Re: [SBB] Slaty-backed Gull HMB, Santa Clara Gulls.

[Al Eisner <[[email protected]]>]

On Sat, 13 Jan 2007, Alvaro Jaramillo wrote:

> The other gull highlight was seeing a juvenile Glaucous Gull at the EEC in
> Alviso, Santa Clara County in the morning. Most frustrating here was that a
> white winged gull with dark bill, paler base seen at a distance which we
> needed to be closer to identify (albino, or Iceland Gull?). Unfortunately it
> flew towards the dump before we could get that better view. Also here were a
> male with a female Eurasian Wigeon. Another interesting sighting was a Barn
> Swallow at the Palo Alto Duck Pond.

>From the same day:

I saw the white gull at closer range than did Alvaro's group.  In retrospect
I think it was likely the same bird Bob Reiling described as an Iceland Gull.
I hadn't had Bob's report with me, and was not expecting an Iceland in this
area to be this white, with no particular markings on the plumage except a
dusky/buffy smudging on ;much of the wing coverts.  (I didn't observe the
uppertail.)  But the Olsen and Larsson gull book claims that at this time
of year a faded first-winter Kumlein's type can look like this -- indeed,
they apparently use the same illustration for Kumlein's as for glaucoides
in this plumage state, although the fresh first-winter illustrations look
quite distinct.  Alvaro:  can you comment on this?

I also thought the bird was a bit large, but didn't have a side-by-side
comparison with anything else.  The mostly-dark bill did seem appropriate.
The bird had a dark eye.  Overall, I also need a better look.

I missed the Glaucous Gull, but did see the pair of Eurasian Wigeons in
pond A16.  I checked the entrance road for the Ruff on my way in and out,
and again after lunch, but with no luck.
								Al Eisner

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