Hi Everyone,

Included below is a link to Exhibit A for the California Gull found at the Salisbury Landfill on 10/24 by myself, Jim Brighton, Ron Gutberlet, John Hubbell, Mikey Lutmerding, and Dan Small. My original post to MDOsprey includes the detailed description. I will just add one field mark that I neglected to include in the original post - that the bird's dark eyes were noted during both views. Although the photo is just terrible, it is instantly one of my favorites. As described, it was taken from well over 100 yards away, hand-held at 600mm with a 1.4 teleconverter, in the rain, against an overcast sky. If any karmic investment pleases the bird gods, it seems to be standing in the rain for hours on end. Naturally you get bonus points at landfills. They smiled upon us!

Note the bird's dark mantle, dark primaries, dark secondary bars, and nearly non-existent window in the flight feathers. It is long-winged and long-billed. You can actually make out details of the bi-colored bill. The upper tail is clean, bright white, and in the field stood out even more brightly, especially during our first view before the rain picked up. The black tail band is wide and complete. These field marks seem to support a California Gull molting into its second-winter plumage. The combination of features should eliminate Herring Gull and confirm California Gull. The photo was not edited except to crop it and remove a couple water droplets from the background.

http://www.billhubick.com/images2/california_gull_salisbury_md_20091024_large.jpg

Good birding!

Bill

Bill Hubick
Pasadena, Maryland

http://www.billhubick.com