I arrived at Long Branch Lake ~1:15 pm and from the dam I noticed a
very large very pale gull sitting together with some ring-billed and
herring gulls in a second cove from the dam in the SW corner of the
lake. I walked down and looked at the bird with the scope. The bird
was an imm. glaucous gull (GLGU) - large bird (bigger than a herring
gull), pale pink bill with a black tip, overall very pale with almost
white primaries. The gull was spooked by an eagle, so I could not get
close shots, but got some pictures that show diagnostic charcaters.
When I came back to the car I met Edge, who was looking for the
Iceland gull. I drove to the marina, where two eagles were picking on
a carcass, but no gulls there. WHen I came back to the dam Edge has
found the Iceland gull sitting with other birds on the ice!!! It
looked like the same bird I photographed on 01/19/09.
It is not every day in north-central Missouri that you see both
Iceland and glaucous gulls. Exciting!
Here is the link to the winter gallery with the GLGU pictures:
http://picasaweb.google.com/Pkondrash/MissouriWinter20082009?feat=directlink
Here are the links to the individual pictures of the GLGU:
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/27y0Hyhn69cHNhZL5kgnlg?feat=directlink
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/QYozrLmZcmqFq_U3mWhVNw?feat=directlink
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/_XMWR5aBeLY1pJocPNZyYA?feat=directlink
Good winter birding,
PK

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Peter Kondrashov
Kirksville, MO

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The Audubon Society of Missouri's Wild Bird Discussion Forum
ASM Spring Meeting: May 1-3, 2009 in Columbia, MO.
http://www.mobirds.org