ML630741019

Observation details

One potential Vega Gull. Tried my darnedest to document it. Here were the main features that stuck out. -Mantle shade near the darker range of a GWGU (around 6 on the kodak gray scale) -Darkish iris, possibly with some light flecking. -Dense streaking on the nape. The streaking was pretty dense and vertical in nature. -Primaries were proper black. Also, the undersides of the primaries were blackish as well (and not silvery like on a Thayer's Gull). -Medium sized mirror on p10 and small mirror on p9 observed (but was not able to document it) -Slight greenish wash to the base of the bill. -Seemed more robust in size and proportions than a Thayer's Gull. Was a similar size to nearby GWGUs and Olympic Gulls. -Bill size and length seemed to rule out a Thayer's Gull. I feel that a Thayer's Gull can be eliminated here, owing to the blackish underwing on the outer primaries. Also, the overall size of the gull was pretty large and it had a somewhat severe look to it. The pattern of the outer primaries seemed better for a Vega Gull than a Thayer's Gull as well. The main confusion "species" here is a Cook Inlet Gull (GWGU x AHGU), which I'm not sure I can safely eliminate from the caliber of documentation I was able to obtain. This gull had a certain look to it that did not scream out a Cook Inlet Gull, but the latter are so variable.