which gull, Sea Ranch, California, 11 Oct 2018 (1 Viewer)

Doc Duck

Well-known member

• Oct 11, 2018

• #1

Hi experts! I left my big field guide at home to economize on luggage weight, and my sister-in-law's field guide here doesn't show all the gull plumages, so we need a bit of help identifying the raft of gulls we saw off shore this afternoon. The birds were pretty far off and the light wasn't great (hazy, foggy day), but hopefully this one image is clear enough and shows enough critical details for a gull expert to put a name to it ...? Thanks in advance!

 

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Louis_P

Average Birder

• Oct 11, 2018

• #2

I am in no way an expert but I would say a 1st winter Glaucous Gull.

 

Nutcracker

Stop Brexit!

• Oct 11, 2018

• #3

I'd go for 1st winter Western Gull

 

KenM

Well-known member

• Oct 11, 2018

• #4

Quite a long-ish slim bill....I'd go for California Gull.

Cheers

 

jmorlan

Hmmm. That's funny

Opus Editor

• Oct 12, 2018

• #5

Pale window on inner primaries = immature American Herring Gull for me. They are just starting to arrive; bicolored bill okay. Western Gull has heavier all black bill at this stage. Glaucous Gull very much paler wingtips, rare here not usually arriving until December. California Gull lacks the pale window on the inner primaries.

 

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Louis_P

Average Birder

• Oct 12, 2018

• #6

There you go...the experts are here now. Maybe I shouldn't comment on Gulls from other countries that I am unfamiliar with.