Thanks Rob, I appreciate the benefit of your knowledge and experience! I did
not disturb the bird and it did not fly or call while I was viewing it. So what
you see is pretty much what I saw.
Thanks again and cheers,
R. Bruce Richardson
South Boston, VA
On Sep 18, 2010, at 6:20 PM, Robnoblestar wrote:
Bruce
For my two cents. The bill is the wrong shape for BHG and especially the
colour of the mantle is wrong. BHG are light grey, the wing pattern would
certainly be diagnostic if you or anyone got any flight shots.
I speak with some experience of someone from the UK that used to watch a
20,000 strong BHG roost hoping for a Laughing Gull and who acted as a kind of
US consultant to the local birders when one turned up after I came to the US.
All the best
Rob Young
Alexandria,VA
Sent from my iPhone
On Sep 18, 2010, at 18:01, "R. Bruce Richardson" <rbrucegrp@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hello All,
Here is a link to the photo of the gull that I saw on the first island near
the restaurant last Monday. Whether it is a Black-headed Gull (larus
ridibundus, which ironically means, "Laughing Gull") or a bizarre aberration
of a regular Laughing Gull, I leave up to the individual viewing the photo
or the bird. I just thought since I was fortunate enough to get a good close
shot of the bird, I would share it.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/40090747@N05/4994328681/
On closer examination, I did notice a difference in the white half-ring only
on the upper part of the eye on this bird rather than the top and bottom
sort of eye-ring on all the other laughing gulls. I am not sure of the
significance of this or even if it has any significance but it is different.
Cheers,
R. Bruce Richardson
South Boston, VA
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