Subject: [Tweeters] How to Get Better at Gulls
Date: Aug 10 12:42:18 2015
From: Bob Sundstrom - ixoreus at scattercreek.com


Sam,

Writing as a long-time teacher of gull ID classes, you should have more success learning species when gulls reach the next stable seasonal plumage, usually by late Sept or early Oct. Late summer molt and feather bleaching from salt water can create some bizarre looks on typical gulls, especially non-adult gulls. A lot of late summer ID for gulls is can be based on shape and size, or years of looking at heavily molted plumage, but by Oct the categories will be more predictable.

Bob Sundstrom

Sent from my iPhone

> On Aug 8, 2015, at 9:58 AM, Sam Sudar <sudar.sam at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> I'm trying to get better at gulls. I've done some light studying of the Peterson Reference Guides to Gulls of the Americas (http://www.amazon.com/Peterson-Reference-Guides-Gulls-Americas/dp/0618726411/). The information is interesting and in-depth, but it still is difficult for a beginner to apply (or at least for me to apply). I went out yesterday feeling informed and prepared and immediately found an adult gull that I couldn't ID, even with decent (if distant) looks and the book in hand.
>
> Pages like the TheBirdGuide.com (http://thebirdguide.com/gulls/) complicate matters even more, noting that western gulls in the pacific northwest are lighter than most field guides acknowledge.
>
> Does anyone have recommendations for how to get better at gulls? Are there books I'm missing? Are there courses available in the Seattle area? What I would really love is a decision tree for northwest gulls, even if only for adults.
>
> Thank you!
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