Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2005-03
| Common name: |
Lesser Black-backed Gull |
| Scientific name: | Larus fuscus |
| Date: | 01-03-05 |
| Time: | 2:45 pm |
| Length of time observed: | 15 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | 1st Winter |
| Sex: | n/a |
| Location: | Bountiful Landfill |
| County: | Davis |
| Latilong: | n/a |
| Elevation: | 4,500 ft |
| Distance to bird: | 150 yards |
| Optical equipment: | 20-50x50 Yukon Spotting Scope |
| Weather: | Sunny and Cool |
| Light Conditions: | good lighting |
| Detailed description of bird: |
A Medium sized young gull, with a dark speckled back, with a lighter head and
chest. This bird had extremely black primaries and secondaires, with white
edges. The bird had a fairly thick, all black bill, compared to the California
Gulls nearby. The bird was too small to be a Herring Gull, and about the same
size as a California. With many 1st winter California Gulls nearby it was an
easy comparison. The speckled back was very "checkered" black and white. |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | n/a |
| Behavior: | The bird was sitting with a flock of California, Ring-billed and Herring Gulls, preening and feeding. |
| Habitat: | A city dump (not seen actually on the dump), and a freshwater pond |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
California Gull: The bill was all black, instead of pink based, and the back was
completely speckled, instead of the "dirty" grey of a California gull. Herring Gull: this gull was much smaller than the Herring Gulls nearby, and had a much darker more checkerd back. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
I have seen many LBBG on the East coast, and several along Lake Michigan the past 3 years. |
| References consulted: | The Sibley Guide to Birds and "Gulls of North America, Europe and Asia" by Olsen and Larsson |
| Description from: | From memory |
| Observer: | Tim Avery |
| Observer's address: | 1754 Garfield Avenue |
| Observer's e-mail address: | tanager@timaverybirding.com |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | Ken Behrens from Pennsylvania |
| Date prepared: | 01-03-05 (General Public) |
| Additional material: | |
| Additional comments: |