Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2016-47
| Common name: |
Iceland Gull |
| Scientific name: | Larus glaucoides |
| Date: | 11-25-2016 |
| Time: | 4:30pm |
| Length of time observed: | 10 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | 1st cycle |
| Sex: | ? |
| Location: | Lee Kay Ponds |
| County: | Salt Lake |
| Latilong: | |
| Elevation: | 4250ft |
| Distance to bird: | 100m |
| Optical equipment: | Bushnell 20-48X spotting scope, Vortex 8.5 X 32 Binoculars |
| Weather: | Party cloudy, 45F |
| Light Conditions: | Good |
| Description: Size of bird: | Medium sized gull-24in |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | Typical Larus Gull |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | very pale whitish with buff checkering |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | Smallish gull bill |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
First noted very pale gull loafing on island next to Herring Gulls. Smaller than
Herrings, rather round head, smallish bill, mostly black with some pink at base
of lower mandible, uniform frosty whitish with pale buff checkering. Tertials
mostly checkered, primaries mostly whitish with dark arrow marking on shaft.
Fairly typical 1st cycle Kumlien's Iceland Gull. (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | none heard |
| Behavior: | Loafing and preening on island of freshwater pond |
| Habitat: | Freshwater ponds near a landfill not far from the Great Salt Lake |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Thayer's are rather similar, and much debate exists whether they are distinct species or just sub-species, with many inter-grades that cannot be safely assigned. Whether or not they are species or sub-species, this was a fairly classic Kumlien's. A Thayer's was nearby for direct comparison, solid dark tertials and dark blackish-brown primaries with pale edging noted, as was darker brown checkering throughout. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
Yes, many |
| References consulted: | memory |
| Description from: | From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting |
| Observer: | Bryant Olsen |
| Observer's address: | 688 East 700 South #105, SLC, UT 84102 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | Darren Clark first found and reported the bird on facebook on 11-24-16 |
| Date prepared: | 11-27-16 |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional comments: | eBird checklis: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S32718130 |