Subject: [Tweeters] black-tailed gulls
Date: Oct 14 14:30:56 2009
From: B&PBell - bellasoc at isomedia.com


Hi Tweets

A second to Steve's warning. While we were looking at the Black-tailed Gull down near Tacoma this morning there was a probable 3rd cycle California Gull also in the gull flock. This bird had grayish-brown mantle and wings with all dark wing tips and a tail with a dark tail band. If you weren't paying attention it would have been fairly easy to confuse it with the Black-tailed Gull.

In comparison, the Black-tailed had a very dark gray mantle and wings, also with no white in the black primaries, the head was white (because of the distance - about 1/2 mile - it was difficult to see any smuding), and a clearly white tail with a broad black sub-terminal band and narrow white terminal band. Unfortunately, before the gulls could move closer to us the rain moved in and made viewing difficult. The distance the birds were foraging meant you could not see the details of the bill, and as the rain continued the whole group moved even further away. When I left just after 11 AM, the rain had settled in and conditions were far from favorable.

Brian H. Bell
Woodinville WA
Birding & Natural History Guide
mail to bell asoc at isomedia dot com
----- Original Message -----
From: Steven Mlodinow
To: Tweeters at u.washington.edu
Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 1:30 PM
Subject: [Tweeters] black-tailed gulls


Greetings All

Just a wee warning. When looking for Black-tailed Gulls, it is important to realize that a number of gull species can show black tails and white vent/rump.

I have seen a couple, presumably 3rd cycle, California Gulls look like this, and I have been startled by a couple near adult Western Gulls, wherein the only sign of immaturity was the black tail band and some dark on the bill.

Size and shape are quite important to note, as is mantle color, wingtip pattern, and (in adults and maybe 2nd year birds), eye color. Leg color might be helpful as well.

Though we've had two well-documented records this year, this Asian species is still incredibly rare on the west coast, and (oddly enough) nearly as rare on the east coast.

Best Wishes
Steven Mlodinow


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