I was birdwatching at Barr Lake Friday morning and saw a gull that I
couldn't identify. During the last couple months, every time I go there, I
have seen something that I haven't seen during the past twenty-two years at
this time of the year. On the railing along the boardwalk to the viewing
platform that is near the 1.5-mile marker, I have seen scores of Ring-Billed
Gulls standing on the railings of the boardwalk.
Friday morning, with these Ring-billed Gulls were several gulls with a red
spot on the lower bill. I didn't think of looking particularly at the eyes
themselves (unfortunately), but they had very white heads, light gray backs,
and, unlike my bird books, gray (perhaps even dark gray) legs. I was close
enough to see that there was not the adjacent black marking that would have
identified them as California Gulls.
Looking carefully through the list of all the gulls that have ever been
seen at Barr Lake, I am down two birds, a Herring Gull and a Thayer's Gull.
The first is described as an uncommon winter bird at Barr Lake. The second is
described as a very rare migrant. Sibley's book's maps indicate that both
would be a rare presence here at this time, but possible.
Does anyone have any definitive ideas, or do I need to go back and see the
eyes more carefully.
Sincerely,
David Clark
Sent from my iPad
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