Wilson's Phalarope, adult winter, Puerto Viejo, Peru
Peruvian Thicknee, adult winter, Puerto Viejo, Peru
Glaucous-winged Gull
American Herring Gull
California Gull
Heermann's Gull
Hybrid Gulls
California - March 2007
American Herring Gull & Hybrids
Western Gull
American Herring Gull; adult, Roberts Lake, Monterey 11th March 2007
American Herring Gull; 1st winter, La Merced 15th March 2007
A typical individual showing the classic features of clear cut whitish head, strongly barred upper-tail coverts and all dark tail apart from the whitish bases and outer edge to the outermost rectrices.
American Herring Gull; 1st winter, Roberts Lake, Monterey 11th March 2007
The head shape, quite dark brown tertials, the longish primary projection, the pale grey scapulars and pale base to the bill.
Not commonly encountered though probably much overlooked amongst the far commoner Western Gulls
adult probable Western x Glaucous-winged Gull; Roberts Lake, Monterey 11th March 2007.
The upper-parts are clearly not pale enough for an American Herring Gull (see bird back right) and not dark enough for Western Gull (see bird back left). The primaries are dark grey, not black leading the birds identification as a hybrid between Western and Glaucous-winged.
Many hybrids between Glaucous-winged and Western Gulls were encountered across most age groups; some of which are reproduced here. Most of these birds I have made my best guess based on my limited knowledge of west coast gulls and referencing books and web sites devoted to the subject.
All images here are from Roberts Lake, Monterey on 11th March 2007
1st winter possible American Herring x Glaucous-winged Gull; Roberts Lake, Monterey 11th March 2007.
The bird is overall pale in it's appearance with fairly uniform underparts and stout all dark bill. The primary projection is short, as in Glaucous-winged, whilst the primaries themselves are pale brownish with whitish edges. However the wing coverts are boldly patterned, a pro American Herring Gull feature, and the tertials have obvious white tips and the under-tail coverts are strongly barred.
Hybrid Gulls
American Herring Gull; 1st winter, Roberts Lake, Monterey 11th March 2007
