Rare Bird Report #: 95-B-07

IDAHO BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE
RARE BIRD REPORT FORM

SPECIES:

Glaucous-winged Gull

HOW MANY:

one (1)

REPORTER:

Terry Gray
890 Stefany Ln
Moscow, Idaho
208-882-1585

REPORTER EMAIL:

clgtlg@moscow.com

OTHER OBSERVERS:

Terry Gray
Christine Gray (Wife)
Sarah de la Rue

DATE REPORT PREPARED:

10/30/2007

DATE SIGHTING OCCURRED:

October 27th and 29th, 2007

LOCALITY OF OBSERVATION:

Lewiston, Idaho

1/4 mile east of Rail Road Bridge across the Clearwater River on the 27th and just north of the Potlatch Mill east of Lewiston on an island in the Clearwater River.

HABITAT:

River

CONDITIONS:

Watched the bird land in the river on the 27th and observed and took photos of it for approximately 20 minutes. on the 29th where I found it on the island north of the Potlatch mill, I walked down to the rivers edge and was approximately 60 feet from the bird. Took digiscope and regular photos from that distance. It was a nice fall day with sunshine both days. Observed the bird with my spotting scope and field glasses.

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?:

1.The Sibley Guide to Birds
2.National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America
3.Stokes Field Guide to Birds (Western Region)
4. Peterson Field Guides Western Birds.

DESCRIPTION:

Jaegers and Gulls (White-headed Gulls)

When I saw the bird land in for the first time it had just reached the water. I noticed right away that the bird was a very light and large bird. After observing it through the scope here is what I observed. This bird was a large gull with large head and large all black bill. Overall color of the bird is very light gray and browns. Legs were not observed at this sighting. Primaries when the bird turned were the same color as the body of the bird. No black on this bird that I could see at any time I watched the bird. Observing the bird standing on the island I was also able to confirm that there was absolutely no black on this bird except for the dark eye and large black bill. One other larger light gull flew in and this bird did not want company and chased it off when it was in the middle of the river and when it was on the island the bird was alone when I first saw it. There were Herring and Ring-billed gulls that came quite close to it later on while it was preening. It appeared larger than the other gulls on the island. I will submit a photo for comparison for size.

BEHAVIOR:

Only observed the bird preening or swimming in the river or standing on the island. Did not hear it vocalize and it tended to want to be by itself.

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

Looking at all the reference books listed above and having seen this species a couple times earlier was able to determine that this first winter gull is the only one that looks like it does as far as I can tell for birds visiting this area.

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

Size. Larger than an adult Herring Gull it was next to on the island

EXPERIENCE WITH THIS SPECIES (AND SIMILAR SPECIES):

I have observed this species in the area one other time and a couple of times over in the Pasco, Washington area.

GENERAL BIRDING EXPERIENCE:

Been an active birder for the past eight years. Presently president of Palouse Audubon and one of the major leaders of field trips in this area.

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

Photo(s)