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FW: That gull
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Stephen J. Davies <sdavies@...>
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From: Stephen J. Davies [mailto:sdavies@socrates.ucsf.edu] Sent: Tuesday, June 06, 2000 1:38 PM To: Josiah Clark Cc: Sfbirds Subject: RE: [SFBirds] That gull Josiah and co I have not had a chance to go check out this gull yet (has it been seen since?), but I would be EXTREMELY cautious about claiming an Iceland on the West Coast at this time of year. 1st year gulls of a number of species can look very pale (even white) at this time of year, particularly in the (by now) very worn retrices and remiges. This is particularly so with species that have pale 1st year plumages to start with (e.g. Glaucous-winged), but even those with a lot of pigment can look incredibly pale by now (check out the 1st summer Glaucous-winged (specimen) and California Gull on Don Roberson's page at http://montereybay.com/creagrus/SCZgullmys.html - yes a CALIFORNIA Gull!). Personally, I would not attempt to distinguish a 1st year Iceland from a pale 1st year Thayers at this time of year. But it should be possible to determine if it is thayeri/kumlieni, rather than glaucescens or other type, from a combination of size and structure. How big is it? What is the shape of the bill? Head shape? Even if it is only a Thayers, I imagine this would be quiet something - they should all be way to the north by now. Don's page (http://montereybay.com/creagrus/SCZgullmys.html) also has an excellent discussion on the problem of summer claims of white-winged gulls - pertaining to a summer claim of Glaucous Gull in this instance, but the same problems apply to Iceland too. Sorry to pour cold water on this, but I think a heavy dose of caution is in order. I would love to see this bird if it is still around, so please post any further sightings. Might also want to check Don's photos and excellent discussion of an Orange Co. bird that appears to be a classic Kumlien's in every respect (http://montereybay.com/creagrus/ORA_kumliens.html). As an aside, I don't think you need to worry about bringing up the rear in the B2K Harry - I added one species last month!:|. I did see 190 species on a 2 week tip to AZ though. Oh well... Hope to see you all soon Bird hard Stephen -----Original Message----- From: Josiah Clark [mailto:sunbittern@hotmail.com] Sent: Tuesday, June 06, 2000 12:32 PM To: SFBirds@egroups.com Subject: [SFBirds] That gull Hey again, Harry braught up the possibility of the gull I saw being a young GW Gull,( which I commonly see at Crissy) I want to re iterate. This bird was WHITE. It was totally striking in appearance, even from the top of Merry Way. It was like nothing I have ever seen, (perhaps only because the plumage is so worn, but still a good study) I am writing again because Ive never heard of such a lack of interest about such a potentially rare species. I would ask anyone around that area to take a special peek onto the rocks or into the Sutro Baths. The primaries were in such bad shape I could imagine it staying around a while. Josiah following is a kind message from Harry about the gull: That kind of gull wason Ocean Beach Saturday and a similar one at Merced a week ago...I believe all are yearling Glaucous-winged with very worn feathers...at least the two I saw were slender but overall taller than the Westerns nearby...black beak I believe is a key field mark in these veyr light colored gulls, but I am not a great gullacsious birder ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Remember Father's Day Is June 18th Click Here For Great Gifts! http://click.egroups.com/1/5037/6/_/_/_/960323594/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: SFBirds-unsubscribe@egroups.com
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Dan Murphy <murphsf@...>
I have to second this. I've seen quite a few all white gulls along the coast
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after April. I generally see at least one such bird every year. In fact I have some great photos of a Glausous-winged Gull at LM which doesn't show even a feather darker than bright white. Many of the feathers were worn to bare shafts and the rest had lost all pigment. Still, it was a Glaucous-winged Gull. I can't recall bill color, but if it becomes an issue I'll dig through and find the photos. I presume something is wrong with such birds since they haven't migrated and they clearly haven't molted. Best, Dan "Stephen J. Davies" wrote:
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