Ad.Mew Gull,Denver,other birds
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Tina Jones
Nov 5, 2013, 8:25:04 PM11/5/13
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Hi all,
Today around 4pm I saw 1, ad. basic, Mew Gull from the west fence area of Marston Reservoir, off of Old S. Wadsworth Blvd, Denver County.
The bird was in the water with gobs of Ring-billed Gulls sitting around it, which made the ID a lot easier. The Mew Gull's mantle was noticeably darker than the Ring-billed Gull's mantle. The eye of the Mew looked a bit larger and very dark. The bill of the Mew looked daintier and a bit smaller than that of the Ring-billed. At one point the Mew was sitting in the water right next to the Ring-billed, for a nice comparison of the 2 specie's bills and size. The Mew's nape and crown had brown steaking, as to be expected in basic plumage. The whole flock took off quickly to the south. In this flock was California and Herring Gulls also. I went to the eastern side of Marston, on Bow Mar Dr. The Gull flock was way out in the middle of the lake, too far to ID from.
When I was at the western side, I could see 6 Common Mergansers and 2, Red-breasted Mergansers, and 8, Hooded Mergansers. Horned, Eared, and Western Grebes were present. The 3, Common Loons remain. Oddly, hardly any waterfowl was present today at the lake. BUT the bird turn over at Marston changes throughout the day.
The roosting pattern of the large Gull flock is different at times. Sometimes the group is on the western side, or southern end of Marston or the western side of the lake. Most birds fly from the lake in the day time. I am still looking for where this flock goes in the daytime, although some stay on the lake.
Good luck finding this bird.
Happy Birding!
Tina Jones, Littleton, Jefferson County, CO
Today around 4pm I saw 1, ad. basic, Mew Gull from the west fence area of Marston Reservoir, off of Old S. Wadsworth Blvd, Denver County.
The bird was in the water with gobs of Ring-billed Gulls sitting around it, which made the ID a lot easier. The Mew Gull's mantle was noticeably darker than the Ring-billed Gull's mantle. The eye of the Mew looked a bit larger and very dark. The bill of the Mew looked daintier and a bit smaller than that of the Ring-billed. At one point the Mew was sitting in the water right next to the Ring-billed, for a nice comparison of the 2 specie's bills and size. The Mew's nape and crown had brown steaking, as to be expected in basic plumage. The whole flock took off quickly to the south. In this flock was California and Herring Gulls also. I went to the eastern side of Marston, on Bow Mar Dr. The Gull flock was way out in the middle of the lake, too far to ID from.
When I was at the western side, I could see 6 Common Mergansers and 2, Red-breasted Mergansers, and 8, Hooded Mergansers. Horned, Eared, and Western Grebes were present. The 3, Common Loons remain. Oddly, hardly any waterfowl was present today at the lake. BUT the bird turn over at Marston changes throughout the day.
The roosting pattern of the large Gull flock is different at times. Sometimes the group is on the western side, or southern end of Marston or the western side of the lake. Most birds fly from the lake in the day time. I am still looking for where this flock goes in the daytime, although some stay on the lake.
Good luck finding this bird.
Happy Birding!
Tina Jones, Littleton, Jefferson County, CO
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