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Post by John Vooys on Jan 12, 2009 19:12:15 GMT -8
Hi Gord. I went to the transfer station in Abby to look for the Slaty-backed Gull. Question: How much darker is the mantle than that of the Glaucous-winged Gull. I saw a bird with a darker mantle than the GW but am still unsure about identifying it as a SB.
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Post by Gord on Jan 12, 2009 22:59:00 GMT -8
BLACK!!! ;D ;D What I mean to say, it's very dark. When you see a pure Western Gull the mantle colour is dark but with a bluish grey cast to it. A Slaty-back is DARK with a charcoal grey cast to it. A Glaucous-winged Gull is much lighter but hybrids with Western Gull can have a darker back. Here is the one from earlier this month which also shows a Western Gull and assorted Glaucous-wingeds and hybrids. The Slaty-back is at the left and a Western Gull on the right perched on the eaves. The one behind the Slaty-back and to the left is a hybrid as evidenced by the darker mantle than,say, the one behind but to the right of the Slaty-back which looks like a pure Glaucous-winged with almost an extremely paler mantle (or just could be how the light was hitting it). This bird is from Jan 22, 2006 in Chilliwack among other gulls. And last year from the same location in late December 2007. What also helps is the streaking on the head and neck. The nice defined streaks are non-typical of hybrid Glaucous-winged x Western Gull. Generally speaking, the more Western Gull in the family tree, fewer streaks on head and neck with darker back and wingtips. This guy is one of these. Note the wingtips are not black but more greyish-black. There is just a hint of streaks/smudging on the head. Compared to a mostly Glaucous-winged Gull who will likely (but often not in these ones) have lots of smudgy streaks on the head and neck combined with a lighter mantle and wingtips but both still darker than a pure Glaucous-winged Gull. The bird in the foreground looks good for a pure Glaucous-winged. The other three are hybrids as seen by slightly darker mantles and wingtips a little darker than the mantle but not at all black. A pure Glaucous-winged Gull's wingtips should be about the same shade as their mantles (backs) and not obviously darker. Of course also the yellow iris is a good fieldmark. Combined with the streaks can give a really fierce expression. Jan 3, 2009 Jan 22, 2006 A pure Western Gull But...what discussion about identifying gulls doesnt have "but", "generally", "most of the time" in it! ;D. This guy, which I believe is a Glaucous-winged X Herring Gull is an interesting specimen. The dirty yellow eye, neat streaks on head and neck and darker back and wingtips can cause thoughts towards Slaty-backed or ?... Who knows...maybe it is a hybrid between a Glaucous-winged and Slaty-back. Or a hybrid between Slaty-back and Herring Gull (apparently they exist too)...OR perhaps a hybrid between a Southern Western Gull (apparently their irises are often yellow) and Glaucous-winged. Or just a rare individual of a common hybrid who has a pale eye just to make things fun. I should just stop. ;D One last thing is wingtips worth noting to round out fieldmarks. On a Slaty-backed, they're black on folded wings but when spread, the black is much more limited. Note also the 'string of pearls' which refer to the white spots that the red arrow points to. A Western Gulls wingtips look similar when folded, very black, but when spread is much more extensive. Hope this helps. I had fun with this question. I think I might have got off track a little there though. I should mention again that all Ive shared is certainly not from an expert. I should also point out that like any good gull, some can vary from what is supposed to be 'typical' fieldmarks. There are always some that deviate just to make it fun. (take the Glaucous Gull in Seattle that is different enough to prompt some to think Iceland Gull!) Hope you saw that guy today and if not, that you do soon! When you see it, there will be no doubt. It's like a fly on a white table cloth!! ;D ;D
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Post by John Vooys on Jan 13, 2009 15:26:35 GMT -8
Thanks Gord. This is the best explanation I've seen on these closely related gulls. It even beats what I've read in field guides. The lighting and the direction the birds face, certainly can have a major impact. I'm going to try for this bird again. It would be a lifer for me. John Vooys, Abbotsford.
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Post by Gord on Jan 15, 2009 19:58:28 GMT -8
You're welcome and good luck. Let us know if you find it! Ryan got it last weekend so it is hanging around.
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Post by Larry Cowan on Jan 18, 2009 10:09:19 GMT -8
Anyone see the SBGU recently. I have yet to actually convince myself I have seen a good one after many years of birding. I am thinking of taking a shot at this bird today.
Thanks
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Post by tmanson on Jan 18, 2009 12:09:45 GMT -8
Hi all: Further to the discussion about gulls, I came across a site posted on Tweeters today that sheds further light on Pacific Northwest gull i.d. Gord's post is excellent too. Anyway, the site apparently was assembled by Larry Paulson, and the url is: www.ups.edu/x6182.xtml. If you click on Gull Images in the top right hand corner, you will get a good photo collage of gulls in our region. Cheers. Thor Thor Manson Hope, B.C.
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Post by tmanson on Jan 18, 2009 13:20:27 GMT -8
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Post by tmanson on Jan 18, 2009 13:24:44 GMT -8
I think this will be the last link I post. Either I make a mistake, or the system does. Go figure. Cheers, Thor
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Post by Janne on Jan 18, 2009 18:02:25 GMT -8
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Post by Gord on Jan 18, 2009 18:37:07 GMT -8
Thor, a double whammy!
The site seemed to be down for awhile this afternoon which did not help confirming if a link worked or not.
Also, the period at the end of the link (xml.) is what was messing things up. Amazing how little can mean so much.
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Post by Mike Tabak on Jan 21, 2009 20:38:04 GMT -8
Hi all: My girlfriend and I headed out of the fog of Vancouver and into the sunshine of Abbotsford to do a little birding. We found the adult Slaty-backed Gull along Hwy 11 about 1 km south of Hwy 1 in a field with about 100 gulls. From this same location we scoped 2 different Peregrine Falcons resting in trees nearby, and had some flyby swans. I'll try to upload some photos I took of this gull, otherwise see bcvanbirds for more photos of this Asain vagrant. [img src="[/img] "] [/img]
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Post by Gord on Jan 22, 2009 13:58:56 GMT -8
Mike, nice shots. I cant help at this end on getting the photos to show. Sometimes it can be finiky. Looks like he's enjoying that pond and field there regularly. Worth keeping an eye on if he's not seen at the station. Here are some I got as well of this guy. The best views I have had of this species with the afternoon sun on really nice. Hope the sun lasts to this weekend again! A non-blurry wing shot!! Too bad I was looking at something else when he flew and missed the best in flight photos.
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Post by Mike Tabak on Jan 23, 2009 18:59:57 GMT -8
Abbotsford Slaty-backed Gull
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Post by Mike Tabak on Jan 23, 2009 19:01:56 GMT -8
Abbotsford Slaty-backed Gull
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Post by Mike Tabak on Jan 23, 2009 19:03:35 GMT -8
Abbotsford Slaty-backed Gull
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