Voting Comments

Species
Lesser Black-backed Gull

Record #27-B-08

1st Round:
7-0

1st Round

12/22/08
Cliff Weisse – Accept

I’m hesitant to accept this record but I feel the combination of the written report and photos is enough to confirm the identification.  There are two photos that are apparently from the landfill in Clarkston, WA in which there is an obvious Lesser Black-backed Gull.  It seems highly unlikely that the birds photographed on the gravel island are different individuals but it’s difficult to say for sure.  That said I feel the combination of size, yellowish legs(which consistently have a pinkish or flesh cast in the photos I’ve seen from Clarkston including the two submitted with this report, which is still normal for LBBG), yellow iris, apparent mantle shade, and attenuated body shape visible on one bird in one of the photos from the gravel island are sufficient to confirm the identification.  Inclusion of structural points in the written description (ie primary extension, bill size and shape, head shape) along with more details of plumage (ie comparison of mantle shade with other species present or apparent contrast with black of wings or tertial/scap crescents) would have been helpful.

01-06-2009.
Sturts--Accept

The description and photographs are diagnostic.

1. (Received 1/7/08)
Darren Clark--Accept

I'm slightly confused. Is there one or two birds being reported? In either case, the photograph of the single bird seems to be a Lesser Black-backed Gull. 

01-16-2009.
Dave Trochlell--Accept

The description applies well to the adult bird, which was admirably photo-documented. But the other bird appears to me to be an immature LBBG (3rd-cycle?) and probably would not have a red gonydeal spot. It appears to have a dark-banded bill, but perhaps that's just my perception of the image.

01-18-2009.
chuck trost--Accept

Description and photo look good to me.

19 January 2009.
Hardy--Accept

Report is a bit choppy, but provides essential diagnostic characteristics of relative size and mantle color. I found the photos to be of limited usefulness, and relied upon the written description.

1-25-09.
Carlisle--Accept

Good photos. Would like to see more discussion on "separating from similar species" ...