ML313379771

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

**very rare. I first picked up this bird in the chum slick as it was in pursuit of a Lesser Black-backed Gull. My first thought was some aberrant Herring, but after a short time of study it was obvious this was something different. After consulting field guides and refinding the bird, it was clear the sum of the field marks added up to a (near) adult California Gull. Yellow legs noticeable from the start, and the first thing that caught my attention. Dark iris, red orbital ring, red gape, and extensive black wingtips all clearly noted as well. The bill was not as slender as on some California, but it was fairly straight in shape and lacked the hooked appearance of Herring; gonydeal angle shallow. The evening light made determining the mantle shade difficult. Its size was seemingly equal to that of the Lesser Black-backed I initially spotted it with. A very exciting culmination to an already thrilling trip! -BRB

Technical information

Model

Canon EOS 7D Mark II

Lens

EF400mm f/5.6L USM

ISO

1000

Focal length

400 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/7.1

Shutter speed

1/1600 sec

Dimensions

3292 pixels x 2195 pixels

Original file size

3.27 MB