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Post by kastern on Oct 24, 2006 13:35:22 GMT -8
Just got back from a wet walk down to the water's edge to see if there was anything interesting around. As it turned out I was not alone as Thor appeared out of the rain and joined me. Nice to have met you, Thor, now I have a face to put to your messages. There were lots of the usual Glacous Winged Gulls and several Mew Gulls feeding on the salmon as well as 3 of these......they were generally speaking, Glacous Winged size and shape, appeared to be adult rather than juvenile birds. Had pink legs, bill appeared pale, I think pink although one of them, viewed through Thor's scope appeared to have a yellow bill. They had a dark area on the bill, on the one in the photo this dark area seemed to go almost to the tip, while the one with the yellowish bill had a definite yellow tip beyond the dark area. The eyes were dark. The mantles a clear grey. Primaries were also grey but a bit darker than the mantle.....one bird in fact (the one in the photos), sometimes looked like the primaries were two different colors, one grey and one almost black. Primaries were fairly long. There was lots of brown smudging on the head and neck. Also appeared slightly shyer than most gulls as I approached to try and get photos, it moved further away while the Glacous Wings stood their ground. Photos aren't the best. I took one on Maximum digital zoom and the other two I've cropped to get as close as I could. Kathy
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Post by tmanson on Oct 24, 2006 15:58:25 GMT -8
The only thing I would add is that I thought the primaries looked a little darker live than in the photos, but, as usual, Kathy got great pictures even with her " b" camera. I have another id question for a duck on Cheam Lake ( unfortunately without pictures ), that I will post later. Cheers, Thor
Thor Manson Hope, B.C.
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Post by tmanson on Oct 24, 2006 16:32:30 GMT -8
Having consulted Sibley, and Olsen/Laresen, I l believe our gull is a third winter Glaucous winged Gull, which is not shown in the National Geographic Field Guide. Also, my so-called mystery duck is simply a female Ring-necked, which was my first thought, but the vertical white line at the base of the bill, seemed much more defined than in the the Geo Guide. It is better shown in Sibley. Oh well, a good birding day in the rain!! Nice meeting Kathy. One of these days, on my, now, pension income, I am going to have to invest in good digital camera. Cheers, Thor
Thor Manson Hope, B.C.
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Post by kastern on Oct 24, 2006 18:20:42 GMT -8
You are right. Just checked my Sibley's too and thats what it was. Oh well, we learned something. Got side tracked this afternoon by something large, black and furry at the bird feeders in my backyard. That's right - had a Black bear right in the yard, ate some sunflower seeds, nibbled on some berries and had a drink out of the fish pond and then went on his way. Kathy
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