Paul
   
  The primaries look really dark on this bird.  In a couple of the pictures they look about as dark as the primaries on the 1st year American Herring to its left.  I think you can definitely rule out Kumlien's, but from the pictures alone you'd have trouble ruling out American Herring.  More details would be helpful, e.g. on the tail, or the spread wing in flight.
   
  Regards
   
  Clive Harris
  Cabin John, MD

Paul Pisano <> wrote:
  I've posted a few poor shots of the possible 2nd cycle Thayer's Gull that I
saw on Saturday, 12/22 along the Anacostia River. I'm not sure Kumlien's
Iceland Gull can be ruled out, however I believe the quite dark primaries
and the bulkiness of the bird (in the body, the head and bill) point towards
Thayer's. But I was viewing the bird from across the river and even with my
Swarovski scope, it was still had to scrutinize all the details. 

Go to: http://picasaweb.google.com/cheep.paul/InterestingGull41207

Comments welcome.

By the way, I went back today (Monday), but the gull numbers were
significantly lower than on Saturday. Nothing particularly noteworthy,
except perhaps that there are still some Laughing Gulls hanging around - I
saw at least 2, possibly 3. They're usually gone by January.

At Constitution Gardens today there were c.25 Ring-necked Ducks, 1 Redhead,
4 Bufflehead, and the pair of American Wigeon.

Good birding,
Paul Pisano
Arlington, VA