ML636030425

观察细节

Large, sturdy pale-headed gull with dark eyes and pink legs caught our attention; it was much larger than nearby Laughing Gulls, but we estimated that it would be smaller than a Herring Gull. The bird was clearly juvenile molting into first-year plumage. Rounded white head, dark eyes with hint of gray around front of eye, somewhat slender but long bicolor bill pink at base and tip and dark in the center. Grayish-brown streaking around base of nape quite noticeable, new growth pale gray feathers on mantle mixed with very pale secondary coverts and dark brown primaries, and pale mottling on underbelly. In flight the tail appeared dark, there were pale patches near the base of the primaries, and the pale secondary coverts contrasted with the darker brownish secondaries. The gull was foraging for dead fish on the beach and chasing away other birds that approached too closely. Providing still shots of walking gull and several video screen shots of gull showing wing and tail pattern in flight, as well as two distant shots for size comparison with nearby Laughing Gulls. Nikon Aculon 7x50 binoculars, Bushnell 10x50 binoculars, Nikon Z50 camera with 50-250 zoom lens, and Canon PowerShot SX530 HS camera. Videos also available upon request.