Subject: (no subject)
Date: Dec 21 18:26:39 1994
From: Jobless in Seattle - cccc at u.washington.edu



On Wednesday 12/21 Chris Hill wrote:

> What do you longtime gull watchers think of that approach to separating
> out the intergrades? Are there any other useful cues?

> Also, just where exactly do you tend to find Herring Gulls around
> Seattle (wow, I grew up in NY and I *NEVER* thought I'd be asking
> directions to HGs)? And how about Thayer's and Glaucous?

I am also quite new to gulls of the west coast, but have resolved
a few (but not all) gull problems of my own. As for hybrids, I feel
that pure Westerns should be dark mantled, much like a lesser black-backed.
I have seen many birds with jet black wing-tips, but sporting a mantle of
the same color as a glaucous-winged. I have been calling these hybrids,
unless of course they posess characteristics of Thayer's or Herring's.
Once you observe the steely yellow eyes of a herring you shouldn't
confuse it with the dark-eyed Thayer's, whoses iris is usuallly
orangeish brown. I have been seeing what I consider to be Thayer's around
who look like a pale-mantled w/G-w hybrid but with a decidedly smaller
bill and head, the underside of the wing much paler. I have been with
people who call such a bird a w/G-w hybrid, despite the small head
and bill. (I would welcome some feedback on this point).

Check the platforms at the west shore of green lake, seattle, as
well as the one on the east shore for all the regular gulls. I have
seen a few herring and Thayer's there this year.


Neil J. Fergusson ******************
1405 1/2 NE 56th St. * Baffins *
Seattle, WA 98105 * or *
(206) 517-5466 * bust *
cccc at mead.u.washington.edu ******************