98-01-23, Deb Butler (dbeutler at wsunix.wsu.edu) writes:

I wrote:

<< ...there is a GLAUCOUS GULL on the
>sand/mud bar with the Ring-billeds and Herring and one other (Glaucous-
winged
>I think but maybe a hybrid of some sort) at Swallows Park, Clarkston, at 3pm
>Thursday, Jan 21.

You wrote:

I was at Swallow's Park on Wednesday, Jan. 21, around 3 pm, and saw the
GLAUCOUS GULL. I didn't see a gull that looked like a Glaucous-winged or a
hybrid Richard saw (but my gull identification skills are not very good; I'm
working on it).
>>

Actually, Thursday was January *22*; oops, sorry. You found the bird a day
before I blundered onto it. These day all sort of run together; it's hard to
keep track :-) The 'possible' Glaucous-winged is only a 'possible'.
Officially "unidentified" on my list. An adult bird with pale gray rather
than black primary tips when viewed at rest, darkish eye, but with a large
thickish bill. I am a little handicapped without a spotting scope (stolen in
Vancouver, BC in November), so didn't really get the look at it that I would
like, so hopefully someone else can take a look.

The ongoing Glaucous Gull discussion both on 'Tweeters' and 'ID Frontiers' is
timely as I studied this bird while reflecting on the string of postings. The
Clarkston gull is a 'small' looking bird, only a bit larger than the Herrings
in direct comparison. The head is more rounded looking and the bill thinner
than those huge versions I've seen along the east coast of the US Northeast
which possess noticably longer flattish looking heads (crowns) and longer
thicker bills. Also, the mantle appeared a bit on the 'darker' side than from
what I best remember on those large east coast birds. So if this is the case,
would this most likely be the western Western Arctic Alaskan form (_L. h.
barrovianus_)? I'm no expert on 'seagulls' by any long shot (nor ever will be
I suspect). There has been some concurrent postings on 'subspecies' of
Glaucous Gulls which I have not had time to digest yet and may be shooting off
the hip with my comments here while presently in the field.

I tended to consider the Clarkston bird as most likely a third winter bird
(exactly as described by Deb Butler -- good job Deb!) going into 4th year
based on the adultish pearly gray mantle and the wing tips when viewed at rest
are virtually all white in appearance but ever so slightly barred with a tinge
of very pale tan.

Anyway, it's a very nice bird and easy to see quite close when it's resting on
the mudbar at Swallow's Park.

Richard Rowlett (Pagodroma at aol.com)
(on the road -- Ione, Pend Oreille Co., WA)