Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Iceland Gull
Scientific name:	Larus glaucoides (kumlieni)
Date:	10-13-2016
Time:	11:00am
Length of time observed:	30 minutes
Number:	1
Age:	adult
Sex:	?
Location:	Lee Kay Ponds
County:	Salt Lake
Latilong:
Elevation:	4250ft
Distance to bird:	50m
Optical equipment:	Nikon 10x50 Binoculars, Canon SX50 hs Digital Camera, Brushnell 20X-48X spotting scope
Weather:	Clear, sunny and 70F
Light Conditions:
Description: Size of bird:	Largish gull-24in
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Typical Larus Gull
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	Mostly white, with a gray back and yellow bill
(Description:) Bill Type:	Moderately size gull bill
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	Adult Larus Gull. All white head and underparts. Mantle was a pale gray, similar in shade to Herring Gulls nearby. It was bigger than the California Gulls, but slightly smaller than nearby Herring. Iris was dark and had a reddish orbital ring. Primaries mostly white, with some pale gray edging. Bill was smallish, with a red dot on lower mandible. (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:	None heard
Behavior:	Loafing on a pond with other gulls
Habitat:	Landfill near the great salt lake, with freshwater ponds
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Herring Gull: should have black primary tips and pale iris Glaucous Gull:should be bigger, pale iris and lack gray edging on primaries Glaucous-winged-should be bigger, have all gray primary tips, heavily marked head this time of year. Thayer's-should have darker blackish edged primaries Honestly I didn't know what to make of this gull at first, Kumliens seemed so unlikely at that time of year I didn't give it a strong consideration. At first I though a petite Glaucous-winged, then I thought some type of hybrid, but the only hybrid combo that could be that pale would be a Glaucous X Glaucous-winged, and that would be a monster of a gull, bigger than all the Herrings. Kumlien's Iceland seems the only viable option, despite the dark iris. Feed back from independent outside parties(Amar Ayyash) confirmed Kumlien's as a viable option.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	Yes, many
References consulted:	'Gull's of the America's'-Howell/Dunn, Macaulay Library(photos), North American Gulls(facebook group)
Description from:	From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	Bryant Olsen
Observer's address:	688 East 700 South #105, SLC, UT 8410
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	Matt Pendleton
Date prepared:	10-13-2016
Additional material:	Photos
Additional comments:	eBird checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S32021021