27-B-08
IDAHO BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE
RARE BIRD REPORT FORM
SPECIES: Lesser Black-backed Gull
HOW MANY: Two
REPORTER: Terry Gray
890 Stefany Ln
Moscow ID 83843-9635
208-882-1585
REPORTER EMAIL: clgtlg@moscow.com
OTHER OBSERVERS:
Terry Gray
Jon Isacoff
Gina Sheridan
Diana Jones
DATE REPORT PREPARED: 11/17/2008
DATE SIGHTING OCCURRED: November 16, 2008
LOCALITY OF OBSERVATION: Birds observed on small island in the Clarwater River near the Potlatch Mill in Lewistion Idaho.
HABITAT: River
CONDITIONS:
Observed the bird for 30 minutes. Clear brisk morning with light wind with a temp of approximately 45 degrees. Birds were approximately 150 yard away south of our location with the sun low on the horizan to our left. Observed birds with Binoculars and Spotting Scope (12-40X).
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? Peterson Reference Guides "Gulls of the Americas". National Geographic Gield GUide to the Birds of North America and The Sibley Field guide to Birds of Western North America.
DESCRIPTION:
Lesser Black-backed Gull. Larus fuscus. Small dark-backed gull.
Birds have a noticably darker back than the Herring and California and Ringbilled gulls near by. Birds appeared to be the same size as California Gulls and smaller than Herring gulls they were near.
Birds had dark backs with yellow bill with dark red gonys spot. Yellow legs and clear or yellow eyes. Birds appeared to be molting into winter plumage with some dark streaks on the nape.
BEHAVIOR: One bird was flying and had a obvious dark back in flight and otherwise just preened or tucked and were resting on the island. Other gulls were present and were mostly just hanging out on the island.
HOW AND WHEN DID YOU POSITIVELY IDENTIFY THE BIRD, AND WHAT CLINCHED THE IDENTIFICATION FOR YOU?
I had observed these birds up close at a landfill 5 miles away the pevious two weekends and will submit one of the photos taken of these birds up close at the Asotin County Landfill in Clarkston, Washington.
HOW DID YOU ELIMINATE SIMILAR SPECIES, AND WHAT WERE THEY?Had previously the day before and the weekend before seen these birds up close and had receieved confirmation from may expert birders that the birds in question were Lesser Blac-backed Gulls.
EXPERIENCE WITH THIS SPECIES (AND SIMILAR SPECIES): I had observed this species approximately 6 years earlier at the same location.
GENERAL BIRDING EXPERIENCE: Been birding for 10 years in this area. I feel confident that I am a very good birder.
WERE PHOTO(S), VIDEO, AND/OR AUDIO OBTAINED BY YOU?: Photo
