ML340539611

Age and sex

Adult, Unknown sex - 1

Observation details

4/22/2021 Using binoculars I was scanning a variety of birds, among a few dozen Ring-billed Gulls I spotted a gull that was smaller than the RBGUs and appeared to have a darker mantel. It was about 60 meters away so I put the scope on it for a closer look. The bird in question was definitely smaller than a proximate RBGU. Because the mantel still appeared darker, I was glad to get the size comparison to eliminate CAGU . I noted the bill which was yellow and unmarked and not as robust or marked like the RBGU. The legs were yellow. From the distance I was viewing and with vegetation obstacles in between, I could not get a good look at details like the iris. I was able to shoot a couple of digiscope photos that unfortunately don't provide much i.d. help. Over the course of several minutes the gull I focused on moved away from the main body of RBGUs, foraging on the mud flats by itself. Then a BAEA flew over and scattered all the birds. I tried to track the gull I was watching but that was difficult among several flying species. However, I'm fairly confident that the gull in question landed by itself closer to my location. I again took some digiscope photos. I got a better look at the bill which definitely was unlike the RBGU in mass. It was unmarked, at least until it dipped down into the mud and then came up smudged as can be seen in at least one photo. I could also see the iris which appeared dusky rather pale. That's pretty much the story. The points, in order, that made me think MEGU were these: the bill, unmarked and smaller size; smaller body size compared with RBGU; darker mantel than RBGU; behavior, mostly staying separate from the flock of RBGUs. 5/18/2021, 9:08 AM Hello Dave I agree with the ID as Mew Gull. I'd only addend photos taken when you first saw the bird. Nice find! Steve On Mon, May 17, 2021 at 6:29 PM David Price wrote: Thanks for your review Steve, I understand that the photo(s) don't solidify the MEGU i.d. but like you said it does lend support. That based with what I was able to observe over several minutes and not just one snapshot in time gives me confidence to amend my eBird entry to MEGU. Your thought, ok to enter it into eBird? I appreciate your time and expertise. Dave -- Sent from myMail for Android Monday, 17 May 2021, 06:11PM -06:00 from Steven Mlodinow smlodinow@gmail.com: Hello Dave I think I see white spots on the primaries in the more distant photo or rather, photos showing larger image. Your description is excellent for Mew Gull. The photo with a small image of the bird may not solidify that ID, but it does support it.  Hope that is of help Ask any time Steve

Additional species

• Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis

Technical information

Model

SM-G930V

ISO

80

Focal length

4.2 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/1.7

Shutter speed

1/60 sec

Dimensions

1276 pixels x 1004 pixels

Original file size

300.71 KB