ML613044032

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

A group of gulls often congregates at low and mid-tide just below the Main Street pullout that looks out over the head of Norwood Cove; preening and drinking. It helps to park in the pullout, leave the car and look straight down. A fresh water spill from under the road provides a bathing spot, enhanced by a small delta of mud. I was walking up along the tidal margin of the Causeway Golf Club, starting from the outlet/causeway, moving and looking up towards Main Street and the head of the Cove. Details recorded by voice memo in the field: The dark mantle of this bird jumped out at me from my first long distance scan of the gulls. I immediately thought it was an adult LBBG because of the obvious deeper gray and similar size. Field marks observed once I got closer (30 yards) included size (comparable to HERG; larger than nearby RBGU), leg color (yellow), and gonys (red spot). In both shadow and direct sunlight (which was fleeting) the mantle was darker than every other adult gull, but much paler than a GBBG. Size didn't match GBBG either. I returned to my car in town, and drove around to the Main St pullout for my closest look and a few poor pics. The bird was still there, preening. Photos attached for ID purposes. The mantle difference between this bird and others is striking, though I think enhanced by deep shade. iPhone quality pics. Bird is in center, out farthest.

Technical information

Model

iPhone 13 Pro

Lens

iPhone 13 Pro back triple camera 9mm f/2.8

ISO

32

Focal length

9 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/2.8

Shutter speed

1/368 sec

Dimensions

4032 pixels x 3024 pixels

Original file size

1.74 MB