Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2011-01
Common name: |
Iceland Gull |
Scientific name: | Larus Glaucoides |
Date: | 1/8/11 |
Time: | 10:30 AM |
Length of time observed: | 20 Minutes |
Number: | |
Age: | 1st Year |
Sex: | n/a |
Location: | Great Salt Lake South Shore Marina |
County: | Salt Lake |
Latilong: | |
Elevation: | |
Distance to bird: | 50 M |
Optical equipment: | Brunton Eterna 20-60X Scope & Vortex Stokes 8X42 Binoculars |
Weather: | Partly Overcast |
Light Conditions: | Partly Overcast |
Description: Size of bird: | Roughly the same size as California Gulls in the same field of view & smaller than the Herring Gulls in the field. |
(Description:) Basic Shape: | Rounded head & smaller shaped. Didn't look as stout as some of the larger gulls. |
(Description:) Overall Pattern: | White with brownish mottling. |
(Description:) Bill Type: | Small bill that was completely dark/black. |
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
This was a small, very pale gull with brown mottling on the wings, scaps and somewhat on the chest. If you looked at it with the naked eye, you'd almost think this was a completely white bird. The primaries of the bird were almost purely white. The bird had a completely dark and smaller bill. The size of the bird was that of a California Gull & I compared its size with nearby California Gulls, Herring Gulls, and Ring-Billed Gulls. The structure of the bird reminded me more of a Ring-Billed gull than anything else; it was a smaller, weaker looking gull. This bird immediately struck me as something that I had never seen before. |
Song or call & method of delivery: | n/a |
Behavior: | I first noticed the primaries as the bird had its head tucked & was lying down. After about 10 minutes, it started to feed with some of the other gulls (California, Ring-Billed & Herring). |
Habitat: | |
Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
1st Cycle Glacous Gull- Smaller sized that Glacous. We had a Glacous fly in
about an hour later & noted the size difference. The Glacous dwarfed the
California Gulls when we saw it, and the Iceland was about the same size. Also,
the bill was smaller than that of a Glacous & was purely black. 1st Cycle Kumlien's Gull- Lighter upperparts that Kumlien's, and the wingtips had no brown or coloration compared to Kumlien's. Also, the bill was completely dark compared to bicoloration of a 1st cycle Kumlien's. 1st Cycle Glacous-Winged Gull- This bird didn't have the grayish overall that a 1st cycle Glacous-Winged Gull has. Bill was smaller and less stout. Bird was smaller than Glacous Winged Gull. |
Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
None. |
References consulted: | Howell/Dunn Gulls of the Americas. |
Description from: | From memory |
Observer: | Carl Ingwell |
Observer's address: | 857 Simpson Ave |
Observer's e-mail address: | carlingwell@gmail.com |
Other observers who independently identified this bird: | none |
Date prepared: | 1/8/11 |
Additional material: | |
Additional_Comments: | I'd like to say hello to the new members of the committee! |