ML644393006

Observation details

Initially saw a distant single gull in flight in what I would call the typical "juvenile" HERG coloration. Stopped car, set up scope, and started picking up a flight of gulls upriver from the dam (lake side) and watched as they began to "kettle" up and circle and eventually came right over the top of me, but rather high up. I had also spotted a single adult Ring-billed Gull in loose association with this group, but he would not consistently intermingle, and when he did, he appeared to be smaller than all the dark gulls. When the lone lighter Ring-billed Gull vocalized it popped on Merlin sound ID as a Ring-billed Gull, but none of the group of circling dark gulls ever vocalized, and consequently no Merlin sound ID to help. There were eleven dark gulls in total. All in juvenile HERG coloration in a "gull kettle". Pics reviewed by Greg Jackson with a single pic of a HERG's showing dark tail band and juvenile coloration enough for confirmation. Count of 11 is very unusual for this location. FOS.