I'd like to point out a misstatement in my post about second-cycle Slaty-backed Gull versus Lesser Black-backed Gulls. It was not Ontario that accepted a Lesser Black-backed Gull as a Slaty-backed Gull.
My point was that some second-cycle Lesser Black-backed Gulls have been confused by some very good birders. When we see something interesting, it's great to get other people out there to see it. I spent two hours with a second-year bird one summer in Colorado that I was convinced was something great (Western or hybrid thing). After more careful observation and talking in through with several other observers, we all became convinced it was "just" a Lesser Black-backed Gull. All of us make mistakes and I suspect I've probably misidentified more birds than just about anyone on this list. On good days, I like to think I've learned a bit in the process. Chris Wood eBird & Neotropical Birds Project Leader Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York http://ebird.org http://neotropical.birds.cornell.edu > On Sun, Mar 25, 2012 at 9:03 PM, Christopher Wood > <chris.w...@cornell.edu>wrote: > >> After hearing about Ken and Jay's interesting gull I decided to meet >> Jessie at Stewart Park where we were eventually able to see what we are >> fairly confident is the same interesting gull (based on some photos that >> Ken sent me while I was there--THANK KEN!). The pattern of replacement in >> the wing coverts and tail appear identical to my eyes. We had the luxury of >> seeing this bird in direct comparison with an adult Lesser Black-backed >> Gull and was able to get some video, which you can see at the link below. >> The side-by-side comparison has made me believe that this is a Lesser >> Black-backed Gull. >> >> https://vimeo.com/39164762 >> >> I'm reminded again how troublesome second and third-year Lesser >> Black-backed Gulls can be. They usually are bit paler mantled, and it seems >> as if they often appear a bit shorter-winged. I believe what was once the >> first or second record of Slaty-backed Gull for Ontario was in fact also a >> Lesser Black-backed Gull and accepted by the entire Ontario Records >> committee -- just to give an idea of how challenging these birds can be. I >> think part of this impression is due to the extensive black tip to the bill >> of second-year Lesser Black-backed Gull, which creates the impression that >> they are bigger-billed than they really are. Nevertheless, I think if you >> look at the video where it is interacting with an adult Lesser Black-backed >> it has an extremely similar structure. I hope this will clear up any >> confusion. You'll note some differences in aging as well. Aging second and >> third-year gulls is far more complicated than standard field guides have >> room to illustrate. Not, however, the extensive pattern of brown in the >> wings and the tail pattern are normal for a 2nd-year Lesser Black-backed >> Gull not a third year which I belive would have much more extensive slaty >> feathers in the wings. >> >> There were, in fact, 4 adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 1 second-year >> bird at Stewart this evening! Pretty amazing. This makes 5 spankingly >> handsome breeding Lesser Black-backed Gulls (and a second-year) presumably >> all heading north over Cayuga Lake today and dropped by the weather (Tim >> had one farther north too -- not the wintering one). I wonder where they >> are going and why they appear to be taking this inland route. Perhaps there >> is a US breeding ground and perhaps it is father west than we have tended >> to assume. >> >> I also uploaded some video of courting Bufflehead. Courting ducks in >> general are among the most captivating birds there are and Bufflehead may >> well be in a league of their own. I took the video below up at Long Point >> yesterday. Do yourself a favor in the next week or two and head to the lake >> and find some Bufflehead. Instead of passing your scope over them to find >> Long-tailed Ducks, stop and watch them. Right now they are at there best! >> At the very least, check out the video. Then call in sick tomorrow and go >> find some Bufflehead! (NOT YOU TIM LENZ, we have work to do!!) >> >> https://vimeo.com/39138904 >> >> Finally, I also uploaded some video of Pine Warbler from Monkey Run. >> >> https://vimeo.com/39080251 >> >> If you explore elsewhere there are some videos of a Red-tailed Hawk >> eating a Common Loon, millions or Red-winged Blackbirds and some other >> stuff. >> >> Anyway, THANKS Ken for getting the word out about the gull. Certainly an >> interesting bird. I'm sure I would have been confused had a few adult >> Lesser Black-backed Gulls not dropped in. >> >> Good birding, >> Chris Wood >> >> PS - A couple other weekend highlights included a VERY EARLY singing male >> Yellow Palm Warbler at the odd locale of Mackenzie Childs Bluffs. I also >> saw and heard Red Crossbill (I believe type 1) along Station Road near the >> big pulloff above where you typically enter to go look for Worm-eating >> Warblers by walking the ridge line to Lindsay Parsons. >> >> >> -- > *Cayugabirds-L List Info:* > Welcome and Basics <http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME> > Rules and Information <http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES> > Subscribe, Configuration and > Leave<http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> > *Archives:* > The Mail > Archive<http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html> > Surfbirds <http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds> > BirdingOnThe.Net <http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html> > *Please submit your observations to eBird<http://ebird.org/content/ebird/> > !* > -- > -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
