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Subject:

Probable Thayer's Gull, adult Lesser Black-backed Gull

From:

Fred Shaffer

Reply-To:

Fred Shaffer

Date:

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:32:32 -0500

I sorted through the gulls at Schoolhouse Pond during lunchtime today.  With the return of the ice, there was a large group of birds on the pond.  The best bird was a 1st winter gull that I puzzled over for awhile and then was able to get a few digiscoped pictures of.  After looking at the photos and then consulting a few of the gull books I have handy, the bird looks like a good match for a 1st winter Thayer's Gull.  The rounded head shape, overall size (smaller than surrounding Herring Gulls), structure of the bill, and overall pale plumage were what drew my attention to the gull.  But, I was fortunate to get a photo of the extended wing and the silvery underside of the primaries with a darker trailing edge,  and this mark seems especially good for a Thayer's.  I may send out a few of my photos this evening for a second opinion and for now I'll leave it as a probable Thayer's Gull.

Gull totals included:

1 1st winter Thayer's Gull (probable)
1 adult Lesser Black-backed Gull
6 Laughing Gulls
120 Herring Gulls
580+ Ring-billed Gulls

I've been searching through the gulls at lunchtime each day this week and so far I have not seen the 1st winter Glaucous Gull return.   Other birds of note this week included 3 Hooded Mergansers, 2 Ring-necked Ducks, several Bald Eagles (mercifully not today), 5 Double-crested Cormants, and a Fox Sparrow.

Fred Shaffer
Crofton, MD