ML641607682

Observation details

!!!✨LESSER BB GULL✨!!! (Immature 1st summer / 2nd winter type) found mixed in with perched CAGU+GWGUs along the shoreline of Gordon Beach, just before Tugwell Creek. Immediately picked out as a LBBG despite heat haze and backlight conditions by the darkish upperparts, pale head, nearly all dark bill. The head was distinctly patterned — tidily marked with sharp stippling concentrated around the eye and towards the nape of the bird. Completely Old World in feel💯💯💯. Other features clearly observed were the very whitish undertail covs, pale chested appearance, neatly fringed tertials and softly edged median, lesser covs, white rump, finely vermiculated dark tail, and blackish upperside of wing (remiges/‘hand’). Newly replaced scapular feathers stood out as not only dark, but more saturated blue/grey in tone when compared to that of adjacent CAGUs. Retained scaps were coarse in texture. Long-legged and lean in structure. Palid iris. Observed relaxing, preening, and stretching for almost an hour before it took flight and glided further down the beach (east). (exact coordinates for where the bird was observed: 48.372885, -123.848482) Muir creek might also be worth a look, but most of the gulls were feeding and resting off Gordon when we were there today. For anyone who might search Gordon in the next few days, I suggest venturing during the morning or early afternoon hours since the tide is lowest. Accessing the beach is much easier then.