All -
Ok, the link worked on my iPad but not the laptop. Go figure.
I agree with LBBG - the Yellow-footed Gulls from Salton Sea have MASSIVE bills
that are even larger than those of Western Gulls, and this guy has a pretty
normal-looking bill. Also, the long, pointy primaries are more like a LBBG
than any of the Western-types.
Still, a gorgeous alternate-plumage bird, which we do not often see here.
Great find!
Clay Taylor
Calallen (Corpus Christi) TX
Clay.taylor@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:Clay.taylor@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent from my iPad
On Apr 23, 2015, at 11:31 PM, Gary Binderim
<gary_binderim@xxxxxxxxx<mailto:gary_binderim@xxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
Clayton,
Attached is Eric's reply and links that work on my computer anyway.
after Eric's reply and a little more research, I agree that it is a Lesser
Black-backed Gull.
Gary Binderim
Kingwood, Texas
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Eric Carpenter <ecarpe@xxxxxxxxx<mailto:ecarpe@xxxxxxxxx>>
To:
Cc: TexBirds TexBirds Posting
<texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>>
Sent: Thursday, April 23, 2015 4:43 PM
Subject: [texbirds] Re: Help with Gull ID - Possible Western Gull
I don't see anything that would rule out a Lesser Black-backed Gull.
The long primaries and regular-sized tertials would seem to favor that
over the bulkier west coast birds you mention.
--
Eric Carpenter
Austin
On Thu, Apr 23, 2015 at 12:46 PM, Gary Binderim
<dmarc-noreply-modpost@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:dmarc-noreply-modpost@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>>
wrote:
Yesterday, I observed a gull with yellow legs and yellow bill on the beach,
near the end of the Texas City Dike in Galveston County. It has a completely
unstreaked head and a dark grey mantle. It appears to have yellow to clear
yellow eyes and an orange-yellow orbital ring. The bill appears to be
slightly damaged.
It would appear more like a Yellow-footed Gull but Sibley indicates that
Western Gull adults in spring can develop yellow legs and the orbital ring
appears to be more orange than yellow. I have never seen either of these two
species of gulls and would not be surprised if this is a completely different
gull from the two I suspect. I would appreciate feedback from others
concerning the ID of this Gull.
https://flic.kr/p/rkd5pg
https://flic.kr/p/rXFE5r
https://flic.kr/p/rZrxz1
https://flic.kr/p/rkd5HT
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