Post by Gord on Apr 15, 2013 22:37:02 GMT -8
This morning on my morning circuit through east Chilliwack fields I came across a flock of about 200 gulls on Banford Road near Prairie Central. It was about 75% Mew Gulls with the rest being Ring-billed and Glaucous-winged and a few California Gulls. One very pale bird stuck out but because it was quite small and gentle-looking I looked at it for a bit longer than was probably necessary to convince myself it was not a pale Mew Gull but quite possibly an Iceland Gull! As some Mew Gulls walked past it I could see while it was indeed very small it was noticeably larger than the Mew Gulls but would hardly be larger than a Ring-billed Gull. Anyway, I studied it through the scope (*warning* gull talk coming up!). The wingtips were very pale with just a hint of slightly darker colouring. The tertials were very pale with little markings visible. Overall, the body quite pale. The beak was petite and mostly dark but with a bit of paler colouring at the base. When it flew, the wing tips were very pale and the secondaries hardly contrasted with the primaries. The rump was quite pale and not heavily marked. The tail was darker but while contrasting with the rump, was not dark-dark (if you can dig that description). Im going with a Kumlien's Iceland Gull whose paleness factor is likely accentuated by worn feathers. Even the most pale Thayer's Gull with worn feathers that I've ever seen or researched does not match this bird. Happily I was able to get good looks at it and several field marks though as otherwise I would not have been able to identify the bird with confidence. An Iceland Gull is not a gull I would expect to see in the middle of April.
Some of the best photos I was able to get are attached:
Other things seen were at least eight Mountain Bluebirds at the south end of Gibson Road, 173 Black-bellied Plovers and four Dunlin on Banford near the highway. Eight Wilson's Snipe were all together on Upper Prairie Road. Wow, do they ever blend in!
That's all for now. I'm extra motivated to do another little birding outing tomorrow morning! ;D
Some of the best photos I was able to get are attached:
Other things seen were at least eight Mountain Bluebirds at the south end of Gibson Road, 173 Black-bellied Plovers and four Dunlin on Banford near the highway. Eight Wilson's Snipe were all together on Upper Prairie Road. Wow, do they ever blend in!
That's all for now. I'm extra motivated to do another little birding outing tomorrow morning! ;D
