Gulls???
Outdoor Ontario

Gulls???

What was that?

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From Rotary Park

Herring gull?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/39167841@N06/4069509229/

Juvenile something?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/39167841@N06/4069513549/

Thanks in advance
Graham
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by What was that? »


Soaring Hawk

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#1 looks like an Adult Herring gull and #2 looks like a juvenile Herring gull.

-james
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Soaring Hawk »


What was that?

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Thank you, juvie looks enormous (hhmm, just thinking about Thanksgiving and Xmas for some reason).
Graham
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by What was that? »


Brian Bailey

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The juvenile looks like a Great Black-backed.  Herring tend to be more uniformly dark.  This bird has a very white head and dark back.  It would also explain the large size.  Note also the very stout bill.

BB
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Brian Bailey »
Brian Bailey
Etobicoke


Brian Bailey

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The first photo is actually a more interesting ID challenge.  I don't have an answer, but this is the question:  If the bird in the foreground is an adult Herring Gull (pinkish legs, red spot on bill), what it the bird in the background?  It's clearly much larger, has bright pink legs and appears to have black primaries.  

Do you have more photos of these two that might give a clue?

I'm stumped! :?

BB
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Brian Bailey »
Brian Bailey
Etobicoke


What was that?

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I also posted pics under the Toronto Reports section. I believe that the bird in question is a juvenile ringbilled gull.  However, I am fully prepared to be wrong.
 http://www.flickr.com/photos/39167841@N06/4070262452/

Here's another picture from the set (cropped only, no other adjustments (levels or HSB)).
http://www.flickr.com/photos/39167841@N06/4073430453/

Graham
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by What was that? »


Brian Bailey

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Yes, those ones are a juvenile Ring-billed and Great Black-backed.  It's this one that has me perplexed:

All of these birds appear to be adults.  If the bird in front is a Herring Gull, what's the one in the back?  (And visa versa.)

The bird in the back appears to be the size of a Great Black-backed, with a pale mantle, pink legs, and dark primaries. ??! :?

I'm guessing the partially obscured gull in the middle is a Ring-billed.  (based on relative size and leg colour)

Brian
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Brian Bailey »
Brian Bailey
Etobicoke


Raven11:11

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WOW!! I am confident i came into very close contact with this gull several months ago while waiting at a bus stop in north etobicoke, a red-tailed hawk hunts pigeons on a local building directly across the street from where i wait for a bus everyday & he left a half eaten pigeon near the stop . The gull was scavenging , it really caught my attention due to its LARGE size - almost double a regular seagull.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Raven11:11 »
Birding takes my mind off stuff and it adds good life to a tuff life. It also helps me forget about my spine pain and stress.  Laugh, eat, be merry.  Anybody with extra $ may send me some as It will permit me to travel.