Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2010-36
Common name: |
Lesser Black-backed Gull |
Scientific name: | Larus fuscus |
Date: | 05-22-09 |
Time: | 1900- 2015 |
Length of time observed: | ~ 60 minutes |
Number: | 1 |
Age: | first cycle (first-spring) |
Sex: | |
Location: | Sand Hollow State Park |
County: | Washington |
Latilong: | 19 |
Elevation: | 940 |
Distance to bird: | 20-50 m |
Optical equipment: | 10 x 42 binoculars, 20-60x scope |
Weather: | clear calm |
Light Conditions: | direct afternoon sunlight |
Description: Size of bird: | |
(Description:) Basic Shape: | |
(Description:) Overall Pattern: | |
(Description:) Bill Type: | |
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
On my way back from the Hurricane Fields, I drove the outer loop around Sand
Hollow State Park. I noticed a very large, dark-mantled gull on the beach area
of the park. The gull stood out in a small flock of California and Ring-billed
Gulls, even at a great distance between the road and water s edge. I stopped and
scoped the gull long enough to conclude it was a significant sighting and one of
the larger dark-mantled gulls. I continued home and picked up Kristen and Rob
Dobbs who was visiting. Kristen, Rob and I returned to Sand Hollow and quickly
relocated the gull around 7:30p. We were able to study it in good light for 45
minutes or so as it worked it s way along about a mile of the lake shore. I
managed photos of it perched and in flight. After extensive study, we were able
to conclude the gull was either large Lesser Black-backed Gull or a Kelp Gull. Description: Large dark-mantled first-cycle gull, considerably larger and bulkier than nearby California and Ring-billed Gulls (see photo A). Large black bill with slight pale tip. White head, nape, throat, and neck with sparse dark streaking, heavier around eye. Underparts mostly white with heavier streaking than head and neck. Upperparts and mantle dark brown and black with recently molted feathers on back and wings much darker (black) than older feathers. Wings very dark overall, with thin white trailing edge on secondaries. Primary tips all black. Molt pattern in wings visible in flight photos. Base of tail white with black vermiculations and black band on tip. Legs and feet pink. (see photos) |
Song or call & method of delivery: | na |
Behavior: | |
Habitat: | shoreline of large reservior |
Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Nearly identical to a first-cycle (early summer) Kelp Gull, however, according
to Alvaro Jaramillo, Kelps hae a more extensive dark tail and by the first
spring have more darker and more contrasting mantle feathers. Therefore, this first-cycle gull appears to be a large Lesser-blacked Gull. Although it is much larger and stockier overall with a larger and heavier bill than other Lesser-blacked Gull I've seen. Some folks have speculated it may be of the Asian Heuglin s group of LBBG (which also have an early molt), however, currently this can't be proven and is much less likely than other LBBG's. |
Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
familiar with LBBG, however, this bird is unique from others I've studied |
References consulted: | Paul Lehman, Martin Meyers, and Alvaro Jaramillo |
Description from: | |
Observer: | Rick Fridell |
Observer's address: | Hurricane, UT |
Observer's e-mail address: | |
Other observers who independently identified this bird: | Kristen Comella and Rob Dobbs |
Date prepared: | 10-03-10 |
Additional material: | Photos |
Additional_Comments: | Information above copied from field notes written following the sighting. I solicited comments and help from Alvaro Jaramillo, Martin Meyers, and Paul Lehman. A similiar large apparent LBBG type gull visited Virginia Lake in Reno, Washoe Co., NV in winter 2007/08. |