Hi -
This appears to be a Western Gull with some streaking on its head. Supposedly
adults are not supposed to have this, but some do. It is normal for 3-4
year-olds (i.e., near adults) to have heavy streaking, and some individuals may
repeat this after otherwise reaching definitive plumage.
Wayne
From: "Beverly Hallberg" <mapsout@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "obol" <obol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, January 13, 2016 8:03:08 PM
Subject: [obol] Tillamook County-Dark gull with smudgy head - id help
Hi all,
I took a picture of this dark gull today walking the spit at Nehalem Bay State
Park. Doesn't look like a pure Western because of the head being smudgy - but
it looks kind of dark for an Olympic hybrid. Any ideas on the parentage?
https://flic.kr/p/CZZ8K6 ;
https://flic.kr/p/CZZaEP ;
Also had a nice flock of Semipalmated Plovers - at least 15 which eBird is
telling me is more than usual - along with 2 each of Least and Western
Sandpipers on the beach. And a Mountain Chickadee (maybe 2?) continues to enjoy
the feeders in my back yard in Manzanita/Nehalem.
Trying to learn gulls, Beverly Hallberg