Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Iceland Gull
Scientific name:	Larus Glaucoides
Date:	1/8/11
Time:	10:30 AM
Length of time observed:	20 Minutes
Number:
Age:	1st Year
Sex:	n/a
Location:	Great Salt Lake South Shore Marina
County:	Salt Lake
Latilong:
Elevation:
Distance to bird:	50 M
Optical equipment:	Brunton Eterna 20-60X Scope & Vortex Stokes 8X42 Binoculars
Weather:	Partly Overcast
Light Conditions:	Partly Overcast
Description: Size of bird:	Roughly the same size as California Gulls in the same field of view & smaller than the Herring Gulls in the field.
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Rounded head & smaller shaped. Didn't look as stout as some of the larger gulls.
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	White with brownish mottling.
(Description:) Bill Type:	Small bill that was completely dark/black.
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	This was a small, very pale gull with brown mottling on the wings, scaps and somewhat on the chest. If you looked at it with the naked eye, you'd almost think this was a completely white bird. The primaries of the bird were almost purely white. The bird had a completely dark and smaller bill. The size of the bird was that of a California Gull & I compared its size with nearby California Gulls, Herring Gulls, and Ring-Billed Gulls. The structure of the bird reminded me more of a Ring-Billed gull than anything else; it was a smaller, weaker looking gull. This bird immediately struck me as something that I had never seen before.
Song or call & method of delivery:	n/a
Behavior:	I first noticed the primaries as the bird had its head tucked & was lying down. After about 10 minutes, it started to feed with some of the other gulls (California, Ring-Billed & Herring).
Habitat:
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	1st Cycle Glacous Gull- Smaller sized that Glacous. We had a Glacous fly in about an hour later & noted the size difference. The Glacous dwarfed the California Gulls when we saw it, and the Iceland was about the same size. Also, the bill was smaller than that of a Glacous & was purely black. 1st Cycle Kumlien's Gull- Lighter upperparts that Kumlien's, and the wingtips had no brown or coloration compared to Kumlien's. Also, the bill was completely dark compared to bicoloration of a 1st cycle Kumlien's. 1st Cycle Glacous-Winged Gull- This bird didn't have the grayish overall that a 1st cycle Glacous-Winged Gull has. Bill was smaller and less stout. Bird was smaller than Glacous Winged Gull.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	None.
References consulted:	Howell/Dunn Gulls of the Americas.
Description from:	From memory
Observer:	Carl Ingwell
Observer's address:	857 Simpson Ave
Observer's e-mail address:	carlingwell@gmail.com
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	none
Date prepared:	1/8/11
Additional material:
Additional_Comments:	I'd like to say hello to the new members of the committee!