Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2011-72
| Common name: |
Lesser Black-backed Gull |
| Scientific name: | Larus fuscus |
| Date: | December 9-10, 2011 |
| Time: | late afternoon and miday |
| Length of time observed: | 30-60 minutes cumulative |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | adult |
| Sex: | |
| Location: | Location: Quail Creek State Park |
| County: | Washington |
| Latilong: | 19 |
| Elevation: | ~ 920 m |
| Distance to bird: | 30-100 m |
| Optical equipment: | 20-60x scope |
| Weather: | clear and calm to windy |
| Light Conditions: | late afternoon sun on 12/9 and midday direct sun on 12/10 |
| Description: Size of bird: | |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
Adult Lesser Black-backed Gull first observed swimming a few meters off of rock
bar used by roosting gulls at Quail Creek Reservoir. Several thousand
Ring-billed Gulls, a first-winter Thayer s Gull, and a first-winter Herring Gull
were also present, however, the black-backed gull was only loosely associated
with the large gull flock; very wary perching on buoys rather than shoreline and
flying well out onto reservoir when approached by fisherman along shoreline. Also present the morning of December 10th. Description: Medium sized dark backed gull, larger than nearby Ring-billed Gulls. White headed gull with yellow legs and dark gray mantle. Head and undersides white with smudgy brown streaking on face around eye and and extending to nape. Pale eye, and relatively straight yellow bill with red gonydeal spot. Folded wings dark gray with prominent white crescent and secondary skirt, black primaries with white tips. White tail. (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | na |
| Behavior: | see above |
| Habitat: | open reservoir |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Distinguished from most large white-headed gulls by dark back and yellow legs.
Distinguished from Yellow-footed Gull by smaller size and dusky markings on head (face and nape). |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
yes |
| References consulted: | |
| Description from: | Notes made later |
| Observer: | Rick Fridell |
| Observer's address: | Hurricane, UT |
| Observer's e-mail address: | rfridell@burgoyne.com |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | |
| Date prepared: | 12-31-2011 |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional_Comments: | description copied from field notes. |