Hi Tweeters-

I went down to see the Iceland Gull and the Tufted Duck yesterday. Though I
struck out on the Tufted, I did have nice views of the 'Iceland'. Now, it
is possible that I saw a different bird than everyone else, but I came away
calling the thing a Glaucous.

Here is what I saw just north of Russell Rd and Orillia in an excavated area
near the Boeing buildings.

1) The bird was standing with about 5 Glaucous-winged hybrid types and one
Thayers. It was roughly the same size as the GWs and noticeably larger than
the Thayer's.

2) The wing tips were pure white and the mantle was noticeably paler than
the GWs and Thayers. It has been a long time since I have seen an Iceland,
but I remember them with some darkness on the primaries (in the winter) and
with a mantle not as pale as a glaucous.

3) The gonydeal angle on the bill was, although not as pronounced as the
GWs', quite evident. My recollection of the Iceland's bill was more like
that of a Thayer's.

Anyways, I would appreciate it if someone could comment on this and either
tell me I am crazy or that I saw a different bird than that which is
reported as an Iceland.

Thanks
Mike Wile
Redmond, WA
425-503-5766
mikewile at comcast.net

----- Original Message -----
From: "Guy McWethy" <lguy_mcw at yahoo.com>
To: "Tweeters" <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Sent: Sunday, January 22, 2006 1:59 PM
Subject: [Tweeters] Kent : Tufted Duck, Iceland Gull, YES!


> Tweets,
> to all you birders who were NOT present today in the
> Kent area looking for the Tufted Duck or Iceland Gull.
> We saw both within 15 minutes of each other.
> We only saw 2 other birders all morning.
>
> Tufted Duck was seen from the 204th turn-around,
> looking south, around 9:00 AM. Seen with a HUGE
> number of Ring-neck ducks, with a Lesser Scaup for
> comparison views. Also saw a single Canvasback and 2
> Redheads.
>
> Around the corner to 212th and 59th Place, the Iceland
> Gull. Good comparative views with the Glaucous-winged
> and Ring-billed Gulls.
>
> Belted Kingfisher at the Boeing Ponds, with lots of
> Ruddy Ducks, Common and Hooded Merganser.
>
> Eurasian Wigeon seen in a small flooded field off of
> 200th.
>
> Barn Owl in some Pine trees to the NW of the Green
> River Natural Resources Area. (How often do Owls eat
> small birds? There was a complete sparrow (?)
> skeleton in an owl pellet !)
>
> 2 Trumpeter Swans and a Common Goldeneye in the
> flooded fields at the corner of 277th and W Valley
> Highway.
>
> Plus all the usual suspects in the flooded fields.
>
> Some good birds for a 1/2 day trip within 20 miles of
> home !!
>
> Guy
>
> Guy McWethy
> Renton, WA
> mailto: lguy_mcw at yahoo.com
>
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