ML624695925

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

**Long returning mega rarity, finally located here after a bit of a search. Skillfully picked out of a loafing flock on the ice by Enrico, despite its head being tucked, noting the dark mantle; I quickly noted the sharply defined tertial crescent, unlike a ring-billed gull and more like a herring gull, confirming our candidate. Eventually it picked its head up and preened a bit before flying around, joining some other gulls on the water again, then picking up once more and making a few very close passes before flying down Halloween Basin and out of view. Dark mantle with huge white spots in the primaries incredibly distinct in flight. When I first saw this bird in March 2022, it was far closer to breeding condition without a dark bill splotch; the presence of a bill marking threw me for a quick loop when we first saw the bird’s face. As with my first time observing this bird, I was struck by the powerful, aggressive attitude of this bird in flight, with deep, strong wingbeats very much unlike a ring-billed gull and presumably other mew-type gulls. Photos

Technical information

Model

iPhone 8

Lens

iPhone 8 back camera 3.99mm f/1.8

ISO

32

Focal length

4 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/1.8

Shutter speed

1/120 sec

Dimensions

2265 pixels x 2038 pixels

Original file size

519.45 KB