Greetings All

Just got back from Baja, I am happy to say. This also means I have not seen
yonder gull in person.

However, I just looked at the Sullivan's excellent pictures at
http://www.pbase.com/godwit/gull_photos/


This bird is almost certainly not an Iceland. The bill looks too thick, the
wings too short, and the body too large. An Iceland should be fairly well
dwarfed by a GWGU. It seems to me that, in some early pics, I saw a bird that
looked more delicate and smaller billed. The observers said was about the size of a
Thayer's. Thus, ICGU seemed a cinch.

So -- two birds or one. Given the rarity of adult GLGUs in WA, probably one.
I am a bit mystified by the different appearance in the different photos, but
the Sullivan's are the clearest I've seen so I will go by theirs.

I admit that it is somewhat unusual for a GLGU to be smaller than GWGUs, but
the proportions are otherwise those of a GLGU and so.....methinks ICGU is
unlikely.

Best Wishes
Steven Mlodinow
Everett WA