Kelp gull
Hershberger, Wilbur (WHershbe@afrs.ars.usda.gov)
Fri, 19 Feb 1999 12:11:10 -0500
Thanks to all for the great information that has appeared on MDOsprey.
The Kelp gull was seen this morning in good light (not too bright,
slightly diffused by the thin clouds).
The mantle is clearly lighter than the primaries. The primaries are
BLACK while the mantle is slightly grayer. This was very obvious this
morning (dry plumage).
The orbital ring color is very interesting. It is sort of a 60's
orange (not red). The eye color is a gray-yellow color and there is a
dark patch on the top of the right iris. ?
The bill is vivid yellow and the gonys spot is red-orange and large
nearly filling the distal 1/3 of the lower mandible. The tip of the
lower mandible is yellow.
There are very small gray/charcoal colored streaks on the otherwise
WHITE head and a few on the face at the base of the upper mandible.
These are extremely fine markings.
The leg color is a pleasing shade of yellow-sage ??? not bright yellow.
It did not vocalize while I was there from 0800-0900.
Well, that's my two cents. Great gull and great company this morning.
There are probably 1000+ photos of this bird by now.
Wil Hershberger
Frederick
Wilbur Hershberger
WHershbe@afrs.ars.usda.gov