Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2011-01a
| Common name: |
Iceland Gull |
| Scientific name: | Larus glaucoides |
| Date: | 1/15/2011 |
| Time: | 0930 |
| Length of time observed: | 20 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | 1st Cycle |
| Sex: | n/a |
| Location: | Just off the frontage road that parallels I-80 in Salt Lake City. Near the ISSR. |
| County: | Salt Lake |
| Latilong: | |
| Elevation: | 4500ish |
| Distance to bird: | 75 m |
| Optical equipment: |
Brunton Eterna 20-60x spotting scope. Vortex Stokes 8x42 binos |
| Weather: | overcast |
| Light Conditions: | overcast |
| Description: Size of bird: | Slightly bigger than the Californa gulls surrounding it. 22" |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | Medium sized gull with rounded head and petite bill. |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | white/mottled |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | petite & all dark |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
This, I believe is the same gull I reported on 1/8/11. Today's gull was 5.3
miles down the road from where I observed the gull on 1/8. Both gulls looked the
same. I now have pictures & thought I should write up a new report with the
pictures. However, my descriptions are the same. 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. (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | n/a |
| Behavior: | Standing and resting. |
| Habitat: | GSL Shore |
| 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: |
Previously viewed ICGU on 1/08/2011. |
| References consulted: | Howell/Dunn Gulls of the Americas. Sibley |
| 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: |
Jeff Bilsky, Ryan O'Donnell, Craig Fosdick, Tim Avery, Mark Mossing, Steve and
Cindy Sommerfield, David Wheeler, & others on the GSLA trip this morning. |
| Date prepared: | 1/15/2010 |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional_Comments: |