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Post by Gord on Dec 17, 2012 19:14:16 GMT -8
This afternoon at about 3:20 I stopped on my way home to check on a large flock of gulls at the far west end of McGuire Road. Fairly quickly my binocular scan picked out a very dark backed gull. I got my scope out in the lee of the van from the wind and saw an adult Slaty-backed Gull. This is the first one since 2009! Pictures were hard to obtain in the fading light and wind but the dark back really sticks out and if you look closely and add a bit of imagination fairly extensive head streaks can also be seen. Hope it sticks around.   |
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Post by Randy on Dec 17, 2012 20:03:26 GMT -8
Great find Gord! Are the streaks on the nape what differentiate it from a western gull!
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Post by Gord on Dec 17, 2012 20:21:23 GMT -8
Randy, yes, the heavy streaks would plus a slightly darker back are good clues. At close range the pale eye is another field mark. As one looks at gulls a lot, subtle differences in body shape, bill shape and so forth also provide clues especially with 'textbook' individuals (i.e. a female Thayer's Gull sticks out much more readily than a larger male might). Watch out for hybrids between Glaucous-winged and Western Gulls. The streaky heads of the Glaucous-winged comes over in the mix but usually the back and wingtips are not very dark. Here's some pictures from the website www.fraservalleybirding.com/Species/Bird%20Accounts/Slaty-backed%20Gull.htmAll that said, gulls are notoriously difficult and there are always birds that break the 'rules' once in a while. Never hurts to take time with an identification. |
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Post by Dave on Dec 17, 2012 21:28:05 GMT -8
Good stuff! I may make a try for it in the next few days if work permits a 'day light exit in time'.
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Post by Randy on Dec 18, 2012 15:03:23 GMT -8
Thanks a lot Gord, I definitely have to work on my gull ID abilities. They're tough!
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Post by Gord on Dec 18, 2012 15:49:05 GMT -8
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Post by Chris on Dec 18, 2012 22:12:16 GMT -8
I was out there today. At the end of McGuire Rd was a decent size flock of gulls. No Slaty-backed but there was a pure Western Gull.
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Post by Gord on Dec 23, 2012 8:26:48 GMT -8
I checked the area on Friday afternoon. Lots of gulls and while none of the flocks were too close to the road I think I would have seen it if it were among the flocks. It really sticks out!
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