HI:
Another gull in the ointment!

--
Ian Paulsen
Bainbridge Island, WA, USA
A.K.A.: "Birdbooker"
"Rallidae all the way!"

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2004 13:57:27 EST
From: Bob Doe <DOEFAMILY at AOL.COM>
To: BIRDWG01 at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU
Subject: Re: [BIRDWG01] Great Black-back Gull??

I've been following the discussions of the Renton, WA bird with great
interest. When I first saw the photos, I was willing to accept, with some
reservations, an ID of Greater Black-backed Gull. But comments, particularly from
European commentors, tend to go against GBBG.

Let me thow out an alternative ID for consideration. What's wrong with this
bird being a hatch year Yellow-footed Gull, Larus livens, transitioning into
first summer plumage? I think that accounts for the size (just slightly larger
than the Glaucous-winged gulls), bill shape and color, "muddy" coverts and
other factors that have been brought up.

BOB DOE
Spring Branch, TX

p.s. BE nice! I'm trying to learn here