ML565267641

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

Possible 1st state record, but one long anticipated based on records from the region. Initially observed with the 1st year Glaucous X Herring hybrid. In the field, I noted its size near that of Herring Gull and its dark slaty gray back and scapulars. I thought it had deep pink legs but was not sure, and the glaring eye along with thick mottling almost like streaks caught my interest. Slaty-backed Gull crossed my mind, but I was also considering possible hybrid combinations. I studied the bird with my 10x binoculars and 22.5x hand-held scope. Thankfully, I photographed the bird before all the gulls flew as I approached. Later, I could see in the photos a wide white tertial and secondary skirt, pale brown and pale fringed wing coverts, a glaring white eye surrounded by dark feathering giving the bird a mean appearance. The bill seems small for Slaty-backed Gull, but other characters fit, e.g. short legs and pot-bellied appearance.

Technical information

Model

Canon EOS 7D

Lens

EF400mm f/5.6L USM

ISO

800

Focal length

400 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/5.6

Shutter speed

1/1600 sec

Dimensions

4800 pixels x 3200 pixels

Original file size

4.69 MB