ML645462854

Observation details

I focused first on a 1st cycle bird. Pale compared to most 1st cycle Herring Gulls, +- the color of oatmeal. Moderately crisply mottled overall, tertials light brown with mottled pale tips, primaries medium/dark brown with pale tips. Rounded head, small dark eye, fairly small and even bill which was smaller than accompanying Herring Gulls with less of a gonydeal angle. Bill black. Spread wings showed two-tone outer primaries with inner vanes mostly pale. Inner primaries mostly pale. Underside of primaries very pale with thin dark shafts and outer vanes. Pink feet. After a while the adult gull behind the 1st cycle opened its eyes, which drew me to take a closer look. It was an adult Thayer's Gull. Slightly smaller than the accompanying Herring Gulls, rounded head, with a smaller straighter bill (less of a gonydeal angle) with a red spot. The eyes were dark brown. I could not see the orbital ring.