This sure emphasizes the fact that Slaty-backed Gull mantles vary from
very dark to hardly distinguishable from northern Westerns. Vega gull
introgression? Or do they show a cline like Westerns do.

Gene.

On Sun, 3 Mar 1996, Russell Rogers wrote:

> Tweeters,
>
> Well, okay, I'm not really that scared of getting raked over the coals.
>
> I stopped by the Nisqually delta today with Bill and Nancy LaFramboise.
> The large flock of gulls were sitting in the fields south of I-5 (yes, at
> that location, I-5 is running east-west) The bulk of the flock was in the
> fields on the far side of the dairy farm. We worked our way around to
> where there was a pull off where there was a fire station (don't block the
> drive!). From there was could see most of the gulls well.
>
> The first gull we picked out was a young Glaucous Gull across the
> road about 50 feet in front of us, then another Glaucous Gull about the
> same distance behind us. Things were looking up we thougth.
>
> A quick scan through the many gulls produced on that was a little darker
> than the other GWGU that it was sitting with. We could not tell for sure
> what it was due to the way it was sitting and that it was asleep with its
> head tucked back, mostly out of view.
>
> So we started the waiting game. after about fifteen minutes or so, it
> sat up and streched for us. It stuck both wings strait up in the air
> showing clearly the white trailing edge of the wing moving up into the
> black of the wing tips.
>
> I could see the head much clearer this time. It still looked as though it
> had a "black eye" (not a black eye. but a "black eye" as though it had
> been in a fist fight over banding issues on tweeters :)). The iris did
> not appear to be white, but more on the amber side. The streaking on the
> head was mostly on the nape, and was a light brown in color. The rear
> portion of the crown was white, and the forecrown also had some faint
> streaking. The bill was straw colored (not yellow as I said before). It
> was very straigt and pencil like.
>
> Congradulations to Bill and Nancy as it was a lifer for them.
>
> Also in the field was the albino Mew Gull, still a pretty neat bird.
>
> I hope other get down and see these gulls.
>
> Russell
>
> --------------------------------------------------------
> Russell Rogers
> 4510 Glenn Way SW
> Seattle, WA 98116
> (206) 935-6280
> rrogers at halcyon.com
> --------------------------------------------------------
>