Gull ID difficulty

[Gary Brower]

All,

I just returned from Cherry Creek SP — just an afternoon to see what I could find.

At the Marina, out at the logs along with a bunch of Common Mergansers, was an individual gull. Largish (i.e., not Mew-sized), yellow-bill with red spot (i.e., not a Ring-billed), pink legs, NO coloration on the head/neck (i.e., pure white — no standard “winter” streaking), spotted black wing-tips.

I’ve checked the National Audubon Guide, the Audubon Master Guide, as well as Sibley — trying to “match” them with what HAS been seen and reported. Nothing has all of the field marks of the bird I saw.

My scope is only 60x, and I was standing on the end of the fishing pier, so I may not have gotten ALL of the fine points . . . which is why I’m posting here.

So, those of you who’ve seen/reported: Thayers, Lesser Black-backed, Iceland and Glaucous . . . . which is most likely? Or is there another option I've missed?

BTW, the sandspit at Pelican Point was EMPTY of all avian life this afternoon.

Thanks!

Gary Brower
Unincorporated Arapahoe County (but basically DTC)

[Joey Kellner]

Umm, how about the MOST likely gull fitting said description...adult Herring Gull?

Most birds in the field do NOT look like their paintings in a field guide.  This is why a description of what you see is required for some sightings in eBird.  Describe what aspects of the bird seen look DIFFERENT from the ideal field guide picture. 

Not all winter time gulls are in a plumage or molt stage that maps with a drawing in a guide (e.g. the aforementioned "winter" streaking).

Keep looking at gulls...all times of year, all stages of molt...in time they do get "easier".  :-)

Joey Kellner
Littleton, Colorado