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Bird ID
Nov 14, 2019 20:31:02 #
Does anyone have an accurate identification on this flying photo-bomber (who improved the photograph
by the way, most certainly)? The bird was in the air over the Edmonds-Kingston Ferry, just out of its dock
on the Edmonds/mainland side. We are in the Puget Sound area of northeast Washington State here.
A good friend of mine, and a fine birder, tried his darnedest to identify this creature and said that there was just not enough detail on the bird to give him a definitive answer. He offered that he believed it to be in the
gull family, which I appreciated. Gulls predominate in Puget Sound. But all the gulls I have seen are either
white or light grey. I have never seen a dark version.
Thanks very much to any and all who might have a reasonably assured idea of where this bird belongs in the species. I have had plenty of wild, shot-in-the-dark guesses. No need for more of them.
I appreciate your efforts to help out here. Smooth sailing.
by the way, most certainly)? The bird was in the air over the Edmonds-Kingston Ferry, just out of its dock
on the Edmonds/mainland side. We are in the Puget Sound area of northeast Washington State here.
A good friend of mine, and a fine birder, tried his darnedest to identify this creature and said that there was just not enough detail on the bird to give him a definitive answer. He offered that he believed it to be in the
gull family, which I appreciated. Gulls predominate in Puget Sound. But all the gulls I have seen are either
white or light grey. I have never seen a dark version.
Thanks very much to any and all who might have a reasonably assured idea of where this bird belongs in the species. I have had plenty of wild, shot-in-the-dark guesses. No need for more of them.
I appreciate your efforts to help out here. Smooth sailing.
Nov 14, 2019 21:16:14 #
I think the darkness you see in this picture is a result of shadow from the high sun, and slight under-exposure of your image. However, there is a species called Western Gull that is somewhat darker than others:
https://www.pugetsound.edu/academics/academic-resources/slater-museum/biodiversity-resources/birds/identification-of-pacific-nort/
Immature Western Gull: http://www.tertial.us/gulls/occi1.htm
Without a download option, your entire photo is only 600 pixels wide, giving us about five pixels of bird to examine
https://www.pugetsound.edu/academics/academic-resources/slater-museum/biodiversity-resources/birds/identification-of-pacific-nort/
Immature Western Gull: http://www.tertial.us/gulls/occi1.htm
Without a download option, your entire photo is only 600 pixels wide, giving us about five pixels of bird to examine
Nov 14, 2019 21:16:28 #
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Nov 14, 2019 21:17:56 #
Nov 14, 2019 21:25:46 #
DennisD wrote:
Does anyone have an accurate identification on thi... (show quote)
Beautiful blues.
The bird is a gull. Laura genus. I would hazard a guess and say Larus occodentalis, the Western gull.
Most west coast gulls take four years to mature.
Year 2 and 3 most are dark.
Your gull looks large, 24 inches or so. Typical of many west coast gulls.
The gull in your photo can not be reliably ID'd. There are maybe six possibles, and would need the gull two years till adult. Unless you used DNA.
Enjoy the ride.
Bill
Nov 14, 2019 22:28:38 #
Nov 15, 2019 00:59:00 #
Thanks to all who offered up facts, figures and opinions on this particular over-flying bird. A gull it is,
I am now reasonably certain of that. As to which one in particular, hard to say and, no, not enough to
make an accurate confirmation. I do appreciate your excellent and helpful responses. Much obliged.
I am now reasonably certain of that. As to which one in particular, hard to say and, no, not enough to
make an accurate confirmation. I do appreciate your excellent and helpful responses. Much obliged.
Nov 15, 2019 11:05:50 #
As your friend said there's not enough detail in that pic for a definitive id. Gulls are difficult with good pictures! Have a look at Heermann's gull for a darker sp. They are common here. The most common gull may be the "Olympic" gull, a hybrid of Glaucous & Western gull.
Nov 15, 2019 11:31:39 #
Appears to be long trailing legs in the photo? I'd guess some type of long legged bird.
Nov 15, 2019 15:29:16 #
Well, Dennis there isn't enough detail in your photo to positively identify. If you posted the download version it MIGHT help, but probably not. If viewers want to go there to get a personal look at the bird, I hope they realize that they would have better luck in north-WEST Washington instead of north-EAST Washington.
Nov 15, 2019 16:00:19 #
Perhaps you could repost and attach original so it could be downloaded, enlarged and processed to pull out a little more detail.
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Nov 15, 2019 16:54:26 #
DennisD wrote:
Does anyone have an accurate identification on thi... (show quote)
If you had that bird in hand it might still be unidentifiable by simple looks.
Gulls hybridize readily, and with up to four years of changing plumage before reaching adult?? Getting to genus may be all you can expect.
Bill
Nov 15, 2019 20:15:27 #
I rarely try to ID particular gulls. My Western bird guide show lots of gulls that are very similar, and most immature ones are darker than the adults.
Nov 16, 2019 00:17:29 #
Again, many thanks to all who offered informed guesses, even with various degrees of certainty attached.
I never knew that there were so many gull varieties, and that coloration varied so significantly with the age of the bird. I may just go with an "immature western gull" here and call it a day. I leave you all with my sincere appreciation and a renewed respect for birders, one and all, and for all that Mother Nature offers us
on a daily basis. Over and out ........
I never knew that there were so many gull varieties, and that coloration varied so significantly with the age of the bird. I may just go with an "immature western gull" here and call it a day. I leave you all with my sincere appreciation and a renewed respect for birders, one and all, and for all that Mother Nature offers us
on a daily basis. Over and out ........
Nov 16, 2019 01:50:48 #
gtilford
Loc: Woodstock, Ontario, Canada
Could also be a type of Jaeger but without a better photo it would be hard to pinpoint the id
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