Outdoor Ontario

Request for Information => Bird ID => Topic started by: Rotarran on January 18, 2015, 11:27:10 PM

Title: Gull ID
Post by: Rotarran on January 18, 2015, 11:27:10 PM

Last year in February I thought I saw a Glaucous Gull at Ashbridges but another look at my pictures has me 2nd guessing and would like some assistance.  I already posted this bird last year but I have 2 more pictures of it which, for me anyway, cast some doubt on what it is.

The bill seems convincing enough and seems like a decent size bird.  The wing-tips and tail feathers appear to be white but there seems to be a touch of dark underneath.  Could this actually be an Iceland Gull?  

(http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y469/Rotarren/IMG_0532_zpsc3947cae.jpg)
(http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y469/Rotarren/IMG_0531_zpsfc0f4a01.jpg)
(http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y469/Rotarren/IMG_0530_zps1ed7a369.jpg)

Thank you

Title: Re: Gull ID
Post by: thouc on January 19, 2015, 12:10:01 AM

Bill size points to Glaucous as you say. I think the dark under the wing might be a shadow.

/Thomas

Title: Re: Gull ID
Post by: Rotarran on January 19, 2015, 11:43:22 AM

Thank you Thouc.

Title: Re: Gull ID
Post by: Henrique Pacheco on January 19, 2015, 03:50:04 PM

There's too much black on the wing tips to be pure Glaucous. Glaucous should have pure white primaries. This looks like a Kumliens Gull. Also primary projection is too short for Glaucous.

Title: Re: Gull ID
Post by: Rotarran on January 20, 2015, 02:15:38 PM

Hmmm...ok.  So we have one for and one against.  Anybody else wanna chime in and provide a tie-breaker?  :D

Title: Re: Gull ID
Post by: thouc on January 20, 2015, 02:33:18 PM

They are so much easier with a Herring Gull beside it.

Title: Re: Gull ID
Post by: Henrique Pacheco on January 20, 2015, 07:21:54 PM

Quote from: "thouc"

They are so much easier with a Herring Gull beside it.

I completely agree.

This bird isn't complete Glaucous unless the lighting is showing perfect "apical spots". I think it's Kumliens but it might be a contender for Nelson's gull.

Title: Re: Gull ID
Post by: Rotarran on January 20, 2015, 08:02:48 PM

Thanks guys.  With so much doubt, I can't possibly count it as Glaucous.  I wouldn't be able to sleep at night lol

Title: Re: Gull ID
Post by: Henrique Pacheco on January 20, 2015, 08:40:19 PM

Still an interesting gull. I had a Glaucous at ashbridges last weekend. Glaucous are easy enough to find if you know where to look.

Title: Re: Gull ID
Post by: Rotarran on January 20, 2015, 09:39:53 PM

Thanks Henrique.  Yeah I have been checking Ashbridges a few times in the last couple of weeks but no luck.  I check the bay right beside the inner parking lot and also the bay with the wooden boardwalks.  Are there any other places at Ashbridges Bay that I should check?

Title: Re: Gull ID
Post by: Henrique Pacheco on January 20, 2015, 10:30:54 PM

My usual Toronto gulling areas are Ashbridges and Bluffers. The only places I know of in ashbridges are the body of water that is closest to lakeshore blvd (I had Thayers there a couple weeks ago), and the boat launch ramps (where I get Glaucous and GBBG). Bluffers is an amazing place to check when the water is frozen (at the base of brimley rd). As far as I know, the Thayers that I found at ashbridges has been seen everyday since at Bluffers. I've had double digit Kumliens at both locations so they're both really good. You just have to go on the right days.