IBRC 6-B-12

IDAHO BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE
RARE BIRD REPORT FORM

SPECIES: Glaucous Gull
HOW MANY: 2

REPORTER: Dale E. Toweill, Ph.D. 12298 W. Bowmont Street Boise, Idaho 83713 REPORTER EMAIL: dtoweill@gmail.com
OTHER OBSERVERS: Dale Toweill

DATE REPORT PREPARED: January 14, 2012
DATE SIGHTING OCCURRED: January 14, 2012

LOCALITY OF OBSERVATION: CJ Strike Reservoir approximately 1/2 mile above the dam, near the south shore.
HABITAT: Reservoir pool
CONDITIONS: Raft of gulls resting ~100 yards offshore. Scoping the group with a 45X Bushnell Scope, I noted two all-white gulls among the Ringbilled Gulls. Although both had bills tucked under a wing when first seen, one bird raised its head revealing a pastel pinkish bill entirely tipped in black and a yellow eye.

DID YOU TAKE NOTES?: Yes, during the observation
DID YOU CONSULT FIELD GUIDE OR OTHER REFERENCES?: Yes, during the observation
WHAT GUIDE(S) OR REFERENCE(S) DID YOU CONSULT?: Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Western North America and National Geographic Field Guide to Birds of Western North America (revised)

DESCRIPTION: Gull. All white body, slightly larger than associated Ring-billed Gulls. Yellow eye. Bill pastel pinkish with all black tip.
BEHAVIOR: Loafing, floating on water among ~20 Ring-billed Gulls. Both white gulls had bills tucked under a wing when first observed, but one later raised its head exposing the eye and the bill. Watched for 15 minutes.

HOW AND WHEN DID YOU POSITIVELY IDENTIFY THE BIRD, AND WHAT CLINCHED THE IDENTIFICATION FOR YOU? The clinching evidence was the all-white plummage, eye color, bill color, and bill markings--all clearly observed.
HOW DID YOU ELIMINATE SIMILAR SPECIES, AND WHAT WERE THEY? Iceland Gull- body of these gulls entirely white, no gray wash on upper wings. Glaucous-winged Gull- no gray on body; bill tipped with black (no red spot). Ivory Gull- Not in range, eye yellow-not black, bill pink tipped with black not black tipped with yellow

EXPERIENCE WITH THIS SPECIES (AND SIMILAR SPECIES): B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. in wildlife management including ornithology; 34 years experience as wildlife professional (most recent 28 years with Idaho Fish and Game);
GENERAL BIRDING EXPERIENCE: Birding experience since 1970 (42 years) includes North America, Africa (12 countries), South America (2 countries), Europe (7 countries), Australia.

WERE PHOTO(S), VIDEO, AND/OR AUDIO OBTAINED BY YOU?: None