Confusing Gull on Barr Lake

[Bill Schreitz]

Hello, This morning, visiting Barr lake for the first time since I moved here from the east in March, I saw a flock of California Gulls of some 300+ close to the edge of the island viewed from the smartweed lakeside point out from the banding nets. While attempting to count them individually, I clearly came across one that was not like the others. The beak was bright yellow and the gonydeal spot was bright red with no trace of black. The head was all white and the eye was dark. The legs were pale, no hint of yellow or pink, not unlike the gulls nearby. The back & wings were dark gray/black, certainly seemingly black in comparison to the other gulls.

Were it not for the size (which appeared only slightly larger than the California Gulls), I would have been convinced I was looking at a Great Black-backed Gull, a bird with which I am familiar, having watched them expand their territory in Maryland for the past 20 years.

I ruled out the Western Gull (perhaps equally unlikely with the respect to range) because of the leg & eye color. I also dismissed the Lesser Black-backed gull because of its foot color & brown streaking characteristically on its head.

I am puzzled as to what is left for me other than another learning opportunity. I do have some pictures if anyone is interested, but at 120 yards or so, they are marginally archival. (FYI, the scope I was using is a Kowa 80mm, and the lense for the camera is a Olympus 200mm telephoto with a 1.4 converter.)

Bill

[Bill Schreitz]

Hello again, 

I am adding pictures of the mystery gull and adding the possibility of a Kelp Gull, though being perhaps more rare but having a late summer record in Latimer County in 2003.

[Nicholas Komar]

Based on the photos I suspect Lesser Black-backed Gull. Legs are concealed, sand at distance, eye color can be misconstrued. October birds can still have white heads. 

Nick Komar

Fort Collins CO

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