Fellow Birders,
On New Year's Eve at about 4:25pm in fading light as I was watching what seemed like an endless stream of gulls fly south over the Hudson I quickly caught a bird for probably less than 3 seconds which I labelled as a "Glaucous" based upon it's seemingly large size and light color. I saw no other details about the bird. The next day, New Years Day, I returned with a friend to the Newburgh waterfront in the morning and the dirth of gulls was shocking. I could only assume that, the dumps being closed, they were all there having the feast of a lifetime.
At about 3:00pm we returned and the number of gulls was much more like I expected. Taking a loaf of old bread I "chummed" and right after the first handful hit the water I spotted what I consider my target bird coming at me. It was in the company of mostly Ring-bills with a very small number of Herrings. The bird was seen in the air and on the water and occasionally perched on pilings etc.
Over the next few days the same bird was seen by a goodly number of people in the afternoons. Over the past few days my son Curt and I have been in discussion about this bird. I asked, "are you comfortable with this bird"? and he said, "No". My reply was "Neither am I"! Hours of discussion followed about the bird NOT being as large as we would have expected, the bird NOT being as "frosted" as expected; the color of the bill; the color of the eye; the color of the legs; the aggressiveness amid Ring-bills; the darkness of the wings though the tips were white; the possibility of it being a "Nelson's" Gull; the possibility of a Glaucous x Iceland hybrid. In the end we knew that there was a high level of uncomfortability over my call as a Glaucous yet we had no solid answer.
The photos were sent off for other opinions and others came to see the bird. Sadly I was NOT there today but I know that there was a LOT of discussion and all of that is EXCELLENT. As I have repeated, "I never painted myself as infallible" and this avocation is one in which I WANT to continue to learn. It is my understanding that those there today had the chance to see a Ring-billed and a Herring and the target bird all together in close proximity and that there was a lot of open discussion. I wish that we had seen those three species together. Minds far more familiar with the species involved have come to a level of comfortability that the bird is in fact a second year ICELAND GULL. I'm glad that you all came; I'm glad that this bird caused discussion, I'm glad that those who saw the photos or the bird itself responded and, most of all, I'm glad that we continue to learn. It keeps us looking, comparing, talking, studying, reading, learning, laughing and gathering and I hope it never ends.
Now I will wipe the egg off my face, pick up my binocs and go looking for the NEXT challenge. I look forward to meeting you along the way doing the same thing.
Best wishes and GOOD BIRDING,
Ken McDermott
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