I have identification problems with gulls seen September 16 2017, at Bodega Bay, California, all in the same group of birds on the beach.
One precision: in the same bulk of gulls, there were adults Western Gull (Larus occidentalis / Goéland d'Audubon) whose identification I'm rather confident (pink legs, orange-yellow orbital ring, rather pure white and rather dark gray feathers, small skull peak over the eyes); see picture Californie-BodegaBay, 2017-09-16_2582.jpg.
1) Californie-BodegaBay, 2017-09-16_2527.jpg: I identify it as a California Gull (Larus californicus / Goéland de Californie), 2nd winter (note pinkish bill with black tip & bluish tinted legs)
2) Californie-BodegaBay, 2017-09-16_2533.jpg: taking in account pinkish bill and legs, it makes me feel it's a Herring Gull (Larus argentatus / Goéland argenté), 2nd winter or a Western Gull, 1st summer
3) Californie-BodegaBay, 2017-09-16_2537.jpg: Western Gull? but what age? (uniform dark cover means adult, but bill suggest juvenile)
I feel very uncomfortable with my identifications, mainly because of the large spectrum of species in the same group.
Thanks for any comment.
It's my first post; I hope I comply with the forum's rules. I also hope that the weakness of my English is compensated by the strength of my accent!
Thierry
One precision: in the same bulk of gulls, there were adults Western Gull (Larus occidentalis / Goéland d'Audubon) whose identification I'm rather confident (pink legs, orange-yellow orbital ring, rather pure white and rather dark gray feathers, small skull peak over the eyes); see picture Californie-BodegaBay, 2017-09-16_2582.jpg.
1) Californie-BodegaBay, 2017-09-16_2527.jpg: I identify it as a California Gull (Larus californicus / Goéland de Californie), 2nd winter (note pinkish bill with black tip & bluish tinted legs)
2) Californie-BodegaBay, 2017-09-16_2533.jpg: taking in account pinkish bill and legs, it makes me feel it's a Herring Gull (Larus argentatus / Goéland argenté), 2nd winter or a Western Gull, 1st summer
3) Californie-BodegaBay, 2017-09-16_2537.jpg: Western Gull? but what age? (uniform dark cover means adult, but bill suggest juvenile)
I feel very uncomfortable with my identifications, mainly because of the large spectrum of species in the same group.
Thanks for any comment.
It's my first post; I hope I comply with the forum's rules. I also hope that the weakness of my English is compensated by the strength of my accent!
Thierry