greater coverts</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSy5Vi8U69WK5H_81DY2k5ZrXov2NQxiwN4xkuj8CKLPnb7vuzeakOyFR0KA4YsRUTggUme5WI1J97hvUhBPq_FqOxAyyttaKUQSXW93WTyXZXAShFFsfrcPAoJxBJLr2rA1m9yuIeXlpP/s1600/hglarusow05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSy5Vi8U69WK5H_81DY2k5ZrXov2NQxiwN4xkuj8CKLPnb7vuzeakOyFR0KA4YsRUTggUme5WI1J97hvUhBPq_FqOxAyyttaKUQSXW93WTyXZXAShFFsfrcPAoJxBJLr2rA1m9yuIeXlpP/s400/hglarusow05.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">First winter Herring Gull showing classic "inner primary window"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In flight the very white ground colour of the rump with fewer markings than the Herring is also very helpful in the field.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRvE917aRSBTKWaT2BARNz0azKPRV6x9fgIYwvpWqDjEfiAukoEJT18JuUpUl2jJxOFrJoC879k_RDz_RBojkfgvj88tp2w4nFC7JzKz6duAm6atFZbC-9ue_5cQrpDbUdlufCROCIVUlb/s1600/lbbgssmlarus4335.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRvE917aRSBTKWaT2BARNz0azKPRV6x9fgIYwvpWqDjEfiAukoEJT18JuUpUl2jJxOFrJoC879k_RDz_RBojkfgvj88tp2w4nFC7JzKz6duAm6atFZbC-9ue_5cQrpDbUdlufCROCIVUlb/s400/lbbgssmlarus4335.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXiwMMZpLilI1tu2kgFZQwiwuwC13BYw9nGWu-_Kyv6fCBFclEXerfo7cNxOUZuKxLOPJX9dZbvyJDnxdI62VV2riDKBeiK6CjNboCyJp9Cj2RyRFyc5mVeWhsXX3PIYdJCQSU3rc4tM5e/s1600/hg1cssm897.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXiwMMZpLilI1tu2kgFZQwiwuwC13BYw9nGWu-_Kyv6fCBFclEXerfo7cNxOUZuKxLOPJX9dZbvyJDnxdI62VV2riDKBeiK6CjNboCyJp9Cj2RyRFyc5mVeWhsXX3PIYdJCQSU3rc4tM5e/s400/hg1cssm897.jpg" width="287" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">First winter Herring Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have included a few more juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull pics with the birds seeming fairly uniform.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-bLmsr9w4JDQkX4A8bxphz_sa-egz7SHo8X4K-wFAoXhzzOGWNTuCo0wC2u49YkKmhQ-T6juGu8NPWmN6VVvcGDo6pqU4CdAe_Lm5Fax2lifA9UGObQNjM2SsmGh-KvC9r3sWsXmUfcT4/s1600/9lbbgssm0103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-bLmsr9w4JDQkX4A8bxphz_sa-egz7SHo8X4K-wFAoXhzzOGWNTuCo0wC2u49YkKmhQ-T6juGu8NPWmN6VVvcGDo6pqU4CdAe_Lm5Fax2lifA9UGObQNjM2SsmGh-KvC9r3sWsXmUfcT4/s400/9lbbgssm0103.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPyetBAv611AHuR4BIbFi_JJVPCX1bM850udZwXRTZcYCbtMmbmr5MUH_29EfsC_nGsGg9x1dAhlLY40SI_Nwq4cWjExF_39gg9FroIqtqEl3Y-tY_DzmpvLOhgotTuORNH0o56P8ItRF8/s1600/lbbg%234dftr0238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPyetBAv611AHuR4BIbFi_JJVPCX1bM850udZwXRTZcYCbtMmbmr5MUH_29EfsC_nGsGg9x1dAhlLY40SI_Nwq4cWjExF_39gg9FroIqtqEl3Y-tY_DzmpvLOhgotTuORNH0o56P8ItRF8/s400/lbbg%234dftr0238.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There does seem to be some some variation in the juvenile plumage. I came across this bird last week.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkIzP2gA5QsOykE-GQFUpXa9k6sMWhyT9ccLgE40Mxh3kCDlcniHvYdA9aDLhr-gisVkLw9bgueVlbcxMMr-67HQim43cHBIjUYSJHsCbX9KRyDQvqqelcz96I88yLowz26Ee-OvSE-zgc/s1600/7lbbgssm0327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkIzP2gA5QsOykE-GQFUpXa9k6sMWhyT9ccLgE40Mxh3kCDlcniHvYdA9aDLhr-gisVkLw9bgueVlbcxMMr-67HQim43cHBIjUYSJHsCbX9KRyDQvqqelcz96I88yLowz26Ee-OvSE-zgc/s400/7lbbgssm0327.jpg" width="308" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">No doubt a Lesser Black-backed but a lot wider and scalloped white edging in the scapulars and tertials and a lot more white on the coverts giving it a much more checkered look. I had a similar bird which is more worn looking on the lower coast of Texas last December.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEqpr4yINRnVsuZVNrSzz73UHaFZa7LhliSUZZfqtcyW_pLnTpd_DasDiVJPEW8eNpTjyCMHTiAPjblDVlw5d6dbd_ihaUf5gJNgDVnLZdRRr_2oxfxHefQocDzmJU55jaKF1H6VxjV7TI/s1600/6lbbgtx7524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEqpr4yINRnVsuZVNrSzz73UHaFZa7LhliSUZZfqtcyW_pLnTpd_DasDiVJPEW8eNpTjyCMHTiAPjblDVlw5d6dbd_ihaUf5gJNgDVnLZdRRr_2oxfxHefQocDzmJU55jaKF1H6VxjV7TI/s400/6lbbgtx7524.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIRAKhic8e-Jmo8qj0lH1SdKLM2cNSfG4pThmHl7s9SS7o7JOAmyKbfEythvhJ7GrRreVlrTEaVyQkKe3STPHz-7EK49AuqPGESllTKvtA-PJyQhRdVuqKCZRUeB2eQoBfu0G6byxlcDY0/s1600/6lbbgtx7520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIRAKhic8e-Jmo8qj0lH1SdKLM2cNSfG4pThmHl7s9SS7o7JOAmyKbfEythvhJ7GrRreVlrTEaVyQkKe3STPHz-7EK49AuqPGESllTKvtA-PJyQhRdVuqKCZRUeB2eQoBfu0G6byxlcDY0/s400/6lbbgtx7520.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Worn juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So clearly this species has significant variation in juvenile plumage which is hardly surprising given its variability in general and the complex variation noted in its close relative the Herring Gull. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi5Y2EqBHrjV6hqJUYhN84Bw3GsAEbCKi4FweskBQjCrBez6moDTxgh2UnpDWFRWNI5S-9YfPaZxbbCRrVbGAmg83LnCbj3oBROAUWVJ0fafzwDGrlE6h2jrGhSy8PMvU6nsfTqHp-dL9w/s1600/6jvhgjssm0213.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi5Y2EqBHrjV6hqJUYhN84Bw3GsAEbCKi4FweskBQjCrBez6moDTxgh2UnpDWFRWNI5S-9YfPaZxbbCRrVbGAmg83LnCbj3oBROAUWVJ0fafzwDGrlE6h2jrGhSy8PMvU6nsfTqHp-dL9w/s400/6jvhgjssm0213.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Herring Gull variation with similarities to juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The above juv. Herring Gull although somewhat superficially similar to a Lesser Black-backed has a fairly uniform brown face and underparts and a different structure being stocky and having a shorter primary extension. The jizz is very much that of a Herring Gull not a Lesser Black-backed. With experience the recognition of these features is fairly instantaneous and happens at a subconscious level.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So on occasion a juvenile bird might provide a bit of a challenge but this seems much more of an issue with first winter birds.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Lesser Black-backed Gull often retains its juvenile plumage well into the winter. Howell and Dunn tell us that this species will molt there scapular and upper wing coverts from midwinter on producing the first alternate plumage or as we often say a "first winter" bird. Bleaching of head often results in a white headed look.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhssKxSSc_fU0t3DaO0eBBG6ovv8XE2oXWKtx3F88PCKnBYGQY6-HpD1dhnkjtFKGJssgYSn6LVV7ZxfN5lRiQinNpD9A2EeCjMPbC6ECrZlJRmSLdbxOcBbaPgF1Hl50bXnne-A0J2y5ej/s1600/6lbbgfl967.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhssKxSSc_fU0t3DaO0eBBG6ovv8XE2oXWKtx3F88PCKnBYGQY6-HpD1dhnkjtFKGJssgYSn6LVV7ZxfN5lRiQinNpD9A2EeCjMPbC6ECrZlJRmSLdbxOcBbaPgF1Hl50bXnne-A0J2y5ej/s400/6lbbgfl967.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">First winter Lesser Black-backed Gull- Feb, Daytona Shores</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The above bird has replaced his scapulars but the coverts and tertials are very worn. Interestingly to my eye it looks like P10 my have recently been replaced. Note the white ground cover to the head and underparts.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWh4WXOS83k2TYPce-A8r6Us2Cbmj05ZFuZtacVwrBqr8xaPymtd_SV2XqLVjAgwuqSKzNGRgr3phqutwPl0R0sOFFDxnWeKIFMmB3ms-qClShyphenhyphencExC2ufpjEVZTfoh2NBbdVY1wsCvbPI/s1600/6szgtx5327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWh4WXOS83k2TYPce-A8r6Us2Cbmj05ZFuZtacVwrBqr8xaPymtd_SV2XqLVjAgwuqSKzNGRgr3phqutwPl0R0sOFFDxnWeKIFMmB3ms-qClShyphenhyphencExC2ufpjEVZTfoh2NBbdVY1wsCvbPI/s400/6szgtx5327.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">First winter Herring Gull First winter Lesser Black-backed Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">February/ Freeport, Texas</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The above picture illustrates some of the key differences between first winter Herring and Lesser Black-backeds. Note the whiter ground colour of the head especially the mostly unmarked anterior face around the bill. The underparts are also white with dark flecking and smudging. The Herring Gull has a uniformly brown face and underparts. This Lesser Black-backed defies defies many of the usual structural features of this species - I will look at this bird closer when I review structure.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSZ7XTh7u0J4TXOn6YC5n7hL1n1zzy8uMNlkLwLvGbe6MTncCM8JTB1_bJp_gewXD9glBkc1_IIxdlALXM4umIxp6hnF4uUsGkue-Hhr64G8fIhFpiIBoUMMBDMplEkX1XjKCKdTGhPg6l/s1600/6lbbgnc1y6920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSZ7XTh7u0J4TXOn6YC5n7hL1n1zzy8uMNlkLwLvGbe6MTncCM8JTB1_bJp_gewXD9glBkc1_IIxdlALXM4umIxp6hnF4uUsGkue-Hhr64G8fIhFpiIBoUMMBDMplEkX1XjKCKdTGhPg6l/s400/6lbbgnc1y6920.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqyUUcX95NPKAY4Hg7YGz6Wk1auuDHd7brN4ZhKfrfxdHJ9baGWZ_0XC11irwmmKSVaA75kLYhJwi1ohB0C1W4GqnXBM5WPG3Ua_D-3dHKbyI3PV-Fr8-cwztEYk9W0P2JmS372_rCJ4f1/s1600/6lbbgnc1y7131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqyUUcX95NPKAY4Hg7YGz6Wk1auuDHd7brN4ZhKfrfxdHJ9baGWZ_0XC11irwmmKSVaA75kLYhJwi1ohB0C1W4GqnXBM5WPG3Ua_D-3dHKbyI3PV-Fr8-cwztEYk9W0P2JmS372_rCJ4f1/s400/6lbbgnc1y7131.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">First winter Lesser Black-backed (I think)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">February/KittyHawk, North Carolina</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I photographed thie above bird at Kittyhawk in a parking lot. The small flock of gulls present included a dozen Lesser Black-backed Gulls with some Ring-billeds, Laughing and a Black-headed Gull. There were no Herring Gulls present. I was quite convinced this was a first winter Lesser Black-backed Gull at the time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have repeated looked at this birds pictures and every time I see my first reaction is its a first winter Herring. The face looks quite uniformly brownish, the structure seems Herring Gull like. Then look at the open wing shot and think hmmm-the flight feathers and greater coverts are Lesser Black-backed like but is there a bit of an inner primary window? The rump seems more in keeping with a Lesser Black-backed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The clincher for me is the darker grey mantle feathers especially near the back of the mantle. I don't think you would ever see this on a Herring Gull. I come away each time thinking yes its a Lesser Black-backed but not with 100% confidence. I think this bird illustrates that with wear and some sun the coverts and tertials become much browner and less distinct and the new mantle feathers are not as distinctively blackish as the juvenile. Although some first winter birds are distinct others may be a bit of a challenge.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I will finish part one with my only picture of a first summer ( more accurately second cycle) bird taken in early September in Virginia Beach. A near identical bird in Howell & Dunn from August in the Netherlands is described as a "second-cycle Lesser Black-backed Gull completing PB2 molt."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> My understanding is that PA1 (post alternate 1) molt occurs after juvenile plumage and may be slow and gradual over the fall and early winter and starts with the mantle and scapular feathers and may progress to head, chest and flanks. PB2 (Post basic 2) which marks the beginning of the second cycle begins in the spring usually involving the coverts. PA1 & PB2 may overlap and it all gets very confusing-at least to me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Steve Howell has just authored an excellent book entitled "Molt in North American Birds" as part of the Peterson Reference Guides series. It is very well illustrated and I am sure it will be the authoritative reference on this topic for years to come</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_LEuS17oFOThdgH_wjdddIcz0pvgoDRaiWCGPK06YPho96aQ32ez4qw4-RgTciJohFU6zurannkOHhvbhYTqfIgdtK_du3guXzNlFrwrJpuO5fL21gfZuLyUSeP7GQpfzCN2U4VhS_BZo/s1600/6mlbbgVgBc5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_LEuS17oFOThdgH_wjdddIcz0pvgoDRaiWCGPK06YPho96aQ32ez4qw4-RgTciJohFU6zurannkOHhvbhYTqfIgdtK_du3guXzNlFrwrJpuO5fL21gfZuLyUSeP7GQpfzCN2U4VhS_BZo/s400/6mlbbgVgBc5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Second-cycle Lesser Black-backed Gull- September/Virginia Beach</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The combination of heavy bleaching and replacement of the coverts along with heavy wear gives this bird an entirely different look from the first winter birds.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In Part 2 I will continue to work through the second cycle to adult birds with a section on structure illustrating a few oddballs that demonstrate the extremes of variability. Part 3 will focus on the amazing expansion of this species over the last 40 years. This will include a interesting bit on this rather famous individual.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUm7dcWFuBASXg4pNThmXKxtWU0Q_uPtx3V0OfE56UOhUnDT0J2g24qao_lyPSaz5EmCLDCNFJ8ZfeRvJWiL3pNYMCorq58-WYHj0Esa9IgxWqTVgReU0ElXSC0roUCabq91SpnvwkKAEi/s1600/6lbbgfl1148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUm7dcWFuBASXg4pNThmXKxtWU0Q_uPtx3V0OfE56UOhUnDT0J2g24qao_lyPSaz5EmCLDCNFJ8ZfeRvJWiL3pNYMCorq58-WYHj0Esa9IgxWqTVgReU0ElXSC0roUCabq91SpnvwkKAEi/s400/6lbbgfl1148.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Celebrity Lesser Black-backed-identity revealed in Part 3</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Be back with Part 2 soon.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Kirk Zufelt</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">zufelt_k@shaw.ca</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Kirk Zufelthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14223956713828841853noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2525284487032503296.post-611925874899978242010-09-23T20:16:00.000-07:002010-09-23T20:21:49.589-07:00Four Lesser Black-backed Gulls-Dafter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Dafter Landfill is the landfill that serves most of the eastern UP of Michigan. It is 15-20 miles from the Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario Landfill as the gull flies. In between these sites are the St. Mary's River and Rapids and the eastern part of Whitefish Bay. This is a great set up for gulls as well as larophiles. Dafter Landfill is very open to visitors as long as you sign in and follow the few common sense rules. A small pond at the entrance is great for photography as the gulls rest here and bathe in the water. It is not unusual to see 5-6 species of gulls on this pond in Novemeber and on Nov.16/2009 I had 7 species of gulls on this pond within about 15 minutes. The down side it is not open on the weekends.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_IpsXlHw-brZfS9omo44E9FYvHpvlfLfWTtw6T_eHMsQ66iv3BxKnBWc7gC75CzVLdY_rvDM6nmO19Gebn4sB0szDvjrBColRByuoyKSOWl5DExvQRX32tx9CC9QVv8zYjAtky-pEu7Nx/s1600/8dftrhrg5511.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_IpsXlHw-brZfS9omo44E9FYvHpvlfLfWTtw6T_eHMsQ66iv3BxKnBWc7gC75CzVLdY_rvDM6nmO19Gebn4sB0szDvjrBColRByuoyKSOWl5DExvQRX32tx9CC9QVv8zYjAtky-pEu7Nx/s400/8dftrhrg5511.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">American Herring Gulls lining up for a drink-Dafter Landfill, Nov.16/09</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4N2dW15c1tR-tbgILGy_aGwAZioKrfg5XYjpHnlyFZeFz7MpbLCZ_6j_dOReSwZLEyElyBMb3z24HP2uzIVAGA2mRVlc5J-IC_Mp0hlNXnnHqT6cbvc40HBZkPx5rqRPX6W7C-5yJU7pu/s1600/8dftrpndlbb5901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4N2dW15c1tR-tbgILGy_aGwAZioKrfg5XYjpHnlyFZeFz7MpbLCZ_6j_dOReSwZLEyElyBMb3z24HP2uzIVAGA2mRVlc5J-IC_Mp0hlNXnnHqT6cbvc40HBZkPx5rqRPX6W7C-5yJU7pu/s400/8dftrpndlbb5901.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gulls at the pond-Dafter Landfill, Nov.16/09</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidXgH1QmlzWshgpgXyDb9GAzYkoq-fg7ftLckhfEKMACHT3A1yyJJaBPjdJi17hMqHl4NPcUyKPIVrpchwbSWTGphW0VzKSHIlov4CnIFVfZkvj3pzvRsqLXsvkXCd772qL5RuXogS5fdj/s1600/8dftrthy5770.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidXgH1QmlzWshgpgXyDb9GAzYkoq-fg7ftLckhfEKMACHT3A1yyJJaBPjdJi17hMqHl4NPcUyKPIVrpchwbSWTGphW0VzKSHIlov4CnIFVfZkvj3pzvRsqLXsvkXCd772qL5RuXogS5fdj/s400/8dftrthy5770.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Thayer's and Herring Gulls at the pond-Dafter Landfill, Nov.16/09</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidXgH1QmlzWshgpgXyDb9GAzYkoq-fg7ftLckhfEKMACHT3A1yyJJaBPjdJi17hMqHl4NPcUyKPIVrpchwbSWTGphW0VzKSHIlov4CnIFVfZkvj3pzvRsqLXsvkXCd772qL5RuXogS5fdj/s1600/8dftrthy5770.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJtdYxJxqXhHpbjuvQLpdGW0ev_5Nq0Uo-r3h7iDr1b2B3oGaEYankwDqaccUinwJrQZKsjShGkrZ6MGaendIA2MhBGevghi6OEm0kU37ljVETcKaYrWDP2PGz2ZIFpTYMXK0libLpAxdE/s1600/8dftrbedftr5966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJtdYxJxqXhHpbjuvQLpdGW0ev_5Nq0Uo-r3h7iDr1b2B3oGaEYankwDqaccUinwJrQZKsjShGkrZ6MGaendIA2MhBGevghi6OEm0kU37ljVETcKaYrWDP2PGz2ZIFpTYMXK0libLpAxdE/s400/8dftrbedftr5966.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Bald Eagle pestering the Lariids at the pond- Dafter Landfill,Nov.16/09</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>I originally planned on heading to Whitefish Point today but the teaming rain discouraged me and the thought of staying in my nice warm car was rather more attractive than braving the point. Given the east wind I really didn't think to much would be happening. Wrong. Scott Schuette the intrepid water bird counter had Sabines and Laughing Gull each of which would have been new birds for my Sault Area List (which is a high priority for me). He subsequently had a adult Lesser Black-backed Gull (I believe only the 3rd WPBO record) and 4 jaegers. Arrrgh!<br />
<br />
Well I did have some success at Dafter. After checking the pond I headed up the hill to scan the 1000 plus gulls. I quickly spotted a juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitXhkWOgi0bv_15L5H4TcvVzUqvOoW4gvi7tuvfpm3NSS5wGDT1rVF0P1RRet3tj_cx39HhtG6W9ESPgDhNq5j2kyYm8sGd3gdlYYXRXL4hEza-svDDS08Z0IoBZ7eG9ixsaz4Tch1x2dR/s1600/8lbbg%231dftr0102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitXhkWOgi0bv_15L5H4TcvVzUqvOoW4gvi7tuvfpm3NSS5wGDT1rVF0P1RRet3tj_cx39HhtG6W9ESPgDhNq5j2kyYm8sGd3gdlYYXRXL4hEza-svDDS08Z0IoBZ7eG9ixsaz4Tch1x2dR/s400/8lbbg%231dftr0102.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull #1</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Not more than a minute later an adult Lesser Black-backed landed about 30 yards from the car.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfvSVtPeF9vcA3x7Zzz371BIwlG74xbLPkZKJauAI-CjfSu_VPT-24tDtrypjLEs_dwXEFdL3im3_eC-nxru0FlDjKiqRdWXWxT9raPUqAuHQizXoejFlB4AQ2j9Q3PtTJ81788UuN0PT/s1600/lbbg%232dftr0066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfvSVtPeF9vcA3x7Zzz371BIwlG74xbLPkZKJauAI-CjfSu_VPT-24tDtrypjLEs_dwXEFdL3im3_eC-nxru0FlDjKiqRdWXWxT9raPUqAuHQizXoejFlB4AQ2j9Q3PtTJ81788UuN0PT/s400/lbbg%232dftr0066.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Lesser Black-backed Gull #1</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I assumed this was the adult I had seen on the weekend but when I checked the pictures it was clearly a different individual. Not more than 5 minutes later I noted another adult Lesser Black-backed in with a group of gulls about 100 yards away. I checked and the first bird was still in its original spot.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpml8DxFe10ixABOSLYlV22hqUWYyHLeK_T8QCE2GdWIHv78QuK_i1-F-fC1-52W0rflKW_6oCap2-LJESJ7yoGm_V2kHSpMB3EyoUv3ip-uiAqy0tjQ4eSwQG5mE-WkU7VrzOH0vzmNB5/s1600/8lbb%233dftr0131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpml8DxFe10ixABOSLYlV22hqUWYyHLeK_T8QCE2GdWIHv78QuK_i1-F-fC1-52W0rflKW_6oCap2-LJESJ7yoGm_V2kHSpMB3EyoUv3ip-uiAqy0tjQ4eSwQG5mE-WkU7VrzOH0vzmNB5/s400/8lbb%233dftr0131.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Lesser Black-backed Gull #2</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Not exactly a National Geographic quality shot but clearly a different bird and I wondered if this was actually a worn third year bird about to molt into adult plumage. I continued to scan the flock and not long after noted another different juvenile Lesser Black-backed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYGSlEcMCGQeED-H564-bMW2Lq5Ktza0OsFO8wo616j-KQdgNB5xt9ZSoanz2-YxPnz1cCPsVdx1YhVg-dAXq49GSWDCQp0IS6l5QIz8-uZ205VBJp5RhgUJE5G2vF09y4yLY2jQq7s9OI/s1600/8lbbg%23$dftr0247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYGSlEcMCGQeED-H564-bMW2Lq5Ktza0OsFO8wo616j-KQdgNB5xt9ZSoanz2-YxPnz1cCPsVdx1YhVg-dAXq49GSWDCQp0IS6l5QIz8-uZ205VBJp5RhgUJE5G2vF09y4yLY2jQq7s9OI/s400/8lbbg%23$dftr0247.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull #2</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The fact that the other juvenile was still in sight not far from the car when I spotted this one made it easy but if you look you will see this bird has a finer bill and slighter look than the first juvenile (it also doesn't look as wet and soggy as #1). The second bird is likely a female.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2zuUfBlE_J_tH6BvEseRIvbvngp8Y99jKWtTIAWdEWtMXx7bGJHR2V7yT4Pnl3KvXKi0nQQXNuL_rMh8c0JgtwRTByQLIOk2nFbGPv0EEY_VjieTBIoB8rcEvG3JgyVukOnWh03B5w-h/s1600/9lbbgssm0037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2zuUfBlE_J_tH6BvEseRIvbvngp8Y99jKWtTIAWdEWtMXx7bGJHR2V7yT4Pnl3KvXKi0nQQXNuL_rMh8c0JgtwRTByQLIOk2nFbGPv0EEY_VjieTBIoB8rcEvG3JgyVukOnWh03B5w-h/s400/9lbbgssm0037.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Different Adult Lesser Black-backed from last weekend at SSM Landfill</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Although 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls wouldn't be a big deal on the Niagara it is unprecedented in the UP of Michigan (pers. comm. Skye Haas). The adult from the weekend is clearly a different bird. That bird had the white tips worn off the distal primaries and has large white tips on the proximal primaries. Both of todays birds had white tips out to P10 (although the photo of #2 doesn't show it). That makes at least 5 birds around the Sault and maybe a 6th given the WPBO bird (although this bird could be one of the Sault adults).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Well a miniinvasion of Lesser Black-backed Gulls is a good way to start gull season. Hopefully more interesting "dark mantled gulls" to come.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">See ya.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Kirk Zufelt</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">zufelt_k@shaw.ca</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Kirk Zufelthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14223956713828841853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2525284487032503296.post-5245314024035366592010-09-19T19:52:00.000-07:002010-09-20T19:04:20.217-07:00Gull Season Open!!!!!I declare gull season officially open on the east shore of Lake Superior.<br />
<br />
After a lot of travelling through the spring, summer and early fall I am looking forward to spending some time studying gulls locally this fall. My first trip to the local landfill was Saturday which quickly turned up and adult and juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull which is still a relatively rare species here in the north country.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFBZRNE0yMlmSvgyJhYt-zBtgSBsdqnbvdFwIKt2WlipKeL40-DavImZC-H68ONjDgul5N5guz6lViC8a2ZbDesOcx0xEa8KCWdckUVL4o8zQEyhMRzKiN3cYhpu3Yk9mdQT8uh_mRkwSf/s1600/9lbbgssm0037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFBZRNE0yMlmSvgyJhYt-zBtgSBsdqnbvdFwIKt2WlipKeL40-DavImZC-H68ONjDgul5N5guz6lViC8a2ZbDesOcx0xEa8KCWdckUVL4o8zQEyhMRzKiN3cYhpu3Yk9mdQT8uh_mRkwSf/s400/9lbbgssm0037.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Adult Lesser Black-backed Gull</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">In fact this is the first time I have seen two Lesser Black-backs simultaneously in the Sault Area. I returned on Sunday and the juvenile bird was present for several hours allowing for decent pictures.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY46RRYDG0VuXGBEAH534rZSXDw29-LdRlzSXTjJ5__ZqacXjdZgbhV0XwgLjKyOSBuXZoNbjPNzCC1K96O7sqQTIE6EVs8u-0HRewyFmhFBd8lEFJL5rplYo6DwFM-lOU2W5r3RC7vYhn/s1600/9lbbgssm0103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY46RRYDG0VuXGBEAH534rZSXDw29-LdRlzSXTjJ5__ZqacXjdZgbhV0XwgLjKyOSBuXZoNbjPNzCC1K96O7sqQTIE6EVs8u-0HRewyFmhFBd8lEFJL5rplYo6DwFM-lOU2W5r3RC7vYhn/s400/9lbbgssm0103.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY46RRYDG0VuXGBEAH534rZSXDw29-LdRlzSXTjJ5__ZqacXjdZgbhV0XwgLjKyOSBuXZoNbjPNzCC1K96O7sqQTIE6EVs8u-0HRewyFmhFBd8lEFJL5rplYo6DwFM-lOU2W5r3RC7vYhn/s1600/9lbbgssm0103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNECR2UNTOgpl_EZbjqTuROJAj-RrdYIdjPZQ_jIt6yj4LeGwTxgnShb4FcQiSIPnwSwTXGOLCUDDekZCt7i2yP0rvEBIHjDikFFGQf7v9STqHq-koTwV7XOuA9fipgmP-TrQo785k6Kvx/s1600/9lbbgssm0123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNECR2UNTOgpl_EZbjqTuROJAj-RrdYIdjPZQ_jIt6yj4LeGwTxgnShb4FcQiSIPnwSwTXGOLCUDDekZCt7i2yP0rvEBIHjDikFFGQf7v9STqHq-koTwV7XOuA9fipgmP-TrQo785k6Kvx/s400/9lbbgssm0123.jpg" width="317" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNECR2UNTOgpl_EZbjqTuROJAj-RrdYIdjPZQ_jIt6yj4LeGwTxgnShb4FcQiSIPnwSwTXGOLCUDDekZCt7i2yP0rvEBIHjDikFFGQf7v9STqHq-koTwV7XOuA9fipgmP-TrQo785k6Kvx/s1600/9lbbgssm0123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaigUdF2FC8C30eC95PyTJ3zED6yW8E0B4pBmN_c2zR-BipayMzqtmH2g97O0TubCZsBT32fPa6A__aC5txKyua3kUcrKCn734iHWhTfOFHdZkbyzRspgIzdWcVl__lgP4fLaulIPKPCWi/s1600/l9lbbgssm0107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaigUdF2FC8C30eC95PyTJ3zED6yW8E0B4pBmN_c2zR-BipayMzqtmH2g97O0TubCZsBT32fPa6A__aC5txKyua3kUcrKCn734iHWhTfOFHdZkbyzRspgIzdWcVl__lgP4fLaulIPKPCWi/s400/l9lbbgssm0107.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Although superficially similar to Herring Gull the juvenile Lesser Black-backed is quite different structurally with a slighter narrower bill, slimmer overall look and a elongated rear end with longer primary extension. It is also more black and white looking (white ground colour to head) and contrasting with Herring generally appearing browner. In flight the blackish primaries and coverts and lack of a pale inner primary window are obvious differentiating features. The rump is typically whiter appearing. The tertials are typically narrowly and evenly outlined with white while in the Herring Gull the tertials are usually more speckled at the tips. All these points can be seen in the following illustrative pictures.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS8Fvm103gQRd7W7HrDjzSeDFRptlHovrueXD-iaVt9tH0wf4bqDKD3D_5QjyeU10FrH90B6Q6kmUEYuZZomZlUrqz_YR2xYmF5LzsDBMDbqC8y53PWiuwBUCFlrKXEJBe3OPoh4Xuoemz/s1600/9lbbgssm0121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS8Fvm103gQRd7W7HrDjzSeDFRptlHovrueXD-iaVt9tH0wf4bqDKD3D_5QjyeU10FrH90B6Q6kmUEYuZZomZlUrqz_YR2xYmF5LzsDBMDbqC8y53PWiuwBUCFlrKXEJBe3OPoh4Xuoemz/s400/9lbbgssm0121.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Juvenile Lesser black-backed Gull</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp0xQ2SXIrIpWsNv9AbwBxMr7lSN5FgVsejLxCjUh4aFNAdykF4LF6gGQnJ8ILk8ofELBSFVVey8aJueJntGTd8Z2FzP5w63BU_KVwxPrNBBS9O2qLvv4yBDgMomeg1Oq-cVnpGWjG0TSL/s1600/9hgssm0112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp0xQ2SXIrIpWsNv9AbwBxMr7lSN5FgVsejLxCjUh4aFNAdykF4LF6gGQnJ8ILk8ofELBSFVVey8aJueJntGTd8Z2FzP5w63BU_KVwxPrNBBS9O2qLvv4yBDgMomeg1Oq-cVnpGWjG0TSL/s400/9hgssm0112.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Juvenile American Herring Gull</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">After my "possible" European type Herring Gull experience last year I decided to keep a close eye out this year for similar birds. It didn't take long to find a couple interesting birds. The first bird I noted flying by as it had a very noticeable large white rump. Unfortunately I only got one not so great flight shot.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNTdee7u6lkuT8UxLybXEvioF_jMZ12Zk_0dqRjVcl9BOHRhpr_bzFczT58w513sKkWbhWxY7OcGbpeO4-E39BHhwJ5-03d8I0UyHGeV_9tqy4e-XKjcGTwOXCCl1Pwu0kmVtIJ9M6A47I/s1600/9chg0015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNTdee7u6lkuT8UxLybXEvioF_jMZ12Zk_0dqRjVcl9BOHRhpr_bzFczT58w513sKkWbhWxY7OcGbpeO4-E39BHhwJ5-03d8I0UyHGeV_9tqy4e-XKjcGTwOXCCl1Pwu0kmVtIJ9M6A47I/s400/9chg0015.jpg" width="302" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">White-rumped Gull ( Juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Interesting. Quite dark primaries, secondaries and coverts with out much of a inner primary window. The rump is really sparsely marked with a narrow tail band. Kind of Lesser Black-backed like but has a brownish head and otherwise seems ok for a Herring.<span style="color: red;"> Addendum-After looking at this pic a few times I am wondering if this isn't the/a juv Lesser Black-backed. KZ</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">Took a careful look at the above bird and compared it to shots of the juvenile Lesser Black-backed present at same time. I came to the conclusion that I could not definitively rule out that they are the same bird. Although the tail band on the above bird seems narrower with a whiter and less heavily marked rump this maybe just related to the fanning of the tail and the poor quality of the first picture. I couldn't find anything else that clearly differentiates these two birds.</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYTj0mSg8u1Mg8rHMoJwKB8XG6J_4IwjUfDp9RvScs2yyXhg2lj4qb4FmycR_TSkkh7caI01NnbVPs1NMGyvzbt0gllgwiPY_dRpJdLydI5wjoZqbhyphenhyphenz7KDOLjRF464v5LxPBfoS1v7WRu/s1600/9lbbg0017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYTj0mSg8u1Mg8rHMoJwKB8XG6J_4IwjUfDp9RvScs2yyXhg2lj4qb4FmycR_TSkkh7caI01NnbVPs1NMGyvzbt0gllgwiPY_dRpJdLydI5wjoZqbhyphenhyphenz7KDOLjRF464v5LxPBfoS1v7WRu/s400/9lbbg0017.jpg" width="345" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">Juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull </span></div><span style="color: red;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The next bird was more Euro Herring Gull-like. Very checkered appearing with a narrow tail band. The bird caught my eye with its paler, contrasty, checkered look. Sure enough when it flew the tail band was considerably narrowed from the standard american Herring Gull.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwFj1BA619BUnFfL4dibnbkKYKo5N_V995NH1LiU6tVnMp6Sq4-Oapi4SQbCDIq6bfgXM4qUwxYjf13j6Uei4ijLCvrEdtBiuNmvMsZHcQa54LJr5RFIZsmCWRmuq981vgSzVZWg6mSCl-/s1600/9chgssm0140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwFj1BA619BUnFfL4dibnbkKYKo5N_V995NH1LiU6tVnMp6Sq4-Oapi4SQbCDIq6bfgXM4qUwxYjf13j6Uei4ijLCvrEdtBiuNmvMsZHcQa54LJr5RFIZsmCWRmuq981vgSzVZWg6mSCl-/s400/9chgssm0140.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1XtFjKwiDwOf81WMJqeEfmxqa2EMn0TQGDA1yZFKJzW-ToWgyujXcIPEOaIqJsEVJlH7LmXg2r8FkPYVF7otP6iSdpPUwLH-2ceAF9eT2o6Q5mg13D0Xe2V4dYHRXL4EIInx2cxbl120I/s1600/9chg0146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1XtFjKwiDwOf81WMJqeEfmxqa2EMn0TQGDA1yZFKJzW-ToWgyujXcIPEOaIqJsEVJlH7LmXg2r8FkPYVF7otP6iSdpPUwLH-2ceAF9eT2o6Q5mg13D0Xe2V4dYHRXL4EIInx2cxbl120I/s400/9chg0146.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Checkered" American Herring Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It seems that this variation which I am going to call "Checkered" American Herring Gulls isn't all that uncommon. Whether it is just a plumage variation or a "population" from some specific site remains to be answered. I am going to see how many of these birds I can document this fall and will report back with more details later.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One last interesting observation from today. I watched a Ring-billed Gull chase a juvenile Herring Gull with a large morsel of some type of food item. It harassed it and actually jumped it forcing it to drop its goodies which the Ring-billed recovered and made off with. Most unusual as Ring-billeds in my experience almost never challenge the larger gulls and at the landfill hang out around the edges of the gull mass and out of the way of the usually far more aggressive Herrings.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiosMuc2OBQy2GLveURoI7ofwpl9_E92pxc0eXq-b78VRKlgEXOPgYeCOMeXReGI-jvt7vqTpKvVmZO1OBMzfeiUqdydmjJ_xlQsvLjdQA113ZJDyJCqZTupHOef45sc5YrR-K_ifYVOO_e/s1600/9rbvsh0200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiosMuc2OBQy2GLveURoI7ofwpl9_E92pxc0eXq-b78VRKlgEXOPgYeCOMeXReGI-jvt7vqTpKvVmZO1OBMzfeiUqdydmjJ_xlQsvLjdQA113ZJDyJCqZTupHOef45sc5YrR-K_ifYVOO_e/s400/9rbvsh0200.jpg" width="317" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgANDlrkbwIgOrKO2VL1YPI3k0RGfE_DgTLeFUArxwN1izgg_wXLbjkDAlaOHg_AgXEwwpq96_X3eYIdTnNKNoM2Xhzp_MGNJubc_e-q6wBHVNngP7N280rONuYl6CVzJQkJw6OZpECRn/s1600/9rbvsh0203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgANDlrkbwIgOrKO2VL1YPI3k0RGfE_DgTLeFUArxwN1izgg_wXLbjkDAlaOHg_AgXEwwpq96_X3eYIdTnNKNoM2Xhzp_MGNJubc_e-q6wBHVNngP7N280rONuYl6CVzJQkJw6OZpECRn/s400/9rbvsh0203.jpg" width="311" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidyijUQjeX16HBOMthdd-07-wsGGInM3sfmG8FiA3rUiYRw4Ls_YAw_XXMb_jjkMCar1QdvmLKbZIseUOQlU9jD5x9UYzjdJFi4n3HfCVcu2jEbTB_03UcwtHNyALCwhky3w0c2b-V-oxg/s1600/9rbvsh0205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidyijUQjeX16HBOMthdd-07-wsGGInM3sfmG8FiA3rUiYRw4Ls_YAw_XXMb_jjkMCar1QdvmLKbZIseUOQlU9jD5x9UYzjdJFi4n3HfCVcu2jEbTB_03UcwtHNyALCwhky3w0c2b-V-oxg/s400/9rbvsh0205.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ring-billed Gull robbing Herring Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the picture there doesn't seem to be much of a size difference between these two birds. Maybe a large male Ring-billed vs. a small female Herring?</div><br />
I thought I might finish with a few pictures from my spring/summer travels. In April after viewing the Greater Sage Grouse lekking in Walden, Colorado I spent a couple hours photographing some stunning high breeding plumaged California Gulls. I thought this was likely L. c. albertaensis but after checking in Howell & Dunn it appears the Colorado sbsp is the nominate L.c.californicus.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG_37Rjn7b9J6cfKY1hfHQPRRhC43xN1rkKMWh-gzfxW2312XGt1aArY8qQ7zpjCeAssMHFTXv0s1YazSBCFBgQK7tYiTlfIk256_98-BZ0wY2Mwzp_Etfff-eSdF4PbIUN84NHZSbvIyU/s1600/9cgco5529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG_37Rjn7b9J6cfKY1hfHQPRRhC43xN1rkKMWh-gzfxW2312XGt1aArY8qQ7zpjCeAssMHFTXv0s1YazSBCFBgQK7tYiTlfIk256_98-BZ0wY2Mwzp_Etfff-eSdF4PbIUN84NHZSbvIyU/s400/9cgco5529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw619jDv55gXCRdURtB_r4B18O28SncGq4kIP6lIfbu1t9EUlrTyLNHFYJ9ae_glk3cwQKAAzkGXASfo7gQDiMbhcxPMNzgZ4dQ5HNpaxCDWtCRzuVSMKg8Tl4kKAAxViIOVuk6ZVHoS-Q/s1600/9cgco5518.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw619jDv55gXCRdURtB_r4B18O28SncGq4kIP6lIfbu1t9EUlrTyLNHFYJ9ae_glk3cwQKAAzkGXASfo7gQDiMbhcxPMNzgZ4dQ5HNpaxCDWtCRzuVSMKg8Tl4kKAAxViIOVuk6ZVHoS-Q/s320/9cgco5518.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9nwYFOu3Fyaykntg_9RYGctlhKBhRXggOxjSfH1JGhcEbC8i0VoEPQK-onQkdh65RxeeHhwT5J8blIDXspcME-jOPauVUbbDyfTnAd4_Wo7gqsOT5YRSoqvOofCkl4seHzxvwRN8O8q1y/s1600/9cgco5686.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9nwYFOu3Fyaykntg_9RYGctlhKBhRXggOxjSfH1JGhcEbC8i0VoEPQK-onQkdh65RxeeHhwT5J8blIDXspcME-jOPauVUbbDyfTnAd4_Wo7gqsOT5YRSoqvOofCkl4seHzxvwRN8O8q1y/s320/9cgco5686.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwjWU-Oe7s2VMSIxnOk5KGAtXaUbsmcHao1h8YrPuXJ7uYuJV7JAwSbBVzKBc0nJRbAVelRF_VCXOeHKEk3es_qImV7eRVbp4ZZZnrbz4-Ir3W1SmZ4Us9XdiYp8uWTq1i_Mf_0laOjM_i/s1600/9cgco5590.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwjWU-Oe7s2VMSIxnOk5KGAtXaUbsmcHao1h8YrPuXJ7uYuJV7JAwSbBVzKBc0nJRbAVelRF_VCXOeHKEk3es_qImV7eRVbp4ZZZnrbz4-Ir3W1SmZ4Us9XdiYp8uWTq1i_Mf_0laOjM_i/s320/9cgco5590.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult California Gulls-April, Walden, Colorado</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In May I spent ten days cruising the Aleutians with a group of intrepid birders led by John Puschock <b>(Zugunrhue Bird Tours)</b>. We started at Adak cruised out to Attu spent a week birding the island and then cruised back all the way to Dutch Harbor. Millions of seabirds including 1000s of Albatrosses of 3 species (including 12 Short-taileds of all ages), 14 sp. of alcid with 1000s of Whiskered Auklets, a scattering of Mottled Petrels, Fork-tailed Storm Petrels and rivers of Short-tailed Shearwaters made this the pelagic trip of a lifetime. We did see many Red-legged Kittiwakes, a single Slaty-backed Gull and numbers of the commoner gull species. There is no words to describe the thrill and excitement of this experience and I would highly recommend this trip to all.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEZ377Qw-ZDVALsU1OSPLgzxVg2yPdvOqt6Y4iLl8HiDyuUZBRwuoflozIEprsRn9lqXZXR2Ngs5uZoq1oHdHWPxWBP0kyDkZ-3vJlYb0gesB8x6b2wu1vn5Vcvpz6sKYWXZAXtS5V_HV/s1600/9gwgak12286.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEZ377Qw-ZDVALsU1OSPLgzxVg2yPdvOqt6Y4iLl8HiDyuUZBRwuoflozIEprsRn9lqXZXR2Ngs5uZoq1oHdHWPxWBP0kyDkZ-3vJlYb0gesB8x6b2wu1vn5Vcvpz6sKYWXZAXtS5V_HV/s400/9gwgak12286.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Glaucous-winged Gull at Attu</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-AE0uivjFo9XPUtKhZ2eaAvYCxf9r9raUlijU3jAoOnuodqZulkoNao9bLNqrLVJL4epi5xSo4TsqiX4DCNufDOypabC13HFxqdiiqTjaLJ7ffwPj-a4qld1i9niXr-zvhFxQTT17D-xo/s1600/9gwg10603.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-AE0uivjFo9XPUtKhZ2eaAvYCxf9r9raUlijU3jAoOnuodqZulkoNao9bLNqrLVJL4epi5xSo4TsqiX4DCNufDOypabC13HFxqdiiqTjaLJ7ffwPj-a4qld1i9niXr-zvhFxQTT17D-xo/s400/9gwg10603.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Glaucous-winged Gull somewhere in the Aleutians</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-SsRW1JWgrdFUb7_XGzFpGydV3XLIk5HSeRaDrxy_R-GTITguAx5vl_Xn3GhVHEEKHyiQMLyV5NRvrHahotl6IVRewpXvVKbK1kMoxA7XFD5h9r8mzvKC7Nx61n59pw6g74Ip8G1NYm71/s1600/9laak10846.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-SsRW1JWgrdFUb7_XGzFpGydV3XLIk5HSeRaDrxy_R-GTITguAx5vl_Xn3GhVHEEKHyiQMLyV5NRvrHahotl6IVRewpXvVKbK1kMoxA7XFD5h9r8mzvKC7Nx61n59pw6g74Ip8G1NYm71/s400/9laak10846.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Aleutian Great Black-backed Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbK1LlM4ElfMv1OWKWETLBzu-iB_uXnxyAW1h6ha8MN5A0K7Vz2c7BJikCyOeiagLVvYY69nF5PatIGmYR4TQ3JhV9zbiHDY1TMegaHhCwnHS-ZQVSxPRBEe7j8iWD6YSGLm41Eh29Us74/s1600/9staak13659.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="327" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbK1LlM4ElfMv1OWKWETLBzu-iB_uXnxyAW1h6ha8MN5A0K7Vz2c7BJikCyOeiagLVvYY69nF5PatIGmYR4TQ3JhV9zbiHDY1TMegaHhCwnHS-ZQVSxPRBEe7j8iWD6YSGLm41Eh29Us74/s400/9staak13659.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Aleutian Even Greater Brown-backed Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A few from various California ports of call.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1OQwHa44E_dbbMYT_AVGvEn7JJWsN9Tk0zq3odyf9tIzFwM-zQbABfHf2iRpAY_1oMikU_qN28dP_BKXDSf79xDawNKzuKeTQiUofTac1DXdPSNRObSLcNTk8yDz2mqtL2ubv99P7AhjK/s1600/9chgca16393sc2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1OQwHa44E_dbbMYT_AVGvEn7JJWsN9Tk0zq3odyf9tIzFwM-zQbABfHf2iRpAY_1oMikU_qN28dP_BKXDSf79xDawNKzuKeTQiUofTac1DXdPSNRObSLcNTk8yDz2mqtL2ubv99P7AhjK/s400/9chgca16393sc2.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult winter Heerman's Gull at Tijuana Slough NWR</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGbzK7I7DWtKauKY_8jgoPtypt37PzGZGo85o8Z7C6mBSeInqwPU1u-QcwZVF4txaICSh4NEgml2_P5blriGF8UGJsVDFg3klrOmTLkZpaEbSysbUn0CVomk7KO2lk6sXofruA1vw_3Lce/s1600/9cwgjca15867.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGbzK7I7DWtKauKY_8jgoPtypt37PzGZGo85o8Z7C6mBSeInqwPU1u-QcwZVF4txaICSh4NEgml2_P5blriGF8UGJsVDFg3klrOmTLkZpaEbSysbUn0CVomk7KO2lk6sXofruA1vw_3Lce/s400/9cwgjca15867.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Western Gull at Mission Bay</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2CCP87PMh0AFRlYMYExf8D3Y0a2UlZiHTASipRRllYgNqcilWJIPTOiPbvrvElidlRFZwIayubceZRGf9OMcvgQp4Oxr_V5O9gkq2qLG1t_tWgrc_ZNF7vqB8iUYMH_XfGef-IKz-pneh/s1600/9cwg2wca15875.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2CCP87PMh0AFRlYMYExf8D3Y0a2UlZiHTASipRRllYgNqcilWJIPTOiPbvrvElidlRFZwIayubceZRGf9OMcvgQp4Oxr_V5O9gkq2qLG1t_tWgrc_ZNF7vqB8iUYMH_XfGef-IKz-pneh/s400/9cwg2wca15875.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Second winter western Gull at Mission Bay</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilpeNM0LxPqGVDVTPWama5K2F5hYLLIfzKjaP6MtHQT3PFUFaLNERrctx5Cca4qcwc2lzFmlRIcc9NKu_vgnnbhIELbyC6FeZY10c0ynfN0lLm8_PV9iV203coi5e2nU3e3ub4qBGke_Eh/s1600/9cwgca16686.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilpeNM0LxPqGVDVTPWama5K2F5hYLLIfzKjaP6MtHQT3PFUFaLNERrctx5Cca4qcwc2lzFmlRIcc9NKu_vgnnbhIELbyC6FeZY10c0ynfN0lLm8_PV9iV203coi5e2nU3e3ub4qBGke_Eh/s400/9cwgca16686.jpg" width="313" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Third winter Western Gull of San Diego</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio-G9KptnwetDmFl2E9bX0FNWt3V6G8iSv5yrPzhErjOfEtMxFjEmrZflIULxL7RWiGBNU5fk883riWW2cj5faZzIPfef3eNJx4Siy-f5Kb7vqWaKFPFl_LwbY0oRRprADgbpD5Fz2AKsl/s1600/9hgca0153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio-G9KptnwetDmFl2E9bX0FNWt3V6G8iSv5yrPzhErjOfEtMxFjEmrZflIULxL7RWiGBNU5fk883riWW2cj5faZzIPfef3eNJx4Siy-f5Kb7vqWaKFPFl_LwbY0oRRprADgbpD5Fz2AKsl/s400/9hgca0153.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">First winter Heerman's Gull of Half Moon Bay</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One for the road:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHcB0MTSsN6FUpToGhL-WK9rqbHzQDmXIHG93Tdijky_tGrcDwcGe3yIO63c4g3vII67mSFnIx5EmKbk46S5Vom5jucbgcSUdRiASsBvDbiNGIa0hfFPmPwEKnsiAzirpdIYO2RyGw6tl6/s1600/9cbfaca17192.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHcB0MTSsN6FUpToGhL-WK9rqbHzQDmXIHG93Tdijky_tGrcDwcGe3yIO63c4g3vII67mSFnIx5EmKbk46S5Vom5jucbgcSUdRiASsBvDbiNGIa0hfFPmPwEKnsiAzirpdIYO2RyGw6tl6/s400/9cbfaca17192.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Black-footed Albatross impersonating a juvenile Western Gull </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Cheers</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Kirk Zufelt</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">zufelt_k@shaw.ca</div>Kirk Zufelthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14223956713828841853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2525284487032503296.post-30579022137633413332010-03-07T18:49:00.000-08:002010-03-07T19:01:41.161-08:00Comment on CommentsI have had some good comments posted bringing my attention to the occasional error in the blog. I certainly appreciate any comments or insights into any of the unanswered questions I raise. I had a interesting comment on the first part of "The Does Size Matter?" post. I have no way of responding directly back to the individual so I thought I would respond in the Blog. The comment is below:<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">"It seems if you study a photo too hard you lose perspective. Your "big" Kumlien's Gull is certainly not that species - not even close. It is without doubt a Herring x Glaucous Gull. You must be aware that Glaucous Gull bill size has considerable variation among races, as well as sex. Your gull's bill is well within normal variation for Glaucous."</span></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">Response to Jake:</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Glaucous Gull is indeed made up of various races or subspecies. The nominate subspecies </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span">Larus h. hyperboreous</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span"> is the subspecies native to Canada with the nearest other subspecies being </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span">Larus h. barrovianus </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span">native to northern Alaska. I am aware of no other subspecies of Glaucous Gull other than the native nominate subspecies being recorded in Ontario. So I think "race" is not an issue. I fully agree that the bill size may well be in the range of Glaucous Gull. If you review the measurements in Olsen & Larrson their is overlap between male Kumlien's and female Glaucous in all but one of the bill measurements. The outlier was Bill Depth at Base with a less than 1mm difference. This is really my point that size and structure are very broad and overlapping even between Kumlien's and Glaucous Gulls.</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHurwOIix1crDTh4qt9YBc4iSCVVs5lkJq3qQomrx9YopXNqLBfRt_ZFeWqkhflo7hluAUwFpZmVrmrPGZLQZuIsV8W8R8XmLGzOmZOCdYF6L_8Xh0jTYlupHAvgy9Vt_MvBRXw98kzVQI/s1600-h/kg:ngssm0906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHurwOIix1crDTh4qt9YBc4iSCVVs5lkJq3qQomrx9YopXNqLBfRt_ZFeWqkhflo7hluAUwFpZmVrmrPGZLQZuIsV8W8R8XmLGzOmZOCdYF6L_8Xh0jTYlupHAvgy9Vt_MvBRXw98kzVQI/s400/kg:ngssm0906.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Kumlien's Gull- supersized</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF6iA4dNhIKIbEwq6-fkRljqCr3mfrfySn9Flak_1_6U459kzzug0Y5BkyGsCp5dHsUNk8D__PLtiUg_TXeBckPB30_q_sUq8SA7Zkln3A9KcIiWuD4QMC462qS_qjR_f0SxklmqQ-78J6/s1600-h/kg:ng+owssm0794.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF6iA4dNhIKIbEwq6-fkRljqCr3mfrfySn9Flak_1_6U459kzzug0Y5BkyGsCp5dHsUNk8D__PLtiUg_TXeBckPB30_q_sUq8SA7Zkln3A9KcIiWuD4QMC462qS_qjR_f0SxklmqQ-78J6/s400/kg:ng+owssm0794.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Kumlien's Gull- supersized with open wings</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My final determination of this bird as a Kumlien's Gull and not a Nelson's Gull is based on the primary pattern not size or structure. The primary pattern is near identical to Type e pattern of Kumlien's Gull Adults as described by Howell and Mactavish in 2003 and illustrated subsequently by Martin Elliot. This great aid to Kumlien's Gull identification is illustrated on page 252 of Howell and Dunn's - Gulls of the Americas. It strikes me as most unlikely that a Nelson's Gull would end up with a near perfect Kumlien's Gull primary pattern.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFe-XFXrgZiUZazzVpQB7oU7QQnTKtlsfLyJiVEQWIJsVNTLsq1CUTJmRtCSn8MYPUrxnD4UGayyE2uV5a3l57ErRtsx3tLZKS0ZldI5TmXa0Hul49dsF77NIi5ZDNcw2UwC0ZwrRbzPc_/s1600-h/0000kg:ng+owssm0794.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFe-XFXrgZiUZazzVpQB7oU7QQnTKtlsfLyJiVEQWIJsVNTLsq1CUTJmRtCSn8MYPUrxnD4UGayyE2uV5a3l57ErRtsx3tLZKS0ZldI5TmXa0Hul49dsF77NIi5ZDNcw2UwC0ZwrRbzPc_/s400/0000kg:ng+owssm0794.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Wing close up showing Type e Adult Kumlien's Gull primary pattern</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Although you state "your "big" Kumlien's Gull" is not that species- not even close"you fail to provide any rationale or explanation for your obvious certainty in this statement. If you are basing this on the size and structure of the bird I have clearly failed to make my point to you that this can be very misleading and is not definitive. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I would be most interested in the rationale for your claim "that this is without a doubt a Herring x Glaucous Gull". I would be pleased to add the comments to this posting. If anyone else feels this is a Nelson's Gull I would be keen on hearing why and will add the comments to the Blog.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Kirk</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Continue on for Part 2 of Does size Matter-Thayer's Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Kirk Zufelthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14223956713828841853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2525284487032503296.post-14937815041892337072010-03-07T14:31:00.000-08:002010-03-07T19:03:50.636-08:00Does Size Matter - Thayer's Gull Part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
Before getting down to the size issue I wanted to share some thoughts on the Thayer-Kumlien's-Iceland Gull taxonomy question.<br />
<br />
My understanding is that the most prevalent school of thought among Canadian ornithologist (scientists who actually base their theories on evidence rather than casual observations) is that this is one widely variable species. Since I am not an ornithologist but a birder I am entitled to draw conclusions based on my casual observations and feel no need to support these (however wild they may be) with any data or evidence.<br />
<br />
I just can't believe that Thayer's and Iceland Gull are one species. I can however and do believe that Thayer's and Iceland Gull are distinct species that hybridize readily and these hybrids form a large swarm which we currently refer to as Kumlien's Gull. This seems very similar to what is evolving now with the Western-Olympic-Glaucous-winged Gull complex. Maybe 1500 years ago the Thayer's-Iceland Gulls were at this same point. The single species concept just doesn't make sense to me. The incredible variability of Kumlien's in all features and the seeming randomness of these features (ie a dark eye in a very petite, finely structured bird) to me seems in keeping with a hybrid swarm more so than a true cline one would expect in a single species. Just my amateur two cents worth.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWgCN9xit8eNldMBt3NUdswkskAcJTx6bSgcv0OTWENFcTpujkTOnpaJYz0r-LwhXHCO4VgDLkcDXoP-Jqxe-6nefAjybvdknKXEELXwcYGIcHokLjbvcx7Q4hes23TfiypTdssAuzpbaG/s1600-h/11aaatkmflightssm8545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWgCN9xit8eNldMBt3NUdswkskAcJTx6bSgcv0OTWENFcTpujkTOnpaJYz0r-LwhXHCO4VgDLkcDXoP-Jqxe-6nefAjybvdknKXEELXwcYGIcHokLjbvcx7Q4hes23TfiypTdssAuzpbaG/s400/11aaatkmflightssm8545.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Thayers/Kulmliens Gull "intergrade"</div><br />
<br />
Thayer's Gull is thought of by many as a relatively finely structured gull with a rounder head and finer bill than the Herring. Indeed the females are usually structured in this fashion. This however is not a diagnostic field mark at all. The male Thayer's can be quite robust and to my eye are near indistinguishable from the Herring Gull by structure. In fact many male Thayer's are much more robust and "Herring Gull-like" in structure than the female Herrings. In the field I look closely at all the round headed petite look birds with most of them ending up being Herrings. The bottom line is the structure is a good way to narrow down the field but it is far from diagnostic.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqm3m6Rm4SofPKDfpyLuPe6ZBjs_3jWAMqsoiaENUeWVwASFw3qejMpjCY62j62M_owZ-W_wmhlNWhTNg81h0RVnLDNhOK2HDLoY1li-b40r1pHtlQx5WrYlFevMyTRCwUNjKsaCQ41fej/s1600-h/tgprimlarus426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqm3m6Rm4SofPKDfpyLuPe6ZBjs_3jWAMqsoiaENUeWVwASFw3qejMpjCY62j62M_owZ-W_wmhlNWhTNg81h0RVnLDNhOK2HDLoY1li-b40r1pHtlQx5WrYlFevMyTRCwUNjKsaCQ41fej/s400/tgprimlarus426.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Thayer's Gull</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPkzH2EWb1Edt8OHY8N1xU-ocD3G6FQVJx3HNx-Z1Pt1EcD-6ZerpMooP7pnj-RmyZUunFxANzYXuv_XxrHsVYf6zLuOPUbf7VCTatroIGKK6wMGY4EwdG-Re4pYqI8Y6YyGpWoGFap6Nb/s1600-h/sizetgssm330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPkzH2EWb1Edt8OHY8N1xU-ocD3G6FQVJx3HNx-Z1Pt1EcD-6ZerpMooP7pnj-RmyZUunFxANzYXuv_XxrHsVYf6zLuOPUbf7VCTatroIGKK6wMGY4EwdG-Re4pYqI8Y6YyGpWoGFap6Nb/s400/sizetgssm330.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Thayer's Gull</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ViRFOv24sBWgZIf3VEOxApiWunQnzAUIqDRLRvLmv2iSCmaIjJMMHs93XAB-rc6kIbi6gN0ENAuhKgTVif9eRrkb4tufoq6pR5V7WCRhZQTcISRHSI2NoDdlkcpsSpu7stmw0qG9Vn7b/s1600-h/tglarus2684.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ViRFOv24sBWgZIf3VEOxApiWunQnzAUIqDRLRvLmv2iSCmaIjJMMHs93XAB-rc6kIbi6gN0ENAuhKgTVif9eRrkb4tufoq6pR5V7WCRhZQTcISRHSI2NoDdlkcpsSpu7stmw0qG9Vn7b/s400/tglarus2684.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Thayer's Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP-XY3RihWUzNVxn9PjJu_sYF0sgHWT3sBXJZAGjwisaQnzhkzooLyo_FmsxrUwb6Pf2l62u7aZ3QYyAIhJsAf8yaLyPcn8mwU1KRc5BwEDRsq1SKMvwCGhgBrtQdgcY1ncAgyuoePB67d/s1600-h/tgssm4878.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP-XY3RihWUzNVxn9PjJu_sYF0sgHWT3sBXJZAGjwisaQnzhkzooLyo_FmsxrUwb6Pf2l62u7aZ3QYyAIhJsAf8yaLyPcn8mwU1KRc5BwEDRsq1SKMvwCGhgBrtQdgcY1ncAgyuoePB67d/s400/tgssm4878.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Thayer's Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The above Thayer's Gull are almost certainly males and are quite robust. I think the only real consistent structural difference between these birds and many Herring Gulls would be a proportionately slightly smaller bill. The top two birds are especially dark and stalky. To me these very dark birds are quite distinctive and I wonder if they originate from a specific area of the Arctic or are they just randomly distributed in the population? Below are several pictures of a fairly typical "dark type" Thayer's Gull note the flat head, relatively robust bill and deep chest -hardly petite. I included an open-winged shot at the end in case anyone was thinking this was a Herring Gull.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigsJRFZrnU7nVQiAIj3ksoG13uPQDyrUsCJY_zRl3yCx4djYzpB9yFolLeqT28nbUqr4zK2ikhAmaJ6yi1V_FWZsutB0aLLmoaFK3mIPBCU02HDbSTbBA_v8QjrKcLi3BUdogHWh1siScY/s1600-h/sizetgdafter33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="327" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigsJRFZrnU7nVQiAIj3ksoG13uPQDyrUsCJY_zRl3yCx4djYzpB9yFolLeqT28nbUqr4zK2ikhAmaJ6yi1V_FWZsutB0aLLmoaFK3mIPBCU02HDbSTbBA_v8QjrKcLi3BUdogHWh1siScY/s400/sizetgdafter33.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Thayer's Gull "dark type"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigsJRFZrnU7nVQiAIj3ksoG13uPQDyrUsCJY_zRl3yCx4djYzpB9yFolLeqT28nbUqr4zK2ikhAmaJ6yi1V_FWZsutB0aLLmoaFK3mIPBCU02HDbSTbBA_v8QjrKcLi3BUdogHWh1siScY/s1600-h/sizetgdafter33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTMOHKH4AchuFv1YHVZRoJ-QNM9NH2lKwAvaS-O-YJgMVP1upSlW9avhri6HGtWdy9MStPO6M6v2TpBANDWXEhUy1YIM9k610n6UEyyiVMwaxhwNm6S7JZdVJCfFbP8Uz26yPE2ElqCDPF/s1600-h/sizetgdafter23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTMOHKH4AchuFv1YHVZRoJ-QNM9NH2lKwAvaS-O-YJgMVP1upSlW9avhri6HGtWdy9MStPO6M6v2TpBANDWXEhUy1YIM9k610n6UEyyiVMwaxhwNm6S7JZdVJCfFbP8Uz26yPE2ElqCDPF/s400/sizetgdafter23.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Thayer's Gull "dark type"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMaLgVYDJ763Q4cYPeYXaqWSJAuFqyIg1I69Jd0-boGnoF2DnLxARcDh1soSHICCv8XqhKxAfpfS2X4teBYwQ-D7nO_74TQWiBb8YhPREdpJ3mQ-9sMRZCLsYuTmjK9Te9ePBTdybnQR_S/s1600-h/sizttgdafter12_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMaLgVYDJ763Q4cYPeYXaqWSJAuFqyIg1I69Jd0-boGnoF2DnLxARcDh1soSHICCv8XqhKxAfpfS2X4teBYwQ-D7nO_74TQWiBb8YhPREdpJ3mQ-9sMRZCLsYuTmjK9Te9ePBTdybnQR_S/s400/sizttgdafter12_2.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Thayer's Gull "dark type"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMaLgVYDJ763Q4cYPeYXaqWSJAuFqyIg1I69Jd0-boGnoF2DnLxARcDh1soSHICCv8XqhKxAfpfS2X4teBYwQ-D7nO_74TQWiBb8YhPREdpJ3mQ-9sMRZCLsYuTmjK9Te9ePBTdybnQR_S/s1600-h/sizttgdafter12_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8gQz5MqM2tUoCVkQuSuBHe-TAafqW3t7d1h3k5OIB_5uLbkhrh9IqdaLci7OgnBSuVG5MuCh3PHjZbt_W6UKrj-zjV5BgDf6PO8fEw7t8fNh0tAgOtJwvGimLMkMpqTyBWY3pQxY9mESd/s1600-h/sizeowtgdafter26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8gQz5MqM2tUoCVkQuSuBHe-TAafqW3t7d1h3k5OIB_5uLbkhrh9IqdaLci7OgnBSuVG5MuCh3PHjZbt_W6UKrj-zjV5BgDf6PO8fEw7t8fNh0tAgOtJwvGimLMkMpqTyBWY3pQxY9mESd/s400/sizeowtgdafter26.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Thayer's Gull "dark type"</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The larger robust real dark Thayer's Gulls are not what I would call rare here on eastern Lake Superior. I would guesstimate they may make up 1:20 Thayer's Gulls seen, but it seems to vary year to year with more over the last few years.<br />
<br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The female Thayer's Gull certainly leans much more towards Iceland/Kumlien's Gull structurally. The head is often very rounded and dove-like with a finer bill. Some males certainly may share these structural traits. Since this is the sole way (that I am aware of) of differentiating sex in the field - there is really no "gold standard" to determine the accuracy of this trait in assigning sex. The bill measurements (in mm) in "Olsen & Larsson" are quite helpful in addressing this issue</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Bill</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">__________________________________________________________</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Adult male 46.8-55.5 (50.5) </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Adult female 44.0-54.2 (47.8)</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">First-year male 40.5-50.0 (45.8)</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">First year female 38.3- 48.3 (42.8) <br />
<br />
Bill Depth at Gonys<br />
__________________________________________________________<br />
Adult male 15.6-18.8 (17.5)<br />
Adult female 14.4-18.5 (15.8) <br />
First-year male 12.3-16.4 (14.3)<br />
First-year female 9.8-16.0 (13.5)<br />
<br />
<br />
Bill Depth at Base<br />
__________________________________________________________<br />
Adult male 16.8-20.4 (18.4)<br />
Adult female 14.1-18.8 (16.6)<br />
First-year male 13.4-18.5 (15.8)<br />
First year female 10.9-16.6 (14.1)<br />
<br />
Olsen & Larsson, Gulls of North America, Europe and Asia, 2004. p.-234<br />
<br />
<br />
The most striking thing in these numbers is that first year birds have decidedly smaller bills then adult birds regardless of sex. If we use bill size as a marker for structure it would seem safe to say that robustly structured juvenile birds are probably males while more finely structured birds could be either sex. If we look at the adults the maximum dimensions vary by only .3, 1.3, and 1.6mm. Thus I think more robustly structured adults could be either sex. The variation in minimum bill size measurements between adult sexes are 1.2, 2.7, 2.8mm. Thus it might be reasonable to assume that the more finely structured adults are females.<br />
<br />
So my three conclusions are such:<br />
<br />
1. Robustly structured juvenile Thayer's Gulls with larger bills are probably males.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRzbj3Gn7D7gVkR8KxT7pB8vlhVSoB6BbRByILmKk51yDfF8FrK3zc_2_wAN2NFKliIK3l1LWy19u1oiglK7abYPqS1Qzhp7eRPl0APn_FG_pCjSnbotgY750qEOhEeuookHjfv1TMrHxS/s1600-h/ssssmalesizetgdafter33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRzbj3Gn7D7gVkR8KxT7pB8vlhVSoB6BbRByILmKk51yDfF8FrK3zc_2_wAN2NFKliIK3l1LWy19u1oiglK7abYPqS1Qzhp7eRPl0APn_FG_pCjSnbotgY750qEOhEeuookHjfv1TMrHxS/s400/ssssmalesizetgdafter33.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Thayer's Gull- male</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">2. Finely structured adult Thayer's Gulls with smaller bills are probably females.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC0rs24dV38RKNbIbkDoyHxUh2fv4dsDNB1RF7rwow_GcfOVpyEFnBN9DZFVPIJENj6jYj3oVHBC5cwcV8sim2P4pxqOfb31X-qw4SpMHMPbJjrioERPk5cwR3YE8ZuExIJLFlDJ_nu2AT/s1600-h/sssssssstkssmhead8650larus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC0rs24dV38RKNbIbkDoyHxUh2fv4dsDNB1RF7rwow_GcfOVpyEFnBN9DZFVPIJENj6jYj3oVHBC5cwcV8sim2P4pxqOfb31X-qw4SpMHMPbJjrioERPk5cwR3YE8ZuExIJLFlDJ_nu2AT/s400/sssssssstkssmhead8650larus.jpg" width="381" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Adult Thayer's Gull-female</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">3. Finely structured juvenile and robustly structured adult Thayer's Gulls can not be accurately sexed in the field.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_lTygaAJJ-oB48qYakz3yK55MASBeiCARcKhIVJj81Yikv2DDOJUP2uMSKakd7nUxmJ7_4gU6IK3AOx6Lk5DZ8tKmN3sLPS-De2IHsODflhf4MogmcT12_llUbL7S0NhSS1igU6Ybcdh9/s1600-h/ssszzzzzzthayerhead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_lTygaAJJ-oB48qYakz3yK55MASBeiCARcKhIVJj81Yikv2DDOJUP2uMSKakd7nUxmJ7_4gU6IK3AOx6Lk5DZ8tKmN3sLPS-De2IHsODflhf4MogmcT12_llUbL7S0NhSS1igU6Ybcdh9/s400/ssszzzzzzthayerhead.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Adult Thayer's Gull - male or female</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVbjr5Y5rEQkZzmK4yr5O2YNNceHrw6eT0Nog71RMkQvN80UkBF4qjikd5fgF8E0K731Z61PyPAee87SKyDu1vIF_1rvhnWWlsvQKm-HlK2cvwGzQi07v72oPRwpzdJUZMnVf2ORdXYwe/s1600-h/xyzsize111tgssm2788.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVbjr5Y5rEQkZzmK4yr5O2YNNceHrw6eT0Nog71RMkQvN80UkBF4qjikd5fgF8E0K731Z61PyPAee87SKyDu1vIF_1rvhnWWlsvQKm-HlK2cvwGzQi07v72oPRwpzdJUZMnVf2ORdXYwe/s400/xyzsize111tgssm2788.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Juvenile Thayer's Gull- male or female</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I realize that given the sample numbers and the lack of any statistical analysis that this is pseudo-science at best (my conclusions not Olsen & Larrson's measurements). Given that I do this for fun and statistics is anything but - I accept the possibility that my conclusions fall a bit short of being "proven".</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I have posted below a few more Thayer's gull pictures illustrating the vast variation in structure</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC9UhJCXvNuq3S5aQQX1gaHw8nrqKXKJgVNVXeIYbEdfJZs9d57-KL0eLEzVexOw800ggPoiuN8i5eb6NiivXJMk__Cp235S8DVYkMwt_8NfKzA2elVc1Gcr-6aULDsZ2VXGClfAnGRjHt/s1600-h/ssztgassm192.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC9UhJCXvNuq3S5aQQX1gaHw8nrqKXKJgVNVXeIYbEdfJZs9d57-KL0eLEzVexOw800ggPoiuN8i5eb6NiivXJMk__Cp235S8DVYkMwt_8NfKzA2elVc1Gcr-6aULDsZ2VXGClfAnGRjHt/s400/ssztgassm192.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Adult Thayer's Gull - robust structure</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtZW40nG3bQdfi2_ILNXumX3zUO-KJtXGu33gIl8QB55m0Avn_WO0SOX1pNicbM_Jbc0zE4vFQhyphenhyphenahCN1L2pZxjHu18Vr4EcOpJ4vBAGAKvzEVq09-bylYaWQTG89tD2Qp_6eYTWYz6Dmj/s1600-h/sssztgssm18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtZW40nG3bQdfi2_ILNXumX3zUO-KJtXGu33gIl8QB55m0Avn_WO0SOX1pNicbM_Jbc0zE4vFQhyphenhyphenahCN1L2pZxjHu18Vr4EcOpJ4vBAGAKvzEVq09-bylYaWQTG89tD2Qp_6eYTWYz6Dmj/s400/sssztgssm18.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Second winter Thayer's Gull -robust structure</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxFrT3-Ji2k2UBlDsATexqnQudAacANnmvfXkiz8T4wcjxvkHDtlQEUm41Bwsy8FWD2VNHksAP50sye1wk8Kvs_2nl4AMFXTFmWjGHHH0uBANCBY2AMsVPdhzK0cIVgOB1B6L9RAHve0lC/s1600-h/ssztg1cssm0008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxFrT3-Ji2k2UBlDsATexqnQudAacANnmvfXkiz8T4wcjxvkHDtlQEUm41Bwsy8FWD2VNHksAP50sye1wk8Kvs_2nl4AMFXTFmWjGHHH0uBANCBY2AMsVPdhzK0cIVgOB1B6L9RAHve0lC/s400/ssztg1cssm0008.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Juvenile Thayer's- robust structure</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXEIv7dueIz_8kcT_kZa3fWm41JSzp2P2ZjWJ1HC6K9R710SDxaZA1w4qI9mSbkLiUeeFyVbVAZr5XU4ZbzD3rTVVC30q7VNkiP-dp6Lx070_huCgm6mbS-4NpSm2SCNbMsF4oc97vOBsl/s1600-h/size222tgssn094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXEIv7dueIz_8kcT_kZa3fWm41JSzp2P2ZjWJ1HC6K9R710SDxaZA1w4qI9mSbkLiUeeFyVbVAZr5XU4ZbzD3rTVVC30q7VNkiP-dp6Lx070_huCgm6mbS-4NpSm2SCNbMsF4oc97vOBsl/s400/size222tgssn094.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Thayer's Gull- intermediate structure</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyXztK9rtKdK8jBFMdyTwZ5WwHm3UN6rHcdHSLaAtiLbI09L_dZnBiHEW7zR5NFVEEuRx63Lr1M9z_dyhGb1RL10GBCE1KgSE54Ld3Qol8pF-uwxDfjK20KIIs6a1IWyUuPm916LL121gy/s1600-h/sssztgdftr62.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyXztK9rtKdK8jBFMdyTwZ5WwHm3UN6rHcdHSLaAtiLbI09L_dZnBiHEW7zR5NFVEEuRx63Lr1M9z_dyhGb1RL10GBCE1KgSE54Ld3Qol8pF-uwxDfjK20KIIs6a1IWyUuPm916LL121gy/s400/sssztgdftr62.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Juvenile Thayer's Gull- fine structure</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiukwgtoWDkz98rY1ADSmiPMZ0qYxRH0j5YpdR5egkfKe-xXLI_c3hbrH-hVAwfsIQ5ch9oWE0fGQZC1Y5Ub5Sj7wXFaav6bTwQdhop_6XE9mLseVDL_t57V_4laTVpp-e-k4CxyGAI-4X9/s1600-h/sssztgssm096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiukwgtoWDkz98rY1ADSmiPMZ0qYxRH0j5YpdR5egkfKe-xXLI_c3hbrH-hVAwfsIQ5ch9oWE0fGQZC1Y5Ub5Sj7wXFaav6bTwQdhop_6XE9mLseVDL_t57V_4laTVpp-e-k4CxyGAI-4X9/s400/sssztgssm096.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Juvenile Thayer's Gull- fine structure</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-C8AxOWcH3BjVUZi95nB59Vo-ldfp2zlY0511_a94_kL7-09kQrQ59hhhbfxELyZUTCyh0XaO3WUpoxNO9RkCh2nRQ3MmnbQzr7CvxnPdvv535CFPiVQT8QmsbkNFQ9vqsbp503FIThr/s1600-h/sssztgssm2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-C8AxOWcH3BjVUZi95nB59Vo-ldfp2zlY0511_a94_kL7-09kQrQ59hhhbfxELyZUTCyh0XaO3WUpoxNO9RkCh2nRQ3MmnbQzr7CvxnPdvv535CFPiVQT8QmsbkNFQ9vqsbp503FIThr/s400/sssztgssm2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Adult Thayer's Gull-fine structure</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAyH9eyM61y-7gzPf0aK3WCqbdwawTZnN3xTTe_X-3TEygYjN0LVcgramNpEWYPQTSRq1HgHvTtfabDyUp_96Vt-9BMDM3WWpG226ibYvajpV1TnbHyQ8nnzy01-SUHiEnsbJA3FXwr5WM/s1600-h/ssztgsd3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAyH9eyM61y-7gzPf0aK3WCqbdwawTZnN3xTTe_X-3TEygYjN0LVcgramNpEWYPQTSRq1HgHvTtfabDyUp_96Vt-9BMDM3WWpG226ibYvajpV1TnbHyQ8nnzy01-SUHiEnsbJA3FXwr5WM/s400/ssztgsd3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Worn second winter Thayer's Gull -very finely structured</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The last example was taken in March near San Diego. I felt relatively happy it wasn't a Kumlien's Gull given the location but I concede it is a remote possibility. Someone mentioned to me that they had been reviewing Thayer's Gulls pictures on the net and that most were from the west coast and most of these appeared to be finely structured. I am curious if they see these robust dark Thayer's on the west coast? It seems quite possible that there are structural differences between the western and eastern wintering birds that may be representative of different populations.</div></div><div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I searched my collection for examples of very finely structured Herring Gulls which are not at all uncommon. I found two relatively good examples but these are certainly only mid way down the Herring Gull structural continuum and more delicate examples are not uncommon.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvF1eednDY3MUAZGTyEAixvOve_PBtQjB51yhieb-Jl8TN2CLmnkvvZsPMkx8oBY2bLi03FTmkYxFdxa9zqHdQK_mSBEeDzktCBLo6wuKr1dBZHWcuAWQQhl6DXgrpy_ZnmY0hOFTTQowT/s1600-h/sizesthgassm009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvF1eednDY3MUAZGTyEAixvOve_PBtQjB51yhieb-Jl8TN2CLmnkvvZsPMkx8oBY2bLi03FTmkYxFdxa9zqHdQK_mSBEeDzktCBLo6wuKr1dBZHWcuAWQQhl6DXgrpy_ZnmY0hOFTTQowT/s400/sizesthgassm009.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Herring Gull-fine structure</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxRl-GyDZBVHq4KJCt-yK5HI_9LTXM6kFsc5nj43Av-a3AFrMBTQ6OMv9PnVbwzaUByg68c00ohcIz0DD5T7Jz3dwH_ZsCszR1BccOpbMnKlL0ddQgsa2lhlMWjQEvjkMva-4a1ZAE-UT7/s1600-h/sizestrhgssm004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxRl-GyDZBVHq4KJCt-yK5HI_9LTXM6kFsc5nj43Av-a3AFrMBTQ6OMv9PnVbwzaUByg68c00ohcIz0DD5T7Jz3dwH_ZsCszR1BccOpbMnKlL0ddQgsa2lhlMWjQEvjkMva-4a1ZAE-UT7/s400/sizestrhgssm004.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Herring Gull-fine structure & dark eye</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The bird directly above is not only finely structured but it has a dark eye. So superficially it resembles a Thayer's Gull. However it can be definitively differentiated even in this picture by the obvious mirror on the underside of P10. The beginning of the black underwing at the proximal end of the mirror is just barely visible.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This bird is a good example of the importance of a basic understanding of the vast variability of many traits (size, structure, eye colour, plumage) in large gulls.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Below are pictures of a bird I would call a "classic"adult Thayer's Gull in almost every way. The exception is of course the light eye. I have read that this feature is present in up to 10% of adult Thayer's Gull. My thought would be that in my experience a bright light eye like this is rare. Make sure to note the all white undersides of P10 with no mirror. This is often quite visible when gulls are at rest as in the first picture. Also note the increased size of the white spots on the upper sides of the primaries a good clue when scanning a large group of gulls.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcFItjkAA8e4TF0QEPjsQESYcIT8Vmk2Zl0qi41tdpgqfNaKlDjRyf_EEmX7AGQ3dXanMeRJnEsKejN9jV1FaRMHBNFFEivne7SfWhOwk6nob_Rb6qF4nutsGQx5ajmOvLemAPj-wj0XDZ/s1600-h/sssztgassm7788.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcFItjkAA8e4TF0QEPjsQESYcIT8Vmk2Zl0qi41tdpgqfNaKlDjRyf_EEmX7AGQ3dXanMeRJnEsKejN9jV1FaRMHBNFFEivne7SfWhOwk6nob_Rb6qF4nutsGQx5ajmOvLemAPj-wj0XDZ/s400/sssztgassm7788.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Adult Thayer's Gull -light eye</div><div><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbY2BKmCmackyMGHwfmqGlAJUrHa11PY24w4t1vCo2Ua7hgMSZRcIjELNTB8VUQ0mGBCaaOakTG5d7ELPJcMg6uebngk6jom9sQHraDWF_YIymH6AYoPwhN7OSwwZZurrA6nsQQCLy0Q88/s1600-h/sizttgassm980.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="327" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbY2BKmCmackyMGHwfmqGlAJUrHa11PY24w4t1vCo2Ua7hgMSZRcIjELNTB8VUQ0mGBCaaOakTG5d7ELPJcMg6uebngk6jom9sQHraDWF_YIymH6AYoPwhN7OSwwZZurrA6nsQQCLy0Q88/s400/sizttgassm980.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Adult Thayer's Gull -light eye</div><div><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL26JocQrQ5SAb9T8NPveJOmrt29bFitDtPxOi4FM520eSykPHkRRUcEA8uIQZ9OqT66nnpgzzFhD1521oxBUAsI-_YWuvUIKyLFuJVlwJwGkSZXdpMGQMIi5BNfQ83mYnM91lYbJzj7PD/s1600-h/ssztgassm094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL26JocQrQ5SAb9T8NPveJOmrt29bFitDtPxOi4FM520eSykPHkRRUcEA8uIQZ9OqT66nnpgzzFhD1521oxBUAsI-_YWuvUIKyLFuJVlwJwGkSZXdpMGQMIi5BNfQ83mYnM91lYbJzj7PD/s400/ssztgassm094.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Adult Thayer's Gull -light eye</div><div><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiHOMK_Ou86E09XxIXjmCaH6zK1p_DdAKQRwLnEqBXEoMoHupod6GH1bvDpXFWEBPtYf8gHipJH3AFVR1y3FDQu6ceUJ1JUujseE4MahDePk0ICKdnsF3T3Bjo2JVGbGEAgiZusORiGtMd/s1600-h/sizttgassm9854.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiHOMK_Ou86E09XxIXjmCaH6zK1p_DdAKQRwLnEqBXEoMoHupod6GH1bvDpXFWEBPtYf8gHipJH3AFVR1y3FDQu6ceUJ1JUujseE4MahDePk0ICKdnsF3T3Bjo2JVGbGEAgiZusORiGtMd/s400/sizttgassm9854.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Thayer's Gull -light eye</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One final bird I would like to discuss. I have considered this bird a runt second winter Thayer's Gull up until now. This was based primarily on the fact that there is dark pigment on the tips of the primaries all the way into P5 which in adults has been used as a definitive field mark to differentiate this species from Kumlien's Gull. The dark eye and the relatively darkly pigmented primaries seemed to support Thayer's Gull.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWeXSIuskXfMAXzAvFBpEL8mVE9RJsrPjvXlgm_ikqOjKZ8JJH5GzieyGVpTY7plW5d7UFgDulyBVKIKRUTO3xLjSbmiDP-chBvaYIVhacFEbQG61uaPiPOWkcurJQELZfDd5TC-GS6nmd/s1600-h/sizttg2cssm2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWeXSIuskXfMAXzAvFBpEL8mVE9RJsrPjvXlgm_ikqOjKZ8JJH5GzieyGVpTY7plW5d7UFgDulyBVKIKRUTO3xLjSbmiDP-chBvaYIVhacFEbQG61uaPiPOWkcurJQELZfDd5TC-GS6nmd/s400/sizttg2cssm2.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Second winter Thayer's/Kumlien's Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA_nRzWeT7Gd5dntqekJvOp0VHt8lCCRd7J8Ag10kRsvZhxuv6QBZMMh_dzWk_Tyt-L9aCe5_myayklJJDvKilv3Z1G_oXYzx7yq1ybH6EXfvWW4PIdwajlpf8DSB9Hx6CZSFxoWbttTy8/s1600-h/sizttg2cssm7654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA_nRzWeT7Gd5dntqekJvOp0VHt8lCCRd7J8Ag10kRsvZhxuv6QBZMMh_dzWk_Tyt-L9aCe5_myayklJJDvKilv3Z1G_oXYzx7yq1ybH6EXfvWW4PIdwajlpf8DSB9Hx6CZSFxoWbttTy8/s400/sizttg2cssm7654.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Second winter Thayer's/Kumlien's Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGJuRmrG2hMYqL3r1WYLr7YtWqitD_WRsY_llUh9McMJeDNQxrsdzg9KAc-Bxz46FDo8kfmGDowxVPK1X3jBjnSiAVbNh4qv5V6cPhdFMFeEEDCCyga1mMmF_q3FtnlikhwxBGhqI8ikvZ/s1600-h/sz00tg2cssm3_resize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGJuRmrG2hMYqL3r1WYLr7YtWqitD_WRsY_llUh9McMJeDNQxrsdzg9KAc-Bxz46FDo8kfmGDowxVPK1X3jBjnSiAVbNh4qv5V6cPhdFMFeEEDCCyga1mMmF_q3FtnlikhwxBGhqI8ikvZ/s400/sz00tg2cssm3_resize.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Second winter Thayer's/Kumlien's Gull-showing dark pigment on 6 primaries (P10-5)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I started to get a bit suspicious that my extrapolation of the "dark pigment to P5" field mark to less than adult birds may not be valid after this bird that I initially called as Thayer's based on this same criteria.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM6EcE_9pgPdnpv9AcRtIUwrZ_6-sKKLBNngb_eykOpJH_5yUfVupUC7Esr0h9EPBWBLQDtZ6GkILNm__5LrjcwupCrZ3DaJjTfdPJhE0UquRAzTlKTuMfDSVXWYYWLRy-0tQgX_g43ZTr/s1600-h/sssztgssm49703.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM6EcE_9pgPdnpv9AcRtIUwrZ_6-sKKLBNngb_eykOpJH_5yUfVupUC7Esr0h9EPBWBLQDtZ6GkILNm__5LrjcwupCrZ3DaJjTfdPJhE0UquRAzTlKTuMfDSVXWYYWLRy-0tQgX_g43ZTr/s400/sssztgssm49703.jpg" width="292" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Second winter Thayer's/Kumlien's Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9tacpFnVutYBMcQRMNBZtbFqnuO0R-njVgTZAnrQIxYSXmFJMGpp8u6a_u0_16_7a2fpAdalGq1DxO2cNZXYChDuJUZRSEEEwmK9WOKXtCHlwiGbV7aQuPY-MyE1FtD5TcUnqyIJtqNfj/s1600-h/ssztgssm9718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9tacpFnVutYBMcQRMNBZtbFqnuO0R-njVgTZAnrQIxYSXmFJMGpp8u6a_u0_16_7a2fpAdalGq1DxO2cNZXYChDuJUZRSEEEwmK9WOKXtCHlwiGbV7aQuPY-MyE1FtD5TcUnqyIJtqNfj/s400/ssztgssm9718.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Second winter Thayer's/Kumlien's Gull-showing dark pigment on 6 primaries (P10-5)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This bird certainly seems to fit much better into the Kumlien's Gull mould than Thayer's. A light eye already, finely structured and lighter smokey gray primaries all seem more consistent with Kumlien's Gull. I decided to look back at definitive second winter Kumlien's to see if I could validate or refute the </div><div style="text-align: left;">"dark pigment to P5" field mark.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhn2ovzmQe_6FO1E1VXmu5w9fznU2cdveOtLDx5y96HnspnRCW9ikY8o3LcIHKcX-lRUMEW90lUx_XZrCovEy7s2AaVI3nk7QqpwHKSjdCVR1LzlL4kbfl8nEym1usu-76XMhXk1OSqKlP/s1600-h/siztkg2cdftr2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhn2ovzmQe_6FO1E1VXmu5w9fznU2cdveOtLDx5y96HnspnRCW9ikY8o3LcIHKcX-lRUMEW90lUx_XZrCovEy7s2AaVI3nk7QqpwHKSjdCVR1LzlL4kbfl8nEym1usu-76XMhXk1OSqKlP/s400/siztkg2cdftr2.jpg" width="367" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Second winter Kumlien's Gull-showing dark pigment on 5 primaries (debatably 6) (P10-6)</div><div><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZEcZBQgGk5QBxZz62lQiZa_Cx8RLGzTdkXPhOEL0GFBX1ugzoAgEntLwlWHW-addzzo3jZS9Lk1NXIHqrfvKlaQwycB-bX3NpyqlcFWlil9D4iL5fodiDNsGR7tLI4bbB7HxigOeE1uq2/s1600-h/siztkg2cssm908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZEcZBQgGk5QBxZz62lQiZa_Cx8RLGzTdkXPhOEL0GFBX1ugzoAgEntLwlWHW-addzzo3jZS9Lk1NXIHqrfvKlaQwycB-bX3NpyqlcFWlil9D4iL5fodiDNsGR7tLI4bbB7HxigOeE1uq2/s400/siztkg2cssm908.jpg" width="381" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Second winter Kumlien's Gull-showing dark pigment on 6 primaries (P10-5)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZEcZBQgGk5QBxZz62lQiZa_Cx8RLGzTdkXPhOEL0GFBX1ugzoAgEntLwlWHW-addzzo3jZS9Lk1NXIHqrfvKlaQwycB-bX3NpyqlcFWlil9D4iL5fodiDNsGR7tLI4bbB7HxigOeE1uq2/s1600-h/siztkg2cssm908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmFZq3iIVkXFyA3cyAtT4kP5x36lWydbIm3OxxnAkmOjbIH5HlQtwDFVjeqANvgVM5v5Bfb3w5B1or5sMRk-3G4p3SC__x1osUVBDTUd9nkjjpbXaO03qmgwvtxhqLI-aMUk0Px3CiQ_xu/s1600-h/siztkg2cssm8876.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmFZq3iIVkXFyA3cyAtT4kP5x36lWydbIm3OxxnAkmOjbIH5HlQtwDFVjeqANvgVM5v5Bfb3w5B1or5sMRk-3G4p3SC__x1osUVBDTUd9nkjjpbXaO03qmgwvtxhqLI-aMUk0Px3CiQ_xu/s400/siztkg2cssm8876.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Second winter Kumlien's Gull-showing dark pigment on 6 primaries (P10-5)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGAyZvOTn0-GBr8t0h6mMCaUgZtf4aC4eJsJ0QXWpA7ng2WzXMhroW8ODif7xrbJzKHLg6N9zLf6NILEeIXdEOKB8X4B2bPMJtgk3wDB_jEx4oTX-0j0Lo8F8_IQtZSI1VCRMEDbDziINQ/s1600-h/siztkg2cssm98765.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGAyZvOTn0-GBr8t0h6mMCaUgZtf4aC4eJsJ0QXWpA7ng2WzXMhroW8ODif7xrbJzKHLg6N9zLf6NILEeIXdEOKB8X4B2bPMJtgk3wDB_jEx4oTX-0j0Lo8F8_IQtZSI1VCRMEDbDziINQ/s400/siztkg2cssm98765.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Second winter Kumlien's Gull-showing dark pigment on 6 primaries (P10-5)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYPKXHHtwCw2c2H2krbzLbxqsOG5fd4cfpGYa5NbaWLSAIhR27bjN98hFK7qaQvE7CRm9r9rkB2nAmcQ3TuI2R2CtCpjt7oSbg33tmn6uZyUIgVLrTtJ_v9DnVi_DbF_t6gIZ1-zm28yc5/s1600-h/siztzzzzkg2cssm004_resize_resize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYPKXHHtwCw2c2H2krbzLbxqsOG5fd4cfpGYa5NbaWLSAIhR27bjN98hFK7qaQvE7CRm9r9rkB2nAmcQ3TuI2R2CtCpjt7oSbg33tmn6uZyUIgVLrTtJ_v9DnVi_DbF_t6gIZ1-zm28yc5/s400/siztzzzzkg2cssm004_resize_resize.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Second winter Kumlien's Gull-showing dark pigment on 6 primaries (debatably 6)(P10-5)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">So at least 4 out of 6 (or 5 out of 7 if you include the bird just prior to this set) of the second winter Kumlien's Gulls definitively have dark pigment on 6 primaries in to P5. So it seems quite certain that one can not extrapolate this adult field mark. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Below a second winter Thayer's for comparison.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfj5aZ1IIDWr9KreZWE3WORRl1QwuDR39JVVzWw6uKc-6QRqGzFV7ZBZF6l8jxcitrXXRylrwG7aj0muOdI514Riz4h18d-G0frxih64c7QEVZtmfBwAX4nvdv9scawTB_NOyQCJmkXL4p/s1600-h/tglarus28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfj5aZ1IIDWr9KreZWE3WORRl1QwuDR39JVVzWw6uKc-6QRqGzFV7ZBZF6l8jxcitrXXRylrwG7aj0muOdI514Riz4h18d-G0frxih64c7QEVZtmfBwAX4nvdv9scawTB_NOyQCJmkXL4p/s640/tglarus28.jpg" width="432" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Second winter Thayer's Gull with dark pigment on tips of 7 primaries (P10-4)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Most interesting at least this one second winter Thayer's Gull has dark pigment on 7 primaries (P10-4). Thinking maybe I was on to something I looked to see if this was consistent. It wasn't. The following bird and at least one other quite definitive Thayer's Gull showed only pigment to P6.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTVXzcyPIj7tNiPwdr9mDePlRR87oS5SQWWIX3S7hh_ktYLmHbeJTVPJyjnBOMifgdvmvcn49QDIGSY6NXjMnHlc2Dl3S1HY_rSkaLlO8lpL6J7TBK1SHyGGO-pwRLtjbjU545erLSP3T5/s1600-h/qtg2cssm7787.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTVXzcyPIj7tNiPwdr9mDePlRR87oS5SQWWIX3S7hh_ktYLmHbeJTVPJyjnBOMifgdvmvcn49QDIGSY6NXjMnHlc2Dl3S1HY_rSkaLlO8lpL6J7TBK1SHyGGO-pwRLtjbjU545erLSP3T5/s400/qtg2cssm7787.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Second winter Thayer's Gull with dark pigment on tips of 6 primaries (P10-5)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">So bottom line it looks like either second year Thayer's or Kumlien's can have 6 pigmented primary tips with at least some Thayer's having 7. I am still unsure of the exact identification of the original bird but given the extremely petite structure on would really have to lean towards Kumlien's.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">In conclusion size and structure in Thayer's Gulls is quite variable and may be misleading if one is not familiar with the full range of variability. Males are typically more robust at any age and there is a large overlap in these features with Herring Gull and as well with Kumlien's Gull at the other end of the spectrum. More definitive field marks including plumage characteristics are essential for definitive identification. Stay tuned for Part 3 of Does Size Matter? Lesser Black-backed Gull.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Thanks</div><div style="text-align: left;">Comments welcomed and appreciated.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Kirk Zufelt</div><br />
</div>Kirk Zufelthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14223956713828841853noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2525284487032503296.post-42714960936582624772010-01-30T19:17:00.000-08:002010-03-10T18:25:22.445-08:00Does size matter? Part 1The age old question.<br />
<br />
In Larusology I think nothing can lead you further down the garden path than placing to much importance on the size of an individual bird. It strikes me that at least in the east there is very significant variation in size among the mid-sized Larus sp. (Herring, Lesser-black Backed, Thayer's, Iceland) with seemingly less variation in the larger sp. specifically Great Black-backed and Glaucous.<br />
<br />
On checking this impression with the measurements in Olsen & Larrson, Gulls of North America, Europe and Asia I found partial validation for my theory with wide variation in all the regular large gulls. The following are the extremes in measurement using skins of various species considering both sexes (with the exclusion of wt. for Herring& Lesser Black-backed with only females included).<br />
<br />
Great Black-backed Gull Wing 445-520mm Wt. 1033-2272g<br />
Glaucous Gull Wing 408-510mm Wt. 946- 2215g<br />
American Herring Gull Wing 412-468mm Wt. 600- 1240g<br />
Lesser Black-backed Gull Wing 383-456mm Wt. 620-1100g<br />
Thayer's Gull Wing 384-442mm Wt. 712- 1002<br />
Kumlien's Gull Wing 380-442mm Wt. 530-970g<br />
<br />
As you can see the largest Kumlien's Gull overlaps with the smallest Glaucous with broad overlapping of the four mid-sized species. Surprisingly (at least to me) the mean wing length for male Kumlien's was near identical to male Thayer's. The weight for a female Thayer's was however significantly higher than even the male Kumlien's attesting to its more robust structure.<br />
<br />
The centre bird in the following picture is a great example how size of an individual bird can cause significant confusion in determining its identity. Initially I thought this was a Glaucous Gull but then I noticed the dark pigment on the primaries. I then started thinking Nelson's Gull especially as the primary projection seemed a bit short. Finally after extensive study both in the field and of the pictures and after going back and forth on a couple of occasions I came to a final definitive conclusion that it was a Kumlien's Gull<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5XpAdlxJYXZk4jPN5mg3hWC_cyQTkSwGUd2C5ME5PzNsHjOiNXrrhyphenhyphenkFrYxyfjYWL4sj3VDTI8EHDz1iJwpiZ-9t5kkLSSLy7PWFtX9CCQbO9q3xqfTRrVAvn7PNUPkCd39nkgYOmArhyphenhyphen/s1600-h/kg:ngssm0529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5XpAdlxJYXZk4jPN5mg3hWC_cyQTkSwGUd2C5ME5PzNsHjOiNXrrhyphenhyphenkFrYxyfjYWL4sj3VDTI8EHDz1iJwpiZ-9t5kkLSSLy7PWFtX9CCQbO9q3xqfTRrVAvn7PNUPkCd39nkgYOmArhyphenhyphen/s400/kg:ngssm0529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">A very large adult male Kumlien's Gull<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">If just this one picture was available you would have a very hard time convincing me this is a Kumlien's Gull. It was as robust as most of the Herrings and larger than many. Its head is rather Herring Gull like in this posture.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3v56FICP519Hnyci2NjDxeIcf0f5y5QhYxaPwdkKk_GYfQ5HsW9bmTSvMWHNLbVtHrjEiJqO4asTqYQpO5zXk1DHCzuNg7krrBwzpoaKKpoDRfsb0You9gOA0_AsCRZ-K3jEHZxUGSjpb/s1600-h/kng0911.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3v56FICP519Hnyci2NjDxeIcf0f5y5QhYxaPwdkKk_GYfQ5HsW9bmTSvMWHNLbVtHrjEiJqO4asTqYQpO5zXk1DHCzuNg7krrBwzpoaKKpoDRfsb0You9gOA0_AsCRZ-K3jEHZxUGSjpb/s400/kng0911.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Large adult male Kumlien's Gull with seemingly short primary extension</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then I looked hard at the head and bill structure in a few of the shots and I thought- this has to be a Kumlien's Gull.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA9Y27VqCSA7GhvvV5BF0H5lwoPdTvD612h-jML39wmjMhNvJ1wZTHXVaAFDuY8pkZBSIVR0jvKTgRGtFMfoh7GRZU1qGdvsq88_K2NvRotIuOmmK-cfH3Ga2rKpMMLTcm2qnmChlKx__t/s1600-h/headkg:ngassm0761.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA9Y27VqCSA7GhvvV5BF0H5lwoPdTvD612h-jML39wmjMhNvJ1wZTHXVaAFDuY8pkZBSIVR0jvKTgRGtFMfoh7GRZU1qGdvsq88_K2NvRotIuOmmK-cfH3Ga2rKpMMLTcm2qnmChlKx__t/s400/headkg:ngassm0761.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Kumlien's Gull head close-up</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjORfYqFoVMnrQEIo_dJiSTXyMLa1LfFVYiuiT6fyyO3p08OGfc6xR0ZCZobZOOjAqpwqUc9CVXjFe72-tLzFhyKaaK5DnlCIC2xricCcH8woMcyBnvLz2yqjR3chM8dHJQfPgSOFluTB7U/s1600-h/headngssmlarus2294.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjORfYqFoVMnrQEIo_dJiSTXyMLa1LfFVYiuiT6fyyO3p08OGfc6xR0ZCZobZOOjAqpwqUc9CVXjFe72-tLzFhyKaaK5DnlCIC2xricCcH8woMcyBnvLz2yqjR3chM8dHJQfPgSOFluTB7U/s400/headngssmlarus2294.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Nelson's Gull head close-up</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR0BWSM3FX9lCEYzPpeQFi5Se7_tG0RODUCedku03MA6CugbkfmbQGjNCcZ_Vty3Rj8h3hYeE6ahcrqMRi8pelmeZ6d7jbT-ngNeP7WOCX1TvHbW68eCf9V6yHqcBWof_4OPi0ygUhyphenhyphenU1h/s1600-h/headggnf25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR0BWSM3FX9lCEYzPpeQFi5Se7_tG0RODUCedku03MA6CugbkfmbQGjNCcZ_Vty3Rj8h3hYeE6ahcrqMRi8pelmeZ6d7jbT-ngNeP7WOCX1TvHbW68eCf9V6yHqcBWof_4OPi0ygUhyphenhyphenU1h/s400/headggnf25.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Glaucous Gull head close-up</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The top picture shows the classic dove-like head with relatively small bill so typical of Kumlien's Gull.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After reviewing the open winged shots it was clear P10 was not yet fully grown and this probably accounted for the shortish primary extension. It was also entirely clear that the primary pattern was near identical to Howell & Mactavish, 2003 -variation e wingtip pattern for adult Kumlien's Gull- Alula 9: 2-15. The illustration of these variations by Martin T. Elliot can be seen in Howell &Dunn pg. 252.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl1Kur3MpnnGkeUKn2GQAJ_MFGq6TfjEJHbzYEV4YpQ0hg5Z02EQ8vfQ0McrHmsVOA7pP2Rwo5hc6GExG0Yq2esvd-IwEzqOqo_6hCO9CGwsZTKBNRezXoDhVeuMz82rRbtUt47AYhx0xe/s1600-h/kg:ng+owssm0794.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl1Kur3MpnnGkeUKn2GQAJ_MFGq6TfjEJHbzYEV4YpQ0hg5Z02EQ8vfQ0McrHmsVOA7pP2Rwo5hc6GExG0Yq2esvd-IwEzqOqo_6hCO9CGwsZTKBNRezXoDhVeuMz82rRbtUt47AYhx0xe/s400/kg:ng+owssm0794.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Kumlien's Gull open-winged</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbvR4McP-keNhWUEtzqdyjkodZcxdA8augQCiYFCW6FwOIaVbscobCBIEPRcqB0au3e_b7cfk1a1yVPI9M4uftrWx2vPjp0OZzyg3BNpHXZ3ASFlAxBoxlaasEIxJJfnB1QFYEzvo1Spu/s1600-h/kg:ngflssm_0643.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbvR4McP-keNhWUEtzqdyjkodZcxdA8augQCiYFCW6FwOIaVbscobCBIEPRcqB0au3e_b7cfk1a1yVPI9M4uftrWx2vPjp0OZzyg3BNpHXZ3ASFlAxBoxlaasEIxJJfnB1QFYEzvo1Spu/s400/kg:ngflssm_0643.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRD-TokJi2yk62YPZGs8bqM4y1edst8NJonZgmvtwGSrAWxYKfi-Y9p3KuisxaVUfv_tuF2Nc3T_EKiMDLWJLOdB4H2ea8I1_1I1bwfnSPl8s6O9xBt5ZA0aqn54xSLCMquV4JIfspT-q8/s1600-h/kgngflightssm0641.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRD-TokJi2yk62YPZGs8bqM4y1edst8NJonZgmvtwGSrAWxYKfi-Y9p3KuisxaVUfv_tuF2Nc3T_EKiMDLWJLOdB4H2ea8I1_1I1bwfnSPl8s6O9xBt5ZA0aqn54xSLCMquV4JIfspT-q8/s400/kgngflightssm0641.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Adult Kumlien's Gull in flight</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">This left no doubt in my mind that this was a Kumlien's Gull - just a real hefty one. Even though I had noted in the past that Kumlien's Gull was quite variable in size with the odd bird of Herring Gull size this bird through me off and it took quite a bit of study before I was convinced of its identity. The main variable that created the confusion was clearly its size<br />
<br />
If this bird had conformed to my mental image of the classic size and structure of Kumlien's Gull (as do the following birds) I very much doubt I would have had a moment of doubt.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl7KdKDXKfCUu7_2n4nfqyFH9fw_pKLpyaHCSglV4jMUpzvJzCQDAGsF0p38bLroUaA4SKKL9L5E_4dvEmhG846RCf7AWs0pvx5oQ_aSQobBguP5Pa1skiRuFW-nSIW73sT3hDalorVaYa/s1600-h/sizekg2cssm9077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl7KdKDXKfCUu7_2n4nfqyFH9fw_pKLpyaHCSglV4jMUpzvJzCQDAGsF0p38bLroUaA4SKKL9L5E_4dvEmhG846RCf7AWs0pvx5oQ_aSQobBguP5Pa1skiRuFW-nSIW73sT3hDalorVaYa/s400/sizekg2cssm9077.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Second winter Kumlien's Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4b_YSa9zFxIchdHm-MkiS8Kh_inHG-R8XO3DPF-57GZjCAKTTSXOMEwe7Juki7nkh2Yq9c91PsK5PoVgZEqB-KsvRryBMFdURc71qXtzbL4kvOCVfha0JGZPXOmS5vOdyWAbm23DZB1lL/s1600-h/sizekgaorl1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4b_YSa9zFxIchdHm-MkiS8Kh_inHG-R8XO3DPF-57GZjCAKTTSXOMEwe7Juki7nkh2Yq9c91PsK5PoVgZEqB-KsvRryBMFdURc71qXtzbL4kvOCVfha0JGZPXOmS5vOdyWAbm23DZB1lL/s400/sizekgaorl1.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult winter Kumlien's Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYYCSVncoEBs8I67gDiBYV32w-krNErHkYziaUKYsH97lvROcj03OqUUjo9jf_1bUgfta_dWRKwLFqeKQMnxJiru_Ze76EuuA5QiQxcTBGs9uDwqOWLMVrCUvgZj24V-DWCPGda4xYSJzm/s1600-h/sizekgnf5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYYCSVncoEBs8I67gDiBYV32w-krNErHkYziaUKYsH97lvROcj03OqUUjo9jf_1bUgfta_dWRKwLFqeKQMnxJiru_Ze76EuuA5QiQxcTBGs9uDwqOWLMVrCUvgZj24V-DWCPGda4xYSJzm/s400/sizekgnf5.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Third winter Kumlien's Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMGrFkmO_XnZD0fTBpShrhnbJ3MVSeUZxJNBFQ0QjHTJOUOFNkhOada2ff_wyhTvwtf8VzJWXYanumsTPoqJcs_1XKSJEFmMHojkrmCz_JkQQgMc_x2ohxc1E2WyXBzZ_wmdRzdjCdzKV_/s1600-h/sizekgnf7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMGrFkmO_XnZD0fTBpShrhnbJ3MVSeUZxJNBFQ0QjHTJOUOFNkhOada2ff_wyhTvwtf8VzJWXYanumsTPoqJcs_1XKSJEFmMHojkrmCz_JkQQgMc_x2ohxc1E2WyXBzZ_wmdRzdjCdzKV_/s400/sizekgnf7.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult winter Kumlien's Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnPUM_Jo1yy3C5T_9z2GnKRGQ-JcGptHRMG7sb5jXKfOyyeRhG7tMCp63-SKOlf0Gv_rDGz2JSUU_J4zu9zUBEB7rnF1eFZy9VPwuCFgXLW6l87o15eYWZrjS-1EFmtdT6p6nGuGe8__MP/s1600-h/sizekgnf77.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnPUM_Jo1yy3C5T_9z2GnKRGQ-JcGptHRMG7sb5jXKfOyyeRhG7tMCp63-SKOlf0Gv_rDGz2JSUU_J4zu9zUBEB7rnF1eFZy9VPwuCFgXLW6l87o15eYWZrjS-1EFmtdT6p6nGuGe8__MP/s400/sizekgnf77.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Second winter Kumlien's Gull</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">We need to remember that not all birds are going to be "classic" and a significant number of outliers</div><div style="text-align: left;">are waiting to lead you down the garden path. Following are a few more robust Kumlien's.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1nV5jz7MoDPoYCuMFiHpSsfm1nV8OUF_U-5qUP8XyCS8dcyuE2_V-CZ7eRODVFkhWbpiT_Jtdj4EC0B76VKta03xxNbgy9N-AgVDj7ZnTBvlJLaFnUkEMovs32M5f7x4EOb3bJ0n1-wSt/s1600-h/sizezkgdftr56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1nV5jz7MoDPoYCuMFiHpSsfm1nV8OUF_U-5qUP8XyCS8dcyuE2_V-CZ7eRODVFkhWbpiT_Jtdj4EC0B76VKta03xxNbgy9N-AgVDj7ZnTBvlJLaFnUkEMovs32M5f7x4EOb3bJ0n1-wSt/s400/sizezkgdftr56.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Kumlien's gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiySzVe50DfwrAZ9QY3V-vv9vXbBVqSPBSPbtFSGcX5t4yGI4IEgAZ8ia23lvJVYpisFtEhCZjn6ry00zSKNzTb7uzVixBawSNh7RlK_RqFNhmKBUvf7M3ywEN9udpwFyWUpeSEv09J_nGb/s1600-h/sizezkg2cssm0008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiySzVe50DfwrAZ9QY3V-vv9vXbBVqSPBSPbtFSGcX5t4yGI4IEgAZ8ia23lvJVYpisFtEhCZjn6ry00zSKNzTb7uzVixBawSNh7RlK_RqFNhmKBUvf7M3ywEN9udpwFyWUpeSEv09J_nGb/s400/sizezkg2cssm0008.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Second winter Kumlien's Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhylis8SIQMQODKOIT7TSP2biHi1c6e0rTDBYWcaS45M4U-HMSJmQpdayq-ZzdjCt7clXe_UXOOxeD-Ldop4qPacSRAds4BSbY6XDh0EXvihxPWM-7J6UKLyeKCGEXuF5FVsvi-PmNtSfC9/s1600-h/sizezkg2cssm001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhylis8SIQMQODKOIT7TSP2biHi1c6e0rTDBYWcaS45M4U-HMSJmQpdayq-ZzdjCt7clXe_UXOOxeD-Ldop4qPacSRAds4BSbY6XDh0EXvihxPWM-7J6UKLyeKCGEXuF5FVsvi-PmNtSfC9/s400/sizezkg2cssm001.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Second winter Kumlien's Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7I6sigyyNJX3HRLTixPm2jLmkf5Un26DzTAPC0ApPtlf8KDla98_c5m_EdQJ2suCi095wYSzEoEkZVjnJBDEvmDg9gAMZmBc2vxEx-1raAHd35m19sEHIrdEt5hQEGNyuLKtHCXGHziO0/s1600-h/sizezkg1cssm610.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7I6sigyyNJX3HRLTixPm2jLmkf5Un26DzTAPC0ApPtlf8KDla98_c5m_EdQJ2suCi095wYSzEoEkZVjnJBDEvmDg9gAMZmBc2vxEx-1raAHd35m19sEHIrdEt5hQEGNyuLKtHCXGHziO0/s400/sizezkg1cssm610.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Kumlien's Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ9nuFYVNBI405h9Vej4_u1SbvQv6LEqSsr1gAT55ZHc2QqwoxVAGeYifv_XxaqaEABy2G14BKu4_JSjw2L-6WhdZvgFQEL8vh_2DWTEEKw8o3h_oMlOCOMPyR3U4YTOSSFkKUD9Ey85Xm/s1600-h/sizezkg1cssm894.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ9nuFYVNBI405h9Vej4_u1SbvQv6LEqSsr1gAT55ZHc2QqwoxVAGeYifv_XxaqaEABy2G14BKu4_JSjw2L-6WhdZvgFQEL8vh_2DWTEEKw8o3h_oMlOCOMPyR3U4YTOSSFkKUD9Ey85Xm/s400/sizezkg1cssm894.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Juvenile Kumlien's Gull First winter Herring Gull</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">In comparing the first and second groups of Kumlien's Gulls there is clearly structural differences with the later group having more Herring Gull like heads and a somewhat more generous bill size. My suspicion is this is entirely based on sex the former birds being female and the later male. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I will continue this theme in my next post by examining the variation in size and structure of Thayer's Gulls.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">To be continued............</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Kirk</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">zufelt_k@shaw.ca</div></div></div></div>Kirk Zufelthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14223956713828841853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2525284487032503296.post-65041247149388588112010-01-15T18:00:00.000-08:002010-01-15T19:16:19.253-08:00Gulls at Gambell I suspect right at the moment there is probably little more than the occasional Raven floating around Gambell. In the late spring however a fairly wide variety of breeding and migrant gulls can be found around this Alaskan outpost. Being located in the Bering Sea just 38km from Siberia obviously the resident gulls have a distinctly Eurasian flavor with the migrants being mostly high arctic nesters.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYSKSBEDH2-5-kB3OVRR6yHzijMEAZ69LW-AmvBG-jbmWgzvvEDjqyoF9t4PCMtkDEugH2hL11pvjAks6z2OFYuReZmVN_x8aBlNBZefhLzCDUSGODRRy_YgXsPRSVCQ1VNJI8nDi_jnkR/s1600-h/siberia2396.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYSKSBEDH2-5-kB3OVRR6yHzijMEAZ69LW-AmvBG-jbmWgzvvEDjqyoF9t4PCMtkDEugH2hL11pvjAks6z2OFYuReZmVN_x8aBlNBZefhLzCDUSGODRRy_YgXsPRSVCQ1VNJI8nDi_jnkR/s400/siberia2396.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Siberia as seen from Gambell across the Bering Sea<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The Yupik village of Gambell is on the north western tip of St. Lawrence Island and has been a mecca for ABA birders for over 25 years. Although conditions were originally very rustic they are now very decent. A variety of tour companies lead trips to Gambell and because of the very complicated logistics I would suggest this is certainly the easiest if not the cheapest way to bird Gambell. I travelled to Gambell as well as Nome, Adak, Barrow and the Pribolofs last spring with High Lonesome and it was a great adventure with great leaders and excellent organization and support. Accommodations and meals were great (considering the locations) on all parts of the trip. Birding Alaska is always a bit of a crap shoot given the weather and off beat locations. Stories of people being stranded in various places abound and I felt I was lucky to have only experienced a few short delays.<br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy2nd0d37yJI5b8ekgckBHEEMJeHLnX0noGMX5yW8LjN6jtoFp0VP9PZ92Pr9_zWk5NyMB2DqMnqLmX4Nfm1hofumHqDidQ8KH3Y1OTSYWHPHIcyLCeocM6b2uOSRGKVY7sAXccbdkEXPw/s1600-h/jgb3132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy2nd0d37yJI5b8ekgckBHEEMJeHLnX0noGMX5yW8LjN6jtoFp0VP9PZ92Pr9_zWk5NyMB2DqMnqLmX4Nfm1hofumHqDidQ8KH3Y1OTSYWHPHIcyLCeocM6b2uOSRGKVY7sAXccbdkEXPw/s400/jgb3132.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Whale bones and seal meat at Gambell<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Going to Gambell is more than just a birding trip it is a fascinating cultural experience. The relationship between the birding community and the Yupiks is very interesting and complex. Given that one can easily stay out to 2 AM not only birding but taking pictures Gambell can be exhausting especially for the more obsessed types such as myself. Luckily no matter how late you stay up you will have lots of company as the Yupiks- adults and children make good use of there brief spring/summer.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit4_e3DElRBSEyyuXOHIoxgMDHSah3m4JpDEpMeMvHXlJ3dLG2BGUC-mE21FYjc0qhHdHly3IVoLn5wfhV7QZuzrFPB4iwKWYibeQj84fpXmxgCAH46SNS_uB_TnDRVN6VA7CbNDYVSqCX/s1600-h/g3827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit4_e3DElRBSEyyuXOHIoxgMDHSah3m4JpDEpMeMvHXlJ3dLG2BGUC-mE21FYjc0qhHdHly3IVoLn5wfhV7QZuzrFPB4iwKWYibeQj84fpXmxgCAH46SNS_uB_TnDRVN6VA7CbNDYVSqCX/s400/g3827.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yupik family on 4 wheeler around 2:00 AM<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The best spot for studying gulls at Gambell is at the sea watch. On some occasions giant icebergs loaded with roosting gulls would roll by like floats in a parade. Glaucous Gulls are probably the commonest species followed by the local "Herring" Gull which I will refer to subsequently as Vega Gull.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho7bV8jB9GDsWd8mu6yBcDXjO6oh6JXDSDj_GaUD75JjGW1fmDLkEeTzXUGtEemXehhie6PByzpX1iCkwXsxQIlZEZyBA_XZ7eN30m2Y-35pwz7kvCAHnBeESnHciwjMsVmstuVv7dtmkr/s1600-h/jgvggb3145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho7bV8jB9GDsWd8mu6yBcDXjO6oh6JXDSDj_GaUD75JjGW1fmDLkEeTzXUGtEemXehhie6PByzpX1iCkwXsxQIlZEZyBA_XZ7eN30m2Y-35pwz7kvCAHnBeESnHciwjMsVmstuVv7dtmkr/s400/jgvggb3145.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0BCtz5WhN_3lhdzIg1oWqNTxAtcJshqaCsSf24BOi6IyqAOWbC6442qqO2vSJ6Uqpl4vM6pIHTysLcnI2TLcgRvG5FtuAstv9fdIacKk2aD1HDzEbhyphenhyphen4OUHvTWZ5JkveZaA5PVRoYtXSq/s1600-h/ggbb3602.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0BCtz5WhN_3lhdzIg1oWqNTxAtcJshqaCsSf24BOi6IyqAOWbC6442qqO2vSJ6Uqpl4vM6pIHTysLcnI2TLcgRvG5FtuAstv9fdIacKk2aD1HDzEbhyphenhyphen4OUHvTWZ5JkveZaA5PVRoYtXSq/s400/ggbb3602.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Parade of gulls at Gambell sea-watch including Glaucous, Vega and Slaty-backed<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">According to Howell and Dunn the subsp. of Glaucous Gull on the Bering Sea Islands is <i>pallidissimus. B</i><i>arrovianus </i>is found on mainland Alaska while to the east in the Canadian arctic <i>hyperboreus</i> (which is felt to be a seperate subsp.- <i>leucretes</i> by some) the nominate subspecies is native. <i>Pallidissimus</i> averages the palest and largest of the subsp. The differences between these subsp. are subtle.<br />
<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_JYNOGTMPiVcMUHs98bTlHd4nnXVUeDVG2pdlGR_qhsZD18YxTlrp-ly5fTLY3_k6veX_ggMnIg8evwSVxsz-83lvL0pp6f-oRRQb-69v7WQrkauK2C2-BeRvweKGOA9dWnN-PFOemK-/s1600-h/jjgggb3578.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyELtc5kW4zhgwlfzy638CxW4Hja_v4YCK4eASsmuROUtCNY5S7c7pWRNbLabzl0uFC5P1xVj-F9PTFGN0A7O-ma7dLTKFwwhIA4BzGrYUf9E_WSXRd0clwXsB9HbHZDoZFT5MgpjS6mbA/s1600-h/jjgggb3332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyELtc5kW4zhgwlfzy638CxW4Hja_v4YCK4eASsmuROUtCNY5S7c7pWRNbLabzl0uFC5P1xVj-F9PTFGN0A7O-ma7dLTKFwwhIA4BzGrYUf9E_WSXRd0clwXsB9HbHZDoZFT5MgpjS6mbA/s400/jjgggb3332.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_JYNOGTMPiVcMUHs98bTlHd4nnXVUeDVG2pdlGR_qhsZD18YxTlrp-ly5fTLY3_k6veX_ggMnIg8evwSVxsz-83lvL0pp6f-oRRQb-69v7WQrkauK2C2-BeRvweKGOA9dWnN-PFOemK-/s400/jjgggb3578.jpg" /><br />
</div><div style="text-align: auto;">Adult Glaucous Gull in high breeding plumage<br />
<br />
Although one often has other things on your mind (like seeing the Green Sandpiper before one of the native kids clips it with his .22) at Gambell I did spend some time studying the commoner breeding sp. It was great to see the Glaucous Gulls in high breeding plumage - probably something you will never see at home (unless you live on Baffin Island).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKdOfv_iTPOIFeevYWsBF-6UMz0qU8J8_ZmQsSwIEV3gR4N9Ds1KwBRgH_4DJNY7rZf4BrEsLHa5dINMbnYINso9FbLFZVFzNs2oImXlI0PmYosvozDJGGtFovVXbsr8OKZ7eJ0_fevKG3/s1600-h/jjjjgggb3563.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKdOfv_iTPOIFeevYWsBF-6UMz0qU8J8_ZmQsSwIEV3gR4N9Ds1KwBRgH_4DJNY7rZf4BrEsLHa5dINMbnYINso9FbLFZVFzNs2oImXlI0PmYosvozDJGGtFovVXbsr8OKZ7eJ0_fevKG3/s400/jjjjgggb3563.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Q0DCkVeSq22KSCdtzNZoyYOZfw8Cr7MMn5VqLCQ1iCNroBaLZDmw128XQaHFw3e0LawDvXClVQoqFGLnY85D6gq67DFP9ydCa5grP5pmUz_B4BjD-LCn3M0djaCVrwWfKhV7WQ7hhAaA/s1600-h/jjjgggbhead3563.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Q0DCkVeSq22KSCdtzNZoyYOZfw8Cr7MMn5VqLCQ1iCNroBaLZDmw128XQaHFw3e0LawDvXClVQoqFGLnY85D6gq67DFP9ydCa5grP5pmUz_B4BjD-LCn3M0djaCVrwWfKhV7WQ7hhAaA/s400/jjjgggbhead3563.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Glaucous Gull in high breeding plumage<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The above pictures illustrate the characteristic Glaucous Gull features present during high breeding season including the lemon yellow to yellow-orangish eye, the orange to pinkish-orange orbital ring. the pink-flesh coloured gape and the deep orange bill with red gonys. A real stunning combination.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-fZ89qbDC_v0qg_coBuueyA8dBlbDpNsv4thjRh0RS7D1RvaQl0mzXO0nKFAshHX_9n_djhHSEiG_8ANpqVim8_ljbGZXniUOUiNx4CaMXk9cNHR3ms5TKGbybNhoFWQEYNZPd9WavZRs/s1600-h/jjgggb3579.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-fZ89qbDC_v0qg_coBuueyA8dBlbDpNsv4thjRh0RS7D1RvaQl0mzXO0nKFAshHX_9n_djhHSEiG_8ANpqVim8_ljbGZXniUOUiNx4CaMXk9cNHR3ms5TKGbybNhoFWQEYNZPd9WavZRs/s400/jjgggb3579.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Adult Glaucous Gull in high breeding plumage<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Vega Gull known taxonomically according to the AOU ( and the relatively liberal BOU) as <i>Larus argentatus vegae</i> and by others as <i>Larus vegae </i>is a very localized breeder in North America breeding regularly only on St. Lawrence Island. Gambell is one of the few North American birding sites were one can study numbers of this taxon. It is common in the late spring.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigsIuBvfb0kBl0kG6jWYj7IPrKj5bnPOEq0hCBbqWIb0q0K4R8tPJCYKQp6x5PCUJ1x-NdsnDInPWN7eSvKsgtoltwqe0DfHoYBwf2k9l23W3-wxuvHowmpZSwpYGTGOYqixIYNO0jcPSg/s1600-h/jjvggb3781.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigsIuBvfb0kBl0kG6jWYj7IPrKj5bnPOEq0hCBbqWIb0q0K4R8tPJCYKQp6x5PCUJ1x-NdsnDInPWN7eSvKsgtoltwqe0DfHoYBwf2k9l23W3-wxuvHowmpZSwpYGTGOYqixIYNO0jcPSg/s400/jjvggb3781.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Adult Vega Gull with adult Glaucous Gulls<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">It was somewhat of a disappointment that the overwhelming majority of the Vega Gulls present were adults in breeding plumage about the least likely version to end up straying into our territory. I did not see a single first cycle bird unfortunately.<br />
</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhigIXpPf6RKxu8gUqvkceMkS_ip1CpbjIaJs2UoeJ_-8ZlzBu-2KrBslynFTxv-xbuc1MwREsuQaUGw_66G6a-hasXWiNzB1kKz0yUU-OnjH9l7CDxcbNAdmkC-F92X9FEAgT1CsbJyns4/s1600-h/jvggb3205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhigIXpPf6RKxu8gUqvkceMkS_ip1CpbjIaJs2UoeJ_-8ZlzBu-2KrBslynFTxv-xbuc1MwREsuQaUGw_66G6a-hasXWiNzB1kKz0yUU-OnjH9l7CDxcbNAdmkC-F92X9FEAgT1CsbJyns4/s400/jvggb3205.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGxEcoiFetHXYyqxhCCEYeKDrCNSCSyFKdAk3pWV4DU9khfYps1PDUhHTAgG4FJFm4M7RaMMVNw7CLvkk_ZrzBCge13A2qRORBt3FmWEy7Mq_0W1WKYtioxw9BfwEJXKiT7_65Kc7MUrIi/s1600-h/jvggb3361.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGxEcoiFetHXYyqxhCCEYeKDrCNSCSyFKdAk3pWV4DU9khfYps1PDUhHTAgG4FJFm4M7RaMMVNw7CLvkk_ZrzBCge13A2qRORBt3FmWEy7Mq_0W1WKYtioxw9BfwEJXKiT7_65Kc7MUrIi/s400/jvggb3361.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSItRmjxfaPzE2UOJSHunraHUluJNR7PMJ4R37nHsR_joto1p2S0SuWe8YLMcqZAgDT0YwIg2dgje9h5j13oCOXs3jrUwmmDooQ4gh_hxbiIQmDB2L8MXxSO2Ob7VCv099ll95cLS7Ub3t/s1600-h/vggb3363.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSItRmjxfaPzE2UOJSHunraHUluJNR7PMJ4R37nHsR_joto1p2S0SuWe8YLMcqZAgDT0YwIg2dgje9h5j13oCOXs3jrUwmmDooQ4gh_hxbiIQmDB2L8MXxSO2Ob7VCv099ll95cLS7Ub3t/s400/vggb3363.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Vega Gulls in flight<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The adult Vega Gull is relatively simple to differentiate from <i>L.a. smithsonianus </i>with its dark black eye, and significantly darker upperparts (Kodak 7-8 vs. 4-5). Subtler difference include an orangish-red orbital ring in <i>vegae</i> as opposed to a yellow- yellowish-orange in <i>smithsonianus</i> along with minor differences in the primary patterns and of course the leg/foot color.<br />
</div><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3D8ic4v4qdVX-YDGm7JO01s0vSW25IjLtpB_TVL8fEBdfBtpSXmx6s6T4Vs0O4uhcKY1ICh7fkMbXfG9KgL0mt-ugYCpY7E9PQPrkWL29gc3evzB2noBlpOcDIefjoD0m1bOzpVGHbf3G/s1600-h/jjjjhgssm9760.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3D8ic4v4qdVX-YDGm7JO01s0vSW25IjLtpB_TVL8fEBdfBtpSXmx6s6T4Vs0O4uhcKY1ICh7fkMbXfG9KgL0mt-ugYCpY7E9PQPrkWL29gc3evzB2noBlpOcDIefjoD0m1bOzpVGHbf3G/s400/jjjjhgssm9760.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">American Herring Gull ( <i>L.a. smithsonianus</i> )-high breeding plumage<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_t-sdjRA3Grs3N-ibOPrZhbvd1j8HuqKnSrEdT6lOLC0JVwtzCovLQJwyvozrId7_3EsDI9ExP9eDDtJGpVraL7hNdzMsnpdVpZ8mimOMPaz93o4cQl9AgvY1rQrRnO9B6ibTaRne4zK/s1600-h/jjjjvgo3357.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_t-sdjRA3Grs3N-ibOPrZhbvd1j8HuqKnSrEdT6lOLC0JVwtzCovLQJwyvozrId7_3EsDI9ExP9eDDtJGpVraL7hNdzMsnpdVpZ8mimOMPaz93o4cQl9AgvY1rQrRnO9B6ibTaRne4zK/s400/jjjjvgo3357.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Vega Gull (<i>L.a. vegae)- </i>almost high breeding plumage<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The above photos illustrate nicely the clear difference in the color of the orbital ring between these two taxon.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The wing and primary pattern differ in a couple of definitive ways other than just the shade of gray. Vega Gull clearly has a broader trailing edge that merges into a "string of pearls" (white tongue- tips) at the inner primaries. This is very similar in effect to the sympatric Slaty-backed Gull. Although the white tongue-tips may be seen in American Herring Gull ( see second example below) the amount of white is usually quite reduced.<br />
<br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZPYCkNjZoGnkhub_J7XwmtlJ1cLiPMbKN4rSsn9GhlF9zrVF1_Cgl6tmFQYdKofLKeOEsP8nUg67J8l_lacFj6gERj1D6f_fxtmgL48v27UFyH41Yn_-3uCw5yTP2wZUnPYoodYOBt2Uw/s1600-h/vggbwing3253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZPYCkNjZoGnkhub_J7XwmtlJ1cLiPMbKN4rSsn9GhlF9zrVF1_Cgl6tmFQYdKofLKeOEsP8nUg67J8l_lacFj6gERj1D6f_fxtmgL48v27UFyH41Yn_-3uCw5yTP2wZUnPYoodYOBt2Uw/s400/vggbwing3253.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Vega Gull- wing closeup<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimLfBBxXMuRBxfD4IOUexSLy64iRZdlH0u5LJyGsWkeo8J8HiIk3J58fbCEECHvwHTw_7ZZqLIK3JiJ4ViyQEumshQVY74xb0fIzB4duDDd9TIh8uZiq-rf8Jx5GVBa6Xpg-aHWXjoDo0C/s1600-h/jjjhrgwg5565.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimLfBBxXMuRBxfD4IOUexSLy64iRZdlH0u5LJyGsWkeo8J8HiIk3J58fbCEECHvwHTw_7ZZqLIK3JiJ4ViyQEumshQVY74xb0fIzB4duDDd9TIh8uZiq-rf8Jx5GVBa6Xpg-aHWXjoDo0C/s400/jjjhrgwg5565.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult American Herring Gull - wing closeups<br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpQTB-k_qX5yAHQdY2EZvjwncfRxvU4CnSaCdOuyAnyXSO3wno1UECcugpFWao_CPNIrk9fd-Oh1Ox_9vM7v8GTrtukt_imank8lMVyhb0tLwI-VjxJrv43GTHLaacVf3uUZcOaJLkdB2T/s1600-h/vggbwing3213.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpQTB-k_qX5yAHQdY2EZvjwncfRxvU4CnSaCdOuyAnyXSO3wno1UECcugpFWao_CPNIrk9fd-Oh1Ox_9vM7v8GTrtukt_imank8lMVyhb0tLwI-VjxJrv43GTHLaacVf3uUZcOaJLkdB2T/s400/vggbwing3213.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">Adult Vega Gull- wing closeup<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_qc7vgUMH-Kwdc52_ZxwrOL9nQzrdyrgaa_fpXmRGwO4jPx23rjnG7jRoRACMzf7DRM5RFWgNTBKp67xXeWnmoZRWpwwhUVLKArUn2yCETafXKgZRvPZrM82e_6MoKhXj8wlvb0xIxof1/s1600-h/jjjjhrgwg5569.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_qc7vgUMH-Kwdc52_ZxwrOL9nQzrdyrgaa_fpXmRGwO4jPx23rjnG7jRoRACMzf7DRM5RFWgNTBKp67xXeWnmoZRWpwwhUVLKArUn2yCETafXKgZRvPZrM82e_6MoKhXj8wlvb0xIxof1/s400/jjjjhrgwg5569.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Adult American Herring Gull - wing closeup<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">On to the legs. Once again Vega seems to share another trait from Slaty-backed Gull. This is quite a fascinating phenomena and I wonder if this is based on convergent evolution. The Vega Gull has deep pinkish red feet with lighter pink legs. Much brighter and more saturated than any other of the "Herring" Gulls.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNbXIXUcYpqFcxjqk32hZrR9GLw4fRqn_9MmKQNeLUMEj9ZAGr59cVvxS56MEZHlXGhQP6_UE744xH0f-d8J2ZaizrSq19ARIDZFiyhA8GRHbcX_QVQ8YliWscKPyFHNu57Fs9voDhQGv_/s1600-h/vggb3219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNbXIXUcYpqFcxjqk32hZrR9GLw4fRqn_9MmKQNeLUMEj9ZAGr59cVvxS56MEZHlXGhQP6_UE744xH0f-d8J2ZaizrSq19ARIDZFiyhA8GRHbcX_QVQ8YliWscKPyFHNu57Fs9voDhQGv_/s400/vggb3219.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9sSEb2SDYruNKxQ6elZVyF3YDnrvU_aQ4o8QCE-V42dMx2yehv4RByz4smN7U7aXaWbBKahbmo6YYnJaapN5M5twtcLKFeBjrMwyf1tchLfvXAaxLy2CWVCvQZyqpba61mohcHIq4_jWi/s1600-h/vggb3262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9sSEb2SDYruNKxQ6elZVyF3YDnrvU_aQ4o8QCE-V42dMx2yehv4RByz4smN7U7aXaWbBKahbmo6YYnJaapN5M5twtcLKFeBjrMwyf1tchLfvXAaxLy2CWVCvQZyqpba61mohcHIq4_jWi/s400/vggb3262.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9sSEb2SDYruNKxQ6elZVyF3YDnrvU_aQ4o8QCE-V42dMx2yehv4RByz4smN7U7aXaWbBKahbmo6YYnJaapN5M5twtcLKFeBjrMwyf1tchLfvXAaxLy2CWVCvQZyqpba61mohcHIq4_jWi/s1600-h/vggb3262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiBVlatIvQJhqWMAXBq5vDVKaO_GT574wLJFniEE5wQB6rrLg2aq0AkiyVtFklFa_OuLIFY3KswpChMrZWWa2315_Rbb_BzfGwSEhetVSFmzIoYUUOeivm_pSGbBT-5Qgq_ZNulCvhA_iA/s1600-h/vggb3266.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiBVlatIvQJhqWMAXBq5vDVKaO_GT574wLJFniEE5wQB6rrLg2aq0AkiyVtFklFa_OuLIFY3KswpChMrZWWa2315_Rbb_BzfGwSEhetVSFmzIoYUUOeivm_pSGbBT-5Qgq_ZNulCvhA_iA/s400/vggb3266.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">Adult Vega Gulls showing bright reddish pink feet and legs<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyd6K6sQ2vc84B2pwEr7s4c2Hy8nt5_hV5SyUilIdv_jbDXfc51qSSapirmohBnR0ZOyKl-Jihqejk_6YlYOPGrxtMPI5YDJSvC4r8vlYvfm0FiGRjARpVsfmonq-1sW2bemzszBs2QGy4/s1600-h/jjjjhgssm9761.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyd6K6sQ2vc84B2pwEr7s4c2Hy8nt5_hV5SyUilIdv_jbDXfc51qSSapirmohBnR0ZOyKl-Jihqejk_6YlYOPGrxtMPI5YDJSvC4r8vlYvfm0FiGRjARpVsfmonq-1sW2bemzszBs2QGy4/s400/jjjjhgssm9761.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
Adult American Herring Gull showing dull pink feet and legs<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">The third large Larus species to be found on St. Lawrence Island is <i>L. schistisagus</i> more commonly known as Slaty-backed Gull. Howell & Dunn noted breeding in the Western Aleutians and at Cape Romanzof but not on the Bering Sea Islands. They mention it is locally uncommon on St. Lawrence Island and the Seward Pennisula in the fall. Numerous birds were present during my visit including several adults and a third cycle bird.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkW5U-qJFA6-cs5q6_uktzXAHoe8VN-4utJuIdPvjDWZ6GVK3gO7q2PQKiubZR2c-bZz2NI1o9Oi3QkCVL8nxbhj7O3TR-emKMkQ_ZkQKHXdpMaCsA9pgWYbW8oLB4rMueL41gi59jRl4Y/s1600-h/jjsbggb3560.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkW5U-qJFA6-cs5q6_uktzXAHoe8VN-4utJuIdPvjDWZ6GVK3gO7q2PQKiubZR2c-bZz2NI1o9Oi3QkCVL8nxbhj7O3TR-emKMkQ_ZkQKHXdpMaCsA9pgWYbW8oLB4rMueL41gi59jRl4Y/s320/jjsbggb3560.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Adult Slaty-backed Gull and Adult Glaucous Gull<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I remember a discussion line on ID Frontiers last year in which Gary Rosenberg commented on the universally very dark-mantled Slaty-backed Gulls in Alaska and expressed concern that the lightness of the mantle of several of the birds identified in the Lower 48 seemed out of range in his experience. After viewing several adult Slaty-backeds in Gambell I can see his point. These birds are very dark- backed. Ujihara talks about the real variation and the confounding variables in this trait on his website:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www23.tok2.com/home/jgull/081204Slaty/slaty2.htm">http://www23.tok2.com/home/jgull/081204Slaty/slaty2.htm</a><br />
<br />
The Vega Gulls also appear very dark in Gambell and at first glance it is easy to think these are Slaty-backeds. I suspect Gambell Slaty-backeds are at the dark end of the spectrum and that the usual light conditions at Gambell intensifies the effect. Note how dark the Vega Gulls in the following photo appear and the Slaty-backs appear jet black.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbWt6_HHl4P4HQQ0Rflkn4Fy1b4mknu_ImADEfglVLVWbxMSowptkAJwt-Xo2P_SFizvtUxR_9Z_Huc_cxr0ERLccfoSjN4SOx7296-1SiUea8Xy8XROp-OWJAvCX7PlwuSqYLbRliaN8X/s1600-h/jjjjjggb3602.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbWt6_HHl4P4HQQ0Rflkn4Fy1b4mknu_ImADEfglVLVWbxMSowptkAJwt-Xo2P_SFizvtUxR_9Z_Huc_cxr0ERLccfoSjN4SOx7296-1SiUea8Xy8XROp-OWJAvCX7PlwuSqYLbRliaN8X/s400/jjjjjggb3602.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">Slaty-backed, Vega and Glaucous Gulls<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">I have include some Slaty-backed flight shots<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSJJ9kMNufJa5R3HU-0Se16KrCl1q2sQ8WHQTcvWDPe6V0dpsGRQ92xGSkdZApFn4jZYT8EI-O7TXlDIG0J5yBYbdy1WqI7MKhpDMAqWQjX_hG_DUk2UJhvoXEpIORL9F8suJ6OohukQSu/s1600-h/jjsbggb3586.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSJJ9kMNufJa5R3HU-0Se16KrCl1q2sQ8WHQTcvWDPe6V0dpsGRQ92xGSkdZApFn4jZYT8EI-O7TXlDIG0J5yBYbdy1WqI7MKhpDMAqWQjX_hG_DUk2UJhvoXEpIORL9F8suJ6OohukQSu/s400/jjsbggb3586.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisBkn8TKMjcKfrZFG0O1yNgFrGA_NGI4iCBs9HDaJoplzajgMDEQJgBjHSPOGNpZ8AJAsCL3kdiUA83xO_KWfYQFSn8VYNbfaqFxNNh91mE1kmcvYrWaCuZL1Ofjl8awUHJj5KikPfTZXx/s1600-h/jjsbgft3734.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisBkn8TKMjcKfrZFG0O1yNgFrGA_NGI4iCBs9HDaJoplzajgMDEQJgBjHSPOGNpZ8AJAsCL3kdiUA83xO_KWfYQFSn8VYNbfaqFxNNh91mE1kmcvYrWaCuZL1Ofjl8awUHJj5KikPfTZXx/s400/jjsbgft3734.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlzUowQQHM1NpI0aUE9CIV6Wwp8a5ErYeEuEjS8KdYFRyqv3RynjuV6NFTTwA7XEMK4Db3dRJ-72SYW4F2ZZTD5iGerJOcxwbRE_IQutYfBHURVe6PY9MgGeK2kuiOkdXZaBB4nY4bLAIu/s1600-h/jjjjjjsbggb3632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlzUowQQHM1NpI0aUE9CIV6Wwp8a5ErYeEuEjS8KdYFRyqv3RynjuV6NFTTwA7XEMK4Db3dRJ-72SYW4F2ZZTD5iGerJOcxwbRE_IQutYfBHURVe6PY9MgGeK2kuiOkdXZaBB4nY4bLAIu/s400/jjjjjjsbggb3632.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3oMfdPcxyp8zZc1Tyv2kRrpgOk0uv1K2LXvupsfomKm763XczWTfxn9UJ4umoFUUcu6obuksIMD_9Ga7doP8poB9FWdOFQ4yVrKRpKhMfoAW2kyZYXXQwcMW8_q_TNH6LMffi6AwcClBf/s1600-h/jjjjjsbggb3651.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3oMfdPcxyp8zZc1Tyv2kRrpgOk0uv1K2LXvupsfomKm763XczWTfxn9UJ4umoFUUcu6obuksIMD_9Ga7doP8poB9FWdOFQ4yVrKRpKhMfoAW2kyZYXXQwcMW8_q_TNH6LMffi6AwcClBf/s400/jjjjjsbggb3651.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Slaty-backed Gulls in flight<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3oMfdPcxyp8zZc1Tyv2kRrpgOk0uv1K2LXvupsfomKm763XczWTfxn9UJ4umoFUUcu6obuksIMD_9Ga7doP8poB9FWdOFQ4yVrKRpKhMfoAW2kyZYXXQwcMW8_q_TNH6LMffi6AwcClBf/s1600-h/jjjjjsbggb3651.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_6HD8DenjUJbGbfFpzo9sT6XYhm11IUZHNSiMYxdUfP9i_LmOEhrhFWCEnCKwQi9LR34VoUU_ByOBG3IclA9DcqSFDXzi2nfRmrF9cEEpjtUqjiZzIJTIStWCrUnvEJSe25NjYR15d9P/s1600-h/jjsbgb3803.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_6HD8DenjUJbGbfFpzo9sT6XYhm11IUZHNSiMYxdUfP9i_LmOEhrhFWCEnCKwQi9LR34VoUU_ByOBG3IclA9DcqSFDXzi2nfRmrF9cEEpjtUqjiZzIJTIStWCrUnvEJSe25NjYR15d9P/s400/jjsbgb3803.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Third year Slaty-backed Gull<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Like the Vega Gull the Slaty-backed has bright pinkish-red feet however Vega Gulls seem to have darker red feet and duller pink legs at least in breeding season while the Slaty-backeds seem to have the same bright pinkish -red colour to both feet and legs.<br />
<br />
Slaty-backed Gulls have a reddish orbital ring very similar to Vega. Of course the Slaty-backed Gull has a very light eye usually with a yellowish tinge in breeding plumage while the Vega Gulls eye is usually very dark.<br />
</div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI59zdQWfisVvf6kHyyjdNjgqXB-elfATEy7Wpj0hbC2mLi00qP2OIsQD0bfAJ4Dcq8RJGMmHUSQb7H68wNDugEDmEjB-v2qvJVb3wnObwnKTVtL4JDvktvspjSsP_j0a_vLEozX8chnDp/s1600-h/jjjjjjsbggb3816.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI59zdQWfisVvf6kHyyjdNjgqXB-elfATEy7Wpj0hbC2mLi00qP2OIsQD0bfAJ4Dcq8RJGMmHUSQb7H68wNDugEDmEjB-v2qvJVb3wnObwnKTVtL4JDvktvspjSsP_j0a_vLEozX8chnDp/s400/jjjjjjsbggb3816.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Third year Slaty-backed Gull showing bright pink feet and legs<br />
</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFX3T02lKh48RdnI1BM_sZc6NzUGnujv0t1MNBIY6gcCVp7KJvkX5kq-rxAGJ4C40NvUFTbMCPVDTnsvZupdieTJfb9jwfw5ROFr98Mmbe-fuASBve7BqDO99itS3SQbTMvYRZ2L7_Zqsq/s1600-h/jjjjjjjsbggbor3684.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFX3T02lKh48RdnI1BM_sZc6NzUGnujv0t1MNBIY6gcCVp7KJvkX5kq-rxAGJ4C40NvUFTbMCPVDTnsvZupdieTJfb9jwfw5ROFr98Mmbe-fuASBve7BqDO99itS3SQbTMvYRZ2L7_Zqsq/s400/jjjjjjjsbggbor3684.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Slaty-backed Gull showing lemon yellow eye and reddish-orange orbital ring<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I had been in Gambell for about 5 days and had yet to spend any real time photographing gulls. I was heading back from the sea watch that evening around 10:30 pm when I noted a feeding frenzy of gulls just offshore. I thought this would be a nice opportunity to get some flight shots and headed to the party.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was there for 15-20 minutes when out of the blue an adult Ivory Gull swooped in a joined the frenzy. It was fluttering about just off shore as I tried to calm myself to get some pictures.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3i6QAxvIPc0yaMakFcZJLR5WMnplNMOoMx46QnKOvIHCXDX8Qx06W9jtBwDuASc1lS99kJdIgF7nexBP6gxCTw1z04HkVGD706XJz6Z7EqaAviKQNV3JZzDYAUDpnrQaBw6Pl_t7mAznI/s1600-h/jjiggbb3817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3i6QAxvIPc0yaMakFcZJLR5WMnplNMOoMx46QnKOvIHCXDX8Qx06W9jtBwDuASc1lS99kJdIgF7nexBP6gxCTw1z04HkVGD706XJz6Z7EqaAviKQNV3JZzDYAUDpnrQaBw6Pl_t7mAznI/s400/jjiggbb3817.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzZdVB7g44laomqQh03dgJRArNNw7Md29uhNVeoz6neOu-4YH64kzFCaCXes3Y_AqNHBn51am94WOgypMPDrX0Gees3UmDU_Gex52BHvcqlY_lM55i6Bwe_NBKr7pIqBY8ECOcQf3HWrm4/s1600-h/jjiggb3698.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzZdVB7g44laomqQh03dgJRArNNw7Md29uhNVeoz6neOu-4YH64kzFCaCXes3Y_AqNHBn51am94WOgypMPDrX0Gees3UmDU_Gex52BHvcqlY_lM55i6Bwe_NBKr7pIqBY8ECOcQf3HWrm4/s400/jjiggb3698.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzZdVB7g44laomqQh03dgJRArNNw7Md29uhNVeoz6neOu-4YH64kzFCaCXes3Y_AqNHBn51am94WOgypMPDrX0Gees3UmDU_Gex52BHvcqlY_lM55i6Bwe_NBKr7pIqBY8ECOcQf3HWrm4/s1600-h/jjiggb3698.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ZYLJxQFWLllkcHeZHWtNR9gIo0q2iyBEDvfbW6MYxfIEuhiYYCh37MiYl922wcHJ_ACNOK_r1XintUfVN94uR8ciuK5dOuIfhTKub6nz56i1c3846jy6y8FpnzPkJTHBXcIlOyrD3UEH/s1600-h/jjiggb3462.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ZYLJxQFWLllkcHeZHWtNR9gIo0q2iyBEDvfbW6MYxfIEuhiYYCh37MiYl922wcHJ_ACNOK_r1XintUfVN94uR8ciuK5dOuIfhTKub6nz56i1c3846jy6y8FpnzPkJTHBXcIlOyrD3UEH/s400/jjiggb3462.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwiYkFkSoqAKA129hjf53AjoA3LBaMkBiea8QRdNUexGAILV8Jc8sCdh4c7t3qGOOp55ZGFdDvhjSVQIq-WjBkyAFEv0iW9JxnOVlxXyHE2guiLO3HEQd8efV7EZPOwuFnuxEVYB5ycmtI/s1600-h/jjiggb3693.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwiYkFkSoqAKA129hjf53AjoA3LBaMkBiea8QRdNUexGAILV8Jc8sCdh4c7t3qGOOp55ZGFdDvhjSVQIq-WjBkyAFEv0iW9JxnOVlxXyHE2guiLO3HEQd8efV7EZPOwuFnuxEVYB5ycmtI/s400/jjiggb3693.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Ivory Gull<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It wasn't long before I realized that I was in a bit of a "situation". I was actually one of the few people in our group who had seen an Ivory Gull. Here I was about 20 minutes away from the lodge with no radio and an Ivory Gull at arms length. I could imagine the reception when I recounted the story and shared the pictures with the group. Just as I decided I better head back and raise the group and flottilla of ATVs crested the hill and I waved the group over. Apparently the Ivory Gull had swooped by the sea watch on the way to the feeding frenzy and had been reported back to the group. Saved by the bell.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK8rPh82ZGkwHNRNHDtJNnXVuV83k7zaSottbjM2F8FUWof2Z9zSpM8Rx7WLMslMHbkLMD_qtMsxC9onkxTTUrXhyphenhyphenxp-72hjznr4wH8Bh0VKN3-33o4uBWcqovoNj7iEUZaYWdKC1yJ_qW/s1600-h/iggb3532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK8rPh82ZGkwHNRNHDtJNnXVuV83k7zaSottbjM2F8FUWof2Z9zSpM8Rx7WLMslMHbkLMD_qtMsxC9onkxTTUrXhyphenhyphenxp-72hjznr4wH8Bh0VKN3-33o4uBWcqovoNj7iEUZaYWdKC1yJ_qW/s400/iggb3532.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibaLPVFgFMWOm9AejeVlQozpcPIXvymVvpRpHUePDS2IkhOrNWSr-xFyKp8hs-Xci47MBNV9re_EMSIomQLMxQI8zhGqfioLcXHtLJ35lG4nz5gkUZub2nZtb-IjATEZ7NauycKq255kzr/s1600-h/jiggb3423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibaLPVFgFMWOm9AejeVlQozpcPIXvymVvpRpHUePDS2IkhOrNWSr-xFyKp8hs-Xci47MBNV9re_EMSIomQLMxQI8zhGqfioLcXHtLJ35lG4nz5gkUZub2nZtb-IjATEZ7NauycKq255kzr/s400/jiggb3423.jpg" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">Adult Ivory Gull<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">It put on a good show for the group then vanished never to be seen again at least by us.<br />
<br />
We saw two other gull species during our time at Gambell. Black-legged Kittiwake was a fairly regular fly-by at the sea watch and an adult breeding plumage Black-headed Gull spent a day and a bit south of the lake but was never within distance for photographs. We didn't see a Sabine's Gull but I believe it is a regular migrant. To my disappointment we did not see a Ross's Gull. It is not to be expected at Gambell but should always be hoped for.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I thought I would share a few more gull pictures from various Alaskan destinations to finish off:<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQY69GqcAt7JIzwSCD5Qoree0kgp7JBD2Qax0PCkFDL2_AOkHg8Z7n75X83D_BXfK86YhYu_N9Zqyex_NJ3icM0DRNflxO3epZ5cZSAR3ueHybgQ-dAjE-bU0axIWMeat13ly7BFeZiCy/s1600-h/qqqblkak8785.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQY69GqcAt7JIzwSCD5Qoree0kgp7JBD2Qax0PCkFDL2_AOkHg8Z7n75X83D_BXfK86YhYu_N9Zqyex_NJ3icM0DRNflxO3epZ5cZSAR3ueHybgQ-dAjE-bU0axIWMeat13ly7BFeZiCy/s400/qqqblkak8785.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">First cycle and Adult Black-legged Kittiwake- Little Tanaga Strait, Aleutians<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjphgH4EvaIQrPgrPivPv4HxEXxJ2bGeZyKTfSn_Tt5eGFtIhSmeS7AHgluIs1aIsHXs_9Frir4tcZqtYgzNh7TJ-nUYAatFL5WTQm5kHJwp8gdT0sZTUKNwdmNwyq5Yixk-0yUMnCWnR2/s1600-h/qqqgwgak8463rsz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjphgH4EvaIQrPgrPivPv4HxEXxJ2bGeZyKTfSn_Tt5eGFtIhSmeS7AHgluIs1aIsHXs_9Frir4tcZqtYgzNh7TJ-nUYAatFL5WTQm5kHJwp8gdT0sZTUKNwdmNwyq5Yixk-0yUMnCWnR2/s400/qqqgwgak8463rsz.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Galucous-winged Gull- Little Tanaga Strait, Aleutians<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiON9L4VlU2SM5O5zRfUOkQZCfboPB6UiTFK3G7Jvskm4Akpeqz4u79xLUknbL5iukjXW7X6LC5luWB9fFjtqEeqbykGC5gPTKl2GeosqCYotmaaHEbywIM-wJnjRjr8cmd8jMJ9UOB7KVB/s1600-h/qqqmgak3608.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiON9L4VlU2SM5O5zRfUOkQZCfboPB6UiTFK3G7Jvskm4Akpeqz4u79xLUknbL5iukjXW7X6LC5luWB9fFjtqEeqbykGC5gPTKl2GeosqCYotmaaHEbywIM-wJnjRjr8cmd8jMJ9UOB7KVB/s400/qqqmgak3608.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Mew Gull- Anchorage<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK1ooVwNxTLsHvwEnEeclyxmtZEyRgexDcZuge8IPA86tjUv0OqV4xX5G9gdsC4y_7l8oXK-nD7q3BvZ2_QP8R7iWQdTwkppqgc_pVoIKqp7fhD9RO3OARUd4R5XlrQphClCELvDb5lJP6/s1600-h/qqqmgak3697.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK1ooVwNxTLsHvwEnEeclyxmtZEyRgexDcZuge8IPA86tjUv0OqV4xX5G9gdsC4y_7l8oXK-nD7q3BvZ2_QP8R7iWQdTwkppqgc_pVoIKqp7fhD9RO3OARUd4R5XlrQphClCELvDb5lJP6/s400/qqqmgak3697.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Mew Gull- Anchorage<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTi3_G7fLj77tVlBfC3MzZHehHlTgLYGd8Rkfzi2xhjWXUCjxnpSVrBRdoVePzlqzw9fqDgrbg1JkC5Vczer4PEo0kDeNf0EQNCI9vTzvojn13myn9WL16Z6jSMY4uMVq1y2zy2Vw7yoXH/s1600-h/qqqsgakrz3063b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTi3_G7fLj77tVlBfC3MzZHehHlTgLYGd8Rkfzi2xhjWXUCjxnpSVrBRdoVePzlqzw9fqDgrbg1JkC5Vczer4PEo0kDeNf0EQNCI9vTzvojn13myn9WL16Z6jSMY4uMVq1y2zy2Vw7yoXH/s400/qqqsgakrz3063b.jpg" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Adult Sabine's Gull- Barrow<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiySDh4GLtKdDHs1f56LbhmuVt8FZioGE4gOnPxc_GPeeck3ftZm95cCodjfbmA3_Ey30cxGz95X4bhP19tolMu3eii6tjxDBTPrD2L0bld5bw6IRIIHdClDTXl3XF8drO1tBqxGe2nFaW7/s1600-h/qqqblk7708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiySDh4GLtKdDHs1f56LbhmuVt8FZioGE4gOnPxc_GPeeck3ftZm95cCodjfbmA3_Ey30cxGz95X4bhP19tolMu3eii6tjxDBTPrD2L0bld5bw6IRIIHdClDTXl3XF8drO1tBqxGe2nFaW7/s400/qqqblk7708.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Black-legged Kittiwake- St. Paul Island<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoST-CFyGMo6etXBTGO7AifMs2_eudQStMzoeGp-7vEPdVu2frIBPAYpXOTWtRXtvGQnDBBDnXHxggH6is7Koic8z6wdy3e6YhKooAlz4KpWC_unCjdXgrxJPSuGBz9T7xTdInyOv3RjnT/s1600-h/qqqrlk7762.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoST-CFyGMo6etXBTGO7AifMs2_eudQStMzoeGp-7vEPdVu2frIBPAYpXOTWtRXtvGQnDBBDnXHxggH6is7Koic8z6wdy3e6YhKooAlz4KpWC_unCjdXgrxJPSuGBz9T7xTdInyOv3RjnT/s400/qqqrlk7762.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Red-legged Kittiwake - St. Paul Island<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioZeap_-SfDfGG_VrsRGNfJ06_OJrWywzYyONKRcqKULpXdmNuf-gcEkln-1wRpZ5ejELSRek431SCZTexcXJXOrMJsaOZmFREMpMuCiHURbJRLS6KGnpe0lRh0GRS3dyZodm8y5z1XK58/s1600-h/qqqrlk7747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioZeap_-SfDfGG_VrsRGNfJ06_OJrWywzYyONKRcqKULpXdmNuf-gcEkln-1wRpZ5ejELSRek431SCZTexcXJXOrMJsaOZmFREMpMuCiHURbJRLS6KGnpe0lRh0GRS3dyZodm8y5z1XK58/s400/qqqrlk7747.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Red-legged Kittiwake - St. Paul Island<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVIHwDgeEX4aprK3QQ9Y0ezh4mLOLbZAz84zIe1KJDRvuqonKCdtEieiI8dLZnxdZh5HK9qU2S3VpH3d1Z-fCLPp0NGI_haXYmO_lnvOfJErN5SQUd-0oNW5lRJo0Rd8TYP15kny3Nngv/s1600-h/qqqrlk7776.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVIHwDgeEX4aprK3QQ9Y0ezh4mLOLbZAz84zIe1KJDRvuqonKCdtEieiI8dLZnxdZh5HK9qU2S3VpH3d1Z-fCLPp0NGI_haXYmO_lnvOfJErN5SQUd-0oNW5lRJo0Rd8TYP15kny3Nngv/s400/qqqrlk7776.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Red-legged Kittiwake - St. Paul Island<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio5GGeeDMNkWUsIZLlR0lvO_ntvJc9unzTNcdLl1gJQ1JuYsQXTcgbuSwJLnJ0xVBeOsAgcv3kidPGSib8ZJ6OWUxIEUrRBqNkDEjNOk6StoJ8WXD_naGEmG1davu3rrxbPSjwl-RZDRFl/s1600-h/qqqrlk7865.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio5GGeeDMNkWUsIZLlR0lvO_ntvJc9unzTNcdLl1gJQ1JuYsQXTcgbuSwJLnJ0xVBeOsAgcv3kidPGSib8ZJ6OWUxIEUrRBqNkDEjNOk6StoJ8WXD_naGEmG1davu3rrxbPSjwl-RZDRFl/s400/qqqrlk7865.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">First cycle and Adult Red-legged Kittiwake - St. Paul Island<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio5GGeeDMNkWUsIZLlR0lvO_ntvJc9unzTNcdLl1gJQ1JuYsQXTcgbuSwJLnJ0xVBeOsAgcv3kidPGSib8ZJ6OWUxIEUrRBqNkDEjNOk6StoJ8WXD_naGEmG1davu3rrxbPSjwl-RZDRFl/s1600-h/qqqrlk7865.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5tm1rZ7JWzuFBdEiIVpf1O8SnNdU9dzvPAZVl7MZIRcjigrO3OoMrRkb1ywD7G68pVm5mn-NLuFvBqUbbXVQRn25qKNoyyGVkph_fMcEa0rHYipYwOoC8pwf0cov6xqxiYrRby4WVSqdF/s1600-h/qqqrlk8030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5tm1rZ7JWzuFBdEiIVpf1O8SnNdU9dzvPAZVl7MZIRcjigrO3OoMrRkb1ywD7G68pVm5mn-NLuFvBqUbbXVQRn25qKNoyyGVkph_fMcEa0rHYipYwOoC8pwf0cov6xqxiYrRby4WVSqdF/s400/qqqrlk8030.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">First cycle and Adult Red-legged Kittiwake - St. Paul Island<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Red-legged Kittiwake was the technically (given the current taxanomical status of Vega Gull) the only "lifer" gull I saw in Alaska and I enjoyed it immensely. Its a most unusual bird with the most restricted breeding range of any gull. Traditionally most of the world population nested on St.Paul and St. George Islands (the Pribilofs). According to Dunn & Howell the population in the Pribilofs has declined by as much as 50% since the mid 70s. Inversely populations in the western Aelutians have been on the increase.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">There were no Ross's Gull at Barrow either. I also missed Kamchatka Gull ( L. (canus) kamtscatschensis) the Siberian version of the Mew Gull considered by many authorities to be a distinct species. I am hoping to see the Kamchatka Gull next spring somewhere between Adak and Attu. If anyone wants to come along there may be a spot left on the boat - talk to John Puschock for the details.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Kirk Zufelt<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">zufelt_k@shaw.ca<br />
</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div></div></div>Kirk Zufelthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14223956713828841853noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2525284487032503296.post-42435017638507074172010-01-04T14:10:00.000-08:002010-01-05T18:16:58.528-08:00Probably not a European Herring Gull-? Vega GullI got a quite a few positive responses in regards to the possibility of this bird being a European Herring Gull- L. a. argentatus. Alas however the two not so positive responses were the most elucidating. These comments revealed to me the true importance of actual extensive field experience with the species in question.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOIsvRAcp24ZiIqD12Wr4f1sp7VicUElTRzAzCiG3A31Zg2sihvxG4MDeni4U3Om4fEvSGKGqKQFcghFUHnVhvgEIySvvggIca72N32X1UHWDgJo_Sl5ztU_1zJ6wKO0lz50TiyYHl_JWU/s1600-h/vtgssm1072.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOIsvRAcp24ZiIqD12Wr4f1sp7VicUElTRzAzCiG3A31Zg2sihvxG4MDeni4U3Om4fEvSGKGqKQFcghFUHnVhvgEIySvvggIca72N32X1UHWDgJo_Sl5ztU_1zJ6wKO0lz50TiyYHl_JWU/s400/vtgssm1072.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Former candidate for first winter European Herring Gull<br />
</div><br />
<br />
Hans Larrson (Olsen & Larsson- Gulls of North America, Europe and Asia) kindly reviewed the pictures and forwarded some very enlightening comments as well as some very detailed pictures.<br />
<br />
Here are Hans comments<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"></span><br />
<div><i>"Back to your bird then. Compared to the average argentatus in southern Sweden (with many Arctic birds arriving now), it differs in:</i><br />
</div><div><i><br />
</i><br />
</div><div><i>*Bill colour - The vast majority has a quite dark bill during the first year, although birds with bicolored do occur regularly.</i><br />
</div><div><i><br />
</i><br />
</div><div><i>*Body colouration - Normally the underparts are not so uniform. We always keep an eye out for this type of pattern, while searching for American Herring and Thayer´s Gulls, that has yet to be recorded here. Usually, we fail to find birds with such neat colour.</i><br />
</div><div><i><br />
</i><br />
</div><div><i>*Wing coverts (and scapulars, to a lesser extent) - They seem paler and very neat and tidy patterned compared to the darker and quite messy ones in argentatus.</i><br />
</div><div><i><br />
</i><br />
</div><div><i>*Leg colour - This deep reddish tone is unusual in our argentatus. Normally they are duller with a greyish tinge.</i><br />
</div><div><i><br />
</i><br />
</div><div><i>All in all, my opinion is that your bird much better matches Vega Gull. I enclose a selection of argentatus from my local patch this weekend, to illustrate my reflections. My intention is to eventually post them on my blog (that I run with Jörgen Bernsmo), but with Christmas approaching it may take a while.. "</i><br />
</div><div><i><br />
</i><br />
</div><div><i>Hans Larrson</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i>Hans Larrson's great blog- <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal;"><a href="http://truthjalpen.blogspot.com/search/label/Larus%20argentatus">http://truthjalpen.blogspot.com/search/label/Larus%20argentatus</a></span></i><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div>Lets go through this point by point<br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div>Bill colour- I don't think the bicolour bill on my bird is a decisive point. It seems to be present uncommonly in L. a. argentatus and is clearly seen in L. a. smithsonianus.<br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div>Body colouration- This is probably the single most diagnostic point in my mind going against L.a. argentatus.<br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZOwA5Y2JkgnEhN8p5hPWUMTj9k24GTHKyfGN5yNvkJfXnCrt2gwN1IE9EfJrYmd4LaoBsFadXoO-Rq-S2ED34xE3ITriTuuRk7MSsDSnbjCV3kJbrHyxXSkDbkOuIY8LfWkpipXYO1chY/s1600-h/arg1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZOwA5Y2JkgnEhN8p5hPWUMTj9k24GTHKyfGN5yNvkJfXnCrt2gwN1IE9EfJrYmd4LaoBsFadXoO-Rq-S2ED34xE3ITriTuuRk7MSsDSnbjCV3kJbrHyxXSkDbkOuIY8LfWkpipXYO1chY/s400/arg1.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">First winter European Herring Gull -Hans Larrson<br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The above picture was taken by Hans Larrson in Sweden this past December. It clearly illustrates the heavily streaked chest and belly. My bird below clearly differs with a neat uniform chest and belly as well as lightly vermicullated flanks.<br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho1M3_6jKQIJxVQOGxpkN-pHWpXolz6bvP7q4GF-PfgqIDXS2FMFyi0ZQ1pkG7L9pY3fxn97YnV5H3cLwz6dbFNaHrtkxD-_LWUqF9zdKPmsvjFpDO-5ab9O8qE9a3DghaxPlNL4mZBLJs/s1600-h/vtgssm1092.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho1M3_6jKQIJxVQOGxpkN-pHWpXolz6bvP7q4GF-PfgqIDXS2FMFyi0ZQ1pkG7L9pY3fxn97YnV5H3cLwz6dbFNaHrtkxD-_LWUqF9zdKPmsvjFpDO-5ab9O8qE9a3DghaxPlNL4mZBLJs/s400/vtgssm1092.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho1M3_6jKQIJxVQOGxpkN-pHWpXolz6bvP7q4GF-PfgqIDXS2FMFyi0ZQ1pkG7L9pY3fxn97YnV5H3cLwz6dbFNaHrtkxD-_LWUqF9zdKPmsvjFpDO-5ab9O8qE9a3DghaxPlNL4mZBLJs/s1600-h/vtgssm1092.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>My First winter "Herring Gull"<br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">The flanks on the following L.a . argentatus from Sweden are much heavier marked with blotchy bold patterning.<br />
</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwfkknboHZGHbqYWPOz8WdNPzUvNGnzgUQ8IlBxN-kymWU2aY4wqhwdqtXT6unJV5tuv_BqCMAIwKZmuR1rWQlOwcbGdTPX98bsaBWqyl6HHlzr47P55YXQtjvHMDn3KrBzD-PC4Em961e/s1600-h/arg3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwfkknboHZGHbqYWPOz8WdNPzUvNGnzgUQ8IlBxN-kymWU2aY4wqhwdqtXT6unJV5tuv_BqCMAIwKZmuR1rWQlOwcbGdTPX98bsaBWqyl6HHlzr47P55YXQtjvHMDn3KrBzD-PC4Em961e/s400/arg3.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">First Winter European Herring Gull- Hans Larrson<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">On to the wing coverts. Hans comments - They seem paler and very neat and tidy patterned compared to the darker and quite messy ones in argentatus. Indeed my birds coverts are quite precise.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ax78Zg8ZQhL1TbZeODQNQcJQbmTNjO25Nc8cCvP6nKkrzIH79BctUpEhgq7ua3FQavWMWp4Ue7ONh-DqmIVT6vOB0fG_cnqtwAc3bzesrL2ULz5e0NZdWkZAgLhxlfaftMz1Ijljy6A1/s1600-h/vtgssm1137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ax78Zg8ZQhL1TbZeODQNQcJQbmTNjO25Nc8cCvP6nKkrzIH79BctUpEhgq7ua3FQavWMWp4Ue7ONh-DqmIVT6vOB0fG_cnqtwAc3bzesrL2ULz5e0NZdWkZAgLhxlfaftMz1Ijljy6A1/s400/vtgssm1137.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">My first winter "Herring" Gull<br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggnBMLDK3RP1OXcjfiaGR3ywpP9f99y37h41OArSmhQSnBXtHIc_KgdD0b8T4pNKx6JwNd06aZ_kNav56m_nu1I9IToITFkfsQuWmRoQ2Ei3-uJKBWa0l2KLxYqntuSL7OOj0U27Lc8fnj/s1600-h/arg6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggnBMLDK3RP1OXcjfiaGR3ywpP9f99y37h41OArSmhQSnBXtHIc_KgdD0b8T4pNKx6JwNd06aZ_kNav56m_nu1I9IToITFkfsQuWmRoQ2Ei3-uJKBWa0l2KLxYqntuSL7OOj0U27Lc8fnj/s400/arg6.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>First winter European Herring Gull- Hans Larrson<br />
<br />
Above Hans L.a.argentatus clearly has messy coverts quite distinctive from my bird. However the folllowing bird which is also a Swedish L. a. argentatus really seems to be remarkably similar to my bird with maybe just a touch messier coverts very similar mantle feathers and rather uniform underparts.<br />
<br />
<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe4n0tPf0R1Rt76Cb5y5jK2pW6Hd-7R-EsayaftlJcvzDzOx_viiO5uZbuqDudmRgPc9quhpAiOmHa7KTi6auEd3_RmR-5y94vKuKS7N4xrGLDn1Sdt5Hd6xZHSjqeXlrWKUcevr07pedN/s1600-h/arg16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe4n0tPf0R1Rt76Cb5y5jK2pW6Hd-7R-EsayaftlJcvzDzOx_viiO5uZbuqDudmRgPc9quhpAiOmHa7KTi6auEd3_RmR-5y94vKuKS7N4xrGLDn1Sdt5Hd6xZHSjqeXlrWKUcevr07pedN/s400/arg16.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe4n0tPf0R1Rt76Cb5y5jK2pW6Hd-7R-EsayaftlJcvzDzOx_viiO5uZbuqDudmRgPc9quhpAiOmHa7KTi6auEd3_RmR-5y94vKuKS7N4xrGLDn1Sdt5Hd6xZHSjqeXlrWKUcevr07pedN/s1600-h/arg16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe4n0tPf0R1Rt76Cb5y5jK2pW6Hd-7R-EsayaftlJcvzDzOx_viiO5uZbuqDudmRgPc9quhpAiOmHa7KTi6auEd3_RmR-5y94vKuKS7N4xrGLDn1Sdt5Hd6xZHSjqeXlrWKUcevr07pedN/s1600-h/arg16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
First winter European Herring Gull-Hans Larrson<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir5kje7Kq_PyjvEss6GRpnaGts6YHMGn_pgsbLQAi0FQ-bnfw9QQMiIFCrqL0PMokeGtcVyvUVatWvnnSUpL7WFydZuw5HILzML4PA6-ThKMQo7KQDjdLD79xeEXtyESmX1VNGcBIrDHUf/s1600-h/vtgssm1061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir5kje7Kq_PyjvEss6GRpnaGts6YHMGn_pgsbLQAi0FQ-bnfw9QQMiIFCrqL0PMokeGtcVyvUVatWvnnSUpL7WFydZuw5HILzML4PA6-ThKMQo7KQDjdLD79xeEXtyESmX1VNGcBIrDHUf/s400/vtgssm1061.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
My first winter "Herring" Gull<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Well the leg color on all of Hans birds is as he describes - dull greyish pink. My bird definitely has brighter pink legs and that was noticeable in the field and in comparison with the other first year Herring Gulls at the scene.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKzRGpL-DqaYXLFulJGfqWNq9UFK54G2NReGKuq0AiPPW4TASZFoIueroZmWTCpO_68-A2Hdy5kSSnuZEJ2hDNzXnZ_Nw1azmbXC0n0L1s-KfekOhvvBWUsFyEgDe76DkcX6pGsivr4Jbk/s1600-h/vtglegcolor1082.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKzRGpL-DqaYXLFulJGfqWNq9UFK54G2NReGKuq0AiPPW4TASZFoIueroZmWTCpO_68-A2Hdy5kSSnuZEJ2hDNzXnZ_Nw1azmbXC0n0L1s-KfekOhvvBWUsFyEgDe76DkcX6pGsivr4Jbk/s400/vtglegcolor1082.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My first winter "Herring Gull" to the right<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I think the above photo illustrates well this birds relatively bright pink legs. In the field they were noticeably brighter than the other first year 'Herring" Gulls.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The well known Dutch birder and gull expert Peter Adriaens also was kind enough to comment on this bird via ID Frontier's:<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;"></span><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i>"At the risk of sounding overly critical, I think there are still several subtle features that do not look entirely convincing for European Herring Gull.</i><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i>Perhaps too much importance is placed on the paleness of the plumage and the barred look of the wingcoverts and tertials, but not enough on the tail pattern and pattern of the underparts.</i><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i><br />
</i><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i>First though, there is the bill pattern. While it is true that a bicoloured bill in itself is not an issue for argentatus, the pattern is only rarely as clear-cut and Glaucous-like as in this bird. In most European HGs, the black colour of the bill tip continues along the mandibles towards the base.</i><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i>To my eyes, the tail looks a bit unusual for European HG in that the outermost tailfeathers appear so densely barred right up to the feather bases. In European HG, the dark bars on the outermost rectrices are typically sparse or widely separated, creating the impression of rather white outer tail bases. I don't know if there is a need for more comparison flightshots of European HG on the internet, but have uploaded mine:</i><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.be/Zorkyyy/EuropeanHerringGull_1stcycle_tailpatterns" target="_blank">http://picasaweb.google.be/Zorkyyy/EuropeanHerringGull_1stcycle_tailpatterns</a> "<br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i>Peter Adriaen's</i><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ga5-18ST5-dg1nKhp4UwrcojyYGxVzO39d_3SE01-GgTMj0V3M-gywpiIMHsP2rd1_sQQxary8brbR8yugep2ExdtYC86rYDOIry6fcuu-bxNLs7oeWdkpTlXZqK5ztQq75iqBNBitXq/s1600-h/vtgssm1142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ga5-18ST5-dg1nKhp4UwrcojyYGxVzO39d_3SE01-GgTMj0V3M-gywpiIMHsP2rd1_sQQxary8brbR8yugep2ExdtYC86rYDOIry6fcuu-bxNLs7oeWdkpTlXZqK5ztQq75iqBNBitXq/s400/vtgssm1142.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My first winter "Herring" Gull<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUvgmECBK8OBMC-KSQnavoQEEzFdKYPgz1kBWgQqnUqoAFzUFotpiLYHP_Tx7Nw66v4D18lu-x0YyuqnnsxFR2MxNhqBYWFWsG9Colh3EgNmlFyNP-d6olUA3QS3iI1BTlmTsUGU3kAJBp/s1600-h/arg14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUvgmECBK8OBMC-KSQnavoQEEzFdKYPgz1kBWgQqnUqoAFzUFotpiLYHP_Tx7Nw66v4D18lu-x0YyuqnnsxFR2MxNhqBYWFWsG9Colh3EgNmlFyNP-d6olUA3QS3iI1BTlmTsUGU3kAJBp/s400/arg14.jpg" /></a><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">First winter European Herring Gull - Hans Larrson<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJKNVF8Nr1hSevXyLti0S0fqRvR3ijMRe7zu3tqMGz_5aOxtw_-aRfw5oH_ICLQgZMZdXDD1zx_Hvi3BprqgSfFVvQ3o1hGGE60EYx_tGSSUMBOUcefQ2Ekji0tBev1Oh6n-LVNd6NUgtp/s1600-h/arg9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJKNVF8Nr1hSevXyLti0S0fqRvR3ijMRe7zu3tqMGz_5aOxtw_-aRfw5oH_ICLQgZMZdXDD1zx_Hvi3BprqgSfFVvQ3o1hGGE60EYx_tGSSUMBOUcefQ2Ekji0tBev1Oh6n-LVNd6NUgtp/s400/arg9.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">First winter European Herring Gull - Hans Larrson</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Peters comments on the barring of the outer retricies and tail pattern are well demonstrated in the above pictures. A quite convincing difference between my bird and the two examples of L.a. argentatus sent to me by Hans Larrson. Peter's link shows many other examples supporting his point.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">After reviewing Hans and Peter's comments and the pictures I felt fairly convinced my bird was not a European Herring Gull. Clutching at the last straw I reviewed every picture in the books and on the net of first winter Vega Gulls. I also sought out opinions:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Brandon Holden remarked that </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>"those familiar with Vega noted that they are a"Northern" Gull, retaining juv. plumage for a long time. My bird, and yours, were both perfectly molted into 1st basic plumage, something that would be odd for Vega by this date."</i></span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">On reviewing the multiple first year birds on Ujihara's "Japanese Gull Site"-</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">http://larus.hp.infoseek.co.jp/gullidentifi_.htm<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">It was apparent that most (but not all) Vega Gulls retained their juvenile plumage well into the winter. I could also not find a bird in the early first winter of life with such a frankly bicolored bill. However some of the late winter birds had very similar bills. The tails of Vega Gulls were very similar to my bird as were the bright pink legs.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I did send the pictures off to a couple individuals with extensive experience with Vega Gull and if they respond I will do a further post.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Probably the wisest advice I got on this bird was from gull guru Bruce Mactavish:<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>"While your bird doesn't fit the typical image of smithsonianus I don't think it is safe to automatically assume it has to be European or Eurasian. I don't think we know the limits of smithsoninanus in central<br />
North America especially. Maybe later I will send a few shots from late Sept 2009 in Red Deer. Identifying gulls using the process of elimination is dangerous. Even now saying it is a probable Vega because it doesn't appear to be a Euro Herring is also unsafe. We need to know what a Vega really looks like too.</i></span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br />
</i><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Backburner birding. Gulls like that are best left on the backburner<br />
until we learn more."</i></span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sound advice.</span><br />
<br />
I would sure like to hear from anyone with experience with Vega Gulls.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Kirk<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span><br />
</div></div></div></div>Kirk Zufelthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14223956713828841853noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2525284487032503296.post-23829327302062821532009-12-20T00:27:00.000-08:002009-12-21T19:16:52.817-08:00Possible European Herring GullThere has been a very informative discussion of late on European/Vega Herring Gulls on ID Frontiers so I was a bit stunned when I spotted this bird literally at my feet today at the SSM Landfill. It immediately stood out to me as the best (and only) candidate for a European Herring Gull - <i>Larus argentatus argentatus</i> I had ever seen. After reviewing every available reference and picture in print and on the net I am still thinking that this seems to meet all the criteria for European Herring Gull.<br />
<br />
For those not obsessed with Larus taxonomy. The three Herring Gulls- European, Vega and American are still even after a recent review considered subspecies of <i> Larus argentatus - argentatus, vegae, smithsonianus </i>respectively by the AOU. The BOU and virtually everyone else including Olsen & Larrson consider them distinct species. Seperation European and American Herring Gulls can be most difficult but in some cases may be possible especially in first year birds.<br />
<br />
So here is my candidate for <i><b>Larus a. argentatus</b></i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg21C1xM9GtRaeVCiD_6FQifrHD1hbYfP0PBlCG9LEr3b1YBmBwb3dtJaF_mxKvvHpQn4tP5f0EUL7PY92U81mLPqaqJthVD_cNofz2kXLXB220Gxuq5T14SzbxiE0Fb-ipk591OaahbFek/s1600-h/vtgssm1072.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg21C1xM9GtRaeVCiD_6FQifrHD1hbYfP0PBlCG9LEr3b1YBmBwb3dtJaF_mxKvvHpQn4tP5f0EUL7PY92U81mLPqaqJthVD_cNofz2kXLXB220Gxuq5T14SzbxiE0Fb-ipk591OaahbFek/s400/vtgssm1072.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Possible First Winter European Herring Gull<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"> So clearly this is a first winter bird and has molted its juvenile mantle and scapular feathers. First notice how pale this bird is overall with a white ground color and a frosty appearance. The coverts are spotted and the tertials heavily notched.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4V8hCap1HjLBWHOxusz5bIpdeQ1leXLJk1oFtlpEEKaFTo8t1BI_7PxwCNZNly5YzO94daL7tcHVZEgwaI7scKB8YJkf4UBbaz55NnQ7_jQXy2Rc862OoY1UeBv8wDVdPWebNVIGIel2D/s1600-h/vtgssm1137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4V8hCap1HjLBWHOxusz5bIpdeQ1leXLJk1oFtlpEEKaFTo8t1BI_7PxwCNZNly5YzO94daL7tcHVZEgwaI7scKB8YJkf4UBbaz55NnQ7_jQXy2Rc862OoY1UeBv8wDVdPWebNVIGIel2D/s400/vtgssm1137.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_XIDrkZFSfum3oCctiFDqh77JTb0QsdBnuwjrownzRFMbFrFBnW-zIp7kIHvVSpD6W-ImVwOIejJLSfnQLUPQ-oY6zvx282t3QJzghuxXkbVF6o-l-58C0if8LKTS3wSLHEi8izbYgPmD/s1600-h/vtgssm1109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_XIDrkZFSfum3oCctiFDqh77JTb0QsdBnuwjrownzRFMbFrFBnW-zIp7kIHvVSpD6W-ImVwOIejJLSfnQLUPQ-oY6zvx282t3QJzghuxXkbVF6o-l-58C0if8LKTS3wSLHEi8izbYgPmD/s400/vtgssm1109.jpg" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Possible First Winter European Herring Gull-Close Up<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The mantle and scapulars are pale and lightly barred. The notching of the tertials is well demonstrated<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The coverts and mantle in this bird appear to be nearly identical to the <i>L.a argetatus </i>illustarted in Olsen & Larsson pg. 269 #331. Lets move on to the tailband.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmgkzMBUyUy66aA9r5qWgzS3ODE6bG_HcRSPDT_EiF9ENf6jjKQ2bsFt54SOMMZsZrbCpqwjwmtSDcDTv_RXpJ05RH9E7uK71Xe6EWFTObSO6F_9gfGgNsPKm3zuIW0AgGwuUEC-hSJvni/s1600-h/vtgssm1142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmgkzMBUyUy66aA9r5qWgzS3ODE6bG_HcRSPDT_EiF9ENf6jjKQ2bsFt54SOMMZsZrbCpqwjwmtSDcDTv_RXpJ05RH9E7uK71Xe6EWFTObSO6F_9gfGgNsPKm3zuIW0AgGwuUEC-hSJvni/s400/vtgssm1142.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIeVdzA3e7NeblWwjzK1_50HWpf55aNIb-Q3LnDyCA0pfa__gXY189eCDeF2mkeX5QNShStSiegp708GRUlvhGfp7vKPPVVR_MEtK9MJK04UjScX8dqFBw-0BKqg1NFwsq-S27APwJf95n/s1600-h/vtgssm1143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIeVdzA3e7NeblWwjzK1_50HWpf55aNIb-Q3LnDyCA0pfa__gXY189eCDeF2mkeX5QNShStSiegp708GRUlvhGfp7vKPPVVR_MEtK9MJK04UjScX8dqFBw-0BKqg1NFwsq-S27APwJf95n/s400/vtgssm1143.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Y5pisEaeV4KoPNYnEflYB-KdS7asT0QoEHKt9agKmQLhS4-KYdJEiWL0kUry2x2TG8JDpTBpfEYg3e5a8f5rKogEzuTUJ99qohO9gkwM1TLkk_TBKDBFSYBUxVN4tfvgay8ABnK0XOxK/s1600-h/vtgssm1140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Y5pisEaeV4KoPNYnEflYB-KdS7asT0QoEHKt9agKmQLhS4-KYdJEiWL0kUry2x2TG8JDpTBpfEYg3e5a8f5rKogEzuTUJ99qohO9gkwM1TLkk_TBKDBFSYBUxVN4tfvgay8ABnK0XOxK/s400/vtgssm1140.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Possible First Winter European Herring Gull -Tail Band<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This bird has a broad blackish tailband with barred bases of the outer tail feathers with white tips. The upper tail coverts have a white ground cover. This is probably one of the best features for distinguishing between American and European Herring Gull. Below are several pictures showing the typical American Herring Gull tail. All black with heavily marked rump and coverts.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5qRPXPbByZBcd-hKWTuWjC18N85CeHbC7MBXEacsEXgD2RebwgMNZBb_U6MdyCeR_wL2n8leLURFS3oHu5WZ8MfOcxlOs6TqysiCoYQ56Rp1pfkNSL-0PUqUSBNRaKR7FA_YOOxGuU0Oi/s1600-h/vtghg865.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5qRPXPbByZBcd-hKWTuWjC18N85CeHbC7MBXEacsEXgD2RebwgMNZBb_U6MdyCeR_wL2n8leLURFS3oHu5WZ8MfOcxlOs6TqysiCoYQ56Rp1pfkNSL-0PUqUSBNRaKR7FA_YOOxGuU0Oi/s400/vtghg865.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJgwDQzhD9mlY6jamleMa7dp_yAxu5ofWgFlQBZrG-OL-FLjj1SRxMWLGtbbU4NZlNem0Su65tb-vpLHg4YcZcORwjTcsvOb2fwOxkmObSkEtH_AHFDmN7MRH-c8d8aLoFKDRzZ3XDGnH6/s1600-h/vghgdftr2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJgwDQzhD9mlY6jamleMa7dp_yAxu5ofWgFlQBZrG-OL-FLjj1SRxMWLGtbbU4NZlNem0Su65tb-vpLHg4YcZcORwjTcsvOb2fwOxkmObSkEtH_AHFDmN7MRH-c8d8aLoFKDRzZ3XDGnH6/s400/vghgdftr2.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV8IeBQ8hHpO0fWJWLcmKgZOY1shi5Y7npAffLiTH4_6bQZdGEEJwPyBzi1cM-Atg1JfMJcF3Ux_iOJVhpSTMZHHwNXBE2QR1SszRUnsQSnFH6ZaPSySR5cW3j8VDFqPaQ88pBgANRXwa7/s1600-h/vghg1larus09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV8IeBQ8hHpO0fWJWLcmKgZOY1shi5Y7npAffLiTH4_6bQZdGEEJwPyBzi1cM-Atg1JfMJcF3Ux_iOJVhpSTMZHHwNXBE2QR1SszRUnsQSnFH6ZaPSySR5cW3j8VDFqPaQ88pBgANRXwa7/s400/vghg1larus09.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRnr1J7HtF8a-oEnJRTftb0ThKsMZnN8w-nvQaZk_gbNtn67e0m0c-58vrq1YHJh-PTWvYV7R-rGbBrCckaVkbuxbbIUBtcCi23vhzmR1fVxObIePUjz1-LErrTkIQ3GsvYMs59HMrFzZ/s1600-h/vtgzhgssm0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRnr1J7HtF8a-oEnJRTftb0ThKsMZnN8w-nvQaZk_gbNtn67e0m0c-58vrq1YHJh-PTWvYV7R-rGbBrCckaVkbuxbbIUBtcCi23vhzmR1fVxObIePUjz1-LErrTkIQ3GsvYMs59HMrFzZ/s400/vtgzhgssm0002.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">First Winter American Herring Gulls- Tail Pattern<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Here are a few more pictures showing the sparsley barred undertail coverts and a comparison with a typical American Herring Gull.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Comment: Tony Leukering noted "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">I was curious as to the photo date of the second picture of smithsonianus depicting typical tail patterns. It's bill pattern suggests a bird older than a 1st-cycle, though the primaries might be pointed enough to be juvenal feathers. The mantle also seems to show some older-type feathers, but I cannot be sure from the picture."</span></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: arial;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: arial;">The picture was from Nov. 9th/2007. Looking at the whitish rump and bicolor bill plus the mantle I think this is likely a second cycle bird. Thats what you get for doing the blog at 0300.</span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: arial;">Kirk</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkPa9eyavZO8CVoWD1APeinPIn4PMtjxw7F4zOIvrje6-mIvlsRN90McbgulZxf13MiIEc8-4oXv5M-eniCjDRdRC4gots1Qh62Mm02ITUBCET4sjPVZGhpWSHtqsVP-MbD6KJZOeLFzRx/s1600-h/vtgssm1100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkPa9eyavZO8CVoWD1APeinPIn4PMtjxw7F4zOIvrje6-mIvlsRN90McbgulZxf13MiIEc8-4oXv5M-eniCjDRdRC4gots1Qh62Mm02ITUBCET4sjPVZGhpWSHtqsVP-MbD6KJZOeLFzRx/s400/vtgssm1100.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Possible First Winter European Herring Gull- Undertail Covert<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinx5VLdxALOPP-g3J_FIeh1fvabCxVjBM09Wt0Ns6jqlmMgZpSd3dzCH9KL6Ok8VAGeEW7FIkGnqQOGXI2RLMfdyDL6q3Vz-CbHKcdGDKjZh9v-9X-KYUvsAWLz_uN4ujWbq0lq8-p_f4O/s1600-h/vtgzhgjvssm3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinx5VLdxALOPP-g3J_FIeh1fvabCxVjBM09Wt0Ns6jqlmMgZpSd3dzCH9KL6Ok8VAGeEW7FIkGnqQOGXI2RLMfdyDL6q3Vz-CbHKcdGDKjZh9v-9X-KYUvsAWLz_uN4ujWbq0lq8-p_f4O/s400/vtgzhgjvssm3.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile American Herring Gull - Undertail Coverts<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On to the wings. The European Herring Gull is supposed to differ from the American in the absence of dark tips on the inner webs of the inner primaries (P1-3)with two-toned outer primaries.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkO948RCISZDA2r5sRzk0m7e-zVYy33e6jmJ-7Exb2e8SC6m538QUUYdiv5trSMMgsgZEYmLzUJFMoVv8I6VI48xKE1pkvWiPjeL_bVYFWwuk_xVL7lNBEwezO9Ql_Z2pvYeU5llRp-5MV/s1600-h/vtgssm1077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkO948RCISZDA2r5sRzk0m7e-zVYy33e6jmJ-7Exb2e8SC6m538QUUYdiv5trSMMgsgZEYmLzUJFMoVv8I6VI48xKE1pkvWiPjeL_bVYFWwuk_xVL7lNBEwezO9Ql_Z2pvYeU5llRp-5MV/s400/vtgssm1077.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh__bCn9EurAhPt3-AJjkOS6h8w7bFEbJG9jsK_2GQWn0yO7hUGlw_Aiy4W6FMSYc1BNr6GZSzk2_rTvSNYKfgDdVEQClBnFYXRqygk2fRhv-fRG3-oLx8MWNBM78moYUQpe-1_vVsc-Dw8/s1600-h/vtgzzzssm1077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh__bCn9EurAhPt3-AJjkOS6h8w7bFEbJG9jsK_2GQWn0yO7hUGlw_Aiy4W6FMSYc1BNr6GZSzk2_rTvSNYKfgDdVEQClBnFYXRqygk2fRhv-fRG3-oLx8MWNBM78moYUQpe-1_vVsc-Dw8/s400/vtgzzzssm1077.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Possible First Winter European Herring Gull - Wing with Close Up<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Well P 1-2 are certainly devoid of dark markings on the inner web tips and P3 has some pale gray markings. Here is an American Herring Gulls for comparison.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ccKWH5Ok1gSxmCKKIlyW0CPgyXdTWThCxAtg9OuITqZtm4VWYp1vDFWg46hGrV6EgQ0QSCKMwvGWRNvLegm9dOqpqB5buPvZ7JeLdLgc9VHYKhU6_eL9bITEd4LXbpPE4J9MwDbsvKnp/s1600-h/vtgzzzhgssm755.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ccKWH5Ok1gSxmCKKIlyW0CPgyXdTWThCxAtg9OuITqZtm4VWYp1vDFWg46hGrV6EgQ0QSCKMwvGWRNvLegm9dOqpqB5buPvZ7JeLdLgc9VHYKhU6_eL9bITEd4LXbpPE4J9MwDbsvKnp/s400/vtgzzzhgssm755.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">First winter American Herring Gull - Wing Close Up<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here the tips of the inner webs of the inner primaries clearly are darkly pigmented and the pattern noticeably different from the candidate European Herring Gull.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Below are a few more pictures the first showing showing the underwing.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTGY8jlcGCppgWjL54EAmgvW_WypKpnwie7unhQPibg1T25k3wewCbZqvyvWbOuxo1POtS78I-FMihtLn8kxde2YlzfoNaXPdngoaDhCdrvR6tXY1e_XY8LG1QDK6QTW85RAqHzQKqkO3S/s1600-h/vtgssm1092.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTGY8jlcGCppgWjL54EAmgvW_WypKpnwie7unhQPibg1T25k3wewCbZqvyvWbOuxo1POtS78I-FMihtLn8kxde2YlzfoNaXPdngoaDhCdrvR6tXY1e_XY8LG1QDK6QTW85RAqHzQKqkO3S/s400/vtgssm1092.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm4gQFSfLN7_dJ0h1GSslkeFGBn4rJsjS3uc5dzY6OGy_LHEq9vDkeASvU01i_DiZ-LHOCeaRUrkBMOVtgdtPj7Xzk5mS9xys3lI3x7q2sKKy3zal59KSZkXDjm1-2SgKcxZpVteXmcNG3/s1600-h/vtgssm1061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm4gQFSfLN7_dJ0h1GSslkeFGBn4rJsjS3uc5dzY6OGy_LHEq9vDkeASvU01i_DiZ-LHOCeaRUrkBMOVtgdtPj7Xzk5mS9xys3lI3x7q2sKKy3zal59KSZkXDjm1-2SgKcxZpVteXmcNG3/s400/vtgssm1061.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">Possible First Winter European Herring Gull<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">The only thing I could find weighing against this being a European Herring Gull was a comment in Howell and Dunn that this taxa does not typically show a flesh pink bill with a clean-cut black tip which my candidate bird does. Olsen & Larsson don't specifically mention this point. In the superb article by Lonergan & Mullarney entitled Identification of American Herring Gull in a western European context they state:<br />
<br />
"Bill-colour There is a tendency for both smithsonianus and argentatus to develop a pale bill base quite early in the first winter, with the most extreme birds approaching first-year Glaucous Gull in this respect. In argenteus the contrast in the bill pattern tends to be subdued until late winter".<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div style="font: normal normal normal 8px/normal Optima; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></span> <span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><br />
</div></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 8px/normal Optima; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> <span style="font-size: medium;">This article is available on the net at the following link:</span></span></span><br />
</div></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 8px/normal Optima; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span> </span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><br />
</div></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 8px/normal Optima; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">http://www.irbc.ie/notes/pdf/IdentificationOfAmericanHerring(Mullarney&Lonergan).pdf</span></span><br />
</div></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 8px/normal Optima; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span> </span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><br />
</div></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 8px/normal Optima; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It would seem according to this expert opinion that the bicolor bill is not an issue for </span></span><i><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">L. a. argentatus</span></span></i><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">.</span></span><br />
</div></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 8px/normal Optima; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span> </span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><br />
</div></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 8px/normal Optima; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In conclusion I feel this bird is a very good candidate for a first winter European Herring Gull. I have spent 100s of hours over the last several years studying 1000s of first winter American Herring Gulls and though the variation is truely remarkable I think this bird may well be out of range.</span></span><br />
</div></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 8px/normal Optima; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span> </span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><br />
</div></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 8px/normal Optima; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I would very much appreciate any opinions especially from those with experience with this difficult diagnosis.</span></span><br />
</div></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 8px/normal Optima; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span> </span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><br />
</div></div><div style="color: #1a1a18; font: 8.0px Optima; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Kirk</span></span></span><br />
</div></div><div style="color: #1a1a18; font: 8.0px Optima; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span> <br />
</div><div style="color: #1a1a18; font: 8.0px Optima; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><br />
</div></div>Kirk Zufelthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14223956713828841853noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2525284487032503296.post-77892459278022960092009-12-06T14:55:00.000-08:002009-12-06T15:10:05.384-08:00Psuedo Nelson's Gull and othersWell we finally got some snow. This makes for much better photographic opportunities at the landfill as much of the garbage gets buried. It also makes for much better manoeuvring when the ground freezes as your not walking in deep muck. All in all its a better place when things are frozen.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcdAUsdmnqO-RT-Vll3FygIkVrJC32B2hRSBY37pDTTyDqViq7Ivc8rMW8r9Vbrt3cliBDxV_4P2BGUTJjDFfTKbj1qE_Dtnq7hWV9jfxpXS8joX_hIduZjp6Uu1hQvfbQTsnI7RS2F65J/s1600-h/gg1cssm9131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcdAUsdmnqO-RT-Vll3FygIkVrJC32B2hRSBY37pDTTyDqViq7Ivc8rMW8r9Vbrt3cliBDxV_4P2BGUTJjDFfTKbj1qE_Dtnq7hWV9jfxpXS8joX_hIduZjp6Uu1hQvfbQTsnI7RS2F65J/s400/gg1cssm9131.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Glaucous Gull<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Given the relatively warm weather most of the 4-5 thousand Herring Gulls are still around with probably 1500 plus at the Landfill yesterday morning. Noticeable changes have occurred over the last couple weeks.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">First although I thought this was happening it was clear this year that the juvenile Thayer's Gull leave in late November. It has been two weeks since I have seen one and there were at least 4-6 around. Right on schedule the first adult Thayer's Gull of the season turned up last weekend. Skye Haas was telling me they find adults in the Marquette area (200 miles west on south shore of Lake Superior) consistently in late October but I virtually never see them here until late November. It was present again this weekend and given a bit of black flecking on the tail and wing coverts must be a 4th winter bird.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5DbVzDHrsu1cNSmk0GT3qASWWOGUHOahn6qoKIGlMGYmgeRokiXXgMQ0rSZjf_dumUcQs-brfCqxqGb-jV69i_dlj42LmChlRUw2WKBlMcDytAjv5lB9AIkAQcYTdFpT8Mb4L6pmdEFXw/s1600-h/tgssm8419larus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5DbVzDHrsu1cNSmk0GT3qASWWOGUHOahn6qoKIGlMGYmgeRokiXXgMQ0rSZjf_dumUcQs-brfCqxqGb-jV69i_dlj42LmChlRUw2WKBlMcDytAjv5lB9AIkAQcYTdFpT8Mb4L6pmdEFXw/s400/tgssm8419larus.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMk9s2rlnXTxlzXEJIoUBqpNvMl1SAnaxcnULfQHHTHLPGGTwNabs0vrXVEcRkR3XWzjQZz0Zcww8qF4drp9vp16xhD6LUgLHhsKDfZvsMbG7gGi2vsjshTDG5MB3pC94xwb0ZoJnZ2I63/s1600-h/tgprim8421jarus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMk9s2rlnXTxlzXEJIoUBqpNvMl1SAnaxcnULfQHHTHLPGGTwNabs0vrXVEcRkR3XWzjQZz0Zcww8qF4drp9vp16xhD6LUgLHhsKDfZvsMbG7gGi2vsjshTDG5MB3pC94xwb0ZoJnZ2I63/s400/tgprim8421jarus.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">4th Winter Thayer's Gull<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This bird certainly meets the criteria for Thayer's Gull but really has a petite structure with very rounded Kumlien's-like head. The dark eye, strong hood, greenish yellow bill base and of course reduced white on the primaries with dark markings on P5 to P10 all fit with Thayer's. I spied what I assumed was the same bird later but when it flew I noted it didn't have the tiny dark flecks on the tail. It returned and was cooperative for pictures. I noted that it looked very petite as well probably well within the range of Kumlien's. On examining the photos this bird only had dark markings on P6 to 10. P5 was pristine white tipped.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSDCh2Zt1MAdzFa1-d68ideu5Jp5UNzhQbgPVxjeKu3rcPYBahU9mysRwAk9I_PMVyc8cF5CPVFNCXEg39_aFuEk_xXNwJBq0Zr8BT-8XObeR9aitjxxLf9UK1bYfmXXv4YIl6dyqXpCTW/s1600-h/9tkintssm8645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSDCh2Zt1MAdzFa1-d68ideu5Jp5UNzhQbgPVxjeKu3rcPYBahU9mysRwAk9I_PMVyc8cF5CPVFNCXEg39_aFuEk_xXNwJBq0Zr8BT-8XObeR9aitjxxLf9UK1bYfmXXv4YIl6dyqXpCTW/s400/9tkintssm8645.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOdE1iLtV20i6D-0Ffo3sz3WJcO2e1lBkPWdtOF57NsgDyz0dMmlIEc0wTVXzuqUyDuhXGwm_1wEf90GdhvqLfkbhvcG0-pVIiEHilbX0YwxAO3F_I-2d9RiwsrHNV3SxfAW68xQre_IzH/s1600-h/9tkintssm8612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOdE1iLtV20i6D-0Ffo3sz3WJcO2e1lBkPWdtOF57NsgDyz0dMmlIEc0wTVXzuqUyDuhXGwm_1wEf90GdhvqLfkbhvcG0-pVIiEHilbX0YwxAO3F_I-2d9RiwsrHNV3SxfAW68xQre_IzH/s400/9tkintssm8612.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlod-WtQJkdEhxJ2Hp3dzlZsVCl6qkly8_AcwmshRaDASlOW1dplZnkid-FgzZfzLI-l-oMXA1oFXimPFHk5v4fIKWNKWhgFMQHNlos4bVNQXnC28O3E2MmhmL3aujQAh_U76KcbeksDEj/s1600-h/tkmflightssm8545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlod-WtQJkdEhxJ2Hp3dzlZsVCl6qkly8_AcwmshRaDASlOW1dplZnkid-FgzZfzLI-l-oMXA1oFXimPFHk5v4fIKWNKWhgFMQHNlos4bVNQXnC28O3E2MmhmL3aujQAh_U76KcbeksDEj/s400/tkmflightssm8545.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Thayer's-Kumlien,s Gull "Intergrade"<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Bruce Mactavish and Steve Howe did a study looking at dark markings on the primaries and I believe this bird would fall at the very extreme end of the Kumlien's cline and given the dark heavy hood I would call this an "intergrade" for lack of a better term. I am reluctant to use the word hybrid as that implies that Thayer's and Kumlien's are distinct species which is certainly not the case. If you believe Thayer's and Iceland Gull are distinct species and Kumlien's are a hybrid swarm then this bird is just part of that swarm. If you believe Thayer's, Kumlien's and Iceland are all part of a single variable species than this bird is just part of the cline. I prefer that former theory and see it as analogous to the Western, Olympic, Glaucous-winged Gull situation that is unfolding before our eyes.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhduTcJYmT9ETk02Ao8pBlPXYgplOq1l77ppqjcgE9fZ5ONHmYWQDdGR8egRBJol1lH3kaZZ9P8kSibkFOvT-CL2Ip-ss2LJDdExvbvmWtf62pz_ZG2KlyZqvHld0x3Tt4k340x8z9qdVVV/s1600-h/tkssmhead8650larus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhduTcJYmT9ETk02Ao8pBlPXYgplOq1l77ppqjcgE9fZ5ONHmYWQDdGR8egRBJol1lH3kaZZ9P8kSibkFOvT-CL2Ip-ss2LJDdExvbvmWtf62pz_ZG2KlyZqvHld0x3Tt4k340x8z9qdVVV/s400/tkssmhead8650larus.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Adult Thayer's-Kumlien's Gull "Intergrade" - "Head Close-up"<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaTZ3xxwVQKUdhx8Q10WVvAmQcxCRZ6C7M514lfmj5S_zLe_7b9q_umsUn0KlcyHOem54aK0REpIFgyanIxArPfqDRRUkr7hYgeVm1B0WMPQTz27_ueyMlKEwm8OH6-rka18LLWa0u5p0J/s1600-h/tkssmprim8612larus+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaTZ3xxwVQKUdhx8Q10WVvAmQcxCRZ6C7M514lfmj5S_zLe_7b9q_umsUn0KlcyHOem54aK0REpIFgyanIxArPfqDRRUkr7hYgeVm1B0WMPQTz27_ueyMlKEwm8OH6-rka18LLWa0u5p0J/s400/tkssmprim8612larus+copy.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Adult Thayer's-Kumlien's Gull "Intergrade" - "Primaries Close-up"<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The close-up of the head shows the "in between" eye colour and the heavy hood which would be unusual in most Kumlien's. This is a neat bird as it is very just one small step towards Kumlien's and very closely resembles the adult Thayer's Gull present.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Well while contemplating this a large very white headed gull with a bright yellow bill and reduced black on the primaries flew by. I followed it in my binoculars thinking that this must be an adult Nelson's Gull.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It eventually returned and I could see it was a largish Herring Gull size with very little head streaking and a bright yellow bill and brighter than usual pink legs. All seemingly Glaucous Gull features.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXbDA_koOCYZ5yfYOrLoWhVHNwQFqaQddFmOrw3-GwjsJNRBPhMdhLXYeb_LIi7tinH2k7BCZTcbF4qjCITs2LU7zEQDYVQd9zYL-RI5EUYTzEEbxND_HVPvZhlWBkFDZRFZL7Wc4RppNa/s1600-h/ggassm8724larus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXbDA_koOCYZ5yfYOrLoWhVHNwQFqaQddFmOrw3-GwjsJNRBPhMdhLXYeb_LIi7tinH2k7BCZTcbF4qjCITs2LU7zEQDYVQd9zYL-RI5EUYTzEEbxND_HVPvZhlWBkFDZRFZL7Wc4RppNa/s400/ggassm8724larus.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Glaucous Gull<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The above picture illustartes the bright yellow-orangish bill, the lightly marked head and the deep pink-red legs typical of a winter adult Glaucous Gull. I managed to eventually get real good looks at the "Nelson's" Gull and I noted that something was not right with its primaries.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy3lc9z-v_fNv2SxXeFXJqW4cO61cTC4cIae7V3f5B6EinOjqSbRyxzcKRuJqJVo2_dPDKd2oie2D83P3wHiwMjX-v-XfKDDza3l6McrkNNa5mBPXhPsAhDI3mEIYDvZ_4n988VCM8tX7P/s1600-h/pseudongssm9307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy3lc9z-v_fNv2SxXeFXJqW4cO61cTC4cIae7V3f5B6EinOjqSbRyxzcKRuJqJVo2_dPDKd2oie2D83P3wHiwMjX-v-XfKDDza3l6McrkNNa5mBPXhPsAhDI3mEIYDvZ_4n988VCM8tX7P/s400/pseudongssm9307.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPoQp2U67pH8Ip2tgm9zRvd0B2YhnafeJBubSxTIszcX4Qsdkss0pATLiQJFGLu9phk9qagsXE9jsaZ-YrTUWk-ZkCSZ0527qICIrj8DOIGSs5GSLC4ENA-UX7lMelp0yPlfwSfqZQbeNt/s1600-h/pseudongssm9179.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPoQp2U67pH8Ip2tgm9zRvd0B2YhnafeJBubSxTIszcX4Qsdkss0pATLiQJFGLu9phk9qagsXE9jsaZ-YrTUWk-ZkCSZ0527qICIrj8DOIGSs5GSLC4ENA-UX7lMelp0yPlfwSfqZQbeNt/s400/pseudongssm9179.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"Pseudo Nelson's" Gull- Adult Herring Gull in Delayed Molt<br />
<br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Well on examining the pictures it all became clear. It appeared that P9-10 were very old and worn and P8 was only half in and the rest were fresh and full grown. Since P8 was still not grown in all the grey on the old worn P9 was visible and all this added up to a lot less black. The lack of head streaking, the bright yellow bill and the pinker than average legs could all be explained as part of a delayed molt in this adult Herring Gull (I think anyways). I am glad the bird came back because on my first look on the flyby I was quite convinced it was a Nelson's Gull.<br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The biggest change in the gull population since the cold weather hit is a big increase in Glaucous Gull numbers. All age classes were present with at least 15-20 juveniles. Kumlien's Gull also increased significantly with about 8-10 juveniles and 3 second cycle birds. The juvenile Lesser Black-backed made an appearance and for the first time this season I struck out on Ringed-bills.<br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKZxX-R7Tq3ReDxlOK5mGOyR6W17htCKaPMkEtv21TD0UWuLXWUQtFNsCKTGDjYL4JCKCDErCMuk95DIedv5qAhq-9Lk3M_8Tuo3iOm0tqB57sgJTDoGdu-nzJRZqImr5zIPn6OdwP5VtH/s1600-h/kgssm1c8796.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKZxX-R7Tq3ReDxlOK5mGOyR6W17htCKaPMkEtv21TD0UWuLXWUQtFNsCKTGDjYL4JCKCDErCMuk95DIedv5qAhq-9Lk3M_8Tuo3iOm0tqB57sgJTDoGdu-nzJRZqImr5zIPn6OdwP5VtH/s400/kgssm1c8796.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Kumlien's Gull<br />
</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn5UJZ2h1qkOyiRUMlaWHHhYIBn6dSKJb_TAdSmtwuSz5OHmDJkDa1xpdJSdStiRdKgGcjBcT9o43S-bhxh1YyGEtRz0FrJ3MwUtiq9ujDfLyKbQC6GHfnKIjiWegw4j9qJ2ONBL3kZEwh/s1600-h/kg2cssm9077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn5UJZ2h1qkOyiRUMlaWHHhYIBn6dSKJb_TAdSmtwuSz5OHmDJkDa1xpdJSdStiRdKgGcjBcT9o43S-bhxh1YyGEtRz0FrJ3MwUtiq9ujDfLyKbQC6GHfnKIjiWegw4j9qJ2ONBL3kZEwh/s400/kg2cssm9077.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Second Winter Kumlien's Gull<br />
<br />
<br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The snow allowed for some semi-artistic flight shots. After about 3 hours I had majorly frozen hands and feet and my face was so cold I couldn't talk (not that I usually talk much at the landfill by myself - just to clarify as most people think your crazy hanging out at the ladfill to begin with) so I headed home. I am going to miss my usual Saturday morning session next week as I am heading for Texas to look for Hook-billed Kites at Santa Anna. The next week I will spend all of Saturday at the Landfill as part of the Sault Ste. Marie CBC.<br />
<br />
<br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2cb1fxlFGNrP3v7GC5V2VoUcWm5BsLE3YUMBnanOrfNu-SJLJCKKor1Q2cDagluKcKitlS3yEd3Kjsgmg45yi6yBdK-a7YQbjKOV2dp4ZemUEArl8BhEj0w28M-GC8rDsSDoGkIFEsv-y/s1600-h/ggssmflght8492.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2cb1fxlFGNrP3v7GC5V2VoUcWm5BsLE3YUMBnanOrfNu-SJLJCKKor1Q2cDagluKcKitlS3yEd3Kjsgmg45yi6yBdK-a7YQbjKOV2dp4ZemUEArl8BhEj0w28M-GC8rDsSDoGkIFEsv-y/s400/ggssmflght8492.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Glaucous Gull<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmqeXuMgy-UvH6Eq9Ld5YkvMS9t0htnWo7kAfSWZI4o1yDfddMWvwJWvfwKO6vJgHoLiBDiW8-vioc_4RyVttri1YRCMbf-SuB6MsLHY3kdW3xceAG9vaLW1jdM8nvS2ghql9nqLlQn6aA/s1600-h/9ggssm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmqeXuMgy-UvH6Eq9Ld5YkvMS9t0htnWo7kAfSWZI4o1yDfddMWvwJWvfwKO6vJgHoLiBDiW8-vioc_4RyVttri1YRCMbf-SuB6MsLHY3kdW3xceAG9vaLW1jdM8nvS2ghql9nqLlQn6aA/s400/9ggssm.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Third Winter Glaucous Gull<br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqpTWn0iQdfBKV7FwWaI-UQBXnNMYIWEpiHDyNONN3Lhh7Ti_WGsEnXfs9FEfpsqnZSNVH2qbxAB5h1_aifxVx_5xUkGWNWZ8IklhV27KuNv4dIKs3jPJ_I3PjDMK1hcU0Ahe5ewcRazHs/s1600-h/9ktin8665larus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqpTWn0iQdfBKV7FwWaI-UQBXnNMYIWEpiHDyNONN3Lhh7Ti_WGsEnXfs9FEfpsqnZSNVH2qbxAB5h1_aifxVx_5xUkGWNWZ8IklhV27KuNv4dIKs3jPJ_I3PjDMK1hcU0Ahe5ewcRazHs/s400/9ktin8665larus.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Thayer's -Kumlien's Gull "Intergrade"<br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioZ9b1xmMNwR-HjboesfjMkJthUTWyCCFeEfJKd9Uc689CDgZzVS8aWHrxwfXFDSrthTaR3ULKikEgJp9Xn5VIQUGDC-fC-ndZmTQaziLF09LkHyFTbrHd3DNXi6zBAHt7oqNYZHJqBcSv/s1600-h/gbbg1cssm8903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioZ9b1xmMNwR-HjboesfjMkJthUTWyCCFeEfJKd9Uc689CDgZzVS8aWHrxwfXFDSrthTaR3ULKikEgJp9Xn5VIQUGDC-fC-ndZmTQaziLF09LkHyFTbrHd3DNXi6zBAHt7oqNYZHJqBcSv/s400/gbbg1cssm8903.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Great Black-backed Gull<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thanks for checking out my blog and I am keenly waiting for your insightful comments.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Kirk<br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Kirk Zufelthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14223956713828841853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2525284487032503296.post-18085017538639978022009-11-22T13:41:00.000-08:002009-12-03T20:00:20.632-08:00Nelson's GullNelson's Gull was originally described as a new species by H.W. Henshaw in The Auk Vol. 001 No.03 in July of 1884. the original article can be accessed at <span style="font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/Auk/v001n03/p0250-p0252.pdf .</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
It was named after Mr E. W. Nelson an Alaskan ornithologist who had collected the first specimen of this distinct taxa. Henshaw compared its similarity to Glaucous Gull as Kumlien's is to Iceland Gull. He also noted its resemblance to Herring Gull. Although initially described as a distinct species currently it is well accepted that Nelson's Gull is a hybrid of Glaucous and Herring Gull.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXJqwsnZtUuzZadcmy1QJ2h76Fu4pRPj7w1gCWhmjmy3L7bFSHwxqCg2Rnv_zrz7iFiS3uDV-IyQ-h8WxvPM-UA4hqZEcxXRUCQqnmMVFisZmBllTsdJmS26b4N_ME1ahLDVun_7XNZIBf/s1600/ngnflarus4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXJqwsnZtUuzZadcmy1QJ2h76Fu4pRPj7w1gCWhmjmy3L7bFSHwxqCg2Rnv_zrz7iFiS3uDV-IyQ-h8WxvPM-UA4hqZEcxXRUCQqnmMVFisZmBllTsdJmS26b4N_ME1ahLDVun_7XNZIBf/s400/ngnflarus4.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Nelson's Gull in flight<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It would be safe to say that traditionally Nelson's Gull is the most common hybrid gull on the Great Lakes and eastern seaboard. Lesser Black-backed X Herring Gulls and Great Black-backed X Herring Gulls are becoming increasingly common and may rival Nelson's at some locations. Nelson's Gull is of course also seen in the west being described from Alaska and recorded along the west coast into Southern California. In many areas of the west it is vastly outnumbered by the "Olympic Gull" the hybrid result of Western and Glaucous-winged Gull "interaction". In the Anchorage area it can be hard to find any pure large gulls the majority being Glaucous-winged X Herring hybrids. Fortunately in the east hybrids are still an oddity and vastly outnumbered by pure birds.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLlOwVDTYdwAWlqHRWoQgs9bnppG4r234AkUn2Jtpb_Qga-R8AZwJdL5Q_VyBD0KLyExUkAaZ9SNadA80_BWk4Q3cg_1sezHzSvnuVhnZKzaTybPPazm1yd4FSoVsLVH0HdgB23WrtWGc7/s1600/hybaklarus1150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLlOwVDTYdwAWlqHRWoQgs9bnppG4r234AkUn2Jtpb_Qga-R8AZwJdL5Q_VyBD0KLyExUkAaZ9SNadA80_BWk4Q3cg_1sezHzSvnuVhnZKzaTybPPazm1yd4FSoVsLVH0HdgB23WrtWGc7/s400/hybaklarus1150.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Herring X Glaucous-winged Gull<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLlOwVDTYdwAWlqHRWoQgs9bnppG4r234AkUn2Jtpb_Qga-R8AZwJdL5Q_VyBD0KLyExUkAaZ9SNadA80_BWk4Q3cg_1sezHzSvnuVhnZKzaTybPPazm1yd4FSoVsLVH0HdgB23WrtWGc7/s1600/hybaklarus1150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQTOtkrikGjITHM36LjGKc__7QeWwo0T0YQUNn2XJvi36h2oj4HziFo3rNpBJrtdNFJf3QxZBvm9dkVfP5s1mOeY49b05SGylP_-tYp44zIuUvAII0zbHoWzLTL4fwUKn_dCOyBbNjc2i/s1600/hybrdaklarus1222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQTOtkrikGjITHM36LjGKc__7QeWwo0T0YQUNn2XJvi36h2oj4HziFo3rNpBJrtdNFJf3QxZBvm9dkVfP5s1mOeY49b05SGylP_-tYp44zIuUvAII0zbHoWzLTL4fwUKn_dCOyBbNjc2i/s400/hybrdaklarus1222.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adult Herring X Glaucous-winged Gull<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The two Herring X Glaucous-winged Gull hybrids above were photographed at the Palmer Landfill north of Anchorage. The first bird looks like a stalky Herring Gull. The white eye and orange orbital ring is typical for Herring Gull. The primaries are an odd greyish-black. The second bird has a dark eye and pinkish orbital ring typical of Glaucous-winged Gull and the same odd greyish-black primary coloration.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On the shores of eastern Lake Superior Nelson's Gull is still a relatively rare find. The first record that I am aware of was a juvenile photographed at the Sault Ste. Marie landfill in November of 2005. It stuck around for two months and was a regular feature at the landfill. I imaginatively nicknamed him "Nelson".<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ0isivFRSbKlBCdSJJ09UOYA-3LI2W7YMSyiBXjOWC4Z5NzW90VMD6sc5g5TbnZWCH8afSaD_rD1uSo1moRf5g3uZwZdgsZ-C8oNyKfwu0kA3fWza3lJPxhUbIL9EjCCXt3N3lr1bDUqu/s1600/zznelslarus21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ0isivFRSbKlBCdSJJ09UOYA-3LI2W7YMSyiBXjOWC4Z5NzW90VMD6sc5g5TbnZWCH8afSaD_rD1uSo1moRf5g3uZwZdgsZ-C8oNyKfwu0kA3fWza3lJPxhUbIL9EjCCXt3N3lr1bDUqu/s400/zznelslarus21.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Nelson" the Nelson's Gull<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Since the initial sighting I have seen about one Nelson's Gull per season. A noted exception to this being this year with a minimium of three birds being present. All the birds except one have been juvenile birds. I have never seen a third year bird or an adult locally. My initial impressions were that juvenile Nelson's Gulls looked distinctly like a Glaucous Gull with some dark pigment on the primaries as was the case in "Nelson".<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSwJ8jBPQrdyF5pxM_rkIuMCDw6NnhgeJ7RcCO2h3EJCLUc373a_KxYVeRznJgYkj96tA56c_Uzzdb7al1fW-tz6c5NzMX8LV5v7njeLPBsws3HtQCChU-0wNICYFI1Dhf0H0teHqVAQRO/s1600/ngnlarusf6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSwJ8jBPQrdyF5pxM_rkIuMCDw6NnhgeJ7RcCO2h3EJCLUc373a_KxYVeRznJgYkj96tA56c_Uzzdb7al1fW-tz6c5NzMX8LV5v7njeLPBsws3HtQCChU-0wNICYFI1Dhf0H0teHqVAQRO/s400/ngnlarusf6.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhctnZqJQSscQiS8i_LeeX6fzD3Qp0zerX9cimVxH_DJajigbLz8daGtBYSy3aBrwWDTdNxmqIi1ZbF3kwhZELxgVa6uQc43Gt90P77mi1M2NGKnUJHQ3YhOVqiFdlrgY2pS02-nHfaKU4e/s1600/ngnflarus1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhctnZqJQSscQiS8i_LeeX6fzD3Qp0zerX9cimVxH_DJajigbLz8daGtBYSy3aBrwWDTdNxmqIi1ZbF3kwhZELxgVa6uQc43Gt90P77mi1M2NGKnUJHQ3YhOVqiFdlrgY2pS02-nHfaKU4e/s400/ngnflarus1.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Juvenile" Nelson's Gull - St. John's<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The "Nelson's Gull" pictured above photographed at the St. John's Landfill looks to be identical in size and structure to the pure Glaucous Gulls. The only difference in plumage that I can discern is the dark pigmentation of the primaries. A second winter bird I photographed subsequently in the Soo further suggested to me that the Nelson's Gull was dominated by Glaucous genes.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpXAJS_cdS3FIglOstkXkYu_Q6YixE_aQF0puF8IUKwNmSZP471MT_0rqjg3EQL6DDb_I_JPFreK4TVjDDvJWuoIQvuyvRzVRUtvI6vKbGRmEPq8Ug8Y-5K2gH_2I55lSrJcXC_sXTDt_Z/s1600/ng2larus544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpXAJS_cdS3FIglOstkXkYu_Q6YixE_aQF0puF8IUKwNmSZP471MT_0rqjg3EQL6DDb_I_JPFreK4TVjDDvJWuoIQvuyvRzVRUtvI6vKbGRmEPq8Ug8Y-5K2gH_2I55lSrJcXC_sXTDt_Z/s400/ng2larus544.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSoptq1WkO6HEydWRMbL3mEulIfWgEp1BCbtZnyahaluhs_j_0ZbdaZ6pL7wcxrwFABPRp43oftOtY1dQozRI6qYGL0qgbT4CwvSiee0rgo1Wxaal4XnW-w5xZYRhPO_6yUl1yAtMh8pr3/s1600/ng2larus9868.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSoptq1WkO6HEydWRMbL3mEulIfWgEp1BCbtZnyahaluhs_j_0ZbdaZ6pL7wcxrwFABPRp43oftOtY1dQozRI6qYGL0qgbT4CwvSiee0rgo1Wxaal4XnW-w5xZYRhPO_6yUl1yAtMh8pr3/s400/ng2larus9868.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJTgf8BCiOyZajOphjEXX3RZLMlxkmTYzW1DZ3dijLf6H1GfRfnY4NyNpdprgme1i7lvDCM5eBjMFlRanyjoOntxeM8wFFRi5H3X5MPhmN1XhWDc84woZ5_Lf-iEvHNfUBea4FKmPt1Ue_/s1600/nglarus9824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJTgf8BCiOyZajOphjEXX3RZLMlxkmTYzW1DZ3dijLf6H1GfRfnY4NyNpdprgme1i7lvDCM5eBjMFlRanyjoOntxeM8wFFRi5H3X5MPhmN1XhWDc84woZ5_Lf-iEvHNfUBea4FKmPt1Ue_/s400/nglarus9824.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Second winter Nelson's Gull showing faint pigmentation and "ghost' primary pattern on both wings<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the first picture above I think one can discern some structural differences from the average Glaucous Gull especially in the head shape. The bill however is entirely Glaucous Gull. Unlike the above pictured juvenile bird I think this bird does have some subtle plumage differences from Glaucous gull other than the faint primary pattern.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTh86m8fpJM5kB5sCiQ-pL9MwiBHLgBDEdIAS6czFk2BTt9MWoGROLbS-vVZvqo0_Ozz3Jnn2TWfwtoTZtAft3kny02V-upaOFtlPbGbIXD9u5hImCTJwNaNwVRRvjRpt1LnXfktyDYXgy/s1600/ggssm0684rz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTh86m8fpJM5kB5sCiQ-pL9MwiBHLgBDEdIAS6czFk2BTt9MWoGROLbS-vVZvqo0_Ozz3Jnn2TWfwtoTZtAft3kny02V-upaOFtlPbGbIXD9u5hImCTJwNaNwVRRvjRpt1LnXfktyDYXgy/s400/ggssm0684rz.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLfNvtaJpyUH-DRtzTmhdHy5H4jUYy29dxQkg3740Y0F60UlZeQrV_eqDWX1GrDljnElP9x1tVFsDrpPw0ET-yzJ9e-k40y8IqvTSErpfllLQSVa50betPhte40HrjmjSZA8wRABSQY4aJ/s1600/ggnf34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLfNvtaJpyUH-DRtzTmhdHy5H4jUYy29dxQkg3740Y0F60UlZeQrV_eqDWX1GrDljnElP9x1tVFsDrpPw0ET-yzJ9e-k40y8IqvTSErpfllLQSVa50betPhte40HrjmjSZA8wRABSQY4aJ/s400/ggnf34.jpg" width="399" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Second- winter Glaucous Gulls<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The second winter Glaucous Gull usually has some dark smudging scattered about and a white ground color but little or no fine barring. The coverts are largely unmarked with just a bit of dark smudging. The second winter Nelson's Gull shows dark smudging along the neck but has some fine vermiculations on the scapulars and wing coverts and tertials which I believe would be out of range for Glaucous Gull. In this view I also note some gonydeal expansion of the bill that also suggests Herring Gull influence. <br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRUjZGvgdHEZ8k3bwJXhprQ30QzfBgOyEvThEDGRvBZ24sw7PnDJsmqVeiVteDo_uWXgrDHfoTB219hm1aqaz1yBV-p9tUwLxZ9bDtAaRZhsr_DFVvDn87B_uVJth37YU_VHhq1zjw_JF-/s1600/nglarus533.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRUjZGvgdHEZ8k3bwJXhprQ30QzfBgOyEvThEDGRvBZ24sw7PnDJsmqVeiVteDo_uWXgrDHfoTB219hm1aqaz1yBV-p9tUwLxZ9bDtAaRZhsr_DFVvDn87B_uVJth37YU_VHhq1zjw_JF-/s400/nglarus533.jpg" width="312" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Second Winter Nelson's Gull<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This year I have seen three juvenile Nelson's Gulls. One was very similar to the previously noted birds - basically a Glaucous Gull with darker primaries. The other two however were much further towards the Herring Gull end of the spectrum than any I had viewed previously.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDR8xMjwzQitwpQ-tXt6QH5oMXRGUzVBeGHuNxZet71OU44oGLHtGvO7LnmYSowqcjo6aSzvGRhEZ9J1kge-OBjpqVNeVh6EaPtNE4RhtkBXWcHz-Ol1xcKB90wu4eqQZ4VWpk68VvECHa/s1600/ngssmlarus2294.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDR8xMjwzQitwpQ-tXt6QH5oMXRGUzVBeGHuNxZet71OU44oGLHtGvO7LnmYSowqcjo6aSzvGRhEZ9J1kge-OBjpqVNeVh6EaPtNE4RhtkBXWcHz-Ol1xcKB90wu4eqQZ4VWpk68VvECHa/s400/ngssmlarus2294.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1uhI3H9c13BkBl8SEaG9fChiEAgQZNGyCGU9gtm0C1pcpsDwiaEniISFPqDwLf3mFAq70Ws_VEdHzCrNeo_WeZ2bILO3qG7MfeLhXtL5ja5vZKpot4OxR4LEzp-i0NhmlL-4wMxknClS/s1600/ng1ssmlarus2357.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1uhI3H9c13BkBl8SEaG9fChiEAgQZNGyCGU9gtm0C1pcpsDwiaEniISFPqDwLf3mFAq70Ws_VEdHzCrNeo_WeZ2bILO3qG7MfeLhXtL5ja5vZKpot4OxR4LEzp-i0NhmlL-4wMxknClS/s400/ng1ssmlarus2357.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrLRtTR8SpTZYfeI0I9iWioKkX94diSx91Z52pQRXcO-4mRJ5NLJgazrxRIrEz2oC0CIxkgL2on53FB2FPympFORtBpwkUgUTgWUPosfzhpkSLGZS7x06TCUxDmFIUBl1YOqkIZ3em0fPr/s1600/nglarus0438.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrLRtTR8SpTZYfeI0I9iWioKkX94diSx91Z52pQRXcO-4mRJ5NLJgazrxRIrEz2oC0CIxkgL2on53FB2FPympFORtBpwkUgUTgWUPosfzhpkSLGZS7x06TCUxDmFIUBl1YOqkIZ3em0fPr/s400/nglarus0438.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Nelson's Gull<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The above bird although certainly very Glaucous Gull - like shows a lot of Herring Gull influence in the plumage especially in the juvenal scapulars and tertials. The primaries show relatively heavy dark pigmentation somewhat reminiscent of Thayer's Gull. The next bird is even further down the Herring Gull line to a point where I was intially unsure if in fact it was just a pale Herring Gull.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikCx4DGypblrjE97bJaf3GRPCyt7lviXi2yedJzGEy8TmjZ0SnEB2fGq2mbabS83hZ-2dKbj-16wYpA88NEpxNN_DBMYl1qE4Xx7jKB7Msra8-Ohr5BLlwsfNH1WwLY3Zg0EsNHD9Pallh/s1600/nglarusb0775rz2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikCx4DGypblrjE97bJaf3GRPCyt7lviXi2yedJzGEy8TmjZ0SnEB2fGq2mbabS83hZ-2dKbj-16wYpA88NEpxNN_DBMYl1qE4Xx7jKB7Msra8-Ohr5BLlwsfNH1WwLY3Zg0EsNHD9Pallh/s400/nglarusb0775rz2.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheaw9Q4IBCo_VfS54DMQdjNUCdhZiG4h8XamewCYncXvCnPuZ0DN_BepY9xIGf3LbLzDOC2P50EO-q8r-ei4CyrNOmvKOXROKiEhTf7BcXdmURfbWzGeJQjA_sw9gZvk9ol56kP-u0Wgjq/s1600/nglarus0784rz2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheaw9Q4IBCo_VfS54DMQdjNUCdhZiG4h8XamewCYncXvCnPuZ0DN_BepY9xIGf3LbLzDOC2P50EO-q8r-ei4CyrNOmvKOXROKiEhTf7BcXdmURfbWzGeJQjA_sw9gZvk9ol56kP-u0Wgjq/s400/nglarus0784rz2.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Nelson's Gull (probable)<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The structure of this bird screams Glaucous Gull (well maybe only shouts). The bill, head shape and general feel of the bird is Glaucous. In the closed wing view it has a lot of fine vermiculations on the scapulars, coverts and tertials belying Glaucous Gull influence. The primaries are perhaps just a shade paler than the Herring Gull but in the open -winged view I think there is definitely decreased pigmentation of the flight feathers and the primary coverts which would have to be at the extreme end of the range for Herring Gull. I believe but am not 100% certain that the following picture represents the same individual. The eye is clearly white in this better light which is atypical in first year birds for both Herring and Glaucous Gull. It is certainly acting goofy which is very characteristic of Glaucous Gull but can certainly be an attribute of any of the larger gull species.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN32170syAtrFdewwBhT45TIpYXaKmrlz7NZgU-ul-zLC-ePOcGcO7ig3qVHRUZ54TCzNDn24wcgAhvN0KXs1ohJe2E5z3DGXLozYPdUo6sICbnuKkJ9skRO7Y141sjdNC8tDYmuSrlfVS/s1600/nglarus0770.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN32170syAtrFdewwBhT45TIpYXaKmrlz7NZgU-ul-zLC-ePOcGcO7ig3qVHRUZ54TCzNDn24wcgAhvN0KXs1ohJe2E5z3DGXLozYPdUo6sICbnuKkJ9skRO7Y141sjdNC8tDYmuSrlfVS/s400/nglarus0770.jpg" width="319" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Juvenile Nelson"s Gull (probable)<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Unfortunately this was the only close-up picture I managed before it flew the coop. After reviewing the Nelson's Gull pictures on-line and in the literature I have concluded that there is a very wide variation especially in the plumage of this hybrid. The overwhelming majority of these hybrids have Glaucous Gull type structure and bill.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Correction: </span>Thanks to Kevin McLaughlin for pointing out that the above bird is not a juvenile but a 2nd year bird. Here are his helpful comments:<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"></span><br />
<div><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>This is concerning the Nelson's Gull from the November 22 posting. This is the bird immediately above the Glaucous hybrid with the California Gull in San Diego. The bird is looking skyward out of its left eye. You label it as a juvenile and this is where I have a concern. There are several things which point towards a second basic bird. A few roadblocks are there as you allude to. This is the only good photo and as a result, only one side of the standing bird is shown. We have no assessment of the open wings, tail and so on. The bill pattern is good for a second basic Glaucous, Nelson's or Herring Gull. I have never seen Nelson's or Glaucous in juvenile or first basic which had a pink area at the tip of the lower mandible like this bird. They always show a bill with a complete black tip, the remainder being pink or bubblegum pink. The upperparts look too variegated, too messy, for a juvenile hybrid combo. The finely white spotted pattern on the greater coverts is absolutely bang on for a second basic Herring and by extrapolating this to a suspected hybrid, can fit that as well. The edge spotting gets larger on the inner greaters at the margin and this is normal for second basic. As you know, some juvenile-first basic Herrings and Thayer's, for example, can be finely marked on the greater coverts also but I do not believe that they will ever show the larger notches on the inner greaters as shown on a second basic. I intend on checking into this point however. To carry on, the tertials show several fine white spots on the outer margin and I consider this as being most likely, age diagnostic for second basic. (mind you, you can see this on third basics as well, so I mean to say diagnostic vis-a-vis first basic).The last point is the most obvious one and that is the colour of the eye. This bird shows a clear straw coloured eye, just right for a great many second basic large gulls, and absolutely wrong for a juvenile or first basic. I won't say that this aberrant eye colour could never happen in a first year bird, but can say that I have never seen it happen in the field or in photographs.</i></span><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><br />
While in San Diego several years ago I photographed a hybrid gull that I initially felt was likely a Glaucous-winged X Glaucous hybrid (based on likelihood I suspect). On reviewing the pictures I don't think given the bicolor bill and the heavy wear and bleaching that you can be certain it's not a Nelson's.<br />
</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOPET7o-X2DxAN2eDpZdhBSO9rpV3nFyaHrY3MDMRlHGslLYHVAQEw_uSz6S-ebeBlolBbgjab5eWJeBFjkMNOS6ghW3Gsb1ssMDzu56c8-MPTAFVfdEx3GDEv011f3QXcTvnou5qXtrKf/s1600/gghybsdlarus10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOPET7o-X2DxAN2eDpZdhBSO9rpV3nFyaHrY3MDMRlHGslLYHVAQEw_uSz6S-ebeBlolBbgjab5eWJeBFjkMNOS6ghW3Gsb1ssMDzu56c8-MPTAFVfdEx3GDEv011f3QXcTvnou5qXtrKf/s400/gghybsdlarus10.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Worn First Winter Glaucous Gull hybrid Second Winter California Gull<br />
<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy9oNqV9xa_WldV32NKHzWyJQDNowqvSFvlUf81bvdfUkd_MgOdjpgf5o7xOkVpDYFXSeh3IJ67qr1OGzXeTOzBPm1Jwk_B63JlNKj2mkQJTDYAXWhUBJAgi7J9IRlWj3HiEm9xSkNQsRP/s1600/gghybsdlarus1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy9oNqV9xa_WldV32NKHzWyJQDNowqvSFvlUf81bvdfUkd_MgOdjpgf5o7xOkVpDYFXSeh3IJ67qr1OGzXeTOzBPm1Jwk_B63JlNKj2mkQJTDYAXWhUBJAgi7J9IRlWj3HiEm9xSkNQsRP/s400/gghybsdlarus1.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
Worn First Winter Glaucous Gull hybrid <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">I have yet to stumble across either a third winter or an adult Nelson's Gull locally. I have seen at least a couple adult Nelson's Gulls along the Niagara river but they were to distant for good photos. Brandon Holden has some great pictures of Nelson's Gull as well as other interesting hybrids on his web page of unusual Ontario Birds http://www.peregrineprints.com/ind__UOB.htm .<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I will report later in the week on The First Annual Sault Area Gull Roundup that I coordinated (its not to difficult coordinating one participant especially if its yourself) last Monday.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Comments are always welcomed.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Kirk<br />
</div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div></div>Kirk Zufelthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14223956713828841853noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2525284487032503296.post-55307706528972430402009-11-15T11:41:00.000-08:002009-11-15T13:20:10.193-08:007 species of Gulls simultaneously at the LandfillAlthough seeing 7 species of gulls in many places along the Great Lakes isn't terribly difficult. It is a challenge along the eastern shores of Lake Superior. In mid-late November Ring-billed Gulls head for the southern Great Lakes and Lesser Black- backed Gulls are a rarity. In fact there is only two records ever from Whitefish Point making it rarer than Ancient Murrelet, Pacific Loon and Long-tailed Jaeger. Since 2005 I am aware of 4 records for the Sault Area. One from Whitefish Point seen by Karl Bardon ( the legendary waterbird counter), two ( an adult and a third winter bird) from the Landfills and a fourth (I think a first winter bird) seen by David Bell on the St. Mary's River. There are more records to the west of us but it remains a rare species on Lake Superior.<br />
<br />
Seeing any small gulls locally in November is a difficult feat. On occasion a small flock of Bonaparte's Gulls will hang out on the sandbar off the Tahquamenon Rivermouth but small gulls have been virtually absent from the area this fall with no Sabine's Gulls or Kittiwakes being seen at Whitefish Point.<br />
<br />
On Saturday I arrived at the Landfill at about 0930 and had seen 7 species and 2 hybrid taxa by 1030. I spent another 3 hours trying to pick out a California Gull (unsuccessfully) in the hordes of squawking Herring Gulls. I then combed the southern reaches of the eastern Lake Superior for a Bonaparte's Gull again unsuccessfully. I do enjoy the listing game and I had seen 7 species of gulls in a day previously in the area so I was kind of hoping to top that. Scott Hickman and the Hubinger's had recently seen 7 species of Gulls on Munising Bay on the south east lakeshore.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi40fSroD30SxWX80UfRFG3ehaGnIAqGR_8_LmydwNJ9D4y3mm24VquD7Yt5M9dGLFsV-GgX1iKSu4jB_f3dS8HFRdIOcg8PpfobuZ6OEt-wRDHwBjq2HRvuXm8Ry0yuKaaRY_YfF1iNLJ8/s1600-h/tgssmlarus3735.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi40fSroD30SxWX80UfRFG3ehaGnIAqGR_8_LmydwNJ9D4y3mm24VquD7Yt5M9dGLFsV-GgX1iKSu4jB_f3dS8HFRdIOcg8PpfobuZ6OEt-wRDHwBjq2HRvuXm8Ry0yuKaaRY_YfF1iNLJ8/s400/tgssmlarus3735.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Thayer's Gull with warm brown color<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>The first interesting bird I saw was a milk chocolate brown juvenile Thayer's Gull. This bird certainly contradicted my theory that juvenile Thayer's Gulls have cold brown plumage without warm tones (see post on First year Thayer's vs. Herring Gulls). I subsequently had another Thayer's Gull which shows the standard cold brown plumage.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbLkhpFacybk1o0foDgdMp-uEW7ej9ZaLHC_Q_tWb_75qPUG-BZr1Q3_10aGwh09qwxLEpSStWF40EsosAEOqLwnT-Ar4k2m2e21gK6dV4wtg8JdHA1dXW5XV5YevdOx8gV1EW9aDIzcna/s1600-h/tgssmlarus4878.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbLkhpFacybk1o0foDgdMp-uEW7ej9ZaLHC_Q_tWb_75qPUG-BZr1Q3_10aGwh09qwxLEpSStWF40EsosAEOqLwnT-Ar4k2m2e21gK6dV4wtg8JdHA1dXW5XV5YevdOx8gV1EW9aDIzcna/s400/tgssmlarus4878.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Juvenile Thayer's Gull with cold brown color<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I then noticed a very crisply plumaged juvenile gull in the main garbage pile fighting it out with a bunch of Herring Gulls. It had big blck scapulars neatly outline with white. I could only see its back and initially I figured it was a Great Black-backed. A gull panic attack ensued and as happens about once every 15 minutes the gulls bolted flying off in unison. This can be a dangerous time at the landfill as a couple of thousand spooked gulls circle over your head. Its a good time to protect your camera.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDhlNtf2RDrpEITrudQYpOPb__b1QSFj9TJ01WZpwnfiLrbw17pxv2gMdAXB-98bLrH0eVR8tOyrQ79aOGBuPTfj_GXX5vdwtCXnf4JH_0bcG1JHqYYOa8dCf-imaHVNLVd1oICyqNOZB/s1600-h/lbbgssmlarus4225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDhlNtf2RDrpEITrudQYpOPb__b1QSFj9TJ01WZpwnfiLrbw17pxv2gMdAXB-98bLrH0eVR8tOyrQ79aOGBuPTfj_GXX5vdwtCXnf4JH_0bcG1JHqYYOa8dCf-imaHVNLVd1oICyqNOZB/s400/lbbgssmlarus4225.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Well as usually the case panic was overcome by gluttony and the gulls returned promptly. Fortuitously the juvenile gull landed about 15 feet with and was clearly quite small and was obviously a Lesser Black-backed Gull. I was quite pleased as I had never seen this particular plumage before despite seeing many Lesser-black Backs on the lower Great Lakes and eastern seaboard.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2FTMSqjxkL5wKk0x50i0v2xnq7vm1M1jGTlQ_f4fE4BfRGxOI0CcGlW9bc63JD_onPVJ6QeDpw0g7jaMsAKHDf58cewMl4WwN5ebLi4Wq33CQLw30n96fMVU03flw1XFIEpDdFT8wFsIb/s1600-h/lbbgssmlarus4265.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2FTMSqjxkL5wKk0x50i0v2xnq7vm1M1jGTlQ_f4fE4BfRGxOI0CcGlW9bc63JD_onPVJ6QeDpw0g7jaMsAKHDf58cewMl4WwN5ebLi4Wq33CQLw30n96fMVU03flw1XFIEpDdFT8wFsIb/s400/lbbgssmlarus4265.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig0wQNeKu6JTnojRI7crxrnghslzy-elue5E8YsVhgV9OPw6K6XfTfIB1iZuNHKI-barUaJlmjVdsbH-_ghv1SJK-YHDM84eh-OXSRzkgKp_TPbG5U_2mV0uExCeeLUv_SaVVJXDNQToZY/s1600-h/lbbgssmlarus4253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig0wQNeKu6JTnojRI7crxrnghslzy-elue5E8YsVhgV9OPw6K6XfTfIB1iZuNHKI-barUaJlmjVdsbH-_ghv1SJK-YHDM84eh-OXSRzkgKp_TPbG5U_2mV0uExCeeLUv_SaVVJXDNQToZY/s400/lbbgssmlarus4253.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The bird stuck around for several hours taking off and returning to the same spot repeatedly. This is a phenomena I have noted consistently and repeatedly. When the gull flock bolts in unison individual birds very often return to the very spot they were feeding previously. In this circumstance the bird returned to within 10-15 feet of me at least 4 different time. I suspect this theory works well for everything except "Press-Stoping" rarities which will typically land somewhere in the next county. Any how if you have an eye on a rarity and you lose it when the flock bolts it is well worth concentrating your search back were the bird took off from.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ug9ceAX2mLQfQkdKXJKPqXbARs4jqyq85_c9i9rtyFfjQPsOsMDHwmWK3HSvY_mYryFzcHYahbWlnoPjR-jnS7KG91N3P_CJtoZ3OkE1CrEzVNIKZ1VtGMM6ZlmII9aorC_FStgzHQqK/s1600-h/lbbgssmlarus4335.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ug9ceAX2mLQfQkdKXJKPqXbARs4jqyq85_c9i9rtyFfjQPsOsMDHwmWK3HSvY_mYryFzcHYahbWlnoPjR-jnS7KG91N3P_CJtoZ3OkE1CrEzVNIKZ1VtGMM6ZlmII9aorC_FStgzHQqK/s400/lbbgssmlarus4335.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBPYPJpCKtalcZ5k6ZCDo51IETbkvGPCn_LfXImYShrVfXicfn-bJm2JY5psS5vp0v98RLkEcxNIPN7C4HLAyFQYbuX9dgQhWUoZWS2OnsebJuPxkyA5T3frUmpjZIX_mZvjb-vfhN6AP6/s1600-h/lbbgssmlarus4569.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBPYPJpCKtalcZ5k6ZCDo51IETbkvGPCn_LfXImYShrVfXicfn-bJm2JY5psS5vp0v98RLkEcxNIPN7C4HLAyFQYbuX9dgQhWUoZWS2OnsebJuPxkyA5T3frUmpjZIX_mZvjb-vfhN6AP6/s400/lbbgssmlarus4569.jpg" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull in flight<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">While watching the Lesser Black-backed I noticed a couple of first winter Ring-billed Gulls working the edge of the garbage. Near by was a juvenile and second winter Kumlien's Gull. The latter being a particularly pale and petite individual. The smaller gulls usually hang out along the periphery of the gull flock. Kumlien's very consistently does this and this often affords great photograpic opportunities.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_aiipn9hwP_ORR3pciJdL6PKuIsFwjF1mKkGOEernJTIFSDmeeuEnZamtn5P9YSbjKOci-eWSnhCjLPMUFBQHmSnCiffjgv1oNdFp7zh4iOqL8_-aQQUn4Cv9pGBqPQN3TZ6IoqX5lc4t/s1600-h/7spkgssmlarus4895.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_aiipn9hwP_ORR3pciJdL6PKuIsFwjF1mKkGOEernJTIFSDmeeuEnZamtn5P9YSbjKOci-eWSnhCjLPMUFBQHmSnCiffjgv1oNdFp7zh4iOqL8_-aQQUn4Cv9pGBqPQN3TZ6IoqX5lc4t/s400/7spkgssmlarus4895.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSbXe8hD6211lsPJ0_zEyTJboYv2i4wA1VfEOyL3NoheQv4HulRTRUzhr1Sd9UMxkNNOuhOMXV2xJXFWkFOCINQthfoQBfTzRTnR1KY_vy7MJtCviDrcwX2VRF6hNSGbrcw5e6G29nOSe7/s1600-h/lgssm2818rz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSbXe8hD6211lsPJ0_zEyTJboYv2i4wA1VfEOyL3NoheQv4HulRTRUzhr1Sd9UMxkNNOuhOMXV2xJXFWkFOCINQthfoQBfTzRTnR1KY_vy7MJtCviDrcwX2VRF6hNSGbrcw5e6G29nOSe7/s400/lgssm2818rz.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Second winter Kumlien's Gull<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The next interesting bird was a third winter Great Black-backed x Herring Gull that I had seen before a couple of weeks previously. This is an increasingly noted hybrid which I plan on devoting a subsequent post to. If anyone has seen a juvenile or first year example of this hybrid I would be most interested in a description or picture.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyo4NCm7AYETFuKfi0w7ODpzM5RtdnNWe9jx9YAyvANYA4hhTyR_LBUyscgoh2BT-PxMQDnpnSGHEHnSHZ1HjACkTeYLMuTIAFq_DNm3gCtLrFWfNENo4CKTiM-6GYDvpAcAMwifor7BV_/s1600-h/gbbxhssmlarus4676.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyo4NCm7AYETFuKfi0w7ODpzM5RtdnNWe9jx9YAyvANYA4hhTyR_LBUyscgoh2BT-PxMQDnpnSGHEHnSHZ1HjACkTeYLMuTIAFq_DNm3gCtLrFWfNENo4CKTiM-6GYDvpAcAMwifor7BV_/s400/gbbxhssmlarus4676.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih6tC19tEnpnUPPylubsVvE85VnC0m4rCpt8wLO9ot6EQPSas4f3qvwg0DfJSw4jOMAEbalahYEXpURNP5jjZldPD-BH7ziYKjbNVxG4wKEx19uolOg-58IU2jCEMX5GH_RBwsgIGcG_mz/s1600-h/hybssmlarus0551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih6tC19tEnpnUPPylubsVvE85VnC0m4rCpt8wLO9ot6EQPSas4f3qvwg0DfJSw4jOMAEbalahYEXpURNP5jjZldPD-BH7ziYKjbNVxG4wKEx19uolOg-58IU2jCEMX5GH_RBwsgIGcG_mz/s400/hybssmlarus0551.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyYpxVX-OZ-E4F9KRvEnoNvAI-cMrphNL7k2XNCeudn49N6Aj0TTOSXpgmOiXApM65AVdk2eExvXAtngm7JOK_s4sWpyrL7GS-8jNub1WmooC9lpFiPNCSeX14zUj1JoMAACqQJVWfVpEO/s1600-h/hybssmlarus0660rz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyYpxVX-OZ-E4F9KRvEnoNvAI-cMrphNL7k2XNCeudn49N6Aj0TTOSXpgmOiXApM65AVdk2eExvXAtngm7JOK_s4sWpyrL7GS-8jNub1WmooC9lpFiPNCSeX14zUj1JoMAACqQJVWfVpEO/s400/hybssmlarus0660rz.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Third winter Great Black-backed X Herring Gull<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKJcLnKdFb5N6j_YEKcO_VKLFaybDS0sqhe9odHJRZP5o2YvpQ5ytFvfMjlTkYxYnRZSNQPzSVrK22FZGDp9M9CN9EHu2WtzHv2EN2UPEu987jYqQZ4F_3DHEYvbY299fL948ob1V0Wj2F/s1600-h/hybssmlarus0690rz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKJcLnKdFb5N6j_YEKcO_VKLFaybDS0sqhe9odHJRZP5o2YvpQ5ytFvfMjlTkYxYnRZSNQPzSVrK22FZGDp9M9CN9EHu2WtzHv2EN2UPEu987jYqQZ4F_3DHEYvbY299fL948ob1V0Wj2F/s400/hybssmlarus0690rz.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Third winter Herring and Great black-backed X Herring Gulls showing identical primary pattern<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I had studied this bird quite closely previously and had little doubt of its identity. I have never seen a first year bird of this hybrid which I find interesting as they typically outnumber second and third winter birds significantly. All the Nelson's Gulls (Glaucous x Herring) I have seen locally have been juvenile birds.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS0bSV01bjh0Gsrc7pNKBELOC29atbfW9Pf8MlWM9Ki-6qP3T8eWn1ECES3OSmbhSOAJS6oIucQeAiELEtl3twmDiVoc7qDoAf8vrzCKJu-JLDKTrBgusOQvwiKL0Q7xQIo0iPsqB-uMcm/s1600-h/ngssmlarus2294.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS0bSV01bjh0Gsrc7pNKBELOC29atbfW9Pf8MlWM9Ki-6qP3T8eWn1ECES3OSmbhSOAJS6oIucQeAiELEtl3twmDiVoc7qDoAf8vrzCKJu-JLDKTrBgusOQvwiKL0Q7xQIo0iPsqB-uMcm/s400/ngssmlarus2294.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin_f4t9pQHOctT2DsDKap97krTVAllJ4W67KgZFmENBhvJ2kMcxaFd1K_DQuWWJK08_ikhCab_9WDhEpk7DLvgAzkRqgMKgCm3NpKwRtCETsiZyozD8RgNm0zDUKcG9JS0YaOATYR2VEmA/s1600-h/ng1ssmlarus2357.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin_f4t9pQHOctT2DsDKap97krTVAllJ4W67KgZFmENBhvJ2kMcxaFd1K_DQuWWJK08_ikhCab_9WDhEpk7DLvgAzkRqgMKgCm3NpKwRtCETsiZyozD8RgNm0zDUKcG9JS0YaOATYR2VEmA/s400/ng1ssmlarus2357.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Juvenile Nelson's (Glaucous x Herring Gull)<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The above illustrated "Nelson's Gull" was the other hybrid seen today although the picture are from last week. There is at least two other "Nelson's Gulls" and maybe three present locally- all juvenile birds. This is first time I have had more than one present in the same season. This above bird is more towards the Herring Gull (although still looking decidedly Glaucous Gull like) end of the spectrum than most I have seen.<br />
<br />
The other two species present were of course Glaucous Gull and Great Black-backed Gull. Several juveniles of each were present along with a second winter Great Black-baked. No adults or other age classes were present today. The following pictures were obviously not from today but were both taken at Dafter Landfill. I like them because there is no garbage in them.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg14SYh5UA1tbVDXWp8m95LFnhvW5zZSwx_dwkT50ujsw4b9myO1X6knqNE9GkFOnFNq4Vjr8nS9gKR83n4wBu_Veo0aS-MpG5T58lt597M7aBzpWkxlaU_kbbKO15FETEcp-jeUtkZJ0Id/s1600-h/ggdafter23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg14SYh5UA1tbVDXWp8m95LFnhvW5zZSwx_dwkT50ujsw4b9myO1X6knqNE9GkFOnFNq4Vjr8nS9gKR83n4wBu_Veo0aS-MpG5T58lt597M7aBzpWkxlaU_kbbKO15FETEcp-jeUtkZJ0Id/s400/ggdafter23.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Juvenile Glaucous Gull<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidHI7jUGlEqopWTNVh4HZ9SSGxGXYiY28ibKarbHu31Yez_l50NjOv45YcaOhETt7kUdyxwDZEojSqqRiRhvgo-M2zoVW5-SYXK5Z7R86YE7brW-5sDXGT2G4FEVtJ38rXh9iv2Q9epUM_/s1600-h/gbbgdftrlarus3603.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidHI7jUGlEqopWTNVh4HZ9SSGxGXYiY28ibKarbHu31Yez_l50NjOv45YcaOhETt7kUdyxwDZEojSqqRiRhvgo-M2zoVW5-SYXK5Z7R86YE7brW-5sDXGT2G4FEVtJ38rXh9iv2Q9epUM_/s400/gbbgdftrlarus3603.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>Juvenile Great Black-backed Gull<br />
<br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">So Great Black-backed, Glaucous, Herring, Lesser Black-backed, Thayer's, Kumlien's and Ring-billed makes seven plus the two hybrids all present simultaneously. As I left the landfill the Lesser Black-backed Gull was still giving the Herring Gulls hell and the Great Black-backed X Herring Gull flew off into the sunset.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKH3kfJgzBolA-n9iaSgzs14cSSHJHo1lVjDwfaQMRSZOxm02NKUu-omlDcB8Hsoqn4XNOpPi9U-xLvsTXmFK76J1FpineN8CD0sFpSylJCwA9ztJy-wjXdIs5yVhR8PZQlQk0Bdd2DnSQ/s1600-h/lbbgssmlarus4311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKH3kfJgzBolA-n9iaSgzs14cSSHJHo1lVjDwfaQMRSZOxm02NKUu-omlDcB8Hsoqn4XNOpPi9U-xLvsTXmFK76J1FpineN8CD0sFpSylJCwA9ztJy-wjXdIs5yVhR8PZQlQk0Bdd2DnSQ/s400/lbbgssmlarus4311.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7HToEbeoPzwrCd3pjZNHW6DaN8tFgFq3ZK50uULLkdLuBVeqGQTNXGH_q35ZtgisqhIX4rnkvS7zHkc5TfNDi5cTwV8cuKj2016zgUZ7oLPBq-JDD8S2CCD1pqS9IybVhHZMRaXGRYW6X/s1600-h/lbbgssmlarus4455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7HToEbeoPzwrCd3pjZNHW6DaN8tFgFq3ZK50uULLkdLuBVeqGQTNXGH_q35ZtgisqhIX4rnkvS7zHkc5TfNDi5cTwV8cuKj2016zgUZ7oLPBq-JDD8S2CCD1pqS9IybVhHZMRaXGRYW6X/s400/lbbgssmlarus4455.jpg" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDBjYvodqiseN4ktE83hMu2LGSDdGpX4-Ff2f48xo7YzSfczE1zS9fGorQCFGbyL0RBW49szvOLtACeEqmtVG0y3Z-j4Uv5kzEl3ENnt23PNuEcdULvqb7xyZUJx_8-U9ZXNNuv0O_Ru7z/s1600-h/gbbxhssm4690.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDBjYvodqiseN4ktE83hMu2LGSDdGpX4-Ff2f48xo7YzSfczE1zS9fGorQCFGbyL0RBW49szvOLtACeEqmtVG0y3Z-j4Uv5kzEl3ENnt23PNuEcdULvqb7xyZUJx_8-U9ZXNNuv0O_Ru7z/s400/gbbxhssm4690.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Great Black-backed X Herring Gull flying off into the sunset<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The landfill can be a romantic spot.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'll be back.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Comments always appreciated.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Kirk<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ1h58U4__yGQESiyUEwAx0-WmppNJvAxLp4Ygn6n4G99oUP6Hjw0bZQBIIzzYS8e66BSt0uyHUgmYDXJu81Mb9jrmF2eMtx-3N96ryl1ZDO90sUK4758G9NK5OLfUtCG-M71esiqz3Orp/s1600-h/lbbgssmlarus4528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ1h58U4__yGQESiyUEwAx0-WmppNJvAxLp4Ygn6n4G99oUP6Hjw0bZQBIIzzYS8e66BSt0uyHUgmYDXJu81Mb9jrmF2eMtx-3N96ryl1ZDO90sUK4758G9NK5OLfUtCG-M71esiqz3Orp/s320/lbbgssmlarus4528.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Lesser Black Backed Gull and Fourth winter Herring Gull in flight<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">PS<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I forgot I was going to add a little photography tip today. For all the beginning photographers I urge you to take all your pictures in RAW (NEF for Nikon users). The ability to post process RAW images is truly remarkable and the ability to compensate for poor exposure and technique is miraculous. Due to a error in the use of Exposure Compensation I hideously overexposed several series of images today. The blown highlights would never have been recoverable in a JPEG.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1SqHa6-_MW-AJntCcXkKb4adDhEK8ZqYRAr7uDtn7luLav9x_0vPtvuhlVBGeGGWQV6hJkhpUwxuom86n7jRAY9ioKCfZMqdO_d11MnCtP2xrV6d32jSnLFSuz93llJdkpNkJN8QKZl9g/s1600-h/tgoveplarus4884.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1SqHa6-_MW-AJntCcXkKb4adDhEK8ZqYRAr7uDtn7luLav9x_0vPtvuhlVBGeGGWQV6hJkhpUwxuom86n7jRAY9ioKCfZMqdO_d11MnCtP2xrV6d32jSnLFSuz93llJdkpNkJN8QKZl9g/s400/tgoveplarus4884.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Overexposed Juvenile Thayer's Gull<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtnbCjdCdODZFkYHaTvDFuFH9rj-9x0gXezSnYiBVXynA_2in2sVWvevgpjOr_SOY7tqOw8DYqMRhWH8ZK80_ZkPVVPSkqNufsmZpP9XgrJXkmJnyZNZ_MLANE4Y2rEfcniX9cZF_30d-N/s1600-h/tgovepfixedlarus4884.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtnbCjdCdODZFkYHaTvDFuFH9rj-9x0gXezSnYiBVXynA_2in2sVWvevgpjOr_SOY7tqOw8DYqMRhWH8ZK80_ZkPVVPSkqNufsmZpP9XgrJXkmJnyZNZ_MLANE4Y2rEfcniX9cZF_30d-N/s400/tgovepfixedlarus4884.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Corrected exposure Juvenile Thayer's Gull<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I would never consider shooting in JPEG now after using RAW for the last couple of years and understanding the huge benefits this mode affords.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Kirk Zufelthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14223956713828841853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2525284487032503296.post-2092789915116097822009-11-13T19:18:00.000-08:002009-11-13T20:40:09.734-08:00Possible Baltic Gull in NewfoundlandThe <b>Baltic Gull </b>- <i>Larus fuscus fuscus</i> is the nominate subspecies of the Lesser Black-backed Gull. Its occurence has never been officially recorded in North America. It is restricted to the Baltic Sea region and winters in east Africa. It is quite a different animal than the <i>gracilis/intermedius</i> subspecies that we are used to seeing in North America. First of all it is a 3 year gull (attains adult plumage in its 3rd year) as opposed to the usual 4 years that is the standard in most large gulls (notably excluding Yellow-footed Gull) including the other subspecies of <i>Larus fuscus</i>.<br />
<br />
Olsen & Larsson describe the structural differences- "compared to Lesser Black-backed Gull race <i>gracilis/intermedius, </i>it<i> </i>is a more elegant looking bird with a smallish-looking head, slender bill and more attenuated rear with very long primary projection beyond tail. The legs are rather short." It is significantly different in plumage with "velvety black upper parts with little or no contrast with the primaries with only narrow white tips soon reduced with wear. Adult winter birds have a white head or just fine streaks around the eyes and on hindneck."<br />
<br />
On January 14/2007 I had the good fortune of accompanying Bruce Mactavish, Jared Clarke, Jean Iron and Ron Pittaway to the St. John's Landfill. This is mecca for larophiles. Thousands of large gulls spend ther day here during the winter with such rarities as Slaty-backed and Yellow-legged Gull being regular over the last few years. Other rarities such as Common Gull and Glaucous-winged Gull showing up on occasion with the 1000s of Great Black-baked, Glaucous and Herring Gulls along with a smattering of Lesser Black-backed, Kumlien's and hybrid Gulls. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Nw7WChyjxztyHIw0RYthnmUxPpEGywzMT4ZJqSoix-MrhCEdF95vyQQDGRBO-1wBMi7tDhgv7-zPIjmxDzbLvQ_ZSoao_7Nkn1oJ-X2hYv9DKgYunmafR0lmkX3TL-f_o185EkT5K6DP/s1600-h/0lbbfuscuslaruse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Nw7WChyjxztyHIw0RYthnmUxPpEGywzMT4ZJqSoix-MrhCEdF95vyQQDGRBO-1wBMi7tDhgv7-zPIjmxDzbLvQ_ZSoao_7Nkn1oJ-X2hYv9DKgYunmafR0lmkX3TL-f_o185EkT5K6DP/s400/0lbbfuscuslaruse.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Nw7WChyjxztyHIw0RYthnmUxPpEGywzMT4ZJqSoix-MrhCEdF95vyQQDGRBO-1wBMi7tDhgv7-zPIjmxDzbLvQ_ZSoao_7Nkn1oJ-X2hYv9DKgYunmafR0lmkX3TL-f_o185EkT5K6DP/s1600-h/0lbbfuscuslaruse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> Great Black-backed Gull Possible Baltic Gull<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>It is quite a large area and at one point the group seperated into two. On meeting back up Jean told me they had seen and photographed an adult Common Gull back on the other side of the Landfill. I decided to head over to see if I could relocate the bird. On my return I spotted a very unusual smallish jet black-backed gull sitting beside a Great Black-backed Gull. I noted its petite size and that its back seemed at least one shade darker than the Great Black-backed Gull. I took several pictures and watched it carefully for about 5 minutes. I then noted my fellow group members in the distance waving frantically at me. I rushed back to an awaiting Slaty-backed Gull.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs09vl4UoSev3Q_-LZvdsWsI0Oa3paGjtsADV2882i5Cpg13K-h9AfKMMiOV6joQXCDDas7iDueH6s0YgE7t7NN34hFZyYEZXBBqmgVttSCOeH98i6ecpEIkshjGQc7leTlnwl3f8L-Z6k/s1600-h/lbbfuscus7larus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs09vl4UoSev3Q_-LZvdsWsI0Oa3paGjtsADV2882i5Cpg13K-h9AfKMMiOV6joQXCDDas7iDueH6s0YgE7t7NN34hFZyYEZXBBqmgVttSCOeH98i6ecpEIkshjGQc7leTlnwl3f8L-Z6k/s400/lbbfuscus7larus.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Possible Baltic Gull<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>When things calmed down I showed the pictures to Bruce who commented that they were "intriguing". Ken Knowles had reported this same bird from Quidi Vidi Lake the afternoon prior to our Landfill visit and there was some thought that it might be the same "Baltic Gull"-like bird that had been seen the winter before in its second winter plumage.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFf6HYdsVoGdysa2E9E8M1HLNMmA8qTupQP0VePU0-9mQ8GFgAXaE-lYTMiN9WkNc6OyAorCEu8GziojNcO4SsMPduorVR4pHRoK-_XeEEksgqaOx4579bbbKYlyMUvR7whN_To5IO-8B6/s1600-h/lbbfuscuslarus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFf6HYdsVoGdysa2E9E8M1HLNMmA8qTupQP0VePU0-9mQ8GFgAXaE-lYTMiN9WkNc6OyAorCEu8GziojNcO4SsMPduorVR4pHRoK-_XeEEksgqaOx4579bbbKYlyMUvR7whN_To5IO-8B6/s400/lbbfuscuslarus.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuNLO72bBhsR_xQt27DsTmfKf9EcKmhdljg-kLlNbYBGdqR9bsR7CbioIYAG-2ATvmaKbf1xO5Ku3lBgew7UDFZiR1o8El8m2G6K0H4AsiZMx2eC4iQj5L7tktt4zxqlgy1Pfb3G_VFRIA/s1600-h/0lbbfuscuslarus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuNLO72bBhsR_xQt27DsTmfKf9EcKmhdljg-kLlNbYBGdqR9bsR7CbioIYAG-2ATvmaKbf1xO5Ku3lBgew7UDFZiR1o8El8m2G6K0H4AsiZMx2eC4iQj5L7tktt4zxqlgy1Pfb3G_VFRIA/s400/0lbbfuscuslarus.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Possible Baltic Gull<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>The bird was seen a few days later very well at Quidi Vidi Lake by myself Ron Pittiway, Jean Iron and subsequently by Bruce Mactavish and John Dunn.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKJSh882Vf5c3ZHo1g-VJConBEYht1ZmqcZk1kyutH4q0v9gMOVXG97q2d4U1eEl9JpcShQXKYc1IgE8lKi0Fk7Oz560t0hhHGA8H2gDTWNXup34OLNZJYUijipyxFlNYbdhTc8m64Oc_7/s1600-h/lbbfuscuslarus21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKJSh882Vf5c3ZHo1g-VJConBEYht1ZmqcZk1kyutH4q0v9gMOVXG97q2d4U1eEl9JpcShQXKYc1IgE8lKi0Fk7Oz560t0hhHGA8H2gDTWNXup34OLNZJYUijipyxFlNYbdhTc8m64Oc_7/s400/lbbfuscuslarus21.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzaNYRrGyCg8RwHuhMftwIX3LsLKlYD3YIBCHTeFVMnfMBylkJ_6Z3BpiSpu7qgFHKDfyIrJ8RVj0lAJqG2YP5M0mzJlPztJYI679YcujcPExirOad4ePI-Qo4X6UDr1ygBEuW-HJB1qR/s1600-h/0lbbfuscuslarus23_resize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzaNYRrGyCg8RwHuhMftwIX3LsLKlYD3YIBCHTeFVMnfMBylkJ_6Z3BpiSpu7qgFHKDfyIrJ8RVj0lAJqG2YP5M0mzJlPztJYI679YcujcPExirOad4ePI-Qo4X6UDr1ygBEuW-HJB1qR/s400/0lbbfuscuslarus23_resize.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxKo7r9pGCTgUvkFaQhh3Ojf9RNJPFMSX6nXKmZ1hQ0NdsXeT1Pydrgj7ZuUligqVJCp4Bctjt3hAGwigkQuzCx-gj9G0CJKKvrgoXKTHxlSirGh4PEFxXJiUFnrl1WO30zrR5Ik4Px71D/s1600-h/lbbfuscuslarus20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxKo7r9pGCTgUvkFaQhh3Ojf9RNJPFMSX6nXKmZ1hQ0NdsXeT1Pydrgj7ZuUligqVJCp4Bctjt3hAGwigkQuzCx-gj9G0CJKKvrgoXKTHxlSirGh4PEFxXJiUFnrl1WO30zrR5Ik4Px71D/s400/lbbfuscuslarus20.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Possible Baltic Gull<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The above pictures illustrate the key features described in Olsen and Larsson. Elegant looking, smallish head, slender bill and attenuated rear with long primary extension, jet black back with no contrast between back and primaries (only small white window P10), very little white to primary tips, and small amount of streaking around the eye and hindneck.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiilbT_C_x-SkUokx9A_r3vdTN95k-DW1nn8zGVq5-ocGL1psKxxJvHLcL1cC3uwQXYUX8-VAyTZkEpLcodBppdiY5cVaWu5fNlRWNzi-fSPqPwJ4wg-myLREZmCy2Q88MdUDal6DJYgY7S/s1600-h/lbbfuscuslarus8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiilbT_C_x-SkUokx9A_r3vdTN95k-DW1nn8zGVq5-ocGL1psKxxJvHLcL1cC3uwQXYUX8-VAyTZkEpLcodBppdiY5cVaWu5fNlRWNzi-fSPqPwJ4wg-myLREZmCy2Q88MdUDal6DJYgY7S/s400/lbbfuscuslarus8.jpg" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Possible Baltic Gull<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">If you look at Olsen and Larson's illustration of the Adult winter Baltic Gull on page 365 I think you will see it is nearly a dead ringer. I have included some pictures of several winter adult <i>L. gracilis/intermedius</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">for comparison. These two birds were photographed the same day and location.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEippllLXmLw4ykHdyy6gvHKUhjCl-8ousJ-olTBmcWYVzW9PQCkRYiOp_ZduoRKHYfmcbqlNKFm-a8EB29ScJWgQS-TEVTTFi-HTG0npqm72Ikx2SZn5pcJ7RsZldK1iV8MJyzMhvIvu_QY/s1600-h/lbbgnflarus1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEippllLXmLw4ykHdyy6gvHKUhjCl-8ousJ-olTBmcWYVzW9PQCkRYiOp_ZduoRKHYfmcbqlNKFm-a8EB29ScJWgQS-TEVTTFi-HTG0npqm72Ikx2SZn5pcJ7RsZldK1iV8MJyzMhvIvu_QY/s400/lbbgnflarus1.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQnibAx8JGjXA7GS3gcxGM4eJL3xJg2VzyhrYrniEF03DfRt0KHT4FL62mddmeHGadluLPmyIbBTzNsuH-rkrhQaPyUwQwA_6GTrcEFFwQrGFfCZ58X0sXw8HMGT2QiKUzgPxTmPicIk-x/s1600-h/lbbgnflarus20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQnibAx8JGjXA7GS3gcxGM4eJL3xJg2VzyhrYrniEF03DfRt0KHT4FL62mddmeHGadluLPmyIbBTzNsuH-rkrhQaPyUwQwA_6GTrcEFFwQrGFfCZ58X0sXw8HMGT2QiKUzgPxTmPicIk-x/s400/lbbgnflarus20.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lesser Black-backed Gull<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Note the contrast between the primary tips and the wings and back along with the extensive head streaking. The bottom bird was photographed in February in North Carolina.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdDeF2tbJh8oIJ0z-0K2AEI_0HAKy_Lzp_itQ-qtArXkC1CIdM_xjE3y-uGgHBDs2uyHVD6dKAT96E-3aDmsvaNrH-b7Ln7xKRUBdBqy1zeFEleyjNDC9axyYxdCyBL4pMChxB_slc5YT5/s1600-h/lbbgnflarus2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdDeF2tbJh8oIJ0z-0K2AEI_0HAKy_Lzp_itQ-qtArXkC1CIdM_xjE3y-uGgHBDs2uyHVD6dKAT96E-3aDmsvaNrH-b7Ln7xKRUBdBqy1zeFEleyjNDC9axyYxdCyBL4pMChxB_slc5YT5/s400/lbbgnflarus2.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg3_pT4efdqn3DSSW_8AY8PxVLC1qWkap-6KryLY6XVpl3IB__jt9KvbIBcqj2qYv4pxYNLyBSwoXzMqOG0nXaIO1t9xd6EhGWoGMJyw2VSg8iJ9EBwUqFn3DgnISlFa0MQ6FKB6Vy1uxO/s1600-h/lbbgnclarus8434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg3_pT4efdqn3DSSW_8AY8PxVLC1qWkap-6KryLY6XVpl3IB__jt9KvbIBcqj2qYv4pxYNLyBSwoXzMqOG0nXaIO1t9xd6EhGWoGMJyw2VSg8iJ9EBwUqFn3DgnISlFa0MQ6FKB6Vy1uxO/s400/lbbgnclarus8434.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lesser Black-backed Gull<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One final close-up of the head of the possible Baltic Gull.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ritcpQj5GOg3lOJHQc6jfLByBvYZrtxRCX9ny66LzRSLQgNICxOMBydAHUdrrO2Se5X1Xg6NChg4_iv8ZeFue1tp_1mHUZMipNeUFzdLoHLEQUJDPR2Z7H2Rfv2_APhbOjrQRREV2sh4/s1600-h/lbbfuscuslarus26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ritcpQj5GOg3lOJHQc6jfLByBvYZrtxRCX9ny66LzRSLQgNICxOMBydAHUdrrO2Se5X1Xg6NChg4_iv8ZeFue1tp_1mHUZMipNeUFzdLoHLEQUJDPR2Z7H2Rfv2_APhbOjrQRREV2sh4/s400/lbbfuscuslarus26.jpg" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Possible Baltic Gull<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">A very intriguing bird that to my eye fills all the criteria for an adult winter Baltic Gull.<br />
</div></div><div style="text-align: left;">Comments would certainly be welcomed.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Kirk<br />
</div>Kirk Zufelthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14223956713828841853noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2525284487032503296.post-18405230598792957872009-11-10T16:42:00.001-08:002009-11-12T19:02:32.905-08:00Herring vs. Thayer's -identifying first winter birds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Until 1973 Thayer's Gull was officially considered a subspecies of Herring Gull. Despite its likely cospecificity with Kumlien's/Iceland - in the field it is typically more difficult to differentiate Thayer's Gull from Herring Gull. In the typical scenario in Ontario you will be trying to pick out the one or two Thayer's in a large group (often 1000s) of Herring Gulls. Although with practice this becomes second nature there are some very useful field marks to help guide the process.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdRWnLXSS-5Av5FG-cEoF_tSZLIGcMrqP7Ymxv1iW1ZXheukW4np0l613VzSAj4Df3M2MlqBTDRgBq_8oUwOVvc5WgESWB5PfKS-DOb4zeLET6tbrFcFuKhhFNApvKxYldJTqVGm3Ig1L_/s1600-h/tghglarus0499rz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdRWnLXSS-5Av5FG-cEoF_tSZLIGcMrqP7Ymxv1iW1ZXheukW4np0l613VzSAj4Df3M2MlqBTDRgBq_8oUwOVvc5WgESWB5PfKS-DOb4zeLET6tbrFcFuKhhFNApvKxYldJTqVGm3Ig1L_/s400/tghglarus0499rz.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">First Winter Herring Gull & Juvenile Thayer's Gull<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One of the best differentiating features between these two taxa is seldom mentioned in the field guides and is prerequisite on understanding the differences in their molt sequences.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I will briefly review the concept of juvenal vs. immature plumage. Juvenal plumage is the first plumage a bird acquires after the downy nestling stage. A bird in juvenal plumage can be referred to as a juvenal or a juvenile. Immature plumage could refer to any of the multiple plumages a gull acquires between birth and full adulthood. It is a very imprecise term and really has no place in gull identification.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmrtbUzUERoin4HxH2xdSXwNOtTUKkpZKEH1h4ibbJmtTmAcM-_VWqT0wSJ5aoE5IpINMZrbGmKVRjZ-4JQOSjR5W8l40Yb_wRBxwaJ42KDnmLVnRlm6WvHxLF6aRGOatqsQmVVX21-Dfe/s1600-h/hgjvlarus1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmrtbUzUERoin4HxH2xdSXwNOtTUKkpZKEH1h4ibbJmtTmAcM-_VWqT0wSJ5aoE5IpINMZrbGmKVRjZ-4JQOSjR5W8l40Yb_wRBxwaJ42KDnmLVnRlm6WvHxLF6aRGOatqsQmVVX21-Dfe/s400/hgjvlarus1.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Herring Gull<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Fresh juvenal plumage is readily distinguishable in most gull species as the scapular and mantle feathers are large and have a scaly appearance while the wing coverts have a checkered look. This is illustrated well in the above picture. Herring Gulls typically undergo a partial molt in the fall replacing mantle and scapular feathers while retaining the juvenal wing coverts and tertials. This results in what is commonly referred to as first winter plumage. The pictures below show a juvenile bird molting into first winter plumage with the close up showing both large brown centred juvenal scapulars and the smaller mostly lighter replacement feathers.<br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihT7KAvgy08ldvgpAvK92ZhHbx15qQnTrmH6Xh7Gpx0QThTShScYGVcnkvVN6OBavoArYFcymuIvqyl9OxrIjNsyImNUL_Y_RhLco71A1WEuR0oYNGGOPKsYPCFbj72UvKbS-u6ZbMWGCE/s1600-h/hglarus832.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihT7KAvgy08ldvgpAvK92ZhHbx15qQnTrmH6Xh7Gpx0QThTShScYGVcnkvVN6OBavoArYFcymuIvqyl9OxrIjNsyImNUL_Y_RhLco71A1WEuR0oYNGGOPKsYPCFbj72UvKbS-u6ZbMWGCE/s400/hglarus832.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTqJrq_EOAjbdmv0f8B-OKrkwqVCX9PDgmwnXIRIlReB2FnOzbr-DOW0gVwfFwx1eUxLMPZ9MluoDyHnqunkT69kB1Nggc9TAkj2dR3eBpoQng8DILtF8w-mR4vzIebmHZDIF4YqP2hv2B/s1600-h/hglarus832x.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTqJrq_EOAjbdmv0f8B-OKrkwqVCX9PDgmwnXIRIlReB2FnOzbr-DOW0gVwfFwx1eUxLMPZ9MluoDyHnqunkT69kB1Nggc9TAkj2dR3eBpoQng8DILtF8w-mR4vzIebmHZDIF4YqP2hv2B/s320/hglarus832x.jpg" /></a><br />
</div> Juvenile Molting into First Winter Herring Gull<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">By late October the overwhelming majority (but not all) of the Herring Gulls will be in first winter plumage. Thayer's Gulls retain their juvenal plumage almost universally over the fall and winter months generally undergoing a complete molt in the spring. Thus recognizining the juvenal plumaged birds in a large flock allows the observer to rule out the vast majority of Herring Gulls and narrow down the field to a much more manageable number. With practice the scaly, checkered appearance with very uniform coloration stands out and is easily discerned when scanning a large number of gulls.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKlv-laNeOb8ch2-qRCY4C6poeiFynWg2v85D1-TmJJ51Zm6ggX3MBWR71ZbRg4nRCYSUh4S_IuHc2JNSYq3Y0hIUvMEtEYZIyIw-c92EuRUK2-A5YpiQmhrJfmsNHxcCDcKHkGxQpQci6/s1600-h/hg1larus78.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKlv-laNeOb8ch2-qRCY4C6poeiFynWg2v85D1-TmJJ51Zm6ggX3MBWR71ZbRg4nRCYSUh4S_IuHc2JNSYq3Y0hIUvMEtEYZIyIw-c92EuRUK2-A5YpiQmhrJfmsNHxcCDcKHkGxQpQci6/s400/hg1larus78.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">First Winter Herring Gull<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As aforementioned the first winter Herring Gulls replace their scapular and mantle feathers often producing a significant contrast in coloration with the retained wing coverts. The Thayer's Gull in juvenile plumage will appear very uniform in color.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVbDWF90m0nEJnevJQHh1vCs2FJwDQqDfl9EQcGNXkqKaKyjWpnZFpEKjG9R4enAE5uhKJlha881_ErT_HYIRmRApt1l766VDL9G1cwsUCfzcbgoe-WDTYGjf-7kLciI-zDdjYkJBtLKa_/s1600-h/hg1larus76.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVbDWF90m0nEJnevJQHh1vCs2FJwDQqDfl9EQcGNXkqKaKyjWpnZFpEKjG9R4enAE5uhKJlha881_ErT_HYIRmRApt1l766VDL9G1cwsUCfzcbgoe-WDTYGjf-7kLciI-zDdjYkJBtLKa_/s400/hg1larus76.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">First Winter Herring Gull showing contrasting coloration<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy8Sc0Xp076vafMgDf5fYPkVbFaLbf48-xQAXl100FBPPxDjiQCtX-5EdoCh5LzwBSb3E-uH_7X_SKImA6MYcCZsXfzYIk0oAlMqSErLN4ppLG-wiIHpKSCjpIRh-ayQFICMETWTl3oui5/s1600-h/tglarus393.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy8Sc0Xp076vafMgDf5fYPkVbFaLbf48-xQAXl100FBPPxDjiQCtX-5EdoCh5LzwBSb3E-uH_7X_SKImA6MYcCZsXfzYIk0oAlMqSErLN4ppLG-wiIHpKSCjpIRh-ayQFICMETWTl3oui5/s400/tglarus393.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Thayer's Gull showing uniform coloration<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Structure is a helpful but tremendously variable feature in these gulls with significant overlap of all features. Thayer's Gull certainly has a tendency towards having finer features with a proportionately smaller bill and rounder dove like head. Overall size is not a helpful feature in my experience<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFpkPQeipwbtTUVCIJnBYEASS8xbAyPlRxnmzHI_ypjCRnib8O8Fihprsj9xh84B7tCvBQjwKc-j9MFhwQWY8-yBBym24WR2CFBflIdSy6Ukdmsjc8hoIt4T6KHZ1bapdFXl19MhMqO8Yy/s1600-h/tg1larushead0087.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFpkPQeipwbtTUVCIJnBYEASS8xbAyPlRxnmzHI_ypjCRnib8O8Fihprsj9xh84B7tCvBQjwKc-j9MFhwQWY8-yBBym24WR2CFBflIdSy6Ukdmsjc8hoIt4T6KHZ1bapdFXl19MhMqO8Yy/s200/tg1larushead0087.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPvbRFFjjWXQB7tEn33jxDS0o64LXxjq2lu6rdo4Mq-QF7YQSI-eSbRkAw-nLqAPIjbx3-GWRoTZIJyZHtlVdjX301SArPSvPavb6F_FnK8NUYzU4_8ovEMDDgWEGR_5kolndYFjCOYTC5/s1600-h/hglarushead0005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPvbRFFjjWXQB7tEn33jxDS0o64LXxjq2lu6rdo4Mq-QF7YQSI-eSbRkAw-nLqAPIjbx3-GWRoTZIJyZHtlVdjX301SArPSvPavb6F_FnK8NUYzU4_8ovEMDDgWEGR_5kolndYFjCOYTC5/s200/hglarushead0005.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Herring Gull Thayer's Gull<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When I am scanning a large flock of gulls I will usually take a second look at the birds with rounded heads and smaller bills. These birds do stand out nicely. Many of these birds will end up being female Herring Gulls but some will be Thayer's. This is a feature that suggests you should take a closer look but is not diagnostic in of itself. The juvenile Thayer's Gull used to illustrate uniform coloration above shows a rather "Herring Gull"-like head shape although the bill is relatively petite. The juvenile molting into first winter Herring Gull illustrated above conversely shows a rather rounded "Thayer's Gull"-like head with a relatively hefty bill. Below is a very "Thayerish" Herring Gull - juvenile plumage, small bill, round "dove-like"head, but the dark blackish primaries give away the true identity- a female Herring Gull.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqIW7VSes-TDHuUKzYvs2VQaTLG4jmqxZNrXmO2X9tU9lgsVrDmgE8phJijzLzgb-jZVsp6T1-EH4rSubMIhcMo6jKiUrjMY5MHesua-a5feecaNWpH54HthXEJ6Ik7vmVlYlAj6NHgRQs/s1600-h/pseodotghglarus0810.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqIW7VSes-TDHuUKzYvs2VQaTLG4jmqxZNrXmO2X9tU9lgsVrDmgE8phJijzLzgb-jZVsp6T1-EH4rSubMIhcMo6jKiUrjMY5MHesua-a5feecaNWpH54HthXEJ6Ik7vmVlYlAj6NHgRQs/s400/pseodotghglarus0810.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Female Juvenile Herring Gull<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The particulars of the primary flight feathers are of great importance in the differentiation of Thayer's from Herring Gull.. There is certainly some variation in this feature especially among Herring Gulls but if anything there is only minimal overlap. In the "wings closed" postion the primary tips of the Thayer's are typically a brownish-tan color with uniform coloration. The outer edges of the primary tips show a whitish edging forming an outer chevron pattern. The Herring Gull typically has blackish-brown primary tips (in the fall may fade to brown-tan by spring) they may have some white edging to the very tips but rarely as extensive or as obvious as in Thayer's. These differences are well illustrated in the following photos.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-zknNv0VL6g3Ldwn1wysOSN0vvEudryxxEHVQLZhwb-OfdfesT4nl5lhk69xp0slLDBxAhOegW_pNvwPp5DxQ0B2AqewF9POnHBmMEF58fBgHkIY_8CIdyyOBZsqRLx4ZBwbCGYulq4K-/s1600-h/tgprimlarus2839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-zknNv0VL6g3Ldwn1wysOSN0vvEudryxxEHVQLZhwb-OfdfesT4nl5lhk69xp0slLDBxAhOegW_pNvwPp5DxQ0B2AqewF9POnHBmMEF58fBgHkIY_8CIdyyOBZsqRLx4ZBwbCGYulq4K-/s400/tgprimlarus2839.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Thayer's Gull<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_SopSOrrRccuaQcRR2gED0xsqQv89uCWC75VCNuOl1spq4P4dQ_0rI0kFUhgxKIuL-Rc8N6Mef9_ScuoNvPxz39lgOBn8CncFeJmrDieZRIYs325-L4i28D-zdysvSQOo5ueB_E5wTQfn/s1600-h/tgprimlarus496.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_SopSOrrRccuaQcRR2gED0xsqQv89uCWC75VCNuOl1spq4P4dQ_0rI0kFUhgxKIuL-Rc8N6Mef9_ScuoNvPxz39lgOBn8CncFeJmrDieZRIYs325-L4i28D-zdysvSQOo5ueB_E5wTQfn/s400/tgprimlarus496.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Thayer's Gull<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPI1wEx7ybQfxPmTvIgpEtOpt3Tv_skJcuH8jjUpoQrRiAyq-yvD-G1xGwJzez7EzG2A2pYnWCGQK_206sGQJNWpz-VBO8bYdZaVzkvJN69LTi89TnHJdW-MFi7Rg4p1ByHQ7A2xfYCaw8/s1600-h/hglarusprim811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPI1wEx7ybQfxPmTvIgpEtOpt3Tv_skJcuH8jjUpoQrRiAyq-yvD-G1xGwJzez7EzG2A2pYnWCGQK_206sGQJNWpz-VBO8bYdZaVzkvJN69LTi89TnHJdW-MFi7Rg4p1ByHQ7A2xfYCaw8/s400/hglarusprim811.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">First Winter Herring Gull<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzO_2BB9eLi7eCdBUboeeS_ClGn5H2SEs1Ps08ZKeu0KzeWbocZhv0H23jHR_2KJTphMEphlI2wb_uXlTFxg1DuqGNGWOOC4jqjv635n-bHmVXv55M3FN_4sy8PLk4jgrB4mcWmhIXNuqN/s1600-h/hglarusprimm3150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzO_2BB9eLi7eCdBUboeeS_ClGn5H2SEs1Ps08ZKeu0KzeWbocZhv0H23jHR_2KJTphMEphlI2wb_uXlTFxg1DuqGNGWOOC4jqjv635n-bHmVXv55M3FN_4sy8PLk4jgrB4mcWmhIXNuqN/s400/hglarusprimm3150.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Juvenile Herring Gull<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Probably the single most definitive feature of Thayer's Gull is the primary pattern in an "open-winged" position. Thayer's Gull has a significantly reduced amount of dark pigmentation in the outer primaries which is usually limited to the outer webs. Herring Gull has significantly more and usually darker pigmentation on the primaries which usually extends up into the primary coverts.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4GEaL6iXi6euVi9H6YQ8S2sBA4UJK_5N4PnK3jPS44HFOQ4Eo4UQ5EzMDg75Z6v-9xWu0f-suoiHv7Wz6551VwP5Qqb3M_B9muloZ8Gp82q1X2PBSuTvZk4_oq8Asz6TTDS7LnzMFLH2/s1600-h/tgprimlarus2781.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4GEaL6iXi6euVi9H6YQ8S2sBA4UJK_5N4PnK3jPS44HFOQ4Eo4UQ5EzMDg75Z6v-9xWu0f-suoiHv7Wz6551VwP5Qqb3M_B9muloZ8Gp82q1X2PBSuTvZk4_oq8Asz6TTDS7LnzMFLH2/s400/tgprimlarus2781.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Thayer's Gull<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4GEaL6iXi6euVi9H6YQ8S2sBA4UJK_5N4PnK3jPS44HFOQ4Eo4UQ5EzMDg75Z6v-9xWu0f-suoiHv7Wz6551VwP5Qqb3M_B9muloZ8Gp82q1X2PBSuTvZk4_oq8Asz6TTDS7LnzMFLH2/s1600-h/tgprimlarus2781.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif3aWJFNf0uqPx80dyksaVoMs1j8BiXOzBhHfp16hX43VKj9IjlAEjKYMdBvC677h5MCfD6idueKJNrP55kOan6PbTGqW4hwaFKwy_Qf08Xy6PzQDNNTiCLpW9w_4MbTdx7V3ZGiYQtFOF/s1600-h/tgprimlarus1855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif3aWJFNf0uqPx80dyksaVoMs1j8BiXOzBhHfp16hX43VKj9IjlAEjKYMdBvC677h5MCfD6idueKJNrP55kOan6PbTGqW4hwaFKwy_Qf08Xy6PzQDNNTiCLpW9w_4MbTdx7V3ZGiYQtFOF/s400/tgprimlarus1855.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Thayer's Gull<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2bTegqNUOgWTZjchmp91OHY_-XcaTh3jjP8Jp5kKuftz0c3CANxvR1uo51KZUlDCUiih6K4TVDgT-1EOBiJ6eF5umPdJna5VKER6CiPB4JmG3rWhb_khW98qLfvg2VS6plCGkzpuKRoZD/s1600-h/hg1larus09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2bTegqNUOgWTZjchmp91OHY_-XcaTh3jjP8Jp5kKuftz0c3CANxvR1uo51KZUlDCUiih6K4TVDgT-1EOBiJ6eF5umPdJna5VKER6CiPB4JmG3rWhb_khW98qLfvg2VS6plCGkzpuKRoZD/s400/hg1larus09.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">First Winter Herring Gull<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglc_6eG5HJjpbFShWeMYZfwKPM2LlCUXLlAQPkCPyiC109yVpyFEYubmuczzdxhbBizjkvGNr8YWs5c8HqSyZd85VdLvFA1KajZvpESDKhMVqeRVfAB0gkxQOnnSW-PgcqPuvhUBblL7BY/s1600-h/hglarusow858.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglc_6eG5HJjpbFShWeMYZfwKPM2LlCUXLlAQPkCPyiC109yVpyFEYubmuczzdxhbBizjkvGNr8YWs5c8HqSyZd85VdLvFA1KajZvpESDKhMVqeRVfAB0gkxQOnnSW-PgcqPuvhUBblL7BY/s400/hglarusow858.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Herring Gull<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The underwing of the juvenile Thayer's Gull shows silvery white undersides to the primaries. This can be quite apparent but is very dependent on lighting. The Herring Gulls primaries can look very similar in a strong light or when backlit but tends to be more of a dull gray.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiCzZvqZILCOMJ9qxnsNaBaLDgrMK_Jv-SoMcv5lbKTc7PprHHVbdjl9gAzcTP3n1o68_wMAV_QTm58GCBKTXKRmX3RIYh1puijkxFg54lw0MyD1b5yoZlHmaG20xtj0yzB6x3mzIrsfMe/s1600-h/hglarusuw2680.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiCzZvqZILCOMJ9qxnsNaBaLDgrMK_Jv-SoMcv5lbKTc7PprHHVbdjl9gAzcTP3n1o68_wMAV_QTm58GCBKTXKRmX3RIYh1puijkxFg54lw0MyD1b5yoZlHmaG20xtj0yzB6x3mzIrsfMe/s400/hglarusuw2680.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">First Winter Herring Gull<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiCzZvqZILCOMJ9qxnsNaBaLDgrMK_Jv-SoMcv5lbKTc7PprHHVbdjl9gAzcTP3n1o68_wMAV_QTm58GCBKTXKRmX3RIYh1puijkxFg54lw0MyD1b5yoZlHmaG20xtj0yzB6x3mzIrsfMe/s1600-h/hglarusuw2680.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZi1BtetkJCtYLHHs9KyiJkpSkYt0ygVgZUWPLmg5smSabT7D8I3c8jrr5_zasPKgLN3_43L0O3Viclkl8cICRM447_-i9m8k9uFv5rKPBh9rgy-o0nlCt8_e3u-4pCo7IGV2o9kRXfDN7/s1600-h/tglarus1994.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZi1BtetkJCtYLHHs9KyiJkpSkYt0ygVgZUWPLmg5smSabT7D8I3c8jrr5_zasPKgLN3_43L0O3Viclkl8cICRM447_-i9m8k9uFv5rKPBh9rgy-o0nlCt8_e3u-4pCo7IGV2o9kRXfDN7/s400/tglarus1994.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Thayer's Gull<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkhqobC4aDXlIm1qbl5M2YLciC2dN1K1MowMA14BHcJBN6Img90u7ccSTRz_TicB55yCkY5xz_qbJDHrP3k05iGi_tMvly-Qm1CdeofG-OGuXEuP1moLeTMcQAKl7tUKwdlHN_Q59pRi2x/s1600-h/tkgssm2505.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkhqobC4aDXlIm1qbl5M2YLciC2dN1K1MowMA14BHcJBN6Img90u7ccSTRz_TicB55yCkY5xz_qbJDHrP3k05iGi_tMvly-Qm1CdeofG-OGuXEuP1moLeTMcQAKl7tUKwdlHN_Q59pRi2x/s400/tkgssm2505.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Thayer's Gull<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A couple of final thoughts. First there is a clear difference in the color tones between first year Thayer's and Herring at least in the fall. Thayer's consistently have a cold brown-gray coloration. Even the very dark birds have no warm tones. The first winter and to some degree the juvenile Herring's have lots of warmish brown tones. This is well illustrated in the following photo.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ4XGPNTBqy5VxFrZE3LHp9ZMhk9UFUEhHm_ufVzoPJH-MWQZ-HRsyqXHMiXEaJDhI9y2mEnqppPc4P4L_Tqs4gedzdUOeEXkjGN1GIIsY-dc3YeBYNisn9JwudWRBzN9OaE_q4lAkatMW/s1600-h/tghglarus3127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ4XGPNTBqy5VxFrZE3LHp9ZMhk9UFUEhHm_ufVzoPJH-MWQZ-HRsyqXHMiXEaJDhI9y2mEnqppPc4P4L_Tqs4gedzdUOeEXkjGN1GIIsY-dc3YeBYNisn9JwudWRBzN9OaE_q4lAkatMW/s400/tghglarus3127.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Juvenile Thayer's Gull Juvenile Herring Gull<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lastly most of the Thayer's Gull have pretty worn looking scapulars by mid Oct. Most of the Herring Gulls molt there juvenile scapulars before they get as worn as you see in most of the fall Thayer's. Almost all the juvenile Herrings I see are pretty crisp looking and I assume they must be born late in the season. If you look at the above & following picture you can see that there is always exceptions especially in gulls.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSrzac_qoK8SNMfgkI5QFm9cA81RkYErN0Kgz1VK_nYxnhX_7ykhrzUcgvmoaKkBOSiQAHrQEDSuyrS7f8IuPS5X6fY1uj_54sFvTlMsjntaB0HggcRXETotByaYcHp7hNX1UJB2_sIOBn/s1600-h/tgdftr3200rz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSrzac_qoK8SNMfgkI5QFm9cA81RkYErN0Kgz1VK_nYxnhX_7ykhrzUcgvmoaKkBOSiQAHrQEDSuyrS7f8IuPS5X6fY1uj_54sFvTlMsjntaB0HggcRXETotByaYcHp7hNX1UJB2_sIOBn/s400/tgdftr3200rz.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMBe0CJvWyoTeRU61LhvTFH4E3jTI42uxAVci8Pwxq7qfJRExzWbCscINGPEL60fusX_Rbr7nSCq3OeY6J37LIHzAVcZSqjmv8WyJ46liNDzuGO6v3VXMMjF9roSatjNqXQA3nJWYjif3t/s1600-h/tgdftr3438rz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMBe0CJvWyoTeRU61LhvTFH4E3jTI42uxAVci8Pwxq7qfJRExzWbCscINGPEL60fusX_Rbr7nSCq3OeY6J37LIHzAVcZSqjmv8WyJ46liNDzuGO6v3VXMMjF9roSatjNqXQA3nJWYjif3t/s400/tgdftr3438rz.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6VmdIzE7NKdQsgz2IimelZ6bAJBUIn5CQ1SJG-zbm4pTsAbru45lA2QSNlbEM9HXfam2yIkGh1hGkTiL5xBYjOff05n58hHsmNRBUADN-tyj9UBB-cb5BjSZS-K9Sro5R5dFusUS8iUMM/s1600-h/tglarusr3112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6VmdIzE7NKdQsgz2IimelZ6bAJBUIn5CQ1SJG-zbm4pTsAbru45lA2QSNlbEM9HXfam2yIkGh1hGkTiL5xBYjOff05n58hHsmNRBUADN-tyj9UBB-cb5BjSZS-K9Sro5R5dFusUS8iUMM/s400/tglarusr3112.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Fresher than usual Juvenile Thayer's Gull<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Following this are photos of a Thayer's Gull at the darker end of the spectrum. It illustrates the cold brown coloration, the relatively worn scapulars along with the reduced dark pigment on the primaries very well. To me this is a "classic" Thayer's Gull. No mixing this one up with a Kumlien's.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVtrJDLNp4W0-O5VjnfcRMxVbn5jLKoRcP2UySxPcQrAl7VdslpNv2iG5awvJER5O1gSWDME68EVOXf8zPvCHjRleN5GKB1ptckVg9MI0HVUtwlkMsKhoFbqyZHRv8ALv6V8nFPGwT2wRP/s1600-h/tgprimlarus426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVtrJDLNp4W0-O5VjnfcRMxVbn5jLKoRcP2UySxPcQrAl7VdslpNv2iG5awvJER5O1gSWDME68EVOXf8zPvCHjRleN5GKB1ptckVg9MI0HVUtwlkMsKhoFbqyZHRv8ALv6V8nFPGwT2wRP/s400/tgprimlarus426.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVtrJDLNp4W0-O5VjnfcRMxVbn5jLKoRcP2UySxPcQrAl7VdslpNv2iG5awvJER5O1gSWDME68EVOXf8zPvCHjRleN5GKB1ptckVg9MI0HVUtwlkMsKhoFbqyZHRv8ALv6V8nFPGwT2wRP/s1600-h/tgprimlarus426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQIOQ0NC0HgoggZf-MyvDzKX3u95M65TJiBjUoaVYrhiw53waFkxd6qCSQfI4iWS3UGVlBBxa8p0qcGKXZA5l7If7fmhQUOu5LujUnOkM21Yashhc_hbqljuBDE0dQ00l3I_kMALSSJXjj/s1600-h/tgssm356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQIOQ0NC0HgoggZf-MyvDzKX3u95M65TJiBjUoaVYrhiw53waFkxd6qCSQfI4iWS3UGVlBBxa8p0qcGKXZA5l7If7fmhQUOu5LujUnOkM21Yashhc_hbqljuBDE0dQ00l3I_kMALSSJXjj/s400/tgssm356.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Classic" Juvenile Thayer's Gull<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Two final pictures the first is a nice comparison of the primary patterns of Thayer's vs. Herring. The second is an especially nice look at the primaries in another "classic" Thayer's Gull.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6aLpnI_rwhnlRwpMfW-dxjEdfXnHKxxdk8nyf8bKagdRU8UMs7BGHiYvzeFfcJR44Ks7CbTsXhOZ99NIucOjDiqIENhd354JE7wQ6IOupN0MJAUbW3giQhGQVLrDimebX1F-8Rga8YV4k/s1600-h/tkglarus2504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6aLpnI_rwhnlRwpMfW-dxjEdfXnHKxxdk8nyf8bKagdRU8UMs7BGHiYvzeFfcJR44Ks7CbTsXhOZ99NIucOjDiqIENhd354JE7wQ6IOupN0MJAUbW3giQhGQVLrDimebX1F-8Rga8YV4k/s400/tkglarus2504.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> First Winter Herring Gull Juvenile Thayer's Gull<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi02t3LKhCY27BnKMvI5L24vXsHIpx7VWzXwoyO8WFdra8CNKe2tk-Hne5EFgMnMgb0cmgYGxTtYRgYFMb0_hCT9Ey3zSzIKn02sKRx8y32kaHIBZX2Nh9_QhG8GkX1ME5ng5NNV9xsaphu/s1600-h/tgprimlarus1972.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi02t3LKhCY27BnKMvI5L24vXsHIpx7VWzXwoyO8WFdra8CNKe2tk-Hne5EFgMnMgb0cmgYGxTtYRgYFMb0_hCT9Ey3zSzIKn02sKRx8y32kaHIBZX2Nh9_QhG8GkX1ME5ng5NNV9xsaphu/s400/tgprimlarus1972.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juvenile Thayer's Gull<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I think that about exhausts my insights into that topic. Thanks for checking out my blog and I hope you enjoyed the pictures. comments are certainly welcome.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Kirk<br />
</div>Kirk Zufelthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14223956713828841853noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2525284487032503296.post-59787601028792482582009-11-09T17:14:00.000-08:002009-11-12T19:32:27.120-08:00Thayer's Gull- A species with no futureFew birds have garnered as much taxonomic debate as Thayer's Gull. Considered a subspecies of the Herring Gull by the AOU until 1973 it earned full species status based largely on the research of A.H. Macpherson and Neil Smith in the 1960's. Neil Smith's work which suggested Thayer's and Kumlien's Gulls mated assortatively on Baffin Island is now viewed with much scepticism. Repeated studies by Canadian ornithologist subsequently have strongly supported nonassortative breeding between these two taxon. Many experts including the BOU consider Thayer's and Kumlien's as subspecies of the Iceland Gull. Ron Pittaway a respected authority on this subject has published an excellent account of the history of this taxonomical debate which can be accessed at <a href="http://www.ofo.ca/reportsandarticles/thayer.php">http://www.ofo.ca/reportsandarticles/thayer.php</a>. <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzX3jQY_6a_z-TtPhocrPRbutcZdj3C4Qau9vmRDjvfQ7CBEODS_jgezuPbIJMySW4yXttHqDJMlEE4l2498CMH8UH3dlgIlfI1pwIwZk49OyFwgQhquXGKHsfJypbSB1PcP8D93NnhFhC/s1600-h/tglarus6.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402304836073847922" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzX3jQY_6a_z-TtPhocrPRbutcZdj3C4Qau9vmRDjvfQ7CBEODS_jgezuPbIJMySW4yXttHqDJMlEE4l2498CMH8UH3dlgIlfI1pwIwZk49OyFwgQhquXGKHsfJypbSB1PcP8D93NnhFhC/s400/tglarus6.jpg" style="float: left; height: 317px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 400px;" /></a> <br />
</div><div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Adult Thayer's Gull<br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">It seems inevitable that the AOU will eventually lump Thayer's with Iceland and Kumlien's but until then I will cherish it species status despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary.<br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Thayer's Gull first came to the attention of birders in the 1960s and was first illustrated in Godfrey's classic Bird's of Canada published in 1966. Gosselin and David were the first to publish photographs and a detailed description in 1975 in American Birds. Subsequently in a tour de force publication in Birding Paul Lehman described and provide illustrations and photographs of all age classes of Thayer's Gull. Specimens of Thayer's Gull were collected on the lower Great Lakes as early as the late 60's. Ron Pittiway may have been the first "birder" to identify a Thayer's Gull in the Great Lakes region identifying a first winter Thayer's Gull in Hull, Quebec (first provincial record)on November 11, 1973. The bird was later collected and the identification confirmed by Earl Godfrey.<br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIg4AXNXqZq3jKRjglK4FHxvOcmiEOtt8uT-oTChJgPseJtTxkzpEmqNGPpf2exA1ZZceXlcSOEkQAchiG56Hh2gIUU845qntjjnEk54flseT1A8ZRzi7RZloLrqLagblphzSpebg695Pt/s1600/tglarus2722.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402278678281599666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIg4AXNXqZq3jKRjglK4FHxvOcmiEOtt8uT-oTChJgPseJtTxkzpEmqNGPpf2exA1ZZceXlcSOEkQAchiG56Hh2gIUU845qntjjnEk54flseT1A8ZRzi7RZloLrqLagblphzSpebg695Pt/s400/tglarus2722.jpg" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; display: block; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="text-align: center;">Juvenile Thayer's Gull<br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I vividly remember identifying a first winter Thayer's Gull with my father at the Orillia Landfill on Nov. 28th, 1975. We used Godfrey as a reference to differentiate this bird from Kumlien's and Herring Gull. I subsequently saw adult birds on the Niagara River probably the most well know location to view this species in the east.<br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">In the Sault Area at the junction of Lakes Huron and Superior Thayer's Gull is a regular fall visitor. Juvenile birds which predominate usually arrive in late October with birds persisting into early January most years. In season one or two Thayer's Gulls are usually seen on most visits to local landfill. Traditionally Kumlien's Gulls have outnumbered Thayer's by at least two to one. The last few seasons has seen increased Thayer's with as many as five at a time. This fall Thayer's definitely seem to outnumber Kumlien's. In the western parts of Lake Superior Thayer's are the predominant taxon with Kumlien's being uncommon.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL8EcZe2vd4sN5ds53aCeWh2vVF2oF0IZonibEjgqgVA60MSDr0FCXe1k1lFEPg8PeydyQ0uUieiliZ_mw3kFAYuPxvxEbf2lin_MeN-RQYh_VovLo7hnHEvAdkEPAqt76cpbQfpnV6efC/s1600-h/tglarus28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL8EcZe2vd4sN5ds53aCeWh2vVF2oF0IZonibEjgqgVA60MSDr0FCXe1k1lFEPg8PeydyQ0uUieiliZ_mw3kFAYuPxvxEbf2lin_MeN-RQYh_VovLo7hnHEvAdkEPAqt76cpbQfpnV6efC/s320/tglarus28.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Second winter Thayer's Gull<br />
</div><br />
The consistent presence of both Thayer's and Kumlien's Gulls makes this an excellent location to study the cline between these taxon, especially in first year birds. Observation opportunities at very close range and for prolonged periods allow for careful study and superb photographic opportunities. Many bird are seen that are not comfortably classifiable into either taxa. Theses 'intergrades" are commonly seen and probably make up close to 20% of the combined total. Most of these birds look like petite "pale" Thayer's but a distinct ''silver'' form is occasionally seen which is somewhat mystifying to me and will be discussed in a subsequent post.<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>Kirk Zufelthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14223956713828841853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2525284487032503296.post-34968961177431817502009-11-09T09:06:00.000-08:002009-12-03T20:07:22.430-08:00Larusology- Introduction<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I have been studying the large gulls of the genus Larus intently for the last five years. I have the good fortune of having access to two large landfills locally one in Dafter, Michigan and the other in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. The latter is not open to the public for gull veiwing but I have arranged a permit. Dafter Landfill is open to the public and is a great place to study gulls in the fall. Michigan's only accepted Slaty-backed Gull record is from this site on Nov.29th, 1981. At peak season in November I would estimate the local gull flock to be in the 5000 range.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Correction-</span> Skye Hass pointed out correctly that the Slaty-backed Gull record is actually from the old Chippewa County dump that was in Sault Ste. Marie, MI.<br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSEqcHJaoYqOMXupEeKtA76yZ7eV3mhBLbf7nJT2GwIO1hvpC9JON4CJQYUbTbAf0pb_F1m3gbnwwn8p-SEIJCn6tOiVyDyDe5y2jaZIJr9r8orxd3M5ccXeRHpby3d-QV1OyIE1NsVpfb/s1600/larus6549.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402264595487835410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSEqcHJaoYqOMXupEeKtA76yZ7eV3mhBLbf7nJT2GwIO1hvpC9JON4CJQYUbTbAf0pb_F1m3gbnwwn8p-SEIJCn6tOiVyDyDe5y2jaZIJr9r8orxd3M5ccXeRHpby3d-QV1OyIE1NsVpfb/s400/larus6549.jpg" style="display: block; height: 255px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Adult winter American Herring Gull<br />
</div><br />
<br />
The landfills afford the opportunity to study these birds very closely and for prolonged periods. The "gull season" starts in mid October with the arrival of juvenile Thayer's, Kumlien's Gulls and Great Black-Gulls as the season progresses we see start seeing more advanced birds and usually in November the arrival of Glaucous Gulls. Ring-billed Gulls thin out by early November with stragglers mostly along the St. Mary's River until the New Year. By Christmas the gull flock has been reduced to less than 1000 birds but with a higher percentage of white-winged gulls especially Glaucous. By February a small handfull of Herring Gulls and an occasional Glaucous remain.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg45vjqE4w57tEN_YyxpejmYFYqQ7fQosuftRLjAY8Gz1E-VLhkCOh5fqqnwJtVEy-jBYtIk6IvD_-y7hjm31W3ibHNezXWUwOZ8fEi_gCC0aeqkgyfYWn7WE8wZl0aPgSaus1ZnOLoYC6H/s1600-h/larus006.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402262569979273026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg45vjqE4w57tEN_YyxpejmYFYqQ7fQosuftRLjAY8Gz1E-VLhkCOh5fqqnwJtVEy-jBYtIk6IvD_-y7hjm31W3ibHNezXWUwOZ8fEi_gCC0aeqkgyfYWn7WE8wZl0aPgSaus1ZnOLoYC6H/s400/larus006.jpg" style="display: block; height: 262px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Juvenile Glaucous Gull<br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Unlike the lower Great Lakes, Lesser Black-backed Gulls are rare but nearly annual. We have yet to document a California Gull locally but I have been looking very dilegently. Mew Gull has also evaded detection. The best local area for small gulls is Whitefish Point with Sabine's and Kittiwake being yearly visitors and occasional sightings of Little and Franklin's Gull. Neither Ivory or Ross's Gulls have been noted in the area.<br />
</div><br />
I am very keenly interested in bird photography. I have a large and growing collection of gull photos which I hope to share via this blog. I am learning ongoingly the values and pitfalls of photography in regards to gull identification. I hope to use this forum to voice my various musings on gull identification and related issues with illustrative photographs.Kirk Zufelthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14223956713828841853noreply@blogger.com1