[obol] Tern or Black headed gull?

[David Bailey]

Cheryl,

They look like breeding plumage BONAPARTE'S GULLS to me when I zoom in 
on them. The shape of the black hood is different from Franklin's Gull 
which would be the other likely contender and terns have much less black 
on their heads. Bonaparte's Gulls a frequent visitants to Sewage ponds 
and small ponds and lakes in the Willamette Valley and throughout Oregon 
during migration. Recently I saw 23 of them flying north along the 
Sunset Beach.

David C. Bailey
Seaside, Oregon
baileydc at pdx.edu


> Subject: Tern or Black headed gull?
> From: "Cheryl Whelchel" <dirtgirl16cr125 AT msn.com>
> Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2007 08:07:28 -0700
>
> Sorry for the late post. On 4-7-07 my husband Kelly spotted 3 white 
> birds on
> Eagle Marsh at Ankeny.
>
>
> Due to distance and no scope we didn't have a clue, so I took some 
> pictures
> hoping zooming would make it clear, unfortunately not clear enough for 
> my poor
> skills.
>
>
> I have inserted a link to Flickr, with the 2 best pictures, you may 
> need to
> save them to your picture browser to zoom in enough on the 3 birds 
> almost in
> the center.
>
>
>
> http://farm1.static.flickr.com/231/459216736_563cea02bb_b.jpg
>
> Your comments are appreciated!
>
> Thanks
> Cheryl Whelchel
> Tangent, Or_______________________