IBRC 10-B-10

Idaho Bird Records Committee
Rarities Report Form

 

Species: Glaucous Gull - adult

 

Reporter: Jay Carlisle

Idaho Bird Observatory, Boise State University, 1910 University Ave., Boise, ID 83725; jaycarlisle@boisestate.edu

 

Other Observers: Heidi Ware, RL Rowland

 

Date Report Prepared: 1-16-10

 

Date Sighting Occurred:  12-23-09; from ~12pm to ~2pm (also seen at least thru 12-26-09)

 

Locality of Observation: Hidden Hollow landfill, Ada Co.

 

Habitat: garbage dump

 

Conditions: sunny, cold; I used Swarovski EL 10x42 binoculars and a Fujinon scope with 20-60x zoom

 

Did you take notes?  not at all

 

Did you consult a field guide or other reference work? after the observation

           

What guide(s) or reference(s) did you consult?

Sibley & National Geographic – as well as various websites; Howell & Dunn’s gull guide

 

Description:  An adult Glaucous Gull in winter plumage.

 

An immense adult gull with all white wing tips, yellow eye, streaking on head and upper chest, and a longish bill with a red gonys spot.

 

Behavior:  alternately seen roosting, feeding, and/or flying back and forth

 

How and when did you positively identify the bird, and what clinched the identification for you?  The huge size (it dwarfed all Herring Gulls present) and white wingtips.

 

How did you eliminate similar species, and what were they?  Possibilities include Iceland Gull (smaller size, more petite bill, rounded head, and longer primary projection; Kumlien’s does not have pure white wingtips) and Glaucous-winged Gull (dark eye, more dark gray in wingtips). 

 

Experience with this species (and similar species):  I have seen adult Glaucous Gulls in Alaska and 1st or 2nd winter birds in a number of states.  I have seen hundreds of Glaucous-winged Gulls (all ages) along the west coast (especially Washington). 

 

Heidi has less gulling experience but has seen 12 gull species in Idaho in 2009, including 2 Iceland Gulls and 1 prior 1st-W Glaucous. 

 

General birding experience: extensive; 15+ years in US and Latin America

 

Were photo(s), video, and/or audio obtained by you? (If yes, please include or attach)    Yes – attached.