Hi Robert, Thanks for your feedback. I really did not and do not see the pro RBGU (Ring-billed Gull) features that you alluded to in your comment. But I concede that photos can be misleading and the ones I shared were likely not enough. I finally got around to processing a few images last night which I am linking to below that should solidify the case for Common Gull.
The pro Common Gull features for me included the neat tail band against a mostly clean unmarked tail, dull pink/greenish/brownish base to a “shallow” bill - this was tricky because the color of the bill was not that evident when looking at this bird from certain angles. The dusky brown, more rounded median covert centers, long wings, even the new looking tertials were all just some of the features that had me thinking of Common Gull. I am including here, links to a few more images that includes the one from the back of the camera shot that showed the tail and rump. Also, one that shows a 1st year Ring-billed Gull in the background for comparison. This was a very tricky bird and if I was being lazy (I have those moments), there was a good chance I might have overlooked it. Here are the links to a few images. https://flic.kr/p/2kfyJk9 https://flic.kr/p/2kfyQ3f https://flic.kr/p/2kfyQ3R https://flic.kr/p/2kfv4Lx Cheers, -------- "I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and to incur my own abhorrence." ~ Frederick Douglass 風 Swift as the wind 林 Quiet as the forest 火 Conquer like the fire 山 Steady as the mountain Sun Tzu The Art of War > (\__/) > (= '.'=) > (") _ (") > Sent from somewhere in the field using my mobile device! Andrew Baksh www.birdingdude.blogspot.com > On Dec 9, 2020, at 9:13 AM, Robert Lewis <[email protected]> wrote: > I'm not convinced that this is a Common Gull. Actually it looks more like a > Ring-billed to me. Head and bill shape say Ring-billed. I think I see some > sharply pointed brown interior marks on the worn coverts in the second photo. > (That's the definitive mark.) The streaking pattern on the chest and belly > is extreme for a Common Gull. The chin is usually pure white on a Common > Gull. The mantle and scapulars look more like Ring-billed. The tail pattern > is good for Common, but overall I get Ring-billed. > > Bob Lewis > Sleepy Hollow > > > > On Wednesday, December 9, 2020, 6:34:12 AM EST, Andrew Baksh > [email protected] [ebirdsnyc] <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > One correction to the site. Although I am sure some of you already figured > out the error. It’s Brooklyn Army Terminal Pier 4. I erroneously used “Bush” > from the nearby Park in the name. > > See below a couple of links to images posted on Twitter. > > https://twitter.com/birdingdude/status/1336502235673587713?s=21 > > https://twitter.com/birdingdude/status/1336627976012763139?s=21 > > Cheers, > > -------- > "I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule > of others, rather than to be false, and to incur my own abhorrence." ~ > Frederick Douglass > > 風 Swift as the wind > 林 Quiet as the forest火 Conquer like the fire山 Steady as the mountain > Sun Tzu The Art of War > >> (\__/)(= '.'=) >> (") _ (") >> Sent from somewhere in the field using my mobile device! > > Andrew Baksh > www.birdingdude.blogspot.com > >> On Dec 8, 2020, at 3:40 PM, Andrew Baksh <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> >> I observed and photographed at Bush Army Terminal Pier 4 Kings Co. what I am >> very sure is a Common Gull (Larus Canus). A first winter type whose centers >> to lesser and median coverts caught my eye as I was on my way out. A profile >> image and a back of the camera shot showing the upper tail were sent out for >> feedback from a few Larophiles, and the consensus is Canus. >> >> If you are on Facebook, two images are posted in the Western Palearctic Gull >> Group. >> >> Cheers, >> -------- >> "I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule >> of others, rather than to be false, and to incur my own abhorrence." ~ >> Frederick Douglass >> >> 風 Swift as the wind >> 林 Quiet as the forest火 Conquer like the fire山 Steady as the mountain >> Sun Tzu The Art of War >> >>> (\__/)(= '.'=) >>> (") _ (") >>> Sent from somewhere in the field using my mobile device! >> >> Andrew Baksh >> www.birdingdude.blogspot.com > > > __._,_.___ > > > > > ________________________________ > Posted by: Andrew Baksh <[email protected]> > ________________________________ > > > > > Reply via web post • Reply to sender • Reply to group • > Start a New Topic • Messages in this topic (2) > > ebirdsnyc: bird sightings from the NYC area > > Visit Your Group > > > • Privacy • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use > > > > > > > > > . > > > > __,_._,___ -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
