Probable Kelp Gull, Chezzetcook, Halifax Co.

[Eric Mills]

Ron Arsenault has sent me pictures of a very dark-backed, green-legged adult gull that has many features of a Kelp Gull.

It was seen and photographed on February 24 on the Shore Road, Chezzetcook, about 940m from the southern intersection with Hwy 207.

Finding this bird may be a long shot, but it could still be in the area somewhere.

Eric

[Alix d'Entremont]

Very interesting gull showing many features of Kelp Gull.

It appears to have a full white tip to P10 and a medium-sized mirror on P9 (visible on the underside of the far wing). This extent of white on the outer two primaries is rare and only known in some subspecies of Kelp Gull, but is very common in Great Black-backed. The other concern is that this bird appears to have completed its pre-basic primary moult with a very fresh-looking and complete white tip to P10. Southern hemisphere gull species such as Kelp moult their primaries at this time of year. In all of the images of Kelp Gull on eBird at this time of year from Antarctica and the Falklands (a subspecies that can rarely show a white tip to P10) none had completed their primary moult.

Kathleen and I only have access to Gulls of the Americas at the moment, so we can't check on other populations. I'll check my other references when I get a chance.

[angeladawn...@gmail.com]

Great work Ron Arsenault!

 

Not sure if this is helpful but attaching some pics from one of my books.

 

Cheers,

Angela

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[Alix d'Entremont]

See the attached image of Ron's bird from Feb 24.

[angeladawn...@gmail.com]

I would vote for it.  Just looked at my photos from 2018 and the leg colour in particular is very striking.  What Alix says about the moult though is certainly a huge factor to rule out more usual suspects.

 

My book mentions nothing about moult but only says : outer primaries black with white mirror on outermost; inner primaries and most secondaries grey with white tips.  Remainder white.

 

So will be interesting to see if it fits, and where we think it has arrived from and should it be freshly moulted

 

Interesting thread and great info Alix. 

 

Fingers crossed Ron!

 

Nova Scotian’s are sure becoming great Gullers (well not me)!

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[jim.e...@bellaliant.net]

Along  with the apparent all white tip on P10, other strikes against Kelp Gull are the bill shape, black smudges on the bill which would be rare in Kelp and the absence of the prominent white skirt which is very evident in all the photos of Kelp. To my eye I see contrast between the back and wingtip which shouldn't be noticeable in Kelp. Admittedly the legs are pale but are they actually greenish or just lacking in color. Having said all this I have only ever seen 1 Kelp Gull and am not an expert.