Glaucus Gull—Bailey Landfill

[paulos]

I’m on a quick stop in the Fraser Valley, so of course I had to go to the dump! There was a very light first year Glaucus Gull with the mass of Glaucus-winged Gulls on the hill behind the garbage. I also saw several near-Western Gulls, but none were quite pure (all showed streaking on the head).

Peace!

[Gord]

I ran across a Glaucous Gull, possibly the same as Paul's as this guy was a first year as well. This was at the corner of McGuire and Prest. There was also an interesting one that looked like a Glaucous but had some faint markings in the wings and tail. The bill was dark tipped and body quite pale. I suspect a hybrid with a Herring Gull.

[Gord]

Saw the Glaucous Gull on Banford Road south of the highway today. I also had what we would have last year called an Iceland Gull too. Much whiter than the White Rock bird from late December that Jamie and I saw.

[Gord]

I saw it again on Thursday resting in the grass on Banford Road

019_5311 by Gord G, on Flickr


Then it got up suddenly which was in order to try and steal some food from another gull. At the end a pair of Ravens ganged up on it and thieved from the thief.


019_5318 by Gord G, on Flickr.

019_5333 by Gord G, on Flickr

019_5337 by Gord G, on Flickr

019_5344 by Gord G, on Flickr


Over on Gibson Road the "Kumlien's" Iceland Gull also continued. Similar to the Glaucous Gull but smaller and lacking the black-tipped bill. This is what is common on the east coast while our common Thayer's Iceland Gull would be quite uncommon there.

019_5220 by Gord G, on Flickr

019_5222 by Gord G, on Flickr

019_5234 by Gord G, on Flickr

019_5239 by Gord G, on Flickr


With the coming COLD conditions the gulls will disappear to the landfill or to get out of town to where it's not freezing. It was fun while it lasted.

[ed]

Great shots, they have eluded me so far!

[Gord]

I saw the/a Glaucous Gull on Banford Road again today. This time south of McGuire.