Today I went birding at Wisconsin Point today with Sarah Glesner and Cameron Rutt, and met up with Peder Svingen and Sparky Stensaas already gull-watching. What a fun afternoon!
We observed many Herring Gulls and Ring-billed Gulls. Throughout these gulls, an immature Iceland Gull was observed, as well as a Thayer's Gull. Those arctic gulls are just so striking. In addition to these two gulls, there was another large gull observed. We observed this one gull until the sun had nearly set. I took many pictures of this gull of interest, and my best photos are listed below: http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/119263524 - note the light brown coloring of the wings overall... http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/119263525 - light brown wings and light brown tail.. but also note the big belly on this bird. http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/119263526 - pale grayish-wings, with darker wing ends (not black though) http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/119263527 http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/119263528 - solid and complete tail band http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/119263529 - pale wings overall, with darker mottled front edges (on the undersides). Paler head with splotched or mottled chest and belly http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/119263530 - complete tail band. Note wings again, very pale appearance throughout the wings, but the ends of the wings are slightly darker http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/119263531 - paleness of wing (not pure white) is notable again. Solid tail band. Pink legs. http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/119263532 - robust and chunky body, with tapered neck and head, from this angle. Dark eyes with pink bill (with black end to the bill). The head is paler than the body. http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/119263533 - another angle of this gull. The backside of this bird is very even in color and markings (very smoothly colored and blended). http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/119263534 - gull in flight http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/119263535 - side-lit, showing no signs of black plumage (just medium to light brown). Solid tail band Thoughts and comments are welcome as usual on this bird. Good birdwatching, Erik Bruhnke Duluth, MN NATURALLY AVIAN - Guided bird hikes and bird photography www.pbase.com/birdfedr/naturallyavian ---- Join or Leave mou-net:http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives:http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
