VA BIRDers,
The California Gull was relocated at Hunting Creek mudflats (westside) after
5 pm today and was last seen after sunset on the eastside.
Overall impression: darker-mantled larid slightly larger than surrounding
Ring-billed Gulls, slightly more bulky overall, noticeably smaller than
nearby Herring Gull.
Viewing was from the NE in marshy area overlooking the mudflats (the typical
spot to view shorebirds at this location) and the sun was behind clouds so
glare was not a problem, viewing by scope (30X) and bins (8X) at about 150
yds.
Specific details: dark mantle, intermediate between Ring-billed or Herring
and Great Black-backed. It appeared a shade lighter than that of an adult
Lesser Black-backed Gull.
The head was somewhat flatter than than that of a Ring-billed, less round,
and appeared slightly larger. Fine dark streaking was uniformly noted on the
crown and nape. Similar, but denser streaking was around the eyes in an
oval-like shape, more dense towards the back of the eyes. The iris was dark
brown and had a suggestion of a reddish hue. The bill was yellow and the
gonys spot was red with a small blob of black near the outer portion, the
bill was slightly larger than that of the Ring-billeds. The legs were yellow
with a slight tinge of greenish. In flight, the underwings sported extensive
black patches near the wing tips (save for white edges and mirrors) which
stopped abruptly and became a gray bar that narrowed on the forward side as
it approached the body. The trailing edge was white and contrasted quite
obviously with the gray bar.
The bird relocated with the other gulls into Hunting Creek Bay after sunset.
It did not vocalize. I have seen gulls roosting on the Potomac in the deep
water channel near this location previously, often flying out to the roost
area in stages from the mudflats.
A good rarity for this location and a fine spot by Erika and Stephen. Thanks!
I also noted on the river that a group of 80 or so Lesser Scaup settled down
after sunset.
Kurt Gaskill
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