1st Round

2nd Round

4/1/09
Cliff Weisse -- Accept

The description in the report is complete and augmented by the distant photos.

5/1/09
Cliff Weisse--Accept

Same comments

04-02-2009
Sturts--Accept

Description in diagnostic and similar gulls eliminated

04-30-2009
Sturts--Accept

Staying with my first round vote for the same reasons.

04-05-2009
Dave Trochlell--Accept

I'm somewhat biased toward accepting this record because I also studied this bird from a distance of about 20 feet (or less) with Marty Collar, when we fed it bread at A.F.R. on 6 March 1999. The structure and plumage seemed perfect to me for a paler first-cycle Kumlien's ICGU, as Chuck's description relates and Cliff's images show.

05-01-2009
Dave Trochlell--Accept

I'm still convinced that the ID was correct on this one.

11 April 2009
Hardy--Accept

Pale primaries and structure eliminate similar candidates that ICGU could be confused with.

21 June 2009
Hardy--Accept

same comments as first round

4-15-09
Carlisle--Accept

looks & sounds good - only hesitation is the appearance of dark on the dorsal side of far wing in the perched picture (I imagine an artifact of the photo)

5-7-09
Carlisle--Accept

no change

04-15-2009
Doug Ward--Accept

Pretty well described bird with most of the key points mentioned. I was a bit concerned, though, with the observer’s lack of description of upper primary coloration relative to the rest of the wing. Coupled with their mention of “a faint tannish bar on the upper surface of the secondaries”, which is a field mark for Thayer’s Gull (Larus thayerii), I do hold a bit of doubt that this was an Iceland (L. glaucoides ssp).

However, considering specific mention of the short bill length (1/2 head length; >1/2 for most Thayer’s), bill coloration indicating a light colored base on a 1st year bird, and well described tail coloration, I do feel there is a strong likelihood this was indeed a pure Iceland. The last piece of evidence for me was in the photos which showed a broad based, evenly tapered wing shape in flight – a “delta wing” effect which while not commonly mentioned in the guides, stands out for me in the field on both young birds and adults.

07-06-2009
Doug Ward--Accept

I’m going to stick with my first round vote for similar reasons.

4/28/2009
Darren Clark--Reject, specific identification not established

I'm not certain Thayer's Gull can be eliminated based on the reports and small video captures. I'm interested in others' opinions

05-14-2009
Darren Clark--Reject, specific identification not established

I'm still on the fence a little bit, and feel it's better to vote conservatively.