[cobirds] Gull ID difficulty

All,

I just returned from Cherry Creek SP — just an afternoon to see what I could find.

At the Marina, out at the logs along with a bunch of Common Mergansers, was an individual gull. Largish (i.e., not Mew-sized), yellow-bill with red spot (i.e., not a Ring-billed), pink legs, NO coloration on the head/neck (i.e., pure white — no standard "winter" streaking), spotted black wing-tips.

I've checked the National Audubon Guide, the Audubon Master Guide, as well as Sibley — trying to "match" them with what HAS been seen and reported. Nothing has all of the field marks of the bird I saw.

My scope is only 60x, and I was standing on the end of the fishing pier, so I may not have gotten ALL of the fine points . . . which is why I'm posting here.

So, those of you who've seen/reported: Thayers, Lesser Black-backed, Iceland and Glaucous . . . . which is most likely? Or is there another option I've missed?

BTW, the sandspit at Pelican Point was EMPTY of all avian life this afternoon.

Thanks!

Gary Brower
Unincorporated Arapahoe County (but basically DTC)


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