Rare Bird Report 33-B-08

IDAHO BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE
RARE BIRD REPORT FORM


SPECIES:  


Glaucous Gull, Larus hyperboreus, First Cycle


HOW MANY:


one


REPORTER:  


Terry Gray
890 Stefany Ln
Moscow ID 83843-9635
208-882-1585


REPORTER EMAIL:  


clgtlg@moscow.com


OTHER OBSERVERS:


Terry Gray 
others on the field trip are:
Richard Reid, Bill Spence, Larry Pulley, Carole Vande Voorde, Jerry Cebula, Clare Wiser, Sharon Wiser, Keith Carlson, Rick Welle, Sarah Walker, Louise LaVoie, Brenda Johnson, Bruce Frazier, Lavon Frazier and Sarah de la Rue.


DATE REPORT PREPARED:  


December 6, 2008


DATE SIGHTING OCCURRED:  


December 6, 2008


LOCALITY OF OBSERVATION:


Lewiston, Idaho, Nez Perce County. Clearwater River. Near the weigh station on highway 95/12 and north of the Potlatch Mill in east Lewiston


HABITAT:


river island


CONDITIONS:


Observed the bird for approximately 40 mintes.  Light wind and a temperature of approximately 40 degrees F. 100 to 150 yards distance to bird. light overcast.  Nocks, spotting scope and 30x digital camera


DID YOU TAKE NOTES?:  


Yes, later the same day


DID YOU CONSULT FIELD GUIDE OR OTHER REFERENCES?:  


Yes, later the same day


WHAT GUIDE(S) OR REFERENCE(S) DID YOU CONSULT?:


Peterson Reference Guides
Gulls f the Americas by Steve N>G> Howell/Jon Dunn


DESCRIPTION:  


Gull, Larus hyperboreus.
This gull was very white in appearance. The only black on this bird was the tip of the bill. Bird has a heavy ping bill and purple legs. When it flew it was very white in looks. No black on wings in flight. Bird was much larger than American Herring Gulls that were nearby. 


BEHAVIOR:  


This bird was feeding on a dead fish and then flew down river a couple hunderd yards and landed in the water downstream.  This bird did not interact with any of the other gulls since it was eating.


HOW AND WHEN DID YOU POSITIVELY IDENTIFY THE BIRD, AND WHAT CLINCHED THE IDENTIFICATION FOR YOU?


I saw this bird while driving along highway 12 east of Lewiston.  It was a very large white gull on the island and on the other side of the island was a mixed flock of gulls much smaller than the Glaucous Gull.  We had intended to stop and check out the gulls on this island as it is a good location to seen gulls along the Clearwater River.


HOW DID YOU ELIMINATE SIMILAR SPECIES, AND WHAT WERE THEY?


This is the only large gull I know of that is as white as this one is.  The Glaucous-winged Gull is much browner in appearance.  


EXPERIENCE WITH THIS SPECIES (AND SIMILAR SPECIES):  


 Had observed this bird or a similar bird of this species at the Asotin County Landfill along with J. Harry Kreuger and Charles Swift. Also observed and photographed a similar bird last year at the Asotin County Landfill.


GENERAL BIRDING EXPERIENCE:  


 Been an active birder for the past 10 years. I feel confident in my identification of local birds and rarities that come to this area.


WERE PHOTO(S), VIDEO, AND/OR AUDIO OBTAINED BY YOU?:  


 Photo