Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2010-40
| Common name: |
Western Gull |
| Scientific name: | Larus occidentalis |
| Date: | 02-25-09 |
| Time: | 1430 - 1530 |
| Length of time observed: | ~ 20 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | Adult |
| Sex: | |
| Location: | Farmington Bay WMA |
| County: | Davis |
| Latilong: | 5 |
| Elevation: | ~ 4300 ft |
| Distance to bird: | ~ 20 m |
| Optical equipment: | 20-60x scope |
| Weather: | clear and calm |
| Light Conditions: | clear front lit sunshine |
| Description: Size of bird: | |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
Large gull with heavy build, large bill, and broad wings. With a white head,
nape, neck, throat, chest, belly, undertail coverts, and tail. Dark gray mantle
and wings, black primaries with white tips on outer primaries (P7, P8, P9, P10),
and bold white scapular and tertial crescents on folded wing. Large bright
orange yellow bill with bulbous tip and red gonydeal spot. Eye pale with yellow
orbital ring. Legs and feet pink. (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | na |
| Behavior: | foraging on dead carp, and roosting on ice |
| Habitat: | Wetland impoundment |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Lesser Black-backed Gull - smaller overall, smaller bill, yellow legs. Yellow-footed Gull - yellow legs and feet, less white on primaries Slaty-backed Gull - streaking on head and nape, duller yellow bill, red orbital ring |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
yes |
| References consulted: | |
| Description from: | |
| Observer: | Rick Fridell |
| Observer's address: | Hurricane, UT |
| Observer's e-mail address: | rfridell@redrock.net |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | Steve and Cindy Sommerfeld, and many other observers |
| Date prepared: | 10-05-10 |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional_Comments: |