Subject: Samish Gull-Final Comments
Date: Nov 9 21:37:28 1999
From: S. Downes - sdownes at u.washington.edu


Tweets,
Got my photos back today on this gull and after pouring over possibilities
in P.J. Grant's Guide to Gulls (the book I consider the bible for Gull
ID), I have reconsidered my previous statement that the bird could not be
a California Gull and have in fact concluded that it is a abherrant
California Gull. I have seen two posts on it being a Thayer's Gull and
disagree with this in that a Thayer's Gull has a much slimer jizz to it.
This bird has the head shape, fine head streaking, eye smudging and larger
bill associated with what I'm familar with a CAGU. The bird also has both
a black and red spot that was fused together, apparently I have somehow
missed it. I have question though:
The appearance,along with a fine tail band to me indicates a third winter
bird.
The legs however are still pink, can this be attributable to the albinism
of this bird?

Scott Downes
sdownes at u.washington.edu
Seattle WA

"Birds don't read bird books. (That's why they are seen doing things they
are not supposed to do)." -Mary Wood