Subject: Fw: Clatsop Co. possible Slaty-backed Gull
Date: Nov 6 20:39:18 2000
From: Ruth Sullivan - godwit at worldnet.att.net



----- Original Message -----
From: Ruth Sullivan <godwit at worldnet.att.net>
To: <celata at pacifier.com>
Sent: Monday, November 06, 2000 7:42 PM
Subject: Clatsop Co. possible Slaty-backed Gull


> Hello Mike,
>
> The large Larus gull photographed on the 4th of October at Hammond was
fely
> by me to not be a SLATY-BACKED GULL, but a GLAUCOUS-WINGED X WESTERN GULL
> hybrid, with a fairy dark mantle, and a clear iris, or possibly even a
> WESTERN GULL, with a clear iris, and smudgy head, and neck. I will list
the
> key features that seperate the evenly porportioned SBGU from other Larus
> gulls in adult winter plumage.
>
> -dark slate- gray to almost black mantle, with some birds having quite
pale
> mantles, as in the first Oregon SBGU at Sauvie Island. The mantle is not
the
> main key to ID this gull, as there are others.
>
> -finely steaked head, with NO smudges, with some larger streaks to very
> partial smudges on the lower neck, not entirely smudgy throughout.
>
> -straight, even straw-yellow bill, with red gonyes, unlike other Larus
gulls
> that show a fairly large bulky yellow bill. pale to clear yellow iris
> surrounded by dark smudging around eye, extending to just behing the eye,
> giving the gull an appearance of showing mascara.
>
> -black primaries with white mirrors present on the 3rd to 6th outer
> primaries, with largest white mirror being the 1st primary. White rump and
> tail. White wide tertials
>
> -dusky underwings with darker gray inner primary tips, with white mirrors
> visible.
>
> -reddish-pink to bright pink legs and feet
>
> Many observers in the past winters, while the adult winter SLATY-BACKED
GULL
> was present in Tacoma, misidentified this bird for one of two nearby
WESTERN
> GULLS that were also present, and gave observers trouble, by also showing
a
> straw-yellow bill, and some streaking in the head, but lack of other main
> key features, but I was glad that you , being our CBC regional editor,
were
> able to accept the bird last year, but was unclear on the adequate
details,
> as this bird was present for some time through at least February, along
with
> the adult winter ICELAND GULL. Was I missing some details, or would a
photo
> been good enough to allow excellent details for last yaers SBGU on the
> Tacome CBC, and the LITTLE GULL that has been present at the same winter
> location for at least 12 years, also on our count? I just wanted to find
out
> the criteria for excellent,good, and adequate details for written-up
> species, and look forward to hearing your reply, if possible. I hope my
> suggestions and desciptions upon the large Larus gull may help in
> identifying your recent Clatsop Co.sighting.
>
> Good Birding,
>
> Patrick Sullivan
> GODWIT at worldnet.att.net
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>