Kelp Gull (?) in St. Mary's Co.
PObrien776@aol.com
Mon, 15 Feb 1999 12:00:46 EST
Hi all,
Last evening Ottavio Janni called to discuss the identification of the dark-
backed gull found by Patty Craig in St. Mary's County. He and Robert Hilton
had seen the bird earlier in the day and felt there were a number of features
that didn't look right for _intermedius_ Lesser Black-backed and better fit
Kelp Gull. This morning between 7:00 and 8:30 AM, Paul O'Brien, Louise
Zemaitis and I saw the bird at close range and agree that it looks most like a
Kelp Gull. The bird is bulkier than a Lesser Black-back, lacking the slender,
attenuated look of that species. The bill is heavier than a Lesser's with a
more prominent gonydial angle. In size the bird is very close to Herring Gull
but perhaps slightly smaller. The mantle shade is probably very slightly
paler than that of a Great Black-backed but certainly very close. The legs
are dull yellow-green to gray-green, the iris is pale grayish-yellow, the
orbital ring is bright orange, and the gape is a slightly paler yellow-orange
(but still brighter than the bill). The bill is rather bright yellow with a
bright orange-red gonydial spot that virtually fills the tip of the lower
mandible. There is a wash of pale orange over much of the tip of the upper
mandible. The primary projection is shorter than that of a Lesser Black-
backed. On the folded wing, the third white primary tip from the end
(actually p7 because p9 overlaps p10) is even with the tip of the tail. In
_graellsii_ Lesser Black-back, the tail tip should fall between the the third
and fourth white primary spots and on _intermedius_ Lesser Black-back, the
tail tip should be even with the fourth white primary spot. There is a small
white mirror on p10 which looks to be just past the tail tip on the folded
wing. This white mirror should fall well past the tail tip on either
_graellsii_ or _intermedius_. The head looks mostly white but on close
inspection, it is evident that there are many thin pencil-line streaks on the
crown and nape. In flight, the bird looks bulkier than a Lesser Black-back
with broader wings and fatter body.
In short, the bird looks to be entirely consistent with Kelp Gull. It has
already been photographed extensively but a large series of close-up photos
may be needed to resolve the identification so all photographers are urged to
make a visit. If you look for the bird, be sure to bring some chum with you.
We only saw perhaps thirty gulls and after tossing out a few corn chips, most
of the birds came in to investigate, including the bird in question.
5 splits to Leonardtown. After about five miles, turn left on Rt. 472
(Sandgates Rd.) and continue to the waterfront at Sandgates Inn. Check on and
around the piers in both directions.
Good luck!
Michael O'Brien