1st Round

2nd Round

2/4/09.
Cliff Weisse--Accept

Field marks included in the description eliminate other species and support the ID of Little Gull

3/1/09.
Cliff Weisse--Accept

Despite the fact that this is not a complete report and there is no elimination section the report includes field marks sufficient to confirm the identification of Little Gull.

02-04-2009.
Sturts--Accept

Short but adequate description. Field marks mentioned in the report eliminate similar gulls.

02-21-2009.
Sturts--Accept

I read the report over again and feel comfortable in staying with my first vote. It was with Bonaparte's and Trost described it as being smaller in size. Other experienced birders saw the bird.

02-06-2009.
Dave Trochlell--Accept

The description seems pretty good to me. That said, I wish the description competed this bird against a similar-age Ross's Gull, because of these two species can look superficially alike when in juvenile plumage.

02-20-2009.
Dave Trochlell--Accept

I'm still convinced.

02-06-2009.
Doug Ward--Reject, specific identification not established

While in aggregate you can put together a picture of a juvenile/1st year Little Gull (Larus minutus) from the narrative of the note, it is not a full report. Many small first year gulls appear quite similar, particularly at a distance, and without a section discussing elimination of similar species, I’m not comfortable accepting on this documentation alone.

03-06-2009.
Doug Ward--Accept

This record has been kind of a tough one for me – not so much the identification, but rather the standard of the information. Missing from the note submitted are a number of pieces of information used to document occurrences in a systematic, standardized manner which in turn strengthens the data point. This is the purpose for the Rare Bird Report Form or a similarly detailed submittal. In the end, however, what are we looking for in terms of that data point – 1) identity beyond a reasonable doubt, 2) location, and 3) date. This record does address each of these 3 primary objectives. While I’m still uncomfortable accepting this record due to the paucity of the report, I do believe there was a juvenile Little Gull near American Falls Dam on November 11th, 1998.

17 February 2009.
Hardy--Accept

Diagnostic fieldmarks noted.

19 February 2009.
Hardy--Accept

The square tail eliminates Ross's Gull, and the size and trailing white edge of the wing eliminate Bonaparte's. I think the size comparison is significant because the bird was within a flock of Bonaparte's Gulls allowing direct comparison.

2-18-09.
Carlisle--Accept

Good description (are the poor-quality slides available? better than nothing?)

3-4-09.
Carlisle--Accept

No change & the fact that it was distinguished from the many nearby Bonaparte's by size is helpful. I still think it would be better to have in possession the 'low-quality' slides. Is this possible?

02-19-2009.
Darren Clark--Accept

The report seems to eliminate similar species, including Bonaparte's and Black-headed Gull.

03-03-2009.
Darren Clark--Accept

Same comments as previously written.