ML63064891

Age and sex

Immature Unknown sex - X

Media notes

photo with phone through scope.

Observation details

A perplexing apparent 1st summer. Initially seen by Ben Lagasse when it flew to the water at which time he observed a fairly distinctive broad white trailing edge on either wing that seems consistent with Red-legged. I was able to observe the bird for some time while it was sitting on the water. The mantle appeared rather dark gray. There was a broad swath of white separating the dark mantle from the black primaries on the folded wing. The tail appeared all white and the underwings were gray, both features observed when the bird preened for about a minute while on the water. The head was white with a dusky postocular spot. The bill was a dusky yellowish-green and appeared relatively compact (approximately 1/3 the length of the head). There were several black feathers visible on the edge of the wing that I believe could be retained from immature plumage, and this may just be a goofy looking Black-legged Kittiwake. The overall jizz and patterning seemed consistent with what I might expect for Red-legged. Unfortunately, I was unable to see the color of the legs/feet, which would have been the clincher. There are no records of Red-legged for this far north (that I am aware of) though we have had several days of SSW winds, and the species has been recorded in the NW coast of the lower 48 (usually on the coattails of storms), so it seems conceivable that a Red-legged could find its way to Barrow.

Technical information

Model

XT1080

ISO

160

Focal length

4.5 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/2.4

Shutter speed

123/25000 sec

Dimensions

1173 pixels x 660 pixels

Original file size

318.51 KB