Black backed gulls, Larimer

[David Wade]

Around 5 pm I saw 2 maybe three large gulls circle around the north end of Douglass Reservoir a 1st/2nd cycle bird put down on the water and an black backed adult continued flying around.  Both birds were rather far away but I could discern a large yellow bill on the adult and the juvenile had a large black tipped bill. I then pulled out the camera and as the adult was flying away through the viewfinder I thought I saw another gull in the periphery (the 3rd gull?). As the adult drifted away the juvenile rose and followed. I Managed to get about 40 blurry ambiguous photos and Im still uncertain of its identity. I think i can rule out Slaty (lacked white tounges), and Lesser Black-backed (large bill) which leaves the possibilities of Western, Great Black-backed or Yellow-legged. In one photo, there is an intriguing hint of yellow where the legs would be. I sent a few of the photos to Nick Komar to get his opinion and I'll update then. The gulls flew SSE to overnight, I'm assuming. If anyone would like to search for them tomorrow, I suggest at one of the reservoirs SW of Wellington, Cobb lake, Black Hollow, Windsor Lake and/or Reservoir, Fossil Creek or Timnath Reservoir.

David Wade

Fort Collins

[David Wade]

After talking to Nick K. and studying the photosI've concluded the juvenile gull was a 1st cycle California Gull based on its bicolored bill, long narrow wings, and plain base of outer greater coverts. Lesser Black-backed Gull is the call on the adult from the smaller white trailing edge on the wings, dusky base of secondaries and primaries leading into dark wingtips, slaty grey upperparts contrasting with black wingtips, yellow legs and bill. Although the bill seemed too large to me, Nick suggested it could be a larger bill of a mature male. Gulls can be so humbling!

 

David Wade

Fort Collins