Steven Mlodinow asked me to post this to the list for him since he is not
currently subscribed:

Greetings

I have looked at Mike Patterson's web page, and I must disagree with this
bird's identification as a Slaty-backed Gull. The streaking on the head is
more mottled than streaked, with much cross-barring. This is typical for
birds with GW Gull blood, but not for SB Gulls. Also, the head markings are
quite gray -- SB Gulls show brownish head markings. The bill is massive for a
SB Gull, and the eye is not white, but gray. The color is within the range of
SB Gull, but again, not typical. The wing pattern is intriguing, but the
mirrors on the outer 3-4 primaries are not quite normal for SB Gull either.

The bird is quite interesting. It might be a SB X GW hybrid or a peculiar
Western X GW backcross.


Ryan Shaw
Lacey, WA
RTShaw80 at aol.com
http://hometown.aol.com//rtshaw80/index.html