[TN-Bird] Re: Possible Black-headed Gull
- From: "Dave Spicer" <birdsnbflys@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: <tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 13 Apr 2014 10:14:37 -0400
No luck Saturday afternoon. There were a couple people out on the largest mud
bar when we were there.
Dave Spicer
Ooltewah, TN
From: david kirschke
Sent: Saturday, April 12, 2014 11:31 PM
To: Stczipperer@xxxxxxx ; tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [TN-Bird] Re: Possible Black-headed Gull
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
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