[obol] probable "Vega" flavor Herring Gull, Newport
- From: "Wayne Hoffman" <whoffman@xxxxxxxx>
- To: "OBOL" <obol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 27 Oct 2014 15:51:47 -0700
Hi -
About 2:30 today, Oct. 27 I encountered a probable "Vega" Gull at the
Yaquina Bay South Jetty gull spot.
The bird was an adult, and was initially with a typical American Herring
Gull.
I first noticed that the mantle was a share darker than that of the adjacent
bird, but still a bit paler than the nearby California Gulls.
The eye was also darker than the clear yellow of American Herring Gull
adults.
On close examination, the iris was yellow, but with large dark brown spots.
The eye ring was also dark, with some pinkish tint.
After photographing the standing bird I flushed it and got photos of the
wing surfaces as it landed a short distance away. The bird has not
completed molt: PRIMARIES 1-8 are new, 9 is growing, and 10 is retained old
feather.
The upper surface e of the spread wing shows the "string of pearls" pattern
of Vega and Slaty-backed Gulls, although the "pearls" are not quite as white
as I expected.
The head was basically white, with only minor winter streaking. [This is
apparently atypical of winter Vega, but the bird has not finished molt, so
more streaking may develop.]
Distinction from Thayer's Gull: This was a large, robust bird with a bright
yellow-orange bill, too heavy for Thayer's. Mantle shade was pale for
Thayer's; bird had more black in wingtips than typical Thayer's. Head size
and shape more like Herring Gull - large with lower forehead, not the
rounded head of Thayer's.
Distinction from Slaty-backed Gull: Mantle way too pale, iris and eyering
colors wrong.
Distinction from various Herring Gull hybrids: Fully black wingtips wrong
for Herring X Glaucous, Herring X Glaucous-winged, or any other
Glaucous-winged combinations.
Photos available on request.
Wayne
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