[TN-Bird] Re: Possible Black-headed Gull
- From: david kirschke <dkirschke@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: "Stczipperer@xxxxxxx" <Stczipperer@xxxxxxx>, "tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 12 Apr 2014 20:31:06 -0700 (PDT)
Any positive or negative reports of the gull from today (Saturday) or tomorrow
(Sunday) would be appreciated. Thanks.
David Kirschke
Johnson City, TN
________________________________
From: "Stczipperer@xxxxxxx" <Stczipperer@xxxxxxx>
To: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Saturday, April 12, 2014 5:45 PM
Subject: [TN-Bird] Re: Possible Black-headed Gull
April 11, 2014
Parksville, Lake 64/30 picnic area
Polk County, TN
I drove over from Murfreesboro, TN to see the possible Black-headed Gull
yesterday after getting a phone call from Terry Whitt and directions from David
Chapman. Thanks to both. I arrived at 2:30 PM and observed the bird
for an hour. My first impression of the bird or "Gestalt" was not
Bonaparte's. For what it is worth here are my observations. Bird was
the only Gull on the mud island. Blue-wing Teal, Killdeer, and a Common Grackle
were also observed. Bird appeared larger than Bonaparte's and much whiter
or paler. Legs were a deep red in color. Bill red and heavier than
Bonaparte's. Black on head stopped at the crown of the head on the
back. From behind the head and nape of neck going down to the top of
back was pure white. No evidence of black molting spots on feathers.
Now for the dark primaries. The two quick times the bird got up I was not able
to see the black wedge in the primaries but there was black there. I have
look at quite a few pictures of Black-headed gulls on-line and there are
similar
shots of this bird showing the black in the primaries and not showing the
black. "Peterson Reference Guide to Seabirding" on page 444 states,
"DIstant: Adults are extremely pale, slightly paler than
Bonapart's Gull, They have a white wedge on the wing like Bonaparte's but
contrasts less and is not as translucent. The dark patch on the underside of
the
primaries is still the best distinguishing feature, but it is difficult
to discern."
Well that's my two cents worth. There were three other birders
present when I arrived maybe they will chime in with their observations.
In summary the Gestalt of this bird was not Bonie. These birds are
numerous of Percy Priest Lake where I bird. The birds that were present
over the last week were in classic winter plumage a few were in breeding
plumage. The black cap on these birds extends down further on the back of
the bird at Parksville Lake.
If nothing else I got to bird in a new county and pick up Yellow-throated
Warbler for the year and not sleep for about 48 hours.
Good birding
Stephen Zipperer
Rutherford Co., TN
Other related posts:
