The link to Mike's pics got broken, try this: http://tinyurl.com/bb73b6a Jym Mooney, Milwaukee -----Original Message----- From: wisbirdn-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:wisbirdn-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Jym Mooney & Carol Lee Hopkins Sent: Wednesday, February 27, 2013 12:22 PM To: Wisbirdn Subject: [wisb] Slaty-backed Gull, Milwaukee 2/25/13 On Monday afternoon I found an adult Slaty-backed Gull in the Milwaukee Harbor, about 1000 yards out on the ice towards the harbor entrance. I was soon joined by Mike Wanger, and we spent about an hour observing the bird and taking the best photos we could at that distance. The bird had a dark gray mantle, with very broad scapular and tertial crescents and a prominent secondary skirt. The legs were pink, not yellow as in LBBG. It was about the size of the surrounding HERGs, but more robust and chesty. I observed it in a brief flight low over the ice before Mike arrived, and noted that the wings were broad and consistently slaty-gray with no contrasting black wingtips (SBGU has black only on the outer webs of the outer primaries). I did not get a look at the subterminal spots (the string of pearls) at that distance. The head was streaked, most heavily on the nape and around the eyes. This was an adult bird, with clean white rump and tail and unblemished mantle and coverts. Interestingly, this is obviously a different bird than the presumed third-cycle SBGU that Steve Lubahn reported on Saturday in the same area. We ran our observations and photos past some knowledgeable gull enthusiasts and got positive responses on our ID. My photos here: http://flic.kr/s/aHsjE9B6vR Mike's photo's here: https://picasaweb.google.com/108760068477047485487/Gulls?authkey=Gv1sRgCIrL4 Ivent2ksgE#5849446323350075794 I also found a hybrid Glaucous X Great Black-backed Gull in the harbor on Monday. Jym Mooney, Milwaukee #################### You received this email because you are subscribed to the Wisconsin Birding Network (Wisbirdn). To UNSUBSCRIBE or SUBSCRIBE, use the Wisbirdn web interface at: //www.freelists.org/list/wisbirdn To set DIGEST or VACATION modes, use the Wisbirdn web interface at: //www.freelists.org/list/wisbirdn Visit Wisbirdn ARCHIVES at: //www.freelists.org/archives/wisbirdn