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Re: Kumlien's/Thayer's at Schoolhouse Pond

From:

Bob Ringler

Reply-To:

Maryland Birds & Birding

Date:

Thu, 30 Dec 2004 18:17:43 -0500

Mike,
   I think you probably have seen a Kumlien's Gull.  In fact all the Iceland Gulls seen in Maryland are likely to be Kumlien's.  Nominate Iceland Gulls would be rare west of Iceland.
   As for the bird in the photos:  I have never seen an Iceland Gull that dark but my experience is limited.  To me the plumage is fine for Thayer's.  The structure, as noted by others, seems better for Iceland Gull, however I would vote for a small female Thayer's Gull instead.

Bob Ringler
Eldersburg MD

 
---- Michael Bowen <> wrote: 
> Here's my 5 cents worth (well maybe only 3-4) on the gull seen recently by 
> quite a few people -- me not included! -- at Schoolhouse Pond in PG County, 
> and photographed by Arlene Ripley:
> 
> Judging from Arlene's very good digiscoped photos, the bird certainly looks 
> darker than most young Iceland Gulls I have seen -- not that I've seen that 
> many -- but it is structurally very like an Iceland Gull, in terms of the 
> overall shape of the body, the head, and the bill, which is quite short. 
> The darker outer half of the bill and the somewhat lighter basal half are 
> perfectly typical of 1st winter Iceland.  The overall coloration is also 
> rather homogeneous, except for the scapulars, as Arlene points out, and 
> especially on the breast and belly.  I would expect a 1st-winter Thayer's 
> to be somewhat larger, darker, and with even darker primaries than are 
> visible in Arlene's pictures.  Possibly young Thayer's would also exhibit 
> even more of a checkerboard pattern on the scapulars and coverts.
> 
> I have never seen a Kumlein's and I don't possess (yet!) the new Olsen gull 
> book.  The Collins Birds of Europe, which doesn't picture a young 
> Kumlein's, notes in the text that 1st winter Kumlein's is 
> "indistinguishable from glaucoides "(i.e., Iceland).  Don't know if that 
> allows for as dark a bird as we have here, which possibly argues away from 
> Iceland and Kumlein's.
> 
> My 20-year-old Harrison's "Seabirds" intriguingly says that 1st winter 
> Kumlein's Gull has grayer primaries than Iceland, and that the tail is 
> almost uniformly pale gray.  However, Harrison shows no picture of an 
> immature bird.
> 
> My vote:  A rather dark "Iceland-type."  I don't believe it's a Thayer's.
> 
> On that indecisive note, Joy and I wish a Very Happy New Year to all 
> MDOspreyers.
> 
> And a tip of the cap to Mr. Saunders for continuing to host this terrific 
> service.  Thanks, Norm.
> 
> Mike Bowen
> Montgomery Bird Club
> 
> 
> 
> At 09:16 AM 12/30/2004 -0500, you wrote:
> >Sorry for the delay in posting. This has been a busy week. Anyway, I was 
> >present on 12/27 $ 12/28 when the questionable gull was seen by several 
> >Ospreyers. I have little experience with both species (especially 
> >Thayer's), and am handicapped with both scope and long camera lens in the 
> >repair shop. A friend was kind enough to loan me a scope so I was able to 
> >take a few hand-held digiscopes of the gull which on the 27th we were 
> >calling Thayer's based on the size and color, although the color did seem 
> >a bit pale for Thayer's. The bird stayed pretty far out in the flock on 
> >the 27th. However, when I returned on Tuesday, it was much closer and I 
> >got better shots. While the primaries are not as dark brown as is shown in 
> >Sibley, they do show the pale edging. Also the "anchor-shaped" scapular 
> >markings seem to be present (communication from Gail Mackiernan who asked 
> >me to post my photos) thus leaning toward Thayer's. Note the pale base of 
> >the bill also. However the overall paleness and bill size leans toward 
> >first winter Kumlein's as well as the patterned tertials.
> >
> >I'm making these pictures available to the list for discussion as to the 
> >proper ID of this gull. And I'm putting the new Olsen gull book on my wishlist!
> >
> >Here's the link: http://nestbox.com/gull.htm
> >
> >I've had no luck finding the Mew Gull despite three trips and many 
> >quarters in the parking meters!
> >
> >Arlene Ripley
> >Calvert County, MD
> >piwa AT comcast DOT net
> >http://nestbox.com
> >
> >
> >
> 
> D. H. Michael Bowen (Mike)
> 8609 Ewing Drive
> Bethesda MD 20817-3845
> Tel/Fax: (301) 530-5764
> e-mail: