Rare Bird Report 22-B-08

IDAHO BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE
RARE BIRD REPORT FORM


SPECIES:  


Lesser Black-backed Gull


HOW MANY:


one


REPORTER:  


Chuck trost
225 N. Lincoln, Pocatello, ID 83204
208-233-4538


REPORTER EMAIL:  


trostchuck@cableone.net


OTHER OBSERVERS:


Paul Lehman, who noticed this bird across the reservoir - we were near the silo.


DATE REPORT PREPARED:  


9-21-08


DATE SIGHTING OCCURRED:  


8-12-08


LOCALITY OF OBSERVATION:


On the beach about 1/2 mile NE of the boat ramp on the west side of Am. Falls dam, 2 miles from Am. Falls.


HABITAT:


sandy flats at the edge of a reservoir


CONDITIONS:


I observed the bird for less than 10 seconds in a Kowa 15-60X80 scope from about 50m before it took off.  Sunny, calm day, temp 65F.


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?:


Howell and Dunn's Gulls of the Americas.


DESCRIPTION:  


Laridae - gulls - about the size of nearby California gulls, very dark back (with brownish tones), head, chest and belly white, tail all white in flight, legs dirty yellowish, eye turning light colored, bill with a black tip, but a bit of red on the lower mandible at the gonys.


BEHAVIOR:  


Resting on the beach with about 50 other gulls - Calif, Ring-billed, and Franklin's - no interactions noted.  As soon as Paul got ready to take a digital picture it took off and flew out of sight down the reservoir.  


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


As soon as i noted the size, mantle color and yellowish feet I was convinced on the ID.  


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


Too small for a Yellow-footed Gull or a Kelp Gull, too small and leg color wrong for a Western Gull, Slaty-backed Gull, or a Great Black-backed Gull.


EXPERIENCE WITH THIS SPECIES (AND SIMILAR SPECIES):  


 I have seen it three times in Idaho and know it best from Europe.


GENERAL BIRDING EXPERIENCE:  


 I've been birding for over 60 years and consider myself fairly good at ID.


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


None