Gull #2 from Cedar Point today (for the gulls class of 2024)
Pretty straight forward 1st cycle Herring gull. Notice the inner primary “window” with some light shining through. Also compare width of wing at base (where it meets body), all brownish-gray plumage and snout like pulled-taffy. As a larger gull, the wingbeats of this one are a little slower than ring-billed.
Gull #7 (same date location). Gull #7 Forster’s tern (I know – a mean trick as I called it “Gull #7”). Orangey legs, very pointed wing, black ear/eye patch, but back of head is not black (as in Common Tern at this time of year).
Hearing tell of a Short-billed Gull at White Rock Lake, Lance and I conducted a stake-out this morning for a couple of hours. No luck on Shorty, but always a pleasure to study gulls — especially since I added two first of season gulls to my season list. (I forgot my camera in Austin so…
I’ll also put in a plug for my “I don’t do gulls” gulls class. Starts in November when gulls generally start coming into Texas. I did the rudiments of Texas gulls in the B3 class. But I am developing additional material for this class. I will repeat the Texas-centric gull-ing, but I’m also hoping to…
Here’s a few more pix from Kelp chase. Anyone is welcome to ID.
Who am I?
Someone just reported another gull from our “uncommon 7” list. Hoping a B3er will find one this winter!!
