[cobirds] Confusing Gull at Barr Lake 11:30 am 4 October 2017

Hello,

 

I visited Barr Lake this morning down by the smartweed covered point just beyond the bird banding nets. With my Kowa 820 scope I was counting individually the 300+ California Gulls in the shallows near the island when I came across one that was clearly not like the others. The head & neck were pure white and the bill was bright yellow with a gonydeal spot that was entirely red. Its eye was dark and its legs were pale, what little I could see, not unlike the California Gulls nearby. Its back & wings were dark gray or black, but certainly appearing black in comparison to the other gulls. Had it not been for the size (which appeared to be perhaps only slightly bigger than the California Gulls)  I would have been convinced I was looking at a Great Black-blacked Gull, which is a species I am perhaps all to familiar with back  in Maryland where I used to live only months ago.

 

For what it is worth, I have ruled out Western Gull (which is probably equally unlikely as Great Black-backed Gull based on range alone) for both leg & eye color; I have also dismissed Lesser Black-backed Gull for its yellow legs and its brown streaked head & neck.

 

I embrace the possibility that all that is left for me is another learning experience. I did take pictures. But since the distance involved is 120 yards or so, the pictures are marginally archival in themselves. (That is to say, to me at least.)  If anyone is interested, I would be glad to provide them.

 

Bill

ps This is the 2nd attempt to post, hopefully not a paraphrase of the first post. B.

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