[obol] Re: Odd gull question

[David Bailey]

Ed,
The gull looks like a regular third winter CALIFORNIA GULL to me. The 
darker gray upperparts fit. The longer and deeper bill (than Ring-billed 
Gull), the dirty looking head, and the "mean look" due to the pattern of 
dark around the eye. The mirror in the outer primaris is a mark that no 
Black-tailed Gull would show. Still, California Gull is one of my 
favorites (and no Alan, I have never tasted them, so I mean to look at).

Now I'll ask you a question--what else did you see in Sherman County 
where I don't get to bird near as often as I would like any more?

David


*Subject: Odd gull question*
From: Ed McVicker <ed.mcvicker AT comcast.net>
Date: Sat, 30 Sep 2006 10:12:47 -0700

On Friday while at John Day Dam in Sherman County I took photos of a 
gull that caught my eye. 

http://oregonbirding.blogspot.com/

My attention was drawn to the prominent black tail band on a dark 
mantled bird.  The bird was about the size of the RING-BILLED GULLS 
nearby, but the head looked less rounded and flatter.  The spot on the 
tip of the bill did not look right for an adult Ring-billed.  The bird 
was distant and I could not see the details of the head well enough to 
see any red on the bill nor crescents around the eye (adrenaline induced 
vision of Black-tailed Gull.)

Is this anything more than a nearly adult Ring-billed Gull? 

Ed McVicker
Portland