Post by Wetlander on May 25, 2010 19:52:21 GMT -8
I'd appreciate some feedback on a group of gulls at the lagoon in Harrison this morning. Before work, spotted 4 gulls together, what seemed at first to be 4 different sizes. 1 sm, 2 med and 1 lg. and of course forgot my guide at home. 
1 little Bonaparte's I recognized right away.
1 of the medium sized was a Ringed-bill, which I IDed after a bit of study thru the bins. Went back at lunch and the 2 med. gulls were still there and I got a few better pictures.
The second med. gull threw me for awhile. Not just the Juvie plumage, It seemed different, the bill and legs seemed to have a yellow-red look, while the first gull had the normal yellow-green look. With more looks at lunch, the eye appeared dark, but sometimes reflected light and the light tip on the bill became more obvious. I'm thinking it is a Ringed-bill as well. The photos appear lighter than normal, the first photo of 3 of the 4 gulls is better representative.
The big gull, seemed very light and I wondered Glaucous?, but it does have colour in the wingtips. As far as I can tell, bill and legs look good, but the eye was dark.
I've been fooled over and over by gulls, but I figure Glaucous-winged X Glaucous? So it's probably Thayer's...
1 little Bonaparte's I recognized right away.
1 of the medium sized was a Ringed-bill, which I IDed after a bit of study thru the bins. Went back at lunch and the 2 med. gulls were still there and I got a few better pictures.
The second med. gull threw me for awhile. Not just the Juvie plumage, It seemed different, the bill and legs seemed to have a yellow-red look, while the first gull had the normal yellow-green look. With more looks at lunch, the eye appeared dark, but sometimes reflected light and the light tip on the bill became more obvious. I'm thinking it is a Ringed-bill as well. The photos appear lighter than normal, the first photo of 3 of the 4 gulls is better representative.
The big gull, seemed very light and I wondered Glaucous?, but it does have colour in the wingtips. As far as I can tell, bill and legs look good, but the eye was dark.
I've been fooled over and over by gulls, but I figure Glaucous-winged X Glaucous? So it's probably Thayer's...
