Mike,
The gull I saw was noticably smaller than the GW Gulls
around it, but larger than the Ring-billed gull.
The legs were paler pink than the GW Gulls.
The gonydeal angle was shallow, and the bill more
lightly built than the GW Gull.
The Wing-tips and under-wings were totally white. The
mantle was much more pale than the GW Gull.
The head also appeared to be pure white.
It appeared to hold its body posture more
horizontally, looking longer rather than taller.
I agreed with the Iceland call because of the
comparative size versus the GW Gull. They were
standing within feet of each other in the same scope
view, and it flew while we watched and still appeared
smaller. I think a Glaucous would appear to be MUCH
larger than the GW.

Sibley says " Adult wingtips MAY be all white or have
narrow dark gray streaks". I saw the winter plumage
drawing as well, and started to wonder. And now you
DO have me wondering ...

Tweets, Given the wing-tip lack of gray for a
wintering Iceland Gull, ARE we looking at a Glaucous?
Or an early molting Iceland?
Size certainly pointed me towards Iceland, but
wing-tips have me wondering.

Get after us, you gull experts!!!

Guy

--- Mike Wile <mikewile at comcast.net> wrote:

> 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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> >
>
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>
>
> _______________________________________________
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>
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Guy McWethy
Renton, WA
mailto: lguy_mcw at yahoo.com

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