Yesterday afternoon, Todd Fitzgerald found a first-cycle Mew-complex gull
at Meadowmere Park on Grapevine Lake. The bird has some plumage
characteristics that suggest it may be a good candidate for what would be
the first state record of Common Gull (if accepted by the TBRC as such),
notably a well-defined black tail tip and barring on the wings.
This gull was with Franklin's and Ring-billed gulls along the shoreline. It
was somewhat active, leaving the park at a couple of points and flying down
the lake to the southeast toward Oak Grove Park, but returned both times to
Meadowmere. Most time was along the swim beach, but it also moved over to
the eastern tip of the small point.
Even if this is just an unusual Short-billed Gull it would still be a good
bird for the state.
--Blaine Carnes
Coppell
