ML646556543

Detalhes da observação

***State Lifer*** Potential 5th Missouri record and 2nd for Riverlands Mig. Bird Sanctuary, St. Charles County. One of first birds of 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. As I came upon this bird, my first thought was what an odd "LBBG", in that it was so small and its mantle was a bit lighter than expected for a Lesser Black-backed. However, once I noticed the dainty bill and that it was similar in size to surrounding Ring-billeds, I realized what I was looking at. 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 was of bird standing on ice (as in photos), stretched 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 (not black) smudging in middle to end - tough to tell color 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 while sitting. --Mantle an "obvious" much darker gray than nearby Ring-billeds, but still not as dark as the Lesser black-backeds nearby. On stretched wings and in flight: See photos. All photos heavily cropped. Can a “Kamchatka” Common Gull be ruled out?

Espécies adicionais

• Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis