Western gull in Glen Valley, Dec 27

[kestrel]

Ed, Krissi, Ian, and I saw an unusual-looking gull, today, during the Abbotsford-Mission CBC. At first, we thought it was just another Glaucous-winged/Western hybrid. Later on, Krissi showed her photos to a couple of other birders at the post-count dinner, and it was determined that our bird was in fact a pure Western .

The bird was in a field packed with other gulls, and crows, right next to the railway tracks:
Western gull by Joel Schmidt, on Flickr

[kestrel]

Unfortunately, I think it was actually a hybrid after all/

[Gord]

I wouldn’t give up on this one. Sure, wing pattern in flight is needed these days to eliminate the rampant hybridization we have here now. But this is as about as good as they get when it comes to initial impressions and you guys were very right to look closely as possible at it. I like the white head and nice fat tipped bill. Back and wing tips dont look bad but bearing in mind one photo at a bit of a distance.

A spread wing will say yay or nay. Do try to find it again.

And I’ll say what probably most are thinking. Isn’t it a bit over the top to split hairs? I don’t disagree. I guess from an accuracy standpoint it’s good and maybe that’s reason enough. But at times I worry it spoils it a bit too and maybe inserts unintended discouragement.

[kestrel]

Thanks, Gord.

The bird was along Lefeuvre Road, on the south side of the train tracks. Here are the coordinates: 49°09'48.2"N 122°27'05.6"W