Been meaning to post these pictures of this guy for some time now. This bird was among a huge flock of mew gulls feeding on an insect hatch on the Fraser River in early May. It caught my eye straight away! I think it is a California gull in moult. What an eye catcher, especially during the time of year when Im looking at mostly songbirds and missing out on the gulls at this time of year (ie limited practice and experience). I cannot find any other pictures of this bird though, but cant see what else it could be (aside from a hybrid of some sort). I need to get that great gull book that covers each gull species in detail.
Here is what the area looks like from a distance.
And here's the curious looking (2nd-3rd summer California?) gull.