Coincidentally, on the same day that I photographed the classic Kumliens Gull at Iron Pier Beach, I also photo'd an adult with black in the wingtips. That bird was on Artist Lake in Middle Island, also in Suffolk County. Photo at http://m.flickr.com/#/photos/35575873@N02/11913883496/sizes/m/ In addition, that bird had pale yellow eyes, a characteristic I've never noticed on an adult Kumliens. http://m.flickr.com/#/photos/35575873@N02/11973681755/sizes/m/
For comparison purposes, here is the Iron Pier Beach bird. http://m.flickr.com/#/photos/35575873@N02/11913257573/sizes/m/ Mike Cooper Ridge, LI NY Sent from my iPhone On Jan 15, 2014, at 7:04 PM, Steve Walter <[email protected]> wrote: > Pictures relating to the following are at http://www.stevewalternature.com/ > > It was good to hear Mike Cooper's January 12 report that the presumably same > Iceland Gull is back and doing well at Iron Pier Beach. I photographed this > bird on January 7, 2012 (lower left) and as an immature February 16, 2009, > making it over 5 years old now. Mike's report was timely in that I consider > this to be the prototypical Kumlien's Gull, with gray in the wingtips, and I > referred to it for comparison to a surprising looking individual at Jones > Beach West End Sunday (wing, upper right). The markings in its wings were > black and a bit more extensive than the Iron Pier bird, and its head a bit > more angular than might be expected. I discussed this with Shai Mitra, who > indicated that a bird matching my description has been seen there > sporadically over the years. In fact, he produced a picture he took January > 2, 2006 (top left). If indeed the same bird, it would be at least 11 years > old now. But on top of that, he mentioned seeing a black marked individual > in Suffolk county. The next day, Sean Sime reported a black marked bird in > Brooklyn. What's up with that? I haven't seen literature mentioning the > existence of Iceland Gulls with black in the wingtips. The absence of > markings is, however, mentioned for a tiny percentage, as seen in the bird > photographed at Point Lookout February 24, 2013 (bottom right). Appreciating > a variability in Kumlien's Gulls that they may not get enough credit for. > > > Steve Walter > Bayside, NY > > > -- > > NYSbirds-L List Info: > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm > > ARCHIVES: > 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html > 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L > 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html > > Please submit your observations to eBird: > http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ > > -- -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
