ML646556544

Beobachtungsdetails

***Potential First Record for Missouri*** One of first birds observed this morning. In a gull roost on ice in Ellis Bay across from Heron Pond. When I first noticed this bird I was scanning the flock to count Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Overall flock consisted of about 2000 very tightly packed gulls, primarily Ring-billed. As I came upon this bird, my first thought was what an odd "LBBG", in that it was small for a LBBG and its mantle was a bit lighter than expected for a LBBG. However, once I noticed the thinner, shorter bill, and that it was similar in size to surrounding Ring-billeds, I realized I was looking at something different. Tough getting photos in low light (7:05-7:20 AM). Overcast and sun coming up. Bird was maybe 200 yards out from me. Most of my observation time was of the bird standing on ice (as in photos). It did stretch its wings a couple of times, then flew down river and I could not relocate. -- Very dark big "bug" eye. Easily noticed at the distance observed. Could not make out color of orbital ring. -- Legs more green-yellow in color than the yellow legs of nearby Ring-billed Gulls. -- About same size and structure, maybe a hair smaller than adjacent Ring-billed Gulls. -- Dainty green-yellow bill; thinner and more petite than nearby Ring-billeds bill. Bill definitely had some darker reddish markings (not black) smudging in middle to end - tough to tell exactly at distance and with poor lighting. --Some faint streaking on hind neck but overall, relatively faint (heavier on many of nearby Ring-billed Gulls. -- Tail clean white. -- Obvious broad white tertials and scapular crescent seen. --Mantle an "obvious" much darker gray than nearby Ring-billeds, but still not as dark as the LBBG nearby. Update 15 Dec: Given this bird's overall large size, dark gray upperparts, and the below notes on primary pattern, I am documenting this as a Common "Kamchatka" Gull. Observations below made from reviewing photos. White trailing edge of wing (dorsal): Broad white secondaries that are thinner white apical spots P1-8. P10: Length of gray tongue relatively long, with black on inner web (ventral), large white mirror with little black to tip (dorsal). P9: Minimal gray tongue of P9 (ventral). Black appears to fall 1/3 short of touching primary coverts (ventral). Large white mirror, not as large as P10 (dorsal), but larger than black tip. P8 (dorsal): Long gray tongue (about 1/3), black fall 1/3 short of primary coverts (ventral). Tiny bit of white apical, black tip. No white mirror (dorsal) P7: Tiny white apical (dorsal). P6: Tiny white apical (dorsal). Tiny white spot above gray tongue (ventral) P5: Black subterminal band, with white tip that can be seen ventrally and dorsally in photos. P4: No black, white apical All photos heavily cropped. Other checklists, of what is likely the same bird after relocated by Tommy Goodwin the following day at Creve Coeur Lake, St. Louis County, Missouri: https://ebird.org/checklist/S287904719 https://ebird.org/checklist/S287972043 https://ebird.org/checklist/S287981063

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